Disclaimer: I don't own charmed, or any of its characters.
Author's note: I know that no one besides halli-halliwell reads this story, but I've written it, so I might as well post the whole thing, just in case someone accidentally clicks on it some day! Lol!
CHAPTER FIVE
Piper, having heard the door slam behind Darryl, wandered down the stairs, just as Cole and Phoebe walked in.
"Hey guys." She greeted, flicking her thick plaited hair over her shoulder.
"Did Darryl just leave?"
"Yeah." Cole said.
"Very rudely too, I might add."
"That's rich." Paige scoffed, walking into the conversation, with a cup of coffee in one hand, and Leo in the other.
"The, er… The coffee! Its rich." She covered, before, as Piper saw it, trying to throw her husband at her.
"Look who I found!" She chirped overenthusiastically.
Piper played along for two reasons: She didn't want Paige and Phoebe at each others throats, and she needed to find out why Leo had such a guilty look pasted across his face.
"Hi sweetie." She said hugging him.
He was tense.
"You've been gone all day. Where you been?"
"Um…"
Piper sighed. Okay, she'd tried being nice, and it wasn't working.
-Nice guys finish last.- she analysed, pushing him away.
"Okay. What's up?"
He looked down.
"Leo?"
He hesitantly met her gaze, with pleading green eyes.
"Can I talk to you alone first?" He asked.
"Is it about the murders?"
"Kind of."
"Then no."
Leo shook his head, keeping his eyes on her insistently.
"Piper…"
"Leo, if something is going on with the athame, then talk. Now."
"I didn't find out much." He said grudgingly.
"The elders didn't know anything?" Paige asked.
She sounded shocked. Piper sympathised. The elders could be obnoxious bastards at times, but they generally knew their stuff.
-Here it comes.- she thought.
"I didn't go to the elders."
There it was. A million thoughts ran through Pipers head. If he hadn't been with the elders, then where the hell had he been for the last eight hours? What had he been doing? Who was he with?
"I went to see Prue."
Bang. Bomb number two.
Was he deliberately trying to hurt her? Why?
"What…?" was all she could say.
She sounded hurt. Weak. Betrayed. She had no idea that the look on her face was killing Leo.
It was a look, he hadn't seen since Prue's death, and he almost couldn't stand it.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Piper? Honey, please don't…"
She glared at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I making you uncomfortable? Good."
"Why didn't you tell us you were going to see her?" Phoebe asked, looking ever bit as upset as Piper.
"Why didn't you tell us that you could go and see her?" Piper demanded.
Leo was lost for words, as he guiltily glanced from one sister to another.
Paige wouldn't even look at him, Piper noticed. And she wasn't about to defend him. Why should she?
"Um, Leo." Cole said, coming to his aid.
"The athame?"
"Oh right!"
Piper didn't want to listen.
"Like I said, I didn't find out much. Its dated from the early eighteenth century, and it belonged to someone named Natasha, I- Phoebe, are you alright?"
Piper turned to see her little sister, doubled over, only on her feet because of Cole's fast reflexes.
Phoebe struggled for breath. Struggled to stay upright. Struggled not to pass out. The vision had hit her hard.
She could vaguely hear Leo asking if she was alright. Feel Cole's strong arms, stopping her from falling. Those things were comforting to her, and she wished that they weren't so far away…
She was hurtling away from them. She had no choice but to let them be emptied from her mind, as the firs grey images of her premonition sucked up every ounce of her concentration.
She could see a woman…
"What the hell do you mean, your leaving me!" I screamed hysterically.
My dark hair streamed around my tearstained face, in the angry wind.
I clung to my husband's arm, who span around, with an amused look on his sneering face.
"Natasha, we both know I'm only with you for your money." He told me.
"Now I'm leaving you, for Emma."
"Why!" I cried, outraged.
"Because, she's rich, gorgeous, and not a raving loony!"
I shook my head in disbelief.
"You're a greedy, arrogant little bastard, and I hope it consumes you!"
"Go on." He provoked.
"Curse me, you little witch."
Phoebe's stomach heaved, and threatened to empty itself, as the settings changed. Natasha was there again. In a house. A bedroom…
"Ring o' ring of roses." I hummed.
"A pocket full of posies."
I held out that beautiful gold knife, my uncle had given me for a wedding present, only a few months ago.
I was going to put it to good use. Just look at the damage it had already done...
That worm of a husband of mine, lay on the soft white sheets, staining them a wonderful shade of scarlet. How could a colour so pretty come from something so ugly?
"Please..." Emma begged.
"Please don't!"
Did she actually think I was going to spare her?
I brought the athame down towards her 'rich' 'gorgeous' and apparently sane little neck...
Phoebe's head span. She couldn't take much more of this…
Natasha was wandering bare foot, across a bridge; a noose was roped around her neck…
The world thought that was it. Forever. No.
I'd killed my husband for his greed. I'd punished him. Why should everyone else escape?
"A tissue. A tissue."
I looked over the edge, at the swirling water. So far away...
"We all fall down."
