They floated under the water, I felt uneasy and also weak. I faltered back, Deaton catching me. He helped me to a chair where I leaned back, sort of panting.
"You didn't tell me it'd be like this." I panted.
"You're slowly having all your powers sucked out, it's not going to be pleasant." Deaton replied.
Lydia and Isaac anxiously sat with me while we waited and we waited and waited some more. There was the sound of water finally and suddenly each of them jerked up from the water. I still felt weak but better than before.
"Varick." They all said, slightly off-set from one another.
"It was you." Allison said.
"You're who pulled us back." Stiles said.
"Really? Cause I don't think I could pick up a twenty pound weight let alone pull you three back from whatever limbo you were in." I replied.
"You were standing on the Nemeton when we all came together. Allison and her mom almost hit me when I was making my way out of the woods the night I got bitten. The night Stiles and I were walking through the woods." Scott panted out.
"But you were different. I mean, you looked the same but it was like when we fought Peter." Stiles said.
"Like when Kate died." Allison stated.
"So, you know where the Nemeton is?" I asked, getting us back on track.
"Yeah, we know where it is." Scott said.
Deaton handed them towels. Lydia draping Allison's over her shoulders.
"You guys were out for a long time." Deaton said.
"How long?" Stiles asked.
"16 hours." Isaac replied.
"The full moon rises in less than four." Lydia explained.
"So we have four hours to come up with a really good plan." I said.
Scott sat next to me, drying his hair. Stiles sat next to Isaac. Scott brought up Deucalion.
"You're not seriously thinking of going back to him?" Stiles asked.
"I made a deal." Scott said.
"We made a deal." I replied.
"Does anyone else think that sounds like deal with the devil?" Stiles asked, throwing his arms up.
"Why does it matter anyways?" Isaac asked.
"Because I don't think we can beat Jennifer without them." Scott said.
"Especially now that I'm slowly regaining my powers back." I added.
"Tell them they're wrong." Allison asked Deaton.
"I'm not so sure he is." Deaton replied. "Under circumstances like this, you align yourself with people you'd normally consider enemies."
"So, we're gonna trust him? The guy that calls himself death, destroyer of worlds? We're gonna trust that guy?" Isaac asked.
"Trust him? No." Deaton said.
"Use him to our advantage? Possibly." I chimed in.
"Deucalion might be the enemy but he could also be the bait." Deaton offered.
The front door bell rang as the door was pushed open. Deaton and I walked out to see who was there.
"I'm looking for Lydia." Ethan said.
"What do you want?" Lydia asked, coming up beside me.
Scott slid in behind me and Stiles jerked around the side.
"Yeah, what do you want?" Stiles demanded.
"I need your help." Ethan said.
"With what?" I asked.
"Stopping my brother and Kali from killing Derek." Ethan replied.
"I'll get my bag." Lydia said.
"Are you sure?" I asked her.
She nodded. Stiles headed towards his house to get something to track his Dad as Isaac, Scott and I went to Allison's with her to get something to track her Dad.
"Stiles, just grab something that's not his underwear." Scott said before hanging up as we got out of the elevator.
"We can find something in my Dad's closet with a strong enough scent." Allison said.
"I'm telling you all, I can still try to search for the Nemeton." I said.
"No, you're too weak." Isaac replied. "If you're not at full power during the lunar eclipse, we're screwed."
"Your Dad has quite the arsenal here, young lady." A voice said as Allison opened the door to her father's office space.
We all leaned inside. The man looked familiar to me, someone I'd seen get in to a few arguments with Melissa.
"Scott." The man said, standing.
"What are you doing here?" Scott asked.
"Following one of the only leads I have. Since I don't know where you've been, why don't you have a seat and we can talk?" The man offered. "All four of you. Isaac, you too."
"How do you know my name?" Isaac asked.
"Your names one of the few things I know. To be honest, the rest of what's going on around here has me stumbling in the dark." He said. "I don't have the smallest clue."
"If you're trying to tell me you don't have any clue, I learned that a long time ago." Scott said.
Ah. I remembered him now. Raphael. Scott's dad.
"I'm really hoping to avoid the embarrassment of dragging my own son in to an interrogation room." He said.
Scott sighed, sitting down. Isaac sitting in the chair next to him. Allison stood next to Isaac and I stood directly behind Scott.
"I'm not gonna lie. I'm disturbed not only by the number of missing parents but the fact that it's Stiles' father, your father and your mother." Raphael said.
"Mine are both dead." Isaac said, flipping easily back in to that asshole attitude.
"Same." I stated.
"Save the cliché teenage apathy for your high school teachers." Raphael said.
"Save the shitty attitude for someone else." I spat back.
I saw his jaw roll like he was irritated.
"You all know more than you're saying and I'm willing to keep you here all night if I have to." He stated, pointing at us.
Allison glanced at the table in front of her and then at me. I tapped on the chair twice, connecting the four of us mentally.
"Can you all hear me?" I asked.
