Dana, Sky & Mickis: Thank you for your kind reviews. And Mickis, you will
get your answer in the chapter after this one.
********************************
A SURPRISE REUNION
In the Wasteland, Cole was so bone-weary tired he didn't think he could hold out much longer against the creature. How long had he been on the run? He was on his last reserves and felt it was now only a matter of days or perhaps even minutes before the creature finally detected him. He'd run out of safe places to hide. Every fox hole, cliff and cave he'd vacated had been later sniffed out and destroyed by the creature. It was leaving no stone unturned and soon there'd be nothing left to mark his existence but the scorch mark the creature would leave where his essence once stood.
What hurt worse, was the knowledge that there'd be no one to even morn his passing. No one left who really gave a damn whether or not he was wiped out of existence forever. If only he could change that. If only he had the chance to go back and make a difference, to matter to someone then perhaps he wouldn't feel that his life had been so completely pointless. But, there was no way to get out, at least no way that was acceptable to him.
Meanwhile in the attic of the Halliwell mansion...
Piper rapidly thumbed through the pages of the Book of Shadows but had so far come up empty.
Paige looked at her sister slumped in a chair and said, "Phoebe, if you're that tired, why don't you just go take a nap. We'll let you know when we find something in the book."
"I am tired, Paige, but what's worse is this feeling of utter defeat. I'm not used to it, or rather my innocent isn't used to it, and it just feels so crippling. I wanna, or rather he or she wants this terrible feeling of emptiness to end, but there's something that just won't let him or her die. I kind of admire whoever this is, but I also pity him or her too. To have no one, not even family, who cares whether you live or die is just so unimaginable to me. We need to do something to help."
"Well, we're doing our best, Phoebe, but I gotta tell you that I'm honestly a little worried about this strong connection you have to this person," Piper said.
"There has to be some important reason for it," Phoebe explained.
"I'm sure there is, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm concerned that if this person dies before we can get to him or her, that it will have a serious effect on you if you don't find a way to cut the chord."
"Piper, you don't have to beat around the bush with me. I know what you're saying here. You think that if my innocent dies, then I might die too."
"Oh God, I hadn't thought of that," Paige whispered. "Piper, there must be something in there..."
"Paige, I've read every chapter in here forward and backward, you've tried scrying and I just don't know what else we can do right now. This obviously is a situation no witch has ever come up against, or at least none that the Halliwell line knows of."
"Then maybe it's up to Phoebe to save herself," Paige said.
"How Paige?" Phoebe asked.
"By employing a talent that even Dr. Seuss can't do as well as you can. Rhyme, dear Phoebe, rhyme. No one can write a spell better than you. "
"Well that's true," Phoebe said smiling at her sister, "but I usually at least have an idea of who it is I'm trying to help and have at least some general idea of where they are. This could be anyone or anything in any number of dimensions or universes. The chances of my writing just the right spell that will find this needle in a haystack will be like winning the lottery."
"I'm not so sure about that Phoebe. I think Paige is right and a spell is the only solution. Since you have this powerful connection with this innocent, I suggest you somehow channel your feelings into the spell and that should give it the power it needs to work."
"Okay, it's worth a try."
Back in the Wasteland...
Cole stumbled onto an underground cave he didn't know existed. This would buy him a little more time before the inevitable showdown between him and the creature. The creature's power to sniff him out wherever he hid, dwarfed the abilities of even the best bloodhounds. But, this particular cave was well camouflaged and perhaps the creature would not trust his senses at least for a while.
The cave was dark and Cole would have given anything for an energy ball to light his way, but he hadn't any powers -- or much hope left for that matter -- until he saw the faint glow of a very familiar light just ahead.
Cole followed the light and as he grew closer to it, this feeling of familiarity also grew. It was a demon's power floating just inches from his head. Cole looked at it in wonder and couldn't believe his incredible luck as he stepped into it and absorbed its power.
For the first time in a couple of years, Cole felt completely whole again and ready to face the creature whom his demonic senses told him was coming.
The creature entered the cave quietly but Cole was ready for it. Quickly he formed the largest energy ball he could and threw it at him, hitting the creature squarely in the chest. Unfortunately, the creature absorbed the ball and indignantly roared back at its attacker. This made Cole angry and he felt himself transforming into a giant red creature...Belthazor. Yes, Cole had found the vanquished essence of Belthazor cleverly hidden in this cave, and knew that no harm or craziness would infect his mind if he were to reclaim him. This demon and his powers were meant to be housed within Cole and although these powers wouldn't be strong enough to get him out of the Wasteland, at least he could now defend himself.
