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House
of Mirrors Part One “Phoebe!” Piper called out. She walked towards her younger sister’s room, calling out her name in every step. “Phoebe! Phoebe! Phoebe!” As she stood in front of Phoebe’s bedroom, Piper knocked several times. “Phoebs, you in there?” she asked. When nothing came out from the room, she covered her eyes, opened the door and stepped inside. When she heard no gasp of horror or surprise to her relief, she removed her hand from her eyes and then looked around. The
room was not what you would call ‘neat as a pin’, but it was quite
bearable to live in. The bed was hastily made up, as though whoever
occupied it was in a hurry to go out. There were a few clothes thrown
about; some even covered the lamps and other stuff on the desk. Piper,
deciding not to further scrutinize her sister’s living condition,
stepped out of the bedroom and headed towards the basement, where Phoebe
and Cole must probably be training. “Phoebs?”
She said, as she walked down the stairs. “Phoebe?” Piper reached the
middle of the basement, and as she noted the training equipments that were
scattered along the room, frowned. She wandered around her, trying her
best to not step on the clutter of barbells and other training tools. “Phoe-“ “She’s
not here.” Piper
let out a shriek of surprise when out of nowhere, Cole came out and with
that loud, deep voice of his made her heart accelerate in less than a
millisecond. Clutching her chest as if the act would ensure her that her
heart wouldn’t jump out of her chest cavity, she whirled around and
glared at the smirking – half-naked – Cole. Forcing her head to think
straight, she glared at him. “Would it kill you to be, oh I don’t
know… not rude?” she said almost breathlessly. Cole’s
smirk widened to a grin as he took note the alarmed state Piper was in.
She was breathing fast, her face flushed pink with the sudden onslaught of
blood to her head. He let his eyes focus on his hand as he started to wrap
his fist with a small shred of cloth before answering her. “I’m a
demon, Piper. Rudeness is a part of my nature.” He said smugly, as he
let his eyes set on her face again. “Yeah,
well, vanquishing demons is a huge part of my nature too, but do you see
me kicking your sorry ass?” Piper crossed her arms in front of her, her
eyebrows raised. He
let out a sigh that seemed to convey his annoyance at her being there.
“What do you want, Piper?” “What
I want is to know where my sister is… and why the hell is there so much
junk in here?” She looked around more. “That shouldn’t have been
here. I thought I threw that thing out years ago… and where did that
came from?” Cole
grinned momentarily at her before standing in front of the punching bag.
He let out a right hook, one that connected solidly to the heavy bag, and
he heard another gasp from Piper. “You know, I am talking to
you.” he heard her say. He held the bag in both hands and looked at her.
“Sorry. I was busy thinking which of the questions I’ll answer
first.” “Well,
there was a reason why my questions were in that order.” She let out a
breath, her patience wearing out. “Fine. Where’s Phoebe?” "Isn’t
she in her room?” “See,
the thing is, I always check her room first whenever I’m looking for
her. So I’m thinking, if I’m looking for her here, then she’s
probably not there.” He
gritted his teeth, let out another solid hook, before replying. “See,
the thing is, I already answered your question with a ‘she’s not
here’. So I’m thinking, if she’s not here, then she’s
probably there.” “You
know, be really thankful that Phoebe’s so into you. And no, I don’t
mean that in a sexual way. Be really thankful she likes you because
otherwise you would have been dead!” She almost screamed. “You
know, for a witch who fights in the side of good, you’re awfully
nasty.” He shot back. With
one last glare in his direction, Piper stormed out of the basement,
hollering Phoebe’s name all the way. “PHOEBE!!!” Cole
chuckled at her expense, thinking that the Halliwell women are truly
beautiful when their tempers flared. With a grin permanently etched on his
handsome face, he let out another hook, and the punching bag swayed in
obedience to his strength. * Now
Piper was really confused. She combed every part of the manor to find
where her sister is, but during her half an hour search, she yielded not a
single clue as to her whereabouts. She was beginning to worry, because
normally her sister would at least tell her if she’s stepping out of the
house. With her forehead creased, she walked towards her bedroom. As
she passed by Phoebe’s bedroom, she almost shrieked again when the door
opened and out came a sweaty and flushed Phoebe. “Phoebe!” Piper
exclaimed, very much aware of the sudden appearance of her sister.
