DANGEROUS TURN
She could feel it in her blood. The time is near. As the wake of the midnight hour approaches, the Mistress of Night began to set the spell. She has been waiting for this since the birth of young Angel… and now the evils of darkness will finally fall into place. All she has to do now is wait for…
"One pinch of Wiccan blood, my Mistress."
The Mistress turned around, grinning triumphantly at the spirit in Kiara Lance's body.
"Well done, Novania." She purred, holding her palm out for the syringe.
Kiara walked proudly into the darkened room. She stopped, briefly glancing at the Mistress's warlock husband, Wispbane.
The Mistress smirked at Novania's hesitancy, "Don't worry, Novania. He won't bite."
"I'm not afraid of his bite, Mistress." She answered, eyes still on the shadowy figure in the corner of the room, "It's his dark heart that I fear."
"Mine's just as deadly, spirit. It should be my intentions to fear, not his." Hand still outstretched, growing anxious, "Now, give me her blood."
Novania took one last look at Wispbane, then her eyes strayed onto the sleeping child next to the Mistress.
The Mistress's smile began to waiver for a moment as suspicions began to stir within her. Something was wrong with Novania. She especially didn't like the way she was beginning to eye Angel.
Novania's gaze focused on the child, then made its way back up to Angel's mother. Feigning a smile, "What is it, master?"
"What of my daughter that has caught your interest, Novania?" She moved towards the lady, slow and steady.
"Nothing, Mistress."
"Don't lie to me, Novania." She hissed, her growing anger evident in her silky voice. "I can see it in your eyes. What are you thinking about in that evil little mind of yours, spirit?"
Novania took a step back, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "Nothing wicked, master. I swear!" Indicating to Angel, "I was just thrown off by the fact that Angel was in the room. I would assume that she would be sound asleep in her bed like any sleeping child would be at this hour of night."
"You know better that Angel is not like any child, Novania. And you know that now more than ever I would never leave my little girl's side. It is too dangerous." With each step towards Novania, the spirit took a step back. It continued like this until Novania was literally backed into a corner.
"You have betrayed me, haven't you Novania?" The Mistress accused, knowing that this was bound to happen.
She shook her head, trying to laugh. "M-m-m-me? N-n-n-never!" Novania smiled, "Why would I?" She looked the Mistress in the eye, "I know the price to pay if I betray you."
"And only a fool would do such a thing." Wispbane chimed in.
"A *dead* fool." His wife said, her eyes not daring to falter from Novania's.
Novania gulped, her hand playing with the syringe delicately.
"Give me the young witch's blood, Novania. Or else I will pry it out of your cold dead hands myself."
Novania nodded, doing as she was told.
Once the Mistress had the needle in her grasp, a cool smile appeared on her face. Meeting eyes with Novania, "You just saved me the chance from performing a spell I could have used on one of my worst enemies, Novania."
Novania squirmed herself from the suffocating corner. She found herself dashing to the doorway, complete with fright. But why? For the first time in her life, Novania actually felt the beating of a scared heart.
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Phoebe was staring intently at the map, sisterly arms around Fiona, when her premonitions hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Phoebe?!" Fiona gasped, reaching to grab hold of Phoebe as the witch stumbled back from shock.
When it was over, her eyes were on Fi, concerned for her. "Oh my God! Jack!"
"What?!" Fi grasped Phoebe's hands, "What about Jack? You saw something about my brother? Is he in trouble?" Questions were dropping like bombs.
Clu raced to Fi's side, placing his hands on her shoulders, "Fiona, relax! Calm down and let Phoebe take a breath."
Prue went to her sister's side, as did Declan, helping to steady her. Prue too was extremely concerned about what Phoebe had seen about Jack.
Once she caught her breath, Phoebe began to describe what she saw. "It was Jack… and he was with Kiara. But not the Kiara we know. It was Novania… and I think they were making some kind of deal."
Clu met eyes with Prue, both thinking the same thing. He looked at Phoebe, waiting for her to continue.
"And she handed him, like, this needle thing."
"A needle?" Fi was confused. This wasn't making any sense.
"And then I saw you… and he had pricked the needle into your arm when you weren't looking…"
Realization dawned on Fiona, much to her dismay. "That was him…" Her eyes strayed onto Clu.
"And then I saw him giving the needle back to Kiara…" Phoebe continued.
Anger, hurt, and confusion began to boil within Clu. He gazed down at Fi and noticed that she too was just as confused. "He lied to me." Clu growled, catching Fiona's attention.
"What?" She looked up at him.
Much to his own sadness, he told Fiona of his earlier conversation with Novania and then with Jack. When he was done, Fi shook her head in disbelief.
"Why would he do such a thing? Jack wouldn't agree to such a thing. I know my brother!" She defended him.
"Honey, we all want to believe that." Phoebe said, "But after what I saw…"
"Jack loves me too much to just… to just betray me like that!" Fi walked away from the small group. "And even if he did, he must have a very good reason for making a deal with Novania."
