There wasn't a lot of time. Barely any. She had pushed her luck too far now, and it was time for her luck to run out. She knew well enough that Derek and Scott had caught her lie in the park. Even with a quiet heart beat, they could still hear it, there was no denying they hadn't. Which meant that they were going to want answers. And answers, are exactly what Mercedes wanted right now. There was only one way to get them though.

Mercedes sat at her table in the living room of her trailer. She shuffled her old tarot deck in her hands and concentrated. Bentley was off in his room playing, so her concentration would be at its fullest. Mercedes took a deep breath and focused on Beacon Hills. The town was a literal 'beacon' for the other world and her mother's reading of Scott this afternoon wasn't just a simple reading or coincidence. There was something coming. Something that would involve them all. It wasn't just her who saw it, everyone in the caravan could sense it. Bentley, Ford, Jaguar, they could sense it. There was something coming because of this town. Mercedes took her cards and laid them out in the traditional Celtic Cross. She laid out her ten cards, placing them in the precise location. One card lay in the center. One card was placed to the right and left, and above and below. Another card overlay the center card. Final, four cards lay to the right of the cross. She lid the remaining deck to the left and began with the center card.

The Tower. The falling of the old ways to make way for new ways. That was the Present.

She turned the card across the Tower, revealing a single sword. The Ace. The Ace of Swords. A battle was coming. Either physical or verbal it was coming. The Immediate Challange.

Mercedes took a deep breath. Already two cards into her reading and she dreaded what was to come. She wanted to end it, to return the cards to the deck and forget, but there was too much at stake. Her entire family, the caravan, the pack, possibly the town was at stake. If there was a battle to come, she needed to know what every outcome could be. She reached for the third card, locating to the right of the center cards; The Distant Past.

She reached for the lower card, revealing a woman sitting upon some kind of throne being carried by two inverse colored sphinx. Symbolistic to control emotions. The Chariot. Someone was trying to control their emotions. The Recent Past.

The top card revealed a figure in a black cloak showing its face standing in a desert surrounded by five golden cups. Mercedes took a deep breath. Five of cups was symbolic to sadness and grief. The Best Outcome. The reading was quickly growing worse.

"What the hell is going on?" she muttered to herself. She reached for the left card, Judgment. The day of reckoning and atonement. Immediate Future.

Mercedes slammed her hands down on the table. "Damnit!" She lowered her face into her hands.

How in the hell could this be happening? What was the point of this if everything would end terribly? She took a deep breath and reached for the lower card on the right side; Factors Affecting Situation. She revealed a man placing seven staffs in the earth. Seven of Wands. It symbolized courage. Courage in a time of need. To face what was coming someone needed to find the courage to face it. She reached for the next card, revealing a man seated on a thrown in a red robe; The Heirophant. The many sides of life. The many sides to this confrontation? The External Influences. The next card revealed a man sitting beneath a tree with four golden cups beside him. The Four of Cups. the card leading up to the Five of Cups. It symbolized around love. Moderation, adoration, and devotion. Hopes and fEar. Who would fear of the loss of loved once, or hope for their safety.

Mercedes swallowed and reached for the final card. A knight dressed in black armor was seated upon a white horse. Its helmet was lifted from its face, revealing a skull head within the helmet. The horse stood before a robed man. A cold chill ran through Mercedes body. Death. Not a symbol of death itself but a symbol of a drastic change to come, placed in the final section. Final Outcome.

Mercedes shook her head and gathered her cards once more. She needed more than just this. What part did everyone play in this...this challange?

Scott. She laid out three cards and set her deck to the by one, she unveiled his three cards; The Fool, The High Priestess, and the King of Swords. Mercedes cursed internally. she'd prayed that she'd been wrong, but it seemed that fate was set in its ways about her mother's reading. Though the cards themselves were not disastrous, the timing was most inconvenient to her family. To read that the young Alpha had great potential, after rebuking their kind for years, it was no the greatest way to rekindle a much need cordial relationship between them.

Mercedes sighed heavily and reshuffled her deck. She laid three cards and returned the deck to the side of th table. Her hand came to the first of her cards and revealed her reading card by card. The Hermit, the Queen of Cups, and The Star. Mercedes leaned back in her chair and took in the reading. Her life was there before her. The great betrayal that had shattered her in her past, the secrets she harbored so closely to herself, and the possibility that nothing was lost at all. Mercedes frowned and stared at the Star. It was also known for the reader to seek guidance. But what did that have to do with the Beacon Hills Pack? She needed more answers. She gathered the cards and began anew.

