Chapter thirteen: Delays
Chris finished his telepathic talk with Wyatt angry he had obeyed his brother so quickly but still a bit relieved that Wyatt had sent him to his room alone. He was lying at is bed, thinking.
He needed some time alone to think. He had spent almost the whole day with Wyatt, his brother invading his thoughts easily and even if he knew Wyatt could still read him if they were apart, he knew he had other things to do. So, if he could stay alone for a while maybe he could think a little about his situation and what to do.
Wyatt's threat was important. Yes, of course, he could dismiss it thinking Wyatt would do these things anyway, he was always killing people, and he didn't need Chris playing tricks for that. But he knew that if he pushed it, he would make him kill them himself as he had tried at first. Besides, he could read Wyatt when Wyatt let him. And Wyatt couldn't trick him at that. Knowing if his brother was lying was a part of their bond. so, Wyatt could block him out if he wanted or let him read. But he couldn't make him think he was telling the truth when he was lying. That was impossible. Especially now that their bond was so strong. And Wyatt hadn't lied to him. He WAS going to let that witches live and he had changed that because of Chris. And Chris couldn't let that happen any more.
He could almost see again the witch's eyes as she cried in pain. And when she had said "Thank you" Chris shook. he would never forget that look in his life. Wyatt had been nasty here and Chris knew that next time he'd be worse.
Just then Wyatt's last thought came to him. I hope you do, brother. Cause now you'll do anything I want you to and I´ll never run out of ways to make you understand. He thought that Wyatt hadn't sent the thought to him; it had just came, probably because it was about him. Wyatt didn't seem to be aware of all the consequences of making the bond stronger. He thought of what Wyatt said. He was right. He had tons of ways. It was impossible to fight Wyatt if he was obeying him like he was. Even knowing how Wyatt was he still couldn't believe Wyatt had put a spell on him..
A memory of the torture he had seen came and he sadly thought that his brother must be gone forever. At the jail, he could read Wyatt while he was torturing the witch and his brother felt joy. He had read it. That almost made him nauseous. Chris looked away at the painful thought and his eyes bumped into the picture his brother had left. Feeling a pain in his heart he telekinetically pulled it to him.
He remembered that day. Piper, Wyatt and he had gone for a picnic, and Leo had arrived late as usual. When he finally did, Chris wanted to yell at him but Wyatt had picked up the camera and told their father to make himself useful and at least do something to remember the day. And Leo had taken the picture just before they returned home (after yelling at Wyatt for the comment).. Chris had been disappointed the whole day at Leo not going and Wyatt had been mostly trying to cheer him up. Piper had tried to cheer Chris up but she was almost as upset as Chris. They had been planning that day for weeks.
Chris' finger touched the photograph sadly staring at Wyatt's truthful, smiling blue eyes. Where are you brother? he mumbled softly to the picture. Wyatt had really been happy that day. Suddenly a memory of Wyatt's joy when he was telling the witch that she had beautiful eyes right before stabbing her came to him. He tried not to cry. Furiously he threw the picture against the wall, causing the frame to break and the picture to lie on the floor among pieces of glass.
He could sense his brother's presence even before Wyatt materialized by his side, sitting on the bed.
"I'm here. And I won't leave you, I promise"
Chris looked at him angrily. Does he have to read everything?. He knew that Wyatt had read that but he was too exhausted of the fight to care. He just answered bitterly staring at Wyatt´s blue eyes vaguely thinking how different they were from the one ones in the picture.
"Is that supposed to be comforting or is it a threat?"
Wyatt stood up angrily and he spoke without looking at Chris.
"Take it the way you want".
"Don't you have a world to rule? Don't you have anything more interesting to read besides my thoughts? It's annoying to feel your presence all the time and to know you can get so easily inside my head. "
"That's your fault again, if I thought I could trust you I wouldn't need to do that. And it didn't bother you before" Wyatt seemed really hurt. Chris told himself he should be careful, Wyatt was already pissed enough. But so was Chris and he couldn't keep it for himself.
