Chapter 17:
When Stiles woke the next morning it was to Kol complaining to Jeremy, or maybe about Jeremy. He wasn't too sure. Stiles got up and opened his door, across the hallway Kol stood outside the guest room, looking inwards toward where Stiles assumed Jeremy was.
"Come on, Mate, it'll be fun." The vampire said gleefully.
"You're not going to scare a werewolf, a banshee, or a fucking hellhound, just to see what they can do." Jeremy hissed. Stiles chuckled. "Kol, you have no idea if Jordan can hurt you. Why do you want to mess with him?"
The vampire huffed, "Tell me you aren't curious?"
"Curious because I've never even heard of a hellhound before yes, curious because I want to watch you get burned and turned to ash, no."
"Come on-"
"Why not just ask him?" Stiles interrupted, feeling the need to stop Kol before the vampire did what he wanted and ended up dead. Stiles didn't think Jeremy would take that well. Besides he knew Jordan and that man was easy going and fun, he didn't think the hellhound would have a problem showing off a little.
Kol turned and looked at him eyebrow raised, "You don't think he'd mind?"
"Nope." He said making the 'p' pop. "I think he'd probably like to see what you can do too. If there are vampires in town. It would be smart to know what they are capable of." Kol seemed to consider it before he smirked. "Okay." the vampire said. Stiles heard Jeremy sigh from inside the room and walked around the vampire to see his friend.
The other boy was sitting on his bed back against the headboard. He had a pencil in his hand and a notepad in his lap.
"He sketches when he needs to clear his head." Kol said with an eye roll. Stiles choked as he bit back a laugh when Jeremy looked up just long enough to glare at the vampire.
"Well, then," Stiles said grabbing the vampires arm and pulling him away from Jeremy's room, "let's leave him to it. I believe you have a date with a hellhound." Some part of him wondered if he should be a little more worried about manhandling a vampire. But Kol didn't seem to mind, so he figured it was okay. Though he did made a mental note to talk to Jeremy about the Do's and Don'ts with Kol.
He knew from experience everyone especially supernaturals had them. Certain little things that set off their instincts or triggers that pissed them off. And he had seen Argents reaction to the Original comment Jeremy made the night before. There was something about Kol that scared Argent and Stiles knew there wasn't much that scared that hunter. So he figured caution was a smart play.
"Where we headed?" Kol asked once they were outside of the house.
"Station. Jordan's meeting us there. He wants to show you the bus, which is now in the impound lot and then head out to see if either of you can catch a scent." He headed for his jeep only stopping when he realized Kol wasn't behind him.
"Wanna see something cool?" The vampire asked smirking at him. The impulsive part of him screamed, 'Yes,' but the more reserved part that sounded very much like Scotty said, 'No.'
Oh who was he kidding.
"Yes." He said grinning. Kol grinned back and suddenly Stiles felt the vampire wrap and arm around him and the world blurred. What felt like seconds later he was placed back on his feet. When everything stopped spinning he saw he was outside the Station.
"Holy fuck, you're fast." He said amazed. Kol snorted and walked past him and pulled open the front doors. He held them open and waved Stiles inside.
"We have to do that again." He said as he walked in. He showed Kol to Jordan's desk. The hellhound was typing something on his computer but he looked up enough to greet them.
"Hey guys, one mintues, and I'll be ready, oh and Stiles your dad wanted to see you when you got here."
"K," He said.
He was grateful when Kol didn't try to follow him. He wasn't sure what his dad wanted to talk to him about but if he waited until he was out of the house then it probably had to do with Kol or Jeremy.
He knocked on the door and through the window he saw his dad look up, see it was him and smile. "Come in Stiles."
"What's up?" He asked after pushing the door open. He walked over and dropping himself into one of the chairs opposite of his dad's desk.
"I want you to stay close to a member of the pack." His father started, "We have to many new people in town and I would feel better if I knew you were safe."
"Are you worried about the hunters, Kol, or the ferals?" He asked. He wasn't going to argue, though he had learned how to handle himself over the years, he knew he was safer with one of the others.
