Critical Point
(Part 2)
Cole had just shimmered in the attic, and now he was advancing toward the book slowly. He had an uncertain look about him, but he still went on and was about to pick it up, when Piper entered the attic in turn.
"Cole, what are you doing here?"
At first, he didn't answer and he looked guiltily toward her, so she walked slowly toward him and asked again in a harder voice:
"What are you doing here?"
Cole finally answered:
"I don't want you to take it the wrong way but I came for the book…"
Piper breathes deeply, anxious now.
"Why?"
He just looked at her…
At the church, Phoebe just entered, and she is admiring the beautiful stained windows as she goes, when she feels the baby kick her rather hard. She puts her hand on him and just says affectionately:
"Hey little terror, you want to make sure that I don't forget about you?"
Then she continues to try and find the priest she came to see. She spots him near the altar and as she is about to go to him, the baby kicks again, harder this time. Phoebe actually felt pain then.
"Hey," she says now, "what is it? You're not supposed to come out now, or this way for that matter."
The baby just kicks her again, just as hard. Somehow, Phoebe starts to wonder if it doesn't have something to do with this place, and that makes her very uncomfortable. No matter how many assurances she received to the contrary, she still has a remaining doubt about the baby's makeup. Not that she's afraid of him, just afraid for him. But right now, she doesn't feel very good about him: the closer she gets to the priest, the more the baby kicks and presently she has to sit on a bench to try and stop the pain.
The priest, seeing this, comes toward her, and now Phoebe has no doubts that for whatever reason, her baby is reacting to her proximity to him.
However, as troubled as she is, she can't imagine why.
Outside, Paul had almost reached Joel when he suddenly felt a wave of evil course through him. It left him panting and a little scared. It felt like the long past, before he left the dark pit and the sensation was one he never thought that he would feel again. Then he becomes confused and has pain keeping his concentration. By the time he reached Joel, he wasn't in control of himself anymore.
In the church, the priest seems genuinely concerned for Phoebe, who just tries to breathe slowly and deeply. She wonders if giving birth will hurt that badly and frankly, right then, she wishes that she never had to go through with it.
Father Brendan:
"Hey Phoebe what's wrong?"
Phoebe:
"I don't know; the baby is kicking so much that it hurts. It never happened before."
Father Brendan:
"I wouldn't know about this; I hope nothing is the matter with it?"
Phoebe manages to smile at him between the cramps she's now having.
"I'm sure it's nothing."
Father Brendan:
"Would you like a glass of water?"
Phoebe:
"That would be nice thank you."
The priest steps away from her and when he has gone out of the church, the baby's kicks stop.
Phoebe is grateful for the respite but still very puzzled:
"Come on you, it's just a priest."
She feels a little ridiculous arguing with her unborn child but at this point, she has the strange sensation that he is trying to tell her something…
Outside, Joel and Paul have started walking slowly toward the church. Their expression is inscrutable, as if there was no longer any emotions in them.
The priest is at the faucet, preparing a glass of water as he offered, but he suddenly feels like something really bad has entered him. He shakes his head, trying to ignore the sensation, but it just deepens, and eventually he puts the glass down and turns purposefully toward the church proper again…
Phoebe is just wondering about what happened when the kicks start again and as she looks up, she notices the priest who is coming to her without a glass and with a blank expression that she finds scary for some reason. The priest comes closer, and then he moves quickly without warning and grabs her by the throat. Now Phoebe understands that something went terribly wrong, but there is just about nothing she can do except try to fight through the pain. With a great effort, she manages to kick him away and backs away from him, looking back and forth. The priest gets up and materializes a knife in his extended hand. He now advances on her, and Phoebe turns to run. But then she stops short, relieved at seeing Paul and Joel entering the church. She is running toward them, calling their names, when she notices the knives in their hands too, and the baby kicks her so hard that she folds in two.
"What is the matter with all of you," she manages to scream?
But none of them answer, and they simply continue to advance on her with the same blank expressions. Phoebe thinks that now her end is coming. But then she remembers something about her new power and is about to try and get Cole there, although she is not even sure of where he is, when he just shimmers in front of her.
For a brief instant, she wonders if he has become like them, but then she notices his nervous expression and he just grabs her, shimmering right away with her.
The moment they reappear in the attic, Phoebe sees that Piper and Prue are already there, apparently waiting for her anxiously.
The look of relief on their faces tells her that they know something about what happened but they do not lose any time in explanations:
"Come on Phoebe, we've got to get out of here," says Prue in an unusually nervous tone of voice that just makes her more anxious.
Phoebe:
"Why? How?"
Cole:
"Please we'll explain later. Right now we must get out of this world, fast."
