Family Ties
Chapter VII

Seeing the fireball coming toward Phoebe, Paige pulled her sister out of the way just in time. The fireball went to hit the rocky wall behind them and pieces of the rock face went flying in all directions, nearly missing them again. Piper didn't lose time worrying about this however, as she went to her sisters and they began chanting.

Dead or alive or in between,
Evil powers though has been seen,
All upon you, powers to spill,
Now a prison that keeps you still.

Melchior tried again to attack the girls but after he threw an energy ball, he saw it slowing down and stopping in midair halfway to them, where it disintegrated. Soon he felt as if his legs were encased in rock, and he understood that somehow, the spell had frozen him in place when he used his powers. Desperately, he managed to look back toward Cole.
"Brother," he said then. "Brother, help me!"

Cole watched him with conflicted feelings. The news about his mother was still too fresh in his memory. Yet he knew that this had to be done. Cole could already hear the beast coming and a shiver coursed through him as he looked away. Seeing this only intensified Melchior's fears. He began struggling against the spell and suddenly felt a loosening in the hold applied to him. He redoubled his efforts until he could move freely again and then he tried to use his powers against the beast. However, Melchior found that he couldn't use his powers just yet. Thus, in a last ditch effort, he pounced toward Phoebe, who had not expected the attack. Casting nervous glances between the beast and Cole, Melchior called to him afterward.
"If I die, so will she, Belthazor. Kill it!"

Cole looked up in horror as the beast was almost upon them. Paige tried to make a move toward Melchior and Phoebe, but Melchior saw her coming. "I'll kill her right now, I've got nothing to lose," he exclaimed, stopping her in her tracks. Piper lifted her hands, hoping that she could use her powers here, but nothing seemed to work. In a flash, Cole saw what he had to do. In the same manner as he saved Phoebe that night in the woods, he changed places with her magically, now being the one in Melchior's grasp.

Before this one had time to react, the beast launched at them. Melchior screamed as much in rage as in pain, as Cole felt the powers being drained out of him irremediably. By then, Melchior had released him, but even if Cole could get away, he had already decided that it would end here and now. He saw his brother being consumed whole by the beast, and soon felt himself being pulled in as well. At the last moment, Cole managed to make eye contact with Phoebe. He saw tears of sorrow in hers, and then he blacked out.

Phoebe opened eyes filled with tears. Everything was as they left it in the attic and yet, she felt as if nothing would ever be the same. In that moment, even as warm tears wet her cheeks, she remembered how empty she had felt the day Cole died…the first time, she added for herself. And then, she also understood that things had changed from the moment she'd heard his voice calling for help. Suddenly she knew why she had been so dismissive and angry. It was because from that moment on, Phoebe had caught herself hoping against all hope that they might get another chance. Now the emptiness was back and this time, there wouldn't be any more calls for help. No hope…Her pain was almost overwhelming. She felt dizzy and unable to move an inch as her sisters inquired about her.
"Phoebe, are you ok," Piper questioned anxiously. "Phoebe?"

Leo, who had stayed behind to watch over the unconscious sisters was now staring at them with a sinking feeling. What had happened down there? Did Cole betray them? Had he gone crazy or totally evil as Leo feared? Yet the pain he sensed in Phoebe was more of grief and it was soon confirmed.

"So," Paige trailed, "is it over now? We're safe?"

Piper shot an unhappy glance toward Paige, but this one shrugged dismissively.
"Look, I've got good reasons to wonder… Cole wasn't exactly sweet toward me and even less toward you, Phoebe."

That got a reaction from her sister, who turned eyes bright with tears and a hint of anger toward Paige.
"Stop it," she replied in a strangled voice.

Paige looked away but didn't answer this.

Piper kept silent for a moment longer, but something was on her mind.
"Did any of you chant the return spell?"

"No," Phoebe answered in a little voice.

"Nope," Paige echoed, suddenly curious. "Why?"

"Well, we just came back without any magical help…"

"Not exactly," Phoebe uttered darkly as she stood up at last. "Cole wasn't there anymore."

Piper stared sadly, understanding that it was her acknowledgement of Cole's death.
"Hopefully", she thought, "now Phoebe can move on for real."

