Chapter 50
Valhalla had become quiet. After the rescue attempt, many of the Resistance members walked alone on the island, weighing in their options. They all knew that they were lucky, but luck always runs out. Soon, they will be faced with the same situation and might not come out of it.
When Leo returned to Valhalla, he immediately healed the bruises, cuts, and sores on Ryan. Jen watched and as soon as Ryan looked as if he had never been tortured, the two walked away from the group. Coop and Henry were with their children, teaching them the art of defense to protect themselves. Luckily, they were fast learners and they managed to take out their dads after a few attempts.
Leo found Freyja mapping out San Francisco with two other Valkyries. He knew he should have joined them, but he only wanted to speak and see one person: Chris.
Yet, Chris wasn't to be found on the island. He knew that he couldn't leave without a pendant and no one would dare defy Leo's orders of not allowing Chris off Valhalla. Leo tried to sense him, but found trouble in doing it. So, he opted on foot, calling his name every now and then to see if he would respond.
Chris heard his father calling for him, but he did not answer. He stayed hidden underneath the brush and green foliage that protected him. He leaned his head back against the trunk of a tree and closed his eyes. He could still hear his father's voice gently calling out his name…
"Chris! Wyatt! Boys?"
Chris and Wyatt ran down the stairs to find Leo in the hallway. He smiled and bent down on one knee, spreading his arms open. "Come here boys!"
Wyatt beat Chris to their father, but Leo managed to hug them both in his big embrace. He kissed Wyatt's forehead and asked him how he was.
"Good," said eight-year-old Wyatt, his blonde hair curled up in the front. "Mommy's going to buy me a new baseball glove."
"Really? Still playing Little League?" asked Leo and Wyatt yapped away. Leo laughed and then turned to Chris. "Hey, buddy."
Chris climbed up on his father's bent leg, positioning himself on Leo's knee. "Are you here to stay?"
Leo sucked in a big breath. "Well, you know, Chris," he said. "Daddy's got an important job to do. He's gotta do it and sometimes it makes it difficult for Daddy to stay here."
Chris didn't understand. "So, are you gonna stay?"
Leo gave his best attempt to smile at his son. "We'll see," he said as he lifted Chris up in his arms and stood up. "So, where's your Mom?"
Wyatt looked up with brightness shinny through his blue eyes. "She's upstairs having a fight with Aunt Phoebe. Something about a demon."
"They're not fighting," said Leo. "Arguing. Fights are a bit more violent."
Wyatt shrugged and footsteps echoed from the stairs and Piper Halliwell stood at the bottom. Her face was frozen and her brown eyes were wide. "CHRIS!" she shouted as she raised her hands up to blow the intruder holding her young son.
Leo raised his other hand up to Piper. "Whoa," he said. "Piper, it's just me. Leo."
Piper lowered her hands and blew a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry, honey," she said as she walked forward. "I didn't really see you. I just saw…"
"I know," said Leo as he placed Chris down on the floor. "You just saw a stranger holding your son."
Piper turned to her two sons. "Hey sweeties," she said gently and motherly. "Why don't you go and help your Aunt Phoebe up in the attic?"
Wyatt and Chris obeyed and hurried up the stairs, but Wyatt pulled Chris' shirt and whispered in his ear. "Wait," he said as he motioned his brother to follow him quietly back down.
"Wyatt," complained Chris. "Mommy said to go and help Aunt Phoebe."
Wyatt wasn't listening. Instead, he went down a few steps and sat down, leaning his ear towards the direction of Piper and Leo's voices. Chris sighed and joined his brother, knowing perfectly well it was wrong to eavesdrop, especially on their parents.
"So, how's life going?" asked Leo.
"As well as it could," said Piper. "Busy."
"With demons?"
"With being a single mother," corrected Piper.
Wyatt and Chris heard their father's foot digging into the floor. "Oh," said Leo.
"Oh?" said their mother. "That's all you have to say? Leo!"
"What do you want me to say, Piper!" cried Leo. "I can't just leave the Elders any time I want to visit my family. I have responsibilities."
"And they're obviously not to your family," said Piper.
They could hear Leo sigh. "Piper, my family means everything to me. You know that."
