A/N: Thanks, Barb! In chapter 5 everyone found out where Phoebe's powers were. Julie's wearing this necklace in which Phoebe's powers are housed. We don't' know how she got them... yet. :-))

Masked
Chapter 6: Phoebe's Tale

Cole arrived back at the penthouse tired and quite ready to go to bed. He groaned as the elevator doors opened. The lights were all off. He didn't want to turn them on because by this time Phoebe would be asleep. She had been having trouble getting to sleep lately... nightmares he supposed. He put down his briefcase and threw his coat on the couch, debating whether or not he should shimmer into the bedroom when he heard Phoebe scream.

Not even thinking now, Cole leapt over the table and ran into the bedroom he shared with Phoebe. Summoning a fireball in his hand he turned into the room. However, he quickly extinguished it when he looked.

Phoebe sat straight up in bed, silent tears slipping down her lips. Oh sweetie, she heard Cole's voice and looked at him. She had been staring ahead before, but she hadn't seen Cole... she just saw her nightmares. Cole slipped his arms around her and they laid down. Cole hugged her and she just cried.

Phoebe bit her lip and turned around to face Cole.

He looked at her, concern in his eyes.

Can I tell you? She asked, hoping he knew what she meant. She didn't want to elaborate.

Of course, he knew exactly what she meant. He swept a lock of hair out of her hair and gave her an encouraging kiss as she began to tell her tale.

(A/N: The next bit is what Phoebe is telling Cole, but I'm just going to have it like she was going through it again... yeah.)

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Phoebe smiled, listening to the ding of the elevator bell. She and Cole had just been married and she couldn't have been happier. Singing to herself, Phoebe put her bag down and slipped off her coat.

Suddenly she felt a pair of arms around her. A pair of arms that were most definitely not Cole's. Before she had time to react she felt the cold blade of a knife dance dangerously on her throat.

As whoever it was shimmered them both out she had one, inane, thought, I wish I could orb.

Phoebe turned to face her attacker, but found herself alone in a cave. She had to be in the Underworld. Going towards the unguarded entrance she was pushed back by an invisible force. Landing on her rear halfway across the room, she decided another plan of escape. LEO! LEO! She looked towards the ceiling, hoping to hear the wind-chime sound that came with orbing. She cursed under her breath and resigned to sitting on the floor until she could think of a spell to get her out.

A half hour later she had it. The spell was perfect, she was sure it would get her out of here. Plus her sisters and Cole would find her gone and get her back. However she wanted to escape before it came to that. Crossing her fingers she said the spell, which she had repeated to herself several times.

Attacked by an unknown form
I wish not to be forlorn
Save me from this terrible place
Send me home through time and space

Phoebe opened her eyes a few moments later. Nothing. Then it all went to black.

She felt a throbbing pain at the back of her head. she asked, her voice groggy and her head spinning. she repeated.

She heard a mocking voice from across the room. the voice said again. Look up, witch.

Phoebe did as he said, shutting her eyes tightly. She felt the chains at her wrist, but didn't open her eyes yet.

Afraid to look up, then? The man said with a snicker.

Phoebe opened her eyes. She saw a tall, wiry blond haired man smiling at her, evil in his steely gray eyes. Oh she opens her eyes! He gave a laugh and sat down across from where she was chained. I do hope your comfortable. You'll be staying here... indefinitely. He smiled. He called.

Phoebe saw Cole's hated, blond assistant shimmer in. Her brown eyes opened in shock. Cole's assistant was a demon? Phoebe wondered if her husband knew his secretary's secret identity. Get her blood for the spell, the blond man instructed.

Julie, with a horrible smirk, stepped over to Phoebe. Phoebe's chains disappeared and she jumped in the air, levitating and ready to fight. Suddenly, however, her body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds and she found herself plummeting towards the ground. She noticed a boiling pot in the the corner of the cave as she felt herself black out again.

Phoebe woke up a while later, the blond haired man's face less than inches away from hers. That was a doozy of a spell. Wasn't it? He summoned a fire ball and bounced in it in his hand.

He fired the fire ball at her, searing her skin and causing a large hole in her shirt. He punched her on the arm. I'd like you to meet the demon who got you - Baranxes. A large, green demon with markings reminiscent of Belthazor's appeared.

You called? The demon growled. Phoebe inadvertently shuddered... those marks were so much like Belthazor's.

Oh look, the tall, blond man threw another fire ball - slightly larger than the last - at Phoebe, the little witch is scared of the demon! He and the demon both laughed.

Phoebe tried to get up, but once again she found herself frozen. The green demon picked her up and promptly dropped her. Phoebe might have been frozen but she could feel the pain coursing through her body. She felt the bones that were broken and unwanted tears began to slip down her face.

Oh she's crying, the man's face showed a look of concern, but it soon turned into a twisted smile. Phoebe slipped, naturally, into unconsciousness.

She found herself awake again and wished that she would just fall unconscious again. Julie smiled at her. Oh! Your husband... he's dead, she remarked, a smile on her face, but sadness in her voice. Phoebe was pounded by a potion, a spell, and an energy ball before slipping into uncosciousness.

That happended for days on end. The tall blond man would come and verbally abuse her, reducing Phoebe to a shell of her former self, and then physically abuse her and the world would fade to black again.

The worst day, however, was the day that she begged for food. Morning sunshine, the blond haired man kissed her cheek and sat on the rock looking at her, a sadistic smile on her face. How are you?

she croaked.

You want this? A bowl of soup and glass of water appeared in his hands. He set in on the floor fifteen feet in front of her.

Phoebe crawled to go get it and was so close when an unknown force propelled her backwards, launching her into the stone wall. She felt a jagged rock cut into her back and she heard the crack of bones, but she was too hungry. She was numb to the pain.

Phoebe crawled upon the floor again, reaching for the food. She grabbed her fingers around the rim of the bowl. The food disappeared. Phoebe took a moment and, summoning all her strength, turned her head to see it in the man's hands.

Wanted this? He dangled the glass in front of her face.

she begged, croaking out the words. Almost every one of her bones was visible by this point. Tears fell in droves down her face. she begged again.

he said with disgust, the things appearing a foot away from her.

she begged.

Only because I'll be able to torture you longer, he said with a smirk, disengaging the force field around the food.

Phoebe dragged herself towards it and gobbled up the food, unembarrassed at who saw.

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Tears filled Cole's eyes, I'm sorry, baby.

She put a hand on his cheek, tears falling down her face also. It's not your fault.

Oh baby, he said again.

Tell me, Phoebe asked quietly. Tell me how you found me.


A/N: Poor Phoebe. Poor Cole.You like? I'm going to do Cole's bit after... this was emotionally draining enough for now. Review! Review!

Oh by the way: the blond haired man has another identity. Guess who! You'll find out soon!