Heaven Can't Wait
Chapter 7
In the time that he had spent here, Paul had felt a few ripples that told him someone was also traveling between dimensions. It had happened quiet a few times already, but he didn't think much of it. Some of his kind and others from different dimensions also had this ability, although it was still very rare. What he had found curious was the fact that it felt like one of his spells was used, and he wondered if the other wizards were looking for him.
The entity could also feel this, and from what Paul understood he was just as curious, but obviously not for the same reasons. They, as a group, had lost the ability to travel in this fashion other than by using spells. On the other hand, the entity could very much do it, but only in its original form. IT could have come in this manner of course, but then incurred the wrath of the Higher Powers. IT certainly didn't want to be sent back to hell before having wreaked havoc in the world, and would use him for as long as it could.
Until now, both of them had only given a passing interest to these events, busy as they were in their little tug of war. However, the first of a different series of ripples shook them much more than the others… Paul knew right away that a different one was now traveling and that he was doing it repeatedly, apparently searching one world after the next.
He knew where this particular traveler had come from because the strength of the ripple had been clearly felt. This one had come from his reality. He didn't know of many that could do this. As a matter of fact, he personally knew of only one. Apparently the entity could read this, and he became agitated. If Cole had left their world, the demon knew that his plan would have one less hurdle, and he redoubled his effort at taking control. This time Paul knew that he might not be able to resist the assault…
Cole had promised to do his best and he intended to, using his archangel form to travel as it gave him more speed and strength. Still he had some doubts as to how he would find her. The Elders and his father had mentioned that Prue was somehow with Paige. So he concentrated in using his newly acquired sense for witches and probed world after world for her essence, since it was one that he knew well. All through this, he couldn't help worrying about Phoebe and the baby. He had not been gone that long, but it still was too long for them if something was to happen. He could only hope that Coleridge and the girls would be up to the task if the demons decided to attack. Many times he was tempted to give up and go back, but he was aware of the importance of finding this girl. For as long as the power of three was broken, the world and most importantly, his family, would be in an even greater danger than they had been until then. After he once more failed to feel Prue, he moved on to the next world, promising himself to work even faster.
Joel had let the news sink in, keeping silent after his revelations. Phoebe and Piper were still incredulous and Piper finally told him so:
"We thought that you had made sure this could never happen again."
Joel looked her way sadly:
"So did we, but we had not anticipated the depth of Paul's grief… He wasn't just sad, he also felt guilty for what happened and it left him opened to invasion. He had completely lost control. We tried to tell him, but he didn't listen, then it was too late and to avoid being exposed ourselves to the demon, we had to leave him."
Phoebe asked angrily:
"Why couldn't you help him?"
Joel lowered his head in defeat.
"You know that we are only humans with knowledge, not powerful witches or whitelighters, or archangels for that matter… We remember the time when we were but that's all. If we had stayed with him, the same thing that happened before would have again. Right now, I wouldn't be warning you; instead, I might be trying to harm you…"
In spite of themselves, the girls took a step back. They remembered too well what had happened before and they definitely were not in any way impatient to see something like that again.
Phoebe:
"What can we do?"
Joel:
"You could try the spell that you used before, although I'm afraid that the power of three was needed for it to work…"
He saw that it was a dolorous subject and grimaced at his own lack of sensibility.
Nevertheless he continued:
"There is also Cole, which could be of help in this instance… Where is he?" He asked looking around.
Coleridge seemed embarrassed:
"He had to go…"
Joel, as well as Piper and Leo turned to him askance, as they only now became aware of Cole's absence.
Piper:
"Where?"
Phoebe:
"In the circumstances, I'd really like to know this too…" she said, turning to Coleridge as well.
Coleridge's embarrassment deepened but he still kept the secret:
"I can't tell you, but you have to believe that there is a vital reason for his absence. He just needs some time…"
Joel seemed even more worried:
"Well, I hope that whatever it is, when he's done it won't be too late…"
The obvious fear in the wizard's voice had them all worried.
Piper:
"At least, let's do what we can…"
Phoebe knew what she meant and without another word they both went upstairs to look up the book…
Once there, they made a startling discovery.
Phoebe:
"Piper do you see what I see?"
