Chapter 3: Bring It On
They found themselves in a narrow valley with a river running through it. Piper didn't push herself away from Cole, on the contrary, she held onto him affectionately and looked up at him dotingly, "I'm sorry you finally had to choose sides. But don't worry, the covet will understand and accept you even if you're a demon if I explain to them that you saved me from evil witch Duchess of Normandy," she planted a quick kiss on the lips of a mesmerised Cole, then let him go and continued, "but we must hurry now. You know as well, that if you won't wanna be summoned back by her, I need to find some aromatic plants and quickly? We left her practically in the middle of witch paradise for potions. Wait here," she ran towards the bushes nearby, "and keep an eye out for blessed thistles over there next to the stream!"
Piper's pretty independent here too, Cole looked after her as she disappeared amongst the undergrowth of the dense forest, and not at all confused by the divide between good and evil. But this war against Phoebe was definitely not why he came back for. This was all wrong. Perhaps he should attempt to shimmer back to his own time, leaving the future sisters to sort out amongst themselves as they normally would have without his intervention. The Cole of this reality probably died fighting those Daevas, or whatever Phoebe had mentioned, before he had to choose a side between his wife and his good witch lover. He concentrated to remember his Phoebe, every detail of her face as she smiled at him next to the Golden Gate, hoping it will help with the aim of his time shimmer. Yes of course, most demons didn't attempt this, cause it could get messy, but he was always more confident than the rest. Until Phoebe…"ghhhhh" he called out in agony as he doubled over from the pain in his guts. His face took an expression of puzzlement, as he didn't comprehend why he felt terrible. Then he passed out.
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Cole heard the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling and slowly opened his eyes to find himself under the shade of a tree. He felt very tired, but that was all, so he pushed himself up on his elbows, frowning as the pain in his gut returned.
"Easy," Piper towered above him, then knelt down to help him lay back, "I managed to stop the Duchess from summoning you, but I believe she uses a voodoo doll on you. I made some medicine to ease the pain, but it needs some time to start working better," she stroked his hair, "would you like some water?" She picked up a large leaf, expertly twisted into the shape of a cup, and raised his head to it. The slight movement aggravated his belly after just a few sips and he gave a whining sound, so Piper let him lie back once again, "you'll need more belladonna for the pain," she wiped his face from the sweat with one of the under layers of her skirt, "I'll make you better, don't you worry. I'll not be long," she kissed his forehead and charged out of view. He closed his eyes to shut out the pain. It didn't work as it continued to course through him without stopping. He clenched his jaw and clutched the grass beneath his hands, very much hoping Piper is a first-class witch in this world too. Otherwise he would never see his real life wife again.
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Somebody slid an arm gently under his shoulders and elevated him again, "drink."
The fluid felt hot, going down his throat, and the warmness spread inside him, taking away the pain.
When he finished, Piper started to study him, "how do you feel?"
"I don't know," he opened his eyes. Although the throbbing from his torso was momentarily gone, he was afraid he would aggravate it again if he shifted.
"Well, you should try and get up," his mistress offered a hand, "come on, trust me and my potion making abilities."
Slowly moving, he got to his feet, looking around in a landscape that showed no signs of human life, apart from the witch in front of her, "how did I get here?"
"You don't remember? It can't be. You shimmered us away from the Duchess."
"Ah, no," Cole shook his head slightly, "take it as if it was a rhetorical question," he couldn't tell her he meant the era.
"Because you proved your love for me," she caressed his cheek, misunderstanding the question once again, "you choose good, Cole and I love you for it. I loved you the first time you shimmered in taking the victims of your wife for me to heal. There's nothing you should be ashamed of, or regret, even if we die tonight. We did our best to serve humanity. But we should go. I don't know how long the effect of the brew will last. We need to vanquish your wife before she would use the voodoo doll again. Shimmer us right behind her and grab the talisman from her neck. I'll be there to help you, but I can't touch that, you know that. It would rebuff me right away."
Cole leaned on Piper, as if embracing her for the shimmer, trying to ignore the pain that was cursing through his torso, even if at a lesser level than before, "let's go."
They didn't even solidify yet, when they heard Phoebe's giggles and they were both thrown to the wall, to finish materialising there.
Phoebe sat down graciously on her bed, "I got a premonition, my dears. How could you think I wouldn't get one? The devil favours me. You can have all the potions in the world, you can't vanquish me while I have this lucky charm you were so nice to get for me," she stared at Cole as he started to get up. She could tell he was in pain, and she took pleasure in it, slowly moaning and touching herself under her skirt as she watched. But Cole seemed to shake it off, closing in on her, "come back to me Coleridge. I forgive you and I play the voodoo game with somebody else. You know I would've never hurt you if you didn't get me jealous. You don't need to get me invidious. Don't you know I have a weakness for you, darling?"
"I can't."
"But why? I can give you all the witch could, and more."
"Exactly because of that. You can offer me more pleasure, more belongings because you're evil. I can't watch you torture all those people."
"As you wish," she took out a needle from the creases of her skirt, along with a little wooden doll, pressed it in it and looked back up at Cole to benefit from the effect her black magic caused.
Suddenly, agony struck him in his abdomen, same place as the needle was stabbed into the doll. Cole doubled over, but still focused on trying to reach his wife and snatch the talisman from her neck. He tried to get up, but the throbbing drove him
down onto his knees and overloaded his eyes with tears. He looked back to his accomplice, who herself managed to stand up.
Piper knew her plan was suicidal, but then again, her whole existence was in this cruel world. She discerned the pleading for help in her lover's eyes and she launched herself at the evil witch, knowing her own powers still had no chance. But neither did Cole's at the moment. As Phoebe held out a hand to toss her away and fling her back to the wall, she concentrated her powers at the talisman instead, making it blow up and shatter to pieces, the same time as her own skull did the same as Phoebe maximised the force she sent her flying with, angry for Piper's success in ridding her of her most valuable possession.
"No," Cole choked. His anger helped him to his feet and his bulky fire ball engulfed Phoebe before she could touch the doll again. The effect of her magic vanquished with her, Cole ran to Piper. With the amount of blood already on the floor, he gave up his first thought of resuscitation.
Suddenly, white orbs appeared next to her, and a man in a doublet, jerkin, and hose appeared. He didn't waste time, but got rid out his cloak and hat, putting his hands above the injury on Piper's head.
"Oh, Leo! Piper said she didn't know you."
"That doesn't mean we don't keep an eye on things up there. I don't understand your reasons, but I assure you, your deeds will be reported to the Elders. One day they will pay you back for your kindness," his hands started glowing.
"I doubt it," Cole laughed. He needed to go somewhere to gather his thoughts and powers into the right direction. He really had enough of this century, besides, Piper was stirring in Leo's arms.
Tbc