"Like what, Fi?" Prue asked, wanting to believe the same thing. "Clu was given the same deal, but he turned it down." She made her way to Fiona, trying to comfort her. "Look, Fi, I want to give Jack the same benefit of the doubt too, but…"
"But nothing, Prue!" Fi shrugged away from her. "Jack must have felt trapped! I mean," She looked at Clu, "You said that Novania offered you my safe life and Kiara's return in exchange for my powers, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, think of what Novania must have offered Jack! Think about it, what could she have given him in return for my powers?"
"Well, first thing is your life, Fi." Jimmy chimed in, joining the group.
"And Kiara's return." Declan added.
Leo, who had remained quiet, was thinking that something else was also offered to Jack. It was then that it hit him.
"Fiona, your father!"
"What?" She stopped dead in her tracks, spun around to look at Leo. "What about my father?"
"Think about it." He walked towards them. "Clu and Jack were offered the same things in exchange for your powers… with a few exceptions. Clu turned down his, but Jack didn't. Now why? Because the only thing that would make Jack really consider into working with Novania is if she offered your father's return."
"Leo, Fi's dad died." Jimmy said, confused by Leo's logic. "Don't tell me that Novania offered to bring back the dead."
"Not to bring back the dead, Jimmy." Declan spoke up, "More like turn back time and change it. Is that right, Leo?"
"Exactly, Declan. If Novania teamed up with some very powerful forces, I bet that they told her that they will do anything in exchange for Fiona's powers. Give Jack what he wants in return for what they want."
Fiona's blood stopped cold. If what Leo was saying is true… "Oh my God." She slumped down, feeling a definite chill down her spine.
"Fi!" Clu raced to her side, holding her.
"Oh my God… Jack…" She whispered, disbelieving everything.
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His right palm was outstretched, aimed right at his goal. Deep from the shadows, he remained hidden. Waiting for the perfect time to strike.
From the corner of his eye, he held his gaze on Novania. She was clutching on the door frame, also watching the Mistress do her magickal deed.
"You okay, Nov?" He whispered to her.
"Just do what you have to do, Phillips." She hissed back.
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The witching hour was near… and she was thrilled that the power was just within her reach.
She murmured the final verse of her incantation as she reached over for the syringe. Looking up at her husband, grinning wickedly at him. "Just one drop of that witch's blood… and we can finally complete the last phrase, my dear husband."
He nodded, returning the grin.
Just as she was about to add the final ingredient into the boiling cauldron… a piercing ball of light slammed into the syringe, sending it out of her hand and shattering it into the wall. The Mistress cried in pain as she felt the heat of the ball. She also cried out as she watched Fiona's blood soak into the wood floor panels.
"If you want my sister's powers, you're going to have to get to it through me. The hard way."
Her eyes darted to the door, flaming up as she saw the Phillips's boy, Jack, standing there. His stance was defiant, like a hero waiting for battle. He stood still and proud, daring for the foes to make their first move.
The Mistress stalked towards him, an ugly smirk on her face. "You wicked, wicked boy. How dare you use your powers on me. Do you have any idea on what that little stunt has cost you?"
Jack just smirked back, not budging. "Probably my life… but as I said, you're going to have to get through me to get to my sister."
Wispbane began to make his way towards Jack, but his wife held up her hand. "Don't." She hissed. "This boy is mine."
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"Jack…" Novania clutched his arm, fearing for this boy's life. She knew what the Mistress was capable of, and knowing that caused her concern towards Jack.
He glanced back at Novania, a small reassuring smile on his face. "Don't worry, Nov." Jack whispered. "Just do what you have to do."
She nodded, reaching inside her jacket to assure herself of the crystal's safety. Meeting eyes with Jack, she silently promised to deliver the sacred package…
"STOP!"
"Novania!" Jack cried, spinning around to catch her. The Mistress had caught the suspicious exchange between Jack and Novania. With no hesitation, she sent an fiery blast towards the traitor.
Jack heard her cry in pain as she collapsed under the immense heat. She crumbled in agony. Though she wasn't engulfed in flames, she still felt the heat inside her.
"Novania…" He whispered, holding Kiara's shaking body. He tried to figure out what was wrong, so that he could somehow heal her… but the body temperature was fine, and looked okay physically… so why was she still shaking?
"Her spirit is dying. That's why she's having that seizure. I just made sure that the little fire ball I sent her engulfed her soul and not her physical body." The Mistress stood over, eyes gleaming evilly at them. "Soon, all that will be left is any empty shell."
"You b*tch." Jack swore at her, feeling an immense amount of anger towards this villainous.
"Oh, there's no use calling anyone names, now Jack." She snickered at the young lad.
Holding Novania tight, whispering to her, "C'mon, Nov. Hold tight. Fight this."
"You…" Novania coughed, knowing that she was dying. "You have to… have to save… save Kiara's soul…"
"Don't talk, Nov." He urged her to stay still, alarmed by how pale her eyes were turning.
"The treacherous little thing's right, Jack." The Mistress spoke, taunting him with the awful truth. "Once the body has no soul, no spirit to control it, it's just a body. An empty shell. No use to anyone."
Jack stared daggers up at the Mistress. Feeling the anger boiling to its breaking point. Suddenly, an idea struck him. Leaning down, he whispered something to Novania. She looked back at him, confused. Jack just smiled reassuringly at her, wiping a stray hair from her face affectionately. Giving his hand a gentle squeeze, with every last amount of strength that she could sum up, Novania blinked herself out of Jack's arms, and out of the room.
