Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Wolf or any of it's characters. This is purely a work of boredom and inerest and I'm surprised anyone reads it. Thank you.
Lydia held onto her cup of now cold tea and laughed bitterly to herself. When had everything gone to shit for her? When did everything just fall to pieces? The wolf thing at the video rental place. Jackson breaking up with her. Then being locked in the school with a crazed psychokiller. Then everything that happened at the Formal and having to be hospitalized. Her friends turning away from. Her house being burned down. And then that Morgan girl saying those cruel, hurtful things about her. Why was this happening to her? This wasn't who she was, she wasn't a violent person; she didn't mean to attack Tiffany in the hall like that. She had saw herself doing it but she just couldn't stop herself. There was a lot of things about her that she couldn't control. Why her? Why was this happening to her? She didn't deserve this...any of this. She was a good girl; she made sure her grades were perfect, she made sure her appearance was impeccable, she fostered good friendships, so then why was this happening to her? She was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of someone calling her name. She looked over to where her mom sat stone silent and eyes focused on nothing in the distance. She turned again when she heard her name called and leaned to look out of the ambulance, there was a crowd of onlookers still and any one of them could be calling her name. She scanned the crowd looking for anyone who might look like they were trying to get her attention, but all she saw were people gaping and gabbing about the fire they had just saw. She was reminded of the voice back in her room, the voice that had probably saved their lives. She placed her mug down and stood up letting the blanket fall off of her and she walked towards the crowd. She was following the voice as she wandered through the crowd. She passed by a boy from her school who looked like he wanted to comfort her but she heard the voice coming from the right and followed it. She followed until the voice changed direction and led her to the left and out of the crowd. The voice was leading her down one of the paths in the forest that some of the kids used as a shortcut but then it started to go off of the path and into the woods. Common sense was telling her to go back to her mom but curiosity fueled her legs to move forward. Bare feet on twigs and fallen leaves, grass pressed between black polished toenails. She moved bushes and lifted low hanging branches as she followed the voice that got richer the further she moved into the woods. It was leading her to a place where the trees grew thicker and where the noise of the cars and people were just a distant memory.
"Lydia."
She paused.
"Lydia."
She turned trying to find where the voice was coming from.
"Lydia."
"What," she said a little fed up now.
"Come...closer."
She wasn't sure but she could swear she heard a smile on the nonexistent lips the voice came from. She moved in closer against her better judgement, something was wiling her forward.
"I need...you to help me."
Lydia shook her head nervously and took in a shaken breath, "I'm sorry but I don't help weird disembodied voices.
"I have a body...or rather, I will. Very soon too."
She hesitated as fear crept up her spine, "what...what does that mean?"
"You know exactly what it means."
Before she could react fast enough to run away Lydia felt a force slam into her and knocking the wind out of her. She fell and scrambled back as the force pressed into her. The world around her took on a dark facade as the limbs of trees that were once harmless branches now looked like the fingers of a skeleton reaching out to her, the bushes now took on the form of hunched beasts as if ready to attack, and the ground beneath her became alien like and writhed beneath her as though she were laying on a bed of maggots. She went to scream but nothing came out of her mouth as the force rushed to fill her lungs. Gasping for breath, tears filled her eyes as the force filled in every cavity of her being. She could feel it in her fingertips, in her toes, she could feel it in her face and in...her heart.
Suddenly there was a stillness and the darkness settled in and fell asleep. She lay on the floor feeling scared, and violated, and dirty, and...angry.
Lydia watched the group of conspirators gathered around Scott's locker and sucked her teeth. She hated them, and blamed them for everything that had happened to her. Everything started to fall apart once she started to hang out with Scott. She watched the group of new friends judging them mercilessly; Jackson and his asshattery, Scott and his oblivity to anything that isn't Allison, Stiles the spineless fool who did whatever Scott asked, Allison the arrogant huntress who let a boy become her whole world, Danny the follower, and Morgan the annoying bitchy little witch girl who was too quick with her words. As she watched them she vibrated with a fury she had never felt and slammed her locker closed so hard that it caused everyone in the hall to look at her.
"WHAT ARE YOU ALL STARING AT?"
She yelled before stomping off into the girls' bathroom. She pushed the door open causing all of the girls to look up with horror in their eyes. Lydia stared at the group of unlucky girls with a glare so strong that everyone one of them stumbled back and then rushed past her for the exit. When the last girl had left and the room was too full with rage for anyone other than Lydia, she walked over to the mirror and placed both hands on the sink. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw a flash of something she didn't recognize and willed herself to calm down. She inhaled and exhaled evenly, trying to control herself...it was hard. Her reflection in the mirror morphed and changed into an evil sneer before she was looking back at herself. Leaning off the mirror she straightened her clothes and fixed her hair, applying a new layer of lip gloss she smiled at herself and walked out of the bathroom smiling contentedly and humming.
They all watched as Lydia walked out of the girls' bathroom smiling and humming to herself, Jackson was the first to say something.
"Well that's never happened before."
"You have no idea what's going to happen," Morgan said from where she was looking grim among the rest.
Scott turned to her, "Morgan, you had a vision didn't you?"
"I'd hardly call it a 'vision' but I did see something, something worse than what I had seen before. I still believe that if we take care of this before it gets worse we won't have to worry about what I saw."
"Well," Stiles said expectantly, "what did you see?"
"Aside from the countless bodies and bloodshed...my death," and with that Morgan left the group and walked out of the school. She couldn't deal with this, not today at least, but she would have to. If she was going to do this she would have to get rid of everything. She pulled out her phone and sent Stiles a text.
Did you read that book? -M
It wasn't long before her phone beeped and she check the message from Stiles.
You mean the text book? Yeah. -S
She exhaled.
Good. Can you come get me? -M
Where are you? -S
I'm under the bleachers, there's something I have to tell you. -M
She closed her phone and her eyes and breathed deeply, it was time she was completely honest with Stiles. He had promised he was going to help her and she couldn't have him go into this without knowing what's up. She pressed her palms to her eyes as she gathered the nerve to talk about what she had to talk about. Just when she had calmed herself enough she looked up and saw Stiles looking at her with a smile from between the seats. She smiled and got up to walk around and meet him.
"You okay," Stiles asked as Morgan ambled around the end of the bleachers and up to him.
"I'm fine," she lied. "I just wanted to know if you could give me a ride home, I have some things I need to tell you."
