Twice in Two Lifetimes

Chapter II

As night fell, two men on horses were approaching the town, one of them in a priest habit, the other wearing opulent travelling clothes.

The two stopped about five hundred feet from the borough, apparently observing it from afar. The man in civilian clothing turned to the other.

"Hey, are you so certain about this?"

"I told you that they were here."

"So you did…"

"My whitelighter would not say more than this. Moreover, I had to insist even for the little I got, but he was certain of it… If he had known that I was looking for the charmed ones on behalf of a demon…"

"Half demon, and reformed at this. Even the Elders accepted that…"

"So you say…"

Ignoring the remark, Cole turned to the borough with a deep sigh. He had been looking for a few years already, all the while hiding from any evil agents, and to a certain extent from the Elders as well. Which, of course, was why Leo had his doubts about their acceptance of Cole' supposed reformation. This one had explained to Leo that if the Elders knew of his return, it was greatly augmenting the risk for him to be discovered by the other side. It would not have done, if the underworld learned that he was back. He knew that a few of its inhabitants must have been itching for revenge. Still, at the moment it did not matter all that much. What mattered to him was to see her again, even though, he had also another motive to look for her and her sisters.

"Don't you know yet how important this is to me? I lost her in such a horrible way the last time. So soon…We had dreamt of a lifetime of happiness, but the Source stole it from us."

"Yes Cole, I'm aware of that. You told me many times. And also that you took your revenge on him…"

Cole looked at him dejectedly.

"If you really think that I told you this as a brag, you are stupider than I thought. Didn't you retain anything of what I told you next? After the charmed ones were no more, me killing the Source only gave free reins to lower demons to take over. Even the brotherhood was dismantled and pushed aside by bands of warlocks and demons… The anarchy reigns in hell, but this infighting is bound to carry over into the world. Trust me on this, the charmed ones are needed more than ever, no matter what your whitelighter and the Elders think…"

Leo gave him a disbelieving stare:

"Oh now, you are saying that we are not looking for her because of your infatuation, but to save the world."

"Leo," Cole replied in a falsely calm tone of voice, "I have been tolerant of your snide remarks until now, but do not forget who you are talking to..."

Leo seemed unimpressed:

"Hum, well, I am not likely to forget."

Cole stared at him for a moment, wondering if he should get angry or just ignore this.

Leo still had reservations about his companion. However, by now, he knew that his threats were mostly baseless. In a way, he was glad to travel with him. The demon had gotten him out of a few tricky situations already.

Which was why, he had agreed to what his whitelighter called a foolish enterprise. Of course, he had not mentioned Cole at all in his conversations, and if the whitelighter had any inkling about the demon, he never let out. As he watched Cole turning his stare back toward the borough, he thought back to their first encounter. From the first, Cole had not even tried to hide what he was. He had come to him, telling him a fantastic story about how they had known each other in a former life, even fought evil together. Seeing that he had not convinced Leo, Cole returned the next day, but found Leo with a vanquishing potion. Of course, he knew that the potion would be ineffective, as only the charmed ones had the power to destroy him on the side of good. When Leo realized this after a few tries, he began to worry seriously, but Cole left him unharmed every time. Indeed, in the following weeks, the demon had come back to him every day, trying his best to impress on Leo that he was telling the truth. However, when Leo heard of a new witch-hunt, and of the posse coming his way, he finally had agreed to follow Cole. Nevertheless, he could not help wondering on occasion if Cole had not been the one who tipped them off…

Leo had very disturbing memories of the last witch-hunt. He had seen his close neighbors burnt at the stake, while their children had vanished without a trace. No one knew where they had gone, but some had simply said that the parents killed them before they were caught, and then probably buried them in the forest. Leo knew better than this, but had no other explanations except that they probably fled, as he had almost done himself at the time. Cole had struck a nerve not long before they left together, when he told him that he had come to him in order to find these girls and their cousin Prue. Leo had tried to give him the story that most people agreed about, but Cole did not believe it more than Leo had. He was convinced as well, that they had escaped, and assured Leo that he would not rest until he found them.