The Mistress could feel a scream threatening to escape her lips. She watched as a very triumphant Jack Phillips stood tall and proud. His eyes stared down at the Mistress.
"You foolish boy."
"No, you are the fool." He didn't dare flinch as his enemy threatened him with her powers.
With one single movement, an athame simmered into her hand, causing her to swing at Jack with it. The athame sliced into his shirt, mere millimeters from his flesh. He jumped back as the woman lunged at him with infinite fury.
"You will pay for turning Novania against me, Phillips!"
Jack held up his hand, sending a flash of energy towards the Mistress. She stumbled back from the flash, but still fought her way to destroy him.
With each of the Mistress's attempt to stab Jack, he came back at her with positive light energies. It was a battle to the death for the two forces of good and evil.
The Mistress sent out a dark energy, causing Jack to become paralyze for a mere moment. Using it to her advantage, she attempted to fully pierce the blade into his heart. As the tip of the athame came into contact with his flesh, Jack cried out in pain. He managed to revive himself, but not before she drove the blade deeper into him. With every fiber in his body, he forced the athame from his flesh, causing the Mistress to stumble back.
Frustrated, and completely exhausted, with everything he had, Jack sent out numerous amounts of energy towards her. Some of which didn't even strike her down.
Suddenly, an ear piercing wail emerged from the corner of the room. Both the Mistress and Jack halted in their place, turning to the sound.
"Angel?!" The Mistress turned to her daughter, as the child cried in pain.
Jack stared at the little girl. His blood froze as realization set in. Without even knowing it, without any control of his own, he had accidentally sent a burst of energy towards the child.
The Mistress held her daughter tight, whispering a healing incantation.
"Oh my God…" Jack whispered, watching both parents go to their little girl. "What have I done?"
A sob broke loose from the Mistress's throat as she cradled her weak daughter. Wispbane took in his child's frail form.
"His powers were too much for Angel, wife. Let her go."
"Shut-up, husband! Leave me be so that I can heal her!" She pushed Wispbane away, repeating the words over and over.
Even Jack could tell by the child's pale face that, much to his silent horror, she was dead. He stood still, not daring to move. He couldn't leave. It was his chance to, but he just couldn't. He had killed a little girl. "I killed her." He whispered to himself.
Once reality set in for the Mistress, she finally let go of her Angel. Grief was soon replace with anger as she set eyes on Jack.
"Murderer!" She cried out.
He opened his mouth, trying to think of the right words to say, but he couldn't think of it.
"You will pay for killing my child!" She lunged at Jack with a force stronger than death, athame in hand.
He stood there, frozen with fear and guilt. His hands went up as if to shield her strike. Jack would have been killed… if Leo hadn't orbed in, grabbed Jack, and orbed the both of them out of there.
The Mistress stood in her place, stunned by Jack's disappearance. Wispbane came up behind her, placing comforting hands on her shoulders. Still boiling with fury, she turned around and killed off her husband with a fiery blast. She watched with silent satisfaction as Wispbane's frail form crumbled into ashes. When his death was over, with infinite rage, she bellowed, "Murderer! If it's the last thing I do, Jack Phillips, I will destroy you with every being of my existence! Destroy you and everyone that you hold dear!"
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"Is he going to be okay?" Fiona hovered over her brother's bedside, completely worried sick. She watched helplessly as Leo used his powers to heal Jack's wound from the Mistress's athame.
Clu placed his hands lovingly on Fi's shoulders, trying to massage the tension out of her. "He's going to be fine, Fi."
Prue had sat down on the bed, opposite of Leo. She too was worried about Jack.
As soon as Novania had blinked herself into the Halliwell manor, she had to fight off all their questions and immediately tell them Jack's whereabouts. Leo quickly orbed himself to the location Novania had informed them, and just in time too. When Leo and Jack returned, Fi's brother collapsed to the ground from exhaustion, not to mention from his bleeding wound. Novania maintained her strength to stay awake until Jack's safe return. As soon as she saw that he was in good care, she too collapsed.
Once Leo's healing was a success, Jack woke up and began gasping for air. He blinked his eyes, taking in his surroundings. Suddenly, the night's events came back to him. Putting his head in his hands, "Oh my God… it wasn't a dream!"
"Jack?" Fi spoke up, slowly making her way towards her brother. She watched as he began to openly sob and break down right before her eyes. "Jack? What's wrong? What happened? Please tell me… please…" She enveloped him in a hug, holding him tight.
Accepting her arms, Jack began to tell them, in between sobs, what had happened between him and the Mistress. When he was through, all he could do was be comforted by the warmth of his baby sister's presence.
This was killing Fiona. She didn't know what to do, how to react. All she knew, all she could fathom in, is the fact that her brother was in trouble.
"Jack, it was an accident. You were just trying to defend yourself." Prue also tried to reassure him, but felt just as helpless as Fi.
"I killed a child, Prue." He looked up at her with the most saddest blue eyes Prue has ever seen. It completely broke her heart. "And the fact that it was an accident makes it just as wrong."
