"Wait! No, no!" Prue yelled, looking around.
She was drawn up; into the sky, in irrational speed.
The visions she saw were magnificent. Starts passed her by, until she appeared to be back in the same white place. Only, it was different. This time, she saw a large green park. The sound of the rustling waterfalls nearby echoed to her ears.
It was beautiful. Prue looked at the crystal blue skies above her head.
She walked around, looking at everything curiously. It felt as if it was the first time she has ever seen something of this kind.
From afar, she could see rays of light breaking out, spreading slivery white color around the entire ground. The sights were unbelievable. It was the most unique thing that had ever had such an impact on her.
"Do you like what you see?"
Prue turned around to face her mother.
"It�s beautiful," Prue said. Suddenly, all the pain she was feeling came back to her.
She looked at her mother with small, sad eyes.
"Honey, you're at peace now. I'm right here with you," Patty said, looking at Prue.
"Mom, I can't� I don't understand�"
"I know" Patty said and caressed Prue's face.
"No, mom� what's going to happen to Piper and Phoebe? I can't let them go just like that!"
"And they won't ever let you go. However, they will have to get over this, to move on. Unless they do that, they will be in constant threat for their lives".
"But� can't you just ask them? Find out if there is anyway I can go back? I will do anything. I swear I will".
"Don't swear up here, sweetie" Patty smiled, "It won't work, honey. There's just no turning back from here. I'm sorry".
Prue felt as if her world colluded. Mixed altogether with her thought and her mother's words, the peace she was ought to be feeling was not there. Instead, there was just hurt and bewilderment.
"Can't I go back, just for a few more days? Or even hours?" Prue asked.
Her mother turned to her, and then looked up, listening closely.
"Prue, I'm afraid I have to go. They are calling," she said with shame, "oh honey, don't look like this. I will be back as soon as I can. Just try to take it easy" Patty added and disappeared.
Prue stood on the same spot for a few minutes, staring in emptiness at the ground.
~~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~~
"Phoebe, help!" Piper yelled as she crashed onto Prue's bedroom wall.
Phoebe looked at Cole, and hurried upstairs; followed by him.
The walls began thickening around Piper. She rose slowly, facing the Demon.
"No!" Phoebe yelled and charged at him; however, he was too quick. He began spinning intensely, throwing energy balls towards Phoebe and Piper.
"Piper, look out!!" Phoebe yelled, ducking.
The closet, the lamp, the entire wall, and the pictures hanging on it were ruined.
Phoebe turned her eyes to the door; she felt relief as Cole ran into the room, attacking the Demon.
"Belthazor!" The Demon screamed and burst into flames.
"Are you alright?" Phoebe asked and helped Piper stand up.
"No" Piper angered and looked around the room.
"Look at Prue's room. All the memories in it are lost. Lost because of Evil!" Piper raised her voice.
"Piper -" Phoebe started but Piper pressed on, "No, Phoebe. No. I will not do this anymore. No more witches, no more saving innocents, no more Demons and warlocks and no more deaths".
"Piper, you don�t mean that�" Phoebe said, leaning to her sister. Piper looked at her with cold sad eyes, advising her to leave.
Phoebe turned around to Cole, hinting him with her eyes.
They headed out of the room, and down to the living room, all eyes turned to them as they walked down the stairs.
"A� Piper had a little mishap� she's fine now" Phoebe excused and smiled at the people.
Piper walked round the room clenching her fingers into fists. She couldn�t handle it anymore. It was just too much, it had to end, and she knew the perfect way to end it.
~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~
"Mother, she gave and gave and gave, and received nothing in return! How can they just rip her life away from her like that?" Patty raged at her mother, she didn't blame her. Not even for a second, but knew that her mother just might be able to help.
"There's no way to bring Prue back, Patty. We cannot bring the dead back to life!"
"Mom," Patty looked at her mother. She didn't have to say more, her look gave away all her thoughts and feelings. "Go to her, Patty. I will be there shortly".
Patty nodded and transferred herself back to Prue.
"Prue? Honey?" she asked, walking around the park.
