DISCLAIMER: I do not own Teen Wolf or any of it's characters. This is a work of love for the show but mostly a love for the characters. Stiles is perfect, the end.
Also, I hit writer's block and ended this earlier than I had hoped. Lol! Oh well! And I don't remember if I proof read this...so sorry for any mistakes.
TRIGGER WARNING
Verbal and some physical abuse.
((Sorry guys, I really didn't want it to happen but that's how the story flowed.))
Derek woke up to a dimly lit room, the smell of wolfsbane and coagulated blood flooded his nose.
"It's good to see that you're up, I thought my daughter may have killed you…you did start to stink," Derek looked up to see a tall woman walking amongst the silhouettes of bodies that were placed at the doors and windows with rifles at the ready.
"Who are you," was all that Derek could muster to say.
"I'm Morgan's mother of course, don't tell me that you can't see the family resemblance." Derek watched as the woman walked up to him and into the light; he saw that she had Morgan's eyes and her mess of dark hair. Her sharp jaw line was what really shown that she was Morgan's mother, but one thing that her daughter had that she didn't was a small spark behind her eyes; this woman had a darkness behind her eyes, a darkness that hid lies and deceit all too well.
"What are you," Derek asked as he realized that he was chained up to a wall of wires.
"Given your situation, that doesn't matter," Amara said with a sly grin as she stood next to one of her hunters. "I will say this, you are very important to what I have planned little dog."
"I'm not a dog," was all Derek could manage to say before an aconite dart pierced his neck and he passed out cold.
"We have to get rid of him," one of the hunters said.
"Does that Argent woman know you're working for me," Amara asked as she admired one of the needles that had just pierced Derek's skin.
"No," the hunter said, "but she is staring to get suspicious."
"That sounds like an error on your end," Amara said turning to the hunter who was controlling the voltage of Derek's restraints. "I've done nothing but hand them over to you and you can't even seem to manage that."
"It's not our fault," one of the hunters said. "We're under specific orders to not harm them."
"That doesn't matter to me," Amara said with a wave of her hand. "I am beyond what feeble orders you receive. I am beyond what you humans perceive as acceptable behavior, right now I'm all about protecting my existence." The dart that she had been holding levitated in her hand before flying across the room finding purchase in Derek's chest. "Get me another one."
"Another one," one of the hunters asked.
"Yes," Amara said, "I need the young one."
"The young one, my lady?"
"The boy wolf," Amara said in annoyance. "I need the boy wolf! The one that was sired by Peter! I need both of them for this to work, now go and get me the boy." As the hunters left the room Amara walked over to where Derek was hanging limply from the wall and stroking his face she whispered, "my daughter wants a test, so I'll give her one."
"Scott we've lost Derek," Stiles yelled into his phone. "We were at Morgan's house because Derek wanted to talk to her about something, and then her mom showed up. Then there were flash arrows and a net, then this crazy fog rolled in and Jackson screamed and then Derek was gone and so was Morgan's mother."
"Okay calm down." Scott said into his phone evenly. "Where are you now?"
"We're in Derek's car, Jackson is driving," Stiles said from where he was seated in the passenger seat.
"Is it just you and Jackson," Scott asked getting up from his computer and walking around the room.
"No," Stiles said looking back at Morgan who was sitting morosely in the back next to a very quiet Danny.
"Alright. My mom's at work so come to my house and explain to me what happened," Scott put on a shirt before heading downstairs to wait for them.
"Okay, we'll be there in ten," Stiles hung up his phone at looked over at Jackson. "We're going to Scott's house." Jackson just nodded as he pressed down on the gas determined to cut that ten down to a three.
When he heard them pull into the driveway Scott ran from where he was sitting on the couch to open the door for them. Stiles was the first to get out of the car, followed by a grim looking Morgan and a very shaken looking Danny with Jackson pulling up the rear looking at least a little better than the others.
"What happened, you guys," Scott asked as they filed in by him one by one.
"Derek got taken," Jackson said as he was the last to walk in.
"I heard that, but how," was what Scott wanted to know.
"They were at my house," Morgan spoke up as she walked over to stand by the staircase. "They had come to talk to me about how Derek thought I was the one that was responsible for Lydia's condition when my mom showed up out of the blue."
"And the next thing we know," Stiles said from where he had been standing next to Danny, "someone had thrown a net over us, Jackson was screaming, and Derek was gone and so was Morgan's mom."
"And the flash arrows," Danny said quietly. "There were flash arrows before everything got crazy."
"Flash arrows," Scott asked looking at Jackson. "Does that mean that hunters were involved?"
"Apparently," Jackson said in a huff. "I think it's time we talk to Allison about this."
"Yeah," Scott said looking down, "...but wait, why would Derek think you'd be responsible for Lydia, Morgan?"
"Because demons and werewolves don't really go together," Jackson said as he sauntered over to Morgan. "So Morgan, please explain why Derek would've thought that you were responsible...I'm sure you have a very enlightening response."
"It's because I'm a witch," Morgan said looking down.
"That's not the answer I wanted," Jackson said stepping up to Morgan but Scott jumped in between them.
"Morgan," Scott said keeping his hand just off of Morgan's shirt, "something was found at the house fire by one of Mr. Argent's hunters." He reached a hand in his pocket and pulled out the ring with the star on it. "They found this, Morgan, and they know about you...they know you're a witch and I'm sure that they're planning on coming after you."
"They can do whatever they want," Morgan said as she took the ring from Scott and Jackson backed off. "I'm not scared of her and her hunters, we've got someone bigger to worry about."