This time, she read her brother Jaguar. His hostility toward the pack would no doubt show more of what part he would play in whatever was coming. If there was indeed a battle within the next few das, she would not be surprised to find her brother in the midst of it. She revealed the Ace of Swords, The Devil, and The Emperor. A battle, influenced choices, and command. Mercedes didn't understand the use of the Ace in his past, but the remaining two cards only increased her apprehension for what was to come.

She gathered her cards and shuffled once more, this time reading for her father. After she was done, she needed to talk to him about everything; the pack, the readings; the feeling she had. Kurt needed to know everything. She laid out his three cards and laid the desk to the side. One by one Mercedes revealed the past, present, and future. The Fool, The Empress, Death. Carefree, potential, and a new change.

More questions than answers. Mercedes gathered the deck and paused. Who would she read for this time. There had to be more than the four of them involved. Mercedes laid out three cards, reading for Derek. With Scott being so young, he was no doubt new to his Alpha status. Derek knew a lot more about their world, he would be involved in whatever was coming. Especially if it pertained to his Alpha. His cards revealed The Hermit, Strength, and The Star. Something tragic had separated Derek from the outside world in his past, but he had found the strength to become who he is, yet he still needed guidance?

This was getting her nowhere. She laid out another set, this time it was Starlin. The woman had started this mess and it was time Mercedes read her adoptive mother's cards to know what was coming for her. The Lovers, King of Cups, and Death greeted Mercedes eyes. There was no ounce of surprise in Mercedes to find The Lovers in her mother's past. Though it didn't always pertain to romance, and ranged between men and women in their different ways of dependency, Mercedes knew her mother's past all too well. And this card was a literal meaning. The King of Cups was inverted, meaning that Starlin was a poison than a healer. Mercedes looked down at the Death card. THe second time she'd drawn it. First her father, now Starlin. Whatever change was coming would effect them both.

Mercedes gathered her cards and leaned her arms against the table. So many thoughts clouded her mind but nothing had a definite answer for her. Why couldn't she see what was coming? She turned her head toward Bentley's bedroom door and listened to her son play in the next room, completely oblivious to his mother's distress...for the moment. Her son had been a blessing in disguise so many years ago. Mercedes wouldn't trade one day for a mere glimpse of a life without her son. She reached for her cards and laid out one last set. Ace of Swords, Page of Cups, and The Empress. Mercedes frowned at the selection before her. How could Bentley have the Ace of Swords? The card was known to be doubled edged, carrying risks for both choices, but Bentley could have nothing so significant in his past. Not as his age. The Page of Cups was no surprise. Bentley was after all, a child. The Page referred to children often in their carefree ways. The Empress, however, surprised her greatly.. She had always been concerned how his dual bloodline would effect him, The Empress further intrigued her further.

Mercedes sighed heavily and gathered her cards. She rose from her seat. "Benny." She slipped her cards back into the velvet black pouch and stuffed the pouch into beneath pillows of the sofa, where a storage compartment lay. "Benny!"

"Yeah?" Bentley asked, peeking his head out of his door.

"I need to go visit grandma. Do you want to come with me or see Aunt Holly?" she asked.

"Aunt Holly!" Bentley cheered.

Mercedes smiled. "Well come on then!"

Bentley scurried from his room toward his mother. Mercedes took Bentley's hand and opened the front door. Outside, the sun was starting to set over the California sky. Mercedes stepped down the stairs and Bentley hopped down after her. She locked her trailer behind them and stared through the park. Bentley hopped along beside him mother, swinging his arms at each step.

Holly was Lincoln's wife of six years and Mercedes only friend in the entire caravan. She had been on vacation in India and met Lincoln in his shop. Mercedes had watched the very quick blossoming relationship. And when Holly was leaving the area, Lincoln followed after her. When he came back, Holly was with him. Her integration into the traveling life was fairly easy for her and she quickly found her place with Mercedes in dancing. Holly had been a constant support throughout Mercedes pregnancy and treated Bentley as she would her own children. Holly's trailer was a few slots down from theirs. It was a full-sized camper RV, since it was used to house both Holly, Lincoln, and their twin daughters. Mercedes didn't understand how they managed the space, but since she never once heard her brother or Holly complain about it, it mustn't be a problem for them. Though she wondered how much longer that would be, since Mercedes knew that Holly was pregnant. Lincoln wasn't aware just yet, but Mercedes had every hint that Holly would tell him soon. Seeing as how Holly would hardly be able to dance for much longer.

