Into the Unknown
Part Two
By: Sapphire (aka Malachite157)
Writer's Note: Gah! Sorry this took me so long to update. wonders if she still has any readers The past year's been crazy-busy for me and I haven't seen Charmed since I left South Africa and moved to England, a year ago. I was given the third season of Charmed on DVD for Christmas, which I have been watching to jog my memory. It took me an entire DAY to re-read the previous fics in this series to remind myself what I'd been writing. I'm also in need of a beta reader, as I lost the email address of my previous beta reader. :( If anyone's interested, please contact me! So, that rather unimportant information aside, on with the fic!
Chapter 3 - Cause and Effect
2 Weeks Later:
"That's the problem with witches. Female witches, that is. They're capable of having more witches, and even more powerful ones, at that!"
Frank glanced across the pool table at the grumbling demon, named Gerald. The two weren't friends, really. They just played pool with each other occasionally.
Gerald was supposedly talking to Frank, although he seemed to be more on a tangent with himself.
"And you know what? A Charmed One is pregnant. With a half-demon's kid! Belthazar's I believe. Can you imagine that combination? It's gonna spell the end for us all, Frank. That kid's gonna be so tough, we're all gonna be crumbling at his knees."
Frank stood upright and stared at Gerald. "What are you getting at?"
Gerald looked around, his eyes shifty. Then he leaned across the pool table and whispered. "I'm saying, I've got a job. I've been hired by a certain someone to kill this kid. And I know exactly how." He pulled away from Frank again, raising his eyebrows to express how impressed he was at his own statement.
Frank blew a raspberry. "Puh-lease! That kid's only a step behind invincible, already! A number of demons have tried to kill him and failed miserably. They've all died horrible deaths too, I might add."
Gerald snored and smirked. "That's because they went about it all wrong. They've all been aiming directly at the kid. They had no strategies. None had properly thought about how they were going to get to him."
"And you have, correct?" Frank said sarcastically, and sank a few balls. He shot the demon a contemptuous look. It was a daring thing to do, considering Gerald was an extremely powerful demon. He was, however, too self-absorbed to even acknowledge criticism. He was simply deaf to it.
Gerald sneered. "Of course. I have the perfect plan. Consider yourself lucky that I'm even sharing this much information with you."
Frank laughed a short, mocking laugh. "Oh really? It's all hot air to me. You haven't let on anything."
That annoyed Gerald, visibly. Frank was actually rather intrigued to find out what Gerald had planned. The Charmed One's child was, after all, Frank's future partner in crime. He was technically obliged to protect him, if he wanted to make sure his deal was secure with the Seer.
"Well, if you must know..." Gerald inclined his head to a quieter spot in the corner of the bar. They abandoned their game and walked over to an empty table and sat opposite each other.
Gerald continued to look shifty. Finally, he got comfortable and looked directly at Frank. "You're the closest thing I've got to a friend, Frank. So I am gonna let you in on this. There's this guy, who I'm afraid I cannot give the name of, who's gearing up to being the new Source. He's a really powerful sucker, but like the last Source, he isn't comfortable with this kid being alive. Unlike most demons who have tried to get a double whammy outta the little guy by stealing his powers, the new Source-to-be ain't gonna risk it. He's paying me a pretty penny, and granting me immortality, if I kill this child."
"You've got my attention," Frank said darkly.
"You better not tell a soul about this, Frank! You know I can have you killed even after I'm dead," Gerald warned.
Frank nodded impassively. "Yeah, yeah. I know. But I'd be stupid to betray a demon such as yourself, Gerald."
Gerald grinned and puffed his chest out a little with pride. "Yes, you would."
Frank held back on rolling his eyes. Man, this
demon was stuck-up!
"Please, continue," he
said politely.
"Anyway," Gerald said in a low voice. "By next week Tuesday, the kid will be dead and I will be alongside the new Source. I'm attacking within the next few days."
Frank's eyes widened. "That's it? You're not going to tell me how?"
Gerald sat back in his chair and folded his arms. "No. That's top-secret. The reason I told you any of this, is because I want to offer you a position in a company I intend on founding. That, and a high ranking position next to the new Source."
Frank managed not to cry out in frustration. He was hoping that Gerald would continue to gloat and spill the beans on his plans. 'I guess he's not that stupid, then,' Frank thought grimly.
"I'd be honored, Gerald. But I am so curious! Will you not give me even a hint to what you plan is?" Frank tried his luck.
Gerald glanced up to the heavens and heaved a sigh, while continuing to smile smugly. It was such a contemptuous gesture, Frank felt like toasting him with a fireball right there. Only he didn't have enough power for that. Curse powerful demons with arrogant attitudes!
"I'll just say this Witch she may be, and right now she is well protected against magical attack. But she still needs the basics to survive. Witches are, after all, just a magical upgrade on humans."
With that Gerald pushed his seat out and stood up. "See you next week, captain," he jeered at Frank and wandered off into the crowds.
Frank stared after him, his mind a whir of thoughts and possibilities. Gerald looked so damn confident...was it possible he might actually have a plan to kill her?
And if he succeeded, what would happen to him?
Frank made up his mind then and there. He had to stop Gerald.
Phoebe watched the last of her stuff being loaded into the trunk of Cole's car. He heaved the lid shut and sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"That's the last of it! Man, you have a lot of clothes," he commented while grinning playfully.
She flashed him a weak smile. "I'm coming now, honey. Just gonna get my handbag." She turned back into the house to face a miserable-looking Piper.
"You know I still can't believe you're moving out so damn quickly. You've barely given us time to prepare!" Piper chided.
Phoebe sighed, exasperated, and took her handbag off the hook beside the front door. Piper had been moaning at her all week.
She turned and looked at her sister with a cool expression. "Prepare for what? You know that I'm not going to be far away. If you need me, just send Paige or Leo to orb me, or call Cole to shimmer me. Besides, now you can use my room for your baby and not your closet."
