Chapter Twenty-Eight
Frozen
Scott was literally on his way to Stiles when the text came.
He felt his phone vibrate in his jeans pocket as he drove. Something told him it was more bad news.
He'd seen nothing except one problem to another since becoming a werewolf. A definite pattern had established itself...
First there was Laura's disappearance. Then Matt happened- a centuries old fury!
Now there was this new threat. Stiles had almost drowned in his bath tub, which Scott knew hadn't been an accident.
Now he was hearing about the mysterious return of Claudia Stilinski?
He hoped this supernatural stuff wasn't going to become a pattern in his life...
He pulled into Stiles's driveway- arriving at the Stilinski house for the second time that night.
His phone vibrated again as he stepped out of the driver's side of his Accord, but he ignored it.
Right now he only had attention for Stiles. His brother. His best friend...
...and maybe something else?
Scott had no time to think. He hurried up the Stilinski drive and didn't bother to knock- letting himself in.
No one was downstairs. It was quiet.
"Stiles!" he shouted.
"Scott!" Stiles called back from upstairs.
He hurried down, cheeks streaked with tears from crying.
"My dad passed out," he hiccuped. "I don't know what happened..."
Scott pulled Stiles into a quick hug, but found his arms closing- holding the other man tighter and more affectionately.
He got a sense of protecting Stiles. His heart seemed to twist painfully.
"It's alright," he managed to say. "Stiles, I promise."
Stiles pulled Scott up the stairs and toward his dad's bedroom.
Claudia was sitting in a chair by Noah's bedside, looking at him strangely and intensely.
"Scott's here mom," Stiles blurted as the two of them bounded into the room.
"Oh Scott dear," Claudia enthused with a smile. "It's good to see you again."
Scott gave her a nod, and his expression wasn't entirely friendly.
He bent down next to the bed and took the sheriff's arm. He noticed that it was damp and ice cold.
His eyes widened in surprise.
"Let me be alone with him," Scott requested, looking at Stiles apologetically. "Please?"
Stiles nodded and ushered his mom from the room with a careful arm around her.
Scott studied the sheriff carefully, but he could think of nothing.
He grabbed the sheriff's arm again, which felt like a block of ice and stiff.
He envisioned he was pulling that cold into himself, and saw his veins bulge.
He shivered at the cold that flooded his body, but the sheriff responded. He coughed and was able to move his hand.
"Scott," he breathed weakly, eyes still closed and breath rapid. "I don't have long. I can't...can't fight her."
Scott's mouth fell open in surprise and confusion.
Her?
"She wants Stiles," Noah went on, rasping for oxygen like it was a real effort.
Scott realized the sheriff was talking about Claudia. Somehow he just knew it...
"Don't let her have him," Noah begged, coughing at the effort. "Take Stiles away from here Scott!"
Scott nodded, even though the sheriff's eyes were closed. He was agreeing with himself.
"I'll take him," he told Noah with feeling. "I promise. I won't let anything happen."
"Good," the sheriff breathed in near a whisper, and his mouth fell slack.
Scott let Noah's arm go and went instead for his wrist.
There was a pulse!
"Stiles," he called.
Stiles came back in without his mother, which was just as well.
"I can't explain it all," he began with worry in his features. "You trust me. Don't you?"
Stiles nodded.
"Pack a bag," Scott went on distractedly. "I've got to take you away from here."
Stiles thought of his mother.
"What about..."
"Stiles," Scott cut across him. "That woman is not your mother. If she is- she means you harm. You said you trusted me!"
Stiles's eyes were wide with conflict and hurt, but he nodded.
"I trust you Scotty," he whispered.
"Then let's go pack," he said, but went for his phone, remembering the texts.
He read one and then the other, before pocketing his phone with a conflicted look.
"Stiles," Scott said. "Let's make that packing fast..."
(Lehay residence)
Isaac bit at his bottom lip and looked at Allison with clear anxiety.
"Is he coming?" he asked.
