Umm, no fluff… but since I'm updating two chapters at once, you can take a deep breath and console in the fact the next chapter is… well… fluffy (fluff discussion in the next chapter).
This is the first time I'm updating two separate chapters at once and I'm not sure if I will continue doing this. But it depend on you, actually… people! Review chapters separately! Please
School started yesterday and cause it's my last year and all, I'm not quite sure how busy I'm going to be and can't assure any update dates. I'm sorry… but I'm not going to abandon this story, no way… it just may take awhile
Anyway… read on! I hope you'll like it and people ::dramatic pause:: please REVIEW!
White light streamed into his eyes and for a moment he was sure he was going blind. Blinking against the fierce pastiness, he shielded himself, trying to adjust to the now almost forgotten sheen. He had spent the last three months upon the earth or in the Underworld, searching for Piper or guiding his charges and hasn't been called back Up There for all this time. Now it took him a short while to adapt to the ethereal glow of the pallid chambers. When his eyes finally got used to the brightness, Leo glanced around searching for the one that summoned him. Spotting Lacius, one of the head Elders, he curtly bowed down and gazed at him, patiently awaiting the older whitelighter to speak.
"Leo…" Lacius smiled, moving closer to the younger man. "I see the whiteness took you by surprise…"
Leo shifted his weight uncomfortably, politely smiling at the Elder. "It has been a while… I guess I just got used to the semi murkiness of the world below." And the total darkness of the world below the world below… he added to himself absently.
"Yes," intoned Lacius, quietly gesturing Leo to follow him as he strolled onwards. "How have you been these past three months?"
Leo caught up with Lacius, walking slowly beside him, holding his hands clasped together at his back. "It has been… as well as could be expected…"
"Indeed?" pondered the Elder with a brow quirked up in surprise. "I was under the impression that the residents of the Charmed Ones' household have undertook… umm… battle positions…"
Leo hid his eyes, pursing his lips in concern. So the Elders did sense the tension in the Manor, he thought to himself. The little fib I said to Cole wasn't a fib in the least… this had to be expected… "There is some strain between the siblings regarding Pi-Bellatrix… but I'm sure it is nothing to be concerned about."
"Just between the siblings?" Lacius inquired innocently.
Leo's back stressed and he abruptly straightened up, knowing the question needn't an answer. "Cole's behavior lately… has been bordering with madness. He's stubborn, overzealous and I'm worried for him and his relation with the sisters," he countered calmly, but his eyes were darkening gradually. He couldn't help himself and his thoughts wandered off to Piper, musing about her whereabouts.
"I see," the Elder murmured, amused twinkle prancing in his ancient and wise eyes. "And how is our troublemaking demoness is doing?"
Leo stressed even more, his hands tightening around each other. "I wouldn't know…" he finally replied evenly.
The same mischievous twinkle sparkled brighter in Lacius' eyes and he nodded his head slightly. "No, you wouldn't, wouldn't you?"
They walked a while longer in an awkward silence until Leo spoke again. "Is there anything else? Or was Elders' concern about the Charmed Ones the reason you summoned me?"
Leo was aware to the sudden subtle shift in Lacius' posture. The lines on his face deepened, his blue eyes darkened and the air around him was immediately filled with well-controlled anxiety.
"No," he finally spoke. "That wasn't the sole reason. Elders have been preoccupied recently by the mounting rumors about the Source's doings."
Leo frowned in concern. Dealing with Source's doings wasn't something new; the Elders did nothing but deal with that sort of things. Why would Lacius call for him to inform him of such a thing? He watched the Elder carefully, but spoke nothing, knowing Lacius will continue.
"Lately, the Source has been gathering his allies closer to him and eliminating all those that were alleged to plot against him," said Lacius, his voice thick with unexpressed worry.
"I'm afraid I still don't quite understand, Lacius. That is not new…" Leo responded, confused by the Elder's words.
"Yes, I know," said Lacius. "But this is…" he reached inside the folds of his white robe and pulled out an ancient looking parchment, handing it to Leo.
Leo scanned the coiling handwriting, frowning. "I'm afraid my Sumerian is a bit rusty, Lacius…"
The Elder chuckled absently and retrieved the parchment from Leo's hands, his eyes slipping upon its' content. "This prophecy was found a few years ago and up until now was considered to be just another rambling of a madman. But due to current developments, it has come to our attention that the prophecy is indeed authentic"
"What does it speak of?" inquired Leo, his brows raised in mild curiosity.
Lacius frowned, scanning their surrounding to make sure they were indeed alone in this secluded hall of the unearthly bastion. "The prophecy, my dear boy, speaks of a rising new force," he proclaimed in hushed, grim voice. "A force much greater than what we've happened upon in our millennias of existence. A force so powerful, even the Charmed Ones are most likely to fail against it…"
Leo's face contorted in worry and the first thought that flickered through his mind was - I have to make sure Piper's alright. "A new force? Dark force?"
Lacius shook his head slightly and resumed his stroll. "This, I'm afraid, is unknown. Even the Gods of Destiny are bewildered by this new player. They say it can choose either path, but to predict which path? It seems no one can…"
"If it is such a great force, how come there is only this one questionable prophecy about it. For sure there should've been dozens of predictions speaking and warning only of this…"
"These, as many other questions, still remain in the dark. You must warn the Charmed Ones of this arrival. You must amend whatever was distorted between the siblings because they must be in their strongest to face this… whatever it is…" Lacius sighed, seeming altogether tired beyond comprehension.
"When is this arrival soothsaid?" asked Leo, disquiet seeping clearly into his voice.
"Unfortunately," Lacius sighed, giving Leo a grave look. "As we realized the importance of this prophecy too late, it doesn't leave us more than half a year to prepare ourselves for the arrival. You must warn the Charmed Ones immediately," he repeated.
Leo nodded briskly and was about to orb out to the Manor, but Lacius caught his arm in time, preventing him. "You can assure the brother to give the demoness a rest," he suddenly spoke, something unfamiliar veiling his once again sparkling eyes. "She's been sent to the Wasteland and won't bother you… anymore." With a small, mischievous smile and a polite bow of his head, Lacius orbed away, leaving Leo alone.
His heart sank to the pit of his stomach; his whole body was entangled in fierce shivers and beads of cold sweat ran down his face as the terror gripped his throat tightly, chasing last traces of breath out of him. He stood frozen for the longest moments of his life, horrid comprehensions coursing through his disoriented mind. She was in the Wasteland, but it couldn't be… she couldn't have been… No, oh lord, please no…
His mind still in utter bewilderment, he closed his eyes, letting the bright blue colors envelop him and carry away. But he knew very well his destination wasn't the Halliwell Manor.
Author's Notes: ::grumbles:: Yeah... as you may see lately my work has been... blaugh. Anyway... I'd still like some reviews... perhaps you can help me get out of this damn writers' block ::sigh::