CHAPTER NINE
Finn had never spent much time to think about his life, he hadn't given himself time to do so. When he was five, he had followed a stray ball onto a street and a car had nearly killed him. If it hadn't been for Wyatt who had orbed him back into the safety of the Manor. They had been best friends ever seen. Magic, demons and witches had been a part of his life for nearly eleven years. He thought it was cool Wyatt could do it, but he never wanted to be Wyatt. The Halliwell family was scarred from too many close calls. Paine had been six, when the first visions had come, visions of pain and death. It had hardened her to the point where pain couldn't hurt her emotionally, hence the nickname Paine. The sisters were fighting against their own sister, the evil incarnated.
No, he was content being on the sidelines looking in and sometimes getting involved in the easier tasks of their magical life.
It had always been Finn & Wyatt and Wyatt & Finn, the best friends through everything. But then came Hayden…
Hayden was cool, smart and clever and he literally had girls fainting before his very eyes. Wyatt had quickly taken extra interest in him, which left Finn doubting things. Would Hayden take his place as Wyatt's best friend or was he just imagining things?
And now even Paine and Chris were worried. They had showed up, but he'd been loyal to Wyatt, because that's what best friends do… no matter how much you worry.
Finn sighed and sat down onto the couch in the living room.
,,I need to go home, don't I?''
He didn't even turn towards where Wyatt had materialised beside him. ,,It's a little pointless hiding here,'' he said, half agreeing. ,,Parents care, especially yours, because of well… everything. They don't want you hanging out with someone getting you into trouble.''
,,I get it, thank you,'' Wyatt said sounding annoyed.
,,Just saying,'' Finn stated, smirking.
--
Phoebe stared into the flames, transfixed by the colours and different forms it could take. But fire wasn't just fire for her. Fire was the symbol of the Source, of the Queen and the Prince. Their power was drawn from the beautiful and all-destroying element.
Something is coming…
It kept telling her, the fire. It kept telling her something big had been set in motion, something she might not think was in her control. It was bigger than the battle between good and evil… it was larger.
Nothing…
Her visions were different than when she'd been a Charmed One. She was a Seer; it was written in her blood and not even becoming evil and turning from the ancient powers of the Warren family, could stop her from knowing. Instead the fire showed her little bits and pieces of information good enough to know without knowing exactly.
For three weeks, the fire had told her the same thing.
Something is coming…
And she didn't know what? She needed her old powers back, or at least find someone who had anything resembling them.
--
,,There was a rebellion in LA,'' Leo informed the group, looking grave. ,,Five hundred people, marching towards the City Hall. They were armed magically, but Cole was alerted in time to stop them from raiding it. He took their souls, destroyed about half of them and messed with the rest. A Whitelighter was there, taking care of his charge, when… He's stir crazy, doesn't know a dog from a frog.''
Piper closed her eyes, wishing the news wouldn't shock her, but they always did. News of Cole's cruelty was always particularly cruel. Five hundred people reduced to nothing and Phoebe still stood behind him, encouraged him, helped him, and suddenly Piper felt her rage swell like it hadn't done for years.
The day was warm, but the sky was filled with clouds and it would soon rain. She walked into the garden abandoning the others to question Leo for answers, anything to understand that cruelty. The garden was neglected, but Melissa and Paula loved to play in it. The fairies, which also lived there, showered them with gifts because they were perfect creatures and they adored the happy girls.
,,Hey,'' Wyatt said tentatively behind her.
Piper smiled, because now at least her son was back.
,,I'm sorry,'' he said.
,,It's okay. Just be careful. The Source and the Queen are lurking here. So, be careful,'' she said, reaching out to touch his arms fleetingly.
,,Yes, mom.''
Everything was all right for now.
--
(A week later)
,,Hayden!'' Wyatt called, watching his friends chat with a bunch of girls by Wyatt's locker.
,,Where's Finn?'' the taller boy asked, brushing off the girls, who then proceeded to look extremely offended.
,,Sick,'' Wyatt replied, rolling his eyes. ,,With the flu. He'll be out for at least a week and a half.''
,,Sucks. So what are we going to do?''
,,I was thinking school, food and P3.''
,,On a Wednesday?'' Hayden questioned. Even though he was the king of skipping classes, he had some standards.
,,The Killers are playing,'' Wyatt answered with a smug grin.
,,We're on!''
,,Your parents wont mind?''