"I thought I did," she said. "But, we haven't seen or heard from you for nearly two years. What do you expect me to think?"
"That I'm looking after you and the boys from above," said Leo, calmly. "Piper, I'm doing this to protect you. Serving the Greater Good will keep you and the boys safe. Can't you see that?"
Chris heard his mother give off an irritated sigh. "I'm sorry, but I can't," she said. "Because just yesterday a demon attacked us and Wyatt had to heal me. Wyatt's eight years old! He shouldn't have to take care of his own mother when she's hurt. It's your job! Not Wyatt's!"
Chris hunched his body over his legs as he continued listening to his parents.
"I'm sorry," said Leo, again, "I really am. Piper, I want to be with you and the boys. I really do."
"Then come home," said Piper. "Leo, come home. Be with your family."
"It's not that simple Piper."
"What are you doing?"
Chris opened his eyes and lifted his head to see Mist crouched down underneath the branches that shielded Chris from the paths. Chris pushed himself up with his feet. "Hey," said Chris. "I was just resting."
Mist entered and took a seat on the ground, ruffling the leaves as she sat. She folded her arms on her lap and stared intently at Chris. "You're father is looking for you."
"I hear him," said Chris. "I just don't care."
"You upset with him?"
Chris shrugged and rolled his eyes over Mist. That's when he saw the long scratch along her arm. "What happened to your arm?"
Mist glanced down. "It's nothing."
"You should get Leo to heal it," said Chris, but Mist smiled.
"That's okay."
Chris sighed and kept looking at the long bleeding scratch. "Did you get it from the rescue?"
"Yes, but the demons received worse battle scars," she said and paused for a moment as she stared at him with sad eyes. "I met your brother."
Chris gazed at her face for a long time, but he didn't speak. Mist returned the stare, trying to think what was going inside his mind. Chris sighed and looked away. "How is he?"
Mist opened her mouth, but no words came flowing out. Surprised by his first comment, it took her a few seconds to answer his questions. It wasn't a question she expected and it wasn't an easy one to answer. "He's fine."
Chris scoffed. "So, he was happy to see you there?"
Mist shook her head. "No."
"Then he wasn't fine." Chris blinked a few times and Mist thought she saw a tear. But Chris was not crying. "Did he know I orbed you in?"
"I don't know."
Chris nodded and Mist watched him intently. "You miss him?" she asked.
"I don't know," answered Chris and Mist felt the honesty and pain in his answer. "I don't really know how I am suppose to feel right now."
"He's your brother. It's understandable to miss him," said Mist and she went silent as Leo's voice echoed around them. Chris didn't seem to even flinch at his name being called. "Do you want to go back?"
Chris raised his eyes to meet hers. "Go back?"
"The Elders need me," said Leo.
"Do what you gotta do Leo," said Piper.
"Piper," said Leo. "You and the boys are everything to me."
Chris and Wyatt leaned closer to hear their mother. Chris knew she was crying. It was the tone of her voice that told him his mother was sad and crying.
"Are we?" she asked. "Because it feels like we are second."
"Piper—"
"Good-bye Leo," she said.
Chris heard his father sigh in defeat. "I love you Piper."
Then both he and Wyatt heard the familiar sounds of someone orbing. Chris jumped off the staircase. "NO! Daddy!"
Chris ran to the tiny orbs and reached out, snatching at the lights. He was too late. Leo had already orbed away. Chris still had his hand out when tears sprung from his green eyes. "Daddy?"
"Oh sweetie," said Piper as she bent down next to her son. "It's going to be okay."
"Where did he go?"
"He had to 'Up There' again," she said.
"Will I ever see him again?"
Piper sighed and embraced her youngest son. "I hope you do see him, peanut." She pulled him away, wiping his tears away with her finger. "Come on," she said, smiling. "Want to help me cook?"
Chris nodded his head and his mother led him to the kitchen.
When Piper told Chris that she was okay by herself and go play with Wyatt, Chris ran up the stairs. However, he didn't go to play with Wyatt. When he made sure none of his family could see him, Chris orbed out of the house.
