A/N: Oh man, this chapter was really hard to write. That's why it wasn't posted yesterday. But I wanted it to be good, as opposed to just being posted and being crap.

thaatgirrl: Yeah, Paige getting Phoebe's powers should be very interesting. You should see her use them next chapter. Glad you're liking the story.

lizardmomma: Yes, all the negative energy in the Underworld was affecting Phoebe in a strange way, but hopefully in this chapter you'll find out why. If not, it should be in hte next chapter. Glad you like it!

Draco's-Loyal-Longing: I'm glad you liked it! Hopefully you'll like this chapter too. Prue is always keeping her emotions inside, and Piper knows how to get her to open up.

Chapter Six

Cole wanted to tear his throat out. Even though he knew that Phoebe would be okay after he hit her with a low-voltage energy ball, he hated himself for causing her that brief moment of pain. He held her in his arms and looked at her sleeping face. She was probably dreaming of someplace exotic, like Paris. In a strange way, he felt a little better believing that he could get her away from the Underworld, no matter how temporary.

The Seer walked behind them in order to keep up appearances for any demons they passed. It was her job to get them into the Source's lair in order to execute their plan. As they walked, Cole muttered the vanquishing spell under his breath. They only had one shot at this. If they screwed up, they were dead. Cole didn't want that to happen just because he blew the spell.

Phoebe had written it the previous day It combined the magic from the Halliwell line and the long line of demons that came before Cole. He had been impressed by it, and knew that if it didn't work, it would be by some underlying factor.

Of course, Cole's new concern was that the spell might not work anymore now that Phoebe was no longer a Charmed One. She was still a witch but she no longer bore one-third of the Power of Three.

This is ridiculous, Cole thought. Phoebe is still a witch, and a Halliwell witch at that. She isn't completely powerless.

He needed to stop obsessing and just take action like he always did. That was what made him such a great demon. He just needed to get this over with. For Phoebe's sake.

"Are you ready?" the Seer asked once they were outside the entrance to the cave in which the Source resided.

Cole nodded. "Yes. Of course."

But the Seer shook her head. "Not just physically ready, but emotionally and mentally as well. Once the Source realizes that this is a set-up, he is going to attack with his full strength. If you die, or the witch, will you two be able to carry out the plan no matter what?"

Cole nodded again, this time less patiently. "We are both ready. Now lead us in."

The Seer bowed her head in understanding, then brushed past Cole and Phoebe. Cole couldn't hear what they were saying, and he didn't know whether that put him even more on edge, or whether it calmed him down. He looked down at Phoebe's unconscious form. When the time was right she would wake up and they would send the Source straight into oblivion where he belonged.

Prue had gone into work about an hour after Paige left, and Leo had gone to consult with the Elders about what their next move should be, so Piper was left at home alone.

The house was so quiet without Phoebe. Piper hadn't really gotten the chance to notice it yet since they'd been so busy with finding Paige and making her aware of their Charmed destiny, but now that things had calmed down a bit, that fact was making itself quite known.

Piper found herself in Phoebe's room, trying to feel her presence despite the emptiness. Phoebe had always brought a liveliness to the Halliwell manor. When she was around things were never boring. Piper remembered how things had been when Phoebe lived in New York. Prue and Piper had lived here alone and while Prue had always said she didn't miss Phoebe at all and hardly noticed she was gone, Piper had always felt as though the house were missing something.

Only when Phoebe had moved back in did Piper realize what that something was. Piper had taken it for granted, and now that Phoebe was gone again, Piper realized just how much she had taken that sense of completion for granted.

But despite Phoebe's absence, they had found another sister in Paige. Though Piper didn't quite think of Paige as a sister yet, there was no denying the Halliwell in her. She had the spirit and determination of the Halliwell women who had come before her. She reminded Piper of Prue the most. They had the same hair, eyes, build, and determination. But she had the same spirit and eagerness as Phoebe. Paige had welcomed being a witch almost as much as Phoebe had.

