CHAPTER 5
When Phoebe finally heard the front door of the manor open, she went downstairs, to find Paige singing loudly to the music being played on her walkman, and energetically cleaning the sunroom windows. Paige gave a slight scream when Phoebe tapped her on the shoulder, and orbed out for a second dropping her cloth.
"Oh Pheebs, - I thought you had gone to work – I thought I was alone in the house!" she said, putting a hand on her chest, and taking several deep breaths.
"No, I came back, I couldn't face it." She said. "I had an awful experience in the lift – a premonition, and an encounter with that demon that was here yesterday – but then it was like it hadn't really happened."
Paige made a face, and Phoebe nodded. "I know it sounds really crazy, I need to talk to you and Piper together, and I need Leo here as well. Where are they?"
"Piper went to P3 and Leo went out for a walk with Wyatt – it's such a beautiful day – he was going to the park. Shall I call Piper on her mobile?"
"If you don't mind," replied Phoebe. "I'll call for Leo – he should be able to orb back here with Wyatt and the pram – shouldn't he?"
"I don't know," replied Paige, "Inanimate objects are a little tricky. And I don't think Piper wants Wyatt orbing, in case he remembers what to do all of a sudden, and orbs out of here! Tell you what, you ring Piper, and I'll orb to Leo, and walk back with him and baby. That way, Piper won't yell at us, and we will still be back before Piper gets here anyway!"
Phoebe nodded, and picked up the receiver, while Paige disappeared in a shower of sparkling orbs.
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Jael frowned at Cole, who was sitting leaning back against his father's final burial place, eyes closed.
"This wasn't what I was expecting, when you got me out of the Wasteland," he said. "Not that I'm ungrateful, of course."
Cole continued to be motionless, breathing deeply, almost asleep. Jael continued to frown.
"I'm hungry – you must be starving. Let's go get some food, and something to drink – you know how things work here don't you?"
Cole finally opened one eye, and looked at the other man. "I'm not sure if I have any money," he said faintly, feeling in his pockets. "Going through the barrier around the Wasteland has really exhausted me," he continued. "I can't remember feeling this weak the first time – but you're right, food and drink will make a big difference. Ah look what I found – I wonder if it still works," and pulled out his credit card from his back pocket.
"This is money?" asked Jael, examining the plastic card curiously.
"Well, yes sort of," replied Cole, climbing to his feet. "If they will accept it, we can get a hotel room, and some clean clothes and have a decent rest. Let's hope no one cancelled my bank account – I had a fair bit of money in it."
"Bank Account?" asked Jael, "Is that a good thing to have?"
Cole began walking up the stairs; then turned to look back at Jael. "You really don't know much about this world, do you?" he said, with a sardonic smile.
Jael shook his head. "It has not been my interest," he said. "I studied our own way of life, our customs and beliefs. I never felt the need to come here – and because I wasn't one of the big physical types – like you – because my mother wasn't an important member of the Source's inner circle – like yours – I wasn't selected for the Brotherhood, so was able to take up a learning/teaching position. And damn it, I was happy there! - Why?"
"Because I don't know what sort of reception we are going to get, when we walk out of here. I look – and probably smell, like a tramp, and you look like some sort of old fashioned weird-assed monk in that robe. We may have to do some shopping and clean up somewhere before any decent hotel will let us in their doors."
"Well lead on, I am looking forward to seeing more of this place – in daylight, not surrounded by a coven of angry witches. And to taste some of the food, and to drink some of the alcohol, which I've heard is as good as if not better than ours."
Cole smiled a little, and continued up the stairs. "Follow me then, I have been here before, and know it well. We'll find a nice hotel, and rest up for a few days – then think about our future. We can go anywhere in this realm you like – as far away from here as possible, would be a good idea. I really don't want to run into anyone I knew from before – human or demon. I'm sick of being torn in half, I'll live my own life from now on, please myself what I do, and answer to no one! And yes, - the alcohol here is a lot better than that which we're used to."
