And now the city begins to make it move on Phoebe.
ps The justification for my assumption that demonic power / energy is not destroyed but can float around until it is absorbed by another demon is based around the events in 'House Call".
Early Morning in San Francisco, three days later.
Phoebe woke from what was now becoming a very familiar dream and promptly sat up to look across her room. As it had several times before, her room no longer existed past her bed and the city once again spread out in front of her. But for the first time the image was clearer, almost three dimensional, and now sounds and scents could be heard and smelt. Instead of being a film you watched, now it was becoming three dimensional and almost real enough to walk into.
And for the first time she could feel the emotions of the people who walked and lived in the City. No longer was it a film that she could only watch and wish for. Now it engaged all her senses, both the physical and the magical. She realised that the City was becoming something that one day she would be able to enter.
Flowers, the smell of recent rain and the sounds of birds and even happy children could be heard. As her empathy power reached out into the City, she found to her surprise that she could clearly read the emotions of different people living there. All were content, happy with a feeling of serenity that
was like a blanket, covering the entire area.
For the first time, Phoebe began to feel some unease as she realised that this had to be unnatural. Still she was certain that the lives lived by the people inhabiting the City was exactly what she could see and feel. That the City would give her what she wanted and keep her safe.
Once again her attention was irresistibly drawn to the house that so resembled the Manor and she was not surprised to see both the man and the three children waiting outside. As before they were too far away for their faces to be clearly seen however Phoebe knew what they looked like. Unable to put it into words but somehow she knew that the life she was being offered in this place would be everything she wanted.
All her powers, her empathy and her heart told her that this is what she would gain. Only her mind told her otherwise, that there was always a price and her sisters would not understand. And already that voice was becoming less and less convincing.
Everything was so quiet, the Manor, the neighborhood, the street outside, all were silent with not even dogs barking, not even a bird was singing. Only when a puzzled Phoebe turned to look at her alarm clock did she realise why, it was 2 am in the morning. Turning back to look at the City she relaxed as a feeling of peace spread over her.
Phoebe sat on her bed listening to the city and her inner self, so she clearly heard first the gentle knock, then the door to her bedroom being opened. Paige, still in her pajamas, stepped inside and stopped to look in shock as the City spread out in front of her. Phoebe turned her head to stare at Paige who was by now carefully stepping sideways to stand alongside Phoebe's bed although she couldn't take her eyes from the scene in front of her. Following behind Paige, Piper who had taken the time to quickly dress, entered and also stopped as she clearly saw the City.
Phoebe couldn't help herself as with a grin she said "An over active imagination huh. Paige if you don't close your mouth soon, something is going to fly into it. Piper, its real, its promising everything we want". "Not to me" replied Piper and she moved quickly and carefully to join Paige. Reaching out to grab Phoebe's hand, she said "Come on, we have to get you out of here, I don't like this, its wrong". As Phoebe tried to pull her hand back, Piper said "Paige, help me, orb her out of here". Phoebe retreated back from Paige who first shook herself and then turned to follow Piper's instructions.
"Wait" said Phoebe, "its leaving" as she pointed to the scene in front of her. Both Piper and Paige turned to see the City fade in front of them. Starting just past the end of Phoebe's bed, her room reappeared as either the city retreated or her room advanced. They couldn't tell. Finally Phoebe's room fully reappeared and they started to relax.
"Satisfied?" Phoebe said as her emotional high started to fade and she felt herself once again begin to slide back into a familiar depression. "It will be back" replied Paige, "I don't need my sensing power to know that".
Unwilling to get dressed given how early it was, it took some time before Phoebe finally allowed Piper to force a dressing gown on her and led her down to the kitchen for something to eat. Unlike previous days, her appetite had now deserted her and she could only just tolerate two plain toast slices and a glass of orange juice that she could not finish.
As a concerned Piper fussed over her and repeatedly tried to convince her to eat more, an increasingly frustrated Phoebe started to become annoyed. So when Leo arrived, Paige was not surprised as both Piper and Phoebe turned on him.
Using a voice that would have chilled water, Piper said "Where the hell have you been, Phoebe had the dream again and this time we saw it. Yes it is appearing in her bedroom, this time at 2 in the morning and its real, real enough that I think you could now walk into it". Turning to look at Phoebe, she added "And I don't like it. I don't have any special sensing powers but I know evil when I see it".
