Legacy 103: The Source of All Fear

Chapter 8

Xxx

Early in the afternoon, Prue Halliwell returned to the apartment and took off her coat. After spending the night at the manor, she was in desperate need of a warm shower and fresh clothes. At times, she could still feel the slippery snakes on her skin and she just wanted to forget all the horrible things that had happened. She headed to the bathroom, though as she reached for the door handle, Matt appeared in front of her in white wisps.

"God, you scared me." Prue said as she caught her breath.

"Sorry, I did not mean to." Matt replied.

"Where have you been, I have been looking for you." Prue said.

"I went to check on Caroline." Matt admitted with a sad expression. "She really seems to be over me. I guess I am glad that she's happy."

"I'm sorry, I know she meant something to you." Prue said.

"Thanks, we could have had something, but it was not meant to be." Matt replied. "So I guess she is not the thing keeping me from moving on."

"I know." Prue said. "So we still need to figure out what is. We can do that."

"I am not sure we can." Matt said. "I've been thinking a lot, you've really opened my eyes. I don't think it is one unresolved thing that is keeping me here. I think its life itself I am not ready to give up on. I barely got a chance to life and do what I want."

"Matt, you know you can't change the natural order." Prue said concerned. "I know your death was unfair, you did not deserve it, but we cannot change what happened."

"I know." Matt admitted.

"So what do you want?" Prue asked.

"Just a little more time." Matt said as he looked at her hopefully. "Meeting you has been one of the best things that has happened to me. I feel there is something between us."

"Matt, you're ghost." Prue said. She had felt the same thing, but she could not admit to it, since it was impossible.

"All I ask for is a week, just a week to spend some time with someone who can actually see me." Matt said. "Help me fulfil my spiritual bucket list."

"A week?" Prue asked doubtfully.

"Just a week, then I will be ready to cross over." Matt promised.

Prue felt conflicted, as she liked Matt and wanted what was best for him, but a part of her realized that spending another week with each other would only make things more difficult for both of them. She looked at his bright and hopeful eyes and caved.

"Alright, one week." Prue said against her better judgement. "Now get out of here, I need a shower. And there had better be no ghostly peeking."

"Please, I am a perfect gentleman." Matt replied with a smile.

As Matt disappeared from the apartment in white wisps, Prue wondered if she had just set herself up for heartbreak. Sure they could spent the week together, but would it be fair to either of them if they were forced to say goodbye at the end of that week? She decided she could not think about it right now. After what she had just been through, and after Matt had helped her face her fears, she needed some fun in her life.

Xxx

At the same time, Wyatt Halliwell headed out of the manor and sat down on the front steps with a cup of coffee in his hand. He figured he could use some fresh air and sunlight to clear his mind, yet his mind would not grant him peace. He had barely slept last night as the memories of what had happened kept repeating in his mind. He had been forced to relive his worst nightmares and his biggest fear, not to mention he had tried to kill his own brother and cousin. Now everyone knew the secret he had buried deep inside, and he did not know how to handle it.

As he was lost in thought, he barely noticed Chris heading outside and sitting down next to him. They had not really spoken about anything yet, and Wyatt was worried about how they could go on with this standing in between them.

"Are you really sure you want to go after the Source directly?" Wyatt asked after a while.

"I am don letting him mess up our lives." Chris said as he stared into the air. "As long as he is out there, he is a threat."

"I agree, but going after him will be the most dangerous thing we've ever done. I am not sure we're ready for that right now." Wyatt said.

"What do you suggest? Waiting around for him to make another move?" Chris asked with a frown.

"I am saying that going after him now might not be a smart move." Wyatt said. "I mean, you can barely look at me. We need to be able to depend on each other."

"Well, that is the problem, Wyatt." Chris said accusingly. "After everything I've just learned, I am just not sure I can depend on you."

"What are you saying?" Wyatt asked carefully.

"I am saying that you're my brother, and I will always love you." Chris said as he stood up. "But I am not sure I can ever fully trust you again."

Before Wyatt could say something, Chris disappeared in a column of orbs. Wyatt swallowed his words and supressed his tears. All these years, Chris had been more than a brother, he was also his best friend. Now Wyatt felt like it was all over and it hurt more than he could express. He stood up and entered the manor, heading straight for the attic. There, he placed five candles in a circle and lit them. There was only one person he could talk to right now, one person who would understand. He started to chant;

"Hear these words, hear my cry

Spirit from the other side

Come to me, I summon thee

Cross now the Great Divide."

Wyatt took a deep breath as white orbs started to swirl in the circle and took the shape of a very familiar figure that he missed every single day of his life. His mother looked at him with a pained expression and Wyatt realized that she already knew everything that had happened. He tried to speak, but the words remained trapped in his throat. Piper smiled and stepped out of the circle, gaining corporeal form in order to hug her eldest son. As he felt her arms around him, Wyatt gave in to his emotions and started to cry.

Xxx

In the underworld, the Source screamed in pure rage and the torches in the cavern combusted in violent flames. His dark eyes turned to pure flames and he incinerated a demonic guard standing by the door, who screamed in agony. Feeling somewhat relieved, the Source then closed his eyes and focussed on the one his anger was aimed at. Barbas appeared in the cavern in several streams of smoke and avoided a Fireball the Source threw at him, which exploded against the wall.

"You have betrayed me!" The Source screamed. "I loaned you a portion of my power so you could kill the Halliwells. Instead you play mind tricks and let live."

"Well, violence has never been my style." Barbas replied casually, unimpressed by his rage.

"I should incinerate you where you stand." The Source called out. "Nobody betrays me!"

"If you could, you have already done so." Barbas remarked.

"You said you would destroy them." The Source said.

"Simply killing the witches is no fun at all." Barbas said. "I broke their spirits, crushed their trust."

"All you did was motivate them to come after me." The Source called out angrily. "Or was that your plan all along?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Barbas replied with a shrug and a grin.

"So you did." The Source concluded. "You never intended to help me or destroy the Halliwells. You planned all of this so you could return to the physical word through my power, only to turn the Halliwells against me. That way, you'd take out two threats at once without lifting a finger."

"Well, what can I say?" Barbas replied proudly. "You were right not to trust me."

"I will kill you for this. I will find a way to destroy you once and for all." The Source warned him.

"You cannot destroy fear!" Barbas called out. "Nothing can. No matter how many times I am beaten, I will always rise again."

Suddenly, Barbas disappeared in smoke and reappeared behind the Source, where he sunk a blade deep in his back. He then placed one hand on his forehead and the other around his throat. The Source furiously stared at his rival with his dark eyes while the Demon of Fear pulled his head backwards and brought his face close to his.

"I can smell your fear and your weakness." Barbas whispered. "I have read your fears and it will come true. The Haliwells will discover your secret. This handsome, young face you wear at the moment will not protect you much longer. I wonder how they will react when they discover the connection. Do you think they will be able to vanquish their own flesh and blood?"

Barbas laughed manically as he let go of the Source and dissolved in a large cloud of smoke that broke apart in several streams before disappearing. The Source coughed as he dragged himself to a basin with water and pulled himself up. He pulled the blade from his back and threw it in the water, causing it to color red with his blood. He stared at his reflection in the water, and found the face of his own son staring back at him.

xxx

To Be Continued...