Stiles raised an eyebrow, "sure, come on, my Jeep is this way." He went to put his arm around her but she shook a finger at him saying 'no.' He raised both hands as if to say sorry and shoved his hands in his pocket. The walk to Stiles' car and the resulting drive over to Morgan's house was silent.
Exasperated Stiles took his eyes off the road and looked at Morgan, "are you sure you're okay, you've been quiet before but never like this...not with me at least."
"I'm fine. Let's just get to my house please," was all Morgan said for the rest of the car ride.
Stiles' Jeep pulled into the cracked driveway of Morgan's home and she got out the car before it had came to a full stop. She walked up the broken walkway and looked back only once to make sure that Stiles was following her. Putting her key in the door she walked in and left the door open for Stiles and went to wait for him at the top of the stairs. When he had walked in and closed the door she waited for him to get upstairs and walked him to her room, and waited for his amazement to go away from where she leaned on the closed door. Walking over she sat on her bed and patted the spot next to her for Stiles to sit next to her.
"Morgan..." Stiles started but was cut off.
"Please don't say anything," she exhaled, "I just want to get this out of the way so I can forget about it."
Stiles nodded and urged her to continue.
"Okay, so I'm assuming that Scott told you what I told him about why I'm here, correct?" Morgan waited for Stiles to nod. She exhaled, "you promised to help me before I even told you what it is I had to do and right now I'm giving you the option to back out. Stiles, do you still want to help me?"
Stiles paused for a beat before saying, "yes, I still want to help you."
"Okay," Morgan said breathing out. "Well I guess I should start with what made me come here. It all started when I was supposed to have my second degree intiation into the Craft, that my high priestess confronted me about a terrible vision she had had while on one of her night walks; she told me of terrible beasts that lay waste to a town in California, and that I had to be there. She told me of ravenous wolves that ran wild in a town called Beacon Hills and that the population was all but unprepared. There was a lot of deliberation with the elders however, and both my parents were on the council, about whether or not I could handle this task. My mother was the loudest among the voices, adament that I was not ready for this and that I should not have been allowed into the Craft in the first place but, seeing as how I was born into this I was granted initiation by birth. I had went through the first degree intiation with no problems, a lot of my "family" were already initiates, and because of my lineage, it was easy for me to get in even with my mother's objections. I was told to consider this a test...as a "skipping ahead" to being a third degree intiate and inevitably being able to form my own coven. I didn't have much say in the matter once the Priestess had made up her mind, and it was decided amongst the elders that my family and I were to relocate here until everything had been settled. Now I'm assuming you want to know what you have to do with all of this," she looked at Stiles who shook his head with unwavering eyes.
"Well," Morgan grabbed Stiles' hand and turned to face him completely, "the night before my famliy left, the Priestess visited me in secret to tell me about a boy, one who would play a big part in freeing Beacon Hills of it's darkness for good. She told me about a boy who would have a big heart, a quick mind, and a fast tongue. A boy without a mother and a distant father, a boy with close friends who are too busy for him. A boy who would need a friend that understands he's as unique as his name, a boy named Genim; and he would be a bigger help to me than anyone else and that I had to protect him with my life."
Stiles looked at Morgan and shook his head in desbelief and confusion, "Putting my excitement aside, why would I be able to help you? I mean, I'm just Stiles...I Google werewolves and get thrown against walls. I don't help save a whole town from some massacre."
"Well, 'just Stiles' who helped Scott come to terms with being a werewolf? Who helped figure out the death of Laura Hale and chained Scott to the radiator during his first full moon? Who was there when Scott and Derek faced the Alpha?" She followed him with her eyes where he was trying to look away. "Stiles, you are an amazing person. You have a heart as big as your smile and given the chance I'm sure you would see just how true that is. Stiles, look at me. Look at me."
Stiles looked up into her deep green-gray eyes and shook his head, "I..."
"No," Morgan said a bit forcefully shaking his hands. "No, I believe in you and I know you believe in you too. Don't listen to the voice in your head telling you you can't do this, do you think I would've been here if there were people who didn't believe in you?"
Stiles put his elbows on his knees and pressed his fingers to his temples and closed his eyes tight, "I still don't understand what I have to do with all of this. How am I supposed to help you, I don't know anything about magic."
"Did you read that book I gave you?"
"Yeah," Stiles said sitting up straight, "but how was that supposed to help me? It was just a bunch of words in Latin and pictures of pentagrams and herbs."
"Did you read the section I highlighted?"
"You mean the one about demonology, or the one about witchcraft?"
"Both," Morgan said crossing her arms.
"Oh, yeah," Stiles said leaning back, "I totally read those."
"Well I hope you did," Morgan said standing up, "because I've decided that tonight's the night to handle this Lydia problem and you are going to help me." She offered her hand to Stiles to help him up.
"What are we going to do, exactly, about Lydia," Stiles asked straightening his clothes as Morgan walked over and took a book down from her shelf and placed it down on her desk.
"We're going to try a binding now," she looked over her shoulder at Stiles and beckoned him over. "It should be easy; it's one of the most basic spells in the book and even non-witches can execute it without any formal training."
"If it's so easy," Stiles said where he stood a bit away from Morgan and the book, "how do we know it'll work on Lydia?"
"Because," Morgan said pulling herself up to her full height and taking some things from a satchel that lay on her desk. "It's never been done by a legacy witch on a hybrid, so we'll have to see what happens." Morgan shrugged and started placing a few things on her desk in the large pentagram that was engraved on her desk. Stiles watched as she pulled out a picture of Lydia that he had never seen, a black ink marker, and a ribbon.
"What are we supposed to do with that," Stiles asked looking dubiously at the assortment of items that the girl had laid out in front of her.
"Well," Morgan said gesturing to each item, "a picture of Lydia so we don't mistakenly bind someone else, a black ink pen or marker so we can write the persons name in a pentagram, and a ribbon that will symbolize the biding. Easy right," Morgan said the last part turning to a very confused looking Stiles.
"Uh...yeah," Stles said scratching his head.
"Now it's time for the best part..." she looked at Stiles with a smile on her face, "the words."
"Words...?" Stiles said inching a bit closer to where Morgan stood over the desk.
"Yes, now give me your hands and focus," Morgan reached for Stiles hands and breathed deeply looking at him to copy her.
Stiles followed her lead and closed his eyes as well and breathed evenly.
