Hi everyone, sorry for the long wait. I had this done quite a while now but just didn't find time to post.
Thanks to all you people out there for reading. It makes me very happy.
Thanks to Chris' Adorer who takes her time to find my mistakes although she's busy herself. I really appreciate it.
Chapter 29
Leaving Chicago, Chris orbed back to the Manor to Faye's call.
The elf had started her work today, when Chris had still been in bed. She was very motivated and had taken care of the laundry at once. After checking through the clothes, she had mentioned that some sewing was needed and asked for the sewing kit. After she had only gained a blank look, she had decided to buy what she needed – on Wyatt's bill.
"It's not my fault, my clothes get ripped, by the way," Chris had justified. "It's the demons'."
"I suppose, I should rather stock up in that case," the elf replied. "You don't happen to have a sewing machine."
There had to be one somewhere, as Piper used to work with it and curse the whole time while using it.
Chris had promised to look for it. Then he had orbed to see Prue.
He had to admit it was nice to have someone in the house to talk to (someone, who even made him breakfast).
Brandon usually left in the morning before Chris got up. There were days, he didn't talk to anyone until he went to the club and met his employees at night.
That was why, honestly, he had liked to accept Wyatt's offer.
When he had heard Faye's call back in Chicago, he wondered, why he could hear her anyway. They had only met two times and only shortly, so there couldn't be any connection yet.
First, he had feared, that there was already a demon attacking her. But he realized even before he had fully reappeared in the foyer that there was no evil being in the house. However, a third person was there; a witch.
Chris met the elf in the hall, where she cleaned the oval table.
"I wasn't sure, if I could intrude you," Faye said apologizing. "But the young woman came here 15 minutes ago and said, she would wait. I placed her in the parlor and offered her a drink."
"The parlor?" Chris asked confused. Faye pointed to the left side. "Oh, the sitting room, right. And who is it?"
"She said her name was Melli. What kind of name is that?" Faye shook her head.
"Okay. I'll go to her."
"Do you need anything? A drink? A snack?"
"No, thanks."
Chris crossed the hall and went into the room. He wondered what the girl wanted from him.
Melli unblushingly looked through a book resting on one of the small tables. It was a photo album.
"Can I help you?" Chris asked.
She jumped at the sudden voice behind her. She was dressed equally weird to the first time they met: With an oversized denim button down shirt, a broad red belt around the waist under an orange vest and yellow leggings with grey chucks, her hair in a tight bun on top of her head and a large cloth bag with flower print slung over her shoulder.
She cleared her throat. "The elf said I could wait here." Melli took a deep breath and told herself to not be so nervous. She hadn't done anything wrong. "Actually, my dad sent me. He wanted me to tell you, that he thought about it and would also grant you an extra 10% discount on your invoices."
"That's very generous. I'll tell my aunt."
The young woman wasn't sure, if he was being honest or only sarcastic. "Okay." She started to rummage in her large bag. "He also asked me to give you something. I just can't find it. Wait."
Chris watched her pressing his lips together to avoid laughing at her clumsy movements. Finally, she sat the bag down on the sofa and almost climbed into it before announcing: "Got it! Man, no wonder. He couldn't have given me a smaller bottle."
"No wonder, you are transporting your whole household. What are you doing with all the stuff? Hiking?"
"Hey, it's only the essentials," she justified and at the same time wondered why she justified herself again. It was none of his business what she was doing, or carrying around and why.
She handed him the bottle.
Chris shook it and the light red liquid started to bubble. "What is that?"
"It's my family's special recipe," she said, with pride in her voice.
"Uhu. And what would that be?"
"It's a family secret."
"And what should I do with it?"
"It's an all-round vanquishing potion. My father wanted you to have it to demonstrate our family's skills."
Chris frowned. "A what?"
"An all-round vanquishing potion," she repeated.
"Yes, I do understand the words. A vanquishing potion for what demon?"
Now Melli was the one to frown. "As I said, it's versatile. It can be used against several types of demons."
"No way," Chris simple said watching the bubbles finally vanish. "There are no vanquishing potions against all types of demons."
