2026 cont.
Her hand rising again to the top point, she drew the chalk downwards, arcing slightly to join the line she had already made. The triquetra was complete. Sighing, she turned back to Chris, passing the piece of chalk from one hand to the other before tossing it aside. It clattered into the box as she dusted her hands.
"It's time," she announced.
Chris turned, sighing. Fidgeting with her fingers, she slowly walked towards Chris as he quickly strode towards her. She'd never seen him so determined, so resolute – he'd reached a decision about something.
"I don't want to go. I don't want to leave you," he said quickly.
There was no use in her lying to him, no trying to pretend she wasn't miserable about the fact that he had to go. She couldn't play her way out of this one. She wanted him here just as much as he wanted to be here. She didn't know how she could convince him this time, but she knew she had to think of something or else this would all be for nothing. Letting out a breath, she looked at her hand and fumbled to get the ring off her finger. This was the answer – this was part of both of them, it meant something; it was a part of her, a promise, that he could take with him.
"Here," she whispered, taking his hand and placing the ring in his palm. Slowly she closed his fingers over it with her free hand. "This'll remind you of why we're doing this... what's waiting for you here."
A waning smile crossing his face, she moved into his body, immersing herself into the comfort of his arms as they surrounded her, as he held her head against his chest. Lifting her hands to clutch the backs of his shoulders, she closed her eyes. The familiar, relaxed sigh that escaped his mouth made her feel for a moment as if everything was normal, but hearing his words of concern as she adjusted her fingers reminded her it was not so.
"You just make sure you take care of the guards, okay?" he said. Opening her eyes, she nodded, hearing him sniffle as he let her go. She drew back only a little before she felt his hands clamp down forcefully on her arms. It frightened her to feel him go from being so gentle to so merciless in those few seconds. His threatening expression only aided to this as he shook her slightly, trying to get his point across. "Then get out of here. Because if he finds you, if he knows you betrayed him... he'll kill you."
"Don't worry," she said, trying to assure him she knew what he was doing and that she had listened to him. Trying to go back to that playful way of convincing, she tentatively punched him. "C'mon, I can take care of myself."
Lowering her hands to his waist, she noted his grip relaxing, what could almost pass for a smile emerging on his face as he nodded in understanding. Leaning forward, he rested his forehead against hers. She was almost inclined to lean up and kiss him when he pulled away. Desperate to feel him under her touch, she kept a hold on him until the very last second, her hand sliding across his stomach as he turned his attention to the holographic book on the dais. Stepping to the back, she brushed her sweaty palms against her skirt, nervously pushing her hair back behind her ears and shaking the sleeves of her shirt out across her palms. How she wanted to hide her hands away in those long sleeves at this instant, to be covered and hidden like she felt she needed to be. She brushed her hands against her skirt again, not knowing what to do, whether to clasp her hands or not. Watching him pull the spell from his pocket, she anxiously waited for him to unfold it. Chris lifted the piece of parchment into the air.
"I call upon the ancient power to help us in this darkest hour. Let the Book return to this place," he read aloud. Glancing at Bianca he finished: "Claim refuge in its rightful space."
His gaze shifted upwards, Bianca in turn following, her eyes searching for what was about to happen. With a flash of light, the book dropped down before them, replacing the holographic copy with its own closed solid form. Bianca stepped back, startled by the sudden appearance. Chris stared in disbelief; for the first time the book was actually before him and Wyatt wasn't around.
"It worked," he said with surprise.
"The spell!" Bianca exclaimed. Chris flipped open the pages of the book. They were empty. Bianca placed her hands on the book, removing them quickly as Chris hurriedly flipped the pages again. "Find the spell."
Flipping the pages forward, Chris flipped back two. The left hand page was empty but the right held a large circular diagram with fancy text. Bianca cemented the book with her own hands as Chris pressed down on the page with his.
"Hear these words, hear the rhyme. Heed the hope within my mind. Send me back to where I'll find what I wish in place and time."
They met each others gaze as he concluded the spell, the triquetra glowing blue on the wall to their side. The lines disappeared as it began to form a mass of bubbling blue and white energy, the flashing light emitting across the room catching their attention. The sound was disjointed and rippling like its appearance. Fearfully they looked back to one another before moving towards it. Stopping in front of the portal, Chris turned back to look at Bianca. There was no spell to come back. This would be their final goodbye, until he fixed things, until the world changed for the better. He did not expect it to end as it did. The sadness in her eyes was quickly stolen by the demon that shimmered in behind her.
