Darkened Soul (Charmed Dark Angel Crossover)

[winter]

DARKENED SOUL

Okay i hope i'm doing this right .... This is my first time writing a charmed story, so bare with me. Eh i guess the only thing to say is i've altered the charmed history a little and made it that Cole is Phoebe's daughters father.

For those of you who have never seen Dark angel i guess the only thing i can tell you is that Max and Alec are genetically engineered supersoliders escaped from a secret goverment agencie called Manticore currently living in a post-apocalpse Seattle. Logan is a cyberjournalist and Max's better half, after burning down Manticore Max and Alec find themselves fighting against a breeding cult hell bent on taking over the world and destroying all the humans. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

I own nothing but Amethyst and hope you enjoy the story....

Prologue

San Francisco 2025

The gentle silver light from the round pale moon illuminated the golden brown pages from the ancient book that remained discarded on her lap. It felt like she'd been sitting in her mother's rocking chair for days when in reality she'd only been there for a couple of hours. When she had left the attic earlier on today the sun had been ablaze in the autumn sky, the vehicles outside had noisily been making their way down her street and cousins had been in the middle of a full-blown argument about how to handle her 'situation'. But gradually everything had grown silent around her, her cousins were gone, the sky had turned black and San Franscico's traffic had dwindled down to a mere hum of its former self.

Placing the book of shadows carefully on the floor she rose from the rickety old chair, slowly rolling her shoulders in a vain attempt to work out some of the stiffness that had developed from her lack of movement. For hours she had been searching for the mysterious man, no the mysterious warlock that had chased her home today, and here she was a good half a day later still as baffled as when the first energy ball had volley past her head.

Upper level demons never chased her. With Chris there was always a slight chance, with Wyatt it was almost a certainty, but demons, warlocks or whatever else came out of the evil woodwork of life always overlooked her. The entire underworld was under the impression that the cosmos had played a cruel unsuspecting joke on Phoebe Halliwell's one and only daughter. That she, the youngest in the Halliwell line had been born powerless into a family whose magic was legendary. It was a rumour she encouraged and even helped maintain by hiding whenever their home was attacked. The horrible truth was though that she wasn't as scared of them as she was of herself. She simply couldn't afford to lose her control and tap into that side of herself that was bathed in darkness.

It was because of this she had spent many nights cursing her father and her mother's doomed relationship. No one had ever heard of a witch who'd fallen in love with a demon before, but somehow her mother had managed. Without so much as an ounce of consideration for the people around her, her mother had fallen head over heels for the very man who had been sent to kill both her and her sisters. The irony was he'd fallen in love back.

If that had been the end of their Romeo and Juliet style romance maybe things wouldn't have been so difficult for both of them. But the stories Chris had told her, were very different from the little snippets her mother and aunts had allowed her hear. According to him her fathers love had sent her mother to the darkest place on earth, she had ended up pregnant and things had become complicated that had resulted in her losing her unborn child. They had slowly tried to rebuild their romance and a little while after her Aunt Piper had found out she was pregnant they had had one fleeting night of passion which had resulted in her. Shortly after her mother had found out she was pregnant her father had been vanquished, no one would tell her why, but she got the impression she had done something unforgivable.

Jumping her eyes snapped to the window as a lone branch from the old oak tree outside tapped against the glass. Taking a deep breath she looked out into the darkness as her heart hammered wildly against her chest. "Oh get a grip Amethyst." She scolded herself leaning her head against the cold window frame. "Demons are not going to materialise in your room and make off with you."

"Find anything?" A deep voice rumbled behind her.

Yelping she span around to face the intruder behind her, the fluffy blue mat beneath her feet slid on the varnished floor taking her with it, with an ungraceful scream she landed on the ground with a thud.

"Ame I'm so sorry." Christopher apologised immediately before extending his hand to help her up of the floor. "I didn't mean to just orb into your room unannounced."

"Don't worry about it." She smiled as he pulled her too her feet. "I'm jumping at shadows. I suddenly realised just how alone I was in the house and then the oak tree started scraping against my window…." She trailed off suddenly embarrassed by the absurdity of it all. They saw monsters practically every day in this house and she was screaming at the non-existent phantoms in her room.

Smiling at her gently Chris pulled her into his arms. "Wyatt called. He asked me to take a break from work and check and see if you've found anything new in the book."

Casting a wary eye at the abandoned book on the other side of the room she sighed. "Look Chris I know Wyatt is on this super-witch kick and I'm not trying to slow the all powerful one down or anything, but I honestly don't think we have the skills to do this on our own. I think it would be better for everyone if I just called my mum and asked her to come home."

"You're not ringing anyone Amethyst, we are not bringing our parents home from vacation early. Do you understand me?" Wyatt's voice echoed filling the small room.

Sighing she folded her arms as blue bubble-like sparkles filled the room, the bubbles sparkled white fading slowly as her cousin materialised. Glaring, he stared down at her with hard brown eyes his large hands firmly placed on his narrow hips leaving no room for misinterpretation as to what he thought about her plan.

Scowling she stared up at him knowing instinctively she'd already lost the argument, but just like always she had to try. "Wyatt I'm not going to die because you want to play superman for a couple of weeks while our parents are gone. We don't know who that guy was, or what he wanted with me. Lets face it we're all out of our league on this one. "

"I am not out of my league." He scoffed apparently offended by what she'd said. "I was out killing demons long before you and Chris were even born."