"Mom?" Prue asked, standing up. She lay on the grass, looking up at the sky. She felt regrets; So many of them. They weren't supposed to be there, but Prue felt guilty; terribly guilty for leaving Piper and Phoebe and unable to return to them to comfort them; To protect them.
"Prue," her mother called, passing the lively green bushes, "there you are. How are you holding up?" she asked.
"Well� not very well�" Phoebe said and walked away from Cole.
"Where are you going? You�re gonna leave me alone with all these people? What am I gonna tell them?" Cole asked, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"Cole, spare me, please. Just show them to the door, okay?" she said, holding her hand tightly against Cole's chest.
Cole nodded, and watched Phoebe distancing from him.
"Piper, Are you in here?" Phoebe asked, slowly opening the squeaking attic door.
This has to be fixed, Phoebe thought to herself as she entered the attic, trying to repress all the thoughts that ran through her mind. She had to keep strong and positive on the surface.
"What are you up to?" Phoebe asked in a gentle tone, trying to consolidate herself to Piper.
Since Prue's death, they drew further and further away from each other for some reason. "I'm casting a spell," Piper said, forcing herself to focus on The Book; Looking quite prostrated.
"What kind of spell?" Phoebe asked, and bent down next to her sister.
Piper managed to keep her eyes away from meeting with Phoebe's; she knew that if she had told her, Phoebe wouldn't let her go through with it. She had to keep it to herself, it was what's best.
For their sake and for Prue's.
"It�s nothing" Piper retorted and stood up, marching away, holding a note and a pen in her right hand.
"Piper, wait a second. Please," Phoebe said, hurrying to her.
Piper held her breath, and turned to Phoebe exceedingly irritable.
"Piper, I love Prue too, okay? You know that; and it's hard for me too. You can't keep eluding from me. We need each other, especially now" Phoebe said, looking miserably at Piper, hoping that her words gave Piper a change of heart.
"I have to go," Piper said and turned away from Phoebe, leaving her speechless, and alone.
"Piper, where are you� going?" Cole asked, following her into the parlor.
"Just back off Cole," Piper said anxiously and picked up her jacket off the coat hanger.
She headed out of the house, without minding the guests.
The dark blue car stood out in the pouring rain, Piper covered her head with the hood of her jacket, running quickly towards the car; but she didn�t mind getting wet, she didn't mind anything lately, nothing mattered to her. Abruptly, she kept remembering the past few years, Prue.
It made her hurt; the pain was hovering all over her. It was almost unbearable.
Piper stopped at a traffic light, watching the empty streets, through the wet windshield that was splashed with water. The wipers kept slowing their work. She looked almost glued to the small raindrops that raced one another down it.
After about fifteen minutes, she arrived at the cemetery.
Piper got out of the car, putting her hands in her side pockets and groping the note. It was freezing, and the storm seemed to be getting worst.
~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
"I can't� I don't know if I will ever comprehend this�" Prue said ruefully.
"No, darling; you will, it�s okay. There's just so much here," Patty said, and suddenly turned her head around to the opposite direction. "What, what is it mom?" Prue asked.
"Mother, any news?" Patty asked and looked at her mother approaching them.
"Grams?" Prue asked in confusion.
Prue's grandmother eyed her with pity, and turned to Patty, "there is one way." She said; the tone of her voice transmitted hopelessness.
"An ancient ceremony, it evolves one main point�" she stopped and gaped at Prue, "a sacrifice must be made by the departed".
"Wha�? What�?" Prue asked, moving her eyes from her mother to her grandmother for about three times non-stop.
Patty turned to her mother, listening intently. "What kind of sacrifice?"
"Prue will have to kill in order for a chance to get her life back".
Prue's eyes dilated in shock, "Come again?"
"Yes, Prue; however, there are rules that must be obeyed. If not, the chance is doomed.
It'd been attempted for two times, by two powerful witches and never succeeded." Grams said, and turned her eyes to Prue, expecting Prue to back off.
"Kill? How can I kill anyone? I'm dead� need I remind you that, grams?"
"Don't be silly Prue. The elders did not approve of me even suggesting this to you, but you are my grand daughter and I love you".
