Chapter Two
Chris stood outside the kitchen window fuming. 'I told you they would cheat on you. You're such a pathetic loser. Why would she want to be with you when she could be with him!'
He knew something was going on between his brother and his wife. This little display he just witnessed only proved what he had been suspecting for weeks. 'Why did she always run to Wyatt?'
He stomped away from his childhood home and started walking toward his car. He could have easily orbed back to the club had he calmed down enough to think straight. Something had compelled him to follow his wife this afternoon and boy was he right!
'I told you she was nothing but an evil demon; once a demon always a demon.'
He hit his head hard with the palm of his hand then shook his head vigorously as if he were trying to dislodge something.
'Why was he having these thoughts? Bianca loved him. They had a beautiful baby girl. She would never cheat on him, especially with his brother.'
Something inexplicably dark tugged at him; weaving evil little thoughts as he drove up one street and down the next.
'Oh you are so delusional. That baby isn't yours and you know it. What more do you need to prove that she and your brother are having an affair?'
He slammed his hand on the steering wheel and cursed.
'I mean, come on. She was born with a head full of curly blond hair and isn't that strange since both you and Bianca are brunettes?'
Chris pushed the car harder up the steep incline of the street and with a wave of his hand made the light change in his favor so he sailed through the intersection with only the squeal of other driver's tires behind him. He pulled the car to a screeching halt in his space at P3. Slamming his door he trotted down the stairs into the club an angry mass of twisting hate swirling around him.
"Hey Chris, you're back early." The bartender called out as he stacked a case of beer under the bar. "Your brother called."
"Thanks. I'll call him back. I've got some things to catch up on. Can you make sure no one disturbs me?"
"Sure man, no problem."
Chris entered his office locking the door behind him. With a flick of his wrist, he closed the heavy drapes Bianca had installed to ensure that no one could see inside should he be working on something other than the books. He shoved his desk back a half foot and then reached down to roll up the oriental carpet that covered the trap door.
Waving his arm the planks parted revealing a staircase below. Chris took the stairs two at a time until he reached the dank tunnel below. Lighting the torches along the wall kinetically, he followed the tunnel a short distance.
At the end stood an altar made of stone; a pillar no more than three feet high and four feet wide. It was draped in black velvet cloth with a large white pentacle in the center. A chalice stood as an ornate sentinel, easily within reach of his left hand. He waved his right hand and the blood red candles situated behind the chalice burned to life.
Chris picked up a pinch of herbs from the marble mortar and pestle that he had crushed on a previous visit. The pinch was tossed negligently into the small cauldron that sat atop a Bunsen burner in the center. With a puff of smoke and a slight jolt backwards, small gray orbs materialized and rose from within the cauldron settling on the ground in front of him.
Chris knelt and bowed his head in deference. "Master."
"It's time for the final infusion, human." The deep baritone voice was tinged with disdain. "Stand before me."
Chris rose to his feet, making sure to avoid any direct eye contact. The demon placed both hands on either side of Chris's head. It didn't take long, but once the green smoke cleared and Chris's body stopped vibrating the demon nodded.
"It's done. Now you are one of us." He paused, admiring his work. "You know what you are to do?"
Chris nodded, winded by the surge of power coursing through him. Steadying himself with one hand on his altar, he took a moment to assimilate the new fusion.
"I do Master." Laughing low and maniacally to himself, Chris stood poised to strike. Only thoughts of his demon wife and angelic brother together fueled his anger.
Satisfied that his newest minion was ready, the demon nodded and then disappeared in a trail of grey orbs.
Chapter Three
Chris hadn't returned their call. Worried about her husband's whereabouts, Bianca paced the attic as Wyatt tried scrying for Chris again. Athena lay pressed against Bianca's shoulder quiet save for the occasional little burp or gurgle.
"I don't understand why this isn't working." Wyatt tapped the crystal against his palm as if trying to jump start it. When he realized the futility in that he shook his head and continued waving the well used crystal over the map.
"Tell me about it. I told you something was wrong. How could he just drop from this plane of existence in less than an hour, this only proves it." Bianca finished rubbing Athena's little back and felt confident that all the little air bubbles were out of her baby as she laid her gently down.
As she paced she noticed that everything was different up here. Wyatt had apparently removed any reminder of that awful time, save for the Book of Shadows, the crystal and the furniture. There were no obvious signs of the Charmed ones anywhere.
"Wy?"
"Yeah Binks." Wyatt answered distractedly.
"I hate to bring this up, but don't you think we should . . ." Bianca stopped in front of Wyatt and left the question dangling.
"What?"
"You know." She hesitated, completely unsure of neither her suggestion nor his reaction. "Maybe we should ask for a little . . ." She pointed upward, "help."
"Wyatt dropped the crystal and snapped his head around; his eyes flashing angrily.
"You know that is NEVER an option! We'll find him ourselves. We haven't needed their help in a long, long time and I'll be damned if we'll ask for it now!"
"Fine." Bianca angrily crossed her arms across her chest and stomped off toward the sofa, sitting down heavily in a huff.
"Besides Binks, we don't even know what we're up against here. This could just be a glitch or something. Let's think positive, ok?"
Bianca sat with her arms crossed fuming. Wyatt chose to ignore her anger. He picked up the crystal again, closed his eyes and chanted softly over it. The crystal glowed a bright blue as he began circling it again.
The stain glass windows flew open as a whirlwind of smoke moved through and settled in the middle of the room. Bianca jumped up and dove for the bassinet, covering Athena with her body as she ignited an energy ball in her hand. Wyatt dropped the crystal and orbed from where he'd been seated and reappeared in front of Bianca and the baby.
The cyclone of smoke slowed as the form of a man solidified with his back to them. There was no mistaking the disdainful drawl.
"How cozy, brother." Chris turned, eyes blazing blind hatred at Wyatt.
"Chris!" Bianca straightened, extinguishing the energy ball. She tried to rush past Wyatt to get to her husband. Wyatt threw up his arm to stop her.
"That isn't Chris, Binks." He said softly.
Chris chuckled menacingly. "Oh, I'm still Chris, brother; the new and improved version; no longer second fiddle to your greatness." He spat the last word out and turned a slow pirouette.
"I am now worthy to hold the sword! Bring it to me now!" Chris's voice boomed loudly in the attic, startling Athena awake.
Bianca was horrified. Her usually peaceable husband was anything but; as he stood with his eyes dark as night, his voice thunderous and evil. She never took her eyes from him as she reached down and picked up their daughter.
"Chris? What's happened to you?" Wyatt tried to appeal to any residual goodness.
"Well brother, I decided it was time to be my own man. I'm finally out from under your shadow; the shadow of the most powerful magical being . . . ever. I doubt you're any match for me now."
"Christopher! Stop this right now! Why are you acting like this? Do you really want your daughter to see you like this?" Bianca rocked Athena in place behind the protection of Wyatt's still raised arm.
Chris hesitated for an instant; seemingly caught in a struggle within himself. Bianca nudged Wyatt as the two of them watched Chris silently fighting something. Then his eyes cleared to their normal cerulean blue and he stumbled slightly toward them contrite.
"Get . . . away from me." He fell to his knees breathing heavily; struggling against some unforeseen force.
"I can't control it much longer. It's . . . too late." With that his head began to go from side to side at an unnatural speed and when it stopped his eyes were again black as sin.
"Fools!" Chris stood again. "Prepare to die! You will be punished for your betrayal of me." Chris threw his arm up and sent a wave of green energy toward his family. Wyatt reacted instantly by grabbing Bianca's arm and orbing out of the attic.