New update you guys! After such a loooooong time I know...I feel horrible. But I promise that I will complete the story, so no worries over that.
And here some more review replies!
anime92: I completely agree. Drew showed that he could handle emotive scenes, they missed a good chance to further develop Chris's character. Thank you for the review!
lizardmomma: Thank you for the review! And yes, its good to have help. Although that has its positive and negative sides to it as well. Chris, Darren, Leo and the sisters will have to deal with a lot of things before they can function as a solid family unit.
ariex04: Thank you so much for the review! I like to change up my writing style a little for the really emotive scenes, and using italics gives me a chance to add some commentary on whatever is going on. I'm glad you liked the chapter, as Piper's death scene is something, I think, every writer in this particular fanfic has to struggle with at some point. And yes, Darren isn't happy with any of them. Neither is Chris, so they have a lot of things to clear up before they begin to see each other as family, Darren and Phoebe and Chris and Leo especially.
saturn698: About the truth...something like that in this chapter ;D As for making Chris look good, he does that all on his own!
leetvfan: Thank you for the review and for liking the chapter! I think that's why fanfiction is so popular, there are so many ways a story can be told and changed and tweaked, the writers of movies and TV shows can't do something for each idea!
thunder903: Many thanks for the review! Writing Piper's death scene was very hard to write and capture just the way I wanted it, so it feels good to know that it turned out okay*hands you tissue* :D I believe its important to attempt to explain Wyatt's evil character, so more on that will be coming up, though that doesn't justify the actions he's taken or will take. And as for Chris warning Piper, because I too wished that the show would have done something with that, I will be writing something like that, though that will be coming much later. The Halliwell's have a lot to work through before they're comfortable enough with each other to talk about such heavy and dark topics.
Chalicity: Thank you very much for taking the time to write a long review. I enjoyed reading it (and your explanation for who Darren was also funny and I could see it in my mind XD) And yes, Chris is so awesome that everyone thinks the universe revolves around him. Evil!Wyatt will also get evil-er, so hang on! As for Phoebe finding out, here it is (though the next chapter will be more filling in that respect). And Phoebe and Cole made a good match but I'm still trying to decide on whether I should bring Cole in or Coop. Would love to hear your opinion on that!
Madlenita: Thank you for the review! I hope this chapter satisfies!
JJ Ann: Thank you very much for the inspiring review! The end is a long way off, but I hope I can keep your interest until then!
Rilakkuma: Thank you for the review. You always have interesting questions and comments to make :D
Thank you to all reviewers and story alerters (PLZ, Let me know why you alerted this story through a review!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed.
WARNING: This chapter contains torture (implied, not too graphic)
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There is no reconciliation that will put me in my place
And there is no time like the present to drink these draining seconds
But seldom do these words ring true when I'm constantly failing you
Savior
-Rise Against
"God damn Paige, honestly, you're no help at all."
"Well sorry, I'm not used to carrying people around."
"Really? With the way you all go down I'd have thought you'd be an expert at dragging people to safety."
Paige narrowed her eyes. "Are you implying that we can't take care of ourselves?"
"Indirectly of course. Have you people ever thought about taking some defense or fighting lessons or something like that? You know for when your powers aren't enough."
"Sure. I'll sign up at the local martial arts center ASAP."
"I was being serious-here, set him here."
Paige and Darren paused their talking and gently propped Chris in a kitchen chair.
Paige stretched her slightly sore arms. "I know he doesn't even weigh that much, but seriously, that took some work."
Darren frowned as he picked up Chris' arm and encircled the unconscious being's wrist with his thumb and middle finger. "A little underweight even."
Paige sensed a heavy topic and skillfully maneuvered it in another direction.
"So…what now?"
"Well…I was hoping you'd know of some healing potions or something we could use."
"You don't know any?"
"Nothing that would work better than what I've already tried." Besides, Darren didn't tell her, his work for the last few years had centered on the very opposite of promoting life.
Paige was deep in thought. She moved towards the light and let out a soft 'ow' when her thigh connected with the counter edge.
"Let me."
Light flooded the kitchen in a few seconds. Paige only stared at Darren.
"You can see in the dark?"
"Yeah. Now, back to the potion…"
"Right. I don't really know what to use though."
"Can't you like, come up with a super potion or something? You know, cram every other healing potion in to one that packs a punch?"
