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The Virtual Series
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Destiny is now...
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Karma: 2 |  | SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Thread Started on Jan 1, 2009, 7:21pm » | |
Prologue
He wasn't sleeping again, and that worried Piper Halliwell. The fact that her youngest son was having a hard time sleeping concerned the already neurotically worried mother. He'd insisted on going to school yesterday, even though she'd asked him to stay home one more day. It upset her that he'd tell his older brother everything and her nothing. It should relieve her that her boys were so close, it did, considering the way it was; but she wanted her baby to talk to her and feel free to tell her anything. Piper sighed as she stood at the front door waiting for her sons to come home from school. Wyatt arrived home first with D.J. in tow. They got out of Wyatt's truck and walked up the drive way.
"Hey boys, how was school?"
"School, right.... We were supposed to be in school Dee, I told you we had somewhere we were supposed to be."
"Darn it, you're right. So I guess cruising to Monterey and back was bad, huh?" D.J. smiled at Piper and she shook her head at the two of them; they were certainly pieces of work.
"Funny, boys." She closed the door as they dumped their stuff at the bottom of the stairs. She'd given up. With her two boys she could get away with nagging; with the three of them in the house for a week, she'd just thrown her hands up and walked away. "So how was school?"
"Good. We had an assembly on safe sex." Wyatt rolled his eyes and walked in and went to the kitchen.
"Gave more people ideas than prevented anything." D.J. smiled as he hopped on the counter and picked up the cookie jar. "Oatmeal, my favorite. I love you, Ms. H."
"I love you too, D.J., but don't ruin your appetite. We're having steak."
"Got it." D.J. pushed the cookie jar aside, then bit into the cookie and reclaimed the jar.
"Where's Chris?"
"Volleyball. He'll be home after his baseball meeting."
"He shouldn't be playing, he's been sick this week." Piper sighed heavily.
"He's fine, Mom."
"He hasn't been sleeping again."
"From what I heard he slept through the assembly and Mr. Talbot screamed at him," D.J. said as he reached into the cookie jar and took another cookie.
"Mr. Talbot is your health teacher?"
"One of them. Chris has him this semester. Supposedly, Mr. Talbot is really on this teen pregnancy kick," D.J. said as he took the glass of milk Wyatt handed him. "Seriously, the guy is freaky. Diane Langston and Dean Halbourne were making out in the hall and he sent them both to detention. Like they were going to do it in the hallway." D.J. shook his head in disbelief.
"Hey guys." Leo walked in and kissed Piper's neck. "Where's Chris?"
"He had volleyball practice. Game on Monday versus the Bulldogs," Wyatt said as he reached in for a cookie and hopped up beside D.J. on the counter. "Then he has a meeting for baseball. He'll be home after that."
"Is he orbing home?" Leo asked as he grabbed a soda out of the refrigerator.
"Casp is supposed to drive him home," Wyatt said as he coughed slightly on the cookie crumb that had lodged in his throat. Chris said he was a horrid liar, okay, he knew he was. It was hard lying. How Chris got the ability to lie with a straight face was beyond him. Fortunately for him, his parents were busying themselves with other things.
"Any plans for tonight?"
"No, we were going to grab a movie at Dee's place and check out his new viewing screen before they head off for the weekend."
"It's so awesome, Ms. H. I really love you," D.J. said as he grabbed a handful of cookies and hopped down and kissed Piper's cheek before leaving the room.
"Should I worry?" Leo asked as he hopped up beside Wyatt.
"He is rather attractive." Piper smiled and looked over at Leo with just a glance that had Leo smiling as well.
"Gross, you know that right?" Wyatt shook his head.
"Why don't the two of you try finishing up your homework?"
"Homework on a Friday night?" Wyatt whined.
"You have a date tomorrow and D.J. will be in Sweden for the weekend. Get your homework done," Leo said. Wyatt groaned as he slid off the counter.
"But we don't have school on Monday," Wyatt whined as Piper turned to look at him with that look.
"But it will be done and when Chris gets home from Sweden with Grandpa we can go have a family day: movie, ice cream, dinner."
"Fine, we have to wait for Chris to finish with the six hundred activities he's involved with anyway."
"You weren't complaining when you were dragging him all over creation with your activities," Piper pointed out.
"Yadda yadda yadda, I'm going."
------------
Wyatt sat at his desk; D.J. was sprawled across his bed. They were making a feeble attempt at the homework that sat in front of them.
The sound of the broken jingling bells caught Wyatt's attention as he looked up from his desk. The blue and white orbs that were trying to reform beside him were breaking up so he reached out and grabbed his younger brother, who finally reformed. Chris fell against the wall and slid down it, breathing heavily.
"What if you couldn't reform? What if I wasn't here? You've got to stop for now. Let your body heal," Wyatt lectured his younger brother.
"Chris, this is like three times in two days that you nearly couldn't reform. It's dangerous," D.J. pointed out as he sat up.
Chris rubbed his eyes and hit his head off the wall. "I'm not going to just sit back and wait for my powers to come back when they feel like it. I can't keep hiding that my powers are on the blink from Mom. If I get attacked or, heaven forbid, Dad gets attacked, I'm in trouble." Wyatt stared at him and knew he was right. It was wrong and he wanted to find those stupid Vritra and blow them all into dust. "Were they getting any stronger?" Chris asked hopefully.
"Bluer," D.J. offered and Wyatt looked over at him with a disappointing glare.
"No more, Chris. Not today."
"Sweden, Wyatt. Tonight. Do you remember? I have to orb Grandpa. How will I do that if I can't even orb myself?"
"Haven't figured that out yet. After dinner I'll figure it out."
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Chris laid on Wyatt's bed and tossed the ball in the air. The fact that Wyatt said that he'd figure it out, concerned him more than a little bit. Not that he didn't trust his brother, but Wyatt wasn't exactly known for his ability to put a viable plan together. His plans usually ended up with both of them in more trouble than they were before. Smiling, Chris had an idea of his own, but Wyatt and D.J. were conspiring while watching Nightmare On Elm Street. So he'd allow them to think up their plans. Throwing the ball against the wall he thought of the events that happened the other night. The face at his window, the feather floating in front of him, were creepy. But the tune being whistled was what really unnerved him, and the fact that Wyatt had heard it too hadn't really made him feel any better.
Chris believed that nothing was coincidental: the man, the feather, the tune, the beings that had damaged his powers. They had to be all connected some how. The door opened and Piper peeked her head in.
"Dinner, boys. Grandpa is going to be a little late. He had a late meeting that is running even later."
"Not a problem. It's still early in Sweden," Chris said as he looked at his watch.
"Nightmare on Elm Street? I thought you were going to stick to romantic comedies for the holiday?" D.J. smiled as he looked over at Piper.
"I got bored with the theme. It's cool if you're watching them with a girl, but with your friends, not so cool. Plus, if you're going to try out a screen like this," he stroked the new video screen that Piper purchased for him, "you test it out with something classic."
"And Freddie Kruger is classic?"
"He ain't bad, Ms. H."
"Let's go." She looked over at her youngest son who seemed deep in thought. "Chris?"
"Be there in a minute. Trying to work something out, Mom."
"Okay." Wyatt hung back as D.J. and Piper headed down stairs.
"You okay?"
"Was thinking about the other night. I think it's all connected."
"I agree." Wyatt sat beside him and sighed. "I don't quite have the plan worked out yet, but I'll think about it over dinner."
"I have a plan, Wy. Don't worry about it."
"Really?"
"It's what I do. You're going to tag along for a few hours. The three of us orb together. Then afterwards, you can orb home and get some sleep."
"That's too easy."
"Not all plans have to be complicated. They just have to be doable. And it is."
"Boys, before it gets cold," Leo screamed and Wyatt rolled his eyes.
"Coming!"
"So, what's wrong? You've been quite all day. I tried to catch you before fifth period and you were totally spaced out."
"Had a really weird thing happen today."
"Okay..." Wyatt prompted.
Chris leaned back against the pillow and thought of what happened this afternoon.
{flashback}
Chris walked into Biology and Mr. Danner was writing down fifty words that they would need to know and identify before their next class. Chris crossed the room to his seat and Ally Dell was flirting with Jamie Light when her purse fell off the desk spilling the contents onto the floor in front of him, including an entire change purse full of pennies. With a sigh, Chris squatted and helped her pick up the loose change and got up and sat beside his two lab partners, Floyd Miller and Grace Hutchinson. The three of them were far from friends, but when they had lab time, the three of them worked together flawlessly. Which, in his mind, was perfect since he'd have had to do all the work if he was with anyone else in the classroom.
"Okay, make sure you copy all of these words down. You know the drill. Test on Wednesday on the entire chapter. Which means you know what today is." Chris all but moaned.
It was a pop quiz. Chris usually didn't mind them since he studied anyway, but with the trip to Sweden this past weekend and the incident with the school being frozen and the damage to his powers, then add the fact that he'd been absent two of the four previous days, Chris Halliwell winced at the thought of a quiz for the first time in his life. Though messing up on one pop quiz wasn't bound to screw up his grade point average, when it came down to the class ranking, it might just push him off the top. He'd been competing with Floyd and Grace since he started junior high for the number one spot in their class. Floyd and Grace sat beside him on either side and both were smiling. Chris chuckled as he thought of them envisioning their competition kicked to the curb.
"Books away, pencils out boys and girls. And start now." Chris worked through the problems and was the last one to get up to hand in the quiz, feeling anxious as he handed the paper to Mr. Danner. "How'd you do, Chris?"
"It was harder than usual. But I've been absent so..."
"I know, bad timing." Chris shrugged his shoulders and headed for his locker and opened his Biology book and groaned as he looked at the chapter that the quiz was based and swore under his breath. He'd screwed it up, he'd reversed the order, minus five points on a twenty-five point quiz. Chris slammed his locker shut and walked into his next class and froze as he walked in. Mr. Danner stood at the front of the class writing out the same words he had at the beginning of Biology, but this was his Calculus classroom. Chris leaned backwards and looked at the class number and frowned. "Mr. Halliwell, great that you could join us, how about taking a seat so that we can start class."
Chris crossed the room in total confusion and when Ally's purse started to fall off the desk again, Chris grabbed it and handed it to her.
"Thanks, Chris," Ally said. Chris just nodded and sat heavily next to Floyd and Grace. Was this even possible? He just couldn't handle another magical issue at school this week.
"Okay, make sure you copy all of these words down. You know the drill. Test on Wednesday on the entire chapter. Which means you know what today is." Deja vu was one thing, but this was downright scary. Chris looked into his notebook and it was blank where he had written all the words just a brief forty minutes before. Chris relived his entire Biology class in total confusion. "Books away, pencils out boys and girls. And start now." Chris took the quiz quickly and since he'd already taken this one once today, found it quite easy this time. Making sure he hadn't reversed the order again, he double checked his answers and walked up to the desk and handed in his quiz. "How'd you do, Chris?"
"Not bad, I think." Mr. Danner browsed his answers and smiled.
"Better than not bad. Good job." Chris left the class and dumped his books into his locker and leaned heavily against his locker. What the hell had just happened?
{end flashback}
Wyatt Halliwell was quiet after his brother had told him about what had happened. It gave him a headache thinking about what it all meant.
"So you got to take the quiz twice and got a better grade because of it?"
"That's what you pick up on? I had some sort of deja vu thing happen and you're worried because I got a better grade as a result?"
"No, not really, just overly jealous. Wish I could have that happen to me."
"Boys, seriously, dinner is getting cold," Leo said as he looked in the door.
"We're coming," Wyatt sneered.
"I called you guys at least four times. Now!"
"Yes, sir." Chris got up and followed Leo down the stairs, Wyatt taking his time behind them. He was deep in thought about what Chris had told him. One moment Chris has no powers, then that happened. He'd have plenty of time to think about it tonight when he got back from Sweden.
"Dad, I'm going to orb over to Sweden with Chris and Grandpa; hang out for bit before I come home and catch some sleep."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you want to go to Sweden if you're not staying?"
"Ahh..." Wyatt looked at Chris begging for an answer.
"He's bummed that he's going to miss out on Grandpa time. He thinks for some reason this trip is going to make Grandpa like me more." Chris sat in his seat beside D.J. and smiled. "But let's be honest, Grandpa does like me more." Chris looked at Wyatt with a raised eyebrow.
"Whatever." Sorry, I hate lying.
Not true, you just hate that you can't lie.
"Hello!"
"Grandpa!" Chris and Wyatt got up and ran into the hallway. They hugged Victor. He may have been a terrible father, but his grandchildren loved him; the feeling was more than mutual.
"Boys, let's eat before it's totally cold," Leo said, the impatience evident in his voice.
"Piper." Victor kissed his daughter on the cheek and sat beside Wyatt.
"Hi, Dad. How was the meeting?"
"Long. I never thought I'd get here. So, you boys ready to have fun exploring Sweden?"
"Thrilled," D.J. said sarcastically as he cut his steak. Chris elbowed him and Wyatt kicked him under the table. "Ouch."
"You don't want to go? Wyatt said you were excited," Victor said with a confused smile.
"I'm excited. Really. Just regretting leaving my screen at home."
"It will be here when you return, D.J." Piper said with a smile.
"I spoke to a friend of mine who lives in Sweden. He told me that there is a new film festival at this movie house in Stockholm. I told him that you were really into movies and he said that there was a Star Wars film fest this weekend. If we'd gone last week, it would have been Grease." Chris chuckled as got up and walked into the kitchen. Wyatt heard the laugh and started chuckling himself.
"Something we missed, boys?" Leo asked as D.J. was rubbing his forehead.
"No, they keep harassing me about Grease. Not sure why. It's a nostalgic piece of American history." Piper smiled at Victor and shrugged her shoulders.
"Were you guys keeping him hidden from me for a reason? He's funny. You know how much I enjoy good humor," Victory told his grandsons.
"He wasn't kidding," Chris explained as he brought back a full glass of milk. "D.J. would rather watch Grease than..." Chris thought carefully, "...adult movies. Which puts him in the freak category. Which leaves me wondering why he's friends with Wy, the perfect jock."
"Mom's fault," Wyatt admitted with a groan before taking a bite of his steak. "Mom, this is good."
------------
The moment Victor Bennett had looked at his grandsons he knew something was up. Their parents might overlook the looks and the half truths, but he'd always been able to see through them: Chris with his disapproving glare at something Wyatt said, Wyatt with his stumbling to get the right word out so that he didn't get caught up in what ever lie he hated telling. D.J., now he was interesting. That he was half demon was quite amusing, considering they'd just had a long conversation about his love for Shirley Temple movies. But he was darn sure D.J. was in on whatever was going on with his grandsons.
"Dad, we're heading out to the movies. Make sure you don't keep them up all weekend." Piper kissed his cheek.
"Me? Keep them awake? Now Piper..."
"Save it. Boys, be good."
"Mom, I'm going to orb over with them, okay?"
"Your father told me your plans. Just be careful."
"Will do."
"Chris, D.J., behave."
"Mom, this is me. I'm the good one." Piper chuckled and kissed her youngest son's forehead.
"Oh sweetie, I know better." Piper and Leo left and when the boys turned around Victor stood with his arms folded over his chest.
"So boys, want to tell me what's going on?"
"What do you mean?" Wyatt asked quickly and Chris rolled his eyes and looked at his brother.
"Is it at all possible to exchange my brother for a new one?" Chris asked as he jabbed his elbow into Wyatt's side.
"Chris?" Victor raised his eyebrow and Chris shook his head.
"It's nothing. We have it taken care of, Grandpa."
"Chris..." Victor knew all too well what 'taken care of' could mean.
"You can't tell Mom or Dad," Chris instructed him.
"You know I can't promise that."
"Then I can't say anything." Chris shrugged his shoulders and then picked up his backpack "Are we ready?"
"Christopher..."
"You know the rules, Grandpa." Chris smiled at his grandfather and stuck out his hand. "Do we have a deal?"
"I don't like you much; you know that, right?" Chris smiled brightly as Victor shook his hand. "Fine."
"We had a run in with some sort of being and it sapped my powers."
"And you don't think you should tell your parents?" Victory asked incredulously.
"Absolutely not!" Wyatt said as he looked at his grandfather. "They'll lock him up in Magical School."
"What if he's attacked while we're in Sweden?" Victor asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"That's why I'm sending D.J."
"You're sending?" Chris looked at his brother and rolled his eyes. "They're coming back, Grandpa. I just have to work through it. No reason to freak out Mom. You know how she gets."
"Yes, she's..."
"Impossible is the word your searching for," Wyatt smirked.
"So everyone ready?" Chris asked as he tossed D.J. his backpack.
"Chris..." Victor pinched the bridge of his nose as Wyatt grabbed onto his arm.
"I'm fine Grandpa, lighten up. We're going to have a great time." Chris slapped his arm on Victor's shoulder in time for Wyatt to orb them.
"Famous last words," D.J. sighed and shimmered after his friends, dreading every last moment.
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The Virtual Series
The Virtual Series
member is offline
Destiny is now...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Your Computer
Karma: 2 | | Re: SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Reply #1 on Jan 1, 2009, 7:22pm » | |
Chapter One
Christopher Halliwell walked into the library and looked around it with such reverence. It was probably stupid considering he almost died here just last weekend, but he was really looking forward to exploring Stockholm. He'd seen the city in a blur of worry and pain, but now he had time to stop and take in the beautiful city, and he wanted to start with the library. There were so many books. There was nothing he'd have loved more than to get lost in this library and read every single book. Looking over at his grandfather and an apprehensive D.J. Chris sighed; he'd have to come back when he was alone.
D.J. hung back as he remembered the previous weekend. What had he been thinking when he agreed to come back here? There was no kind of punishment his dad could hand out that was bad enough to require his return to Stockholm. Wasn't it enough that he'd nearly died here days ago? Looking over at Chris he shook his head. If anyone should never have wanted to return to Stockholm, it was Chris Halliwell. Some demonic enchantress kidnapped and enchanted his brother, his brother tried to kill him, he had a major migraine, he was running on a leg that wasn't fully healed yet, he was nearly killed and his brother almost died. But here he was having the time of his life. If nothing else Wyatt's little brother was a resilient kid.
"Kan jag hjälpa dig hitta vad du letar efter?" the librarian asked as she watched Chris look around the place.
"Nej tack. Vi tittar bara. Det är en vacker byggnad och vi ville se hur den såg ut inifrån," Chris said as he looked at the librarian and smiled.
"Chris?" Victor looked at his grandson, baffled by whatever he was saying to the woman. He looked back at D.J. for an explanation, but the teenager just shrugged his shoulders.
"Okej, om ni har några frågor om byggnaden som jag kan besvara så är det bara fråga." She started to walk away.
"Tack så mycket." Chris looked at his grandfather with a smile. "She just wanted to know if we wanted any help."
"When did you learn to speak Swedish?" Victor asked with a mixture of confusion and amazement.
"Ah... it's a part of the whole whitelighter package. Comes in handy."
"I see." Victor watched his grandson with mild amusement as the boy looked around the first floor of the building. His friend D.J. didn't seem as enthused to be here. "So what else do you two want to do today?"
"This is fun, just looking around town."
"You seem to know your way around," Victor observed. Chris and D.J. looked at each other, and Victor seemed to think there was something he was missing when Chris finally smiled.
"I have a great sense of direction," his grandson said with a coy smile.
"Yeah, and I'm a demon." Victor rolled his eyes. "You can fool everyone else on the planet, but you can't fool me. So spill it."
"Isn't this place amazing?" Chris asked, in an attempt to change the subject. He ran his hand along the banister as he walked up the stairs.
"Chris, do we have to go up there?" D.J. asked as he nervously nibbled on his bottom lip.
"Fine." Chris smiled as D.J. made his way toward the door.
"Now I know I'm missing something. Do you two want to tell me something?" Victor watched D.J., who was pushing his way out of the door rather quickly as Chris seemed to be searching for an answer to his question in the pamphlet he held in his right hand. "Chris?"
"We could go shopping, or to a museum," Chris suggested.
"You never answered me."
"Or we could go see some of that film festival for D.J.," Chris continued, ignoring his grandfather. "We went to see a Star Wars film festival in L.A. last year. But he'd go to a film festival every day if he could."
"Christopher!" Victor followed Chris outside to where D.J. was standing, looking around like he was waiting for something to happen.
"D.J., we're going to go check out the film festival," Chris told his friend.
"Really? Thanks." D.J. breathed a sigh of relief. The more time spent in the library, the more he thought about last weekend.
"Christopher Perry Halliwell!" Victor raised his voice and Chris winced.
"What are we doing for dinner?" Chris asked as he looked at his grandfather with innocent eyes, in yet another effort to dodge his question.
"Chris?" Victor sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I thought we'd go to the restaurant across the street from the apartment."
"Can we make it for four instead of three?"
"Sure," Victory replied with a sigh, the frustration of trying to get a straight answer out of his grandson wearing on his nerves. "Wyatt coming? I thought he had a date."
"No, not Wy. He has a date with An-drea-a," Chris said in utter disgust. Then shook his head. "I want to introduce you to a friend."
"Here in Stockholm?" Victor asked with surprise.
"Yes, sir."
"This is going to give me a headache, isn't it?"
"Nah. Come on, Grandpa. I'm the good one," Chris reminded him. He walked over to D.J. and slapped the half manitore's shoulder. "So, movie?"
"If only I believed that." Victor sighed heavily as he followed the teenagers into the streets of the city.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
They'd gone to the Star Wars film festival and had already devoured so much junk food that Christopher Halliwell was sure that they'd never be able to eat dinner at this rate. As he left the darkened theater he allowed his eyes to adjust to the light then made his way into the men's room. For some reason this wasn't as fun as it usually was with Wyatt; the two of them talked via their link when they were bored and knew D.J. wasn't going to be dislodged from the theater. Chris check the stalls and when he was sure that he was alone he smiled. Sure his powers were still acting a little rough; that was to be expected. But he figured the only way to get them back was to use them. So he double checked to make sure no one was in the room and orbed to Wyatt.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So I'm still supposed to pick you up at seven, right?" Wyatt Halliwell asked as he lay on his bed with his phone held up to his ear with one hand. His other hand was resting under his blonde-haired head. He had a smile plastered to his face that he couldn't even begin to erase. "It'll just be you, me, and a nice romantic dinner for two."
Wyatt heard the jingle of orbs and lifted his head to look at his brother trying to reform. Wyatt grabbed Chris and glared as he held a finger up to his lips and made a vague gesture towards his chair. Wyatt swung his legs over the side of his bed, still smiling as he listened to Andrea Payton's voice in his ear. "I'll be there. You just be ready to be swept off your feet. See you then. Bye..." Wyatt hung up and flopped back onto his pillow with a contented sigh.
"Should I go throw up now or wait until after your date when you're sure to make me want to stick my finger down my throat with all of the nauseating details of how you romanced her underneath the stars?" Chris teased.
Wyatt threw a pillow at him. "I said no more orbing until they are back up and running. Besides, aren't you supposed to be in Sweden with Grandpa and D.J.?"
"I am. D.J. and I are having a great time. I just thought I'd come back long enough to give you a hard time. Plus, I miss ya. Can't really make fun of D.J. and him imitating Star Wars characters with out you."
"Did he make the R2-D2 sounds again?"
"Mmmm.... Repeated nearly every line. Grandpa is amused; not my first ride in the Millennium Falcon though."
"He mention the next movies he wants to see?"
"Apparently in Toronto there is a Friday the 13th marathon. He's making those sounds."
"Oh, great. The last time we did that marathon we were what?"
"You were twelve, I was ten and we were pretty scared. Until we got to the end of the marathon, when we were laughing. D.J. didn't talk to us for a month."
"Right. So, I've been thinking..."
"What's the occasion?" Chris asked as he leaned back in the desk chair with a huge smile on his face.
"Cute."
"So I've been told." Chris shrugged and put his hands behind his head.
"Anyway, I've been wondering how you managed to talk D.J. into going back to Stockholm? I mean, he was adamant about never going there again."
"I'm persuasive," Chris said as he looked at his brother.
"I'm serious. I know him better than anyone on the planet. Not even I could have convinced him to return to the scene of the crime."
"You don't know his secrets do you?"
"Huh?"
"Do you really think that when you and D.J. were constantly ditching me that I really stayed behind and twiddled my thumbs?"
"I don't understand?"
"D.J.; when he's not hanging with you do you know what he does?"
"Watches movies?"
"Sometimes."
"And?"
"And sometimes he does things that his daddy would be very unhappy with." Chris smiled and raised his eyebrows a couple times to emphasize his point.
"Do tell."
Chris shook his head. "My secret, get your own."
"Come on, Chris; I'm your brother! We share everything!"
"No, we don't. And if you want a secret about D.J. you figure it out. I tell you and you tell his dad or even worse you spill to mom and I lose my advantage. So..."
"Is it a girl? Does he have a girl?"
"Wyatt..." Chris rolled his eyes. How typical of his brother to automatically leap the conclusion that a girl was somehow involved.
"He's got a girl? Did you watch?" Wyatt leaned forward like Chris was ready to tell all. Instead his little brother just rubbed his forehead.
"First off, read my lips: I'm ... not ... telling," he dragged the last three words out. "Secondly, ewww... Now I have to live forever with the thought of me watching D.J. doing it with a girl." Chris shuddered. "I think I'm permanently scarred." He shook his head, trying to erase the image. "Lastly, you're pathetic if you think for a second that D.J. would have himself a side piece before you would."
"Get out of here," Wyatt said as he threw his pillow at his brother.
Chris laughed, "Okay, okay... I'm going. I'll leave you to glow in peace, Casanova."
"Wait! I should go with y..." Wyatt looked at where his brother once sat. Chris had orbed out before he even had a chance to stop him. "These are the moments I wish I were an only child." Wyatt focused on their connection and knew he'd made it back. "Some day I'm going to kick his a..."
"Wyatt!!!" Piper screamed from the bottom of the steps.
"How does she do that?" Wyatt shook his head as he pushed off the bed and the smile returned to his face as he thought of Andrea and their date the next evening.
"Wyatt!!!"
"I'm coming, Mom."
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Chris entered the darkened theater in time to see the Death Star blow up; again. This wasn't the first Star Wars film festival he'd been to with D.J. Probably wouldn't be the last either. But at least the series was a good one. Chris handed his grandfather a soda, then handed D.J. his, and sat down and grabbed a box of candy from D.J.'s pile. Chris leaned back and watched the end of the movie, a big ceremony to celebrate the destruction of the Death Star was under way when yelling in the back of the room got his attention.
"I never want to speak to you again!" the woman said with a heavily accented voice. Chris turned and bit down on his bottom lip as he watched the scene unfold. But it was the young man standing in the corner that had his attention, even as he left the theater.
"You are unbelievable. All I asked was..." They pushed out the door and Chris turned around.
"Rude people," D.J. mumbled. Didn't they know there was no talking -- let alone arguing -- during the Star Wars film fest?
"I'll be back." Chris walked out and into the lobby, watching the couple argue as they left the theater. He frowned and started back in when he heard the sound. He turned just in time to see the glow of hearts as they vanished. A Cupid? Chris walked over to where he saw the hearts and squatted. It was Valentine's Day and all but... Chris stood and narrowed his eyes, he could feel it, something was just not quite right.
"Chris, everything okay?" Victor asked as he walked over to his grandson.
"Ah, yeah, sure. Just..." Chris looked around and sighed. "I guess. It's just that..."
"So everything is not fine?"
"I'm not sure. Something just doesn't feel right."
"Do you want to go get Wyatt?"
"He has to get his beauty sleep. He has his big date with An-drea..." Chris smirked.
"She's quite pretty," Victor commented, remember the young woman who had come to the house when he was 'baby-sitting' his grandsons last weekend.
"Hmmm..." Chris sighed. "Let's go back. The next movie will be starting and D.J. hates when people interrupt his viewing of a movie."
"All right, but what about this?" Victor asked. Chris seemed concerned, unsure. And he didn't get that way over nothing. He had learned it's best to trust his instincts, particularly when the supernatural was involved.
"Nothing to do about it now. Let's go." Chris went back to the theater but before entering he looked back at the spot and frowned. Something was going on; he just didn't know what.
