Chapter Seven: For a Better Tomorrow
Scott, Stiles, Malia, and Lydia arrived at Derek's loft when they entered they found everyone quietly talking amongst themselves. Everyone's attention though turned to them, Scott looked at Riley who stood with Lucas standing behind her with one of his arms around her as they looked out the window. For a moment a picture of him and Allison flashed in Scott's mind;
"You were right Scott, it's a scary resemblance," Jackson said as the three of them approach Scott and the others to meet them warmly.
"What's going on, how long do we have to stay here?" Maya asked interrupting the group's reunion.
"For at least tonight, tomorrow I will be meeting with the leader of the people who are after Riley and Lucas. I'm hoping I can resolve this without fighting" Scott explained, he looked back at Riley and Lucas who now stood with Lucas standing a step behind her, both of them looking at Scott. Another picture of he and Allison flashed in his head, and quickly he backed off, Riley noticed his reaction and was curious but also concerned.
"I have to go, but stay here, and you'll be safe, I will see you all tomorrow with good news hopefully," Scott said immediately leaving afterwards.
"Well he seems strange" Zay stated, Stiles and the others knowing what was wrong with him simply looked at one another awkwardly before Isaac closed the door, and they all sat down. Riley looked at them each individually for a moment,
"Jackson" Riley called out,
"Yeah Riley?" Jackson replied,
"You said that you know who I was because Scott told you I resembled a friend, who was she?" Riley asked, and Jackson was silent. He looked around at his friends, setting his gaze upon Stiles lastly and the two looked one another in the eyes. Stiles nodded, and Jackson lowered his head, the eyes of Riley and her friends turned to Stiles.
"This isn't the first time we've done this; for years we have been fighting and protecting this town, against a pack of Alphas, a Demon Wolf, a crazy druid. An evil thousand-year-old spirit, being on a dead pool for professional killers, Hunters, oh and Dread Doctors and the Beast of Gevaudan. We're all lucky to be here, but not all of us made it. Her name was Allison Argent; she was Chris' daughter, they were our Romeo and Juliet; she came from one of the oldest and greatest families of Hunters and Scott, well, he is what they hunted. Whether they were keeping it a secret, sneaking around, fighting on the same or opposite side, arguing with one another, even when they broke up and saw other people we all knew that it was always them. She was his anchor, and they were one another's first love, and she died in his arms" Stiles explained but took a moment to rub his nose and wipe away a tear, Riley and her friends looked at the reactions of Stiles and the others and felt sad, but also guilt. "We've lost many friends and family." Stiles said looking at Ethan, and then back at Riley, "for us, for Scott most of all; looking at you is like looking at a memory, a ghost. He sees the two of you and is reminded of what he had, of what he lost." Stiles continued, bringing about a somber mood in the loft,
"I'm sorry if myself or any of us didn't sound like we appreciate what you are all doing for us." Maya insisted sorrowfully,
"You're scared, we understand, so are we," Lydia said,
"You guys are?" Josh asked,
"Fear is a common thing when we do stuff like this, go up against the bad guys. You aren't the first people we've had to watch over or protect. Some of us have even been in your position now. We're always scared, but no matter how much we are will do what we have to in order to protect Beacon Hills," Jackson insisted,
"To protect those who cannot protect themselves." Ethan continued, and his friends smiled.
The following day Scott patiently waited in the forest, his eyes were closed, but he was not unaware of the situation around him. Deaton was at the Animal Clinic listening to what was happening via his and Scott's phone while Sheriff Stilinski, Parrish, Argent and the Hales laid in hiding ready to come out and assist Scott if need be. Eventually Scott picked up on the scent, a cold chill ran down his spine as the individual approached; finally the cloaked figured emerged from the bushes and walked into the clearing standing opposite Scott.
"Scott McCall!" He called out,
"And you are?" Scott inquired, the man removed his hood, he has shoulder length dark black hair, and his skin had an unnatural color to it.
"You may call me Lucian" Lucian insisted,
"Okay"
"I see you have your Beta and his friends guarding the parent's house, and I know you're hiding the girl and Lucas somewhere it's only a matter of time until I find them. I also see that you've brought some pawns for your protection, smart of you, but sadly I brought more."
"I value quality over quantity" Scott insisted, and Lucian erupted into laughter,
"Excellent Scott, very good indeed. So tell me how long must to stall for?"
"I'm not stalling for anything."
"Oh come on Scott, let's not lie to one another. I know you've done a call to arms, with each passing day your allies amass in Beacon Hills. You're preparing to do battle against me and mine."
"I'm here hoping we can come to a diplomatic solution without any more blood; so you want Riley and Lucas, how about you take me instead, add a True Alpha to your ranks in the place of an Omega."
"Against any other omega I would accept in a heartbeat, but Lucas is the only Omega to survive my bite, so he holds a special place in my heart. And you don't understand Scott; I want to fight you, an Alpha Pack, a Nogitsune, Dead Doctors and The Beast of Gevaudan; all have fallen before you Scott."