"Well, that shows how much you know about potion-making."
"I already admitted how adept I was at that. Any other comments before we begin?"
Paige just huffed and began to gather the ingredients, being extremely careful to be as quiet as possible. Darren observed for a few moments before his eyes returned to Chris, running over his form critically.
Paige caught the protective glance and spoke quietly. "You two got pretty close, huh?"
Darren's smile was weak. "Things tend to happen that way when its two against you guys."
Paige turned back to the potion, feeling shame warm her cheeks. They had all treated the newcomers with mistrust and disdain. Chris especially.
There were footsteps from above and they both froze.
Darren heard the creaking of stairs and grabbed Chris's hand, ready to orb him away lest they be caught. He never got the chance.
Whatever nightmare he'd been in, Chris took the hand on his wrist as an act of violence, and responded accordingly.
One minute Darren was holding on and the next there was a burning pain in his own wrist that made him release immediately.
Chris stared at him with unfocused eyes and snarled, preparing to strike again in self-defense. The witchlighter was only dimly aware of something that was egging him on, messing with his senses. He pushed Darren against the counter, sending some vials flying.
Paige stepped back in surprise, throwing out her hands to catch the objects with her orbs before they had a chance to hit the ground. She wasn't fast enough.
A shatter of glass filled the kitchen and Darren cursed, struggling to keep Chris under control.
The noise upstairs grew in volume, filled with rapid footsteps and the unlocking of doors.
Chris lunged for Darren again and the black haired man no longer had any choice. He spread his fingers along Chris's warm face and temple, and closed his eyes briefly.
The other's eyes rolled closed and he became limp in Darren's arms.
But it was too late. Before Darren could orb them away, Leo was standing above them, Piper and Phoebe rushing down the stairs.
The Elder had been keeping a close eye on his home from the heavens, and when he'd sensed that Piper had sprung awake, he'd immediately orbed down to the Manor.
The sight that greeted him enveloped him in complete shock. His eyes moved from Chris and Darren on the floor to the counter full of vials to Paige.
Piper and Phoebe were behind him in an instant.
"What the hell is going on here?"
"Piper, I can explain-"
"What are you doing Paige? And you Darren? Why is Chris here?"
Darren's eyes darted once to the eldest Sister before they traveled back to Chris, mind whirring furiously to come up with a plan of attack.
They were cornered. Cornered with no way out. The universe really did have a sick sense of humor.
Leo grabbed his arm then, hefting him up so that they were eye to eye. Darren tensed at the contact but Leo was too livid to see the brief flash of remembered terror that sparked in Darren's eyes.
"What is going on Darren? What are you keeping from us?"
The universe really, really did have a sick sense of humor.
Darren looked away. A tiny turn of the head and he spotted what the Manor's shields had failed to warn them against.
He shouted that they look out and the Sisters turned around, catching the glinting eyes of at least three demons in the shadowed living room.
"Wyatt!" Piper immediately shouted, looking at Leo before dropping to dodge an energy ball. Leo let go of Darren and orbed upstairs, followed closely by a demon.
Paige snatched at some potions behind her, throwing expertly.
But it wasn't enough, just as Darren had known it wouldn't be. He looked at the demons' clothing; their long, black flowing cloaks. The black entwined snakes tattooed on the back of their hands.
Not here. Shit, anywhere but here!
Piper was trying to blast one but it moved away. They shimmered out and in before the Sisters had time to do anything. The one upstairs would get to Wyatt, having dropped Leo like a fly.
Wyatt…they were after Wyatt…
Darren moved to Paige.
"Get them out of here!"
"We can take them! We've fought more demons before!"
"Not these demons!"
Darren turned as one shimmered in behind him. Paige let out a surprised squeak and tried to orb things at it. The demon only laughed as the objects deflected from an invisible shield that sparked red when things came into contact with it.
Darren couldn't contain his horror as he observed what was going on.
How?
The demon attacked him, swinging a powerful arm. Darren once more shouted at Paige to get the sisters as he blocked.
Phoebe was engaged in similar hand-to-hand combat with a demon much taller than she was. She was barely holding her own and Paige ran to get her, seeing Piper running upstairs out of the corner of her eye.
"Paige!"
The youngest Halliwell swiveled around, meeting the incoming athame with her shoulder.