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Wyatt woke up with the feeling that he was being watched. Reaching over he turned on the light and looked around the room and then over at the window. Clad in just a pair of blue shorts he walked across the room and looked out the window. Most of the time he didn't even worry about sleeping knowing all the different things that happened in his home. But this week had just been a little too much, even for him. Instead of going back to bed he walked down the stairs and heard noises in the kitchen.
"So, anything on the guy from the toy store?" Piper asked as she leaned against the counter as her sister rubbed her fingers through her messy hair.
"No. I even went back to the store, but no dice. Nothing in the Book either."
"And the guy from tonight?"
"Not him, I can't believe he blew up my coffee maker." Phoebe ran her fingers through her hair and rubbed her eyes. She looked exhausted. "I was working on an article when I walked into the kitchen, started the coffee, and boom: my coffee maker was toast," Phoebe explained.
"Take ours. We can do without coffee for one morning," Piper offered, unplugging the appliance and winding up the cord. She placed it on the kitchen island.
"Morning, Aunt Phoebe," Wyatt said as he opened the refrigerator and pulled out the orange juice.
"Hey, Wy. Heard about the big date tomorrow. Do tell, do tell," Phoebe teased her oldest nephew as she leaned across the island.
"Mom, really, it's a date, not my wedding."
"Come on, sweetie, you've been on plenty of dates. But none of them included you getting that silly grin on your face." Instinctively Wyatt sneered before the grin returned to his handsome face.
"Her name is Andrea and she's a senior as well. We got to know each other while Chris was in the hospital."
"Does no one sleep in this family?" Leo asked as he came in.
"My coffee maker was murdered," Phoebe explained. "I'll return it later today," she said, picking Piper's coffee maker up off the island. "I have to go. Coop is catching a couple hours before he's up and out. Every year I forget how exhausted he gets this month. Happy Valentine's Day!" She kissed each of the Halliwell's on the cheek and left.
"So Wy, why are you awake so early?" Leo asked his son.
"Just woke up for no reason. Not sure why." He shrugged. "Guess I missed Chris."
"Piper?" Leo turned to his wife.
"You know I can't sleep without both my boys being here."
"Mom, you are in for some really bad insomnia when I go off to college," Wyatt said before taking a sip of orange juice directly from the carton. This action earned him a stern look from Piper. He smiled sheepishly before retrieving a glass from the cabinet and pouring himself some juice.
"Don't remind me, Baby." She looked over at her husband as she mixed something in a bowl. "Leo?"
"Just had a feeling something wasn't quite right. Like someone was watching me." Leo shuddered. "Creepy."
"Well, it's a possibility, but we've been pretty light on demonic activity since Christmas." Piper thought for a moment. "I've only blown up about six this week."
"Hmmm.... Slow week sure, but Phoebe just lost her coffee maker," Leo pointed out.
"True, maybe it's starting back up. Guess we should have expected it. Wyatt, anything wrong?"
"No mam' just tired. Think I'm going to try to go back to sleep." Wyatt left the room with his orange juice. He knew where that conversation was going. She'd look at him and ask him if he he'd fought off any demons this week and he'd have to tell the truth because lying wasn't one of his many talents. It was just best to stay away from his mom until Chris returned or demonic activity lightened up around his mother, whichever came first. He hoped for the latter as he crawled into bed, grabbed a magazine, and prepared to stay awake.
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Chris stood at the mirror in the bedroom and straightened his tie, thinking about everything that had happened at the theater. The Cupid had him stumped. Why was the Cupid there? It certainly wasn't to help that couple, that's for sure. They'd taken off screaming at each other in a combination of English and Swedish about something the guy did or said.
However, his heart really wasn't in thinking about the Cupid; but it was in thinking about the pretty blonde he would be seeing this evening. With everything going on this week -- last weekend's fiasco, mid-terms approaching, stirrings in the underworld, and now his powers were on the blink -- but all he kept coming back to was Katina.
Katina.
They'd shared a few kisses since he'd met her. After the concert he knew he was definitely interested in her. Sure long distance relationships were difficult for most people, but he'd been orbing off the continent since he was four and a half, so he wasn't really concerned about it. Her blue-green eyes fascinated him and revved up every hormone in his body. She seemed so sweet and innocent until you looked into those eyes and saw mischief dancing through them. That excited him more than he cared to admit.
He'd learned a lot about her at the concert; she had a penchant for silky tank tops, loved going to dance clubs, had a pet fish named Moby and her mom owned a restaurant. Her mom was an American, her dad was born and raised in Stockholm, she went to a private school and dreamed of returning to the States for college. He'd told her how he played football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and ran track; and that he also was on the yearbook and newspaper staffs. They'd discussed growing up in their mother's kitchens and their love for cooking.
Back home some girls flirted with him; they were the ones who were trying to gain popularity by being with the varsity football quarterback. After his accident it seemed he'd gained popularity and since then had had some experiences with a couple of the cheerleaders, but he'd never felt the way he did when he was with Katina. She was different than those girls; the only word he could think of when he thought of her was special. It was like they knew each other without really knowing each other.
Chris came out of the bedroom apartment in a shirt and tie as he continued to think about her. Victor looked over and did a double take.
"Pretty snazzy for dinner with your grandpa. This friend must be pretty special. Last time I saw you in a tie..." Victor frowned as he tried to remember.
"I wore one for the Winter Carnival Snow Ball," Chris reminded his grandfather with a shrug. "It's no big deal; you said it was a nice restaurant."
"So, what's this friend's name?" Victor asked, nudging his grandson's shoulder with his own, a sly grin on his face.
"Grandpa, don't do anything to embarrass me. Please. She doesn't know anything about who I am. She just knows that I'm staying with you while in Stockholm."
"That would be the truth."
"I keep reminding myself that."
"Do you care to elaborate?" Chris paced the expansive front room of the apartment. D.J. came out in a polo shirt and looked at Chris and moaned and retreated back into the bedroom to change.
"Promise you won't freak out," Chris instructed Victor.
"You know I can't promise that, Chris."
"All right," Chris amended. "Promise you won't tell mom and dad."
"Chris," Victor said with exasperation. "You and your brother seem to believe that you don't have to obey your parents rules with me. Now..."
"Promise or I say nothing." Chris knew how to run these negotiations. He'd been wheeling and dealing with his grandfather since he learned to talk.
"Fine, I promise. But I'm doing so under protest."
"So noted." Chris smiled as his grandfather sat on the couch and he sat beside him. "You know last weekend, when we were grounded?"
"Yes, magical transport was down, so your mother said."
"Yep, that's what I figured out a little too late."
"What do you mean a little too late?" Victor asked, concern and excitement filling his voice.
"We were already here in Stockholm when transportation went down," Chris explained calmly.
"No," Victor protested. "I saw you in your beds."
"It was a spell. I wrote one showing you us asleep in our beds so we could come here and see this band at the Globe Arena."
"Your mother will kill you and your brother, then me, then the two of you again," Victor muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Which is why she can't find out." Chris looked at the older man.
Victor nodded his head in agreement with defeat. "So what did you two do while you were trapped here?"
"Three."
"What?"
"The three of us." D.J. said as he came out in a pale blue dress shirt and pale yellow tie; he hated getting dressed up. "Wyatt and Chris dragged me here." D.J. looked at Victor who looked at the teenager with a bit of skepticism.
"Christopher, what have I told you about forcing your friends to foreign countries?" Victor said as Chris smiled at his grandfather.
"Fine, I went voluntarily." D.J. fiddled with the tie and Victor fixed it for him. "Thanks."
"We were coming to see a concert. No big deal," Chris insisted as he grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.
"Oh, I see," Victor said in a thoughtful voice. "So, what did the three of you do?"
"Do you want to hear the whole story?"
"I think I'd better." Victor looked at his watch. "After dinner the three of us are going to sit down and you are going to tell me everything," he ordered sternly.
"All right," Chris agreed. "You'll like Katina, Grandpa," he said, changing the subject. "She's sweet."
"Katina? Sweet?"
"Very," Chris said with a lilt in his voice.
"Hmm..."
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The temperature was dropping. His grandfather had suggested they take their jackets with them, just in case. Sure the hotel was just across the street, but temperatures got pretty frigid in Stockholm so they carried their jackets. Chris pushed out the front door and saw her across the street. Standing there watching her made his pulse race and knew he was hooked and wondered if this what Wyatt felt when he looked at Andrea.
"Chris." She stood out in front of the restaurant in a pretty little red dress that had Chris allowing his eyes to roam. He leaned in and kissed her cheek, took her hand and she felt the blush cover from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. "Hi, D.J.," she said with a slight giggle as she bit down on her lower lip.
"Hey," D.J. greeted her. The younger Halliwell had all the luck. His date had been a dud, Wyatt's had been a demon, and Chris had Katina.
"You look beautiful in red," Chris whispered. He kissed her chastely and took her jacket. "Katina, this is my Grandfather, Victor Bennett."
"Mr. Bennett, it's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for inviting me to dinner."
"My pleasure. Katina, that's a very pretty name." He raised an eyebrow at his grandson and ushered them inside the restaurant. "So, how did the two of you meet? Bennett," he said to the man behind the desk.
"Ett ögonblick. Ert bord är snart färdigt. Om ni vill så kan ni få sitta i salongen så länge." Victor looked at his grandson.
"Tack så mycket, det är där vi kommer vara," Chris said as he smiled and led them through the door.
"You rogue! You never needed my help getting tickets!" Katina hit him playfully and sat down, folding her arms over her chest.
"I guess you'd never believe me if I said I learned to speak Swedish just after I left you Saturday night, huh?" She glared at him. "I wanted to meet you. I didn't have any idea how else to get to talk to you."
"Really?" she asked.
"Really," he said sincerely. "Plus, as I remember it, you were the one who grabbed my hand and ran for the stage."
"You didn't object."
"You were wearing that pretty blue silky top and those blue jeans. I couldn't have objected to anything."
"You remembered what I was wearing?" Katina asked with surprise.
"He remembers everything," D.J. informed her. "About everything."
"D.J., this is why you don't have a girlfriend." Chris glared as the half-manticore sneered.
"Just stating the truth." Katina giggled and stood up.
"I'm going to go freshen up, I'll be right back." The three men stood as she got up. She walked off, the silky skirt swishing as she went. Chris watched her and sighed.
"She's pretty," Victor commented.
"Yes, very," Chris agreed with a sigh.
"Did you learn to speak Swedish after you left her Saturday night?"
"Yep. But you know she'd never believe that," D.J. said as he smiled at Victor.
"It makes me sound really sweet." Chris sighed again as he thought of her in that dress. "That skirt is fascinating."
"He is human after all," D.J. teased and Chris threw his napkin at him.
"I can't wait to hear this story." Victor held up his hand, signaling the waiter. "Martini, please." The waiter looked at him and frowned.
"En martini och tre Sprite tack." Chris smiled at the waiter who smiled in return.
"Något annat?"
"Nej tack, det var allt." Chris looked at his grandfather. "I'll order for you tonight, Grandpa. No big deal."
"This is going to be a really good story isn't it?"
"Depends on your definition of good now doesn't it?"
"I'm not sure good is the appropriate word." D.J. said as he wrinkled his nose and shook his head.
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Katina watched the three of them from across the room; Chris and his grandfather appeared very close. She wished she had that kind of relationship with a grandparent. As she returned all three of them stood and she smiled at the courtesy. As she sat the waiter sat a soda in front of her and she smiled.
"Tack så mycket," Katina said to the waiter and then looked at Victor. "Thank you."
"Chris ordered. I have no skills in the Swedish language," Victor admitted with a sheepish grin. "I'll have to trust that the two of you won't lead me astray."
"Oh no, I'd never." She looked a bit alarmed.
"He was joking, Katina. Relax, he likes you," Chris whispered into her blonde locks; but lingered long enough to get a whiff of her shampoo and whatever perfume she was wearing. She looked at Chris with a smile touched his cheek, then turned to look at Victor.
"I'm a bit nervous."
"About me or my grandson?"
"To be honest, both."
"We're harmless. Well at least I am. Chris has been known to be a might dangerous, but..."
"Grandpa!" Chris said harshly but Katina giggled.
"Ert bord är färdigt. Om ni följer efter mig." The man held four menus.
"Tack så mycket." Chris said as he took Katina's hand. "Wow, this is a really fancy place, Grandpa. Can we afford to be here?"
"Don't you worry about it. It's on me. I invited you, remember?"
Chris browsed the menu; he still had some problems with reading the language. Looking up he saw a scene unfolding just outside.
"Katina, would you order for me? I trust you. Just no liver, okay?"
"I should think not." She shuddered at the thought.
Chris chuckled and looked at his grandfather. "I'll be right back." He pushed out the front door and felt the wind hit him. In just the half hour they'd been in the restaurant the temperature had dropped significantly, but his attention was on the screaming couple and the Cupid who was standing in the darkened corners of the building across the street. "Hey, wait!" Chris yelled and started across the street when the Cupid looked directly at him then disappeared in a cloud of hearts. "What the heck?" Chris started back. He'd have to figure out this Cupid later. Shaking his head he looked down the street at the screaming couple and knew that just wasn't right.
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Two hours later Chris held her hand as they walked down the sidewalk in complete silence. Every now and then they'd look up at each other and smile nervously.
"How long are you here for?" Katina broke the awkward silence.
"Just the weekend. I have to be back in San Francisco for school on Tuesday."
"Oh." She sounded disappointed.
"I'll be back, though. Once a month. I promise."
"Really? Your parents let you spend that much time out of the country?" Chris smiled and looked up at the sky.
No actually you'd be looking at a dead man. But what a way to go. He smiled to himself then looked into her blue-green eyes. "I can get away whenever it is warranted."
"That wasn't a real answer." She smiled happily as Chris walked over to a man who was selling roses and purchased one.
"Happy Valentine's Day." He handed the rose to her and she lifted the pale pink petals, soft as silk, to her nose and smiled.
"Thank you," she whispered, a blush on her cheeks.
Chris smiled and watched the snow start to fall lightly through the streetlights. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Okay?"
"Where did you meet Rebecka?"
"Ah..." She bit down on her lip. "Actually, I didn't know her all that well. Marie, the girl who was supposed to go to the concert, she met Rebecka at the market. They got to talking and when Marie got sick before the concert, she called Rebecka and asked if she wanted to use her ticket."
"Oh, is Marie okay?"
"It's weird; she was really sick the day of the concert. Must have been really sick with a fever or something since she doesn't even remember calling Rebecka about the extra ticket," Katina explained.
"Not at all?"
"No. It's like her memory from last weekend is totally wiped. Hope I don't get what she had."
"That is kinda weird." Chris agreed, frowning as he thought about Katina's friend Marie. It was interesting information. "Has Marie seen Rebecka since the concert?"
"Not sure. Why? Does Wyatt want to see her again?"
Chris choked back a snort. "No, not at all. She just turned out to be someone we didn't quite expect."
"Did she do something?" Katina asked with concern.
"She got a little controlling," Chris said, considering that statement the understatement of the century.
"Oh." Katina got quiet. "I had this feeling about her. She just didn't feel..." She struggled for the word, "...human." She watched Chris stiffen but ignored it. "There was no emotion out of her when she met us. You know how when you meet someone for the first time you tend to be kind and let them see your best side? Rebecka just didn't seem real, didn't care what anyone thought of her. Then I figured I was wrong when your brother started making out with her."
"Always stick with your instincts. My dad always tells me that instincts are your body's way of keeping you from harm." Chris paused. "Rebecka wasn't very nice at all," he said finally.
"I'm sorry if she caused you and your brother any problems." Chris looked into her eyes and leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"Don't even worry about her. I was just curious how close you two were."
"All right. If I see her, I'll stay as far away from her as humanly possible."
Chris just nodded as he tipped his head up to look at the clouds. "So, what weekend are you available next month? We could find something to do around Stockholm, I'm sure."
"Oh, I'm sure we could." She looked up the street and frowned. "I have to tell you something that is rather embarrassing." She pulled him behind a grouping of bushes and sighed.
"Okay."
"I lied to my parents; they have no idea where I was. They think a bunch of us went out to a school dance. I'm not technically allowed to date yet."
"Well, technically it wasn't a date; my grandpa was there. It was just dinner." He smiled as she looked at him, those turquoise eyes sparkling with mischief.
"You are going to get into trouble, aren't you?" she asked.
"God, I hope so." He leaned over and kissed Katina gently.
"Me too," she whispered as he pulled away. "I just live up the street. I'm going to say goodnight here."
"Okay, I'll e-mail you with details of when I'm coming back into town."
"I'll be waiting." She kissed his cheek and walked down the street, then turned around to look at him. "Don't make me wait too long." Chris just shrugged his shoulders and smiled, then waved as she ran up the path to her house.
This was an interesting development. This past year had definitely been full of interesting twists and turns. The temperature was dropping and it was starting to snow, but Chris took his time as he thought about Katina and how he was going to get away with orbing to Stockholm once a month.
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The Virtual Series
The Virtual Series
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Destiny is now...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
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Karma: 2 | | Re: SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Reply #2 on Feb 8, 2009, 7:13am » | |
Hope you enjoy this chapter. The next one I'm hoping to post by Valentine's Day. If not Happy Valentine's Day to all. {hugs and kisses} Jennifer
Chapter Two
An hour after walking Katina home, Chris walked into the apartment building, he needed time to think. So now he was frozen to the bone, but he thought he finally had a handle on how to get away with orbing here once a month. Even if he got caught it was worth the attempt; not that he thought that he'd get caught. He knew his parents well enough to know when to go. If he planned it well enough his dad would be caught up with some school thing and his mom would be caught up at her expanding restaurant chain. And as for Wyatt, he didn't think his older brother would care where he went as long as he was distracted; Andrea Payton was definitely a major distraction.
When Chris walked into the apartment his grandfather was standing in the small kitchenette unpacking the contents of a brown paper bag. Victor looked up at his grandson, then back down with a smile. His grandsons were both attracted to pretty girls, they were both happy, what else did he really need to know?
"I was getting worried."
"Ah, sorry, needed to think. Where's Dee?"
"Oh, he went for ice cream at a particular place that you know I can't resist. Now he's off to get a few games and as he put it, other essentials."
"Cool. I'll be out in a minute. Let me get changed."
A few minutes later Chris came out in jeans and a T-shirt he walked into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water and sat on the couch.
"So, what did you think of Katina?"
"She's stunning. Can't wait for the story of how you met her." Victor smiled as his grandson nodded, but he could tell his mind wasn't really on anything but Katina. "Did you tell D.J. to go to Ice?"
"Um no, we go there a lot." A distracted Chris said quickly. Then he looked over at his grandfather. "You tell mom and I'll deny it."
"Mmm..." Victor tossed Chris a spoon and the teen caught it and smiled.
"You don't eat any other ice cream, anyways." Chris caught the chocolate mousse pint his grandfather tossed at him.
"Ah yes, the ultimate in ice cream. Peanut butter marshmallow swirl. Heaven. I think I just may have to adopt him."
"I told him what kind you liked."
"Ha, you did tell him to go there."
"I didn't tell him. I may have mentioned that you two loved the same kind of ice cream last time we went there."
"Which was when?"
"For Wy's birthday."
"Someday your mom is going to find out you're orbing to Maryland for ice cream."
"As long as Wyatt keeps his mouth shut, mom will never know. Wy's gonna kick himself for missing it." Chris smiled as he took a spoonful of the ice cream and moaned.
"So, this story, would you rather tell it to me over playing a game or two or would you prefer to tell it straight out?"
"Game, it's a long story."
"Oh." Just then D.J. shimmered in with a large brown bag and the trunk of games from the manor.
"The whole trunk?"
"I was gonna pick out a few, but couldn't hold them and the supplies too."
"What did you get?" Chris looked in the bag and smiled. "Soda, cookies, candy, chips, pudding?"
"Looked good." D.J. shrugged as Chris grabbed the bag of M&Ms.
"So what games boys?"
"You pick it out."
"My choice?" Victor sat on the sofa and looked into the trunk and browsed his choices.
"You always do get first choice. Ya never know how long you old timers are going to be around and all." Chris chuckled as Victor shook his head.
"Monopoly. That should take plenty of time for you to tell me exactly what the three of you did last weekend."
His grandson was such a smart ass, where the hell did he get that from? Victor smiled as he got up and sat at the table. Chris and D.J. set up the game and arranged the junk food so that it accessible.
"Your parents were both awake when I shimmered in. Your mom nearly blasted me," He hesitated then looked up with a smile, "again."
"Need to put bells on you Dee. Like you would with a cat."
"So, you boys going to tell me this story?"
"Wonder why mom and dad were awake?"
"Your mom says she misses her baby."
"Poor mom isn't doing well. The thought of Wyatt going to college and me soon behind isn't sitting well with her."
"Boys? Story? Anytime now."
"Sorry grandpa." Chris popped a handful of M&Ms and sighed. "Where to start?" He said as he chewed the M&Ms.
"Let's try the beginning."
"Right, always a good place, but which part of the beginning?"
"All of it."
"You sure Mr. Bennett?"
"Positive."
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It was nearly nine o'clock when Wyatt walked downstairs, he'd finally managed to drop off somewhere around three in the morning. But when he woke up he still had a feeling that something wasn't quite right. Still clad in his blue shorts he entered the kitchen and his mom was at the island plating his breakfast.
"Morning sweetie, I made you pancakes." She sat the plate in front of him and he smiled. Every Valentine's Day that he remembered his mom made them heart shaped pancakes with a strawberry syrup; unless D.J. was around then she'd settle for maple. His mom always feared that her middle son would come in contact with the strawberry syrup and have an allergic reaction. "Happy Valentine's Day."
"Happy Valentine's Day to you. Where's dad?"
"Ran to the store for a couple cups of coffee and milk." She sat a small red bag beside his plate and went off to do the dishes.
"Thanks mom." He opened his yearly Valentine's gift and his eyes popped open as he pulled out the plastic card, his mom always knew what he really needed. "Are you serious? A credit card."
"You'll be responsible for any bills you run up. If you don't pay it on your own, your allowance will be held until it is paid."
"It's cool. I can handle that."
"You could pick up some shifts at the restaurant. That's how your brother earns his money."
"He doesn't have a life."
"Wyatt." Piper Halliwell said sternly. Wyatt would kill someone else for the very insults that he issued toward his little brother. But she refused to allow him to think it was acceptable.
"I'll let you know when I'm available." Wyatt sneered and shook his head. His mom said she didn't have a favorite son but there were days he wondered.
"Good." She smiled and arranged the other small bag on the corner of the counter, like she expected Chris to pop in any second for his breakfast and Valentine's gift. "I got the beautiful card and necklace from you and your brother."
Wyatt looked over his shoulder and nearly groaned, Chris always left him such a difficult position. Now he'd owe his brother money for half the gift and have to thank him for remembering.
"Chris picked it out, he's..."
"...an excellent shopper." Piper narrowed her eyes at her son who nodded obediently.
"My thoughts exactly."
"What are your plans for the day?"
"Uh, going to go shoot some hoops at the community center, grab a quick shower there, get my hair trimmed, need a new tie, so I thought I'd stop and see if I could find one."
"You didn't look in your closet did you?"
"When?"
"Today?"
"No, should I have?"
"I ironed your suit, new red tie with hearts on it all ready to go. I'd check to make sure your shoes still fit. If not you should run to the store. Break in that new credit card."
"What's my limit?"
"What ever you can afford to pay toward the bill at the end of the month."
"Ah, under a hundred."
"Use the card for dinner tonight."
"You're making me pay for dinner?"
"Oh sweetie I do love you." She walked out chuckling to herself; leaving Wyatt wondering how many shifts it would take to pay off one dinner at Halliwell's.
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Chris Halliwell landed on Park Place and handed money to his grandfather; the banker. He'd still not started the story, but had managed to buy up three properties. D.J. shook his head as he rolled the dice.
"You are one lucky SOB."
"He cheats." Victor said as he looked at his grandson who looked up with a smile.
"Do not. Wyatt cheats. I just so happen to be a really good at games."
"Hmmm..." Victor rolled the dice and moved his token and landed on Chris' property and handed his grandson money. "So, have you decided where to start this story?"
"We tried to get tickets for this one concert here before my accident; back in September I think it was." He looked at D.J. who nodded.
"September." D.J. said as he took a drink from his soda. "We couldn't get tickets, totally sold out."
"Then two weeks ago we heard on the radio that the band was starting its European tour and as a promotion some previously unreleased tickets would be put out for sale." Chris smiled as he landed on a railroad and greedily bought up the property. "So I started surfing and..."
"Surfing?"
"The web, the internet, come on Grandpa, seriously, are you really that old?"
"Go on." Victor looked at Chris with his false annoyed look and Chris smiled.
"Anyway, I was surfing and saw the advertisement about the promotion for the release of their new song. D.J. said I'd never get tickets, you still owe me twenty bucks by the way."
"Tapped, all my cash was spent on the supplies and ice cream."
"We're even then." Chris smiled as he drank the remains of his ice cream out of the container, then moaned. "So good. Uh, so I went to the promotion party and there were so many people there."
"Where was this party?"
"Here in Stockholm."
"Okay."
"So the entire promotion was in preparation for the release of a new song for Valentine's Day. It's about this couple in love who met in line for tickets to a concert."
"Oh."
"Then the guy said that they were looking for strangers who'd be willing to do things for concert tickets. Next thing I knew Katina was grabbing my hand and we were hightailing our way toward the stage. So, we got the tickets and we went our separate ways." Victor chuckled.
"Missed a little something I'm thinking Christopher."
"Something." He smiled wistfully. "We talked for a while, made plans to meet for the concert. Flirted a bit." He shrugged.
"How did I not know you were human?" D.J. asked as he grabbed a handful of Swedish fish.
"Shut up, I swear you tell my brother about Katina and I'll torture you until the end of time. Or there is always a simple spell."
"Don't threaten me. Plus, you know secrets and Wyatt Halliwell are never to meet. He has a hard enough time keeping the big ones let alone the little ones."
"Hmmm." Chris smiled as he rolled again. "Boardwalk. I'll buy it and put a house on each."
"You suck." D.J. sneered.
"So, we were grounded for the little jaunt to the nightclub. Great show though."
"Cute sorority girls." D.J. smiled as he rolled the dice and landed on Community Chest. "Go directly to jail. I hate you."
"Anyway, Wy got wasted trying to out drink some college dude. I orbed him home, mom was in the room and thought we were going to get blasted into infinity. The designated orber thing, didn't work with her, go figure. I thought it was funny."
"Your mother has many wonderful qualities; a sense of humor was never one of them." Victor said as he he rolled the dice.
"Hmmm.... recessive trait. Dad isn't much on it either." Chris took a drink and smiled. "Thinking I inherited my sense of humor from you."
"Sucking up will not stop me from wanting to hear the story."
"Just stating facts. Anyway, so the day mom and dad left we had dates. So, I whipped up a couple spells; and we were off." Chris shrugged. "Where's that pudding?"
"Banana or chocolate?"
"Both."
"Boys?" Victor looked at them. "You are leaving huge gaps in this story.
"Okay, so when I went to the promotion and I was standing in the crowd and saw Katina out of the corner of my eye. Silky blue tank top and these form fitting jeans." Chris sighed and looked up at D.J. who was just shaking his head.
"You have it bad man."
"Shut up." Chris threw the empty ice cream container at D.J.
"You can't even tell the story right. You need to get it together or Wyatt will figure it out on his own."
"Shut up." Chris waved his hand and D.J's drink spilled into his lap, fortunately it was nearly empty anyway.
"That's personal gain, don't even think I'm not telling Wyatt about that."
"Whatever, anyway, we were standing next to each other and then she pulled me through the crowd. Katina answered the questions and looked at me and asked how many tickets I needed. Then we kissed and..."
"Kissed?"
"In order to be given the opportunity to purchase any of the tickets we had to kiss for three minutes per ticket. So she wanted three, I wanted three so for eighteen minutes we kissed."
"You kissed a total stranger for concert tickets?"
"I would have kissed a darklighter for an hour for tickets for that concert. So kissing a pretty little blonde wasn't all that much of a problem. But it was rather awkward." Chris admitted as he landed on Chance.
"See that's the part of the story you left out of the beginning. That's all you had to say Chris." Chris smiled at his grandfather.
"Little distracted."
"Hmm... So you kissed her and...?"
