Third Time Charmed

Black as Cole (Part 3)

Paige stormed toward Piper's Jeep, her cheeks burning with anger, Prue hot on her heels. She knew what she had seen, and no amount of arguing was going to convince her otherwise. Cole was their killer.

"Explain it again, from the beginning," Prue demanded.

"I've told you twice," Paige said through clenched teeth, opening the car door.

Prue pushed the door closed with her power. "Tell me again."

"Prue!" Piper chastised, catching up to them.

Paige took a breath, then recounted, "I saw Susan, then I saw Cole attack her. But when she turned around, it wasn't Susan. It was Phoebe, wearing her pendant, hat, and coat. End of story."

"She must have been posing as Kari to lure out the killer," said Piper.

"Piper, you're not buying into this, are you?" Prue questioned in an accusatory fashion. "This makes no sense! Cole is not the demon we're looking for!"

"I saw him!" Paige hissed.

"You saw Cole, or you saw Belthazor?"

"Same thing."

"No, it isn't!"

Paige shook her head in disbelief, her lips pursed. "He was in his demon form, but it was Cole! I saw what he really looks like in the book today, and I'm not about to forget a face like that."

Prue actually laughed, much to her sister's chagrin. "Well, it's moot, anyway. Putting aside for the moment that we're talking about a bunch of choppy, black and white flashes from a beginner—"

"Beginner?" Paige repeated, eyes bulging.

"—nothing you allegedly saw is reliable, because it didn't even take place in this reality!"

"Allegedly?"

"We're putting way too much credence into these crazy visions of yours—"

"Crazy visions?"

—We don't even know why you're getting them. For all we know, the person who orchestrated Phoebe's death could be sending you false Premonitions to manipulate you."

Paige's jaw about hit the floor. She turned to Piper. "You grew up with this?" she asked. "She's wackadoo!"

"Excuse me?"

"Enough, both of you! Calm down," Piper mediated, literally getting in the middle of the two bickering sisters. "Now, Paige, going back to your Premonition. Where did you see the attack happening? Can you recall any landmarks?"

Following a pause, Paige reluctantly squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the image to return. "I dunno. A park, maybe? With a lot of steps...like an open-air stage?"

"Alright. Well, we can ask Susan if that sounds familiar. Can I leave you two alone while I go and get her? Or do I need to be worried about hair pulling?"

***

The journey home was a quiet one, thanks in part to Susan's presence. Prue didn't want to argue in front of an Innocent, while Paige didn't want to argue, full stop. Piper welcomed the awkward silence. She was conflicted and needed some time to reflect while driving.

First, there was the unbelievable Premonition to unpack, another that inexplicably featured their dead sister, and which pointed a finger at her half-demon lover, who, incidentally, they had left alone with Piper's husband. Then, there were Prue and Paige at loggerheads, while Piper played the annoying yet nostalgic role of peacemaker. It was...a lot.