Chosen Chapter 11: House Party
Part 5
Xxx
Arthur did not know what to say as he looked at the man sitting across from him. Ambrose, his father, the man he had wondered about his entire life. He remembered fantasizing about this very moment when he was a kid. He got up and walked to the window to collect his thoughts. Nothing about this felt like how he had expected it would. He had always thought that he would be happy to learn the truth, but now he wasn't sure. Ambrose might be his father, but this was not some emotional family reunion. There was far more going on and Arthur did not trust him at all. Ambrose was planning something, and he had been willing to kill for it already.
"You must have a million questions." Ambrose said.
"Even more, I think." Arthur replied distantly. "But I wouldn't know where to start."
"That is understandable." Ambrose said. "I guess nothing about this is as you had imagined it. One day you're alone, and now you have an entire family."
"A family?" Arthur asked with a frown. "I don't know you. Family is more than just blood."
"I know, and I want the chance to get to know you." Ambrose replied. "All my children."
"And how many do you have exactly?" Arthur asked angrily. "How many women did you seduce and abandon like my mother?"
"I admit, there were more than a few." Ambrose replied. "But it was all for a purpose."
"What purpose?" Arthur asked.
"The chance to start over." Ambrose replied. "The chance to bring back our kind. To build not just a family, but a new legacy. I don't want any of my children to feel alone, I want them to have other people like them. Other Wizards."
"Why?" Arthur asked.
"To correct a great injustice. Our kind was hunted and slaughtered." Ambrose replied. "Wizards were the most powerful and advanced race there was. We owned the world. I want to restore that honor and glory. But I knew I could not do it alone."
"So you decided to breed yourself a new Wizard race?" Arthur asked disgusted. "That is just wrong."
"Not breed. Create and nurture. Like a real father." Ambrose replied. "I want you to know your true heritage and be proud of it."
"Then where were you my entire life?" Arthur asked. "Why not teach me then instead of now?"
"I still have enemies out there, Arthur." Ambrose admitted. "I feared for the safety of my children if I stayed in one place for too long."
"So you decided to spread your risks." Arthur concluded. "Built yourself a little safety net so you had some extra children in case a few got killed? You're insane."
A dark look appeared in Ambrose's his eyes and his smile turning into a grimace. Arthur realized that he was not the type of person to just tolerate criticism. He was not used to being argued with and clearly could not handle it. Ambrose noticed his concern and quickly put on his charming smile again. It seemed he did not want to expose his true self yet, though Arthur had already seen enough. Ambrose was dangerous and determined to get his way.
"I can see how all of this might seem confusing to you." Ambrose said with a fake smile. "Though I assure you that you will understand in time."
"What are you planning?" Arthur asked.
"I will tell you when you're ready." Ambrose replied. "Now it's too soon. I want to get to know you better first. As a son."
"Well, I want answers." Arthur replied carefully. "I need to know what I am dealing with."
"Always the scholar." Ambrose said. "I always knew you were a bright one. I was so proud when I learned you were studying our history. That is why you are important."
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked.
"You will play an important part in rebuilding our world." Ambrose said. "You studied our culture and history and you will help bring that knowledge to others. Isn't that why you became a professor in the first place?"
"You keep talking about preserving and rebuilding, but how can I trust you?" Arthur asked. "You killed the Tribunal."
"I only did what was necessary." Ambrose replied. "They would oppose me if they knew my plans. Now they serve as a warning for others."
"And what if others get in your way?" Arthur asked. "The Elders, the Charmed Ones, the Chosen. Would you destroy them as well?"
"You're worried about her." Ambrose noted with a smile. "Violet."
"Of course." Arthur replied.
"As long as they don't get in my way, they will not be harmed." Ambrose said. "Soon there will come a time where everyone will have to make a choice. Some will make the right choice, others will not. If you truly love her, you will make sure she is on the right side."
"That sounds like an ultimatum." Arthur noted.
"That's because it is." Ambrose replied. "As I said before, the Wizards have been ignored long enough. Our kind was almost forgotten, and I will make the world remember."
"At what price?" Arthur asked.
"Whatever price is needed." Ambrose admitted.
"I studied the ancient Wizards. They were peaceful and good." Arthur said. "You're talking about tyranny. That was never our culture."
