A/N: A little later than planned, but I'm back! There's just this and the next chapter, possibly an epilogue. Thanks for reading!

Chapter Six

Relieved Alex hugged her uncle, amazed that someone managed to find her and Max. "What are you doing here?" she exclaimed. "How did you..."

"Your friends called me up, Harper and...Zack?"

"Zeke."

"Yeah, it was some weird name like that," Kelbo remarked. "Been meaning to ask – you know you're not supposed to tell mortals about magic, right?"

Max raised an eyebrow. "We're not?" Off Alex's bewildered look, he explained, "Well, you and Justin told all your friends, I thought maybe the rule changed. Kind of bummed about that, I was going to tell my girlfriend Talia when I got home."

Annoyed Alex shook her head. "Harper's practically family, okay? And she'll make sure Zeke doesn't tell anyone."

"Good enough for me," Kelbo replied. "Let's go!"

"How? Alex and I have been trying spells since we got here. In fact, you're probably trapped here with us," Max realized.

"Well, clearly as a full wizard, Uncle Kelbo knows how to get us home." Alex paused. "Right?"

"Of course! I'm not stupid," Kelbo answered, insulted. "I did think to find you guys with my wand GPS. Since I visit other dimensions all the time, and have full wizard powers, I can cast the spell to bust you guys out of this place." When his niece and nephew sighed with relief, he held out his wand and chanted, "Addo Nos Domus!"

Minutes later Kelbo arrived back at the apartment, Alex and Max in tow. Harper ran over to hug her best friend. "Thank goodness you're okay!" Noticing Max's lonely expression, she sighed. "Nice to see you too."

"Aw thanks Harper, I always knew you cared!" he exclaimed, hugging quickly before she broke away. Looking around, Max asked, "So...where's Justin?"

"Yeah, where is he?" Alex asked.

The other three traded nervous, sympathetic glances, unable to break the news of Justin's betrayal. Finally Harper let out a deep breath. "I'm so sorry," she replied quietly. "Justin...they got him. He joined the dark side."

There was silence as the hurt siblings quietly reacted. Trying to stay strong, Max managed to ask, "What...what about Mom and Dad? How are they?"

Harper didn't reply that time. Zeke and Kelbo lowered their eyes.

"What happened?" Alex demanded, starting to panic. "Are they okay?"

Again, Harper was the one to answer the tough question. "We don't know," she confessed, while Alex gasped and Max looked like he might cry. "When we went over there, we didn't see your dad. And your mom..." Harper paused, getting emotional herself. "She's...she's not doing well. I think I was getting through to her before Justin caught us, though."

"Getting through to her? What does that even mean?" Max exclaimed hysterically, not understanding the situation at all. "What's going on?"

Forcing herself to be calm, Alex put a steadying hand on her brother's shoulder. "Sh, Maxie, it's all right. We'll save them." She then took out her wand. "Let's go." She glanced at the mortals. "You two stay here. In case we need anything."

At first Harper wanted to protest, but Zeke shook his head and wrapped her in a tight hug. Both realized that Alex was really warning them to stay out of harm's way. "We will, Alex," Zeke assured her. "Good luck."

"Good luck," Harper repeated, tearfully watching as her friends and their uncle disappeared.

Standing outside the Sub Station, the three wizards glanced in the windows to spy on the enemy. "There's no way we'll be able to confront Justin when all of Gorog's new minions are right there," Alex remarked, thinking of a plan. "We need to get them out of the way somehow." She looked towards her uncle. "Got any ideas?"

"Now why would you look at me?" Kelbo teased.

Alex smirked. "Because I know you have a Chaos Creator wand app."

"Yup, best dollar-twenty-nine I ever spent," Kelbo agreed as he started pressing invisible buttons on his wand. Some funny beeps later, a holographic "Create Chaos" sign appeared. "Give me five minutes."

The siblings waited after their uncle rushed into the restaurant. A series of odd sounds erupted from the Sub Station, a variety of horns, bells, whistles and scary animal noises...every single one at an ear-splitting volume. After hearing the commotion of everyone stampeding up to the Russo's loft, Alex and Max laughed despite the dangerous situation.

Seconds later, Kelbo opened the front door for them. "All clear."

Alex, Max and Kelbo ran back into the Sub Station, only to find Justin standing there with his arms crossed, glaring at them. "Gorog sent me to neutralize the disturbance." Much to their horror, he took out his wand and pointed it straight at Kelbo. "Leave. Now. Or I will neutralize you."

Though frightened, Kelbo attempted bravery. "Justin, it's your uncle Kelbo! We're family, remember?"

