A/N: As always my appreciation to all who are reading this story and enjoying it.
foureverCharmed- Your last review was so SWEET! Brought a huge smile to my face. Thank you!
Geller Bing-Glad you like the story so far and appreciate your supportive review! Can't wait to read more from you as well.
dutcygirl- Thanks for the comment and I hope you continue to read.
Chapter 6
The witches found themselves in a dim room carved out of stone. "What the hell?" Paige was totally confused.
Phoebe did a 360 before saying, "Are we, or are we not back in the same room."
"It's the same." Piper answered, with an angry edge to her words.
"It's a good spell, I know it." Paige felt as though they had to defend themselves.
"I'm not doubting it. Something has to be here, we just need to find it." Piper replied with confidence. She could not afford to give in to self-doubt, not with Leo's life hanging in the balance.
Phoebe started investigating the outer perimeter of the room. "Hold on, I think I found something." The other two moved to see. There was a narrow passageway situated between two huge boulders. "It's a tight fit, but I think we can manage it."
Piper did not bother to respond, but started to go through the tiny opening. It was close quarters but passable and thankfully not long. Soon they emerged into a small alcove. Here there were shelves cut out of the granite walls. Small vials, similar to the one they saw Sevecci use earlier with Leo, littered the shelves. Each had a unique design etched on them. Some were tall and thin, others short and round. All of them held a mixture of mist and liquid. The colors inside ranged from very pale yellows to deep, rich gold.
"Jackpot!" Paige exclaimed, thrilled the locating spell worked.
Turning while looking upward they noted hundreds of tiny bottles that not only circled the room but rose thirty feet above.
"Okay, not good. How the heck are we supposed to know which one is Leo's." Phoebe worried.
Undaunted, Piper stood completely still. Closing her eyes, she emptied her mind of everything except for Leo. Letting all the love she had for him flow through her, fill her until she felt nothing else. Once she had done that, she reached out with those emotions. Leo was her soul mate. She believed that with all her heart, so it would follow that she would be able to sense his soul.
Precious minutes passed by while Paige and Phoebe remained motionless, observing their sister, praying they would be successful. Although both knowing they were under pressure because time was running out.
"Nothing." Thought Piper to herself. That lone thought penetrated her subconscious. She could not feel Leo anywhere. Her earlier confidence starting to wane, even though she knew if Leo's soul was here she'd be able to feel it. She refused to think otherwise, which meant it wasn't here, and they had a serious problem. Eyes snapping open, she said, "It's not here. I can't feel him."
Not doubting her statement, the other two looked at each other for answers. "What now?" Asked Paige, unsure.
"Sevecci." Piper said the name with such loathing. "He must still have it with him."
Paige crossed her arms in front. "Great, how do we find him and more importantly if we do then what?"
"I shall save you the inconvenience." A familiar voice interrupted. The three spun sharply to find Sevecci standing behind them. A smug grin played on his lips.
Piper immediately noticed the small glass vial hanging around the demon's neck. Its golden hues practically encompassing Sevecci.
"Did you really think I would leave such a valuable treasure unattended, I've waited years for a soul so pure. The power it provides me is intoxicating. No, I plan to savor this feeling for so many years.
Piper glared at the demon. Rage engulfing her, while her eyes never leaving their enemy. "How dare he use Leo this way" She thought. She was going to get that bottle and nothing or no one was going to stand in her way. Feeling her sisters move closer, Piper felt her power build as they formed their own powerful front.
Paige slipped the small bottle which held the vanquishing potion out of her back pocket. Piper stayed her hand from tossing it. At first Paige was confused, until it hit her. If they vanquish Sevecci, the vial around his neck would be destroyed as well.
Phoebe hazard a glance at her older sister, letting her know she understood the problem.
Paige's mind was racing. They were so close, they couldn't fail now, couldn't fail Leo.
Sevecci's grin widened. "It seems I will get a bonus out of all of this. Not only do I obtain my revenge, I also get to kill the famed Charmed Ones."
Piper wanted to wipe the smug look off his face. This was costing them precious time, time Leo didn't have. Again a vision of him lying helpless on the bed, devoid of the special glow that was pure Leo, floated across her mind's eye. She wanted to give in to tears of frustration, but managed to fight the urge. That would not help Leo or themselves. Luckily for her, her sisters' heads were much clearer.
