Chapter Twenty-One

Tension Rising

Author's Note: I appreciate the interest in Stiles's story. All I will say for now is that I'm getting to it. It isn't time yet.

I have the next few seasons already going through my mind. All about Stiles will be revealed.

The conclusion of the present plot will happen by Chapter 24. Like the show's canon timeline- twelve installments in a season...

(Dunbar Books)

Deucalion had planned it in the early morning hours, when he thought Professor Dunbar was likely to be sound asleep.

The thin line of dawn was just breaking the horizon over Beacon Hills, and the air was damp.

Kali and Ennis fell into step next to Deucalion, and the three of them approached the book store.

Deucalion must know what was living inside those walls. He must!

The lights were all off, and the vague scent of Dunbar seemed to come from above them.

Deucalion wasn't sure where he'd find the thing he was searching for. He only knew the creature he had sensed lived within the bookstore somewhere.

The door was locked of course, but that was no issue for them. Now the only thing to be settled was rather to do this quietly and by the books, or to make a showy display of their power.

Deucalion believed intimidation could come in useful. If not sooner- later...

He gave Ennis a nod that indicated agreement with his way of doing things.

Ennis raised his fist and punched through the glass door. A light went on above the store.

Professor Dunbar had awakened to the sound of shattering glass downstairs.

He was on his way down, when he heard footsteps coming up.

He didn't know what to do. He grabbed up the phone to call the police, when his door flew back and splinters went everywhere.

The one standing there had thrown the door off the hinges!

Dunbar recognized them...

"What is it?" he asked nervously, raising his hands to indicate surrender.

Ennis sneered and stepped into the professor's personal space. He pulled the man's shirt collar tight and drug him forward.

"We want to know what you're keeping in here," he demanded in a dangerous, threatening tone. "...and we want to know now!"

"No idea what..." the professor began.

Ennis growled and threw him hard across the room, causing him to hit the wall so hard- he felt the breath knocked out of him.

"Now Ennis," Deucalion said gently, but there was unmistakable amusement in his tone. "We're already here. We can find it..."

Professor Dunbar regained his wind with that and hurried after Deucalion.

"No you can't!" he stammered after Deucalion and Kali, who were stepping into his bedroom. "It's not ready..."

Ennis pulled him back by the arm hard enough to yank it out of socket.

"You relax," Ennis spat. "Now!"

Dunbar nodded in fearful submission and had a seat on the nearby living room couch.

Deucalion and Kali found the professor's bedroom dark and a little stuffy, but the sound was unmistakable...

"Breathing," Deucalion muttered with slight fascination. "Yes. It is here!"

Kali clicked on a table lamp and noticed a large set of double doors, which was strange for a bedroom.

Deucalion indicated she should stay put. He wanted to face the thing himself...

Using his wolf senses, he knew the doorknob smell, and began to pull back one of the double doors.

A low growl and rattling breath issued from within.

"It's okay," he spoke gently to whatever was hiding in there. "I've come to set you free. I am your friend..."

The breathing slowed, and it was suddenly dead silent.

Deucalion couldn't see, but he could smell a change happening somewhere in the dark.

One scent suddenly became two in his nostrils.

"Where?" a male voice asked in confusion.

It was one of the two scents he could smell.

"What just happened?" an almost identical voice questioned.

Kali stepped in right then and her eyes widened.

She was looking at identical twins. They were as exposed as newborn babies.

"Twins," she told Deucalion.

"Ahhh," the wolf mused. "Figures..."

"Identical twins at that," Kali went on.

One of the twins stepped toward she and Deucalion- putting Kali on her guard.

She assumed a defensive stance.

The twin seemed to notice this and paused his approach, looking reprehensive.

"What are you?" Kali asked the twin.

The twins exchanged questioning glances, and then the other one started to talk. The one that had been still and silent til now...

(Campus Food Court)

Scott took a seat at the table already occupied by Stiles.

Stiles, who was something of a hypocrite about his dad's eating habits- was eating an undoubtedly unhealthy breakfast of eggs, pancakes, and sausage.

Scott's choice of yogurt and bananas seemed very health conscious next to that.

"Hey," he addressed Stiles curiously, and then jerked his head toward a guy across the cafeteria. "You know him?"

Stiles studied the curly-haired boy in question. He looked about their ages.

It wasn't just Scott. Stiles had noticed the boy watching them too...

"Hey!" Scott called toward the boy.

The brunette with curly hair smiled a little and approached. He looked a little shy.

"Hey," he greeted them. "Sorry I keep staring. I'm doing it to everyone this morning. I can't help it. I'm the new guy around here!"

The three of them spent the next few minutes discussing the college the young man had transferred from.

They learned his name was Isaac, and he seemed withdrawn, but not unfriendly.

"My dad and I live in the next town over," he was explaining to Scott and Stiles. "We came here because of his interest in Big Foot."

Scott's expression became dark at that information.

"Take my advice," he warned Isaac. "Don't go looking for that thing. It killed someone last night."

"Oh yes," Isaac replied with a nod. "I know. My dad also has something of a connection with animals. He senses things about these creatures. Just last night he was telling me, and none too joyfully- that it's going to kill again."

Stiles looked slightly suspicious at these details.

"It seems odd your dad would know that," he said.

Isaac grinned.

"Don't worry Stiles," he chuckled. "I'm used to that response. All the same- I don't think I'd be out after dark tonight if I were you!"

Scott and Stiles exchanged a glance that pretty much indicated they were thinking the same thing.

Were they sure they wanted this strange guy as a friend?

(Dunbar Books)

"That's incredible," Deucalion exclaimed, managing to look impressed.

The twin calling himself Aiden only managed to look troubled.

"It's all true," he said seriously. "I had no sense of being an individual til moments ago. Almost like you called me into being..."

