THIRTY-FIVE
"Everything is ready," said Tempus when the others had returned to his chamber. "The magic I must use to unfold the timelines is very dangerous. If there is the slightest error I will be destroyed and there will be no way to restore the timeline.
"As I told you earlier, the magic will not take affect immediately. It will take a few minutes for the timelines to unfold and the proper timeline to restore itself. I, however, will know immediately if the magic has been successful. If I am successful then you should all be returned to the moment when the timelines became folded. Only the third sister will retain any knowledge of what has happened. And I will, of course."
Phoebe kept her silence. She was convinced if Tempus knew he had been vanquished in the real timeline then he would never restore the balance. And she knew the Source would never agree to it if he knew he had been vanquished.
The chamber was decorated with the trappings Tempus would need to unfold the timelines. A demonic circle, complete with glyphs, had been drawn on the floor and black candles were lit and positioned around the symbol. On a table in one corner sat an intricately carved athame and Tempus' hourglass. The one he used to manipulate time.
"I need the four of you to step inside the circle," said Tempus. "The witch who cast the spell, the two anchors, and the man from the past. The man from the past must stand in the very center of the circle. The rest must form a triangle around him. Be careful to stand exactly the same distance from each other. No one else must enter the circle for any reason.
"Once I have I have completed the incantation I will be drained. Don't be alarmed. It is to be expected with magic of this magnitude. But I must warn you that no one must move until I have had a few moments to regain my strength. Especially those inside the circle. If you attempt to leave the circle the magic will destroy you. Remain perfectly still until I say it is safe to leave the circle."
Piper, Phoebe, and Cole stepped into the circle and took positions as Tempus had instructed. Nostradamus stood in the very center of the circle with the others forming a triangle around him. Tempus stepped over and picked up the athame and his hourglass.
"Such a powerful spell will require the blood of all concerned. Only a few drops are required. This will allow the magic to intertwine with your own magic and properly restore the correct timeline."
"Just a second," said Phoebe. "This is the last chance I'll have to see mom and Prue. Mom, you died before I could get to know you. Even though I know this is an alternate version of you, I'll keep the memories of you I've made here. At least I'll have that much. I love you, mom."
"I love you too, Phoebe. Remember that no matter where I am I will always love you. And I'll always be looking out for my little girl. I hope you have a wonderful life, Phoebe."
"Prue," said Phoebe, "I never got to say goodbye when you died. It happened so quickly and I wasn't even there. If I had maybe I could have done something to save you."
"You know better than that," said Prue. "It was my time. There was nothing you could have done."
"All the same I want to tell you that I love you, too. We fought like cats and dogs most of the time. It took me a long time to earn your trust and respect. But whenever I needed you, you were there. And you always did whatever you had to in order to help me. I just wanted to let you know that I do appreciate it. And despite all of our differences, I love you, too."
"I'm sure that the me of the alternate timeline was only trying to help. Just as I did here with Piper. And I'm sure I loved you as much as you loved me. But I will tell you that I'm proud of you. If our Phoebe had lived I'd like to think she'd have been just like you."
"Thanks," said Phoebe. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
"Now if the mutual admiration society is over," said Tempus, "may I please get on with it?"
"Go ahead," said Phoebe. "I've said everything I wanted to say."
Tempus stepped into the circle holding the athame. He used the dagger to make a small cut on Piper, Phoebe, Cole, and Nostradamus' fingers. As the cuts began to drip blood Tempus held up his hourglass and let a few drops of each person's blood drip onto the hourglass. Tempus then stepped outside the circle.
"Ego dico super vox tempus. Ego voco preteritus, tendo, quod posterus. Ego nutus ut quam est iunctus ut exsisto faction. Ut exsisto ut it eram ut exsisto."
As he incanted the spell Tempus poured some of the sand from his hourglass into his hand. When he had finished the incantation he took the sand and threw it into the air over the heads of those in the circle. As the sand settled to the floor it began to shine and sparkle.
Within moments magic began to form inside the circle. It enveloped the four figures and swirled around them like a whirlwind. It whirled faster and faster as it began to flash different colored lights. No one inside the circle seemed to be harmed as the magic continued to flash and swirl around them. Suddenly the magic flashed, nearly blinding everyone in the room. When the flash past everyone looked around. Nothing had seemed to change. It looked exactly as it had before Tempus had started the incantation.
Tempus fell to the floor in exhaustion. No one moved. Everyone stood perfectly still waiting for him to rise and tell them it was safe. As everyone concentrated on Tempus, Cole pulled an athame out from behind him. As soon as Tempus gave him the word he would strike. Not even the White Lighter would be able to save the witch. He was an expert with the athame. One strike and she would die instantly. He had only to wait a few moments until Tempus pronounced the magic complete.
Tempus lay on the floor unmoving. His hourglass and the athame he had used had fallen to the floor and lay next to him. For several long moments he didn't move and it appeared that he might be dead. All save for the movement of his chest as he seemed to struggle to draw in breath.
After a few moments he groaned. He opened his eyes and looked around. Then he sat up and put his hand to his head. He picked up the athame and the hourglass and stood up. Without saying a word he moved over to the table and replaced the items. Then he turned to face everyone who stood watching him with bated breath.
"The magic is complete," he finally announced. "You may leave the circle if you wish. The danger is passed."
"How long before the timelines unfold?" Phoebe asked. "How long before I can expect to be back in the real timeline?"
"Not any time soon, I'm afraid," said Tempus. "The incantation I used was the most powerful time magic I know. But it was not enough. I'm afraid the folded time is too much even for my powers. I can't separate the timelines."