CHAPTER 3
Orbing back into her room at the Manner, Melinda's smile grew as she let out a small squeal before throwing herself down on her mattress. Looking up at the ceiling as her heart shivered and burned, her lips glued into a smile. Melinda couldn't help but squeal again.
"I'm guessing the date went well?" A voice inquired from her door way, looking up as Parker entered the room, all the twenty year old could do was nod and smile.
"So well you're speechless." Parker smiled.
"He was amazing, ah… I don't know Parker; I think I'm in love?"
"Don't ask me, I'm only half cupid. However I would be blind if I didn't see it in your eyes, so I'm guessing you two kissed…" Leaning in and bumping shoulders with her cousin, Parker smiled at Melinda. Being half Cupid didn't allow her any more insight into Melinda's feelings then her empathy did, but she knew she didn't need both to know Melinda had fallen for Rider.
"We kissed." Melinda said, before shaking herself. She rose from the bed and moved over to her dresser. Pulling out a damp wipe from its dispenser, she scrunched it up and used it to rub the light coating of foundation from her face.
"How'd dinner with the folks go?" She asked, looking through the mirror at Parker. Seeing her pause before answering, Melinda turned to look at her cousin, a worried look on her face.
"Parker what happened?" She asked, "It couldn't have been that bad, right?"
"No it um…" Parker replied, reshuffling herself so she sat cross legged in the middle of Melinda's double bed. "It was fine at first, Aunt Piper and Chris cooked a great meal, No surprises there." She said, rolling her eyes and shrugging her shoulders, "But then Chris, he… Kinder had a flash back, flash forward… I don't know." Shaking her head, Parker sighed before continuing. "Anyway that knocked him out for a bit but then I kinder found out I have a new power, or at least an advancement on my premonitions."
Melinda looked at Parker with bewilderment in her eyes;
"You miss one family dinner in this house and it turns out to be one of the most interesting." She said shaking her head and throwing the wipe in the bin. "Is Chris ok?"
"Yeah, he had a headache there for a while but he'll bounce back, he always does."
"He didn't last year." Melinda mumbled and looked down. Releasing a breath into the silence she moved over to the window frame, cracking it before returning to her bed.
"So tell me about this new power, is it awesome?" She asked with a small smile.
"I'm an Oracle." Parker stated, face expressionless.
Melinda looked at her cousin before breaking into a small fit of laughter.
"So I guess you did end up finding a use for that gag gift Aunt Phoebe brought you." She laughed.
"Yes laugh it up, but I had my first prophecy and Melinda…" She paused to add effect, gripping her cousin's arm. She continued in a dark, whispered voice, "Darkness is coming."
…****…..*****….****
Footsteps echoed through the dark corridor of the underworld as a darkly clad man stormed through its caverns. A smaller man was stumbling behind, glowing grey eyes following his masters footing ensuring he remained the respectable two feet behind. His head bowed and hands clapped behind his back.
"Argh, my lord Rodamer what brings me the pleasure of your visit?" A nasally voice asked, not sounding the least bit pleased at the demons present.
"It's time." His master replied ominously before moving a hand behind the slender man's back and shoving him down to kneel on the dirt covered floor.
"Argh. Finally." The nasally voice said, a smile on his face.
"Lucas, eyes up." His master commanded and the slave followed. Rising his eyes too stare into the dark black eyes of his masters.
"You sure you want to risk your boy Rodamer."
"Yes, if he dies another can be found, but he is strong." His master stated, cupping the slave's cheek in his hand and rubbing at his face with his thumb before shaving the face away. "He knows better than to disappoint his master, don't you Lucas?" The demon smirked.
"Yes master." The slave replied in a dead voice, no emotion or fear present in even the slave's eyes.
"Then let's start the ritual," the nasally demon said, "Strip slave."
Without hesitation the young human grabbed the bottom of his brown stained tunic, pulling it over his head and dropping his dirty ripped pants. Folding his clothing in a neat pile the slave stood still, eyes lowered and hands behind his back as he waited for his next command, his naked form shivering slightly in the cold.
The demon that wasn't his mater moved closer to him, rubbing its sweating palm over his thin, ribbed torso.
Shaking its head and mattering disapproving noises the demon turned towards the bowl resting on the podium in the middle of the cavern.
"Such a waste of a promising body." The demon sighed.
"We don't all share your taste." His master said, annoyed. "Just get on with it."
