Post by StoryGirl83 on Sept 21, 2013 23:13:30 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty-Seven - Irreversible
“It is simple enough,” Piper informed him. “We’re staying here.
The Angel of Destiny looked at them. “And you are sure of this?”
Piper nodded. “We are.”
“There will be no changing this decision,” He reminder her. He looked at the four sisters and Cole, stopping his gaze on Cole. “That includes you. Measures will be taken to see that you cannot repeat any of your escapades. The next time you die whether it is today or sometime in the future, that’s it, you will die and you will die as a human. If you chose to live see that you live your life in such a way that you don’t become like the demons they defeated in there, capable only of mindless evil and twisted loyalties or that is how you will stay, unless that is what you want. Few are completely beyond the change to good, though far fewer ever change, but those . . . they are beyond thoughts of good, so if it is your intention to ever be good, do not forget that. If however you do not care, then regard not my warning.”
Cole glared at him, but said nothing.
“You are being given another chance,” the Angel of Destiny reminded him. “Most don’t get a second chance let alone more than that. Do you know what you will do?”
Cole sighed. “It doesn’t seem to be much of a choice,” he admitted. “I don’t particularly like death, if you missed that.”
The Angel of Destiny smiled. He waved his hand in front of Cole and magic whirled around him, stripping him of the latest round of magic he had stolen. “Use it well,” he warned before he turned to look at the sisters. “Those within the magical community and those who know of it and are not a threat to its secrecy will recall everything they know as it occurred. Those of the outside world who are unaware of magic will believe an altered version of events as close to the facts as can be made. Invaders entered your home and took over. They forced you out and killed all comers using secret technology. You were forced to flee and not even given the chance to get your sons. Deeming it safer and more stable for them, you left them with your dad and did not return until you learned that it was safe to return.”
“No one will believe that,” Paige commented as the whirlwind stopped flowing around Cole and he walked over to lean against the back fence.
“Besides that doesn’t explain Prue,” Phoebe added. “How do you explain three sisters leaving and four returning?”
“Three years prior to these events Prue was forced to fake her death after witnessing the murder of a doctor by well placed individuals,” the Angel of Destiny replied without pause. “Although Piper was in the house at the time, she was injured and clearly had not seen anything. And Phoebe was out of the house and thus was not a threat to the killers.”
Paige snorted. “Right, that will fly.”
He ignored her. “As neither knew the truth of what happened, they truly did believe Prue was dead. The casket was closed . . .”
“But it wasn’t,” Piper protested.
“They will remember it closed,” he informed her. Starting again he said, “The casket was closed because there was no body in it and not because of the shape of the body. The same people were behind both attacks . . .”
“True enough,” Phoebe commented.
“Allow me to finish,” he suggested.
She nodded and blew at a loose strand of hair.
“The same people were behind both attacks,” he repeated. “They were sent by a competitor of the company your father worked for at the time. After taking over the care of the two boys, he took an early retirement, believing it was the safest course for the boys. He knew that the attacks were directed at intimidating him and believed it would be safest if he didn’t have anything they wanted.”
“Again, who is going to believe this?” Paige asked.
He smiled. “Agent Keyes to begin with. He was transferred out of here years ago, but he will remember both catching these criminals in a shoot out and letting you know it was safe to return. He will also remember helping you relocate. We do not desire to change the past too much, only give you the chance to move on. There is one more warning.”
Piper sighed as all four sisters and Cole looked at him wearily.
“Getting rid of Zankou only two years after the vanquish of the source put the underworld in disarray,” he informed them, “which is why Piper’s sons have enjoyed relative freedom from demonic attacks. This will not last much longer. With all that you have accomplished, most will avoid attacking you directly. They will not want that risk. They will however attack people, magical and nonmagical alike. Never forget the innocents that you are to protect or there will be consequences. You were given your magic for a reason. Use it wisely.”
With those words the Angel of Destiny disappeared in a whirl of magic and everything started moving, again.