"Lets go down and I make us all a good cup hot tea", Piper suggested.
Nobody disagreed. They were too shocked by the revelations of the last hour. Phoebe dead. The Power of Three gone. Phila's demonic powers unleashed. The crystal cage useless. Had it ever looked so hopeless for the Halliwells? Piper doubted it.
They settled in the kitchen still silent. Piper bustled around with the dishes and teapot. How they could have used Phoebe's optimistic and creative nature right now. She surely would have had an idea or a premonition that could have helped them. Phoebe. New tears were forming in Piper's eyes. She wiped them away resolutely and hit the teapot on the stove violently.
"I should go up and tell the elders", Leo said. He didn't want to leave his family but he had to consult the elders on that matter.
"I don't like you going up right now", Piper objected and poured hot water into their cups. "Phoebe promised that Cole would bring back her body. I don't want to be alone with the kids when he drops in."
"I'm here to protect you", Wyatt said looking angrily at his mother. Why didn't she take him seriously?
"Wyatt, that's sweet and I appreciate it", Piper soothed her oldest son, "but you don't know Cole. In fact it was obvious that you hate each other. Your father has known Cole for some years and before Cole became the Source was kind of a friend to him. I hope we can use that to our advantage." She threw a hopeful glance towards Leo, which he returned only half-heartedly.
Phila hadn't said anything since they had left the attic. Her head hung low and she stirred her tea aimlessly with her spoon not listening to the other's conversation. A thousand thoughts and questions flooded her mind.
Her mother was dead. So she was kind of an orphan now, since her father didn't count as parent. Sure she still had her aunts and cousins but it wasn't the same. She didn't feel the same security she had felt before. Was she a demon now or still a good witch or both? Could you be both? It didn't work for her father being a demon and doing good. Could it work for her? Or would they kick her out of the Manor the moment her powers made her do something she didn't want? What were her powers anyway? She could flame. But had she inherited lethal powers also? How could she discover them and who could teach her to use them? Would demons sense her now and come after her?
She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up.
"It will all be all right in the end", Piper tried to reassure Phila. She was in no way convinced by herself but she couldn't see her niece that devastated.
"Anybody home?" They heard a voice from the living room.
Piper recognized the voice instantly. So did Leo.
"Wyatt, Phila, you stay in the kitchen", Piper commanded. Leo and her jumped up and rushed to the living room.
Cole stood in the middle of the living room, the lifeless body of Phoebe in his arms. His glance was glued to her face. Phoebe's head rested against his shoulder and it looked like she was asleep. She was her old self again and a peaceful expression softened her face. Only the limp hanging arm indicated that something was wrong.
"Thanks for bringing her back", Piper said softly. She didn't want to upset Cole.
Cole tore his glance away from Phoebe and slowly shifted it towards Piper and then Leo. He looked at them but Piper had the impression he didn't really see them. It was like he looked somewhere in the distance, searching for something. He looked lost. Piper almost had pity with him.
Leo took some cautious steps towards Cole, just like he would approach a dangerous animal. He always looked at Coles face, trying to figure out what was going on behind his eyes. They were their human blue but Leo felt something dangerous lurking behind them, fighting to break free.
The two men stood opposite of each other looking at each others faces. Piper held her breath. Leo was much too close to Cole for her taste. Leo extended his arms to take Phoebe's body from Cole. Cole didn't react to that. His glance just went back to Phoebe waveringly. Cole wasn't ready to let go of Phoebe, he pressed her cold body nearer to his.
"Cole", Leo said with a calming voice, "you promised to bring her back. You did it. Now give her to us. That is what she wanted. We'll make sure Phoebe gets the funeral she deserves."
He waited patiently for a reaction from Cole. After what seemed like hours to Piper, Cole finally took a small step forward and laid Phoebe gently into Leo's arms. Cole stroked her cheek tenderly with the back of his right hand. Piper followed his every move, her hands ready to blow him up, should he go on the offensive.
