FOUR
Suddenly a fireball struck Wyatt from behind, sending him crashing across the room. He struck the wall and fell to the floor but was on his feet again in an instant. He spun to see who had the temerity to attack him.
He stood facing a man that was about five feet eight inches tall. The man had black hair that was trimmed neatly over the ears. He was dressed casually but carried a sword in his right hand. Wyatt noticed that Paige was nowhere to be seen.
"Tannish," Wyatt spat out.
"I see my reputation precedes me," said the man. "If you know who I am, then you know what this is." He indicated the sword he was holding. "Do you feel lucky today?"
"This isn't over," said Wyatt. "I'll be back to finish this soon enough."
Suddenly Wyatt orbed out of the manor. The man named Tannish moved over and laid the sword on the floor as he knelt over Leo. He looked up at Chris.
"Are you Chris?" Tannish asked.
"Yes," said Chris. "Just who are you?"
"There's no time," said Piper and she and Phoebe moved over to see to Leo. "Get up there and get a White Lighter down here to save him. Hurry."
Confused, Chris orbed out. The girls and Tannish were deeply concerned about Leo. His breathing was even harder than before and he seemed to be in a coma. Piper grabbed the bolt and pulled it out. As she did, Chris orbed back in with another man.
The man didn't hesitate. He moved over and knelt next to Leo, then placed his hands over the wound and began to use his healing powers. Within seconds, the wound was completely gone. Leo looked up at the group around him.
"That was close," he said. "Closer than I've ever come. Thanks, Arnold. I appreciate the help."
"My pleasure," said the White Lighter Chris had orbed in. "I'm just glad I was able to get here in time. We nearly lost you."
"He called you Tannish," Chris said to the man who had saved them. "That would make you Kiethran Tannish. The Druid."
"That's right," said Tannish. They all notice Paige suddenly orb in. "She appeared at my home but couldn't move. Luckily I was able to use my telepathy to find out what had happened. Lucky for you I did. Who was that guy? His power seemed incredible."
"Apparently," said Piper, looking at Chris, "that was my son. All grown up. You led us to believe he was dead. That a demon was after him to kill him."
"I only said a demon was after him," said Chris. "I never said he was dead. You just assumed that."
"Because you let us believe that," said Phoebe. "He called you little brother. You're Wyatt's brother?"
"Yes," said Chris, after a moment's hesitation. "He's about two years older than I am. And as you can see, he's a lot more powerful. Being his brother has protected me even when I displeased him. It seems I'm not as protected as I once was."
"Your brother?" questioned Paige. "But you said you were part witch part White Lighter. Just before you went back to the future."
"That's right," Chris said.
"Then that means," began Piper.
"Let's all have a seat," said Leo. "I think it's time Chris told us the whole truth about what he's doing here. And this time you don't leave anything out."
"Seems to me," said Chris, looking at Kiethran, "there are a number of explanations that need to be made here."
"You're going first," said Phoebe. "Leo nearly died, he implied that you would cease to exist if he did, and we were frozen like Popsicles. Not an experience I'd care to repeat any time soon."
Chris was looking somewhat guilty as the group took seats in the living room to hear the explanations he had to give.
"Okay," said Leo as the group sat in the living room, "we want the truth. The whole truth this time. Don't leave anything out."
"I'm not sure where to start," said Chris.
"Start with how you and Wyatt happen to be brother," said Piper.
"It's true," said Chris. "Wyatt is my older brother."
"How is that possible?" Paige asked. "Piper and Leo broke up. Unless she hooked up with another White Lighter or he hooked up with another witch."
"No," said Chris, "that's not what happened. You see, originally, Leo never became an Elder. The Titans destroyed the Elders just as they did this time. Only Leo was down here protecting you. He escaped the destruction as did a few of the other Elders."
"How were the Titans stopped?" Phoebe asked.
"They destroyed each other," said Chris. "They got into a fight and destroyed themselves. But that left witches everywhere without White Lighters. With no Elders to lead them, they were disorganized. Demons began to wreak havoc everywhere."
"So we're you're parents?" Piper asked. "Leo and I?"
