Again I must say that I really do adore my wonderful reviewers! You all rock so hard.

So has it gotten emo enough for everyone?

Oh ya...I forgot...I don't own anything...blah blah blah

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"Bloodlust" – Chapter 3

The sound of a small distant crash roused Phoebe from her dreams. When she slowly opened her eyes, she realized it was morning and that Cole's body was no longer close to her. In fact, when she managed to lift herself up halfway on one arm, she realized he was no longer in the bed, or even in the room. A panic rose within her. Where was he? Had he left? What was that crash?

Quickly scooting herself out of bed, she headed out of the bedroom and bounded down the stairs. Phoebe heard a rustling from the kitchen and approached its door cautiously. Gently pushing the door open, she saw Cole's back by the potion ingredients pantry. He was searching wildly through the shelves, shattering vials as they were knocked to the floor. Finally, he apparently found what he was looking for as he pulled the tiny cork out of one of the glass bottles and tipped his head back, downing the contents in a single gulp.

"Cole…" Phoebe whispered, walking slowly towards him.

He turned in a flash, gripping the kitchen counter behind him. Phoebe gasped; Cole had definitely gone through some changes overnight. Cole had removed his shirt and Phoebe's eyes grazed his bare chest. His ever-defined muscles were even more chiseled if that was even possible. Each muscle was tensed and ready, hard as rock. The skin that covered these muscles was paler than snow, without a hint of the blood beneath. Two faded puncture marks still adorned the otherwise porcelain skin of his chest. His eyes were ferocious, hungry, almost animal-like and they'd gone from a deep blue to a shade so intense, she doubted even the ocean could challenge it. But what terrified Phoebe most was that he seemed not to recognize her, staring at her with a voracious desire to attack if she came any closer.

Biting her lip and taking her chances, Phoebe stepped closer to him ever so slightly. Cole jolted forward a bit, but restrained himself. Again, Phoebe took a small step. This time, Cole didn't hold back. In a second, he was upon her, one arm around the small of her back, and the other hand gripping the side of her throat. His eyes captured hers in an enticing stare that caused Phoebe's insides to flutter. Her body so close to his, with only the thin gauzy material of her nightgown barring his flesh from hers, brought back the memories of just how passionate they had been. But his skin was icy cold, making her shiver.

Cole let go of his grip on her throat and, with the same hand, placed two fingers against her neck and felt her racing heart. Keeping his fingers pressed firmly on Phoebe's throat, he lowered his face to the other side of her neck and gently breathed in her scent. Phoebe felt the softness of his lips brush against her skin and almost screamed in desire. Her fingers dug into his firm chest. At that moment, she could care less if he bit her. She just wanted him more than she ever had in her life. He lifted his head and looked at her again. A low purring growl emitted from his throat as he traced a finger across her jaw line, his gaze wandering over her throat and down her chest that was rising and falling in a rapid pace.

His upper lip curled to reveal sharp canines and his mouth parted, ready to bite. As Phoebe looked into Cole's perfect face and his startling eyes, she realized how much she missed him. But she didn't know if he even knew who she was at this point. Tears rose into her eyes.

As if he could read her thoughts, something suddenly came over Cole and his expression darkened. He quickly let go of Phoebe and pushed himself away from her. Standing with his back against the counter again, he concentrated on the kitchen floor, forcing himself not to look at Phoebe.

"Cole…" Phoebe whispered, a mixture of happiness at the idea of him recognizing her and anguish over him pushing her away.

"Please…don't…" Cole managed to breath.

Defying his plea, Phoebe approached him.

"Phoebe!" Cole exclaimed, causing her to jump back. "Please…I don't want to hurt you. You smell so…delicious. I can't be near you. I'll…"

"It's okay…you're good, you won't hurt me. I know you, Cole. I…" She stopped herself before she said what she hadn't said in so long.

Cole voice shook as he spoke. "Just, please…don't." He pushed himself off of the counter and brushed past her, heading out of the kitchen and upstairs.

Phoebe stood frozen where he had left her. She didn't know what to do. She was choked with unshed tears. The feelings she had harbored for him some time ago were all rushing back and he was pushing her away, literally. A gripping feeling rose in her stomach. How she wished she could go back to the way things used to be; before he turned, before even the Source. She heard light footsteps descending the stairs.

Heading out of the kitchen, she saw Cole at the manor door. He was clad in fitted black pants and a white shirt that looked dark compared to his skin. The sleeves were rolled up to the middle of his forearm to reveal his taut muscles. She stood staring at him, waiting for him to say something.

He noticed her, but quickly looked away. Placing a hand on the doorknob, he said in a deadpan voice, "I borrowed some of Leo's clothes, he'll get over it. I have to go."

'I have to go'? What the hell was she supposed to do with that? She wanted to scream at him. How could he show up at her door, and after she took care of him, just up and leave like it was no big deal?

