Eternal Flame
part 11
"Hi Daddy," the small voice echoed against the damp walls, as the tiny brunette made her way over to him, a soft smile creeping up around her fair complexion. "Are you busy?"
"Don't you know by now that I am never too busy for my favorite little girl?" Cole Turner countered, laughing quietly, as his handsome visage quickly shifted into a relaxed expression, his blue eyes easily adapting themselves to a friendly gaze in her direction.
"Well, that's good, because I really can't stand Aunt Paige anymore," she observed, her profile extremely serious upon reciting her opinion, her fragile hands lazily stuffing themselves into the pockets of her jeans.
"She just told Melinda about Aunt Piper and Uncle Leo. Melinda didn't take it too well."
"She what?"
"She told Melinda they were going to-"
"Paige told a seven-year-old girl that her parents are getting a divorce?" he returned, obviously extremely shocked. "Is she out of her mind? No...wait- you know, I guess that pretty much goes without saying at this point, doesn't it?
"Melinda ran off, and Miss Franklin went after her. Catrina said you can get lost around here way too fast."
"I guess Catrina would be pretty close to the truth on that one," he added, nodding.
"Daddy, is something wrong?"
"Wrong? Now why on earth would you-"
"I can tell," she said, her tone lowering an octave. "You start to yell about Aunt Paige all the time, and then you get real quiet."
"I do?"
"Daddy."
"Ally, it's nothing that has anything to do with you, believe me."
"So what's wrong?" she continued, her curiousity overwhelming her.
"Nothing I can't fix with a little more trust," he explained carefully, as he gently offered a reassuring pat to the top of her head.
"Trusting who?"
"Myself," he whispered. "To do what's right when the time comes."
"What's right? Are you in some kind of really bad trouble?"
"Something like that."
"Oh," his daughter contemplated, her eyes growing wide with excitement, as she knelt in close to him, nearing his ear. "Is it your demon, Belthazor?"
"Belthazor hasn't been my demonic half for years now," he reminded her.
"But when it was-"
"Ally, I really think you should just go back with Catrina, and try to get a few hours of-"
"No one can sleep, Daddy. Not even you. And that Nick guy scares me."
"Nick," Cole mused thoughtfully. "Nick Merrick, who knows me so well." He paused slightly, offering a low sigh. "Honey, Nick happens to have way too many secrets to count. I think it's probably a good idea if you, Melinda, and Catrina just stay away from him for now, alright?"
"Why? What has he done?" the little girl pressed. "Is he into the bad magic?"
"Do you...think he is?"
"He tried talking to me before," she admitted, her eyes focused on the ground below. "But then Mommy came and stopped him."
"Ally, I want you to stay away from him. You are not, by any means, to listen to a word he says, have you got that?"
"Daddy-"
"Have you got that?" he repeated, more sternly.
"Yes," she agreed, as she threw her arms around his neck. "I promise."
"Good."
"So what's wrong?"
He pulled away rather reluctantly, as he calmly forced himself to look at her. She was so innocent, and yet her eyes shone with a deep sense of wonder that he'd never thought a girl of her age could've contemplated. She had nothing to fear, nothing to be afraid of...except him. He strangely felt it, and yet he knew he had to say nothing- couldn't tell her the truth. Because soon enough, it would probably be more than all of them could bear. "Nothing," he mumbled, throwing her a forced smile. "Honest."
"But you-"
"I'll be okay, Ally. I will."
"Are you positive about that?"
"It just helps knowing I still have you believing in me."
"And I always will, Daddy. It's just like I always tell you- no one could ever take your place. You're the man with all of the magic...the one who loves to help people and save them. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, right?"
He laughed painfully then, wincing rather briefly. "No...I...I guess it doesn't, hmm?"
"You know, back when I remember what happened on the boat, and how you told me you saved Mommy, that's all I need from you to know you're not like all of the other dads out there. You would do whatever it takes."
"Of course, considering how your mom always gets really stubborn about things like that..."
"It's only because she knows how much you love her," Alex gushed, as she let out a soft giggle.
"You know, I think we should try and find some signs of civilization out there. What do you say?"
"I'm tired of this cave," she murmured, nodding.
"Then it's settled. I'll go, and....whoa."
"Daddy?"
"Sshhh," he whispered, wasting no time in bringing her close to him again.
"What?"
"Do you hear that?"
"Hear?"
"Have you heard anything in all the time we've been down here?"