"Good," Morgan said with her eyes closed and still holding on to Stiles' hands, "now try and clear your mind of everything else but Lydia."
Stiles scoffed, "that won't be hard."
"Concentrate Stiles, we can't risk anyone else getting hurt."
Ducking his head Stiles said, "fine, fine...Focus on Lydia. Focus on Lydia Martin."
"That's not neccessary, just repeat her name in your mind and hold on to an image of her. Just focus on her..."
Stiles quieted himself and his mind and made himself focus on the memory he had of when he had first seen Lydia. Her hair was in a pony tail that bounced as she walked alongside her parents on her way to school for the first day of third grade; Stiles was sure she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen in his life. She had on a blue summer dress that made her eyes shine and she had a bright smile that was warmer than the sun.
Morgan opened her eyes and saw that Stiles was smiling to himself and that was all she needed, "good, now hold on to that image and repeat after me." Morgan wrote Lydia's name on the picture in five lines forming a pentagram as she said these words:
To be protected from you,
This magic charm will do
With these words I bind thee
For you to let us be
To be protected from your harm
I now seal this charm
She looked at Stiles who was now repeating the words in a steady monotone as she folded the picture twice and started to tie the ribbon around the photo.
Lydia was in her mathematics class when she started to get a headache; at first she thought it was nothing, she hadn't been getting much sleep since the fire that burned down her house and she had to stay at a hotel while they figured out what happened. Her nerves haven't been good and her mood swings have gotten to the point that her mom slept all day to avoid her; she chocked it all up to lack of sleep but she had never had headaches this bad. She pressed her fingers to her temples and her vision bagan to blur; she started to hear voices...two voices, speaking in unison. They were mumbling something and it hurt to hear, there was a tightening in her chest and she started to gasp for air. By now some of the students had noticed and the teacher had stopped talking, Scott was the first one over to her as she knelt down on one knee. She heard Scott say something but couldn't hear over the rising voices...there was another this time, a more forceful voice. It told her to get up and get out of the room, it told her to get to a place where she could be alone but she couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. Something, a force within her, willed her up and her legs to move her out of the class and into the hall; it willed her into the girls' bathroom and made her stand in front of the mirror. She looked at herself and was repulsed at what she saw.
"Listen to me," the voice said darkly from the mirror.
Lydia looked up at what she recognized was the voice from the night of the fire.
"You need to do everytthing I say right now, that little witch girl and the incompetent boy are binding you. They want to chain you up within yourself and force you back into the little girl who put herself down and hid how truly great she was. You can't let them do that to you..to us. We have to stop them, we can't let them do this to us!"
"How is there an us," Lydia said with difficulty.
"I really don't hope you think that everything that happened in the woods that night after the fire was for naught. Who do you think saved you and your mother from that fire? The moment I intervined to help you I was bound to you, why do you think they're attempting this binding? The witch knows what I am and she wants to get rid of me."
"What...are you," Lydia asked with ragged breaths, she credited whatever this was to her standing up because she was sure she would've been on the floor right now.
"We don't have time for that," the voice yelled, "just tell them to stop. Repeat it in your head and let the words trip over each other. Be forceful and will your thoughts out, I'll handle the rest."
Lydia closed her eyes and started to repeat the words 'stop it' to herself, it was hard but she kept going on and forced herself to not pay attention to the spltting headache she had or the pain in her chest.
Morgan paused from where she was repeating the words and stopped Stiles mid-sentence, "do you hear that?"
"Hear what," Stiles said opening his eyes but he didn't get an answer as they were bombarded by Lydia's voice in their heads.
""
Stiles covered his ears and yelled over the girls' voice, "is that Lydia, how is she doing this?"
Morgan ran over and pulled out a black pot from under her bed, placing it on her desk she threw all of the intems into the pot and struck a match. As she watched the match burn she looked over at Stiles yelling over the voice, "because she's not just a hybrid anymore!" She let the match drop and watched as the picture burn and the ribbon draw up on itself in the heat.
The voice stopped almost immediately and Stiles pulled his hands down from his ears, "then what is she?"
"Let's just say that I now know why I was given that demon banishing spell."
Stiles eyes grew wide and his mouth agape as Morgan poured water over the now smuldering ashes, "what?"
Lydia immediately felt a relief, "what did you do?"
"Nothing you didn't want to happen," Lydia was sure she heard a hint of a smile on the voice. "I took care of the matter now, but they know that you're not alone anymore and next time I won't be able to handle in on my own."
"Anything," Lydia said enjoy how easy it was to breathe and smiling a little to herself. "I'll do anything you want, just don't let anything harm me."
"I promise," the voice said, "I will do everything within my power to make sure that no witch, werewolf or human causes you harm without being dealt with swiftly."
"You guys," Scott said from where he and the others had gathered at a cafeteria table, "there was something really wrong with Lydia in class today."
"Yeah," Allison spoke up, "I had heard that she was wheezing or something and fell to the floor."
"Yeah, it looked like she was suffocating or something, she grabbed her chest too I thought she might be having a heart attack."
"Impossible Scott," Jackson spoke up now, "do you see what Lydia has become? If anyone was immune to heart attacks I'm sure it'll be her."
"Have you guys seen Stiles," Danny asked as he walked up to the rest of the group. "He's been missing ever since Morgan left this morning."
"He told me that he was going to be with Morgan today," Scott said shaking his head, "something about her needing to talk to him about something."
"Do you think Morgan could have something to do with what happened to Lyida today," Jackson asked leaning in towards the group.
"Probably," Scott said, "she did say that she had everything she needed to do that spell she was talking about."
"Do you think it worked," Danny said looking from face to face but received his answer when Lydia walked up to the group.
"Tell your little witch girl that she'll have to try harder next time if she wants to get rid of us," the words seeped from Lydia's lips like venom from a snake about to strike. "We don't like being targeted like that, and trust, next time we won't just stop her...we'll kill her." They all watched in stunned silence as Lydia clicked out of the cafeteria and parting the kids as if they were the red sea.
"We have to talk to Morgan," Scott said standing up. "Now."
"Scott," Morgan took her phone out of her pocket just as it buzzed.
"Morgan," Scott's voice came out of the speaker, "where are you?"
She rolled her eyes, "I'm home, Scott, and yes me and Stiles will meet you at your house." She hung up her phone and looked at Stiles, "something happened at school with Lydia and they want answers. We're going to meet them at Scott's house."