Darren was distracted with the warning yell and left a critical opening. The demon swung with all his might and Darren miscalculated, blocking the blow incorrectly with the upper part of his hand. He felt the small bones crush against each other and growled out a cry of pain.
Phoebe, seeing her sister wounded right in front of her eyes, managed to push the demon away, giving her enough time to run to Paige.
The demon that had stabbed Paige now swung for her and Phoebe shielded her younger sister with her own body, preparing herself.
The cut never fell.
The middle Sister had only time to duck further as a shape tackled the demon to the ground.
Darren was done trying to maintain his secret. Lives were stake, including his own.
With a feral snarl he summoned his own weapons and sliced at the demon before him, stepping over the body as it crashed to the ground, neck torn open with twin gashes. He grappled for a few seconds with the one he'd brought to the ground before readying to strike a fatal blow to the heart.
A scream rent the air above him and he was ready to orb upstairs.
And that was when he noticed it. The demon that had now shimmered in, that was crouching next to the still form of Chris.
Slager grinned at him. "Better luck next time."
Darren tried to move forward, tried to wrench out of the grip the demon he'd been fighting with had him in. He could only watch Slager shimmer away-with Chris-as the demon squeezed his wrist with brute force, at last snapping the bones that had already been attacked before Darren finally pushed the blade down in helpless fury.
The Sisters and Leo moved surprisingly quickly.
Darren orbed to the Attic, reeling from the unexpected loss of Chris, to help defeat the attacker. He'd made it no more than three steps before Leo knocked him back with a tempered bolt.
He'd lain there, dazed enough for the Sisters to place the Crystals around him, Paige's protests filling the background, ceasing only when she hissed at the tingling sensation of Leo's healing.
"Piper! Phoebe! Stop it! Get him out of there!"
"No, Paige! There was yet another demon attack in this home and you saw how he reacted!"
Piper held up the twin blades that Darren had left behind with a cloth, obviously disgusted enough with what they were not to touch them.
"Why did you have these?"
"Piper! He saved our lives!"
"He had weapons!"
Leo moved angrily towards the cage. "You lied to us! You're a liar, just like Chris! Was this your plan then? To infiltrate this home and let demons in?"
Darren remained silent.
Phoebe called to them from behind the stand of the Book of Shadows.
"This truth spell will give us all the answers we need."
Piper's hard glare never left Darren's face. "The truth spell is unpleasant for the one it's being cast on. I suggest you tell us everything you know so we don't have to resort to that."
"Leo, please! You have to stop this!"
"Stop what? The truth? No, Paige. I've had enough of lies!"
Paige turned to Darren with tearful eyes.
"Just tell them Darren. Just tell them!"
"Tell us what?"
"What are you talking about Paige?"
"Tell them Darren! It's not worth it!"
"What are you saying Paige?"
"What is she talking about Darren?"
Darren remained silent. If they thought the side effects of a little truth spell scared him, they had another thought coming. He hadn't been under Wyatt's employ for years for nothing. They were harmless compared to the Twice-Blessed.
"Darren please!"
Darren looked at Paige, his gaze softening.
"You should be more concerned about Chris, Paige. You need to find him quickly."
"Paige isn't going anywhere."
"Please Darren. Just tell them."
Chris would never forgive him. And Darren would rather go through a million truth spells than betray his friend.
"If that's how you want it to be."
Piper began to move towards Phoebe when a groan from Darren caught her attention.
She turned in time to see Darren clutching at his left arm. Paige went to move the crystals but Leo's hand stopped her.
"What are you playing at, Darren?"
Darren ground his teeth as another wave of agony tore through his arm, the pressure exerted by his broken hand doing nothing to alleviate it.
"This isn't a fucking game, Elder."
Leo was indignant at the insult. He was about to reply when Darren let out another groan, gripping his arm tighter.
"Paige, you need to find Chris. You need to find him now…"
"Why do you keep saying that? He can handle himself."
"Not against them."
"Who is 'them'?"
"You're going to have to answer a lot of questions."
"I can't…not right now…Chris first…" Another twanging tug at the muscles in his arm and Darren whimpered softly. He could feel a wetness begin to spread along his sleeve and he cursed.
Paige saw the blood that slowly dripped down Darren's left hand and she wrenched herself away from Leo, moving the crystals away as fast as she could. Darren moved away, towards the door, stopping at Leo's blocking form.
