Authors Note: Sorry that it has been awhile since I last updated, but I have been very busy with my heavy course load and grad school applications. The story is approaching its end and there will probably only be one or two chapters after this one. I will try to get them out quicker then I did this one. Anyways, I want to thank everyone who has taken time to read this, and those who have urged me to continue. Enjoy!
Chapter Thirty-Five:
The light of the rising sun and the chirping of the early birds is what Chris awakened to the following morning. Wiping the sleep from his eyes he turned on his side and gazed at the sleeping form that lay next to him. With all the distractions that his life entailed he rarely took time to notice how beautiful Bianca was while she slept. The young whitelighter-witch laid there for several moments watching the steady breathing of the woman he loved as she remained in a peaceful slumber, and for once Chris almost seemed at peace himself.
As if she could sense being watched the young woman's eyes began to flutter, as the fully risen sun had now brightly lit up the endless sky."Good morning" was the greeting Chris gave Bianca after the Phoenix witch had opened her eyes. She smiled and returned the gesture. Not too long after awakening, as much as they wanted to remain lying there in each other's arms without a care in the world, and resist returning to harsh reality, the two made a move to get up and get dressed, in order to get back to the school. As usual on a Saturday morning they had a council meeting to get to. They quickly got ready and then orbed over to their intended destination.
Meanwhile back at the school Danielle was in one of the empty classrooms trying to get some sleep. She had been up for the better part of the night trying to sort out her feelings and convince herself that she had not lost her mind. Still very much conflicted she had relented and decided to at least try and get some much needed sleep. Wanting to be alone however, she chose one of the classrooms in the unoccupied wing of the school to take her rest. When she finally was overtaken by what should have been a peaceful slumber, she was plagued with nightmares about the innocents that she and the others had lost that past afternoon, and as usual, Brian also made an appearance in her dreams.
She found herself back at the youth center staring at the basketball court where the broken bodies of the five lost innocents were laying. The boys could not have been older than twelve and their lives had met an abrupt and premature end because of the ruthless evil that had taken over the world. And because she had not gotten there in time to save them. She looked upon the scene with tears streaming down her cheeks. "I was too late." She muttered aloud, before she heard the oh so familiar, yet tormented voice echoing behind her. "It's not your fault, it's his. You know that. He is responsible for this, he is responsible for all the terror that has befallen this world since he greedily took it over. He needs to be stopped. You need to stop him. It's the only way you can save me."
Danielle slowly turned around to see Brian Harley, the love of her life standing before her. He wore a distressed, desperate look on his face. In his eyes she saw fear and pain, and she felt helpless. "But how I am supposed to defeat him alone, he has so much power, and I… well… I am just me." She hated herself for those words, for denying the man she loved. "You can do it, I know you can. You have to try, it is the only way to save me. You are the only one who can. Please don't let me down." Tears filled her eyes at Brian's desperate plea. She was about to voice more of her doubts to her love when an increasingly alarmed look spread across his face. "No…No…" he screamed as if in pain before turning back to her. "Please , please save me." he begged before vanishing right in front of her eyes. "No wait…don't go" she cried "Tell me what's happening." But she got no answer.
Danielle woke from her dream with a start. It took her a moment to realize she was at the school rather than back at the youth center. She shook her head rather hysterically, the tears from her dream still streaming down her cheeks. She wiped them away, and sat up in deep thought for a few moments before determinedly getting to her feet, as if she had made some decision. "I'm going to save you Brian, if it is the last thing I do." And with that she headed for the door with the look of a woman on a mission.
Over at the Halliwell manor, the twice-blessed, source of all evil descended the stairs with a cocky smile on his face. "What has you in such a good mood this morning my liege?" The source's faithful servant asked his master. Wyatt's Halliwell's smile grew even broader before he answered the question. "The witch is on her way. The potion and the spell are ready. By today's end the resistance will be no more and my brother will see that fighting me is useless." "I see." was Granchus' only answer, however the gleeful expression that spread across his features gave away the fact that he was very pleased as well.
Danielle's teleportation power landed her across the street from the Halliwell manor. As she looked at the house she knew that going in there would most likely lead to her death, but after everything she had been through, her life simply did not matter to her the way it should. All she knew was that she had to do everything in her power to save the man she loved, even if it meant going up against the twice-blessed source of all evil, Wyatt Halliwell. The young witch took in a deep breath and slowly let it out before starting her trek across the street and up the stairs to the door of the red Victorian.
If only she knew the events her actions would set in motion, perhaps she would have turned around in that very moment. If only she knew that all of these visions she was having of Brian were a result of Wyatt's magic. If only she knew that Wyatt had set a trap for her, and in turn for the resistance. If only she knew that Wyatt intended to force a potion down her throat and cast a spell to take away her free will. If only she knew that she was merely a pawn in Wyatt's plan to discover the location of his brother and the others. If only she knew that confronting Wyatt would be signing the death warrant of so many of her friends and allies. If only she knew… but she didn't, and so blindly she continued to make her way up to the door of the manor, an action that would irrevocably set all of this in motion.
Back at the resistance the weekly council meeting was reaching an end, as the group of nine witches and the half manticore were wrapping up discussion of the attack that had taken place at the youth center the day before. "There has to be something more we can do to limit these random attacks, it is impossible to find a way to mount an offense against Wyatt if we are too busy scrambling to protect the innocent victims of unchecked demonic activity." The determined words were spoken by one of the male witch members of the council. The others were in obvious agreement, yet it did not seem that any of them had a solution to the problem.
Chris was the first to offer a reply. "As long as Wyatt is giving his demons free reign to terrify anyone and everyone they choose, there is little we can do besides save as many innocents as possible. Perhaps the best way to approach this is to try and stay one step ahead of them. We need to do step up our reconnaissance in the underworld." He looked toward Bianca and Devon as he said this and the two nodded, understanding that the task would fall on them. Although the young Halliwell hated sending his friend and the woman he loved into danger he knew that it was what needed to be done. Their ability to shimmer and pass themselves off as true demons was invaluable to the group of resistance witches and Chris knew it. The other council members agreed with Chris recommendation and with that the weekly meeting was adjourned.
After each of the other witches filed out and Devon shimmered off to the underworld to continue his spying, Chris and Bianca were left alone in what was referred to as the conference room. Chris took the woman he loved into his arms and held her tight before planting a sweet, brief kiss on her lips. "Be careful." he advised her. "Aren't I always?" she asked playfully before letting go of Chris hand and shimmering off to the underworld just as Devon had moments before. With a deep sigh Chris turned around to leave the room and join the others in the gym.
The second Chris stepped out into the hallway he sensed a dark, familiar presence and immediately got the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Chris turned around swiftly needing his eyes to confirm who he knew was standing behind him. Just as he reversed his direction and with no time to react, he saw a potion flying through the air having already been hurled his way. The vial broke at his feet and a mist rose from the potion's broken contents. Looking up from where the vial had hit the floor Chris found himself face to face with his brother. "Why so surprised Chris? You had to know I would find you." Hearing his brothers words, the younger Halliwell was overcome by an incredible sense of dread, and an overwhelming feeling of drowsiness as the potion took its effect. Wyatt's devilish face was the last thing Chris saw before his world went blank.
Sorry for the cliffie. Please Review!