Chapter 9
Both Phoebe and Cole turned back and faced a group of demons. In the front of them stood a man in black with covered face, and Cole immediately understood that it's the Master, and ten ugly demons stood behind him.
"Well, actually yes," Phoebe answered bravely, grabbing the coal tighter.
"Okay," Master wagged his hand, and tight ties immediately wrapped Phoebe.
"Cole!" she exclaimed and threw the coal to Cole, before her hands were bonded. Cole caught it.
"Set her free," Cole said in a coldly voice. "Don't dare to hurt her."
"Oh, yes!" Master jeered. "Oh, I'm already shivering, I'm so afraid of you!" he laughed naughtily. "What are you gonna do to me? Oh, you used to be very powerful, ex-Source and ex-Belthazor… and look what a worm are you now."
"Set her free," Cole repeated.
One of demons behind Master nervously whispered: "Master, we've to go back. We've to return before someone see us."
"At first give me the coal," Master gave Cole a nasty smile, acting that he doesn't hear demon's warning. "You wouldn't like that something bad happens to your little witch, would you?" he wagged, and ties around Phoebe's neck became tighter. She gasped.
Cole faltered. "Set her free, and I'll give you the coal."
"Give me the coal, and I'll set her free," Master held on.
"No, Cole, don't do it!" Phoebe exclaimed, and ties wrapped her even more tightly.
"Master, let's go," the demon said again nervously. "If angels find us there, we would be in trouble."
Master sighed. "Alright. I give you time till the evening. If you don't bring me the coal, your witch dies. So simple it is. You know where to find me. Got it?" said that, he grabbed Phoebe and together with all demons disappeared.
"Phoebe!" Cole exclaimed, but there was nobody who would hear him now.
~ ~ ~
"So, do you feel comfortable?" Master smiled nastily, looking at Phoebe, who was chained to the wall in the Underworld. She didn't move and looked to him with an angry look. He had removed his hood, and now she could see his face. It was really horrible and sickening, overlaid with hurts and bloody welts; besides, it seemed that his face has started to putrefy, and Phoebe hoped she wouldn't vomit. "Oh, here you are, famous and so well known Charmed One, here, in my hands, and I can do with you whatever I want," he touched her cheek. "I must admit, you really are kinda cute," Phoebe turned her face away, and Master laughed. "I don't know what would I like better - to kill you, to torture you or to toy with you a little."
"Oh, and how would you like to shut up and remove your sorry ass away from here?" Phoebe scornfully advised.
"I'd advise you to be more kindly to me, witch," Master winced. "If your sorry lover don't come to save you… and I'm really not sure about it… you'll regret that you've ever born, before I'm done with you."
"Damn you!" Phoebe exclaimed and spitted up to Master's terrible face. He winced, looking kind of surprised, then gave her a sharp spank. Phoebe gasped, turning her face away. Her cheek was red and sore now.
"How did you like that?" Master smiled cruelly. "Oh, you don't? Then now, it's just the beginning. You'll die and so will your stupid lover, no matter he brings me the coal or not."
"You're disgusting!" Phoebe exclaimed. "I'm gonna vomit!"
"Oh, do it, it won't disturb me," Master replied, wanting to give her another spank.
"Just try it," a cold voice stopped him.
Master turned around and faced Cole. "Oh, you are here. Wanna save your witchy witch? How you got the coal?"
Cole nodded, showing him a small, bright red box. "It's here," he saw the greed brightening in Master's eyes.
"Give it to me," Master ordered.
"No, Cole, don't!" Phoebe exclaimed. "It's a trap, he won't ever set me free!"
"Oh, shut up, you damn witch," Master faced her and then looked back at Cole. "Give me the box."
Cole looked at Phoebe with a look that as though said Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. And suddenly she understood his plan. Phoebe nodded and gave him a short, cheering smile.
"Take it," Cole went forward and put the box in Master's hand.