********************************
A SURPRISE REUNION
In the Wasteland, Cole was so bone-weary tired he didn't think he could hold out much longer against the creature. How long had he been on the run? He was on his last reserves and felt it was now only a matter of days or perhaps even minutes before the creature finally detected him. He'd run out of safe places to hide. Every fox hole, cliff and cave he'd vacated had been later sniffed out and destroyed by the creature. It was leaving no stone unturned and soon there'd be nothing left to mark his existence but the scorch mark the creature would leave where his essence once stood.
What hurt worse, was the knowledge that there'd be no one to even morn his passing. No one left who really gave a damn whether or not he was wiped out of existence forever. If only he could change that. If only he had the chance to go back and make a difference, to matter to someone then perhaps he wouldn't feel that his life had been so completely pointless. But, there was no way to get out, at least no way that was acceptable to him.
Meanwhile in the attic of the Halliwell mansion...
Piper rapidly thumbed through the pages of the Book of Shadows but had so far come up empty.
Paige looked at her sister slumped in a chair and said, "Phoebe, if you're that tired, why don't you just go take a nap. We'll let you know when we find something in the book."
"I am tired, Paige, but what's worse is this feeling of utter defeat. I'm not used to it, or rather my innocent isn't used to it, and it just feels so crippling. I wanna, or rather he or she wants this terrible feeling of emptiness to end, but there's something that just won't let him or her die. I kind of admire whoever this is, but I also pity him or her too. To have no one, not even family, who cares whether you live or die is just so unimaginable to me. We need to do something to help."
"Well, we're doing our best, Phoebe, but I gotta tell you that I'm honestly a little worried about this strong connection you have to this person," Piper said.
"There has to be some important reason for it," Phoebe explained.
"I'm sure there is, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm concerned that if this person dies before we can get to him or her, that it will have a serious effect on you if you don't find a way to cut the chord."
"Piper, you don't have to beat around the bush with me. I know what you're saying here. You think that if my innocent dies, then I might die too."
"Oh God, I hadn't thought of that," Paige whispered. "Piper, there must be something in there..."
"Paige, I've read every chapter in here forward and backward, you've tried scrying and I just don't know what else we can do right now. This obviously is a situation no witch has ever come up against, or at least none that the Halliwell line knows of."
"Then maybe it's up to Phoebe to save herself," Paige said.
"How Paige?" Phoebe asked.
"By employing a talent that even Dr. Seuss can't do as well as you can. Rhyme, dear Phoebe, rhyme. No one can write a spell better than you. "
"Well that's true," Phoebe said smiling at her sister, "but I usually at least have an idea of who it is I'm trying to help and have at least some general idea of where they are. This could be anyone or anything in any number of dimensions or universes. The chances of my writing just the right spell that will find this needle in a haystack will be like winning the lottery."
"I'm not so sure about that Phoebe. I think Paige is right and a spell is the only solution. Since you have this powerful connection with this innocent, I suggest you somehow channel your feelings into the spell and that should give it the power it needs to work."
"Okay, it's worth a try."
Back in the Wasteland...
Cole stumbled onto an underground cave he didn't know existed. This would buy him a little more time before the inevitable showdown between him and the creature. The creature's power to sniff him out wherever he hid, dwarfed the abilities of even the best bloodhounds. But, this particular cave was well camouflaged and perhaps the creature would not trust his senses at least for a while.
The cave was dark and Cole would have given anything for an energy ball to light his way, but he hadn't any powers -- or much hope left for that matter -- until he saw the faint glow of a very familiar light just ahead.
Cole followed the light and as he grew closer to it, this feeling of familiarity also grew. It was a demon's power floating just inches from his head. Cole looked at it in wonder and couldn't believe his incredible luck as he stepped into it and absorbed its power.
For the first time in a couple of years, Cole felt completely whole again and ready to face the creature whom his demonic senses told him was coming.
The creature entered the cave quietly but Cole was ready for it. Quickly he formed the largest energy ball he could and threw it at him, hitting the creature squarely in the chest. Unfortunately, the creature absorbed the ball and indignantly roared back at its attacker. This made Cole angry and he felt himself transforming into a giant red creature...Belthazor. Yes, Cole had found the vanquished essence of Belthazor cleverly hidden in this cave, and knew that no harm or craziness would infect his mind if he were to reclaim him. This demon and his powers were meant to be housed within Cole and although these powers wouldn't be strong enough to get him out of the Wasteland, at least he could now defend himself.