"And we got the opportunity to purchase six tickets that were front row center."
"Wow," Victor whispered and shook his head. "I would have risked being blown up by your mother too."
"Mom wouldn't blow me up, Wy maybe." Chris shrugged and picked up a handful of Swedish fish and smiled as he landed on on the railroad and he let his grandfather keep the money for passing Go.
"So you put a spell on me?"
"No, no, nothing like that." Chris said as he looked at his grandfather. "I cast a spell that would make us appear in our beds all day long. Then I cast a spell that would protect you from any demons."
"Thanks. I think."
"Anyway Katina also bought tickets for two of her friends, one of whom got sick and didn't end up going, but this other girl went."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It will become clear later in the story." D.J. said as he crossed the room and got another soda out of the fridge.
"The real story starts after the concert." Chris said as he caught a soda that D.J. threw at him.
"The real story?"
"The real story."
*****************************************************
Wyatt was shooting hoops with his friend Scott Croy but he had this feeling that he was being watched the entire time. As he leaned over sweat dripping from his forehead when his friend slapped him on the back.
"You forget how to play ball, Halliwell? You're not getting soft on me are you?"
"No, just a little distracted. What are you doing tonight with Sherri?"
"Got her tickets to her favorite band. You? Heard you have a date with the lovely Andrea Payton."
"Ah, dinner at my mom's restaurant." Wyatt said as he tried not to get that silly grin on his face.
"First date on Valentine's Day. Romantic."
"Guess." Wyatt said with a slight smile.
"How's Chris doing?"
"Good. Few headaches, but in overall he's doing good. He's ready to get back into sports though, he's chomping at the bit."
"Pratt saw the creep last week." Scott said as he ran his fingers through his nearly black hair; but his brown eyes were totally directed on his friends face.
"Who?"
"The creep who nearly killed your brother." Wyatt's jaw went rigid and he stood up and grabbed the ball.
"Are we playing or what?" Wyatt bounced the ball and walked toward the net.
"Can't believe you allowed the guy to live after that."
"Shut up Croy. You have no idea what your talking about." Wyatt threw the ball at him and walked toward the showers. "I'm leaving."
"He's proud of himself, ya know. Nearly killed your brother and he's still talking about it, all happy with himself. Acting all tough for a late hit that should have had him tossed from the rest of the season. Now tell me I don't know what I'm talking about."
"I'm done."
"We'll back you Wyatt. Just don't be a wuss." Before he knew it Scott Croy was sprawled on the ground, Wyatt knelt over top of him his arm pulled back to give another punch. Instead he grabbed the front of Scott's T-shirt and pulled Scott toward him.
"If I go near that guy I'm gonna kill him. So it's better to just stay away. Do you understand that?" Wyatt let him go and got up and kicked the wall with force. "Chris is fine. Just drop it." Wyatt walked into the showers and leaned against the wall. He wanted to kill the guy for everything that happened that night. More than anything he wanted that idiot to pay for that late hit on his baby brother. For taking away Chris' sophomore year playing varsity. For taking away his last opportunity to play football with his brother. Especially for all the drama the creep had caused his family. Just the thought of that weekend made Wyatt sick to his stomach. His dad knew what Wyatt wanted to do and had talked to him about it and made Wyatt promise not to go after the kid. Leo Wyatt had reminded his son that the hit was more than likely not the kids fault but magic. But hearing that he was gloating about the hit had anger raging through the teen.
Then the hairs on the back of his neck rose and he looked around with narrowed eyes. Someone or something was irritating him since last night and right now he could have used a good battle with a demon. But there was no one around. So he stripped down and walked into the showers and rubbed his face. Wyatt tried to get back to the mental state he was before Scott had brought up that incident. That day had changed his life, had changed Chris' life. It was the very first time he realized that something not magical could kill his brother. Wyatt got dressed and headed to the barber.
With Scott's words still lingering in the back of his head and the feeling that he was still being watched he was agitated. As he walked into the barber he smiled as the same man who had been there since he was a little kid sat in the same chair in the corner.
"Hey Mr. Meyers, Mr. Hill."
"Wyatt Halliwell, what will it be today?"
"Trim please."
"Where is your brother? I saw him last week and he is in desperate need of a hair cut."
"He's out of town with my grandpa this weekend. I'm sure mom will send him here soon, if she doesn't cut it herself." Wyatt watched the man wince.
"Tell your mother that he is needed here as soon as he has a free moment. Why the boy delays in getting his hair cut is beyond me?" The man went on and on as he trimmed Wyatt's hair. Chris was Mr. Meyers nightmare. His little brother hated to get his hair cut and allowed it to get long and shaggy before he was forced to get it cut. "Are you listening to me?"
"Ah, trying. I'm getting ready for my first date with this girl and I'm pretty excited."
"Oh I see, is she pretty?"
"Very."
"Smart?"
"Yep. She's perfect. Really excited."
"What do you think Bernie?"
"I think little Wyatt could use a shave too." Wyatt looked at the man who sat in the corner and tried to determine if he was kidding, when he saw something in the mirror. But as he turned around whatever it was had disappeared.
"No, I'm good. I have to get going. Have to stop at the florist."
"Okay. Well you are good to go." Mr. Meyers handed him the jar of lollipops and Wyatt smiled as he reached in and pulled out his favorite color.
"Thanks Mr. Meyers. I'll make sure mom doesn't hack Chris' hair again." Wyatt paid the man and left and looked up and down the street. Something was going on, he just didn't know what. But he needed to go check the Book of Shadows, he just didn't know what he was looking for. Getting in his truck he sighed as he knew he needed to get going. He didn't want to be late picking up Andy. With the thought of her name he smiled. Knowing that silly grin was back on his face he pulled out and headed to the florist.
******************************************************
Chris Halliwell grabbed a handful of M&Ms and popped them in his mouth. Victor moaned as he yet again landed on another one of his grandson's properties, now fully equipped with hotels.
"So we were leaving the arena and walked the girls to their cars. It was the polite thing to do and all."
"I'm sure you were thinking about your manners. You forget I've seen Katina." Chris smiled and rolled the dice.
"Well, I said good bye to Katina and D.J. had seriously crashed and burned with his date, Pernilla."
"Pernilla?"
"Swedish name." Chris shrugged and bought the property.
"You set me up with the biggest social outcast in Sweden and you say I crashed and burned? Come on." D.J. mumbled.
"D.J. get over it. You blew it before we even entered the arena."
"How?"
"You started telling her how she reminded you of that Virginia Leith from ‘A Kiss Before Dying’."
"She did!" Chris chuckled and tossed an M&M at D.J.
"I rest my case. I want to buy houses."
"Of course you do. I know you're cheating somehow."
"I don't cheat!" Chris smiled as he gave Victor the money for his houses. "Much."
"So what about your brother?"
"Now he cheats. He can't win unless he cheats."
"Christopher."
"Alright, alright, alright." Chris smiled as he took a drink of water.
"He was making out with his date." Chris sighed. "Should have followed my instincts and none of that stuff that happened would have happened. But I was a little distracted and didn't really worry about Wyatt, he's the most powerful magical being in the world and a real ladies man. But as it turned out my dearest brother was making out with Rebecka, who just happened to be an Enchantress."
"An Enchantress?"
"Yep, then she had Wyatt under her spell and he tried to kill us." D.J. said as he pulled out a bag of potato chips.
"Wyatt tried to kill you? Chris, your brother was under the spell of some sort of enchantress, don't you think that you should have told your mom?"
"Oh sure I would have loved to make that call. 'Hi mom, know how we're supposed to be grounded in our rooms? Well instead we orbed to Sweden and Wyatt was taken by an enchantress.'" Chris said. "No! She'd kill us. Then bring us back and kill us again. She's a little over protective."
"So I've noticed." Victor got up and poured himself a cup of coffee. "So Wyatt tried to kill you?"
"Yep several times actually, and D.J. and I ran for our lives." Chris looked at his grandfather and frowned. "Right before we found out about Wyatt, this car pulled up fully equipped with a several different demons."
"Now that was scary." D.J. said as he shivered.
"You shouldn't have been running yet."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"So now there were demons, an enchantress and Wyatt after you. That it?"
"Darklighters and Manticores as well. Between you and me, I didn't think we were getting out of this one."
"Now you say that? You were all 'we'll be fine, Dee and now..." D.J.
hit him. Chris just smiled and grabbed a cookie.
"You were dramatic enough for the both of us."
"So what happened next?" Victor asked wearily.
"It was chilly, not like now." D.J. said as he handed Chris the bag of chips. "So we were running and running with the whole gang chasing us in a car. Talk about not fair." D.J. sighed.
"So exactly how long did they have your brother under their spell?"
"Oh a bit, but..." Chris started to continue on with his story but was interrupted by his grandfather.
"Stop! How long is a bit?"
"About fourteen hours. Could have been worse." Chris yawned and got up and grabbed a soda.
"Your brother was missing for fourteen hours and you didn't think that maybe someone should have been told?"
"No one could orb, and even if Aunt Paige could have, mom would have murdered us."
"I still reserve the right to kill you all." Chris and D.J. looked at each other and shrugged.
"Want us to go on?"
"Go on."
"So we continued to run for what seemed like forever and as usual D.J. was freaking out. I wasn't doing so well either, I mean my brother was trying to use me as target practice." Chris rolled the dice and smiled happily. "I'll buy that."
"Of course you will." D.J. said as he leaned over the board and examined it.
"Anyway, I needed to figure out why we couldn't orb or shimmer. What I really needed was the Book of Shadows, but if I'd had the Book, I could have called for Aunt Paige. So I needed to get to a library."
"All the books are in Swedish."
"I know, like I was telling D.J., dad said a whitelighter speaks whatever language his charge speaks. Now I didn't have a charge, but I needed to learn to read and speak Swedish, so I just concentrated. Don't get me wrong, the reading Swedish was pretty hard, I speak it better than I read it. But it was an emergency."
"I see that. Impressed."
"Anyway, after we got to the library I did a little research and figured out that we were in a lot of trouble."
"Understatement of the century, nerd."
"Shut up, four eyes." The boys stared at each other trying to decide whether they wanted to fight it out.
"Exactly how did you figure out you were in a lot of trouble?"
"About two years ago I had a class on planetary alignment at Magic School. Interesting stuff."
"Oh yes, of course." Victor nodded and Chris smiled brightly.
"I do pay attention, it's Wyatt who tends to slack off. If the roles had been reversed I'm not sure he would have had a clue. From now on if dad says he thinks that there is a special class he wants me to take I'm taking it. But don't tell dad; that I realized that he's right occasionally." Chris took a drink of soda and sighed. "Or that Wyatt can't figure that stuff out."
"Is it important for him to know this stuff?"
"It was to me." Chris shrugged again. "He's got other things on his mind. But anyway, we got to rest a little bit before they found us and we were running again." Chris frowned as he decided whether to tell his grandfather about the next part. "My leg was really bad off. But I got the worst migraine I've had since December."
"How bad?"
"He passed out on me." D.J. said as he grabbed a handful of cookies.
"You should have told your mom about the migraine." Victor scolded.
"I'm fine. It was just that one time. Anyway, D.J. went off to try and find me Tylenol or something. And I stayed where I was, I was waiting for Wyatt to find me, knew he would. But I got lucky and D.J. returned and he'd somehow gotten Tylenol and a bottle of water."
"So, how long did you sleep? No, more importantly where did you sleep that migraine off."
"Funny you should mention that." D.J. said with a smile.
******************************************************
Wyatt entered the manor and started up the stairs when he heard a noise in the kitchen. His mom should have been at the restaurant. Piper Halliwell decided to work the day shift and then have Valentine's evening off. So he walked through the house and into the kitchen and Melinda stood there eating a heart shaped cookie with hot pink sprinkles.
"What are you doing here?" Wyatt asked as he grabbed a cookie off the plate.
"Mom returned the coffee maker and she's checking the Book of Shadows for something she saw." Melinda shrugged. "A pink rose?"
"I've got a date tonight."
"Who's the unfortunate girl?"
"And the truce has been broken." Wyatt left the kitchen but Melinda dogged his steps.
"Who is she? Does she know that you're all brawn and no brains." Wyatt spun and looked at his younger cousin and had a moment where blowing her up was an option.
"You know the reason why you need to know all about everyone else's life is because you're too pathetic to have one of your own." Wyatt turned and started up the stairs.
"I'm not pathetic you overgrown oaf." She sneered at him.
"Date tonight?"
"No."
"Pathetic."
"Chris doesn't have a date, is he pathetic?"
"Chris is with Grandpa and he's already been on a date this week. So, no you're still the most pathetic person on planet Earth."
"Wait who did he have a date with, how did I not know that?" She chased after Wyatt as he headed toward his room.
"You didn't know because it would be none of your business. Find yourself a boyfriend and stop putting your stubby nose in my private life." Melinda instinctively touched her nose horror shown on her face as she ran for the bathroom to determine whether her nose was indeed stubby.
"I hate you Wyatt Halliwell. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you."
"Mel, stop being so over dramatic." Phoebe Halliwell looked in the bathroom.
"He said I had a stubby nose."
"Your nose is perfect.
"Hey Aunt Phoebe." Wyatt kissed her cheek. "Happy Valentine's Day."
"Getting ready for your date?"
"Yes mam'. I'm ready, just need to get dressed. I wanted to look at the Book for a minute."
"Something going on?"
"Felt like someone was watching me."
"You too?"
"You've had the same feeling?"
"No, your dad said he felt like someone was watching him last night."
"Oh. I remember that now." He nodded and sighed. "You're not gonna tell mom are you? I'm really looking forward to this date Aunt Phoebe."
"No, we'll keep it between the three of us for now." She frowned. "Do you want some help?"
"I'll call if I need a potion or something like that."
"Okay, let's go Angel Heart, we need to get home. The four of us are going to watch romantic comedies tonight."
"Uncle Coop okay? Haven't seen him weeks."
"He's fine, haven't really had time with him myself in weeks. I'm ready for this time of year to be over so I get my husband back." She said as she took a bite out of the cookie Mel was holding.
"I'll meet you in the car. Hope your date sucks." Melinda stuck her tongue out at Wyatt and ran down the stairs. Wyatt resisted the urge to push her telekinetically down the stairs.
"I'll be sure to tell all the guys in the high school that you've got some horrid contagious disease." There was a litany of I hate you Wyatt Halliwell as she ran from the manor. Wyatt smiled smugly and took a bite of his cookie.
"Are you two ever going to stop this battle?"
"No." With that Wyatt ran upstairs and Phoebe just shook her head and headed down to the car.
******************************************************
"Grease?" Victor smiled and counted out the last of the money he had to hand to his grandson who was munching on Oreo cookies.
"It's an excellent movie." D.J. said in all seriousness.
"And Grease 2. He was singing along with the movie and everything, talk about embarrassing. The girls' parts. I mean here he was belting his heart out the lines 'If you really want to know what I want in a guy.' It was humiliating."
"This is the gratitude I get for taking care of you."
"Grease." Victor shook his head as he picked up the Chance card. "Go To Jail. Go Directly To Jail. Cheater."
"I don't cheat without Wyatt. What's the fun in that?"
"So you do cheat!" Victor pointed and Chris smiled that famous smile and got up and grabbed another soda and the bag of potato chips off the counter.
"Anyway, some how Wyatt found us and off we went running again, except this time he sort of caught me in the shoulder."
"Caught you?"
"He blasted me."
"Are you alright?"
"At the time? It hurt like hell." Chris smiled shyly. "But after a while the burning in my lungs hurt worse than the shoulder."
"So what about Wyatt?"
"Oh that's another story entirely."
"While we were running through Stockholm, TB was riding in luxury." D.J. said as he snatched the bag of chips. "Apparently the demon brigade wanted to use Wyatt to kill Chris."
"Let me get this straight, Wyatt was enchanted by some demon and tried to kill you?" Victor looked at his grandson like he had to be lying. "Demons kidnapped your brother and you don't think that is something your mom would want to know."
"No! Mom would lock us away in Magic School. Especially me. I have a life grandpa."
"Yes, I saw that life."
"So after Wyatt blasted me, we slept in a building with ghosts. One of whom had a crush on D.J.?"
"He was telling her something in Swedish and the girl ghost kept coming on to me." He shivered and Chris chuckled. "It's not funny."
"Anyway..." Chris said with a laugh, "we slept a bit and then were ready to leave when I turned and there was Wyatt." Chris smiled brightly. "I win, what game will be next?"
"I hate you." D.J. said as he started putting away the pieces. "Let's play a little Yahtzee."
"Okay." Chris shrugged his shoulders. "As we were running from him I heard something in his voice and turned; he was no longer under the enchantress' spell and healed me. Then we ran a bit and..."
"Then Wyatt got hit by a darklighter's arrow and nearly died." D.J. said.
That thought had Victor frowning. The very thought of his oldest grandchild dying had his stomach turning. But looking at his grandson he knew how hard it had to be on him.
"I saved him though."
"How? You can't heal."
"I called my powers to me, and it worked. No one was more surprised or relieved than I was." Chris decided that changing the subject was imperative. "Then manticores cornered D.J., we got him out of that and I talked some guy into giving us a ride and we ended up at a park the locals call Piper's park."
"You're kidding me?"
"Nope. We ended it there. Ended it and got home just as mom and dad got home."
"You are skipping big pieces."
"Some. But those are the highlights."
"And I bring you back to this place after you almost get killed here." Victor shook his head.
"I actually like this town."
"Of course. Katina."
"Katina." Chris said with a sigh.
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The Virtual Series
The Virtual Series
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Destiny is now...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Your Computer
Karma: 2 | | Re: SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Reply #3 on Mar 16, 2009, 11:37am » | |
Here it is, Chapter Three of Cupid's Chokehold. No action yet, but we're getting there. Hope everyone enjoys.
Chapter Three
Wyatt Halliwell closed the Book of Shadows roughly, sighed heavily and leaned over the podium in utter frustration. If he'd had a clue what he was looking for, it might have been easier, but seeing as he hadn't a clue he decided to put this on hold. With a couple hours before he had to get ready so, all he was thinking about was getting a nap in. Last night not being able to sleep had him on edge; the fight with his friend Scott then the confrontation with Melinda had given him the hint. Neither would have happened if he'd been in a better frame of mind. He smiled, well maybe he always thought of pushing Mel down the stairs, but he'd never come close to acting on it. If he was being honest he missed his brother nearly as much as his mom did. Whenever there were any magical issues throughout the years it had always been the two of them together. Now with it being just him he felt lonely and unsure of himself.
Of course he could orb to Sweden and ask Chris if could help him. But he had the anxiety of if he asked Chris for help, he might figure it out. Normally, having his brother figure out what was going on wouldn't be an issue; that was normally the point, but today he feared he might miss his date with Andy. Sure it was a selfish reason not to want to investigate the situation; but this date was important to him. Did he have to be at magic's beckon call every second of his life?
Though he was feeling slightly guilty, Wyatt jogged down the attic stairs. Just as he entered his room the phone rang, so Wyatt threw himself onto the bed and reached for the telephone.
"Talk to me." Wyatt said casually as he tucked his arm behind his head.
"Hi Wy."
"Hey Cait, what can I do for you?"
"Did you want to go down to Ernie's for a soda?"
"Ah, I didn't get much sleep last night, I was getting ready to catch a nap." Just on cue Wyatt yawned.
"Oh. Okay, maybe I'll see you tomorrow then." Wyatt heard the disappointment in her voice. Wyatt shook his head, she would make a great mom someday with her ability to make you feel guilty for no reason.
"Why not, I'll pick you up in ten minutes."
"Are you sure? If you're tired I can call tomorrow."
"It's all good Cait. Be there in ten."
"Okay, see you then."
Wyatt hung up the phone and stared at the stars on the ceiling. There was no way he could say no to Caitlin, she was one of his dearest friends. He'd really never could deny Cait anything. She was the reason he joined the paper; he hadn't wanted or needed another activity in his life, but she batted her eyes and said please, in a real girlie voice and he was sunk. Now he couldn't imagine his life without writing for a paper; he owed her big for that. There was also the fact that he'd just figured out that she had a crush on him. It was weird thinking that she thought of him that way. What was he supposed to do with this knowledge now? Maybe it would have been easier if he'd just remained clueless.
Wyatt got up and reached into his desk drawer and pocketed a small envelope and left his room. Pounding down the steps he was met by his mother with her arms folded over her chest; her chocolate eyes were narrowed as she stared at him.
"Hi mom."
"How many times have I told you not to run down the steps? You are eighteen years old Wyatt Matthew. At eighteen you'd think I shouldn't have to tell you not to run down the stairs!" She watched Wyatt wince and felt satisfied that she'd intimidated her son enough.
"Geez mom. I'm sorry." He stared at the floor like he always did when his mom was yelling at him. "Cait called and wants to go have a soda. Didn't think, just have to pick her up in ten minutes." He looked at the wrist his watch was usually was on and frowned. "You seen my watch?"
"I'm not in charge of keeping track of your stuff. Responsibility Wyatt." Piper looked at her oldest son and sighed, he would always be just a little irresponsible like Chris would always be a little devious. They were her sons, they had many gifts magical and non that made her extremely proud. Sure they had a great destiny ahead of them; but it was their flaws that reminded her that they were just like everyone else.
"I thought I remembered putting it on this morning. Maybe it dropped off my wrist while I was out today?"
"Try cleaning that sty of yours and you may be able to find your things occasionally."
"It's not that bad mom. I cleaned it yesterday."
"Hmmm..." She made a mental note to search his room for the expensive watch that he'd lost. She'd warned her father not to buy him anything too expensive, but did the man listen? Her father was just as bad as the other three men in her life; none of them listened to anything she said, ever. She'd run up while he was gone and search the trash heap that was her son's room. "Two dates in one day, you're a busy boy."
"It's not a date. It's Caitlin, mom." Wyatt grabbed his keys off the table and sighed. "Wait, did you know she has a crush on me?"
Piper Halliwell raised her eyebrow and a smile graced her face. There were moments that she looked at Wyatt and saw the man that he would be. Then he said stuff like that and she saw her little boy. The teen could point out details nearly as well as his brother, but when they had the neon blinking sign around them he was as clueless as could be. The obvious just dumbfounded him. Stepping forward she pulled her sons face down and kissed his forehead.
"Oh baby, you are so..." She just chuckled and walked toward the kitchen. Oblivious, she thought with a huge grin.
"So what?"
"Cute." Piper said as she picked up the laundry basket that sat by the kitchen door.
"Cute?"
"You better go pick up Caitlin. You know she hates when people are late." Wyatt looked at the grandfather clock and frowned at his mother.
"You knew?"
"Everyone knows baby." She disappeared through the kitchen doors and Wyatt shook his head. How long had Chris said Cait had liked him? Wyatt looked at the kitchen door and started to go after his mother; what was he missing that everyone else saw? Just then the clock started to chime. Wyatt sighed; he'd think of this another time. The last thing he needed was a lecture from Caitlin Sweeney on the importance of being on time; been there done that.
******************************************************
The room was dark and quiet save for the slight noises as Chris leaned over to tied his tennis shoes. With his grandfather and D.J. finally asleep he figured this was the perfect time to hit the streets and see if he could find something out about the Cupid. Looking out the window Chris sighed. It was going to really cold out there and made a mental note to thank his mom for buying him a warm winter coat for the trip. Grabbing his jacket, scarf and gloves, Chris opened the bedroom door allowing the light from the main room to fill the darkened bedroom.
"Going somewhere?" D.J. asked as he sat up, he looked annoyed that his sleep was interrupted.
"I want to go check out something."
"Chris, may I be the one to remind you that your powers are not functioning? You asked me to come with you to look after you just in case of demon attack. I can't do that if your wandering around Stockholm, now get back to bed." D.J. laid his bed on the fluffy pillow praying that he'd get back into bed.
"There is some sort of rogue Cupid who is not spreading love around Stockholm, D.J. I can't do nothing. I'll be fine. It's a Cupid not a demon, don't worry about me."
"Chris we just told your grandfather about last weekend. Does that ring a bell? Demons, manticores, darklighters? Anything? No, well we almost died! Go back to bed." D.J. said with a scowl then pulled the blanket up.
"You are really getting way too overdramatic. Maybe you're spending too much time in drama world; the drama club is not reality Dee. Plus, the demon brigade was out for a common purpose, they won't be out this weekend. Go back to sleep, I'll be back before you know it."
"Aren't you tired?" D.J. asked as he held the blanket tightly with the sense of dread growing in his stomach.
"No, not really."
"We went to school, then straight here for a full day of sight seeing. I know you didn't sleep much the day before, or the day before that. You need to sleep Chris."
"I need to find out what is going on with that Cupid. Sleep will wait." Chris leaned against the door and sighed. "Besides, sleeping isn't always good for me. I slip into the World of Dreams and with my powers screwed up who knows what will happen?"
"Crap, why didn't you just say that to start with?" D.J. threw off the blanket, got up and grabbed his jeans. Somehow he knew he was going out into the streets of Stockholm again.
"What are you doing?"
"Well if you're heading out into the night, I'm not going to let you go out there alone. You asked me to come to keep an eye on you just in case of emergency. Well, how can I do that if you're out there while I'm asleep?"
"Sorry." Chris did feel bad. Normally, he wouldn't be concerned about acting alone, but right now who knew what could happen. Going out into the streets wasn't his best idea, but he knew he had to.
"Shut up." D.J. pulled on a T-shirt then a sweater. "You're lucky I don't need a lot of sleep. Some would be helpful, but I can do without it for a time."
"Wy's the sleeper." Chris nodded as he put the red fabric around his neck.
"What about your grandfather?"
"He'll sleep. We'll be back in no time. How hard can it be to find a rogue Cupid in Stockholm?"
"Demons sure found us all over town last weekend."
"True enough."
"Will your grandfather tell your mom about last weekend?" D.J. asked as he zipped his heavy winter coat.
"No, grandpa knows mom too well. He knows we need to stretch our legs. How can we take over the family business if we can't fight a demon or two occasionally? While mom would rather we not even know she vanquished a demon at any point in time. I'm sure if she had her choice we wouldn't even have our powers at all. The older we get the antsier she's getting about us fighting demons."
"She's worried you guys are going to run out of luck. Plus, you're missing a key element that kept your mom and aunts alive most of the time."
"What's that?"
"The Power of Three."
"Hmmm.... That's so old news. Wy and I do just fine. And we have you." D.J. mumbled something that Chris didn't catch, but right now he really didn't care, he'd deal with D.J.'s neurosis later. "Like I said before the Power of Two will have to do."
"Right now you're being the Power of One, which for me is no fun. If we don't find anything we come back and try to sleep." D.J. said as a fact rather than the question it should have been.
"Yep, if we don't find anything we'll come back to the apartment."
"Let's go."
"Ssh. Let's not wake grandpa or he'll be unhappy."
"Right, don't want to make grandpa unhappy." They tip-toed past Victor's bedroom and left the apartment and into the streets of the city.
******************************************************
Victor Bennett heard the apartment door open and sighed wearily as he got up and hurried to the window. Outside his grandson and his friend went out into the cold night. Frowning he knew he had several options. He could call Wyatt and have him track down his younger brother and friend, but that would interrupt Wyatt's Valentine's Day plans. He could call his pseudo daughter Paige, but she too probably had plans and would spill to Piper which would get Chris in trouble. He could follow the teens into the streets of Stockholm and see what trouble they were up to. Victor heard the wind blow and he shivered. That wasn't the option he was going to choose. The last option would be to let the teens go on their adventure and wait for them to return. Victor yawned and went back to his bed and decided to wait for them to return.
******************************************************
Wyatt held the door open for Cait as they arrived at Ernie's. She smiled and slid into the booth in the corner. Since they were kids the two of them had come here, usually they were accompanied by various people. But today it was just them.
"Wy, Cait, what can I get for you today?"
"Hey Mike what's up, man?"
"Same old, same old." Mike said with a smile as he Wyatt pounded fists.
"Centuries of evolution and men still greet each other with such barbaric rituals." Cait said snottily. Both Wyatt and Mike looked at each other, then quickly away. "I'll have a plain hamburger, fries no salt and a diet Pepsi." Caitlin said as she looked up at their friend Mike.
