The Dark Hand Part 3
(This is a continuation of the alternate universe I created in Degrees of Evil and that is featured in Information Exchange and Triangle of Hades. I do not own any part of Charmed, I just write about it. And as always, please comment and tell me what you think.)
"What?" Piper exclaimed.
Phoebe looked at her, and then looked up at Cole, and said, "I don't think my son is sane anymore."
"We have to fix this," Paige said. "Maybe we can talk to him and figure out what the problem is, or help him in some way."
Piper was already thumbing through the Book. "Way ahead of you." She came to rest on the Commune with a Fetus Spell. "We'll cast this again, and talk to him, and see if we can help him."
"But we can't do it now," Paige said, "That spell leaves us helpless, and with Rahab out there, we can't take that chance. He could come back and finish us off while we are talking with Gabriel."
"Don't worry," a new voice said. They all turned as Mortanos appeared. "Mortanos!" Michael exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
Mortanos walked forward sadly and said, "I could feel that my brother was in trouble, and I came to help. I will protect you while you enter his mind, but I have a suggestion. Take Cole and Leo with you. You're all his family, and you don't know what will bring him back."
"But, how do we do that?" Piper asked.
"Just have them read the spell with you, and it will link them to you, so you can all travel together," Mortanos explained.
"That makes some sense, but I'm curious. You told us Guardians do not meddle in mortal affairs. So, why are you here again?" Paige asked.
"I have my reasons, and this isn't exactly a mortal affair. We're talking about a Guardian." Mortanos replied.
"It doesn't matter," Phoebe interrupted. "Thank you, Mortanos." She then turned to her sisters and said, "Let's do it." The sisters nodded, and then moved towards the Book, as did Cole and Leo. They all began to chant.
Magic forces Black and White Cross the barriers of life and light Bring the mind of Phoebe's child near So we listen and he may hear
***
When they all could see again, the sisters, Cole and Leo found themselves in the same misty place as before. However, Paige took one look at Piper and Phoebe and said, "What the!" When everyone looked, they found that Piper and Phoebe looked like normal, as if they weren't pregnant.
"What happened? Why do we look like we used to?" Piper asked.
"This is merely the form you subconsciously chose to look like," a female voice added. The sisters turned as a small little girl walked out of the mist. She looked at Piper, and smiled, "Apparently, you liked it better when I wasn't showing, mother."
Piper walked forward, and said, "Then.you're a girl?"
The little girl smiled, and said, "Yes. I would have kept it a secret longer, but right now I don't know if Gabriel would recognize me in my other form." Piper walked forward and pulled her into a hug.
"I knew you were a girl. Hey, do you like the name Melinda?"
Piper's daughter smile widened, and she replied, "Melinda's perfect." "I hate to interrupt this, but can we get to the matter at hand?" Cole said suddenly.
The smile disappeared from Melinda's face as she said, "You're absolutely right. However, there has been a complication."
"What? What's the matter?" Phoebe asked worriedly.
"This spell only works if the child chooses to come forward. Gabriel has chosen to ignore the call, which means he won't be coming."
"Then the spell is useless now," Paige said sadly.
"I didn't say that. In fact, it may be able to help us more than I had thought. Especially with Cole here."
"Wait, why would I make a difference?" Cole asked curiously.
Melinda looked at him for a moment, and then said, "Because of your ability to mindscape. I think I can augment your powers enough to bring all of us into Gabriel's mind. However, I'm not sure what kind of a welcome we'll receive. It could be dangerous."
"We'll take that risk," Cole said confidently.
"I had a feeling you would," Melinda replied. "Before we go, I want us to try and figure out a little bit of what happened."
"How are we going to do that?" Leo asked.
"I'm going to show you what I remember," Melinda explained. "As soon as we got back, I began to look through my memories, trying to find out what happened. I can see through my mom's eyes, so I saw what she did." Melinda turned and closed her eyes. Suddenly, the entire place changed, and they all found themselves looking through Piper's eyes. They saw Gabriel grab her, and they saw him get hit. They then saw them both fall through the portal. The entire group got one glimpse of whatever was on the other side of the portal, and suddenly the vision was gone, and they felt Gabriel's presence. They could feel him wrapping something around Melinda, something that blocked out all emotion. Melinda tried to fight back, but Gabriel soothed away her worry and her anger. Trust me Gabriel said, and Melinda did. As the shield was being finished, Gabriel whispered Sleep, and the memories ended.
The entire group turned to Melinda, and asked, "What happened next?"
"I don't know," Melinda said quietly. "My next memory is of being back at the manor. It's like nothing had happened, and its not that my memories have been blocked, either by Gabriel or by trauma. Quite simply, I have NO memories of anything else happening."
"That is probably for the best," Cole said quietly. The entire group turned to see him slightly pale, and almost shaking with sorrow and fear.
"Cole, do you know what that place is?" Phoebe asked.
Cole took a deep breath, and said, "It's the dimension known as Pygoth."
"WHAT! That was Pygoth," Leo exclaimed. He went as pale as Cole, and said in a voice that sounded close to sickness, "My God."
"What? What is so bad about this Pygoth?" Paige asked.
"Pygoth means torment in the demonic language, and that is what it is," Cole explained. "Every second there is absolute torture. It hurts to breathe, to think, to even exist. The only creatures there immune to that are the Overseers, who delight in the torturing of all the victims. They are masters of mental torture, hallucinations so real and disturbing that demons have literally died upon seeing them."
"Well, at least we were only there for about 6 hours," Phoebe said, trying to find something good about the situation.
"Actually, Pygoth time is accelerated." Leo said, "Every hour in our realm is like a month there. So, actually, you and Piper spent over 6 months there. That explains why your bodies have aged."
"But why don't we have any scars or memories? Piper asked.
"Because the Overseers there don't inflict physical harm," Cole remarked. "If anything, you're probably better fed than you ever were. They keep their victims alive and well kept, and instead torture them within their own minds and psyches. As to why you have no memories, I don't know, but I think our son does, and it may the reason for his insanity." Cole then turned to Melinda and said, "Let's get in there now, before Gabriel degrades any more."
Melinda nodded, and put her arms on Cole. She then said, "Everyone touch Cole somewhere." They complied, and then Melinda said, "Cole, just do whatever you normally do to mindscape. I'll take it from there."