She was indicating the cover of the book, where something strange had happened indeed. The last time that their powers had been severed, by their own fault admittedly, and Phoebe thought to herself by Cole's fault as well, the triquetra had been completely broken, with the three ellipses out of the circle, making it obvious. This time, though, the ellipses were only halfway out of the circle.
Phoebe:
"Do you think that it means we still have some of the power of three?"
Piper:
"I really don't know. That is very strange, but maybe it's because Prue didn't actually lose her powers to a warlock or something… At any rate, I don't think it means much…" They jumped when the triquetra glowed red for an instant, and the ellipses seemed to grow further apart…
Prue was growing increasingly desperate. No matter the amount of arguments she presented to Paige, there seemed to be none that would take her mind off the possibility to avoid her faith.
She was about to try again, when a weird sensation stopped her short…
Cole was getting impatient. He had already searched countless worlds without results. He was beginning to think that they would have to wait until Prue brought her back from wherever she had taken her. Then again, the reason why they had sent him on this quest was that they didn't really know why Prue had not brought her back in the first place. The Elders had been afraid that something had kept them both from returning, and turned to him for this reason…
He was about to travel to the next world when he felt more than saw the rift opening in front of him. He almost jumped in surprise to find himself faced with Paul. This one looked worse for wear and had a very dark expression. He seemed in physical pain.
Cole:
"How the hell…"
Paul quickly:
"It doesn't matter, but I have to know why you left the girls alone?"
Cole answered slightly on the defensive, as Paul's tone was accusatory:
"I had a good reason…"
Paul replied with an edge:
"Which is?"
Cole found his attitude rather offensive and let him know about it:
"First thing first, where were you? Before talking about what I'm doing, maybe you could answer that. You don't look too good by the way…"
Paul frowned and ignored the question:
"What is it that is so important that you would leave the girls unprotected?"
Seeing that once again, the wizard would not answer a direct question, Cole thought that maybe he could at least help him:
"I'm looking for a girl, one that could be very important to Phoebe and Piper…"
Paul seemed to struggle for a moment then he asked:
"And why would she be in another dimension?"
Cole:
"Apparently, she was trying to escape a demon or a warlock and…" He hesitated before continuing, knowing that it would be difficult for Paul.
Paul insisted:
"And?"
Cole:
"Well, Prue seemingly saved her by traveling in other worlds…"
Paul put two and two together, finally understanding why the spell used was his. It was one that he had given to her, in case of need…
Paul:
"I might know where they are…"
Cole was suddenly alert:
"Really? Then tell me, it's important…"
Paul seemed to debate the issue and Cole was about to insist when he finally looked back at him:
"I'll show you where they are, but then I'll ask you a favor and you have to promise that you will do it for me."
Cole felt something intensely wrong emanating from his friend and he seriously wondered about him.
He frowned but still went on, without commenting on it:
"What favor?"
Paul impatiently:
"Don't ask me anything, I'll tell you when we are there."
Paul had had a last resort idea after feeling the archangel, and now he was fighting hard to keep the entity from guessing his plan. Fortunately, the demon was a little worried about the Archangel's proximity and didn't try to affirm his hold on Paul.
Cole watched him for a moment, debating what he should do. He was worried about the wizard's behavior and even more about the strange sensation. However at this point, he was aware that searching for them could take much too long, and there was no time to lose:
"I guess that I have to agree. Show me…"
Prue had chosen to stop in this world for a very good reason. There was not a soul in it. Barely a few animals at all, the world was almost primordial and it suited her purpose very well. She really thought that it would take anyone a long time to find them in such a desolate world. However, it wasn't going to be, as she definitely had felt the presence of two magical beings in close proximity. She immediately moved toward Paige, preparing to have her chant the spell again, but stopped herself when she saw who was coming…
Paul thought that he had succeeded in keeping the entity in check, but when he saw Prue, the pain that had caused this in the first place returned almost as strong as in the beginning. This was enough for the Entity to see what Paul planned, and IT knew that it had no time to lose, attacking him repeatedly. Paul almost folded in two as the mental pain had become physical, and rather than go to Prue, he turned to Cole anxiously:
"You promised to do a favor for me, now is the time."
Cole turned to him curiously.
Paul then told him between clenched teeth:
"You have to kill me, now."
Cole:
"What?"
Paul:
"This is the perfect place, with only you and the witches, he won't be able to use anyone and will have to return to his hell…"
Cole:
"What are you talking about?"
