Chapter Twelve
"Is it always that…messy?" Cole asked as he dropped into a seat at the kitchen table and took a swig from the beer bottle he'd just opened.
"Your lucky day, I suppose," Leo grinned as he sat at the table and flipped off the cap of his own bottle.
"Lucky, my ass," Cole muttered, "conspiracy's more like it." As he brought the bottle to his lips, he scowled, "I think my hands still reek." Was he whining again? He gulped the cold liquid. It'd been a hell of a day.
"Don't be ridiculous," Leo retorted, "the hand lotion took care of that. And don't worry, she'll be impressed."
Cole eyed him before he drank some more beer, "Who says I'm trying to impress her?"
"You're saying you don't want her back?"
"I'm not saying anything," Cole maintained. "It's Phoebe's choice and I'm sure she doesn't want me back whether I can change a diaper or not. You said it yourself, she wants closure, that's all."
"Not exactly what I said," Leo corrected.
"Peace, closure, same thing," Cole remarked with a shrug before chugging down the last of his beer and starting another.
They drank in silence before Cole set his second bottle down on the table and leaned back. "Why, Leo? Prue would've been a better choice than me."
"I told you before, to help us against Zankou."
"Prue would make the Charmed Ones even more powerful," Cole countered. "Armed with their Book and their lineage, they would be unbeatable."
"You know that's not true," Leo stated. "Prue had a number of failings not to mention that her return would upset the dynamic of the sisters. After all this time, Piper's still not completely comfortable with being "the" big sister, but do you think she'd have an easy time letting Prue take over again?"
"I think she'd give anything to have Prue back," Cole said.
"Even so," Leo replied before he placed his bottle on the table and leaned forward, "what about Paige? She's never met Prue and has often found herself being the glue holding her sisters together, do you think she'd have an easy time stepping aside to let Prue act the big sister? And what about Phoebe who often didn't see eye-to-eye with Prue?"
"Points taken," Cole grudgingly acknowledged. "Still doesn't explain why you chose me. I'm not number one on their list, except for a vanquish."
"Self-pity doesn't suit you, Cole," Leo frowned, "and I'm getting tired of it." Both were silent for a few moments before he added, "If the thought that your intellect and strength isn't enough reason, how about the fact that you're unique?" He didn't smile at Cole's sarcastic snort. "You are unique," he repeated. "For good or bad, you're a part of both our worlds and can fit in comfortably enough in either."
"And that's something to be proud of?"
"In a way," Leo shrugged. "You can't help your heritage, Cole. You were born to a demon mother and were raised in that world. Sure, I've spent a lot of time down there recently, but I will never be as familiar with the territory as you are. You have an incredible amount of knowledge of the demons, their lore, their politics. It was always an advantage to have you on our side."
"Score one for the traitor," Cole saluted Leo with a third bottle. He jumped back in his seat when the bottle promptly exploded from a lightning bolt. "So much for the pacifist Elder. I'm not cleaning that up, you know."
"Do you think this is all a joke?" Leo demanded through clenched teeth. "You've got no idea of the hell we've been through. The Elders aren't gods and they're not perfect. They can betray just as easily as any demon."
Cole saw something in Leo's eyes and sincerely apologized, "It's hard. You're making me out to be some sort of damned savior and I'm not…just damned."
Leo's tone softened, "You're not the only one who's damned."
"What happened to you, Leo?"
"You don't have to be demonic to have a dark side," Leo replied, staring at the beer bottle before him. "We all have our dark sides. You've seen Piper's and Phoebe's, you've even seen Paige's." He tore slightly at the label before looking back at Cole, "Let's just say I've tapped into mine. I'm not absolving you of your sins, Cole, but maybe I'm more understanding because I've got sins of my own to repent." Cole merely watched him and he concluded, "Look, the Avatars gave me a chance to save Piper's life and the opportunity to create a peaceful, normal, future and if that means using whatever means possible to vanquish the new Source, so be it. You're stuck here but if you still want out after that's done, I'll take care of it."
Cole saw the truth in Leo's eyes and believed Leo meant what he said. Leo would end his torment if he requested it and it would certainly be a twist for Leo to vanquish him instead of Phoebe and her sisters. He watched the man seated opposite him and understood Leo had changed. Leo was more proactive, more bold, and, for the first time, Cole felt he could actually admire Leo. "Then let's get to it. What did the Elders tell you?"
"Not much," Leo admitted. "There aren't any left who were around the last time Zankou was free and the history books weren't very informative. By touch, he can absorb the power of any demon or witch before killing them and there's no known spell or potion to vanquish him."
"Which is why he was trapped in a stasis field," Cole nodded. "Unfortunately, from what I know, being in stasis didn't mean he would be unaware."
