Legacy 105: With Mortals Like These
Part 2
Xxx
Early in the morning, Wyatt Halliwell headed down the stairs of the manor with a bag of camera equipment around his shoulder. He had a shoot for a local nature magazine in a little while, and he had to be in the park to take pictures with an expert on butterflies or something. It was not a very exciting shoot, but as a freelancer, he had to take what he could get. He also could not be late again. As he grabbed his coat and headed to the door, the bell suddenly rang.
Wyatt opened the door and saw Ryan, his sister's boyfriend, standing there. Even though they had been dating for about three years, Wyatt really didn't know him that well, since Melinda had decided to live a magic-free life and wasn't around as much as she used to be. Additionally, they were probably busy with the restaurant all the time.
"Ryan, hey." Wyatt said surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Hey, Wyatt." Ryan replied. "Is this a bad time? I was actually hoping to talk to you about something."
"Uh, sure, I got a photo shoot in a little while, but I got a few minutes." Wyatt said. "Come in."
Wyatt let Ryan in and they headed to the conservatory. He told Ryan to make himself comfortable while he got them something to drink. When he got back with two glasses of iced tea, they sat down on the couch by the windows. Wyatt wondered what was going on, as Ryan seemed pretty nervous.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Wyatt asked. "Something wrong?"
"No, no, nothing is wrong." Ryan quickly said. "It is actually good news, I guess. Maybe it is best if I just show you."
Wyatt waited as Ryan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small black box. He opened it and showed it to Wyatt. Inside was a beautiful golden ring with a small diamond, an engagement ring. That could only mean one thing.
"Oh, Ryan..." Wyatt said with a smile. "You are quite handsome and all, but aren't you already dating my sister?"
"What?" Ryan asked with a confused frown, until he realized Wyatt was joking. "No, I mean, this is for Melinda. I want to ask her to marry me."
"Yeah, I got that." Wyatt replied laughing. "That is amazing, I am really happy for you. You are perfect together."
"So you think she'll say yes?" Ryan asked nervously.
"Of course." Wyatt replied instantly. 'Why wouldn't she? You have been dating for three years, you're happy, there are no more secrets between you."
"Okay." Ryan said replied as he closed the box and put it safely in his jacket again. "Guess I am just really nervous. I got someone to cover the restaurant tonight, so I am going to surprise her with a romantic dinner."
"So why are you here?" Wyatt asked.
"I don't know, just looking for some support, I guess." Ryan reasoned. "I hadn't really thought it through, so I wanted to know how her family felt about it, about me."
"You don't need to worry about that." Wyatt said. "So have you talked to my dad?"
"Your dad?" Ryan asked confused. "Why?"
"Well, you are about to marry his only daughter." Wyatt replied.
"But I don't need to ask his permission or anything, do I?" Ryan asked surprised. "I mean, that is a little old-fashioned, we live in 2029."
"Yeah, but did you forget that my dad has basically been around for over a hundred years?" Wyatt replied. "I mean, he fought in the Second World War. He is a little old-fashioned."
"Oh, I forgot about that." Ryan replied. "So I do need to ask his permission?"
"I would, yeah." Wyatt said with a nod. "But I would not let Melinda find out you did, because she will kill you, since this is 2029 and all."
"This is so confusing." Ryan said with a conflicted look.
"I know." Wyatt added with an amused smile. His dad could be pretty old-fashioned, but he had actually meant it more as a joke. Still, he decided to go along with it.
"I want to do the right thing." Ryan said after a while. "So I am going to ask your dad for her hand in marriage. It is the respectable thing to do, right?"
"Definitely." Wyatt replied. "I can open a door to Magic School for you."
"Magic School?" Ryan asked. "I can go there?"
"Yeah, I just wouldn't wander around or touch stuff, unless you want to turn into a toad." Wyatt said. "Come on, I will show you, since I need to get going."
Wyatt guided Ryan to the stairway and placed his hand on the wall. As he focused on Magic School, the doorway magically appeared and swung open. Ryan carefully stepped through the door and looked around in amazement.
"So good luck." Wyatt said as he padded him on his shoulder. "And if you need anything for tonight, just let me know. We are going to be brothers-in-law after all."
