Hey look another chapter.
Remember even if you are reading this a long time after it has been posted feel free to comment and let me know how it is.
Let's see how the kids are doing...
Back in the attic Faith and Portia were joined by the rest of the family.
"Hey guys, where's Peyton?" Chris asked.
"She went to your apartment to see if Mel was there" Faith said not looking up from her potion ingredients.
"Ok, why would she do that?" Chris asked. "How is that a logical place to look?"
"Well because you and Wyatt live there. Why wouldn't that be a logical place to check" Portia said interrupting Faith, she was going to try and avoid the scorn of Chris and Wyatt for as long as she could.
Peyton appeared back in the attic. "Alright Mel isn't there." She said tapering off slightly when she saw Chris and Wyatt were in the attic too. "Wow you guys got back fast."
"Uh huh, now why would Mel be at our apartment when we aren't there?" Wyatt questioned.
"Well because, you DO live there she probably felt comfortable going there" Peyton tried to explain.
"You suck at lying" Chris said crossing his arms.
"Well that's good because I'm not lying" Peyton said trying to save herself.
"Sure you're not. Now, Peyton we can do this the easy way or the magic way" Wyatt said going over to the book.
"That spell lasts for 24 hours, I don't think you want me telling the truth for that long" Peyton stated.
"Ah ha so you are lying" Chris said.
"Not lying so much as omitting" she responded.
"Peyton tell us, now" Wyatt and Chris said standing in front of their cousin.
Peyton stood there for a moment and then started to grin. "I can't. Just as you are bound by confidentiality for your charges, so am I" she said relieved.
"What's that even mean?" H.J. said chiming in.
"I can't tell you why I would look there for Mel because it could potentially be a cupid issue, so let me and the girls do the work on finding her and you three can…" Peyton stopped for a second while she thought of something the boys could do.
"May I make a suggestion" an unknown voice said as blue orbs appeared.
"Sandra, what are you doing here?" Wyatt asked.
"Well it's that time Wyatt. I told you, you would be called upon to watch over me while I wait to pass my powers onto the new Elder" Sandra said.
"But now? Mel is missing!" Wyatt exclaimed.
"And the girls and I will find her, and you three will take care of Sandra, crisis averted" Peyton said stepping in.
"Why now?" Wyatt asked in a pleading way.
"Because we exist to make your lives miserable" Sandra said in a patronizing way.
"Ok so we are going to split up and look for Mel. Parker, can you bring the book down to the kitchen, I think it's best to leave the boys to protect Sandra in the Attic" Peyton said taking control.
Once in the kitchen the younger girls turned to Peyton. "So what is the plan?" Hope asked.
"Finish the potion, find Mel and give her the antidote to whatever it was that Faith and Portia gave her in the first place" Peyton said opening up the Book of Shadows.
"Ok, so how are we going to find Mel?" Hope asked.
"That's what you and I are going to figure out while Portia and Faith finish up that potion, Parker, can try scrying again for Mel and maybe you can try writing a spell that could help us find her. I just don't understand how that love potion could block her from being found?" Peyton said.
"Maybe Mel is doing it herself?" Parker said as she started spinning the crystal. "She could be magically blocking everybody."
"What I don't get is why she wasn't with Blake. I mean that should be her main goal, to seek him out and be with him" Portia said putting in another ingredient that made the potion start to bubble.
"That should be her goal shouldn't it?" Peyton said curiously. "H.J. what are you doing down here you're supposed to be upstairs with Wyatt and Chris" she said to her cousin as he came around the corner.
"I'm getting snacks, you can't protect an Elder without snacks" H.J. responded as he went through the cupboards "Besides how else was I supposed to find out that you guys slipped Mel a love potion and now can't find her because she is supposed to be hyper stalking Blake" he said casually.
"She isn't supposed to be stalking him, she is supposed to be in love with him" Portia replied.
"Well duh, but you really think you needed a potion for that. Do you not remember when she was like 13 and she clearly had the hugest crush on him. Although Mel seemed to have a lot of crushes between middle school and high school if I recall" he said with a grin.
"Look don't tell Wyatt or Chris yet, we don't want or need them freaking out about this right now" Peyton said pleading.
"I won't say anything, but you guys need to get that antidote to her ASAP, love spells can be dangerous, not like I need to tell you guys that" he said looking at the cupids.
"Thanks, now go upstairs before something happens, and call if you guys need anything, no telling what sorts of creatures can sense an Elder being down here" Peyton replied.
"I got her, well sort of" Parker said looking up from the map. I have an area, but not really an exact location."
"That must mean the pills are wearing off" Faith replied with worry in her tone.
"Is that potion ready to go?" Peyton asked.
"Yes" Portia replied.
