The Life and Times Part 1: Magic in the air Chapter 8
"To expostulate why day is day, night night, and time is time, |
Even by the standards of the bottom end of the market clients Cole had helped in the months that he worked for him, Eduardo thought the one was spooky. Very tall, very thin, almost satanic air, he walked into the office and told Eduardo "I seek Cole Turner" in a raspy voice.
Before Eduardo could answer, Cole came to the door smiling somewhat wryly said, "Its okay Eduardo" and ushered Proctor into the next office.
"Friend Belthezor well met," said Proctor with
the satanic sneer that passed for a smile. Francesca" he said "what a
co-incidence and pleasure of course." Cole caught the expression on Francesca's face and almost
laughed and then could not help himself. "Mrs Rinaldi does not believe in
co-incidence" he told Proctor. The satanic sneer almost became a smile "Dear me what
other explanation could there be for so many... chance meetings " said
Proctor almost maliciously. Francesca stood up "Proctor you need my advice"
she asked primly. "No " said Proctor quite seriously "My
business is.. in hand at this time." "That is good " Francesca answered almost
softening. "Should you need me" she told both Cole and Proctor
"Call me. Cole I will do what I can" She looked at both " Be well
" she said as she left the office . "Friend Proctor. To what do I owe the pleasure "
Cole asked " Coffee " he asked and fortunately had his back turned
when Proctor asked for five sugars. "I see things" Proctor answered accepting the
coffee and seating himself on the leather sofa, bought from fashionable seconds
furniture but a very sore point with Cole when he worked out how many wills he
would have to write to pay for it. "I know," said Cole sitting in the chair
opposite, rescued from the Manor attic. "In Africa" said Proctor. "So do I " replied Cole grimly "Do you
understand anything you see?" "I do not have that wisdom" replied Proctor
seriously " But then I am uncertain who or what would." "Yes," said Cole " what do you see?" "I see minions close to the new Source, in Africa,
watching those who are vulnerable, offering … inducements to those who can be
corrupted" Proctor said "the evil is at the moment a little…less
random than perhaps you might assume, so I would advise.. caution." "Nearly impossible to tell when it is random or not
" Cole answered "But I take your advice and will act..
accordingly." "That is good " said Proctor " I will also
give some other advice. Do not expect to succeed in Africa. Better to ensure you
do not fail." "I understand " Cole said. "That is also good." replied Proctor. "Then I
best be gone." he said. "as we have no more business." Cole nodded and started to stand then he sat again
"Are you concerned what could be revealed and who it could be revealed to,
during this, this realm...eclipse." "If I had have no secrets, then I suppose I would have
nothing to fear" Proctor answered. Cole nodded. He was quiet for several seconds "I have
secrets " he said. "As do we all " answered Proctor. "I have
little wisdom " Proctor added "but my friend Therold tells me his
wisdom and his wisdom is that we all have secrets, only some of us do not know
we have them." "Even Francesca" said Cole. "Especially Francesca " replied Proctor and his
smile was something a little less than satanic. "May I ask you something? " Cole said a little
awkwardly. "If you are prepared to accept how I chose to answer
it" Proctor replied. "Why did you cross" Cole asked. "From
evil?" Proctor hesitated and then he smiled fully satanic"
That is my secret" he replied. "I am gone." Cole followed him into the office and watched as Proctor
left. "Be well friend " he said. "It is my intention " Proctor replied over his
shoulder. Eduardo watched Proctor go " You know " he told
Cole "if I was going to describe what evil incarnate looked liked, that
would nearly be it." "You would be wrong " Cole said still thinking
like a demon. "Very few people reveal their souls in the way they
look" he smiled pensively. "Sometimes you would get quite a surprise
to know what they really were." …………………………………… Francesca orbed into Arturo's house where it was late at
night. Arturo was sitting in his lounge lost in thought his expression haunted
and Francesca had to swallow down a great deal of compassion that she knew would
not be welcome. "Still not off in the eclipse seeking the secrets of
worthy beings." Arturo said with the ghost of a smile as he looked up at
the sound of orbs. "Sarcasm is unworthy " said Francesca sitting
down " also you are not good at it Arturo." Arturo's smile this time was genuine and reached his eyes.