Suddenly, the surroundings changed, Prue gazed up and saw the skies changing. The crystal blue changed abruptly to light red with shades of dark purple. The entire atmosphere changed according to Prue's state of mind. She could see antique ruins outstanding in the heavy fog that was now hovering above their heads.
"But Grams, I don't understand�"
"There is nothing to understand. Now listen to me, and listen very carefully" Grams said, her facial expression changed in a heart beat. Prue has seen her anxious as this only once, and that was before she had died.
"The reason that they are so discreet about this, Prue, is that we're talking about� the devil".
Prue and Patty turned their heads to Grams in shock, "what?" they asked almost unanimously. Their voice contained and overtone of laughter and fear all at once.
"The devil�" Grams repeated, her voice regained the confidence it prevailed before. "It's very hard for me to even tell this to you, Prue. It's horrifyingly dangerous for you and your sisters to even attempt. The greatest of sorcerers and witches have failed. However, I know you and I know how stubborn you may be" Grams said and looked at Patty, "you did inherit it from your mother and I".
Prue smiled, although the confusion on her face couldn't be misjudged.
"Grams, this is ridiculous, you can't be serious!" Prue said, staring at her Grandmother in perplexity. "Mother, it's completely appalled!" Patty claimed.
"I know it may sound this way, but it's true".
"How can I kill The Devil?!" Prue asked; outraged, following her grandmother with her eyes, as she paced around the garden.
"You can't keep her alive, anything but that. Not killing her will unleash the Ultimate Evil".
"Her?" Prue asked, "Yes, darling. Her."
"Ha! A She Devil" Prue smiled, surprised, "hmm, what did you mean by the Ultimate Evil?"
"I don't want to get into this. It's very, very complex. Now back to our business. You will have to kill either her or her child".
Prue looked at her grandmother with her mouth gaped. "She has been working on it for centuries, if she is not stopped, Prue, the end of all magic will come. I do not know her plans and that is in fact what you must find out at first. If she goes through with it� I cannot even think of the consequences, from what was heard here last, she can enslave all mortals" Grams said exceedingly concerned. "Now, there are few ways of killing her�"
"The end of all? Grams, you can't be serious." Prue interrupted her.
"I am, Prue. I have never been more serious. But, I am warning you that this will be one of the most important tasks you will ever perform".
Prue's mind was flooded with questions and wanders but only two organized in her mind, more or less. "Why would I kill her child? Who do they even support killings?"
"It's the child of Pure and total evil. It�s the nearly the Ultimate Evil".
Prue held her hands against her forehead. She had to make some kind of sense in all these speculations.
"Honey, it had been impeded before by numerous of witches, like I have already mentioned" Patty said, looking at Prue.
"Let's put all the technicals aside for a second" Prue said, "How do I do it? How do I get back and kill her?" she asked.
"You will return, but you will not be seen by your sisters".
"Then how am I supposed to even make them notice me?"
"I can't answer that, darling" Grams said and looked at her, "you will have to figure this out by yourself."
"Wait, can't I go back to my own body?"
"No. Not at this stage, you can't".
"This is ridiculous. I need to do this by myself, right? I can't put this kind of risk on Phoebe and Piper!"
"You can't do it all by yourself. I know how protective you are over them. We do see you from up here" Grams smiled.
"Really?" Prue asked. Grams nodded to her and continued, "Hear me carefully now".
~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
Piper walked slowly towards Prue's grave.
She could feel the pain building up inside of her; she kept trying to hold back the tears but it was nearly impossible. Her heart ached as she drew nearer and nearer to it. The grief was taking over her. The wind howled, and the raindrops got stronger and stronger. Piper sat down on the muddy ground, by Prue's tomb.
Raindrops from her wet dark hair dropped down piercing through her jacket, but it didn't matter.
"Oh, god" she cried, "why?!"
~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
"Are you sure?" Patty asked. "They have failed, darling," Grams repeated in Prue's ears.
"Well they weren't me" Prue said with confidence and looked at them.
"Are you ready? Just be careful honey, we love you" Patty said and kissed Prue.
