Chapter Twenty-Four: An Argument and a Vanquish

Back in the Underworld, Paris and Phoebe were silently hoping Piper would hurry up and save them. Paris, who was still injured even though she wasn't dead anymore, had managed to sit up against the cave wall and was attempting to telekinetically move the rocks that were forming the circle around her. "It won't work," Phoebe told her for what felt like the 20th time.

"A little optimism would be nice," Paris muttered. She tried again and weakly let her arm fall down when it didn't work.

"It's blocking our magic. And even if it wasn't, you don't have enough energy to use your powers," Phoebe explained. Paris huffed and crossed her arms. "You can sit there and glare at me all you like but it won't change what I'm saying. You doing that is pointless and is wasting what little energy you have left,"

It was true, Paris looked a mess and she looked like death warmed over. She technically was like death warmed over – Cole had killed her and then bought her back to life without actually healing her at all. Even in the dim light of the cave, Phoebe could see the ring of bruises around her neck from when Cole had strangled her, and her face was a mess of bruises and blood.

"What, so we're just gonna wait here until Piper finds us?" Paris muttered.

"There's nothing else we can do, Paris, don't you get it? Paige is dead! She's gone. In order to save us, Piper needs to get her back," Phoebe explained impatiently.

"And what if she can't?" Paris mumbled.

"Then we're screwed," she whispered.

Paris' eyes filled with tears and she turned her body away from Phoebe. "I hate being a witch," she muttered. "I don't wanna be a witch anymore,"

"Paris, stop it," Phoebe sighed at her childish mutterings.

"No!" Paris snapped. "I had such a normal life before I met you! I went to school, I had friends, I went shopping, and now? I'm stuck in a cave and can't even use my stupid powers which is the only reason I was excited about being a witch and –" she was rambling, something that reminded her so much of Paige.

"Before you met us, your mother was a demon," Phoebe cut in.

"So, what?!" Paris exploded. "And she's still my mom!"

Phoebe turned to look at her. "How can you sit there and say that? She killed Prue!" she reminded her, her heart hurting. She didn't want to argue with Paris, she didn't want to risk the Power of Four breaking up again but she couldn't understand how Paris could sit there and admit that she still loved her demonic mom after finding out that she'd killed their oldest sister.

"Cole killed me and you still love him!" Paris argued with her.

"That's different," Phoebe replied immediately, even though it really wasn't...

"How?" she asked, nearly crying. "At least I can accept that my mom was evil! At least I vanquished her when you all asked me to and didn't wait for her to kill someone else! You didn't even believe me when I told you Cole was the Source!"

"Just shut up about it!" Phoebe ordered; knowing she had lost the argument. She felt awful – of course, she hadn't wanted any of this to happen. She thought she'd be able to help Paris if she went down to the Underworld with Cole, but she just seemed to be making everything worse for her. Paris sniffed, trying to blink away her tears and once again tried to use her powers to move the circle. This time, Phoebe didn't stop her.

"I hate you," Paris muttered. "I hate being in this stupid family – I wish you guys had never found me,"

Phoebe ignored her and then gasped when she saw the familiar blue and white lights of an orb. Piper and Paige appeared. "Guys!" Phoebe said. "Paige, you're alive," she was so relieved.

"Yeah, I took Cole up on his offer, I thought it would be the only way to save Paige and then save Paris but... Paris... I thought you'd still be..." Piper trailed off as Paris snapped her head up at her.

"Sorry, no such luck," Paris muttered bitterly.

"What's up with her?" Paige asked Phoebe. Phoebe just shook her head to tell her not to ask. "Where's Cole?" she decided to ask instead.

"He flamed out," Phoebe replied.

"Guess again," Cole's voice said from behind them. He flung Paige into the rock wall and Piper rushed to break the circles trapping her sisters. Already knowing what was expected of her, Paris immediately went to heal Paige. As Paige woke up, Paris felt Cole's strong arms around her and she screamed out.

"Let go of her, Cole!" Phoebe ordered. He was holding one arm tightly around Paris and in the other, he conjured a knife which he put to Paris' throat. Paris grasped at his arm, trying to get him to let go of her.

"Let her go!" Paige ordered.

"The spell," Phoebe muttered. "The one Paris made up,"

"Say the spell, and I'll kill your precious sister," Cole threatened. Paris whimpered in her arms as the knife dug into her flesh. She finally let her tears fall and made a desperate noise under her breath.

"Say the spell, you three," Piper ordered.

Paris shook her head as Cole pressed the knife deeper against her neck. She was properly crying now. "Prudence, Penelope, Patricia," Paige started. Cole moved the knife away from Paris' throat.

"I'm warning you," Cole said.

"Astrid, Melinda, Laura and Grace," Paris said. She felt the knife at her back and closed her eyes.

"I'm not bluffing," Cole warned.

"Halliwell witches stand strong beside us," Piper continued, ignoring Cole. Paris was crying. "Phoebe!" Piper snapped. Cole thrust the knife into Paris' back and she cried out but he didn't let go. She fought against him, trying to get him off her.

"Vanquish this evil from time and space!" Phoebe finished the spell and Cole yelled out, dropping the knife and letting go of Paris, who fell to her knees in pain. She was on all fours and sobbing as Cole screamed behind her and was finally vanquished. Paris fell forward, flat, and her sisters ran up to her. "No, no, no," Phoebe was muttering. Paris' eyes were closed.

Paris, I told you I didn't want to see any of you yet.