"Yes, yes patience Rodamer, it's the only way you will win the war."
As the smaller demon moved back towards the slave, he dipped his figure into the red liquid as he began to draw symbols on the body of the slave. As Lucas took a step back and his eyes lifted to search his masters, his heart thumped in fear.
"Stand still slave, or suffer punishment." His master roared.
"Oh, don't be so harsh Rodamer," The demon said, not stopping from his drawings on the slaves body. 'It's scared, doesn't know what's happening. Maybe you should tell it what's about to happen to it."
"I will not explain myself to a slave, finish the markings Neseal."
Lucas shivered as the figure returned to tracing symbols on his body. As his canvas diminished Neseal returned his bowl of demon blood to its pedestal and rose from the stool he had previously sat upon.
"Rodamer, read this."
'Cerberus, curator of silenti, sino phasmatis venire contra mihi. Phasmatis, radix quod causa of vita, commodo adeo suffragium mihi in meus negotium.''
"Nothing happened." Rodamer shouted, throwing the parchment to the floor.
"Patience." Was the demons only reply as fear radiated off the slave. He had no idea what was happening to him as he felt something enclose around his wrists. Looking down and seeing nothing his breath hitched as the filling rose up his arms like a snake wrapping around him, tightening and burning as his skin begun to redden in swirls up his arms and circling around his shoulder blades.
"Master, what's…" The slave asked, only to be silenced by a slap to his face. Closing his eyes images flashed behind his lids. An older women he knew her hair as brown and eyes as grey as his smiling at him. He what'd to go to her, be wrapped in her arms and feel safe, but he didn't understand why. He knew he knew her but he didn't know from where. Standing next to her was a taller man, his muscular aged arms reaching out to grab him in the abysses of darkness as his similar looking arms reached back for them. But as their hands touched, the serene image of the pair twisted and their necks snapped back and faces contorted as blood flowed from the man's stomach. Reaching out Lucas screamed, his hands rising to his eyes as he attempted to claw at them.
"Restrain him." Naseal commanded as he moved to grab the slave's arms as Rodamer flicked his wrist. Activating the slaves collar and cuffs, locking them behind its back as it lunged forward and fell to his knees.
"Will it be enough?" Rodamer asked.
"You wanted a connection to the astral plane, I'm giving you one. What you do with it is up to you." The demon stated, "I'm leaving, my work here is done. I'll order the others to attack to cover this; no doubt the elders will sense it. Let them be distracted dealing with the Charmed Ones." He stated before flaming out.
Rodamer turned back towards his naked slave as it begun to thrush and call out for its long dead parents. The demon shook its head as it left the cavern. Leaving the suffering man to his pain as the impatient demon waited for his spell to end.
The soft amber crackled as its golden lights lit up the dark surrounding it, warming the scouts currently seated around it. All wore masks of grim determination and grief as they watched one of their own burn in the funeral fire.
"…She will be missed, Sora fought for freedom and the love of all things. She will be remembered and honoured by those continuing the fight for what she still dreamed a possibility. Though at times fighting with honour is deemed a weakness by many, Sora fought with much of it. She was a true warrior and believer in a better future. Her dream will be carried on in the hearts of all resistance members. She will be missed and never forgotten." Moving away from the small podium Chris moved to stands tall next to Darryl, unshed tears glistening his eyes.
"She would have smiled down at you the whole time during that, telling you to stop being so formal." Darryl smiled, laughing a small laugh and clumping a hand on Chris thin shoulder blade. Letting a small smile grace his lips, Chris nodded his agreement before returning his eyes to his burning friend. Flames licked at her, burning away the flesh from her skin and melting it so bones were visible, the white glistening then darkening in the heat. They couldn't wrap her in anything; the raid on the demon encampment was a trap. They were expected, there troops killed and injured, their own camps raided as they were laid to waste. Thousands killed, the new resistance was close to being destroyed before it had even begun. They had only just finished burying and burning their dead when Sora had arrived, two brute demons on her tail. She had been a distance attacker, lending aid from the Cliffside to the east of the battle field. An hour away but high enough to see everything. She was killed; her neck snapped back meters from Chris's eye sight. He wasn't fast enough and had to watch his best friend since childhood die and now burn.