"Well, you know what they say, third's the charm!" Prue said and took a deep breath.
Grams joined her hands together, lowering her head. Prue gazed at her mother, and then turned her head to her grandmother. The fog slowly began to wane and dark blue clouds floated up in the sky. Suddenly, everything began minimizing. The images of her mother and grandmother faded away and Prue find herself standing on the grass, in the middle of a graveyard.
She looked around, still not quite comprehending where she is or what happened, when she noticed Piper.
Prue ran to her quickly, passing right through tombs and bushes.
Piper passed her hand on the tomb, touching the engraved letters of Prue's name.
"Prue�" Piper wept, she wiped the tears out of her eyes but the rain just wetted her face all over again.
Prue approached Piper, and bent down beside her. She looked at her with compassion, and then suddenly, she noticed where she was standing.
Prue stepped away in fear; feeling her heart fall down to her feet.
The storm seemed to be fading just a bit; and the wind stopped howling. However, it was still a dark night.
Okay, I have to get it together; Prue thought to herself and took a deep breath as she approached Piper.
She touched Piper's soken hair, but backed away when Piper turned around.
"Who's there?" she asked, putting the hood of her jacket on her head.
"Piper!" Prue said, she knew it was pretty hopeless but she just had to try. Something about it was just too strange. She had to find a way to contact Piper and make her see that she's there.
Piper turned back to the tomb and took the note out of her jacket.
She took a deep breath, trying to keep the note from the rain.
"In vain I say these words�" Piper stopped, the hesitations were there, yes, but every time she turned her head to face the grave, the feelings overpowered the fear.
"In vain I say these words; I say the cry of the ancestors.
To� to� give back what I have received I wish, to relinquish�"
"No!!!" Prue screamed, Piper's words echoed in her head, she had to be stopped.
If Piper continued, it would destroy everything they have done in the past four years.
Everything they are still destined to do and especially the only chance Prue might have to return.
Prue yelled at the top of her lungs, constantly trying to reach to Piper.
"Thank you for coming" Phoebe said, showing three of the last guests to the door.
"Finally" she said, and walked towards Cole.
The living room was a mess. Glasses and plates were scattered all round it.
"Look at all this. Now I have to clean it all up," Phoebe said with frustration and paced towards the kitchen, picking up glasses and cups on the way.
"Phoebe, wait a minute," Cole called out, following her.
"Where a� Piper? It's not that I wanna stick her with the after cleaning but I�"
"Phoebe, stop" Cole said and grasped her arm.
"What are you doing?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"Get it together Phoebe, you can't break down on me, or on Piper".
"Get it together? Together!?" Phoebe yelled and walked away from him angrily, "I am more together than I have ever been. If this is not togetherness then I don't know what is! Okay, Cole?! Cause I am This close to loosing it" Phoebe yelled, holding her fingers up in the air.
"It's okay� it's okay"
"No, Cole. It's not, and where is Piper anyway!?"
"A� She left a while ago".
"Damn, where could she have gone?" Phoebe asked quietly to herself, while hurrying up to the Attic.
Cole looked at her as she quickly disappeared from sight.
He shut his eyes and shimmered away.
Piper kept turning her head around to Prue, she felt something there, however didn't know what exactly it could have been.
She put the note back into her pocket and stood up. It was too much to handle now.
Piper turned around and hurried into the Mausoleum.
"Piper!" Prue called and ran after her; it was in fact pointless.
Piper opened the doors to the Mausoleum, and ran inside, taking her hood off.
Prue hurried after her. She stopped roughly, as the doors shut in her face. It was all still very new to her; she passed through the doors carefully, and walked towards Piper.
It hurt so much that she couldn't comfort Piper, help her through this and just tell her that she will always be there for her; no matter what. Nevertheless, Prue just had to face facts. That was not gonna happen.
Piper sat prostrated on the floor, crying.
Prue drew closer to her, and bent down beside her.
Suddenly, Piper raised her head, and eyed the entire place suspiciously.
"Piper, it's me. It�s Prue" Prue called out, waving her hands in the air. She stopped in her place as she felt the most extraordinary thing.