"And that is what got them killed." Ambrose replied angrily as he rose from his chair. "I warned them. They underestimated the Source and it led them to their deaths. I will not make the same mistake again. I will destroy anything that stands in my way."
"I can't be a part of this." Arthur replied. "I am leaving."
"I'm afraid I cannot let you leave like this." Ambrose said.
"Are you going to kill me?" Arthur asked nervously.
"I could never kill my own child." Ambrose replied. "It seems I just need to work harder to convince you."
"That is never going to happen." Arthur replied.
Arthur turned around and ran further into the library. He tried to teleport, but something was preventing him from leaving. Instead, he waited until he was out of sight behind a row of bookcases and cast an illusion around himself to make him invisible. He remained silent and noticed Ambrose walking through the library.
"In case you're wondering, I cast an anti-teleportation spell around the mansion." Ambrose called out. "I figured you would take some persuasion."
When Ambrose walked past him, Arthur ran the opposite direction. When he entered the hall, he saw Bryant standing guard by the front door. The Staff of Magnus was still in the office. It was too important to leave behind. Arthur headed back to the office. He entered it and headed to the glass case with the staff. However, when he tried to reach for it, his hand passed through it. That meant the staff was an illusion. It had never been there.
"Surprised?" Ambrose asked as he entered the office, followed by Bryant. "Illusions are tricky things. And when you mastered them, it becomes easy to see through them."
"You can see me?" Arthur asked shocked.
"Of course." Ambrose replied as he waved his hand, causing the illusion of invisibility around Arthur to disappear. "You still have a lot to learn. But at least you inherited the power."
"I don't need illusions." Bryant remarked somewhat annoyed.
"What are you going to do to me?" Arthur asked.
"I want you to join us, Arthur." Ambrose replied. "I want us to be a family, but I am not going to force you. However, I cannot let you leave like this either."
Arthur took a step back and suddenly felt someone place a hand on his shoulder. He looked around and saw Harper. She smiled as her fingers sparkled with electricity and he felt a bolt of lightning surge through him. He screamed out in pain and fell to his knees.
"Sorry, big brother." Harper replied. "The first time is always the most painful. But father is right, we cannot have you betray us."
"Don't worry, this won't hurt." Ambrose said.
Ambrose walked over and placed his hands on both sides of Arthur's face. He tried to struggle, but his body was still numb due to the electrocution. He wished he had never agreed to come here. These people were insane. Ambrose closed his eyes and his hands started to glow in a pale blue light. Arthur felt his presence entering his mind and then everything went dark.
Xxx
Duncan looked at the floor with a shocked expression. Just a moment ago, he had watched his boyfriend and brother disappear in a vortex of shadows. Now the floor was just a floor, like nothing had ever happened there. They were just gone without a trace. He vaguely heard something call out his name, but everything felt a bit dazed. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain on his cheek. He looked up and saw Billie standing in front of him with her hand raised.
"Ouch." Duncan said as he felt his cheek.
"Sorry, but you needed to snap out of it." Billie replied. "We need your help to deal with this."
"They're gone." Duncan said.
"Yeah, but they're not dead yet, remember?" Billie replied. "We can still get all of them back if we vanquish the demon."
"Right." Duncan said as he finally snapped out of it. "The demon, Valefar."
Billie nodded and walked into the living room. Duncan followed her and joined up with the others. The group was getting pretty small now, with only five of them left.
"Are you okay?" Violet asked concerned.
"I'm fine." Duncan replied. "Let's just find a way to destroy this thing."
"How?" Billie asked. "The demon is intangible and can appear wherever he chooses. Not to mention he can hear and see everything we do."
"Paige and I came up with a solution for that." Violet said as he reached for a piece of paper lying on the table. She cleared her throat and started to chant a spell.
"When words are safe no more, we witches let our thoughts soar,
Open our minds to words unspoken, so this evil trap can be broken."
As the spell was cast, Duncan felt himself become light-headed for a moment. When the dizziness faded, he suddenly became aware of the presence of others in his mind.
"Did it work?" Violet's voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
"Vi? What did you do?" Billie sounded surprised.
