A/Note: Well, not that I deserve reviews due to lack of consistent updating, but thanks to those who have still left comments around either here or on Shadow Tales. They are appreciated, even if I can't take the time to fully respond to each review anymore as it's a huge shame. But if there is anything that truly alarms you, I'll always make the time for that. As for this chapter, it's been sitting on my laptop since last year and I realized it's March and possibly time to post. So for those still reading, there are only six chapters left in this series. Three written and three chapters after that. An eventual Epilogue will follow as well, but ramble done. Kindly review with a thought or two if you read.
Chapter 21- Embers Into Flames
June 8th, 2007
Paige sat across from Piper at an outside table from a restaurant. In front of her on the table was a bowl of fine green salad, bare of dressing, and Piper couldn't help but just stare in awe. The eldest Halliwell pushed her hair out of her face, which the wind kept insisting was a better place for it and threw it behind her shoulders and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to put some salad dressing on that? Italian, perhaps? At least some oil and vinegar? It needs flavor."
"Uh uh," Paige replied, taking another bite of her dry salad. "I'm still trying to get that figure just in time for the beach, and God love those little girls, but they left a little more fat than Mommy wanted."
"Paige, you look fine and that's not even me just giving you the sister answer," Piper complimented. "Especially great for someone who gave birth to twins. You only had stomach fat and lucked out." The eldest returned to her salad which paralleled Paige's with Italian dressing, bacon bits, and bread crumbs. "Now, let's chat business."
"Business?" Paige repeated. "What do you mean?"
"I've already discussed this with Leo and I meant to discuss it with Phoebe, but she insisted on working today, so you know, you snooze you lose," Piper joked. "I've come to the decision that it's time to sell the club."
Paige's grip relinquished all strength and the fork dropped out of her hand and against the table. "What? Piper, you can't, it's... it's the club!" She picked up a napkin and began to wipe her fork clean of the questionable germs which were no doubt around.
"That the best you got?" Piper replied, taking a sip of her orange juice. "I just figured it's time for a change in my life. P3 was always just the safest investment at the time, but I know I have what it takes to be the chef of my own place. I need something new going on. Phoebe's getting married soon, you apparently are as well, and you got three kids going for you. My only options are to get pregnant again or start up my own place."
"I'm assuming you're against getting rowdy in the sheets," Paige joked.
"Actually, yeah. As much as I wanted that little girl, for me to keep secretly urging for her is only betraying to the beautiful boys I have right now. I'm fine with being the mother of two, so I think I'm calling it quits on the pregnant business," Piper expressed. "Now I want to head into the restaurant business. I gave P3 another year of life after the Ultimate Battle, but I don't want my interest to wane to the point where I completely neglect it. I want it to end on a good note and that's where you come in."
"Is it now? You're not trying to give me the club, are you? I know I'm hip and all, but giving an ex-alcoholic a bar is asking for trouble," Paige quipped, rotating her straw inside her glass of iced tea.
"It was a thought at first, but I realized how much I would need the money to help get started on the restaurant. So I'm throwing a huge sendoff to the club and doing it honor as it has meant so much to all of us over the years. I wanted to know if you'd personally be interested in designing all the illustrations that we're going to put up for display," Piper explained, rubbing her palms together. "Of course you design it and then we digitally enlarge it, but it'll be your work."
"How could I deny this opportunity? The only time I ever get a chance to dig into my art roots is when I'm drawing past foes to the best of my memory in the Book of Shadows," Paige explained, reaching for her iced tea. A jingling stopped her from drinking as it continued to ring in her mind. She placed down the glass and rubbed her cringing forehead, "Well, I certainly can't say I've experienced this for a long time."
"What is it? A charge?" a concerned Piper asked.
"Yeah, but this one is a little more familiar," Paige replied, identifying the person calling. Her eyes widened and hand dropped as she realized who it was, "It's Phoebe."
"Phoebe?! Is she in trouble?" Piper asked.
"That's generally what these distress calls mean," Paige quipped, rising from her seat. "Sorry to leave you to pay for my salad, but I really have to go." She ran around from the table, past Piper to find a secreted place to orb away from.
Piper turned while sitting, expecting her sister would invite her to tag along to unleash some pent up aggression on little things onto a demon and shouted, "Hey! Wait for m-." She sighed and before she found herself fully defeated, she shouted, "Salad and iced tea, by the way!"
(X)
"This is the last time I think an alley is safe!" Phoebe shouted after she finished knocking her demonic opponent down to the ground. She looked around the alley to determine what technique she would use next when her foe got back to his feet. She was glad to have dressed so comfortably this morning in blue jeans and a fitting black tee, a white heart imprint on her chest, to match her sneakers as it was a good attire to battle a demon in.
The witch saw him getting to his feet and she charged over to a trash can. She grabbed the steel lid of the trash can as her opponent created his second fireball. The witch prepared herself as he unleashed it with a quick thrust and she threw the lid as it grew closer and dropped to the ground. She heard the fireball ring against the lid before both seemed to vanish from sight. This concerned her as the fireball was strong enough to swallow steel, so it was a threat to her as well.
"Best defense is a good offense," Phoebe muttered, speeding off from the ground with a now slightly dirty black shirt and quickly ran her elbow into the demon's abdomen, uppercut him with her other arm, and took a couple of steps back to gain some space as the demon tried to recover from it.
The demon in the raggedy gray sweater with black ripped jeans grabbed his jaw and said, "You'll pay-" as he turned to look at Phoebe, he saw her execute a graceful cartwheel where her feet beautifully knocked into the side of his head a few seconds apart. He fell to the ground, furious that she was doing better than he expected.
The Charmed One kept her space with her fists up and shouted, "Who are you working for?"
A flurry of orbs appeared besides Phoebe and Paige materialized. "Phoebe, what's going on?"
"Paige? What are you doing here?" Phoebe questioned.
"You didn't call me?" Paige questioned. "Must've been your inner witch. What's going on?"
Phoebe pointed to the demon. "I gotta tell you, I've been beating him around so I don't understand why my inner witch would scream out for you." She made sure her demonic opponent remained on the ground as she casually carried out a conversation with her half-sister.
"I don't know," Paige said, shrugging her shoulders. "Next time I'll just hang back with Piper and enjoy my iced tea."
"Well, you should've brought Piper because short of this guy hurling another fireball at me, we aren't going to be able to vanquish him!" Phoebe vented, strangely surfacing over coming her earlier casual tone. She looked around the alley, "Get creative, Paige!"
"Why are you getting so angry with me? I think you need to calm down and just-" the Witchlighter was interrupted as her sister tackled her to the ground, just in time to avoid the ferocious fireball which exploded against the wall. "Whoa, thanks."
Phoebe cautiously watched the demon as she helped her half-sister back to her feet. "Orb behind him and we'll come at him from both sides." The witch began to run towards the demon.
Paige nodded and quickly dematerialized in orbs, understanding this would send the demon searching both ways to find her. The demon twirled his wrist around, manifesting a fresh fireball for Phoebe as he knew where she was. He quickly threw it before Paige could return to interrupt and the fire roared as it charged towards Phoebe.
