Author Note: Thanks to all of you who reviewed, put the story on alert, or just read my work. I would also like to apologize for taking so long to update. I was lazy and then school started and I was getting ready for that which was more crazy than usual because I'm studying abroad this semester. I was supposed to be in Cairo (and I actually was there for two weeks! It was amazing! And I'm so glad Hosni Mubarak is no longer in power!), but I got evacuated out and now I'm in Scotland. Haha big change. Anyway, I'm going to try to write a lot more now that I'm settled in and hopefully it will be a little easier to get chapters up.
Summary: A new power is rising on the side of evil and it will stop at nothing to destroy all that is good. Chris needs to protect his family, but are they really the ones in danger? As he fights to protect his future and his loved ones, secrets will be revealed and life will never be the same for the Halliwell family. Takes place prior to the girls and Leo finding out that Chris is a witch and, at this point, no one is really a fan of poor Chris.
Last Time: Chris is having trouble getting control some of his psychic power and it's affecting his mission, so he's going to the Underworld to get a potion to fix the problem. Meanwhile, a mysterious man leaves something for Chris in his room at P3.
Chris orbed into underworld behind a pillar, hoping that there wouldn't be anything in the secluded cavern he had chosen. Pretty, twinkling, blue lights tended to be a free pass for Underworld residents to attack first and ask questions later. Chris had a pounding headache and his stomach felt like it was on the verge of waging a rebellion. He certainly wasn't in the mood to deal with anymore demons than he had to.
Walking quickly toward the edge of the cavern he kept a wary eye out for any sudden movements in the shadows. He had been ambushed by a few low level demons last week and he had no desire to do a repeat performance. They had been hovering in the shadows when he orbed in and they had decided that a mere white-lighter was no match for their fire-power. Though he had gotten away with nary a scratch and the rude surprise they had gotten still made him grin (the look on their faces as they realized what was coming was priceless), he was feeling lower than dirt today and honestly didn't know if he could take on more than a few lower levels. If he ran into someone with more power than a Scavenger Demon, he was screwed.
Chris' lips twitched upwards at his situation. He was no Wyatt, but he was extremely powerful in his own right and he had always been able to hold his own in a battle. He wouldn't be alive today if he couldn't. The funny thing about being in the past, a place where his family was actually alive, was that
he should have had more fire-power backing him up than he'd had in the past four years. But today, he felt more alone than he had ever felt in his own time where none of the Charmed Ones were left to fight with him. His mom and aunts were alive and well in this time, and hell, he even had a non-evil, angelic, paragon of goodness brother here. But he was, alone, sick, and emotionally battered. The past few days ranked among the worst he had felt in his life and now he was worried about a couple of low levels coming to mess with him. He was here to save the world and he didn't even feel like he could save himself; the irony was almost too much to bear.
Chris moved quietly toward the entrance of the cave, pulling an athame out of his pocket and palming it so that it was mostly concealed, but still easily accessible should anyone decide to attack. With his back to the wall, Chris glanced out into the corridor, ensuring it was empty before he stepped out confidently and tried to walk with as much swagger in his step as he could. If he looked like he owned the place, perhaps the demons down here would think that he actually did and no one would mess with him. He shuddered to think what would happen if he actually ran into the demon that did run this part of the Underworld.
As he walked, he kept an eye out for anything that thought he was on that night's menu, but soon the witchlighter allowed his thoughts to turn back to his current power problems. When he had first gotten to the past, his powers had worked perfectly. That was part of the beauty of the spell he had used to get back; unlike most time travel spells, it allowed him to keep all his powers. But after a few weeks in the past, things had started to change. His psychic powers had started to get stronger. At first it hadn't been much of a problem. A vision here or there was nothing new, and dealing with a few more of them than normal hadn't phased him too much. But that soon changed.