"I don't think the Winchesters are going to hurt you, though I ran their names and they have an interesting history. Argent vouches for them. And as awkward as it is to say it, I believe Kol likes Jeremy too much to be a threat to you. But these ferals have already attacked the bus, Scott, and Liam, there is no reason to think they wouldn't go after you." His father looked worried.
"I'll be okay." He promised, "I'll call Scott to come meet me here, so you don't have to worry about me." His dad gave him a grateful smile.
Which turned serious a second later,"Now, about Kol." Stiles sighed.
"He drinks blood. Correct?" Stiles bobbed his head in agreement.
"Does he need it to survive? If so how much and how often?" his father asked in a surprisingly collected tone. Somehow he didn't sound grossed out to be talking about someone drinking blood. Stiles was impressed. He also wasn't sure, he hadn't gotten a chance to asked Kol or Jeremy about the whole vampire thing, "I don't want a starving vampire running loose on top of feral werewolves." Before he could tell his dad he wasn't sure there was a knock on the door. Not that the vampire waited for them to respond before he opened it and walked in.
"Yes I need it to survive." Kol said stopping behind Stiles chair, causing the human to break out in goosebumps. "I'm old enough that I don't need it every day nor do I need much. However if I'm going to be fighting I will need more. You don't have to worry about it Sheriff, Jer's already lectured me and I've been ordered to use blood bags." Stiles flinched at the disgusted tone, "from the local hospital."
"You can live off bagged blood?" Jordan asked from the doorway. Stiles saw his dad sigh, it seemed this conversation wasn't going to be private, not with supernaturals and their enhanced hearing.
Kol groaned, "It's not smart. We are weaker, hungrier, more temperamental." The vampire chuckled at that, though Stiles wasn't sure why.
"But you'll do it?" His father asked, "At least while you're here?"
"Unless Jer's life is in danger." Was all Kol replied with. Stiles saw his dad's eyes narrow but then he sat back and nodded, "I can understand that. If it comes to that, no killing."
Stiles couldn't see Kol but he got that impression the vampire agreed because his dad relaxed into his seat.
"Okay, now thats all settled, you guys be careful," Kol snorted, "out there."
Stiles waited until Kol and Jordan had left the station before talking.
"You worried about him?" He asked. His dad looked at him and shrugged.
"I saw the way Chris reacted to him. Kol makes him nervous. But Jeremy seemed to take him at his word, and from what I've seen Jeremy is a good person. I don't think he would let Kol run loose if he didn't believe he would behave. So for now, we will just have to wait and see." His dad smiled at him, "Go call Scott. I have work to do."
"Alright, I'll see you at Scott's tonight. Melissa said something about chicken salad for dinner." He laughed when his dad shot him a glare. After he closed his father's office door behind him, he texted Scott to come get him. Eager to tell his best friend about Kol's super speed and how awesome it was.
Noah's POV
About 2 minutes after Scott walked in and dragged Stiles out of the station, there was a knock at his office door. He looked up and through his window.
He didn't recognize the two men standing outside his door. One dressed in an expensive suit, ablack jacket over a dark blue shirt, had short brown hair brushed back and clean shaven.
If Noah had to guess the man had money, and certainly wasn't from around here. The second man seemed more relaxed dirty blonde hair brushed back but a little disheveled as a piece hung over his face, a grey long sleeve shirt rolled up to his form arms, and top button left undone. The two men where the same height but there was something about the man in the suit that made him appear taller.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood, and Noah prayed things weren't about to get more complicated.
He got out of his chair and opened the door. "Can I help you?" He asked the two men. The dark haired man looked over at his blonde companion, who Noah got the impression wanted to roll his eyes, from the sigh that escaped him before he spoke.
"I'm Ric and this is Elijah." The blonde man said, sticking his hand out to shake. Noah shook it. The dark haired man shifted his weight and this time the blonde did roll his eyes, "Can we talk in private?" Noah invited them into his office.