"The child was a casualty… a victim of the war between good and evil… but she was also a child destined to fulfill evil's prophecies…"
Everyone in the room turned towards the weak voice who had spoken the sad truth. Jack immediately stood up, and made his way towards the sound of that voice.
"Novania…" He looked over the weary form, "Hey…" He spoke, gently taking her hand.
Novania laid on the bed next to Jack's. She was physically exhausted and spiritually drained. She knew that her life was almost up, thanks to the Mistress's spell.
"Jack…" She began to speak, but was followed by a series of coughs. She tried to gain control, but she was hurting too much inside. Using every ounce of strength, she reached into her jacket and revealing the crystal object to everyone in the room.
She laid the shimmering ball in Jack's free hand, a satisfied smile on her fatigued face. "This body's too… *cough*… too beautiful to have it… *cough*… buried six feet… *cough, cough*… under…"
"Novania… please, don't talk." Beaming kindly at her, "Save your strength. I'm sure that the Charmed Ones have a spell that can heal you." He looked up at Prue, eyes pleading, "Don't you?"
Prue didn't know how to respond. Sure she was grateful for Novania for saving Jack's life… but Novania was evil… wasn't she?
"Jack… *cough*… don't make Prue lie…" Novania spoke up.
"Novania…" He sighed, "You can't give up."
"I must, Jack." Novania shook her head, fighting to stay awake a while longer before finally giving in. "You must let me die… to save Kiara."
Jack didn't reply. He just sat there, looking at the spirit who he had once hated but now couldn't bear to see leave. He looked away, his hand slipping from her grasp. To Leo, he handed him the crystal orb that held Kiara's soul.
"Jack…" Fiona spoke up, wanting to reach out to her brother, only to have him shrug her off as he walked out of the room.
"That brother of yours is surely something, Fiona Phillips…" Novania said, her spirit slowly slipping out of the body.
"Don't I know it, Nov." She smiled, despite herself.
"Novania," Leo approached her, Prue and Piper behind him. Phoebe, with Declan and Jimmy, entered the room, joining her sisters. "You ready?"
Sighing, then smiling, "As I heard a bright human say… *cough*… 'in the darkness is the light'… right, Fiona?"
The Charmed Ones formed a circle around the body, joining hands as Leo and Fi waited for their instructions from Novania. Using up her strength, she informed the three sisters of the proper incantation to help restore Kiara's soul.
As the sisters began to chant, Leo and Fiona were told to help hold the crystal ball right in the middle of the sisters' circle, right over Kiara's body. As the orb began to glow, and Novania began to slip steadily into spiritual damnation, Fi whispered kindly to Novania, "Thank you."
=====================================================================
Jack sat on the Halliwell porch stoop. He looked up at the sky, noticing the early twilight of the new day. The sun would be up within a few hours… and the day would begin again. The young man was tired, feeling as if years were taken from him. He placed his head in his hands, refusing to see anything except the darkness.
"It's going to be a beautiful day, Jack."
The young man shot up, startled by the new voice. He turned around and, despite himself, beamed brightly at the figure before him. He looked her over and found himself seeing her with sad eyes, even though he was honestly thrilled to see her.
"Y'know, Phillips, everyone else has given me a hug on my return." Extending her own arms, "Don't I get one from you too?" Her eyes were twinkling with life. Only the real Kiara Lance could allow the silver in her eyes to glimmer like that.
"Kiara…" He grinned, before enveloping her in one huge genuine hug.
She returned the embrace, feeling every ounce of emotion within him. When they separated, she gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. "You okay, Phillips?"
"Honestly?"
With a quiet smile, "Honestly."
"I feel like the world just exploded right under me… like total crap."
Kiara nodded, a bit understanding. "Jack, I can't truly say that what just happened to you will eventually heal… because it won't. It's going to stay with you until the day you die. Having the blood of someone else's won't wipe clean. Believe me, I know." She said sadly.
"Two people died tonight, Kiara. And in one way or another, I had a hand in them."
"But it was by accident, Jack. And that is the difference between the Mistress and you. She used those innocents as pawns in her game, and disposed of them once she was through using them. You are a loving soul, Phillips. She has a soul… but it's as dark as her heart."
Jack considered Kiara's words. He tried to smile, but could only muster up a sigh. Kiara's heart went out to him, watching as he sat back down on the stoop.
She opened her mouth, about to say something, when Jack warned, "Don't tell me that I'm going to get over it, Kiara. You and I both know that that's a total lie."
"I wasn't going to say that, Jack. In fact," She sat next to him, "I want you to *never* forget Angel's and Novania's deaths."
Meeting eyes with her, "And why not?"
"Because," She took his hand, looking at him with sincere, soulful eyes, "It is through their deaths that you will gain your strength. What happened to them, and what has and will happen to you will only make you wiser and stronger. Mentally, emotionally, physically… and magickally." Kiara chuckled silently, grinning at him, "It sounds redundant yet simple…" Sighing, she looked up at the sky. She then gave him a gentle hug, and then a kiss on the cheek.
Kiara got up, beaming at him, and said before she left him with his thoughts, "But frankly, it's just the truth."
