A/N:
Sorry for the long wait for the update but had a little writers block on this story.
Chapter 28
What is said in the dark
Wyatt was talking to Awray at her camp, he wanted to know more about them and how they knew Mel. He was sitting on the floor with his legs crossed while someone brought him tea. This entire place was a mystery that did not reveal the secrets without a little loss of blood and sweat. Ever since he has met the magical community of his world he has had a false imagery. Now he was seeing the truth and although some of it was more frightening then he ever imagine the rest was truly amazing.
"You and your family are fond of tea," Awray said as she took a sip.
"Yeah my mom thinks it helps us relax," Wyatt said as he took a sip of his.
"From what I know about your family it will take more than tea," she said and Wyatt could not help but nod in agreement as they are on edge most of the time.
"How do you know Mel?" he asks and she leaned back slightly while someone brought dessert.
"Like Roland said she was a very curious child and when your family was visiting, he saw it would be nice for you and her to meet the other clans," she replied and took a small bite of the cream filled dessert that was surrounded by chocolate encased in breading. "It did not take long for me to figure out she was above normal intelligence. She wanted to know were all of our gears went too and what they moved. She figured out must of it but some still eluded her. We are goblins by your definition mostly because of character traits are love for engineering and technology along with trinkets. Unfortunately when we get exiled, we change into something else, sometimes by choice and sometimes by necessity."
"Why do you get exiled?"
"Why do you get grounded. The same reasons breaking the rules treachery to the clan or not contributing, there are a plethora of reasons Wyatt. This place is unforgiving," she replied and finished her treat.
"From what I understand Melinda learned from each clan something that would help her fight," Wyatt asks as he took a bite of the dessert.
"Yes she was unusual as most people of her intellect are arrogant, she was not, to her at this was a vast new world she soaked in like a sponge."
"Are you sure she's not arrogant?" Wyatt asks as his first impression of her was not one to take orders easily.
"There is a difference between being arrogant and correct. We taught her origami that she interpreted and infused in her technology, she also learned hand-to-hand combat and weaponry from us."
"What did she learn from the others?"
"I'm afraid that you'll have to ask them, although our clans are civil to each other we are not exactly best friends. Wyatt the dark future scarred this landscape and scarred her more than you can imagine, be careful not to let down your guard around her. Melinda is always thinking always planning and always plotting. She has survived because of those reasons, no one believed that technology could even compete with magic but she proved everyone wrong," she replied.
"You think she will try to kill me, even though I'm not that way that it was changed?"
"I don't think she will try to kill you, I know she can, the questions is will she," Awray replied and Wyatt took in a deep breath.
Back at vultures camp Chris was talking to Prue while they prepare potions for the upcoming battle.
"Its cool to finally meet you, mom talked about you a lot," Chris said while filling a small vile.
"Thanks and its great to finally meet you instead of peeking through the clouds," Prue said as she handed him a cork.
"Wait how often did you peak?" he asks nervously.
"Not doring private moments so you can stop blushing," she replied as his face was getting red.
"Oh thank god."
"So does Bianca still hate you?" Prue asks.
"Let's just say there won't be any private moments for a while," he replied.
"She will forgive you, technically it wasn't your fault anyway,"Prue said.
"That reminds me we still can't find the guy who supposedly did the spell that brought us all together," he said and filled some more bottles.
"Toniz and he may be more elusive than we think not to mention I have no idea what his intentions were," Prue replied.
"Wasn't he supposed to be here?"
"According to Melinda's Angel of destiny but it was Clyde after all," Prue replied as Piper walked up to them.
"Hay you're not teaching him bad things are you?" Piper asks.
"That's what Aunts are for," Prue replied.
"Chris your wife would like to see you," Piper said and licked her thumb to wipe off some dirt that was on his cheek.
"Mom that's gross," he said and used the sleeve of his shirt to clean off his face.
"You never complained before," she said.
"Yeah when I was five," he said and kissed her on the cheek before heading off.
"They grow up so fast," Prue said while smiling.
"In our world pretty much in a day," Piper said and looked at all the potions on the table.
"Are you kind of disappointed not been able to flying or breathe fire?" Prue asks.
"No I was getting tired of you guys ridding my back all the time," Piper replied and smiled.
"Cute, so how is everyone?"
"On edge, after the incident with Max I don't think were ready," Piper replied as a alarm began to ring," Great what now?" she asks while everyone including the generals from each clan were outside at the ready.
"Mel what's going on?" Chris asks while joining his family.
"Jack," Mel replied as she could see a man just outside the force field who apparently found one of Jacks traps. His arms and legs were spread out as four tight ropes attached to trees on either side suspended the man in midair.
