De-Void:
I watched John disappear into the loft as I shifted anxiously on my feet and Derek held my arm warningly so that I didn't take off after him. It was hard to watch uselessly as my father figure walked blindly into the line of fire and Derek knew that as he drew me closer to him comfortingly.
"You want to handcuff me?" I heard Stiles' voice ask from inside the loft and I squeezed my eyes closed as I reminded myself that it was the Nogitsune we were dealing with instead of my adoptive brother.
"If my son is still here, if there's still a part of him standing here in front of me, then he'll put these on willingly and he'll come with me, because he knows I'm here to protect him from himself and from others." John said softly from inside the loft as I heard the sound of metal hitting together and knew that he had taken his handcuffs out of his pocket. "You're not my son."
"Now." Derek whispered in my ear as I shuddered at the feel of his warm breath on my ear and I nodded over at the Argent's as we all slowly walked into the loft to see the Nogitsune snapping the handcuffs off his wrists. Allison moved quickly to the side of the large room as she pulled out her Taser and levelled it at the Nogitsune's chest before firing without hesitation. The Nogitsune caught the prongs in his hand before it could touch him as the electricity coursed through the wire and Allison looked shocked as he whipped the device from her hands easily. I watched as Derek tried to attack with his werewolf features on show but the Nogitsune was ready for him and immediately slammed the werewolf into a table. I reached for the dagger that was strapped to my thigh without taking my eyes off of the scene in front of me and I expertly aimed the dagger as the Nogitsune threw Derek into the wall. The metal blade embedded itself in the Nogitsune's shoulder as he let out grunt of pain before pulling it out as though it was a mere hindrance and I pulled my gun out as he turned to face me with an annoyed expression. The Nogitsune took a step towards me as a smirk formed on his lips but stopped in his tracks when the sound of the safety clicking off a gun echoed throughout the loft and everyone froze as they slowly turned to see Chris holding his gun directly at the Nogitsune's head. The Nogitsune raised one eyebrow as he looked at the hunter with interest and I stared with wide eyes at Chris as I stiffened slightly because it was completely unsettling to see someone holding a gun at Stiles' head.
"Argent, listen to me. Don't do this." John pleaded firmly as he held up a hand towards the hunter and I shifted my gun nervously by my side in case I needed to shoot a warning shot into the wall above Chris' head.
"Why not? I've done it before. Werewolves, berserkers. I can easily add a Nogitsune to the list." Chris said nonchalantly without taking his eyes off of the Nogitsune in front of him and the sheriff pulled his gun out of his holster before aiming it at Chris' head, causing the Nogitsune to raised his eyebrows and formed a small 'o' with his mouth.
"You're not going to shoot my son."
"You said it yourself, Sheriff. That's not your son."
"Put it down."
"Dad, he's going to shoot me. He's going to kill me, Dad." The Nogitsune said softly in a voice that sounded so much like Stiles that it physically hurt me and I pressed my lips into a straight line as I shifted anxiously on my feet while John flinched visibly.
"Don't listen." Chris urged him sternly as he shook his head slightly and the sheriff levelled his gun to Chris' head as he tightened his grip.
"Put it down." John repeated in a shaky voice as he narrowed his eyes at the hunter and I swallowed roughly when I noticed the dramatic change in the Nogitsune's expression as he turned to look at Chris.
"Now! Do it!" the Nogitsune taunted him loudly with a sneer as he turned his body to face the hunter and I glanced over at Derek as he stepped protectively to my side with his light green eyes narrowed.
"Put it down!"
"Pull the trigger. Come on."
"Listen to me, you put the gun down now!"
"Shoot me."
"Put the gun down now!"
"Shoot me!"
"Put the gun down!"
"SHOOT ME!"
"Argent, you put it down!"
"Strife." Allison whispered to herself in realisation on the other side of the loft and I struggled to hear her over the shouting even with my supernatural hearing. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as I glanced at her for a moment and I saw her staring out the large wall of window as the sun disappeared from the sky. I grabbed Derek's arm tightly as my eyes widened with realisation and I remembered the Nogitsune feed on strife, misery, chaos, and pain.
"Put it down! Put it down! Stop, stop it! This is what he wants. This is exactly what he wants." I shouted loudly as I stepped forward while waving my arm wildly towards the Nogitsune pointedly and everyone looked over at me with shocked expressions on their faces.
"Not exactly. I was kind of hoping Scott would be here. Although, Sophie, you are more than enough." The Nogitsune praised me with a dark smirk on his lips as he lolled his head towards me and I glared back at him through narrowed eyes as he turned to face the large wall of windows. "But I'm glad you all have your guns out. Because you're not here to kill me. You're here to protect me."
"Stay behind me." Derek ordered quietly as he pulled me behind his body slightly and I scrunched up my face at him as I pushed him to the side so that we were standing next to each other. Four Oni materialized out of nowhere before phasing through the loft's large main window as I clicked the safety off my gun and the Nogitsune backed up so that he was safely behind John and Chris. I aimed my gun straight at one of the Oni and I started firing at them as I walked backwards with Derek next to me until we circled around the Nogitsune to the back so that he was protected from all sides. Two of the Oni manifested in front of us as I ran out of bullets and threw the empty pistol to the ground as I transformed into my werewolf form. One of the Oni came straight at me as I ducked out of the way its sword and swung my leg up to hit the back of its cloaked head as I spun around on my toes. I crouched down to the ground as the Oni slashed its sword where my head used to be and I felt someone pull me to my feet by the arm as I turned to face Derek with a grateful smile. He smirked back at me momentarily as I caught sight of the Oni approaching his back with its sword drawn and I grabbed Derek's arms as I through both of us to the side so that the sword went through the air. The both of us were sprawled on the ground with the weight of Derek's body over mine and I rolled my head from side to side as I looked around the loft for any sign of the Oni but they had mysteriously disappeared. I heard footsteps hurrying up to the loft's sliding door as I rested my head back against the floor and looked up at the side of Derek's handsome face as he glanced to the side with a frown.
