It seemed like forever that he'd been spiraling in the portal. Out of nowhere, the portal

suddenly opened and Jax was thrown headlong onto solid pavement. Luckily, in mid-fall

he tucked his head and tuned so that he landed on his back.

"Oh . . . that's ganna leave a mark," Jax groaned, trying to get his breath back. "You

okay Cass?"

There was no response. He looked around him as he hoisted himself to his feet. There

was nothing but a littered dead-end alley around him.

"Wyatt, you bastard." Jax had figured out what had happened. Wyatt had interfered

with the portal so that Cassidy and Jax would get separated.

"Cassie, where are you?" He asked as he clutched the triad emblem on the chain around

his neck. The charm gave off a little energy, telling him that Cassidy was near, but too far

away to search for on his own. Knowing Wyatt, he probably already sent some

darklighters after them. Jax had to find Chris or Leo . . . and fast.

"Leo, I can't stand you just orbing out all the time!" Piper walked behind Leo down the

stairs. They had just finished checking on Wyatt, when Leo mentioned that he had to

leave.

"Piper, I'm sorry. You know the elders-" Leo was cut off as a whitelighter orbed in at

the bottom of the stairs. It was a teenager.

"Leo! Thank God I found you!" A brief look of relief came over the boy's face, then

quickly went back to fear.

"Jaxon?" Leo's eyes were wide with shock. "You were killed-"

"Yeah, long story. I'll explain later. I need to find Cassie " Jax began, but Chris walked

around the corner.

Chris glanced at Jax, then realizing who it was he nearly choked on his soda. "What the

hell are you doing here!" He wiped off the soda from his chin.

"Later okay! The portal skrewed up, and Cassidy and I got separated! I can only sense

her a little to know that she's somewhere in San Francisco."

"That really narrows it down. Why not call for her?" Chris asked.

"That's the thing." Jax ignored the comment, but glared at Chris anyway. "I risked my

life orbing here."

"I'm not following." Piper commented.

"Several powerful darklighters followed us through the portal."

Blue swirls surrounded my body as I was transported by the portal. Without warning,

the portal opened and I was flung onto the pavement.

Slowly getting to my feet I looked around me. "Jax?" I asked.

No answer. I was in an alley way, a real run down alley.

"Damn, you Wyatt."

I knew Wyatt had to have sent darklighters after me so I couldn't orb, it would only

draw them to my location.

I tried to sense Jax, but I only caught a hint of his presence.

Black orbs gathered several feet in front of me, forming into a darklighter. Immediately I

conjured an energy ball and hurled it towards him.

He merely waved his hand and it flew into the pavement. Bursting with a loud crack.

"Have you whitelighters forgotten how powerful we've become?" He smirked. "How

weak you've become?"

I went to orb out, but he was too quick for me. His arrow pierced below my ribs in mid-

orb. Pounding jolts enveloped my body. I couldn't move.

The darklighter disappeared, his job was done.

Poison penetrated my body as I collapsed to the ground. I writhed in pain. I cried out in

agony. "Chris!"