That's when she spotted the ring on Cole's hand and frowned. Leo backed away slowly and set Phoebe down on the couch, her hands crossed on her tummy. Cole followed Leo with his gaze but didn't move. Leo sat down besides Phoebe's body and held his hands over her. He had to be sure she was dead.
Piper tiptoed next to her husband and looked down on her baby sister. Leo shook his head. Phoebe was really gone. Piper eyed Phoebe's hand for any rings. She found a golden one on her right ring finger. It looked like her old wedding band.
"Mum!" Phila's shrill shriek tore the silence.
Wyatt and Phila had sneaked into the living room behind Piper's back. Phila raced to her mother's side and fell down next to her, her head on her mother's chest. She started sobbing. It hadn't been real for Phila that Phoebe was dead, without seeing her dead body.
Cole's head jerked up, his expression flared and his eyes changed to pitch black. He threw a piercing glance at Phila. She didn't look at him but she felt him starring at her back.
"I told you to stay in the kitchen", Piper hissed but it was too late.
"So you have a new demon in the family", Cole sneered, "Congratulations!"
The lost look had gone from his face and had been replaced by a hideous grin.
Phila twitched like she had been whipped. The moment she had entered the living room she had felt dark energy waves whirling around. It was intoxicating and it lured her to its centre. And its centre was Cole.
Phila turned around and stood up facing him. His eyes gouged in hers and it felt like he read her mind and tore apart her soul, but she couldn't look away.
"I knew you would make a fine demon", he said contentedly.
"I'm not a demon", Phila said through gritted teeth,"and never will be." An energy ball formed on her palm. Leo, Piper and Wyatt looked at her disbelieving.
"Then you are the first witch with the ability to create energy balls", Cole informed her coolly. He put his hands in his pockets and strode to the other side of the room showing his back to her.
With a roar Phila threw the fireball at him. He didn't even blink. The fireball missed him by meters and smashed the grandfather clock. That made Phila even more furious and a new energy ball appeared already on her hand.
"If you need some instruction with your demonic powers, I will be happy to be of service", Cole offered generously, "Just come down. I guess you can sense me, all demons can."
He wasn't even the slightest bit afraid of her. He could easily sustain some energy balls – especially some low voltages ones like the ones his daughter had produced.
"Furthermore I can protect you. They can't do that anymore", Cole gestured to Piper and Leo.
Before Phila could throw the next energy ball, Wyatt orbed next to her, grabbed her and started to orb out with her struggling against his grip. Wyatt had guessed that Cole wanted to make Phila tap deeply into her demonic powers, so that he could goad her into following him to the Underworld. He wasn't going to allow that.
Cole reacted at lightning speed and cast a fireball at Wyatt. Only Wyatt's protection shield guarded him from being vanquished on the spot. Piper's reaction was as quick – she blew up Cole immediately, but he reformed within seconds, seething with rage.
"You made a grave mistake lady", Cole threatened Piper as he summoned another fireball.
Piper tensed. It was like a duel – the quicker one wins. She eyed him closely since she had to wait for him to start. She had to freeze the fireball first and then blow up Cole again so that she and Leo could orb out. Alone they stood no chance against him. So her timing had to be perfect. Leo grabbed Piper on the back to be able to orb them out instantly.
Cole hesitated. He looked undecided at his hand, ready to cast the fireball and then at Piper. His glance slid sideward to Phoebe and lingered on her face. Piper had to release her breath, which she had been holding unconsciously. What was he waiting for?
Cole's eyes went back to their normal blue and slowly he balled his fist to extinguish the fireball. His posture relaxed as he let his arm fall to his side.
Still looking at Phoebe he murmured, "That's the last time I obey your wish".
He glanced back at Leo and Piper who were standing next to the couch dumbfounded.
"About the funeral. Just leave a note about place and date at the mausoleum", Cole said with a tired voice before he flamed out without waiting for their answer.
tbc