This is the last time you tell me I've got it wrong,

This is the last time I say it's been you all along,

This is the last time I let you in my door,

This is the last time, I won't hurt you anymore.

The Last Time – Taylor Swift


"The hospital?" I asked with clear disdain, eyeing the building we were approaching with contempt. "What business could we possibly have here?"

"I have a matter to attend to with your favourite nurse," he sneered as he stepped up onto the curb, heading for the entrance. My steps didn't falter, and I considered what he was saying.

"Are you going to kill her?" I asked slowly as I followed him into the harsh fluorescent lights.

"Does it matter?"

I shrugged indifferently, "I suppose not."

An orderly walked in our path, head buried in a medical chart, and I shoved him roughly to the side, watching with pleasure as his head cracked against the wall with a loud crunch. "And you complain you never get to have any fun," Void mocked me, a smirk set like stone on his lips.

I wound myself around him, pressing my own smirking lips to his neck and nibbling teasingly at his cold skin. He pushed me off a moment later, disinterested by the lust-driven move.

"Hi there," he said innocently, coming to a stop at the front desk where a nurse stood, distracted by the files in front of him. I leaned over the counter, pushing my cleavage up with a matching expression of innocence splayed across my face. "Could you page Melissa McCall for me, please?" Void continued even as I felt the Oni materialise behind us.

Before the nurse could say so much as a word, a sword appeared in my peripheral vision, stabbing the innocent man in the stomach.

I tutted unhappily, dancing around the barrier to catch the nurse before he fell. "Don't be wasteful," I scolded the Oni lightly, only to get no reaction bar the tilting of his masked face. I didn't bother asking for Void's permission, I merely angled the man's head in my direction and sank my fangs into his throat, sucking the blood from his jugular as my fingers absently toyed with the hole in his gut, running my nails over his insides like they were toys.

"Well I guess I'll just find her myself," Void said from the other side of the desk, sounding ever so slightly annoyed as I finally let the human drop to the ground, completely lifeless. "See?" he asked me lightly, gesturing for me to follow him. "Fun."

I hopped over the desk with a swing, appearing at his side, my shoes slapping against the floor. I reached up with the hand that had been toying with the wound, beginning to lick the blood from my fingers with eager pleasure.

"This is how you're supposed to look," he commented offhandedly as we walked deeper into the depths of the hospital, casting an appreciative glance over at me, that sexy smirk on his lips, making me want nothing more than to force him up against a wall and have my way with him.

It felt good, to have Stiles appreciate this side of me. I knew it wasn't really him, but it was as good as I was ever going to get, and it was all I wanted – as much as I could want without a soul.

I opened my mouth to retort, only for Void to push me forwards, gesturing for me to walk ahead of him. "Remember how we talked about chaos?" he asked, though I needed no reminder.

"You want me to clear the way, your majesty?" I countered sarcastically, adding in a little curtsey for effect. He said nothing, merely smirking devilishly and jerking his head in the forward direction. I sighed teasingly before giving up and matching his smirk, spinning around and practically bouncing on my heels as I wandered past our bodyguards. "Ready to cause some chaos, boys?"

Necks were snapped as lights flickered, I found endless entertainment in the bodies dropping like rag dolls under my careless touch. My laughter echoed around the room, almost inaudible over the terrified screams of the humans in our path.

"Had your fill yet?" Void asked when it was all over – much too soon for my liking – everybody in our way either dead or dying.

I licked at the blood around my mouth, pressing a hand to my sloshy stomach. "More than you know," I murmured contently, smiling widely as I stretched. "Can I clock off for the night?"

"No," he deadpanned gruffly, eyeing the empty, blood soaked halls like he was considering his next move. "It's time to make a divine move," he eventually said, his words calculated and careful.

I hummed in interest, leaning into him and sniffing his deathly scent. "Is that so?" I asked, letting my finger trail over his perfect cheekbone, watching in fascination as a trail of blood smeared down the pale skin.

"Oh yes," he replied lowly, peering at me through hooded, dead eyes. "And you're going to enjoy this one immensely."


