THE BELTHAZOR CHRONICLES
A child is born
It took six steps to cross the hallway. And six steps back. From the top of the stairs to the master bedroom, the distance measured a mere three paces. Funny, how he had never noticed that the second floorboard on the left side of the door creaked beneath his weight.
Outside, a late winter storm raged. The wind howled around the house and rain splattered against the windows. Benjamin had plenty of time to count and recount his steps as he paced back and forth across the landing. At irregular intervals, painful cries rose from the master bedroom. In that bedroom his wife, Elizabeth, was struggling to give birth to their first child. The family doctor, Dr. Jones, and Nurse Ipswich were assisting her. About two hours ago, the nurse banned Benjamin, husband and father-to-be, to the hallway. It was a miracle that the carpet wasn't threadbare yet.
Another scream rose from the room. Nurse Ipswich said something to reassure his wife; the soothing murmur of her voice drifted through the door. Benjamin could not make out the words. Every cry tore at him and his heart sat heavy in his chest. It was his fault; it was he that put Elizabeth in this position.
His thoughts wandered back to their wedding day, nine months ago to the day.
It had been late summer, warm but no longer hot. In her white silk dress Elizabeth looked even more beautiful than usual, although a thin veil hid her smooth features during the ceremony and exchange of vows.
A smile curled around Benjamin's lips when he recalled the kiss that sealed their promise. It had not been their first, of course. Over the four months of their courtship, kisses had been stolen, or freely offered when nobody was looking. But that moment in the church, in front of his family and friends, that was forever etched in his memory. That was when it was official. When he had made Elizabeth his wife. Something he had vowed he would do the day they met so violently on the corner of Clay and Kearny.
Their wedding night had been one of unbridled desire. Benjamin tried to be gentle and considerate; after all, his new wife would never have lain with a man before, and he did not want to hurt her. But in the face of the fierce passion she exhibited once she rested in his arms, he had quickly forgotten his good intentions. And he had taken her, fast and voraciously, again and again, until the first light of day found him exhausted and worn-out between the sheets.
"Waaah!"
Another shriek jolted him from the pleasant memories.
"Waah!"
Benjamin frowned. That didn't sound like Elizabeth's pained cries. He strode to the door and folded his fingers around the knob. The stern nurse had been adamant about him waiting outside until she called for him. He couldn't just barge in. Could he?
Benjamin's dilemma was solved when the knob turned beneath his hand and the door opened. Nurse Ipswich stood before him, small beads of perspiration still glistening on her forehead. She looked at him oddly and for a moment his throat constricted in fear that she brought bad news.
Then she smiled. "Congratulations, Mr. Turner," she said. "It's a boy."
The nurse moved to the side and gestured for Benjamin to enter. Slowly, cautious and a little uncertain, he crossed the threshold. The sight on the bed was the most amazing he had ever seen. Draped among the fluffy pillows was his wife; her skin was pale and her beautiful dark hair was plastered about her temples. Still, despite her tired features, her green eyes glowed.
Something pricked behind his eyelids when she raised the bundle in her arms and he blinked rapidly. Small gurgles rose from the blanket. "Look, Benjamin," she said. "This is your son, Be-"
"No," Benjamin interrupted. "I want his name to be Cole. Not Benjamin."
Bright eyes blinked up from the tiniest human face he had ever seen. Mesmerized by the sight, Benjamin missed the flare of anger that for a brief second contorted his wife's face. The baby gurgled as if agreeing with his father and while he looked down upon the helpless child, Benjamin swore a silent oath that he would do anything to protect his son from harm.
* * *
"How long before we can take the boy?" the Source asked. He tapped his fingers onto the armrest of the stone chair in his chamber.
"A while," Raynor cautioned. "We should be patient. This child is half-human, and humans don't mature as quickly as demons do. It is better if Belthazor stays in the mortal world for a while. Besides, you wouldn't want the smell of dirty nappies permeating your chambers, do you?"
The Source stiffened and for a long second Raynor feared his joke had fallen badly.
"Hmm. I will hold you personally responsible for this boy," the Source grunted. "You will have Lilith bring him here as soon as possible. And you will train him."
"Of course." Raynor inclined his head. "That goes without saying."
The Source gave a dismissive flick of his hand and Raynor took his leave. On the threshold, the Source called him back.
"Raynor?"
"Yes, Master?" Raynor turned around.
"Have someone take care of that doctor and nurse. They saw Belthazor's true nature at the moment of his birth. We can't risk them blabbering about it to some witch."
"Consider it done."
* * *
The San Francisco police judged it an unlucky accident that both Dr. Jones and Nurse Ipswich met with an untimely death that very night, when Dr. Jones' carriage ran off the side of a cliff in the pouring rain.
