Phoebe stepped backwards in fear and turned to him sharply. He now stood closer to her.
She pressed against the wall, trying hopelessly to push through the walls out and free herself, but nothing moved, nothing twitched; except for Phoebe's short breathes and the sound of his footsteps clinking on the floor as he paced towards her, "don't fight it, Phoebe. There's no point to it."
"You can�t have me! My si� -"
"Your sisters?" he asked, raising his voice to a tone of laughter, "forget your sisters, they won't help you. They can't help you, Phoebe. No one can but me. They won't save you, you'll forget them soon" he said and looked at her.
Phoebe looked at him in fear, her heart pounded strongly, it felt as if it was about to burst out of her chest and out to the ground.
"You will give yourself to me, Phoebe," he said gently but his voice shudder her bones.
She took a deep breath, deciding to act somehow, to get away from him. Phoebe tried to punch him away or levitate but she felt her legs being paralyzed. Her arms had absolutely no effect on him and she couldn't. She tried but just couldn't.
He was too powerful, the strength she had in her faded away into nothing and now she wasn't herself anymore.
As He approached her, she could hardly breathe, or think. His hand reached out to her and she didn't resist; she couldn't. He pulled her towards him and lowered his head down to her neck.
His cold teeth touched her warm skin, it stained at first but then everything became num. She felt no more emotions of any kind, no more feelings.
~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~
Piper and Prue hurried down the street, following Spike and Buffy who had marched ahead in whispers after a long lasting argument between the two.
"Prue," Piper whispered, holding her sisters' hand, "are you sure we�re doing the right thing here?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Prue asked glancing at her and sharply turning her look back to the front as they passed a tall lamp street shining above their heads.
The street was quite; no cars passed down or up it and only the clinking of their hills against the pavement sounded echoing around them loudly.
"Well, we don't know what took Phoebe let alone how to vanquish it!" Piper lowered her voice, "if we even can vanquish it, we don't have The Power Of Three".
"I don't think we're gonna need The Power Of Three this time, Piper" Prue said, looking over at Spike and Buffy; who had just turned sharply to the left into a dark alley.
"This way," Buffy's head peered out of the alley then quickly disappeared in the gloom.
"Come on" Prue said hurryingly, pulling onto Pipers' arm.
"Okay, this is it" Spike said, tossing his cigarette down on the ground and putting it out with his right foot.
Prue and Piper approached the end of the alley, which winded for several meters ahead.
"So, what exactly are we looking at here?" Prue asked, switching her eyes from Buffy to Spike and visa versa.
"The weapon stash" Buffy said and looked at Spike, stunning him with her confidence of what lies before them. She bent down and shoved her hand into a pile of cartons and old newspapers, taking out a long parchment. "What?" she asked in shock, looking at the writings on it.
"What's this?" Buffy asked firmly as she rose to her feet.
"Ingredients�" Prue said quietly as she observed the parchment carefully, "for a spell. It's� it looks very old" she said, groping it with her fingers, "maybe from the 18th century" she added.
"How do you know that?" Buffy asked curiously.
"Well, I used to work at an auction house for a few years and often worked with old century objects so I know how to recognize them" Prue smiled.
"A spell you said?" Spike asked and looked at her, with his mind still on the parchment.
"That's right" Prue said and took the parchment closely, "In Latin". She paused and then continued, "Prosimo firmus noctu, unferro bravista. Enchante le Kris�" Prue stopped, solely to read it to the fullest, as so preventing the spell from executing.
"At the first nightfall, hastily the bravest I break, enchant thee to be�" Prue stopped and looked up at Piper. "Spike, what is this?" she asked.
Piper looked at Spike, as did Buffy, expecting an answer from him.
"Maybe we really should concoct a potion? Willow and Phoebe could have found something before�" Piper suggested, exchanging looks with Prue.
"Maybe�" Prue said, "but what I do know for certain is that we've gotta find her and soon. This spell could be our way in" she said and looked at Spike, waiting for his confirmation.
