Angelically Charmed: A Sacrifice for Phoebe Part II
Paige felt like she was going to be sick. "What kind of trade?"
"Austin" Prue said clearing her throat as she pushed to her feet. "He wants me to give him Austin" She glared heatedly at Death prompting her sisters to follow suit.
"It's a perfectly reasonable deal. You give me Austin, you get Phoebe and in return the power of four will be reconstituted. Paige won't have to escort Austin and Phoebe will be able to give advance warning on Datalian's return"
The vision of the future. Prue closed her eyes once more recalling the scene of Austin and Amanda's death where Ayleia was reunited with her mother. Hearing the sound of footsteps, Prue glanced to her left. Cole was standing in the door jam.
"How do I know this isn't a trick?" She folded her arms over her chest.
"Because I don't have the initiative to be that devious" he shrugged, "I wasn't designed that way, I don't have it in me"
"Then how is it that you can even consider a deal?" Prue returned sharply.
"Let's just say, like you, I am not without my connections"
"Don't trust him Prue" Phoebe was on her feet standing next to her big sister. "Even if he's telling the truth, this isn't worth losing your daughter"
"A daughter who was slated for a specific purpose" Death glared. "If you agree to the deal than everything goes back to the way it's suppose to be"
"Everything?" Prue laughed bitterly, "Somehow I doubt that"
Death stared down at his watch looking bored. "You have until midnight tonight to decide. After that, it will be too late but if you choose my trade there will be an added bonus"
"What's that?" Prue said primly in time with the sound of thundering little feet coming down the stairs. Amanda was at the front of the helm pulling Austin behind her.
"Mommy! Austin's talking!" Amanda pulled Austin around front so that the youngest Trudeau was facing front and center.
"Death" Aussie pointed pronouncing his name as clear as bell.
"And she can hear too!" Amanda exclaimed. The oldest Angelic one then orbed off the stairs into the dining room where she purposely tipped over one of the big cherry wood chairs causing a loud thump.
All watched as Austin jumped at the sound of the chair hitting the floor. "Chair falled"
Prue's face was crestfallen for the first time since she became the angel of death Austin could hear and speak.
"The choice is yours" Death said coolly as Phoebe's arms wrapped protectively around Prue's shoulders.
"You bastard!" she hissed through a clench jaw watching the angel then disappeared in puff of nothingness. "Prue, Prue you cannot take this deal. It has to be some sort of trap"
Orbs appeared revealing a grim faced Leo. "It's not. I just came from the Elders. They were alerted this morning by the Angel of Destiny that Prue was going to be given a choice that could save your life."
"Then all of this crap is real!" Piper's hands were on her his, don't those bastards ever know when to stop!"
"Piper be quite!" Leo warned looking at Prue. "The deals legit. If you choose it, then Destiny will have the Angel of Death return Phoebe as well as Austin's ability to speak and hear"
"But Austin has to live with Death" Phoebe rounded watching Leo's face hem and ha.
"Technically, no. She could live in the afterlife where Death has immediate access"
Prue pressed two fingers to the center of her forehead, "So then when I'm there I can see her?"
"Yes," Leo affirmed "as long as she isn't performing her angelic duty"
"Her angelic duty is staying here with her family and her sisters" She one of the Angelic five, Piper reasoned earning another look from Leo.
"True, Austin was given other powers that resulted from her mother being a witch, but her real destiny is to replace death. That's the whole reason Prue and Andy were allowed to have an angelic child"
"Then why was Prue even allowed to do battle with Death in the first place? Phoebe turned and took a hold of Prue's hands, drawing them to her own chest, "Prue, Prue you have to listen to me, you cannot give up your child just so that you can save me. Austin is Angelic"
"And you're suppose to be Charmed" Prue choked pulling her hands free, "Leo I want to take Phoebe, our past counter parts back to the past"
"NO! Prue!" Phoebe stomped her foot like a little girl at the feel of Leo's hands pressing down on her shoulders, "I won't let you do this!"
"You don't have a choice" Prue bit back before turning on one foot so that her long raven hair was facing Phoebe, swinging back and forth as she stalked towards the stairs.
Reaching the bottom step, Prue path was blocked by Cole, "You don't have to do this for me" he said quietly earning her most heated glare.
"I wouldn't be doing it for you" she hissed with finality in her voice.
At eight o'clock, Paige knocked softly on Prue's bedroom door. "Prue can I come in?"
"Yeah" came a soft reply.
Paige opened the door to find Prue sitting on her bed with her legs criss-crossed. "Are the past versions of us gone?"
"Leo took them back" Paige sank to the edge of the bed. In her hands she held Andy's letter. "I don't if this will help make your decision any easier, but here"
"What's this?" Prue took the rumpled paper into her hands and started to unfold it. "It's from Andy" she said softly answering her own question. She recognized his handwritten scrawl instantly. "Where did you get this?"
"1988 Andy asked me to get it for you right before he went away"
Prue nodded skimming over the words. She wouldn't read the whole thing now she reasoned, there were too many other things on her mind. Instead she opened up her arms and wrapped them around her baby sister. "Thank you"
"Your welcome" Paige kissed the side of Prue's cheek before pushing to feet.
Prue sniffled softly watching her sister go towards the door before calling her back, "Uh Paige, what's that?"
"What's what?" Paige questioned as she watched Prue tapped the side of neck.
"Hickey"
"Oh that…" Paige's lips formed the perfect O paving the way to the roses that were blooming up on her cheeks "Just a little somethin' somethin', I picked up at your Prom"
"My Prom!" Prue's green eyes lit up slightly. "You went back to my Prom?"
"As I a matter of fact I did and you have nothing to worry about. You and Andy still had a marvelous time" Paige smiled pausing, "You still remember that you and Andy had incredible sex that night don't you"
"As I matter of fact, I do why?" Prue titled her head, "Why"
"Oh no reason" Paige's lips puckered up like a sour lemon as she made her way into the hallway where Drake was waiting.
"Well?"
"We're off the hook, she still remembers having great sex with Andy"
"Good" Drake raised his fist in triumph before letting his arm slide out Paige's shoulder, drawing her in close. Reading her thoughts, he kissed her forehead. "I wish it could be enough"
"Me too" Paige responded clutching the front his navy button up. She closed her eyes for a moment letting herself get lost in the feel of his embrace. Then she remembered something "I wish Piper were here. Pure really needs her now"
Drake nodded kissing the top of her head. "Leo has no clue. He's tried sensing her to no avail ever since he returned from taking Phoebe and yourselves back to the past."
"Where could she be?"
Tomb of the Ancient Egyptians
Piper awoke with a start to find herself naked wrapped in a white sheet. Her dark eyes beaded back and forth as she pulled back the sheet, and peeked downward, confirming her worst fears "Where am I and what the hell did I do?"
"Nothing your body didn't fully enjoy" Jeric stood in the opening of his chamber, dressed in nothing but a pair of black slacks, his long hair was pulled back neatly and secured by a hair glove.
"Isis, sends her thanks by the way"
Piper felt her stomach flop with both fear and anger. "You used my body so that you could be with Isis!"
Jared's, face grew cold as he started to approach. "What can I say am a man of needs and your body happen to provide the perfect vessel?"
Without a word, Piper flicked her fingers, sending a massive blast at the demon. She watched for a moment as his body exploded into bits and slapped her hand over mouth bursting into silent tears. She held a scream in for as long as she could and then flopped backwards onto the bed, screaming. LEO! LEO, I NEED YOU!"
"Your cries will do no good. No one can hear you down here."
With tears running down her face, Piper jerked her head up to see that Jeric had reconstituted himself some how. But how ? She didn't do it.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" She bellowed with her voice crackling.
Jeric slid down to the bed, reaching out for the witch with one hand, making Piper flinch. Leaning closer he grabbed a hold of her forearm, and held her so close that his hot breath slipped over onto Piper's face.
"I want you to be my Isis until the real one returns" Or at least until Prue Halliwell got the message and kept up the part of their deal.
"Screw you!" Piper screamed trying to kick him away. But Jeric was stronger.
"That's your job," Jeric held her tightly at the wrists, pinning her body as an offering of his male strength. He held her tight until the witch started to quiver, and released her with a shove.
Cowering Piper sat up and circled her arms about her knees. "Prue, Leo, help..help me please"
At Eleven Thirty, swirling white starbursts filled the room, taking the shape of Penny. Prue was laying on her side hugging a pillow.
"Prue darling" Penny said softly waiting for her granddaughter's acknowledgement.
"Go away, Grams there's nothing you can do"
"I know that Dear" Penny spoke with her voice hinting at her own emotions. "I've been sent as an ambassador, to try and make the transition for you and Austin a little easier"
"What makes them think I've decided to give up my daughter?" Prue replied continuing to hug the pillow as the kindly spirit sat on the edge of the bed and started to stroke her long raven hair.
"Because you know it's what you have to do"
"Why?" Prue's voice bleated, "Why do I always have to give up the people I love? Why can't it be somebody else" First, Patty and Victor had left her, and then Andy, followed by Phoebe and now Austin.
"Oh Prue" Penny let out a sob of her own.
Prue sat up swiping at eyes, And what about my afterlife? What about my Utopia?" Prue's upotia had been a semi-mortal living amongst her sisters and children.
"Learn to accept the things you cannot change" The voice of the angel of destiny floated through the air stinging Prue's ears. She could never change the fact that Austin was destine to be the angel of death.
Eleven Forty-Eight. White Starbursts appeared in the nursery transcending into the past version of Phoebe. In her hands she held a scrap of paper containing a brilliantly crafted spell.
Death would not be able to take a destiny that no longer existed she reasoned padding towards the toddler bed where Austin lay soundly sleeping on her tummy. Phoebe smiled sweetly at the sight of the angelic toddler sucking her thumb.
"Aussie-bug" Phoebe's fingers gently stroked Austin's hair until the sleepy angelic one peeled one eye opened followed by the other. "Here sweetie, I need you to drink this" From her pocket, Phoebe pulled a purple vile filled with sweet liquid.
"Yucky" Austin scowled, "No want medicine!"
"It's not medicine, trust me" Gently Phoebe cradled the back of' Aussie's head as the toddler consented to drink. Austin carefully swiped her hand across her mouth and then laid her head back on her pillow allowing Phoebe the opening for a chant.
Uncrumpling the paper, Phoebe walked over to the dresser and pulled out a lighter from pocket. Skillfully she used it lit a white candle that Piper kept in the nursery. "Guiding Spirits hear my plea, please anul this child's cruel destiny. Before the passing of this hour,take away Death's holding power. Give this cherub, a blessed chance, and transfer her destiny to her aunt"
Phoebe's felt her eyes squeeze tight as white bursts, transcended from Austin's body and entered hers. Immediately she felt her attire change from tight fitting jeans and a ribbed tank to an oversized black robe
"I think I'm death," she swallowed, disappearing in the same white starbursts in which she came.