Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
Author's Note: Hi everyone! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It isn't as long as the others... I have the next one written, I might just post it so you'll get the quantity I've accustomed you too... hehe.
Wyatt will appear in this... and as many of you noted-- nothing is ever as easy as Cole painted it for his daugthers.
I've taken into consideration several people who asked that I not make Wyatt completely ruthless... let me put you all at ease.
My Wyatt is traditionally never completely ruthless. Sometimes... but rarely. In this fic he won't be completely ruthless.
But let's face it... you don't become ruler of the world -- magical and mortal by being a nice guy.
I hope I've balanced that I well.
I hope you all!
Oh, P.S! I'm not that good with fight scenes, so use your imagination! hehe.
"Okay, so far so good," Cole murmured as the two men headed back up to the attic. All the demon guards in the museum had been vanquished before being able to summon anyone. Chris had frozen the probes before they could transmit any information to Wyatt's central security system.
It would be an hour at least before someone noticed these probes had stopped transmitting—there were so many others around in the city.
Chris nodded, but remained silent as they opened the attic door. Both men knew that this wasn't the part of the plan that had them worried.
"Are you ready?" Cole asked after a moment, when they both stood before the pedestal; the hologramed book shimmering before them.
Chris nodded, "Yeah. You? You got the potions ready?"
"Yeah," he stated.
"Okay," Chris said and took a deep breath preparing to utter the spell.
"Wait." Cole said, putting a hand on Chris's arm, "If something… if this blows up in our faces… you get out of here, get back to 2004, Chris. No matter what happens here… you get back, okay? Just leave."
Chris met his uncle's dark eyes, the implication of what Cole was asking of him making him pale.
Just leave.
Could he do that? If this went wrong, if they were attacked too heavily, if Wyatt was on his way… could he just leave, knowing that Cole would be captured; that the others would be left alone, that Drew would fall deeper under Wyatt's influence…
"If things go wrong… that'll be the only chance we have, Chris; you leaving." Cole interrupted his thoughts, his voice warm as he read his nephew's inner turmoil, "Our only hope would be in you changing all this…"
Chris said nothing, shoving the thoughts away, hopefully it wouldn't come to that; instead he took yet another steadying breath and quietly uttered the spell.
"I call upon the ancient power
To help us in this darkest hour
Let the Book return to this place
Claim refuge in its rightful place."
The moment that last word left his mouth, Chris knew—something was wrong.
The book didn't fall from the sky.
"We need to get out of here," he said, startled at the note of hysteria already entering his voice.
Cole frowned, "Let's wait a second, it doesn-"
Chris shook his head, "No, no… the spell works instantly-" he began, but his words were cut off by the dropping of the book onto the pedestal.
"See," Cole said, "There it is."
"No… no… let's get out of here…" Chris insisted, backing away, preparing to orb.
"NO." Cole growled, reaching for the book, "The Book is here. Let's just do it…" he stated, already reaching for it.
Chris shook his head, "No, don't-" he tried, but his uncle didn't listen; Cole moved to flip it open. The Book glowed, seemed to sizzle and the next instant he was flying backwards away from into a wall.
"Uncle Cole!" Chris cried and ran towards him, "Are you okay?" he asked anxiously, kneeling down next the man.
Cole nodded, "Yeah, yeah… you do it… apparently I can't touch the book…" he said huskily as he stood.
"No, it's not that… it never repels like that, this is diff-"
"Please, Chris…" Cole stated, his eyes pleading, "This has to be done…"
Chris sighed, eyeing the book warily as they neared it. He nodded slowly, but wasn't in anyway relieved when he was able to touch the Book. Something was wrong here… he knew it, could feel it, and would regret not listening to his instincts…
A moment later he heard Cole sigh in relief—they'd found the spell.
But it was too late.
He felt the change in magical energy, the cloak that descended over the manor— the block.
Wyatt was here.
"Chris what is it?" Cole asked, concerned when he felt the young man tense, when he noticed the way he'd paled, "Relax, just hold a minute… we found the spell…"
"It's not going to work." He hissed at his uncle, turning in circles as his eyes scanned the seemingly empty attic frantically.
"But…"
"He knows. He's here." Chris whispered, "I can feel it."
Cole froze; decisively he nodded, "Let's get out of-"
"We're blocked." Chris interrupted.
"Shit."
Chris moved quickly to one of the shelves that were preserved exactly as the Charmed Ones had left them.
