Visionary
It had been three days since the Darach had almost killed Dr. Deaton and the pack had rescued him. Three days since Kali's defection from Deucalion's side to that of her sister's.
Three days since all of the above had occurred and two days since anyone had seen hide or hair of Derek. And quite frankly, his pack and friends were becoming increasingly worried about him with every passing moment that he remained absent.
"I don't like this," said Isaac.
Isaac, Stiles and the other members of the wolf pack were gathered at Derek's apartment trying to find out what was going on with their Alpha or at least find out where he was. Well, everyone except for Peter. He was at his apartment preparing for his next date with Jennifer.
"You and me both," said Stiles. He absolutely hated not knowing things. It made him feel vulnerable. And after what had happened over the last few weeks, it was understandable that a missing pack member would be worrisome.
"Stiles, did you ask Artemis if she knows where Derek is?" asked Erica.
"Of course, I did. Artemis said that Derek was fine and would be back soon, but that was all she was going to say because it's Derek's business and not her secret to tell," said Stiles. "She wouldn't budge, no matter what I offered her."
"Did you really expect her to?" asked Cora. "Artemis and Derek share the strongest bond between mates I've ever seen in my life. And even so, it's in our nature not to reveal the secrets of our mates without their permission."
"So I gathered," muttered Stiles.
"I don't suppose you know what he's up to, Cora?" asked Boyd.
Cora shook her head. "Derek never told me why he always disappears this time of year. All I know is, whatever his reasons, he's hurting because of them. And if he's taken Artemis into his confidence about it, then that's a sign that he's healing and we should let him be." She was worried about her brother, but she knew better than to invade Derek's privacy.
"She may have a point," said Jackson. "Plus, do any of you really want to risk Derek's temper?" Having been on the receiving end of it before, Jackson had no wish to do so again.
"No, but Derek's still our Alpha. Deucalion's still out there and who's to say he won't take his anger over Kali's defection out on Derek once he figures out that's what she's doing instead of spying on us?" pointed out Isaac. "I'm really worried about him."
Suddenly, the door opened. "You don't need to worry, I'm right here and I'm fine."
Derek was completely drenched from the rainstorm that was going on outside. He also looked weary and sad.
"Hey. Where've you been?" asked Isaac.
"Out," said Derek, shortly. "I don't want to talk about it."
He tried to go take a shower and change, but Cora came in between him and the door. She gave her brother a look of concern.
"Derek, please. Whatever's happening to you, you don't have to go through it alone," she murmured. "If it was one of us, wouldn't you want to help?"
Derek sighed and for a moment, he didn't reply as he was silently considering what he was going to say and do next.
"Give me half an hour," he said.
No one argued with this.
Half an hour later after a hot shower and a change of clothes, Derek emerged from the bathroom looking refreshed and less unhappy as he sat down in the living room.
"You all want to know where I've been?" he asked. When they all nodded, he went on. "I was visiting an old friend who passed away nine years ago."
Everyone looked taken aback and regretful at this.
"Oh, jeez. Derek, I'm sorry…" began Isaac.
"It's okay," interrupted Derek. He still looked sad, but there was no hint of anger in his eyes at all. "I don't mind telling you. But this ties into another story. I haven't always been the way I am now. Once, I was like any other guy, minus the lycanthropy. I'm sure some of you remember that before I became an Alpha, my eyes were blue. Do any of you know why some werewolves' eyes are blue instead of gold?"
No one did, not even Cora.
"I just assumed it was a genetic thing," admitted Stiles. "I figured because you were born a werewolf, that's why your eyes were blue instead of gold like Artemis's."
Derek shook his head. "That's not it. My eyes used to be gold. To understand why my eyes change and why I disappear every year, you need to know the whole story. Like any, this starts with the one thing that usually changes a man."
"A woman," guessed Jackson.
"Exactly," said Derek. "Nine years ago, before I met Kate or Huntress, there was another girl in my life."
"Was she your first love?" asked Erica.
A small smile crossed Derek's face as he shook his head. "No. Huntress is my one and only true love. The relationship I had with this wasn't a romantic one, but we still cared about each other."
"What was she like?" asked Boyd.
"She was a lot like Huntress," admitted Derek. "Beautiful, talented, independent…"
XXX
Nine years ago, Derek's tale…
Derek and his friends were playing basketball in the hallway of their school.
They knew they were only supposed to be playing basketball in the gym or outside in the school courtyard, but like any young jocks, they were all idiots and thought that they ruled the school and could do as they pleased.
"Hey!" said a voice. "Do you guys mind?"
Derek turned around to see a young lady standing behind him looking irritated. He didn't know her name, but he knew her reputation. His friends called her "the Cello Girl," because playing the cello seemed to be all she ever did besides study. She was something of a child prodigy when it came to the cello. She played her cello in concerts for many charity fundraisers and was also something of a loner.
Right now, she was glaring at the jocks in the hall. "I'm trying to practice."
Derek couldn't help but smirk. "How do you know we're not practicing too?"
"Well, maybe because I was practicing my cello in the music room and I'm pretty sure that basketball practice takes place in the gym," she snapped. "So, would you mind doing that in the gym or outside before I lose my temper and get you guys in trouble for harassing me?"
Derek's friends laughed at this. They weren't at all intimidated by the girl.
"No offense, but I doubt anyone's going to listen when the only teacher left here at this hour is our coach," said Derek. He had a fair point as their coach was practically obsessed with the game and refused to hear a word against his students. "Besides, I'm pretty sure basketball practice takes place anywhere that you've got a basketball."
