It seemed that the scene before Cole's eyes was going in slow
motion. He saw her about to throw the potion.
Hurry up, dammit!
He wanted to go.. Maybe there would be peace. Maybe, just somehow, it would be better then the torture he had taken for so long. How long had he tried to win her back? Maybe she would be happy if he was gone. Maybe this was for the best. Why was it going so slow? This wasn't natural.
No!
It wasn't for the best. The best would be for them to be together. The potion hit the floor. I bet the Elders are doing this he thought prolonging this torture of seeing her vanquish me. Again. He started to feel pain. This wasn't right. He wanted to go to peace. This wasn't the way.
He saw a shimmer behind Phoebe. It was a woman wearing leather. He had to warn Phoebe! A shimmer meant a demon! He tried to speak but couldn't. Cole was getting angry now. Just let it be over!
As he looked at the demon, he noticed there was a soft glow, a string of magic that connected this demon and he. Cole frowned. What's this?
The pain all of a sudden became unbearable and he screamed. It was like someone had put him on mute. He couldn't hear anything.
Can't Phoebe see the string of magic? Why doesn't she turn around? The demon..
The volume was put back up. It was so loud. He could hear himself screaming and knew it was the end. He tried to lift his arm to point to the threat behind Phoebe.
This is the end, isn't it? he thought as his world went to black.
His head was spinning and opened his eyes. Everything hurt, everything was burning. Though he was in the penthouse, on his bed. "A dream?" he asked himself. "Nope" replied a female voice. The figure was applying a wet towel to his head, and he felt relief as the burning went away.
As she pulled the towel away he saw it was the demon. His eyes widened in surprise. "Who the hell are you?" he snapped "Such a nice way to greet someone who saved your sorry butt" she rolled her eyes "You.. You were going to hurt my wife!" he snapped "Are you forgetting she's not your wife?" the demon snapped back. She then sighed.
Cole pondered his situation for a moment. Who the hell was this? She's helping him.. but he should be dead. He wasn't invincible.. The Belthazor potion should have worked..
"Your confused" she stated. It wasn't a question. "Yeah" he paused and looked at her "who are you?" "Now there's a question that has a complicated answer," she laughed "Try to cover it in a sentence" "I can do better and cover it with one word.." she paused for a moment wondering how he would react "Daughter". "Now that's funny," he said, "I'm serious. Who are you?" "So am I" she said "Now I would be your daughter if those bloody Avatars hadn't messed my existence up".
"Well if you don't exist, you wouldn't be here," Cole told her "think up a better lie to tell". He couldn't help it, he studied her face. He looked at her striking blue eyes.. Could she really be?
"Well I got a vision and I knew what they were going to do" she replied "Counter spell. Technically I don't exist. Never was conceived" she paused thinking of how to explain it "It's like when you time travel to before you were born. You don't exist. But you will. For my case it's did".
"You're going to have to try harder" he frowned "you're not a good liar"
"Fine. Don't believe me" she huffed and stormed out of the room. He tried to go after her. He didn't know why he wanted to, but he did. He sat up and his head was spinning so fast, he could hardly see what direction the floor was. He grabbed his head. It hurt so much. He was swaying and he knew he was falling.
Thud.
The next thing he knew, she was there holding Cole and scolding him.
"Are you okay? You're not supposed to get out of bed!" she snapped at him.
He had seen her expression. She really cared; it was raw emotion on her face. He was more confused then ever. Was it possible? Is she really my daughter? No, she can't be.
As she helped him back onto the bed he frowned.
"What is it?" she asked "You. I can't figure you out"
She laughed. "You haven't been able to figure me out in 20 years what makes you think you will when you first see me?"
"I don't believe you. You can't be my daughter," he said
"As stubborn as ever" she weakly smiled. "Prove it," he challenged "Isn't dying for you good enough?" "Dying?"
"Oh yeah" she said, "You were out cold"
"What do you mean?"
