Chapter Four
Halliwell Manor“That is not how you do it Paige!” Chris grabbed the building blocks and started to arrange them his way. Paige, annoyed called for them and as they orbed to her she began to arrange them her way. Wyatt sat between them both his head moving back and forth as if he were watching a tennis match.
“I told you Chris, you don’t always have to be so . . . so by the book with these things. Use a little creativity for crying out loud. Like this.” Paige gestured at her creation as Chris sat sulking.
“You don’t know what you’re doing. You never did. I can remember when I was little and you always had to create these crazy things out of my toys, it was really annoying.” Not realizing what he said exactly; he grabbed stray blocks from around them and started arranging them his way in front of himself. Chris didn’t notice that Paige had stopped what she was doing; hand raised in mid-air to place her next block, staring at him.
“What did you just say?” Paige’s brow was creased in confusion as she looked at Chris. She waited for a response. Wyatt sat quietly not moving a muscle.
“What do you mean?” Chris suddenly stopped what he was doing and looked up at Paige. As realization dawned on him he stood up abruptly knocking his creation apart and ran for the bathroom.
Paige moved her head back and forth in thought, replaying their conversation again in her head. ‘What the hell did he mean by when he was little?’ She stood up, scooping Wyatt in her arms as she followed Chris.
Pounding on the door to the downstairs bath and juggling Wyatt on one hip Paige said, “You come out of there right now mister. ‘You have some ‘splainin’ to do Lucy.’ Paige kept knocking on the door. “What did you mean when you were little? Do we know each other in the future?” She banged on the door again with no response. “Christopher answer me!”
“I can’t! I said too much. Go away!” Chris sat on the toilet lid with his hands in his hair trying to think.
“I’m not going away Chris.” Paige hesitated thinking. “You told us that I died in your future when the Titan’s came, so what did you mean?” Paige shifted Wyatt from one hip to the other.
The front door opened as Piper and Leo came in. “What in the world is going on in here? I can hear you two all the way outside.” Piper reached with outstretched arms for Wyatt, who silently enjoyed the drama while being traded from his aunt to his mom.
“Chris is in here, I’m just trying . . . to get him to come out.” Paige lied. Chris stood on the other side of the door listening intently. Holding his breath he waited.
“Well, if he wants to be in there Paige, maybe he has good reason. Let him be, I think we have more pressing issues at hand.” Piper turned, passed Wyatt to Leo as she shed her jacket. Walking to the hat rack by the door, she hung it up neatly. Turning she straightened a few things that were out of place, smoothed her hair then turned back to Paige. “Leo can’t get a read on Phoebe. I think we need to summon her and find out if she is ok.”
The door to the bathroom swung open as Chris stepped out concerned. “You can’t get a read on her? What the hell does that mean?” He stepped into the hall way as Paige took a step out of his way.
“I’m not sure. I can feel that she is still alive, but I can’t sense exactly where she is.” Leo followed Piper upstairs. Paige and Chris glared at each other silently not moving.
Piper leaned over the railing at the first floor landing. “Well, come on you two, we need all the help we can get.”
“Yeah, yeah, we’re coming.” Paige grabbed Chris’s hand and pulled him away from the stairs. “This conversation by no means is over, got it?” Chris nodded glumly as Paige orbed upstairs. He shook his head then followed suit.
Chapter Five
Cave Interior:“Who are you?” Phoebe took a few steps backward until she felt the cold hard press of rock up against her back.
The demon gestured for her to be comfortable. “Please take a seat around the fire. You’re cold. I won’t hurt you.” He sat with out further preamble; hands outstretched for warmth from the fire. Shivering in the dark, Phoebe had no choice but to come forward.
“What do you want from me?” Scared and not at all properly dressed for this environment she hesitantly took a seat. Before her bottom could touch the ground a small comfy pillow was conjured to catch her, and a camel hair long coat was wrapped around her magically. Grateful Phoebe didn’t hesitate to push her arms through the sleeves and raise the lambs wool hood over her head. No sooner had her hands finish adjusting the hood, then they were covered nicely in stylishly matching leather gloves.
“That should make you a little more comfortable.” The demon watched her astonishment.
“Thank you, I think.” Phoebe croaked out nervously.
Pleased with the beginnings of civil communication, he continued. “I hope this helps as well.” Instantly a steaming cup of hot coffee appeared in her hand. She peered down into the cup and saw in amazement that it was exactly how she took it. Brow furrowed in question she raised her eyes.
“Why the elaborate show of good faith? What do you want from me?” Inhaling the rich aroma, she hesitated to drink the coffee; for fear it was drugged or poisoned. Instead she let the heat from the cup warm her leathered hands.
