Charmed: Tangled Webs
Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I do own the Original Characters and the story though. Reviews are appreciated.
I'm staying with Lottie's point of view.
I went downstairs to await the results of Daemon's attempt to save Ava. I had no doubt that if he tried anything fishy Hong-Anh would shoot him. With her gun-if it didn't kill him it would sure as hell hurt.
I heard my Dad and Bane downstairs. They were arguing with someone-I didn't recognize the voices of the other people, but I could guess who they were.
Walking into the room I discovered that I was right.
"The Cleaners." I said, giving them my best now is not a good time look. "Don't you guys have some bleach to go buy?"
"Which are you?" Cleaner One asked.
"I'm Lottie." I said simply.
"You know what I mean." This guy was looking annoyed and I hadn't been upstairs that long.
"They are both real." Cleaner Two said. "Regardless-we have a job to do."
"Which is?"
"You and your companions used magic in public tonight." Cleaner One said.
"You can't be here about that." I said. "Magic has been exposed for years. Remember when my Mom and her sisters died… I'm pretty sure that it was the combination of the power surge caused their deaths as well as all of their children losing control of our emotions at the same time.
"So why are you guys really here?" "
"You have also been in contact with the incarnation of the Source of All Evil." Cleaner One said.
"And that has what to do with anything?" Dad said, he sounded worn out.
"You threaten the balance." Cleaner One continued.
I rolled my eyes. "How does family bonding threaten the balance between good and evil?"
"If the Source of All Evil joins the Halliweils, your line will be able to command the demons." Cleaner One said.
"On the other hand;" Cleaner Two continued. "If you and your cousins join him then the balance of Good and Evil will swing in favor of Evil. He will be able to command of your line's magic and that power will filter down to all of the remaining demons. They will wipe out all beings of Good."
"There aren't that many demons left." I pointed out. "Not since the Purge."
"She doesn't know." Cleaner One said. "Should we tell her?"
"Ok, that's not fair." I said. "You can't make comments like that and then not tell me what you are talking about. That's just rude."
"We are not known for our manners."
"Actually you are." Bane pointed out. "From everything that I have ever heard about you guys; you are cold, persistent, stubborn, ruthless and sticklers for the rules to a ridiculous level. But you are always polite about it."
"Well put." Cleaner Two said, giving Bane a slight bow. "Someone is reassembling the demons of the Underworld. Taking the most evil people in existence and turning them into demons."
"What?" Dad, Bane and I said at the same time.
"The Halliweil Brothers all ready have this information, but they do not know who it is." Cleaner Two continued.
"Would you tell us if they did?" I couldn't help asking.
"That you must find out on your own." Cleaner One said.
There was a rumble from upstairs and lightning danced across the ceiling.
"What is happening upstairs?" Cleaner Two asked.
"Remember how you were talking about the consequences of us hooking up with Daemon?" I said.
"Of course." Cleaner One said.
"Well Daemon's upstairs right now-trying to keep Ava from going permanently Berserker or sociopath on us."
"He's doing what?" Cleaner One snapped.
"Oh don't worry." I said. "I didn't tell him everything about her."
"You are gambling with the fate of the world." Cleaner Two warned us.
"Our Moms used to do that on a weekly basis." I said. "Besides, Hong-Anh will shoot him if he tries anything."
"Be careful." Cleaner Two said.
"We will be." I said. "And thank you both for your concern."
My Dad and Bane stood up and bid the Cleaners farewell. They left.
Dad and Bane sat me down on the couch.
"All right." Dad said. "Now from the beginning—tell us what you and Ava have been up to."
"You said that you were just going bowling with this guy."
"Well…" I sighed. "We were attacked."
"Lottie." Bane sounded annoyed. "We figured that much out. We did just have to chain Ava to a bed."
"Ok." I sat down and gave them the Cliff Notes version of what had happened at the bowling alley.
"The Cleaners were right." Bane said. "You two are gambling with the fate of the world-again."
"Well we try to minimize the actual gambling." I said.
"It sounds like the Shadow Demons were after Ava." Dad said. "Any idea why?"
"No." I shook my head. "It did seem strange that they practically ignored both me and Daemon. I mean a Halliweil witch and the Source of All Evil—and they go after a companion/bodyguard."
"Well maybe they didn't know who Daemon was." Bane said.
"Or they know." Dad said.
"No." I said quickly. "We've been too careful for anyone outside of our house to know. Not even Daemon knows."
"There is always the chance of leaks." Bane said. "I mean you heard what the Cleaners said, someone is rebuilding the Underworld. That means that more demons will be coming; with different kinds of powers.
"How do we know that there isn't another demon like Litvack out there?"
"If there is then we're screwed." I said. "But Daemon doesn't know about us. And I'm pretty sure that if any demon found out they would tell him."
"Is there any way that we can find out who's rebuilding the Underworld?" Dad asked. "I mean a non-magical way, something that can't be traced. I'll leave the magic end to you two girls."
"I don't know." I sighed and put my head in my hands. After a few minuets I went into the kitchen to make tea while we waited for the excitement upstairs to die down.
Author's Note: Well I'm back from a long absence. I hope that everyone missed me. I'll try to put another chapter up soon.