Echo House
It was a dark and stormy night as Sheriff Stilinski drove Stiles across town.
There was a tense silence between the two Stilinskis. They kept glancing at one another, as though they wanted to speak but neither one of them said a word. Stiles knew how much his decision and other recent events were bothering his father and Sheriff Stilinski worried that if he spoke his mind, it would not end well.
Eventually, they pulled up to Eichen House. It looked foreboding and scary in the night, not the kind of place for even a short stay like Stiles intended. Stiles and his dad exchanged sorrowful looks. This wasn't easy for either of them, but as much as they disliked Stiles' plan, they both knew that it was the only way.
When they got out of the car, Artemis pulled up behind them. She'd been following close behind on her motorcycle and looked just as upset as the two men were, if not more so.
"I know what you're going to say, Artemis, and my answer's no. I'm not changing my mind," said Stiles, before she could speak. "I'm not staying forever. It's only seventy-two hours, I'll be fine."
"You don't know that!" protested Artemis. She wasn't the least bit happy about Stiles' decision to check himself into Eichen House for three days. Eichen House's reputation was far from good, especially after William Barrow's stay there, and there was no telling what kind of trouble and danger Stiles would be getting himself into during his stay. Not to mention, Artemis worried what might happen to Stiles if the pack wasn't there to protect him. Surely, there had to be another way. "Stiles, you know what this place does to people, what it did to Barrow. You can't do this. Please!"
Stiles shook his head. "I have to."
Artemis looked crestfallen and turned to Sheriff Stilinski for support but the police officer refused
"Artemis, I don't like this either, but Stiles has convinced me that we have no other option. I saw an MRI that looked exactly like my wife's and it terrified me," said Sheriff Stilinski. "I'm headed down to L.A. tomorrow to see a specialist."
Artemis frowned in confusion. "Wait, exactly like Claudia's? How is that possible?" Even if they had the same condition, how could two people, even if they were related, have the exact same test results? That was messed up and just impossible. Something wasn't right here.
"I don't know," admitted Sheriff Stilinski. "But what I do know is that for the time being, if Stiles is going to be safe, I have to let him stay here if it's what he wants."
Artemis momentarily lost her voice as her throat tightened and she turned back to Stiles. "Stiles, I'm begging you, don't go in here. I can't protect you in Eichen House!"
If something happened to Stiles in the nuthouse because Artemis and the pack weren't there to protect him, Artemis would never forgive herself.
"And I can't hurt you if I'm in there," he pointed out. Stiles looked regretful and his voice was thick with emotion but he was still firm and determined. "Arty, you know what it's like to struggle to protect those you love from yourself. I could've killed you in Deaton's office. I can't let that happen again. You're my family, which means I have to protect you."
Artemis's heart ached from Stiles' words and her brown eyes glistened with tears. "I'm not giving up on you," she said, firmly. Stiles had never once given up on helping Artemis through her struggles and she'd be darned if she didn't show Stiles the same friendship and loyalty. "Deaton's got some ideas. Argent's calling people. We're going to find a way to save you and get rid of the Nogitsune. If we can't exorcise it, then I'll turn you just like I promised."
Stiles smiled a little but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "And if you can't save me, you have to do something else for me, okay? You need to make sure I never get out."
Artemis's heart clenched as she realized what Stiles was asking. "I'll do what I have to." It was just vague enough to satisfy Stiles and yet Artemis hadn't actually promised she would do the deed. "Just promise me if things go bad here, you'll get out. Promise me."
Stiles nodded and then two of them shared a tight, tearful embrace.
Eventually, Artemis and Stiles broke apart and Artemis watched as Stiles and his dad entered Eichen House.
XXX
Eichen House was not the kind of place that Stiles cared to ever revisit.
Though the facility was spotlessly clean and its patients were cared for, there was something unsettling about Eichen House. It sent a shiver down Stiles' spine. He wanted to leave very badly but he knew he couldn't, not if he wanted his loved ones to be safe from the monster inside him.
"Mr. Stilinski?" said the head nurse. She was a dark-skinned woman old enough to be Stiles' grandma and she was smiling kindly at Stiles. "Follow me, please."
With some reluctance, Stiles and Sheriff Stilinski followed the head nurse to her office where they sat across from her desk and began filling out the necessary forms while she explained what Stiles should expect during his stay at Eichen House.
"…first seventy-two hours, there's no phone calls, no e-mails, and no visitors. We will be taking you from here to a brief physical examination. In the morning, you'll be assessed by a staff psychologist, speak to a social worker and attend group therapy. Any questions?"
Stiles shook his head.
Sheriff Stilinski, who'd been attempting to sign the last of the papers, looked nervous as he put the pen down. "I feel like we're forgetting something here."
The nurse ignored him and put a pair of brown slippers on her desk and a small tray. "Put these on, Stiles. No laces are allowed. You don't have a belt, do you?" When Stiles shook his head, she continued, "Please empty your pockets in here."
Stiles did as he was told. He took off his sneakers and put on the soft slippers before emptying his pockets of his house and car keys, spare change and his cellphone. Stiles seemed oddly relaxed about it all, which was in contrast to his dad, who grew more and more tense with every sound of the asylum—the door buzzing, keys jangling, etc.—until Sheriff Stilinski could no longer bear it.
"Your pillow. We completely forgot your pillow," he said.
"Dad, it's okay," said Stiles, calmly.
He knew what his dad was trying to do but he wouldn't permit it.
"No. No. You're never going to be able to fall asleep. We need to go back and get it," said Sheriff Stilinski, sounding desperate.
"It's fine, Dad. I don't need it," insisted Stiles.
"I can't believe I forgot it," he rambled on. "Every time we've ever stayed in a hotel, we always packed your pillow. It's the first thing you pack."
"You can bring it by tomorrow, Dad," said Stiles, as he rose up from his chair.
Sheriff Stilinski lost it at that point. "Okay, you know what? Enough. Stiles, get your stuff. I'm not checking you in here if you're not going to get at least one good night's sleep." It was clear from the desperation in Sheriff Stilinski's voice that he was trying to stall things and find a reason to keep Stiles out of Eichen House.
Stiles looked sadly at him. "Dad, I haven't had a good night's sleep since Kali died."
Sheriff Stilinski swallowed painfully and resisted the urge to cry as father and son shared a tight embrace. No words needed to be spoken between them as they made silent promises to each other to be okay and hang on.
When Stiles pulled away from his father's embrace, he was led to his room by the head nurse. On the way up multiple flights of stairs, Stiles thought he saw a familiar face out of the corner of his eye but when he turned to get a better look, the person had gone.
Figuring it was nothing but a trick from his subconscious, Stiles resumed his journey up the stairs only to freeze in his tracks when he saw an older male patient, standing up on the railing several floors up, knot up a sheet while muttering something that sounded horribly familiar to Stiles.
"I'm the part of the bird that's not in the sky. I can swim in the ocean and yet remain dry."
It was a riddle, one that the Nogitsune had taunted Stiles with in his nightmares. The answer was a shadow. With this in mind, Stiles' heart skipped a beat as he realized what was happening. "Do you see that? That guy up there? Help! Someone stop him!"
