Chapter nine: "We didn't find anyone there, sir"

The moment they flamed in the room the demons, witches and people in the room stood up and lowered their heads. Chris thought for a moment that he could understand why Wyatt enjoyed this so much. His emphatic powers allowed him to feel the fear and total submission everyone there held toward his brother. He could also read their feelings about him. And he noted with surprise that the strongest one was envy. And the worst readings were coming from Patrick. Patrick sat at the other end of the table, with two demons at his side. The only seat at Wyatt's side was for Chris. And it was almost amusing for Chris that Patrick envied even the seat.

Wyatt took his hand off of Chris' shoulder while he was standing by his place and spoke to the others.

"You can sit now "he commanded.

Chris and Wyatt remained standing while the others sat.

"You all know that this is an important day for us. Today my brother joins us. The power of three is finally complete on our side. I'm glad you are finally here, Chris. I'm glad you've decided to take your place" 'Say something about being sorry about fighting me and hurting them' Wyatt sent his command telepathicallyChris tried not to look angry. He looked at Wyatt and spoke respectfully.

"I could finally leave my old and silly ideas of good and evil. Thanks for showing me the truth, brother. And I'm sorry about the inconvenience I have caused you, Wyatt or anyone else. Our power is finally together as it's supposed to be and no one can defy us now" Chris looked around calmly and he spoke to Wyatt telepathically.

.'Was that enough, jerk?'

'Perfect'

Everyone looked at Chris. Chris didn't even blink. Wyatt had told him to pretend to be by his side. Besides, he wouldn't show fear toward a distrusting bunch of demons. Patrick looked evilly at Chris. Chris could sense his envy and distrust. He had forgotten Patrick was also an empath. And he could probably sense Chris wasn't exactly comfortable. Too bad. 'I'll find a way to kill that stupid witch. He's not that powerful' Chris was surprised when Patrick's thought came to him, Chris couldn't read other people thoughts. Only Wyatt's. Reading thoughts was Wyatt's power as empathy was Chris'. Chris could read some thoughts but only in a few circumstances and with much effort. He found that strange but useful.

No one said anything. Wyatt sat and Chris did the same.

"Well, now that that part is clear it's time to end with the rebellious witches."

One of the demons spoke hesitantly.

"Sir, is it safe that your brother..?"

Wyatt was going to do something to the insolent but before the demon could even finish. Chris threw him flying to the roof and then attacked him with electricity. Wyatt made an effort not to smile. He was proud of Chris, his brother's calmness was something incredible taking into account he had fought and hurt most of the demons in that room. And he had also killed some of their relatives. He was also surprised; he didn't know his brother had that power.

'I didn't know you had that power' he told his brother telepathically.

'Neither did I' Chris answered but he didn't show his confusion at all. May be the changes he had made in the past had given him that power.

The demon he had attacked stood up after a few tense and silent moments, dizzy and surprised. Electricity was an elder's power and everyone knew how Wyatt hated the elders. But Wyatt didn't say anything, apparently supporting his brother's reaction.

"Anyone else wants to discuss my presence here? " Chris looked at everyone after speaking with his most threatening voice. He found almost funny how all of them backed in their seats..

'He's faking, that little good for nothing, He'll pay for what he did to me' Patrick was clever, because he was sitting calmly while he thought this. Still he was surprised to be thrown against a wall twice. Chris had left him almost dead once. Patrick knew Chris was powerful and besides Wyatt was there. Wyatt had left Chris seriously hurt once and almost choked him another time but he had never allowed anyone else to hurt his brother. Patrick had learned that lesson the hard way also. So, he didn't answer back, he'd have a better occasion.

"I didn't say anything, "sir"" Patrick protested speaking to Chris with fake respect.

"I can sense distrust and envy. And I don't enjoy them" Chris made him fly again. "You want to protest again?"

Patrick shook his head and went back to his seat. Wyatt had to make an effort not to laugh but Chris was the only one that could realize.

'Easy, brother' 'I need my demons, they are not toys' Wyatt spoke to Chris telepathically.

'I'm pretending I'm evil. You've ordered that yourself and I didn't destroy any of them'.

'I know. And you are doing great with the pretending thing but take it easy'

'Fine'

No one could tell they were talking telepathically. Both brothers were just sitting looking at the table imperially while Patrick went back to his seat, still pissed and praying for a chance to get back at Chris. The first demon that had spoken had his reasons to be angry. Chris had helped like twenty witches escape from him He had seen Chris vanquish demons that had twice the powers he had. He had his reasons to be angry and worried. But no one there would even dream of questioning Wyatt's decisions. One face around the table surprised Chris. It was a witch. He was supposed to be a good witch. He had worked a lot with Ashcroft and Chris had always liked him. Chris could sense he wasn't comfortable there either and he seemed angry Chris was there. But Wyatt sure knew that. So why was he there, helping Wyatt?