She threw him a puzzled look. "I don't understand. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?"
"Not like this," he murmured.
"What's going on?"
"Pure silence," he whispered. "Usually I know Phoebe's alright if I can hear her moving up there, going from place to place. I don't get that feeling now. In fact, I don't think there's anyone up there any-"
"I think it's just the walls," she added hopefully.
"No..."
Her eyes widened. "Do you think a demon got them?"
"I can't sense much, but..."
"Another witch?"
"Sweetheart, this isn't a guessing game."
"I know, but I was just trying to help."
"It really has been way too quiet up there, hasn't it?"
"I don't know. I didn't notice anything before," the petite girl told him, shrugging. "Everybody was fine when I left to find you. I think Mommy was trying to sleep."
"Look, stay here, alright?" he instructed, his voice lowering even more, as he gestured to her briefly with his hand.
"But I have to come," she pleaded. "If there's a demon-"
"Sweetheart, there's-"
"No demon," Nicholas Merrick suddenly offered, lazily taking up space in the entrance with his tall, dark frame. "More like a certain kind of stubborness on the part of the little woman, Turner. You really should learn to control her better."
"It was you."
"Yeah, well, I do give off that mysterious presence rather well, don't you think?"
"Do you always sneak up on people like this?"
"It depends on where I want to be at the moment, doesn't it?"
"Where are they?"
"Hey, don't shoot the messenger, alright?"
"Merrick..."
"I didn't hurt them, if that's what you're thinking. Which...knowing you...I suppose it is what you're thinking." He chuckled slightly. "She and that meddlesome sister of hers just took the two little ones into town. Seeing as they're not that familiar with the area, I honestly don't see much hope for them. If the queen's gonna strike, she'd want you all separated."
"But if she wants me, she'd just come here. She wouldn't touch them," he contradicted softly. "Maybe it's better that they didn't tell me they split."
"You really have been out of the game for awhile, haven't you?" Nicholas snickered for a brief moment, as he calmly pulled another cigarette from his pocket. "The redhead's actually really getting to me. She can be awfully attractive when she isn't bitching about the next big bad."
"Yeah, and I don't think one of us can exactly be relied upon at this point. Sad to say, I don't know which."
"Oh, please. With what you're about to become, it's pretty much a damn understatement for you, isn't it?"
"And what's it to you? You've got nothing to live for."
"Don't I? I mean, if you have that fall from grace that we're all predicting? Someone's gonna have to be there for them. You know?" He smiled, showing a set of perfectly white teeth. "Either way, your fate's not getting any younger."
"Find your own mission," Cole growled. "You've worn out your welcome here, Merrick."
"Oh, I know that, believe me."
"Then why are you still here? You've done nothing to help us since I found you trying to vanquish my ass."
"I'm lonely?"
"Keep away from Paige," he whispered. "Trust me, she'd be way out of your league."
"But not yours," Nicholas observed, smiling. "You're awfully protective of someone you despise, aren't you, Turner?"
"If you're implying what I think you're implying, I think an energy ball would be sufficient enough to cure it."
"Do you know if she's seeing anyone?"
"Yes, and no."
"Well, what's that supposed to mean?"
"Yes, she is- and no, it's best you not even try. Does that clear things up for you?"
"And the romance continues. Franklin's pining away for you, while you've got it bad for your wife's sister."
"Nick, if this is you idea of mind games, I think it's obvious you're still a damn novice. Just the thought of Paige makes me want to jump out of a window with no parachute....without the use of my powers, I might add."
"Instant death, man. Smooth."
"Daddy, can we go into town too?"
"Why wouldn't she take her?"
Nick cought slightly, as he inhaled the cigarette fairly quickly. "Beats me. Those two...they don't seem to be in the talking mood. But what's a guy to do, you know?"
"As much as I hate to say this?"
"What?" the little girl asked him, as she immediately raised her eyebrows.
"I'm going to let Merrick here do a little babysitting while I see what your mother has gotten herself into."
"But you said he was a dangerous man," she offered, obviously confused.
"I did say that, and...now....I'm changing my mind. I'm going to take Chloe with me."
"Oh, this ought to be good. Predator stalking the prey," Nick murmured softly.
Cole narrowed his eyes at him, as he ran a hand across his stubbled chin- regarding the other man with a deep set frown. Folding his arms across his chest, he parted his lips ever so slightly. "I'm going to trust you with my daughter's life. You understand that, right?"
