Charmed: A Half-Breed's Redemption?

By: Lunara Dragon/Dragonstar

Chapter 4: Lamia and the secret of Lillith?

Author's Note: I do not own Charmed or any of the characters from the show. Those are © to the writers as well as the WB and Paramount. However the characters of Lillith and Maria are my creations as much as this story. Thanks to everyone for continuing to read and Please keep critiquing or commenting it help a lot.
On to the story…

Enter the Office of Maria Infinitia

Maria stood in front of the mirror as she usually did while she watched the scenes through the mirror of her different employees and the current situations they were in. A few days had passed since her last meeting with Lillith and the elder woman now watched as this same girl sat in the home of the Charmed Sister, Piper, and the two were chatting about their day. It almost seemed natural to Maria to see Lillith actually getting to experience some perks of a normal life when a thought cross her mind.
Waving her hand in front of the mirror the scene vanished and then Maria concentrated on the man whom sat behind her at her desk. He still wore the same dark robes but his hood was moved back from his face. Maria watched him closely as he sat there writing something on a piece of paper. He had dark crimson eyes with no pupil, that gleamed against his yellowish skin that bore scars to show his age. He was one of the last of Maria's kind.
"What are you working on so intently Asmodai?" Maria questioned to the man. He looked up at her and motioned to the mirror. I have foreseen a few of the demons who attacked before attacking again. I believe that they are working for…" he paused and did not finish his sentence. Maria knew exactly who he meant and shook her head.
"This just keeps getting better. Alright I will call Lillith here as well as Telane to report what we have found." Maria responded with a sigh.

In the Halliwell Manor

Lillith sat with Piper in the living room as she sighed at the peace. Leo had taken young Christopher to the park and Wyatt being almost five was easy to just watch play and he did not cause to much noise. Lillith looked to Piper as she felt the presence of Paige orbing in.
"Shit." She whispered. Lillith knew better then to let her guard down and should not have been seen by Paige yet. But as the youngest sister walked in, Lillith looked to Piper who smiled at the Soul Guardian before waving to Paige.
"Hey what brings you here?" Piper asked as Paige's brown eyes locked with Piper's. The younger girl with her hair once again dyed flaming red then glanced to Lillith and back to her sister. She shrugged and sat down.
"I, uh, couldn't really find anything about the bad guy we were talking about earlier." Paige said while trying to pick her words carefully. She kept glancing to Lillith suspiciously before continuing her spoken thought "I mean I could figure out some basics about who they are but not much else can be found if you know what I mean."
Piper began to stifle a small laugh when she looked at Lillith who nodded before letting go of her own sigh. "It's ok Paige, this is Lillith, and she knows what we are. You can speak what your actually trying to say." The younger sister then smiled again and called out.
"Book of Shadows!" and the family magic book appeared from the attic and in Paige's open hands. She flipped through the pages before coming across a certain species of demon.
"The book talks about a specific breed of demons who are referred to as Lamania, the children of Lamia, but not much is known about them. It says here that if a very powerful demon controls them they are known to rapidly grow and change but no demon since Lamia has every been powerful enough to manipulate a whole group of these demons at one time since Lamia her self." Paige spoke as she read what she had found and then pointed to one of the pictures. When Lillith and Piper both glanced at the image the lady that it showed appeared to be human aside from the serpent that seemed to be meshed with her right forearm.
"I do not understand if they have been around for so long how come not much is known about them." Piper questioned as she glanced to Lillith who shrugged.
"How the hell should I know?" Lillith responded a little to angrily and this startled Paige a little.
While the three women were discussing what Paige had found Cole sat in the plane of Limbo listening intently while watching Wyatt play with his favorite ball, orbing it around himself and then catching it in the air. Cole looked up when Paige mentioned something about the Lamania and paled a little. 'Who could be powerful enough to even make the likes of them go through a rapid enough power change to be able to take on the Charmed Ones?' Cole thought to himself. He stood from his seat and walked over to stand behind Paige and looked over her shoulder to see what the Book of Shadows had to say about Lamia and her children.

Paige felt a shiver go up her spine but shrugged it off as she then looked back to Lillith. She had never seen this woman before and did not know how her oldest sister had met her. She took in the woman's appearance and then smiled.
"So how do you know Piper and the big secret?" Paige asked completely catching the other two women off guard. She had stopped reading the entry on the Lamania and stared in to Lillith's eyes who in turn began to fidget in her seat. Lillith looked to Piper for help not coming up with an answer on her own. Piper looked to her little sister while trying to come up with an answer.

"Can I tell her?" Piper asked with some hesitation while turning her dark brown gaze on to the Soul Guardian now. Lillith looked dumb founded and then stared at Piper. Paige looked between the two waiting for an answer and got agitated by the silence.

