Chapter 7

Piper and Leo now found themselves viewing a scene up in the heavens. Elders garbed in gold velour robes silently walked past, paying no attention to the young witchlighter in their midst.

Chris was a year older now and slightly battle-worn. He appeared to be somewhat impatient when Leo, wearing the same gold velour robe as the other Elders, approached him.

Leo appeared to be extremely pleased to see his younger son. "Chris!" he greeted, moving toward him to embrace him.

Chris stiffly pulled away from his father, causing the smile to fade from Leo's face.

"I need some information, Dad," Chris said, getting down to business.

"Sure, anything," Leo replied, glad Chris would come to him for help. "I watch you from here often. I've been worried about you. You completely disappeared from my radar for months…"

"Wyatt," Chris explained. "He was keeping me as a prisoner."

"I know," said Leo. "Wyatt keeps his lair protected. I can't see anything in there." Then, concerned, "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine," Chris replied stiffly.

"I didn't know he was keeping you prisoner until after you escaped," Leo explained. "I've been sending whitelighters down to look out for you."

"I don't need a whitelighter," Chris rebelled. "I can take care of myself."

Leo simply nodded. Chris had been refusing any kind of help from Leo since he was fifteen years old, still bitter at his father for sending him away. This is why he was so pleased that Chris was now coming to him for assistance.

"I would have come myself," Leo explained, "but my time away from here has been restricted for the last couple of years. I need permission to leave."

Chris acted as though he could care less. "Look, I just need some information, okay," he told his father, getting back down to business. "Bianca and I came up with a plan to save Wyatt…"

"Bianca?" Leo asked, obviously displeased. "She's a Phoenix Assassin, Chris, and she works for Wyatt."

"Not anymore," said Chris, defending her. "She's the one that helped me to escape from him." He continued, "Wyatt told me whatever it was happened to him to turn him into what he is now happened before I was born. I need to know everything that happened to Wyatt that could've caused him to turn evil."

"Why?" Leo asked, curious. "What's your plan?"

"There's a spell in the book that will allow me to go back in time and keep my powers. Bianca has seen it. I'm going to summon the book away from Wyatt and use the spell to go back in time to stop whatever demon it was that got to him…"

"No," Leo ordered. "It's too dangerous. You can't change the past, Chris. The consequences can be far worse."

"I doubt it," Chris replied. "How can things be any worse than they already are? My brother being the ruler of all evil, hunting down any witch that he thinks might defy him…"

"For one thing, by going back before you were born, you could wipe out your own existence. I won't allow you to take that risk."

"It's a risk I'm willing to take," Chris said. "Look, I'm just going to make a surgical strike, that's all. I'll go there, get the sisters to kill any demon that might have possibly been the cause of Wyatt turning evil, and come home…Are you going to help me or not?"

Leo thought this over for a minute. "There is nothing I can say to change your mind about this, is there?" realizing his son's determination.

"No."

Leo nodded. "Okay, then. Give me a minute."

Chris waited impatiently while his father went over to another Elder, whom he spoke with out of Chris' earshot. The Elder nodded and Leo walked back over to Chris.

"We need to go somewhere first," Leo said, grabbing his son by the arm and orbing the two of them out.

Piper and Leo watched the scene change to an island that they both recognized as Vahalla.

Leo and Chris both orbed outside of a cave.

"What is this place?" Chris asked, pulling out of his father's grasp.

"Valhalla," Leo answered. "The warriors here may be able to help you."

Chris followed Leo into the cave. Several warrior women were heading towards them when they entered.

"Leo, it's you," said one that appeared to be the leader. "We detected someone orbing on to the island and were about to check it out."

"Hello, Freyja," Leo greeted her. "I need a favor."

"Of course. What is it you need?" she offered.

"I need you to keep my son here for his own safety."
"What?!" Chris shouted, outraged. Leo grabbed his arm to prevent him from trying to run away.

Freyja replied, "Anything for an Elder." On her nod, two warriors stepped up, each taking one of Chris' arms to lead him away.

Chris yelled, "Wait! Dad! Why are you doing this?"

"I can't risk losing you too, Chris. I'm sorry. It's for your own good," Leo said solemnly.

"Dad! Please! Please don't leave me here!" Chris cried as he was lead away.

"I'm sorry," Leo said regretfully, moved by the similarity between this situation and one that occurred years earlier when he sent Chris to live with his grandfather. He felt as much guilt this time as he had then, but he knew deep down that both times it was for Chris' own good.

Chris' cries of protest echoed in Leo's ears as his son was dragged away.