Legacy 105: With Mortals Like These

Part 3

Xxx

As Chris Halliwell left the hospital after an early morning shift, he walked down the street and headed to his favorite coffee bar on the corner. After ordering, he sat down in one of the booths and yawned. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small notebook. On one of the pages, he had written a chart on all demonic activity and had tried to figure out the hierarchy. Now that the Source was expelled from his co-called demonic cousin, the immediate threat was gone, but the essence was still out there. So were the Seer and several demonic factions.

"Chris?" A familiar voice suddenly asked.

Chris looked up and saw his cousin Penny standing by his booth with a cup of coffee. "Penny, what are you doing here?"

"What do you think? It's a coffee bar." Penny remarked as she sat down. "I've been staying with my sisters, this place is on the way to campus."

"How are you all doing?" Chris asked. "Have you talked to your mom?"

"No, well, Payton has." Penny replied. "She thinks we're being too hard on her, but come on, it is not every day you find out you have a demonic brother."

"Have you heard from him?" Chris asked curiously, since Julian was possibly the biggest threat out there right now.

"No, of course not." Penny replied as she noticed the notebook. "What are you doing?" She asked as she grabbed the notebook before Chris could put it away. She flipped through it and sighed disappointed as she closed it.

"What?" Chris asked.

"You really are obsessed, you know that right?" Penny remarked. "Seriously, for once can you let go of magic and focus on something else in your life?"

"I know I am obsessive, but someone has to be." Chris replied. "Like it or not, our family will always be in the middle of a demonic mess. It is who we are."

"So why does that person need to be you?" Penny asked. "Just let go and enjoy yourself for a change. When is the last time you had some actual fun? When is the last time you actually dated? And hooking up with that little blonde charge of yours does not count."

"Not that it is any of your business, but it hasn't been that long." Chris replied, though he was having trouble remembering it himself. "It was… not that long ago."

"Okay, that settles it." Penny said. "Tonight, we're going out. You need to get a social life and I need to stop moping around the apartment with my sisters. We are going clubbing."

"I don't do clubs." Chris replied.

"That is only because you're completely neurotic." Penny replied. "So you can either come willingly and have good time, or I will use my mind powers to brainwash you into a more fun person."

"You don't have that kind of power." Chris remarked dryly.

"Want to find out?" Penny replied with a raised eyebrow. "The very least I can do is unravel all your embarrassing secrets. Like what exactly happened that weekend in freshman year that you refuse to talk about?"

"Alright fine." Chris quickly said as he threw up his hands. "You got me. I will go clubbing with you. So can I have my notebook back now?"

"I think I will keep on to this for a little while." Penny replied as she dropped the notebook in her purse. "You need to go cold turkey when it comes to demons. Get a life, Chris."

"I have a life." Chris said.

"I mean one that doesn't resolve around fighting demons or cleaning bedpans." Penny remarked as she stood up. "I have to get to class, so I will pick you up tonight."

"Fine." Chris said reluctantly.

"Aren't you glad you have a cool cousin like me?" Penny replied with a smile and walked off.

As Penny left the coffee shop, Chris sighed and dropped his head on the table. The last thing he wanted was to go clubbing. He had never been the outgoing type, he was not like Penny or Wyatt for that matter. He was awkward and insecure when it came to stuff like that. However, they might be right about his obsessiveness. Maybe his cousin was right, perhaps a night out would do him good.

xxx

At the exact same moment, Prue left her apartment and stepped into the elevator on her way to pick up an amazing pair of shoes she had ordered weeks ago. Even with all the drama, nothing could make her feel quite as happy as a new pair of shoes. As the elevator headed down, it was suddenly bathed in a blue light as millions of tiny orbs descended and formed into Noah. There went her good mood.

"What do you want?" Prue asked annoyed.

"I want to talk to you." Noah said. "To explain."

"Does that mean you're finally willing to tell the truth?" Prue asked.

"If it means you will finally trust me, yes." Noah replied as he grabbed her by the arm and looked at her. "I am tired of lying, but we need to go somewhere private to talk."