"Phoebe! This is not about you being an orb away or about space for the baby. It's about your sudden urge to leave. It's not fair just to spring this on us."
Phoebe's shoulders slumped wearily and she tried to contain an impatient outburst. "Things happen fast, Piper. You of all people should understand that. Cole and I are married, now. We have a baby on the way. We need our own place and quite frankly, I need some more space myself."
Piper drew in a shaky breath. "But you're a demon magnet, now. I'm gonna be worried sick about you."
Phoebe's face crumpled up into a disgusted frown. "Oh, is that how you view my son? A demon magnet?"
"That's not how I meant it," Piper replied, keeping her anger in check.
"You know what Piper? If my son is such a threat to you, then consider yourself lucky I'm moving out. That'll make things safer for you and your baby, and everyone else!"
"How can you say that? Phoebe what the heck has gotten into you!" Piper snapped.
Phoebe lost her temper at that moment. "What the HECK has gotten INTO me? What's that implying!"
"Oh my God! You over-analyse everything! You're so edgy it's scary!" Piper exclaimed.
"Well maybe if a certain witch wasn't always on my case all the time I wouldn't feel so goddamn guilty for being pregnant. Every day you remind me of how powerful he is and how evil he could be. Like it isn't on my conscience every waking moment as it is!"
"I have NEVER tried to make you feel guilty. If anything I've been supportive of you and your demonic husband!"
Phoebe lost all control at that statement, and jerked her hands downward in fury. Both hands burst into flames.
Piper stepped back, her jaw dropping. "Phoebe!"
Phoebe glanced down at her hands. They were surrounded by fire, but it didn't burn. She mentally commanded them to go out, and the flames did. She looked up at Piper with tears in her eyes. "Now look what you made him do," she whispered, and shimmered.
Piper stood staring at the spot where Phoebe had been standing and blinked. After a few seconds, she roared: "LEO!"
Cole was listening to a pleasant melody on the car radio when Phoebe shimmered in the seat next to him. He gasped, startled.
"Phoebe! You just..." He stopped when he saw she was crying.
"I know," she sobbed.
Cole stared at her worriedly. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Please just start the car, Cole. I'll tell you on the way," she choked.
Cole slowly turned back to the steering wheel and started the car. When he was about fifty meters from the Manor, he glanced at Phoebe. "You wanna tell me why you're crying, now?"
Phoebe wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and let out a shaky sigh. "Piper and I got into a fight. The baby got upset... I got upset. My hands burst into flames. I didn't lose control of them, I just thought for them to go out and they did. But I could feel his stress... He shimmered me to you. I guess...I guess he...we both just wanted to get out of there. Oh God, Piper must really distrust him now!"
Cole soaked in the information and placed a hand on her knee. "That's all right. You've just channelled some of his power through yourself. You know, as Piper's child grows she'll probably also experience some strange things. What were you two arguing about?"
Phoebe rested the side of her face against her fist. "Ohhh, my reasons for moving out. She's been giving me a hard time about it, but I know it goes deeper than that."
"She may be your big sister, but she can't control you, Phoebe. You have your own life to live," Cole told her.
"I know," she sighed. "I just think she looks at me, what's happening to me... And I think she gets frightened. About me, about my son, about what her child might turn out to be. We're both going into the unknown with these kids. It's such an intense collection of power, and it's happening all at once."
"It's understandable," Cole said, nodding slightly. "But you don't need to worry. You've got me."
She smiled sadly and looked at him. "I know," she said, and squeezed his arm gently.
They drove in a thoughtful silence all the way to the penthouse.
"Her friggin' hands burst into flames, Leo! If that ain't demonic, I don't know what is!"
Leo watched his wife have a small fit in front of him. He calmly assessed the situation as she blurted it out.
"And then she shimmered! Not orbed, shimmered. My God, my sister's being turned into a demon by that child!"
Leo sighed. "That's the baby's powers acting through her, you know. If she got stressed, then her baby would too and that combination leads to both their powers being affected. She channelled her son's powers subconsciously. The fact that she didn't harm you shows she has control, still. It was a response of anger and stress. I don't think it was hostile."
"She was glaring at me with her hands on fire. It looked pretty darn hostile to me!" Piper exclaimed.
Paige walked in the front door. "Oh my gosh, sorry I'm late! Is Phoebe already gone...? Why do I sense extreme dissension?"
Piper turned to her youngest sister. "Yes, Phoebe has left already. And you know how? She shimmered."
"Shimmered?" Paige repeated, her eyes wide.
"AFTER she tried to fry me with fireballs!"
"Piper don't exaggerate," Leo cut in. "Her hands were down, you said, and as soon as they combusted, Phoebe mentally put them out."
"Whoa whoa whoa! What's going on here?" Paige demanded.
Leo held up his hand to silence Piper. She opened her mouth, and then closed it while scowling at him.
"Please, Piper. Let me try and get a few words in. Paige, your sister and Phoebe got into an argument. It agitated both Phoebe and the baby. The rise in emotions caused Phoebe's son's powers to be channelled through her and her hands burst into flames. Which she put out quickly and successfully. Her shimmering was definitely her child's powers. I can sense her. She's very unhappy, and most likely with Cole right now, where both she and the baby feel safe."
"Riiiight. So, month five hits and junior has an extra two powers? Well that's just magnificent," Paige sighed dramatically.
"Oh I SO agree with you," Piper chirped.
Leo gave them both steady looks. "Listen, Phoebe's not at fault here and you know that. She's holding inside of her a being that neither magical side is sure about. The only thing we are sure of is that he's very powerful, and conflicted. What Phoebe needs, and what her son needs, is your support. She needs her sisters' love and understanding to help her through this. The more agitated she gets, the worse it is for her son."
Piper averted her gaze with a huff while Paige nodded sombrely. "You're right, Leo. The way we've been going on at her... She probably felt cornered, which is why she moved out in such a hurry."