"Please say it's Lydia," Danny said as Stiles gave him a withering sidelong glance.
"No," Morgan said shaking her head looking over Scott's shoulder at Danny, "my mom."
"The alpha's been captured," the voice said from the darkness of what was now known as the hunter's gathering place.
"Well that's a setback," Mrs. Argent said as she aimed a crossbow at one of the targets at the back of the hall. "Whom, may I ask, captured him?"
"The witch."
"The little witch," Victoria said impressed, "that's quite a feat for her."
"I didn't say it was the little witch."
Mrs. Argent let the crossbow fall to her side, "there's another witch?"
"Her mother," the voice said as it followed Mrs. Arget to the weapons rack. "She's more powerful than her daughter...or so she likes to think."
"What's that supposed to mean," Mrs. Argent asked turning to face nothing.
"Laws forbid me from claiming sides," the voice lied, "but I will say that she has a bigger problem than she thinks at the hands of her daughter."
"What do you mean your mom," Jackson asked walking up to Morgan while Scott was busy calling Allison.
"I mean my mother doesn't like me," Morgan said rolling her eyes. "She knows why I'm here and she's already proven that she has no scruples when it comes to getting what she wants."
"Morgan," Stiles said walking up to her, "how big of a problem is your mother going to be?"
"Well..." Morgan said looking down, "I don't know, she's never used her power in front of me."
"Can't you, like, see the future or something," Jackson asked watching Morgan.
"It doesn't work like that," Morgan rolled her eyes looking at Jackson. "Besides it's not like I could see anything about my mother anyway."
"What? Why," Jackson asked scrunching his nose.
"Because it's some rule about bloodlines and elder witches; I can't see what she does same as she couldn't see what my grandmother did."
"That doesn't make sense," Jackson glared down at the girl.
"It doesn't have to make sense," Morgan said looking up into the taller boy's eyes. "There are rules that have been around for generations and there's nothing I can do to change that."
"It sounds a little too convenient if you ask me," Jackson said walking away from where Morgan and Stiles were standing.
"Allison's on her way," Scott said walking back to the group. "She wants us to tell her about what happened with the arrows and stuff."
"Am I the only one who's freaking out," Jackson asked as he started to pace back and forth.
"No," Danny said from where he was still pretty quiet.
"We have to just…relax for a bit," Stiles said gesturing with his hands.
"We can't relax," Jackson said gesturing wildly. "You're telling us that Lydia is possessed and Morgan's mom might behind it and oh, Derek's been kidnapped and we have hunters on our asses. I would really love for you to explain just how we are supposed to relax. So please, explain to me how we're supposed to relax?"
"Jackson," Morgan said evenly walking over and placing a hand on the boys shoulder, "relax." They all watched as if a switch was hit and Jackson calmed down. "Now guys," Morgan said addressing the group as Jackson had a bit of a grin on his face, "we can't lose our cool, right now we have to come up with a plan of action and I think it's time I let you guys meet someone."
"Is this that all mysterious voice you're always talking about," Stiles asked while looking at Jackson from the side of his eye.
"It is actually," Morgan said with a nod.
"Wait, what voice," Danny asked from where he had been standing quietly by the door.
"Morgan has this voice she talks to," Scott spoke up from where he had been poking Jackson. "It gives her information of some of the things that happen around town."
"And...you all hear this voice," Danny asked inching closer with his eyes squinted.
"No," Morgan said this time, "I don't know if they'll hear it but I have to at least let you guys see who it is. They're supposed to be helping me with the spell I need to work to get rid of the demon that's inside of Lydia."
"But you said you're a legacy witch, why do you need help," Stiles asked from where he was now helping Scott poke Jackson.
"I am," Morgan said looking at the group, "but it's never bad to ask for help. Besides, the more help you have with casting a spell the easier it'll be."
"And the bigger the chance that something could wrong," Jackson said in a voice that wasn't his own.
They all watched as Jackson stood so still that it was highly unnerving.
"Hello Morgana," the voice came from Jackson's lips but was clearly female.
Morgan stepped closer and tilted her head to the side, "mother?"
"Hi dear," Amara's smile crept across Jackson's lips.
Stiles backed up to a now stunned Danny as Scott stepped protectively next to Morgan.
"So you're Scott," Jackson's eyes trained on the boy but they had the green-gray iris that belonged to Amara. "I've heard so much about you through the wind, little wolf. I must say I hoped I'd gotten to meet you under, shall we say…better circumstances."
A growl escaped from Scott's throat but Morgan placed a hand on his arm.
"I wouldn't get so ahead of myself if I were you, little wolf," Amara's voice paused as Jackson walked around the boy and the girl before stopping in front of both of them. "I have Derek."
Scott went to lunge at Jackson but stopped himself when he remember that this was still Jackson.
"Why are you doing this," he asked looking Jackson in the eyes that weren't his.
"I was bored," Amara's voice said with a shrug of Jackson's shoulder as he sashayed over to where Stiles and Danny were. Stiles stepped protectively in front of Danny as Jackson walked up with that sick smile of Amara's. "Plus, it'll be way to much fun to see why it is that my daughter was picked for this anyway." Amara's voice acknowledged Stiles now, "don't worry about your little friend back there, I have no interest in him…even though he clearly has interest in you." Stiles looked back at a pale Danny who gulped when he met Stiles' eyes. "And as for you, Scott," Jackson turned and pressed up to Scott, "I'll have you soon." There was the sick smile again but this time it stretched Jackson's face in a grotesque way before it vanished completely and Jackson fell to the ground in a gasping heap.
