Riley's feet paced anxiously against the cement floors. Her body shaking uncontrolably from the amount of pressure that rested on her shoulders. Both Derek and Deaton kept a close eye on her, allowing her space to make up her mind. The loft was silent now, the morning sun rising higher nearly every second that Riley became indecisive. She knew every minute counted, and that lives were now being viciously held at stake. The loft was still seemingly upturned from the night before. The glass from the windows lay scattered in broken pieces along the far wall. Derek and Deaton kept their distance, both leaning against the centered dining room table as they frowned at how close she seemed to walk along the shattered glass with bare feet. "So," Riley said then, rubbing her temple with her fingers, "Explain to me again how you know all of this."
Deaton sighed, but nodded as he wondered how many times she'd need to hear him repeat himself to fully understand. "I've had my suspicions about Kate for a while." He suggested. "I met with a man at Eichen House, Dr. Fenris, and he allowed me in to see a patient with a . . . unique ability-"
"So, Dr. Fenris knows?" She concluded. "Like, knows-knows?"
"He is very familiar with the supernatural." Deaton pointed out. "Let's leave it at that." He took a steady breath then, adding some information in he hadn't before. "There is a patient by the name of Dr. Valack, he is quite . . . Intuitive."
"Intuitive?" Riley stopped her pacing suddenly. "What do you mean?"
"He was subjected to tests unwillingly a few years back." His eyes met with Riley's. "I'm sure you're familiar with Eichen House's old historic view on trepidation. They would drill holes into the heads of their psychiatric patients to release the voices inside . . . It's an old myth, really." He babbled, laughing nervously as he rolled the sleeves of his shirt over his arms. "I didn't believe it at first, but seeing him the flesh . . ." He trailed off, shaking his head.
"Why would you go to him?" Derek voiced then, raising a brow stiffly. "What use is he?"
"More than you could fathom." Deaton promised, eyes insistent and stern. He'd gone there before Scott and Kira's disappearance. He'd been looking for answers regarding Kate, wandering if Valack had been knowledgeable about what she'd done to Derek. He'd gone on his own accord, remembering how he'd promised Talia that he'd look out for her son if anything were to happen to her. Of course he'd keep his promise, and with Derek's ability having been stripped away, he'd sought out answers from the man. "He is able to see things the same way you do, Riley." Deaton murmured, "But unlike you, he is able to allow me into his mind to see for myself. He showed me everything he knew about Kate. They call her the Bone Lady." Deaton whispered. "Or La Loba."
"The she wolf." Riley nodded. "That's who the Calavera's were looking for."
"And for a good reason." Derek commented, his eyes laced on his feet. "Someone like her-that powerful-should not exist." Riley nodded in agreement.
"Why do they call her the Bone Lady?" Riley asked lightly.
"Because not only can she control the Berzerkers," Deaton sighed, "she can create them."
"Great." Riley snapped, crossing her arms viciously over her chest. "Knowing her, she probably has an army of them already-"
"Perhaps not an army." Deaton explained. "She wouldn't need one when she has Scott and Kira as leverage."
"But leverage for what?" Derek asked, running a hand through his unkempt hair. "What else could she possibly want?"
"What she's always wanted." Riley put the pieces together. "The same thing she's wanted since day one. The one thing she'd kill innocent people for . . ." Riley trailed off silently. "Power."
Deaton approached Riley quietly, his hand reaching for her shoulder. "This is why we need you." he confessed. "This is why your gift is so extremely important." Riley nodded, a frown on her lips as she tried not to think of Deaton's earlier proposal. "We need to find where she's taken them," he whispered with insistent charm, "before she strips that same power from Scott, like she did Derek." Derek kept quiet himself, not wanting to impose on Riley's decision. But it was a hard one for her to make as Deaton held up a small syringe of Propofal to her. She did not want to be put to sleep. To be sent to the purgatory she knew all too well. It was a selfish decision, and one she knew she could not make easily. This was Scott and Kira, and they needed to find where they were being held captive.
"Just like before." Deaton promised, remembering the time they'd lulled her to sleep and then helped her navigate through her dreams to find out who was controlling the Kanima. It was no different than before, except that Riley knew better than to trust the fear that engulfed her during those prolonged moments of uncertainty during her dreams. "Derek and I will guide you through-"
"I don't need it." She insisted, snatching the syringe from Deatons hand. "I can guide myself." She'd been entrapped in enough purgatories to know how to maneuver through the fear. Riley was well aware of how to manipulate those dreams in order to get what she needed. The only thing hindering her was knowing she'd have to soon face someone from her past. It was different each time, and an overwhelming sense of loss seemed to consume her. Riley bypassed Deaton, heading for the dining room table before situating herself along the length of it as she gripped the syringe within her fist. She would not allow someone else to inject her, especially after having Brunski be the one to almost send her into an overdose.
She bit her lip with fierce dedication, her knuckles paling in comparison to how tightly she grasped the plunge of the needle as she slammed it down into the smooth skin of her thigh before she could change her mind. They didn't expect for her to do that, both Deaton and Derek flinching at the sound of the plastic rubbing against her muscle. "You have about forty-five seconds before the Propofal takes effect." Deaton noted, his hand on her shoulder as he eased her down onto the table. Riley could feel a sudden weight collect in her chest, the feeling of impending fear lurking within her lungs as her eyes locked on Derek. She could feel herself sinking, like an anchor tethered her down into the darkest pits of her mind. Riley blinked slowly, trying to fight it off. Trying to keep Derek in her eye line. She felt his hand ghost along the inside of her elbow before she became numb. And then all too quickly she seemed to allow the waves of purgatory to wash over her. To drown her in her deepest and darkest sins, knowing Bardo would not be inescapable this time.
The stark white room was familiar, as it always was. There were no windows, no doors, no escape route. Just her and the clean tiled floors beneath her feet. It was almost a relief to be imprisoned here, to not feel anything that seemed to drown her in her wakened state. It all dissipated each time she blinked against the harsh light that engulfed her. It was coming now, she could feel it. Riley prepared for the part of this that she hated each and every time. Her eyes shut, almost on purpose so she would not have to see the silhouette before it came. Her arms hung at her sides, her fingers picking nervously at the frayed pieces of her jean shorts. Her heart was racing, feeling the palpitations against her lungs as she fought with herself to calm down.
