Author's note: The concept that immortality could be extinguished in a fire
was introduced by the writers of HTLJ and is used here for entertainment
purposes only and this is not mean to infringe on their rights in anyway.
Love Triumphant
John To The Rescue
Chapter XXV
The scene before John looked exactly like how the nuns from his childhood had described hell. The walls were blood red and fires burned everywhere. "Where are we?" he asked Patty.
"We are in the Source's domain. We need to keep our voices down and here we will need these," she said. Black hooded robes materialized in her hands. Keep your heads down and don't make eye contact with anyone or anything, she advised all of them.
Once the small group had donned the robes they walked slowly and circumspectly through the cavernous corridors peaking into side rooms in search of Prue. John asked quietly, "This is where Cole was forced to live all those years?" Patty nodded. "I can't believe what he was forced to go through because of our father's selfishness," John hissed softly. Patty reached for his hand under the cover of the robe and squeezed it. "Don't think about it, you are not responsible for your father's actions, and Cole is safe now."
"What I can't believe is that there are beings that actually voluntarily choose this type of existence," Rachel commented keeping her own voice low. "Well some of them are born fully demonic and the humans who turn are so blinded by the promise of power and immortality that they don't think about the consequences," Patty explained. "It's still hard to understand," Victor commented. "I'll never comprehend why someone would want to give up things like light, love, and a real life for this."
A group of demonic monks walked by and nodded to them. John, Victor, Patty, and Rachel all held their breaths. Luckily the monks kept going obviously not suspecting anything was amiss. Not knowing how long they could continue undiscovered, however, caused them to quicken their steps. John said a silent prayer to the forces of good that they would find Prue soon.
As if in answer to his plea, they discovered her in the next room. Patty gasped! "What is it?" Victor asked worriedly. The Source has her surrounded in a Circle of Fire. "A Circle of Fire? Isn't wasn't that one of the few things that Prue said could destroy immortality?" John asked. "Yes," Patty replied struggling to stay strong. "We have to get her out of there now!" Victor insisted.
"We can't. If we dive into that Circle our powers will be immediately weakened and we will be just as vulnerable as Prue. The same thing would happen to Phoebe and Piper if we called them for back up." "I don't care, I'm not letting my daughter down, and I'm going in after her." Victor insisted. "No you are not, didn't you hear me Victor, all that will do is render us useless to Prue anyway. We have to come up with another plan." "What if she doesn't have much longer before she succumbs?"
While Patty and Victor were arguing John began to edge away from them. They didn't notice but Rachel did. "John what are you doing?" she asked. "What do you think I'm doing Rachel? I'm not about to stand around and watch Prue die. You know me better than that." "John it's too dangerous. You heard them you will be too vulnerable."
"No, I'm banking that I won't be. I haven't received my powers yet. I also haven't had even a drop of Ambrosia. My induction ceremony as they call it isn't even scheduled until three weeks from now. As far as I know I'm still fully human and as long as I can avoid getting burned by it, that flame shouldn't hurt me."
"John do you know enough about all the ins and outs of this strange new universe you are inhabiting? I mean you may not have had the Ambrosia yet but you obviously have immortal blood in your system. How do you know you won't still be in danger somehow? Let me do it. I'm not one of you," she volunteered. John shook his head. "Rachel how do you know? You sometimes get pictures in your head, just like Sam, and like Cole's wife Phoebe. I know you deny it is a power but who really knows.
At any rate, I am not arguing about this anymore. I'm going in after Prue. I lost Kate, I am not going to loose her too. You can act as back up but don't come into that circle unless you absolutely have to." "What about this Source, that they mentioned? Surely he has to be nearby. He wouldn't leave her unguarded for too long. What are you going to do if he shows up?" "That part we are going to have to leave up to Patty. Now get over there and join her and Victor, and whatever you do don't let her stop me."
John could tell that Rachel wanted to argue the point further but he was done talking. Prue was looking weaker and weaker. He wasn't about to waste precious seconds she may not have left. He began racing forward.
He heard Patty yell for him to stop but John kept his forward momentum going. " "No don't try and stop him!" Rachel intervened. "John has to try this," he maybe your daughter's only chance." While Patty hesitated John leapt the last few feet into the circle. It was too late for her to interfere. He raced over to Prue's side and bent his head over her. She was unconscious but still breathing thank heaven. John picked her up in his arms, shielding her against his chest and began to head out of the circle.