"I'm going to go, umm… I can't I got to…" Moving away Chris noted Darryl's nod in understanding, his soft comment about being there if he needed to talk. Chris couldn't talk because there was nothing to say, so he ran; he ran as fast and as far as he could, as the images of the dead flushed in his mind's eye. Mom, Aunt Paige, Aunt Phoebe, Uncle Coop, Uncle Henry, Dad, Alexandra, Jessica, Grandpa, Mathew and thousands more, the images of the crumbled and bloodied bodies, some decaying and some flashing with the imagery of their last moments, fighting demons or taking their final lung full of air as cancer tore through their body. He bore witness to everyone's suffering and end, he just wished his would come soon, that his end was near.
Chris awoke to the annoying ringing of his alarm clock as it sang every alarm tone imaginable in a chaos of noise. He reached out his hand and letting his power flow through him; Chris sent the chaos machine into his bedroom wall, smiling as it splinted into different pieces and fell to the floor. Reaching over and grabbing his mobile phone from his side table, Chris unhooked the charger and begun dialing, when no answer came he redialed, trying to calm his racing heart.
"Do you know what time it is? No of course you don't, because if you did you would know to never, and I mean ever call me at bloody 5:30am in the morning. Especially on a fucking Saturday!" her voice sent a smile to his lips and a giggled to escape, as his heart returned to normal.
"And hello to you too Sora." Chris replied, unfazed by the angered women on the other end of the line.
"Chris? Really you of all people should know by now."
"I know, I know but I needed to hear your voice. It's not my fault you're not a morning person."
"Whatever. Look Chris though I love hearing from you. I have finals today and my dorm mate is pissed off enough that I woke her up last night getting in. So I love you but I gotta go."
"Why were you late getting in last night?"
"Private business Chrissy."
"Sora we used to shower together growing up, since when do you worry about privacy." Chris joked as he sat up, throwing back the covers and sitting on the side of his double bed. A shiver running down his spine as he planted his feet on the cooled wooden floor boards.
"Ok, Ok, Fine. I had a date."
"You too huh?" moving over to his cupboard Chris scurried through it searching for a shirt, finding a black polo Chris put it on and a pair of sweats over his boxers.
"Yeah, anyway she was cool so we stayed out a little later then I intended. Got back to magic school late and therefore woke my roommate when I couldn't find the key to the door."
Chris could hear rustling in the background conforming his suspicion that she too had begun to get ready for the day. Sora was still a student at magic school, though only by her own choses. She had opted to take two years off her schooling due to her mother falling ill and her struggling just to go to normal school during that time. As well as taking on the role of a studying professor in the field of telepathy, Sora had around two years of magic school student life left before she could teach.
"So who is she? Is she nice? Do I know her?"
"Nope, you don't. I believe I'm the only lesbian you know Chrissy."
"You are, that I know" Chris stressed, "But I have my suspicions about Cara."
"No Cara's straight, trust me." Sora said, with amusement in her voice. Before he could ask another question Chris heard a muffled voice and a thud, before Sora's 'Ow' followed by 'Sorry'.
"Hey Chris, thanks a lot dude you woke my roommate. I have to go, talk later." She said hanging up. Chris smiled as he placed the phone in his sweats pocket and left his room.
Walking down the Manor stairs the smell of blueberries and maple syrup drifted up and terrorized his senses. As he walked into the kitchen and leaned against the framed archway a mischievous smile formed. A plate layered with blueberry pancakes were currently seated on the corner cabinet, in easy reach from the stove. Concentrating Chris used his powers to raise the plate and hover it over into his awaiting hands. As he picked up a pancake and shoved it into his mouth a booming laugh made him jump and his mother to turn. Spotting him with the plate she scowled, walked over and hitting him softly with her spatula before taking the plate and moving back over towards the stove. Turning his head into the room, Chris spotted the laugher.
"One! You couldn't hold your laugh till I got a seconded?" Chris said, scowling and lightly hitting Wyatt on the back of the head as he moved over to join him at the table.
"Sorry Bro."
Blue and white lights outlined their younger sister as she flashed into the kitchen.
"Morning mom and annoyances." Melinda announced as she jumped up and sat on the Kitchen bench, kicking her feet out as she leaned back and snagged a pancake from the pile.
"Morning honey." Piper replied before grabbing the plate and moving it again, tapping the spatula on Melinda's hand.
Grinning at her Mother Melinda offered a 'sorry' before turning to face two very annoyed faces.