She could feel it in her blood. The time is near. As the wake of the midnight hour approaches, the Mistress of Night began to set the spell. She has been waiting for this since the birth of young Angel… and now the evils of darkness will finally fall into place. All she has to do now is wait for…
"One pinch of Wiccan blood, my Mistress."
The Mistress turned around, grinning triumphantly at the spirit in Kiara Lance's body.
"Well done, Novania." She purred, holding her palm out for the syringe.
Kiara walked proudly into the darkened room. She stopped, briefly glancing at the Mistress's warlock husband, Wispbane.
The Mistress smirked at Novania's hesitancy, "Don't worry, Novania. He won't bite."
"I'm not afraid of his bite, Mistress." She answered, eyes still on the shadowy figure in the corner of the room, "It's his dark heart that I fear."
"Mine's just as deadly, spirit. It should be my intentions to fear, not his." Hand still outstretched, growing anxious, "Now, give me her blood."
Novania took one last look at Wispbane, then her eyes strayed onto the sleeping child next to the Mistress.
The Mistress's smile began to waiver for a moment as suspicions began to stir within her. Something was wrong with Novania. She especially didn't like the way she was beginning to eye Angel.
Novania's gaze focused on the child, then made its way back up to Angel's mother. Feigning a smile, "What is it, master?"
"What of my daughter that has caught your interest, Novania?" She moved towards the lady, slow and steady.
"Nothing, Mistress."
"Don't lie to me, Novania." She hissed, her growing anger evident in her silky voice. "I can see it in your eyes. What are you thinking about in that evil little mind of yours, spirit?"
Novania took a step back, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "Nothing wicked, master. I swear!" Indicating to Angel, "I was just thrown off by the fact that Angel was in the room. I would assume that she would be sound asleep in her bed like any sleeping child would be at this hour of night."
"You know better that Angel is not like any child, Novania. And you know that now more than ever I would never leave my little girl's side. It is too dangerous." With each step towards Novania, the spirit took a step back. It continued like this until Novania was literally backed into a corner.
"You have betrayed me, haven't you Novania?" The Mistress accused, knowing that this was bound to happen.
She shook her head, trying to laugh. "M-m-m-me? N-n-n-never!" Novania smiled, "Why would I?" She looked the Mistress in the eye, "I know the price to pay if I betray you."
"And only a fool would do such a thing." Wispbane chimed in.
"A *dead* fool." His wife said, her eyes not daring to falter from Novania's.
Novania gulped, her hand playing with the syringe delicately.
"Give me the young witch's blood, Novania. Or else I will pry it out of your cold dead hands myself."
Novania nodded, doing as she was told.
Once the Mistress had the needle in her grasp, a cool smile appeared on her face. Meeting eyes with Novania, "You just saved me the chance from performing a spell I could have used on one of my worst enemies, Novania."
Novania squirmed herself from the suffocating corner. She found herself dashing to the doorway, complete with fright. But why? For the first time in her life, Novania actually felt the beating of a scared heart.
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Phoebe was staring intently at the map, sisterly arms around Fiona, when her premonitions hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Phoebe?!" Fiona gasped, reaching to grab hold of Phoebe as the witch stumbled back from shock.
When it was over, her eyes were on Fi, concerned for her. "Oh my God! Jack!"
"What?!" Fi grasped Phoebe's hands, "What about Jack? You saw something about my brother? Is he in trouble?" Questions were dropping like bombs.
Clu raced to Fi's side, placing his hands on her shoulders, "Fiona, relax! Calm down and let Phoebe take a breath."
Prue went to her sister's side, as did Declan, helping to steady her. Prue too was extremely concerned about what Phoebe had seen about Jack.
Once she caught her breath, Phoebe began to describe what she saw. "It was Jack… and he was with Kiara. But not the Kiara we know. It was Novania… and I think they were making some kind of deal."
Clu met eyes with Prue, both thinking the same thing. He looked at Phoebe, waiting for her to continue.
"And she handed him, like, this needle thing."
"A needle?" Fi was confused. This wasn't making any sense.
"And then I saw you… and he had pricked the needle into your arm when you weren't looking…"
Realization dawned on Fiona, much to her dismay. "That was him…" Her eyes strayed onto Clu.
"And then I saw him giving the needle back to Kiara…" Phoebe continued.
Anger, hurt, and confusion began to boil within Clu. He gazed down at Fi and noticed that she too was just as confused. "He lied to me." Clu growled, catching Fiona's attention.
"What?" She looked up at him.
Much to his own sadness, he told Fiona of his earlier conversation with Novania and then with Jack. When he was done, Fi shook her head in disbelief.
"Why would he do such a thing? Jack wouldn't agree to such a thing. I know my brother!" She defended him.
"Honey, we all want to believe that." Phoebe said, "But after what I saw…"
"Jack loves me too much to just… to just betray me like that!" Fi walked away from the small group. "And even if he did, he must have a very good reason for making a deal with Novania."