"What happened?" I heard Scott ask in a confused tone as he stopped in the doorway to the loft with Kira next to him and I leaned my head backwards to look at him as I saw Allison and John standing looking dazed while Chris knelt on the ground with a scowl on his lips.
"They disappeared. They literally just vanished." Allison answered breathlessly as she stared at him with wide dark brown eyes and Scott frowned as he wander further into the loft with Kira.
"And so did Stiles." John added sagely as he holstered his gun with a sigh and I pursed my lips in annoyance as I turned my head to look at the werewolf still lying on top of me.
"Can you get off me now?" I asked Derek teasingly as I pushed gently on his shoulder to get his attention and he snapped his head around to look at me in shock like he had forgotten that I was even there. I quirked an eyebrow at him when he still didn't move off of me and his light green eyes widened slightly in realisation as he climbed easily to his feet before holding out his hand to help me up from the ground.
I walked out of the bathroom attached to my bedroom dressed only in a towel while humming to myself as I ran my fingers through my wet hair and I giggled slightly as I looked over my shoulder with a large grin.
"Sophie!" my mother called out as she opened my bedroom door without knocking and I turned around to face her in surprise as I slammed the bathroom door closed.
"Mom! Hi!" I greeted her with an overly bright smile on my lips as I leaned back against the door and ruffled my damp hair nervously as she came into the room carrying a basket of laundry.
"Morning, sweetie. Just got some laundry." She informed me as she set the basket down on the end of my bed and I hummed in acknowledgement absently as I glanced over my shoulder at the bathroom door. "Honey?"
"Hmm?"
"You okay?" she asked me in a worried tone of voice with a frown as she placed her hands on her hips and I snapped my head around to look at her with wide eyes as I nodded rapidly.
"Oh, yeah! I'm fine. Completely fine." I assured her with a dismissive wave of my hand as I offered her a small smile and she regarded me sceptically for a moment as I fidgeted on my feet until she shrugged before going back to folding the laundry. My eyes swept over the floor until my gaze landed on a beat up male sneaker sticking out from under the bed and my eyes widened in horror as I practically ran over to sit on the edge of my bed. Mom stopped folding the laundry to look at me in confusion and I smiled back at her innocently as I discreetly kicked the shoe under the bed.
"Are you sure you're okay? You're acting strange. Well, stranger than usual." She murmured to herself as she went back to folding with a frown on her lips and I laughed loudly at her as I subtly glanced at the closed bathroom door nervously. Mom gave me another weird look as I stopped laughing abruptly and I tightened my hold on the top of my improvised towel dress as I bit my lower lip.
"How's Isaac?" I asked Mom softly as I tilted my head to the side and she gave me a small smile as she shook her head sadly to let me know there was no change in his condition. I nodded back in understanding as I sighed heavily to myself and looked down at the ground as I picked at the towel.
"How's everything going with the new boyfriend? The one I have yet to meet properly?" Mom asked me pointedly as she quirked an eyebrow at me and I felt my eyes widen slightly in panic as I risked a quick glance at the bathroom door.
"Aiden's great. Awesome. I like him." I answered shortly as I turned back to her with a tight smile and she gave me a pointed look as she quirked an eyebrow at me to continue. I sighed reluctantly as I pursed my lips in annoyance and crossed one leg over the other as I wrapped an arm around my stomach. "What do you want to know exactly?"
"Do you love him?"
"Mom!" I exclaimed loudly with wide eyes as I sat up straighter just as a loud thump came from the bathroom and we both turned to look at the closed door as I covered my mouth with my hand.
"What the hell was that?" Mom asked in confusion as she dropped the shirt in her hand and started walking towards the door as I jumped up from the edge of the bed in panic.
"It was just the pipes!" I cried wildly as I ran passed her to block the door with my body and she narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously as she placed her hands on her hips. "Trust me. My werewolf hearing is perfect. I can hear the pipes creaking all the way down the block."
"Seriously?"
"Uh huh." I lied vaguely as I nodded my head rapidly in answer with an innocent smile and she stared at me doubtfully for a tense moment before rolling her eyes as she turned away from me. I slumped against the closed door as Mom started walking towards the bedroom door and I straightened up with a smile as she looked at me over to shoulder with a frown on her lips. She shook her head at me once again as she exited the room and I sighed in relief as I rushed over to the close the bedroom door behind her. I rested my forehead against the door as the bathroom door slowly opened behind me and I turned around to see Aiden pulling his shirt on over his head in the doorway with a cocky smirk on his lips.
"That was interesting." He stated calmly as he straightened his shirt over his muscular torso and I rolled my eyes at him as I strolled over to my opened closet with a small smile. "Do you think she knew I was here?"
"She definitely knew something was up." I told him as I glanced over my shoulder at him and he nodded as he reclined back on my bed with his hands behind his head on my pillow. "But then again, I wasn't very subtle. Thanks for the loud crashing noise, by the way. That didn't make it obvious at all."
"Yeah. I was trying to sneak out the window." Aiden admitted sheepishly as he looked over at me with a boyish grin and I laughed lightly at him as I turned back to the drawer before grabbing a matching bra and panties set from the top drawer. I could feel Aiden's gaze burning a hole in my back as I slipped them on under my towel and then let it drop to the floor as I hooked on my bra.
"I can feel you staring at me."
"Oh really?" he asked in a drawl as he stood up from the bed and strolled over to stand behind me with his hands on my bare waist. I shuddered slightly as he leaned down to press his lips against the side of my neck and I shivered a little as he gently sucked on my skin before gently blowing soothingly on the mark. "Can you feel that?"
