Chapter 21
Chris opened the front door and walked inside the Manor. He had gone over to Jake's house and schooled him in his own Wii games. After a few rounds of boxing, Chris said he had to return home. Chris said he had to finish his report for Biology
When he closed the door, Chris immediately called for Wyatt. "Wyatt!" he said, walking further into his house, pocketing the keys. "Wyatt! I'm home."
Chris stopped walking. Why wasn't Wyatt saying anything? Chris sensed for him, but found Wyatt wasn't in the house. In fact, Chris couldn't locate him anywhere. That would mean Wyatt is in the Underworld.
"Wyatt!" shouted Chris again, hoping that he would leave the Underworld and come orbing back to the Manor. Chris walked and was about to turn into the family room when he saw the reason why Wyatt wasn't coming home.
Standing before him was two Elders that he didn't recognized, but knew them by their robes and posture. Chris narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms in front of him. "What are you doing here?"
The older looking Elder walked further. "That's not a nice way to greet guests, son."
"I don't recall inviting you over," remarked Chris, standing defiantly. "So, I can greet you however I damn please."
"We're Elders," said the Elder, sternly. His face bent into an ugly shape. "You have no right to speak to us like that."
"And you have no right to enter my house without permission," said Chris. "It's called breaking and entering. It's illegal."
"To the mortal world and we're not exactly mortal aren't we?"
Chris frowned at the Elder. "What do you want?"
The Elders glanced at each other before looking at Chris. Uneasily, as if afraid to approach him, the second Elder spoke. "Chris…"
Before he could say more, Chris heard more jingles and he turned around to see more orbs appearing in the hallway. Chris backed away from both groups and saw that they were all Elders.
Chris stood away. He knew the Elders were good, so he wasn't exactly afraid, but they normally don't come down from the Heavens. They stayed up in the clouds, away from the real world, away from danger. And, if they do have to come, then only one was sent down, not (Chris counted) five.
Scanning at their faces, he saw that they were all disheveled. Even though they all looked upset, Chris still didn't trust them. They don't group together and come down on his home. It had to do with something that Leo and Wyatt were fighting about earlier.
"What do you want?" questioned Chris.
"Christopher," said an Elder that Chris knew as Odin. "You have nothing to fear from us, so, please, lower your hands."
Chris didn't even realize that he had dropped to a fighting stance and he lowered his arms, but something in the back of his mind told him to be ready. Maybe it was Wyatt's training.
"You still haven't answered my question," said Chris. "What do you want?"
Odin gave a long look at Chris before speaking. "Chris, we came in hopes of meeting your brother here."
"Wyatt?" said Chris. "Why don't you just summon him like you usually do?"
The Elders all looked at each other, but Odin remained staring at Chris. "We did, but he managed to get away and we thought coming to his home, we could…talk to him."
They were lying. Chris could tell. Elders weren't very good at lying. They did something. "I don't believe you," said Chris. "What did you do? Where's my brother? What did you do to him?"
"We have done nothing," said a female Elder with blonde hair.
Chris eyed her, arching his brow. "Then where's my brother? Why are you here?"
Suddenly, another orb appeared and Leo stood in between Chris and the Elders. He glanced at his son and then turned to the Elders. "Chris has nothing to do with this," he said.
"We know Leo," spoke Odin. "We're not here to punish Christopher."
Leo burrowed his eyebrows. "Then why have you all gathered here? Wyatt won't come here."
"What happened to Wyatt?" asked Chris, but again no one was paying attention to him.
Odin approached Leo. "We figured, but we know how close the two brothers are Leo," he said. "Surely you know too." Odin looked over at Chris. "Wyatt will come for his brother eventually."
"Yeah, eventually, but not now," said Leo. "Now, please leave while I talk to my son."
The Elders stared at Leo, but eventually, they all orbed away leaving Chris and Leo behind in the Manor. Leo turned around and saw the anger in his son's face. The slanted brows, the scowl on his lips, and the way his eyes pierced at him. It was the same look that his mother had when she was angry.
