Chris led the witches to an open area not far from the temple. The circle of black crystals that had been laid on the ground was obscured by the fog, but Chris knew where it was.
"Okay, we're here," Chris said. "Wyatt, you go in and get the powers, and I'll protect the rest of you out here."
"All right." Wyatt nodded, and headed toward the temple.
They watched as Wyatt moved quickly, trying to cover the distance in as little time as possible. Though none of the witches could see it, there was a glint in Chris' eyes.
"Wyatt stop!" Prue yelled.
Wyatt whirled around. "Prue, what is it?"
"This is what the demons have been waiting for," Prue said. "They can't get inside the temple, so they're waiting for you to bring the god powers out for them."
"Are you sure?" Wyatt asked.
"It's the only thing that makes sense," Prue said. "They knew about our other plan. They must have known about this, too."
"No, that's not possible," Chris said. "How could they know?"
"I wonder," Prue said, glaring at Chris.
"Wait, you don't think—" Chris said.
"Maggie," Prue said. "Scan him."
"Don't bother," Chris said. He dropped the crystal he had been holding. It completed the circuit with the ones that were already on the ground, and a barrier of energy surrounded the witches, trapping them inside. They immediately tried to use their powers to escape, but nothing seemed to affect the crystals or breach the walls of the trap. Even Prue's astral projections could not form outside the ethereal cage.
"No!" Wyatt shouted. He ran toward the others, but Chris summoned demons to stop him. In seconds, the area was filled with servants of the Source. Almost immediately, Wyatt was trapped. Two incredibly strong demons held him, making sure that he couldn't move his arms. With his arms restrained, he couldn't activate his shield.
The demons forced him to walk back to Chris and the trapped witches. As they went, they passed by demons, warlocks, vampires, wizards, harpies, dark priests, sorcerers, and darklighters. It seemed as though the entire underworld had been emptied for this moment.
"Wyatt," Chris said. "You're going to go into that temple, and bring the god powers to me."
"I'd rather die," Wyatt said.
"I thought you'd say that," Chris said. He looked over his shoulder, and nodded. A demon approached the energy cage that held the witches. An energy ball formed in the demon's hand. Piper attempted to use her power to make the demon explode, but nothing happened.
"Your powers can't pass through the barrier," Chris said. "But his can."
The demon threw the energy ball. It struck Piper, causing her to crumple to the ground.
"Piper!" Phoebe gasped. She knelt down and shook Piper, trying to wake her.
Prue lashed out with her power, but the force of the attack only caused a small flicker in the energy barrier. She then dropped to her knees next to Piper, and called her name.
"You son of a bitch!" Wyatt shouted, struggling against the demons that held him.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't waste the powers of the Charmed Ones," Chris said. "That energy ball was only strong enough to knock her out. If you do what I tell you to, she'll be fine. If you don't, I have plenty of warlocks that would love to have her powers. So, do we have a deal?"
"If I give you those powers, you'll kill us anyway." Wyatt shook his head. "I won't do it."
"With the powers of a god, I won't have any reason to kill you," Chris said. "This is your only chance to survive."
Before Wyatt could answer, a warlock blinked into the energy cage. It grabbed Piper, and blinked her out. The warlock placed her on the ground next to Chris, and held an athame over her heart. A demon stood nearby with an energy ball, ready to hit her again if she started to wake up.
"Well?" Chris asked.
Wyatt looked down at Piper. He could think of no way out. His legs felt weak, and it seemed that the demons restraining him were the only things keeping him from collapsing.
Another demon shimmered in next to Wyatt. It was Cole.
"Cole," Chris said. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for Phoebe," Cole said. "And the other witches."
As he said this, the jackal demon appeared. "Cole, what are you doing?"
"Stay out of this, Anubite," Cole said. "This is between me and the Source."
"Remember who you're speaking to, Cole," The Anubite said.
"You don't scare me," Cole said. "If avatars could harm each other, your faction would have been wiped out a long time ago, and you know it."
"I'm the living embodiment of Anubis. I am judgment." The Anubite growled. "Don't cross me."
"I'm doing you a favor," Cole said. "Don't you know why the Source needs all this power? He's manipulated everything for his personal gain, and when the time comes he'll betray you too."
"Give me some credit," Chris said. "I know better than to piss off avatars, even with these powers. Anubite, do I look suicidal?"
"Cole makes a good point, but I already know I can't trust you," The Anubite said. "For now, I think we have the same goals. That's good enough."
"Have it your way. I don't really care," Cole said. He turned to look at the Source. "Now, the witches."
"I can't let them go," Chris said. "I need Wyatt, and I need Piper to motivate him. But I'll make you a deal."
"I'm listening," Cole said.
"I'll keep Wyatt, Piper, and Paige. You can have the rest," Chris said.
"Cole, don't," Phoebe said. "I won't leave my sisters, or my nephew."
Cole looked at her, then back at Chris. "Deal."
"Cole!" Phoebe shouted. He ignored her.
"See, Anubite. Compromise is what got me where I am today," Chris said, putting an arm around the Anubite's shoulders. He extended his free hand to shake Cole's.