"Ingenious on my part" she said putting her hand through her dark hair "Cloned myself I did. It was a Amyred spell"
Cole cocked his head slightly to the side as he absorbed those words. The Amyred spell was to channel energy from one person to another. Most used it as a healing power, to transfer energy from a healthy being to a sick or injured one. The healthy person was drained of their energy and would take days to restore.
She saw the confusion on his face and offered an explanation. "As the energy was being taken from you I gave it to you back"
"You would have died then" he said "It would take up so much energy to save me that it would have sucked all the life out of you"
"It damn hurt too" she smiled. "You owe me for that"
"How?"
"I told you, I cloned myself. I mean why do I need both of me alive? One will suffice."
"So you cloned yourself so you could die?"
"To save you" she rolled her eyes "You don't seem very grateful. I should have let you go to Derfeyu".
Cole swallowed hard. Derfeyu was the worst hell dimension you could be sent. The original Source had created it. He liked to send traitorous demons there.
Of course! Demons with humanity were traitorous, so it was obvious where his destination would have been.
"Why wasn't I sent to Derfeyu when Phoebe vanquished me before?" he asked
"You sure are stupider then you look," she laughed. As she saw the hurt look on his face she rolled her eyes "Guys aren't supposed to be so sensitive, you know.. Derfeyu is for those with humanity"
"I know that!" he snapped "Then why are you asking? The Source doesn't have any humanity." "I did," he told her
"The Source was in control. Like if back in the days when you were Belthazor you were vanquished. Whoever is in the control seat."
She laughed. "Your body sure is popular, why does everyone like to posses you?"
"You've gone off topic," he said, glaring.
"Touché!" she laughed, "What was the topic?"
"You trying to improve your lie" he replied simply
"You always thought I was stubborn, but I'm telling you now you take the cake." She threw her wallet at him. He caught it and opened it. She had all the usual like credit cards but there was a photo of him and her. She looked different, she was younger. They were laughing, he looked so happy.
"I.. this.. can't.." he stuttered. It hit him hard. She was.. he.. had a daughter. No. He wouldn't believe it. Admitting it would be admitting she had what he tried so hard to protect. Protected ever since Phoebe had left him. His heart. And Phoebe and he were going to have a.. son.
"You still don't believe me?!" she asked, bewildered.
"No" he tried to sound cool, but his voice was shaking.
"What will satisfy you? Let me see.." she paused, thinking "Born in 1885, your father killed 1887, mother Elizabeth who was killed by a witch in 1969.. Claimed the name Belthazor in 1903.. Uh, posted in Berlin during 1934.. Just before meeting her you learnt some human assassin skills in the Mekong Delta jungle.. Favorite weapon a.. what was that silly thing called? Walther. Favorite drink an Irish Reterw"
"Irish Reterw?" he asked
"Oops, they haven't come out yet, have they?"
"You're a good researcher.. Knowing all that about Belthazor.." he replied, but he didn't even believe it anymore, he just didn't want to admit to her that he believed her.
She glared at him. "I give up!"
If looks could kill Cole would already be melting on the ground.
"I believe you," he whispered. It was barely audible, he hardly heard himself. When he looked up, he had tears in his eyes.."
"Hey, hey.. What's wrong?" she asked "Are you Phoebe's daughter?"
"Phoebe this, Phoebe that. Why do you care?" "Because I love her" "Love is such a strong word" she joked "Not strong enough" "She hates you. Doesn't care"
He bit his lip. "You didn't answer the question".
"Fine? Want to hear it? No. You'll never be with her ever again."
"Who's your mother? What's her name?" Cole asked and he did a double take. "Wait! I don't even know your name!"
"So name me," she challenged. "You have a daughter.. What would you name her?" "Phoebe" "Oh, so predictable. Thank god you didn't"
She did a little bow like she was introducing herself on stage to an audience. "My name is Max".
It was strange. A feeling he couldn't describe. He realized he didn't know this girl. He knew it was possible for her to fabricate the photo.. and to know about his life.. though he knew the truth. she was his daughter.
