Chapter 18
The confident roar of the powerful engine and the busy evening traffic allowed Nicole to calm down slightly. She was sitting next to Cole who was skillfully maneuvering the Porsche through the traffic. "It's not that bad," Nicole tried to convince herself, "you've just panicked because you have not slept for almost 48 hours and lost the touch with reality." Soon it will all be over. How long could giving birth to a baby take, four hours? eight? Even if this was to be a really long one, tomorrow morning it would be over. And if they were lucky it might be that this evening everything would be back to normal. The young woman felt her eyes getting smaller and trying to stay awake looked at the side mirror. The green Mazda she saw earlier when they got stuck in a traffic jam near the Tower was still behind them separated from the Porsche by just a few cars. Nicole sleepiness disappeared in a flash.
"Cole!" she turned to her husband.
"I know," he answered tensely. "It's been following us ever since we left the Penthouse."
"Do you think it's a coincidence?" Nicole expressed more her wish than the thought.
"Maybe," he mumbled without much belief in his voice. "We'll find out soon enough."
The traffic in front of them cleared up and Cole pressed the gas paddle. The Porsche sped up and at the next corner Cole sharply turned into the side street just before the lights turned red. They drove for a few blocks constantly checking the side mirrors and their suspicion was confirmed. The green Mazda followed them. The half demon frowned. Nicole was quietly sitting next to him allowing Cole to make a decision. He knew the city much better than she did and most importantly he was the one driving. Just as they approached the next traffic light Cole whispered to her, "Hold on."
He twisted the steering wheel simultaneously pressing the gas pedal into the floor. The tires squeaked and the powerful sports car flew sharply into the right. In the next few seconds Nicole had to clutch the handle really tight not to be constantly thrown around. Cole drove like an absolute maniac. She did not even think that it was possible to drive like that and not to collide with another car. Finally he slowed down slightly and both of them looked behind. The green Mazda was gone and the couple sighed with relief. The half demon turned again and soon they arrived to the Schwarzlight Manor. They got out and Cole observed the damage his stunt driving had caused, "When my powers are back I am going to make this bastard pay for this," he growled.
Nicole smiled wanly and pulled him into the house. She closed the door behind them and put the chain on it. Then she turned to her husband and they exchanged long glances. Both of them were hoping that it was the end of the excitement for this night but at the same time deep inside they knew that it was not going to be that easy. Nicole was the first to raise her voice,
"What are we going to do, Cole?" she asked. "What if there is an attack?"
The half demon frowned. He did not want to worry his wife especially now, when she was pregnant, but he knew her enough to understand that his wife did not need her telepathic powers to see that he was concerned and that his false attempts to play the situation down would only worry her more. He cleared his throat, "I think we need to be ready, though I don't know what exactly we can do. We have no idea who is after us except some vague idea that it would be a mixture of witches and mortals."
"For us there is no difference if they are witches or mortals, since there is no magic in the world at the moment, it's all the same."
Cole shook his head, "No, there is a big difference. Witches don't use guns: they have the same dislike to them as demons. Plus witches would be feeling as insecure as we do, because they are used to rely on their powers. Mortals on the other hand will have no problems using weapons against us. And since we are completely unarmed they will be the most dangerous." He was about to add something else when Nicole brushed past him heading upstairs. "Where are you going?" he called after her.
"To make us less helpless," the young woman disappeared into the office and he had nothing left than to follow her.
"What are you..." He stopped mid sentence when he saw the painting moving away opening the door of a large safe.
Nicole walked to the safe and started to rotate the code knob, "Uncle Will showed this to me," she explained twisting the handle, "just before my mother took me back to England. With time I thought it was a childish dream but when I moved here I found that it was true. He used it to keep a few things including..." She pulled out two pistols and handed one to Cole.
"Why did uncle keep a gun in the house?" he asked. "Being a Lugel, it's not something you will have much use for." He saw Nicole raising her eyebrow and added slightly annoyed, "I know, I know that we are two Lugels as well and at the moment all our powers are no use to us."