Finally Piper broke the silence and looked to her younger sister. She couldn't lie to her sisters but she decided she could tell the truth in a round about way. "I know Lillith through an old friend who used to help us more times then I can count. She came in their place to help us as much as she can in protecting our children."
"Who is this old friend?" Paige shot back now suspicious of her sister. She placed the book on the table and watched to see if it would react to being so close to Lillith. But she was surprised when Lillith was the one to answer her question as she smiled slightly.
"Are you always this mistrusting Paige? If you must know it's a friend who used to fight along side the sisters when Prue was still alive. " Lillith responded then looked to Piper who seemed a bit shocked about Lillith's knowledge of her eldest deceased sister. She then regained her composure before Paige looked at Piper and nodded slowly.
Cole in turn, laughed at his new friends' answer and respected the fact she was quick at thinking. He then sighed and turned towards the door as he heard Leo entering with Christopher. Leo was surprised to see Paige sitting at the table with his wife and Lillith. He smiled and gave them a questioning look. Cole still stuck in Limbo who smiled if Lillith really was similar to that of a white lighter, she'd have to come if he yelled for her.
Cole then tested his theory. He wanted to talk to her about what he personally knew and see if she knew anything as well. "LILLITH!" This caught her attention as she looked up behind where Paige sat and glared. She turned to Piper "Sorry duty calls again."
As she headed towards the front door to keep up the façade for Paige and before either of them could stop to question her any further she looked behind her to make sure Paige wasn't watching before orbing from the plane of the living to the plane of Limbo.
"What do you want Cole?" She shot at him with some agitation.
"Hey cool it. Don't take out the fact that you almost got found out by Paige on me." The former demon shot back at her. She continued to glare at him before letting out a sigh. She let her guard down knowing she could with Cole being the only one who could see her now. The two sisters were filling Leo in on what they had learned. Cole shifted his gaze between watching them and his Soul Guardian.
"So care to tell me what you want to say?" Lillith questioned to the taller man. He nodded his head in agreement.

"First can I ask you something. Why do you believe I can do this? I mean the sisters both doubt me aside from Piper and I am not even sure about her." He questioned. The doubt in himself started to fill his eyes as he watched for her response. Lillith looked down at the floor and didn't answer him.
"I'll tell you what Cole Turner. I will answer yours and Piper's questions when I get back and that way you can fill her in on what you know to and talk to her about your concerns. For now think about this while I am gone…" Lillith started with a worried tone in her voice. But the half-demon stepped closer to her and shook his head.
"Where are you going? What the hell kind of guardian are you that you bail when I…" Cole started his temper rising. Lillith put her hand up to his mouth and shot him an angry glare. He calmed at the sudden touch and then looked down at her confused.
"As I was saying think about this while I am gone. I am going to do my job because Maria is summoning me which means she has information for me regarding YOUR path to prove yourself. I do believe in you more then you believe in yourself. But only you can choose to be good and make it true. If you do it for anyone else without believing that you are good deep down then my job is already a waste." She spoke softly then removed her hand and orbed out in the same blinding bluish-white and red lights.

Cole stood there staring at where the shorter woman had just stood and a look of confusion crossed over his face.
"What kind of answer is that?" Cole mumbled to himself before heading to sit back in the living room.
--

At Maria's office

Lillith entered the all to familiar office and smiled when she saw her only friend Telane sitting at the desk as well. Telane was similar to Lillith and had lost her parents very young, being put in to the care of Maria at a very young age. She was also one of the most successful Soul Guardians currently. She had helped many half-demons who were neutral redeem their souls for a chance at re-incarnation. Telane stood a few inches taller then Lillith and had hair the color of the sun. The bright blonde stood out against her very tan skin and when Lillith sat next to her, she saw Telane's light hazel eyes.
"Hello Lillith. How goes your new mission?" She questioned. Lillith just shrugged.

"The usual already broke one rule and now I think I am about to break another." Lillith replied softly as she looked down at the desk. Maria sat there writing a few things down before acknowledging the two Soul Guardians sitting on the other side. She shook her head at Lillith's answer.
Telane replied before Maria could say anything. "The decisions you make are for the best whether Maria agrees or not. Do not think just go on instinct." The two smiled at each other before looking to their boss. Maria still wore her dark hair up and her eyes gleamed in the soft light of her office.
"Telane and Lillith, I brought you both here because you are both currently the guardians of two lost souls who will be fighting against the Lamania. I am afraid that Lamia's soul itself has been released from its seal and has possessed a female demoness again. That is the only way any of her children could possibly all be controlled. The question is still which demon willingly took her soul in to their body. I can tell you this it would explain why the children of the Charmed ones are targeted. Telane I am telling you this because your charge will eventually be affected by the Lamania as well as Lillith's charge." Maria spoke with ease. She then continued to report what she had learned from her research and then looked to Lillith.
"You should go and tell the Eldest living Halliwell sister this. I also give you my permission to do whatever it is you plan to do." She spoke.
Lillith answered her before leaving "Thankyou. Also just so you know if what you said is true I think it is better to bump up the part of moving Cole Turner permanently to the plane of the living if he is to protect the Halliwell family." With that the Soul Guardian orbed out and back to the Halliwell Manor. Maria just shook her head and then looked to Telane who smiled softly at her boss.
"She's right you know. You couldn't protect her forever and this case you gave her specifically knowing she would do whatever it takes to save Belthazor." Telane stated simply before shimmering out herself.

