Rage & Despair

"What do you mean she's in The Underworld with Cole?" Prue nearly shouted at Leo.

Leo sighed and said, "Like I said, you were exposed. Phoebe struck a deal with The Source to stay there before he would command Tempus to reset time."

Prue was furious now as she ran a hand through her hair and said, "Why! Why would she do that? We could've dealt with the exposure. We've always fixed it."

"Prue, maybe..." Piper tried to intervein.

"Because Piper was dead!" Leo shouted with tears in his eyes.

There wasn't a sound for what felt like minutes but was really only moments.

"How?" Prue asked softly but with her eyes still hard.

Leo looked to his wife who was still stunned. He reached for her and she leaned into him while they sat on the couch. He then looked to his sister-in-law and charge then said, "Piper was shot by a mortal. Your exposure was on the evening news. It spiraled out into a full-blown riot outside the house. A witch practioner used a rile and shot into the house believing that you three were 'evil witches'."

He felt Piper squeeze his hand, then he continued, "I was with Phoebe in The Underworld and couldn't hear your call."

"How do you know that's what happened?" Prue asked still not looking at either of them.

"Because Cole met with The Source. He was the messenger for the deal. We didn't understand why he would propose it, then he said one of you were about to die." Leo paused then continued, "I then orbed to you. You were in the hospital and Piper was dead on the table." He closed his eyes as tears rolled. Leo looked at Prue with rage in his eyes, "You said 'they killed her, they think we're the demons now'. Prue, you blamed me for not being there and then told me to fix it, whatever means necessary"

Piper shifted and said, "What happened Leo?"

"After I was pushed out," he paused and looked harshly at Prue. Then he continued, "I went back to Phoebe and Cole. I told them that...you had died. Then Phoebe told Cole she accepted the offer. Her only condition was that Cole was to warn you two about Shax's pending attack. He never showed, and I barely arrived in time to save you both."

"Yeah well you forgot Dr. Griffiths." Prue said with a snort. Then she said, "And Phoebe is still stuck down there"

"Prue!" Piper chide.

Leo looked at Prue and his eye held daggers for her. He slowly got up from the sofa and walked towards where Dr. Griffith's body laid in the dinning room.

"This was your fault Prue." Leo said flatly. Then he spun around and shouted at her, "This was your fault Prue! You had to chase Shax into the street! You dragged Piper there against her will, you bullied her!" He took a heavy breath and continued, "You never learn! You think you're all that stands between evil and the innocent, but you're not." Leo waved his arms around the dining room and said, "Look around. This is the result of your pride Prue!"

Leo continued to breathe heavy as Piper walked closer to him. Prue never moved from her spot, but she did look to him.

"You're right, Leo. I failed to save Dr. Griffiths." She took a small breath and said, "I won't fail to save Phoebe."

With that Prue's body glowed a soft red and then she faded from view.

"Prue!" Piper yelled. Then she looked to Leo and said, "Leo, what happened?"

Leo snorted and rolled his eyes then said, "She projected herself out. She's been practicing on moving her physical body not just her astral body."

One Last Act

Phoebe continued to pace back and forth. Leo had been gone thirty minutes now and still no word. Cole hadn't returned from seeing The Source yet either. She was growing worried. What made her think that making a deal like this was a good idea? She knew better than to make deals with demons and the like. It was then that Phoebe heard the blood curdling scream. It lasted all of three heartbeats then it was over. She knew the sounds of a vanquish and that was just like every other one.

"Cole..." Phoebe whispered as a single tear fell down her face.

She wanted to grieve, but she couldn't. Phoebe knew her time was growing short and she had to make sure that her sisters knew what happened to her. She took a deep breath and said, "Power of this witch rise, now soar across the skies. From afar I send my sight, show the truth of this night. By the Power of Three, you will be set free."

With the last syllable spoken lights danced around Phoebe. Then they shot up and out of the Underworld. She felt weak, weak like she hasn't felt since Aunt Gail stripped their powers. Phoebe sat on a large boulder to help the room to stop spinning.

Then she heard the footsteps. They grew closer moment by moment. Phoebe looked up and saw a black cloaked figure approaching the cave where she sat.

"Phoebe..." The figure said is a deadly deep voice.

She laughed a little and said, "Did you buy that outfit at Spirit Halloween? I expected more from The Source of All Evil."

The Source stood only feet from her and said, "You have a fiery spirit. It'll be a pleasure to snuff it out." He stepped forward and reached for her face with his green and scaley arm. Then he said, "I'll get your life and as a bonus your power of clairvoyance. Oh Warren Seers have always been held in such high regard."

With tears in her eyes Phoebe said firmly, "You will kill me, but you'll never have my power."

The Source lowered his hood and revealed his mutilated face. The skin sickly green and covered in reptilian scales, half of his face covered in scar tissue leaving him with only one black pool for an eye. Phoebe looked into that eye and knew that her life was about to end.