Hayden rolled his eyes. ,,My parents never mind. I'm a 'responsible' young man.''
,,They actually said that?'' Wyatt said disbelieving.
The other boy nodded. ,,If you're an angel at home, they'll let you do anything.''
,,Good to know.''
--
,,I have a job for you.''
Prue gaped, but quickly remembered that she was standing outside Paine's school and it was weird to look like that. ,,You're kidding.''
Jason chuckled over the phone. ,,No. You take great pictures and I could really use you at the Bay Mirror.''
,,Bay Mirror?'' she said, feeling a slight twitch in her right cheek. ,,Working for your wife.''
,,I know it might be difficult with Paige…''
,,I'll take it.''
,,Great,'' he said, actually sounding happy. ,,Jane will expect you at the office bright and early eight o'clock, Monday morning.''
,,Jason… thank you,'' she said gratefully.
,,Hey, you save the Earth, I can afford to pay you back a little.''
Prue smiled and saw Chris and Paine walk out of the school building beside each other. They'd always been particularly good friends, Wyatt always being a little on the outside. But he had Finn, so no one really worried. Preston was another matter, however, because Paula and Melissa also got along very well. He sometimes complained being on the outside, but he wasn't. The whole family was close, except for Phoebe, but she was… you know.
,,All these children, so innocent, so naïve and powerless to the real world,'' a female voice spoke beside Prue and she turned around quickly, recognising the voice.
Phoebe stood beside her, dressed casually but beautifully. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her face was a mask of curiosity. ,,I used to be like that. Innocent, ignorant and naïve.''
,,And that's bad thing?'' Prue asked, keeping her voice calm and collected, even though her heart was thumping away. Paine and Chris were close, too close. ,,Being innocent?''
Phoebe rolled her eyes. ,,Duh! Of course it is.''
Prue was reminded of a little girl in grown-ups clothes. Phoebe's pregnancy had been anything but normal. Cole had watched over her like a hawk stalking its prey, but news had still gotten out. The birth of the Prince had broken something inside her head and she'd ever since preferred being childish, letting Cole take responsibility… or so the Halliwell family had assumed. What exactly had happened was a mystery to everyone?
,,What are you doing here?'' Prue finally asked.
,,You see that boy teasing the girl with the glasses over there?'' Phoebe said and pointed towards the swings. ,,That's Charlotte and Robby. Charlotte is the geek, you see and Robby has seen his big brother pick on those geeks. In senior year of high school their relationship hasn't changed and they hate each other more than ever. Over Christmas break, they meet at a party and they get along surprisingly, ending with them sleeping together. She's college bound at Brown, but she gets pregnant and her life ends before it started. Charlotte the geek and Robby the bully end up married with a kid before they enter their twenties, but they live happily until Charlotte dies of cancer. Frightening, isn't it?''
,,Your point being?'' Prue said annoyed, but still transfixed by the boy and girl, who just had their lives told.
,,I see the future. Non-magical lives are laid out to me more clearly than witches or wizards futures. Their choices don't change the world magically like our choices.''
Prue hadn't known that. ,,Are you saying that regular people have no say in how the future can work? They can do nothing to change it?'' she asked.
,,No,'' Phoebe said indifferently. ,,But that isn't the point. The point is; I'm not seeing non-magical lives anymore. I'm not seeing anything in fact.''
,,Oh, you don't see anything anymore. Yuppie!'' Prue said, smirking. ,,The fact that you cant see is good for my side, idiot.''
Phoebe took a deep breath and turned to stand in front of her older sister. ,,No, Prue, it is not good for the white hats. It's very, very bad. If I'm right, it will mean the end of both good and evil. Seeing nothing means there isn't anything to see. No futures, no new love, no Charlotte and Robby. Nothing!''
Finally the meaning behind Phoebe's unexpected visit gave meaning. Prue looked worried at her little sister.
,,You need help?'' she asked.
,,No!'' Phoebe replied forcefully. ,,I just need you to look into it. Ask the Elders, whatever goody-two-shoes do.''
,,Does Cole even know you're here?''
Phoebe looked at like she was a complete idiot. ,,Honey, Cole knows I can take care of myself. That is not the issue here.''
,,Whatever you say, sis,'' Prue said. ,,I'll do this one thing for you, okay? But lay off my family until you get what you want.''
The younger sister rolled her eyes. ,,Deal.''
,,Deal.''