The girl just rolled her eyes in anger and annoyance as she walked away.
Feeling a little bad, Derek approached her. "Wait, hold on. Hold on. I'll make you a deal. If you manage to take the ball away from me, we'll go somewhere else. Deal?"
"Deal," she said.
Derek tried every basketball move he'd been taught, but somehow the girl took the ball away from him each and every time as she was faster than she looked. But that was partially because Derek wasn't tapping into his werewolf reflexes to keep the ball out of her grasp. When she tossed him back the ball after taking it away for the sixth time, she started to leave again.
"I win, you lose. Now, beat it," she said.
Derek's friends couldn't believe what they'd just seen and were staring with their jaws dropped and their eyes wide, but no one said a word as they left the hallway.
Normally, Derek would've joined them, but not now. He was fascinated with the Cello Girl and ended up following her into the music room where she resumed her practice. When she saw him standing in the doorway, she stopped practicing her cello and glared at him.
"Come back for a rematch?" she asked.
"No. You won fair and square," said Derek. He put down the basketball and held up his hands, as if he was offering a truce. "I just wanted to know your name."
She raised a skeptical eyebrow at him. "Why would I tell you that?"
"Maybe because I asked nicely and I'm just trying to be friendly," said Derek.
She snorted. "Or maybe you're just fascinated by me because I'm the only girl who's not fawning all over you."
Derek looked offended. "That's not true."
"Well, you have yet to prove me wrong," she said.
"Give me a chance and I will," said Derek. "How about this, you tell me your name and I'll leave you alone for the rest of the day. I promise."
Realizing he wasn't going to leave her alone otherwise, she sighed and nodded. "Fine. Play just one instrument in this room, anything at all, and I'll tell you my name. But if you can't, then you leave anyway. Deal?"
"Deal," said Derek. He walked over to the music room's supply of instruments and looked them over. He couldn't actually play anything as he wasn't an instrument playing kind of guy, but fortunately, luck was in his favor. He found a triangle and played it for her.
Instead of scowling, she chuckled and actually smiled. "Okay, okay. You win. My name is Paige Krasikeva."
"Nice name," he replied. "My name's—"
"I know who you are," she interrupted. "You're Derek Hale. Now, would you please leave so I can practice in peace?"
Derek did as she asked. He left the music room but he couldn't get Paige out of his head. Was this the beginning of a friendship or something more?
XXX
Kali sat in her old bedroom of her old house.
After she'd helped rescue Deaton, Kali had left Deucalion and rejoined her family. She had no regrets over leaving him as he'd lied to her and used her one time too many. When she'd returned to her old home with Artemis, Melissa had been there to greet them. Melissa didn't agree with the lifestyle Kali had chosen, but she put that away for the time being as she was just happy to have her daughter back.
The three Moon women had agreed that Agent Moon, Melissa's ex-husband and Artemis and Kali's father, wasn't going to be informed of Kali's return. He had given up his legal rights and paternal rights to them a long time ago and he was the one who'd driven Kali into the world of lycanthropes, so he had no right to know anything. If he paid a visit to Beacon Hills, then they'd deal with him, but not before.
But that was the least of Kali's concerns. When Kali had left Deucalion, she'd told him she pretending to ally with her sister in hopes of learning more of Artemis's secrets and work towards defeating Artemis's pack. Deucalion had accepted this as one of the benefits of being a good liar was being able to keep your heartbeat steady. But Kali secretly wondered if he'd known she was lying and had let her go only to lure her into a false sense of security and punish her later. Deucalion always had a reason behind every single one of his actions.
"Hey," said Artemis, snapping her out of her thoughts. "You okay?"
Kali nodded. "I'm fine."
Artemis raised a skeptical eyebrow, but didn't question Kali as she joined her sister on the bed. Since Kali's defection, the two sisters were slowly reconnecting and regaining each other's trust. It was a work in progress, but they were well on their way to becoming as close as they once were.
"Kali, I know you don't want to talk about him, but I need to know about Deucalion and Gerard," said Artemis. "Whatever happened between the two of them could help us beat Deucalion."
"Are you sure about that? Because I'm not, Artemis," admitted Kali. "Deucalion's not like others of our kind. He's more dangerous than even I am. He may have lost his eyes, but he's not always blind."
"Which is all the more reason for you to tell me what you know," said Artemis. "Kali, the Darach sacrificed another healer right after we saved Deaton. That's nine sacrifices. Nine lives lost to strength the Darach for a battle it undoubtedly intends to enact against the Alphas, including you and Deucalion. Who's to say it won't go after more lives once it's done with Deucalion? Please, tell me."
Kali sighed. She knew Artemis was right, but she didn't want to talk about her past. Artemis didn't even know what had happened after Kali left that night ten years ago because Kali didn't want her to know. But what choice was there at this point?
"Okay," said Kali. "I'll tell you. But keep in mind that a lot of this was told to me by Deucalion. There're some points in this where I can't be certain he told me the truth."
"He still would've been more honest than Gerard if I went to him," said Artemis. She had considered talking to Gerard for information, but had decided against it as the man was a heartless, manipulative liar. "Just tell me what you know."
Kali took a deep breath and began. "It was nine years ago. Back then, I was just a Beta and my Alpha was a woman called Luna. You would've hated her if you'd known her…"
XXX
Nine years ago, Kali's tale…
The night in Beacon Hills was dark and chilly as Kali followed her Alpha and the rest of her pack into an abandoned distillery just outside of town. A summoning had been called between the strongest of the Alphas—Luna, Ennis, and Deucalion.