A deep vicious voice arose from just outside the ring of flames, "Belthazor, you showed up!" John gulped. It had to be the Source and he must be mistaking him for Cole. Well if Cole could imitate him with Jack maybe he could imitate Cole with this incarnate evil.
"Did you think I wouldn't?" John asked. "Part of me suspected you would but there was also a part of me that wondered if enough of the selfish demon side still lurked in your personality even though your alter ego has been vanquished. I've heard rumors you'd been made a deity like the witches and I thought you just might be too smart to give up such incredible power again. However, I still see you are making decisions with something else besides your brain and training," the Source growled. I hope the brief time you had with your witch was worth it. Speaking of whom where is your precious Phoebe? Isn't she interested in saving her sister Prue? Or perhaps they have had a falling out over you maybe? Have you switched sister's beds? Perhaps there is a little bit of the demon still left inside after all Belthazor.
"Perhaps you're a sick, disgusting, demonic sack of garbage," John shouted. "I think it's about time someone put you in your place," he yelled even louder hoping Patty would take the hint and do something now.
In their hiding place, Patty whispered to Victor, "I'm not sure how well our powers will work down here so how is your throwing arm?" "Not what it used to be," he said anxiously. "What have you got in mind?" Rachel asked. I grew up with brothers and I'm a damned good pitcher." "Lob this potion at the Source and just don't miss. It won't be able to kill him," Patty said. "Only a power of three spell can do that but the potion should weaken him long enough for John to get Prue out of the Circle and then for all of us to leave."
Rachel grabbed the vial from Patty's hand and took a deep breath. She then threw it with all her might. The Source was saying, "And who is going to stop me, the Charmed ones? This one is half dead already Belthazor and you'll be joining her soon. Then I'll be going after your first girl friend and the middle sister. My plan is going perfectly," the Source cackled. At that exact moment the vial hit him and he crumpled to the ground.
"Yeah, I can see that!" John said sarcastically as he jumped with amazing agility over the flames, and then the Source with Prue in his arms. He hugged her tight and was pleased beyond all measure when she moaned his name softly.
"If you will excuse the pun," Victor said, I think we had better get the hell out of here before you know who regains full strength and or backup shows up. The small rescue team got into a huddle and headed back home to Olympus. John was still cradling Prue and whispering in her ear that she was safe and was going to stay that way if he had anything to say about it.
Love Triumphant
John To The Rescue
Chapter XXV
The scene before John looked exactly like how the nuns from his childhood had described hell. The walls were blood red and fires burned everywhere. "Where are we?" he asked Patty.
"We are in the Source's domain. We need to keep our voices down and here we will need these," she said. Black hooded robes materialized in her hands. Keep your heads down and don't make eye contact with anyone or anything, she advised all of them.
Once the small group had donned the robes they walked slowly and circumspectly through the cavernous corridors peaking into side rooms in search of Prue. John asked quietly, "This is where Cole was forced to live all those years?" Patty nodded. "I can't believe what he was forced to go through because of our father's selfishness," John hissed softly. Patty reached for his hand under the cover of the robe and squeezed it. "Don't think about it, you are not responsible for your father's actions, and Cole is safe now."
"What I can't believe is that there are beings that actually voluntarily choose this type of existence," Rachel commented keeping her own voice low. "Well some of them are born fully demonic and the humans who turn are so blinded by the promise of power and immortality that they don't think about the consequences," Patty explained. "It's still hard to understand," Victor commented. "I'll never comprehend why someone would want to give up things like light, love, and a real life for this."
A group of demonic monks walked by and nodded to them. John, Victor, Patty, and Rachel all held their breaths. Luckily the monks kept going obviously not suspecting anything was amiss. Not knowing how long they could continue undiscovered, however, caused them to quicken their steps. John said a silent prayer to the forces of good that they would find Prue soon.
As if in answer to his plea, they discovered her in the next room. Patty gasped! "What is it?" Victor asked worriedly. The Source has her surrounded in a Circle of Fire. "A Circle of Fire? Isn't wasn't that one of the few things that Prue said could destroy immortality?" John asked. "Yes," Patty replied struggling to stay strong. "We have to get her out of there now!" Victor insisted.
"We can't. If we dive into that Circle our powers will be immediately weakened and we will be just as vulnerable as Prue. The same thing would happen to Phoebe and Piper if we called them for back up." "I don't care, I'm not letting my daughter down, and I'm going in after her." Victor insisted. "No you are not, didn't you hear me Victor, all that will do is render us useless to Prue anyway. We have to come up with another plan." "What if she doesn't have much longer before she succumbs?"
