PROLOGUE: YEAR 2039
In a burst of swirling blue light a man appeared. He swayed on the spot a moment before his legs gave way and he staggered into the grandfather clock beside him, the force of which brought it crashing down onto the floor along with him. He tried to get back up but his legs could only buckle as he tried repeatedly to raise himself off the ground, but he soon gave up. He sat, legs at odd angles, panting with intense pain such as he had never known before. Sweat was beading on his brow and blood was oozing fast and thick out of a deep gash in his side. Moving his limp arms away from the broken bits of glass around him, he pressed his pale hands hard against the wound in an effort to quench the flow of blood. A feeble blue light, similar to the one that engulfed him a minute earlier, appeared for a hint of a second beneath his fingertips before fading away. He swore. Desperately the man raised his head and gazed at the ceiling, closed his eyes and murmured something, as if he was summoning some strength from a higher being.
The man realised that despite his efforts, it was useless. Whoever he was calling would never be able to get here in time; there were so many other people to deal with. His eyes darted around the blackness, he could hardly make out where he had orbed. The moment he realised he was in the hallway of his house, his heart dropped like a stone.
He had led them straight into his home.
Maybe they hadn't realised he had orbed away; perhaps he still had time to alert Ivy, get her to take the girls to safety. Gritting his teeth, he tried to make his way to his feet again, but he stopped short at the sound of a familiar voice.
'It's happened, hasn't it?' As if hearing his thoughts, Ivy's, his wife, voice came coursing through the darkness of the hallway.
Running to his side, she flicked on the lights with a quick wave of her hand.
'No!' She breathed, taking in the extent of his wounds. Tears welled bright in her dark brown eyes.
'CHRIS!' She shouted up desperately into the air but no one appeared.
'Wyatt?' Ivy said in a different, a softer voice, her breath tickling his ear as she bent down to see if he were still breathing.
The man desperately wanted to speak, to fight the realm of unconsciousness he was beginning to fade into and tell her that he had already called his brother.
'Wyatt?' He felt her shake him gently. He opened his eyes and focussed them on his wife's perfect face, seeing both fear and concern there.
Then he heard it. A deep rumbling sound erupted outside, distant at first, but distinctly growing louder and louder, signalling that time was already running out.
'You have to get the girls out of the house,' He struggled out. The pain was so intense that it was all he could do not to scream out. He was so foolish, so stupid for leading them here.'They know who they are, they're coming after them…'
Ivy nodded, tears emerging in her eyes, and kissed her husband's forehead.
'I'm not leaving you,' She whispered, clutching his hand tighter.
'There's no time to be sentimental,' Wyatt said, voice heavy. He couldn't bear the look in Ivy's eyes, 'We always knew this moment would come,'
The rumbling was going through the house now, shaking the glass in the windowpanes and rattling the pictures on the walls.
'Mom?' Through the rising din, Wyatt became aware of a new voice, 'What's all that noise? Is there an earthquake? -'
'No!' Wyatt shouted wildly, 'She can't come down here!'
Ivy left go of her husband's hand and turned her head towards the staircase, where one of their daughters, clad in her plaid pyjamas, had just come into sight.
'Dad?' The girl gasped, noticing her mother crouched down next to her father.
'Don't let Holly see me like this!' Wyatt begged his wife, but it was too late. Holly had looked down at her father sprawled in a mass of his blood and her wide blue eyes swam with tears and shock.
'Dad!' She cried, running down the stairs, 'What happened? Who did that to him?'
'Shh, Holly,' Ivy soothed, and took hold of her daughter. She held her close to her chest so that she couldn't see her father dying on the floor. 'Where's Chris?' Ivy burst out.
A sudden gust of wind howled through the house, and the front doors swung open. The paintings and pictures were blown off the walls and came hurtling through the hall at high speed, the wind knocking Ivy and Holly off their feet.
The noise was deafening now, and Holly held her hands to her ears, looking around frantically through the hall, trying to locate the source of the commotion.
'Ivy!' Wyatt was urgent now, 'please, you've got to go-'
'I can't just leave you here-' Ivy replied incredulously.
