A New Kind Of Therapy (Peyton)

Days passed by in a blur, everything passed by so fast, between the magic training, the physical training and keeping up with my family, time seemed so forgotten, School was starting up again soon, which seemed so unimportant now.

Auggie was sitting on my bed playing with the stuff on my nightstand as I got ready for a training session with

He sighed and tossed whatever he was playing with back on the dresser.

"Peyton! There's someone here for you!" Mom called from the front door.

I grimaced, Hale would be here soon, and I don't know how Auggie will react to a stranger coming in through the window.

Actually, he would probably try to befriend her.

I zipped up my sweatshirt and made my way to the front door.

My stomach lurched.

Hale was standing at my front door, carrying on a conversation with my mom.

She was barely recognizable.

Jeans, sneakers, a simple tee, her eyes were touched with makeup, her hair pulled up into a bun. She looked so mundane compared to her normal look of dark misfit.

I was so used to her dark, intimidating look, but now she looked like any other girl from school.

"Sweetie?" Mom asked rubbing my shoulder. "You've never told me Hale was taking you to the gym?"

"Oh-uh I guess I forgot. We should get going," I urged.

Hale nodded, keeping a pleasant look on her face.

"Let me grab my shoes," I sighed.

Mom followed me to the kitchen.

"She's so nice , where did you meet her?"

Hale, nice? I snorted.

Quick think.

"Our parents knew each other,"

Oh no, not the right answer.

"What?" she snapped in a low whisper, her body went tense with shock.

Well shit.

"Uhh," I didn't have an answer.

"You're looking for your birth parents?"

She sounded hurt, really hurt.

I clenched my jaw hoping to keep the stupid in.

"Mom we can talk about this later, I have to go. Later, I promise,"

I dashed out of the kitchen and dragged Hale out of the apartment.

"Hey what's going on?" Hale asked yanking away from me.

"Why didn't you come in from the window?" I snapped.

"Because your neighbors are nosy and have been complaining about someone using the fire escape to sneak in. It's in the newspaper. Now wanna tell me what's got you jumping out of your skin?"

I gave out a long frustrated sigh.

"I just accidentally told my mom that I've been looking into my heritage,"

"You mean the big secret we aren't supposed to tell anyone because if anyone heard where we are Edward would find us and force us to give our magic so he can become the most powerful warlock and enslave everyone and get rid of humans. You told your mom that secret?" Hale asked sarcastically.

"I mean not all of that but like some,"

"Peyton!"

"I know, but it's just like the part of my siblings, no magic. Still, she looked really hurt,"

"I'm sorry, that sucks,"

I quirked my eyebrow.

"That sucks, that's the advice I get?"

"I've never been good at the touchy-feely, you want that call Jade. You wanna take your problems out on a sandbag, follow me." Hale reminded me.

"How could I forget?" I quipped.

I waited for her response but it never came. I looked back to her to find that she was glaring across the street.

I understood now. Cooper was across the street, Lily by his side. They were happy, smiling, holding hands.

Tears pricked the back of my eyes.

Weeks later and one look at them was enough to tear me apart.

Cooper saw me first, his face sank, Lily spotted me next, she moved to cross the street. Cooper grabbed Lily's hand, fear replaced his shock, he was looking to Hale now.

Her bracelet was glowing like a star and vibrating violently.

I grabbed her hand and forced her down the street.

We entered Oscar's and she marched into the changing rooms.

I was wrapping my hand when Oscar came to talk to me.

"Hey niña, be careful today. I've known Hale for a long time. I call to tell when she letting her demons get to her. She has a tendency to let her emotions run wild in the ring. Let me know if you need to tap out,"

I smiled.

"Thanks, Oscar, I will,"

He gave a slight nod and then moved on to check on other customers.

Hale came out of the locker room, her face as hard as stone.

"In the ring, let's go," she instructed.

I joined her and got into a starting position.

Hale moved first. Her fist aimed for my face, I blocked it but left my stomach exposed. Her foot rammed into me and I tumbled back. She came at me again but I dropped low and used my leg to knock her down on the mat. She moved quickly and I went down right with her. My back hit the mat hard and all the air escaped from me.

Oscar was right, she was letting her anger get to her. Her eyes were clouded, blinding her. This wasn't a training session anymore, this was real.

She wrapped an arm around my neck and another around my skull keeping me in place. Her legs wound around my body, I could no longer move.

