Sorry this took so long. I'm really having inspiration problems :(

CHAPTER 27

All Hail the King

Wyatt glanced up from his magazine as he saw the formation of orb lights on his brother's side of the room. He was about to hold up the particular photo he was viewing when he noticed that his sibling wasn't traveling alone. In fact, his own girlfriend was the one on Chris' arm. Throwing the magazine as though it were on fire, Wyatt shifted on the bed, trying to look innocent.

As soon as the other two teenagers had formed, Emily quirked an eyebrow at her boyfriend. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing is up. Or heading there. I'm good. Really good. How are you?"

The young woman looked at her travel companion, "If he were on drugs you would tell me right?"

Wyatt rolled his eyes and let out a breath. "What are you two doing anyway? Especially, you, Chris, you're still supposed to be resting. You heard what happened to him, didn't you, Em?"

"Yeah. Yeah I did."

"Well, then what do you think you're doing keeping my baby brother out of bed?"

Emily quirked an eyebrow suggestively, "Well, if you really want me to keep him in bed. . ."

Chris pulled a face as Wyatt gave an unappreciative look to his girlfriend, who merely started laughing at him. This then caused the mighty Twice Blessed Witch to pull her down to the bed, tickling her mercilessly.

The eyebrows on the third wheel of the room rose significantly at the sight of his long time best friend committing tickling foreplay with his own brother, who in his not too distant memories, had been the Ruler of All things Evil.

"Anyway, you two lovebirds," Chris interrupted, looking every part unnerved by the whole display of affection. "I've got something I need to do."

Emily patted Wyatt's arm to let him know the game was done. She looked up at Chris, "I'm coming too. Remember?"

"Why? What's going on?" Wyatt asked, his gaze switching between his girl and his brother. His blue eyes settled on his sibling. "More secrets from me?"

"Nah, it's just, with everything that's happened, I don't think Chris really wants to be alone," Emily smoothly replied. "And who better to keep him company than his best friend?"

"His brother."

"Nah. He's going to be all emotional and distraught. He doesn't want big brother to see that. I'm a girl. It's okay if he pulls a chick-flick moment with me."

Chris smirked at his friend. He'd forgotten how good she was at the game. It was one of the reasons he'd left her in charge when he'd gone to the past.

Wyatt ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Okay. I get it. It's private best friend stuff. No boyfriend or brother allowed."

"Ah, don't feel bad, sweetie," Emily consoled, putting a hand to his cheek. "I'll make it up to you later okay?"

"Promise?"

Em grinned. "You bet."

She hopped off the bed, following Chris out the door, but poked her head back in a moment later, "Oh, and, Wyatt? Next timefling the dirty magazinesomewhere I can't see it."

000

Cole poked his nose into the kitchen, still unable to find Chris. This was the last room left in the house. And it too was empty. Apparently his charge was out and about. Where that out and about was, the demon had no idea. He just wished the young man would come home soon. They had a lot to talk about.

"Oh, hey, Beltasore."

Bethazor. Belth-a-. . .oh forget it.

The demon turned his head to look at Melinda, who was coming over to the kitchen via the livingroom. She seemed back to normal, all happy and bright. He wondered vaguely how children could be so resilient and adults just seemed to keep sinking.

"I guess Mom doesn't think you're too bad since you're still here." Melinda kneeled down in front of him, looking into his face with honest curiosity. She tilted her head to the side and after a moment smiled. "You have nice eyes. I think people with nice eyes can't be evil. Chris says that eyes are windows to the spirit. Wyatt says that's lame, but I've never met a demon with nice eyes before, so maybe Chris is right."

Fascinating.

"Thank you for saving us," Melinda reached out her hand, softly stroking the top of the labrador's head.

The more she stroked his fur, the calmer Cole felt. The anger and frustration and sadness was just sort of seeping out of him with her touch. He closed his eyes and leaned into her hand with his cold nose. She had the gentle touch of her mother that he'd missed for so long.

"Mel. . ."

Cole looked up at the sound of Chris' awe struck tone. Something in the kid's eyes made a shiver run up his back all the way from the end of his tail.

"Hey, Chris, are you feeling better? You still look sick."

The teenager's face split into a smile. "You've gotten so big. . .and pretty. My god, you're beautiful, Melinda."

