Peyton walked through Japantown, not really caring if she would get attacked or not. She's noticed that the criminals and demons had a certain feel about them where if they looked bad, no one would bother them. She was just trying to play the part, wearing as many dark clothes as she can and walking through the space as people were being mugged, bullied, and stolen from acting like this was just another day in this made up world. Of course it bothered her, but she had to get out of that house; PJ was getting more frustrated and angry by the second while Parker was trying to have her see her side as much as possible. She actually had to admit that being near her sisters at a time like this was more suffocating then most times.
This got her thinking about what her mom would do at a time like this, she and her sisters have gone to the future, past, alternate realities and still came out okay. She wondered if there was ever a time like this where everything seemed to be played in the wrong hands. The thought of her mom made her sad as she slinked into a bar and sat in the darkest corner she could find. The man only gave her a look as she gave him the meanest glare she could muster and commanded for a drink.
A figure came and sat on the stool right next to her as she both tensed up and panicked at the same time. She knew she had to act the part in order to come across as a demon so she turned to the man, getting ready to use her silver tongue. But she suddenly stopped as if her tongue was lodged in her throat, she knew this person.
"Wyatt!" she screamed out.
"Shh… not so loud" Wyatt urged, "You can't let anyone know that I'm not from here"
Peyton nodded as she fought with all her might to reach over and hug him, "How did you get in here?"
"I astral projected" Wyatt turned, "Neat spell I found after we realized that your family wasn't present at the Gala"
"God, that was a couple of days ago" Peyton sighed, "We've been in here forever"
"Actually, you've barely been in here past four hours" Wyatt told her.
"You've got to be kidding me" Peyton huffed, "Don't suppose you know how to get us all out of here, right?"
"I would say use a counter spell or potion" Wyatt advised, "But I'm sure you've already figured out that none of them were working which can only mean…"
"Demetri has the power to warp reality" Peyton turned to him, "Do you even have that power?"
Wyatt only shook his head as the bartender finally came back with her drink. Peyton took the glass and immediately took a big gulp, feeling the burn of the alcohol sting her as her body wanted her to retch it out. Even her older cousin seemed concerned as he slowly took the glass and placed it in front of himself. That gift is so rare that people joke about having that kind of power and knowing that her older brother has that ability honestly scared her. What other kinds of powers does he have that he's not sharing?
It made perfect sense now why all of her powers weren't necessarily working; Demetri didn't want them to work. She now wondered how long he was planning on having them in there, knowing he had some underlying issues with her family. Peyton glanced over to Wyatt as he glanced around, almost as if he was sensing something. It had to have been Demetri, he was too powerful to let even one person slip into his world.
"Are you here to get us out?" Peyton asked.
"Unfortunately, no" Wyatt said, "If this were a spell then that would've been easy for me, the choice is up to Demetri-"
"You know his name?" Peyton cut him off.
"The second I came in here, I got the knowledge of him and what he's put you guys through" Wyatt gave a sympathetic look, "Sorry about Aunt Pheebs, but if you want to know, she's at the Manor"
"Of course, she is" Peyton glanced back to him, "Is she alright?"
"Knowing her, she is but I can't tell unless I want Demetri to detect me" Wyatt told her.
"He's not going to let us go willingly" Peyton responded, "He wants something but just hasn't revealed what it is just yet"
"Hasn't he?" Wyatt asked, "From my understanding, he's been mocking our close knit family and how he didn't have anything. It's not that he doesn't want to destroy you, I think it's the fact that he wants you to know what it was like for him to be alone"
"You're starting to sound like Parker-"
"Parker's right on this one" Wyatt said, "She's an empath and must've felt his raw emotions by now, would you have second guessed your mom's power of feeling?"
Peyton moved her lips around as she said, "No"
"Then trust in your older sister, he's not here to hurt you" Wyatt reached out and pet her arm, "He's going about it the wrong way but in the end, he wants you to understand where he's coming from"
Peyton turned and looked to Wyatt as he was glancing back up again, "What is it?"
"He's trying to sense me" Wyatt said before he glanced back to his cousin, "Let's go for a walk"
Peyton nodded as she took out some cash and threw it down on the counter, an old habit of hers from the other reality. They didn't even leave the bar before a man quickly walked by and snatched it up. The second they were outside, Wyatt draped his arm around his younger cousin and led her back in the direction she came. She glanced to her watch as it read 10:27, she would have to go back regardless unless she wanted to be the one that was mugged. Peyton took this time to lean in and hug her eldest cousin in a tight hug.
Wyatt let out a chuckle as he hugged her back, knowing how much she's been through. If he thought about it, this had to have been Peyton's first time in an alternate reality. He knew it was confusing when he first plopped down into his, the fear of not being able to find a way back is always in the back of the mind. Luckily, he was able to find one of them in hopes on relaying his message before Demetri could find him.
"How are you holding up?" Wyatt asked.
"Confused" Peyton answered, "Scared, tired, sick of my sisters"
Wyatt laughed, "Sounds like you've been through a lot"
"You have no idea" Peyton said slowly.
"Don't be surprised if Demetri comes pounding on the door after my visit" Wyatt glanced up, "No doubt he probably senses you with me"
Peyton tensed up, "I-I'll be ready for him"
"Immediately tell your sisters of my visit" Wyatt warned, "Stay together, our family is trying to figure out a way to pull you out of this"
"Thanks" Peyton smiled, "That actually gives me a lot of comfort"
"That's what family does" Wyatt rubbed her arm.
"There's a shortcut this way" Peyton turned them to the right.
Wyatt followed her as this time his cousin was taking the lead. Demetri's sensing was feeling like a bee flying around and around his head. He was getting closer on figuring out a location. No doubt, he knows it's his cousin otherwise, he wouldn't be trying so hard, knowing that Wyatt is Twice-Blessed as well. His mother did warn him not to stay too long but seeing the youngest Cupid cousin, he had to make sure she was alright.
He was usually the one fighting the battles, not her or even PJ for that matter. Ever since she got married she decided to only fight battles if she was needed while her other sisters lived as much as a normal life as they possibly could. He stopped and told his cousin that this was close enough, he knew the house wasn't that far off and she could make it with no problem. Peyton seemed almost as if she wanted to urge him to follow her but instead she just nodded.
She struggled with tears as she gave her cousin one last bear hug, thanking her lucky stars that Wyatt was Twice-Blessed. Peyton took a step back and smiled up to him, trying to show that she was okay with all of this. She did have to admit that the advice and reveal that he gave her opened her eyes to different perspectives.
"I better go" Wyatt said, "But remember everything I told you"
Peyton nodded, "I will… thanks Wyatt"
"Be safe, I'll see you on the other side" Wyatt smiled as he orbed out of the alternate reality.
