Stiles takes a step back as the wolves make their way across the yard. Looking at them through the glass windows of the formal living room his mind raced in panic, contemplating whether he should let them in or not. He can tell by the black wolf size, although identical to Derek's wolf form is different, leaner, and aged in comparison.
Finally ripping his eyes away, he makes up his mind, running over to the entrance and releasing the house from lockdown. A loud howl coming from the back porch startles him, running back into the kitchen, he slowly approaches the french doors.
The black wolf stands on its hind legs with its front paws against the glass, staring longingly at him as he stands there unsure of what to do. Then the wolf's tilting its head back as if to howl but instead releases what Stiles can only describe as the most grueling and mournful whine he didn't know was capable of for a wolf and it saddens him to his core.
"Mom!" Cora cries out as she's pushing him away in an instant, ripping open the doors. The black wolf moves down from the door quickly and transforms in seconds. Stiles watching in amazement as human arms come around Cora's shoulders.
A wretched sob comes from Derek's mother and he looks away unable to swallow the guilt, his eyes welling up as he glances at Derek's other sister who collapses into the hug. He turns away, forcing the feelings coursing through him to settle down, he goes into the guest bathroom to retrieve towels. Coming out just in time to see Derek's pack coming down the stairs, all of them in PJs, running into the kitchen and crowding around the Hales in a group hug.
Stiles feels Scott's hands on his shoulder, glancing beside him to see that his clan had come out as well. Allison, Isaac, Danny, Jackson, Lydia, and Peter all stand together. Stiles looks at Scott again who gives him a small smile, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly, he sighs deeply.
Erica comes over then, taking the towels from his hands, the group parts, as she hands them over to what he can make out, is Derek's mom and sister. The pack moves to walk behind the Alphas walking towards him. Stiles gasps in awe, finally getting a good look at them.
They are both stunning, with the same dark features as Derek, Derek's mom's eyes a light brown, the only contrast as his eyes look between them. Derek's mother wipes a tear from her eyes while looking at him, reaching for his hand. Stiles unsure of what to do tenses as he takes her hand in return. Holding his hand lightly she runs her thumb over his knuckles, studying his face. He blushes deeply feeling everyone's eyes staring at him. Stiles quirks his eyebrows up in confusion at her as she says,
"You're so handsome. I can see why my son chose you as his mate. I'm so sorry for your loss."
His heartbeat skyrockets, face burning from embarrassment when she hugs him tightly to her chest. Mate? What? Stiles wanted to ask but he didn't want to be rude so he hugs her back, glancing around at Derek's pack for answers.
Erica bites her lip at Boyd's side, trying and failing at suppressing her smile so he glances at Cora whose arching a judgemental brow up at him with the same expression Derek would be giving him right now. When Derek's mother pulls away his gaze moves onto Scott who communicates I don't know what she means either with his wide eyes as Derek's mom leans in to hug him too. Derek's twin sister leans in to bear hug him right after, kissing his cheek lightly in greeting, she gives him a small pained smile before moving over to Scott who whimpers in pain at her bone crushing hug. Stiles smirks, glad Scott's cuteness spared him from the experience, Laura already settling into a special place in his heart.
"Laura. It's alright." Scott says still trying to hug her back to the best of his ability despite getting the air crushed from his lungs, rubbing her back, she cries into his shoulder. Stiles understands, Scott gives awesome hugs.
"Talia I think we all have some explaining to do. But first, why don't we get you guys inside and dressed. I bet you're exhausted. Stiles?" Peter says, sauntering over from Lydia's side. Talia glances at him. He clears his throat.
"Of course, right this way," Stiles says, leading everyone inside. Scott walks at his side as they lead Talia and Laura to one of his many guest rooms. He opens the doors for them, the pack following the two alphas inside. Closing the door behind them so they can have a moment of privacy, Stiles, Scott, and his clan hang outside, all of them looking at him expectedly.
"So what's the plan?" Jackson says annoyed, looking half asleep in his Ralph Lauren designer PJs, robe, and slippers, clearly not wanting to be there. Stiles smiles to himself at the ridiculous scene in front of him, they were all PJ wearing Vampires about to have a slumber party with a pack of werewolves. Stiles laughs out loud.
"Earth to Stilinski! Your big head is needed down here on earth!" Stiles sobers quickly, not wanting to deal with a snapping Jackson all night.
"Look, I'll need some time to talk to them ok? Scott, will you back me up?"
The true alpha nods, "Always."
"Lydia and Allison, can one of you lend them some clothes?" Allison nods,
"Yeah, no problem. I'll get them right away." Allison says leaving instantly.
"Ok then. Danny, I need you and your amazing memory. Jackson, Isaac, and Lydia you guys can head back. We'll have a meeting at noon. No one's allowed to leave. If someone does, report them to me right away. Got it?" They all nod. Jackson kisses Danny when he leaves, following Lydia and Isaac down the hallway.