With that Phoebe suddenly exploded as she lashed back at Piper. Standing to confront Piper face to face she angrily replied "Well I can and I know what I feel. The life the CIty is offering me is everything I want, family, peace, no demons, no fighting. Its something we have always said we wanted, especially you". Turning to look at Leo she demanded "What can you tell us or are you afraid that I am right. What do those wise and all knowing Elders know or are they too scared of what the City offers?"
"Actually I think I might be on the right path but I can't tell you anything yet. I need to talk to two of the oldest Elders, they may have met the City before and hopefully will be able to answer my questions. But there is something else, it involves Prue and Matt" replied Leo.
As soon as he mentioned Prue's and Matt's names, all three of the sisters focused on him. "They are not in trouble are they?" demanded Piper. Phoebe was more direct as she said at the same time "They are OK? aren't they?". Paige opened her mouth to also say something but stopped as Piper and Phoebe bet her too it.
"Yes they are fine, the local Whitelighters have been keeping a gentle eye on them and its these Whitelighters who have come to the Elders. Apparently the local covens are having a major problem with an increasingly serious demon presence. Hundreds of years ago, they imprisoned many demons in rock, but now they are waking. Why now is complicated but it seems be due to your vanquish of the Source, the Seer and all the other demons. Their lost power is being used by these demons to wake and free themselves. The covens want your help as they are losing the fight".
Turning to look at Paige he said "The leader of the local coven is going to ask Prue for her help today and I have been asked to see if you will orb over and warn Prue that they are coming. The Elders hope that all of you will help".
Before Paige could answer, Phoebe said "Don't they know Prue is on her honeymoon, after everything we went through, can't they at least let Prue and Matt have a demon free time?".
With a sigh, Leo replied "Yes and the Elders want them to know that they are very sorry but innocents and witches are dying and its going to get worse. Powerful upper level demons are beginning to wake and only the Charmed Ones can deal with them. I hear what you are saying Phoebe but do you think either Prue or Matt would rather let people die so they could relax on a beach?".
Phoebe looked at Leo as the anger in her face faded and then she turned to look away. Piper snorted and said "Is this what our lives are going to be like?. Looking somberly at Phoebe, Piper said "I am beginning to see why your City is so attractive". She did not see the sudden worried look that Leo gave her.
Paige now spoke up "I bet Prue will want to help them and maybe a change of scenery will be a good idea for all of us".
However Piper had a question of her own. "If they could imprison these demons hundreds of years ago, why can't they deal with them now?". Leo replied "I don't know and its something that I hope Paige can find out".
"Paige, Prue and Matt are 12 hours ahead of you, so its early afternoon in Phuket. If you are not too sleepy, it would be a good idea to go now as the coven was going to meet them mid afternoon. And you might like to change, its a hot day and stay in the shade. I can't heal sunburn. If you need us, just yell".
With an snort, Paige replied "After what has happened so far, there is no way I will get any more sleep. Something nice and loose to wear I think and I will need a certain spell from the Book. I don't want a repeat of the last time I orbed somewhere english was not understood".
With that Paige disappeared in a cloud of orbs as she headed for her bedroom.
Turning to look at Phoebe, Leo gained her attention with a soft "Phoebe", "please don't make any decisions yet, let me find out what is going on here. There may be something evil behind this, something you can't sense because its hiding behind what it is showing you".
Piper also said as she firmly held Phoebe's left hand with both of hers, "Please !".
After a long pause, Phoebe finally shook her head to say yes and then sat down at the Kitchen table. There she picked up a cold and by now rubbery piece of toast and began to morosely chew on it.
Pulling Piper to one side, Leo quietly said "Piper, we need to keep a constant eye on her. From what I have found out so far, that CIty scares me. We must keep an eye on her all the time. Ring Elisa at the Mirror, spin her some yarn about Cole but get her to keep a close eye on Phoebe. And there's still Cole".
What's next. The next chapter is finally getting into the reason behind what is going on. It sort of starts 1500 years ago with the Khmer (no, there's no time traveling) and finishes today. And there is a prophecy.
