Secrets
Part 4
Sequel to "The Picnic". I do not own any part of Charmed. I just write about it.
"I don't believe it," Piper whispered.
"The guy who's been trying to kill Cole is his BROTHER," Paige gasped in shock.
"Now we know why Cole didn't want us involved," Piper murmured.
Paige looked over at Piper, and then nodded, "Yes. Killing a demon is one thing, but to fight a RELATION? I mean, he's like our brother in law. What are we going to do?"
"What you have to," a new voice said. The sisters looked up as Mortanos appeared.
"Mortanos? What are you doing here?" Piper exclaimed.
"I came to talk to you about Gabriel, but I can see you have another problem right now," Mortanos said grimly. "Want some help?"
"Of course. For whatever we do, it'll be nice to have Guardian around." Paige replied.
"Should we have Leo bring the children down?" Piper asked softly.
"Until we know more, I think we should leave them up there," Paige commented, "Right now, we need to get back to Phoebe and fill her in. She needs to know just how complicated this situation is."
***
"Cole, why won't you talk to me?" Phoebe demanded.
Cole looked over at her, and then said, "Phoebe, please, stay out of this. I.don't want you involved."
"What can possibly be so bad that you are hiding this from me? I'm your wife, god damn it, and you need to know you can tell me anything!" Phoebe shouted.
"Your wife has some spirit," a new voice said. Cole and Phoebe whirled to see that Karril had returned.
"Karril, leave. I don't want to fight you," Cole remarked.
Karril grinned, and said, "So I gathered, but that doesn't mean I can't have my vengeance." An energy ball formed in his hand.
"Leave him alone," Phoebe said defiantly.
Karril looked at her, and then shrugged and said, "Sure." He then threw his energy ball at Phoebe.
"NO!" Cole shouted, and held out his hand without thinking. An energy ball shot from his hand and collided with Karril's, saving Phoebe.
Phoebe looked over at him, and he saw horror and fear in her eyes, "Cole, what was that? How did you do that?"
Karril looked at Cole in amusement, and asked, "She didn't know about your demonic powers? Well, this could get interesting,"
"Very." a new voice said. Karril turned to see the other sisters and a man standing there.
"Who the Hell are you?" Karril asked.
The man replied, "Death," and gestured. Karril felt raw power hit him and throw him against the wall. He looked at the man, and shimmered out.
"Phoebe.I." Cole began, but Phoebe's eyes held nothing but shock and horror.
"Why Cole? You lied to me again. Were you ever truly free Cole? What the Hell is going on?" Phoebe demanded hoarsely.
Cole looked at them all, and a single tear rolled down his face. He then shimmered out.
"What the Hell? Cole can SHIMMER!" Paige stated in shock.
"Phoebe?" Piper asked gently.
Phoebe had slowly sat down, and was saying softly, "Not again, it can't be true, not again."
"LEO!" Paige shouted, and Leo appeared.
"What? What happened?" Leo demanded. "Is anyone hurt?" "No, but Cole just used demonic powers," Piper stated. A guilty look came over Leo, and Piper demanded, "You knew, didn't you? About the demonic powers?"
"Yes," Leo said softly.
"How could you keep it from me, from US!" Phoebe shouted at him.
"Cole asked me to, because he knew how you'd react. Kain gave him back demonic powers, and he wasn't sure what that meant. Until he did, he asked me to keep quiet, and I did. Cole isn't evil. He's just really afraid of your reaction." Leo commented. He then looked over at Mortanos and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to talk about Gabriel," Mortanos replied.
"What's wrong with him?" Phoebe demanded.
Mortanos sighed, and then said, "Phoebe, your son did something no one has done in the history of the world,"
"What, people come back from the dead all the time. Hell, Cole did it several times," Paige muttered.
"Gabriel didn't just come back from the dead," Mortanos stated, "Not even death can sever the link between Guardians. No, Gabriel CEASED TO EXIST. Nothing has ever come back from that. I'm not even sure what it means, but I'm worried. All I know is he's hiding something, and he's even stronger than before he left."
"Well, this is just great," Paige stated, "First we find out Karril is Cole's brother, Cole's got demonic powers again, and now Gabriel may be in trouble."
"Karril's his brother?" Phoebe stated dumbly. Paige winced, and nodded. She looked at Leo and said, "Take us to him, NOW!"
Leo closed his eyes, and then said, "Got him. He's not even trying to hide from us,"
"Good, because we need to talk," Phoebe said softly.
***
When the group could see again, they found themselves on top of a tall building. Cole was at the edge, watching the horizon.
"Why didn't you tell us about your brother?" Phoebe demanded.
Cole didn't move, but his posture tensed, "I thought you'd find me. Come to condemn me?"
"What?" Phoebe asked stupidly.