"Stiles what are you going to tell her?" Scott asks, knowing he was talking about the whole blood bond thing he shrugs.
"I don't know. Just back me up ok? I don't want to make his mom upset." Scott looks at him with concern but nods anyway. Allison makes it back in record timing.
He takes a deep breath before walking in, interrupting Peter and Talia's conversation, all the other wolves laying on the king sized bed in a puppy pile. Stiles huffs out a laugh as Talia glances back and orders all the wolves out except for Laura, who thanks Allison for the clothes.
"Give us a moment please," Talia says, with Laura as they walk into the bathroom to change. Allison leaves, giving him a small smile that he returns nodding to her in thanks.
"Follow my lead without question. Trust me you will thank me later." Peter says in a hushed whisper. He forwards his brows in confusion as he opens his mouth to protest but then Talia and Laura are walking out of the bathroom. Talia sighs deeply, walking over to him and hugs him again.
"Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful home Stiles," She says as she moves back, "I know this is awful circumstances for our introduction to one another and I hope you're not overwhelmed by us showing up so unexpectedly. It's just…" Talia's voice breaks, her eyes fill up with tears, bottom lip quivering. Laura comes up to put a supporting arm around her shoulder,
"As wolves and as his mother…my bond with Der is very strong and well when a bond breaks between a wolf and her cub it usually means the absolute worse…." The tears finally spill over her eyes as she sighs deeply, wiping at them as she continues, "Peter has explained to me what happened but it still feels like someone's ripped out my heart and I can't even imagine what you're going through as his mate…"
She swallows hard, reaching for his hand, Stiles quickly looks at Peter who nods slightly, so this is what he meant…
She looks into his eyes determinedly as she says, "We will do everything in our power to help you find him, Stiles. You have our word." He gives her a small smile, squeezing her hand reassuringly,
"Thank you so much and I completely understand. There's no need to apologize. I know you guys must be exhausted traveling from South Africa but if there's any information you can give us on the Triskelion symbol and what powers it has over you and your pack, it will help us greatly. I need to know what those demons are after."
Talia nods, taking her hand away she pushes her hair back to one side, tilting her head so he can see the same Triskelion tattoo behind her ear. He gasps in amazement. After a moment she untucks her hair back into place.
"The Triskelion is a powerful Celtic rune that has been in the Hale family for centuries. We Hale's are the original bloodlines of the Lycanthropes, fully shifted wolves of the Nemeton who possess its magic. Our kind is rare and has been sought after for centuries for our powers but when the Nemeton was destroyed during the war, the hunters stripped us of our magic and cursed us to live immortal lives. We have been stuck in time ever since and anyone who is bitten by us is cursed to live the same fate…" Talia's eyes glance at Scott who gives her a small smile. He nods and says,
"So they lift the curse to gain access to your powers, taking Derek as the sacrifice. But how is that possible if the Nemeton is destroyed?" Scott nods his head in agreement. He glances back at Talia lost in thought,
"I don't know. If they lifted the curse I don't understand how we are even alive. We all should've turned to dust by now. Maybe it hasn't kicked in yet. Maybe what we felt like our bond breaking with Derek was instead the release of the curse. I don't know…"
Stiles glances at Scott then, remembering Scott's body floating in the water, the pain of the bond breaking with Derek so excruciatingly painful, he fell unconscious. He feels a sudden flash of guilt as the severity of the situation comes crashing down on him.
"So Derek's…Derek's really dead then…. " Stiles says as flashes of Derek's handsome face smirking at him, teasing him, run through his mind. It's all his fault, taking the pendant and being stupid enough to think that he could get away with it, without anyone finding out. He started all of this and now he was going to pay for it with his best friend... brother's life.
He huffs out a laugh as he looks at Scott, who's staring at him with concern as a tear spills from over his eyes. Scott puts an arm on his shoulder when he hangs his head, instantly knowing, exactly what he was thinking before the words even come out of his mouth.
"It's not your fault Stiles," Scott says, squeezing his shoulder. Talia breaks down then hugging Laura tightly to her chest. Danny sighs deeply,
"They'll come after you one at a time. Stripping you of your powers and building enough power to resurrect the Nemeton to use to take control of Beacon Hills once and for all…."
"I wouldn't be so sure…" Peter says smirking, everyone turns to look at him.
"They could be using Derek as bait, by keeping him hostage. It's easy to assume the worst. It weakens people's resolve to do exactly what their opponent wants them to do. But in reality, we still don't know for certain what their motives are and to be honest, if I was going to kill a pack of magical wolves, I wouldn't kill them right away, I'd use them to my advantage." Stiles wipes at his eyes angrily squinting at Peter as he says,
"Straight from a sociopath's mouth. I suppose it's only logical. Well, what do you suggest we do?" Peter huffs out a laugh.
"We'll use persuasion of course. If you have the power to persuade then you have the power to bargain." Stiles rolls his eyes and sighs deeply,
"The ever optimistic businessman I see. But there's always a risk and we don't have the means to take chances."