"Uh huh. I can feel all of you." I told him teasingly as I leaned back into him with a smirk on my lips and he tensed slightly at the friction I had created between us as he tightened his grip on my hips. I spun around in his arms with a smirk on my lips as I pressed my body flush against his and he grinned down at me as he cupped my face in his hands before bring his lips down to mine. I responded to the kiss instantly as I moved my lips in sync with his and rested my hands flat on his chest as he slid his hands to tangle into my loose brunette hair. I moaned in the back of my throat as Aiden pulled back from the kiss and my eyes fluttered open as he rested his forehead against mine while we both breathed heavily.
"We gotta stop. Your Mom's already suspicious."
"We'll be quiet then." I whispered huskily with a small smile as my lips grazed his suggestively and he chuckled at me as he shook his head with his chocolate brown eyes smouldering with lust. I moaned in disappointment with a pout as I wrapped my arms around his neck and he brushed his nose against mine as he pressed a lingering kiss on my lips. Aiden pecked my lips once more before stepping out of my reach with a cocky smirk on his lips and I pouted at him jokingly with my bottom lip sticking out as he walked backwards towards the bed. "Where are you going? Since when are you the responsible one?"
"Since you became the sex-crazed, irresponsible one." He replied teasingly as he quirked an eyebrow at me and laid back down on my bed with his hands behind his head as I mock glared at him in offence. I turned back to the open closet as I grabbed a Chicnova Fashion Loose Fit Denim Blouse and Vero Moda Flower Mini Skirt before putting them on.
"Alright, get up and get out." I ordered him as I strolled over to the edge of the bed while plaiting my hair down my back and Aiden frowned at me in confusion as he slowly sat up on the side of the bed. "Up, up, up!"
"Why?" he asked me as I grabbed both of his hands before pulling him to his feet and I grinned at him as I pressed a kiss to his lips without answering him.
"Go out the window and meet me at my car."
"Again, I'm gonna ask 'why'?"
"Because I asked you to." I stated as though it was obvious as I walked towards the closed bedroom door and he sighed behind me as he went over to the window before sliding it open. I blew him a kiss as he dropped down from the ledge before sliding on my Marciano Ethel Pumps and I opened the door before practically skipping down the stairs to the kitchen. Mom was standing at the counter with a cup of coffee in her hands as she read the newspaper and I snatched her coffee mug from her hand as I passed her before taking a sip.
"Hey!" Mom cried in indignation as she narrowed her eyes at me and I grinned innocently as I handed it back to her. I grabbed an apple from the bowl on the counter as I hummed happily to myself and then I pressed a kiss to my Mom's cheek as I headed out of the kitchen.
"Gotta go. Bye! Love you!" I called over my shoulder as I skipped towards the door and walked out to see Aiden waiting impatient with his back against the passenger side door of my Camaro. I smiled at my boyfriend as he pushed himself off of the door with a sigh of relief and I unlocked the car as I walked over the driver's side. "Get in."
"Are you always this bossy?" Aiden asked me in amusement as he got into the passenger side and I chuckled humourlessly as I got into the driver's seat with a smirk on my lips.
"Please. You would hate it if I was some submissive, snivelling shell of a girl."
"Impressive alliteration." He praised me with a genuine smile on his lips as I reversed out of the driveway and I hummed in appreciation with a grin as he looked over at me. "You're right. It really turns me on when you get all forceful and demanding. It's very hot."
"Good. Then you won't complain when I tell you that we are going on a date right now." I said brightly with my lips pursed together as I turned right and I could feel Aiden's gaze on the side of my face as he stared at me incredulously.
"What?"
"We're going on a date. A normal date. Like normal teenagers."
"What's a normal date?" he asked me curiously with a slight mocking edge as he quirked an eyebrow at me and I turned my head to look at him with a small scowl on my lip as I narrowed my eyes.
"A normal date. Like to the movies. Maybe lunch after." I informed him pointedly as I turned back to look out the windshield with my chin held high and Aiden scoffed under his breath as he leaned his head back on the headrest. "No. Don't complain, alright? I haven't gone out in ages, okay? We are going to go the movies. We're going to seat in the back of the movie theatre. You're going to do that super cheesy, super obvious fake yawning move. Maybe I'll let you cop a feel, but that's it. And then we're going to drive to the lookout and make out. Maybe we'll have sex in the backseat. Normal!"
"Alright, alright. Okay. We can do that." Aiden assured me quickly as my speech started coming out faster and I tightened my hold on the steering wheel until my knuckles started turning white under the pressure. I let out a slow exhale as I cleared my throat gently and he laid a soothing hand on my thigh as he rubbed circles on the skin. "Listen, we can be normal, okay? We'll go to the movies, I'll buy you popcorn, and you can even get candy, alright?"
"Really? Candy, too?" I asked in over exaggerated excitement in my voice as I turned to look at him with a grin and he chuckled at me in amusement as he nodded with warm chocolate brown eyes.
"Anything you want, kitten."
"Don't call me that!"
"Anything you want – "he started to repeat himself with a smirk on his lips as he leaned back on the seat and I turned my head sharply to glare at him as he held up his hands in surrender. I hummed in satisfaction with a small smile as I turned back to the road and tapped my finger on the steering wheel absently. "– kitten."
"Really?!" I exclaimed in annoyance with a small laugh escaping my lips as I shook my head at him and he laughed genuinely as he squeezed my thigh affectionately. "Just shut up and put the radio on." I told him lightly as I reached over to gently smack his chest with the back of my hand and he nodded in agreement as he turned the volume up on the radio so that Just Breathe by Pearl Jam played. We drove in silence as I hummed along with the radio and Aiden kept stealing amused glance at me as he shook his head with a smile on his lips, until our peaceful solace with interrupted by my cell phone ringing. I stifled a groan of annoyance as I went to reach for it but Aiden gently slapped my hand in reprimand as he grabbed it before me and I scowled at him as I placed my hands back on the steering wheel. "Only answer if it's someone important."