"You would do it anyway. Before our bond wasn't so strong, I could block you out and you weren't so invasive. And don't lie; you would kill witches no matter what I do"
"But I've never lied to you. I really can't. Well, now I can but I don't want to. Well, at least most of the time. No, little brother. Those torturing sessions I only do at special occasions. When there is a real need. Today it was just for your own benefit. And if you do anything like that again, next time it will be someone you know."
Chris looked at him in disbelief. His green eyes showed disapproval that Wyatt hated to see. It didn't matter how much he controlled Chris, his brother could still make him feel like a child that had done something wrong. Chris had always been the one with better behavior. And the one that really agree with their mother in most beliefs. Wyatt had never harmed anyone before he had killed the two elders that murdered his dad. And then he hadn't stopped. But if he had to be honest that wasn't hard for him He didn't think killing people was wrong before. He just hadn't needed to do that. He had tried really hard to believe as his parents did and as his brother seemed to think. Then he found that totally stupid and deadly stupid. Chris and he would be dead if he hadn't done what he did. The fact that he enjoyed having power and being in charge was just a bonus. People that said that holding power was hard were just stupid. Wyatt now knew that he was born to do that. That was his destiny. His brother was too stubborn and blind to think he could change that. Still, comparing Chris disapproving, angry and almost hateful stare to the smile and honest affection he used to see in his brother's eyes before, made him think that his joy over his power didn't justify that. Damm Chris for making him feel like that. He looked away almost guiltily. He couldn't help reacting like that. In his mind, Chris was going to join him when he left the underworld as the source. It had never occurred to him that Chris would leave him with the excuse of good and evil. It would take much more than that for him to leave Chris. Well, but he had tried to kill his brother over that. But that was after Chris proved that he preferred strangers and old beliefs over his own brother. He sighed and then he sat again next to his brother. Chris was staring at the floor where their picture laid among the broken glasses. Wyatt didn't look in that direction. He put his hand on Chris' shoulder.
"Look at me Chris"
Chris obeyed immediately and glared at him, annoyed as usual when his brother used the spell and also a little shocked cause he hadn't been paying attention to Wyatt until he spoke. He had been thinking of Wyatt's words about never lying. And he had to admit that Wyatt had a point there. He only lied as a part of a plan but even if he was an evil tyrant, he was a proud one. And he always faced and assumed his action's consequences. A response to Leo's always hiding and running away, Chris guessed.
Wyatt looked at Chris in a threatening way and Chris felt the necessity of looking away but he didn't. He wouldn't show weakness, it didn't matter how strong his brother could be. Wyatt read that thought and he smiled lightly.
"I don't want you weak, Chris. I want you strong and with me."
"So that we can stab witches for fun? Thanks, bro but I think I´ll pass"
Wyatt put his other hand on his brother shoulder so that he was almost holding him. He held his gaze a while more. Chris stared back and they remained like that in silence, for several minutes. Chris didn't look away and he didn't look scared even if he was. Finally, still looking at Chris and holding him. Wyatt broke the silence in harsh tone.
"Did you play any tricks? Did you try to do something against me or that helps my enemies?"
"Yes."
Damm spell! Chris looked cold on the outside but inside he was shaking. Wyatt shouldn't find out about what he´d done in the jail before stabbing himself. It had been dangerous enough and he was regretting it after Wyatt´s last threat.. But it was done and he wanted it to work. He had to lie or at least fool the spell so that Wyatt wouldn´t find out. He had to act fast and without thinking.
Wyatt´s face was frowning with range.
"What did you do Christopher?"
"I contacted Brittany to tell her about the spell"
Wyatt relaxed a little.
"I know that. You know what I meant. Did you do something else?"
"Yes" Chirs cursed himself mentally when Wyatt got angry again and he quickly added "I told her that you were looking for her."
Wyatt held him tighter.
"I also know that. Are you playing with me?"