A crowd gathered at the sound of Stiles' yelling and some of the staff hurried to the patient's location but it was too late. What happened next would haunt Stiles' nightmares for years to come.
Stiles tried not to be sick at the sight of the horrible tragedy as he was led away to his room. As he was dragged away, Stiles would swear he saw the Nogitsune's mummified form in the crowd of patients down below in the stairwell. It was no coincidence, that much Stiles was certain of, and now he was also dead set on making a phone call. Unfortunately for Stiles, the head nurse refused to move on the asylum's rules.
"…I know there's the whole seventy-two hours thing, but I really need to use the phone," he begged.
"The accident that occurred is being taken care of," said the nurse.
Stiles looked at her incredulously. "'Accident'?! You're seriously calling that an accident?"
"Incident," snapped the nurse. She unlocked the door of the room where Stiles would be staying and pushed him inside.
Stiles nearly threw up his hands in frustration. "Slightly better, but I still need to use the phone!"
"No," said the nurse, firmly.
"Just five minutes," begged Stiles. He blocked the door to keep her from closing it. "Three minutes? Please. Just a three-minute phone call. I'm—"
"Would you like to go to sleep, Stiles?" interrupted the nurse, sounding stern. "Or would you like me to introduce you to our five-point restraint system?"
"I would go with sleep," said an unfamiliar voice before Stiles could speak.
Stiles glanced behind him and saw his roommate, a boy not much older than Stiles with dark hair and a smile on his face, strapped to the bed across from Stiles'. He waved at Stiles and beckoned to Stiles' bed with his head, advising Stiles to take the first option.
Realizing Stiles had no other choice, he sighed and told the nurse his choice. Moments later, the door was shut and locked and Stiles plonked down onto his bed, sighing as he gazed wistfully out the window.
"I'm Oliver," said his roommate. "What's your name?"
"Stiles."
"Nice to meet you, Stiles," said Oliver. "There was an incident, wasn't there?"
Stiles nodded. He wasn't surprised that Oliver knew about the 'incident'. Word in the looney bin got around fast.
"Is it Monday? There's a much higher rate of incidents on Mondays."
Stiles did not like the sound of that. It left him with a cold feeling of dread in his stomach. He was seriously regretting his decision to stay at Eichen House.
"O…kay…then…" said Stiles, slowly. He looked at the locked bedroom door and considered yelling for help and beg to be let out, claiming he'd changed his mind, but then thought better of it. The nurse had already threatened Stiles once. It wouldn't be wise to risk it happening again if she decided to carry out her threat. Not to mention, yelling to be released probably wouldn't do much good when many of the other patients were doing the exact same thing.
"I heard it, you know," said Oliver, snapping Stiles out of his thoughts. "It happened in the stairwell, right? Right?"
Stiles' head shot up and he narrowed his eyes. Even if word got around quickly in the looney bin, how could Oliver have known exactly where the incident took place?
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
"I heard the echo," said Oliver.
Oliver's calmness and the way he casually spoke about the incident did nothing to help Stiles' nerves or change Stiles' opinion about his roommate. Oliver seemed like a nice guy but he was seriously creeping Stiles.
"What?"
"It's this place," explained Oliver. "Something about the way it was built. Everything echoes eventually. That's why they called it 'Echo House.'"
Stiles grimaced. Just when he thought Eichen House couldn't get any creepier. "Swell."
XXX
Back at Deaton's office, the druid/vet had Chris Argent on speakerphone. The hunter was using his one phone call to communicate with Deaton, Alison and Artemis in order to get caught up on what was happening and formulate a plan to deal with the Nogitsune.
"Did you have any problems with Ikeda?" asked Chris. It had only been through Chris's connections that Deaton had been able to meet with the Japanese mobster and acquire the lichen used to poison the Nogitsune.
"No, the white she-wolf was right where you said she'd be," said Deaton. "But we have two problems now. First, the lichen is not a cure. It'll wear off in a matter of days."
"But while it does work, the Oni won't go after Stiles?" questioned Chris.
"I hope," confessed Deaton. The druid was a man of great knowledge and talent when it came to the supernatural world but even he had his limits. "Eichen House has an unusual history. It might not be all that safe for the Oni there as well."
Chris sighed. "What's the second problem?"
"I checked with your contacts in Japan. The Yakuza boss you saw killed by the Oni never found the scroll," said Deaton, grimly.
Artemis's head perked up. "Scroll? What scroll?"
"A Shugendō scroll," explained Deaton. "The Shugendō were the ascetic mystics of Japan."
"The scroll had information on how to exorcise a Nogitsune," said Chris.
Artemis's heart leapt. If this information proved to be true, then it meant Artemis was not just grasping at straws and relying on Kali's prophecy. There was truly a way to save Stiles from the dark spirit possessing him and they could get him out of Eichen House.
"So, we just need to find the scroll," said Artemis.
"Exactly," said Deaton. "And I did get a name of the man who last purchased it. Kincaid."
Alison tensed. "That's the werewolf who was there with Katashi. He's the guy who tried to purchase my dad's gun."
"A werewolf?" said Artemis. Oh, great. Another obstacle. Just what we need. If Kincaid had purchased the scroll on Katashi's order, there was every chance he would take the opportunity to make a quick buck now that his employer was six feet under. "How strong was Kincaid? Was he an Alpha, Beta or an Omega?"
"In that order? Pretty darn, but I think we can take Kincaid if he shows up," said Alison. "His eyes were blue and I have no idea if he has a pack or not."
Deaton looked both impressed and unnerved. "Sounds like Katashi wanted the scroll for himself." After what the Japanese man had witnessed, who could blame him?
"But Stilinskin already told me nothing like it was found in Katashi's possessions," objected Chris. "And a paranoid person like Katashi would've kept it close, probably on him at all times."
Alison frowned in thought. "What would a Shugendō scroll look like?"
Deaton rose up from his desk and took out a Shugendō scroll from his chest of drawers. It was yellowed with age, tied up with red string and medium-sized.
Artemis looked at Alison and she could tell the young hunter was thinking the same thing she was.
"Do they come in different sizes?" asked Alison.
Deaton nodded. "All sizes. Why?"
"If Katashi was that paranoid and wanted to keep the scroll on him at all times, what better place to hide it then in his trademark?" suggested Artemis.
Given what Katashi had experienced all those years ago and how paranoid he was, it seemed reasonable to think that he would've hidden the scroll inside his prosthetic finger. It was a long shot, but it was the only lead they had at the moment.
XXX
Morning didn't come soon enough for Stiles.
He and Oliver had talked about everything and nothing until Oliver fell into a peaceful sleep. Stiles hadn't been so lucky. He hadn't slept at all. In fact, Stiles was still sitting up in his bed looking out the window when the sun rose, lighting up the room with a warm, golden glow.
Oliver yawned as he blinked open his eyes and then he looked surprised. "Have you been like that all night?"
"Yeah, I can't sleep without my pillow," said Stiles, dryly.
Oliver nodded understandingly and then he launched into a coughing fit.
"You okay?" asked Stiles, concerned. That coughing fit sounded almost painful. "Do you need to see a nurse?"
