THE BELTHAZOR CHRONICLES
A destiny diverted
Ding. Dong. The church bell on Clay Street tolled nine times and the clear ring of the chimes danced across the wooden roofs of a sunlit San Francisco. It promised to be another warm and pleasant day in the long spring of 1884.
At the sound of the clock, Benjamin Turner picked up his pace. He clutched his briefcase in his right hand and his hat in the left. Tingtingting. A bell announced the departure of the cable car from its stop at the corner of Clay and Kearny. Benjamin's newly shined shoes clacked on the pavement in a fast rhythm and the tails of his coat flapped after him. He sent up a silent prayer for the tram to wait a few more seconds. Today he would start his new job as a law clerk with Bainwright and Wood, Attorneys at Law, and he didn't want to be late.
He jogged around the corner onto Kearny Street where the cable car was slowly picking up speed. The woman appeared out of nowhere; he never saw her until it was too late. At full speed, he ran into her. The impact was so violent that Benjamin staggered back and only a few quick strides kept him upright. The woman was not so lucky. While he stood by and watched with horror, she fell on the pavement in a flurry of skirts and petticoats.
"Oh my goodness," Benjamin gulped. His face flushed with embarrassment and his chest tightened. "Are you all right, Miss?" He discarded his briefcase and hat onto the sidewalk and knelt beside her.
She tilted up her eyes to meet his and his heart stopped. Her eyes were the most amazing green he had ever seen. They spoke of confusion and surprise. Benjamin swallowed hard to get rid of the lump that clogged his throat.
"I am so sorry, Miss," he said when he found his voice again. It sounded hoarse and he had to swallow once more before he could continue. "It was my fault. I should have paid better attention."
"Indeed, you should have," she said. She smiled to take the sting out of her words. Her voice was like the music of a string quartet and her smile made his insides go liquid. "I am fine, however. If you could just help me up?"
"Yes, yes, of course," Benjamin stammered. His cheeks grew warm with shame for not offering his help sooner. He presented her his hand, took hold of her elbow and helped her climb back to her feet. Her fingers stayed on his wrist an instant longer than was strictly necessary and when she pulled back, his skin tingled where her hand had touched him. Benjamin's heart was thudding in his chest.
"Are you certain you're all right, Miss?" he asked. All thoughts of his job had fled from his mind and he was reluctant to let her go. "Perhaps I can take you somewhere? Maybe... maybe I can offer you a cup of coffee? It is the least I can do for frightening you so much."
She gave him another dazzling smile that caused butterflies to swirl in his stomach. "That would be very kind of you, Mr-?" She cocked her head.
"Turner," he said. "Benjamin Turner."
"Benjamin," she repeated, as if savoring the name on her tongue. He couldn't help but smile. He had never liked his first name - he preferred his middle name Coleridge - but when she pronounced his forename, it rolled from her lips like it was the most beautiful name she had ever heard.
She proffered him her hand and he lowered his head to press a chivalrous kiss onto her skin. "I am Li- Elizabeth," she said. "Elizabeth Adams."
It was years later that he discovered the full portent of the small pause before Elizabeth told him her name. As if she wasn't certain what it should be. And by the time he understood her hesitation, it was too late.
* * *
"So that's the human you chose to sire our hybrid?" the Source asked. He turned away and after a wave of the Oracle's delicate hand her glass ball grew opaque. "He doesn't look very impressive."
"Ah, see, that's where you're wrong," Raynor said.
A sharp intake of breath from the Oracle reminded him who he was talking to and that he should pick his words more carefully. "Beg pardon," he added quickly. "It is a common mistake, however. In mortals, looks can be deceiving. I realize that this particular specimen, Benjamin Turner, does not appear very imposing. Still, I picked him for good reason. The man is smart and well educated. If left in peace, he would be destined for greatness."
"I see him become the twenty-seventh president of the United States, in 1908," the Oracle confirmed.
"However," Raynor continued as if she had not spoken, "he is also young and gullible. A beautiful woman like Lilith can easily seduce him. He is a lawyer, which means he has the potential for deviousness. His human genes combined with Lilith's demonic DNA will give you a half-breed who will grow into one of the strongest demons that ever existed." Raynor paused to add weight to his next words. "And raising him with us will insure his fierce loyalty to you, Master."
Disclaimer: this story is based on the Spelling Television/WB Television Network series Charmed. All characters belong to their original creators. The story was written for entertainment only and no copyright infringement was intended.