"It's just alarming, you know?" Piper spoke up, her voice softer now and emotional. "I don't know what's happening to her...what's gonna happen. I worry about her, but I feel helpless at the same time."
Leo couldn't help but smile a little at Piper's rationalizing her feelings honestly in front of them both. She had her moods, and a short temper, but she was a good, kind and caring person at heart.
"I can understand that. We're all worried about her, but worrying isn't going to help any. We just need to BE there for her. That's all we can do."
Piper nodded and sighed. "Thanks, Leo. I needed someone to sober me up."
Paige cleared her throat. "So, they've already left. Should we...call them, later? See how they're doing?"
"Maybe we should give it an hour or so. We both need some time to cool off," Piper said.
"Good idea," Leo conceded. "Want me to help make lunch?" he added gently.
"Can you? I'm not feeling too good myself."
"Uh oh... Morning sickness begins!" Paige chimed. Piper shot her a glare and Paige shrugged with a goofy smile. "Never mind what I said. I'll help too."
It took some time for Cole and Phoebe to move everything out of the car trunk and to the top floor of their new penthouse. It was tempting for Cole to shimmer everything up, but he'd already met some of the neighbours who he could see were watching him from their windows. Phoebe was quiet and sombre most of the time. She carried only light bags and some packets. She'd stocked the penthouse with food yesterday and they'd already had their furniture and beds delivered. Other than clothes and some personal possessions, there wasn't much else to move in. Phoebe had been very quick and efficient at organizing things from the moment she decided she'd move in.
An hour had passed when they'd finally done the majority of the unpacking and sank down onto the sofas with weary sighs. It was three in the afternoon and they hadn't stopped for lunch.
"Phew... Unpacking sure works a sweat. You hungry, Phoebe?"
Phoebe was sitting next to him and gazing out the window with a glazed look on her face. "Hmm?" she stirred.
"I'm hungry. I'm gonna make some sandwiches. Do you want anything?" he repeated patiently.
"Oh, no, I'm okay."
"You should eat. You both need nourishment."
Phoebe grimaced at the mention of her baby. Even mentioning him right now seemed to put her in a bad mood.
"I'm fine, Cole. I'll make something for myself later. You go eat."
Cole knew not to push the limits of Phoebe's patience and left silently. Phoebe glanced around the room. It was a beautiful penthouse. Modern, clean and luxurious. Most women would be pleased to be with such an adoring man in such an exquisite home. They both had careers and were earning good money. But it didn't seem to mean anything without the support of her family. And Phoebe knew she wasn't most women. She was a Charmed One, a witch who was pregnant with some great powerful being that could be the spawn of all evil. She was right in feeling a bit sulky over that!
Her thoughts were interrupted when the telephone rang. It was the one thing she suddenly regretted having set up in advance. She grumbled and stood up and headed over to it.
"Hello?"
"Phoebe? It's Piper."
Phoebe groaned inwardly. "Yes?"
"Honey, I'm sorry I snapped at you. I guess I'm just nervous and hormonal too."
Phoebe acknowledged the apology and usually she would have responded with equally sympathetic words but something inside of her stirred. She felt an uncalled for anger and resentment towards Piper rise up. She knew that feeling such strong negative emotions towards her, especially in light of what she'd just said, was completely irrational. And yet...
"It's fine, Piper."
She mentally kicked herself for sounding so curt. She wanted things to be okay between them again. She wanted to apologize too.
There was a hurt pause on the other end, a muffled sigh and then: "All right, well, if you need anything just call, okay?"
"Yeah okay."
Why couldn't she say what she wanted to say? This was going beyond being stubborn and moody. She felt as if her own sentiments and words were being suppressed!
"I'll try be more supportive in future Phoebe. I'm sorry. I got scared for you, for all of us. I--I... I love you."
I love you too! Piper, I'm sorry!
"Sure, whatever. Bye."
She put the phone down abruptly and the loud click it made seemed cold and sharp in the lonely silence. She stared, petrified, at the receiver. Why had she just done that?
Cole walked in at that moment munching on a sandwich. He froze when he saw her pale face and her tense stance over the phone. He swallowed and spoke up.
"What's the matter? Who called?"
She turned to him slowly. "J-just...Just Piper. She apologized."
Cole took a few cautious steps towards her. "And? Are you two okay now?"
A frown flickered across her face and she seemed to have an internal battle before she replied. "I'm not sure."
Suddenly, she snapped back into action and all her tense feelings subsided. She flashed a smile at him. "But anyway! Let's get on with our lives. Are you starting work again tomorrow?"
Cole looked a little taken aback by her sudden change in attitude, but he decided not to question it for the moment.
"Uh, yeah. When do you get back to work?"
"Wednesday. I've been given a two day extension on the weekend because of all the moving in. Guess my boss was in a good mood that day."
"So you'll be alone at home tomorrow. Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked, looking concerned.
She blew a raspberry. "Of course! I'll sort out stuff, unpack the last few boxes... I'll make a nice dinner for when you get back. And don't you worry about demons and the like. Baby's proved he's more than capable of defending himself."
Cole didn't look so sure. "Well..." he began, but Phoebe cut him off.
"Don't worry about me sweetie! I'll be fine! Besides, I need some alone time to sort things out."
Phoebe surprised herself at her own confidence. She felt strange, as if...artificially happy. But she did agree in part with what she was saying. She didn't want to constantly live worrying about being alone. She was capable of looking after herself and just because she was married didn't mean she couldn't still have some independence.
Cole gave in and shrugged. "If you say so." He moved over to her and embraced her. She closed her eyes and sighed happily. She always felt better when he held her. She figured it made both her and her son happy and secure.
"You wanna rent a movie tonight? To celebrate?" he offered.
"That'd be great."
