Eternal Flame
part 17
The energy ball sailed past its intended target, as the cloaked man carefully stepped out of the way with little to no trouble at all, watching it cascade towards a large slab of stone, exploding into a thousand charred pieces of sheer brightness. Cole uttered a low growl in his throat, the enemy wearing a slick fulfilling smile across his complexion, thoroughly bathed in shadows, as he gently placed a firm hand to his opponent, taking a calm step forward. "We can offer you a proposition before you should resort to violence again," he claimed, his dark eyebrows raised with a profound intensity to the matter, his fingers intertwining themselves with one another.
"You know, what does a poor guy have to do around here to keep some peace in the world? Is it too much to ask to just be left alone, and be allowed to raise a family without any demonic interference? The Dark wanted my little girl, Stephen Sterling wanted my wife, and you want me dead. So no. Don't make the mistake of being entirely surprised that I don't want to listen to anything that still plans to damn me to hell for all eternity. Alright? All I want to see right now, is all three of you begging helplessly for your lives when I bestow upon you the same courtesy you tried to show me."
"We have been informed that Xavier has a much different agenda these days. Do you wish to-"
"Xavier is as good as dead right now."
"But Celia has not, nor desires to kill him. She finds his motives rather childlike, while we do not necessarily feel the same."
"So you're going to double-cross her? Yeah, hey, good idea. Maybe then I won't have to vanquish your sorry asses all by myself then. When she realizes what you've done..."
"We have discussed taking this into our own hands," the third spoke up. "We have reached a decision. Celia wants this world for herself."
"And you think-"
"Wosret may prove blind to her cause at first glance, but once he discovers her deception, he will not, nor ever reward her any place beside him. That will make her very angry."
"Yeah, so I've heard."
"We can give you your other half back," the second pleaded. "You will have no doubt of a void, and Wosret will remain dormant. We can take her."
"And what is it about Celia that makes all demons want to betray her?" he pondered. "Hmm?"
"I would hope we could have an agreement."
"Actually, we don't. I've been without Belthazor for more days than I can count, and I feel just fine, thanks. But in all honesty, I appreciate your concern."
"She sent us to take you back. But you-"
"I'll take her down myself if I have to."
"Do you wish us to provide a spell then?" the third piped up.
"Spell....spell...well...now that- that usually entails instant death too," he reasoned, raising his eyebrows.
"We could make you immune, if only for the battle."
"Yeah, and that would be cheating, not to mention downright dirty."
"We will not deceive you," the second tried. "But we know we will all die, if the fate of this world should lie in her hands."
"And it's what you rightfully deserve," he noted carefully, shrugging. "Why should I give a damn?"
"So it may be. But you are the only one that can stand in her way."
"What are you saying?"
"No one else must know, or we will-"
"Gentleman, I'm not jeopardizing-"
"But just how were you going to overcome the possession? Surely, you can't possibly still believe your system can withstand the impact?"
"I know," he whispered, as he paused a moment, the fear of it all finally washing clean over him. He strained to maintain his composure, as he lightly cleared his throat. "But if I can divert her magic without her knowledge, I've already got the advantage."
"You speak of magic like it is a useless device to be manipulated. Have you learned nothing from your previous existence?"
"I learned that if you get too close to fire, you'll ultimately burn," he put forth indifferently.
"Burn you may, but your life will soon reside beyond our reach," the second added doubtfully. "Let us make it a bit easier on you."
"I take a chance either way," he mused.
"Trust us."
"I made that mistake before. My trust led to me nearly destroying the woman I love."
"You would place yourself at Celia's disposal for that witch?" the first sneered.
"It's the only way to show her that I still love her. I need to give her that, more than anything else. I need her faith in me to remain constant."
"But think of the possibilities."
"This conversation is over," he added.
"Our freedom for your life."
"And where was my freedom?" he countered. "I mean, where would it have been if you'd killed me for my betrayal years ago? Then you couldn't exactly offer me your help anymore, could you? Or did we forget all about that? Hell, you're just as doomed as I am, guys."
"You still fail to grasp our-"
"It's not worth it. I'd lose Phoebe's trust, and then I'd be right back at square one again, trying to get it back."
"You were never meant to have it," the third interrupted. "Your union with the witch was never meant to be. And you sense that, don't you? That you're trying much too hard all the time to make it work. That...she is...merely a temporary alliance to lead you to your doom. You have not been able to become one of them...even now."