She shouldn't be afraid, she told herself. But the fear stemmed from something much greater than the truth, but from having to face someone she'd lost.
Grieving had taken a toll on her, and just when it felt as if she'd somehow move on, she'd find herself here, locking eyes with those who had died before her. The sound of soft feet against the tile floor made her perk, knowing someone had entered Bardo with her. She wanted to peak, but scrunched her eyes further together to block out the shadows. The hairs on the back of her neck stood then, feeling the eyes of whoever was approaching land on her. A sweeping chill ghosted along her bare arms, a shiver rocking through her rigid shoulders. She ached for the moment their voice would break through. Who would she hear this time? Boyd? Erica? Her mother? Her father? Her sister? Allison? "Riley." The voice challenged softly. The tone was sweeter than she'd remembered it to be.
Her body seemed to freeze, locking up violently as a lump caught in her throat. "Aiden." She seemed to breath uneasily, her features relaxing as her eyes seemed to open slowly. The boy stood before her, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his leather jacket. The one Riley remembered, but hated. His brown eyes were cast on hers, his lips pursed into a crooked grin.
He wouldn't have been her first choice to see. In any case, she wouldn't have expected him to even want to step forward to help her. But towards the end of his life, before meeting with death, Riley had seen a change in him. He'd wanted to be that good guy, hoping the damage he'd done would not follow him forever. He'd wanted to change for Lydia, and he had done so just minutes too late it seemed. He'd given his life to protect them all from having the Oni catch up to them while they attempted to save Stiles' life from the Nogitsune. He was a hero in her eyes now. Not a murderer like she'd once deemed him. "It's-it's you." She said stupidly, loooking him up and down.
He had healed from his wounds, his baby face flawless but worn. "It's me." He confirmed, a small and shy smile turning over his cheeks.
Riley frowned, shaking her head as she took a small step forward. She did not want to cry, and so she bit her tongue as she raised a hand to touch his arm. "But it's not." She said sadly, "You're you," she noted, "but you're not . . . you." Hearing her own voice shake seemed to make the tears burn her eyes. Aiden was not himself. He was not alive and snarky like he'd always been. He was polite and soft spoken with a timid look in his eyes. Almost like he was the one who was afraid.
Riley's hand skimmed his forearm, a streak of light breaking away from her touch. Riley pulled her hand away immediately, her eyes stunned and her breath shaken. Aiden did not stumble back, he was cool and collected, like he'd expected that to happen. His eyes strained on hers, insistent and promising as he nodded slightly. Riley's hand traveled slowly back to his arm, the pads of her fingers ever so softly grazing from his wrist to the crease of his elbow. Vivid colors broke from his clothes, sparking against the white pallet behind them as they shattered into one another. One effect they gave hit a nerve within Riley, furrowing her brow as the colors seemed to spread rapidly.
They covered Aiden's chest, cloaking him in a stained glass disguise. The memory of those colors caught her off guard, remembering having seen them what felt like a life time ago. It had only been a month or two, and suddenly the smell of charred wood burned her nose. Aiden was acting as a guidline to a memory she'd seemed to have forgotten. The wood and steel piled up along the walls. The intertwined iron that bent to the shape of a cross in the corner. She remembered it, and without even having to ask, Aiden had answered her questions without having said a word.
She tore her hand away then, Aiden's frame evaporating back into the bright light that had brought him here. Riley had no time to tell him a thank you, but he'd shown her everything she'd need to know to find Scott and Kira. The shattered stained glass was a vibrant reminder of the church they'd been held captive in while in Mexico. Kate was a repeat offender, bringing her friends back to the place where it had all started. The Church that had been ruined by an earthquake, above the Aztec Temple below, that was where she had taken them, and the clustered teather in her chest told her that her assumption was right.
The loft was a buzz, the room ignited with a deep hum of feet anxiously pacing the cement floors back and forth. Riley's hands dug into the dresser drawers, traveling back to the bed as she stuffed a small duffel with a few days worth of clean clothes. Derek leaned against his table, his eyes set on the splay of guns lined up before him. A grim expression crossed his features, shaking his head every so often. "I still don't like relying on these things." He murmured, his thumb grazing the hefty metal of one of the Pistols. Riley sighed loudly, pausing her pacing as she glanced over to him. She found it almost comical for him to complain about something this trivial in a time like this.
"We don't really have any other options." She reminded him, her voice bitter. Derek nodded in understanding, and Riley finally understood. It wasn't just about having to relearn defensive techniques, it was about losing a part of himself that made him who he was. He did not have the same advantage that he'd use to, and maybe a part of him became terrified for feeling unsure of his own safety. "I get it." Riley said sadly, heading towards him as her hand grazed the back of his neck. "You miss your power. I would too."
Derek shook his head as he stood straighter. "It's not about power," he exclaimed, "It's about being able to help." He went over possible outcomes again and again of how this rescue mission could so easily lead to his funeral. It just did not seem possible for him to come back from this trip in one piece. "I don't like feeling helpless." He sighed.
And that was true. He did not do well when it came to being put on the side lines. He wanted to fight, to feel the adrenaline of a brawl thrive within his veins. Fighting for life was what felt normal to him. It felt like home. "I'm human." Riley reminded him, picking up her gun from the table before her. She thrust the clip of bullets inside with a swift hand, a deadly look of security laced within her eyes. "Do I look helpless?" The smallest quirk of his lips made her stomach turn.
His mouth smiled, but his eyes looked so dead. So lost. So hopeless. "You're a much better shot than I am." He insisted, facing her with a knowing look. And he glanced at her for a hard while, taking in how powerful she looked and how she seemed to emanate bravery from every pore in her fragile body. And for a second, he wished he was half as brave as her.
She frowned, her brows quirking in disappointment as she leaned in to catch his gaze. "Derek," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. "Do you really think you wont be coming back?" She asked, her eyes curious and pained. He did not know how to respond, and so he shrugged before grasping her hand in his.
