Ash

Ash

Flora Winters

I do not own the wonderful characters from Smallville or Charmed. I also do not own the song by Peter Gabriel, I Grieve.

Summary: After the Charmed Ones defeat the Source of all evil (again) they discover that they have a baby brother named Phoenix who is Paige’s twin. Looks like Mom and Grams have been keeping secrets (again). Phoenix is dating a reporter for the Daily Planet who is really the demon Phyre who has plans for the half witch/half whitelighter. Will Phoenix be able to choose between his family and a love that burns hotter and darker than the very flames of the Underworld? M/M, Language, OC, Crossover, Character Death

Chapter Sixteen

The Seer quickly released the needle and flashed away as everything fell into slow motion for Phoenix. Piper saw the look of confusion cross Phyre’s face and then pain. He stumbled back into Phoenix who caught him in his arms and both fell in billows of silk.

Phoenix pulled him up and held him as Phyre’s veins turned green and his golden skin a sickly yellow. He gripped the needle and pulled it out making a demonic scream echo out of Phyre’s opened mouth.

Phoenix didn’t know what to do. The green was spreading so quickly and Phyre was trembling and convulsing. He looked up at Leo begging with his eyes as tears fell.

Piper and Paige ran over to him only in their weakened condition to be blown back by a pulse of magic from him. His wet emerald orbs never left Leo, “Heal him.”

Leo shook his head, “My magic does not allow me to heal demons,” as he ran to help Piper.

Phoenix trembled, “Heal him.”

“I can’t,” Leo shouted throwing off the magic, “My magic doesn’t work that way!”

A pale yellow hand showing sick green veins reached up to caress Phoenix’s cheek. A pained smile crossed Phyre’s face and his bright blue eyes rolled up into his head as his hand fell from Phoenix’s cheek to smack the floor.

Phoenix started to shake, “Wake up,” he said shaking Phyre, “Wake up!”

Tears streamed from his eyes when Phyre didn’t move, “You promised,” he shouted, “You fucking promised!”

He bent over the body and wept while wave after wave of magic pulsed from him, “You said you would never leave me,” he cried while shaking and begging, “Please wake the fuck up!”

Piper and Paige didn’t know what to do and Leo felt terrible. His magic just didn’t work that way.

A dark flash went off from Phyre’s body and the Grimoure started to glow a deep purple. All three turned to look at it while Phoenix cried over the body of his love.

The Seer flashed back in and picked up the dark book laughing, “At last the power of evil shall be mine,” she said holding the dark book close to her chest.

Suddenly everything around them went deathly still and all four turned to see Phoenix slowly rising to his feet. All emotion was wiped from his features. His hair began to flow like crimson flame along his luminous face while his emerald eyes bled to solid black of pools of the darkest fire.

He spoke in a voice that was as deep and cavernous as the abyss as he pointed a long sharp black nail at the Seer, “Die.”

Black fire shot from his eyes and struck the dark book in her arms. The book glowed a deep purple trying to protect itself as the Seer screamed trying to drop the damn thing. Suddenly the books aura faded and it went up in flames taking the Seer along with it.

Phoenix smiled so darkly it made the other three still living in the room shiver. He lowered his head down to see that Phyre’s body was gone and he grabbed his head and a demonic scream clawed it’s way out of his pale throat, “What did you do with him?”

Piper pulled Paige behind her, “We didn’t do anything.”

“Liars,” Phoenix screamed demonically, “You were all in this together!”

All three kept quite, “She gave you the armbands,” he screamed making the foundation of the castle groan as if in pain, “You did this!”

“No,” Paige shouted, “We were not going to hurt you or him!”

“Silence,” Phoenix shouted sending a pulse of power to knock them down, “If it had not been for you and that fucking dead piece of shit none of this would have happened!”

“You’re wrong,” Leo yelled, “She would have found a way!”

“You helped her,” Phoenix shouted over the roar of his magic, “I saw it all, in my dream, you’re the reason!”

Piper climbed to her knees, “No Phoenix,” she yelled over his anger, “We read the entries, we saw the photos!”

“You should have left,” he cried as tears burned like black fire down his luminous cheeks, “You should have stayed away!”

“Phoenix please,” Paige yelled only to be thrown back by an invisible hand.

“Please,” Phoenix bellowed, “Please? After I begged you to save Chloe? After I begged you to save Kal? You have the nerve to say please, to me?”

He grabbed at his burning crimson hair and screamed, “Give him back!”

A violent pulse shot from him causing beams to fall and the walls to crumble as they all were blown backwards into random objects.

Piper cried out, “You have to stop!”

