The Neighbors

Laveda sat there in her office as she read the latest news updates that passed the surface of that desk. Sometimes the bureaucracy of the Resistance annoyed her. She often wondered how Chris survived it. That was probably why he'd become so neurotic – too much paperwork.

She rubbed her eyes when an alarm sounded. Uninvited visitors were in the resistance stronghold.

Instantly she summoned her sword, telekinetically, from across the room and grabbed her robe. Then she was running through the hall, sliding on her robe. She passed Whitelighters taking children and key members of the resistance out of there. They refused to let anyone under the age of twelve fight even though they still seemed to be dying by the hundreds if not the thousands.

She arrived in that hall to find Wyatt's demons shimmering in. She instantly slashed out at the demons.

"How the hell did they find us?" someone yelled.

"You have my cousin to thank for that," a familiar voice said and she turned around to find herself staring wide eyed at Wyatt Halliwell. His blonde hair hung longer, framing his face with curls. His face had a nice amount of stubble on it. He had a cold aura about him that made everyone who came into contact with him shiver and fear him. What really did it was his cold, calculating eyes. Those eyes looked at her with an evil glint and she grew cold. She pulled her emotions deeper inside of her, chaining them up.

She lashed out at him and Excalibur appeared in his hand, deflecting her strike. The demons attacked her people. She felt fear as she watched her people falling down at the hands of demons, evil witches, witch hunters and the like. Still, she fought and she got off a lucky strike, stabbing Wyatt in the shoulder. He growled in pain. She dashed away from him towards the nursery.

There she found Resistance members trying to defend the children. She threw out her hand and the rock beneath the demons feet instantly began to shake. The demons all glanced down just in time to see it crack open.

They all fell helplessly down and then the holes closed back up. With that she ran to the members.

"Go to section twenty-four B," she stated handing one of the younger children to a whitelighter. "Take all of the children you can. Go… she doesn't know about it."

"Ma'am," one of them stated. "Aren't you coming with us?"

"No," Laveda Clay stated immediately without hesitance. "I have to stay here and fight. Whitelighter, keep yourself safe but also save as many resistance members as you can… remake the resistance there with that as your strong hold."

"Yes ma'am," the young whitelighter stated.

"Go," Laveda ordered and the whitelighter grabbed several hands while they all touched the young man. Then he orbed out. Once they were out of sight Laveda turned and went back to the main fighting. She grabbed another sword off of the ground and swung them both with precision.

Both blades became engulfed with flames and she lunged one into a demon. Her stride was slow, menacing. She watched as the resistance members all ducked out of there as she walked in, doing their best to get out of her way.

Demon after demon attacked her. She dodged their blows using her psychic Combat Sense to predict their attacks. She sliced heads off, stabbed her blades through hearts, everything. One quick slice and she tore one in half, ignoring the crunching noise of his breaking spinal cord. Apparently, that one was an evil witch on Wyatt's side.

She ignored the trail of bodies she left in her wake, her eyes glancing this way and that. After what seemed like forever, her body nearly completely exhausted and covered with a revolting mixture of demon and human blood she was the last one standing – other than Wyatt at least.

"Good to see you've still got a fighting spirit left," he stated with a smirk. "I thought I scared you off with my awe inspiring presence."

She smirked for the first time in what seemed like ages. It was small and barely perceivable but still, it was there.

"That's what I have to give you and your brother… you two always did have the best witty and snide remarks of anyone I've ever known," Laveda stated.

"Yeah, I know," he stated egotistically and she wanted to smack him. "Come on Vida, join me, fight by my side. You won't have to watch your family die anymore. You can live safely – no more struggle, no more fighting, peace." His face looked so sincere. She looked at him and her empathy told her he was telling the truth. He meant every last word he was saying. She knew he couldn't keep his word, even if he wanted too. He was too evil.

"I can't give up on everything your brother and I fought for… besides, I'm the last of my family. Everyone else is dead. I had three loving grandparents, two perfect parents, three biological aunts and their husbands, six older sisters, three nephews, and two nieces, all of which are dead because of you and your twisted moral compass," Laveda said, her mask sliding away just slightly.

She watched him shiver slightly under her gaze and he got a sheepish look about him.

"I didn't mean for you to get hurt, you or my family," he stated quietly. "I was doing what I thought was right. My intentions were good by your standards even if my methods weren't. Doesn't that count for anything?"

He sounded like he was pleading with her and she shook her head, trying to separate Wyatt Halliwell from Lord Wyatt. They were two different entities, they had to be or else she would be lost.

"The road to hell was paved with good intentions Wyatt," she spat.

"What about the road back?" he asked and she clammed up again, afraid of slipping. She couldn't be emotional. She couldn't let him see her.

"Your road was a one-way. You've crossed a line and there is no coming back," she said coldly, her voice void of all emotions.

"Is that how you truly feel?" he asked and she just nodded. He got a sad look in his eyes even though the rest of his face looked completely stony.

--

Wyatt looked at Laveda. Her words stung at him on an emotional level. If it had been anyone else saying these things he wouldn't care but from her they hurt. She and Chris were both that way.

What was worse to him was her normally energetic eyes were lifeless. He'd heard about her depression but hadn't thought it could possibly be this bad. Seeing it up close and personal was killing him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, looking at her disheveled body. Her blonde hair was matted down by blood, a trail of bodies lay behind her – one he should be proud of but wasn't. He'd tried to keep her and his brother innocent, pure. That didn't exactly work out as planned.

He sighed before he tossed his hand out, throwing an energy ball at her. The energy ball impacted with her stomach and her eyes closed. Moments later he saw her begin to fall unconscious. He strode towards her quickly, grabbing her before she hit the floor.

She looked so pale and fragile lying there like that. He picked her up in his arms and left in dark orbs.

They arrived in one of the spare bedrooms he planned on using as hers. He called in a couple of his maids and carried her to the bathroom where he laid her in the tub. Then he took that blood soaked, Dark green robe with pale yellow trimming off of her gaunt body. It revealed a brown tee with a pair of blue jeans.

Wyatt Halliwell sighed as he conjured a knife and gently cut her pants and shirt off, leaving only her bra and underwear. He wouldn't embarrass her too much. Then he summoned a sedative which he injected her with.

Once that was done he healed her wounds. She stirred slightly as the healing finished its work but she didn't wake. With that he began the water and called maids into that bathroom.

He ordered them to bathe her and put her in something more comfortable. He also ordered the destruction of her blood soaked clothing. With that he left the bathroom but wouldn't leave her new living quarters till he knew she was safe. Impatience was a flaw of his and he knew it. After an hour and twenty-five minutes he walked in to find they'd just dressed her and were trying to figure out away to transport her to the bedroom part of her quarters.

The young man quickly walked over to her and picked her up. Then he carried her from the bathroom to the bed. It was there he slid an amulet around her wrist. Engraved in it was the triquetra and surrounding that room was a bunch of charms which would trap her inside of those select rooms.

"I'm sorry Laveda… this is for your own good," he whispered as he leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. He noticed one of the maids, a young witch no older than thirteen or fourteen, had yet to leave. Her eyes were wide with shock. "You dare tell anyone of what you've seen and your life will be forfeit, understand?"

She nodded in response and he nudged his head at her telling her to leave. She scurried out of there rapidly.

With that he sat down on the chair next to her bed and waited for her to wake up.

[Thank you for reading, and thanks to everyone who has reviewed up till now. I decided to post this update since it's mine and my twins birthday and she's been pestering me to update… Happy birthday Lizzy. Anyways, I promise I'll update soon since I'm halfway done with the next update as it is. Next time we'll get to see Chris but she won't be back quite yet… Well, thanks again. Obsessed.]