Chosen Chapter 14: Past and Present Danger

Part 7

Xxx

Violet was swallowed by white light as she traveled through time. The entire world seemed to flash before her eyes in an instant, until she found herself standing in the study of the twins' childhood home. She saw herself and the twins kneeling by the door, spying on Erin in the other room. It was the moment right before the twins' father and the demons appeared. Violet quickly threw up her hands and froze time. She needed to warn the twins before they did something reckless.

"Wait." Violet said as she stepped forward.

The other Violet and the twins turned around and were shocked to see her standing there. Before anyone could react, both Violet and her past self started to glow and her past self shot forward. She merged with her present self as time caught up with itself.

"Uh, what the hell just happened?" Nick asked.

"I came from the future." Violet replied.

"Yeah, we all did, remember?" Nathan remarked with a frown.

"No, I mean, I don't mean our present, I mean the future from now." Violet said as she was searching for a way to explain. "Okay, that doesn't make much sense. What I'm trying to say is that I lived this moment already. I know what is going to happen and I came back to stop it."

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.

"Any minute now, your father is going to appear." Violet said. "But then demons attack and a fight erupts. When your mother is hit with an Energy Ball, you two are blinded by anger and storm in, but you will get yourselves killed. I saw it happen."

"Wait, we died?" Nick asked.

"Yes, but I came back to stop that from happening." Violet said.

"Alright, then we will try again." Nathan replied. "You can tell us what to do so we won't get killed."

"No, you can't get involved at all." Violet said. "As much as it hurts, this is what is meant to happen. We have to let it or we will alter the past."

"Vi, we've been over this already." Nathan said angrily. "We can't just do nothing."

"I'm sorry, but you have to." Violet said. "The first time we changed things, you were killed. This time could be worse. If we mess with the Grand Design when we're not meant to, bad things will happen."

"How do you know?" Nick asked.

"Gideon told me." Violet replied. "He explained who I am and what I am meant to do. I'm meant to ensure that things happen the way they are supposed to. I think that's why we were sent here. So we could all get the answers we needed."

"At the price of watching our mom die." Nathan said.

"I wish there was another way." Violet replied. "We could leave now, but then you'll never find out what really happened."

"No, I want to know." Nick said determined and he turned to his brother. "I know this sucks, but isn't knowing better than always guessing what happened?"

"You're okay with this?" Nathan asked angrily. "This our mom we're talking about."

"I know, but we don't have a choice." Nick said. "Look, we have always looked after each other. We managed fine without her. And as much our lives sucked at times, I don't want to erase everything we've been through. We wouldn't be the same people."

"Fine, I get it." Nathan said reluctantly. "Since when did you become the smart one anyway?"

"Are you sure about this?" Violet asked.

"Let's just get this over with before I change my mind." Nathan said.

"You can freeze us if we try anything." Nick added.

"Alright." Violet replied.

Violet unfroze time and they all took cover by the door to see what was going to happen. They watched as the twins' father arrived and argued with their mother like they did the first time. When Erin tried to slap Jeremy, he grabbed her arm and kissed her instead. Violet held her breath, as she knew what was going to happen next. Jeremy began to leave, at which point the demons appeared through shimmering.

"Oh, a witch is the least of your problems." One of the demons in a black suit said.

The demon held out a hand, sending Jeremy flying across the room with an energy blast. The other two demons formed fireballs. Erin screamed and threw up her hand, firing a dart of light at the demons. The first one ducked and it hit one of the others, vanquishing him. The noise caused the toddlers to wake up and start crying. The first demon flung his hand and sent Erin crashing into the wall with an energy blast.

Violet felt Nathan trying to get up and quickly grabbed his hand to stop him. He looked at her angrily and she shook her head, telling him not to get involved. Nathan reluctantly backed down with a pained expression.

"Who the hell are you people?" Jeremy asked as he rose his feet and grabbed an athame.

