A Kind of Magic
part 18
"I don't believe this," Cole snapped, his face a clear mass of anger. "I cannot believe this is what it comes down to. They always said power corrupts, but I guess that's honestly an understatement." He shifted his foot in step, bringing himself a bit closer. "You don't have a clue what she means to me, do you?"
"Oh, I have a very good clue," she whispered. "We're the only ones who matter now, Cole. There is nothing else that could stand in our way. Yet your constant fear just escapes me. You allowed your judgement to be shattered. It never had to be a loss for you. You always prevailed. And I loved you for that. I loved you for every minute of it."
"Well, sorry. The hotline's closed. Tell it to someone who gives a damn."
Alex's lids fluttered briefly, as she carefully tilted her head. Ever so slowly she began to regain her vision, her eyes taking on a look of pure horror. She caught sight of the deep fiery depths below her, letting out a small scream. Her tiny hands clutched the fabric of The Dark's dress, holding on for dear life. "Daddy?" she choked. "Daddy, don't let me fall."
"A smart little thing she is," she added, amused.
"Ally, just hold on."
"But I can't, Daddy," she whimpered.
"Yes, you can. Look, it's going to be alright. Just hang on," he repeated, holding a hand out to her.
"Oh, but don't hold on for long," The Dark teased. "Pretty soon there will be nothing left."
"Take it out on me," he urged again. "You have her powers, now let her go. Please....Lily."
The Dark glanced up at him sharply, her gaze struggling to soften. She parted her lips, her eyes trained on his handsome face. Her other hand clenched slightly into a fist, as she took a single step towards him. "What did you call me?"
"Lily," he said again.
"But I-"
"All stories have a beginning," he reminded her. "And I think I've known yours for a very long time."
"And I am what I have always desired to be," she offered once more.
"Daddy," Alex pleaded, as one of her hands suddenly broke free.
***
Julie had since pulled herself up off the ground, offering a brief frown. She tossed a look The Charmed One's way, carefully noting her glance that was purely preoccupied with the scene being played out right in front of her. Smiling, she slowly brushed the flakes of dust off of her skirt, her heels taking a soft step forward. "Witch," she hissed.
Phoebe finally turned around, just as a fist connected with her jawline, sending her backwards. Offering a brief shake of her head, she fought to regain her balance. "Cole, grab her!" she screamed, as Julie came at her full force again.
"Oh, what's one more?" her opponent asked, her grin widening. "Your sisters are already gone. Face it. You have nothing. You've always had nothing. Poor little witch. Can't ever make up her mind."
Phoebe got a few punches in, letting out a yell. "You don't know anything about my life. You never have."
"The Power of Three has ended. And in your heart, you've known it all along. Tell me you weren't ready to give up on Cole when you found out the truth. Tell me you were able to accept the evil he embraced."
"Shut up," she snapped.
"Tell me you were so willing to stay by his side," she continued.
"I did," she whispered. "Until the end."
"Yes, but after the vanquish?"
"I wasn't ready, and what I did was none of your business."
"You were never ready to fully take him back."
"Look, I already got the third degree from my sisters, and I sure as hell don't need it from you," she hissed. "You're a demon who doesn't give a damn about anyone but yourself."
Julie took a step back, throwing her head back in a full fit of laughter. "And you're no different, Phoebe. Are you?"
"What?"
"You pride yourself on being a mother, on settling down with the man you love. But you were never able to accept what he'd become."
She shrugged. "Before or after the Source?"
"How about when you first met him?" Julie tried, hands on her hips.
"You know what? If you think this is-"
"I guess as a Charmed One, the only thing you believed yourself capable of was good. But you never even came close."
Phoebe brought her leg up, giving her enemy another roundhouse kick. Julie fell to the ground, still holding her expression tightly to her flawless complexion. She began to laugh again, as the witch began a series of punches.
***
"Oh boy," Paige said quietly.
"What the- oh, this does not look good," Piper agreed, as the four of them glimsped the events before them. Melinda tightly pulled her father's hand, indicating the small girl up ahead. Alex.
"Dammit, Leo, we've got to do something," Paige quickly urged, her face troubled with extreme worry.
"What?!" he hissed. "If I trying anything here, she could-"
"Well, you have to," Piper pressed. "This isn't- I have to help Phoebe."
"Oh, let her fight it out. The bitch deserves it."
"Excuse me?"
"Um...I meant Julie?" Paige protested. "Relax, alright?"
"And at this point? I think that's pretty much impossible."
"What is that other thing, Mom?" Melinda suddenly spoke up.
"What thing, sweetheart?"
"I think she's talking about that big demon near Cole and The Dark," Leo filled her in. "According to the lore, I think she summoned it to help give her ultimate power."
Piper raised an eyebrow, her mouth forming a frown. "Uh oh. That probably already means-"
"I knew it," Paige hissed. "She's done it. And let's face it. Now we have an absolute zero chance in winning this whole thing."