Now Phoebe is even more confused, but she still lets him guide her to her sisters, who are ready to chant a spell:
"Through the Veil of Time and Space
The Faith pushes us out of Place
Out of this World we will become
Bring us there, Where none will come"
As they were reciting the spell, the three that were after Phoebe at the Church appeared in front of them and they disappeared just as Paul and the others were about to attack them.
In an instant they have been transported in an uninviting forest, with dark trunks and a thick canopy. The vegetation is all wrong, and Phoebe wonders if they didn't fall in worse a situation then they have left.
Prue is just standing there, still looking in the direction she was before they appeared here. She seems to still be seeing them, and she can't wrap her mind around the concept of Paul and Joel trying to kill them. Even Brendan, whom she knew and helped to save before…
When they finally are back from the surprise, all the girls turn to Cole, wondering where he brought them and most of all why.
Prue:
"Ok now we're here whatever here is… What happened?"
Cole:
"I really am not sure exactly. All I know is that somehow many who have been touched by evil at one point or another are now after you.
And I have a feeling that it also extends to warlocks and demons alike, or at least it might soon…"
A voice that they find vaguely familiar makes them turn in block.
The ghostly figure of Lilith:
"I see that you got the first part right, now maybe I can tell you why."
The others are slowly backing away from her, unsure of what she is doing there. Cole, in particular, was certain that this place would not be found anytime soon.
Lilith, turning to him:
"Oh I know what you're thinking, I simply tagged along for the ride."
Then when she understands that they still don't trust her:
"Ok, I admit our first encounter wasn't very friendly, but I assure you that I came here to help."
Cole:
"How do we know you are not part of whatever it is that's happening?"
Lilith:
"I could ask the same thing of you."
Cole:
"I'm not really sure why, but it didn't take on me."
Phoebe turns to him with wide eyes:
"What do you mean?"
Cole:
"Remember, I told you this morning that I had felt something weird?"
Phoebe just acquiesces, so he continues:
"Well it came back much stronger, and for a moment there I thought it would take control of me, but it didn't. It's like it came through me but didn't take."
Lilith:
"I might have an explanation, if you'll let me."
Prue:
"If you know anything about this, please do. But we are watching you."
Lilith smiles mockingly:
"And what exactly would you do to me if I wasn't behaving?"
Prue cannot imagine what she would do but she still thinks really hard about it, which brings another amused smile to the ghost.
Lilith:
"Now I can see what he sees in you, I guess…"
Prue is a bit put off by this, but she just waits for her to talk.
Lilith:
"Ok, well about you," she says to Cole, "I think that your baby made you a bigger gift than you thought."
Cole is puzzled, but doesn't argue the point.
Phoebe, on the other hand, picks up on it:
"I think he tried to warn me…"
Cole:
"How?"
Phoebe:
"Well let's just say that I just got a taste of how much it can hurt to give birth."
Cole:
"Are you ok?"
Phoebe:
"I am now. So I figure that he has nothing against her."
Lilith:
"That's good to know."
Piper:
"What are we fighting against?"
Lilith:
"Well that's the whole point here, you are fighting just about every evil beings that were in the vicinity of the spell, or for that matter," she ads seeing Prue about to protest, "anybody, like Cole said, who has been touched by evil. By the way, how did you figure that you were fine?"
Cole:
"I went and tried to touch the book again. It worked."
Phoebe huddles closer to him now, but still stays very attentive to the ghost.
Prue:
"You have yet to tell us how and why?"
Lilith:
"Remember what Paul told you about the origins? I think you also heard him mention the messenger?"
Prue:
"Yes but I kind of figured it was something between the two of you."
Lilith looks intently toward Phoebe and Cole:
"No it definitely has to do with you and them."
She says this still indicating Phoebe.
Phoebe:
"What do you mean?"
Lilith:
"If I have to spell it out, and although that wasn't supposed to be revealed…"
Phoebe:
"What," she asks although she already knows the answer?
Lilith:
"Yeah you're little one is the one that we're waiting for. But his time has definitely not come, although he obviously already has some powers and insights."
Then, when she sees that they are not going to comment, as they are a little awed:
"I guess that your little wedding experience in the past left something of him in both of you and that has been your grace."
Prue:
"So, who is after us?"
Lilith:
"The origins…"
They all get very silent all of a sudden, but the silence is quickly interrupted by a roaring sound, too near for comfort.
Cole:
"I think that we should move this discussion elsewhere…"
Phoebe:
"What was that," she asks, getting anxious again?
Cole:
"A dragon…"
Prue:
"You brought us in a world with dragons?"
Her expression is just between angry and astonished.
Cole:
"That's the last place anybody will look for us."
Now lets move on, there is a cave not far from here, we should be safe there."
He is looking nervously in the direction of the noise, which is getting louder for every moment.
They do not need to be told twice, and they follow him quickly. Behind them, the dragon is approaching rapidly and they would never have made it if Piper had not been able to freeze it, at least for a little while.