"What did you do?" asked Chris.
Leo took a deep breath. "The Elders did what we had to do, Chris," he said. "What we did was for the best…for the best of this family."
"What. Did. You. Do?" asked Chris, again, slowly stating each word.
Leo glanced at the couch. "Chris, why don't you sit?"
"Not until you tell me what you did."
Leo sighed. "Chris…the Elders and I believed that Wyatt, well, he's changed."
"Changed?"
Leo nodded his head. "Corrupted. He's been abusing his powers," continued Leo. "He was doing more harm than good…"
Chris scoffed. "Yeah right," he muttered. "I haven't seen anything bad coming from protecting your family."
"Do you know how he's doing it?" questioned Leo to his younger son. He waited for his son to answer, but when he didn't Leo continued. "He's been making trips to the Underworld, Chris."
Chris blinked, but he didn't seemed quite as fazed as Leo thought he would. Then, Chris gave a shrug. "So? He's killing demons. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal?" said Leo. "He's hunting Chris. He's letting his rage and thirst for revenge take the better of him. Rage and power…"
"Are a bad combination," said Chris as he plopped down on a chair. "I know. Mom and the aunts always told me that. But, Wyatt…he doesn't have that. He's in control."
Leo shook his head. "No, no Chris, he's not. He's been using his powers incorrectly." He stared at Chris, whose face went into a passive void. "He's causing more danger for you and the family."
Leo rubbed the back of his neck. "I tried to talk to him…to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen." Leo closed his eyes, thinking about the talk he had with Wyatt. He reopened his eyes and saw his son's green eyes. "The Elders and I…the decision…it was to save him…it was for the best, Chris…We decided to strip him of his powers."
Chris' eyes went wide. He slowly rose up from his seat. His mouth slightly gaped open. "What?" he asked, barely above a whisper.
"Chris…"
"How could you do that?" asked Chris. "Your own son?"
"I was trying to help him Chris," explained Leo. "Wyatt is tipping off the edge. His powers…they're corrupting him. Turning him into a monster."
Chris shook his head and stood up from his seat. "No, you're wrong. Wyatt, he's not a monster!"
"Not yet," said Leo. "But he's on his way. That's why we tried to strip him of his powers, but he got away."
Chris smirked. Of course his all-powerful brother got away. Chris had grown up with Wyatt getting away with things. "So the all mighty Elders got beat by a nineteen year old. Classic."
Leo narrowed his eyes at Chris. "Chris, this is serious. Wyatt…he's a danger to himself and the Elders find him a danger to others. We have to save him before it's too late. The Elders and I have to finish stripping his powers."
Chris shook his head. "I can't believe I'm hearing this…"
"Chris," urged Leo. "Chris, I need your help. Your brother needs your help. You need to call him. Please, Chris."
Chris stared dumbly at Leo and shook his head. "I can't…I won't…"
Leo breathed out slowly, struggling to keep his voice calm. "Chris, you're hurting him. If you keep siding with him you're only encouraging him to destroy himself more. Is that what you want?"
Chris' eyebrows tightened as he glared at Leo. "You're blaming this on me? You come here and tell me Wyatt's a monster because of me!"
Leo took a few steps back from his youngest son. He didn't mean it in that way. He just wanted Chris' help. He wanted to save his eldest son from becoming evil. Chris was their link to Wyatt. With Chris, there was a chance to save him. That's all Leo wanted. He didn't mean to blame Wyatt's behavior on Chris. It wasn't Chris' fault at all. It was his own. He should have been more involved with his children, guide them better. He had failed as a parent. He had failed Piper. He had failed his children. Now, because of his failures, one of his sons was becoming a monster.
"No, of course, Chris…I didn't mean it like that," said Leo.