"Just fries and a Pepsi." Mike walked off and Wyatt looked at his friend. "A plain hamburger? No salt on your fries and a diet Pepsi? Who are you and what have you done with Caitlin Sweeney?"
"I'm dieting."
"Dieting? Why? You look fine to me." Wyatt looked her over and frowned, she was beautiful with a thin frame, where exactly was she planning on losing weight from?
"Thank you, but obviously I'm far from fine."
"Why?"
"No date for Valentine's Day. Obviously something is wrong with me."
"There is nothing wrong with you. You're beautiful Cait and if the slugs at school don't realize it it's their loss."
"Oh Wyatt, you are so..."
"Cute?" Cait scowled at him and threw a handful of sugar packets at him and folded her arms over her chest. Wyatt had a flash back of his mother just a brief half hour earlier.
"Annoying was the word I was going to use."
"I'm annoying? All I said was that...."
"You are digging your own grave Halliwell." Mike said to him as he sat Cait's drink in front of her then put Wyatt's in front of him. Wyatt looked after his friend as he thought about Mike's statement.
"Is this about me taking Andy out?"
"No, not at all." She said coldly. "What time are you picking little Miss Perfect up?"
"Caitlin." Wyatt said her name with a groan as Mike sat his fries in front of him.
"What time?" Cait smiled as Mike sat her burger and fries in front of her. "Thanks Mike."
"Anything for you Cait."
"Thanks." She smiled as Mike went back to work.
"Time?" Cait asked as she bit into her burger.
"Six."
"Oh. Then I guess I shouldn't have interrupted you."
"No interruption. I was just gonna take a nap. Couldn't sleep last night."
"Bad dreams?"
"Not really. Just couldn't sleep. But I did finish the article on Science clubs new advisor."
"Really? It's not do until next week." Wyatt shrugged.
"I was awake."
"I finished the article on the singing telegrams last night."
"A lot of work was done last night." Wyatt smiled as Caitlin handed him a pack of pictures. "What's this?"
"The photos from the singing telegrams. Chris is really talented." Wyatt opened the pack and the first thing he saw was the picture of Andy kissing Jack's cheek. Wyatt looked up with a sneer.
"For the love of heaven, Cait. You and Chris really should get together."
"What? Just pointing out little Miss Look At Me isn't good enough for you Wyatt." Wyatt sighed heavily.
"You and my little brother can say what you want but Andy is a nice person and she's not two timing me with Hanson."
"Okay." She shrugged. "I brought you something else. Happy Valentine's Day, Wyatt." She slid a small metal tin across the table and Wyatt smiled. She'd done this since they were in elementary school; he had no idea where she found the small metal tin. This year the metal tin was bright red with burgundy hearts, a piece of gold tissue paper surrounded the chocolate heart inside. Wyatt smiled as he looked up at Cait, he'd kept each and every one since she'd started giving then to him when they were kids. Wyatt pulled the small envelope out of his pocket. Her eyes sparkled as she opened the envelope and Wyatt no longer worried about getting that nap in; he knew this was exactly where he was supposed to be.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Cait."
******************************************************
"I hate you." D.J. mumbled as he kept his head down as the wind blew against the teens.
"You could go back and I'll find my way back when I'm done." Chris was annoyed. This was the sixth time they'd had this very conversation within two blocks. If his powers were operating correctly D.J. would have been in his pocket a block ago. Chris chuckled as he kept his head down.
"Do you have a plan on how we're going to find this Cupid, boy genius? Or are you just planning on wandering at will while we freeze to death?"
"D.J. you are the luckiest person on the planet."
"Why?"
"Because my powers aren't functioning!" Chris snapped as he contemplated how to find the Cupid. He hadn't been looking for the Cupid, instead it seemed the Cupid just appeared where he was. How do you find a Cupid? "It's late, I mean almost morning late, so maybe a club? Couples go to clubs right?"
"Or back to the movie theater."
"Good idea." Chris nodded as he scanned the streets looking for some signs of life.
"Chris!" D.J. grabbed his arm and pointed up the block at a couple arguing.
"You may have just redeemed yourself Dee." Chris walked forward and looked around the area and saw the Cupid, he was young, dark hair and looked angry. Chris frowned as he started toward the Cupid when he looked directly into Chris' eyes and then disappeared into a tornado of hearts. "Damn it." Chris mumbled as they watched the couple who were at each others throats.
"What about them?"
"Do you want to try to pry them apart? It's like Craig Jansen and Cree Thompson all over again. Geez." Chris walked down the street toward a well lighted street.
D.J. nodded, he'd been there that day that star soccer forward and his track star girlfriend had gotten into it in the hallway. In the end Cree had ripped a hunk of hair out the Craig's head and Craig had given her a black eye. Which was nothing compared to what happened to poor Craig when Cree's college football defensive back big brother came looking for him. D.J winced as he ran to catch up to Chris as he looked at the couple. No, that was for a someone else to break up.
******************************************************
Flashback
D.J. Anderson walked down the crowded school hallway with Wyatt Halliwell. Despite how crowded it was as Wyatt approached the crowds parted to give him room. They were discussing their assignment for English class when they saw Chris leaning on his crutches surrounded by other people. D.J. looked through the crowd and saw Craig Jansen punch his girlfriend Cree Thompson right in the face. D.J. winced but was more than a little shocked when Cree didn't cry, but jumped up and leapt at Craig and started punching him as well.
"What the hell happened?" Wyatt himself winced as he watched Cree rip a huge hunk of hair out of Craig's head.
"Cree was walking out of the activities office when she saw Craig kissing Diana Princeton and it's been all out war ever since. Mr. Freeman went down during the first round." Chris explained as he nodded toward the teacher who was being tended to by a concerned student. Then the couple plowed into the crowd; the only reason Chris remained standing was Wyatt held him up. "Thanks."
"You okay?"
"Yep. Better than Craig."
"What is going on here?" Mrs. Leadbetter asked as Craig pulled his arm back and smacked the woman and sent her sprawling onto the floor.
"Oh crap." D.J. said as he moved to Wyatt's other side.
"This can't be good." Chris said as Cree grabbed a back pack and hit it over Craig's head.
"Hmmm...." Wyatt made the sound before Mr. Shoemaker came over and helped the principal up.
"I want those two in my office. Now!!!!!"
D.J. made a slight sound as Mrs. Leadbetter's gaze fell on him.
"Disperse immediately or you'll all be in detention until your children graduate this school." The students all disappeared like rats leaving a burning ship.
"Wy?" Chris asked as they moved down the hallways. "What's the punishment for knocking the principal to the ground?"
"Not sure we want to know that answer."
"Let's get out of here before she sees us again." D.J. shuddered as he turned to see the principal all but throwing Craig into her office. "I have no intention of spending the rest of the year in detention."
******************************************************
D.J. looked back at the feuding couple and shivered. Craig and Cree were going to be doing cyber school for the rest of the school year. D.J. looked at Chris who looked like a man on a mission.
"He looked right at you." D.J. said as he caught up to Chris keeping his head buried in his scarf.
"Noticed."
"He looked angry."
"An angry Cupid. Demons driving around in a luxury car. A gatekeeper using detention as his home base. What next?"
"Don't ask that question. Whenever you ask that question there is always something else."
Chris smiled to himself as he looked over at D.J. He was right. There was always something else. It kept life interesting. What did normal people do to occupy themselves? He was about to say something but he glanced up ahead and saw the flurry of hearts. "We're on again."
"Let's just get this done and get back to bed. I'm freezing." D.J. said as he followed Chris down the snowy streets.
******************************************************
Piper Halliwell took the garbage out; three men living in her house and still she was relegated to taking out the trash. She'd no sooner put the bag in the can than she felt that someone was behind her. Piper turned quickly around but there was no one there. Narrowing her eyes she looked around the area and still found no one.
"Piper?" Piper nearly groaned as her next door neighbor waved her down. "Yo-hoo Piper!!!" The woman jumped up on her toes and waved her hand fervently.
"Hi Mrs. O'Brien." Piper hated each man in her home at this very moment.
"You know I'm not one to put my nose into anyone else's business." Piper nearly rolled her eyes; Mrs. Carla O'Brien was just the person to put her nose into everyone's business. "But I was at the market and saw your oldest boy Wyatt and that Sweeney girl entering the hamburger place that the kids frequent."
"I know he's there. He told me he and Caitlin were going there."
"Oh good. You have such good boys." Piper nearly snorted in the woman's face. At least once a month good old Carla was at her door complaining about something that her boys had done. Last month Chris supposedly broke an ugly planter that sat on their walkway. "Well there was a man standing outside the pharmacy watching them. I sat there in my car watching the man for a few minutes, but he left suddenly. I just thought you should know. Don't know who the man was, gave me the willies."
"Thank you Mrs. O'Brien, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for whomever it was." Piper tried to retreat into the house.
"You know, I saw these really odd blue lights in your upstairs window the other night."
"Chris had a science project he was working on." Piper made a mental note to purchase some dark draperies for that side of the house. "I have to run, Leo and I are going out for Valentine's Day."
"Where is your Chris?"
"Chris is at his grandfather's this weekend."
"Oh... I noticed he wasn't limping any longer."
"He's got a great physical therapist." Piper smiled politely and tried to retreat.
"There he is, that man that I saw outside the pharmacy." Piper stepped forward and looked toward the street and eyed the man who was leaning against the wall across the street. He spotted the women and left quickly. "Who do you think he is?"
"I'm not sure, maybe we should alert the neighborhood watch." Piper was concerned, if the person was watching Wyatt now the manor, maybe this was the person Phoebe saw from the toy store.
"I'll call them right away. Have fun tonight." Piper retreated into the manor and grabbed the phone. "Pheebs, I think I saw our toy store guy."
******************************************************
Andrea Payton lay on her bed in her pink fluffy robe that she'd put on after her shower. She was staring at her year book from last year; but more importantly she was staring at the photograph of Wyatt Halliwell. Last year at this time she'd never even fathomed to think that she'd be going on a date with the most popular guy in school. But since October she'd begun thinking of Wyatt more and more. They'd met for coffee a few times, but had never been out on a date. Her whole body quivered at the thought.
This day had to go perfectly or her entire life was over. What could be worse than having a horrid first date with the most gorgeous guy at school. No, if it didn't go well she might as well pack her bags and go live with her Aunt Ida in Kansas. With the tip of her finger she touched her lips then put the finger over Wyatt's lips on the glossy paper.
Her mind was racing a hundred miles an hour as she thought about everything that was going to happen tonight. But she closed the book and looked at the eight dresses hanging so she could see them all perfectly. Which dress would she wear? Which shoes? How would she do her hair? Would he kiss her with those amazing lips?
There was a crash downstairs and Andy frowned. Pushing her pedicured feet into her slippers she left her room still pondering all those thoughts.
******************************************************
Wyatt looked at Cait as she ate her plain hamburger with as much vigor as she did her usual; which included more toppings than burger. Why didn't the guys at school ask her out?
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Thought about going to see my grandpa. Chris and D.J. are spending the weekend with him and I'm not sure I like being out of the loop."
"You think Mr. Bennett will really like Chris more than you just because you aren't attending the festivities?" She giggled and popped a fry into her mouth.
"I think he'll like D.J. more than me."
"That's possible." She smiled. "How is your grandfather? I sent him a thank you note for the sponsorship of the newspaper."
"I know, he said that someday you are going to be an amazing business woman."
"Now I need to send him another thank you note." She blushed and started to make mental notes of the what she wanted to tell him."
"That's not necessary. But he likes you a lot."
"He's a very handsome man, why isn't he married?"
"He's married to his work. Said he tried the love thing. Didn't work out. So now it's work and us."
"Watch out Wyatt Halliwell, I just may start dating your grandfather."
"That's gross."
"I like older men."
"Changing the subject so I don't have nightmares. Chris, D.J. and I were talking about going to see Night. Interested?"
"Where are they playing?" Cait dropped what was left of her burger her eyes the size of half dollars and she was bouncing in her seat.
"In town." Wyatt said casually as he finished his soda.
"Yes, yes, yes. When? Where? How did I not know?"
"In that order or do you just want me to randomly answer them?"
"You bought my ticket already didn't you?" Caitlin asked him ignoring the humor in his voice.
"Why do you always insult me? Of course I did. When we heard they were coming we bought eight tickets. For those we knew would appreciate the band. You of course, Hayden..." She wrinkled her nose and Wyatt smiled, "...Casp, Ally and Chris suggested we invite Jason, he likes them and just broke up with Brooke."
"Again."
"Again."
"This is why I love you Wyatt Halliwell." she got up and hugged him around the neck. "Let's go, we have to get going. You have a date to prepare for and I have to go home and decide what I'll wear to the concert."
"It's two weeks away."
"Let's go!!!" She hurried to his truck like she had twenty minutes to get ready instead of two weeks.
"Mike what do I owe ya?"
"Cait paid earlier. Said it was her Valentine treat for you." Wyatt all but groaned. She beeped the horn multiple times and Wyatt looked at Mike and shook his head. "See you Tuesday man."
******************************************************
Chris kept his eyes on the Cupid and watched his actions. The said Cupid was lingering across the street from an alley way. But what surprised Chris was at the moment he didn't see any of the anger that they had seen in his eyes just a few moments ago. Instead what Chris noticed was hope and excitement. The moment the Cupid saw Chris he looked frustrated but disappeared.
"Why is he running from you?" D.J. asked as he looked up and got a face full of snow.
"Not sure. But he didn't look angry this time. Did you see him?"
"I keep getting this blasted snow in my eyes. My glasses are fogged, I'm freezing to death and I'm getting hungry again." Chris stopped and looked back at the older teen.
"Is there ever a time when you won't be hungry, D.J.? We just had dinner and devoured so much junk food that you shouldn't be hungry for a week."
"I'm a growing boy."
"You're unbelievable." Chris walked up to the alleyway and looked down the dark corridor. His eyes opened wide, he blushed furiously and turned quickly. "Sorry, so sorry."
"What are..." D.J. stopped his statement as he too looked down the alleyway. "Oh wow."
"Gå bort." The man screamed as he looked up at D.J. who was still staring.
"You cuties want to join in?" The woman asked in a heavily accented breathy voice as she looked at D.J. and Chris' back.
"Ledsen , Jag er så ledsen. Sorry, we didn't mean to interrupt, carry on. Ledsen." Chris pulled D.J. down the street, he was still blushing as they got to one of the bridges.
"Well that was awkward." D.J. said with a smile. Chris was still blushing as he sat on a snowy bench. "Did you learn something tonight Christopher?"
"Yes, I learned that you're a voyeur; how could you continue to stare when they were obviously..." Chris hesitated as he searched for a word, "...busy."
"I was just stunned. I figured it was way too cold for that kind of activity. What exactly were you saying to them in Swedish?"
"I was apologizing for interrupting them."
"You are such a prude."
"I'm not a prude, I just don't like interrupting people when they were obviously other wise occupied." D.J. chuckled and looked back down the street with a smile. "Okay back to the task at hand." Chris shook his head and looked at D.J.
"The highlight is that they weren't fighting. Maybe the Cupid got his groove back."
"D.J. are you kidding me?"
"About what?"
"The Cupid couldn't do anything to them."
"Why?"
"It wasn't about love."
"What?"
"It was about sex Dee, not love. Therefore the couple wasn't in love and therefore he couldn't make them fight."
"Wait, but they were..."
"How are you going to survive outside of high school D.J.? Sex does not equal love, it equals lust. Now I need to rethink this whole scenario. Maybe I'm going about this whole thing wrong."
"I'm insulted."
"Whatever." Chris got up and walked across the bridge. D.J. knew that walk, Chris was on a mission. This couldn't be good.
"What do you mean you think you got this whole thing wrong, what were you thinking?"
"I was originally thinking that he was turned evil and trying to make people fight. But I think something went wrong, he wants to make people fall in love and each time he tries just the opposite happens."
"I'm confused."
"When he was watching the couple, he looked hopeful almost excited. He thought he'd got his powers back."
"You mean his powers are wonky like yours?"
"Hmmm.... possibly. I'd really like to talk to him."
"To talk to him, you'd actually have to get him to stop running away from you."
"I know."
"So what's your plan?"
"Plan A is to trick him into talking to me."
"Plan B?"
"Uncle Coop."
"Uncle Coop?"
"Yes, I've got an ace in the hole there. If all goes wrong, I call Uncle Coop and ask for assistance."
"And if he tells your mom?"
"He won't."
"How do you know he won't?"
"Secrets D.J. I save secrets for the perfect occasions. He owes me one." Chris said with a smile.
"Do tell."
"It's my secret, get your own."
"Come on Chris, is it a girl? Does your Uncle Coop got a girl on the side?" Chris just looked at D.J. with exasperation.
"Okay, I'm going to say this as clearly as possible. You and Wyatt need to get a room." Chris shook his head. There were moments when Chris wondered how D.J. and Wyatt remained friends over the years, then there were moments like this when he knew exactly why there were friends. "You two are just unbelievable."
"Now I know I'm confused."
"So we're back to business as usual."
"I really do hate you." D.J. scowled as he followed the younger teen across the bridge.
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The Virtual Series
The Virtual Series
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Destiny is now...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Your Computer
Karma: 2 | | Re: SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Reply #4 on Apr 30, 2009, 5:53pm » | |
Chapter Four
Victor Bennett's eyes opened wide as the fierce wind rattled the windows of the apartment. He rubbed his eyes and looked over at the clock and he got up grabbing his robe. The boys had been out on their little outing for well over an hour; that was if they hadn't returned after he'd fallen asleep.
As he tied the gray and black robe around him he smiled; it would always be a reminder of his beloved grandchildren. The robe was a gift from all eight of them and had been a Christmas present. And according to Melinda it was highly fashionable. The gray robe was well tailored with a black satin collar, pocket and belt. It was undoubtedly chosen by Melinda and Christopher; both were born with excellent taste.
With his grandchildren in his mind he was smiling as he walked down the hallway and opened the bedroom door. Victor frowned as he discovered the room still empty.
"Christopher!" Victor said loudly.
When Chris didn't orb in Victor sighed. Of course, the boy's powers were on the blink. Even if he did hear his grandfather chances that he could orb were slim."I know you can hear me Christopher and I know D.J. can shimmer." When the boys didn't return he sighed. "Okay Chris have your little adventure; but just remember you have to come back eventually and when you do you're in a lot of trouble." Victor headed for the kitchenette and decided to wait for them over a cup of coffee.
******************************************************
"He was right across the street and according to Carla O'Brien and he was watching Wyatt downtown." Piper said to both of her sisters.
Phoebe and Paige were both watching the eldest Halliwell search anxiously through the Book of Shadows.
"So, dark hair, tall, devious looking but a little sexy too?" Phoebe asked as her older sister looked up from the Book into her brown eyes. Piper had her lips pursed in one of those expressions and lifted a finger to point at Phoebe. "I'm married not dead, Piper. He was hot. Scary looking, but oh so hot."
"How did you end up with a Cupid when you were always into bad boys?" Piper asked as she sighed heavily. Nothing. The Book had nothing. And there was no spiritual help to flip the pages miraculously to what she needed.
"Piper we have to leave in a half hour and you're not even dressed." Leo said from the doorway.
"Leo," she said in exasperation, "There is someone following your son, our son. I think that is a little more important than our Valentine's date."
"And while I agree. It's not just a date, but a charity event," Leo gently reminded, "And one that you helped set up."
"We'll look into it tomorrow Piper." Paige said with a supportive smile. "I have a date to get ready for myself."
"A date?"
"Who is sitting the kids?" Phoebe asked.
"The five of us are all going out. But Henry insisted I be ready to leave at six. I'm not entirely sure why? Man has no concept of time, but all of the sudden decides we have to leave at six. On the dot." Paige shrugged.
"Maybe it's a surprise." Phoebe smiled and pushed off of the battered old couch. "I have to get back home too. Mel has threatened to kill her sisters if I'm not back within the hour. With Penny acting up this week, she may follow through."
"We'll be over for brunch tomorrow since today was a no go." Paige smiled and grabbed Phoebe's hand.
"Have fun you two." Phoebe told her sister and brother-in-law with a devilish smile. In a twinkle of lights Paige orbed them both away.
"I don't like this Leo," Piper said as she closed the cover on the Book of Shadows.
"Me neither. But hopefully it will hold until tomorrow when everyone can be here for more than twenty minutes." He smiled as he moved behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her. "Besides, we have a date to go on." He kissed her neck and she smiled up at him.
"Fine." She looked at the Book of Shadows one last time, then allowed her husband to guide her from the room.
******************************************************
Wyatt walked back into the manor and immediately glanced at the grandfather clock. He had about an hour before he had to leave, so he jogged up the stairs. His mom was coming out of her room dressed for her date. She was still putting on her earrings when she stopped and looked at her son.
"Wyatt, if you need anything you come to the hotel."
"Mom, I'm going on a date. It's doubtful that I'll need you for anything." He reached a hand out to touch the necklace she was wearing and smiled. It was the one Chris had bought for her as a Valentine's gift from the two of them. As always his brother knew exactly what would look spectacular on his mother. "Besides, you and Dad need a night to enjoy each other's company too."
He let his hand drop and then tucked both hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"Mrs. O'Brien said she saw someone watching you at the restaurant today. Then, when I was taking out the trash Mrs. O'Brien pointed him out to me. He was watching the manor." Piper said as she watched her son's face. He'd always been the one she was able to read. When confusion was all that she saw reflected in his eyes, she was relieved. She'd feared he'd been up to something.
"Oh, yeah? What does he look like? Not sure I like that I didn't notice someone watching me."
"Tall, dark hair, I'd say he looks dangerous, but not necessarily demonic. Your Aunt Phoebe thinks it might be the same guy she saw the other day at the toy store."
"I'll keep an eye out for him. But I can't say I remember specifically seeing anyone like that."
"Piper!" Leo's voice called out.
"Coming," Piper called back. She lifted a hand to pat Wyatt's cheek.
Wyatt leaned down and kissed her cheek in return, "You look beautiful mom."
"Always the charmer. Have fun tonight," Piper said as she started down the stairs. She stopped part way, turned around and pointed a finger at her eldest son, "No sex."
"Sex on the first date? Not likely."
Piper glared at her son.
"Second date is pushing it, maybe the third." Wyatt said, rubbing his chin as if he were considering it. Piper got ready to say something to him then shut her mouth and hurried down the stairs. She knew her son was just playing her, but now she'd been thinking about it all night.
Wyatt chuckled as he walked into his room and started to get ready for his date. He'd given his mom something to worry about that was perfectly normal.
******************************************************
D.J. Anderson ducked into the movie theater as Chris waited for the Cupid to make an appearance. It was warm, and movie or not; that was D.J.'s first need at the moment. The wind was whipping and even Chris had to admit that they needed to get out of the cold.
"We could be back at the apartment warm and asleep Chris. This isn't working. Why don't you call your Uncle Coop, tell him, and leave it to the experts?"
"D.J. please, I'm cold and I'm trying to think." The dark haired witchlighter rubbed his hands together and held them to his lips to breathe into them.
"Cold? I'm freezing. I can't feel my fingers and I'm in a movie theater and I'm not interested in the movie. What does that say to you?"
"That you've already seen this movie once today?"
"It means it's time to go to the apartment, take a hot shower, get under the blankets and stay there for at least five hours." D.J. said soberly.
"Go." Chris barked as he got up and walked back to the window to look for the renegade cupid.
"Can I use the bathroom before we leave again?" D.J. asked Chris sadly. He wasn't going to leave Chris alone and the both of them knew it.
"Feel free." Chris watched D.J. with an amused grin. Some days D.J. was so unbelievably pathetic, but at least a little sympathy for the other boy snuck its way into Chris's expression.
D.J. was still trying to warm up. He let out a contended sigh when he turned on the hot water to wash his hands. When he looked up into the mirror and nearly jumped out of his skin at the reflection in the bathroom mirror. The Cupid standing behind him; his blue eyes blazing.
"Uh, hi." D.J. turned slowly to stare into those crystal blue eyes of the dark haired cupid.
"Why are you chasing me, demon?" the cupid demanded.
"Demon? Over dramatic much? We're trying to help you man. Go talk to my friend, he's determined to find you and help you."
"I don't need help," the Cupid said with a growl that had D.J. jumping. "Tell him to leave me alone."
"His uncle is a Cupid. He could call his uncle and...." The half-manticore continued as his voice cracked.
"You tell him to leave me alone... or else." The Cupid disappeared with a last sneering glare at the young half-manticore.
D.J. turned back and looked into mirror. This just wasn't his day. Who gets threatened by a Cupid? What exactly could Cupid's do to you if they were angry at you? D.J. splashed some warm water on his face as he pondered those questions.
The door opened and D.J. jumped, spinning and putting his fists up awkwardly.
"Dee, you ready?" Chris asked. He cleared his throat, taking one look at his friend who was slightly pale and lowering his balled up fists. "Uh... You okay?"
"Your Cupid buddy was just here," D.J. said, putting his glasses back on. A little water dripped off the tip of his nose and he reached for some paper towels.
"What? He was in here and I missed him?" Chris asked, sounding disappointed. "What did he say?"
"Called me a demon," the other boy said as he dried his face.
"You're only half-demon. You'd think a cupid would know the difference." Chris said with smile.
"Not funny. He said to stop chasing him, because he doesn't need or want our help."
"Hmmm..." Chris looked at D.J. "That sucks for him then, doesn't it?"
"He said 'or else' Chris. What does 'or else' mean for a Cupid?"
"Not sure. I'm not too concerned about his threat, just what happened to his powers. You may be right Dee. Maybe something damaged his powers just like me. What if the situation is connected? I mean what are the odds of two different magical beings having both of their powers on the blink at the same time?"
"But yours are wonky because of what happened the other day with the Vi--vra--those 'V' guys." He said in utter frustration.
"Did he mention how long his have been out for?"
"No. We weren't exactly sitting down for tea and biscuits," D.J. snapped, "I did mention your uncle the cupid and he really wasn't interested in help. It's more like he was pissed and telling me to back off. Which, I'm more than happy to do for him."
"I'm not. Let's go," Chris pushed out of the bathroom and was on his way through the movie theater lobby before his friend could get another word in edge-wise.
"Chris...." D.J. whined. He stood for a moment, eying the bathroom door. One longing look was cast back at the sink with fond thoughts of the warm water, and he hustled to catch up with his friend. Chris was already stepping back out into the streets.
"I'm gonna turn into a D.J.-cicle." D.J. mumbled as he stepped back onto the streets of the city.
******************************************************
Andrea Payton had tried on all the dresses in her closet. After a long debate between the red one or the blue one, she had decided on the red babydoll dress. It had a high sheen satin Empire waist; was made of sheer chiffon. It hit her mid thigh and had a lettuce edge hem. But the key that had made her decide on it was that it made her feel absolutely beautiful and decidedly feminine.
Andy adjusted the spaghetti straps and smiled in the mirror. Biting on her bottom lip she twirled in the dress, allowing the fabric to balloon around her. She giggled happily. She'd never in her entire life felt like this. It was like a few dozen butterflies were swirling around in her stomach and at any moment all their beating wings would help her lift up off of the floor.
The entire day she'd been absolutely worthless. Her thoughts had been strictly on Wyatt Halliwell. Tonight was going to be perfect. First, dinner at Halliwell's, then they were going to take a walk in park and go dancing at the under 21 club; where there was a sweethearts' dance.
Andy twirled in her dress again then sat at her vanity and started to apply her make-up. She wondered what Wyatt was doing now and if he was as nervous as she was.
******************************************************
Wyatt Halliwell slid down the banister and hopped agilely to the floor with a smile. In his black suit with the new red tie around his neck he walked into the kitchen; then he grabbed a bottle of water and hopped up on the counter. His stomach was full of butterflies; he'd been on plenty of dates, why the hell was he this nervous about going out with Andy?
A noise had Wyatt jumping off the counter and leaving his water bottle untouched. Narrowing his eyes as he walked through the kitchen door and looked around the room.
There was something or somebody here. He could feel it.
The demon came out of no where and Wyatt cursed as he dove behind the living room sofa. A crash sounded and the blond winced, knowing that the grandfather clock had yet again become the victim of a demon attack. His parents had already left for their Valentine's date and all he wanted was a few moments to settle his stomach before he had to leave for his.