"Fine," Stiles said walking over to the door but stopped and stumbled back when he was greeted by a tall woman with the same green-gray eyes as Morgan. "Ummm...M-Morgan."
Morgan looked up seeing her mother towering over Stiles and ran in front of him. "Mother, what are you doing in my room?"
Morgan watched her eyes flick over to Stiles and then lock back on hers a knowing smile creeping across her tight face, "well, Morgana, last time I checked I was the one paying for this house."
"Don't even use that lie, you know you're not paying for anything..." Morgan took a step closer to her mother, "does the council know that you used your power to brainwash that old man who owned this house before we got here?"
Her mom stepped back at that, "fine...I'll go, but you my little darling are going to have a hell of a hard time with dealng with Lydia."
Stiles froze as Morgan paused only for a beat but let a smile form on her lips, "I'll deal with Lydia my own way, let's not forget who was sent here by the high priestess, and who was overpowered by the elders."
"Like I said," the mother raised an eyebrow at her daughter, "you're going to have a hell of a hard time dealing with Lydia." Stiles blinked and the tall woman was gone.
Morgan turned to Stiles uncrossing her arms and finally let her mask fall, "we have to go." In a flash Morgan grabbed Stiles' hand and pulled him down the stairs and out of the house.
When they had reached his car Stiles' pulled his hand back, "you do know that this arm is attached to me, right?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Morgan apologized, "I just wanted you out of that house and away from my mother...she's dangerous."
"I wouldn't have guessed," Stiles said sarcastically as he unlocked his car.
"Yeah well," Morgan said opening the passenger door, "I just think it would be best if you stayed away from her. She's as cold ans the night is long and betting on how easily she'll use her power for personal gain, she won't hesitate to harm you."
"Does that have anything to do with how she kept looking between the both of us," Stiles asked as her put on his seat belt.
"Yeah," Morgan said distractedly, "and I have to be careful."
"What does that mean," Stiles asked as he backed out of the cracked driveway and turned his car to make his way to Scott's house.
"For you, nothing. For me..." Morgan sighed and pressed her forehead against the cool glass, "everything."
The ride to Scott's house was anything but peaceful for Morgan, Siles kept peppering her with questions.
"So wait," Stiles said taking his eyes off the road, "what do I have to do with all of this, I'm still a little confused."
Morgan sighed, "what I gathered from what my high priestess said is that because of your good nature you should be able to counterbalance what ever it is that's wrong with Lydia."
"Do you think that'll work," Stiles asked once again with his eyes still on Morgan.
"It should," Morgan said watching the road because Stiles wasn't. "The moment I met you I knew exactly what the priestess had meant, and because of that I knew I had to do everything within my power to make sure that nothing bad happened to you."
"So what is it that's wrong with Lydia then," Stiles asked finally turning back to watch the road.
"Well," Morgan sighed, "I was given a demon banishing spell by the voice I was telling you about."
"So you're saying that Lydia is possessed," Stiles asked checking his rear-view mirror.
"I'm not saying yes," Morgan said avoidably, "but I'm not saying no either."
"What's going on with Lydia," Jackson asked as Stiles and Morgan made their way up the stairs in Scott's house.
"Well hello, Jackson," Morgan said with a sly smile and running a finger along his jaw line as she walked into Scott's room. Stiles just shrugged when Jackson looked at him.
"Morgan," Allison said as the girl placed herself in Scott's computer chair, "what's wrong with Lydia?"
They all looked at Morgan for an answer but it was Stiles who spoke up, "she thinks that Lydia might be possessed."
"I never said that Stiles," the girl said from where she was sitting in Scott's chair with her legs crossed.
"But you didn't not say it," Stiles said as he walked around the room. "We tried to do a binding today."
"Is that why Lydia had that freak out in class today," Scott asked looking from Morgan to Stiles.
"She had a freak out today," Stiles asked looking from face to face.
"Yeah, she did," Morgan said from where she was looking glum in the chair. "That's why we got that psychic attack today. She was hurting and what ever it was we thought we could bind wasn't happy about that."
"Psychic attack," Danny asked confused from where he was leaning against the bathroom door frame.
"Yeah," Morgan said looking at the boy. "Stiles and I thought we could maybe nip this in the bud but, as we were going through with the binding we heard Lydia's voice as piercing as nails on a chalkboard."
"She was telling us to 'stop it,' but it was really intense. I was doubled over and everything," Stiles added biting his nails.
"Do you really think she's possessed," Allison asked in the silence.
Morgan looked up at Allison and then from face to face around the room before she spoke, "I don't want to believe it, but...the night of the fire when I had ran up to Lydia she had this weird look on her face. It was almost a sneer but that wasn't what had me concerned, I was really worried about the darkness that had settled over her. It was unlike anything I had ever seen and it honestly scared me...I had never seen so much darkness and malice on one person's face." They all looked at Morgan who had become more gloomy as the conversation continued.
"Listen guys," Morgan breathing deeply, "back when I said that something was coming, I didn't expect anything like this. I knew it was going to be bad but not demonic possession bad."
"But you have that spell right," Stiles said kneeling down in from of Morgan, trying to get rid of the hopeless look on her face.
"What spell," Scott asked looking up at Stiles from where he was sitting on the bed.
"She said that she got a 'Demon Banishing Spell' from that voice she always talks to," Stiles said turning to look at Scott.
"Will it work," Jackson asked leaning off the door frame opposite of Danny.
"I don't know," Morgan said in a defeated tone, "I never had to do anything like this. It was always simple things like a glamour, or fire magic, stuff that didn't require having to interact with an autonomous being."
"So you're saying that we have absolutely no hope," Danny said looking at the girl with intense eyes.
"No, there's always hope," Stiles said standing up. "I don't know much about magic, and I'm not a werewolf or a hunter or anything like that but, I do know that if there's one thing we all can have is hope. Earlier Morgan was telling me about why she was sent here and a lot of it has to do with me, and I refuse to give up. This is Lydia you guys, we grew up with her and we've even fell in love with her and right now she needs us. I'm sure she doesn't know what's going on with her and even though she's not showing it I'm sure she's scared. Now is not the time to get scared or worry about not being good enough. We've all faced a seriously deranged alpha and we survived, so now we have to deal with Lydia and this...demon. If there's anything we should have right now, it's hope; hope for Lydia, hope for the school...this town, hope for our families, hope for each other and hope for ourselves. We can't give up just because the game's been changed, and we can't give up because this is something new. We have to work together and compensate for each other's weaknesses. Morgan once called us a family..."