Prue was moving toward them but she couldn't make out what they were saying, while Paige observed from afar, paralyzed by a sudden dread. Paul would have preferred that they didn't have to witness this but it was too late to prevent it.
Paul:
"I have no time to explain, you have to do it or everything might be lost."
The Entity was now fighting frantically to take control as he knew exactly why they had come to this place. Cole could now feel the demon clearly and he realized that Paul wasn't the only one in his body. The wizard looked at him with pleading eyes, holding on to the last of his own will to try and convince him to act.
Killing wasn't stranger to Cole, but in the last few years he had learned the value of life and even more when it came to a friend. Nevertheless, he saw in Paul's eyes that there was no other solution and started raising his hand. Prue finally understood what was happening although she couldn't guess why, and at the last moment she assumed that Cole was doing the wrong thing. She searched inside herself for the powers that she still had, remembering that her Grams could still use it even as a ghost. She put all her emotions in it and sent Cole flying back toward the rocky wall. He didn't have time to get up or tell her why before the Wizard was lost…
The entity, now in total control, didn't lose any time and vanished immediately under Prue's incredulous stare.
She then turned to Cole with angry eyes:
"What were you doing? What just happened?"
Cole sighed heavily while getting back on his feet. At this moment, he even forgot about his remorse.
"Well, it would seem that you just helped a powerful demon to free himself…"
Prue couldn't understand what he meant; all she knew is that he had almost killed Paul:
"It was Paul you were trying to kill, what else did you think that I would do?"
Cole tried to keep the irritation from his voice but without much success:
"Oh I don't know, maybe I thought that I finally had your trust…"
Prue, undeterred:
"There is a limit to anyone's trust Cole. You were about to kill the man I love…loved," she added remembering what she was now, painfully.
Cole added, loud enough for even Paige to hear:
"I wish I had time to give you all the details, at least as far as I know them. But for now, suffice to say that you probably put your sisters in more danger than they were before and it is imperative that this girl," he pointed to the still immobile Paige, " be returned to our world.
Until now, Paige had not reacted, but being included in the discussion shook her out of her prostration:
"I'm not going anywhere with you…" She said firmly.
Prue looked at him and he knew that she unfortunately agreed.
"We are not going anywhere until you explain yourself."
For a brief instant, Cole was tempted to grab Paige and bring her back against her will, but he understood that she wouldn't be of any help if she didn't agree on her own. So because of this, he began explaining what had happened…
Paul's body, now not his own, reappeared in a park away from prying eyes. The entity had not lost any time after he understood that the archangel had found out about him. He didn't fear him per say, but he knew that if he had struck Paul while unprotected, his plan would have been ruined. Right now, he also had his priority straight. If he wanted to roam this world, he had to get rid of the real threat to him: the witches. In order to do this he simply started walking down the path. Every mortal that he met became possessed by him and followed him. Now that he was free of the wizard's hold, he could invade others at will, and he intended to use as many of them as necessary to kill his enemies.
At the manor, they were now anxiously waiting, wondering if anything would really happen. Phoebe held her baby close to her, fearful of letting him out of her sight even for an instant. She was convinced that whoever or whatever this entity was, he wouldn't be content to hurt them and would go after him too. From the way Joel was staring at her and the baby, he looked like he thought the same.
He suddenly turned his stare toward the front door and there was no doubt in Phoebe's mind that this wasn't a good sign.
"What is it," she asked anxiously.
Joel answered without looking back:
"I think that he is coming…"
Leo was the second one to feel the new arrival. The wave of anger that he had felt in Paul's presence earlier was now overwhelming. He sensed that something was worming its way inside him. The message was clear and he fought with all his might against it:
"Kill the witches!"
However, no matter how hard he tried, the sensation made its way completely inside him and soon he wasn't in control of himself anymore. He turned to Piper, who stood only a few feet from him, and only chance made her look his way before he struck. She reacted immediately by freezing him. Only then did the absurdity of what just transpired come to her.
"Leo?" She asked even if she knew that he couldn't hear.
Coleridge came to her and pulled her away from Leo before she was tempted to free him. Joel felt the same rage mounting in him and knew that he had to get away before it was too late.
"I have to leave, or I will hurt you just like Leo just tried to."
