A Kind of Magic
part 10
"Cole? Cole, wake up."
"Mmm?" came the sleep filled reply, as Cole Turner refused to open his eyes. "Later, okay? I'll take out the garbage, um...later."
"What? Look, I need you to get up. C'mon," the voice urged. Frowning, she reached out and gently shook his shoulders. "Cole," she pleaded.
"Dammit, Phoebe-" But he was nearly nose to nose with Paige Matthews, her mouth set in a tight line. Cole quickly shot into an upright position, leaning his head against the wooden board. "Am I having a nightmare? Where's Phoebe?"
She hit him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Phoebe is still sleeping. But I didn't want to worry her, so I-"
"Worry? Why, what's wrong?"
"Alex is not in her bed this morning. I think she might have-"
"That's because she slept with the two of us," he pointed out. "To cope with your incessant snoring."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Sherlock, I kind of figured that part out all on my own." She shot him a glare. "But guess what? She's not in here either. I already checked."
Cole threw back the sheet, careful not to wake his wife. Sure enough, the space lay vacant, void of the spot where Alex had laid down to rest the night before. "Oh no," he whispered.
"You can call all you want...." Paige started. "She's not here."
Cole sprang out of bed, his bare feet treading rapidly across the floorboards. "Ally!" He rose his voice. "Ally!"
Paige rushed after him, frantically trying to keep up. "Cole, wait," she pleaded.
But he was already out the door, scanning the entire area around them for his missing daughter. "For all I know, you let her get too far," he roughly accused. "Or maybe The Dark already has her. Take your pick." He threw her a glance. "If you had gone out and actually tried looking for her, maybe-"
"Maybe, maybe, maybe," Paige quipped. "Maybe if you would learn responsibility, you could be a better father."
"And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You figure it out," she snapped back.
"You know," he began, stopping to face her once again. "I honestly fear the day you have children."
"Why, afraid I'll torture them with soaps all day?"
"No, I'm afraid you'll-"
"Look, Cole. Your problem is not me."
"Oh, isn't it?"
"No. If you would just take time to think-"
"You don't run my life, okay? In fact, it would be a lot better without you in it."
"Seriously," she scoffed. "How immature."
"The minute you found out I was Belthazor, you've had nothing but-"
"That is such a lie. Did it also fail to cross your mind that you were once The Source of all evil too? Not to mention the damage you did?"
"That was years ago-"
"Oh, believe me, I remember it like it happened yesterday."
He frowned, trying to hide the sudden pain in his eyes upon her accusation. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"Daddy!" a voice rang out cheerfully.
He turned his attention from Paige, his expression brightening. "Ally?!" he yelled back, somewhat uncertain.
"Over here, Daddy!"
"Where?" He squinted his eyes against the overwhelming glare of the sunlight. "Ally?"
"The lake," Paige threw in. "She's by the lake."
Cole breathed a quick sigh of relief, as he ran down the embankment. Paige once again sprinted after him, eager to be off the hook from the constant bickering. The little girl was sitting near the large body of water, her small feet carefully sliding themselves into it. She offered a giggle, clapping her hands together. "Hi, Daddy."
Cole picked her up, bringing her safely within his grasp. Holding her close, he shut his eyes. "Thank God. Don't you ever do that to me again," he whispered.
"Do what?" she returned, confused.
"You are not to leave the cottage without one of us present. Is that clear, Alexandra?"
"I just wanted to play," she told him innocently. "I didn't-"
"But we had no idea where you were," he protested. "If your mother found out- we're in a bad situation now, Ally. We have to watch out for one another."
"Are the mean people here?"
"Not yet. But it's only- they'll be here if they can sense us. And we can't let that happen. Which is why we probably shouldn't be going out too often."
"But it's so pretty out here," she pleaded. "I like it."
"And you also could've drowned," he reminded her. "So please. From now on-"
"No going out the door without you or Mommy," Alex finished. "I know, Daddy." She looked at him, near tears. "And I'm real sorry, really."
"Hey, it's okay," he assured her quietly.
"But I can swim," she piped up.
"Look, regardless, we'd better get you back in."
"And wash those feet," Paige declared. "You really should be wearing shoes out here."
Cole frowned. "I had that covered, thank you."
"And I guess in this case it's father like daughter," she quipped, throwing a look down at his feet.
"You know, Paige, someday you're going to wish you were nice to me."
"Oooo....is that a threat?" she challenged.
"Someday, you'll need saving, and-"
"Oh, please. Like I'd ever ask you. I can handle myself just fine with demons."
"Really? Well, then why'd you run away yesterday when I needed your help?"
"Alright, we're ending this discussion now."
"Fine by me."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"What's fine? Where have you guys been?" Phoebe asked, yawning, as her presence appeared at the door. She peered through the screen, making a face, as she held open the contraption to let them inside.
"We were just....having a look-"
"Cole almost lost your daughter," Paige cut in, brushing past her.
