Introducing the second plot line, one that is going to affect Phoebe and all her sisters. And it will give Cole the one chance he has of gaining everything he wants.
I am rather proud of the City as it is entirely my own invention (I hope) and it will become a very important part of Phoebe's, Coles and the other Halliwell sisters life's. At least until Phoebe fulfills her part of the prophecy that will affect all four of the sisters. More in the next few chapters.
Reviews, comments and ideas are always appreciated.
The 'City' comes to Phoebe.
Phoebe Halliwell woke reluctantly and this time carefully kept her eyes closed as she tried to recall a vivid and rare pleasant dream. A very pleasant dream, one she wanted to remember compared to her usual nightmares. While she had this dream before, this time parts of it seemed to remain in her memory. For the first time this week, she found herself feeling almost chipper and in an unfamiliar upbeat mood. As she tried to remember the dreams details, they began to slowly slid away from her and vanish from her memory, leaving only tantalising snippets.
Waking fully, she found that she was only able to remember the impression that it involved a gentle man, children and a life free of trouble, demonic and otherwise, paradise for a woman that had recently lost so much.
With a sigh, she sat up and opened her eyes to face another day. Only to look in shock as the wall pass the end of her bed had vanished and was now a completely different scene. Now her room opened up to reveal a small city in front of her. Like a film, slightly blurred or out of focus but still distinct enough to make out details.
A variety of beautiful buildings ranging from single storied family houses to buildings with several stories rose out of the ground in front of her. All were surrounded by tree's and parks along with waterways, paths and roads. A large lake could be seen close by. Gentle hills were visible behind what Phoebe instinctively knew was simply called the City.
Looking closely, Phoebe realised that people were wandering on the many paths and roads. Children played in the parks, men and women walked along the paths or sat together. Birds and other animals could be seen on the ground and in the air. Everything seemed tranquil, a situation that the experienced witch immediately found difficult to accept.
As she tried to look closer, she found her attention drawn to a particular house that bore an uncanny resemblance to the Manor. Standing in front of the building was a man and three young children who seemed to range from about 4 to 10 years in age. All four seemed to be looking directly at her and waiting for something. Something about them seemed so familiar and yet she could not see their faces clearly. Suddenly desperate to see them better, she found herself starting to crawl down the bed to get a closer look.
With a sudden intake of breath she recognised what was in front of her had come straight from her dream. Here was everything she wanted, a man to love and be loved by. The children she wanted and if her dream was correct, the life that she now had become to believe was impossible.
With a cry of pain, she also realised that the vision was now slowly fading as the Manor took over and her room reappeared. As she reached out to try and hold on to the scene, it finally faded away as had her earlier dream. Turning to grasp a pillow to her breast, she wrapped her arms around it and started to softly cry.
Behind her, the door to her bedroom opened as both Paige and Piper quietly entered. As they had done several times before, they tried to comfort Phoebe in the only way they knew how. Both Piper and Paige sat on the side of the bed, Piper reached across to place a hand on her shoulder and Paige reached over to hold one of Phoebe's hands.
After a short interval, Phoebe sat up and turned to face her sisters. "All right you can let me go now, this time Cole was not involved. Something else has started to turn up in my dreams, something wonderful and in a way, terrifying". After a long pause, Phoebe reluctantly added "I need to talk to Leo, I think it might be something more than a dream and perhaps Cole could be behind it".
Half an hour later, Phoebe, Piper, Paige and Leo sat at the kitchen table as they ate breakfast. All were listening with some jealousy as Piper read out the latest email from both Prue and Matt. Prue was currently describing with suspicious enthusiasm the beauties of the local reef system and the delights of the night life. Matt's contribution was a set of photo's that backed up Prue's comments.
A normally quiet Phoebe who usually had to be encouraged to eat an adequate breakfast was getting stuck into a bowl of cornflakes topped with milk and a fruit salad mix. Having already finished off several slices of buttered toast with jam and two of Piper's just made croissants.
Paige couldn't help but ask "OK, who are you and what have you done with my sister?" as she watched with pleasure as the old Phoebe returned, this time with a better appetite. Ignoring the alarmed look from Leo, Phoebe just laughed and replied "Ha, just because for once I am feeling chipper, you go and get all suspicious on me. Go on, ask me a question that only I would know. I dare you".
Piper said "Thats my sister, so why the chipper mood, which I might add, is great to see. Leo, what do you think of Phoebe's dream?". Before Leo could answer, Phoebe jumped in by saying "So I have been dreaming of a paradise, so what, given whats happened lately, that I can have a dream rather than a nightmare is something I am grateful for. And if these dreams want to appear in my bedroom after I wake up, then good".
After a brief pause to make sure Phoebe had finished, Leo replied "Actually its good to see you starting the day with a more positive outlook. I don't see any problems with dreams like you are describing, I guess that its your way of wondering about the future. But I do wonder about the dream turning up in your bedroom, are you sure you weren't still asleep?".
"Huh!" Phoebe gently said, "I am certain I was awake". Then after a pause, she added "Could Cole be behind it ?, although I find it difficult to believe he could have a hand in something that feels so nice and pleasant, especially as I am fairly certain he was not part of it".
"I don't know" replied Leo, "we still don't know what Cole is truly capable of, its always possible that he doesn't even know himself. Or you could be generating it yourself, there has never been a witch both as powerful as you and with all your powers. It is possible!".
With a small shrug, Phoebe replied "Anyway, I am off to work, my advice column is still gaining in popularity and the letters are building up. I want that pig of a Spencer Rick to suffer and taking his readers from him is just the way to do it. Anyway I should be safe at the Mirror, I don't think even Cole is silly enough to bother me there. And if any of you bother Prue and Matt, then you will regret it".
With that Phoebe jumped to her feet and headed for the door, pausing only to grab her purse, car keys and laptop on the way.
Piper waited until Phoebe exited the front door before turning to Leo and Paige. "We need to keep an eye on her, something about this tells me that there is no way we are going to be lucky enough that it was only a dream. Leo, can you check with the Elders and Paige".
Before Piper could finish, Paige started to get up from the table and quickly replied "Yeah, I know, check the Book of Shadows".