Chapter 2: Life after Death

15th November 2006 - The Halliwell Manor, The Present.

It had been six months since the Charmed One's Ultimate Battle, and life has been somewhat normal for the Charmed Ones if you call demonic attacks, innocents, and Elders normal but this is the Charmed Ones.

It was the middle of November and life had continued, as much as it could. Dressed in a long sleeved brown blouse, dark denim jeans and boots, The eldest-living Halliwell, Piper came down the familiar Halliwell staircase with the youngest Halliwell, Chris Perry in tow. She was on her way to the club and being the mother that she was, she had to take Chris along rather than drop him at magick school. She came down the stairs, holding Chris in one arm and balancing her handbag on the other arm. It was then she was greeted by the presence of the familiar brunette, none other than her younger sister - Phoebe Halliwell.

"Piper!!" Phoebe cooed as she put a well-placed kiss onto her nephew.

"Hey Pheebs, what are you doing here?" The eldest Halliwell was pleased to see her sister knowing she had been swamped with work and the advice column in that respect; it was a rare treat to see Phoebe any day.

"Ohh.. Coop was just off somewhere and I asked him to drop me off at the manor." The elder sister was momentarily confused at Phoebe's explanation and gave her sister a stern look as she spoke. "Phoebe..." The elder Halliwell, waited for her sister to elaborate upon her explanation, apparently Piper had missed the point her sister was trying to get across.

"Well, can't a sister come a visit her family once in a while. Elise gave me the day off." The younger Halliwell was pleased at this result; she had been working so hard on the column she had not seen her sisters in what seemed like months. Although it was likely to be months.

Satisfied with the explanation the witch turned to her sister. "So how have you been since you know.." Piper couldn't help remember the events of the months past, even the Ultimate Battle had cost the Halliwells much, not to mention Piper herself had to save her sisters from the clutches of death and we all knew how that turned out. The younger of the two sisters breathed a heavy sigh. "I've just kept myself busy but I can't help worrying about Billie."

"Come on Phoebe, we have been through this. She chose to betray us and all that we represent. I think she should be left to grieve, she doesn't need us around it's just going to remind her of what she's lost." The topic of Billie had been avoided for months, for it was a sore spot with the eldest Halliwell it just reminded her of how one person could come into their lives and shift the balance and destroy all that they had worked towards. Much like, Phoebe's late husband, the infamous Cole Turner. The demon that influenced Phoebe to take the Underworld as its newest queen. Thankfully, she had seen sense before she did something she would truly regret but Billie, Piper could not say. The girl had betrayed them; almost killed them, stole Wyatt's powers, and killed her own sister in the end. It was a topic best avoided in Piper's presence like if it was taboo.

"I know, Piper but we have not heard from her in months." Being the Empath of the Charmed trio, Phoebe had always been able to sympathise and had always felt close to Billie, even fighting her cause until she was proven to be The Ultimate Power. Knowing evil and how tempting it could be, Phoebe was seriously concerned about their former ward.

An awkward silence fell between the sisters, it was clear how different they felt but nonetheless they were sisters, and Piper looked to her sister before resting a hand on her shoulder. "Look, I'm sure she's O.K. Just give her time,"

Phoebe remained silent as she contemplated Billie's fate.

"On another matter, it's stock take today and I'm going to be stuck at P3 all day. I wouldn't ask but.." Before Piper could continue her speech was cut off as the younger Halliwell spoke. "It's fine Piper. I'll take Chris and I'm sure Coop can pick up Wyatt." Being familiar with her sister's schedule the Empath was accustomed to her sister's little inconveniences. Before Piper knew it Phoebe was taking Chris out of her hands. "Now, come to Aunty Phoebe." Phoebe cooed once more as she led Chris into the kitchen. Piper stood in the foyer and watched as the pair left. She remembered it was about time she left too. With that the Halliwell witch, grabbed her coat off a hook and dashed out the front door of the Halliwell Manor closing the door behind her.

...

The third Halliwell, better known as Paige Matthews materialised in an alley. The youngest Charmed One and Whitelighter had been tracking her newest innocent for couple blocks. Her newest charge, Micah was a dark-haired teenage witch with the gift of rapid acceleration. A power she was familiar with, knowing she had an older charge, Mitchell Haines who shared the same ability. However, her newest charge had decided to run away rather than face his new Wiccan duties and the magick that surrounded him. Moreover, this small problem was made worst as she sensed three warlocks enter the alley.

Two female warlocks blinked into the alley, dressed in their usual black fashion along with their familiar weapon of choice, the athame. Paige looked out from behind her dumpster, trying to get a better view of her targets. The young witch, Micah was obviously confused by their appearance; Paige had not even finished her introduction to him before he sped off in his fast manner.

Her young charge was obviously scared and Paige could see him, backing against the wall as his eyes searched for an exit. It was then the Whitelighter was hit with a wave of fear that did not belong to her, it was obviously from her charge and if she did not do anything he going to be a dead if the warlocks had their way.

"Who are you?" Micah questioned. All too aware of the danger that loomed in the air like tension.

"Your worst nightmare, boy" One of the Warlocks screeched.

The youngest Halliwell sister could watch no more, and materialised out into a stream of orbs. The half whitelighter orbed in behind one of the warlocks and viciously kicked her forward, to divert attention from her charge. " Hey!!"

All three warlocks turned to face the Charmed One, obviously surprised by her appearance to their dismay. She looked at the three warlocks, each with an energy ball burning in their petite hands as they hurled the deadly balls in her direction. Paige's form was consumed by light as she orbed out on the spot reforming seconds later after two of the balls flew into the wall. Then one remained, the Charmed One, raised her hand ready to call for the ball of energy and end one of the deathly female's lives.

