Part 2: Gathering the Information

~~

The Charmed Ones are still on the Manor's main floor, with Chris and Wyatt now with them.

Phoebe: You sure you're up to going?

Paige: I'll be fine. It'll be awkward, of course, but I think I can handle this.

Piper: Good luck.

Paige: (offers a smile to Piper) I might just need it.

Phoebe: You mean we might just need it. Even if Richard can provide an accurate description of these demons, we're still lacking the Book.

Paige: Yeah, won't this be fun. (Takes Phoebe's hand and the two Orb out)

There's a moment of silence as Piper, Leo and Chris watch the two witches orb out.

Piper: (turning to face her sons) You know Chris...

Chris: What...?

Piper: Maybe you should try talking to Nethaniel. Phoebe has already given it a shot, and so far he has been anything but cooperative.

Chris: No offense, but if Phoebe couldn't get that far with him what makes you think I'll have a chance?

Piper: You knew him.

Chris: It's different now. It was different then.

Leo: Can't you at least try?

Chris: Try? Where do you get off telling me – (clearing his throat) Fine, I'll give it a shot.

Piper: Good, good. (Takes Wyatt from Chris)

Chris turns and moves off up the stairs, and once he's out of hearing range Piper looks over at Leo.

Piper: I think it's about time you tried to have another talk with your son.

Leo: I know.

Piper: Then what're you waiting for?

Leo: Safety. (off Piper's look) I don't want to start another fight with him if I can avoid it.

Piper: Oh, good luck with that. (a beat, then she continues) I don't know exactly what happened, or will happen, in the future between you two but this could be your only chance to make things right with Chris.

Leo: It wouldn't be my only chance.

Piper: Leo, you're not going to avoid connecting to big Chris just because you might have a better chance with little Chris. Okay?

Leo just nods as Wyatt orbs over in to his arms. Piper just smiles at both of them.

~~

Over at Richard's mansion, in the empty storage room where Richard once kept all his spell ingredients, Phoebe and Paige are looking around. Richard is outside the room, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Paige: Not an ounce of blood anywhere.

Phoebe: Were you expecting there to be?

Paige: No, but just once I wouldn't mind things being easier. If we had some of these demons' blood it would help us figure out what they are.

Phoebe: Well, it looks like we don't get to enjoy that luxury this time.

Paige: (sarcastically) Do we ever?

Phoebe: If we do, I can't wait for that day.

The two exit the room and move over to Richard. Paige hangs back a bit, feeling just as uncomfortable with this reunion as Richard.

Phoebe: So they just came in here, stole all this stuff and vanished?

Richard: Yeah. I barely had a chance to even see them before they were gone.

Paige: But you did see them? Richard: (nodding) What wasn't covered in robes at least.

Phoebe: Tell us everything you remember, and spare no detail.

Paige: We're kind of working without our Book of Shadows here too, so if you happened to see what powers these demons have it would be a big help.

Richard: Someone stole your Book?

Paige: More or less.

Phoebe: What she means is we have the Book, it's just... Full of blank pages...

Richard: That's not good.

Phoebe: Oh, we know.

Richard: Who stole it?

Paige: Well, that's hard to explain.

Phoebe: Very hard. So, let's just skip that and save us the trouble of a future headache.

Richard: (raising a brow) Alright.

Paige: So, the demons?

~~

Chris walked down the hall, coming to a stop at a room which didn't used to be in the Manor. It was an area the Sisters had recently created, a magical prison of sorts, which didn't require a real renovation of the Manor at all. From the outside the room wasn't even visible.

It was a large area, easily the size of a master room complete with everything a room of such stature would need. Nethaniel was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed's support with his thumbs rubbing his forehead as if he had a massive headache. He's still wearing his torn black shirt and black jeans.

Chris: (hesitantly) Nethaniel?

Nethaniel: (not looking up) You're not too young to die future boy, but I'm ever curious over what would happen if the child within Piper were to die. Would your soul even exist to move on to the afterlife or would you just ...fade away?

Chris: I'd rather not think about it.

Nethaniel: Now there's another thought. If you were never born in this timeline would everyone's thoughts and memories of you be forgotten?

Chris: It's likely. (not amused)

Nethaniel: Then I'll just have to end your life and stay away from the young you if I really want to gain any joy from your death.

Chris: Seems that way, but don't get too far ahead of yourself. You're stuck in this room, I'm not.

Nethaniel: (Still not looking up) For now that may be, but in time things could change.

Chris: That's what I'm hoping.

Nethaniel: What, you want to die?

Chris: Can't say that I do, but I wouldn't mind things changing.

Nethaniel: You could just kill him. That would change things.

Chris: I'm not going to kill my brother.

Nethaniel: Technically he's not your brother yet.

Chris: (annoyed) Enough of this. I came here to talk with you about the Book of Shadows.

Nethaniel: I'm not reversing the spell.

Chris: You're going to have to sooner or later.

Nethaniel: Later it is.

Chris: (Trying a different approach) Do you want them to die?

Nethaniel: I would have no problem with their deaths. Where I grew up, they were already dead.

Chris: This isn't where you grew up. Things are different here, they're different.

Nethaniel: Doesn't change anything.

Chris: I don't believe that.

Nethaniel: Then you're just lying to yourself now.

Chris: No, it's the other way around Nethaniel. You've been given a second chance to have a family, and deep down I think you know that.

Nethaniel: Funny how it seems to be the same way with you, just under a different circumstance. (a pause) What's it like seeing your mother this young, knowing that she won't be there when you go back?

Chris: She'll be there.

Nethaniel: No she won't. The angels of death don't give up. When someone is meant to die, then they die. There's nothing that can be done to change it. Just like when Prue died.

Chris: This is different. If I can save my brother, she won't die.

Nethaniel: Keep telling yourself that, maybe one day you'll believe it.

Chris: Can we get back to the main topic?

Nethaniel: You are the main topic, future boy.

Chris: (giving up) Fine, this isn't over Nethaniel. One way or another you'll restore the Book of Shadows.

Nethaniel: Not before your death.

Chris shoots Nethaniel a look of utter annoyance before leaving down the hall, heading back to the stairs.

~~

Back at Richard's mansion Phoebe and Paige are taking notes of what the demons looked like.

Phoebe: So they were all wearing black robes, but you could see their faces which are badly scarred, and bloody bandaged arms with spikes protruding from their robes. Is that all?

Richard: In looks, yeah. Can't tell you exactly what their powers were but one did throw me back with telekinesis when he saw me.

Paige notes the echo of longing in Richard's voice when he mentions telekinesis, but she doesn't mention anything.

Phoebe: Is that the only power you felt, er, saw?

Richard: No. There was something else, but I'm not quite sure what it was.

Paige: Explain?

Richard: Their forms seemed to be surrounded in a veil of darkness when the one attacked me. As if the demon were drawing energy from the shadows. It almost seemed to vanish too.

Phoebe: A veil of darkness. Huh, don't think we've come across a demon like that before. (looking at Paige) Have we?

Paige: Not that I recall. (eyes widening as she stares off at something) But I think we'll be given the chance to change that now.

Phoebe and Richard follow Paige's gaze, but both don't see anything in the area Paige is looking.

Richard: What is it Paige, what do you see?

Phoebe: I can't sense anything.

Before Paige can reply both Phoebe and Richard are engulfed in darkness, and they vanish from the room. Paige is left alone in a very quiet mansion, looking quite startled.

Paige: (barely a whisper) Phoebe? Richard?

~~

-To be continued...