July 12th 9 30 am
Andrea had passed out after Stiles and the others had taken her out of her former house. They put her in Stiles room, she slept until 9, and laid in the bed for another half hour. Andy sighed, 'No one's gonna like me like this' she thought 'Back to the way I was'. Andrea rolled out of bed and saw some of her clothes folded at the foot of the bed, 'what a lovely gesture'. She headed into the bathroom to shower, no matter how much she scrubbed she couldn't get all the blood off of her stomach. Her skin was still stained red when she stepped out of the water. She groaned in frustration and quickly got dressed leaving her hair in a stringy mess. Once Andy was dressed she crept down the stairs, Stiles, Lydia and Scott were sitting trying to appear at ease.
"Hey." Stiles said, glancing up at her "How are you feeling?"
She smiled "Alive, unfortunately." She snapped. Lydia handed her a glass of water
"You should drink that." Andrea downed the water while glowering at the three people before her then slammed the glass down on the table. She crossed her arms
"Could someone maybe explain how I'm a living breathing witch instead of the lifeless corpse of a human?"
Lydia sighed, Scott stared at the floor and Stiles bit his thumbnail. Lydia stood up
"I had a banshee epiphany and found your car in a river and pulled you out of it. Then you were in a coma in the hospital and we were kidnapped now you're power is back and we're in danger of being burned alive by what I'm assuming will be magical fire."
Andrea nodded "So you should have let me die."
Scott looked up at her "We try not to let people die." Andrea frowned
"Car accidents happen, Scott. I was driving recklessly a night." She said adding a smirk, Stiles glared at her
"Seriously?" she shrugged
"Also I don't have insurance so I'm fucked three ways to Sunday." She deadpanned, ignoring the anger of Stiles and Lydia, Scott stood up
"We need to figure out what to do. There's a way to stop them."
Andrea nodded "Yeah but you guys screwed with that. I was fixing everything and honestly how much would you care if I was dead? You got one day where I wasn't an irritable smartass, that's enough to not want me dead?"
Scott sighed "We figured there's another way."
Andrea headed for the door "There probably is. But we don't have time. For all we know we're already walking corpses."
Stiles stood up and walked over to her "There's time, there's a way and we're gonna find it."
She opened the door wincing at the light "Then get people searching through the books in my house, and the other my house. There's a couple different people and places in town I can go to for help. But once we find them, we have to kill them? Is that understood?"
She looked over at Scott, who shook his head "We don't have to."
Andrea raised her eyebrows "Really? What are you gonna do with them then? There's no mountain ash prison that could contain them, no method of torture that would keep them in line. But they don't heal without the use of magic so there are several efficient way to end their lives. Have you ever snapped someone's neck?"
Stiles frowned "I can't tell if you're joking." She stared at him, pursing her lips.
"I am so dead serious. They need to die."
Scott frowned "Let's find them first. Discuss that later."
Andrea rolled her eyes and left Stiles's house. Slamming the door behind her.
10 30 am
Malia scanned the bookshelf, trying to block out the scent of blood. Since she'd become human again almost everything that happened around her was incredibly disturbing, learning Peter Hale was her father and that everyone had lied to her about it was terrible. Not knowing who her mother is, is terrible. Breaking up with Stiles for their own good sucked also. As much as Malia didn't know about how her life should be, it shouldn't be like this. She flicked her eyes over to Kira and Scott. Who were discussing their next date idea while scanning through books they hardly understood.
"Guys?" Malia said, getting their attention "Your date isn't as important as being burned alive."
Kira pressed her lips together "Sorry…" she trailed off. Walking across the room to join Malia at the bookshelf. Scott followed her across the room stopping her from grabbing one of the books off the shelf
"Do you think we have to kill them?" he asked, Kira frowned
"I don't know." Malia turned to Kira confused
"Yes you do." She faced Scott "If they want to burn 500 000 people alive, they shouldn't be allowed to keep living. I understand you not wanting to kill people but this is crazy. Scott you can't let all the bad people live. If it was up to anyone else Peter would be dead."
Malia stated with her trademark honesty. As much as they could try to teach her to filter her speech, these things took time. And sometimes they needed her remarks. Reminding them that they can deny the obvious truth but Malia will point it out.
"We don't have to kill everybody." Kira said, smiling. Malia shook her head
"Not everybody. Some people." Scott buried his face in his hands
"We'll think about this later. We need to find them first. And I have no idea what Andrea's doing."
