I LOVE YOU, PIPER
A/N: Thank you for reviewing my story. I'm very happy that you like it. Please keep supporting me!!!
Summary of part 5:
- Prue's soul is being consumed by The Lychy.
- Leo feels guilty for not fulfilling his reponsibility as her husband.
- Piper finds out Cole is the one she proposed marriage to when she was 13.
Part 7
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I have an engagement to a demon (cont.)
Piper kept her arms around his neck recollecting the time she had hummed that song to herself everynight.
Jimmy please say you'll wait for me,
I'll grow up someday you'll see.
Penny had found it out a few days later, and chanted a spell to make Piper consider it's nothing less than a play. She still remembered Patty had said "Forget it, sweetie. You'll meet your true love one day." when she'd taken the pearl earrings away. Her true love, Piper thought of Leo, she had met him at the age of 25 and that's when love had really embraced her heart. She parted from Cole.
"You never came back. Why didn't you come back?" – asked her.
"We're different. We couldn't have a future together." – answered him looking at her – "I did come back when you're 20, just not meeting you."
Piper had no clue about it, all she could remember was he's tall and his eye color was blue. But she'd never recognized him. Her heart had been empty before Leo.
"I didn't intend to remind you of our promise. I just wanted to know whether you're having a good life, or your love showed up." – continued Cole – "Then The Source needed an efficient one for the agreement. I volunteered to take it since the other wouldn't hesitate to kill three of you."
Her surmise was right, Cole had been helping them from the beginning.
"You're betraying The Source." – said her.
"For you."
"Why you love me? I haven't done anything to you."
"The woman had to do something considerable before her man loves her?" – asked him.
In fact it's not necessary to face a big ordeal for starting a love, people just met and fell in love for some reasons. Perhaps they found harmony, congeniality, and attraction from each other, so they didn't want to separate and never separated from each other anymore.
"It's just the feeling." – whispered her.
"A look, a smile, you can make me melt." – confessed Cole – "I love your face, I love your voice, and I want to be with you. When you cook a meal for me, or launder my clothes, you give me this feeling. You've given me a life I never dreamed of. For the first time I really live during my life. I only hoped you said you loved me someday, and you needed me to stay with you, but you never told that."
"I didn't. . . don't love you." – a tear fell down on her cheek. She deceived herself telling she didn't love him, but she would deceive him if she told she loved him.
"Lychy belongs to the most powerful kind of demons." – Cole changed their topic – "He's The Source's half brother. Leo's right about there's a few of upper level demons are competing with him. One of them is me."
It wasn't a big surprise for Piper. She knew Cole had an appellation as "The mighty Belthazor", he was an infamous demon.
"I've tried achieving more feat than him to get his position in hierarchy. But I haven't come up straight against him. He's very powerful." – continued him.
She understood what her husband's speaking of. The Source possessed a large number of powers from The Grimoir in his coronation, but his kind must be the most towering one to generate the demon strong enough to attain the throne. It meant she had to gather the power of three to vanquish Lychy. That's exactly what she couldn't get now.
"I'll try all my best for this fight." – said Cole.
Piper sighed, he's helping her again, she had no chance to save Prue if she refused his favor, but how could she repay him for his kindness??? She's always afraid of thinking about the future when looking at him.
"Will you win?" – asked her weakly.
"I don't know." – answered him – "He'll get some damage at least. Then you can finish him off easily."
"I'll go with you."
"No. I can't fight him and watch out you at the same time. Moreover, Leo's not here for healing." – protested Cole.
"We wait until he's back." – said Piper.
"If Lychy realize he's absorbing a Charmed One's soul, he'll go kill you immediately." – he kept his point – "The weaker Prue is, the stronger he becomes. We can't give him more time."
Piper stared at her husband, it might be the last time she saw him, she wanted to tell him that she would be waiting him there, and he had to take care of himself as well as he had to come back home. But she couldn't find her voice, perhaps she didn't really want to say it or admit her heart was sobbing for him, she knew he knew though.