"Let's go to your house, we have to be ready when saying the spell".
~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~
"Come" his voice echoed to Phoebe's ears as she opened her eyes. Everything seemed so blurry at first, but then it all cleared. She rose slowly to her feet, holding tightly onto his hand.
Phoebe raised her left hand to gently touch her sore neck; she looked down at the blood on her hand in surprise as he pulled her along.
"Who are you?" she asked, almost whispering. She felt completely drained.
Vampelore stopped in his place and turned to her, "This� my queen, is my kingdom," he said, staring at her.
"Wait a minute, you're� you're the Eshenter" she said, taking deep breaths; she pushed away from him and paced backwards slowly.
"Don't run, my queen�" he said and walked toward her in confidence with his hand reached to her.
"Stay away!" she said, holding her arms in front of her as a shield as suddenly feeling completely hollowed inside. She looked at him in fear and confusion with her eyes closed shut.
"What have you done to me?" she asked angrily, but her feelings mixture inside her, as she fought hard to stay strong and avoid the awful thoughts she had. She had very vague memories of her sisters, and of her family.
"You will soon not remember your past, as I have earlier said; but just your future. The one you have With Me" he said, approaching her subtly.
Phoebe looked at him and this time didn't resist. She didn't move nor did she blink.
She just stood there, paralyzed as he drew neared and nearer to her. Having trouble breathing, she looked straight into his eyes, until she could see her quickly fading reflection in them.
~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~
"Willow�!" Buffy called as they entered The Manor
Prue and Piper hurried quickly towards the attic as they ran into Willow, who had just peered out of the kitchen.
"Hi" she said and looked at the sisters, glancing backwards at Buffy and Spike, who hurried to them.
"Phoebe's Phone" Prue mumbled and took the cell phone out of Willow's hands. She groped it and then marched out into the back yard. Piper gazed at her older sisters' furthering image and ran towards her.
"This is where she was," Prue pondered aloud.
"How can you tell?" Piper asked, looking around the dark yard.
"The lights, and� look," she said, while bending down on her knees and picking up a silvery bracelet. She rose to her feet and turned to Piper, "Phoebe's bracelet. The one I got her for her birthday" Prue said and turned around in worry.
Spike looked at her, and spoke quietly, "that spell might get us there. That, along with a potion but I'd go for a straight on attack, regardless anything that tries coming our way".
"Spike, we have to� wait a minute," Buffy said, looking around in a look of search, "Willow, what did you and Phoebe find out?" she asked.
"Vampelore, umm, A.K.A The Eshenter. He's actually what I think all of us are looking for" Willow said and looked around the room, walking back and forth while speaking further, "He's like the ruler of vampires, I'd say, and basically what we're looking for here".
"I think he's exactly what we're looking for. But it's too bizarre. We need to enchant a stake to kill him� well, at least that's what we're supposed to do -" Buffy said and turned to Piper as she read from The Book which lay on the counter. "The ruler of the Dead and half living. Known to have been vanquished once before being outlasted to immortality. Former witches and wizards have formed a group to vanish the Eshenters' soul. However, for those who have failed the time will lie for he will be stopped if his bride will die�" Piper stopped and turned to Prue.
"Rhyming," Prue said and approached Piper, "that's a first. What exactly does that mean 'his bride�'?" she wondered.
"If I am not mistaken, and I believe I'm not. Your sister, Phoebe, is his bride," Spike said.
"No. She would never. Unless he cast a spell on her, can vampires do that?" Prue asked and looked at Buffy.
"Well, not regular vampires," Buffy started, "but if he is Vampelore then most odds are that he did something to her".
Prue opened her mouth to speak but Buffy continued, "The only known way is Biting her. It's possible he has some kind of grasp on her".
"Well then we have to find her and release that grasp!" Piper announced and turned around, bypassing the counter to go into the living room as she suddenly bumped into Leo who had just orbed in.