Piper could only hope that Paige wouldn't end up where Phoebe had.

With a sad sigh, Piper took one last look at Phoebe's room, then left and closed the door behind her. Staying any longer would make her want to try a summoning spell, and everything in her being told her that it wasn't a good idea.

So instead she went downstairs to the kitchen and took out the largest pot they had. She was going to do something that Grams had taught her, and just cook whatever came to mind. Improvising had never been her strong point, but it kept her hands busy and her mind preoccupied.

After a while she forgot what all she had put into her creation, and twenty minutes later she spooned it to see what she had.

A golden brown broth.

Piper considered taking a sip, but she didn't have the courage. Instead, she turned the stove off and put all the ingredients back then washed her hands. She dumped the broth down the drain then cleaned the bowl.

As she was putting the pot back underneath the counter, she heard Leo orb in. She looked up and saw him watching her with a grave expression on his face.

"What did you find out?" Piper asked as she moved past him to the kitchen table.

Leo followed her but he didn't sit down. Instead he stood over her with his arms crossed. It was apparent that whatever he found out, it wasn't good news. Piper prepared herself by thinking whatever it was, they could handle it.

"I think this is something you and your sisters need to hear together," Leo stated, his eyes glazing over.

Piper looked at him suspiciously, wondering why he couldn't just tell her now.

"Please, Piper. This isn't easy for me to say," Leo continued, his voice shaky with what could only be described as grief.

Piper felt her heart stop at this realization, and she was sure she already knew what Leo needed to tell them, but refused to believe it until he said the words out loud.

"I'll call Prue and Paige," she said, standing up and walking over to the phone.

First she called Prue and told her to hurry home, then called Paige and said the same thing. They both promised that they would be there soon. Then all Piper could do was wait since Leo was determined to remain close-lipped until the sisters were together.

Paige got back first since she worked closer to the manor. She looked worried that something had come up so fast but eager to use her newly acquired powers.

When Prue got home, she looked much less eager and worried, almost as if she already knew what Leo was about to tell them. She gave Piper a knowing look, but Piper refused to acknowledge her.

Piper led them into the living room where Leo was waiting, pacing the room with his brow furrowed in concentration, as if he were preparing himself to deliver bad news. Piper already had the sneaking suspicion that he was about to.

"What's the emergency?" Paige asked.

Leo jumped at hearing the unexpected voice and turned to face them. When he saw that they were all together, he motioned for them to take a seat on the sofa.

"You guys will want to sit down for this," he mumbled.

Paige and Prue sat down on the sofa while Piper sat on the armrest. They all looked up at Leo expectantly.

He took a deep breath before beginning. "As you all know, I went up to consult with the Elders to find out if they knew anything we didn't. While I was up there, they received some news."

Leo paused and took a minute to collect himself. While the sisters didn't want to rush him, they needed to know what he found out, and Prue was the one to get him to continue.

"What did the Elders find out?" she asked gently.

Realizing that there was no prolonging the news any longer, tears formed in Leo's eyes. This confirmed Piper's suspicions and she looked at the ground, not wanting him to see her tears.

"The Source...they found Cole and Phoebe...well, the Source reported not too long ago that they are...they're dead," he sobbed, and couldn't hold back his cries any longer. He collapsed to the ground where his cries echoed in the room.

Piper went down to join him, touching his cheek with her own. Leo grabbed her and used her body as his rock, taking whatever solace as he could in her. They cried together for a long time, and Piper lost track of everything around her. She had no idea if Prue and Paige were still there or not.

"Was...it the Source?" Piper asked after a while. Tears were still streaming down her face, but her sobs had finally subsided.

Leo sighed. "That's what it sounds like. The Underworld is celebrating like it's Christmas."

At this fresh tears formed in Piper's eyes, only this time it was from anger as well as grief. How could the demons just celebrate her younger sister's death as though it were nothing more than a milestone. To them it was a holiday. It was appalling and yet so utterly predictable.