This had been a year ago, and ever since, they had been searching, while Leo had learned to trust Cole, at least in part. The half demon's actions had forced him to admit that Cole was indeed protecting him. Even more, he seemed anxious that nothing happened to him, seemingly out of some sort of guilt. All Cole had said when Leo questioned him about it was that he felt that he owed it to him.

Afterward, Leo theorized that Cole had failed him in some ways in that former life and felt compelled to repay this debt somehow. This surprised him to no end.

Lost in thoughts, he had not noticed that Cole already started back toward the town. This one called back to Leo impatiently.

"Come on now, if we do not hurry, they will close the town for the night, and I do not want to use magic here…"

Leo was tempted to ask why, but Cole had already pushed his mount to a trot and was moving away quickly.

Cole did not turn back, as he was confident that Leo would follow him shortly. Instead, he tried to focus on the unpleasant sensation that he just had. Something malevolent and strangely familiar was about. He did not want to alert anyone from the other side of his presence, which was why he had no intention of using the shimmering power to enter town.

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Phoebe had stopped talking, and Cole noticed the jolt that usually came along with a premonition. However, he had to wonder about it, as she had not changed position, or touched anything new.

He was about to question her about it when she turned to him and answered before he asked:

"I just got a response…"

"What?"

From her expression, he knew that she was just as puzzled and wondered some more…

"The Elders just sent me a message of sort…" She stopped for an instant, as if trying to make sense of it.

"They were trying to explain to me why they did not warn us about you."

"What do you mean," he asked, made uncomfortable by the reminder of his darker past.

"Apparently, unlike the Source, who thought that you could not be swayed twice, the Elders thought that there was a strong possibility that you would be. However," she continued rapidly before he could comment, "they feared that telling us about you would simply change the outcome for the worst."

"How so?" He asked then.

"They thought that we were not ready in the first place to hear of your coming. Particularly because the first time, you had almost succeeded as well in killing us…"

Cole arched his eyebrow questioningly, as Phoebe did not have time to give him details on that part of the story yet. However, since she had already told him that most of it was very similar to this lifetime, he had no trouble imagining that he had fallen for her then, as he had this time around. Phoebe confirmed this.

"The Elders thought that if we were too wary, I might never have let you in my heart, and that it might have prevented all the good that was to come next. They also admitted that it would have been pointless to try warning us of any specifics, as the same as the first time, they had not known whom you were until after I found out…"

"Must be true what Leo says that they are not omniscient…"

"Hum…"

Cole and Phoebe just stayed silent, lost in reflection for a long moment. Cole finally questioned:

"Is there a point to that story? What will any of it do to help us though this?"

"I'm not sure yet Cole. Earlier, the vision came to me all at once, and the only thing that stayed clear in my mind at the time was that Clay had to leave. The rest, it is as if they were telling it to me as I am relating it to you. There has to be a reason. Maybe something that we are supposed to understand together…Either way, I am compelled to continue…"

"I would have preferred that we worked out our problems now…"

He said this while twisting his mouth with an uncertain expression.

"Who knows," she said softly, " maybe the answer lies in the story?"

"I would still want you to answer this: will you ever be able to forgive me for what happened?"

She bit her lips without answering, and he understood that she was still debating it. Probably as much as he himself, still worried about Clay…

Yet, there was one thing that he was sure of, and wanted her to know.

"I love you Phoebe, I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

"I know," was all she could manage, as she hesitantly lifted her hand toward his handsome face. She wished nothing more than to erase the worry that showed so clearly in his expression. But first, she had to make sense of her own feelings. She left her hand fall back in her lap, and simply sat back, sighing heavily before she continued her tale. This, even as she wondered if she was not using the urge in order to delay the unpleasant discussion. It did not mean however, that the story was in any way more pleasant for her…

*******************************************

The man walked slowly but purposefully toward the girls, his features hidden in the shadows. His dark clothing made him practically impossible to distinguish until he came near the fire. There he stopped and observed them.

"Yes, a great pleasure this will be…"

When he was satisfied that the girls would not wake up, he closed his eyes and mentally called to another.

