Author's Note: I just wanted to say thank you so much for your reviews, they mean a lot to me. And xjelliepotatoex, to hear that I made you stop disliking Chris is the biggest compliment you could give me! Thank you so much everybody!
1. I would like to once again apologize to any of you that are bothered by the whole cousin thing. I promise, there is a reason behind it that will be revealed later on. It isn't just random and it has actually been proven that it doesn't cause birth defects.
2. There have been more comments/questions about Risa's age so I will clarify but not be too specific. As we all saw in Phoebe's vision during Sleepy Halliwell, Chris is about four or five years old when Phoebe is pregnant. That would mean that Risa is that many years younger. But you have to remember that that was a 'perfect' future with no demons. In the 'not so perfect' future where Risa and Chris are from, she is only between one and three years younger. They are changing things by coming to the past so their birth times might be affected in the process for the 'perfect' future. That is all I will say for now. :)
Disclaimer:I own nothing….well I do own a few things *riffles through purse and pulls out a piece of gum and two pennies* but none of the Charmed Characters except my own creations being: Priscilla, Brennan, Petra, and Pandora. Most of the characters will probably be in the sequel instead of this installment. Please don't steal them. They like it here with me. :)
Chapter Nine
"What?" They all stared in disbelief at her statement.
"How did you find out?"
Priscilla's vision was getting fuzzy, "His name is Charnaurus….." Everything went black and Chris felt her go limp against him.
"Damn." He picked her up and started toward the stairs, Phoebe fluttering nervously behind.
Piper scowled calling after them, "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm going to take her up to her room."
"I have a few questions for you-" Piper retorted but was cut off.
"Look, I'm going to take her to her room. Then I will answer your questions. Ok?"
Piper finally gave in and grudgingly nodded her head.
When they arrived upstairs, Phoebe turned down the sheets so Chris could place her inside.
"Is she gonna be ok Chris?"
He tucked Priscilla in and ran his hand along her cheek. "Ya, I think so."
Both of them reluctantly left and headed downstairs to face the questions.
When they had sat down on the couch, Paige was the first to begin, "Ok, as I'm sure Piper wants to know, how did she shimmer? I thought only demons could shimmer."
"Risa has a small bit of telepath power. She uses it to borrow powers but it takes too much out of her so she almost never uses it. In fact, I'm surprised she could use it at all. Risa's never been able to skip through time more than a couple days at a time. I don't know how she got all the way back twenty years. It should have wiped out her magic for at least a couple months." Worry was still evident in Chris' voice as he explained. 'It could have killed her......'
Phoebe, still unsettled, tried to change the subject. "Leo, do you know anything about this Charnaurus guy?"
"I've never even heard of him. I should go see if the other elders have though. I'll be right back." He orbed away leaving the sisters and Chris to muse on the events that had just transpired.
Paige wrinkled her brow, "How did Risa find out about Charnaurus in the first place?"
"I have no idea but I intend to find out." Chris stated in determination.
Leo returned, his face white as a ghost. "I spoke to the other elders….."
"And?" Piper asked nervously.
"Charnaurus is an upper level demon who controls half of the underworld's resources but that's not the bad news. It seems that he has had his follows searching for the location of three scrolls. They contain prophecies about the futures of each of you and your lines." Leo paused and swallowed nervously, "News just reached the elders that The Hesperides have been attacked."
Chris looked skeptical, "Wait a sec…The Hesperides? As in Greek Mythology? The women who guarded the tree of Golden Apples?"
"Well, kind of. The Hesperides guarded every prophecy ever made, not a tree with golden apples. Now Charnaurus has what he needs."
Phoebe threw up her hands, "Jeez, what is it with us and mythological creatures! First it was Banshees, The Furies, Sirens, Harpies, Vampires, Valkyries, and then the Titans. Now we've got the Hesperides!"
"Not anymore. They were all killed and the three scrolls are gone."
Paige gasped, "Oh no….."
"What are we going do?" Chris questioned.
"We shouldn't do anything definite until Risa wakes up. She might have more information."
"I'll go scry and see if I can find out where this Charnaurus guy is." Piper stated before heading into the sun room.
Paige fidgeted for a moment before offering, "I'll check the Book of Shadows for anything. Hopefully there will be a vanquishing potion."
Leo glanced up at the ceiling, "They're calling me. I better go. Let me know if you find anything."
Phoebe and Chris glanced at each other before wordlessly getting up and heading upstairs to Priscilla's room. On the way,
Chris paused to grab a couple blankets and two pillows out of the hall closet.
When Phoebe looked questioningly at him he replied, "I'm not leaving until she wakes up. I assume the same for you?"
She nodded and they proceeded on.