Rolling her eyes she threw her hands up into the air in defeat. "You're impossible you know that! I am so sick of this, I get it Wyatt; we all get it! You're the twice-blessed child and while Chris and I were sucking our thumbs and wrestling over the playstation you were out in the world like he-man saving the universe." She bit out sarcastically. "But what does that have to do with me ringing my mum to ask for help? "

"We're not calling them, we can do this ourselves! Listen to me Ame." He said walking towards her. "We can do this ourselves if we call our parent's we'll only end up worrying them. Trust me, Chris and I can handle this."

Shaking her head she finally sighed giving into the inevitable, smiling he kissed her head. "Thanks for trusting us Ame."
Nodding she turned to Chris and shrugged as his crystal blue eyes held an unspoken sympathy for her. Taking her into his arms he smiled warmly at her, arguing with Wyatt never worked and yet they both still tried. "We'll get this sorted Ame's and if we can't do it ourselves I'll call our parents." He promised quietly.

"Thanks Chris."

** ** ** ** **
Seattle 2025

"This girl is important to me Mr Cale, if you feel you can't do this tell me now and I'll find someone who can."

Shifting uncomfortably Logan Cale turned to face the sassy brunette who was currently locked in an argument with her X5 partner in crime, sighing he gestured for his acquaint to move towards a more shielded part of the dock. He didn't want them to hear him anymore than he wanted to hear about whatever inappropriate remark Alec had undoubtedly made. "Just so we're clear I do this for you and I get the cure for the virus. If there's no cure then I'm not helping you."

The man in the cloak towered down over him, his face hidden inside his hood. "Be mindful of who you are talking to Mr Cale. I work for some very powerful people and we'd hate to see anything unfortunate happen to your lady friend." He threatened gesturing towards Max who was currently smacking Alec around the head.

"What do I need to do?" Logan asked.

"Take this." The man's deep voice rumbled as he handed him a small black pouch. "With this you won't have to worry about finding her, because she'll find you." He stated cryptically.

Looking down at his palm Logan sighed before turning to address the man again, startled he look around at the suddenly empty docks that met his vision. Whoever the man was he had vanished into thin air, leaving Logan and the black pouch alone.

TBC
Love it? Hate it? Have suggestions? Tell me…. REVIEW go on you know you wanna.

[TheOracle]

A very good start

[winter]

Chapter 1

"Wyatt will you keep it down you're going to wake Amethyst up." Chris' voice scolded as another kitchen cupboard door slammed shut.

Shivering slightly she moved her arms of off the table praying silently that it mimicked the way she had done during her sleep. The first tendrils of ice cold air made its way through the open kitchen window and along her flushed skin forcing a small gasp from her lips.

Pulling on her cardigan slowly she tried to slide back into the comforting blackness her sleepless dreams had provided. It wasn't that she didn't want to help her cousins try and find the warlock who'd attempted to kill her yesterday, it was just pretending everything was okay seemed easier right now.

Chris would've given her the peace of a nice normal breakfast if she'd asked him too. But Wyatt was different, he'd never been able to let her hide behind the pretences of normality, he had spent a lifetime scolding her for hiding her powers. His entire speech revolved around the fact that good witches had to cast aside their selfish needs and embrace the obligations and responsibilities passed down to them throughout the generations. Only she wasn't just the descendant of good witches her father had been the offspring of evil, which basically meant it was a very fine line she balanced every time she used her powers.

Another door slammed shut and she knew she couldn't pretend to be asleep any longer, Wyatt wasn't just closing cabinet doors around him he was deliberately trying to wake her up.

Stretching she opened her eyes slowly. "How's it going?" She asked softly drawing Chris' glare away from his older brother's back.

"I haven't managed to find anything." He sighed closing the book in front of him. "But it's going to be okay Ame. I know the books from magic school haven't given us anything new to go on, but Wyatt thinks the spells and potions he's created will do the trick. That is if he can find a piece of mandrake root to finish the spell off." He smiled taking her hand in his.

"What does Wyatt believe this spell is going to do exactly?"

Smothering the grin that threatened to take over his face, Chris tried to look past the suspicion showing so clearly in Amethyst's eyes. It didn't matter how much he loved his brother the fact trouble clung to him like a magnet to metal always meant they were more than a little cautious when it came to his potions. "Don't worry it isn't dangerous." He began, but as she stared at him with a raised eyebrow he knew he wasn't going to get away with any half lies today. "Okay, okay." He laughed lifting his hands in defeat. "It's not too dangerous. All the spell should do is bring the warlock here, we'll question it, vanquish it and go on with our everyday lives."

"Well here's hoping then." She said carefully watching her cousin, when his expression didn't change she smiled tucking a piece of her sandy brown hair behind her ear.

"Ah ha found it!" Wyatt yelled holding the odd shaped root out for inspection. With a look of satisfaction he made his way towards his workstation, carefully ignoring his cousin and brother's startled expression. "Right now pass me your amulet Ames." He muttered throwing a piece of the beige coloured root into the wooden bowl in front of him.

Frowning she felt her fingertips automatically run over the smooth oval-shaped stone that rested just below the hollow of her neck. "Wyatt I don't think I can." She whispered as her hand closed around the precious stone. If he had asked for her grandmothers violet ring that rested on her right middle finger she would have given it over without a second thought but her necklace was another matter entirely. "Can't you use grandma's ring?"

"No Ame or I would have asked for it." He said slowly.

His tone was as condescending as she'd ever heard it, and under ordinary circumstances she would've probably hit him, but as she stared into his eyes she knew she was already fighting a loosing battle, hitting him would've just made it worse. "This is all I have left of my father Wyatt. If by some chance your spell goes wrong and it gets vaporised I'll have nothing left of him."