"Show yourself, your work is not over…"

Beside him, a woman with dark hair and a lean body wrapped into a dark and tight dress appeared, a cruel smile spread across her lips…"

Turning to her companion, she uttered:

"I see that you found them as I told you."

"Never mind this. Do your best now. I am impatient to begin…"

The woman turned toward Phoebe and Paige, still huddled in front of the fire. She had a moment of hesitation that Reinhart did not fail to notice.

"You will not tell me that you are squeamish now? Remember, Prue, I got what I needed from you, and although I would regret our time together, I will not be saddled with a wimp." His expression and tone of voice told Prue that the threat was not an idle one.

Prue's face changed noticeably, hardening. It was mostly to hide her fear, as she knew that Reinhart could have killed her in a heartbeat.

Killing them was not what she had a problem with… She hated them.

A few years back, she had fled the witch hunters with them, but the life that they were forced to live had been too difficult for her. She had tried to convince her cousins that they should use their powers to get a better life. At the time, her own life had already been shattered once after her parents were killed by a demon. From that moment, she had lived with her aunt and uncle, trying her best to adapt and forget. However, after she learned of what had happened to them, the bitterness became deeper. She began to think that humanity was responsible for all of her tragedies. First, by the death of her parents while they were trying to defend it, then by taking her foster parents, because of ignorance. When her cousins showed no sign of wanting to follow her in her new attitude, she decided to provide for them on her own. They were just about the only ones she cared for. However, one day, the girls surprised her as she was choking a merchant magically to obtain food. They had apparently suspected her misuse of magic and followed her that day to see for themselves. Piper had launched at her, appalled, while Phoebe broke the connection by using her energy power against her.

They had run away from the man and that particular town then, knowing full well that this would bring the priests after them.

Once they had been certain that they were out of reach, they had announced to Prue that they could not continue with her. She had begged them not to leave her behind, but Piper and Phoebe had been inflexible.

"You have chosen the wrong path, Prue. We love you, but we cannot continue to be around you. I hope that you will see the error of your ways one day," Piper had added before she turned her back on Prue, followed by the other two.

At first, Prue had been devastated, and almost tempted to let herself die. She believed that no one cared anything for her. Then, this man, Reinhart, had found her and taken her under his protection. She understood early on that he wanted her for a purpose, but she had nothing else left.

This attack was to be the last test of her loyalty. In her mind, she visualized the last time that she had seen her cousins. In an instant, the anger and the pain returned fully. Without any more hesitation, she extended both hands toward the sleeping girls…

Reinhart was watching her intently, but suddenly got distracted by a familiar sensation. It had been fleeting but it brought a carnal smile to his lips.

"So," he thought, "I will get satisfaction sooner than I thought…"

At the borough's entrance, Leo and Cole were discussing with a guard, whom was not too keen on letting them in.

After Cole had tried persuasion, Leo came forward, asking for a charitable gesture toward a man of the cloth. This swayed the man at last, and the moment they were passed him, Leo turned to Cole triumphantly.

"See, I told you that this disguise would help us…"

Cole gave him a falsely annoyed look, then let a mocking smile spread his lips as a thought came to him.

"Leo, you do know, that if the priests find out that you, a witch, used their habit as a disguise, they won't be just happy to burn you. They probably will start by dismembering you, then torture you, and if anything is left of you, then they'll burn it."

Leo took a moment to let this sink, then looked at him with a defiant expression, all the while swallowing uneasily.

In spite of his resolve not to show Cole that he got to him, he could not help looking around with a hint of worry. Realizing what he was doing, he cast a side look to Cole, but saw that his embarrassment and fears seemed the farthest thing from his mind then.

Cole had only finished his pun, that the sensation came back, stronger and more malevolent than ever. However, he became very troubled when he realized that the other evil had sensed him as well. He immediately closed his mind, but understood that his hiding days might be over.

Forgetting about his own concerns for the moment, Leo questioned Cole:

"What is it?"

This one just shook his head, as if trying to chase cobwebs. Then he turned to Leo seemingly as calm as before.

