Demon Blood

Stormwolf

RATING: NC-17

WARNINGS: AU, rape, violence

NOTES: This is a crossover with Charmed.

SUMMARY: After the events in WARRIORS, the truth comes to light.

It had been two days since Incacha’s death. In that time, the correct rituals had been performed over the body to send the shaman’s soul on to be with the spirits of his ancestors and the body itself had been properly cremated in the forest around Cascade, WA. The other Chopec were aboard a ship on their way back to Peru, their duty done.

Now Jim Ellison, sentinel of the Great City and once the sentinel of the Chopec stood on the balcony of his loft home contemplating his hands, dealing with the memories that had resurfaced at the moment of Incacha’s death. In the loft behind him, Blair typed on his laptop idly, and Jim knew that Blair was wondering if he should come out to the balcony or leave his friend to his solitude. Jim did nothing to indicate which Blair should do, and felt that would be enough. He knew that Blair also grieved the loss of an old friend, also slain for greed. In his present melancholy air, Jim did not know how to comfort Blair, and felt that his presence might be enough as well.

How long, Incacha, Jim thought as he continued to look at his rough, human hands. But Incacha had left no instructions, not guide for Jim to know when the shaman’s power would be lifted, and Jim heritage would burst forth again as it had done so long ago. I should leave, he thought for the hundredth time, but he made no move from his place on the balcony. He knew that at any moment the life he knew would abruptly end, and best for all if he was far from them.

Again he made no such move.

Behind him the idle typing stopped, and the soft click click of the keys being struck could no longer be heard. Jim’s sentinel hearing focused on the familiar heartbeat of the man Incacha had handed over wardenship of Jim and all that he was to. Only Blair while a great friend, was no trained shaman, and could not hope to take Incacha’s place, and continue what Incacha had done so many years before in the Peruvian jungle.

Sighing inwardly, Jim straightened and turned to go into the loft. Sound and scent told him someone was at the door before the knock came. Blair stood up to answer it no doubt confused that Jim hadn’t known someone was there long before the knock.

“Megan?” Blair said. “Is something wrong.”

“Quite possibly,” Megan said.

Blair opened the door wider to allow the Australian Inspector in the Loft. Once she stepped inside, Megan looked around quickly spotting Jim standing over at the balcony doors. A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders when she saw that he was there. Jim’s suspicious mind came forward.

“You’re still here.” Megan said. “I guess this Incacha was stronger than we thought.”

“Who’s we?” Jim asked in a tight voice.

“My coven.” Megan answered simply ignoring the hostility in Jim’s voice.

“Coven?” Blair said surprised.

“You’re a witch.” Jim said. It was not an accusation but a statement of fact.

“Yes.”

“So you know.”

“Also yes. I take it Blair doesn’t know?” Megan said.

Jim just shook his head. “Have you come to kill me then?”

“Kill?” Blair repeated in a strangled voice at the same time taking a defensive pose between Jim and Megan.

“No.” Megan answered quickly. “There are some who want to, but they are forbidden to do so. I came to help, if I could.”

“Are you powerful enough to help me?” Jim asked.

“What is going on!?” Blair suddenly shouted. “Why would you think Megan came to kill you, why is someone forbidden to kill Jim. What the hell is going on!”

“Will you tell him or shall I?” Megan asked Jim.

The sentinel just waved his hand as if to tell her to go on.

“You might want to sit down for this one, Sandy.” Megan said. Blair looked at Jim, and the sentinel nodded.

Blair sat down on the couch, and Megan sat down beside him facing the untrained shaman. Jim kept his pose at the balcony doors.

“I am a witch, Blair. A real witch. I am not particularly powerful, but I can make potions and perform some spells.”

“A real witch, not just Wiccan?” Blair was having a hard time believing and Megan could tell.

“Believe it Blair. Jim’s life as well as his human soul is at stake. And you need to believe if you plan to help him.”

Megan’s eyes spoke the simple truth to Blair, and as a professor of human behavior, he knew truth when it was so clearly shown to him.

“Why, why is Jim in danger?” Blair asked in a strangled voice.

“I am witch, but I am good witch. No Wizard of Oz jokes.”

“So if you are good, then that means there are evil ones.”

“Yes. Warlocks. Not male witches, but evil witches male and female. But its not warlocks that concern us, it is something that is much more dangerous and decidly more evil. Demons.”

“Demons.” Blair repeated in horror. “Real demons?”

“Yes, real demons. The are led or were led by the Source. The Source of all evil. A powerful demon who led the underworld.”

“You say led, is he destroyed?” Blair asked.

“Yes. An ancient prophecy was fulfilled and the Source was vanquished. But what we need to speak of is before his vanquishing. Before the prophecy was born. The Source knew of this prophecy, and he knew what it meant for him. He had tried many times to stop the prophecy, but powerful forces protected this prophecy. In desperation, he spoke to the Seer, a demon with the power to see the future. She told him what he needed to do. The Source sent an upper level demon in human guise to seek out the Ellison line. The Seer had told him the Ellison line contained the seeds of ancient warriors. I suspect you know what warriors I speak of.” Megan explained.

“Sentinels. So the demon was sent to get Jim.” Blair said.

“Worse than that, Chief.” Jim said suddenly.

Blair looked at Jim, but when nothing more was forthcoming he looked to Megan.

“Jim’s right. No the demon who was also a female, found William Ellison and through enchantments known only to women, she eventually married him.”

Blair’s breath caught in his throat nearly strangling him as he understood the implications of what Megan had said. “Why?” He finally got out.

“The Seer had told the Source that a bodyguard or watchdog who was half sentinel and half demon could protect him from the Charmed Ones.” Megan answered.

“The Charmed Ones?”

“The fulfillment of the prophecy. Three powerful witch sisters who together could defeat any demon no matter how powerful. Without his bodyguard, the Source was vanquished by the Charmed Ones.”

“How. Why isn’t Jim there instead of…” Blair wasn’t sure how to continue.

“The demon who is Jim’s mother was vanquished before she could take the child back to the Underworld; that same witch bound Jim’s demonic powers, thereby taking him off the Underworld’s radar. They could not find him after that.”

“But the binding wore off when I crashed in Peru.” Jim finally spoke up. “And a demon was sent to bring me to the Underworld. Fortunatly, Incacha was powerful enough to capture the demon. Under interrogation, the demon told me the story Megan is telling you. After that Incacha vanquished the demon, the re-bound my powers along with my memories. I didn’t remember until after Incacha died. The moment he died, my memories returned. I am assuming that since a demon hasn’t appeared that the binding is still in place, but is weakening.”

“Yes, it is. When it is gone completely, the Underworld will know where you are at.” Megan answered.

“But you said this Source demon was vanquished.” Blair said.

“Yes, but since his death the Underworld’s upper level demons are vying for power hoping to be the next Source. Such demons will know what Jim is and know what he could do for them if they had him under their control.”

“So can you re bind his powers?” Blair said.

Megan shook her head. “No, I am not strong enough. We need to go to San Francisco and to the Charmed Ones. Only they will be able to permanently bind Jim’s demonic powers.”

“Then let’s go before its too late.” Blair said.

“It already is.” Jim said, and they turned to look in time to see a man blur into life beside the sentinel. The demon smiled at the witch who stood up.

“Neither one of you can stop me. You are too weak witch, and the shaman untrained. I will fulfill my contract.” The demon smiled and grabbed Jim’s arm before the sentinel could do anything. Together, demon and half-demon blur into nothingness.

“No!”