*****

Cold…so cold…how could it be so cold? Or hell for that matter…? And so damp as well. Cole felt cold moisture underneath the body that, for all intent and purposes, he shouldn't have anymore. Not only this was strange in and of itself, but there was also the fact that he had not felt cold in such a long time.

Suddenly another strange sensation reached his clouded mind. There was a familiar aroma in the air he shouldn't have been able to breathe, and it smelled like wet grass. Still, he stubbornly refused to look. What was the point in seeing the hell he was going to spend eternity in? He would know it soon enough…Instead he tried to keep the memory of Phoebe's lovely face for as long as he could, even marred by the sorrow he remembered seeing last in her eyes. At least, he told himself, she cared even a little and that should be a consolation.

However, as determined as he was not to acknowledge his surroundings, a groan nearby caught his attention. It reminded him of the very unpleasant fact of his participation in his brother's death. Was that Melchior he could hear now? This hell was becoming stranger by the moment, but when he heard a car engine nearby, he knew something was definitely not right… or was it the reverse?

Before he could make himself look, Melchior's angry voice reached him.
"You son of a bitch! What have you done to me?"

Cole finally opened his eyes and found himself faced with his brother, who was lifting himself on one elbow and looking around nervously.
"You shouldn't talk about our mother like that," Cole couldn't help clowning, even if there was no actual joy in his voice. "As for your question…well your guess is as good as mine. Aren't we dead?"

"Not dead enough for me," Melchior said then, while lifting his other hand toward Cole in the obvious intention of using his powers against him. When nothing happened, Melchior growled in frustration.

Cole was about to quip about it when he felt thick drops of rain falling on his naked back. Only then did he realize that he was completely naked as was his brother. However, as embarrassing as it may have been, the simple fact that he could feel at all, along with the very reassuring surroundings, brought a surge of hope to him.
"It's raining!" He exclaimed, ignoring Melchior's irate expression. Then, Cole stood up and looked around in total amazement. He was standing in the Manor's backyard. "Now if this is hell," he thought gleefully, "bring it on."

"Hey traitor, look at me when I'm talking to you!" Melchior almost shouted as he stood up in turn, oblivious to anything but his anger.

As the reality of what was happening began to set in, Cole wondered anew if they weren't in danger, or more precisely, if Melchior wasn't a danger to the sisters. Turning toward him, he finally paid him closer attention.
"Well, Melchior, I think the answer to your question is becoming clearer by the moment."

Melchior frowned, puzzled by Cole's calm answer to his invectives.

"You won't get away with your stupid jest, Belthazor," Melchior exclaimed as he tried once more to use his powers against Cole. However, he had to face the fact that nothing was happening. "What the hell?" He uttered in confusion, looking at his own hands.
"It's their fault…they took my powers," he pursued irately. "I'm gonna make them pay for it." Melchior added as he took a few steps toward the Manor.

Cole reacted instinctively at this and lifted his own hand toward Melchior. This one stopped in his tracks. When Cole approached him curiously, he realized that once again, he had transformed his brother into a statue.
"Well," he thought, "on the other hand, seems I still have my powers…" Now that Melchior was temporarily impaired, Cole again allowed the strangeness of his presence there to sink in. All the signs seemed to indicate that he was alive, even though it was quite impossible. He remembered clearly his last moment before the beast swallowed him. What happened? Then a thought came to him. What if the girls remembered the resurrection spell? Did Phoebe care enough to do it this time? As another surge of hope coursed through him, he took a few more expectant steps toward the Manor. However, the reality of things hit him again and he stopped. Even if there was the slight chance she might have done that, it was doubtful Phoebe would have brought back his brother as well…So again, how had they gotten here?

"Is here even really here? Or is it an illusion devised to torture me," Cole wondered anew as the hope he felt only moments ago began slipping away quickly. A dog growling behind him caught his attention. The mutt was sniffing Melchior's feet nervously. Then it began barking loudly. Lights went on in the Manor's kitchen after a few seconds and someone peered in the window.

If this was an illusion, Cole had to admit it was a good one, since he recognized Leo. Soon after, Leo came out the door, cautiously looking around. When he caught sight of Cole, he gasped in surprise. "What the hell?"

"Hello to you too, Leo…And is it hell?" Cole questioned pointedly.

"What are you doing here," Leo asked, ignoring Cole's question.

