I hope you can forgive me the cliffhanger and enjoy the outcome.
Thanks a lot to my reviewers and my lovely beta piperspeanut (it's very hot here too. I guess not as much as in your home state, though)
Chapter 10
Chris hastily turned pages of the ancient Book of Shadows.
Orbs filled the air and turned into Haley.
"Oh, hi Chris...do you guys have bayberries?"
"Hals, I can't deal with you right now."
"What's wrong?"
Chris stopped at a page and ran a hand through his hair. He looked at his cousin. Why shouldn't she know, maybe she could help.
"A demon kidnapped Justin. Perhaps you can try and scry for him with his watch while I search for the demon."
"Sure, I can...I always love to help." She eagerly grabbed the watch and went to the table where a map was lying. She took the crystal. "Why would a demon kidnap Justin? Can we be sure it's not a trap to get to you?"
"Yes, positive. He said it was none of my business. Moreover, he seemed to not even know me. Pretty offending if you ask me."
Haley rolled her eyes.
"Damn it. I can't find this demon he is just not in here."
"What did he look like?"
"Phantom of the Opera" Haley frowned. "His face was strange. One side of it was alright, the other was… I don't know… falling off or something."
The girl dropped the crystal. "Wait...Justin, isn't that this really hot guy."
"Yes, but Haley he's gay so no chance…"
"No, dufus. Listen, I read about a demon in one book at magic school. They are called Venustas. Check the book for them. Those demons feed on the beauty of a mortal. That changes their appearance…"
"…Making them attractive for mortals of the different sex, so they can accrete," Chris interrupted her reading the entry.
"Vanquishing potion?"
"Indeed."
"I couldn't find the lair yet."
"That's okay. You mix the potion; I'll go and find it."
Haley opened her mouth but couldn't say anything else as Chris orbed off. She shook her head. It was really worrying when her cousin ran off into the underworld like this without a plan just running around searching God knows where.
Chris rounded another corner cautious of the two demons that stood in the corner talking in hushed voices. He took a step backwards and stumbled over a bone falling into the dust. He fell on his injured knee and hissed in pain. Alarmed by the sound the demons looked around the wall. The first demon threw a fireball. Chris deflected it hitting the second demon making the other one shimmer off.
The brunette sighed. He stood up again and orbed into another part of the underworld where he found one of his informants, who didn't know about the whereabouts of the demon Chris was looking for but he knew someone who knew.
He found the hidden lair but empty. Neither the Venustas demon nor Justin could be seen. Chris sighed and entered the lair quietly.
A glistering item on the floor caught his attention. He bent down and touched it feeling a sharp pain going through his hand and arm. He stood up again holding onto his arm. "Damn it."
He heard a rustling behind him and turned around. In the shadows he could make out a figure. Before Chris could react he was thrown backwards telekinetically. He hit the wall hard, a few stones rained down on him.
"I told you, it was none of your business, witch." The demon approached the twenty two year old and kicked him in the head knocking him out.
Haley orbed into her cousin's office in the restaurant. She opened the door and saw Noelle standing behind the bar.
"Where's Wyatt?"
Noelle looked at her surprised at where she came from. "Over there with a business friend, why"
Haley didn't answer but crossed the room hastily. She tapped Wyatt on the shoulder.
"I need help, or Chris needs help...I'm not sure. It's really important, could we maybe…"
Wyatt looked between Jared and his little cousin grabbing her by the arm before she would say something wrong being that nervous. "Excuse us." The blonde pulled her behind him into his office closing the door. "What's wrong?"
"Okay, listen. Chris' friend Justin was kidnapped by a Venustas demon. Those demons absorb mortal's beauty. So, Chris went to find the lair while I mixed the potion. Here it is," she stopped to hand him the vial. "But now he hasn't come back for such a long time and I started to worry. I tried to scry for him but nothing. So, I thought you would find him through your bond, you know, or something. I mean you are the twice blessed and then you could vanquish the demon and save Justin. And Chris because I'm sure something happened to him. I really hate it when he just orbs off, don't you?"
