LYDIA

The evening Lydia went to bed was quite peaceful. At least for her state of mind. Opening up to Allison made her feel much better. Not only did she finally get everything off her chest but she found understanding as well which made her more secure about the whole issue.

Now, she was ready to wake up and face anything life would put in front of her.

Unfortunately, life decided to take the harder path yet again. She couldn't believe her eyes when she finally woke up from her pleasant sleep. It was dark and cold, she could even feel humidity surrounding her. As soon as her sight had adjusted to the gloomy place, she was able to recognize actual metallic bars on her right, the rest were just three damp walls.

Her panic rose even more as she realized having her hands cuffed together behind her back.

Her breathing ironically quickened as she tried to calm herself down, quite unsuccessfuly.

Lydia's heart almost gave out when a distant, hoarse voice spoke: "You... smell like him."

It was a man, speaking very slowly, sounding as if his throat hasn't seen any water in ages. Lydia summoned all of her courage to say a simple: "What?" in a high-pitched voice.

"Hm, you... know Michendros?"

"What?" Now Lydia answered right away. But then it hit her. Michendros, she heard that before. Well, of course. Stiles said it... Michendros is John. So... This person has to mean John.

"Huh... You're useless," the man replied and returned to his silence.

"Wait, you mean Stiles' brother?"

"Stiles?" he said with a hint of amusement, "I didn't even know you can have such a stupid name nowadays," he said quietly, the conversation apparently exhausting him.

"How do you know them?" Lydia asked with curiosity, slightly forgetting the situation she was stuck in, letting it make her lean closer towards the voice she heard.

"Long story. Probably wasn't that important, though. If it were, I would not be stuck here I suppose."

"Well, maybe, they don't know you are here–," Lydia caught herself defending them which caught her by surprise.

"Impossible, Stolos knows."

Because of what he is?" Lydia asked carefully.

"Hm."

"That explains it. He isn't anymore!" she exclaimed a bit louder, immediately making her feel a bit more aware of where she is.

"What?" he simply said with a heavy British accent.

"Well, I don't know much, to be frank. But he's normal, you know, I think..."

"You're saying that Stolos is only human?"

"I wouldn't put it that way... He's not only human...-"

"That is not the point here..."

"Oh, yeah. Sure," Lydia said and looked through the bars, squinting her eyes at the dark figure opposite to her cell.

"Where are we actually?" Lydia asked.

"A cell, I'd presume."

"That's all you know?"

"I know that we are in this rotten place because the so-called sorcerers aren't able to cast big spells anymore, so we were placed in a prison which was enchanted by the old ones."

"Oh, that's why it looks so worn down..."

"You could say so."

"And... what do they want with us?"

"These good-for-nothings probably think of us as bait. But bloody hell, like if that worked with me and now they try you? They seem quite desperate."

"Well, I am close to Stiles," Lydia defended her position.

"Are you? How long do you know him? Because I met him in the early 19th century."

Lydia was taken a bit aback with this statement, reminding her that she had actually no idea with whom she had lived all this time. But she voiced another thought of hers.

"So... and you would be what now? I guess I can cross human out."

"Hm, I'll tell you if you agree to help me with getting out of here."

"What? You know how to get out? Well, I'll help if I am coming, too!"

"I can't promise much but I will do my best."

"What would I need to do?"

"Um, I know some blood magic... Michendros used to have all sorts of books about it, so I picked up something along the way. But I need another two people at least..."

"Two?"

"Yes."

"That's one more than we have, no?"

"I am aware... It will need you to make the person who will bring you food bleed. Like with a bite or something."

"Why don't you do it?"

"They don't visit my cell."

"But... how do you–"

"I don't... that's why it is so complicated to get out of here by myself."

"So why would they put me here when I can help you?"

"Bloody hell you are only questions, aren't you?"

"I want to know, otherwise I won't help you."

"They think I am almost dead... I didn't show any sign of anything basically... for a few years now. So, I think they don't await me having a chat with anybody."

"Why didn't they just dispose of your body... if they think you're dead."

"They fear me. And as I said before, the coven has grown weak. This cell is safer for them."

"I don't know if I can bite enough to make somebody bleed, though."

"Of course, you can. You just need motivation."

"Hm, I'll try then... And if I manage it... then what?"

"Cut yourself, too."

"This sounds unpleasant."

"Spending here another six years is unpleasant as well."

STILES

It felt like some pressure on his wrists made him hang loosely somewhere. He tried to move but the only result was something tightening around his waist as well.

His eyes felt very heavy which made him feel a little nervous.

I was drugged probably. No. No– that's not it. Lydia... the note. The– this is magic.

Finally, Stiles opened his eyes, revealing the surroundings to himself. He seemed to be in a stone-walled room, more of a dungeon. And he wasn't alone. Quickly, he looked down onto himself, realizing that his body is tangeled in some sort of a branch which made him hang from the ceiling.

There wasn't a way to get out. Not at least on his own. Stiles was very well aware of the fact that he wouldn't be able to fight off a dozen of sorcerers and magicians.

A woman, clothed quite plainly, approached Stiles' hanging body with a victorous smirk. Her blonde hair was put into a tight bun which somehow made her seem strict.

"So, here you are, the mighty Demon of the dark age or God of calamity. That's how you are called, right?... or maybe were called," she said with a chuckle, "now... you are just sad."

Stiles didn't bother to answer. He knew how these things went down from experience. But for the first time, he wasn't the one with the upper hand.

"Not gonna talk, huh?" the woman said with a low voice, breaking the eye contact with Stiles whose eyes followed her movements all this time.