"How do we move on from this?" Piper cried, burying her face in Leo's chest. It didn't feel real yet.

"I don't know. But...you guys need to stick together. We need to stick together. We need to grieve, but then we need to pull ourselves together because eventually you, Prue, and Paige are going to have to take care of the Source," Leo said, making an attempt at giving a pep talk, even though both of them knew that it wouldn't do any good.

Piper stared at him in disbelief. "You just tell me that my sister is dead, and you expect us to go after the Source? Leo, this changes everything!"

"How so? I would think you would want to go after the Source, for revenge if nothing else," Leo argued.

Piper sighed, feeling as on edge as she had ever been before. "Maybe that's exactly what he wants. What if that's what he expects?"

"You don't know that."

"Neither do you! Leo, he killed Phoebe! What would you do if it were your sister?" Piper asked desperately.

Leo watched as a silent tear trickled down Piper's cheek. "I do think of them as sisters, Piper. I feel like a big part of me died with Phoebe, and it's not just the Whitelighter part of me talking. And yes, we should all take the time to grieve, but it doesn't end there. The Source isn't going to stop going after you guys and innocents. You can't give up your Charmed duty." He sighed then met Piper's red eyes with his own. "Phoebe wouldn't want you to."

"But how do we move on from something like this?" Piper cried.

Leo wrapped around her in a loving hug. "I don't think you ever really do. But you have to try as best as you can, otherwise it'll tear you apart."

"Leo, she's my baby sister! I feel like I failed her somehow! We should've gone down there and saved her when we had the chance, we had so many opportunities!" Piper leaned into him, wishing that she could somehow pass her grief into him.

Leo didn't reply, and Piper took that as a sign that he agreed with her. But a small part of her was angry at him. He was the one who had always talked them into not summoning Phoebe or going down to the Underworld and bringing her back up themselves. She didn't know if she could ever forgive him for that.

"Piper, this isn't your fault. She wasn't any safer up here then she was down there. The Source would've attacked if he had seen an opportunity," Leo replied.

"But at least we could've been there to protect her! She would have had a fighting chance with the Power of Three. Down there...it was only a matter of time before he got her," Piper sobbed, wiping the tears away.

They didn't say anything after that since it was clear they disagreed with each other. Piper stood up and decided to go see Prue and help her deal with what was going on since it wasn't in Prue's nature to show any sign of vulnerability.

She could only hope that Prue wouldn't take it personally.

"Belthazor. What an unexpected surprise," The Source drawled deeply.

Cole was kneeling at the Source's feet, Phoebe lying behind him on the floor. "I've come to my senses, my liege. The witch is dead by my hand. I have brought her body to you as a peace offering."

It pained him to say it, but he had to if he expected this to work. He didn't dare look up at the Source to see if he believed him or not; his actions and words would tell Cole all he needed to know.

"Bringing me a Charmed One might have earned you favor in the past, but it doesn't make up for betraying me!" The Source declared.

Cole bowed his head in understanding. He had been expecting that, of course. The Source did not forgive easily.

"I understand. That is why I've brought myself to you. I come to you willingly and accept any punishment you see fit to bestow upon me," he said.

"Is that so?" The Source sneered. At least that was what Cole imagined him doing, judging from his confident tone of voice. "Two birds with one stone? I can live with that. Stand up, Belthazor. I want you to accept your punishment like the demon you once were."

Cole was up in an instant and stood at parade rest while the Source circled him, as though wondering what to do with him. Cole prayed that he would take his time. He wasn't sure if Phoebe was still unconscious or if she was just pretending. He expected the latter since he hadn't hit her too hardly.

"You were once a great demon, Belthazor. One of my best and finest. You were well on your way to taking my place. And then, right when you were at the top of your game, you fall in love with a witch." The Source spit on the ground just inches away from Phoebe's face. "She ruined you. Made you a weak, pathetic excuse for a demon. You've fallen far, and you've fallen far. If you expect to make up for the witch's damage, you need to do a little bit of your own."

