Part Fifteen

Summary: The Avatars turned down Cole's request to stop Richard using his magic after he had a vision of him doing evil. Taking matters in to his own hands, he returns to 21st century Earth and threatens Richard to stop using magic. Cole is punished by the Avatars for interfering and is forced to live back on earth as Belthazor, he tries confronting Richard at his estate but he has the backing of the Charmed ones and Cole is forced to re-think his plan, he soon realises Leo is an Avatar. Richard has gone back to potion making in order to deal with the threat. Cole returned to the Underworld to gain some allies, Lana lowered Phoebe in to a trap and then it was the confrontation…

Tiffany's Cafe

The clock had just passed eleven pm now as Phoebe stared solemnly at her captor; she hadn't felt this helpless for a long time. All she could do was sit and stare, clearly she had underestimated the witch she had come to view as a friend in the past year. "How long are you going to keep me here?" She finally asked, breaking the long silence that had preceded them.

Lana was calm, she always enjoyed Phoebe's company and even though tonight she had forced it upon the middle Halliwell sister, she was enjoying the company. After taking a final sip of what was by now her third cup of tea, she smiled to herself as she placed the cup back down.

"I'm not seeing what's so funny about this." Phoebe told her.

"You're keeping yourself a prisoner." Lana cryptically answered. "Do you think I used some kind of power on you? Am I that powerful, I can make a 'Charmed one' do my bidding?"

"I haven't been able to move since you told me not to, so yeah; I guess you are!"

"There's more than one way to skin a cat, that's the expression right?" Lana asked, still adjusting to her new dimension.

Phoebe said nothing; she was getting increasingly confused by the cryptic words emanating from her fellow witch.

"Where I come from, you need more than powers to survive. I spent a lifetime hiding and running. You don't do that in a dimension as tough as the one I was trapped in just by relying on a few abilities. I captured more powerful demons than me on a daily basis. Over there they come in all varieties, not just those punisher ones that presided over the prison. Ultimately Phoebe, you're keeping yourself prisoner. Your mind clearly isn't as strong as you thought, or you woulda walked out of here long ago. This café closes after 2am, so unless you can free your mind you've got me for another three hours sweetheart."

The Manor

"Leo?!" Chris called out as he orbed in to the living area.

Leo quickly appeared from the kitchen and hushed his future son. "Wyatt's asleep!"

"They want you up there now. I'll stay with Wyatt" The younger white lighter informed his father.

"If the elders want me Chris, they'll summon me."

"Or maybe they'll tell me to send you to them like they just did." A blunt Chris informed him.

Leo had grown tired of the constant bickering he always got in to with Chris, he had tried hard to mentor him but it always seemed like his young protégé was unwilling to listen. "Ok, what do they want?"

"You'll find out when go up there." Chris was giving nothing away, but he clearly knew more than he was willing to share.

"Do we always have to go round and round? What's your problem man?" The elder white lighter was clearly agitated with the young man by now.

"Maybe I don't like you keeping secrets from us all, you are so high and mighty and yet you're not clever enough to hide all your dirty little secrets from me!" A straight talking Chris told him, only raising his voice a little louder.

"Wait, what secrets Chris? What are you talking about?" Leo's emotions had now changed from feeling agitated to feeling confused, the boy clearly knew something but he wasn't sure what.

Chris had calmed down; he didn't want to play his hand just yet as he enjoyed keeping his father in the dark. "They're waiting." He simply told him, walking away.

Leo shook his head, "Watch Wyatt." He instructed, as he orbed out.

The Heavens

As the elder orbed in to 'HQ' he was surrounded by bright clouds and pillars of white stone that appeared to reach endlessly into the sky, connected by high arcs. It wasn't long until he was greeted by the council, three men and two women all wearing matching white and gold robes. "I don't appreciate you passing messages to me through other white lighters." Leo bluntly informed the council.

"So you still consider yourself a white lighter, Leo?" A grey haired man asked, standing in front of the remaining four council members. "Or are you an Avatar?"

"So that's what he was referring to…" A thoughtful Leo said aloud, referring to his previous conversation with Chris. "What ever I may be, I will always be a white lighter first, Kheel." He informed them, defending his actions.

"Was that a confession?" Kheel questioned.

"There's nothing to confess, what am I guilty of?" Leo replied.

"You mean besides turning your back on those that gave you a second chance?" A blonde haired woman also questioned, stepping along side her leader.

"I joined the Avatars because like us they want to live in a world without evil."

"We don't know their true intention for humanity Leo, only they do!" Kheel shouted at the man whom was now being perceived as a traitor. "…And you had no right to band with them!" He continued shouting.

"Have I ever let you down in the past? I don't know what Chris has been telling you but you need to trust me, I'm doing what's right."

"As an elder…" The blonde haired woman replied, "You should have brought this to us right away, and as a council we will decide the best course of action just like we have always done and will continue to do." The council members all looked to one another and nodded.

"You have made your choice and in doing so left us with none." Kheel informed. "You're an outsider now, Avatars are not white lighters and white lighters are not Avatars."

Leo knew what was coming and shook his head in denial, "No, you're making a mistake Kheel I can helps us all, I can…."

Before he could continue he was struck by lightening bolts that were being fired from the palms of his elder colleagues, lifting him off his feet and on to the ground. Leo winced in pain as shards of smoke lifted from his body. "Don't banish me..." He pleaded, but it was too late as he looked up and at the familiar surroundings of the manor.

TO BE CONTINUED!