"I will, thanks, Wyatt." Ryan replied.
Ryan took a step back and the door magically swung close and disappeared. Wyatt smirked at his obvious confusion. He really did like Ryan and he hoped they would be happy together. Until then, it was just funny to mess with him a little. He was going to be a part of the family after all. As he checked his watch, Wyatt suddenly realized he was running late and went to grab his stuff before heading out.
Xxx
When the magical door closed and disappeared, Ryan found himself standing in what seemed to be an endless hallway with many doors. Confused, he looked around and felt the wall where the door had just been. His only way out had disappeared. With no other choice, he started walking down the long hallway. He had never even considered asking Leo for Melinda's hand in marriage. It seemed like such an outdated practice, but since Leo over a century old, it actually seemed logical.
As Ryan passed a door, he nearly bumped into a blonde woman in a black robe carrying a pile of books. She was startled and dropped the books, so Ryann quickly kneeled down to help her.
"I am so sorry." Ryan said.
"It is quite alright. I could barely see where I was going." The woman said as she looked at him. "Excuse me, but who are you exactly? You do not seem like you belong here."
"I don't. I am actually looking for Leo Wyatt." Ryan said.
"Headmaster Wyatt is quite busy. I doubt he will be able to meet with you." The woman replied harshly.
"It is important." Ryan said.
"And who are you then?" the woman asked skeptically. "You don't even seem magical, what could you possibly have to discuss with the headmaster?"
"He is dating my daughter, Miss Donovan." A voice suddenly said and Ryan turned around to see Leo standing behind him, also dressed in a black robe. "Although I am a little confused how you got here myself, Ryan."
"I am sorry sir." Ryan quickly said as he stood up. "Wyatt helped me get here. I wanted to talk to you. It concerns Melinda."
"Headmaster, we can't have mortals wandering around the school." Miss Donovan said.
"I will take care of it, Miss Donovan." Leo said gently. "Don't you have a literature class to teach?"
Miss Donovan snorted as Ryan handed her the last book and she turned around and left. Leo smiled as he guided Ryan to walk with him and they entered his office. Once there, Leo sat down behind his desk and Ryan sat down on another chair. Ryan noticed he was feeling nervous. He really loved Melinda and he wanted her father's approval. He wanted to be good enough.
"So what did you want to see me about?" Leo asked. "I trust that it is important, Magic School can be quite dangerous for mortals. You said something about Melinda, is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is fine, better than fine actually." Ryan said.
"So is there some kind of emergency at the restaurant?" Leo asked.
"No sir." Ryan said. "The thing I wanted to talk to is actually quite personal. And it is very important to me."
"Okay, I am curious now." Leo said with a friendly smile. "Please tell me."
"Well sir, I love your daughter." Ryan stated as he looked him in the eyes trying to be respectful, even though he was shaking in his boots. "We have been dating for three years now and we have been through a lot. We have been there for each other in hard times and it has only brought us closer together. I love Melinda with all my heart, and I will do whatever it takes to make her happy. So for that reason, I would like to ask your permission to ask her to marry me."
Leo stared and him and nodded patiently until he finished talking. Then an awkward silence filled the room and Leo suddenly started laughing. Confused, Ryan waited and wondered what was so funny.
"Am I missing something?" He eventually asked.
"No, I am sorry." Leo said still smiling. "Does Melinda know you're here?"
"No." Ryan replied.
"Good, she is a lot like her mother, you know." Leo said. "She would not be happy if she found out you asked for my permission to get married. I might be old, but we're not that old-fashioned."
"But Wyatt said…" Ryan started confused.
"You listened to Wyatt?" Leo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Seriously? This was all just some stupid joke of his, right?" Ryan guessed with a sigh.
"Pretty much." Leo replied with a shrug. "But I appreciate your honesty, Ryan. I know that you really love my daughter. I was so happy that you were there to support her when her mother died. So even though you don't need it, I will still give you my blessing."
"Thank you, sir. That means a lot." Ryan said proudly. "I will not let you down."
"I know you won't." Leo replied as he stood up. "Now stand up and give me a hug. And stop calling me sir, you are going to be a part of the family after all."