A destiny diverted
Ding. Dong. The church bell on Clay Street tolled nine times and the clear ring of the chimes danced across the wooden roofs of a sunlit San Francisco. It promised to be another warm and pleasant day in the long spring of 1884.
At the sound of the clock, Benjamin Turner picked up his pace. He clutched his briefcase in his right hand and his hat in the left. Tingtingting. A bell announced the departure of the cable car from its stop at the corner of Clay and Kearny. Benjamin's newly shined shoes clacked on the pavement in a fast rhythm and the tails of his coat flapped after him. He sent up a silent prayer for the tram to wait a few more seconds. Today he would start his new job as a law clerk with Bainwright and Wood, Attorneys at Law, and he didn't want to be late.
He jogged around the corner onto Kearny Street where the cable car was slowly picking up speed. The woman appeared out of nowhere; he never saw her until it was too late. At full speed, he ran into her. The impact was so violent that Benjamin staggered back and only a few quick strides kept him upright. The woman was not so lucky. While he stood by and watched with horror, she fell on the pavement in a flurry of skirts and petticoats.
"Oh my goodness," Benjamin gulped. His face flushed with embarrassment and his chest tightened. "Are you all right, Miss?" He discarded his briefcase and hat onto the sidewalk and knelt beside her.
She tilted up her eyes to meet his and his heart stopped. Her eyes were the most amazing green he had ever seen. They spoke of confusion and surprise. Benjamin swallowed hard to get rid of the lump that clogged his throat.
"I am so sorry, Miss," he said when he found his voice again. It sounded hoarse and he had to swallow once more before he could continue. "It was my fault. I should have paid better attention."
"Indeed, you should have," she said. She smiled to take the sting out of her words. Her voice was like the music of a string quartet and her smile made his insides go liquid. "I am fine, however. If you could just help me up?"
"Yes, yes, of course," Benjamin stammered. His cheeks grew warm with shame for not offering his help sooner. He presented her his hand, took hold of her elbow and helped her climb back to her feet. Her fingers stayed on his wrist an instant longer than was strictly necessary and when she pulled back, his skin tingled where her hand had touched him. Benjamin's heart was thudding in his chest.
"Are you certain you're all right, Miss?" he asked. All thoughts of his job had fled from his mind and he was reluctant to let her go. "Perhaps I can take you somewhere? Maybe... maybe I can offer you a cup of coffee? It is the least I can do for frightening you so much."
She gave him another dazzling smile that caused butterflies to swirl in his stomach. "That would be very kind of you, Mr-?" She cocked her head.
"Turner," he said. "Benjamin Turner."
"Benjamin," she repeated, as if savoring the name on her tongue. He couldn't help but smile. He had never liked his first name - he preferred his middle name Coleridge - but when she pronounced his forename, it rolled from her lips like it was the most beautiful name she had ever heard.
She proffered him her hand and he lowered his head to press a chivalrous kiss onto her skin. "I am Li- Elizabeth," she said. "Elizabeth Adams."
It was years later that he discovered the full portent of the small pause before Elizabeth told him her name. As if she wasn't certain what it should be. And by the time he understood her hesitation, it was too late.
* * *
"So that's the human you chose to sire our hybrid?" the Source asked. He turned away and after a wave of the Oracle's delicate hand her glass ball grew opaque. "He doesn't look very impressive."
"Ah, see, that's where you're wrong," Raynor said.
A sharp intake of breath from the Oracle reminded him who he was talking to and that he should pick his words more carefully. "Beg pardon," he added quickly. "It is a common mistake, however. In mortals, looks can be deceiving. I realize that this particular specimen, Benjamin Turner, does not appear very imposing. Still, I picked him for good reason. The man is smart and well educated. If left in peace, he would be destined for greatness."
"I see him become the twenty-seventh president of the United States, in 1908," the Oracle confirmed.
"However," Raynor continued as if she had not spoken, "he is also young and gullible. A beautiful woman like Lilith can easily seduce him. He is a lawyer, which means he has the potential for deviousness. His human genes combined with Lilith's demonic DNA will give you a half-breed who will grow into one of the strongest demons that ever existed." Raynor paused to add weight to his next words. "And raising him with us will insure his fierce loyalty to you, Master."
Disclaimer: this story is based on the Spelling Television/WB Television Network series Charmed. All characters belong to their original creators. The story was written for entertainment only and no copyright infringement was intended.