Charmed. Cole and Phoebe Guardian Series.How quaint the ways of paradox?

Charmed. How quaint the ways of Paradox Chapter 24

Part 3: The more things change

Chapter 24

"How quaint the ways of paradox; At common sense she gaily mocks" (Gilbert and Sullivan. Pirates of Penzance

Cole to Phoebe's distress went to work on Monday morning. Francesca was there but he had a morning full of meetings and he never saw her, other than to say a very stilted Good Morning when he arrived.

It felt so normal and natural at work that Cole was starting to even wonder if all the ultimatums about his destiny ever happened. He walked past Francesca after the meetings and then sat at his desk, dialled Phoebe and spent about half an hour on the phone making silly jokes, teasing, playing games, and did not know she was responding with tears falling down her face. He was stopped cold by Francesca appearing at his door, watching him slowly. When he shook his head she just stood there and refused to move until he finally said he to Phoebe had to go. "Love you" he whispered to her.

"I do love you Cole" she said "Always did no matter what I ever said. Always will" she answered.

"That wasn't goodbye Phoebe" he said but looking at Francesca.

As he hung up Francesca quietly said "Arturo wants to talk to you."

"I haven't decided yet" Cole said coldly.

"Haven't you?" Francesca said raising an eyebrow clearly not believing him "Arturo needs to discuss something with you. Your choice is yours to make when the time is right Cole she said carefully "because she recognised the ice cold voice as one that he had used a year ago when he was struggling to hold himself together.

"Where?" Cole asked calmly.

"At his house" Francesca said "You'll have to follow me. It's in a time fold."

Cole when he shimmered out in the white a house overlooking the Corinthian Gulf realised he was in the place Phoebe had described more than a year ago. He recognised the pull of the magic nexus where the house existed and the odd feeling of the time fold. The ex-demon Arturo knew how to use magic to protect himself.

Cole came out of the shimmer beside the glass doors leading to the balcony. Arturo was sitting at the antique dining table reading a very old book that disappeared as Cole arrived. Francesca orbed in very close to Arturo, a little behind him.

"I haven't decided" Cole said standing legs apart defiant.

"As you say" Arturo answered. "But whatever you decide we, the Guardians have a problem to which it seems you have the answer."

Cole shrugged and inclined his head.

"The Underworld is in chaos, " Arturo said "It needs a strong leader, a source."

"Well it ain't going to be me" Cole snapped.

Arturo ignored him. "There can be no Source without the coronation ceremony and no coronation ceremony without the Grimoire" Arturo said and as Cole smiled insolently he added "As you well know."

"So" said Cole. "Isn't it lost?"

"It's your calling to get it back" Arturo said calmly.

"Like hell" Cole answered shifting his weight from foot to foot ready for action. "Anyway" he said bluffing it. "It was lost in what do they call it. The Great Immolation. When that old harridan the Seer went up." He sneered demonically "Sorry I missed that" he said "I would have enjoyed it." Then he watched Arturo turn and glance at Francesca "I wasn't there" Cole said "All the stories say it was lost that day."

"It's hard to know the truth of what happened there" Francesca said. "In a place as evil as the Coronation Chamber of the Source, it is hard to believe truth could exist there. Even truth seekers and very good people find truth impossible down there. I would doubt a real truth was ever uttered in it."