FIONA'S BATTLE
She twisted the band on her thumb, contemplating the entire situation. The young woman could feel time slowly slipping from her fingers, falling into an abyss. Never able to get it back.
"Fi?"
Fiona turned around, meeting eyes with her mother. "Oh… hey, mom."
Molly entered her daughter's (and Annie's) hotel room. She took note of her child's pensive state. Placing a concerned hand on her shoulder, "Baby, are you okay?"
Fi gave her mom a small smile, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm just tired." Meeting eyes, "It's been a long day for me, mom. I just need to rest." She sat herself down on the bed, still playing with her ring.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Fiona?" Molly sat on the bed opposite of Fi's, facing her. "Y'know, our usual mother-daughter talks."
Fiona paused for a moment, her gaze on the carpet. She then shut her eyes as pictures, past days' events, flashed through. She winced for a second, and began to slowly open her eyes.
"Fiona?" Molly held her breath, her heart dancing on fear's shadow. Her daughter's silence was one of many things that scared this mother. "Honey? What's wrong, baby? Please talk to me, Fiona."
When the images disappeared into the shadows of her mind, Fiona met eyes with her mom. As she did so, she slowly slipped the ring off her thumb and held it up to kiss the light. She averted her gaze from her mother to look over the delicate jewel in her hand. With a secretive smile, she lightly chuckled. Looking at Molly, "Do you believe in magick, mom?" Before letting her mom answer, Fi returned her gaze to the Celtic ring.
"Fiona…" She sighed, "Why won't you tell me what's bothering you?"
"Do you, mom?" Fiona asked again, still looking at the ring as if it held the absolute answer.
"If I answer, will you tell me what's wrong?" Molly replied, deciding to play along.
Fiona enclosed the ring into the palm of her hand. She then answered, "Everyone believes in magick, mom. Including you." She began to stand up, a knowing smile on her young face. "These past few days I began to see, know, and experience things. Stuff that… that are so…" She stopped to face her mother. With a voice so familiar yet so new, "We are all born with magick, mom. Everyone! Me, you, Jack, Clu… everyone!" Fiona paused, then began again with a sad smile, "Unfortunately, I also learned that while everyone may be born with such a beautiful gift, not everyone recognizes it and celebrates it!"
Molly reached out to her daughter, clasping Fi's hands with her own. "Like you do, Fi?"
"Mom…" Fiona began. She wanted to reveal the truth so badly, but she knew she couldn't. Not yet anyway.
"Knock, knock."
The two Phillips' women turned to the door as a familiar head popped in. He grinned his infamous grin at them, "Hey there." Noticing the weary looks on their faces, Jack asked, "Uh, am I interrupting something that I shouldn't be interrupting?"
Before Molly could answer, Fiona had beaten her to the punch. "Not really, Jack. In fact, we're just about finished talking…" She looked at her Molly, "Aren't we, mom?"
"Fiona…" Molly began, but Jack interrupted.
"We gotta get going, Fi. Prue and Clu are waiting for us in the lobby."
Both children gave Molly Phillips this expecting innocent look. Unable to get herself upset over them, she sighed and relented. "Okay… well," She hugged her daughter, "Remember Fiona, I'm always here for you, okay?"
"I know, mom." Fi returned the hug.
Molly made her way to her son, also giving him a hug. "Same thing goes for you too, sweetheart."
Jack gave his mom a gentle embrace as well, "I know."
She gave her children one last glance before leaving, a bit saddened by their secretive manner towards her. Once she left the room, Jack quickly shut the door behind her.
"I hate lying to her, Jack." Fiona sighed, sitting herself back down on the bed.
"I do too, Fi. But you know that we have to keep things secret between us."
"I know, Jack." She replied, still a bit upset. "It's for her own safety."
Jack knelt down so that they were on the same eye level. "Hey, now. It's going to be okay." He said, trying to reassure her. "Listen, you have a lot of people who really care about you, Fiona. In fact, we have to meet some of them right now."
Fiona returned Jack's smile, nodding. "Okay, Jack."
He stood up, patted her on the head. "I'll wait outside for ya, Fi. Go and get ready, alright?"
Fi beamed up at her brother, grateful for everything he's done and will continue to do for her. Before he left the room, Fiona got up and raced to him, enveloping the young man into a strong hug.
