A.N: Sorry for the delay guys! It was a crazy summer and the school year thus far's been a little rough-almost done with college though, so yay! Anyway, that, and I've been sidetracked a little with other stories, but I figured I should get around to finishing this story before the next decade, so yeah. Here's a new chapter for ya, and there will probably only be like one more and maybe an epilouge, so it's actually almost done! Who's excited? Mmmm, that'd be me. So I hope you all enjoy this and have a great day otherwise:)
Disclaimer: Usual-not mine.
This is not good.
Chris awoke and opened his eyes, squinting at the dull ache in the back of his head. The last thing he remembered was shimmering from the manor and appearing in some area of the underworld, right before he was knocked unconscious.
So a 180 degree opposite of good. Really, Really bad.
His hand went to the back of his head, as he felt the growing lump at it's base and he emitted a small groan involuntarily. Although it was dark, he made out a figure in his sight. Wanting to escape before they knew he had woken up, he began to orb and rise through the air.
And hit something. He bounced back down, materlizing with a slight yelp and hit the ground. He realized he was trapped, in a box that was not going to allow him to escape, especially with the use of magic.
"Well, look who's up." The voice was followed by a laugh as the figure grew closer and a near by spout of lava and flames illuminated his face and Chris realized he was staring at the dark lighter who had shot him weeks earlier. He jerked back, plastering his back against the rock wall, even though he knew if the man wanted to kill him, it would be all too easy.
"Aw, I think he's afraid of you Tristan." The electric demon showed up again, his voice singsong and taunting, and Chris felt rage as he pictured his mother's fear filled face.
"I swear, if you hurt her..."
"You'll do what? Break out of that box and kill me?" He taunted. "Unlikely, half breed. Besides, you'd know if I had hurt her, wouldn't you?"
Chris didn't give him the satisfaction of an answer and merely scowled back at the demon. He slumped back, realizing there was nothing he could really do but wait. His thoughts immediately traveled to Piper.
Realization had set in. The thing he didn't want to accept her as, to see her as, he finally did. She was his mother, in every way. He saw the fear for her baby in her eyes when the demon held the athame at her belly, saw the fear for him in her eyes as she realized what was happening to him, and he realized that he couldn't keep fighting it. He allowed himself, for the first time since he'd been here, to need her; to need her to tell him it would be okay, to need her to make it better. As much as it terrified him, he had seen her face as he said it and realized she needed it as much as he did.
He closed his eyes tightly. He had to wait until they found him, until they rescued him, because he knew-at least, he hoped-it would happen soon.
-----
"This is not good."
Piper stared at her sister. "Thank you, Paige, for stating the obvious."
"Piper." Pheobe softly admonised her sister, her head still stuck in the Book.
"I know, I'm sorry." Piper apologized, waving her hand and changing the subject. "How is the spell coming along?"
"It's done. It's good to go." Pheobe began. "But it's a power of three spell..."
"So?" She asked. When the other three looked at each other, then at her, trying to decide what to tell her, she began shaking her head. "I'm going down with you."
"Piper, I don't think that's a good idea. What if they target the baby again?" Leo asked. Piper frowned.
"The baby, is who we're trying to save Leo. Besides, you leave me here with Wyatt...I mean, that's what this is. A diversion. Chris said it when they took him-protect Wyatt. If I'm the only one with Wyatt, they'll attack me to get to him. And with being pregnant, I don't want to risk it alone."
"But that still seems the more logical option."
"Well, fine. Let me put it simply for you then. I'm going. You need the power of three and I want to go help him. I need it, Leo. I'm going." Her face became stone like and brooked no room for argument. He sighed and nodded.
"Okay, okay. We'll all go. And when we're down there, you make sure that spell gets said and his powers are gone."
"And then what?" Pheobe asked. "I mean, you're not gonna kill him, or anything. So are you gonna trap him or what?"
