This Is War
Paige and Phoebe were in a room, talking. Behind them, in a bed, Billie's body lay, covered by a blanket.
-What are e gonna do about it? –Paige asked cleaning her face from the tears.
-I don't know, but we've got hundreds of whitelighters falling on earth, The Source out of control, Christy by his side and Billie dead. It hurts me to say that, but we can't worry about her now. –Phoebe replied.
-No, you're right. –The younger sister replied. –Let's just go back downstairs.
In the living room, and in the kitchen, there was a huge mess. Whitelighters, Elders, witches and Cole all talked at the same time, trying to decide what to do.
-He's stolen our powers! –One of them shouted.
-A war is starting! –Another one added.
-It's all a plan of the darklighters! –A third voice shouted.
-Silence! –Piper shouted suddenly. –You've been here for almost an hour and I haven't understood what happened! Everyone has been arguing and no one can understand a thing! I want one Elder and one whitelighter to tell me what happened. –She pointed at two men in the crowd.
-We were safely up there, when The Source came and attacked us; I don't know how he managed to get there, but he found the room where we kept the Sphere of Orm. –The Elder said.
-And what would that be exactly? –Prue asked.
-It's a magical object that stores the power of The Heavens, like a power generator, and it is linked to all of us. –The whitelighter answered.
-Then, he absorbed its power and used it to banish us from up there and take away almost all of our power. Some of us came here because we knew it was one of the safest places. –The Elder finished.
Piper frowned, while thinking about what to do.
-Ok, we can let you stay here for a while, but keep in mind that this is not a hotel. –Piper said. –We're doing you a favor.
There was a moment of silence, shortly interrupted.
-Where's Henry? –Paige asked, suddenly.
-We don't know, not all of us came here. –The Elder answered. –But just know that he's free to do so, no one is watching out to keep him away from you anymore.
-Fine. –Paige sighed. –He must be with the kids, I'll go find him.
-Paige… -Phoebe called. –You need to help me.
-Piper and Prue are here; right now I can't think of it. –She answered and left.
-Ok, what's the plan, then? –A whitelighter asked.
-There's no plan. Don't you see? We have no clue of what to do. –Piper answered.
-But The Source just started a war! We can't be careless. –Another added.
-We'll think about something, but tomorrow. –Cole answered. –The Source won't attack us today; he'll want to enjoy all he's new powers before doing anything.
Some people still disagreed, but the sisters and Cole left to Piper's room. As soon as they got there, Prue turned around and asked:
-Are you ok, guys? You knew Billie more than I did.
-It's just a lot to take. I still can't believe she's gone. –Piper said.
-If only there was something we could do. –Phoebe said.
-And there may be one. –Leo said in the front door.
-Leo! I thought you were away with the kids! –Piper exclaimed.
-They're safe with Coop. I was, actually, doing some research on the spell that controlled Billie, to see if there was any way to break it, but there wasn't. However, I found out that it linked the three guardians with each other. –He said.
-What are you planning? –Piper asked.
-He was thinking that maybe we could use that link to switch Billie and Christy's souls. –Phoebe answered. –I could feel it. –Phoebe explained when everyone started at her.
-Leo… -Piper said.
-Honey, desperate times call for desperate matters. A war is coming and we need to be ready. –He replied.
-We've already beaten The Source twice, why is everybody acting like it's something bigger this time? –She asked madly.
-Because it is! Paige has told you, he's stronger now! He's got powers from both demons and angels, which makes him almost unstoppable. –Cole said.
-Even your powers are enhancing, Piper. –Leo said. –Look at what you and Prue did to Zankou, and at what Phoebe just did. It wouldn't happen if you weren't going to need more power.
-That's a great plan in fact; we get rid of Christy and Billie back. –Prue said.
-But I'm sure it involves dark magic. –Piper protested.
-That's why you have me. –Cole said. –I'll do what needs to be done, but right now we should all get some rest. –He said leaving.
-He's right. –Phoebe added leaving the room.
Soon, there were only Leo and an angry Piper at the room.
When Prue got to her room, she was hit in the head by a hairbrush.
-Ouch! What the hell? –She asked.
-Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were a demon. –Jake said coming from behind the bed.
-And you tried to vanquish me with a hairbrush? Great tactic. –She said sarcastically. –What are you doing in my room anyway, Jake, right?
