It's been a while since the last update but now here it is. It's getting closer to the final by the way:-)
Enjoy this!
Chapter 43
Chris – in a blue shirt – opened the fridge and started to search through its contents. He turned around at the sound of footsteps.
"Wyatt?" he asked. He frowned at his brother. He wasn't wearing a suit but jeans and a black t-shirt.
Before the older brother could reply orbs filled the air behind his brother.
Chris – in blue – followed his gaze and backed away when he saw himself dressed in a red shirt.
"What is going on here? You demons" Chris – in blue – exclaimed.
"Shut up!" the two brothers from the future – though different futures – said simultaneously.
Noelle appeared in the kitchen and dropped her cup at the sight of the young men.
Wyatt took her by the shoulders. "You need to get out of here."
She frowned totally confused. "But…Why are you dressed like that? And here"
"Noelle, trust me, please."
"Is he a demon?" she asked looking at Chris – in the red shirt.
"Don't look at me, I'm from the future," the brunette replied.
"Future?" her voice was high pitched as the confusion grew.
"So am I," Wyatt told her. "Though, another than his"
"Huh?"
"Noelle, it's okay. I'll protect you," Wyatt said and kissed her on the forehead.
She nodded finally still obviously confused.
Wyatt waved his arm and orbed her out of the Manor.
"Would someone explain this to me?" present Chris – in blue – asked.
"Yes, Wyatt, what are you doing here?" the other Chris asked.
"We'll talk in a bit." Wyatt told him pointing a finger at each version of his brother.
Suddenly a crash from the living room got the blonde's attention.
"Stay here," he said to Chris in red. "Protect your present self."
Chris rolled his eyes.
"I'm sure not listening to him," Chris – in blue – muttered starting to exit the kitchen.
The future Chris sighed. He waved his hand and knocked himself out by throwing him against the fridge.
"I have self destroying issues," he said to himself.
In the living room, Wyatt faced a group of demons.
They were shocked to see the twice blessed.
"They said no witches were here," one demon said.
"Seems like they gave you false information…surprise" Chris called out from behind his brother.
Wyatt narrowed his eyes at him. He should have known Chris wouldn't listen to him and stay back. He recognized it was the future version.
The demons exchanged worried glances not knowing whether to stick to their order and attack or flee.
"Let's get out of here," one hissed.
Wyatt managed to vanquish at least two of them before they all could shimmer out of the Manor.
"Okay, so what are we doing now?" Chris asked.
The blonde couldn't answer as both of the young man vanished into their present bodies as time caught up with itself.
This time around Wyatt would not end his talk in his old school. Therefore he only briefly glanced at his brother that appeared in the back of the room trying to get his attention.
The blonde shook his head slightly and Chris rolled his eyes and sat down in the back of the seminar room.
"Coffee?" the elderly waitress asked the two brothers that had sat down in one of the booths in the diner. Wyatt had been here so often during his college years as it was the closest restaurant to the school and not expensive. It was always the same waitress that was there.
"Yes, please," he said. Maybe it would help him feel less exhausted.
"Do you want any pie or cake?" Chris asked and closed the menu.
"Apple pie or cheesecake?" she replied pouring coffee in two cups that stood at the table already.
"Apple"
She nodded and went back behind the counter. She never made notes, no matter how crowded the place was. And all orders came out right.
"Nice talk," Chris said.
"Thanks, last time I got distracted."
"By what?"
"By my brother who died."
"Right. That was not planned, by the way."
The waitress came back with Chris' cake.
"It really wasn't," the younger man repeated when he saw his brother's doubting frown.
"However, I hadn't a real plan anyway so I took my chances."
"Yeah, was a great outcome for all of us."
"Well, Noelle's death in my world wasn't that much better on you either."
"I guess and still it only had an effect on me."
"Which had an effect on all of us."
"Fine." Wyatt put two spoons of sugar in his coffee and took a sip.
Chris took the fork and ate from his cake.
"What's going to happen now?" he asked. "Do you think, death will come after me or Noelle?"
"No, you weren't supposed to die and Noelle…I will make sure she's okay."
"By breaking up with her? Nice way."
Wyatt wondered how his brother could know that. Maybe it was obviously how they stood to each other by now.
"But you love her," Chris stated.
Wyatt shrugged.
"Don't you?"
"It's complicated, okay? I had a bit time to think in the past or whenever. Anyway, it doesn't matter right now. We have some demons to take care of. So, what do we know?"
"That you avoid the topic," Chris muttered. "Okay, what I know?" He swallowed the last piece of cake. "You do believe me now, that it's Josey and Brandon that we need to go after?"
"Yes, I'm with you on that."