Oliver shook his head. "Nah. I just need some water. I swallowed a bug the other day and I keep coughing like it's still in my throat. You ever do that?"
Stiles shook his head. "No. And that's disgusting, Oliver. You wouldn't happen to know when they open the doors around here, do you? I need to make a call."
Stiles was itching to get to a phone, any phone, so he could contact Artemis. Never before had Stiles wished so badly that he could just communicate with her telepathically.
"In five minutes," said Oliver. "Once they open the doors, everyone goes to breakfast. I can give you the grand tour if you like."
Stiles didn't really want to hang around Oliver, but the guy seemed friendly and he knew the place, which would be beneficial for Stiles, not to mention it was probably a really good idea to have something akin to a friend in a dump like Eichen House.
"Sure, I'd love that," said Stiles, his voice dripping with fake friendliness and sarcasm.
Oliver didn't notice. He just beamed.
Following breakfast, Oliver did as promised. He showed Stiles around the facility and told him who was who and who had what problem.
"…most people here are okay. The violent ones are the Closed Unit," explained Oliver, as they walked towards a phone booth on the patio outside. He pointed to a pretty girl who sitting underneath a tree and kept braiding and re-braiding her hair. "That's Hillary, she has OCD. She's really nice." Oliver pointed to another boy walking past them. "That's Gary. He thinks he's the Messiah, and his buddy Dan's the same." They walked by a young black girl who was as still as a statue and holding her hands in prayer. "That's Mary—"
"Mary Magdalene?" guessed Stiles.
Oliver shook his head. "No. She thinks she's the Messiah too. You'd be surprised at how many of those we get."
Stiles shook his head and silently cheered when they finally came across the phone booth. "No, not really." Considering Eichen House's reputation and everything Stiles had seen since Artemis had first been turned, little surprised him anymore. Stiles groaned inwardly when he saw the phone booth was occupied by a skinny girl with extremely short red hair and resisted the urge to tap in his foot in impatience.
"Hey, how come you want to use the phone already?" asked Oliver, curiously.
"Because after spending one night here, I agree with my best friend's opinion about Eichen House. I've changed my mind about this place being safe for me or anyone. Ever," said Stiles.
Now, if only the redheaded girl would get off the phone, Stiles could get out of there.
"No. No. I think you're wrong," said the red-headed girl, catching Stiles' attention. She sounded upset, afraid even. "I really think I should tell them. They're going to want to know the story. The whole story. I really think they should know. Yes, I do. One of them is standing right behind me."
A chill went down Stiles' spine. Was the girl talking about Stiles? Did she know something about the Nogitsune and everything else that was happening?
Before Stiles could ask the girl about what she'd been saying, she hung up the phone and walked past him and Oliver. She kept her head down but Stiles could make out the glitter of tears in her eyes.
"Who was that?" asked Stiles.
Oliver looked creeped out. "That's Meredith. She's nice but she creeps everyone out. She hears voices and she's a little weird."
Stiles rolled his eyes as he picked up the phone receiver and attempted to dial Artemis' cellphone. "No. You're a little weird. She's a lot weird." Stiles frowned when he realized he heard nothing. No beeping from pressing the buttons or even a dial tone. "What's up with the phone? It's dead."
"They shut down all the phones for twenty-four hours after an incident," said Oliver.
Stiles gave Oliver an annoyed look. "And you didn't tell me that earlier, why?"
Oliver shrugged. "You didn't ask."
Stiles resisted the urge to punch Oliver in the face as he hung up the phone. No phones for twenty-four hours. No means of communication with the outside world. That was just perfect. Stiles was very frustrated by this point but he was a resourceful young man and not a quitter. He was going to find a way to achieve his goals no matter what it took.
"What're you going to do now?" asked Oliver.
"I'm going to find another way to get out of this nuthouse," said Stiles.
Oliver became nervous. "That's not really the best way to describe a place like this."
Stiles, who'd been walking rather quickly, stopped in his tracks when he recognized a fellow patient. To say he was surprised would be putting it mildly. Stiles was quite shocked.
"Do you know that girl?" asked Oliver.
Stiles nodded. "She's a friend. Give us a sec?"
Oliver nodded and then went elsewhere, granting Stiles and Malia a tiny bit of privacy.
"Malia?"
Malia turned around and faced Stiles. The expression on her face was a mixture of relief and anger. "Stiles," she said, stiffly. "You didn't pick your phone when I called last night. Imagine how I felt when I called Artemis and she told me what you're doing here."
Stiles cringed as he realized that in his haste to get to Eichen House for protection, he hadn't told Malia of his plans. He was in deep trouble.
"Uh…okay, I know you're probably really mad at me for not telling you I was coming here, but I can explain everything—!" said Stiles, quickly. He braced himself for a punch to the face.
Malia got right up in Stiles' face, but instead of decking him like he expected, Malia hugged Stiles so tight she almost cracked his ribs.
"Malia, I can't breathe!" gasped Stiles. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry. Just let me breathe!"
Malia pulled away. It was hard to tell if she was still mad at Stiles. "I should punch you in the face for not telling me of your stupid plan. But I think it can wait until we get out of here. While we're here, you keep your head down low and you stick with me, got it?"
Stiles nodded as he rubbed his chest. "I got it." He was not going to argue with the werecoyote. "So, what're you doing here?"
Malia sighed. "Let's just say I have issues I need to work on. Miss Morrell gives me free therapy sessions in exchange for clerical work at her office."
Stiles' head perked up. "Miss Morrell? Black-haired, dark-skinned French-Canadian woman?"
Malia nodded and looked puzzled. "Yeah, why? You know her?"
Stiles nodded. "Yeah, she's Deaton's sister. She's a druid. She knows all about us."
Malia looked surprised. "That actually explains a few things."
"Yeah, I'll bet," said Stiles. He smiled at Malia. "I'm really glad you're here, Malia." Stiles couldn't explain it, but he felt a little better knowing that Malia was with him and he wasn't alone.
Malia smiled back. "Me too." She slid her hand into Stiles'.
Stiles blushed from Malia's display of affection and ended up tripping over his feet and face-planting on the floor. He landed on a grate, and when Stiles looked through the holes in the grate, he was both shocked and scared to see the basement beneath the grate. It was where Stiles had thought he'd been when he'd sleep walked out of his house, when he'd first conversed with the Nogitsune.
Malia helped Stiles stand up just as Miss Morrell arrive.
"Everything all right, here?" asked Morrell.
"Fine," said Malia.
Morrell ignored her and looked to Stiles. "Stiles, you saw something, didn't you?"
Stiles was shaking as he nodded. "Yeah. The basement. I've been down there before."
And Stiles had the feeling that the answers he was looking for were down in the basement as well.
XXX
Back at the police station, Derek and Chris sat across from each other in their cell as the police station.
Derek's eyes were closed and he was trying to listen in on the policemen's conversations. He and Chris had an agreement. During their stay, Chris would use his connections to get the two of them out and Derek would use his enhanced senses and link with Artemis to stay updated on what was happening around them.