"Well, not all kinds. But it works against all lower and some middle leveled demons."
"I don't think so." He placed the bottle on the sofa table. "But thanks, anyway."
"It does work," she replied defiantly. "My family may not be the valuable Halliwells, with their villa on top of a nexus and an elf maid, but we also come from a long line of powerful witches."
"I don't doubt that. I simply know, that there is no such thing as a versatile vanquishing potion. There are acid potions and the likes, to harm demons but not to vanquish all of them."
"Maybe you don't know everything."
"I'm sure, I don't. I did not want to insult you or your family, okay? I'll give it a chance."
She had her arms crossed over her chest defensively but let them drop now. "Okay." She stood, unsure if she should leave now. "It's a nice house, by the way. A bit loaded with stuff maybe, but comfortable."
"You don't feel that comfortable, when a demon attacks."
"Yes, I guess so. Well, I'm not very familiar with demons." Melli shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "I think, I haven't thanked you for helping me out the other day."
"No, you haven't. You don't have to either. It's what we do for innocent girls."
She smiled blushing.
"How is it going with your powers?" Chris asked.
She sighed. "They are working. Just not the way I want it."
"Yes, that's sort of common."
"Really?" She dropped on the sofa. "Did you ever have problems with your powers?"
"Sure." Chris sat down on the sofa opposite her. "Witch powers are not an exact science. It's influenced by many different aspects."
"My mom now insists that I go to magic school for help just like you suggested. Thank you," she added with a dark glare.
"Sorry. She's only worried. She wants you to be able to protect yourself and to become invisible is quite cool."
Melli's face lit up in a broad smile. "You think? I think so, too. I really wished, I could use it probably. You know, there are so many things I'd like to spy on, too."
"No, no, that's not why you have that power. That's personal gain and has consequences. Moreover, it is quite rude. And what you may hear could unsettle you."
"Don't be such a fun killer. It was a joke." She was sure, he could see right through her that it was no joke. At least not only. "Have you ever been to magic school?"
"Sure, plenty of times. My dad works there, remember? Never as a pupil, though."
"Why not? I mean as you said, your dad works there and you are a powerful witch."
"My mom didn't want it. She wanted us to have a more or less normal upbringing. Normal friends, a normal school."
"And you never wanted to go, where you could practice your magic openly?"
"I think, I would have just as misbehaved in magic school as I did in high school. Would have only made it easier for my dad. He could have scolded me right in school and not went to see the principle first and then scold me at home."
Melli laughed. "Didn't you like school? Have you been in a gang or so?"
"No, I wasn't in a gang. I guess I was seeking for attention somehow. Moreover, I don't like people to tell me what to do, which teachers usually do."
"It's true. I wouldn't like my father or mother as teacher, either. School is the only time I can get away from them."
"What school do you visit?"
"College. I study anthropology."
Chris raised his eyebrows. "What do you learn there?"
"Human behavior. You know: diversity, cultural patterns and practices."
"Sounds interesting."
"It is. I'm just not sure what to do with it later. But right now, I really enjoy it. And you are full time demon battling?"
"Unfortunately, you can't make any money with that. I owe a night club; P3. If you want to go out, you could go there. I'll even invite you for a drink."
"Oh, thanks. I maybe will. I don't go out much, really. But I only just turned 21 and I really want to begin a 'nightlife' and all. I only need people to come along."
"Don't expect too much from nightlife. It's not as cool as it sounds."
"Maybe. But I want to check that out myself." She played with the loop of her bag. "I should be going. I'm helping my parents in the store over the holidays. Running errands, stocking shelves and labeling price tags. So boring, but at least they give me some pocket money." Melli stood up and Chris brought her to the door.
"It was nice talking to you," she said and was surprised that it was the truth, too. She had had a not too good opinion of Chris, but she had found it easy to talk to him.
Faye clicked her tongue behind Chris.
Haley pushed her way through the dancing crowd towards the bar of P3. She wanted to meet her cousin here and discuss an issue with Chris. She now thought, it was not the best place to talk, though. It was too loud and too full.
