Chapter 7

Back at the Manor

Paige orbs into the attic and finds Piper standing over the Book of Shadows, completely lost in what she was doing; it took her a couple of moments to realize that Paige was back. Looking up at Paige, she smiled.

Piper: So, I am guessing that Phoebe found Cole still on the beach?

Paige: (looking down momentarily before bring her gaze to meet her sister's, tears running down her checks) yeah, he was there and…..

Piper: Paige, honey (moving over to her sister and pulling her into an embrace, slowly guiding her to the couch between the windows) what happened, why are you so upset, did Cole… (Paige shakes her head and interrupts)

Paige: No Piper, he didn't do anything, it's was just …just, you had to see him, he looked so lost. I have never seen him like this, he has always been this strong, tough, demon, I mean, ex-demon guy and he was just there in the beach, so vulnerable, I just felt sorry for him. After everything that he did to me…how could I feel this way, but I do.

Piper: Oh honey, I understand, but it wasn't him, he was possessed and even though it was his body, his face, it was not him doing those things to you or me or anyone else. Do you remember what it was like when you were a vampire and tried to kill Phoebe and me?

Paige: yeah I do remember some of it, it's really hazy but I remember trying to stop myself but I had not control over anything I tried to do.

Piper: I had a similar experience when I was possessed; no being able to do anything but just sit back while someone uses your body and your knowledge to hurt the people you love. I can only imagine what it was like for Cole – he was mortal at that point and the Source was the most evil creature. That he was able to gain any control at times shows just how strong his love for Phoebe and all of us really is.

Paige: Wait, are you saying that you think Cole was able to gain some control over Source to stop certain plans, then why didn't he tell us what was going on, why didn't he say something when he was able to get control?

Piper: Well, I think I may be able to answer that for you. The Book of Shadows as a couple of entries about that possession and voids. Basically, when a magic creature losses their powers, they are still magically and their "core" that holds the magic will always be seeking out what it is missing. Its not that the individual is trying to get powers, its just their body needs them to survive which is why Cole was so "confused" after we stripped his powers, he was still half magical and with them gone his body was starving to fill it.

Paige: So that is why he was acting so strange and missing his powers so much?

Piper: yeah, it would make sense and when his body came into contract with the loose powers of the Source, the "core" absorbed them but not only the powers but the Sources essence which is where the possession comes in. If the Source had tried to possess Cole when he still had Balthazar's powers, he would not have been able to gain the control he did because the Source's powers would not have been part of Cole but because of the void the Source's powers became part of Cole and gave the Source the edge, allowing him to suppress Cole without much resistance.

Paige: okay, I'm following you so far, but how was Cole able to gain any control, I mean he was able to stop the Sources plans to kill us more then a few times?

Piper: I'm not really sure, maybe when his love for Phoebe was at its peak, when he was seeing her hurting it somehow weakened the Sources hold for a split second, just enough for him to help. I guess the only way we will really know is to ask Cole when he is really to talk to us.

Paige: Piper, do you think he will be able to forgive us for not helping him, for not seeing though the Source's plan?

Piper: I know that Cole thinks of us as his family and remembering how I felt when Phoebe turned her back on us to stand by him and become Queen of all Evil, I think I can understand a little of what he must be feeling. So I do think he will forgive us but I don't know if I can forgive myself.

Paige: me either.

Paige: Piper, how come we did not see this in the Book of Shadows before we stripped Cole's powers.

Piper: I never so it before today, as you are aware, the book is always changing and sometimes pages appear when we need them; I guess we needed this information now to save an innocent – Cole.

Paige: Can I ask you something else

Piper: sure, honey

Paige: do you think…..I mean after everything that it did, well do you think that the baby Phoebe was carrying was an innocent too?

Piper: (tears in her eyes, she hesitates before answering, then in a lower voice, close to a whisper) I'm starting to believe what Phoebe does, that the baby was her and Cole's and we were lied too by the Seer.

As the two sisters sit, each lost in her own thoughts, Leo orbs into the attic with a look of concern upon his face.

Leo had been up with the elder, Gideon who had advised him that it was the agreement of the Elders Council that Cole was still evil and needed to be vanquished, this time they had provided Leo with instructions to give to the Charmed Ones on how to do this so that Cole could not return from the dead again. Leo did not understand why the Elders were getting involved on this level, it was just not their thing to do, they provided "guidance" and "direction" but they never gave orders because a witch's mission was to protect innocents not punish the guilty. Leo could not help but think there was something wrong here. He had tried to discuss this with Gideon but the elder only said that they (meaning the Elders) could see things that Leo and the sisters could not see nor understand; that doing this was necessary for the "greater good". Gideon then added, "make sure that Phoebe does not go anywhere near him until they are prepared, she must be protected from him". Leo had a strange feeling about what he was being directed to do however he did not want to push the issue any further until he had spoken to Piper, she had always been his sounding board so without further delay he nodded to Gideon and orbed to the Manor.