"Exactly. You fake it till you make it. Then pull the rug from under them. It'll take them by surprise. Might even scare them a bit. Send those Demons running right back to hell where they belong." He sighs and nods, noticing Danny looking at him with a glint in his eye. Stiles squints at him, licking his lips.
"Danny? Care to share?…" Danny shakes his head frantically, looking away in an instant. "Please Danny. I'd rather know what you're thinking even if what you're thinking is insane." Danny sighs looking back at him guiltily,
"Not sure you're going to want to hear what I have to say…." Stiles presses his lips together and nods his head.
"Yeah, Danny I would." Danny sighs again, looking away he says,
"One of us needs to go out there. It's the only way we'll stand a chance…" Stiles nods. A Vampire. Scott looks back at him instantly with wide eyes.
"No! No Stiles! That's a death wish!"
"Scott I've been dead before. I've gotten over it. I'm dying anyway…." Laura looks between them with wide eyes as she says,
"What do you mean?" Stiles sighs, knowing he can't let them know about the blood bond between Derek and him so he responds with,
"I'll make a deal with the Devil. It's the only way they will tell me what they want with your pack. Hopefully, I'll be able to return before they drag me off to hell." He's not lying. Most likely he'll be taken in Derek's place but he won't tell anyone else that. Talia shakes her head pushing off from Laura.
"No there must be another way…" He shakes his head he smiles,
"It's the only way. Being a Vampire I'm not affected by a Demons black magic. I'm already dead. I can't burn in hell. I'm already in it."
"Stiles at least see what we can do with the connections we have around the realm. At least let us try to save you!" Talia says voice shaking, as her eyes flash red with anger.
"Do as you wish but my identity can't be exposed. I have pretty big targets on my back. I'm afraid no one's going to come help you if they find out I'm involved." Talia nods, looking at him with a new realization of the darkness behind his eyes. Stiles can't blame her for making her judgments; he has done some awful things in his past. Now he must pay for them.
"Good night Mrs. Hale. Laura..." He says turning to leave. Scott and Danny following him close behind out into the hall.
"Stiles…" Peter says from behind them. Stiles turns slightly. "Don't let your heart do anything stupid."
He smirks, stopping dead in his tracks, he sings songs, "Cross my heart and hope to die," behind him as he turns and continues walking down the hallway.
Danny leaves with a pat on his back as he takes Scott the rest of the way to his room in intense, heavy silence. Neither of them wanting to elaborate on the impending doom they would be having to face tomorrow and at that moment Stiles couldn't be more thankful, knowing that Scott shared the burden of this decision with him as if it were his own, Stiles couldn't have asked for a better brother.
"Stiles?" He stops, Scott's voice snapping him out of his thoughts where they stand in front of the doors that will soon send them their separate ways, he couldn't help feeling like this would be the symbolism of their relationship for the rest of their lives. Stiles going one way and Scott the other, only crossing paths to separate again, the door between them the undeniable differences and obstacles that will evidently block them from ever being truly on the same page and understanding.
"See you tomorrow. Right?" Scott says faintly in his ears. He looks away, not wanting to meet his gaze, worried that Scott would be able to see through his lie.
"Yeah, sure thing Scotty. Good night..." Stiles was about to turn away when he feels a hand land on his shoulder, making him practically jump out of his skin. Looking up he meets Scott's worried eyes, looking deep into his eyes as if trying to read his soul, searching to find out if something was wrong. Stiles determinedly meets his gaze, needing Scott to trust that he was ok. The hand on his shoulder tightens,
"Goodnight Stiles, I love you." Stiles swallows, feeling his face heat up, he buries his face in Scott's shoulder hugging him tightly as he says,
"I love you too bro." He leans back so the werewolf could see the forced smirk on his lips before nodding and turning around, walking away.
The purposely loud sigh from behind him shortly after, followed by the louder than usual click of the door closing a clear indication that Scott knew he was full of shit. Stiles laughs silently to himself, walking the rest of the way down the corridor, surprised that even after all these years some things never change.
He goes straight down to the kitchen. Grabbing his whiskey bottle, he walks to the front door, puts the house on lockdown, and closes the door behind him.
He chugs the entire bottle, throwing the now empty glass against a nearby tree.
Transforming, the veins spread around his eyes, and fangs elongate as he lets his own curse take over before running off into the darkness.
He walks the dark alleyways of town, sniffing out any unexpecting prey but the people of Beacon Hills are smart. The roads are empty and silent as he walks in the middle of the street, walking a fair amount of distance before he's able to catch anyone out and about. But of course, there are always those innocent souls who think they are safe from the things that go bump in the night.
He walks back onto the sidewalk, watching as a man closes the gates to his store. His breath shallows as he approaches silently from behind, breathing in the scent of the blood from beneath his skin. Veins thrumming as they move the blood through his arteries. Stiles grabs the guy from the back of his jacket and pulls him into the dark alleyway, sinking his fangs into the guy's neck and ripping through his flesh.
