Several months later:
She waited till all was quiet. She knew what would soon happen but she wasn't yet ready to show her hand.
She cast her eyes over all around her but not yet ready to reveal she was awake, she saw no real need to let them all know she was watching them. She caught her eyes drifting to one portion in the cavern locking in to what she never even thought possible, but deep inside she knew was possible in some way deep in the magical world of evil.
She marveled at what he said he could do. She never believed it but there he sat learning from the best of the demons around him. But now as the time came near to her own goal she thanked him silently as she watched him move quietly through the caverns towards where he always went though this time she knew he would cry out.
He wasn't even sure where he was going. He was young yet he still craved one thing. He knew what it was and it was something he had craved for some time now. Was it three years or two? He knew but to him it didn't really matter.
He stopped in front of her. Almost waiting for her to open her arms to him but she didn't.
"Release her." for one so young voice was strong and commanding. But it wasn't his voice more his thoughts, penetrating the demons before him minds.
The demons stood there frozen in time not really sure what to do or expect. But as the flames built around one the other soon moved releasing what he ordered.
He looked up at her not really sure what to believe. He knew they were all powerful but he never imagined that one would be so close to him. He didn't even think one could get that close to his heart. But he looked at her as she stepped back to the rocky wall.
"I won't hurt you. I will protect you." The voice came into her head, as she held his gaze not really sure what to believe any more.
Taking her hand he dre her towards teh only chair in teh room. setting her down he moved to sit on her lap, curling up in her arms, resting as he felt her chest move up and down. No one dared disturb what was happening. Even she knew where he was but dared not move. She knew even now his power was formidable.
"Mistress. What now?"
She looked in on the sleeping boy and the woman, "We wait. He can not protect her forever."
"And if…" his voice drifted off afraid of the words he might say.
"He wouldn't dare challenge me. His powers are nothing without the Source. And as he is dead then he is of no consequences to me or anyone else.
She drifted from the cavern her thoughts on the demon they all spoke of. She knew he was the one that could upset her plans. He was the one to seek out the true heir. And she was the one who held him in her grasp through the art of magic.
Piper sat in her room looking down at Wyatt as he slept. At least someone in the Manor was sleeping she thought to herself. Ever since Phoebe had dropped the bombshell on them about Prue she knew none of them had slept. Phoebe and herself for worry, as to what was happening to the siste,r they thought safe with their Mother and Grams. And Paige for concern over them as well as the sister she never knew.
She was pulled from her thoughts by a loud crash in the attic. Quickly making sure Wyatt was ok she took off through her doorway and up the flight of stairs she had taken more times in the last five years then her whole life.
"What the hell?" Piper came to sudden halt at the attic door as she felt someone bump into her. knowing it was Paige as Phoebe was sitting on the floor trying to wave away the smoke that was slowly dissipating.
Paige tried to hide the smile on her face as she looked over at her older sister." Um Phoebe. What are you doing?" she laughed between the words.
Phoebe looked up at Piper and Paige as they stepped almost cautiously into the room, "I was trying a spell. To get Grams or Mum to come down here and explain this. I tried everything else and nothing was working."
"So what? You thought blowing up the attic would some how get their attention?" Piper replied sarcastically.
"No!" she shot back though took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and rested her face in her hands. Ever since she saw Prue in her premonition, it brought back all her old feelings again. Feelings she thought she had dealt with over two years ago. Her sister was gone and there was no turning back. But to see her there, the spark from her eyes gone. The look of confidence she carried was no where to be seen, and it tore at her own soul. "I just need to know why they lied Piper." Her voice was quiet as she felt the tears escaping down her face.
Piper closed her eyes and felt the pang to her own heart as she crouched down beside Phoebe, wrapping her arms around her sister, holding her till she was ready to let go.
Paige bent down and placed her own hand on Phoebes shoulder giving her what comfort she could, "Maybe they didn't know honey." She tried to reason. She had only met her mother once and Grams a few more times then that. She couldn't see either of them putting Piper and Phoebe through that. Unless there was more to it some how.
Piper shot Paige a look not really sure what her younger sister was thinking, "They didn't know Paige? Even I find that hard to believe."
Paige's mind was going now on a train of thought and she wasn't sure where it was going to take her. "No think about it. I mean I can't see them not telling you. Especially after the way you reacted to them keeping me a secret. Maybe some how when the Soul Collector took her soul she sends up an imposter, or something, so you 'think' your loved one is with you." She paced back and forth and could feel the eyes of her sisters on her. "I just can't see them not telling you two something like this." She added as she held both their eyes to hers.
"So let me see if I understand what you are saying Paige." Phoebe started as she felt anger inside her starting to boil. "You think this Soul Collector sent an imposter of my sister to heaven to fool our family?" she felt Piper's hand on her arm willing her to calm down. She was just as angry but she knew it was Paige's fault, she was just trying to come up with an idea.
"It's just a theory Phoebe. I am trying to understand why they wouldn't tell you." She said defensively as she saw the anger in Phoebes eyes.
"And a good one Paige." A new voice came from beside them, one they hadn't even noticed arrive.
"Mum?" Piper was the first to speak any words as she still held on to Phoebe.
"I'm sorry I never came early Phoebe, I couldn't. Word up there travels fast when it concerns the three of you, and we were all a bit busy."