"Oh, thank you very much!" Master jeered, looking at the box with a greedy look. He opened it…
A piercing scream flied through the whole Underworld, when a bright, red light, emitted from the inside of the box, wrapped him, ran deep into his eyes, making him blind, riving his whole body.
"I'm burning!" Master screamed in the agony, while the fire wrapped him tighter, and his body started to turn into the ash. "Noooo!" he let out a last scream before he get fully lost in the fire and was vanquished forever.
A heap of the ash on the floor was the only thing that reminded about Master now. The fire immediately stopped, the light disappeared, and the box closed by itself.
Cole ran to Phoebe to set her free. She collapsed in his embrace.
"Are you okay, baby?" Cole asked anxiously. "Did he hurt you?"
"No, no, I'm fine," Phoebe gave him a faint smile. "You arrived just in time. Oh, I was so afraid… I thought I'd never see you again!" she gasped, crying of the relief. "It was so good idea, Cole, you couldn't do anything better!"
"When we will be home, I'm gonna say this Amistad some strong words, you know," Cole smiled. "The box can be opened only by lovers, and we didn't even know it," he kissed her gently. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay."
"Please, let's go away from here," Phoebe suggested. "The demons will come here soon and I don't wanna meet them," she went forward and took the box.
Cole held her hand and they shimmered away.
~ ~ ~
"We are back!" Cole declared, when they shimmered right to the heaven and faced Amistad sitting on the chair. "And you'll have to explain something to us."
Amistad started to smile, noticing the red box in Phoebe's hands.
"Oh, you are back very fast," he said, standing up and going forward to embrace each of them. "I'm so glad you are back. Actually, I always thought you'll make it."
"Yeah, yeah," Phoebe nodded. "In truth, you're a big liar, mister Amistad! You didn't warn us that the box can be opened only by lovers, and that's very, very bad!"
"Please!" Amistad smiled. "Your sisters already did tear me apart, you know, and I think I have had enough. Okay, I admit, I took a risk. But we, angels, can read a part of your thoughts and feelings, and I was sure you love each other. And, considering of what I saw following you…" his smile grew wider. "… You two also are sure now."
"You followed us?" Phoebe frowned suspiciously. "What did you exactly see?"
"Okay, let's leave it," Amistad laughed. "I have had enough of reprimands and lectures. In truth, you did everything even better and faster I expected. Besides, you vanquished the new Source, and that is something!"
"Alright, let's destroy this coal!" Phoebe suggested. "I wanna finish this mission and relax a little."
"Come with me," Amistad said and leaded them into the small room that looked like a shrine. In the middle of it stood a big, black stewpot, full with a clamorous, boiling mash that looked as red and as bright as the fire. "Okay, take the coal out of the box."
Cole held Phoebe's hand and they opened the box together. After a moment the coal was in their hands.
"Now, read this spell and throw it in the stewpot together," Amistad said, while the wall of the room became enlightened by red, bright words.
Phoebe and Cole started to read the spell in the unison:
"From whence it came,
Return it now,
Leave the love flame,
Destroy the coal."
Then they threw the coal into the stewpot. Immediately the room became enlightened by the red light, the stewpot shone in bright colors, and they heard a thunder outside. The wind started to blow, the light became brighter. Suddenly the room started spinning around, faster and faster; then a loud burst as though concussed the entire world. The smoke wrapped them, and they weren't able to see anything through them for a while. Suddenly everything became quiet and the smoke started to disappear. The big stewpot was burst up, and the coal was destroyed.
"Oh, thank God!" Phoebe sighed and nestled to Cole.
"Good news, my children," Amistad smiled. "You've saved the world… again. We aren't in danger anymore. I don't know how to thank you."
"Personally I'm so glad and thankful that you brought Cole back to the life, that I don't need anything else," Phoebe looked into Cole's eyes and gave him a smile.
"I know, what I'll do!" Amistad gave them a smile. "I'll bless you," he put his hands on both Phoebe and Cole's heads and whispered some words. "Good luck, my children. Blessed be."
Cole held Phoebe's hand. "Thank you for everything. See you again… some day."
Then they shimmered away.