“Where…where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you!”
She stepped closer. “Are you alright?” Phoebe
raised her face to her sister, and their eyes met for the briefest of
seconds. “I’m… I’m fine,” she said, her teeth flashing in a
smile. “I
was calling you for the last thirty minutes, Phoebs. Why haven’t you
answered me? I was beginning to worry, you know.” “Oh,
yeah, about that… well,” Phoebe took some gulps of air before
continuing, “I… I heard you calling me, but I had some stuff in my
room, and I was too busy arranging that and… stuff.” “Oh.”
Piper muttered. Somehow she knew that her sister was lying, but she
decided to not push further. “Well, I was going to ask you if you’ve
already called Paige about the latest demon sighting we had.” “Right,
right. Don’t worry, I’ll call her this very second.” Phoebe assured
her with a wide grin. “Probably
best if you also advise her to come home early in case this demon attacks
us, okay?” Phoebe
nodded. “Okay. Do you need anything else?” Piper
shook her head, and then let out a breath of air as she stared at her
departing sister. She looked down on her feet, when suddenly something
blue and flashy inside Phoebe’s room caught her attention. She stepped
inside to investigate but found to her dismay that there was no such thing
there. Heaving another sigh, she stepped out and went inside her room. * Cole
pushed another wet strand of hair off his forehead. He then went into his
position, and directly sent a punch at the center of the punching bag.
Twisting his body, he did a roundhouse kick that connected to the upper
part of the bag. Deciding that he had enough training for the day, he
grabbed the towel lying on one of the benches and as he walked upstairs,
he started wiping sweat off his whole body. He
swung the towel to his shoulder, and as he neared the last step he got
hold of his girlfriend coming down from upstairs. He grinned sexily, a
smile that she cannot refuse. “Hey,
baby,” he greeted her, walking faster to meet her halfway. Phoebe
gave him a small smile. “Hey, Cole.” Cole
grabbed her waist and pinned her closer to his body. But he got the
surprise of his life when she pushed her way out of his embrace.
“What’s the big idea, buster?” She exclaimed, irritated. “Well,
I wanted a kiss from you, and you-“ Phoebe
sighed an irritated sigh and glared at him. “If you want to kiss me, all
you have to do is ask for it.” Cole’s
eyes widened in disbelief. “Ask for it? What am I, a dog that
when he wants a treat he wags his tail?” “I
know it sounds crazy… but…” She pursed her lips, then gazed at him
critically. “You’re all sweaty, and you’re all icky and stuff. Why
don’t you go shower first before we could… you know.” “You
used to like me all sweaty.” He told her. “Well…
not right now, Cole. I’ve got to do something.” “Yes,
of course!” He exclaimed. “You’ve got to do something. You always
have something to do! You have to wash your clothes, vanquish demons,
take your sister for a tour around the house-“ “I
think that’s enough, Cole.” Phoebe said fiercely, her eyes flashing. “Face
it, Phoebe. You’re always busy with everything else that you don’t
have time for me anymore.” “Actually,
I do, but you spend most of it telling me how lousy a girlfriend I am!”
Phoebe heaved a calming breath, before she talked in a lower, more
controlled voice. “Cole, I’m going to say this one more time. I am
quite fed up with this, so if you don’t mind, I have to call Paige, and
I’ll just talk to you later.” “Right.
Why don’t you put me on your to-do-list, or even schedule me for a quick
make-out session. I’m available at four.” Cole sarcastically muttered. Phoebe
didn’t say anything, but her eyes relayed the annoyance she felt at that
time. With a glare in his direction, she walked to the phone and began to
dial. Cole
muttered a curse under his breath, and then he headed for the direction of
the kitchen. He went straight to the refrigerator, and then took out a
huge pitcher of lemonade. He grabbed a glass, filled it with the pale
liquid, and then drank heartily. He was about to pour another one when
bright, swirly blue lights caught his attention. A second after, Leo
appeared. “Hey, Leo.” Leo
appeared surprised to see the other man there. “Cole,” he said.
