CHRIS 1
Letting out a frustrated sigh I slammed the book shut with unnecessary force and rubbed my eyes. No sleep was catching up with me. A deliberate cough made me turn around as I was unaware that I was being watched. Aunt Phoebe stood at the entrance of the attic, hands on hips with her eye brows raised and her pixie style haircut messy as she had probably just gotten up. A small smile etched its way on my face at her look, one I would never forget.
"Sorry 'bout that, bit stressed you know but the books' fine" I answered to that look, the look which clearly states 'you've been caught'. Flicking through the book of shadows for the millionth time I was getting anxious. There was just under a month until I was due to be born and we were no closer to finding the demon that turns Wyatt in the future
She laughed and wandered into the attic still in her pj's and casually plonked herself on the sofa fiddling with the tie of her pyjama bottoms which immediately spiked my interest. In all the years I've known her (future years) I could tell there was something she was itching to tell me but had promised she wouldn't. Still standing next to the book I scrutinised her and knew she was defiantly hiding something.
"Phoebe what is it, what are you hiding?" I asked because I knew there was something
"Oh, nothing, you know just thinking" she replied with such a bright smile I could practically see all her wisdom teeth. Yep. She's lying.
"Phoebe" I sighed "I practically grew up around you and I know when you're lying so… what is it" I asked curiously. She smiled sheepishly, eyes darting around the room.
"Nothing, nothing just…" she trailed off trying to think of a good lie I presume "just broke one of Pipers' um favourite vases, yes a vase and she is going to mad and um, yeah, but it was an accident so it wasn't completely my fault…" I cut off her rambling (another sign that she was lying) and walked up to her.
"Phoebe please, if something has happened I need to know" I requested genuinely worried in case something bad has happened. I must have looked concerned because Aunt Phoebe sighed, stood up and looked straight into my eyes.
"Look don't get worried but a low level demon attacked Piper at magic school and we don't know how it got through the defences but…" I cut her off by holding a hand up, grabbing her arm and orbing to magic school.
To say I am worried was an understatement. My mum, the one who I had already lost when I turned fourteen, had been attacked whilst pregnant with mini me and no one thought to tell me. Arriving at magic school, nothing was different, students mulled around and book was scattering around the place. Some things never changed. People looked at us curiously (or most likely Phoebe who was in a tank top and brightly coloured pyjama bottoms) but I ignored them. I only had eyes for one person and that was my mum. Still holding Phoebe around the arm I practically dragged her across the room and tapped my mum on the shoulder. She gave a startled gasp and spun round, but seeing me standing there her face split into a huge grin and she pulled me into hug before I had time to open my mouth and tell her off about not telling me about the demon attack sooner. She was hugging me so tight I thought my ribs would break and managed to choke out "mum… can't breathe…" and she finally let go but grabbed my shoulders and began scrutinising me, her eyes filling with tears.
"Oh hi Chris honey, are you alright? Been eating enough? Not going after demons all the time I hope young man…" she was rattling off questions so quick I could barely keep up so I placed my hand over her mouth and silenced her by replying "mum I'm fine don't worry, but I'm more worried about you, are YOU all right?"
She looked at me in confusion before a look of comprehension dawned on her face and she turned an angry stare towards Phoebe who shrunk behind me, grabbing my arm in a tight grip hoping to avoid my mothers' out of control hormones.
"Phoebe why did you tell him? Are you nuts? You know Chris worry's so why'd you have to tell him?" she hissed out circling me trying to catch Phoebe who was, at the very least, running away from my mother. Despite the seriousness of the situation I had to hold back a laugh. It reminded me so much of the future where if you angered my mum on a bad day – run, whether sister or demon it was safer. I was pulled out of my thoughts by Phoebe shrieking and circling me even faster trying to outrun my mum.
"Piper, Piper, calm down he forced it out of me" she let out another shriek and replied "look I'm rubbish at secret keeping and it was only a matter of time" she added with a plea of desperation in her voice. Finally the two sisters stopped their game of cat and mouse and Piper looked at Phoebe sceptically before adding with a slight smile, "Yeah Chris does have a tendency to wriggle things out of people". Phoebe smiled back losing the 'scared of my sister face' and replied
"Tell me about it, I swear he has the power of persuasion on his side cause he always seems to get the answer out of people". They shared another small laugh before I decided to break in, I wasn't even born yet and they were taking the mickey out of me.
"Ladies please a little restraint. I'm not even born yet and you're already teasing me" I begged with a small playful pout on my face.
They both laughed loudly causing my pout to become more pronounced. But when I remembered why we were here I became serious instantly.