"Not alive." He answered honestly.
With the decree of a Banshee still clinging to every move he made, he had to prepare himself. He had to prepare himself emotionally and physically to say goodbye. To untie himself from every anchor that had kept him grounded this past year. He looked into her eyes, the slightest nod of his head as he silently reminded her that death was coming. "You know I'm not okay with that." She noted tenderly, trying to insist he'd be okay.
And before she could even begin to argue his mindset, he leaned forward with his hand on her chin. He tilted it upward so that her lips would find his, and he let them linger for a second longer than he should have. "I am." He whispered, breaking away as he leaned his forehead against hers. "If it means Scott and Kira are safe." Riley wanted to violently argue that this was not a fair choice, but she knew the feeling all to well. The desperate need to protect those who could not do so for themselves. It hung over her heavily, burdening her with a code that she now felt she could not commit herself to. "But to be honest," Derek continued, pulling away as he looked back at the guns, "I don't even know if this is enough firepower to take down one Berzerker-"
"Not even close." A mocking voice suggested. Riley did not have to turn to know that Peter was now circulating down the spiral staircase. She could envision that animalistic smirk on his face, and her fingers automatically curled into fists. "Killing a Berzerker is next to impossible." He shrugged, rolling his eyes at the firearms splayed on the table. "It's not just the firepower," he hinted, "it's breaking the animal spirit from the human."
"Well," Riley breathed heavily, glaring at him comfortably from across the room. "The only person we know of with that kind of experience is Argent." It burned her throat to even say the name, and so it came out as barely a whisper on her tongue. She did like speaking it aloud, and tried to not allow her mouth to form that name. She slipped up sometimes. Most of the time.
"And he's not getting back to me." Derek reminded, checking his phone for the tenth time.
"Then you're going to need help." Peter clapped his hands together. "And lots of it." He circled around, coming to face them on the opposite side of the table as the sunlight reflected off the shattered glass, and into his brilliant blue eyes. "Like Malia for instance." He waved a hand casually, indicating that his daughter was up for the challenge. "And maybe Liam?"
"Absolutely not." Riley shook her head, crossing her arms over chest. She was not going to allow a fifteen year old, newly changed werewolf anywhere near Kate. "He's not coming-"
"Than I guess you guys have one option left." Peter muttered, a smile spreading over his stubbled cheeks as his eyes gleamed a shade darker. "Me." This was his way of weaseling in to whatever plan they had against Kate and the Berzerkers. Derek wanted to challenge where his uncle's loyalty layed, but he did not want to causing a rising conflict between them at a time like this. And they both shuffled uncomfortably at his persuasive nature, knowing they had no other option than to allow him in on their plan to defeat Kate. He may not have added brains to their plan, but he sure as hell added an unmeasurable amount of power and strength that would surely come in handy. And despite their better judgement, Derek nodded his head in an agreement that would only backfire when the time came.
Riley impatiently tapped her foot against the pavement, her arms crossed over her chest as an anxiety attack dulled painfully within her clustered lungs. They had been waiting in the parking garage of the loft for almost fifteen minutes now, and every second they waited could have easily made them a second too late. Derek leaned against the hood of the Toyota, his eyes on his feet as Peter stood beside him. The look on his face made Riley assume that he was calculating his odds for survival. Like he wouldn't dare bet against his chances. It was like he knew something she didn't. Like he was well aware of how much this plan would work against him. And Peter sat beside him, with a look that only suggested that this plan was working all in his favor. Like he knew something about what was going on, and could not wait to see it all unfold.
Cryptic asshole.
They heard the crunch of tires then, looking up as a blue Jeep weaved inside, parking across from the Toyota as Stiles exited the car first. He looked wired and jumpy, almost as if he'd taken a handful of adderal before coming to meet them. He was nervous and jittery, counting the minutes almost the exact way Riley was. A moment later, another set of tires crunched against the pavement, backing up slightly as a prison transportation van parked silently beside Derek's car. Braeden hopped down from the drivers side, a serious look of commitment caught in her eyes. How she'd gotten that van, Riley didn't know. Maybe she stole it, much like Stiles had stolen one almost a year ago. Or maybe she used her sly skills as an EX U.S. Marshall to get her hands on one, either way, it was something she knew would come in handy. "Are we really bringing him?" A sarcastic voice growled.
Riley turned to watch Stiles approach them, his hand directly pointed in Peter's direction. "Are we really bringing him?" Derek rose a brow, asking the same question as he nodded past Stiles. Another young man stood in Stiles shadow, his chin lifted in false bravery as Riley frowned. She hadn't wanted Liam to be a part of this, knowing the fifteen year old could have easily been hurt.
"We're bringing all the help we can get." Said a softer voice, breaking her eyes away from the baby faced teen to see Malia stand beside Stiles. "We're going to need it."
Peter nodded, placing a hand on his daughters shoulder. It was a false act of parenting skills, thinking that one pat on the back would make up for missing seventeen years of her life. "And considering Scott and Kira were taken the night before a full moon, we should probably get going." He winked then, heading back to a comfortable distance that did not put him within an arms reach of his daughter.
"What-what's that suppose to mean?" Liam asked. He'd joined their makeshift circle now, inching closer beside Riley as he rose a brow.
"Kate took Scott back to the temple that she took Derek and I." Riley reminded him, remembering how Aiden had called her forward, silently using his body as a beacon for the stained glass. "She could so easily do to him what she did to Derek." Her eyes traveled to his stubbled face, a look of concern as Derek nodded sadly.
"What?" Braeden commented. "She wants to make him younger?"
"Or take him back to when he wasn't a werewolf." Stiles pointed out.
"A werewolf can't steal a True Alpha's power." Peter hinted, almost with a hint of anger in his tone. It was as if he'd thought about this a lot, and the idea must have made him agitated. "But maybe a Nagual jaguar with the power of Tezcatlipoca behind her can." He shrugged, the corners of his lips turning upward slightly. It was true that Kate had some sort of unmeasurable power feeding her, and maybe that's how she always seemed much stronger than she was. "So," Peter clapped his hands together, "if everyone is sufficiently freaked out, I say we get going."
