Title: Numb
By: Bridget McKennitt
Disclaimer: Charmed and company are owned by Aaron
Spelling and other companies. They are used here
without permission, and for entertainment purposes
only. No challenge or infringement upon the
copyright is intended, nor should any be inferred.
Phoebe Halliwell Turner glanced out from under the hood of her cloak. This was
her life now. Like Persephone of the Greek legend, she was married to the ruler of
the Underworld. A long time ago she was the happy fiance of Cole Turner, recently
turned human. But then the Source invaded Cole's body, slowly turning him.
Though he tried, he was not strong enough to defeat the Source. The two became
one...and she, blinded by her love for him, did not see it. She married Cole/Source
and thought herself the happiest woman in the world.
"Phoebe?" She looked up to see Cole staring at her with a concerned look. "Are
you alright?"
"I am fine." She smiled to show that she was. Fortunately for her, the part of
Cole that loved her did not fade and the Source could never kill her because of that.
In fact, he loved her as much as Cole did and desired her to remain his wife. Desired
her to become his Queen.
Cole extended his hand and she accepted it as they walked to their thrones. She
gracefully sat in her seat as the first petitioner entered the chamber. Demons would
come daily to ask favors from the Source or demons would be dragged in to get their
punishment.
The first one entered in his scruffy human form. He bowed low before the ruling
couple before speaking. "I have killed the deflection witch as you demanded. Where
is my bounty?"
"I should give you death for your insolence." He leaned back in his chair,
deciding the demon's fate. "Here is your bounty." Cole flicked his hand and a bag
full of gold appeared in the demon's hands. "Now leave my sight before I change my
mind."
Phoebe said nothing, did nothing. She showed no emotion to her subjects, though
none could see her face from beneath her hood. To any who the Queen thought her stoic.
The truth was that she was numb.
The Queen walked towards her enchanted mirror and caressed it. She tried to smile
but failed. How long had she been trapped here? Five years? The mirror rippled and
Phoebe saw her sister Paige working in her office. She had made social worker on her
own about three years ago.
"Mama, who is that lady?" A little boy with dark hair and deep blue eyes asked
Phoebe. He climbed into her bed and stuck his thumb in his mouth.
Phoebe quickly banished the picture and faced her son. "That was no one, sweetie.
What are you doing here?"
"I ran away from Hinlas. He stupid." The little boy giggled and held out his
arms. "Carry me, mama."
She could never deny her son anything and she lifted him into her arms. Sweet
Randy, born and raised in the Underworld. All he ever knew was of the demon world, his
mother, and father because of a sworn agreement between the two sides, she and her son
could never see the rest of her family again. In return, the Source promised he would
not turn them to the side of evil. It broke her heart to leave Paige and Piper and Leo
but it was for everyone's safety.
"There you are Randy. Hinlas told me you shimmered out of his chamber," Cole said
as he leaned against the wall. "I am disappointed that you left your demonic lessons
but on the plus side, your powers are growing ever so strong. The Seer was right."
Cole kissed Phoebe on the lips but she barely responded. She was numb to his
touch. He drew back in anger. "Damn it, Phoebe, what is wrong with you?"
Their son wiggled around in his mother's arms so he could see his father. "Maybe
the lady in the mirror made mama sad."
"Lady, what lady? Show me." Cole glared at Phoebe as Randy shimmered out of her
arms and right next to the mirror.
"This is where the lady was. Who was she?" asked Randy.
"Let's find out." He waved his arm and the last image shown appeared. It was Paige,
now copying something at the copier. "You were watching your sisters?!? Phoebe, you
know that is going against the agreement."
She scoffed. "No, it is not. It said I could not go and see them. It never said
anything about me not seeing them without going to them."
"Tricky. But I still cannot let you view them, even through an enchanted mirror.
It would only tempt you to try and visit your sisters."
"Mama, you have sisters?" This was news to Randy and he wanted to know more about
it. "How come they're not here?"
Phoebe hesitantly told her son about her sisters, only the briefest details about
their lives. Though the crumb was small, Randy enjoyed hearing about them. "Auntie
Paige can orb, like whiters?" That was his nickname for whitelighters. "And auntie
Piper can make things go boom?"
"Yes, sweetie. They can. Those are a few of their powers, like one of yours is
to shimmer," Phoebe replied.
His eyes widened. "I wanna see them. Please? Please?"
Cole growled in disgust. "Now look what happened. He wants to see your blasted
sisters. That is against the agreement and I refuse the passage to them."
She raised her hood over her head and turned from him. "Then I refuse you." With
those four words, she grew even more numb to his presence. Randy glanced from his mother
to his father with worry in his eyes. He had never seen his mother turn from his father
before.
His wife refused him. She actually refused him. Him, the Source and ruler of the
Underworld! Damn her then. Cole punched the stone wall, cracking it under the pressure
of his fist. He gave her, and her sisters to a certain extent, the best situation for
both sides. Phoebe and their son would live with him and never visit her sisters, but
they would never be on the side of evil. Obviously Phoebe hated the agreement and now
Randy wanted to go on the surface to see his aunties.
Was this how Hades of the Greek legend felt when his wife's heart turned to ice
against him? For his own heart was in pain, immense pain that no demon had ever felt
before. How could he get her to stop being numb to him and get her to respond? What
did he have to do?
"Annul the agreement," he whispered aloud. The words came to him out of nowhere
but it was true. Phoebe missed her sisters dearly and light such as hers could not
thrive for long in darkness. She had to go and visit them, renew herself with laughter
and joy. It was the only way if he ever wanted their marriage to thrive.
"Phoebe?" He found her in Randy's chamber, sitting on his bed with a stoic look
on her face. "Phoebe, talk to me." When she said nothing, he moved in front of her and
knelt down. "I've got a surprise for you. You'll love it, I know you will."
She glanced at him with weary eyes. "What is it?"
Cole became encouraged that she talked to him. "Something that's long overdue.
Something I should have never put you and Randy through." He took a deep breath.
"I'm taking you two to visit your sisters on the surface."
Phoebe took in rapid breaths. "You're joking, right? I mean, I thought that
was against the agreement. Please don't let this be a joke."
"I never joke about something like this. Phoebe," Cole lifted his wife into his
arms and kissed her gently. "I, myself and the Source, cannot live without you. But
you cannot live without seeing your sisters for the rest of your life. I'm willing
to break the agreement just to make you happy. Phoebe, I don't want you to be numb
towards me."
"I never want to be numb against you, Cole. I love you," Phoebe said softly.
"I love you, too." He kissed her with all the passion he held inside him and
she could not help but be swept up in the thrill of responding to her husband.