Cole gently caress her cheek, she leaned on his warm palm closing her eyes.
"Take care. . . my little angel." – he shimmered out. Piper opened her eyes, he had said what she hadn't.
Piper didn't know why she wanted to be bold and inconcerned in front of him. Now he's gone without a promise of coming back, she grabbed the flute on the table bursting into tears.
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Piper was sitting near Prue, Phoebe had left for her room some hours ago. Piper guessed she's having a good sleep, they'd stayed up all night yesterday. Although Phoebe had asked her to wake her up since Piper also needed some rest, she knew she wouldn't get asleep while her oldest sister was lying lifeless on her bed and her husband was facing a violent battle. So she just sat there holding her sister's hand and waiting for Leo hopelessly.
7a.m, the alarm clock rang. She reached out to switch it off. Prue hated this sound, she usually woke up in the first second it screamed. But she didn't now. Orb light appeared.
"Leo!"
He reformed in front of her looking so bad.
"What's they said?"
"Nothing." – answered him.
"Why did they keep you so long?"
"Lychy is The Source's half brother. The Underworld assume him as the second in command. Deputy Source. They've been looking for a way. But the only feasible one is very unfeasible."
"What's it?" – asked Piper.
"Belthazor. He's aimed at his position for 30 years, but he isn't strong enough to confront him yet. How could we persuade him to go after Lychy?"
"He's doing it. Let's go help him." – said Piper quickly.
Leo's stunned. But he's more stunned by her concern. He also realized her swollen eyes, she had been weeping so much. He's afraid that she'd cried not only for Prue, and his jealousy rose up feeling he's losing her.
"Piper!"
"I'll call Phoebe."
"I don't know where they are." – Leo raised his voice.
Piper stopped, Cole wasn't his charge, and they're in the underworld, Leo's unable to sense him. It meant she couldn't help him in time, she fell on the bed unconsciously.
"You're worrying for him?"
Piper didn't answer.
"I'll bring you to him if I could sense where he was." – Leo walked close to her – "It's for Prue. We have to save her. But I can't."
He put a hand on her shoulder – "The Elders are trying to locate Lychy. Then we'll go."
"It's too late to save him." – blurted Piper.
"You love him?" – Leo seemed hurt.
"He's fighting for us. He wants to save Prue. It makes him our ally."
They looked straight at each other. He knew she's attempting to use any word just to avoid saying yes to his question.
"I have no right to ask you to keep your love for me. But he's not the right one, Piper."
"I am aware that he's a demon. I don't love him." – she always tried to be strong. But she's just stubborn. If she was, she would admit her real feeling.
"Not only a demon. Have you ever thought why he's in the book?" – asked Leo – "Maybe his hand stained one of your ancestor's blood."
Piper startled hearing his supposition. It's entirely possible, the book said there's no way to vanquish Belthazor, so they should avoid confronting him at any cost considering he'd never lost a battle. Something must've happened fiercely for them to leave their next generations such a warning. How could they have imagined a Halliwell would love that enemy someday???
Leo was blaming himself for talking that to her. Jealousy had shaded his mind, he thought Piper wouldn't love Cole if she kept that idea, but she would nag at herself as well. It's a disgrace to marry a dead foe despite the fact that she loved him or not. How could she survive with the shame???
Prue stirred.
"Prue!" – Piper squeezed her hand.
Prue winked and opened her eyes. Leo rushed to the bed, Piper gave him her sister's hand.
"Prue!" – called him.
"Where am I?" – asked her.
"At home." – he helped her to sit up.
"You scared me, Prue." – the sisters joined each other in a hug.
"Where's Pheebs?" – asked Prue.
"Phoebe! Phoebe!" – shouted Piper loudly – "Prue's waken up."
A few minutes later, their youngest sister barged in wearing a pyjama.