"I love you, Jack. You're the best brother any girl could ever ask for." She felt tired and torn on the inside. Part of her wanted to cry and just remain safe in her big brother's protective arms, but she knew that wasn't going to happen.
Jack was bewildered for a second. He detected a hint of sadness in her that he knew shouldn't be there. Especially with the way she was holding on to him. It was as if once she let's go of him, she'll never see him again.
"Fiona? Hey, what's wrong?"
Looking up at him, a small smile on her face. "You sounded like mom when you asked me that."
"Fi?" He tried again, only to get nothing from her except silence. Fiona released her grasp on him, still giving him a sad smile.
"Wait for me outside, Jack. I'll be ready in a couple of minutes." With that, the young lady, who was trying to hide her tears, practically pushed her sibling out the door. Without thinking too much, she quickly locked the door.
When the room was closed on him, Jack just stared at the door. Something just wasn't right. His instincts told him to go back inside there, find out why Fiona was acting as if she wasn't going to see the light of tomorrow. He was about to knock on it, but instead placed his palm on the wooden entrance. In a whisper, "I love you too, Fi."
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Fiona laid herself down on the bed, staring up at the ceilings, into the tiny holes of nothing. She just needed a moment to think before joining her brother outside. The young woman felt the walls closing in on her, like she had no way of escaping her destiny.
"Hello there, child." A voice hissed its way into the bleak hotel room.
Fi bolted up right, then jumped to her fighting stance as she came face-to-face with the woman who vowed to kill her brother. Though this was the first time that they met, and hopefully the last, Fiona knew without a shadow of a doubt that this creature was determined to destroy everyone that she loved.
"Don't tempt me, little girl." The Mistress chuckled. Her eyes gleaming like a widow Cobra, "Be a good child and go and fetch that murderous brother of yours."
"Over my dead body, you monster!" Fiona cried, feeling a surge of energy boil within her.
"As I said, don't tempt me. I don't want to kill you, but to get to that cruel brother of yours, I just might have to."
Fiona glared at the woman. Her silence just as lethal as her powers… then again, maybe she should let her actions speak for themselves. Without thinking too much about it, except with her anger, Fiona shot a terrifying bolt of light towards the woman's "heart"… if she had one anyway.
The Mistress could tell by the hatred in Fi's eyes that she was going to throw a move like that. Before the bolt could do any serious damage, she held up her dominant hand and diverted the electricity on out the window, causing the glass to shatter a shrieking sound.
"Fiona?! What was that?! Are you okay? Fi!" Jack called out to her, knocking on the locked door.
The Mistress whipped around, staring at the door with deadly intent. "His death is mine!" She proclaimed, her apparent deadly aim at the door.
Thinking quickly, Fiona cried out to him, warning him. "Jack! Get away from the door!!!" The young woman jumped on the Mistress, just when the villainous shattered the door with her fiery magickal might.
The Mistress fought the Phillips girl off her, casting her aside to meet the wall with a heavy thud. Her eyes were livid on the child, but managed to avert it for a while to survey on the death toll she desired to accomplish.
Fiona's head began to throb, feeling the sickening thickness of blood crawl up her throat. Immediately, she thought of her brother and she fought with all her might to stand tall and look for him.
As the smoke began to clear, and the debris began to appear, the Mistress could hear a wicked triumphant laugh begin to flow out of her lips. "The blood of a killer tastes so sweet… doesn't it, child?" She said, indicating towards a still form under the rubble that was part of the door and walls of the room. Fire and smoke were still dancing around it, but it was of no matter for the Mistress.
Fiona felt her heart tighten, then drop completely dead at the sight before her. Her mind was screaming one denying word. Her voice wanted to echo the same word, but she found that all sounds had also died with her spirit. Instead, she shook her head as the tears began to cascade down her face. She slowly made her way towards the debris, completely passing the evil spirit by.
The Mistress made no attempt to stop her. She stepped aside, grinning sweet revenge at the young lass. Let her go to her lifeless beloved. Let her feel the same pain, the same horror, and the same agony over having to hold the still body of someone so dear, so promising.
Fiona knelt down, casting aside the rubble, stomping out the dust and fire from her view. She dug to get a closer look of the one man in her life that could have even loved her as a daughter, if not as a sister. The one man who has been there for her since birth, and would even sacrifice everything just to see her smile. When she saw his pale, dusty face, did the sound of horror pour from her lips.
