Legacy 211: Burning Memories

Part 2

Xxx

Eleven years ago,

Billie entered the headquarters of MIND, dressed in a fancy pantsuit that made her feel like she was pretending to be someone else. She had only just accepted the role of director after Amanda had decided to retire and she was still getting used to all of it. She was now the one calling the shots, which was a lot of responsibility. It was also a struggle to combine her new career with being a single mother of two young children, but her superiors in the government had gracefully allowed her to hire a magical nanny at their expenses. Billie stepped out of the elevator and found a familiar face waiting for her in the lobby. She had a feeling she knew what this was about.

"Paige." Billie said. "What brings you here?"

"I was in the neighborhood to visit a charge." Paige replied.

Her old friend got up to hug Billie, though she could tell there was a distance between them. Once upon a time, they were very close, but their lives had drifted apart. However, that was not the real reason she sensed tension, not why Paige was there.

"I know what you want to talk about." Billie said. "Let's step in my office."

Paige nodded and followed her into the office, where Billie got them both a cup of coffee. She knew she had to hire an assistant for things like that, but that wasn't really her style. She handed Paige her cup and sat down behind her desk.

"That looks impressive." Paige noted. "You've really done great here."

"Well, we do a lot of good in the world." Billie replied. "It's a rewarding job."

"But it also comes with a lot of risks." Paige said.

"Isn't that what we're supposed to do?" Billie asked. "We fight evil, right?"

"Of course." Paige replied. "My sisters may have retired their wiccan duties, but I'm still a Whitelighter. It's my job to protect my charges, just like its my job to protect my family."

There it was, the real reason Paige had come. Tyler had been a part of her family ever since she and Henry became his foster parents. That kind of bond didn't change just because Tyler was an adult now and made different life choices. After finishing college, Tyler entered the recruitment program for MIND and became an agent. Paige had been opposed to the idea from the start, as her maternal instincts wanted to protect him. Billie understood her feelings, as she would do anything to protect Lexie and Charlie as well, but Tyler was a grown man.

"I know." Billie said. "But Tyler made his choice."

"He only joined MIND because he looks up to you." Paige replied. "He had a promising future as a social worker. He worked hard for that degree."

"What do you want me to do?" Billie asked.

"You're the director now." Paige said. "I know it wasn't your choice to hire him, but now you can convince him to pursue a less dangerous career."

"Paige, look, Tyler is my friend, I don't want him to get hurt either." Billie replied. "But I can't let my personal feelings get in the way of my job. Besides, Tyler is a good agent."

"I just don't want him to get hurt or worse." Paige said. "I don't want to have to tell my kids that kind of awful news."

"I know the feeling." Billie noted as memories of Jake flashed through her mind.

"I'm sorry." Paige replied. "I know you've gone through a difficult time. I thought that you, of all people, would understand my fear."

"I do understand, Paige." Billie said. "But I swore an oath when I accepted this position. MIND exists to protect both the mortal and magical world. I can't lose an agent over sentimental reasons."

"I understand." Paige replied. "Seems like you're adjusting to the role just fine."

Paige got up and left the office without even touching her coffee. Billie sighed as she lay back in her chair. She knew that becoming director meant she would have to make difficult choices, though she never imagined having to defend those choices against the people she cared about. She understood Paige's fears and shared them. She was worried each time she had to send Tyler on a mission, but she also had to respect him as an agent and not play favorites.

Billie finished her coffee and started up her computer to get some work done, though she was distracted when a blue spirals of energy appeared before her and formed into Arthur and Violet. The looks on their faces immediately told her they weren't there on a social call. Their sudden appearance also reminded Billie that she needed to cast anti-teleportation spells around the office.

"Billie, we've got a problem." Arthur said. "It's Ronan."

Xxx

After leaving the manor in a hurry, Wyatt and Lincoln appeared on the streets of Washington DC, as it was impossible to teleport directly into the headquarters of MIND. Wyatt had been curious about the mysterious government organization ever since hearing about it, though he had never expected to actually go there. He looked at his boyfriend with a worried expression. Lincoln had been silent since he told him about his parents and it was obvious that it was eating him up from the inside. Wyatt wanted to say something, but he couldn't find the right words.

"We should get inside." Lincoln said. "She's waiting."

"Of course." Wyatt replied.

Lincoln nodded and went ahead into the inconspicuous office building. They got into an elevator and Lincoln used his personal keycard to activate it. As they rode up, Wyatt was surprised to hear Christmas music coming from the speakers. With all the commotion, he had forgotten about the holiday almost entirely. They were supposed to have dinner with his dad and siblings at Les Trois this evening, though Melinda had cancelled earlier because she was feeling sick. He hadn't seen much of his sister in the last couple of weeks anyways, which was a little strange.

"How are you holding up?" Wyatt asked.

"Fine, there is no point in thinking about it until we know more." Lincoln replied.

"Is that some kind of agent thing?" Wyatt asked. "Pushing your feelings down and not think about it?"

