Power and choice
Chris raised his head from the pillow, stretched and growled like a pleased cat and swung his legs out from under the cover. He stood up and walked towards the door, he stopped, something was wrong, different, and something was out of place inside him. Shrugging off the feeling, he pulled open the door and walked towards the bathroom. He stopped outside the bathroom, and turned the handle, the door didn't budge, he tried again. " Come on, hurry up" he called, slamming his head against the door. Wyatt waltzed by, towards the bedroom. He and Wyatt had to share a room, whilst there cousin Connor got a room to himself at the end of the corridor, Paige and Richard shared a room his Aunt Phoebe had her own room and Piper his mum had her own room opposite Connors.
"If that's you in there, Con I am gonna kill you!" he roared through the door, Chris snapped his neck, and trudged off back to his room. Chris had just turned 16, Wyatt had been 18 the month before and Connor was just 13, but the rest f his family had a secret that Chris wasn't in on, but still the nagging inside told him something was missing.
Wyatt ran down the stairs, turned the corner and ran through the dinning room and into the kitchen, he pulled back a chair at the breakfast table and sat down and the breakfast bar.
"We have a problem, Connor had a premonition and it wasn't pretty," he said, staring at his mother through glass eyes.
"Is he okay, he fainted last time is he okay?" asked Phoebe is a panic, rushing to the door.
"He's fine, he collapsed in our room when he lifted up the picture of you three." Said Wyatt, flicking his hand the jug of orange juice slid across the bar. Chris walked in the room as the jug finished moving; he stared at it in Wyatt's hand then at his mother, who was stood at that end.
"Have fun at Soccer tonight won't you Wyatt" said Paige, who ruffled his hair as she walked past, Chris' heart sank when she walked out the back door without saying anything to him. The front door clicked open, Chris turned around and it was Paige walking towards him
"Forgot something" she sighed, walked over to a table in the hall and picked up a book, and walked towards the door.
"Oh Chris…" Chris' heart leapt, she had remembered, "throw me that apple please?" His heart felt like a deflated beach ball, he turned around and sat at the bar, glaring at Wyatt. Piper flicked her hands and everything stopped, the water in the pan paused mid bubble, the only thing that didn't stop apart from her was Wyatt, who carried on eating his breakfast. Piper strode from the kitchen to her sister, who stood tapping her watch. "Forget to say something?" she asked, turning around to look at Chris.
"Right sorry didn't see him…" answered Paige; she walked back to the kitchen with Piper. Time started again, and Piper stood smiling at Chris, as Paige put her hand under Chris' chin and pulled his head up to look her in the face and she kissed his forehead, "See you tonight, sweetie." She said before turning on her heels and walked out.
"Eww! She kissed me, she didn't get Wyatt," said Chris rubbing the pink lipstick off his Forehead using the back of his spoon to see whether it had gone or not. "Why didn't she kiss you?" he groaned at Wyatt's raised eyebrow look. A strange whooshing noise erupted from the living room, Piper ran to the door, Wyatt close on her tail, behind them came Chris, brushing a strand of brown hair out of his eye.
"Leo! What are you doing whooshing in like that, when (she spun around flicked her hands and suppressed a smile when Chris froze) he is in?" she barked, rounding on him like a bull on a red flag. "We stripped him of his powers because we were scared of what he could do, especially when you pop in to see Wyatt and not him. (Leo looked shocked) I admit it Leo I have been pretty okay with you Orbing in and seeing Wyatt and even him going up to see you but Leo would it kill (she made a violent gesture with her hands) to say hi once in a while. He may not be the super witch Wyatt is, but he is your child and, I know exactly what I am saying is going through the gap between your ears, but Leo for Gods sake he is your son and I think he got a birthday card off you this year and Wyatt got that train set, granted it is up there so Chris doesn't know but Leo would it kill you to spend a day with him."
" I agree Piper, in fact I am actually here to see him, the elders think its time he got his powers!" said Leo sheepishly.
"What? No, no way, we are not restoring his powers, he is not ready for them." Piped up Wyatt.
"Ready for what?" asked Phoebe jogging down the stairs, her short hair looking especially spiky right now.
"His powers, the elders think it time he received them." Snarled Piper, turning on the spot with a hellish grin spread across her face.
"Right and we are going to do what?" asked Phoebe, backing slowly away. "We are going to do this," snapped Piper, flicking her hands and a vase exploded,
" Now he's happy, at the moment, and he is out of harms way," "He knows something is missing from his life!" said Connor, peering around his mother at Piper who looked ready to explode again.
"Listen! Once more, his powers are staying bound and that's that. Now Leo you take these three to the Zoo, or something, Phoebe you and him better go for now and back to were we were." Said Piper, breathing deeply, and snarling at Leo. Piper started time again and Chris fell forward.
"Hey boys! How you been Chris?" Leo asked, a smile spread across his face. "Were you talking to me?" snapped Chris, as Wyatt helped him off the floor. "Yeah, and I came to take you guys out, you two and Connor. How does that sound, Zoo or beach? Your choice Chris…" grinned Leo
" Neither, I have work to do for my coven group tonight. Being the full moon tonight I can't miss that, sorry" he said. Then turned "I would love to go, really" he turned his back on his father, and walked away.
"Think he was being sarcastic?" asked Phoebe walking down the stairs. "Wait, what did he say coven? When did he join one of those?" asked Piper, she swivelled around to look at Wyatt.
"A month ago, I promised I wouldn't say anything, so technically you can't ground either us." Said Wyatt, smiling weakly.