"What…what just happened," Jackson stammered out as he tried to gather his breath, sweat dotting his forehead as he looked from one face to another; Morgan who looked more sullen than ever, Scott whose eyes were wide with fear, Stiles and his darting eyes as he kept glancing over to a very pale and slightly sweaty Danny. "What happened," Jackson asked one more time but he blanched when Scott spoke the next words.
"She's coming for me next."
Amara laughed maniacally to herself as she picked her head up from her mirror bowl, droplets of water falling from her face and giving her skin a glow from the waxing moon.
"You're…evil," Derek said with labored breaths from where he was still hung up on the wall.
"And you've gone too long without getting punished little dog," Amara snapped her fingers and Derek howled in pain grasping for his head but the restraints not allowing it. "Aren't those shackles wonderful; tempered iron cooled in a bath of wolfsbane and plated in silver that's been blessed by a powerful witch…moi." Amara laughed to herself and picked up a nail file, "I'm almost in awe at how amazing I am."
"I'm…going…to…bite your HEAD OFF," Derek yelled with a great deal of effort.
"I'm bored," Amara snapped her fingers twice; one causing Derek to clutch for his head again and the other to call in a hunter. "Go to the woman, tell her I want to meet her. I'll let her choose the place but she must come alone and unarmed. Go now." Amara turned to face Derek completely now as the hunter ran out of the room. "You know, I've always wanted a pet puppy and soon I'll have two," she clapped her hands in excitement of her plan and smiled as she tunred in her chair to face Derek.
"What do you mean she wants to meet me," Mrs. Argent asked incredulously.
"I was told to come here and tell you that she wants to meet with you; she's allowing you to pick the place but she urges you to come alone and unarmed."
"Allowing me," Mrs. Argent said with a snort, "do you hear that Chris?"
"I think you should go," Mr. Argent said with a smile looking over at his wife. "After all, she does have the alpha and at most we'd be able to gather some valuable first hand information on this woman."
Mrs. Argent looked at her husband with disbelief but noticed that glint in his eye that she's come to recognized. "Fine," she said turning back to the treacherous hunter turned messenger, "tell her to meet me at the abandoned lodge in the woods at midnight tonight; the sooner we get this out the way the better."
The hunter ran off to deliver the message as Mr. Argent turned with a smile to his wife, "the abandoned lodge in the woods? The same one we keep our back up arsenal at?"
"The one and the same," Mrs. Argent said turning her nose up with a smile as she walked back into the house.
"Are you sure that's a good idea," Mr. Argent said as he closed the door and walked over to wife who still had that smile on her face.
"Oh yes," Mrs. Argent said with that same smile. "She told me to come unarmed but she didn't say anything about having weaponry already there. Now come help me with something, I've only got three hours."
Just as they were about to go upstairs they heard a thud and looked out the window in time to see Allison run to her car.
"Should we stop her," Mr. Argent said looking over to his wife.
"No, let her go." Mrs. Argent closed the curtains and put a hand around her husband's waist to pull him away from the window, "she has her own business to take care of."
Allison looked up at the ledge she had just jumped from and wobbled on her ankle; she hadn't stuck the landing too well. She didn't have time to worry about that now, she had to get to Scott's house. She ran to her car and checked to make sure she had her bow in the trunk before getting behind the wheel and peeling off in the direction of Scott's house.
Driving down the road that led through the woods at this time of night was anything but comforting; Allison kept checking her mirrors while nervously biting her nails. Her headlights shown brightly on the wet asphalt as the yellow dividing lines flashed by, she didn't see the flash of red hair that passed her passenger side window or the fog that followed her car. She pulled around the bend and stopped her car just in time to miss Lydia. Her body lurched back and her hair was splayed across her face as she looked out the windshield.
Lydia stood in the middle of the road her breath a cloud around her head, her shoulders moving up and down with each breath, her hair a messy red halo around her head. And even though her headlights were on the girl she couldn't see her face, all she saw was her eyes that glowed a hellish orange.
"Get out of the car Allison," the girl said in a deep voice but Allison heard her loud and clear, she shook her head in response.
"Get out of the car, Allison."
Allison looked around as a fog rolled in and cut off the road that was just behind Lydia. The world outside her car windows had become gray and still like the ocean on a windless night; she looked back at Lydia who seemed to have grown in size.
"Get out of the car," Lydia was now running towards Allison's car. Allison swerved around Lydia just as the girl lunged for her car, but felt her hit the car and the sound of tearing metal; Allison drove on and only looked in her rear view mirror once at the girl who was watching her escape with her hellish orange eyes and a shred of metal hanging from her hand that now looked like a claw and was dripping blood.
Danny looked up from where he had slumped against the wall over to where Scott was pacing and Jackson was sitting on the stairs with his head in his hands, and where Morgan was leaning on the wall biting her nails and Stiles was leaning against the couch. Fear and desperation filled the room and what little hope they had was getting stifled out like a flame in a leaky room.
Scott stood up as the sound of tires screeched in his driveway and Allison burst through the door, just barely missing Danny. They all stood up but Scott ran over to her, her breathing was a bit rough but she composed herself.
"Guess who I ran into on the way here," Allison said as Scott pulled her into a hug.
"Lydia," Morgan said rubbing her temples and leaning back against the wall.
"Yeah," Allison said pulling away from Scott, "and there was this really weird thick fog that just came out of no where."