"We can't." Stiles held up a hand, stopping everyone before they could make their way back to their cars. "Not without Lydia." He murmured, a knowing look in his eyes.
"Lydia?" Riley choked. "You can't be serious?" She remarked, almost disgusted that they would loop her into this mess. That someone so fragile like her, would be brought in on a trip that could so easily take a turn for the worst.
"Deadly serious." Stiles corrected. "She's at the school. She said she'd meet us here."
"What's she doing at the school?" Derek asked, taking a step in Riley's direction. He felt almost gravitated towards her. "It's a Saturday-"
"We have Kira's sword," Liam interjected, "but we needed something with a stronger scent."
"She went to get a jacket out of Kira's locker." Malia chimed in.
"We don't have all day to wait," Peter sighed, rolling his eyes. "If she has a car, she can catch up to us." He inched closer to the Toyota, silently insisting that they should get going.
"That's a good point," Derek agreed, "we can call her from the road."
"No!" Stiles insisted again, stopping everyone as they inched closer towards their vehicles. "What if something happens to her? What if she gets into trouble-"
"Fine." Braeden shrugged, twirling the transportation keys around her index finger. "You stay." She suggested. "You find her and catch up with us later. We'll go on without you."
"I could call Mason?" Liam held up his phone, eyes insistent. "He has a study group at the school right now. I can ask him to find her for us?"
A small tension hung over them, looking to one another as they debated their best plan of action. They needed to get going, and they did not have time to wait around for her. "Alright." Riley licked her lips, looking to Liam. "Get him on the phone." She demanded tenderly. "We're leaving in five minutes." Everyone broke into small groups, talking about plans of defeat while Liam sat off to the side, speaking with his best friend over the phone. It all seemed too surreal, to see everyone working together as best as they could in order to find their friends. Everything had been so torn up between them, and now seemed like a good opportunity to come together for a greater cause.
Riley watched as Braeden unrolled a map across the hood of the van, talking in a low whisper with Peter about the best route to take that would get them across the Mexican boarder more efficiently and quick. Riley had been standing alone during this, but felt someone nudge her shoulder with theirs. "I'm gonna ride in the van." Derek said, leaning down slightly to find her eyes. "Liam's gonna need a coach to get him through the shift tonight."
"I'll come." Riley nodded, knowing she did not want to get stuck in the Toyota with Peter and Malia. Derek nodded then too, a small smile sat sadly on his lips as he intertwined their hands. A thousand thoughts ran through his head, but the only one that made sense right now, was that this may be the last time he'd get to touch her. To feel her warmth in his palm. People began to break apart then, preparing for the road as Peter shrugged on his jacket. "Remember what we're dealing with here!" He called, catching everyone's attention. "It's not just Kate we're dealing with. It's Berzerkers." He explained, "You might see human eyes behind those skulls, but don't assume there is any humanity left in them." Peter passed by Riley and Liam then, eyeing the teenage boy with snarky eyes. "This little one is terrified of them, aren't you?" He asked, faking sympathy as he grinned internally. Liam gulped, glaring at his shoes without agreeing. "Don't worry my friend," Peter whispered, able to smell the fear that eminated from the boys frame, "that fear will keep you alive." He turned then, eyeing each person individually, "A reminder to everyone!" He called, "You do not fight Berzerkers to survive!" He fixed the collar of his jacket before opening the drivers side of the Toyota. "You fight to kill!"
Riley rested a hand on Liam's shoulder then, leading him towards the transportation van silently. She wanted to reassure him that Peter should not be trusted, but everything he'd seemed to say had made sense. She did not wish for Liam to be afraid, but she knew that fear was uncontrollable . . . Especially now. The back of the van held a bench on either side, going in first as she sat on the opposite side of Derek and Stiles, and beside her friend Liam. She could hear Braeden tamper with the controls in the front seat, the engine purring to life beneath their feet. The van pulled forward first, followed by the Toyota as Peter and Malia followed behind them. The trip would take hours, but they did not bother settling into their seats. They were all on edge, fingers drumming against their thighs, the bench, their knees.
They had to prepare themselves mentally for war.
The clinking of chains had startled her, opening her eyes from a nap she hadn't even seemed to realize she'd been taking. Her body felt stiff. It ached from they way she'd been sitting. She straightened up, a yawn on her lips as she looked at Derek who sat across from her. He was bent at his waist, his hands tugging on something at Liam's feet. "These should be good." He said, looking up at Liam. His hands then shuffled up to his wrists, locking a metal cuff around each one to bind them together. Derek was chaining him up, and it only took a few seconds for Riley to understand why. The afternoon sky had seemed to melt past the horizon, dimming the roads with a navy blue glow. It was nearing night time, and with that came the full moon. "How do you feel?"
Derek's voice was low and controlled. He seemed on edge, like he was waiting for some part of Liam to slip up against his true nature now. "Fine." Liam nodded, tugging on his wrists and the cuffs constricted tighter. "For now at least." He sighed, clearing his throat before taking a steady breath. He could not control himself quite yet, and that seemed to put pressure on everyone else to keep him obtained. But he felt much calmer knowing that Derek was there to mentor him, even if Derek didn't. He was not in touch with the beast that once claimed him. He did not know how to mentor someone, when he could no longer sympathize with the feeling of the shift. But he'd promised himself he'd try. That he would not allow this young boy to give in to the change, and so he leaned in close to Liam, studying him with knowledgeable eyes to ensure he did in fact feel fine.
"How much longer?" Riley asked, scratching her head as the van bumped constantly against the uneven pavement. It was the first time they'd heard her speak in four hours. He'd known she'd fallen asleep, and figured she'd need the rest before they got there.
"We're about half-way!" A voice shouted from the front half of the van. Riley could see Braeden through the small square that divided the front seats from the back of the van. She too, seemed on edge. Her knuckles stretching against the skin while her fists curled around the curve of the steering wheel.