"A group," Morgan cut in.
"...a family, and family takes care of each other," Stiles said the last part looking from one slightly scared face to the next before turning to Morgan. "I told you I was going to help you, and I will. There's more than just us on the line; there are people with families and dreams, there are kids who have yet to figure out who they are, there are people with something to prove and people with someone worth fighting for. I refuse to give up and I refuse to let you give up; we're going to do this and we're going to fight and win because we have no other option. Agreed?"
There was wide eyes and agape mouths as Stiles finished his speech, none of them knew where this had come from but it was as if it was the switch they all needed.
"Agreed," Danny said leaning off of the door frame.
"Agreed," Jackson said squaring his shoulders.
"Agreed," Allison said standing from where she had sat next to Scott.
"Agreed," Scott said standing up next to Allison, taking her hand.
They all looked at Morgan who was the only one still seated in the computer chair.
Stiles held out a hand to her, "for the people who can't fight for themselves."
She looked at the group of misfits who stood around her, and then at Stiles and the hand he held out to her. Sighing she took his hand and stood up, "for the people with someone worth fighting for."
There was a sigh of relief that they were all agreed that now was not the time to give up.
In the midst of the relief and silent smiles Jackson held up his hand, "sorry to bring down this Kodak moment but, how are we supposed to get rid of a demon."
"Don't worry," Morgan said with a small smile, "we're going to be fine, I just need you guys to be backup for me and Stiles."
"When are we gonna do this," Scott asked looking at Morgan.
"Well, from what you guys told me, the thing that's inside of Lydia is upset with our earlier attempt. I think it would be our best bet to figure out who and what is inside of Lydia, then I should be able to figure something out," Morgan said sitting back down. "We can't go into this without knowing who we're dealing with."
"How are we supposed to get a name from a demon," Danny asked with a worried look on his face.
"And I think I read something one time that if you ask a demon it's name that you are linking yourself with it until death or exorcism," Stiles said watching Morgan intently.
"No," Morgan said clearly, "that only works once you've started the exorcism. Once you've started an exorcism and have got the entity to tell you it's name you are both locked until the entity is exorcised or you die. We're not doing an exorcism in the way that the Catholic church sees it, we're banishing it in a way that's been around longer than the church."
"And what way is that," Jackson asked swallowing hard scared of the answer. He had never been to keen on Morgan and she had always scared him, so he was really not looking forward to what she might say.
"Don't worry Jackson," she said standing up and straightening her clothes. "We'll have help from someone way more powerful than me, and all you really have to do is just...be you." She walked out of the room and left them all really confused.
"What did she mean by 'just be me,'" Jackson asked looking at the others.
"I'm more concerend about her saying that she's getting help from someone more powerful than her," Danny said walking over to take the seat that Morgan just left.
"She mentioned something about being given a spell...I'm thinking that whoever she's been talking to is the one who gave it to her," Stiles said perssing his fingers together.
"Do you know who she's been talking to," Scott asked looking over at Stiles from where Allison was hugging him.
"She told us about that voice, so I'm guessing that's who she got the spell from," Stiles said crossing his arms.
"And we don't know anything about this voice...do we," Danny asked from the computer chair turning his attention from Scott and Allison and looking at Stiles.
"Well," Allison spoke up, "my mom's been talking to this same voicem that's what Morgan said anyway."
"Do you think you could talk to your mom about this voice," Danny asked leaning up in the chair.
"I don't think so," Allison said leaning away from Scott, "my mom is a very...she's just not one to talk about anything like that."
"What about your dad," Danny asked not wanting to pry after noticing a change in Allison.
"I can probably talk to him," Allison said hugging her waist, "I doubt if he'd know anything though."
"You should probably talk to him," Jackson said not wanting to offend her.
"Scott, maybe you should go with her," Stiles said turning to his friend, "Allison could probably use someone there and aren't you and her dad cool now?"
"Yeah, ummm, I'll go if you want me to," Scott said looking at Allison.
"Yeah," Allison said reaching for Scott's hands and showing some semblance of a smile, "I'd like that."
"Well," Danny said getting up, "I should probably get home, my mom tends to worry. Stiles can you give me a ride home, my mom still has the car."
"Sure, no problem" Stiles said taking his keys out and looking over to Jackson. "Are you gonna go tell Derek about what's been going on?"
"Sure," Jackson said rolling his eyes, "I mean, after all, it's not like I have anything else to do."
"You don't have to if you don't want to, Jackson," Scott said looking away from Allison.
"No, it's fine," Jackson said walking past Danny and Stiles before stopping at the door, "I live for being the messenger of good news." He walked down the stairs loudly and out the door.
"I'm betting he has a really nice personality," Stiles said before saying bye to Scott and Allison and walked out the door with Danny following him.
Mr. Argent looked up from his book as Allison walked in with Scott in tow, he noticed Allison's jaw was set tight and put his book down as the two walked over to where he sat in the living room. As they both took as seat across from him he sat up in his chair as Allison cleared her throat.
"Dad, we have to ask you something about mom," Allison said looking at Scott as she said the word 'we.'
"Yeah," Mr. Argent said looking from his daughter to Scott, "and what is that?"
"Umm," Scott started and cursed himself at being nervous in front of this man, "Allison has brought up that she heard her mom...your wife, talking to a disembodied voice."
"Is that so," Mr, Argent said raising his eyebrows looking at Allison.
"Yes," Allison said with a small nod of her head. "Dad, is there anything you can tell us about this. it would be really helpful."
"Well," Mr, Argent said leaning back, "I did hear here talking to someone the other night but I didn't see anyone when I walked out there to her."
Allison and Scott's eyes widened as Allison pressed on, "did you hear what the voice said, can you tell us anything?"
With a shake of his his head Mr. Argent told his daughter, "I can't, she didn't tell me anything about it and before I could really try to get anything out of her one of the hunters on the police force came in with news about the Martin house fire."
"Did they have anything to say," Scott asked leaning up on the couch.
"He didn't say much..." Mr. Argent said looked at Scott before turning back to his daughter who was now looking crestfallen, "but he did say something about seeing a darkness or something lifting off the house and flying across town."