The Next Morning:
Piper wandered down the corridor from her bedroom, still dressed in her pyjamas. She'd only just left her bed but she'd been awake a good half hour, worrying and thinking. She paused outside Phoebe's room and placed her hand gently against the door, deliberating for a few seconds before finally pushing it open. She stared into the largely empty room. Only her bed and a few small things remained. The soft morning light filtered in through a parting in the curtains and illuminated the dust floating throughout the room. She definitely had packed up in a hurry yet, at the same time, had left little trace of herself. Piper sighed unhappily.
"Piper?"
She turned around to see Leo gazing at her with concern. "Is everything all right?"
She smiled sadly and nodded, turning back to the room. "Yeah... It's just so noticeable, her absence. I mean, I know she's only been gone a night but, well, I miss her already."
"It's quite a change to get used to, but it's not like she's gone far away. You can get in contact with her whenever you like."
"Hmm...if only it felt like that."
"Wha...?"
She turned to face him again. "Oh, I'm probably being silly. It's just that she was so standoffish with me on the phone, even after I'd apologized. I expected her to be a little more receptive. I mean, we were both highly strung at the time."
"I don't think you should take it to heart. She'd had a very stressful day. Moving in can be really chaotic. Maybe she just needs some time to settle in," he said gently.
She smiled at him and put a hand against his shoulder. "You're right. I am overreacting. I worry for her, is all."
"I know, you're her sister, it's only natural. But you've also gotta worry for yourself sometimes. You've got your own life to live and responsibilities to deal with. Phoebe knows she has family who love her and if she needs us and she'll come to us. You must do the same. If something's bothering you, you should talk about it with us."
"I will," she said quietly. She patted him once on the shoulder and then pushed passed him gently and headed back to her room. Leo watched her, unable to suppress a small sigh. All these changes were taking their toll on the sisters and it pained him to see them struggling with them, but it was something they simply had to go through.
Phoebe was awoken by a kiss on the forehead. Her eyes opened slowly and she found herself gazing up at the face of her husband.
"Gotta go."
He pulled away and she saw that he was fully dressed for work. She sat up groggily. "Hmm? What time is it?"
"Nearly nine o'clock. I can't stay any longer. Are you sure you're going to be all right?" he said, picking up his briefcase.
She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Yeah...yeah I'll be fine. You have a good day at work, honey."
Cole smiled as he stopped in the doorway. "Keep safe. And call me if anything happens."
"I will!" she called after him as he left the room.
She listened for the sound of the front door closing. When she heard it, she sank back into bed with a sigh. She felt awful. Her chest was tight and her lower back ached. She also felt a little feverish.
"I hope I'm not coming down with something," she grumbled as she summoned the energy to get out of bed. She refused to lie down all day when there was still so much to be done. There were boxes to be unpacked and some cleaning to be done.
----------------------------------------------
Gerald watched as the half-demon pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the street. Phoebe had not been in the vehicle with him, as he'd hoped. This was his chance.
He shimmered to the roof of the penthouse and immediately set to work. He drew from his pocket a dark spell he had "obtained" from a Transparency demon. It would lock in all magic. Nothing could orb in and nothing could shimmer out. The magic seal was essential for his plan to work. He could not allow any white lighters to interfere, nor could he allow the witch to escape.
The chant only took a half minute. After that he set about completing stage two of his plan. Prohibiting her from leaving the penthouse magically was only part of the trap...
--------------------------------------------------------
Phoebe stared at the lamp she'd recently unpacked. It had always gone so well with the decor of her room at the manor but it stuck out like a sore thumb in the stylish, modern interior of her new home. It didn't seem to fit anyway. She stroked it fondly with her thumb as she held it. It made her think of the manor and all the memories attached to it. Her thoughts then drifted to Piper. She felt bad at having been so rude to her on the phone. It was still fairly early in the day so it was likely she'd be at home. Maybe now she could call her and apologize...
"And offer her this lamp. Maybe her daughter will appreciate it when she's older," she murmured aloud.
With a sigh she got up off her knelt position on the floor and made her way to the phone, still carrying the lamp. She placed it on the table as she began to dial Piper's number.
Suddenly, the room turned dark and she saw a ghostly image of herself lying on the floor, choking and writhing. The premonition was over before she'd finished her gasp. She'd never had one so short! She dropped the receiver as it dawned on her what had happened. It had been a short-hand premonition...her baby was warning her!
"Oh! Oh oh!" She hurried towards the door. There was a hiss and she swivelled around. She couldn't see anything that might have made the noise. She turned around again and grabbed the handle, only to receive a shock. She drew back her hand sharply. "What the--" She stopped short as a wave of nausea hit her and she began to feel light-headed. Her vision began to blur and she felt terribly dizzy. Then she smelt it. It had a bitter almond smell and she instinctively knew that it was a bad smell, one of a poisonous gas.
She staggered across the room, trying her best not to breathe in even though her lungs were crying for air, and tried the windows. She was shocked back and onto the floor. She was dimly aware of her stomach growing hot and a force field going up around her, but it was of no use. Her baby's powers were useless at protecting her from the deadly air.
She tried to crawl across the floor to the receiver, but the desire to breathe became too strong and she was unable to stop herself from gasping.
Frank shimmered into the elevator and instructed it to open at the top floor. While he was in a terrible rush and panic, he still had to be cautious so as not to risk exposure. The elevator climbed its way up sluggishly and he tapped his foot nervously. "Come on, come on!"
The elevator finally reached the top floor and opened up. He stepped out and headed straight for the door to the witch's apartment. He wasn't entirely sure she was in trouble now, but he had spotted Gerald consulting with a shady figure in the bar just an hour earlier and then he'd shimmered away. It was Monday and Gerald had promised the witch would be dead by Tuesday. If he was going to strike, it had to be today.
He'd been discreetly keeping a watch on the youngest Charmed one since he'd learned of Gerald's ambitions but so far had been unable to deduce his strategy. Growing increasingly concerned, he'd decided to check up on her under the guise of a door-to-door salesman. If he was wrong about there being a problem, the worst she would do to him was slam the door in his face.