Sucking out his entire body's blood supply in seconds, the guy slows down considerably in his struggles against him, limbs going limp and he lies dead in Stiles' fangs. Stiles throws the dead body against the wall as he bends over and pukes up his stomach contents of the guy's blood.
"Ugh so fucking disgusting…" He says to himself at the bitter aftertaste of the high cholesterol slime. He slumps against the wall, leaning his back against it as he looks up to the night sky. Remembering Derek's blood, so thick, smooth, and taste so pure.
He squeezes his eyes shut as flashes of Derek appear clearly in his mind. Stiles would have given his life to have one more night with him. To have the alphas warm hands all over him, to feel the press of his lips against his neck, to be so full and satisfied again. Stiles can't believe he took it all for granted. Now, look at him…
He opens his eyes, wiping the blood from his mouth, he looks down at the familiar sight of his hands covered in someone else's blood. He huffs out a laugh. Stiles knew better than to expect anything else. He was a Vampire after all. He belonged to the night and the night belonged to him.
Letting the night enfold him in its arms, he becomes one with the shadows, eyes rolling back as his instincts take control once again, giving in to the need to kill.
He doesn't remember how many humans he killed that night, maybe 50, 100? Stiles isn't sure and he doesn't care.
All he remembers was having way too much fun making a little girl cry as he laughed hysterically in her face, holding her against the wall by her throat, making her watch as her mother died a foot away from the loss of blood to her brain.
Stiles has a special fixation on instilling terror into the minds of innocence. Some part of him thinks it's his sick way of helping them. To make them realize that life can be more terrifying than horror movies, or that monsters are real and evil prey on the innocent.
Maybe that's why he silences her screams, to stop her suffering, to save her from the cruel reality of the world.
He snaps her neck easily in his hands. Her small body light as a feather falling when he releases her from his hold, watching as her body hits the ground. Stiles turns numbly away, dripping in blood, feet dragging as he walks the whole way back to his estate.
He enters the code letting himself in easily he walks up the stairs to his bedroom, walking past Scotts sleeping form.
He strips immediately, throwing the bloodied, heavy clothes away in disgust.
Once inside the shower, he lets the water run over him, watching as the water turns red around his feet. The sudden feeling of nauseousness hits him, dry heaving over and over but nothing comes out.
The content of his stomach completely empty. He gasps, falling to his knees and curling in on himself in a fetal position. Stiles doesn't know how much time goes by but at some point he just gets up and washes himself, rubbing his skin until it's raw.
Walking out he looks over to his bed but Scott's not there.
Thinking nothing of it, he walks past the bed with a towel wrapped around his waist to his closet but before he's able to open the door, Scotts slamming the door closed from behind him.
Jumping, he turns to look back at him. Scott's red alpha eyes shine with tears as he pushes Stiles up against the door, hand around his throat.
"Why! Why did you kill them, Stiles! What did you do?" Scott screams in his face, tears streaming down his eyes, in his half shifted form. He chokes, unable to speak as Scott's hand crushes his esophagus.
"You're a monster! How could you! You reek of their blood!" Stiles eyesight darkens as he suffocates from the loss of oxygen but before he's able to pass out, Scott's releasing him from his hold.
He gags for air as Scott sobs, grabbing at his hair as he paces back and forth, hitting his head over and over as he snarls, trying to suppress his wolf from shifting completely and killing Stiles right then and there.
Stiles slumps back on the wall, smiling to himself as he thinks of how perfect his plans going. "Come on! Kill me, Scott! Release me from my misery..."
"Shut up Stiles!" Scott snarls, still pacing.
"I killed them!' He yells manically. "I watched as their lives drained from their eyes! I drank their blood, I snapped a little girl's neck!" Scott snarls, half shifting he grabs one of the couches and slams it down on the floor, punching it and ripping it to shreds with his claws in a blind rage.
Stiles laughs. The true alpha falls onto his knees, fisting his clawed hands, he closes his eyes panting heavily.
"See, you want to hate me, don't you? But you can't because you pity me..." He laughs again. Scott glares at him with his alpha red eyes.
"Shut. up. Stiles."
"Just stop Scott! Stop trying to dig through the darkness. Stop trying to find something to justify your feelings, it won't take you long to realize I'm black to the core." Scott growls, standing up, he stalks over to him. His heart skyrockets, accepting his fate as Scott slams him against the door, arm holding him down and glaring back into his eyes.
"No! You're wrong! You have no idea what you're even talking about Stiles! Let me help you!" Stiles huffs out a laugh to cover the sob that's stuck in his throat, if only he'd had a dollar every time someones said those exact words to him. Stiles hates this, hearing Scott's pained voice repeating those awful words, knowing there'd always be a part of himself that Scott would never be able to accept. Making up excuses for him like Stiles wasn't fully aware it's his fault for the deaths he's cost will only make matters worse if he lets Scott continue to talk himself into denial. He just hopes Scott makes it quick.
