A/N: This is my favourite chapter by far! I apologise in advance for the mean cliffhanger at the end, but it just seemed right to finish it there. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed and/or read this story, I hope you like this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot.
Evil and the Charmed Ones
Chapter Seven – The Sources' punishment
Paige appeared in the alleyway and, surprise, surprise, stumbled in to a dumpster. Grumbling under her breath, she exited the ally and found herself face to face with Glenn's apartment.
All she could think of was Glenn. How much she wanted him, no- more than that. She needed him. He had been her closest friend since she was three years old. When she was Evil, it was like her memories were blocked away, she couldn't remember, let alone feel, kindness or love. Now she was Good again, her mind was repeatedly flooded with everything that had been blocked out for years, not to mention the constant guilt that was always with her.
Thinking of Glenn gave her an intense flash of love, followed by hurt, as she remembered her decision to push him away.
Squaring her shoulders, Paige walked towards the house and, after a moment of hesitation, rang the doorbell.
-
Prue needed to talk to Piper and Phoebe. Something had to be done about Paige and Prue knew that the best way of turning her back would be to work with her remaining Evil sisters.
Closing her eyes she sent out a mental summons to Piper and Phoebe.
-
Phoebe groaned and pulled away from a sleeping Cole.
Prue would not be happy when she found out she'd not been told what the Source had ordered straight away and she'd be even more pissed if she realised Phoebe has been having sex instead of working out a way with Cole to save Paige.
Trying in vain to fix her clothes and hair she sighed and shimmered to Prue's location, a cavern in the Underworld, not too far from the Source's chambers.
Prue narrowed her eyes at her sisters' dishevelled appearance, "what the hell have you been doing?"
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Is that any of your business?"
Prue's blue eyes darkened and Phoebe flew back against the wall.
"This is getting old…" she muttered.
"I'd repeat my question but I already have the answer. You've been with Belthazor, haven't you?" Prue spat out Cole's name as if it left a bad taste in her mouth.
"And? So what if I have? I'm entitled to some fun every now and again! Just because you keep your legs closed –"
"I'm not a whore, Phoebe, unlike some witches I can name."
Phoebe fought through Prue's telekinetic hold on her and slapped her elder sister, leaving a handprint on Prue's cheek, similar to the ones on Cole's chest.
Before Prue could continue the fight, the Source flamed in between them. They both fell to their knees, adrenaline still pumping through their veins.
The Source's voice was ice cold, "I hope everything is in order?"
Prue spoke up, "of course, my Lord, my sister and I, we were having a slight…disagreement."
The Source nodded, "I see. I trust Phoebe has explained my wishes to you, Prudence."
Prue shot Phoebe a glare, "Not yet, my Liege."
Underneath his hooded cloak, the Source narrowed his eye. "And Phoebe? Have you had any discussions with Belthazor?"
Phoebe felt her stomach twist in fear; it was no use lying to the Source, it would only anger him further. "I am sorry, my Lord, we became sidetracked."
"Very well, then you shall have to be punished." The Source summoned what appeared to be an energy ball, but it was dark green, instead of the normal colour. He raised his hand to throw it at Phoebe when Prue interrupted.
"Wait! Sire, I will take punishment for my sisters' actions. I should keep her in line, it is my fault, not hers, punish me."
"Prue –"
"Shut up, Phoebe," Prue hissed, "You'll only make it worse."
"Quite right," agreed the Source.
Phoebe gaped at her oldest sister in horror. Whatever the green coloured energy ball was, it wasn't good.
"If it is your desire to take your sisters' punishment, Prudence, so be it." The Source threw the green ball at Prue and smirked under his hood as it made contact.
Prue attempted to bite back a howl of agony, but failed, She couldn't stop the tears from falling either, not from sadness, but from pain. Her legs collapsed from under her and she started convulsing.
Phoebe could not remember the last time she had been this afraid.It looked like Prue was having a seizure and being tortured at the same time.
Slamming to the floor beside her oldest sister, Phoebe did something for the first time in six years. She hugged her, though 'clung to her' would probably be more accurate. Desperately, she tried to lower Prue to the floor and stop her from hurting herself.
After a minute, though it felt like hours to the second youngest Halliwell, Prue stopped shaking and fell in to Phoebe.
-
The door was ripped open and Glenn flew out, upon seeing Paige, he pulled her in to his arms, feeling beyond relieved.
Before Paige could register any thought on what being held by Glenn felt like, a pain struck her, so sharp, that it stopped her from calling out, but only for a second. The torture throbbed through her insides and she would have fallen to the floor, had Glenn not held her.
Paige was sobbing, crying out and Glenn was in shock, he could do nothing but watch on in terror. Then, Paige abruptly stopped screaming and went dead against Glenn.
"No," Glenn whispered, "no, no, no! You don't get to leave me, not again, not yet- Leo!"
Glenn scooped Paige up and turned around to come face to face with a friend, just not the one he needed.
"Glenn?" Andy looked stricken, "what the hell happened?"
Pushing past Andy, Glenn ran over to the sofa and gently laid Paige down. He took her pulse and said a silent prayer of thanks that it was strong, a little fast, but strong. He started checking her over for wounds but could find none. "Leo! Leo, please!" There was no sign of the blue-eyed angel. "Paige, Paige! Wake up! Come on, Paige, Paigey, please! Just wake up!"
Andy looked down at the still Halliwell, she was pale and her only signs of life were the subtle rise and fall of her chest. The sight almost brought tears to his eyes, "Leo! Leo, you better get your Whitelighter ass down here right now!"
Andy let out relieved sigh when a cluster of orbs appeared and formed into Leo.
Leo took one look at Andy and was about to ask him what was wrong, but then he caught sight of Paige, who lay still on the couch with a devastated Glenn clutching her hand.
He rushed down beside her and placed his hands over her body. Both Leo and Andy, Glenn was too busy focusing on Paige to notice what was happening around him, waited expectantly for the golden glow.
It never came.
"Why isn't it working?" Andy demanded angrily.
Leo looked and felt lost, "I, I don't know. It's like, there's nothing wrong with her."
This caught Glenn's attention, "Then why the hell was she screaming in pain? It was like she was being tortured!"
Leo shook his head, "I don't know, Glenn, I don't know how to help her."
"We have to do something! What –" Andy was cut off by Paige drawing in a deep breath and opening her eyes.
"Paige!" Glenn exclaimed, "God, you scared me, are you okay? Do you know what happened?"
Paige sat up, "I don't…oh."
"What?" Inquired Leo, "what is it?"
Paige closed her eyes and bit her lip, pain once more etched on her face, as she whispered the one word that she knew Andy would most hate to hear. "Prue."
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