"Where?" Prue asked.

"I know a place. Are you willing to give me a chance?" Noah asked.

"That depends on your answers." Prue replied. "So let's go."

Noah nodded took her away as he orbed out of the elevator. When they reappeared, Prue was shocked to discover she was standing on top of the Golden Gate Bridge. She felt dizzy and stumbled back, though Noah caught her before she could fall. As she lied in his arms, she looked up at him. Why did he have to be so charming even when she was angry with him?

"We can talk here." Noah said as he helped her up.

"How is this a private place?" Prue asked skeptically.

"People can't see us from down there, and I have cloaked us to ensure the Elders cannot spy on us either." Noah explained.

"What do the Elders have to do with this?" Prue asked.

"Everything." Noah replied with a suspicious look in the air.

"Alright, so start talking." Prue said as she crossed her arms.

"I don't know where to start." Noah said.

"Start at the beginning, why did the Elders sent you to be out Whitelighter?" Prue asked.

"The Elders grew concerned when the Source of All Evil returned." Noah explained. "They knew only your family would be able to stop him, but since the relationship between your family and the council was so badly damaged, they sent me to get you back on their side."

"Typical. So why did you go along with it?" Prue asked.

"I did not want to. I wanted to be honest with you, but they would not let me." Noah said. "They feared you would not be able to vanquish the Source if you knew everything."

"Wait a minute, did the Elders know about Julian?" Prue asked shocked.

"Yes." Noah said.

"How could you not tell me? You knew we had a demonic brother and you kept it from all of us?" Prue called out. "How could you?"

"The Elders did not want you to know. They feared it might complicate things when you had to vanquish him. They worried you would not be able to." Noah explained.

"That explains the Elders, but what about you?" Prue asked. "Noah, as our Whitelighter we should have been able to count on you. Are the Elders that much more important to you? Why, just because they are your bosses?"

"No." Noah admitted. "It is because they have something on me. I had no choice."

"What?" Prue asked with a frown. "What are you talking about?"

"It is complicated, Prue." Noah replied. "I was not always a Whitelighter. I have done things that I am not proud of, things that ended badly, and I was punished for it. Getting you to reconcile with the Elders was my chance at redemption."

Noah turned and walked to the edge of the bridge. Prue could sense his torment and walked over to him, placing her hand on his arm. Her empathic gift told her that he felt guilty and that it caused him a lot of pain. "What did you do?" She whispered.

"It was bad." Noah replied sorrowfully. "I nearly destroyed everything."

"It is okay. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Prue said.

"Thank you." Noah replied.

"So what happens now?" Prue asked.

"Well, I hope that you will still want me as your Whitelighter." Noah said. "I hope you're willing to give me a chance to prove myself."

"Why are we so important to the Elders?" Prue asked.

"I am not just talking about the Elders, Prue." Noah replied. "I am talking about me. I like you and I like your sisters. You're the first charges I've had in a long time. Without you, I'd be forced to go back up there."

Prue took a deep sigh as she considered what he had told her. "Alright." She eventually said. "But only if you swear to me right now that there will be no more lies or secrets. And no more interference in our personal lives!"

"I promise." Noah said with a charming smile. "And thank you."

"Just don't make me regret it." Prue replied with a reluctant smile. She really hated his charm at times like this. She was supposed to be mad or disappointed or whatever. "Now can you take me back down from here, I got some very lovely shoes waiting for me."

"Sure." Noah replied as extended his hand. Prue took hold of him and soon felt herself getting carried away on orbs as she was surrounded in blue light.

Xxx

As it started getting dark outside, Julian paced around his childhood mansion. He hated it, as everywhere he looked, he was reminded of memories about his horrible childhood. He wanted to leave, but the spell that had left him powerless also prevented him from getting out of the house. Once again, he was trapped and it was driving him insane. As he walked down the hall, he grabbed a lamp from a side table and smashed in on the marble floor.

"You're not too old to be put over my knee, you know." Elizabeth stated as she came down the stairs.

"Release me." Julian replied. "I am no longer yours to control."