Cole closed his eyes, and he began to phase. Soon, all of them were phasing, and then they faded out.
***
"Now that we're alone, do you want to tell me what you're really doing here?" Michael said as soon as the group collapsed.
Mortanos sighed, and sat back in a chair. He waved his hand, and a black shield appeared around the bodies. "That should keep out Rahab."
"You didn't answer my question," Michael said. "I know this isn't a situation Guardians would get involved in, even if it does involve a future member. So, why are you here? It's because of the link, isn't it?"
Mortanos started, and laughed. He then said, "I obviously don't give the Library enough credit, and you for that matter. That is a very obscure piece of knowledge that is not supposed to be known by anyone except Guardians."
"Then it's true?" Michael asked.
Mortanos said nothing, and then said. "You tell me. What is the link?"
"Well, the way I understand it, all Guardians are symbiotically bound," Michael remarked. "They feel each other's emotions, and also their state of being. This has uncountable advantages in doing whatever it is you do."
"Except in this situation," Mortanos said gravely. "In this situation, which has never happened before, we are very vulnerable. If one of us goes insane, his or her insanity will spread until all Guardians are insane, which would result in absolute disaster for the universe."
"Why are you still sane?" Michael asked.
Mortanos sighed, and said, "I may as well tell you. For two reasons. First of all, Gabriel hasn't officially begun his post, so he the link isn't as strong. But the main reason is because he hasn't been born yet. Phoebe's womb provides a natural barrier that keeps the insanity in. Even so, we can feel it on the edges of our minds, trying to get in. If he is born."
"That's why you're really here," Michael said as he jumped to his feet. "You're going to kill us."
"Sit down," Mortanos said irritably, and Michael did so. "Actually, we hope that the Charmed Ones can help him. But if they can't, or if Phoebe goes into labor before they are finished, then." Mortanos slowly walked over and looked down at Phoebe. "I will do what I have to do, to save the universe."
***
"Where are we? This doesn't look right." Cole asked when they could see again.
"I'm afraid we're in the right place," Melinda said. "This is Gabriel's mind."
"No, I've been here before; it is a vast place full of life and joy. This place," Cole said as he gestured, "Is nothing but decay and rot." Indeed, everything around them was falling apart, and it almost seemed as if decay had set in and was slowly eroding the landscape.
"This must be how our minds perceive Gabriel's insanity," Leo offered. He then pointed, and said, "What is that?" They all looked to where Leo was pointed. In the distance, the group could see a vast castle of some sort, jutting out of the landscape unnaturally.
"That is where Gabriel is hiding," Melinda said. "he must have felt out intrusions, and is trying to protect himself. Come on," Melinda immediately began to walk towards the castle, and everyone followed behind her.
"What is with all the glass?" Paige asked. Everywhere around them were shards of glass, and in took effort not to step on them.
Melinda looked down for a moment, and then said gravely, "Parts of Gabriel's mind. I think whatever happened shattered his mind, spirit, and consciousness. These are the pieces that were lost, or didn't reform." They all looked down, and leaped back, afraid to break any more. Melinda turned back, and gestured. The entire group was suddenly floating about 9 inches off the ground. "That should fix it. You can walk normally now, and you won't break anything."
Everyone nodded, and continued cautiously. Within a few minutes, they found themselves at the castle. It stretched up as high as the eye could see, and was surrounded by thick walls with spikes and a moat.
"Not the most inviting place I've ever seen," Piper remarked.
"We have reached the core of Gabriel's mind. He will be inside."
The entire group started forward, when they heard a new voice. "STOP! COME NO FARTHER!" The all looked towards the entrance, and saw in shock Cole walking out of the castle. He stopped halfway across the bridge and formed an energy ball. "You will go no farther."
The sisters looked at Cole on the bridge, and then back to the Cole with them. "What the Hell? How are there TWO Coles?" Phoebe asked.
"That one is not the real Cole," Melinda said as she pointed to the one of the bridge, "It is a part of Gabriel's defenses. You should actually feel honored," she continued as she looked back at Cole, "In our minds, we chose defenses that resemble things that we feel absolutely safe around. If you are here, that means Gabriel feels safest with you, and feels you are his best protection."
Cole smiled, and then said, "Well, we can ask him that when we get in. My question is how do we get in?"
"How much like the real Cole is this?" Phoebe asked suddenly.
Melinda frowned, and said, "I'm not actually sure.it entirely depends on Gabriel. If I had to guess, I'd say pretty much like the real thing."
"That's what I thought," Phoebe said, and then she walked forward confidently.
"Phoebe, what are you doing?" Paige shouted.
"Cole could never hurt me, no matter how evil he became. If this is anything like the real one, I have nothing to fear."
"And if he isn't like me, you'll be dead." Cole shouted back. Phoebe approached the Cole on the bridge, and everyone held their breaths. The Cole hesitated, and hand dropped a little. "Phoebe?"
"It's me Cole. You know me, and you know I'm not here to hurt him. Please, let me in to help him. Gabriel isn't well, and he needs our help. Please let us pass." Phoebe begged.
Cole wavered, visibly torn, "You could just be an illusion, another vision sent to torment and kill him. I.I"
Phoebe reached up and touched his cheek, "Cole, please! Look at me; I don't want anyone to hurt him. I would sooner die than let him be hurt. Please, help us. Let us through."
The Cole on the bridge looked into Phoebe's eyes for a few moments, and then nodded once. The energy ball dissipated, and he stepped aside. As the group passed him, the bridge Cole whispered, "Help him, please." And then he faded.
The group entered the castle, and suddenly they found themselves in a single room. It was huge, and the walls were adorned with various images depicting scenes in Gabriel's life. In the center of the room sat Gabriel in his little boy form. He was sitting with his arms around his knees, and slowly rocking back and forth. The group could hear him murmuring something, and they strained to hear.
"Can't sleep.can't trust.must be ready.must defend.so cold.so tired.but can't rest.that's when they come..can't sleep."
