Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed – you truly did make my day.
Phoebe's dream/premonition occurred in chapter 4, so any of you that have (rightfully) forgotten what happened (due to my long leave of absence) should probably read that part before continuing with this chapter.
"Oh my God. . ." Phoebe let out breathlessly.
"I thought you'd never make it." Ronan said, turning his head to look at her. He was grasping Paige's neck, holding her against the attic wall. She looked at Phoebe desperately.
Phoebe glanced from Paige to Piper, who was lying disoriented on the floor, blood seeping from a cut on her forehead. She looked at Ronan, defiant. "Let her go." She said simply.
"As you wish." Ronan said, amusement flickering in his eyes. He lifted Paige effortlessly, and with little exertion, sent her flying through the air. She landed on the floor in a heap, barely stirring, gasping for breath. He turned to face Phoebe, the look in his eyes now deadly serious. "I won't waste your time, or mine." He said, forming an energy ball above his hand.
Phoebe anticipated his movements before he made them, jumping sideways to dodge the energy ball, then lashing out at him. Her leg made contact with the side of his head, and as she landed comfortably, she turned to assess the damage she had done. Ronan, still standing, turned to face her again. His jaw clenched tightly, he wiped away the blood that trickled from the corner of his mouth. To Phoebe's amazement, he smiled.
"The legends I've heard of the Charmed Ones always depicted the youngest as the weakest." He said, eyeing her closely. "I disagree. . .there's a fire in you." He paused. "I find it intriguing."
"It must run in the family, then." Phoebe replied, the only thought in her mind now to keep him talking, with hope that help would arrive soon. Or that her sisters would recover.
Ronan laughed out loud. "Maybe." He said, "But the difference between my little brother and I is that I know better than to act on my emotions." His smile disappeared. "I wish he could be here to watch you die."
Phoebe, out of the corner of her eye, saw Piper shakily lift herself to her knees. Ronan appeared blind to this, seemingly distracted by the mention of his brother, the anger burning deep inside his eyes. "You were the one that made sure he wouldn't be here." She said sourly.
He smirked. "His being here wouldn't have served my purpose."
"Meaning you wouldn't have had the guts to kill him if you had to." Phoebe said, her voice growing louder as her anger started to take over.
Ronan's smirk vanished immediately, the anger reignited. "Believe me," He said, his voice deadly serious, "Killing him will not be a problem."
She stared at him, instinct telling her that it was true. "Maybe." She said, barely audibly. "Unless he managed to kill you first." She watched Piper crawl over to Paige, both silently helping each other to their feet.
"Enough of this." Ronan said, impatient.
"The truth hurts." Phoebe said, shrugging indifferently.
Ronan had closed the space between them in seconds. His hand clutched around her throat, he rammed her against the wall, his face inches from hers. "I will kill you. And then I'll kill him. There's no room for your incessant hope." He hissed.
Phoebe's eyes followed his free hand as he reached inside his robes, pulling out a silver athame. She met his eyes, determined not to show any sign of fear. The look in his own eyes was one of triumph – but only for a second. Sensing what she knew was coming, Ronan started to turn around, but not before the lamp had slammed into the side of his head, shattering on impact. He fell to the ground motionless, and Phoebe moved away instantly. Piper was panting slightly, holding the bottom of the vase. She met Phoebe's eyes.
"My powers don't work on him, he's too strong." She said.
"I can live with compromise." Phoebe said. "Are you guys okay?"
"We'll live." Paige said, walking shakily to the small, round table beside the door. She retrieved the potion vials from the table, handing them to her sisters. "How about you?"
"I'm okay." Phoebe said, only somewhat truthfully. She glanced at Ronan's stirring form. Outside, she could hear the light humming of a car engine on the driveway. Cole. Her spirits lifted slightly.
"I say we finish this now." Piper said. She tossed the potion bottle towards Ronan, Phoebe and Paige following suit.
What happened next took place in a flash, neither sister could have prevented it. Ronan shimmered out just before the potions made contact, appearing right beside Piper as the vials crashed, scorching the floor where he had been. He grabbed Piper by the neck, and threw her towards the back wall. As Paige instinctively tried to orb out to catch her, Ronan clutched on to the blue orbs, keeping her stationary. Still holding Paige, he threw an energy ball at Phoebe, knocking her off her feet and sending her sliding across the floor towards the door. Paige had little time to brace herself. As he threw her across the room, she impulsively tried to orb again. An energy ball collided with her before she could, and she crashed into the table motionless.