"Still nothing?" said Chris. There was no reply. "Derek?"
"Quiet," warned Derek.
Chris fell silent, allowing Derek to focus his enhanced hearing on the officers' conversation.
"Hey, where's the sheriff?" asked a deputy.
"Stilinski's out for the day," replied Parrish. "So, the Katashi murder is now a federal investigation. Everything here that wasn't blown up needs to put in lockup."
Derek opened his eyes. "You were right. They're moving all the evidence."
"Was there anything about the murder itself? Any other details?" asked Chris.
"No. They just talked about moving Katashi's crap to a federal lockup and something about Stilinski being out for the day," said Derek, sighing. He swallowed painfully. "This is a nightmare."
"I know what you mean. If all this is true, then it means people are dead because of Stiles," said Chris.
"But is it really Stiles?" murmured Derek. "Remember, we've had this problem before."
"We got lucky with Jackson," said Chris, knowing what Derek was referring to. "If it hadn't been for Lydia's love, Jackson might not have made it. He might still be a homicidal demonic lizard under Gerard's control. "Who knows if we'll get lucky with Stiles?"
Chris would do whatever it took to save Stiles, but even so, he knew he had to be prepared for the worst. Not everyone could be saved, it was a harsh reality that they had to live with.
"We have to try. Stiles deserves that," said Derek.
Chris raised an eyebrow at Derek. "Are you talking as Stiles' friend or as his best friend's mate?"
The hunter had no doubt that Derek was being a loyal friend to Stiles, but all the same, Chris wondered if Derek's love for Artemis was one of the werewolf's motives.
"Both," admitted Derek. "Stiles can be annoying but he is my friend. He's saved my life a couple times and it's only fair I return the favor. And you weren't there when Kali died. You didn't see how it almost killed Artemis. Who knows what losing Stiles would do to her?" Werewolf or not, Stiles was part of the pack and for an Alpha, especially one as powerful as Artemis, when a pack mate died, part of the Alpha died with them. Derek had witnessed that happen once before for Artemis and he refused to let that happen again.
"I understand that," said Chris, gently. "But what happens if we don't get lucky?"
Derek sighed again as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know. I guess it depends on how much or how little of Stiles is left."
Derek had no desire to take a life, it wasn't how they did things, but if the Nogitsune had truly claimed Stiles, if Artemis's best friend was truly gone, then there might not be another choice.
There was a moment's tense silence before Chris broke it. "Have you ever heard of the Berserkers?"
Derek raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, they're Germanic warriors who wore the skins of bears to channel their ferocity. Why?"
Chris looked grim, like he was remembering memories he would sooner forget. "They didn't just wear bear skins. They became the creatures. Years ago, a family came to us for help with their son. This group of stupid teenagers were doing all sorts of rituals with animal skins. Somehow, they tapped into it. I tried to save him but with Berserkers, the human side doesn't last long. They're not tempered by the cycle of the moon."
Derek didn't like where this was going. "He killed people?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"He tore them apart," said Chris. The hunter was pale, like he was going to be sick. "Eventually, I had to tell the family that their son was gone. It took three of us and every bullet we had to take him down. When it was over, I felt no remorse. None. I knew the kid was long gone."
Derek was quiet. Much as he didn't want to admit it, Derek understood how Chris felt. The night of Kate's death when Derek took Peter's life to become the Alpha and end his uncle's reign of terror, Derek hadn't regretted it. Derek's uncle, the man that Derek had looked up to and admired like an older brother, died the night of the Hale Fire. When Derek had taken Peter's life, he'd claimed the life of a monster, nothing more.
"Would you feel remorse if you put down Stiles?" he asked, softly.
"Stiles? Absolutely? The Nogitsune? Never," said Chris, firmly.
Derek was silent again. He didn't know what to say to that.
"What do you know about Rafael Moon?" asked Chris.
Derek sighed yet again. Again with Rafael? Granted, Derek was just as curious as Chris, but surely they had bigger issues at hand than the mystery that was Artemis's father?
"Other than the fact that he's a workaholic jerk? Not much. Rafael was out of the picture when Huntress and I met and she doesn't like to talk about him that much," said Derek. "I do know that when Rafael lived here, his hobby was hunting, he spent some time in Mexico and he used to be Rafael Delgado before he married Artemis's mother."
Chris stiffened. "Delgado? Are you sure?"
Derek nodded. "Yeah. Why?"
"I think I may a have idea of who we're dealing with," said Chris.
"Mind filling me in?" asked Derek, grumpily. If there was anything Derek disliked, it was being left out of the loop. It drove the Alpha wolf up the wall.
"After I confirm my suspicions," said Chris, firmly.
Derek groaned in frustration but didn't argue. He knew there'd be no point.
XXX
The doorbell rang at Artemis's house and when she answered it, Ethan and Aiden were on the other side of it. They and the rest of the pack were gathering to discuss their plan to get Katashi's silver finger and therefore, the scroll necessary to save Stiles.
"So, what's happening?" asked Ethan.
"According to Derek, all the Katashi evidence is being moved to a federal lockup by armored car tonight," said Artemis. "Probably within the next few hours."
Aiden looked taken aback. "We're going to rob an armored car?"
"We're certainly going to try," said Artemis. It was clear from her tone of voice that she didn't entirely approve of the plan but they didn't have time to come up with anything better.
They gathered in Artemis's dining room and looked over a map. After going over their plan to get the scroll, some of the pack voiced their opinion on it.
"This is a really bad plan," said Cora.
"It's not that bad," said Lydia, weakly.
"It's not that good either," said Jackson.
Lydia pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.
"None of us know the route they're going to take. If Alison can get one of her dad's GPS trackers onto the car, then we can follow it," said Erica.
"So when it gets here…" Alison pointed to Roosevelt Bridge, a place where they could intercept the vehicle and then she was interrupted.
"We attack them?" guessed Ethan.
"No," said Boyd firmly. "Your bikes will be in the middle of the road, making it look like you two got an accident. When they get out to help—"
"Then we attack them," interjected Aiden.
Artemis's eyes flashed bright red in annoyance. "No!" she said, in exasperation. "You'll distract him and then Boyd and I will break open the back door while Jackson gets Katashi's finger."
Jackson grimaced. "It's not his real finger, is it?"
Lydia gave her boyfriend an exasperated look. Jackson was completely out of her league.
"Question. Why aren't we going to Sheriff Stilinski for help?" asked Ethan.
Artemis resisted the urge to roll her eyes and sigh in exasperation. "Because if he got caught, then it's the sheriff tampering with federal evidence. Do you really want to give Rafael more ammo to use against Stiles' dad in the impeachment case?"
Artemis made a good point so there were no further questions or any more arguments. They all knew what was at stake if they failed in their mission. Stiles' life was at risk, Chris and Derek were in jail for a crime they didn't commit and Isaac was still in the hospital. They had to succeed.
XXX
Back at Eichen House, Stiles was in the middle of Morrell's group therapy session with at least a dozen other patients. Some of the patients seemed relaxed, others were tense and Stiles was mess.