The voices she heard were so strong. Piper's thoughts busted into her into her mind so powerfully. Prue could hear her; she could hear all of Piper's thoughts.
"Piper, no! Don't cry for me. Please, honey. Don't!" Prue said, touching Piper's face.
"I'm so sorry Phoebe. This is for you Prue, I just can't take it anymore" Piper said and took the note out of her pocket, scanning it with her eyes; having second thoughts.
It can't be, Phoebe thought to herself; flipping through the pages of The Book, right where Piper looked in before.
"Cole?!" she called out, running down the stairs as quickly as she possible could. "Cole?!" Phoebe yelled, looking around. "Damn" she grabbed her jacket, running out of the Manor.
"In vain I say these words; I say the cry of the ancestors�"
"Stop, Piper!" Prue yelled, trying to get through to her. But it seemed quite hopeless.
Nevertheless, Prue was not one to give up this quickly.
Suddenly, Piper stopped. She turned around, facing Prue (without even knowing it).
The Mausoleum looked different, well maybe it just did to Piper. She hasn't been there in a while.
She could feel that she wasn't alone, "Great, now I'm losing it as well" Piper said angrily and looked around.
Prue eyed Piper sadly; she felt Piper's pain merging with hers.
"Piper?" Cole asked, looking around the Mausoleum.
"Cole? What the hell are you doing here?" Piper asked, quietly, drying her eyes with her sleeve.
"I just came to� whaa� whoa!" Cole yelled suddenly, and jumped backwards.
"What is the matter with you?!" Piper asked, looking at him and then turning to look at the empty space behind her.
Cole paced towards Prue in shock, with his mouth slightly gaped.
Prue looked at him, astonished, "Cole?" she asked.
"Ah! Whaa� why are you�? Prue?" he mumbled.
Piper turned to him, angry and confused, "don't you dare talk about Pr�" she stopped as Cole reached his hand into mid air.
"Cole? You can see me?" Prue asked.
"A� yeah�" Cole said, keeping his distance away from her.
"Cole, who the hell are you talking to?!" Piper asked.
Cole gazed at Piper and then turned back to Prue, "I can see you� why? What� what� are you doing here?" he asked.
"Thank god. Listen to me Cole, you have to stop Piper from reading the spell," Prue said intensely, still in semi shock of the whole thing.
"What spell?" Cole asked.
"The spell to relinquish her powers; stop her, tell her I'm here".
"She'll never believe me," Cole said.
"Just do it, please!" Prue insisted, staring at Piper; who stood in the middle of them, looking at Cole ludicrously.
"A� Piper," Cole said and slowly removed his eyes from Prue, and turned to Piper, "Prue� is here".
"W� what kind of a sick joke do you think this is!?" Piper yelled angered.
"Oh no, this is no joke. She's� she's standing right there" he said and pointed at Prue, without taking his eyes off Piper's.
"No, Cole. I don't believe you," Piper said, shaking her head in disbelief. However, she turned her head to Prue. Trying to see her, even though she didn't believe him, it was too much of a chance to miss.
"Cole, tell her that�" Prue took a deep breath and continued, "Tell her that I'm going to touch her hand now, she ought to feel a breeze or something�" Prue said and walked towards Piper.
"Piper, Prue is going to touch your arm," Cole said.
"Cole, stop it. Please, I can't bare this. It�s tough enough without you playing these sick�" Piper stopped in fear as she felt something passing through her hand.
"What was that?" she asked in a shaky voice, turning all around.
"Prue? Umm, just want to know why in the hell I can see you?" Cole said, looking at Prue.
"I have no idea," she answered, keeping her focus on Piper. "Tell her, that I'm here. She has to believe me. So much depends on it".
"Piper, you have to believe me, I can see Prue. She's right there" Cole said, and turned to Piper.
"It can't be. Why can't I see her then?" Piper cried. Her heart raced in pain as the thought of Prue being there even occurred to her.
"I don't know, but I swear that she's right there. She wants me to tell you to stop crying for her� and," Cole glanced at Prue, noticing her smiling. "She� loves you, Piper." Cole said in a gentle tone. Piper turned to Cole teary eyed, "Cole�" she whispered, "where is she?"