“No,” Phoenix screamed making the floor crack and fall through around them cocking his head to the side looking at them insanely, “I want him back and I want him back now!”

“We can’t do that,” Leo shouted over his hisses, “You have to stop!”

Phoenix laughed and it was a laugh that would send Jesus galloping back to the safety of his high heaven, “Make me stop!”

Black fire shot from his eyes which blasted everything in his line of site. All three of them threw themselves to the floor crying out. Phoenix could not believe this was happening to him. His mother dies, his father dies, then Chloe, and now Kal went away from him to. It felt good to destroy. It made the pain go away. He made that bitch pay, and now he was going to make everything else pay to. If he couldn’t live happily ever after in his fairy tale then he would become the tale of all terrors.

He hissed demonically at them as liquid black silk billowed and snapped all around him in the vicious winds as fire burned unforgiving in his eyes. He aimed a sleek black talon at the three of them and was about to let loose al the magic he had stolen when he heard a soft whisper over the violent roar of the wind, “Little Phe…”

He trembled for a second and forced the emotions away aiming at them again only for, “Mommy loves you to little Phe.”

His mouth twisted trying to fight back any emotions for swirling white lights to filter down in front of him. His black eyes widened in shame and hope, “Mommy?”

A beautiful red headed woman stood in front of him with billowing white silk blowing gently around her peaceful frame holding her arms out lovingly to him, “I’m here baby.”

Phoenix shook his head, “You’re not real.”

“Oh,” she cooed gently, “But I am sweetheart.”

“No,” Phoenix said choking on his tears, “Stay away from me.”

Martha Kent stepped towards her child and put her arms around him. Phoenix could smell her perfume, feel her warmth, and the soft tickle of her hair.

“I love him so much,” Phoenix cried into her, “Please bring him back to me.”

She squeezed him tightly as he cried. He slowly let go and just wept. Martha lowered them gently to the floor as a single glowing white tear fell from his eyes.

A beam fell at Piper and she threw out her hands for it to freeze. She looked on in astonishment as the fires suddenly just died away.

All three got to there feet and realized that all they could hear was Phoenix crying and this strange women he called mommy whispering and soothing him.

He held on to her tightly, “I love him.”

“I know you do sweetheart,” she said in her airy voice, “I know.”

“I love you mommy,” he said and she felt him tremble slightly and looked down to see that he had passed out.

A tear slid down her cheek, “Mommy loves you to little Phe.”

Piper cleared her throat, “Mrs. Kent?”

Martha smiled up at her warmly, “Take care of your little brother,” she said softly, “He needs you now more than ever.”

Piper moved to say something but she smiled, and vanished in glowing white orbs. Paige walked over with Leo to stand with Piper looking down at the fallen charmed one. Leo leaned down and placed his hands on Phoenix’s softly rising chest for his hands to glow golden . He smiled up at them, “I can heal him.”

Phoenix softly opened his eyes and looked up at Leo, “Why?”

Leo smiled, “You’re family.”

“Family,” Phoenix whispered and suddenly sat up looking around, “Mommy!”

Piper knelt down putting a kind hand on his shoulder, “She had to go,” she said, “But told us to take good care of you.”

A tear slid from his eye as he looked around the destroyed castle for any sign of Kal. He closed his eyes and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Piper embraced him, “Lets go home, Phoenix.”

She helped him to his feet and he gazed at them, “This is my home.”

Paige walked up to stand beside him, “Our home is your home little brother.”

Tears fell from his eyes and she held him close, “I love him so much.”

Paige noticed he could not use the past tense and ran her fingers through his hair, “I know,” she cooed, “I know.”

Piper looked over at Leo who picked up the album and held it close. She smiled and knew that Phoenix would want it. She ran her finger through her hair, “Why don’t you take him home Paige. We can pick up his things and orb them home.”

Paige nodded and froze when she spotted a white dog walk into the room with a teddy bear in his mouth. Phoenix looked over and more tears fell as he ran to his little friend. He fell to his knees and pulled Spider close and he dropped the teddy in his lap. Spider jumped up and put his paws on either side of Phoenix’s shoulders and rubbed his head against his soft cheek. Phoenix squeezed his friend and Spider licked his cheek, whining softly.

“Go get your leash,” Phoenix whispered, “We’re going to a new home.”

Spider was gone in a white blur and Piper was about to say something when Spider was standing right back in front of Phoenix with his leash in his jaws. She could not help by snort and decided Phoenix could keep the little demon seeing as how it had no where to go, and it obviously loved him. For once in her life everything was not looking so black and white.

Phoenix hooked the leash in place and Spider yipped once and slightly wagged his tail. Phoenix held his teddy tightly as he walked over to Paige with Spider following, and she took him by the hand. He smiled at her slightly and the three of them were gone in swirling blue lights.

Leo looked around, “Do you know where his room is?”

Piper frowned.

***************************************************************

Phoenix was laying on Phoebes bed crying. No matter how hard he tried he could not make the tears stop. He felt like one should die the instant their heart was broken. He could not even look in a mirror because every time he did he saw a tragic, haunted figure with eyes that held too much pain. He would look at his hands and see the blood staining them while hearing a soft voice whisper, “Oh, such pain.”

Spider was curled up next to his back while he held on to his teddy for dear life. He would never hold Kal again. He would never kiss Kal again. He would never hear Kal’s voice, or see him laugh. He would never hear him joke, or see him drunk. All he had was his memories and his grief.

A soft knock came at the door and Piper and Paige walked in. He kept looking out the window holding his teddy. They each walked over to the bed and laid down next to him. Spider moved to their feet while Piper held him from behind, and Phoenix put his arm around Paige letting the teddy rest in the nook of his arm. This really made him break down and the tears never stopped.

Piper whispered, “We found all your albums and videos Phe.”

He closed his eyes and squeezed them shut and yet the tears came through, “Thank you.”

Paige squeezed his hand, “We got your clothes and your parents Photos.”

He smiled softly and whispered, “After all I did, why?”

Piper kissed the back of his head marveling at how soft his hair really was, “Because you’re family.”

Phoenix asked hesitantly, “Is your book ok?”

“Our book is just fine,” Paige laughed lightly.

Piper snuggled closer to him, “Do you want me to fix anything for you to eat Phoenix? I’m the best chef in San Francisco.”

Phoenix’s memories took over of how Kal had always made him breakfast or took him out for meals. He squeezed his eyes shut, “No, thank you, Piper.”

She nodded, “Just let me know when you get hungry, ok?”

“Phoenix,” Paige offered, “We could fix you a nice drink to help you sleep better.”

Phoenix smiled, “I remember Kal would get so drunk he would tie this red table cloth around his neck and zip through the apartment trying to save invisible people from the closet monster.”

Piper laughed at the image she saw in her head and Paige squeezed his hand, “I have that on video.”

“You can watch it whenever you want to Phe,” Piper told him.

“You really don’t know what this means to me,” he whispered.

Both of the girls sat up, “We can guess.”

Piper went to go fix the drink while Paige petted Spider. Phoenix looked back out the window to watch the rain fall. His beloved Kal would not even have a funeral. What was he going to tell Lana or Lois? They had all been so close. He had lost so many loved ones. He looked down at the golden ring on his pale finger and wept.

Piper walked back into the room and handed him a glass of something that looked like chocolate. He took a sip and a tear slid down his cheek.

“Are you ok,” she asked and then frowned, “Stupid question, sorry.”

“It’s ok Piper,” he said taking another sip, “Kal made something like this the night after my dad was buried.”

Piper frowned, “I’m sorry.”

He smiled, “It tastes yummy.”

“Are you tired,“ Paige asked wondering if the sleep potion was kicking in.

Phoenix nodded, “May I use your bath when I‘m up to it?”

Piper just looked at him, “This is your home now. Use whatever whenever you like.”

Phoenix took another drink and his head hit the pillow and Piper froze the glass and the contents catching it all in the glass. Paige smiled and Spider just whined when she quit petting him. She smiled, “You watch over him, ok?”

Spider nudged her with his nose as if to say, “Not a problem.”

*****************************************************

One Week Later

Phoenix told his sisters that he was going out for the night. He had everything planned out and he was going to go through with it. He told them that there was no sense in him staying cooped up in his sister’s room that they kept saying was his all the time.

Piper smiled and told him that the three of them should go to P3. He could even sing if he wanted to. He told them that he would think about it. He walked out to the conservatory to see Spider chewing on shoe which made him laugh and Paige to squeak in outrage.

Spider growled and ran with the shoe in a white blur with her orbing hot on his furry heels. Phoenix could not help but laugh. He might as well have a good time before he put his plan in action.

It just came to him while he was looking through the album and watching his home videos. It would be so easy. He didn’t know if it would hurt or not. He was living with a shattered heart. What could possibly hurt worse than that?

He was brought out of his thoughts by Leo pecking him in the shoulder, “You ready?”

Phoenix smiled, “Is Paige?”

Spider ran into the room with the shoe in his mouth dropping it as Phoenix’s feet. Phoenix petted him on the head as Paige orbed in and snatched it out of his hand and shaking it at the demon dog, “Bad boy, very bad boy.”

Spider yipped and snatched it again and blurred out of the room with Paige screaming after him, “Fine! Keep it!”

“What the hell,” Piper asked standing in the doorway narrowing her eyes at Phoenix, “Is going on?”

“Spider.”

She nodded her head as if that explained everything. What could he say? Spider had a thing for chewing on expensive items.

Piper took his arm in hers and Paige took the other one leading him from the house to the SUV. It looked like Leo would be the one driving, “Woo-hoo!”

*************************************************************

P3 was really starting to get crowded and the bar was crazy. Everyone was wanting drinks. Phoenix thought that Piper must make a great living running this club. He really liked the atmosphere. It really set the mood.

He took a seat at the bar and Piper sent a Mountain Dew his way. He could not help but smile and she told him that she really did want him to sing. He didn’t really want to, but then again, gotta look happy. Can’t let them know something was wrong.

He nodded his head and Piper left the bar to go behind stage to talk to the band that had been playing all night. The crowd cheered when Piper walked out on the little stage, “My little brother will be singing for ya’ll tonight.”

Everyone was silent and then clapped when Phoenix moved through the crowd to walk up the steps to the stage. He looked at the band and muttered a spell under his breath. The music script was in their minds and the music started to play.

He cast a silent spell on his vocals to make his voice magnify so he wouldn’t have a microphone hinder him in anyway. The people would just think it was a hidden mouth piece or something. He looked out at everyone, “I, uh,” he started and then closed his eyes, “I’ve lost someone very close to me recently.”

“You could say he was my heart,” he said as a silent tear fell.

The audience didn’t really know what to do so they kept quite. Piper took a seat with Leo and Paige at their usual table watching Phoenix.

“This song came to me,” he said while wiping the tear away, “While I was watching some home videos of ours. Looking through that photo album when I came to an empty page that shocked me.”

He had to look away from the people and take a deep breath, “Because that empty page will never be filled with another happy memory.”

Many of the dancers took their seats out of respect because this was not a song someone was suppose to dance to. Phoenix smiled sadly as a blue light fell on him and the music picked up from the band.

The music was slow and haunting as the drums sounded like distant thunder over a silent ocean. Piper took a hold of Paige and Leo’s hands when Phoenix began while holding his teddy close.

It was only one hour ago

It was all so different then

There’s nothing yet has really sunk in

Looks like it always did

This flesh and bone

Its just the way that you would tied in

Now there’s no-one home

I grieve, for you

You leave, me

So hard to move on

Still loving what’s gone

They say life carries on

Carries on and on, and on, and on

The music played on and the band really got into it. The audience was captivated by the heart wrenching lyrics and the voice of a broken hearted siren who looked like he would break at any minute. Many had tears in their eyes from watching the way he enchanted them. He held onto his teddy as if he was drawing strength from it in order to get through the song.

Leo had to stop Piper and Paige from going to him. This was something that he had to do on his own. The healing process would begin when he lets it all out.

Phoenix had to sit down on the edge of the stage because he knew that if he didn’t he would fall. The green veins, the scream, the pale yellow skin. He had lost everything the moment Kal took his last breath. Where had Kal’s body gone? He did not even have a body to mourn over. How was he suppose to move on?

The news that truly shocks is the empty, empty page

While the final rattle rocks it’s empty, empty cage.

The teddy fell to Phoenix’s lap as his hands went through is hair…

And I can’t handle this…

His voice was like a wave starting to gain strength as it sped forwards to break across the shore…

I grieve, for you

You leave, me

Let it out and move on

Missing what’s gone

They say life carries on

They say life carries on, and on, and on

He let out a sob and picked up his teddy and held it close to his heart…

Did I dream this belief?

Or did I believe this dream?

Now I can find relief

I grieve!


The bright lights went off over Phoenix and he sat there in the pale blue light while each audience member rose to their feet and applauded respectively. Piper and Paige got to their feet and went to him. The minute they pulled him close he broke down again. The audience kept clapping even after they got him behind stage. Piper told the band to play to get people dancing so she could take care of he brother.

Phoenix smiled sadly, “I think I feel better now.”

Leo squeezed his shoulder, “That’s good Phoenix.”

“I think,” he said, “I’m going to go to bed now.”

“Do you want one of us to take you home,” Paige asked.

“No,” he said really wanting to get the hell out of there, “I can just orb.”

Both of the girls hugged him and he smiled at Leo, and orbed away.

Paige looked at Piper, “Do you think he will be ok?”

Piper tapped her finger over her mouth for a minute and then looked at Leo remembering something similar that happened to Prue, “What are some of the signs one should look for in one who might try and kill themselves?”

TBC…

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