"Ame I won't put a scratch on it. You just have to trust me alright?"

Nodding wearily she unclasped the delicate gold chain that hung loosely around her neck, the honey browned stone shimmered brightly as faint strands of light made its way through the half closed blinds. "Just so you know Wyatt, if by some chance you do harm it I will spend my time devising a way to separate you and the lower half of your body."

"I'll keep that in mind." He laughed as the gold metal pooled into the centre of his wide palm. "Okay so here we goes nothing. Through this book weave this spell enchant the liquid in this shell, through magic forces far and wide unveil a demon who tries and hides. Inside this bowl I send a sign to seek the beast across the divide." The last word fell from his lips as the necklace slid through his finger. Silently they all watched as the smoke evaporated into the stone, the frozen liquid inside swirled for a second and then went dormant again.

"That's it?" Amethyst finally asked with a raised eyebrow. "That's what you needed my necklace for? A crappy smoke show."

"I don't understand what happened. That should've worked."

Sighing she brushed past him to collect her tigers-eye from the bottom of the bowl. "But it didn't. Look Wyatt I'm not angry with you and this doesn't mean that you’re a failure or anything, it just shows what I've been saying since all this happened we are all way out of league. It's time to swallow our pride and call our parents. "

Staring at Wyatt's defiant eyes she sighed pushing her hair away from her neck to put her necklace back on. There was no point arguing with him when he wanted something so for she did what she always did she ignored him.

"Here let me do that." Chris offered taking the amulet from her hand. Moving forward her he pulled it around her neck fastening it quickly. As soon as the cool rock touched her skin the frozen liquid inside swirled again, but this time it change colour, a crimson smoke swirled around them and then all was black…

** ** ** **

[winter]

Chapter 1 - continued

** ** ** **

He felt like a moth bewitched by the flame of a candle, only it wasn't some distant flicker of light that was sending lust coursing through his veins, it was Max. For the first time since the virus had entered their lives she looked happy and the effect was break taking.

Her dark eyes sparkled as she spoke animatedly with her hands, pausing only to run a finger through long raven hair. If he tried hard enough he could almost imagine that she was talking to him and that it was he who had put that twinkle back into her eyes. But as she leaned forward, her hand slapping the thingyy X5 in front of her the, illusion shattered and he was left standing amongst the throng of jam pony messengers.

Squashing the small knot of jealously that began to uncurl within his stomach he reminded himself that it was only a few more days before the cure would be in his possession. "Hey guys." He said softly as he watched the humour drain from Alec's suddenly guarded gaze.

"Logan buddy. What can we do for you this fine cold morning?"

"I came to speak to Max actually." He bit out as Alec leaned back against one of the lockers. "Can we talk?"

Nodding quickly she glanced in Alec's direction one last time all humour draining from her face as she led Logan into a deserted corner. "What's up Logan?" She asked putting her hand on her waist.

"I was in the area and thought I'd stop by and invite you to dinner tonight. Just you, me, candlelight and the best meal you've tasted in months. " He teased hoping to chase away the shadows that had filled her eyes.

"Logan I don't think it’s a good idea, with the virus and everything we may get careless and…" Pausing she watched in defeat as the optimistic hope that had been present on his face only moments before drained away leaving him looking drained and weary. Sighing quietly she forced herself to look happy again praying silently that she wouldn't live to regret her decision. "Sure why not."

"Great." He laughed happily moving towards the door. "My house tonight then, lets say seven thirty sharp. " With those as his parting words he moved back towards the exit leaving her alone with frustration.

"Chin up Maxie. Look on the bright side, if by some chance you do sneeze on his pasta infecting him with the virus again, we can always transfuse him with Mole's blood." Alec teased.

Staring up at him she felt her lips twitch as she thought about both Mole and Logan's reaction to that scenario. Finally laughing she reached out and slapped his muscular arm.

"Hey, what was that for?" He whined rubbing his arm dramatically.

"That was for listening into my conversation and then making an inappropriate joke out of it." She grinned. "Come on pretty boy lets try and get some runs done today.

"Hot run sector 5." Their boss grumbled pushing the two badly wrapped packages into their hands.

"Lets go pretty boy before he bip's at us." She said in a low voice.

Picking up her bike she moved towards the exit, she'd long ago given up trying to get into Normal's good books. It was as pointless as trying to convince Sketchy he was going to lose at pool every time he played with Alec. Shoving the packages into her rucksack she mounted her bike before ridding off.

"Hey you have my package." Alec yelled, the amusement plain in his voice as he chased her down the alleyway.

Skidding to a stop Max looked around the deserted alleyway as the hairs on arm stood to attention. Dismounting her bike she stepped backwards as a gust of wind sent the papers around the small confined space flying, she didn't need to look back Alec to know he was doing the same. With wide eyes they both watched as a crimson red mist swirled violently like a miniature tornado trapped inside a bottle, lightening hit the ground leaving a boy and a girl standing in its wake.

TBC
Love it? Hate it? Have suggestions? Tell me…. REVIEW go on you know you wanna.

[winter]

Chapter 2

"Anyone get the number of the ten tonne truck that just smashed into my chest?" Chris groaned as gravity forced his head back down onto the gravelled ground beneath him. Squeezing his eyes closed tightly he silently cursed his brother for his ability to turn the simplest of situations into havoc, it was a trait their mother had said he'd inherited from their deceased Aunt Prudence. Personally Chris believed Wyatt simply wasn't happy unless the entire throng of the underworld knew he was the leader behind the new generation of charmed power. Which he supposed was better than Amethyst's theory that if you didn't use your magic you couldn't hurt yourself or those around you.