"And my mom," Morgan slid down the wall.
"Well," Stiles said walking up to Allison, "did she do anything?"
Allison nodded, "she kept telling me to get out of the car."
"Did she do anything else," Stiles asked bringing a hand to his chin.
"Uh, yeah," Allison said nodding her head again. "Yeah, right when I swerved by her she attacked my car; all I heard was the sound of ripping metal and when I looked back she was staring at me with her orange eyes...and her hand, her hand was like a claw and it was bleeding the way she was holding a piece of metal from my car."
"Orange eyes...claws..." Danny repeated from where he was now standing awkwardly.
"Yeah," Allison turned to him. "She looked wild…feral even. What ever it is that has a hold on her is really taking over."
Danny shuddered as a chill ran down his spine and he crossed his arms over his chest.
"So Lydia's a wild beast now," Jackson asked walking over to where Scott and Stiles were exchanging worried glances.
"I'd say so," Allison said walking around to sit on the couch. "You guys had something you wanted to tell me right?"
"The Argents have already claimed this as their territory," the hunter said to the group.
"The Argents lost all right to a jurisdiction when they decided to help wolves kill an alpha," one of the men said who was wearing a vest with silver lining.
"But they've been here for so long, aside from helping the wolves they've done no wrong," the small hunter spoke up.
"What do you mean they've done no wrong," a tall woman with her hair in a tight ponytail said to the hunter. "By them allowing a wolf to live they've done everything wrong."
"But that's not fair," the small huntress spoke up again.
"We're well past impartiality," the female huntress spoke up again. "There's a rumor going around that the youngest Argent has become smitten with a wolf, is this true?"
"I don't think the counsel should be listening to rumors passed around by hunters in the field," the brave hunter spoke up again.
"And I don't think a lowly hunter should be talking to me this way," the tall woman walked up to the very verbal girl.
"Joanna," the man with the vest spoke up, "back down, there's no need to press her. She's only here defending her madam, she's done well with us and there's no reason to treat her this way."
"Really Aidyn," Joanna turned to the man now, "she's a hunter, she could have killed the wolves just the same."
"And gone against the orders of her madam," a quiet voice rose from where Joanna had been standing next to Aidyn.
"Rebecca," Joanna said turning to the small woman, "would you have allowed the wolves to live?"
"If it was the orders of my madam I would," Rebecca said turning her nose up at Joanna. "We have no right to question her this way," she said walking over to Joanna and the small huntress.
"Amanda," she said touching the woman's arm, "you're free to go, and when you get the chance tell Victoria that I said hello."
Amanda backed away from the three members of the counsel, bowing slightly, before turning and leaving the place at once.
Joanna rounded on Aidyn, "you're just going to let her go? We should be punishing her!"
"Cool your temper, Joanna," Aidyn said walking over to the other two. "We'll have plenty of time to follow procedure, but right now we need someone to be our eyes and ears on the Argents."
Lydia came to and found herself standing on the road in the middle of the woods. She looked around scared and bewildered; confused as to how she got here and scared because of how she got there. She felt the cold of the wet asphalt under her bare feet and the night air wash over her face. She looked at her hand that was stained with blood but bore no open wound and the scrap of metal that she was holding; what had she done and who's blood was this? Her hair was a swirl around her face as she looked up just in time to jump out of the way of a speeding car. Landing in a ditch on the side of the road with a thump she scrambled to her feet and tried to find her way back home.
"So what's our plan of attack," Allison asked looking away from Scott to where the others either sat on chairs or chose to stand in the living room.
"Well first off we should take care of my mother," Morgan said from where she was hugging her knees in a chair that Stiles had pulled from the kitchen.
"And what can we do about your mother," Jackson asked with a sigh from where he stood behind Scott and Allison. "I mean, if she can take over my body from wherever she is then what chance do we have…unless, you can do stuff like that."
"I can't," Morgan said looking away from Jackson. "I wasn't taught that yet; it's usually the mother who passes things like that down to her daughter but…well, you've seen my mother."
"Yeah what's with that," Stiles asked from where he was leaning against the lazy chair that Danny was sitting in and gesturing with one of his hands. "What's her problem with you?"
"I wish I knew," Morgan said burying her face in her knees. "She's always been like this, and my father's always just let her do what she wants. I think it's because I'm not scared of her and everyone else seems to be."
"But that doesn't seem right," Danny said looking over at Morgan with caring eyes. "And no one has tried to help you…you know, deal with her?"
"Only my high priestess; she was the closest thing I had to having an actual mother. She was caring and kind and loved to teach me things but, there are some things that a witch can only learn from her mother and well…" Morgan gestured loosely with her hand to where Jackson had been standing when Amara took hold of him.
"So how are we supposed to get rid of your mom," Scott asked looking over at Morgan as Allison leaned in a bit closer to him so she could hear.
"I honestly don't know," Morgan said defeatedly. "The closest thing I can thing of is talking to my high priestess but that would mean asking her for help and scrubbing the whole 'test' part of this thing."
"I think we have bigger problems than some stupid test," Jackson said a bit too excitedly.
"Jackson," Stiles spoke up, "this is a big deal for her and if she doesn't want to through this by asking her high priestess for help she shouldn't."
"Besides," Scott now said, "she has us and I think that's all the help she really needs."
Morgan smiled at that but wondered if they had forgotten that she said that she was going to get help from someone…but then Allison spoke up.
"So wait, where does this mysterious voice come into play? Can't you ask it for help?"
