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Chapter 9: Attacking Orders
Wyatt's steely gaze encompassed Darryl's dishevelled and bloodstained appearance. His lips tightened imperceptibly. It wasn't so much the actuality of it but the principal. He had given strict orders that Darryl was not to be hurt.
"You had your orders." Wyatt spat at the demons who had brought Darryl. He narrowed his eyes at them, making sure they could see his apparent burning rage.
There was a pause, the demons exchanging fear filled looks. "My…My Lord?" one of them ventured almost timidly.
"He was not to be harmed." Wyatt emphasised each syllable, yet again let the only outward sign of anger be in his eyes.
"I believe he…he fought against coming here." the demon tried to explain, lowering his red eyes in a show of deference.
Wyatt paused briefly, inwardly admiring the cunning of the demon. The demon was subtly informing Wyatt that he had not been involved in this, yet it was not blatant enough for the lower intelligence of the other demon to recognise.
However, now was not the time for all this. Wyatt beckoned imperiously to the demon, while with an easy flick of his fingers conjured flames to engulf the other.
"What's your name?" he demanded over the brief screaming of the dying demon.
"Kezlar, my Lord."
Wyatt briefly studied the demon, aware time was moving on and he needed to question Darryl. Kezlar was a brute demon, 'that much was obvious', mused Wyatt. Tall, muscled and almost human in appearance.
"I have a job for you." Wyatt instructed Kezlar. "Kill Dracnis for me."
"The demon who led your troops here?" clarified Kezlar, the importance of this task not lost on him.
"Yes. Kill him then return here. Wait outside until I summon you." commanded Wyatt.
A feverish light glowed in the demons red eyes as he murmured, "Yes my Lord."
Wyatt waited until the door had been closed behind Kezlar before turning his attention to Darryl.
Darryl had remained silent throughout the proceedings, still desperately clinging onto the last verges of consciousness.
"Sit." Wyatt commanded, telekinetically moving a chair in front of the desk.
To hurt and weary to protest Darryl painfully lowered himself into the chair and sat silently, waiting for Wyatt to say something; to give a reason for all this bloodshed.
Wyatt leant back in his chair his gaze locked on Darryl but his mouth unmoving.
Darryl glared back, feeling some of his strength come back to him now he was sitting. 'Two can play at this game.' Darryl thought bitterly, refusing to be the first to break the silence.
After a few minutes of this uncomfortable silence Wyatt nodded to himself. He had never expected Darryl to give in.
"So." he pronounced, his voice deep and powerful.
"So." agreed Darryl. "You are behind this then. All the killings."
"I am."
Darryl frowned. He thought he could detect traces of amusement in Wyatt's expression. "Why." he demanded tightly.
"Why? Quite simply, Uncle Darryl, because I can."
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Chris materialised in a narrow, gloomy alleyway. The sudden and unusual bright light disrupting a scavenging rat rooting through the discarded rubbish bags. The rat paused, sniffing the air, then at a slight movement from Chris, scurried away into the shadows.
Not noticing this movement Chris crept towards the mouth of the alley, cautiously peering round the crumbling brick walls.
The amount of activity and the sheer number of demons proved to Chris his hunch was right. The city hall was where Wyatt's operations seemed to be based.
Chris settled down to watch, his keen eyes studying every movement in front of him. He wondered if he could get inside without being spotted. Orbing was most definitely out of the question. The place would be protected against that, without a doubt.
But then how to find out what the demons next plans were?
His brow furrowed in concentration as he debated the problem.
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Prue drummed her fingers impatiently on the table. Chris had only been gone for fifteen minutes but it felt like a lifetime. She felt so helpless!
"So the crystals wont allow any demons to enter?" Sheila tried to clarify, more for the sake of making conversation than wanting to know the details.
Prue shook her head. "They won't allow anyone to enter. Not just demons."
"Oh. That's good then." Sheila offered a smile at Prue.
Prue, realising Sheila was trying to take her mind off what was happening outside, gave Sheila a watery smile in return.
She opened her mouth to make some conversational comment when a pulse of energy from the crystals made her jump out of her seat.
"What…?" Sheila began nervously.
"Someone's trying to get in."
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Kezlar let a satisfied smirk twist his features as Dracnis' surprised shouts faded into the fiery furnace.
The door burst open as a breathless demon searched for the source of the yelling.
"Orders." Kezlar informed her, "From Lord Wyatt himself."
The demon tried to wipe the uncertainty off her face. One did not question Lord Wyatt's orders. She nodded and left the room, Kezlar following behind.
Kezlar stumped his way back up to Lord Wyatt's office, so lost in his triumph that he didn't notice the scuffle of confusion until he had almost walked into the diminutive looking demon with the pointed nose who was making most of the fuss.
"I'm telling you it was him!" the demon insisted, "Lord Wyatt must be told!"
Another demon snarled condescendingly, "And you're sure are you? If you want to die then go ahead and tell Lord Wyatt yourself."
Kezlar interrupted, "What is going on?" he demanded.
"Marzo, there, reckons he saw the youngest Charmed son outside in an alley." sneered the second demon.
"And why is that so unbelievable Jarga?" demanded Marzo, "Sounds like you're trying to protect him."
"How dare you!" yelled Jarga, a spitting energy ball forming in his hand, "I am loyal to Lord Wyatt!"
"Shut up." cut in Kezlar. "You," he pointed to Marzo, "Come with me. Lord Wyatt needs to hear this."
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Sheila felt her breath catch in her throat as Prue grabbed a potion off the table and entered the hallway.
She followed Prue's example, picking up a cloudy potion and positioning herself in the doorway
Prue swung round, noticed Sheila and pulled a face. "I can't see anything."
"Nothing can get in anyway though can it?" Sheila reiterated.
"Nope." Prue agreed.
There was a brief pause as they both stood listening. "So, what does this one do?" Sheila asked, gesturing to the potion she was holding.
"It's a one size only vanquishing potion!" Prue quipped, breaking the tension. "Basically it should vanquish most demons, and even hurt upper level ones."
"Oh right. So…"
Sheila broke off as the pulse of energy came again. The crystal near the front door glowed brightly and splinters of white light spun off encasing the house in a protective bubble.
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"Because you can." Darryl repeated flatly, disgust very much in evidence on his face. "Because you can?" he repeated in a sudden burst of vehemence and disbelief.
"I am the most powerful being alive on this planet so give me one good reason why I shouldn't rule it." Wyatt replied calmly.
Darryl was lost for words for a moment and a wave of dizziness and nausea hit him. He forced himself to swallow and give Wyatt an answer, "It's…It's wrong!" he insisted.
"Wrong?" repeated Wyatt, rising form his seat, "You mean evil? What is evil? Answer me that."
"Wha…? Evil is…is…"
"Is what?" demanded Wyatt, passion burning in his eyes, a fervent expression on his face, "You don't know what it is. It's just something designed to prevent us from reaching our potential. The world's not about good and evil; it's about power!"
Wyatt paused breathing heavily and sat down again. He continued, calmer this time, "You see Darryl, it really is that simple. I have the most power therefore I can, and will, rule."
"And this is how you go about it, is it? Killing and murdering." Darryl knew it was hopeless but he still felt he had to try to make Wyatt see sense.
"If necessary, yes."
Darryl stared back into the eyes of a cold-hearted monster. Nothing could be more clearer that the happy child he had seen grow up was no longer recognisable.
The faint sound of rough voices could be heard growling outside the door followed by a heavy knock at the door.
The faint traces of a frown flickered across Wyatt's face. "I gave orders not to be disturbed." he muttered angrily.
The knock sounded again, not hesitant but urgent.
Wyatt sighed in annoyance. "Come in." he directed coldly.
The door opened and Kezlar entered, closely followed by Marzo. "I am sorry to interrupt my Lord, I know you gave orders not to be disturbed, however this demon has something to tell you, which may be of immediate importance."
Wyatt switched his gaze to the trembling, watery-eyed demon, "Well?"
"My Lord," Marzo began in wavering tones, "I…I…I am a shapeshifter and…and while transformed in an alley very close to here I saw a…a young man orb in. It…it was…your brother, I am sure of it My Lord."
"Chris? Here?" A slight grin of amusement flittered across Wyatt's face, "What was he doing?"
"Watching this building My Lord." Marzo replied, trying to inject some confidence into his voice, "He appeared to be studying what was going on."
"And he didn't see you?" asked Wyatt lazily.
"No, My Lord, I was transformed, as a rat, you see. I came here to tell you as soon as I could."
Kezlar let out a snort of derision, "And every other demon along the way." he sneered.
Wyatt quelled Kezlar with an icy look. "Other's know about this?" he enquired calmly.
"I…I only told a….a few My Lord." muttered Marzo.
"Very well, have you anything else to add?"
Marzo shook his head, looking desperate to get out of Wyatt's gaze. "No, My Lord."
"Good." Wyatt stretched out a hand towards the demon and suddenly clenched his fist.
Darryl looked on in horror as Marzo gasped for breath, scaly hands grasping at his throat. Marzo's bulbous eyes swelled as the demon's air supply was cut off and exploded in a shriek, leaving behind the faint acrid smell of burning.
Wyatt turned to Kezlar, "Round up those who have been told of my brother's presence and go with them to capture him, if he is still there. Do not let him escape."
"Yes, My Lord. No, My Lord."
Kezlar turned to go but stopped as Wyatt added on "And make sure he is not harmed. At all." Wyatt paused significantly, "This is an absolute order. You saw what will happen if an accident happens."
Kezlar swallowed nervously, "Yes, My Lord."
"Oh, and make sure the demons are all killed after they have done their job. I don't want this getting out." Wyatt added almost casually.
Kezlar nodded. "Absolutely, My Lord."