Ennis was leading it the charge. He was in a right foul mood as he was both furious and his heart was aching with grief. He pointed to a piece of knotted rope that was hanging from the ceiling and smelled of blood, a werewolf's blood.
"There? You see it?" said Ennis, as he stood in front of the Alphas and their packs. "They dragged him here with an arrow in his throat! They hung him and they cut him in half. They killed him! They killed one of ours!"
Luna gave him a cold look. "One of yours," she corrected. "Why should I care about what happens to one of your Betas?"
"Because the hunters don't discern among packs, especially the Argents," said Kali. She wasn't just speaking for her mate; she was speaking for them all. "If they're out for blood, then they won't care whose pack the Beta belonged to. They'll kill anyone who shifts during the full moon."
"Kali's right," said Deucalion. "The Argents don't discern among packs, but they do discern motive. Which begs the question of why they killed him."
Marco, one of Decualion's Betas, stepped forward and glared at Ennis. "They killed him because Ennis's young; naïve Beta killed two of the hunters. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that is what happened, isn't it, Ennis?"
"On accident," growled Ennis. He didn't like admitting the hunters' killing of his Beta was justified in its own way. "It was his first full moon. He got loose and lost control, that's all. What does it matter? They still murdered him!"
"Only it wasn't really murder, was it?" said Luna. "It was payback. Fair and simple."
Ennis's eyes glowed red and for a moment, it looked like he was going to attack Luna, but then a howling distracted them and they were met by their leader.
XXX
Derek paused in his story telling to get himself a drink.
"Wait, so if Paige hated you, how did you become friends?" asked Cora.
"We were young. Young people are often like that. One minute, you can't stand each other and the next, you're best friends," said Derek. "Paige and I were no different."
"Ain't that the truth," said Stiles. He'd seen it plenty of times in the chick-flicks Artemis made him watch on their movie nights. "So, go on. What happened next?"
"Well, like I said, after we got better acquainted, we became friends. I became less of the little idiot I was and she came out of her shell. Like any best friends, Paige and I had a spot we liked to hang out at. Our favorite place was this abandoned distillery just outside of town. One night, Paige called and asked me to take her there. She had something to tell me."
XXX
Nine years ago, Derek's tale…
Derek and Paige eagerly ran through the woods and hills as they came upon their favorite meeting spot, the distillery.
The two of them had become best friends over the past few weeks and they loved spending time together. Sometimes Derek would do his homework while listening to her play the cello and other times they'd get up to regular teenager stuff and other times they just hung out at the distillery where no one could bother them.
They ran into the distillery and Derek lifted Paige into his arms as he spun her around. It made her smile and laugh, but then she looked solemn when he put her down.
"What's with the sad face?" asked Derek, concerned.
"Derek, there's something I need to tell you," said Paige. She sounded sad and her heart was beating with fear.
"What is it? What's wrong? You can tell me," said Derek, gently. "Paige…"
Paige took a deep breath and tears glittered in her eyes as she said, "Derek, I'm dying."
Derek's heart skipped a beat as his breath caught in his throat. Dying? His best friend was dying? No. It had to be a mistake. There was no way Paige was dying. But even as Derek thought about it, he realized it was true. Paige would talk about the future like it didn't exist for her and she'd been smelling of sickness for quite some time.
"What is it?" he finally choked out.
"It's cancer," she confessed. "I was diagnosed two years ago, and I stopped responding to my treatments. I've got six months left at most."
Derek swallowed painfully. "Why didn't you tell me?" That was what hurt the most. Paige's lack of trust.
"I wanted to, Derek. But I didn't know how," said Paige, as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I was trying to accept it and get along for as long as I could. But then you happened and suddenly, I had someone in my life who cared about me just for me, not just because I'm some child prodigy. I was scared of losing you. But I can't lie to you anymore, even if it means you're going to leave me."
Derek vehemently shook his head as he cupped Paige's face in his hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs.
"That's never going to happen," he swore. "I'm not going to leave you, Paige. You're my best friend and I'm going to be right by your side for all of this, I promise."
Paige's only response was to tightly embrace Derek as they both cried.
XXX
Artemis held up a hand to pause her sister's story. "Wait, so you're telling me that you were back in town just a year after you left? Why on earth didn't you just come home?"
"You've no idea how much I wanted to," admitted Kali. "But not all of us are capable of defying and rejecting our sires, like you did, Artemis. Luna was mine and she had quite a great deal of control over her Betas, especially me. Luna wanted us to sever all ties with our human lives. She forbade me from going back to you and Mom and I had no choice but to obey her. My loyalty and obedience to her was the price I had to pay for my life."
Artemis frowned. "What do you mean?" Why would Kali owe Luna her life?
"I'll tell that story another day," said Kali. "Anyway, afterwards when I became what I am, I didn't see how I could ever return, not without revealing what I was and sacrificing my relationship with Ennis. And as time went by, I convinced myself that you were better off without me."
"How could you think that?" demanded Artemis, hurt.
"Shame and fear are very persuasive," said Kali. "Plus, you really think Deucalion would have let me go so soon after joining him?"
Artemis sighed and shook her head. "No," she admitted. But that didn't erase the hurt that she felt. "I'm sorry. Continue. What happened next?"