"No. You know how literal this spell is. You have to be more specific. Do you mean if I did something after stabbing myself? Then the answer is no"
Wyatt relaxed again. "Good" he said releasing him. " Cause I swear next time it will be someone you know and you'll have a part in it"
He almost had me.
"I almost had you? What was that thought about" Wyatt asked suspiciously.
"You almost had me slammed in the wall thanks to the stupid spell you made and now you don't care enough to think about how it works " That hadn't been what Chris was thinking but as it was true he could say it. He still felt his heart stop at Wyatt´s threat. He would discover what Chris had done but hopefuly not in time to harm anyone else. He tried to change the subject. "I can't really do anything thanks to you so, relax and don't swear in vain." Chris managed to say speaking quickly.
Wyatt smiled lightly. "I would order you not to preach but then you wouldn't be you, right?"
"Guess not." Chris couldn't help but smiling back a little.
"I'll call for you later. I have some things to do now. Don't leave the room in body or soul and don't try to fool me or my spell. We need to have a discussion about the demon that killed mom."
Chris looked down, no traces of his smile in his face and he didn't answer.
"You don't want to vanquish that demon?" Wyatt asked, disappointment filling his voice.
"Oh, I do. I would have even come here willingly just to do that. But I have the feeling that you haven't explained to me how we are going to do that because I'm not going to like it"
"As usual you are right. But that doesn't really matter. You'll help anyway. That's the right thing to do. I'll go, I have to torture some people to see if I can find Brittany. That wouldn't be necessary if you had been more cooperative"
Chris didn't answer and he looked down.
"I hate the readings you are sending, brother" Wyatt didn't know if it was because it was Chris the one he was reading or his empathy was stronger. But his reading of Chris was almost overwhelming.
"You can't control that. And it's not only what you do, it's the fact that you enjoy it. How can you enjoy it, Wyatt?" Chris sounded really disappointed.
"I don't enjoy the torture, I enjoy the power that it gives me. But guess you already knew that cause you always know everything. " Wyatt seemed tired of that kind of talk.
Chris looked down again. Monster, he thought. How could that power-freak still be his brother? Wyatt had always loved power but he had never tortured anyone. And now he was talking about how much he enjoyed it.
Wyatt looked hurt and Chris guessed he had read his thought.
"When mom and our aunts tortured demons for information, they weren't monsters. I've saved our family. I've saved us both, and you can't even look at me in my eyes. Remember what I say about your preaching? That would make you less you and that's why I don't order you to stop it, even if it's annoying. I don't like all you do, Chris but I take the good and the bad cause you are my brother and you'll always be no matter what. And you can't do the same? You prefer to call me monster and to think that I'm just some fate gone wrong and you try to go to the past to fix me. Why don't you stop to think that if this is my fate you are rejecting your own brother?"
Chris shook. Some of Wyatt´s words made some sense.
"Even being evil as you like to call me. When did I fail you? Name one moment!" Wyatt was more having an outburst than expecting a real answer. He was surprised when Chris stayed quiet and spoke almost too softly to be heard, looking down at the fallen picture.
"You said I would understand"
"What?" Wyatt looked surprised Chris had given an actual answer, that had to be truth..
"When you went to the underworld, you said I would understand. I trusted you. I defended you. Even when I'd realized you were the source and you wouldn't drop your demonic powers I tried to understand. I've faced people for you saying my brother couldn't be evil. I didn't understand. I can't"
Wyatt shook his head sadly. The fact that Chris couldn't lie to him made the words worse.
"I honestly thought that you would. I would have understood if it had been you who would have became the source. And I never would have joined anyone to fight you" Wyatt spoke sadly.
Chris was shocked to sense his brother was telling the truth. He looked down sadly. Wyatt followed his look. He saw the picture and the frame. And a cold, silent rage took him. Chris was almost afraid of his reaction. But Wyatt just went to the picture, took it in his hand and looked sadly at it.
"You don't want it? Fine!" the picture burnt in his hands and the two brothers watched sadly without moving until they could only see ashes.