"What is this about?" He asked when everyone had taken a seat. He felt a little grateful to be behind his desk, something about the well dressed man made him nervous.
"We think we can help with you feral problem." Ric said and Noah coughed in surprised.
"Excuse me?" He asked.
"The wolves that attacked the school bus." The man said, "I've done some research on the flight over and I think they don't have an Alpha in the typical sense. But they are following orders from someone. We just have to find out who." Ric reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, handing it to Noah. Who took it while trying to process what was going.
"This is an article about a small town in Nevada 6 months ago. Three attacks just like the one you had here. Almost exactly, the first was a school bus 4 kids disappeared, only two bodies have been found so far." Noah read over the article on the phone. The two bodies that had been found looked like an animals had toren them apart. A highlighted sentence caught his attention, 'Animal bite in the exact same place on both boys. Right shoulder just at the base of the neck.' He skimmed over the rest of the article to find over a single month 14 children had been attacked only 8 bodies had been found and each one torn apart all with the exact same bite in the exact same spot.
"They're trying to change them." He muttered.
"That's our theory." Ric said. Which had Noah snapping his head up, he had almost forgotten the two men where there as he read over the articles.
"Are you hunters?" He asked. The dark haired man snorted and for a second Noah was reminded of Kol.
"I am." Ric said. Noah lifted his eyebrow and looked towards the other man. The hunter sighed.
"I'm here to make sure Ric doesn't get himself killed." The other man said calmly.
"I'm not going to get killed." The hunter snapped. Noah got the impression this wasn't the first time they had this agreement.
He cleared his throat.
"Sorry." Ric muttered.
"I'm grateful for this information, but we already have a number of hunters in town. I'm not sure adding more would be a good idea." He said because he really didn't want any hunter in town that wasn't Chris. He trusted the man to look after and protect their children, no matter if they were human or not.
"An Argent and two Winchesters. I've heard." Ric replied, "I have never met any of them. But I've heard stories. From the rumors Argent is a good man. One who is willing to look past," Noah's breath caught, did these men know about Scott and the others, "certain things and hunt only the true monsters. But the Winchesters, I'm not sure about," Ric frowned, "the rumors about them are tangled and mixed, some praising them, others crucifying."
"What Ric is trying to say is, he isn't sure you're local pack is safe from the brothers." The other man, Elijah, Noah reminded himself of the man's name, said.
"Are they safe from you?" He asked looking at Ric. What he was not expecting was Elijah to laugh.
"His best friend is a vampire, one of his wards is a vampire, and his is currently, I believe the term he used is 'friends with benefits' with a hybrid. I believe you're children are safe with him." Noah raised an eyebrow as Ric glared at his friend.
His brain tried to process what the man had said but he found himself caught on, "Hybrid?" Was that like a chimera? Cause he wasn't sure they needed anymore people with dangerously mixed supernatural abilities in town.
"My brother." The man said, "He asked me to accompany Ric here to make sure he was safe." Noah noticed the lack of details about just what exactly the man's brother was.
"Okay," Noah said, trying to think of how to proceed. It was clear Elijah didn't want to give away information but Ric- Wait, Ric? Jeremy's mentioned a Ric, why hadn't he caught that before?
"You're here because of Jeremy." He said looking at the hunter.
"Kol called and mentioned what was going on here. I'm Jeremy's guardian and I knew he wouldn't come home if I asked. He likes Stiles too much to leave when there is danger here." The man sighed, and Noah could understand what the other man was feeling, "So I figured I would come down and try to keep him out of trouble."
"Kol called?" He asked, Noah was starting to see why Jeremy and Stiles made such good friends. Both boys seemed to draw danger and neither it seemed called when they needed help.
"Kol, was under the impression, Jeremy didn't think you wanted anymore outsiders here." Elijah said, "While Jeremy is willing to put your wishes or desires over his own, Kol is not." Noah looked over Elijah again. The familiar way he spoke about Kol raised a red flag in his mind.
"Brothers." Ric said suddenly.
"Huh?" He asked looking at the hunter confused.
