Welcome to Chp.5. Oh yeah, I don't own anything yadda yadda yadda.
About two weeks have passed. In these two weeks they haven't had any attacks thanks to Cole's quick thinking. Chris has been working with Alyssa to try and write a spell that might be helpful but no luck. Cole is coming and going because technically, all of the demons want him dead too. Spike and Celice are working on their fighting techniques as well as control of her power. A surprise is in store for Alyssa that just might turn the tables.
"Okay, does it really have to rhyme? Do I look like fucking Shakespeare?" Alyssa and Chris were standing in the attic surrounded by crumpled sheets of paper and empty potion bottles. "Alyssa, please try and focus. It's supposed to rhyme but I'm not sure it has to. Where's Aunt Phoebe when you need her?" "Chris, I know you're feeling very unconfident right now but I don't think wishing for a dead lady" Chris shot a look at her. "sorry, you're aunt to come back is really gonna help here." He brushed it off because he knew she didn't mean anything by it. It's not like Phoebe was her muse. Then an idea came to mind. "You know, wishing for that dead lady just might help." "What?" Chris flipped through the book and found the spell his mom and aunts used to contact his great grandmother all of the time. "Come on, I need your help. I'm not sure how much power is really needed." They set up everything and chanted. They saw glimmering white lights appear and then Chris' lost Aunt appear. Alyssa stared for a minute. She couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked all glowy. Due to her own past experiences she still thought witches should be ugly and defiantly not angelic. "Aunt Phoebe!! God I've missed you." "I've missed you too sweetie. Sorry I can't hug you." "No big deal. We need your help." "Hey, just wait. Who's your friend here?" "I'm Alyssa." "Very nice. I like her Chris. She's much prettier than that other bitch. At least she has less of a chance in trying to kill you." Alyssa blushed a little. She had to admit she was a little star struck having a charmed one talking to her. "Okay, now you can ask me for help." Alyssa and Chris chuckled. He was so happy to see his aunt. She had always stood by him and always treated him like he was twice blessed too. While everyone in the magical realm fondled over Wyatt, she and his grandpa were there whenever he needed. "Alyssa and her friend Celice are in big trouble. They are being chased by every demon the source commands which is pretty much every demon, except Cole, of course." Phoebe just looked at her nephew. She didn't know how to help him. He needed her and for the first time she was just as lost as he was. "Chris, I don't know what to do. You know I've tried this before." "Yes, but now there are two different witches with different view points and you have got more experience."
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs and what sounded like pleading. Spike walked in with Celice not far behind. "Chris, we're going out. We're going to... who's that?" "Spike, Celice, meet my Aunt Phoebe." "Hi. Your name is Spike?" "Well, when I was a lad my name was William but now I'm just Spike." Celice snorted. "William?! You mean the 'big bad' is a William. Wow, that's just, great. Really it's great." They all looked at Celice. Apparently they didn't get it. "You never told them that you were the 'big bad'?" Spike looked at her and the other three registered the William vs. the 'big bad'. Chris couldn't help but laugh. "You don't look like a William. I see you more like a Billy or George." "Well you're one to talk 'Christopher'." "Hey, hey, hey. That's my nephew. I like his name." Phoebe crossed her arms and giggled. Chris had found some interesting friends after her passing. She wished she could still be here with him though. Celice grabbed the opportunity to protest Spike some more in hopes the others would agree that this was a bad idea. "Spike, we're not really going are we? That would be bad, very bad and look, we have company." She gestured to Phoebe. "Oh no, don't bring me in this. I was summoned and I can't stay. Whatever issues your two have stay downstairs." Chris and Alyssa looked confused. "Um, Spike, where are you trying to go exactly?" "He is trying to make me go to karaoke." She crossed her arms and pouted slightly resembling a child that didn't want to eat their broccoli. Alyssa thought that was a bad idea too. "Spike that could be dangerous. Are you leaving out the whole 'siren' part? Humans and sirens don't mix." "We've been working on it and this is a test. I say she's got it now but there's only one way to tell." Phoebe shook her head at this revelation. "Wait, one of your friends is a siren? Chris that's bad. Sirens are evil and kill people a lot." "See, that makes this a bad idea." Chris had to agree with Celice. If she didn't have confidence that she could control the power, putting her in a room with a bunch of guys and a mic wouldn't be smart. Phoebe was still trying to get that a siren was on the good guy's team. She remembered the last one she met. "I actually think it might be a good idea." Celice gave Alyssa a pleading look. "I'm just saying that if Spike thinks you can handle it this would be good for you. All of the people would help to keep you focused on suppressing your inner siren." Cole had shimmered into the hallway and been listening. He didn't want to go in as long a phoebe was in the room. He still couldn't think about the fact that she was gone and he'd never get her back. He missed her more than anything. He continued listening in on the conversation. He did agree that Celice needed to get that power under control. He didn't want to be the victim of it again.
