Chris and Wyatt made their way back to the demonic bazaar and once again donned cloaks and made their way back to meet up with Richerkvin.
"I'm surprised, I didn't think you'd return or at least I didn't think he'd return." Richerkvin said gesturing towards Wyatt.
Wyatt glared at him, "I'd never let Chris do this alone!"
"My such fierce loyalty. Is there something going on here?"
"Can we get on with this? How are we going to trap Barbas once we summon him long enough to get him in the portal?" Chris asked, wanting to get this over with and not deal with Wyatt and this demon going at it. He also refuses to answer questions that were none of this demon's business.
"I knew you would want to summon him, so I made a few deals and a few bribes were made and an alchemist made a potion strong enough to render him temporarily unconscious. Then I hired a few goons to find him and to throw said potion and return with him." A wave of his hand to a couple of low level demons, the goons the boy's assumed, pulled back a blanket to reveal an unconscious Barbas.
"Note we have a potion to vanquish you if you try to double cross us." Wyatt said.
Chris rolled his eyes, 'Idiot, you never tell a demon that.'
"Never mind him. Let's do this before he wakes up or we'll all be in trouble."
Richerkvin wanted to argue but at the same time he knew Chris was right. If Barbas woke up there would be hell to pay. Not just for the Charmed Boy's but for him as well. He took the pipe from Chris and started playing with it till he figured out how to get it to work.
Much to Chris' relief a portal soon opened. He hadn't been 100% sure it'd work only being a replica. He had no idea if it worked because he took the image from the book or Wyatt's blood was causing it.
Richerkvin gestured the demons to go. He'd told them after returning with Barbas that the plan was for them to enter the portal and drop Barbas off. Then they could get out and return. He had lied to them about that, figuring they were just dimwitted demons and wouldn't question him. Truth was he didn't know enough about portals to know if they could get out or not but he doubted they could get out. They all sighed in relief after the demons dragged Barbas through the portal making it appear over. Then suddenly a few moments later a hand reached out of the still open portal and Richerkvin was pulled in screaming. The pipe, falling to the floor. Surprisingly still in one piece.
Barbas stuck his head out. Chris and Wyatt didn't understand as Richerkvin had seemed confident the sleep spell would last. Then again there's no way to know how long he'd had Barbas in that state. He was a powerful demon so it wasn't a surprise that any potion didn't last long.
Looking the boys over, and sensing something in Chris, he held up his hand as it started glowing. "Your greatest fear is you'll fail your mission and… interesting your brother is the famed twice blessed child and he will become evil. Your mission will end in both your death and a failure. Your family will continue to fight you and never truly accept you. Your brother is their first and powerful and twice blessed. Interesting, in an alternate time you'll have a sister. The girl they thought they'd have. That leaves no room for you!" Without another word only a smile he grabbed Chris' shirt and started to pull him in.
Snapping out of his daze, he yelled, "Wy, destroy the pipe! Maybe the portal will close."
Instead of doing that Wyatt snapping out of his own daze at Chris' call, threw energy balls at Barbas. Even if it meant Chris got hurt or ruined their chances at bonding. If he got hurt he'd heal him, their bond he'd just try 10 times harder and explain why he did what he did. He didn't like risking Chris getting hurt but if he didn't force Barbas to let go then he might have dragged Chris into the portal while it started to close and he didn't want to chance it. After a couple of well placed energy balls hitting Barbas, he cursed but seemed determined not to release Chris but for the moment stopped trying to pull him into the portal. So he threw the potion they had for Richerkvin and although it didn't kill Barbas it did burn him enough that it caused him to finally release Chris retreating into the portal a little.
Barbas was shocked that Wyatt would attack while he held his brother. He knew from experience that the Charmed Ones would never risk the others well being. What he didn't know was that Wyatt and Chris, well not this one but still, trusted each other completely. Wounds could be healed. They try to avoid it but it happens on occasion. After Barbas retreated Wyatt threw another energy ball destroying the pipe. Just as Chris thought the portal closed.
Still dazed Chris bent down and gathered the pipe remains and stood up shakily. Wyatt was confused as to why. He hoped Chris didn't plan to rebuild it. Hearing Richerkvin scream, then the energy balls attracted attention. Hearing voices from outside the tent and not wanting them to get caught he put a hand on Chris' shoulder and orbed them to the bridge.
Chris crumpled to the ground after they landed. Wyatt panicked thinking something was wrong. He pulled Chris' face towards him and Chris seemed to be dazed as he refused eye contact. Although Wyatt didn't see anything he ran a healing hand over Chris' face and chest in case he'd been hurt by the energy balls. Wyatt then remembered what Barbas had said, "Don't believe him Chris. Between me and the girls we won't let your future happen. We will save you and your future! You also called me Wy. You called out, maybe you just needed me to prove that I care about you. That unlike the other guy I won't betray you." When that failed to get a response he tried a different route. "You're not planning to put that pipe back together are you?" Wyatt sighed with still no response. Now he could hear his mother calling for him.
"You should go." Chris said almost in a whisper.
Wyatt was happy Chris finally said something, He hugged Chris to him. "No, I'm staying with you. She can call all day." He decided to also ask about the pipe again, "You weren't planning on trying to put that back together were you?"
"No, but I was afraid if another demon stumbled across the shattered pieces they might try to put it together and somehow reopen the portal. I got what I could so you could finish destroying it."
Wyatt couldn't argue with that reasoning, it made sense. He took a few pieces, threw them out towards the ocean and hit them with an energy ball.
Chris' head shot up, he stood up facing Wyatt and said, "Wy, what are you doing? Not here."
With a grin Wyatt took the rest of the pipe and threw it and another energy ball destroying the last of the pipe. Then turned and said, "This makes three times in a row."
"What?" Chris asked, confused.
"You've called me Wy. I think you're finally opening up to me."
Before Chris could respond Leo showed up, "Wyatt, your mother has been calling you."
"I heard, but we've been busy."
"Doing what?" Leo asked.
Wyatt rolled his eyes and turned to face Leo, "What do you think we've been doing? Off watching movies or skiing in the Alps or perhaps we were hiking through Europe? Don't be stupid we've been trying to find a lead on the Elder." Wyatt didn't mention Barbas as then Leo and the others would proclaim it over that he was the sole one responsible not this mysterious Elder.
"Wy, don't it's not worth it. Just go see what they want and we'll meet up later."
"What did you call him? How dare you give my son a nickname. I told the girls to stop that too and they ignored me."
Before Leo could continue Wyatt stepped in, "No, don't you dare. I've finally gotten him to call me that. I won't let you try to force him to stop. The same with the girls. A lot of people, friends and family call me that." Seeing as Leo might drag him back he sighed. "Give me a moment to be certain Chris is alright."
"Why, what's wrong with him?"
"We had a nasty run in with an upper level demon and Chris was nearly killed." Wyatt wasn't the best liar so he stuck as close to the truth as possible and knew he had to keep it shorter than his normal over the top lies as it always seemed to get him into trouble somehow. He couldn't risk getting caught in any kind of lie or his father would blame Chris. While he ran healing hands over Chris who tried to bat them away he called for the girls. He didn't want to just be standing there staring at Leo, Chris or staring off into a space. Leo would question why he was just standing there besides he wanted to be certain that Chris wasn't hurt by his energy balls anyway. "Mel, Ladybug I need you to come to the bridge and stay with Chris."
"Why what's wrong?" Melinda asked worried.
"I'm not a child, Wy, I don't need anyone."
"I can't explain now. Mom is demanding my presence. I'm sure you can get Chris to explain when you get here."
"We'll be there as soon as you leave." P.J. said.
Wyatt turned back to his father, "Let's go."