When he materialized, he found himself to be almost floating. There were so many clouds. The sky was a clear blue with wispy clouds spiraling around him. Chris took a step forward and saw the long pillars in front of him, surrounding him. Chris circled, but he didn't see anyone.
"Dad?" called out Chris. "Daddy?"
Chris heard footsteps come behind him. Chris whipped around and saw a bearded man with mischievous eyes glaring down at him. He's expression made Chris nervous. "What are you doing here?"
It wasn't a question. I was an order. "I'm looking for my Daddy."
"Chris?"
Chris looked past the man and saw Leo approach him. Chris ran past the man and to his father. "Daddy!" Chris wrapped his arms around Leo's legs. "Daddy!"
Leo looked down at his son and patted his head. "Chris, what are you doing here?"
Chris looked up at his father. "Please come home Daddy. Pleas? Won't you come home?"
Leo's eyes looked at the man that entered before Leo came into the room. "Can you give us a minute Gideon?"
Gideon nodded. "Of course," he said, but as he past Leo he whispered. "Deal with this Leo. It isn't safe for your kids to come orbing up here."
Leo nodded and Gideon disappeared. Leo bent down and brushed a strand of hair out of Chris' face. "Hey, buddy," he said. "Does your mom know you're up here?"
Chris shook his head. "No," he said. "But, Daddy, you gotta come home. Mommy misses you. So do me and Wyatt."
Leo grimaced. "I miss you guys too," he said and then his face fell and lines appeared on his forehead. "But, I have responsibilities and obligations 'Up Here'."
"Don't you want to be with us?"
Leo lips trembled. "Of course I do," he said urgently and then sighed. "Chris, one day, you'll understand everything, but, right now, you got to go back home."
Chris dropped his head. "You're not coming with me?"
Leo brushed Chris' hair back again. "Chris, look at me."
Chris looked up, but Leo saw the tears in his young son's eyes. "You better go home. Go back to your mother and Wyatt. I bet they're missing you."
Chris clasped onto Leo's hand. "But I want you to come with me."
With a sad expression, Leo pushed his son's hand off his own. "I know," he said. "But I can't. There are other people that need me."
"Mommy needs you," said Chris and Leo could see tears forming in his green eyes. "I need you."
Leo sighed as his forehead creased. He brushed Chris hair back once more. "I'll always be there for you," he said. "For you, your brother, and your mother."
Chris' mouth trembled as he reached for his father one more time. Leo hugged him and Chris turned to whisper into his ear. "Please don't leave."
Leo rubbed his son's back and let go of him. He stood up, looking sadly down at his son. "I'm sorry," he said as he tried his best not to cry. "You better go back home. I bet your mother is worried about you. Now, don't come 'Up Here' alone again. The other Elders don't like you or Wyatt to be unaccompanied."
Leo gave a small smile to Chris. "Go back."
"To Wyatt," said Mist as she jolted Chris out of thoughts. "Do you want to go back to him? Do you think it was a mistake coming here?"
Chris blinked a few times as he tried to find the right words. "I didn't come here," he said. "I was taken here." Chris dropped his shoulders and glanced away from Mist.
"You didn't answer my first question."
Chris picked up a twinge and twirled it in his fingers. "I don't know," he said. "I love my brother. He was always there for me when I was growing up. I sort of saw him as a father figure."
"What about your father? Leo?"
Chris flicked the twinge away from him. It landed amongst the fallen leaves. "Leo wasn't around," he said. "He was too busy to come by and ask me how my day was."
Mist waited for Chris to speak, but he didn't talk anymore. He stayed quiet, lost in his thoughts and, from the look in his eyes, trouble. Mist thought of leaving Chris alone, but as she prepared to leave, Chris moved his head up to her.
"I want to do what is right," he said to her. Mist paused and relaxed back into her sitting position. Chris took a deep breath. "When I was living with Wyatt, I saw things I did not agree with. But, I stayed with him because he was the only person I grew to trust."
"Now, I was also raised to learn the difference between good and evil," continued Chris. "My mother and aunts taught me well and I'm going to keep fighting against evil. Live out to carry on my family's heritage and destiny."
Chris' green eyes lightened as they bored into Mist's own. "But, your question isn't about family. It's about sides," Chris moved his shoulders against the bark as he sat up straighter. "So, to answer your question, I won't return to Wyatt. I know Wyatt just wants to protect his family just like my mother and aunts did. But, he's doing it in all the wrong ways."
Mist shifted. "So, you're going to stay?"
"It's not like I can leave," he said and the corners of his lips twitched into a pleasant smile. "But, I won't leave either."
Mist nodded her head, but inside she felt her heart flutter with over joyous bound. She controlled her face as much as possible, preventing her pale face from blushing. She never experienced this feeling before and she was confused.
But, she had obligations, duties to perform. As a Valkyrie, she needed to control her emotions to be the warrior she is. She was trained to fight and to train others how to fight. That's her duty. That's her destiny. Her life.
And she cannot have distractions.
BREAK
Wyatt was angry.
No, he was pissed off. His demons were incompetent fools. He gave then simple instructions and they failed him. They embarrassed him. He blew up the first three group of demons he saw after their failure to capture the Resistance.
What was worse was that they had managed to get inside his compound, into his home. He was the Twice Blessed! He should be able to create a spell to keep intruders out.
Frustrated at the events, Wyatt went to the Book of Shadows and telekinetically flipped through the book, searching for the woman he saw with the Resistance.
She had long blonde hair, dressed in promiscuous leather outfit, and wore a green pendant necklace around her thin, frail neck. She wasn't a witch. She was another magical creature that the Resistance had recruited. Maybe the knowledge of this creature will help Wyatt locate the Resistance and get Chris back?
As he flipped through a couple more, he stopped and approached the book. Valkyries. Yes, the drawing of the pendant in the Book is identical to the one the blonde girl was wearing.
A powerful race of demigoddesses who scout
The battlegrounds for dying Warriors then
Take their souls to Valhalla were they
Prepare them for the final World Battle.
Wyatt smirked. Valhalla, he thought and he walked back to his desk. He had a map of the world out and took a scrying pendant out from the desk drawer. He held it above and began to search for Valhalla.
He couldn't remember if his mother or aunts ever mentioned the Valkyries, but then again, he never really listened to their stories. Not as much as Chris did. Wyatt kept the scrying crystal up, watching it swing around for the location.
Finally, it stopped and landed in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Wyatt looked down. There was nothing there but water. Wyatt rubbed the back of his neck. He knew that places could be hidden and that the island of Valhalla was hidden from sight.
Wyatt dark orbed to the area to scout, but found himself misdirected somewhere else. He orbed back to his office and sat down in the chair. The Valkyries and the Resistance took precaution. They set up spells and barriers to prevent intruders.
Wyatt folded his arms on his lap and let out a breath of frustration. At least, he figured, he knew what they were and where their headquarters are located. Now, he just needed a way to get inside and capture them all.
Matt teleported into the office and bowed before Lord Wyatt. "My lord," he said. "You wish to speak to me?"
Wyatt nodded. "Yes," he said. "I want you and a few others to notify everyone this new law I evoked."
Matt took a step forward and leaned over.
"Those who are members or are affiliated with the Resistance," said Wyatt, "will be consider traitors and be punished by death."
Matt nodded his head. "Will do my lord," he said, but then he stumbled his leave and looked back up at Lord Wyatt. "May I ask a question my lord?"
Wyatt frowned at him. "You just did."
"I'm sorry."
Wyatt waved his hand. "Go on."
Matt took a deep breath. "What about your family members, my lord?" he asked. "What do you want us to do with them if we come across them? Do you still wish us to kill them now that we know they are in league with the Resistance?"
Wyatt's face turned hard and cold as he glowered at Matt. "Don't be such an idiot," he said. "My family is off limits. If you see them, contain them and informed me. I will deal with family personally."
Wyatt stood up and placed his hands on his desk. "Any more questions?"
Matt shook his head. "No, no, I will inform the others."
"And tell the world too," added Wyatt and Matt nodded in agreement. "I want them to understand what happens to those that try to go against me."
"Of course my Lord," said Matt and he exited to rely the message to every demon, warlock, and others.
Wyatt turned and stared at the city. No more, he thought. I won't play nice anymore.