"Good, finally, I might add. They both want the Elder dead – though for different reasons. Josey the bitch is the demon in the team and she wants them dead because, well she's a demon and they are the Elders. Wanting to rule the world, nothing new, blabla. Brandon however was obviously talked into the whole thing. He wants revenge for his murdered family. Apparently, he was taught that the Elders had killed his family. That they are the bad guys using witches for their advantages and so on. A slight truth lies in that but still. Killing Elders never good. Remember that, Wyatt."
"What?"
"Nevermind."
"Okay, Wyatt, stressed. How can we stop them from killing the Elders?"
"Funny thing, I think they can't kill the Elders. That's what they need you for," Chris threw his napkin on the empty plate.
"But I'm not killing Elders. I mean I say it a lot. But of course I wouldn't do it."
"Of course. Then again, that's what you have said the last time as well," Chris muttered.
"Okay. But I was brainwashed. Won't happen this time."
"How do we know it is not going to happen again?"
"This time, we know what is going to happen. Just trust me."
Chris shrugged trying to appear nonchalant. However it scared him very much that his big brother could be turned evil so easily.
Wyatt watched him a moment. He was no telepath but he could read his brother like a book. He couldn't swear he'd never turn evil again but it wasn't something he wanted to be. Sometimes the young man couldn't help but wonder if he really wasn't too weak to handle all his powers.
"I trust you," Chris suddenly said snapping Wyatt out of his thoughts.
The blonde smiled. Apparently Chris could read him just as good as he did.
"Good. So what do we do?" he asked again.
"Vanquish them," was Chris' simple reply.
"We can't vanquish them. Just Josey. Brandon is a mortal, remember? It would be murder."
"But he is evil."
"Still a mortal."
"A witch. A powerful witch that could kill us and would kill us. An evil powerful witch."
"Still…"
Chris sighed. "Fine. What's your plan? He's not on our side, how do we stop him? Strip him off his powers."
"That's good. We threaten him with that. I hope we can get through to him emotionally."
"Huh?"
Wyatt smirked. Usually his brother had the great plans that no one but himself understood. "he has human feelings. His wish for revenge comes from the pain of loosing his family."
"Okay."
"The demons that raised him played with his feelings, too and it worked. I mean, remember how you felt when mom died?" Wyatt felt instantly sorry for having brought up the topic seeing Chris flinch. Sometimes it seemed like he was all over their mother's death. But on other days he just appeared like the 14 year old boy.
"I was angry. If someone had told me the Elders were to blame for what happened, I had gone up there and…" Chris trailed off. "Good point. So we tell him Josey's real motivation and that ht eElders are not the reason for his family's death?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"But you forget one thing, he is human and he loves Josey, doesn't he?"
"I'm not sure. I thought they maybe only played the happily married couple to get to us."
"We vanquish Josey, by all means, right?" Chris asked.
Wyatt raised his eyebrows wondering how his brother could be so excited about that. In his future something real bad must have happened through Josey.
Chris would vanquish Brandon, too. Evil was evil. Witch powers or demonic powers were just a tiny detail.
"Aunt Billie vanquished her sister as she couldn't be saved."
"I know. But I won't kill Brandon. I won't give the Elders anything to have against me."
"But you can vanquish Josey?"
"Yes, although we were friends. She also was a huge pain in the ass."
"Where I come from, she tried to kill me."
Wyatt looked up. "She's dust."
"Good. Because you need to do it. I can't vanquish her, I tried. I don't know what kind of demon she is."
"I'll take care of her. You go to the Manor and mix a power stripping potion. Go to dad and let him tell you what demons had attacked the family. Maybe he know. The more we know about the attack the better. I'll meet you in the Manor in an hour." Wyatt stood up.
"Wait, wait. Where are you going?"
"I'll talk to Noelle."
"You mean you want to break up with her?" Chris grabbed his brother's arm. "Wy, you will regret it. Believe me."
"I don't think so. I want to protect her. Moreover, as weird as it sounds but your death opened my eyes on a few things."
"I'm flattered."
Wyatt ignored his brother's remark. "Frankly, it made me think about my own life. There are so many things I planned to do and did I do any or it yet?"
""If you ask like this, I'd guess, no."
"Of course not. And why not?"
Chris let go of his arm and leant forward. "Why?"
"Really easy reason. I let anyone tell myself what to do. Someone says I shall go study business, that's what I do although I never thought about that."
"Okay. I don't understand the connection to Noelle actually."
"Noelle wants to marry. She wants that for quite a while now not just since Josey told her into it. I know it. I just ignored it because marriage is the last thing on my mind."
"But maybe she is okay with waiting until you are ready."
"She won't wait forever."
"True but that would mean that you never want to marry."
Wyatt ran a hand though his hair. "I don't know."