He came to the door and knocked. He received a nasty shock. "What the hell!" he cursed loudly. He stared at the door, wondering if it had been blessed with some kind of evil-deterrent force field. Or magic-deterrent...
"Hey! Hey anybody in there!" he yelled. He got no response.
"Hnnnn! Hello!" He grew restless. Something was not right, he could sense it. Evil had a keen sense for other evil and there was definitely the presence of it in the air. In fact...
He bent down and peered through the keyhole, being careful not to put his face too close. The first thing he experienced was a whiff of something that definitely upset his lungs. With a cough he backed away a little and narrowed his eyes. He could just make out a form lying on the floor.
"Oh crap!"
He shimmered and landed right back where he'd started. "So it is a magic seal!" he exclaimed. He stood there and chewed on his nails anxiously.
"Okay, so she's being poisoned and is trapped by a magic seal. Now where's the best place to start a seal..."
His eyes widened and he shimmered. The next thing he saw was Gerald crouched over a small area of sunroof. He glanced up, surprised.
"Frank? What are you doing---yeeeahh!"
Frank tossed a fireball at him and knocked him off his perch on the roof. Gerald went rolling backwards and off the roof, yelling.
Frank rushed over to a piece of paper, pinned down by a heavy paperweight. He skim-read it as he knew it was only a matter of time before Gerald recovered from the fall and came back to get his revenge. A fireball and a tumble off the roof would not stop that demon.
"That's the seal all right. Now how do I... I... Read it backwards! Yes!" He remembered breaking a seal many years ago by reading the enchantment in reverse. As he now did so, he hoped that the trick would work a second time round.
He rushed through the spell and then tried shimmering inside. He was successful. He looked around wildly for the witch, trying not to inhale as he did so, and spotted her lying unconscious on the floor near the table. He gathered her in his arms and promptly left.
Knowing that Gerald would be looking for her, he decided dropping her off at her sisters' manor would be her best chance at survival. Hopefully they'd be able to give her the care she needed.
Paige did nothing to stifle the enormous yawn she entered the kitchen with. Piper glanced up from her cup of coffee. "Sleep well?"
"Okay, I guess. You?"
Piper raised her cup to her lips. "So-so," she mumbled into it before she took a sip.
Paige made her way to the cupboard to get her favourite cereal. "I can't believe I've slept in so much. I'm just glad today's a late start at work. I've only gotta be in at ten. What are your plans for today?"
Piper rested her face against her left fist and drummed her right fingers against her cup. "I dunno. I probably should start setting up the club for tonight. Travis are playing this evening."
"Exciting! Would you need any help? I'm getting off at six today but I can probably wriggle my way out at five."
"Nah, I'll be fine."
Before either of them could say any more, the doorbell rang. Piper and Paige exchanged curious glances. "Are we expecting anyone?" Paige asked.
"Not that I know of," Piper said, frowning as she stood up. The two of them made their way to the door. As they rounded the corner into the passageway they both saw Phoebe's prone form lying limply on the floor.
"Oh my god, Phoebe!" Piper exclaimed and rushed over to her younger sister. She shook her but got no response.
"Leo!" Paige shouted. A moment later Leo orbed beside her, still buckling his belt. "Can't a guy take a bathroom break without---Phoebe!"
"Leo help, I don't know what's wrong with her!" Piper cried as he knelt beside her. "There's no visible sign that she's been hurt, but she's out cold and her pulse is very weak."
Leo held his hands over her, face contorted in worry. A dull, warm light appeared over her face and chest as he healed something internal. However, after the healing was complete, she still did not revive.
"What's wrong, why isn't she responding!" Piper panicked.
"Hang on! I smell something on her clothes..." Leo said as he lowered his nose to her blouse. He sat straight up, all the colour drained from his cheeks. "I know that smell! That's cyanide gas! She's been poisoned!"
"Oh god! What do we do!" Paige flapped about frantically.
"Get all these clothes off her and wash her! Then we'll need to get her to a hospital. I can only heal the physical, internal damage the gas might have done to her but it's not enough. She needs proper treatment."
"Who did this to her and why is she here!" Paige asked as she helped Piper strip Phoebe of the contaminated clothes.
"I don't know, but whoever brought her here wanted her to live, for some reason. We can discuss it later. Come, let's get her to the shower!" Piper urged.
The Seer was sitting in peace and quiet in her quarters, eyes white and staring blankly ahead of her. The silence was disturbed when Frank shimmered into the room, panting.
"Gah! Seer! Someone's tried to---"
"I know," the Seer interrupted. "You have done well."
"You knew this was coming?" Frank shouted, staring at her incredulously. "Why didn't you warn me?"
"Because I wanted to see how far you were willing to go to protect your unborn master," she replied calmly, the white fading from her eyes.
"And what if I'd failed? Then your precious charge-to-be would have died!"
"You wouldn't have failed. As I have told you before, Frank, I have seen you do great things. It is why I chose you."
"So was this some sort of test?" he snarled, taking a menacing step towards her. Her distant gaze vanished as she fixed him with an intense glare.
"Hardly. It was rather a lesson to you. While you may not receive your power for another seven years, you must still be willing to protect your investment. At this vulnerable stage in the child's life many demons will be after him. You have to keep your eyes and ears open to any plots to destroy him."
Frank opened his mouth to reply angrily to that, only to find he had no argument. Still, he felt very hard done by in this case. The Seer had the power to warn him and it upset him that she had not. There was also Gerald to worry about.
"What about Gerald? He will no doubt want to kill me for thwarting his plan. I cannot fight him, his power is superior to mine!"
"You need not worry about him," the Seer told him nonchalantly. "I will deal with him."
"How? He's a formidable upper-level demon. He'll be after me and I won't be able to---"
She silenced him by raising her hand. "I told you, I will deal with him. You just lie low for another few days and all will be well soon enough."