"It's a messenger," Trinity said as she noticed the markings on his arms. Messengers were always branded by whoever sent them," I don't recognize the branding," she said as the symbol was unfamiliar.
"Well then let's go loosen the strings," Mel said and walked up to the force field that separated them from him. He was struggling to free himself but stopped once he saw her. "Get on with it," she said.
"You must give me your word that you will not kill me," he said while his body shook from the pressure and fear.
"We give you our word," Chris said and Mel turned to face him.
"He was talking to me and don't be so quick everything here will exploit your weaknesses including them," Mel said and Chris pressed his lips together in irritation. Mel turned back to face the man," it depends on what you have to say."
"Give me your word," he said again.
"Mel just do it," Phoebe said.
"Fine I promise your death will be quick," Mel said as Piper stepped forward.
"No we do not have to kill everything, he is no threat to us behind the shield," Piper said in attempts to reason with her daughter.
"Oh for gods sake fine, Jack released the trap," Mel said and Jack used his daggers to cut the rope by tossing them through the shield. His weaponry was calculated into the shield defenses so that he could use them if needed. The man fell to the ground hard and stood up as Mel awaited his message.
"Your daughter is alive," he said and his body tensed as she tilted her head sideways a little but kept her eyes firmly planted on his.
"What?" Mel asks while Jack stood next to her.
"She is alive and that is all I know, now you gave me your word," he said but his voice cracked. Mel walked forward and right through the shield.
"Mel wait it could be a trap," Astra said as Jack also walked out. Mel was now face-to-face with the man whom just told her something she thought she never here.
"That's not possible, I saw her die," Mel's voice showed auditable signs of a plethora of emotions.
"Actually Melinda you didn't, I saw the same memory and all I remember is blood but I never saw what actually happened," Chris said and hope the man was not lying.
"Who sent you?" Mel asks as the possibility was too much to just not believe as Jack maneuvered himself behind the man.
"I don't know," he replied and knew that Jack was behind him as a long blade began to show itself from Melinda's sleeve of her coat. " I swear it," he pleaded.
"We could do the truth spell, Melinda there is no reason for violence," Paige said as Mel was capable of so many things.
"Then do it," Mel said through her teeth. Paige said the truth spell and after it took effect they began the questioning.
"Who sent you?" Mel asks again.
"I don't know his name," he replied as Prudence looked over at one of the ferries who stood next to Vagabond. He was beginning to back up like trying to remove himself from the crowd. She kept her eyes on him as the questioning continued.
"What did he look like?" Jack asks.
"I don't know he was wearing a hood, I never saw his face," he replied and Jack kicked a rock as it felt like they were getting nowhere.
"Your consciousness may not be able to make him out but I can," Mel said and placed her hand on his four head. He cringed as he felt the electricity surged through his body. "Access cortex frontal lobe imagery," she said and a hologram form to the side showing images of the latest memories. It was a sideshow moving extremely fast until finally settled on the man with the hood. "Commence tracing," she said and a grid pattern ran over the image but it was having issues with the hood as it hid most of the features. But could calculate by how the hood rested on a rough image. "Voice analysis," she said and the man began to speak.
"Tell Melinda her daughter is alive and that is all," he said while ladybug maneuvered herself behind the man that was backing away from the crowd. He bumped into her and could feel something cold and sharp on his back.
"Going somewhere, fairy," she whispered into his ear. Mel recognize the voice and turned to face the crowd and it did not take long for her eyes to set on Vagabond's right-hand man.
"Beovell what have you done?" Vagabond asked in discussed.
"I can explain," he said as the crowd parted to let Melinda through with Jack next to her. Prudence has already removed his power so that he could not materialize away. He saw Jack and Mel walking towards him and it was the equivalent of the executioner carrying the rope that would hang him. "Please I can explain," he pleaded.
"Where is my daughter?" Mel asks while still holding firmly onto the sword she was about to use on the messenger.
"She is with the The Sinners of Uther at least that is where she was hidden," he replied and Mel closed her eyes tight as her lower lip quiver a bit.
"Did you tell Wyatt where she was?" Jack asks.
"I had no choice he was going to kill me," he replied and went to his knees. "Please Mel have mercy," he said.
"Why didn't you tell me when I arrived, why send a messenger?" Mel asks.
"You said it yourself there are agendas everywhere I was just trying to protect myself," he replied.
"The problem is you didn't protect yourself from me," Mel said and with one quick movement sliced the man's arm.
