"Petrelli Land" chapter nine, Peter/Claire, rated M
Fandom: Heroes
Title: Petrelli Land
Rating: R/M
Chapters: 10/17
Characters/Pairings: Mainly Peter/Claire, Mohinder/Gabriel(Sylar), Matt/Audrey, Isaac/Simone, Claude/Meredith mentioned
Warnings/Spoilers: AU and Canon Paire, Season One Spoilers, turns AU from "How to Stop an Exploding Man", will not follow Season Two storyline.
Notes/Disclaimer: This fic is inspired by the Marvel comic series, "House of M". The inspiration belongs to Marvel, and the Heroes characters belong to NBC and Tim Kring, but the story is entirely mine. The rating to this story has changed to R (M for FFnet) because of adult situations in this chapter and most likely in future chapters.
NEW NOTES: I know it's been awhile, but now that the holidays are over, I promise to be back on track with this.
FFnet Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3735029/1/
Summary: After Peter encounters someone with a dangerous ability, his lack of control causes him to shift reality to the desire of others, where most are happy except one, who vows revenge. Paire.
Chapter Summary: Simone calls Peter when Isaac goes missing, and Matt comes for Peter's help on a new murder - a murder that resemble Sylar's old M.O. Peter decides to contact Mohinder, and Rena Slade returns.
[ Previous Chapters]
Petrelli Land
Chapter Nine
Gabriel Gray dreamed of death that night, with a background washed in blood and frantic ghosts that howled for vengeance. When he woke, he was still Sylar, playing the role of Gabriel Gray, the mild-mannered assistant, in this manufactured world out of the derring-do mind of Peter Petrelli.
He shifted his arms and rested on the palms of the hands while he stared at the ceiling. He heard Mohinder stirring in the bed next to him, and flashes of the last night’s activities came to the forefront of his mind.
He finally gave into the good doctor’s advances. Not that it was hard; there was always something about Mohinder that fascinated and attracted him. Sex was a basic human occurrence he didn’t give much thought to unless it was needed. Last night it was definitely needed. While returning from lunch at Peter and Claire’s suite, Mohinder was becoming slightly suspicious of Peter’s behavior toward him. After a small argument, it was clear the empath just didn’t like Gabriel. Of course, Sylar knew the reason. Like him, Peter remembered everything from their real world. He just didn’t know Sylar knew everything too, and Sylar thought he played ‘Gabriel’ flawlessly.
Yet, Peter was an empath, so he didn’t fault the man for being suspicious. Only, his reactions and demeanor during lunch had left Mohinder at unease. It was Gabriel’s last attempt to convince Mohinder that Peter didn’t have to like him. He just had to like Mohinder, and after a little seduction, Mohinder finally moved away from the issue.
“I suppose you’re right, Gabriel,” he said. “I don’t expect everyone to like everyone. It’s just that Peter doesn’t usually dislike anyone, and he’s the president’s brother, so I find him a key player in the betterment of special people like you.” The doctor had squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. “I thought perhaps if you were friends, he’d find you a position in Homeland Security as well. Goodness knows your talents are being wasted here.”
Gabriel met his gaze with softness. He put his hand over Mohinder’s. “It’s alright. I’m much happier here.” Then, one thing led to another, as if Gabriel was reading Mohinder’s mind.
Though, he couldn’t do that. Not yet anyway, and he’d be more than happy to get his hands on Matt Parkman, as well as everyone else.
Sylar smiled and let out a small sigh. This universe was untouched. Of course, he would have to start over, but maybe Peter would get too comfortable and never suspect it. The line between him and Gabriel Gray had somehow been severed, and no one would link the two - unless it was Peter himself. By then, it would be too late, and Sylar didn’t mind being portrayed as a killer again.
He could go back to acquiring powers the old-fashioned way, just as nature always intended. He’d have to start from scratch, but like restarting any new game, at least Sylar knew where the treasures were kept. This time he didn’t have to look so hard.
Sylar grinned and decided to sleep in for the morning. When Mohinder awoke, he’d ask for the day off. After all, Gabriel rather thought he deserved it.
--
Three days went by in the Petrelli-Bennet suite, and Peter couldn’t be more shocked and relieved that he and Claire had actually spent those days alone, without any unwelcome interruptions. No phone calls, not even a fly-in by Nathan, had come to ruin their three relaxing days - well, relaxing and exhausting, for Peter hadn’t been able to take his hands off her.