Piper met Leo's display of concern with her own. She knew immediately that something was very wrong by the look in Leo's eyes and immediately went to him and put her arms around him and he in turned did the same pulled her in tight. Paige noticed the couple embracing and excused herself quickly, she needed time alone to think about everything that had happened and put the pieces together for her self. Once Paige had left the attic, Leo pulled back from Piper, looking directly into her soft brown eyes, knowing that she would understand him.

Leo: Piper, I need to talk to you, but first you have to promise me that what I am able to tell you stays between us, you can't tell your sisters. Promise me, please...

(Leo was pleading with her not only with words but with his eyes. Piper knew this was serious and she also knew that she needed to talk to him about the Elders and did not want to worry that they might be listening and nodded slowly, walking over to the Book of Shadows and signaled for him to come over but to remain quiet. Quickly locating the spell she was searching for she point it out to Leo. He sighed in relief and agreed with a nodded. Piper read the spell which sealed the room off from anyone entering or exiting including any magic which prevented the Elders from hearing what was said.

Leo: Piper, why did you want to say that spell, I mean I didn't even think about it but then you showed it to me, I was glad you had because what I have to tell you is big, but how did you know.

Piper: Leo, I don't know what you are going to say but I need to talk to you about them (pointing upwards) and I don't need them listening in at the wrong time.

Each waited for the other started then broke out laughing that it was not usual that Piper gave anyone else the first opportunity to talk.

Leo: Okay, I guess whatever you have to say is going to take a while so I will go first

Piper: yeah, it will so….what is wrong, what has you feeling uneasy about the Elders?

Leo: Well, I went up there earlier to update them on recent events including Cole's return and Phoebe's premonition. I wanted to see if they knew anything…..I wanted to see if they could tell me it the baby was her and Cole's. (Sighing, he walks over to the window and stares old) Piper, I saw the pain she was in and I wanted to give her some sort of relief, some assurance - give her some peace.

Piper: (looking toward him with a questioning look) and, what did you find out?

Leo: Piper, that's the thing, I didn't find out anything. I spoke with Gideon, you remember him, he was my mentor when I first became a White lighter (she thought about it and then nodded). He told me that I was not to talk to anyone about the situation until he conferred with the Elder Council, then he called be back up there almost immediately after I left and told me that the Council wants the Charmed Ones to vanquish Cole – that he is evil and then gave me this (handing Piper a folded paper and a small leather satchel) and that I was to make sure that Phoebe stayed away from Cole until it was time to …..

Piper unfolded the parchment, reading it her face contorted and see looked at Leo with a look of shock and confusion.

Piper: Leo, this is a spell to vanquish Cole to another dimension – not only that it is a Power of Three spell and combined with the potion in this satchel will strip his soul and send it straight to hell. Cole can not live without his soul and there is no way for him to find a way out of this other dimension, no chance of rebirth or redemption.

Leo: What? But how?

Piper: I don't understand, why do they think he is evil? Did you tell them what Phoebe saw?

Leo: yes, I told Gideon everything, which is why I wanted to talk to you. Piper, this doesn't feel right, since when do the Elders tell witches to execute punishments let alone provide the spell and potion to do it.

Piper: They don't, we are to protect innocents not punish the guilty; we learnt that lesson with our little trip to the future when Prue was still alive.

Leo: Exactly! As far as we know, Cole has not done anything since his return to justify a vanquish not to mention with the new information from Phoebe's premonition, he may not have been guilty of anything that happened after the Hollow.

Piper: Leo that is what I wanted to talk to you about (becoming noticeably uneasy with the current situation) After Paige orbed Phoebe to see Cole, I looked in the Book of Shadows and found out some things that have made me question what side the Elders are really on.

Piper went on to tell Leo everything that she and Paige had learned and what their thoughts and suspensions were leaving Leo questioning the very foundation of good.

When Leo had orbed back to the Manor, Gideon had gone once again to the Underworld, this time orbing into the cavern with the hooded creature that was in possession of the "orb".

Gideon: I have taken care of our problem.

TBC

Who is Gideon working with? What will Cole do now that he knows that his baby is "dead"? and how will Prue and Patty help Phoebe and Cole deal with their anger and grief?

If you want to know, you will have to wait for the next chapter! I hope you are enjoying this story.