A/N: Well, this site has now changed the policy regarding review replies. Now we're not supposed to put them in the stories, instead, we can reply direct to the review, and you'll get an email. So, I guess from now on, if you want a reply, you'll have to send a signed review. Sorry! I still appreciate all the reviews, and hope they'll keep coming. I will answer as many as I can through the reply link.
Also- This update will be the last one until at least Monday, Nov. 28th. With Thanksgiving and lots of family commitments, I'm going to be too busy to get online after today. I promise you all an update by Tuesday at the latest though. Happy Turkey Day to everyone!
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"Chris, you can't do that! That is a demon's athame! You can't stab our cousin." Wyatt said firmly.
"Why not, Wyatt? Think about it. We need to get the demonic powers out of her. We stab her with the power-sucking athame, and the demonic powers are gone."
"The demonic powers might be gone, but you'll kill her Chris!" Paige yelled.
"Aunt Paige, we all can heal. As soon as the powers are sucked out with the athame, Wyatt and I can both start to heal her. She'll be fine; it's just going to take some timing, that's all."
"And what about Cole, Chris? Don't you think he's going be pissed that he can't get his powers back because they're stuck in the athame?" Wyatt added in frustration.
"I'll get my powers back. I know a spell to give myself powers that are locked in an athame." Cole spoke, orbing into their conversation.
"Dad! What did you find out? Did they say anything that would help us?" Wyatt asked eagerly.
"No." Leo's answer was uncharacteristically short and harsh.
Chris and Wyatt exchanged a look. "Are you okay, Dad? What's wrong?" Chris asked tentatively. Generally when an elder had bad news, it was really bad news.
"They didn't want to hear about our issue, Chris. Apparently, the Halliwell's haven't done enough over the years to warrant some help from the elders. It pissed me off."
"Oh, God, Dad, you didn't kill one of them did you? Wyatt, quick… we need to work on a cloaking spell for dad, so they can't find him." Chris hurried to the book, as Wyatt grabbed the nearest pen and paper he could find.
Leo started to laugh. "Chris, Wyatt… I don't need a cloaking spell. I didn't kill anyone."
"Cole!" Wyatt gasped. "Cole killed them! C'mon Chris, hurry! I know that spell was in there somewhere!"
"Hey! I didn't kill anyone. I mean, it's not like I'm lily white, but give me a little credit!" Cole protested loudly.
"So, who killed them then?" Wyatt asked, confused.
"No one killed anyone, Wyatt. Chris completely read me wrong. I told them I quit, that's all. I'm not going to be an elder any more."
Chris and Wyatt looked at each other for a few seconds. Damn, I was kinda hoping for bloodshed, ya know? Chris sent the thought to Wyatt telepathically.
Wyatt started laughing, leaving Leo and Cole lost in confusion. "Wy, what is so funny about me quitting? I thought you might be upset, but not amused."
Wyatt sobered instantly. "Dad, I'm not upset or amused. Honestly, I'm more relieved than anything. At least now they aren't going to be calling you every three seconds, and leaving you to worry about us. You'll be a regular white lighter, like Chris & I are. Monthly meetings with the elders, and a jingle when something big happens. Plus, this will make mom happy. You'll finally be able to spend the quality time with her that she's been wanting for years. I think it's a good change, dad."
"Wy's right. It works out better for all of us that you aren't going to be consumed with Elder duties anymore. We'll all be able to spend more time with you, plus you'll be able to spend more time doing the job we know you love the most." Chris added.
"Chris, the job I love most is being a dad. Nothing else is more important to me than that." Leo was stricken at the thought that Chris might have thought again that a job was more important.
Chris laughed. "Relax, Dad. You love us, that's cool. You're the best. We've never wondered about that. But let's face it. Being an elder isn't the job that you enjoy. You love working at Magic School. Teaching young witches how to use their magic is what brings you alive. And let's face it, judging by what happened to the girls, Magic School could definitely use some more adults on the campus."
"You know, Chris, that's a pretty good idea." Leo answered slowly. "Either way, I'll talk to your mom. We'll figure out something. But anyway, the point is, I don't have an 'in' with the elders anymore. If we need information from them, someone else is going to have to orb up and talk to them. I have a feeling I'm persona non grata for awhile."
"No problem, dad. Chris and I can handle it. Besides, it's not like they ever tell us much anyway." Wyatt answered easily.
"Alright, then Wy, we're back to the athame. We've got to try this so that we can get the powers of Phy. After the powers are safely in the athame, you heal her as fast as you can. Then we'll have Cole say the power switching spell to give Phy her powers back, and then he can call his powers back out of the athame. Everything should be back to normal."
"Chris, that's a pretty risky plan. What happens if I can't heal her in time? She'll die. All because we used a stupid athame on her." Wyatt argued.
"Look, Wy, we don't have any other plan. We have to do something, because she looks pretty freakin' happy with evil powers. Look at her!" Chris pointed to the cage where Phyra was sitting. She was smiling as she braided her hair into tiny braids all over her head, all the while humming the tune to 'I Wanna Be Bad'.