Chris rolled his eyes. "That's what you always say!" he shouted. "Then what do you mean? Huh?" Chris waited for Leo to say something, but his outburst kept Leo quiet. "You got nothing?" Chris chuckled and stared down at the floor before looking back up. "That's great. Well, you know what Leo? I'm use to the blame. I'm not innocent. Never innocent."
"C-Chris, I…I"
Chris lifted his hand. "Just go away. I'm done listening to you," Chris turned and walked away, heading to the staircase. "P.S. I'm not helping you. Wyatt's not a monster. He's a good person, which is more I can say about you."
Leo watched his son disappear behind the wall and heard the sound of footsteps traveling up the staircase. Leo stood still. Chris' words were like darklighter arrows to him. His words struck him in the hurt, leaking the venomous hate those words carried into his system. Leo was so consumed by his emotions he didn't realize that Odin the Elder had orbed next to him.
"Leo?"
Leo snapped his head to Odin. "What?" he spat and Odin backed away.
Leo closed his eyes tight and then breathed slowly. "I'm sorry, Odin. What is it?"
Odin eyed him before speaking. "We just wanted to let you know that we decided that since your other son is not going to help, we will to keep a close eye on him."
"You mean followed?"
Odin nodded. "One of us will be on guard in case Wyatt ever shows up. It's bound to happen sooner or later. He will come to his younger brother. Then, we will act."
"By act, you mean kill."
Odin's shoulders sagged. "Leo, he killed Gideon," said Odin. "It's too late. Your son's gone."
Leo shook his head, his eyes hardening. "No, I don't believe that. There's still some good in him. He can be saved. I just have to try harder."
Odin sighed. "Then you're being a fool Leo. Your love for him is blinding what the other Elders already see. Corruption. Power-hungry. It's too late to save your son."
"No, it's not," said Leo, angrily and he orbed away.
BREAK
The following weeks were awful. The next day after Chris found out that Leo and the Elders tried to strip Wyatt of his powers, he was greeted in the kitchen by his new whitelighter, Quentin. The whitelighter was a man in his early thirties and he had reddish hair and green almond shaped eyes.
Quentin was assigned to Chris until he became of age, but Chris insisted that he didn't need another one. He had his brother.
Quentin told Chris that Wyatt was no longer his or anyone else's whitelighter. That upset Chris, but he tried not to blame the new whitelighter. Quentin was just doing his job. Following orders. Chris expected that, but he still ignored his new whitelighter, refusing to be cooperative. He chose to be rude and neurotic to the whitelighter and Quentin said he expected Chris to be difficult.
"I was warned ahead of time that you would be a handful," he said.
Chris huffed. "Yeah, but they didn't warn you about this." With a flick of his wrist, he sent Quentin flying out of the house. However, he just reappeared again.
"Don't do that," said Quentin. "I'm here to protect you, guide you in your Wiccan ways."
"I don't need protection," said Chris. "I'm a big boy and my mother and brother had taught me of my Wiccan ways. Now, if you excuse me," Chris sidestepped the whitelighter. "I have things to do and people to see."
However, Quentin didn't leave him alone. He often showed up before and after school, telling Chris about demons that were acting trouble. Chris shrugged and said let the other witches deal with the problem. He had homework and babysitting duties to do.
Even after Wyatt was gone, Uncle Coop and Uncle Henry left their kids in Chris' care until they were done with work. So, after school, Chris would have to wait at the middle school and elementary school to pick up his cousins and take them to the Manor.
Quentin didn't approve that there were so many vulnerable magical children in one house, but Chris informed him that they were vulnerable. Their mothers were Charmed. They have grown up dealing with demons and knew what to do. Besides, Chris was there to take care of any demons that dared attack them.
"You can't be the only one to defend six children Christopher," said Quentin. "What if there were several demons? How will you manage that?"
"Well, we did have Wyatt with us, but you and the Elders took him away from us," remarked Chris. "Anyways, Prue and Uncle Henry's kids can teleport away if things get bad."