"Them..."
"Humans. You still do not believe you fit. Their expectations are those you can never hope to meet, simply because of your dark past."
"My past will save me."
"By what means?"
"Because I know more than enough to never even think about repeating it. And deep down inside, I think all three of you already know that. You're just messing with me, aren't you?"
"Then you forfeit your destiny?"
"Destiny," he mulled over. "Destiny. Yeah, what the hell? I guess I never liked it too much, anyway. Go ahead. Take it." With that, he offered the palms of his hands to them, flinging two large red energy balls their way, shrugging absentmindedly, as a faint smile drifted randomly over his handsome features. But the two objects had no devastating effects upon his intended opponents, not even offering the two men a single scratch for good measure. Cole stood, wide-eyed, his surprise turning to the origin from which they'd been casually tossed. He shook his head, giving them yet another round, still ending in complete and utter failure.
"Don't you get it? Haven't you been able to grasp it all by now?" a soft voice intervened, her arms residing across her chest in a rather relaxed manner, her eyebrows raised at him in a deep perplexity. Her long blonde hair fell silently about her shoulders, not a single strand falling out of place. She looked at him long and hard, her lips forming a quiet bout of laughter.
"No, I guess I apparently missed the short version," Cole threw out, a cruel blue gaze descending upon the young woman, as he narrowed his eyes at her, his composure beginning to tense with a slow and steady rage. His hands clenched themselves into fists at his sides, his mouth now pulling itself back into a strange smile, his foot taking a step forward. "Maybe you could explain it to me."
"I led you right to them, and you fell for it," she said softly. "Amazing, isn't it?"
"Is that right?" he returned.
"Gullible to the end....you should accept their offer."
"And what part are you playing in this? What's in it for you?"
"What isn't, Cole? You saved me- you're my hero. I figure I at least owe you that much."
"And what's that, Chloe?"
"Redemption," she proclaimed rather effortlessly.
"Redemption. For what? Killing your parents, when I should have done you in instead?"
"I do like you, Cole. I really do. Unfortunately, it's not really in my job description to pursue any kind of romantic relationship with any of my co-workers. I hope you understand, that...in the long run, it's probably all for the best. Afterall, I'm only taking precautions for what's to come."
"Where's Phoebe?" he demanded.
Chloe Franklin easily clasped her hands together, shrugging. "Taking a nap?"
"What did you-"
"Keep your shirt on," she mouthed casually. "Though...on second thought...given your height and build, maybe you'd look even better with it off."
"Where are my wife and daughter?" he repeated, ignoring her completely.
"It doesn't matter. Either way, Celia will give you the literal definition of hell if you don't comply with us....so you'd better think fast."
"You actually went in here-"
"All on my own," she finished sweetly. "But...I had to make it look real, didn't I? Real enough, for even someone like you to believe it?"
"Which would explain why my past-"
"It actually kind of turned me on," she reasoned.
"So who are you?"
"Such a good question."
"Chloe, I don't like games-"
"So you told me," she drawled.
"That time we lost you- lost sight of you...you were with....dammit," he breathed.
"Look, Cole, let them help. They'll make it so you still have some kind of control over who the hell you still are. If not, well...then you become a mere shadow of your time...a has been who couldn't find his way in the world."
"I don't see how it's any different now."
"Yeah, that was always the trouble with a pesky creature like you, wasn't it?"
"And you always make it sound so romantic."
"Cole, there are worse fates out there. Wosret's is one of them."
"Phoebe."
"Look, don't...worry about her, alright? She's probably dreaming about you right now, with all those little stars floating above her head."
"Dammit," he whispered again. "Chloe, I could have saved you. I could have-"
"Wrong and, well...wrong, Coleridge. You didn't even want to give me the chance."
"I'm giving you a chance now."
"Don't you think it's the other way around?" she countered.
"Meaning?"
"Why don't you ask me what you really want to know. I won't...lie to you," she mimicked, forming a slight grin. "Oh. Yeah. The Triad's already told me all about you. I know your story, you poor defenseless demon with a soul. I've got you pegged."
"You really think so?"
"I know so."
"Clever," he observed, shaking his hand, as he chuckled slightly. "But if that's the only way you can think of to torment me to oblivion, you've got another thing coming."
