Faded Fragments

part 27

Cole quickly shimmered the four of them out of view, watching as both Prue and Paige wasted no time clamping a hand down on his arm, just as the men trampled through the grounds, destroying everything that came into their path, the horses noisily stomping their long legs across the dirt and grass, the earth rumbling ferociously beneath their feet. A good distance from the commotion, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief, noting the tension in Alex's hand had immediately subsided the minute they'd reached safety. Paige Matthews brushed at her hair with one hand, her fingers combing nervously through it, as her eyes widened in complete and utter panic, her other hand placing itself firmly across her heart. Prue Halliwell merely frowned, her eyes grazing the new area with a dull shade of interest, now masking just the slightest bit of annoyance. "Well, there were more than four, so we obviously haven't found our trickster yet," she mused calmly, shrugging.

"No, but I think it's fair to say we escaped sudden death," Cole quipped. "I mean, with all due respect, Prue, being roughly beaten into the ground and to a bloody pulp no less, isn't exactly the best way to go."

"Yeah, and I'm surprised to hear that coming from a demon who endured a big bad vanquish at the hands of his one true love."

"That was a distraction," he said, ignoring her, referring to the mess they'd only recently lucked out of. "So unless four of those men were all too willing to profess their undying devotion to become your one and only, I'd say we have a long way to go."

"How about those paths over there?" Paige suggested randomly.

"What?"

"Where there is one, there are more," she repeated, rolling her eyes. "What if it's as simple as- well, crap."

"I'm not sure I-"

"It's us," she whispered.

"What's us?" Prue chimed in. "Paige, we're kind of in a hurry here, and you're not exactly making a lot of sense- in fact, you're not making any at all. So either put up or shut up, all right?"

"Okay, I suddenly just had this strange urge to become the best of friends," Cole added, a warm smile drifting beautifully over his features.

"There are four of us, aren't there?" Paige asked, clearly frustrated. "Me, Alex, Prue, and you."

He sighed. "Your point is?"

"There are quite a few paths here, and Rickman did trick us back there. I mean, think about it. We're clearly the guinea pigs in this scenario. He wanted us, and now he's probably got us. He then leads us straight to Phoebe and Piper, which could also fit the more part. Two more of us. Get it?"

"It's plausible, but entirely too predictable."

"And this is from a guy who became an A.D.A. to kill The Charmed Ones? C'mon, you were already evil just by occupation. What more proof do you need?"

"Maybe a lightning bolt would help. You know, I sure miss using those damn things these days."

"I know where I'd like to send a lightning bolt," she sarcastically put in, giving him a self-satisfied grin.

"Maybe you'd like to live out the rest of your life in your car."

"Yeah, and either way you play this, we just can't seem to get a break. You know it. Prue knows it. It's pretty much undeniable at this point."

"We're not the four, Daddy. Aunt Paige is wrong."

Cole's gaze shifted down below, where Alexandra Turner stood strangely still, her fingers tightly gripping the denim material around his leg, her nails nearly turning a faint crimson. Her green eyes stared straight ahead, completely unmoving, her small lips trembling. "What'd you mean, sweetheart?"

"They are," she whispered, her voice eerily calm, while she directed a tiny index finger in front of him, carefully noting the four demons who stood on equally different paths, their stances poised and ready.

"Something tells me there's going to be no Cheshire cat," Paige murmured.

"What?"

"It's the Cheshire Cat syndrome."

"I'm sorry, the what?"

"Okay, when Alice met up with the Cheshire cat, he asked her what road she wanted to take. Well, Alice, being a fickle as females come, said she didn't for the life of her know, and that it didn't really make a difference. He then said it didn't matter what road she took, basically repeating and confirming what she'd already said. Point being, it probably doesn't matter what the hell we do now, we're still pretty much going to die.”

"I still don't think I know what you just said. "

"Your powers work here," Prue told Cole, ignoring both of them, "which may just mean that Paige and I can hold our own, too. If we each take one-"

"Prue, my daughter isn't exactly a pro in the arts yet, and if it's all the same to you, I'd like to keep my head today."

"How else do you propose we get around them then?"

"The same way we got here," he answered simply. "Shimmer."

"It won't change the fact that they'll be right on our asses by the time we reach Phoebe and Piper," she argued. "If we divide them up between us, we won't have to work so hard to see that that doesn't happen."

"Yes, except you're forgetting the fact that it's also not all about magic."

"Then why don't you try and explain it to me before they start to charge us and move in for a fresh kill?"

"You have the most obnoxious sense of humor," he retorted, tossing her a sly grin. "I think it's probably the only thing I missed."

"And I really don't think you're taking this seriously," she shot back.

"Oh, I am. I am." He calmly put a strong hand atop her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "So serious, in fact, that you don't exactly have any powers here."

"What?"

"I don't think I need to remind you what happened the last time you went back-"

"You knew this and you didn't say anything?!" she demanded, gritting her teeth.

"Why do you think I wanted to come with you?"

"Well, gee, I don't know- maybe to rescue your wife! After all, it is the main objective here, which you strangely seem to be forgetting."

"If I keep thinking about Phoebe and the kind of danger she's in right now, I would have already lost it, Prue. If I try and focus instead at the present task at hand, we have a much better shot at getting out of this with our internal organs still very much intact."

"Maybe they're all an illusion," Paige offered, her voice nearly on the verge of cracking.

"Yes, and I was never evil."

"Okay, so there's no way I can argue that," she quipped. "But you still might want to consider the sour- no, you know, forget that too, all right? Heh. Yeah, okay. I think my brain cells are slowly diminishing out of fright. You wanna get this over with, or what?"

"Why? You offering yourself as a sacrifice?"

"Oh, gee, I'd love to, except unlike you, too many people would miss me."

Cole chuckled quietly to himself, as he gently bent down to his little girl's height, his blue eyes touching her face, as he lightly tapped her small chin with the tips of his fingers, forcing her to look up at him, meeting with a deep pool of green. Leaning closer to her ear, he gingerly pulled a strand of her hair back. "I lied," he whispered. "And now's the time to show your aunts what you're really made of. I'm giving you a shot here, sweetie. I'm asking you to stand beside me in this, because I believe in you. You think you can do that?"

The petite child was all smiles, as she quickly nodded. "Yes, I can, Daddy."

"Good, because you're a lot more powerful than you give yourself credit for."

"Really?"

He gingerly placed a kiss atop her forehead, his hands briefly rustling her hair. "Really."

"And what are you gonna do?"

"Me?" He nearly winced, despite the fact that his generous lips found a slow smile, his eyebrows raised out of curiosity. He ran a thumb over her cheek, as he rose to his full height, clasping his hands neatly together. "I'm going to turn myself in."

"Yeah, and we're not going to let you," Prue told him, stepping up to bat, as she calmly faced him, hands set against her hips. "I know you've been so completely full of it lately, Cole, but you know what? Sending your daughter in to fight your battles is a new low, especially for someone like you. You can take those guys in a heartbeat, and you know it. They're right up your alley. You've done it before."

"How did you ev-"

"You know, why don't we just call it one of those hunches you always seem to be getting since this began?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Phoebe has gotten to know you in this world. She knows you, and she loves you. Now, you're not going to just sit back and take it from some son of a bitch who wants us gone because it cramps his style. You're going to get your ass out there, and you're going to fight for what your wife still believes in, because I know you still believe it, too."

"You don't give a damn what I believe anymore, Prue. You never have. This is-"

"This isn't about the past, Cole. Don't you get that? We evolved, we moved on. Belthazor restricted you- and you can't deny that...neither can I, for that matter. But what's done is done. He never let you see what you were really capable of. You never let yourself see it."

"Oh, I think I was pretty capable when I nearly sent you to the grave with that empath," he added rather coldly, his blues nearly turning to pools of ice. But he could still feel the warmth in them, even as the sheer impact tore miserably at his heart. "You have no right to tell me what I can and can't do, do you hear me? You can't stand there and honestly tell me I am not giving this every single Goddamn thing that I have right now. Because you know what? I gave my life to that woman, Prue- I'd even give my life for her. And if it comes to that, so be it. I gave her everything that I was, and I put all of my secrets to bed a long time ago."

"No, you only buried them," she whispered.

"You don't know what the hell you're sa-"

"You can remind me of all you did back when you were trying to please those Triad bastards, and you keep trying to put salt in the wound, but you know what your problem is, Cole? You wanna know what it's always been?"

"I knew I could count on you to remind me," he drawled sarcastically, his patience slowly tiring.

"You look in the mirror and you see the same man you did five years ago."

"I do, really?"

"You can hurt my feelings all you want, but it isn't going to change the fact that you're a good person. And for what it's worth, you have no idea how hard it is for me to see this, to know this, and to actually bring myself to-"

"Heaven forbid you actually have to show me some kindness, Prue."

"That's not what this is about, and you know it."

"Yeah, and maybe you just should've stayed dead. God knows it probably would've been better for me when I'd had it in the cards, too."

"You don't mean that."

"Prue, everything's gone. Look around you! We don't have The Power of Three, we don't have Melinda, and we don't have a way out of here. We're screwed. It's as simple as that. Go ahead, look it up. I'm sure you'll find our name there in the fine print."

"Cole, you don't give up. I know- I know you, and this isn't you. You can't do this. You can't send Alex in, and you can't do this on your own. Now, we could compromise, but I'm not entirely sure I even want to deal with your sorry ass anymore."

"You sound just like Phoebe," he offered, his voice bordering on a whisper.

"Well, we're sisters, aren't we?"

He looked down at her, the corners of his mouth twitching into a slight grin, his hands clenching in and out of fists at his side. He shut his lids a moment. "It's time to get this over with," he sided.

"I couldn't agree more."

"Now, while you could easily use my help, it's obviously more your fight than it is mine. I want you to realize that, because it's impor-"

"We do need your help," she told him. "And I say it's a fight both of us could win if you stop trying to sell yourself short. Nobody's going to throw you a damn pity party, so my advice is to get over it."

"Did I mention I stopped pitying myself when I bought us some time?"

"What?"

"If you're wondering why the demons haven't charged at us full speed with great big horns and glowing eyes, it's thanks to my lovely little powers. But that's all right. I'll probably be here all week."

"You froze them?"

"I don't exactly have the capability Piper does, but I did change them into something that blends just a little more with the scenery."

"Are you trying your best to piss him off?" Paige commented, noting the four oak trees that now lined each of the four paths, their arms having been transformed into long, thick branches, their legs and feet rooted firmly into the ground.

"Oh, I think Tom's actually enjoying this," he countered, shrugging. "I mean, he's probably been with us every step of the way, haven't you, Tom? Trying to get Seth out of the picture, making sure Patrick kept his mouth shut. You're really a team player, Rickman, you know that?"

"Actually, Rickman's been sadly detained," a voice echoed to his right. "But, you know, I've always wanted to take on one of the world's best demons- the...world renowned bad boy who fell from grace? Figured I had to stop wallowing and start taking my chances." Seth Kellerman stepped forward, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, his blonde hair a messy mop atop his head, his eyes completely expressionless. The business suit he wore was rather tarnished, his black dress pants somewhat wrinkled and his white shirt sleeves haphazardly drawn up to his elbows, his matching black shoes caked with dirt around the edges. "Figured I had to stop screwing around and finally get around to the business end of the deal. You're mine, Turner."

"Take Prue and Ally, find Phoebe and Piper," he quickly instructed Paige.

"And let you take on this dirtbag all by yourself? No way. I’ve got your back."

He shut his eyes, sighing. "Dammit, Paige, get the hell out of here, I've got you covered."

"And you're going to get yourself killed," Prue snapped.

"Oh, look who's talking."

"I may have been reckless in my past, but this is uncalled for."

"Daddy, Aunt Prue is right. Don't do this," Alex gently pleaded, tugging at his hand, as she looked worriedly over at the man who stood across from them, eagerly expecting battle.

"Ally, go help your aunts."

"But Daddy-"

"Remember that little trick I showed you a few weeks ago?"

"I remember," she whispered, her eyes nearly clouding.

"Use it."

"Daddy, I don't want to see you hurt."

But he ignored her, his blues focused on Seth, a low growl seeping into his throat. "I love you, sweetheart."

"Daddy, please."

"Go!!!" he yelled.

"Always the family man," Kellerman drawled, grinning, as he watched the three of them hurry off, Alex sneaking one last glance behind her, as she looked on with fearful eyes. "Always trying to do what's right, even when the odds are stacked so sadly against him."

"I think it's about time I show you what really happens when you get close to my wife, Seth. Of course, if I were you, I'd already had gotten a damn good head start by now." He calmly tilted his head to the side. "Too bad your intelligence flew south for the winter."

"Oh, I'm not working with Thomas any longer, if that’s what you mean, so I guess I no longer feel the need to comply with conduct. Although...your offer is quite tempting, and I just might've believed you, had you always been a man of your word."

"How'd you get here?"

"Questions, questions, and yet so little of the proper answers."

Cole began to circle him, his steps very slow and deliberate, as he continued to eye up the other man's movements, carefully noting his gestures, his scruffy visage falling into a surprisingly deep mode of concentration. His hands hung restlessly at his sides, his composure alert and well guarded. "I'm not going to use magic on you," he decided. "It would be...unfair and completely rude of me. But you know, maybe it's why Celia never warmed up to you. Could be she needed a real man to get the job done. But, well, I guess it goes without saying. And as you said, I can hardly be called a man of my word."

"I may not possess Rickman's expertise in dignity, but I assure you I'm well advanced in the arts."

"Well, damn," Cole murmured, his lips revealing a slow smile. "But just for the record, I still want to kill you. After all, your little friend staged an alliance with us in your name. I highly doubt it's going to be how you'll want to be remembered. I mean, once the Underworld hears word of this, you won't be able to run anymore, and you certainly won't be able to hide, Seth. It's a toss up, really. Kill, be killed, be killed some more. I mean, I don't know. It's your choice, isn't it?"

"We had such high hopes for you, you know."

"I'm not interested, and your time’s up."

"They say even half breeds should be vanquished, no matter the cost that belies them. And while I more or less support that theory, I guess some of us still deserve a shot, don't we? I mean you've still convinced yourself you might actually have a chance at becoming fully human."

"I am fully human."

"No." Seth shook his head, chuckling to himself. "You're a human with powers to heal yourself when necessary, Cole. In this reality, you're obviously nothing more than a washed-up shattered half breed, a mere nowhere man. You don't have what it takes to measure up to any sort of potential you could've had."

"You know what I find works really well with lawyers who lack balls?"

"I suggest you proceed with caution."

"Making sure they really don't have any." Rolling out the palm of his hand, he tossed out a lightning bolt, watching as it hit a fair number of inches above the noticed area, neatly scorching his opponent's black pants, as he looked on with a fond amusement, noting the large hole that began to form and expose burnt flesh just below his stomach. "Aw, I missed. Imagine that. Guess you still might just have a chance."

"That was nothing," he added, shrugging. "I've been through much worse."

"Care to make a bet on that, or should we go a few more rounds for the hell of it? Because, I gotta tell you. I'm really not having too much fun. And if it's any consolation to you, I've got a lot more tricks up my sleeve."

"We're alike in more ways than you think. For starters, we both have nothing left to lose."

"And you never had anything to gain from this, besides one very pissed off former demon. Just admit it and be a good nemesis."

"I don't lose gracefully. I've been a man of much success in my lifetime, and I'm not about to let you spoil that. Rickman was good for one thing, and that was reminding me that I still have a place in life. If it weren't for him, Mr. Turner, I'd still be drinking myself into a stupor and blaming myself for everything that went down. Instead, the crazy son of a bitch actually made me believe I had something to prove. Vornac was right about you, right down to his death. And for that, I'd say he died a good man."

"You don't know anything about what the Brotherhood stood for."

"Don't I?"

"No. Otherwise, you'd know I had Raynor killed. By my own hand, I'll grant you, but it was strangely satisfying. Vornac didn't have a say in crap, and just between you and me, he lacked the credibility to become a real leader."

"And what's that to me?" He smiled. "You betray loyalty, Cole. You always have. You turn it around and twist it into something unrecognizable until you can live with yourself and what that bitch forced you to become. Your attitude was certainly never one of your strong points. And your temper, well, that's a different story altogether, isn't it?"

"I'm guessing that was a dare."

"Oh, it was so much more than that."

"How about you tell me where our mutual friend is keeping my wife and her sister and we'll call it a day?"

"You mean you'll kill me."

"Wow, still so smart."

Seth charged him then, knocking him on his back, as they roughly hit the ground at the same time, his right fist immediately connecting with Cole's left side, his hands forcefully proceeding to secure themselves around his neck. Cole took his hand, placing it on the other man's back as a stream of red emerged from it, causing the other man to jump away, throwing himself backwards a few feet, as he only just began to realize he was on fire, his body rolling around in the dirt, as he hopelessly struggled to put it out. His breathing was coming in strong gasps now, and he gritted his teeth, fighting terribly to avoid the onslaught. His white shirt was badly stained, as he angrily toyed miserably with the buttons and tossed it aside, his eyes full of pure rage. Cole got to his feet, his balance once again intact, absentmindedly wiping away the blood that began to merge from the corner of his mouth, wincing, as he began to experience the full effects of the blow, a shot of pain coursing through his system.

"So kill me," he challenged Seth. "Come over here and finish it, you bastard."

"We could have been partners. We could have been what every company dreams of! We could have set our expectations so high, Cole."

"I said, finish it!" he screamed, his blues turning cold once again.

Before Seth could respond, he was flung to the side, as the wind was unexpectedly knocked out of him, landing facedown in a pile of dirt. His nails dug themselves into the Earth below, as he tried with tremendous effort to pull himself up, failing with a miserable groan escaping his tired lips. Cole looked at his hands, turning them up and down a number of times, as he struggled to place the nature of the attack, his eyebrows raised in a state of perplexity.

"Needed some help, didn't you?" a familiar voice asked, her tone stuffed full of equally familiar sarcasm. "You could thank me, but I know it'd be a stretch- so we just won't even go there, okay?"

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"You mean, besides saving your ass?"

"Yes, besides saving my ass," he offered, frowning, hands set at his hips.

"We're gonna use this creep as bait," Prue responded simply, shrugging. "Paige and I talked it over, and we're cool with it. I mean putting this guy face to face with his old friend should be quite the blast from the past. No pun intended, of course. They'll go head to head, everybody else will go home happy."

"Right," he whispered, rolling his eyes.

"You didn't think I'd bail so soon, did ya?"

"My hopes were high and my hopes were crushed," he mused, finally forcing up a grin.

"Shame, isn't it?"

"Yeah. But you can't say I didn't get any points on my end, right?"

"And I promise you can pummel the crap out of him when he takes us to where they've got her, all right?"

"Why do you always take the pleasure out of these things?"

"Hey, you didn't come out of it clean, did you?"

"Well, no, but that's not the point, Prue."

"Men are such babies, you know that? They get a few minor scratches and scrapes in, and think they've conquered the world."

"Easy for you to say. You're a Charmed One."

"Yeah, and I've been meaning to repay you for trying to convince me I'd lost my powers. You know, that was a good one. So good, in fact, that I might just take a shot at you myself much later."

"And I'm sure that would just make my day."

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