"No, Scott. You have no idea what I'm talking about, and that's the problem. I've chosen to be this way..." Scott shakes his head, looking away as tears roll down his cheeks. He opens his mouth to say something but he chokes up unable to speak. He pushes Stiles away and runs out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Stiles shakingly sighs. Failing at upsetting Scott enough to kill him left him with only one other option.
It was going to cost him everything.
He walks numbly over to his closet, getting dressed in PJs, he grabs the secret stash of joints he's got hidden away in his safe for times exactly like these. Walking out of his closet, he stops suddenly again as Lydia stands in the middle of his room. Eyes glazed over, looking straight ahead at nothing but the blank wall ahead.
"Lydia?..." Lydia's mouth twitches but in an instant, her eyes are rolling back into her head and she screams .
He instantly covers his ears, falling to his knees as the shriek deafens him and rattles his bones but then it suddenly stops and he's left with nothing but the ringing in his ears.
"Lydia!" Peter yells, running over to her unconscious body lying on the floor. Picking her up in his arms, he shakes her, yelling her name again. Stiles stands running over and dropping to his knees next to her, listening in to her heartbeat skyrocketing in her chest.
"What's wrong? What happened? Lydia?" Allison yells, running over to them.
"I think she's having hysterics, maybe you should slap her…" Isaac says, following her from close behind.
The rest of his clan come in as well. Stiles didn't think the demons would make a move so soon. Damn it! If only he had more time!
He stands, fisting his hands in rage as he looks down at Lydia's unconscious form.
"She…She was just standing there in the middle of my room, screamed, and then passed out... I think she's possessed." Allison looks at him like he's crazy and back down at Lydia.
"She's not fucking possessed! She's part Banshee! Haven't you ever heard a Banshee scream before?" Peter snarls.
"Everyone back to your rooms! Now!" Talia yells at her pack, closing the door behind her, she walks over to them cautiously.
"She's a banshee? How is that possible?" Talia asks as she stands next to him. Stiles swallows, if Peter was right, things just got a hell of a lot worse.
He leans closer to her, examining her eyes as they move rapidly back and forth from beneath her eyelids. He clears his throat,
"Before she was turned Lydia had started showing early signs of becoming a Banshee. Her parents sent her away to a nunnery where they tried to exorcist the Demons out of her. She went insane..."
"Lydia hasn't had those powers for decades!" Jackson says defensively, glaring at him before looking back down at his best friend's unconscious body.
"This must be linked to the explosion. Something must have brought back her powers…" Danny says. He nods,
"Yeah, She seemed off when I talked to her earlier..." Could that have been the reason for the argument he interrupted between Peter and Lydia? She shoots up then, gasping she looks around the room frantically. He backs off, distancing himself by reflex.
"Get off me!" She yells throwing Peter hard into the wall. He slumps down from the wall, knocked out. Lydia curls in around herself, rocking herself back and forth while covering her ears, she mumbles incoherent words to herself.
"What is wrong with her!" Talia snarls.
"Just give her some space..." Stiles says watching as she hyperventilates. He walks cautiously closer to her, "What is it, Lydia? I'm right here. Come on, it's alright, tell me what's happening…" He says, bending down next to her slowly.
"They're so loud Stiles!" Lydia cries out, grabbing him by the arm, wide eyes staring back at him with absolute terror. "Derek…Derek's screams they won't stop….they won't stop torturing him!…he's dying! They're burning him alive! The voices won't stop! They..they're driving me insane! I just….I need them to go away!" He nods, swallowing hard he holds onto her, watching as she trembles.
"It's ok Lydia I'm here…right here." He says trying to soothe her but she shakes her head frantically,
"No! No Stiles! Can't you hear them? They're chanting your name! The boy who runs with wolves! They're going to kill you!" He sighs deeply,
"Listen to me…Lydia listen to my voice. They aren't real! You and I are real! We're alive!" He grabs her face with both hands, looking into her glazed over red shot eyes, the steady stream of tears rolling down her cheeks. She gasps, stilling as her eyes finally clear with clarity, staring at him with parted lips,
"Stiles why are they laughing?…Wha…What did you do!" She cries out, pushing his hands away in disgust.
Leaning back on his knees, a small smile tugging on his lips. It seems the demons are onto him just like he's planned.
"As the saying goes the devil makes us sin… If I don't kill a man every now and then, he forgets who I am..." Stiles stands and reaches down for her hand but she knocks it away, standing on her own, her eyes downcast in defeat as she says,
"We've learned a better way..." The disappointment clear in her voice. A sardonic smile twists his lips, shrugging while he responds,
"What can I say? I'm guilty as charged. It was a good plan until...now." Lydia rolls her eyes.
"I agree…" Isaac says.
"Shut up." Allison hits him in the arm.
"You're going to look like a total idiot when you're captured and I'm the one who has to save you," Lydia says matter of factly, crossing her arms.
Stiles looks away, doubt still a somewhat foreign concept to him but he feels it all the same, the feeling starting to creep its way in.