"Ok good. Portia and Faith you two are with me, Parker and Hope, help out the boys. With any luck we can save the day twice" Peyton replied. "Parker, where should we start?"
"Down town near the Black Building, but it could be anywhere from 5-7 blocks around that place that she could be" Parker replied.
"Hey it's a start. Come on you two let's fix this" Peyton said and the 3 teleported out.
"Can you sense anything yet?" Peyton asked Faith as they were walking around.
"It's like I get a blip and then poof, it's gone" she replied. "Let's go up a block and make a pass up there."
"We already searched that block, we've already searched all these blocks and nothing" Portia said in defeat.
"Portia, do you think you could use your empathy power, I mean a love that strong should be putting out some major vibes, maybe it could get us going in the right direction" Peyton suggested.
"I've been trying, but all I can sense is this general area, and to be honest I'm not sure if it is even Mel I'm feeling" Portia replied.
"That's it, you two keep looking around here, use any means necessary… within reason. I'm getting Blake, his apartment is close by and he is causing this mess, the least he can do is help us look." Peyton said frustrated and took off walking down an alley to heart into Blake's apartment.
"Alright Blake, we need your help and like now" Peyton said appearing in the living room. "Blake? Where are you?" Suddenly Peyton heard the hallway door open up and giggling coming from down the hallway.
Blake and Mel walked out into the hall, Blake had on boxers, and Mel was wearing one of Blake's t-shirts. Both stopped dead when they saw Peyton in the living room.
"I'm going to save you… and then I'm going to kill you, both of you. Come on, we have to fix this now!" Peyton said grabbing Mel's hand and beaming out.
Peyton and Mel appeared in Mel's bedroom. "Here put these on" Peyton said digging some shorts out of a drawer. Once Mel had the shorts on Peyton grabbed her and started dragging her to the kitchen.
"Peyton, do you mind telling me what's going on?" Mel asked.
"Yes, after you drink this" Peyton said giving her a potion.
"How about you tell me and then I drink it" Mel replied.
"You're under a love spell from two intruding teens who couldn't let love run its course, drink." Peyton said. "Faith, Portia I have Mel, come back to the Manor" she called out knowing they would hear her.
Mel took the vial and downed the potion.
"Ok, mind elaborating? Whoa I feel funny." Mel said sitting down and putting her head between her knees.
"Alright Peyton, what the hell is going on?" Blake said shimmering in fully dressed now. "Mel" he said going to her side.
Peyton proceeded to tell them about the pheromone boosted pills that Portia and Faith made and slipped to her.
"So, all that, everything I was feeling for Blake was because of that potion?" Mel asked, the realization of the day's events were catching up with her.
"No sweetie, your feelings were real, remember down by the lake can you remember that feeling?" Peyton said grabbing Mel's hands.
H.J. appeared in the kitchen, "Help" he said as a darklighter appeared behind him.
Peyton hearted out of the way of an arrow. She reappeared behind the darklighter, jumping on his back she put him in a choke hold.
Mel was up in an instant and conjured an atheme and stabbed the darklighter.
"Upstairs" H.J. said as he orbed out.
Mel and Peyton hearted out the kitchen, leaving Blake alone.
When the three got to the attic they saw Hope orb an arrow which ended up in the darklighter who fired it, while Faith deflected another arrow which ended up in the wall. On the other side of the room, Portia used her heart blasts to vanquish two other darklighters. Parker was in front of some boxes and chairs, Mel and Peyton could see Sandra hidden behind there. "Wyatt, Chris!" Mel said trying to run to her brothers who were unconscious on the floor, each with an arrow sticking out of them. Tapping into Chris's electrokinesis Mel was able to blast the two remaining darklighters.
Mel and H.J. ran over to Chris and Wyatt to start healing them. Peyton ran towards Parker and Sandra.
"I'm just so over this day" she said helping Sandra up from the floor. Wyatt and Chris also stood up once they had been fully healed.
"At least you found Mel" Portia said cheerfully.
"You two, need to run" Mel said turning around looking at Portia and Faith, electricity once again swarming her body.
Portia and Faith ran out of the attic and down the stairs.
"Alright enough, Peyton, now you have to explain everything." Chris said crossing his arms.
"Well it's complicated, and to be honest, I don't think it's really my information to share" she said looking at Mel.
"Look all you need to know is Faith and Portia did something stupid which caused me go off and do something even more stupid because I couldn't control my emotions" Mel explained. "But the rest of it isn't your business."
"Great, well those two are in trouble. Ok, so Sandra, about this next Elder who is supposed to get your powers, how do we find this person" Wyatt said, he too was getting exhausted from everything going on during the day.
"They will find me" Sandra replied, content as ever.