"Define important."
"Scott, my Mom, Lydia, Allison, Derek, Ethan, Chris, John and maybe Peter depending on my mood." I answered automatically as I stopped myself from adding Stiles and Isaac to the list because they were both indisposed and Aiden nodded in understanding as he held the phone up to his ear.
"Hey, Lydia." He greeted her easily as he pressed speaker phone so that Lydia would be able to hear to when I spoke and I smiled at him gratefully as I turned the radio down.
"It happened again." Lydia said nervously in shaky voice through the phone and we both frowned in confusion as we looked at the phone as though it held all the answers.
"What happened again?" I asked her curiously as I tilted my head to the side and I heard Lydia's heavy sigh on the other end as she
"I- I was driving somewhere and I'm new GPS told me to turn right four times."
"Four rights make a circle." Aiden stated incredulously as he looked over at me with a frown and I rolled my eyes at him with a sarcastic tight smile on my lips.
"Yes, thank you! I know! Anyway, then I realised that the GPS wasn't even turned on. I started to freak out, understandably, and I pulled over into this parking lot and I found something, or more like someone."
"Okay, Lyds, now you're freaking me out. Who'd you find?" I asked her warily as I pulled the car over to the side of the road and bit my lower lip anxiously in between my teeth.
"Stiles. I found Stiles."
"The couch, put him on the couch." I instructed Aiden and Scott as they carried the unconscious Nogitsune into the living room and I followed behind them anxiously with Lydia, Mom and Deaton on my heels.
"Guys, this is crazy. He needs to be in the hospital." Mom said in a worried voice as she watched the boys set him down on the couch and I frowned a little as I stopped next to her with my arms crossed over my chest.
"Mom, remember what happened last time he went to the hospital?" I asked her rhetorically with a quirked eyebrow and she sighed in understanding as she nodded reluctantly. Mom's attention suddenly shifted over my shoulder as her lips turned up in a smirk and I frowned at her in confusion as I followed her gaze to where Aiden was standing next to Lydia.
"Who's the guy?"
"Really, Mom?" I asked her in annoyance as I turned back to look at her with a blank stare and she tilted her head to the side as she gave me a pointed look. I sighed heavily as I rolled my eyes while shaking my head and crossed my arms over my chest as I lolled my head to the side. "Aiden, come here for a second!"
"What's up, kitten?" Aiden asked me in amusement as he strolled over to stand next to me with a smirk on his lips and I narrowed my eyes at him for using the moniker but didn't reprimand him as I shook my head.
"Aiden, this is my mother, Melissa. Mom, this is my boyfriend, Aiden." I introduced them reluctantly as I waved a hand in between them and Aiden tensed next to me as he turned to face my mother with an unsure smile on his handsome face.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs McCall." He greeted her in the most polite tone of voice I had ever heard come out of his mouth and I quirked an eyebrow at him as Mom pursed her lips in consideration. Aiden shifted uncomfortably as she examined him critically with her eyes narrowed and I placed a soothing hand on his arm as I bit my lower lip nervously.
"Nice to meet you too, Aiden. Next time you stay in my daughter's bedroom overnight, use the front door." Mom said pointedly as she finally broke out in a grin before patting his arm and walking past us as we stared at where she had been standing with our mouths agape. I snapped my mouth closed as I shook my head to myself but Aiden continued to look stunned and I grabbed his hand as I waked over to the couch where everyone was gathered around. Deaton crouched down in front of the Nogitsune with a frown as he carefully lifted his shirt up to reveal a deep incision on his stomach and I heard Lydia gasp quietly as she stepped closer to the my side with her green eye wide in horror.
"It doesn't look like he's bleeding. I think he might even be healing." Deaton informed us in a confused tone as he let the material fall back into place and I could hear Lydia's heart speed up a little as she grabbed my hand tightly.
"You mean healing like we heal?" Aiden asked him suspiciously as he moved slightly in front of me and I rolled my eyes at his overprotective attitude as I stepped to the side so that I wasn't behind him.
"That's good, right?" Scott asked hopefully as he looked around at all of us and I exchanged a looked with Deaton as he stood up from his crouch with a frown.
"For him, yes. Us? I'm not so sure." I answered him sagely as I looked at my brother with a sad frown and he sighed to himself as he looked down at the ground in defeat.
"Well, if we're not going to kill him, why aren't we at least tying him down with really big chains?" Aiden asked us with a frown on his handsome face as he stepped forward while crossing his arms over his chest and I rolled my eyes at him as I turned my attention to my mentor.
"Doc, you have that thing we spoke about?"
"We might have something more effective." Deaton informed the others as he opened his doctor's bag and pulled out a glass vile of clear liquid before handing it over to me with a small frown. Scott and Aiden both forced open the Nogitsune's mouth as I approached the couch and I carefully placed a few drops of the kanima venom on his tongue. The Nogitsune's eyes shot open suddenly as he launched forward a little and grabbed Aiden tightly by the throat with a sneer.
"Get him off me! Get him off me!" Aiden choked out weakly as he tried to break the Nogitsune's grip and I wrapped my hand around the Nogitsune's wrist as I attempted to pull him off of my boyfriend. The Nogitsune chuckled darkly as his grip loosened enough for Aiden to stumble backwards out of his reach and I clung to my boyfriend's arm as he rubbed his sore throat with a scowl. The Nogitsune made a grunting sound as he stared at his shaking hand and I glared at him heatedly as he slowly started to become paralysed.