"I did…but it'll only help with Lydia," Morgan said squeezing her legs. "It can't really harm humans and well…my mom's human."
"So what about Lydia," Danny asked looking from Allison to Morgan. "She's human, but this voice or whatever it is can do something about her?"
"Yeah," Morgan said turning her attention to Danny, "but that's only because the thing inside of Lydia isn't human and therefore it can do something about it. And as long as we're careful, Lydia won't have to get hurt at all…but that all depends on how deep a hold this demon's got on her."
"I don't like the way that sounds," Stiles said leaning up.
"I don't either, but there are some things that can't be helped if the hold is strong and if the individual doesn't want to get rid of it," Morgan said looking from Danny to where Stiles now stood.
"Are you saying that if this thing wants to it can take Lydia with it," Stiles was really not liking what he was hearing.
"I'm not saying yes," Morgan said looking away from Stiles. "…But I'm not saying no either." And all at once questions were raised that Morgan had tried to avoid for as long as she could. She wasn't ready to answer these questions but she had to…she had to.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean," Jackson raised his voice glaring down at the girl in pure Derek fashion.
"I'm just saying that it depends on whether or not Lydia is willing to help us in this fight. If she doesn't try to reclaim herself then there's very little chance that anything we do to save her will work."
"So someone has to warn Lydia," Danny said standing up.
"It's not that simple," Morgan looked over to Danny, "anything Lydia knows so will the demon."
"So what are we supposed to do," Danny asked looking at the group. "We can't just let Lydia die like that, she's our friend."
"Isn't there something you can do, Morgan? Like, I don't know, a spell or something," Scott asked trying to be helpful.
"I don't know," Morgan said with sad eyes, "I'd have to check the family grimoire."
"So where is this family grimoire," Jackson asked throwing up air quotes.
"My mother has it."
There was a collective exasperated sigh as Stiles threw his hands in the air and Danny slumped back into the chair; Scott let his head hit the back of the couch and Allison splayed her feet out on the floor as Jackson ran a hand through his hair.
"Well that's helpful," Stiles said sarcastically. "So how do we get it from her?"
"We don't," Morgan said making eye contact with Stiles. "I do."
Lydia stumbled through the door of their hotel room and cussed under her breath at how loud she was. Pausing to listen for a moment she closed the door as quietly as she could but it was for naught; a light switched on ans Lydia turned to face her livid mother. If the looks she recieved at her appearance as she walked through the crowded lobby was any form of measure the look her mother now gave her trumped them all ten times over.
"Where have you been," her mother said in a hushed voice because of the hour but her words were heavy with animosity.
"Umm...I was out for a walk," Lydia offered, it wasn't a whole lie.
"Yeah, right," her mom said crossing her arms.
"I was," Lydia said defesively. "I went for a walk and lost track of the time."
"Lydia, you've been gone since this morning," her mother said looking at her a little concerned but still upset. "No one saw you once school let out, I had half a mind to call Sheriff Stilinski."
"No," Lydia said a bit too quickly. "Don't call him, don't call anyone. I don't need anyone else in my business."
"Your business," Mrs. Martin said in disbelief. "Since when was it your business as to where you go? You are still in high school and you are still my daughter, as far as I'm concerned you have no business." Lydia went to walk around her mother but was brabbed by her arm. "Don't you walk away from me when I'm talking to you! You've really been off the handle lately and I was willing to look passed it because of what happened but this is just been really inconsiderate." Lydia turned and glared at her mother who recoiled when instead of seeing her daughter's beautiful green eyes she was faced with the glowing red irises of some unearthly creature.
"You will let her go," the voice growled that wasn't Lydia's. "She is above you and your rules now you pitiful woman. Leave her alone or I will be forced to tear you to pieces with my teeth!"
Mrs. Martin drew her hand back so fast that she hit her chest and fear swelled in her eyes, "Lydia, what's wrong with you?"
The gravely voice laughed in her face, "this isn't Lydia."
Mrs. Martin pressed back against the wall of the hotel room, "who...who are you?"
"I'm not your daughter," the voice said as a gruesome smile stretched across Lydia's face and a growl escaped her lips as the thing lunged at the woman and tore into her arm. Mrs. Martin screamed and slumped to the floor clutching her bleeding arm, pushing herself back against the door using only her feel she shrank into the small corner where the door hinged against the wall. Never taking her eyes off of the thing that was now her daughter she saw as a change came across Lydia's face ans she turned back into the girl that she once knew.
"Mom," Lydia said reaching out for her mother but pulled away when she saw the fear in her mother's eyes as she shrank away from the touch. "What happened to you," Lydia said in a quiet voice with her eyes looking at the bite mark on her mother's arm and bringing a hand to her lip, she wiped, and looked down at her blood covered fingers. "Did I do that to you," Lydia asked taking a step to her mother who was still squeesing herself into the small alcove ove the wall and door.
There was a knock on the door and a man's voice was heard, "is everything alright in there? Someone called to complain about a woman screaming."
"Yes," Mrs. Martin said rushing to her feet to open the door. Lydia desperately wiped at the blood on her lips with a piece of discarded clothing.
The man looked down at her arm, "Are you sure you're okay Miss?"
Mrs. Martin looked down at her bloodied arm and laughed nervously looking back up at the man, "yeah, I'm just clumsy."
The man looked past Mrs. Martin to the girl who stood a ways behind her and squinted his eyes at how her mouth was red and there was a stain on her shirt, he then looked back down at the woman's arm and saw a bite mark. "Are you sure you're okay," the man asked in a quiet voice looking the woman in her eyes.