"Oh, Leo!" she squeaked and smiled, with embarrassment.
"Hi," he smiled and turned his eyes to Prue, as his facial expression immediately turned serious, "The elders told me that Phoebe was taken off of their radar; and off mine for that matter".
"What do you mean? You can't sense her?" Prue asked.
"No, and that can only mean two things, one is that she's in the underworld and the second is�" he stopped.
"No" Prue stated decisively, excluding all possibility to Leo's second option. "We have to find her. We know she was taken by Vampelore �"
"Yeah, that's actually the second thing I was going to say, I'm sure you already know about him but what's more is that he seeks a bride. One who he will turn into his own; he follows her for a while and then takes her to his kingdom".
"And?" Prue asked without any passion for hearing Leo's response. She looked at him as if taking it all for granted, while thinking of a way to get to Phoebe.
"And, according to what they tell me if he has succeeded in making her his bride, his powers will become even stronger; he will be able to tap into hers and use them against his enemies and more importantly against you. The only way to stop him is killing her" Leo said and looked at Piper as she walked over to Prue's side.
"That's crazy; I will not kill my sister!" Prue raged and turned to Spike, "there must be another way. What you're saying is that he will, if hasn't already turn her into a vampire?"
"Yes" Spike answered.
"Then how do we turn her back?" Piper asked.
"You can't. Once a human is turned into a vampire, the only way to set him free is kill him," Spike answered numbly.
"Well you can forget it; we're not killing our sister. Now let's start on the potion and get to her as fast as we can," Prue said, heading to the cabins and taking out bottles of routs and herbs.
Piper focused her look on Prue for several seconds as she picked up a large pot and placed it on the stove and then continued taking out ingredients of all kinds out of cabinets and putting them on the stove next to the pot.
"What do we need to vanquish a vampire?" Piper asked, joining Prue.
"Look, we�ve never actually vanquished a vampire before," Buffy said, following Prue and Piper with her eyes as they strolled around the kitchen gathering different items such as plates, spoons, and even more herbs.
Prue put up a large kettle of water to boil and turned to Piper, "just improvise. Like you always do. Assuming of course, you'll tell us everything you know that can possibly help us," she said, turning to Spike, "you are a vampire, after all. Oh, and I'm gonna need the parchment".
"That, he is" Buffy second and walked over to Prue, handing it to her.
"Willow, wanna help?" Piper asked.
"Oh you know, I'm actually trying to diminish my use of magic," Willow answered, keeping little distance from the occurrences.
"Suit yourself" Piper said and tossed a pinch of Belinze Herb into an empty plate.
"How do you know it's any good against him? The potion I mean" Buffy asked.
"We don't. But what we've all been through when losing Prue was a living hell" Piper said and stopped, glancing at Prue who looked at her teary eyed, "and we can't possibly lose another sister again. No, we won't lose her" Piper said decisively and took a deep breath.
"Lose who?"
"Demon!" Buffy turned sharply, aiming to kick Cole straight in the chest when Prue ran quickly to him, "No, no, no! he's okay�" she yelled, stepping in the middle of Cole and Buffy whose leg was straight up in the air vertically still ready to attack.
She looked at Cole fiercely and then turned to Prue, lowering her leg.
"Wow, not quite the welcoming I was expecting" Cole said and smiled. "Shut up Cole" Prue ordered and walked back to Piper.
"Who are you?" Spike asked in a husky voice, glancing at Cole.
"Cole. I'm a�"
"He's our� well, Phoebe's� a� well� he's a� whatever. He's Cole" Prue mumbled and turned to him, "we�re too complex�"
"Who're you?" Cole asked, scanning Spike, Buffy and Willow. "One, two, three too many" he whispered gazing at Prue, who gave him a cold steel look reflecting a lack of amusement by him.
"I'm Buffy, this is Spike and Willow".