"Gabriel?" Phoebe said softly, and Gabriel turned to look at them. Phoebe felt tears spring to her eyes as she looked at him. Gabriel had changed. He no longer had any joy in his face, and his eyes held a haunted expression, as if he had seen such horrors that they had branded themselves forever on his vision. Gabriel looked at them for a moment, and then he sprang to his feet. "GET AWAY! I WILL NEVER YIELD!" Gabriel shouted, and he pointed.
"DOWN!" Melinda shouted as she threw up her hands. Everyone ducked, and a second later white energy lanced out of Gabriel's hands towards them. About ten feet from the group, the energy hit a blue shield conjured by Melinda. The shield flexed a little, but it held, and soon the energy faded.
Gabriel backed up, and murmured, "You're getting trickier, but I won't falter. I will stop you, yes." He then began to make rapid movements with his hands, and the group felt the power being gathered.
"I can't stop an attack like that. Talk to him before he kills us," Melinda said.
"Gabriel, stop! It's your father. Please, talk to me!" Cole shouted. Gabriel blinked, and said, "No can't be. You're not here, you're dead, and I'm alone.so alone." Tears began to flow down Gabriel cheeks, and he faltered. He fell to his knees, hugged himself, and began to rock again. The group approached, and they could hear Gabriel saying, "Go away.please go away.no more, just leave me alone.so alone."
Melinda was the first to reach him, and she bent down and touched his face. "Cousin, it's me, Melinda." Gabriel looked up, and said, "I wish it were, but you're dead. I failed you, I lost.can't fail.won't fail.must protect.can't protect." Gabriel jerked his head out of her grasp, and got to his feet. He began to back away. "Who are you? What do you want? Where did you get that information? TELL ME!" Gabriel was ranting now, and Melinda felt wetness on her own face.
"Son, it's us. Please, let us help you." Phoebe said.
"Can't be.I know what you're doing, demons. I won't share my secrets, I won't tell.have to protect.can't protect.so tired.so cold.but must protect."
"Protect who? Talk to us Gabriel, show us. PLEASE!" Leo said desperately.
Gabriel turned and looked at Leo, and then he leaped over and grabbed him in a flying tackle. "You're not dead.can't be dead.please, save me from the demons, Uncle Leo.heal me.please."
Leo looked at the others, begging for advice with his eyes. Melinda looked at him for a moment, and then Leo nodded, as if he were receiving instructions. He bent down and looked Gabriel in the eye, and said, "I want to heal you, and I will. But I need to understand what happened. I need you to show me what happened in Pygoth. Then I can heal you."
Gabriel looked at Leo, and then said, "Sure, I can tell you.but you will heal me.have to heal.have to protect." Gabriel turned and gestured. One of the walls faded, and soon the group could see images beginning to appear. They saw Phoebe fall into the portal, and then they saw the landscape around them.
Gabriel whirled and shouted, "GET OUT DEMONS!"
"They're not demons, and they're not real." Leo said soothingly, "They are just figments of your imagination. It's only you and I, ignore them." Gabriel nodded, and then he turned back to the screen.
"You would be so proud of me Uncle Leo," Gabriel said, "I knew where we were, and I took steps. I protected the family, I protected them.tried to.failed.oh god." Gabriel fell to his knees, and the images began to falter. The entire group closed in on Gabriel, and Leo touched his face.
"How did you protect the family, what did you do?"
Gabriel looked back up, and said, "I.I turned them off, made them sleep. I shielded them, put their minds where the monsters couldn't reach.I tried to do that.I tried.I failed.tried so hard.still trying.but failed."
Melinda touched Gabriel's face, and said, "You didn't fail. You saved us, you protected us." Gabriel looked at her, and then shouted, "YOU LIE DEMON!" He swung at her, but Cole grabbed his arm. Gabriel looked up, and said, "Father, good, you're here. Need to sleep.must sleep.so tired.please protect me.can you protect me." Gabriel was practically begging when he said the last part, and Cole nodded. Gabriel smiled, and jumped up into Cole's embrace.
Cole began to whisper instinctually, "Don't worry, son. I'm here, I'll protect you. Go ahead and sleep. I'll keep you safe." Within seconds, Gabriel was unconscious.
"Can someone really sleep in their own mind," Paige asked quietly.
"He is physically and mentally sleeping," Melinda said, "It happens when someone is on the very edge of exhaustion for a long time. After awhile, the mind simply can't keep up. He'll be out for a little while, which will give us time to talk and to plan."
"What is going on?" Phoebe asked.
"The way I understand it, Gabriel must have realized either where we landed, or what was going on," Melinda explained. "I think Gabriel used his power to shield the three of us, to put our minds in some sort of stasis. It would explain why we don't have any memories of the time we spent in Pygoth."
"But why didn't Gabriel protect himself?" Paige asked.
"I don't know, and I plan to ask him." Melinda replied.
"Well, what is wrong with him? He seems to waver from one decision to another," Piper asked. "He wasn't even sure if he was protecting us."
"He probably isn't sure what's real anymore," Cole said quietly as he rocked Gabriel slowly. "Remember, the Overseers are masters of mental hallucinations. They probably have him convinced that he did protect us, he failed, we all died, and that he is still in Pygoth, all at once."
Gabriel suddenly awoke with a scream. He was shaking uncontrollably, and was sobbing. Cole rocked him back and forth, and said, "It's alright, I'm here."
"I thought you said he'd be out for a while," Paige whispered to Melinda.
"He should have been. My guess is he has nightmares brought on by whatever happened in Pygoth." Melinda replied.
When Gabriel stopped shaking, he looked a little more sane and alert. He glanced up at Cole with sorrow in his eyes, "I'm sorry father. I wish I could have protected you better. I tried to keep the location secret, but they got it.I failed.no, I WON'T TELL!" Gabriel shot to his feet, and backed away from everyone. He looked back at Leo and visibly relaxed, "Sorry, Uncle Leo, forgot to ignore the figments."
"It's alright, Gabriel. Tell me, why didn't you put yourself to sleep?" Leo replied.
"Couldn't. If I went to sleep, my shields would go down on the others. Had to stay unshielded to protect.to try and protect.failed." Gabriel was shaking his head, and looked very confused. Melinda suddenly walked forward and grabbed Gabriel's head. Her hands began to glow, and Gabriel started. A few seconds later, he yanked his head away and shouted, "YOU WON'T GET MY SECRET!" He turned and gestured, and Melinda went flying. She fell into Piper, and Gabriel began to approach them. "Gabriel, calm down. Relax." Leo said.