"Give me one reason why I should let you go. Why you care about him so much. Why we should go look for that liar you call your friend."
Darren gave Paige a fleeting look. She nodded at him.
Darren turned back to Leo, eyes full of determination.
"Because he's my cousin…And because he's your son."
Leo could only stagger backwards as a horrible silence filled the attic.
Chris awoke to a stinging pain on his cheek. His bleary eyes focused on the shadowy form above him.
Chris tried to move and found his arms stretched tautly, perpendicular to his torso. The youngest Halliwell-Wyatt struggled against the bonds, fighting to kick and stand.
"You best stay still."
Chris recognized the voice. He was instantly alert.
"Where am I you son of a bitch?"
A deep, throaty laugh and then, "Questions, questions. You were always asking questions, Little Hero."
There had only been one creature who had called him that.
A taunting name meant to twist the title he'd been given by those he sought to save from Wyatt.
A taunting name that had been uttered with sickly malice, which he'd come to recognize as a precursor to pain.
Slager's wicked smile came into focus.
"I am glad we are able to meet again, Little Hero. Your family did a horrible job of protecting you, you know. Almost as if they didn't know you were family at all…"
"What did you do to them?"
"Such hatred in your voice! And I've been so nice so far…tell me, Christopher, do they even know you are their son?"
Chris didn't respond. He just grit his teeth and looked at the cave's ceiling before closing his eyes, clearly dismissing anything else the demon might have to say.
Slager laughed and called to demons behind him, commanding them to hold the 'runt' still. Chris felt heavy and long-nailed hands digging into his sides, keeping him immobile. There was a sound of fabric giving way to something sharp before a blade's coldness settled against his now uncovered skin.
"In the end, it works out best for me. Now I know there will be no angry Halliwell coming after me. You're all alone... Your precious Resistance can't rescue you this time, and once I've had my fun, you'll be seeing your older brother. Just as planned…"
"It can't…"
Darren moved around Leo. The sudden oppressive feel to the atmosphere weighed heavily on him but he couldn't stop to deal with it. Chris's mind was at stake. Darren knew Slager wouldn't kill him, no, he'd hold him until Wyatt came…
Wyatt would come…it was the only way he'd get to them.
There was no time. They would have to be ready when Wyatt traveled to the past. And Chris would need to be sound, both in mind and body, to face his brother.
The words were looped in Piper's head. She could hear them over and over, stinging.
She was vaguely aware of moving towards the couch and dropping onto it heavily, the breath gone from her chest.
"It can't…"
Leo was searching out her eyes, but Piper looked away, looked down to her trembling hands, clasped tightly in her lap.
No, no, no. This is all a sick joke. Something that had been made up, concocted to buy more time. It wasn't true, it couldn't be true. She and Leo hadn't even…
Piper raised her head as Leo placed his hand softly on her shoulder, slowly sitting down next to her, eyes mirroring the questions in her own.
But they had.
The implications were vastly destructive, burning everything they touched.
They had failed in their most important and crucial role.
Finally, Piper fell against Leo's chest and cried.
Paige could only look at the scene before her with sympathy. She could never understand how Piper and Leo were feeling at this very moment, no matter how much she tried.
To discover that you'd been so horrible to your own family, to your own child…Paige prayed that she would never have to experience that.
She cast a look at Phoebe and had to drop her gaze.
The middle Charmed One was looking between her and Darren, seeking an explanation. Because if Darren was Chris's cousin…
Phoebe was assaulted with a feeling of utter darkness and she fell forward, caught at the last moment by her younger sister.
"Phoebe, you need to sit down."
Phoebe ignored Paige and looked to Darren, all the emotions in the room assaulting her empath senses and overloading her own. "You can't just tell us these things and expect us to handle it without any sort of explanation!"
Darren paused at the top of the stairs, not looking at anyone in the room.
"You can't be so cruel!"
Darren's eyes flashed in anger. Yes, it was cruel to just spring the truth on them like that, to drag their emotions through the dirt when they were so vulnerable. It was just like something Wyatt would have done…or did.
But it was necessary. They had to know the truth. They had to know it to be fueled by it, to rescue Chris and keep their family whole and safe for the dreadful things that surely awaited them all.
Darren could only ever try to make them understand. "It was necessary…"
"Necessary? You gave us no warning!"
"You locked me up in a cage!"