Nicole smiled at him, "I know Cole that you have spent all your life having powers, but not everybody has. My father was a half demon and his powers manifested really late and living with the brother and father who were very powerful was dangerous so he learnt to defend himself."
"With that?" Cole grimaced at the pistols. "He would have a tough time stopping a demon with those."
"And with these," Nicole pulled out a set of athames. "Plus sometimes you can be attacked by a vindictive mortal. Just like we are."
"You don't know that," he retorted grumpily. "It might be somebody else!"
Nicole gave him a dark look, "Who else, Cole? Demons? At the moment they are way too busy trying to figure out what happened to their powers. And just like we they feel pretty insecure without them. Plus have you ever seen a demon chasing somebody by car? I was surprised that you could drive like that considering that you shimmer ninety nine percent of the time." She paused waiting for him to retort but he did not say anything a worried frown creasing his forehead. Nicole noticed it and tried to cheers him up, "When did you learn to drive like a stuntman?"
Cole gave her an unhappy look, "Twenty years ago," he muttered, "For a bet that I could get into an elite police force without using magic."
Nicole's eyebrow traveled up, "Officer Turner," she drawled as if tasting the sound of his name, "You'll have to tell me about it sometime." She sobered up and put the pistol behind her belt. "Well, this experience will be useful now though I really hope that nobody is going to attack us at least until Piper gives birth."
Cole did not say anything though his gut sincerely disagreed with her suggestion. He told his inner voice to shut up but it did not help much. "Okay," he said trying to come up with the plan of action, which would allow him to do something instead of just sitting and waiting. "Shall we go to the attic and have a good look around. See if this green Mazda is somewhere near by?"
Nicole nodded and followed him upstairs. A rustling noise coming from the ground floor made them stop in their tracks. After exchanging a few glances the couple changed the directions and started descending making sure to move as quiet as possible. The hallway was empty and the front door looked securely closed. Another noise came from the back of the house and Cole swiftly moved towards the kitchen. The back door was still intact but the rustling sound became louder. It was obvious that somebody was trying to enter the Mansion.
Cole pulled out his gun and with the corner of his eye saw Nicole repeating his gesture. For a second he regretted that their telepathic link was not there but the next moment Nicole proved to him that their way of thinking was similar enough to live without it.
"Who is there?" she raised her voice.
The rustling noise stopped and the tensed silence reigned for a few seconds. Nicole raised her voice again, "Whoever you are, get the hell out of here or I will call the police."
This time they did not have to wait for reply, "Don't worry, madam," the male voice came from behind the door, "there is no need. We are from FBI, can you please open the door."
Nicole just snorted, "I am not that stupid," she shot, "FBI does not come from the back door."
Another pause of tensed silence followed and Nicole pulled out her cell phone. "I am dialing 911," she said loudly. The next moment she heard a gun shot and the kitchen window broke into pieces. The bullet was aimed at Cole who dived behind the counter just in time. Nicole followed his example and joined her husband on the floor. The next moment she could hear the sound of the sirens and the megaphone enhanced voice announced.
"This is Inspector Daniels speaking. The mansion is surrounded by the FBI. I have a warrant for the arrest of Cole Turner on the suspicion of multiple murders. Come out with your hands up and nobody will get hurt. If you don't surrender within next 5 minutes the building will be stormed and I can't guarantee anybody's safety."
Nicole shot Cole a puzzled look. A horrible feeling crawled into his heart. They were surrounded in a massive house with many rooms and multiple windows -the objective impossible to defend by two people with mortal weapons. And he could not risk Nicole getting hurt.
"Cole," her whisper snapped him out of his thoughts. "Let's go."
The half demon stared at her, "Where?" he whispered back.
"To the garage," she hissed impatiently. "There is a door from the back of the hallway." She turned on her knees ready to crawl towards the exit when he stopped her.
"We are not doing it."
"Why not?"
"Because it's a suicide," he shot impatiently still remembering to keep his voice down.