As their hands made contact, Chris flamed out, taking Cole and the Anubite with him. They reappeared near the entrance of the temple. In a single, quick motion, Chris slammed both of the avatars into the doors of the temple. The magic shield held against them, and bolts of pure energy coursed through their bodies. The two of them were as close to invulnerable as any living beings, but the power of the temple won out. The avatars exploded, throwing Chris backwards.
Chris flamed in mid air, and returned to where he had been standing a moment ago. "Avatars. Such a waste of power."
"You killed them," Maggie said. She sounded dazed, and she couldn't take her eyes off the temple doors.
"That's right, and I'm pretty sure they won't be coming back this time, either," Chris said. He looked back at Wyatt. Chris' eyes blackened, and flames leapt up inside them. "There's no one to save you anymore. Bring me the powers, or everyone in your coven dies."
"It's you. You're the Source," Wyatt said. "How did you do it? The Grimoire was lost."
"The titans found it," Chris said. "All I had to do was go back in time, and manipulate the Charmed Ones into destroying them. With the titans out of my way, ruling the underworld was easy."
"But where did you get the powers of a whitelighter?" Wyatt asked.
"I did something like this," Chris said. A darklighter arrow appeared from a puff of smoke in his hand, and he blinked in behind Paige. He stabbed her with the arrow, then blinked back out of the energy cage.
"Paige!" Wyatt shouted, and renewed his struggle against the demonic guards holding him.
Prue slammed her fists against the energy barrier. "Chris, you bastard! If you let her die, I will not rest until you're vanquished. I'll chase you into the next life if I have to."
"Blame Wyatt. I wouldn't have had to kill her if he didn't try to stall me," Chris said. He turned to Wyatt. "How many more witches have to die before you give me what I want? And don't be in too much of a hurry to martyr your coven, because you're the last witches left anywhere. If you die, there really won't be any hope left for all the innocents down there."
Wyatt could barely see through the tears that were forming in his eyes. "What's the point? You won't let us go."
"You're right, I won't," Chris said. He looked back at the witches, and made a motion with his hand, and flames engulfed Prue.
Prue screamed in pain as the blaze seared her flesh.
"Stop it!" Wyatt shouted. It all seemed so senseless, even in the face of the cold logic of everything Chris had done.
Chris made another hand motion, and the flames died down, leaving Prue uninjured. "I promise to make it quick if you give in. If you don't, I can keep this up for a very long time. I'll give you to the count of three, and then it's Jill's turn."
Chris held out his hand, preparing to create more flames.
"One…"
"Okay, we're here," Chris said. "Wyatt, you go in and get the powers, and I'll protect the rest of you out here."
"All right." Wyatt nodded, and headed toward the temple.
They watched as Wyatt moved quickly, trying to cover the distance in as little time as possible. Though none of the witches could see it, there was a glint in Chris' eyes.
"Wyatt stop!" Prue yelled.
Wyatt whirled around. "Prue, what is it?"
"This is what the demons have been waiting for," Prue said. "They can't get inside the temple, so they're waiting for you to bring the god powers out for them."
"Are you sure?" Wyatt asked.
"It's the only thing that makes sense," Prue said. "They knew about our other plan. They must have known about this, too."
"No, that's not possible," Chris said. "How could they know?"
"I wonder," Prue said, glaring at Chris.
"Wait, you don't think—" Chris said.
"Maggie," Prue said. "Scan him."
"Don't bother," Chris said. He dropped the crystal he had been holding. It completed the circuit with the ones that were already on the ground, and a barrier of energy surrounded the witches, trapping them inside. They immediately tried to use their powers to escape, but nothing seemed to affect the crystals or breach the walls of the trap. Even Prue's astral projections could not form outside the ethereal cage.
"No!" Wyatt shouted. He ran toward the others, but Chris summoned demons to stop him. In seconds, the area was filled with servants of the Source. Almost immediately, Wyatt was trapped. Two incredibly strong demons held him, making sure that he couldn't move his arms. With his arms restrained, he couldn't activate his shield.
The demons forced him to walk back to Chris and the trapped witches. As they went, they passed by demons, warlocks, vampires, wizards, harpies, dark priests, sorcerers, and darklighters. It seemed as though the entire underworld had been emptied for this moment.
"Wyatt," Chris said. "You're going to go into that temple, and bring the god powers to me."
"I'd rather die," Wyatt said.
"I thought you'd say that," Chris said. He looked over his shoulder, and nodded. A demon approached the energy cage that held the witches. An energy ball formed in the demon's hand. Piper attempted to use her power to make the demon explode, but nothing happened.
"Your powers can't pass through the barrier," Chris said. "But his can."
The demon threw the energy ball. It struck Piper, causing her to crumple to the ground.
"Piper!" Phoebe gasped. She knelt down and shook Piper, trying to wake her.
Prue lashed out with her power, but the force of the attack only caused a small flicker in the energy barrier. She then dropped to her knees next to Piper, and called her name.