“I want you to be as comfortable as you can be in this, . . .” The demon gestured around them, “ . . . environment. I mean you no harm. In fact I only wish for your company, . . . for now.” He suddenly had a cup of coffee himself. Taking a sip slowly he watched her over the brim to see if she followed suit.
Not wanting to appear afraid; and more than a little desperate for it, she took a small sip. Waiting to see if anything happened she then took a bigger sip, making note that it was divine java. It was so good. In fact had she been home she would have enjoyed sitting and sipping it slowly with her eyes closed. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind, than the demon chuckled to himself.
“You do like your coffee, don’t you?” He chuckled again sipping from his cup. Phoebe sat there stunned.
‘Had he just read her mind?’ She stared at him skeptically. ‘No he couldn’t have? It was just a fluke.’ She looked back down at her once again full cup and took another sip.
“It’s no fluke Phoebe. Like your powers of empathy I have skills at telepathy.” Phoebe squinted her eyes at him in distaste.
“Keep your ‘skills’ to your self bub.” Steamed she put her cup down and stood up. Pacing she fired off a series of questions. “Why did you bring me here? Where are we? Where is my family?”
“All in good time Phoebe, all in good time. For now I want you to rest. I know you are worn out, cold and . . . yes you’re hungry too. Take a seat and relax, I’ll be back in a flash.” With that the demon fizzled out.
Not one to take suggestions from a demon, Phoebe began investigating her surroundings. She ran into hard rock in all directions a short distance from the fire. Frustrated she kicked dirt and rocks with her boot. She looked up as she noticed that daylight was fading into darkness. The hole at the top of the cave looked like it might be big enough for her to fit through.
Not all together convinced it would work; Phoebe concentrated and began to levitate to the top of the cave and the opening. Breathing steady, but heavily she strained her power to the fullest extent; finally reaching the mouth of the opening. There she discovered to her delight that the opening was indeed much larger than it appeared from below.
Easily able to float through the opening, but tired from the effort; she sat on the edge to rest. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she closed her eyes to center herself so as to stop the ringing in her ears. After a few moments her breathing slowed to normal and the ringing subsided.
Looking around she couldn’t believe her eyes. In every direction for miles and miles it seemed until the ends of the earth, she could see nothing but water. Lit by the darkening skies and what few stars had ventured out; the opening where she sat was the opening of a small apparently dormant volcano; in the middle of the ocean somewhere. With the skies getting darker, and the full moon casting glimmers of white off the water, she could hear the gentle lapping of it against the rocks below.
Completely devastated, she burst into tears. ‘How in the world was she going to get out of here?’ Standing up on shaky ground, phoebe yelled at the top of her lungs. “Leo! Chris! Help Me! Leo!” She started to slide a little down the side of the volcano and fell flat on her stomach reaching up to grab onto to something. Finding purchase in a small outcropping of rocks near her feet she divulged herself in another fit of tears. Sobbing uncontrollably for Leo and Chris, she didn’t hear the demon shimmer in beside her, floating in mid air.
Silently he gathered her in his arms and shimmered her back down into the cave. As he moved toward a small concaved section the area was suddenly draped in silk scarves and wall hangings. As the demon drew closer a giant bed of mahogany dressed in the finest lavender colored silk bedding appeared. Gently he laid her on the bed. Smoothing stray tears from her eyes he left her to get it out of her system.
Approaching the fire he arranged a candle lit table for two beside a buffet covered in wonderful smelling dishes. Phoebe sat up and wiped her eyes on the back of her gloves. She sniffled as her stomach growled loudly. Inwardly she chastised her stomach for giving her away.
“I suppose you will want to freshen yourself before we dine.” With a wave of his hand the demon pointed in the opposite direction and there appeared an open door. Phoebe scooted silently off the bed and walked toward the door. There she saw a beautifully tiled wash room, filled with scented soaps, flowers and lit candles.
At the pedestal sink she washed her face with cool water, enjoyed a moment of pure delight when she shoved her face in the towel and it smelled of clean laundry and home. Making note of the huge sunken garden tub and separately enclosed toilet she walked out feeling a little better.
“I guess I should be flattered that you did all of this. . .” She gestured around the cave. “ . . .for me. I just wish you would tell me what you want. For that matter, who you are.” As she approached the table he pulled her chair out for her making sure to take her coat and hang it on the rack that appeared instantly. The cave was much warmer now with the fire and what other unseen magick he had used.
“All in good time beautiful, all in good time. Eat up. You’re going to need to keep your strength.” With that he sat across from her and they began to eat all of Phoebe’s favorite dishes.