"I see there's a little Wicca gathering here� speaking of, where's Phoebe?" he asked, looking around the kitchen and its surroundings.
Prue exchanged looks with Piper as the kettle's whistle spread loudly across the kitchen.
"Ah, saved by the whistle!" Prue said, heading towards the kettle.
"What do you mean? What does she mean?" Cole asked, looking around in all directions.
~ ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~
"Are you ready, my queen?" Vampelore asked, sitting beside Phoebe in a large golden chair.
Phoebe turned her head very slowly to him, dazed.
The cave in which they set was rather large, and dark with several torches lighting the edges of it. The sound of his low voice echoed through the cave, as he watched her.
Her hair was curly, scattered on her bare shoulders. She looked at him as if under hypnoses, as he touched her hand stroking his two right fingers, when two servants appeared before them. While One of them carrying a large plated silvery gold glass.
He bent on his knees and dared to raise his eyes to Phoebe. "Come," Vampelore ordered silently, glancing at the two servants and then turning his look back to Phoebe.
He took the glass out of the servants' hands, when he hurried backwards to go down on his knees.
"Leave us" he said loudly and neared the glass to Phoebe. "It�s time to turn you completely".
Phoebe looked at him, almost tempted. He swung the glass gently beneath her nose and the smell of blood rose to her mind. Phoebe's eyes suddenly dilated in fear as a memory loaded in her mind. She saw herself walking up the stair of the house together with Prue and Piper.
Phoebe turned to him sharply and knocked the glass out of his hands and to the ground. All the blood spilled but the glass didn't break. Not even a scratch was seen on it.
She got up and nearly fell as she ran down the three steps where their chairs stood.
"Stop her" he said with apathy, without taking any notice of her running. He stood up slowly and waved his hand at the glass, which quickly gathered all the spilled blood back into it and flew right back into his open right hand.
The two servants who held Phoebe strongly by the arm lowered their look as he approached them. Phoebe tried getting away from them; she jumped up kicking her legs in the air.
"Let me go!" she yelled as suddenly her senses misted and she looked at him in silence.
"Drink it, Phoebe" he said quietly and served the glass to her.
"No" she said silently, almost whispering. She tried thinking who those girls were. The ones who walked with her up the steps to the house, which looked so very familiar to her but didn't bring up any firm memories.
He passed the palm of his left hand over her face, collecting her thoughts into his hand and absorbing them in his mind, "you can't remember them, can you?" he asked, "It's only natural. Soon you wouldn't even trouble yourself with thoughts of their identity. Soon, my queen. There are only two more things for thee to do in order to be freed. Drink this�" he rushed her and handed her the glass, ordering the servants to disappear.
Phoebe looked at the glass and then at him, mixed feeling strolled in her, she wasn't sure whether or not she should trust him. Something in her, a quiet voice told her to resist him, but that voice seemed to be quieting and quieting. Something felt so wrong when she looked at him.
~ ~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~
"This is it" Spike said and looked at a large donjon opening, which suddenly appeared in the middle of the living room.
"Hmm, lovely what a piece of spell can achieve" Prue said, holding the parchment in her right hand and a small bottle with potion in her left. "Ready?" she asked, glancing around the room.
Cole turned to her, "look, I don't usually deal with vampires but my powers should finish them off, right?"
"Maybe; Evil vs. Evil might work".
"Okay, so just incase you don't return, I have to use the same spell to get you all back here? And enchant the parchment back where it belongs?" Willow asked. Leo glanced at her and then back at Prue, who handed her the parchment.
"Basically" Prue responded, looking down the donjon.
"Looks so deep" Piper said and approached the tip; "here goes nothing" Prue said and jumped down.
Piper opened her eyes and looked around. That donjon seemed to have led her into a cave of some sort, if that were even remotely possible. "Prue? Buffy?" she asked, looking around.
An only torch was lighting the blocked wall up ahead.