Phoebe's eyes widened as she saw the attack coming her way, and when she dived left, she intended to just dodge it with the expected pain of crashing against the ground, but something more skillful happened. The witch gracefully began to hover into the air, just as Paige reappeared to witness this. She soared a couple of feet higher, even flapping her arms like wings twice as she tried to propel more height under her feet as she realized her power of levitation had finally returned to her. Phoebe realized she was higher than she expected and figured it to be an account of her power returning to her with a pent up boost. She was still impressed by her charged levitation, but was too high to attack her demonic opponent from her height.
"Very well," the demon cursed, shimmering away.
"Um, Phoebs? Mind coming down?!" Paige shouted up to her, also impressed by her sister's distance from where she stood.
Phoebe nodded as the wind brushed her chestnut brown hair around, flapping more than usual with her great height. She held her arms out at shoulder length and gently bounced them up and down in her elegant descent, spinning around slowly like an angel coming down from the heavens to grace Paige with her presence. Phoebe's feet dropped down to the ground and she let out a deep breath, "That was so amazing!" Phoebe exclaimed with a toothy grin.
"It sure was, but why did your powers come back all of a sudden? Well, your power," Paige asked. "At the same time a demon attacked, no less."
"Maybe it was just time," Phoebe shrugged. "I haven't levitated in years. I'll admit, I've felt something rising inside me for a good week or so now and maybe it was my power."
"Bravo on getting the power back, but may I ask what you were doing in an alley? Did you forget about the whole bad aura these places give off?" Paige questioned, shooting her sister a look which instantly made her feel guilty. "You looking for trouble?"
"No, I was looking to get to my waxing appointment on time. I don't have the orbing thing going on and I'm not wasting gas on a two block walk, which is shortened by this alley here," Phoebe explained, grabbing a hold of her half-sister's hand. "I'll reschedule from your house though. It looks as if we gotta go look up a demon."
"I have to check on how Henry is doing with the kids anyway. I kinda abandoned him with all three kids to have this little breakfast meeting with Piper," Paige replied. "I just hope Billie is alright as well." Dazzling orbs surrounded the two and they vanished.
(X)
The rather large number of existing Phoenixes often shocked people who generally thought of them as a small coven. While some of the many mercenaries chose to associate themselves with clans of no more than four, the coven as a whole was huge. The more profound members who preferred staying close to their siblings by nature and oath rested within this great mansion where they held access to a collective of resources, chambers for their earnings, as well as rooms for those who didn't have apartments outside this home.
Being the son of the High Priestess of the Coven, Cameron naturally possessed one of the larger rooms, which was better labeled as an apartment; a master bedroom, smaller guest room, a more than enough space living room which also acted as a kitchenette, and his very own restroom. Hanging from the center of the ceiling was a crystal chandelier with special branches of lights which were in the shape of triangles and were tinted orange, allowing the space under it to be an atmosphere of pale orange light.
Around the large living room were two black leather couches opposing each other with a glass coffee table in-between, littered with magazines about the other realms written by journalistic gnomes who were brave enough to cross the variety of realms to be able to write about them. Along the walls was a black marble fireplace with a fire burning at the base inside the beautiful structure. The white marble floors contrasted the fireplace, but Cameron preferred this color on the floors around the mansion because of how the sun would create a phenomenally impressive glow from the early rays. The night show was even more of Cameron's taste as his view from the windows allowed the moon to beam its light in as day vanished, still providing what Cameron liked to believe was a demonstration of how light can always survive in darkest of times, in obvious relation to Good and Evil.
While other magical rewards he gained from successful hits were spread around the room, a young blonde witch was currently occupying one of his black leather couches as she stared into the dying fire. She tightened her black shoulder sleeve vest which covered the yellow shirt underneath that was of a greater length than the vest. She sat alone, wondering if she would ever be able to find it in her to embrace the inner sorceress in her, but Cameron assured her his men were getting closer.
The crimson-colored door opened and Billie heard Cameron's familiar boots tap against the marble floor as he continued to make his way over to her, dressed in casual blue jeans and a navy blue jacket. He hopped over the back of the couch and landed sideways, pressing his palm against the side of his head to balance it, "Sorry, I took so long. The sorcerer that wanted me to take out this creature he created didn't want to give me my pay, so well... I had to reunite Frankenstein with his monster. What have you been up to?"
"Just waiting on you, pretty much," Billie said. "I gotta ask you something. Whenever we hang out in this apartment, it's really good to have the company, but when I leave, what do you do?" She patted her jeans and shrugged her shoulders, "All I know is that after you left or pretty much every time to leave me in here to work a job, I just get pretty lonely."
Cameron fixed his position, pressing his back against the supporting upholstered couch and extending his legs to reach the glass coffee table, folding one leg over the other. He folded his arms against his chest and said, "I'm generally a lonely kind of guy anyway. I don't like to work with other Phoenixes as I prefer working on my own. Since my father died, at least."
"Care to tell me how that all happened or is it still too soon?" Billie asked, having only heard Cameron mention his deceased father once or twice.
"I trust you," Cameron stated. "My father was a Phoenix as well. One of the best. He actually met my mother on the job. It was one of those romantic tales where they were each defending the other one was trying to kill. According to the charter, they had to call off the hit and both races of demons were furious. From what my father used to tell me, before the demons could even fully conjure their attacks, they carried out their targeted kills and protected each other. Their relationship started from there." He reached into the pocket of his navy blue jacket and pulled out brass knuckles. "These used to belong to him." He slid his fingers, excluding his thumb, into the metal guard and began to rub it against his bare hand.
"What are you doing?" Billie asked in reference to the brass knuckles.
"It's something my father used to do," he answered, continuing what he was doing. "He said it makes his bare fist stronger as well by prepping it against pure metal. It's done me some good, as well."
"How long has he been gone?" Billie asked, finding it to be a safer question than what killed him.
"Four years. He died when I was eighteen. It was the same year my mother was declared High Priestess of the coven. While my mother was getting used to her new position, my father wasn't willing to just sit back and enjoy the royalty, so he went out to continue the fight. Don't get me wrong, my mother still goes out and kicks a little ass when she can, but she has to be responsible for this entire coven now," the blond mercenary explained, grinding his bare knuckles harder with the brass guard. "My father was called to an assignment and that's where he was ambushed..."
Billie sat up from the couch, relaxing her feet to the floor. "Who ambushed him?"
"Demons possessing an adamantium blade," Cameron answered. "This tribe called him to take out a rival tribe that were fighting over territory. When he got there it turns out that the tribes decided to unite to take them out in revenge for all the times the Phoenixes have been forced to intervene against their demonic brethren and it was too much for him to take on. These tribes were threats, which is why they needed my father to take them out, and the fact that they were swift in numbers was too much for him. Once he was stabbed, he couldn't access his powers to escape and he died in the Underworld. The fire inside him died and his body must've blown up."