"You are still stuck with me. Cause no matter what you like to think you are still my brother. And I'll never deny that. No matter what you do and no matter if you do the same or not." Wyatt had spoken in an almost broken tone. Then he made a pause and he spoke in his "lord tone". "I'll call you in a few hours. Be ready."
He flamed out leaving Chris in emotional turmoil. Don't let him get to you. He's evil, he'll say anything. But Wyatt had a point. And what if that was Wyatt's fate?. And if going to the past couldn't fix things? And if that was his brother? No. Wyatt hadn't been like this his whole life. Something had changed him. Yes, he had always loved power. But he used it to fight demons, not work with them. And he hated the elders, he had good reasons for that Chris thought. Chris hated them too. And he hated Ashcroft and tons of people. But he hadn't killed any of them.
Still he felt a little guilty at always showing that he thought that wasn't Wyatt any more. That clearly hurt his brother. A sudden flash of Alexandra's eye while Wyatt stabbed her and Wyatt's joy while he did it assaulted him. No. Maybe that was still Wyatt. But that wasn't his fate. It couldn't be anyone's fate. Still, perhaps he shouldn´t continually show Wyatt the way he felt. His brother was sure he was doing the right thing and it clearly hurt Wyatt that Chris didn´t try to understand that.
Chris wanted to but he just couldn´t. There had to be a way to fight the spell and save Wyatt. He had to think of one quickly. Chris sadly closed his eyes and lied in the bed, trying to think how the person he loved and trust the most in the world had turned into that monster. His thoughts then went to his parents. Were they doing something to help him or had they forgotten him? He didn´t have much time and he knew it. Then a sudden idea came to him, and he almost jump of the bed with excitement. Perhaps he didn´t need to fight the spell to save Wyatt. May be he can use it to save him.
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Paige, Piper and Leo rushed out of the office.
"What's wrong Phoebe?" Leo asked worryingly.
Baby Wyatt was crying helplessly and Phoebe seemed unable to calm him down. She looked shocked herself.
"What's wrong?" Piper asked again, holding Wyatt. Listening to his mom's voice soothed the baby a little.
"Nothing, don't worry Piper. He just got nervous"
"Ok" Piper gave her sister a strange look. She knew that something was wrong with her. She rocked Wyatt and the baby calmed down eventually in her arms.
"Leo says he'll help" Piper added grinning at her sisters.
"So..are you finally ready to see who Chris is?"
"I guess it can't hurt" Leo said with a small smile. Still, he didn't like the idea of Chris being his son and hating him so much.
"What if Wyatt is Chris lover?" Paige said looking at the baby.
"The bond wouldn't be proven with blood then. And gross, Paige!" Leo said angrily.
"Well, if I were a guy, Chris beautiful green eyes could definitely turn me gay" Paige said enjoying Leo's confusion. "And you wouldn't accept your son if he was gay?"
Leo didn't seem to like the idea at all. "He liked the baby girl, he's not gay" he said, trying to calm himself.
"And if he were we'd accept him.. Listen Wyatt, we'll accept any choice you make in the future. You can be whatever you want son, but not evil. Do you understand sweetie, we don't like evil people in the family.." Piper told the baby who just stared at her.
"Hey!" Phoebe protested suddenly stopping her day-dreaming.
"If the evilness is persistent..." Piper corrected herself quickly.
"So we'll accept temporary evilness?" Leo asked angrily.
"Why not, But we'll help him back, sometimes the best people can turn evil, right?" Phoebe asked.
"Oh come on!" Piper said angrily. "Just remember, baby. If you want to rule the world, run for president"
"If this talk didn't turn him evil, nothing will" Paige said. She went to the kitchen and she was surprised when Phoebe followed her, leaving Piper and Leo alone.
"What's wrong, Phoebes?" Paige looked at her sister worryingly. Phoebe looked pale.
"I saw the future Wyatt, Paige. He's really evil."
"When?" Paige hated to face that fact.