"Bianca!" Chris shouted.
She felt him before she heard him, his body close behind her, his arms surrounding her. Her gaze fell to the arm swinging around her body. Instantly she grabbed it, lifting it over her head, twisting it behind his body as she spun herself inwards and lifted her leg, her foot making a forceful impact against his stomach. Clenching her fist, she struck it smartly across his face, his already partially lowered body now making the full trip to the floor. Tossing her hair, she looked up to Chris. His was in a state of shock.
"Go!" she yelled, urging him to leave. He drew back, alarmed. "Go!"
Swinging his legs around hers, the demon managed to sweep Bianca down to the floor. Rising to his feet above her, Bianca managed to reach up and grab his waist, pulling with all her might to get him back down to her level. Chris watched on, finally deciding with a determined gaze as Bianca appeared to be getting the upper hand again that he was going to go, do what he had to do, and make things better for them. If he changed things, demon fighting would not be a regular routine on their repertoire. Quickly he raced into the portal, the energy surrounding and swallowing him up in a bluish hue.
Now on the ground, the demon shoved Bianca away from him, lifting a clenched fist and making contact with her face. She fell to the side, barely having time to recover when he grabbed her feet, flipping her onto her stomach and dragging her back. Wriggling her body to try and force him to let go, Bianca pushed against the floor with her hands, lifting her elbow and smacking him in the face as he leant down towards her. His grip on her fully released now, she turned over, supporting herself with her hands as she lifted her foot and kicked his chest forcefully with her heel. Pushing herself back to her feet, she found she had no other chance to attack, his brief paralysis fleeting as he shoved her backwards. There was no chance of recovery. She heard another demon shimmer behind her, catching her shoulders, his rough hands sliding down her arms and locking firmly around her wrists. He yanked her back against him, the smell of rotten eggs a blatant aroma on his breath. Not about to stop fighting, Bianca tried to wrestle out of his grasp, glaring obstinately at the first demon as he approached her. Raising his hand, he again struck her across the face, her head ricocheting to the side with the force. She knew she was going to be majorly bruised tomorrow.
"Enough!" Wyatt shouted. Peeking through her hair, she could see his sturdy form emerging from the shadows. She had not heard him come in. He circled the first demon, his eyes blazing with furious warning. "Did I tell you to hurt her?"
"But… sir, she started it."
"Close your mouth, you sound like a petulant child. If she started anything it's not without good measure I presume. And the ignoramus of my help would support that."
Turning to Bianca he strode forward, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched her studiously. Bianca again tried to shake the hold the demon had on her, her gaze lifting to Wyatt's face as he stopped before her.
"Bianca," he acknowledged. Using two fingers he carefully lifted away the hair from her face, tilting his head to inspect the bruise before withdrawing without saying a word. "What are you doing here? I don't seem to remember assigning you to a task that had anything to do with the manor."
"I was looking for you," she stated, rolling her shoulder, the muscle beginning to tire from the acute angle at which she was held.
"Well I'd hardly expect for you to find me here when I've been at home all day."
"Not all day. You weren't there when I was looking."
"Fifteen minutes doesn't pass as worth mentioning. You didn't think to wait?"
"I'm proactive."
"That you are," he said, his lips curling into a smile of amusement. "But you still haven't provided me with a reason for you intrusion."
"There was a rumoured threat. I tried to dispel it."
"I see no evidence of that." Turning his head back, he spotted the book lying open on the dais. He walked towards it, circling the wooden ornament until he stood at the front, running his hands along the book's surface as if to assure himself he was seeing the real thing. "What I do see, however, is the book. I've told you many a time not to touch this. How is it that it comes to be here?"
"It was here when I got here," Bianca said.
"Liar!" the first demon spat.
"What did I tell you?" Wyatt asked. Flicking his hand, he sent the demon telekinetically sailing back into the wall. "Stop being so insolent or you'll earn more than a sore backside next time."
Bianca watched the action before her, her gaze following the demon to the floor. She determined Chris wasn't entirely right – Wyatt wasn't in a killing mood, but he was not in a pleasant one either. She lifted her head back to the demon holding her.