"Do the bodies always blow up?" Billie asked.
Cameron put his feet down onto the floor and leaned forward on the couch, "No, they don't, but my father's body was never found as you can be damn sure my mother, the coven, and myself went looking for it."
"How are you sure that he's dead then?" Billie asked. "Maybe he's still out there somewhere."
"He wouldn't just leave us," Cameron muttered with a low growl following. "He knows... he's just dead. I've accepted that and confirmed it when I killed the bastards who killed him."
A knock echoed through the halls as they both heard the door open. Another member of the coven walked in with her light brown hair in a pony-tail to assure her hair wouldn't be an issue while fighting, but she could still feel beautiful. The black leather vest she was currently sporting was tight against her chest, as were her matching pants. The fair-skinned mercenary walked in with her hands folded behind her back and her heels echoing. She looked at Billie and said, "Here again I see."
"As long as I remain sister-less, expect to see more of me, Deirdre," Billie replied to the mercenary who always seemed to hint that Billie didn't belong in this mansion.
"What is it?" Cameron asked her.
Deirdre removed her hands from behind her back and onto her waists. She curled her neck to Billie's direction and said, "At least you're being asked for this time." She turned back to Cameron, "The High Priestess wishes to see the both of you. She's come into some information that might please you both." She turned on her heel and made her way to leave.
Cameron turned to Billie and said, "This must be it. You ready?" She nodded and the both got up to meet the matriarch of the coven.
(X)
Paige walked into the altar room with baby Sarah in her arms and saw Phoebe flipping through the Book of Shadows. "Did you find anything yet?"
Phoebe first looked at her niece and smirked, "How's she doing?" She walked around the podium and tickled Sarah's stomach, but she received no response except the little girl gazing up at her with earthly brown eyes.
"She's awake, clearly, and Sammie is sleeping, thankfully. I think that's what's made it so easy for Henry," Paige answered. "Peter's also hanging out with his father in the bedroom as Henry gets some work done. We really need to get a little Elvin nanny of our own to watch these kids."
"Well, Auntie Phoebe and Uncle Coop wouldn't mind watching those identical angels again," Phoebe offered, smiling at her niece some more. "Coop was really warming up to kids after that little visit, so force them on me more if you have too. Throw Peter in the mix as well. Coop may just want a boy, but little does he know, he's not getting him."
"Destined for a girl, of course," Paige commented, swaying Sarah back and forth. "Okay, but what's going on with this demon? You got anything on him?"
"I found the entry, but I had to stop once I saw one half of the cutest twins in the world," Phoebe joked, returning to the podium and looked down at the page. Her grin faded, her focus returned. "Let's see. I didn't find the exact demon, but I figured he was a minion so I believe I found who he was working for."
"What does it say about him?" Paige asked as she moved around the podium as well, eyeing the page to see an illustration of a demon in a long gray jacket with scruffy dirty blond hair in the bottom left corner of the page.
"Galtier is a demon who has often rivaled the Power Broker clan for decades. While Power Brokers specialize in storing powers inside of Innocents, Galtier and his clan of demons are experts in extracting abilities to gain to their own collective," Phoebe read, running her fingers under the lines as she continued to read on. "With access to special rituals, they hold the ability to call upon powers that are present in a selective person." She stopped reading and turned to Paige, "That would explain the rivalry. The Power Brokers store a power in someone, Galtier and his people track the person and snatch the power before the Brokers can reclaim it."
"Fine, one explanation down, but the next question would be, why are they after you?" Paige asked. "For your powers? You just got levitation back."
Realization hit Phoebe, "That might be the case, but remember how I said I felt something rising within me all week? Maybe since I had lost my powers, they found some way to return them in hopes they would surface to steal them. Kinda makes sense when you think about it." Phoebe's eyes returned to the page as she looked at the potion ingredients to take out Galtier and those who shared his blood.
"Yeah, I'm thinking about it, alright. What about empathy?" Paige questioned, trying to make sense of it all. "I doubt the demons just want the ability to float up from the ground. No offense."
"Offense taken, but I'll let it slide. I haven't shown any signs of empathy..." Phoebe trailed off, reflecting on the past week. She put her hand to her mouth and dropped it back onto the pages. She turned to Paige and said, "Too be honest, I think I have been showing snippets of signs. When Coop and I were baby-sitting the girls, I remember wanting to make a child of my own right then and there, but I simply dismissed it as just having the girls there putting the idea in my mind."
"So are you saying my girls are having dirty thoughts at this young age?" Paige asked, confused.
"No, Paige. The thoughts were from Coop because he's a cupid and all and he gives off this great wave of love, I suppose, because it's what he's made of. So maybe for a few seconds it just skipped over love and went straight into thoughts of wanting to make love...?" Phoebe speculated, confusing herself in the process.
"Or possibly Coop just wanted to have s-e-x with you while watching my kids," Paige commented, biting her lip. "Possibly the last time you guys watch my kids when Coop is excited. Back to your power. Remember how you were kinda barking at me back in the alley?"
"I wasn't barking, Paige. Just a little more frustrated," Phoebe replied.
"Yeah, and it seemed as if the demon was waiting for your power to come back," Paige responded, looking down at Sarah and smiling at her. Even when times seemed dark, her children helped her glimpse that not every memory and existence had Hell to blame.
"How do you figure that?" Phoebe asked.
"The demon didn't threaten us with a 'I'll be back, witch' or anything like that. He saw you levitate and left. Once again, the power isn't much of a vanquishing threat, but it's as if he just wanted to see your powers come back, which makes sense with everything we learned about the demons," Paige explained, swaying Sarah a little slower as she began to fall asleep. "So as for your empathy, the demon was frustrated that he had to keep taking shots from you until your power came...."
"... And I got a hit of frustration when you weren't doing anything to attack him," Phoebe finished. "Wow, we are two smart witches." She grinned as she carried the Matthews Book of Shadows to the table and searched for the proper potion ingredients. "So assuming we nail this guy, does this mean my powers are still going to surface?"
"I would think so. The cards have been dealt, we just gotta make sure we take care of the demons," Paige responded, walking to the door. "Just make the potion and we'll find a way to locate the demon."
"So is this how it feels being one of your charges?" Phoebe asked, grinning as she grabbed a handful of yellow sand to filter into the cauldron, laying the copper pot with a thin layer.
"Not really. I tend to baby them a little more. You taught me how to be a witch, so I know you're fine. I'm sure the reason behind this Whitelighter stuff will pop up sooner or later," Paige replied, then looked down at her daughter. "But give me a couple of minutes as I go do the Mommy-thing."
(X)
The ember inside the torches fixed along the walls always seemed to brave the powerful, chilling winds that would enter this Deep South district of the Underworld. Webs with tough threads hung from torch to torch as well as shackles which weren't used for centuries. This chamber used to be filled with all sorts of ornaments which were even marveled about by the demons honored enough to be in the presence of the leader, and even those who were forced to work under the great Queen's command. When the time came for her to be banished, the tyrant was imprisoned in her own chambers and all of her personal items in the room helped construct the door that caged her. Now, there stood a great thirty foot door constructed of enchanted iron and copper with different colors amongst it. In the center of it all was half of a tinted red sphere attached to the metal door which was the lock on the monster behind it.
