Chapter 6: Behind Bars

Phoebe wasn't able to sleep. She was lying in bed next to Cole who, despite his best efforts to keep her company in the foreign environment, drifted back to sleep. She didn't blame him, in fact the concern over his well being was one of the reasons that kept her awake. And no matter how sympathetic his mother seemed, this was still in the heart of hearts of demonic territory, with dangers at every corner for her, not to mention the deal with Abracax. And, the worst part of it was that she should have slept. She was tired too and they didn't know exactly what awaited them the next day. Her eyes nevertheless kept opening and zeroed in on the weird ceiling in front of them. It was decorated with stars and constellations, perhaps because some of these people never seen the real skylight. To her, living underground seemed like an exile, and she couldn't imagine being it any other way for the demons either, if they wished for stars. According to all her knowledge, demons had to stay down, so they don't cause havoc on earth, but she started to feel sorry at least for this small community, all half breeds and even some interbred with witches. Her quiet moments were interrupted by a shrill, and she had still recognised Elinor's voice, followed by diverse buzzing sounds, the swish of fire balls, skirmishing and the sound of demons getting vanquished. When Cole and Phoebe jolted out to find out what was happening, they could see the bodies of Elisabeth and Elinor unconscious on the ground, about a dozen demons encircling them as they stepped over the doorframe.

"Working for Hecate is a bad idea," one the overweight dark skinned demons said, and he nodded.

There was a flash of bright light, they felt being transported and the next thing Phoebe knew she was in a cell. Alone. She walked into the trap herself.

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"What's the charmed one's plan?" The demon who had previously transported Cole away as well demanded for the fifth time.

"No idea..." Cole garbled. It wasn't the first time he was tortured, it won't be the last. He didn't know the answer, but he would go through hell for Phoebe anyway. These demons couldn't have known him very well to believe even for a minute that he would tell them anything. It almost certainly didn't add up in their heads. Not that he understood himself, falling in love with one of the charmed ones. He got punched in the stomach once again for having the courage to resist the interrogation. He fell hard onto his knees. Following the thirteenths hit, he lost touch with reality...

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Cole found his head resting on Phoebe's lap, while she was talking to him, "can you hear me? Cole? Please, be okay."

He gave a whimper in reply, "uncomfortable." He stood up somewhat unsteadily, mostly to stop Phoebe from worrying too much. He was dizzy and green about the gills but he called upon his willpower. That on the other hand, was too much. He turned suddenly, a bit away from Phoebe.

The sound of vomiting echoed in the empty cell and Phoebe had to fight down a wave of nausea herself to go hold him, rubbing a hand lightly on top of his tummy. She could sense the horrible spasms and she recalled how his mother told her that they were was not an infrequent symptom with his medical condition. She helped him down, starting to give some attention to all the noise and commotion that was coming from the corridor. The number of electric charges and fire balls passing in front of the door was seemingly so high, that it all resembled a storm, with the appropriate thunder and lightning. The noise was deafening, but Cole didn't seem to care, he hovered in a state between wakefulness and sleep. Turning back to him, the witch took a fleeting look at the mess in front of her. It was light red, "no," she breathed, horrified. Cause in their present situation, where she could not even take the medicine box Cole's mother gave her, there was nothing much she could do other than cuddle him and caress him and hope that something will transpire in their aid, maybe coming from the apparent clash that was on its way out there she couldn't get.

tbc