Chosen, A New Chapter 5
Xxx
Paige Matthews stood on top of the Golden Gate bridge looking out over the ocean. No matter how many times she has been there, the view always remained amazing. It was also a place filled with great memories, since it was on top of this bridge where Henry had proposed to her. She couldn't believe that they had been married for almost two years already. And with Piper and Phoebe both having kids, Henry was starting to talk about having kids as well. Even though she loved him and wanted kids eventually, it was still so soon for her to actually have them.
Paige was snapped out of her trail of thoughts when a column of orbs descended down from the heavens, materializing in Sandra the elder. Paige wondered what she could want and figured it probably had to do something with Billie.
"Sandra." Paige said surprised.
"Hello Paige." Sandra replied. "I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
"Of course not, how can I help you?" Paige asked.
"I wanted to talk to you about Billie." Sandra replied, confirming Paige's suspicions. "The elders are very pleased with the way things turned out. We are now sure that Billie was the right choice."
"Did you doubt that?" Paige asked.
"Not all of us, but after everything that happened in the Ultimate battle, some Elders thought it might be best not to involve Billie in this. There are some that still don't fully trust her." Sandra explained.
"How can you say that?" Paige called out. "My sisters and I know what happened then best, and we were able to forgive her. Why should the Elders think otherwise?"
"Paige, you know that the heavens aren't perfect." Sandra said. "There is great conflict and discussion between the Elders. Some of us are too stuck in the old ways while others can only think of the future."
"Where do you stand?" Paige asked.
"I support you, and I trust your judgment." Sandra said. "And now Billie herself has proven herself to the Elders as well, so they are willing to give her the benefit of the doubt."
"So all of this was a test? To see if she met your criteria?" Paige asked angrily.
"In a way, yes." Sandra said. "The Grimlock posed a threat and action needed to be taken. But this event was only a small part in something bigger to come. We believe the underworld is trying to reform and redefine itself now that the demons of old are gone. And so a new force of good was needed."
"Billie and the others." Paige added.
"Yes." Sandra said. "Which bring us to what I came to talk to you about, Paige. The elders think it best that Billie gets a fresh start and becomes closer to her new friends. And since they all share this new destiny, we think that it is best that they share a whitelighter as well."
"Wait, what?" Paige asked. "What are you saying?"
"We think it is best if Mikelle acted that their link to the Elders." Sandra explained. "I'm sorry, Paige, I know you and Billie are close, but we feel this is for the best."
"But Billie is my charge." Paige objected. "I care about her and I don't want to lose her. She is like family."
"And she still can be, but Billie's path now lies with the others." Sandra said. "It is time to let her go and let her go down that path."
Paige didn't know what to say. Even though their relationship was complicated, Billie was a friend and part of the family. She didn't want to lose her as a charge. The understood what Sandra was trying to say, but it still didn't feel right.
"Does Billie have a say in this?" Paige asked.
"We would not force this upon you, Paige." Sandra said. "But I hope you can see why we think this is for the best. I am meeting Billie and the others in Magic School to inform them of the situation. You are welcome to come with me."
"I do understand why you are doing this." Paige said. "I'm just not happy about it."
"I understand." Sandra replied.
"Fine, let's go to Magic School and we'll see what happens." Paige said reluctantly.
Sandra nodded and dissolved in a column of orbs. Paige stood still for a while and looked out at the view. She wanted to keep Billie as her charge, but what that really what was best of Billie, or was she being selfish. She knew Billie had to go her own way, she just didn't want to lose her. Paige took a deep breath and disappeared in a swirl of orbs.
Xxx
When Billie arrived at Magic School with Mikelle, she was surprised to see Duncan and Violet there as well. While Duncan was talking to a few students, Violet was looking around with huge eyes. Magic school was pretty impressive for a first timer, especially if that first timer only found out she was a witch a day ago. Billie realized it felt good to see them again, since things had ended rather abruptly after they vanquished the Grimlock. Everyone had been exhausted and worn down, so they didn't really get a change to say goodbye. When the two witches spotted them, they both came waling over.
"Billie." Violet said. "How are you?"
"Good, I'm good. What about you?" Billie replied.
"I'm good, I guess, still trying to let it all sink in." Violet said.
"What about you, Duncan?" Billie asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Just wondering why the Elders are calling us here." Duncan said. "Last time I met an Elder things didn't go so well."
"You met them before?" Billie asked.
"Yeah, when Paige was trying to keep Magic School from closing." Duncan said. "Which was when I accidentally conjured up lady Godiva from a history book."
"Who's Lady Godiva?" Violet asked confused.
"Of course you'd summon a naked chick." Mikelle remarked.
"No, it wasn't like that." Duncan nervously said. "I'm…"
Before Duncan had a chance to finish his sentence, A column of orbs appeared from the ceiling, taking the shape of a blonde woman dressed in golden and white robes. An elder. She was immediately followed by another swirl of orbs, which materialized into Paige. Billie noticed right away that Paige seemed a little sad, though she smiled at her.
"Paige, what are you doing here?" Billie asked.
"I asked Paige to be here." The Elder said. "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Sandra."
"Nice to meet you." Violet said excited. "So you're an Elder? And you guys live in heaven?"
"Well, not living really, since technically whitelighters and elders are dead." Mikelle replied.
"Oh, right." Violet said confused.
