Heaven's Mistaken Gift
by: Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell
Co-written by: That70sShoLova
Chapter 29: A New Path
Phoebe handed Piper the picture of the beautiful–demon–woman.
Piper glared down at the picture suspiciously, before turning that look onto Phoebe. "A demon, really? We're saving a demon?"
Paige looked over her shoulder. "She looks almost like an older version of Melinda."
"Coincidence," Cole said.
Piper sighed. "Yeah, sure."
"She needs help." Phoebe coughed uncomfortably.
Paige snorted. "A demon needs our help?" She looked awkwardly over to Cole. "No offense."
He smirked. "None taken."
Piper heaved a sigh. "Whatever. Let's get this over with."
"Where is she?" Paige asked.
"In hiding, I would assume. She's seen as a threat to—" he had to think now. He couldn't say the Source.
Piper waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, she's seen as an uprising threat who's gonna overthrow the kid." She sighed. "Phoebe, it'd be so much easier if the Source wasn't related to us."
She shrugged. "I know, but what can we do about it?" Paige was about to open her mouth—and insert her foot—but Phoebe glared and she kept quiet.
"Paige!" Piper admonished.
Paige held her hands up. "But I didn't say anything!"
"You were thinking it," Phoebe answered.
"Excuse me, Miss Mind Reader!" Paige shot back.
"Hey!" Cole said, stepping between them. "Knock it off! We're helping this demon for a reason!"
"And that reason would be what exactly?" Piper asked.
"Yeah, we've never tried to help a demon before, well, besides you," Paige answered. "What's so unique about this one?"
He had to think of a good explanation. Something they would believe. "Another demon is after her. If he gets a hold of her, it won't be good for you three."
Piper crossed her arms. "So why can't you just kill him? Why do you need us?"
Phoebe jumped in. "It's too powerful. We need a Power of Three spell."
Paige raised an eyebrow. "How do you know it's too powerful if you haven't seen it?"
Phoebe huffed. "Since when do you need a better explanation? He's going to kill us if we don't get to her before he does!"
Cole sighed. "Forget it, Phoebe. They don't want to help us. We can try this on our own, but then if something happens who'll keep Mel's powers in check?"
"Oh, that is low! Even for you, Cole!" Paige said.
"But he does have a point," Piper said. "And if her powers were ever really 'in check' when she attacked us, I'd hate to see her real power."
Paige sighed. "Fine then. We'll help, but I don't have to be happy about it."
"Gee, you radiate happiness, Paige," Phoebe said as she grabbed a notepad and pen.
"For the Charmed Child with Fire Eyes, realize the powers that arise, take them from this one of small might, transfer a dark soul of might, to the soulless one whom now has name that is this mother's wish. Two children born one, but now one released," Phoebe finished in a whisper. She smiled, tearing it out, folding it and stuffing in her pocket.
"Okay, so how do we find her?" Piper asked. "Phoebe, give me the spell."
"Uh, no. Let's wait. We don't to mess this up," she insisted.
"I'll go find her," Cole offered. "She can't be too hard to find. But she probably won't believe we want to help her and try to run so..."
Paige grabbed the box of crystals. "Don't worry. We've got it."
Cole nodded and shimmered away.
"What's with this sudden urge to help demons Phoebe?" Piper asked. "I didn't think you were on their side."
Phoebe sighed, running a hand through her long hair. "Piper I'm not. I'm just—"
"Mommy?" Melinda asked from the bottom of the stairs. "Mommy, were are you?"
"I'm up here with Auntie Piper and Paige," she called back through the open door. "Look Piper, I'm not for this and this situation isn't ideal for us I know, but I'm finally happy, so can't you just accept that? For me if no one else?"
Seconds later, Melinda ran into the room. "What are you doing?"
Meanwhile, with Cole…
He'd shimmered to the abandoned cavern in hopes of finding the demoness Kali had requested. This was going to be no easy task because, basically, they were ripping the soul out of the demoness and replacing it with Kali's. The demoness wouldn't be herself at all ever again and he knew she would never agree to it.
In reality, there was no other demon after her, but they had to have some ploy to get her sisters to help. Without a Power of Three spell, nothing would work.
Venicia, the demoness, appeared from the darkness. Her physical appearance mimicked that of Kali's true form, right down to her eyes which were fiery pits. Though, it didn't matter really. Once Kali's soul was infused within Venicia's body, her true appearance would overtake her. Venicia would be expelled forever and Kali would take her place.
In a way, Cole couldn't believe Phoebe wanted this. She didn't really seem that dark and deep, but something about the darkness—his darkness—comforted her and he was more than happy to provide that for her.