"Stiles…for what we want most, there is always a cost that must be paid for in the end…" Talia says sadly, her brown eyes looking at him with a wiseness far beyond her years.
The room is silent, everyone turning to look at the Alpha. Having already come to terms with his decision, she stands there not as an opponent but as an ally, waiting for the rest of his clan to comprehend the news.
Being the only person in the room who understood his reasoning, it makes him question whether she knew he'd have to make this decision from the beginning, waiting to see what great lengths he'd go to get her son back, but he guesses it was inevitable that in in the end the decision would be the same, his life in exchange for Dereks.
He only wonders, in the slight possibility that he makes this out alive if his clan would ever be able to forgive him as well. He turns away not wanting to see the clan's reactions, he didn't think he could bear it.
"I guess you're right. I'll just go pack up and go straight to hell now..." He says sarcastically, walking out onto his balcony, fleeing from the tense, suffocating room for some fresh air. Jumping onto the roof he pulls out a joint and lights it, blowing the smoke back into the night sky.
"Stiles? What are you doing?" Lydia calls after him, jumping onto the roof beside him.
"Listening to the universe laugh at me…"
"You know your plan wasn't that stupid. It's not getting to the afterlife that's the problem. It's getting back."
"Exactly Lydia…I'm not coming back." Lydia is silent for a few moments, the gears in her genius head spinning at lightning speed, wishing he'd be able to see all the information she's shifting through to counteract his statement.
"Stiles you're always the one who figures it out. I'm sure you'll make it. Maybe, if I just stop trying to fight it…the voices. I can help find him before things can get any worse..."
"No! That sounds like an awful idea Lydia!" He practically yells, flailing as he tries to sit up on his elbows, Lydia forwards her brows in confusion at him.
"Yeah actually, I'm the one who made the mistake. I own it. You're not allowed to feel my guilt and I'd really appreciate it if you'd just stay out of this. I don't want anyone else endangering themselves for me." Lydia huffs out a laugh.
"You're unbelievable you know that right? I've never met someone who was such a self sacrificing idiot in my life. You've only known this guy for a few days who cursed you for eternity might I add and now here we are, talking about how you're going to sacrifice yourself for him! You're ridiculous!"
Lydia's venting is surprising but not unusual, if he thinks back long enough he can remember her yelling at him like this in their earlier days when Stiles was still freshly bitten and they had teamed up to decode, hours of security systems in a Vampire trading ring. Yeah, that was not very fun and as starved as they were it was a miracle they made it out alive and hadn't ripped each other's heads off. Tuning back into Lydia's very informative dissertation of his life, he listens in to,
"...and don't think I haven't noticed that your humanity is turned on! I know you love Scott and I also know you like Derek! Like a lot. Maybe you're even in love with him and that's why you're so heartbroken about what's happened to him..." He scoffs,
"Yeah right, I don't have a romantic bone in my body."
"Stiles…If you're going to go to such great lengths to bring this guy back from the dead you need to at least tell me the truth before I allow you to risk your life for him." Stiles sighs, seeing her point, he'd ask her the same.
"I don't know what I feel ok? The world's still the same Lydia. Without Derek, there's just… less in it. If I don't find Derek, those demons, they could release the Hale curse and without the curse, it would kill Derek, Scott and everyone else involved and it would be all my fault because I took the damn pendant. I couldn't live with myself Lydia, not after something like that..."
Lydia sighs nodding her head,
"I know how you feel..."
"Wait…You're in love with Peter? Not that I'm...you know what I mean!" He says forwarding his brows as he turns his head to look at her. Lydia swallows hard,
"No, love is way too strong of a word. Stockholm syndrome is maybe more like it, I mean it's only logical since he's my main source of survival. But if I had to think about him in that context and really try to envision it, I guess it's possible. But there are some people you can only love by not being with them. I've learned that the hard way throughout the centuries and I will not make that mistake again…" He nods, looking back at the sky.
Lydia was amazing. Castaway at a very young age by her parents for her supernatural abilities, she was hated by her religious parents. It was only after she returned from the nunnery, successfully escaping where she was tortured daily and found out she was banned from her parent's home that she decided to kill them.
The Vampire who turned her was one of the originals, a priest who saw potential in her but of course, in the most Vampire like fashion, would drink blood from his holy wine glass and fuck the nuns in the back of the church cathedral. Obviously, this didn't amuse her in the slightest so she killed him. She's managed to only grow considerably more insane in the last century, which Stiles guiltily blames himself for.
"But…" She says, "When I drink his blood. It's like I'm in a euphoric place like his blood is the purest tasting thing there is in the whole entire world and my body for once feels full and satisfied. My urges to feed cease completely and I'm able to feel…to be present in the moment and just feel alive again and I don't know if I have the strength in me to resist that…"
"But how do you know if it isn't just some side effect of being poisoned? Isn't that why their blood is so potent because it tastes so damn good…" Lydia sighs deeply as she makes the face where she's about to educate people on their ignorance.
