Disclaimer: I may don't anything "charmed" but in this chapter, there are two new characters I own, indeed, as it is totally my imagination, I hope you'll like it.

Chapter 10

Chris had enough of this life. He didn't know what to do anymore. And he knew, he wouldn't learn it without some kind of magic. He wasn't ashamed to admit it. He was lost without his magic.

The problem was, he had no access to magic. At least not to real magic. But there are so many mortals out there, who are interested in magic, too. There were shops out there. He just needed to find them. Thus, Chris went to the city. He found a shop near the one of the clairvoyent, where the girl, who Wyatt had rescued, has bought the amulet. He entered the small, cramped shop. And took his list.

Chris wrinkled his nose. There were so many different things, only half of them could be counted as serious wiccan stuff. On one side was a shelf from the floor to the ceiling filled with books. Most of them were about topics like dream interpretation, love potions and everyday spells. Nothing he was really interested in. He wandered around between the shelves and tables. It was difficult to find everything because it seemed that someone, who had no idea of magic, had put away the stuff. As he came near the the counter, he heard a customer talking to the shop assistant.

"I need a love potion," the young Asian girl whispered.

"Oh, you don't have to be ashamed," the young woman behind the counter answered. She wore jeans and a t-shirt and lots of necklaces, rings and armrings. Her dark locks was squeezed into a hairnet. "That's what we live from. Do you need a potion to learn if he loves you or to make him love you?"

"The first."

"Really good choice." She stood up from her chair and walked to the table, where Chris stood checking out some mixed herbs. "Here we go. It containes roses and cherry leaves and melissa. It won't kill him."

It won't work either, Chris thought. This was more some kind of tea mixture. "Just don't put it into his coffee," he said still looking at the ingredients of the herbs.

"Exuse me?" the customer asked.

"Melissa has a calming effect, that doesn't fit with caffeine. It makes lot of people really grumpy. Put it into milk or hot chocolate."

Then the boy will be very relaxed, he thought.

"I'll remember that."

Both women went over to the counter. The yound Asian paid for her stuff and left.

Chris went over to the shop assistant.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"Yes. I was in the astrology section but didn't find any moon calendars."

"They stand with the other books. I'll show you."

"Why don't you put it to the astrology stuff? If you want to make a chart, you need a moon calendar." Chris replied while following her. She handed him a issue.

"We don't because every young handsome man first has to ask me…" She stopped herself. "That was lame, Cathrin. So lame," she said to herself.

"It was, Cathrin. I'm Chris."

"Nice to meet you. You know something about magic, don't you?"

"You could say that. It's more than a hobby."

"I see."

"I need some more things, you may help me with."

"Sure. I may, if you drink some tea with me, afterwards." She smiled. Chris nodded. "Alright. What's next on the list?"

"I need some tarot cards." She lead him to the shop window. She took some cards. But before she handed them to him, she frowned deeply.

"Something wrong?"

"No." She shook her head. "It's just that lady. She's kind of creepy."

Chris followed her gaze. "Doesn't she own the shop at the end of the street?"

It was the clairvoyent. The seller of the amulet, that now made them so many problems. She stood in front of the window looking through. She didn't seem to nitice them but stared at her own reflection.

"She does. Our biggest competition. She's so weired. She has some great stuff, though. But too expansive. She can read your future."

"I see. Do you have amulets? I saw one with an opal. It was really pretty."

"An opal? Do you need someone on your side? I don't think we have that. You could look through the catalogue. I might order one for you."

The ordered stuff was surely just some jewelleries, but nothing magical. You can't order things like that.

"Maybe I'll do that. Okay, I need candles."

Cathrin led Chris through the store giving him the stuff he needed. Six candles, sandalwood, crystals and some cypress leaves.

"Do you need a spell? We have great books."

"I'm afraid I do. But I don't need a book. That's alright."

Cathrin put the stuff into a brown bag and Chris paid her. Then they sat down behind the counter and trank tea. Cathrin wasn't the owner of the shop, that was her aunt. A real witch. At least, that was what Cathrin said. Chris wasn't sure about the truth in that. She only worked here to earn some extra money.

"I'm a student," Cathrin told him. "Physics, chemnistry, biology."

"Sounds like you don't believe in magic."

"That's not true. I do. Part of me does. It's exciting to learn how to explain it rationally. Like with telekinesis – you know, these guys who can move things without touching them – it's all about physics."

This got Chris' attention. "Really, how's that?"

"If – let's say – a knife lies a few inches away from your hand and you strech you hand towards it, the electricity in your hand and knife activate each other."