But now that he'd been surprised by the sudden appearance of this demon; he was pretty sure he was going to be late.
"You are seriously pressing your luck there buddy!" Wyatt shouted angrily. He stood and flicked his wrists at the demon. It dove out of the way, leaving the combustive blast to shatter a potted plant. The demon threw an athame at him as it rolled out of the way.
Wyatt dove to the side and avoided being skewered. "You're going to make me late. That is not the first impression I want to make with Andrea's dad..." Wyatt growled at the demon, who shimmered out.
The young man moved further into the room, hands held at the ready. Wyatt felt something come up behind him and turned in time to see another athame coming at him. Quickly he swept his hand, telekinetically sending the demon and athame across the room. "Enough is enough. I'm trying to have a social life here and you're interrupting it!"
A slight tug on his hair and a 'snip' sound had Wyatt turning around again. A second demon stood there with a pair of kitchen sheers and a lock of his blond hair in hand. The demon smiled toothily and shimmered out.
"HEY!" Wyatt snapped, a hand going to the back of his head where the hair had been cut. He turned to the other demon and went to blast it, but it was already gone. "I already had a haircut today." He quipped as he tried to see how bad the damage was in mirror. "You two are soooo... dust when I find you."
Wyatt looked at the rubble of the grandfather clock and groaned.
He ran into the kitchen and snatched up his bottled water to take a long drink. His eyes drifted towards the illuminated time on the microwave and he swore to himself. "You demon slime balls are lucky I have a date. You've got a few more hours left to live... make the most of it." With that, he grabbed his keys and bolted out the door.
******************************************************
Andrea Payton wiped her lipstick off and looked in the mirror before grabbing another shade. Her brother Shane leaned in the doorway, watching her with amusement. He was the next oldest in their family, followed by Rory as second oldest and finally Brendan was the oldest of the four Payton children. Brendan and Rory were both working tonight, so Andrea at least only had to deal with her father and only one oh-so-annoying older brother teasing over her date.
"You're really trying to impress this guy," Shane said, "I don't think I've seen you try five different colors of lipstick for anyone since, well, I don't think I've ever seen you do that."
Andrea ignored him, grabbing her perfume and spraying a light mist into the air before walking through it. That way the scent wouldn't be too overpowering.
Shane laughed, "Perfume too. Who is this guy and when is he getting here? I have to make sure my baby sister is dating someone I approve of."
"Did you come back from college just to harass me?" Andrea asked, she went to leave the bathroom, but her brother stood in her way. Andrea put her hands on her hips, "Shane..."
"Yes, I did. Brendan and Rory would expect nothing less. And since they've both met the guy and I haven't, it's only right that I should give him the final inspection before I give him the thumbs up or cast a spell on him."
Andrea glared at her brother and then walked forwards, phasing through him so that she could get out of the bathroom and finish getting ready. Shane unimpressed with her magic trick spun around and watched her. "You aren't allowed to scare this one away, Shane. I really like Wyatt," Andy said adamantly as she tried to decide which earrings to wear.
"Wyatt? What kind of a name is Wyatt?" Shane asked, following her as she put on the earrings and putting on a couple bangles, "And are you planning on telling him you're a witch?"
"I told you I like this guy Shane, I don't want to send him running for the hills. Not yet."
"Andy..."
"Yeah, yeah, you're just looking out for me... I know, I know..." Andrea said, "It's our first real date. I don't think we're ready for the 'I can walk through walls' talk. Not yet."
"I could set something on fire when he gets here and see how he reacts to that..." Shane said as he watched his sister try to decide on a pair of shoes to wear.
Andrea turned to stare at him for a moment, "Don't you dare."
"See how he reacts under pressure..." Shane looked at his watch, "He's a little late isn't he?"
"He'll be here," Andrea said as she browsed her shoe wardrobe.
"Not punctual," Shane said, "That's going to make a great impression on the old man."
The doorbell rang and Shane grinned broadly. Andrea let out a squeak and grabbed a pair of strappy heels from the rack. They would have to do.
"By the way, Dad's downstairs in the living room polishing his revolver... thought I should let you know..."
"He's doing what?!" Andrea yelped. She grabbed her wrap and raced past her brother, golden curls bouncing. "I knew I should've told Wyatt to meet me at the restaurant!"
******************************************************
"Piper, he probably already left for his date. If you want to keep in contact with your sons constantly you'll have to buy them cell phones."
"What if he was attacked before he left?" Piper asked, chewing on her lower lip.
"What if the roof collapses?" Leo said sarcastically. "He's a grown adult now Piper, who has a date with a pretty young woman. It's time to have some fun. Let's go."
Leo took her hand and nodded his head towards the party.
"If something happens to my baby..."
"Piper."
"Fine." She put her cell phone away and allowed Leo to lead her back to their table.
"Problems?" A woman who was seated at the same table asked Piper.
"Our oldest son has a big date tonight and she's a bit upset about not being there to see him off." Leo smiled at the woman.
"I have two sons of my own. The youngest has a big date tonight as well. As a fellow mother, I sympathize."
Piper smiled at the woman, but her thoughts were strictly on her son and what if something had happened after she left?
******************************************************
Chris hated not knowing what the heck was going on. But what he hated even more was the fact that his grandfather was calling him and he had to ignore the man. His grandfather rarely got mad at any of his grandchildren. But he and Wyatt could bring out that emotion in Victor Bennett. Maybe it was because they pushed him and were they oldest. He did hate having to leave the apartment, but this needed to be investigated.
"Chris, what's wrong?" D.J. asked when his friend slowed down.
"Grandpa was calling me."
"Oh, guess he knows we're out then."
"Hmmm, and I'm in trouble when I get back, so I might as well make the most of this little jaunt."
"Jaunt? Are you sixteen or sixty?" D.J. teased.
"Are you seventeen or seven?" Chris made a face and D.J. just mimicked him. "I rest my case, you're seven."
"Shut up." D.J. retorted, "Oh crap, he saw us." D.J. grabbed Chris' jacket and pointed at the Cupid up ahead who looked downright furious.
"I'll save you D.J. he's a Cupid; he doesn't have any active powers that he can use against us. He feels love, or at least he should. Hey!" Chris started running down the street towards him.
The Cupid's lips peeled back from his teeth in a snarl and screamed loudly. With a swirl of magic he disappeared again just as Chris reached him.
Chris sighed and rested his hands on his knees. "Come on man, I just have a few questions."
******************************************************
Andrea pounded down the stairs, taking them two at a time. She was hoping to reach the door before her father did, but there was no such luck in that. Just as Andrea hit the first floor, she heard the front door open and winced; stopping herself in the hallway just around the corner. Andrea put her heels on and adjusted her dress and sighed as she listened to her father.
"You must be Wyatt," Andrea's father said in a gruff tone.
Andrea hoped that he had put his gun away or that Shane had only been joking about that. Looking over her shoulder as she saw her older brother walking down the steps. Shane had a lighter in his hand and she mouthed the word, "Don't." to him. Shane's lips curved upwards and he flipped the top open, sparking a flame that he then transferred to his palm to let dance across his finger tips. Andrea smacked him in the arm and he extinguished it, but she could see the amusement on his face.
Rounding the corner, Andy went to rescue Wyatt from her father.
Lieutenant Kevin Payton stood there shaking Wyatt's hand and giving the teen very serious scrutiny. Andrea could practically see the wheels turning in the man's head as he tried to decide whether or not this boy was good enough for his only daughter.
"Hello, Mr. Payton, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," Wyatt said, giving the salt-and-pepper haired man a friendly smile. Wyatt turned and looked at Andy and smiled brightly as he looked her over; then turned his attention back to her father. "Hi." He said shortly, not willing to allow her father to think he was ogling his daughter.
Kevin Payton was at least impressed by the young man's firm handshake, but there was some mischief in Wyatt Halliwell's blue eyes that he didn't care for. "I'm glad to finally put a name with a face," Kevin said, "Halliwell. That's a familiar name."
"You've probably heard of my Aunt Phoebe," Wyatt said, "She writes for the Bay Mirror and just recently published a book."
"The advice columnist, yes," Mr. Payton said, looking at his daughter who was nearly pleading him to stop his grilling of her date. He smiled as he nodded his head and looked back into Wyatt's eyes.
"And of course there's the restaurant. My mom owns Halliwell's."
"I've eaten there a few times. Good solid food," the man said conversationally.
Andrea was bouncing on the balls of her feet somewhat nervously as she looked at her father and then towards her date. Wyatt seemed calm, but he had no idea what he was getting himself into with meeting her family. Sure, he had met her two older brothers a couple of times, but he had only met her father while he had been under heavy medication at the hospital and he'd never met her brother Shane. Out of the three of her older brothers, Andrea worried about Shane the most. The pyromaniac had been a bit of a boyfriend deterrent for a very long time.
Speaking of the devil, Shane walked around the corner with a bright smile, rolling his lighter along the back of his hand. Andrea eyed the gleaming bit of metal and mentally pleaded that he would behave himself.
"Wyatt," Shane said, "Andy's told us so much about you. You want something to drink? Grab a seat?" Shane reached around his sister to shake Wyatt's hand.
"We've got reservations and..." Wyatt felt like he was being set up for something that he couldn't quite grasp. There was something in Shane's eyes that looked a little devious.
Mr. Payton draped a hand around Wyatt's shoulder, "Come on and sit a while son. You're already late. And I wanted a chance to get to know you."
"Dad, really, we should..." Andrea looked panicked as she followed them toward the living room.
"Nonsense. You kids can sit and have one soda with your brother and I before you run off..."
Andrea exchanged a tight smile with Wyatt, who just shrugged. Inwardly, he was a bit nervous about this and the way that Andrea's father kept looking him over. Why was it that girl's parents always seemed so much more frightening than demons?
"I guess we can be a little late... It is my mom's restaurant..." Wyatt said as he glanced at Andy.
Meanwhile, Andrea bit her bottom lip and tried her best not to groan as her father led Wyatt into the living room. Wyatt settled onto the dark blue sofa and leaned forward and looked at the two other men.
"Scooter, why don't you go and get us some drinks?" Kevin asked.
Andrea's brown eyes narrowed as she looked at her father and she could just see the questioning look on Wyatt's face. Oh, she was going to be asked about that later. And later, she was going to kill her Dad for using that nickname in front of Wyatt. Andy left the room feeling her cheeks burning from humiliation.
Shane sat on the arm of the chair across from Wyatt, "I think you were a Freshman at Baker when I was a Senior..."
Wyatt nodded, "Yeah. You played Varsity football didn't you?"
"He did until he caught the locker room on fire." Kevin said with a disapproving look.
"That was you?" Wyatt asked. "You got the locker rooms remodeled, I should thank you."
Shane shrugged and flipped open his lighter, then closed it, "It was an accident."
"He's lucky he was only seventeen and it's only on his juvenile record since he wants to go into law enforcement like his brothers."
"Not like them, I want to go into law enforcement like you," Shane said with a wink, "What about you Wyatt, what're your plans?"
"Uh... journalism..." Wyatt said, giving a small smile.
"Dad." Andy said as she handed her father a soda, then handed one to Wyatt and finally dropped her brother's can down the back of his shirt.
"Ah..." Shane yelped as Andy smiled and sat next to Wyatt. He narrowed his eyes at his kid sister, "Damn it Andy."
"So journalism? Taking after your aunt?" Kevin asked. It wasn't exactly an interview, and Wyatt wasn't a murder suspect, but something in the tone made the Halliwell boy consider how he answered the questions carefully.
"I don't write advise columns, but, we'll be in the same business," Wyatt answered, "I did an internship with the paper this past summer. It was a lot of fun."
"Already getting a jump on your career. Good for you."
Shane interjected, "I saw a couple of your games this year, you're better than I ever was."
"Which games did you see?" Wyatt asked, liking the conversational tone.
"I was at the homecoming game. It was the day before dad was in the hospital, so I kinda remember it clearly." He watched Wyatt stiffen, he took a deep breath. "Oh sorry, that's the game your kid brother got hurt in. You should have killed that guy."
"Shane." Andy said as she took Wyatt's hand.
"Sorry."
"Also saw the last game of the season, you were great."
"Thanks." Wyatt said with little emotion. Emotion was one thing he always tried to keep a hold on, but just the mention of that night had his blood pumping. So he suppressed it the best he could. Would he ever be able to think about that night without so much anger filling him?
"So how's school going for you Wyatt?" Kevin Payton asked with a smile.
******************************************************
Chris walked up the center of the street. The stupid cupid was becoming a real pain. Beside him D.J. was mumbling about freezing and how he hated him. Chris didn't mind the cold so much, he was becoming used to it after the two plus hours they'd just walked around the city.
They were crossing another bridge when D.J. stopped. Chris moaned as he stopped too and turned.
"D.J. we'll go back soon, okay. I just want to find the cupid and get him to stay in one place long enough to actually talk to him." D.J. went pale as Chris stared at him, "What?"
"Chris!" D.J. screamed.
Chris's entire body went rigid as he felt the athame at his throat.
"Prepare to die demon," a low growl sounded against Chris's ear.
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The Virtual Series
The Virtual Series
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Destiny is now...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Your Computer
Karma: 2 | | Re: SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Reply #5 on Jul 16, 2009, 9:05pm » | |
Chapter Five
Despite the freezing cold and the blowing wind; sweat beaded on Chris' forehead and upper lip as he looked down at the golden athame at his neck. Chris glanced over at D.J. who looked like he was getting ready to have a complete nervous breakdown. Taking a deep breath the sixteen year old slowly looked back at the Cupid.
"Easy man, I'm no demon. I'm a witch." The last part came out in more of a squeak, as the athame rested uncomfortably against his skin.
"Prove it." The Cupid leaned into him as Chris felt the bite of the athame.
"I would if my powers hadn't been sapped by the Vritra a couple days ago." Chris took a deep breath, he closed his eyes as he released it and then took another deep breath. "They are like scavengers, using people's powers for their gain."
The Cupid thought about what Chris said and he inched the athame from his neck when D.J. interrupted.
"He's a witch!" D.J. also said with a bit of a squeak; which amused Chris for some reason. "Usually he's a pretty powerful one at that. Oh, please don't hurt him or you're looking at a dead man here." The Cupid looked at D.J. "His mom will blow me into bits, not to mention what his older brother will do to me. Oh, I think I'm having a heart attack." D.J. sat down on the cold bridge and put a hand to his chest dramatically.
"Shut up demon!!!" D.J. jumped at the Cupid's voice then moaned pathetically.
"Actually, he's a manticore. Only half manticore really. He was raised with a human father who highly discourages people calling his son a demon." Chris sighed and the athame went back to his throat digging in a little deeper than before. But the way D.J. was freaking out the Cupid may go for D.J. instead of focusing on him. Carefully Chris tilted his head slightly and looked at D.J. with a smirk. "And unfortunately he's always as high strung as he is now. When he's nervous he tends to ramble, please don't kill him for rambling." A nervous smile appeared on Chris' face as he tried to glance back at the cupid.
"Are you kidding me? You have a damn athame at your throat and you choose now to harass me?" D.J. looked at Chris like he was crazy.
"I had to grow up with that, take pity on me."Chris looked up at the Cupid who didn't look the least bit amused by Chris' dilemma with D.J. Okay, a Cupid with no sense of humor. "Listen, if you'll just put down the athame. I-I just wanted to ask you a couple questions. That's it I swear, I just want to help."
"What's your name witch?" The Cupid asked as he lowered the athame slightly which allowed Chris some breathing room.
"Halliwell, Christopher Halliwell." The athame thudded to the ground and the noise was like a gunshot, echoing through the night.
****************************************************************************
Wyatt smiled nervously as Andy led him quickly down the hall. Behind him, he felt her brother and father walking them to the front door. Definitely would have preferred having to deal with demons than the father/son duo who were looking at him like he was the prime suspect in a murder case.
"Don't forget you have a curfew, Andrea."
"I know Dad. Eleven-thirty."
"Eleven."
"When I went out with Amber, you said eleven-thirty." Andy turned quickly looking into her father's eyes. There was a silent battle in the stare that could have gone on forever.
"I changed my mind."
"I'll have her home at eleven sir." Wyatt forced a smile as he tried to pull Andy to the door; put she held her ground.
"You never changed the boys' curfew." Andy mumbled as Wyatt opened the door for her.
"I like them more." Her father said with a smile as Andy wrinkled her nose. "Eleven."
"Yes sir." Andy knew how to play her father. He said he loved her brothers more, but she knew that she held his heart. So if she wanted what was due her she had to play it just right. With tear filled eyes she looked up at her father and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "You took a half hour off both ends of my date, it's so not fair. You never would have done that to the boys."
Kevin Payton narrowed his eyes at his daughter while his heart was breaking. He was known for being a hard man, but his soft spot was his daughter's tears whether they were real or an act.
"Eleven-thirty." Her eyes brightened. "If you clean out the garage tomorrow."
"That's bribery; which is illegal by the way." She smiled at her father; though continued to argue on principal.
"Take it or leave it."
"I'll take it." She took Wyatt's hand and pulled him quickly from the house. "Hurry before he changes his mind again." Andy whispered as Wyatt held the door to his truck open and she got in quickly without winding down the window. Wyatt waved at her father and ran around to the other side.
"He's nice." Wyatt said as he turned on the engine, put on his seat belt and pulled out.
"You're being kind. He's brutal."
"I like him, he's fair." They turned onto the main road as he looked over at her. "You look beautiful by the way."
"Thank you, I like your tie."
"My mom is a little OCD about things like this." He smiled then glanced at her quickly. "She still makes us heart shaped pancakes on Valentine's Day." Wyatt chuckled; there was no hint of embarrassment that most teens would feel at such an admission. Instead there was amusement and affection in his tone.
"Really?" She looked out the window, this time the tears were real. It was hard to think about her mom and those little things she did to make things special for her and her brothers.
"You okay? Did I say something wrong?"
"I'm fine. You're very lucky to have your mom, Wyatt."
"I know." He looked over at her then remembered Andy said she lost her mom a couple years ago. "Miss your mom?"
"A lot. Especially when she used to make heart shaped pancakes on Valentine's Day."
"Really?" He tapped his fingers off the steering wheel. "That's interesting don't you think?" Wyatt sighed then shrugged when she didn't respond. "Guess I tend to take mine for granted. She's always been there." Wyatt shrugged again as he stopped at the traffic light. "I'm such an idiot, my little brother remembers to by her gifts for holidays and puts my name on it as well. Then I end up thanking him for remembering that I'm an idiot."
"He's a know-it-all," she said in exasperation. Wyatt winced internally, a girl who didn't like his brother wouldn't last long. "Like my brother Rory. He remembers everything." She added with a tad of disgust.
"I appreciate him doing it." Wyatt defended his brother.
"Oh don't get me wrong, we appreciate Rory as well, but it gets a little old being reminded constantly that you're irresponsible."
"Appreciate him as well. I almost lost Chris in October and I'm not sure what I would have done." Andy paled at the thought and felt the anger radiating off of him. "No, I do know. I would cease to exist." Wyatt tried to suppress the emotions that were growing in him. Taking several deep breaths he concentrated on the road ahead. This would not be a good time for his emotions to take over.
"I'm sorry. That's the second time tonight you've been reminded of that night. I know it hurts you." She put her hand on his arm and he glanced over at her before looking back at the road.
"Third time today." He sighed heavily. "Been almost four months. I haven't told anyone but I have dreams of that night. In them I see it happening and I can still hear his bones snapping from across the field." Andy just rubbed his arm gently. "There was one night the hospital called us and told us to come say good bye, they said he was going to die." Wyatt stopped his voice was filled with emotions he forgot were there. When he heard Andy starting to say something he interrupted; so that he could move the conversation to a direction he was more comfortable with. "Chris is the most important person in my life, Andy. No matter what, he comes first. Since the day he was born I took care of him, then as soon as he could he did the same for me. No matter what girl I'm with, she's going to take the backseat to my brother."
"Family first." Andy nodded. She'd heard her older brother arguing with a girlfriend once when he wanted to spend an evening with his younger siblings instead of taking her out to the local hot spot. She said some unkind things about them and the evening ended with Brendan dumping her. "I understand."
"I'm responsible for him." Wyatt didn't know how to explain to her that there were very real reasons why he and his brother were so close. But how do you tell your date this when she didn't know anything about you or your family.
"Why do older brother's think their younger siblings are incapable of taking care of themselves?" That had Andy turning in her seat to stare at him with her arms folded defensively across her chest.
"I know he's capable, I..." Wyatt tapped his hand off the steering wheel. How did he explain that he had the stronger powers between the brothers and was indeed better equipped at taking care of Chris without telling her that he had powers. "I am better equipped for the job, though." He said with a nod; fairly pleased with himself that he explain it without getting into the M word.
"Oh please." Just as he glanced over he saw Andy roll her eyes at him. "I feel like I'm dating my oldest brother." She muttered in disgust. "You know, we younger siblings are more than capable of handling ourselves, it's just that we rarely have the opportunity." Andy argued this point with her older brothers constantly. "You know if you older sibling would back off, we just may surprise you."
"So you'd rather take the chance that something could happen to you than have your brother look after you?"
"It's called living life Wyatt, so yes." Wyatt pulled into the parking lot and Wyatt parked the car and turned to look at her.
"I let him live life. I just like to make sure he's looked after."
"You look after your sick grandmother." She said as she rolled her eyes again and got out of the truck. Wyatt got out on the other side and walked around. "Give him a little space Wyatt, trust me from one younger sibling to another; he needs to breath."
"You..." Wyatt caught himself before he went off on him like she was his brother. How often had he and Chris had this very debate throughout the years. But, this was supposed to be a date not a debate. Wyatt chuckled and adjusted his tie. "Let's forget about older and younger siblings for the night." Wyatt leaned forward and feathered a kiss over her lips and smiled as she leaned in. "We have dinner reservations." Wyatt reminded her as he took her hand.
"Yes, we do." She licked her lips and looked into his eyes and melted.
****************************************************************************
Taking a sip of coffee, Victor Bennett looked at his watch and sighed. It was nearly dawn and the two teens had yet to return. There was something in his stomach that told him something wasn't quite right. That maybe he should have gone after the teens before they were out of sight. Victor rubbed his forehead, though how was Chris supposed to get experience to protect himself against demons if he was constantly protected? Some day soon Chris would be an adult and he and his older brother were to be the Halliwell's next generation of witches.
While Victor had a vague idea of what that entailed, he knew that the teen couldn't constantly be protected by his mother and older brother. Though, Victor thought with a smile, he doubted Christopher Halliwell needed to be protected at all. The kid was smart; too smart sometimes.
But tonight, he felt that something wasn't quite right. Victor walked over to the window and looked up and down the street. They'd been here last weekend and then the boys had said that the danger they had been in had been deadly. As a grandfather, Victor knew Chris didn't tell all of it. Like the danger was more dire than they'd let on. Right now he couldn't know if the danger was similar or not, but he knew that he wasn't happy that they were out there without him. But what could he do to help them, really?
Just then the wind blew, making the windows shudder. It was cold, and the last thing he wanted was to be out there in the cold. With a sigh Victor crossed the room and sat back at the table, if they weren't back by breakfast, he'd go out and look for them. The problem was, where exactly did he look at?
****************************************************************************
Piper sat at the table with a bunch of other women, it always happened when she went to one of these events. Inevitably, even on Valentine's Day she was stuck making mindless chat chit with the other women while Leo was pulled into the circle of guys who were talking very seriously about something. Just then Leo looked over and their gazes locked for a second before he smiled brightly. Predictability was comfortable for her. Through these functions that Halliwell's started catering years ago Piper had met the most interesting people. Important people who frequented her restaurant, who were helping make her dreams for expansion possible.
Tonight she was in for a treat, one of the women was the mayor and she was currently complaining about her seven year old son.
"I should have had two girls." Mayor Analiese Sanders said frustration. "Piper, you have children right?"
"Yes, two boys. Eighteen and sixteen."
"You don't look old enough to have two fully grown children." The woman on the other side of Piper said.
"Thank you."
"Do you have any pictures?" Analiese asked Piper; always willing to show off her handsome boys she pulled out her wallet with a sly smile and handed a picture of her sons in their football uniforms at the beginning of season.
"Oh my, such handsome boys." She said as the rest of the women dug into their purses to retrieve their photos. "Did they give you much trouble?" With that Piper laughed out loud. Did her boys give her much trouble? How did she answer that one?
"Nothing too horrible I suppose. It could have been worse." She thought that was the understatement of the year. "But they've been active in sports since they were in elementary school, so it keeps them busy."
"Football."
"Yes, football, basketball, track, volleyball, soccer, baseball... Shall I go on?"
"Can you?" Piper laughed that had Leo looking over at her again.
"Oh yes, having two sons you are always on the move. Before they learned to drive I spent more time in my car than I did at home."
"Yet you found time to expand your restaurant."
"They learned to clear tables as soon as they learned to walk unfortunately." She laughed again. "But it was nice having my own place where I could have them in the office while I ran my business."
"Do they work there now?"
"On and off. When the need arises. Chris is good at coming in and giving a hand, but Wyatt goes when I nag or he needs extra money."
"Yes, Tommy only decides to go give Tom a hand when he needs money for something." Someone added trying desperately to turn the attention to herself and away from Piper. But the mayor was still looking at Piper Halliwell and was apparently enjoying the conversation.
"Do you want to hear what happened yesterday?" Analiese asked with a smile even though she was trying not to. "Yesterday I had a meeting with Senator Michael Baines, but Juliette was sick so I asked him to come to the house." She handed pictures of her son and daughter to Piper as she continued on with the story. "He was so kind and said no problem; the meeting went well and we were chatting as he got ready to leave." Only then did Piper see the amusement glow in her sapphire eyes. "Just as I walked out of the office with Senator Baines I look down and there are little mud footprints on my brand new cream carpet. Kevin was collecting frogs." She continued on but Piper stared at the picture of Kevin Sanders. There was something in his eyes that screamed trouble. And according to the story the Mayor was telling he was trouble personified; which had her thinking of her sons. They both had that look in their eyes; that look that said they knew something you didn't. But the glee in little Kevin's eyes that made her think of one day with another little boy.
Flashback
Six year old Christopher Halliwell opened the front door and looked around for his mommy. With a sigh of relief he walked into the house and closed the door quietly. He was caked head to toe with mud and if his mother saw him, she'd be furious. Worse yet, she'd insist on a bath in the middle of the afternoon, which meant he had to stay inside the rest of the day. Taking off his muddy sneakers and socks he carried them and the tiny gray kitten that he hid under his shirt up to his room. Closing his bedroom door quietly he pulled the muddy kitten out and sat the kitten on his bed and smiled. The kitten looked up at Chris with big golden eyes and stretched before walking over to him. Chris knelt on the floor as the kitten put a paw gently up to his face; Chris Halliwell was in love; he lifted the kitten and cuddled it.
"Oh for the love of..." Piper Halliwell screamed downstairs. Chris winced. "Christopher Halliwell! Why are there little muddy footprints on my floor?" He heard his mother jogging up the stairs.
"Ssh! It's mommy." Chris put the kitten in his hamper and assumed an innocent position as his door opened.
"Oh for heavens sake look at you! Where were you?"
"I followed Wyatt and D.J. to the park and was lookin' for somethin'."
"I hope it was soap buddy, because you need a bath."
"Mom..."
"Don't mom me. Into the bathroom." She pointed toward the door and as Chris started for the door when she heard the tiny mew.
"What was that?" She looked at her son who was acting innocent; which meant he was in some sort of trouble.
"Nothin'." Chris bit his bottom lip hard to suppress the smile that was getting ready to form on his face.
"Nothin', huh?" Piper heard the sound again and walked over to the hamper where she heard the sound. She looked at her six year old who was nearly bursting with excitement. Piper opened the hamper and the tiny little kitten jumped up out of the clothes and clung to the side of the wooden hamper. "Hi Nothin'." Piper picked up the muddy kitten and sighed. "Are you sure this is nothin'?"
"It's a kitty!" Chris said as his eyes sparkled, his mom was giving the kitten the look; and Chris knew this look was the good look. "Can we keep him?" Piper rolled the kitten onto it's back and smiled.
"Her. Can we keep her?" Piper Halliwell frowned at her question that she posed to herself and looked intently at the gray striped muddy furball and her heart just melted. "I'll talk it over with your daddy. If he says yes, then yes we can keep the kitten." Chris let out a whoop, "But the two of you need a bath."
"Can I go to Magic School to ask daddy?" He was bouncing on his toes with excitement and Piper felt the overwhelming love for her baby wash over her. "Please mommy."
"Peanut, you need a bath. Into the bathroom mister."
"Mom..." Chris whined.
"March." Piper looked at the kitten in her hand and smiled as she followed her six year old into the bathroom.
"Piper? Piper?" Piper turned her head quickly when she looked at the mayor who she had unfortunately ignored while thinking about her son.
"I'm sorry, I was daydreaming."
"I asked if you knew what to do about the carpet."
"Hardwood floors. With boys, I highly recommend hardwood floors." She chuckled to herself and took a sip of her wine and handed the picture of Kevin to the next waiting hand.
****************************************************************************
"Halliwell?" The demon questioned as he backed away from Chris. But Chris turned and looked at him. The Cupid was a little taller than Wyatt with hair the color of a coal, eyes the color of slate and was built like a linebacker.
"Yes, Christopher. I'll assume by your reaction that you know my family."
"Everyone knows your family. Just as everyone knows your family tend to put their noses in everyone's business."
Chris cocked his head with a bright smile, the Cupid amused him.
"So you've met my Aunt Paige?" Chris quipped. "Or maybe its Aunt Phoebe. They are both kinda nosy." Chris admitted as he went to stand in front of D.J. The older teen was sent to look after him and what was his first instinct?
"Chris, he obviously doesn't want our help, why don't we just go..."
"D.J. please." Chris hushed him. "Do you have a name?"
"Bane." He looked at Chris. "If I answer your question will you leave me alone?"
"Sure." Chris hated lying, but if the Cupid knew him better he would have known that Chris Halliwell hated to walk away until the problem at hand was solved.
"Fine. What was your question?"
"When did your powers start not working properly?"
"There is nothing wrong with me!" The Cupid snapped at Chris.
"Every time you try to help couples find love, they end up fighting. That sounds like you have problems to me." Chris shrugged. "But I'm no Cupid."
"You believe there is a connection between our powers both being damaged?"
"It couldn't hurt to try to find out. I'm thinking that everything is connected somehow. What if when they damaged my powers, along with it they sapped other beings powers along with it. Or, or maybe there were Vritra around you as well, you just didn't know it. Or...."
"He can go on like this for days." D.J. said with a smirk. Bane looked at D.J. and then back at Chris.
"He's really a manticore?"
"Hmmm.... half." Chris started pacing trying to work out the jumbled thoughts in his head.
"So wait, you think we're connected somehow?"
"I think all magic is connected somehow." He froze and looked at Bane. "Your ring, has anyone been near you and tried to take your ring?"
"Several times, but not recently." Bane walked over to the railing and leaned against it looking at Chris. "If you don't have your powers how are you going to help me?"
"First you won't talk to me now your Chatty Cathy, give me a minute will ya." Chris continued his pacing.
"So why are you going to help me?"
"If helping you means I can get closer to getting my powers back before my mom finds out I'm all for it."
"Your mom doesn't know?"
"You haven't met my mom have you? I'd be in Magic School for eternity if she found out I didn't have my powers."
"Maybe you should be, for now. Not good for young witches to be out and not be able to defend themselves."
"That's why I have D.J. I'm golden, let's just do this."
"Before we freeze to death." D.J. said as he rubbed his arms.
"You have an older brother, where is he? I'm not sure I trust the manticore."
"Oh please, I've never held an athame to his throat buddy." D.J. said as he narrowed his eyes. People questioning his loyalty to the Halliwell's always made him angry.
"D.J.'s like a brother, annoying and over protective. Wyatt is preoccupied, seeing that it's Valentine's Day and Romeo has a date with little Miss two timer."
"You are very young." Bane just said with a shake of his head.
"Young yes, but of the brother's I'm the one you want." Chris just smiled.
"He's telling you the truth, he's a nerd."
"Okay Halliwell, lets see if you're right. How do you intend to figure it out?"
"Well?"
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They walked into the restaurant hand in hand and were totally oblivious to the other people around them. That was until a hand clamped solidly on Wyatt's shoulder.
"Wyatt, you're late pal, nearly had to give your table away." His mom's manager said with a smile.
"Sorry Roy, I was a little late picking up my date then..."
"Then my father decided it would be nice to try to terrorize my date." Andrea said with a sickeningly sweet smile. "So it's really my fault."
"Sweetheart, he's never been on time for anything, I've known him half his life." Roy grabbed a couple menus and led the couple through the restaurant to the big picture window, where their table was set and ready for them. Roy held Andrea's chair for her and handed her the menu. "Your waitress this evening is Joy, she'll be along soon, can I get either of you something to drink?"
"Pepsi for me."
"Iced Tea, please."
"Coming right up."
"I can't believe your mom owns this place, it's amazing."
"With a chain of them throughout California and we're expanding to other cities throughout the U.S. now. She's so excited about it."
"I would be too."
"Last weekend she had a grand opening in New York City." Wyatt smiled as he looked around Halliwell's he was indeed proud of his mother and her accomplishments. "I think she's planning on Chicago next."
"Wow, she must be an amazing woman."
"She is." Wyatt looked over at her and smiled. "If you want; you could come over for dinner sometime; meet the 'rents."
Wyatt smiled brightly as Andrea looked at him like he'd finally lost his mind. There was nothing he loved more than seeing that strained look on her face, it meant she was considering it. Then he saw the movement in the background and groaned inwardly. One evening, one damn evening was all he wanted but no, magic didn't care that he wanted to have a nice evening.
"Can you excuse me for one moment?" Wyatt said as he got up and adjusted his jacket.
"Sure I need to run to the ladies room anyway. You know powder my nose."
"Be back soon." Wyatt smiled tightly, but inside he was furious. Where was his mother's ability to freeze when he really needed it? Walking through the restaurant he stopped to say hi to a few customers he knew from working here occasionally and entered the storeroom. Narrowing his eyes he scanned the room. "Where the hell are you?" An athame came straight at him and he moved it away easily and moved forward still not seeing what was here. "Ya know I'd really rather just fight this out and get it over with, see I have this thing called a date."
Another athame hit right beside his head and Wyatt looked at it casually. "Nice try. Not sure you could hit the broad side of a barn though." Taunting the demon, Wyatt hadn't resorted to that since he'd been about thirteen and anxious to prove himself capable of working independently from his family.
The demon appeared and Wyatt blew him up in a flick of his wrists. "'Bout damn time." Wyatt straightened his jacket and grabbed the two athames and hid them behind a box and hurried out of the room. It was time to get back to his date. Barring any more magical issues, this was going to the best date ever. With that thought in his head Wyatt walked back to the table
where his date waited.
****************************************************************************
Chris paced the bridge as he thought about all the different reasons why the Cupid's powers weren't acting right. Though that wasn't the only thing going through his mind. Katina still lingered. He should be concentrating on his wiccan duties, he'd always learned to compartmentalize his life. But right now he was feeling..... Chris stopped and brushed his hands over his face. What the hell was he feeling right now?
Bane watched the youngest son of Piper Halliwell and was feeling something from him. As a Cupid he was able to sense emotions occasionally radiating off people, but this kid had him stumped. "What is he doing?" Bane asked D.J.
"Probably over analyzing everything. He always has to dissect everything." D.J. shivered as he watched Chris work through his process. "Not that I don't appreciate it. Thinks fast on his feet."
"This is fast?"
"It's been a hard week."
"We have to go back to the Manor." Chris said as he walked over to them. "I need to check the Book of Shadows. I have a theory on how to determine how your powers were messed up."
"Which is?"
"A theory. D.J. attic of the Manor."
"Warm, it will be warm." D.J. grabbed Chris and shimmered. Bane stared at the space and sighed heavily. This was what his life had come to, he had to rely on a teenage witch with no powers. Could this day get any worse? Bane disappeared in a flurry of hearts not seeing the shadowy figure at the end of the bridge.
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The Virtual Series
The Virtual Series
member is offline
Destiny is now...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Your Computer
Karma: 2 | | Re: SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Reply #6 on Aug 2, 2009, 12:17am » | |
Chapter Six
How the heck had he gotten talked into this yet again? Leo Wyatt had told his wife that there were just a few things he was never doing again. Number one was flying; he told Piper there was no way he was ever getting on a plane again. Number two, he never ever going to one these events where the men and women split up discussing kids, sports, cars and jobs.
He had the best two kids a man could want. The only sports he watched were ones that his children participated in. His idea of a great car was the truck that his eighteen year old was riding around in. And he couldn't very well tell them that he taught at Magic School could he?
"So he's been designated my son for the foreseeable future." One of the men said with a sigh of frustration. Leo laughed about the boy being designated 'his son', how many times had his boys been his sons? With a chuckle, he figured every time they did something their mother disapproved of. "What little boy doesn't like going out and collecting toads and frogs and stuff like that? Right Leo?" Leo pulled at his collar anxiously as he felt the sweat rolling down his back at the very thought of being pulled into the conversation.
"Ya, what little boy doesn't like a good toad?" Leo chuckled and took a sip of the drink that he'd been holding for the better part of the evening. He glanced over at his wife to save him; but she was too engrossed in the conversation she was having to notice that her husband was drowning.
"That's what I'm saying. So what, if he tracked in a little mud? So what if wants to keep a cool looking frog in his room? It's part of being a kid." The guy glanced at his wife and sighed heavily. "Did your kids ever bring anything home Leo?" Leo smiled as he thought of the variety of things that his sons had brought into the manor. It was doubtful that the men would believe that his kids had brought home a Phoenix; he didn't want to remember anything about that stupid bird or the clean-up that it had left for him.
"My youngest brought home a cat; Chris couldn't have been more than six." Leo thought the cat was the tamest of the things his children had dragged home.
"Did you keep it?"
"Yes, she stayed." The conversation continued but Leo thought about his son and that stupid cat.
********************************************************************************************************************* [/i]
Flashback
Six year old, Chris Halliwell orbed into Magic School with the backpack that held the kitten on his back. His mommy told him he had to ask daddy before Nothin' was his. But he knew as well as he knew his name was Christopher Halliwell that Nothin' was his; the pretty lady said so.
As he walked through the school and poked his nose into multiple class rooms. Smoke poured out of a door up ahead and the distinct smell of burnt hemlock filled the air. Professor Anderson had one of the older kids by the ear and was dragging him down the hall. Chris smiled as he looked in the room and wished he'd seen what really happened.
"Christopher Halliwell? Are you lost?" Chris turned and saw Professor MacGregor behind him.
"Just looking for daddy." Chris said as he looked back in the classroom watching the scene unfold.
"Mr. Li, if I see that again you'll be meeting with the headmaster again." Professor MacGregor looked in and then down at Chris as the student in the classroom winced. "I believe he's in Intermediate Spells class."
"Thank you." Chris hurried down the hall, he had to pass the library to get to Intermediate Spells. The books always called to him. It wasn't his fault if the books asked him to read them. So he walked through the large room and ran his finger along the books; as always he saw one that just begged for him to pick it up.
"Which one will it be today Mr. Halliwell?" Chris looked up at the library's keeper Professor Kane who asked with a gleam in his eye.
"I can't. I just came to see my dad." But he frowned really wanting to read the book.
"Which one is calling you?" Chris looked at the big brown book and touched it reverently. "I'll hold it for you. Next time, you come to Magical School you come see me."
"Yes sir." Chris smiled happily and ran toward Intermediate Spells; but stopped and turned around. "Thank you Professor Kane." He missed the large man smiling happily at his departure.
By the time he got to the classroom and he saw his daddy with a group of big kids he was excited all over again. He waited anxiously by the door as the kids practiced different spells. Chris studied what the older kids were doing and nearly rolled his eyes. What was so hard about saying a spell? He could do it if he wanted to.
"I'll expect everyone to practice and to read the next chapter."
Leo said breaking Chris from his thoughts as the students hurried out of the room chattering to each other as they went. Leo closed up his book and put it in the bag he carried; then he saw his youngest son and smiled. "Hey buddy!" Leo picked him up and threw him in the air.
"Daddy!" Chris giggled and Leo kissed his neck.
"Are you here by yourself?" Leo asked as he grabbed his bag and headed down the hall toward his office.
"Not really?" Chris' eyes sparkled as he looked around Magic School and waited for the right moment to ask his father the important question. With his dad it had to be the right time or the he tended to say no.
"Who came with you?" Leo turned around expecting to see someone else, then continued down the hall. Chris shrugged his shoulders as Leo carried him through the hallway and into his office. "Did Aunt Paige bring you?"
"No. I orbed myself."
"Oh. Then who did you bring?" There was something in his son's eyes that made him suspect that something was up. That bit of mischief that his youngest always had in those green eyes was now dancing with delight.
"Nothin'."
"Nothing?" Chris took of his backpack and unzipped it. Leo sat on the edge of his desk as he watched his son reach into the backpack. Leo nearly cringed as Chris produced the furry little ball of fluff.
"Nothin'." Chris handed his father the kitten and Leo took it with a sigh. Though the kitten was unexpected, Leo wasn't really surprised. His sons were at the age that they were constantly bringing things home. Last week Wyatt managed to get a snake into the house; that was until Piper had seen it in her laundry and nearly blew it up.
"Why is his name Nothin'?"
"Her daddy." The six year old said in exasperation.
"Oh! So sorry." Leo apologized to the kitten and nodded his head. "Of course, I should have known. Why is her name Nothin'?"
"Mommy asked what I was hidin'."
"Nothin'." Leo nodded and smiled as he held the kitten up to look at her.
"Mommy said that if you say yes, I can keep her. Can I daddy? Can I keep Nothin'?" With pleading green eyes Chris bounced up and down waiting for his father's answer.
But sad little eyes weren't going to determine the kitten's status. As if sensing his feelings the kitten looked up and him and purred. Or at least she tried to purr but it came out in a litany of broken purrs which pulled at Leo's heart.
"Who's going to feed her?"
"I will."
"And play with her?"
"I will."
"And who will change her litter box?"
"Wyatt will." Leo laughed despite himself. His youngest son was quick; always had been.
"I think you and Wyatt will have to take turns, don't you think? To be fair?"
"Okay." He sighed out.
"If mommy says yes, I see no problem with keeping her. But we'll have to come up with a better name."
"Why? She has a name."
"Nothin' is not a name."
"But she answers to Nothin'." Chris said as the kitten threw her head back and looked at Chris upside down. "See."
"We'll talk about it at home. Go on. Tell mommy I'll be home in an hour."
"Let's go home Nothin'." Chris kissed the kitten. "Mommy said you get tuna tonight until we can go to the store and get kitty food." With that he orbed home and Leo shook his head, somehow he believed that even if he said no, the kitten would have stayed.
*****************************************************************************
Chris stood at the podium looking through the Book of Shadows with his usual intensity. D.J. lay sprawled on the couch with a throw over him while Bane stood by the window. The house was empty so they had a bit of time to determine what was going on, but Chris knew his grandfather would worry if he woke up and they weren't there.
"D.J.!"
"What?" D.J. sat up quickly and put a hand to his chest. "Are you trying to give me a bloody heart attack?"
"Can you shimmer back to the apartment and check on grandpa. Make sure he's still asleep."
"And if he's awake?"
"Calmly explain that I'm home right now and checking the Book of Shadows; trying to help a friend."
"A friend who held an athame at your throat." D.J. mumbled as he rubbed his eyes; yawned and stretched.
"D.J."
"I'm going, I'm going." He shimmered out and Chris glanced up at Bane.
Once D.J. was gone Bane crossed the room and sat on the couch and leaned forward. He stared at the teenager for several moments and sighed.
"Okay, now that your friend's gone, do you want to tell me who she is?" Bane asked directly.
"Don't know who you mean." Chris said as he looked at the page on Cupids; he'd only paused a nano second and started reading it intently.
"The girl who is befuddling your mind, kid. I'm a Cupid remember. I can feel emotions."
"No offense, I don't even know you. And even if I were going to share that with you, your powers are a little on the wonky side. Who's to say that you're not going to screw it up?"
"Not sure I like you."
"You don't have to like me Bane, you just have to wait until I determine what happened to your powers."
"Why are you trying to ignore it? If you love her...."
"I barely know her." Bane just smiled. "Fine, fine, fine. Hate when I fall for that." Chris muttered as he leaned over the podium. "I met Katina several weeks ago, only seen her two times since then but I can't get her out of my mind. Every time I try to concentrate on something else, I see her eyes. She's got these beautiful blue-green eyes."
"Okay?"
"I don't have time for a girlfriend, let alone a girlfriend on a different continent. I just don't have no time for a girl."
"But there have been other girls." Bane said bluntly.
"I'm not a monk." Chris said quickly then he blushed a bit; which Bane found amusing. But seconds later the kid stood up and then paled. "Wait wait wait. Can all Cupid's feel...?" Chris didn't say it but it made Bane laugh. The teenager went from ashen white to blushing furiously.
"How old are you?" Bane looked at the teen and winced, he was awfully young. "Of course all Cupid's can feel that connection, didn't your..." Bane just stopped when he figured out why Chris was so worried about him sensing these emotions. One of the Halliwell sisters had married a cupid; of course Coop. Bane rubbed his eyes. "He hasn't spoken to you?"
"No. But he has been ignoring me recently. Crap. Think he told my Aunt Phoebe?" Chris leaned into the book. "No, didn't tell Aunt Phoebe yet or I'd know it. I'd be blasted into a billion pieces. Do you know the kind of trouble I'd be in if he even hints at that?" Chris said more to himself than to Bane. The very thought of having another sex talk with his dad creeped him out. "When did I lose control?" Chris buried his face in the book.
"Take a deep breath. We also have to be discrete. So if he follows the rules, there is no tattling on you."
"But he knows and is ignoring me until he can figure out how to approach me. Just perfect." Chris stood up and started pacing trying to figure out how to deal with his uncle. Even exchange secret for secret. Chris thought in his head. No reason for either of their secrets to become known among the family. "That could work." Chris mumbled.
"What could work? Never mind, back to the original conversation please." Bane looked at Chris who was talking to himself, he figured the kid was crazy. "You've dated other girls but none of the other girls were special."
"Every girl is special. What kind of Cupid are you?" Chris stopped pacing and looked at the page with a sneer.
"Kid don't mess with me. Dodging the conversation isn't going to stop me."
"They were more like friends."
"Friends?" Bane just smiled which had Chris blushing.
"Yes, very good friends."
"And Katina's not a friend."
"Right now, I'm not sure what she is."
"After you figure out what is wrong with my powers, I'm going to do you a favor."
"I'm not doing this for any kind of gain."
"Which is why I'm going to do it."
***********************************************************************************************
Wyatt adjusted his tie and walked toward the table. Barring any other demonic interruptions this night should be perfect. As he got to the table he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"So sorry. It couldn't be helped."
"I just got back myself. I was hoping that you wouldn't make it back before I did."
"Well we're both here now. You smell amazing." He hadn't meant to say it out loud, and blushed a little when she smiled. The only thing to do was to go with it. "You really do."
"Thank you." Andy nibbled on her bottom lip as she looked at the menu.
"I made you uncomfortable."
"No. Not really. I was just thinking the same about you, but didn't have the nerve to say it."
"Chris says things just pour out of my mouth without my brain editing the information."
"I find it charming." Wyatt took her hand was just ready to say something else when they were interrupted.
"Hey Wy." A little pixie of a girl who had a short cap of black hair with little curls and eyes the color of violets leaned over and kissed Wyatt's cheek.
"Hi Joy. Joy Saunders this is my date Andrea Payton."
"Nice to meet you." Andy held out her hand and Joy took it. But instead of the light shake Andy expected; Joy just held her hand and looked her over. Trying to determine if this girl was good enough for the bosses son.
"Yes, nice to meet you too."
"Joy!" Wyatt nudged her. "Don't stare down my date its rude."
Wyatt looked at Andy. "Joy is very loyal to my mom. I mean to the point of obsessive." Joy just smiled.
"I'll take that as a compliment. I love your mom." She smiled as Roy sat their drinks down. "Thank you sweetheart."
"Speed it up darling, we're getting over run and James is having another panic attack."
"I'm shocked. So what can I get for you two this evening?"
"I'm going with the lamb."
"Another shock." She feigned surprise.
"I know what I like." Wyatt sipped his drink and looked over at Andy.
"And you Andrea." Andy looked up at her and back at Wyatt.
"What do you recommend?"
"I'm partial to my mom's lamb."
"Not a lamb fan." She felt pressured by Joy's gaze. "I'll have the halibut."
"Excellent choice. Salads for both of you?"
"That's fine thank you." Andy said with a smile.
"Sounds good Joy." She looked at Andy again, not quite trusting her.
"I'm not sure I like her." Andy said quietly but Wyatt chuckled.
"You either love her or hate her. There is no in between with her. She always reminds me of that old cartoon character Betty Boop." Wyatt said with a bright smile.
"Did you want to be alone with her?" Andy glared at him.
"Joy?" Wyatt shifted uncomfortably in his seat and looked over at Joy as she hurried toward the kitchen. "She's like a sister. Plus she's dating Roy."
"Really? Joy and Roy?" She nearly giggled. "Isn't he a little old for her?"
"She's into older men." Wyatt leaned forward, he loved the way she looked, and really loved the way she smelled. "Rumor was when she was at Baker she was dating Principal Nichols and that's why he had to retire so abruptly." Okay he'd used the rumor as an excuse to lean in, to touch her hand.
"That's a lie."
"Joy isn't talking, but that's the rumor I heard."
"Are you talking about me Wyatt?" She sat the salads down.
"Principal Nichols rumor, true or false?" Andy asked Joy, there was something in Wyatt's eyes that she couldn't quite pin down. Was he amused?
"Which part?" She gave Andy a look that just told her the real answer and walked off and Andy's mouth dropped open. "I thought you had to be kidding."
"She's a really interesting person. But she's settled down since she started dating Roy. Apparently Roy has a question for her tonight." Wyatt couldn't keep a secret to save his soul, so this one had been killing him for nearly a month. If he could just keep his mouth shut through the night Roy wouldn't kill him. "Hey, this evening isn't about Joy."
"I reserve the right to grill you about the rumor later."
"Okay. But I don't know any more than I told you." Wyatt shrugged. Awkward pauses in conversation wasn't something he wanted to happen tonight so he cleared his throat and picked something random to talk about. "What did the principal want to talk to you about yesterday?"
"I'm in charge of the senior dinner this year. So she spoke to Mrs. Davies and I about where we thought it should be. Gave us our budget too."
"Any ideas?"
"Thinking the gym and some pizzas with the budget she's allowing."
Andy sighed as she thought of the insignificant amount of money they were allowed to use for one of the most important events of the year.
"I could probably squeeze out some time and help you if you'd like?" Andy looked at him and tried to determine what was wrong with Wyatt Halliwell; because he seemed to good to be true.
"I'd appreciate that. I called around yesterday and got some different prices for venues, it might have to be the gym."
"Last year it was at the new hotel, right?"
"Lisa Silver's dad was the manager and they got a massive discount."
"I could talk with my mom, see what kind of discount she could give you on catering the banquet." Wyatt said as he held her hand across the table. What would it cost him though? His children would probably still be held as slaves to the restaurant, but right now he didn't really care.
"That would be so amazing to get Halliwell's to cater. Do you think your mom would do it?"
"I'll ask." Sure, that would be an interesting conversation. Hey mom, could you cater the school's senior dinner this year, oh ya, by the way could you do it for a really big discount? Crap, what did he get himself into? But as he looked into her eyes, it didn't really matter, he'd do just about anything to impress her. Then he looked over her shoulder and groaned. "Darn it, can you excuse me please. There is a small problem that my mom would not be very happy with."
"Oh, okay." Andy pulled a small notebook and pen out of her purse and jotted something down. She ate some of the salad and groaned. "Oh please be able to get your mom to cater. If the salad is this good, the food must be to die for." Andy said to herself.
Meanwhile Wyatt walked across the restaurant again. His eyes were narrowed as he bumped into Roy.
"You okay Wy?" Roy asked as Wyatt looked around the area.
"I'm great, I just saw a friend go into the storage room. He's been having problems this week. I have to deal with him. Can you keep an eye on Andy for me?"
"Sure. No problem."
Wyatt walked into the storeroom and looked around and scowled.
"Now I'm officially pissed. Get your demonic ass out here and fight."
Wyatt cautiously walked through the storeroom; he'd seen the demon enter here, but where the heck had he gone? Oh for his mother's ability to freeze; then he could freeze the room, deal with the demon and go back to his business.
"Come on have a heart, I'm trying to have a social life here." Wyatt looked around with weary eyes. "We can make a date, just the two of us to fight this out tomorrow. Don't you have some kind of demonic girlfriend that you'd rather spend Valentine's Day with; rather than me?" An athame hit a box right next to his head. "Apparently not."
It was a cold air that had him freezing in place; it just settled around him like a warning. Then he heard the whistling and cringed. It was like the other night with the whistling that he and his brother had heard.
"Okay that was creepy the other night, and guess what still creepy." Wyatt didn't like this game, he was out of there. Chances that the demon would show himself in public, were slim. So he'd deal with it later.
Then it happened, it came out of no where slamming Wyatt against the door. With a thud he landed knocking his head off the floor. A dark shadow appeared over Wyatt as the twice blessed witch lay unconscious.
*****************************************************************************
Victor came out of his bedroom ready to go out and look for the teens when D.J. shimmered in. With a heavy sigh Victor was relieved until he saw Chris wasn't with him. D.J. had his back turned when he formed completely and Victor grabbed his shoulder.
"Oh for the love of cheese, why is everyone trying to make me have a heart attack tonight?" D.J. sunk onto the floor and grabbed his chest dramatically.
"Awfully jumpy son."
"Have you met your grandsons, I have reason to be jumpy." He mumbled as he took a deep breath and leaned his head on his knees. "Chris asked me to stop back and make sure you were okay. To let you know we're fine."
"Where the heck were you guys, I was worried?"
"Cupid issues."
"Cupid?"
"Chris took him back to the manor to check out the Book of Shadows. Chris had a thought to help him fix his problem."
"So he's home?" D.J. nodded.
"Is that coffee?"
"Yes."
"I'll give you twenty dollars for some hot coffee."
"Cold?"
"I'm better than before. We were outside for about three hours, I think my blood is frozen." D.J. took a sip of the hot coffee and moaned. "I love you." Victor smirked not knowing whether he was professing his love for him or the coffee.
"So what about this Cupid?"
"His powers aren't working properly and Chris is obsessed with figuring out why. I guess I should go back and look out for the nerd."
"Much longer you think?"
"Probably not, now that Chris has Bane nailed down, it shouldn't take long. Don't worry he's fine."
"Why didn't you boys tell me you were going out?"
"Didn't want to worry you. Plus, Chris didn't want to chance sleeping with his powers not functioning properly. The whole dreamwalking power is dangerous when its not controlled properly." D.J. said calmly. "He's still trying to get a handle on it, so he's afraid to sleep and have no control at all.
"So he's not sleeping?"
"Not right now. We've determined the two of us don't need as much sleep as Wy. But he's okay right now; I swear." D.J. looked at Victor and sighed. "Chris just didn't want you to worry."
"We have reservations for breakfast in three hours."
D.J. looked at the clock and nodded. "Breakfast. Three hours, got it." With that he shimmered out. Victor Bennett went back to the kitchen and decided to sit down with another cup of coffee and let his grandson do what he had to do.
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His green eyes sparkled as he realized the text had changed. The Book of Shadows would forever fascinate him. It wasn't like he memorized the book or anything; he wasn't that big of a geek. But he had an idea of the lay out of the book; and he had some passages memorized. This page, while basically the same as it had been a moment before when he was reading it had a new passage.
"Got it. Thank you." He said to which ever relative had assisted him in his moment of need. "Simple potion; easy spell. Under normal circumstances I'd say no problem. But I'll give it a try." Chris started gathering ingredients like someone who had done the task a million times.
"Potion? What does it do?" Bane was only slightly concerned about allowing a kid to whip up a potion.
"Send us to the exact moment when your powers went wacky. I still think it has to do with your ring. I mean aren't your powers generally tied into the ring itself?"