Yes, he enjoyed the new world he created, and now that he’d had so much of Claire, legally and without any annoying taboos, he never wanted to give her up. But something still lingered in the back of his head telling him not to get too comfortable, that everything wasn’t as perfect as it seemed.
It was a sunny Thursday morning, and Peter had woken up ready and energized as Claire stirred next to him. She was bare-skinned and tanned, just the way he had liked her for the past few days. In fact, neither one of them had put on as much as a robe. Peter reveled in it, and he had a feeling so did Claire.
Neither one of them had ever felt so free.
She yawned and turned around to meet his grinning face. She smiled back. “Morning.” He bent down and captured her lips, earning an appreciative morning moan from his fiancé as she kissed him back.
He moved his head and leaned toward her ear. “How awake are you?” he whispered. Instantly, she giggled.
“That depends. Are we in for a repeat performance of … oh, what we’ve been doing for the last three days, or are you planning on feeding me this morning?” She traced a finger down the line of his jaw. “Sex kittens have to eat too, you know.”
Peter laughed. “Alright, alright, breakfast it is. But you can’t make me wear pants.” He wiggled a finger at her.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, rolling her eyes and giggling again.
She followed him to the kitchen, and Peter could feel her eyes roam over him, making it even harder for him to concentrate on cooking. He pulled out some pots and pans, eggs, milk, and meats from the fridge before turning around and meeting Claire’s gaze.
“Need any help?” she asked, but her eyes were focused below and not on his face.
“Claire, are you sure you’re really hungry?” he asked with a suspicious grin.
“Mmm hmm, in more ways than one,” she said, and he felt the trace of her fingers inside the juncture of his thighs.
The empty frying pan made a loud clang after he threw it down and then wrapped his arms around her. Pulling her against him, he devoured her mouth and cupped his hands under her bottom to life her onto the empty kitchen table. She bucked her body into his and rubbed her wetness against his excitement. He groaned in her mouth, and he heard her squeal as he slid inside.
Together they moved, each thrust and pull perfected just as the many times before. Chaos and Enlightenment swelled inside and between them, and Peter could feel the pressure within him begin to rise. Claire’s tightness and heat consumed him, wrapping around him like a sanctuary, and he shuddered as she climbed with him, fueling fire to their peak.
In a swift pause, he shoved away whatever adornments were on the kitchen table and led her onto her back. She cried as he pulled her legs up, lifting her so he could plunge deeper. She let out a guttural cry, and bit on her fist as he pumped wilder and faster, spinning her to the brink.
“Oh, God,” she screamed, and she tensed around him and he could feel her stall there, soaking the point of pleasure he had brought.
Her skin looked luminous in the morning sunlight, and she smiled at him as aftershocks shuddered between her thighs. He leaned over her and then stopped, and he buried his face in her sunlight hair as he plunged into her one last time before spilling inside.
“Claire…” he said her name, and she took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply.
“Love you,” she said in rapid breaths. Peter kissed her chin and repeated the words, really meaning them, and taking back the curses to fate from so long ago.
In this world, he could have her. In this world, they didn’t seem so lost and forlorn.
He’d fight tooth and nail to keep it, that much was obvious now, but why did he feel like he could lose it all in an instant?
The phone rang, and Claire sighed in exasperation.
“Well, there goes peace and quiet,” she harrumphed. She glared at the phone, and Peter knew she was having the same thoughts as he was in letting the answering machine take the call.
Peter sighed. “I better answer that. It might be Matt about the job.”
Peter frowned as he reluctantly pulled away from Claire and felt the chill of the room as his body moved away from hers.
“Hello?” he answered, and soon, his perfect world began to crack.
“Peter? Oh, thank God. It’s Simone,” she told him in a frantic voice. He could tell through the phone that she’d been crying. “I need your help. Isaac’s missing.”
Peter looked over to Claire, and she seemed worried by his expression.
“Who is it?” Claire asked in a whisper, as Peter let Simone ramble and sob on the phone.
“It’s Simone,” he said to her, and he turned his attention back to the phone as he caught Claire’s distress in the corner of his eye.
“Of course, what can I do?” Peter asked, and Claire walked up to him, leaning her body against his, but Peter knew she wanted to hear the conversation too. It disturbed him that maybe Claire didn’t completely trust him with Simone, but he let the thought slide away.