Yet, besides the new addition to his life, everything was almost normal. Almost.
Chris didn't expect Wyatt to show up in the first couple of days. Chris figured that Wyatt was being cautious, knowing the Elders would be watching the Manor and Chris.
Chris, however, did expect Wyatt to show up the next week. But, he didn't. He didn't even show up the week after that. Chris, against his better judgment, even called for Wyatt, but he didn't show up. That's when horrible images and thoughts began to plague him.
Maybe Wyatt was killed by demons. Or the Elders captured him. What did they do to him? Chris wanted to know. Was it really all his fault? Did Wyatt disappear, get lost in his quest for revenge of their mother's death and protection of his younger brother?
Chris went up to the bridge with these thoughts and he would stay up there for a long time at night. Sometimes he would cry when he believed that Wyatt was dead. Other times, he convinced himself that Wyatt was just in hiding, protecting himself from the Elders and demons.
Leo hadn't returned since the night he informed Chris about the Elders and Wyatt. Chris was somewhat thankful, but Quentin kept him informed of his father's whereabouts. From what Quentin had told him, Leo was roaming around the Underworld, searching for Wyatt. Yet, Chris knew that Leo wouldn't find him. If Wyatt wanted to stay hidden, he will stay hidden, even from their Elder father.
At the moment, Chris was up on the bridge, staring down at the cars below. He was thinking about what Wyatt said to him. Don't worry Chris. As long as I'm around, you'll be safe.
Where was he now? Chris counted the days since Wyatt disappeared. It had been twenty-six days since he saw Wyatt. Twenty-six days of living alone in fear of his brother's life.
Taking a deep breath, he breathed. "Wyatt?" he said. "Are you listening? Please, answer me. Wyatt?"
He waited, but nothing happened. Chris sighed in frustration and rubbed his hair. Glancing one more time at the city, he orbed back to the Manor. Quentin wasn't around and he was very thankful for that.
As he rounded the corner to go into the kitchen, he saw his Uncle Henry standing in the kitchen.
"Uncle Henry," said Chris, walking over towards him. "What are you doing here?"
Uncle Henry, who was drinking from a cup, but it down and faced Chris. "Just checking up on you," he said and Chris stared at him. "Coop asked me to see how you're doing. We're both worried about you, kid."
Chris knew they were. Uncle Coop wanted Chris to live with them, but Chris said he couldn't leave the Manor unattended. Demons could get it and use the Nexus. Coop didn't like the idea that Chris was living alone in a house that demons wanted to get their hands on. Chris said that he wasn't afraid of demons, but secretly, he didn't think demons would attack. He didn't know why he thought that, but he just didn't think demons would come barging into the Manor. Somehow, Wyatt was still protecting him, even though he wasn't around.
So, Coop and Henry would come by and check up on him randomly, making sure he was all right and if he needed anything. But, lately, they stopped, as they were too busy with their own lives to keep checking on Chris to find that he was well.
"Worried?" asked Chris. "Why? I'm fine."
"Then where were you?"
"On the bridge," said Chris and Uncle Henry gave a small smile. "Okay, I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"I think you already know."
Uncle Henry nodded. "Wyatt," he said and glanced at Chris who nodded. "You tried to call him?"
Chris nodded. "Yeah, but he didn't come." Chris sunk himself into a seat. Uncle Henry took a seat as well. "Uncle Henry, from your point of view and expertise in the matter, do you think…um…I mean…you don't think Wyatt is…"
Uncle Henry sighed. "I don't know Chris," he answered. "I always try to think positive about these things. However, mortal world and magical world, they're different. I don't know if he's alive or not, but knowing him, he wouldn't want to leave his younger brother here all alone."
Chris gave a small, sad smile. "But he also doesn't want to leave me unprotected either. That's why he went down to the Underworld. He was trying to protect me. He hunted demons to keep me safe, now…" Chris stuttered and his mouth started to tremble. "Now the Elders are trying to strip his powers."
