Chapter 35: The plot thickens
Talia and Wyatt appeared in a tower of flames and a swirl of blue lights in the narrow alley. They'd only just come home from school.
Well, as near to home as they could, without being seen using their powers.
"So how are you and Josh doing?" the ever-observant Wyatt asked.
It was a Monday afternoon, but ever since Saturday, Talia and Josh had been inseparable. She had been the model girlfriend. Only Wyatt wasn't fooled.
"Good, why do you ask?"
"No reason, really...you just seemed kinda troubled lately."
"You and I are looking out for my boyfriend on whose head there seems to be a demonic hit, or have you forgotten?" she asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah...old news...anything else going on lately that I should know about? You haven't found out anything else that you're not telling me, have you?"
Well actually...
I've found out that my father, the Source of All Evil, is probably behind the hit on my boyfriend, in an attempt to get me to go back to the Dark Side. I've also found out, that he ordered a demon to follow me around for months, that this demon fell in love with me in the process, and, guess what? I had wild, passionate sex with the aforementioned demon the other night and I think I may be falling in love with him too! I then left him at my father's cabin with no explanation whatsoever because I realised we could never be together now that I'm good! And as if that's not enough, I've discovered that I still have feelings for my mortal boyfriend, who has no idea of who I really am!
"No of course not!" she said, sounding slightly offended at the very idea.
"Just checking...!" Wyatt defended himself.
And that's when they heard the voices.
"It shouldn't be that hard to kill one puny mortal, Remos...!"
Talia pulled Wyatt behind a trash can.
"I know that voice," she whispered to him, a feeling of dread sinking to her stomach.
Both teenagers peeked over the trash can.
Wyatt's eyes widened at the sight before them.
"Is that who I think it is?" he asked, in a whisper barely heard, his eyes as wide as saucers.
"Ssh," she said, "I'm trying to hear what they're saying."
"My lord, please accept my sincerest apologies, but we cannot hurry this matter. The boy is with the Princess at nearly all times and she is not one to take on lightly. In our first attack we will have the element of surprise. We cannot waste that. We need to be able to kill him first time round and planning is required for that."
"Have you found the right bounty hunters yet?" asked Cole's voice.
"Yes milord, we have."
"Good. Make it look like an accident; like she was the target, but he got in the way. As long as my involvement in this is not revealed, she will think that the attack was aimed at her. Talia is not stupid. Once he's dead she'll get the message. Her hanging around with mortals is hazardous to their health. She won't tolerate her friends killed off, one by one for simply being with her. She'll come back to the Underworld; where she belongs.
"Put the plan under way. I want the Princess back as soon as possible."
For a split second the light shone on the tall dark figure that had previously stood in the shadows. The curly, brown hair, the blue eyes in which glittered the steel of determination, even the cruel smile that graced his hard features whenever he was on "business", were unmistakable. With great reluctance Talia recognised her very own father.
Then he turned back to the shadows and out of sight.
"Yes milord," said Remos, whom they now could see was on his knees before his king.
The demon slowly got up after the Source apparently left.
"I'll keep watch over the Princess my lord. We'll bring the little Phoenix home," he said to himself before he too left the alley.
The two teenagers hiding behind the trash can hadn't been able to see the Source shimmering away, rather than flaming.
**************************
"Talia we have to tell them. Things are way out of our league now and you know it!"
"No, Wyatt! We can handle it!"
"Handle it? The Source of All bloody Evil is involved. We can't fight the Source! We need the Charmed Ones!"
"Yes, okay, we'll have to somehow deal with the Source, but are you forgetting that I'm his daughter? I know more about him than anyone else in this world. Who better to deal with him? Besides, you and I are two of the most inherent magical creatures to ever walk this earth! We can handle this!"
"Exactly Talia, that's my point! We are only two of the most inherent magical creatures to ever walk the earth, and we need the other three! We need the Charmed Ones."
"Wyatt, just listen to me, please! The Source doesn't want to get directly involved in this. He doesn't want his involvement known. All we have to do is make sure we're both with Josh at the time of the first attack! If that one fails, the demons will know that we're expecting further attacks, and they'll hesitate to try again. We've faced bounty hunters before. I mean...for goodness sake! A day hardly goes by when a few of them don't appear at the manor, looking for me. No one's gotten me this far, and I won't let any of them get Josh."
"You've got your powers Tal. He doesn't!"
"Yes, but he's got me around to protect him. We can do this Wyatt!"
The determination in her eyes made his will waver.
"Please, Wyatt. He's still my father. If the Charmed Ones get involved...who knows what will happen? Besides, this is between me and him. It's my fight. Let me handle it my way."
"Talia..."
"You know I'm right. Look, I can probably do it on my own, and I will, if I have to, but it'll be a lot easier with you to help me. What do you say Wyatt? Will you help me?"
**************************
TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: Short, I know. That's what the double update is for. It just seemed appropriate for me to end it here. Keep reading!