"I have? I am?" The teeny-bopper pulled a face. "Are you dying?"

Chris laughed, shaking his head. "Not today."

Emily cut in just then, "Hey, Mel, Prue was looking for you."

"Oh, okay." The young girl whispered conspiratorially to Emily, "You might wanna make sure he gets back to bed." Then, with a worried look to her cousin, disappeared out the kitchen door, her footsteps clomping up the stairs.

"Why is everyone charging me with getting your sorry ass to bed?"

Chris ignored her in favor of turning to look down at the four legged demon in the kitchen. He folded his arms over his chest and let out a breath. "I take it your not evil considering you were letting my little cousin pet you, and the other me didn't vanquish you yet. So, hopefully you can help me."

Maybe.

Emily's eyes went wide. "Oh wow. The god can understand you."

"It's Cole Turner, former Source of All Evil not a dog."

The telepath nodded, "So that's what your other self meant when he kept saying to ask Cole." She frowned. "Wait, why is the former Source your new pet?"

Chris waved her off,"It's complicated. So, let's just focus on the current problem at hand, shall we? Okay. There are voices in my head, one is the other me and one is apparently someone from Medieval times. The question is, how did this happen? How is it that all three people can be in one body?"

Medieval times? You're joking.

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Do you remember anything about a conversation I had with your other self about the sword? Off of Chris' negative shaking of his head. Well, Excaliber holds the memories of all its previous owners. My guess is that when the next rightful King Arthur took hold of the sword, it gave you the memories of the other Kings– the first Arthur and your past self. After all, it's been trying to turn you into the King it needs all this time. That's why it was giving the other you memories of your life.

"Hold on. I'm King Arthur?"

Emily nodded, "Just found out not long ago."

"That's impossible. Wyatt's Arthur."

"Just go with it, Chris. It's the truth, I swear."

Chris' face suddenly fell as a thought occurred to him. "I'm not real. I'm just the memories and feelings the sword gave to your Chris." He turned to Cole, "Right?"

In a way. But, because he has all your memories and all your feelings and thoughts, it's much more real than simply having knowledge of someone else's life. It's as though he can summon those memories up and be you. As though the sword trapped the essence of the King within itself. It's the swords way of making sure the King lives forever.

"So, how come I'm the one that feels in charge and he's off in a corner?"

Probably because you're the strongest personality. You lived longer than our Chris, experienced more. And Arthur is from so long ago that the memories of him will be harder to access. His personality will be harder to call forth.

Chris shook his head. "This is weird even for my family."

"No kidding."

"So, how do we bring back the Chris that actually belongs here?"

Cole tilted his head to the side, thinking it over. After a moment he answered. He's not really gone. He is you. You are him. That's what the sword wanted all along. It wanted its true King back. It's just a matter of our Chris learning to control you two, and keeping his own memories and thoughts and feelings separate from yours. I imagine it'll just take time.

"So what do we do until then?" Chris asked, his frustration with the situation evident. "Am I supposed to live his life until he gets the strength to toss me into some corner like a book he's done reading? I may not be real, but I sure as hell feel real."

I don't know. Contrary to popular opinion I don't have all the answers.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push this all on you. You've been a big help. Really. I just hate this."

Emily put a hand on his shoulder.

"So, what's our next move at least?"

Well, now that the real Arthur in all his reincarnations has returned. . .I say we finish off Ryak once and for all.

000

Ryak closed his grimoire with a satisified smirk on his face. A moment later, Bianca appeared before him in a tower of flames. She looked startled for only a moment, but her training kicked and she calmed herself nearly immediately, her face shifting to a stoic mask. She tried to shimmer, but nothing happened. She tried to move, but found she couldn't. It was a trap-- a crystal cage of sorts, but instead of catching demons, it captured good magical beings. Fear flashed in her face a second before being replaced but eery calm.

Ryak merely grinned. "Brave faces won't help you. Not with what I have in store for you."

"Go to hell."

"We are in hell." Ryak pulled a small vial out of from under his cloak. He gazed at it fondly. "I don't suppose you know what this does, do you? No. Well, you're about to find out."

He tossed the potion at her, and after she glowed black, he merely smirked once more. "Welcome back to life."

tbc. . .