Disclaimer: Just a girl trying to get through stress by writing :) nothing more
Finally, I get to be evil! Thanks for all of the reviews, hope you guys like this chapter! This one is long :)
"So, you're feeling better?" Leo asked, and Chris nodded with a smile.
"Then I don't feel bad about shouting at you." Leo said louder and something changed in Chris. Seldom had he angered his father that much in this timeline, but it had taken the slightest nudge in the old timeline to warrant such a reaction.
A single thought ran through his head before he retaliated. So, he's a crappy father in both timelines.
Chapter 8
He needed a distraction, and being as connected as he was in the Underworld it wouldn't take long to find a few kamikaze demon's to help him in his endeavours.
"You disobeyed me and your mother, and what's worse you put your brother and cousin in danger."
"Danger? What?"
"Memory spells are dangerous; you've already knocked me and your brother out! I'm disappointed in you Chris."
"Why? Because I'm not perfect like the Twice-Blessed?"
Wyatt felt his ears go red. It was a friendly joke amongst them, but he had never heard his title said with such bitterness and anguish.
Leo didn't miss it either, he knew that the Chris he was talking to now was more of the old Chris, changed by war, than the Chris he had been a better father to.
"No Chris," He said softly, not wanting to cause a fight. "I was just-." He faltered and Chris' impatience was having none of it.
"What Dad? What?" He said, storming up the stairs, his father following him as quickly as he could.
That wasn't just Chris sarcasm; there was bitterness behind it, something misplaced in this new future, and something only the other Chris would feel.
"Well dad?" Chris growled as they entered the attic.
"Scared."
Whatever Chris had been expecting, waiting for, it hadn't been that. "Scared?" He echoed, confused. Leo nodded.
"The thought of losing you or your brother scares me so much Chris. You and Wyatt mean the world to me and I can't bare the thought of something, or someone hurting you."
"That doesn't excuse it." Chris muttered intent on being difficult.
"Chris-."
"No dad, you can't do this! You can't just forget me, forget the other me like that! I don't care if you don't love me but you had no right!"
"'Don't love you!'" Leo echoed incredulously. "What? Chris you are my son, of course I love you! I would do anything to protect you, to keep you safe!"
"Then where am I? Where's the other me?"
Leo felt tears sting his eyes. His son was right. He hadn't been good enough. His beloved baby boy had died in his arms.
"Chris, stop this right now!"
"Why? Don't I deserve the truth?" He asked slightly quieter than before. His parents were about to explain when there was a loud crash from downstairs and they heard Phoebe's voice floating up to them in the attic.
"Stay here." Leo said firmly to his son, who scoffed in response. "As if I can't handle a few demons, dad." Once again the title Leo cherished so dearly was spat out bitterly, images of his fathers untrustworthy gaze filling Chris' conscience.
"Stay here!" He said, thundering down the stairs with Wyatt only a few steps ahead. Chris growled, knowing full well that he dare not push his luck no matter how rebellious he was feeling.
Something nagged at the back of Leo's mind as he helped his family fight off the demons. For one thing, their aim was constantly off. Not one of them had been hit, and though Leo would like to think it was because of the amount of power they all had, he knew they were doing it on purpose.
But why distract them? The book was safe, even if the demons had found a way to touch it they wouldn't be able to get past Chris.
Leo felt like someone had dropped a boulder inside of his stomach.
Chris.
He orbed out instantly to the attic, catching Wyatt's eye as he did so. The first born looked around, and seeing that his mother and aunts clearly had things under control orbed out, following his father up the three flights of stairs.
"They can't hear you Chris. They're not coming"
The disembodied voice taunted a dark cloud of shadow and evil forming in front of him.
No, that's not true. They always come when I need them. They're always there.
They're never there. Dad never comes, not since mom die-
No! Mom's alive! And she's downstairs!
Chris had been pacing in the attic when the door that his father had left ajar, slammed shut. There had been a sucking sound, like an old vacuum being used and Chris felt cold. Instinctively he had tried to orb, and found it impossible to do so. That's when he had began calling out to them. "Dad! Wyatt! Mom!"
Suddenly a white, ghost-like hand shot out at him from the dark mass making him topple over backwards in surprise. The demon continued to advance and Chris scuffled backwards as fast as possible. Every second trying to orb and failing each time. The last time he had been unable to use his powers, Bianca had died.
But Bianca was alive, wasn't she? He couldn't help feel great sorrow at the unanswered question.
"DAD!" He screamed at the top of his voice but the spell cast on the room stopped anyone from hearing his pleas. He desperately flung his arm out for what felt like the billionth time but the demon only cackled cruelly, advancing slowly dragging out the fear in Chris.
"WYATT!" Chris bellowed, looking desperately at the door, and saw to his utmost delight and relief that it began move, rattle in its frame as something or someone rammed against it time and time again.
"I can't hear him, what if-."
"No Wyatt, don't we just have to get in there."
"How? We can't orb in! This is ridiculous!" Wyatt cried, hearing more demons being vanquished downstairs. Upon re-materializing the two had found their orbs shoved away and appeared outside of the attic door instead of inside the attic itself.
