Thanks to Sparkling Cherries and LilPKLoser for reviewing!
Chapter 3: The Dawn Of A New Day
The sword cut cleanly through the air, a whistling arc of cold metal. The flickering flames of the surrounding candles gave no reflection in its harsh grey blade yet, to an observer, the long dark shadow of the sword was more ominous. Anticipation was often much more fearsome than the actual object.
This was something Wyatt knew well. He rarely used Excalibur in a fight; the threat of it was enough to quell any thoughts a demon might have of overthrowing him.
But still, Wyatt liked to be prepared for any eventuality, so he practised, as he was doing now.
Wyatt's steel blue eyes were filled with anticipation as he expertly stabbed Excalibur forward in what would have been a killing stroke for his imaginary opponent.
He paused, resting for a moment, his mind full of triumph.
It was nearly ready to be put in motion. Soon his plan would play out and when it had finished…
Wyatt felt a cruel smirk spread across his face as he contemplated what the completion of his plans would bring about.
San Francisco would not know what had hit it.
The towering bookcases of the Magic school library held so much magic and knowledge that Chris was unsure of where to begin. He wasn't even sure what he was looking for. His books had yielded no information or possible suspects for the bout of recent demon attacks so Chris had decided to use the infinite resources of Magic school to try to help him. The only problem was that there wasn't much to go on.
Chris still had the athame found at the latest attacks but it was of a type that was so commonly used in the Underworld that it was impossible to even begin to make up a list of likely suspects.
The problem of Wyatt was still preying on Chris's mind but he decided that the attacks were more pressing and that he would focus on them, unless…
Chris couldn't dispel the persistent thought that Wyatt was somehow involved in the attacks. He wasn't sure what made him think that or why Wyatt would be involved. Allying himself with demons was one thing, but killing innocents? Chris had never hoped so fervently that he was wrong. There could be no coming back from that for Wyatt.
Chris grabbed a few books off the shelf that looked as if they could be useful and settled himself down at one of the many deserted tables to look through them.
The library was silent. It wasn't the whispering quietness punctuated by the occasional giggle or ringing phone that was the normal occurrence in libraries, but a still and almost fearful silence.
There were only a few other students in the library. The fate of Magic school was still uncertain, almost three months after his Aunt Paige's death. Everybody knew that demons were getting more and more confident since the ending of the Power of Three and the vanishing, 'or was it turning?' wondered Chris, of the Twice Blessed, and Magic school, as a place entirely full of witches, was a likely target in the near future.
Chris began flicking through the pages of the books, briefly glancing at each demon before deciding that it didn't have either the intelligence or the interest to be organising and overseeing the attacks.
As the pile of used books grew higher and higher, and Chris realised that he had worked through the night, he finally gave up his search. He had found nothing whatsoever that was any help to him.
'What could unite the demons so fiercely?' wondered Chris. Then, as a realisation struck him, he groaned at his previous blindness.
A new source.
Or at least a demon who was bringing demons under his control in order to take up the long vacated position of the source.
'It has to be.' thought Chris bitterly, 'And it's down to me to stop him. But how?"
'I need information.' he realised, 'And the only way to get that is a little trip down under.'
"My Lord. Everything is ready."
Wyatt couldn't escape the cruel pleasure that spread through him at those words. This was it. Everything he had been aiming for, he was about to get. Nothing and no one could stop him now.
"We will wait until the optimum moment to strike." he told his inner circle of demon, who were once more arrayed around him, "We must wait until our diversionary attack will create the most confusion. Then…" Wyatt's mouth twisted in a satisfied sneering smile, "We will attack. And we will conquer."
In the network of caves surrounding the great cavern, most of the demons were gradually shimmering out, leaving only the necessary guards behind. They were shimmering to predetermined meeting points all over the Underworld, where they, and many other demons and evil beings, began to prepare themselves for the fight that was to come.
Demons of every size, shape, and colour were obtaining athames and other deadly weapons from Wyatt's demonic suppliers, while other demons and warlocks were powering up practise energy or fireballs and bouncing them up and down in eager anticipation.
In his luscious quarters Wyatt was pacing around impatiently, listening to various report brought to him about the city. By keeping himself informed, Wyatt made sure he would know when the right moment to strike was. Not at rush hour when there were the most people around, because while that outcome may be desirable it was not the main focus of this attack. No. The majority of designated targets needed to be alone, yet alert enough to fight a little, hence the attack would take place in the morning.
As the time drew nearer, Wyatt allowed himself to envisage how San Francisco would be tonight.
It would belong to him.
And a new era would have begun.
Chris swore silently as a large and immensely muscled brute demon lifted his enormous head to find the source of the blue-white light that had momentarily dispelled the usually permanent shadows of the cave.
Chris froze, praying the brute demon would ignore the mysterious light or, if not, at least not call it to the attention of the numerous other demons prowling around the system of caves.
One brute demon, Chris could handle, a dozen of them would be a lot trickier.
Chris backed away deeper into the shadows as the brute demon, thankfully alone, approached, an almost comical expression of concentration and thoughtfulness appearing in its normally blank eyes.
Brute demons were known for their immense strength rather than their intellect and Chris grinned triumphantly as the brute demon lost interest and returned to his position guarding one of the entrances to the cave.
Careful not to make the slightest noise, Chris slipped across the cave and cautiously exited through the other archway.
He found himself in a wide curving passageway, lit by candles, which were casting their flickering light onto the gruesome images carved into the walls.
Chris suppressed a shudder as he cast a curious glance at the engraved pictures nearest to him. They were crude carvings but nevertheless managed to convey the desired pain and torment being inflicted on the stone witches.
'I must be getting close.' realised Chris, thankfully turning his attention away from the images. The mere fact that these caves and their interlocking passages had been guarded meant that this was where some sort of powerful leader was to be found. 'Hopefully the one I'm looking for.' Chris thought.
Chris tightened his grasp around his athame as he approached a huge arched window set into the inside curve of the passage. Cautiously hitching an eye around the thick stone ledge Chris peered out onto a vast cavern.
It was devoid of life at the moment apart from the ceremonially dressed demonic guards stationed at each entrance, but Chris could tell that this was a meeting place.
Chris considered his options; so far he had not been spotted but if he waited to see if anything happened in the cavern a demon might chance upon him and sound the alarm that someone knew where they were located. If that happened Chris knew that the demons would abandon this place and descend upon another that would no doubt be much better hidden and guarded. This would make them almost impossible to find again.
On the other hand if he stayed then he could find out important information that could help immensely in defeating this new evil.
Before Chris could decide, the decision was made for him as about a dozen or so demons strode through the guarded entrances and formed a circle in the centre of the cavern. They left a gap around a slightly raised area of stone as if they were expecting someone else, 'Probably the leader.' Chris hazarded a guess.
Chris lent slightly out to get a better view of the proceedings. He knew that if a demon should cast a casual glance around what appeared to be the viewing gallery that he would be spotted immediately. But Chris decided the risk was worth it to get a clear idea of what was going on.
Nothing was happening at the moment. They appeared to be silently waiting for their leader to approach.
Chris waited with them, almost holding his breath in anticipation. Who would this leader be? How powerful a demon? With what powers?
A movement at an entrance apparently adorned with gold carvings caught Chris's attention. The leader was entering.
A tall, human looking figure approached the circle wreathed in shadows. Chris was unable to make out his face but a glinting sword at his waist looked vaguely familiar to Chris.
The leader stepped up to fill in the circle and for the first time Chris was able to see clearly the face of the new source.
It was Wyatt.
Chris felt his mouth drop open and a soundless gasp escaped. No. This couldn't be.
No!
Chris felt almost dizzy as he reeled from the shock.
His own brother was the new source?
His own brother was the one organising the attacks that had killed so many innocents.
How could this be?
'There must be some mistake.' Chris thought wildly even as his senses told him that there was no mistake. That was his brother surrounded by upper level demons and demanding to know if his troops were in place.
'Troops?' Chris mouthed silently.
"Everyone is in position, My Lord." An unctuous looking demon informed Wyatt.
With an unrecognisable cold look in his eyes Wyatt gave the orders that would change the history of San Francisco forever. "Very well. We attack NOW!"