Gabriel looked back at Leo and seemed a bit more in control than before. "I apologize, Uncle Leo. Got carried away."
"What secret do you have?" Leo asked.
"The location of our realm. The Overseers want out.got out.oh GOD, I failed everyone." Gabriel fell to his knees.
"What did you touch him for?" Phoebe demanded.
"I was trying to read his thoughts and understand how to help him. More of what he says is making sense. Mom, freeze him. I've boosted your powers enough." Piper gestured, and Gabriel froze.
"What's going on?" Cole asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Everyone was rather strained by the current situation, and tears were in everyone's eyes.
Melinda looked over to Cole, and said, "I understand what Gabriel is talking about. I was able to glean more of his memories. After the Overseers understood what he had done, they wanted to kill him. But Gabriel told them if he died, all four died. They could have one victim, or four bodies. The Overseers didn't call his bluff, but they did understand that he knew the location of the original realm. You were wrong Cole. The Overseers are not immune to the pain of Pygoth."
"But that would mean." Cole began.
"Exactly. Every Overseer there is in pain every second, and was originally a victim. It isn't the Overseers that are the problem, it is the realm. The realm warped their minds so much that they think they were always Overseers."
"Why do they want the location of our realm so much?" Paige asked,
"To escape, or to torment more victims. I'm not sure. However, it seems the realm of Pygoth can only be entered from this realm, and the only way to leave is to first come here. They cannot shimmer out unless they know the location of this realm, and that is how they are trapped."
"But tons of demons have gone there before, why not ask them?" Cole asked. "Because the demons have been affected by the portal, and the knowledge was always ripped from them. In fact, even the portal used by Rahab was designed to remove the knowledge. However, Gabriel is a Guardian, and his mind is protected from such tampering. He kept all his knowledge, and so the Overseers had a way out. All they had to do was get him to tell them." Melinda remarked.
"But Gabriel wouldn't tell them." Phoebe said.
"Exactly. They put all their mental powers to work. They convinced him that he had, and that everyone on this world was dead. They sent him visions of us dying, or of us attacking him and calling him traitor. They convinced him that he had failed, and they had gotten to the minds of Piper, Phoebe, and me. All of it was to make him so remorseful that he told them what they wanted to know, to gain forgiveness. However, something unexpected happened."
"What? And if they convinced him he failed, why did he keep the shield up?" Piper asked.
"Well, all the attacks were too much. The constant torment, the constant pain of everyone around him, the constant hallucinations. His mind couldn't handle it: no one's could. So, it split into several distinct areas. One part thinks he failed, and we're all dead. One part thinks he's still there, and is trying to fight us. However, the last smaller part knows the truth."
"How do we help him?" Phoebe asked.
"I think I can put his mind back together," Melinda said hesitantly, "but I'd need to touch him for at least a minute. In his current state, I don't think he'd trust me enough to do it."
As if on cue, Gabriel unfroze. He looked around, and said, "What happened? How did you freeze me? You must be.no, can't be.not real.just figments.I WILL NEVER TELL!" Gabriel held up his hand, and a ball of white energy appeared.
Phoebe suddenly walked towards him, and said, "Gabriel, I forgive you."
"What?" Gabriel said in shock, the ball of energy vanishing.
"I forgive you. I know you didn't mean to let anything happen. You did the best you could, and I forgive you." She then walked forward and pulled Gabriel into a hug.
Tears formed in Gabriel's eyes, and then Cole walked forward. "Son, I forgive you. You did nothing wrong, and I'm proud of how hard you tried. I hold no ill will against you, and I love you." Cole then joined Phoebe in hugging Gabriel.
One by one, the entire group moved forward and forgave Gabriel, and then hugged him. Gabriel was openly weeping, and he said, "How could you forgive me? I destroyed the world. I let them out, I failed."
"No, you didn't." Melinda said softly. "Let me show you. Will you trust me?"
"No, you're all demons, trying to trick me," Gabriel said.
"Son, we would never hurt you. Do you really think we are demons?" Cole said. Gabriel thought for a moment, and then he shook his head. "Then please, let her touch you. I will be right here, and I will protect you."
Gabriel bowed his head, and then said very quietly, "Alright." Melinda walked forward and put her hands on Gabriel's head. Gabriel began to glow, as did Melinda. The entire castle shook, and as the group watched, the glass shards outside flew up and went into Gabriel. The landscape was being rearranged before their very eyes.
Suddenly, Melinda faltered, and the glow began to fade. Leo walked forward, put his hand on Melinda's shoulder, and said, "Take what you need." The glow intensified again, and soon the entire group was touching Melinda, feeding her power and giving Gabriel their love and support.
Time is meaningless. Seconds, hours, maybe days later, the glow stopped, and Melinda fell into Leo's arms. Gabriel opened his eyes, and everyone felt relief when they saw joy and sanity emanating from them. He walked forward slowly, then fell to his knees and hugged Melinda. "Thank you.Thank you." he said over and over, as tears came down his cheeks.
Eventually, Gabriel got up, and waved his hand. Leo felt power cross the air between Gabriel and Melinda, and within a few seconds, Melinda was back to normal. As she got to her feet, Gabriel looked around, and they could see guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, everyone. I didn't mean.I didn't."
Cole walked over and put his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. We love you. I cannot even begin to imagine what you went through, but I wanted you to know I'm proud of you. I don't think even I could have held out as long as you did. You did what you had to, and we all love you."
Everyone hugged Gabriel, and Gabriel said, "Thank you."
"Ummm.not to interrupt, but does anyone know how to get out of here?" Paige asked.
Gabriel smiled, and said, "I do."
***
With a gasp, the group came back to itself. They looked around, and Michael and Mortanos walked forward.
"How long were we out?" Phoebe asked.
"About 2 days," Michael said as he help Paige to her feet. "Did it work?"
"Yes, it did." Mortanos said. "I can feel it."
As the group slowly got to their feet, Piper asked, "How did you." Suddenly, she shuddered, as did Phoebe.
"What's wrong?" Leo asked worriedly.
Piper and Phoebe looked up, and at the same time said.
"My Water just broke."