“I don’t know! I didn’t know who else to call. I came to his studio this morning to pick up a series of paintings for a show, and when I got here, I found…” She paused for a fit of sobs, and Peter told her to calm down. She continued, “I found blood on the floor and a chunk of his hair. I think… I think he’s been hurt.”
Claire looked to Peter and both of them seemed upset. Peter thought of the only thing he could do. “Simone, why don’t you come over? We’ll call Nathan, and we’ll see if he can use his connections to find Isaac. Okay?”
Simone sniffled, and she crackled out an agreement to be on her way before she hung up. Peter turned to Claire, and instantly, he’d already suspect the person behind it all. However, he didn’t know if he could tell Claire. Especially, if he wasn’t completely sure.
How much of this world had really changed?
“I should call Nathan,” he said. “But let’s get dressed first.” Claire nodded, and they both hurried into the bedroom.
--
“I’m telling you, Nathan; this is serious. I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t trust that Simone is telling the truth.” Peter was irritated. At first, Nathan didn’t believe him, and secondly, he didn’t want to help Peter’s junkie friend. “No, this isn’t a ploy by Simone to get back at me. This is serious! Why don’t you believe me? Isaac could be dead out there. They’re my friends, Nathan, and what’s to say what hurt Isaac won’t hurt more people? Remember, Isaac is one of us. Now, I know you have a lot on your plate as president, but could you do this favor for me? Please?”
Peter stared at Claire’s folded arms and then he sighed. “Great. I’ll see you soon. Thank you. I owe you.”
“Well?” Claire asked after Peter hung up the phone. Peter rolled his eyes.
“He says he’ll look into it. He thinks that Isaac hurt himself and was in some sort of drug haze. He didn’t want to do anything until Simone went to the police and filed an official report. However, I managed to get him to agree to put investigators out on Isaac’s trail right now.”
Claire relaxed her shoulders. “Okay, that’s all he can do, I guess. We’ll see when Simone gets here if she knows anything else.”
Peter nodded, and before they could pause and talk more about Isaac’s situation, the phone rang again.
Peter answered it and couldn’t believe his ears. He felt his blood go cold. “Matt?” Claire watched his unease as he leaned back against the wall. “No,” he whispered with a chill.
“Peter, what’s wrong?” But Peter ignored Claire for a moment and listened to Matt.
“Sure, I can help. Yeah, I think it’s him too. I’ll see you in a bit. Listen, Isaac’s missing as well. Simone just called, so keep your eyes open for him too.” After hanging up the phone, he met Claire’s pale face.
“Matt and Audrey discovered a murder today. It’s someone named Elle Bishop. Her … her head was carved open and her brain was gone. According to her registration, she was an electricity user.”
“Meaning?” Claire didn’t want to guess; Peter could see it in her eyes.
“Sylar’s not dead, and he’s killing again,” he said.
Claire grabbed his arm. “No! That can’t be possible. Hiro killed him a Kirby Plaza! You and I were both there! You remember…We both saw.”
“Claire, we never saw his body either. He could be still alive, lurking around and regaining his strength. Anyway, that’s what Matt said. I have to warn Nathan. If Sylar is on the loose again, a lot of people will be in danger now that special people are more publicly exposed.” Claire nodded, and Peter looked away from her frightened eyes. “I hate to say it, but I wonder if Isaac has become one of his fatalities.”
“Don’t say that yet! There is no body.” Claire said, her voice trailing into a whisper. She began to cry. “Oh, no, I need to warn my mom and dad!”
“Which ones?” Peter asked.
Claire gave him a stern look. “Both. Both will want to know if he’s still out there again. One dad and mom can go into hiding, and the other can come in and hunt him again.”
Peter nodded. “Okay, but first, there’s someone else I need to talk to.”
Claire gave him an inquisitive look. “Who?”
Peter bit his lip enough to break the skin. “Mohinder. If anyone is an expert on Sylar, he is.” He looked at Claire lovingly and traced a finger down her cheek. “I’m going to talk to him in person, but since Mohinder has always been so connected to Sylar, I’m risking a chance to run into him again.”
Claire looked terrified, like the night he first saved her from Sylar at homecoming. “Be careful.”
He leaned down and placed a long kiss to her lips. Then, he bolted out the door of their suite. When Peter stepped into the elevator to go to the main lobby, his vision suddenly went pitch black.