"When you're in the field, you have to act in the moment." Lincoln replied. "You can't worry about the past or the future, so you just focus on the mission."

"I guess that makes sense." Wyatt noted. "But this is not just any mission, Lincoln. This is about your past."

"I know." Lincoln admitted. "But I need to focus right now. I can't afford to get distracted."

The elevator stopped and the door opened, revealing a chaotic scene in front of them that was certainly distracting. Dozens of identical young women in a marine blue dress were decorating the office with every kind of Christmas decorations imaginable while singing along to cheerful Christmas song. Some were hanging stars on the ceiling while others were setting up the tree or spraying the windows with fake snow. Once one of the women spotted them, she tripped over a box of decorations with a scream. All copies turned to them and disappeared in a flash of purple light, causing some decorations to fall to the floor. Lincoln walked over to the remaining copy and helped her up.

"Evelyn, what's going on here?" Lincoln asked.

"Oh Lincoln." Evelyn replied. "Just getting things ready for the Christmas party. You know, for the agents that can't go home for the holidays."

"Did the director approve this?" Lincoln asked.

"I asked her and she told me to do whatever." Evelyn replied. "She seemed a little distracted, though."

"I bet she is." Lincoln said.

"You must be Wyatt." Evelyn said as she walked past Lincoln and extended her hand. "I've dying to meet you."

"Yeah, that's me." Wyatt replied as he shook her hand. "And you are?"

"My name is Evelyn." Evelyn said. "I'm the personal assistant of the director and a big fan of yours."

"Fan? What do you mean?" Wyatt asked confused.

"Oh, I read all mission reports." Evelyn said. "Reading about how you worked with Lincoln was great, I could literally feel the chemistry between you on the page. It was like a romance novel."

"Really?" Wyatt asked.

"Those files are confidential; you shouldn't be allowed to read them." Lincoln quickly said. "Besides, my reports are always professional."

"Well, your reports are always short and punctual, but the ones involving Wyatt are longer. You were very detailed in describing him specifically." Evelen noted. "I remember something about a lean and muscular physique while fighting the Lord of War."

"Oh really?" Wyatt remarked with a smile. "What else did you write about me?"

"Like I said, confidential." Lincoln replied. "Besides, we have different matters to attend to."

"Right, of course." Evelyn said in a more serious tone. "The director is expecting you in her office."

"Do you know what's going on?" Wyatt asked.

"No, she didn't say a word." Evelyn replied. "Just that you were coming and that she wanted no interruptions, unless it was a level 5 emergency."

"Level 5?" Wyatt asked.

"That means potentially world ending." Lincoln noted. "An apocalypse."

"Right, that makes sense." Wyatt said.

"We should go in." Lincoln replied. "I need answers."

"Right, lead the way." Wyatt said. "Evelyn, it was nice to meet you."

"Oh, you too." Evelyn replied. "You're exactly like I imagined."

Evelyn gave him a big smile before turning around and cloning herself to finish the Christmas decorations. Wyatt wasn't exactly sure how to take it, but he seemed to have gotten a fan by dating Lincoln. It was a little weird, but it also made him curious about those reports. However, now was not the time to be wondering about that. He followed Lincoln to the director's office and braced himself for a reunion that was bound to be uncomfortable.

Billie Jenkins had been a friend of his family for years, but something tragic had driven a wedge between her and his mom and aunts. He knew some of what happened back then, but he was too young to remember all the details and his family never spoke about it. At least, not to Wyatt or his siblings and cousins. He always figured it was easier for them to pretend it didn't happen rather than accept what they had lost.

Lincoln opened the door and they found Billie sitting at her desk, looking as if she was expecting them with a serious look in her eyes. Wyatt remembered only flashes of Billie from when he was a boy, but she had always seemed cheerful and happy. All of that seemed to have disappeared, as Wyatt could tell there was a sadness behind her serious expression.

"Good, you made it." Billie said. "Please take a seat."

"I'd rather stand." Lincoln replied. "Tell me what's going on, the truth this time."

"Lincoln, I know you're upset." Billie noted. "You have every right to be, as I've been keeping certain things from you to protect you."

"I don't need your protection, Billie." Lincoln snapped. "You're not my mom."

"I know." Billie admitted.

"Maybe we should sit down and take a moment." Wyatt opted. "Whatever is going on, we're all on the same side here."

"You sound like your dad." Billie said with a faint smile. "It's nice to see you again, Wyatt."

"Thanks." Wyatt replied. "It's good to see you too, I think, though I can barely remember you."

"I guess that makes sense." Billie said. "I think you were about six or seven when I last spent any significant time with you and Chris."

"And a few years after that, you disappeared entirely." Wyatt noted.

"That wasn't my choice." Billie said. "But I guess that's what we're here to discuss."

"What do you mean?" Wyatt asked. "I thought we were here to talk about Lincoln's parents?"

"We are." Billie said. "The night that Lincoln's parents died is the same night your family cut ties with me. It's all connected."

