Chapter XIII

The translucent apparition of Prue floated a few inches above the ground. Paige and Cole rushed into the attic, Cole putting an arm out and leaning on the doorframe, Paige just behind him, her head peering through. A mirror – the one that Paige had already fixed once today – lay on the floor, its glass shattered. But no one took notice of it.

Piper didn't turn to look at the two by the door, but stood, frozen to her spot, her eyes wide. It had worked.

"I…" she began, but couldn't think of anything else to say. Words seemed useless now. Nothing she could say could explain what she had felt over the past years; how she had been heart broken at her sister's death; how there had been nights where she would wake up in the middle of the night and just sit peacefully to herself, remembering her sister's memory; how a day didn't go by when she didn't wonder, just for a minute, what life would be like if Prue had stayed with them. But looking into the smiling, kindly face of her older sister, suddenly words didn't seem necessary anyway. Everything she had ever felt, ever wanted to say, Prue knew.

"I know, honey," Prue said softly.

She was radiant; there was no doubt about it. Her hair framed her face in a beautiful bob, her skin was clear and pure and her eyes were bright with knowledge. She was content, and happy, and possessed so much beauty in her simple self that Piper felt the tears welling up inside of her. She wanted to rush forward and hug her sister, be embraced by the protective force of her older sister. But she had to remain strong; that life was gone now.

Prue's head turned over towards the door, and a wide smile spread across it.

"Hello Cole," she said, her eyes sparkling. He nodded to her, but said no more. He stepped forward, leaving only Paige in the doorframe. Paige was astonished. Her eyes were wide and her breath was caught in her chest. She had known that Piper was planning on summoning Prue, so this shouldn't have been a surprise. But it was. The photographs around the house didn't do her justice.

"We haven't been formerly introduced," Prue smiled, her soft eyes fixed firmly on her youngest sister. "I'm Prue."

"I know…" Paige said slowly, with wonder in her voice. She stepped forward cautiously, as if Prue were a shy kitten she would rather not frighten off. "I've… heard a lot about you."

Prue only smiled. She then turned back to Piper.

"She's pretty," Prue said in a voice hardly more than a whisper. "I can see how you get on with her so well."

Piper smiled broadly, and cast a glance over to Paige.

"Yeah," Piper said, her eyes wet with tears. "She's a star."

Paige walked over the attic and stood behind her sister, putting an arm around her waist. They smiled to each other before looking back to Prue.

"I still don't understand how this worked..." Paige said slowly, smiling but eying Prue at the same time. "I mean, Phoebe tried and..."

Prue shook her head.

"She wasn't ready for it. For me. She wanted to contact me as a last resort to trying to sort out her problems, because she had nowhere else to turn. That isn't how it's supposed to work, so... she wasn't allowed."

"Can you help us?" Piper asked apprehensively. She had to save one sister before she could bond with the next. Prue looked at her, her eyes filling with sorrow. She slowly shook her head.

"No. I'm just a messenger."

"From who?" Paige asked.

"The Elders. They didn't want to risk any more exposure to evil, and to their kind, so they let you see me. I'm here to warn you."

"About...?"

Prue cast a sideways glance at Cole.

"Patient as usual, I take it?" she asked sweetly. He merely scowled, and tightened his mouth.

"They've found something out. Phoebe has teamed up with a powerful demon called Mackenzie. He hasn't been heard from in a long time, but – "

"I know him," Cole interrupted darkly. All eyes swung to him, though Piper would have rather heard Prue's story than his. "When I was being raised in the Underworld as a demon, he was the one who taught me how to harness my powers. He showed me the true meaning of evil, but didn't hide the fact that it wasn't always pleasant being demonic. He's very clever, and very powerful. It's no wonder that Phoebe turned if he had anything to do with it. I haven't heard anything of him in – well, centauries. If I'm honest, I actually thought he'd met his end."

There was silence for a while as shifty looks were exchanged. If Mackenzie had been the one to train Cole, Phoebe was probably in more danger than any of them previously expected.

"Piper, I don't have much time," Prue said suddenly. "The connection is weakening. If Phoebe works with Mackenzie, the horrors that they'll submit to this world will be more deadly than anything any of us have ever seen before. You have to stop her before it's too late."

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Piper almost snapped. White orbs were beginning to circle around Prue, and time was running out. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to ask. But this wasone moment that she would never be able to freeze.

Prue pointed towards Cole.

"You can't. He can. Use the spell that Paige and Phoebe used a few years ago. The one they used to get into your mind when the Source had you trapped there."

"Her mind...?" Paige asked slowly.

"There's no time!" Prue cried. "Just trust me. And Piper, Paige... I love you. Blessed be..."

Her words faded with her, and as quickly as she had been hovering in front of her, she was gone. There was nothing. Piper brought a hand to her mouth and shut her eyes, tight. She had to stop the tears.

"Oh, Prue," she moaned, her eyes burning. She felt the comforting grip of her younger sister tighten, and a weight on her shoulder.