"Like I said, we were in Beacon Hills because of what happened to Ennis's Beta. And in times of struggle, we turn to our leader for advice and guidance. At the time, there was an exceptionally powerful Alpha here in town that we respected and admired. She had a gift that was rare among our kind. She could fully shape-shift into a wolf."
"Who was she?" asked Artemis, curiously.
Kali smiled. "You've met her. Her name was Talia Hale. Derek's mother."
XXX
Nine years ago, Kali's tale…
Kali watched with silent anxiety as Ennis, Luna and Talia debated among themselves what was to be done over the Argents killing Ennis's Beta. It didn't appear to be going well and Kali feared the consequences for her husband and mate if blood was spilled between the three Alphas or between werewolves and the hunters.
"…we're not the only people to adhere to rituals thousands of years old," said Talia.
"Which is no excuse for not evolving," said Deucalion.
Ennis scoffed. "Evolving? They killed him in cold blood! How is that evolving? This is useless debate! I'm done with it!"
"Ennis, don't!" said Deucalion, warningly as Ennis punched wall in anger. Ever the more peaceful of the Alphas, he tried to calm the situation. "Don't make us part of an historical cliché. With two such powers, it never ends with an eye for an eye. A skirmish becomes a war. A murder becomes a massacre. And we end up no better than our enemies."
But Ennis wasn't listening. He plunged his claws into the wall and made a spiral, their symbol for revenge. It was a warning to the hunters of what was to come.
When the meeting was over, Kali and Ennis were given a few minutes peace to themselves. Ennis wrapped Kali in his arms and breathed in her scent as she rubbed his back.
"I'm so sorry," murmured Kali. "I know what Liam meant to you."
"He was a homeless orphan when I sired him and brought him into the pack. He was just seventeen," said Ennis, sorrowfully. "I swore I'd protect him and I failed."
"It's not your fault," said Kali, as she pulled away. She gently caressed his face. "The Argents are to blame, not you. You gave Liam a home and a family, which is all he ever wanted. We'll figure this out, together."
Ennis smiled as he kissed her. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
"You saved my life," replied Kali. If Ennis hadn't been there when Kali had been attacked the night she'd left her home, she would've died. "And speaking of which, did you look in on my family like I asked?" Luna had forbidden Kali from going near her blood-kin or she would've done it herself.
Ennis nodded. "Your father's gone, but your mother and sister still reside in town. They miss you, but they're surviving."
Kali looked pleased to hear this. "Good." She kissed him with an intense passion and then pulled away when she heard her Alpha's howling. "I have to go. But I'll see you soon. I love you, Ennis."
"I love you too," said Ennis.
XXX
Kali blew on her cup of steaming hot chocolate before sipping it.
Melissa had been kind enough to bring her daughters some refreshments of hot cocoa and sandwiches while Kali went on with her story.
"In all the time we knew each other, I never saw Ennis so distraught and vengeful as he was that night," said Kali. "Losing Liam tore him apart. Even before he died, Ennis still grieved for him. Not that I could blame him. Losing a member of your pack isn't like losing family. It's like losing a limb. Part of you dies with the one you lost."
"I know," said Artemis. She'd not only seen Derek grieve over his family, but there were times when she felt it through their link. She wouldn't wish that kind of grief on anyone, not even Peter. "Did he at least get to bury Liam?"
Kali shook her head. "No. Because of the way Liam died, it looked like a human crime. It became a homicide investigation. Not to mention, no matter how close they were, Liam and Ennis weren't related by blood and nor was Ennis his legal guardian. The authorities would only release Liam's body to family."
Artemis looked sad as she sighed. Poor Ennis. Despite what Ennis had done, Artemis couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her sister's former deceased mate. "I still can't believe that Deucalion was so keen towards peace back then. Considering how he is now, it seems almost impossible."
"Believe it. You push someone hard enough, they snap," said Kali. "Gerard did that to Deucalion. And even now, Gerard has no remorse about it."
"Gerard never regrets anything. He's insane," said Artemis. "So, go on. What happened next for the packs?"
"What usually does for our kind—trouble," said Kali, grimly.
XXX
Cora frowned at her brother.
Nearly everyone was in tears when Derek told them about Paige's terminal cancer and they felt sorry for him, but that still left quite a few questions left unanswered.
"I don't get it. If Paige was dying of cancer, why didn't you just ask Mom to turn her?" asked Cora. "Paige could've been cured."
Derek sighed. "Believe me, I wanted to turn her. There wasn't a day that went by when I didn't think about it. But I knew that turning her couldn't happen. Mom never would've turned an innocent girl unless she was someone's mate, and even so it would've raised too many questions. Also, I knew that Paige would never want this life."
"So, what did you do, then?" asked Erica.
"I did what I promised. I stayed with her," said Derek. "And I also helped her to live as much as possible."
XXX
Nine years ago, Derek's tale…
Derek stood in the doorway of the music room as he listened to Paige play the cello.
Time had passed since Paige's confession and since then, they'd spent every possible moment together, trying to make their remaining time beautiful and memorable. Derek had helped Paige cross things off her list of things she wanted to do before she died and she was grateful for it. There were still things she wanted to, but he would make sure she got them all done.
Paige ceased playing the cello and looked at him. Somehow, she always knew when he was there, even when he didn't think she knew.
"What're you staring at?" she asked.
"I'm not staring. I'm listening," said Derek, as he sat down beside her. "That was beautiful."
Paige smiled at him. "Thanks." She put away her bow and cello before looking him rather hesitantly. "Derek, can I ask you a favor?"