TO BE CONTINUED.
(This is a continuation of the alternate universe I created in Degrees of Evil and that is featured in Information Exchange and Triangle of Hades. I do not own any part of Charmed, I just write about it. And as always, please comment and tell me what you think.)
"What?" Piper exclaimed.
Phoebe looked at her, and then looked up at Cole, and said, "I don't think my son is sane anymore."
"We have to fix this," Paige said. "Maybe we can talk to him and figure out what the problem is, or help him in some way."
Piper was already thumbing through the Book. "Way ahead of you." She came to rest on the Commune with a Fetus Spell. "We'll cast this again, and talk to him, and see if we can help him."
"But we can't do it now," Paige said, "That spell leaves us helpless, and with Rahab out there, we can't take that chance. He could come back and finish us off while we are talking with Gabriel."
"Don't worry," a new voice said. They all turned as Mortanos appeared. "Mortanos!" Michael exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
Mortanos walked forward sadly and said, "I could feel that my brother was in trouble, and I came to help. I will protect you while you enter his mind, but I have a suggestion. Take Cole and Leo with you. You're all his family, and you don't know what will bring him back."
"But, how do we do that?" Piper asked.
"Just have them read the spell with you, and it will link them to you, so you can all travel together," Mortanos explained.
"That makes some sense, but I'm curious. You told us Guardians do not meddle in mortal affairs. So, why are you here again?" Paige asked.
"I have my reasons, and this isn't exactly a mortal affair. We're talking about a Guardian." Mortanos replied.
"It doesn't matter," Phoebe interrupted. "Thank you, Mortanos." She then turned to her sisters and said, "Let's do it." The sisters nodded, and then moved towards the Book, as did Cole and Leo. They all began to chant.
Magic forces Black and White Cross the barriers of life and light Bring the mind of Phoebe's child near So we listen and he may hear
***
When they all could see again, the sisters, Cole and Leo found themselves in the same misty place as before. However, Paige took one look at Piper and Phoebe and said, "What the!" When everyone looked, they found that Piper and Phoebe looked like normal, as if they weren't pregnant.
"What happened? Why do we look like we used to?" Piper asked.
"This is merely the form you subconsciously chose to look like," a female voice added. The sisters turned as a small little girl walked out of the mist. She looked at Piper, and smiled, "Apparently, you liked it better when I wasn't showing, mother."
Piper walked forward, and said, "Then.you're a girl?"
The little girl smiled, and said, "Yes. I would have kept it a secret longer, but right now I don't know if Gabriel would recognize me in my other form." Piper walked forward and pulled her into a hug.
"I knew you were a girl. Hey, do you like the name Melinda?"
Piper's daughter smile widened, and she replied, "Melinda's perfect." "I hate to interrupt this, but can we get to the matter at hand?" Cole said suddenly.
The smile disappeared from Melinda's face as she said, "You're absolutely right. However, there has been a complication."
"What? What's the matter?" Phoebe asked worriedly.
"This spell only works if the child chooses to come forward. Gabriel has chosen to ignore the call, which means he won't be coming."
"Then the spell is useless now," Paige said sadly.
"I didn't say that. In fact, it may be able to help us more than I had thought. Especially with Cole here."
"Wait, why would I make a difference?" Cole asked curiously.
Melinda looked at him for a moment, and then said, "Because of your ability to mindscape. I think I can augment your powers enough to bring all of us into Gabriel's mind. However, I'm not sure what kind of a welcome we'll receive. It could be dangerous."
"We'll take that risk," Cole said confidently.
"I had a feeling you would," Melinda replied. "Before we go, I want us to try and figure out a little bit of what happened."
"How are we going to do that?" Leo asked.
"I'm going to show you what I remember," Melinda explained. "As soon as we got back, I began to look through my memories, trying to find out what happened. I can see through my mom's eyes, so I saw what she did." Melinda turned and closed her eyes. Suddenly, the entire place changed, and they all found themselves looking through Piper's eyes. They saw Gabriel grab her, and they saw him get hit. They then saw them both fall through the portal. The entire group got one glimpse of whatever was on the other side of the portal, and suddenly the vision was gone, and they felt Gabriel's presence. They could feel him wrapping something around Melinda, something that blocked out all emotion. Melinda tried to fight back, but Gabriel soothed away her worry and her anger. Trust me Gabriel said, and Melinda did. As the shield was being finished, Gabriel whispered Sleep, and the memories ended.
The entire group turned to Melinda, and asked, "What happened next?"
"I don't know," Melinda said quietly. "My next memory is of being back at the manor. It's like nothing had happened, and its not that my memories have been blocked, either by Gabriel or by trauma. Quite simply, I have NO memories of anything else happening."
"That is probably for the best," Cole said quietly. The entire group turned to see him slightly pale, and almost shaking with sorrow and fear.
"Cole, do you know what that place is?" Phoebe asked.
Cole took a deep breath, and said, "It's the dimension known as Pygoth."
"WHAT! That was Pygoth," Leo exclaimed. He went as pale as Cole, and said in a voice that sounded close to sickness, "My God."
"What? What is so bad about this Pygoth?" Paige asked.
"Pygoth means torment in the demonic language, and that is what it is," Cole explained. "Every second there is absolute torture. It hurts to breathe, to think, to even exist. The only creatures there immune to that are the Overseers, who delight in the torturing of all the victims. They are masters of mental torture, hallucinations so real and disturbing that demons have literally died upon seeing them."
"Well, at least we were only there for about 6 hours," Phoebe said, trying to find something good about the situation.
"Actually, Pygoth time is accelerated." Leo said, "Every hour in our realm is like a month there. So, actually, you and Piper spent over 6 months there. That explains why your bodies have aged."
"But why don't we have any scars or memories? Piper asked.
"Because the Overseers there don't inflict physical harm," Cole remarked. "If anything, you're probably better fed than you ever were. They keep their victims alive and well kept, and instead torture them within their own minds and psyches. As to why you have no memories, I don't know, but I think our son does, and it may the reason for his insanity." Cole then turned to Melinda and said, "Let's get in there now, before Gabriel degrades any more."
Melinda nodded, and put her arms on Cole. She then said, "Everyone touch Cole somewhere." They complied, and then Melinda said, "Cole, just do whatever you normally do to mindscape. I'll take it from there."