Phoebe looked at the hanging bottle again, and the obvious came to her. "Paige." She muttered under her breath. "The bottle. Get the bottle."
Her sister paused for just an instant, then eyes lit up as she picked up on Phoebe's thought wave. While Piper and Sevecci continued their staring contest, Paige held out her hand and prayed the room was not protected from their powers. "Bottle!" She called out and wanted to jump with glee as the bottle dissolved into tiny bits of blue and white lights, and reappeared in her hand.
The demon, taken aback by the action, stared unbelievably at his prized possession in the hands of the Charmed Ones. "What! What is this?" He sputtered.
Holding up the vanquishing potion, Piper snarled. "That will teach you for messing with my husband." And she tossed the vial to the ground right in front of him. It exploded in a bright red cloud. When the smoke cleared, they were horrified to see Sevecci still standing there. He was holding his stomach and they could see a dark liquid seeping though his fingers. Injured but not vanquished.
"Uh-Oh." Paige observed surprised. "Not good."
Sevecci sent them a searing glare and growled. "You think a paltry potion can vanquish me. I've years to gather my strength and with the added power of the Whitelighter soul, I cannot be defeated so easily." With that, he whirled away in a stream of orange light.
"Damn it!" Piper fumed and transferred her eyes to Phoebe and Paige, the latter holding out the priceless vial to her. "Thanks, you guys saved the day."
"Let's hope we saved Leo as well." Phoebe replied hopefully.
Cole was pacing the floor of Piper's bedroom, anxiously. Glancing over, he observed the Whitelighter on the bed. Leo was not looking good at all. His color ashen now and the dark circles under the eyes more pronounced as were his sunken cheeks. Cole also noticed Leo's fingers were starting to wrinkle and shrivel. The angel was declining rapidly. Actually, Cole thought it was already too late. Leo had gone too long without his soul. It was too bad really. Cole had come to respect the man and knew Phoebe would be devastated, and what hurt Phoebe hurt him.
His wanderings were cut short by the swirl of bright lights which lit up the room. He let out a sigh of relief he hadn't known he'd been holding when he saw Phoebe's figure come in to view. The two met halfway in a fierce hug. "You okay?" He questioned as he held tight.
"I'm fine." She answered and reluctantly let go. They still had a lot of work to do. "We didn't vanquish Sevecci, but we got Leo's soul." When Cole arched a brow, she told him she'd explain everything later.
Piper went immediately to her husband's side. Her breath came up short as her eyes took in the scene before her. He looked so much worse than when she left, leaving her filled with fear they were too late. Clutching the small bottle, she let it be her lifeline, her hope they would be successful. Looking back over her shoulder she drew the other's attention. "We're loosing him, get the spell. Now!" Her voice shaking just a little as overwhelming panic threatened to take hold of her.
Paige quickly snatched a white piece of paper off a small table. Rushing over, she knelt beside Piper with Phoebe following suit. Holding the vial over Leo's chest, she pulled off the lid. Three sets of eyes read the words of the restoring spell.
Powers of good, powers of right,
Evil has stolen a champion of light.
Keeping him from aiding our need,
Please her our call, please hear us plead.
Restore this soul of purity,
So evil will fear our unity.
Piper held her breath after the last line had been spoken. A thin trail of gold began to emerge from the bottle. It lovingly stretched it tendrils out and over Leo's chest. Gently it floated down with its otherworldly glow into the lifeless body below. The awful gaping hole where the soul had been removed, magically healed, leaving no sign of the earlier invasion.
They all watched in awe, even Cole, who was new too all this heavenly stuff. Piper's stomach unknotted for the first time in hours. Her relief was short lived however, for when she moved her eyes to her husband's face there was no change. His color was still deathly gray, his eyes remained closed and there was no rise and fall of his chest, indicating he was back with them.
"No. No, no, no." Piper whispered in horror. This could not be happening. They got the soul, said the spell, it should have worked.
Phoebe and Paige looked on, each had silent tears streaming down their cheeks. They had been too late.
A/N: I did not intend this to be a cliff hanger just kind of worked out that way, but don't fear all well be resolved in the next chapter so keep reading!!!