Chosen, A New Chapter 5
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It felt like Billie had been walking around in the dark tunnel of the sewers for hours and she still hadn't found a sign of Violet or the Grimlock. She needed the hurry, as she felt like time was running out. The Grimlock would not keep Violet and those little girls alive forever. When she reached a crossroads, Billie stopped at looked at the wall, which had a very familiar set of pipes running through it. She could have sworn she had seen it before, which probably meant she had been running around in circles this entire time.
"I just need a sign, anything." Billie mumbled to herself as she stared down the different tunnels in front of her.
Eventually, when no sign appeared, Billie randomly chose a tunnel and continued her way. While walking she remembered the first time she had officially met the Charmed Ones, which had also in a sewer. It was when she had just started out as a witch, which seemed like a lifetime ago. Then she loved being a witch and didn't even think about the responsibilities. That was what almost got her killed, until the Charmed Ones had rescued her.
A lot had changed since then, and now that she had her powers back she wasn't going to make the same mistakes again. She felt lucky that after everything that had happened, the sisters had forgiven her and that they were friends again. But now it was time to move on, she had found new friends, a new family, and she needed to hurry before one of them was killed.
Billie stopped and closed her eyes. Maybe if she tried, she could sense Violet somehow. Maybe the bond between them was strong enough that it would lead Billie straight to the Grimlocks lair. Instead of finding Violet, a swirl of orbs appeared next to her with Paige and Duncan.
"What took you guys?" Billie asked.
"It's difficult to track someone here." Paige replied. "I had to orb inside the sewer before I could sense your location."
"Do you have the potion?" Billie asked.
"Right here." Duncan said as he handed her some bottles with the green potion.
"It looks gross." Billie said as she looked at it with a frown.
"It will get the job done." Duncan replied. "Have you found Violet?"
"No, this place is like a maze." Billie said. "I've been going in circles."
"We should do something about the lighting first." Paige said.
Paige waved her hand and golden orbs of light appeared in the sewer again, casting a soft glow over the three of them.
"How are we going to find Violet?" Billie asked.
"I might have an idea." Duncan said. "You guys said it was difficult to sense someone down here, but if we focus on Violet together, I might be able to astral project myself to her."
"Would that work?" Billie asked.
"Maybe, it's worth a shot." Paige replied.
"But what about the Grimlock?" Billie asked. "You won't be able to take a potion with you and it's difficult to use powers in your astral form."
"I'll go back to my body if the Grimlock shows up." Duncan promised. "It's just to get an idea of where she is."
"Okay, so how do we do this?" Billie asked.
"We all need to focus on Violet." Duncan explained. "If we combine our bond with Paige's sensing power, I should be able to project to her location."
"Let's go for it." Paige said.
Billie nodded and joined hands with Duncan and Paige, she then closed her eyes and concentrated on Violet. Even though they had only just met, Billie sensed that they were connected somehow. They were destined to find each other and their paths were now intertwined. She needed to trust in that connection in order to save Violet.
"Found her." Duncan said.
Suddenly Duncan's head dropped down, like he had fallen unconscious, but Billie knew his astral form had left his body. She just hoped he would able to find her in time.
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Just as Violet felt like everything was going dark around her, the Grimlock suddenly released her aura. Violet fell to the ground and coughed as she gasped for air. Meanwhile the blinded little girls were crying in the corner, terrified and traumatized by all that had happened. Violet slowly got up and looked up at her captor. The Grimlock was standing outside the cage with a vicious smile.
"Why didn't you kill me?" Violet asked with a sore throat.
"Not yet, I just wanted you to shut up!" The Grimlock said. "I might still need you when your fellow witches come for you."
"Why are you doing this?" Violet asked.
"I told you to shut up." The Grimlock warned her.
The Grimlock slammed his fist against the cage and the little girls cried out in fear. He then walked off and disappeared into one of the tunnels. Violet quickly got up and walked over to the girls, taking their hands in hers to try and calm them down.
"It's okay, he's gone for now." Violet said with trembling voice. "My friends will get us out, I promise."
Even as she said it, Violet wondered if she could keep that promise. The Grimlock was probably on his way to kill the others right now. All of this was getting way too much for Violet to handle. First the murder of professor York, then finding out she's a witch and the Grimlock. She wondered why this was all happening to her. Why couldn't she just be a normal girl like all the others.
Violet's eyes widened as she suddenly saw an orange glow appear outside the cage, which outlined a human shape which she instantly recognized as Duncan. Violet quickly got up and walked to the bars of the cage.
"Duncan." Violet whispered.
"Violet, are you okay?" Duncan asked.
"Keep it down, the Grimlock might still be around." Violet whispered. "How did you get here?"
"Astral projection." Duncan said. "Are those the girls? Are they alright?"
"The Grimlock took their sight, I don't know how bad that is." Violet said wondering. "It seems pretty bad."
"They should get it back as soon as we vanquish the Grimlock." Duncan explained. "Can you tell me where he is?"