Cole closed his eyes, and he began to phase. Soon, all of them were phasing, and then they faded out.
***
"Now that we're alone, do you want to tell me what you're really doing here?" Michael said as soon as the group collapsed.
Mortanos sighed, and sat back in a chair. He waved his hand, and a black shield appeared around the bodies. "That should keep out Rahab."
"You didn't answer my question," Michael said. "I know this isn't a situation Guardians would get involved in, even if it does involve a future member. So, why are you here? It's because of the link, isn't it?"
Mortanos started, and laughed. He then said, "I obviously don't give the Library enough credit, and you for that matter. That is a very obscure piece of knowledge that is not supposed to be known by anyone except Guardians."
"Then it's true?" Michael asked.
Mortanos said nothing, and then said. "You tell me. What is the link?"
"Well, the way I understand it, all Guardians are symbiotically bound," Michael remarked. "They feel each other's emotions, and also their state of being. This has uncountable advantages in doing whatever it is you do."
"Except in this situation," Mortanos said gravely. "In this situation, which has never happened before, we are very vulnerable. If one of us goes insane, his or her insanity will spread until all Guardians are insane, which would result in absolute disaster for the universe."
"Why are you still sane?" Michael asked.
Mortanos sighed, and said, "I may as well tell you. For two reasons. First of all, Gabriel hasn't officially begun his post, so he the link isn't as strong. But the main reason is because he hasn't been born yet. Phoebe's womb provides a natural barrier that keeps the insanity in. Even so, we can feel it on the edges of our minds, trying to get in. If he is born."
"That's why you're really here," Michael said as he jumped to his feet. "You're going to kill us."
"Sit down," Mortanos said irritably, and Michael did so. "Actually, we hope that the Charmed Ones can help him. But if they can't, or if Phoebe goes into labor before they are finished, then." Mortanos slowly walked over and looked down at Phoebe. "I will do what I have to do, to save the universe."
***
"Where are we? This doesn't look right." Cole asked when they could see again.
"I'm afraid we're in the right place," Melinda said. "This is Gabriel's mind."
"No, I've been here before; it is a vast place full of life and joy. This place," Cole said as he gestured, "Is nothing but decay and rot." Indeed, everything around them was falling apart, and it almost seemed as if decay had set in and was slowly eroding the landscape.
"This must be how our minds perceive Gabriel's insanity," Leo offered. He then pointed, and said, "What is that?" They all looked to where Leo was pointed. In the distance, the group could see a vast castle of some sort, jutting out of the landscape unnaturally.
"That is where Gabriel is hiding," Melinda said. "he must have felt out intrusions, and is trying to protect himself. Come on," Melinda immediately began to walk towards the castle, and everyone followed behind her.
"What is with all the glass?" Paige asked. Everywhere around them were shards of glass, and in took effort not to step on them.
Melinda looked down for a moment, and then said gravely, "Parts of Gabriel's mind. I think whatever happened shattered his mind, spirit, and consciousness. These are the pieces that were lost, or didn't reform." They all looked down, and leaped back, afraid to break any more. Melinda turned back, and gestured. The entire group was suddenly floating about 9 inches off the ground. "That should fix it. You can walk normally now, and you won't break anything."
Everyone nodded, and continued cautiously. Within a few minutes, they found themselves at the castle. It stretched up as high as the eye could see, and was surrounded by thick walls with spikes and a moat.
"Not the most inviting place I've ever seen," Piper remarked.
"We have reached the core of Gabriel's mind. He will be inside."
The entire group started forward, when they heard a new voice. "STOP! COME NO FARTHER!" The all looked towards the entrance, and saw in shock Cole walking out of the castle. He stopped halfway across the bridge and formed an energy ball. "You will go no farther."
The sisters looked at Cole on the bridge, and then back to the Cole with them. "What the Hell? How are there TWO Coles?" Phoebe asked.
"That one is not the real Cole," Melinda said as she pointed to the one of the bridge, "It is a part of Gabriel's defenses. You should actually feel honored," she continued as she looked back at Cole, "In our minds, we chose defenses that resemble things that we feel absolutely safe around. If you are here, that means Gabriel feels safest with you, and feels you are his best protection."
Cole smiled, and then said, "Well, we can ask him that when we get in. My question is how do we get in?"
"How much like the real Cole is this?" Phoebe asked suddenly.
Melinda frowned, and said, "I'm not actually sure.it entirely depends on Gabriel. If I had to guess, I'd say pretty much like the real thing."
"That's what I thought," Phoebe said, and then she walked forward confidently.
"Phoebe, what are you doing?" Paige shouted.
"Cole could never hurt me, no matter how evil he became. If this is anything like the real one, I have nothing to fear."
"And if he isn't like me, you'll be dead." Cole shouted back. Phoebe approached the Cole on the bridge, and everyone held their breaths. The Cole hesitated, and hand dropped a little. "Phoebe?"
"It's me Cole. You know me, and you know I'm not here to hurt him. Please, let me in to help him. Gabriel isn't well, and he needs our help. Please let us pass." Phoebe begged.
Cole wavered, visibly torn, "You could just be an illusion, another vision sent to torment and kill him. I.I"
Phoebe reached up and touched his cheek, "Cole, please! Look at me; I don't want anyone to hurt him. I would sooner die than let him be hurt. Please, help us. Let us through."
The Cole on the bridge looked into Phoebe's eyes for a few moments, and then nodded once. The energy ball dissipated, and he stepped aside. As the group passed him, the bridge Cole whispered, "Help him, please." And then he faded.
The group entered the castle, and suddenly they found themselves in a single room. It was huge, and the walls were adorned with various images depicting scenes in Gabriel's life. In the center of the room sat Gabriel in his little boy form. He was sitting with his arms around his knees, and slowly rocking back and forth. The group could hear him murmuring something, and they strained to hear.
"Can't sleep.can't trust.must be ready.must defend.so cold.so tired.but can't rest.that's when they come..can't sleep."
"Gabriel?" Phoebe said softly, and Gabriel turned to look at them. Phoebe felt tears spring to her eyes as she looked at him. Gabriel had changed. He no longer had any joy in his face, and his eyes held a haunted expression, as if he had seen such horrors that they had branded themselves forever on his vision. Gabriel looked at them for a moment, and then he sprang to his feet. "GET AWAY! I WILL NEVER YIELD!" Gabriel shouted, and he pointed.