Frank glowered at her, chest heaving as he struggled to contain a violent outburst. Finally, he managed to calm himself enough to shimmer away from the Seer. As much as he was loath to do it, he had no choice but to trust her.
When Phoebe came to she found herself lying in bed in a white room. It took her a few moments to realize she was in hospital. Before she could call out for anyone, Piper and Paige appeared in the doorway.
"Heeeey, honey!" Piper cooed as she came to her side, Paige following. She took her hand and bent over her as Paige stroked her hair. "How're you feeling?"
"Ugh... A little sick and dizzy... What happened?" Phoebe rasped.
"We were hoping you'd tell us," Paige said.
"We found you in the passageway after someone rang the doorbell. You'd been poisoned with cyanide gas," Piper said with a worried frown.
Phoebe mirrored the frown and then remembered the incident in the penthouse. "Y-yeah... I was...I was in the penthouse and about to call you when I...I had this really fast premonition of me on the floor. I figured it was the baby trying to warn me and so I tried to get out, but when I touched the door handle...I got a shock." She cringed as she paused to swallow and continued. "The next thing I knew I was coughing... The air was poison to breathe. I tried to get out but I kept getting shocked and then... I must have passed out. It's all very fuzzy."
"Oh you poor thing," Piper said and hugged her carefully.
"Did you see anyone?" Paige asked.
Phoebe shook her head weakly. "No... Nobody." Suddenly, her eyes widened with a look of alarm. "The baby! Oh God, is the baby---"
"The baby's all right, sweetie," Piper interjected calmly. "The doctors said you could only have been breathing it in for two minutes maximum and so no permanent damage has been done to you or your child. You were very lucky to have escaped when you did."
"But who rescued me? Who could have known?" Phoebe asked, looking relieved at the news of her son but still confused and distressed.
"Well, it wasn't Leo and it wasn't Cole. We're really not sure WHO helped you out... Or who tried to kill you. But I swear, we'll find out," Paige assured her adamantly.
Phoebe had sat up a little when she'd panicked but now she found she was too weak and tired to maintain the position and so she sank back down into the pillow. "Where is Cole?" she asked quietly.
"Leo's just gone to get him. He should be here any---" Piper began, but was interrupted when the person in question rushed into the room.
"Phoebe!" he cried. The sisters parted and let him fall to his knees between them. He gripped Phoebe's hand and stared at her in alarm.
"Leo told me what happened. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you!" he said miserably.
She smiled at him feebly. "It's okay, you couldn't have known," she told him in a whisper.
"I promise, I will find the person who did this to you and tear him into---"
"Not now, Cole. She's suffered enough stress today without having to worry about you going on a rampage for revenge," Paige scolded. "We're all concerned about who tried to assassinate her as much as we are confused as to who saved her. It's something we're going to have to figure out by ourselves while Phoebe recovers. The doctors want to keep her in overnight just to make sure she's okay."
"Then I'm staying with her," Cole stated firmly.
"Fine," Piper said before Paige could protest in any way. "But we're going back to the manor to check the Book of Shadows for any demons whose speciality is poisoning with gas."
"And I'll go check with the Elders to see if they know anything," said a voice from behind them all. They turned to see Leo standing just a few feet away.
"Leo," Phoebe cried softly. He looked at her worriedly and came to her side. "Don't you worry, we'll sort this out," he told her.
There was a thoughtful silence shared among them all before he spoke again. "Now I suggest we do what we need to and leave Phoebe to sleep. She needs her rest."
The sisters bid goodbye to Phoebe and left the room, as did Leo. Cole remained by Phoebe's side throughout the night as she slept.
Chapter Four - Contingency Plans
The Charmed ones and their white-lighter were completely baffled as to who had tried to kill Phoebe and more so as to who had saved her. There was nothing in the Book of Shadows about demons who used gas to kill their victims and the Elders were just as clueless as to who it might have been. After three days of researching and coming up empty, the sisters were beginning to worry that they were missing something big.
Phoebe had recovered from her attack and had been staying at the manor when Cole was not home. Everyone agreed it was best she was not alone for any length of time. Either Paige or Cole took or fetched her to and from work, not prepared to risk her being alone even for the drive. The protective measures fast began to wear on Phoebe's patience.
"I know everyone is doing this to look after me, but it's beginning to rule my life! I can't go anywhere or do anything alone and, while I love you all very much, I NEED isolation sometimes!" Phoebe complained over dinner with her sisters. Paige had asked who was going to take her to work tomorrow as she had an early morning assignment and that had been enough to set her off.
"I know, Pheebs, and while we also love you very much, it's getting on our nerves, too. But it's just a precaution until we find out who was behind that attack," Piper reminded her gently.
"Piper, there are always going be demons after me, particularly now that I have this little guy growing inside of me. It won't stop after he's born, either. They'll keep coming and I'll have to be there to protect him. It's my responsibility and while I really appreciate your help and concern, I can't let you nanny me for the next eighteen years, because that's how long we're going to be on the hot list for demon attacks."
"Which is all the more reason you should have stayed here. Raising this child among a family of good witches---"
"Would have made no difference," Phoebe interrupted her older sister. "This manor has seen more demon attacks than I can count and with TWO magical babies inside it's going to be like the Mecca for demonic assaults."
"Phoebe's got a point," Paige sighed. "We've got to achieve a balance. We can't let the threat of evil constantly dominate our lives. It's going to drive us all insane, otherwise."
Piper sighed and speared some cauliflower with her fork. "Believe me, I'm all for living normal lives as best we can, but this is such a dangerous period of time and I just don't want to see Phoebe or her baby getting hurt."
"It's a dangerous time for you too, Piper," Phoebe reminded. Piper's head snapped up at her statement. Phoebe was looking cold and unkind when she said: "The child of a Charmed one and a white-lighter is bound to attract some demonic attention as well. You should concentrate on your own threats." The icy gleam in her eye vanished and Phoebe immediately looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, that came out way harsher than I meant it."
