Post by StoryGirl83 on Aug 27, 2008 23:04:39 GMT -5
Chapter Seven – Sibling Talks
Kali finished writing down the list of things Chris needed and said good bye. She closed her phone and put it back into her pocket. With the pad of paper hanging from her hand she walked over to Mark. “Mark.”
Mark looked up at her. “What did they call about?”
“They have a potion to try on Gary,” Kali replied looking down at the paper. “They need us to get ingredients before they get here.” She held out the paper for him to take. “Can you direct me to a place where I can get these?”
Mark examined the list. “I’ll have to take you. Just a minute.” Mark walked out of the room and into the den.
Beth was talking to Mikelle.
“Beth,” Mark called, catching her attention, “I’m going to take Kali to a wicca shop to get ingredients for a potion. Can you let her friends in, if they get here before we are back?”
“Do you trust her, Mark?” Beth asked, wanting to know that first.
Mark nodded. “She saved my life, Beth.”
“Maybe,” Beth agreed, uneasily, “but she doesn’t want to vanquish the demon who attacked you.”
“She doesn’t think he is one,” Mark countered. “If she’s convinced . . .”
As her brother trailed off, Beth nodded knowingly. “Yeah. Well, be careful.”
“You’ll let them in,” he persisted.
“And my other option would be?” she asked, teasingly.
“Beth . . .” There was warning in his tone.
Beth smiled. “I’ll let them in. I heard her talking and if they’re who I think they are, we will soon be safe. They’re Halliwells, Mark. Do you know what that means?”
Mark gave her an uninterested look. “Off the top of my head, I think Uncle Andy dated one before he died.”
Beth nodded. “And the Charmed Ones come from that line. Probably the mother of these friends of Kali’s is one of the Charmed Ones. They’ll know how to fix this.”
“You’re odd, Beth,” he told her, shaking his head. “Your attitude is so changing.”
Beth smiled. “I guess maybe I am. I don’t know this girl, but her friends have a reputation. They are known to be on the side of good.”
Mark rolled his eyes. “Well, I imagine that means Kali is, too. Just let them in. I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
“I’ll give her a chance, Mark,” Beth agreed, reluctantly.
“And get the door?” Mark persisted, still not having his answer.
“Well, of course,” Beth replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Mark laughed, his eyes crinkled at the edges, and walked out of the room.
Still on their way there, Wyatt and Chris were brainstorming. Wyatt was trying to keep his eyes on the road, while Chris was writing in a notebook.
“Any chance we are dealing with a power broker?” Wyatt asked, suddenly.
“Nope,” Chris shot it down with a shake of his head. “From what you told me, this guy can control these powers.”
“Warlock who stole a demon’s power,” Wyatt suggested as he flipped on his turn signal and changed lanes.
“Warlocks don’t apologize,” Chris reminded him without looking up from the notebook.
“Power stealing athemé, like the one still in your room,” Wyatt retorted, emphasizing the last part.
“Funny,” Chris replied dryly, though he did look up. “Really funny.”
“But is it possible?”
“Yes,” Chris admitted, “that is possible, unlikely, but possible.” If you ignore the fact that most people who use those athemés don’t apologize either.
“So why not use the athemé,” Wyatt suggested.
Chris scowled at Wyatt. “Are you insane? It’s too much of a risk. We want to save this guy if Kali’s right and he’s an innocent.”
“You didn’t bring it, did you?” Wyatt wanted to know.
“No.” Chris glared at him, the pencil in his hand, tapping the paper in annoyance. “I would only use that as a last resort anyway.”
“If it came to it?” With great effort, Wyatt kept his eyes on the road.
“It won’t,” Chris assured him, nowhere near as confident as he sounded. “This will work.”
“If it did?” Wyatt pushed.
Chris’ shoulders drooped in defeat. “We could call Aunt Paige or Uncle Coop, or we could ask the whitelighter with Kali.” The idea of stabbing an innocent gnawed at his conscience, knowing that in another life, there were times he was capable of it. “It won’t come to that though and I’m not stabbing an innocent.”
Wyatt smiled. “Good point. Potion it is.”