Derek nodded. "Sure, anything." There was nothing he would deny her at this point.
"When it happens…" she began. They both knew what 'it' was. It was her death. "Can you be there, holding me in your arms? Please."
"Of course," said Derek. He had to fight to keep his voice clear and steady as his throat was choking up and he felt tears stinging his eyes. "I'll hold you right now if you want. Do you?"
Paige nodded and tears glimmered in her eyes as she slid into his lap and wrapped her arms around him. Derek returned the embrace as he rocked her and rubbed her back.
A few days later during the lunch hour, Derek was waiting for Paige at their usual table when his Uncle Peter appeared and sat down across from him.
"What're you doing here?" asked Derek.
"I'm looking out for my favorite nephew," said Peter, smiling. "And making sure no one's got a crossbow aimed at you. I assume Laura told you about what happened to Ennis's Beta? There are packs in town and more Alphas than I've ever seen in one place."
"I'm aware of what happened, yes," said Derek, through gritted teeth. He didn't want to talk about the problems with the hunters or the Alphas that were currently in town. "Either cut to chase and tell me why you're really here or I'll get you banned from the grounds."
"Someone's cranky this morning," said Peter. "And FYI, no one's going to ban me when I look this good. But if you must know, I'm concerned about you, just like the rest of your family. You've been spending so much time with that Paige girl, your family barely sees you anymore."
Derek snorted. He didn't believe his uncle for a minute. "Nice try. But my mom's already aware of what's going on and she doesn't mind how much time I spend with Paige. And you know what; it's really none of your business." There were times when Peter was his best friend and other times when Derek just wanted to deck him one. This time was one of the latter.
"I beg to differ," said Peter. "But if it really bothers you that much, just answer a couple of questions for me and then I'll leave you two alone."
Derek sighed in exasperation. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
"Does she know what you are and is she your mate?" asked Peter.
Derek scowled. Of course, those would be the questions Peter asked. "No, she doesn't know and no, she's not my mate. She's my best friend, that's all. Are we done now?"
"For now," said Peter, as he rose up. "But if I were you, I'd turn her."
"And why would I do that?" demanded Derek.
"Because she's dying, Derek. I can smell it on her from a mile away," said Peter. "If she's not turned into one of us and soon, how much longer could you possibly have with her? If she turns, she'll never get sick again. The bite is a gift. You might want to consider giving it to her."
Derek didn't reply as Peter departed. He'd be lying if he said he didn't consider turning Paige to save her life, but he knew it couldn't happen. Talia probably wouldn't agree and even if she did, Derek just knew that the life of a lycanthrope wasn't one that Paige wanted.
XXX
Kali paused in her story telling. She'd just finished explaining about the Nemeton, a sacred meeting place for druids. It was said that the druids would pick a large, older tree in a grove and mark it with a five-fold knot that represented the center of the world and it was believed that any damaged caused to the tree brought about problems to the surrounding villages, and if blood was sacrificed to the tree, power would granted.
"So, how do you know so much about druids and Celtic symbols?" asked Artemis.
"Luna and Ennis told me all about it. The older wolves had a relationship with the druids, people like Deaton," said Kali. "They were our emissaries, our advisors. They're like our ambassadors to the hunters. Supposedly, they help us retain our humanity."
"And Deaton was the emissary of the Hales," guessed Artemis.
Kali nodded. "Do you know the myth of Lycaon?"
Artemis's brow wrinkled as she tried to recall the Greek legends she'd learned in school. "He was the first werewolf and it's where we get the term, 'lycanthropy.'"
"Correct. But there's more to it," said Kali. She took one of her old books off the shelf and flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for. "According to myth, some Greek citizens believed they owed their lives more to Prometheus the Titan, rather than to the Gods of Olympus. Some followers even took names to honor the Titans instead of the gods."
"People like Deucalion," guessed Artemis. She had had a feeling this went back to him somehow. She just hadn't known what until now.
Kali nodded as she showed her the illustration in the book. "You and I aren't the only ones of our kind named for deities. Deucalion is also."
Kali had been named after the Hindu Goddess of Time, Change and Destruction. She was presented a dark and violent figure and was also known as the Death Bringer. Whereas, Artemis had been named for the Greek Goddess of the Moon and of the Hunt. All things considered, their names suited them rather well but it made the girls wonder what their father had been thinking when he'd chosen them.
"Deucalion was the son of Prometheus, in mythology. Lycaon didn't just refuse to honor the gods. He challenged them. He invited Zeus to a banquet and…well, you don't need to know the details. But for what he did, Zeus blew Lycaon's home up with lightning and then punished Lycaon and his family by turning them into wolves. The part that's lesser known is how Lycaon sought out the druids to help turn him and his family back into humans," said Kali.
Artemis's breath caught in her throat. If this was correct, this wasn't just a myth, this was part of her own history as a werewolf.
"They couldn't do it, not all the way. Could they?" she said, softly.
"No," admitted Kali. "The druids were powerful beings with a connection to nature that I'll never understand. But some things are beyond even their power. Supposedly, they knew how to shape-shift, so they taught Lycaon and his family how to do the same. They became the first werewolves. But it came with a price."
Artemis had already guessed it. Having read a number of books on the subject and seen a number of television programs on the same thing, she knew that the power of the wolves had to be kept in check. Nature needed to maintain balance as without balance, there was only chaos.
"Let me guess, the moon gave them their power but it could also be used against them and things like mountain ash became a protection against us," said Artemis.