"Watch and wait!" snarled Piper, she turned and followed Chris upstairs She knocked on Chris and Wyatt's bedroom door, no one answered. She pushed the door and its swung open Chris lay with his head in his pillow. Chris raised his head, his cheeks were soaked and the pillow was stained in darker patches, as she moved closer to Chris pulled his long sleeved jumper over his wrists.
"You okay?" she asked, sitting next to him,
"Yeah, no, maybe… I don't know. Why is he pretending? He doesn't care about me he only cares about Wyatt, I hate him!" he sobbed into the pillow, Piper raised her hand to his head and stroked his hair when she noticed a bandage lying tucked away under a pillow at the other end of the bed. She flicked her hands and time stopped, she reached out and picked it up, the bandage was stained with violent red flowers of blood. She pocketed the bandage and time started again.
"I am going to have a word with Leo!" she stood up, walked out of the room, "kay hun?" Chris nodded into the pillow. "Leo Halliwell" screamed Piper, bounding down the stairs. " See these hands?" she showed him her palms, " these hand s are going to kill you!"
"Why?" asked Leo.
"Look over the boys do we?" she snarled, if so which ones, your precious Wyatt and Connor, because they have there powers?"
"No I look over all of them," answered Leo, stepping backwards.
"Liar, why didn't you tell us that Chris has been cutting his wrists."
"What?" he looked startled, "I didn't know."
"Oh! I give up," she snarled, and stormed off back up stairs. Phoebe who had stood calm through this rounded on Leo,
"You, this is all your fault," she snapped " Why didn't you keep an eye on him, just cause he hasn't got his power doesn't mean you can leave him out, no wonder he fells inferior to Wyatt," and with that she raised her hand and slapped him. She spun around and a vase blew up. Suddenly she went calm, " Leo I am so sorry, and so strong by the look of it, I really am sorry, her emotion was so powerful, you really annoyed her."
" He has been cutting his wrists for month," said Connor, still hiding behind Phoebe.
"Why don't we go out anyway and Chris wants to come then he can." Suggested Leo, leading towards the door.
"I think you're missing the point," said Wyatt leading his father up the stairs, "He is your son, go talk to him." He said pushing his father up the stairs. As Leo reached the fifth steps, Chris yelled,
"I hate him. Why doesn't he take wonder son to live with him then he doesn't have to see me? I know he hates he me anyway! I hate him, I do really, hate him!" Leo turned around and walked down the stairs, and lead Wyatt outside to Piper's car, Connor followed Leaving Phoebe alone in the Living room. As Piper left, Chris heard car doors slamming; he looked down at the street and saw Connor, Wyatt and Leo, getting into Piper's car. Chris reached under his bed and pulled out a medical case, from the case he pulled out a pair of blood stained scissors, which he wiped down with a clear solution Wyatt had given him, and pulled the blade across his wrist, a glistening red line followed the blade; he winced against the pain. The blood dripped down his arm, he dabbed it with a cloth, the blood stopped. The final few drops of blood splashed to the floor with a silent thud… That night, as the moon slunk behind dark clouds, Chris dropped his bag onto the porch roof and climbed down after it. "Where are you going?" asked Wyatt's voice above him, Wyatt stuck his head out of the open window.
"Go back to sleep!" retorted Chris, as he dropped his bag down onto the steps. "No, I'm coming too!" said Wyatt, dropping down onto the ledge next to Chris. Chris dropped down next to his bag; picked up it open it checked the contents closed it and slung the bag back on to his shoulder as Wyatt dropped down beside him and followed as Chris led the way down the steps and off down the street, Wyatt close behind.
Under the cover of darkness, Chris led the way through the trees, Wyatt followed, casting hasty glance around into the trees, to make sure that Piper wasn't following. They heard them before they could see them, the noise was deafening, as they entered the clearing people sat in groups, chanting or chatting amongst themselves. Chris led Wyatt through the people, to a low hanging tree; beneath the tree sat a tall, willowy woman, her hair wrapped in a turban, and her neck sparkled with amulets, Wyatt snorted when he saw them,
"What?" asked Chris, as Wyatt snorted,
"I've seen more protective teddy bears, she actually thinks they will work?" he giggled, Chris snarled at him.
"Baralie!" she called, standing up and hugging Chris,
"Ready for your first incantation?"
"Yes, Diana, ready as I will ever be. I hope it was okay I brought my brother, actually he followed." He said, indicating to Wyatt.
"Baralie?" Wyatt whispered, "That's a person on Final Fantasy,"
"I couldn't risk it if I said Chris Halliwell, could I? She might know mom from the club."
"Point taken." Said Wyatt, falling silent at his side. Diana stepped forward next to the fire that had been constructed, and raised her hands; everyone fell silent. "Under the full moon we must welcome our new witch, Baralie Perry." She called. Everyone cheered, as Chris stepped forward next to her. "The book of passage!" Called Diana, to a man stood by a tree a few meters away. He stood up and brought a large leather bound book into the circle that had formed around the fire. Chris opened the book to the first page, "And now his first incantation," said Diana walking out of the circle.
"Hear now the words of the witches, The secrets we hid in the night," Wyatt looked alarmed as the fire began to grow brighter and the daunting sensation crept over him 'this incantation seems so familiar' "The oldest of Gods are evoked here, The great work of magic is sought," the heat from the flames intensified and began turning white. "In this night, in this hour, we call upon the ancient powers, bring the power to I alone, I want the power give me the-"
"No!" called Wyatt, halting Chris, the congregation turned to look at him, "Wyatt, shut up." Snapped Chris, " I want the power, give me the power." He finished and the flames exploded showering the audience with sparks.
"Oh no." said Wyatt, staring at Chris, who looked stunned, "He's unlocked his powers, but how did she get a copy of that spell."
