HALLIWELL 2024 –Eppy 1

Wyatt Halliwell slumped down on the couch in the living room of his penthouse and sighed. Reaching out, he picked up a framed photo of himself with Chris and their mother that was sitting on the coffee table and smiled. This was the only really sentimental item he had in his apartment. Demons tended to look at object like that as signs of weakness and he certainly didn't want to be viewed as weak. But he allowed himself the one special memory and didn't particularly care what his demon followers thought about it. "Let them assume I am weak if they want" he thought to himself. "I'll show them."

As he continued to stare at the picture, trying desperately to remember the happier times when the photo was taken, he suddenly felt a presence in the room and looked up. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Chris standing above him.

"It's your fault I have to do this now." Chris said somberly, staring down at him.

It was at that moment that Wyatt awoke with a start.

"Another damn dream!" Wyatt said out loud to himself as he ran his shaking hands through his damp hair.

"You've been having a lot of bad dreams lately."

The voice came from behind him and Wyatt turned to see Bianca entering the living room from the kitchen.

"Tell me about it." Wyatt responded, slumping back onto the couch.

Bianca came over and took a seat next to him.

"Well, why do think that is?" she asked him.

"How the hell should I know?" Wyatt answered, making no attempt to hide his annoyance. "People have bad dreams all the time."

"True. But you've had so many lately." She said, reaching out to gently stroke his face. "I'm worried about you sweety."

"Don't be." Wyatt snapped back. "I'm fine!"

Hurt, Bianca got up from the couch and crossed the room. Wyatt immediately felt guilty.

"Ahh." He cried out, bringing his hands to his head once again. This time in frustration. "I'm sorry OK? I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

Bianca said nothing as she stood with her back to him, her arms folded across her chest angrily.

Wyatt got up from the couch and went over to where she was standing. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he gently turned her around so she was facing him.

"Look at me." He said and brought his hand to her chin, raising her head so she was looking into his eyes. "I don't like hurting you Bianca. I love you. I just…I just have a little trouble controlling my temper sometimes. Please don't be angry with me." He said as he leaned forward and gently kissed her lips.

Still angry, Bianca stood still and didn't reciprocate his affection. But Wyatt knew how to wear her down.

"Come on," he continued, gently kissing her lips again. "Say you forgive me."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close so she couldn't get away. But by this point, she didn't want to. She melted into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck as the two shared a more passionate kiss.

As the two continued to lock lips, Wyatt backpedaled toward the couch.

"I forgive you." Bianca moaned breathily before pushing him down onto the couch and climbing onto his lap.

The two continued their heavy make-out session. But before things could get as serious as they both would have liked, they were interrupted by one of Wyatt's demon guard who shimmered into the room.

"What the hell!" Wyatt roared at him. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"

"I'm sorry sir," the demon responding, looking down at the ground. "But you have a visitor."

"Well tell them to go away! Can't you see I'm busy!" Wyatt snapped back.

The demon cleared his throat before continuing.

"Yes of course. And I apologize. But… It's Victor Bennett sir."

"Victor?" Wyatt said, sounding surprised.

"Do you still want me to send him away?" the demon asked.

"No. Show him in." Wyatt said.

"Yes sir. Right away." The demon replied and bowed to Wyatt before shimmering out.

Wyatt turned his attention back to Bianca, who was still seated in his lap. Gently brushing a lock of long hair back from her face he informed her. "You better go. If our plan for Chris is to work, Victor can't see you."

"Yeah, about that plan…" Bianca started, before Wyatt cut her off.

"We'll talk about it later. OK? Now hurry."

Bianca nodded and shimmered out just as the front door to the penthouse opened and the demon guard walked in followed by Victor.

"Leave us." Wyatt ordered the demon as he rose up from the couch to greet his grandfather.

The guard nodded and bowed again before disappearing back out the door.

Wyatt looked at his grandfather who, at the moment, was standing in front of him looking serious and somber. Wyatt smiled and tried to be as cordial as possible.

"Grandfather it's good to see you. How are you?"

"I've been better." Victor responded.

"Are you alright?" Wyatt asked, genuinely concerned. "You're not ill?"

"No, I'm not ill. This isn't about me. And this is not a social call either." He said sternly. "I'm here about your brother."

"Chris? What about him?"

"Oh don't play dumb with me young man. I know you too well. Now where is he?"

Wyatt shook his head.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I thought he was with you."

"No, he's not with me."

"Well then, he's with Sheila. Jeremy said…"

"He was with Sheila." Victor said cutting him off. "But now he's gone. And he wouldn't have just left without telling someone!"

"Well I don't know what to tell you. Because he's not here!" Wyatt said defensively.

"And why should I believe you?" Victor asked coolly.

"Oh I don't know!" Wyatt said sarcastically. "Maybe because I'm your grandson."

"That's right you are!" Victor hollered at him. "And Chris is your brother! But that obviously doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot you! If it did you wouldn't torture him the way you do!"

"I have not tortured him!" Wyatt yelled back.

"Bullshit!"

Victor took a step closer to Wyatt and pointed his finger at him angrily.

"You are furious with him for not joining you and using his powers for evil. And you take every opportunity possible to punish him for it."

"That's not true!" Wyatt responded, sounding more hurt now than angry.

"It is true!" Victor continued. "I just thank god every day that your mother doesn't have to see what a monster you've become!"

That was the last straw. Wyatt was boiling with anger now.

"Get out!" he hollered at his grandfather. "Guard!"

The demon guard shimmered back into the room and looked at Victor and Wyatt.

"You called sir?"

"My grandfather was just leaving. Show him out!" Wyatt said, trying to calm himself before he did something he would regret.

"Don't bother." Victor spat as he stormed past the guard. "I know the way out!"

Victor stormed out the penthouse, slamming the door behind him.

Not sure what to do next, the demon turned to Wyatt and asked nervously…

"Is everything all right sir?"

Wyatt turned his back to him.

"Leave me!" he ordered the guard.

"Yes sir." The demon replied, thankful for the opportunity to leave the uncomfortable position he found himself in. He shimmered out quickly.

As soon as he was gone, Bianca shimmered back into the room. She quickly crossed the room and approached Wyatt.

"Sweety?" she said, gently stroking his back. "Are you alright?"

Wyatt said nothing but turned and embraced her, burying his face in her shoulder. She could feel him trembling –a combination of rage and dismay having taken it's toll.

"Oh sweety." she whispered softly in his ear. "It's going to be OK. I'm here."

To be continued…