"Great. Ok, so obviously we need to speed this process along, any ideas?" Wyatt pleaded.
"Look Wyatt, everything will work out how it's supposed to" Sandra replied putting her hands on Wyatt's shoulders.
"Ok time to regroup. Mel is back, check that off the list. Faith and Portia need to be talked to. Mel, Peyton, since you two seem content with keeping the whole story from all of us you two get to talk to Faith and Portia, without frying them with electricity" Chris said pointing at Mel.
"And lastly, we need to find this new Elder" H.J. said walking up to the group. "And we have no idea who it is, where they are, or if they even know what magic is."
"Why don't you start off by just doing what you normally do, helping innocents" Sandra suggested.
"What you want us to just randomly start scrying for evil?" Parker chimed in.
"You know, I have always wanted to walk around San Francisco, how about we just get out of here for a bit" Sandra suggested.
The group just stared at her. "Um, is that even legal?" H.J. asked.
"What do I care, I'm retiring" Sandra said as her robes turned into orbs, when they disappeared she was in civilian clothing to blend in with the rest of the city. "I've always wanted to try a corn dog" she said walking towards the attic door.
"This isn't happening. Alright, Parker and H.J, you go with Sandra, out in the open you should be ok, no alley ways, no using powers and the first sign of trouble you call someone, ok?" Wyatt said.
"At least having a big family helps with the divide and conquer thing" H.J. said as he walked out the door after Parker and Sandra.
Wyatt and Chris walked downstairs. Hope was watching Peyton and Mel read Portia and Faith the riot act, so Chris and Wyatt went outside to get some air and process things.
"Do you understand how much this could have seriously screwed things up?" Peyton ranted. "Love is not something you mess with, I expected you to know better than that Portia."
"We were just trying to help. We didn't think it would cause any problems" Faith said pleading with her cousins.
"Let's just dismiss the whole personal gain factor for a second here. Emotions and feelings are private things. You don't just meddle with them because you think you know better" Mel said.
"But you clearly have these feelings for Blake anyway. I don't really see what the problem is here" Portia replied.
"You don't see what the problem is? Do you know what I did while I was tripping on your magical roofie? Mel started to scream. "I may never be able to look Blake in the eyes again. You've ruined any chance of us being together!" she said as she orbed out.
"I didn't think we would hurt anyone" Portia said putting her head down as a tear started to form.
"Actions have consequences Portia. We may be cupids but we don't control love, we grow it and nurture it until people are ready" Peyton explained.
"Is Mel going to forgive us?" Faith asked. "Do you think they really won't ever end up together?
"I'm sure in time" Peyton said. "Mel just needs to cool down, it doesn't change what happened, but hopefully the feelings are still there; for both of them."
"She's not actually mad at us you know" Portia replied wiping her eyes. "I could feel it, she is mad at herself. She blames herself for not realizing she loved Blake sooner."
"Give her some space, I'm sure she'll be back soon" Peyton said as she walked out to talk to Wyatt and Chris.
"Alright, those two are taken care of. Mel took off, I think she needs some alone time" she said.
"Can you fill us in on anything right now?" Wyatt asked.
"Faith and Portia slipped Mel a double dose of a love potion. They thought they were helping her sort out her feelings and get over Shane" Peyton explained. "But of course things went wrong. I can't really tell you anymore because I don't think Mel would want me to."
"Those two are grounded. I don't know how, but I'm going to find a way to ground them" Wyatt replied.
"Where is Mel now?" Chris asked.
"She orbed off, but I think it's best she is alone right now. I think you two should go catch up with Parker and H.J. so you can watch over Sandra. I'll stay here and wait for Mel and keep tabs on the troublesome twosome in there" Peyton said as she pointed over her shoulder.
"If she's gone for more than an hour, call us" Wyatt said and the two Witchlighters orbed off.
Peyton walked back into the house "Wait a second, where's Blake?" she asked her sister and cousin.
"Wait Blake was here?" Portia asked.
"Yea he came over just after I gave Mel the antidote" Peyton replied. "Hope have you seen him?"
"He wasn't here when I came downstairs" Hope responded.
"This day keeps getting better" Peyton said "I should find him and talk to him. Can I trust you two won't get in anymore trouble today?" she asked looking at Portia and Faith. The two replied with a nod.
"Alright, Hope can you sense Mel?" Peyton asked.
"She is at Golden Gate Park" Hope responded after a moment.
"Good at least we know where she is. Keep checking on her, if she isn't back before I return we'll go looking for her. Hope you keep an eye on these two. No book, no potions, spells, dodge ball, nothing. You two are banned from magic until either I or Chris and Wyatt get back." And with that Peyton left the manor in a heart.
Wasn't that great? Or maybe not? How will I know if you don't leave a review. - Thanks