-I'm sorry. –He answered. –Cole told me to stay here while he helped you downstairs with the demons.
-They've been gone for some time now, so you can stop hiding. –Prue tried not to laugh.
-Don't look at me like that! I don't have powers to protect myself. –He defended himself. –What happened there?
-The Source sent his "friends" to attack us, and not everything went as planned. –She answered.
-Wait! He didn't come here personally? That wasn't supposed to have happened!
-What?
-You know, I'm from the future, and before coming back, I studied your story a lot! This wasn't supposed to have happened that way.
-What do you mean?
-I mean that future has been changed, and so have the things I must do. I have to tell you something very important, but not now.
-Why not?
-Because if I do, my bosses will kill me. I'll tell you tomorrow, but be ready because everything has changed now. –He left the room.
…
It had been a long drive; Paige was tired and wanted to rest. As she stopped in front of Henry's mother's house, she barely got time to knock before the world started spinning around and her vision got covered by an immense darkness.
She woke up at an unknown bed, covered by blankets and with her head rested in something not as comfortable as a pillow: Henry's lap.
-Henry! –She exclaimed.
-Hey! –He said. –I never thought I'd see you again. –He kissed her.
-What happened? Where are the kids?
-You fainted and I found you. As for the kids, they're safe with my mother, she took them to the park.
Paige sighed in relief.
-Do you know about what happened up there?
-Yeah, even the ones of us who were here could feel it, we all got weaker.
-I think we should go to the manor. They might need us. –She got up.
-Wait! –He grabbed her wrist. –Are you ok? Actually, don't even bother to answer, just tell me what happened.
-I guess I look pretty horrible if it's that clear. –She sighed. –Billie died yesterday.
-I'm so sorry! –He said hugging her.
-It's ok, but we must go now.
They left and went to the manor; when they got there, they found a mess as huge as the one from the day before, as almost 20 angels, 2 witches and 2 mortals tried to occupy the living room together.
-Paige! Finally! –Piper exclaimed. –I need your help! –Her hair was messed and her eyes had dark circles around them.
-Rough night? –The younger sister asked.
-Most likely rough month. I never thought whitelighters could be so annoying! You and Leo were so fine.
Paige laughed, and said:
-What do you need?
-Someone to train all those angels. If there's a war really coming they need to be ready to fight.
-You got the best team here. –Henry said.
-What about Billie? –Paige asked.
-I got that covered. –Piper said and rushed upstairs.
-OK, I want everyone in a line! –Henry shouted and the whitelighters and Elders obeyed. –We're all weak, so there's the possibility that we'll need to use our hands.
-We're not fighters! –One protested.
-But you'll have to be. I'll send 5 of you to go looking for whitelighter and take them to Magic School to train. The others will stay here with us. –Henry finished.
After a few minutes, they started to train; Paige showed them how to dodge and how to attack properly.
-If you see anything you can use as a weapon, grab it! Orb yourself to it or just orb it to you. Also, try to combine your powers with your attacks, like orbing while hitting someone. But it will get you tired. –She said.
-Saying is easy, why don't you show us? –The whitelighter who protested before said.
-What's your name?
-Austin.
-Alright, Austin, why don't you come here to help me?
He got closer and Paige attacked him, they fought for a while, but when Paige tried to orb, she couldn't.
-What a perfect trainer. –Austin said sarcastically. –Can't even use her powers.
-I don't need them. –She said and knocked him out. –Everyone take five. –She said and left.
-I believe I can help you. –An Elder who had followed her said. –We took your powers away, and we can give it back to you, even if it weakens us.
-Really? –She asked. –I could use that.
He called the other Elders and they formed a circle around her; they raised their hands and the room was filled with a strong light, soon, it was done.
-Thanks. –Paige said feeling stronger already. –Now let's go back.
Upstairs, Prue was talking to Jake.
-Was that really necessary? –She asked looking at a pentagram she had drawn on the floor.
-Yes, it's the only way they won't hear me. Now repeat these words: Caecis, surdi, mutus; silentium custodit!
Prue repeated and the pentagram shone, with Jake inside it.