Footsteps of three people kicked the red sand around and Avo proudly lead Rose and Reynold in the center of them towards the towering door. "This is it." The grim being cupped his chin with his palm and rubbed it, impressed. "It seems larger since I first found it."
"How did you find it?" The betraying Whitelighter asked, wearing the golden Messenger robes the Elders had given him. He was a personal traitor to the Heavens.
"I knew of her power. Ever since I decided to put my plan in motion to destroy the Witchlighter, I knew she would most likely use her charges as comrades to lead a battle against me," Avo explained as he took steps forward, Rose grinning proudly behind him. "I wanted a power that I could trust in. At first I considered Podero Maximo, but the calamity that power causes can even make me shiver. It's too dark, but I was raised on the stories of Valen. The demonic Queen of her own empire, often rivaling Hecate."
"Hecate's powers don't match Valen's," Rose commented, smirking as she felt closer to the demon she was about to share her body with. "I've endured so much pain and learned too many great things that I laugh at the idea of Hecate posing any threat to Valen." She walked closer to the door as her jet black hair slid off of her shoulders. The demonic witch was wearing a seductive black leather jacket with a violet shirt underneath. The black jeans tight against her legs exposed her stunning figure and her spine tingled as she touched the great metal door. "Ooh, I can just feel her running in my body now."
Avo watched Rose better acquaint herself with the door by sliding both of her palms around it, trailing it in a circle. "I knew I found the proper person to host it."
"Please, Avo, you beat me through grueling exercises to be the proper person," Rose replied, still enjoying the sensation of touching the door. "Not that I mind though. Being promised power is too seductive to resist and I'll finally be able to gain my revenge on that lackey witch of the Witchlighter."
"Why do you hold such a grudge against Billie?" Reynold asked, unaware of the events at Magic School as Rose often found herself too superior to speak with him.
Today was she was in a better mood. She turned her back to the door, before pressing her back against it. She crossed one leg over the other, rubbing her ankles together and she said, "The bitch stabbed me when we were trying to claim Magic School." Rose lifted her shirt to reveal a scar on her chest which was always a reminder of how much she wanted Billie dead. The wound was healed by Avo, but there was only so far a Darklighter can close a wound, so the scar was left. "We had a couple of fights before, but I'm going to get her next time."
Avo's black trench-coat dragged against the ground as the wind continued to whistle through the chamber when no one spoke. "Now that we are in the presence of Valen's power..." he nodded towards the door. "We can carry out creating the portal to allow her in."
"How exactly do we do that?" Rose asked. "You never told me anything about this. You told me I am the Trigger and that I would only need my powers of pyrokinesis and clairvoyance!" Sapphire flames began to dance in between her fingers as she grew furious Avo left her in the dark about something, unaware of how small or big the information was.
"It shouldn't hurt and this isn't me judging on how much pain you've been able to endure since training," Avo said. "You do have a tattoo on your neck, don't you?"
Rose touched the tattoo on the back of her neck. The black rose petals always represented how angry she was when she allowed the ink to touch her skin and the blue sparks of fire that were at the tips of the green vines from the stem symbolized why she was angry. It was a reflection on how her sapphire fire killed her mother. "Yeah, I do. What to it?"
Avo touched the markings on his face and asked, "Well, do you like mine? It's time for me to give you your own markings. A special sigil on your face that will act as a portal for Valen to enter you. Ready?"
Rose turned her back to the demonic Darklighter and said loud enough, "I've been meaning to get inked up again."
(X)
Orbs shimmered around two separate glows and the orbs increased as the glows grew. Paige and Phoebe materialized on the highest tower of Golden Gate Bridge, both in jackets as the winds furiously blew their hair around. Phoebe tucked her hands into the pockets of her brown jacket, feeling both vanquishing potions in each pocket. She screamed over the winds at Paige, "How the hell are we supposed to meditate with all this wind?"
Paige held out her hands, hoping to cease Phoebe's complaining, and responded, "It'll calm down in a few, but you have to understand that it's the wind. We can't do much with all our witchy powers about it, so suck it up, and sit down." The Witchlighter lowered down to the red platform, folding her legs as she awaited her half-sister to do the same.
The elder sister walked over to the edge of the platform and admired how high they were. This had been her first time up on this tower since Leo's descent from grace, but it was the height that kept her amazed. She muttered, "If only my power could take me this high..."
Having trained herself to tune out the winds to avoid it from interrupting her, Paige heard her sister despite how quiet she was and said, "Maybe one day your power will enhance, but right now we have to make you drag out your empathic ability so you'll be able to defend yourself against the demons."
Phoebe turned back to her half-sister, impressed by how well she could tune out the winds. "Paige, we're not experts in empathy. It wasn't long before I received it that it was taken away and I've pretty much forgotten how to even call on it." She walked back over to Paige and stood directly across from her.
"Phoebe, we're sisters, and for the day, I'm your Whitelighter. We'll figure this out together," Paige assured and then pointed down to the platform. "Now sit and let's get started. I got three kids at home with one husband, so the quicker the better."
The witch reluctantly sat and said, "Don't try to make me feel guilty. Coop should be on his way to help him." She folded her legs and pressed her palms against her kneecaps.
"Yeah, yeah. Look, you're no stranger to meditating so this should be easy," Paige reminded, closing her eyes as she only felt the wind push against her porcelain-toned skin and ignored all the whistling. "Just focus on that feeling of your power rising... The one you've been familiar with all week... Embrace it." She disturbed her own meditation by peeking with her right eye and was glad to see her sister was being obedient. After instructing her sister, Paige began to reflect on things going on in her life. Her own struggles which had been bothering her.
The Witchlighter mentally called upon a cloud of dazzling orbs beneath her, which lifted her one foot above the platform top. The orbs continued to dance from under her and it looked as if the orbs were chasing one another. Paige mentally stabled the orbs to remain beneath, knowing that if she stopped concentrating, they would orb away and she'd land with a thud. She kept the picture in mind as she reflected on thoughts of how her family was seeming to make a turn for the better, but...
"You're scared that just because you remarry Henry, there won't be much of a change..." Phoebe stated, deeply channeling her sister. "You have brooding thoughts which are only clouding your vision from starting over. You're both excited and terrified and this makes you feel torn even more. After all, how are you supposed to know how you feel about a subject with mixed thoughts?" The witch remained still, not even registering she was using her empathic ability.
"Uh, Phoebs?" Paige called out, surprised Phoebe's ability returned so early and at the fact that her sister was floating a foot higher than her with her legs still crossed and eyes shut closed. She looked up and called out again, "Phoebe!"