"No it's not," she hissed angrily, "suicide is to stay here. Did not you hear what that guy said?"
As a conformation to her words the megaphone voice announced nonchalantly. "Four minutes left."
Cole made a move to get up but Nicole stretched her leg and hit his ankle. "What the hell are you doing?" Cole yelled in a whisper finding himself flat on the floor.
"That's what I was about to ask you?" she hissed at him, her eyes sparkling furiously. "Cole, have you gone mad? All they want is for you to walk out of here so they can comfortably shoot you."
"How do you know?"
Nicole rolled her eyes, "Do you really believe that this is FBI?" she asked angrily. "Come on, Cole, face the facts. This is the little clique Phillip was talking about. They know that they would have no chance against you if your powers were active so they decided to use the only chance they would probably get."
The half demon shook his head impatiently. "Fine," he shot caustically, "but it does not change anything. Even if you are right and this people are not FBI do you think they would care whether or not I surrender myself or not? If I don't come out they are going to storm the building and comfortably shoot both of us. Is that what you want?"
"Well, it is better than walking out of here like a sheep to the slaughter. Plus we don't have to sit here and wait. We still have a chance to escape first if we head to the garage now."
Cole sighed tiredly, "I can't do this Nicole," he said calmly, "It will be a complete gamble. They are not stupid and must know about the garage as well. It would be very heavily guarded. It's too dangerous and I am not going to put you and the baby in such a risk."
"But Cole..." she tried to protest.
"No, Nicole," his voice sounded gentle but stern, "I won't risk your safety. And if you love me you won't risk the safety of the baby."
"Three minutes," the hated voice announced, "Mr. Turner think about the safety of your wife. I have a permission to shoot anybody who prevents me from arresting you."
Nicole paled and the half demon was about to get up, but she caught his hand, "Wait," she pleaded and pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. With shaking hands she dialed a number and impatiently listened to the long rings. "Please pick up," she prayed silently, "Celina, pick up." But her plea was not heard. Nicole bit her lip and dialed another number. This time she had more luck,
"Inspector Morris," she heard on the other side.
"Darryl," she exclaimed remembering to keep her voice down, "It's Nicole Turner. Something is wrong, my house is surrounded by the FBI: they have a warrant to arrest Cole for multiple murders. They threaten to storm the house if he does not come out."
"I don't know anything about it," Darryl's voice was full of surprise. "FBI does not report to us."
"Well, can you do something?" Nicole pleaded.
Inspector thought for a moment, "I can try to come up and find out what's going on. Why don't Cole use one of his powers and get out of there while I make some enquiries."
"He does not have any powers," Nicole tried to hold back tears, "That's the problem. Piper Halliwell's baby is being born today and the magic is taking a break. We are powerless, all of us."
"Two minutes," the megaphone voice interrupted the conversation.
Darryl stood up, "Who is the officer in charge?" he asked. "Daniels?"
"Yes," Nicole heard inspector sigh with relief.
"Look," Darryl said calmer, "I know Daniels. He is a very decent guy. He won't do anything bad. So Cole is better of coming out of the house. Would be much safer for both of you than if the Feds stormed the mansion. I will try to be there as soon as I can and see what I can do. The worse thing that could happen is Cole having a rough night of questioning. And tomorrow all your powers will be back to normal and you can restore everything to the way you want."
Nicole could feel a flare of hope in her heart. "OK," she said quieter and disconnected. She turned to Cole. "Darryl says that he knows Daniels. He is a real FBI officer and you should be safe. Darryl is on his way."
Cole smiled at her, "Well, you see. It's not that bad," he said reaching for her hand. "Just promise me that you will stay here and won't come out until it's safe and Darryl is here."
"One minute," they heard the voice both of them learnt to hate very quickly.
Cole handed Nicole his gun. She clutched his hand not wanting to let him go. He smiled at her, "I'll be fine, I promise." And with one last look at her face he raised his voice, "OK, officer, I am coming out. Unarmed. Tell your men to take it cool."
