Author's Note: BWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA yeah so that happened. Moving along, this one's a little short... I own nothing.
6. The Ritual
It took Deaton nearly an hour to get to the loft from wherever he was when Scott finally managed to get him on the phone. When he made it up to the door, which was opened for him by a spooked looking Erica, he found Lydia and Peter pouring over the book he'd recommended to Scott, quietly arguing over the correct translation. Jackson was behind Lydia occasionally growling at Peter when he got too close. Scott was pacing while Boyd and Isaac kept watch at the windows. Allison was in the corner arguing on the phone with someone who could only be her father. Danny had his laptop out and was doing research while the twins peered over his shoulders. Derek was standing stone still at the far end of the couch staring down at its stone still occupant. Melissa McCall was checking Stiles over again. Every wolf in the room looked up at the sound of Deaton's entrance. Every set of supernatural eyes was currently glowing their respective colors in agitation. A short growl from Derek set them back to their respective tasks. The party decorations didn't fit the somber mood that had swallowed the room. Deaton made his way over to where Melissa was crouched next to Stiles as quickly as he could.
"What happened?" She shook her head and explained what they'd found in the kitchen. Deaton stood.
"Where's the apple now?" Peter held up his hand, in it was a bright red apple with a single bit taken out of it. Deaton snatched it from the wolf and set down his bag. He pulled a bottle out of it and poured a tiny drop of liquid out of the bottle onto the apple. The unassuming piece of fruit that had caused all of this sizzled and hissed black smoke coming off of the bite mark. Deaton grabbed the book from Lydia earning him a growl from Jackson that he ignored. He flipped forward a page or two from where they'd been reading and scanned the page. The whole room was quiet as he read quickly. It seemed like the whole pack was holding its breath when he spoke.
"It's not technically a curse. Which is good news. The bad news is it's a ritual to harness the powers of the elements through four proxy souls. The worse news is it sounds like she's got the last soul she needs." Derek still didn't look up but he did growl out a word seemingly too angry to form full sentences.
"Explain." Deaton sighed.
"Essentially the ritual allows the witch to harness the power of all four elements at any time without the need for further ritual, if it's done correctly. The elements are difficult to harness, particularly all at once. The souls need to be pure, virginal, and preferably female though it's not a requirement. The proxy souls are used to represent an element each, one for water, one for fire, one for air and one for earth. If the ritual is completed properly then the witch gains nearly unlimited power but it requires sacred ground to complete." Peter nodded at Deaton's words.
"That fucking Nemeton is the gift that keeps on giving isn't it." Scott stepped forwards.
"What happens to the souls if the ritual is completed?" Deaton's frown deepened.
"They become pure elementals and are absorbed by the witch. In laymen's terms, they die." A deep snarl sounded from across the room and all eyes snapped to Derek who was mostly shifted now but was no longer looking at Stiles. His piercing blood red gaze was fixed out the window. His nose was twitching. Deaton looked contemplative as Derek let loose a bone shaking howl that had Melissa clapping her hands over her ears. The others let loose howls answering their Alpha's call. Only Peter Lydia Melissa and Deaton remained as the wolves followed their alpha as he raced out of the building. Peter glanced after them.
"He has no idea where he's going. This won't end well." Deaton shook his head at the beta.
"I think he'll be able to find her." He tilted his head at Stiles. Peter frowned.
"Oh, how do you think that?" Deaton tapped his nose.
"Use the senses you were born with Hale." Peter stepped up to the back of the couch and sniffed daintily before taking a deeper breath. His eyes went wide.
"No way." He took another deep breath through his nose seemingly to confirm whatever he'd figured out. He stepped back from Stiles and shook his head.
"It does explain a few things but why haven't I smelled it before?" Deaton shrugged.
"Derek nearly lost her to the Nogitsune, he started realizing what she meant to him but the thought of losing her so soon after Scott and Lydia saved her… it pushed his wolf to recognize what she is to him." Peter nodded. Lydia was watching them closely. Melissa raised her eyebrow.
"Ok I am beyond confused here." Peter smiled.
"If he manages to save her, everyone's gonna find out just what our dear Stiles means to my dear nephew." Deaton nodded as the gears in Lydia's head turned on overdrive. She'd read so much about werewolves, both fact and fiction and she could only think of one thing they could be referencing but it couldn't be. Stiles was human, and as far as everything she'd ever read stated both parties had to be supernatural. She stated this to the others in the room and Deaton shook his head.
"Not necessarily. It's not so much about the body and what they might be but about the soul and their compatibility on that level. Besides, Stiles is still a Spark. So even if it were a requirement she meets it." Peter nodded glancing back at the still form on the couch.