"Whoa. What is happening?" Isaac asked, trying to not seem alarmed.
"Mental connection. I'll explain later. Allison?" I asked.
"Yeah, I've got a plan." Allison said.
"Whatever happens, get ready to run." I said.
I tapped the chair again, the connection breaking.
"You can't keep us here." Scott spoke up.
"Not without some kind of warrant." Allison replied.
"I've got a desk full of probably cause." Raphael stated.
"Yeah and four minors and no warrant." I replied.
"Besides my father is a highly respected private security consultant and a federally licensed arms dealer that means he has to own a few weapons." Allison explained then pointing to things along the desk. "Like this, 175 pound draw tactical crossbow. Or this carbon-steel Marine combat knife. 50AE desert eagle."
"Smoke grenade with a pull ring igniter." Allison said, grabbing something off the desk.
She jerked the ring out, tossing it on the ground and we ran for the elevator. We were almost down to the base floor when I heard it, well it was more like I felt it on top of the feeling of a life ending. I leaned against the wall. Isaac and Scott covered their ears.
"Someone is dead." I got out after a minute.
Scott and Isaac both looked at me, eyes big.
"It's not Derek. I'd know if it was him." I replied.
Isaac and Allison getting in Allison's car, me wrapping my arms around Scott's waist on his bike and we made our way to the reserve.
"I still haven't gotten anything from Stiles." Isaac said.
"He'll show up." I replied. "We've gotta go."
We made our way to the meeting spot.
"Cutting it a little close now aren't we?" Deucalion asked.
"We got delayed. Where are the others?" Scott asked.
"Occupying themselves with other pursuits." Deucalion replied.
"So it's just us two and you against her?" I asked. "Odds seem decent."
"Get Stiles and get to the root cellar." Scott said to Isaac. "We'll keep Jennifer away long enough for you to get them out of there."
"How are you going to do that?" Isaac asked.
"I have a plan." Scott replied.
Isaac and Allison took off then. Scott held out a hand, I took it and followed him and Deucalion where we waited for Jennifer. In through the fogged she walked and Derek was with her.
"What are you doing?" Scott asked.
"This might be hard to believe but actually trying to help you." Derek replied.
"Like brother against brother." Deucalion said. "Are you ready Jennifer? Did you gather your herbs? Pray to your old gods? Your oak tree? Slit a baby's throat perhaps? Should we show them why you needed to sacrifice nine innocent people just to face me? Or is it twelve now?"
Deucalion had approached her, fully transforming. I took a step back. Deucalion grabbed Derek and Jennifer both by the throat, tossing them. He grabbed Jennifer by the back of the throat, shoving her to her knees in front of Scott.
"Kill her." Deucalion said. "Do it."
Scott hesitated, Deucalion let out a roar. Scott dropping to his knees, shifting.
"Now kill her, your parents are dying. That storm you hear, she's burying them alive. It's her connection to the currents, kill her and it ends." Deucalion stated.
"It won't end, not with me." Jennifer said. "He'll have you kill everyone you love, it's what he does. And he'll start with her."
Scott looked back at me.
"Your mother is dying, Scott, the parents of your best friends. Kill her now and become the Alpha you're meant to be." Deucalion said. "Become a killer."
"They're not dead yet." Scott replied.
"Who's going to save them?" Deucalion asked. "Your friends?"
There was a moment of silence. Scott stood, reaching out a hand for me. I took it, pulled next to him.
"My pack." He replied.
Suddenly I was pushed back, Deucalion had grabbed Scott.
"Maybe you just need a little guidance." Deucalion said, forcing Scott forward.
"I forgot to tell you something, something Gerard told me." Scott said. "Deucalion isn't always blind."
And with that Scott threw self-lighting heads on the ground, the explosion causing each of the wolf's to back away in blindness. I grabbed Scott.
"Don't move." I said. "The eclipse is starting."
Jennifer had exited while they all gained their vision back. She glided back in and in her Darach form. I pulled Scott from her line of fire and she went straight for Deucalion, tossing him over her and then bashing his head against the ground. Blood started to pour out.
"Jennifer." Derek said.
She stopped.
"He doesn't know." Derek said.
"Know what?" She spat.
"What you really look like. He knows the cost of bringing Kali in to his pack but he's never seen the price you paid." Derek said.
"No, no, he hasn't." Jennifer said.
She knelt down, Deucalion began screaming then blinking. She'd restored his vision.
"Turn to me." She demanded.
He hesitated.
"Turn to me!" She screamed.
He made a few noises of horror at the sight of her. She transformed back in to a recognizable state and as she went to strike Deucalion, she faltered. Derek had made her use up her power.
"What is this?" She asked.
"Healing him made you weak." Derek explained. "Like what you and Cora did to me. It zapped your strength for a few minutes."
"Then you do it. Kill him." Jennifer said.
"No." Derek replied.
"What?" Jennifer spat.
"Like my mother used to say, I'm a predator but I don't have to be a killer." Derek said.