"Yes," said Chris. "Even with the Elders gone the demons couldn't stand against the Charmed Ones. You did pretty good for a few years. Then Wyatt started to help. Only his help was to vanquish anyone with powers, aside from his family. He wasn't old enough to understand the differences between good and evil."
"He kept saying something about how I held him back," said Leo. "That I never let him reach his true potential."
"Yes," said Chris. "You forbade him from using his powers until he could understand the consequences of them. As he grew older he began to resent you for not allowing him to vanquish demons whenever he wanted to. He kept saying you were holding him back."
"What was that about being infused with the essence of a demon?" Phoebe asked. "He said it was a delusion. That it was a figment of your imagination."
"That's what started everything," Chris said. "What few Elders had survived the Titans were able to regather after a few years. They tried to reform the council but there were just far too few of them. And the witches and White Lighters were used to being on their own.
"But we did learn that Wyatt wasn't really Wyatt. Somehow, some demon was able to infuse him with its essence. Not exactly a possession, just more of taking up residence in Wyatt's body. We think this is what turned Wyatt evil. No, evil isn't the right word. He's not evil, exactly. But he's convinced that only the powerful should rule. That the only one with the right to be leader is the one powerful enough to take that leadership."
"That sounds like a demonic concept," said Phoebe. "That's how the underworld is controlled. The more powerful demons controlling the less powerful ones."
"Exactly," said Chris. "Only we don't know which demon infused Wyatt or when it happened. As I said, we were able to narrow it down to certain types of demons. But the list is still pretty long. Wyatt's so powerful even at this young age that it would take a very powerful demon to infuse its essence into him."
"I've never heard of anything like this happening before," said Leo.
"I have," said Kiethran who had sat listening patiently the entire time. "It's very rare. As Chris said, only the most powerful demons can do it. Of course, with Wyatt being a baby right now, that might make it easier. He doesn't have complete control over his powers yet."
"That's right," said Chris. "And unless we can prevent it, when it happens we won't have any other choice. Wyatt - baby Wyatt - will have to be vanquished. Or he'll destroy the entire world."
Suddenly a fireball struck Wyatt from behind, sending him crashing across the room. He struck the wall and fell to the floor but was on his feet again in an instant. He spun to see who had the temerity to attack him.
He stood facing a man that was about five feet eight inches tall. The man had black hair that was trimmed neatly over the ears. He was dressed casually but carried a sword in his right hand. Wyatt noticed that Paige was nowhere to be seen.
"Tannish," Wyatt spat out.
"I see my reputation precedes me," said the man. "If you know who I am, then you know what this is." He indicated the sword he was holding. "Do you feel lucky today?"
"This isn't over," said Wyatt. "I'll be back to finish this soon enough."
Suddenly Wyatt orbed out of the manor. The man named Tannish moved over and laid the sword on the floor as he knelt over Leo. He looked up at Chris.
"Are you Chris?" Tannish asked.
"Yes," said Chris. "Just who are you?"
"There's no time," said Piper and she and Phoebe moved over to see to Leo. "Get up there and get a White Lighter down here to save him. Hurry."
Confused, Chris orbed out. The girls and Tannish were deeply concerned about Leo. His breathing was even harder than before and he seemed to be in a coma. Piper grabbed the bolt and pulled it out. As she did, Chris orbed back in with another man.
The man didn't hesitate. He moved over and knelt next to Leo, then placed his hands over the wound and began to use his healing powers. Within seconds, the wound was completely gone. Leo looked up at the group around him.
"That was close," he said. "Closer than I've ever come. Thanks, Arnold. I appreciate the help."
"My pleasure," said the White Lighter Chris had orbed in. "I'm just glad I was able to get here in time. We nearly lost you."
"He called you Tannish," Chris said to the man who had saved them. "That would make you Kiethran Tannish. The Druid."
"That's right," said Tannish. They all notice Paige suddenly orb in. "She appeared at my home but couldn't move. Luckily I was able to use my telepathy to find out what had happened. Lucky for you I did. Who was that guy? His power seemed incredible."
"Apparently," said Piper, looking at Chris, "that was my son. All grown up. You led us to believe he was dead. That a demon was after him to kill him."