"He went into that tunnel." Violet said pointing. "I think he's coming after you."
"Don't worry." Duncan said. "We got potions, we'll be ready for him."
"Great, can you get me out of here now?" Violet asked.
"I don't know." Duncan said. "I think it's probably safer if you stay here for now."
"What?" Violet asked shocked. "How can you say that?"
"You don't have active powers to defend yourself." Duncan explained. "If you run off in the tunnels right now, the Grimlock will kill you."
"You're not going to leave me here, are you?" Violet asked.
"I don't have much of a choice." Duncan said. "I only projected here to we would know where to find you. Like I said, it's safer for you here."
"No way, you're not.. Look out!" Violet screamed as suddenly the Grimlock reappeared.
Duncan quickly turned and ducked, barely avoiding the Grimlock, who crashed against the cage. Duncan quickly crawled away as the Grimlock rose up and turned to him. Before Duncan could move, the Grimlock held out his hand and started aura chocking Duncan.
"No! Stop it!" Violet called out as Duncan gasped for air.
Suddenly Duncan disappeared in an orange glow and the Grimlock stared at the now empty floor with a surprised look on his face. He then slammed against the cage in a rage before storming off in a tunnel again. Violet took a deep breath, she was sure the Grimlock was going to kill her this time, but she then figured that he was going to take out the threat first. She hoped the others would be okay as she sat down next to the crying girls and tried to calm them.
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Duncan gasped for air and he returned to his body and reached for his throat. He had barely gotten away from the Grimlock and could still feel the pain around his neck, even though it was his astral form that was nearly choked to death. He just freaked out and got out of there, leaving Violet behind. Chills were still running down his spine. Duncan realized he was sitting on the cold floor as Billie and Paige quickly kneeled down next to him.
"Are you okay, what happened?" Billie asked.
"I found Violet, but now there is a really angry Grimlock heading our way." Duncan said.
Billie and Paige helped him up and Duncan looked around.
"She was not for from here, in that direction." Duncan said as he pointed to the south tunnel. "That's the way we should go."
"Okay, let's get going." Paige said. "Keep your potions ready. Remember the Grimlock can show up from anywhere."
Duncan followed Billie and Paige down the tunnel as he concentrated on finding the right path, even though he now knew where Violet was, this place was still a giant maze with a demon running around in it.
"So how was she?" Billie asked.
"She was holding on, the Grimlock hasn't hurt her." Duncan said.
"And the girls?" Paige asked.
"Terrified and blinded, but safe. I'm sure Violet is taking care of them." Duncan said. "I think that.."
Suddenly Billie stopped and schussed him as she stared down the tunnel. Duncan wondered if she heard the Grimlock and grabbed a potion just to be sure. His question was soon answered as he heard footsteps that sounded like running. Billie and Paige also got their potions and they all waited for the Grimlock to appear. Then the footsteps suddenly stopped.
"Where did he go?" Duncan whispered.
"Be careful." Billie warned. "He is trying to mess with us."
As he watched out for the Grimlock, Duncan discovered his knees were shaking underneath him. He wasn't used to demon fighting as much as the others. Most of his demonic experience came from textbooks in the protected Magic School. Despite knowing that Billie and Paige were powerful witches with much more experience, Duncan still found it embarrassing that out of the three of them, he was the one who was the most scared. Just then, he heard a strange sound, like there was something in the wall.
"I hear something." Duncan said a little freaked.
"Sounds like it's coming from all around us." Billie replied.
Duncan took a step forward and suddenly felt the ground disappear underneath him. With a scream, Duncan fell down and managed to grab on to the floor. When he looked down he saw he was hanging inside a portal which the Grimlock opened right underneath him. Below him was complete darkness.
"Duncan." Paige called out as she reached down and grabbed his arm.
Duncan noticed Billie was about to move, but before she could another portal opened behind her. Before Duncan had time to warn her, the Grimlock appeared and grabbed Billie, dragging her in the portal, which sealed behind them. Now the Grimlock had Violet and Billie, though Duncan hoped Billie still had the vanquishing potion. With help of Paige, Duncan climbed out of the portal, which closed off as soon as he was out.
"This Grimlock is giving us a lot of trouble for a low-level demon." Paige noted.
"I know, guess we're not prepared enough." Duncan said reluctantly as he got up. "I'm pretty useless, aren't I?"
"What do you mean?" Paige asked.
"I'm not used to any of this." Duncan said. "I may know about demons in theory, but when that Grimlock started choking me, I was terrified. Maybe I'm not cut out for this."
"Don't talk like that." Paige said. "You were chosen for a reason, which means the angels and the elders saw something in you. Being scared when facing a demon is nothing to be ashamed off."
"Well, what good can I do?" Duncan asked.
"You made the vanquishing potion, didn't you?" Paige remarked. "When we needed it, you were the only one who could make it in time. Out of the three of you, you have the most knowledge about magic, which is why the others need you."