The half demon pulled his palm out of his wife's grip and lifted his hands up. He slowly made his way to the door, twisted the knob and opened it. The sound of multiple gunshots combined with the sharp pain. Years of demonic training paid off. Ignoring the pain Cole jumped, regrouped in the air and disappeared behind the counter. He collapsed on the floor hissing with pain. A black shadow jumped up and he heard loud gunshots coming from above his head. Holding a gun in each hand Nicole shot the two soldiers which were the closest to the house. In a reckless somersault she reached the door and banged it close. She rushed to her husband and paled seeing how heavily he was bleeding. "Cole," she called and he opened his eyes.
Her hands pulled his shirt open. "It's OK..." he whispered barely audible, "They are not lethal... I think..." Nicole's eyes hurriedly swept over his body. One of the bullets went straight through his right shoulder, the other wound was just below the collar bone but the third bullet was the most dangerous, it hit his side and she could see a large blood stain spreading around it. Nicole took a harsh breath. The noise coming from outside made her jerk her head. "Cole," she whispered to him. "You have to help me." She crawled around him and pulled the collar of his shirt. The half demon hissed but using his legs and the healthy arm tried to help her pulling him. In what was just a few seconds but to them felt like ages she managed to drag him out of the kitchen and through the hallway. They were at the garage door and Cole felt as if he was going to pass out from pain when they heard a loud bang. Nicole did not have to guess twice. The FBI had blown up the back door into her house.
"Cole, get up," she yelled and concentrating all her strength pulled him up to his feet. The half demon groaned with pain, but leaning most of his weight on her and clutching a towel he picked in the kitchen to his side, he managed to stumble towards the car. Nicole opened the back door of her uncle's SUV and Cole collapsed on the back seat. She ran around the car to the driver's seat when the front door of the garage exploded. Trying to protect her eyes Nicole lifted her hand and to her surprise instead of flying towards her the wreckage changed its direction and flew towards the exit. The next moment she saw an energy ball forming in her hand.
The same time a group of soldiers entered the garage through the back door. "She has her powers back," one of them yelled. The other one raised his hands trying to freeze Nicole but his power did not have any affect. The energy ball in her hand turned into the massive fireball.
"Too right," a wry smile twisted Nicole's mouth and her eyes sparkled dangerously. "And too bad for you..." Her hand made a swift move and the next moment the fire consumed the intruders.
A loud explosion made Darryl jump out of his car without even bothering to switch off the engine. He rushed towards the Schwarzlight Manor and froze on the spot. In the wreckage of what used to be a garage stood a lone female figure and Darryl with shock recognized in it Nicole Turner. Her usually blond hair was now covered with dust looking almost black just like her eyes which had flames sparkling in them. Her hands were outstretched a stream of fire shooting from one of them and the bolts of lightening coming from the other. The figures in FBI uniforms were running away from the Mansion. But electricity and fire reached them like sniper's bullets.
A teenage boy came running towards Darryl, he was crying with fear, "Please help me," he pleaded, "please make her stop."
Darryl finally found his tongue. "Nicole," he shouted running towards her, "Stop it, they are not a threat to you anymore." He started to run faster, "They are not a threat, Nicole..."
The black eyes stared at him and for a second Darryl thought that it was his last breath so much anger and pain he saw in them.
"Nicole," Darryl heard another voice coming from the wreckage of the garage. The black eyes blinked and turned green.
"Cole?" Nicole turned around not believing to see her husband standing near the SUV.
He smiled at her and she smiled back ready to run towards him when Cole's face suddenly paled, "Behind you," he yelled. But it was too late. Emma the woman who had destroyed his demon half plunged an athame into Nicole's back.
"If I can't kill you, Belthazor, I will at least kill your wife," she cried out. A well aimed energy ball hit her straight into the back and the woman disappeared in flames. Elizabeth hurried towards Nicole who started to fall expecting a horrible pain she once felt when Leo killed her but suddenly the young woman realized that the athame did not even penetrate an inch into her body and the small wound had already healed. She turned her head and saw Cole who was still standing next to the SUV his eyes smiling at her.
