To the readers:

I'm sorry this chapter took so long, but I was really busy. But, it's up now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed.

The Ritual

Wyatt sat on the couch with a bag of ice on his forehead as Leo healed his bruised ribs and black eye. Phoebe was scrying for Chris and Paige was turning pages in the Book of Shadows, watching Wyatt's face to see if he recognized any of the demons. Piper was pacing back and forth behind the couch, furious at what Wyatt had just told them. "You slept with her how many times!" Piper shouted.

"Twice," Wyatt sighed. "Wait," he said, kneeling down in front of the Book. "That's her."

Paige turned the Book so she could read the passage. "'Zarlena; high priestess of the Midnight Temple. Steals unborn children and raises them in the demonic dark arts. Zarlena can shimmer and has telekinesis.' That explains why she wanted Chris. He's still young enough to corrupt and he's also another double-blessed child."

"Which would make him one very powerful demon," Phoebe said, putting the crystal down. "He's in the Underworld. I can't find him on the map."

"Chris," Wyatt breathed, closing his eyes against the tears. "I'm so sorry."

In the Underworld . . . Chris looked around the chamber he was in. It was a grand room, considering the fact that it gave Chris goose bumps; despite how hot the room was. From his shirtless kneeling position Chris could see multiple black hooded demons watching him. Turning behind him, Chris could see two grand stone doors, guarded by two of Zarlena's minions. Turning his attention back to in front of him, Chris and stared at the altar. It was simple, a large stone athame pointing downward, and a simple stone table in front of it. On the center of the table Chris saw a black wax candle, an athame, and a black stone bowl.

"Hi Chris," Phaith said from behind him.

"What am I doing here?" Chris asked.

"Interesting," Phaith said, stepping so he could face her. "No cursing? No yelling or crying?"

"Why would I waste what energy I have left?" Chris said, heaving from the beating Zarlena's minions had given him. Chris had been able to vanquish one before they finally got his hands bound and him situated in front of the altar.

"You're smarter than I thought," Phaith said, kneeling in front of him. "Well, put simply, Zarlena's going to perform a little ceremony and turn you into a demon."

"Great," Chris said.

"At least your sarcasm is still here," Phaith said, playing with a lock of his hair. "And it's better than the death alternative."

"I'm not sure I agree with you," Chris said, looking over at the hooded demons. "And I never want to see you again; even if Zarlena can turn me into a demon."

Phaith smirked and kissed Chris on the lips. "I think you'll feel differently in time," she said. Phaith shimmered away and Chris spat Phaith's taste out of his mouth.

Leo orbed back into the manor. "I've found him!" he exclaimed.

"Where is he?" Piper gasped.

"He's in the Underworld," Leo said. "At the Temple. But, it's going to be difficult to get in there."

"I don't care!" Piper said. "We're the Power of Three. No priestess is going to take mys on from me."

"Let's go," Wyatt said, standing up.

"You've done enough," Paige said.

"Look," Wyatt said, anger rising in his voice. "I'm going whether you guys like it or not. I want to get Phaith for what she did to me and to Chris."

Paige looked at Piper who nodded her head. "He'll be more of a hindrance otherwise."

Meanwhile . . . Chris had been encircled by thirteen black wax candles, each lit. A hooded demon stood chanting behind each candle, save for the apex of the circle where Zarlena stood. Phaith stood a little distance from the circle and watched intently.

Zarlena turned from Chris and lit the candle on the altar. The flame changed from its orange light to midnight black; and all of the candles in the circle followed suit. Zarlena picked up the athame and the stone bowl. She moved back to Chris and with the athame touched his forehead and chanted softly. At the cold touch of the athame on Chris' skin, flames erupted from the tip and twisted into the demonic character for death.

After the character finished forming it seared itself onto Chris' forehead, causing him to yell in pain. Zarlena took the athame and sliced Chris' hand, catching the falling blood into the stone bowl. After receiving about a pint of blood, Zarlena pointed her finger at the wound and it sealed itself, leaving a visible scar. Zarlena stirred the contents with the athame and walked back to the altar. Just as she withdrew the athame to complete the final step in the ritual, Paige, Piper, Phoebe, and Wyatt orbed in and threw potions vanquishing the two guards at the door and several of the hooded demons now humming together.

Zarlena turned to face them. "You're too late," she said. She let a single drop of blood fall from the tip of the athame and hit the flame. As soon as it had, the flames from all thirteen candles surged and leapt onto Chris, engulfing him in a second. Chris howled as the flames swept through him.

"Chris!" Piper yelled, throwing her hands outward and decimating the room and vanquishing everyone but Wyatt, her sisters, Phaith, Zarlena, and Chris.

When the flames disappaited, Chris got up from his kneeling position; no apparent change. Phaith moved to his side, and noticed that Chris' tattoo had changed to the demonic death character.

"Chris?" Piper asked timidly.

"Witch." Chris' answer came swift and harsh.

"You've destroyed him!" Wyatt yelled, orbing the athame to him. The instant he had it in his hand he threw it dead on toward Phaith. Chris threw a fireball at it and disintegrated it in midair. "She set me free Wyatt," he said coldly. Chris swept his hand toward his family and them flying into the chamber doors. They all looked up to see Chris capture Phaith in a passionate kiss and flame out together. Zarlena smirked at them before shimmering out herself.

A/N: R&R!