"The name is Nomed." The demon said. "I work for a higher power interested in your children. I'm giving you a choice, warlock. My bosses are only interested in your kids. Leave and no harm will came to them or you."

"Are you kidding me?" Jeremy asked.

"Oh, we're all evil here." Nomed replied with a smirk. "Don't pretend you actually care."

"Jeremy, please." Erin begged as she crawled up. "Don't let him hurt our sons."

"Be quiet, you." Nomed replied.

Nomed formed an Energy Ball and threw it at Erin. She was struck in the chest and killed instantly. She fell to the floor with her eyes widened in shock. Violet felt Nathan squeeze her hand in anger. It hurt, though she realized it wasn't intentional. Both of the twins were trembling and their eyes were red. She could only imagine how painful it was. She turned her attention back to the other room and saw Jeremy furious as well. She wondered if he truly cared about Erin after all.

"You can't take us both, warlock." Nomed said with an amused smirk.

"Don't underestimate me." Jeremy replied.

Jeremy disappeared in a blink and appeared behind the other warlock, stabbing him in the back with his athame and vanquishing him. Nomed fired another energy blast and pushed Jeremy against the wall.

"Why the hell are you after them?" Jeremy asked.

"That is none of your business." Nomed said. "This doesn't have to be your end, warlock. You can walk away and pretend this never happened, or I can kill you. Your choice."

Jeremy seemed to consider his options and he looked at Erin lying motionless on the floor and his sons crying in their crib. For a moment, Violet though he was going to fight for his children, but then his face hardened and he put away his athame. It seemed that Violet had her answer.

"Screw this, I'm out of here." Jeremy said as he disappeared in a blink.

"Son of a bitch." Nick whispered.

Nomed walked to the crib and looked at the crying toddlers. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small crystal. As he placed in on the ground, a hologram of three cloaked figures appeared and he kneeled down.

"I found the ones you are looking for, my lords." Nomed said. "The mother died easily and the father decided his own life was more important. I guess you can always depend on a warlock to be selfish."

"Test them." One of the figures said.

"We need to know if they are the ones." The second added.

Nomed nodded and picked up the crystal. He waved it over the twins and a blue light seemed to scan them. After a moment the light turned red.

"It's not them." Nomed said disappointed as he lowered the crystal. "I figured that with their warlock blood, they were be perfect candidates."

"We will keep looking." The third figure said.

"The Ultimate Power must be found." The first one said.

"Kill them and be done with it." The second one said.

The holograms of the three figures disappeared and Nomed formed an Energy Ball in his hand. He stared down at the twins and raised his hand. At that moment, a column of purple orbs descended from the ceiling and Gideon materialized. He waved his hand and Nomed was thrown back, crashing through the coffee table. When he saw Gideon, his eyed widened.

"An Elder." Nomed said fearfully as he shimmered away.

"I'm too late." Gideon noted saddened as he saw Erin lying on the floor and walked to the crib. "Come, little ones. You shall be kept safe."

Gideon waved his hand, causing him and the toddlers to disappear in columns of purple orbs. When they were gone, Violet and the twins got up and entered the other room. The twins looked at their mother lying on the floor. Nathan kneeled down and closed her eyes with his fingers. His own eyes were wet with tears.

"I'm so sorry." Violet said.

"I can't believe that bastard left us." Nick said angrily.

"I want to leave." Nathan said, ignoring his brother as he stood up. "I can't stay here."

"I can take us home." Violet replied.

Violet held out her hands and the twins each took one. She wanted to say something to make them feel better, but she knew she couldn't. They needed to process this and mourn their loss all over again. She figured it was best to stay silent before she said the wrong thing. She had a lot to think about herself. All she wanted to do was go home. She closed her eyes and focused on the present, causing them all to disappear in a flash of white light.