"Noooo!!!" She cried, frantically pushing aside every little thing that held her back from the flesh of her own flesh and blood. "Jack! Oh my God, Jack! No, no, no, no, no, no…" Her own tears were blinding, but she was determined as hell to have him safe in her arms. It was only fair, wasn't it? So many times he held her in the comfort of his arms, why can't she do the same?
"It's too late, child. The boy is dead." The woman chided, her own voice deadly to Fiona's ears.
"Leo!!! Leo! Help!!!" Fiona hollered to the sky, cradling Jack's body. She refused to believe that… that… that she-devil! Bride of Satan herself!
"He can't hear you, little one. And even if he did, White lighters can't heal the dead."
Moments seemed to crawl slowly by. Precious seconds that seemed like eternity to Fiona. From far away, she heard commotion down at the end of the hall. She called out for them, crying for help.
"It's no use, Fiona. Your Jack is dead. Just like your namesake and just like your father. No one can help you now…" She added that last line slowly, as if wanting to bait that young child to hear more.
"I don't believe you!" Fiona finally met eyes with the dark monster. "You are pure evil! He did nothing to you!"
"He killed my daughter! My flesh and blood!" She proclaimed, darkness and death in her eyes.
"He didn't mean to! If you hadn't gone after him, he wouldn't have felt the need to use his powers! Jack wanted to die the moment he realized that he had killed an innocent! That he had killed your daughter! If you had given him the chance, I know that you could have seen the look of regret and sorrow in his eyes." Fiona tenderly gazed down upon her lifeless brother. Even in death he was still filled with such light and goodness. "He was prepared to live with the pain of having someone else's blood on his hands. To him, living with that awful memory is a life sentence. You should consider that as justice!" Despite everything, Fiona suddenly began to chuckle. She smirked at the Mistress. "In his death… he has won. Your supposed victory was actually your defeat."
"You're delirious, little one."
"No! I'm telling the truth! And you know it! By killing him, you gave him an eternal peace. Never again would he have to suffer living day by day in knowing that he had killed a child! You gave him an easy out! Even though you're alive, your anger will slowly die… and then what? Huh? What will you have now?!"
The Mistress was silent for a moment, considering everything the wicked little girl has said. Finally, a small conniving grin appeared on her face. "I will have the satisfaction of watching you suffer."
Still on top of things, "But don't you want my powers? Don't you have to kill me to get my inner strength? My spirit?" Pointing at her, deadly serious, "Remember, I can destroy you with just one blow…"
The Mistress took into consideration Fiona's state of mind. She stared into the eyes of what the prophets are predicting will be one of the most powerful witches next to the Charmed Ones. "What is it that you want, Fiona? I know that's the only reason why you kept me alive for so long. With your brother's unjust death, I assume you would have taken your grief and anger, multiply it with your powers, and have blasted me into another lifetime, if not, eternal darkness."
"I heard it in your voice. You know a way to bring my brother back." Fiona kept her eyes on the Mistress, still holding her brother tight.
"And if I do?" She crossed her arms. "What's in it for me?"
"My powers. My death. My brother alive and having to live with your daughter's, and mine's, blood on his hands. Doesn't that sound sweet? I mean, think about it. Jack will have to live with the fact that I sacrificed my own life just for him. He would rather die than see me buried six feet under."
"Or cremated…" The Mistress toyed around with the idea, tempting as it sounds.
"Whatever you want!" Fiona proclaimed.
The Mistress held her own for a while, considering the child's deal. Finally, she gazed down upon the Fiona girl's eyes, trying to read anything hidden within her. What she saw delighted the Mistress to death! She saw sincerity, fear, anger, agony, mercy, sadness, and every other weak emotion screaming in the young Phillips girl's eyes. Here she was, the very powerful child, offering her magick, her life for someone as insignificant as her brother!
With a cunning grin, "It shall be done. You shall have your brother back… though you'll never get to see him again."
"As long as he's living, I'm sure I can, pardon the pun, live with that." Fi wiped away any ashen tears left, determination to save Jack was burning her spirit bright.
The Mistress beckoned Fiona to step forward, to leave Jack's body in the rubble. The girl was hesitant at first, "No, you have to save my brother first."
The villainous shrugged, "Whatever, child. Anyway which way, your blood is mine."