"You're going to end up like him if you don't let go. Wyatt's not partial to his prime fighters being damaged."
The demon growled low in response, drawing Wyatt's attention. Bianca again tried to pull forward from his grasp, crying out as the demon yanked her back with force, thrusting her hands toward the floor causing the shoulder tendon to throb painfully. Wyatt showed little sympathy, his main concern being to remain in control of this situation.
"I'm curious, Bianca. How did you manage to get past all my security so effortlessly? You're talented, I know, but you couldn't have evaded and destroyed every one without help," he said.
"She wasn't alone, sir," the first demon spoke up, quickly closing his eyes and shrinking back as he awaited his punishment. Curious at the silence, he opened an eye.
"Go on," Wyatt encouraged.
"There was another boy with her. She sent him through the portal, over there," he continued, indicating towards the triquetra on the wall.
Wyatt looked at the chalked sign, his gaze drifting back to the book in front of him. For the first time he read over the open page. He inhaled deeply, visibly straining to keep himself calm. As his eyes lifted towards her, Bianca struggled to keep a poker face and invariably hide her guilt. She could see he was piecing everything together in his mind.
"It wouldn't take much to guess who that was." Circling the dais, he approached her methodically, towering over her to impress authority. "Where is my brother, Bianca? Where's Chris?"
"How should I know?"
"Because you're…" Wyatt stopped short, swallowing hard and glancing away as he tried to keep his temper at bay. His eyes moving back to hers she saw the betrayal that lay in them. Pleading ignorance was not going to get her out of this one. "I can't even be compassionate towards you anymore."
Lifting his hand, Bianca braced herself for the impact. This was the moment, the one Chris wanted her to avoid, and instead of living up to her promise she was about to be destroyed by his brother for getting between them. But his rage did not touch her; it was the demon behind her who suffered his wrath. All at once Bianca felt her arms fall freely to her sides. She didn't want to move or breathe fearing that perhaps he had missed – but this close, that slight, she knew it was not possible. Almost against her will she raised her hands, rubbing her sore shoulder and then her wrists to take the pain away. Wyatt's gaze fell, watching the motion. He did not move nor speak, causing Bianca to wonder if he was waiting for her to attack him or try some manoeuvre to get away. She chose neither, seeing what disobedience had done to the other two. It was time to try and get back onto his side.
"Thank you," she said.
"I wasn't looking for your gratitude," Wyatt said huffily. "I want your honesty."
"You have it," Bianca maintained.
Wyatt shook his head reproachfully. "Why must you continue to lie to me, Bianca? Why must you insist upon doing things behind my back? You know how I feel about betrayal. Do you honestly think I can forgive you this time?"
Bianca shifted her feet awkwardly She felt as if she were a teenager again being reprimanded by her mother, the Phoenix… Michael. An overwhelming sense of guilt descended upon her, making her indecisive about which action to take. It was the unpredictability of Wyatt that caused her insecurity.
"He went back in time," she blurted out. If she was going down for this, than so was Chris.
"Why?"
"To… see his family," she said. She couldn't lie to him but it didn't stop her from keeping the whole truth from him. "He wants to help them. He wants them to live."
Oddly she found herself revealing the plan in some distorted fashion of what she'd told Chris almost an hour ago. Emitting a mock chuckle, Wyatt looked back to the book.
"My brother and his idiotic plans. Who does he think he is? Hercules? Does he think helping my family will save this imploding world from its own self-destruction? I've tried for many years and found you could only dominate not rescue it. People are too flawed and greedy to make this a humane civilisation."
"Are you giving precedence to error in judgement?" Bianca asked hopefully.
"There is no way you can convince me you feel nothing for him. I didn't allow you to come back so you could make a fool of me. I've been far too lenient with you in the past. I gave you salvation and you've only repaid me with lies and deceit."
Angered, Bianca protested: "I helped you get back this house! I killed people so you could obtain everything in it!"
"And I kept you alive. Do you think you would have survived without me?"
"You arrogant bastard. You think so highly of yourself you're blind to what you're doing! You're not a god! You don't control everyone and everything. You didn't save me the way I needed to be, Chris did that. Even though he doesn't have all your powers, Chris is one hundred times better the man than you'll ever be."