"I hope so, because it was really uncalled for!" Piper said crossly. "This discussion is about YOU and your baby, not mine!"
"The discussion is about how we're letting the threat of evil in our lives take control," Phoebe countered coolly.
"Hey hey hey, what's gotten into you two?" Paige intervened. "One moment you're talking normally the next you're growling and snarling at each other! Look, let's just deal with the immediate problem at hand and you can sort out your own issues with one another later."
Piper glared at Phoebe a moment before turning to her half-sister. "Right. Then what do you suggest we do?"
Paige looked at the table as she struggled for words. "I...think that, for the meantime, Phoebe should be extra careful. I don't think she should be alone for long periods of time anywhere. However, as she says, she does need her own space and moments of solitude so, maybe she should get like a magical panic button, or a beeper or something, so she can easily and instantly contact either Cole or Leo, or us, if she gets into trouble."
There was a short silence at the table and Paige looked up to regard the expressions on her sisters' faces. Both looked thoughtful.
"A beeper sounds good," Phoebe said eventually. "I could have one attached to me and my car, so I can at least drive home in peace."
"Yeah! Already that affords a freedom," Paige enthused.
"What do you think, Piper?" Phoebe asked a little tetchily.
"Whatever works for you," Piper replied evenly and stood up. She gathered up the plates and left the room in quiet fury.
Paige sighed and looked at Phoebe earnestly. "I don't know what's going on between you, but it's really upsetting Piper. It needs to stop. You two need each other right now."
"I don't need anyone but my son and---" Phoebe began but stopped short, a confused look coming into her eyes.
"You and who?" Paige pressed, managing to contain her irritation. She could sense there was something amiss in Phoebe's behaviour and she had a small hunch as to what might be causing it.
Phoebe stared at her unseeingly for a few seconds, then shook her head. "Never mind. Forget I said anything." She stood up and started heading for the exit.
"Hey, where do you think you're going? You're supposed to wait until Cole gets back from work," Paige called after her.
"It's five to nine. I'll last five minutes in the penthouse alone," Phoebe said as she disappeared around the corner.
Paige frowned as she got up and chased after her. "Wait, how're you going to get there immediately? Don't you need one of us to drive you there..."
She stood staring at the spot where Phoebe should have been. She was gone. She had to have shimmered.
"Damnit! She's not supposed to use her baby's powers like that!" she cursed. She didn't like the idea of her sister using a demonic form of travel one bit.
"What'd she do now?" came Piper's irritable voice from the kitchen. Paige closed her eyes and groaned.
"Whoa!"
Cole nearly tripped over his briefcase when his wife suddenly appeared just a foot away from him.
"Phoebe! What are you---"
"Have you just got in?" she asked him, face blank and emotionless.
"Yes. Did you just...shimmer here?"
Phoebe suddenly lunged forward and hugged him. "Mmmm. Feels good to be in your arms."
Cole blinked and tentatively put his arms around her. "What's going on? I thought you were going to resist using the baby's powers as much as possible."
"Tell that to him. I so much as get upset and think of you and poof! Here I am. If I get upset, he gets upset and the first person we both think of is you."
"That's...sweet," he said slowly. He pulled out of the hug and looked at her searchingly. "But why are you upset?"
Phoebe's content smile vanished and she sighed. "Oh, Piper and I weren't really seeing eye to eye at dinner."
"Hmm, you and Piper have been getting on each other's nerves a lot, lately. Maybe two hormonal witches in one room is a recipe for conflict."
"She's just narrow-minded sometimes and it gets to me," Phoebe declared. "It's like everything revolves around my son and I and she forgets that she has her own baby to focus on."
"Phoebe, she's only looking out for you, and I hardly think she's forgetting her own responsibilities. In fact, I think her concern for our son stems from her own about her child. She just wants you to take care."
Phoebe rolled her eyes and turned to the sofa on her left. She sank down into it while rubbing her temples. "There's only so much care I can take! Cole, I can't keep living under all these over-protective measures. It's making me feel trapped and depressed."
"I know," he said quietly. He started to say more but was interrupted by the shrill ring of the telephone. "I'll get that," he told her as she made to get up. He picked up the newspaper rolled through the handle of his briefcase and offered it to her. "Here, read something to take your mind off things and calm you down." She took it and he left to answer the phone.
She'd barely opened it when she received a premonition. Her vision was of a man leaving what looked like the local press house through a backdoor. He was looking nervous and hurrying to a motorcycle a few meters away. A demon shimmered behind him and threw a fireball at him, turning him to ash. The premonition ended.
Phoebe gasped and clutched at her chest, heart pounding. The moment she's felt the split-second drowsy sensation she experienced at the onset of the dream-like visions, she'd felt panicked. She feared she was about to have another short-hand premonition of something terrible happening to her. While it had lasted longer than her last premonition, she wasn't entirely sure if the event was just about to happen or was going to occur later that night.
She looked across the room and saw that Cole was deep in discussion with someone. He caught sight of her and his demeanour changed to one of concern. "I'll call you back," he said abruptly and put the phone down. "Phoebe, what's wrong?" he asked, walking briskly over to her.
"P-premonition," she stammered.
"Of what? Where?"
Phoebe took a moment to shake off the fright and composed herself. "Of a man, outside the press house. He was killed by a demon who just appeared behind him. I think it's going to happen really soon."
"Why, was it a short--"
"I dunno! Well, I don't think so... But it just felt so urgent! Cole, someone has to save that man!"
"It's okay, I'll take you to your sisters and we can all go togeth---"
"No!" she found herself exclaiming. The next few words she spoke were entirely against her will. It felt as if someone was speaking through her. "No, we don't need them. We can go together. Right now."