"Kanima venom. Nice touch. Sophie, I'm guessing this was your idea." The Nogitsune praised me in a strained voice as he smirked at me darkly and Aiden roared at him threateningly as he stepped in front of me but the Nogitsune just stared at him in amusement. "You know how they say that twins get a feeling when the other one's in pain? You didn't lose that talent, too, did you? Oh, I hope not. You're going to need it." he taunted my boyfriend with a satisfied glint in his eyes as he smirked and Aiden glanced back at me with a confused frown as I looked back at him with the same expression. I pondered the veiled threat that had been issued as I glanced over at my brother and the Nogitsune sighed heavily like he was disappointed as he lolled his head to look at Aiden. "Okay, I'll give a little hint. Ethan's at the school."
"Go." I told Aiden firmly when he looked over at me for my opinion as Scott nodded in agreement and Aiden kissed my cheek quickly before running towards the front door without a backwards glance. The Nogitsune lolled his head back on the couch as he laugh slightly in amusement and then he looked back at us with a twisted smile on his face.
"Oh, I hope he gets there in time. I like the twins. Short tempers. Homicidal compulsions. They're a lot more fun than you bakemono trying to save the world every day."
"What's a bakemono?" Scott asked me quietly with a frown on his lips as he leaned towards me slightly and I crossed my arms over my chest as I continued to glare at the Nogitsune.
"With all things within Japanese folklore, bakemono means a bunch of different things. Here though, he's using it as a catchall term for a shapeshifter that takes on a scary form such as a giant monk or a faceless being known as a Noppera-bō. It's an insult." I explained calmly with a blank expression as I tilted my head to the side and the Nogitsune smirked at me in satisfaction as he hummed in the back of his throat.
"Hm. Sophie. I like you. Always the first to figure things out. Always the first into action. Sort of like the twins, short temper. Homicidal compulsions. You just hide it better than everyone else. You're good at hiding a lot of things, aren't you, Sophie? Your hopes. Your dreams. Your insecurities…." The Nogitsune taunted me slyly with a smirk on his lips as I stiffened at the knowing gleam in his eyes and I swallowed back the wave of fresh self-doubt as I stepped forward with my lips pursed in annoyance.
"Doc, you brought something to paralyse his body. You got anything for his mouth?" I asked Deaton without taking me eyes off of the Nogitsune on the couch and I blindly held my hand out behind me as he stepped forward.
"Yes, I do." Deaton answered me softly as he placed a roll of black duct tape in my hand and I smirked darkly as I ripped off a strip before taping it over the Nogitsune's mouth. He roared angrily as his jerked his head towards me but I just patted his cheek condescendingly and backed away as he started laughing almost hysterically behind the tape. Lydia grabbed onto my arm as she started pulling me backwards with her and Scott, Deaton, Lydia and I went into the kitchen together as Mom stayed back to clean the Nogitsune's stomach wound.
"How much longer do you think we have?" Scott asked us in a rush as we gathered around the kitchen counter and I just shook my head cluelessly before looking over at Deaton for the answer.
"I wish I knew."
"But if we don't figure out something soon, we're going to need to find a better place to keep him. I think we're grossly underestimating the danger here. He might be paralysed, but it still feels like he's got us right in the palm of his hand." I supplied uneasily as I shifted nervously on my feet and glanced over my shoulder through the open doorway as I bit my lower lip. "I don't like Mom being alone with him."
"Go watch over her." Scott told me softly as he nodded towards the living room and I smiled at him gratefully as I immediately walked back the way we had just come.
"What?" I heard Mom ask softly as I walked down the hallway and I froze in the doorway where my Mom couldn't see me when I saw that she had taken the tape off of the Nogitsune's mouth.
"When they find out why their dad really left? You know he overheard it, right? You had no idea. You called Stilinski right after it happened. You didn't tell Scott or Sophie, but you told the Sheriff. Hmm. But Stiles heard it like he hears everything. But you want to know why he never told them? Because he knew that they would never forgive you. He knew how much they would hate you." The Nogitsune told her mockingly as he tilted his head to the side with a smirk and Mom's face hardened as I stalked into the living room with a scowl on my lips.
"Mom, go to the kitchen." I ordered her sternly as I moved further into the room and her head shot up to look at me with wide eyes as she stood up from her crouch while the Nogitsune's eyes lit up with delight when he saw me coming closer.
"Oh, Sophie's here!"
"Sophie…" mom murmured apologetically as she looked at me with tears in her eyes and I placed a hand on her arm as I smiled at her reassuringly.
"I'm okay. Just go." I assured her softly as I squeezed her arm gently and she cast a fleeting look at the smug looking Nogitsune before reluctantly leaving the room. I watched her retreating back to make sure she was out of the hearing range before turning to the Nogitsune and smirking slightly at him as I slowly walked towards him. He watched me in amusement as I crouched down in front of him and I elongated my claws on my right hand before grabbing hold of his wrist tightly. "Apparently, you have the supernatural ability to heal." I murmured softly as I looked directly into his eyes with a blank expression and I dug the sharp points of my claws into his skin gently as he smirked as though he knew something that I didn't. I let go of his arm abruptly with a dark chuckle as he snapped his head up to look at me in shock and I leaned closer to him with a satisfied smirk on my lips. "I'm not that stupid. Pain will trigger the heal process, which would make the kanima venom wear off quicker."
"Ah, beauty and brains. You're definitely my favourite player, Sophie." the Nogitsune said with a chuckle as he tilted his head to the side with a sly smile and I narrowed my eyes at him as I rested my hands on my knees.