Sighing he rolled onto to his side so he could look up at his cousin properly. "Amethyst are you okay?" he rasped passed the dull aching pain that pulsed steady behind his ribcage. "Ame?"

"We need to get out of here?" She said tonelessly, ignoring his question.

Biting his lower lip Chris pushed past the pain in his chest and onto his feet. "Ame? What's wrong?" Pausing his eyes snapped in the direction of a suspicious looking couple who where staring at them from a safe distance. His eyes fell on the woman of the strange twosome, her dark liquid brown eyes watched him coldly before she leaned in and whispered something to the man beside her. Squaring his shoulders he automatically moved away from the blank expression on the woman's face as his mother's words echoed through his mind.

"Ame, Ame look what I can do." Chris grinned as he ran down the porch steps towards his cousin. Extending his hand in the direction of his mother's car he closed eyes and focused on the object he wanted, like his Aunt Paige had just taught him.

"Cocoa." He laughed making his brown teddy bear disappear from the interior of the car only to make it materialise a second later in his arms.

"Do you think I could do that?" Amethyst asked as he handed her the teddy.

Nodding enthusiastically he raised her arm the way he had a moment ago. "Auntie Paige says you have to reach out using your heart instead of your magic, and then you just call the thing you want to you. Look like t…"

"Christopher no!" His mother yelled making him jump. "You never ever use magic in public, do you understand me?"

Fighting his trembling lower lip Chris turned away from his mother's frightened brown eyes. "Sweetie don't cry, I'm not angry with you. You just scared me. I know you don't understand it now, but it is very important that we don't use our powers in public. Not everyone understands who and what we are, and what they don't understand makes them frightened. I do not want to see anything happen to you, Wyatt or Amethyst so please promise me you'll be more careful."

Looking up at his mother's smile he wrapped his small little arms around her neck. "I promise mummy."

"You're right we need to get out of here." He said as he turned to look at her properly. Gasping he took a step back as he took her appearance in properly. Her skin glowed bright, as if someone had taken the moon from the night sky and trapped it inside of her body. "nuts Ame." He whispered as he looked into the two iris-less black pits that replaced her cornflower blue eyes.

Raising her eyebrow she looked at him. "What?"

"Nothing we just need to get home." He lied easily before grabbing her hand.

Exhaling deeply he pulled his magic from the centre of his being, it wrapped around them slowly like a blanket. Visualising their home he embraced the feeling of contentment that pulsed through his being and allowed it to pull them both towards the clouds.

"Stop!"

Startled Chris' eyes snapped open as Amethyst's body convulsed violently in his arms. Releasing his magic instantly he watched helplessly as all the tension leaked away from her body, leaving her boneless under his tight grip.

"Ame?" Shaking her gently he swallowed past the pained lump in his throat as she slipped into unconsciousness.

"What the hell are you and what did you do to her?"

Flinching Chris tried to block out the woman's harsh voice as he held his cousin's body tighter in his arms.

"Ignore her she's probably pmsing or something equally as female." The male that had been with her stated as he extended a hand in Chris' direction. "I'm Alec that's Max. I think what she meant to say is can we help?" He smiled.

Looking up at both of them Chris felt himself relax slightly as the man who had called himself Alec and found no trace of disgust or fear. "I'm Chris." He mumbled before shaking the offered hand.

Glancing back down at Amethyst's still form he felt the tension that had left his body only moments before begin to return.

"I think perhaps you need a place to crash, unless of course the alley does it for you?" Alec teased gently.

"That obvious huh?" Chris muttered in defeat.

Grinning widely Alec hit him on the shoulder firmly in a friendly gesture. "Well I wasn't going to say anything." He chuckled. "Just so you know you happen to be in luck, I have a place you can crash until your friend is up and about again. "

** ** ** ** **

"I didn't expect to see you again. After all wasn't it our arrangement that until the girl appears I won't be receive the cure?" Logan grumbled as he took another sip from his brandy.

"Come now Mr Cale, you didn't really think that was going to be our last meeting did you? I simply refuse to believe that you're that moronic, after all you're the main key to my boss' plans."

"And what exactly are your boss' plan Mr Bacarra?"

Shaking his hood cover head, Bacarra glared at the younger man sitting opposite him. "Understand one thing Mr Cale, nothing my boss has done or is planning is any of your concern. If I were you I'd forget all about that dangerous curiosity you seem to have developed and hold up your end of the bargain. Because if you don't you'll find out first hand what it means to renegotiate."

Swallowing past the lump in his throat Logan placed his glass on the table in front of him. "What is it you need me to do?"

** ** ** ** **

The sound of Chris' harsh voice broke through the comforting abyss of nothingness she had been floating in only moments ago, leaving her disoriented and aching in her battered body.

"…I don't even know how to reverse it and I can't orb…" he continued oblivious to the pain throbbing inside her head.

"God Chris keep your voice down." She croaked opening her eyes carefully, blinking past the sudden burst of dim light she watched Chris ' blurry outline rush over to her.

"Amethyst, oh my god you had me so scared!" He mumbled into her ear as he held her tightly.

Relaxing into his grasp she rubbed his back gently as she heard his sniff back his tears. "Its okay Chris I'm not going anywhere. It's a shame I can't say the same about your idiot brother." She teased as he pulled back slowly.

"I should have listened too you when you said to call our parents."