"Yes," Allison confirmed and nodded. "I hope Scott will be able to help..."
Isaac looked away from her to hide the fear that must be obvious in his eyes.
Intense pounding sounded against the closet door again and a animal roar filled the house.
"Why didn't that end it?" Isaac asked in a whisper.
Allison's hand found his shoulder and he turned to look at her.
Allison stopped when Isaac's sad, intense eyes caught hers. She immediately thought of Scott and pulled her hand back.
Something in Isaac's expression relaxed...
She thought about what that was they'd just shared in that intense glance.
Allison didn't know why she felt hot and excited suddenly. Her pulse quickened and her cheeks felt flush.
Her mind searched for a reason, and the first place it went was pure romantic nonsense.
True love. Love at first sight...
She shook her head to deny this to herself, but Isaac noticed the intense worry in her shining eyes.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
Allison's eyes took on a deer in headlights expression.
'Oh please,' she thought to herself. 'If he keeps looking at me that way. Talking to me so gently...'
She knew that this was the kind of immediate desire people feel for each other in those rare instances.
Love at first sight. Soulmate...
She shook her head again and Isaac took her hand gingerly.
Their eyes met and he massaged her fingers carefully- gently...
"This is okay," he whispered. "Right?"
Allison's lips were parted with confusion and conflict, but she nodded.
Isaac moved a little closer on the couch and gently brought her hand to his lips.
He planted a kiss on each finger and then moved in for her lips while the moment still held her captive.
She felt her lips immediately respond to his. Her mouth opened and she sighed as Isaac's tongue met hers- gently seeking...
Isaac carefully guided their lips to conclusion and pulled back with half-closed lids.
Allison swallowed and looked down.
"Why'd we do that?" she asked in a whisper. "I've never let a guy..."
Isaac shook his head and smiled affectionately to quiet her.
"You don't analyze these things," he told her softly. "It happened, and..I...I'm glad it did..."
Allison looked at the floor, filled with conflict, but she couldn't deny she was glad too.
Whatever happened just now with Isaac had never happened with another guy before.
It had never been so sudden and spontaneous- and she was hooked! She couldn't let herself admit it.
She loved Scott...
(Martin residence)
Lydia yawned and her mind registered distant knocking. It was coming from downstairs, she realized.
She looked at the clock on her bedside table and groaned.
Who was knocking at her front door at 2:30am!?
She threw her night robe over her dressing gown and hurried to answer it.
She gave Scott and Stiles the ugliest of glares.
"Lydia I'm sorry," Scott said quickly. "I'll explain everything..."
Lydia noticed that Stiles looked unnerved and upset. She softened.
She'd always had a soft spot for Stiles she rarely acknowledged...
"This had better be good," she said tersely, and let them walk past.
She got the large oak door locked and fixed them both with a look demanding an explanation.
"Lydia," Scott spoke. "Stiles is in danger. I don't have time to explain it. I have to get to Allison and Isaac..."
Lydia's expression changed to curious at that.
"Stiles," she spoke carefully. "You okay?"
"Yeah Lyds," he shrugged. "I'll be fine..."
Scott gave Lydia and Stiles a nod and made for the front door.
"Wait!"
Scott stopped and looked toward the voice's direction.
Latona Martin was standing at the top of the stairs and started to head down.
"I have something to share with you," she stated. "It concerns us all, but especially Stiles..."
Stiles felt nervous when her wide eyes came to rest on him.
(Stilinski residence)
Claudia paced across the living room irritably. She was more angry with herself by the second.
Why had she allowed Stiles to leave out that door with Scott?
They'd both said they were coming right back!
She was beginning to realize that this wasn't going to be easy. People already suspected her...
"You're mine my darling," she whispered aloud to herself, thinking longingly of Stiles. "My son- and we will be together...for all eternity..."
Next:
Evil laughs from beyond the grave
The gang heads for Mexico to locate Chris and the hunters
Claudia travels to Crete
A ritual is performed
The Scott/Stiles/Allison/Isaac drama escalates