"The bulk of it is in the ring. But you have to have something to draw from. You can't be a Cupid without the ability to feel emotions."
"Like an empath?"
"Sort of. There's a difference. I don't have a true empath's ability, but I have enough for the ring amplify the ability I do have. Thought your uncle was a Cupid."
"He is, Cupid's just never really interested me to be honest with you." Chris shrugged as he measured the ingredients with care. "Uncle Coop is just that, an uncle. He's a cool guy. Uncle Coop and Uncle Henry do things with us that we wouldn't be able to get away with; with our parents." Chris smiled as he looked up at Bane.
"What's that?" Bane asked anxiously as Chris picked up a vile of bright red liquid.
"Do you really want to know?" Chris looked up with a gleam in his eye then added the bright red ingredient as Bane just shook his head. When the potion swirled in the cauldron Chris let out a mental whoop. "Excellent. Thank you, at least I can still make potions." Chris made a mental note to whip up some potions to protect himself since his powers for the most part were out of commission; but maybe this meant they weren't out for long. "Okay, I say the spell, we swallow what's in the tube and it should take us to the exact moment where we need to be."
"And if we end up in the wrong moment?"
"Well Suzy Sunshine thanks for the vote of confidence." Chris sighed. "I can do this." He whispered to himself. "Ready?" Bane looked unsure but nodded.
From the East and From the West
Harm to none I do attest
We simply search for the moment in time
To find the juncture of the crime
Take us now and pinpoint the spot
So we may undo what someone wrought
They both downed the liquid and just as D.J. shimmered in; they faded out.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. No, this isn't good. You were supposed to wait for me!" D.J. groaned as he peeked at the page and the book quivered. "Of for the love of cheese, I'm not evil you stupid..." The book snapped shut. "I've been around you my whole life you stupid piece of kindling." The Book of Shadows glowed slightly, opened and snapped shut again. "I'm arguing with a book. I've officially lost my mind. I'm going to need therapy. Or maybe I need sleep." D.J. looked at where he last saw his friend and sighed. Instead of sleeping D.J. Anderson paced the attic and scowled at the book; hoping that whatever was going on with Chris wasn't going to put him in any danger.
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Andy finished her salad and smiled happily. Whatever dressing Piper Halliwell had created for the salad, was genius. With her mouth now watering for the halibut she sipped her tea when she glanced outside and winced. Taking her purse and wrap she stood up and walked toward the front door.
"Wyatt said he'd be right back." Roy said trying to save his friend's date from making a run for it.
"Ah, I saw my brother outside. I just need to have a word with him. Tell Wyatt I'll be right back if he gets back before I do."
"Oh, alright."
Andy smiled sweetly at him and then huffed; she hurried outside the restaurant walked toward the parking lot.
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They appeared in a busy city; Chris looked around and determined it was probably New York. The passing taxi cab confirmed his suspicions. Bane looked around and started walking, so Chris had no choice but to follow.
"Do I get a hint or are you going to make me guess?" Chris had to take large strides to keep up with the man; as he walked with purpose down the crowded street. The way he walked reminded Chris of Wyatt when he was at school; except Bane was much more intense.
"I was here earlier this week. Right over there." Bane pointed toward a little restaurant that had a few tables on the sidewalk. It looked innocent enough; a place to take a date or sit around with friends. Right now there was one couple a man and woman sitting at one of the tables.
"So we wait for you to...." Just then they saw Bane from the other day as he stood just out of sight of the couple. "There you are."
"Okay, so now what?"
"We watch you and see what happened. The spell is saying this is where your powers were messed up." Chris watched the Cupid; he determined he didn't have the patience for the job. "How do you just wait like that? There's not even a lot of danger in the job." At least in the underworld if he had to wait for information there was the sense of danger that pumped up the adrenaline; this kind of waiting was just downright boring.
"Patience. And the joy of a job well done."
"Not exactly a gift my brother and I were born with." Chris smiled as he continued watching the other Bane. Then it happened a man total black walked by the other Bane and brushed the version of Bane slightly.
"There." Chris was already crossing the street; he didn't take his eyes off the guy in black who stopped just a few feet away from the Cupid.
"There what?" Bane watched himself didn't see anything unusual; but the kid was seeing something. But Bane winced as the teen nearly got hit; he was being reckless and wasn't watching the vehicles. Bane at first figured that they couldn't be harmed here; but considering he'd already gotten bumped by taxi he determined that they were real enough. "The cars are very real!" He shouted as Chris nearly got hit.
But the cars were secondary to the youngest Halliwell brother. Somehow, he recognized the man immediately; but he couldn't see his face, he could see the other Bane perfectly and even the couple settled at the table. But the man's face was unrecognizable; except for the eyes. How was it possible to know someone without seeing their face clearly? Chris couldn't figure out how that was possible unless the man was in the Book of Shadows; or he'd seen him in a dream. The man was standing by nearby storefront and as if he knew Chris was there looked directly into his eyes.
The man's crystal eyes left Chris cold. That's all he could see of the man were his eyes, he froze in place as he and the man just stared at each other. There was a loud horn and he turned to look at the extremely close taxi that was coming right for him. Before he could react Bane pushed him onto the sidewalk and jumped out of the way of the taxi.
"You nearly got killed! Thought you said you were smart? From where I'm standing kid, you're as dumb as a brick." Bane's eyes narrowed as he yelled at Chris. But Chris was too busy looking for the man who had stopped him with a stare; but he'd disappeared.
"Did you see him?" Chris asked quietly.
"Who?" Bane finally looked at him and realized that he had seen something.
The guy in black." Chris looked up at Bane and then back to Bane's other self. "He bumped you."
"Okay, kid, its the city, you tend to get bumped a lot."
"No, after he bumped you he stood right behind you." Chris bit down on his bottom lip as he was feeling like something wasn't right. "Then he saw me; like he expected me to be here."
"Pardon me?"
"He stared right into my eyes, Bane. I couldn't see his whole face just his eyes. But it was like I knew him and he knew me."
"So this has nothing to do with me; it was a set up to lure you here. Is that what you're saying?" Defensively, Bane narrowed his eyes and put a hand on the teen's shoulder.
"I don't know; I need to think." Chris pushed his fingers through his shaggy hair nervously and paced.
It was then that he heard the tune from the other night. Chris froze in place and listened to the whistling. Then something touched his neck, it was bitter cold whatever it was. Like it was taking every bit of warmth from his body. The wicked laugh only persisted in making the situation worse.
Bane didn't know what was going on, but Chris had gone from confused to terrified in a blink of an eye. So he touched Chris' shoulder again and he sunk to the sidewalk.
"Chris? What was that?" Bane knelt beside him and waited for color to come back to Chris' face.
"Reminder of the other night." Chris said quietly as he only now opened his eyes then he rubbed his hands over his face.
"Okay this was a mistake. How do we get back?"
"The scenario has to play out."
"Great. I'm going to be really ticked off if someone is using me to hurt you kid."
"Not doing much for me either." Chris got up with Bane's help and rubbed his throat.
That little episode would wait until later. For now he had to worry about Bane's problem. Others first self last, it had become Chris's mantra since he'd rescued Alwynne back in October. But how would someone know that he'd be in Stockholm this weekend at all? How would someone know that he'd notice Bane's powers weren't functioning and offer to help? Those questions were only two of the million that raced through his head. Chris looked down the street at the couple. He'd have to tell Wyatt, the two of them would search the Book of Shadows, find the person and vanquish him. That comforted him a little; but not enough to stop him from shaking.
"Focus Halliwell." Chris rubbed his neck. "They were who you were helping?" Chris nodded to the couple at the table.
"Yes." Bane looked at Chris anxiously; then back at the couple. They were discussing something rather intensely making him wince.
"They don't look too happy."
"No." Bane felt like such a failure for not realizing he had a problem immediately. "So it started with them."
"I'd need to check out the book; find that guy and reverse whatever he did. But if not, I think I can help you get your powers working."
"Really? So we're going back to the attic?"
"Home." Chris said taking comfort in the word.
"Okay. Soon?"
Chris just nodded. "Here we go." They faded out yet again. But instead of the manor, they were in the cafeteria at his high school. "Oh no."
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The Virtual Series
The Virtual Series
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Destiny is now...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
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Karma: 2 | | Re: SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Reply #7 on Sept 18, 2009, 5:47pm » | |
Chapter Seven
While he considered himself a pretty normal teenage kid (the whole magical thing excluded) and used curse words occasionally, Christopher Halliwell never figured it was necessary to use them multiple times in one sentence. Chris always figured people who did so had an acutely limited vocabulary and limited brain cells to match. But right now was the exception to the rule. The words that were pouring out of Christopher Halliwell's mouth would have shocked his mother. Each and every word was directed at no one in particular, but said with enough venom that even Bane winced.
Despite the slight wince Bane watched with fascination as Chris let out a litany of curse words that would have made a trucker blush. If you went on appearances alone the kid looked like he was used to throwing those words around on a regular basis, but if he were a betting man Bane's money would be on the kid saving them up for special occasions. Today seemed to be the lucky day. Usually Bane might have even considered it amusing, but there was something about the way Chris said 'oh no' that he knew wasn't good.
"What's going on? Where are we?" Bane didn't see anything in this wide open space that looked remotely dangerous.
"High school." Chris sunk into one of the chairs. He put his arms on the table then laid his head down. "If I'm not mistaken we're in my school's cafeteria the day my powers were messed up." That sentenced was muffled, but Bane heard it and sat beside him.
There was something to be said for being a Cupid, there was very little stress involved in the job; usually. But today his head felt like it was going to explode, Bane thought as he rubbed his temples. His young companion didn't seem to be fairing any better by the way he was groaning.
"Why does everyone hate me?" It was so melodramatic that Bane snorted.
"You said your friend was overdramatic?"
"D.J. is overdramatic; at least eighty percent of the time. But this really sucks."
"I'm with you there, kid."
Chris hated whining; it useless to whine. Whining didn't solve anything. But this was unfair on so many levels. Living through this day once was unbearable. Living through it twice was not fair. Again he groaned. But his mind was working on why he was here again. There had to be a reason. Sitting up he rubbed his face wearily.
"Either my powers still aren't working properly, or whoever gave me the spell didn't specify enough, or maybe I'm meant to see something I missed since I couldn't see that day."
"What do you mean you couldn't see?" With his fingers still on his temples he glared at the sixteen year old; for some reason he didn't think he was going to like this.
"I was blinded by some sort of force field, or something." Chris shrugged. "It was no big deal." Then he got up and walked toward the door at the far side of the cafeteria; he saw himself from the other day being led down the hall by his brother. "This is where my powers were damaged." Chris nodded with his head for Bane to look.
Bane got up and crossed the space in a few strides then glanced over the head of the teen to where a mirror image of the kid stood with another teenager.
"They froze Wy, not sure how the heck they were able to do that," Chris said in awe as his older brother stood frozen, his other self was panicking.
"That's your brother?" Bane tried to see some resemblance between the two and didn't see it.
"Yep."
"Don't look anything alike."
"I've heard that before." Actually, he'd heard it his entire life. His good looking all-American brother with blond hair/blue eyes was hardly ever mistaken for Chris' brother unless someone knew them. Instead he was more often mistaken for D.J.'s brother, since they both had green eyes and dark hair. Which tended to annoy all of the parties involved.
He'd asked his mother why they looked so different when he was about six years old. Piper Halliwell pulled him into her lap and started by explaining genetics to him. Wyatt looked like his father and he looked like his mother. When that didn't satisfy her curious son his mom simply told him that he and Wyatt were opposites. The answer had satisfied him, then.
But it was D.J. that gave him the best answer; saying of course they looked like brothers. Dee had said it was in the eyes. Not the color of course, but in the determination.
The scene in the hall shook him out of his past. Chris narrowed his eyes and saw the shadowy outline of the Vritra. They weren't anything like he saw them the other day, but then his vision was just fine. "That's the Vritra?" Chris whispered, but Bane heard it and looked around in confusion.
"I don't see anyone."
"Ah, that's right, ah, not everyone can see them. To be honest with you, only a few magical beings can see them. So, its not surprising you can't. Neither could Wy." Chris shrugged as he watched himself speak to the Vritra. "I can only see them faintly now."
Right now it was the oddest sensation, he could feel the panic in his other self. Chris touched his stomach as it mirrored the feeling he had the other day. The confusion of not being able to see, working on a time limit, having Wyatt frozen, and the fear of the Vritra; that would turn anyone's stomach. But as the moment when the Vritra used his powers approached he wondered. Would fate be so cruel to make him experience it again?
Because he knew just how cruel fate could be; he'd anticipated the pain again and braced for it. Then it happened, Chris moaned pitifully as he squatted down and squeezed his eyes shut. Bane immediately went down to his side.
"What's wrong?"
"Not as bad as it was the other day. I'm okay. I'm okay," Chris said as he grabbed onto the door and with Bane's help stood up. "Just like a tackle," he said to himself, although a tackle never felt like someone was ripping out your internal organs.
"What the heck did they do to you?" The teen was pale and still taking short erratic breaths. With angry eyes he looked back to the hallway; there should be some sort of law against demons attacking children. Where was this kid's Whitelighter? After this was over he had every intention of finding out more about the Halliwell brothers. "Shouldn't be allowed to hurt children," Bane mumbled.
"I'm not a child," Chris snapped as he leaned heavily against the wall.
"Shut up will you! They shouldn't be able to touch you yet. There should be rules."
"I don't think the Underworld really follows the rules. They're kinda demonic, ya know?" Usually this would have been said with a little more humor bordering on sarcasm, but he couldn't produce the correct tone since he felt like he was going to vomit. So he took a deep breath and leaned over. "The Vritra aren't demonic, they have no alliances on either side. Actually just the opposite, both sides pretty much hate them." Chris rubbed the back of his neck. "They needed to get home and used a power I don't have," Chris looked at the figures disappearing and sighed, "...yet. They forced the power, which is how my powers were messed up." Chris closed his eyes as stars swam in front of them. "Felt like someone ripping out all of my organs."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Just like a punch in the stomach, I swear I'm okay." A really hard punch to the stomach. Chris stood then looked out the door; Wyatt was panicking and Chris felt it. "Hurt a heck of a lot worse the other day."
"So they somehow knew you are going to have a certain power one day and used it for their benefit?"
"That's what they do; their main power, I think. By being able to sense which powers someone is going to have they can use them for their advantage. They're scavengers. They'll use what they need, everything else be damned. Could have been so much worse."
"What power was it exactly?"
"Not sure." Chris lied; he didn't want to think about what the Book of Shadows told him about Planewalkers. Someday he'd gain that power and would be a danger to multiple planes of existence. There would be a time when his brother would have to vanquish him, he accepted that. Sort of, he thought as he rolled his neck. But for now he had to focus on his job: protecting innocents and figuring out problems. Those were the things he was best at anyway.
"Don't lie. Either tell me or say its none of my business, but lying ticks me off."
"Emotions. Sorry." Chris nodded understanding Bane's point. "I can't say, not that I don't want to, I just can't."
"Fine." It was obviously not fine as it was a tone he and his brother used with each other often. But he had his reasons.
He watched his brother carry the image of himself into a class room. Chris was about to say they should be ready to head back to the manor when he saw the mist by the classroom. It was a dark and eerie mist, about the size of an adult male. It just lingered outside the classroom, poised to strike. Yet again he heard the creepy laugh as the mist turned and came at them like a bullet.
Bane saw the mist and didn't like it whatsoever. There was an emotion he couldn't quite place coming from the entity. Then it turned, hesitated a moment and came at the youngest Halliwell like a bullet out of a gun. He acted immediately and pulled Chris out of the way, shielding the teen with his body as the mist barely missed them before it dissipated.
"What was that?" Bane asked as he looked at the teen. It seemed like during this little trip that was the only phrase he'd asked.
"I think that was the reason I was sent here, there was a third issue that we didn't know anything about. Could have killed Wyatt right there."
"But it didn't."
"No it didn't. Why?" Now that he saw it he felt more fear than he'd felt that day with the Vritra. His brother had been so vulnerable. "Evil has had its hands on my brother twice in less than a week. Yet they wait. Why? It doesn't make sense unless...."
"They're waiting for something," Bane finished for him. Chris just nodded thoughtfully.
"Someone is planning something big," Chris said as he felt the spell working again, and they both faded out.
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He'd paced the attic of the Halliwell's home for nearly an hour. During such time, D.J. had come up with various ways to handle this little incident. Unfortunately, each way ended up with him in trouble. So instead he focused redirecting his anger. Anger wasn't an emotion that Derek Anderson Jr. allowed himself to feel, most of the time. When he did he felt something that scared the hell out of him. So this was frustrating the heck out of him.
It wasn't like he wasn't used to either of the Halliwell brothers putting themselves in danger. Wyatt's first solo demon hunt had ended up with the eight year old nearly being killed. It was probably the only time he'd seen Piper Halliwell lay a hand on either one of her sons. D.J. assumed Ms. H was trying to shake some sense into her son, but he knew it didn't work.
But being as Chris' powers weren't working and he had no way to defend himself, the half-manticore was ticked off. Even worse, D.J. was supposed to be keeping an eye on Chris for that reason. What if something happened and Chris was hurt? Or worse killed?
Instead of anger he was working himself up to a good panic. But the anger returned quickly as D.J. froze in place; his green eyes blazing while he watched the duo fade back into the room near the Book of Shadows. If looks could have killed; Christopher Halliwell would have been a dead man. D.J. snarled at Chris. Then in three steps he walked over, grabbed Chris by the shirt and pulled him against him.
"What the hell were you thinking? Were you thinking at all? You don't have any powers to protect yourself, you stupid idiot." He released Chris with a push and returned to pacing. But he frowned when Chris walked unsteadily to the couch and sat heavily. "What? What's wrong? What did you do to him?" D.J. spun on his heel, narrowed eyes glaring at Bane.
"I didn't do anything to him." Bane went back to the window deep in thought.
"It's not his fault. Damn spell sent me back to school, the day my powers were damaged. Just a little queasy."
"How? Why?"
"The spell was supposed to take us back to the day Bane lost his power. Which it did." Chris looked at D.J. with a shrug. "It had nothing to do with him. It's about me."
"I'm confused." D.J. looked at Bane then back at Chris.
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Wyatt opened his eyes with a groan as he rubbed his head; a pounding like a sledge hammer was radiating through his head from smacking it off the floor. Chris wasn't the only one who suffered from horrid headaches; when Wyatt got one he was home from school laid out in his room. But Wyatt's weren't from a sports injury; instead the doctor's hadn't been able to determine the cause. He'd stop by his mom's office on the way back to Andy and grab something, before the pain intensified.
As he sat up he saw some movement on his chest. A shot of panic went through him and he scattered backwards against the door; smacking his head again, causing him to swear. The jet black feather drifted slowly through the air and landed on the floor in front of him. Okay, that was scary. This was the third black feather that he and his brother had encountered in the past week. Did this have something to do with the man his mom had seen outside the manor? Or was there someone else? When Chris got home from Sweden they were going to do some major research.
Getting to his feet he scanned the room; not even a mote of dust moved in the room. Quietly he walked through the expansive storage room, hands at the ready, looking for the demon who could have killed him. Though the demon hadn't killed him; instead he'd just left a black feather lying on his chest. Why? When he was certain that he was alone, he looked at the black feather and narrowed his eyes.
Something was going on and Wyatt didn't like it in the least. Walking over he bent down and picked up the feather. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the shimmery movement. He turned and blew up the demon with a flick of his wrist. A small square box clattered to the ground. Wyatt squatted down and picked up the harmless looking box. The coppery-looking box had no identifying marks on it. For a moment he considered opening it, but he could just hear his brother nagging him about researching before opening unknown objects. Not that his brother was overly responsible about everything, but he had to admit, opening demonic boxes wasn't a good idea. Instead he pocketed the box. This would have to wait until later; he had a date to get back to. As he reached for the door he looked back then left the storage room.
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Andrea screamed in frustration as she looked under the sexy-looking, red sports car. She'd searched all over the parking lot for the demon she'd seen, but with no success. Why would a demon show himself, but not want to fight it out? But she wasn't going to complain, since she'd be able to get back to the most important date of her life. She slipped the potion she held in her hand into her purse and walked back toward the restaurant.
It wasn't like demons were an everyday event in her world. For the most part her family had been mostly demon-free as long as she could remember. There was the occasional issue that came up, but her family had been able to live a relatively normal life until they moved to San Francisco. Once here, it was like once-a-week appointment between some member of her family and one demon or another. It was odd.
Once inside she saw Wyatt sitting at the table and all but groaned. Yes, making the cutest boy at school wait for you while you're demon-hunting wasn't exactly the way to make this date a success. As she approached he stood and she nearly melted at his feet.
"I'm so sorry. My brother stopped by; he needed something." She hated to lie to Wyatt. But looking into those baby blue eyes of his she didn't think he'd believe that she was demon-hunting.
"It's okay, I just got back myself." He smiled and leaned forward. "Was he by any chance working on his car?" He wiped a smudge off her cheek.
"Oh." Andy wanted to crawl under the table as she quickly pulled out her compact, rubbing her cheek gently. "Thanks. Such a pain sometimes."
"Brothers?"
"Them too." She put her compact away and looked at Wyatt, who was just staring at her with a charming smile that could have melted her to a puddle. "What?"
"Yesterday on the phone you said you wanted to ask me a question. What was it?"
"Ah, its not important." Her question was going to be asking him about the senior dinner, but he'd already answered that one for her. Her date with Wyatt wasn't about the senior dinner, but it had done her the biggest favor ever.
"Okay, I've got one for you, though."
"Okay." Andy nearly winced as she waited for his question.
"Is red your favorite color?"
Of all the questions Wyatt Halliwell could have asked her, she was confused by this one. How did she answer that without knowing why he asked? There was something in those baby blues that she was confused by. Was it amusement?
"No, not really, why?" Wyatt just stared at her and she bit her bottom lip uncomfortably. Instead of answering he leaned over the table and pushed a stray curl behind her ear, fingering her earring for a second before sitting back.
"It should be, you look spectacular in red." Her eyes lit up and she sighed. Could one boy be this perfect? Attractive, athletic, charming and the most amazing eyes that just made her go weak. At this moment, she was madly in love.
"Thank you." Their eyes were locked and she wondered if she could ever look away again. Then Joy sat their meals in front of them. "Actually my favorite color is blue. Thank you very much; it looks fabulous."
"Enjoy." Joy made herself scarce.
"Me too."
"Me too?"
"Blue. My favorite color. Chris is always teasing me when we play games that I always call blue."
"Really?" He nodded.
"Now that I think about it, I have a lot of blue items. Not that I was purposely collecting them or anything." He shrugged; even his truck was blue.
"Favorite type of music."
"Rock, alternative, more than anything." Wyatt sipped his drink. "You?"
"I listen to just about anything. I'm obsessed with Drake Belthram right now."
"Do you remember him when he went to Baker?"
"Yes. Dark hair, big brown eyes; you could just feel the angst pouring out of him." Andy smiled. "Can't believe he has a hit song. Some one from Baker is actually famous." Wyatt smiled, not wanting to remind her that his mom and aunt had gone to Baker and both were famous in their fields.
"Living the dream." Wyatt smiled as he thought of the email he got from Drake last week for his birthday. That's what Drake said to him: he was living the dream. "He's happy."
"That's right his mom lives across the street from you." Wyatt nodded as he chewed.
"His oldest sister used to babysit us when we were kids."
"I can't believe you are friends with someone famous." Then she realized what she was doing and moaned internally. Andy couldn't believe she was talking about Drake who was no where near as attractive or sweet as the boy sitting across from her. "Stop talking about him stupid," she muttered to herself; but Wyatt had heard it and laughed. Instead of running from the restaurant in humiliation she lifted her chin. "What's your favorite movie?"
"Of what genre?" Wyatt asked seriously; though he was still amused by the embarrassment she'd felt about talking about a friend of his. He was happy for Drake; plus when he came to town, he threw free tickets to his friends which was a plus.
"I wasn't aware you are such a film connoisseur."
"I'm not, but my best friend is. D.J. Anderson owns just about every movie ever made and if doesn't own it, it's not for a lack of trying."
"D.J.? He's your best friend?" Andy found it hard to believe the person she was staring at would be friends with anyone so completely different from him. "I've seen him with you; I wasn't aware he was your best friend. You two don't seem like the type who would hang out together."
"We've been friends since we were in the playpen." It stung. Did people really think he was that shallow? Just because Dee wasn't a jock didn't mean he wasn't a great guy. "Dee is cool, just not into the whole sports thing. Drama department is his baby. Thus the movie obsession." Wyatt focused and then smiled.
"Oh, I didn't mean to offend you."
"You didn't. We're getting to know each other; we've hung out but this is the first real conversation we've been able to have that didn't involve school work or our families."
"Yet we keep circling around them. Funny, isn't it?"
"Always comes back to family." If there was a truer statement ever said, he wasn't sure what it was. "My favorite movie is an older film, The Terminator. I like the whole premise."
"I'm not sure I've ever seen that one."
"Never seen The Terminator? Ever?" Wyatt looked appalled by the thought. She just shook her head. "A travesty we'll have to rectify someday soon."
"Okay." Her stomach was in knots, that was the second time he implied that he wanted to spend more time with her. She wanted to jump with joy.
"What's yours?"
"An older one as well, Gone With The Wind. Such a classic. And the dresses . . ." Andy went all dreamy eyed and then looked at her date.
"Vivian Leigh was D.J.'s obsession when we were sophomore's. I've seen it about a fifteen times."
"Really?" She looked at Wyatt like he had to be kidding, then realized he was completely serious. What else she didn't know about him?
"You should see Chris do his imitation of Clark Gable."
"Is he any good?"
"Actually, yes."
"I can't see him imitating movie stars.
"He's multi-faceted." Wyatt thought that summed his brother up perfectly.
"Your turn."
"Any pets?"
"I have a cat; her name is Misty." She actually pulled out her purse and handed Wyatt a picture of her cat. "She's a Persian; doesn't like my brothers, she has taste." Andy smiled brightly. "They call her my baby."
"She's big." Wyatt handed the picture back, but inside he thought about another cat.
"All fur," Andy said as she put the picture away. "Do you have any pets?"
"No." For a moment he looked down and Andy thought she saw a sadness in those beautiful eyes.
"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"
"No, not at all. Uh, we used to have a cat. Ran away about two years ago." He didn't mention that he and his brother hadn't spoken to their father for months because they blamed him for letting the cat out.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Andy thought about her cat, the family had her before she was born. What would she do someday without her Misty? "Was it a boy or a girl?"
"Girl. Her name was Nothin'."
"Nothin'? How did you come up with a name like Nothin'?"
"Chris named her." Wyatt smiled. "He was just barely six and found her at the park." He was going to tell the story, but it still hurt after all this time.
"Nothin'?" Andy frowned.
"My dad wasn't fond of the name either."
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Flashback
Eight year old Wyatt rolled the ball of yarn to his brother as the kitten chased it clumsily. The raised voices in the kitchen were over said kitten. The boys were used to their parents yelling at each other. But it didn't mean they liked it; though the kitten was distracting them from worrying too much tonight.
"What does the kitten's name matter? She's not your kitten; she's the boy's pet. If they are happy with Nothin' being the kitten's name, so be it."
"How would you like it if your name was Nothin'?"
"Oh, for heavens sake Leo! It's a kitten, not a child," Piper said in exasperation as she pushed her way through the kitchen door and smiled as she watched the kitten chasing the red ball of yarn all over the room. Why hadn't she thought of this before? A pet would be a perfectly normal thing for little boys. It taught responsibility; plus pets were good to develop their nurturing side. Piper Halliwell had a goal; it was raising them to be good men as well as good witches. This would be one more step toward her goal. "Nothin', come here baby." The kitten obeyed happily as Piper sat the bowl of cream on the floor; the kitten lapped it up with enthusiasm.
"Chris, don't you want to give her a real name?" Leo asked as he knelt beside his six-year-old, hoping to reason with the child who was usually reasonable.
"Nothin' is a real name. It's her name. She answers to it." Chris tried to explain it to his father so he would understand. The six-year-old got on his knees and touched his father's cheek to get his full attention, like his dad did to him when he wasn't paying attention. "That would be like changing Wyatt's name now that he knows it. It would be confusin'."