Stiles was not only bored out of his skull and itching to leave, but he also kept seeing the Nogitsune's mummified form out of the corner of his eye and he kept fidgeting and shaking. Stiles finally relaxed a little when Malia, who was sitting next to him, placed a hand on his arm and slid her other hand into Stiles' and gave it a squeeze.
Stiles smiled a little in response, silently thanking Malia.
"Now, that we've finished discussing fears, I'd like to go back to the topic of guilt," said Morrell. "It might surprise you to hear me say that guilt is a good thing. It's a rather mature emotion. Malia, you said something about guilt the other day. You said it gave you a visceral reaction."
Malia didn't look at Morrell. She was keeping her gaze on Stiles' neck, which had suddenly sprouted strange red marks. "I said it made me feel sick to my stomach." She shot a warning look at Oliver, making him turn away as he launched into another coughing fit.
"That's only to be expected as guilt often becomes physical. You feel it in your gut. It's not just psychological," said Morrell. "How does guilt make you feel, Stiles?"
Stiles swallowed painfully. He was sweating bullets and holding Malia's hand for dear life. "Nervous. Really nervous." Feeling guilty usually left Stiles a nervous wreck. It'd gotten worse since the Nogitsune had possessed him.
Morrell looked curious. "Like a sense of urgency?" When Stiles nodded, she continued, "You feel an urgent need to make up for something you've done. To apologize. Correct?"
Stiles nodded but he wasn't really paying attention. He kept seeing the Nogitsune and he could feel it in the back of his mind, pounding against the wolf lichen, demanding to be set free. Stiles swallowed painfully and tried to focus on his breathing and Malia's touch rather than the dark spirit inside him.
"These are healthy responses," said Morrell. "Does anyone know what we call someone who doesn't experience guilt?"
Oliver raised his hand. "A sociopath."
Morrell nodded and smiled. "Very good, Oliver." It was then that Morrell finally noticed the marks on Stiles' neck that he kept rubbing. They'd gotten longer and brighter in color. Concern flickered across her face before she concealed it. "I'm sorry everyone, but we need to take a little break. Stiles, Malia, may I see you in my office for a moment?"
Without waiting for a reply, Morrell walked off in the direction of her office and Stiles and Malia exchanged looks before following.
Once inside Morrell's office, she examined the marks on Stiles' neck and after instructing him to lift up his shirt, spotted more of them trailing down his back.
"What's wrong with Stiles' back? What are these marks?" demanded Malia.
"It's called a Lichtenberg figure," explained Morrell. "They tend to appear on lightning strike victims. The fact that they're appearing on Stiles after a dose of wolf lichen is both significant and strange."
"By 'significant and strange' do you mean 'hopeful and optimistic'?" asked Stiles. Somehow he doubted it, but even so, he had to ask.
"I'm well aware of what's happened to you, Stiles. So, trust me when the marks fade, the Nogitsune's grip on you will return." Morrell took out a bottle of pills from the cabinet behind her and handed them to Stiles.
"What're these? Sleeping pills?"
Morrell shook her head. "Amphetamines. Sleeping is exactly what you don't want to do."
Malia scoffed in disbelief. She knew how badly Stiles had been sleeping since Kali's death and he hadn't slept at all the previous night. Less sleep was not beneficial to Stiles' health!
Morell ignored Malia. "You're vulnerable when you're asleep."
Stiles looked skeptical. "So, all I have to do is stay awake?" It made sense in Stiles' mind but at the same time, he could tell it was too easy. There had to be a catch. There was always a catch.
"For now. But if your pack can't come up with a solution to your problem, then I'll do what I've always done. Maintain the balance," said Morrell, coolly.
The meaning behind Morrell's words did not unnoticed.
Malia's eyes narrowed in outrage. "Kill him? You'd really sink that low?"
"I do what's necessary," said Morrell. "Right or wrong, it doesn't matter. Nature demands balance and it's my duty as a druid to see that it's maintained."
Stiles snorted and gave Morrell a scornful look. "You may be our ally, but now I'm remembering why I don't like you and why you used to be Deucalion's emissary." He pocketed the pills. "Thanks for the illicit and the advice. I've really missed our little chats."
And with that, Stiles left Morrell's office.
With Stiles gone, Malia turned on Morrell. "Listen to me, and listen good. I don't care what you are or what it does to me, if you lay a finger on Stiles, the police will never find your body." As if to show how serious she was, Malia's claws and extended and her eyes flashed blue before she chased after Stiles.
XXX
Later that day, after lunch, Stiles went to the boys' bathroom to take some of Morrell's pills and splash some cold water on his face and try and stay awake.
He could feel his exhaustion creeping in on him and he was terrified of what would happen if he fell asleep. Not to mention, Stiles knew he was running out of time to get into the basement. Stiles had tried to get into the basement but the door was locked and according to Oliver, only Brunski, the head orderly had a key. Oliver advised Stiles to find some way to trick Brunski for the keys and while Stiles happened to be getting rather good with tricks, he was unsure if his increasing exhaustion would permit him to get it done.
"Okay, just got to stay awake, Stiles," he muttered to himself, after downing some of the pills with some water. "Just got to…" Stiles' voice wandered off when he looked into the mirror and saw Malia showering behind him.
Immediately, Stiles turned away from the mirror and kept his back to Malia. Granted, she was wearing a swimsuit, but Stiles didn't feel good about watching her and privately, he wondered if he'd entered the wrong room.
Malia seemed to guess Stiles' thoughts.
"Relax, Stiles. You didn't walk into the girls' room by accident," said Malia, rolling her eyes. "Frankly, I don't care. In the woods, there was no boys' or girls' room. I'm only using the shower in here because they keep the water temperature in the girls' room too low. It's much hotter in here. Ever since I turned back into a human, I have trouble keeping warm when I'm not in coyote form."
Ah, that explains it. "Well, maybe you've got a low core temp."
"No, when I'm a coyote, I have a fur coat."
Stiles felt like an idiot who'd just asked a stupid question. "Oh. Okay. You're right. That's probably it. Yeah."
Malia shut off the water and wrapped a towel around herself. "You're staring. What's on your mind? The Nogitsune?"
Stiles shook his head. "No. I mean, yes, that's on my mind. But it's not what I want to ask you."
Malia tilted her head in curiosity. "So, ask."
Stiles hesitated. "I'm not sure I should. It's kind of personal. I probably shouldn't—"
"Stiles," interrupted Malia. She sounded exasperated but her tone was soft. "It's okay. Just ask. I'm not going to get upset, I promise."
Stiles hesitated again before finally caving in. "I was just wondering…are you struggling to adjust to a regular life because of what we did?"
When Malia said she was seeing Morrell for therapy, Stiles hadn't been able to stop himself from wondering if there was some part of Malia that blamed Stiles and the others for turning her world upside-down.
Malia sighed and there was a hint of anger in her eyes. "Yeah, I kind of am. Look, don't get me wrong, part of me is grateful for what you guys did, but at the same time, it hasn't been easy. You invaded my home, my sister's doll was taken, I became a fugitive and I have no idea how to tell my dad that my mom and sister are dead because of me. I haven't even told him that I'm a werecoyote."