The Mistress knelt down, cascading her dominant hand over Jack's still body. Much to Fiona's utter delight and joy, not mention disbelief that someone this evil can actually give life, Jack began to radiate with life. His colors slowly rose, and his breaths began to appear slow and even.
Fiona murmured his name, but the Mistress hushed her. "You must let him rest in order for him to attain his full life energy… or else it will be all for not."
She eyed the woman, disbelieving her words. Again the Mistress had to explain herself. "Look at it this way, child. If Jack wakes up and sees me taking your life and your powers, he will kill himself trying to save you. Wouldn't want that now, would you?"
Nodding, "I understand."
"So you're prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice?" When the Mistress asked that question, Fiona couldn't help but shudder at the sound of her voice.
"Any last words, Fiona?"
"Can I at least say good-bye to my brother?" Fiona asked, feeling a bit choked up.
"I'll at least give you that. Now you can't say that I'm totally evil."
Fiona rolled her eyes, not wanting to comment. She made her way to her sleeping brother, whose eyes were fluttering in rest. Placing a gentle kiss on the forehead, "I love you, Jack. Tells the others I love them too. And take care of mom and Clu for me, okay?" She whispered to him.
"Aw… what sweet words." The Mistress replied, "Give me cavities why don't ya?"
"Drop dead." Fiona mumbled as she made her way back to the Mistress.
She made the Fiona girl turn around, her back facing the Mistress. "No, child. I believe you should be saying that to yourself." With that, she laid her hands on the shoulders of the young witch. With every within her, she summoned the darkness to enter Fiona's body. Slowly killing her soul and her magick. She suddenly found that destroying the child would be a bit harder than she thought, for she had to focus all her energy on the task at hand.
Fiona began to black out, only seeing the darkness. The Mistress held her entire attention on the girl. Both women unaware of the shadow that leaped out of the darkness and was now staring down at the Mistress intently.
"You failed, Mistress! Release the girl at once!"
The Mistress looked up, startled at the familiar voice. Staring icy glares at it, "You! Leave at once! I am almost finished with the job they sent me to do!"
"No!" He leapt at her, picked up Fiona and placed her aside. He held his powerful hand at the Mistress, "You took too long. Too much time and with little results! They are not pleased. I must take your place."
Before the Mistress could say another word in protest, he shot a powerful bolt of energy at her. Engulfing her in eternal flames, and into damnation, 'til all that was left was the rubble of her ashes.
The man looked around him. He gazed at the Phillips girl, and knelt down to graze her cheek tenderly. He laid his hand over her heart, shining life back into her delicate soul. Fiona's eyes began to flutter open, her sight a bit hazy. She looked up and saw a man who looked yet doesn't seem familiar to her. The man gave her a gentle smile, saying, "The Mistress has failed, little one. You have won this battle, Fiona."
Fiona managed a small smile, her sight still foggy. Did he just save her? What happened to the Mistress? The man, who looked yet doesn't seem familiar, replied, "They have judged you, Fiona. When you decided to give up everything to save your brother, they found great heart, soul, and courage within you. That's where the true magick lies. For magick is nothing but air if it doesn't have someone powerful to control it."
"Who are you?" Fiona asked in a bare whisper. She tried to focus her eyes, but she still couldn't get a clear picture of him.
As his last response, the man replied, "You won this battle, but thread lightly when it comes to the winning the ultimate war. I won't hurt you, but you mustn't trust me either. Know me, child, as foe and not friend." With that, he shimmered out of Fiona's sight.
"Fiona?"
The young woman turned her head, seeing her brother slowly stand to his feet. He rubbed the back of his neck, blinking to regain sight. When he finally did, his first observance was of his sister. "Fi!" He quickly rushed to her side, enveloping her in a hug. When he released her, it was at that moment he took notice of the entire hotel room state. Looking at her, "Should I even ask?"
"Oh my God! What happened?!"
The Phillips children looked up, seeing a bunch of people, including their mother, Prue, and Clu, gathered around the rubble. Prue and Clu gave them this look, while Fiona reassured them with a secretive grin. She and Jack also shared this assured glance, leaving everyone else immensely baffled.
"Fiona, Jack, would either one of you please explain to me what happened?" Molly asked, her patience wearing thin, her hands on her hips.
Pointing to one anther, "He did it!" "She did it!"