"Then we'll just have to get in the old-fashioned way." Leo said simply as he kicked the door suddenly, happy to see it shake. Wyatt understood his fathers actions and began stepping back once or twice and running forward, ramming his left shoulder into the door with all his might, satisfied to hear a slight crack in the wood.
Please hurry.
Chris prayed.
Please.
"Hmm it seems they are determined to get it, wouldn't you say?"
Chris glared at the demon, feeling a burst of confidence with his brother and father on the way.
"Such defiance." The demon admired, staring deep into Chris' eyes. "Makes it all the more worthwhile."
Chris stood up suddenly, never keeping his eyes off of the demon. He had to keep him busy until he could be saved; just a little distraction was all they needed.
"Who are you?" Chris asked angrily stalking towards the demon. "Quisa, I already know your name." He spoke with an underlying of hatred.
"And you still come here? Well aren't you brave."
"I wasn't the one calling out to my brother and father, you pathetic whelp!" He made to grab Chris again, who jumped away from the touch. If he could get to the door at the right time he could be free, but if he left it too late he would be backed into a corner, the perfect prey.
He circled him all the while listening for the final blow to the door, for his brother to come rushing in and save him.
But Wyatt hates you. You betrayed him. He won't save you.
His father was behind the door-
The one you've been screaming at, you mean? The one who doesn't trust you, who blames you for everything?
Chris swallowed his dry throat, panicking. His mind was filled with jumbled memories. It was all so confusing and yet at the same time, it seemed so real and so simple. So familiar.
The door creaked angrily, a long line forming up the wood, where one more blow would no doubt break it in two.
Leo and Wyatt looked at each other, well aware of what they needed to do. Wyatt stepped backwards, and Leo aimed his foot.
At the same time the younger of the two thrust himself into the door as his father kicked with all of his might. As soon as the door opened it felt as though their ears had just popped. Sound came rushing out, and Chris felt the tingling of magic within him. He flung his wrist and the demon went crashing into the wall. Seemingly knocked out.
"Chris!" Leo cried as Chris began running towards him desperately. Leo grabbed him tightly. "I'm so sorry, I should never have left you alone up here, I'm sorry."
"Its ok dad, it's ok."
Both Chris' were talking as they said that. One with the memories of a wonderful childhood, another with the memories of being rescued from jail. Saved again. Leo squeezed his son in the hug, so happy to hear the words; very aware of how close Chris had been to god knows what.
Wyatt joined in on the hug, fear for his brother, slowly dissipating.
"Oh crap." Wyatt muttered as they broke up the embrace and saw that the demon had vanished. Chris growled in annoyance and stepped over to the podium that held the book of shadows. As he touched the cover, intending to open it, voices and images filled his mind like a flash flood, it came without warning and he was drowning.
"Chris?" Wyatt and Leo both chorused as they stepped towards him. Wary, well aware of what had happened last time they had tried to awaken the boy.
"It worked!" I cry
"The spell! Find the spell!" Her desperate voice breaks through my triumphant feelings. I turn the pages rapidly, flipping back to some, almost ripping others in my haste until I see it. The single paragraph entwined with watercolour shapes on the worn parchment.
"Hear these words. Hear my rhyme
Heed the hope within my mind
Send me back to where I'll find
What I wish in place and time."
I can't take my eyes off of her, if it didn't work, we're dead. We are so dead. A blue glow alights the dark attic as the triquetra, now a portal, activates on the wall. I'm grasping the book. Just gotta get in now. Just gotta-demon! He's grabbing her, but she fights back, telling me to go, telling me to leave. Telling me to wake up.
What?
But that's not her voice.
"Come on Chris, wake up." A gentle voice speaks and Chris' head shifted from side to side, unsure what to do.
There was a swirl in the air, a misplaced wind and Leo and Wyatt were pushed of their feet, flung back. They instantly got up to see Chris with his eyes closed, unaware of the demon behind him until it was too late. They couldn't move, something was stopping them.
Oh god
Leo felt the dread once more, the fear for his youngest son clutching at his heart, stopping his rhythmic breathing that hitched in his throat.
Chris opened his eyes, only to be assaulted by the warnings of his sixth sense. He span around and stared directly at the demon, unable to escape the hand that now grabbed his shirt, he pulled at it in vain, trying to squirm away. He could hear footsteps in the distance coming up the stairs.
"DAD!" Chris cried out one last time before he disappeared in a cloud of dust and shadow, demon and all.
Piper, Phoebe and Paige entered the attic, seeing the mess, knowing something had gone down.
"Where's Chris?" Piper asked, looking around, hoping the boy hadn't stormed off, but she received no reply. Leo was on his knees, staring at where his son had been, where his son had cried out for him and he hadn't saved him. Wyatt had a hand on his fathers shoulder, muttering comforting words. "We'll find him, I promise dad."
"Where's Chris?" Piper asked again, louder and through gritted teeth. She saw tears pool in Leo's eyes. She saw her sisters look at each other worriedly. She saw Wyatt's shoulders heave. She didn't see Chris. Anywhere.
"Where is he?" She asked dangerously, terrified of the reply.
"A demon…he…took him." Wyatt whispered brokenly, cringing at the reactions of his mother and aunts, their gasped and worried cries, their chorus of questions he couldn't answer. A single thought in his head the entire time. 'This is all my fault'
Uh, spare me? Please? – runs away -