Chapter 3: Cloak And Dagger

"You seem a little pasty," Phoebe continued to give him lots of attention the next morning, "do you need anything? Something to drink?"

Despite the fact that he felt like crap, he couldn't help but reflect on how gratifying it was her being so protective of him, "no thanks, I feel too queasy for breakfast or whatever, I just need to rest some more," he explained, "till I get my energy back."

"And just what exactly are you gonna get you energy back from if you don't eat?"

"Phoebe," he said with a voice that meant he really wanted her to leave him alone.

"I don't like you being sick. I don't even understand why you would be."

"It takes time to draw energy, just trust me."

"Draw energy? From where?"

"We were thought that too at the special demon school. Energy is everywhere. I tell you how it works. To draw energy from the earth, briefly focus your attention on the soles of your feet and think of your legs pulling upward as if you were going to raise both legs at once. Your legs will naturally tense slightly in response to the thought. Mentally complete the pull through the feet into your body and inhale. With the fire balls, you need to direct this earth energy that you have collected and move it to the hands, think of the palms of your hands and focus your awareness there. Think of the physical act of pushing and your arm and chest muscles will tense slightly in readiness. The energy will follow your intention and flow out of the hands to where ever you direct it. To be effective, the energy you raise must be imprinted for a single goal before you release it. You must tell the energy what you want it to do by thinking it or speaking aloud. Rhymes are popular for this purpose because they easily focus the mind but prose and a firm command works too. That's why spells are popular with us too, cause unfocussed energy fizzles out."

" All right, fine, do that. If you want anything, just let me know. I'll be reading my textbooks over here."

"But didn't Piper say she needed you?"

"I'm certain she can turn the pages of the Book Of Shadows all by herself. Besides, it's not even sure that her new waitress and Prue's new associate editor are the same person, let alone the allegations she is a demon. I mean why, because she can be in two places almost the same time? They only have a picture of her they identified her with, who says they can't be two different persons? They just look alike. Maybe even twin sisters are possible. Twin sisters who don't like daylight even. Besides, I wanna hang about here and take care of you," she explained affectionately, "I can't go away while you're unwell."

"You know you should be suspicious when something seems demonic because ninety nine percent of the time it turns out to be that. You should work on it, I'll be okay," he tried to usher her out the door.

"Well then, simply shout if you want something honey and get well, please," she gave him a quite well-mannered good-bye kiss, "I love you."

"Thanks. See you later baby," Cole said, hardly waiting for her to get out as his nausea grew worse.

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"How are you?" Phoebe asked sympathetically when she saw him descending the stairs a couple of hours later and put her arms around him as a method of greeting.

"Better, thanks," Cole answered, flashing her an artificial smile. He didn't want to tell her how sick he had been only an hour ago because he didn't want her to be worried about him. Besides, he was indeed feeling a tad better.

"What kind of food do you want?" She solicited optimistically.

"Nothing, thanks," he answered, making her stare at him pryingly with a slightly scrunched face, "I'm simply not hungry, all right?" He said in his defence, "maybe some tea?"

"No problem," Phoebe turned to switch on the water heater, but when she turned back she saw Cole leaning onto the table as if he'd been hit in the pit of his stomach by one of those fire balls right there and then, "what is it, baby? You're not feeling well, I knew that," she said worriedly, "sit down," she fetched one of the chairs.

"No, I'm fine," he said, staring to the table, "is that the picture your sister's friend had taken of the new waitress?"

"Yes. Why? We can't find her in the book. You know her?"

"It's one of her three faces, which symbolise her powers in the underworld, earth and air. She always reincarnates into the same three bodies, alternating them. The Greeks often called Hecate, or Agriope, which means savage face."

"You seem alarmed."

"You really don't know anything about her? Wait, maybe...her Hebrew name was Sheol, and the Egyptians knew her as Nepthys. She was the daughter of the titan Perses and of Asteria, although sometimes it is said that Zeus himself fathered her."

"Are...you...talking about the mother of all black magic?"

"That's her, yes," he pointed to the picture, "the lady of the underworld, of chthonic rites, and of black magic. If she's after you, we're all outnumbered by her only."

"No daylight, the moon goddess. It makes sense. Leo! Possible demonic emergency! Where are my sisters?" She asked the arriving white lighter.

tbc