Nervously she nodded, "I'm fine, just clumsy."
The man exhaled through his nostrils clearly not believeing her, "alright, but I am going to ask you to come down with me to get that checked out."
"Uh...sure," Mrs. Martin hesitated looking back at her daughter before following the man out of the room closing the door.
"He knows," the voice said once the click signaaling that the door was locked had sounded.
"What did you do," Lydia asked angrily at nothing.
"I did what I told you I would do; anyone who tries to get in you way or harm you will be dealt with swiftly."
"But my mother," Lydia asked in desperation, "she's harmless."
"Not harmless enough that she can't be dealt with; she was getting on your nerves, Lydia, and somewhere something in you called for me."
"I never!"
"Oh you may have not, but that doesn't mean that you didn't want me there."
Lydia frustratedly pulled at her hair, "why are you doing this?"
"Because I need this body...and that is all." There was a coldness in the voice that Lydia had never paid attention to before.
"And what happened earlier, why was I in the middle of the road like that," Lydia asked looking at her hand. "Where did that blood come from?"
"Oh, that was your blood but because of your little wolf bite it healed before you even knew what happened."
"But why was I there, and why was there a piece of scrap metal in my hand," Lydia asked remembering how she had came to standing in the middle of the road completely lost.
"It wasn't scrap metal until you attack Allison's car."
"I attacked Allison," Lydia asked taking a step back in disbelief.
"Yup, you're a regular old beast."
"No," Lydia said in a more sure voice, :I would never do anything like that, Allison is my friend. It was you, all of this is you! It's all your fault!"
"Yeah well, what are you going to do about it?"
"I'm going to rid of you," Lydia said shaking a finger. "That's what I'll do I'll get rid of you!"
"I find that hard to believe," the voice said nonchalantly. "I'm not going anywhere until I'm ready...and even then, you're coming with me."
"I will not," Lydia yelled indignantly. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
"You said that before and looked what's happened. Calm down you fool because there's nothing you can do about me, I have a power behind me with the help of a very ingenius woman."
"Whoever would stoop so low as to help is a fool," Lydia, not hiding her malice, spat out.
"Careful dear," the voice said jauntily, "let's not forget who's the pot in this situation."
Morgan walked into the cold darkness of her house; it was quiet, it was always quiet. There was a low hum as the wind flew past the windows with their broken shutters and the sound of leaves scattering outside filled the house.
"Hello," Morgan ventured, there was no response which was typical.
"Dad," she called again but still no answer.
"Mother," she called once more and steeled herself for a response that never came. The house was empty, for the first time in a long time the house was completely empty; Morgan walked up the creaky stairs and instead of turning down the hall to her room she headed in the direction of where her parents slept. She was determined to get that grimoire and she was sure that her mom kept it in their room. Old boots on even older carpet she inched down the hallway still wary of anything that could happen at the hands of her mother. She paused as she stepped on an exceptionally creaky floorboard that seemed to echo around the house, she listened. When nothing happened she inched closer and looked up at the door that led to her parents room, carefully placing a hand on the hold door nob she twisted and felt the click pound in her ears as the door quietly swung open. She looked in at the canapy bed and Victorian inspired molding of the furniture in the room, it was dark but her eyes had adjusted enough that she could see even without the help of the moon that shown through the red crushed velvet curtains. Her eyes scanned the room before they landed on a garish painting of her mother and a smile shown on her face.
The red Chevy Tahoe pulled into the make shift parking space beside the old cabin in the woods and Vitctoria looked out her windshild for signs of her quest but it was too dark even with the light from the moon. There was a thck fog that creeped along the forrest floor that caught any light given off by the waxing moon, she put her car in park and stepped out her boots making a soft sound as they came in contact with the ground. Feeling a bit uneased by the stillness of the wind she looked around as she made her way to the front door of the cabin, before she could place her hand on the door nob someone cleared their throat. Victoria turned on her heel and was looking at a tall women dressed in all black; she wore a knitted sweater whose sleeves hung loosely over her hands, a long flowing dress that ended in the shroud of fog that covered the floor and an amethyst pendant on a silver chain around her neck but it was her gray-green eyes that Mrs. Argent noticed the most; they caught the light from the moon and reflected it back as though she had the eyes of a cat who was caught in a headlight. Her hands were crossed in front of her and Victoria noticed a small wooden cross hanging from her left wrist.
"I'm Amara," the woman said with an accent that had a middle eastern twag to it. "I'm the one who called for this meeting."
"Oh," Victoria said letting her superior attitude shine through. "Is there a reason you called me here?"
"I have something you want..." Amara said with a small smile, "and you can help get me something I need."
"Yeah," Victoria said crossing her arms not believeing this woman for one second, "and what's that?"
"I have the Alpha."
Victoria paused for only a second, "yes well, that's nice. I don't see how you could think that I want him."
"Oh but you do," Amara said taking a step closer, "because you see, thereare some hunters here who aren't too happy with how you and your husband have been running things. I believe they call themselves, The Counsel."
Victoria raised an eyebrow, "I've heard nothing of this, where are you getting your infirmation?"
"I wouldn't be concerned with that if I were you," Amara said taking another step forward. "In fact, I'd be worried about them knowing that your daughter in dating a wolf." Victoria let her mask slip for only a moment but Amara noticed it and kept pressing on, "so you see, if you would give me the little wolf I'm sure I could convince the big bad hunters to leave you and your family alone."