"You think you can hurt me by speaking the truth about my father? You think you can hurt me? There's obviously one thing Stiles knows that you don't." I taunted him with a mock pout on my lips as I tilted my head and he raised an eyebrow in intrigue as I leaned towards him conspiratorially. "I'm Sophie. I know everything. You're going to have to try harder to break me." I hissed angrily at him as I slapped another piece of duct tape over his mouth and he glared at me as I pressed a chaste kiss to the tape before standing up from my crouch. I heard him shouting indistinctly behind the tape as I walked out of the room without looking back and I entered the kitchen where Lydia, Deaton and Scott were standing around the counter speaking quietly. "Hey, where's mom?"
"She went outside for some air." Lydia answered me softly as she offered me a smile and I nodded in understanding as I came to a stop next to her. "We were discussing what to do about the Nogitsune. The scroll said to change his body."
"That's if I translated it correctly. We're looking for a cure in something that might actually be nothing more than a proverb or a metaphor."
"And what if he doesn't want it? He's never asked to be a werewolf." Scott reminded us with a frown as he leaned his elbow on the counter and I bit my lower lip in between my teeth as I wrapped an arm around my stomach.
"What if it saves his life?" Lydia asked him incredulously with wide green eyes and I heard her heartbeat accelerate in her chest as she shifted on her feet next to me.
"What if it kills him? I've never done this before. I mean, what if I bite him and accidentally hit an artery or something?"
"The venom is not going to last long. Something needs to be done sooner than later." Deaton said sagely as he leaned both his hands on the counter and I sighed heavily as I reached up to get my cell phone out of my bra.
"I can try calling Derek again." I murmured quietly to myself as I started dialling his number but Lydia placed her hand over mine to stop me and I looked over at her with a frown as she gave me a sad smile.
"Maybe we should call someone else." she suggested reluctantly as she tilted her head towards me with a pointed look and I scrunched my nose up guiltily as I shifted on my feet.
"I may have already called him, and he's on his way over."
"Who are you talking about?" Scott asked us in confusion as Lydia gave me a reprimanding look and I opened my mouth to answer her but I was saved from answering by the doorbell ringing. My brother looked over his shoulder in the direction of the door before glancing back at me and I smiled innocently at him as a looked of realisation passed over his face.
"I'll get it!" I exclaimed quickly as I rushed out of the kitchen before Scott could scold me and I exhaled in relief as I walked towards the door. I pulled open the front door to reveal Peter Hale standing on the doorstep with a smirk on his lips and I put an arm on the doorframe to block him from entering as I quirked an eyebrow at him. "Peter."
"Sophie. Are you going to let me in?" Peter asked me in amusement as he leaned forward slightly and I tilted my head to the side as I pursed my lips in consideration.
"I don't know yet. Are you going to behave yourself?"
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
"Just don't kill anyone, alright?" I said with a sigh as I rolled my eyes at him and his smirk widened as he strolled passed me into the house without answering me. I let out a small groan as I followed behind him down the hallway and I noticed that he seemed to know his way around the house even though he had never been inside. "So, the ancient scroll I translated said to expel the Nogitsune, we have to change the body of the host and since you've had more experience with turning unwilling people into werewolves, we were wondering if you could lend your expertise? Do you think Stiles would survive the bite?"
"Let's have a look at him." Peter murmured quietly as he entered the living room with a smirk and everyone immediately turned to watch him warily as he paced around the couch where the Nogitsune was sitting. I walked over to stand next to Mom without taking my eyes off of the ex-Alpha and she clung to my arm nervously as I crossed my arms over my chest. "He doesn't look like he would survive a slap across the face, much less the bite of a werewolf."
"You don't think it would work?" Scott asked him in more of a statement than a question as the Nogitsune stared at Peter blankly and I stepped forward so that I was next to my brother.
"This is more a war of the mind than the body. There are better methods to winning this battle."
"What kind of methods?" I asked softly as I tilted my head to the side in thought with a frown and Peter gave me a knowing smirk as he grabbed Scott's wrist in his hand before pressing down on the pressure point so that Scott's claws flicked out automatically.
"We're going to get into his head." Peter announced calmly as he turned his gaze back to the Nogitsune with a smirk and I hummed in impressed acknowledgement as the Nogitsune lifted his eyebrows in intrigue. I glanced over my shoulder at Scott with a small smile on my lips and he nodded his head for me to follow him as he started walking backwards. I frowned in concerned a quickly followed him into the hallway so that no one would overhear us and my brother leaned against the wall with a sigh as he closed his eyes tightly.
"You okay?"
"Not really." Scott answered almost instantly as he placed his hands on top of his head and I leaned on the wall opposite him with a half-smile on my lips as he slowly opened his eyes. "What if I screw this up?"
"Then we blame Peter for his crappy idea." I replied lightly with a shrug of my shoulders and he chuckled a little as he lolled his head to the side to look at me with a small grin. "You can do this, Scott. This is for Stiles. You would do anything for him. So, do this."
"It's not that simple, Soph."
"Yes, it is. When you feel overwhelmed, just take a deep breath and remind yourself that this is to protect Stiles. Your best friend. Your brother. It's all about force of will, okay? You see it in your mind and your mind takes over. It can be pretty extraordinary what the force of your own will can accomplish. Just like how you became an Alpha, pure force of will. If - if this is going to work, Scott, you have to believe it."
"Okay, okay, yeah." Scott mumbled to himself as he stood up straighter with a determined expression on his face and I nodded at him once with a satisfied smirk on my lips as he took a deep breath.
"You ready?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yep. Together?" I asked him with a smile as I held out my hand for him to take and he nodded in reply with a half-smirk on his lips as he slipped his hand into mine. We walked into the living room together as Peter and Lydia strolled into the room from the opposite door and I moved to the front of the couch where mom and Deaton were standing while Scott walked around the back.
"So, do we have a plan?" Deaton asked Peter curiously as he crossed his arms over his chest and I tilted my head to the side with my lips pursed as I waited for the answer anxiously.