Stiles felt a pang of shame and guilt. When they'd swooped in and caused Malia to shift back into a human, they hadn't given much thought to the consequences of their actions.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry we caused you so much trouble," said Stiles, regretfully. He was sorry for the grief they'd caused her, but at the same time, Stiles didn't fully regret it as he loved having Malia in his life.
Malia's face softened as she touched Stiles' cheek. "Hey, don't stress about it. I'm taking it one day at a time. And as hard as it's been, I wouldn't change a thing. I like being with the pack."
Stiles smiled.
"So, what else is happening? Did you get into the basement?" asked Malia.
Stiles shook his head. "No. The door's locked and Brunski's the only one with a key. We could try swiping the keys from him or we could try something better if you're up for it. Care to try a little breaking and entering?"
Malia grinned. "Absolutely."
XXX
Back at the police station, Chris was being taken out of his cell to meet with his lawyer.
Chris expected to meet with an old family friend and work out a legal strategy, but what he didn't expect was the rush of anger and coldness he felt when he saw who was there.
"They told me my lawyer was here, so either I should congratulate you on recently passing the bar or I should be worried about something," said Chris, coldly as he took his seat.
The smiling elderly woman sitting across from Chris was Araya, the matriarchal head of the Calavero hunting family.
"Hola amigo," she said, sweetly.
"Don't call me that. We're not friends," snarled Chris. "Not after what you did."
Araya feigned ignorance. "I don't know what you're talking about. I did nothing but what the code demanded of me."
Chris's eyes blazed like two narrow slits of fire. "You want to talk about the code? You've got some nerve, Araya." In Chris's mind, Araya and her family had betrayed the code in more ways than one and in worse ways than Gerard or Kate had.
Araya's eyes lost their warmth and became cold as ice. "Ours is more than a code of behavior. It's a code of honor. It binds our families. You judge me for what I did, but you do not understand that our way of life, the manner in which we do things…it is not abandoned lightly. I had no desire to do what I did, but the honor of the code demanded it. You know as well as I do that it is not easy to change such things."
Chris felt no pity or sympathy for Araya. Loyalty to the code hadn't justified her actions. "Where does it say we turn our backs on our own when they do nothing to warrant it? You betrayed him."
Araya sighed and looked disappointed, as though she'd hoped for more from Chris. "You're young, mijo. You don't understand. Your friend's fate was tragic but he brought it on himself. You know that as well as I do."
"His actions were wrong, but they didn't warrant what happened to him!" protested Chris. "You know as well as I do that it was an accident!"
"Accident or no, his actions had consequences. It was his duty to face them," said Araya, coldly. "It was not yours to help him escape them."
Chris's hand clenched into a fist. He'd never liked the Calavero family as they were sometimes worse than Gerard when it came to their brutality and heartlessness. Chris was finding it difficult not to inform the guards that Araya was committing fraud and have her butt thrown into jail.
"I did what was right. I don't regret it. And regardless, it's neither here nor there. So, cut to chase, Araya, what do you want?" demanded Chris, impatiently. Chris had no desire to continue speaking to Araya and he wanted this meeting over and done with. "What're you fishing for? Is this about Alison?"
Araya shook her head. "This has nothing to do with your daughter. And I don't fish, I hunt," she snapped. "As you should, mijo."
"Meaning what?" demanded Chris.
Araya folded her hands together. "Peter Hale is in your territory, is he not? And yet you've allowed him to live when you know what he has done, what he is. Why have you not put him down like the dog he is?"
"You don't need to remind me of what Peter's capable of or what he's done. How I handle him is none of your business," said Chris, coldly. "And this isn't even your territory, so why do you care so much about Peter?"
"Because I promised Kali that I would not harm her sister or her pack and I would deal with Peter if he crossed my path. It's Peter's fault that Artemis Moon is in danger," said Araya, coolly.
Chris's eyes narrowed as he sat up straighter. "Excuse me? Explain yourself.
Peter was not trustworthy. That was always clear. But the former Alpha had done nothing wrong since his resurrection. What danger could he be putting Artemis in? Was Peter formulating a plan to regain his former power or was Araya just lying through her teeth?
Araya grinned, knowing she had Chris hooked. "Before I do, you should know that my family kept tabs on your friend after you helped him escape. You'll be pleased to know that he not only changed for the better but your suspicions about Artemis's lineage are correct."
Stunned, Chris leaned back into his chair. His mind was reeling. It was true. Holy cow, it was true. There were still many questions left unanswered. Something big had happened, but how had it happened? And now that Chris knew the truth, how on earth was he going to tell Artemis when she already had so much on her plate?
"There is more," continued Araya. "Artemis is the True Alpha, a werewolf invaluable to both her kind as well as ours, which is also why I consented to Kali's wishes. Artemis has yet to fully come into all her True Alpha powers. Her most invaluable ability has yet to manifest but until it does, she must be protected. That gift will make her the most powerful Alpha of her time."
"Protected from what?" demanded Chris. He was curious about Artemis's unknown ability but it could wait until a later date.
Araya looked grave. "From the second she-wolf Peter turned. One who will undoubtedly come and seek revenge on Artemis and her loved ones."
Chris immediately stood up. "What are you talking about? What second she-wolf?"
Araya's words made no sense. Artemis was the only one that Peter had ever turned. How could there be another that no one knew nothing about?
But Araya did not answer. "You'll know her when you see her. When you do, I hope you will be the honorable hunter you claim to be and do what must be done."
And that was all Araya would say on the subject.
XXX
When nightfall came, Artemis grabbed her motorcycle helmet and was about to head out the door to meet the others when she found Kira on the other side of her front door.
"Hey. What're you doing here?"
Artemis hadn't seen Kira since Deaton shot Stiles full of wolf lichen and was surprised by the kitsune's sudden arrival.
"Erica called me, filled me in on your plan. I want to help," said Kira.
Artemis appreciated Kira's enthusiasm but she was still hesitant to accept the kitsune's offer. "That's nice of you, but I'm not sure that's such a good idea."
Kira's face fell. "Because of my mother?"
"What? No. Not at all!" said Artemis, quickly. She was horrified. How could Kira think that Artemis blamed Kira for Noshiko's actions? That couldn't be further from the truth. "It's not your fault."
"Yeah, well, it feels like it is," said Kira, sadly. "And besides, if I can help, shouldn't I?"
Artemis hesitated. "It's not that. I'm just concerned. People who help us tend to get hurt or even killed. And what happens if we end up confronting your mom? I don't want you to have to choose."
Artemis's concerns were legitimate but there was also the fact that even with Isaac temporarily out of commission, Artemis had six Beta werewolves, a hunter and a banshee aiding her. Did she even really need Kira's assistance in this job?
There was no denying the hint of fear in Kira's eyes but at the same time, Kira seemed determined. "My mom kept my heritage a secret from me, lied to me and she sent monsters to kill my friend. You've done exactly the opposite. Trust me, I may not want to confront her but I will if I have to," said Kira, firmly. "Besides, I've been practicing. I've been picking this up really fast, like crazy fast." She suddenly smiled and drew out her sword before performing some very impressive moves that Artemis had only ever seen in the movies.