Malia grabbed another book "Do we trust her?"
Scott shrugged "She tried to die to save everyone. I've been wrong about her."
Lydia took a sheet and covered up the window she'd broken. Why she'd been locked inside that house was a mystery to both her and everyone else. At this point it didn't matter, they could have between hours or days to both find and stop these witches, or evacuate the entire county. Which Stiles learned would be nearly impossible to do without time or a believable cause. Lydia watched as Stiles and Liam flipped through the books strewn across the floor. Stiles glanced up at her
"Have you heard from your mom?" Lydia nodded
"Yeah, she seemed… off. I'll talk to her later. Hopefully…" she trailed off. Stiles nodded
"I'm sure that she's fine, not worried about anything going on or you or-"
"Does she know?" Lydia asked, cutting him off. Stiles nodded
"Melissa told her last night. Has she not mentioned anything to you?"
"ABOUT HER KNOWING HER DAUGHTER WASN'T HUMAN? NO!" Lydia yelled
"I have to talk to her." She mumbled, grabbing her purse and a stack of books "I'll read these, see if I find anything."
"Be careful!" Liam called after her as she ran out of the house.
"When do you think my parents will find out?" he asked, trying to act casual.
Stiles shrugged "The way all of ours did, someone's in some kind of supernatural danger and they are forced to realize that the supernatural exists and hope that nobody dies."
Liam frowned "Oh god." Anxiety creeping into his voice
Stiles picked up another book "My dad was nearly a human sacrifice."
Liam glared at him "I didn't need to know that."
Stiles nodded "So was Scott's mom and Allison's…" he trailed off, his grin disappearing into grief. Liam struggled to think of who Allison might be. Then he remembered his conversation with Scott.
"How are all of you still alive?" He'd asked
"Not all of us are." Scott had said, Liam knew what he'd meant. But he'd forgotten about it until now.
"Who was she?" he pried, knowing he wouldn't like his answer.
Stiles sighed "Scott's first love, her family were hunters she became one but she was on our side. Well there was a rough patch at the beginning but… she died saving us. Me."
Liam nodded "I didn't wanna…" Stiles shook his head
"You have a right to know this stuff. She's not the only person we've lost. Derek's first two betas, Boyd and Erica were killed by an alpha pack. Aiden who was a part of that alpha pack then ended up again, dying for us. Allison and Aiden were killed by the evil spirit I was possessed by. I do feel responsible for their deaths." Stiles deadpanned, trying to distance himself from what he felt he'd done.
Liam drummed his fingers on the floor "It's not your fault."
"Doesn't matter anymore." Liam shook his head. Being possessed and the damage done isn't someone's fault, being too aggressive on the lacrosse field, destroying a car. That's fault.
"It does matter, you can't blame yourself for what you didn't do. Just like you can't not blame yourself for what you did."
"Like destroying your coach's car?" Stiles asked, the playful tone of voice returning.
"Yeah, exactly."
Derek, Deaton and Andrea hunched over the table in the clinic.
"And you think this would work why? It sounds like a terrible dangerous plan." Andrea sad. Derek nodded
"I mean the last time any of us were technically dead Scott couldn't turn, Allison was hallucinating and Stiles became possessed."
"Recipe for disaster." Andrea said in agreeance "I don't like it. I could use a locator spell."
Deaton frowned "You already said they've probably hidden their location by now."
She twisted her rings "I don't like this idea. I will do all I can to avoid it."
"And Scott won't agree." Derek said, Andrea shrugged
"If he's the only one going under then he would. But he wouldn't be and I don't think it's a good idea to send him down the rabbit hole anyway."
Derek nodded "It'd be hard to convince him to come back once he sees Allison. But you think Lydia would be different? And what about Stiles? I mean he'd end up seeing his mother, you know that?"
Deaton sighed "I was thinking Lydia because she's a banshee and already has that connection to the other side along with Allison, but would be well aware that she needs to come back to the land of the living, Stiles because he's been 'dead' and because his mother would convince him to go home and you, Derek. For the same reasons as Stiles."
Derek frowned "I would like to avoid seeing as many dead family members as possible."
Andrea sneered "I would like to avoid letting 500 000 people burn, and I still don't understand how this works." She said, making sure the irritation and confusion she felt was evident.
"The spell is designed so that they cross over with specific intention, finding Harriet and the other two. The emotional tether would lead them to where they want to go."
