Warning: It gets pretty depressing here in this chapter. Graphic telling of murder. NOT advised for young ones.

A/N: Sorry it's been weeks (you mean months ~ KT) (Smart ass ~ Kit) since I last updated. I just had some conflicts to deal with before I could write again (coping with being a Phoebe-lubber ~ KT)(Dear Kt I know that's your fantasy and all but it would never happen kiddo. ~Kit) . Thanks for the reviews once again. Your input is appreciated.

A/N: And thanks to KT for beta-ing. Note how much better the spelling and grammar is... but I left in the weird tense shifts because for some reason they seem to work in this story! ~ KT

A/N: Kt you're on drugs. But many thanks anyway for taking on the task of fixing my crap spelling and such.

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Summary of entire story so far:

Phoebe and Cole hate each other. Piper was set up by the Elders and Cole to go and vanquish Raum (Cole's half brother). Raum ended up killing her. Paige and Phoebe were there to witness the entire heartbreaking act. Raum ends up dead and his partner Damaris ends up changed by the light of Piper's soul, despite Raum's warnings.

Suddenly two birds pop in and save Piper's soul and disappeared with her. The Birds turn out to be Avis and Raven. We find out later on that Avis (who IS a guy, contrary to what Kit says ~ KT) (She's a woman! For crying out loud!~ Kit) was sent there by Prue to save her sisters. The Elders think Piper is dead thanks to a spell Prue and the Prophet cast. Unfortunately Leo dies thinking that he's going to see Piper... which we now know he won't.

Then Damaris comes back to the Manor obeying the orders of the Voice, aka Raven. (We learn by a flashback chapter the reason Avis holds a grudge against Damaris, and that Avis is Raven's mother.) After a confrontation with the obsessed Phoebe, Damaris comes into contact with Raven and the both of them calm Phoebe down. Phoebe is a bit skeptical on just about everything Raven tells her. So Raven, in an attempt to get Phoebe to trust him, tells her a bit of info on Paige and the almost fatal return to her old drinking habit. Phoebe stops Paige of course but the whole situation with Piper's death has gotten the best of them and they break out into a deadly fight.

Avis leaves Piper for a while to talk to Prue. After some discussion and warnings from Prue, Avis goes back home. As a result of Paige and Phoebe's fight, Paige becomes seriously hurt. The hurt is enough to awaken Piper who by some unexplainable way took Paige's wound from her onto herself. Not understanding what has happen Piper goes into shock and collapses where Avis finds her. Avis calls out for Raven to bring the rest of the Charmed Ones to her. Once everyone is in the room including Damaris, they circle around Piper, who takes a small amount of each person's bodily energy. As a result Piper is strong again. Avis, Raven and Damaris leave the room to give the sisters their much-needed alone time.

(Meanwhile Adeline, Avis's immortal enemy is conducting a search at the manor looking for information about Piper and co.)

Avis and Raven ask Damaris to leave them alone so they could talk privately. Damaris takes the hint. Avis and Raven debate for the most part of their conversation ending with Avis crushing her son's hopes of having a relationship with Piper. Raven flees mid conversation with Avis not wanting to hear more of what she had to say.

Phoebe leaves the sisterly reunion upon the request of Piper wanting to speak to Paige in private. Feeling hurt by this, she goes to the kitchen where she finds Damaris. Damaris and Phoebe talk for a while, Damaris helps Phoebe get through some of her issues. Phoebe thanks Damaris and tells her that she has faith in the newly-reformed Damaris. Avis overhears this remark and tells Phoebe that Damaris isn't to be trusted. This is where the story left of. Enjoy.

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Amaritudo: Bitterness

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"Hey just forget I said anything," added Avis as she noticed the timid glare she was receiving from Phoebe.

"Too late for that Avis. Just leave Damaris alone - she hasn't done anything to you," Phoebe said. `Big mistake Phoebe. Big mistake,' thought Damaris knowing first hand the wrath of Avis.

"She hasn't done anything to me?!? Dear naive Phoebe, I see Damaris hasn't told you of our past history together. Just be thankful that I'm even nice to her." Avis clenched her teeth trying to keep her tongue from lashing out further. Noticing Avis' actions was enough to make Damaris cringe with fear and whimper softly.

"You're being nice?" exclaimed Phoebe who chuckled loudly pausing briefly to continue "You know Avis, jokes don't suit you well."

"I'm not kidding around Phoebe," Avis snapped.

"Of course not Avis, you're always in that hard shell of yours. Anyway what has Damaris done to you? Tell me." Phoebe demanded annoyed.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes, in detail and maybe show some emotion while you're at it," Phoebe replied sarcastically.

"OK, fine Phoebe. I want you to take all the emotions you felt after Prue died and multiply that by billions. I want you to include mostly the feeling of being responsible for her death. That is what I feel all the time after what Damaris did to me," Avis replied with her voice straining.

"Avis... what did she do," asked Phoebe in a softer tone, scared by what else Avis might tell her.