"Phoebe, I know our track record, and I know what's going to happen. You think I'm evil now, and you've come to kill me.again, right?" Cole said softly.
No one spoke for several moments, and then Phoebe said, "You're an idiot,"
Cole whirled, and Phoebe saw he'd been crying, "What?"
"I am your WIFE, and I love you. I'm not going to abandon you. I admit my record hasn't been that great in this area, but it's time to change that. Coleridge Turner, I love you, and if you have demonic powers, I'll still love you."
Tears began to slide down Cole's cheeks as he whispered, "Thank you,"
Phoebe continued gently a few moments later, "Cole, I want to know everything. I am your wife, and I accept every part of you, even the dark parts. Please, for our love, why don't you want me to stop Karril, why don't you want us to get involved?"
Cole said nothing for a few moments, and then he began to speak softly, "I did a lot of evil things as a demon, things I'm not proud of and which still haunt my nightmares. What I did to Karril was the worst."
"Then he is your brother?" Paige asked.
Cole nodded and said, "But he was more than that. My mother.our mother abandoned me as soon as I was taken. If I was to survive, it was by my own skills, not hers. Strength is all that matters in demonic circles, and she wouldn't teach or help me, for that would make her seem weak. So, I was a half-breed, tortured and teased by other demons, scorned for my 'human trappings'. Only one person looked out for me, only one person helped me."
"Karril," Piper breathed.
"I didn't even know he was my brother for a few years. All I knew was he was a half-demon, like me. He sheltered me, and taught me everything he knew, gave all the wisdom he could. All the tricks of the trade, everything I ever knew came from him. I live today because of him," Cole said sadly.
"What happened?" Phoebe asked.
Cole sighed, and then said, "My brother was popular in the Underworld, and was much stronger than the Source. He was loyal for years, but something happened. He refused an order, and he became like me. Hunted and outcast. However, he began to gather a following, other banished demons who wanted back in. He gained support, and came close to overthrowing the Underworld." Cole trailed off as his memories over powered him for a few moments,"
"What happened next?" Piper prodded.
"He came to me, asking me to join him," Cole continued, "Explained how I was the only demon who he could trust, the one person that he loved and cared for in the Underworld.and I stabbed him when his back was turned, and gave him to the Source,"
"WHAT? Why?" Phoebe demanded.
"For status," Cole said bitterly, "I was ambitious, and I saw my chance. The Source was very pleased, and anointed me into the Brotherhood of the Thorn. I became the youngest demon ever to join. My first task."
"What did you do?" Mortanos asked.
"Deep in the Underworld is something known as the Lake of Torment. Its water burns anything, good or evil. If the water kills you, you aren't just vanquished. You cease to exist, and rumor said it was very painful. My first task was to cast my brother in. I still remember the look in his eyes before he went in. That look of betrayal and sad resignation has haunted me for decades."
No one spoke for several moments, too shocked but what they heard. Cole finished, "So now you understand. I won't stop him, because I deserve to die, for what I did to him."
"Cole, you aren't the demon who did those things anymore," Phoebe murmured.
"I still did it. I killed my brother," Cole replied sadly. "I don't know how he came back, but Karril came for vengeance. I'm going to give myself over to him before he goes after anyone else."
"Cole, you can't. You are human now, and you weren't in control of your demon half," Phoebe begged, trying desperately to convince Cole, to bring the light back into his eyes. "Cole, what you did was horrible, but vengeance never solves anything. You can't let him kill you, because then."
A laugh sounded behind the group. They whirled to find Karril leaning against the wall in amusement. Mortanos made to gesture, but Karril said, "Relax, I just came to talk. Mortanos, right?"
"How." Mortanos asked in confusion.
"I know quite a bit about you, all of you. Well, Cole, I understand why you've not fought back. You're quite right; you've earned whatever I decide to do to you,"
"Karril, I'm sorry," Cole began.
"Shut up!" Karril interrupted, "Sorry cannot even begin to cover what you did to me. The raw pain and torture I suffered in that Lake. Did you know I screamed, Cole? All it did was let the water burn me from the inside and out. I CEASED to exist thanks to you, dear brother. I can never forgive the demon that did that. You've not changed, Belthazor, Cole, whatever you go by. It's all a trick, and I will have my vengeance, thanks to a Guardian."
"What?" Cole gasped as the group stared at Karril in shock.
"Did you really think I could come back on my own, brother?" Karril mocked, "No, I was going to be trapped forever, unable to pay you back if it wasn't for that Guardian. He opened the door, and showed me the way out. I could never have gotten this far without him."
"What Guardian, what do you mean?" Mortanos demanded.
"What was his name." Karril continued, "he was powerful, but I can't seem.ah, yes."
"His name was Gabriel."
TO BE CONTINUED.