Wyatt gasped as he looked at Lincoln, who seemed equally surprised by the revelation. It was at that moment that all memories of that time came rushing back to Wyatt, memories of the person his family had lost back then. The person who he never really got to know.

"Tyler." Wyatt whispered.

"Who is Tyler?" Lincoln asked. "What does any of this have to do with my parents?"

"Tyler was an agent of MIND and a close personal friend." Billie said. "He was also the foster child of Paige Matthews, one of the Charmed Ones."

"So he was there that night?" Lincoln asked. "At that house?"

"We both were." Billie admitted. "And I failed to protect him just like I failed your parents."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Lincoln asked as he turned to Wyatt.

"I had no idea." Wyatt said. "Tyler was part of our family, but we barely saw him. I didn't grow up knowing him and I never knew he worked for MIND. All I know is that he died eleven years ago, but I never put the two pieces together."

"It makes sense that you never knew." Billie said. "Paige never wanted him to join MIND in the first place. She blames me for what happened that night, and so did her sisters."

"So they never talked about it." Wyatt noted angrily. "How could they?"

"It's a natural instinct for parents to keep things from their kids if they think it might hurt them." Billie said. "Whether they are really are their parent or not."

"So that's what you did." Lincoln snapped at her. "You hid the truth about how and why my parents died."

"You're right." Billie said. "I have no other excuse except for trying to shield you from pain. But now things are different, we can't run from the past anymore."

"What do you mean?" Lincoln asked.

"I mean that the person we were trying to stop that night has resurfaced." Billie said. "The one who started this all."

"Who?" Lincoln asked.

"I'll tell you soon." Billie said. "We're still waiting for someone to join us."

"I've waited long enough!" Lincoln said as he slammed his fist on her desk.

Before Billie could react, there was a knock on the door and it swung open. Two people entered, the first being a woman in her forties with bright red hair in a bob cut. The second was a slightly older man with short black hair that showed signs of greying. Based on descriptions he had heard before, Wyatt could guess they were former Chosen member Violet and her wizard husband, Arthur.

"Sorry for the delay." Violet said. "The weather on Atlantis was dreadful."

Xxx

In the luxurious apartment in Manhattan, Ronan was sitting at a glass table while staring at a golden puzzle box of intricate design. Despite the artifact being powerful and ancient, it looked unscathed by time and one could easily mistake it for a mortal trinket. To Ronan, however, it was the literal key to all his problems. The box could give him everything he had been searching for. He was so focused on the box that he barely noticed Tula entering the room.

"You left the meeting soon." Tula noted.

"I showed my face." Ronan replied. "I knew you and Quinn could handle the rest."

"Our family is important, Ronan." Tula said. "You shouldn't take them for granted."

"I know." Ronan replied with a sigh as he turned to face her. "With the time for the ritual coming closer, I'm having trouble of focusing on anything else."

"I understand." Tula said as she sat down and took his hand in hers. "I can help you clear your mind; you know. Help you sleep peacefully or find a more sensual way to distract you."

"You don't need your powers for that, my love." Ronan said. "You are enough."

"I know." Tula replied. "But I'm serious about you needing to rest, so you can either come with me willingly or I can compel you."

Tula got up from her seat and pulled him up as well, leading him into a passionate kiss. Even without her mind manipulation, Ronan was compelled to follow her. However, his eyes lingered back to the puzzle box. Tula noticed it and sighed.

"The ritual will work." Tula said. "Once the time is right."

"You're right." Ronan replied. "I should let it go for now."

Ronan picked up the puzzle box and walked over to a painting, which he removed to reveal a hidden vault behind it. He carefully placed the box in the vault and closed it before turning back to the beautiful love of his life.

"Tell me about the meeting." Ronan said.

"Nothing special, everyone knows what is expected of them." Tula replied. "We had a slight disturbance when a bat flew into the room, but nothing to worry about."

"A bat?" Ronan asked. "Are you sure it was a normal bat?"

"Well, not entirely." Tula admitted. "We chased it off and it flew out the window. You don't think it was a vampire, do you? Why would they be interested in us?"

"We're on their territory." Ronan said. "We can't take the risk."

Ronan walked out onto the balcony of their apartment, trying to act as casually as he could while scanning his surroundings. He noticed movement from the corner of his eye and knew he had to act quickly. He glanced at the statue of a bird standing on the roof and magically brought it to life. The statue soared toward the movement he had seen. A bat tried to fly away from the shadows, but it was pinned to the wall by the statue. The bat screeched and shapeshifted back into its true form, a female vampire with blonde hair.

"Let me go!" The vampire girl hissed.

"Well, well, what have we got here?" Ronan noted. "Tula, can you read her mind to find out why she's here?"

"I can't." Tula replied. "I'm witch, remember?" Their kind is immune to my powers."

"I see." Ronan noted. "Then I guess we have to find out the hard way."

Ronan waved his finger and the bird statue dug its claws deeper into the vampire's skin, causing her to scream in pain. He could not allow something to interfere with his ritual, not again, so he needed to know who else knew about it.

Xxx