'Don't worry about me, I've called Chris he's… Look,' He cast his eyes to the front door, where outside a cloud of smoke was beginning to whirl. 'Time's running out. Take the girls and run,'
'I can't,' Ivy cried, struggling to pull a terrified Holly to her feet, 'She won't get up. She's so frightened, Wyatt, I-''
'You're wasting time!' Wyatt insisted weakly, no longer able to fight the pain, 'You've still got a chance, if you go now-' but his words were lost in the echoing scream that had begun to issue from his daughters mouth. Wyatt followed her gaze to the front doorway, where several hooded figures were starting to advance through the now open door. Blind in panic, he tried to blow the nearest figure up with his power of molecular combustion, but he missed and made the front door explode open instead. In a swift movement Ivy moved her hands, telekinetically trying to close the door and knock the figures down and Wyatt used his last strength to finally struggle to his feet, but they were too quick for him. With an effortless flick of an arm, a ball of electric green fire came from a figure and hit Wyatt square in the chest.
'WYATT!' Ivy screamed as she watched him fall, his face frozen in shock, 'NOOOOO!'
CHAPTER ONE: THREE MONTHS LATER
'Come on,' Daniel Greenborough urged in Holly Marston's ear, tracing a line of kisses down her neck.
His powers of persuasion were increasing by the minute as his hands slid further down her back. They were lying on her bed, the setting right and complete. Her family were out and they had the house to themselves. Adele's new album was playing and candles were everywhere. Their geometry homework, his excuse as to why he needed to go over to her house, lay forgotten on the bed beside them.
'I...can't…I don't want to,' Holly struggled out.
Though she couldn't see a real reason why she couldn't. She and Dan had been going out for seven months and they had done it plenty of times before. They had they had been through a lot together, so it wasn't like they were not committed to one another. She had to spend weeks persuading her parents that he was a decent guy after little sister had almost ruined everything by saying that he had left a trail of broken hearts all over her grade, which needless to say was her parents weren't overjoyed about. Holly enjoyed the time she spent with Dan, he was popular and charismatic and she, being popular and charismatic herself, knew that she was onto a good thing. He had also stuck by her during those horrific weeks back in June, which meant more to Holly than she would ever admit. But it was because of those events that had stopped her getting this physical with him again. Since then, the moment they were just about to she froze and pushed him away., amid cries of frustration and mild anger.
'It's OK,' He continued, kissing her hard on the mouth, and looking deep into her conflicted aqua marine eyes, 'you know I've got protection.'
What was the point refusing anymore? It wasn't like she had never done it before, and Danny was her boyfriend. She didn't want anymore 'frigid' rumours spreading through school about her. Her reputation meant more to her than a stupid new-found fear of intimacy.
Holly nodded her head, agreeing to something she couldn't quite put into words. She couldn't help but notice a brief triumphant gleam pass through Danny's smoky grey eyes making a strange surge of betrayal and cheapness coarse through her.
'Holly!' A voice called, forcing Holly and Danny apart, 'Are you home? Look what I managed to get in the sale at American Eaglefor you!'
'Crap!' Holly shrieked, jumping away from Danny, and clinging to the edge of her bed as her door burst open and her unsuspecting little sister came bounding into the bedroom.
The scene swam before Poppy's wide eyes. The bag she was holding dropped with a thump as she took in Holly's lack of clothing, Danny's bare chest, all the scented candles.
'EURGH!' She yelled, clapping a hand over her eyes, backing away.
'Poppy!' Holly hissed, 'Poppy shhhh!'
'Oh my God, Oh my God,' Her sister was chanting, 'I'm scarred for life!'
'Poppy please!' Holly now pleaded, knowing what would happen if Poppy's shrieking became known to anyone else who had just come home.
'I can't believe you! We've only been gone an hour and he wasn't even here then!'
'What's going on?' A new voice demanded impatiently.
Oh no, Holly thought, throwing her comforter over herself, but it was too late. Before she knew what was happening her Uncle Chris had appeared in the doorway. He surveyed the situation, came to the same conclusion Poppy had a few moments before and his green eyes narrowed with anger.
'I want you to get dressed and get the hell out of the house,' He directed at Danny, 'And you,' Chris turned his attention towards Holly, 'Come downstairs when you're decent and tell me just what the hell you thought you were thinking,'
Holly looked away, hating to hear the disappointment in his voice and hating to be on the receiving end of one of thosedisgusted looks she knew he saved up for her. Why hadn't she heard them all come home?
Without another word, Chris left the room, leaving Poppy revelling in her sister's embarrassment.