--
“Hello, Peter,” said a woman’s voice beside him. Peter spun around to the source with shock, as the light came back on in the elevator.
“Rena Slade!” he exclaimed. His eyebrows knitted in frustration. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for days.”
“I thought you had no need for me anymore,” she said with a light yet sad smile. “I suppose I was wrong.” She looked away in melancholy. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep appearing. The more you exist in this changed reality, the faster I fade.”
“Why? Why are you going away?” Peter asked. Rena seemed touched by his empathy.
“Well, as I thought, I am tied to my powers, and as my powers fade, so do I. Soon, Peter, you will no longer have the ability to shift reality. It is not like other powers. If you use it too much or for a stronger purpose than it is meant for, it will overload and begin to extinguish,” she explained.
“I don’t believe it. Mohinder says powers are within our genetics. It cannot completely go away. Unless… unless there is something else?” He looked to her for answers. She sighed.
“I’m not a scientist or a geneticist, Peter. I only know my own powers, and I knew that if I used them in small waves, I could deal with the consequences. But if used them too much, my physical body would wear down. Did you know how old I was when you met me before I died? I looked old, didn’t I? Well, I was only thirty-five.” Peter looked at her with shock, and she nodded her head. “That’s right. It aged me, and it fed off my life force. It will do that to you too if you don’t stop using it. But because you are an empath, and you are close to a self-healer most of the time, I’m sure it’s easier for you.”
Peter shook his head. “Okay, forget that for a moment. Tell me, why else are you back? Are you here because of Sylar?”
Rena gave him a grave expression. “He should not have noticed you, but he did. Now, like an elastic band that has been stretched too far; it snaps back. Either it breaks, or it retains its normal state.”
“Things are happening again. Gabriel Gray noticed me and now he remembers who he is.” Rena nodded at him. “How is that possible? How?” Peter snaked a frustrated hand through his dark bangs. He looked to Rena pleadingly, and her lips turned into a frown.
She did not have an answer he liked. “I told you, Peter. Everything is built on balance. You made everyone in this world happy and gave them what they wanted. But in order to do that, you must take something away and make someone unhappy.” Then, Rena’s voice became a dark, piercing echo inside Peter’s head.
“You did that to Sylar.”
[ Chapter Ten]
Title: Petrelli Land
Rating: R/M
Chapters: 10/17
Characters/Pairings: Mainly Peter/Claire, Mohinder/Gabriel(Sylar), Matt/Audrey, Isaac/Simone, Claude/Meredith mentioned
Warnings/Spoilers: AU and Canon Paire, Season One Spoilers, turns AU from "How to Stop an Exploding Man", will not follow Season Two storyline.
Notes/Disclaimer: This fic is inspired by the Marvel comic series, "House of M". The inspiration belongs to Marvel, and the Heroes characters belong to NBC and Tim Kring, but the story is entirely mine. The rating to this story has changed to R (M for FFnet) because of adult situations in this chapter and most likely in future chapters.
NEW NOTES: I know it's been awhile, but now that the holidays are over, I promise to be back on track with this.
FFnet Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3735029/1/
Summary: After Peter encounters someone with a dangerous ability, his lack of control causes him to shift reality to the desire of others, where most are happy except one, who vows revenge. Paire.
Chapter Summary: Simone calls Peter when Isaac goes missing, and Matt comes for Peter's help on a new murder - a murder that resemble Sylar's old M.O. Peter decides to contact Mohinder, and Rena Slade returns.
[ Previous Chapters]
Petrelli Land
Chapter Nine
Gabriel Gray dreamed of death that night, with a background washed in blood and frantic ghosts that howled for vengeance. When he woke, he was still Sylar, playing the role of Gabriel Gray, the mild-mannered assistant, in this manufactured world out of the derring-do mind of Peter Petrelli.
He shifted his arms and rested on the palms of the hands while he stared at the ceiling. He heard Mohinder stirring in the bed next to him, and flashes of the last night’s activities came to the forefront of his mind.
He finally gave into the good doctor’s advances. Not that it was hard; there was always something about Mohinder that fascinated and attracted him. Sex was a basic human occurrence he didn’t give much thought to unless it was needed. Last night it was definitely needed. While returning from lunch at Peter and Claire’s suite, Mohinder was becoming slightly suspicious of Peter’s behavior toward him. After a small argument, it was clear the empath just didn’t like Gabriel. Of course, Sylar knew the reason. Like him, Peter remembered everything from their real world. He just didn’t know Sylar knew everything too, and Sylar thought he played ‘Gabriel’ flawlessly.