Grinning up at him she nodded. "Yep you should've off." She agreed instantly before laughing softly. "But on the other hand I should've just put my foot down and called our parents instead of listening to Wyatt. So we're all at fault in one way or another, some more than others, but I'll deal with my evil older cousin when we get home."

"Well now that you've got that all sorted out who's hungry?"

Jumping away from Chris, Amethyst shifted on the bed and stared behind her cousin. Gasping she stared at the man and woman who had been in the alleyway with them.

"Chris, what's going on?"

Taking her hand in his he smiled at her alarmed expression. "Don't panic, they're trying to help us not hurt us. They helped me bring you back here."

"It's nice to see you awake and talking." The male laughed deeply pushing away from the wall. "I'm Alec and this is Max."

TBC
Love it? Hate it? Have suggestions? Tell me…. REVIEW go on you know you wanna.

[winter]

Chapter3

Tiredly he watched the dancing flame from the old wicker torch that hung beside his throne. A few years ago he had thrived on the politics that had come with his new position in the underworld, but now he felt old as if his efforts to unite the demons under his command had finally drained the essence of who he once was. With each new day came a new problem, or an assassination attempt brought about by some overzealous demon that felt they had the right to posses his throne. At first the power brought on by the bloodlust of fighting his enemies had been exhilarating, but now it was tiring.

"My liege?" Bacarra's voice echoed in the hollow space pulling him from his self-pitying thoughts.

"I have returned with good news. The package has been delivered to Mr Cale as requested and he will deliver it to the girl as soon as possible." The tall man stated lowering to one knee before him.

Waving his hand in boredom he looked down at his right hand man. "I had no doubt that Mr Cale would do what we asked of him, I know how persuasive you can be."

"My liege if I may speak freely."

Rising from him throne he nodded, knowing immediately what was going to come from his mouth.

"My liege I and your other subjects have been concerned." He spoke carefully keeping his vision on the floor in front of him. "We mean no disrespect, just that we believe that your fascination with this girl will become our undoing. Kidnapping a descendant of the charmed line is always risky, but usually that risk comes with some rewards. This girl is powerless."

"It takes a lot of guts, or stupidity to question my orders." He said darkly moving towards the Grimoir. "This girl is not as powerless as everyone is led to believe, in fact she has a lot of untapped power hidden within her."

"How do you…." Pausing Bacarra winced as he felt his king pause and stare at him.

"I know a lot of things Bacarra, it would do you well to remember that. Without the protective circle of her family she is vulnerable, once Mr Cale delivers the package the spell I interfered with will eventually overwhelm her, forcing her to tap into her powers. When that happens I will eventually bring her back here to rule by my side, but getting her away from her family and keeping her away is important for my plan to work."

"I will keep an eye on him."

Nodding he turned and made his way to the door. "See that you do."

** ** ** ** **

"Okay, so let me get this straight. There is this entire different world that co-exists alongside our one, where witches and other magical creatures such as demons exist?" Alec stated as he tried to assimilate all the information that Christopher had just dumped into his lap.

When Max's harsh voice had whispered that they should either fight the unknown couple or take refuge in the safety of the crowd they had just cycled away from, he'd believed that she was overreacting. Now he wasn't so sure. Living in Manticore always made it easier for him to accept the unexpected, it was hard not to when you were raised amongst dog-faced men and mer-people. But when Chris had started talking about witches, angels and demons he'd known that the over protective feeling that had materialised out of no where had overridden his common sense and caused him to ignore Max's warning. It was no secret in Seattle that people who talked bout seeing demons usually had a room with a view waiting for them at Belreeve's insane asylum, he just hoped Chris wasn't one of them.

"Look I know this all sounds a little farfetched…" Chris tried again. "…And your probably thinking that I'm a nutcase or something…."

"Yeah or something." Max muttered darkly before turning her anger on Amethyst and her nervously bouncing leg. "Must you do that?" She snapped making the younger girl recoil into her chair.

Trying to hide his amusement Alec watched as Max's predictable volatile nature reared its ugly head. "Max…."

"No Alec, we've listened to enough of this crap." Max yelled over him. "I did what you asked I played nice, and even tried to hear him out. I mean he's sitting here trying to convince us that demon's and angels are real. How long before he tells us the fairy's are among us?"

Leaning back in his chair Alec shook his head laughing. "So you can believe in human animal hybrids but you can't believe in magic?" He questioned knowing that she wouldn't risk exposing their true identity just to win an argument. When she said nothing else he turned back to Chris.

"It’s not like we’re saying your liar’s or anything, it’s just that you haven’t given us any hard proof to show you are what you say you are. After the year I’ve had, people appearing out of thin air really isn’t all that remarkable."

"So you want me to what exactly? Do a spell, pull a rabbit from a hat, conjure a dragon?" He asked, as images of fluffy white rabbits wearing top hats, while singing 'we are family' bounced inside his mind. "Does it have to be big?" He choked trying to keep his face blank, when neither of them responded he looked around the room of scattered object until his eyes finally fell on the television. Rotating his shoulders to loosen his body he reached out with his magic, hoping that the display would be enough to convince both Alec and Max that magic did in fact exist. "Let the object of objection become but a dream, as I cause the seen to be unseen."

[winter]

Grinning wildly he watched as reality folded in on itself, gently pealing away the dark-silver rimmed television set. If he had been a true magician he would have received applause and taken a bow, but like so much in his life nothing ever went according to plan. Instead of being met with shocked and impressed faces he was faced with Alec’s thunderous glare and Max’s uncontrollable giggles.