'Oh Holly you-,' Poppy started but Holly overrode her.
'You complete bitch,' Holly said through gritted teeth, 'Get out of my room before I smack you around the face,'
'Like you'd dare, you know you can't exhibit too much anger or-'
'Poppy, I won't say it again!' Holly snarled viciously, feeling anger bubbling up dangerously in her chest, 'Get the HELL OUT NOW!'
'FINE!' Poppy said and stalked out of the room.
'Good one,' Danny shot at her as he pulled his Levis back on.
Holly couldn't believe it.
'You cannot be serious,' She said, temper flaring, as she threw her dress over her head, 'you can't blame me! You didn't hear them either,'
'Whatever Holly,' He said, not looking at her, 'you were all over me,'
Holly felt as if cold water had just been thrown all over her.
They were rushing down the stairs now, where Holly's elder sister, Lily was standing in the hall putting away her coat. Lily stopped short and stared as Holly and Danny both ran past her.
'I was all over you?' Holly shouted once she had calmed down enough to speak 'I've got protection you said, clearly you'rethe one with the hidden agenda!' Holly couldn't remember a time where she had felt so furious with herself.
'Call me,' He said, smirking at her, as he went through the front door. Holly stood speechless and fuming in the doorway.
'Don't tell me,' Lily said gravely, 'that you were hooking up with someone as insensitive as that?'
'We didn't actually do anything,' Holly admitted, not looking at her. Lily had this strange ability that meant that it was impossible to lie around her. Odd as it was, Lily's disapproval meant much more than Uncle Chris's, 'Poppy came in before anything happened...'
'No I didn't!' Poppy said with mirth as she joined the scene, 'It was so obvious...you did it with him! So, three months too long for you to go without –'
'Poppy please-' Lily began wearily, but Holly cut her off.
'HOW DARE YOU!' Holly yelled at the top of her voice, 'don't you dare think you understand what's going on in my head. How could you even bring that up?'
'Oh come on,' Poppy rolled her eyes, 'It's nothing new. You've always been like this. I bet you had it planned for weeks, moment we're out of the house you can get up to your old tricks –'
'Do you really want to push me Poppy?'
'Ooooooh,' Poppy replied sarcastically, 'I'm really scared, what you gonna do? Blow me up?'
'Why you-'
'That's enough!' The tall form of their uncle Chris came striding into the hall. The sisters immediately closed their mouths and looked at the floor. 'Poppy, go upstairs and-'
'What?' Poppy cried, 'I didn't do anything!'
'That's a joke and a-' Holly muttered under her breath, but Chris shot Holly a look that silenced her.
'Poppy, I won't say it again,' He directed, nodding up the stairs, 'And Holly...in the kitchen…now,'
Poppy stuck her tongue out as Holly began to follow her uncle into the back of the house, and Lily had to grab hold of her middle sister to stop her tearing Poppy to shreds.
'So, yeah, I'm under house arrest,' Holly told her best friend Alexi Newberry later that night. She was sitting on her bed; still shaking from the confrontation she had had with Chris half an hour ago.
'Shame,' Alexi said without sympathy, 'your uncle went completely ape then, huh?'
Although Alexi could be cold and distant, especially since they had started High School and popularity started to mean more to her than their friendship, they had known each other since kindergarten and she was Holly's closest friend. But they had grown even more apart recently, similar to have everything in Holly's life was beginning to unravel. Alexi didn't know how to act around Holly after her parents died a few months ago and Holly was beginning to realise there was more to life than popularity, which meant that she was beginning to feel isolated at school. She just wanted to be alone these days, something Danny and Alexi had trouble comprehending.
'What else do you expect?' Holly snapped, 'He's always been totally anal. Even when we were kids, Lil, Poppy and I never wanted to go to uncle Chris's because he didn't know the meaning of fun,'
'Well…' Alexi told her distractedly. The background noise indicated that she was at a party, probably thrown by some of their mutual jock friends, which meant that Alexi obviously didn't want to be talking to her instead of flirting with the football team behind her boyfriends back, 'There's nothing you can do then,'
'It totally sucks,' Holly said angrily. 'Chris didn't have a problem grounding me from here until next year,'
'Hmm,'
'You could at least pretend you care,' Holly bit out.
' Well, you can't reallyblame him,' Alexi said, 'what else is he gonna do if he catches his naked niece being slobbered on by some hair gelled Casanova?'
'I wasn't completely naked,'
'You might as well have been,' Alexi said, 'It had to happen tonight, didn't it? Cal managed to get tickets to the View and Gooseberryare playing all week, we're all going after Parker's party,'
Holly groaned. Although Cal Whitepath was a huge moron, being his friend had one benefit. One of his older brothers was non-other than senior hottie extraordinaire Freddy Whitepath, the lead in Gooseberry, the hottest and most talented band around.
'So can you sneak out or what?'
Holly laughed.
'Are you joking? Oh, um gotta go,' Holly hurried, hanging up when she saw her uncle in the doorway.
'I thought I told you no calls?'
'What do you want?' She shot back.
'You didn't come down for dinner,' He said, and set down a tray of lasagne and a glass of diet coke on her desk.
She felt a sharp pang in her chest as she recognised the smell, it was her mother's recipe.
'Phoebe said that I should come up and see if you're all right,' He said uncomfortably. It was obvious he was trying to make up for how ruthless he was in punishing her earlier.
Chris had grounded her for three weeks, her internet wireless router and phone had been confiscated and she had been banned from after school soccer practice and cheerleading until the end of the month. It was completely hypocritical. Holly wasn't half as bad as Chris had been when he was her age, and he was acting like a complete martyr, like he was doing her a favour and protecting her honour when in fact she had lost it a year and a half ago.
'No,' She said, turning away from him, 'you thought that you'd fatten me up and make me unattractive to boys instead,'
She was annoyed that her uncle had to go to his aunt for parenting advice. Well, she shouldn't really be surprised since had no kids himself and was absolutely clueless when it came to parenthood. Holly thought this must be due to all the floosies he used to date coming to their senses when they realised their kids would share half of his DNA. It was common knowledge that Chris had been the wild child in the family. It must've been quite a shock when he read Dad's will, Holly thought savagely. What was her father playing at by entrusting his daughters to someone who clearly hated having to look after others? Surely putting them straight in Great Aunt Phoebe's care would've made more sense? After all, she raised three daughters herself.
'No, that's isn't what I thought,' Chris said wearily, 'Kids need food to grow. You're a kid so you need to grow,'
She was fifteen years old, not a kid.
'Can you just please go away?' She asked him, 'I need to get over the humiliation of my uncle not believing me when I tell him the truth,'
Dad would've believed her. He would've been pissed, but he would've believed her. Not for the first time she wondered how they could be related. Uncle Chris was a hard slab of granite compared to her father.
'Look,' There was a change in tone in her uncle's voice. He sat down on the edge of her bed, 'I know these last few months have been terrible, I can't begin to understand-'
'Don't you tell me how I've been feeling!' She shouted at him, spinning around, her blue eyes furious. 'You don't know what it's been like for me, having to pretend everything's OK when my whole world…look, it's easier for Poppy and Lily, they weren't-'
'Are you forgetting that I was there too?' Chris demanded fiercely, 'Holly, I know you hate to hear it, but I'm possibly the onlyperson who knows what you're-'
'Please, Chris,' Holly's voice broke, and to her fury she felt tears well in her eyes. She had said too much. She had never allowed herself to talk about that night. It was enough revisiting the scene of her parent's murders every time she went to sleep, 'just go away,'
Chris stared at his niece for a moment, the impatience in his eyes dissolving into sadness. He opened his mouth to say something, but a moment later thought better of it. He sighed and left the room.
Hello readers, thank you so much for giving my story a click and a chance. I hope you enjoy it. For those of you who are confused with the 'Marston' business, all will become clearer later on but to fill you in briefly….Wyatt changed his name when he left home to go to Columbia. He left his home and legacy behind to start a new life after his parents were killed. The repercussions of this are everywhere in this story, affecting the sisters (whose powers he bound until their 21st birthday or until those that cast the spell died – obviously you know where I got that idea from! ), Chris (whom he basically abandoned), as well as his parents Piper and Leo, his aunt Phoebe etc.
There are still lots of Charmed elements in this story but it is my own take on 'what could have been' for Wyatt and Chris and their children. (Melinda doesn't feature in this story as I started writing it before the end of last season/before Melinda was eventually born). Please read and review. Love to hear your feedback.