"Got it in one," said Kali. "Power comes with a price. The question is, are you willing to pay it? Anyway, as a result for what the druids did for Lycaon, they became our advisors. They're held in the highest regard and also kept safe. They're often a secret in a pack. Sometimes only the Alpha of a pack knows the emissary's identity."
"But you knew who yours was," said Artemis.
Kali nodded. "Luna trusted me enough to tell me. Julia Baccari and I were friends until she betrayed me." At the mention of Julia's name, Kali's claws extended and her eyes turned their Alpha red color.
Artemis frowned. "She betrayed you? How?"
Kali took a deep breath to calm herself and retract her werewolf features. "That's a story for another day. Anyway, Deaton was Talia's emissary at the time, so naturally, she went to him for advice."
XXX
Nine years ago, Kali's tale…
Deucalion and Talia were meeting Dr. Deaton's office to discuss their plans for the Argents. Or rather, attempt to dissuade Deucalion from enacting his plan. Neither Talia nor Dr. Deaton agreed with it and believed it would only bring death and misery upon them.
"While I admire your willingness to extend an olive branch, I have to tell you that it might not be welcome," said Dr. Deaton.
"And I'm not sure that Gerard is the one to accept it," said Talia.
Dr. Deaton nodded. "I agree. The Argents have a matriarchal leadership." Even if Gerard Argent agreed, Dr. Deaton seriously doubted it would be accepted by the female leaders of the hunters' family.
"Actually, I was referring to the fact that he's a complete psychopath. The man cuts our kind in half with broadswords," said Talia.
Deucalion gave them both a disbelieving look. "Do you two really have so little faith in people? You think Gerard isn't worried about the deaths on his own side?" If this worked, it would mean peace and better lives for them and their posterity.
Dr. Deaton sighed. He was getting nowhere with Deucalion and it was getting tiresome. "Let me put this another way. Do you know the story of the scorpion and the frog?"
Deucalion sighed this time. "I get the feeling I'm about to hear it."
Dr. Deaton ignored him. "When the scorpion asked the frog to carry him across the river, the frog asked, 'How do I know you won't sting me?' The scorpion replied, 'Why would I do that? Then we'd both drown.' So the frog agreed to carry the scorpion across the river. But when they were halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the frog. When the frog asked him why he did it since now they would both die, the scorpion replied, 'It's in my nature.'"
Deucalion just smiled at the parable and didn't reply. He understood what Dr. Deaton meant, but that didn't mean he was going to listen.
"Your faith in humanity might not matter if you underestimate Gerard's nature," said Dr. Deaton, sternly. "Do not underestimate him. He's ruthless, dangerous and he will betray you."
"You don't know that," said Deucalion.
"And you don't know that it won't turn out as Alan says," snapped Talia. "If you're going to insist on meeting with Gerard to make an offer of peace, then do it on neutral territory and do not walk in there alone."
Deucalion nodded. "I will. But honestly, you should know that I don't walk alone. I'm an Alpha, for heaven's sake."
XXX
Derek took a moment to compose himself. He was nearing the end of his story, the most difficult part of it. Even after nine long years, the memories still hurt and his heart ached with grief that refused to leave him.
"After what happened at lunch, Peter kept nagging at me to turn her. He told me to seek out one of the Alphas that were gathered there, but I kept refusing. I didn't want Paige to die, but at the same time, I couldn't bring myself to force her to live a life I knew she would regret."
"Why didn't you just tell her about what you are and ask her?" asked Jackson. "How do you know she would've refused?"
"Trust me, Jackson, I know," said Derek. He sighed as he ran his hands through his short black hair. "Anyway, Paige's cancer became worse. She became sicker as time went on. I knew she wasn't going to last much longer. We agreed to meet in the woods for one last adventure. But if I had known what was going to happen, I never would've agreed."
"What did happen?" asked Erica, dreading the answer.
Tears glistened in Derek's eyes. "I was on my way to meet her when I heard her scream. I tried to get to her in time, but it was too late. Ennis had decided to replace his Beta and get into my mother's favor by turning her himself. But in his haste to turn her, he went too far."
"He killed her, didn't he?" said Stiles, softly.
Derek nodded. "I attacked him, but he was too strong for me. Not that it was a surprise. He was a powerful Alpha and I was just a young Beta. But when he saw Paige, lying there on the brink of death, he realized what he'd done. He let us go and he ran off."
"He just ran off? What a creep. But why didn't she turn? She was bitten by an Alpha," said Boyd, confused.
"If an Alpha goes too far in a turning, the human doesn't turn. They die," explained Cora. "It's why Alphas have to be careful when they turn someone."
Derek looked grieved. "Paige's wounds were fatal. There was nothing anyone could do to save her. I needed somewhere quiet to take her, somewhere we wouldn't be found. So, I took her to the Nemeton, a sacred meeting place for druids, and I stayed with her, just holding her. It was there and then that I had to make a choice."
XXX
Nine years ago, Derek's tale…
Paige lay in Derek's arms as they sat underground in the Nemeton.
Paige was in bad shape and was hanging on by a thread. She did not cry and nor did she smell of fear, but she kept a tight grip on Derek's hand and tightly intertwined their fingers as she buried her face in his chest.
"I'm so sorry," said Derek, as tears slid down his cheeks. He was trying to take away her pain, but he could only do so much to ease her passing. "I should've protected you better."
"It's not your fault," said Paige. "Derek, I have a confession to make. I knew."
Derek looked confused. "What?"
