"I believe this will give us the boost we need." Milton says walking down the steps in to the hidden basement. "What is it?" Rebeca asks suspiciously eyeing the box Milton gently sets on the table where she has strewn out several books. "An item I have borrowed from a friend." Milton says looking at the box. "Am I allowed to touch this one?" She asks acidly. "Of course. Neither you or I are powerful enough to damage or taint this." Rebeca snorts then opens the wooden box. Laying in the tufted pillowed interior is a hand mirror. She reaches for it but hesitates before looking at Milton. "Don't worry it won't harm you….directly. Since you seem willing to use….darker….means to achieve your goals I contacted a friend and secured its temporary loan." "A friend." Rebeca says slipping her fingers around the handle and gently pulling the mirror from the box. "Friends Rebeca. You know people who you like, people who like you, people who will help you out even when they have nothing to gain. It's a great concept you should think about having one or two sometime." Milton says rolling his eyes and snapping the lid of the box closed. "This." He says waving his hand at the mirror should have more than enough power to allow you to overpower the barrier that's limited the depth of your reach into the pack bond. You'll notice it doesn't reflect your image." Milton says with a smirk when he sees the look of surprise on Rebecca's face when she looks in to the mirror and merely sees what is behind her. "It reflects." "The face of the person I'm attempting to control." Rebeca says with a dark grin. "Precisely." Milton says with a nod as Isaac's face appears.
Isaac, Kyle, and Paul ride both carts back to the front office. "I like that the pack's able to hide its stuff in plain view like this." Paul says as they are getting out of the carts. Isaac scoffs "What did you expect? Some kind of secret underground vault?" He waves his fingers. "Maybe we could use our claws as the key to open it." He says rolling his eyes and shaking his head dismissively. Paul looks at Kyle who seems equally annoyed at him. As they walk inside they pass the counter where Maria is talking to some customers. She looks intensely at Isaac and Kyle a moment then goes back to her customers.
"Feel like getting some dinner?" Paul asks Isaac as he walks to his Jeep. "I've still got a few places to hit." He says simply. "What time do you think you'll be done?" Paul asks frowning. Isaac climbs in and closes the door he stares straight ahead for a few seconds before turning to look at Paul annoyance heavy in his expression and tone. With a shrug he says. "Dunno, Kyle can keep you company. There's nothing that says we have to spend every minute of every day with one another you know?" That said Isaac turns the key and starts the Jeep. With a roar of the engine he backs out of the space and drives away. Paul turns to look at Kyle who is looking at him with annoyance. "What don't want to spend time with me? All you've worried about all afternoon is Isaac." "That's not true!" Paul says hurriedly. "Well then come on lets go eat." Kyle says with a nearly sincere smile. Paul looks around helplessly for a moment before jumping in to Bumblebee just as Kyle reverses out of the space.
"You're pushing too hard again." Milton says. "I need to make some progress." Rebeca says absently strain clearly written across her face. "The mirror is powerful. One of the most powerful items I've ever come across. Like any weapon you must wield it correctly. If you push them too far from their normal nature they will realize the thoughts are not their own." She sighs in frustration but nods her head reluctantly. "Ease up on Kyle, Isaac has a lot of darkness in him already. Focus on him." "Yes." She says closing her eyes in concentration.
"Hey I'm sorry." Kyle says. "I don't know why I snapped at you like that. We're OK right?" "Yeah of course." Paul says with a smile. He runs his hand through his hair before hitting the button to lower the window. "Love you." Kyle sing songs poking Paul gently in the side. "My sexy delicious human." Paul is quiet for a moment tapping his hand on the outside of the door. "I'm sorry if I'm making things difficult." Paul says looking over at Kyle. "You're not." Kyle says. "OK but what's Isaac's deal then. Do I really need to let you guys know every time I stub a toe?" "Oh come on this was a little more than stubbing a toe. You fell on the stairs and I'd be willing to bet you nearly knocked yourself unconscious." Kyle says. "We both keep pretty close tabs on you over the mate bond." "JUST as you do to us." Kyle says talking over Paul's objection to being so closely watched. "We both felt you drop out and go away for several seconds." "THEN." Kyle says again talking over Paul's attempt at downplaying what happened. "You show up and act like nothing happened. Paul you're our whole world. Period…." "I'm sorry ginger love." Paul says reaching for Kyle's hand and squeezing it. "Don't be sorry, babe just be careful. Please." "I promise." Paul says causing Kyle to lean over and smack a kiss on his cheek.
Back at the house Isaac slams the front door stomping in to the foyer and standing there glaring at the floor. "Isaac?" Stiles asks cautiously emerging from the study. "Hey." Isaac says looking up an agitated look on his face. "Why so pissed pup?" Stiles asks tilting his head to the side a little. "Just…..Paul is driving me crazy." Isaac says with a heavy sigh. "Really?" Stiles asks both eye brows raising up. "What's happened?" "Just getting tired of his selfishness." Isaac says walking past Stiles in to the kitchen. "Wha?" Stiles gets out before rushing in to the kitchen. "Selfish how?" He asks as Isaac fills a glass with water at the sink. "He just carries on like he doesn't give a damn what would happen to me if something were to happen to him. If that's not bad enough he expects me to spend every waking moment with him. Sometimes.." Isaac closes his eyes and goes completely still a moment. "Sometimes I wish I'd never met him." "Isaac!" Stiles blurts in a scandalized tone actually taking a step back in shock. "You can't possibly mean that." Isaac opens his eyes and shrugs his shoulders. "Not everyone has the perfect relationship that you and Derek have been graced with." Isaac says flippantly clanking his glass down on the counter and walking out the back door. Stiles glares at Isaac's back a moment before his expression darkens and his mouth sets in to an angry line.
"What's up?" Derek says walking in to the kitchen and placing his hand on Stiles's shoulder. Stiles shrugs out of the grip and rounds on his mate. "Your Beta is being an ass hole." Stiles says hotly. "My Beta?" Derek says placing his hands on his hips. "In addition to feeling that his mate is a burden he seems to think you and I have a perfect relationship." Derek's brow furrows, a hurt expression on his face. "What do you mean?" "I mean that it takes a lot of god damn effort to make this work." Stiles says gesturing between them. Stiles pokes Derek in the chest with his finger. "You need to do your job and teach him some respect for me and for his mate." Stiles ends the sentence by poking his finger in Derek's face. "Stiles." Derek says with a hint of warning. "Oh get over yourself." Stiles says rolling his eyes and walking past Derek and out of the room. "There is about as much chance of you hurting me as there is in your being able to run this pack on your own." Derek grits his teeth as his eyes flare a deep angry red. Hand shaking he grabs a chair that had been left pulled out and shoves it towards the table. The back of the chair snaps off and the table slides a few inches. Derek closes his eyes and takes several deep shuddering breaths. He opens his still dark red eyes and storms out of the kitchen he places one foot on the stairs to follow Stiles. Clawed hand on the banister he growls angrily for a moment before turning and walking in to this study. The entire house shaking with the force of the door slamming shut.