THREE
Cole sat at a table in the attic of the manor staring at a chessboard. After a few moments he reached over and moved the black queen. He felt rather than heard two figures appear behind him. He didn't move. Whoever it was wasn't a threat to him. Not any longer.
"Rook to Queens' Bishop four."
Not even this startled Cole. Casually he reached over and moved the suggested piece.
"Good move," he said. "Care for a game?"
"I'm afraid not," said the voice again. Fate and El-A-Lese moved around in front of him. "I see you're keeping busy."
"I found it buried in an old chest," said Cole. "At least it occupies my time even if I do have to play myself. El-A-Lese. It's good to see you again."
"Hello, Cole. I've brought someone who wants to speak with you."
"I see," said Cole. "And just who do we have here?"
"I'm the Angel of Fate."
"Well, my warden come to check on me. I'm flattered. I have so few visitors these days."
"That's how it's supposed to be. El-A-Lese tells me you've been helping her with Phoebe Halliwell."
"Yes. I hope it's okay. When I realized what El-A-Lese was and what she was doing I figured she could use some help. It's not easy to get through to Phoebe sometimes."
"No harm done. It is a bit unorthodox but it has seemed to help her with her assignment."
"Good," said Cole. "I don't want Phoebe to end up like me. She deserves to be happy. If I can help it's the least I can do."
"Which would go a long way in your favor," said Fate.
Cole laughed. "You do have a sense of humor. I always wondered if fate had one."
"You find something amusing?"
"Only slightly," said Cole. "We both know it's too late for me. Nothing I can say or do now will alter my destiny. I'm condemned to live without love for all eternity."
"Your fate, not your destiny," El-A-Lese corrected Cole.
"So what's the difference?"
"It's the difference between the past and the future," said Fate.
"Am I supposed to understand that?" Cole asked.
"What Fate means," said El-A-Lese uneasily, glancing at Fate, "is that destiny is the pinnacle you can achieve based on the skills and talents you have. Fate is the reward – or punishment – you receive based on how you use those skills and talents."
"I see," said Cole. "So my fate is to live without love for all eternity because I didn't fulfill my destiny, is that it?"
"Not at all," said Fate. "Failing to fulfill ones destiny is neither rewarded nor punished. Your fate is based on your actions. How you achieve or fail to achieve your destiny is at least as important as the destiny itself."
"The ends justify the means," said Cole.
"Not exactly. It's complicated. One can fulfill their destiny and receive no reward at all dependent upon how they choose to arrive at that destiny. How they fulfill that destiny weighs heavily on the final outcome of a person's life. What happens to them after their life is over."
"You just proved my point."
"Your point?" El-A-Lese questioned.
"That I'm screwed. And why I'm here now. If my fate is directly tied to my actions while I was alive it explains this exile. Not dead and yet not alive. Forever suspended between the two."
"That was the basis for my decision," said Fate.
"Which means no matter what I say or do now," continued Cole, "I'm stuck here for all eternity."
"And yet you helped me with Phoebe," said El-A-Lese.
"I explained that. I don't want her to end up exiled like me. I regret many of the things I did while I was alive. If I could change them I would. But I can't. All I can do is try to help make sure Phoebe doesn't end up the same way."
"Loosing faith in love is a far cry from perpetuating the evil you did in your life," said Fate.
"It's the first step," said Cole. "It's her faith in love that makes Phoebe such a caring person. So readily to help others. If she looses faith in love it's the first step down a very slippery slope. Without her empathy for others she could easily turn cold-hearted. If that happens it's a very short leap to becoming evil. I know. I've gone through it myself."
"She hasn't had her empathy long," suggested El-A-Lese.
"She's always had empathy for others," said Cole. "Not the magical kind. They type that a lot of normal humans have. It's that empathy that makes her such a caring person. If I can help her keep that empathy she won't end up like me."
"And you gain nothing for yourself in the process?" Fate questioned.
"Actually, I do," said Cole. "I get the satisfaction of knowing she'll be happy. Maybe that will help to make up for all the pain and grief I've caused her if even in a small way."
"Of course," said Fate.
"So, why the visit?" Cole asked.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Why stop by and visit me now? I can't believe it has to do with my well-being. It's not like anything can hurt me now."
"Of course not," said Fate. "When El-A-Lese mentioned you had been helping her with Phoebe, I became curious. I wanted to see what was motivating you to help her."
"To see if I was trying to con my way into your good graces," said Cole.
"Something like that."
"Well, as I've all ready said, we both know that's not going to happen. Did you find what you came here to learn?"
"I believe I have," said Fate.
"Good," said Cole, turning back to the chess game. "If you ever have any free time stop by and maybe we can play a couple of games."
He really didn't expect an answer. Fate's business with him was concluded. He and the Facilitator would be leaving. Cole settled in to finish the game he was playing. Eternity was a very long time.