Yet, Peter was an empath, so he didn’t fault the man for being suspicious. Only, his reactions and demeanor during lunch had left Mohinder at unease. It was Gabriel’s last attempt to convince Mohinder that Peter didn’t have to like him. He just had to like Mohinder, and after a little seduction, Mohinder finally moved away from the issue.
“I suppose you’re right, Gabriel,” he said. “I don’t expect everyone to like everyone. It’s just that Peter doesn’t usually dislike anyone, and he’s the president’s brother, so I find him a key player in the betterment of special people like you.” The doctor had squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. “I thought perhaps if you were friends, he’d find you a position in Homeland Security as well. Goodness knows your talents are being wasted here.”
Gabriel met his gaze with softness. He put his hand over Mohinder’s. “It’s alright. I’m much happier here.” Then, one thing led to another, as if Gabriel was reading Mohinder’s mind.
Though, he couldn’t do that. Not yet anyway, and he’d be more than happy to get his hands on Matt Parkman, as well as everyone else.
Sylar smiled and let out a small sigh. This universe was untouched. Of course, he would have to start over, but maybe Peter would get too comfortable and never suspect it. The line between him and Gabriel Gray had somehow been severed, and no one would link the two - unless it was Peter himself. By then, it would be too late, and Sylar didn’t mind being portrayed as a killer again.
He could go back to acquiring powers the old-fashioned way, just as nature always intended. He’d have to start from scratch, but like restarting any new game, at least Sylar knew where the treasures were kept. This time he didn’t have to look so hard.
Sylar grinned and decided to sleep in for the morning. When Mohinder awoke, he’d ask for the day off. After all, Gabriel rather thought he deserved it.
--
Three days went by in the Petrelli-Bennet suite, and Peter couldn’t be more shocked and relieved that he and Claire had actually spent those days alone, without any unwelcome interruptions. No phone calls, not even a fly-in by Nathan, had come to ruin their three relaxing days - well, relaxing and exhausting, for Peter hadn’t been able to take his hands off her.
Yes, he enjoyed the new world he created, and now that he’d had so much of Claire, legally and without any annoying taboos, he never wanted to give her up. But something still lingered in the back of his head telling him not to get too comfortable, that everything wasn’t as perfect as it seemed.
It was a sunny Thursday morning, and Peter had woken up ready and energized as Claire stirred next to him. She was bare-skinned and tanned, just the way he had liked her for the past few days. In fact, neither one of them had put on as much as a robe. Peter reveled in it, and he had a feeling so did Claire.
Neither one of them had ever felt so free.
She yawned and turned around to meet his grinning face. She smiled back. “Morning.” He bent down and captured her lips, earning an appreciative morning moan from his fiancé as she kissed him back.
He moved his head and leaned toward her ear. “How awake are you?” he whispered. Instantly, she giggled.
“That depends. Are we in for a repeat performance of … oh, what we’ve been doing for the last three days, or are you planning on feeding me this morning?” She traced a finger down the line of his jaw. “Sex kittens have to eat too, you know.”
Peter laughed. “Alright, alright, breakfast it is. But you can’t make me wear pants.” He wiggled a finger at her.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, rolling her eyes and giggling again.
She followed him to the kitchen, and Peter could feel her eyes roam over him, making it even harder for him to concentrate on cooking. He pulled out some pots and pans, eggs, milk, and meats from the fridge before turning around and meeting Claire’s gaze.
“Need any help?” she asked, but her eyes were focused below and not on his face.
“Claire, are you sure you’re really hungry?” he asked with a suspicious grin.
“Mmm hmm, in more ways than one,” she said, and he felt the trace of her fingers inside the juncture of his thighs.
The empty frying pan made a loud clang after he threw it down and then wrapped his arms around her. Pulling her against him, he devoured her mouth and cupped his hands under her bottom to life her onto the empty kitchen table. She bucked her body into his and rubbed her wetness against his excitement. He groaned in her mouth, and he heard her squeal as he slid inside.
Together they moved, each thrust and pull perfected just as the many times before. Chaos and Enlightenment swelled inside and between them, and Peter could feel the pressure within him begin to rise. Claire’s tightness and heat consumed him, wrapping around him like a sanctuary, and he shuddered as she climbed with him, fueling fire to their peak.