The empathic sister finally heard Paige's voice and not her thoughts. Her eyes opened and didn't see her half-sister across from her as she did when she first sat down. She looked down to see Paige sitting on a cushion of orbs and looked down under herself to see nothing but a hard fall coming if she released her bind on her levitation. "Whoa! This levitating has to stop sneaking up on me."
"And your empathy needs to mind its business," Paige quipped. "You were reading me like a book."
"I was, wasn't I? I took your advice and started searching within my power, but since my power is more of a power that calls out to other people, I guess I instantly channeled you," Phoebe rambled, shaking the back of her head as she slowly hovered down. Her bottom reached the solid top and said, "I didn't even realize I was levitating."
"Just like your levitation, I'm assuming your empathy came back with a kick," the youngest figured and then looked down at her new engagement ring. The same one that was considered for her mother. "I guess you know all about my arctic cold feet now, huh?" She shrugged her shoulders as she mentally forced the orbs to carry her back down as well. After obeying, the orbs vanished.
"Sweetie, there's nothing wrong with cold feet. I mean, sure, you're already married to the guy so it's not like he can leave you at the altar or anything without getting backhanded when you go home, but I'm sensing something more than just fear of losing yourself more..." Phoebe said, trying to identify what was going on. Her eyes widened when she realized, "I've been feeling the same thing for the past couple of days. I'm feeling it even more now."
"Feeling what?" Paige asked.
"Something big is coming. I sense you sense it and it's in your good interest to believe that I sense it as well," the empath said. "You have a quiet feeling that is whispering to you that you may not be able to stop it either. If I was sensing it with a dormant power, it's likely it's a really great Evil." The psychic stood up and helped a stunned Paige to her feet.
"How are you sensing this from me? This hasn't even been a concern of mine," Paige said.
"Then maybe it's a concern you'll be feeling soon. The word of the day is 'dormant' and I'm assuming my empathy swan dived into all your thoughts and caught word on this coming Evil," Phoebe assumed. "So what do we do? Book of Shadows?"
"No, we gotta go deal with your demons right now before they catch us at a bad moment. If there is a great Evil on the way, I'll deal with it then," Paige walked over to Phoebe and said, "Let's just hope we can use your empathy to find Galtier and his gang." Before Phoebe could object as she found the coming Evil more important, Paige orbed the two of them towards the Underworld.
(X)
Cameron and Billie entered his mother's office, led in by Deirdre. This had been Billie's first time meeting the High Priestess of the coven as she always had too much filling her agenda to grace the young witch with her presence. Even being in her office was an honor for the sorceress-to-be.
Billie marveled at the circular room which was adorned by various portraits, photos, and prints. She walked over to one board which held the various photos of families who delivered captured cherished moments to Annabelle in appreciation of the coven saving them from terrible forces. She moved along the lines, not acknowledging she was just wandering around without permission, but did hear Deirdre whisper something to Cameron which she couldn't make out. She figured it best to leave it alone.
She came across a large poster in a glass case which held an illustration of the coven's emblem; the crimson phoenix with its wings stretched out and was marked on every assassin in these walls. Under the emblem was the full Phoenix Charter which had seen many changes over the years, but lately for the better. "You guys manage to follow all these rules?" She turned back to the two Phoenixes present and said, "I had trouble with not chewing gum in class alone."
"We're a little more strong-willed, I suppose," Deirdre scathingly stated. She placed a hand on her waist, wishing Billie would challenge her in any form. She held a great dislike for her which linked back to her betrayal during the time of the Ultimate Battle for the Charmed Ones.
Billie ignored her as she continued to make her way around the room and nearly bumped into the black oval table with leather padding on the top, existing around a flat squared surface to write on. Amongst the table were papers on requested hits and charts which kept tab on the amount of required hits from each Phoenix per month. On the flat surface was a crystal ball with a light purple tint and a black base.
This room made quite the impression on Billie, but her favorite part of the room was the Phoenix Charter and her gaze returned to the phoenix emblem.
"It's funny to think the sight of that thing used to repulse me."
Billie turned around at the new voice and saw the proud Priestess of the coven enter from around her son and Deirdre. Her curly blonde hair bounced as she made her way towards Billie in a smart gray jacket with matching pants and a black silk top underneath. She extended her hand to Billie and said, "I'm Annabelle."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Billie," she replied, shaking her hand.
Annabelle made her way over to her desk and said, "Deirdre, you're dismissed. We'll continue our conversation later."
"Yes, High Priestess," the brunette responded, slightly bowing before leaving the office and closing the door behind her.
"So what'd you find?" Cameron asked. "Whereabouts of Christy or a way to help Billie?" He moved closer to Billie and stood by her side.
Annabelle could've sworn she detected something from her son, but passed it off for the moment. "I've had some of our best researchers on this for months and we've finally come to a solution." She stood behind her desk and placed her palms flat down, "As you very well know, there have been many, many factors that could've been the cause to come into sorcery. We just had to watch the steps we take because we didn't want any pissed off spirits on our hands or unfortunate backfires."
"Whatever it is, thanks for helping me out so much," Billie thanked. "You've given me hospitality and access to resources, but I guess it takes an expert to read in between the lines."
"You would think, but I nearly kicked myself along with a load of other people because we didn't even think to suggest this sooner," the head mercenary removed her palms from her desk as she swooped up the crystal ball from the base. "We had spent our time devoted to research on how to help a witch find the inner sorceress in her and that's where we were wrong. Though you can't blame us because from what Cameron tells me, the Elders weren't of much help either. We at least found you answers."
"Go on, Mother," an impatient Cameron requested. Ever since coming into her position, she often kept him waiting as she pulled out the punches.
Annabelle rolled her eyes at the interruption, not registering how reasonable it was. She continued, "Sorceresses, as you very well know, have access to very special magical elements which go beyond a witch's restriction. Powerful witches can call upon the dead, but a powerful sorceress can command spirits to do her bidding."
"Whoa, wait? I'll be able to command spirits?" Billie asked, turning to Cameron in shock.
"Well, yeah. I gotta say right now though, don't go searching for dead relatives as the spiritual world is a dynamically large one. It could take decades to find two spirits and call them into the physical plane," Annabelle explained, then carried on. "Being a sorceress as well pertains to you to use ritualistic tools to aid in your magic, knowledge of symbols, talismans, the ability to make proper magical circles which can act as a crystal cage, but better. Did you know all of this?" Annabelle asked.
"Some of it," Billie meekly answered. "I actually was writing in an old notebook of mine and collecting facts on being a sorceress and I managed to draw up a chart comparing the two species and..."
Annabelle held up her hand and stopped Billie. "I don't mean to be rude, but I have a coven to run and I'd like for you to find your sister as soon as possible. It's definitely been a long journey for you." She walked over and handed Billie the crystal ball. She turned to Cameron and asked, "Please go get my candles from inside my desk. The purple ones, if you will." She returned to Billie as her son obliged and said, "I just gave you a little lesson on the spirit world, but there's one thing to talk about it and another thing to actually do it. I want you to find someone for me."
"How is that going to help me with Christy?" Billie asked as she looked at the crystal ball, not seeing anything.
