Shadows Of the Night
part 15
"Okay. You first," Piper Halliwell stated sternly, her arms crossing over her chest, as she calmly sat herself down upon the musty sofa beside her, narrowing her eyes at her brother in law.
"Well, I know you're going to somehow make this my fault, but-"
"Now whatever gave you that idea?" she returned innocently.
"It's complicated," Cole told her. "If I were to tell you everything that's already happened, it couldn't possibly hope to make any kind of sense to you."
"Try me," she offered, raising an eyebrow.
"Why? What did you find out?"
"That depends. What are you willing to share?"
"A man named Sterling. Ever hear of him?"
"We saw his name on the note, before we went to check out the location. We thought he was in charge of....whatever it is that you two seem to have gotten yourselves into."
"And I don't exactly think you're in any condition to handle it," Paige spoke up. "You might be giving birth sooner than you think, Piper, and it's not safe for you to-"
"Oh really?"
"She's right," Cole added softly. "You shouldn't have to risk both your life and the baby's. Not for this."
"And I already told you. My little girl is over there, and I don't even know if she's still-"
"She's fine," he added. "She isn't looking for her."
"And who is she?"
"That's the part that I think is best left unsaid."
"You know what, Cole? You always were so indirect- even when you were evil a million times over. But this is no time to be disregarding the truth. When I left you and Phoebe, you guys had absolutely no intention of taking any kind of vacation. Then Leo and I unexpectedly find something out about a cruise, and suddenly it's too personal? I'm sorry, but I don't buy whatever it is you're trying to sell. So spill."
He took a deep breath, as he glanced briefly at his watch, once again meeting The Charmed One's stare. "Remember...remember when I told you my family was screwed up?"
"Aren't a lot of families like that?" she returned, shrugging, as her eyes widened.
"No. I mean, really screwed up. Like the kind of family with problems that no talk show could ever hope to resolve."
"What are you getting at?"
"Apparently not much, as you still don't seem to find this the least bit fascinating."
"Look. What he really means to say, is that his crazy, over the top, I'm set on killing everyone, and I don't care worth a damn...mother is back in town- and she's not planning a reunion. Does that strike a chord of logic?"
"But you don't have a mother, right? Wasn't she- are you defending him, Paige?"
"Not defending. Just trying to clear up things, and prevent a future argument."
"Oh, because goodness knows you two have certainly had a lot of them, haven't you?"
"Elizabeth Turner may be a little lower on the level of demonic masses here, but she's still just as dangerous," Cole emphasized, his gorgeous profile entirely serious.
"And how exactly did you find that out?"
"Mmmm...I don't know...let's see," he offered, holding up a hand. "When she one...shapeshifted and scared my little girl, two...took my powers, and three, actually became Ally to trap me in a room full of water. Oh, and did I mention the fact that we've been speculating she might be involved with Sterling?"
"Okay, what does the room full of water have to do with this?"
"Cole is afraid of the water," Paige explained. "Ever since he was little. His mother almost let him drown in the ocean."
"Oh, too bad for him," her sister retorted sarcastically. "But we all have to get over our fears sooner or later."
"And I'm over it," he told her, frowning. "Not that I'd ever expect any sympathy on behalf of-"
"So what does she want with you? I mean, does she have kind of a goal in mind? Seems pretty pointless to just seek you out all of a sudden, and know your exact location, doesn't it?"
He nodded. "I think we've already established the fact that it was a setup by some means. But while you may not think so, there is a price in all of this. She does want to get her hands on something of mine awfully bad, and I don't think anything else will do. She wants the real thing."
"Your soul?" she tried, fairly confused.
"His father's soul," Paige corrected thoughtfully.
"Okay. Can you please just be quiet for a minute so I can hear myself speak?" Cole pleaded, shooting an annoyed glare her way.
"I'm just trying to-"
"I know. You're only trying to help. But this is about me," he confirmed, his voice just above a whisper. "It still doesn't change the fact that it's my problem."
"Well, what I was going to say, was that I was only attempting to speed things up. In case you aren't completely aware, we don't really have all day here."
"Who was your father?" Piper questioned.