Okay, maybe I was wrong. Maybe it would be beneficial to have Kira help them. "Okay, you can come."
Kira looked thrilled.
Soon afterwards, they were all gathered outside the police station. Everyone was in their assigned position, waiting for Artemis's signal before they enacted their plan.
As soon as the driver entered the car, Kira snuck off on Artemis's order and placed the GPS device on the bottom of the truck. Deputy Parrish, who was assigned to accompany the armored truck driver, emerged from the police station, forcing Kira to hide. But inside of getting in the truck and driving off, Parrish drew his gun and began looking around the back of the truck for whoever had bashed the driver's head in.
"What's happening?" whispered Alison.
Artemis didn't reply at first. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the scents and sounds around her. Her eyes shot open when she heard the sound of two heartbeats coming from inside the truck and she smelled the scent of an unknown lycanthrope.
"Crap. We've got company," she muttered.
Right on cue, a giant male werewolf burst out of the armored truck and knocked out Parrish.
"Who the holy heck is that?" demanded Artemis.
Alison became pale. "That's Kincaid."
"Shoot," muttered Artemis. This was not good but not necessarily the end of the world. "Okay, try and reason with Kincaid. Offer him the hundred and fifty grand in exchange for the scroll. Don't engage him in a fight unless it's completely necessary."
"And if it is?"
Artemis's eyes briefly glowed their bright Alpha red. "Then I'll deal with him. Go."
Alison nodded and then within moments, the entire pack had Kincaid surrounded. The werewolves were wolfed out and Alison had her crossbow aimed at Kincaid's heart but the giant lycanthrope didn't see the least bit fazed by being outnumbered.
"Well, well, well, the runts brought back-up," sneered Kincaid.
Jackson's nostrils flared. "These 'runts' kicked your butt, if I recall and there were just three of us then. You really think you'll do much better against six of us, a kitsune, a hunter and a banshee?"
Kincaid's flashed bright blue. "You got lucky, brat," he snarled. "This time, you won't be."
"Knock it off, both of you," warned Alison. She kept eyes on Kincaid. "This doesn't have to end in a fight. We're prepared to offer you a deal. Give us the finger and the scroll inside it, and you can have the money we offered Katashi. That's a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Are you really going to turn it down, Kincaid?"
Kincaid just laughed and sneered patronizingly. "The scroll inside this prosthetic finger is worth three million dollars. And you think I'm just going to hand it over to you? Forget it. Get out of my way."
As if to prove his point, Kincaid backhanded Erica, who was now sporting a bloody lip and a bruise.
"You shouldn't have done that, pal," said Boyd, as his eyes flashed gold.
Kincaid's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Erica smirked and pointed up to the balcony, where Artemis was standing by as backup. "Because we brought one of our Alphas with us and she's not in a good mood."
Artemis's eyes glowed bright red as she leapt off the balcony and when she landed on the ground, she'd shifted into her humanoid wolf form.
Kincaid actually looked scared as he took a step back. "It can't be…" he whispered. "The white wolf…"
"This is your last warning. Hand over the scroll and I won't beat you like a piñata," growled Artemis.
At the insult that Artemis, a significantly smaller person than Kincaid, could beat him, Kincaid's fear disappeared and was replaced with fury. He pocketed the scroll and wolfed out.
Artemis let out a powerful roar as she pounced on Kincaid just as he was about to attack her, and then they wrestled for the scroll. Despite being much larger in size and having more experience as a lycanthrope, Kincaid did not have Artemis's training or her True Alpha strength. By the time the fight was over, Kincaid on the ground, being restrained by Artemis's pack.
Artemis had shifted back to her human form. She had not won the fight unscathed. She was sporting a number of nasty-looking bruises and cuts, but she was in better shape than Kincaid. He'd been beaten to a bloody pulp and his right arm was broken.
Artemis knelt down and fished the silver finger out of Kincaid's pocket, took the scroll out of the prosthetic and dropped the silver finger onto the ground. She then beckoned for her Betas to release their grip on Kincaid. When they obeyed, Artemis lifted Kincaid's chin, making him look at her.
"You're lucky I'm not the kind of Alpha who kills," she growled. If Kincaid's actions had cost them Stiles' life, things might not have ended so well. "This is your first and last warning. Leave Beacon Hills and never come back. Do you understand me?"
Kincaid shakily nodded. "Yes, Alpha."
"You're letting him go?" said Cora, incredulously. "Artemis, are you sure about that? What if he decides to come after us?"
"She's right. It's a bad idea," said Ethan. "Aiden and I know wolves like Kincaid. He's too dangerous to be allowed to roam free."
Artemis understood the risks but she remained firm in her choice. "We're dangerous too. We're here to save a life, not end one. My decision is final." Her tone gave no invitation for argument and no one attempted to disobey her. "Besides, I think Kincaid's smart enough to know what'll happen to him if he doesn't obey."
Kincaid nodded again.
"Let's go," ordered Artemis.
And with that, Artemis and her pack left Kincaid alone and headed for Deaton's office.
XXX
While everyone else in Eichen House was asleep, Malia broke the lock on the basement door, granting her and Stiles access to the forbidden room.
Inside, it was dimly lit from the light that poured in from holes in the grates on the ceiling and it was cold and dusty, and there were a large number of file boxes, unused furniture, blankets and equipment down there as well. It was exactly as Stiles remembered from his first meeting with the Nogitsune.
"Do you know what you're looking for?" asked Malia.
Stiles pointed to the wall. "Something to do with that."
The symbol for self was engraved on the far wall. It looked it'd been there for quite some time. How long, Stiles had no idea.
Malia frowned as she brushed her fingers against the mark. "Why is this here?"
"I have no idea," admitted Stiles.
"Well, maybe there's an answer in those boxes," suggested Malia. She grimaced at the thought of looking through all those boxes and papers but there wasn't much choice. "I'll take one half, you take the other."
Stiles agreed and a few hours later, there was a big mess of cardboard boxes and papers scattered all across the floor of the basement. The papers mostly held contained past history of Eichen House and not all of it was good.
"This place definitely used to be a lot more fun," said Malia, her voice dripping with boredom and sarcasm. "Electroshock therapy, ice baths…and what the heck is trepanation?"
"It's when they drill holes into your head," explained Stiles.
Malia grimaced and put the paper down. "No wonder they don't want anyone down here."
Stiles chuckled and then sighed before tossing his papers down. "This is hopeless. There's nothing here." There was nothing to explain the Nogitsune or why the symbol for self was on the wall. Stiles bit his lower lip. "Hey, can you do me a favor? Can you check the marks on my back? Just tell me if they're fading."
"Sure." When Stiles turned around, Malia lifted up Stiles' shirt. "They're almost gone."
Stiles stiffened. The marks were almost gone. That meant the Nogitsune was going to claim Stiles again and once again, he would be a monster. When Malia's cold fingers brushed against a ticklish spot on Stiles' back, he shivered as he turned to face Malia.
"Sorry," said Malia, apologetically. "I told you. I have trouble keeping warm when I'm not a coyote."
"That's okay," said Stiles. "Here, let me warm you up."
