Eternal Flame
part 6
"It's a curse," Penny Halliwell let on, shrugging, as she clasped her hands together within her transparent form.
"Yeah, we know," Phoebe retorted, slightly perturbed, as she gave Grams a troubled glance. "We actually figured that part out over an hour ago."
"Then what-"
"We were kind of hoping you could tell us," she finished curiously, raising her eyebrows rather lightly.
"Well, you can't fight the present with the past," the older woman explained simply.
"The past?" Paige questioned. "What do you mean? I know he's probably on a different plane, but-"
"Cole entered a one way door," Grams pointed out, gesturing briefly to the Charmed One. "It was designed specifically to keep him there, so he was without assistance. Well executed, if I may say so. They had to get him alone."
"And you knew all about this and didn't tell us?!" Phoebe countered, her voice rising.
"She must be really smart," Paige offered, pursing her lips, as a frown set in.
Phoebe regarded her sister with a look of pure surprise, as a touch of hatred clothed her pretty face. She brushed a strand of long brown hair away from her eyes, as she placed her hands roughly against her hips. "Um...she?"
"Well, it is another woman, isn't it?"
Grams smiled. "Jealousy may run in this family, Phoebe, but I assure you it's not Cole she's after."
"Oh no?"
She shook her head. "A host is needed for her forgotten lover."
"Do the Elders fill you in on this stuff, or do you now snoop on your own?"
"And I thought we established the fact that the Elders were pretty much useless," Paige told her, rolling her eyes. "Especially in this case."
"The Elders were the first to speak of a prominent evil entering our world- well...your world, to be precise," Grams added, nonchalently. "I no longer have a place in it."
"So how did he trigger it?"
"What?"
"The portal, Grams. How was he able to-"
"If you know of the curse, then you also know of the saying that accompanies it. If anyone disturbs a sacred space, their fate is left up to the gods. It's not in our power to try and defend them."
"So you're saying I can't save him?"
"Phoebe, he was meant to handle this-"
"No. Look, I refuse to believe that. There are a thousand reasons why I should go to him. Without me, he's still fighting without his other half."
"I'm afraid this time it will be very different."
"Paige and I wrote up a spell," she confessed, her eyes threatening to cloud, as she nervously placed a shaky hand to them. She met her grandmother's gaze with a profound glance of determination, as she fished the small slip of paper out of her pocket.
"But we don't even know if that'll work," her sister protested. "For all we know, you could land us in Timbuktu. Remember what you and Piper said happened to Cortez?"
"It'll work."
"And how can you be so sure? We've been wrong before. It's not like we're messing with harmless magic, Phoebe. This is serious stuff. It's calling upon the dark arts."
"It'll be out of my reach, should you go through with it," Grams insisted, placing a hand up in front of her.
"I know," Phoebe whispered, as she forced a painful smile, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders. "And that's why I want you to stay with the twins while I'm gone."
"I can watch over them," a familiar voice responded.
"How did you..."
Benjamin Turner shrugged, as he held up a small silver key, his features forming a slow smile. "Cole made me a key."
"If you're looking for him, I think you're just a tiny bit out of luck," Paige sided, pursing her lips, as she gently rolled her eyes- her arms going silently across her chest.
"He's in trouble, isn't he?"
Phoebe nodded. "Probably more than we know."
"I'd like to help," he offered. "I know I haven't been around too much...but I want to help." He paused a moment. "I could sense it, you know...."
"Sense-"
"He was able to reach me," Benjamin continued. "Through his mind. I could sense him."
"Well, that's just creepy," Paige echoed, shivering slightly.
"Not necessarily so," Grams interjected. "They clearly have a strong connection."
"Strong connection or no, we still need to get to him," Phoebe reminded her.
"Are you sure the spell's gonna work with just the two of us?" Paige returned worriedly.
"Look, stop worrying, alright? We don't have time to-"
"So we'll say it?"
"Is Piper okay?" Phoebe then asked Grams, her eyes wincing a bit out of pure concern. "I...I mean, is she doing alright?"
"Piper?" Grams repeated, a puzzled expression upon her face, as she thoughtfully placed a hand below her chin.
"Are she and Leo....I...how are they?"
"Am I supposed to know?"
"Well-"
"I certainly don't want to meddle in something of such a private nature," Penny told her, as she quietly shrugged. "It's beyond my capabilities. Whatever they need to do, they will sort it out in time."
Phoebe nodded, as she turned back to Benjamin, carefully taking hold of the old man's hand. She looked into his eyes, as she tightly squeezed it, a single tear trickling down her cheek. "I'll find him," she assured him. "I promise."
"But what good is a promise if you have evil right behind you?"
"I-"
"When it's on your trail, it'd be wise to turn back. You have to. For his sake."
"I'm not sure I-"
"You will," he told her. "You have to."
"We're going to win," she whispered. "Of that, I've no doubt."
"But you will."
"Keep an eye on them, okay?"
"You have nothing to worry about here," he confirmed, as he brought her close for a hug. "My son couldn't be in better hands right now, should you prevail."
"Well, he's not in my hands yet," Phoebe added, throwing him a small half smile.
"Yeah, and now that you bring it up- do they have a...blinding spell for that sort of thing?" Paige inquired jokingly, as her sister playfully hit her.
"You don't have to listen to it-"
"No, but it's impossible not to. Especially the other night."
"Melinda, are you ready?!" Phoebe shouted, ignoring her sister, as her petite blonde niece stumbled roughly down the stairs.
"Ready, Aunt Phoebe."
"Good. Now take my hand, okay?"
Benjamin and Penny simply exchanged brief glances, as they watched the sisters join hands, each grasping the piece of paper- the spell scrawled in fine print upon it.
"To what was sacred, be forever cursed, allow us the access, of time immersed," they recited clearly in unison. ""To what was sacred, be forever cursed, allow us the access, of time immersed."
"Good luck," Benjamin whispered.
**********
"So there I was...sitting there in the ER...my leg bleeding way too much from the fall on my bike. Mr. Turner, my life literally flashed before my eyes. Riding a two wheeler is scary when you're my age. My mom says it could also prove to be a very traumatizing experience. Though given my circumstances, I think I made it through okay. No scars, you know? Course...I now have this big old scar where some valuable skin used to be. Now, I don't touch those handlebars unless I have the proper padding." Catrina paused slightly, as she looked up at him rather inquisitively. "So how about you?"
Cole tiredly sighed, placing a hand to his hand, as he winced silently to himself. "What about me, Catrina?"
"Have you ever had a brush with death? I hear everyone has at least one in their life."
"Oh...I think I've come closer than a brush with death," he assured her softly.
"Cool! You mean, you actually died?"
"In a sense....a part of me that wasn't- my other half was vanquished," he explained lightly. "And when I nearly became the ultimate evil, I was vanquished at the hands of my wife."
"Did she divorce you after that? I mean, because that's a huge pitfall in a relationship, don't you think?"
"The part of me that was still sane, still loved her," he whispered. "It was the other part I couldn't control. The Source."
"So you never, ever fell off your bike? Not ever?"
"I guess it's safe to say I never had a bike," he finished, gesturing briefly with his hands.
"Well, that must have been a very sheltered childhood," she observed, nodding.
"So how old did you say you were again?"
"Six," she confirmed, smiling.
"Did you earn a degree before your parents?"
"I told my mom I wanted to go all the way through. I could skip a few grades, sure. But it's better to make friends this way."
"You...have a lot of them, do you?"
"Well...Alex is by far the coolest," she told him. "She has all those powers."
"And power isn't everything," he concluded. "In fact...if you let it? It'll corrupt you to the fullest."
"But isn't that only for evil demons?" the little girl challenged him.
"Not exactly. A good man can be corrupted when evil is offered to him....he'll become tempted in the worst way."
"But you gave in, Mr. Turner, didn't you?"
"Look. Can't we...save this for another day? I'm really exhausted, and-"
"And there is absolutely nothing even resembling a hotel around here," Chloe interrupted, as she met up with him, Alex at her side. "Nothing for miles. Just old, abandoned...hideaways, I think."
"Hideaways?"
"Yes."
"How exactly do you define a hideaway, Miss Franklin?"
"Caves."
"What, no pyramids?"
"While I appreciate your sense of humor, Mr. Turner, I hardly think it's needed now. I'm more concerned about where to find a place to sleep."
"Well, in ancient times, they didn't exactly have that, did they? I mean, unless of course you think a good comfy spot by the Nile would suit us just fine."
"The Nile?"
"Where did you think we were?"
"To literally be in the past...of the past...it's impossible. You can't be transported to a period in history that's already passed us by over a thousand-"
"Actually, yes, you can. Just last year, I took a trip back on the Crimson Star...free of charge, complete with Lochness."
"Excuse me?"
"You never heard the legend?"
"What legend?"
"Daddy saved Mommy from the bad guy," Alex replied simply. "He also saved me and Aunt Paige. He's still my hero."
"The bad guy turned into a monster then," Chloe gathered, tucking a piece of blonde hair behind her ear.
"You still don't believe any of it, do you?"
"You said it's not about believing, remember? You said it was about trust."
"And it is."
"So where's your wife? If she cares so much-"
"Look, I don't think that's anything you should bother yourself with, alright? She'll come."
"And that m- demon? What about him, Mr. Turner?"
"Please....we've certainly spent more than enough hours together for you to call me Cole."
"No, see, that would mean that we're nearly the best of friends. And for the life of me, I can't quite convince myself of that fact yet."
"Miss Franklin, do you have a boyfriend?"
"I'm sorry, Alex?"
"Do you have someone back home?" Catrina threw in. "Someone that you love?"
"Ice queen's can't love," Cole mouthed softly, sticking his hands inside the pockets of his jeans.
"Ice queen?"
"You know, have you ever given any thought to how you come off to others? Because if I'm not mistaken, your communication could use a little work."
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Turner? I...you- that's probably the meanest thing anyone has ever said to me!"
"Look. There."
"What?"
"Shelter. Normally called a place in which people spend the night."
"It's a deserted-"
"Cave. Yeah. Just as you said, right?"
"What makes you think something won't find us in there?"
"See, that's the risk you're willing to take."
"Do you think she's mad at him?" Alex whispered to Catrina, as both girls regarded the two adults rather curiously.
"Hard to say," Catrina whispered back. "If I didn't know better, I would say she finds your dad kind of attractive."
"Attractive?"
"Well, she keeps fighting with him, doesn't she? My mom says they do that on soap operas all the time."
"My Aunt Paige watches those," Alex told her.
"I don't suppose you could just make some pillows and blankets magically appear, could you?" Chloe asked, regarding him rather intently.
"No. But I could try for a fire," he responded, raising his eyebrows, as he threw her a small grin.
**********
"Are you insane?! Or just blindly stupid?"
"I only wanted to scare him, Your Grace. Nothing personal."
"I'm afraid it's now very personal, Xavier. What haven't you been telling me?"
"I've told you everything."
"No." She shook her head. "You knew he was- you knew his exact location before I did. How is that possible?"
"Well, if you want him, he's yours," the demon sneered, his blue lips forming a large grimace.
"You knew who he was before, didn't you? I mean, you clearly seemed to know a lot about him. Or...should I say more than you were letting on?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Start talking."
"I have nothing to say, Your Grace."
"Are you entirely sure about that?"
"Look, that bastard owes me in more ways than one. However, given the terms, you just simply wouldn't understand."
"So you've a grudge against him too, is that it?"
"Ah- but you don't have a grudge. See, you still believe yourself to be madly in love with a creation for your dead lover."
"And can I help it, if he just happens to work so very well?"
"You don't know that. Just as you-"
"What did he do?"
"I'm sorry, Your Grace?"
"To you? What crime has he committed against the demonic race?"
"I thought we already established the fact that he's a natural born traitor."
"A traitor? To whom?"
"You're blinded by what he's become to you, just as you're blinded by how the other left you in the dust for a much brighter future. He wasn't about to let a poor peasant girl ruin his chances for rulership of the throne."
"You're delusional," she proclaimed.
"No, Your Grace. What you're doing-"
"He hurt someone you cared for, didn't he?"
"And what value does that hold for you?"
"None."
"Just as I suspected."
"Still....I knew there was a reason you'd finally come around."
"And what exactly is your plan?"
"Plan?"
"Now that we're here, we need a plan. Some means to- you are aware he has the children with him, are you not?"
"And the school teacher, yes."
"She's harmless. She and the other child lack power."
"But what is power, if you are unaware of how to use it?"
"Your Grace-"
"We could strip him of it, you know. It would allow the spirit to enter without a struggle."
"Yes. Except you're forgetting the one thing that did him in last time."
"Excuse me?"
"He no longer has a void to fill."