"Benjamin Turner," a voice at the attic door echoed. "Hey, sorry I'm late, but I was up checking with-"
"And if they didn't tell us anything before, honey, they're certainly not going to tell us now," she reminded him, rolling her eyes.
"Is she always this cranky when she's pregnant?" Cole asked his brother in law.
"She's...just worried about Melinda," Leo offered, quickly covering his bases. With an uneasy gaze at his wife, he hesitantly took a step forward. "But the point is, The Elders says something big is at work here. Something of the past, but having survived all of this time to bring about a new kind of chaos."
"Well, gee, isn't that comforting," Piper responded, gritting her teeth.
"Wait. So they suddenly know now?" Paige asked him, clearly surprised.
"Not a lot. But they can sense something isn't right in the order of things," he admitted. "And as Cole just said, it definitely must have something to do with his father."
"You're absolutely sure about this?" Piper countered.
"Well, not entirely," he confessed. "But I have a good idea his other half- meaning his ex...has re-surfaced, and is probably looking for a lot of revenge to wreak."
"And once again, we find ourselves caught up in what Cole's up against. Just perfect," she muttered to herself.
"I'm not so sure Cole has any control over this, Piper. Yes, he's related to both Benjamin and Elizabeth- as he's their only child...but nothing more than that. He can't be held responsible for their actions, or what they intend to do with-"
"Um...as far as I know Ben's still trapped," Paige offered, waving her hand in front of them. "Now seeing as he can't take on any sort of form at the moment- wait. Can he, like, try and borrow a body? Because that would just be way too high on the scale of the creep factor, you know?"
"Nothing's for certain," Leo added. "Though the Elders say evil has finally come out to play one last time. And I think we'll be-"
"You two are going to stay here," Cole advised. "Like I said before, I refuse to put you guys in the line of fire. You'd be defenseless, and you know it."
"And you're still so sure we'll pull through?" Paige asked him.
"Well, first, you're going to help me get my powers back," he told her, smiling. "I'm already feeling a lot of hope in that category."
"Um...lucky me?"
"I said I needed you, didn't I?"
"So soon?"
"Yes. So soon. We'll have to suspend the Power of Three for this one, and have you try it on your own. Because we are pressed for time, and I'd like to have them before I head back to that ship. Who knows what they've got waiting for us there."
"And you actually left your wife there to find out?" Piper inquired, pursing her lips. "Maybe we're even one Charmed One short more so than we thought right now."
"Piper, don't think that way," her sister warned her. "Phoebe's a lot stronger than you think. She wants to be there for Cole, and I see her doing that. She wants to beat this, just as much as we do- and far be it for me to say she's not being brave for all four of us right now."
"And again- are you defending her loyalty to Cole, or are you-"
"Uh....hey....guy still needing his powers back over here," Cole interrupted, as he gently rocked back upon the balls of his feet, his hands leaning against his hips.
"The only loyalty I have to Cole, is getting him back to that ship," Paige told her sister. "Phoebe and the girls need him. So if you don't mind, we are going to write down those spells, and be on our way."
"But you might want to know what-"
"Piper, I'm not about to stand here anymore, while you proceed to complain to me about something you-"
"If Sterling is involved, Leo thinks he might be trying to conjure up the Taker, as they call it. He's this age old sea monster who met his fate in a rather interesting fashion. Need I enlighten you?"
Cole narrowed his eyes, taking a step forward. "I'm already all too familiar with that story."
"Well, you might be interested to know that this beast wasn't always in the form he takes now. But because of the events that destroyed the Crimson Star, he was forced to become one with the ocean."
"What are you talking about? He who? Are you trying to-"
"He became what he feared- the Taker's form makes up his failure to stay in touch with reality."
"But who is he?" Cole asked again. "I'm not following. From what legend tells me, the Taker was always just a beast. He was never anything remotely close to human."
"Looks like someone never bothered to do all of their homework," Paige told him, frowning.
"We're going back," he said quickly, taking a firm grip upon her arm, as he pulled her closer to him. "And you'll say the spell right before we get there, okay?"
"Cole, I'm not prepared, I don't-"
"Then you'll make yourself prepared. You can learn as we go. Now c'mon."