"Thank you all for coming. We have a great deal to discuss." Sandra said. "As you all know you are here because you were chosen for something great. With the Charmed ones having fulfilled their destiny, a new force of good was needed. Therefore the Angels of Destiny decided to grant each of you a new destiny, becoming a part of the Chosen, a new force of good witches. You were all chosen because you are special and we know you have great potential."
"So we're like a new power of three?" Duncan asked.
"Not exactly." Sandra said. "You are more like a coven. A collective of power. With the ritual you performed you created a shared bond, both spiritual and magical. Together you will become stronger than you would have individually."
"So we'll have to fight more demons?" Violet asked nervously.
"Yes, there is no point in hiding that fact." Sandra said. "We believe that the underworld is rising again. With the likes of the Source and the Triad gone, a power struggle has begun. Every demon will fight to rise to power, which means that they will pose a threat to greater good."
"This is all a little confusing." Violet said.
"I understand this is all new to you, Violet." Sandra said. "Which is why you will have Mikelle as your whitelighter, as well as Billie and Duncan to help you learn. This actually brings us to the next thing we need to discuss."
"There is more?" Billie asked, wondering what else was in store for them.
"Considering that you are now all connected, the Elders think that it would serve us all best if there was one link between you and us." Sandra said.
"What does that mean?" Billie asked.
"It means that they want me to be your whitelighter, for all of you." Mikelle replied.
"Wait, no." Billie said confused. "What about… Paige, what's going on?"
"All of this is new to me too, Billie." Paige said. "The Elders think it is for the best if you get a fresh start, but it's up to you."
"But Paige, you are my friend. I don't want to lose you." Billie said upset.
"You won't." Paige said tearfully. "Even if you decide that I won't be your whitelighter anymore, We will always remain friends, you're a part of my family."
Billie felt overwhelmed. All of this was a little too much and she didn't understand why it had to be this way. It felt good to hear Paige say those things, but it would still change things. She was happy to have regained her powers and found new friends, but not if that meant giving up her old friends.
"Why?" Billie asked eventually.
"The Elders have given you a second change and we think it's best if you make a fresh start." Sandra explained. "It's not a punishment or an ending, it's a new beginning. A new chapter in your life."
"I don't know what to say." Billie said softly.
"Maybe it's for the best, Billie." Paige said after a while as she walked over to Billie and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Maybe Sandra is right and you could use a fresh start. But that doesn't mean that you will lose me or my sisters."
"Are you sure?" Billie asked.
"Of course." Paige said.
"Thank you, Paige." Billie said tearfully as she hugged her close friend.
"So it is settled then." Sandra spoke with a gentle voice. "Mikelle will the Chosen's whitelighter. I must take my leave and return to the Heavens. Blessed be and good luck with what comes ahead."
Sandra closed her eyes and dissolved in a column of orbs which headed up to the Heavens.
"Well, that was interesting." Mikelle said.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Paige asked Billie.
"I think I am." Billie said. "Maybe it is time for me to move and start a new chapter. But that doesn't mean I have to close the book on the old one."
Paige smiled at her and Billie looked around at her new friends. Even though they had only known each other for two days, the bond she felt between them was strong, like a family. She knew she had made the right decision when she accepted back her power. She wasn't ready to give up on life as a witch just yet. Not when there was still much good to be done.
"Let's go home." Billie said.
Xxx
The elevator to a dark penthouse apartment opened and a woman stepped out. The soft light by many candles revealed the penthouse to be that of the former Source. The woman in question had long wavy black hair and an Asian appearance. Her name was Klea, former member of the destroyed Brotherhood of the Thorn. She walked through the penthouse in high heels until she reached a dark wooden round table standing near the windows. The dark table had the symbol of a pentagram on it and at each point stood a high chair. The five chairs were filled with demons dressed in dark cloaks. Their faces were obscured by their cloaks and the shadows.
"The Grimlock has failed, he was vanquished by a group of witches." Klea said as she positioned herself behind one of the chairs.
"This outcome was not surprising." One of the cloaked figures said.
"I agree, the Grimlock didn't have what it takes." A third figure replied.
"So what should we do?" A cloaked female asked. "Should we search for a replacement?"
"No, there is a reason this table only has five chairs." The figure in the chair in front of Klea said. "Together we are strong enough, we don't need the likes of the Grimlocks on our side."
"So it is." The fifth cloaked figure, also female, said. "Then our new Brotherhood is complete."
"And soon we will be in control of the underworld and this city." The third figure said.
"What about these witches?" one of the cloaked females asked.
"One of them was a Charmed one, the half-breed." Klea reported. "The others were three young witches that I couldn't identify."
"Will they be trouble?" one of the figures asked.
"They seemed young and inexperienced, but powerful nonetheless." Klea said. "If they have the support of a Charmed One, they could pose a threat."
"What should we do?" a cloaked female asked.
"For now, nothing. We proceed as planned." The figure in front of Klea said. "We will keep an eye on them and deal with them if they become too much of a risk."
"Then we are agreed." Another figure said.
All five figures rose up and took a cup from the table, holding it up in the air. As they got up the candles in the room started burning more intensely, shedding some light on the cloaked figures. One of the female figured had sharp talons on her hand while another tall figure had a pale white deformed claw. The rest of them had a normal, humanlike appearance.
"To the brotherhood." One of them said.
"To the brotherhood." All five figures repeated.
Xxx
The End
Xxx
Author Note:
Well, this was the first chapter in my Chosen series. I hope you enjoyed it and will review. Like it was already guessed, Paige will not be a main character anymore but she and her sisters will make a couple of more appearances. I already have the next chapter planned, which will also feature Paige and another returning character.