Heritage

Part 4

Sequel to "The Babysitter". I do not own any part of Charmed. I just write about it.

"What the Hell happened?" Michael demanded in shock.

"I.don't know," Piper confessed, "It looked like Gabriel was fighting something, and then he just stopped."

"He didn't stop," Phoebe said softly, "He lost."

"What, how can you tell?" Paige asked.

"You heard him ask for help.and I saw his face before he left. He didn't look like he was in control of his own body," Phoebe explained.

"What are we going to do?" Leo questioned.

"We're going after him. I won't let any demon hurt my family," Phoebe snapped.

"Phoebe, don't take this the wrong way, but this being bested Gabriel.what are we going to do?" Paige commented.

"Well, we have to do something," Phoebe gasped in shock.

"And we will," Piper reassured her, "Leo, go get Melinda. Right now, she's the strongest person here. We're going to need that. The rest of you get ready. We're heading into the lion's den,"

***

"Finally," the man exclaimed. Cole and Gerald tried to look, but they still couldn't move their bodies. The man looked at the two of them, and then blinked. Suddenly, they could move their head. Neither could speak, but they both could at least see what was going on. Gerald and Cole looked behind them, and almost gasped.

Gabriel walked into the room slowly. Though his face was impassive, Cole and Gerald could almost feel him fighting. Unlike them, Gabriel's movements were slow and jerky, as if each took a supreme effort of will. The man watched him approach, and grinned, "Very impressive. You have some strength in you. That's good. I was afraid it would have been diluted."

The man gestured, and Cole and Gerald could move their bodies again. "I've bound your powers, but not your movements. However." the man gestured again and a wall crashed down, sealing them in.

Ignoring all else, Cole ran over to Gabriel and asked, "Are you alright?"

Gabriel nodded and said, "I'm fine Father. How are you?"

"As well as can be expected," Cole replied with a slight smile.

"Why are we here," Gerald demanded. "For that matter, who are you?"

The man's grin widened, and he said, "Call me Angel. It will suit my purposes."

"What are you?" Gabriel asked curiously.

Angel looked at him, and then said, "Ah, you detect no life from me, which makes you curious. I am not actually here. I'm a.piece would be the best word. I am a part of myself, left behind for just this circumstance. I can speak and even touch, but I don't exist beyond this Temple. Well, not in this form."

"You mentioned this circumstance.what are you talking about?" Cole demanded.

Angel looked puzzled as he replied, "Your awakening of course.I must say I didn't think it would take nearly this long. Must be the mixing of the two,"

"The two what?" Gerald asked.

"Myself and a human.well, I think you actually would call it a demon." The man explained.

"What are you?" Gabriel said in shock.

"You don't know?" the man said in puzzlement. "I suppose I could assume my true form for a few moments without concern." The man closed his eyes, and began to glow. The glow intensified, until all three Turner's had to look away. When they looked back, they all gasped.

Angel had changed. He had grown slightly taller, and more fit. However, the thing that stood out the most was his wings. Long and graceful, the wings were white in color and arched out in a beautiful symmetry. Angel grinned, and said, "Took you by surprise, didn't I?"

"You're.an angel?" Cole asked.

"Impossible," Gerald snorted, "There are no winged angels. It's all myth."

"Not quite," Angel replied.

"What do you mean?" Cole asked.

"Did you really think God made humans first," Angel commented softly. "Originally, there were only the Azarian, or angels if you prefer. We were God's first creations, and by far his best. We had near infinite power, to help carry out his work. Nothing was beyond us, and we ruled the skies and realms."

Cole looked at Gerald and Gabriel, and whispered, "The dreams."

Angel nodded, and continued, "Yes. I'd hoped to remind you of our past, but it's been longer than I'd thought."

"What happened to you? Why aren't there more of you?" Gabriel questioned.

Angel's face darkened, and he said, "God grew fond of his newest creation, the weakling humans. He fell in love with them, and gave them the greatest gift of all: Free Will. While we were stuck in servitude to him forever, those pathetic creatures could do whatever they wanted."

"You rebelled," Gerald said reasonably.

"As their leader, I grew rightly jealous of all God gave them. So, I came before God and asked we be given the same gift. When he refused, saying we'd misuse it, I knew I had to act. I organized the rest of the Azarians, and we waged war on the humans. Once they were gone, we'd be God's favorites again."

"You lost, didn't you," Gabriel asked softly.

"I don't know, but I would assume so," Angel replied. "I was created as a back-up for that very possibility."

"What do you mean," Cole demanded.

"I knew there was a possibility that God would intervene and banish us, so I took steps. I bred with hundreds of humans, until I had created the perfect cross-breed. That cross-breed is your ancestor."

"What!" Cole and Gerald exclaimed.

"You are all my descendants. I must admit, I'd hoped the blood wouldn't be so diluted, but I can work with it." Angel commented reasonably. "Especially since it's been awakened in you partly."

"What do you mean?" Gabriel asked.

"I was only to be activated once your blood was partially awakened," Angel explained.

"But how." Cole began.

"For these others, their blood was awakened through death.I believe the words are 'cease to exist'. It was the first step. But in you I sense an outside hand, one who used power to do it," Angel said with a frown.

Cole looked at the others in confusion, but Gabriel went pale, "Mortanos.he knew about this, he had to. This was his gift to you Father. He used power to awaken your dormant blood,"

".it makes a sick sort of sense." Cole commented, "I'd wondered what Mortanos did for me, and now it starts to make sense.wait, is that why we survived the Lake of Torment?"