"Piper? Where are you?" Prue's voice echoed from behind her.
Piper turned around, facing Prue, Buffy and Leo. "Where are Cole and Spike?" Piper asked.
"Over here!" Spike called while leaning onto a sidewall. They ran towards him and stopped as Cole threw two large fireballs at it. A small opening formed in the center of the wall.
"Well, what do you know, fire melts walls. I should remember that" Piper said quietly and followed Prue through the opening. Before them stood a cross of two ways; one of them leading to the right and the other straight ahead.
"I think we should split. Three of us should go over there and three to the front" Prue suggested.
"I think Prue's right. So, Piper, Prue and I will go that way and you guys go to the right. If any of you spot Phoebe hullo" Buffy said and looked at the guys for their approval of the plan.
Before five minutes had passed, the girls were already attacked.
"Ho, well, apparently they know we're here" Piper said, stepping over vampire ashes.
"So Spike, what do you and Buffy� -" Cole stopped as a vampire jumped over and hung on his back, trying to get to his neck. He began struggling with him as Cole pushed him off, punching him away and throwing a fireball at him, vanquishing him just as four more appeared before their eyes.
"Wait, stop!" Prue said whispering, as she heard a woman's voice coming from behind the turn. Piper and Buffy quickly approached her, trying to see what was there.
"It�s Phoebe" Prue said, now certain of her sisters' being there and turned back to Buffy and Piper.
"Alright. Everybody ready?" Prue asked, grasping the potion in her hand.
"Shouldn't we call the guys first?"
"That would make too much noise. The element of surprise always works best" Prue said decisively and turned back, looking at the inside of the large cave.
"One� Two� -" "Hey" Cole's whisper echoed to her ears.
"Oh, you scared the hell out of me!" Prue whispered angrily while facing the guys, "How did you find us?" she asked.
"I sensed you. Since I can't sense Phoebe anymore, I've focused on you" Leo answered and looked at them.
"Fine; okay, are you ready?" Prue asked, receiving agreeing nods from everyone and prepared to storm into the cave.
"Wait, I'll shimmer us as close as I can to Phoebe" Cole said and touched Prue's arm, and without even waiting for her response, which first and foremost would be refusal, he disappeared with her, and then re-appeared after seconds near two large chairs, that seemed to be placed near an alter which wasn't there earlier.
Prue looked around in all directions, trying to spot Phoebe, while the rest ran into the cave all ready to attack as suddenly she heard Phoebe's voice.
"Leave�"
"Phoebe?" Prue called, "Phoebe, it's me, Prue," she said, looking around the cave.
Suddenly, before their very eyes, Vampelore appeared, holding tightly onto Phoebe's arm.
"You can't hurt me witch, I'm immune to your powers," he said, almost with a laugh.
"Are you immune to mine?" Cole asked, while throwing an energy ball at him, but instead hitting Phoebe, who stood in front of Vampelore, protecting him.
"Phoebe!" Cole yelled in shock as she closed her eyes from the impact. "Don't think she won't die for me, because she will" he said in a disgusting low voice.
Piper ran towards Prue, without taking her eyes off Phoebe and looked at her. Prue's eyes were focused on Phoebe who looked at her with empty eyes. Her soul wasn't there anymore.
"Phoebe, it's us. It's your sisters." Prue said and reached out to her as five vampires suddenly appeared behind them, charging at Buffy, Spike, and Leo. Cole turned back to diverse them from Piper and Prue, who continued keeping eye contact with Phoebe, "come on honey, whatever he did to you, you're stronger than that. Leo can heal you," Prue continued, slowly taking one-step closer to her.
"I don't have sisters" Phoebe suddenly said, keeping her eyes focused on Piper and Prue, without even knowing who stood in front of her.
"Kill them my queen, and forever be free, with me!" he ordered.
Prue shook her head as Phoebe looked at her with emptiness in her eyes. "No�" Prue whispered, stepping backwards slowly, and pushing Piper behind her.