"I brought something to help you." Derek said after a moment. The sun was now settled while the moon began to rise. He handed a cement disc to Liam, his eyes insistent and protective as the teenage boy grabbed it warily. "This has been in my family for centuries," he said. Riley leaned in a little closer, her eyes finding the carved out feature of the triskele. It was the same heirloom that Kate had been after. "It's a very powerful and supernatural talisman." Liam turned it over in his chained hands, clutching it tighter in hopes that it would help protect him from the moons wrath. "We use it to teach Beta's how to control themselves on a full moon." He looked to Riley then, his eyes almost begging before turning to glance at Stiles. He was insistent on them playing along. If Liam believed the disc would help, he would have a better chance at control.
"Yes." Stiles nodded, clearing his throat. "It's very powerful. Super powerful-"
"Will it make the change not hurt?" Liam asked, his voice a low whisper. He'd only gone through the shift a few times now, and each time it felt like it had grown more painful. Riley looked to Derek, her eyes tender and insecure at Liam's whimper. She did not wish for him to go through that kind of pain again. Especially if she had to bare witness to it.
"It won't make it any better." Derek confessed. "But it'll make it easier."
"Easier for him or easier for us?" Stiles asked, eyeing the way Liam's frame started to slightly shake warily. "Because I refuse to be this mutt's personal chew toy-" He was joking of course, but even Riley could sense the hidden truth behind his words.
"For everyone." Derek declared.
"You'll be okay, Liam." Riley promised, locking her hand around his forearm. It was a sign of comfort from her to him. She would not allow him feel any less protected then he already did. Because in all honesty, he did not need to come with them to Mexico. He chose to, due to the fact that his Alpha would be hurting much more than any shift he could ever go through. And so he leaned back, stilling his breaths into calm waves. He waited nervously for the moment he'd feel the sense of urgency rush through his limbs. For the moment he'd act on instinct instead of thinking things through. For the moment he'd crave blood beneath his nails, not caring who it may have come from. That was the worst part about being what he was.
The idea that something inside could so easily possess him.
That this something would claw it's way from his chest in order to breathe again.
It was the monster that craved the kill, but it was Liam who would have to deny it.
Hours seemed to pass in a tense silence. The road had smoothed over, making the trip less uncomfortable. Riley figured they had to be closer now, knowing that the road they traveled on must be solid dirt. Their destination was smack dab in the middle of nowhere. It was surrounded my miles of desert, and the town had been destroyed now for nearly a decade. It was hard to envision it being lively. To imagine the people that must have gathered there, spreading life and joy until it all seemed to crash down. Thats how she envisioned it anyway, but maybe it was a good thing this town got destroyed. Maybe this church drew things forward much like Beacon Hills. Maybe with it's crumbled city, the monsters had died with it.
Until Kate Argent arrived, of course. She must have sought power in the temple, knowing it must have harvested so much within those years. She was smart. Smarter than Riley could even begin to fathom. The night begin to pave its way for the moon, allowing it to rise higher and higher with it's darkened sky. It wouldn't be long now. Not long at all. Liam had been quiet these past few hours, but the slightest quiver of his shoulders told her that he would not last much longer. And then it happened. A growl tore it's way through his lips, his mouth curved back over his teeth, his hands tugging reletnlessly at the chains. Stiles flinched away, backing into the furthest corner of the van as another pained growl ruptured from his lungs.
Derek reacted quickly, his hand reaching for Riley as he tugged her over towards his side. She sat beside him, his arm splayed across her chest to keep her isolated from Liam's tantrum. It was a brave thing for him to do in this time, because he was just as much of a human than both she and Stiles. Riley watched Liam twitch nervously, beads of sweat collecting on his temples. She yearned to reach for him, to comfort him and help him maintain control. "Whatever. You. Were going. To teach. Me." Liam panted, bent over in his seat as his nails elongated. He looked from below his lashes, his eyes a bright yellow. "I think you better start." His claws curved around the disc in his hands, too razzled to even try an focus on it.
All he wanted was to break off the chains and run. To sprint so fast that his calves burned. To allow his animalistic side to roam free and stop clawing at his chest. Another unsettling riptide tore through him, doubled over in desperate pants as he tried to even his breathing. Derek sat up straighter, tapping Liam carefully on the shoulder. "You with me?" He asked, trying to gain his attention. "We have a mantra that we use." Liam's head shook, trying to focus on the voice. It was hazy and loud, tearing it's way through his head while he whimpered. "You repeat it, Liam." Derek continued, trying to speak slow and even. "You need to focus on the words, okay? It's like meditating." Riley kept a safe distance from Liam's thrashing limbs, allowing Derek the space he needed to teach the Beta. "You say the words until you feel control coming back to you."
"Okay!" Liam nodded frantically, trying to keep his tremors at bay. "Okay! What are the words?" He asked, his voice raspy and almost begging. It was painful to even hear. To listen to the amount of torture it put someone through to withstand the temptation that idled within them.
"Look at the Triskelion." Derek ordered, nodding towards the disc in Liam's hands. "See that symbol?" He questioned, waiting until Liam nodded. "I have a tattoo on my back-It's the exact same." Without hesitation, Riley's hand rose, reaching for the nape of Derek's neck as she ghosted her fingers along the collar of his shirt, and down his spine. It comforted him, knowing that she believed in the same mantra he did. "Each spiral means something, Liam."
"Alpha. Beta. Omega." Riley murmured, the words forming on her lips tiredly.
Liam's eyes landed on her, his fingers twitching to lash out at her. He fisted them into his palm, drawing blood to keep himself from lunging. "She's right." Derek murmured slowly, his eyes following every shiver that raked the poor kids frame. He wondered silently if this was how he use to react back before he learned control himself. Was he wild and frantic like this? He could not remember. "It represents the idea that we can always rise to one and fall back to another. Beta's become Alpha's. Alpha's can become Beta's-"
"Can-can Alpha's become Omega's?" Liam gasped, squinting his eyes tightly together to numb the intensity.
