Chapter 5: Night escape

Chris paced up and down the room. He didn´t know for how long he´d been doing that, just thinking. Wyatt and he had studied these kinds of spells a lot when they were little. Their dad knew a lot about them too. Still even after turning he would have never thought Wyatt would do something like this. Besides, even then, they were like legends, difficult to cast, requiring powers and proofs of bonds.
He remembered having read some things. One, that they were dangerous spells and the stronger the bond, the more consequences they had.
But the important issue here was that they didn't affect thought or feelings, just actions. And other thing was that the spell was to follow orders. Given orders. So, Chris knew that even if there wasn't a way to avoid the spell or avoid obeying, he had to find a way of doing what he wanted without going against the orders. In some instances, it could be a question of the meaning of the words.
Suddenly without wanting, he went to the bed and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. What was wrong? Then he remembered, Wyatt had ordered him to try to sleep. And he was obeying. But he could try without succeeding...right?. He thought...Wyatt didn't said now or immediately. So if he decided to try to sleep later. He woke up. It had worked. He'd have to do it later but if Wyatt didn't add now he could postpone the orders just by thinking he would really do them later.
Now to the next issue, he had to warn his friends. He thought of what Wyatt had said: don´t leave, don´t escape, don´t orb, don´t call anyone telepathically. He had to think, how could he warn his friend without doing any of those things?
There weren't any potions at the room, which meant Wyatt wasn't silly. He controlled Chris but didn't take stupid risks.
How could he warn them? Especially without leaving. A question of meaning...well...one thought crossed his mind, what if he destroyed the room?(it was unlikely Wyatt hadn't thought of that) then, there would be no room. So he wouldn't be disobeying if he left, because Wyatt had said "don't leave the room ". He had added "don't leave the building" but well, he could destroy the building too. But Wyatt would have probably left demons guarding the room. Chris knew his brother. For him nothing was being too careful and Wyatt was the only person in the world that knew how powerful Chris was. It sounded weird Wyatt hadn't bind his powers. But once again, under his spell they would be an advantage for Wyatt. Why would Wyatt want to bind them?. Besides, Wyatt hated to bind powers. He always said he could handle any power. Besides when Wyatt was little, he loved to brag about his magic so much that Piper had threatened him with binding his powers too many times. And Wyatt hated the idea along with the potions and spells that made it possible, so he only cast binding spells in extreme circumstances.
Chris went next to the wall. One of the powers Chris had more developed was empathy, Wyatt had it too but not in the same amount. There were other powers such as mental ones that Wyatt had more than Chris. And some of them, they had all alone. Like Wyatt's force field or his power to choke. The greatest power that Chris had alone was the ability to control the elements.
Also Wyatt was better at casting spells and Chris was better at making potions. But they were both great at both things. Just as their mom and aunts. They were the most powerful team in the world, Chris thought sadly.
Using his empathy he sensed the presence of several creatures near the door, just standing against the wall. Probably demons.
Of course he could try to destroy the room and face the demons but he had to do something that wouldn't catch Wyatt's attention. Because the moment Wyatt appeared or even gave him mental orders, everything would be lost. Chris knew Wyatt would find out eventually and make him pay big-time. He tried to avoid that thought. He'd deal with that later..
So...a question of meaning and Wyatt shouldn't know...he thought for a while and then he got it. He hoped Wyatt wasn't sensing his thoughts. He focused and smiled. Wyatt was sleeping. He could be sure of this since his brother wasn't hiding this from him. The spell was making him obey but it had also made his connection with Wyatt stronger. Wyatt had said it himself "I can make the bond work one way.." that meant that probably only the orders were one way. The bond was still two way unless Wyatt wanted it differently. And Wyatt couldn't be focused on this the whole time. He had a world to run for god's sake. And he had enemies to kill, Chris thought bitterly.
Chris went next to the bed suddenly smiling. Wyatt was sleeping but he had to be quick. If his brother sensed what he was doing there would be no hope for his friends.
Chris lied down on the bed. Wyatt hadn't thought of this power inherited by one of their aunt's, since neither of them used it very often. It was just creepy. He closed his eyes and left his body. Astral projection! He had never liked it...it was like dying and it felt weird but that was what he needed.
His body was in the bed, so he wasn't really leaving. He was in the room just as Wyatt had ordered. Still, it was the spell that decided if this question of meaning was enough. And he had another problem to solve. No telepathy, and no orbing was allowed, and he couldn't just walk because the demons he could sense in the hall would see his astral projection. How could he find his friends? A spell. Wyatt hadn't been clever enough. He had thought the not leaving part was enough. 'He'll think this over next time and I'll be so dead...but at least my friends will be warned...'

He wished he could avoid coming back. But he had to leave his body there. Besides Wyatt could call him as the baby had done, he would be back anyway and it would only piss Wyatt off then he would have to face an angry Wyatt. And Chris didn't want that if he could avoid it.

