"Triumphant Schemer"
Copyright 2005 Penn O'Hara

 

 

F13

Usual disclaimers apply.

Follows immediately after "Irresistible Schemer".

~*~*~*~*~

Eagerness to see Zankou again made Phoenix impatient with the Charmed Ones for materializing on what looked like the upper storey landing of the Manor.  Zankou was nowhere to be seen but for Phoenix to be collected so soon, meant he'd been successful incredibly quickly.  Pride surged through her that these witches were no match for her husband.

"What are we doing here?" she demanded, looking down a corridor flanking several closed rooms. "Take me to my husband."

Piper indicated the door in front of them.  "This is the room we gave him.  He's pretty much kept to himself."

Phoenix looked at the closed door, then back at Piper, rapidly losing respect for the eldest witch.  She doubted Zankou had kept to himself.  That wasn't the plan, nor was it her husband's nature.

"He's not in there now," she said, assuming an exasperated annoyance.  Phoenix felt him nearby, but he wasn't on the other side of that door.  "You've dragged me here against my better judgement and now you're wasting my time.  Can this be quick?  I've scheduled meetings all morning."

A door slammed from the other side of the staircase and Phoenix snapped round to see a bare-footed Phoebe flee down the corridor and disappear into another room, banging that door behind her.

Turning back to Piper and Paige, Phoenix raised her brows delicately.  "What do you suppose got into her that she took fright and flight?" 

The Charmed Ones looked at each other until Paige's eyes slid away from Piper to study the floor at her feet.

Phoenix thinned her lips and touched an indignant gaze on each sister before striding up the landing, her heart hammering.  She expected this but still feared what she would find.  With so much temptation at his fingertips, Phoenix had no real idea how far Zankou would go to achieve his objective or what he considered was fair play or foul.

Flinging open the door Phoebe had exited, Phoenix braced herself.  She processed the large empty bathroom with a sharp hiss of indrawn breath, her eyes taking in the pooled towel on the floor and the black sweats in a heap near the shower cubicle.  Her skin prickled from the warm humidity of a recent shower and her nostrils flared at the unique scent of her husband.

"Where is he?" Phoenix said, spinning round and almost colliding with Piper.  Playing the outraged wife was going to be easier than Phoenix thought.  Her mind was full of images of what might have occurred in here to make Phoebe bolt like she did, and all of them had her jaw grinding and heart twisting.

"I'll go look for him," Paige said eagerly, and Phoenix cut her a look designed to freeze her where she stood.

"If you don't mind, I'll go look for him myself," Phoenix said. 

Knowing Zankou intended to get everyone to the attic as soon as possible, Phoenix chose to materialize there, assuming Piper and Paige would follow.  Holding at bay her doubts on Zankou's fidelity, Phoenix looked around the room with interest.  Ponderous bookcases filled with large tomes and bottles of all shapes and colours, elegant and squat, butted two walls.  Old photos, discarded rugs and small bits of furniture were scattered in spare spaces around the walls.  The scuffed wooden floor was partially hidden by a dark rug of ancient design and age, supporting an old table and chairs.  The prize that Zankou sought, the Book of Shadows, rested weightily on a delicate wood-topped metal stand, impressive in the way it stood alone and commandeered the room. 

"Zankou, honey, where are you?" Phoenix called.

Curious to see what Zankou so often talked about, Phoenix headed toward the magic book, walking around Piper and Paige as they materialized beside her.

"Phoenix, he's not up here," Piper stated the obvious, her hands on her hips.  "I suggest we go to the den and wait–"

Phoenix felt a shiver grip and warm her spine, tightening her nerves.  Her heart skipped a beat as she swung round to see Zankou stroll through the open door with Phoebe in tow. 

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Phoebe yelled at his back.

"To find my wife," Zankou said, unperturbed.  "I thought you were going to stay in your room and sulk."  He halted when he saw Phoenix, a wide pleased smile smoothing away the frown on his face.

"Not with you loose in my house," Phoebe gritted.  Catching sight of Phoenix, Phoebe froze, her eyes skating away.  Phoenix straightened her back, now convinced her husband had compromised Phoebe.

"Phoenix, my love," Zankou crooned, walking toward her with long unhurried steps. 

He pulled her to his side, pressing her against his smooth leathers and she automatically tilted her chin for his kiss.  The eagerness of his mouth and thrust of his tongue against hers was laced with the thrill of success. 

Breathless, Phoenix pulled back, narrowing her eyes.  "Had a good day, Zankou?" Disapproval was heavy in her voice; she was still to play the outraged wife. 

"A very stimulating day," he said, his mouth rocking back onto hers before sliding up her cheek.  His beard was soft and stimulating on her ear as he whispered, "Go for it, honey."

"What's with the slamming doors?"  A tall man with soft brown hair and open honest face walked in and stood beside Phoebe, his brows knitted with confusion.  He looked at Phoenix.  "I don't believe we've been introduced."

Phoenix ignored him, eyeing off Zankou, her lip curling.  She was here for a reason and it was time to play her part. 

"Why are you all in here?" Piper demanded.

Phoenix slid her hands down Zankou's chest, cocking her head to the side to study him.  "I know where to look for my husband by now."  She assessed the cut above his eye and the swelling on his bottom lip, briefly wondering which of the witches had attacked him and why.

"He's either getting down and dirty in some basement or acting high and lofty in an attic," Phoenix said, her scrutiny of him thorough.  She sensed no guilt from him, only extreme satisfaction.  "Where have you been, Zankou?  And don't bother lying to me.  We saw Phoebe running down the corridor – from something or someone – but there was no sign of you, yet I know you were there because you failed to pick up after yourself… again."

Zankou looked at her through half-closed eyes.  "Just then?  In Phoebe's room, sorting out a few issues with her.  She took off from the bathroom before I was finished.  She ran; I fast-tracked."  He flourished a hand in the air, a cruel smile cutting through his dark beard.

"And did you finish sorting them out to your mutual satisfaction?" Phoenix jeered.  It wasn't so much an act as a venting of the uncertainty within her.  She needed to know exactly what had happened and how much was business and how much pleasure for her husband.  With Zankou, there was barely a fine line between the two, and certainly no scruples involved.

"I think so," he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. 

Phoenix knew he was reading her ambivalence and speculating upon it.  She took a deep breath and looked at him suspiciously, her reaction more real than pretence.  "So much so, that she gave you a black eye and a split lip?"

"Leo did that."  He turned his gaze on the man standing beside Phoebe, Zankou's eyes blazing with pure hatred.  "Poor man.  He can't stand any competition and mistakenly thinks that damaging the goods is going to make them unattractive to the consumer." 

Zankou turned back to Phoenix and closed his eyes slowly and reopened them.  Twice.  A definite signal that Phoenix easily deciphered.  He'd cornered two out of the three witches.  She already knew Phoebe was involved; that left Piper or Paige.

Swinging her gaze from him, Phoenix sought Piper and stared at her.  "You assured me nothing was going on between you and my husband.  If that's the case, why did Leo feel the need to defend you?"

"Zankou is telling half-truths," Piper stated forcefully.  "My husband threw Zankou across the room because yours was insulting me."

Phoenix tilted her chin, unconvinced.  She took another breath, deep and long.  "That doesn't change the fact that I can smell another woman on him.  Explain that one away."

There was silence in the room as Phoenix looked at each of the sisters in turn.  Paige's fingers were tensely gripped together in front of her.  Phoenix walked toward her, grim determination in every step.

"It was me!" Phoebe called.  "I lost my head and got too close.  Believe me," she gritted, "it won't happen again."

Phoenix stopped, assessing Phoebe's words.  The look of loathing the witch fixed on Zankou was tempered by shame and regret.  Poor Phoebe.  She didn't realize it wasn't so much a sign of weakness on her part, but rather the sheer mastery of Zankou in getting his own way.  Phoenix hardened herself against the image of Zankou working his magic on the witch and resumed walking toward Paige, guessing that the youngest witch would have been Zankou's other easy target and Phoebe was merely trying to draw Phoenix's fire. 

Stopping a few inches away from Paige, Phoenix breathed in.  "And I can smell my husband all over you," she declared stridently.  The red wash of embarassment spreading up Paige's neck and over her face confirmed her suspicions. 

Phoenix nodded, satisfied, then looked over her shoulder at Piper.  "Did you have a piece of him too, dear Piper?"  She swung her gaze between the three witches.  "You're fakes!  All of you!  Not the epitome of goodness at all.  You're trash and yet you treat us like lepers."  Phoenix pointed a finger at her chest then placed her palm over her heart. 

"You take the most sacred bond between a man and a woman," she said, settling into a rhythm of hysteria, "and thumb your noses at it for the sake of your own pleasure.  Him–"  She flung a hand at Zankou who was smiling, his arms folded across his chest, openly enjoying the situation.  "…I can forgive because he doesn't know what ethics are, let alone have any, but you–!"  She fixed her gaze on Piper.  "You're married.  How would you feel looking over your shoulder every minute to see which woman was after your husband?" 

Phoenix took a breath as she saw the same look of self-disgust steal over each of the witches' faces.  Paige and Phoebe's chins were tucked into their chests, their eyes unable to meet hers.  Piper was biting her lip, her eyes mortified. 

Tossing her head in victory, Phoenix looked at Zankou and nodded.  The witches were humbled enough for his purpose.

Zankou laughed and punched the air with his fist.  Swinging round, he strode over to the pedestal near the centre of the room and cautiously stretched his hands for the Book of Shadows.  Finding no barrier, Zankou closed his fingers over the edges of the book, lifting it reverently, eyes closed, his grin softening to a smile of bliss. 

With a burst of cold flame, he was gone.

"Piper!  He's got the Book," Paige shouted.

"And I can guess where he's gone," Piper said.  She fixed Phoenix with accusing eyes.  "That's what all of this nonsense was about, wasn't it?"

"Piper," Phoebe said with irritated warning, "we have to get down to the basement and stop him."

"There's no hurry," Piper said, not breaking eye contact with Phoenix.  "He knows he can't blast his way to the Nexus for fear of alienating it.  He has to dig first." 

Phoenix laughed.  "He mentioned you'd be spiteful enough to fill in the hole again."

Cocking her head to the side, Piper pursed her lips.  "But this time he doesn't have any minions to do his dirty work for him.  Unless, of course, you count yourself.  Is that you, Phoenix?  You're nothing but a dogsbody to Zankou?  A gofer to do his bidding?"

Phoenix sized up the other woman, pity for her lukewarm existence colouring her words.  "Piper, everything I give Zankou comes back to me hundredfold.  He's thorough and… energetic… in anything he does, whether that be scheming or fighting or loving."

Piper raised her brows.  "You realize he'll leave you behind now.  If you really love your husband, you will be the loser here.  Your children won't recognize their father–"

"There are no children.  That was a ruse to draw your sympathy."

Piper nodded, resignation on her face.  "And your obvious love for him?  That's a ruse too?"

"Not at all.  Which is why I am here."  Phoenix smoothed her hair back with a hand.  "This means so much to him that I agreed to help.  His henchmen have been useless, thwarting and betraying him at every turn and holding him back."

Piper's mouth twisted and Phoenix bristled at her obvious derision.  "And you believe Zankou will be grateful?" Piper asked.  "Or will he toss you aside as he did them?"

"I know what you're trying to do, Piper," Phoenix smiled.  "But you won't undermine my loyalty.  Zankou's bad, I know, but I understand what drives him and tolerate his shortcomings.  One minute with him is worth a lifetime with another man."  She looked at Paige and Phoebe, hardening her face.  "I understand you two would agree with me… if you had the chance."

"Trust me," Piper said, approaching Phoenix, her hand held out, genuine concern replacing her animosity.  "The Nexus will make him inhuman.  You've got to stop him.  If you don't, we will, and you won't like what we'll do to him."

Phoenix shook her head, her faith in Zankou's determination to succeed resolute.  "I'm sorry.  He's wanted this for too long to take it away from him now."

"At least, come down to the basement with us and see for yourself," Phoebe suggested.

"I intend to do just that.  I want to share in my husband's moment of triumph."  Phoenix left them, her words hanging in the air.

Materializing in the basement, Phoenix found Zankou hard at work, using a large shovel on the basement floor.  Dislodged chunks of concrete were balanced at his feet and plumes of dust rose in the air with every swing of the tool.  He'd discarded the leather jacket and his black tee was moulded to muscles that bunched and stretched with effort.  Phoenix didn't offer to help him dig, too content to watch the strength of his thighs brace his body, his buns taut against the leather pants.

"Phoenix–" Piper began as soon as she materialized beside her.  "It's not too late to stop him."

Phoenix rolled her eyes.  "And spoil the show?"  Shrugging, she sauntered over to Zankou.  "Darling–"

Zankou straightened and edged closer to the Book of Shadows on the ground beside him, stamping his foot protectively on top.  Balancing the shovel on the bricks underfoot, he leaned a forearm across the handle and pulled Phoenix to him with his free hand. 

"I'm aware of your lecherous thoughts, my love," he growled into her ear then trailed his lips along her jaw, "but I really don't have the time nor inclination at the moment.  Daddy's busy.  Will a kiss do?" 

His mouth closed over hers in a hot conquering of lips and tongue, bearing her back against the hard band of his arm.  His sure expertise buckled her knees and she gripped his shoulders for support. 

"When I have the Nexus within me, I can take you on a ride you'll never forget," he promised.

"Well, Zanky, that's the point."  Phoenix pulled back slightly.  "These witches–" She indicated the three that had joined them and eyed Leo coming half-way down the basement steps before stopping about ten feet behind Zankou.  "–say that once you're 'nexed', you're going to lose interest in me."  She pouted for Zankou's benefit and pressed her body against his side, reassured by his damp heat.

"Really?"  He swooped onto her lips again, his mouth firm and thorough, drawing the breath from her before raising his head.  "Does that feel like I've lost interest?"

"Noooo, but you're not 'nexed' yet."

Zankou ran a hand down her spine, molding her to his hips roughly, then set her aside, letting the shovel fall to the ground.  "Stop listening to these green-eyed teases and stand back.  It's time to invoke the Nexus."

Phoenix watched in awe as her husband pulled himself up to his full height and shut his eyes, chanting the unintelligible but impressive spell that would summon the Nexus.  From the corner of her eye, Phoenix saw the Charmed Ones link hands and heard their voices rise in a mantra of their own. 

Leo skipped down the last few steps and launched himself at Zankou, but Phoenix was ready for his intervention.  With a sweep of her hand, she raised a chain mail barrier to prevent the Whitelighter reaching Zankou.  Then, opening her mouth, she let forth a banshee screech, high and shrill, rattling the floorboards above them and dislodging the scattered debris at Zankou's feet.  

Her wail threw the witches' stride, their spell disintegrating into shock.  They covered their ears with their hands, their eyes shut tight in pain.  Satisfied, but not breaking her blood-curdling cry, Phoenix watched Leo trying to free himself from the crush of the metallic tarp.  Satisfied, she turned back to her husband in time to see him jerk and shake as the dark plume of the Nexus chose to slither into the comparative safety of his body.

Zankou seemed to grow taller and bigger and… meaner.  His dark expressive eyes, in which she so often lost her pride and inhibitions, were shuttered and blackly opaque.  The cocky grin she always thought sexy became malevolent and brutal.  Phoenix shut off her wail, its last notes ending in a confused query.

"Zankou?"  Phoenix took a tentative step forward.  "Honey?  Are you okay?"

He turned to her, no acknowledgment in those soulless black eyes.  "Do you address me?" he asked, and Phoenix shuddered at the inhuman reverberating bass of his voice.  Gone was the velvet baritone that made her weak-kneed and pliant in his arms.

Phoenix walked slowly toward Zankou and closed a hand over his upper arm, needing the assurance of his warm strength.  She shivered as she felt cold living rock under her fingers, the absence of the usual hot firm give of his flesh repulsive to her.  Raising her hand to his face, she cupped her palm around his bearded jaw and felt only fur-dusted stone.  Snatching her hand back, Phoenix spun round to the Charmed Ones, her mouth opened in horror.

"Where is my husband?" she whispered.

oOo

More Zankou to come…