"Shhhh," Paige soothed. "We'll see her again. When all of this is over."

Piper sniffed, and opened her eyes. She had to be strong. For Prue's sake. For Phoebe's sake. For her own. She looked to Paige, who smiled softly and nodded.

"Can you remember the spell you used?"

"About as easily as I can remember the shopping list from three years ago," Paige muttered, grimacing. Piper frowned.

"Well, Paige, you need to try!"

"I know that, Piper! I know…"

Something inside of Cole told him that he held the answer. The little voice in him told him to go, voice his ideas, that he would not be shot down. Reluctantly, he listened to it. He coughed loudly, interrupting the sisters' glare.

"Yes?" Piper sighed. She was beginning to wish he would just revert to interrupting whenever he felt like it. He didn't look to her, but instead, straight at Paige.

"You're a whitelighter," he said bluntly, his idea sparking and igniting into a thousand pieces.

"Yes, Cole, well done," Paige retorted sarcastically. He frowned.

"How strong is your sensing power?"

"Cole, we've been through this. I can't sense Phoebe, she's evil now, and – "

"No, that's not what I mean," Cole said, waving a hand up to cut her off. "Just answer the question."

"I'm all right at it," Paige admitted, her own eyes being shadowed by a thick frown. "Why?"

Cole sighed slowly and began pacing.

"Well, if you can sense for people in the world and orb to them, why shouldn't you be able to sense for spells inside your mind? I mean, you've used them, and part of you must want to remember – "

"– All of me wants to remember," Paige corrected.

"Fine. The point is, it should be calling to you; you can use your powers to sense the spell from your mind, and then you can Piper can use it."

There was a pause as the idea began to formulate itself in each of their minds. It could work. It seemed to make a sort of sense; at least as much sense in their world as anything could.

"It's worth a try," Piper said slowly, her voice dipping with fatigue. "It's about all we have."

"All right," Paige agreed. She looked from one to the other, as if for a signal to start. When none came, she shrugged, and closed her eyes anyway. She relaxed her body, trying to empty her mind of everything. She imagined a thick fog being blown away by an invisible force, and felt a complete feeling of peace and tranquillity. But out of the calmness and stillness of her mind, something came hurtling towards her. It aught her by surprise, and she even felt slightly winded in the chest.

"I've got it," she said loudly, her eyes closed and her mind focused. Piper dashed for a pad and a pen.

"Go on, honey," she coaxed. "We're listening."

Paige read the words from the front of her minds as if they were right in front of her.

"Life to life and mind to mind, our spirits now will intertwine; we mould our souls and journey to the one whose thoughts we wish we knew."

"Good job sweetie," Piper congratulated sweetly, rubbing Paige on her arm. The younger sister opened her eyes and smiled.

"Now we have that, I think we have a shot at saving Phoebe," Cole said, almost excitedly. He looked at Paige for a minute, his mouth growing into an open and calm smile, his eyes lighting up with admiration. "Well done Paige," he said softly, taking a step towards her. "You did well."

She looked up at him, and smiled. For once, he wasn't biting her head off: and she was thankful for it.

"Let's get this over with," Piper said from behind them, her patience exhausted. It had been a long enough day. "I want my sister and my husband back."

Paige nodded.

"Okay. I guess this up to Cole, then."

He shot her a sharp look.

"Just like that?" he questioned, his voice a little untrusting. "No questions about an ulterior motive, or how I could take advantage of being inside Phoebe's mind?"

"Just like that," Paige replied sweetly.

"Besides," Piper added, motioning for him to get within the circle of crystals Prue had been in. "You're Good now. You couldn't hurt her if you tried."

He nodded happily. Maybe becoming a whitelighter did have its perks. Maybe this was the answer to question he had kept hidden away from himself for years. Maybe this was the reason why being a demon had made him feel so incomplete. And maybe, just maybe, this was his true calling.

Putting the thoughts of 'who he was meant to be' out of his mind for the moment, Cole stood in the circle of crystals whilst Piper and Paige adjusted the words of the spell. He couldn't cast it himself, not being a witch, but he could be their messenger. If they listened to Prue, to Leo and to the Elders – and maybe even to Cole's little inner voice – perhaps they could save her. Perhaps they could bring Phoebe back from a deeper evil than she had experienced before. Perhaps life could be good again, and go back to the way it had been – should be.

Or, perhaps they were just about to piss off an extremely powerful warlock.

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A/N: I know, I know, a short chapter. Sorry about that, but inspiration has been on the dip lately. I have some of chapter fourteen written already, so I'll upload that as soon as possible so you don't have to wait so long :D A few additions to finish up (i've taken to adding my notes to the end rather than the beginning, as I've realised how annoying it can be 0.o)

littlehollyleaf: You probably just caught me on my uploading day. It's usually every two to three days, but I'm pleased that you're enjoying it! Let's hope your wishes to see Cole in whitelighter action get granted soon... ;)

twotoe: Yes, cliffhangers are my favourite... muhahaha... They can be very annoying :D