Very Early Monday Morning, 518/520

[sensethevisions]

After getting incredibly drunk with having an intense conversation with Tequila with Lana at Caritas, Phoebe had wandered the park for awhile. She had sat down on a bench by the pond trying to get her thoughts together, but it hadn't worked very well. Funny that.

Finally giving up on making sense of anything that Piper had told her on the phone, Phoebe decided to make her way back home to the dorms.

Once there, she dropped down into her favourite chair and stared out the window.

How could he?



[[OOC: For the boyfriend]]

Comments

[demonbelthazor]

Bel hadn't come back to the room last night, too edgy to relax -- and lacking a desire to face Phoebe. So when he finally returned early in the morning, he was surprised to find her awake and waiting. "Uh...hey," he said awkwardly.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe turned from the window to look at him.

"What's new?"

[demonbelthazor]

Bel froze. He knew from the tone of her voice that Piper must've called her, and he immediately got defensive. "What did you expect me to do?" he snapped.

[sensethevisions]

"Let's see, talk to me... ask us for help... not lie to my sister and then steal the very thing you made me promise to find and HIDE from you!" Her voice was soft, but there was a lot of emotion flowing through it.

[demonbelthazor]

"I told you to keep it from me, but you didn't do a good enough job," Cole growled, pacing agitatedly.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe glared at him, getting to her feet. "You wouldn't have been able to get to it if you hadn't lied to Piper," she pointed out.

[demonbelthazor]

"I did what I had to do," Cole said. "It was either that or let my father be destroyed." He threw up his hands in exasperation. "What do you expect from me, Phoebe. I'm a demon. I lie, I cheat, I steal. It's what I do."

[sensethevisions]

"I don't believe that," she said softly. "You're also half human and have been acting like a human," she pointed out. "You didn't used to lie to me, Cole. Especially about stuff that could affect me or get other people hurt." She looked at him. "Piper is furious with you. She trusted you and again you did something that abused that trust. How much more do you think she -- or Prue -- is going to take before they decide we have to vanquish you?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Then you'll have one less demon in the world to worry about," Cole snapped.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe flinched. "You don't believe that any more than I do, Cole, but you have to stop. There has to be another way. If you're lying to us and betraying us... how soon before you're forced to do other things?" She shook her head. "You are good, Cole, I've seen it... others have seen it. Why are you so willing to destroy every thing you have worked so hard for?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't have a choice, Phoebe," Cole said. "If I don't do what they want, they'll destroy my father. How am I supposed to let that happen? Besides, it just a stupid amulet. I didn't hurt anybody."

[sensethevisions]

"Didn't you?" Phoebe questioned him quietly. "For one, you turned an object of real good over to the bad guys. Second, you've betrayed witches more than once, now." She looked at him. "How much more do you think Raynor is going to use you for, Cole? How long before you've done so much that you're trapped right along with your father?"

[demonbelthazor]

Cole could feel himself growing angrier and angrier as Phoebe questioned him. Some small part of him knew this was all part of Raynor's plan, but it was eclipsed by the raging demon. "So why don't you just vanquish me now?" he snarled.

[sensethevisions]

Because you're being an idiot? was what she wanted to say, but she didn't. Instead, she just looked at him.

"You can't be serious, Cole."

[demonbelthazor]

"You may have to before I hurt someone," Cole said.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looked down. "I know..." The ground was really fascinating. "You're going to end up hurting someone... aren't you? You think Raynor's going to make you kill one of us."

[demonbelthazor]

"That's gonna be his goal," Cole admitted. "But...you'll have to stop me first."

[sensethevisions]

"You know I'll do anything I have to do to protect people from the Underworld, Cole..." She swallowed, really hating this discussion. "I don't want to have to fight you... but I will if I have to."

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm starting to think like a demon again," Cole said. "All instinct and desire and no human conscience."

[sensethevisions]

"What can I do to help you, Cole?"

[demonbelthazor]

He lifted his head and looked at her. "Stop me from losing control."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe went over to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I'll do whatever I can to help, love, you know that." She looked up into his face. "We'll help you, Cole, and you won't lose control and you won't hurt anyone."

[demonbelthazor]

Her touch eased some of his turmoil. "I'm hanging on by my fingertips," he said quietly. "I catch myself thinking -- feeling things I shouldn't anymore."

[sensethevisions]

"Talk to me. What are you thinking and feeling? I need to know so I can figure out how to help you and stop a disaster."

[demonbelthazor]

"Angry. Hungry," Cole said, still aggitated. "I'm thinking like a demon. I want to take what I want, no matter what the consequences. I want to hunt. I want to hurt."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe bit her lip, and then ran her hands down his arms in a soothing motion.

"How can I help?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't know," Cole said wearily. "I need to get my father's soul so I can stop falling into Raynor's traps...."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe rubbed his back gently.

"Have you considered asking Aziraphale for advice?"

[demonbelthazor]

"He told me there are decisions I gotta make on my own," Cole admitted.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe was quiet and then she looked up into his face.

"I believe in you, Cole," she said softly. "I'll do whatever I can to help you with this."

[demonbelthazor]

"Thank you," he said softly.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded, hugging him close. "We'll get you through this... somehow. I promise."

[demonbelthazor]

He wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I love you," he said. "More than anything."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiled, tightening her hold on him. "I know, Cole. I know you do. I love you so much and that's why I know we can do this, together."