"Do I?"
"I've been through it all. Love, hate, loss...death. You name it, I've done it."
"And still left standing, imagine that."
"Celia wanted you. She said-"
"A lot of people want me. Well, except you. But hey. Can't win 'em all, right?"
"She would have killed you, if it weren't for Xavier."
"Sweet little Xavier, yes."
"Chloe, you can still snap out of this. There's still time. You don't have to live this kind of life."
"You try and you try, but you fail to forget that you broke down to me. I know all your weaknesses now. If I wanted to, I could have easily used them against you. But naturally, I'm not that kind of girl."
"And I don't think you are, either," he reasoned. "Matter of fact, I think you're bluffing."
"Really?"
"If you wanted to hurt me, you'd have done it by now. It's long past."
"And if your wife really loved you, don't you think she'd have come for you a lot sooner than she did?"
"Phoebe has nothing to do with this."
"Yeah....yeah, I guess you're right. I mean...." She paused slightly, pursing her lips. "Do you need her or do you love her, Cole?"
"She's everything you could never be."
"And the two of you are equally pathetic, believe me."
"Well, let's see. What bothers you more, Chloe- the fact that you can't have me, or the fact that you never will?"
"You never answered my question."
"I love Phoebe. She's the one person that keeps me sane in this world. She's the one person I know I can trust with everything I have."
"Oh, but going insane is so much more fun. You should try it sometime- loosen up. God knows you really need to shake that uptight attitude."
"Uptight, really?"
"Cole-"
"I think I've had just about enough of this."
"Execute the plan," the second spoke up, the three men tiredly waiting in front of her, their impatience growing by the minute. "Take him down. He does not, nor will he ever choose to join us. He has made himself heard. Finish him."
"But Celia," the third started.
He didn't get to complete his sentence. Chloe slowly brought her hand up, easily blowing a sparkling dust-like substance from it, setting all three of them deeply ablaze with a bright orange fire, their screams filling the air with a profound whisp of terror, carrying along the invisible breeze that wove itself in and out among the faint breath of wind. Four distinct piles of dust crumpled lightly to the ground, as they began to scatter every which way, the powerful forces nothing more than individual piles of ash. Chloe easily scraped both of her hands together with a satisied smile, as she gently pushed them against her hips, her eyes finally meeting Cole's with a deliberate sense of superiority.
"Soooo...you want to tell me what the hell is going on, or should I try and play twenty questions?"
"How'd I do?"
"Excuse me?" he whispered.
"How'd I do?" she said again, tilting her head back a little more to meet his puzzled blues. "Was I good?"
"I...don't understand. You insulted me, knew things about me....Chloe, I-"
"Oh, c'mon! You can't tell me that wasn't-"
"Not so fast. They said you were working with them."
"I have my ways," she murmured.
"But you really had no idea-"
"You did save my life," she added. "That wasn't a lie. Neither was what I still feel about you."
"Yeah, and you also knew how to use your powers without question. That takes-"
"Time? Maybe. But I'm a fast learner. And to have someone like you guiding me, to be able to trust someone like you, knowing what you were...I've never done anything like this before."
"And you just killed an evil that almost took me down with them a few years ago," he noted. "Not to mention, nearly burning me to a crisp."
"Aw, piece of cake," she insisted, nodding.
"Think you could take me on, if it came down to it?"
"Want me to try?"
"I was speaking figuratively," he mused, an eyebrow raising itself out of confusion.
"I had to let Phoebe know she could trust me. I had to let you know you could trust me. So I let them go off to find Prue and Paige, while I stayed behind. They're already long gone. I told them we'd meet up again soon to see if we can find Celia's-"
"And if you would've laid one hand on any of them, trust me, you wouldn't be standing here right now."
"Oooo...is that a threat, Mr. Turner?"
"No, that's a promise."
"And just where has our shadow man been lurking lately?"
"Oh, Merrick? Killed him and buried him. The guy was just getting on my nerves too much."
"Cole?"
"I'm joking," he told her, his lips twitching into a calm half smile. "To be honest, I don't have a clue."
"Oh, well that helps."
"And what a fascinating word it is, is it not? Help. To help, to be helped. Help me... Yes. And both of you will certainly be needing quite your fair share of it once I'm done here, won't you?" a smooth tone interjected.