Now the visions were coming with startling frequency and he had never had anything near as vivid; everything felt so real. Most of his visions had to do with his future; his horrible, horrible future. But a lot of the visions didn't seem to deal with anything important at all; Piper dropping an apple, Paige looking for her keys, Phoebe breezing out the door to go to work. They all seemed so pointless. Another worrying aspect of the visions was their frequency. Even at her most powerful, Phoebe hadn't had this many premonitions and her visions had actually had a point. His working theory was that, since he didn't belong in this time period, the balance had been thrown off in the world and the visions were just being thrown at him indiscriminately. Most psychics got visions because they were supposed to get them, but he wasn't even supposed to be in this time. Either way he needed something to take care of it before they drove him insane.
He had been to see the demonic potions seller a few times in this period, but he wasn't a huge fan of the guy. In fact, the man was one of Wyatt's most trusted potions makers in the future and Chris had lost many good fighters to this particular demon's brews. However, he was the best and, at least in this time period, was willing to work for either side as long has he was duly compensated. Turning the corner, Chris saw a group of low level demons coming his way. He nodded at them as he passed the group, only releasing his breath in a whoosh once he was out of sight. Thankfully the demons hadn't given him more than a cursory glance-over. Nothing to be worried about since most demons liked to scope out the competition. The entire Underworld functioned almost like a sketchy biker bar. Look at someone the wrong way or show any weakness and you were toast in this world. Chris turned his eyes forward again and realized he was almost at his destination. The Underworld Market was just ahead.
Throwing up the hood on his cloak, Chris bowed his head as he turned the corner to enter the market from one of the lesser used entrances. It wouldn't do to be recognized here among so many demons. Despite the fact that his identity as the Charmed Ones whitelighter was relatively unknown, there were those who knew him by some of his other more unsavory identities and a wrong step would result in a rather painful death. Thankfully, the market was one place in the Underworld where anonymity was sought by the majority. It wouldn't due for your demonic enemies to know that you were purchasing a potion used to steal powers. Kind of ruins the surprise.
Pushing his way through the crowd of demons towards where he knew the potion master's lair was Chris kept one hand on his hood and the other on his weapon. Although, had never had any trouble in the Market before, he needed to be extra vigilant today since his powers were so out of sorts. This thought had just flitted though his head when he was violently thrown to the ground by what felt like a boulder. Looking up from where he had fallen into some substance of questionable origin, Chris' heart felt like it had dropped into his stomach. Of all the worst luck he could have had, he just had to run into Byron.
'I am so screwed", Chris thought as he realized that his face had been revealed since his hood had been thrown back. He had worked for Byron a few months back on an undercover mission. He had been sure the info he had given Byron's enemies would have been enough to get the guy taken out, but apparently Byron wasn't as stupid as he looked… or Byron's enemies were actually stupider than they looked; quite an impressive feat to say the least. The guy did look a little worse for wear though.
"Hey, Bryon! Long time, no see, buddy! Is that eye patch new?" Chris said with a cheery lilt to his voice as he took off sprinting as fast as he could. Didn't know I had it in me, Chris thought as Byron let loose a guttural roar. Thankfully, Byron actually was as slow as he looked and his hulking body just couldn't bowl other demons out of the way as fast as Chris' lithe frame could maneuver around them.
Reaching a particularly empty part the market place, Chris finally slowed down and put his hands on his knees to catch his breath before flipping his hood back up over his head. Damn it, Chris thought grimly, I guess if you want something done right, you just have to do it yourself. Chris had been sure that he had given the Satori clan enough information to take his former employer out. Byron was an upper level demon Chris had been trying to get the Charmed Ones to vanquish for months, unfortunately, their lives were still more important to them than their Wiccan duties, so he had been forced to resort to other measures. In the future he would have been able to take Byron out no sweat, but here he didn't want the Elder to catch onto some of his more…. interesting powers. Not to mention, as of late he was definitely not in top fighting form and probably wouldn't even be able to take out a Faerie Demon. So he had devised a way to take two, or three depending on how you looked at it, birds with one stone. Instead of going to the Charmed Ones for every upper level vanquish, he had decided to infiltrate demon ranks and play opposing factions off of each other. That way, the demons would be distracted and killing each other, he would have more time to figure out what got to Wyatt, and the sisters would have more time to do whatever it was they did. It had really worked like a charm until a few weeks ago. Now, it seemed like every demon he had used that trick with was still alive and just dying to get his hands on Chris. It wasn't too hard to figure out that he was the "demon" who had double-crossed them.