Chris glanced at his uncle Henry. "It's my fault," he said. "My fault that he's gone."
Uncle Henry shook his head. "No, Chris, don't blame yourself for this," said Uncle Henry. "Wyatt, he just wanted to keep you safe. It was his choice, don't blame it on yourself."
Chris drew a breath. "That's what Wyatt told me. Right after grandpa died."
Uncle Henry watched Chris slouch in his seat more. "Chris, he's right. Whatever happens, it has nothing to do with you. It was his decision to do whatever the higher power deemed as bad."
"But, Leo…"
"Well forget Leo. You shouldn't listen to what he says," said Uncle Henry and Chris was shocked to hear his uncle say that. Uncle Henry never approved of Leo as a father, but he always scowled Wyatt and Chris when they talked poorly of him.
"I try not to," admitted Chris. "But, sometimes…"
Uncle Henry grabbed Chris' shoulders. "Chris, Leo hasn't been around to understand the situation down here. Listen to those that do understand. Those that you trust."
Chris nodded. "I trust Wyatt. I trust you and Uncle Coop."
Uncle Henry laughed. "Thanks for the vote," he said, and then he stared at Chris for a long moment. "I think you need to get some sleep, Chris. You're starting to get bags underneath those eyes."
Chris thought about the last time he slept. He had been sleeping less these past few days and when he did fall asleep, it wasn't peaceful. He kept dreaming of horrible things like his brother's dead body and demons trying to kill him and his family.
"Yeah, I will," said Chris. "Just have a few things to do."
Uncle Henry nodded. "Well, don't stay up too late. You have school tomorrow."
"And babysitting duties," added Chris as he got up from his seat.
Uncle Henry nodded and hugged his nephew good bye. Once his Uncle Henry was gone, he locked the front door and walked up to the attic where the Book of Shadows laid on its podium.
He walked over and flipped it through to a page: To Call A Lost Witch.
Chris stared at the page. He wanted to contact his brother. To see him to make sure he's okay and safe.
Chris lingered at the page, tracing the title words with his fingers. He couldn't do it. No matter how bad he wanted to see his older brother, he couldn't say the spell. He couldn't be selfish. He couldn't risk bringing Wyatt to the Manor only to have him be taken away by the Elders.
Chris dropped his head on the book.
Why can't his life be normal? Then maybe everyone would still be alive and at home.
Chris sighed and walked away from the book. He headed back to his bedroom and lay across his bed, staring at his belongings. There were just a few things that Chris prized over. He had a few books that he loved like On the Road and For My Brother. He also had a picture frames, but they were filled with photos that Chris didn't even remembered being taken. There was a picture of him as an infant with his mother and then a picture of his brother holding him when he was three years old and Wyatt was five years old.
Chris closed his eyes and fell asleep.
BREAK
"Mr. Halliwell," said his European History and Chris jerked his head up towards the chalkboard. "Will you please tell me who is Oliver Cromwell?"
Chris sat up in his chair. "Uh, Cromwell was an English political leader and military dictator best known for his involvement in the established of the republican Commonwealth."
His teacher frowned, unhappy that he was able to answer the question. She continued with the lesson as Jake muffled a laugh and winked at his best friend. Chris gave a nod, but then turned to look at the window. He watched the trees' leaves ruffle in the wind and the cars going by without a notice or care of the beauty around them. The sun was shinny so bright, lightening every part of the scene before Chris.
Chris sighed and slumped in his seat. He wished for nothing more than to get out of the school.
After another fifteen minutes of the importance of the Cromwell Era, the bell rang and Chris was the first person out of the classroom. He dropped by his locker, switching textbooks and grabbing his notebook and leather jacket. He put his jacket on and closed his locker to find Jake walking towards him.
"Hey man," he said. "You want to shoot some hoops with the guys?"
Chris shook his head. "No, I can't. I have to babysit my cousins."