'Pay attention, Chris' Wyatt spoke telepathically and Chris obeyed immediately. He hadn't realized he was so distracted.

Wyatt showed the map.

"My brother had marked every place where there is or there was a resistance shelter. I want you to look at them. And as soon as this meeting is over, go to those places and bring all the witches you can to my jails and destroy the places. Wyatt turned to Patrick.

"Patrick, this is the place where Chris saw Brittany for the last time. I want you to go there and remember that if she is with her father I don't want you to kill him yet. Bring him to me. But be careful...he has a lot of tricks" He turned to Chris.. "Was Brittany with her father when you saw her?"

'Tell the truth' Wyatt added telepathically.

´Son of a bitch´ Chris cursed him mentally but answered.

"Yes."

Patrick looked at the map.

"There's nothing there, sir. You've said tons of time you suspected that someone was hiding here and I've lift every protective spell that could be there. And there was no one hiding" he felt electricity in his arm. It hurt like hell. He looked furious at Chris.

Chris smirked and spoke with his most despising tone of voice.

"I've protected the place, Patrick. You are really dumb if you think you can really lift a spell cast by the power of three. Don't doubt of my word again." Chris turned to Wyatt changing his tone of voice "I'm sorry brother, but the spell is already lifted. If they are still hiding there you'll find them"

Wyatt smiled, pleased. Patrick looked down, furious. He'll have to prove to Wyatt Chris wasn't by his side. All he wanted was Chris' place and he would have it. He'd like Wyatt's place too but he knew he wasn't powerful enough. He wasn't powerful enough to fight Chris either. His only chance was to make Wyatt kill Chris. And he would. That place belonged to him.

Wyatt smiled as he read that thought. Patrick knew he could read thoughts. But sometimes he just couldn't refrain himself, especially around Chris.

"What do you know about the rebels, Mike? "

Wyatt focused on the witch Chris had looked at first. He wasn't evil. Chris couldn't get what the hell he was doing but there had to be a reason.

As Chris looked at him, he could read the anger that Michael felt toward him for having turned. He hated Wyatt for making him do this. Michael and him had been really good friends when they were together fighting Wyatt. Until reading Mike's anger and disappointment he had been almost enjoying the whole thing. It was funny to brag about powers and work side by side with Wyatt. But of course, it was the wrong side. He had tried to close his eyes to that. The result was that his best friend and his fiancée were dead. Like thousands of innocents. Some part of his brother lived in that monster, he was sure of that. But the Wyatt he had loved wasn't there anymore. Even if Chris wanted so hard to believe that wasn't true that he sometimes fooled himself. And so did Wyatt.

Before Michael answered Chris could read his thoughts again and images of a girl appeared in his head. Mike's wife. But she was dead. What did she have to do with Michael helping Wyatt? Mike's voice made him pay attention again. And he had to make his biggest empathy effort to avoid showing and sending fear.

"Yesterday someone warned us to leave the shelter we were in. There were rumors about the reason but no one was very sure yet" Michael had spoken respectfully but clearly unwillingly. He glanced at Chris disapprovingly when he said the last part but not making the disapproval too obvious.

Wyatt looked at Michael with interest. Chris felt his heart stopping. Wyatt wasn't looking at him but Chris could read his thoughts and they weren't exactly of brotherly love.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Tell me again why I can't do it. The spell belonged to Chris, it will take me to Chris´ future and then we'll bring him here or at least find out what his link with Wyatt is and take the blood to lift the spell" Piper was getting really angry. Her husband or ex-husband (or whatever in between Leo was) was too stubborn to be a former angel. He was driving her crazy. He had found her trying to draw a triquetra on the wall and of course, he had stopped her. They were alone in the house. Piper thought she would be in the future before anyone noticed but Leo had surprisingly orbed in and stopped her.

"Going to the future is a huge risk we can't take right now."

"Why?. We've done it before, tons of times, Chris helped us before and he needs us now."

"We've gone mostly to the past. And when we went to the future our son wasn't ruling any of those futures."

"Well, may be Wyatt is the source and so what? I'm going to go there and teach that young man some good manners. I'm still his mother! And I don't understand what you are afraid of"

"Piper " Leo sighed. " If Wyatt is ruling the future and you go you have two possibilities: you'll be found by his followers or his enemies. His followers will kill you and his enemies will kill you. As his mother you are kind of responsible for him"

"Oh ya? So I'm the source's mom?"

"Yes, not only that. According to Chris, Wyatt rules almost the entire world!" Leo couldn't help feeling a little proud over that..

"It's not a good thing, Leo" Piper tried to reprimand him but she had to admit it was kind of flattering.

"I know" Leo stopped smiling. Piper looked mad thinking of what he had said before.

"What about your responsibility? Last time I'd checked Wyatt was our son, you always leaving elder. And even if he is the source I don't think he'll attack his own mother"

"I know he's my son too. And we don't know if he'll attack you or me. Chris didn't say where we are supposed to be in the future. May be Wyatt has us prisoners or something even worse "

A sudden orbed surprised them. Baby Wyatt smiled at them.

"Where was he?"

"Paige took him to the park. She had to baby sit that other baby and she decided to take them together".

Paige orbed immediately with a baby in her arms and a worried face.

"Oh, thank god you are here" she said with an angry face to baby Wyatt. The baby went to Leo and he held his father's legs as he was hiding from Paige.

"What's wrong Paige?" Leo asked taking the baby in his arms and smiling at him. Piper looked at her baby in her husband's arms thinking that sometimes she could remember why she had married Leo.

Paige sighed with frustration.

"Your baby is evil" she said tiredly.

Both Piper and Leo looked annoyed.

"Ok, ok, bad choice of words. He's too jealous and too cute, right Wyatt?"

The baby hid his head in his father's arms, it seemed like he didn't want to look at his aunt.

"What happened, weren't you at the park?"

"Yes, but Wyatt was jealous of Lucy. That's her name" Paige said showing the baby in her arms proudly.

"Oh, I didn't remember the telekinetic baby was a baby girl." Piper smiled at the baby and the baby giggled.

A big plastic ball appeared in the air and was thrown at baby Lisa, but Paige made it fall to the floor.

"They've been doing that all day. And when I took Lisa in my arms Wyatt orbed back or should I say he orbed away and I had to come to see if he was here. BTW, Wyatt can summon things."

"I think that my son has a girlfriend, right baby? You'll know how to show you like her in a sweeter way in the future" Leo smiled at Wyatt but the baby orbed away to his mother's arms.

"Oh, your father is just playing, my boy, You won't have girlfriends until you are twenty-one" Piper smiled as the baby giggled in her arms.

"Whatever. I have to return to the park, I don't understand how a magical baby ended up at the adopting system. But now that they are used to her powers her parents seem to be ok with it. I had to explain to them that she's not Carrie"

"Does she have more powers?"

"No, apparently just telekinesis, I'm not sure if she can orb but she's too young. May be she'll develop more powers later"

"I hope her adoptive parents are open to new ideas"

"They will be, she's too cute, they love her so much"

The ball tried to hit Paige in the head but it was immediately thrown at baby Wyatt, before hitting the baby it disappeared.

"Oh, cut it out you two...and thanks for stopping it Lisa. Wyatt you need a brother...you may be twice-blessed but you are not the only child in the world"

Wyatt started crying.

"Ok, see you later, sorry I can't baby-sit such a jealous magical baby. But I love you Wy, just remember Piper, I was raised as an only child and I'm not that spoiled. Seriously, you should think of him having a brother"

Paige orbed away.

"Oh...not spoiled my ". Piper mumbled and smiled at baby Wyatt "It's your father's fault right? He spoils you too much" Piper decided not to insist in the previous discussion with Leo. If she could be alone again she would try but till then she would play dumb with Leo.

"Well, he's my only son" he opened his arms but the baby remained in Piper's arms.

"Oh…don't be angry, Wyatt, it was just a little joke, of course you don't like her. She's a girl for God's sake. We don't like girls" he said giving Piper a grin.

They baby orbed back to Leo's arms. "Dadda" he said happily. "Look, he's talking more now. Soon, he'll be able to lift the spell"

"Yes, and give a speech at the congress too. Come on, Leo. We need to do something sooner, I know that bringing Chris back will be useless if he's under the spell but at least we can try to find out about the bond and talk to our little spoil brat of the future. "

"Piper, he killed the elders and he's the source of all evil, do you think he would just listen to his mom?"

"Yes, he would...god dam it! I'll make him listen..."

Leo looked at the baby. "How are your lessons going, son? Can you say through time and space?" the baby smiled and Leo suddenly felt something in his hand.

Piper laughed "OMG"

Leo shook the watch that had appeared in his hand.

"Well...he gave you time, didn't he?"

"Come on, Piper, they're calling me, I have to leave. Promise me you won't do anything stupid."

"Of course you are leaving." Piper looked at him impatiently and angry. "Tell me something Leo, why do you hate to think that Chris may be your son?"

Leo looked away.

"I couldn't sense a single thing from him and he hates me. If Chris is my son I'm the worst parent in the world. But do me a favor, if you give Wyatt a brother make sure I'm his dad" he looked at her sadly with loving eyes and he suddenly left Wyatt on the floor and orbed away.

"Dadda" Wyatt said sadly while his father's orbs disappeared.

"Yes, dadda is making mommy really angry. Will you help mommy draw a triquetra, little guy? Mommy won't listen to that stubborn elder. And Chris needs our help."

The baby smiled and Piper took him in her arms.

"If you ever have a brother, what kind of big brother would you be?" she asked him thoughtfully. The baby just smiled and she continued drawing with the baby in her arms and a sad expression on her face.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After hearing Mike's words Wyatt could read Chris' fear and he knew something was wrong. But no one else noticed anything, not even Patrick.

"Well I hope not everyone was warned. Chris marked many places so, if we hurry we'll catch enough witches." he changed his tone of voice and he turned to Patrick.

"How are things in the underworld, Patrick?"

"They are calm, sir"

"No more rumors?"

"No, sir"

Chris didn't show he didn't have a clue of what they were talking about.

"That's fine. I will check on that soon. Keep checking and if there are more rumors or rebellious demons, vanquish them and let me know."

"Of course, sir:"

Chris wanted to ask what that was about. When he had left the whole underworld belonged to Wyatt. It would be weird that there were rebellious demons.

'I'll tell you later, brother. Now stand up when I do the same' Wyatt sent him that thought after reading Chris'.

Wyatt stood up and Chris did the same..

"I want you all to go to those places and report the results directly to me, I'll be in my office with my brother"

While Wyatt was talking Chris could read one of Mike's thoughts.

"I knew he missed his brother too much. It was a matter of time before he turned. "

"NO, I HAVEN'T TURNED! IT'S A SPELL!" he thought desperate because there was no way of telling Mike that. He was surprise to read Mike's thoughts.

"I'm so relieved, Chris. Wyatt has my wife, that's why I'm doing this. I didn't know you were a telepath. "

"Well I didn't know that either. But don't talk to me any more because Wyatt was distracted but now he reads everything I think"

"All right"

Luckily, Wyatt was talking to Patrick at that moment.

"Remember I want Ashcroft and especially Brittany alive"

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, everybody, hurry up. Destroy all the places you can and kill all the witches. Mike I want you to stay. I have a few more questions to ask you"

"Yes sir" Michael answered with respect. With those words all the demons shimmered out leaving Chris, Mike and Wyatt alone.

Chris was surprised to read that apparently not all the respect Michael was showing to Wyatt was forced. He wondered what the hell Wyatt had done to Mike's wife. Lucy was human and Michael wasn't a real powerful witch. He had only one power and that was to see what a person was doing when he focused on that person. But he had to know where the person was to do that. And if it was a witch with emphatic powers they could sense he was watching. It was still an interesting power for spying. No wondered Wyatt was interested in it .Chris wondered how he managed to make everyone including him think Lucy was dead and what was he doing to her.

Wyatt and Chris sat again and Wyatt turned to Michael.

"Tell me, what the rumors were about?. Did they know about Chris? Who warned you? "

"I don't know for sure but apparently the information came from Ashcroft and Brittany. They told us last night to leave and that Ashcroft will explain it better in a reunion. Some rumors said that Chris was back and with you due to a potion, that Ashcroft was already working on the antidote but no one was really sure if that was true or a rumor"

Chris felt fear again but Wyatt didn't show any reaction. That was worse, Chris thought.

"Anything else I need to know?" Wyatt's tone was deadly calm.

"No, sir."

Point the location of the new shelter, then go but keep me informed and let me know when you have the place of the meeting"

"Yes, sir" Michael did what he was asked and then he shimmered out touching his amulet. Everything carefully watched by Wyatt.

After Michael left, Wyatt put his arms around Chris' neck with such strength that he almost choked him and he flamed them to an office with two chairs behind a desk. Chris was sitting by Wyatt's side. Wyatt turned to Chris.

"What do you think of that warning? " his tone was neutral but Chris could read the anger rising on him.

"Someone very smart must have done it" Chris could read Wyatt was completely sure it was him. He instinctively tried to orb away. But he was just fading away when he heard Wyatt's voice in his head calling him and he was instantly back in his chair. He looked at Wyatt, annoyed. He realized that Wyatt knew the truth and all he could do was face his brother's anger. But he wouldn't make it any easier for Wyatt. He looked at his brother and asked angrily.

"You had enough fun with me, why can't I leave now?"

"I think you had some fun too." As Chris seemed annoyed Wyatt added quickly "Don't try to lie I could read how much you enjoyed it"

"May be a little but not much, I would really prefer to leave" he smiled weakly thinking that Wyatt had a point there. It had been fun. And it could have been really fun if they weren't talking about killing his friends. He wished he could join Wyatt for real, the nice part had been pretending they were on the same side. Wyatt read that thought and he smiled triumphantly, then he changed his tone of voice to a threatening one.

"Besides, you don't want to miss the real fun when I punish that super-smart person, right brother?" He said almost teasingly, then he hardened his tone of voice "No, you'll stay by my side as it's meant to be. Don't you dare leave that chair until I say you can."

Wyatt made a pause and he added with a false calmed. "You know, I won't send demons to the place Mike pointed out because the others could realize he's a spy and he's still too useful for me. But I'll send some demons to some places near the shelter and they'll probably catch someone sooner or later but they won't realize I know where the shelter is. I've done that for months and that's how I've captured many witches. "

Chris looked at him with disgust.

"Twice blessed and smart! I guess you have everything, right? What do you want, a compliment?" Chris made a pause and he added with even more irony. "You are great, Watt! I wish I could slaughter people as well as you do."

Wyatt got even madder and Chris thought that may be it was better to shut up for a while. His brother was already pissed. But Chris couldn't help feeling mad at the calmness Wyatt use to refer to killing Chris' friends and innocents that had done nothing wrong except for thinking that Wyatt shouldn't be controlling everything. And that didn't want their children to grow up in a destroyed world.

Wyatt remained in silence and he locked eyes with him before making the next question "What I meant was, is Mike the only one really helping me here? Tell me Christopher, do you think my demons will find someone in those places you pointed out?"

"Probably not", Chris didn't even blink when he answered and he knew Wyatt was reading him carefully. It was useless to pretend any longer, Chris knew that. And as he couldn't leave, defying his brother was all he could do. "I'm not a murderer and I'm not a traitor Wyatt" he said looking directly in his brother's eyes.

"That depends on what side you are considering, right?" Wyatt sent Chris a deadly look.

They were interrupted by a demon.

"Sir, there was no one there"

"Have they left the place recently or a long time ago?"

"Recently."

"Then they must be near by. Find them!"

The demon shimmered out immediately. Another demon appeared and he told Wyatt almost the same words Demons kept shimmering in to report. Except for some demons that said that the shelters had been abandoned a long time ago everyone had the same results. Wyatt was getting madder every moment. He sent all the demons to go and with orders to come back with someone or not come back at all.

Patrick was the last one that shimmered in.

"Sir, the shelter had been abandoned a short time ago. None of my demons found anyone at any of the places, but some of the places had been left recently. I think the people in there had been warned some how" he looked intentionally at Chris when he said that. Chris faced him with despise. Wyatt glanced at Chris making him feel even more fear and then he spoke to Patrick with impatience.

"If it was abandoned a short time ago, why are you waiting to search for them! Track them, do a spell, do your job god dam it"

"I'm sorry sir, I think they are protecting themselves somehow"

"Well...then find a way to get through their protections. The power of three is not protecting them anymore so make yourself useful and don't come back until you have some news. If someone warned them I'll take care of that."

Patrick looked at Chris one last time clearly thinking that he was the person that had warned them was, but he just turned to Wyatt, lowered his head and answered.

"Yes, sir."

And he shimmered out.

Wyatt turned to Chris with a not very friendly look. Chris looked at him with a calmness he didn't really feel.

"Hey, Wy." he said almost playfully. "Have I ever told you are my favorite brother and my favorite evil tyrant in the whole history of the world?"

"Not really. Well, you are my favorite brother, too. Of course, may be that's because you are my only brother. And apparently my favorite brother needs to be reminded about his priorities." Wyatt answered coldly throwing Chris from his chair telepathically. He stood up and he made Chris fly to the wall. Then to the roof and then to the wall again. Chris felt his back hit the wall. Before he could stand up, Wyatt choked him, making him fall against the wall, while he approached him. He choked him until Chris reached the floor then he made him stand up and shook him.

"And now Christopher" Wyatt said while Chris was still coughing in his arms, looking a little dizzy. "You'll tell me exactly how you did it and I'll tell you exactly why you won't do anything like that again".

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII TBC IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII TBC IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII