Degrees of Evil Part 4
As Phoebe opened her eyes, she saw sunlight filtering through the attic window. She also felt a pillow underneath her head and a blanket over her body. As she got up, she saw Piper and Paige next to her stirring. Phoebe felt warmth emanate from her abdomen, and she smiled. For the first time in weeks, she felt happy.
"How long were we gone?" Paige asked.
"I'm not really sure." Piper said, and then smiled. Sitting in the corner with his head slumped was Leo. She walked over and touched his cheek. He started awake, and then he smiled. "I knew that you were gone, but I was worried. I hope you had a good time."
"How long were we out Leo?" Paige asked as she walked over to him.
Leo looked down at his watch, and then said, "Just under 12 hours."
Phoebe gave a start and then said, "12 HOURS! Oh my god! I'm going to be late for divorce court."
Piper looked over at Phoebe and said, "Are you sure you still want to go through with it, now that.well, now that you have a son."
Phoebe touched her stomach, and then responded, "Having his son doesn't change my feelings towards Cole. I love him, but it is time for us to move on. We had our chance, and it didn't work. I have accepted that, and now he needs to as well."
"What about Ezekiel?" Paige asked. "He is still out there."
Phoebe smiled, "I think we all know how effective Ezekiel has been against my son. Let him try." Even as she said 'my son', Phoebe could feel both how strange that sounded and the pride she felt in those words. "Anyway, gotta go, talk to you all later." And then she was out the door.
Piper turned to Leo and said, "You wanted me to experience it all naturally, eh?"
Leo suddenly looked really uncomfortable, and he said, "Well.um, that is to say."
Piper smiled and said, "Relax. As much as I hate all the pain and sickness, I wouldn't miss a moment of this pregnancy for ANYTHING. So, what did the Elders tell you?"
"Not a whole lot," Leo said. "Only that they are really worried about this child. He has too much power to fall to evil."
"Don't worry Leo. He won't. We have that on the best authority." Paige said. "That still leaves us with our other problem. We need to find a way to vanquish Ezekiel."
Piper turned to Paige and said, "I don't see how we can do that. You saw how effective our powers were against him."
Paige said, "Yeah, but there has to be some way. I refuse to believe there is an evil our there we can't beat. I'm going to go ahead and take a look at the Book. Want to help?"
Piper looked at her watch, and said, "Maybe later. I have to go check in with the club and make sure it didn't blow up while I was gone. Leo, mind giving me a lift?"
"Sure, honey." Leo said, and then they orbed out.
Paige smiled, and then bent towards the Book of Shadows with intensity. ***
It was finally over Phoebe thought. I am officially divorced from Cole as of 5 minutes ago. As Phoebe walked towards her car, she tried to figure out how she felt about that. Sadness of course that it hadn't worked out, but also a little bit of happiness. She was actually a little happy that she could move on with her life. Almost unbidden, she sent a thought directed at her unborn son. I still love your father, and this divorce is neither your fault nor do I love you less. It just didn't work out.
"Phoebe, how could you?"
Looking around, she found herself facing Cole, and she got her second shock of the day. He was pale, and looked like he was struggling with something. He obviously hadn't recovered from the battle with Ezekiel. She looked at him for a second, and then said, "I had no choice."
"Had no choice! What do you mean," Cole exclaimed. "I would have eventually found a way to get out of the wasteland permanently, and then we could be together. And then there's." Suddenly, Cole seemed to hesitate.
"And then there's what Cole?" Phoebe asked.
Cole hesitated a little longer, and then he pressed on. "Phoebe, you're stilling carrying our son. I didn't want to be the one to tell you, but you have to believe me."
Phoebe's face took on a surprised expression, not because of the reason Cole thought, but because she didn't realize he had known. "How do you know that Cole?"
Cole's face turned sorrowful. "While I was in the wasteland, I felt the Seer die and the Source. However, I could still feel my son (even now his face took on a proud look) alive somewhere. When you appeared to me in answer to my cries, I realized you thought he was still dead, so I let you believe that."
"Why would you not tell me?" Phoebe asked.
Cole looked down at the ground, and then he said, "He asked me not to. He knew I still loved him, but he wasn't sure about you."
"Wait, you've spoken with him?" Phoebe demanded.
"Yes, several times. We are linked by both blood and powers. We both know how hard it is to fight the Source. I even helped him get over it after it happened."
As Phoebe tried to adjust to what she had just heard, she said automatically, "I already knew Cole, and it doesn't change my decision. I will always love you, but it is time for both of us to move on."
"But Phoebe." Cole began, tears in his eyes.
"MOVE ON COLE!" Phoebe shouted, as she fought to keep the tears back. "I have accepted the fact that we aren't meant to be together, and so should you."
Cole looked at her for one more moment with a haunted look in his eyes, and then he was gone.
Phoebe fell to her knees, and began to cry. She wondered if she had made the right choice. She also wondered what Cole would do now that he had lost her. However, on some deep level, she already knew. And for that, she wept even harder, for a soul that had tried so hard to fight destiny for her, to fight his nature for her, and had lost in the end. ***
Cole stared out into the Wasteland, and wished it would all end. He had been vanquished, stabbed, shot, and hit with more magical powers than he could even remember. And none of them hurt nearly as bad as this did. It hurt to breathe, to think, to EXIST. It took all of Cole's willpower not to fall to his knees and weep forever. He had lost her, the love of his life was beyond his powers to reach. No matter what he did, even if he managed to get out of here permanently, it wouldn't matter. She was lost forever.
Cole wished for death, for the nullification of his existence. He longed to be devoured by the creature here, for no pain he could give could hurt like this did. Even as he looked around for a way to end his pain, Cole knew it was pointless. Ever since the creature had regenerated, it avoided him like the plague. It was so afraid of him it would never absorb him, no matter what he did. Cole realized with horror that he could not die, that he would spend eternity with this pain, and that it would never go away. He had sacrificed everything for Phoebe, including any chance for peace. The tears he had been holding back started to come forth, and he began to weep.
"Father"
Cole looked up in astonishment to see an orb floating near him. How had it gotten here, and what was it?
"What are you?"
The orb seemed to hesitate, and then it said, "We don't have time for this, Father. I can't have my presence outside of Mom for long, and I need to tell you something." Even as it said it, the orb began to slowly fade.
Cole's heart skipped a beat when he realized who this was. "Son?"
The orb seemed to nod, and then it said, "No matter what she said to you, know that I love you Father, and that I accept you for who you are. All I want is for you to be with me, and to be my Father. Will you do that?"
Cole felt the tears stop as joy encompassed him. Someone loved him, and wanted him! He wasn't alone in the universe. Suddenly, that joy came crashing down as he realized something. "I can't be your Father, son. I am trapped here. No matter what I do I cannot escape. No matter how many powers I absorb, they can't get around the fact that I am dead."
The orb looked at Cole for a moment, and then it said, "In one hour, come to the manor."
"What, why?" Cole asked, but it was too late. The orb was gone. Cole looked around, but the orb had already left. Apparently, his son's time was up. Cole wasn't sure what was going on, but he would trust his son. The one person in the universe he knew loved him.
***
As Phoebe entered the manor, she found Paige sitting on the living room couch reading the Book of Shadows. "Hey sis, what's up?"
Paige didn't look up as she said, "I'm looking for some way to deal with Ezekiel."
"Any luck?" Phoebe asked curiously as she collapsed in a chair.
"There are several promising leads, but.that can wait." Paige said as she looked at Phoebe. "How did it go?"
Phoebe smiled slightly, and then said, "I am officially Miss Halliwell again."
Paige walked over and sat down next to Phoebe. Taking her into a hug, she said, "You did the right thing Phoebe."
"Thanks Paige." Just as Phoebe leaned into the hug, Cole shimmered in.
"Cole, what the Hell are you doing here? She isn't your wife anymore." Paige demanded as she got up.
"Someone asked me to come here." Cole said.
"Yeah, right. And who exactly asked you? Phoebe?" Paige asked sarcastically.
"I did."
Spinning around, Paige saw that Phoebe's eyes had started to glow, and then she realized who she was speaking to. "Um, okay. Why would you do that Nephew?"
"Because there is something I have to do, something only I can do." Phoebe's son responded gravely. Standing up suddenly, he said, "Paige, could you go get me some candles?"
"Uh, sure. I guess so. I'll be right back." Paige said as she started up the stairs.
Cole looked at Phoebe for a second, and then asked, "What are the candles for?"
"Nothing, I just wanted her out of the way, so she couldn't prevent what I'm going to do. Are you ready?" Phoebe's son asked.
"Ready for what?" Cole asked in confusion.
"For rebirth." Phoebe's son said. She then walked forward and slammed her hands against Cole's face. ***
"Well, it looks like everything is in order." Piper declared.
"Good," Leo said, "Now, can we get back to the manor? I want to check on."
"Leo, what's wrong?" Piper asked, for Leo's face had suddenly gone very pale.
"Oh my God." Leo said, and Piper realized he was receiving some kind of message from the Elders. She could always tell because of that annoying light. Leo reached out and grabbed Piper. "We are heading back to the manor NOW!" Then they were gone. *** When they arrived, Piper and Leo were greeted by a sight that shocked them to their cores. Phoebe had her hands on Cole, and Cole was screaming like someone was ripping his arms off slowly. Both were glowing brightly, and as Piper and Leo watched, a small black orb left Cole. It floated for a second, and then it seemed to pop.
Piper turned to Paige, who was staring at the scene, and said, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
Paige looked at Piper, and then said, "I don't have a clue. Cole showed up saying someone asked him to be here. Phoebe's son said he had, and then asked me to go get some candles. When I came back down, they were like this." Paige turned towards Leo and asked, "Do you have any idea what is going on?"
Leo made no answer to her question. Instead he shouted, "Please give it up! Not even you have the power to do this!" But, if they heard him, they made no response. The ground began to shake, and the light intensified. Phoebe and Cole began to glow so bright that you could barely look upon them, and could only see the vaguest of outlines. Cracks began to appear in the walls and ceilings, and Piper and Paige felt their hands standing on end as the sheer power of whatever was going on washed over them.
Suddenly, one of the forms turned towards Piper, and said in a voice that sounded exhausted. "Help me, PLEASE!" Before Piper could even respond to Phoebe's son's plea, she felt the child within her trying to exert itself. She could feel it begging her to let it help.
Why Piper asked. If I don't it responded then Phoebe's son will die. Piper immediately let go of all her holds on her body, and let her child take control.
Paige was watching the entire spectacle with amazement when suddenly she saw Piper walking towards the two. "Piper, what are you doing?" she demanded. As Piper turned around, Paige realized that Piper wasn't in control anymore. Piper's child moved into the light, and placed Piper's right hand on Phoebe's right shoulder.
The light, which had already been bright, began to become even brighter. Paige and Leo averted their eyes, unable to watch. Without warning, a bell sounded. It wasn't a normal bell, for it reverberated in the room and in Paige's mind. As if the bell was some kind of signal, the light died. Cole fell to his knees, and Piper and Phoebe fell back.
Cole was shaking as he said, "Wha.What happened?"
Phoebe seemed to smile, and then Phoebe's son said, "I told you. Rebirth." Then, the glow left Phoebe's eyes, and she collapsed.
As Cole began to stand, he realized with surprise that he no longer felt any of his willpower going to keep him in this realm. He turned to Piper, Paige, and Leo and said, "Could someone please explain that a little better?" Piper's eyes returned to normal, and then she said, "Why do I feel so tired? What happened. Leo?"
Leo looked at Cole for a second, and then asked, "How do you feel Cole?"
Cole said, "I feel like I have been shattered and then reassembled. What happened? Why do I no longer feel a pull to go back to the Wasteland?"
Leo looked at Cole for a moment, and then he looked down at Piper. "Do you remember anything?"
"No. All I could feel was power leaving me and entering Phoebe. What happened to Cole? Come on, tell us."
Leo turned back to Cole, and said, "Cole, you don't feel a pull towards the Wasteland anymore for one very good reason."
"You're no longer dead."
TO BE CONTINUED.
As Phoebe opened her eyes, she saw sunlight filtering through the attic window. She also felt a pillow underneath her head and a blanket over her body. As she got up, she saw Piper and Paige next to her stirring. Phoebe felt warmth emanate from her abdomen, and she smiled. For the first time in weeks, she felt happy.
"How long were we gone?" Paige asked.
"I'm not really sure." Piper said, and then smiled. Sitting in the corner with his head slumped was Leo. She walked over and touched his cheek. He started awake, and then he smiled. "I knew that you were gone, but I was worried. I hope you had a good time."
"How long were we out Leo?" Paige asked as she walked over to him.
Leo looked down at his watch, and then said, "Just under 12 hours."
Phoebe gave a start and then said, "12 HOURS! Oh my god! I'm going to be late for divorce court."
Piper looked over at Phoebe and said, "Are you sure you still want to go through with it, now that.well, now that you have a son."
Phoebe touched her stomach, and then responded, "Having his son doesn't change my feelings towards Cole. I love him, but it is time for us to move on. We had our chance, and it didn't work. I have accepted that, and now he needs to as well."
"What about Ezekiel?" Paige asked. "He is still out there."
Phoebe smiled, "I think we all know how effective Ezekiel has been against my son. Let him try." Even as she said 'my son', Phoebe could feel both how strange that sounded and the pride she felt in those words. "Anyway, gotta go, talk to you all later." And then she was out the door.
Piper turned to Leo and said, "You wanted me to experience it all naturally, eh?"
Leo suddenly looked really uncomfortable, and he said, "Well.um, that is to say."
Piper smiled and said, "Relax. As much as I hate all the pain and sickness, I wouldn't miss a moment of this pregnancy for ANYTHING. So, what did the Elders tell you?"
"Not a whole lot," Leo said. "Only that they are really worried about this child. He has too much power to fall to evil."
"Don't worry Leo. He won't. We have that on the best authority." Paige said. "That still leaves us with our other problem. We need to find a way to vanquish Ezekiel."
Piper turned to Paige and said, "I don't see how we can do that. You saw how effective our powers were against him."
Paige said, "Yeah, but there has to be some way. I refuse to believe there is an evil our there we can't beat. I'm going to go ahead and take a look at the Book. Want to help?"
Piper looked at her watch, and said, "Maybe later. I have to go check in with the club and make sure it didn't blow up while I was gone. Leo, mind giving me a lift?"
"Sure, honey." Leo said, and then they orbed out.
Paige smiled, and then bent towards the Book of Shadows with intensity. ***
It was finally over Phoebe thought. I am officially divorced from Cole as of 5 minutes ago. As Phoebe walked towards her car, she tried to figure out how she felt about that. Sadness of course that it hadn't worked out, but also a little bit of happiness. She was actually a little happy that she could move on with her life. Almost unbidden, she sent a thought directed at her unborn son. I still love your father, and this divorce is neither your fault nor do I love you less. It just didn't work out.
"Phoebe, how could you?"
Looking around, she found herself facing Cole, and she got her second shock of the day. He was pale, and looked like he was struggling with something. He obviously hadn't recovered from the battle with Ezekiel. She looked at him for a second, and then said, "I had no choice."
"Had no choice! What do you mean," Cole exclaimed. "I would have eventually found a way to get out of the wasteland permanently, and then we could be together. And then there's." Suddenly, Cole seemed to hesitate.
"And then there's what Cole?" Phoebe asked.
Cole hesitated a little longer, and then he pressed on. "Phoebe, you're stilling carrying our son. I didn't want to be the one to tell you, but you have to believe me."
Phoebe's face took on a surprised expression, not because of the reason Cole thought, but because she didn't realize he had known. "How do you know that Cole?"
Cole's face turned sorrowful. "While I was in the wasteland, I felt the Seer die and the Source. However, I could still feel my son (even now his face took on a proud look) alive somewhere. When you appeared to me in answer to my cries, I realized you thought he was still dead, so I let you believe that."
"Why would you not tell me?" Phoebe asked.