"No Stiles. Can't you feel it? It doesn't kill us because they make their bodies release endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin through their bloodstreams that create the blood/soul bonds we have with them. The poison only occurs when their bodies go into self-defense mode when actively in danger. We are drinking the world's purest blood known to man. Werewolves are immune to any disease and its nutritious value is through the charts..."
"Oh. So that explains the sudden need to cum my brains out…"
"Ha. You should try actually having sex with them. They have a few more tricks up their sleeves…"
"Really? Wait how did you…" He glances at her as she smiles wickedly at him. "Oh. I forgot you walked in on us. Must've blacked it out from my memory." Lydia rolls her eyes and sighs deeply,
"Don't worry about it. You have more important things to think about…" He laughs, glad she was on his side.
"We've definitely seen quite a lot in our time. The world is a rather awful place. Best to meet it on its own terms right? Here." He hands Lydia a joint.
"Yeah, chiefing this whole packet wouldn't be hard at all."
"Yup, that's the plan." Stiles and Lydia chill out on the roof till dusk. Lydia leaving when the sound of birds chirping breaks the silence between them to check up on Peter.
He stays to watch the sunrise. Thankfully still wearing Lydia's rune ring he's able to appreciate its beauty for the first time since he was human. Acknowledging that this might be the last sunrise he ever sees again.
Once the sun is out and blinding, he sighs deeply and jumps down off the roof. Walking into his room, he showers and changes into his signature black hunter's gear, and walks out in the hallway.
Stiles hears his voice before he sees him, quickly running over to Lydia's room to stop her before it's too late.
Dr. Deaton stands in front of Lydia at the edge of her bed. Lydia sat pretzel styled is breathing in deeply, with her eyes closed as she meditates. Peter and Talia standing off to the back, stare at him as he begrudgingly comes over to watch as well.
"Where are you now Lydia?" Deaton asks in a hushed tone. Her brows pinch.
"I'm up in the mountains. There's snow cascading down lightly. There's pine trees all around me…It's…It's so cold." As she says this the smoke of her breath is visible even in the room-temperature space. He gasps loudly, which has both Talia and Peter giving him the side eye. Deaton says,
"Very good Lydia. Do you think you can walk around?"
"No…" Lydia starts to tremble. Her complexion visibly flushing.
"I'm standing in at least a foot of snow...Wait…I think…I think I smell firewood…and dust." Stiles bites his lip as he glances at the doctor wanting so badly to say something but he's afraid of disturbing Lydia's meditation.
"Ok breathe Lydia. Remember to breathe through your nose and out through your mouth…That's it." Lydia's breath continues to ghost out into the room when she starts to quiver; her entire body now flushed red, she fists her hands around her knees.
"What do you hear?" Deaton says.
"I hear birds chirping, I hear some crickets…" She gasps, sitting up straighter. "I just heard a howl! Like distinctively in my ears! Whoa! The birds flew away…Oh my god! There's the smoke! Something's burning a few feet away from me!"
"That's ok Lydia. Remember you're in someone else's memory. Nothing's real." Deaton says calmly.
"Sure feels real…" Lydia says as she moves to cross her arms. Stiles eyes widen, watching in awe at her still in the trance.
"You're deep into his subconscious. It seems like Derek's minds blocked something from him which explains why you can't move."
"Well, what am I supposed to do?... I think I just heard something run by me." Lydia says, through chattering teeth.
"Stay calm. Remember your breathing. You're a Vampire Lydia. Remember you have control over your body temperature."
"I don't have control of my body! I'm trying. I just can't stop shaking!"
"Ok. That's fine. It seems like you've accessed the physical level of the memory. Why don't you try to move now…" Deaton says hesitantly. Lydia gasps sitting up straighter.
"I'm moving! I can walk now!" Deaton smiles glancing back at Talia who nods at him.
"Ok excellent. Where are you going?"
"Towards the smoke of course! This is the Hale fire, isn't it? Jeez, I can barely see now. There's so much smoke. My hearts racing for some reason so there's that…" Stiles snorts.
"Don't push yourself too much ok? If you want to stop I'm right here," Deaton says.
"Ok, I made it. The house is aflame. No way someone's going to survive that…" Stiles feels Peter tense by his side. Glancing slightly in his direction, he sees Peter's hands clenching.
"Look around you. Do you notice anything?"
"The flames are out of control. For some reason, I'm getting pulled towards the side of the house…Peter! Oh god, I think I'm going to be sick!" Lydia yells, grimacing, she hangs her head down, swallowing hard.
"Turn around! Don't look at him! Lydia listen to my voice! Can you hear me?" She nods.
"He's…He's got fourth-degree burns all over his body." Lydia chokes out, her voice shaking with emotion. Stiles glances at Peter then whose head is turned down and eyes are shut tightly. He looks back at Lydia as Deaton says,
"Listen to my voice, Lydia. Hold out your hand." Her shaking hand comes out hesitantly as Deaton holds onto it.