Both Phoebe and Cole turned back and faced a group of demons. In the front of them stood a man in black with covered face, and Cole immediately understood that it's the Master, and ten ugly demons stood behind him.
"Well, actually yes," Phoebe answered bravely, grabbing the coal tighter.
"Okay," Master wagged his hand, and tight ties immediately wrapped Phoebe.
"Cole!" she exclaimed and threw the coal to Cole, before her hands were bonded. Cole caught it.
"Set her free," Cole said in a coldly voice. "Don't dare to hurt her."
"Oh, yes!" Master jeered. "Oh, I'm already shivering, I'm so afraid of you!" he laughed naughtily. "What are you gonna do to me? Oh, you used to be very powerful, ex-Source and ex-Belthazor… and look what a worm are you now."
"Set her free," Cole repeated.
One of demons behind Master nervously whispered: "Master, we've to go back. We've to return before someone see us."
"At first give me the coal," Master gave Cole a nasty smile, acting that he doesn't hear demon's warning. "You wouldn't like that something bad happens to your little witch, would you?" he wagged, and ties around Phoebe's neck became tighter. She gasped.
Cole faltered. "Set her free, and I'll give you the coal."
"Give me the coal, and I'll set her free," Master held on.
"No, Cole, don't do it!" Phoebe exclaimed, and ties wrapped her even more tightly.
"Master, let's go," the demon said again nervously. "If angels find us there, we would be in trouble."
Master sighed. "Alright. I give you time till the evening. If you don't bring me the coal, your witch dies. So simple it is. You know where to find me. Got it?" said that, he grabbed Phoebe and together with all demons disappeared.
"Phoebe!" Cole exclaimed, but there was nobody who would hear him now.
~ ~ ~
"So, do you feel comfortable?" Master smiled nastily, looking at Phoebe, who was chained to the wall in the Underworld. She didn't move and looked to him with an angry look. He had removed his hood, and now she could see his face. It was really horrible and sickening, overlaid with hurts and bloody welts; besides, it seemed that his face has started to putrefy, and Phoebe hoped she wouldn't vomit. "Oh, here you are, famous and so well known Charmed One, here, in my hands, and I can do with you whatever I want," he touched her cheek. "I must admit, you really are kinda cute," Phoebe turned her face away, and Master laughed. "I don't know what would I like better - to kill you, to torture you or to toy with you a little."
"Oh, and how would you like to shut up and remove your sorry ass away from here?" Phoebe scornfully advised.
"I'd advise you to be more kindly to me, witch," Master winced. "If your sorry lover don't come to save you… and I'm really not sure about it… you'll regret that you've ever born, before I'm done with you."
"Damn you!" Phoebe exclaimed and spitted up to Master's terrible face. He winced, looking kind of surprised, then gave her a sharp spank. Phoebe gasped, turning her face away. Her cheek was red and sore now.
"How did you like that?" Master smiled cruelly. "Oh, you don't? Then now, it's just the beginning. You'll die and so will your stupid lover, no matter he brings me the coal or not."
"You're disgusting!" Phoebe exclaimed. "I'm gonna vomit!"
"Oh, do it, it won't disturb me," Master replied, wanting to give her another spank.
"Just try it," a cold voice stopped him.
Master turned around and faced Cole. "Oh, you are here. Wanna save your witchy witch? How you got the coal?"
Cole nodded, showing him a small, bright red box. "It's here," he saw the greed brightening in Master's eyes.
"Give it to me," Master ordered.
"No, Cole, don't!" Phoebe exclaimed. "It's a trap, he won't ever set me free!"
"Oh, shut up, you damn witch," Master faced her and then looked back at Cole. "Give me the box."
Cole looked at Phoebe with a look that as though said Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. And suddenly she understood his plan. Phoebe nodded and gave him a short, cheering smile.
"Take it," Cole went forward and put the box in Master's hand.