"Then you and I, let's fight. If I win you leave empty-handed, you win, and you can take them."
"Oh no Scott, then all of Deaton's hard work would have been for naught, that's right I know about your plan to surround Beacon Hills with mountain ash," Lucian revealed, Scott remained emotionless not wanting to give anything away while Deaton dropped his head. "I'm going to beat you, Scott, I'm going to kill your allies, and I'm going to break through your defenses and slaughter the people of Beacon Hills. Why? Because I can, and I want to, it will be an example to those who would stand against Me."
"There is no convincing you otherwise?"
"No."
"Then why did you even come here?"
"I wanted to see you in person, get the measure of you. Make sure I know which one you are on the battlefield." Lucian insisted, Scott turned around and walked away as Lucian smiled with a menacing evil in his eyes.
In the Animal Clinic, Deaton had ended the call, he stood up and leaned up against the wall when he heard the front door of the clinic open and close and footsteps approaching. Marin Morrell walked around the corner and smiled at her brother,
"You took your time," Deaton pointed out,
"I wasn't sure if you were serious or not from your messages."
"Scott just met with our enemy, he knows about the plan, so I'm more serious now than what I was when I called and messaged you."
"You're too close to this Alan, come with me, and we will leave Beacon Hills when we have you'll be able to clear your head and think clearly."
"I can't-do that Marin, there comes a point in time when you must ask yourself, how much are you willing to stand by and watch happen, to let happen before you intervene?"
"We are Druids, Emissaries; our job is to advise and maintain the balance, yes we may get our hands a little dirty, but this?"
"I failed Talia and her family; I won't fail Scott and his pack, my pack."
"You care for them?"
"I tried to remain just an advisor to them Marin, but they took me in and made me part of their pack. After Talia and the Hale Family, I never thought I'd find another pack. I lost all purpose, but then came Scott he gave me purpose again Marin, I've seen him grow from a confused and scared Omega to a True Alpha with a pack I've never seen the likes of before. I care for him Marin, like a son, I'm not abandoning him now, not ever."
"But Alan, this magic it will surely come with a price!"
"I'm willing to pay it, to guarantee a better tomorrow. If I don't do anything and our enemy wins there won't be a balance to maintain if I help and we lose then at least I know I tried."
"Please big brother, come with me, at least to say goodbye to the others." Marin insisted, and Alan walked over to a small cabinet and opened it up before pulling out a briefcase. He walked over to Marin and handed it to her,
"All my goodbyes, my final words to them are all in there, even for you" Deaton revealed, Marin gently took the briefcase and looked her brother in the eyes. He kissed her on the forehead, and they hugged one another tightly,
"I hope to see you when this is all over Alan," Marin said,
"I hope so too Marin" Alan agreed.
"But if not, I will remember you brother" Marin insisted as they pulled away from one another and Deaton chuckled.
"I hope you will, thank you and goodbye" Deaton concluded before Marin turned around and walked towards the door when the door closed behind her Deaton walked to the table in the middle of the room and leaned on it. He dropped his head and fought back the tears; as did Marin walking to her car, she opened up the driver's door.
"It's been sometime Morrell," a familiar voice said from behind her, and so she turned around.
"I wondered when you would show up Deucalion" Marin greeted,
"Well Scott called and told me what was happening, and I knew I had to come help."
"You know what my brother intends to do?"
"He asked for my unbiased opinion yes."
"And you told him to do it?"
"He was going ahead with using it, with or without my opinion, there wasn't anything I could say."
"Of course not."
"I'm not here to argue with you Morrell; I'm here to say that I'm sorry for all the wrong I did to you. I was blinded, filled with such anger and rage that I…"
"It's okay, I understand, I never thought that you were entirely evil, seeing you here only proves that."
"Well, Scott McCall has the fearsome power of turning enemies into friends."
"Are you going to fight?"
"Oh no I'm not a fighter I'm a killer and his cause, our cause the one we stand for is one worth killing for"
"Which is?"
"For peace, for a better tomorrow. Before I was blinded I too had a vision of peace, and now Scott seems to embody everything I wanted, soon he will have both Hunters and Supernatural creatures fighting side by side for this cause."
"Well then Deucalion, I wish you good fortune in the war to come. If I don't see you again, I will remember you for the man you became before the end, not the monster you once were." Marin said as she smiled warmly at him,
"As always Morrell thank you for everything, may we meet again" Deucalion concluded, Marin got into her car and shortly afterwards drove away. He walked into the Animal Clinic and looked at Deaton who was again leaning up against the wall; he saw two short glasses on the table and a bottle of old whiskey.
"For old time's sake?" Deaton asked, and Deucalion chuckled,
"With what is to come, how can I say no?" He smiled, and the two both approached the table. They both raised their glasses;
"For a better tomorrow."
