Chapter 13:
"It's good to see you, brother. I'm glad you came" Wyatt said calmly, gesturing for Chris to sit in the chair opposite him.
"I wasn't aware I had any choice in the matter." Chris retorted, giving Wyatt a quick scowl before seating himself in the hard backed chair.
Wyatt laughed, "True." he conceded, "although you do only have yourself to blame. Did you really think that I wouldn't have my stronghold watched?"
"So this is your stronghold, huh?" questioned Chris nonchalantly.
A small grin of satisfaction spread across Wyatt's face, "Christopher, Christopher, do you really think that I am going to give you any information about my activities that you could not have already worked out? And to be perfectly honest, even if it were not obvious where my operations above ground are based, what could you do with the information?"
"You mean seeing as you are keeping me prisoner." Chris muttered sullenly, annoyed Wyatt could see straight through him.
Wyatt's grin widened. "Precisely."
"Don't be so smug!" Chris ground out, unable to contain his annoyance, "You think you've won? You think everyone is just going to give up? Well think again, Wyatt! Maybe you should open your eyes to the world outside. The army is besieging the city and it wont be long before everyone unites against you."
Every trace of levity had left Wyatt's eyes. "And so what if they do?" he demanded coldly, "Even if every man, woman and child fought with everything they had they could not overthrow me. I am the wielder of Excalibur and if I wish to rule, then so be it!"
"You weren't given that sword to murder and destroy!" yelled Chris heatedly.
"No-one gave me the sword." Wyatt spat back, rising up and placing his hands on the table, leaning forwards to look Chris in the face, "I was born to it, to do whatever I want. I am the twice-blessed and I have been blessed with the power to take control."
"And so that's what you're going to do?" cut in Chris, "Take control? Simply because you can?"
Wyatt sighed, sitting back down again, "Why can you not see this the way I do? None of you can. You, Prue, Mum… you all act like you were given your powers to save people who would destroy you if they realised your true potential. It's time to stop hiding and be proud of who we are!"
Chris glared; his brown eyes piercing Wyatt's blue ones. "That may work on demonic rabble." he retorted, "But not on me, nor anyone with any shred of humanity in them. What ever you wish to believe, we were given out powers to help, Wyatt, not to harm."
Wyatt shook his head in disbelief. "Listen to yourself! The Elders have brainwashed you. Their only reason for their preaching is that they fear control may be taken away from them. They fear that one day someone will be powerful enough to remove their incessant meddling. That's why they feared the Avatars so much; they saw themselves in them."
Chris shook his head in disgust. "You've changed Wyatt." he said simply, "You used to truly believe in good but now you're just obsessed with power."
"There is no good and evil, Chris. Simply two sides, each of which strive to overcome the other. The concepts of good and evil are simply their recruitment methods."
Wyatt leaned forwards, his eyes alight in fervour, "Join me, Chris. Fight with me. Together we could be so strong."
Chris shook his head. "No." he replied firmly, "I'm sorry, Wyatt, I really am. But I can't fight with you. I wont."
"Then so be it." Wyatt spat angrily. He reached across the table and orbed them down to Chris's cell in what had formerly been the basement.
"What are we doing?" Chris asked, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. He felt naked and defenceless being unable to use his powers.
"You've made your choice." Wyatt replied, "Now live with the consequences. You've put yourself with my enemies, so I will treat you like one of them."
'So he already has enemies', Chris mused silently, 'There are people out there who knew what he was planning.'
"You've allied yourself with the Elders." Wyatt continued, "Our mother would be ashamed. You now how much she hated those arrogant busybodies."
"You wont turn me Wyatt." Chris said absently, his mind on what Wyatt had just said. The Elders? They had known. But that must mean…Leo, their father had known what his eldest son was up to, and…done nothing?
"Where are Prue and Aunt Sheila?" Wyatt demanded suddenly.
"Wha-" Chris was brought back to the present, "Why would I tell you?" he attempted a sneer, trying to appear defiant.
"To prevent this from happening." Wyatt replied ominously. He stretched a hand in Chris's direction and clenched his fist. Chris gasped as he tried to find air. He felt like his throat had been closed off. He fell to his knees as his vision blurred. Air. He needed air!
Wyatt withdrew his hand and Chris collapsed on the floor, his breathing coming in great gasps. Wyatt waited until Chris had regained a semblance of regular breathing before asking again, "Where are Prue and Sheila?"
"I don't know." Chris replied hurriedly, "Really! I don't."
"They're not at home." Wyatt told him, watching Chris for any reaction to his words, "Now where else could they be?"
Chris shrugged, "Sorry, I can't help you with that."
This time Chris managed to gulp in a lungful of air before Wyatt started to strangle him. However Wyatt kept his telekinetic grip on him for longer, waiting until Chris had almost passed out before letting up.
Choking Chris scrambled to his feet, inwardly cursing Wyatt's magical anklet, which was preventing him from using his powers in defence.
"I told you!" he rasped, "I don't know where they are! Last time I saw them they were at the house." 'Thank God' Chris added mentally, 'At least not knowing where they are means I can't give it away.'
"Hmmmm." Wyatt looked almost as if he believed Chris.
"I'm telling the truth." Chris insisted, "And while we're at it; where's Uncle Darryl? I know he's still alive."
Wyatt smiled cruelly, "I'm asking the questions here Christopher. You? You don't get to."
"Damn you Wyatt." Chris exclaimed angrily, "I just want to know if he's ok!"
"And I just want to know where Prue and Aunt Sheila are."
Chris exploded, "I'm telling you I don't know!"
"I can hear you perfectly well. I'm just not sure if I believe you." Wyatt replied calmly.
Chris threw up his hands in exasperation, "Well fine then, keep asking. But all you're going to get is the same answer. I. Don't. Know."
"Well, well. We'll see." Wyatt told him, "I'll be back to see you later."
"So you're just going to leave me here?" demanded Chris.
Wyatt smirked, "As I said earlier, you made your choice. You've made your bed, now lie in it. Hope you're not afraid of the dark. And don't try any magic, and if you do, the anklet will give you a painful reminder why not to. Sleep tight little brother."