As he heard the words from his former headmistress, Duncan realized she was right. It didn't really matter that he wasn't the best in situations like this with all the demon fighting. He had used his knowledge to prepare the potion that Billie was probably using right now to vanquish that demon. He had his own strengths, just like the others and that was enough right now. Maybe with experience, he could become an awesome demon fighter as well.
"You're right." Duncan admitted.
"Good, now we need to find Billie and Violet and end this demon." Paige said. "Because I've pretty much had it with this smelly sewer."
Xxx
For a moment which seemed to last forever, Billie was flying through darkness. She could still feel the Grimlocks hold on her arm as he dragged her through the portal. Then it all suddenly stopped with a painful crash on the cold stone floor. Billie looked up and saw she was in a large round room with lots of pipes. In the back there was a cage with metal bars. Billie's eyesight was a little blurry from the fall, but she could see three people in the cage and recognized Violet's flaming red hair.
Before she could move, something grabbed her by the leg and dragged her to the cage. Billie looked up and saw it was the Grimlock. She quickly swung her arm and telekinetically threw the Grimlock off her before jumping up to her feet.
"Billie!" Violet called out.
"Hey, Vi." Billie said. "Don't worry, this thing will be over soon enough."
Billie reached out for her potion and suddenly realized it wasn't there. She quickly turned around and saw the broken bottle lying on the floor, with the green potion spilled out in a nasty looking puddle. With the bottle gone, Billie realized she was in trouble. Meanwhile the Grimlock got back up and wiped the dust off his black coat.
"Stupid witch." The Grimlock said. "Did you really think you could vanquish me in my territory?"
"Doesn't matter where, I can stop you wherever." Billie said daring.
"Let's test that now that your potion is gone." The Grimlock said.
The Grimlock held out his hand and Billie could feel her aura taking her in a choke hold. The pale demon grinned viciously and squeezed his hand, which nearly crushed Billie's throat. As Billie felt her breath running out, she realized time was up. She glanced down at the green puddle next to her and wondered if she could pull it off.
Billie had once heard Piper tell her that her older sister Prue was able to use her telekinesis to move liquid as well, and after a few years Paige had learned to do it as well. Billie however, always relied on the pure force of her power and had never really mastered the finesse of it. If only she could do it too. Billie reached out for the potion and focused. She knew she only had one shot at this before time was up. She needed to trust in herself.
"I've come too far to let you witches ruins this for me." The Grimlock said.
Billie ignored him and flung her arm. The green puddle splashed up and flied around the room, hitting the Grimlock in the face. The pale demon started to scream and the potion started to burn him and he released his hold on Billie, who gasped for air. The Grimlock got up and Billie noticed his face was half burned up. The small amount of potion wasn't enough and the demon stormed at her in a fit of rage.
At the same moment, Paige and Duncan came running in and Duncan threw another potion, hitting the Grimlock in the face as well. The Grimlock screamed and clawed at his face as he melted away into a puddle of black goo, which then dissolved in black smoke.
"Is it over?" Violet asked from the cage with a small voice.
"Yeah, we got him." Billie said as she turned to Duncan. "Nice work."
"You too." Duncan replied with a smile.
"Alright, let's get out of here, shall we?" Paige suggested. "I'm sure those girls will want to go home now."
Billie flung her arm and telekinetically swung open the cage. Violet helped the little girls up and led them out of the cage. Billie noticed one of them rubbing her eye and it turned back from pale white to her normal blue eyes. Their sight was being restored now that the Grimlock was vanquished. Now Billie hoped that they wouldn't be traumatized by all that had happened.
"Will they be okay?" Billie asked.
"Don't worry." Paige assured her. "We will heal them and use a little memory dust, so all of this will be nothing but a blurry memory in no time."
"Good." Billie said with a smile, knowing that they would be alright.
Paige waved her hand and remotely orbed the little girls to Magic school and then orbed away with the others. When everyone was gone, a pair of red glowing eyes appeared from the shadows, which then disappeared in a shimmer.
Xxx
The following day Billie learned from Paige that the girls were home safe and sound and that all their memories of the supernatural had been erased, which was probably for the best. The whole experience must have been traumatic enough without knowing that it was a demon that kidnapped them. She knew how bad those memories could be. Billie walked back to her dorm room after classes and was surprised to find Mikelle waiting in her in her room.
"Mikelle." Billie said surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Hey Billie." Mikelle said. "Sorry to intrude, but I was looking for you."
"What's going on?" Billie asked.
"I'm supposed to take you to Magic School." Mikelle explained. "The Elders want to discuss your destiny and that of Duncan and Violet."
"Why?" Billie asked.
"I don't know, I' just the messenger." Mikelle replied.
Billie wondered why the Elders would want to see her. She had not had a lot of contact with the Elders, especially not after the Ultimate battle, so she figured they were not her biggest fans. On the other hand, they had granted her back her powers and given her this new destiny. Maybe she should just hear them out.
"Okay, let's get going." Billie said.
Mikelle nodded and took Billie's hand. Together they disappeared to Magic School in a swirl of orbs.
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