"Chris, get out of here." Cole stated, catching up with the young man and grabbing his arm. "Recite the spell." He told him.
"No," Chris stated, his eyes scanning the shelf, "If I can mix-"
Cole's grip tightened, "Recite the spell." He hissed.
Chris shook his head, pulling away, "You said it yourself, we have to bind his powers." He said determinedly.
Cole opened his mouth to respond, but froze when a light chuckle resounded through the attic.
"Shit." He repeated.
Without a word, Chris shoved old knick-knacks aside and started gathering bottles of old potion ingredients.
He'd gathered a few of them to him, when suddenly a blast of energy sent him whirling backwards through the air and into a wall, the bottles flying out of his grasp.
"Chris!" Cole cried, running to the young man now sprawled on the floor.
Chris blinked, the air knocked out of him, his head swimming.
"Breath slowly," Cole warned, kneeling next to him and quickly scanning the attic as well, "Where is he?"
"I don't know…" Chris whispered, raspily, "He's gonna toy with us…" He said, trying to get up.
Cole helped him, "…the spell, Chris," he whispered, "Get out of here…"
"No, not yet…" the boy whispered back.
"There's nothing-"
"…did you miss me little brother…?" a quiet, ominous voice asked.
Both men froze.
Chris stepped forward, "Show yourself." He hissed.
Again the soft chuckle—laced with menace.
"And you Uncle Cole… how very disappointing…" the voice continued.
"Leave him out of this, it was my idea…" Chris stated.
"Your idea…huh," Wyatt stated, his voice soft, before Chris was suddenly slammed against the wall again.
"Dammit!" Cole cried, making a move to go to Chris again, but this time—he couldn't. Suddenly his feet were stuck to the floor.
"I can't move!" He told Chris who was unsteadily getting to his feet.
The younger man glared up at the ceiling with furious green eyes, "Don't be a coward Wyatt…" he growled, "Show yourself!"
There was no response.
"If you're going to kill me, at least have the balls to look me in the eye while you do it!"
The air vibrated for a moment. Then Wyatt appeared in the center of the attic, four demon guards with him.
His blue eyes remote and glassy as he eyed his little brother scornfully, "Oh, I am going to kill you." He said almost mockingly.
Chris's chin tilted upwards slightly, "Let's see you try…" he hissed.
Wyatt chuckled again, "Cocky to the end, huh little brother…?"
"Who says it'll be my end?"
"I do."
"Arrogant, much?"
"Did you really think you'd be able to enter my domain without my knowledge?" Wyatt asked, switching the train of conversation. His tone calms almost congenial, as he seemed in no hurry to end his brother's life.
"Obviously I did." Chris hissed bitterly.
"You underestimate me."
Chris remained silent. Apparently he had.
The two brothers stared at each other. Wyatt broke the silence, "Give up your Resistance to me and I'll make your death quick." He offered.
Chris snorted in disbelief, his eyes narrowing, "Now you underestimate me…"
Wyatt shrugged, "I will torture you for the information. You will break." He stated confidently.
"Wyatt, be reasonable!" Cole cried; even as the words left his lips, though, he knew them to be futile.
The blonde man didn't even shift to look at his uncle, "I will deal with you later." He told him. "For now…" he glanced at two of his demons, "Remove him to a cell." He ordered.
It was the moment Chris had waited for, with quick hand gestures he blew the demons that hadn't moved up, while Cole, with equally quick gestures, incinerated the two that moved towards him.
Wyatt made a hissing sound as he waved a hand, a moment later the room was full of demons, along with a few Darklighter's—with their crossbows pointed directly at Chris.
"The situation is hopeless for you Chris." He informed his sibling. "Take the other to a cell." He ordered after a moment, his demon staff quickly moved to do his bidding.
The other, being Cole.
This time both he and Chris held still until both demons had a hold of Cole's arms. Chris kept his gaze on Wyatt's eyes, holding the man's glare; every instinct in his body alert.
The demons began to shimmer Cole away; Cole counteracted the shimmer while simultaneously incinerating them. He reappeared instantly-- and free. The next second he shot out beams of fire directed at the Darklighter's as he rolled away from the fire balls aimed him.
Chris dropped to the ground and orbed to the other side of the room, near his uncle; now that there were no poisons arrows aimed him, he was free to move around. The demon's attentions were split as they tossed fire balls at the two men.
Chris quickly reverted fireballs away from himself and Cole back to the demons that'd sent them.
Wyatt let out a roar of rage, "STOP THEM!" He roared.
Chris would have laughed at his brother's outrage, if it weren't for the fact that he was trying to stay alive.
For whatever reason, Wyatt didn't seem to want to get involved in this particular fight. He was standing in the middle of the attic shouting orders and summoning more demons, but as of yet not doing anything.
Chris and Cole made their way over to each other.
"Can you orb?" The older man asked his nephew quietly as the two aimed, dodged and destroyed.
"Not out of here. Can you shimmer?"
"Nope."
"'Kay, we'll jump out the window."
"We'll what?" Cole asked, pausing to give Chris an incredulous look, and getting a fire ball in the shoulder for his efforts.
Chris winced for him, then nodded, "Yeah, just don't hit the ground…" he said and orbed to the other side of the room once again.
"Give it up, Chris." Wyatt's voice filled the attic as the boy killed more demons and neared the windows, "Don't make me come after you." He stated, almost amused.
"But that's the fun part," Chris taunted, using his TK to swing two demons in Wyatt's direction.
The older man ducked out of the way and watched as his minions slammed against the wall and slid down to the floor—unconscious. He whirled on Chris in time to see his brother freeze two fireballs and spin them back to their owner.
"ENOUGH!" He roared.
Chris looked over at him; he knew Cole was behind him closer to the window, but he also knew they had to do it simultaneously or else Wyatt would stop one of them.
"What's wrong Wy? Didn't actually want to get your hands dirty with your brother's murder?" he taunted.
He saw the fury flash in his brother's gaze; whatever resolve Wyatt had made to not participate in this fight was fading fast.
Just have to push a little harder...
"Or just afraid that now that I'm expecting you... you won't win..." he added.
"Chris." Cole hissed behind him as he took out demon after demon. The two brothers had pretty much forgotten about their uncle and the fact that he was slaughtering the remaining guards that Wyatt had summoned.
Chris didn't respond, his eyes were locked with Wyatt and he knew the instant his brother decided enough was enough.
His brother was so predictable.
A moment later he felt the invisible fist closing in around his throat. Before the grip tightened enough to choke him though, Chris counteracted the energy with TK; holding off Wyatt's strangle hold.
The older man's eyes narrowed and Chris waited for it.
An instant later, Wyatt waved his hand outwards towards him, intent on flinging him into another wall or table or chair...
Chris however, was intent on getting flung out a window...
He closed his eyes and focused on the incoming energy, stopping its blunt force with his own and manipulating it as a propelling device.
He flew backwards into Cole, who flew backwards out the window -- which shattered.
But before either could even attempt to respectively shimmer or orb, another force of energy swung them upwards and through the gaping hole again.
They didn't just land roughly on the ground, though, Wyatt propelled them across the attic into the far wall before letting them hit the floor.
Both men hit the ground conscious, but battered, bruised, and thanks to the glass from the window, cut up.
Chris struggled for breath as he lifted his gaze—and met Wyatt's narrowed, furious blue eyes; his older brother was breathing hard and his fists were clenched. "Must you always piss me off?" He hissed.
Chris groaned; a small burst of pleasure filling him that he'd managed to get underneath Wyatt's cold I-rule-the-world-and-no-one-can-stop-me attitude. It was a dangerous thing to do—getting under that facade—but damn amusing.
He started getting up, but didn't manage it before Wyatt had him flying through the air again; slamming him into a wall and suspending him while – as usual – cutting off his air supply.
"Wyatt, stop!" Cole ordered, pushing himself to his feet. His hands outstretched as he sent a surge of heated energy the blonde man's way.
It caught Wyatt off guard and he dropped Chris unceremoniously on the floor as he staggered back a few steps. He swung to his uncle, "Don't tempt me, Cole!" He roared, "Stay the fuck out of this!" With that he abruptly hit the older man with an energy bolt and watched coldly as his uncle slumped to the floor unconscious.
Then he turned on the few remaining demons in the room; who stood by, wishing they could disappear, and roared, "GET HIM THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE I KILL HIM!"
Quickly and with an efficiency that was lacking when the older man was conscious the demons dispatched their master's order.
Wyatt turned back to Chris then, noticing that the younger man was getting to his feet unsteadily. He started advancing on him, "The rest of you leave." He commanded of the demons, his voice once again calm and in control.