"Confusing." Piper laughed at Chris' approach, then corrected him as Leo huffed and rubbed a hand over his face. Leo got to his feet and tried to determine how to fix this problem.
"Wyatt, do you really want a cat named Nothin'?"
"It's a cool name, Dad. Can we get a dog, too?" Wyatt asked a he laid out on the floor and stroked the kitten's tail. "We could name him..." Wyatt thought it out carefully. "...Somethin'." His father groaned and sat on the edge of the chair.
"No dogs!" Piper said as she looked at her son. "Cats are a witches animal. Cats I'll accept." Piper squatted next to the kitten and ruffled her fur.
"Can I get a frog or a bat then? Daddy said that they could be witchy animals too."
"Witches." Piper corrected then stood up and walked over to where Wyatt was lying. She smiled at her oldest son but her eyes were narrowed so that he knew it wasn't a real smile. "Wyatt." Piper squatted down next to her eight-year-old and touched his cheek gently. "You bring a frog or a bat into this house and both you, your father and your little pet will be living outside. We have a cat. You and Chris will share the kitten. Period." She smiled at her husband who gave a forced smile to his wife then rubbed his forehead in frustration.
"Yes, mam'." Wyatt moved forward so that he could lay beside the kitten. "Why couldn't you find a dog?"
"Dogs smell," Chris said as he touched Nothin's tail. "Worse than you do." Wyatt stuck out his tongue and Chris repeated his brother's actions.
"Enough," Piper said as she stood up and picked up the ball of yarn.
"Time to get ready for bed, guys." Leo plucked Chris off the floor. The collective groan between their sons had both parents smiling. It was a nightly occurrence over the past few years; but the older they got the more they argued.
"But I'm not tired," Chris whined as he laid his head of Leo's shoulder and yawned. Leo patted Chris' back and kissed his dark locks. Leo could feel his little body relaxing and knew he was going to sleep quickly if Wyatt allowed it. But looking at Wyatt he didn't think it was going to happen.
"Can Nothin' sleep in our room?" Wyatt asked as he stood up and hugged his mother, who dropped a kiss on his forehead.
"I don't think so." She pushed his bangs off his forehead. "I think she'll sleep in the laundry room where her litter box is. She's just a baby; she has to get used to us and her surroundings."
"Can I sleep in the laundry room?" Chris asked as he looked hopefully toward his mother. "She's just a baby and may get scared. It's her first night here in the manor."
Piper shared a proud smile with her husband who hugged Chris tightly and sat him down. Chris was always quick; picking up on the word 'baby' gave him room to debate the issue. He leaned against his father's leg and yawned.
"No, you may not. Off you go," Leo answered as he swatted Chris' butt lightly and guided him toward the stairs. Then he tickled Wyatt as he hurried by. There was giggling and chattering as the boys walked slowly up the stairs to their bedroom. When they were both upstairs he looked at Piper who was sitting on the ground next to the kitten. "Nothin'?"
"Lighten up Leo. Look at her, she's nothin' but a little ball of fur."
Piper was now curled up on the floor nuzzling the kitten. His family had fallen in love with the kitten already and he knew he was beat.
"Nothin'." Leo shook his head and hurried upstairs to make sure his boys were getting ready for bed.
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D.J. Anderson looked at his friend; Chris was leaning over and seemed to be deep in thought while the Cupid was just standing at the window, lost in his own thoughts. He'd always hated long silent pauses.
"Chris, what's going on? Why do you think this is about you? His powers were whacked out before you even knew him."
"I..." Chris stood up and walked to the Book of Shadows and just placed a hand on the family heirloom. "I think that Bane was targeted and manipulated." Chris leaned over the book for comfort; he'd always felt the power radiating from the Book of Shadows. To him it was as much a member of the family as his own brother. So just leaning over it gave him needed assurance after the instant replay at school. "Bane, were you supposed to be in Stockholm tonight? I mean you have a list, certain assignments that you have to complete, correct?"
"Something like that. I felt a pull." Bane walked away from the window, toward the door, and leaned heavily against it. "Sometimes I have an assignment yet I feel this pull, like I have to be elsewhere for something. Yesterday morning I felt that pull." Bane narrowed his eyes. "So I was manipulated to show up around you so that you'd take notice. So he could take a jab at you."
"Sounds about right."
"Who was he?" D.J. sat on the couch and looked at Chris.
"Not sure, I couldn't see his face. I just had this feeling that I knew him. Then at school, I saw a misty figure, it flew at me and then dissipated."
"Okay, that's creepy."
"So, you said you thought you had a way to get my powers back? As it is other Cupid's are being inconvenienced by this."
"Now that I know it's not a curse, I think I have just the spell to get your groove back. Hopefully, before you get into trouble."
As if on schedule, a tornado of hearts appeared in the center of the room. The tall dark-haired man looked at Bane then turned at looked at his nephew.
"Christopher, do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?"
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Piper had her arms circled around her husband's neck as they danced to the music. Despite the fights and disagreements that they often had, they loved each other furiously. Tonight it was just the two of them; and despite the feeling that something was wrong with Wyatt, she was enjoying herself. With her face tipped up to her husband she kissed him gently.
"We could probably sneak out of here now," Leo whispered as he pulled her closer and leaned his forehead against hers.
"No, I can't; the mayor wants to talk to me after this is over."
"Piper."
"Leo."
"When someone wants to talk to you, that means I have to get dressed up and talk to total strangers. We've discussed this."
"You look so handsome all dressed up, though." She kissed him again. "Your wife is a successful business woman; you'll have to get used to this."
"Never."
"I'll make it up to you."
"Heard that before." But Leo held her tighter, knowing that he'd do what ever she needed and she would make it up to him.
"Do you think Wyatt is okay?"
"Piper, we discussed this, he's a big boy."
"Still my little angel."
"Piper, your little angels are now old enough to date. Wyatt's graduating at the end of this school year, going to college. Chris just got his driver's license. They are no longer little boys. Pretty soon we'll be discussing steady girlfriends, college and sex.
"Bite your tongue."
"It's true."
"I'm not ready for that."
"I know." Leo laughed.
"What? I'm allowed to worry."
"You worry too much."
"Someone is following Wyatt."
"You and your sisters are going to figure it out tomorrow. He can take care of himself."
"I hope you're right."
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They had finished dinner and had ordered dessert. Andy was beautiful and easy to talk to; so all during dinner they'd found out they had a lot in common. They'd spent most of dinner finding out what their favorite things were. Right now they were discussing desserts.
"I'm a girl, any kind of chocolate is my favorite." Andy laughed.
"I've got a soft spot for chocolate cake. For my birthday Chris and I had two huge pieces of cake, devoured every bite."
"You didn't have a party? It was your eighteenth birthday; that's pretty big."
"No. We don't have birthday parties at my house." Wyatt smiled at Joy as she sat their desserts on the table. Wyatt had settled on the chocolate mousse cake; Joy had again let out her fake surprise gasp, which had him smiling. So he was predictable about his tastes. If that was the worst that could be said about him, he figured he was golden. Andy had deliberated and finally decided against chocolate and settled on the crème brûlée. Joy walked off and Andy frowned.
"No parties? Why?"
"We used to have them all the time. Mom loved having big birthday parties; for my sixth birthday we had this cool winter party with trucked in snow." He'd been going down memory lane all night, so remembering the parties they used to have brought a smile to his face. Then then Chris' fourteenth birthday flashed through his mind and the smile faded. "But now we can't." Wyatt picked up his fork and tapped it against the plate.
"Can't?"
"Something really bad happened on Chris' fourteenth birthday; ever since we don't have parties."
"Oh, I'm sorry to pry."
"No, it's okay, just an explanation." Wyatt shrugged. "It causes Chris a lot of stress; so we avoid birthdays." That was putting it as mildly as possible.
"He doesn't seem the type to stress out as something as trivial as a birthday."
Wyatt stopped himself from wanting to glare; she didn't understand. How did you explain that you'd nearly lost your entire family on one sunny day in November? That his brother could relive that experience in his dreams so vividly that it was like living that day all over again. Describe the way his family looked crumpled on the basement floor. Explain that he almost hadn't been able to save them.
"It's not the birthday, but the memory of the day. Ever since then my mom has been trying to minimize his stress, no parties, no balloons, nothing that could be misinterpreted as a party." Wyatt took a forkful of cake. "Even the cake is pretty plain, just a standard cake." Unless it was his brother's birthday and then they just ignored it. Pretended like it didn't exist. Wyatt argued about it for Chris' sixteenth birthday. The argument started with his mother and ended in he and his father screaming loud enough that he'd rather impressively exploded the lights in the kitchen. In the end there had been a family night at the movies, pizza and ice cream sundaes. Chris had opened his presents and cards the day after his birthday. "Do you have parties?" Wyatt asked absently.
"Not since my mom died. Dad, isn't in to the whole party planning thing." Andy smiled politely; she grew up with enough men to know when a subject was uncomfortable for them. He didn't want to discuss it any longer, period. What could have happened to his little brother that was so bad that something as small as a birthday would stress him out? "Are presents outlawed too?" Wyatt smiled; it was real smile, no sadness now. Which was what she hoped for.
"Presents are encouraged; as often as possible." He laughed. "This year was great. Mom and Dad got me clothes, Grandpa gave me a watch, which it seems I've misplaced." He shook his head. "Chris bought me a new journal." Which he needed badly, but hadn't told anyone about. Just one more thing that Chris had a talent for; knowing what people needed before they did. "Got cash from the aunts and uncles. D.J. got me a gas gift card, got some other gift cards from some of the guys." He shrugged. "It was a profitable birthday." He didn't mention that Caitlin had bought him I.D. bracelet. Was it tacky to wear jewelry one girl purchased when on a date another? It was probably safer not to mention it.
"Then the other day Mom and Dad took us out and got a new stereo system for my truck, Chris got a new computer, and D.J. a great viewing screen. Gotta love impulsive parents."
"Wow, so they bought the three of you gifts for your birthday?"
"No, this was a random day; mom just showed up at school and boom, let's go shopping." He shook his head. "Something about how she wanted us to remember that we had happy childhoods or something like that." Wyatt shrugged. "Then got another today. I love my Mom a lot." Wy smiled as he patted his wallet happily.
"I love her too. This is really amazing." Andy moaned as she took a spoonful of the decedent dessert. "You keep a journal?"
"Since junior high. It was an assignment for class then it became something I enjoy doing." Wyatt shrugged and looked at his old watch. They'd taken a little more time here at the restaurant than he thought. The walk in the park would have to be really short if they wanted to have time at the dance club. "Now I don't even think about it. It's like showering and brushing your teeth."
"You are a constant fascination to me, Wyatt Halliwell. By looking at you, you seem like the perfect jock. Mr. Popularity." That was the truth, but she'd never expected him to be so nice. "But then you find out that your best friend is in the drama club. You love him enough to sit and watch old movies with him, even if you don't want to. You still mourn a cat that you lost two years ago. You love your little brother enough to give up something you enjoyed."
"What do you mean?"
"You enjoyed the birthday parties as much as your mom."
"Andy..."
"No, I could hear it in your voice." He started to open his mouth and she shook her head. "I'm trying to give you a compliment, let me finish." Andy moaned again as she ate a little more of her dessert. "I may ask your mom to adopt me. Um, where was I?" Andy looked at Wyatt, who was just staring at her. He was blushing slightly, which she found so sweet. "You keep a journal? That just tops it; you just happen to be the most interesting person I've ever met. What else don't I know about you, Wyatt Halliwell?"
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The Virtual Series
The Virtual Series
member is offline
Destiny is now...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Your Computer
Karma: 2 | | Re: SoD-4: Cupid's Chokehold (Stockholm Take 2)
« Reply #8 on Dec 24, 2009, 4:56pm » | |
Happy Holidays!!!! My gift to all.
Chapter Eight
"Uncle Coop!" Chris Halliwell winced as he clung to the podium while his uncle narrowed his brown eyes at him. Crap, crap, crap. He wasn't quite ready to have to wheel and deal with his uncle quite yet. "I can explain."
"I doubt it." Coop turned suddenly, if he had been looking angrily at his nephew, it was the other Cupid in the room that was going to receive his fury. "What are you doing anywhere near my nephew?"
"Uncle Coop..."
"Shut up, did I tell you to speak?"
"No." Chris said miserably.
"What are you doing here, Bane?" The other Cupid's name was said with a scowl.
"I've got business with Chris, Coop." Bane quipped back his eyes were narrowed; and he readied himself for the fight with Chris' uncle.
"Oh no, he's sixteen years old; you've got absolutely no business with my nephew."
"Uncle Coop..." Chris tried to get into the conversation but Bane just shook his head.
"Shut it." Coop snapped out.
"You know what Coop?" Bane said antagonistically. "I do have business with him; whether you like it or not. You have no say in the matter." The two of them were nose to nose.
"Uncle Coop, it's not Bane's fault. I approached him, not the other way around." Chris looked over at Bane; he pulled the only card he knew that his uncle would grab at. "He more or less just saved my life, so take it easy on him."
"What happened? Where's your mom? Have you told her?" Chris sneered at the automatic reaction from his uncle. Like he wasn't capable of taking care of himself.
"It wasn't so bad; Bane took care of it. Mom and dad are doing the whole Valentine's Day thing." Chris said calmly.
"Let's call your mom and..."
"No! You are not going to mom. The situation is under control and now I'm helping him."
"We've discussed this before. I'm the adult/you're the kid. I have to tell your mom if something is going on." Chris tapped his fingers off the Book of Shadows like he was deep in thought. It was now time to pull out his ace in the hole.
"Wonder how Aunt Phoebe is going to react to knowing that you lost your wedding ring? That you replaced it with that cheap one that looks like yours, no engraving on the inside, no magical blessing." With his eyes narrowed Chris looked at his uncle with a sly smile.
"You wouldn't." Coop lost all color to his face. He'd been keeping the secret from his wife for well over a year now. Just the thought that his nephew would tell her had him chilled to the bone.
"Try me." Chris lifted his chin; but there was a defiant smirk on his face. Coop looked pained as he rubbed the ring on his finger. He'd be a dead man, especially if his wife knew where he lost it. This was what happened for hanging out with his nephews. "Come on Uncle Coop, I have this under control. Bane helped me, I'm about to help him. Then everything will be golden." Chris looked at his uncle and sighed. "Come on Uncle Coop, there is no reason for Aunt Phoebe or Mom to know anything. You keep my secret, I keep yours." Coop just stared at his nephew trying to determine his nephew's true purpose.
"I hate that I can only read part of your emotions, punk." Chris smiled brightly. Coop looked at D.J. and the teen winced. But Coop just shook his head. "We're behind because of you." Coop looked into Bane's eyes.
"It's not my fault." Bane said as he looked at Coop.
"I hear that phrase all the time these days." Mostly from his newly rebellious teen-aged daughter.
"Uncle Coop let me find the spell that will help Bane and you two can go and spread your love throughout the world; or whatever it is you do." Chris opened the Book flipping to a certain section. Coop groaned.
"A spell? Do I even want to know?"
"Not really." Bane mumbled as he put his hands inside his pockets.
"Demon I think." Chris muttered as he found what he was looking for and started reading it ignoring the glare from his uncle. "Look into it later." Chris said searching the Book for the correct spell.
"I have to go. Chris, when this holiday is over, we have a date. We need to talk."
"Ah..." Chris looked up trying to keep his face blank but inside he was panicking and looked back at the Book of Shadows nonchalantly. "I'll see if I pencil you in." It was a lame attempt at keeping him at bay. But his uncle didn't seem amused; instead he walked over. Coop gently pulled the back of Chris' hair back so that the teen was looking him directly in the eye.
"We have a date or I will tell your mother. Phoebe's wrath be damned. Got it?"
"Yes sir." Chris knew his uncle was mad; seeing as Uncle Coop hardly ever was angry, Chris knew he was serious. "After school Tuesday okay?"
"I'll let you know." He glanced at Bane. "Five minutes pal."
"You're not my boss, pal."
"Oh, you want to play it this way?"
"I play it anyway I want. Coop." The name came off with a hint of disdain.
"Wow, do Cupid's really fight? Isn't that against the rules? D.J. finally spoke. Chris knew D.J. hated being silent this long; but he'd always had impeccable timing especially when he knew Chris and Wyatt were getting ready to fight. Both Cupid's stared at the older of the teens with a snarl.
"What do you think it says in the Manticore rulebook about Manticores who scream like a little girl when they go into haunted houses?" Coop gave D.J. a pointed look and glared at Bane once more and left.
"I do not scream like a little girl."
"You keep thinking that Dee." Chris rubbed the back of his neck; if he was really lucky, Uncle Coop would be too tired to meet him. If not, Tuesday was going to be really interesting.
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Wyatt walked hand in hand with Andy through the park. With the dance club in sight, he slowed down their pace. It was nice, just the two of them; spending the evening getting to know each other better. They kept up their questions throughout dessert. Now they were quiet, just enjoying each others company. Wyatt looked up at the stars and sighed.
"Its a beautiful night, look at all those stars. Its so clear out." Wyatt stated more to himself than to his date.
"Too bad the city drowns out most of them."
"Not all of them." Wyatt pointed. "That's Gemini, there."
"How can you tell?" Andy asked as she looked skyward.
"When we were kids Chris put the constellations on the ceiling of our bedroom. I pretty much can name all of them. Most of the stars too." Then he winced and wondered if that made him sound like too much of a geek.
"Really?"
"That one there is Pollux its the sixteenth brightest star besides the sun. Beside it over there is Castor, which is the twentieth brightest."
"Wow, you do know your stuff, huh?" Andy tried to determine how he could tell.
"Gemini is called The Twins. Kinda looks like they are holding hands." He took her hand and kissed it gently. Andy looked up and smiled brightly; then looked back skyward.
"Oh I see it now." She leaned on him and pointed herself.
"Gemini is best seen this time of year." Wyatt looked at her as she smiled skyward; she looked like she was enjoying herself. So Wyatt turned her quickly; then leaned her back against him; pointed over her shoulder then settled his arms around her. "Over there is Sirius, its the brightest star besides the sun. It's part of the Canis Major constellation."
"Was that a move?"
"Did you like it?"
"I have no complaints." Andy sighed as she leaned her head back against his shoulder and looked at the stars. "How come you have such a hard time in Science when you remember all this stuff?"
Wyatt loosened his grip and then pulled away. Andy turned and looked into Wyatt's eyes. But then he quickly looked skyward as if he were looking for the answers there. He could tell her that after Chris moved out he was stuck with the constellations; but that would be a lie. How did he explain that it was something he used to comfort himself? Those days when he thought he was losing his brother he went through each constellation, each star. At this point, it was like a security blanket.
"We used to lie in bed and took turns naming them. There are eighty-eight different constellations. The ones not on the ceiling were sort of the bonus round. Chris always won, but it became a constant with us. Especially, when we couldn't sleep or our parents were fighting." Wyatt figured it was pretty lame to talk about your kid brother when you were on a date; he'd never done that before. "Anyway, Science is different than Astronomy."
"You two are extremely close."
"More than you'll ever know. I meant it Andy, he has to come first."
"I know. Family should come first Wyatt." Wyatt nodded.
"I didn't mean to show you my nerdy side."
"I don't think you could ever be a nerd Wyatt. Though I think its fascinating how many layers there are to you." Wyatt smiled and leaned into her.
"You haven't seen anything yet." With that he kissed her.
*******************************************************
The deep purple cloud from the potion wafted around Bane's feet. Standing by the table Chris waited anxiously to find out if the potion had worked.
"How will we know?" D.J. asked as he watched the cloud dissipate.
"How do you feel Bane?" Chris didn't know how to answer D.J.'s question. If it had been a witch he would be able to use his powers again. But for a Cupid he wasn't sure.
"I feel..." Bane smiled brightly as he could actually feel more off of both teens that he had before; especially D.J. "I think you did it. I feel normal again."
"We should go back to Stockholm and let you give it another go before we're sure. I don't want you to think you have your powers back only to find out I screwed up some how." Chris said as he grabbed his jacket off the couch.
"You really are only sixteen, huh?" Bane shook his head. "Amazing. Brightest witch of your age I've ever come across."
"Ya, he's our Hermione Granger." D.J. said with a smile.
"Who?" Bane asked as he looked at D.J. like he'd lost his mind.
"He's a movie addict, he was referring to the series Harry Potter."
"Harry who?" Bane looked equally confused. "Who is Harry Potter?"
"Are you serious?" D.J. looked stunned. "Harry Potter happens to be the most famous movie wizard. There were eight movies about him. Are you seriously going to stand there and tell me you've never heard of him?" Bane took a step back and shook his head. "Wow, where do you live? Under a rock?"
"Boy's lets go." Chris laughed as he draped the scarf around his neck.
"We have breakfast reservations in fifteen minutes." D.J. said to Chris as he grabbed his jacket.
"Then lets go."
"I don't need to go to Stockholm to test this." Bane said as he walked over to Chris. "Close your eyes and open your mind."
"Oh no, you're not using me as a guinea pig."
"Trust me. Remember I just saved your butt." Chris hesitated and groaned.
"Absolutely not." D.J. yelled.
"Shut up." Bane said to D.J. "Close your eyes." Chris groaned again and did as he was told.
"Which part of no are you missing?" D.J. said as he grabbed Chris' arm protectively.
"It's okay Dee. Honestly, he's not going to hurt me." It was D.J.'s turn to groan as he looked skyward.
"Wyatt's going to murder me."
Bane put a hand to Chris' chest and took a deep breath. "Now open your mind, take away those mental barriers." That was the hard part for the teen. He'd had so many up since October he didn't know where to begin. "That's it. Perfect."
Chris could feel a warmth radiate through his chest. The longer Bane's hand remained there the harder it was for Chris to breath. His heart was pounding as the heat intensified.
While he was focused on discomfort in his chest; inside his head pictures went by that reminded him of old home movies. Then the picture cleared and he could clearly see the Book of Shadows the triquatra glowed a bright and comforting orange; then the Book opened. On the front page was a picture of his parents; the next page was a cacophony of pictures of he and Wyatt through their lives. The page turned and photos of his aunts, uncles and his cousins appeared. Pictures with his grandfather were there and there were even pictures of his Aunt Prue, grandmother and Grams. Still not understanding; the pages turned now more quickly and each page showed someone different. Pages dedicated to D.J., Hayden, Casp, Caitlin and Ally made him smile. Then more friends pictures appeared of different friends, important people and then different sports, Magic School and even different libraries appeared. The Book of Shadows closed again with a thud. Startled, Chris tried to step back but Bane wouldn't allow it.
"All the barriers Chris." Bane said quietly. "That's it, you can do it."
Chris dropped the last of the barriers and the Book of Shadows shuttered then opened again the pages turned rapidly and a picture of Katina appeared in the center of the page and glowed brightly. When he felt Bane pull back Chris felt the warmth intensify as the pictures faded from his head. But he was confused and looked up at Bane. The Cupid was smiling brightly.
"Good boy. I'm operational again." Bane took a step back and took a deep breath; he looked ecstatic.
"What was that? I don't understand." Chris felt light headed but his heart felt so full it was the most confusing feeling.
"I promised you a favor. I let you see what was in your heart. Remember it." Bane ruffled Chris' hair. "Be safe." He glanced at D.J. "You too." With that he was gone.
"What did you see?" D.J. asked curiously.
"Ah, family, magic, friends, you were there." Avoiding Katina's name.
"You saw me in your heart?" D.J. looked at him. Chris nodded and smiled happily.
"Let's go, we're going to be late for breakfast."
"But..." Chris orbed which had D.J. wincing. Not knowing if he were going to be able to reform was foremost in his mind. "You're supposed to shimmer with me!" D.J. groaned and shimmered back to the apartment.
********************************************************************
The under twenty-one club was packed; as Wyatt held onto Andy's hand tightly. The occupancy rate had to be violated as he pulled her into the corner and took a deep breath. It was overly hot, extremely loud and not what he thought the club would be like on Valentine's Day. This was definitely not what he planned when he read about a sweethearts dance.
"This is insane." Andie yelled into his ear; with the noise he barely heard her. She fanned herself with her purse.
"Did you want to go?" Wyatt asked but before she could answer there was pushing and shoving as two college age guys started to fight. Andy clung to his arm as people crowded around the men.
"We should go!" She said as the crowd was pushed back.
"Come on." Wyatt took her hand and tried to maneuver his way through the crowd. As they reached the outside the cool air hit like a wave. "Okay, that wasn't what was advertised now was it?"
"We could just go back to the park." Andy heard the siren in the distance and knew where the cars were coming.
"That's a much better idea." Hand in hand they crossed the street and walked slowly down the sidewalk. "Sorry, that was a bad idea."
"It was a good idea if the club was doing what was advertised." A slight breeze blew and she gathered her wrap around her.
"Are you cold?" Wyatt immediately took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders.
"Thank you. It was just so hot in there."
"It was. So we have an hour, what do you want to do besides walking through the park?"
"This is nice." She smiled as she smelled his cologne on the jacket and bit down on her bottom lip. The club might have been a bust, but this was definitely a nice little side benefit. "If you weren't here with me where would you be?" Wyatt looked into her eyes and smiled.
"With my grandfather, Chris and D.J."
"Surely you could have found another date." Testing the waters, Andy looked behind them as the police cars arrived at the club.
"Could have, but..." Wyatt pushed his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath. "You're the only one I wanted to go out with."
"Really?" Inside Andrea Reese Payton was singing Hallelujah; but she looked into Wyatt's eyes; her own eyes wide with disbelief as she realized he was serious.
"Really. What about you?" Wyatt looked skyward again, he instinctively went to looking for different constellations.
"Home."
"No other guy?" He looked at her questioningly.
"No one else asked me out."
"Really?" Wyatt started to wonder about the other guys at his school. Were they blind or just plain stupid? "You are the second beautiful girl whose told me that the guys from school hadn't asked them out. I'm beginning to wonder about the guys."
"Beautiful?"
"You look so stunning tonight." He leaned in and kissed her gently.
"Thank you."
"I..." He hesitated doing this but he had to know. "I thought maybe Jack had asked you out."
"Jack Hanson? No, no he didn't ask me out."
"Hmmm... that's good, really good." Wyatt took a deep breath. "I know its a couple weeks away but would you go to the Spring Fling with me?"
"Yes." Andy said too quickly and the winced. "I was hoping you'd ask."
"Well then I'm going to ask something else as well."
"Okay." Wyatt led her to a bench, took his jacket off her shoulders, sat it on the bench then allowed her to sit on his jacket as he sat beside her. "Thank you." It was the most considerate thing a boy had ever done for her.
"I'd like to see you again."
"What?"
"I'd like to go out with you again, before the Spring Fling."
"Anytime."
"No, that's not what I meant. I mean...." He stood up and started pacing.
"Wyatt what's going on?"
"I like you Andy."
"I thought we established that already?"
"I'm not going to date anyone else."
"Okay?"
"I'd like you not to see anyone else as well."
"You mean like we'd be dating?"
"Yes."
"So..." She had to make sure she wasn't hearing things. "I'd be your girlfriend?"
"Yes."
"And you'd be my boyfriend?" Andy wanted to find someplace away from him and do a happy dance, instead she clamped down on her bottom lip and looked at Wyatt with wide eyes.
"Yes."
"Yes."
"I know we haven't known each other that long and we've only had this one date. Though we technically had others if you count grabbing coffee after school and going to the mall together."
"Wyatt I said yes."
"But I like you and I find you fascinating and you're so beautiful. And...."
"Wyatt!" Andy stood in front of him and touched his cheek. "I said yes."
"Really?"
"I said yes. I like you and don't want you seeing any other girls."
"So we're exclusive?"
"Sounds like it."
"Thank heavens, I thought I'd blown it at the club."
"No, this night has been perfect." Except for the unexpected demon showing up, Andy thought. "You are perfect."
"So."
"So."
"I'd like to ask you to go out with again soon, but I have to check my schedule. I'm a little over scheduled." Wyatt said as he grabbed his jacket and gathered Andy against him.
"Tomorrow?"
"No, tomorrow is family day. Monday too."
"It doesn't matter. I'm just so happy that we had this night."
"Me too." He looked skyward with a huge smile on his face.
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