CHAPTER SIX

Paige later told me that meanwhile, Richard had come over, trying to make up with her, but she'd just about had it and threw down the gauntlet: "I'm sorry, Richard--it's me or magic--you choose!"

He looked at her in shock. "You can't give me that kind of choice."

She shrugged. "I just did. And you better decide fast, because I got a sister to save."

That got him mad. "You wanna talk about dependencies! Why are you always running off to your sisters when things get hot?"

Just then a crash from the conservatory drew her attention, and she told him to wait for her before she ran in that direction.

Meanwhile, still stuck in my bottle, I could hear that loud crash and suddenly I got very dizzy as my master must've dropped my bottle and it began rolling. Suddenly I heard my master cry out, "Paige! Find the bottle! Phoebe's inside!"

But before she could summon my bottle, someone or something must've gone after her, because I heard her orb out, then orb back, and I was going nuts, not knowing what was happening and unable to do anything about it! Suddenly I heard Paige summon, "Sword!" and I heard the swish of a vanquish. Then I heard her cry, "Chris!" and I went even more nuts. What would happen to me if something happened to my master??

Suddenly I heard the noise of an orb. Paige? Then I heard the sound of whoever orbed being TKed. What?! Chris TKed Paige?? But next Paige cried out, "Crystals….Circle!" And after the sound of stuff orbing, she cried out, ""Got her!" Her?? Got who?!

Omigod, it suddenly hit me! That wasn't an orb; that was a shimmer!! They got her! They got Jinny! We can get Richard's father to take over her body and I'm free! But why wasn't Chris commanding me to come out of the bottle?

Then I heard Chris ask "Where's the bottle?" What? Chris no longer had the bottle? But who did?

Well, I could hear them searching, but my bottle must've rolled under something, because I heard Chris admit, "I can't find it." OH, NO! Why didn't Paige simply call my bottle to her??!! Why was my so-intelligent sister sometimes SO DUMB??

While I sat in my bottle, shaking, wondering what was going to happen next, I heard Jinny ask "You think these crystals can hold me?"

"No, not for long," Paige admitted. "That's why we're putting you back in your bottle."

Jinny growled. "When I form my empire, the first thing I am going to do is rid the world of witches."

"Yeah?" Paige asked, and I could almost hear her eyes roll. "When you're back in the bottle, first thing I'm going to do is throw it in the microwave. What do you think of that?" and now I was cheering for my sister. "Catch that, Chris," Paige's voice continued, just as bored. "Jinny thinks she can scare me." Chris didn't respond and then she asked, "They're still not awake? Try smelling salts," and I realized that he must've walked over to his still-sleeping parents.

In typical sarcastic manner, Chris replied, "Won't work; trust me."

"Why not?" Paige wanted to know. "What happened to them?"

Chris gave one of his typical non-answers: "Long story."

"Well, we're fresh out of time, so give me the Cliff Notes." But he must've given her one of those looks, because she cajoled, "C'mon, Chris, you and Leo and Phoebe were all acting weird before that demon attacked. What's going on?"

And he actually admitted, "I made a little wish. Two little wishes."

"You did what??" she cried. "It's not like I don't have enough problems with Richard, now I gotta worry about you getting your magical rocks off? What'd you wish?"

And to my surprise, he told her the truth, and I had a little glimpse into the sort of relationship they must've had in the future, and I couldn't stop the twinge of jealousy. "That Leo would forgive me--that one was an accident."

"And the other?"

No way he was going to tell her that one! But he did! "That Piper and Leo would sleep together."

And Paige lost it. "Oh, you are one sick, dirty--sick-o! Were you a registered sex offender in the future? Is that why you left?"

My heart ached for him, and I could tell that Chris had finally had enough, too, because for the first time, he actually admitted the truth without being forced. "No…I'm Piper and Leo's son."

But Paige must've been too angry and didn't catch on, "Because that is the most perverted thing I ever…" Suddenly it must've finally registered. "What'd you just say?"

He muttered. "They're my Mom and Dad. I came back to save my family."

There was a pause, and I could imagine her shock. After all the times he'd lied to us, I was sure she was also having serious problems believing him. But maybe her whitelighter sense kicked in, because finally she cried out in awe, "You're serious."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Only now I gotta save myself, because if Mom doesn't get pregnant this month, there is no me."

I heard a plop and knew Paige had flopped down in a chair, and I didn't blame her one bit--that really was a lot to take in all at once. "This has been a long day. Who else knows?"

"About me?" he asked. "Just Phoebe."

"I'm too exhausted to be pissed right now. Stay here; watch Jinny. I'll make the power-stripping potion."

"What! You're going to strip my powers?! Now that you know who I am?" and there was both hurt and disbelief in his voice. "Why?"

Again I could actually hear her roll her eyes. "No, not you. Richard. Richard's crazy right now, crazier than you. I need to strip his powers."

"How's that going to help?"

"He's corrupted by the magic in his system. If we can strip him of it, maybe he can help."

Suddenly I felt my bottle being lifted. YAY! They finally found me! Now they'd let me out and…

Suddenly I heard Paige's stunned voice. "Richard??"

WHAT???!! That magic addict who couldn't use good magic without suddenly using bad magic had my bottle??? HELP!!!

"You're not going to strip my powers, Paige," Richard's voice dangerously insisted. "I'm going to get what I want, and that's you and me together!" and I could hear the sound of shimmering, and although I kinda felt like I was orbing, it was different. I knew that Richard was shimmering--and shimmering with ME!