Twice in Two Lifetimes
Epilogue
"You see, "Paul began "eight hundred years ago, you gave up your powers, and life expectancy. In doing so, you have made your soul what I would call a free agent of sort…"
Paul saw that Cole was about to protest, but he continued:
"It would not have been a bad thing per say, and in truth for many lifetimes you did pretty good… However, just about two hundred years ago, this all changed. Of all things, and I guess because of all the efforts you had made to redeem yourself, you found yourself a priest. Phoebe on the other hand, did not have a very good life that time. A lot of hardship and a renewed fear of witches among communities pushed her once more into "the life".
"Wait," Cole questioned, I think that I know what you are referring to…"
Phoebe turned to him in surprise.
"How could you remember that?"
"To be honest Phoebe, I had this nightmare, which I thought was just that, a while back, and I did not want to bother you with it."
Paul nodded in acquiescence.
"I actually think that the Source may have sent you this memory in the hope of turning you back. Fortunately, he was not successful, but long ago, when it actually happened, he almost was."
Paul resumed the story for Phoebe and Paige's benefit, and told her how she had caused a serious rift between her and Cole, as well as risked his very soul.
"Do not beat yourself up, Phoebe. You were as much a victim of the vengeful disposition of the Source as Cole was… To understand this, you need now to understand who the Source really was."
"Wait," Phoebe said then, "could it be," she questioned with an appalled stare.
Paul smiled knowingly.
"Just remember, you beat him…" Then he continued:
"Eight hundred years ago, contrary to what you all believed, you had not killed Reinhart. However, you hurt him really bad and for a few centuries, he hid deep down in the underworld, licking his wounds and nurturing his hatred of both you and Cole. When he was strong enough, he surfaced, but stayed hidden from view even from his closest accomplices. If you had seen his demon form, you would have understood why. He was disfigured and bearing the marks of the attack. He could not let anyone see that he had almost been defeated. Nevertheless, he still wanted to lead the underworld. He knew that in order to take his revenge against you and take the power, he needed a strong following and total control over it. So, he created a new persona for himself, one with a different human appearance and strong powers, as well. He had also cultivated a more patient side of himself, making the new him, an easier one to get along with if you want. Maybe for lack of imagination, or pride, he only changed his name slightly and began rebuilding the brotherhood under this alter ego."
Cole said under his breath:
"Reinor…"
"Yes… Meanwhile, he was becoming more important himself in the underworld, as you, the Charmed Ones had weakened the evil world steadily after he was hurt. On both fronts, he managed to convince the underworld's inhabitants to wait and become stronger before renewing their attacks. Considering how badly they had been decimated, it was easy for him to make them accept this. When he felt that he was close enough to his goal, he began trying to get to both of you. Again, he did not find it easy to do so. For many lifetimes, you both resisted his attempts commendably. Until, as I said, two hundred years ago, where he used the very fear of humans for magic against Phoebe. Then, after he had her mostly under his control, he sent her after Cole. He did succeed in damning your soul, in that lifetime. But he found that even then, he could not capture it to put it in a demon's body, as he had hoped for. On the other hand, he had effectively separated your souls from each other, and in time, it did some real damage, mostly to Phoebe, who became evil in many lifetimes. Fortunately, she always ended up vanquished by the other two, which might seem harsh, but was a blessing, obviously… In Cole's case, after many failed attempts, he found that he might simply use the first idea his predecessor had. He sent a powerful demoness to find the most decent man she could find, and create you. By using this pure soul, he managed to lure yours in the child, and made you what you were until recently. Non content of this, he went on to make you evil himself. Pretending to be your friend and mentor, he nurtured your demon half into subjugating the human in you.
It had worked beyond his wildest dreams, but meanwhile, Phoebe had been redeemed and he lost his hold over her. Undeterred, he continued with his plan, seeing an even more twisted way to take his revenge. He would have Cole, of all people, be the one to kill her. This way, he would have had him forever, even if he had been vanquished in time. And you, Cole, would have lost Phoebe forever as well. He waited until he thought that you were completely his to send you after her.