"Mum, are you really all right though" I asked a frown creasing my forehead. She stared into my eyes and she immediately softened and took my hands
"Yes Chris I promise blew it up with no problem" she replied, let go of my hands and sat down, a small wince escaped her lips.
"Mum?" I asked and walked forward, sitting next to her on the couch.
"It's okay Chris honey you're just getting a bit big that's all" she tried to reassure me but it didn't work. I looked down at mini me and could see exactly what mum meant. Her stomach was bulging and she was only just over 8 months and she still had another month of growing to do. I immediately felt bad at the harm I was doing.
"I'm sorry mum" and I looked down guiltily.
"Oh no Chris it's not your fault honey" and she hugged me again briefly before sitting back and putting her feet up.
"So… what's been happening since I've been under house arrest" mum asked with a smirk that told me silently to stop feeling guilty and to cheer up. Before I could answer though Phoebe perked up smiling at me that immediately made me feel wary.
"well Piper your son doesn't seem to listen to us, he just does his orb thingy and poof, few hours later turns up after battling demons. I think Piper that you need to have a word with your son" and after selling me out stepped back smiling at me. Damn, she wasn't supposed to tell mum. Now I am in some deep trouble. Turning back to face an angry mother but not without throwing a dirty look at Aunt Phoebe, I braced myself and turned towards my mother. She had her eyebrows raised and her mouth was in a tight line meaning I was about to get a chastising. Gulping I smiled sheepishly and stood awkwardly like a little boy.
"Chris" she said in a disapproving tone "you should listen to Aunts or at least them help" I was just about to say something along the lines of I don't want them to get hurt or I can manage by myself but my mum held up her hand silencing me.
"I know you're all grown up now and worry about us all but you don't have to, it's our job to be looking after you" my mum added smiling. Huh, guess I'm not in trouble after all. Smiling back briefly I looked at phoebe smirking. Guess her plan failed. Then the familiar jingle of orbs sounded next to Phoebe and merged into Paige. Her brown hair hung loosely around her shoulders and instead of her normal perky self her face was morphed into terror. I stood up quickly, guarding my mother, my senses on red alert.
"Look out" Paige shouted from a few feet away and I stood defiantly on front of my mother protecting her from whatever threat was coming. Then out of nowhere a demon – a demon I immediately recognised that sent shivers up my spine – stood there. Students and teachers were thrown out the socialising area and the doors slammed shut with an almighty bang. I stood there dumbfounded. He turned and smiled at me which immediately got my heart racing ten times faster.
"Well hello Chris, how nice to see you again"
I was astonished, standing there with my mouth gaping like a fish, all the while the sisters were frozen in place unable to move their feet. Still holding mum firmly behind me I looked at Phoebe and Paige – could see how flabbergasted they looked. Plucking up my courage I raised my head and looked straight into those demonic eyes.
"Dagon" I addressed him with force calmness in my voice, trying to steady my breathing. "How is this possible?" I added determined not to look at the sisters and see their expressions of confusion, worry, shocked and the other hundred emotions that are likely to be flitting across their features by now. Dagon laughed and began walking forward, slowly, intimidating us. We are in a bad situation.
"Chris, Chris, Chris, really - have some faith please. Do you really think lord Wyatt would just LET you get away with this?" he asked, smiling unnaturally. I felt mum immediately tense up and heard her startled gasp, clinging to the back of my shirt. Unfortunately Dagon heard her as well and leaned round me, smiling at my mother.
"Well look what we have here the famous Piper Halliwell in the flesh" letting out another laugh he turned facing my aunts and added "so this must be Paige and Phoebe Halliwell, it's an honour to meet you all" he said patronisingly, turning back to face me.
"So Chris you travelled to the past – I gotta admit kid, I'm impressed. Never thought you had it in ya to do something quite this…" he paused obviously trying to think of a good word "adventurous" he finished smirking.
Still pacing around the room he looked at us all in turn and seeing the confused and frightened stares of the sisters and mock glared at me.
"Chris, I'm hurt – you haven't mentioned me before. Tut tut. Things are not looking good" he said in a cheery sing song voice – still pacing.
"Who are you" Phoebe asked bravely, standing defiantly. Dagon cast a quick glance at me before facing Phoebe, staring her down.
"Well charmed one, I'm Dagon, here from Chris' future on orders from his big brother" he announced boldly and the silence that followed was deafening.
I wanted to rush at him. Hurt him. Kill him. But I couldn't. My feet were still locked firmly in place so I settled at glaring at him, giving him my death stare. And he just laughed, the bastard just laughed.
"Oh come on, lighten up – this is gonna be fun" he claimed, but before he could utter another word I began questioning him.
"Dagon – how are you here? You don't have this much advanced magic" I questioned, looking him right in the eye. Not allowing fear to creep onto my features.