Allison's eyes widened as she turned from her dad to Scott and back again, "that sounds like a lot to me. Did he say anything else, anything that might be able to lead us in a direction that's anywhere from back?"
"Well he did find this," Mr. Argent said as he got up and walked over to take something small off the firplace mantel and handed it to Scott.
Scott looked at the ring and recognized to symbol on it and handed it to Allison as he looked at Mr. Argent, "are you sure he found this at the site of the fire?"
"Yup," Mr, Argent said taking his seat, "he's not one of the brightest but he is very loyal and very truthful." Scott looked at Allison who went to hand the ring back to her father but was told to keep it.
Handing the ring back to Scott Allison looked back at her father, "so aside from what you already told us, is there anything else you can tellus about mom talking to that voice? This could be very important with what's happening and the more we know the better prepared we can be."
"What is happening," Mr. Argent said narrowing his eyes at the two teens.
"Nothing we can't handle," Scott said fingering the ring and standing up. "Allison...Mr. Argent, I think it's time I go," Scott looked down at Allison who stood up with a start.
"I'll walk you to the door," Allison said as she walked around the couch and headed to the fron t door.
Mr. Argent watched the two teens leave the living room with a smile on his face, this was really going to be interesting.
Stiles parked his Jeep in his driveway and seeing his dad wasn't home he sighed as Danny looked over.
"Are you gonna be okay," Danny asked looking at Stiles with worried eyes, "you know you don't have to be home alone."
"Nah, I'll be good," Stiles said as he took off his seat belt, "given everything that's been going on I think I could use a minute to get my head clear."
"Yeah, about that," Danny said turning to his body towards Stiles, "how do you feel about being 'the key' almost to this whole thing?"
Sighing Stiles leaned back in his seat, "I guess so. I mean, I am excited about being a big part of this but I really don't know what to do."
"Is this the same guy that gave that speech about hope earlier," Danny said with a small laugh.
Stiles smiled at that, "yeah well I don't know where that came from, I guess I just thought that someone had to be the one who wasn't completely bummed."
"I wasn't bummed," Danny said in mock offense, "I was just gauging the situation."
"Mmm, yeah," Stiles said with a smirk on his face, "I'm sure you were."
Danny looked at Stiles with that smile on his face and flashed back to what Lydia had said the other day; yeah she was a bit of a beast right now but she was still one of his best friends. She rarely said anything that she wasn't completely sure about and she seemed pretty sure about what she said in the cafeteria. Danny looked at Stiles, he wasn't a bad looking guy and yeah he'd even say that he was attractive but he'd never let Stiles know that. The boy was so wrapped up in Lydia and with everything that was going on now was not the time to even think about anything like this. Danny shook his head and straightened himself in the chair, "I just want to make sure that you're okay with all of this."
Stiles looked from Danny and played with his hands in his lap, "yeah, I'm okay with this. I mean compared to a few days ago I never would've thought that I'd be this important to anything, so it's...new."
"Is it new in a good way, or new in a bad way," Danny asked giving Stiles an intent look.
"I don't think anything can be new in a bad way, it's just new and I don't really know what I'm supposed to do. I guess I'm a little scared but I'm willing to do whatever I have to to make sure that you guys are all okay," Stiles said not making eye contact with Danny.
"Well that's all fine and well but what about you," Danny asked really trying to get Stiles to open up.
"I'm going to be okay with this," Stiles said sighing heavily. "I'm going to be okay because I have to be, this is way bigger than me and I can't sit around and worry about how scared I am when there are innocent lives at risk."
"What are you scared of," Danny asked giving Stiles that same intent look.
"I don't know," Stiles said closing his eyes and leaning back against the head rest. "I guess I'm just worried that something like what happened with Lydia back when we had to deal with the alpha will happen again. I can't let that happen again...I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened to anyone else. I mean, you see what happened with Lydia, and I was right there and I couldn't do anything to stop it. I watched Danny, I watched as Peter tore into her. I heard her screams and I saw the fear in her eyes as Peter's teeth sank into her. I saw her fall to the floor and even though I was right there next to her I still couldn't do anything because I couldn't fight Peter. I can't have that happen to anyone else and if I can be there, and have the guts to actually do something, I won't let that happen. Not again, not this time, not that I know that I can do something and be some kind of help in this whole thing. I'm tired of people saying I'm weak, and I'm tired of feeling like I can't compare with the others because I don't have a skill that's worth anything in a fight. It's my turn now to do something beside sit behind a computer desk or with my nose in a book. I won't let anyone else get hurt, I refuse to," Stiles said huffing.
Danny watched as this happened and was completely awed by the person he saw in front of him.
"Stiles," Danny said reaching a hand over to touch the boy's arm, "you can't put all of this on you."
"Can't I? Danny," Stiles said turning to look at the boy, "I have to make sure that everything goes okay. Even though I never had her, I can't lose Lydia again."
Danny rubbed Stiles arm before moving it away, "it'll be fine, we're all going to make sure that no one gets hurt." He leaned back and saw his dad pull up into the driveway. "My dad just got home, are you sure you want to be alone still?"
Stiles rolled his head over to see Danny's father get out of the car and walk into the house, "Yeah…I think I'm just gonna rest until my dad gets home. Why, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," Danny said defeatedly as he went to get out of the car but was stopped by Stiles.
"Wait," Stiles said grabbing onto Danny's arm, "what's the matter?"
"Nothing," Danny said letting himself settle back in but still keeping his hand on the door. "I just…don't feel like being around my dad is all."
Stiles looked back at Danny's house before looking back at the boy, "what's wrong with you and your dad?"
"Nothing," Danny shook his head and adjusted his backpack on his lap. "It's just my dad's weird about me and everything, and I just don't want to be home right now."
Stiles looked from Danny and then back to where the boy's father had went into the house. "Well then you can stay at my house until your mom gets home."
"Don't feel like you have to…" Danny started.
"Have to what," Stiles asked. "You're my friend and you're coming inside. You won't have to eat vegetables," Stiles offered the last party with an eyebrow wiggle.
Danny laughed at that, "well it seems like you've got me sold."
"You know there's this really amazing invention called knocking, you should try it sometime," Derek said over his shoulder as Jackson walked through the front door.
"I don't have time for your snarkiness," Jackson said in a huff as he closed the door. "We have bigger problems that your ego."
"Oh yeah," Derek said turning to face the boy, "and what's that?"
"Lydia."