"So he's spent centuries learning," Leo realized.
"Which means he'll know what mistakes to avoid," Cole agreed, "and he'll know exactly how to strike. And if Zankou wipes out the Avatars with Kyle's help, he'll become the most dangerous weapon the magical world has ever seen next to the Hollow."
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"He's here…" Paige whispered to her sisters after she waved them over to her hiding spot behind the boulders.
"Not very secure," Phoebe whispered back when she scanned the area and found no other demons present. "Let's get him and get out."
"It's gotta be a trap," Piper warned her. "After our little escapade back in that other cave, they've gotta be expecting us."
"Try calling for him," Phoebe suggested to Paige.
"I did. Nothing happened."
"Protective shield?" Piper wondered, recalling Chris's electric shield at P3.
"I don't think so," Paige considered. "More like I'm not strong enough."
Phoebe nodded, "Power drain from being down here. But given that you're half-Whitelighter, orbing probably only works if you're touching the person or thing. So c'mon, let's go before the room fills up with demons."
The sisters cautiously crept out from behind the boulders and made their way to the bier where Kyle lay.
"Kyle…" Paige whispered as she lightly patted his cheeks. She kept it up when he began to stir. "C'mon, Kyle, open your eyes." She smiled in relief when he did.
"Reunion later," Piper nervously advised, "orb now."
"Too late," Phoebe shouted when two demons, in male human form, burst into the area.
Piper blew one up while Phoebe ducked and rolled from an incoming energy ball.
"I'm not sure I can orb all four of us," Paige worried as she tried to help Kyle into a seated position.
"Take Phoebe and go," Piper ordered while missing in her attempt to blow up the second demon who now poised to attack Phoebe who'd gotten to her feet.
"No way," Phoebe argued, kicking out with her feet and landing a blow to the demon's chest.
"No," Kyle stated as he pushed Paige back.
"Paige, go!" Piper shouted in her second try at blowing up the demon. "Damn power drain," she muttered when she only managed to destroy his left arm.
"Phoebe come on," Paige called out as she reached again for Kyle.
"Leave," he ordered, "before you get hurt."
"Not without you," she argued. "What the hell were you thinking, going off on your own to confront Zankou?"
"He was thinking of himself," Phoebe muttered as she launched another attack on the demon before being slammed to the ground by her one-armed opponent.
"I was thinking of my parents," Kyle snapped. "I was thinking of all the other innocents the Avatars are going to kill in their quest for power."
"Your parents were demons," Piper countered as she finally blew up the demon completely, "and your joining them won't be helping the innocents." She rushed to Phoebe's side, "Are you okay?"
"I'm so out of practice," Phoebe complained, slowly getting to her feet, "it's not even funny."
Piper led Phoebe to Paige's side, "There are other ways, Kyle. You don't have to sacrifice yourself."
"I'm not," he declared.
Paige grabbed Kyle's hand, "C'mon, we'll argue about this later."
Jerking his hand free, he shouted, "No!" And, with a wave of his hands, he sent the sisters flying across the cavern. He cringed when they slammed against the wall and crumpled to the floor. "I'm sorry," he told them as they stirred, "but I can't let you stop me."
"You don't know what you're saying," Paige groaned.
"He does," Phoebe panted, getting to her hands and knees. "The ritual's over, we're too late, Paige."
"No we're not." Paige scrambled to her feet and swayed a moment when stood. She held out her hand to Kyle, "Please, we can fight the Avatars together."
He shook his head, "You don't believe they're a threat."
"We haven't made up our minds," Piper informed him as she stood on her own wobbly feet. She bent to help Phoebe stand and added, "We didn't want to rush into any decision but your alliance with Zankou's pushing us into the middle of a war we didn't ask for."
"But a war we will win."
The sisters spun to the direction of the new arrival.
"Zankou, I presume," Phoebe said.
He bowed slightly and greeted, "The Charmed Ones, I presume. I'm pleased to finally make your acquaintance."
"Not for long," Piper grumbled before she blew him up. She turned to Phoebe, "That was too easy."
"But rather fun," Zankou's voice replied before he slowly solidified before them. He smiled again as the sisters unconsciously stepped closer together. "It's been a long time since anyone tried that."
"Then you'll really enjoy this," Phoebe announced.
"Evil being standing before me, burn in hell for all eternity."
She was thrown back from the concussive blast and coughed from the smoke filling the area. "Piper? Paige?"
"In one piece," Paige coughed as she got to her feet, "I think."
"When," Piper cleared her throat, "did you come up with that one?"
"Just now," Phoebe replied with a smile. "You like?"