"You see, we need you to talk. We, of course, can make it easy, extract the information we need from your head directly and then just kill you. But I just want you to pay back my thanks. For everything you've done you know. For the coven and all. And the biggest treat for us will be you giving us the information about how to end your dear brother. Unfortunately, he is still... well, the big bad. However, you... you are here to help us."

Stiles remained calm on the outside, however his thoughts were all over the place. He had no weapons and he couldn't defend himself against magic, therefore it would be very simple for the magicians to withdraw any information from his mind. And yes, he did know how to make Michendros vulnerable and that was something he kept for himself all this time.

"Let's begin," the woman commanded.

LYDIA

Someone's coming, Lydia thought and went through the plan the other prisoner told her. She had no idea who he was, what he was... not even his name has he told her. But her instincts told her that he wants to get out as much as her. And that was the thing which brought them together.

Within minutes, a guard came to her cell and laid down a bowl of rice and a cup of water. He arose quite quickly, ready to leave but Lydia stopped him.

"Sir? May I have a quick question?"

"What," he spitted, not turning around.

"Look at me please, I don't want to be rude but... how do I... well... you know I have a bit of an issue. It's my time in the month, you know. So... how do you suggest I... well... with my hands cuffed and without anything on me..."

This obviously made the guard feel a bit uncomfrotable. He scanned the redhead up and down and said: "I'll be right back."

During his absence, Lydia sat down on her knees, trying to seem as innocent as possible. It didn't take long for him to return.

Even just a drop is enough, Lydia repeated the man's words in her mind.

It took the guard around ten minutes to come back. He opened the cell's door and walked in with a plastic bag.

"He-Here you go, lady," he muttered and was about to leave.

"Wait, what? I'm supposed to do it here? And with my hands cuffed?"

The man nervously looked around and withdrew the keys from his pocket. "I'll uncuff you, alright. But don't you try to do something smart."

Sir, I will literally just insert a tampon into my vagina," Lydia said with an annoyed tone, rolling her eyes.

The man leaned closer to her wrists and put the key into the keyhole. Lydia waited for the moment the key turned to make her bold move. And there it was. *click*

The lock was undone and only a loud shriek was heard in the dungeon coming from the guard as Lydia bit into his index finger with all her strength.

"Jesus Christ, woman!" the man cried as he withdrew his hand from her. Lydia quickly bit her arm, causing it to bleed as well and spitted the mixture of bloods on the dirty ground.

She grinned at the guard who gave her a shocked look and started backing out of the cell.

"No wonder that you would date that monster," he said for himself and reached for the door to close it.

Lydia's thoughts were a bit clearer now thus she heard the stranger in the opposite cell to whisper something which apparently went by the guard unnoticed.

Unfortunate for him, though. The minute he exited Lydia's cell and locked it, he felt something sharp and long dive into his neck.

Lydia's smile faded at the sight. She has never seen something so violent and animalistic before. Not even movies and shows got it accurately.

This was savage.

Within seconds the guard fell to the ground, his head separated and rolling away a few inches. She finally had a good look at her prison-mate who, despite being dirty from all the flesh and blood, smiled at her gracefully and offered her a small bow.

"You were quite useful in the end," he said, wiping off blood from his eyelids.

"Wait a second, mister. That sounds like you want to get rid of me..."

"Hm... I thought about that... but then again, Stolos wouldn't be happy about that I suppose," he said while ripping the door out with ease. Lydia rose to her feet, her eyes not leaving the man's eyes.

"So, how do they call you?" Lydia asked, trying to ignore all the blood dripping down his body. She examined him closely now, establishing now at least 5' 10'' for him in height which made her feel a bit more insecure than before.

"Credence," he said flatly and looked around Lydia's cell.

"Now," he said slowly, "I've got some questions for you."

"Uh, ok...," she said, coming closer to the entrance where he let her out of the cell and showed her the way with his bloodied hand.

"Who did you tell about the brothers?" he asked directly.

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. You had to tell somebody that got you into this situation."

"Well... to be honest... I told my friend."

"A friend... of course. How does the friend look like?"

"Why is it important?"

"Just tell me..."

"Uh, similar age like me... brown long hair, brown eyes... a big smile. A bit taller than me-"

"A square-ish jawline I presume?"

"Yeah... How do you–"

"Simple. You told a stupid girl whose origins are in this ridiculous coven about two men who are hated by these people. Good job."

"What? But how do you know Allison?"

"Well, who wouldn't have a look at an old vampire rotting away in a cell. I was supposed to be bait for them. That did not work out. Now, you are bait. Congratulations."

"But... I've known her-"

"Does it really matter now? She is utterly useless for her family. I haven't met a person with so little means for magic. Even you've got more inside. She's a failure for them. My theory is that she wants recognition which she won't get."

Lydia felt terrible now. She was walking down a dark hole with a stranger who, in a few seconds, told her that she risked her and Stiles' life for nothing... but then again... wasn't Stiles and John the bad guys in the big picture?

Suddenly, a light chuckle came out of Credence. Lydia glanced over at him and caught him watching her with a playful look.

"You are not sure, are you?"

"What?"

"It's all over your face. You don't know whom to trust..."

"Well, it's all a bit complicated–"

"You've got three options. Either leave after this and have nothing in common with us... Turn against me, Stolos and Michendros and join these idiots or... be on our side and win."

"How are you so sure about winning?"

"Stolos and Mich always do. They can't be beaten."

"You have real faith in them huh? But Stiles is now just like me... and Mich is alone in it."

"Hm, either way, I will have a good snack from the friend of yours. Betrayal I won't stand."