***
Piper threw down the crystal in frustration, "I can't find him anywhere!"
Paige, who had joined her earlier after her fruitless attempt with the Book of Shadows, tried to console her. "Hey, don't worry. We'll beat him just like we've done the rest."
"Ya, but this is the one that's after Wyatt. The real thing this time. I just….I don't want to loose my son."
"I know honey," Paige wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick hug, "We'll think of something."
Leo returned in a swirl of orbs. "The other elders want you to go and see if Phoebe can pick up anything from where the Hesperides were attacked."
"I'll go get her." Paige offered, heading up the stairs.
When she opened the door to Priscilla's room she found Chris and Phoebe camped out beside her bed.
"How is she?"
Chris looked up, "Her breathing is normal. Her body's just exhausted. She needs rest."
"Well I hope she gets it soon and wakes up cause we need more answers."
Phoebe glared at her but before she could speak Paige interrupted, "Leo
said we need to go and check out the Hesperides' lair. Maybe you'll get a
premonition or something."
"I'm not leaving."
"Phoebe-"
"No! I'm staying here until Risa wakes up," Phoebe shook her head vehemently.
"What is with you? I mean, I'm concerned about her too but that doesn't stop me from doing my job and helping to protect my nephew!"
Phoebe glared and her, "Don't you dare make me choose between my nephew and my-"
Chris glanced at her frantically and Phoebe realized what she had almost said.
Paige narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "Between your nephew and your what?"
"My….ward. I just feel like she's my responsibility, ok?" Chris let out a breath as she covered her tracks. That was close…
Paige looked skeptical, "I doubt she needs anyone to look after her Phoebe. She's got to be what, eighteen? Nineteen? She can take care of herself and Chris can stay in case she needs anything. You don't have to baby-sit her."
"But…..," Phoebe sighed and gave in, "Alright. But Chris, you have to promise you won't leave ok?"
He nodded his head, "Promise."
"Ok, let's go." Phoebe followed Paige out the door, glancing back at her sleeping daughter.
***
They all orbed as a group to the location the elders had given Leo and were met with the sight of fallen pillars and destruction. They followed the corridor to a chamber with doors on each wall. Two of them were untouched while the third was blown to pieces, shards of wood and metal strewn about the floor.
A voice spoke cautiously from above, anger and fear evident, "Who are you? What do you want?"
The sisters looked about in confusion, bewildered as to where the voice was coming from.
"The Elders have sent the Charmed Ones." Leo answered.
A sigh came as the unknown entity spoke again, "Thank the Great Ones. I don't understand how this happened…..I failed them….." The voice faded away, leaving the sisters more confused.
"What was that?" Piper questioned.
"That was the guardian of the Hesperides, among others." Leo explained.
They proceeded on through the destroyed door and into the chamber within. Paige and Piper gasped upon entering. Phoebe groaned and covered her mouth. The bodies of the three Hesperides lay on the ground, charred and bleeding. Shelves were knocked over onto the floor, their contents scattered about.
"This is horrible…." Paige spoke softly.
Piper nodded in agreement and swallowed, "Phoebe, why don't you get started."
Phoebe walked over to one of the shelves and laid her hand on it. Nothing. She moved to the next, then the next, and on to the piles of scrolls that were left behind but still nothing.
"Anything?" Paige asked even though she already knew the answer from the look on Phoebe's face.
"Nothing," She sighed in resignation.
"I know it's uncomfortable, but why don't you try the Hesperides." Leo suggested.
Phoebe nodded reluctantly and moved to crouch in front of the prone body of the Hesperide nearest the back of the room. As soon as Phoebe's hand touched her shoulder she froze.
The three Hesperides were sitting in the chamber when suddenly an explosion was heard on the other side of the door. One of them called out in a worried voice but the only answer was crashing and yelling. The women glanced at each other in fright and moved the back of the room just as the door blew open. They shielded themselves with their arms and screams filled the air. A figure strode through the door but he was hidden from Phoebe's sight. "I have come for the Charmed scrolls. Give them to me and I might let you die quickly." His voice sent chills down her spine. Two of the Hesperides crowded forward in from of the third, hiding her from his view as she grabbed three scrolls from a shelf. "Give them to me now!" he roared. Demons of all types rushed forward from behind him, attacking the women. As the first two were cut down, Phoebe saw the third open her mouth and swallow the smallest scroll almost choking as she forced it down. The first demon, 'It must be Charnaurus' Phoebe thought, grabbed the scrolls from her hand. His eyes burned with hatred as he saw there were only two. "Where is the third??!! Where is it?!!!" When she refused to answer he cut her down like her sisters.
Phoebe jerked back to reality, glancing frantically at her sisters and Leo, "They only got two of the scrolls!"