Cole wanted to vanquish the Source then and there for spitting at Phoebe, but he didn't dare move. Instead he could only watch as the Source sized him up, as though wondering whether he could do the task he expected Cole to do.

"Anything, my liege," Cole stated.

The Source paused for a moment, then nodded. "I need for you to get rid of the evidence. I want to send a message to her sisters, saying this is what happens when they try to go up against me. I want them to suffer. That is why I want her body gone."

Cole bowed his head in understanding, and turned to face Phoebe. She was still laying where Cole left her. He took a quick look behind him to see if the Source was watching. He was, and Cole shot his head back.

"Well? Get on with it!" The Source bellowed.

Cole nodded, and formed the biggest energy ball he could manage. He hesitated for just a second, then turned on his heel and threw it at the Source with all the strength he could muster.

"Now!" Cole exclaimed, praying that Phoebe was awake.

Cole saw out of the corner of his eye that Phoebe was up and Cole continued throwing energy balls at the Source, knowing that it wasn't going to hold him for long.

"Prudence, Penelope, Melinda, Patricia, Astrid, Helen, Laura, and Grace," Phoebe began.

Cole jumped in and said his part, "Jax, Lirg, Hawkins, and Elizabeth."

"We combine all magic from our demon-witch line and call to you from this place, vanquish this evil from time and space!" Cole and Phoebe chanted together.

"NO!" The Source exclaimed, insane with rage that his two worst enemies had managed to fool him so quickly and easily.

"That's what you get for messing with a powerful witch and powerful demon," Phoebe hissed at him, watching with fascination and happiness as the Source exploded in a mass of fire. It engulfed him, and soon there was nothing.

Cole stared at the spot in shock. "Did we actually manage to vanquish the Source?" he asked as he turned to Phoebe.

Phoebe snuggled in to him and hugged him to her tightly. "I think we did."

"Congratulations," The Seer said from behind them.

Phoebe groaned. "What is she still doing here? She's served her purpose."

"I have to say I agree."

"Can I do it? Please?" Phoebe whined to Cole.

Cole looked from Phoebe to the Seer, who was watching the display with confusion.

"Do what? You don't honestly expect to vanquish me, do you?" The Seer asked in outrage.

"Why not? As I said earlier, you've already served your purpose. Why else would we need you?" Phoebe asked, mimicking the Source and sizing her up while circling her.

"She's got a point, you know," Cole put in.

The Seer looked at Cole in frustration. "That's the Source in you talking. If you expect to control his power, you need me."

Both Phoebe and Cole stopped in their tracks and glared at the Seer with fury. "What did you just say?" Cole demanded.

The Seer smirked. "Really, Belthazor. Of all people, I would have expected you to know how this works."

"How what works?" Cole asked impatiently.

"If you vanquish the Source, you become the Source. And that evil power you're suddenly feeling? That's part of it."

"You didn't tell us this when we agreed to your plan!" Cole yelled, and glared daggers at the Seer. He couldn't remember ever feeling that much hatred towards one person in his entire life.

Then a strange thing happened.

In one swift motion, the Seer erupted in flames. Cole watched with a disturbing fascination despite his surprise. Then, before either Cole or Phoebe knew what happened, the Seer disappeared just as quickly as the Source had.

"Cole? What just happened?" Phoebe asked, sounding a bit fearful.

"I think I just vanquished her," Cole replied, though he no longer felt any surprise or remorse about it.

And, apparently, neither did Phoebe. She smiled in a way that Cole had never seen her do before and wrapped her arms around his body seductively.

"It's about time," she murmured.

Cole had to agree with her. Having the Source's power might actually come in handy. He decided not to fight it, but embrace it. Soon enough, he would have control of the Underworld.

And with Phoebe at his side, they would be unstoppable.