Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the television show Charmed. All characters belong to Spelling Television, and The WB.
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The Pain of Future Wrongs – Chapter 71
Chris visibly tensed at the mention of the much dreaded sword. "What about Excalibur?" he asked wearily.
Wyatt fidgeted with his hands as he tried to decide how to tell his brother. "I think the sword is after me."
"What do you mean it's after you?" Chris narrowed his eyes, not liking where Wyatt was going with the conversation.
Wyatt sighed, realizing how far-fetched this was going to sound. "Excalibur…it keeps appearing to me. It was here in the attic…and I see it in my dreams."
"Here? In the attic?" Chris asked, his eyes wide. "Who else knows about this?"
"No one," Wyatt answered, almost in a whisper. "Every time someone shows up, the sword disappears."
"Relax, Wy," Chris tried to comfort his brother. "You're getting too stressed out over this. We'll figure this out, okay?"
Wyatt snorted in a very Chris-like way. "Chris…you should've seen the dream I just had…it was horrible…" Wyatt's voice wavered and he shuddered as he thought back to his dream.
"It was just a dream, Wy…" Chris tried to reassure his older brother.
Wyatt shook his head furiously. "I murdered you in cold blood in my dream, Chris! This isn't just a normal nightmare!"
Chris froze upon hearing Wyatt's outburst but tried to maintain his composure. "Wy…"
"Don't," Wyatt warned, knowing his brother was going to try to make him feel better. "Maybe I'm destined to be evil…"
Now it was Chris' turn to get agitated. "Don't you ever say that in front of me again, you hear me? I didn't go through hell to save you just to have you decide that you were destined to be evil. You hear me!" Chris demanded, tears glistening in his eyes.
Wyatt's heart broke as he realized how much his words had hurt Chris. He had hoped to make his brother feel better but instead made him feel worse. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean it that way."
"Don't worry about it," Chris answered absent-mindedly. Wyatt couldn't help but smile as he could already see Chris' brain starting to go into overdrive thinking of an action plan. It was only after a couple of minutes that Chris noticed his older brother staring at him with a smug look. "What?" he asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," Wyatt answered casually.
"Wyatt Matthew Halliwell," Chris said in mock anger.
"Ohh…I love it when you take charge," Wyatt laughed as he pretended to be an awestruck teenager. "But I love it even more when the neurotic side of my younger brother kicks his brain into high gear as he tries to devise a foolproof master plan."
Chris tried to look annoyed but he couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Wyatt…don't even think of going into the acting business," he teased, orbing out just in time to avoid Wyatt's swat.
"Personal gain!" Wyatt called out as Chris walked into his room and got back in bed. He didn't show it in front of his brother, but Christopher Halliwell was worried…not for his own safety but was afraid that his mission would put his loved ones in harm's way.
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"We were so close…" one of the Elders hissed angrily as they saw the events unfold. "Just a few more minutes and we would've been successful."
Another Elder sneered softly. "I told you not to underestimate the middle Halliwell child. He has powers that extend far beyond his magical abilities."
"This is only a setback, we'll find other ways," a third Elder joined the conversation. "The Halliwells are too powerful for their own good, especially this younger generation. There will soon be no place for us if we do not keep their powers in check."
"This failed venture wasn't a complete loss, I suppose," the leader among the group mused.
"How so?"
"This episode did confirm one of my suspicions."
"And that would be?"
"Let me ask you, my friends. Who is the glue within the Halliwell family? Who holds them together?"
"Piper Halliwell, of course," one Elder answered knowingly. "Ever since the death of Prudence Halliwell, she has been the matriarch of the family and the driving force behind the Power of Three."
"I disagree," someone else answered. "I think it is Christopher Halliwell. His return to the past and the revelation of his powers make him the most important member of the family. Everything in the Halliwell family revolves around him now."
Everyone else nodded and voiced their agreement with the explanation.
"Well, my friend," the leader spoke again, "you are only partially right. Yes, Christopher Halliwell is pivotal to the family. But more importantly, the Halliwell family is what keeps Christopher Halliwell together."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we already know that Chris Halliwell is powerful. It probably wouldn't be very productive to spend our time and energy trying to fight against him directly. But the rest of his family may be more vulnerable. We break his family, we break Chris Halliwell," he answered as a thin smile made its way up his face.
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"Hey Mike," Ryan said cheerfully as he walked into the parlour where Mike was reading a magazine. "How are you doing?"
"Okay, I guess," he smiled as he moved over to give Ryan space to sit.
"It's going to take some time to get used to everything, but it'll all work out in the end," Ryan said reassuringly. "You'll see."
Mike nodded, knowing that Ryan was right. "Has anyone told you that you bear an amazingly striking resemblance to Chris? Personality wise, I mean."
Ryan laughed happily at the comment. "You're not the first, and hopefully you won't be the last. I'm taking that as a huge compliment, by the way."
Mike smiled at Ryan's response. "Wow, he must be some awesome brother to get an endorsement like that. Most people I know would be insulted by that type of comment."
"Definitely not in my case…although I have to say up front that thankfully, I'm not nearly as neurotic as Chris."
"Hey, that was uncalled for," Chris called out from the kitchen.
"And definitely not as nosy," Ryan said just loud enough for Chris to hear before sharing a smirk with Mike.
"Okay, are you guys ready?" Wyatt asked as he walked into the parlour, an excited smile on his face.
"We're just waiting for the 'Noble One,'" Ryan said softly, causing Wyatt to roll his eyes.
"If I hear you calling me that again, I swear I'll seal your mouth shut for a week," Chris said as he joined the group at last.
"What? You don't like being called 'Noble One'?" Ryan teased.
Chris sighed and shook his head. "You are impossible," he finally said with a chuckle.
Wyatt just laughed at the interaction. "Face it, lil' bro," he said to Chris. "Our Ryan has got you wrapped around his finger."
The boys just laughed at the irony of the situation and headed out to the baseball stadium for their first guys' night out.
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"We should definitely do this again," Ryan said as four excited young men walked into the Halliwell manor later that night.
"For sure," Wyatt agreed. "Although right now, all I want to do is head off to bed. I'll see you all tomorrow." With that, the eldest of the group disappeared into his room.
Ryan also bid Chris and Mike good night and prepared himself for bed. Just before Mike ascended the stairs, he turned to Chris and smiled appreciatively. "Thanks again, Chris."
"For what?" Chris asked with a puzzled look.
"For everything. For going out of your way to make me feel comfortable. For accepting me for who I am."
Chris smiled and hugged his friend. "No problem, Mike. You would have done the same for me."
Mike nodded in agreement and headed off to bed. "Don't stay up too late or your Mom is going to have a fit in the morning," he laughed.
"Yes, Dad," Chris answered sarcastically. Once everyone was settled in for the night, Chris orbed to the attic and grabbed a few things that he needed. Then, in a swirl of blue lights, he orbed into the underworld.
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Chris grabbed a demon by his neck and brutally choked the air out of him. "Take me to your leader or I'll make sure you die a very, very, very death," the young Halliwell threatened.
Eyes wide with fear and body wracked with pain, the demon quickly agreed to Chris' demand and led him through a maze of tunnels and caves. Finally, the two emerged in a large cave that was filled with demonic activity.
"Well, well, well, to what do we owe the honour of this visit?" Nekona announced as all the demons turned towards the new visitor.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Chris answered with a smile. "I have a proposition for you…if you're interested, that is…"
to be continued -