"Oh, thank you very much!" Master jeered, looking at the box with a greedy look. He opened it…
A piercing scream flied through the whole Underworld, when a bright, red light, emitted from the inside of the box, wrapped him, ran deep into his eyes, making him blind, riving his whole body.
"I'm burning!" Master screamed in the agony, while the fire wrapped him tighter, and his body started to turn into the ash. "Noooo!" he let out a last scream before he get fully lost in the fire and was vanquished forever.
A heap of the ash on the floor was the only thing that reminded about Master now. The fire immediately stopped, the light disappeared, and the box closed by itself.
Cole ran to Phoebe to set her free. She collapsed in his embrace.
"Are you okay, baby?" Cole asked anxiously. "Did he hurt you?"
"No, no, I'm fine," Phoebe gave him a faint smile. "You arrived just in time. Oh, I was so afraid… I thought I'd never see you again!" she gasped, crying of the relief. "It was so good idea, Cole, you couldn't do anything better!"
"When we will be home, I'm gonna say this Amistad some strong words, you know," Cole smiled. "The box can be opened only by lovers, and we didn't even know it," he kissed her gently. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay."
"Please, let's go away from here," Phoebe suggested. "The demons will come here soon and I don't wanna meet them," she went forward and took the box.
Cole held her hand and they shimmered away.
~ ~ ~
"We are back!" Cole declared, when they shimmered right to the heaven and faced Amistad sitting on the chair. "And you'll have to explain something to us."
Amistad started to smile, noticing the red box in Phoebe's hands.
"Oh, you are back very fast," he said, standing up and going forward to embrace each of them. "I'm so glad you are back. Actually, I always thought you'll make it."
"Yeah, yeah," Phoebe nodded. "In truth, you're a big liar, mister Amistad! You didn't warn us that the box can be opened only by lovers, and that's very, very bad!"
"Please!" Amistad smiled. "Your sisters already did tear me apart, you know, and I think I have had enough. Okay, I admit, I took a risk. But we, angels, can read a part of your thoughts and feelings, and I was sure you love each other. And, considering of what I saw following you…" his smile grew wider. "… You two also are sure now."
"You followed us?" Phoebe frowned suspiciously. "What did you exactly see?"
"Okay, let's leave it," Amistad laughed. "I have had enough of reprimands and lectures. In truth, you did everything even better and faster I expected. Besides, you vanquished the new Source, and that is something!"
"Alright, let's destroy this coal!" Phoebe suggested. "I wanna finish this mission and relax a little."
"Come with me," Amistad said and leaded them into the small room that looked like a shrine. In the middle of it stood a big, black stewpot, full with a clamorous, boiling mash that looked as red and as bright as the fire. "Okay, take the coal out of the box."
Cole held Phoebe's hand and they opened the box together. After a moment the coal was in their hands.
"Now, read this spell and throw it in the stewpot together," Amistad said, while the wall of the room became enlightened by red, bright words.
Phoebe and Cole started to read the spell in the unison:
"From whence it came,
Return it now,
Leave the love flame,
Destroy the coal."
Then they threw the coal into the stewpot. Immediately the room became enlightened by the red light, the stewpot shone in bright colors, and they heard a thunder outside. The wind started to blow, the light became brighter. Suddenly the room started spinning around, faster and faster; then a loud burst as though concussed the entire world. The smoke wrapped them, and they weren't able to see anything through them for a while. Suddenly everything became quiet and the smoke started to disappear. The big stewpot was burst up, and the coal was destroyed.
"Oh, thank God!" Phoebe sighed and nestled to Cole.
"Good news, my children," Amistad smiled. "You've saved the world… again. We aren't in danger anymore. I don't know how to thank you."
"Personally I'm so glad and thankful that you brought Cole back to the life, that I don't need anything else," Phoebe looked into Cole's eyes and gave him a smile.
"I know, what I'll do!" Amistad gave them a smile. "I'll bless you," he put his hands on both Phoebe and Cole's heads and whispered some words. "Good luck, my children. Blessed be."
Cole held Phoebe's hand. "Thank you for everything. See you again… some day."
Then they shimmered away.