"Mel stop he told you where she was you don't need to do this," Piper said and Mel was growing tired of being questioned about her approach. She turned quickly on her heels and was now face-to-face with her mother.
"You don't know me and don't question my tactics they have kept me alive for this long, because I know what happens when your merciful, they take everything from you," Mel said and went back to Beovell as Jack pulled out more of his daggers. He sliced the man's other arm as Mel also made small cut with her sword.
"Vagabond do something he is your man can't you stop this?" Chris asks.
"No his not part of our clan any longer and I would suggest you stay out of it," Vagabond replied.
Melinda and Jack circled Beovell making cuts as they did so. With the others did not understand is that she's known him since she was a child she trusted him and after years of having her back stabbed, she has made it very clear that there are consequences to those actions.
"Stop it!" Piper yelled and a shock wave shot out from her suit causing Melinda and Jack and Beovell to go flying backwards. Piper was shocked that she basically struck her own daughter.
"Piper," Leo said while running up to her as Mel stood up. Her eyes were cold and even seemed inhuman.
"You don't deserve this, you don't have the right to wear it," Mel said and stretched out her hand and the suit Piper was wearing began to break apart into tiny pieces as Mel's hand absorbed the floating cloth. Piper could feel the power leave her and the connection she felt was fading as well. Piper fell to her knees as she no longer had the suit on, all that was left was a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
"Mel she is your mother," Leo said while helping Piper stand up.
"You may be my sister but if you threaten her again I will kill you," Wyatt said and the cold look moved from one family member to another. Prudence stood next to Mel along with Jack and Astra but Trinity stayed next to Paige.
"Listen we have a war to fight and not with each other, Mel we can go get your daughter," Chris said as he could feel the tension building.
"Your right but the hell five go but none of you, we know how to deal with that clan, and considering your queasiness to the site of blood it would be better for you to remain here," Mel said and walked past the man who was curled in a ball and bleeding to death slowly as they went into the house.
"Can someone help him please?" Phoebe asks while going over to him. Paige bent down and healed him.
"Vagabond, forgive me," Beovell said as he stood up.
"You are exiled forever, so says the clan," Vagabond said and the clan repeated what he said.
"No please," Beovell pleaded as he began to disappear.
"I don't understand why, he told her where she was?" Wyatt asks as this kind of complete lack of mercy or understanding was hard to comprehend.
"You come to our world and question our methods, he gave her daughter to the darkness, he gave her to you. I don't know how she survived but I guarantee it was against your wishes," vagabond replied and walked away.
"Piper are you ok?" Leo asks as his wife just sat there trying not to collapse and just give in. "Piper."
"When this is over I don't want to remember how she used to be," Piper replied through tears and got up to find someplace quiet and alone. Leo knew it was best to give her space in a way she was going through what he went through with Chris and knew she needed some time.
"Trinity are you going with them?" Paige asks.
"I should, we have always fought together I can't abandon them now," Trinity replied as Henry walked over.
"If you don't agree with this you don't have too," he said.
"Yes I do, it's hard to explain but they need me," Trinity said and joined the others in the house.
Coop was next to Phoebe as she began to pace. "At least she's alive," Coop said.
"Yeah you think that would make people happy instead they try to kill each other," Phoebe said as she ran her hand through her hair.
"There has to be more to this what do we know about that clan?" Coop asks.
"Not much but they are not friendly, my guess is there is going to be a war and I can't just let my daughter go into this alone," Phoebe said.
"Neither can I so whether they like it or not we are going to follow them," Coop said as Paige nodded as she joined the conversation.
"What about Piper and Leo?" Paige asks.
"She is devastated right now I think they should stay here just in case there's a attack, Piper still has a lot of firepower even without the suit," Phoebe replied.
"Mel is not stupid I'm sure she has ways of knowing if she's being followed," Henry said.
"Well then will have to be careful and try to get the direction of where this clan is, that way we can keep our distance and still know where we are going," Paige replied.
"I will go pack some things," Coop said as Chris and Wyatt walked over to them.
"What's going on?" Wyatt asks.
"You stay here with Prue, Leo and Piper we are going to follow them and that's the end of the discussion," Phoebe said as Chris was about to protest. Prue remained quiet as she looked up the hill and could see Piper sitting on the rock as Leo approached her.
"It's never boring with this family," Lila said while standing next to Prue.
"Right now boring is exactly what they need," Prue said.
"How did Melinda's daughter survive Billy's attack?" Lila ask.
"I don't know and how did she end up back here, it's just one thing after another," Prue replied.
"What is said in the dark will be heard in the light," Lila said and gave a small smile before walking back to the main building.
To be continued...