"I'm helping you embrace your sorceress nature. We've lost so much time on researching information that didn't exist. There's nothing to be found on converting a witch into sorceress without ridding the benign in them, but by helping you use a tool famous in sorcery circles, we're more likely to tap into the power and make it surface. Traveling through the world of the dead requires much power and we're hoping that might be enough to finally drag that lurking sorceress spirit out of you," Annabelle explained. "Even if you have to stay in so long that you end up pulling her out by the hair." She smiled at Billie, which helped make the witch ease into this.
"So who am I searching for?" Billie asked as she watched Cameron set up a circle of candles around Annabelle and herself.
"You're not expected to find anyone as of this moment, you are still a witch, but the real fun begins once you convert before us," Annabelle smirked. "Search for your grandmother, the witch one; Jamie Reed."
"Why her? Wouldn't I be interrupting her spirit by calling upon her?" Billie asked.
"Of course and that's the danger that comes with the spirit world. This is precisely how to piss a spirit off. Those who have been able to rest, don't like being shoved out of the way while you project your own spirit into the world to find someone," Annabelle explained, stepping outside of the circle and handed her son a lighter from her jacket pocket. "This is why sorceresses and sorcerers don't generally do this unless they are well trained. It's not only sorceresses who can do this. Almost anyone can, I have a couple of special assassins who actually enter the spirit world when we suspect there's a ghost who escaped and have to confirm this so we can find them and take them out."
"It's not fun either," Cameron said as he walked around lighting the candles in a clockwise circle. "The spirits glare at you and sometimes do the whole 'Boo!' thing they do. It's not so much scary as it is annoying."
"What were you doing there?" Billie asked.
Cameron turned to his mother where she only looked down to the floor. "It's not of any importance, Billie." He finished lighting the candles and gave his mother back her lighter. "What you need to do now is just stay inside the circle and gaze into the crystal. See past the glass and find your way in there. We're not allowed to tell you what to envision because if you truly are the sorceress you're supposed to be, you'll figure it out on your own."
"Okay," Billie said, getting down on her knees and placing the crystal ball before her. The two Phoenixes present just watched as her cerulean eyes gazed in. She mentally conjured an image of what she expected to see of the spirit world. Gray, lots of gray. The gray represented a confused, but safe plane. A plane where both forces ignore their respective raising and embrace neutrality. The ones who dared oppose the grand rule of this plane would be evicted because if they were attached to feelings of vengeance, they wouldn't contribute to the harmony. And if someone couldn't accept their death, they'd be required to leave as well as it would only disrupt and possibly taint the other spirits who have accepted their fate. It was then that Billie's image inside the crystal ball was clear.
A gray atmosphere with heavy mists flowing around the plane resembled space with pitch black skies and no point of end to be confirmed. Spirits nearly resembled the tone of the envelopes of gray energy around them and when looked at as a whole, and not individual spirits, it looked like a plane of gray grass with some blades taller than the others. What Billie didn't expect to see when she gazed into the crystal ball, was a projection of herself inside of it. Unlike the others, she was surrounded by a thin purple glow which all the other spirits instantly spotted. She cautiously walked around, not intending to bump through the crowd of spirits but couldn't help herself with this overpopulating gathering.
She looked over shoulders as the spirits remained fixated on her and whispered to each other. Some were jealous and others were confused, but it was the jealous ones who were risking banishment from this world. Whether or not that would be the case was going to be decided on how long Billie presided this world as their thoughts would remain clear once she leaves. All of their thoughts would.
Billie was losing herself in the crowd. She had no idea how to return to her body and even less of an idea on how to distinguish spirits from her family. She unknowingly bumped into a great ancestor of hers, but only apologized and moved on. Maybe a hundred spirits away, Billie managed to catch sight of a woman with long brown hair conversing with two people who looked a lot like her parents. Even more, they felt a lot like her parents. She began to charge through the crowd, knocking spirits out of the way before her eyes were clouded with a purple glow that completely enveloped her and...
She returned to her body with a sharp gasp. She held her chest as she was no longer catatonic and looked up to Cameron and Annabelle, but noticed her eyes were still covered in a light purple tint as the outlines were of a bolder pink. They appeared to be half as shocked as she was when she held out her arms to see a full purple glow resonating with a low humming noise. The witch didn't even bother to ask what was happening with her. She already knew. The glow continued to dowse her as she stood to her feet, not being able to see the full effect of wavering lights behind her. As she took in a deep breath, she swallowed all the light in one huge gulp and the witch was no more. The sorceress was finally present. "Wow..." was the first word she breathed with her new magical status. She felt different.
"That's one way to put it," Annabelle said with a smirk. "Congratulations. You've just moved up on the chart of magical beings. You've upgraded, to say the least. Now go and find your sister."
Billie put her hands to her mouth in excitement and dropped them. "Thank you so much for everything you and your coven have done for me." She turned to Cameron, "Meet me back at Paige's, okay?" The blonde turned around and quickly left the room.
Cameron turned to his mother as the door closed, "Was it really this necessary to lead her on for all these months?"
"Yeah, it was. This gave her time to actually learn about what she's about and what will be expected of her with this new power. Also, I needed her to trust you and this coven. She understands what we're about, so hopefully this will be easier for her," Annabelle explained, then grabbed her son's arm as he was about to leave. "I see how you look at her, Cameron. When around other Phoenixes, I suggest you be a little more subtle. We tend to catch the little hints that other people overlook." She pulled him in closer and said, "The time has finally come. Be sure to stay with her every step of the way." She looked down, feeling remorseful for what she was asking of her son. "As much as I would hate for you to sever that trust, this is in the greater interest of us all. She's a threat and you know what we do with threats."
Cameron broke loose of his mother's grip and walked through the circle of candles and to the door. He opened it and stopped before turning back to her, "We eliminate them." He bowed his head in silence as he left the room.
(X)
"We're getting closer," Phoebe informed as she lead Paige through the Underworld. "As we wait to find these guys, we really need to talk about what we're going to do with this coming Evil."
"Phoebe, I think it might end up being more of a Power of One thing rather than a Power of Three gig. I appreciate you wanting to help, but I think it's going to end up being left in my hands," Paige assumed as she looked around the lair. "Also, as soon as I get back home, I'm going to see what I can do about getting my hands on one of those empath blocking potions."
Phoebe scoffed, "It's very likely that I'll be able to control my power better, so there's no need. It's just nice to finally have my powers back, I've been on edge without them. It's that whole calm-before-the-storm feeling I've been working up and with a psychic hit on a coming Evil, I feel like that tide is about to wash over us." She put a hand to her forehead as she grew concerned about whatever it was that was on its way.
"Look, I don't need you freaking out and telling me what feeling I'm about to be feeling before I feel it. Okay?" Paige rambled as the two of them entered a new cave. They spotted a couple of demons rubbing their hands over a fire and the empath and Witchlighter halted.
"Demons," Phoebe muttered.
"I know," Paige replied in a sing-song voice. "Let's just vanquish 'em and keep on moving." The Witchlighter moved further in and shouted, "Hey!"