"We thought you were dangerous! What were we supposed to do?"
"Trust us! Trust Chris!"
Silence fell once again.
What was really bothering Phoebe though, what really had her scared out of her mind, was what she refused to acknowledge and accept.
Because the young man standing before her, screaming at her, just could not be whom she thought he was.
Because those dark, raven black locks meant nothing. And the shape of his face meant nothing. And the eyes meant nothing.
He wasn't her son. He wasn't Cole's son. He wasn't their child.
And then…he was. Phoebe looked closely, searched his eyes and he was and her words were lost to sobbing.
"See how his blood runs!"
The demons around Slager snickered when their leader made another cut on Chris's exposed stomach. The witchlighter made no sound.
"Don't worry, Little Hero. I will make the cuts match."
Another round of demon guffaws reached Chris's ears. He tried to shift but felt himself too weak to move around much. The remnants of the poisoned darklighter arrow where still taking their toll on his body.
Slager paused and set the blade down.
"You know Chris, I would have expected them to be here by now. The traitor at the very least."
Chris frowned at the name.
"Halner I mean. Or Fenrir. He is known by either."
"What the hell are you rambling on about Slager?"
"Commander Fenrir of course. Did you not know that was his name as well? Or do you believe that he was an innocent in our time? Lord Wyatt didn't make him his right hand for nothing. Would you like to know what he did?"
"…"
"So now you decide to go silent. Well, I guess it isn't too much of a surprise that Darren didn't show up to rescue you. The last time he chose to play the hero ended up very badly for him. I relished having him under my command."
The thought that Darren had ever taken orders from Slager was deeply troubling, and it must have showed on his face because Slager laughed, a deep throaty sound that rang with pure malice.
"Lord Wyatt made sure he paid dearly for helping the Resistance in your rescue. You should thank him sometime. You've no idea what he suffered for his betrayal."
Chris shivered at the words.
"Lord Wyatt had him locked away for days on end, with no food or water. He nearly died. And when he'd truly broken his spirit, he placed the traitor under my command. And thus the Wolf became nothing more than a simple dog," Slager paused, thinking excitedly. "Would you like to see?"
The young witchlighter stiffened. He didn't know what Slager meant, and that was always a troubling thought. The demon modeled his cruelty after Wyatt's.
"I'm a moderately powerful empath. Not as powerful as your friend of course, but enough. Such a thing comes in handy during…interrogations…"
"Don't you dare touch me!"
Slager didn't hesitate. His hand was upon Chris's forehead and the young Halliwell screamed at the frustration of not being able to protect himself.
When Darren had used his empath powers to meld their minds, he'd been gentle and careful, withdrawing as soon as the experience became painful to Chris.
Slager entered his mind forcefully, defeating each of Chris's mental shields, violently ripping away whatever defenses stood in his way.
Images streamed into Chris's conscious, staining his thoughts with malice and bloodshed.
Slager removed his hand and opened his eyes, the damage already done.
"I'll leave you to your new thoughts, Christopher. Enjoy the view."
Chris cursed his name and struggled once more against the bonds, snarling in rage at the fading laughter of the demons at the futility of his actions.
He opened his eyes only after he heard the last footstep die away away.
He surveyed the cavern once more, looking to his bonds and looking away when his eyes landed on his bloody chest.
God damn it!
Panic swelled in his stomach when he realized that everything Slager had said was true. He deeply doubted that the Sisters would come to his rescue. They'd been eager to get rid of him. It might be days before they even considered an attempt to get him back, if at all.
Darren was his best chance. But even that prospect looked bleak. The dark haired demon was outmatched in every way. If he really had been working under Slager, then the cruel demon commander must have been able to control him somehow.
Yup. His chances did not look good at all.
He would have to rely on himself. It was clear there was nothing around him that would help him escape. So his prime mission was to survive whatever Slager had in store for him, remain as intact as possible for as long as possible. Which was a challenge since Slager was apparently an empath and Chris doubted he'd be able to withstand repeated mental attacks like that. The images that Slager had planted in his head were already starting to trouble him, fighting to come to the forefront of his mind.
It was like being in Wyatt's hands all over again.
His only choice was to endure whatever came his way.
Chris is in the hands of Slager! *gasp* Will the rescue arrive in time? Can they Halliwell's deal with what's just been revealed to them?
Will I update sooner than last time?
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