Reese threw herself down to the ground just in time before a fireball collided with the wall behind her followed by loud shouting further down the corridor and the sound of heavy footsteps. She grabbed a potion out of her bag and threw it across the room where it collided with the demon's shoulder but he only snarled and turned back to face her. Reese telekinetically sent him flying into a wall before rising to her feet and hurling another vial of potion at the demon who shrieked in surprise and burst into flames followed by a sharp, fiery impact hitting her back, knocking all the air out of her and pitching her forward into the dirt. Reese struggled to get to her feet but her back throbbed phenomenally though she managed to push herself up on her elbows, her fingers reaching for the last vial of potion just out of reach. She felt something crushing her wrist and she cried out, instantly seeing the demon hovering above her, a wicked grin across his face and he grabbed the vial and tossed it across the room, the sound of it shattering filling Reese's ears. He snatched at her arm and rolled her onto her back, causing her to yelp in pain as dirt and stones dug into the wound on her back.
"So pitiful and weak." The demon spat at her before pulling a sharp athemae out of his belt. Reese tried to rise even though her back flared up with white hot pain but he was too quick for her and he drove the dagger home. She wheezed as the cool blade slid easily into her gut and it wasn't long before metallic filled her mouth. Reese let out a choked breath as agony overcame her. She hollered as the demon swiftly removed the dagger, wiping it clean on his coat, all the while with a pleased smile across his lips. Reese tried desperately to move but the pain shooting through every inch of her body was becoming too much and black spots danced into her vision almost as quickly as she tried to blink them away. He rose from her side, clearly savouring the moment of her death, listening to the struggling breaths of the dying witch at his feet and the smell of her pure blood. Reese closed her eyes, feeling out for the last time with her powers, enabling herself to push the demon off his feet long enough for her to use her last ounce of strength to locate the broken vial of potion metres away from her, using every fibre of her power to hurl the muddy dirt into his face as he tried to rise. The demon roared, the attack unexpected and he screamed as a fiery hole opened beneath him, swallowing him entirely. Reese panted as breathing became more difficult and the pain became too much but something inside of her wasn't willing to giving up, something fought herself to stay awake and save her strength enough to yell out, "Chris!" with all her might. She wheezed as another wave of pain overpowered her and Reese closed her eyes, her mind beginning to drift slightly as her senses began to dull. She felt something warm and reassuring against her face and she wondered whether she was dying, whether she was close to heaven and wrapped in its welcoming affection but a muffled voice broke into her subconscious and she felt the soothing hand against her forehead and someone calling to her.
"Reese? Reese! Baby, oh god, baby, can you hear me? Stay with me!" Reese forced her eyes to open slowly as she coughed up blood, staring straight up into Chris' face and there she saw the tears in his bright green eyes and the sobs racking him as his lip quivered in sorrow. He lifted her into his arms which only caused the pain in Reese's abdomen and back to increase ten fold before the familiar sensation of orbing wrapped around her and she found herself on a soft lounge in the Halliwell manor, Chris screaming Wyatt's name with all his might as Piper, Leo, Phoebe and Coop came racing into the room from the kitchen, horror written clearly across their features.
"Oh my god, Reese!" Piper shrieked, kneeling by Reese's pale and clammy form as she began choking on her own blood.
"C-Ch-Chris." She whimpered as blood continued to bubble to her lips and she saw the undeniable fear in his eyes. Reese knew then that he felt the some way she did. That losing him would destroy her and that losing her would destroy him and she tried with all her might to hang on just a little while longer, though her lungs were filling with blood and her breathing was almost non-existent. Blue lights materialised beside her and Wyatt was leaning over her in an instant, his hands shaking but a warm glow emanating all the same as she felt her body begin to heal.