"Look, if we can just get it out of the way, we can get to her," Piper surmised.
"And who said something about Phoebe?"
"I'll go to Phoebe. You help Cole."
"So I get stuck with the ex-demon? How could I ever be so immensely thrilled again?"
"Some day you two will come to an undestanding," Piper whispered. "And when you do-"
"Let's pick this up later," Leo reminded them. "The time to act is now. She's absorbed Alex's powers, and my guess is she wants Cole's next."
"A guess? What, you don't know? I thought she was after his heart," she emphasized, clearly confused.
"It's probably a lot more complicated than we knew."
"Well, I'm tired of waiting," his wife added. Narrowing her eyes, she picked up both of her hands. "Hey! Julie!" Just as the demon craned her head, Piper flung the momentum at her as hard as she could, watching as she exploded into a random mass of particles. Almost instantly, though, she had regained her shape, glaring up at The Charmed One.
"I thought you were-"
"Yeah, well, think again, blondie. I've about had enough of your stupid little antics."
"Oh, so now both of you want to take me on?" She raised her eyebrows, an expression of pure pleasure taking form on her face. "This really is the more the merrier, isn't it?"
"Piper! Dammit, save Cole!" Phoebe yelled. "Don't worry about me!"
"But you're in trouble too!" Paige pointed out.
"Bury that shadow creature!" she called back. "It's the only-"
But she didn't get to finish. Julie threw yet another punch her way, as the fight continued between them.
"It's that thing, Mom," Melinda insisted.
"Sweetie, I don't know-"
"It's what's sustaining her strength," Leo concluded. "Just as I suspected."
"Yes, and while you're still mulling that over? Why don't you actually try and act on it?" Piper replied.
"Piper-"
But she was already gone, having fled below to help out her sister. Paige sighed. She glanced down at Melinda, who simply offered an equal reaction, her tiny hands perched upon her hips. Leo pursed his lips, his gaze intently falling on The Dark. Paige cleared her throat. "So, what's going on?"
"Of all the times you've been skeptical of him, you have to put that aside right now," he explained. "Those minions won't be under Phoebe's spell for long, and we don't know what exactly this creature is capable of. So you need to try hard, Paige. He's just a man with a little girl who would probably die trying to save her."
"We have been over this before, Leo. What's different?"
"Paige, I'm serious."
"So am I."
"All you've done is take jabs at him. You can't expect-"
"And it's like I told, Phoebe. A past can't just be vanquished."
"I know it can't, but at least-"
"Yeah, he loves Alex. But so do all of us," she insisted. "It's not like it's not known."
***
"Lily, please."
"Lily, please," she cruelly mocked. "Cole, I know that you don't want the worst of this, but you know what? There's no out to it any longer. She is so weak now, and you're so very vulnerable, aren't you?"
"Dammit, just look at yourself. You'd be taking a human life."
"And it would not be the-"
"You can't even begin to comprehend the gift of a child," he whispered.
"Look, just tell me what I need to know."
"Daddy," Alex said again, as she dangled even closer to the edge. "Tell her to let me go. I want the bad lady to let me go."
"Ally, just stay calm. Daddy's coming for you. I'm not gonna let you-"
"But if you did- what would she think about you? Hmm? Right back to your evil ways, right? How utterly smashing that would be. Then, there would be no question. You'd freely join without cause."
"Never."
"Mmm. Well then. Have it your way."
"Look! Don't.....drop her," he told her again. "If ever there was a time to hope for redemption-"
"I don't want redemption," she whispered back. A single tear suddenly rolled its way down her cheek, as she struggled to brush it away with one hand. Alex was merely hanging on by a thread now, as her feet began to touch the open rock below. The Dark sighed, shrugging, as she forced herself to meet his blue eyes once again. "All I ever wanted was you, Cole. Happy? Because I now admit it. I so badly wanted you. You were the one person I'd always wanted to be. The one man who turned over The Source's title, and managed to put the former to shame. The one man who was knocked down by love, but kept picking himself up. You could still be someone- you have to know that."
He stared at her, long and hard, taking a few steps forward. He held out a single hand, a few tears of his own starting to fall. "Lily, c'mon. Just give her to me."
"Don't come any closer," she continued to warn him.
"Please, just let go-"
"Fine," she replied simply, as her grip came to a halt, the small girl tumbling into the depths below.
"Nooooo!!!" Phoebe screamed. "Alex!!!"
Filled with rage, Cole turned back to look at his wife, ever so briefly, as if to offer her one last reassuring glance. His eyes spoke volumes, as he dove in head first after his daughter, never for a moment concerned with the consequences.
"Cole....no, Cole!!!!" Piper's hands went around her, trying to restrain her, as she fought against her sister's grip. "Piper, no. Dammit, let me go. Let me go!"
Julie stood to one side, fixing her blonde hair, as her arms went across her chest. "And so it ends," she added, a bright smile spilling over her features.