Part 4
Sequel to "The Picnic". I do not own any part of Charmed. I just write about it.
"I don't believe it," Piper whispered.
"The guy who's been trying to kill Cole is his BROTHER," Paige gasped in shock.
"Now we know why Cole didn't want us involved," Piper murmured.
Paige looked over at Piper, and then nodded, "Yes. Killing a demon is one thing, but to fight a RELATION? I mean, he's like our brother in law. What are we going to do?"
"What you have to," a new voice said. The sisters looked up as Mortanos appeared.
"Mortanos? What are you doing here?" Piper exclaimed.
"I came to talk to you about Gabriel, but I can see you have another problem right now," Mortanos said grimly. "Want some help?"
"Of course. For whatever we do, it'll be nice to have Guardian around." Paige replied.
"Should we have Leo bring the children down?" Piper asked softly.
"Until we know more, I think we should leave them up there," Paige commented, "Right now, we need to get back to Phoebe and fill her in. She needs to know just how complicated this situation is."
***
"Cole, why won't you talk to me?" Phoebe demanded.
Cole looked over at her, and then said, "Phoebe, please, stay out of this. I.don't want you involved."
"What can possibly be so bad that you are hiding this from me? I'm your wife, god damn it, and you need to know you can tell me anything!" Phoebe shouted.
"Your wife has some spirit," a new voice said. Cole and Phoebe whirled to see that Karril had returned.
"Karril, leave. I don't want to fight you," Cole remarked.
Karril grinned, and said, "So I gathered, but that doesn't mean I can't have my vengeance." An energy ball formed in his hand.
"Leave him alone," Phoebe said defiantly.
Karril looked at her, and then shrugged and said, "Sure." He then threw his energy ball at Phoebe.
"NO!" Cole shouted, and held out his hand without thinking. An energy ball shot from his hand and collided with Karril's, saving Phoebe.
Phoebe looked over at him, and he saw horror and fear in her eyes, "Cole, what was that? How did you do that?"
Karril looked at Cole in amusement, and asked, "She didn't know about your demonic powers? Well, this could get interesting,"
"Very." a new voice said. Karril turned to see the other sisters and a man standing there.
"Who the Hell are you?" Karril asked.
The man replied, "Death," and gestured. Karril felt raw power hit him and throw him against the wall. He looked at the man, and shimmered out.
"Phoebe.I." Cole began, but Phoebe's eyes held nothing but shock and horror.
"Why Cole? You lied to me again. Were you ever truly free Cole? What the Hell is going on?" Phoebe demanded hoarsely.
Cole looked at them all, and a single tear rolled down his face. He then shimmered out.
"What the Hell? Cole can SHIMMER!" Paige stated in shock.
"Phoebe?" Piper asked gently.
Phoebe had slowly sat down, and was saying softly, "Not again, it can't be true, not again."
"LEO!" Paige shouted, and Leo appeared.
"What? What happened?" Leo demanded. "Is anyone hurt?" "No, but Cole just used demonic powers," Piper stated. A guilty look came over Leo, and Piper demanded, "You knew, didn't you? About the demonic powers?"
"Yes," Leo said softly.
"How could you keep it from me, from US!" Phoebe shouted at him.
"Cole asked me to, because he knew how you'd react. Kain gave him back demonic powers, and he wasn't sure what that meant. Until he did, he asked me to keep quiet, and I did. Cole isn't evil. He's just really afraid of your reaction." Leo commented. He then looked over at Mortanos and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to talk about Gabriel," Mortanos replied.
"What's wrong with him?" Phoebe demanded.
Mortanos sighed, and then said, "Phoebe, your son did something no one has done in the history of the world,"
"What, people come back from the dead all the time. Hell, Cole did it several times," Paige muttered.
"Gabriel didn't just come back from the dead," Mortanos stated, "Not even death can sever the link between Guardians. No, Gabriel CEASED TO EXIST. Nothing has ever come back from that. I'm not even sure what it means, but I'm worried. All I know is he's hiding something, and he's even stronger than before he left."
"Well, this is just great," Paige stated, "First we find out Karril is Cole's brother, Cole's got demonic powers again, and now Gabriel may be in trouble."
"Karril's his brother?" Phoebe stated dumbly. Paige winced, and nodded. She looked at Leo and said, "Take us to him, NOW!"
Leo closed his eyes, and then said, "Got him. He's not even trying to hide from us,"
"Good, because we need to talk," Phoebe said softly.
***
When the group could see again, they found themselves on top of a tall building. Cole was at the edge, watching the horizon.
"Why didn't you tell us about your brother?" Phoebe demanded.
Cole didn't move, but his posture tensed, "I thought you'd find me. Come to condemn me?"
"What?" Phoebe asked stupidly.