"It's nothing. Let us find a place to stay the night."

Leo knew instinctively that the demon was keeping something from him, but he also knew better than to insist. When Cole was in this kind of mood, there was no point.

Phoebe woke up suddenly, suffocating. She tried to bring her hand to her throat, and she panicked when realizing that her arm would not move. She was paralyzed… All she could do was to open her eyes and look up at the darkened sky. When she tried to scream, she could not utter a sound. She was wondering about a sickness, but before the thought had completely formed, the light from the fire dimmed to almost nothing. Then she saw the face of a man, looking down on her with a cruel smile. Her eyes widened and her panic grew.

He came down toward her, breathing heavily, and he brought a double edge knife in front of her eyes, showing it off as a trophy. That is when she understood that her panic had been more than justified. She recognized the athame almost immediately, and the implication was unmistakable. However, what happened next was worse than anything that she could have imagined, worse than death…

The man trailed the pointed end of the knife on her face, leaving a path of searing pain behind it. Then, he moved his hand in front of her eyes, and when he removed it, his satisfaction was plain to see.

"Yes, that is definitely you. Strange that you will not even know why, but HE will."

Phoebe did not understand the cryptic remark, but still knew that this would not take away from her suffering. Indeed, the man was licking her face where he had hurt her with the knife and then, came up with bloodied lips. He seemed to relish it greatly, to Phoebe utter disgust mixed with a fear, as she had never known. All the while, he had moved the knife down her throat, still pressing it painfully into her flesh.

"My little mouse," the voice now echoed in her mind, "you will be the instrument of his eternal suffering." Phoebe shuddered at this.

Prue had watched him first going to Paige, but immediately pushing her away, obviously unsatisfied by his examination. Paige now lay on her side, still locked in Prue's magical grip. From there, she had to watch the horror being done to her sister, while she remained powerless to help her.

In spite of Prue's intense anger toward the sisters, the malaise inside grew for every moment, as she saw the demon cutting Phoebe's clothes away and then drawing blood from deep gashes on her breast and stomach. She thought that she could almost hear the silent screams of pain as she watched him molest Phoebe mercilessly, even as this one could do nothing to save herself… The sight was rapidly becoming unbearable.

Phoebe could feel the warmth of her own blood on her flesh, but neither the wounds, nor his disgusting touch equaled in horror to the mental torment. She could feel the demon's mind probing hers, reveling in her fear and pain. Even as he was practically ripping her apart, first with the knife, then entering her violently, he continued to systematically invade all the corners of her mind. She could find no respite, no hope, no release… She wanted to fight back, to free herself, but she still could not move or speak. When she thought that the pain and shame had gone beyond the range of tolerance, the demon raised the knife, obviously ready to give her the last blow. She strangely welcomed it, as death would be a release from this agony, when she suddenly felt the grip on her throat relaxing. It soon came back however, but before the demon could strike, she heard her sister' scream, as he was thrown off of her violently, the shock hard enough for him to drop the athame. In the next instant, she saw a fireball flying over her, obviously directed at the assailant. At the same time, she heard a shout, but could not make out what was said. Then, almost immediately, the hold on her was broken. She could now breathe normally, but the pain kept her pinned down. Paige came by her side with a frightened expression, tears rolling freely down her cheeks. She tried frantically to revive Phoebe, thinking no doubts that she was already dead. When she saw the slight movement of Phoebe's hand however, relief washed over her, and she picked her up, holding her tight against her breast, oblivious to the blood that was still flowing from her sister's wounds. Only then, did Paige notice that Prue was still there, while exhibiting an uncertain expression. Unlike Phoebe, Paige had distinctly heard the demon's words.

Just after dodging the second fireball, he had turned to Prue with rage in his eyes.

"I'll leave you to the mercy of your peers. Thanks for the help, but you have failed me in the end, and I have no need of a weakling by my side."

He had shimmered out then, without wait.

She had watched Prue make a move toward the disappearing demon, before herself running toward Phoebe. Now, Paige stared at Prue with more anger than she had ever felt in her life. Lifting her hand toward her cousin, she started building another fireball, ready to strike at any false move.

