Chapter 5: No Place Like Home

Phoebe tried to glance around while Cole led her through the network of passageways in the underworld where they have shimmered to, but he was too quick and it was too dark for her to be able to distinguish much.

He seemed sure of his sense of direction and he only stopped when they arrived to the end of a lengthy corridor where the path turned into a shaft, "this is the way to Sheltered Village, where, as its name not so imaginatively indicates, several demons live who don't like serving a leader for one reason or other. Kind of an independent hamlet, but filled with weirdoes. No demon in their right mind would take a ride down here, since they can shimmer. But what most don't know is, that if you try to shimmer down here, an illusion will take you to somewhere else. No worries," he lifted her in his lap and sat on a ruglike material, of which many were placed next to the shaft for use, "helps you with speed and saves you from friction," he explained.

Phoebe concerned herself with the shoot, even if in Cole's arms, but they landed quick as lightening, almost as if they would have been shimmering. Her lover put her down onto a path leading towards some kind of underground dell, where a group of dwellings clustered in the environs of a bigger building with lights, giving the impression of being a place of worship. If it wasn't for the colour of the setting, it would've looked like an ancient village in the midst of protective mountains. Even the smell of roasted meat coming from the straw-roofed huts was right. She stared in awe as the wind, or more like cross draft withered eagerly between the two entrances to the cave, she never expected any part of the underworld looking like this.

Cole led her round a village and to another path coming from the other side of the cave, right towards a house of stone on the edge, barely noticeable under the rocks that towered that side of the large cave, "sweetie," he addressed a little dark-haired girl of around eight, nine years of age, dressed in a blue robe, internally wincing at the memories she awoke. He saw himself as a kid, gifted and crafty, playing at the back of this house, just like her. The house itself looked like it was a hundred years ago, built by those stubborn demons of this village who had valued more than anything the power to remain standing and glower back at whatever countered them for however long it took to get rid of them.

The child turned her head swiftly, getting a fire ball ready as she stood, and looked up at the man and the woman standing over her, "Cole!" Her green eyes shined with enthusiasm and she threw her modest fireball at him dipping it in the air playfully before jumping in his neck. Cole caught the ball and balanced it on his palm, giving it back into the child's hands for her to clap it away and reuse the energy.

Then the girl skidded elatedly towards the door and put her head in, "mom, you will never ever guess who's outside," she declared.

A fine blue-eyed, ginger haired woman looked out wearily, surprise was written on her face at first when she saw them. She smiled, her eyes radiating with joy. She quietly hugged Cole, "you can't stay long. Bounty hunters were after you here too."

"I'm sorry about that mom. This is..." he stepped away from his mother to let her see Phoebe, not sure how she will react.

"The cause of everything," Elisabeth finished his sentence resignedly.

"I thought you would be angry."

"Yet, you bring her here. We're trying to have a chance for a new life, away from humans and witches."

"Just for a night mom. Then we will be gone. I'm sure people have seen us coming and that is exactly what we need for our plan to work."

Elisabeth nodded slowly, "I wasn't opposing, I was just trying to make you think about your little sister. This is the house we hid with your father for years. This is the house you were born in. You know you're welcome," she stood away from the doorframe, making some room for them to enter.

Cole slipped into the house, pulling Phoebe with himself. Standing in the living room, looking at the antique furniture, the runners and the toys lying on the floor he remembered why he didn't visit more often, apart from not endangering his family. Not that he could ever forget the off handish grin Raynor once greeted him with every morning after he could hear her mother's screams all night long. As a youngster, who was frequently crushed by his younger classmates, there was nothing he could do against the leader of the brotherhood. The memory was almost like a physical blow that made his head light, unsettling his still aching belly. Holding his stomach, he run to the bathroom before surrendering to his sickness.

Phoebe agitatedly followed, but Elisabeth put a hand on her shoulder, "is he having stomach cramps?"

"I...he didn't say that...I..."

"Well, did he use his powers a lot lately?" She shook her head at her lack of knowledge.

"Yes, he was talking about energy conservation."

"I'm fine, mom," Cole stepped back out to join them.

"You are not," Elisabeth turned and opened a little brown case on top of the fireplace. She took one of the bright shining miniature balls from it, not much larger than a capsule.

"I'm not going to take Elinor's medicine away from her," Cole held.

"I won the fire ball distance throwing competition in the village," the little girl twirled to lift a ribbon with some hieroglyphs written on it from the midst of her toys, "see?"

"Her powers seem to be stabilising," her mother concurred, "we didn't even replenish her last supply of medication," she turned to Phoebe, seeing the confusion on her face, "I trust Cole is ashamed of us and told you nothing about our existence."

"Mom, I'm not ashamed of you, it's just..."

"It's just easier not to talk about your demon mother up there. No worries, I understand it completely. Why do you think we came back here? Me favouring another human and giving birth to Elinor as the ex wife of the source's advisor. Isn't ideal. But just so you understand," she turned towards Phoebe again, "a half demon's energy conservation abilities don't work that easy as a demon's. My daughter was ill for a while, but not as much as Cole when he was a child. Of course, the difference is that her father was a witch and so she is more adapted to accommodate even demonic powers. Although I didn't know Cole had any problems lately. The brotherhood was so over the top about his achievements..."

"That's because I don't have any problems mom. This is the first time in twenty years."

"Take this, and go to bed," she gave him the tablet.

"No, I can't leave Phoebe alone here."

"Why? Because I will chop her head off? Please. Cole, please go and lie down. You really need to get your energy back for whatever you're plan is. Do you mean to get unwell all over again?"

"No, mom," Cole gave in, like an obedient child, "just for a little bit Phoebe," he kissed her on her forehead, "she is okay," he referred to his mother.

"Right, you take the whole box," Elisabeth handed the witch the brown medicine holder, "he wouldn't take it if I gave it to him, but you might need it later. There are little doses of energy in it in pill form, can't do much, but it bridges over the worst moments," she enlightened her, "now, did you ever taste the cake made from vegetables grown underground? Elinor loves them."

tbc