Chapter 22: Phoebe

Disclaimer: Oooh I sure am exited to see Kaley Cuoco and that naked guy from the Absolut Vodka ad on the brand new 8th season of Charmed. No, I really am! These tears are happy tears…..yep, and I think I'm just about happy enough to kill myself right now.

A/N: Not much to say…just hope you guys like it. I also really, really want you guys to review please!

"Cole?" Phoebe questioned, beginning to walk toward the man she had thought would never hurt her.

Piper grabbed Phoebe's arm, stopping her from going to Cole. Phoebe looked down roughly at Piper, having it not occur to her that Cole could be dangerous.

"Let go of me Piper," she said shortly, irritation obviously being her overriding emotion.

"You don't know if he's in league with that…that woman," Piper whispered quickly.

Phoebe started to utter a response when Cole's mother cut her off.

" 'That woman?' " She inquired, feigning offense.

"Oh, that's right," she continued, "You three don't know who I am," she said, speaking to Piper and the two barely conscious figures on the ground that were Pam and Prue. "I'd have thought you'd figured it out by know. But as your sister here has so willingly demonstrated, you witches are obviously not the brightest of the bunch."

Piper tried to think of a comeback quickly, but even if she had thought of one she knew that saying it would only stop the woman from giving her the information that she was so close to allowing.

"I'm Cole's mother," she filled in. Cole straightened up at these words, as if her stating the fact made him have to take pride in it.

Piper craned her neck in an expecting manner, waiting for the woman to finish the introduction and say her name.

"I suppose you want more than that," Cole's mother said knowingly, "I'm afraid you aren't allowed that privilege. Only the strong," she said, taking a quick gaze at Cole, "Can hold such power over me. You get what I told you. Nothing more."

Phoebe put this information together with what Cole's mother had told her before. Ever since she had lectured her earlier, Phoebe had been trying to use every little piece of information that Cole's mother spoke to her advantage. Phoebe searched her mind for a connection between the things she had heard.

Piper looked utterly confused at the woman's words, not understanding why she was making such a big deal out of a name.

From the corner, Pam, getting up the strength to talk, sat up and addressed the woman.

"Cole's mother?" She questioned, "But you're—"

"Dead?" Cole's mother finished for her with a slight laugh. "That's a deep misconception."

Pam, Piper, and a still-weak Prue gave confused looks and Cole's mother elaborated a bit.

"Let's just say that witches are quick to believe they've done something good. It's only when something's wrong that they feel the need to double check. One of the ways that they, like humans, are profoundly inferior to demons."

Pam rose from the ground, newly aware of the previously unknown woman before her. She helped Prue to her feet and eyed Cole's mother warily.

Pam was much more worried than her sisters, seeing as she had heard of the horrible past that belonged to Cole's mother. She had done things that most people couldn't even imagine possible. She had been more than easy on the girls at this point keeping in mind what she was capable of.

Cole's mother took note of this, very amused at the sudden change in Pam's facial expression.

"You're the oldest, are you?" She said with mild fascination, "You're the one who knows—and yet you still mock me. Well," Cole's mother began as she raised a hand and brought Pam to her, "First to live, first to die."

She took Pam by the throat roughly, her long nails boring into Pam's neck. Cole's mother watched in delight as blood ran down her fingers.

"Cole," the half-demon's mother spoke promptly, "I'd like you to do the honors."

She conjured an athamae in her hand and handed it off to her son. Cole advanced on Pam with every intention of killing her.

"Cole," Phoebe said as if he were joking, "Cole? What are you doing?"

She broke into a run towards Cole as his mother rolled her eyes with annoyance.

"You're even dumber than I thought," She said, immobilizing Phoebe.

"Go on," she continued, speaking to Cole, "Do it now."

"But," he spoke somewhat vaguely, "She—"

"She's nothing," his mother said sternly, "Finish it, boy!" She yelled.

Cole hesitated, slowly edging away from both Pam and his mother and toward Phoebe.

"I'll do it myself!" She yelled, snatching the athamae from her son, "I was wrong—you're just as weak as she is. I'll deal with you later." She looked at Cole with contempt before raising the knife.

"No!" Piper screamed as she froze the scene.

"Quick, get the athamae," Piper said quickly to Prue, motioning for her to go towards Pam and Cole's mother.

She walked forward a bit used her telekinesis to bring the knife to her. Then, in mid-air it began to move back to where it as.

"Do you really think I'm the kind of demon who lays victim to the cheap parlor tricks of witches?" Cole's mother laughed as she gripped Pam's throat tighter.

She brought the athamae back to her hand and twirled it loosely. She then rammed it deeply into Pam's abdomen. She dropped Pam's limp body to the ground and advanced on Prue.

"Let's just go down the line, shall we?" She prepared to slit Prue's throat when something else caught her attention.

Cole had broken out of the freeze.

He rushed towards Phoebe and shook her out of his mother's hold.

"Stop!" Cole's mother screamed.

Cole stood there uncertainly while he held Phoebe round her waist to keep her standing.

"Cole," Phoebe said quietly, almost a whisper, "I figured it out. How to destroy her. It's in her name—her name. Do you know it?"

Cole nodded slowly as he turned to his mother.

"You keep your mouth shut!" she yelled, looking directly into her son's eyes, "You don't know a thing!"

"Say it Cole," Phoebe said weakly, "Say her name. Please..."

Cole looked wildly from his mother to Phoebe, completely and utterly torn.

"Goodbye," he said softly, everyone in the room unsure of whom he was talking to.

"Goodbye," Cole said as he turned his gaze up from the ground, "Phoebe."

Phoebe's eyes widened, not believing what she had just heard. She met Cole's eyes for a moment, but he tore them away from her and onto his mother, who was now screaming in anguish.

A/N: Are people confused or did you understand what happened? Don't worry, if you are confused, everything will be explained in the next chapter. Promise. Please review.