Author's Note:
I've had this idea in my head for a while, and so now I'm wondering: what if I introduced Amaris earlier in the series, like in season one? I'll finish this story first, of course, but after that... The ending, the biography of OC characters, relationships, etc. will remain the same, but I'll put her into the show way earlier. When I come to the chapters from the season this story is in and onwards, I'll probably just post them to the story, with a few tweaks here and there. This is thinking a little forward, I know, but I wanted to get it out there before I forget. What do you guys think? Would you like that? Better yet, would you tolerate that?
Also, when I do eventually get to actual Charmed episodes, they won't take seven or so chapters to finish-two or three at most, I promise. When I make up my own chapters, however, they will be much longer, though rest assured, not as long as this.
Anyway, back to the story.
Chapter 6
The attic was utterly enchanting, full of trinkets and goodies she would kill to have in her shop. But the Book...oh it was so beautiful. She stepped forward, which had Piper tensing, though she knew why. She reached forward and touched it. It gave her a little jolt before it seemed to accumulate to her presence, and she was able to open it without any more trouble.
"We already know what demon we're looking for," Piper confessed from behind her. Amaris stilled, then turned.
"So this was a test, then, to see if I was trustworthy?" She didn't sound mad, but then again, Piper wasn't exactly an empath. It was best to tread lightly.
"...Yes," she admitted guiltily, but to her surprise, Amaris laughed.
"It's alright, Piper. I understand. I would be worried if you hadn't done this."
She closed the Book, then placed her hands on her lips. "So what is it we're looking at, then? Anything I might have heard of?"
Piper arched a brow. "You know demons?" That was funny, considering she'd admitted she didn't know too many of them.
Amaris smiled wryly. "Not personally, but this isn't the first demon to sneak into our territory to commit evils, either. I know of a few." She threw up her hands in a 'what can you do' gesture.
"So what are we looking for, exactly?"
Piper's lip curled in distaste. "Lazarus demons."
"I take it from your tone that that's not a good thing."
Piper shook her head."No, not really. It's a very, very bad thing, actually."
Amaris opened her mouth to comment, but was interrupted by a voice coming from right outside of the room, "Do I hear familiar voices?"
Amaris' hackles raised, and she whirled, prepared for a fight, but instantly relaxed her stance when she saw it was just Phoebe. Piper beamed.
"Oh, hi Phoebe," she greeted.
"Hi," Phoebe replied quickly before her attention zeroed in on Amaris. The werewolf, for her part, smiled and awkwardly waved.
"It's nice to officially meet you, Phoebe, when I lack a tail," she said, and they both chuckled nervously at how uncomfortable the situation was. Someone orbed in then and saved them, briefly. It was, thankfully, Paige and not their Whitelighter. She didn't think she could handle facing him again. But then, someone else orbed in, and it was him. He narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously but didn't say anything to her, instead turning to the sisters.
"Why is she up here?" he demanded. Piper opened her mouth to speak but Amaris beat her to it.
"I can speak for myself, Piper," she said, and though Piper looked ready to refuse, she didn't argue. The Whitelighter-though she knew it, she refused to dignify him, even in her head, with his name- turned his attention to her and gestured for her to speak.
"My intention was to look at the Book," Chris inhaled sharply, but she continued before he could cut a word in, "in order to figure out what kind of demon we were after. Piper's intent was to test me, to prove myself. And since I'm here, unharmed and well, I clearly am no demon, nor a being needed to be feared."
He scoffed. "So I'm just supposed to take your word for it?"
Her eyes narrowed until they were nothing but slits, and she let her wolf peek out, just a sliver, so that he knew she was not to be messed with. "Mine and Piper's. She was here when I touched the Book."
His gaze flickered briefly over to Piper, who was standing there, shifting uncomfortably, before it went back to her. He let out a disgusted snort before he orbed away.
Amaris stood there, huffing, for a moment before she turned. The sisters looked surprised, but managed to compose their features quickly enough.
"Well that was...interesting," Phoebe managed, and Amaris suddenly felt so,so guilty. She looked away, and said, "I'm sorry, I just-"
Paige interjected, stepping forward and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's fine, don't worry about it. I've-we've all wanted to clock him a time or two; trust me, we know how it feels to burst out at him."
Phoebe piped up then. "But, uh, it would be nice to know why you two hate each other so much. Just so we can try to avoid future situations like these."
Amaris sighed, and her shoulders slumped. "There is a reason, as you can tell, for why I said Whitelighters don't like us. A more specific one than my rather vague answer. Well, the start of all the problems, at least."