"Scott is going to try and dig through pale and sickly Evil Stiles' mind to unearth pale and sickly Real Stiles. Then guide him back from the depths of his own subconscious. But he's not going to do it alone." Peter supplied easily as he leaned both his hands on the back of the couch next to Scott and I frowned in confusion as I crossed my arms over my chest.
"What do you mean?" Scott asked him incredulously as he frowned at the older werewolf and I almost gasped in realisation as I felt my eyes widened slightly.
"Somebody needs to go in with you." I answered in a shaky voice as I looked over at Lydia with wide eyes and her mouth fell open slightly as everyone turned to look at her expectantly.
"Why's everyone looking at me?" Lydia asked in bewilderment as her light green eyes swept around at all the faces in the living room and I cleared my throat gently to get her attention as she snapped her head around to face me.
"You and Stiles have a strong connection. Remember the sacrifice? You acted as a kind of emotional tether to Stiles' unconscious mind. We're going to use the same principal here."
"Alright." She relented softly in a quiet voice as she nodded in understanding with a determined look on her pretty face and I offered her a small reassuring smile as she sat down on the opposite end of the couch to the Nogitsune. Peter grabbed Scott's arm as he carefully positioned Scott's extended claws to the back of the Nogitsune's neck and I wrapped one arm around my stomach as I cupped my cheek with the other.
"So what do we do if we find him?" Scott asked Peter in a voice tinted with nervousness as he tried to keep his hand as still as possible and I bit my lower lip in between my teeth nervously as I watched them.
"You're going to have to guide him out somehow. Try to give him back control of his mind, his body." Peter answered quietly as he moved of to my brother's other side and positioned Scott's other set of claws at the base of Lydia's neck.
"Could you elaborate on the 'somehow'? It's not feeling very specific at the moment." Lydia stated in an apprehensive tone as she licked her lips nervously and Peter paused for a second as he pursed his lips before shrugging his shoulders.
"Improvise."
"What if this is just another trick?" Scott pondered out loud to himself as he looked down at the top of the Nogitsune's head and I silently agreed with him as I pursed my lips slightly.
"When are you people going to start trusting me?" Peter asked in amusement with a slight chuckle as he rocked back on his heels and I rolled my eyes at him as Scott nodded jerkily at the Nogitsune.
"I meant him."
"Oh."
"Scott, we're running out of time." I interrupted them impatiently as I stepped forward with a frown on my lips and he looked at me with a frown as he nodded once in understanding. He took a deep breath as he closed his eyes tightly and then he opened them to reveal scarlet red irises before sinking his claws into the Nogitsune and Lydia's necks. I cringed in sympathy as they both straightened up suddenly with eye wide and then their eyes fluttered closed as they fell into unconsciousness.
"I need some coffee. Or some alcohol." Mom murmured to herself as she headed for the kitchen without a backwards glance and I smirked at her retreating back as I folded my arms over my stomach. I noticed Peter casually leaning against the wall with a smirk and something I remembered from before came flooding back into my mind as I stepped towards the older werewolf with a suspicious frown.
"Peter?" I asked him quietly as I approached him so that we wouldn't be overheard and he turned to look at me with an eyebrow quirked in question. "What's going on with you and Lydia? What do you want from her?"
"How do you know I want anything?" he asked me in an offended tone of voice but I just rolled my eyes at him and gave him a pointed look as I placed my hands on my hips.
"What do you want from her?"
"Lydia's quite the conversationalist. Just idly chit-chat."
"Something to do with her banshee abilities. Or otherwise you'd find someone else." I stated out loud in realisation as I narrowed my eyes at the ex-Alpha and he lifted an eyebrow at me but didn't confirm or deny my theory. "Something happened recently. Although, maybe it didn't. Maybe you've known about whatever this is for a long time, maybe you've concocted this plan from the beginning and that's why you bit Lydia on the lacrosse field at the formal. It wasn't just for leverage or your back up plan to bring you back to life, but part of your overall master plan. You knew what she would turn into."
"That's a lovely theory. It really makes me seem like a devious, clever man." He said with a smirk on his lips as he pushed himself off the wall behind him and I tilted my head to the side as I wracked my brain trying to think of all the recent developments until it finally hit me what Lydia could do for him.
"Talia's claws."
"Excuse me?"
"Ooh! That got a reaction. I was just fishing. Derek has Talia's claws, which gives you access to them. And with Lydia's banshee abilities, she can read the imprinted spirit. It's not Lydia you want something from, it's Talia."
"Fine. You can stop playing amateur detective." Peter told me sternly as he gripped my arm tightly with a scowl and I glared at him as he looked around the room before dragging me into the hallway. He stopped in the middle of the corridor as I ripped my arm out of his hold and he forcibly turned me around to face him as he placed his hands on my shoulders to keep me still. "Before Talia died, she died, she stole a memory from me. It's something only a very powerful alpha can do. That memory was locked inside those claws. Lydia came to me for help understanding her powers. I wanted the memory in return."
"Well, what was the memory?" I asked him curiously as I crossed my arms over my chest and tilted my head to the side with a frown.
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"No, not at all. I only asked because I love the sound of my own voice. I could listen to it for hours. Of course I want to know!" I snapped impatiently as I scowled at him in annoyance and he gave me a pointed glare as he let his hands fall to his sides.
"Apparently, I'm not just an uncle. Lydia bartered that she would tell me the name if I helped." He told me in an emotionless voice as his glare softened into a blank stare and I felt all my anger just evaporate into nothing as I stood there numbly. I knew that my mouth had dropped open slightly as I blinked uncomprehending and forced my lips together as I glanced over at the wall so that I didn't have to look him in the eye.
"Oh."