In a swift pause, he shoved away whatever adornments were on the kitchen table and led her onto her back. She cried as he pulled her legs up, lifting her so he could plunge deeper. She let out a guttural cry, and bit on her fist as he pumped wilder and faster, spinning her to the brink.
“Oh, God,” she screamed, and she tensed around him and he could feel her stall there, soaking the point of pleasure he had brought.
Her skin looked luminous in the morning sunlight, and she smiled at him as aftershocks shuddered between her thighs. He leaned over her and then stopped, and he buried his face in her sunlight hair as he plunged into her one last time before spilling inside.
“Claire…” he said her name, and she took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply.
“Love you,” she said in rapid breaths. Peter kissed her chin and repeated the words, really meaning them, and taking back the curses to fate from so long ago.
In this world, he could have her. In this world, they didn’t seem so lost and forlorn.
He’d fight tooth and nail to keep it, that much was obvious now, but why did he feel like he could lose it all in an instant?
The phone rang, and Claire sighed in exasperation.
“Well, there goes peace and quiet,” she harrumphed. She glared at the phone, and Peter knew she was having the same thoughts as he was in letting the answering machine take the call.
Peter sighed. “I better answer that. It might be Matt about the job.”
Peter frowned as he reluctantly pulled away from Claire and felt the chill of the room as his body moved away from hers.
“Hello?” he answered, and soon, his perfect world began to crack.
“Peter? Oh, thank God. It’s Simone,” she told him in a frantic voice. He could tell through the phone that she’d been crying. “I need your help. Isaac’s missing.”
Peter looked over to Claire, and she seemed worried by his expression.
“Who is it?” Claire asked in a whisper, as Peter let Simone ramble and sob on the phone.
“It’s Simone,” he said to her, and he turned his attention back to the phone as he caught Claire’s distress in the corner of his eye.
“Of course, what can I do?” Peter asked, and Claire walked up to him, leaning her body against his, but Peter knew she wanted to hear the conversation too. It disturbed him that maybe Claire didn’t completely trust him with Simone, but he let the thought slide away.
“I don’t know! I didn’t know who else to call. I came to his studio this morning to pick up a series of paintings for a show, and when I got here, I found…” She paused for a fit of sobs, and Peter told her to calm down. She continued, “I found blood on the floor and a chunk of his hair. I think… I think he’s been hurt.”
Claire looked to Peter and both of them seemed upset. Peter thought of the only thing he could do. “Simone, why don’t you come over? We’ll call Nathan, and we’ll see if he can use his connections to find Isaac. Okay?”
Simone sniffled, and she crackled out an agreement to be on her way before she hung up. Peter turned to Claire, and instantly, he’d already suspect the person behind it all. However, he didn’t know if he could tell Claire. Especially, if he wasn’t completely sure.
How much of this world had really changed?
“I should call Nathan,” he said. “But let’s get dressed first.” Claire nodded, and they both hurried into the bedroom.
--
“I’m telling you, Nathan; this is serious. I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t trust that Simone is telling the truth.” Peter was irritated. At first, Nathan didn’t believe him, and secondly, he didn’t want to help Peter’s junkie friend. “No, this isn’t a ploy by Simone to get back at me. This is serious! Why don’t you believe me? Isaac could be dead out there. They’re my friends, Nathan, and what’s to say what hurt Isaac won’t hurt more people? Remember, Isaac is one of us. Now, I know you have a lot on your plate as president, but could you do this favor for me? Please?”
Peter stared at Claire’s folded arms and then he sighed. “Great. I’ll see you soon. Thank you. I owe you.”
“Well?” Claire asked after Peter hung up the phone. Peter rolled his eyes.
“He says he’ll look into it. He thinks that Isaac hurt himself and was in some sort of drug haze. He didn’t want to do anything until Simone went to the police and filed an official report. However, I managed to get him to agree to put investigators out on Isaac’s trail right now.”
Claire relaxed her shoulders. “Okay, that’s all he can do, I guess. We’ll see when Simone gets here if she knows anything else.”
Peter nodded, and before they could pause and talk more about Isaac’s situation, the phone rang again.
Peter answered it and couldn’t believe his ears. He felt his blood go cold. “Matt?” Claire watched his unease as he leaned back against the wall. “No,” he whispered with a chill.