Derek nodded slightly, but would not let Liam freight over that idea. "All you have to do is say three words." Derek reminded thoughtfully. His voice strong and empowering. "And with each word, tell yourself you're getting calmer . . . More in control." He insisted, gathering all the wisdom he'd learned throughout his life and fed it to this fifteen year old child. "Go ahead." Derek instructed, a slight nod to indicate it was time.
"Alpha! Beta!-"
"Slower." Derek hummed, his voice low and heavy.
"Alpha. Bet-beta. Omega." Liam groaned, crippling into himself as he whined. "Alpha. Beta. Omega." He said, his teeth chattering as his voice slowed. "Alpha. . . Beta . . . Omega."
"Good." Derek whispered. "Again." His lips twitched nervously, listening to Liam struggle through the mantra. The words were starting pick up pace again, his voice rising. "Remember," he tried to soothe, "every time you say those words, you're getting calmer."
"Alpha!" Liam hissed, his hands tugging at the metal cuffs again. "Beta!" His brows were knit together furiously, his lips curled over his fangs as he constantly shook his head. He tried to clear out the noise. The vicious pounding in his skull would not ease. It begged for release. It was the dark side he'd kept caged all this time. It demanded to be felt, as it slowly began to take control. Liam's eyes turned a darker shade of yellow then.
A growl echoed off the back end of the van, his blonde hair falling into his eyes. "Say it again, Liam." Derek tried to coach him back into the safe zone, knowing he would not last much longer. "You need to say it again."
He would not listen. He could not listen, not with the wolf inside of him howling for release. "Liam." Riley spoke softly, the tension within the air beginning to suffocate her. "Say it with me, okay?" She suggested, leaning forward past Derek to catch his gaze. "Say it with me. Ready?" Liam rose a brow to her, hefty lungfuls of air brushing past his sore lips. "Alpha." She said slowly, hearing the smallest whisper come from him as he tried to synchronize the syllables in time with hers. "Beta." She calmly went on. His shoulders seemed to ease up on the shudders. "Omega."
His voice was low, but he'd managed to say it with her. "Say it with me, Liam." Riley leaned in closer now. Their faces just inches apart. She could feel his hot breath on her shoulders, trying to relax as she cleared her throat. "Alpha." They said together, almost in perfect unison. "Beta. Omega." Riley nodded. "Again." She declared. "Alpha. Beta. Omega." He said it with her, even if it was a grated whimper. But his body seemed to relax slightly, his nails still elongated into razored claws. He raised his head ever so slightly, his yellow eyes finding hers as he breathed deeply. "Feel better?" Riley asked, her hand grazing his heated shoulder. He looked better than he had moments ago. Maybe the key to control was not just saying something, but hearing it as well.
Liam did not speak, and before Riley could register it, he'd lunged for her. The cuffs broke from their metal links, freeing him as he pushed her back. She felt her head slam against the back of bench, her adrenaline kicking in just a moment too late. His claws lashed out at her, narrowly missing as Derek's own hands wound around Liam's wrists. He tugged him back into place, keeping him as far as he could from Riley. The mantra hadn't worked, it had only made him angrier somehow. A nasty snarl erupted from his teeth, his nails grazing along Derek's arms as they fought over one another. "Liam!" Derek warned, trying to break through to his crazed mind. "Liam! Calm down!" Another animalistic roar tore through the van, losing balance as the car swerved suddenly. Riley could hear Braeden up at the front, frantically behind the wheel as she tried to keep her eyes on the road.
Stiles stepped in, lending a pair of hands as he pushed back on Liam's shoulders. "Hold him!" Derek grunted, using every force he had to keep the boy still. "Liam!" He snapped again, the wolves teeth grinding together hungrily. "Stay focused! Don't give in!" All Riley could do was watch, pinned into the corner of the van as she watched two humans take on a wolf. It wasn't just about overpowering the other. It was about fighting for control. Fighting for safety.
"Derek!" Stiles huffed, leaning his weight into Liam's chest to keep him confined. "I don't think your mantra is resonating with him well." He confessed, both of them hovering over the boy as he continued to thrash. "We have to get him under control-"
"I don't know any other mantras!" Derek grunted, feeling the sharpened tips of Liams nails graze the inside of his elbow. He tried not to think about how easily he could have taken this boy down if he was still a wolf himself. How easily he could have talked him through the shift if he had still owned the power that was handed down to him. It would have been as easy as breathing.
"I do." Riley finally spoke, her mind reeling from the memory. The time when her mother had urged her and Kali to practice Buddhism. To tie themselves to a religion that neither of them found promising. It was the same mantra that had fallen from Brett's lips. It was the same mantra her mother would whisper while enjoying her morning yoga. Riley stepped in beside Derek, her hands finding Liam's wrist's as they writhed within Derek's grasp. "Liam," Riley demanded softly. "Focus, okay?" He did not respond, but somehow his yellow eyes had founds her. He narrowed them at her, his lips spreading to reveal his fangs again. "What three things can not long be hidden?" She asked, insisting him to answer with her. "The sun." She reminded, his voice muttering the same thing a moment after hers. "The moon. The truth." Again, it was a low whisper.
Derek could feel Liam's body slacken slightly, urging her to continue. "Again." He prompted.
"The sun." They said together. "The moon." Liam said it alone this time as Riley's voice faded into just mouthing. "The truth." Riley nodded to him, her lips curving gently as she made him recite it again. "The sun. The moon. The truth." His voice slowed to a gentle hum. "The sun. The moon. The truth."
"That's it." Stiles encouraged. "Keep going."
Liam repeated himself, his fists softening as his nails seemed to retract. His body stopped thrashing as both Derek and Stiles released him. "The sun. The moon. The truth." The three of them sat back down across from him, palms in the air, ready and prepared just in case he sprung at them again. But he did not. He shut his eyes tightly, his hands on his knees as he evened out his breathing. "The sun. The moon. The truth."
"I don't believe it." Derek seemed to stutter. "You got through to him."
A scoff sounded from Liams lips, shaking his head as he seemed to lighten up. It sounded like a chuckle, his lips cracked but curved. He rose his head to look at them, his eyes back to the pale blue of his human side. "For a minute there," Liam laughed nervously, "I thought I was gonna tear the three of you apart."
