Chapter 40: Kindred Beings

Sweat creased between Deaton's brows as he peered down at the empath late that night. He'd given her a sedative, but still her eyes fluttered and her body spasmed.

"It's not working, is it." Scott frowned. "Is it supernatural?"

"If my suspicions are correct, yes," his boss nodded. "But until we know for sure, I think it might be in Daria's best interest if we take her to the hospital."

"Hospital?" Scott's face fell. "But if it is supernatural–"

"Then your mother is a capable nurse who can call us if necessary."

The young Alpha peered at the table where Daria twitched with resignation. "What about the wolves? What if it's connected?"

"That is a possibility." Deaton rested a hand on the girl's forehead. "I want you to ignore the physical symptoms and tell me what you feel from her, Scott."

Scott placed a hand on her arm and closed his eyes. "She's… terrified."

"Does it compare to the chemosignals you picked up from the wolves?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "but it's more than that. Way more. I don't actually know how she's doing it."

"She's an empath, able to pick up on any surrounding emotions and feelings. Perhaps she picked up on the feelings of the wolf pack you ran into."

"It couldn't have been that," Scott cut in. "She was at least a mile away."

"Then we have to consider the possibility that the fear she is feeling came from somewhere else. Possibly a creature who gave it to her."

"But I thought empaths could manipulate emotions. Wouldn't she be able to control it?"

Deaton cast a grim look in his direction, "In most circumstances I would say yes. But if she's using her empathic abilities on someone else, that may not be the case. Perhaps she's not the one in fear at all - but the person whose powers she's taking on."

Scott leaned back, not sure of how to reply.

"For now I suggest we take her to the hospital. We can at least ensure that no harm comes to her physically."

"Okay."

It wasn't a good plan, but it was the best they could do.

–

In the depths of Eichen House a man awoke, encased in rock. He'd been there for almost a century - waiting, biding his time. Ready to protect the town that he had once called home.

He had to break free from the thick husk of solidified ash and ice that now sheathed his entire body. A murmur of voices echoed against the vessel that covered him.

A vessel covering a vessel. He might have laughed, if there had been time for humor, but now was not the time. Not while it was free. He could feel it in his bones. The creature he'd given his life to contain had escaped the Wild Hunt.

The voices grew in volume, and he could almost decipher their words. Someone tapped the outside of his rocky shell, and with his hellhound strength it finally began to crack.

"Maybe I should lower this a notch or two," said one of the voices.

So they meant to trap him forever. Rage and flame welled up inside the hellhound, until it exploded out of him. Hardened rock and ice flew in every direction.

Halwyn was free, and he would do everything to save Beacon Hills from the Anuk ite, and make sure that anyone who tried to stand in his way would suffer for it.

–

Deucalion said his goodbyes to the Druid on the phone, Deaton having just filled him in on the empath's precarious situation. Daria was in the hospital, heavily sedated to keep from breaking any bones.

Not even Deucalion knew the source of the empath's trouble. Perhaps Derek was being tortured, but then the wolf would have likely passed out before subjecting himself to that much trauma. And Deaton assured him that it was not pain plaguing her, but fear.

It was quite the conundrum to say the least, and he assured his druidic acquaintance that he would relocate closer to California until Miss Stilinski's situation was resolved.

There wasn't much he could do for the time being, apart from continued research into ancient texts, but he would do it, if there was even the slightest chance it could aid the empath. She was among the few beings for which he truly held respect - even reverence, and he would do everything in his power to protect her.

–

Halwyn followed the greatest concentrations of fear and panic from place to place. Places each half of the Anuk ite could be lurking. The buildings in Beacon Hills had changed over the years. Gone was the lone town school. Newer, grander schools all around town had sprung up in its place. But he couldn't focus on the towns' architectural achievements. He had to find the Anuk ite - as well as those responsible for releasing it.

After knocking out a sheriff's deputy he found the next cluster of hysterics - a hospital in the heart of the city handling several patients at once. Where there was panic, part of the Anuk ite couldn't be far behind.

Ignoring the nurse at the entrance, he began his search, prowling the halls in search of an evil he'd been trained to track for centuries.

He was just making his way down the East wing of the first floor when he felt it. A kindred spirit. A vessel. Looking into the room window he spied a girl whose hands shook violently. She felt the full measure of fear in the air that others were only beginning to detect.

Empath. But one who hadn't been prepared to face the Anuk ite. He knew how to help her. And with her power, she could help him. He walked into the room, ripped out her IVs and carried her out of the room and through an Emergency Exit.