The summer break was clearly a factor to increase the guest rate. It had been a good decision of Chris to stretch the days of opening and the opening hours for that time. Haley decided, she should delay her request to another day and another place. But she wouldn't just leave again now. She was sure her cousin had already realized her presence and it would be odd, if she didn't at least say hello and have a drink.
Haley was aware that it was special treatment of Chris that she and her sister were allowed to visit the club. Being just 19 there was almost no establishment they were allowed to party. Night club owners usually wanted to avoid any stress with authorities and just didn't allow entrance to minors, instead of checking the ID each time those wanted to order a drink. A while ago, Chris and the second bartender, Aaron, had tried to find out, how to proceed with minors in P3: Giving those red plastic wristbands or a special stamp on the back of their hands. But it turned out, they still got alcoholic drinks. They just asked a full ager to go to the bar for them – just like Chris had expected from the beginning.
"Maybe I will close out all full aged guests one day and give a minor party – for minors only, you know," he had contemplated, when his cousins had gone on to complain. He had never done so, yet, but allowed them to spend some time in P3 but only as long as he had a good view on them.
Haley climbed on one of the bar chairs.
"Isn't it a working day?" Chris asked her as greeting. "Shouldn't you be tugged in bed?"
"Hello to you, too," the young woman replied. "Can't I have a day off maybe?"
"I don't know. Can you? Do you want a drink?"
She shrugged, changing the subject. "Just a coke, please. Prue called us."
"So I've heard. Holly told me."
The slightly younger twin had come to the Manor earlier tonight with one of her charges, searching for a vanquishing potion or spell in the Book of Shadow.
The demon had found the two women quickly, knocking out the charge. When Chris orbed next to Holly, alarmed by the fighting sounds, a fireball had already been directed at her. Despite Chris' quick reaction, his telekinesis failed again, making the magical weapon only linger in the air instead of hitting the demon as intended. The evil intruder realized his chance immediately, sending another fireball flying. It hit a frustrated Chris in the left shoulder, before Holly orbed the fireball that still hung in the air at the demon, vanquishing him finally.
"Holly told me, that you are not a reliable demon vanquisher these days," Haley said. "Any idea, what's wrong?"
Chris shrugged. "I never thought, Holly was that much into gossip."
"Maybe," his cousin suggested. "Your powers are expanding."
"And therefore, they stop working."
"Why not? They still work against household items. Moreover, I'm an optimist. You should try that."
"It's against my nature," Chris replied. "I rather keep my powers as they are and can be sure they are consistent."
"Well, as long as they aren't, feel free to call me for help anytime," Haley suggested, although they both knew, he wouldn't. Chris was too afraid that anything could happen to anyone while saving him. "Anyway," the 19 year old went back to the original topic. "About Prue's call, you did not happen to have spent some time in Chicago lately?"
"I've been to Chicago visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Institute. But not lately. Must have been almost one and half years ago. Why?"
Haley shrugged. "Just asking. We talked for quite a while until Holly was called by her charge. Prue told us that dad and this Drew guy had been fighting over football, can you believe that?"
"Barely."
"We told mum and she asked dad, why he hadn't told her that. Dad said, it was no fight. They only had been discussing the latest game."
"That fits. See, it's always good to hear both sides of a story."
"Uhu." Haley drank from her coke through the straw. She looked up and found her cousin looking straight ahead. She turned around in her chair but could not see anything unusual at that spot. "Something wrong?" she asked facing him again.
"What?" Chris blinked and focused on her.
"I asked, if anything was wrong."
"No, nothing."
Haley shrugged and took another gulp.
Someone sat down next to her. Someone who had used too much cologne. She frowned at the man with the spiked up, very black hair, which almost shimmered blue in the dim light. He was sun tanned and wore black denim pants with a pinstriped vest and heavy leather shoes. The buckle of the belt he was wearing blinked metallic. Altogether, he looked like a pimp.
"Hey, a vodka tonic," he ordered.
It seemed, this guy was no stranger in this place.
"What do you want?" Chris asked.
"A vodka tonic, did you happen to become deaf?" the man repeated.