"Soo, how was your night." Wyatt drawled, leaning over the table and resting his elbows on the table and his head on the flats of his hand as he looked up at his sister.
"Fine. yours?" Melinda answered suspicion in her voice.
"Eventful."
"I heard, you ok Chris." She asked, catching Chris's eyes.
"Fine, much more interested in how you're doing though." He said, smiling at his little sister as she frowned in confusion.
"Lay off you two." Peyton scolded as she entered the kitchen. " P.J told Wyatt, no idea how Chris found out."
Melinda's confused frown vanished, in its place was tomato coloured cheeks and an annoyed glare.
"Remind me to accelerate some of the atom on her face; I wonder if it will cause a brake out."
Smiling at her cousin, Peyton shook her head. "She didn't know it was a secret."
"Yeah Melly, since when do you keep secrets from your brothers." Chris inquired his voice layer with mock hurt.
"Since both of you are so over protected I'm lucky to even be allowed to leave the house. If it wasn't for Mom, between you two and dad I would be locked up here." Throwing her hands up in the air, Melinda shook her head at Wyatt's over dramatized clutching of his heart.
"Ok you four, enough." Piper announced, placing the breakfast plate in the middle of the table. It was layered with Blueberry pancakes, maple syrup and cream.
Looking up at his Mother, Chris frowned in confusion. "Where are the others?" The monarch knew better than to place food on the tale and expect them to wait for everyone else.
"It's six in the morning, everyone's still in bed and most likely will be for a while. Henry Jr and Parker both are working late at P3 tonight; P.J left after dinner to go study at the Library and your Aunts, Uncles, Father and I were up late talking over this new development."
Shrugging his shoulders Chris joined in with the rest of the younger Halliwells in stuffing their faces with pancakes.
After indulgencing in her third pancake, shimmering light in the corner of the kitchen caught Pipers eye. Ducking her head in time to dodge the energy ball that flew from the opposite direction, Piper felt herself fall back as her son used his power to pull her chair out of an oncoming energy balls path. Gathering herself she kicked out with her powers, flicking her hands and vanquishing two demons as her sons vanquished another two each. Turning she yelled 'Peyton' as another five demons shimmered and blinked in behind her eldest niece.
Peyton turned and pulled at her link with her cousin, borrowing his telekinesis she pushed three demons back and sent two of another demons fire balls into the chest of another. She then turned back to see Piper surrounded and outnumbered. Reaching for her powers again Peyton pulled on the demons black soul, yanking it out with her mind. (Soul blasting was a rare ability. Chris has the power but due to experiences in the other future refuses to use it, comes from being an Astral Twin.) As the demon burst into flames she flung out with her power and manipulating the set of shimmering air, transporting the demons about to enter the manor's path to a volcano instead.
As the demons about to shimmer in behind her were taken care of Melinda turned back towards her brother. She and Chris were back to back, as she flicked her wrists exploding the beasts and deflected energy balls. Chris used his telekinesis to squeeze whatever passed for hearts in demons. Using his advancement in his power, Chris concentrated on the demons individual atoms, speeding them up and shaking them, causing the demon to explode as his atoms were virtually pulled apart. Wyatt too was holding his own, sending out energy waves and orbing energy balls back at the demons vanquishing them.
As the wave of demons lessened and stoped, the young Halliwell's stood still and waited to see if more would show. When none did the four looked around at the waste and mess of the kitchen. It was destroyed; totalled, the breakfast plater split and burnt pancakes littered the floor. The flower vase was shattered and the glass splinted, flowers layered and broken.
"Wow, what a wreak." Peyton yawn, covering her open mouth with the back of her hand as she moved into the kitchen, kicking a piece of rumble as she entered and sat on the dinner table.
"Let the object of objection become but a dream,
As I cause the seen to be unseen."
"There, no more mess." Chris said smiling at his handy work as the room dissolved into orb, restoring it to its perfectly clean state and grinning at his mother as she hit his arms.
As the phone started blaring all eyes moved around in search of the ringing noise, finding the phone turned over near the couch Piper brought it to her ear.
"Dad?" she questioned, shocked. "Dad what's happening? Dad answers me!" She yelled into the phone before turning to the younger members of her family.
"Orb me to Grandpa's; I'll call for Paige and Phoebe there. Just orb me now something is wrong, it sounds like demons." She said in a flurry as she dropped the phone on the couch and dissolved into blue and white orbs as Melinda sent her mum away.