My wrist burned like the fire of Hades, almost matched my lungs that were begging for air.

Black dots sprinkled over my eyes My hands hit her arms meaninglessly.

"Tap out...I'm tapping out,"

I gasped for air, trying to keep my eyes open.

"Hale!" I croaked.

Her grip became harder cutting into my skin, I gripped her arm. Not to pull her off just trying to let her know I was still here.

Something snapped and suddenly everything went dark. I was thrown out of my reality and into the dark. There was one light, far away, high up a sphere of light. A street lamp. My nose filled with the smell of garbage and rot.

Hatred burned inside of me, a dark violence that yarned to be released. A feeling so alien to me that it was terrifying.

Something moved under me. A person crawling away from me, panting. Blood was smeared over his face. He was whimpering, pleading for his life.

Hot blood dripped down from my brow, down the side of my face. I could taste it on my lip.

My leg jerk involuntarily, hitting the body on the ground with brutal force. Something gave a nasty crack.

He didn't deserve mercy, he was a miserable excuse of a human being, a waste, scum.

Thoughts that weren't mine filled my head.

He spat out dark blood, his head rolled back, accepting his death was coming. I raised my foot, ready to stomp out his remaining life, like a bug. Before I could someone called out. I looked up to see myself. Horrified, confused, tears streaming down my face.

I pulled myself out of the memory.

Magic, I had used my magic.

My awe moment was broken when Hale pushed me away, breathing heavily.

I sucked in, refilling my lungs. Once I was back to myself I looked over at Hale. She looked just as mad as she was scared.

She stood up and glared at me.

"I told you to stay out of my head," Her voice was hard and angered but she didn't yell, which was somehow worse.

"You would have killed him," I muttered replaying her memory.

"I told you that you wouldn't like what you saw," she retorted.

"How - you felt such hate. You were going to kill him if I hadn't shown up-"

"The world would have had one less cheating roach. And yes, I would have killed him, because surprise I'm not a good person! I'm dark, I always have been, way before I got my magic. Just because I'm training you doesn't make me any better. I'm still the same rotten person. I hurt everyone in my way because I can. He made you feel like nothing, so was going to make him nothing," Her voice dripped with such venom, you could almost feel her hate. The words were so cold, they cut right through me.

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, I blinked back tears.

"Were done for today,"

She exited the ring and disappeared out the door.

I went to the changing room, stripped down and went to the shower. I leaned against the stall as the hot water poured down, my find only starting to relax.

That's when it started.

It was like everyone in the changing room and gym just started screaming. Each voice trying to out do the others.

I pressed my hands to my ears but it did no help.

These were thoughts, everyone's thoughts, I was tuned into them like a special radio frecunacy.

I feel to my knees and cradled my head in my hands.

The water stopped and someone wrapped a towel over me, pulled off the floor.

If I'd been in the right headspace I'd be worried. But the thought of opening my eyes was painful to even think about.

Music and thoughts flinged around my head like a ping ball machine.

When I checked back in I was dressed and I had the feeling that I was on a horse but laying down almost. Things were a tad quieter now but not by much.

I wanted to give up and just turn off my brain when I stared to hear voices in my ears too.

Then like a light switch, everything just turned off. And I gladly snuggled into the abyss.

When I woke up the lights were dimmed and I was in the room I woke up in weeks ago at Jack and Mayline's.

When I got up my headached but the voices were gone.

There was an aspirin and glass of water on the bedside table. I reached for it and something moved on my wrist.

An identical sliver bracelet like Hale's was wrapped around me.

I gave a long sigh and swallowed the pill.

I looked myself over in the mirror and noticed my hair was still damp. I hadn't been asleep long. I was in my clothes that I packed in my gym bag.

I found the bag on a chair, my phone was in the pocket I left it in.

It had only been about two hours.

I gathered my stuff and took off down the hall.

Jack was in the kitchen watching over a kettle on the stove.

"Glad your up. How do you feel?" He asked glancing over me.

"Slight headache but a lot better. Um, how did I get here?" I asked sitting down. Jack took the kettle off the stove and stared to pour us both a mug of tea.

"Hale brought you in," he stopped and chucked. "She carried you over her shoulder, it was kinda funny to see. You were screaming and crying. She told us what happened and Mayline put your mind to sleep and we got you a new bracelet,"

I nodded and nibbled on my lip.

I couldn't believe Hale came back and helped me. She was beyond pissed when she stormed off.