"Right after I told you my name, I knew," said Paige. "I knew that you were a werewolf."
Derek couldn't believe what he was hearing. She knew? She'd known he was a werewolf and she'd still trusted him. "How did you know?"
"I don't know how to explain it," said Paige. "Sometimes, I see things. Things in the future."
"But if you knew…" Derek struggled to find the words. "…why didn't you tell me?"
"I know what you're thinking. But even if Ennis hadn't gone too far, it wouldn't have made any difference. I was always going to die," said Paige. "Nothing could've prevented it, not even lycanthropy."
Derek was speechless. She had always known she was going to die and yet she had no fear of it or of him, despite knowing what he was.
"But if you knew, then why did you trust me? Why did you become my friend?" asked Derek.
"Because I knew you were different from others like you. I knew I could trust you," said Paige. Tears came to her eyes. "And even if you weren't, I didn't want to let you go. You're the only one who's ever made me feel loved."
Derek's tears increased at this as he tightened his grip on Paige. "I wish I'd met you earlier." They could've had so much more time together.
"So do I. But at least I got to spend this time with you," said Paige. She gently touched his face with her free hand. "You won't be sad forever, Derek. I've seen it. One day, you'll find your true mate. She will be more than just the love of your life. She will be your life. And she'll feel the same way about you."
Derek smiled a little at this description of his future mate. "How will I know when it's her?"
"There will be signs, signs you won't recognize until she tells you that the reason she's always trying to save you because you're worth saving and she loves you," said Paige. "She'll love you too much to ever let you go. Sounds cheesy, doesn't it?"
Derek chuckled a little and then he looked upset when Paige winced in pain again.
"Derek, please…" she begged. "I'm ready. Just take the pain away."
Despite knowing what she was asking him to do, Derek couldn't bring himself to refuse her dying wish.
"I will always be with you," she promised. "I'll wait for you."
"I know," said Derek, softly. "I won't forget you, ever." Using a trick his mother had taught him, Derek pressed a pressure point on Paige that made her fall into a deep, painless sleep. Derek then took away Paige's pain forever.
Right after he did so, Derek's eyes changed from gold to blue and he howled in grief as he buried his face in Paige's shoulder. He couldn't believe she was gone and he couldn't help but wish he'd done better to protect her.
Though it broke his heart to do so, Derek carried Paige out of the root cellar and left her in the woods near where some people were searching for her. He then hid until they found her body and she was taken away.
Once Paige's body was taken away, Derek hid himself in the Nemeton. For two days and nights, he neither slept nor ate. He only grieved over the loss of his friend.
As the dawn of the third morning approached, Talia entered the root cellar and approached him. She had learned from Ennis what he'd done to Paige and she knew what fate had befallen the poor girl. After giving her son time alone to grieve, Talia had decided it was time for him to come home.
Derek was sitting on the floor with his head buried in his hands as he wept. "I did something bad, Mama."
"Shh," soothed Talia. She knelt down and stroked Derek's hair. "It's not your fault. You did everything you could."
"Then why couldn't I save her?" sobbed Derek. "She's dead because of me." What good was being a lycanthrope and having so much power if it couldn't be used to save those he loved?
"No, Derek. She lived because of you," said Talia. "Sometimes we can't save every life, no matter how much we want to. But sometimes staying alive isn't the same as living. Paige's life was a happier one when you entered it and because of you, she didn't depart from this world alone or feeling unloved. That's the most any of us can ever hope for in our lifetimes."
Derek was quiet as he contemplated this. Perhaps there was truth in his mother's words. Paige had been alone before he'd entered her life. He'd given her a friend, made her feel loved and he hadn't let her depart alone. She hadn't been angry with him and nor had she blamed him for what Ennis had done. Paige had just been grateful to have had Derek in her life.
"But my eyes are different now," he lamented. What would his family think when the saw his eyes had changed?
Talia lifted his chin and they gazed upon one another. She saw that Derek's eyes were no longer gold but bright blue. But that didn't matter to her.
"They are different, but no less beautiful. Just like the rest of you," she murmured as she took Derek's hand. "Come, my son. Let's go home."
With a heavy heart, Derek allowed his mother to take him home. As long as he lived, he would never forget Paige or the effect she'd had on his life.
XXX
Derek wiped his face of the tears that had fallen before Cora held him in her arms.
By now, everyone was crying, even Jackson. Knowing that Derek had had to make the choice to end his friend's suffering broke their hearts and in way, it also made them admire his ability to stay strong even when he was hurting.
"Because of what Ennis did, the authorities believed Paige was a victim of an animal attack," said Derek. "But we all knew the truth. So, now every year, I have flowers sent to her grave and the distillery and when I can, I spend two days in the Nemeton. This year, Artemis accompanied me to both places and stayed with me in the Nemeton until I asked to be alone for a while. Until Huntress entered my life, anger became my anchor as it was the only way the pain went away."
"Why didn't you ever tell us about this?" asked Cora.
Derek sighed. How could he make them understand? "It hurt too much. And I never wanted any of you to know what that was like. Taking a life in self-defense or vengeance is different than killing an innocent. When you take the life of an innocent, it takes something from you in return. It dims the bright gold of our eyes into a cold, steel blue."
Everyone looked upset at this, especially Jackson for his werewolf eyes were blue due to his actions as the kanima.
"How did Artemis take it when she found out about this?" asked Isaac.