"Chris, Wyatt, Melinda any dame Halliwell Whitelighter orb here now." Yelled P.J. Causing all people present in the kitchen to either beam of orb to the voice.
"Dad. Get her out of here please, we'll be ok!" P.J shouted as she shoved Patricia off towards her dad.
"Uncle Coop can you take dad and Penelope too please?" Henry said. As he turned back towards the demon hoard currently surrounding him. Taking a breath, Jr begun to chant.
"Hell is spun demon creature of death,
Fire shall take your very breath."
"Sure. Henry!" Coop shouted over the noise of demon cries as he called out for Henry Sr. As the man made his way towards the cupid, duking and throwing potions at the demons, the youngest Halliwell's joined him on his journey to the cupid. Patrica's purple night gown causing her pale face to turn even paler as her sister duked to avoid being hit, her fears doubling and her senses overflowing with apprehension.
"Be careful." Henry said to his son as the Cupid broke eye contact with his daughters before beaming away, the last of a pink heart fading as Peyton, Parker, Wyatt, Chris and Melinda ran up the stairs.
"Duck!" Melinda shouted, pushing Chris out of the path of an energy ball and against the side of the corridor. As the energy ball flew past, Chris throw out his hand and pulled on the ball. As it stopped mid-air and then darted back, hitting its target causing the demon to erupt in fire.
"Where the hell are they all coming from?!" Chris shouted as he rolled Melinda onto her back, pushing her against the wall and leaning into her.
"I don't know but they should leave. Now!" Henry shouted, before moving into the centre of the room and throwing his hands out to his sides. As Chris and Peyton covered him by throwing back every energy and fireball at their casters. Henry Jr tapped into his stubborn power, releasing it through its barrier he pushed out, causing layers of ice to cover both walls, the floor and the ceiling of the corridor. Ice crystals formed and shot out of the layers of ice, piercing many demons and vanquishing most. However as P.J turned and moved from the position Jr had last seen her in, he couldn't compensate. As another foot was registered on the ice, which acted like a pressure plate for Jr to navigate. A shard formed and reached out and would have priced through her chest if Wyatt didn't push out with his shield. Wyatt's blue bubble formed around P.J causing the shard to break off, only managing to nick her arm.
"Watch it." She scowled, ducking to dodge another fireball before levitating and kicking the demon in his head, hard. Before moving to the side as her sister sent wave after wave of emotions at the cold, heartless being. As it was overrun be emotions the demon let out a shriek and burst into flames.
Melinda and Chris were again working as a pair, as Melinda used her ability's to blow up the demons Chris used his to shake them apart, keeping a telly of their kills and competing with each other. Since the battle down stairs Chris was on 15 and Mel was on 12 kills. Wyatt shook his head at his siblings, before raising his hands and pushing out a wave of combustive energy.
Henry and Peyton were also working in sync, as Peyton varied between ripping out the darkened soul, and borrowing Chris's telekinesis. Henry was chanting every known spell under the sun.
(Due to Henry being born on the same Wiccan holiday as Wyatt, his abilities were increased allowing him powers that had lain dormant within the Halliwell line. However due to this, they are hard for him to control and manipulate. Therefore Jr relies mostly on his spell casting ability.)
P.J landed an upper cut as Parker tapped into a demons power with her telepathy, conjuring a fireball and tossing it at a demon. As its ashes settled and the screaming stopped, silence followed as every last demon was dusted.
"Aunt Phoebe and Mom, We called for them." Henry Jr announced into the silence, all eyes turning towards his worried brown ones.
"Mom called them to Grandpa's. We were attacked down stairs too and Grandpa called, mum said it sounded like they were there as well." Wyatt informed his cousin as he scratched his forehead in confusion. "Why would they attack Grandpa?"
"I don't know." Chris said, before shouting, "Dad!"
As all turned at the sound of orbs floating in, a spike of pain ran across Chris's forehead. As the screaming and voices he had managed to block out rose in volume, his hands involuntarily rose to cover his ears. The pain blooming caused him to fall to his knees, Melinda only just catching her elder brother before his face hit the floor. Holding him close she begun to mumble reassurances as the others looked on in worry. As Leo formed, he moved over to try and heal his son, but as no healing glow came he looked up at his oldest. Wyatt only shook his head at his father, his eyes layered in worry and frustration for both his baby brother and his mother as they turned back towards Chris.