"Haley, okay, okay. I got it. Venustas demon, is there anything I should know?"
"They are tricky...really, really tricky."
"Awesome." Wyatt bit his bottom lip. "Okay, I need you to do me a favour. You saw that guy I was sitting with."
"Yes, he looked pretty handsome."
"Yes. Well, go and tell him something why I had to leave and that I'll be back as soon as I can. Just entertain him, charm him but keep your distance."
"Right, I am charming."
"Good, I'm going to find this stupid jerk."
"You mean the demon?"
"I mean Chris. And yes, I hate it when he just orbs off like this."
Haley smirked and nodded. She waited for her cousin to disappear. She checked herself out in the mirror that hang next to the door before going back to Wyatt's friend and flirt with him. At least, she could have some fun as well.
Wyatt would never understand how his bother could find his way around the underworld. For him everything looked the same, a rock, stones, sand, a brick wall, a fire and behind the next wall a rock, stones, sand…really frustrating.
He let their brotherly bond led the way, which was faint meaning Chris either tried to put up a blockade or was unconscious.
Finally, the twenty five year old reached his goal. He glanced around the dark lair.
The demon stood with his back towards the entrance and hadn't seen Wyatt yet.
The twice blessed took the vial from his pocket.
"Hey," he called out to which the demon turned around.
Wyatt threw the potion getting him off guard vanquishing him. He then went to where he had spotted his brother holding his hands out to heal the bleeding wound on the back of his head.
Chris stood up slowly.
"You okay?" Wyatt asked.
"Yes, I think. Where's Justin?"
They both looked around and found an unconscious figure lying on some blankets.
Chris bent down examining his friend.
He sighed. "What am I going to do now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Justin will know I'm a witch."
"Oh. Yes, and you saved his life. Shouldn't that mean something...anyway; maybe he was knocked out all the time."
"Right, maybe. What if he was not?"
"Chris, I don't know. Maybe it's good if he knows the truth."
"What? No. None of my friends can know that I'm a witch."
"Peter does."
"None of our friends can know that he's an ex-Elder."
Wyatt threw his hands up in exasperation. "You know what? It's your problem, deal with it. Get some memory dust for him or whatever. I have to get back to the restaurant now."
Chris nodded. "You are right, I'll get him home." He touched his friend's shoulder and orbed out of the lair.
Wyatt shook his head before orbing out himself.
He chose his office to re-materialize and left it walking into the dinning room towards the table where Jared and Haley were seated.
"Thanks, Haley, everything is fixed."
"That's good" the girl smiled at him and stood up.
So did Jared. "It was nice meeting you, Haley."
She rolled her eyes then glared at him a moment before backhanding him. "That's my opinion."
Wyatt fell on his bed fully dressed and yawned.
"Poor baby, it had been a long day, hadn't it?" Noelle said. She sat in bed propped up against her pillows.
"I hate that asshole. Remind me never to work with someone else again."
"But you needed the start up capital."
"Next time, I'll get a loan from a bank like all the other people out there."
She bent over and caressed his cheek. "Good plan."
Wyatt nodded sleepily. He rolled on his side watching his girlfriend. "What are you reading?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just what Chris made for your birthday. I haven't really checked it out. It's amazing, all those drawings."
"I know. He's really talented."
"Hmm...but that's not what I mean. Not only, I mean what I see in those drawings. You guys were so close."
"We still are."
"I know, but you can't deny that it changed."
"Well, yes, it did. I'm not the one reading bedtime stories and helping with homework anymore. Thank God, it was though. But we can still talk about everything."
"Of course...I just thought, time changes, Wyatt. People change and relationships and sometimes you have to let go and accept a change."
"I know about changes, Noelle. But me and Chris, what we had to go through together won't change. And the things we have to deal with everyday won't either. That's what makes us so strong. Our bond won't crack."
"I hope so, Wyatt." The blonde closed his eyes and Noelle smiled. "You should undress and finally get some sleep."