"Enjoy the afterlife Phoebe. Your sisters will be along soon enough" The Source said. Then he held her face in his clawed hand and with the other sliced her throat with an athame.

Phoebe spit blood in his gruesome face before her eye rolled back and she fell to the ground limp.

Knowledge

Prue's body began to fade into reality as her power pulled her back into physical space. She nearly collapsed from the stress of it. She knew she wasn't ready to try this aspect of her power, but it didn't matter. She couldn't stand to look at Leo. It was Leo that left her sister down in The Underworld. It was Leo who failed to help them when they were exposed as witches. It was Leo...not her.

She made her way slowly to The Book of Shadows. She touched the spine and felt a shiver. That was all the warning she was given before she was pulled into a powerful premonition. In the psychic realm Prue saw Phoebe. She was about to call out to her when she heard the scream. What she saw next broke her heart. Her sister acknowledged the loss of her love, but maintained the courage to face the Source. Prue saw her sister stand up to him, and she saw him kill her baby sister.

When Prue came out of the premonition she screamed. She screamed until her throat was raw and she collapsed onto the floor.

"Prue!" Piper yelled as she and Leo ran up the stairs and into the attic.

Leo looked around concerned and said, "Prue, what happened?"

Prue sat on the ground with slowly rocking herself.

Piper knelt down next to her sister and said, "Sweetie, tell me what's going on."

"She's dead" Prue whispered.

Piper look confused and said, "We don't know that for sure. There's still a chance..."

"No!" Prue shouted as she rocked. Then she said through a cracking voice, "Phoe...Phoebe sent me a vision. I saw her in The Underworld. Cole's dead." She paused before continuing, "She heard his vanquish. Then The Source came to her. He slit her throat. She's dead."

Piper stumbled and Leo held her close. They sat on the floor with Prue as they all cried for the loss of the youngest Halliwell.

Love is Pain

The funeral was over. As there was no body to bury Prue and Piper decided to hold an empty urn on the pedestal for show. It was time to receive the guests as they gave their condolences. Prue hated this part. She remembered it from when her mother died, and of course more recently when Gram died. She knew that all these people meant well, but she found the theatrics of this to be too much.

As she stood there and waited for the first mourner, she thought back on the last week. Phoebe had indeed sent her a vision, one final message to her sisters explaining what she had gone through. It was her final act to give them some kind of closure. Since then Prue has had to have a hard look at herself. She apologized to Leo, and after talking instead of screaming they were in a much better place. Prue acknowledged that it wasn't Leo's fault, it was indeed her fault. She was too confident, too sure of herself and Piper. In her hubris she thought they could take on The Source's assassin without Phoebe.

Phoebe. It truth, it was also her fault. She wouldn't take no for an answer about Cole. Yes, she loved him and she believed he loved her. However love wasn't enough. Love wasn't enough for her and Andy either. Prue knew that love only invited more pain. It was in that moment she swore she would never love again.

"I'm so sorry for your loss" The young woman spoke to Prue while she extended her hand.

Prue looked at her and saw that she was about her height, had similar raven black hair, but she had large warm brown eyes and cool pale skin. To her, she looked like a cousin or something, although the Halliwells have no cousins, at least blood related. Prue gave a small smile as she was supposed to. Then she said, "Thank you".

The moment their hands touched both Prue and the girl felt a spark. Prue watched as the girl's eyes seemed lost in thought and glowed a soft golden light. It was disturbing but she couldn't let go of the stranger's hand. Prue knew what this was, it was a vision. Although not like the ones Phoebe had.

The girl's eyes returned to normal and she had a look of panic all over her face.

"What the hell was that?" The girl mumbled.

Prue sighed. She didn't want to deal with this now. Not when her baby sister's memorial service was just ending. Why couldn't the gods give them a grieving period. Prue's instinct was to take charge and see how to help this girl, this innocent's problem. Although clearly she wasn't mortal. Maybe she was another witch, one they needed to help. However, remembering her bloody lesson, she knew that this wasn't her unilateral decision to make.

"Hold that thought, don't go anywhere." Prue said softly as she gave the girl's arm a squeeze and went to walk over to the rest of her family.

"I'm telling you Leo, there won't be an investigation. Whatever mumbo jumbo you did has everyone believing in the car accident." Darryl said with a hint of optimism.

Leo took a deep breath then said, "So far as no one pushes too hard it'll be fine. The uniform officers seemed to buy the story of a hit and run for Phoebe, but were unsure why Dr. Griffiths was with her. Thankfully he had a reputation of community outreach."

Piper then spoke up, "Yeah, too bad I had to blow up my jeep to really sell it".

"Well thank goodness for insurance." Victor, the Halliwell's father said as he gave an encouraging smile to Piper.

Prue walked over to Piper, Leo, and Victor. The three of them were with Darryl as well.

"Leo, Piper, we have a situation. I need...your help." Prue said humbly. It was something she was actively working on, she never wanted to be prideful again.

The others looked confused and then Piper said, "Prue, what are you talking about?"