"I won't do that," Victoria said crossing her arms over her chest again and pulling herself up to her full height. "I will not do that to my daughter and Scott. Even though I don't approve of their reltionship I can not stand to see my daughter unhappy."
"See that's your problem," Amara said closing her eyes and rubbing her forehead, "you care to much about seeing your daughter happy. If you knew what was bet for all of you you would just hand him over to me and we could avoid what has to happen."
"What has to happen," Victoria asked watching the other woman carefully.
"If you would just give me Scott you won't have to worry about that," Amara said dodging the question.
"Why do you want him," Victoria said taking a step towards the woman.
"That's none of your concern woman," Amara said a bit agitated.
"Why did you want to meet me here, we could've had this conversation in any number of other places," Mrs. Aregent said reaching a hand in her pocket.
"You see," Amara was walking side to side now with one arm crossed over her chest and gesturing with the other as she spokem she wasn't looking at Mrs. Argent anymore. "I try to be nice and give people the easy way out of things but then they're just so hard headed. I came here hoping to have a conversation from one mother to another about what's going on in our children's lives but then no one wants to listen to me. Am I a bad person," she turned to Mrs. Argent who now had her sawn-off shotgun in her hand, Amara's face fell when she noticed this. "I told you to come unarmed," Amara was looking at the gun in the other woman's hand without an ounce of fear.
"I did," Mrs. Argent said, "this just happens to be a very lucky spot for me. Now tell me, what do you want with Scott," Mrs. Argent raised the gun at Amara.
Sighing, Amara lifted her hand and the fog creeped up the stairs to where Mrs. Argent had been standing, "I really wish you hadn't pulled a gun on me."
Mrs. Argent looked aound her feet at the fog started to cover boots and readjusting her gun she glared at the woman, "what are you?"
"A witch," Amara was now disinterested in the woman, "I'm sure you've been told."
"Are you the one who's behind everything that's been going on," Mrs. Argent flared her nostrils as she lined the gun up with Amara's head.
Amara tutted, "don't ask stupid question's now." Mrs. Argent looked around as the forest seemd to come alive' trees began to bend and sway, and there was a tugging at her feet. She looked down and saw that under the cover of the fog there were long roots and vines pulling at her. Looking up she glared at Amara who was mumbling to herself with her arms out at her sides and fired a shot.
Scott shot up in his bed at the sound of the gun shot; he looked around in the darkness but wan't really paying attention, he was listeing. Listening over the sound of Stiles' light snoring since he had agreed to stay the night to make sure that nothing happened to Scott and over the sound of the wind in the trees, but there was nothing else. He was sure he heard a gun shot but couldn't convince himself that he hadn't been dreaming when he did; his emotions were on high after realising that Morgan's mother had managed to capture Derek and somehow temporarily take control over Jackson. He sat up in the dark listening but heard nothing else...then there was the sound of tires in their driveway and Scott heard his mother get out of the car and walk up to the door. Getting out of bed he stepped over a sleeping Stiles who had a sleeping bag stashed in Scott's room since they were kids and walked out his room to meet his mother as she walked through the door.
Melissa looked uo from placing her bags down and grabbed her chest in surprise, "Scott, you scared me. Did I wake you up?"
Scott smiled at his mother, he forgets from time-to-time with everything that's going on that his mother is still around. "No, I just couldn't get to sleep."
"Oh poor thing," his mother said closing the door and walking over to place a cold hand on Scott's forehead. "You don't have a fever, would you like some milk or something?"
"No thanks," he said pulling away from his mom with that smile of his, "I just have a lot on my mind."
"Is it girl problems," Melissa said giving her son a knowing smile. "Because, you know, I am a girl and I can elp you with what ever it is you need to talk about."
"No, it's not girl problems," he said looking down at his feet and then over at the Crocs his mom was wearing. "It's just...stuff."
"You're not doing drugs are you," his mother said crossing her arms over her chest.
"What," Scott said looking up, "no, I don't do drugs mom."
"M'kay...just don't make me break out a random drug test on you," she squinted her eyes at her son but couldn't help but smile. "I'm tired honey," she said giving Scott a tired smile, "I worked a double today and I have another double tomorrow, but if you wanna talk I'm all ears."
Scott smiled, "it's okay, mom. I think I'm going to try and get to sleep myself."
"Okay honey," she moved a piece of hair ot his face before resting a hand on his cheek and looking him in his eyes, "I love you."
"I love you too, mom."
And with that his mother walked upstairs and yelped. Scott closed his eyes remembering that Stiles was upstairs. "Stiles," she yelled, "stop creeping around the house."
"Sorry Mrs. McCall," Scott heard Stiles say as the boy made his way downstairs. "Hey man," Stiles said yawning, "why are you up?"
"I heard a gun shot."
Stiles paused from where he was stretching, "yeah...where did it come from?"
"I think it came from the woods," Scott said leaning on the back of the couch.
"Do you wanna go check it out," Stiles asked scratching his head.
"Nah," Scott exhaled, "I've had enough excitement for today."
The front door slammed open and Amara's voice carried up the staisrs to Morgan's ears; the girl froze just as she had taken the grimoire out of her mother's hiding spot.
"How dare that idiot hunter shoot me? I'll have her head for this!"
"She's scared," another voice came that Morgan didn't recognize. "She'll be on her toes from now on."