“Peter, what’s wrong?” But Peter ignored Claire for a moment and listened to Matt.
“Sure, I can help. Yeah, I think it’s him too. I’ll see you in a bit. Listen, Isaac’s missing as well. Simone just called, so keep your eyes open for him too.” After hanging up the phone, he met Claire’s pale face.
“Matt and Audrey discovered a murder today. It’s someone named Elle Bishop. Her … her head was carved open and her brain was gone. According to her registration, she was an electricity user.”
“Meaning?” Claire didn’t want to guess; Peter could see it in her eyes.
“Sylar’s not dead, and he’s killing again,” he said.
Claire grabbed his arm. “No! That can’t be possible. Hiro killed him a Kirby Plaza! You and I were both there! You remember…We both saw.”
“Claire, we never saw his body either. He could be still alive, lurking around and regaining his strength. Anyway, that’s what Matt said. I have to warn Nathan. If Sylar is on the loose again, a lot of people will be in danger now that special people are more publicly exposed.” Claire nodded, and Peter looked away from her frightened eyes. “I hate to say it, but I wonder if Isaac has become one of his fatalities.”
“Don’t say that yet! There is no body.” Claire said, her voice trailing into a whisper. She began to cry. “Oh, no, I need to warn my mom and dad!”
“Which ones?” Peter asked.
Claire gave him a stern look. “Both. Both will want to know if he’s still out there again. One dad and mom can go into hiding, and the other can come in and hunt him again.”
Peter nodded. “Okay, but first, there’s someone else I need to talk to.”
Claire gave him an inquisitive look. “Who?”
Peter bit his lip enough to break the skin. “Mohinder. If anyone is an expert on Sylar, he is.” He looked at Claire lovingly and traced a finger down her cheek. “I’m going to talk to him in person, but since Mohinder has always been so connected to Sylar, I’m risking a chance to run into him again.”
Claire looked terrified, like the night he first saved her from Sylar at homecoming. “Be careful.”
He leaned down and placed a long kiss to her lips. Then, he bolted out the door of their suite. When Peter stepped into the elevator to go to the main lobby, his vision suddenly went pitch black.
--
“Hello, Peter,” said a woman’s voice beside him. Peter spun around to the source with shock, as the light came back on in the elevator.
“Rena Slade!” he exclaimed. His eyebrows knitted in frustration. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for days.”
“I thought you had no need for me anymore,” she said with a light yet sad smile. “I suppose I was wrong.” She looked away in melancholy. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep appearing. The more you exist in this changed reality, the faster I fade.”
“Why? Why are you going away?” Peter asked. Rena seemed touched by his empathy.
“Well, as I thought, I am tied to my powers, and as my powers fade, so do I. Soon, Peter, you will no longer have the ability to shift reality. It is not like other powers. If you use it too much or for a stronger purpose than it is meant for, it will overload and begin to extinguish,” she explained.
“I don’t believe it. Mohinder says powers are within our genetics. It cannot completely go away. Unless… unless there is something else?” He looked to her for answers. She sighed.
“I’m not a scientist or a geneticist, Peter. I only know my own powers, and I knew that if I used them in small waves, I could deal with the consequences. But if used them too much, my physical body would wear down. Did you know how old I was when you met me before I died? I looked old, didn’t I? Well, I was only thirty-five.” Peter looked at her with shock, and she nodded her head. “That’s right. It aged me, and it fed off my life force. It will do that to you too if you don’t stop using it. But because you are an empath, and you are close to a self-healer most of the time, I’m sure it’s easier for you.”
Peter shook his head. “Okay, forget that for a moment. Tell me, why else are you back? Are you here because of Sylar?”
Rena gave him a grave expression. “He should not have noticed you, but he did. Now, like an elastic band that has been stretched too far; it snaps back. Either it breaks, or it retains its normal state.”
“Things are happening again. Gabriel Gray noticed me and now he remembers who he is.” Rena nodded at him. “How is that possible? How?” Peter snaked a frustrated hand through his dark bangs. He looked to Rena pleadingly, and her lips turned into a frown.
She did not have an answer he liked. “I told you, Peter. Everything is built on balance. You made everyone in this world happy and gave them what they wanted. But in order to do that, you must take something away and make someone unhappy.” Then, Rena’s voice became a dark, piercing echo inside Peter’s head.
“You did that to Sylar.”
[ Chapter Ten]