"That's what I'm asking you, Whitelighter." Cole responded irritably. By then, he was so cold, he was shaking and, illusion or not, he was becoming more uncomfortable by the moment. Leo's questioning only added to his annoyance.

"You're dead!" Leo exclaimed then.

"Well, seems the news of my death was premature…Or are you some kind of delusion? Because if that's it, they knew what they were doing; you're the last person I'd like to spend eternity with. Now, delusion or not, you wouldn't happen to have something for me to wear? It's getting bloody cold out here."

Leo snickered, "Get yourself some!"

"I would if I could, Leo…"

Again, Leo ignored him and turned toward Melchior.
"What's he doing here?"

"Now that relates to the first question to which I still have no answer," Cole replied with even more irritation. "About those clothes," he insisted, as he crossed his arms around him in a futile attempt at warming himself up.

At this, Leo seemed to take pity on him because he materialized a set of his own clothes on Cole, and then on Melchior while he was at it.

"Why, thank you," Cole uttered with reluctant gratitude. However, as he looked down, a smirk spread over his lips. "Maybe next time, you could give me my own clothes," Cole added, referring to the plaid shirt he was now wearing.

"Phoebe gave them away a while back." Leo answered with a hint of contempt.

If Leo's snide remark was slightly hurtful, the mere mention of Phoebe's name erased all of Cole's remaining concerns about his discomfort.
"Where's Phoebe," he questioned in an unaccustomed pleading voice.

"I'm not sure I should tell you," Leo began… However, as soon as he had said this, Phoebe's voice caught both their attention.

"Cole," she exclaimed incredulously from the threshold.

"Phoebe," Cole answered in a low voice. It was like a miracle. Again, he mused that if this was hell, he welcomed it with open arms. Phoebe started toward him but after a few steps she stopped uncertainly. Cole was about to close the gap between them, but Paige's angry voice stopped him.

"What the hell? Are we ever gonna be rid of you?"

Phoebe whirled on herself and shot an irate glance at her sister, even as Piper came out of the house with an astounded expression.

"Thanks for the warm welcome," Cole shot back, apparently unaffected by Paige's rebuke. However, inwardly, he wondered anxiously if Phoebe would reject him again in light of her sisters' obvious disapproval. Indeed, when she turned back toward him, Phoebe seemed none too pleased.

"Cole... How?"

"Oh please, I wish I could tell you…are we really alive?"

"We were certain until a moment ago," Piper interjected. "How can you be here? For Pete's sake, we saw you being swallowed whole…"

"Didn't feel very good for me either," Cole shot back impatiently. "Look, I wish I knew what to tell you, but really, I don't have a clue. Last thing I remember was blacking out in the wasteland and next thing I knew I was lying on your lawn…"

"This is crazy," Paige uttered. "Doesn't anyone see how crazy this is? And how about him," she pursued animatedly while indicating Melchior.

"Hey, I don't know about me, how should I know about him? I thought you might've something to do with it, but from your reaction, I doubt that sincerely."

"Cole…"Phoebe tried again…"I…I saw you die!"

"Well," Cole answered seriously, "it wasn't the first time, now was it?"

Phoebe looked away uncertainly.

"Alright, we need some answers here," Piper added in the silence that prolonged. "Leo?"

"Of course, I'll be back as soon as I can with whatever I find out," Leo said before orbing out after a quick look around.

Phoebe couldn't help looking back at Cole, as the reality of his return wasn't sinking in just yet. How could this be? And most of all, what did it mean? Contradicting feelings were fighting inside of her: joy, pain, fear and hope…Phoebe couldn't tell which dominated. However, as she watched Cole, she noticed that he was trembling slightly and only then did she realize that they had been standing in the rain.
"You're cold," she uttered hesitantly. Even as she was saying it, Phoebe wondered about it. How could he be cold?

"As a matter of fact…I am…"

"Let's go inside…"

As Phoebe prepared to return to the house, Piper stopped her with a light touch on her arm.
"What about him?"

Phoebe looked back at the immobile from of Melchior.

"What do you think," she asked Cole, as she was certain that neither one of her sisters had a clue.

"I don't know…He shouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon, but…maybe he's a little too conspicuous…"

"Did you do that," Phoebe asked with some hesitation.

"Yeah," Cole trailed, knowing full well that him having powers wasn't a plus in her eyes.