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She twisted the band on her thumb, contemplating the entire situation. The young woman could feel time slowly slipping from her fingers, falling into an abyss. Never able to get it back.
"Fi?"
Fiona turned around, meeting eyes with her mother. "Oh… hey, mom."
Molly entered her daughter's (and Annie's) hotel room. She took note of her child's pensive state. Placing a concerned hand on her shoulder, "Baby, are you okay?"
Fi gave her mom a small smile, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm just tired." Meeting eyes, "It's been a long day for me, mom. I just need to rest." She sat herself down on the bed, still playing with her ring.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Fiona?" Molly sat on the bed opposite of Fi's, facing her. "Y'know, our usual mother-daughter talks."
Fiona paused for a moment, her gaze on the carpet. She then shut her eyes as pictures, past days' events, flashed through. She winced for a second, and began to slowly open her eyes.
"Fiona?" Molly held her breath, her heart dancing on fear's shadow. Her daughter's silence was one of many things that scared this mother. "Honey? What's wrong, baby? Please talk to me, Fiona."
When the images disappeared into the shadows of her mind, Fiona met eyes with her mom. As she did so, she slowly slipped the ring off her thumb and held it up to kiss the light. She averted her gaze from her mother to look over the delicate jewel in her hand. With a secretive smile, she lightly chuckled. Looking at Molly, "Do you believe in magick, mom?" Before letting her mom answer, Fi returned her gaze to the Celtic ring.
"Fiona…" She sighed, "Why won't you tell me what's bothering you?"
"Do you, mom?" Fiona asked again, still looking at the ring as if it held the absolute answer.
"If I answer, will you tell me what's wrong?" Molly replied, deciding to play along.
Fiona enclosed the ring into the palm of her hand. She then answered, "Everyone believes in magick, mom. Including you." She began to stand up, a knowing smile on her young face. "These past few days I began to see, know, and experience things. Stuff that… that are so…" She stopped to face her mother. With a voice so familiar yet so new, "We are all born with magick, mom. Everyone! Me, you, Jack, Clu… everyone!" Fiona paused, then began again with a sad smile, "Unfortunately, I also learned that while everyone may be born with such a beautiful gift, not everyone recognizes it and celebrates it!"
Molly reached out to her daughter, clasping Fi's hands with her own. "Like you do, Fi?"
"Mom…" Fiona began. She wanted to reveal the truth so badly, but she knew she couldn't. Not yet anyway.
"Knock, knock."
The two Phillips' women turned to the door as a familiar head popped in. He grinned his infamous grin at them, "Hey there." Noticing the weary looks on their faces, Jack asked, "Uh, am I interrupting something that I shouldn't be interrupting?"
Before Molly could answer, Fiona had beaten her to the punch. "Not really, Jack. In fact, we're just about finished talking…" She looked at her Molly, "Aren't we, mom?"
"Fiona…" Molly began, but Jack interrupted.
"We gotta get going, Fi. Prue and Clu are waiting for us in the lobby."
Both children gave Molly Phillips this expecting innocent look. Unable to get herself upset over them, she sighed and relented. "Okay… well," She hugged her daughter, "Remember Fiona, I'm always here for you, okay?"
"I know, mom." Fi returned the hug.
Molly made her way to her son, also giving him a hug. "Same thing goes for you too, sweetheart."
Jack gave his mom a gentle embrace as well, "I know."
She gave her children one last glance before leaving, a bit saddened by their secretive manner towards her. Once she left the room, Jack quickly shut the door behind her.
"I hate lying to her, Jack." Fiona sighed, sitting herself back down on the bed.
"I do too, Fi. But you know that we have to keep things secret between us."
"I know, Jack." She replied, still a bit upset. "It's for her own safety."
Jack knelt down so that they were on the same eye level. "Hey, now. It's going to be okay." He said, trying to reassure her. "Listen, you have a lot of people who really care about you, Fiona. In fact, we have to meet some of them right now."
Fiona returned Jack's smile, nodding. "Okay, Jack."
He stood up, patted her on the head. "I'll wait outside for ya, Fi. Go and get ready, alright?"
Fi beamed up at her brother, grateful for everything he's done and will continue to do for her. Before he left the room, Fiona got up and raced to him, enveloping the young man into a strong hug.