The only sound that filled the attic was that of Ronan's deep laughter. It rang in Phoebe's ears as she placed her hands on the attic floor, struggling to make it to her feet. Her vision was blurred as her eyes found Piper and Paige, lying motionless before her. Suddenly, she froze. The unmistakable sense of de ja vu was overwhelming. In less than a second, the memories of her premonition were back, haunting her.
Terrorising laughter. Piper and Paige – unconscious. Ronan, preparing another onslaught. Cole, saving her, forsaking his own life to do so.
She glanced up, watching as Ronan formed an energy ball above his hand. Phoebe flashed back to his taunting smile in her premonition, so alike to the one he wore now. Somewhere beyond the attic, she heard movements, then the attic door slamming open. Cole - a voice warned in the back of her mind. As Ronan started to flick his wrist, adrenaline mingled with fear kicked her into action. She moved suddenly towards Ronan as he threw the energy ball. She felt Cole's arms trying to push her out of the way, but her last minute avoidance had thrown him off. The energy ball hit her in the chest, and she felt herself leave the floor, finding it a second later as she was winded by her fall.
Cole was by her side in seconds, his eyes wide in concern as he called out to her. He met her gaze as he leaned over her.
"I couldn't let you risk your life for me." She said, the stabbing pain in her side intensifying. She glanced down, taking in a shaky breath as her eyes fell on her blood stained shirt.
"You saw this. . ." Cole said, grasping her hand. "Premonition?"
She nodded, her eyes locking with his again. "You saved me. And I was the one standing over you." Cole used his free hand to cover her wound, applying gentle pressure in a bid to stop the bleeding.
"That's the way it should have been. . ." Cole said, clenching his teeth as though berating himself for not arriving sooner.
"I've given you enough time to say goodbye." Ronan interrupted from behind them. "Can we finish this now, brother?"
Cole raised a hand to Phoebe's cheek, conflicted in what to do. Reaching a decision, he leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. He took her hand and placed it on her wound, where his had been moments earlier. "Don't let go." He said hoarsely, before adding softly, "Call Leo."
"The Whitelighter won't come." Ronan said, his voice condescending. "He's otherwise engaged. . .I made sure of it."
Cole's gaze lingered on Phoebe for one last moment, anger seething in his veins. He let her go and spun around to face Ronan. "You made a mistake coming here."
Ronan smiled in amusement, raising his eyebrows. "And you're going to make me pay for it, I suppose?" Cole knew he was being baited, but the overwhelming fury flowing through him was exceeded only by the fear of what might happen to Phoebe. "You can't fight me and win, Belthazor. You never could."
Cole lunged. Though initially taken aback, Ronan recovered quickly, positioning himself to take the weight and use it to his advantage. As Cole made contact, trying to push Ronan to the ground, he felt Ronan's weight shift, flinging him sideways into the wall. He willed himself to concentrate as he got to his feet. Sensing the energy ball before it hit him, he ducked sideways. Twice more he manoeuvred in the same way, dodging the energy balls as they came, before throwing one of his own. Ronan dissipated the attack with one hand, the other throwing three more energy balls in quick succession. Cole ducked one, and fluidly moved sideways to avoid another. The third clipped his knee, and he felt his feet pulled from under him. He didn't reach the floor.
Like Ronan's last attack, he raised his hand, Cole's body rising and falling in likeness. As Cole hovered helplessly, unable to move, his eyes found Phoebe's now unconscious form. He could make out Piper stirring beside her, and a sliver of hope passed through him. Ronan dropped his hand, but Cole was not released from his hold. Ronan stepped back, staring at Cole.
"I will kill you." Ronan hissed bitterly. "But not before you watch her die. And I get to watch your entire existence self-destruct, knowing that I took away the one thing that ever meant anything to you."
Cole let out a cry of exasperation as Ronan approached Phoebe. Turning his back on Cole, Ronan retrieved his athame from the floor. Cole's fear peaked. He struggled wildly. Ronan crouched, and with his free hand, clutched onto Phoebe's neck, shaking her.
Phoebe's eyes flew open, confusion immediately replaced by fear. Ronan's grip grew tighter around her throat, and she felt her feet barely touching the floor. Her eyes flew from the athame in Ronan's hand, to Cole hovering metres away. The pain in her side was unbearable. She felt darkness creeping in, and she helplessly tried to fight it. She wished she could be with Cole. That he would hold her one last time. She wished she could whisper one more thing to him. Tell him that she did love him, more than anything.
She opened her eyes slightly. As she felt unconsciousness close in, she met Cole's desperate gaze. Thankful only that he would be the last thing that she ever saw.
I apologise again for how long this chapter took to come up. There'll only be a couple more chapters to come. Please review and let me know how you found this chapter.