Indeed, Phoebe's heart sunk as she reflected that they might just be back at the same point, no matter what.
"Then," she still said calmly, "maybe you should free him and if he's giving us any trouble…"

"Yeah, I'll take care of him."

"Wait," Paige called nervously. "Does he have any powers?"

"None that I saw," Cole said with more assurance than he felt. He knew he would have to watch Melchior closely, just in case. "However, I doubt if he'll be happy to see you…"

"The feeling's mutual," Paige snickered. "And I'm not exactly thrilled with you either," she added with a grimace.

Phoebe glared at Paige, who shrugged dismissively. Cole chose to ignore her comment, instead turning toward Melchior and changing him back with a quick hand gesture. As soon as Melchior was in his human form again, he took a few steps as if no time had passed and then he stopped, obviously puzzled at the sight of the girls in front of him. His hesitation was short lived however. Melchior suddenly growled and went after Phoebe. Seeing this, Piper lifted her hands threateningly.
"Hey Pal," she called loudly, "this time, I'm not power-impaired and if I can't vanquish you, I sure as hell can sting you painfully."

Melchior stopped and stared at her uncertainly. He seemed to try concentrating, but whatever he was trying to do, it didn't work. Again he exclaimed with obvious frustration, but he didn't make another move toward Phoebe. Meanwhile, Piper seemed ready to use her power anyway and Cole felt he should intervene.
"Wait… I don't think you'd wanna use your powers on him…"

"Why should I hesitate," Piper questioned angrily.

"I can't be sure of course…but if he has no powers, he might simply be human and you don't kill humans, now do you?"

"What? What are you talking about? Less than an hour ago, he was trying to kill us with his very real powers…"

"Things change fast…I should know," Cole protested.

"Are you trying to protect him because he's your brother," Paige questioned suspiciously.

Cole hesitated at length. The question was fair but on the other hand, he had just helped killing him. Or at least, what he thought was killing him. Just then, Cole realized that in fact, he had not and in a way it was one more positive outcome. That is as long as Piper didn't finish him.
"Yes and no," Cole uttered at last. "I'm not too fond of letting you hurt him when he has done nothing yet…That's for sure."

Piper groaned unhappily, but she lowered her hands.

"Belthazor," Melchior started.

"Cole," Cole interrupted firmly. "I won't tell you again, brother."

"No matter," Melchior spat, "if you think I'll forgive you, you're gravely mistaken."

"And I thought our mother had raised a smarter demon," Cole said as he turned completely toward Melchior. "If you haven't noticed yet, we all have powers while you don't have any. If I were you, I'd consider waiting to know a little more before making threats. Who knows, you might actually like what you hear…"

"I'm not a wimp like you. I've got no aspiration for goodness…"

"Well, no matter…if you don't cooperate, I don't think those girls are gonna give you a second chance."

Melchior decided against answering this and he simply stood very straight while staring at his brother.

Phoebe was still uncertain on what to do, but it was truly getting cold. She figured that they might as well be comfortable before continuing this.
"Let's get inside," she repeated seriously.

"I'm not too sure I want them inside the Manor, Phoebe," Paige uttered aggressively.

"And I'm telling you we're going in, Paige." Phoebe answered firmly this time, not only startling Paige, but Cole as well. He gave a quick glance toward Phoebe but she was already turning her back to him.

"Well, Melchior…after you…I insist," Cole said then, indicating the Manor.

His brother seemed undecided, but he must have been cold as well, because after a moment, he started toward the Manor. However, he kept a close eye on Cole and the girls as he did so, apparently worried.

They had barely made it inside before Leo came back. From the look of him, something rather extraordinary was going on. As he was staring at Cole and his brother rather than talking, Piper became impatient.
"What did they say Leo," she questioned pointedly.

"Huh," Leo uttered hesitantly. "Well, I guess it's something good."

"Leo," Phoebe insisted.

"The Elders are of the opinion that the beast consumed all the evil, but couldn't consume the good; meaning their souls," Leo finally said as he indicated the two brothers.

"What," Cole asked incredulously.

"Of course, since that never happened before, they can't be certain, but it looks like it," Leo pursued.

"Like what?" Cole questioned loudly.

"The beast resurrected you as humans…"

"But I've got powers…"

"Witch powers," Leo replied slowly.

