CORRUPTED
Note:
Starring Piper: Thanks, I really appreciate your reviews. By the way, I love your stories.
Charmed Fanatic: Looks like the ending might not be so happy after all… I'm sorry. Thank you so much for the support you've given me.
Piper132: Thanks so much for the review. I'm glad you enjoy the story.
Chapter 23
-Up There, in "Elderland"-
Prue sidestepped a fallen Whitelighter's body, feeling a twinge of anger. How could her sweet middle sister do all of this? She frowned in disgust as she accidentally stepped into a puddle of cold, sticky blood. The once beautiful and peaceful heaven was now literally hell – the deaths, evoking a somber atmosphere. How could Piper destroy all the goodness? Life was so full up here, so breathtaking… now, it's all gone. All because Prue held back. Held back from hurting and killing the most evil being of all times, her sister.
The eerie silence and the violent image left Paige with an ill feeling. Glancing at Prue warily, Paige knew that her oldest sister was feeling the same thing she was – Prue just wasn't showing it in her face. Her midnight blue eyes gave it away though. All the anger, all the dismay, and all the fear, evident in the portal known as the "window to the soul". How could Piper do this?
Finally reaching the Elders' chambers, Prue looked at Paige with an unreadable expression, then gently pushed open the door. Like the route before them, this room was littered with lifeless corpses. Their white robes, now stained red; their faces, twisted in agony. Tears welled up in Paige's eyes, while anger blazed in Prue's.
"We have to stop her," Prue stated firmly, with no trace of emotion in her voice.
-Manor-
Phoebe plugged another vial of potion and stretched to relieve her backache. She had been sitting here finishing the final touches to Prue's plan. They were going to summon her and get offensive. Now all Phoebe has to do is await Prue and Paige's arrival.
A loud crash followed by screaming came from downstairs. Quickly abandoning everything, Phoebe raced down the stairs to investigate. The steps were covered with broken glass shards and split pieces of wood. More screaming and crashes could be heard in the living room, as Darryl suddenly flew through the wooden walls and landed by Phoebe.
"Darryl? What's going on?" Phoebe asked in surprise.
"It's… Piper," he groaned, gently pressing against an open wound on his stomach. "Go… help the other witches."
Phoebe hesitantly left Darryl and rushed into the living room. She stared in shock at the lifeless corpses, and the dying witches. Cole was on the ground, writhing in pain.
An energy ball appeared in Piper's hand, and she launched it towards Cole. Her aim was thrown off when Phoebe levitated and kicked her hand away with a powerful blow. The energy ball went wild and vanquished the front doors. Piper face remained expressionless as she turned around to face Phoebe.
"I'm not after you yet, so wait in line," Piper said with a voice so cold, it could practically freeze, which is exactly what happened. Piper held up her hands, and froze everyone on the spot except for Phoebe.
"Unfreeze them, Piper. You don't want to kill them. They're no threat to you. You want me. So come and get me," Phoebe said evenly, though the fear in her voice was evident. She didn't want to go up against her sister, but she was left with no choice.
Piper ignored Phoebe, and with a casual flick of the wrist, blew up everyone's limbs and unfroze them.
The pain was immense – every witch screamed and twisted in agony.
"You…" Phoebe struggled to find the appropriate word to suit such a cruel and heartless monster. With an anguished scream, she launched herself at Piper, kicking and punching the Source with everything she has.
Piper roughly shoved Phoebe off and flung a fireball at her. Phoebe ducked onto the ground, and threw a potion in Piper's direction. With controlled ease, Piper deflected the vial and stood up confidently.
"Your efforts are futile. I'm invincible."
The comment failed to affect Phoebe, for now, she was no longer afraid. For all these people, she would fight. She would fight to end this slaughter – even if it means losing her life in the process. By now, there's no turning back.
Phoebe launched potion after potion, before pressing a physical attack. Piper did not stand idly, as she too, threw her own attacks. The two sisters dueled for separate causes. One for good; the other, for evil. Phoebe staggered slightly from her burn injury, but still remained upright. Piper waited momentarily for the scalded flesh on her face to heal.
"Like I said, I'm invincible. I'm immune to death." A vicious looking blade materialized in Piper's hands, before she shimmered directly in front of Phoebe, and stabbed her younger sister in the heart. The blade pierced through Phoebe's vital organ, before embedding itself against the wall. Phoebe leaned against the wall, panting heavily.
"You're, not immune t-t-to this…" Phoebe gasped out raspily, and began to chant a spell.
Buried beneath the frost
What was once there, lost
Your true self, you shall see
As you finally, return to me
Piper thrusted the knife deeper, before her grip loosened and she collapsed to the ground, pulling the knife out of her sister. Phoebe collapsed heavily onto the ground, bleeding profusely. Suddenly, she felt warmth emerging from beneath the ice. What's going on? What did the witch do? 'You can't hurt her. You're good,' she thought. 'Not you again… I suppressed you!' Piper pressed angrily. 'Suppressed. Phoebe's right. You're not immune to love…'
Piper held her head, her tormented expression was the only indication of her internal struggle.
"Phoebe! Phoebe! Dammit, wake up!" Piper cried as she fell to her knees beside her sister. "What have I done?" She screamed in anguish. "Phoebe!"
"P-p-piper… I'm… so glad. You, you… re-remembered…," Phoebe whispered painfully, blood spilling out of the corner of her lips.
"No, please, Phoebe… don't do this to me," Piper cried frantically as she cradled her sister's sweaty head comfortingly. "Phoebe, hang in there."
"I love you…"
"Phoebe! No! Please. Say something! Phoebe, you can't do this… YOU CAN'T DO THIS. Phoebe. PHOEBE!!! WAKE UP!" Piper held onto her baby sister tightly, tears flowing freely onto her cheeks.
Bluish white lights appeared as Prue and Paige orbed down.
"Phoebe!" Paige gasped out loud.
Prue's eyes widened at the sight of Phoebe's bloodied form. Furiously, she flung Piper away from her baby sister. Piper crashed heavily into the stain glass windows, causing a shower of shards to rain down upon her.
"I'm sorry Prue," Piper choked out, before shimmering away.