"Yeah?" Stiles rose a brow, wiping the sweat off his brow. "That would've made for an awkward ride back home." Again, he was joking, but some level of sarcasm seemed too real to be brought up in comedic relief. "So, you know . . ." He trailed off. "Thanks for not killing us."
Liam nodded, looking to Riley with almost an apologetic glance. He seemed as if he was begging silently for forgiveness, his eyes watering at remembering the amount of force he'd lunged at her with. She pursed her lips, but nodded stiffly. Her foot nudged his, a silent reminder that there were no hard feelings between them. "We're almost there!" A voice called from the front, Braeden's tone echoing. "Get ready!" A thick tension accumulated over them, even bigger than before. They shuffled nervously within their seats, cracking their knuckles hastily, inserting their clips into their pistols with numb fingers. It was a mentaly draining situation. To know that you were stepping into a war. To know that your enemies had loved ones as leverage. To know that there was a possibility someone may not make it back.
She tried not to think about that part, her hands running over her gun multiple times to ensure it was in perfect working condition. She checked her back pocket for her two extra clips, ensuring they were safely tucked away, but within a reachable distance in case things got hectic. Her eyes ran over her gun, trying not to think about who had given it to her, and why it meant so much. It was a gift from Chris Argent. The man who had changed everything for her without realizing it. The father who had shown her how to defend herself, and without his help, she hated to think of how her life would have gone. Maybe it would be her beneath that gravestone instead of Allison. She'd liked to imagine life would be easier that way, but knew it the pit of her stomach that things would only be harder.
The van came to a halt, and before she could make sense of it, Derek's palms had cupped her cheeks, his lips on hers. "What was that for?" She asked as he broke away. She could see Liam and Stiles looking in the opposite direction, trying not to pry in on such a tender moment. Derek leaned in once more, kissing her tenderly and quick.
"In case I don't get another chance." He murmured, his clean breath fanning her neck. She lost her grip on him, his head bent down low as he headed for the end of the van. He by passed Stiles, reaching for the lever of the double doors. A sinking feeling ruptured within her, feeling a desperate need to pull him back to her. To wrap her arms around him and shelter him from everey threat that ever dared challenge them. She wanted to, but she did not. Instead she let him go, stiffly situated within her seat as the back doors to the van whipped open. Stiles stepped before her, heading on out too before he'd stopped in his tracks. Riley could not see the commotion, but she could hear it clearly. The grunt escaping Derek's lips. The sound of a well-built body hitting the floor. She did not need to see, to feel a prominent sense of darkness engulf her.
Stiles knees seemed to buckle, filing out from the back of the van as Liam followed. There was shouting, buzzing inside her head as she tried to stumble her way out as well. Her boots stirred up a cloud of dirt, hazing her vision as Stiles and Liam stood with their backs to her. Through the swirling sand she could see Derek's frame sprawled across the dirt lot, the ruined church situated behind her. A larger frame hovered over him, its body cloaked in bones. She watched as the Berzerker raised it's arm up, a sharpened bone connected to the end of it's fist before slamming it down into Derek's gut. "No!" Riley cried, anger flooding her eyes as her legs broke into a sprint. Liam turned then, his arms windign around her waist to keep her anchored. She fought against his hold, prying at his hands as the Berzerker rose it's daggered fist for a second time.
A loud pop rung in Riley's ears, flinching into Liam's chest as Braeden crept up behind them. Her shotgun aimed, her finger on the trigger as she pointed it at the Boned Warrior. The Berzerkers growled, low and deep before sprinting off, finding safety from the raining bullets in the shadows of the upturned town. Riley's nails dug deeply into Liam's forearms, digging further until he released her. Her knee's buckled against her unsteady weight, scrambling to reach his body. "Derek!" She grunted, her eyes stinging as her hands found his. He was propped up against a crumbled wall, his hand bloodied as he clutched the torn fabric at his stomach. "You're okay!" She tried to soothe him, his eyes glazed and disoriented.
She looked back over her shoulder, watching as Peter and Malia hastily came forward from their parked cars. "I'm okay." He repeated, his once pearly teeth now stained red. "I'm fine." His eyes wandered past Riley, landing on Malia, Stiles and Liam. "Just find Scott." He panted, wincing slightly as Riley's hands inched towards his waist. "Just find them." He insisted, nodding them off towards the Church. "I'll be right behind you!" Braeden still had her gun poised, searching the darkness in which the monsters had found shelter. Kate must have known they were coming. She must have ordered one of her deciples to ambush them. Stiles shook his head, his limbs shaking as he tried not to look at the blood now covering Riley's palms. He did not believe Derek's words then. He did not think that he'd be right behind them. "Go!" Derek insisted, a clot of blood forming on his lips. The four of them did not move, just staring blankly at him with both fear and indecision. "Go!" Derek grunted, coughing against the lump in his throat. He felt dizzy. He felt numb. He felt pain that was undoubtedly worth everything. They slowly began to back away then, heading for the entrance of the Church. "Hey." He whispered a little lower, his voice aimed at Stiles. "Hey-" the sarcastic boy turned, still unsure if leaving Derek behind was a good idea. "Save him."
Stiles registered his words, knowing he meant Scott. If anything were to happen to him, then maybe his own death would be for nothing. Stiles nodded numbly, trying not think about how this may be the last time he'd see Derek. It wasn't until their silhouettes dissipated, that Braeden stepped forward. "I'm going to run the perimeter." She concluded, cocking her shot gun. "I'll kill every last one of those bastards." And she too, disappeared into the darkness.
And then it was silent. Just the sound of his labored breathing as Riley applied pressure to the deep wound in his stomach. Her skin stained red, biting on her lip so hard so she would not cry. "You should have gone with them." Derek whimpered after a moment. "They need you more-"
"I'm not leaving." She insisted, trying not to count how many other stab wounds littered his skin. Three. There were three more. His lips curved downward as she shuffled closer. Hovering over him with fierce protectiveness. His facial expression slackened slightly, his body going limp. "No." She shook her head. "No. No. No-Stay with me." She pulled a hand away from his waist, grasping the back of his neck as she held it steady. "You're going to be okay." She promised him.