"It was one of my best decision to pass my invincibility to you," he cocked his eyebrow and Nicole smiled at him feeling the warmth spreading all over her body.
The cold voice sounded behind her, "It was indeed." Nicole jerked her head and saw her mother standing near the gate. The next moment Nicole was thrown away by a massive explosion. She scrambled to her feet and looked around wildly. In the settling dust she saw the wreckage of what used to be the big SUV.
"Cole," Nicole made a step towards the place where he stood, "Cole..." she yelled but nobody answered. Nicole concentrated all her powers and sent the telepathic signal of such strength that it deafened telepaths in most of the realms, but her call was not answered. The silence hit Nicole with the force of the bullet. She swayed and a cry escaped her mouth. "No..." Nicole swirled round and her eyes met the grey ones belonging to Katherine Berg.
The older woman looked at her daughter with hopeful eyes, "It's over, Nicole," she said emotionally, "he is gone and you are finally free from him and from the curse he placed on you."
Her daughter stared at her silently and the next moment her eyes turned black and the lightening struck from them hitting Katherine into the chest. The older woman gasped and stumbled back.
"You," Nicole's voice was full of mad hatred, "you killed my husband because you thought he placed me under the curse?"
Katherine winced and stared at her daughter with understanding pity, which had a slight hint of fear. "Of course," she tried to sound calm, "he poisoned your soul. I could not let him have you. But now when he's dead the curse will wear off with time and we can go back to England and live a normal life."
A strange smile touched her daughter's pale lips. She raised her hand and Elizabeth felt as if she was suddenly short of air. "You know what you achieved, mother?" Nicole's voice was suddenly very calm, "except for the obvious one destroying my life by killing the father of my unborn child? Well, I will explain to you. You have just made sure that my soul would go straight to hell because in less than a minute I am going to commit a cold blooded murder and kill a defenseless mortal." She lifted her hand slightly higher and Katherine's eyes filled with horror while she struggled for breath. "I see you start to understand," Nicole continued, "I am talking about you, mother. You thought that Cole had put me under a spell? Well you were wrong. My love to Cole made me happy, it made me a better person who wanted to help others so they could be happy as well. Without him I don't care about all this, all I want is revenge and I am going to get it. And nobody..." Nicole raised another hand and Darryl who rushed towards them was thrown backwards by a powerful force shield, "nobody will be able to stop me. Do you see what you made me, mother, do you see what you turned me into?" Nicole raised her hand further, her eyes becoming bottomless flames shooting in them.
As the invisible strand around her neck became tighter, Katherine's face turned purple and she looked at her daughter with a fearful disbelief, "You won't be able to kill me," she managed to croak, "your father made me invincible."
Nicole's lips twisted into a chilling smile, "Not any more," she said sarcastically, "See, mother, you misjudged the situation. You thought that Cole was just a demon, but he was a Lugel, just like me and by killing him you became powerless yourself, you became mortal. The one raising his hand against his brothers would be damn and helpless." Her smile disappeared. "Good bye, mother, I hope you burn in hell." Her palm clenched into a fist and the stream of power shot through Katherine destroying not only her body but also shuttering her soul into a million pieces.
Nicole lowered her hand and the force shield disappeared. She looked at three people standing in front of her. All three of them stared at her in shock and nobody paid any attention to a vortex of the different colored mist hovering over the ruins of the building and a small silver cloud floating slightly apart from it. The cloud slowly drifted towards the vortex and when it finally reached it the swirl transformed into a shape of the comet. With a sudden gust of wind the powers rushed through Nicole's body forcing her to bend in half.
"Cole!" she screamed falling to her knees. Her eyes turned green again and she fainted.
Darryl caught her up and Celina stood motionless looking at the unconscious young woman. "The prophecy is fulfilled," she whispered, "The two BORN Lugels are coming into the world."
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Author's note: This is not the last chapter!!!