"This visit is not to check my well being ". "Only partially" Francesca answered " it
appears that there is a danger, a fairly immediate one, that the secret of
Belthezor has been discovered by a warlock king called Willem and they are not
far off being discovered by the Powers that Be of good." Arturo sat back and considered for a second "That is
unfortunate" Arturo remarked "Does Belthezor know?" "Yes" said Francesca severely " he
knows." "And " asked Arturo "How does he
respond?" "He is.. concerned. " she started to say. Arturo
looked at her "He is frightened Arturo "replied Francesca. " But
he feels it would be wrong to destroy creatures of good or evil to protect the
secret." "His calling is strong " Arturo said
slowly." He learns some wisdom." "Which does not
mitigate the need to protect his secret. "Francesca pressed and looked at
Arturo her eyes pleading. "What my dear? "
Arturo asked grimly. "Cole is happy Arturo
" she said quietly "And it is such a short time he has. I remember
family and happiness." "And you love him so you'll plead his case"
Arturo sighed. "So if he cannot… will not ". "You must, and not just because I ask you, although
that should be reason enough" Francesca said gently "Eclipse
or not Arturo. Guardians are called to protect those weaker than themselves from
those who could hurt them. Even guardians." She quoted Arturo with a ghost
of a smile. "So I am damned by my own wisdom" he nodded
"I do not wish to leave the safety of this time fold at this time"
Arturo told her hurting. "I know" Francesca answered gently "But
that.. you were a demon Arturo and you know always there was a debt to pay, and
it is not paid without pain." "I know my dear " said ex-demon Arturo who had
answered a call to guard the realms and administer the Great Plan a thousand
years ago "It is well we do not understand the price we must pay to ease
our debt when we are called." "Thank you " Francesca said as Arturo crossed to
pour her a brandy, clearly closing the discussion. "There is something I keep meaning to ask"
Francesca said accepting his wish "Why is Proctor such good 'friends' with
Cole?" "He likes Belthezor?" said Arturo and then saw
Francesca's expression "I know. Sarcasm is unworthy. Belthezor when he is
not being an.. arsehole " and Arturo smiled " can be…endearing you
know." "I find it improbable that Proctor has the wisdom to
understand what endearing means" said Francesca snippily. "Improbable does not necessarily mean impossible"
said Arturo as he poured her a brandy. …………………………………. Paige brought the map downstairs and began scryed. There
was nothing very evident from the scrying just indiscriminate evil all over San
Francisco but she was somewhat surprised how much of it was happening. Phoebe
and Cole were on the sofa watching television with Melinda. Lady and the Tramp.
The whole family knew the film dialogue without watching it. Melinda loved
anything with animals but Lady and the Tramp was her favourite. Whosit was once
again lost in organising blocks and toys in patterns of his own devising. He was
not interested in TV. Leo and Piper were washing up and Wyatt was on the floor
on his back gurgling. Wyatt seemed to be content lying around doing nothing. Cole was sitting in the corner of the sofa and Phoebe was
on the sofa half across his lap. Even after the time they had been together,
Cole and Phoebe never could be in a room without being in touching distance.
They shared chairs and sofas and sat beside each other at meals, even standing
Cole always managed to find a way to close enough to have a hand around or on
her. The family were used to it and actually regarded it with concern if they
were not close. It usually meant fireworks or problems. "Nothing really happening" Paige said "Just
a lot of small stuff." She looked at her sister and swallowed a small choke
of envy " I'm really pissed at that damned whitelighter " she told
them "In fact I'm pretty pissed at the whole Powers That Be and Elders.
Checking up on what we told them, coming here and questioning what we did,
acting like they don't really believe us." "We weren't telling the truth" said Phoebe with a
little gulp. "But we're the Charmed Ones." Paige said working
herself up into a temper "After all we've done for them, they ought to
believe anything we say. Its well, its almost like they don't trust us". "There are some people who equate not telling the
truth with being untrustworthy," Cole pointed out. "That's ridiculous" said Paige " every-one
has secrets." And was stopped from saying more by the sound of orbs. She
turned to glare at the orbs and only slightly changed her expression when she
realised it was Francesca. "I wasn't expecting you" said Paige
snippily. " I don't always announce my intentions dear"
Francesca commented, in a tone so dry that Paige if she had not been so pissed
with whitelighters and the general population of magic Elders she would have
recognised as a warning. "Hello Francesca " said Phoebe warmly making sure
she put a very possessive hand across Cole, which Francesca noticed. "Mrs Rinaldi, such a pleasure" Cole who did
recognise the warning, mimicked Proctor. "What did you come for?" he
asked as Francesca pursed her lips Francesca seated herself opposite him "I came to say
that after some consideration, the course of ah.. inaction you talked about
today, is something at this point I would strongly advise " she said.
"I advise choices should only be made when it is apparent what they
are." she said. "And " she said severely "I would not lose
all hope of happiness if I were you." Cole nodded , and half smiled and a small shudder of relief
hit him. Paige hearing the vagueness of the advice
he was getting raised her eyes. "You visited Cole today " said Phoebe brightly,
very brightly. "You didn't tell me Cole." "Just about your whitelighter and consequences"
Cole explained to her. "That's great" said Phoebe even more brightly. Piper and Leo heard the voices and came into the living
room. "Francesca" smiled Leo. "Sorry I missed you the other night " said Piper
and meant it. There was a silence for a few seconds, and then bursting
out of the television came the song "We are Siamese if you please." "Look Mrs Winaldi " Melinda said tugging at
Francesca's sleeve. "Pussy." "Siamese cats dear" said Francesca with only the
twinkle in her eye giving her away as Phoebe giggled. "We ought to get her a cat," said Paige"
Siamese cats are nice." "We.are.not.getting.a Siamese.cat. " Piper
enunciated very clearly. "We most certainly are not" said Phoebe almost as
clearly. Paige and Cole and even Francesca stared at them. "Okay" muttered Paige, feeling the world hated
her. To cover the somewhat awkward silence, Piper asked
Francesca if Cole had told her about the warlock Willem. "Yes dear. That's what I came to talk to him about
" said Francesca. Piper nodded and asked somewhat awkwardly "I know your
business is not warlocks but guardians only Cole swears he does not know Willem
yet our whitelighter swears he does and.." Coe pursed his lips "I'm not lying Piper " he
said. "I know but I don't believe Casper is either"
Piper said almost uncomfortable. "Wrong ghost " said Leo. "Then I suppose dear " Francesca added " you
need to assume that both Cole and your whitelighter are telling the truth and
work from there."