"Like what, Fi?" Prue asked, wanting to believe the same thing. "Clu was given the same deal, but he turned it down." She made her way to Fiona, trying to comfort her. "Look, Fi, I want to give Jack the same benefit of the doubt too, but…"
"But nothing, Prue!" Fi shrugged away from her. "Jack must have felt trapped! I mean," She looked at Clu, "You said that Novania offered you my safe life and Kiara's return in exchange for my powers, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, think of what Novania must have offered Jack! Think about it, what could she have given him in return for my powers?"
"Well, first thing is your life, Fi." Jimmy chimed in, joining the group.
"And Kiara's return." Declan added.
Leo, who had remained quiet, was thinking that something else was also offered to Jack. It was then that it hit him.
"Fiona, your father!"
"What?" She stopped dead in her tracks, spun around to look at Leo. "What about my father?"
"Think about it." He walked towards them. "Clu and Jack were offered the same things in exchange for your powers… with a few exceptions. Clu turned down his, but Jack didn't. Now why? Because the only thing that would make Jack really consider into working with Novania is if she offered your father's return."
"Leo, Fi's dad died." Jimmy said, confused by Leo's logic. "Don't tell me that Novania offered to bring back the dead."
"Not to bring back the dead, Jimmy." Declan spoke up, "More like turn back time and change it. Is that right, Leo?"
"Exactly, Declan. If Novania teamed up with some very powerful forces, I bet that they told her that they will do anything in exchange for Fiona's powers. Give Jack what he wants in return for what they want."
Fiona's blood stopped cold. If what Leo was saying is true… "Oh my God." She slumped down, feeling a definite chill down her spine.
"Fi!" Clu raced to her side, holding her.
"Oh my God… Jack…" She whispered, disbelieving everything.
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His right palm was outstretched, aimed right at his goal. Deep from the shadows, he remained hidden. Waiting for the perfect time to strike.
From the corner of his eye, he held his gaze on Novania. She was clutching on the door frame, also watching the Mistress do her magickal deed.
"You okay, Nov?" He whispered to her.
"Just do what you have to do, Phillips." She hissed back.
=====================================================================
The witching hour was near… and she was thrilled that the power was just within her reach.
She murmured the final verse of her incantation as she reached over for the syringe. Looking up at her husband, grinning wickedly at him. "Just one drop of that witch's blood… and we can finally complete the last phrase, my dear husband."
He nodded, returning the grin.
Just as she was about to add the final ingredient into the boiling cauldron… a piercing ball of light slammed into the syringe, sending it out of her hand and shattering it into the wall. The Mistress cried in pain as she felt the heat of the ball. She also cried out as she watched Fiona's blood soak into the wood floor panels.
"If you want my sister's powers, you're going to have to get to it through me. The hard way."
Her eyes darted to the door, flaming up as she saw the Phillips's boy, Jack, standing there. His stance was defiant, like a hero waiting for battle. He stood still and proud, daring for the foes to make their first move.
The Mistress stalked towards him, an ugly smirk on her face. "You wicked, wicked boy. How dare you use your powers on me. Do you have any idea on what that little stunt has cost you?"
Jack just smirked back, not budging. "Probably my life… but as I said, you're going to have to get through me to get to my sister."
Wispbane began to make his way towards Jack, but his wife held up her hand. "Don't." She hissed. "This boy is mine."
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"Jack…" Novania clutched his arm, fearing for this boy's life. She knew what the Mistress was capable of, and knowing that caused her concern towards Jack.
He glanced back at Novania, a small reassuring smile on his face. "Don't worry, Nov." Jack whispered. "Just do what you have to do."
She nodded, reaching inside her jacket to assure herself of the crystal's safety. Meeting eyes with Jack, she silently promised to deliver the sacred package…
"STOP!"
"Novania!" Jack cried, spinning around to catch her. The Mistress had caught the suspicious exchange between Jack and Novania. With no hesitation, she sent an fiery blast towards the traitor.
Jack heard her cry in pain as she collapsed under the immense heat. She crumbled in agony. Though she wasn't engulfed in flames, she still felt the heat inside her.
"Novania…" He whispered, holding Kiara's shaking body. He tried to figure out what was wrong, so that he could somehow heal her… but the body temperature was fine, and looked okay physically… so why was she still shaking?
"Her spirit is dying. That's why she's having that seizure. I just made sure that the little fire ball I sent her engulfed her soul and not her physical body." The Mistress stood over, eyes gleaming evilly at them. "Soon, all that will be left is any empty shell."
"You b*tch." Jack swore at her, feeling an immense amount of anger towards this villainous.
"Oh, there's no use calling anyone names, now Jack." She snickered at the young lad.
Holding Novania tight, whispering to her, "C'mon, Nov. Hold tight. Fight this."
"You…" Novania coughed, knowing that she was dying. "You have to… have to save… save Kiara's soul…"
"Don't talk, Nov." He urged her to stay still, alarmed by how pale her eyes were turning.
"The treacherous little thing's right, Jack." The Mistress spoke, taunting him with the awful truth. "Once the body has no soul, no spirit to control it, it's just a body. An empty shell. No use to anyone."
Jack stared daggers up at the Mistress. Feeling the anger boiling to its breaking point. Suddenly, an idea struck him. Leaning down, he whispered something to Novania. She looked back at him, confused. Jack just smiled reassuringly at her, wiping a stray hair from her face affectionately. Giving his hand a gentle squeeze, with every last amount of strength that she could sum up, Novania blinked herself out of Jack's arms, and out of the room.