He thought of summoning someone, but Wyatt would probably have spells to prevent unexpected visitors from leaving the manor. Besides talking in the room would be a huge risk with Wyatt in the same building. Even if he was sleeping, Chris knew him and he didn´t want to expose anyone else to Wyatt´s rage.

'So..a spell that takes me to them wherever they are' . Worried, he searched for Wyatt again but he was asleep. He had too much trust in his powers. Chris smiled, that was his brother's only flaw since he'd turned.
'Let's see...hope it'll work...someone I care about. Only one person I used to care about really besides Wyatt is still alive'. Thoughtfully he said:

"Once in love, now just a friend.
Brittany to you my will shall send
Now my projection will leave this bed
And wherever you are, I shall be lead."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chris smiled when he realized it had worked.

There she was. She was having dinner with the jerk that was responsible for their break up. Her stupid father. Chris cursed. He had hoped she was alone. He had hated that man with all his heart. It was a good thing he had found Bianca later. And he had loved Bianca to the point he was sure they would get married. They would have gotten married if Wyatt hadn't...whatever. But the pain he had felt when Brittany had left him with because of her father still bothered him from time to time.
Brittany looked up and her joy was clear when she saw him. She ran into his arms.

"Chris...Chris...I'm so glad you are all right. "

Chris wished he didn't have such a strong empathic power. Because at the same time he was reading the hate from Ashcroft, Brittany's father. Chris was still hugging Brittany when Ashcroft said rudely.

"So...you're back, Chris. Succeed?"

Chris gave him an angry look.

"Well..nothing is changed so you can guess not..but thanks for asking anyway. I love to be reminded when I fail"

"Oh..what a shock. If you had followed my plan of killing the baby, that would have been easier. But no...find who turned him. Your brother is too powerful you knew if you took too long he would stop you"

" Again, love to be reminded of that. Sorry, I didn't want to kill my own brother when he was a baby to make you feel better. But you can go to the past and do it..wait! You don't have the power to do that so... why don't you shut up!"

Ashcroft just looked away. He hated to be reminded how powerful the Halliwells were. And time traveling was something only the Halliwells could do. The Halliwells and a few more magical beings. But Chris and Wyatt´s aunts had several spells to go to the past and even the future. They had made a real specialty of this. And Chris had arranged his going to the past all alone, the only one that had helped him was Bianca. Cause he knew anyone else, good or evil wouldn't have avoided the temptation of killing the baby. And he just couldn't allow that. But if he had, Ashcroft thought bitterly things would be better.

"And why are you here if you've failed?. You came to attack us...have you finally joined your brother?"

Ashcroft had been a good friend to almost all the elders and that meant that his reason to live was to vanquish and destroy Wyatt. He was sure the elders had made a terrible mistake allowing Piper and Leo to have children. And he was also sure Chris was too powerful to care which side he was on. Only one thing stopped him from killing Chris when Wyatt turned. There was only one power that could vanquish the source: the power of three. And that meant Chris. Something Wyatt knew also. Chris was his only real threat but he hadn't killed him. For Ashcroft that meant by no doubts Wyatt was sure Chris would turn. Or perhaps that he would never help anyone against Wyatt. May be that was the case. Even if Chris had worked with them fighting Wyatt and even making a potion to vanquish the source, he would have killed the baby if he had some sense inside. But well, without Chris the number of good witches would be much less than they were. Chris was their most powerful ally, even if Ashcroft hated to admit that. Ashcroft family descended from a powerful witch too. His own brother had been an elder. Killed by Wyatt, of course. Brittany and her sisters had tons of powers too. They weren't as powerful as the Charmed ones but possibly the second in power. And that's why Ashcroft had told Brittany he would never allow her to be with Chris. He didn't want a grandson that was a second Wyatt. And Chris had been really disappointed when she had listened to him.
Still, they were friends and Brittany had even spent some time with Bianca when they were all fighting against Wyatt. She didn't like Bianca much. She had never been completely over Chris (something he knew due to his damn empathic power) but he also knew she would always listen to her dad. Still they cared a lot for each other.

"Shut up, Dad." she said energetically. "If he came from the past it's because he found out something important"

Chris shook his head, sadly.

"No, I'm sorry, Brit. I came to tell you that I've failed as in I returned cause Wyatt brought my sorry ass back to the present. And speaking of how powerful my brother is I should hurry.."

She looked at him, surprised.

"But if he found you.."

"I told you, he joined him" Ashcroft said bitterly.

A lamp fell with a sudden noise. Brittany and Ashcroft jumped.

"Sorry. I'm not any good holding my powers when I'm pissed. If I had joined my brother you would be dead already, Ashcroft and you know it. I did find out that someone was plotting something back then. From some things Wyatt said and thought and from others thing my dad said, I think that maybe the elders knew or had something to do with that."

"Stop trying to justify your murdering brother with his own lies. The elders were good and your brother destroyed them with no mercy. The elder's only mistake was to allow Wyatt to be born."