Jake understood and leaned against the lockers. "So, how are things at home? You and Wyatt better?"
Chris shrugged. "It's getting better," lied Chris, knowing he couldn't tell Jake that his brother is missing. Jake's mother is a social worker and she would insist that Chris be taken out of the Manor. Chris couldn't let that happen. "But, he has work and everything. So, that leaves me with babysitting duties, which I have to get going. I have to pick up my cousins from school. See you later?"
"Yeah, man," said Jake and the two friends parted.
Chris hurried to the middle school and picked up his younger cousins and then led them to the elementary school for the other cousins. With all seven of them walking, Chris had to keep an eye out for any demons that might pop up.
They never did, but once he had his cousins with him, Chris was very protective. He stayed in that mode until his uncles came to collect their children. Until then, Chris was left in charge of taking care and protecting his younger cousins, so he was always on the alert for any signs of demonic activity nearby. He was also left to help them with their powers. Penelope was getting better with his astral projection, but she still couldn't use her power of telekinesis with her astral projection. Prue received that her Aunt Piper's power of molecular combustion and was the powerful one in their family. Patty, however, hadn't demonstrated her power yet. She refused to talk about her powers. Prue and Penelope had tried to talk to her, but she pretended that she didn't know what they were talking about and played with her Barbies.
Hailey and Hannah began developing powers as well. They both could orb along with their younger brother, but they were developing their Wiccan powers. Hailey received the power of molecular combustion and Hannah received the premonition power. Henry still hadn't come into his, but they all assumed that he would receive the power of telekinesis.
As they all entered the Manor, Prue, Penelope, and the Mitchell twins sat down at the kitchen table, spilling out their books and papers. Chris pulled out a baking sheet and started to drop cookie dough onto the sheet. It was a daily routine. Come home, make sure the cousins start their homework, make cookies, give them to the cousins first, then work on his homework, and entertain the cousins in between.
"Chris?" called Penelope. "I need help with a math problem."
Chris looked over his shoulder. "What's the problem?"
Penelope walked over and placed the book on top of the counter next to the cookie sheet. Chris looked down and stared at the problem that was circle in pencil.
Chris read and nodded his head. "Okay, so think of the letters as numbers, okay?" said Chris as he pointed to the problem. "So, the problem is asking if (8,0) is the correct solution to the equation y=4x+8?" Penelope nodded her head. "Okay now, do you know what (8,0) means?"
Penelope shook her head. "I was kind of doozing off in math class today," she admitted, her cheeks turning red.
Chris shrugged. "Well, I can't scold you since I doozed off in history class today," he said and he looked back down at the problem. "(8,0) means (x,y). So, you have x=8 and y=0. Fit that into the equation."
Penelope scribbled on her piece of paper and started to do the math problem. "I have 0=40. That's not right." She looked up at Chris, who nodded.
"Okay, so (8,0) is not the correct solution," he said. "What is?"
Penelope rolled her eyes. "The problem doesn't say what is the correct solution. Just if this one is right or not."
"I know, but I still want you to solve it," said Chris. "Come on, what do you think it is?"
Penelope frowned, but glanced back at her problem. "Uh..." She looked up at Chris for help.
Chris gave a smile. "It could be anything, Penelope," he said. "You can fit x to be anything then have y be answer. In this problem though, they should have switch the 8 and the 0. Then it would be correct."
Penelope's eyes grew bigger. "Oh, okay."
"Do you get it?" asked Chris. "The whole thing? Do you still need help?"
Penelope shook her head. "No, I got it. The paraphase means x, y. In that order, right?"
Chris nodded his head. "Yeah, it will always be (x,y)."
Penelope nodded her head, thanking her cousin for his help, and walked back to the table, taking her math book and paper. Chris put in the sheet of cookies into the oven. He walked over to the table and asked if anyone else needed help. The older cousins shook their head and Chris went off to look for the two youngest, finding them watching television.