He would have to risk using a glamour to go the rest of the way. It would deplete his power stores and there was the risk that a demon would sense the good magic he had used to construct his identity, but it was the only option. He couldn't risk another run-in like the one he had just had with Byron. Even though he had just run away and hadn't actually fought the demon, the pounding in his head had reached jackhammer levels and he felt cold and shaky. It was the only option he had. Glamouring himself to look six inches taller and 200 lbs heavier than he actually was, Chris continued on his way to the potions master. He got a couple of strange looks from a few demons whom could probably sense the whitelighter magic he had used, but we was thankfully allowed to pass unmolested.
The potions master looked up, startled, as Chris walked in the door. He was one of the only tradesmen in the market who required the identity of his customers in order to do business. He figured that the more he knew, the safer he would be, since as well as dealing in potions, he dealt in information – he was one the payroll of a number of high powered demons who would have been very upset if their informant suddenly turned up dead. Frowning as he moved behind the shop's counter the little man said, "Show yourself. You know my rules." White lights surrounded Chris as he returned to his original form and the small man smile an evil smile.
"Ah, my good friend, Chris. What can I do for you today?" he asked as he moved to pick up a vile, "perhaps you need more Sent of Evil to mask that disgusting whitelighter smell? Maybe a few more vials of that Empath blocking potion you like so much. I can get you a special price this time since you're such a good customer."
Chris scoffed as he moved to examine the jars which lined the shelves of the cavern, "please, Dominic, I think you know me better than that. The potion you made to block Phoebe should last for years, if not decades. I'm not stupid enough to fall for your ploys and I'm surprised you would sell your work short like that. You, my good friend," said Chris, throwing the man's own words back at him, "are too much of an artist to make the potion at anything less that its full strength."
Laughing, Dominic said, "You are right Christopher. I am used to a lower class of customer here, unfortunately. So what can I do for you today?"
Chris grimaced slightly before turning around with a sly smile on his face. He would need to play this right or else he would be toast. Telling Dominic that his powers were on the fritz, even if the only ones that seemed to be misfiring were his psychic and not his offensive powers, was a sure-fire way to get himself killed. Although Dominic had stayed quiet so far about his relationship with Chris if he sensed any weakness he would probably turn on "his good friend". It had only been Chris' demonstration of his powers, ones he had yet to show the Charmed Ones, and a number of rare ingredients that had bought the demon's "loyalty". He would need to distract the demon in order to ensure he didn't ask too many questions. "Dominic, I'm looking for a very rare and … special potion. I'm not sure even one as great as you would be able to make it." Chris turned back to the potions lining the walls, but not before catching the glint of interest in the old man's eyes and the slight, dissatisfied frown on his face. Perfect, Chris thought, now I just have to reel him in.
"It's called the Ferikas Serum," Chris continued nonchalantly, as a picked up jar to examine in the light, "and I need it as soon as possible". He could almost hear Dominic's surprise at his words. The man really hadn't been expecting that.
"Chris, you trickster," Dominic burst out with a hearty guffaw, "you really had me going there. I actually thought you were going to ask me for something difficult! I can have that ready for you by next week."
Chris smiled at the old man, a glint in his eye. This was working perfectly. Normally the old man liked to know what he was making a potion for and many times he would even refuse if he didn't like what a demon was going to use his work for. Lying to this demon also wasn't a particularly good idea since he hailed from a demon clan whose sole power was in lie detection. One could almost say that for Dominic making potions was more of an artistic hobby of his and information was what he really dealt in. "Oh, you know me. Gotta keep things lively around here. The Underworld is so dark and depressing. You know, you could really use an interior decorator in here, Dominic, I'm sure you would get more customers if you put in some flowers or something. Maybe a nice area rug?"
Dominic scowled at Chris, "you are the only customer I have who would appreciate something like that. Now get out of here. You're stinking the whole place up with your damn whitelighter magic."
"See you next week then," Chris said, giving Dominic a smile and a wave as he orbed out of the underworld and back to the manor to check on the Charmed Ones.