"What the f**k did you just do?!" Alec yelled moving from his seat to the barren area that had once been occupied by his precious boob-tube. Glaring at Max he moved towards the empty space in hopes of finding something solid, but all that met him was the air and the sound of Max’s laughter. "Bring it back."

"I c…"

Taking a threatening step forward Alec glared at the man responsible for the disappearance of his television set. "Bring. It. Back. Now!" After a long pause his eyes narrowed. "Well?"

"I can't actually remember the reversal spell." Chris confessed, mentally kicking himself for the oversight. It was supposed to be a little fun, he hadn’t taken into consideration that there was still someone alive past the age of five who took watching tv that seriously.

"What do you mean you can't bring it back?"

"I-I. You wanted something flashy something to prove I could do it, that’s the first spell I could think off."

"Well I thought it was great." Max howled wiping stray tears from her eyes. "Just the look on his face made it worth it.

"Max I …."

"I know the spell." Amethyst said softly cutting Alec off before he could say anything else.

Looking at her expectantly Chris waited for her to say it, hoping that if he made no move to interfere that she would use her powers instead of suppressing them. But she made no movement towards him; instead she stared at him expectantly until he made his way over to her. Bending he listened as she whispered the words in his ear, before turning back to Alec wearily. "Let the object of objection return, so that its existence may be reaffirmed." Praying silently Chris watched as reality unfolded itself, leaving the television as untouched as it had been before he had cast the spell.

Sighing loudly with relief Alec ran his fingers over the hard firm casing that housed his boob-tube. "Don't ever do that again." He mumbled heading back towards his seat. "Just tell us about yourself, how you got your powers I don't think I can stomach anymore demonstrations."

Nodding Chris sat down next to Amethyst as she stared up at him with blank eyes. He could never tell what she was thinking when she was nervous, it was like staring at a lifeless dolly. Pushing his thoughts away he looked back towards Max and Alec. "Okay I guess I'll start at the beginning. Our ancestor Melinda Warren was a witch who possessed three powers. She could move objects with her mind, see the future and stop time, like our parents. My mother can stop time, Amethyst's mother get premonitions of the future and our aunt Prudence was able to move things with her mind, when she died it was passed on to our Aunt Paige." He explained slowly.

"Before Melinda was burned at the steak she vowed that each generation of Warren witches would grow stronger and stronger, culminating in the arrival of three sisters, our parents. These sisters would be the most powerful witches the world had ever seen and would be known as the charmed ones' protectors of the innocent."

"So if they're the most powerful witches in the world where do you and Amethyst fit in?" Max broke in suddenly interested in his family history.

"I guess you could say we weren't meant to be." Chris said softly taking Amethyst's hand in his own. "You see my father was a whitelighter. They're like guardian angels for witches; they look out for them, point them in the right direction and keep a profession distance. Except my father fell in love with my mother and eventually after many problems they eventually married and ended up having my brother and me. I suppose you could say that Wyatt and I are a mixture of pure concentrated power."

"And you?" Max asked Amethyst. "Are you part whitelighter too?"

Flinching Amethyst shook her head, before taking her hand out of Chris' firm grasp. "No, my mother fell in love with the source of all evil." She whispered avoiding eye contact. "My mother killed him before I was born, I don't know much about my father and everything, I do know will have no baring on this conversation. Because he's dead and I don't use my powers."

"Which I personally think is a mistake."

"We're not having this conversation again." She growled, glaring at him. "Its my choice not to use my magic not yours, not Wyatt's, mine. It's time you both just let it go."

Running a tired hand through his hair he looked into her cornflower blue eyes. "But by not using your magic you weaken…"

"Christopher if you finish that sentence I'm going to get out of this seat, wrap my hands around your neck and strangle until you turn purple."

Sighing loudly he held his hands up in defeat. "Fine, you win."

"Well now you've sorted that out…" Alec laughed. "Why don't we go back to basics. How do we get you two home?"

Shrugging Amethyst bit her lip. "You can't until the spell runs its course, or Wyatt finds a way to reverse it and that's not going to happen in a hurry."
Frowning Max raised her eyebrow. "He could have gone to get your parents already."

"You have to know Wyatt. Right now he's going through stage one of denial, he'll be sitting in the attic convincing himself he can get us back before our parents return form holiday."

Eyes' widening Chris let out a bark of laughter. "That's going to last at least a week."

"Then when our parents come back and he still hasn't managed to reverse the spell he'll tell them that we've wondered off somewhere." She teased.

"That will take a couple of days or weeks depending on how convincing he is."
"And then in grand Wyatt style he'll eventually tell our parents what happened but try an put a new spin on it and blame us for ending up in god knows where."

Smiling Alec shook his head at their antics. "Well that's all well and good but if you're going to be stuck for here awhile I think we need to set you up with a job and a place to stay while you’re here."

TBC
Love it? Hate it? Have suggestions? Tell me…. REVIEW go on you know you wanna.

[AngelBoy]

nice story

[winter]

Chapter 4

"Well that's just… wow." Cindy murmured as her eyes drifted in the direction of the bar and their topic of conversation. "Sugar I never thought there'd be another time in our lives, where something in your life would leave me with a loss for words or advice, and yet here we are." She chuckled taking a sip from her apple martini as her eyes travelled over the woman Max had yet to introduce her to. "So anyway, how's solider boy adjusting to his new role as host and all round Good Samaritan?"

Shrugging dejectedly Max gazed down into the golden liquid swaying at the bottom her frosted mug. "You know Alec. As long as it has a pretty face and he believes he can get his leg over he welcomes it with open arms." She stated bitterly, her eyes travelling in Amethyst direction. "Regardless of the fact that we know nothing about he-them. For all we know they could be working for White, but as usual he's going to do what he wants and I'm going to be the one left to clean up whatever mess he leaves behind."