Haley looked back and forth between the two men. She was sure, she had never met the club guest before. But apparently Chris knew him. She was very surprised when her cousin simply accepted the rude answer and poured the drink.
"Looks like you are doing pretty well," the dark dressed man said.
Chris shrugged. "Thanks. So, what is the reason for your unwelcomed visit?"
The other man took a large sip from his glass. "Can't I visit an old friend?"
"Where is that friend of yours?"
"Excuse me," Haley spoke up. "Who's that guy?"
The guy in question seemed to only now realize, that she was not a random guest. He gave her a smug smile. "Damian, at your service," he introduced himself holding up his glass as if to salute.
Haley wrinkled her nose.
"And you are?" he asked.
"Disgusted," she replied and faced Chris for further explanations, while Damian chuckled to her answer and lent on the counter casually.
"Damian is Bianca's cousin," Chris replied. "This is my cousin Haley."
"Nice to meet you," Damian said holding out his hand which Haley ignored.
"Not so much," she answered. Just now, she spotted the distinctive birthmark on his left wrist. His arm had been resting on his tight. She also understood, why Chris was so distanced. He had to think Damian's visit had anything to do with Bianca.
"Oh, please, we had almost become family," the black haired man tried to get her attention.
Haley realized how Chris' face got a sad impression and as she was in great protection mood right now, she decided to take some wind out of this slimy guy's sails.
"I take it, you are a Phoenix, too," she suggested to which she gained a proud nod. "How often can a Phoenix rise from the ashes?"
"Excuse me?"
"We could find out. See, I can start fires easily. Just like that." She snapped her fingers quite close in his face. A tiny flame lit up shortly.
Damian stared at her for a moment, then laughed. "Now, no offense, honey. I'm not here to start a fight. I only have a job offer." He turned to Chris. "What do you think? Only a tiny little favor to remember the good old days. It won't be for nothing for you either. I can negotiate on your behalf."
"What kind of job could you offer?" Haley asked. She did not know much about Bianca's family. She knew that Phoenix witches were assassins. At least some of them. Bianca had never accepted any hire, as far as Haley knew. She had only fought demons that attacked the Halliwells. The half whitelighter also knew that this was part of the issues, she had had with her mother. Haley had also thought, that Bianca had no other family, she had been close too.
"Are you his spokes-woman?" Damian asked pointing at Chris, who had remained standing his arms crossed, pretending to be untouched.
"Why, no, but…"
"What kind of job?" Chris interrupted.
"Chris?" Haley exclaimed. "You can't be serious! You can't help him."
"Why not?" Damian asked. "It won't harm you or your precious values. It's only a demon vanquish. That should be in your interest, anyway."
"Why can't you vanquish the demon on your own?" Haley asked. "I thought you were of a group of powerful elite assassins. What do you need Chris for?"
Damian didn't answer but focused on Chris. "So?"
"I can't help you," Chris said.
"What do you mean, you can't help me?" Damian asked and narrowed his eyes. "You seem to forget, that you still have to make up for keeping something that rightfully belongs to my family."
"What could that be?" Haley asked relieved that her cousin was sensible enough to not get into some assassin hire.
"My late aunt's grimoire. Where is it, anyway?"
"Where it's safe," Chris replied.
"In your bedroom? Where we thought my lovely cousin would be safe, too?"
Haley noticed her cousin flinch at the harsh words and angrily spat at Damian: "How dare you?"
"You are right," the Phoenix witch appeased her. "That was inappropriate. I'm just confused. I haven't ever known you to avoid a vanquish," he said to Chris.
"My powers are unreliable these days."
Damian frowned. "You rather keep that information out of the underworld. Actually, I only need someone, who can orb."
"Chris, it's too risky," Haley reasoned.
Chris nodded. "She's right. I won't be much help."
"Fine." Damian put his empty glass on the counter forcefully and stood up but before he walked away, he tried once more this time with the other Halliwell. "And my little firestarter? Can't you orb?"
"I do. But I'd rather set myself on fire than having to meet you again."
The Phoenix grabbed his chest in mocked shock at her words but smirked. "If any of you change your, feel free to contact me."