Jennifer threw him back, smacking him across the face. She and Derek began to struggle back and forth. I approached Deucalion, to see how severe his wounds were. Finally Derek threw Jennifer to the ground.
"Your fifteen minutes are up." Derek said.
She stood, grabbing my wrist and pulling me to her. I should have went with the others, I'd been useless since having my power taken and restored slowly. I wasn't up to par for a fight and my reflexes were slow, that's when I felt it. The cool metal as it slid across my throat. She cast a mountain ash circle around us, tossing me to the ground. I grasped my throat, blood leaking between my hands and fingers.
"No!" Scott screamed, slamming his fists on the barrier.
"One last guardian, in a few minutes she'll be dead and I won't need a lunar eclipse to kill a demon wolf." Jennifer laughed. "She can't cast a spell in here to heal so she's going to die."
Scott placed his hands against the barrier.
"Scott, you tried this before. I don't remember you having much success." She said.
Scott looked down at me and I let my eyes catch his. He could do this. I know he could do this. Scott began to press through the barrier. Searing red bleeding through and overwhelming the golden shine. The circle broke, Jennifer flung to the ground.
"How did you do that?" Jennifer gasped.
"I'm an Alpha now." Scott stated. "Heal her and whatever you're doing to cause the storm, stop it or I'll kill you myself, I don't care what it does to the color of my eyes."
I squeezed my throat once and the wound stitched itself back together.
"I don't need her to heal me." I said, standing up.
Scott grabbed my arm, pulling me to him. Deucalion pushed past Scott and slashed Jennifer's throat open. The storm outside stopped and she dropped to the ground.
"If they were being buried alive, they're probably trapped. I'm going to get them." I said.
"Are you okay?" Scott asked.
I nodded and Scott pressed his lips against my cheek, lingering.
"Hey, I'm fine." I said.
"You could have died." He said.
"But, I didn't. Now let me go save everyone else." I said.
He nodded and I stepped away from him, blinking. I was suddenly somewhere dark and cramped.
"Varick!" Stiles yelled.
"I'm here. Let's get you all out of here." I said. "Can everyone grab a hold of another?"
Allison and her Dad were already holding one another, Melissa grabbed Isaac around the shoulders and threw her other arm around mine. Stiles grabbed his Dad and Allison's arm. Allison took my hand. I blinked. All of us were above ground now. Standing next to the Nemeton stump.
"What was that?" The Sheriff asked.
"Magic." I replied.
"Varick, are you? Are you covered in blood?" Isaac asked.
I glanced down.
"Oh, yeah. Jennifer tried to kill me as the last sacrifice." I said.
"Are you okay?" Allison, Isaac and Stiles all asked as they flocked around me.
"Fine. I healed." I said.
"Where is Scott?" Isaac asked.
"He and Derek are wrapping things up with Deucalion." I stated.
"What about Jennifer?" Stiles asked.
"We don't have to worry about her anymore." I said.
"What do you mean?" Stiles asked.
"I mean she's dead." I replied. "Let's get out of here."
Allison took her Dad with her. Stiles took his Dad. I extended my hands for Melissa and Isaac. They took them, both smiling at me. I blinked once more. My phone started to vibrate as we appeared in Melissa's living room. I answered it.
"Are they okay?" Scott asked.
"Yeah, everyone is okay. Stiles took his Dad home. Allison took her Dad home and I've got Isaac and your mom right here. Come home." I said.
"I'm on my way." Scott said, almost breathless.
A few minutes later, Scott burst through the door. Hugging his mom immediately. She assured him that she was okay but just really wanted a really long bath. She headed upstairs and Isaac plopped down on the couch. Everything was alright.
A few days passed, Derek and Cora left town. Scott's Dad showed no sign of leaving. Today was our first day back to school. I planned on riding with Scott. I blinked in to his room as he was shrugging his jacket on. There was a knock on his door, he opened it. His Dad gave a grim smile and small wave, his eyes landing on me sitting on Scott's bed. Scott let the door fall shut. He turned around to me, plopping down on the bed.
"So how are you feeling?" He asked.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"I asked you first." He laughed.
"I'm fine. Healed, my apartment is clean, I'm sitting on the bed of an incredibly handsome person." I said, teasing him.
"Man, whose bed is this then?" He joked.
I shoved his shoulder while he laughed.
"So, you ready?" I asked.
"Yeah, let's go." He smiled, standing and extending his hand.
I took it, letting him pull me up. We headed to school and walked in through a set of double-doors. Scott's arm draped over my shoulder. Stiles came up next to us, patting Scott's back. Aiden stood talking to Lydia at her locker. Ethan and Danny walked out of a classroom. Allison and Isaac made their way down the stairs to the right of us. Ethan and Aiden had stuck around, trying to redeem themselves. Scott squeezed my shoulder as he cast his eyes over all of them. I placed a hand over his and we started our day, the first normal day in a long time. Well as normal as it can get for us.