--

Halliwell Manor

Lillith returned to the Manor to find Cole sitting in a chair his hands folded while he twirled his thumbs around each other. He looked like he was in deep thought and she walked softly towards him before kneeling in to his line of vision. She smiled up in to his face softly.
"Are you ok?" She questioned softly. He shook his head no and locked eyes with her. He could see the sincerity in the younger woman's eyes as she smiled at his answer. There was hidden pain behind that look as she let out a deep breath. She then pushed herself to stand as she closed her eyes.
"Paige left if that is what your trying to sense." Cole reported to her. She then opened her eyes and reached her hand out towards him. He looked at her a bit confused.
"I can tell you've been thinking about what I have said. I am keeping my promise I am going to answer your question and Piper's as well. Think of it as killing two birds with one stone." She commented to his questioning face. He took her hand as she pulled him to stand.

Before they shifted to the plane of living he let out his own sarcastic response. "I am glad you consider my doubts as something to kill." Lillith just shook her head before orbing herself and her charge on to the plane of the living and in to the kitchen where she had sensed Piper. When they orbed in Piper was busy cooking while Wyatt and Chris were helping by mixing what Lillith assumed to be cookie batter. She caught Chris sneaking a bit out and in to his mouth which caused her to smile a little. She then looked up to Piper who seemed surprised to find her ex-brother in law standing in her kitchen.

"Can we talk?" Cole questioned to Piper who pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She smiled at him with her approval.

"As long as you promise to stay for dinner this time and not just float dishes in to the sink scaring my sons." She replied. He looked to Lillith who shrugged her answer. She didn't seem to care or mind if they stayed on this plane so Cole nodded his agreement.

"Leo, honey! Get your ass in here and help the boys finish the cookies. I have chicken in the oven. " She yelled to her husband who came in from the back yard with his hands dirty. Lillith's own face lit up at the sight.
"Gardening? It really is a great stress reliever huh?" She questioned to Leo who was washing his hands off.
"I guess I was just fixing Piper's fence around her garden." He said with a smirk on his own face. Lillith shrugged as Piper then motioned for her and Cole to step in to the living room where they had just come from so they could sit and talk.
"Alright spill it. What is this about now?" Piper questioned when they were all finally in the living room. Cole sat in his usual spot on one of the big chairs while Lillith sat on the other chair next to him and Piper sat on the couch. She stared at Lillith waiting for an answer.
"You asked me a question a few days ago so I am going to answer you. Cole is going to tell you what he knows about the demons that Paige discovered in the Book. Cole also asked me something that I may need your help on answering." Lillith responded to Piper. She went back to her usual habit and began to fidget when she was put under scrutiny and became the center of attention. Cole seemed surprised by Lillith saying Piper would help answer his own question.

"Alright Cole you start." Piper shot to the man who ran a hand through his dark brown hair and locked his green piercing gaze on to Piper. Piper seemed to be the same way she was with him when they were genuinely friends. The former source of all evil let out a deep breath.
"The Lamania are demons that are lower then that of even tracker demons or warlocks in the underworld. Not even the former source or myself could control any of them and keep them from killing each other or work for those of upper level demons. There hasn't been anyone who could control them let alone cause them to go through a rapid evolutionary shift in their powers and abilities. The three of you are in danger." Cole reported what little he himself knew. Piper stared at him with some worry filling her facial expression.
"There's more that Maria has told me as well. There is a reason you, or more specifically your children are being targeted. Lamia was once a woman who had an affair with the great and powerful Zeus. When Hera found out she killed off the children of Lamia. The true children except one survived. This cause Lamia to become a malevolent spirit possessing demons and she then in turn targets the children of good magic and devours them. She gains their magic and turns the children in to Lamania. The demons your facing used to be children of good magic but there isn't any hope to save them. However Maria is seeing what she can find on the real child on Lamia." Lillith added to what Cole had said. Piper's look of pure horror scared even the Soul Guardian and the former ADA. Lillith then quickly added "Don't worry Piper the stronger demons can be killed with potions made from the blood of a serpent. The weaker ones you and your sisters can beat if you believe in yourselves. I brought some." Lillith then waved her hand and a few bottles appeared on the coffee table. They were filled with a dark red thick liquid. Piper then turned to Cole who shrugged.
"Ok that's good I guess. I have to kill serpents to protect my children and what about you. Aren't you supposed to be our new protector!" Piper yelled in frustration. The piercing gaze made Cole feel like she would blow him up at any moment with her eyes alone. He felt her frustration filling the air as his own self-doubt well up inside himself. He continued to meet her gaze but finally looked away and turned his own eyes towards the ceiling.
"Yeah well how do you think I feel? Piper, do you really think I can be good this time?" Cole shot back and returned to read her reaction. Piper shook her head in confusion as she threw her hands up causing the lamp next to Cole to explode. He flinched at this response.
"If I didn't think you were capable of it this time Cole do you think I would invite you to have dinner with my two young children!" She shot back at him. Cole was caught off guard by this answer and a smile crossed his face. Before the tango of verbal lashing could continue Lillith stood and began to pick up the shattered glass before turning to the two others in the room. She looked to see Cole still had some doubt even after Piper's answer.
"There's more that both of you should know." Lillith said before taking a deep breath. She swallowed as both of their stares now rested on her face.