Alex frowned, understanding that Kelbo wouldn't be able to help them further. This battle was between the youngest Russo siblings and the dark side. Anyone else who tried to interfere would just end up hurt. "Go, Uncle Kelbo," she insisted. "This isn't your fight." At Kelbo's doubtful expression, she added, "We can handle this."

"If you say so," he replied. He stared at Justin, then at the other two, as if in disbelief that his younger family members were involved with such a serious battle. "Good luck."

Then he vanished.

The trio stared each other down for a long moment, then Justin spoke. "Gorog will not be pleased that you have escaped. Unless you are here to join us."

"What happened to you?" Max exclaimed, stunned by his older brother's cold mannerisms. "You need to be on our side, remember? You were against Gorog too."

"I was," Justin confessed. "But then I saw how much better off I would be as a leader of his army."

Amazed, Alex shook her head. "What? That's insane! You honestly think you'd have a better life if you were Gorog's slave? If you were evil and caused others pain? The only way this makes sense is... " She paused, her eyes widening in realization. "He brought Juliet back, didn't he?"

Justin nodded. "He did. Join us, and he'll give you whatever you wish as well. You will be happy."

"At what cost?" Alex challenged. "Justin, we don't need him to be happy. You don't need him to be happy. Now that Juliet's back we can destroy Gorog and..."

"It's not just about her!" Justin interrupted angrily. "I'll have power! This means I won't have to deal with the wizard competition. And I'll lead hundreds of minions who will respect me. You cannot promise me that."

Alex and Max traded shocked glances, not sure how to respond. "He's lying!" Max sputtered. "There's no way Gorog can keep those promises."

"Really? Are you sure about that?"

The trio looked up to see Gorog...with the Russo parents standing behind him. "Master Gorog!" Justin sputtered. "I was trying to bring them over to our side!"

"I know, Justin." Gorog then turned to Alex and Max, who were frightened but desperately trying to seem brave. "So, you two escaped, huh? I'm impressed."

"Actually our unc...ow! Alex, what'd you hit me for?"

While Max rubbed the side of his stomach, which his sister had dug her elbow into, Alex defiantly glared at Gorog. "Yeah, that's right, we're stronger than you think. We can beat you even without Justin's help."

"Um, I'm not so sure we...ow!"

Gorog chuckled. "I hope you're right, Alex. Because Justin is my servant now. And so are your parents, in case you hadn't noticed."

"Mom, Dad?" Alex called to her parents, hoping to bring them back from evil's trance. But her father purposely didn't make eye contact. And Theresa appeared to be out of it, holding on to her husband for support while she blankly looked around, wide-eyed. "Oh my gosh," she whispered, holding back tears.

Equally upset, Max stared at his parents in disbelief. "Mom, Dad? It's me and Alex! Don't you want to help us? To protect us?"

"There's no use fighting this, Max," Jerry replied. "If you and Alex don't join, we'll be separated forever. Justin, your mother and I are now part of Gorog's army, and you won't be able to beat him. Please, join us so we can all be together."

Max paused, amazed that he was hearing this from his father. He glanced at Alex. "Maybe Dad's right, Alex. We can't win without Justin anyway."

"No, Max!" Alex exclaimed. "That's not Dad. That's Evil Dad. Don't listen to him! Come on, let's go!" She held out her want and got into battle position.

Surprised Gorog stared at her. "But don't you want to know about my plan? I'd hate to destroy you before getting to brag about how evil I am. For starters, I had you three cast that spell to lower the portal's defense, so I could pass through without Wizard Council guard spells weakening my power..."

"You know what, I'm good," Alex interrupted, holding up her wand again. "Can we get this over with?"

When Gorog raised his hand to unleash a magical attack, Justin interrupted, "Wait!" His siblings looked up hopefully. But instead Justin took out his wand as well. "Let me help you, Master."

Shocked Alex and Max were thrown off long enough for Gorog to shoot a golden beam of power their way. The two youngest Russo siblings were knocked off their feet so they sailed clear across the room. Alex landed unconscious near the row of booths, Max right beside her. Neither moved, and both had scars where the laser hit their stomachs.

"No!" Theresa screeched. It was a sickening cry that made her son and husband wince. Snapped out of her trance, she rushed to her children's sides, sobbing uncontrollably. Slowly she got up and turned her fury on Gorog. "You. My kids were supposed to be safe. You lying, evil, son of a - "

And Gorog sent another beam of light towards her. Theresa fell near her children, also unmoving.

Frozen Justin and Jerry could only stare. Finally, Gorog asked, "Would you like to join them?" When the two Russos weakly shook their heads, Gorog nodded. "Good. Now, I'm not completely devoid of sentiment. I will allow you...oh, five minutes to grieve? Then meet me in the lair." He began to leave, then added, "Oh, and if you don't, I will destroy you both as well."