Cole looked down at the ground, and then he said, "He asked me not to. He knew I still loved him, but he wasn't sure about you."
"Wait, you've spoken with him?" Phoebe demanded.
"Yes, several times. We are linked by both blood and powers. We both know how hard it is to fight the Source. I even helped him get over it after it happened."
As Phoebe tried to adjust to what she had just heard, she said automatically, "I already knew Cole, and it doesn't change my decision. I will always love you, but it is time for both of us to move on."
"But Phoebe." Cole began, tears in his eyes.
"MOVE ON COLE!" Phoebe shouted, as she fought to keep the tears back. "I have accepted the fact that we aren't meant to be together, and so should you."
Cole looked at her for one more moment with a haunted look in his eyes, and then he was gone.
Phoebe fell to her knees, and began to cry. She wondered if she had made the right choice. She also wondered what Cole would do now that he had lost her. However, on some deep level, she already knew. And for that, she wept even harder, for a soul that had tried so hard to fight destiny for her, to fight his nature for her, and had lost in the end. ***
Cole stared out into the Wasteland, and wished it would all end. He had been vanquished, stabbed, shot, and hit with more magical powers than he could even remember. And none of them hurt nearly as bad as this did. It hurt to breathe, to think, to EXIST. It took all of Cole's willpower not to fall to his knees and weep forever. He had lost her, the love of his life was beyond his powers to reach. No matter what he did, even if he managed to get out of here permanently, it wouldn't matter. She was lost forever.
Cole wished for death, for the nullification of his existence. He longed to be devoured by the creature here, for no pain he could give could hurt like this did. Even as he looked around for a way to end his pain, Cole knew it was pointless. Ever since the creature had regenerated, it avoided him like the plague. It was so afraid of him it would never absorb him, no matter what he did. Cole realized with horror that he could not die, that he would spend eternity with this pain, and that it would never go away. He had sacrificed everything for Phoebe, including any chance for peace. The tears he had been holding back started to come forth, and he began to weep.
"Father"
Cole looked up in astonishment to see an orb floating near him. How had it gotten here, and what was it?
"What are you?"
The orb seemed to hesitate, and then it said, "We don't have time for this, Father. I can't have my presence outside of Mom for long, and I need to tell you something." Even as it said it, the orb began to slowly fade.
Cole's heart skipped a beat when he realized who this was. "Son?"
The orb seemed to nod, and then it said, "No matter what she said to you, know that I love you Father, and that I accept you for who you are. All I want is for you to be with me, and to be my Father. Will you do that?"
Cole felt the tears stop as joy encompassed him. Someone loved him, and wanted him! He wasn't alone in the universe. Suddenly, that joy came crashing down as he realized something. "I can't be your Father, son. I am trapped here. No matter what I do I cannot escape. No matter how many powers I absorb, they can't get around the fact that I am dead."
The orb looked at Cole for a moment, and then it said, "In one hour, come to the manor."
"What, why?" Cole asked, but it was too late. The orb was gone. Cole looked around, but the orb had already left. Apparently, his son's time was up. Cole wasn't sure what was going on, but he would trust his son. The one person in the universe he knew loved him.
***
As Phoebe entered the manor, she found Paige sitting on the living room couch reading the Book of Shadows. "Hey sis, what's up?"
Paige didn't look up as she said, "I'm looking for some way to deal with Ezekiel."
"Any luck?" Phoebe asked curiously as she collapsed in a chair.
"There are several promising leads, but.that can wait." Paige said as she looked at Phoebe. "How did it go?"
Phoebe smiled slightly, and then said, "I am officially Miss Halliwell again."
Paige walked over and sat down next to Phoebe. Taking her into a hug, she said, "You did the right thing Phoebe."
"Thanks Paige." Just as Phoebe leaned into the hug, Cole shimmered in.
"Cole, what the Hell are you doing here? She isn't your wife anymore." Paige demanded as she got up.
"Someone asked me to come here." Cole said.
"Yeah, right. And who exactly asked you? Phoebe?" Paige asked sarcastically.
"I did."
Spinning around, Paige saw that Phoebe's eyes had started to glow, and then she realized who she was speaking to. "Um, okay. Why would you do that Nephew?"