Halwyn ran toward the woods holding the empath in his arms. He moved faster, knowing that the young deputy hellhound had sensed his presence and was now in pursuit. But his need for the empath was too great to let him falter now.

–

Scott and Lydia stood in Malia's room, having convinced the werecoyote that they needed to stay a little longer.

"Paris," she whimpered.

"You can take your trips, but we have to figure out what's going on first." Scott ran his fingers through his hair. "Parrish swore he saw a hellhound at Beacon Hills Memorial. And five minutes later, Daria vanished from her hospital room. Between that and the rats and wolves, and Lydia having one of her banshee premonitions, there's no way we could abandon Beacon Hills now."

Lydia closed her eyes. "Parrish did see a hellhound. I saw him."

"In your vision?" Scott's brows furrowed, and the banshee nodded.

"He said we let something out. Something that was meant to ride the storm forever."

"Hang on a minute… something from the Wild Hunt?" Malia groaned. "Can't we ever just catch a break?"

"We think he took Daria." Scott ignored her complaints. "Parrish was trying to follow, but the path ended somewhere in the forest. He's still trying to track them."

"A path doesn't just end." Lydia shook her head. "Either this other hellhound is deliberately trying to cover his tracks, or something supernatural is hiding the rest of the trail."

Scott realized what she meant. "Something like the Nemeton–"

"–that can only be found when it wants to be found." Lydia gazed at the pair seriously.

"Then how do we find them?" Malia drawled.

"I don't know," said Scott. "But we won't give up until we do."

–

Halwyn despaired at the roots of the hewn down sacred oak. The Nemeton at its peak had been towering, revered, and sacred. Now all that remained was a stump. Hopefully it would be enough to cure the empath of her terror.

Laying her gently on what was left of the tree, he took one of his claws and nicked her palm. The wound quickly sealed itself closed, confirming his suspicions that she was drawing her powers from another.

Making a deeper incision, he pressed her palm onto the rings of the Nemeton. Then he cut his own palm and did the same.

"From vessel to vessel. From beginning to end. By the power of this sacred tree, Awaken, empath, and be reborn."

The girl's trembling body grew still, and her eyes flew open, turning white and then to her natural silver.

Her eyes fell on Halwyn. "What the hell is this?" Then she struggled with her limbs. "Why can't I move?"

He growled at the girl's impatience. "This is the Nemeton. I found you in the hospital. You had tubes in your arms with liquids to keep you still."

"Morphine," she swallowed.

"Without the tubes, you'll recover soon," he told her. "What's the last thing you remember?"

The girl thought for a moment. "I was running through the forest. Then… I felt afraid. That fear became so thick that I couldn't take another step."

Halwyn appraised her shrewdly. "Do you feel that fear now?"

"No." Her eyes traveled from left to right. "But I can see it."

"What do you mean?" he frowned.

"It's in the air. It's like I can see it swirling in front of me. Like a fog or a mist."

The hellhound nodded thoughtfully. "What's your name?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You carried me out of a hospital without knowing my name?"

"I knew you were an empath, and I knew how to help you. That was all I needed to know."

She hesitated. "Will you tell me your name first?"

He narrowed his eyes for a few seconds, but it was an innocent enough request, and he did need her help. "My name is Halwyn."

The girl nodded and paused. "How did you know I was an empath?"

"When you become fully attuned with your abilities, you can sense when other kindred beings are near."

"Kindred beings?"

"Other vessels and guardians of the dead are kin to the hellhounds."

Her lips parted with shock. "A hellhound." She marveled slightly, studying his face before continuing. "Daria. That's my name."

It was an unusual name, but it fit her well. "Daria," he acknowledged with a nod. "I returned to Beacon Hills to fight an evil that escaped the Wild Hunt - an evil you can defeat as an empath."

"Me?" Her hands twitched, struggling to fight off the drugs from the tubes. "No. I need to go back to Brazil. I need to make sure my friends are okay. I need–"

He pinned her shoulders to the tree trunk and growled. "There won't be anything left to fight for if both halves find each other."

"What?"

"They let it out. All of you let it out. You let it escape."

Daria froze with trepidation. "What are you talking about? Let what escape?"

"THE ANUK-ITE!" He roared and burst into flame, burning Daria's shoulders until she began to cry.

When he saw her tears, he backed away. He'd lost control, but how could she understand? It had taken him centuries to trap it, and all it took was a few careless teenagers to let it out again.

"I didn't mean to burn you." Most of his clothes had burned away, as well as the shoulders of her hospital gown.

"I'm sorry… for the part I played." Daria weakly reached up with her hand, resting it on his forearm, filling him with calm. "Tell me what I need to do."