"I don't know anything about witchcraft!" The young brunette yelled at his capture as the whip fell, tarring his back again as the savage instrument hooked and clawed as the spikes dug in.
"Really, then way are your faces plastered all over town as savers. Witches that are going to save as all from being casualties of your war." The voice boomed again.
How long had he been here; days, weeks, months? And where was Melinda, she was with him right? But where?
"Where's the girl I was with?" Chris slurred as his vision blurred, looking up at the white walls and ceilings as his stomach twisted and pained for food, 'yup definitely days'.
"Another cell, going through the same interrogation as you." The voice said, a mocking tone to it." But like you, she can end it." Chris felt a present kneel down beside him, pushing his sweaty locks behind his ears and tilting his face at an angle to allow him to lock eyes with his tormentor. They didn't know Melinda was his sister, maybe they would let her go.
"Just tell me the truth Christopher, you're a witch right. Melinda's just a helpless mortal along for the ride."
"Melinda." Chris breathed, his tired mind muddled and confused. They hadn't feed him or let him sleep since he got here. His body constantly being torn at by their fists, kicks, and shocks of electricity. Their torture device slowly acting to destroy his strength. His arm burning from the black inked series of numbers tattooed and burned into his flesh.
"Is innocent, say you're a witch Chris and Melinda can go free."
Mind hazy and strength weaning, Chris looked away from his captor and instead focused on the back wall of his white cell. As a tear glistened and ran down his cheek he dropped his head, nodding and mumbling;
"Yes, I am a witch. Just let Melinda go, she's innocent, she doesn't know"
As his captor stood, a smile on his face and a flick of his wrist Chris was pulled up off his knees, the remains of his shirt falling away as he was moved towards the door.
"Burn them both." His captures emotionless voice stated, whipping his head around Chris pulled against the arms holding him.
"You said you'll let her go." He yelled as both physical and emotional pain consumed his body.
"I said she could go if she wasn't a witch."
"She isn't a witch." Chris yelled, pleading and close to begging as he was pushed out the door.
"Yes she is Chris, I told her the same thing I told you and she didn't want anything to happen to her big brother." The voice said before a hand reached out and cupped Chris's cheek, "She told me everything you just did." The voice continued before he patted Chris's cheek and motioned to his men.
Chris was pushed through a corridor of white walls, to Chris it look to be an old asylum as each door held windows. As he past he stole glimpses of other witches going through their capture 'interrogation' and shivered.
As he was pushed outside, the cold air nipped at his body and the sticks cut at his bare feet. His captures moved him towards a metal pole that was concrete to the ground. Tying him up Chris's head lulled to the side, rolling it up and of his chest he caught a glimpse of a Brown haired women tied to the pole opposite him. As she moved, her hair pulled back, revealing her face and he beautiful brown eyes.
"No!" Chris yelled. Pulling at his ties and fighting back his captures. Trying to reach for his powers that had been drugged to the back of his mind.
"Shhh….shh."His capture tried to calm him, placing his hand on his chest, tapping it.
"Please, no." Chris begged, tears falling from his eyes.
"Burn them."
As screams filled his ears, Chris couldn't help himself, he looked up. He looked up and saw the burning body off his little sister, her screams filling his ears as her body charred and melted away. He choked on smoke as he screamed his throat bloody, kicking out with all his strength. As his bolted up emotions cut through, Chris's emotional pain overcame the drugs. Throwing his powers out at an uncontrollable force, pushing his captors back and plastering them on the compounds walls, pushing at their fragile layering and so hard into the wall their bodies broke, killing them. His powers lashed out, being drawn to every witch and magical being in need within the asylums walls. As his memories flashed back to the witches he saw his power latched on to the enemy's, pulling their souls from there now lifeless body, dropping them and allowing the tormented beings the chance to break free.
As his body weakened, Chris slumped in his ties as his sister continued to burn. The flames flickering and slowing as the fuel for the flame ran out. He didn't know how much time had passed but as the sky opened and rain fell down on him and Melinda's charred body, blue and white lights flittered in.
"Chris." Leo's panicked voice broke through as he ran to his son, taking in the death and destruction.
"Dad." Chris croaked out, lifting his head and barely opening his eyes.
"I'm here its ok, Chris what did you do." He asked, his voice worried and coming out a bit too fast for Chris to comprehend as Leo pulled on the chains wrapped around his waist, the only things currently holding him up.
