Check out Naomi's Gift, Melione's Curse by MikaRauch on Wattpad to see an awesome Original Story I am writing. This one comes with a lot of gods from all sorts of myths.

I am writing another epic story called Heirs to Misfortune on Wattpad as well, so check that out too.

And finally, a Hades/Persephone love story called A Dance Among Equals.

P.S. I just got Grammarly, which is really helping my spelling, grammar, and word choice so I hope you notice improvement...


Enjoy this entirely original chapter now that I am finally in a spot to really make changes, changes that have already made huge ripples for literally the entire series just from this chapter alone!


Cole wasn't sure what to expect when he shimmered into Bryce's new room, but the boy looking exactly where he would appear with a paper in hand was not exactly it. "You knew I was coming?"

"Your pain, whatever I did taking it before... it linked us. I can sort of feel you at all times now." The boy stood, walking towards Cole with purpose. "I wanted to talk to you, to help your pain as much as I want to help Phoebe's. My magic, it's compelling me to do this but so is my moral compass. I can help so I will. The book said demons can't feel pain, but you're in agony every second. It's not right, I want to help you heal."

Cole nodded. "I want you to help me. When you healed me, it was the first time I've felt peace in... I can't even tell you how long. If you think you can help, then please do."

"I have a spell, a truth spell. If you'll let me, I'll cast it on you and you'll tell me everything relevant between you and Phoebe. I can tell she wouldn't be open to that, but you would be... so, maybe if you do this I can help you both to heal and, finally this agonizing pain in my heart will fade."

It would have been an easy thing to tell the boy to leave well enough alone, that he didn't need a child's help... but something about those earnest eyes looking at him with more warmth than he could remember ever getting... it broke something in Cole and he pulled the boy into a very warm hug. His pain drained into the boy, as it had before, he was shocked to see him glow softly.

"Your hard to say no to, you know that?"

"Hehe... so, are you going to let me?"

"Sure..."

"Great, sit down on my bed, and let's chat. " The boy skipped back to his bed, landing near the top whereas Cole sat crisscross at the bottom. He even took his shoes off for the boy's sake. "Okay, here's my spell... I think I wrote it well enough." Taking in a deep breath, Cole felt the boy's power fill the room. It was warm and heady, not harsh like a whitelighters power and far kinder. There was a lack of judgment in it, the power less tied to the oppressive power of pure good and the negative cruelty of evil. Balanced described it well.

"Guided spirits, hear this plea

Bless this room with honesty

Let no lies, pass our lips

So no truth we will miss."

Cole allowed the magic to take effect, feeling it swirl into his body and stem his ability and desire to lie even in defense. He could feel it working hard and knew the spell was a success. "It is working... ask away."

"Tell me about yourself,... set a baseline for this. Who are you Cole, what started you on your path and how did you end up here."

And so Cole, compelled by magic and the boy's selfless gaze, told him everything. From his birth as a half-demon, his mother slaughtering his father and forcing him to repress his human side out of hate of its weaknesses. He explained his rise to power, becoming an extremely powerful demon and impressing the Source of All evil enough to be forced into Law School. Joining the BrotherHood of Thorn, his many witch kills and endless darkness. He told him of being sent to go after the Charmed Ones, meeting Phoebe, and falling in love.

He told him of the journey to becoming her lover, her sisters resisting and whispering cruel things in her ears the entire time. Of helping the sisters, being framed for evil deeds and literally forced to kill, of fighting the evil within and a century of misdeeds and training to become a better man. He told him of dodging bounty hunters, helping Phoebe reverse time to stop the exposure of magic, finding out Paige's true identity, and helping the sisters mourn.

His story continued, with him losing his powers at the hands of a powerless witch, struggling with his identity until he was possessed by the Hallow. He spoke long of the Seer's trick, of becoming possessed by the Sourced and talking to the Old Phoebe his fiance summoned by mistake. How he fought the darkness as long as he could until the Source took over entirely and forced him to impregnate Phoebe with a tonic, marrying her in a Dark way, and doing all he could to create a powerful heir that ended up taking Phoebe over until she chose to abandon her sisters entirely to become Queen of the Underworld.