Suddenly Phoebe jumped into the air, levitating, and stormed at Prue and Piper.
"Phoebe don't!" Prue yelled and tossed her onto one of the walls. "Piper, blow him up!" Prue said and ran towards Phoebe, who quickly rose to her feet, attacking Prue again.
Piper tried using her powers on him but he was immune. Phoebe's powers were defending him. This must be a taste of Phoebe's future powers, Piper thought.
Phoebe was too strong for her, "Piper, help!" Prue called as Phoebe strangled her, lowering her teeth to Prue's neck.
Piper ran towards them, trying to helplessly distract Phoebe and get her away from Prue.
Prue took out her potion and through it at Phoebe, who by the impact of it stood stunned for a second. "Buffy, the stake!" Prue yelled to her; Buffy glanced at her, punching a vampire away and tossed her the stake, which they had enchanted before.
Prue caught it and hastily put it in Phoebe's hands. "Do it Phoebe, come on!" she said and glanced over at Piper, "repeat after me, Prosimo firmus noctu, unferro bravista. Enchante le Kris per brosimo etlande forsorre un liss".
Phoebe glanced at her sisters, while feeling incredibly appalled by Vampelore, she looked at him and back at her sisters, who kept enchanting, and following her as she approached him.
"No, Phoebe. No! I order you to� - AAAARRRGGGHH!" Vampelore screamed in pain as Phoebe stabbed the stake into his heart. No magical protection could help him now.
Piper quickly threw her potion at him and took Phoebe's hand as he turned into ashes. Consequent upon that, the vampires that were attacking the others vanished into ashes as well.
Prue approached Phoebe and turned her head to her.
Her eyes looked entirely differently, as her soul returned. As also, the marks on her neck solely disappeared.
"Phoebes?" Prue asked, gently caressing her face. "Prue, Piper!" Phoebe relived, still in shock and hugged them.
"So I guess in the end our job here is complete" Buffy said and turned to Spike.
"Thank you so much," Prue said and hugged her goodbye. "Yes, I wish it were under different circumstances," Piper smiled, hugging her together with Phoebe. "I'll second that, thanks for saving my but" Phoebe smiled.
"Always a pleasure" Spike said, looking at the sisters as he walked out of the front door.
"Goodbye" Willow said, as the three entered the car and furthered out into the dark street.
Prue closed the front door and turned to Phoebe and Piper. "I think we've got one more unfinished matter," Leo said, hinting to them, while glancing over at Cole, who stood a few steps away from Phoebe.
"Right� the whole grave thing kind of took over our agenda" Piper smiled.
"So, how was it like being a vampire?" Prue asked; laughing as the three sisters stood by her dug grave.
"Ya, got to suck on some blood, did you?" Piper remarked.
Phoebe smiled and gently knuckled Piper.
"Alright. Only one thing left to do," Prue said, holding a large piece of paper in her right hand.
"You do know that starting a fire in a grave yard is possibly illegal" Phoebe smiled.
"Yeah, well so is digging up my grave," Prue laughed, "I think a minor exception can be made here" She sat down on the ground, creating a circle around the tomb and began reading, "The painful memory which now beholds," she passed the paper over to Piper who continued enchanting, "takes this memory off of its remolds."
"It leaves no witness of this lost," Phoebe continued and handed the paper back to Prue, "since thee will whimper for its cost. For now it shall not debase�"
"From thou minds will now erase" they all enchanted together and quickly let go of the paper, which started burning itself, starting a fire which quickly consumed the grave, the shovels and tomb right before their eyes.
"So, how does it feel being officially alive again?" Piper asked as they walked towards the entrance to the cemetery, "Oh, are you talking to me or Phoebes?" Prue taunted and smiled.
"Ha, ha" Phoebe smiled, gazing at her older sister.
"Well," Prue said, joining hands with both her sisters, "It's good to be back".
