A/N: I'll be going on another trip for the next two weeks (to Europe!!) so I wanted to update as soon as possible. I hope everyone likes this chapter since it's basically the climax of the entire story. Remember guys----reviews ALWAYS help!!!
Reviews: Stranded Stargazer: Yep, Gwen will be messing with the dark arts. Like almost all good witches, she has to have her taste of evil at some point in her life to decide if good magic is really her calling.
Chapter 8
The time read 11:56 and Gwen was just about ready. The dark crystals were in place to trap and bind Cronon when summoned. She had checked and re-checked every piece of research to ensure everything went smoothly, but she still couldn't shake the fear or worry that was beginning to overtake her.
Gathering what was left of her courage, she took the piece of parchment containing all the spells she would need and began to silently memorize them.
In the distance she heard the Grand Father clock chime 12 beats.
Gwen sucked in a breath and started chanting.
A cool wind blew through the attic and violently rattled the stained class windows. The wooden floors shook and Gwendy feared they would crumble beneath her. Nevertheless, she continued with the ritual.
Suddenly a large, grotesque figure landed in front of her.
Cronon stood before her with a menacing look on his face.
"Why did you summon me girl?!" he asked threateningly.
"To kill you," she said equally with intent. "Just like the way you killed my parents."
Her eyes started tearing up with emotions but she would die rather than let this monster see her weak.
The demon began to cackle evilly. "So you are the youngest Halliwell witch; the one I've been searching for. Well I must thank you for saving me the extra trouble."
Gwen narrowed her eyes and quickly touched the crystal nearest her, causing Cronon to writhe in pain. He angrily attempted to pry himself through the barrier but was held back.
"I'll get through this eventually. Your weak magic wont hold me for long."
"I just need you long enough to make you suffer," Gwen answered. There was a dark expression on her normally light and happy face. Her eyes were the color of steel as she muttered a word in Latin.
"Pernucio!" she cried, promptimg Cronon to cry out in anguish. (A/N: I have no idea if this word is really in Latin since I just made it up, hoping it would sound like a real curse. Latin always seems like the most aged language, which is perfect for this part of the story.)
Weakened, Gwen took large, uneven breaths. She hadn't anticipated the spell to take so much out of her.
But before she could utter another curse, he attic door burst open as the Charmed Ones rushed inside.
Cronon sent a burst of violent energy towards them, which Prue swiftly deflected, sending him flying out of the crystal barriers.
Piper and Phoebe rushed to their cousin's side and both were rapidly asking if she was all right.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Why are you guys here?! You're not supposed to be home!!!"
She was freely crying now and looked extremely shaken up. Gwen voiced another curse, pointing at Cronon who was in the middle of the room dueling with Prue.
"Gwen!" shouted Phoebe, forcing her to the floor before Cronon could retaliate.
Piper froze the room just in time as Prue was almost hit with a massive burst of energy.
"Let me go!! I have to finish this! This isn't your fight!!" cried Gwen while fighting against her older cousin's restraining arms.
"Stop! Stop it Gwen! You can't do this and you know it! You're using black magic to torture him; it isn't right! This isn't you!!" shouted Piper as she joined Phoebe in restricting Gwen.
"Your parents wouldn't want you to do this! They didn't want you to become a killer!" added Prue who was nursing a gash on her forearm.
"I'll never know what they want anymore because thanks to him they're dead!!"
She was still fighting-fighting for her parents, and fighting for herself.
"Gwen listen to me," said Phoebe as steadily as possible, grasping her shoulders. "You can't just kill out of vengeance. Because if you do, you'll be just as bad as him."
Gwen stopped struggling and just cried. She cried out all her grief, her anger, and her pain.
And Phoebe simply sat there holding her, allowing her to sob and trying to offer some comfort.
Tears were already forming in each of the sisters' eyes.
Prue's heart went out to her as she remembered when their own mother died at the hands of a demon.
Breaking the tender moment, Cronon unfroze and growled furiously.
But just before he could send out another wave of attacks, he magically burned up on his own, leaving nothing but ash behind.
"How...?" asked Piper unbelievably to no one in particular.
"That was my doing," said a new voice, as the ghostly figure of Penny Halliwell floated in front of them.
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