My phone vibrated and I glanced at it.

My mom wondering when I was coming home.

I gave a long sigh and a long sip of the tea.

"I should get going. Thanks for everything Jack," I gave a small smile and stood up.

"It's my job. Have a good afternoon,"

I gathered my stuff up again and headed for home.

I shut the door softly when I got home.

My head ached and my eyes were still a bit puffy.

"Peyton?" Mom called from the kitchen, she came into the living room and looked me over.

"So? Let's talk," she urged.

I dropped my stuff and rubbed my hands together.

"Wheres, Auggie and Dad?"

"At the park,"

I nodded and sat down. I rested my elbows on my knee's, mom sat across from me.

"Couple weeks ago, on my birthday, I went to this club and ran into Hale and some stuff went down dangerous stuff. When it was all over some people kept us safe. They were friends of our bio parents, they were instructed to keep us safe. To watch over my siblings and me,¨

She let out a gasp.

"You have siblings?"

"Half siblings. Hale, Ryker, and Jade. Were the same age, we share the same father. We had to be separated because of our father. He's really dangerous, he led a riot that killed a lot of people, and maybe my birth mother," I explained avoiding some details.

"Why wouldn't you tell me this? Why would you go through this alone?" she asked bewildered.

"I wasn't alone, I hade my siblings. Plus you were safer not knowing,"

"I'm your mother, I'm supposed to be protecting you,"

"Not with this one mom, it's too dangerous. Only my siblings and I can take care of him. You're going to have to trust me,"

"No, you need to leave this to the police. I don't want you anywhere near this,"

"Mom this is a lot bigger then the police, you have to trust me, we are more than capable,"

"Who are the people that told you all of this?"

"Jack and Mayline,"

"I want to meet them," she demanded sternly.

"Yeah, so that's a no. I wasn't even supposed to tell you any of this,"

We were both quiet for a while. The tension was thick in the room. I kept waiting for her to yell or explode, but it never happened.

"So Hale is your sister?"

I nodded.

"I was talking to your sister. I never thought-" she cleared her throat. " I never thought I 'd meet your real family,"

"You are my real family, and so are they. You're my mom, nothing will change that,"

"So when is she coming back?"

I gulped and picked at my nail beds.

"I don't know, Hale is a very complex person,"

She nodded.

The front door opened and my Dad and Auggie trampled in.

"Hey kiddo," Dad greeted, "Auggie convinced me to make milkshakes, wanna help?"

I nodded.

I grabbed Mom's hand before she could go into the kitchen.

"Don't tell them tonight. Just let them have one more night,"

She gave a thoughtful nod and we went into the kitchen.

After Auggie fell asleep at the table, my parents put him to bed then they retreated back their bedroom.

I went to my room and was ready to crash.

I kicked the door shut behind me and searched my wall for the light switch.

I suppressed a scream and my brain slowly took in what was happening.

"Hale! Gods!"

I let out a long breath.

Hale was sitting on the bay window, a look of guilt on her face.

"I didn't mean to scare you," She murmured.

The atmosphere turned awkward, I went and sat on my bed so that I was facing her.

"So, what's up?" I asked my body tense.

"I wanted to give you this. I had a tight hold on you, this will help heal the bruises," She held out a silver canister.

I took it, my other hand touched my sore neck.

"Thanks," I murmured.

"And to say that I didn't mean to hurt you. I should have never gone into the ring knowing how worked up I was. That's how I used to fight in the pit, using my anger to fuel me and- I let my emotions get the better of me and I put you in danger. That's why I'm still wearing this," She lifted up her wrist showing the anti-magic band. " My point is, that it won't happen again,"

A smile played at my lips.

"Am I dreaming or did Hale Woods just apologize?"

"I didn't apologize I calmly explained my behavior,"

"You mean an apology?" I asked laughing.

Hale smirked.

"So are we good?" She asked.

"Yeah, we're good,"

"And you'll listen to me when I say to stay out of my head?"

"Oh trust me I have to desire to go back into your head,"

"Good,"

We both laughed.

I gulped and looked down at my lap.

"Thanks for coming back for me, taking me back to the Manor,"

Hale nodded and gave my hand a squeeze.

"Well I should get going, I can't get caught not being at bed check again,"

She opened the window and climbed out.

"I thought you couldn't use the fire escape anymore?"

She leaned in and smiled.

"I'll take my chances, this was important,"

She closed the window and blended in with the shadows.