-Ok, now listen carefully. What I'm about to tell you is very important, but you must keep it a secret for as long as possible. –Prue nodded. –I contacted my bosses yesterday and found out a little about what happened. The Source absorbed the power from some oracles, and he found out about what was gonna happen in the future and how to get more powerful, being able to change the future with his actions here.
-Wait, I'm not following. What is happening?
-Ok, in the future, Phoebe's daughter becomes very strong, and she's able to vanquish all the demons from Earth, but she also goes crazy and tries to end with all the magic by killing angels, magical creatures and even some witches! Your daughter is the only one who is able to stop her, but before that, many things have already been destroyed. Now, with these new powers, The Source can not only rule the world, but also stop Paith and stop her from doing all of that.
Prue took a deep breath and said.
-Ok, it's a lot to take, but I can think about that later. If The Source is so powerful, how are we gonna be able to stop him?
-I don't know, but my boss said that Billie can bring us information that can help Leo and Cole figure it out.
-Were you the one who told Leo about the spell to bring her back? I mean, if she's so important for this to work…
-Not directly, I can't interfere that much.
-Aren't you gonna get in trouble for helping me so much?
-Some of us in the future are in favor of changing the past if it is for the best; I got all these information from two of my bosses, and they've probably been fired by now, but… -He stopped suddenly, screaming in pain.
-What is happening? I thought the pentagram protected you?
-It did, but I've gotta go back now, my time here is done.
-Wait! –She shouted, but he was already gone, vanished from thin air.
Right after that, Piper called her and she went upstairs, finding Leo, Piper, Cole and Phoebe.
-We're about to start. –Piper said.
-How does this works? –Prue asked.
-The spell needed to be used by a demon and a witch at the same time, or just a being of the dark and a being of the light, but the final part of the ritual should be done by only one person, who needs to be both at the same time.–Piper explained.
-That's a problem. –Prue said.
-No, it isn't. We made a potion to bind Phoebe and Cole when they chant the spell, this way Phoebe can complete the ritual. She insisted to help, since Cole is no longer half human to do it all.
-It's a dark magic spell which came from an unknown source, what about the consequences? –Prue asked.
-I'm ready to deal with them. –Phoebe said. –It's our only choice.
-Fine, what do we do now? –Prue sighed and asked.
-First we've gotta summon Christy, and then Cole and I we'll perform the spell. –Phoebe said.
-How are we going to bring Christy here? With The Source next to her she must be well protected. –Prue questioned.
-We're getting stronger every moment, if we use the right spell, we can drag her here. –Phoebe said.
-Also, there's nothing a good, old power of three spell can't do. –Piper added. –Give me your hands. –She poured the last ingredients in the cauldron and the three of them formed a circle.
- Power of the witches rise
Course unseen across the skies
Come to us who call you near
Come to us and settle here. –They chanted together.
For a second, nothing happened, but then, Christy appeared in the room, shouting.
-What did you do? –She asked angrily.
-Now! –Piper shouted and Phoebe put a crystal on the floor, sealing the crystal cage.
-Let me go! –The blond shouted.
-Alright, let's do the spell. –Leo said. –Cole, grab Phoebe's hand and make a cut in both of your palms.
They followed the instructions and waited.
-Put a drop of the potion in each one of the cuts and repeat what I say. –Cole grabbed a small bottle containing a green mixture and dripped it in their hands. Leo started to chant and they followed:
"The dark bond that joins these two
Shall be used to create something new
Break the walls that separate life from death
And switch their souls at their last breath"
-You know what to do now. –Leo added.
Phoebe walked to Christy and raised a knife.
-No! –She shouted.
-This is for Billie! –Phoebe said and stabbed her in the chest.
After that, a dark light filled the room and Christy's eyes shone purple; he body disappeared and Billie's appeared in its place. She opened her eyes and gasped for air.
-It worked. –Prue exclaimed.
Before anyone else could say anything else, Paige came into the room.
-Guys, we've… Billie? What the hell happened here?
-I can explain to you later, what did you came here to tell us? –Piper asked.
-We've got dozens of whitelighters and magical creatures waiting for us at Magic School, Henry is with them and they're all whiling to fight. I think we're ready.
-Almost, we still need our last weapon. –Prue said.
-I think I've got it. –Billie said getting up. –I think I know how to vanquish The Source.
Hello! This chapter didn't have as much action as the last one, but I hope it was great.