"Do you know who the Taker is?"
He remained silent, directing his gaze over her head, a faraway look planting itself in his blue eyes.
"Cole?"
**********
"Do you hear that, Aunt Phoebe?"
"It's just voices, sweetie. Nothing to be afraid of."
"I think they're coming for us," she whispered, as she pulled a pillow closer to her chest, burying her chin deep within it.
"Uncle Cole will be back soon," she assured her. "I know he will."
"He always comes back for us," Alex agreed, smiling, as she moved closer to her cousin, dangling her feet over the bunk.
"I think there must have just been some misunderstanding with the guests out there. It's probably nothing."
"Are you sure?" Melinda asked, her voice breaking. "It sounds real loud."
"More fighting," Alex agreed, nodding, her small face completely serious.
"Well...there's only...one way to find out, isn't there? I mean..." Phoebe creeped closer to the door, edging it open a bit as she carefully attempted to crane her neck down the long, narrow hallway. One of the guests stood outside of her cabin, her arms thrown over her head, as she glared angrily at Sterling. The old man was no more than two feet away from her, and her face remained completely crimson, as she appeared to be struggling to get some kind of valid point across to him. Phoebe inched her way slowly out of the room then, taking soft steps, to see if she could get a much clearer reception. Their words were still fairly muffled, but the rise in the tone was unmistakable. It was an arugment of some sort, their voices clearly not pleased with the matter at hand.
"Mr. Sterling, I am through lying through my teeth!" the woman hissed. "Why don't you just tell them all? Hmm? Why don't you tell them everything!?"
"Now, calm down there, alright? If you could just start thinking about this calmly and collectively, I'm sure we could come to some sort of agreement. You have my solemn promise in that."
"I want you to tell them now!" she told him, hands perched against her hips. "You tell them now, or I will."
"Is that any way to treat the man who gave you a free vacation?!" he snapped, a deep set anger building to the surface within his glance, as he ran a hand nervously through his hair. "A little ungrateful, don't you think?"
"This is a horror movie!" she yelled. "This has been the worst experience of my life! My son was nearly killed back there, and all you can do is offer me an extended trip?! Do you people even care around here?! My power has been out for almost a day already!"
"And I told you you have my humblest apologies on the power problem," he confirmed, holding up a hand to silence her. "And as for your son...we are trying to get him to the nearest medical facility as soon as we can. You must try and be patient. He is in good hands."
"Since when is a ship completely void of a medical crew?" Phoebe whispered, as she took a few more steps, curiously tilting her head to one side.
"In good hands?! In good hands? When he's finally well again, I'll think him to be in good hands. But he's dying, Mr. Sterling. You know that as well as I do. So either fix the problem, or I am going to sue with every last penny I have!"
"Miss Burns, we are doing everything we can," he repeated, his expression growing slightly worn, as he took a single step back. "There is no need to resort to such measures in your case."
"Do I even have a case? Or are you people going to try and make it look like it never happened? Because I've seen this sort of thing before. You're liable to get away with murder!"
"We wish no harm to your son," he assured her, his mouth set in a tight line.
"Then what is in that ocean?!" she asked him, her voice raising itself once again.
"There's nothing. Abolsutely nothing to worry about in the least. Like I told you, it was a shark. In these parts, you can never be too sure how many of them will be lurking. Your son shouldn't have been playing over that rail. It was much too dangerous on his part. I truly hope he has also learned his lesson from his encounter."
"Mr. Sterling, my son isn't raving about some kind of shark. He was raving about a monster!"
"A monster that is merely myth, and no valid proof has been given in regards to its existence. The salt water has simply made him insane, is all."
"Oh, so now my son's insane?"
Phoebe felt something behind her then, as a sudden warmth of air seemed to envelop her. Before she could cry out, a strong hand grasped her waist, and another placed itself directly over her mouth, pulling her off into the shadows, yanking her out of sight. She squirmed against the tight hold her opponent had over her, and struggled to free herself from it, her foot easily stamping fairly agressively down upon his. His hands immediately freed themselves reluctantly from her body, as he offered a short curse in pain, wincing, as he tried reaching for her arm. "Dammit. Why do you always want to hurt me?"