When he thought that you were ready and that it would have been impossible for you to love her again, he sent you in the world with a simple mission, kill the Charmed ones. I'll let you imagine how he reacted when Phoebe reawakened your human half…"
Cole snickered:
"We have a pretty good idea…"
"Yes, well, to say the least, he was very angry. He was enraged to have failed again, but he was still hopeful that he would succeed eventually, in a subsequent lifetime if necessary… Which is why he tried to kill you, even more so than for simple revenge. Then of course, when you became an Archangel, he knew that he had lost you as well. Which brings me to the point of the story, obviously…"
"So, if I get what you are saying, I made a mistake by allowing myself to be human again? But he is dead. That should not matter anymore. What's more, it's a little late to do anything about it…"
"As you well know, Cole. Powerful evil beings like him only stay vanquished for so long. One day, he will rise again, and I'll bet you anything that he will be even more determined. He also almost succeeded in this lifetime. What if he thinks that the third time is the charmed? No pun intended…"
"Again, Paul, what is the point of telling this to us now?" Phoebe questioned, annoyed. She had just about made her peace with their future without Cole's powers, even though she worried about Cole's acceptance of his humanity. Still, what was done was done…
Paul smiled, apparently amused at some inside joke:
"Oh ye of little faith… When are you going to trust Uncle Paul to know what he is doing?"
Getting up, he moved toward the threshold without saying anything else.
"Wait, you have not told us what you meant…"
Paul half turned toward them with the same amused smile.
"You will figure it out soon enough… Ciao," he then added, and vanished before they could say anything else.
Paul met Leo outside the house, where he had apparently been waiting, with a smug expression.
"I told you that it would work…"
"Well," Leo answered with a sour face, "it might have worked, but I will be in the doghouse for a couple days. I will bet you anything that my wife will not be thrilled that I lied to her again…"
"A small price to pay…"
"I guess so… Then, the potion modifications worked?"
"As expected…"
Paige, Phoebe and Cole watched the spot that Paul just vacated with some confusion.
"What?" Cole asked at last.
"Beats me…" was Phoebe's nonplussed answer.
"Bah, no matter," Cole continued, I do not feel like solving one of Paul's puzzles tonight," he added then, turning with a suggestive smile toward Phoebe.
It took only a short moment for her to answer in kind, smiling as well.
"Yeah…" she whispered.
Paige saw that they had completely forgotten about her, and got up quickly:
"Well, if it's alright with you," she began with a slightly mocking tone, "I will take Jason home and get some sleep…"
"Yeah, why not," Phoebe answered without looking at her.
Paige believed that the Source could have walked in that room then and they would not have noticed.
"So," Cole asked after she left, " now that we are alone…"
Phoebe smiled teasingly:
"Maybe we could continue this discussion…"
"Oh I had something else in mind besides talking, for the next few hours…"
"Really?" Phoebe asked, feigning surprise.
"Why don't we go home before she gets there…"
"That's not right to let her take care of Jason for us…"
Cole barely hesitated:
"Nah, for once, let's be selfish…She will not mind, I'm sure…"
"Alright," she replied, already convinced, as she made a move to get up.
"Hey, wait," he said, as he got up himself and lifted her in his arms.
"Oh, sweet! But don't overdo it. Remember, you're not exactly…"
"Trust me…"
He took one step thinking of going home, and in the next instant, a familiar flash of light shone, and they were standing in their bedroom, totally flabbergasted…
"What the?" Cole exclaimed loudly.
"Paul," Phoebe said half-accusatory.
However, once the surprise was passed, she looked back at him with a bright smile.
He was still a little shocked, and she added:
"Well, my husband, I thought that you had something in mind for tonight…"
"Don't you want to talk about this?"
She began kissing him then.
"Oh, later… Much later…"
He did not protest…