"Busy? That's good Mum because here I thought you didn't care about us!" Phoebe voice rose steady as her anger started to flare out. "In case you missed it I saw Prue and she wasn't lying around on a white cloud. She was staggering through her own hell as her soul was the shell of the sister I knew and loved!" She felt Pipers hand again but pulled away. She was more angry then she felt she could ever be at her mother, and everyone else who should have told them.
"Honey I know you're upset and you have a right to be."
"Thanks for the permission." She shot back.
"But what Paige is suggesting is right, we didn't know. Prue was with us, that was all we needed. Then you had your premonition. It was then suddenly, the Prue we knew was no where to be seen. She's gone."
Paige stood and listened as Phoebe seethed and Piper tried to process everything rationally.
"So the game was up." She said quietly as she looked once more towards her sisters. "She knew that we now know the truth, so there was no reason for her to stay. Her 'job' was done, and in that she disappears leaving us all empty, knowing that Prue is stuck in hell."
"That is what the Elders think as well as the family." Patty spoke, though still keeping Phoebe in her sights. It hurt that her baby girl hurt like this, had to see and feel what she had.
Piper once again felt like the middle child, only now it was between her mother and her younger sister. "Ok so now what do we do? We can't leave her down there."
"I don't know, but some how you need to save your sisters soul and return her to where she belongs. Mother has had a bad feeling ever since we found out and Melinda is in agreement. That they might be using her to get all of you. Or they might have already turned her soul evil somehow. In which case she might be more of a threat to you then the Source himself was." Patty reccalled what Melinda had told them what she had foreseen many years before the girls were even born and now it scared them all. That the prophet of an heir to over see the darkness would come from a Charmed One. and now it looked like it would. "Through dark magic the Soul Collector is making her own path to the throne with a son. Born of Warren blood."
"Ok our sister is a soul, it isn't like she can have a baby." Phoebe shoot out her anger subsiding.
"Through dark magic sweetie anything is possible." Patty said letting her words penetrate the silence that soon feel between them all.
He seethed as word travelled to him. She knew what he was planning and she was already two steps in front of him.
He watched carefully as he made his way with stealth through the caverns, "Soon the son of the Source will sit on his throne."
He moved with grace and confidence. He knew what he was destined for, he felt the power surging through him. He had once again moved to her side, once again vowing to protect her. He had to free her and then he would set his own destiny. One that had been set out for him years before even his parents were born.
He looked at the crystal before him taking it so gently in his hands. He knew how to free her. He had tried several times before on other souls that were captured. He wanted to make sure he got it right. He couldn't risk killing her. And he was thankful he had practiced on others as many had died in his efforts to get it right.
He held the crystal in his hand feeling the warmth from inside.
"Don't do this here."
He spun and quickly held the energy bolt in his hand. "How dare you."
"I know who you are sire. And I beg of you to not let the witch free here. She has many enemies." His voice held a great deal of confidence. Spoken from a servant of power for many years.
He watched him carefully." You want me or her?"
"Neither your liege. I serve only the true heir of the throne and that is you." He spoke as he knelt before the young man. Not much more then a teenager. " I have served many before you and it is my sworn duty to serve all that rule the underworld. I have come to seek you out, but she knows of your power and she will stop at nothing to prevent you from your true destiny."
He looked down on the man before him. His brown skin glistened in the heat of the flames around them. He knew she wanted to betray him. Only wanted him for his true power. Even at a young age he could feel her lies of deceit.
"Lead the way." He finally said as he he held the crystal close to his body, following the man before him. There was something he felt that made him believe he could trust him.
She starred at the place she knew the one soul she held dear was to be, but it was not there. She had waited three years to capture her soul and now after everything it was gone.
"Get me back my witch." her voice was steady and true to anyone around her.
"My mistress. He has taken her." one dared to speak out.
She felt herself freeze. Not wanting to even begin to think of the consequences now. It was her deal with him that set off the events now. The wonder of dark magic. The sorcerer that had made them both real. Made her human if for a short time, to deliver him.
She spun on her heals to find her own answers, but she had a feeling that even they would not help her.
He felt the chill of the cold air around him and he knew who it was that had entered his chamber. She had only come once for him to perform a spell of darkness on two souls.
"Soul Collector. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"You know Amesist." Her voice cold.
"I know the spell worked. So am afraid I can help you no longer. He is who he was meant to be."
"And what of her? He is drawn to her." she spoke back taking her eyes around the cavern he called home
"His mother. What else would a son want? He needs her by his side. And his love for her as son to his mother will take him to where he needs to be." He spoke of wisdom and fear. For he also knew what the witches blood could do to him.
She held her eyes to his face before even moving around the cavern more. "You have seen what he will do?"
Silence was all that filled the cavern, "I have." Was all he said as he met her eyes. He was powerful and nothing would be able to stop him. Nothing that any of them foresaw. "I also saw destruction. I could not tell whose or where, but there will be great bloodshed with him leading us. And darkness everywhere."
She glared at him one more moment before spinning around and exiting. She knew everything was to come to a head soon and she knew it was time to deliver her own promise to the demons under her command. To deliver them the soul of another Charmed One, the Queen of the Master that they all served.
"Soon it will all be over and I will claim my rightful place on the throne."