"I love you, Jack. You're the best brother any girl could ever ask for." She felt tired and torn on the inside. Part of her wanted to cry and just remain safe in her big brother's protective arms, but she knew that wasn't going to happen.
Jack was bewildered for a second. He detected a hint of sadness in her that he knew shouldn't be there. Especially with the way she was holding on to him. It was as if once she let's go of him, she'll never see him again.
"Fiona? Hey, what's wrong?"
Looking up at him, a small smile on her face. "You sounded like mom when you asked me that."
"Fi?" He tried again, only to get nothing from her except silence. Fiona released her grasp on him, still giving him a sad smile.
"Wait for me outside, Jack. I'll be ready in a couple of minutes." With that, the young lady, who was trying to hide her tears, practically pushed her sibling out the door. Without thinking too much, she quickly locked the door.
When the room was closed on him, Jack just stared at the door. Something just wasn't right. His instincts told him to go back inside there, find out why Fiona was acting as if she wasn't going to see the light of tomorrow. He was about to knock on it, but instead placed his palm on the wooden entrance. In a whisper, "I love you too, Fi."
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Fiona laid herself down on the bed, staring up at the ceilings, into the tiny holes of nothing. She just needed a moment to think before joining her brother outside. The young woman felt the walls closing in on her, like she had no way of escaping her destiny.
"Hello there, child." A voice hissed its way into the bleak hotel room.
Fi bolted up right, then jumped to her fighting stance as she came face-to-face with the woman who vowed to kill her brother. Though this was the first time that they met, and hopefully the last, Fiona knew without a shadow of a doubt that this creature was determined to destroy everyone that she loved.
"Don't tempt me, little girl." The Mistress chuckled. Her eyes gleaming like a widow Cobra, "Be a good child and go and fetch that murderous brother of yours."
"Over my dead body, you monster!" Fiona cried, feeling a surge of energy boil within her.
"As I said, don't tempt me. I don't want to kill you, but to get to that cruel brother of yours, I just might have to."
Fiona glared at the woman. Her silence just as lethal as her powers… then again, maybe she should let her actions speak for themselves. Without thinking too much about it, except with her anger, Fiona shot a terrifying bolt of light towards the woman's "heart"… if she had one anyway.
The Mistress could tell by the hatred in Fi's eyes that she was going to throw a move like that. Before the bolt could do any serious damage, she held up her dominant hand and diverted the electricity on out the window, causing the glass to shatter a shrieking sound.
"Fiona?! What was that?! Are you okay? Fi!" Jack called out to her, knocking on the locked door.
The Mistress whipped around, staring at the door with deadly intent. "His death is mine!" She proclaimed, her apparent deadly aim at the door.
Thinking quickly, Fiona cried out to him, warning him. "Jack! Get away from the door!!!" The young woman jumped on the Mistress, just when the villainous shattered the door with her fiery magickal might.
The Mistress fought the Phillips girl off her, casting her aside to meet the wall with a heavy thud. Her eyes were livid on the child, but managed to avert it for a while to survey on the death toll she desired to accomplish.
Fiona's head began to throb, feeling the sickening thickness of blood crawl up her throat. Immediately, she thought of her brother and she fought with all her might to stand tall and look for him.
As the smoke began to clear, and the debris began to appear, the Mistress could hear a wicked triumphant laugh begin to flow out of her lips. "The blood of a killer tastes so sweet… doesn't it, child?" She said, indicating towards a still form under the rubble that was part of the door and walls of the room. Fire and smoke were still dancing around it, but it was of no matter for the Mistress.
Fiona felt her heart tighten, then drop completely dead at the sight before her. Her mind was screaming one denying word. Her voice wanted to echo the same word, but she found that all sounds had also died with her spirit. Instead, she shook her head as the tears began to cascade down her face. She slowly made her way towards the debris, completely passing the evil spirit by.
The Mistress made no attempt to stop her. She stepped aside, grinning sweet revenge at the young lass. Let her go to her lifeless beloved. Let her feel the same pain, the same horror, and the same agony over having to hold the still body of someone so dear, so promising.
Fiona knelt down, casting aside the rubble, stomping out the dust and fire from her view. She dug to get a closer look of the one man in her life that could have even loved her as a daughter, if not as a sister. The one man who has been there for her since birth, and would even sacrifice everything just to see her smile. When she saw his pale, dusty face, did the sound of horror pour from her lips.