"Prue, how could you?" She screamed at her cousin. "How could you lead this monster to us and help him commit this horror? I had never believed that you were as bad as Phoebe and Piper implied. Now, I know how wrong I was."

Prue stared at her for a moment, the fear mixing with anger still. She had a moment of weakness earlier, just as Reinhart had surmised. It had only been a fleeting moment, but enough to release Paige, which she had then forgotten about. Now, after a bout of confusion, all the anger that she had felt before was returning with a vengeance, as she realized that once more, she was alone because of them, and not likely to find forgiveness with them.

Ignoring the threat of the fireball, she moved quickly toward them, preparing to use her powers again against the girls. Prue was now hoping that by killing them herself, Reinhart would take her back… She was watching Paige, ready to dodge her attack, but was taken by surprise when Phoebe, building up just enough strength, unexpectedly threw the demon's knife at her. In the next instant, their cousin uttered a loud scream of agony and frustration, and then fell to the ground, mortally wounded.

Phoebe fell back against her sister's chest, totally drained. This one let the fireball die in her hand before she again turned her attention toward Phoebe, worried anew that she might have exhaled her last breath. Panicked, she screamed at her to answer. All she got was a moan, but it was enough to tell her that Phoebe was still alive.

"Come on, sis, let me get you to Piper," she then said nervously, as she pulled her sister up, then wrapped her in the old blanket that they used as bedding. Slowly they began to make their way toward the convent, as Paige half-dragged her sister.

Cole was becoming irritated, as they were to their third inn already. The last two had not even opened their doors to them.

By now, they were almost resigned to sleep in the street, but Leo offered to make one last try. Cole shrugged and indicated that he should do whatever he wanted. He, himself, stayed put while watching the man witch go toward the third inn.

Having closed his mind to avoid further detection, he did not feel the demon's approach, and jumped at his sudden appearance before him. Immediately alert, he lifted his hand toward the intruder, but hesitated, as he recognized an old acquaintance from his evil past. Reinhart had been quickly climbing into the brotherhood, even as Cole had undergone his change of heart. However, Cole had it on good authority that the brotherhood had been disbanded after the Source's death. He was still thinking about this when he noticed the blood smeared all over his face, and it caused him to hesitate some more, in wonderment. The slight hesitation was enough for Reinhart to act.

Cole had finally decided to finish him, no matter what, when he felt a wave of pain course through him, as he had never imagined possible. It was so intense that he fell to his knees, as if stricken. In his mind's eyes, he saw her, Maria, the one he had been looking for. However, her face was contorted by an intense pain, and under the demon' spell, he relived her agony over and over, sapping all of his strength. Reinhart then bent toward him, a cold rage easily visible in his eyes, which effectively contradicted the banality of his next words.

"Beltram! Fancy meeting you here. You have made yourself rare these last few years, but of course, who could blame you."

Through the atrocious pain, Cole could hear the cold voice as much in his mind as spoken aloud. In the terrible vision, he saw the athame rising and coming down toward her. There the vision stopped only to start over, leaving Cole convinced that Reinhart had killed her. He knew that the girl who had been the victim was not Maria, as he knew her, but the one her soul inhabited. However, her inner soul was the same and he saw only the face of the one he remembered.

The demon bent toward him, and as the visions returned, her pain mingled with his own, as he felt the knife that Reinhart had just produced, entering his side deeply.

By now, however, just as she had, he wished that death would take away the pain.

This was not to be however, as Reinhart pointed out before shimmering out.

"I want you to live, Beltram, to live with this pain and the knowledge that I will pursue her soul till the end of time. You alone are responsible for the shame that befell me, but know this, I will rise again, and spend eternity tormenting you and your accursed lover…"

Cole understood that the wound Reinhart inflicted him was only meant to slow him down. It had been superfluous however, for the horror he saw stuck him in place.