"I don't think we should go. I don't think I've got it under control. I think we should practice some more." "That's pointless and you know it. I'm immune and neither Chris nor Cole will be test dummy's." "Come on Celice, I'm your best friend and I think you should do it." "Yeah, right. You're on his side." Chris saw Spike's point. There was no other way to tell. Besides, if it didn't work Spike would do something before it got out of hand. "I'm with the Celice. I think you should do it." "Fine but you all have to come." "Sorry, Alyssa and I are busy here. What with the spell, and Aunt Phoebe coming to visit." "Hey, I said leave me out of this. It is true though. I can't stay much longer." "See." Celice looked defeated. She turned from the glowing figure to Chris to Alyssa and then to Spike. "Fine. I'll go and change." She turned and walked out. She really didn't think she could do this but she was gonna try. "Yes! Now this is gonna be fun. Drinking, singing, risk of having to save a bunch of people." Spike smiled at the thought of sitting with a double in his left hand and a cigarette in the right. Alyssa excused herself and went to Celice's room.
Phoebe, Chris and Spike stood silent for a minute. "Chris, I think you like Alyssa." Spike shook his head in surprise and Chris looked more shocked that he did. 'How did she know? Oh yeah, empathy moron, but she's dead. Can you be empath and dead?' "Why would you think I like Alyssa any more than a friend?" "I never said that but you just did. There, that proves it." "Gotta go with her logic on this one mate. You walked right into it. Well, I'm off. Got to take Celice to her final exam. I feel, I feel, like a mentor. You know?" "Spike, let me assure you, you are not a mentor." Spike shrugged and walked out. Phoebe gave Chris that all knowing look she use to give him when she knew he had a puppy dog crush on someone in high school. "Don't look at me like that. I see Alyssa as a friend and that's it. I barely know her. "oh sweetie, I of all people understand that you don't have to know everything about someone to care about them. Besides, I think she likes you too," she added in her famous cutesy voice. "Really? I mean, no she doesn't. She can't like me because I don't like her." "Of course you don't. Now, about that spell, try not to think about it so much. Just let it come to you. I have to get going. I wish I could stay but you know the rules. I love you. If something comes to me I'll send you a sign." She disappeared into the same lights she arrived in. Alyssa walked in as she left.
"Hey Chris we need… you okay?" He had his head hung and his eyes closed. Though he knew his aunt was gone, seeing her again brought back a little of the pain he felt when she had died. "Yeah, I'm fine. Still kinda hard, you know." "I know. Well, come on, we need your opinion down here. Spike and I say good, Cole is iffy and Celice says iffy doesn't count as a vote so you have to come and be the decider." "But you and Spike make two. In democracy two vs. one wins." "Just come on." She held out her hand for him and gave him a smile. He looked at her and smiled back. Maybe phoebe was on to something. He took her hand and they went down to Celice's room. Celice was wearing something he thought only an evil Bianca would have put on. Maroon leather pants that fit in all of the right places, black leather stiletto boots with a rounded toe, a coal black halter that came to a "V" at the front to show her navel ring and just enough cleavage. Her hair was done in a low braid and her make-up screamed seductress from the heavy eye-liner to the lipstick that was almost a perfect match to her pants. "I thought the object of this was to not turn on any guys tonight." Chris leaned against the door with his arms crossed over his chest. "That's what I said but Alyssa thinks I should bring out my inner demon to help my confidence." Spike was in his usual attire- black duster, maroon top shirt, tight black under shirt, black pants, and black boots. For some reason his hair looked extra blonde this evening. "Alyssa and I are on the same page. This will help with confidence." Cole was standing opposite spike and looking at celice with a raised brow. "This could go either way. For me it's just different. I'm so used to the tank top and blue jeans that this seems wrong." Alyssa scowled at him a bit. "Look, I know it's different for you three but not for Celice. This was in her closet." "I bought it for Halloween on year!!!" Celice crossed her arms and frowned again. "How did you talk me into this again?" Alyssa whispered in her ear and got a long 'Oh' in response. "Don't worry Celice because one day you get to play dress up with me." Chris couldn't help himself, "and what a glorious day that will be." Alyssa hit him in the arm playfully.