When they got to the cave, they found out it's a damp place with very little amenities, but Cole rapidly took care of starting a fire and they all sat waiting for the rest of the explanation.
Lilith:
"Well, as you know now," she starts, "the origins are in fact the actual fallen angels in our world. Fortunately, they do not reach here or any other parallel universes, although I'm sure that their equivalents are just about everywhere. Anyway, they finally got the message about your baby, or that is what I assume, and they have decided to stop his birth. Using their connection to wizards and to a certain extent to the demons and warlocks that they are using against you. They have touched every evil around you, just waiting for you to meet one of them, and then they activated them. I have a feeling that they didn't anticipate your resistance," she says to Cole "which is probably the only reason why Phoebe is still alive, along with the baby of course."
Piper:
"Why do you think that they are just after the baby and not us?"
Lilith:
"The origins do not care about the outcome of your fight with the demons. If necessary, they could start over. They simply let their creation do its own. On the other hand, they do care that we could ascend to the heavens thanks to the messenger.
Don't ask me to explain everything, at any rate Paul will take care of your memories about him, when he judges that it is necessary. It's too much of a burden for you or the child to know all that."
Cole:
"What makes you think he can get us to forget."
Lilith smiles:
"Paul alone might not be able to, but the child will not want to remember, at least not until he is ready and he will help. As you have yourself made the experience, his powers far exceed yours."
Prue:
"It's all nice and good, but what can we do about them?"
Lilith:
"I suggest that you wait it out for a day or so. That will leave time for most of the other evil looking for you to have started searching on other worlds. But for the matter of Paul and Joel, they will be waiting for you and they are the ones you have to deal with."
Piper:
"How can you be so sure?"
Lilith:
"That's what I would do. And they are not complete zombies, they both know that you will try to stop this."
Prue:
"And what about the others?"
Lilith:
"If you free Paul and Joel of the origins' influence, or kill them, it will be over…"
She ads seeing their reactions.
"I also hope that it won't come to that. But if Paul were himself now, he would not hesitate to give his life for the baby. And so would Joel. Remember," she continues "that killing them would have the effect of freeing them too."
"But," she continues rapidly, "we will try to avoid that."
Prue:
"And what guaranties do we have that it won't happen again?"
Lilith:
"As Paul and probably Cole here told you, we learn from our mistakes. It won't happen again. The origins found a hole. Maybe it was Joel and his brush with evil. For whatever reason, we will block it afterward."
The roar is heard again, and they all get closer together around the fire.
Phoebe:
"You couldn't have found a more lovely setting for a vacation…"
Cole:
"Maybe you would have preferred the wizards?"
She makes a face but agrees reluctantly that he didn't have much of a choice.
Piper:
"Why did you make us use the spell anyway?"
Cole:
"They could have tracked me. And frankly, there was no time to make many trips. As you have seen yourselves. And they would have killed all of us no matter, as a bonus and to keep Phoebe from escaping."
Piper:
"What about Leo?"
Cole:
"I'm sorry about that, but I really don't think that he is in danger from any of them. He doesn't know where we are and cannot help them."
It only partly reassures her but now they are tired and decide to try to sleep, for that's all there is to do in this place.
Lilith:
"I'll watch out for you."
Prue is not very comfortable with this:
"How can we be sure that you are on our side?"
Lilith:
"If you believe anything, believe this: I'm on his side," she says indicating the baby.
Prue figures it will have to do, and the emotions of that day are a bit too much for her. They did not sleep very well that night at any rate, for the animals there were very noisy.
At some point in the night Phoebe woke up without exactly knowing why until she realized that Cole wasn't there.
She got up just to see him return:
"Where were you?"
Cole:
"One of those animals was a little too close for comfort."
Phoebe:
"And?"
Cole:
"Now he is barbecue…"
Phoebe:
"Well don't try that with Kit…"
Cole:
"That thing had as much in common with kit than a tiger.
Come on, go back to sleep."
Phoebe:
"Easier said then done, I thought that the city was noisy, but it doesn't hold a candle to this place."
Cole:
"At least you're safe. I got very scared for a moment."
Phoebe:
"I know, me too."
They just hold each other for a while, and then she tries her best to sleep.
In the morning they were awakened by a loud noise just outside the cave.
Cole:
"Oh oh! I think that they found the place."
Prue:
"They can't get in now can they?"
Cole:
"They can't get in but they might do some damage. Maybe now, you should figure out what spell to use to end the possession."
Lilith:
"I agree that you should hurry, that beast seems really hungry…"
Piper grumbles sarcastically:
"Said by the ghost."
Prue:
"But won't wizards be able to protect themselves against our spell?"
Lilith:
"Let me take care of that. That's why I came with you."