Stifling her laughter Cindy stared at her best friend in amusement. "Firstly boo we both know Alec's not the same self-centred opportunistic layabout he was when you first let him out of Manticore. Secondly it has been months since I last saw hotboy leave with some fine lickidy boo, and thirdly if this guy Chris is as powerful as you say chances are he'd have had White and his bunch of inbred misfits down here to cart you away by now."

"Maybe." Max sighed as she glared down into her glass again. "But I'd still feel better if Amethyst was staying with us. And I know Alec thinks that by living with another transgenic he's safe but I personally think it would be better if we separated Amethyst and Chris. Which is what I told Alec, but Amethyst refused to leave Chris and you and I don't have enough room to house both of them."

Shaking her head sympathetically Cindy watched as Max hid her face behind her hair skilfully. "Dat don't mean she wants to live with Alec boo, after all what kinda self respecting chicka wants to be live in and amongst a bunch of messy male's." Original Cindy sassed as she took another sip from her drink. "But saying dat, it doesn't mean I don't understand where the gal is coming from, she's been here what a day… a day and a half? I wouldn't want to be separated from my family if I'd only been in a strange place that long, 'member boo she don't know you and Alec enough to want to be alone without backup. But Original Cindy believes that it ain't living arrangements that's got her boo's face all wrung out, so why don't you tell your gal what's the drama is?

Sighing loudly Max looked up into her best friend's open expression. "It's just…."

"Hello ladies." Alec's deep voice interrupted as he plonked himself down beside Max. "Am I interrupting?"

"Yes."

"No." Max squeaked as her eyes shifted in Cindy's direction, praying silently that her friend would notice her silent plea for them to pick this conversation up later.

"Should I come back later?"

"No!" She barked grabbing a hold of his arm. "What I mean…" she tried again pulling him back into his seat. "…Is that this conversation can wait for another time."

Raising his eyebrow in scepticism he nodded slowly before turning in the direction of the bar. "So how she getting on?"

"On a scale of one too ten, she's a…" Wincing, Max's head snapped in the direction of Alec's gaze as the sound of shattering glass filled the room. "… Well she's either very nervous or the most accident-prone person I've ever met. I honestly think that by the end of the night you'll owe Harold a whole new stock of glasses."

"She's that bad?" He inquired as the girl in question disappeared through ha door at the back of the bar.

"Let's just say you'll be owing Harold for this, instead of the other way around. If she gets the job based on this trial I'll be impressed" Max giggled as Cindy shook her head.

"Nah I think baby gal's doing alright." The sassy brunette grinned as she watched Amethyst come back out of the stock room with a dustpan and brush. "Original Cindy remembers a time when she was like that, all timid and frightened of her shadow. It took Diamond to pull me out and into this world. Maybe all Amethyst needs is a little fine female attention."

Choking on Max's drink Alec span to face Cindy as she grinned suggestively.

"Chill solider boy, Original Cindy always tests the waters before she thinks about sampling the cuisine." Cindy grinned, her eyes falling on Amethyst as Harold put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

** ** ** ** **

"So tell me seer what do you see?" He asked as his eyes roamed over her long dark brown hair and curved body.

"What is it you want to see my liege?" She whispered seductively, licking her lips as she made her way towards the bowl of cold silver liquid.

"Do no play games with me Krista, I am in no mood for them."

"I wouldn't dream of it Luca." She grinned as she waved her hand over the slightly bubbling metallic coloured pool.

"Things are shady." She echoed through the hollow room. "I see two possible outcomes to your plan." She whispered turning to face him with unseeing eyes. "If you insert yourself into her life as soon as possible, gain her trust and affection she will take her place at your side. But if you do not her cousin and family's love with undo all that your potion hoped to achieve."
TEXTTEXT

[winter]

"Then I guess its time for me to introduce myself. He smiled.

** ** ** ** **

This almost felt like home, Amethyst smiled as she pushed her way through the crowd of sweaty moving bodies. All that was really missing was the live band, her aunts and mother sitting in the corner laughing about some vanquish they'd completed, while Wyatt and Chris teased her about what she was wearing. Yeah it was almost home, all that was missing was her family, her mind taunted wiping the smile drained from her face.

"Well if it isn't our resident glass killer." Alec voice teased pulling her from her sombre thoughts.

Smiling weakly she felt herself shrug as she thought about how nice Harold had been. "Yeah I know I kinda suck it's just…. Wait where Chris?" She asked, her voice raising an octave as she looked around the small wooden table for her older cousin.

"He's still out in the wilds of Seattle, but don't worry I gave him enough cheddar to sustain his obvious shopping habit. Then I told him to meet me at Crash when he's done." Alec grinned up at her. "Hey don't look so worried I left him with my personal assistant Sketchy, and if there's one thing that boy knows how to do, is find his way back to Crash. "

"You left him with dat fool." Cindy snorted as she helped herself to the last of the beer. "You'll be lucky if your cousin don't end up naked hanging from a flag pole."

Turning back to Alec Amethyst eyes widened. "What does she mean? Will he be okay?"

"Chris will be fine. Sketchy can only get himself into trouble when he's by himself or surrounded by someone more trouble prone than he is."

"God they're both doomed. Chris has a knack of attracting trouble, not as much as his older brother but he's never that far behind. " She said her voice laced with concern.