He wrapped it up with the story of Phoebe vanquishing him with her sisters, and his souls descent into the Demonic Wasteland. How he struggled to make contact until Phoebe came but then abandoned him instead of even trying to help him move into an afterlife. How he stole powers to escape and when he managed to control his new powers Phoebe attacked him and hated him for literally no reason.

When he was done, Cole felt tired but lighter than he could remember. Like a toxin was taken from his blood, easing his worries, fears, and pain leaving a sense of relief that was filled with incredible peace. It was not a cure-all, he still was in pain but the overwhelming loss and loneliness were gone. He felt almost himself again.

Refocusing on Bryce, he saw happiness and pain in the boy's eyes. "You've been through so much, how you've maintained any sanity is beyond me. You were raised into evil, soaked in it for a century, and when you actually had a choice for good you were sabotaged by evil, the Sisters judgment, and by being actually possessed. You were screwed a hundred ways to Sunday, even being outright abandoned by the people who once saw you as friend and ally. I truly am sorry for that...and I won't leave you. If you'll have me, I won't leave you to that perpetual darkness and loneliness. I will be your friend."

Cole laughed a little, high on the peace he felt. "I think I'd like that."

"Good, 'cause no one should be so alone." Bryce may have said more but the door to his room opened up, revealing a very livid Phoebe, Piper and Paige, and a very tired Leo.

Paige frowned. "I can't believe this, what are you doing here?"

They all opened their mouths, probably to say a spell or something but Bryce stopped them. "Excuse me, but this is my room and he is my friend. I am allowed to have friends over am I not?"

Phoebe turned to him. "Well obviously yes but-"

"But nothing Phoebe, I cast an honesty spell which I felt work and he told me his life story. It is pretty obvious that is a victim of fate and frankly you and Paige being judgemental, abusive, and cruel. His pain is all-consuming and I am not going to let it destroy him like it almost destroyed you. He is uber-powerful, he told me that himself. Which means that if he loses it, we all suffer. Consider this a preemptive strike if you can't comprehend what could end up being a great friendship."

Paige gaped. "Abusive, how?"

"You judged him for a past he was literally raised into but chose to move away from. You strung him along until he lost half of his identity, Phoebe, then he was pure enough for you to marry. You all abandoned him the Demonic Wasteland to rot, which apparently human souls can't just move out of on their own, for no crimes he committed since he was possessed by the Source instead of choosing to be it. You all choose to strip all ties from him, human minds and loneliness cannot work together it literally caused brain damage. You attacked him with a letter opener for literally no reason, if he did that to you, you and your sisters would vanquish him on principle. Frankly the more I hear about you, the more I wonder how the hell he fell in love with you at all when you seem to be self-absorbed, controlling, judgmental and hypocritical, lacking any actual empathy."

The boy's words, typically so soft and sweet, cut with a ruthlessness fitting of Grams or Prue. The girls all recoiled, Leo gaping with wide eyes.

Cole felt his heart jump, looking at the boy with something he hadn't felt in a while. It wasn't strong, but it was there... Love. The spark of it, the most simple and basic aspect diluted by a lack of experience and understanding... but it was there.

"He's right," Cole said, turning to the sisters. "You'd do anything for each other. You helped Phoebe who actually chose to be evil when I had to be possessed to chose that. I... I'm done with you Phoebe, he made a really good point. I gave a hundred times more into this than you ever did... I will still be around. I will be teaching Bryce hand-to-hand combat and letting him practice his powers on me. I'm indestructible, might as well be his punching bag. I'll help when I can, now that I have an actual choice... I will still be good, but I won't let your abusive nature dictate who and what I do.