"That girl," Prue said pointing to the raven haired woman, "had a vision of some kind. I don't know what it was but she was horrified."

Victor's face grew red and he said, "Can't we pretend to bury my little girl in peace? Why do 'They' keep doing this to my girls?"

Leo shook his head and said, "Victor, now's not the time."

"Look I don't know what to do here." Prue said. Then she said, "No, that's a lie. I want to jump into action but I'm trying not to repeat my mistakes. Please, Piper and Leo, help me to help her."

Victor continued to grumble but Darryl took him out to the car. He said he'd meet the girls and Leo back at the manor.

Piper looked stressed in her simple black dress and said, "Prue, is this something you really need to do now?"

"Yes Piper. She got her vision after shaking my hand, I could be responsible for whatever scared her." Prue said flatly.

Piper took the first step and walked over the the girl, Prue and Leo followed behind her.

"What's your name sweetie?" Piper said with genuine concern.

The girl had calmed down some, but she still looked like an animal on high alter. She shifted uncomfortably and said, "Paige. My name is Paige."

"Ok, Paige then. Paige can you tell us what you saw?" Leo asked gently.

"I...I don't know. It all happened so fast. We, all of were here talking. Then we were in an old building or an attic. There was a strong wind that blew open the door. I screamed and the two of you stood in front of me. Then this...blue monster was in the room." Paige paused and said, "After that I saw my own death."

"Shax." Piper whispered in horror.

Prue looked determined and said, "Paige, we're going to protect you. You need to come home with us, we'll be safest there."

"Will you Prue? According to this vision, you were at the manor when this happened." Leo challenged.

"Yes but the manor..." Prue said before she froze. Then she said, "Dad and Darryl are on their way to the manor. We have to stop them."

"Then what? We can't vanquish Shax without The Power of Three." Piper said thinking through this.

"I'll call Darryl and tell him to go to P3 instead." Prue said.

Paige looked furious and said, "What the hell is happening? Who are you people?"

"Paige, we're the ones who are going to protect you. Anything beyond that will be explained later, I promise." Leo said as he wrapped an arm around Piper.

She scoffed and said, "Sure. I must be loosing my mind."

A moment later Prue turned back to the little group and said, "Ok, Dad and Darryl are heading to P3" Then she looked at how scared Paige was. "Leo, can you give us all a lift back to the manor?"

Leo looked to Piper for permission. She then gave a small head nod.

"Paige, I need you to take my hand." Leo said holding out his hand.

"Why" Paige said as she looks both curious and distrustful.

"It's ok Paige, you can trust us" Prue said for reassurance.

Paige thought for a moment, then decided she had nothing left to lose. She took Leo's hand and said, "I better not regret this."

Piper held Leo's other hand and Prue touched Piper's shoulder. In a moment the four of them were gone in a swirl of blue and white orbs.

Turning the Paige

Her raven hair hung down her face as she wrote, "So much has happened over the last eight years. So much has been gained and lost. Yet, I maintain the hope for a brighter future. After losing Phoebe and Cole to The Source I was devastated. I learned in the months that followed that the loss of Phoebe and Cole wasn't the consequence of my actions...at least not alone. Back then, we all were so focused on just surviving from one demon to the next. What we failed to realize was that it wasn't just our job to protect the innocent, but to inspire them. As witches, we needed to show them that life comes with risk, but it's always worth taking a chance for love and faith.

Love and faith were taught to me by the people I met each day. From the various innocents, to my father and his struggles, my sisters...all of them, Leo and his fight for Piper, and of course Liam. Liam (William) John Evans was the most unexpected surprise. I never thought I would love again after Andy, but Liam proved me wrong. He, a fellow witch stood beside me and fought along with my sisters and I as we faced challenge after challenge. Then came Faith, literally. Faith Victoria Halliwell, first born of the next generation is the living reminder that love brings joy not pain."

"… Prue had become somewhat of an expert on the subject of love. As for me, life without demons opened up similar avenues. Henry, of course, continued to look after his parolees, even if they didn't want to be looked after, while still making time to help me with little Henry and the twins (Mitchell and Samantha). I was then able to embrace my power and become the Seer I was always meant to be. I guided the next generation of witches and whitelighters both from the Halliwell line and others soon to come..." Paige wrote within the Book of Shadows.

"… So that Paige could pass on all that she'd learned, not just to her own children, or to mine, or to Prue's, but to other future witches and whitelighters as well. Which filled the time between when we were doing the fighting and when our kids were old enough to take over… Allowing me time to get back to my roots and cook something other than potions for once and open the restaurant I'd always dreamed of owning. As for Leo, after we reclaimed Magic School, he went back to teaching, which he continued to do until it was time to retire. And although we've certainly had our struggles and heartaches over the years, we're a family of survivors and we will always be… Which is why we've truly been Charmed." Piper wrote before closing the Book of Shadows. She then gave a large smile and went to play with her children, Melinda and baby Wyatt.