Piper:
"I'll just freeze you."
Joel fought hard to keep control of his emotions:
"It won't take. And you should get away from Leo as well, because when the Demon comes closer, he will unfreeze him."
Phoebe's level of anxiety grew as she looked down at her baby.
Joel without looking at her still said:
"If I can get away now, I can bring Jason with me in a safer place."
Phoebe hesitated. No matter the maturity of his words, the boy was still only ten, and what's more, he had just said that he might lose control. However, clamors from a crowd out there convinced her that the danger was imminent, and that her baby might have a better chance away from them. She got up, intent on handing him the baby, but this one started crying uncontrollably and it attracted Coleridge's attention. In an instant, he asserted the situation and orbed right between Phoebe and Joel. Phoebe stared at him in confusion as Coleridge himself faced Joel severely.
"Leave the child alone."
Phoebe intervened:
"Sir, he simply wanted to protect him…" She had to speak louder over the child's cries and she suddenly wondered about the very different quality of it.
Coleridge ignored this and continued staring down at the young wizard:
"Fight it…"
That is when Phoebe saw Joel's eyes and they were filled with rage. Just as she watched, he seemed to hesitate; shaking his head repeatedly, then he somehow took back control of himself.
Coleridge insisted:
"Go now, before it's too late…"
Joel vanished without a word.
Only then did Coleridge turn to Phoebe.
"I could feel that he wasn't himself. He probably got contacted by the demon, and this one realized that his other target was in the house…"
Phoebe was now trembling all over, shook to the core of her being that she almost handed her child to the monster.
Outside, it was obvious that the angry mob was approaching and it didn't help her mood as she held tight to Jason.
"He still can't stay here, it's too dangerous…"
Coleridge hesitated, torn between the necessity to protect the girls and his desire to do the same for his grandson.
Then he thought of something.
"The Elders won't like it but I know where he will be safe. Give him to me."
Phoebe was still unsure, given what happened with Joel, but looking in Coleridge's eyes, she knew that he was sincere. Besides, Jason had calmed down already, and she knew that his screams had been meant to alert her somehow.
She still asked:
"Where?"
Coleridge just looked up and she handed him Jason after kissing his forehead tenderly.
Phoebe watched him go with the dreadful sensation that she might never see her son again. She wondered where her husband was through all this…
Cole had just finished telling them what he knew and he was now impatiently awaiting their answer. He knew that every minute counted.
Paige:
"You're saying that this man was a friend but that he asked you to kill him?"
She was totally overwhelmed by the whole thing. Even though Prue had managed to convince her that many things she had thought impossible were in fact real, she still couldn't understand what he meant by this story of possession. What's more, she saw that what the newcomer had said hurt Prue, and it worried her even more.
"Besides," she added looking directly at Prue, "what can I do, if this…demon is so powerful?"
Cole had had enough of all this:
"Well, stay or come, then. But I'm going. Phoebe and Piper are in danger while you are debating…"
He seemed about to go, when Prue intervened:
"Wait!"
He stopped reluctantly then she turned to Paige.
"No matter what you think, you are part of us and they will need you to stop this monster." She had finally accepted Cole's explanation even if she found it almost too painful to bear.
Paige hesitated some more, fear creeping deeper inside her. But another feeling was rising as well. She somehow knew that Prue was right about this, but that didn't mean that she was ready to accept the whole thing.
"You really think that I can be of help?" She asked tentatively.
Prue smiled gently, now convinced that she had gotten through to her at last:
"Yes I do."
Paige turned to Cole and handed him a still shaking hand to hold.
"Then let's go," she said with an assurance that she was far from feeling inside.
Cole sighed in relief and didn't lose any time transporting her to their world, with Prue following.
A loud banging on the door alerted the girls that the attack was imminent. They had moved away from Leo as well. Piper was still reluctant to accept that her husband was a danger to her, but she chose to take the more cautious option, given the circumstances. They retreated to the attic and that is where Coleridge found them.
Phoebe was startled to see him back and a little suspicious as well:
"What did you do with my son?"
"Don't worry, he is in good hands, nothing will happen to him, but now you have to worry about yourselves. Do you have the spell?"