"Listen to my voice. You are with me now. I'm pulling you away. Away from this dream world and into reality. You are now in a safe place where no one can harm you. You are safe. Open your eyes…" She opens her eyes and gasps. Deaton hugs her in an instant as she cries out in relief into his shoulder. Peter walks up almost hesitantly as he waits for Lydia to calm down. When Lydia finally pulls away, Peter instantly hugs her, holding her tightly to his chest.
"I know what she saw…" Stiles says, Deaton and Talia both turn to look at him.
"What do you mean?" Talia says.
"It's the dream with the Nemeton isn't it?" Deaton asks with a glint of excitement in his eye. He sighs, nodding,
"Lydia described what it was like perfectly. Besides seeing Peter, I was in the same dream. Derek told me that the Triskelion pendant uses its power from the Nemeton to create this dream. He said he's been having the same dream for years but he couldn't figure out what it meant..."
"It seems to me like Derek's mind has consciously forgotten this traumatic experience. It's a natural human defense mechanism. Whenever something is too traumatizing, too horrible for us to cope with, the brain rejects it, erasing the incident from our memories, but it's always there, deeply hidden within our subconscious minds."
"But how is this possible? How was Lydia able to tap into his subconscious if he's dead?" Stiles head was spinning, thinking of all the possibilities. Was it even possible to be stuck between dimensions of the living and dead? Wouldn't that make Derek a ghost?
"Banshee's are omens of Death and messengers of the afterlife. With her abilities, she can tap into someone's soul or subconscious who is dying or already dead."
"He's alive," Lydia says bluntly. Everyone turns to look at her.
"Really?" Talia says with tears in her eyes.
"I wasn't in control of my body. He was…." Talia gasps, hand covering her mouth as the tears fall down her face.
"Oh thank god!" Stiles exhales in relief, grabbing his hair. His heart skyrocketing in excitement. Talia laughs out loud bringing him into a celebratory hug. Pulling away Talia says,
"I'm so relieved! I'm so happy my baby's ok. We need to tell the pack!"
"Already ahead of you." He says pulling out his phone and sending a text to everyone in his clan group chat to bring the wolves down for a meeting. "Everyone's meeting in the formal living room."
He strides out as the rest of them follow him close behind, he walks into the hallway. Stiles stops as Allison and Isaac come out of their rooms.
"Hey, have you guys seen Scott?" Allison and Isaac both look at each other with mischievous smiles before they look back at him and shrug. He gasps,
"You didn't…Guys!" He says after them as they run down the stairs laughing childishly. Has he mentioned before about Allison's habit of taste testing? Well, Isaac definitely isn't the best influence on her.
When Stiles hears the door close from the left of him, his head whips around, gaping soundlessly at Scott who comes out of their room, hair tasseled, in PJs that are definitely not his. Scott looks at him sheepishly,
"Uh, Morning..."
"Please tell me you didn't allow them to have a full three course, gourmet meal with you..." Scott smirks.
"God damn it, Scott! Why?" Scott shrugs walking past him hurryingly.
"I needed to let off some steam…"
"Scott!" Stiles catches up to him as they both walk down the stairs.
"Please tell me you're joking….You're fucking joking right? Scott!" Scott bites his lip, smiling to himself as he practically runs into the formal living room, sitting next to Cora's side on the couch, cowering next to her she gives him an unimpressed arched brow. He gapes standing there with his hands on his hips.
"Stiles?" Talia calls, Stiles sighs deeply, deciding to deal with the issue later, he turns around, standing next to the alpha in the middle of the room. Everyone somehow squeezing themselves into the couches and crowds around on the floor. Stiles clears his throat.
"So it seems we have some good and bad news." The room goes silent as he continues, "Bad news. We still don't know where Derek is. Good news. Derek's alive. Which is why in a couple of minutes after this meeting I'll be leaving into the preserve…"
The crowd all start protesting at once as Scott yells,
"I'm coming with you!"
Stiles rolls his eyes addressing the rowdy crowd, "Scott, Everyone. This is not an option. Werewolves are still susceptible to a Demon's black magic. Vampires on the other hand are not. I will be going in this alone. That's an order." Stiles says, eyeing his clan.
"Yes, that goes to my pack and Derek's as well. No one leaves this house." Talia says, flashing her alpha red eyes. The pack's werewolf eyes flash back at their alpha's demand in acknowledgment.
"I hate goodbyes so umm I'm just gonna go…" He says turning around and walking to the door. Yells erupt from behind him including curse words and threats as he turns back around offended.
"What! Come on, guys! Give me a break!"
"You better hope you don't come back Stilinski because when I get my hands on you…"
"You wish Whittemore!" Stiles yells as he flips him off, Jackson transforms and lunges towards him but is stopped by Danny who yells at him to run. He doesn't need to be told twice. Stiles laughs, making a run for it through the back porch doors, running into Beacon Hills preserve and not looking back.