And he knew he loved her.
Hurry up, dammit!
He wanted to go.. Maybe there would be peace. Maybe, just somehow, it would be better then the torture he had taken for so long. How long had he tried to win her back? Maybe she would be happy if he was gone. Maybe this was for the best. Why was it going so slow? This wasn't natural.
No!
It wasn't for the best. The best would be for them to be together. The potion hit the floor. I bet the Elders are doing this he thought prolonging this torture of seeing her vanquish me. Again. He started to feel pain. This wasn't right. He wanted to go to peace. This wasn't the way.
He saw a shimmer behind Phoebe. It was a woman wearing leather. He had to warn Phoebe! A shimmer meant a demon! He tried to speak but couldn't. Cole was getting angry now. Just let it be over!
As he looked at the demon, he noticed there was a soft glow, a string of magic that connected this demon and he. Cole frowned. What's this?
The pain all of a sudden became unbearable and he screamed. It was like someone had put him on mute. He couldn't hear anything.
Can't Phoebe see the string of magic? Why doesn't she turn around? The demon..
The volume was put back up. It was so loud. He could hear himself screaming and knew it was the end. He tried to lift his arm to point to the threat behind Phoebe.
This is the end, isn't it? he thought as his world went to black.
His head was spinning and opened his eyes. Everything hurt, everything was burning. Though he was in the penthouse, on his bed. "A dream?" he asked himself. "Nope" replied a female voice. The figure was applying a wet towel to his head, and he felt relief as the burning went away.
As she pulled the towel away he saw it was the demon. His eyes widened in surprise. "Who the hell are you?" he snapped "Such a nice way to greet someone who saved your sorry butt" she rolled her eyes "You.. You were going to hurt my wife!" he snapped "Are you forgetting she's not your wife?" the demon snapped back. She then sighed.
Cole pondered his situation for a moment. Who the hell was this? She's helping him.. but he should be dead. He wasn't invincible.. The Belthazor potion should have worked..
"Your confused" she stated. It wasn't a question. "Yeah" he paused and looked at her "who are you?" "Now there's a question that has a complicated answer," she laughed "Try to cover it in a sentence" "I can do better and cover it with one word.." she paused for a moment wondering how he would react "Daughter". "Now that's funny," he said, "I'm serious. Who are you?" "So am I" she said "Now I would be your daughter if those bloody Avatars hadn't messed my existence up".
"Well if you don't exist, you wouldn't be here," Cole told her "think up a better lie to tell". He couldn't help it, he studied her face. He looked at her striking blue eyes.. Could she really be?
"Well I got a vision and I knew what they were going to do" she replied "Counter spell. Technically I don't exist. Never was conceived" she paused thinking of how to explain it "It's like when you time travel to before you were born. You don't exist. But you will. For my case it's did".
"You're going to have to try harder" he frowned "you're not a good liar"
"Fine. Don't believe me" she huffed and stormed out of the room. He tried to go after her. He didn't know why he wanted to, but he did. He sat up and his head was spinning so fast, he could hardly see what direction the floor was. He grabbed his head. It hurt so much. He was swaying and he knew he was falling.
Thud.
The next thing he knew, she was there holding Cole and scolding him.
"Are you okay? You're not supposed to get out of bed!" she snapped at him.
He had seen her expression. She really cared; it was raw emotion on her face. He was more confused then ever. Was it possible? Is she really my daughter? No, she can't be.
As she helped him back onto the bed he frowned.
"What is it?" she asked "You. I can't figure you out"
She laughed. "You haven't been able to figure me out in 20 years what makes you think you will when you first see me?"
"I don't believe you. You can't be my daughter," he said
"As stubborn as ever" she weakly smiled. "Prove it," he challenged "Isn't dying for you good enough?" "Dying?"
"Oh yeah" she said, "You were out cold"
"What do you mean?"