“Where’s the girls?” “Well,
Paige is not here, Phoebe’s in there, and Piper’s somewhere inside the
house.” Cole instantly replied. “Why? What is it?” “There’s
some emergency.” The whitelighter walked towards the hall, where he was
met by Phoebe. “Phoebe,” he said to her. “We have a problem.” Phoebe
looked immediately worried. “Why? What… what’s the problem?” “Leo?”
Piper called out as she came down from the stairs. She smiled sweetly at
him. “I thought I heard your voice.” She told him as she gave him a
kiss on the lips. But Leo doesn’t seem to be interested, and his lips
only dwelled on hers for the briefest of moments. Deciding that whatever
news her husband brought was too important, she hung back. She heard
footsteps coming from the kitchen and when she turned, she saw Cole
emerging from the room to be with them in the hall. “Leo?”
Phoebe said softly. She touched his arm. “What’s wrong?” Leo
looked down at her, his gaze soft and gentle. This did not escape the
prying eyes of Cole, but he did not comment on that as he decided to
listen to what the other man was trying to say. “There’s
a been a lot of murders this week,” he started to say, as his eyes
traveled from Cole, to Piper, then to Phoebe. “Murders that doesn’t
seem to quite fit. The elders think that it’s some kind of demonic
activity, that the Source was trying to hone his subordinates for the
final battle.” “Final
battle?” Piper repeated. “With
the Charmed Ones,” Cole concluded. Leo nodded at him. “Quite
a lot of the murders were done with the uses of athames, with the bodies
stabbed a lot of times, while the others were burned beyond
recognition.” “Probably
with the use of fireballs.” Phoebe added. “So
they’re using mortals as target practice?” Piper asked. Leo nodded
again. “We have to stop them, but how? I mean, if we’re dealing with a
lot of demons-“ “You
are.” Leo affirmed. “The last demon you saw was one among hundreds,
maybe even thousands. Some are bounty killers, others are higher demonic
beings, and the others… simply want to kill all of you.” “We
so don’t really need a fan club, you know.” Paige suddenly
orbed in between Leo and Phoebe. The others jerked in surprise at her
sudden appearance. “What?” She asked innocently as she received glares
from the other four. “Nothing,
except of course you were trying to kill us with heart attacks instead of
an actual attack!” Phoebe exclaimed, still glaring at her. “You
were the one who told me to keep practicing, remember? Besides, it’s
really fun to do.” Paige told her, a slight smile on her face. “One
moment, you’re in one place, the next you’re in—“ “So,”
Piper said, redirecting the focus of the discussion back to where it was
before, “what do they suggest we do? I mean, can we take them all?” “You
are all powerful, but I think you can’t.” Leo told them honestly. “So
what do we all do?” Cole asked. “We
deal with each and everyone of them the normal way: find and vanquish.”
Phoebe said. “Except
we’ll be dealing with a lot of demons, right? Demons, bad guys, evil
things left and right?” Paige shook her head as she felt a headache
coming. “And I thought I had the week off.” She said wistfully. “Nothing
like now to start working,” Piper resignedly said. “Okay.
We need to scry for demons. Leo, come with me upstairs.” Phoebe started
to go up to the attic with Leo on tow. “Hold
up,” Paige asked. “We are going to find demons?
Why? I thought they’d be coming for us?” “Exactly.
We find them before they find us. Come on, Leo.” “Paige,
help me in the kitchen. Let’s start doing some potions.” Piper told
her sister, and afterwards they both went into the kitchen. Phoebe
and Leo went up the stairs in a bit of a hurry. Cole decided to follow
them both to the attic. “Wait.