While Patty and Victor were arguing John began to edge away from them. They didn't notice but Rachel did. "John what are you doing?" she asked. "What do you think I'm doing Rachel? I'm not about to stand around and watch Prue die. You know me better than that." "John it's too dangerous. You heard them you will be too vulnerable."
"No, I'm banking that I won't be. I haven't received my powers yet. I also haven't had even a drop of Ambrosia. My induction ceremony as they call it isn't even scheduled until three weeks from now. As far as I know I'm still fully human and as long as I can avoid getting burned by it, that flame shouldn't hurt me."
"John do you know enough about all the ins and outs of this strange new universe you are inhabiting? I mean you may not have had the Ambrosia yet but you obviously have immortal blood in your system. How do you know you won't still be in danger somehow? Let me do it. I'm not one of you," she volunteered. John shook his head. "Rachel how do you know? You sometimes get pictures in your head, just like Sam, and like Cole's wife Phoebe. I know you deny it is a power but who really knows.
At any rate, I am not arguing about this anymore. I'm going in after Prue. I lost Kate, I am not going to loose her too. You can act as back up but don't come into that circle unless you absolutely have to." "What about this Source, that they mentioned? Surely he has to be nearby. He wouldn't leave her unguarded for too long. What are you going to do if he shows up?" "That part we are going to have to leave up to Patty. Now get over there and join her and Victor, and whatever you do don't let her stop me."
John could tell that Rachel wanted to argue the point further but he was done talking. Prue was looking weaker and weaker. He wasn't about to waste precious seconds she may not have left. He began racing forward.
He heard Patty yell for him to stop but John kept his forward momentum going. " "No don't try and stop him!" Rachel intervened. "John has to try this," he maybe your daughter's only chance." While Patty hesitated John leapt the last few feet into the circle. It was too late for her to interfere. He raced over to Prue's side and bent his head over her. She was unconscious but still breathing thank heaven. John picked her up in his arms, shielding her against his chest and began to head out of the circle.
A deep vicious voice arose from just outside the ring of flames, "Belthazor, you showed up!" John gulped. It had to be the Source and he must be mistaking him for Cole. Well if Cole could imitate him with Jack maybe he could imitate Cole with this incarnate evil.
"Did you think I wouldn't?" John asked. "Part of me suspected you would but there was also a part of me that wondered if enough of the selfish demon side still lurked in your personality even though your alter ego has been vanquished. I've heard rumors you'd been made a deity like the witches and I thought you just might be too smart to give up such incredible power again. However, I still see you are making decisions with something else besides your brain and training," the Source growled. I hope the brief time you had with your witch was worth it. Speaking of whom where is your precious Phoebe? Isn't she interested in saving her sister Prue? Or perhaps they have had a falling out over you maybe? Have you switched sister's beds? Perhaps there is a little bit of the demon still left inside after all Belthazor.
"Perhaps you're a sick, disgusting, demonic sack of garbage," John shouted. "I think it's about time someone put you in your place," he yelled even louder hoping Patty would take the hint and do something now.
In their hiding place, Patty whispered to Victor, "I'm not sure how well our powers will work down here so how is your throwing arm?" "Not what it used to be," he said anxiously. "What have you got in mind?" Rachel asked. I grew up with brothers and I'm a damned good pitcher." "Lob this potion at the Source and just don't miss. It won't be able to kill him," Patty said. "Only a power of three spell can do that but the potion should weaken him long enough for John to get Prue out of the Circle and then for all of us to leave."
Rachel grabbed the vial from Patty's hand and took a deep breath. She then threw it with all her might. The Source was saying, "And who is going to stop me, the Charmed ones? This one is half dead already Belthazor and you'll be joining her soon. Then I'll be going after your first girl friend and the middle sister. My plan is going perfectly," the Source cackled. At that exact moment the vial hit him and he crumpled to the ground.
"Yeah, I can see that!" John said sarcastically as he jumped with amazing agility over the flames, and then the Source with Prue in his arms. He hugged her tight and was pleased beyond all measure when she moaned his name softly.
"If you will excuse the pun," Victor said, I think we had better get the hell out of here before you know who regains full strength and or backup shows up. The small rescue team got into a huddle and headed back home to Olympus. John was still cradling Prue and whispering in her ear that she was safe and was going to stay that way if he had anything to say about it.