The Mistress could feel a scream threatening to escape her lips. She watched as a very triumphant Jack Phillips stood tall and proud. His eyes stared down at the Mistress.
"You foolish boy."
"No, you are the fool." He didn't dare flinch as his enemy threatened him with her powers.
With one single movement, an athame simmered into her hand, causing her to swing at Jack with it. The athame sliced into his shirt, mere millimeters from his flesh. He jumped back as the woman lunged at him with infinite fury.
"You will pay for turning Novania against me, Phillips!"
Jack held up his hand, sending a flash of energy towards the Mistress. She stumbled back from the flash, but still fought her way to destroy him.
With each of the Mistress's attempt to stab Jack, he came back at her with positive light energies. It was a battle to the death for the two forces of good and evil.
The Mistress sent out a dark energy, causing Jack to become paralyze for a mere moment. Using it to her advantage, she attempted to fully pierce the blade into his heart. As the tip of the athame came into contact with his flesh, Jack cried out in pain. He managed to revive himself, but not before she drove the blade deeper into him. With every fiber in his body, he forced the athame from his flesh, causing the Mistress to stumble back.
Frustrated, and completely exhausted, with everything he had, Jack sent out numerous amounts of energy towards her. Some of which didn't even strike her down.
Suddenly, an ear piercing wail emerged from the corner of the room. Both the Mistress and Jack halted in their place, turning to the sound.
"Angel?!" The Mistress turned to her daughter, as the child cried in pain.
Jack stared at the little girl. His blood froze as realization set in. Without even knowing it, without any control of his own, he had accidentally sent a burst of energy towards the child.
The Mistress held her daughter tight, whispering a healing incantation.
"Oh my God…" Jack whispered, watching both parents go to their little girl. "What have I done?"
A sob broke loose from the Mistress's throat as she cradled her weak daughter. Wispbane took in his child's frail form.
"His powers were too much for Angel, wife. Let her go."
"Shut-up, husband! Leave me be so that I can heal her!" She pushed Wispbane away, repeating the words over and over.
Even Jack could tell by the child's pale face that, much to his silent horror, she was dead. He stood still, not daring to move. He couldn't leave. It was his chance to, but he just couldn't. He had killed a little girl. "I killed her." He whispered to himself.
Once reality set in for the Mistress, she finally let go of her Angel. Grief was soon replace with anger as she set eyes on Jack.
"Murderer!" She cried out.
He opened his mouth, trying to think of the right words to say, but he couldn't think of it.
"You will pay for killing my child!" She lunged at Jack with a force stronger than death, athame in hand.
He stood there, frozen with fear and guilt. His hands went up as if to shield her strike. Jack would have been killed… if Leo hadn't orbed in, grabbed Jack, and orbed the both of them out of there.
The Mistress stood in her place, stunned by Jack's disappearance. Wispbane came up behind her, placing comforting hands on her shoulders. Still boiling with fury, she turned around and killed off her husband with a fiery blast. She watched with silent satisfaction as Wispbane's frail form crumbled into ashes. When his death was over, with infinite rage, she bellowed, "Murderer! If it's the last thing I do, Jack Phillips, I will destroy you with every being of my existence! Destroy you and everyone that you hold dear!"
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"Is he going to be okay?" Fiona hovered over her brother's bedside, completely worried sick. She watched helplessly as Leo used his powers to heal Jack's wound from the Mistress's athame.
Clu placed his hands lovingly on Fi's shoulders, trying to massage the tension out of her. "He's going to be fine, Fi."
Prue had sat down on the bed, opposite of Leo. She too was worried about Jack.
As soon as Novania had blinked herself into the Halliwell manor, she had to fight off all their questions and immediately tell them Jack's whereabouts. Leo quickly orbed himself to the location Novania had informed them, and just in time too. When Leo and Jack returned, Fi's brother collapsed to the ground from exhaustion, not to mention from his bleeding wound. Novania maintained her strength to stay awake until Jack's safe return. As soon as she saw that he was in good care, she too collapsed.
Once Leo's healing was a success, Jack woke up and began gasping for air. He blinked his eyes, taking in his surroundings. Suddenly, the night's events came back to him. Putting his head in his hands, "Oh my God… it wasn't a dream!"
"Jack?" Fi spoke up, slowly making her way towards her brother. She watched as he began to openly sob and break down right before her eyes. "Jack? What's wrong? What happened? Please tell me… please…" She enveloped him in a hug, holding him tight.
Accepting her arms, Jack began to tell them, in between sobs, what had happened between him and the Mistress. When he was through, all he could do was be comforted by the warmth of his baby sister's presence.
This was killing Fiona. She didn't know what to do, how to react. All she knew, all she could fathom in, is the fact that her brother was in trouble.
"Jack, it was an accident. You were just trying to defend yourself." Prue also tried to reassure him, but felt just as helpless as Fi.
"I killed a child, Prue." He looked up at her with the most saddest blue eyes Prue has ever seen. It completely broke her heart. "And the fact that it was an accident makes it just as wrong."