"Melly." Chris whispered as his eyes shot up to his sister before falling away and clenching shut as he tried to banish the sight of her body from his memories.
"Oh, My God." Leo whispered. " No Chris, please… That's not Melinda, please."
As Leo's hands stopped, trembling as his eyes lingered on his baby girl, his heart stopped. Leo's body convulsed and he fell to his knees sick with grief as his body shook.
"Dad, please I want to go." Chris's soft voice swept to his ears, pulling himself up Leo used his powers, Orbing them both away.
Chris knew Leo returned for Melinda's body as he lay on a stretcher recuperating, he knew he wouldn't see Leo again for a while. The man always leaving and lashing out in grief, leaving Chris and his responsibilities to deal with things on his own. Never being there when needed because he was too wrapped up in his own self destruction or trying to save the world to help with his grieving son. Never coming when called and it was in that moment that he decided he hated the man for that. Chris hit the bed, his anger and frustration over coming him as tears leaked out. His fist thumped, thumped, thumped on the soft mattress before a dark coloured hand stopped it. Looking up Chris's eyes looked into Darryl's, understanding in the old man's brown orbs as he leaned in, hugging the teen as Chris's emotions over come him.
"If he had come when I called him, Melly she may not have…" Chris cried, Darryl held the lost youth as his own tears fell.
"It's not far." Chris whispered, voice becoming softer as he cried until the once dark room was shadowed with the early morning rays of light. Wiping his eyes and pulling away from the dark head man, Chris cleared his throat and placed all his grief behind a wall. Only uttering a single sentence to the man beside him as he rose and left the room. His voice carefully filtered off all emotion as he grabbed the door nob and pulled it open.
"We have a Resistance to run. All the witches that escaped, have them gathered up and brought here. Find the Witch hunters, I want to know if they really do have souls."
"Chris." Melinda's voice broke through the haze and the pain this time, as he felt himself return.
Opening his eyes and waiting as the fuzziness lifted. Which because he was actually able to get a rather long night sleep, only being forced to remember the death of his closest friend in the yearly hour of the morning, he was able to recover much quicker then last night.Chris pulled Melinda in close, holding her tightly as the last images of her burnt, black body were filed away into the recesses of his mind. 'Hopefully he would forget them soon'he wished.
"Hey Big brother, I love you too but I need to breath." Melinda wined as Chris's arms wrapped around her, crushing a few ribs in the process.
"Sorry." He mumbled but didn't pull away, only lightly loosening his hold.
Melinda smiled sadly at her brother and hugged him back.
"You ok buddy." Leo asked his son. Moving to grab his shoulders and squeeze them, ignoring Chris's slight flinch.
As Chris's mind settled he rose, sniffling and rubbing his hands across his face before looking at his father.
"Demons attacked, a lot of them and they even attacked Grandpa." He said, ignoring his family's worried stares. "Mom hasn't called so I'm guessing there weren't many, but why would they attack Grandpa?"
Leo looked at his son before shaking his head and answering the best way he could,
"I don't know, he's mortal they have no reason to harm him." He said worryingly.
"Then why go after him?" Peyton asked her hands clenching into fists at the thought of them targeting an elder unarmed, un powered mortal. Let alone her own Grandfather.
Looking at his nice Leo only shook his head, mattering another 'I don't know.'
"Ok, Wyatt take Henry and go check on mum and Grandpa." Chris said, "Wait where did Uncle Coop take everyone?"
Henry looked up at his cousin and Chris could see the worry increase in his cousins eyes as he thought for an answer.
"Grandpa's." Henry whispered. Him and Wyatt orbing out as Chris yelled "Go," worry seeping into his voice.
"Mel. You and Peyton see what the elders know." Chris continued.
Melinda and Peyton shared a look before turning back to Chris, grimaces on their faces.
"Why us." Melinda whined, shaking her head, "Why can't dad go, he used to be one of them."
"Because they like you best, now go." Chris commanded as the girls sighed and orbed away.
"What about as." Parker asked as she and her sister stood together.
"I'm going to the underworld, Parker you come with me, telepathy will help. P.J, you and dad check the book." Chris said as he moved to grab his leather jacket from the rack in the main hall, before returning and taking hold of Parkers hand. Taking her slender limb he nodded to his cousin and father as they agreed and moved towards the attic as he orbed himself and Parker to the underworld.