Xxx

After returning from the laboratory, Billie and Duncan returned home to find Violet waiting for them. As they had a lot to tell each other about their experiences, Billie made a pot of coffee and they settled on the couch. Agent Murphy had left to inform his superiors about what happened with the virus, while the twins had told Violet that they needed some time alone. Duncan wanted to go after them, though Violet told him it was best to give them some space.

"So the Triad suspected they were the Ultimate Power." Billie said after hearing everything that Violet had to tell. "But they were looking for me and Christy."

"Look, this isn't your fault. You didn't choose to be the Ultimate Power." Duncan replied. "The Triad is responsible."

"I know." Billie admitted. "I just had no idea they caused so much pain trying to find us. How many families did they tear apart for their sick plans?"

"I can't believe that their father abandoned them like that." Duncan said.

"Well, he was a warlock." Billie replied. "He didn't have a soul, so he was not able to love. He was just a dirty coward."

"I looked him up before you got home." Violet said. "His name was Jeremy Burns. Apparently, he liked to seduce witches in order to leave them vulnerable."

"I know about him." Billie replied. "He tried the same with Piper when she just got her powers. He deserved what he got."

"He deserved worse." Duncan said bitterly.

"True." Billie agreed. "I just hope Nick and Nathan can find some kind of peace knowing what happened. Anything is better than not knowing, right?"

"I'm not sure." Duncan replied.

"What about you, Violet?" Billie asked. "Did you find the answers you were looking for?"

"I guess." Violet said. "None of this was what I expected. I'm happy to know that my parents gave me up to give me a better life, but having this kind of power? It feels like a burden and a little scary."

"It's weird, you're basically like a time lord." Duncan remarked, causing both Billie and Violet to look at him with a frown. "So neither of you ever watched Doctor Who, huh? Never mind."

"Well, it's like Gideon said, you should only use this power when you absolutely have to." Billie said as she turned to Violet.

"How will I know?" Violet asked.

"You'll know." Duncan replied. "You wouldn't have received this power if you couldn't handle it. Besides, you have your premonitions to guide you."

"I guess." Violet said.

"So what was it like in the past?" Billie asked. "With Gideon, I mean."

"It's weird." Violet replied. "I know how he turned out, but he just seemed like this really kind and intelligent man. I truly believe he wanted what was best for me and the twins."

"I think Gideon was good for most of his life." Duncan said. "That is why he founded Magic School, to help younger generations. His fear for Wyatt's power was what ultimately drove him crazy."

"It's sad that it ended like that." Violet said.

Billie remained silent as she took a sip of her coffee. She knew people made mistakes, she had made plenty herself, but to go after an innocent child like that? There was no excuse for that. Then again, maybe she was too personally involved because of her relationship with the sisters to be fair.

"So what about the virus?" Violet asked. "It's out there now."

"Murphy said that he will put every resource he has into tracking the virus." Billie said. "He would also try to keep the mayor in check for now."

"Sadly we have no idea who Ramsey was working for." Duncan added.

"Don't we?" Billie asked after a thought popped up in her head. "The list of suspects isn't that long. I can pretty much think of only one person who want to commit magical genocide."

"Ambrose?" Violet asked.

"Who else could it be?" Billie asked. "Aside from the mayor, obviously."

"That doesn't make sense though." Duncan reasoned. "The virus would target all magical beings, including Wizards. Ambrose would not risk killing his own children."

"Unless he has a way to make Wizards immune to it." Billie said. "Ambrose wants to reclaim the world for his kind. What better way than to eliminate all threats with a single virus? Only wizards and mortals would remain."

"Could he really go that far?" Violet asked.

"I think he is capable of anything." Billie replied.

"Then we're going to have find a way to beat him." Duncan said.

Billie nodded, though she realized it was going to be difficult. They had all seen what Ambrose was capable of with that staff. He was far stronger than anything they had fought before and he had centuries to plan all of his moves. They had stopped him from gaining immortality for his children, but the real fight was only just beginning.

Xxx

Author's Note.

One more chapter coming. Thanks for all the reviews!