"What?! What happened?"
"This was supposed to stay between us, remember?"
"No, completely forgot," Paige quipped, smiling at him.
"What did you do?" Phoebe asked again. "Will somebody please tell me-"
"Ally wandered out on her own this morning," Cole said quietly. "But it's okay now. Everything's alright. There's no need to-"
"Well, maybe not for you. But it was an easy opportunity for evil to find her," Phoebe shot back angrily.
"I told him he should have more-"
"Keep out of this conversation," she retorted, giving her sister a cruel glare.
"Whatever," Paige commented, rolling her eyes. "But I am not to blame for this."
"Do you even know what we're-"
"Phoebe, tell me. Why is it that everytime something interferes with- why am I always the bad one here? Hmm?"
"You said this woman-"
"She is. You sure as hell wouldn't want to come face to face with her in a dark ally. She'd rip your throat out."
"But you'd let your daughter....our daughter out of the cottage?"
"She let herself out!" he repeated, raising his voice. "Look, I'm tired of this. I really am. Can't you even stop to think, even for a minute, that I had absolutely nothing to do with Ally making a decision completely on her own?" He laughed. "But I guess that's still beyond your comprehension, right?"
"Oh, and that's funny to you?"
"Please stop," a small voice begged, as Alex put a hand over both her ears. "Stop fighting, Mommy. I said I was sorry. I'll never do it again, I promise. Just stop yelling at Daddy."
Phoebe's gaze fell on the petite girl hanging onto her husband's frame, her eyes softening. Her lips slowly formed a small smile, as she moved closer to her. The thought that she could've clearly been gone in an instant without her knowledge, sent a chill down her spine. She didn't know what she'd do. She hadn't been prepared. She felt Cole's look go right through her, immediately feeling a pang of guilt. He was right. The error of her ways had always sought out to ruin her, and the life she'd made for herself. "When I woke up, and you weren't there," she whispered. "I...I didn't know what to think. Part of me was so confused, and...and then I thought of Alex and.....you know, I just prayed that-"
"Hey," Cole cut in, reassuringly. "We're all here now, so you-"
"It's just this whole mess," she whispered.
He nodded. "I know."
"Okay! How about some breakfast?" Paige spoke up. "I'm starving."
Phoebe turned toward her sister, hands on her hips. "I am not fixing anything. Piper's the cook, remember?"
"I'm going to take a shower," Cole offered, placing Alex down onto the floor. He sighed, crossing his arms in front of him. "To be honest? I could still use a few more hours of sleep as well."
"I think we all could," Phoebe agreed.
"Listen. You guys? Can do whatever you like. Me? I'm taking advantage of this great hideout, and am going to attempt some pancakes."
"On second thought," Cole started, raising his eyebrows. "Pancakes sound great."
"Oh no," Paige protested. "Being a demon for over a hundred years, does not get you points for a free meal. Especially not after all of that stuff you said to me."
"She's just such a kindhearted person, isn't she?" he returned, giving his wife a sarcastic smirk.
"I'll make them for you, Daddy," Alex suggested, throwing her father a smile.
He laughed. "Aw, that's really sweet, Ally, but you don't even know-"
"I wanna try," she pressed.
"She's determined," Phoebe told him, grinning.
"Paige?" he questioned. "Would you mind helping her out? And...maybe try to actually keep an eye on her this time?"
"Excuse me? But I still don't see how I lost her in the first place," the witch countered, frowning.
"I'll be out in a minute," he confirmed, already heading in the direction of the bathroom.
"And I...will be....doing the laundry," Phoebe mumbled defeatedly. "If we're going to be getting out of here-"
"Um...wait," Paige interrupted. "Who says we're going anywhere?"
"Well, we can't very well stay here, and just keep hoping they'll never find us," she pointed out.
"So why don't we bring the fight to them?"
"Okay, you do realize that you seem a lot more eager than me to get out of this mess-"
"And maybe running isn't the answer anymore," her sister rationalized.
"Why did that come from?" Phoebe returned, confused.
"I'm...just saying...."
"Has Cole been talking to you?"
"What?"
"Has he been talking about me at all?" she asked again, a stern expression falling over her features.
"The only thing Cole and I have done is banter back and forth. Not much going on there," Paige assured her. "He has imperfections. I pick up on them."
"He says I run from my problems," she confessed, rolling her eyes.
Paige considered that a moment, dumping the pancake mixture into a bowl. "Oh my God. This is going to sound really strange, but maybe he is getting somewhere with this."
"Alright, first you said that I shouldn't have gone back to him, and then you're saying I should be with him. So which is it? Because I'm-"
"I'm talking about magic," she filled in.
"Really?"
"All past loves...future loves....whatever aside, maybe what we need the most right now is faith in our magic."
"We've been without powers for quite some time before that, and it was something you and Piper both agreed upon."