"Wait a minute," Paige exclaimed. "You're saying that instead of simply freeing their souls, that thing brought them back to life?"

"No way," Melchior exclaimed as he began stepping away from them. "This can't be…"
Again he tried to use his former powers but without result.

"You don't have any powers left," Leo explained, "because yours were only evil powers. You're human and you're getting a second chance. I wouldn't waste it if I were you."

Melchior stared at all of them in turn, totally dumbfounded. He couldn't believe it. This had all started so that he would become the most powerful demon ever and now, he found himself powerless, pitiful…a mere mortal. This was so overwhelming that he suddenly bolted, and before anyone could react, he had left the Manor and run out in the night.

Cole made a move to go after him, but Phoebe grabbed his arm.
"Leo, can you…can you check where he's going? Keep an eye on him for a little while," she asked softly.

"He's my responsibility," Cole protested mildly.

"I won't lose him. But Cole, your brother is human now. If he does something wrong, he's the police's responsibility; not yours…"

Cole disagreed with that but as Leo orbed after Melchior, he decided that if Phoebe was ready to talk, he couldn't leave now. "Don't worry," Phoebe added as she saw that Cole still seemed concerned. Then she turned toward her sisters.
"Look, can we have some time alone here?"

"Are you sure," Paige questioned uncertainly.

Cole couldn't help a grimace of displeasure at her renewed suspicion. However, he wasn't in a position to make reproaches and he kept quiet.

"Yes, I'm sure Paige," Phoebe answered firmly.

Piper and Paige went away slowly and Phoebe didn't say anything for a long moment, apparently debating what she should tell him.

Cole swallowed nervously. What was it Phoebe wanted to talk about? Why didn't she seem more upset about Melchior? Was it a good sign or a bad sign? All those questions were on his mind, but he didn't dare ask them aloud. He didn't wanna jinx anything.

"So," Phoebe finally asked, "how does it feel?"

The hesitation in her voice told Cole that Phoebe was just as unsure as he was. In a way, that was better than anger.
"Good I guess," he answered without too much enthusiasm. "Phoebe, I…"

"Wait," Phoebe interrupted. "I have something to say to you, and if I don't say it now, I might not be able to anymore…"

Cole swallowed hard again. He didn't think he could take another rejection on her part. This could just be the end…even now when the situation seemed to have brightened considerably.

"First," Phoebe began as she looked up at him, "do you feel… I mean is there…oh hell why do I bother? How can I be certain you'd be telling me the truth?"

"You wanna know if I'm still evil? I thought Leo had been eloquent about this…and most of all, I killed my brother for you, Phoebe. I even caused my mother's death."

"What?"

"Never mind this," Cole dismissed quickly. "If you can't find it in your heart to believe me, I guess there's nothing more to talk about," Cole added as he turned his back to Phoebe.

"Cole, please," Phoebe called.

Cole stopped but didn't look back.

"Look," Phoebe pursued after a few seconds. "I do believe you. I think you're sincere now…"

"Phoebe," Cole said then as he turned back toward her.

"Wait," she stopped him nervously. "It's true I believe you…but that doesn't change anything."

"How the hell can you say that?"

"You're good now, but you still have those powers…what guaranty do I have that you won't turn again?"

"I swear!"

"Please don't…" Phoebe had trouble formulating her thoughts into words. She so wished that she could simply forget about all the bad stuff and start all over again. Nothing could have made her happier…What she worried about was the amount of pain to come, not only to her but to her sisters were the bad stuff to start again. They had weathered one too many of those storms. "Please," she uttered pleadingly at last, "try to understand…"

"Is there any hope? At all," Cole questioned curtly.

"I can't…Cole I wish…"

"I wish that too…" Cole sighed painfully. "Well, I suppose you mean this is good bye?"

"I have to…" Phoebe answered in a strangled voice. They stared at each other for a long moment, during which Phoebe at once feared and hoped that he would insist further.

"I love you, Phoebe," Cole finally said. When she was about to protest, he pursued quickly, "but I'll respect your choice…at least, for now…"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I won't lose hope, Phoebe…You can never take that away from me because I know you love me too."

"Cole…"

"That's ok…I'll let you know where I'll stay. If you ever need me…"

"Right..." Phoebe barely managed, as she watched him going with eyes filling with tears…

***************** This story will continue in the sequel "The Miracle Child" :)