"Ingenious on my part" she said putting her hand through her dark hair "Cloned myself I did. It was a Amyred spell"
Cole cocked his head slightly to the side as he absorbed those words. The Amyred spell was to channel energy from one person to another. Most used it as a healing power, to transfer energy from a healthy being to a sick or injured one. The healthy person was drained of their energy and would take days to restore.
She saw the confusion on his face and offered an explanation. "As the energy was being taken from you I gave it to you back"
"You would have died then" he said "It would take up so much energy to save me that it would have sucked all the life out of you"
"It damn hurt too" she smiled. "You owe me for that"
"How?"
"I told you, I cloned myself. I mean why do I need both of me alive? One will suffice."
"So you cloned yourself so you could die?"
"To save you" she rolled her eyes "You don't seem very grateful. I should have let you go to Derfeyu".
Cole swallowed hard. Derfeyu was the worst hell dimension you could be sent. The original Source had created it. He liked to send traitorous demons there.
Of course! Demons with humanity were traitorous, so it was obvious where his destination would have been.
"Why wasn't I sent to Derfeyu when Phoebe vanquished me before?" he asked
"You sure are stupider then you look," she laughed. As she saw the hurt look on his face she rolled her eyes "Guys aren't supposed to be so sensitive, you know.. Derfeyu is for those with humanity"
"I know that!" he snapped "Then why are you asking? The Source doesn't have any humanity." "I did," he told her
"The Source was in control. Like if back in the days when you were Belthazor you were vanquished. Whoever is in the control seat."
She laughed. "Your body sure is popular, why does everyone like to posses you?"
"You've gone off topic," he said, glaring.
"Touché!" she laughed, "What was the topic?"
"You trying to improve your lie" he replied simply
"You always thought I was stubborn, but I'm telling you now you take the cake." She threw her wallet at him. He caught it and opened it. She had all the usual like credit cards but there was a photo of him and her. She looked different, she was younger. They were laughing, he looked so happy.
"I.. this.. can't.." he stuttered. It hit him hard. She was.. he.. had a daughter. No. He wouldn't believe it. Admitting it would be admitting she had what he tried so hard to protect. Protected ever since Phoebe had left him. His heart. And Phoebe and he were going to have a.. son.
"You still don't believe me?!" she asked, bewildered.
"No" he tried to sound cool, but his voice was shaking.
"What will satisfy you? Let me see.." she paused, thinking "Born in 1885, your father killed 1887, mother Elizabeth who was killed by a witch in 1969.. Claimed the name Belthazor in 1903.. Uh, posted in Berlin during 1934.. Just before meeting her you learnt some human assassin skills in the Mekong Delta jungle.. Favorite weapon a.. what was that silly thing called? Walther. Favorite drink an Irish Reterw"
"Irish Reterw?" he asked
"Oops, they haven't come out yet, have they?"
"You're a good researcher.. Knowing all that about Belthazor.." he replied, but he didn't even believe it anymore, he just didn't want to admit to her that he believed her.
She glared at him. "I give up!"
If looks could kill Cole would already be melting on the ground.
"I believe you," he whispered. It was barely audible, he hardly heard himself. When he looked up, he had tears in his eyes.."
"Hey, hey.. What's wrong?" she asked "Are you Phoebe's daughter?"
"Phoebe this, Phoebe that. Why do you care?" "Because I love her" "Love is such a strong word" she joked "Not strong enough" "She hates you. Doesn't care"
He bit his lip. "You didn't answer the question".
"Fine? Want to hear it? No. You'll never be with her ever again."
"Who's your mother? What's her name?" Cole asked and he did a double take. "Wait! I don't even know your name!"
"So name me," she challenged. "You have a daughter.. What would you name her?" "Phoebe" "Oh, so predictable. Thank god you didn't"
She did a little bow like she was introducing herself on stage to an audience. "My name is Max".
It was strange. A feeling he couldn't describe. He realized he didn't know this girl. He knew it was possible for her to fabricate the photo.. and to know about his life.. though he knew the truth. she was his daughter.
And he knew he loved her.