Paige waved the smoke away and found a black scorch mark on the ground, "I like."
Piper sniffed with disapproval, "And he thought he could be Source."
"Not could be," Zankou's voice echoed. "Is."
The sisters froze when Zankou appeared on the very scorch mark that had seemingly marked his demise seconds before.
"Paige, now would be a good time…" Phoebe nervously said as she linked arms with her sisters.
"Kyle…" Paige pleaded.
"He stays," Zankou declared. "And it's not time to deal with you yet." He nodded to the right and the girls flew across the cavern but instead of hitting the wall, they disappeared. "This was not a test but I'm pleased," he turned to Kyle, "by your actions."
"A deal's a deal," Kyle commented. "The Avatars first."
Zankou smiled and agreed, "The Avatars first."
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The solarium's wicker furniture prevented the witches from crashing through the stained glass windows.
Leo and Cole came running in from the kitchen and found the sisters struggling to get up. Leo rushed to his wife while Cole hurried to Phoebe.
"I hate the Underworld," Piper muttered. With Leo's arms wrapped tightly around her, she pressed herself even closer to his chest.
Certain Phoebe's clinging to him was nothing more than a traumatic reaction, Cole gently eased her from his arms in order to prevent her from feeling any embarrassment. "What happened?" he asked as he helped her stand.
Confused by his actions, Phoebe stepped back. 'I'm so stupid,' she cursed herself. 'He was just helping me up, it didn't mean anything to him.'
"You okay, Paige?" Paige grumbled as she sat up without any help. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks for asking."
"We found Kyle," Phoebe replied after a sheepish apology to her sister.
"And he's embraced his inner Gloryhound," Piper added with a sigh.
"Zankou did something to him," Paige disagreed. "If we get Kyle away from --"
"Zankou?" Leo interrupted. "He was there?"
"Our little entrance here was courtesy of Zankou Express," she nodded.
"He let you go," Cole realized. "He'll deal with the Avatars first and then toy with you some more before destroying you."
"Cheery thought, Cole, thanks," Piper quipped. She was about to add more but suddenly found herself holding her son. "Wyatt, what have I told you about orbing from bed." She kissed and hugged him, "It's sleepy time now." She turned to Cole, "I told you they wouldn't be any problem."
"Poop, Mama," Wyatt grinned when he saw Cole.
"Okay, kiddo," she kissed the top of his head, "let's go upstairs and get you changed."
"He means Chris," Leo told her with a sideways glance to Cole. "Earlier. But don't worry, Cole took care of it."
"What d'you mean Cole took care of it?" Piper wondered.
"He means I changed the diaper," Cole replied as if it wasn't a big deal.
"You?" Piper chuckled.
"You think it was too tough a task for a mere half-human like myself?" But he caught a glimmer of amusement in Phoebe's eye and glanced to Leo who flashed back an "I-told-you-so" grin.
"Considering it was his first time, Cole did good," Leo praised.
"Goo," Wyatt emphatically agreed.
"I can't believe you," Paige complained to Leo. "How could you?"
Surprised by her attitude, Leo frowned, "Chris was safe, Paige. Besides, I was standing right there."
"I don't mean that," she waved away his defense.
Cole glared at her, "Then what do you mean?"
"I mean how could you let Cole change a diaper without taking any pictures?"
"Well, maybe Cole will perform an encore for you," Piper sniffed as she lifted Wyatt from her lap. "Someone needs here does need to be changed."
"Phe!" Wyatt called out and ran to his aunt.
Phoebe chuckled, knelt, and greeted him with a kiss, "Well a shower would be nice to get rid of the smell of fire and brimstone."
Piper stood, went to her son, and held out her hand, "C'mon, Wyatt, upstairs."
"Phe, Phe!" Wyatt giggled after Phoebe kissed him relentlessly and let him go.
Phoebe was still smiling as she helped Paige to her feet while Wyatt orbed away with Piper.
"He makes you sound like a French poodle," Cole teased.
Phoebe ignored Paige's chuckle and turned to Cole, stung by his comment. In a shaky voice, she told him, "If you think I'm a bitch, just say so. Don't hide behind an innocent two-year old."
Surprised by her sister's reaction, Paige quietly assured Phoebe, "He was only teasing."
Caught completely off-guard, Cole was still speechless. How could she have misunderstood? "Phoebe, you don't --" But Phoebe had already run from the room and he turned to the others, "What just happened?"
"She's been through a lot today," Paige reasoned. "She needs some space."
"I have to talk to her," Cole told them.
Paige was about to stop Cole from shimmering when Leo gently restrained her.
"Let him go. He needs this," Leo advised. "And Phoebe does too."
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