Third Time Charmed

Black as Cole (Part 6)

Cole, Piper, and Paige descended the dark mausoleum staircase, their light, careful steps echoing on the stone slabs. Dust, decay, and webbing clung to the walls of the hitherto forgotten crypt.

Either a reaction to the cold, their spooky surroundings, or the looming threat ahead, Paige felt a chill. She asked uneasily, "Any sign of him?"

Cole moved like a predator, his senses on high alert. "No," he answered, more surprised by this than they were. Before they reached the bottom step, he suddenly flung out an arm, pulling Paige back sharply.

Piper turned, startled. "What?"

"Trap," Cole muttered. "Back up." He grabbed a web-covered, unlit candle from a ledge and tossed it. When it struck the stone floor, a burst of magical fire ignited, spreading like a lit cigarette thrown into a shallow pool of gasoline. When all evidence of the magic disappeared, and after allowing himself a brief moment to mourn the loss of his sleeping blankets and few possessions, Cole stepped forward.

Piper approached him. She didn't need demonic senses to know their quarry wasn't here. "Well, there was the trap, so where is Sykes?"

Cole turned in a slow circle, eyes narrowed. "I don't know."

Paige frowned. "Then why would he set a trap for us and not be here?"

Cole stopped moving. "Unless..." he said slowly, eyes widening. "Unless this is just a distraction."

Piper's stomach dropped. "What do you mean, distraction? You said he was after us."

In a grave tone, Cole answered, "I was wrong. He's after me. And the best way to get to me...."

"Would be through Phoebe," Piper deduced. "But this guy seems to have done his homework, so he's probably not out looking for her right now, as much as we could use the help. So, how else might he come at you?"

A rush of cold realization washed over Cole. "I... I'm not sure," he muttered, but if Sykes had studied him closely, had heard about his recent exploits, he may have made certain observations, drawn certain conclusions...about Prue.

***

After an unsuccessful search of the neighboring streets for Emma, Prue decided to give it up as a bad job. She was privately grateful not to have found the woman. Emma didn't seem like the type to be reasoned with, and even if she were, nothing Prue could say about Cole's turnaround would be good enough. She had struggled to rationalize Cole's presence in their lives at the best of times herself. Doing so now, when Emma had identified him as her fiancé's killer...? It would almost be insulting for her to try.

Maybe Cole did deserve vanquishing? No, Belthazor sure did, but Cole didn't, not anymore. This whole situation was about finding a witch killer, and Cole was helping them with that, not to mention everything else. He had dedicated his life to good.

Then again, Sykes was sending Cole a message like some sort of serial killer copycat. Did that mean the blood he spilled was on Cole's hands as much as his own?

Prue entered the house, feeling a headache coming on. She removed her leather jacket and hung it on a coat hook as she called out, "Piper?"

"She's out. Can I take a message?" replied Sykes, stepping out from behind the parlor wall, grinning like a jackal.

"You son of a—" Prue growled, turning just in time to take a punch in the eye. Despite the powerful blow making her dizzy, she used her power on her body, forcing her limbs to react and return the favor. Unfortunately, her punch had minimal effect, so she channeled her power through the eye she could still see out of, knocking him back against the moldings.