"Trust me here. In Original Cindy words it takes a unique kinda idiot to get into the soft of trouble Sketchy gets himself into." Alec laughed. "But enough about me and my friends, I hear that you are single handily destroying Harold glass supply."

"Yeah I guess I've been a total klutz today." She sighed as her cheeks flushed pink. "I don't know what's wrong with me. At home I basically run my Aunt's club P3, but here I can't walk two centimetres without knocking something over. But Harold's been really nice about it, he says its just first day jitters and that I'll do better tomorrow. I just wish I shared his enthusiasm or confidence in my abilities. But that's not why I'm here." She grinned eyeing the empty glasses. "Harold wants you, and I quote 'to pick your poison'."

"I take it we still have to pay for these drinks." Alec mumbled before rubbing his hands together. "Right I think I know what everyone's ordering and it'll be one pitcher of beer and one glass of scotch neat. "

"Actually…" Cindy smiled looking Amethyst over slowly. "I'd like an apple martini."

"Okay, one scotch neat, one pitcher of beer and one apple martini coming right up." She smiled before turning to leave.

"Hey watch…."

Yelping, Amethyst's eyes widened as Alec's warning flew over her head and she collided with the male figure behind her. She felt him move suddenly gripping her around the waist as the contents of his drinks spilled onto her white top. "Ugh, you idiot!"

"Hey let me help you." He soothed pulling out a ward of tissue paper from his back pocket.

Horrified she watched as the strange male proceeded too wipe the front of her blouse. "Hey!" She screamed before slapping him around the face. "What the hell do you think you're doing you pervert!"

"What I was trying to…."

"What coup a feel, is that how you get off of? Spilling you drink on people and then feeling them up! People like you make me sick!" She spat at him as Alec's laughter filled her ears.

"Amethyst!"

Closing her eyes she tried to will her burning cheeks to return back to normal as Harold's irate voice carried clearly over the music and loud voices. Glaring up at the guy one last time she spun on her heel and pushed her way through the crowd toward her boss.

"Look Amethyst…" Harold began as she approached him. "I understand that you're new here, it's why I'm giving you a lot of leniency here. So that you know we at Crash as staff do not hit our customers, no matter how justified it may seem."

Nodding she sighed softly. "Look thanks for giving me this opportunity Harold I know…."

"Look, before you say anything I'm not going to fire you. Like I said we've had a few teething problems, nothing that can't be sorted out with a little communication. So why don't you go home have a hot bath or whatever it is you girls do to relax and I'll see you here tomorrow night bright eyed and bushy tailed."

"Thanks Harold." She sighed grabbing her coat from behind the bar. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." She smiled weakly before heading towards the exit.

** ** ** ** **

[winter]

The autumn breeze tugged at his dark leather jacket as he watched Bacarra slip from the safety of the shadows and after the one thing he had spent months craving after.

It wasn't often that Luca found himself yearning for the embrace of another person, in fact it had been so long since he had last allowed himself to love, that he'd almost managed to convince himself that he was incapable of such an emotion.

After all demon's couldn't love, at least according to all the witches and whitelighter's he had encountered over the years. For all of those good magical beings had told him at one point or another, that his kind where so dark within that they were incapable of producing any level of emotion that required such an intense level purity. But he knew the truth. No matter how absurd it sounded to everyone else, he knew that demons could in fact love, and when they did… it was intense. It was all consuming and eventually, more often than not it led it to their destruction. So he, like many others had, hardened his heart and taken on the philosophy that love and passion were like statues, easily erected but destroyed just as quickly.

Just like she could be. He thought soberly as his eyes wandered over her slight frame, and long wavy hair. It wasn't the first time he'd wondered whether he was doing the right thing; or doubted whether he could preserve her spirit and everything he loved about her while still manipulating her enough to manoeuvre her into the underworld.

Kidnapping her would've destroy them both, but taking the time away from his throne and minions to guide her in the right direction could still provide him with headache. There were always people after his crown and more so now that he was planning to bring a descendent charmed one into their layer. A descendent, who as far as they where concerned possessed no powers, which left them vulnerable to attack.

Shaking his head clear off his thoughts he watched in anticipation as Bacarra pounced, grabbing the young girl from behind unexpectedly before sliding his free hand over her mouth.

"Be careful with her Bacarra, I want her scared not hurt." Luca hissed into the silent night air as his watched his friend struggle for control.

Even from his position in the shadows he could hear her heart pounding frantically as she slammed her elbow into Bacarra's chest.

"pregnant dog!" Came the hiss before Bacarra slammed his fist into her face.

Luca watched in slow motion as her head smashed against the wet pavement floor. It wasn't what they had planned, but it gave her enough time to breathe, and as if on cue she screamed.

"Help! Someone body help me!"

Moving swiftly from his position in the darkness, Luca ran towards them, his anger growing slowly as his first in command ran off as planned into the safety provided by the night.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly, helping her from the floor.

Nodding slowly, she looked up at him with a pale face and watery cornflower blue eye's.

"I'm fine. I just need, to go back inside." She finally sobbed as her eyes roamed the darkness from the strange man who had tried to mug her.

"Okay." He said gently cupping her cheek. "So how about you and I go in together, we can get that cut on your head looked at."

Sympathetically he watched as she raised her hand to her head instantly, only to return with a slight smearing of blood. Swallowing she nodded again before looking up at him. "Thank you Mr…."

"Kade, Luca Kade."

"Thank you Mr Kade." She whispered as he led her back inside.

"No please call me Luca."


TBC
Love it? Hate it? Have suggestions? Tell me…. REVIEW go on you know you wanna.