"I was married once Phoebe. It was a great marriage. My husband had a good heart and often left Raven and myself to help others from far away. I loved that about him, he was so generous and caring. Well, one day Adeline paid me a visit and with it she brought my husbands' head-"

"Oh god. I'm... I'm so sorry."

"You shouldn't have to feel that way Phoebe. You didn't have a hand in killing him."

"Did Dam-" Phoebe couldn't finish her sentence as Avis hastily cut her off.

"Let me tell you something about my kind Phoebe: In order to move on in the afterlife the deceased need to be buried. My husband could not move on because I had only his head to bury. Adeline knew this of my kin along with her second in command, Damaris. Purposefully after they had captured my husband, they tortured him for days. First they started off by cutting off all his finger and toes. Then the next day they move onto removing his hands and the next his arms and so on. Slowly amputating each limb, piece by piece.

"They managed to keep my husband from dying from blood loss and other possible complications by casting a spell on him. The spell just kept him alive but he still felt all the pain, the agony..." Avis paused, lost in her own tale, and although she was facing Phoebe, her spiteful eyes lingered on her husband's murderer. "That's why I cannot trust her nor except her newfound goodness. I see the `old' Damaris and I cannot forgive what she has done to me. I HATE her."

"Av-" Phoebe tried to apologize but Avis wouldn't hear it. After all, Phoebe had wanted to hear what Avis had to say about Damaris, so why shouldn't she let the witch know all the gruesome details?

"That monster ripped him apart only until there was only his head connected to his torso! When Damaris was slicing his head off she was actually enjoying it, and laughing at him. Before he died, Adeline promised him I was dead along with his son. In case you're wondering how I know the way he died, every time I moved his head I was brought into that vision. It was a horrendous curse I had to endure. So don't you dare tell me to she hasn't done anything to me, Phoebe Halliwell!" Avis snapped at Phoebe passionately. A mixture of anger and sadness filled Avis's eyes replacing the nothingness that was once there. Phoebe was terribly frighten by Avis because normally she's intimating but to actually be on the receiving end of her wrath wasn't something Phoebe would want to ever experience again.

"Av-" Phoebe again tried fruitlessly to get a word in, but Avis cut her off.

"Stop interrupting me Phoebe! Just let me finish telling you all I have to say and then you'll talk! Understand?" Damaris made sure to look down, not wanting any eye contact with Avis. Phoebe timidly nodded her head.

Avis continued. "It took me several long years to retrieve his body parts from demons. The emotional scars I received are constant reminders of the pain and struggles I had to endure. I searched and searched all by myself, just letting his spirit guide me. Sometimes I would be led on a wild goose chase by Damaris. Adeline would tease me all the while. I have constant nightmares." She stopped once more, reflecting. "I just wish I could die sometimes... but suicide is out of the question. Non of my kin could die by their own hands..." Pausing for a moment to collect her thoughts, she continued.

"Damn it, I even had Raven dig his own father's grave!" Avis held back the tears. "What kind of mother asks her son to dig his own father's grave?" Looking straight into Phoebe's eyes she went up to her and grabbed Phoebe's left hand gently.

"I had to preserve each individual remain of my husband before he could rot away..." Pulling Phoebe into a tight hug Avis's eyes locked on the quivering form of Damaris, who took several steps backwards to a safe distance from Avis. Avis smiled bitterly at this. No matter where Damaris goes Avis will find her. She's hers now.

Avis continues in a stern whisper directly intended for Phoebe's ear only. "All I have left to say is look out for Damaris, because you're responsible for her along with Raven. If she fucks up pulling this `I'm Good' crap on you guys... She's mine. I will guarantee that she would beg for me to kill her the way she did my husband. That's a solemn promise. Not you, Paige, Piper and Prue will be able to stop me."

Phoebe was at a loss for words. Damaris, not being able to hear Avis words was feeling more than miserable and yet frightened for her life. Avis, slightly satisfied with the looks on their faces lets go of Phoebe and turns around and walks away. She stops to see Piper and Paige standing at to the doorway with looks of shocked sympathy on their faces.

Piper lets go of Paige's hand and walks up to Avis. Piper raises her hand towards Avis's face and wipes a single cascading tear away. The room is silent. Soon after, Piper pulls Avis into a hug and that's when Avis breaks down for the second time in her entire existence.

Damaris, being emotionally unstable, vanishes from the scene knowing that by being there, she won't help matters, but only worsen them. When Phoebe watches Damaris leave and does nothing to stop her. Phoebe helplessly looks at Avis crying in the arms of Piper. She didn't mean for Avis to relive that part of her life. Phoebe had to get away from this mess. She took off to Piper's room. Paige saw Phoebe leaving and quickly followed worried about her older sister.

"I never th-thought I was capable of crying again. I did my best t-to keep this all in me for a long time."

"Avis it's ok. You don't need to explain yourself. I heard everything." Replied Piper softly. Avis allowed herself to cry, and it actually felt good to finally let her emotions out...

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A/N: Sorry for the long wait once more.

A/N: KT roolez! ~ KT ( Oh that Kt. You're 'Special' to the max. ~ Kit)