"What are you watching?" asked Chris, sitting down in an empty seat.
Henry Jr. turned to look at his older cousin. "Watching spider man," he said and Patty nodded. "He's my favorite super hero."
Chris laughed. "Yeah, I was always a fan of superman, but whatever. Patty, do you like spider man too?"
Patty shrugged and Henry Jr. rolled his eyes. "Her hero is Barbie."
"That's not true," she cried. "I like spider man."
Chris laughed again. "Yeah, well, he does have awesome powers. He can crawl up walls and create webs."
"Yeah!" shouted Henry Jr. excitedly.
They watched the television in silent for a moment. Henry Jr. eyes were glued to the screen, but Patty didn't seem to be as intrigued of the episode compared to her cousin. After a few quiet moments, Patty turned to Chris.
"Chris?" asked Patty and Chris turned to Patty, surprised that she addressed him. Patty had avoided having any contact with Chris in the past month.
"Yeah Patty," he asked.
"When's Wyatt coming home?"
Chris blinked. He figured that Coop and Henry told their children that Wyatt disappeared, but just hearing Patty ask about his whereabouts just shocked him. Chris stuttered as he spoke. "I-I don't know, but he's all right. Trust me. He'll be home one day."
Patty nodded and her eyes went back to the television. Chris glanced at the television and then got up to get the cookies. He pulled them from the oven and placed them on cooling racks. Prue and Penelope rushed by him, grabbing them.
"They're still hot," warned Chris, but Prue and Penelope still grabbed the cookies.
After placing the cookies on the racks, he went up to his room, taking his backpack with him. When he opened the door, the first thing he saw was an envelope on his pillow. His first thought was Wyatt. He dropped his backpack on the floor and raced over to his bed. He grabbed the envelope and opened it.
Chris,
I stopped by, but realized that you were at school. I know it's been weeks since I have spoken to you and I just wanted to let you know that the search for Wyatt is not going very well.
However, I won't give up and neither should you. If you come in contact with your older brother, please call me.
Love,
Dad.
Chris crumbled the letter and tossed it into the trashcan. He should have known. Wyatt wouldn't leave letters. Wyatt knew how much Chris hated letters since he got them so much from Leo when he was growing up. Explanations to why he didn't show up for a school play, basketball game, and anything else.
Chris heard a knock on his door. "Come in," he said and Prue stuck her head through the door. "Chris, can we go upstairs to the attic and play?"
Chris nodded his head. "Yeah, but be careful. You see a demon, you beam away and call me. Okay?"
Prue nodded her head and closed the door. Chris laid on his back, telekinetically sending a book from his case to him. He grabbed it and opened it to a random page, reading silently to himself for a bit. Then he flipped to the beginning and saw a written message from his mother.
To my darling son,
I know how much you like reading and this was one of my favorites as a teen. I hope you take the lesson with you as you grow.
Happy 14th Birthday! I love you.
Love,
Mom
Chris closed the book and stared at the front cover. To Kill a Mockingbird was his mother's favorite novel as a teenager. He had read it over the past few years and could see how it was his mother's favorite. Fighting a fair fight. Fighting for justice. To protect those that cannot protect themselves; defend those that cannot defend themselves. That was what his mother and his aunts stood for. That was what he stood for.
Chris closed his eyes, thinking about his mother, his aunts, his life before things went up in hell. Before they were all taken away in front of him.
As Chris drifted away in his sleep, he heard a crash above him. Chris jumped up from his bed and listened. Then he heard it. The cry for help.
"CHRIS!"
Instantly, Chris orbed and reappeared in the attic. He saw the attic's couch upturned and saw Patty and Henry Jr. crouching behind it. Prue was standing off to the side, her arms out towards a group of demons.
"Prue!" shouted Chris and Prue swung around to look at her older cousin. "Take Patty and Henry away! Now!"
The demons all grew either energy balls or fireballs in their palms, raising their hands to throw it at the young Halliwell witches.