Wyatt turned quickly, snapping his hand closed. Bianca felt her throat instantly close up, an invisible stranglehold throbbing around her neck. Her brown eyes remained stern as she struggled to breathe. Her head began to swim and at this moment Wyatt released her, making her almost collapse forward as she gasped for air.
"See," she wheezed, coughing as she inhaled another breathe. "You don't even have the balls to kill me."
"Your life isn't worth extinguishing. I still find you useful despite your treachery."
"What if I refuse to help you?"
Wyatt chuckled. "I highly doubt that."
"Why? Are you going to torture me some more?" she pressed.
"No, I'm going to make you see reason. I don't know how you allowed my brother to twist your mind the way he has, Bianca, but it's about time you faced up to the reality of your situation."
"I'm not blind, I see it. And it's not pretty."
Rubbing his temple, Wyatt looked at Bianca disappointedly. "You're not getting it. What was the objective of this little plan you and my brother devised? Were you trying to create a happy little future with pink bunnies, picket fences and friendly neighbours for you to live in? You forget, Bianca, if he changes the past, even minorly, it can have a great consequential effect on the future. Without my mother's death I would never have embarked upon this cause; without our meddling, Chris would never have had anything to protest against. All in all I may never have saved you from your wretched life, nor would he have met you."
Bianca's gaze dropped quickly as she realised he was right. They had never considered the domino effect that had led them to this very moment in time. Now she understood why Wyatt had sounded so pompous and arrogant before – he was trying to tell her the truth. She thought he was just being brazen because of his inflated ego, but it was never about him at all. No other person would have offered the opportunity for her to leave that devastation behind. If she had not been killed, she would have continued on suffering until she'd ended it herself – or they ended it for her. No doubt the Halliwell line was so coveted they would have ended up as her targets instead. They would have without a doubt vanquished her. She was skilled, but not powerful enough to go up against the both of them.
"What do I do?" she asked inaudibly.
"Do you realise how quickly your past was catching up with you?" Wyatt continued. She looked up with concern. "I suppose Chris blindsided you to that little factor as well. No matter how far you run, Bianca, you can never escape yourself. Your demons are always with you. You will always be a killer, no matter how much you pretend not to be. It's in your blood. It's part of your life. No doubt the disappearance of one of my guards was due to you. I can't imagine Chris even attempting to spill blood - he's too much of a wimp. How do you think he's going to protect you? He's abandoned you for another time! Another life! You know there's no spell to come back, don't you?"
"I thought… we thought… I just wanted it to be okay."
"And it will. At least if he tries to help me instead of indulging in his own fantastical ideas. But that requires me writing another spell to do that and to get him back here." Wyatt sighed. "As for you, you need to find yourself again. I had a surprise for you, although I don't know exactly how deserving you are to receive it anymore. This will, however, show me if you really are loyal to me and whether you truly want to change your world and trust yourself enough to do so."
Clicking his fingers at the first demon who still lay half sprawled, stunned, and listening in on every detail of the conversation, Wyatt telekinetically lifted him to his feet. The demon stood unsteadily, feeling only a minor sliver of air beneath his feet, his toes finally hitting the ground as Wyatt stopped magically moving him.
"Go fetch Bianca's little prize, will you? And ensure you return with a sufficient number of guards this time," Wyatt requested.
"I'm starting to feel like it's my birthday," she joked dryly as the demon shimmered out.
"Call it a belated gift," Wyatt said. "You weren't exactly around for me to help you celebrate it."
Pulling her sleeves over her hands, she apprehensively looked around the room awaiting what was to come. Consistently she looked back to Wyatt, looking for a change in expression or a clue as to what was coming but he revealed nothing.
"Am I going to like this surprise?" she probed.
"Am I trying your patience, Bianca?" he returned, mildly amused.
"If you're going to punish me I'd rather it not be drawn out."
"He won't be long," Wyatt said indifferently.
Bianca turned her attention to the far wall as a series of demons shimmered in, all dressed entirely in black. Although the faces differed slightly, she could barely tell them apart in appearance. The darkening shadows criss-crossing the walls didn't help her plight any. Cautiously she took a step towards them, her eyes trying to focus on the gift they were bearing. But they hadn't returned with an object, no. They'd returned with a person. She stopped as she recognised the long dark locks, seeing at the forefront of the group stood the one person she hoped never to see again in her life.
"Michael," she gasped.