"Because there is something I have to do, something only I can do." Phoebe's son responded gravely. Standing up suddenly, he said, "Paige, could you go get me some candles?"
"Uh, sure. I guess so. I'll be right back." Paige said as she started up the stairs.
Cole looked at Phoebe for a second, and then asked, "What are the candles for?"
"Nothing, I just wanted her out of the way, so she couldn't prevent what I'm going to do. Are you ready?" Phoebe's son asked.
"Ready for what?" Cole asked in confusion.
"For rebirth." Phoebe's son said. She then walked forward and slammed her hands against Cole's face. ***
"Well, it looks like everything is in order." Piper declared.
"Good," Leo said, "Now, can we get back to the manor? I want to check on."
"Leo, what's wrong?" Piper asked, for Leo's face had suddenly gone very pale.
"Oh my God." Leo said, and Piper realized he was receiving some kind of message from the Elders. She could always tell because of that annoying light. Leo reached out and grabbed Piper. "We are heading back to the manor NOW!" Then they were gone. *** When they arrived, Piper and Leo were greeted by a sight that shocked them to their cores. Phoebe had her hands on Cole, and Cole was screaming like someone was ripping his arms off slowly. Both were glowing brightly, and as Piper and Leo watched, a small black orb left Cole. It floated for a second, and then it seemed to pop.
Piper turned to Paige, who was staring at the scene, and said, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
Paige looked at Piper, and then said, "I don't have a clue. Cole showed up saying someone asked him to be here. Phoebe's son said he had, and then asked me to go get some candles. When I came back down, they were like this." Paige turned towards Leo and asked, "Do you have any idea what is going on?"
Leo made no answer to her question. Instead he shouted, "Please give it up! Not even you have the power to do this!" But, if they heard him, they made no response. The ground began to shake, and the light intensified. Phoebe and Cole began to glow so bright that you could barely look upon them, and could only see the vaguest of outlines. Cracks began to appear in the walls and ceilings, and Piper and Paige felt their hands standing on end as the sheer power of whatever was going on washed over them.
Suddenly, one of the forms turned towards Piper, and said in a voice that sounded exhausted. "Help me, PLEASE!" Before Piper could even respond to Phoebe's son's plea, she felt the child within her trying to exert itself. She could feel it begging her to let it help.
Why Piper asked. If I don't it responded then Phoebe's son will die. Piper immediately let go of all her holds on her body, and let her child take control.
Paige was watching the entire spectacle with amazement when suddenly she saw Piper walking towards the two. "Piper, what are you doing?" she demanded. As Piper turned around, Paige realized that Piper wasn't in control anymore. Piper's child moved into the light, and placed Piper's right hand on Phoebe's right shoulder.
The light, which had already been bright, began to become even brighter. Paige and Leo averted their eyes, unable to watch. Without warning, a bell sounded. It wasn't a normal bell, for it reverberated in the room and in Paige's mind. As if the bell was some kind of signal, the light died. Cole fell to his knees, and Piper and Phoebe fell back.
Cole was shaking as he said, "Wha.What happened?"
Phoebe seemed to smile, and then Phoebe's son said, "I told you. Rebirth." Then, the glow left Phoebe's eyes, and she collapsed.
As Cole began to stand, he realized with surprise that he no longer felt any of his willpower going to keep him in this realm. He turned to Piper, Paige, and Leo and said, "Could someone please explain that a little better?" Piper's eyes returned to normal, and then she said, "Why do I feel so tired? What happened. Leo?"
Leo looked at Cole for a second, and then asked, "How do you feel Cole?"
Cole said, "I feel like I have been shattered and then reassembled. What happened? Why do I no longer feel a pull to go back to the Wasteland?"
Leo looked at Cole for a moment, and then he looked down at Piper. "Do you remember anything?"
"No. All I could feel was power leaving me and entering Phoebe. What happened to Cole? Come on, tell us."
Leo turned back to Cole, and said, "Cole, you don't feel a pull towards the Wasteland anymore for one very good reason."
"You're no longer dead."
TO BE CONTINUED.