"well since you asked Chrissy boy I might as well tell you and these darling sisters here eh?" it was a rhetorical question because no matter whether I agreed or told him to stick it where the sun don't shine, he'd still blabber on.
"Lord Wyatt was most displeased at your abrupt departure Chris – so he wanted answers – and quickly. We eventually found someone who knew where or when you were for that matter but their lips were sealed, no matter how many screams escaped them" he declared with a nasty chuckle and I felt my heart literally squeeze with pain. Who? Tony, Wendy, Michael… or her. God not her, was all I kept thinking, she promised she would stay safe… she promised. Tears threatened to leak out my eyelids but I determinedly held them back. Don't show your weaknesses on front of your enemies. Never. There was No more time to think however because Dagon began talking gleefully again, watching my face expectantly for me to unhinge I expect.
"Yes, that person wouldn't speak so Lord Wyatt decided to take the only route left to take. Demons, everyone came together, utilised there power to send me to you, signed, sealed and delivered. Aren't you one lucky boy" and laughed again mirthlessly. Fire was spreading through my veins. Who got hurt? Tortured? I needed to know. He was about to start speaking but I interrupted him. Again.
"Who?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but he seemed to hear.
"It took a good couple of months but we found her. Fighting us the whole way, poor little thing, but the bitch did manage to give me this though" and he turned his head slightly so that the right cheek was visible to all of us and a long, deep, red scar was there from his right eye down to the chin. My mind couldn't process this though and I kept thinking please, not her, she promised.
"Who?" I asked more loudly this time, a few stray tears escaped and cascaded down my face. He laughed joyfully.
"Hmmm". He started off, knowing who she was but clearly faking not knowing it which was starting to push my patience. "Let me think, dark brown hair about yea high" lifting his arm in the process "feisty, packs a real punch. Her name let me think, Jackie, no, Jane, eh don't think so ummm, oh wait I got it" clicking his fingers and smirking at me. "Jade, Jade Granley. That ring a bell Chris"
When he uttered those words I felt my world crumbling around me. I gripped mums hands even tighter whilst trying to steady myself. It was getting hard to breath. She promised, she promised she wouldn't get hurt, stay out of trouble, her words rattled around inside my head. Phoebe and Paige were looking at me contently, even with a little bit of sympathy. My mum gripped my shoulder tightly – showing that she was there for me. Dagon was just looking at me, most likely wanting to see be fall to pieces – it was working.
"Yes Chris, your little girlfriend got caught. Mind you she was hard to catch, took a good few months and endless demons on the job until finally we caught a trail. Lord Wyatt was so happy, he caught someone you actually cared about, who you loved" he looked at phoebe and Paige and their shocked expressions, inclining his head.
"Hmmm, seems Chris hasn't brought her up – I'm shocked Chris she was like your whole world wasn't she?" he asked still looking at the sisters. I didn't speak. How could I. That demon just confirmed something I'd been having nightmares about. No matter how many screams escaped their lips – those words started circling around in my head. It was my fault, caught and tortured because of me, how many other people got caught and tortured so Wyatt could find me. Tears still escaped no matter how hard I tried to stop them.
"Oh Chrissy don't look so down, she's still alive of course" he said in a fake sympathetic voice that was fooling no one.
"Well" he began "at least I think so, when I left Lord Wyatt looked very angry so no promises" Dagon said. God how much I wanna kill him right now.
"Don't touch her" I snarled furiously. He better not of hurt her.
"Jees Chris you're a bit late aren't ya, us demons already had our fun. Mind you she was so so so determined to NOT scream Lord Wyatt had to up the ante if you know what I mean" he said gleefully. And I did. Wyatt probably took matters into his own hands, thinking he could get the job done. Even though I felt so hopeless and lost I couldn't help but smirk through the pain.
"What are you smirking at" he asked fiercely "didn't you hear what I just said"
"Yeah but she didn't break did she, she wouldn't utter a single word" I declared still smirking yet fresh torrents of tears pooled out of my eyes.
Dagon laughed "yeah your right, she's one tough little cookie I gotta admit". Looking at me again he began scrutinising me – no doubt using his powers.
"Wow Chris this pain is coming off you in fresh waves, turn it down a little would ya" he asked playfully, still laughing. Then out of nowhere I realised I could move my feet, Dagon was obviously too distracted and let his guard fall. Good for us, bad for him. Phoebe and Paige had obviously come to the same conclusion and were staring at me, asking silently what to do. While Dagon was wandering around the room I looked at Phoebe and Paige, grabbed my mother's hands tight and shouted "ORB" the last thing I saw before we went up in blue and white orbs was Dagon looking furious letting out an almighty roar.
So, should I continue with this story? Reviews are much appreciated!