We sat in silence, and I began to doubt his earlier statement. This didn't seem like something I was going to enjoy. In fact, I was bored out of my fucking mind.

"Soon," Void murmured for at least the third time, sitting patiently on the stairs. I struggled not to growl in annoyance.

As I glanced over at him through the dark, taking in his beautiful face and dark, dead eyes – I got an idea.

I purred, the sound intrigued as I suddenly and unexpectedly got to my knees, pushing him back and forcing his elbows off his knees, pressing him against the steps behind him. "Now isn't the time," he grunted, trying to push me off.

I remained firm, refusing to be shrugged off. "Come now," I whispered in his ear enticingly. "We have time to kill."

"We also have an audience."

"Hm," I hummed, brushing my lips over the shell of his ear, content to ignore the Oni silently surrounding us. "Kinda hot, huh?"

He gave in, as I had been confident he would. Our lips pressed together, and there was nothing hesitant or innocent about it. It was all slick and hot, the mashing of teeth and tongues. His hands slid down to grab greedily at my ass, and I rocked against him in encouragement.

I wished we had time to sate our urges, but I knew time was running out.

I nipped selfishly at him lip, and he bit back enough for the deliciously sweet taste of blood to fill our met mouths. I groaned unabashedly, scraping my nails down his back so hard that I felt the cotton of his shirt rip slightly under the pressure.

I wanted to continue so badly. One last hurrah, if you would.

I knew there was every chance one of us was going to die tonight – if not both of us. I wasn't stupid enough to think we were immortal. Everything could be killed, no matter how old. I wanted to spend my possible last minutes experiencing bliss, not guilt or pain. Surely that wasn't too much to ask.

I could run, that had occurred to me. But now I was in too deep. I had to see this through, even if it meant the end of everything. At the thought a picture of Stiles popped up in my head, quickly followed by a dying, bloodied Allison.

The guilt didn't come. No, it was more of a dull ache, like I was missing something vital from within myself, but I couldn't put my finger on exactly what it was. The ache seemed to travel through my veins like a poison, making my every nerve itch in pained irritation.

I should have been in mourning. Why didn't I feel anything?

I threw myself into Void's embrace just that little bit more, pretending for one confusingly gratifying minute that it really was Stiles that I was wrapped up in.

Before I could contemplate the odd sensation or forgotten desires, I heard footsteps slap against the concrete just over the other side of the school. It was hidden from view, but I recognised the steps with ease. "They're here," I panted, pulling away from Void regretfully.

He grunted and quickly shoved me off of him, straightening his clothes almost as an afterthought, cracking his neck much like I frequently did. Then he sat back in his regular position like nothing had occurred at all. He was so unaffected by my presence, nothing I did was enough to faze him. His heart didn't race at my touch, and it was strangely dissatisfying.

We didn't have to wait long, probably a minute and a half at the most, before another few sets of footsteps padded along the road leading to our place.

Derek appeared in the shadows, in his hands a familiar, dangerous item.

"Did you bring us a present?" Void asked loudly, as though the wolves wouldn't be able to hear if he'd just whispered.

"I brought two."

The twins appeared on either side of the ex-alpha, their eyes glowing a forlorn blue. I giggled at their tough-guy stances, reclining further back onto the step, one leg lazily tossed over the other though my eyes had slowly faded to red, my fangs appearing to accompany them. I liked to be prepared, but at the same time I didn't really consider them a threat. It wasn't a full moon, and they sure as hell weren't alphas.

"I've heard of an alpha-pack, Derek," Void responded calmly, something like amusement spread across his shadowed face, "but not a pack of former-alphas." I let loose another giggle, the sound shrill and haunting. "It's a little sad, isn't it?"

"I might not be an alpha anymore," Derek began, the trio slowly beginning to approach. "But I can still fight like one."

"Can you, now?" I goaded him, still draped lazily on the steps like a model for a photo shoot and not a blood-covered creature of the night preparing for battle

Void smirked, still so very amused. He lifted his hand, holding it still in the air for a long few moments before jerking it sharply down. The Oni disappeared, only to reappear in front of the makeshift pack, katanas at the ready.