Piper was just putting the finishing touches on dinner when she heard the sound of orbs in the sunroom. That has to be Leo brining Wyatt back, she thought with a smile, maybe I'll invite him to stay for dinner. With a smile on her face Piper walked into the sunroom only to have it fall off the instant she saw Chris.
"Nice to see you too, Piper," Chris snarked before turning to more serious topics. "Where's Wyatt. I'm having trouble sensing him"
Hands on her hips Piper took in her whitelighter's appearance. Frankly he looked terrible too pale, too thin, hair too long, eyes too tired. Normally she didn't really give his appetence a second thought, but his clothes were ripped and dirty, so she really had to take notice and what she saw didn't really make her happy. What is that boy doing to himself? And why do I feel so guilty that I didn't put a stop to it? Brushing off her confusion Piper continued with a tinge of anger in her voice, "what the heck happened to you, mister? You look awful."
"I was in the Underworld," Chris replied with a grimace as he looked down at his clothes, great. She just had to notice me today of all days. Better get out of here. Moving quickly towards the stairs Chris avoided his mother's probing eyes. He needed to check the Book before he went out again to quietly vanquish another demon anyways. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Piper's incredulous look in response to his admission, so he decided to go on the attack, "What! What is the problem with me being in the Underworld? If you won't vanquish demons like you're supposed to, I have to figure out a way to do it for you. One of those ways is to go to the Underworld. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but it's necessary. Or have you forgotten that there is a demon after Wyatt!" Turning quickly on his heel Chris ran up the stairs to the Book before she could reply. Hopefully that'll get her to think a little bit more about the threat to Wyatt and less about cookies… although I could really go for some of her peanut butter cookies right now… Shoot! Wyatt. Why can't I sense Wyatt!
Chris stopped in the middle of the stairs, looking back over his shoulder. He really didn't want to confront his mother again. Her accusations hurt too much. He was sure that she was about to accuse him of doing something unsavory and sneaky down in Demon Land. Which technically is what he had been doing, buying a potion to suppress your malfunctioning secret powers isn't really on the up and up, but her condemnation still hurt. Never-the-less he had to go back and to see about where Wyatt was. Intellectually Chris knew he really probably shouldn't be worried about it. Piper hadn't even answered the question, so she obviously knew where her son was which, Chris knew, was probably with Leo Up There, but he couldn't stop the flare of worry. Wyatt was his brother and the only person Chris had left, even if he was evil, and it was up to Chris to save him. He needed to know where his big brother was so he could get on with the business of saving him.
Sighing, Chris turned around to head back down the stairs. He was almost to the bottom of the steps when he saw Leo orb in with Wyatt. Instantly Chris felt better with little Wyatt in his sights. Leo had his back to him, but Wyatt was looking over his father's shoulder. He looks like a little angel, Chris thought as Wyatt's wide baby blues found Chris' green ones. The toddler's face lit up at the sight of Chris and he gurgled happily. Although his big brother hadn't been too sure about Chris when he had first come back to the past, he had warmed up considerably after Chris had saved him from that demonic cult. Chris could see where the kid could have gotten confused. Despite all of his good intentions, Chris hadn't quite worked through all his issues where his older brother was concerned. Although he still loved the older and much eviler version of Wyatt in the future, Chris was still scared of the man and had some mixed feelings. He could never hate his brother, but sometimes Chris didn't even feel like Lord Wyatt was related to him. Then, other times, the goofy, overprotective Wyatt Chris remembered growing up with came back and Chris found himself wondering if Lord Wyatt had ever even really existed. But, of course, one glance outside the window quickly cured him of that fantasy.
Assured of the safety of his older brother, Chris quietly turned around to go back up the stairs, hopeful that Leo wouldn't see that he had been there. Suddenly a scream split the air and the sound of breaking furniture reached his ears. Mom, Chris thought frantically before dashing orbing the sun room. Piper had been thrown into the glass table, but she looked fine. She was picking herself up with a murderous expression on her face.