Angel looked confused, and then he said, "Ah, you mean the Lake of Life. It was designed for Azarians, and would destroy any non-Azarian. I'd hoped that the water would bring you close enough for me, and I was right. Now I can perform my function,"

"What do you mean," Gabriel asked.

"I'm going to use my powers to finish the process. I'm going to awaken the Azarian blood as much as I can in half-breeds. Some of it depends on power, but you should all be compatible." Angel explained.

"Wait just a minute, I don't think I want to." Gerald began, but cut off as he lost control of his body.

"I'd hoped you'd do it willingly, but it makes no difference," Angel commented darkly.

***

"This is the Temple.where is everyone?" Paige asked.

"I don't know.my parents said the survey team would remain here after them." Michael commented.

"It doesn't matter, we're for my husband and son, remember?" Phoebe said sharply.

"I know, I was just.what the Hell is that!" Piper shouted. The group looked and saw the walls had begun to glow.

"I don't know, but I doubt it's something good," Phoebe said softly. ***

Angel had begun to become more transparent as power flowed out from him. Cole and Gerald felt something deep within them changing, and felt power rushing up into their bodies. Suddenly, they both felt Gabriel's presence. He shielded them, and pulled in as much of the power as he could. Still, even he couldn't shield them completely, and excess power washed over them. They both tried to resist, but it was like trying to stop the world from spinning. Soon, they blacked out.

***

"We have to hurry," Phoebe shouted.

"Where are we supposed to go?" Paige demanded.

Piper was about to respond, when Phoebe's head jerked up. She looked around, and then started to run down a tunnel. The rest of the group followed as Phoebe made lefts and rights as if called. Eventually, she came to a wall.

"Well, that's just." Paige muttered, but trailed off as Phoebe whirled.

"Piper, blow up this wall. They're behind here, I know it." Phoebe commented.

Piper looked into her eyes, and saw the light dimming from the walls. She then gestured, and the wall exploded.

When the smoke cleared, the group ran in, and gasped. They were in a vast chamber that went upwards for hundreds of feet, and was huge. A man was in front of two sprawled forms, and he was slowly fading away. He looked up, and smiled, "My purpose is complete. You are all." he then disappeared.

"Cole," Phoebe said softly, and ran towards one of the forms. She got about five feet when she looked up, and skidded to a stop.

A figure was flying above them. As the group watched, he dove for the ground, and landed gracefully between the two figures. Even from here, they could feel the raw power and presence emanating from him. The being looked down, and soft light encompassed Cole and Gerald. A few moments later, they both stirred and got up. The being turned around, and Phoebe saw his hourglass eyes.

"Gabriel." she said softly.

Gabriel smiled, and glowed briefly. When it passed, he looked normal, and Cole and Gerald were slowing standing up.

"What happened to you?" Piper asked as the group approached.

Cole looked and Phoebe, and Phoebe could see the change. There was more power in his eyes as he said, "We were.changed. I don't know how much, but it happened. Listen, go back to the manor please. The three of us need to figure out what this means."

"But." Paige began, but Phoebe silenced her. She stared deep into Cole's eyes, and saw the man she loved. "Alright, but I'll be here when you need me." The group then orbed out.

Cole turned to Gabriel and asked, "How changed are we?"

Gabriel smiled, and said, "Mentally we're the same. For you two, you are humans with Azarian forms. With practice and effort, you can become Azarian in form."

"What about you? I felt you take the brunt of the power," Gerald questioned softly.

Gabriel sighed, and said, "I am an Azarian who can become human with effort. Whatever happened, we are in this together, and we have to stick it out."

Gerald looked uncertain, and Gabriel's gaze pierced him. Gerald tried to fight it, but Gabriel pushed right through. He then smiled, "I understand."

"What?" Cole asked. Gabriel looked at him, and Cole felt what Gerald felt. Aching loneliness and pain, the kind Cole remembered when he had been a demon on the run. The kind of pain Cole would have found without Phoebe, the intense desire to be loved and wanted by someone, anyone at all, and the fear that no such person existed.

Cole looked over at Gerald and asked incredulously, "Is that why you came back?"

Gerald looked at him and then said, "You know what it's like out there for demons like us. Good hates us, Evil hates us. It means going it alone, but that doesn't make it easy."

"No, it doesn't," Cole said firmly. He looked at Gabriel, who smiled and nodded, "Gerald, you're family, and we stick together. I am your brother, and he is your nephew. We love you and will always be there for you. You don't have to face the world alone anymore, because you have us, and we will never abandon you."

Tears formed in Gerald's eyes, and he impulsively pulled Gabriel and Cole into a hug. Cole let him for a few moments, and then said, "Now, come on. Let's go home before Phoebe comes after me to kill me."

"I'll join you in a little while," Gabriel interrupted, "There's someone I have to see first."

***

"I figured you'd come," Mortanos said softly.

"How could you not tell me?" Gabriel demanded, "We were like brothers, and you hid this from me,"

"I didn't have a choice. Originally, I'd planned for only Cole to make the change, but circumstances made there three of you." Mortanos explained.

"That's why you did this? To resurrect the Azarians that God destroyed?" Gabriel questioned.

"Don't be stupid," Mortanos snapped, "Use your head."

Gabriel thought for a moment, and then his eyes widened, "God didn't destroy them, did he?"

"He could no more destroy them than I could let him destroy Kain," Mortanos said softly, "He merely banished them from this reality forever."

"No, you're wrong," Gabriel said softly.

"What do you mean?" Mortanos asked.

"The apparition of Angel tried to keep things from me, but when I absorbed all that power, I got part of his memories. He wasn't just activated because of our awakened blood." Gabriel commented.

"The Azarians are coming back."

THE END