"Energy ball!" The half-witch cried.

Nothing happened, no familiar jingle of orbs or nothing. The energy ball kept on its deadly path on route to kill the Whitelighter.

Suddenly, the deadly ball changed its direction heading for the warlock who generated it, with great speed. The warlock who generated the deadly ball exploded upon contact. Paige's eyes shot open at this. Had she just used regular telekinesis? The answer came, as an athame flew from behind another warlock to reveal none other than the familiar blonde-witch, Billie Jenkins. The female warlock erupted into flames as a sheet of fire consumed her, leaving one warlock left.

"Hey Paige, nice to see ya."

The Charmed One was taken by surprise to see her charge; she had not seen Billie in months, she had not even heard from her. Yet here she was. "Nice to see you too, Billie." Fear or desperation crossed the sole remaining female warlock as she looked from Billie to Paige. She was outnumbered and she knew it, the tables had turned and now she needed to leave. Using her power of telekinesis, the Jenkins witch lifted her self up into the air and executed a flip before landing in front of the female warlock. Before the warlock could blink out, the young witch pulled out an athame attached at her belt and drove the blade deeply into the warlock's chest. The warlock fell backwards as flames began to consume her body, eating at her body until there was nothing left but ash. Paige stared at the vacant alley and the smouldering remains of the warlock, before she turned back to Billie.

"I was just in the area, thought I would say hey," The Jenkins witch said all the while dusting herself off.

Paige was quiet, she did not know what to say to Billie, even after these long months she really could not voice what she really wanted to say to her older charge but she did not. From out of the corner came Micah. "That was so cool." The teen had a look of excitement etched all over his face, at witnessing his first demonic battle. Paige turned to look at the teenage boy, she had totally forgot why she had come to the alley in the first place, too caught up in Billie's arrival rather than her Whitelighter duties.

"Charge?" Billie asked casually as she fixed her hair back into place.

The Charmed One, Paige nodded a silent reply before Billie spoke once more.

"Let's get you home, there's something she needs to talk to you about." Billie smiled, patting the teen on the back, pushing him in the direction of Paige.

Micah looked back to Billie with a cheeky grin and then walked over to the Whitelighter. Billie turned her back ready to leave the alleyway the same way she came. Paige took the teen's hand in her own, and was ready to orb out but stood there thoughtful of the last couple months, things were not exactly great between the Halliwells and Billie but there was still that chance. "Billie,"

The blonde-head witch turned her attention back to her Whitelighter as she spoke. "Thank you." With that the Charmed whitelighter was gone as she and her charge, Micah vanished into a cloud of orbs.

Billie looked to the sky as she watched them vanish. A small smile grew on her face. "No, thank you." With the battle over, the blonde turned on her heel to exit the alley.

...

The eternal darkness of the Underworld hung coldly over a forbidden black lake, as a dark robed figure approached. Nothing moved and nothing stirred, there was just the eternal silence and the darkness, which clouded the lake like some dark mist, suffocating the light around the shore. The water remained motionless within the lake, as still as the non-existent life that lived in the lake.

It was then the dark robed figure began to stroll to closer and closer to the lake, taking each step in its stride. The robed figure, drew closer to the lake until they touched they could nearly touch the surface of the water. Still nothing moved and nothing made a sound, the figure remained quiet.

Then suddenly the dark robed figure, took a step forward, the surface of the water neither broke or stirred and within the darkness, the figure began to walk above the surface of the motionless lake. Silence, an eerie calm clouded the lake as had the dark mist and the figure continued to walk their path across the darkened lake until it stopped point blank in the centre, almost waiting for something to happen. Then the deathly silence broke, as a stern voice came from beneath that darkened hood. "From waters of death, I call back to life,"

Suddenly, a wave of water rippled out of the centre of the lake. The eerie calm was broken as the figure continued. "From the ashes of death, toil and strife," Countless, waves of water rippled out of the centre of the lake, as the figure's voice echoed across the mist. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Bring back this evil, we must." A tremor erupted across the lake, only sending more violent waves of water out of the centre of lake as the figure finished its verse. The tremors continued for sometime, echoing and growing until, suddenly a dark figure hidden in shadow rose from the lake in some unholy baptism

Clouded in darkness, the second figure took form, the darkness moulding, and changing to create a slim figure. Then two hazel eyes awoke, cutting through the darkness to look at the robed figure. "It's time." The robed figure spoke.

As if some unspoken plan had been said, the shadowy mirage spoke, while its hazel eyes pierced the darkness.

"I understand, my lord." It was then the shadowy mass around the figure diminished to reveal another robed figure. The figure lifted a delicately manicured hand to its hood, ready to pull of the dark attire. The hand gently pushed away the hood to reveal, the untidy tresses of sandy blonde hair followed by the two familiar hazel eyes. This all stood for one person, the former Firestarter-witch, none other than Christy Jenkins. The witch was back.

End of Chapter

Author's Note: Well guys I hoped you liked it. I didn't like the whole Billie & Christy duo thing they had in season eight. So there won't be the same storyline here. More will be revealed in the next chapter so keep reading and review. So Christy's alive and who was the cloaked figure? What does it all mean? Why is Christy back from the dead? Christy will play an interesting role in first arc of the story which will last five chapters.


Bleu Feenix - Thanks to Bleu Feenix for the first review and I hope he/she is still reading the review was appreciated. Keep reading and review the upcoming chapters too. The Rowe Coven will make an appearance later on in the fanfic along with the Halliwells.

Colt- I'm glad that you liked the first chapter. Please keep reading and review.