"You did not just do that," Piper growled, before throwing out her hands and blowing up the demon who had tossed her into the table. " That'll show him," she said with a decisive nod of her head before sighing when three other demons came to take the place of the one she had just blown up. "Welcome to the party, boys! But I'm your friend just left. Why don't you join him?" And with that, she blew each of them up.
Chris smiled as he watched his mother fight. She was a great warrior now and she would become even better in a few years. Piper had a protective streak a mile wide, something she had passed on to her oldest child, and when it came to family there were no holds barred. It was a joy to watch his mother alive and in her natural element. After blowing up the last demon, Piper turned to see Chris standing in the doorway, tossing her hair behind her head she said "now what were you saying about me not vanquishing demons. I think I just took four off of your list for you." Chris smiled and went to give her a sarcastic reply when he noticed a disturbance in the air behind Piper, there were more demons shimmering in.
"Piper, look out," Chris called, diving to push his mother to the floor just as a huge fireball came towards them. That was close, Chris thought, a second later and that would have hit her and it would have left a lot more than a bad burn. Chris looked over at the demon that had thrown the monster fireball. It was looking at Chris as if he had just killed its entire family, oh well, just one more enemy to add to an already long list. Looking down at his mother Chris realized that he might have a bigger problem than the ugly demon in the corner. His mother was pissed, really pissed. Realizing that he was still on top of her, he scrambled to get off with the hope that her glare was not directed at him, but at the demon which had thrown the fireball. He had only tackled her to get out of the way. They stared at each other for a long second before Piper seemed to realize that they were still out in the open and she dragged Chris behind a nearby couch.
"Chris," Piper said, menace in her voice. Crap, crap, crap. She is mad, Chris thought franticly. "Could you go get Paige and Phoebe? I think we might need them. Those are the same demons I just blew up. Not at me, Chris thought in relief.
"You got it, Piper. Paige and Phoebe, coming right up," Chris said as he orbed out.
Piper turned her attention back to the group of demons in her sun room, concentrating much more than she had previously. When they had first shimmered in she hadn't really given them much thought. They looked like low level minions and they had made such pretty colors when she had blown them up. The fact that Chris, neurotic, powerless Chris, had had to save her was annoying to say the least. She didn't need anyone to save her or her family, least of all an insane whitelighter from the future. That was the problem; that she had needed saving. Not that the fireball that had almost toasted her had only missed Chris by a fraction of an inch. That was definitely not the problem here. Gritting her teeth Piper started to blow up the demons one by one. She only needed to keep them occupied until Chris brought her sisters. They would vanquish the demons and then have a nice family dinner. Like normal people.
A second later Piper heard Chris orb in with Paige and Phoebe in tow. "Okay, then. What have we got here?" Paige asked
"Demons," Chris responded, sarcasm lacing the word
Rolling her eyes at her whitelighter, Paige turned to her oldest sister, "Piper?"
"They won't stay gone when I blow em' up. I think we just need a little sister power to take care of them," Piper responded.
"Okay then," Phoebe chirped, as she ducked to avoid a fireball, "let's get this show on the road! Um, which spell do we want to use?"
"I vote for the Treblanes Spell, I really like that one," Paige yelled over the din of fireballs and demon battle cries, "it's short and sweet."
"Okay," Piper said, reaching for her sisters' hands, "The Treblanes Spell it is then"
Demons, now, hear my cry
I send you to the other side
Your spirit dead
Your body bled
A great explosion rocked the house as all of the demons blew up at once, each one going up in flames of different colors. The sisters smirked as they looked at each other. "Such a great spell," Paige mused, "we should use it more often."
Piper gave a decisive nod one thing finished just… 10,000 more to go, "okay gang, I have dinner almost on the table. Go wash up and we can eat. I made lasagna", she said with a cheery lilt to her voice.
"Yay!" Phoebe cried, "my favorite!" and with that she bounded up the steps to get out of her work clothes.
Piper smiling at her sisters antics turned to Chris, who was looking, surprisingly, somewhat sad and less surprisingly extremely tired. "Chris," she started before being cut off by the young man in question.
"Don't worry, Piper" he said with a tight smile, "I'll be out of your hair in no time. I just have to check something in the Book and then I'll be on my way". He turned around and was half-way up the stairs before Piper found her voice.