THey reached the camper to find Holly seated out front with Aubry and Gabriella. Both girls had their mother's fiery red hair, but held the familiar shape of their father's face. Holly sat in a camping chair while her daughters played on the ground with their dolls. Her feet were propped over the arm of her chair while she watched her daughters play. She looked up at Mercedes and Bentley and smiled.

"Hello Benny!" she called.

"Aunt Holly!" Bentley released his mother's hand and ran to his aunt.

Holly dropped her legs and took Bentley up into her lap. "Looks who's here girls. Benny!"

Both Aubry and Gabriella smiled at their cousin. Gabriella stood from the ground and walked over to Bentley, showing her his doll.

"I need to talk to Starlin, do you mind watching Ben for a little while?" Mercedes asked.

Holly shook her head. "Not at all."

Mercedes smiled. "THank you. I'll be back soon." She walked past the RV and headed for her mother's.

Starlin's RV was situated in the center of the RV park. In the center, where she liked to be the attention. Being the wife of the caravan head seemed to be equal to queen in the woman's mind. Her behavior was atrocious and one of the reasons why her relationship with Mercedes was so strenuous, among other reason. Mercedes easily made her way to the ostentatiously lavender colored RV. She marched to the door and beat her fist against it.

"Starlin!" Mercedes called.

From where she stood Mercedes could hear someone moving about the inside of the RV. She prepared herself for an unpleasant and unwanted scene to play out once the door opened, but to her surprise, it was Starlin who opened the door. Through the screen door, Mercedes could make out Starlin's disturbed look about her.

Starlin looked down at Mercedes. "I expected you to find me."

"Then you know?" Mercedes asked.

Starlin nodded. She pushed her door opened for Mercedes. "Come in."

Mercedes hesitantly entered Starlin's RV. Starlin moved toward the table just a few feet from the door. The lights were nearly completely extinguished, save for a few candles. her table was filled with tarot cards and a large crystal ball. Mercedes moved to one side of the table and took in the tarot cards, instantly recognizing the exact layout she had read earlier. Starlin settled herself opposite Mercedes.

"What did you see?" Mercedes asked.

"You read them yourself, you know very well what I saw." Starlin answered.

"I know the cards." Mercedes corrected. "You read the crystal."

"What I saw only confirms what was read." Starlin explained.

Mercedes slammed her hand on top of the table. The cards became disrupted and the crystal ball jumped from its perch. "Do not play games Starlin. You read the cards! Whatever you saw, I need to know!"

Starlin looked up at Mercedes. "Why so interested?"

"Because it involved all of us." Mercedes answered. "Not just the pack, but the caravan as well. So help me if something you know gets someone killed, I'll-"

"Save your threat." Starlin interrupted. "You know our rules of murder."

"And you know the rules of adultery, not that it's stopped you." Mercedes replied sharply. She knew very well how to play her mother's game of tongues. She knew where to strike and just how powerful too. "Jag and Ford are living proof of that."

Starlin's eyes narrowed dangerously at Mercedes.

Mercedes leaned over the table toward Starlin. "Let's forego the argument and stay on topic. What. Did. You. See."

Starlin looked down at her crystal ball. "Blood, quills, claws, and bone."

"In one instant?" Mercedes asked.

Starlin nodded. "In the forest. Outside of town by its appearance."

"What about faces?"

Starlin shook her head. "Nothing definite."

Mercedes nodded. So it would be a physical battle coming to Beacon Hills. Claws and quills. The pack would go against her brothers. Blood and bone, someone had a high probability of dying. Whatever was the trigger, Mercedes needed to find it and stop it. She pushed herself off the table and walked back to the door. She pushed it open and dropped back onto the pavement.

"If Jaguar and Ford are proof of my transgression, then what is that demon you call your son?" Starlin called, standing in the doorway.

Fury coursed through Mercedes veins. She felt the incredible urge to shift, but she fought it greatly. She turned back to face the vile woman. "Bentley is to me, what every child should be to their mother. Though I don't expect you to understand. My son is my treasure." She turned quickly and started her return toward Holly's RV.

"Little family tension?"

Mercedes spun around quickly. Her eyes fell on Derek's form, leaning against one of the RV's beside her. From his position, he was perfectly out of sight of anyone who should pass by, but that didn't mean he was welcome.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Mercedes demanded.

"Same thing you are." Derek answered, stepping from the RV. "Getting answers."

"By eavesdropping?"

"You're the one who lied to us." Derek reminded.

Mercedes took a deep breath. "I had to."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to be sure what the threat was before informing your pack." Mercedes explained.

"Except you don't know anything." Derek reminded.

Mercedes stepped toward Derek. "And now you know all that I know. So I suggest you leave before someone see's you."