The demons looked up and quickly manifested fireballs which rapidly rotated around their palms. They both snarled before lunging the fireballs forward at the two sister witches.
Paige held out both of her hands and shouted, "Fireballs!" The fireballs materialized in a shell of orbs, which reappeared in Paige's hands before she telekinetically launched them back at the demons, vanquishing them. "Moving on," Paige said as she and Phoebe continued to move forward down the lair. "There's just so much going on right now and I don't want to think about another big bad making its way into my life. I'm still looking over my shoulder for Avo and Rose, I'm in the process of raising three kids, strengthening my marriage before I remarry him, I gotta start drawing up some illustrations for P3's final night and-"
"Whoa, wait!" Phoebe stopped Paige. "Piper's closing the club? How come she didn't tell me?"
"I forgot. She said 'you snooze, you lose'," Paige informed, continuing to walk with Phoebe following suit. "She wanted you to come to breakfast with us, but you were too busy battling demons, I guess."
They entered the next lair and this one was just a passage. Along the walls were black fences and in the corners of the room were pillars of fire. The fire created a warm orange glow set around to allow better sighting of the cave. Steel chains ran from wall to wall, creating a cubed perimeter where a silver cauldron rested on a black steel tripod. The presences in the room, besides the two witches, consisted of the demon they battled earlier along with two other demons.
While one of the demons matched the pawn, the King, Galtier, was in a gray velvet robe with dirty blond hair and a steel chest plate. He spotted the two intruders and boomed across the lair, "Two Charmed Ones inviting themselves into my lair. You hypocrites have no right to complain about demons coming in and out of your homes."
"We do when you touch our things," Paige replied.
"Kill the Whitelighter. Drain the witch," Galtier instructed to his demons.
Phoebe soon found herself locked in combat with the demon she battled earlier. She first threw her fist into his nose, before catching him off guard with a roundhouse kick to his chin when he bowed back down. This kick knocked him to the ground and she looked over at Galtier who looked as if he was about to join the fight, "You wait your turn!"
Paige impressively tangled her opponent in the chains running around the lair with her telekinetic abilities. She looked over to one of the four pillars of fire and telekinetically forced a good amount of it off the pillar and into the demon. Paige took a step back as he quickly combusted with distant screams following. The Witchlighter turned to Galtier when she saw him lunge an athamae towards Phoebe and she quickly gestured towards the minion, "Athamae!" The blade orbed around Phoebe as the witch watched on and plunged into the demon on the ground with the orbs vanishing once the contact was made.
Phoebe curtly waved as her opponent of the day blew up on the ground in non-threatening flames. The witch looked up at Galtier, "You really should hire some better help."
"All isn't lost yet," the demon said. He manifested a fireball of his own which burned brighter than the ones previously seen. He hurled it forwards and Paige and before the Witchlighter could reverse it back herself, she saw the fireball rebound in the air and jet back towards its sender. The fireball crashed against the steel plate, scorching it. Galtier turned to Phoebe and said, "It appears that power is stronger than I thought."
"It's especially useful when working against an angry demon such as yourself," Phoebe replied. "You're basically sharpening the sword for me with your emotions. I've already gotten my powers back at full rate. There's no way you can stop me now."
"You tell him!" Paige rooted on, grinning.
"If that's the case, then..." Galtier stopped as he fired off two more attacks at Phoebe this time.
Phoebe gracefully ascended into the air with the levitating assist and pulled out a vanquishing potion from her jacket. She stopped in the air as she threw the potion down at Galtier, slamming into his chest plate. It was apparently powerful enough to leave a dent as the witch remained in the air to have a sky view of watching the blast throw him to the ground where the flames caged him in. After a few seconds, the fire blasted up a couple of feet, leaving nothing but the chest plate and ashes. The witch lowered down and proudly grinned. "We didn't even have to resort to the emergency potion," she said, tapping the potion in the other pocket.
"So it feels good having your powers back?" Paige asked, knowing the answer. "I would hope so since you made a point to mention it on Thanksgiving, Christmas, brunch at Piper's..."
"A lot of times, I get it. It's good to have my powers back," the empathic witch looked at her engagement ring. "Being able to teleport isn't my cup of coffee."
"At least you'll no longer be on edge and you can feel safe knowing you can take care of yourself," Paige said. "I guess this concludes your Whitelighter-for a-day."
Phoebe hugged her half-sister and said, "Thanks for being there for me. You're right, it just feels good to know that I'm safer with my powers so I don't have to be dependent on this ring or anything. Even if I don't battle another demon for months, it just feels good knowing I don't have to call on my baby sister to help me tag team it." She broke the hug and grinned.
"Aw, shucks, let's not get so emotional," Paige said, taking her hand. "You are welcome, though. You can pay me back by helping with the kids." The two vanished the lair in joint columns of orbs.
(X)
Rose touched the dry sigil on her the right side of her face. The black ring around her eye bolded perfectly over her sensual olive skin with a couple of gray spikes extending from the ring, "That didn't even hurt."
"I never said it would," Avo replied. "We're now ready. This will require you to use both of your original powers. You will need pyrokinesis to act as our key as you melt down the gate and use your clairvoyance to guide Valen out, inviting her into your vessel. The portal won't be enough. She might be so full of rage that she may just explode in anger and search for anyone to possess. Being trapped by your own servants alone is insulting, but it must be highly suffocating in there. Free her and give her the first breath of her new life."
Rose rubbed her palms together as she harshly whispered, "Of course." Sapphire flames appeared around her wrist and she quickly willed them to run up her arm. The roaring flames continued to add on as she charged her attack. When she felt it was enough as it was getting to a point where her entire body was radiating sapphire flames, she screamed as she held her palms out directly at the door. The flames raced ahead and crashed against the metal door with the flames continuing to pour out from her palms. The demonic witch screamed maniacally as the power continued to build against her metallic opponent and shook the foundations of the cave.
Reynold tried to maintain his balance at the frightening site while Avo proudly watched on. His plans were finally being set to motion and it all started with recruiting Rose by manipulating her when it seemed apparent she was forced to decide between Paige and himself.
The fire melted away at the red stone and ignited crimson sparks. A hole finally began to melt in the door. All the others who tried to break Valen free couldn't be successful, but with Rose's intense flames, the door held no match. As she finally blasted a full hole in, a bone chilling scream echoed out and the demonic witch tapped into her clairvoyant abilities as she finally stopped burning the gate. Blasts of smoke and burnt metal was a side effect, but Reynold was the only one who seemed disturbed by the smell. Rose looked through Valen's eyes and in turn, managed to replace her vision with her own as a demonic advancement of her training. Rose found the vision to be cloudy and understood why as Valen flew out of the prison in a large funnel of surging navy smoke which funneled into Rose's eyes.