"Of course you are." Elizabeth replied. "I am your mother."

"No!" Julian screamed as he launched at her, though a low-voltage Energy Ball hit him in the chest and he fell through his knees. "I am going to kill you." He said as he looked up at her.

"Now, now, no need for such hostility." Elizabeth said. "It is time."

"Time?" Julian asked confused.

"Time to destroy the Halliwells." Elizabeth said as she walked past him and entered the room containing the ancient vase holding the essence.

"Why are you so determined to destroy them?" Julian asked as he followed her.

"I think the better question is, why aren't you?" Elizabeth replied as she stopped and turned to him. "They should mean nothing to you. They are just a reminder of everything you're not."

"They don't mean anything to me." Julian said.

"Are you sure about that?" Elizabeth asked skeptically.

"They are not my family. I don't have a family." Julian replied.

"That is not true." Elizabeth said as she placed a hand on his arm. "You have me. I am all the family you will ever need. Now, let us destroy the witches together."

Elizabeth walked to the table in the middle of the room and opened the Grimoire. As she flipped through the black pages, Julian circled the table and looked at the vase. It looked ancient and Egyptian in design. He could sense the essence inside and shivered.

"It is called the Urn of Asar." Elizabeth explained. "It was created to contain any soul or essence in existence and keep it alive for all eternity."

"So the essence is trapped in here?" Julian asked. "We could hide it somewhere safe, keep the Source from ever returning."

"And why would we do that?" Elizabeth asked with a raised eyebrow. "The essence is a force to be reckoned with. In my hands, it can be used to achieve all we ever dreamed of."

"All you ever dreamed of." Julian remarked. "I want nothing to do with it."

"Then stand back, dear." Elizabeth replied.

Elizabeth returned to the table as Julian stepped back. He watched in silence as she placed her hand on the vase and studied the Grimoire. She then opened the vase and started to cast a spell as she waved her hand over it.

"Essence of evil and dark intent,

Rise up now with my consent,

Let malice spread across the lands,

Destroy the witches by mortal hands,

Take their minds, corrupt their souls,

Turn their hearts as black as coal."

As she finished the spell, a dark force emerged from the vase and started to spread across the room. Elizabeth smiled as she held up her hand and the darkness rose up and disappeared through the ceiling. Julian watched as the essence of pure evil spread across the city. The Halliwells had no idea what was heading their way, but why did he keep having these conflicting feelings about it?

xxx

When Melinda arrived at the apartment she shared with Ryan, she was surprised to find rose petals in the hall. She smiled at the romantic gesture and followed the petals to the window, where candles were burning on the fire escape. Wondering what Ryan was planning, she climbed up to the roof. It reminded her of the night they had moved in, when they had watched the stars on the roof with a bottle of wine. Since then, it had become a getaway from their hectic lives.

When Melinda arrived on the roof, she saw Ryan standing by a camping table surrounded by candles and their old Christmas lights, with a romantic dinner all set up. He smiled nervously when he saw her.

"What is going on?" Melinda asked. "I thought we were going out."

"Change of plans." Ryan replied as he walked over and kissed her, before handing her a single red rose. "This place has always been special to us."

"Thank you, I am not exactly dressed for a romantic dinner." Melinda replied as she looked down at her shirt and simple jeans.

"You're always beautiful." Ryan said with a smile. "Please sit down."

They walked over to the table and sat down, Ryan poured them both some wine and nearly tipped over the bottle, which was not like him. He really was nervous for something. Melinda started getting a hopeful idea about what was happening and could not stop smiling.

"Melinda, you really are the most special and important thing in my life." Ryan said as he took her hand. "I think I have loved you from the moment we met that day in the restaurant and..."

Melinda felt a shadow flying past her and Ryan gasped in shock. He stumbled back and fell over and Melinda screamed. She quickly got up and kneeled down next to him, asking if he was alright. Suddenly she felt his strong hands around her throat and saw two pure black eyes glaring at her.

"Die, you witch." Ryan hissed in a deep demonic voice.

xxx