"But you're....different," she whispered. "You always seemed to enjoy it the most. Maybe you need to get that back."
"And what will that prove?"
"A lot...or maybe nothing." She shrugged, reaching into the cupboard for a frying pan. "Hey, do you think they might have a waffle maker instead?"
"Paige, I really don't think-" But she stopped suddenly, the soft cushions of the sofa greeting her, as another premonition came her way. She saw a woman, her face completely in shadow, toss a bright green burst of energy. As her eyes clearly focused themselves in on the target, she spotted Cole in the line of fire, Alex watching him from a short distance away. The ball hit Cole full force, tossing him off to the side, unconscious. No one else appeared to be in sight, and Alex was now completely defenseless. The woman didn't attack her, but simply held out her hand, urging the little girl to take it. The inside of the cottage flashed back into her view, shocking her, as her eyes flew open again. Struggling to regain her composure, she blinked a few times, feeling Paige grab a firm hold on her hand.
"What did you see?" she pressed, her face knit in tight concentration. "Phoebe?"
"She's here," she whispered. "I saw her."
"Who's here? Who did you see?"
"She was there....in the woods," she tried again, fearfully. "We have to leave. Now."
"I'll go get Cole," Paige quickly responded, her feet picking up speed toward the hallway. "Cole!"
The ex-demon rinsed the remaining soap from his eyes, reaching over to turn off the knob. His hand slipped, as he silently muttered a curse under his breath. Gaining a good grip on it, he turned it in the opposite direction, grabbing a towel. "Huh?"
"Cole!"
"I'll be down to breakfast in a sec," he replied, running another towel through his wet hair.
"No. We need to go," Paige told him, stopping at the doorway.
"Go? Where?" he asked, completely puzzled.
"Phoebe had a premonition," she finished. "The Dark is here."
"Oh, that's funny, Paige."
"Yes, but I'm not joking."
"You're in the wrong profession," he quipped.
"Just trust me on this, okay? She's here."
"You really expect me to believe-"
"As hard it as it for you to comprehend, it's the truth."
"Dammit," he whispered, finally realizing. Climbing out of the tub, he raced to the bedroom, finding the clothes he'd laid out for himself on the bed. "Stay out there with Ally."
"Cole-"
"Paige, just do it, okay? Tell Phoebe I'll be right there."
"Oh, that really helps. Do you even have a plan?"
"No."
"Well, that basically means everything is going to go to hell now. Wonderful."
"Go!" he shouted, raising his voice.
**********
"What a great little house," The Dark mused, clasping her hands together. "Such a remote location too. However did I find them?"
The demon beside her, frowned. "You do realize they're going to put up a fight again, don't you? I hate fights."
"I did not bring you along so you could complain," she hissed.
"And do you really think it's going to be so easy?"
"Do you really think I won't vanquish another demon on my behalf?" she returned, smuggly.
"So what are we going to do exactly?"
"I needed a distraction, didn't I?"
The demon, frowned, refusing to meet her glance. "And I'm it."
"My, you're a fast learner," she observed.
"So what exactly do I get in return? I mean, I still get my share, right?"
"You'll get your share...when I get the girl."
"And what if you fail?"
"My followers failed. I am capable of so much more."
"Um....right then."
"The Charmed Ones are a great deal weaker than they let on. They have been declared unstoppable by so many, and yet they have no idea of what's to come. And the all powerful Belthazor...what a complete waste of a demon who had such great potential. Most have forgotten about him by now. But I remember what he was like, how he once served our kind. And look at him. A human with powers. How silly is that? He's a mockery to his past life. But...given some thought, should he choose to cooperate? I'd say we could almost get him on our side again."
"Wait. You're bluffing, right?" the demon sneered. "Do you even know who you were just talking about? Sure, he's practically powerless, but he's also in love with the witch."
"No, I really didn't know that," she retorted sarastically. "Tell me something....do you like pain?"
"Pain? No, boss. I can't say that it's entirely favorable."
"Who would've thought it's his daughter I've been searching for all this time."
"The girl should have never been."
"Do you wish to help or not?"
"Yes, but-"
"She is to come to me alive. Do what you have to with the others. Kill them, torture them....either way it's pleasing to the eye."
"And what will you do?"
"What I have to, if I have brought along yet another demon who can't survive their attacks."
"I'm not immune to the spells," he warned her. "If they use one-"
"They don't have their precious Book now....do they? And without the Power of Three, I'd say a victory is in the cards."
"I hope you're right."
"You still have your doubts," she replied offering him a glance.
"Everbody fears them. The furies, the grimlocks, it's not only few of us."
"So you are afraid," she taunted.
"Not afraid. I...I just want to come out of this-"
"You bore me," she said simply, pointing a finger at him. In an instant, he was vanquished, and the dark-haired villain stood alone. She crossed her arms over her chest, sighing. "Well. Things must be looking up afterall. I think it's time I paid the little witches a visit."