Leo sighed. He understood he couldn't kill Gideon, but if it came to it, to protect his boys...he would do anything. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. But we're gonna do what we have to."
-----
"So. Read any good books lately?" Chris asked, completely at random. It had been a few hours since he had awakened to his difficult situation, and by now, the ringlead of the entire operation had shown up. Gideon shot him a withering glance at his caustic question.
"Shut up you."
"Hey. I'm just trying to make some innocent conversation. Say, here's a kicker. Why are you, of all people, after Wyatt? I mean, did it ever occur to you that trying to kill him would probably give him not so great outlooks of the powers of good and evil? I mean, if the people who were supposed to be good were trying to kill him..."
"Do I sense a bitterness in your voice, Chris?" Gideon turned and stalked to the magical cage where Chris sulked inside, his tone holding a bit of amusement behind it. Chris bristled.
"You're damn right you do!"
"So much of a concentration of power is much too dangerous to allow in the world, Christopher. Surely, you know that from your future experiances."
"Don't even think of going there, Gideon."
"Oh cut the dramatics, Christopher..."
"Oh I'm dramatic?" He was fuming, wanting to lash out in anyway possible to the elder, then realized something.
Gideon was playing with him.
A bemused expression graced the older man's features and Chris relaxed, something inside refusing to give him the satisfaction. Able to observe the altered demeanor, Gideon dismissed Chris from his mind and quickly turned, calling for Barbas. Chris again slumped against the rock walll and slid down, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. It was never going to end.
No sooner has he thought this did he detect a familiar presence that he couldn't see. Whoever it was must have seen him cock his head curiously, because he heard a whisper come from near the backside of the magical barrier.
"Hey. Chris."
"Dad!" He whispered furiously, keeping it as low as possible. Gideon seemed so engrossed in conversation with his constituants, he wasn't paying attention. Chris took the opportunity to shuffle loudly and groan with irritation. It worked; Gideon and his minions turned to glare at him as he acted as if he were positioning himself to curl up and try and sleep, playing off that he wasn't seeing them stare at him.
With his back to them, he heard them start talking again, and facing where his father's voice came from, stared at the empty space. "Dad, what..."
"Shhh. Not so much talking. I'm under a cloaking spell, so they don't know I'm here yet. Your aunts and mom are somewhere around."
Chris had to bite his tongue to control an objection from escaping his lips. He ignored the copper taste of blood and swallowed. "Mom's here? Who's watching Wyatt?"
"They have to all be here for the power binding spell to work. Because he's such a powerful wizard, they have to be near for it to be more effective. Wyatt's with your grandfather and they are in a secure, hidden location. Don't worry too much about him, we've got that covered..."
"This is a trap, you know." He whispered, almost fearfully. He heard Leo sigh and for once, yearned to feel his father's hand on his shoulder.
"Of course. But we have to get you out, don't we? You know we can't leave you here." He paused. "Magical entrapment?"
"Yep."
"Okay." Leo sighed again, and although Chris couldn't see him, he smiled softly, comforted in knowing the expression on his father's face was one of deep thought. "I'm gonna go get your mom and the sisters. Sit tight kiddo."
"I'm not a kiddo." Chris muttered, but the prescence had eased off already and he was left in his cage, alone, and most definitely unable to rest.
A few minutes of restlessness passed and, almost as if Gideon knew the manor was empty, he dismissed Barbas and Lytus to go looking above ground. Almost immediately, he saw his father materialize. Gideon didn't bat an eye.
"I was wondering when you would show yourself."
"Let him go."
"Oh yes, because I'm sure that I set all of this up to just let him go." Gideon said calmly, a look of amusement on his face. He quickly conjured a pair of chairs and a cross bow appeared in Tristan's hands. Chris and Leo eyed it warily. "Sit, please, Leo and we can talk this out. Maybe I can get you to see reason."
"And if I don't? There is no reason to this Gideon. Just let me take my son and go."
Without orders, the darklighter raised the weapon, aiming it at Leo, but resisting to fire. "No!" Chris yelled from his corner. Gideon smirked again.
"Yes, listen to your son Leo. Because if it seems that you appear...unwavering, fully 100, well then..." He gestured to the darklighter. "Some must be sacrificed. For the greater good."
"Even an innocent baby?"
"Anyone. Even those most trusted." Gideon said simply. Leo heard no reserve or emotion in his tone and decided to sit.
Chris slumped against the cave wall again, the fear in his gut lessening though it remained still. He had no idea what would happen to his father, as he sat with Gideon and the darklighter. His only comfort were the occasional stints of eye contact Leo would make, trying to assure him it was going to be okay.
"Chris?" A whisper came from behind him again and he turned toward the familiar voice. His aunt sat, hidden in the shadows, a small, reassuring smile on her face. "How you holding up?"
"What are you doing here in sight?!" He exclaimed in a sharp whisper. She rolled her eyes, further aggravating him, but he stiffled it.
"Your mom and Phoebe are hidden over there," She gestured to a spot well away from Gideon and his father. "I"m just here to let you know we have the spell for Gideon and we cast one to get you out of this cage. See?"
She poked her hand to him, and he opened his mouth to object, but her hand passed smoothly over where the barrier had been and touched him softly on the leg. He relaxed back softly. "So what now?" He whispered.
"I'm gonna go back over there, and we'll cast the spell. When we drop the guard, you'll know the spell is cast."
"How will we know if it worked?" He asked worriedly. Her face got nervous and her eyes began to fidget.
"We'll have to hope it does." She replied with a shrug. "If it doesn't go well...well. The first thing you have to do is get your mother out of here."
"And you and Pheobe and Dad?"
"You just worry about Piper, we'll worry about the rest."
He opened his mouth to object, but she shook her head and orbed away. He decided all he could do was relax; Gideon and his cronies didn't know he was free yet, but he would bet money his dad did. He stretched his legs out inconspicuously to test the boundaries once more and found himself able. He sighed, and it was only a few seconds longer did his aunt's and mother suddenly appear in the dark recesses of the cave, drawing attention of the darklighter remaining, who turned on them.
"Hey!" Chris screamed from his corner, orbing out as he drew the attention of all in the cave. He appeared next to the rest of the family, unable to suppress a cocky grin on his face.
"Well, well...look at the family reunion." Gideon spat, sauntering up next to the darklighter, whose arrow's aim never moved from the group of 4. Leo sat behind, watching cautiously, prepared to do anything to fight for his family.
"I think we've all had enough of the cliche one liners." Phoebe snapped back, and Piper flicked her wrists at the darklighter, who exploded with a scream. Gideon didn't start, for his credit, and his calmness worried Chris. He saw his father's eyes scan the area, while his mother and her sisters just glared at Gideon.
"You did it right?" Chris whispered, low enough for only Pheobe to hear. She nodded to him slightly, and with that, he began to tread backwards always keeping his eyes on Gideon. His mother and aunts glanced back only for a moment quizzically then understood; he wanted to create a larger barrier, surrounding Gideon so that it would be them against him, on the edge of the ledge. Chris knew his father couldn't kill anyone for the consequences he would suffer, and really, all they needed was for Gideon to back down.
That didn't seem to be what Gideon had in mind. Suddenly, demons appeared from all direction, surrounding and outnumbering the charmed ones and Chris. His stomach knotted with nerves, but his face remained reserved. He wanted to grab his mother and orb her out but he knew she would have none of it. The look on their faces said it all; they had faced a whole lot worse than this, with a lot lesser stakes.
Things began intensely from the start, there was no build up. And although he had grown up with them, spent 14 years of his life with them, he was forever amazed at the way the three of them moved together, as if they always knew what another was doing. They were the Charmed Ones and they proved it.