The sisters exchanged looks before Piper turned to her with an arched brow. "Oh?" They weren't going to touch the last sentence she had said. Not today, at least. Because, if her voice was anything to go by, it didn't sound like a pleasant story, and they didn't want to drudge up any unpleasant emotions. They weren't going to make the same mistake they'd made yesterday.
Amaris cringed in anticipation, and said quickly, just to get it over with, "We originated from a demon."
The reactions were just as she feared-revulsion and horror-so she went and hurried over to the Book before they could stop her. They followed, but she found the page she was looking for before they got to her. She gestured for them to take a look, and they did, warily. On the page was a handsome, ruggish blonde man with piercing blue eyes. The page was titled "Lupine."
"This is Lupine, the original werewolf," she explained, fingering the page fondly. She'd never seen him before, but like all werewolves, who respect and love their Alphas, she couldn't help but feel a certain fondness for him.
"He was a demon who could transform into a wolf even bigger than me, more animal than demon. Any wounds inflicted upon him would be swiftly healed. He was invincible, safe for his weakness to silver, a pure, magical metal. He pillaged villages, eating their townspeople, but unlike so many other demons, he found no joy in their deaths, only a hollow emptiness that threatened to consume him," she began, telling the story James had once told her, so long ago.
She paused to catch her breath, noting with satisfaction that the sisters were listening with rapt attention. A smile curved at her lips, and she forged on. "Eventually, he fell in love with a woman. But she was a witch, and it went against everything he'd ever known."
She knew when they winced that it struck some nerve, but she continued regardless.
"In retaliation, his fellow demons killed her, and he was left behind, alone and vengeful. He left demons and the Underworld all together after that and wandered aimlessly for years. Then he met his lover's reincarnation. They became lovers once more. Hating to lose her again, he devoted his life to finding out how to keep her by his side, always. Eventually, the thought came to him-he was everything he wanted her to be. Could he not change her, alter her so that she was like him? He vowed to do so."
She stopped, glancing over at them, waiting for someone to interject. No one did. "He explained everything to her, including his plan, and she agreed to do whatever it took. So he experimented-gave her his blood and saliva and injected her with it. Nothing worked. Until, one night, on a full moon, where in a fit of rage brought on by his failure, he bit her."
They gasped. "He was repentant, and did everything he could to help her, but he could not take back what he did. She forgave him regardless. Then, hours later, while tending to her, they discovered that her wounds had healed, and that she was stronger, faster, and could heal herself almost as quickly as he could. However, soon enough, she became careless, drunk on her power, and one day, on another full moon night, she bit someone, and passed on her 'gift. They, in turn, passed it on, and so the cycle went."
She tossed up her hands. "So ends the tale of our origins."
They stared at her, unsure of what to say. Finally, Phoebe managed to croak out, "Where are they now? Lupine and his lover?"
She tapped her chin, pretending to be in thought. "His lover didn't make it."
Their faces fell.
"Lupine, however, is currently sleeping in the guest bedroom in my basement."
Silence. Then, a chorus of "What?!" followed. She laughed.
"I'm kidding. We don't know where he is. After the death of his reincarnation's lover, Rebecca, he disappeared. We haven't seen him since."
As if on cue, a man shimmered into their attic. The sisters all jumped, then prepared themselves to go on the defensive, but Amaris gasped, eyes widening. She soon fell to her knees, head bowed. The man ignored the others and walked straight to the werewolf.
"You are Amaris?" he asked, kneeling down in front of her. She nodded, refusing to look up, much to the Halliwells' surprise. That was certainly a first.
"Wonderful. Now I need your help, Amaris. Will you aid me?"
She nodded frantically.
"But of course, Lupine. I live only to serve you."
Lazarus demons, I don't know too much about, but they sound pretty strong and powerful, and that's precisely what I needed. Sorry if I portrayed them or used them incorrectly.
Lupine was not added 'just cause,' I swear. He has a reason for being here. I know, the werewolves' origin story isn't very realistic, but then again, neither is Charmed and its story-line, but that's what makes it great.
Sorry if I made Chris sound like he was a horrible person. He's just super used to distrusting, and I thought he needed to be as aggressive as he was portrayed. They'll learn to like each other eventually. Also, in case you were wondering, this takes place after "Valhalley of the Dolls" but not before "Forget Me...Not." If I mentioned it took place some other time, disregard that, please, and refer to this instead.
Please, please read and review.