"Please don't go…" Phoebe begged him, failing to hold the tears back.

For a moment, his eyes actually met hers and she could see the deep sadness etched into them. He looked as if he was trying to tear himself away from the door to go to her, but he didn't. With a pained half-smile, he was out the door.

Phoebe walked to the closed door and touched it, tempted to follow Cole. She placed her forehead on the polished wood and grasped the handle. She couldn't let him go. Her heart began to race as she fumbled to open the door as fast as her fingers would let her and rushed outside.

Cole was standing in the walkway of the manor looking at the inner side of his forearm with wide eyes. Phoebe ran to him and as she got closer, she noticed that a strange sparkling mist was being emitted by Cole's skin. He looked at her when she reached him, his eyes suddenly strangely calm.

"Cole!" she exclaimed, her hand close to his skin, but not touching him for fear of hurting him. "What's happening to you?"

"I think…I'm fading away," Cole answered, a small smile of contentment playing at his lips.

"Oh my God! You have to come inside!! Cole! You're going to die!" Phoebe tugged at his wrist, but he wouldn't move.

"I'm already dead," he said wryly.

"If you love me, you'll come inside!" Phoebe cried angrily.

As she had snapped him out of a reverie, Cole looked at Phoebe, and she took advantage of this moment to pull him inside with her. Once they were in the manor and she had shut the door, she turned to him. "Are you out of you mind??"

"Maybe…" Cole answered, his brows knit as he shook his head gently.

"Why did you do that?" Tears were rolling down Phoebe's face. She shoved his chest in anger and he took a step back.

"I don't want to be this monster!" Cole finally shouted. "Didn't you see in the kitchen? I almost bit you! You would've become like me! And you can't imagine the hunger. I woke up this morning and found you lying in my arms and it took everything I had not to take you right there. And then I tried to find something to at least hold me over for a few moments until I could leave you so you would be safe from me. I took the sunlight out there as a welcoming way out!"

When he was silent, Phoebe stood there for a moment. Then a dangerous idea crossed her mind. "I know how to help you," she told him. "I will be right back. If you have any faith in me, you won't leave again while I'm gone."

Cole only nodded.

She left him and ran up to the attic. Not allowing herself to think twice about what she was ready to do, Phoebe found the dagger she was searching for. Scanning the numerous odd and ends around her, she grabbed a goblet and placed it on a table. She held her hand a few feet directly above it and dragged the blade deep down into her palm. It stung, but as the warm blood seeped out of the cut and dripped into the goblet, Phoebe felt a strange sense of relief and release. She was actually giving up a part of herself.

When the goblet was full, Phoebe wrapped her bleeding hand in a cloth she found and took the goblet downstairs. She wasn't sure if her head was spinning from the loss of blood or from the thought of what she was going to do with the blood. Cole was exactly where she had left him, only he had sat down on the floor and was gripping his knees, concentrating on the last step of the staircase with determination.

Phoebe crouched down next to him and turned his face gently towards hers. "Drink this," she told him, offering him the goblet.

Tearing his alert, but exhausted eyes away from hers, Cole peered into the cup. He breathed in the aroma of its contents and looked back at Phoebe with a mixture of surprise and fear. "Is that…?"

Phoebe nodded, hoping he wouldn't refuse it.

"Phoebe, I…" Cole stared at the red liquid. It tempted him more than anything. He let out a fluttered breath and swallowed hard.

"Please, drink it," Phoebe almost begged him. She wanted him to have a part of her inside of him. If she couldn't show him that she cared any other way, this had to do it.

Cole said nothing, but stared at Phoebe with eternal gratitude. His sharp canines glinted as he parted his lips to drink. He swallowed the contents of the goblet with ravenous hunger. When he put it down, he licked a few drops of Phoebe's blood from his mouth. "Thank you…" he whispered. "I'm so sorry…"

"Hey…it's okay. I gave it to you. I wanted you to drink it." Phoebe's face was so close to Cole's as she stroked his cheek with the back of her fingers. He leaned into her touch and sighed. Her touch was like a piece of heaven. How he missed her…

Suddenly, Phoebe's hand dropped and she looked at Cole in panic. Her eyelids drooped and she gripped Cole's shirt to keep herself steady.

"Phoebe! What's wrong?" Cole asked her, his hands immediately on her arms to support her. The hand that was holding on to his shirt was roughly bandaged. Blood had soaked completely through the cloth that wrapped it and was now on Cole's shirt.

"I…don't feel so good…" Phoebe murmured before her eyes closed and she fell into Cole's arms.

'Shit!' Cole thought. She had lost too much blood. He kissed Phoebe's head and just as he was about to try to figure out what to do, the front door opened and in walked Leo, Piper, and Paige.

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Uh oh...what in the world is Cole going to do?

Find out next time...please review!