He was throwing people into walls, his mother was vanquishing them with flicks of her wrists, his aunts were doing what they did best and they seemed to be making it an even fight. He kept throwing quick glances at his father to make sure everything seemed to be going okay. He could see Leo making his way slowly to where Gideon was, backing him to the edge. Gideon still maintained his cavalier assuredness, a clear sign that he was not yet aware of his disability.
"Pheobe!" He yelled to his left, only loud enough for his aunt to hear. She turned, throwing a back kick into the face of a demon and pushing him into Piper's sight. He screamed as he burst into nothing.
"A little busy right now Chris!!"
"Do something to stop him. Figure out a way...whip up a spell, you're good at it." He threw an arm off to the side and sent a demon flying into the wall with a scream and a sharp crack of his head.
"But I..."
"Improvise!"
And he was gone. Phoebe decided to turn her attention to the two near the cliffs edge and was struck with an idea. She knew this was going to have to end with something dire; Gideon was not going to give in.
In the mean time, Chris was backed into a corner of the rock wall, two against one and he was getting tired. He was used to fighting wars and this was hitting just as hard as any of the battles of the rebellion he launched against Wyatt. But something was giving him an extra push; if they could pull this off, he'd never have to fight a battle against his brother like that ever again.
A demon exploded into dust in front of his eyes and his mother stood behind him, hands up. She smirked.
"No one messes with my kid."
"You probably wouldn't be surprised to know that doesn't change in the future." He commented back wryly with a grin. It was a brief moment of calm in the craziness. It didn't last long.
He didn't even have time to react as the demon shimmered in behind his mother. He pulled an athame out quickly and stabbed her lower back before Chris could react. When he did, he threw his arm away so fiercly, the man flew high in the air, cracking his head and falling lifelessly on the ground.
"Mom!" Chris rushed to her, as she lowered herself to the ground.
"I'm okay, i'm okay..." She gasped. "It's not...not real bad."
Her face was brave, but the blood began to puddle beneath the wound. His hand immediately went to it to apply pressure and calm the bleeding, and he apologized as she cried out quietly in pain.
"I'm getting Dad--" He said, turning his head to yell. She reached up and turned his face back.
"No! No, as long...as long as your okay...you know." She gestured to her belly and him, and suddenly, he felt a stab of worry. She was only scarcely 7 months along and with the stress of the wound, it could cause pre-term labor which the baby-him, really-wouldn't be able to survive. Even worse, the stress and blood loss could affect the baby and kill it in utero. Chris wanted neither scenario to play out, but even less, he didn't want to relive that day that happened 8 years before for him.
"But I don't want..."
"I won't. If it starts to get bad, if you feel anything. you yell for him." She was breathing short between the pain of the wound in her back, but she was truly not in fatal danger. He didn't trust it enough though. Tears brimmed in his eyes and hyperventilation was coming on.
"I can't...I can't do this aga--" he began to gasp.
Chris was interrupted though. The ground beneath him began to shake and the rock walls began to rain pebbles around them. He bent over her, shielding her from the debris.
"I'm sorry I was horrible, and mean, and I'm sorry. I love you and I need you, Mom, so..."
"Chris, I'm gonna be fine, it's gonna be fine." She was saying the words softly, rubbing his side, and he could see the pain in her face from the wound. If he could only heal! "How are you holding up?"
The truth was, he was getting a little woozy but he'd never admit it until it was almost too late. He opened his mouth to reply but the quake stopped, interrupting his train of thought. His eyes immediately went to the cliffs ledge as he searched for his father, wanting to make sure everything was okay, and wondering if maybe this was the answer to what he had urged Pheobe to do.
"What is it? What happened?" Piper asked.
Chris could see Leo at the ledge, a little shorter than what it had been. He was kneeling, looking down his hand at his mouth and serious expression on his face. Gideon was nowhere to be seen, and in his blurry peripherals, he could see his aunt's emerging from their hiding spot. He sighed in relief.
"I...I think it's over." Chris said, his stomach turning as the thought overwhelmed him. "I think it's all over."
And then, the cave went black
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