"DOWN!" Melinda shouted as she threw up her hands. Everyone ducked, and a second later white energy lanced out of Gabriel's hands towards them. About ten feet from the group, the energy hit a blue shield conjured by Melinda. The shield flexed a little, but it held, and soon the energy faded.
Gabriel backed up, and murmured, "You're getting trickier, but I won't falter. I will stop you, yes." He then began to make rapid movements with his hands, and the group felt the power being gathered.
"I can't stop an attack like that. Talk to him before he kills us," Melinda said.
"Gabriel, stop! It's your father. Please, talk to me!" Cole shouted. Gabriel blinked, and said, "No can't be. You're not here, you're dead, and I'm alone.so alone." Tears began to flow down Gabriel cheeks, and he faltered. He fell to his knees, hugged himself, and began to rock again. The group approached, and they could hear Gabriel saying, "Go away.please go away.no more, just leave me alone.so alone."
Melinda was the first to reach him, and she bent down and touched his face. "Cousin, it's me, Melinda." Gabriel looked up, and said, "I wish it were, but you're dead. I failed you, I lost.can't fail.won't fail.must protect.can't protect." Gabriel jerked his head out of her grasp, and got to his feet. He began to back away. "Who are you? What do you want? Where did you get that information? TELL ME!" Gabriel was ranting now, and Melinda felt wetness on her own face.
"Son, it's us. Please, let us help you." Phoebe said.
"Can't be.I know what you're doing, demons. I won't share my secrets, I won't tell.have to protect.can't protect.so tired.so cold.but must protect."
"Protect who? Talk to us Gabriel, show us. PLEASE!" Leo said desperately.
Gabriel turned and looked at Leo, and then he leaped over and grabbed him in a flying tackle. "You're not dead.can't be dead.please, save me from the demons, Uncle Leo.heal me.please."
Leo looked at the others, begging for advice with his eyes. Melinda looked at him for a moment, and then Leo nodded, as if he were receiving instructions. He bent down and looked Gabriel in the eye, and said, "I want to heal you, and I will. But I need to understand what happened. I need you to show me what happened in Pygoth. Then I can heal you."
Gabriel looked at Leo, and then said, "Sure, I can tell you.but you will heal me.have to heal.have to protect." Gabriel turned and gestured. One of the walls faded, and soon the group could see images beginning to appear. They saw Phoebe fall into the portal, and then they saw the landscape around them.
Gabriel whirled and shouted, "GET OUT DEMONS!"
"They're not demons, and they're not real." Leo said soothingly, "They are just figments of your imagination. It's only you and I, ignore them." Gabriel nodded, and then he turned back to the screen.
"You would be so proud of me Uncle Leo," Gabriel said, "I knew where we were, and I took steps. I protected the family, I protected them.tried to.failed.oh god." Gabriel fell to his knees, and the images began to falter. The entire group closed in on Gabriel, and Leo touched his face.
"How did you protect the family, what did you do?"
Gabriel looked back up, and said, "I.I turned them off, made them sleep. I shielded them, put their minds where the monsters couldn't reach.I tried to do that.I tried.I failed.tried so hard.still trying.but failed."
Melinda touched Gabriel's face, and said, "You didn't fail. You saved us, you protected us." Gabriel looked at her, and then shouted, "YOU LIE DEMON!" He swung at her, but Cole grabbed his arm. Gabriel looked up, and said, "Father, good, you're here. Need to sleep.must sleep.so tired.please protect me.can you protect me." Gabriel was practically begging when he said the last part, and Cole nodded. Gabriel smiled, and jumped up into Cole's embrace.
Cole began to whisper instinctually, "Don't worry, son. I'm here, I'll protect you. Go ahead and sleep. I'll keep you safe." Within seconds, Gabriel was unconscious.
"Can someone really sleep in their own mind," Paige asked quietly.
"He is physically and mentally sleeping," Melinda said, "It happens when someone is on the very edge of exhaustion for a long time. After awhile, the mind simply can't keep up. He'll be out for a little while, which will give us time to talk and to plan."
"What is going on?" Phoebe asked.
"The way I understand it, Gabriel must have realized either where we landed, or what was going on," Melinda explained. "I think Gabriel used his power to shield the three of us, to put our minds in some sort of stasis. It would explain why we don't have any memories of the time we spent in Pygoth."
"But why didn't Gabriel protect himself?" Paige asked.
"I don't know, and I plan to ask him." Melinda replied.
"Well, what is wrong with him? He seems to waver from one decision to another," Piper asked. "He wasn't even sure if he was protecting us."
"He probably isn't sure what's real anymore," Cole said quietly as he rocked Gabriel slowly. "Remember, the Overseers are masters of mental hallucinations. They probably have him convinced that he did protect us, he failed, we all died, and that he is still in Pygoth, all at once."
Gabriel suddenly awoke with a scream. He was shaking uncontrollably, and was sobbing. Cole rocked him back and forth, and said, "It's alright, I'm here."
"I thought you said he'd be out for a while," Paige whispered to Melinda.
"He should have been. My guess is he has nightmares brought on by whatever happened in Pygoth." Melinda replied.
When Gabriel stopped shaking, he looked a little more sane and alert. He glanced up at Cole with sorrow in his eyes, "I'm sorry father. I wish I could have protected you better. I tried to keep the location secret, but they got it.I failed.no, I WON'T TELL!" Gabriel shot to his feet, and backed away from everyone. He looked back at Leo and visibly relaxed, "Sorry, Uncle Leo, forgot to ignore the figments."
"It's alright, Gabriel. Tell me, why didn't you put yourself to sleep?" Leo replied.
"Couldn't. If I went to sleep, my shields would go down on the others. Had to stay unshielded to protect.to try and protect.failed." Gabriel was shaking his head, and looked very confused. Melinda suddenly walked forward and grabbed Gabriel's head. Her hands began to glow, and Gabriel started. A few seconds later, he yanked his head away and shouted, "YOU WON'T GET MY SECRET!" He turned and gestured, and Melinda went flying. She fell into Piper, and Gabriel began to approach them. "Gabriel, calm down. Relax." Leo said.