Wyatt winced visibly. "Chris, I'm thinking new rule for the girls. No music with lyrics that suggest sex, k? Ugh…" he shuddered at the thought of his baby cousins having sex.
Chris sighed. "Wyatt. Focus, here. We need to get those powers out of Phyra. She is not giving them up by herself, so we have to force them out. If you have another plan other than the athame, great, let's hear it. Otherwise, dismantle the cage, because I'm going in." Chris reached the cage in two long strides. He stared back over his shoulder. "Wy?"
Wyatt sighed and joined his brother. "This better work, Chris." He made a flicking motion with one finger, and one of the crystals moved away, breaking the circle. Chris immediately stabbed Phyra in the stomach with the athame, letting it settle there for a few seconds. A red glow came out of her face, and her original features and clothing reappeared in a wave. Chris quickly pulled the athame back out, as Wyatt started to heal.
They watched carefully as Phyra sat up with a groan. "Ow." She moaned, holding her stomach. She slapped Chris. "You jerk! You stabbed me!"
"Yeah, well you didn't want to return what wasn't yours. It was the only way, so stop it." Chris' voice was short, his temper finally rising to atmospheric levels. "Normally, Phyra you are the most level headed cousin that Wyatt and I have. But in the space of a day, you've used your magic for personal gain, when you trapped Cole here, you were taken by a hybrid vampire and could have gotten killed because of carelessness, and you were evil. You've had quite a day, huh? It would serve you right if we didn't give you back your powers for a few days. Maybe then you wouldn't take them for granted so much."
Phyra couldn't look him in the eye. Instead, she glanced over at Cole. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have cast that spell to leave the manor. I wouldn't have blamed you if you'd just said to hell with it, and left me with the Vampire Queen. But instead, you tried to help me. And I even screwed you over that way too and tried to keep them for myself. I really am sorry."
Cole knelt down. "It's okay. You didn't mean to cause any harm. And as far as my powers go, well they're pretty powerful. It's easy to get taken over by them. Besides, like I was telling your Uncle Leo, being seduced by evil is pretty much a family tradition for the Halliwells. It was only a matter of time before it happened." He smiled at her, and wiped away the tear that ran down her cheek.
"What's mine is yours
What's yours is mine
Let our powers cross the line
I offer up my gift to share
Switch our powers through the air."
Phyra gasped in awe as she saw her powers rise from inside of Cole, and settle back into her body, washing over her in comfortable waves.
Cole took the athame from Chris and without any hesitation, plunged it into his own stomach.
"Give me the powers
I take from this knife.
Let me take from them
And give me new life."
Cole pulled the athame out without making a sound, and looked down at his stomach. Maroon rays were sealing the wound closed, and he grinned wolfishly as he felt his own powers rushing through him. He cracked his neck. "I love magic."
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"Okay, so here's how we handle this alright?" Chris addressed the assembled gathering of his family. "For starters, we'll let Dad handle the administration of Magic School. These little brats aren't going to get away with this again. Number two, Wyatt and I will interrogate the little prick upstairs. When we're done, he'll be crying for his mommy. We will not kill him, no matter how tempted we may be. Third, Mom, Aunt Phoebe & Aunt Paige are going to round up the parents of the little bully posse, and put the fear of God…well, at least the fear of the Halliwells, into their bratty little kids. Finally, you girls…all of you, need to be honest with us. We can't help you guys if you don't tell us what's wrong. Empathy only works so well, thanks to the blocking potions. Unless it's life threatening, I won't pick it up, and neither will Aunt Phoebe. We can't keep secrets, any of us. If we do, and something goes awry, like earlier, then we have no protection. Our magic is individually and collectively too strong to screw around with. Since our emotions are all tied to our powers, we have to be careful. That means even if you think that telling us will piss us off, we still need to know."
Phyra and Peyton nodded solemnly, agreeing. Paisley answered aloud, "I know." Patience stayed stubbornly silent and motionless.
"Patience, this means you too. We need your agreement." Wyatt pointed out.
"Yeah, I know. But if you and Chris can keep secrets, then so can we. I know something is going on with both of you. I can feel it. The emotions aren't strong enough for me to know what it is, but I know there's something. So, you know what, Wy? If you guys don't have to be honest and open, then I don't either."
"Patience, you can't just…" Wyatt started but Chris' voice cut him off.
"No, Wy, she's right. We both keep secrets too. It's not fair. And it can be harmful. I guess, as much as it pains me, we've got to spill."
"They aren't ready, Chris." Wyatt's voice was firm.
"Doesn't matter, Wy. They all deserve to know. We have to tell them."
Wyatt sighed, knowing that his brother was right. He nodded "alright, but you start."
Chris stood and faced his family. "Ok, look, about a month ago, Wyatt had this premonition…"
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A/N: Evil, ain't I: )