"That's not what I was going to say, Chris". The boy stopped and turned around, his eyes wary as he waited to hear what she was going to say. Were they really that bad to him? He was looking at her as if he expected her to attack him and rip his heart out at any moment. Strange kid. "I was going to ask if you wanted to stay for dinner?"
Chris' reaction was almost instantaneous. He let out a choking gasp and his already pale face seemed to whiten even further. Piper watched his reaction with confusion. It was a normal question, especially from her since she loved to feed people. Despite the fact that she wasn't particularly fond of Chris, he had eaten with them before… hadn't he? Looking back, she couldn't remember a single time when he had stayed for dinner. He was never there when they ate. It was kind of odd actually, you would think with all the time he spent at the Manor pestering them about demons, he would have been over at least once during dinner time. Chris' hesitant voice brought her out of her reverie, "maybe some other time, Piper", he said, "I have a lot of work to do and I'm not really feeling well so I don't want to make you guys sick."
Piper frowned, now that she had realized that her whitelighter had never eaten dinner with them, he was not getting out of it so easily. Besides, if he was sick that was all the more reason he should stay to eat her cooking. He was looking a bit on the scrawny side. "Well, then you better conserve your strength. A good meal will help."
B-but, Piper, I—" his mother's glare stopped him in his tracks. There was no way he was getting out of this one. Once his mother set her mind there was no changing it. When Chris had been six years old Piper had heard a news story about how playing the piano increases brain activity and encourages the imagination. He and Wyatt had been at piano teacher's house the next day for lessons. Chris gulped and dragged up a smile, "okay, Piper, I'll just go wash up then."
"There are some spare clothes you can change into in my room. Closet on the left," Piper said, eyeing the Underworld grime covering the clothes Chris had on.
"Uh… Thanks, Piper," Chris said with a grimace as he contemplated wearing his father's old clothes. This was not going to be a fun night for him he thought with a sigh before dragging his feet up the stairs
Deep in the Underworld, a giant of a man appeared in a column of fire, murder in his eyes. He was a demon of well over seven feet with black hair even darker eyes. He had blood streaming down the side of his face and he was missing an arm, which even as he began pacing around elegant room he had appeared in, began to regenerate itself. He gave out a guttural roar as some of his followers appeared around him, all casting fearful glances at their Lord and Master. "Those damn witches," he grumbled, "Will pay for this and all their previous transgressions against us. They will be destroyed. Next time we will bring more reinforcements. Twenty or thirty more demons should do the trick nicely."
"Lord Vikron," murmured a nearby demon, "if I may make a suggestion?"
Vikron stopped his pacing and turned to look at the demon who had spoken, ready to destroy him where he stood. Farzan. One of his most trusted advisors and the only demon who could have interrupted him at that moment and kept his head. Even Vikron's own brother would have not gotten off without a painful warning.
Although he had few powers and, for a demon, was physically very weak, Farzan's mind was razor sharp had he had worked his way up his clan's hierarchy to become Vikron's right hand man. He was trickster and most demons felt unthreatened by him – at least they felt safe until the reaper said hello and they realized they were dead. Vikron nodded, and tilted his head in anticipation. Whatever Farzon had to say was worth listening to.
Farzon smiled slightly before beginning, "My Lord, we know that the Charmed One's power comes from their bond as sisters. We also know that many before us have tried to break them up in order to destroy them. This has and will fail every time. However, there is another way to weaken them before we strike the killing blow. The whitelighter." Farzon looked up at his Lord and saw that he had aroused the demon's interest. "A witch's whitelighter is a very important part of her ability to be effective. He is her source of information, healing, and encouragement. And, of course, you saw the way the whitelighter today saved the eldest, Piper, from your attack."
Vikron smiled then, slow and menacing, "I hate whitelighters," he growled, "let's go find him."
Author Notes: I know there didn't seem to be much forward momentum in the plot, but I didn't want to let this chapter get too long. I'm planning to put in some more action next chapter and hopefully I'll get that one up in the near future. Let me know what you think about the story so far! Review, pretty please!