Stiles took Malia's ice-cold hands into his and she smiled softly as he warmed them up. Their eyes met and then Malia seemed to blush in the soft light and she ducked her head down.
"What is it?" asked Stiles, softly.
"I've got something I need to tell you. I'm just not sure how to say it or if it's even the right time," said Malia.
Stiles looked curious. "There's never really a 'right time.' But whatever it is, I'm sure it's okay. You can tell me, Malia."
Malia hesitated and took a deep breath. "Ever since Artemis helped me change back, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind and these feelings…feeling I've never felt before, wouldn't leave me alone. At first, it drove me crazy because I couldn't understand it. But then eventually I realized, the reason why it was happening was because I found my mate."
Stiles' breath caught in his throat. "Your mate?"
Malia nodded. "Wolves aren't the only ones who mate for life." When Stiles was silent, Malia began to panic. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. But I couldn't hide it any longer. You mean so much to me and I know I can never be like Lydia Martin, but if—"
Malia was cut off when Stiles cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Malia was startled for a moment before she wrapped her arms around Stiles' waist and returned his kiss with an intense passion. Eventually, the need for air became too much for them and they broke apart.
"I don't want you to be like Lydia," said Stiles, breathlessly as he tenderly stroked her cheek. "I want you to be you. Malia Tate, the beautiful, brave, protective and amazing girl that I love. I love you so much, Malia."
After Lydia had broken his heart, Stiles never thought he'd ever fall in love again but then Malia came into his life and everything changed. He'd never expected Malia to return his feelings for her but he was exceedingly glad that she did.
Happy tears pooled in Malia's eyes. "I love you too, Stiles."
They smiled at one another before kissing again and then losing themselves in their love.
Some time later, Malia and Stiles were snuggled up together on the couching, holding hands, smiling and kissing one another. It was a moment of pure bliss that they wished could last forever.
When they broke apart from their last kiss, an idea came to Malia. "Stiles, come with me. I've got an idea."
Stiles gave Malia a questioning look but said nothing as she took his hand led him back to the wall that was marked with symbol for self. Malia knocked on the wall and then grinned when they heard the echo emit from it.
"It's hollow," said Stiles. His heart beat rapidly. The answers he was looking for were on the other side. He just need to get to them.
Stiles looked around and spotted a piece of metal pipe on the floor, which he picked up and used to break down the wall. Malia looked disgusted and Stiles looked shaken when they saw what was on the other side of the now-demolished wall. Inside a hidden room, dressed in World War Two garb and heavily bandaged, was a dead body that looked exactly like the mummified form of the Nogitsune.
"Eww. Who is this?" asked Malia.
"It's him," said Stiles, gravely. "It's the Nogitsune."
Malia grimaced and then reached inside. She eventually pulled out an old photograph from the corpse's pocket. Both she and Stiles were shocked when they saw who was in the photo. There was a handsome young man that neither of them recognized and a woman who looked exactly like Kira. On the back of the photo was a date, 1943, and the words, 'To R. Love, N.'
"Is that Kira?" asked Malia, frowning.
Stiles shook his head. "No, but I think I know who it is. We have to get this to Artemis."
Just as Stiles rose up, he collapsed to the ground from a sudden jolt of electricity to his back. Stiles spun around to see Oliver standing behind him, looking deranged and holding Brunski's keys and the orderly's stun gun.
"Oliver, what're you—?" Stiles was cut off when he was jabbed again with the stun gun.
Malia's eyes glowed bright blue before she could attack, she was jabbed in the chest with the stun gun and after Oliver gave her a sedative, she soon joined Stiles in unconsciousness.
When Stiles woke up, he found himself strapped to a chair. Across from him sat Malia, who was still out cold and also strapped down. Oliver had a drill in his hands and he looked scared but no less determined to enact whatever insanity was going on in his brain.
"Oliver, what're you doing?" demanded Stiles.
"What I've been told. I'm going to let the evil spirits out." Oliver then coughed again when he drew back his hand, his palm was spotted with blood and there was a dead fly on it.
Suddenly, Stiles knew what was happening. He mentally berated himself for not seeing it sooner. Stiles leaned back his head and turned to his right. "You're a real sick, sadistic scumbag, you know that? You got inside Oliver's head just to get me to talk to you. Since when do you need henchmen to do your dirty work?"
The Nogitsune emerged from the shadows and grinned a sickening grin. "Even Dracula needs his Renfield." It pointed to Malia. "Start with her."
Oliver nodded and walked towards Malia.
Stiles' throat became tight with sobs as he sat up. "I don't care what you do to me. Just let her go."
"Let me in, then!" hissed the Nogitsune.
Stiles did not reply as he began fighting against the restraints with all his might. If he could just break free, then he could save Malia. But no matter what Stiles did, he couldn't get free.
"Stiles, do you want her to leave here alive? Do you want us to leave? We can walk out of this place," hissed the Nogitsune.
Tears made their way down Stiles' cheek. "Just let her go. Please."
Stiles loved Malia so much. He'd never forgive himself if she was hurt or worse, killed because of him. Stiles didn't care what happened to him. He just wanted Malia to be safe.
"If you love this woman, if you want her to live, then you have to let me in!" yelled the Nogitsune. "Let me in, Stiles!"
Stiles struggled for a few moments more before finally giving in. But not before he wrote a good-bye note to Malia and gave her the photograph they'd found. Once the Nogitsune was in control of Stiles' body, it knocked out Oliver, tied him up and then it left Eichen House to begin its reign of terror.
XXX
Back at Deaton's office, Artemis leaned against the operating desk while Deaton looked over the scroll. Her injuries were bandaged and healing and she became apprehensive from the look on Deaton's face as he read the scroll.
"There isn't much here, unfortunately," said Deaton.
Artemis's heart sank. "Does it say anything helpful?"
"My Japanese isn't great, but it appears one method of expelling a Nogitsune is to change the body of its host," said Deaton. "Which begs the question, how do we change Stiles' body?"
Artemis was quiet for a moment as she considered this and then it came to her. "By doing what I promised—turning Stiles into a werewolf."
Turning Stiles was the last thing Artemis wanted to do, but there was no other way. To save Stiles' life, she would administer to him the bite.
XXX
The next day, Malia stormed out of Eichen House.
When she'd awoken in the basement, she'd found Stiles' note which read the following:
Malia,
By the time you read this, I'll be gone. Oliver was under the Nogitsune's control. I know you're probably going to kill me for this, but to save your life, I had to let the Nogitsune in. I couldn't let you get hurt when I could've stopped it. Get the photo to Artemis. She'll find a way to get me out of this. Whatever happens, however this ends, know that I love you so much. I'm so glad I met you. Just do me one favor and tell my dad I'm sorry.
—Stiles.
Malia had been furious and heartbroken.
After dragging Oliver out of the basement, Malia had gathered up her stuff, including the photo, strapped to her back and then shifted to her coyote form. She ran as fast as she could through Beacon Hills. She had to find Artemis if she was to save her mate.
(A/N: My apologies for the long wait. I've had multiple horrible migraines over the last few weeks and I've been really stressed out due to personal problems.)