"The child was a casualty… a victim of the war between good and evil… but she was also a child destined to fulfill evil's prophecies…"
Everyone in the room turned towards the weak voice who had spoken the sad truth. Jack immediately stood up, and made his way towards the sound of that voice.
"Novania…" He looked over the weary form, "Hey…" He spoke, gently taking her hand.
Novania laid on the bed next to Jack's. She was physically exhausted and spiritually drained. She knew that her life was almost up, thanks to the Mistress's spell.
"Jack…" She began to speak, but was followed by a series of coughs. She tried to gain control, but she was hurting too much inside. Using every ounce of strength, she reached into her jacket and revealing the crystal object to everyone in the room.
She laid the shimmering ball in Jack's free hand, a satisfied smile on her fatigued face. "This body's too… *cough*… too beautiful to have it… *cough*… buried six feet… *cough, cough*… under…"
"Novania… please, don't talk." Beaming kindly at her, "Save your strength. I'm sure that the Charmed Ones have a spell that can heal you." He looked up at Prue, eyes pleading, "Don't you?"
Prue didn't know how to respond. Sure she was grateful for Novania for saving Jack's life… but Novania was evil… wasn't she?
"Jack… *cough*… don't make Prue lie…" Novania spoke up.
"Novania…" He sighed, "You can't give up."
"I must, Jack." Novania shook her head, fighting to stay awake a while longer before finally giving in. "You must let me die… to save Kiara."
Jack didn't reply. He just sat there, looking at the spirit who he had once hated but now couldn't bear to see leave. He looked away, his hand slipping from her grasp. To Leo, he handed him the crystal orb that held Kiara's soul.
"Jack…" Fiona spoke up, wanting to reach out to her brother, only to have him shrug her off as he walked out of the room.
"That brother of yours is surely something, Fiona Phillips…" Novania said, her spirit slowly slipping out of the body.
"Don't I know it, Nov." She smiled, despite herself.
"Novania," Leo approached her, Prue and Piper behind him. Phoebe, with Declan and Jimmy, entered the room, joining her sisters. "You ready?"
Sighing, then smiling, "As I heard a bright human say… *cough*… 'in the darkness is the light'… right, Fiona?"
The Charmed Ones formed a circle around the body, joining hands as Leo and Fi waited for their instructions from Novania. Using up her strength, she informed the three sisters of the proper incantation to help restore Kiara's soul.
As the sisters began to chant, Leo and Fiona were told to help hold the crystal ball right in the middle of the sisters' circle, right over Kiara's body. As the orb began to glow, and Novania began to slip steadily into spiritual damnation, Fi whispered kindly to Novania, "Thank you."
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Jack sat on the Halliwell porch stoop. He looked up at the sky, noticing the early twilight of the new day. The sun would be up within a few hours… and the day would begin again. The young man was tired, feeling as if years were taken from him. He placed his head in his hands, refusing to see anything except the darkness.
"It's going to be a beautiful day, Jack."
The young man shot up, startled by the new voice. He turned around and, despite himself, beamed brightly at the figure before him. He looked her over and found himself seeing her with sad eyes, even though he was honestly thrilled to see her.
"Y'know, Phillips, everyone else has given me a hug on my return." Extending her own arms, "Don't I get one from you too?" Her eyes were twinkling with life. Only the real Kiara Lance could allow the silver in her eyes to glimmer like that.
"Kiara…" He grinned, before enveloping her in one huge genuine hug.
She returned the embrace, feeling every ounce of emotion within him. When they separated, she gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. "You okay, Phillips?"
"Honestly?"
With a quiet smile, "Honestly."
"I feel like the world just exploded right under me… like total crap."
Kiara nodded, a bit understanding. "Jack, I can't truly say that what just happened to you will eventually heal… because it won't. It's going to stay with you until the day you die. Having the blood of someone else's won't wipe clean. Believe me, I know." She said sadly.
"Two people died tonight, Kiara. And in one way or another, I had a hand in them."
"But it was by accident, Jack. And that is the difference between the Mistress and you. She used those innocents as pawns in her game, and disposed of them once she was through using them. You are a loving soul, Phillips. She has a soul… but it's as dark as her heart."
Jack considered Kiara's words. He tried to smile, but could only muster up a sigh. Kiara's heart went out to him, watching as he sat back down on the stoop.
She opened her mouth, about to say something, when Jack warned, "Don't tell me that I'm going to get over it, Kiara. You and I both know that that's a total lie."
"I wasn't going to say that, Jack. In fact," She sat next to him, "I want you to *never* forget Angel's and Novania's deaths."
Meeting eyes with her, "And why not?"
"Because," She took his hand, looking at him with sincere, soulful eyes, "It is through their deaths that you will gain your strength. What happened to them, and what has and will happen to you will only make you wiser and stronger. Mentally, emotionally, physically… and magickally." Kiara chuckled silently, grinning at him, "It sounds redundant yet simple…" Sighing, she looked up at the sky. She then gave him a gentle hug, and then a kiss on the cheek.
Kiara got up, beaming at him, and said before she left him with his thoughts, "But frankly, it's just the truth."