"It is a spell to allow us to communicate telepathically." Paige replied. "We figured since the demon can hear and see everything, we needed a way to discuss a plan."
"Wow, this is completely bizarre." Tyler noted nervously. "Wait, you can't hear all my secrets thoughts or anything, right?"
"Only what you want us to hear." Violet replied. "But just to be sure, let's all just stay focused."
"Right. Just because we can communicate, doesn't mean we can beat the demon." Billie said. "He is still intangible."
"Not always." Duncan noted as he remembered something. "Back in the alley, I was able to hit him with a Bursting Ball. And you hit him with your athame."
"So he is not always intangible." Billie replied. "Only when he wants to be. Which means we have to catch him off guard."
"Wait a minute." Paige said. "You hit him with your athame? Does that mean you have his blood?"
"Oh my God, I can't believe I didn't think of that." Billie replied.
"What? Am I missing something?" Tyler asked confused.
"The blood of an upper-level demon can be used for vanquishing spells and potions." Duncan explained. "It makes them vulnerable."
"If the blood is on the athame, we can cast a spell on it so it will destroy the demon." Paige said. "Where is it?"
"I think it's upstairs in my bedroom." Billie replied. "I will go get it."
"No, we all go. We shouldn't split up again." Violet said.
The others nodded and they headed for the stairs with Billie at the front and Paige in the back. Suddenly another vortex opened at the bottom of the stairs, cutting Paige off from the others. As the vortex began to pull at them, everyone grabbed onto something. Duncan saw Paige was stuck, though he could not reach her. A shadow formed on the wall and Valefar appeared.
"Think I don't know what you're doing?" Valefar asked. "Your spell may allow you to speak in silence, but you still cannot defeat me."
Tyler raised his hand and sent a stream of fire at the demon, though he simply turned into shadows and it passed through him.
"Paige, take my hand." Duncan said as he reached out of her.
"Go ahead." Paige called out. "You know what to do. Don't worry about me."
"We're not leaving you!" Billie replied.
"How noble." Valefar remarked. "But pointless. It doesn't matter, soon you will all be trapped in the void. I will feed on your suffering until there is nothing left of you."
"You talk too much." Duncan replied as he threw Bursting Ball, though the demon simply evaded it.
"I am getting tired of this." Valefar said in an annoyed tone. "Playtime is over."
Valefar smiled and his eyes turned pitch black, while his face became pale blue and skeletal. He spread his arms and the vortex began to grow as he disappeared into it. A strong wind blew through the house and everything started to shake. Glasses and ornaments were ripped from the tables and picture frames flew off the wall. Paige screamed as a chair moved in her direction and crashed into her. She was unable to hold on and disappeared into the vortex.
"Paige!" Tyler yelled in a panic.
"Keep going!" Billie yelled back as she began climbing further up the stairs.
While the others began climbing up against the strong pull, Duncan looked down and saw that even the wooden floor began to unravel and disappear. He followed the others before the destruction reached him. In front of him, Violet slipped and fell, though he managed to grab onto her. The vortex began destroying the stairs. Billie and Tyler reached the top of the stairs and looked back.
"Get the athame!" Duncan said.
"Not without you." Billie replied.
Billie held out her hand and closed her eyes. Suddenly Duncan felt a strong force starting to counter the pull of the vortex and he realized Billie was throwing her own telekinetic power against it. He and Violet got up and ran upstairs.
"It's too strong!" Billie admitted. "I can't move. It's taking all my strength to hold it back."
"I got an idea." Duncan said as he held out his hands and conjured a rope. He kneeled down and started tying it around her waist. "Once we're in the bedroom, you give one last push and we'll pull you in."
"Okay." Billie replied.
Duncan and the others ran into the bedroom and Duncan tied the other end of the rope around the bed. While Violet stood by the door, Tyler and Duncan held onto the rope. He told Tyler to pull on his command and Violet to close the door once Billie was inside.
"Okay, Billie, now!" Duncan yelled.
Billie screamed as she gave one final push that sent out a powerful shockwave across the house. Duncan and Tyler started pulling while the full force of the vortex returned. When they managed to pull Billie into the bedroom, Violet quickly closed the door. When it began trembling, Duncan realized they had only bought themselves a moment. Soon the entire house would be sucked into the void.
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