I stifled a yawn, climbing to my feet and cracking my knuckles. "Bored now," I sang to Void, bordering dangerously on a whine.

"Me too," he muttered. "Now, let them have their squabble. We have somewhere else to be," he snapped, turning around and striding up the stairs, back towards the school.

"I don't get to fight?" I pouted, though I was quick to follow him, not wanting to get left behind.

"You'll get your fight," he assured me distractedly, stalking with purpose across the quad. He paused suddenly and forced me to freeze with him. I looked around, seeing nothing but shadows and empty school grounds.

"What?" I asked under my breath, leaning around him to see he was still staring over his shoulder. I watched as one of the Oni suddenly exploded, something that wasn't quite ash covering the ground it had stood on. "They can kill them?" I hissed furiously, my fangs barred as a panic built within me.

"It would seem so," he growled back, instantly turning and once more stalking in the direction of the school, a tenseness to his shoulders that hadn't been there before.

I was close on his heels, my footsteps as silent as his. "I can hear them," I whispered, listening to the faint sound of four heartbeats coming from inside the building. Void pressed his finger to his lips, a look of pure fury on his features as he soundlessly slipped inside the school.

The four of them were grouped by the front entrance, all of them breathless and surprised. "We're okay," Scott breathed in pure shock, relief colouring his tone.

"Don't speak too soon, little wolf," I snarled condescendingly, just seconds before Void slammed him into the lockers, successfully getting him out of the way. I reached forwards, backhanding Kira across the face. The little girl dropped her toy sword with a clang, collapsing to the floor, unconscious. I flexed my knuckles, pleased by my show of power.

"This was my game," Void spoke abruptly, rage splayed across his face, pure loathing in his black eyes. Excitement sparked within me, a hunger for more than his body. "You think you can beat me at my game?" He was pissed, and I loved it – I fed on it as though it were blood.

The giggle bubbled up my throat and out from my lips, the sound once more hysterical, except this time there was no confusing it for a sob. This was clear and pure eager amusement. I watched in rapture, enthusiasm sitting comfortably in my gut as I crept forwards, watching and listening intently. Everything was going to end one way or another, and if I tried really hard, I could pretend I knew which side would come out the other end of the night.

"Divine move?" Void snarled, stalking forwards. "Divine move? You think you have any moves at all? You can kill the Oni, but me? I'm a thousand years old! You can't kill me!"

"But we can change you!"

The words were shouted by Lydia, and they made both Void and I stop our approach. We paused, hesitating only slightly. "What?" he sneered, lip curled back. I moved closer, scrunching his coat in my fingers, holding tightly, prepared to step in should things get physical.

A hint of panic rolled through my gut, and I could practically feel the scales of power tipping ever so slightly in their direction. I was losing control, I was losing my grip, and I was losing my faith.

"You forgot about the scroll," Stiles spoke. The sound of his voice made me ache again, the missing limb making itself known, but I didn't react, staring back at them with wrath. His arm was around Lydia and she was burrowed into his side. Even if I'd been able to feel, I wouldn't know how I'd feel about that.

Void froze, and instantly I knew this was it. Someone else was going to die. "Change the host," the Nogitsune whispered in horror. He knew it too.

Stiles spoke, his eyes carefully focused on Void and not me. "You can't be a fox and a wolf."

I noticed Scott before he did, and I couldn't help the shout that travelled up my throat. "Void!" I screamed in warning, panic seizing me, but I wasn't quick enough. The canine teeth of the alpha slid into his arm, the scent of his rotten blood filling the school hallway. "Void!" I screamed again as he dropped to his knees. I didn't know what to do – there was nothing I could do.

Rage reared it's head in my gut, but my shock had me frozen, unable to do anything as I watched Void convulse and choke, before his body disappeared all together, becoming nothing but ash, before that too disintegrated into absolutely nothing.

I screamed again, but this wasn't a sound of shock or fear, this was a sound of pure, unadulterated fury.

My body swung around, my hand slamming into Scott's face, sending him back several steps. I kicked out my left leg, nailing Kira in the gut and forcing her to to floor too. My breathing sped up, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop it. I screamed again, the sound choked through and breathless but warning.

Scott came at me again, but I was seeing red. I moved quicker than he could ever hope to, slipping between his hands and slamming my fist into his stomach just as my fangs slid into his arms. I didn't bother drinking, instead just tearing a chunk of flesh from his body, spitting it out onto the floor.

The alpha cried out in pain, shifting away from me to protect himself.

"Jules."

The fight left me instantaneously. My knees gave out and I dropped to the floor. My head was swimming and my chest felt tight. I couldn't seem to suck air into my lungs, it was like they were full of water or, more likely, blood. I tore at my chest where my useless heart lay, in more pain than a broken organ should have been feeling.

Was I having a fucking panic attack?

"Jules," Stiles spoke again, approaching me quickly and without hesitation.

As though he wasn't afraid? That wasn't right. He should have been afraid. Everyone should have been afraid.

"Jules," he repeated, coming closer and kneeling down beside me. I sucked in air, the wheezing was actually embarrassing, but I couldn't stop. My eyes burned with tears I refused to shed. What was I meant to do? Where was I meant to go? Were they going to kill me too?

I had no purpose any more. Void was gone, so what could I do now?

Stiles' face was level with mine, his gaze locked with mine. His eyes were soft and that familiar golden caramel that I'd forgotten how much I loved. I could see the words in his eyes before he spoke them, and pure fear stabbed my insides. I couldn't listen, I simply wouldn't survive it.

"Jules," he said again, reaching his hand up, his fingers brushing my temple, gently pushing the raven hair out of the way and tucking it affectionately behind my ear. I flinched away from his touch, but he didn't seem to notice. "Please," he whispered softly.

"No," I bit out through clenched teeth. I could feel it beginning – I could feel it working. How did this human boy have such an effect on me? How could he have a heart so strong it could stir the dead?

I'd had this conversation before. It had felt so long ago, but it was really only a few short weeks. I'd begged and pleaded for Kol not to take away my humanity, or at least plant the seed that would eventually do so. It hadn't worked, and I had a feeling history was about to repeat itself.

"Jules," he said bracingly, and I knew I wasn't going to like whatever came next. "I forgive you."

The sob tore through me like a shot. I lifted a hand to my head as though it might stop the pain. "No," I repeated. I ached so painfully that I wasn't sure I was ever going to recover. What was it like not to be in agony? I couldn't remember.

"I know you think you have nothing to come back to," he whispered gently, like the words were only for us. My sight was blurred with tears, but I could still make out his imploring, hopeful face. "But you do. You have us, and we forgive you."

That couldn't have been true, but I would let him think what he had to to get him through.

"Please don't make me," I cried, reaching out to grasp at the lapels of his shirt, tugging at them desperately, bringing him closer as I begged so very pathetically. Begged with him not to. Begged with the ever allusive God to set me free; to make the pain stop. "Please, it hurts so much."

"I know," he cooed softly, but how could he? He was human, he couldn't understand. He never would. "I know. But we need you now. So come back to us. Come back to me."

He'd asked before, back in the loft – a lifetime ago. Then I hadn't been ready, it hadn't been the right moment. I'd had something tying me to this place, to this darkness. Now it was just me and I was once again all alone.

I was at a fork in the road. I knew it could go either way, this decision would determine everything.

But these things were unpredictable. The switch was almost like letting an entirely new person take over; because that's essentially what the soul is, wasn't it? Our morals and our principles, they make us who we are. I was changing those completely, so in a way, wasn't I dying? Who knew what this 'new and ensouled' me would do? She could ruin everything. Or she could make everything better.

It was a roll of the dice.

And I hated that which I couldn't control.

"Jules, please," he was begging me, and I turned my attention back to him.

"Don't ask me," I pleaded, pulling him closer, his warm breath fanning over my face and his scent swimming in my head. He was everywhere, he was everything. How had I once loved the scent of rotten death when there was this minty, chocolatey musk that was so Stiles? That was so alive? I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to face the pain.

But did I really have a choice?

What was the alternative? Sit alone in the dark? Go back to a life of hookers and gambling? Of sex and bloodlust? Of nothing but pleasure and that damned, horrible numbness?

What if I could be happy?

"It's going to hurt," I whispered to him, not realising I'd spoken until it was out of my mouth. A traitorous tear leaked from my eye, dripping down my cheek and mixing with the sticky, dried blood coating my lips and chin. Like an uncontrollable animal. "Stiles, it's going to hurt so much that it might kill me."

"Jules," he hummed back, leaning forwards enough to press our foreheads together. He was warm to the touch, and soft, and pliable. He was so...human. "I love you."

The sob that escaped me was raw and honest, and as I sucked in Stiles' scent, I closed my eyes so I didn't have to look at him, reaching inside myself, blindly searching for that switch that only I could find, and finally hitting it without hesitation.

Everything went white, then there was nothing but intense, all encompassing, unending pain.


They weren't there when I woke up.

That made sense I supposed, or at least, I couldn't fault them for it. I would have left me too.

I could hear their voices and heartbeats nearby, but I couldn't distinguish what they were saying. At least, not over the screaming happening in my head, or the pounding ache ricocheting through my temples with every blink of my eyes.

My throat burned and my stomach ached. I felt my soul – if you could call it that – sitting uncomfortably in my chest, like it didn't quite belong. There was an odd sound filling the hall, some kind of strange staccato noise that seemed to completely surround me.

Then I realised it was me.

I was sobbing.

My brain was taking a little longer to catch up than my body. I was grasping desperately at my chest, tearing at my clothes, desperately trying to reach within me and tear my humanity out with my own two hands. Scratches appeared on my porcelain skin, blood dripping down into my bra.

Oh God – the blood.

I gagged, stopping my pointless scratching to hold myself up so I could throw up the contents of my stomach onto the polished floor of the school hallway, retching loudly, the sound bouncing off the hollow walls.

I wrapped my arms around my stomach, trying desperately to hold myself together, because it felt like I was falling apart.

I shook uncontrollably, squeezing my hands into fists until my nails hurt my palms. Why was I alone?

The answer was obvious, but I just wanted to pretend I didn't know it for a little while longer.

My options were limited. I could stay, be alienated from the people I had once considered family, or I could leave, escape before I had to bare the weight of their disappointed gazes on my skin. Neither choice was appealing.

Could I do it? Was I strong enough to leave Scott? To leave Melissa and Derek and Isaac and John? To leave Stiles?

The answer was no, I wasn't strong enough. But I had something more powerful driving me. I had fear. So, I did what I do best when the going gets tough. I stood shakily to my feet, my knees trembling under my weight as I struggled not to tip over. I listened intently to the sounds of human heartbeats coming from outside, where the inevitable judgement awaited. I straightened my clothes, swallowed back a mouthful of bile, and then I ran.

Oh, how I ran.


A/N: Hello lovely people – I apologise for being MIA recently. I've been swept up in this sucky thing called 'life'. Anyway, this one took so long as I really struggled with it. I'm not even totally happy with this final outcome, but I've kept you all waiting long enough. I hope this was easy enough to understand, but if anyone has any questions or queries, please don't even hesitate to contact me and we can talk!

From here we move onto season 4. I'm only in the early stages or writing this next part of the story, so bare with me, because good things will come from your patience!

I'm also working on a Youtube trailer for this story, but it's slow going, so I'll keep you updated on when that will be coming out. Who do you guys see as Juliet? I know I have said there are certain people I prefer in the role, but I wanna know who YOU picture.

I love you all, thanks for sticking with me – by the way, keep your eyes peeled for a certain Harry Potter story that may or may not be coming your way before the end of the month (I hope you guys are still keen for a Fred/OC, because it's starting to look pretty damn good if I say so myself) ;)