Piper:
"Yes, but of course, it might not have any effect…"
A loud crash downstairs told them that the attack had started, and that now there was no more time to debate on the effectiveness of their defense. It was the only one that they had…
Cole materialized Paige beside his own house, intent on asserting the situation. It didn't take him long to see that it was almost desperate. An ever-growing crowd was assembling around the manor. Many of them already were hitting windows and doors. Loud crashes could be heard, but more than this, the litany that the crowd repeated non-stop was what filled him with dread:
"KILL THE WITCHES! DESTROY THE CHOSEN ONE!"
Cole had no doubts on who the chosen one was, and he prepared to intervene, almost forgetting about Paige in that instant. She, herself, was staring at the crowd, in total panic. What could she do against this?
He was about to move magically inside the house when he spotted Paul among the crowd. He was seemingly reveling into the surrounding agitation and Cole had no doubt that he wasn't himself at all anymore.
To Prue who had just appeared beside him:
"I have to try and kill him. Maybe it will stop this madness…"
Prue couldn't agree with this so easily:
"At least, let the girls try the depossession spell on him." She looked toward Paige:
"With the power of three it might work…"
Cole:
"Hurry then."
Paige couldn't believe still, that she might be able to help. But in the face of all this, she didn't have the strength to protest when he grabbed her arm and moved her magically to the attic, where he had already felt his wife's presence.
They arrive to hear people running up the stairs angrily.
Phoebe exclaimed:
"Cole, where were you?"
Then she noticed Paige and wondered if one among the crowd had not managed to come in. However, the girl seemed just as scared as they were…
Cole moved toward Phoebe:
"Are you ok?"
Phoebe ignored this and instead asked:
"Who is she?"
Paige answered for him:
"I'm your sister…"
Piper as well as Phoebe opened wide eyes at this revelation:
Piper begun:
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Cole:
"It's true and she also might be your only chance to stop what is happening."
Phoebe turned an incredulous stare toward him:
"That's impossible, we don't have another sister. Why are you saying this?"
She had asked this angrily.
He pleaded:
"You know that I wouldn't lie to you…"
Coleridge intervened:
"He's telling the truth Phoebe. She is your sister."
The noise of the door cracking under the shock of repeated hits interrupted them.
Paige turned toward it in fear but she reacted to it at last:
"Look, I don't have time to explain this, I don't really understand it all myself. However, Prue told me that I could be of help, so do you want it or not?"
Piper didn't know what exactly should shock her more, the fact that this girl came in saying that she was their sister or the fact that she quoted their dead sister…"
Phoebe suddenly made a decision and turned to Piper:
"What do we have to lose?"
Without waiting for an answer she went to Paige and grabbed her arm to bring her closer to them. Then she signaled to her to read the spell with them:
"Leave these Shells we so demand,
Out of Body and Out of Mind,
Never Again will Hear nor See,
We banish Thee, We Banish thee"
In the attic, everyone held their breath, but it wasn't long before they realized that it had not worked.
The girls looked at each other, discouraged. As if that wasn't enough, the door came crashing down and the first few angry people poured in the attic. Paige was still holding her newfound sisters' hands and fear got her to react with the only resource that she knew she had. The three of them orbed out suddenly and found themselves back to where Cole had materialized her earlier.
Piper and Phoebe took a second to understand what had just happened, and then they turned in total surprise toward Paige.
Piper finally asked:
"Did you do that?"
She had still been holding the BOS, as she had been in the attic, but the surprise had made her drop it to the ground where it laid opened to the page where the spell was written. In spite of the amazing turn of event, she couldn't help but think of how useless this all had been.
Cole and Coleridge materialized beside them before she could answer:
"It didn't work, now I have to try and kill him…"
Phoebe:
"Kill who?"
Cole's face was a hard mask of determination:
"Paul," he simply answered.
He turned toward the crowd who had finally realized that their target had moved and were changing direction.
He spotted him again, closer this time and was about to go for him when a pressure on his arm stopped him.
Paige:
"I think that I know why it didn't work."
Every one turned to her at once:
"I'm sorry, I didn't believe that I could help."
Piper picked up the book and looked at the triquetra which had still not returned to his original form.
Paul, or the one that inhabited him, started moving toward them as well…
Paige got agitated:
"I do now, I know that I can help…"
The others hesitated but the approaching danger convinced them to try again.
Phoebe:
"Let's do it then."