"I felt the same," the other twin added. "It was like I knew nothing. I was dumb and blank. Then next thing I know- I heard your voices. I felt myself pull away from something. Then I was Ethan..."

He looked at his twin again curiously.

Ennis shot a smirk to the professor, who didn't look happy about the situation at all.

"You created them?" he guessed.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," the professor answered, looking distant, as though trying to see something. "I did create a creature from two people. Two bodies to be exact..."

Ennis felt a rare disquiet at this detail.

"You made them two," the professor said somewhat accusingly now. "The process wasn't finished. The bodies weren't joined..."

"What the heck are you talking about!?" Aiden asked, sounding annoyed. "You made us this?"

The professor hoped the twins wouldn't be angry. Something told him that would not go well...

"I gave you life," the professor pointed out. "You were both dead."

Ethan shuddered.

"That just sounds creepy," he said honestly. "Unnatural..."

"Call it what you wish," the professor retorted defensively. "That is the words of the ignorant!"

Aiden was forward in a flash and jerked the professor up by his shirt collar. Ennis looked gleefully malicious.

"Listen," Aiden snapped. "I don't care! You didn't give me a choice. That's all I care about."

"Please," Dunbar pleaded, and shot Kali an imploring look.

Aiden dropped the professor like a stuffed toy and stepped away.

"You're pathetic," he said with disgust.

Deucalion gave Aiden a rather fatherly smile, and gave Ethan the same.

"Why don't you come with us?" he suggested. "You seem to have no place here with your maker..."

"Now wait just a..." Dunbar began.

Ennis swung his arm out forcefully and struck the professor a wallop.

"Don't make me do it again," he hissed.

Dunbar watched helplessly as his creations, newly dressed in some of his son's clothes- headed toward the apartment door with the three intruders.

"Tell me one thing," Dunbar said, daring to press his luck.

Deucalion paused and turned toward him with a completely Stoic expression.

"What are you?"

Deucalion smiled in a way Dunbar didn't exactly like. Then he removed his glasses and willed his eyes to change color.

Professor Dunbar gasped when he saw the red eyes. He knew...

He turned around and sprinted back into his bedroom, locking the door.

Deucalion gave a laugh and led the group out with the new additions, the twins in tow...

(Dorm)

Night had fallen on campus once more, with their exams scheduled to begin in just a few days.

Everyone was hitting the textbooks like crazy.

Why had Liam gone out? Stiles had given him Isaac's warning, but he hadn't taken it seriously.

Scott found himself suddenly realizing just how concerned he was for Liam's safety.

What if he was an alpha? He could give Liam the power to protect himself then. Would he actually do something like that?

Could he give someone else what he had been given unwillingly?

Honestly- he had never considered the possibility before...

(Sunset Bistro)

Liam and Theo watched the waitress light their alcoholic punch on fire with rapt appreciation.

She placed the flaming liquid in front of them, and advised they let it burn out on it's own.

Theo smiled in Liam's direction.

"Thanks for taking me out," he said. "I just started at the coffee shop. I don't really have much money..."

"Don't sweat it," Liam said with a gentle chuckle, flashing him those angelic eyes.

Their eyes remained locked a few seconds longer this time...

Theo looked a little reluctant, and extended his hand. He placed it against the table, and looked at Liam- waiting for him to act or let the moment pass.

He was testing the waters...

Liam looked at the hand a long moment, looking unsure.

He placed his hand against the table and started edging it toward Theo's.

Theo looked at him, but made no motion to resist.

Instead he turned his hand upwards, welcoming Liam's hand into his. Their fingers brushed and then threated together, closing with a warmth that made Theo's heart flutter.

Liam was smiling, as desire seemed to darken his angelic eyes. He looked like he was challenging Theo to something...

Theo only smiled softly and squeezed Liam's hand before breaking the connection.

They helped themselves to their punch, even though it was adding a hefty amount to their bill.

Liam only though about Sasquatch briefly as he finished his last cup.

He'd seen the news report, but he couldn't imagine their being unlucky enough to meet the creature in a city of college students.

He took Theo's hand again after paying the check and headed out the door together...

The night air was warm and sticky. Summer wasn't far off.

There were college students on the Bistro green. Usually, the establishment provided a band for the couples to dance. It was a pretty high end establishment...

"You want to?" Theo questioned.

Liam smiled and bit his lip, as though suddenly reluctant.

"I kinda want to do something else," he explained.

Theo looked questioning as he followed Liam into a nearby park, using a path adjacent to the restaurant.

He waited til they were alone, with no students coming or going.

"What is it?" Theo asked strangely.

Why had Liam brought him here?

Liam stepped closer into his space, bringing them almost eye to eye.

"What do you think?" Liam whispered.

Theo took a shaky breath, as his heart hammered uncomfortably.

His mind went back to everything he'd been through with the other Liam. He told himself again this wasn't that Liam.

Except...when he looked at those angelic eyes, so like his Liam...

Did it matter?

Could he do this? Was it really okay? Did he deserve to do it?

The questions were put aside when he realized Liam was moving closer, those angelic eyes holding him.

Theo realized he was moving closer too.

Their lips met and Theo immediately embraced Liam around the waist.

Liam sighed softly against his lips and threw his arms around Theo's neck.

Theo's heart was hammering wildly, but Liam was suddenly the drug he couldn't turn down.

Finally, they pulled apart. Liam was looking at Theo with lust-clouded eyes. The desire was unmistakenable, even by the park's lamps.

"What was that for?" Theo dared to ask.

"Because you make me happy," Liam answered honestly. "I haven't been this happy in a long time..."

Theo smiled and took the other young man's hand.

"Let's go for a walk," he suggested.

Liam didn't object. He let Theo take him deeper into the park, and ignored a vague premonition of danger...