"Belthazar, to what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked, seeming to glide on the shadows toward him.
"I need you to do something for me," he informed.
Her ruby red lips formed into a smile. "And if I do this favor for you, what do I get in return?"
He smiled. "Just wait and see."
Manor
"Remember that, Prue?" Piper questioned. "I bet you remember exactly how many stitches I needed to have. Right?"
'Prue' blinked in surprise, dazed. "Um..." she racked her brain.
Paige grinned encouragingly. "I bet she does."
'Prue' sighed in relief after seeing Melinda run into the room. "Auntie Piper, will you play with me?" she asked sweetly.
Piper grinned. "Not right now sweetie. Maybe later. Where's Phoebe?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. She just said for me to take her to my house and then I should come back here."
"Hmmm. Seems odd," Paige said.
"Yeah, it does, but maybe there's a reason," Piper said. Then she sighed. "Though part of me fears to reason."
'Prue' walked over to Melinda, a gleam in her eyes only the girl could see. Leaning down, she whispered in her ear. Melinda nodded and they raced upstairs.
"Is it just me, or does that seem odd?" Paige asked.
"Odd how?" Piper asked.
"You know, kinda like they know each other more than they let on."
Piper shook her head. "Not possible. Unless those dreams…"
"You think they were real? C'mon Piper, dreams are dreams—"
"—but to some point they were exactly the same!" Piper argued. "They have to mean something!"
"Okay, let's say they do mean something. There are thousands of caverns down there. How do we find her?"
Piper sighed. "That's just it. I don't know."
Underworld
"You're the only demon strong enough to help me." he said. Using flattery was the best approach. She moved around him, the shadows lifting her as to where she drifted lazily around his shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulders. He had to resist the urge to shake her off.
"Really?" she purred. "What exactly is this, Balthazar?"
"The Charmed Ones." he said simply.
She tilted her head to the side a she floated around to look at his face. "Your little play toy? Hmm? What exactly do you have in mind for your little Phoebe and her sisters?"
"Death."
"Oooh," she drawled. "Finally gotten sick of the little witch?"
He shook his head. "I have the Book in my possession and now there services are no longer needed, nor desired."
"How dramatic. I've always been one for the theatrics, you know. What do I have to do?"
"Distract them. Go to the attic and hold them off as long as you can so I can kill their Whiteligher. No Whiteligher, no healing."
She twisted around him, smirking, the only thing full-blooded demons got to smiling. She disappeared, shadows consuming her.
Manor
"What are you still doing being sweet and innocent?" 'Prue' asked. "I thought you were going to kill them, infiltrate their hearts and destroy their lives."
Melinda rocked back on her heels. "I was, but then things…changed. But not in the way you would ever think. You'll have to keep up this charade a bit longer."
"Changed how? I don't want to be a witch anymore! All this togetherness and good deeds is making me queasy!"
Melinda laughed. "You'll see. Very soon things will turn in my favor. Now go grab the witches and bring them to the attic. Belthazar should be arriving soon."
'Prue' nodded, walking downstairs.
Melinda smiled. Finally, everything was going in her favor. Quickly, she shimmered up to the attic.
Seconds later, Piper and Paige entered the attic poised and ready to fight followed by a very calm 'Prue' who went to stand over beside Melinda.
"Alright, where's the demoness in distress? We don't have all day!" Piper huffed.
Paige laughed at her attempt at a joke. "But seriously, where are they?" she asked Melinda.
"Right here," Cole answered shimmering in with Venicia's arm in his as he shoved her in the cage.
Piper ran up and placed the final crystal and then walked back over to Paige.
Cole turned to Melinda. "Alright, now where's Phoebe?"
Melinda grinned devilishly. "I'll go get her!" she offered enthusiastically shimmering out.
With Phoebe
She formed right as Phoebe closed the door to the master bedroom.
"Melinda?"
She nodded. "Everything's ready, Mommy! Let's go!" she urged, grabbing her hand.
Phoebe smiled though her brows were knit together. She pulled away from Melinda and leaned against the doors. This was beginning to get to her. Her heart belonged with him—with them—she knew it did, but now… she sighed. Going against everything she'd been taught wasn't going to be easy. Everything she, Piper, Paige—even Prue—had taught her.
As long as Kali was, theoretically, "trapped" inside Melinda her sisters were safe, but what would happen once that wasn't a factor anymore? Would Kali really murder them for power? She had tried. On more than one occasion.
Nothing had really occurred to her of the immediate aftermath until now.
"Come on, Mommy!" Melinda said, pulling on her arm.