"Or you never want to marry her. Then it really would be the best to spilt up now than staying together when you know it leads to nothing more."
"Exactly my point."
"However, I'm confused. Usually when you are together with someone you don't think about the end of the relationship if there aren't any serious issues which I haven't seen with you guys."
"The serious issure is that.." Wyatt took a deep breath. "I'm selfish. I feel pretty tied down with Noelle. There is so much more I need to do. For me. Alone, you know."
"Well, I'm quite sure if you break up with Noelle now, you won't get her back."
"I know. But sometimes it is better to end something even if its' good. And it's better for her, too. I don't want anything happen to her; being with me she's in danger. I can't always protect her."
"Because she is not magical."
"Right."
"But dad and Uncle Henry are mortals, too. So far nothing happened to them. I mean nothing serious. And you do realize that Bianca had powers and died in a simple car crash."
"Maybe. But it was an accident."
"Absolutely, Wy. You can't protect everyone from everything always. Magical or not everyone can the hurt. Or killed. We'll all end up the same way. In the end our only destiny is death."
"Well, where I come from you were dead and yet you sit here."
"Where I come from Noelle was dead and you were miserable – totally out of control, I might add."
"Exactly my point. Listen," Wyatt stood up and threw some bills on the table. "I go now. Do what I just told you, okay? I'll see you in an hour."
"You'll regret it," Chris told his brother but the older one walked away nevertheless.
"Magical girlfriends can be killed, too, stupid," he called after him.
A man that sat int eh booth in front of Chris turend around and frowned at the young man.
"It's true," Chris said and stood up leaving the diner as well.
"Thank God, you are okay," No9elle said as she came into Wyatt's office. She had seen him coming in from the open kitchen door. She hugged him. "Is Chris okay, too? You boys had me really worried here."
She let go off him.
"We are both fine," the young man replied. "For now at least. Noelle, I'm in a bit of y hurry. We have some demonic problems to solve. I need you to stay away fromt eh Manor."
"Okay. You tell me when the problem solved?"
"Yeah. Let's sit, okay?"
"Why?" she crossed her arms over her chest. She knew him well enough. Too well.
"It's though, you know." He dropped on his desk chair.
"What is?"
"You already know, what I'm about to say, don't you?"
"I hope I'm mistaken."
"Listen, it's for your own good. Really. I can't protect you 24/7 and I'd never forgive me if anything happened to you because of me."
"Who says anything might happen to me? It didn't so far."
"but I'm not ready to take chances."
"You dolt me what could happen from the beginning you told me what I had to expect. I take the chances. I want to be with you. I love you."
"More than your life?"
"I couldn't imagine life without you."
Wyatt sighed. She wouldn't give up that easily. "It's not only the demons. I think we want different things. I feel that I need my independence back. We are together like basically all the time. Sometimes it's great but other times, It's too much. I seems like I have nothing for myself."
"Well, we can work on that. I can find another job for example. Get a hobby."
"No, Noelle." Wyatt said vehemently. "This relationship is not working for me. My life is not working for me as it is now. I need to make a move and a change."
She sighed. "There's nothing I can do to change your mind?"
Wyatt shrugged helplessly.
"Then," she said after a long pause. "Your love is really not strong enough."
"I'm sorry. I wish I could give you what you want and need but I can't."
No, you don't want to. You are scared. That much to being all powerful. You fear to get close to someone in casse you might lose that person again. Do you want to stay alone forever? Your on the best way if you keep on treating people like this. Don't get me wrong I don't need you. I wanted to be with you." She walked towards the door but turned around once more to face him. "I really hope you gind what you are looking for. And whatever demonic problem you have to face be careful. And tell Chris to be careful as well. I'd really like to know if you both are alright."
Wyatt nodded. "We'll be okay."
She left the office not turning around once more.
"Dad."
Chris ran after the man in the black robe that walked towards a class room a book under his arm.
Leo turned around. "Son."
Chris reached him. "No time to kid around."
"Have you ever? And speak in full sentences with me."
"Sorry. I don't have time for that either." Me and Wyatt face demonic and none demonic problems."
"Big ones?" Leo asked checking his watch.
"Well, yeah," Chris replied.
"As big as the titans?"
"No, guess not. I don't know."
"I'm sure you boys will handle it. Just be careful, promise me. Protect each other. I really need to go to my class."
Chris stopped him. "Dad, where I come from Noelle's dead."
"Noelle's dead? Oh my God, why didn't you say so in the first place. What about Wyatt?"
"No, she is not dead. Wyatt went ot break up with her. She's okay. I mean, you know probably mad at Wyatt."
"I don't understand."
"And where Wyatt comes from, I'm dead."
Leo stared at his son utterly confused.
"We changed some timelines. Now, we are both her to do what we should have doe from the start."
