Chapter Seventeen
Cole shimmered into the kitchen and announced, "I've got a dark priest waiting at the mausoleum so your potion had better be ready." He glanced around, "Phoebe upstairs?"
Paige cringed as she informed him, "Uh, she's gone…Zankou was, uh, here."
Without thinking, Cole fired an energy ball at the small vase of flowers on the table.
"Hey," Piper exclaimed, "I just got those from Leo!"
"I should've known better than to trust her," he muttered before growling, "Why the hell didn't you stop her?"
"It's not like we had a choice," Paige snapped, "Zankou surprised us with that astral-projecting and --"
"What do you mean?" he interrupted.
"Just what she said," Piper said with annoyance. "Zankou appeared in the kitchen and then another Zankou appeared. He grabbed Phoebe and they all disappeared."
Cole couldn't even feel relieved that Phoebe hadn't broken her promise because the end result was still the same. She was in trouble and the Charmed Ones were separated. "Get the potion," he ordered, "the priest won't wait forever."
"You can't mean we'll leave her with Zankou?" Piper gasped.
Paige was also stunned by his unwillingness to go after Phoebe. Wasn't he supposed to be so in love with her he'd risk everything to prove it? "Dammit, Piper, this's what we get for waiting for him to help us get her."
Piper ignored her sister's comment and hissed a warning to him, "I am not losing another sister."
"Zankou doesn't want her dead," he sharply replied, "at least not yet. And we can't recklessly attack."
Her head understood even if her heart couldn't quite accept it and she reluctantly sighed, "So we get the potion ready and then go after Phoebe."
"What!"
"He's right, Paige," Piper said as she poured the potion into and empty jar, "we can't lose the opportunity to properly vanquish Zankou. I hate it too but we don't have much choice."
"Too bad we can't ask Phoebe her opinion," Paige complained.
"Phoebe would agree," Cole stated simply as he recalled the promise Phoebe had wanted him to make earlier when they'd been in bed. She had such fear of giving into evil and letting evil win, she would never want them coming for her instead of making the potion to vanquish Zankou.
Piper stared at Cole and knew there was more to his comment but she didn't press him. Instead, she sealed the lid and then tossed a small empty vial each to him and Paige. "We'll need these after the potions are combined." She then pocketed two vials herself and told Cole, "Ready."
"Wait a minute, why can't you just bring the priest here?" Paige wondered as Piper joined her. "What if he tries something? Aren't we better off having him come to us? We're stronger in the house, especially when we're down a Charmed One."
"Exactly why he won't come here," he told her, trying not to lose patience with the mounting passage of time. "He won't risk taking on the three of us alone on your magical base. Look, it's not like you look under "D" for Dark Priest. We're lucky I found one quickly, and one who's willing to go up against Zankou, at that, so let's move."
"We're probably lucky enough he even agreed to go to the mausoleum," Paige grudgingly agreed. "But how do we know his potion will work? Won't he still try to double-cross us?"
"Of course he will," he replied matter-of-factly, "he's a demon. But he won't fool with the potion because Zankou is a threat, one he'd like to be rid of."
"Is Zankou really that much of a threat?" Piper asked. When Cole nodded, she sighed, "I guess I was hoping everyone was exaggerating. I don't know that we're ready to go up against another Source."
"He's not Source yet," he confirmed. "There's been no coronation and while he has made some powerful plays, he also hasn't accomplished the one major feat that will secure his position."
"Killing the Charmed Ones," Paige grumbled.
"Or the Avatars," Cole shrugged. "Fact is, many of the upper level demons are worried about him taking over but aren't in a position to do anything about it. Without a Source, they've had the chance to grow and do whatever they wanted without repercussion. Some, as I've also learned, have even made their own unsuccessful bids for reign. But under someone like Zankou, who has the power to absorb others' magic and the cunning to plan first before striking, they'll lose the freedom they've gained without a ruler and it'll be a long time before they're ready to challenge him. No demon truly wants to serve another but it's all part of the deal."
"So it's join the Source or die?" Piper quipped.
"Something like that," he frowned. There'd been a time he'd been one of those demons eagerly climbing the ladder of demonic success impressing the Source, never once dreaming he'd one day be Source. And it wasn't easy revealing even this much to the sisters when memories of what he'd done as Source were still so fresh in his mind, as well as in theirs. 'How long before Paige makes some dig about me being the big bad evil Cole?'
"So if he's not Source yet, do you really think we stand a chance at vanquishing him?" Paige questioned hopefully. "We barely convinced a demon to help, how're we gonna do this without the Power of Three?"
"Quit being so negative," Piper chastised. "Between the three of us, we'll get Phoebe back and we'll vanquish Zankou and then we'll try to save Kyle. So listen to Cole and be ready to move fast. Got it?"
"Got it," Paige said even though she was still worried they were going to lose both Phoebe and Kyle. 'Which might not even matter if we don't survive Zankou.'
Momentarily surprised by the sisters' interaction, Cole stared the pair. Were they too worried about Phoebe or were they saving their snipes about him for later? 'Or is there really some thawing happening here?'