After a couple more minutes of convincing Celice she and Spike headed off to the club. Cole sat with Chris and Alyssa in the living room. "Anything on that spell yet?" Alyssa sighed. "No, just a bunch of dead ends and one that could have been viewed as personal gain." "Technically the idea is personal gain but I suppose if Chris does it for you and you're only on the receiving end it won't count." Chris was trying to understand what his aunt meant by not thinking about it so much. How could he not? Alyssa and Celice were counting on him. "Well, you two keep working on it. I know an oracle that might be of service. I'm gonna go see what I can find." Chris and Alyssa waved bye and sat in silence as he shimmered out. "I'm gonna go sit in the sunroom. Maybe this writer's block will ease if I sit and relax for a minute." Chris nodded in agreement and watched her walk out.
This is gonna get a little confusing so I'm gonna explain before hand. We're gonna jump between Celice and her performance and Alyssa and Chris at the manor. If you can picture it, the song she's singing carries over with the scenes that are playing out at the manor. You must pay attention and think a little for it to have to right effect.
How could this be so hard? She didn't understand why for the first time in her life she had stage fright. Celice looked across the small round table at Spike. He was so calm and relaxed. Of course his rendition of "Out of My Way" had been awesome and he seemed meant for that song. She was still unsure of her own choice. She asked Spike for his opinion and he just said think of one that fits. The way things had been lately, her choice seemed appropriate. The announcer walked up to the mic as the last measures of "I'm Too Sexy" rang from the speakers. For a drunken man it wasn't too bad. "Our next singer is a young lady named Celice with her song choice 'Where do I Belong by Anastacia." The crowd clapped as she reluctantly walked up to the stage. Spike sat up on his stool to watch. A few cat calls could be heard as she passed tables of bachelors. She stepped up and took the mic. The intro music began to play.
Alyssa leaned against the wall near the door to the sunroom. It was a quiet night. She could hear the muffled sounds of crickets and the distant whirr as cars drove by on the desolate street out front.
Celice closed her eyes and let go of all of her feelings.
Alyssa put her face in her hands and tried to clear her head.
Life doesn't promise a bed of roses or white knights.
Fields of emotions I'm trapped in darkness,
Why me? Save me.
Alyssa felt someone watching her. She looked up to see the one warlock she never wanted to face again. The one that had cursed her those two hundred years ago. The reason she was a witch.
To win this twisted war inside me won't, justify the pain
Life doesn't promise a bed of roses..
She slowly took a step from the wall. She could see the evil in his eyes. The evil that had plagued her dreams for two centuries. "Imagine what the entire underworld when I return with the head of the one they've all fought so hard to kill. When I heard they were after a witch that threw energy balls I didn't believe it. Then I remember you. The once so sweet and innocent Alyssa. Turned into a witch against her own will. Almost burned at the stake by her own family." She flashed back to his curse. He had cursed her a witch because she was always so against them. This turned him into a warlock. "Why did you think you could take me out?" "Who better than the very one that created you my dear?" She held an energy ball behind her back. As they circled each other almost in a tango, she threw it barley missing his shoulder. He grinned.
Lightning strikes, the pages keep on turning
Help me to be strong.
He threw her across the room with a mere wave of his hand
I'm floating in a sea of strange believers,
Where do I belong?
He lurched for her and missed by a hair as she levitated off of the floor and kicked him in the chest into the shelf behind her.
They paint you a picture of perfect nowhere,
Blue skies.
He lept to his feet and stared at her. "I see you've gotten strong over the years. That will make this all the more a victory."
Within every lie there's a web of comfort,
For them, not me.
"You burn before I die." Alyssa hissed.
To win this twisted war inside me
Won't justify the pain,
He glared at her with true hate burning in his eyes. "You're finally going to get what you deserve witch!"
They paint you a picture of perfect nowhere,
They lunged at each other with every intent of killing.
Spike leaned forward, mezmorized by every word Celice sang.
I said now,
Lightening strikes, the pages keep on turning
Help me to be strong
I'm floating in a sea of strange believers
Where do I belong?
They fell to the floor. The warlock was grinning on top of Alyssa as he strangled her. The room began to spin in her eyes.
Where do we go from here?
I wish I would disappear
I'm a lonely soul
So far from home.
He pulled an atheme from his coat with his spare hand and thrust it towards her heart.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
She caught his hand as it came down to millimeters from her skin and threw him over her head with both feet. She ran at him while he was on the floor and began to let out all of her anger, guilt, and hate by punching him in the face
Lightening strikes, the pages keep on turning
Help me, help me,
I'm floating in a sea of strange believers
Where do I belong?
She took the atheme he had drawn on her and ran it through his heart. As he went into flames she stepped back and watched. When he was gone, Chris ran in as she fell to her knees still holding the blade.
Where do I belong?