Nicholas put a hand upon the former demon's shoulder, as he met his stare right on with the same initiated malice, as his mouth curled itself into a tight grin. "And what happens if something should happen to her, Turner? Even if it's beyond my liking, are you still going to kill me?"
"Well...I guess we'll then see who gets out of here alive, and who's going to be buried with the past of Ancient Egypt. In case you don't have it in a mode of clarity by now, Merrick? I don't bluff. If you know my history so well, you'd have seen that by now. I'm a man of my word, and she's one of the most important things in my life." He shrugged then. "No matter, anyway. She has her share of powers, that could just possibly kick your ass off to Cortez's Timbuktu."
"Timbuktu? Who the hell is Cortez?"
"Ah. Who was Cortez."
"You mean, he's dead?"
"Do you want him to be?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Long story. One I actually don't have the time to share right about now."
"So can I at least ask her out?"
"What?"
"Paige. Do you think she even likes me a little bit?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Merrick."
**********
"It has come to our attention that The Charmed Ones desire your assistance temporarily."
"Is that right?" the voice challenged, the feminine tone caked with a thin dose of sarcasm.
"And I am sure you can relate better to their dilemma than anyone, can't you?"
"In case you guys aren't aware of it....I'm dead. Have been for quite awhile now."
"But surely it must be your time to finally grace them with a visit," the bolder voice insisted. "You have bee delaying this for so long. It's inevitable, you realize. It's just come a lot sooner than we all expected."
"They've gotten along just fine without me," she returned.
"Not necessarily so."
"If you're talking about Piper and Leo, Grams already told me we don't handle those things."
"You are still new to your position yet, are you not?"
"Look, what are you guys proposing? Because I don't do house calls, alright? I'm past that now. I've transcended."
"Yes, and you are even more difficult than when you first received your gift," another one spoke up.
"How would you know?"
"Cole Turner has never been a being we have deemed fit to save. You see, he was always a rather large threat to what we stood for. But years have gone by, and that has changed. It has changed more so than even he would care to admit at this point. He is an innocent, and we must see to it that he is not harmed. He has children, as you probably-"
"Cole Turner is a half demon," she reminded them. "Trust me, I've had my share of-"
"No."
"What?"
"Not anymore."
"What's not anymore?"
"Cole Turner is a mortal. We thought you knew."
"Wait, you're kidding, right?"
"Has Penelope informed you of so very little?"
"Cole Turner is Belthazor. They're one and the same. You guys should know that- The Triad was your mortal enemy, remember? Ringing any bells?"
"Ah. Yes. Several, in fact. As it so happens, they are here right now. Celia has instructed them to do her bidding."
"Belthazor destroyed The Triad. Believe me, I was alive then, good and well."
"No longer so. And the almighty Belthazor was vanquished years ago by a woman named Emma. She discovered he was the beast who had destroyed her fiance's life."
"You don't say."
"You see this as a joke."
The woman pushed a strand of dark brown hair behind one ear, as she narrowed her eyes at the man before her. "Yeah, and you wanna talk jokes? Look at this robe they're making me wear up here."
"You will be transported to their plane in a matter of minutes."
"Did you guys...leave out some kind of bigger evil or something?"
"There is an evil, but it cleverly wishes to posses a war of the past. It wishes to cause chaos among our set order."
"And that's a surprise?"
"You are permitted to take on human form. If you prevail, and the task is complete, we will reward you in a way you may never have thought possible."
"Nah, that only happens in movies."
"We do not bluff."
"Yeah, okay. You guys don't say a word to me, in all the time I'm here, and now you just expect me to comply, no questions asked?"
"I'm afraid this is very real, Miss Halliwell. We are giving you a rare opportunity to live life with your sisters again- to become the powerful witch you once were. It's not a matter of whether or not you choose to fight with them, it's a matter of whether or not you can make peace where you never could before. If Celia wins, we will even cease to exist. Penelope and Patty will be little more than a memory to you. You have the gift to make things good again."
"Good," she murmured. "I was good, and they took Andy away from me."
"Ah, but you see- that can be altered as well. In time, it shall be, should you prove yourself faithful to the cause."
"And you want to tell me why you never listened to me when I was still on earth?"
"Your time draws near...you must go."
"You said I'll get to see my sisters again?" she reasoned, looking up at both men with hopefuly eyes.
"And one which you have never known."