"Cole?"
He shook his head clear and asked, "Do you have the spell because if the vanquish doesn't work, we can only hope he'll be weakened enough for you to send him back into stasis."
"You didn't answer me about the priest," Paige reminded him as she showed him the piece of paper she'd kept folded in her pocket. "What're we gonna do about him double-crossing us?"
"He'll probably try something after the potions are combined," he surmised, "so be ready, Piper, because I don't plan on letting him return to the Underworld."
"Won't he be expecting that?" she worried.
"Of course he will," Cole rolled his eyes, "but we'll be faster."
"Damn right," Piper agreed as she held hands with Paige. "What're you doing?" she exclaimed when Cole suddenly became Belthazor.
"You didn't think I searched the Underworld as Cole did you?" He didn't wait for an answer and gruffly ordered, "Let's go."
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"So, Phoebe," Zankou smiled as he circled her in the cavernous room, "tell me more about your vision. Something, I believe, about blood and the end of us all…"
Her wrists shackled to the ground in front of her, Phoebe knelt before him and tried not to keep her head bowed. She wasn't humiliated by her capture and had no intention of seeming subservient but following Zankou as he circled her was only making her dizzier than the blow to her head was already doing. He had easily sidestepped her attack when he'd brought her there and had called for a pair of demons to subdue and chain her. Actually, she nearly grinned, she was pretty proud of herself for holding out as long as she did. But Kyle had watched the whole fight without lifting a single finger to help her and she glared in his direction, "What're you, five, and sulking 'cuz we wouldn't help you fight the Avatars? Think about your life, Kyle. For crying out loud, you make a living catching the bad guys, not being one!"
"I haven't forgotten it was the Avatars that made me an agent," he quietly stated from the shadowed wall of the cavern. "They killed my parents and sent me on this path."
"He's only fulfilling his destiny, Phoebe," Zankou offered. "Surely you, of all people, understand that." She didn't respond and he knew he'd struck a nerve. "Now, back to your vision. My protégé here believes you were quite upset by what you'd seen."
Phoebe glanced at Kyle and decided it would be useless to appeal to him again. "The images were blurry."
"And yet you were so insistent," Zankou commented.
"And it's hard to recall anything after your goons used me as a punching bag," she snapped.
He grinned from the fire he saw in her eyes. She would make an excellent demon. 'That fool Belthazor may not have been such a fool after all when he focused on this Charmed One.' He cupped her chin in a tight grip and tilted it up, "As you have already witnessed, my "goons" have paid for their failure."
Not that she was upset he'd killed his own men, Phoebe still rattled her chained wrists and tried to shake her chin free, "What failure?"
"They couldn't chain you without your hurting them first," he released her, "and I've no need for the services of those who can't manage such a simple task."
"Gee thanks," she sarcastically quipped. And yet, she couldn't help but feel a bit of pride from the backhanded compliment. But, almost immediately, she frowned and wondered if that pride was a weakness on her part, whether it meant she was already being swayed to evil.
"Perhaps I'd best tell you about your vision," Zankou suggested when the witch seemed distracted.
'What's he up to? There wasn't any vision.' But Phoebe said nothing, merely stared at him and waited.
"You spoke of blood and death, that my plan would fail, and that everything would be gone," he summed. "Quite clever had you faked it, for I would have come to you, and you would have surely tried to vanquish me. But, such as it is, I was prepared when I came because, as you know, there is truth to your vision."
"Of course there is," she lied. "My power doesn't lie."
"Ah," he smiled again, "but it's not entirely accurate, is it? Particularly these days."
Somehow he knew about her power only recently returning and not at full-strength. "Been a stressful time," she calmly commented, "and emotions affect powers and you know how emotional a woman can get under stress. Oh, wait, you don't. So let me tell you, there are times we can be positively explosive from something as simple as the seat being left up but that's nothing compared to what two pissed-off witches can do when their sister's been kidnapped."
Amused, Zankou watched her tug in frustration on the chains. "The oracle I sought also saw failure and destruction, though not mine. But she's young, barely a century old, and her predictions have always been uneven. Rather like yours, I imagine." He tilted her chin up, gentler this time, "Still, you're a witch of great magic and perhaps with the right persuasion you'll be able to have a more accurate vision. And, since I seem to be short a Seer, perhaps this arrangement will work out well for the both of us."
"In your dreams, Demon-Boy," she sputtered at the thought of giving into evil. "I will never let evil win."
"Not even to save your sister?" He smirked as her anger gave way to fear. "Yes, I know all about your deal with the former Source. The first one you vanquished, that is. Amazing what one learns in stasis. Now about the future you saw…"
"I told you," she fired back, burying her concern for her sisters, "there is no future if you go after the Avatars!"
"The Avatars are going to pay for what they've done!" Kyle threatened as he darted towards Phoebe. "And I won't let you stop me!"