Gabriel looked back at Leo and seemed a bit more in control than before. "I apologize, Uncle Leo. Got carried away."
"What secret do you have?" Leo asked.
"The location of our realm. The Overseers want out.got out.oh GOD, I failed everyone." Gabriel fell to his knees.
"What did you touch him for?" Phoebe demanded.
"I was trying to read his thoughts and understand how to help him. More of what he says is making sense. Mom, freeze him. I've boosted your powers enough." Piper gestured, and Gabriel froze.
"What's going on?" Cole asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Everyone was rather strained by the current situation, and tears were in everyone's eyes.
Melinda looked over to Cole, and said, "I understand what Gabriel is talking about. I was able to glean more of his memories. After the Overseers understood what he had done, they wanted to kill him. But Gabriel told them if he died, all four died. They could have one victim, or four bodies. The Overseers didn't call his bluff, but they did understand that he knew the location of the original realm. You were wrong Cole. The Overseers are not immune to the pain of Pygoth."
"But that would mean." Cole began.
"Exactly. Every Overseer there is in pain every second, and was originally a victim. It isn't the Overseers that are the problem, it is the realm. The realm warped their minds so much that they think they were always Overseers."
"Why do they want the location of our realm so much?" Paige asked,
"To escape, or to torment more victims. I'm not sure. However, it seems the realm of Pygoth can only be entered from this realm, and the only way to leave is to first come here. They cannot shimmer out unless they know the location of this realm, and that is how they are trapped."
"But tons of demons have gone there before, why not ask them?" Cole asked. "Because the demons have been affected by the portal, and the knowledge was always ripped from them. In fact, even the portal used by Rahab was designed to remove the knowledge. However, Gabriel is a Guardian, and his mind is protected from such tampering. He kept all his knowledge, and so the Overseers had a way out. All they had to do was get him to tell them." Melinda remarked.
"But Gabriel wouldn't tell them." Phoebe said.
"Exactly. They put all their mental powers to work. They convinced him that he had, and that everyone on this world was dead. They sent him visions of us dying, or of us attacking him and calling him traitor. They convinced him that he had failed, and they had gotten to the minds of Piper, Phoebe, and me. All of it was to make him so remorseful that he told them what they wanted to know, to gain forgiveness. However, something unexpected happened."
"What? And if they convinced him he failed, why did he keep the shield up?" Piper asked.
"Well, all the attacks were too much. The constant torment, the constant pain of everyone around him, the constant hallucinations. His mind couldn't handle it: no one's could. So, it split into several distinct areas. One part thinks he failed, and we're all dead. One part thinks he's still there, and is trying to fight us. However, the last smaller part knows the truth."
"How do we help him?" Phoebe asked.
"I think I can put his mind back together," Melinda said hesitantly, "but I'd need to touch him for at least a minute. In his current state, I don't think he'd trust me enough to do it."
As if on cue, Gabriel unfroze. He looked around, and said, "What happened? How did you freeze me? You must be.no, can't be.not real.just figments.I WILL NEVER TELL!" Gabriel held up his hand, and a ball of white energy appeared.
Phoebe suddenly walked towards him, and said, "Gabriel, I forgive you."
"What?" Gabriel said in shock, the ball of energy vanishing.
"I forgive you. I know you didn't mean to let anything happen. You did the best you could, and I forgive you." She then walked forward and pulled Gabriel into a hug.
Tears formed in Gabriel's eyes, and then Cole walked forward. "Son, I forgive you. You did nothing wrong, and I'm proud of how hard you tried. I hold no ill will against you, and I love you." Cole then joined Phoebe in hugging Gabriel.
One by one, the entire group moved forward and forgave Gabriel, and then hugged him. Gabriel was openly weeping, and he said, "How could you forgive me? I destroyed the world. I let them out, I failed."
"No, you didn't." Melinda said softly. "Let me show you. Will you trust me?"
"No, you're all demons, trying to trick me," Gabriel said.
"Son, we would never hurt you. Do you really think we are demons?" Cole said. Gabriel thought for a moment, and then he shook his head. "Then please, let her touch you. I will be right here, and I will protect you."
Gabriel bowed his head, and then said very quietly, "Alright." Melinda walked forward and put her hands on Gabriel's head. Gabriel began to glow, as did Melinda. The entire castle shook, and as the group watched, the glass shards outside flew up and went into Gabriel. The landscape was being rearranged before their very eyes.
Suddenly, Melinda faltered, and the glow began to fade. Leo walked forward, put his hand on Melinda's shoulder, and said, "Take what you need." The glow intensified again, and soon the entire group was touching Melinda, feeding her power and giving Gabriel their love and support.
Time is meaningless. Seconds, hours, maybe days later, the glow stopped, and Melinda fell into Leo's arms. Gabriel opened his eyes, and everyone felt relief when they saw joy and sanity emanating from them. He walked forward slowly, then fell to his knees and hugged Melinda. "Thank you.Thank you." he said over and over, as tears came down his cheeks.
Eventually, Gabriel got up, and waved his hand. Leo felt power cross the air between Gabriel and Melinda, and within a few seconds, Melinda was back to normal. As she got to her feet, Gabriel looked around, and they could see guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, everyone. I didn't mean.I didn't."
Cole walked over and put his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. We love you. I cannot even begin to imagine what you went through, but I wanted you to know I'm proud of you. I don't think even I could have held out as long as you did. You did what you had to, and we all love you."
Everyone hugged Gabriel, and Gabriel said, "Thank you."
"Ummm.not to interrupt, but does anyone know how to get out of here?" Paige asked.
Gabriel smiled, and said, "I do."
***
With a gasp, the group came back to itself. They looked around, and Michael and Mortanos walked forward.
"How long were we out?" Phoebe asked.
"About 2 days," Michael said as he help Paige to her feet. "Did it work?"
"Yes, it did." Mortanos said. "I can feel it."
As the group slowly got to their feet, Piper asked, "How did you." Suddenly, she shuddered, as did Phoebe.
"What's wrong?" Leo asked worriedly.
Piper and Phoebe looked up, and at the same time said.
"My Water just broke."
TO BE CONTINUED.