"Yeah, what about her," Derek said walking over and plopping down on the couch.
"If I used the word possession would you get off your ass," Jackson asked setting his jaw tight and glaring at Derek.
Derek froze, "wha...what?"
"Yeah," Jackson said relaxing a bit and walking over from th door. "Morgan thought she and Stiles could try something earlier today and maybe save us some time but, things got worse and next thing we knew Lydia was basically making a threat on their lives in the cafeteria."
"And why am I just now finding out about this," Derek asked crossing his arms. "Whaat happened to me being kept in the loop?"
"This IS you being kept in the loop," with a shake of his head. "They sent me here to tell you because according to Morgan everything's about to go down so we're all just...preparing."
"Preparing for what," Derek asked standing up glaring at Jackson.
"For a fight...with whatever's inside of Lydia," Jackson hesitated.
"What's inside of Lydia, Jackson," Derek asked taking a step forward.
"A kitten ghost," Jackson said sarcastically. "When you hear the word possession, what do you generally think of?"
Derek swallowed, "fine...but this is bigger than us."
"And what's that supposed to mean," Jackson said looking away from Derek.
"It means that werewolves and demons don't really go hand-in-hand. It means that someone who isn't a werewolf is the cause for this," Derek walked over to get his jacket.
"But Lydia..."
"This is bigger than Lydia," Derek said as he shrugged on his jacket. "Lydia was just the channel...the reason for the thing to be able to manifest itself. We have to find Morgan."
"But..." Jackson started but it was too late though, Derek was already out the house and was getting in his car.
"I'm leaving in five, Jackson," Derek called from the driver's seat. "Five...four...three..." Jackson was in the car with his seat belt buckled. "Where does she live," Derek asked putting his car in drive and pulling off.
"I don't know," Jackson said shaking his head. "We have to get Stiles, he should know where she lives."
"Fine, call him," and with that they were off in the direction of Stiles' house.
Stiles picked up his phone and saw it was a call from Jackson.
"Who's that," Danny asked from where he was on the couch consuming his third slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza.
"It's Jackson, turn down the movie a bit." As Danny lowered the volume Stiles picked up his phone. "Jackson...how did you get my number."
"That doesn't matter," Jackson said over Stiles, "come outside."
Stiles looked at his phone and was both confused and shocked by Jackson's tone, he hung up his phone and looked at Danny with that same confused look.
"What just happened," Danny asked standing up at the look on Stiles' face.
Stiles furrowed his brow, "ummm...Jackson just told me to come outside."
Danny looked out the window, "he's outside...is that Derek?"
Stiles walked over to where Danny was at the window and with a sigh said, "yeah..."
Stiles walked out the house with Danny behind him as Jackson got out the car. "What do you want?"
"We need you to show us where Morgan lives," Jackson said leaning on the car as Derek warned him to watch the paint job.
"Why would I do that," Stiles said crossing his arms as Danny closed the door behind them.
"Because Derek just told me that it would've taken someone who isn't a werewolf to make that possession happen," Jackson said huffing. "Listen, just get in the car...you too Danny," Jackson said as he got back in the car and closed the door.
Danny leaned over to Stiles, "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Yeah me too," and with that both boys got in Derek's car and made their way to Morgan's house.
"Lydia."
The girl looked up from where she was leaning over the small desk that was in the motel room she now called home and sighed, "what do you want, I just want to finish this math assignment for tomorrow."
"It's time we really talk about...us."
Lydia scoffed, "there is no 'us' got it?"
"Oh but you see there is," the voice said with a sly tone, "because when I called your name that night and you heard me a bond was created. Then when you got curious and followed me into the woods it was all solidified, you and I are one."
"No...we're not."
"Oh but we are," the voice moved closer to her ear, "because now I'm inside you and I've had enough time to fully take control of your body. You're mine now Lydia and there's nothing you can do about it." Lydia was horrified, she got up to run but found that she couldn't move. "I told you Lydia, I have complete control of your body...see?" Lydia felt her arm come up and shoot behind her. She winced in pain as she felt the bone pop out of it's socket.
"You see," the voice said as Lydia's shoulder repaired itself, "this is why I was happy you heard my voice, I need a body like this that can take abuse and still carry on strong. Lydia, I have big plans for us and it all starts with you getting a little close to a couple of your friends."
With her lips drawn in a tight line Lydia said, "I'm not going to help you with anything."
"I thought we already agreed that you had no control over what you do?" Lydia felt her legs start to move across the room as the voice began to speak and it's words came from her mouth, "Lydia, my dear, you are going to get in so much trouble." She felt her lips pull into a painful grin and as she looked at her reflection in the window she was scared; the grin had transformed her face into that of some awful creature...some awful, evil creature.
"Well I'm just going to say this," Stiles said poking his head up front, "this is a bad idea."
"Yeah," Danny said from where he was in the back, "I don't think Morgan is the type of girl who likes for people to show up unannounced."
"I wouldn't be so much worried about Morgan than I am about her mom," Stiles said looking back at Danny.
"What's wrong with her mom," Jackson asked leaning back to look at Stiles who was a little too close for comfort.
"Well nothing as far as I can see," Stiles said leaning over to change the radio station but stopped when Derek gave him a death glare. "She just has a set of eyes that can send a chill down Derek's back."
Derek glared at him as he turned down the volume a bit, "what's that supposed to mean?"
"Let's just say that when I was there I felt like a mouse in a hawk's line of sight," Stiles said sitting back.
It was Danny's turn to lean up, "I'm still confused, why are we going to Morgan's house again?"
"If Lydia is possessed," Derek said with a low voice, "then only a witch could've made it happen."
Danny leaned back not liking the answer he got and looked over at Stiles who wasn't looking too excited
either. They rode in silence for a while before Stiles gave them the turn off and Derek's Camaro pulled into the cracked driveway of Morgan's home.
"Well doesn't this look inviting," Jackson said as he looked through the widnsheild and up at the dull house.
"We're here, what are we supposed to do now," Danny said as he looked up through the window.
"'Oh hello, Morgan, we'd like to come in and chat with you about how we think you're the cause for all our trouble…and Lydia too,'" Stiles said in a mocking tone. "Guys, I can't believe you seriously think that Morgan would cause all of this."
"We never said that," Derek said looking at the boy in his rear view mirror. "We just want to make sure that we have all the information. And seriously, what are the odds that right after Lydia got bitten that all of a sudden she gets possessed. And Morgan just happens to show up right when all this happens."