"I only said a demon was after him," said Chris. "I never said he was dead. You just assumed that."
"Because you let us believe that," said Phoebe. "He called you little brother. You're Wyatt's brother?"
"Yes," said Chris, after a moment's hesitation. "He's about two years older than I am. And as you can see, he's a lot more powerful. Being his brother has protected me even when I displeased him. It seems I'm not as protected as I once was."
"Your brother?" questioned Paige. "But you said you were part witch part White Lighter. Just before you went back to the future."
"That's right," Chris said.
"Then that means," began Piper.
"Let's all have a seat," said Leo. "I think it's time Chris told us the whole truth about what he's doing here. And this time you don't leave anything out."
"Seems to me," said Chris, looking at Kiethran, "there are a number of explanations that need to be made here."
"You're going first," said Phoebe. "Leo nearly died, he implied that you would cease to exist if he did, and we were frozen like Popsicles. Not an experience I'd care to repeat any time soon."
Chris was looking somewhat guilty as the group took seats in the living room to hear the explanations he had to give.
"Okay," said Leo as the group sat in the living room, "we want the truth. The whole truth this time. Don't leave anything out."
"I'm not sure where to start," said Chris.
"Start with how you and Wyatt happen to be brother," said Piper.
"It's true," said Chris. "Wyatt is my older brother."
"How is that possible?" Paige asked. "Piper and Leo broke up. Unless she hooked up with another White Lighter or he hooked up with another witch."
"No," said Chris, "that's not what happened. You see, originally, Leo never became an Elder. The Titans destroyed the Elders just as they did this time. Only Leo was down here protecting you. He escaped the destruction as did a few of the other Elders."
"How were the Titans stopped?" Phoebe asked.
"They destroyed each other," said Chris. "They got into a fight and destroyed themselves. But that left witches everywhere without White Lighters. With no Elders to lead them, they were disorganized. Demons began to wreak havoc everywhere."
"So we're you're parents?" Piper asked. "Leo and I?"
"Yes," said Chris. "Even with the Elders gone the demons couldn't stand against the Charmed Ones. You did pretty good for a few years. Then Wyatt started to help. Only his help was to vanquish anyone with powers, aside from his family. He wasn't old enough to understand the differences between good and evil."
"He kept saying something about how I held him back," said Leo. "That I never let him reach his true potential."
"Yes," said Chris. "You forbade him from using his powers until he could understand the consequences of them. As he grew older he began to resent you for not allowing him to vanquish demons whenever he wanted to. He kept saying you were holding him back."
"What was that about being infused with the essence of a demon?" Phoebe asked. "He said it was a delusion. That it was a figment of your imagination."
"That's what started everything," Chris said. "What few Elders had survived the Titans were able to regather after a few years. They tried to reform the council but there were just far too few of them. And the witches and White Lighters were used to being on their own.
"But we did learn that Wyatt wasn't really Wyatt. Somehow, some demon was able to infuse him with its essence. Not exactly a possession, just more of taking up residence in Wyatt's body. We think this is what turned Wyatt evil. No, evil isn't the right word. He's not evil, exactly. But he's convinced that only the powerful should rule. That the only one with the right to be leader is the one powerful enough to take that leadership."
"That sounds like a demonic concept," said Phoebe. "That's how the underworld is controlled. The more powerful demons controlling the less powerful ones."
"Exactly," said Chris. "Only we don't know which demon infused Wyatt or when it happened. As I said, we were able to narrow it down to certain types of demons. But the list is still pretty long. Wyatt's so powerful even at this young age that it would take a very powerful demon to infuse its essence into him."
"I've never heard of anything like this happening before," said Leo.
"I have," said Kiethran who had sat listening patiently the entire time. "It's very rare. As Chris said, only the most powerful demons can do it. Of course, with Wyatt being a baby right now, that might make it easier. He doesn't have complete control over his powers yet."
"That's right," said Chris. "And unless we can prevent it, when it happens we won't have any other choice. Wyatt - baby Wyatt - will have to be vanquished. Or he'll destroy the entire world."