"Oh Prue, how did that happen?" – she climbed on the bed. Piper felt stiff, where's Cole, what had happened to him. If Prue's soul came back, it meant Lychy had been dead. How about him??? Was she a widow now???
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A week had passed. Piper'd spent seven lonely nights in her room, Prue and Phoebe knew she missed Cole, they comforted her, and asked her to looked that as a good thing, she was free at last, then they would face whatever happened together. Prue didn't want to be rude since Cole had saved her, but it's obvious that she didn't like him. Phoebe missed Cole, she judged him as a great lover in bed, she didn't want to lose him, but he's not there or he's there but not with her was the same. She still kept trying the other men.
It remained Piper on her bed with the lamp turning on every night.
"If we don't talk about it now, we won't have another chance."
Despite of how much she wanted to deny it, she believed she'd lost him.
. . . . . .
Three sisters and Leo were in the attic.
"Don't treat yourself like that, Piper!" – said Prue – "No one blame you."
"I need to know." – insisted her – "I deserve it."
"It's worse. He isn't here anymore, let forget it." – Prue grabbed her hand.
"No. It's better." – said Phoebe – "It'll help her feel better."
"Pheebs." – stopped Leo frowning at her.
"Listen to me." – continued her – "You love Cole, Piper. And you think if you hear about what he did to our ancestor, you'll hate him and it soothes your loss. I'm a psychologist, remember?"
Prue gasped.
Piper looked down at Belthazor's portrait. Phoebe had pointed out her fear, she's afraid that Cole had killed her ancestor, she's afraid that she wasn't able to stop loving him more. But he had sacrificed himself to save Prue, did he deserve to be forgiven???
"Here these words
Hear my cry
Spirit from the other side
Come to me, I summon thee
Cross now the Great Divide." – chanted Piper.
Penny and Patty appeared in bright light.
"My girls, why did you summon us?" – asked Penny.
"I've got some questions to ask." – said Piper.
"What's that?" – asked Patty.
"About. . . Cole. How come he in the book?" – Piper paused a second trying to gather her courage – "Did he kill someone in our family?"
Patty shook her head – "Belthazor? What did he say to you?"
"You shouldn't love him, sweetie." – said Penny.
"What'd happened?" – asked Piper.
Penny looked at Patty shaking her head.
"She has a right to know, mom." – said Patty.
"It makes it worse."
"She's mature now. Moreover, we've tried to prevent that. It still happens."
Penny shrugged, Patty started:
"I've written this page."
Everyone surprised, but Piper relieved finding Cole hadn't killed anyone in her family since her mom was the Halliwell witch had confronted him.
…Flashback…
Four sisters were playing together in the sunroom. Sam orbed in.
"Sam!" – greeted Patty.
"We're in danger." – announced him.
"What?"
"The Elders told Belthazor was going after us."
"What is he?" – asked Patty.
"The Source's effective assassin. Vile, and dangerous." – informed Sam – "He's been going around us several months."
"Why hasn't he attacked us?"
"As far as they know, The Source doesn't assign him to kill us."
"You mean it's his own purpose?" – doubted Patty.
"He must want something." – Sam swallowed his breath.
"What're you holding Piper?" – asked Phoebe taking the box on her sister's hand. A premonition hit her.
"Ahh!"
"Sweetie, what's up?" – Patty turned around.
"I saw a big demon." – said Phoebe.
"How he look like?" – asked Sam.
"Red with black streaks." – answered her – "He's killing my teacher."
"Belthazor." – whispered him.
It's possible that her teacher was a witch. Patty walked to her daughter.
"Where?"
"At her house."
She took the jewel box, and opened it revealing a pair of pearl earrings.
"Where've you got it?"
"It's Piper's."
"My fiance gave it to me." – said Piper.
Patty shuddered, Phoebe had got a premonition about Belthazor while she'd been touching it, it's supposed to be his.
"Where's he?"
"He's gone. But he'll come back to marry me." – answered Piper proudly.
"Belthazor wants her." – concluded Sam.