"When I touched the baby. That was why he was crying. My god, Paige, he was torturing a witch, making Chris watch. You won't believe how evil he'll turn. I don't think we should let Piper and Leo see that. And I have the feeling that there's something about Chris we need to do soon. But I don't know what "
"Oh my god. We have to try to go to the future ASAP"
"Yes, but the two of us alone.". Phoebe looked down, focusing her sight on the part of the kitchen where future Wyatt was with her in her vision. I wonder what the hell could that mean. She couldn't help a slight sensation of fear at the thought that she would face the same man that had tortured that witch that way. Chris, if only I could call visions of you as I can call visions of Wyatt. she thought sadly.
Suddenly Phoebe jumped as she felt a strange power. She was surprised to see that now Paige was holding the baby she had been baby-sitting that afternoon, now in her arms.
"What the hell is she doing here? I thought you had left her with her parents" Suddenly Phoebe understood. "Oh my god. Does she orb now?" she asked concerned.
"I think we have a problem, she doesn't orb, she shimmers" Paige answered.
A sudden noise in the living room made them jump. They had heard Leo and Piper scream at once while a furious voice asked "What have you done with her? Where the hell is my daughter?"
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"We need blocking potions. Have you taken yours?" Ashcroft asked Brittany worriedly.
"Yes. Chris told me how to make it. It would block both Chris and Wyatt out. Wyatt never had a strong sensing power anyway."
"It could be intensified by the spell. Besides he'll do anything in his power to get her. And that's a lot. We have to send someone we trust to hide Christa. But it shouldn't be you. He'll be searching for you and we have to take advantage of that keeping you apart from her"
"Why don't you stay with her?." Brittany didn't like the light tone in which her dad was talking about Wyatt chasing her. Why was protecting Christa so important?
"There's something else I need to do. But I'll go immediately if there is a problem with her."
"What about Mike?"
"No. We need someone with orbing powers.." Ashcroft a pause. "Do you think Wyatt will be able to fight the potion if Chris helps him? It's really important that he finds neither of you"
"I think that no, it's not possible. Chris made the potion really strong, it will take time to make something that fights it. He took it sometimes to block Wyatt out and it worked. That always made him sick".
"It's because it's not natural. The bond that allows them to sense each other is natural so fighting it with magic made him sick. But that doesn't happen to you and it won't happen with Christa cause his sensing of you does come from magic. Now, this is really important and it is more important that neither of them can find you. And please, don't trust Chris at all. "
"I know, he's under the spell. But still he risked a lot to help us."
"Well, maybe he won't risk himself so much after Wyatt talks to him, spell or no spell. Don't trust him for anything. Especially with her. Go, pick up one or two of your best friends with orbing powers and move Christa. Tell them to take care, never leave her alone and keep moving. No one should know where they are. Not even you. Christa can call you or me telepathically if something happens."
Brittany faced her dad forcing him to lock eyes with her.
"What are you not telling me dad? Why is Christa so important? Why do you think Chris would help Wyatt getting her without the spell when you know he loves her so much? "
"Cause of the stupid book" Ahscroft said. And even if his daughter didn't get it he seemed to think that was a great explanation.
Brittany sighed. She knew she wouldn't get another word from him. "Ok, dad . I'll go" she said resigned. Poor Christa! She hadn't done anything to anyone. She was just a little girl.
She was about to leave when both she and Ashcroft raised their heads up at a sudden, weak orbing. Brittany knew who it was before the girl reformed.
"Laura! "Brittany exclaimed almost crying at her sister's broken state.
Laura was so weak she was almost fainting. Ashcroft looked at her with real concern. He had thought he had lost her. There were other good witches orbing, Ashcroft saw that with a pleased smile
"Wyatt is after you" Laura mumbled to Brittany almost losing all her breath.
Brittany didn't have the heart to answer she already knew that.
"How did you escape ?"Ashcroft asked with a genuine smile. Smile that faded when he heard the answer.
"Chri...Chris helped me and the others." Laura said weakly, and then she finally fainted in her sister's arms.
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