The hunter chuckled, "Elijah and Kol. They're brothers. That's what you were trying to figure out right?" He wondered if the hunter could read his mind. It wouldn't be the strangest thing.
"Yeah." He said, then looked back at Elijah, "You're a vampire too?"
"I am."
Noah groaned, "You're brother has agreed to drink bagged blood from the hospital. Would you be willing to do the same?" He really didn't want another vampire in town. But he understood, they were family, just like Ric and Jeremy. They weren't going to leave until their family was safe. And as badly as he wished he could, he couldn't ask them to.
There was a surprise flicker across the vampire's face, "I would."
Noah looked at the two men, Ric reminded him of Chris. a strong determined man with a huge heart and a child that dragged him into difficult situations. Elijah was harder to read, but where Noah felt uneasy around Kol he felt more relaxed around his brother. At least now that he understood why his hair had been on end. He wondered if that was a bad thing, the man was a vampire and possible dangerous. He shouldn't feel any kind of relaxed around him.
A knock at the door startled him and Ric, but Elijah didn't seem surprised.
"Come in." He called, then regretted it when Chris and two Winchesters walked in.
It wasn't that he didn't want Chris here. He welcomed the man and would have loved to ask questions about these vampires. But the other two hunters he didn't know and that made him weary.
"Sorry to interrupt." Chris said, "We can come back later?" Noah wanted to smile at his friend, when the man took in the other two men in the room and his hand moved to rest on his hip where under his black jacked his gun was located.
"Its okay, this is Jeremy's Guardian and Kol's brother, they are here to make sure the two boys are safe."
"You're the hunter?" The taller Winchester, Sam asked Ric.
"I am." Ric said moving to stand. He held out his hand, "Ric."
"Sam." Sam said as he shook the man's hand and a second later his brother did the same, "Dean."
"Chris." Noah's friend said as he took Ric's hand. While the four hunters introduces themselves Elijah stood and waited his turn. Noah was impressed, the man was well spoken and well mannered, not like his brother. Who seemed to like attention and to cause mischief, if his appearance at their meeting was anything to go on. Noah would have guessed from their appearances alone that Elijah was older. Not that he was sure it worked the same with vampires. But it was their difference in their attitudes that sealed his theory.
"Where is Kol?" Elijah asked after the group had all exchanged names and his office door was closed.
"With Jordan. One of my deputies." Elijah raised an eyebrow.
"Jordan is a hellhound, same heightened senses as a wolf. They are hoping to catch a scent from the ferals." Chris explained, "We are on our way to meet the rest of the pack to search the preserve. We stopped by to see if the Sheriff wanted anyone to stick close in case of another attack."
"I can stick around." Ric said.
"And I can help with the preserve." Elijah said.
Noah knew Chris well enough to know the man didn't like the idea. He was already taken two strangers with him and having an unknown vampire tagging along worried him.
"Why doesn't Elijah stay with me," he suggested, "with the pack all in one place it might be a good idea to have someone fast and stronger nearby in case of an attack." He looked at the vampire to see if the was okay. Even so he caught the unhappy glare Chris sent him from the corner of his eye.
"I do not mind." Elijah said.
"Noah-" Chris started. But he cut his friend off, "It's okay. Just be careful out there and look after the kids." Chris sighed and nodded. With that the four hunters left.
"He's worried I'm a danger to you." Elijah said once the small group was gone.
Noah sighed, "I know."
"But you are not?" Elijah asked returning to his seat. The vampire crossed his legs and rested his hands on his knee looking perfectly comfortable in chairs Noah knew were horribly uncomfortable. It's why he had a couch in his office.
"I'm working under the theory that you and you're brother wouldn't be close to a hunter or his ward if either thought you were…" He stopped to think of the right word, he had no doubt the vampires were dangerous, but he didn't think they were, "homicidal?" he tried. Only to get amused look from the vampire.
"While me and Kol are not a danger to you and your pack, never assume a vampire isn't murderous. It's in our nature to kill and feed, some of us are just better at controlling ourselves."
Well at least he's honest, he thought.