"Sophie…"
"Congratulations." I said softly as I pushed passed him without looking at him in the eyes and wandered back into the living room as I tried to ignore the feeling of my heart muscles contracting in my chest. I knew that it was stupid and childish and totally inappropriate but I was feeling completely jealous of a person that I had never met. It was totally immature but for some reason I had always felt kind of special that I was the only one that Peter loved, the only one he could admit to was actually human to and now he had his own child that would get to see the side of him only I saw.
"Sophie, something's happening!" mom called out to me in a worried voice as I entered the living room and I frowned in concerned as I rushed over to the front of the couch. I sucked in a breath when I saw that Lydia's nose with dripping burgundy red blood and I squeezed mom's arms reassuringly as I walked passed her. "Look at that. Do you see that? She's bleeding."
"What's happening?" Peter asked from behind me as I knelt down in front of the strawberry blonde and I shook my head in answer to his question as my concerned frown deepened.
"What is happening to her?"
"Lydia, can you hear me? Lydia, you're stronger than this. Okay, you need to concentrate." I ordered her sternly in a hard voice as I cupped her face in my hands with my lips in a tight line and waited for a second to see if I could see any reaction but she stayed completely motionless. An idea came to mind as I remembered that Lydia was part of our pack, even if she wasn't a werewolf and I reminded myself of how wolf signalled their positon to the rest of the pack as I took a deep breath.
"What are you doing?" I vaguely heard someone ask from behind me but I was so concentrated on filling my lungs with as much oxygen as I could that it was basically muffled white noise and I used my elemental powers to gather as much air as I could get.
"Lydia!" I roared loudly as I could as I gripped her shoulders tightly and the windows all shook with the vibrations of my voice as it echoed around the living room. I closed my eyes in exhaustion for a moment as my breaths came out in short pants and I stumbled to my feet as Peter darted forward to catch me before I could fall on my ass. "I'm okay. I'm okay."
"You don't look okay." Peter told me in a concerned tone as he helped me stand up straight and I shot him a mock glare as I brushed his hands away from me so that I could on my own. Three loud gasps caught our attention as I snapped my head in the direction of the couch and I saw all three of them with their eyes open as Scott removed his claws from their necks. The strawberry blonde immediately sprung to her feet as she rubbed the back of her neck and Stiles fell unconscious as he slumped forward on the couch as I rushed to my best friend's side.
"Did it work?" Scott asked us in a rush as he ran around the front of the couch and peered at Stiles face anxiously as he crouched down with a frown.
"Did it work? Why didn't it work?" Lydia asked in a worried voice as she stared at Stiles with wide light green eyes and Peter latched onto her arm as he pulled her back towards the kitchen.
"Because it's not science, Lydia. It's supernatural. I did my part. Now give me the name. Lydia, a deal is a deal. Even with me." Peter told her sternly as he looked at her emotionlessly and Lydia glanced towards me with a hesitant expression as I nodded slightly to let her know it was okay.
"Malia." She whispered almost inaudibly as she leaned towards him with a hard expression and I felt my eyes widened in shock as I stared at them incredulously. A loud gasp came from behind me and I spun around to see the Nogitsune spasming on the couch as his eyes sprung open. I stepped backwards automatically in horror as it ripped the tape off his mouth and started gagging slightly as he pulled bandaged out of his throat. He lurched off of the couch onto his knees as he continued to vomit a long strand of gauze bandage out of his mouth until there was a large pile in the middle of the floor and I covered my mouth with my hand in horror as the bandage continued to pour out of his mouth. When the bandage finally ended, he started coughing uncontrollably as he gasped for breath and a black mist materialised in the middle of the gauze as a bandage wrapped hand emerged. Stiles scrambled backwards away from the bandage wrapped figure that was taking a humanoid shape from the pile in the middle of the floor and I held my arm out in front of mom and Deaton protectively as the figure crawled out the bandage before climbing to its feet. The figure suddenly lurched forward, making me let out an unmistakably girly scream as Scott and Peter rushed forward to grab its arms. I ran forward when I saw that they were struggling to hold him and we pushed him down on to the armchair with our supernatural strength.
"Hold him." Scott ordered in a grunt as he held down the figures shoulders and I shot him an annoyed look as I practically straddled the mysterious figure in an effort to stop him from moving.
"We're trying!" I snapped in annoyance with a glare as the figure bucked underneath me and Peter grunted in agreement with me as he partially snarled at the figure. The bandaged figured kept reached up to his face as it scratched at the bandages like a dog wanting to be let inside by its owners.
"Wait, wait, wait!" my brother urged us loudly as he grabbed my arm tightly and started pulling me off of the figure as Peter moved back as well. The ex-Alpha grabbed onto my arm to pull me protectively behind him as Scott stepped forward and slowly reached up to start unwrapping the bandages around the figures head to reveal Stiles underneath.
"Scott?" Stiles asked weakly in a small voice with tears in his eyes as he blinked furiously and I felt my heart gave a slight lurch as I saw the warm in his eyes that was unmistakably Stiles. My eyes widened in horror as I remembered that we had left the other Stiles unattended and I spun around to face the couch as panic flooded my veins. I looked around the room wildly but I couldn't see the other Stiles anywhere as I stepped forward and then I realised another person was missing from the room.
"Scott. Where are they?" I asked nervously in a small voice as I spun around in a circle looking for any sign of the other Stiles or a familiar head of strawberry blonde hair to appear in front of me. "Where's Lydia?"
"Where are they?" Scott asked loudly as he rushed towards the opened front door and I immediately followed after him as I felt tears spring to my eyes but I tried to hold them at bay. I couldn't believe that I had let her out of my sight. She was my best friend. My sister. And I had let her get taken by a homicidal ancient fox.
"Lydia!"
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Oh, by the way, you should check out my new Teen Wolf story : Piece of Me.