The portal drawn on her face made the possession instant. Rose was knocked back a couple of steps at the profound hit and then braced herself as Valen began to rule over her body. Rose's soul was defending itself against the ancient demon as Valen was making room for herself. Rose's soul was practically tossed as low in her body as possible as Valen took over. Rose's beautiful olive skin hardened as her irises glowed and then permanently turned sapphire blue. Rose's jet black hair instantly gained gray streaks as a nod to Valen's age.
When it was all done, Rose was only a host to be possessed and would share her young life with an ancient demon living inside her. They would share her body. Rose and Valen were now one and the same. The higher power known as Valen now existed inside a fresh body, one strong enough to contain it, and its wisdom could now be spoken through Rose's lips. While Valen was once a mind of her own, that was when she ruled countless years back. To exist in this new world, she had to coexist with another without argument.
The ancient demon took the first breath of her new life and she whispered, "I see the air."
Reynold was confused. "You see the air? Air can't be seen."
While Rose knew Reynold was a Whitelighter, the new Rose possessed with an ancient demon just willed a flicker of her power to learn this information without questioning it. She continued to admire the air from inside, "Colors you can never imagine. Colors you don't even know exist. They glide in the air with glorious patterns. Your perception isn't worthy of seeing this sight, neither was mine when I was banished." Rose moved her neck around and an unnerving crack made Reynold cease any further questioning.
"Valen... You Queen of Demons. It's great to see you," Avo grinned. "You're under my order now."
The demon looked at him and said, "I sense your power and while you're no threat to me, you've had me freed and allowed me to see, breathe, walk, and speak again. I need my revenge, old friend. But I need it for two wars – the one that imprisoned me all those years back as well as my pursuit to destroy another for a scar I now wear."
"Ah, Rose. She has a quarrel she wants to pursue with this little witch. You have more than enough power to take her down," the demonic Darklighter informed.
"There's that battle, but there's another as well. One too personal that I never wanted to say aloud but always intended on doing. This is a buried aggression. It's a kill I wish to pursue," Rose pensively replied in a voice that never seemed to quiver in fear or enjoy humor. It was petrifying and solemn. "As I now share my body with the Great Queen Valen, I'll use my abilities to make my victim suffer."
"Did Rose know she was going to be possessed? Like this?" Reynold asked. "I know it's her speaking, just with thoughts mended from Valen, but it's not the same. Rose was just expecting powers I'm sure, but I bet if a battle of freewill was to launch between the two, Valen could crush her from within."
Rose grew tiresome and turned to the Whitelighter. "You are to remain silent from this point on. Need I threaten you again, I'll be restricting what you can and can't think. It'd be in your greatest of interest to follow this order or suffer a pain far worst than anything the Elders could've ever threatened you with. A punishment that makes you cry for the poison of a Darklighter's arrow." She walked closer to Reynold and said, "Some demons say it, but I'm the one that means it."
Reynold couldn't bear to gaze into her intimidatingly beautiful sapphire blue eyes. Perhaps he was wrong in deciding to join this side. He would've be safer in the heavens, but if he dared turn on them now, when they finally did attack, it wouldn't be any easier for him. He wanted to show her his understanding, but figured it best just to remain silent. His stature alone showed he heard her.
"Quite the leash you've lassoed on there. Now who is you'd like to kill?" Avo asked.
Rose's eyes began to fiercely glow and a few feet from them, a bald demon with sunglasses, gray muscle shirt and black jeans appeared in shimmers on the floor. The man was yelling in pain and this was all because of how Valen's power crumbled the bones in his leg before instantly shimmering him to this lair by force. She answered, "My father."
"Sunglasses?" Avo questioned, folding his arms. He inspected the broken demon, knowing what he was instantly by the black-tongue sigil across his neck. "He must've been up on the surface world. He's an Incubus."
Rose took a step towards the sexually active demon and said, "Hello, Dad." The demon only looked up at her, confused. "See? This is what you gain when you force an impregnation on a woman. While you may recruit for Evil, there's eventually going to be one bitch who doesn't appreciate what you did what you did to her mother." She held up her hands and said, "I guess that would be me now." Sapphire beams ejected from the core of Rose's palms and instantly vaporized her father. Nothing was left. No distant ghostly screams. No ashes. Nothing apart from the everlasting pain he'd experience in another deathly realm where he would only repeat the pain of the agonizing blast for the rest of eternity. Rose believed that there would be a chance that the world was destroyed in two separate cycles before eternity finally ended.
"What is to be expected of me, Avo? You've gone through all this trouble to free me and I'd like to know what you want from it?" Rose asked.
"You're to help me destroy the Witchlighter, but on my terms. I want to truly benefit from her death," Avo explained. "Let's set up a base right now though. I'll give you the honors."
Rose held out her arms as she began to rebuild her lair with new ancient abilities. Valen was back and hell was on the way for those who opposed her. In shimmering gold, silver, and sapphire lights, the base began to construct itself to a cleaner image. The sight of the sandy floor was replaced with a silver marble floor with glistening patterns of blue sprinkles spread amongst it. The trail of silver floor was leading out of the lair, going as far as Rose pleased.
She willed the walls to be covered with all the metal that caged Valen for so long, They ripped off from each other and telekinetically slammed against the cave walls, shaking it greatly once more. Debris exploded in furious clouds of smoke as the new walls smoldered. Rose stared at the empty space Valen was forced to call home for so long. She replaced it with a nod of her head and a sapphire blue light dazzled from her eyes and exploded against the ground, going up in flames of the same color.
The floor didn't explode, but when the sapphire flames vanished, the new construction of a metallic black throne materialized on a gray stage of six feet high. Pillars reaching as high as the newly domed ceiling appeared all around and Rose was content for now. She ceased all magic and turned to Avo, "This is now home again." She rapidly spun around and said, "Father Time is informing me I should gather my army now."
(X)
Henry bounced Peter on his knee as they all hung out in the kitchen and Peter was laughing hysterically at this simulating bumper car ride. The twins rested in separate bassinets as Phoebe and Coop hovered over them.
Paige grinned as she continued to tell the story of the day's events, "... and Miss Phoebe here flew up into the air and casually threw a potion at the demon and sent him going poof."
"Nice work," Coop complimented, kissing her on the cheek.
"Since I have my empathy back, I learned a little something." She turned to Coop and said, "You wanna have a kid. Admit it."
"Uh..." Coop rubbed the back of his head at the pressure of admitting it. "Sorta. Maybe. Yeah." He hugged Phoebe and said, "Though I think I can use some more practice."
"You can borrow the twins for an afternoon," Henry suggested. "I love these girls, but these days are tough to manage when I'm alone." He turned to Paige and said, "It makes me hate my days off and your destiny a bit."
"Mommy needs to get out, so it makes me love it," Paige replied with a small grin.
"Finally!" Billie's voice shouted from upstairs.
"I'm going to go and see what that's about," Paige said as she left the kitchen, making her way up the stairs. She turned into Billie's bedroom where she saw a large map laid out on the bed. Christy's purple tracking stone was in the same hand as an amethyst scrying crystal. "What happened?"
Billie didn't even look up and simply replied, "Christy."
End of Chapter.