After about 15 minutes of nerve-racking work, the girls are satisfied that at the very least they have a working spell.
Lilith:
"I still suggest that you prepare to fight, just in case. And I would have preferred that she stayed behind…"
She said this indicating Phoebe.
Phoebe:
"No, we will need the power of three to do this. And we can't stay here forever obviously," she says referring to the terrifying noise, now almost deafening.
Lilith's ghostly figure seems to sigh, but agrees:
"Then it is time to return. I truly think that most of the others will be gone by now."
The girls huddle to chant the return spell:
"Through the veil of time and Space
We let the Faith push us out of Place
Out of this World and to our own
Bring us there where we belong"
The return trip was as quick as their trip to the strange world, and that was a good thing because as they departed, they saw part of the cave collapsing.
At that moment, they found themselves alone in the attic, giving them some time to formulate a plan. Then, they set out to find their pursuers before these discovered that they had come back.
As Lilith had told them though, it didn't take them long, since they were waiting for them downstairs.
The moment that she saw them, Lilith discreetly moved behind them.
Paul started in a strange and disembodied voice:
"We knew that you couldn't resist coming back and try to save your friends, but you should have known better."
The priest had stayed with them, for some reason, and Cole thought it a better idea to take care of that one first. So, he shimmered him away. As promised though, he just fought him without killing him, which made things rather difficult, as he told them later.
The girls for their part, just waited for the ghost's signal.
Lilith was approaching them slowly from behind, while Paul's strange voice continued:
"Now we will take care of the little brat before it had a chance to save those traitors."
He lifted his hand toward Phoebe and that is when Lilith chose to encircle them with her ethereal, yet powerful body.
Paul:
"What is that?"
Lilith:
"You forgot the dead ones…"
The girls didn't wait any longer for Lilith had told them that she couldn't hold the both of them for very long. In fact, they could see them trying to free themselves right from the start and almost succeed.
"Leave these Shells we so demand,
Out of Body and Out of Mind,
Never Again will Hear nor See,
For a long moment the girls thought that they had not succeeded, as they saw the two of them struggle still. But then, they saw many shadows coming out of them, and suddenly entering the ground with a whooshing noise, then nothing. Paul and Joel just fell where they had stood and lost consciousness, as Lilith released them.
Prue wanted to go to them but Piper and Phoebe warned her to wait.
Lilith finally confirmed that they were free, but would probably stay unconscious for a while.
Not long after this, Cole returned with the priest, who was not very happy. Apparently, he had stayed wide-awake after the exorcism; and had realized that he was fighting a demon, to his great displeasure.
The both of them were badly bruised and Cole left the priest with them, still fuming, while he went to the living room, where Paul and Joel were still fast asleep.
Phoebe:
"Father Brendan, I'm sure that it's a little unsettling for you…"
The Priest:
"You could say that. What is the matter with you all?"
Prue:
"Hello Brendan," she says ignoring his protests.
"Why don't you come with me, and I'll bandage these wounds, then we can explain at least some of it."
The Priest:
"Like the fact that you have a demon in this house?"
Phoebe squirmed and after he left with Prue, she said to Piper:
"Well those origins whatever may not have succeeded in their plans, but they did succeed in shooting my wedding plans to hell…"
Piper:
"Oh come on, we don't know that for sure yet."
Lilith who stuck around this time, comes to Phoebe:
"May I?" She says indicating the baby.
Phoebe is a bit unsure, but lets her anyway.
Lilith just comes close and extend her own body inside her, which makes Phoebe regret accepting. However, nothing happens, and Lilith seems really happy. Then, she says:
"Don't worry about your wedding plans, I have a feeling that it will all work out."
Phoebe:
"How?"
Lilith just waves good bye and vanishes without answering.
Leo had orbed in just a moment ago and was happy to see them back. Then he asked Phoebe to come with him in the living room for a little talk:
"Phoebe I think that you will be pleased."
Phoebe:
"How come?"
Leo smiles:
"The elders have revised their opinions and, in light of what happened, they agreed to the handfasting after all."
Phoebe starts smiling weakly at first, not believing that they changed their mind so quickly:
"Really?"
Leo just acquiesces and she hugs him happily before going to Cole, who grimaces when she does the same.
Phoebe:
"Sorry."
Cole:
"That's ok. I'm just happy that you are."
Phoebe' smile widens.
"Perfectly happy."
Although hearing the priest coming back, she says:
"Well almost perfectly," she winks.
He stays just long enough for Prue to tell him that everything will be fine now and leaves with some relief.
Cole:
"Well I guess tolerance didn't come with his calling," he says a bit sarcastically.
Prue:
"Are you sure that you don't have some of that evil left there?"
Cole with a smile:
"Bring me that book and I'll swear on it," he says now confidently.