"Then convince them to go back to where they belong. But why do you think we would try to stay?"
As Deaton was about to answer Andy beat him to it.
"It's appealing, being with the one's you love forever. Who cares if you're dead? But I'm guessing the other side isn't as great as we think it is. But the dead, if they loved you is supposed to convince you to live out the rest of your miserable life."
Derek stood up "You're one of the most pessimistic people I've met."
Andrea smirked "Coming from Derek Hale." She quipped and turned her attention back to Deaton
"I hate this plan, but it's a good plan. I just hate it."
Deaton started pulling jars out of cupboards
"That's fine as long as you're up for the spell. Where does everyone think you are?" he asked
"Not scheming with you two." Andy answered, picking at her nails. She looked over at Derek, then back to Deaton
"You know a spell like this could very badly for me. I say it's like 50 50 I survive."
Derek stared at her eyebrows raised "Seriously? How often are you nearly dying?"
She scoffed "Not as often as you might think. Seems I've been having a heroic streak as of late." Andrea stated, a bitter edge to every word. Deaton put a hand on her shoulder
"You can't tell them, that I could die. Stiles won't do it if he knows, neither would Lydia. They care about me, which I don't understand." She said looking up at him, fear in her eyes. Determination on her face.
Deaton sighed "Maybe you're a better person then you believe you are."
She looked back down at her hands, letting those words echo in her mind, along with Stiles's
"You're more good than bad, Andrea."
She chewed on her tongue, refusing to let herself think they were right. And refusing to let her heartrate speed up. 50 50 chance of survival. She pulled that number out of her ass and she knew it. But Andrea chose to make that the truth she believed, 50 50. People have done stupider for less.
Lydia listened as her mother vented. About Lydia's safety, about how her mother's condition made much more sense now, about how many things that happened in this town made actual sense. Her speech lasted 8 minutes and 27 seconds. Lydia timed it. In the end she asked what had happened to her last night. She gave the simple answer, the locked in a hose to be kept out of the way.
"What danger are you in right now Lydia?" Natalie asked her daughter. Lydia smiled, she wasn't going to tell her that it the death of everyone in the entire county could occur, she wasn't going to tell her that she was always in danger. Lydia smiled
"Very little mom, the problem is… being solved."
Natalie sighed in relief and hugged her daughter
"Thank god. I can't lose my baby girl."
Lydia squeezed back "You won't mom. I'm not going anywhere."
As Lydia let her mother go, she wasn't going anywhere. But she had the feeling someone would. Not a banshee prediction, just the impending feeling of doom Lydia Martin never shook.
July 12, 4 30 pm
Stiles bit his thumbnail while pacing, Lydia drummed her finger on the examination table, Scott paced opposite to his best friend, Kira chewed on the inside of her cheek, Malia tapped her foot, Liam clenched and unclenched his fists, Braeden hovered over Derek.
"You know I'm not okay with this near death either, right?" she said, not even trying to hide the worry in her voice.
Derek, Deaton and Andrea stood in an eerie calm in front of the others.
"I also hate this plan, but it's the best we've got so, live fast die young right? Well no one's dying." She said forcing a smile, hoping no one suspected anything. Hell, she didn't know what to expect.
"We're going to let you decide who does his but It would be best if maybe Lydia, Stiles and Derek." Andrea said turning away from the group, awkwardly scratching the back of her neck. Stiles nodded
"Sorry, didn't catch that. Derek, Lydia and I was it? No, god no. Last time I died I got possessed and tried to KILL everyone. No." he said, using his hands to emphasis every word.
Lydia stood frozen "Why us? Where did this come from?"
Deaton and Derek turned to Andrea "Maybe you should explain." Derek mumbled, Andrea glowered at him
"Banshee's are creatures directly connected to the dead and your best friend is dead. Stiles you lost your mother, Derek almost everyone you've ever loved is dead. That's why, you have strong tethers to the other side. Making it easier for you to take the trip and make it back."
Stiles glared at Andrea "Seriously? Why? Why is this going to work? Are all your ideas terrible?" he snapped.
Andy frowned "Didn't expect that one from you." She said, Stiles looked away from her. Realizing she was genuinely hurt by what he said. Deaton looked over at Andrea
"It was-" he started, Andrea cut him off "My idea." She lied, if anything were to go wrong she wanted everyone to think it was her fault, bringing her eyes back up to meet Stiles's
"I don't want it to be you, I don't want it to be anyone. But whoever you see on the other side will lead you where you want to go. Which is wherever the witches are. And before any of you asked if we've looked for them, I have. Everywhere I could think of. Surprisingly, I had no luck." Andrea snipped, keeping her eyes trained on Stiles, who instead of avoiding her gaze, stared right back.