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 child is born
It took six steps to cross the hallway. And six steps back. From the top of the stairs to the master bedroom, the distance measured a mere three paces. Funny, how he had never noticed that the second floorboard on the left side of the door creaked beneath his weight.
Outside, a late winter storm raged. The wind howled around the house and rain splattered against the windows. Benjamin had plenty of time to count and recount his steps as he paced back and forth across the landing. At irregular intervals, painful cries rose from the master bedroom. In that bedroom his wife, Elizabeth, was struggling to give birth to their first child. The family doctor, Dr. Jones, and Nurse Ipswich were assisting her. About two hours ago, the nurse banned Benjamin, husband and father-to-be, to the hallway. It was a miracle that the carpet wasn't threadbare yet.
Another scream rose from the room. Nurse Ipswich said something to reassure his wife; the soothing murmur of her voice drifted through the door. Benjamin could not make out the words. Every cry tore at him and his heart sat heavy in his chest. It was his fault; it was he that put Elizabeth in this position.
His thoughts wandered back to their wedding day, nine months ago to the day.
It had been late summer, warm but no longer hot. In her white silk dress Elizabeth looked even more beautiful than usual, although a thin veil hid her smooth features during the ceremony and exchange of vows.
A smile curled around Benjamin's lips when he recalled the kiss that sealed their promise. It had not been their first, of course. Over the four months of their courtship, kisses had been stolen, or freely offered when nobody was looking. But that moment in the church, in front of his family and friends, that was forever etched in his memory. That was when it was official. When he had made Elizabeth his wife. Something he had vowed he would do the day they met so violently on the corner of Clay and Kearny.
Their wedding night had been one of unbridled desire. Benjamin tried to be gentle and considerate; after all, his new wife would never have lain with a man before, and he did not want to hurt her. But in the face of the fierce passion she exhibited once she rested in his arms, he had quickly forgotten his good intentions. And he had taken her, fast and voraciously, again and again, until the first light of day found him exhausted and worn-out between the sheets.
"Waaah!"
Another shriek jolted him from the pleasant memories.
"Waah!"
Benjamin frowned. That didn't sound like Elizabeth's pained cries. He strode to the door and folded his fingers around the knob. The stern nurse had been adamant about him waiting outside until she called for him. He couldn't just barge in. Could he?
Benjamin's dilemma was solved when the knob turned beneath his hand and the door opened. Nurse Ipswich stood before him, small beads of perspiration still glistening on her forehead. She looked at him oddly and for a moment his throat constricted in fear that she brought bad news.
Then she smiled. "Congratulations, Mr. Turner," she said. "It's a boy."
The nurse moved to the side and gestured for Benjamin to enter. Slowly, cautious and a little uncertain, he crossed the threshold. The sight on the bed was the most amazing he had ever seen. Draped among the fluffy pillows was his wife; her skin was pale and her beautiful dark hair was plastered about her temples. Still, despite her tired features, her green eyes glowed.
Something pricked behind his eyelids when she raised the bundle in her arms and he blinked rapidly. Small gurgles rose from the blanket. "Look, Benjamin," she said. "This is your son, Be-"
"No," Benjamin interrupted. "I want his name to be Cole. Not Benjamin."
Bright eyes blinked up from the tiniest human face he had ever seen. Mesmerized by the sight, Benjamin missed the flare of anger that for a brief second contorted his wife's face. The baby gurgled as if agreeing with his father and while he looked down upon the helpless child, Benjamin swore a silent oath that he would do anything to protect his son from harm.
* * *
"How long before we can take the boy?" the Source asked. He tapped his fingers onto the armrest of the stone chair in his chamber.
"A while," Raynor cautioned. "We should be patient. This child is half-human, and humans don't mature as quickly as demons do. It is better if Belthazor stays in the mortal world for a while. Besides, you wouldn't want the smell of dirty nappies permeating your chambers, do you?"
The Source stiffened and for a long second Raynor feared his joke had fallen badly.
"Hmm. I will hold you personally responsible for this boy," the Source grunted. "You will have Lilith bring him here as soon as possible. And you will train him."
"Of course." Raynor inclined his head. "That goes without saying."
The Source gave a dismissive flick of his hand and Raynor took his leave. On the threshold, the Source called him back.
"Raynor?"
"Yes, Master?" Raynor turned around.
"Have someone take care of that doctor and nurse. They saw Belthazor's true nature at the moment of his birth. We can't risk them blabbering about it to some witch."
"Consider it done."
* * *
The San Francisco police judged it an unlucky accident that both Dr. Jones and Nurse Ipswich met with an untimely death that very night, when Dr. Jones' carriage ran off the side of a cliff in the pouring rain.
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.