" Which means allow me to be born too. Tell me Ashcroft, why do I keep telling my own bother I won't join him when he offers me ruling by his side, and I come to save your sorry ass just to hear how my existence should have never happened?."

"Cause your brother is a killer. He kills white-lighters...that's his specialty. I can see some problems with daddy there...right? Most kids would have became rock singers or go to counseling but your brother just kills every white-lighter he sees. One was your best friend, and your fiancée died too. And tones of good an innocent people"

A glass fell from the table breaking into pieces.

"Easy, kid. We're not rich here. You are breaking the whole room" Ashcroft was pleased he had made his point.

"I came to tell you anyway that you have to leave this room and every other room I could know. I'm a threat to you now. You must assume that everything I know, Wyatt will know. Plans, places...anything. Especially the vanquishing potion, he will ask about that."

Brittany took Chris's hand.

"Oh...Chris what's wrong?"

He looked at her eyes. He didn't have many friends now. Brittany was almost the only one. And she had been by his side when Wyatt had turned. She was one of the first people that had helped him to face Wyatt and accept that Wyatt wasn't the brother he had loved any more.

"This has to be quick, my brother was sleeping but I don't know for how long. But your father entertained me with his useful chat. Wyatt is controlling me now...and there's nothing I can do about it...not for the moment."

Ashcroft looked at him surprised for the first time.

"And how do we know he's not controlling you now?"

"Cause you would be dead. And keep talking like that and my brother's control won't be necessary at all. "

Brittany laughed. Then she turned to Chris.

"What do you mean with control?"

"I mean...a..."

"A slavery spell?" Ashcroft seemed upset for the first time. "I can't believe it...what a jerk doing that to his own brother."

"He's the biggest jerk in the world something we all knew but yes...once again I would have never guessed he would go that low...and so...well...he did...and now I have to return there hoping he hasn't notice what I did. But he'll know and I'm going to pay for it. And it will be really pleasant to know I did it just to save your ass, Ashcroft"

"You did it to save my ass and the whole movement against your brother. And to save everything good that still exists in the world. I've always known it was a bad idea to trust you so much, you were too close to him."

"Of course...he's my brother and he'll always be. And the fact that he's my brother is what makes me your only hope. Don't forget about that, Ashcroft."

Brittany hugged him.

"I'm so sorry Chris. Don't listen to my dad. I know there's no one but Wyatt that can lift that spell but I'll try to help you in any way I can."

"How are you here if that's the case?" Ashcroft seemed to be really interested.

"I astral projected. My brother wasn't that careful with his orders of no escaping and I guess he forgot I could astral project and that wasn't exactly leaving. But I know him and this won't happen again. So, don't trust me if you see me again, leave all the places I knew to hide and protect all the witches I could vanquish. Think that Wyatt can use my powers as his now. I'll try to help you using the meaning of the orders and in every other way. But consider me..."

"Wyatt's slave now" Ashcroft looked at him and Chris could read a slight part of the man was enjoying his suffering.

A second glass shook at the table. Brittany lifted it telepathically and made if fall just by her dad.

"Brittany!"

Brittany looked at her father, angrily. "Will you shut up, dad! Chris is right. We are just wasting time the sooner we start arranging our escape the more possibilities we have of saving ourselves from Wyatt. "

"That's right." Ashcroft seemed to really mean it then. "I'm sorry Chris. You took a huge risk to warn us. And let me tell you that your brother is out of his mind. He could have driven both of you insane. A slavery spell is something that shouldn't be done to a sibling even if they are easier to cast the spell on since it only requires blood to be cast. Standing up to them requires a strong power of mind"

"Well maybe Wyatt and I were insane long ago thanks to your elder friends"

Ashcroft just looked annoyed and Brittany took advantage of this to hug Chris and give him a slight kiss on the cheek.

"Good luck, Chris. I'll search for a way to help you"

"One more thing...Wyatt has Laura in his jail. Tell her that we are trying to do everything to get her out, if you can" Ashcroft was just looking at the table when he said this. His wife had been killed by a demon, Wyatt had killed his brother and his daughters were all he had.

Chris felt his sadness and he just nodded.

"I will. Good luck to you too, thanks for wishing me luck. I'll really need it when Wyatt finds out. Try to save all of our friends; you'll probably have until tomorrow."

They both nodded and Brittany gave him a last, sad look. Chris enchanted slowly.

"Back to the place my body lies in bed
now my soul shall be lead"

He disappeared leaving the other two watching at him sadly.

When Chris returned to the room he joined his body. Then he searched for Wyatt's presence. He was still sleeping. Chris sighed, relieved. Well, now he could try to sleep as Wyatt had said. There wasn't much more he could do, and he couldn't risk himself more because Wyatt could search for his presence any moment. At least, his friends had been warned. Still, Wyatt would find out. And God help Chris when he did.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII TBCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII TBC IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII