Chapter 3- Tests and Revelations
Stiles is only able to stare in awe as his brain reboots. He's not sure if he's more shocked by the sudden appearance of a dead man (a handsome dead man) or the fact that apparently, the North American werewolf leader is British. Although Stiles knows that second thought is just his brain latching onto useless information in an effort to process what he is seeing. One of his idols is standing in front of him, smirking. He eyes the Lupine curiously, before finally finding his voice, "So uh, I guess this means you also know Elvis." Stiles gives the Lupine a bright smile as he settles in one of the chairs by the desk.
Bowie lets out a peal of laughter, "Ah, I see you are not as brash as the stories make you out," he declares while moving to sit in the chair behind the desk. He regards Stiles for a few tense moments, "Tell me Mieczysław, what do you know about being the Lupine." He leans back in the chair, giving Stiles an amused look.
"You know you get a grey hair every time you say that name," Stiles sinks into his chair and crosses his arms. Of course, his not-dead idol would know his given name, pronounce it correctly, and repeatedly use it. The Lupine is so lucky Stiles is still very much terrified of him.
The Lupine lets out a rich laugh, "My dear boy, you have me confused with someone who can age," His gaze is intense, it feels as if he is observing Stiles' very soul. Quietly, almost to himself, he murmurs, "you've no idea though. Do you?"
"Uh no. How would I know what's going on?!" Stiles throws his arms out, "You called me here for some significant meeting. One that could not be conducted over the phone," Stiles leans toward the Lupine, warming up to his rant, "even though there is this amazing feature that allows you to see the other person on the phone. I mean I know you've been dead for a few years, but seriously what is so important I had to fly here?" Stiles slumps in his chair, "alone I might add." He tells the Lupine, annoyance evident in his voice.
Bowie steeples his fingers in front of him; a small smirk still on his face. The expression doesn't bother Stiles as much as it might on another person. They stare at one another in silences for a few long seconds; Stiles is just about ready for another monologue when Bowie finally speaks up, "It would seem there are large gaps in your werewolf knowledge base." He holds up a finger as his eyes flash a deep purple, Stiles swallows his protests at the display, "Smart Alpha Stilinski, as amusing as I find you, we really do not have the time for all your arguments. For the sack of my sanity, do save them all for the end."
The Lupine gets up and begins to search along one of the bookshelves, "Why Brice felt the need to rearrange these I'll never know. That boy is a menace," Bowie mutters as he looks over the tomes. "Ah, here it is." He pulls a leather-bound tome off the shelf, it looks old and doesn't have anything written on its cover.
Stiles can only hold his tongue for so long, questions are building up, and he needs answers, "Okay, loving the whole cryptic Lupine thing you have going on, you must know Nyx." He misses the shocked look pass over Bowie's at the mention of Nyx. Stiles gets up, and moves toward the other were, "Have to say though, being mysterious isn't helping your leadership skills. Is it too much to ask to explain a few things?!" Stiles' ability to sense and respond to fear works as well as expected, he pokes the Lupine in the chest.
Thankfully for his continued existence all the Lupine does is arch a brow, not as expressively as Derek's but he gets points for drama and wordless hands over the book to Stiles. Stiles grips the book in reflex as it is shoved in his hands. He stares at it's dull and aged cover; an indescribable feeling overcomes him. It leaves him gasping as if all he lost all the air in his lungs.
"This book, the Tome of the Magi-Wolf, was written by the first spark werewolf," The Lupine pauses seemingly waiting for Stiles to say something. For once Stiles stays quiet, and Bowie sadly shakes his head, "This is a record of the original Lupine. It is also the reason why you had to come here." The Lupine moves past Stiles to sit back in his chair. He extends a hand to the one Stiles had vacated, "Tell me Alpha Stilinski, what do you smell in this room?"
Stiles stops his examination of the book and realizes that he hasn't smelled anything since entering the house. More than that, he never notices there was a lack of sensory information. He looks up at the Lupine with wide eyes, "Nothing, I can't even smell the leather of this book."
Bowie nods and makes a please sound of agreement, "That's good Alpha, two more questions and I will be done with the 'mysterious act' portion of our meeting." Bowie gives him a grin that has a few too many sharp teeth, "Next question, what color was Brice's hair?"
Stiles squints his eyes at the Lupin in confusion, "Uh, green?"
The Lupine's smile widens, "Last one, and I think we can finally get to business, "How many heartbeats do you hear?"
At this point, Stiles was ready for just about any question. He listens carefully, trying to find the heartbeats of Brice and Walter along with the Lupine's. Stiles frowns as he can only pick up one, that one being his own. He closes his eyes and concentrates on his hearing, and only hears the one. Frustrated he lets a little of his spark seep into his senses. For one brief moment, he can pick out 4 other individual rhythms before they disappear. He opens his eyes again and is face with David Bowie grinning widely at him, amusement evident in his purple-tinged eyes.
"Well done Stiles. It seems I've finally found my successor." He walks over to Stiles in pulls him into a hug. Stiles freezes as the older wolf embraces him before he feels a hand on the back of his neck. The touch isn't demanding, a light brush of the other wolf fingertips. As Bowie pulls away Stiles' world lights back up with scents and sounds. He would have stumbled from the sudden onslaught if the Lupine didn't have a firm grip on him.
"Easy now, it can be a bit disorientating coming out of the void," Bowie's voice is gentle as he guides Stiles back into his seat, "It will pass in a few minutes."
Stiles breathes through his nose, feeling like he was just turned. The smells of the house and the people in it bombard his nose. His ears feel like they had just popped as he also can hear movement on the floor below. His wolf whines in his head, confused and becoming angry.
"What the hell was that?!" Stiles' voice is loud to his ears, "I take it back, you are not my Idol, that position is now vacant. I will be holding interviews from my couch just as soon as I can feel my knees again." Stiles glares at the Lupine, ignoring the other wolf's laughter.
"Really now Stiles, a new Idol, I'm heartbroken. However, will I sleep at night?" Bowie presses a button on a phone that Stiles hadn't noticed until now and requests refreshments. Stiles feels his senses settling into a sense of normal.
The Lupine stays quiet as Stiles acclimates to his returned senses. Finally, as Stiles looks back up, he speaks again, "I apologize for the cloak and dagger bit, but once everything is explained, you will realize its necessity."
Stiles snorts at the word choice, "Does mean we are at the answer portion of this insanity?"
The Lupine is stopped from answering as Brice enters the room. He carries a tray with what looks to be drinks and sandwiches, which he sets on the desk with a flourish. A wicked grin spreads across his face as he looks at Stiles. Who is too busy staring at the boy's hair, his now bright white hair. Brice notices his look and gives Stiles a wink before leaving. Stiles turns his gaze to Bowie, a question forming.
"Brice is a changeling, and one of the tests to determine the next Lupine." Bowie appears to be interested in the sandwiches as Stiles gapes at him, "It takes more than just being alpha with magic, although I've found many do not believe that last part." He looks back to Stiles, offering the food, "Wouldn't you agree?"
Stiles rolls his eyes as he picks up one of the offered sandwiches, turkey from the smell of it, "Can't tell you how often members of my own pack tell me I imagine my magical abilities. iOh no Stiles, you're mistaken a wolf can't also have a spark/i. So annoying."
The Lupine makes a sound of agreement as he bites into his sandwich. After he finishes his bite, he continues, "I've tested many wolves, but you are the first to pass all three. The original Lupine outlined these tests as a way to find a new Lupine. I'd given up hope when word of your pack was brought to my attention."
"So, let me get this straight, you've been searching for a successor for all these years while also having a successful music career?" Stiles gives the Lupine a disbelieving look.
Letting out a heavy sigh Bowie sets down his sandwich, "To err is human, to forgive divine," he lets out a bitter chuckle. "I was a selfish fool," Bowie leans his head back and stares at the ceiling, "and it nearly cost me everything." He sits up suddenly with a fierce look in his eyes, "Once you find your mate, don't ever let them go. Nothing is more important than them. Nothing." Bowie seems to shrink in on himself, "the life of the man, who you know as David Bowie, is mostly made up of magic. I used up a great deal of my magic to create the illusion of normalcy, and in the end, it cost me, my mate. Which is why I staged my persona's death and had taken back up the duties of the Lupine."
"So everything the world knows about David Bowie …" Stiles trails off as the Lupine gives him a weary smile.
"All a lie, I craved fame and became lost in the adoration of my fans. I wanted to hold onto those things and created a spell to maintain my public life. It drained me of almost all my magic, weakening my abilities as Lupine. It also destroyed the bond I had with my mate." Bowie wipes discretely at his eyes and takes a deep breath, "she was sought out by hunters and killed to weaken me farther. If not for her last act of protection for me, I'd be with her." Bowie stares blankly at the ceiling, "Now I am trying to atone, I've neglected my duties and am only now realizing the great disserve I've done."
"If you realize you've been negligent, how is finding a replacement Lupine owning up to your mistakes?" Stiles shifts uncomfortably, the smell of sadness and despair are heavy on his tongue.
"Oh, you misunderstand, I am not stepping down any time soon," the Lupine appears to have collected himself, "It will take years to train you, and that's not taking into account searching for your mate."
"Wait. Hold on; I have a mate. A mate I am very anxious to see again. One who is probably going to silently freak out once I tell him about this little meeting." Stiles' wolf adds more growl to his voice; he is not happy at the blatant dismissal of his mate.
"A mate?" Bowie sounds utterly confused; he's by Stiles' sit move his shirt collar before Stiles can voice a protest, "Oh this isn't good."
Stiles flings himself out of the chair and away from the Lupine, "What the fuck? I thought we were over this whole cryptic business. What is so wrong with Derek that you aren't acknowledging him as my mate?"
The Lupine gives Stiles such a look of sadness, "Who has been giving you all your werewolf lore information?" Bowie gives Stiles a look before continuing, "This is important, whoever this person is has been misleading you, greatly."
Stiles feels his blood run cold, "Well, Derek tells me what little he knows, but it isn't much since his family died when he was so young. Mostly I've learned everything from Scott and occasionally Deaton."
"Stiles, you've been lied to, at least about mating. You don't have a mating bond, at all. If you did, then you'd be able to sense Derek, even miles apart."
"I know that. We were going to finish the bond once I got back home," Stiles tells the Lupine, feeling some of his worry ease.
"You mean to tell me; you left your mate with an incomplete mating bond?" Bowie's voice is quiet, fear pools in Stiles' stomach.
"You demanded I come alone!" He lets his wolf come to the surface and feels his claws come out.
A look of shocked understanding crosses Bowie's face, "That demand doesn't include mates or children." He sits down heavily in his chair, "I had assumed you knew."