Cole frowned, confused. "But Phoebe, your sisters---"
"There's no time! I know where the press house is. If I tell you, will you shimmer us there?" she asked.
"Yes, but what if we can't fight this demon? We don't know how powerful he is," Cole said, flustered.
"If we can't fight him we'll shimmer out of there, although I doubt there's a demon tough enough to face the three of us," Phoebe stated confidently.
"I don't know about this, Phoebe..." Cole mumbled uncertainly.
"You're either on my side or you're against me, Cole. You choose," she said hotly.
Cole stared at her intently for a few tense moments before he said: "Where is this place?"
"See ya later, Frank!"
Frank waved half-heartedly to his colleague as he left his workplace. Demon he may be, but he was also half human and he preferred to live in a house above ground. He quite liked his job. He only worked part-time due to the eventful life he led, but it appealed to his industrious side and so he tried as best as he could to keep up appearances. He wasn't rude or nasty to any of his co-workers, although he didn't care for them, either.
It occurred to him, as he stepped out the back door into the narrow alley he was so used to parking his bike in, that considering he was on a hit list of a powerful demon he really should have parked in a more public area. These dark, dank alleyways were always good places to kill hapless innocents, as he knew from experience. So it was with much trepidation that he started his walk to his motorcycle several meters away.
He was just a few feet from his ride home when two people appeared out of thin air in front of him. He gasped and staggered back.
"Duck!" the woman shouted and he instantly did so because the man standing next to her was on the verge of hurtling an energy ball. He heard a bloodcurdling cry from behind and he looked over his shoulder to see a demon he recognized hitting the back wall with a burning patch over his chest. The next thing he heard were the running footfalls of the couple as they advanced on Gerald. It was then that Frank took a good look at them. He was shocked to identify them as none other than the pregnant Charmed one and Belthazar in his human form.
"Looks like a high-voltage energy ball wasn't enough to toast him," Belthazar observed.
"Give him a few more and if that doesn't knock him out I will," the witch said icily.
Gerald had just climbed to his feet only to have to dodge three energy balls. He conjured one himself and threw it at Belthazar. It was fast and perfectly aimed, but it did not hit its target because as it left his hand, an orange force field came from the witch's bulging midsection and deflected the ball. Frank watched in awe as part of the force field narrowed to a point and shot out, zapping Gerald right in the chest. With a scream of agony, Gerald exploded in a blaze of dark red flames.
"Blazing hell!" he exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the place where Gerald had been.
"Are you all right?" came a female voice and he looked up at the Charmed one now standing over him.
"I...I'm fine... Thank you," he stuttered, regarding her warily.
She smiled and offered a hand to him. He backed away from her and scrambled to his feet, remembering that the Seer had mentioned her child had an evil-revealing power. The last thing he wanted was to be forced to convert to his rather unattractive demonic form. To cover his action, he played the dumb, frightened mortal. "Wh-who are you?" he asked, still backing away.
"Guardian angels," Belthazar said quickly and grabbed the witch's left arm gently. "Phoebe, we should go."
Frank tried not to laugh at the demon's first statement. Instead, he said: "I won't tell anyone. Thank you again, I'm...I'm shocked but grateful."
Phoebe continued to smile at him. "We're just glad we got here in time." She faced her partner. "Okay, let's get out of here." The two shimmered away.
Frank stared at the spot they'd been standing on, mentally digesting all that had happened. Gerald had tried to kill him and they had appeared in time to stop him. Phoebe had not reacted like she knew who he was. How had this happened? He was no innocent and that was who the witches saved. It was then that he began to realize how this had been set up. "Seer," he growled.
Phoebe patted her hands together, content with her performance. It took her a little while to realize Cole was glaring at her.
"What?" she asked with a frown.
"You," he said flatly.
"What about me?"
"You've been acting really strangely Phoebe. It was uncharacteristic of you to go rushing off into a vanquish like that without your sisters, without even being prepared! Again you relied on our son protecting the both of us!"
"I did not! I was fully prepared to fight that demon with my own powers. I can't control what junior impulsively decides to do in a hostile situation."
"Which is exactly it!" Cole cried, throwing up his arms for emphasis. "He shouldn't BE in a hostile situation! We're supposed to be shielding HIM from harm, not the other way around!"
"Cole!" Phoebe whined.
"Don't give me that! He's my child too and I won't stand to watch you recklessly put him at risk like that! Phoebe, you know better than this! Why have you been acting so carelessly lately?"
Phoebe's eyes flashed angrily and she pointed accusingly at him, but no words came out to match her temper. She trembled and stared at him, the anger being replaced with confusion. "I...I..." she stammered. "I don't know," she ended miserably. She lowered her hand and looked down, shaking her head. "Cole I'm sorry...I've been really battling for control of my own actions. I constantly feel like I'm at war with myself, or a force within myself that wants to do one thing when I often want to do the other." A tear dropped from her downcast face.
Cole was silent a moment as he contemplated what she'd just said. "Maybe that's exactly what's happening. Maybe your desires are being confused and conflicted with..."
"The baby's?" she finished, looking up at him with wide, watery eyes. He nodded.
"Is that really possible?" she asked, voice trembling.
"Yeah, I think so. If he's capable of sensing and fighting evil from the womb then he's probably capable of controlling your thoughts, to a degree. As it is he's given you and Piper premonitions of his."
Phoebe nodded slowly, a look of understanding coming into her eyes. "It makes sense..." Then the desperation returned and she squeezed her eyes shut, tears now streaming down her cheeks. "Oh Cole...I'm so scared. I feel like I'm losing control of everything."
Cole felt a strong pang of pity and sadness and he stepped forward and took her into an embrace. She cried against his shoulder and hugged him tightly.
"Don't worry, we'll get through this," he soothed. "We just have to start thinking ahead, make contingency plans and keep our wits about us."
Phoebe stared forlornly out the window, still holding him closely, and whispered: "But what if that's not enough?"