"Phoebe, I know our track record, and I know what's going to happen. You think I'm evil now, and you've come to kill me.again, right?" Cole said softly.
No one spoke for several moments, and then Phoebe said, "You're an idiot,"
Cole whirled, and Phoebe saw he'd been crying, "What?"
"I am your WIFE, and I love you. I'm not going to abandon you. I admit my record hasn't been that great in this area, but it's time to change that. Coleridge Turner, I love you, and if you have demonic powers, I'll still love you."
Tears began to slide down Cole's cheeks as he whispered, "Thank you,"
Phoebe continued gently a few moments later, "Cole, I want to know everything. I am your wife, and I accept every part of you, even the dark parts. Please, for our love, why don't you want me to stop Karril, why don't you want us to get involved?"
Cole said nothing for a few moments, and then he began to speak softly, "I did a lot of evil things as a demon, things I'm not proud of and which still haunt my nightmares. What I did to Karril was the worst."
"Then he is your brother?" Paige asked.
Cole nodded and said, "But he was more than that. My mother.our mother abandoned me as soon as I was taken. If I was to survive, it was by my own skills, not hers. Strength is all that matters in demonic circles, and she wouldn't teach or help me, for that would make her seem weak. So, I was a half-breed, tortured and teased by other demons, scorned for my 'human trappings'. Only one person looked out for me, only one person helped me."
"Karril," Piper breathed.
"I didn't even know he was my brother for a few years. All I knew was he was a half-demon, like me. He sheltered me, and taught me everything he knew, gave all the wisdom he could. All the tricks of the trade, everything I ever knew came from him. I live today because of him," Cole said sadly.
"What happened?" Phoebe asked.
Cole sighed, and then said, "My brother was popular in the Underworld, and was much stronger than the Source. He was loyal for years, but something happened. He refused an order, and he became like me. Hunted and outcast. However, he began to gather a following, other banished demons who wanted back in. He gained support, and came close to overthrowing the Underworld." Cole trailed off as his memories over powered him for a few moments,"
"What happened next?" Piper prodded.
"He came to me, asking me to join him," Cole continued, "Explained how I was the only demon who he could trust, the one person that he loved and cared for in the Underworld.and I stabbed him when his back was turned, and gave him to the Source,"
"WHAT? Why?" Phoebe demanded.
"For status," Cole said bitterly, "I was ambitious, and I saw my chance. The Source was very pleased, and anointed me into the Brotherhood of the Thorn. I became the youngest demon ever to join. My first task."
"What did you do?" Mortanos asked.
"Deep in the Underworld is something known as the Lake of Torment. Its water burns anything, good or evil. If the water kills you, you aren't just vanquished. You cease to exist, and rumor said it was very painful. My first task was to cast my brother in. I still remember the look in his eyes before he went in. That look of betrayal and sad resignation has haunted me for decades."
No one spoke for several moments, too shocked but what they heard. Cole finished, "So now you understand. I won't stop him, because I deserve to die, for what I did to him."
"Cole, you aren't the demon who did those things anymore," Phoebe murmured.
"I still did it. I killed my brother," Cole replied sadly. "I don't know how he came back, but Karril came for vengeance. I'm going to give myself over to him before he goes after anyone else."
"Cole, you can't. You are human now, and you weren't in control of your demon half," Phoebe begged, trying desperately to convince Cole, to bring the light back into his eyes. "Cole, what you did was horrible, but vengeance never solves anything. You can't let him kill you, because then."
A laugh sounded behind the group. They whirled to find Karril leaning against the wall in amusement. Mortanos made to gesture, but Karril said, "Relax, I just came to talk. Mortanos, right?"
"How." Mortanos asked in confusion.
"I know quite a bit about you, all of you. Well, Cole, I understand why you've not fought back. You're quite right; you've earned whatever I decide to do to you,"
"Karril, I'm sorry," Cole began.
"Shut up!" Karril interrupted, "Sorry cannot even begin to cover what you did to me. The raw pain and torture I suffered in that Lake. Did you know I screamed, Cole? All it did was let the water burn me from the inside and out. I CEASED to exist thanks to you, dear brother. I can never forgive the demon that did that. You've not changed, Belthazor, Cole, whatever you go by. It's all a trick, and I will have my vengeance, thanks to a Guardian."
"What?" Cole gasped as the group stared at Karril in shock.
"Did you really think I could come back on my own, brother?" Karril mocked, "No, I was going to be trapped forever, unable to pay you back if it wasn't for that Guardian. He opened the door, and showed me the way out. I could never have gotten this far without him."
"What Guardian, what do you mean?" Mortanos demanded.
"What was his name." Karril continued, "he was powerful, but I can't seem.ah, yes."
"His name was Gabriel."
TO BE CONTINUED.