Liam cleared his throat "When, uh is this happening?"
Deaton looked over at the youngest beta "Around 7, it would be best to attack them at night. As soon as they're found. This gives you all time to spend with your families in case we don't accomplish what we want to tonight. And Stiles, there is no ice water involved this time."
"Oh fantastic, that was exactly what I was worried about." He said, rolling his eyes. Andrea sighed
"OK. Be here, 6 45. Try to stay alive until then."
Scott walked into the hospital, holding a bag of takeout. He stopped at the desk where his mother usually was. The nurse in her place smiled at him
"It's Scott right? What can I do for you?" he smiled
"I was wondering where my mom is. Melissa?" the other nurse nodded
"She'll be in a surgery until about 7. I think she might be getting a promotion! Are you planning on waiting for her?"
Scott shook his head "I hoped we could have an early dinner. I'll leave this for her then. Could I right her a note?"
The nurse handed him a pen and paper "Is everything okay Scott? You seem… tired, sad. Not a look someone your age should be wearing."
Scott shook his "Didn't sleep well last night. Out late." He mumbled as he scrawled out a note for his mother.
Hey mom, bought you dinner like I used to. Don't need anything. Probably be home late. Don't wait up. Love You – Scott
Scott handed the bad and note to the nurse who put it behind the counter
"Have a nice night Scott! Be careful, outside. Full moon."
Scott smiled, he hadn't thought about it. With both Malia and Liam under control, full moon's had been passing like any other night. But when he stepped back outside he noticed it. The pull of his animal side, how much lighter it was out. So much of what happened recently hadn't revolved around the moon like it used to. He climbed onto his bike, pulling out his cell phone and dialed his father. Scott wasn't surprised when his father didn't answer.
Hey dad, just calling to say hi. I'm pretty busy tonight. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?
Scott didn't know how to finish, "I love you?" he wasn't sure if he did. But if he died tonight…
Love you dad. Bye
Scott hung up on his father glancing down at his contacts. Isaac. Why not? He wondered, they'd talked a few times since he'd left. He was doing okay, though Scott wasn't sure where he was now since Chris wasn't in France with him. Scott dialed the number, smiling when his friend answered
"Scott! Hey! Guess who I'm with?"
"Who?"
"Jackson! Of all people. He's actually not too bad now. Yes I know you can hear me Jackson. Wait what are you doing?!"
"Hey McCall. Lahey say's you're the alpha now? Happy my dad made me leave. Well… not really. I heard about Allison. I'm sorry. But I'm doing okay, Isaac seems to have joined my pack. Missed me too much. Isaac! I'm talking!" Scott heard Isaac struggling for his phone.
"It's my phone!" Isaac whined. Scott laughed
"You know what? Speaker! Speaker is a thing." Jackson snapped.
"It's good to hear from you guys. We're in a bit of a mess here, again. Did you guys know witches were a thing? I've gotta be somewhere. Be safe guys." Scott said trying to diffuse the situation from an ocean away.
"Scott are you okay?" Isaac asked, Scott frowned. He missed him, both of them.
"I've had some late nights. But everything's okay. I'll talk to you both soon. Ok?"
"Yeah Scott."
"Goodbye McCall."
Jackson and Isaac hung up. Scott laughed to himself, out of all the places Isaac could be. London with Jackson hadn't occurred to him, but it made sense. They had both been bitten by Derek. Scott guessed that couldn't have drawn them together and made them actually become friends. He missed them, but they were better there then here. Everyone was better off outside of Beacon Hills.
Stiles followed his father around the station. Throwing out ideas on how to catch a non-existent criminal.
"STILES!" The Sherriff had to yell.
"Yes, dad?" his son replied, attempting to make it look like everything was fine.
"Are you okay?" he said, stepping closer to his son
"If something's wrong. You can tell me. I'm here for you."
Stiles nodded "I know dad, I'm just saying hi. Seeing how you're doing today. Daddy. Daddy-o."
The Sherriff sighed "Okay, I'll talk to you later. Okay? I love you son." He said, a smile forming on his face.
"Yeah dad, I love you to." Stiles said as he pulled his father into a hug.
"I've got a lot of work to do, are you out late?"