You’re going to scry for demons, right?” he asked. She
sighed as she grabbed the crystal and the map. “Yes, Cole. That is
exactly what we do to help us find the demons to vanquish.” Phoebe said,
her tone as though she was talking to a child. Cole
glared at her, but she didn’t notice for she had already turned her head
away. He then looked at Leo. “What are we going to do?” He asked him. Leo
shrugged. “Well, I’m going to help Phoebe find the demons to
vanquish.” He said. “And
how are you going to do that, exactly?” The
crystal made a clicking sound as Phoebe intentionally dropped it onto the
map. “Okay. You know what, Cole? Why don’t you make yourself useful
by, oh I don’t know, not being here?” She picked the crystal again and
began to scry. “You’re just interrupting our work.” “Me,
interrupting your work?” Cole muttered, his voice rising. He took a step
towards her, and Leo advanced on him, his face grim. “Fine,” Cole
muttered as he looked from Leo to Phoebe. “Make your little mojo magic
in here.” And with his feet making thunderous steps, he stormed out of
the attic, the suspicion in his brain forming into a more plausible truth. * Piper
pushed the refrigerator door open and stuck her head inside to find
herself some deer entrails. “Aha!” she muttered triumphantly after she
discovered it behind the owl’s feathers and the donkey’s ears. “I
knew you’d be in here.” She was about to grab it when she heard
Cole’s voice calling her name like a raving lunatic. “Yes, Cole?”
she said patiently as she closed the refrigerator door behind her. As
soon as Cole arrived, he started pacing back and forth. “Something’s
wrong,” he said. Paige
snorted from her position at the stove. “Understated much?” She said
as she switched it open. She then placed a big bowl and then turned to
face Cole. “You know, we really don’t need all this demons running
after our throats. I mean, can’t we all just—“ “Paige,”
Cole said. “I think Phoebe needs you upstairs.” She
frowned. “I don’t hear her calling me.” “Well
I do,” He insisted. “Go on. I’ll help Piper with this.” Paige
cast Piper a look, and when her sister shrugged she placed the pot holders
on the counter. “Fine,” she muttered. And then she walked out of the
kitchen. When
Paige was out of earshot, Piper turned away from the stove to face Cole.
“Well, I just got to say, your excuse can’t be any lamer than that.”
She said with a smile. But when she took notice of Cole’s very serious
behavior, the smile died on her face. “Cole? Is something wrong?” Cole
looked at Piper with desperation on his face. “You have got to talk to
Phoebe, Piper.” he said. “What?
Why? What happened between you two?” she asked, concerned. He
looked down on his hands that were resting on the counter. “That’s
exactly it. Nothing’s happening between us.” Piper
blinked. “Um, Cole?” She began to say. “I think I can’t do
anything about your sexual activities with my sister. I think that
that’s, well…” He
shook his head. “No,” he said vehemently. “You don’t understand.
It’s not just about that. It’s about our… relationship as a whole.
It’s souring, and I don’t know why.” “Souring?”
Now she was really surprised. “Since when did this started happening?
Have you talked to her?” Cole
let out a bitter laugh. “Have I?” he sarcastically muttered. “I
tried to. But every time I do she just turns me away. Something is
wrong,” he repeated. Then, he looked straight at Piper’s eyes. “And
I think it has something to do with your husband.” * Paige
took grudging steps after another, but with the carpeted floor on the
stairs, her feet didn’t make any noise. “Freakin’ demon attacks,”
she muttered low. She arrived at the attic, and then she opened the door.
“Cole said that you need me—“ The
words died in her mouth when she saw what was going on inside. The
crystals were scattered all about, the book was open in the middle, and
everything was set for the scrying spell. But what wasn’t right was that
Phoebe and Leo were… “Oh,
my God.” Paige muttered, her eyes wide as saucers as she took in the
scene before her. * “WHAT?”
Piper asked as she gazed critically at Cole. “What are you saying, Cole?
That something’s going on between my sister and my husband?” “Yes!”
Cole exclaimed. He walked closer to her and shook her by the shoulders.