Chris placed Justin on his bed. He had cast a spell on him so he'd sleep a few hours.
"God, I thought you were some burglar or something," Peter said. He was dressed in an old t-shirt and boxer shorts.
"Do you always check for burglars unarmed and half asleep?" Chris asked.
"Shut up," the ex-Elder yawned. "What's going on?"
"Long story. But hey, you could help me."
"I could but I don't know if I want to."
"You want to, it's to protect magic. Justin was kidnapped by a demon tonight. We don't know how much he has seen or noticed. I put a spell o him so he'd sleep now. Tomorrow when he wakes up and tells you something about strange stuff, all you have to do is tell him that he got drunk and I had to bring him home. You get the picture."
Peter blinked a few times. "I think you underestimate his intelligence."
"Oh come on. Maybe he doesn't remember anything anyway. Please."
The black haired young man sighed. "Okay, I'll do it, stop that puppy eye look and get home."
"Thanks, I'm off. Goodnight. Oh, how was your date."
"Goodnight, Chris."
"Bed time, peanut" Piper entered Wyatt's bedroom where the boys were playing with some toy Indians and cowboys.
"But I'm not tired," the three year old complained.
The oldest Charmed One put her hands on her hips looking at her son sternly. Chris never wanted to go to bed. He wanted so stay up as long as his big brother.
"Piper!" Leo called for his wife from downstairs obviously impatient.
"Coming" She held out her hand and Chris took it with a deep sigh. "Tell Wyatt good night."
"Good night, Wyatt."
"Night, Chris."
"Don't forget to clean up the room before you'll go to bed, too, sweetie." Piper reminded her son.
"Sure, mom" Wyatt got the box and started to put the plastic toy men inside.
"Not tonight, peanut...Daddy and I are going to see your Aunt Phoebe. Uncle Coop will pick us up any second," he heard his mom say.
Wyatt stood at his door and looked into the hall.
Piper switched off the light in her youngest son's room and closed the door behind her half way ignoring Chris' complaints.
"Is something wrong with Aunt Phoebe?" Wyatt asked.
"Oh, no, honey. She's just harmonious torturing your uncle," Piper replied chuckling. "Please look after your brother while we are out, it won't be long."
Wyatt nodded and got a kiss on the cheek from his mom.
He did not know what harmonious meant but his Aunt Phoebe was very moody sometimes now that she was so big.
The six year old crossed the hall and went into his brother's room.
Chrsi was sitting on his bed, the little lamp on his nightstand gave bluish light and he told his stuffed elephant how mean his mommy was.
"What's wrong, Chris? You should sleep," Wyatt said climbing on the bed as well.
"I'm not sleeping until I heard my story." He showed his brother a book with bunnies on it.
"Mommy will read it to you tomorrow."
Chris shook his had full of dark hair vigorous.
Wyatt found that his brother's head still was too big for the rest of his body but no one else seemed to notice it.
"Mommy never as time"
"She does." Chris crossed his arms over his chest still shaking his head.
Wyatt took the book "The bunny school" and sighed. "I could try to read it to you, but remember I only learn how to read a few months ago."
"Really...would you really try, Wyatt?" Chris asked beaming and Wyatt nodded.
"But you have to lie down and close your eyes."
Chris did and Wyatt covered him up.
He started to read and struggled a lot but the more he read the better it sounded. In the end Wyatt found he had done a pretty good job.
"That was really good, Wyatt," Chris muttered. "You said almost every word right."
Wyatt placed the book on the nightstand and jumped from the bed. "How can you know? You can't read yet."
"No, but I know the book by rote."
"What?" Wyatt frowned. He glared at his brother who giggled. "Why did you want me to read it then?"
But Chris only shrugged, snuggling deeper into his covers.
The next night, nevertheless, Wyatt was again the one reading to Chris; the same book, for the next two months.
You maybe wonder about this little flashback in the end but trying to get somewhere with that. I won't say more.
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