Leo was coming back with a renewed frustration, as the third inn had been no more welcoming than the other two. Resigned, he was making his way back toward Cole, when he saw this one from afar facing another man, then falling to his knees as if in agony. Leo hesitated only a second before running toward them, but he did not get there soon enough to prevent the demon from knifing Cole. Pulling his own knife, he prepared to launch at the attacker. However, this one shimmered out before he could reach him.

Leo stopped in his tracks at this, realizing that what he had thought a thief was in fact a demon. Nevertheless, seeing Cole prostrated and unmoving, he started anxiously back toward his companion.

"Cole?"

The demon remained silent, staring downward.

"Cole, what did he do to you?"

Cole finally heard Leo's call and lifted his face slowly toward him. His eyes were filled with tears and the pain that Leo could read in them, he knew was not only physical. This, Cole confirmed with his next words.

"Kill me now, Leo. Please! There is no hope left."

Leo was stunned.

"What?"

"Kill me, Leo. Maybe if I die, she will not have to suffer this horror again."

"Cole, what the hell are you talking about? This is insane."

"I am serious Leo. She just suffered a fate worst than death by my fault. I never want her to endure this again."

"How would you know this?"

However, even as he was asking, he understood how. The demon must have had the ability to transfer all that she had felt to Cole.

Lowering the knife, Leo lifted his head up and called to his whitelighter, not knowing what else to do.

This one appeared and looked appalled at the sight of Cole.

"Who is he?"

Leo ignored the question, but asked one of his own.

"Is one of the charmed ones hurt?"

Marcus looked at him reproachfully.

"Leo, you already got me to tell you too much about them."

"Marcus, I need to know. Is one of the charmed ones hurt," he repeated stubbornly.

Marcus sighed:

"Yes, one of them got hurt, but she will live…" the whitelighter finally answered, his voice trailing at this. Leo noticed it, and also saw the sad expression on the whitelighter's face, which contradicted his encouraging statement.

Troubled, Leo looked at Cole again, and saw the intense surprise in his eyes. Obviously, he had thought her dead. His intention was to ask Marcus to heal Cole, but he wondered for a moment what would happen if the whitelighter tried to heal a demon. Still, he could not let him suffer like this. In spite of his reservations, he had grown to respect the half demon, and was also grateful for the many times he had protected him.

"Marcus, my friend has been hurt by a demon. Can you heal him?"

Marcus hesitated, then he moved toward Cole. However, this one lifted a hand firmly in front of him.

"No, leave me, I do not need your help."

"You look in bad shape," the whitelighter countered.

"I will be fine, leave me alone," was Cole curt answer.

Marcus turned to Leo questioningly, but this one shook his head dejectedly.

The whitelighter hesitated, then moved back toward Leo with a very serious expression.

"Leo, you have to stay away from those girls. Whatever your motives were to find them, things have now changed considerably, and the Elders even think of them as liabilities."

Leo was appalled at this:

"What are you talking about? They are the fabled charmed ones, supposed to save humanity from evil, not a danger to it…"

Before orbing out, Marcus added cryptically:

"Not anymore…"

Leo's worries deepened then, but he still turned an irritated gaze toward his companion.

"This was very stupid. Why wouldn't you let him help you?"

"First, Leo, your whitelighter could not heal me completely and he would have understood what I was right away. Then, I am not dying, even if I would want to."

"She's alive, why would you want to die?"

"I told you. If I live, they will torment her because of me. Again, I ask you as a friend, finish me."

Leo exclaimed then:

"NO! That is the coward way. If you die now, they might just continue hurting her, and you will be the only one relieved…"

The anger now showing in the demon's eyes told Leo that he had hit a nerve. He pursued then:

"If you truly meant it when you said that you loved her, you will live and fight by her side. I am not going to kill you."

All the while, Leo was wondering about the Whitelighter's last words uneasily…

As Paige dragged her toward the convent, Phoebe's distress was slowly but surely turning into rage. Darkness as she had never known began coursing through her. She knew deep down that it was wrong, but the atrocious memories continued to burn into her mind, until the darkness had invaded her entire self. Then, she began feeling an intense surge of power…

By Christine Lemieux/ Justright