"Why is this taking so long?" Chris cried out, his eyes demanding and terrified and Wyatt swung around to him, his emotions equally ravelled and yelled back, "Because she was almost lost to us!" The glow in his hands continued as Reese felt the pain fade away and disappear as she sucked in a deep breath and weakly pulled herself into a sitting position, her limbs feeling like jelly. Instantly she felt herself wrapped in Chris' arms, his whole body shaking with adrenaline and worry as he clutched at her tightly. Reese heard Piper clear her throat pointedly at the moment between Chris and Reese and she heard sets of footsteps clearing the room to leave them both alone. They both pulled away from each other slightly and Chris placed a gentle, loving kiss against her lips and sighed, releasing a tired breath.
"Can we go somewhere a little more private?" Reese asked quietly, her eyes brimming with tears. She had no other choice now but to tell Chris the truth and hope he wouldn't get hurt in the process. They were too connected now for Reese to deny her calling. She wouldn't let Barbas overpower her. She couldn't. Somehow they would find a way. Chris nodded and when Reese opened her eyes they were seated on the top of Golden Gate bridge and the sun was just beginning to peak above the horizon, the road below almost completely empty and a soothing breeze ruffling her hair.
"I don't know what I would have done..." Chris began but stopped when tears clouded his eyes again and he sighed and squared his jaw, trying to hold them back.
"I know." Reese whispered, staring up into his face, her eyes similarly filled with tears.
"Barbas threatened to kill you all if I didn't go to him. I thought I had no other choice..." Reese began, gazing down at the road below them and let her shoulders slump forward.
"You always have a choice. You should have told us. We're more powerful together than divided." Chris explained, looking pointedly at her but Reese kept her head down and continued, "I didn't want you to get hurt. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you." She stood up from her sitting position and gazed out over the bay, the first rays of sunlight shimmering across the water and she saw Chris do the same.
"I saw you die in my dreams. I saw you all die horribly and it was all because of me. All he wanted was me. I was prepared to give him that. Anything to see you safe." Reese said all at once, the chill morning air whipping her hair about her face as tears ran in lines down her cheeks. She closed her eyes momentarily and drew her eyebrows downward, recalling that dream and how it had torn her heart asunder.
"We need to deal with this together. I can't lose you. I won't." Chris answered, his voice low and determined and he turned to look at Reese, seeing the guilt that had been tearing her apart all these months surfacing and she let more tears escape her eyes, fearing the unknown, fearing what she had thought was a glimpse of the future.
"I can't, Chris. Your family is in danger because of me and I won't let him hurt them. I won't let him take you away from me." Reese said the last part in a whisper, her lip quivering with the raw emotion in her heart. How she felt about Chris couldn't be compared to anything she had ever previously felt. Her heart was on fire for him and she couldn't risk losing him because of an enemy she had known as hers since her mother's death. It wasn't fair on him and it certainly wasn't fair on his family. She wouldn't and couldn't force his hand and Reese knew more than anything else that if she wasn't able to protect him then there was no point in fighting the battle.
"I'm not going anywhere." He said simply, his voice soft and caring and when Reese looked up into his face she saw the unmoving resolve in his eyes. So sure was he of the battle ahead and in his eyes he spoke volumes, reassuring her that they were better off together, to fight together and to overcome whatever lay ahead of them. Chris grasped her hand softly and placed something small and cool in her palm. Reese looked down at her hand and gasped at the beautiful silver ring resting gently against her palm, the modest band inscribed on the inside with two simple words. 'Yours Always' and set with three small blue stones. The silver shimmered in the early morning light and she looked up into his face again and saw the smile lifting at the corners of his mouth.
"Marry me." It was a simple request and Reese smiled as Chris took the ring from her palm and placed it on the marriage finger on her left hand. She didn't say anything, only grabbed his shirt forcefully and planted a passionate kiss on his lips, feeling his strong arms wrapping around her before she whispered in his ear, "I'm yours always."
Another chapter up, let me know what you think? Things are about to get very interesting! If I don't get enough responses I'm seriously considering stopping this story, I don't really want to as I have some ideas but I feel there isn't much point if people aren't enjoying it. Thanks guys!
alae-megallen