"You son of a bitch!" Wyatt shouted, struggling against the demons that held him.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't waste the powers of the Charmed Ones," Chris said. "That energy ball was only strong enough to knock her out. If you do what I tell you to, she'll be fine. If you don't, I have plenty of warlocks that would love to have her powers. So, do we have a deal?"
"If I give you those powers, you'll kill us anyway." Wyatt shook his head. "I won't do it."
"With the powers of a god, I won't have any reason to kill you," Chris said. "This is your only chance to survive."
Before Wyatt could answer, a warlock blinked into the energy cage. It grabbed Piper, and blinked her out. The warlock placed her on the ground next to Chris, and held an athame over her heart. A demon stood nearby with an energy ball, ready to hit her again if she started to wake up.
"Well?" Chris asked.
Wyatt looked down at Piper. He could think of no way out. His legs felt weak, and it seemed that the demons restraining him were the only things keeping him from collapsing.
Another demon shimmered in next to Wyatt. It was Cole.
"Cole," Chris said. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for Phoebe," Cole said. "And the other witches."
As he said this, the jackal demon appeared. "Cole, what are you doing?"
"Stay out of this, Anubite," Cole said. "This is between me and the Source."
"Remember who you're speaking to, Cole," The Anubite said.
"You don't scare me," Cole said. "If avatars could harm each other, your faction would have been wiped out a long time ago, and you know it."
"I'm the living embodiment of Anubis. I am judgment." The Anubite growled. "Don't cross me."
"I'm doing you a favor," Cole said. "Don't you know why the Source needs all this power? He's manipulated everything for his personal gain, and when the time comes he'll betray you too."
"Give me some credit," Chris said. "I know better than to piss off avatars, even with these powers. Anubite, do I look suicidal?"
"Cole makes a good point, but I already know I can't trust you," The Anubite said. "For now, I think we have the same goals. That's good enough."
"Have it your way. I don't really care," Cole said. He turned to look at the Source. "Now, the witches."
"I can't let them go," Chris said. "I need Wyatt, and I need Piper to motivate him. But I'll make you a deal."
"I'm listening," Cole said.
"I'll keep Wyatt, Piper, and Paige. You can have the rest," Chris said.
"Cole, don't," Phoebe said. "I won't leave my sisters, or my nephew."
Cole looked at her, then back at Chris. "Deal."
"Cole!" Phoebe shouted. He ignored her.
"See, Anubite. Compromise is what got me where I am today," Chris said, putting an arm around the Anubite's shoulders. He extended his free hand to shake Cole's.
As their hands made contact, Chris flamed out, taking Cole and the Anubite with him. They reappeared near the entrance of the temple. In a single, quick motion, Chris slammed both of the avatars into the doors of the temple. The magic shield held against them, and bolts of pure energy coursed through their bodies. The two of them were as close to invulnerable as any living beings, but the power of the temple won out. The avatars exploded, throwing Chris backwards.
Chris flamed in mid air, and returned to where he had been standing a moment ago. "Avatars. Such a waste of power."
"You killed them," Maggie said. She sounded dazed, and she couldn't take her eyes off the temple doors.
"That's right, and I'm pretty sure they won't be coming back this time, either," Chris said. He looked back at Wyatt. Chris' eyes blackened, and flames leapt up inside them. "There's no one to save you anymore. Bring me the powers, or everyone in your coven dies."
"It's you. You're the Source," Wyatt said. "How did you do it? The Grimoire was lost."
"The titans found it," Chris said. "All I had to do was go back in time, and manipulate the Charmed Ones into destroying them. With the titans out of my way, ruling the underworld was easy."
"But where did you get the powers of a whitelighter?" Wyatt asked.
"I did something like this," Chris said. A darklighter arrow appeared from a puff of smoke in his hand, and he blinked in behind Paige. He stabbed her with the arrow, then blinked back out of the energy cage.
"Paige!" Wyatt shouted, and renewed his struggle against the demonic guards holding him.
Prue slammed her fists against the energy barrier. "Chris, you bastard! If you let her die, I will not rest until you're vanquished. I'll chase you into the next life if I have to."
"Blame Wyatt. I wouldn't have had to kill her if he didn't try to stall me," Chris said. He turned to Wyatt. "How many more witches have to die before you give me what I want? And don't be in too much of a hurry to martyr your coven, because you're the last witches left anywhere. If you die, there really won't be any hope left for all the innocents down there."
Wyatt could barely see through the tears that were forming in his eyes. "What's the point? You won't let us go."
"You're right, I won't," Chris said. He looked back at the witches, and made a motion with his hand, and flames engulfed Prue.
Prue screamed in pain as the blaze seared her flesh.
"Stop it!" Wyatt shouted. It all seemed so senseless, even in the face of the cold logic of everything Chris had done.
Chris made another hand motion, and the flames died down, leaving Prue uninjured. "I promise to make it quick if you give in. If you don't, I can keep this up for a very long time. I'll give you to the count of three, and then it's Jill's turn."
Chris held out his hand, preparing to create more flames.
"One…"