I love you Phoebe, but in reality, you aren't good for me. Or anyone... until you can let go of yourself, you never will be." Turning, ignoring the sister's stunned and offended look, Cole pulled the boy into a warm hug, kissing the top of his cute curly hair. "You should grow your hair out, the curls are cute." And soft, but he didn't say that.

The boy flushed. "Thanks... I like them too, but they get itchy when they're too long. When can I see you again?"

"Whenever you want. My condo, your condo. You are the first person to treat me like a person... ever. Even Phoebe never did that. I am your friend, always. I'll pick you up tomorrow after my shift. We can work on your combat and powers. I'll treat you to dinner then, as a thank you for listening to me talk. I'd like to know about you too, if that's okay?"

The boy's smile was radiant. "I'd love that. Behave yourself Cole."

Cole's heart twisted in the best way at that smile, looking at him without any judgment... Even Phoebe had never done that. There had always been a hesitance in her smile, from the moment she learned of who he was. It was nice had he never wanted to let it go.

Be it as friends or something extra. Wouldn't be his first time with a man, though it had been some time...

Giving the boy one last smile, Cole faded away, back to his condo where he would have incredibly pleasant dreams for the first time in forever.

"""

Bryce smiled as Cole left, feeling the man's pain ease so drastically. "I like him... he is so friendly, warm and just... sexy. You really screwed up Phoebe." Turning, he felt a coldness overtake him. "My honesty spell worked. I learned how cruel you were, how callous, uncaring, judgemental. I would look at yourself before you start judging me or him. Now, Paige promised to teach me magic tomorrow morning since she left her job. I want to have a lot of sleep for that, I plan to dedicate myself entirely to magic until school starts in January, giving me from September until then to get a good grip on my powers and skills so I don't revive a near dying patient by accident again."

Cold he suddenly felt a rush of clarity, he stopped and stumbled. " Wait... why am I so angry... and hurt... maybe it's because of Cole. Like I took his pain, so I am taking on some of his burdens, like literally. Leo, is that right? I mean since I siphoned his pain, I am also hurting too and it's making me lash out? I am not naturally confrontational, I tend to bottle and explode but there was no build up just... poof. Sorry Phoebe, Paige...I... I do like you guys, but when I felt his pain it just..."

The girls, to his pleasure, nodded. Paige actually walked over and hugged him. "It's okay, dude. I get it. I couldn't control my powers when I first got them. You are just being overwhelmed with yours... and to be honest, you had a point. I guess we did kind of treat Cole poorly... I am not saying that I like him, but maybe it was wrong to just abandon him... I will not stand in the way of your friendship, but I will teach you how to kick his ass if he is a threat. Deal?"

He hugged her back. "Deal... Phoebe... I really am sorry."

She nodded. " It's fine... my sister, Prue... before she died, she became an Empath for a bit. I remembered how the hearts of others could change her, your kind of like that but with pain... it's not your fault. Besides, Paige is right, you made some good points. It wasn't right, still isn't that we just abandoned him and hated him so much despite all the good he did. It's like we forgot it. I will not stand in your way, but I can't love him anymore... or let myself give in to the love I have. Goodnight." With quiet pain, she left and moved onto bed.

Sighing, Bryce fell back onto his bed. " Leo... will I always do that, freak out when overwhelmed by people's pain?"

"Maybe." Leo said. "But your gift is part of you, so you can handle it. I can help you meditate, that might help you control your emotions..."

"I'd like that... thanks. Sorry for getting you guys up."

Piper shrugged. "It happens. Your gift is unexplored territory, we are working in the dark. Your going to have some slip-ups... just be careful with Cole. Goodnight." She smiled at him once more, then she and Paige and Leo all moved to the bed, leaving Bryce to sit alone in his room, wondering where the line was with the odd spark he felt with Cole, the connection born of pain and relief and the general attraction he felt for the man...

Sighing, he gave it all up. "I'll deal tomorrow. For now, time for sleep..." Satisfied with that, he hurried into bed and off to sleep, ready to put his panic off for the next day.


Chapter end, tell me what you think in the Reviews.

This was fun!

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.