Instantly the attic was empty—save for two brothers.
"Are you getting the same sense of deja'vu I am?" Wyatt asked, his tone coldly mocking, "All we need is Bianca impaled somewhere…"
Chris's head shot up and he made a move to use his TK, "You bastard." He hissed.
But Wyatt anticipated the move, "Nuh-uh," he drawled, redirecting Chris's hand motion, "And that's not very complimentary to our parents."
Chris leaned back against the wall to weary to remain upright, his eyes emanating cold hatred.
The attic was silent.
Wyatt was the first to speak, "I'd prefer not to kill you, Chris." He stated simply, "You are my brother. I'll have to torture you a bit… you know make an example… but if you stopped being such a self-righteous prick I could-"
"No thanks." Chris interrupted smoothly; fighting against the waves of darkness that were threatening to overwhelm him.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about!" Wyatt hissed, "You won't even hear me out!"
"Hear what out? How great it is to terrorize people? How fun it is to go around killing stuff?"
"You kill too, Chris! Don't pretend you don't! So did our Mom and the Aunts! Our first memories involve killing!"
Chris bristled and forced himself to push away from the wall, "It's not the same thing!"
"IT IS!" Wyatt roared, taking step towards his brother, "The ONLY difference is that when you do it it's a vanquish! When I do, it's murder!"
"The difference is I don't kill innocent people!"
"Neither do I!"
"What the hell do you think Lizzie was?"
"She tried to kill me!" Wyatt yelled, "The people that die by my orders are never truly innocent!"
"What the hell is your definition of an innocent?"
Wyatt's eyes narrowed into slits and suddenly the attic floor shook, "SHE TRIED TO KILL ME!"
"YOU DESERVED IT!" Chris growled, "STILL DO!"
Something flickered in Wyatt's eyes and for a moment Chris wondered if maybe it was something human—something real, but then it was gone; and the Source was back.
And the Source was pissed.
Chris saw it coming, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. He felt the sensation of flying, then a moment later a blast of white-hot pain exploded throughout his body and a blast of tiny lights went off in his head.
He hit the floor with a thud and tried vainly to get up, but his body just wasn't cooperating, vaguely he registered the sound of footsteps nearing; the thought that he had to get up and fight, that he couldn't give-up, couldn't given in flashed across his mind, but the veil of darkness that descended over everything blocked off any of those options…
The veil of darkness left him completely at his brother's mercy—or lack there of.
Wyatt stared down at Chris's prone form; this would be the perfect moment-- the moment to end it.
This tiring struggle with his younger sibling. It consumed so much time and energy. So many resources were spent trying to find him, to control him, to quell his efforts; without his guidance that petty rebellion would eventually fade into oblivion…
Or it might not.
Chris was influential, but most importantly, he was Halliwell; and he had the rest of them on his side.
Drew was abandoning their ranks; the boy was ripe for the picking, ready to join Wyatt. But even with the added training Wyatt would provide, when push came to shove the twins could take Drew.
The twins were wicked powerful when they wanted to be. He'd seen them in action – true action- once. He'd purposefully sent a crew of demons to their deaths so he'd be able to watch them work.
And watch them he had; he'd seen the twins dispatched with a couple dozen demons in a few minutes. They were effective and quick—trained by Chris.
If he could get them to train under him, they'd be unbeatable-- he could make them ruthless; but they'd never go for it.
And Amy and Adam would follow in their footsteps.
His best and maybe his only chance at getting them to join him, was to get Chris first. They would follow Chris.
Logic told him that he didn't need his family, that he could do away with them and be finished with it. But somewhere inside him a quiet voice reminded him that yes, he ruled the world—both magical and mortal—but he was still Halliwell. And he knew: the core of his power was rooted in family.
Carefully, he knelt by Chris's still form and sighed. Maybe proclaiming that he would kill the little twerp had been hasty.
He had the kid in his custody now. He had time. Even Chris wasn't strong enough to endure constant torture… and especially not against him.
Not when Wyatt knew all of Chris's greatest fears; true, that lesson with Lizzie had blown up in his face—Chris had reacted in a completely unprecedented way.
But at the time Wyatt had done exactly as Chris had just accused him of doing, he'd underestimated his little brother; that wouldn't happen again.
No.
That wouldn't happen again.
Slowly he reached out and placed his hand on Chris's shoulder, blinking them out of the attic as he made plans for his little brother's welcoming party.
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