But the swelling darkness in her bones told her differently. The sense of loss already seemed to embedded itself into her lungs. It dragged her down, breaking what hope she may have held. She knew this was the warning Lydia had tried to give them. That his death had been decreed. "It's a mortal wound . . ." Derek coughed, his stubbled chin streaked with red. "And right now," he told her, "I'm feeling pretty mortal."
"I'm-" She lost her words, trying not to envision the way his words hung over her like a guillotine. "I'm not going to let you die." She murmured, shaking her head violently. Maybe if she had pulled him back like she'd wanted to in the van, she would have exited first. Maybe it would have been her laying here. Maybe she would have been okay with that. A deep growl seemed to echoe off the tainted night sky. The sound of another Berzerker lurking. "You might . . ." Derek winced, "just have to concentrate on saving yourself." The memory of their past fight coming back to haunt her, remembering just how upset he seemed to be when she would not promise to fight for herself. She was selfless and she was brave, but was that enough to keep him alive too?
"Stop." She shook her head, her eyes hot. "Please--"
The sound of gunfire rang through the night, knowing Braeden was now a part of another ambush. "You need to go." Derek whispered, his voice demanding. "Go find Scott and Kira."
"I'm not leaving you." She repeated. "Not like this." He became unbearably still then, the sound of more gunfire rang through her ears. It was more than one person firing now. But it was all background noise it seemed like, in comparison to his easing breaths. "Derek." She whimpered then, his fingers grazing hers. "Please." She begged.
"I-I need to tell you something." He stammered, his lids becoming heavy.
"No." She shook her head, her body trembling. "No. You can tell me later-"
"There is no later." He murmured. He tried to squeeze her hand, but as much as he tried, it only felt like a soft graze to her. "I'm-I'm so proud of you, Riley." He confessed, his eyes tender and loving.
"Stop." Riley gulped, her eyes pleading.
"No." Derek coughed. "You-you need to hear this. I need to know that I at least said it, okay?" His lips curved upward, stained with blood as he tried to remind her of all the things he hadn't quite said. "You're strong . . . Brave . . ." His voice slurred, trying to keep his eyes open now. "I want you to know this, Ry. I want you-I want you to know I love you." Because dying for someone you love was not a selfish act. It was not romanctic and profound. It was sad and it was painful and there was no time for insufficient thoughts. He needed it to be said, and so he said it. He meant it. If there was one thing he'd ever learned about loyalty, he'd learned it from Riley. He'd felt it. He'd seen it. The way he gravitated toward her, allowing her to tie him down when all he wanted to do was float on.
She was his anchor. His place of refuge. His haven. "I know-I know I've said and done a lot of things, Ry . . ." he trailed off, trying to muster up enough air in his lungs to speak. "But I wouldn't change anything that ever lead me to you." The pain he felt seemed to subside, his skin becoming numb as a deep chill burrowed within his veins. He could only see her face, flushed red with anger and her cheeks wet with tears. She was a catastrophie in the most beautiful of ways. A mortal danger to all who tempted her. And she was worth it. She was worth all that chaos.
These were things he needed to get off his chest while he could. He needed to say this, because words were easier to remember in the long run. Soon she'd forget what his face would look like while waking up to each other in the morning. How his body felt tangled with hers. She forget those, just like all memories seemed to dim over time. But words-words were what kept someone alive, even if their body was buried deep below. Derek had found a great weakness in his mortality. It wasn't just about his strength being diminished or his sense of power being taken. His weakness was her. How he'd so willingly die in order to protect her. To protect what he could not fathom losing. But the greatest weakness most humans share, is their hesitancy to tell someone they love them while they still can. While they are still breathing.
"Derek." She shook him slightly, urging him to open his eyes. He did so, trying to fixate them solely on her. "Derek, please." She begged. "Please don't do this. Please." Her voice was cracked, tainted with an ache so deep that it burned her lungs. "Please." She begged again. "You promised me you'd fight." She reminded him, trying to forget the memory of them sprawled across the back of the Toyota, watching the town glitter. "You promised!"
"It's okay." He breathed, his lips curved as his eyes shut. His hand still twined with hers, trying to find enough strength to squeeze it once more. "Some promises are meant to be broken." His head lolled to the side then, his cheek falling into her palm as his lips parted. He did not move now, his shoulders stilling from how his lungs stopped expanding. And just like his, her body seemed to freeze too.
Her eyes watered, widening at how painful it felt to have someone torn away from her arms. To have a loved one slip away so violently was unbearable. It was not something she could withstand. Her hand rose up to capture his other cheek, her palms bloodied as she pinched at his skin. "Derek." Her lip trembled, her features scrunching up when he did not respond. She shook him slightly. "Derek." Gunfire rang in the distance, but the sound did not phase her. Riley clung to him, a darkness dragging her down as it anchored her to his body. Her hands slid down his shoulders, gripping his leather jacket forcefully. Her head buried within his chest, the taste of rust and salt lingering on her lips. It was like a withered depression had swallowed her, and she could not find her way out from the darkness.
Substantial loss was not a new thing for her, but that did not matter. She had let him slip away within her grasp, and had not had the strength to save him. Who she was, was not enough. And how selfish did it make her to know that her power was enough to save lives, but she did not know how to manifest it into anything other than herself. She could have saved him. She could have broken the binds that made her gift only useful to her, if only she had known how. And so she buried her face even deeper, hoping that the same darkness that had swept him away, would soon find her as well. She could not burden that kind of guilt. She could not condone that kind of selfish behavior. And maybe what Kate had said to her was right. Maybe she and her were not so different after all. Maybe they were both catagorized under the same token of fate. Both monsters hiding beneath pretty faces.
AN: Thanks for reading, and I hope this chapter did the episode justice! How did you guys like it, if at all? If you could take a second to please review and let me know, it would be a lot to me. If you aren't already, follow me on Tumblr for gif sets, banners, au's and fun teasers for this story at HavenBoundInBeaconHills! I'll see you guys next week hopefully!