“There’s something between them. I just know it.” Piper
fought her way out of his hold, and then glared at him. “How dare you
say that?” She said, seething, her face clouded with anger. “How can
you say that! How dare you include Leo in your problems with Phoebe!”
she shouted. “Haven’t
you noticed anything?” He shouted back. “Are you that blind not to see
them?” “Why?
Have you seen anything to prove this for yourself?” Cole
raked his hand through his hair. “No,” he admitted. “But you’ve
got to trust me on this, Piper—“ “Why
should I?” she yelled at him, her hands already shaking. “Why should I
trust you and your paranoia? For God’s sake, Cole! This is Leo we’re
talking about! He’s my husband!” “And
he’s stealing my girlfriend from me! And he’s leaving you
in the dirt!” * Phoebe
jumped out of Leo’s arms as soon as she head Paige’s voice.
“P-Paige,” she said. “W-What are you doing in here?” she
stammered. Paige
looked at Phoebe, and then at Leo, whose eyes were cast down in shame.
“Oh, my God.” She whispered again. Leo
lifted his eyes to her face and took a step towards her. “Listen,
Paige-“ “I
can’t believe this!” She exclaimed, her face paling. “You… and,
and he… Oh, my God. Oh, my GOD!” Paige found a chair in the attic and
she sank on it, her energy suddenly gone. Phoebe
and Leo immediately went towards her. “Paige,” Phoebe pleaded.
“Please, you have to—“ Paige
turned wide eyes towards her sister. “Phoebe,” she said low. “What
do you think you’re doing? You’re fooling around with Leo?
He’s Piper’s husband for crying out loud!” Phoebe
reached out to touch her sister. “Paige,” she repeated again. “You
don’t understand…” But
Paige rose out of her chair to avoid being touched by them.
“Damn right I don’t!” she shouted. “You’re both making
Piper… and Cole… you’re… you’re…” She closed her eyes.
“Oh, my God. I think I’m going to be sick.” “Paige,
you have to promise us that you won’t tell them.” Leo told her, his
voice hard. She
whipped her head to face him. “What?” she said in disbelief.
“You want me to do what, exactly?” “Please.”
Phoebe added. “We don’t want to hurt either of them.” Paige
chuckled sarcastically. “Oh! So that’s why you’re making out right
under their noses!” She stared accusingly at her sister. “How can you
do that to them, Phoebe? How can you do that to your own sister? To
your own boyfriend?” “Paige-“ “And
you,” Paige turned dagger-like stares at Leo’s direction. “Piper’s
your freaking wife! Have you got no respect for her? Have you got no shame
that you’re playing with--” “We
don’t want to do this, Paige.” Phoebe’s eyes glittered with sudden
tears. “But there’s just too…” “We
love each other.” Leo stepped in. “We’ve fought it, but we just have
to give in to it. There’s no other way.” “Oh
my God. I think that’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard.” “Paige,”
Phoebe whispered. “Please.” Paige
was about to answer back when the attic shook with undeterminable force. * Cole
clutched his face with one hand, his cheek quickly turning red. Piper
looked away, and then lowered her hand, her palm stinging after the hard
impact. “I-I’m sorry.” She said quietly, but her voice quivering
with too many emotions, too many tears. “I just—“ Suddenly,
an earthquake shook the entire house. Piper clutched at the counter, while
Cole tried to steady himself by holding on to a chair. When the movements
were done, they quickly rushed out of the kitchen and bolted up the stairs
and to the attic. “Everybody
okay?” Piper asked them all. Paige
turned her eyes on her sister. “Piper,” she said worriedly as she took
in her sister’s tear-stricken face. “What—“ Piper
glanced at Cole, who looked away. “Nothing,” she said, her voice tired
and strained. “Don’t worry about it.” “Piper—“
Paige
glared at Phoebe, who stopped in mid-stride as she was about to go to her
sister. Phoebe just hung her head and then stepped back. “What
was that?” Leo asked, trying to change the subject. Cole
turned hard eyes towards him. “Just a way of saying that something bad
is going to happen sometime soon.”
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