"Of course the Avatars will pay," Zankou soothed him with a restraining hand, "now that we have the vanquish for them." He turned back to the witch, "You see, Phoebe, the Avatars will be destroyed and then no power will stop me. Not even the mighty Charmed Ones."
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Paige tried not to fidget as she watched one of the dark priest's flasks warm over a burner. On the bier, he had set up a system that could rival any scientific laboratory and she was suddenly glad she no longer drank. She shivered and hugged herself. The dimly lit place was way too creepy and she wondered how her sister ever felt safe there. Glancing at Belthazor, however, she realized it wasn't the place but the person. She sighed and wondered what to do about him. In spite of all Cole's help and of everything he'd said, she still wasn't comfortable that he was back, that Belthazor was back. But she loved Phoebe and Phoebe wanted him, all of him, and she'd have to find some way to co-exist with him.
As if reading her younger sister's thoughts, Piper whispered to Paige, "It'll be okay, we'll find a way. We've just gotta stick together no matter what." She nervously watched the wrinkled old priest add drips of colored liquid to various tubes and was amazed his robe's sleeves hadn't caught fire from the burners they'd kept skimming. 'Talk about fire retardant. Wonder if I can whip something like that up for the boys and stains.'
Paige gave her sister's elbow an encouraging squeeze. "He hasn't said a word," she whispered back, indicating with a nod towards Belthazor who stared at a scorch mark on the floor.
"Lotta memories for Cole here," Piper acknowledged. "His father's here and Phoebe first saved him here. That's," she pointed to the mark, "where she lied to us and told us she'd vanquished him."
The human part of him was surprisingly stronger than ever and Belthazor struggled under the emotional flow of that memory replaying in his mind. He growled as feelings of love bubbled to the surface. 'I couldn't kill her that night and she couldn't kill me. She actually saved me after I saved her.' And now it was happening all over again. He was going to save her from a worse demon and ask her to believe in him, believe in his love for her. But would she do it again? When he saved her, would she find it in her heart to forgive him and let him back in? 'And how far will I go to prove myself to her? Maybe it's time to let go and find some peace.'
"It's done," the demon announced. Pulling his hood over his head, he grabbed one of the flasks by its neck and waved his other hand over the bier causing all the extraneous equipment to disappear. "Bring your potion," he ordered Piper.
With Paige right behind, Piper held the jar close and cautiously approached the opposite side of the bier. She looked to Belthazor after he moved next to her and finally placed the jar on the marble surface. She held in a gasp of surprise when a very large beaker suddenly appeared next to it.
"Begin pouring when I do," the priest instructed, "and be sure to let it flow exactly as I do. The potions must be combined at exactly the same rate or we needn't worry at all about Zankou."
Her mouth suddenly dry, Piper couldn't even respond with a 'Yes.' She merely picked up the jar and began slowly pouring it while the priest poured his into the same beaker. The newly combined potion began to smoke but Piper refused to let it distract her as she tensely, yet steadily, poured the liquid.
When his flask and her jar were each empty, the priest closed his eyes and chanted in a low humming tone.
The potion began bubbling and swirling in multiple colors, setting off an occasional spark or two, and Piper had no idea if it was supposed to do that. She nervously glanced at Paige who shrugged in reply.
The priest opened his red eyes and proclaimed, "It's done."
"You're sure it will work?" Belthazor questioned.
"I'm sure it's done," he replied. "Whether it's successful will depend on how strong Zankou truly is. Now, about my payment…"
"Yes," Belthazor bared his teeth in an evil grin, "about your payment…"
But before he could kill the priest, an arrow shot through the air and Paige let out a shriek before orbing from his side. Belthazor spun and easily killed the attacking Darklighter. "Is that the best you've got?" he questioned the dark priest as he turned around.
Piper immediately ducked from an incoming fireball. "I'd take that as a no." Crouching, she managed to blow up one of a pair of ugly brown alien-like demons. She winced when she realized she'd left the potion in the open. "Paige, get it!"
"Potion!" Paige called out and, the instant the beaker orbed to her hand, she orbed out of the mausoleum.
"It's been a pleasure, Priest," Belthazor gloated as he killed the robed demon who tried to use the distraction to flame out. It had been close but he was satisfied.
At the same time, Piper disposed of the last demon. She remained standing back-to-back with Belthazor in a defensive stance in case anyone else would attack.
After a few moments, Belthazor morphed back into Cole, "It's over."
"Then let's get Paige and find Phoebe," Piper exhaled in relief.
"I'm here," Paige announced as she orbed in with Leo.
Leo immediately went to Piper's side, "Are you okay?"
"She's fine," Cole brusquely stated. "We've got the potion and we're going. Unless you'd like to put your powers to some good and join us…We could probably use all the help we can get."
Torn by the offer, Leo apologized to Piper, "I can't get involved."
Disappointed, Piper shook her head, "You've always considered her a sister. You'd never have turned your back on her if you were just an Elder."
"I'm afraid there's more at stake now."
"Oh goody," Paige rolled her eyes, "Mr. Avatar's here. Just Perfect."
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