"I have a story to tell both of you that I haven't ever told anyone before. The only one who knows it is Maria herself." She continued.

"Oh great story time! That's what this moment needs." Cole said sarcastically before rolling his eyes. But he was quickly silenced by Piper.
"Hey remember buddy. She's the ticket for you being able to eat your first meal I am assuming in the last five years." She shot to the taller man in the chair across from her. Lillith couldn't help but laugh at this answer as she saw both of them calm down a little bit more as the two relaxed in their seats. She smiled before continuing.
"I promise Cole it may also help you feel a little bit less doubtful. This story is going to tell you why Maria specifically chose me to be your Soul Guardian. The story took place over 80 years ago. There was a demon named Kretin discovered that by combining his powers of camouflage, that allowed him to blend in with other demons or other magical creatures aside from witches and the Elders in the heavens, with that of a dark lighter he could appear to be a soul who will become a white lighter. That is when his plan was put in to motion." Lillith started and she turned to read Cole's face when she mentioned the name of Kretin. He seemed to only slightly recognize the name but did not give her the satisfaction by revealing it in his expressions or demeanor. She then continued on. "He was soon assigned a white lighter by the name of Mallory. She sensed what he wanted her to. But his plan was taking longer then he thought because it was hard to win Mallory over. To shorten the story I won't tell you everything for now. But eventually he seduced her and impregnated her. Kretin had hoped to raise the child to be a warrior for the Source. He believed that with the child being part white-lighter it would be able to go to the heaven and slowly kill elders without being detected. But Mallory learned of what he was far before the child was born and going against her very nature found a way to vanquish the demon who had tricked her in to loving him.
Well Mallory also knew all to well that the baby she carried was a forbidden being. The Elders wouldn't allow the child to grow up normally if they let it live at all but taking the baby to the Underworld was definitely out of the question to. She didn't want either side to know that their was a child who was the offspring of a demon and a white lighter. It was very uncommon and the few cases she knew about the child was either close to imprisoned in the heavens or forced in to some type exile without any of their powers. The mother did not want her child to go through that. So she went to the only being who would accept the child and love it the Mistress of the In-between who was a neutral being. "
"Maria." Cole and Piper whispered in unison as they both stared in shock at the woman who stood in front of them. The pieces began to fall in to place as Lillith met both of their gazes with her own look of worry. She took another deep breath before nodding her head yes.

"That child was born and soon marked with the symbol of Maria placing her under the protection as a Soul Guardian. It stated that she was a neutral being and it kept either side from sensing what she was. The child was a girl, that child is me. My mother soon fell off of both Maria's radar as much as the Elders'." Lillith finished her story and profession of what she was to both her charge and the oldest Charmed sister. Both just sat there a few moments letting it sink in before Piper heard the shuffling from the kitchen signaling that dinner was done and Leo was getting the boys ready for dinner.
"It makes sense you know. I mean Cole, your new guardian can relate all to well to having both good and evil battling inside ones self." Piper finally broke the silence and stood. Lillith smiled at Piper and genuinely felt better and accepted. For the first time Lillith was being completely accepted for what she was by someone aside from Maria and it was a new feeling for her. Cole nodded his agreement.

"Alright then shall we eat? You do eat right?" Cole also stood while questioning Lillith. He still couldn't quite grasp what he had just learned but could tell it took Lilith a lot of courage to be honest with both himself and Piper. It showed she apparently trusted both of them. Lillith reached up and hit the taller man on the shoulder before laughing.

"Yes smart ass. I eat. We all need food to survive." She shot back at him as the weight of her darkest secret lifted from her shoulders. Piper laughed at the shorter girls reaction and it was funny to see. Piper met Leo's gaze of curiosity and smiled even more. She took the lead as they all headed to sit down and eat the dinner made by the Piper and all three of her boys.

To be continued