Legacy: Ghost of the Past

by Lady Dawson

Chapter Seven: Return of an Enemy

Chris had to acknowledge the fact that it was crazy to let Connelly brew a potion from the Grimoire and let him take something from him without even knowing what exactly what it was. It wasn't just crazy, it was very stupid, but he was really failing to see what other option they had. They were outnumbered thirty to three, including Bobby, plus they had an unconscious witch to protect and Susan didn't look anywhere near waking up.

The potion was bubbling slightly as Connelly added various ingredients, looking delighted as he did so. "Nearly done," he said quietly as another ingredient was added. "I hope you three are watching this, because after today, no one, demon or witch, is ever going to doubt my power again. The gift of life and death is in my hands."

"Really?" Wyatt said mockingly. "Wow, I'm really impressed. You've got my trembling right here." Chris shot his brother a warning look as Connelly stood up, looking at Wyatt coldly. "Do you really think that one little potion is going to grant you that kind of power? Nobody has that power. Nobody," he added more forcefully.

"And here I thought you might be interested in the fate of your little girlfriend, Wyatt Halliwell," Connelly said lightly. Wyatt had to be held back by his demon captors to prevent him from attacking their master. "If you want to know, she's not dead, only kept in a coma until I'm ready for her to wake up."

"Brooke?" Bobby whispered, looking pale. Chris was actually kind of impressed at how well the kid was holding up. Considering that he was aiding his father's enemies, led them, however unintentionally, into a trap, was being held captive, and his father knew he'd been helping them, he was holding up pretty well. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing, yet," Connelly said without looking at him. "She'll be safe and sound in that comatose state until I'm ready for her to wake up."

"That's sick," Chris snapped. "You can't use people like that and play with people's lives because they don't fit into your plan! You're disgusting!" He wanted to say more, but Susan suddenly groaned and rolled over on her side, her eyelids fluttering open. "Susan! Are you okay?" he asked.

She stared at him, then looked around at their surroundings. "I'm not sure yet," she answered, slowly sitting up with Bobby's help. "What happened?" she asked.

"Well, you passed out," Bobby said weakly.

"Really? That explains the bump on the head," she responded, rubbing her forehead painfully. She shook her head slightly, somewhat dazed, and then looked at Bobby, whispering something to him.

Whatever she said, it startled Bobby a little bit, because he looked anxious, then guilty, and nodded. "Yeah," he whispered softly. "That was real."

Pain shot through Susan's face and tears appeared in her eyes, but they didn't fall. She closed her eyes and her hands clenched together as she looked away, trying to compose herself.

What had happened to her? Chris wondered as he stared at his girlfriend and her quiet, shaken form. What happened before they got there?

But his attention was drawn away from Susan as she glanced towards Connelly, her eyes narrowed as she stared at the potion, her eyes flashing towards Chris for a minute. He could see the message clearly in her eyes: they had to get out of there. Whatever they were up to, it wasn't any good and the only thing to do was find a way out of here and fast, before—

All thought of escaping went out of his mind as Connelly suddenly whirled around and an athame went flying towards his girlfriend. "Susan!" Bobby yelled as he pushed her down. The athame went flying over their heads and implanted itself on the wall.

Susan was white as she looked up and towards Connelly, actual fear in her eyes. She was afraid of him, Chris realised, but why? There was something going on here than he didn't understand. Susan knew it, Bobby knew it, and Connelly knew it. But what was it?

"Any attempt to escape and you're going to end up the same way that your brother did," he threatened as Bobby pushed himself into a sitting position. Susan was pale as she heard that and Bobby flinched involuntarily, staring at his father with a look of fury and pain.

More pain than anger, though, Chris noted with some interested. Bobby leaned against Susan, resting his head onto her shoulder, and she wrapped an arm around him, holding him tightly to comfort him.

Something about the scene looked familiar. Wyatt noticed it too, because he shot a curious look towards Chris. What was going on?

Connelly stood up from the cauldron and walked over to Susan and Bobby, but instead of attacking them, like Chris half-expected him to, he ignored them, seizing the athame from the wall and walked over to Chris.

"It's time," he said softly as the demons held Chris tighter, preventing him from escaping. Physically, they were stronger than he was. Sending a panicked look towards Wyatt, Chris tried to remain calm as Connelly raised the athame towards his throat. "Don't even think about it, Wyatt Halliwell. I'm not picky about where I get his blood from. I could take it from his throat, if I wanted to. Take your pick."

Wyatt, who had been about to lunge forward and attack, hesitated and lowered his gaze, not able to look Chris in the eye. I'm sorry, bro, he said telepathically. Chris said nothing, knowing that this was the only option to getting out of there alive. I really am.

I know.

If you got killed, Chris, I couldn't live with myself. At least this way, we'll have half a chance of escaping.

I know.

"That's what I thought," Connelly muttered as he removed the knife from Chris's throat and tore through the sleeve of his shirt. Chris jumped, startled, as the blade pierced his skin and he gritted his teeth at the pain of the blade being pushed through his skin, gathering blood.

"Chris!" Susan shouted, jumping to her feet, but she was preventing from running to him as Bobby grabbed her, holding her back.

"Don't," he whispered. "It might still be all right." Susan shot him a half-exasperated, half-angry look, but she turned her attention back towards Chris, asking with her eyes if he was all right. He gave a short nod as Connelly moved back, the bloodstained athame in his hands as he walked to the cauldron, dropping the athame into it.

"It is time," he whispered, "for a warrior to rise from the dead, to come again to join us in our quest to stop the forces of good." He was grinning evilly as the cauldron started to shake and he walked over to the Grimoire, looking at the incantation written on the page.

"Warrior of darkness,

to the land of the dead you passed.

Now return with your powers in full.

The spell undone, its damage null.

With the blood of thy killer,

return to your destiny and be revived."

As the spell was finished, everyone stared in astonishment as flames rose around them and a figure appeared in them. Susan grabbed Bobby and pushed through the crowd as she ran to Chris. Holding her tightly, he could feel her shaking underneath his grasp as Wyatt as he broke free from his captors.

"Grab the Grimoire!" Chris yelled over the commotion to his brother, who yanked off his jacket and thrust it over the evil book and managed to hold on to it as he raced towards them. But before they could make a run for it, the person that Connelly was bringing back emerged from the flames, her eyes searching the room, finding Chris immediately, who rooted on the spot.

"Hello, Chris," Bianca Malone said.

--Fade to Black--

End Credits

Jack Devonport as Peter Connelly

Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell

Alexis Bledel as Patty Matthews-Mitchell

Liam Neeson as Curtis the Elder

and Marisol Nichols as Bianca Malone