Derek sighed again as he recalled the early days when he and Artemis began their relationship. They'd had a lot of long talks about their pasts as they didn't want any secrets kept between them. Telling her of Paige hadn't been easy, but in the end, he'd been glad of it, for she had helped him move past his grief.
"When I told her, Huntress cried for both of us, Paige and I, I mean. She didn't blame me, she was just sorry I'd had to go through what I did alone and she promised she'd never leave me," said Derek. "She helped in a lot of ways."
"When did you realize Artemis was your mate?" asked Stiles. "Was it just like Paige said you would?"
Derek nodded. "Like Paige said, I didn't recognize the signs even though I should've. The night that Kate died, Kate was going to kill me but Artemis tried to protect me, saying if I died, she'd go with me. I demanded to know why she was always trying to save me, and she said it was because I was worth saving and she loved me. That was when I finally realized I'd fallen in love with Huntress and we were mates."
"Jeez…" murmured Boyd.
Derek rose up from his seat. "So, now you know. Now, if you don't mind, I need to get some sleep." Derek hadn't slept in two days and he was feeling exhausted both physically and emotionally.
No one tried to stop him, but they did tell him they'd be there if he needed anything. Derek was never going to be alone again, that much they were all certain of.
XXX
Artemis lay back against the headboard of her sister's bed as they curled up with each other. It was getting late and the two Moon sisters were starting to fall asleep.
"Deucalion's attempt to make peace didn't work, did it?" asked Artemis.
Kali shook her head as she stroked her sister's hair. "No. But considering it was Gerard that he met with, it's not surprising. Gerard never intended to make peace. All he cares about is the elimination of our kind."
"Believe me, I know," said Artemis.
Artemis had been on the receiving end of Gerard's killer nature. It wasn't something she wished to experience ever again. She was silently grateful that he was no longer a threat to her or her kind.
XXX
Nine years ago, Kali's tale…
The day was bright and clear as Deucalion and three of his Betas met with Gerard and three other hunters to discuss peace and hopefully end the animosity between the two sides.
Deucalion and his Betas stood their ground while Gerard walked around the distillery.
"I think it's quite fitting that we're meeting in a distillery," said Gerard. "You know the process of distillation is the separating of two substances by pushing them into their different volatile states."
A weak chuckle emitted from Deucalion's throat. "Volatile is exactly the state I'm hoping to avoid," he confessed.
Gerard shook his patronizingly as one would a child. "Ooh. Then this is going to come as quite a big disappointment." And with that, he turned the valves on one of the machines and a powerful white gas burst out of the pipes, hurting them all and making it difficult for them to see. Gerard injected himself with an antidote to keep himself from being affected and then he pulled out a giant spiked mace as he began attacking and killing everyone, even his own hunters.
Deucalion gasped for breath and struggled to stand and stay conscious. He couldn't believe this was happening. He was such a fool to think he could trust Gerard or make peace with the Argents. Why hadn't he listened to his friends? But still, this was cold, even for Gerard.
"How could you do this to your own people?" he choked out.
Gerard just grinned an evil grin. "They wanted peace, too! Look what you've done to them! Now no peace will ever be had between your kind and mine!"
Tears slid down Deucalion's cheeks before he tried to get out of the distillery. There was nothing more he could do except try to survive and tell the others what had occurred.
Valiantly, Deucalion fought against death and struggled to survive. He didn't possess the strength to stand, so he crawled out despite the pain he was in. But it wasn't long before Gerard caught up with him.
Deucalion lay on his back as Gerard approached him with his hands behind his back.
"Don't," begged Deucalion. "Don't do this. I had a vision. A vision of peace!"
"A little shortsighted, wouldn't you say?" said Gerard. He produced two weapons and used them to blind Deucalion. He then left Deucalion for dead, not knowing that his actions would cost him dearly one day.
Deucalion was later found by Talia, who brought him to Dr. Deaton for medical treatment.
Dr. Deaton did what he could but there were some things even he couldn't accomplish. Gently, he took the bandages off Deucalion's head and eyes, but it was clear to them all that it wasn't good.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, regretfully. "Your eyes will heal physically, but your sight is gone. There's nothing I can do. I'm sorry."
Deucalion said nothing for a moment and then he let out an incredibly painful roar as he kneeled over on the table. Tears pooled in his sightless eyes and slid down his cheeks.
"Leave me alone!" cried Deucalion. He needed time alone to grieve over his losses and try to calm down before he did something terrible. Deucalion's anger and sadness were threatening to overwhelm him.
Out of respect for their friend, Dr. Deaton and Talia left the room, but Marco, Deucalion's Beta who'd always thirsted for power, did not. He'd just arrived to see his Alpha and had learned of Deucalion's blindness.
Deucalion could sense Marco's presence in the room and frowned. "Marco, what're you doing here? I wish to be left alone in peace."
"Then alone you shall be," said Marco. He wolfed out and tried to take Deucalion's power for his own, but it was a fatal mistake as Deucalion then discovered that he was only blind when he wasn't wolfed out. With this knowledge, Deucalion executed his traitorous Beta.
XXX
Artemis sat up in the bed and stared at her sister in disbelief. "He sees when he's a wolf?" How could that be possible?
Kali nodded. "I told you. Deucalion's not always blind." Deucalion's ability to see when he was wolfed out was part of the reason he was so dangerous.
"Maybe we can use that against him," said Artemis. But even as she said that, she didn't know how it was going to be done.
But nevertheless, with every bit of information they acquired, they were one step closer to figuring out how to stop Deucalion and the Darach. They were one step closer to winning the battle.