Cole looked at Prue, nodding to her. He took Piper's hand, facing her with hesitance, and moved it towards Prue's hand.
Piper's hand trembled as she felt wind caressing her hand, "Prue?" she cried.
Prue took a deep breath, crying. "I love you, Piper. I love you so much honey" she said; looking at her.
Phoebe got out of the car, after barely avoiding an arrest, which was due to speeding, and hurried into the Mausoleum, trying to cover herself from the rain.
"Prue, what is going on here? For all I know, ghosts only come if they have unfinished business" Cole said and looked at Prue.
"You think?" Prue said cynically and looked at him.
"So, umm, what are you doing here, Prue?" he asked.
"Not now, Cole. First, you have to get Piper back to the Manor, and don�t even think about shimmering her there" Prue said firmly, and then turned her look to Piper, her voice softened immediately, "tell her that I'm fine," her voice was a bit shaky, "and then take her home. Please".
Cole nodded in slight confusion; he seemed to be adjusting to her.
"Piper? honey? Are you down here?" Phoebe called out, stepping down the stairs in their direction quickly.
"Cole. What are you doing here?" she asked, approaching Piper but she didn't await his answer, "are you alright?" Phoebe asked, turning to Piper.
Piper nodded and turned around to Prue. "Piper, you didn't say the spell, did you?" Phoebe asked, looking at her in a rather bothered eye.
"Prue. Prue's here, Phoebe. She here" Piper said; still shaky from the events. She turned to Phoebe, who was now touching Piper's face with both her hands.
Cole turned to them, facing Phoebe's worried look, which was transmitting undoubted disbelief.
"Sweetie, honey, Prue is not here. She� she can't be here" Phoebe said decisively and turned to Cole. There was no way that it could be true. She had to protect Piper; she had to. She was all Piper had. The Mausoleum wasn't lit by any light; the rustling of the rain got stronger and stronger, disrupting the silence that prevailed for several minutes.
"No, Phoebe, you have to believe me" Piper said, shaken up. She turned her eyes to Phoebe, sensing her indubitable doubt.
"Prue?" Piper said, looking all around the Mausoleum, "say something, Prue!"
Phoebe eyed her fearfully. Piper was loosing it, definitely. She missed Prue too, but this was just too� too much.
"Honey -"
"Cole, tell her. Tell her!" Piper ordered, not giving in on her search for Prue.
"A� she's not here, Piper. She must have left" Cole said, and turned to Phoebe. "Let's get you back to the Manor".
"N� no! We can't leave her here. She's come back, Phoebe. You have to believe me!" Piper said, firmly remaining in her place.
"Piper, let's go back home and talk there, okay?" Phoebe said, hugging teary Piper.
~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~
"You know, you're not helping at all!" Phoebe raged at Cole, as they walked through the door.
Piper pushed Phoebe away from her and ran into the living room.
"I swear Phoebe, I saw Prue," Cole claimed; following Phoebe who hurried after Piper.
"Must you taunt me?" Phoebe said angrily, without turning to him.
"Prue!" Cole staggered as he saw Prue, standing in front of him. She shined in white blazing glare; "How did you get here?" Cole asked.
Phoebe turned to him angrily, "where is she?" Piper asked walking towards him.
"Prue, where are you?" she asked, looking around."Cole, we have to make Phoebe see I'm here" Prue said and turned to him.
"We? I am only the messenger!" he said, glancing at Phoebe.
"Cole, I can kick your -" she stopped herself and continued, "Help me. Please" Prue said and looked at Cole through her piercing blue eyes.
A shiver went through Cole's body. It was the first time he had ever felt it. Strange, he thought to himself.
"Phoebe, you have to believe us" Piper said, "She is here. Right now!"
"You are mad" Phoebe replied and turned around.
Prue walked towards her, and touched her shoulders, her neck. But nothing. Phoebe paid no attention what so ever.
"Why isn't she feeling me?" Prue wondered.
"Phoebe. Would I lie to you?" Cole asked.