Whoo. Okay, I hate putting author notes before chapters, but I felt I had to today to thank all my new and old reviewers. Thank you guys! Y'all are my motivation! Thanks thanks thanks. :)
To Patience Halliwell: Hey fellow high schooler! About the Whitelighter thing, yes, there will be a new one for the sisters appearing in one of the upcoming chapters. I have a pretty good idea on who it will be.
Well, I hope you guys like this chapter! And happy October. Halloween is coming soon, yay! Remember to drop me a review, I'd like to reach 25. And let me know if you would like me to review one or more of your stories. I love reading new stories and I don't mind reviewing. Gracias!
Madria breezed down the stairs lightly with a playful jump in her step. I'll show that bastard Dargo that I know what I'm doing, she thought firmly. She knew she would get the job done-- she knew that she would destroy the Power of Three. She broke into a wide gleaming smile as she reached the bottom step and leaped down, quivering with anticipation. This is gonna be sweet.
Prue entered the conservatory to find Cole leaning back in a chair, looking like someone had dragged him out of bed in the middle of the night.
"Cole, we have to get going. Madria's gonna find Phoebe," Prue said.
"The potion is all set?" Cole asked while leaning forward, rubbing his tired eyes.
"Yeah," Prue paused, then added, "Cole, Piper doesn't look so good. She's...different. It's like she retreated inside of herself, surpressing all of her emotions. I told her to stay strong, but the way she's acting...well, it's definitely not healthy."
Cole frowned, shaking his head in frustration. "Prue, I really don't blame her. I mean, what happens if the potion doesn't work? What if Phoebe remains evil? What if--"
"Cole, don't," Prue cut in fiercely, "Don't think like that. Everything will work out fine. It always does. The bad guys come and mess up our lives, but we always kick ass, right? We've been through so much together. All of us. Not one of us hasn't been through some tough times. We can defeat this evil. Plus, this time we have help, aka Madria. I'm stressed, sure, but right now I'm trying to stay calm. We'll save Phoebe, and then maybe we'll find a way to bring Leo back."
"Thanks for the pep talk, Coach Halliwell," Cole teased, but grinned as a hopeful spark rekindled in his heart.
Prue and Cole joined Madria and Piper in the hallway and proceeded out the front door. The night air was humid and still, yet brought a shiver up Prue's spine.
"Madria, exactly how are you gonna find Phoebe?" Prue asked, quickening her pace to keep up with the long-legged vampire hunter.
"Easy. I can sense her. I can smell her. It just comes natural, I guess, after all these years of tracking vamps," Madria replied, walking faster. She casually mumbled under her breath, and looked about at the surroundings sharply. She concentrated on the street ahead of her. "Follow me, ladies and gents."
After about twenty minutes of walking down street after street, Piper stopped, grabbing Madria's arm.
"Can't we stop for a minute or two? I'm dying here!" Piper complained, helplessly grasping at her side. "I've got a major cramp."
"Yeah, well, you'll just have to deal. We're closing in on her," Madria loosened Piper's grip on her arm and started walking again.
"Humph. Not all of us here are little Energizer Bunnies," Piper grumbled, huffing along after Madria.
"If you want, I can carry you," Cole suggested, desperate to help out in any way possible.
Piper looked at him incredulously. "I'd never lower myself like that," She smirked and jogged off. Prue laughed at the dejected expression on Cole's face.
"Cole, don't take Piper seriously," Prue said, taking a deep breath to stop herself from laughing anymore.
"She seems to be opening up a bit, which is good," Cole said, wiping beads of sweat off his forehead. "I guess I did help Piper after all."
It had begun to sprinkle outside slightly much to Piper's pleasure. She lifted her hands up to the sky and twirled around.
"This feels good!" she said, smiling a silly smile despite herself.
Prue laughed with Piper and felt a warm glow in her heart. It was good to see Piper so happy. Cole jogged up from behind them and grabbed Piper and Prue by the arm.
"Let's see how Madria is doing," he suggested, rain trailing down his face.
"Alright, Mr.Turner. I bet you that I can catch up to Madria before you can," Piper challenged.
"I'll take that bet, Ms.Halliwell," Cole said, grinning from ear to ear.
Piper broke free from Cole's grasp and sprinted ahead of him through the light rain. Cole waved to Prue then started after Piper. Prue, watching Cole and Piper, suddenly felt a wave of sadness. Even though it was good that Cole and Piper were happy, they seemed to be forgetting where they were going. We're going to save our sister from the dark side, which will be hard. Vampire Phoebe is so powerful now...Prue shook her head, sighing. We'll do fine, we always do.
Piper and Cole ran up to Madria, still laughing and joking around.
"Gee, Piper, you seem pretty happy for someone who just became a widow," Madria sneered.
Piper was taken aback at first by Madria's cool disposition, then she was offended. "Gee, Madria, you seem pretty bitchy for someone who is usually oh so chipper," Piper snapped back. "And Leo wouldn't want me to be depressed. He's passing away to a happier place. I'm not gonna bring him back by acting like the world is over."
Cole frowned at Madria. "Hey, what's up?"
Madria stopped suddenly, and put her hand up. "Guys, be quiet for a second. I think Phoebe is near," she whispered urgently. She sniffed at the air like a dog smelling meat. Prue walked up to the gang and Cole quickly informed her what was going on.
"Follow me," Madria said, then took off in a brisk run toward the cemetery. The two sisters and Cole followed obediently after the hunter.
Madria led them to a certain mausoleum that brought back many memories for Cole. Why would vampire Phoebe come here? he pondered. Madria motioned for Cole, Prue, and Piper to follow her into the darkened chamber, while pulling out the vial of black potion from her pocket. Cole trembled but followed behind Madria. The mausoleum that was usually lit by bright candles was dank and full of spider webs. Cole wrinkled his nose in disgust at the horrid smell that filled his nostrils when he walked down into the square room.
Madria reached back and grabbed a large flashlight out of her knapsack and flicked it on cautiously, aiming the light into the deepest corners of the room. The beam of light finally came across a bloodied form sprawled on the stone floor and Madria gasped in horror. That was when the candles around the room flickered to life like magic. Cole, Prue, Piper, and Madria all gaped at the atrocious mess in front of them. Not only was there one bloodied form on the floor, but ten bloodied bodies all strewn about the room.
"My, my, you guys are late for dinner," came the clear sound of Phoebe's voice as she stepped forward from behind a coffin.
"Phoebe," Cole uttered, "You...you..?"
"Yes, dearest Cole, I did this. I killed these people. They were so darn yummy," Phoebe wiped her mouth which still had a trace of blood on it. "You were too late."
"No, no we weren't. We can still save you," Piper said, stepping forward.
"Oh, can you?" Phoebe chuckled and stretched her arm restlessly. "Try me."
Madria gripped the cold glass vial in her hand then swung her arm forward with a snap. The vial flew through the air and broke with a shatter at the unsuspecting feet of Phoebe. She gave a cry of distress as a thick black smoke enveloped her body. The smoke whirled and whirled around her, whooshing like a tornado. A loud thunder-like crack sounded, and the smoke began to seep away into the shadows.
"Phoebe?" Cole stepped forward, eager to see his girlfriend back to normal. When the last whisp of smoke melted away into oblivion, nothing could be seen. Only the coffin, the wall, and the same stone floor where the broken vial lay. "Phoebe?" Cole repeated, a hint of fear in his voice.
"Phoebe is not available right now, but you can leave a message after the beep," Madria smirked cooly.