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Lacy here with the next Effie chapter. This is where it all goes to shit, well further shit, for Effie. As you saw in the last chapter, she is not, in any way, accepting of Claudia being back after Stiles has been erased. Like she said, she learned to live without her mother, she won't learn to live without Stiles. But her denial is going to become too much for some and the consequences are going to be severe. Not even being a shifter can save her this time. Read on!
Disclaimer: I own Effie and the hell I'm about to put her through.
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When Effie received the text to meet at her house, she wasn't pleased. She still hadn't set foot in the house, especially since discovering her mother was back. Not only was the house without any trace of Stiles, but now it had all the signs of a two parent household. Effie didn't want to see that, but Lydia's text said it was important, and Scott's text to Derek pleaded for them to show up.
Setting foot in the house, Effie nearly shifted at the sight of so many feminine touches. Something the Stilinski household hadn't had in years. Not with Effie being a tomboy painter and Stiles and John not really caring about how the place looked, other than being clean and orderly.
"Breathe," Derek whispered so no one else could hear him. "I'm right here." He slid his hand around Effie's waist and pulled her back against his shoulder, anchoring her.
"Ef, that you?" John called from the living room.
Effie swallowed. "And Derek."
"Kinda figured, sweetheart." John chuckled as the two appeared. "You don't really go anywhere without each other these days."
"There's a reason for that." Effie smiled tightly. "What's the big emergency?"
"No emergency." Lydia said from her seat. For a girl who'd been into that house hundreds of times, she looked completely uncomfortable. "Your dad has a lead on 'Stiles'."
"I can hear the air quotes around that, Lyd." Effie said. "He's real, you're starting to remember. Don't start questioning it now."
"Not questioning, honey." Claudia appeared with a metal box in hand. "Just trying to figure this all out."
Effie glared. Hard. "You don't need to figure anything out. Once Stiles is back, you'll be gone."
"Effie." John's tone was hard. "I will not have you talking to your mother like that. Show some respect."
"If she were actually my mother, I would." Effie fought back. "But Mom died when Stiles and I were kids. You vanished into a bottle until the Hale Fire and Stiles and I learned to live without her."
"I don't understand," Scott shook his head. "What are you talking about?"
Effie exhaled. "Just more that changed when Stiles vanished. Why do you have Grandpa's box?"
"He went by Stiles," John said, his tone stiff. He was clearly unhappy with his child. "It's a family nickname."
"I know." Effie said, crossing her arms. "My brother started using it when it became clear no one could pronounce the name Mom gave him."
"What name?" Claudia asked.
"Pop's." Effie answered. "Mom named Stiles after her father."
Claudia winced. "I would never-"
"You didn't." Effie argued. "My mother did. Just like she named me after Nan. She nicknamed me 'Effie' after a childhood friend."
"Effie isn't a nickname." Claudia shook her head. "It's your middle name."
Effie let out a dry laugh. "Even my name has changed. I can't wait for Stiles to come back."
"The only Stiles in this family," John spoke up once more. "Was my father."
"And Effie's brother. Your son." Derek pressed. "Stop ignoring the signs that she's telling the truth, John. Scott, Lydia and Malia are starting to remember, to open up about the truth of there being someone missing from their lives. Why can't you?"
"I would never forget my child." John fought. "And I really wish you'd stop taking Effie's side and fueling this delusion. Maybe Scott and the others do have a missing friend. But it is not my son."
Effie shook her head. "That's it, I'm not staying here." she looked at Scott and Lydia, who looked uncomfortable for a whole new reason. "Call me when you're done and we'll talk more about how to find Stiles."
Derek turned them so they could leave, but Claudia climbed to her feet.
"You leave this house, young lady," she said. "And you'll force your father's and my hand."
Effie looked at her. "What are you going to do? I'm a druidfox, humans can't stop me."
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Long after Effie and Derek left, John and Claudia sat in their living room, hands laced together.
"You really think this is the best solution?" John asked his wife.
Claudia nodded. "She's clearly delusional, John. And Derek's not helping one bit. I told you she was too young to be in such a serious relationship. She needs our help."
John sighed, but nodded and pulled out his phone. "Parrish? I need you to meet me at Hale's loft. How are you at restraining alphas?"
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In the end, Derek and Effie only heard Parrish coming. The Hellhound burst through the loft doors and quickly pinned Derek against the wall. Effie went to attack him, but felt a sharp prick on the back of her neck. Reaching up, she removed a tranq dart.
"Effie!" Derek struggled against Parrish. "John, don't do this!"
John came in with three orderlies from Eichen House. "She's sick, Derek, and she needs help."
"The only thing this will do it cause her more pain!" Derek fought. "That place, she won't survive there!"
John sighed and motioned for the orderlies to take Effie, who was kneeling on the ground panting as the wolfsbane laced tranq worked through her system. Not enough to kill her, but enough that no one would get hurt restraining her.
"Let us do this," John said. "And you'll get weekly visits. Fight me, and you won't see her again until her mother and I deem she's ready to come home."
Derek froze. That long apart, given the strength of their mate bond, it would kill the pair. John had backed him into a corner. He could either fight and end up in a situation where they would both die, or watch as his mate was taken away and get to see her once a week.
Parrish seemed to realize Derek was giving up and stepped back. He turned, watching the orderlies strap Effie down to a stretcher, a wolfsbane laced IV already in her arm. He hadn't been sure when John told him what was happening. Even now, watching the way Derek seemed to be caving in on himself as Effie was taken from the loft, he was doubting his boss.
"I'll get her back." Derek growled at the sheriff as the man went to leave with his daughter.
John nodded. "You will. When she's ready."
Derek couldn't fight it, as the door closed behind John and Parrish. He threw his head back and howled into the night.
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Effie stared at her parents on the other side of the glass door holding her in her cell at Eichen House. And she did mean cell. Because she was a supernatural creature, she was in the sublevel where Valek had been. Wolfsbane laced the door and handle, preventing her from escaping and the glass wouldn't break under anything less than a banshee scream.
"We'll see you soon, sweetie." Claudia smiled, tears in her eyes.
"No," Effie shook her head. "You won't." As the door shut and the lock snapped into place, Effie pulled her legs to her chest and rested her head on her knees. Focusing on her Spark, she pushed a barrier of magic outward and encased herself in a bubble. They wanted to lock her away, fine. But no one was touching her without her consent. And good luck to those that tried getting through her magic. They would regret it.
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I've had this plot planned since I first watched season six, because I knew there was no way Effie was going to give in to the idea of her brother being gone, but her mother coming back. And I wanted Claudia to be the type of mother that would look passed the supernatural, or ignore it, and just see her underage daughter in a serious relationship with an older man. May seem a bit extreme, but it's the plan. From here on out, until Effie is released, every chapter will be from Derek's POV. Let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading!
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