Again the girls huddled, and Piper opened the book back at the page of the spell. The moment that they started to chant, she felt a vibration coming from the book in her hands, as if the power that they wielded was either coming straight from it or as if they gave it renewed power themselves. As soon as they started the chant this time, the whole crowd stood still, as Paul seemed to twist in pain.
Leave these Shells we so demand,
Out of Body and Out of Mind,
Never Again will Hear nor See,
We banish Thee, We Banish thee"
A dark shadow seemed to rise suddenly out of his body, and it writhed furiously before being sucked back into the ground as they had seen previously. Paul fell unconscious.
The people around their house seemed to be coming out of the trance, looking around themselves in puzzlement and embarrassment. Many of them just walked away without looking back. Others seemed stuck in place.
The sisters, Cole and Coleridge, after overcoming the shock, went toward Paul, and Cole picked him up. Then they decided without a word to go to the Turner house rather than try explaining to those people what happened. Better let them puzzle over it then risk being exposed. A very confused Leo came out of the Manor, and spotting them pushed a few of them aside to direct his pace toward them as well. Inside the house, they stayed silent for a long moment, all lost in thoughts, as Cole laid Paul down on the couch, relieved that he had not been forced to hurt him. He was also the first one to break the silence after he realized something that almost made him panic.
He anxiously asked Phoebe:
"Where is Jason?"
Phoebe:
"He's up there, he's fine," then she turned to Coleridge, "he's fine isn't he?"
Coleridge:
"Yes of course. I'll bring him back in a moment," he said as he orbed up.
Phoebe turning back to her husband:
"You know, not that I dislike your present appearance, but it is kind of conspicuous…"
Cole just then realized that he was still in his archangel form and hope that no one outside would remember too clearly what they had seen as he transformed back to his human form.
"Sorry," he added sheepishly.
Phoebe smiled in relief and threw herself in his waiting arms.
Paige had jumped at this new surprise yet again.
"Huh?"
Piper turned to her:
"It's a long story…and I get the feeling that we are going to be busy learning about you first…"
Piper finally back from the shock had closed the book and was now pleasantly surprised by what she saw. The three ellipses were back in the center of the circle as they had been before… This thought brought back the unpleasantness, but also another lot of questions:
"When all hell was breaking loose out there, you said that you talked to Prue? When? How?"
Phoebe peeled herself from her husband to turn toward Paige as well, just as curious about the answer as Piper was.
Paige:
"Actually, she has been bugging me for three days so that I would come to you. I guess she finally convinced me…"
Piper:
"Where is she?"
Cole answered for her:
"She was with us only a few moments ago," he hesitated, "as a ghost…"
Piper and Phoebe showed some distress at the confirmation of their sister's death, but they still went on looking at Paige, askance.
Piper:
"I don't understand, we didn't have any other sister. If we did, I think that I would know…"
Paige pinched her lips:
"I'm not the one to give you the answer to that one. All I know is that everybody is telling me that it is true. And if it's for real that only a Halliwell can be part of this power of three of yours, then I guess that this is the proof sine qua non." She had said that indicating the triquetra on the book that Piper was still holding.
At this moment, Coleridge was returning with the baby. But Jason wasn't the only one with him. Prue was there, glowing all over and she was smiling.
"Hey girls, I see that you have met Paige…"
Phoebe and Piper exclaimed at the same time:
"Prue!"
"Sorry that I couldn't come earlier, there was something important that I had to do first, and it would seem that I succeeded?"
Paige looked at her with a little smile:
"I guess so…"
Prue smiled anew, then she turned to her other sisters:
"I just wanted you to know that it will all be fine now, and that I will look out for you always."
Phoebe:
"Stay!"
Prue:
"I can't, but that's fine, you're whole again now."
Paul stopped her from going right then by calling to her, as he just woke up from the terrible nightmare he had been through these last few days.
She went to him and gently smiled at him:
"You have to let me go, but I'll always be with you too. Please don't regret us, just remember how happy we were. I will…"
He was overwhelmed by her presence there, and what it signified. All he could say then was:
"I will always love you…"
Prue:
"I love you." Then she vanished in a swirl of light.
He sat back down, closing his eyes and kept silent. The girls then turned back to each other, forming a circle around the book now. Looking at each other, they all smiled tentatively, then Phoebe finally said:
"Well, welcome to the family!"