EIGHT
"First," said Leo, "Piper, you have to stop giving Wyatt that potion. One of the other Elders had a premonition about it. If you keep giving it to him it's going to make him violently ill. Even though it's not designed for him, it's still a vanquishing potion. And it's going to have an affect on him."
"Well, so much for my bright idea," said Piper, taking the bottle from the infant. "We'll just have to come up with another solution."
"There's more isn't there?" asked Giles.
"Yes," said Leo. "Evil activity is on the increase. The Druids have their hands full. Their antagonists have suddenly launched nearly full-scale attacks against them. So they aren't going to be able to provide us with any assistance."
"That's just great," said Paige.
"There's also indications that someone is reorganizing the underworld," said Leo. "Michael told me that a lot of the demonic leaders are starting to work together. Demons who totally hate each other. Rumors are that a new leader is working behind the scenes. Someone with enough power to control all the demons."
"That would be Wyatt," said Chris. "In the future, he has many demons working for him. Most of the demonic leadership is dead. Those that aren't follow him without question."
"He hasn't vanquished any of them yet," said Leo. "Either he's waiting for the right time or he's changed his tactics. If the demons begin to cooperate, witches everywhere are going to be at a distinct disadvantage."
"Is Michael okay?" Piper asked. "If this Wyatt is from the future he might know about Michael. That could put him at risk."
"I don't think Wyatt ever knew about Michael," said Chris. "He never made any moves against him. If he had known, I'm sure he would have vanquished him immediately."
"So how do you know?" asked Phoebe.
"It became too dangerous for Michael to stay in the underworld," said Chris. "He knew I was trying to stop Wyatt so he came to me. I helped hide him. I know a few places someone can hide where they won't be detected."
"We could take Wyatt there," suggested Piper. "Until this is all over. At least he won't be in danger there."
"I doubt that would work," interjected Giles. "The First is a very powerful force. From all indications it would be able to sense him no matter where he is. And we wouldn't be here to protect him."
"Giles is right," said Leo. "The First pre-dates most demons and witches. There aren't many places it can't get to. The Elders have been researching it. And I've told them what Giles told us about it. Still, there's very little we do know."
"Well, we'd better think of something soon," said Willow. "Without the amulet I don't know how we're going to defeat The First. Even with all the power we have here, we still don't have a way to defeat it. And every minute we delay is that much more dangerous."
"I shall redouble my research efforts," said Giles. "But without Xander to help I'm afraid it's going to be more difficult."
"I'll help," said Paige. "It beats sitting around waiting to be attacked."
"I'll help, too," said Phoebe. "And when Angel and Spike get back maybe they'll have some more information for us."
"I'm going to see about working up a new potion," said Piper. "At least we have the one I already made. Maybe I can't give it to Wyatt but at least we have it on hand."
Phoebe and Paige moved over next to Giles and Willow to begin with the research. Piper left Wyatt with Leo and went into the kitchen to start work on another vanquishing potion. Chris was left to his own devices.
"First," said Leo, "Piper, you have to stop giving Wyatt that potion. One of the other Elders had a premonition about it. If you keep giving it to him it's going to make him violently ill. Even though it's not designed for him, it's still a vanquishing potion. And it's going to have an affect on him."
"Well, so much for my bright idea," said Piper, taking the bottle from the infant. "We'll just have to come up with another solution."
"There's more isn't there?" asked Giles.
"Yes," said Leo. "Evil activity is on the increase. The Druids have their hands full. Their antagonists have suddenly launched nearly full-scale attacks against them. So they aren't going to be able to provide us with any assistance."
"That's just great," said Paige.
"There's also indications that someone is reorganizing the underworld," said Leo. "Michael told me that a lot of the demonic leaders are starting to work together. Demons who totally hate each other. Rumors are that a new leader is working behind the scenes. Someone with enough power to control all the demons."
"That would be Wyatt," said Chris. "In the future, he has many demons working for him. Most of the demonic leadership is dead. Those that aren't follow him without question."
"He hasn't vanquished any of them yet," said Leo. "Either he's waiting for the right time or he's changed his tactics. If the demons begin to cooperate, witches everywhere are going to be at a distinct disadvantage."
"Is Michael okay?" Piper asked. "If this Wyatt is from the future he might know about Michael. That could put him at risk."
"I don't think Wyatt ever knew about Michael," said Chris. "He never made any moves against him. If he had known, I'm sure he would have vanquished him immediately."
"So how do you know?" asked Phoebe.
"It became too dangerous for Michael to stay in the underworld," said Chris. "He knew I was trying to stop Wyatt so he came to me. I helped hide him. I know a few places someone can hide where they won't be detected."
"We could take Wyatt there," suggested Piper. "Until this is all over. At least he won't be in danger there."
"I doubt that would work," interjected Giles. "The First is a very powerful force. From all indications it would be able to sense him no matter where he is. And we wouldn't be here to protect him."
"Giles is right," said Leo. "The First pre-dates most demons and witches. There aren't many places it can't get to. The Elders have been researching it. And I've told them what Giles told us about it. Still, there's very little we do know."
"Well, we'd better think of something soon," said Willow. "Without the amulet I don't know how we're going to defeat The First. Even with all the power we have here, we still don't have a way to defeat it. And every minute we delay is that much more dangerous."
"I shall redouble my research efforts," said Giles. "But without Xander to help I'm afraid it's going to be more difficult."
"I'll help," said Paige. "It beats sitting around waiting to be attacked."
"I'll help, too," said Phoebe. "And when Angel and Spike get back maybe they'll have some more information for us."
"I'm going to see about working up a new potion," said Piper. "At least we have the one I already made. Maybe I can't give it to Wyatt but at least we have it on hand."
Phoebe and Paige moved over next to Giles and Willow to begin with the research. Piper left Wyatt with Leo and went into the kitchen to start work on another vanquishing potion. Chris was left to his own devices.