"I feel like I should be surprised that you would say something like this, Derek," Stiles said leaning up, resting his elbow on Jackson's seat, "but I don't find it surprising at all. It's good to know you never disappoint."
"Don't give me that, Stilinski," Derek said looking at the boy from the side of his eye. "I don't trust Morgan, she might have you all fooled but not me. I find hard to believe that she just showed up by accident."
"She didn't," Stiles cut in, "she was sent here by her priestess. She and her family uprooted themselves completely to be here for this."
"Is that supposed to make me feel like I can trust her? I don't care about her, all I know is she came here and all of this just started to happen around her, " Derek never rook his eyes from the door that led to Morgan's house.
"Hey…guys," Danny said tentatively but was shot down.
"Hold on Danny. What do you mean you don't care? She's sworn her life to make sure that all of this gets settled and you're gonna say that you don't care? Wow, I knew you were cold Derek but I didn't take you as heartless," Stiles leaned back and with a huff crossed his arms.
"It looks like Morgan's waiting for us," Jackson said from where he had be quietly focusing on whatever he could out the window.
Stiles got out and walked ahead to where Morgan was standing by the untrimmed hedges that served as a marker for the property line. As he walked up to her she grabbed his hand and patted it in a way to comfort him.
"I know Stiles," Morgan said in a tired voice. "It'll be fine, I just have to make him see what's really going on."
"And what is that by the way," Derek said as he walked up to where the two teens were standing.
"Derek," Morgan said as she tried to muster up a smile, "it's nice to see you again, even if under these circumstances."
"Save it. Now tell me what the hell is going on with Lydia," Derek asked as Danny and Jackson finally caught up to them.
"Possession," Morgan said simply. "And that's all I can really tell you, I don't know anything else about what's been going on with her."
"I find that hard to believe," Derek said raising an eyebrow and leaning in a bit closer to Morgan.
"You can try and intimidate me all you want, Derek. It didn't work on me with Jackson and it certainly won't work with you," Morgan said in a sure tone.
"I don't have to intimidate you to strangle you," Derek said with a sick sneer as he grabbed Morgan by the neck and lifted her off the ground.
Stiles and Danny ran to try and pull him off of her but they were no match for his alpha strength. Jackson, unsure about what to do, looked like a lost child.
"Let go of her Derek," Stiles yelled as he pulled at the older male's arm.
"Derek, get off of her," Danny yelled from where he was trying to help Stiles.
"No," Morgan said gasping for air, "it's fine."
"What! It's not fine," Stiles was still trying in vain to pull Derek's hand from around Morgan's neck.
"Stop Stiles, you're hurting me," Morgan said as she pushed his arm away.
Stiles stepped back, "I'm…I'm hurting you?"
"Just shh," Morgan closed her eyes and even her breathing. "I need quiet."
Derek stood looking unsure as Morgan calmed herself and controlled her breathing even though she was dangling a clear foot off of the ground by her neck.
Morgan began mumbling to herself in a more rushed manner than when she had done this before; Stiles didn't know what was going to happen but he pulled Danny back, and Jackson followed their lead as a drop of rain landed on his cheek. As if someone had turned on the shower rain fell from the sky in sheets, the boys looked at each other in the sudden rain but were lost when it stopped as quickly as it started. Then there was a flash followed by an earsplitting peel of thunder, they heard Morgan yell cover you eyes and just as they did they saw a white flash from behind there lids and the air filled with a heat that stuck to their skin.
When the boys open their eyes they found Derek laying face down on the floor in a smoking heap as Morgan stood beside him dusting herself off.
"What…what did you do," Jackson yelled as he ran over and fell to his knees beside the alpha.
"Nothing," Morgan said as she rubbed a hand around her neck, "I could've killed him, but he's just stunned. He'll be fine, just give him a few minutes."
"What did you do," Stiles asked from where he was still standing next to Danny, who by the way, was unsure if he should move or not.
"Just a little lighting," was all she said. "We're going to have to move from here; Jackson can you get him, and Stiles you have Danny right?"
"Uhm…yeah," Stiles said as he looked over at a still paralyzed Danny. "Where are we supposed to go?"
"Anywhere," Morgan said as she picked up a bag that Stiles hadn't noticed was there, "we have to get away from…"
"Hello Morgana."
Morgan froze where she stood and Stiles grabbed Danny's arm as the icy voice of the woman reached their ears.
"Who are you friends," the woman asked from where she had materialized at the side of the house. She walked up to her daughter with smile on her face that could curdle milk, "it's not polite to have friends over and not introduce them to your parents."
"I'd hardly call you a parent," Morgan said under her breath as the woman walked over to Stiles and Danny.
Danny didn't know what was happening but moved back when he felt Stiles pull his arm. "Stiles, who is that," Danny asked as Stiles kept pulling him back.
"Don't be scared Stiles," the woman said looking the boy in the eye. "I just want to meet the boy my daughter dreams about." Stiles blanched as Morgan coloreed to her scalp.
"Mother!"
"Oh hush, Morgana," the woman said not taking her eyes off Stiles. "When we were told to move here I didn't think that you'd find anyone so cute, it's kind of tragic though, isn't it? I mean, with eveyrthing that's supposed to happen...you're going to lose him." Stiles moved away as Amara tried to place a hand on his face.
"You leave him alone," Morgan said grabbing her mother's arm. "You don't have any right to touch him and you certainly don't have any right to say anything about me. You gave that up the moment you decided I wasn't good enough to be your daughter."
"We're not going to have this conversation here," Amara waved her off, "not with such strange company." As if on cue a flash arrow struck the ground in front of Jackson where he had been holding Derek up. Jackson fell to the group dropping Derek as another flash arrow landed between Amara and the others. Before they knew what was going on they felt a net get thrown over them and they all fell to the ground under the weight. There was the sound of scuffling in the unexplainable fog that had fallen and a scream from Jackson.
When the fog had lifted and they could get out from under the net they saw that Morgan's mother was gone...and so was Derek.
To be continued...
A/N: I'm so sorry I took so long to write this chapter, I've just been really out of it but I have stated on chapter 9 so hopefully the update wont take as long. There's not much else I have to say about this chapter except for I didn't proof read this one because I REALLY did not feel like it. Sorry for any errors. Once again, reviews are loved and welcomed.