"Okay, and what is that?"
"I need you to tell me everything, every detail of this Spearman case."
"Spearman?" the ex-Elder shook his head. "I can't tell you anything else than what I already did. I hadn't been an Elder then I was a whitelighter. I wasn't involved. They kind of kept it secret"
Chris sighed. He hated talking to any Elder apart from Kevin who hadn't been an Elder then neither.
"So, I'll need to talk to some Elder."
"Or," Leo said who knew about his son's feelings. "Talk to someone that had been an Elder 30 years ago."
"Been? Oh, sure." Chris understood. "I'll see my good friend and Elder-source Peter."
He started to orb out but Leo could hold him back one moment. "I meant what I said. You boys are careful. Call your cousins for help if you need them. They are strong witches, too."
"Tell their moms. We'll be fine. All we need is a plan." He orbed out.
Leo sighed. "I'm sure they have no plan," he muttered to himself.
Peter closed the door of the fridge after taking out a bottle of water.
"Tell me all you know about the Spearmans," Chris said startling the other man by orbing in behind him.
"Two things, hello and don't freaking orb in here. I have mortal roommates, remember." He turned to his friend. "And in my age you don't survive every surprise."
"Listen I don't have much time."
"You don't have time and want to hear a long story, doesn't fit."
"Come on. Talk fast. Dad said you know. i know that Brandon and his demonic wife want to kill the Elders."
"I don't think he is strong enough for that."
"No, he isn't. they need Wyatt for that."
"What's the problem, then? Your big brother surely won't kill Elders, will he."
"Just tell me. We need to stop them somehow. And we can't kill him, so we need to turn him on our side."
"I wouldn't worry too much about that boy. He doesn't have any active powers. Elders stripped them off him."
Chris frowned. "How?
Peter sighed. "You don't need to know that. Sit, I tell you the most important details. I have a date with Danielle."
"it's really serious between you guys, huh?"
"You don't need to know that either."
Chris shrugged grinning. He knew it'd be impossible to find anything out about Peter's love life anyway.
"Well, it's actually not very complicated. The Elders liked the Spearmans. It was a family of witches that had barely any active powers but they developed a high knowledge of potions and spells. It is a shame they were killed but it wasn't a surprise. The youngest daughter of the family had a very strong powers, she could control water. She could start a flood in the living room. The Elders were however worried about this gain of powers within the family. They feared the power would corrupt her. She was rebellious even became friends with demons. All under the purpose to eventually vanquish them. That's what she told the Elders at least. She was addicted to power, so the Elders stripped her off her active power.. she didn't understand that very well and went missing for months. When she came back she sadi she had given up witchcraft all together and that she was pregnant. No one knew the father of the child. I don't know if she ever told anyone, that's ho rumors' came up about the father being a demon. And it seemed to be right when they were killed. A powerful family of witches can't just be killed that easily. The demons must have known all about them, their weaknesses, how to enter the house and so on. Anyway, , they were all dead. The house destroyed with all it's things. We really searched for a survivor a long time but gave up eventually, thinking ther was none."
"If the baby survived and was kidnapped hadn't developed any powers yet, you wouldn't have found him by focusing on the family's powers."
"True. Later we blocked the family's powers. Just to be on the save side.""But only the active powers, right? Elder's can't stop a witch from being a witch. It's in the blood, right? And the family was known for their abilities in spells and potions, so still not defenseless – or unable to attack."
"Yes, we figured it was better than nothing though."
"I can't believe you just gave up," Chris said.
"Other things came up. It didn't seem that important anymore."
"What other things?"
"Like your brother, titans and some guy from the future that annoyed the hell out of us. Then Gideon, avatars, Christie Jenkins. You know stuff."
"Seems like we kept you busy, huh?"
"Indeed."
Chris took a moment to think things over, then said. "When did you stop being an Elder?"
"Too late."
"Maybe. But if you had left earlier, you'd be old by now. Or dead."
"There are worse things. Anyway, that's all I can tell you."
"Are you sure demons killed them?"
"Yes, of course."
"Even today as you are not up there anymore?"
"Yes, I am." The answer dame quickly and still Chris woneered if it was true.
"You should know best what a father would do for his son, Chris."
"Right. I understand."
The brunette stood up.
"One more thing, you don't know what tribe of demons it was."
"Probably and really I'm not sure, Nota demons."
"So psychic demons."
"Yes, a tribe of telepaths. They can do everything mind control, see intot h future, tap in dreams or memories."
""Yes, I know that one," Chris muttered. "Would explain why so many demons followed them."
"Excuse me."
"It's fine. I'm off. Have a nice date."
"Will have. Be careful. No active powers means nothing."
Did you like the update or not? Tell me either way :-)