Stiles nodded
"Don't wait up!" he said as he left the station.
Stiles looked up at the sky.
"Full moon. Fucking full moon." He mumbled.
Lydia didn't want to assure her mother again that she was fine, so instead she sat on the floor in her room with her dog. After talking to her father's voicemail. She told him she loved him but those were empty words and she knew it. He'd torn apart her family and forced her to choose between parents. As if they couldn't figure who could take care of her better by themselves. Natalie obviously, but it wold have been nice to see her father try to fight to have her. Lydia also knew that how things had turned out were for the best, she wouldn't be who she was now if she went with him. And who she was now, was better a better person then Lydia had ever imagined herself being. So she stroked Prada and waited for 6 45, waited for this night to end.
Liam had a short lived conversation with his mother and step father, ending with "I love you's." It hurt that they hadn't noticed him acting any differently, not like Mason had. Weren't your family supposed to pick up on everything? Like nightmares, being out all the time and the disappearance to Mexico? They hadn't noticed. Liam picked up his phone and sent a quick text to Mason
Not available tonight if you were planning something. Talk tomorrow, we should hang out sometimes this week.
With that he shut off his phone and left the house. The moon over his head added another sense of apprehension. 3 months ago the full moon meant nothing. Now his life revolved around them. Liam still hadn't had a moment to really think about his future, about being a werewolf.
Both Kira and Malia had quiet dinners with their family. Or in Malia's case, her father. On her way out the door she hugged him goodbye.
"I love you." She said.
"I love you to, Malia. Do you need a ride?" he asked, oblivious to the situation building around him.
Malia shook her head, little did he know. She ran everywhere.
Kira's parents were inherently suspicious of all of Kira's behaviour, they were convinced some kind of trickster nature would appear and she'd become trouble. But the small family finished their food and bid each other goodnight.
"Don't wait up!" Kira said, smiling at her parents. "Love you both!" she said as she raced out of the door. A look of sadness crossed her face as she heard them yell back. No one except for three witches were dying tonight. Kira didn't care if she'd have to kill them herself.
Andrea sat on the front steps into the clinic, wringing her hands. She sighed as Stiles pulled up in his jeep
"Excited?!" she yelled at him as he climbed out of his car
"Cause you're here early. It's 6 15."
Stiles nodded and took a seat next to her
"I wanted to talk to you. As one of my possible goodbye's."
Andrea cringed "That can't be good. Also thanks for being a dick to me today."
Stiles grabbed her hand "Sorry, but I have something to say. I know that you aren't two different people. I don't care how you think you have to act around everyone else. Like you're not sad, like you're not terrified. I don't care. You are as much as a hero as any of us. And as much of a monster as any of us. You're a good person with some bad qualities, most people are. But everyone may very well be dead by tomorrow so I might as well just say all that now in hopes you believe. No one should die thinking that they're less than they are. Everyone we've lost knew that they were good when they died, that they were worth something. You should too."
Andrea nodded "The only people dying tonight are Harriet and her two servants."
Stiles nodded "I also wanted to know what you are doing next? Once this is over." His eyes bored into her's. Andrea shrugged, looking up at the sky, avoiding his gaze. Concerned that he cared, because she did. She didn't want anything to happen to him or anyone. But she couldn't say that, because she has no control over what happens. Andrea figured they'd all be better off without her.
"Move on, like I should." She sounded optimistic. She tried to.
"Or… you could stay here. Where you belong." He offered. She eyed him, raising an eyebrow
"This is where I belong?"
Stiles nodded "Some of us like you. Me for example, Lydia too."
Andrea sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose with her other hand
"Maybe. I just wanna get through the night. You know you're going to see your mother right? Likely your mother."
Stiles nodded "I just don't know how I'd tell my dad."
Andrea leaned back against the clinic's door.
"You're in for one hell of a night." She said, closing her eyes. He stared at her
"So are you." Stiles said
She smiled "I'm not going to be technically dead." Andrea replied as Stiles smirked.
"Right, technically you're killing me. So to apologize to me, we should probably do that one nice day we had over again. Without the crying."
Andrea opened one of her eyes to look at him
"Are you asking me out?"
He smiled "Let's just get through tonight."
I hope everyone had an amazing holiday. This took longer than expected because I knew what I wanted to happened but I wasn't sure how it would and it ended up really long. Big things in store for next chapter. Obviously, keep following, favoriting and reviewing!