"Your mother's predicting a fight between your brothers and my pack." Derek stated. "I'm not leaving until I know why."

"How in the bloody hell should i know?" Mercedes yelled. "My brothers are short tempered bastards that tend to react before thinking clearly. Anything could trigger their temper, including a werwolf trespassing on an area they deem as their."

Derek stepped toward Mercedes. They were now just a few inches apart. "Then stop hiding things from us and help us stop the trigger."

"I can't." Mercedes answered. "I don't know what the trigger is. All I know is that my brothers don't like being in the service of werewolves. They go out of their way to avoid them at all costs. I have no idea what could trigger a fight between them. But you know as well as I do that the trigger could be anything. Jag is proof of that at the meeting."

"There has to be something tha can stop them." Derek pressed.

Mercedes thought for a moment. She didn't know much that could stop her brother, save for a paralytic to their system. But for a much less violent approach, she could alway depend on her father. "MY father. I need to talk to him. He wants to avoid a confrontation like this as much as you do. If I talk to him, tell him about the card readings and the images from Starlin, he'll have enough evidence to act."

Derek frowned. "That'll be enough?"

"We have different rules in the caravan." Mercedes explained. "Does tha work for you?"

"How soon can you talk to him?" Derek asked.

Mercedes reached into her pocket for her phone. "Soon."

"Mercedes!"

Mercedes turned. Briann was jogging through the street toward her. Mercedes looked toward Derek, only to find him gone. SMart. She turned her attention back to Briann just as she approached. "What is it?"

Briann pointed toward the entrance to the RV park. "THe Sheriff needs to speak with you. With your whole family actually."

Mercedes frowned. "Why?"

Briann shook her head. "He didn't say."

"Alright, go tell Holly." Mercedes said. She passed Briann and headed toward the front of the park. She jogged past Starlin's RV and weaved through the others until she reached the entrance.

Sheriff Stilinski stood at the entrance to the RV park. His police vehicle was parked not too far behind him. The engine was still running with the headlights on. Mercedes hadn't met the Sheriff, but she could see the resemblance between him and his son.

"Sheriff." Mercedes said as she approached him.

"Mercedes Walker?" he asked.

Mercedes nodded.

"I need to talk to your family. It's about your father." Sheriff Stilinski explained.

Mercedes felt a weight drop in the pit fo her stomach. "What's happened?"

Stilinski grimaced. "I think it's best to hear it all at once. Can you show me to your...house?"

Mercedes nodded slowly. "Everyone's heading toward Starlin's RV."

"Starlin?"

"My mother."

Mercedes led Sheriff Stilnski back through the RV's toward Starlin's residence. With every step she took she felt her heart beating harder and harder. She tried to keep her thoughts in order, no matter how concerning his presence was. AS they weaved through the park, Mercedes caught sight of Derek to her left. He watched her closely, his face seemingly full of concern. Mercedes turned her attention back as she reached Starlin's RV. She knocked on the door again. Starlin quickly answered the door, but any remark she had ready for Mercedes was cut off by the sight of the Sheriff.

"Mrs. Walker, I'm afraid I have some bad news about your husband." Sheriff Stilnski said.

From his concealed hiding place, Derek remained an unseen third party. He listened carefully as the sheriff talked to the Walker's.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your husband was found dead this afternoon."

Derek winced. He could hear the outburst from everyone within the RV. Someone had started crying hysterically, another started pacing the floor. Judging by the amount of noise, Derek expected that everyone had reached the RV before Mercedes and Stilinski. He heard the front door burst open, followed by a pair of quickly moving feet. He looked up as Mercedes rushed past him. The brief look was more than enough to see the complete anguish written on her tear stricken face.

His phone suddenly started ringing. Derek removed it from his pocket and started to make hs retreat through the park. "Yeah?"

"Derek," it was Scott. "Stiles and I are on our way to the hospital. His dad just told us that one of the gypsies was found dead in the preserve. Apparently it looks like one of ours."

"Yeah, they did." Derek answered. "Stilinski just informed the Walker's."

"Why them?"

"It was their dad, Scott." Derek explained. "THe dead gypsy is Kurt Walker."

"Oh my god." Scott muttered.

Derek emerged from the RV park. "I'll meet you at the hospital. We need to know what killed him or we're gonna have more bodies turn up quickly."

oh my gosh! look! 2 chapters in one day! now fi I don't update in a few weeks I can be forgiven! yay!

okay, I know there was a lot of information, but I DID WARN YOU! we got a little more answers and a lot more questions. hope you're not lost. if there are any errors I apologize.