"Cole?" she whispered.
"Ow," came the response, as he felt the impact finally set in, slowly nodding toward her.
Without thinking, she impulsively slung her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. He let his hands slide around her waist ever so lightly, planting a soft kiss in her hair. "Where've you been?" she quietly asked.
"Battling things out with your other sister back at the manor," he whispered back. "The woman is just completely relentless."
"What? Piper and Leo are back? Are they-"
"I told them not to come. They're only be in more danger than we already are. I couldn't do that to Piper and her little one. I'd never forgive myself."
"You scared me, you know that? I didn't know what to expect. Things have been going to hell in a hand basket here- literally."
"Who's that?" he asked, indicating the woman with Sterling at the opposite end of the hall.
"I'm not sure. But she's pretty upset about something concerning her son," she explained, keeping her voice to a minimum.
"Well, well, well. Wonders never cease. Looks like Sterling's in a little over his head now, doesn't it?"
"Wait...I have to know..." she turned him toward her then, gently fingering the fabric of his jacket, her brown eyes meeting the pools of his blues. She smiled a moment, biting her lower lip. "Did you get your powers back? I mean, was there a-"
He returned her smile, holding up his hand. A lightening bolt began to take shape, as he quickly let it fizzle, forming a tight fist. "All back. And thanks to your sister, I might add. We were actually behaving pretty close to a high school level this time, I think."
She laughed. "I'm impressed. And of course you two would have to start behaving while I'm not around...."
"You know, you were right about me and Paige," he admitted then, a tad bit sheepishly. "I mean, I guess I just didn't see it before. But I think the two of us really do have a lot more in common than we thought. I...I, um...I think we've really experienced close to the same thing, in terms of loss..."
"See? I told you that's probably where your strong dislike of her came from. And of course she's just too afraid to look beyond her own past mistakes yet to-"
"I don't know about that. But I do know this Taker was a real mistake. And if we don't fix it, things could go from bad to worse."
"Taker?"
"Remember when I told you about that monster in the sea? The one with-"
"Yeah, what about him?"
"Turns out Leo's discovered this being once had human form. Which could only mean one of two things- well, that and the fact that Piper believes Sterling is trying to conjure it to swallow us whole. But something tells me a certain drifter didn't exactly get what he bargained for in coming aboard this ship. I don't think his love was all that powerful to withstand what transpired."
She raised an eyebrow. "What transpired?"
"Look, nevermind that right now. I've got my father's soul in the cabin. I sent Paige back there to look in on the girls when I didn't find you there. I damn near thought you were in some kind of trouble....you nearly...maybe I should have never-"
"I just....well, the voices were so loud, and I had thought someone might need my help-"
"Words to live by. Never, under any circumstances, accept an invitation of help on this ship," he advised. "Or else you just might find yourself in a room full of water again- trying to conquer your lifelong fear."
She grinned. "So I noticed."
"But I'm sensing another confrontation is near, so I think we need to get cracking with that other spell."
"The one-"
"That'll take us back to the past. Paige has it. If we-"
"Sterling said her son had a run-in with a shark," she told him. "But what kind of guy- this saying he's deathly afraid of them to begin with, would be caught playing over that rail, when he knows the consequences? It makes no sense. Plus, I just found out they have absolutely no medical crew here for that boy. There's nothing."
"So what the hell is going on?"
"We have to go back," she whispered. "It's the only way. We have to see what became of all of them- Jacqueline, Lowell...all of them. We have to, Cole."
"I know," he told her, his handsome face clothed in a deep worry. "And believe me, I'm not going to let go of you for a second. I can sense that there's a lot of misery in their past, and I'm not about to lose you in some alternate dimension."
"Been there, done that," she joked once again, forcing another smile.
"Well, back then I knew very little about you, yes. But I'd hardly consider it-"
"I know, I know. But hey. You looked good in colonial wear. Very...ruggedly charming?"
"You're such a tease, you know that?"
"But you love me for it, right?"
"Let's just get back home, after all this is over, and we'll discuss my undying devotion then, alright?"