"Noooo!!!" She cried, frantically pushing aside every little thing that held her back from the flesh of her own flesh and blood. "Jack! Oh my God, Jack! No, no, no, no, no, no…" Her own tears were blinding, but she was determined as hell to have him safe in her arms. It was only fair, wasn't it? So many times he held her in the comfort of his arms, why can't she do the same?
"It's too late, child. The boy is dead." The woman chided, her own voice deadly to Fiona's ears.
"Leo!!! Leo! Help!!!" Fiona hollered to the sky, cradling Jack's body. She refused to believe that… that… that she-devil! Bride of Satan herself!
"He can't hear you, little one. And even if he did, White lighters can't heal the dead."
Moments seemed to crawl slowly by. Precious seconds that seemed like eternity to Fiona. From far away, she heard commotion down at the end of the hall. She called out for them, crying for help.
"It's no use, Fiona. Your Jack is dead. Just like your namesake and just like your father. No one can help you now…" She added that last line slowly, as if wanting to bait that young child to hear more.
"I don't believe you!" Fiona finally met eyes with the dark monster. "You are pure evil! He did nothing to you!"
"He killed my daughter! My flesh and blood!" She proclaimed, darkness and death in her eyes.
"He didn't mean to! If you hadn't gone after him, he wouldn't have felt the need to use his powers! Jack wanted to die the moment he realized that he had killed an innocent! That he had killed your daughter! If you had given him the chance, I know that you could have seen the look of regret and sorrow in his eyes." Fiona tenderly gazed down upon her lifeless brother. Even in death he was still filled with such light and goodness. "He was prepared to live with the pain of having someone else's blood on his hands. To him, living with that awful memory is a life sentence. You should consider that as justice!" Despite everything, Fiona suddenly began to chuckle. She smirked at the Mistress. "In his death… he has won. Your supposed victory was actually your defeat."
"You're delirious, little one."
"No! I'm telling the truth! And you know it! By killing him, you gave him an eternal peace. Never again would he have to suffer living day by day in knowing that he had killed a child! You gave him an easy out! Even though you're alive, your anger will slowly die… and then what? Huh? What will you have now?!"
The Mistress was silent for a moment, considering everything the wicked little girl has said. Finally, a small conniving grin appeared on her face. "I will have the satisfaction of watching you suffer."
Still on top of things, "But don't you want my powers? Don't you have to kill me to get my inner strength? My spirit?" Pointing at her, deadly serious, "Remember, I can destroy you with just one blow…"
The Mistress took into consideration Fiona's state of mind. She stared into the eyes of what the prophets are predicting will be one of the most powerful witches next to the Charmed Ones. "What is it that you want, Fiona? I know that's the only reason why you kept me alive for so long. With your brother's unjust death, I assume you would have taken your grief and anger, multiply it with your powers, and have blasted me into another lifetime, if not, eternal darkness."
"I heard it in your voice. You know a way to bring my brother back." Fiona kept her eyes on the Mistress, still holding her brother tight.
"And if I do?" She crossed her arms. "What's in it for me?"
"My powers. My death. My brother alive and having to live with your daughter's, and mine's, blood on his hands. Doesn't that sound sweet? I mean, think about it. Jack will have to live with the fact that I sacrificed my own life just for him. He would rather die than see me buried six feet under."
"Or cremated…" The Mistress toyed around with the idea, tempting as it sounds.
"Whatever you want!" Fiona proclaimed.
The Mistress held her own for a while, considering the child's deal. Finally, she gazed down upon the Fiona girl's eyes, trying to read anything hidden within her. What she saw delighted the Mistress to death! She saw sincerity, fear, anger, agony, mercy, sadness, and every other weak emotion screaming in the young Phillips girl's eyes. Here she was, the very powerful child, offering her magick, her life for someone as insignificant as her brother!
With a cunning grin, "It shall be done. You shall have your brother back… though you'll never get to see him again."
"As long as he's living, I'm sure I can, pardon the pun, live with that." Fi wiped away any ashen tears left, determination to save Jack was burning her spirit bright.
The Mistress beckoned Fiona to step forward, to leave Jack's body in the rubble. The girl was hesitant at first, "No, you have to save my brother first."
The villainous shrugged, "Whatever, child. Anyway which way, your blood is mine."