Patty turned pale.
. . . . . .
Belthazor threw an energy ball to a woman, Sam and Patty orbed in. She used her power changing its direction to him. He ducked. His target ran towards her. Patty tk Belthazor making him fall back. He threw another energy ball to her and shimmered out. Sam tugged her aside, Belthazor appeared close to the woman and stabbed her by his athame. Patty tk a vase crashing into him. He glared at her furiously, but shimmered out.
. . . . . .
"Are you ready?" – asked Patty holding a paper.
"Yes. I'll blow him up as soon as he appears." – answered Penny – "Will your spell work?"
"We'll see."
They stood near together.
"Magic forces black and white,
Reaching out through space and light,
Be he far or be he near,
Bring us the demon Belthazor here." – chanted Patty.
A vortex arose, then Belthazor showed up. He's astonished to see them. Gram waved her hands, but he's immune to her power. She tried again to find out she's just able to blow low level demons up. Belthazor gritted his teeth, Patty threw a potion to him, it exploded at his feet, he looked more angry.
"You can't vanquish me." – roared him.
Sam orbed in intending to take them away.
"No. We have to vanquish him today." – insisted Patty.
Belthazor didn't attack.
"You got to step over my body before touching my daughter." – stated her sternly.
They saw Belthazor looked up to upstairs. They had guessed right, he wanted Piper. Patty tk a knife to him, Belthazor seized it and dropped it on the ground.
"Stop!" – grumbled him in his harsh voice – "She's promised to me."
"You pervert." – cursed Patty – "She's just a child now. I won't let her suffer you when she grow up."
"She'll love me."
"But you can't, demon." – said her.
"Why you waste time to talk to him?" – said Penny – "Power of ancient magic. Vanquish this demon and embrace Piper in peace."
Nothing happened.
"Stupid." – grunted Belthazor.
"Leave her or I swear I'll find a way to kill you." – Patty raised her voice.
He looked at them, they had realized they weren't capable of vanquishing him, but they still insisted on their stand because they're worring for his little angel. It touched him, he wanted to join them in a family, Belthazor was 101 years old at that time, no one was ever willing to give him that sentiment. He wanted to be another one loving Piper, but they're probably right, someone else would be better for her.
"Agree." – said him – "Don't go after me, and I'll never attack you and your children."
"And my children's children." – added Patty.
Piper's children??? He thought.
"Agree." – he looked up to upstairs one more time and shimmered out.
Three of them stared at each other.
. . . . . .
"What're you doing, Patty?" – asked Penny.
"Warn our next generations about Belthazor." – answered her writing down on the book of shadows.
"Do you think he'll keep his words?" – suspected Penny.
"If he wanted, he's already killed us." – Patty looked at her – "I'm saying the fact that we don't know how to vanquish him and our offsprings should avoid confronting him at any cost."
"One of our next generations will be The Charmed Ones. They're capable of doing it."
"Until that." – Patty put her pen down.
…End of flashback…
"He loved me." – whispered Piper.
"He just enjoyed the feeling someone adore him. Demon can't love, sweetie." – said Patty.
"He's half human." – said Piper.
"He lied." – said Prue.
"I don't care. But he loved me for sure."
"Actually some demons can love." – said Penny – "But their love are horrible. They never realize when it's over. They'll keep haunting you all their lives."
She's speaking of her own experience. The sisters recollected they had once helped a woman to get rid of her darklighter lover who just released her after he'd been vanquished.
"So we should pray for him being dead now." – said Prue.
. . . . . .
Another lonely night in her room, Piper tightened the flute on her hand looking at her wedding photo which she's smiling in his embrace. She wondered whether she wanted him to cling to her forever. She did know that she wasn't happy without him now.
"Magic forces black and white,
Reaching out through space and light,
Be he far or be he near,
Bring us the demon Belthazor here."
Some breeze blew in the window. He was nowhere.
"Where are you, Cole?" – murmured Piper.
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