"I don't think, you can explain it like that. What about freezing?"

Cathrin looked surprised. "Freezing? I never heard about someone freezing. But if you don't mean ice, then I would say that the molecules slow down so that the human eye cannot recognize any movements anymore."

Chris shook his head. "No, that can't be it. I mean, there is magic. Out there."

"If you want to learn about it, you should go to university and study physics."

Chris considered that a moment. "Physics. What did you say about the telekinesis?"

"It's all about molecules."

Chris thought this through.

"Hey," Cathrin broke the silence. "If you need a shop, my aunt searches for someone for the shop. I could imagine, that you are the right one. I give you my phone number."

Chris laughed. "I'll think about it." Chris grabbed his bag and said goodbye to Cathrin.

The store at the end of the street was even more filled than the one, Chris had just left. The strange smell could make you dizzy. The room was only half lit by a violet light from a coffee table in the left corner. There were three customers – three teenage girls. They giggled and whispered to each other. Chris ignored them and headed straight towards the table, where usually the clairvoyent was sitting. She wasn't there. But the young man was sure, she knew, he was here, waiting for her. He sat down. The crystal ball was dusty. A sign that the mortals coming to learn about their future were rare. The clairvoyent didn't need a crystal ball anyway, that was only the show effect.

One of the girls laughed loudly. Chris looked towards them but they were already quiet again. As he turned back, the female clairvoyent was sitting in front of him. She wore long earrings and a dozen colourful necklaces and bracelets.

"Did you have a special reason to observe me?" Chris asked her.

"I wasn't observing you. Just checking out the competition," she answered nonchalantly. "I guess, if they have such a powerful witch as a customer, it's bad for me. Oh, but wait… you lost your powers, didn't you?"

"Tell me something about a nice amulet. It has a black stone. I'm sure, you remember it."

She leant back in her chair. "I already told your brother: I don't know anything about it."

Chris shook his head. "For once, you know, who sold it to you."

"You are not so easy to see through as your brother. Why do you want to know anything about it, anyway? It's not like you could do something," she said with a knowing smile.

"Who says that? You?"

The woman noticed, that she rather didn't mess with the young witch. With or without his powers he could get her into trouble. "I got it from a boy. A young witch who hasn't already found his path. A witch you know really well. Someone you trust, but you will disappoint him, deeply. You both will pay."

A witch he knew? Chris knew a lot witches. Male, female, young, old.

"Why did you purchased it to a human?"

"I didn't know about its powers. So did he."

"Great. What are we going to do now?"

"You can't do anything. Not yet. The time will come. But before that, you have to find your way."

Chris sighted. "I'm working on it."

"Oh, I know, you already know what to do. You are just not sure about it yourself. You learnt a lot today."

Did he? These clairvoyents were such a pain. "You speak in riddles."

She smiled. "Don't close yourself. The answer is right here."

Chris stood up. "Yeah, well, I hope the answer follows me out of here."

"You will fall, but not too deep. Trust the people to catch you. Trust the people you love. You'll need them. You'll be hurt."

Chris shook his head, leaving the lady behind. You'll be hurt. He was hurt often enough. That didn't bother him too much.

Chris went to the park. He sat down on a bench. It was a really nice day, therefore there were tons of people jogging, walking their dogs or just met to talk to each other. How could they be so sure about everything, while he was so lost and confused. He should have paid the clairvoyent the ten dollars and asked her about his future.

"Halliwell!"

Wyatt was finally back in his office. He had to orb out about three hours ago, because the Elders jingled him. He should have finished his article hours ago. And now his boss was furious. Wyatt could hear him breath havily. He started his laptop again and took his phone, pretending he had an important call.

"Aha, yes, I see….no, that's no problem at all," he said into the receiver.

His boss entered Wyatt's office. He was a man in his forties, slightly overweighted. He wore really expensive suits. But his shirt usually had dark areas of sweat under his arms. The young man showed him with his fingers to wait a second. "That's a great idea, Mr. Connerly. I write that down."

"Mr. Connerly, the senator?" his boss whispered.

Before Wyatt could answer, his phone rang. His boss frowned. Wyatt smiled apogetically. "You didn't talk to the senator, did you? For God's sake, Halliwell, we have a newspaper to run. You didn't put one article on my desk in time for the last three weeks. What's wrong with you?"

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Sheffield. I had lots of other stuff to do. Private stuff."

"I have a private life, too. I have four children and three wifes and still I run the newspaper. I work, so we can reach our readers every day. And earn some money."