Phoebe looked at her. She was so sweet and innocent. But, deep down, even though she'd made the choice on her own, she knew they would be in constant danger and she didn't know if she could handle knowing that might happen.
Again, Phoebe pulled her hand away. "What's wrong, Phoebe?" Cole asked walking up from the hallway.
"Daddy, I wanna do it!" Melinda whined.
"Go back to the Manor Mel. I need to talk to her."
"Bu-bu-but—"
"GO!" he yelled.
She jumped, whimpering before shimmering out.
He waited a minute for her to register everything. What this meant was, well huge, and in honesty, Cole hadn't expected her to choose them—choose him—without a coercing. But she had and she even had a plan for, their daughter, the Source, to have her own body, which was extremely dangerous they both knew, but she'd done it because she wanted to, not because she had to.
He leaned against the doors beside her. This would probably be the most difficult decision she would ever have to make, but he'd be there every step of the way.
She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "Oh Cole, what am I doing?"
"Something that's your choice without anyone's say so in many years," he answered. "And I'll never leave your side."
"I know, I appreciate that, but… They'll be in so much danger now. Part of me doesn't want this."
"That's true," he answered. "Are you sure you've made the right decision?"
"I can't help being conflicted."
He chuckled lightly. "You wouldn't be the woman I fell for 10 years ago if you weren't. But you do realize that you can't play both sides, right?"
She nodded and he stepped in front of her, lifting her chin to look him in the eyes. Her eyes showed so much pain that he almost wanted to try to talk her out of it, but he knew he'd never truly be able to. "Whatever happens after this is fate and will never be your fault." He moved his hand to drag a few tendrils of her long hair behind her ear. "No matter what they say."
"It'll still be bad blood between the family though."
He nodded. "It always has and, inevitably, they will come after her. Maybe not us so much, but…"
"And that'll be hard. Part of me will always want to protect Kali, but Mel's like my 'actual' daughter. The one I've always wanted, but Kali's a part of her. A strong part. And what if she wants my power or Mel's or…"
He kissed her to cut off her completely sensible rant. "But you want this right? To be with us? With me?" he asked as she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest.
"Yes."
He returned the gesture. "Then we'll cross those bridges when we come to them."
She nodded, smoothing out the paper in her hands. "Let's go."
He nodded and they left.
Manor
"Let me out!" Venicia shouted. "You have no right to—" the cage surged as a shock made its way through her body. "Ow! What the hell is this?"
"Oh, can it!" Paige said, walking over. "We're trying to help you. The least you can do it be somewhat grateful we won't kill you…now."
She was taken aback. "Help from the Charmed Ones?" she scoffed. "Why would I need your help?"
Piper walked up. "Isn't there someone after you that you need protection from?"
"No!" she snapped. "Except you."
Paige turned around sharply. "Melinda, what do you know about this?"
Seconds later, Cole shimmered in with Phoebe blocking Melinda from view.
"Mel," Cole said quietly, "you know why she's here, don't you?"
She nodded. "Yes, Daddy I know," she answered without revealing anything.
"And you know what'll happen to you, don't you?" Phoebe asked as Melinda ducked under their arms to stand in front of them.
"Yes, Mommy," she said, her arms around Phoebe's waist. "She told me the pain would be bad, but it would go away."
Cole nodded. "That's right and then do you understand what'll happen after everything is done?"
Melinda nodded.
"Phoebe," Piper said nervously, "there never was any demon after her was there?" she asked as Paige went to stand beside her.
"What makes you say that?" she asked, her eyes shining with darkness. "There is someone after her," she commented while walking away from Cole and Melinda and over to her sisters, "but even I don't know who it is."
"And…this spell will help her?" Paige asked with skepticism.
Phoebe nodded, pulling out the spell and grabbing Piper's hand as they began to recite:
"For the Charmed Child with Fire Eyes,
realize the powers that arise,
take them from this one of small might,
transfer a dark soul of might,
to the soulless one whom now has name,
that is this mother's wish,
two children born one, but now one released."
A horrific scream erupted. One that had the pierce of a banshee with the power of a tornado. It made the Charmed Ones drop to the floor, covering their ears for fear of drums being erupted.
But it took them even more time to realize the screams were erupting from the child who was curled up into a ball…
. . .
. . .
Author's note: So what do you think? What will happen now? Will Piper and Paige try to stop it? What will happen to Kali, not to mention Melinda, once the transfer is complete?
Reviews are much appreciated. Please? [P.S. Great review-wise: 98! I've never had that many on any story. C'mon guys, let's break 100!]
Review thanks to: LeftWriter224, HalliwellMB , HeyThereAngel
Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell & That70sShowLova