When Phoebe finally heard the front door of the manor open, she went downstairs, to find Paige singing loudly to the music being played on her walkman, and energetically cleaning the sunroom windows. Paige gave a slight scream when Phoebe tapped her on the shoulder, and orbed out for a second dropping her cloth.
"Oh Pheebs, - I thought you had gone to work – I thought I was alone in the house!" she said, putting a hand on her chest, and taking several deep breaths.
"No, I came back, I couldn't face it." She said. "I had an awful experience in the lift – a premonition, and an encounter with that demon that was here yesterday – but then it was like it hadn't really happened."
Paige made a face, and Phoebe nodded. "I know it sounds really crazy, I need to talk to you and Piper together, and I need Leo here as well. Where are they?"
"Piper went to P3 and Leo went out for a walk with Wyatt – it's such a beautiful day – he was going to the park. Shall I call Piper on her mobile?"
"If you don't mind," replied Phoebe. "I'll call for Leo – he should be able to orb back here with Wyatt and the pram – shouldn't he?"
"I don't know," replied Paige, "Inanimate objects are a little tricky. And I don't think Piper wants Wyatt orbing, in case he remembers what to do all of a sudden, and orbs out of here! Tell you what, you ring Piper, and I'll orb to Leo, and walk back with him and baby. That way, Piper won't yell at us, and we will still be back before Piper gets here anyway!"
Phoebe nodded, and picked up the receiver, while Paige disappeared in a shower of sparkling orbs.
***********************************************
Jael frowned at Cole, who was sitting leaning back against his father's final burial place, eyes closed.
"This wasn't what I was expecting, when you got me out of the Wasteland," he said. "Not that I'm ungrateful, of course."
Cole continued to be motionless, breathing deeply, almost asleep. Jael continued to frown.
"I'm hungry – you must be starving. Let's go get some food, and something to drink – you know how things work here don't you?"
Cole finally opened one eye, and looked at the other man. "I'm not sure if I have any money," he said faintly, feeling in his pockets. "Going through the barrier around the Wasteland has really exhausted me," he continued. "I can't remember feeling this weak the first time – but you're right, food and drink will make a big difference. Ah look what I found – I wonder if it still works," and pulled out his credit card from his back pocket.
"This is money?" asked Jael, examining the plastic card curiously.
"Well, yes sort of," replied Cole, climbing to his feet. "If they will accept it, we can get a hotel room, and some clean clothes and have a decent rest. Let's hope no one cancelled my bank account – I had a fair bit of money in it."
"Bank Account?" asked Jael, "Is that a good thing to have?"
Cole began walking up the stairs; then turned to look back at Jael. "You really don't know much about this world, do you?" he said, with a sardonic smile.
Jael shook his head. "It has not been my interest," he said. "I studied our own way of life, our customs and beliefs. I never felt the need to come here – and because I wasn't one of the big physical types – like you – because my mother wasn't an important member of the Source's inner circle – like yours – I wasn't selected for the Brotherhood, so was able to take up a learning/teaching position. And damn it, I was happy there! - Why?"
"Because I don't know what sort of reception we are going to get, when we walk out of here. I look – and probably smell, like a tramp, and you look like some sort of old fashioned weird-assed monk in that robe. We may have to do some shopping and clean up somewhere before any decent hotel will let us in their doors."
"Well lead on, I am looking forward to seeing more of this place – in daylight, not surrounded by a coven of angry witches. And to taste some of the food, and to drink some of the alcohol, which I've heard is as good as if not better than ours."
Cole smiled a little, and continued up the stairs. "Follow me then, I have been here before, and know it well. We'll find a nice hotel, and rest up for a few days – then think about our future. We can go anywhere in this realm you like – as far away from here as possible, would be a good idea. I really don't want to run into anyone I knew from before – human or demon. I'm sick of being torn in half, I'll live my own life from now on, please myself what I do, and answer to no one! And yes, - the alcohol here is a lot better than that which we're used to."