FOUR
"Let me get this straight. If I agree to this you'll put me back before the Source possessed me. With the knowledge and memories I have now. And I'll have the opportunity to keep the Source from possessing me. Is that what you're saying?"
"I believe that is exactly what I said. Then you'll have the opportunity to balance the scales of your life, so to speak. Quite possibly you'll live long enough to perform enough good to offset the evil you did in the first part of your life."
"What about the fight with the Source?" Cole asked. "How will that be altered?"
"I can't answer that," said Fate. "The Charmed Ones won because initially you intervened. It will depend on your actions. I should imagine that some events will be altered though which ones I cannot say."
"The only way to keep from being possessed," said Cole, "is to not take the Hollow into me. Which means the girls won't have the power to stand against the Source. They won't be able to vanquish him. Can you guarantee me that they'll be able to stop him without the Hollow?"
"I can guarantee nothing. Only you will have the opportunity to alter what has happened to you. This does not concern them."
"Of course it concerns them. I get my freedom but at what expense?"
"Cole, it's a chance to change things," said El-A-Lese. "They're the Charmed Ones. They'll figure a way to defeat the Source. They always think of something."
"And what if they don't?" Cole demanded. "What if they can't stop the Source without the Hollow? They'll all be dead. That's not a risk I'm willing to take. Even if it means an eternity of being alone."
"That is only one possible scenario," said El-A-Lese. "You'll know what's going to happen. With that knowledge you'll be able to change things. Maybe even come up with a way to defeat the Source without the Hollow."
"And then what? I get Phoebe back? And probably hurt her all over again? Just like I did the first time around? It never worked between us for one simple reason. She's a Charmed One and I was a demon."
"Half demon," El-A-Lese corrected with a small smile.
"Half demon," repeated Cole. "That was just too much of a handicap to overcome. I hurt her once. And forced her to destroy me to protect herself and her sisters. I couldn't go through that again. As tempting as the offer is, it's not even a consideration. I can't put her through that again."
"Are you sure?" Fate asked. "As I said, you won't get this offer again. Once you've made your decision, it will be final."
"I'm sure. My only concern is Phoebe. Right now she has the opportunity to be happy. Really happy for the first time in her life. If I accept this deal of yours I'll change all that. Even if they do somehow manage to defeat the Source, everything we've done will be undone. I can't do that to her."
"So you're turning me down?"
"Yes. I know what it means. I have to stay as I am. That's a small enough price to pay for her happiness. Thanks for the offer but no thanks."
"I believe," said Carl who had remained silent the entire time, "that you have your answer. And I believe he has passed the test."
"Yes, I believe you're right," said Fate.
"What are you talking about?" Cole asked.
"Cole," said El-A-Lese, "I'm afraid we haven't been completely honest with you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," said Fate, "that the offer I made was a test. To see if you were truly repentant. It seems that I was correct in my belief that you had truly repented."
"You mean it was a trick? A ploy to see if I was serious? Don't you have more important things to do than play games with the unliving?"
"Oh the offer was quite genuine, I assure you. And had you accepted it, I would have upheld my end of the bargain. Nonetheless, it was a test to see if you were truly repentant, as I said. I had to be sure."
"I don't understand," said Cole in confusion. "Sure about what? And just what haven't you been completely honest about?"
"Sure that you're repentance was genuine," said El-A-Lese. "That your only concern was for Phoebe and that you didn't have an ulterior motive. Everything we've told you is the truth. It just hasn't been the entire truth, that's all."
"You're still talking in circles. What is it you haven't told me?"
"Another option," said Carl. "One that was dependent on your choice."
"Another option?" Cole questioned. "Let's see. I can stay as I am. I can move on to my final reward or punishment. Or I can return to the mortal plane. It seems to me those are the only options available."
"There is another option," said Fate. "One that would allow you to leave this exile and return to the mortal realm. And in so doing allow you the opportunity to makeup for much of the evil you perpetrated. Perhaps to even tip the scales of justice in your favor."
"And just how do you propose to do that?"
Carl removed an item from his pocket. He extended his hand and held it out for Cole to see. Lying in the palm was a ring with a single large white stone in it.
"By accepting this," said Carl.