The Mistress knelt down, cascading her dominant hand over Jack's still body. Much to Fiona's utter delight and joy, not mention disbelief that someone this evil can actually give life, Jack began to radiate with life. His colors slowly rose, and his breaths began to appear slow and even.
Fiona murmured his name, but the Mistress hushed her. "You must let him rest in order for him to attain his full life energy… or else it will be all for not."
She eyed the woman, disbelieving her words. Again the Mistress had to explain herself. "Look at it this way, child. If Jack wakes up and sees me taking your life and your powers, he will kill himself trying to save you. Wouldn't want that now, would you?"
Nodding, "I understand."
"So you're prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice?" When the Mistress asked that question, Fiona couldn't help but shudder at the sound of her voice.
"Any last words, Fiona?"
"Can I at least say good-bye to my brother?" Fiona asked, feeling a bit choked up.
"I'll at least give you that. Now you can't say that I'm totally evil."
Fiona rolled her eyes, not wanting to comment. She made her way to her sleeping brother, whose eyes were fluttering in rest. Placing a gentle kiss on the forehead, "I love you, Jack. Tells the others I love them too. And take care of mom and Clu for me, okay?" She whispered to him.
"Aw… what sweet words." The Mistress replied, "Give me cavities why don't ya?"
"Drop dead." Fiona mumbled as she made her way back to the Mistress.
She made the Fiona girl turn around, her back facing the Mistress. "No, child. I believe you should be saying that to yourself." With that, she laid her hands on the shoulders of the young witch. With every within her, she summoned the darkness to enter Fiona's body. Slowly killing her soul and her magick. She suddenly found that destroying the child would be a bit harder than she thought, for she had to focus all her energy on the task at hand.
Fiona began to black out, only seeing the darkness. The Mistress held her entire attention on the girl. Both women unaware of the shadow that leaped out of the darkness and was now staring down at the Mistress intently.
"You failed, Mistress! Release the girl at once!"
The Mistress looked up, startled at the familiar voice. Staring icy glares at it, "You! Leave at once! I am almost finished with the job they sent me to do!"
"No!" He leapt at her, picked up Fiona and placed her aside. He held his powerful hand at the Mistress, "You took too long. Too much time and with little results! They are not pleased. I must take your place."
Before the Mistress could say another word in protest, he shot a powerful bolt of energy at her. Engulfing her in eternal flames, and into damnation, 'til all that was left was the rubble of her ashes.
The man looked around him. He gazed at the Phillips girl, and knelt down to graze her cheek tenderly. He laid his hand over her heart, shining life back into her delicate soul. Fiona's eyes began to flutter open, her sight a bit hazy. She looked up and saw a man who looked yet doesn't seem familiar to her. The man gave her a gentle smile, saying, "The Mistress has failed, little one. You have won this battle, Fiona."
Fiona managed a small smile, her sight still foggy. Did he just save her? What happened to the Mistress? The man, who looked yet doesn't seem familiar, replied, "They have judged you, Fiona. When you decided to give up everything to save your brother, they found great heart, soul, and courage within you. That's where the true magick lies. For magick is nothing but air if it doesn't have someone powerful to control it."
"Who are you?" Fiona asked in a bare whisper. She tried to focus her eyes, but she still couldn't get a clear picture of him.
As his last response, the man replied, "You won this battle, but thread lightly when it comes to the winning the ultimate war. I won't hurt you, but you mustn't trust me either. Know me, child, as foe and not friend." With that, he shimmered out of Fiona's sight.
"Fiona?"
The young woman turned her head, seeing her brother slowly stand to his feet. He rubbed the back of his neck, blinking to regain sight. When he finally did, his first observance was of his sister. "Fi!" He quickly rushed to her side, enveloping her in a hug. When he released her, it was at that moment he took notice of the entire hotel room state. Looking at her, "Should I even ask?"
"Oh my God! What happened?!"
The Phillips children looked up, seeing a bunch of people, including their mother, Prue, and Clu, gathered around the rubble. Prue and Clu gave them this look, while Fiona reassured them with a secretive grin. She and Jack also shared this assured glance, leaving everyone else immensely baffled.
"Fiona, Jack, would either one of you please explain to me what happened?" Molly asked, her patience wearing thin, her hands on her hips.
Pointing to one anther, "He did it!" "She did it!"
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