Ryan smiled as he stood up and gave his future father-in-law a quick hug. He felt incredibly relieved and happy. Now nothing would stand in the way of asking the girl he loved to marry him. Except that he would still need a way to get back from this crazy place. When he asked Leo about it, the headmaster merely smirked and Ryan felt a little uneasy.
Xxx
A little outside of the city of San Francisco, Julian Turner woke up staring at a familiar ceiling. He looked around and saw he was lying on his bed in his childhood bedroom, as dark and depressing as ever. His coat had been removed and he was lying on top of the covers in a dark red shirt and dark jeans. As he sat up, he noticed Elizabeth standing by the window. He held out his hand and tried to form lightning, but nothing happened. He was powerless.
"What the hell did you do to me?" Julian asked.
"I don't want any more magic in this household." Elizabeth replied without looking at him. "You already destroyed my door and I will not tolerate further aggression. I believed I had raised you better than that."
"You call what you did raising?" Julian asked as he sat up on the edge of the bed. "Felt more like torture to me."
"Well, you required a lot of discipline." Elizabeth said as she turned and walked to him.
"Yeah, I can imagine all those human emotions and needs were quite an inconvenience." Julian remarked dryly. "After all, what child needs affection?"
"You were not just a child, you are half demon." Elizabeth replied. "You have no need for human emotions. I wish I could have beaten them out of you years ago, things would have been different. But unfortunately, that fragment of a soul inside of you persisted."
"What do you know about that?" Julian asked.
"You could have been great." Elizabeth said as she laid a hand on his cheek. "My greatest achievement, my own flesh and flood as the Source of All Evil. Except that bothersome wiccan half of yours just would not die."
"It is not my wiccan side that got in the way." Julian said as he stood up and walked away from her touch. "I never wanted the essence, it was forced upon me. It was my anger and hate that kept it from fully taking over."
"And where do you suppose that anger and hate came from?" Elizabeth asked. "Despite my best efforts to raise you as a demon, your humanity remained. It was Cole all over again."
"My father?" Julian asked.
"I suppose technically he is." Elizabeth replied. "But he was weak and unworthy. He betrayed his true nature the moment he fell for that witch. You were my chance to correct that mistake."
"Sorry to disappoint." Julian replied. "I like my free will."
"Not to worry, there are other ways to get what I want." Elizabeth said with a content smile.
"And what is that?" Julian asked.
"Don't you see?" Elizabeth asked with a frown. "I want power and influence. I want a legacy of my flesh and blood. To be remembered through the ages, not just for my own actions, through my blood as well."
"A dynasty of evil?" Julian asked skeptically. "And of course you would be at the very top."
"Exactly." Elizabeth replied with a smile.
"So what are your plans exactly?" Julian asked. "What do you want with me?"
"Follow me and I will show you." Elizabeth replied.
Elizabeth walked to the door and it opened with a simple fling of her finger. Julian reluctantly followed her through the halls of his childhood home, filled with all his horrible memories. The headed down the stairs and entered a large room. It was almost empty, except for a large chandelier and a table underneath it. On the table lied the Grimoire, as well as an ancient looking vase. Julian's eyes widened as he recognized it.
"Look familiar?" Elizabeth asked.
"I thought I had destroyed it as a child." Julian replied. "I remember you punishing me for it."
"As you deserved, but the vase could be restored." Elizabeth said. "Do you know what it contains, can you sense it?"
"The essence of the Source." Julian replied as he laid his hands on the vase. "What do you intend to do with it?"
"One thing at a time, dear." Elizabeth replied with a smile. "The first step will be to finally rid myself of those troublesome Warren witches."
"How?" Julian asked.
"Quite easily." Elizabeth explained. "I will turn those they swore to protect against them. They will be powerless to stop it. They will all die without us having to raise a finger."
Julian withdrew his hands from the vase and stared at them with conflict. When the essence was still inside him, he wanted nothing more than to see the Halliwells destroyed. However, now that he felt this empty and lost, he had no idea what he truly wanted. The witches meant nothing to him, so why should be care what happened to them?
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