Wyatt nodded. He expected this scolding for days. But why did his boss need to yell at him now? Wyatt was so tired and he needed to work on his article and then on another plan for vanquishing a demon. The fifth this week. "I understand you perfectly, Mr. Sheffield. But my brother…"

"What about your brother?"

"He is…"

"He is what? Sick?"

"Sick? Oh, yes, he is pretty sick. For the last weeks, he couldn't get out of bed."

Mr. Sheffield's face took a softer expression. "I see. What is it?"

"What?"

"The disease. What is it?"

"We… I mean, the doctors don't know yet. But it's pretty serious."

"Oh my God, that is awful. He's still so young. Your parents must be terrified."

Wyatt had a bad feeling about lying to his boss. But it was just a white lie. "Yes, we all are really down. We don't know if he's going to make it."

Mr. Sheffield shook his head. "I understand…"

Wyatt felt kind of relived. He knew, he shouldn't. But at least he had some time now to finish the article.

"WYATT! I need to…" Chris flounced into Wyatt's office. He had been sitting in the park and suddenly, he knew it. His whole future lay right there in front of him. Finally, he found it. He had to tell his brother at once. But now that he entered the room, he had the feeling that he came improperly.

"Chris? What are you doing here?" Wyatt asked.

"Oh, nothing. I just needed to see you," Chris answered slowly. He saw the expression on the face of the man, that was sitting across Wyatt. He didn't knew him but he was sure, that it was Wyatt's boss. And Wyatt's boss was obviously really angry with Wyatt.

"Halliwell, I'm a nice person. And that's the only reason, why I don't fire you right away," he yelled. "Get that article done!"

Mr. Sheffield brushed past Chris giving him an angry look.

Wyatt sighted. He rested his head into his hand. "Chris, you have never been in my office. Why today?"

"I'm sorry. I may should have called first."

Wyatt nodded. "I'm sorry, but I don't have time for you now. Exept it was an demonic problem, you can't handle."

"No. I just need one sec," Chris said. Wyatt agreed. He could see clearly how excited Chris was about something. "Okay, I met a girl today."

"Is this about a girl? Don't you already have a girlfriend?"

"It's not about a girl. Listen, her name's Cathrin and she studies Physics. She told me, that almost every extrasensory perception can be explained with physical principles."

"That sounds like you two had a great talk, didn't you."

"Wyatt, I will study Physics. I already went to college and filled out some papers. In a few weeks, I'll get an answer. And then in fall, I'm going to study."

Wyatt narrowed his eyes. "Hold on, didn't you say, that wild horses couldn't track you back to school."

"I did. But that was before I knew, that my telekinesis is a power of pure physical reactions."

"Aha." Wyatt watched his brother intensely. And he saw it. He recognized how determined Chris was about this. Thus, he smiled. "Well, that's a great idea. I hope, they'll accept you."

"Thanks. I knew, you'd stand behind me." Chris turned around. "I'll leave you to your work. Oh, Wy, I visited the clairvoyent's shop. She told me, she got the amulet from a young male witch. Someone we know. No, someone, I know. I'll work on that."

Wyatt looked up from his laptop screen. "She told you what? Don't do anything, you will only get yourself into trouble," he replied but Chris had already left. "Call me!" he yelled after him.

For the first time in weeks, Chris came home without feeling damn helpless. Finally, he had a plan in his head. A way to follow. He hung his jacket at the wardrobe. He ascended the steps up to the first landing. When suddenly, out of nowhere, his dad was standing before him.

"Dad! Where are you coming from?" Silly question. Chris saw that his father wore his black cape.

"Magic school, I'm sorry, I scared you."

"It's okay. But you didn't orbed."

"No, I came out of the door." Leo pointed behind himself. But Chris could only see the wall.

"I can't see it."

Leo nodded. "Maybe we two could talk?"

"About what? Oh, no wait, did mum tell you to talk to me about whitelighter loving witches or maybe witches loving Valkyries?"

Leo smirked. "I can't fool you."

"Dad, really, I do not want to talk about it with you. No offence."

Leo frowned. "I'll tell your mother, that you know what you do."

"Fabulous idea, dad. And tell her, that I may get a job. Not a really goog paid job, but a job." Chris climbed some more steps, then he turned around once more. "Oh, and tell her, that I applied for college."

Leo raised his eybrows in surprise. "College?" But his son was already out of sight. The ex-Elder shook his head. First, he was told, that school was for nothing. Now, he heard that school is an option, though.

Thanks again for all your reviews! It's great to know, for who I am writing- best readers ever!