"She can't be on her toes if I have them in a jar!" Fear ran up Morgan's spine as her mother's voice came from where the stairs were. Morgan was scared and she rushed to come up with something to do to get out of her mother's war path...but what? It was too late though, the bedroom door rattled on it's hinges as Amara glared down at her daughter causght red handed with the family grimoire.
"You little bitch," she boomed as she materialized in front of Morgan. "What do you think you're doing with my grimoire?"
"It's not your grimoire," Morgan said sheepishly and feigning confidence as she looked in her mother's eyes.
"Like hell it isn't," Morgan was slammed against the wall with a clear three feet between her and the floor. "You think you're so brave because you got this little trip," Amara whispered darkly at her daughter. "You forget who gave you life and who can take it away." Morgan felt the air leave her body as her mother twisted her hand closed the distance between her and her daughter. "What's to stop me from killing you right now? No one would even remember you, I could do it, I can make them forget about you...you pathetic excuse for a witch." Morgan gasped for air as tears started to swell in her eyes, "I never liked you, I wanted to get rid of you but your father -the poor fool- thought it would be nice to start a family. I loved him then, and I listened because who wouldn't do anything for love? But then you were born and I knew what a disappointment you would be! I would wake up screaming because of this disaster I saw you would be. I was so upset at you that I tried to drown you," Amara nodded as tears fell down Morgan's now red face. "They tried to put me away but I was simply too much for them. I should kill you right now, it wouldn't even register to me if suddenly you just up and disappeared." Amara lowered her hand and brought her daughter down to eye level with her, "but I'm going to let you live, because I want you to be there as I kill every single one of those idiots you call your friends." Amara released her daughter and Morgan fell to the ground in tears and regged breaths. "Hey." Morgan looked up at her mom who was picking up the grimoire from where it had fallen. "Tell Scott I'm gonna get him and Stiles," And with that Amara walked out of the room and left her daughter weeping on the floor.
"We're leaving," Morgan heard her mother yell at whoever was downstairs and the door slammed.
The next morning at school they all looked worse for the wear, with all the events that happened yesterday none of them were really up for much chit-chat; Scott was on edge because he had been up for most of the night worrying over what Morgan's mother had said and Stiles had bags under his eyes from trying to talk Scott down; Allison had been up because her mother was tense about something that had happened and kept asking her questions about Scott and her friends; Jackson had been up because he kept seeing everything that Amara's hunters were putting Derek through in his dreams, and Danny looked tired becuase he had been up worrying about everyone and everything that Amara had said. Morgan walked in looking morose and beaten, and slunk pass where the group had been gathered in a exhausted group by Scott's locker and headed straight to her first class.
"What's wrong with Morgan," Scott asked tiredly to Stiles.
"I don't know," he said with a shrug of his shoulders, "and I don't think we should ask."
"Did anyone get any sleep last night," Allison said looking at the group.
"No," Scott answered, "and it doesn't look like Lydia did either. They all looked as the girl walked in wearing another one of her flawless outfits but that's where her appearance ended positively; her face was drawn into a taxed sneer and all color from her face had gone.
"She looks awful," Jackson said as he lazily shouldered her bag.
"You're one to talk," Stiles said attempting some sense of normalcy among the weary group and received conformation when he caught a smile on Danny's lips.
"Shut up, Stilinski, I'll...I'll hurt you," Jackson said but he and everyone else knew that it was a sorry excuse at sounding tough given his state.
"We should just go to class," Danny said looking at Jackson.
"Hey Stiles," Scott said suddenly, turning to his friend, "did you do the homework?" Scott got his answer when Stiles gave him a look that said are-you-freaking-kidding-me-with-this, and he left it alone as they all went to their different classes.
Lydia walked into class and plopped down in the schair across from Scott, Scott who looked over at the pale girl with the dark circles around her eyes and broken unpolished nails.
"Are you okay, Lydia," Scott leaned over as the teacher wrote a math problem on the board.
"Scott," she said not looking over at him, "I really am not in the mood to talk right now...least of all with you."
"Hey, don't get mad at me," Scott said leaning back from the girl. "I'm just trying to let you know that you do have people who care about you."
"Since when have you cared," she asked putting her tongue to her cheek and still not making eye contact with the boy.
"I've always cared Lydia, do you think I'd be talking to you if I didn't care," he squinted her eyes at her as the teacher placed the chalk down and began to talk to the class about distributive properties; Lydia sucked her cheek and opened her notebook, determined to ignore Scott.
The bell rang and Lydia grabbed her bag and made for the door as fast as her tired legs would carry her but Scott was by her side beore she could even get out of the door.
"Lydia," he said pulling his bag close to him as he squeezed past two students who were talking just outside of the door.
"Go away, Scott," she said with annoyance evident in her voice.
"I can't do that," he said walking beside her down the hall. "I need you to understand that you have people here who care for you."
"That's nice," she said with a sigh as she tried to walk away from him but he was by her side before she coulld get any distance between them.
"Lydia, just talk to me for five minutes," he said placing a hand on the girl's arm to stop her but she pulled away from his touch and turned to face him with some semblance of anger behind her green eyes. Scott took a step back and put his hands up in a show on no offense, "five minutes, that's all I'm asking for."
"Fine," she huffed digging through her bag and pulling out a tube of pink lipgloss. "Your five minutes began four minutes ago."
"What," Scott was in a swirl of confusion, "you can't do that."
"I can, and I just did. See you, Scott," Lydia walked away her heels clicking distinctively among the sounds of sneakers screeching in the hall.
Danny walked over to where Scott was looking after Lydia with a dumfounded look on his face, "I'm guessing you couldn't talk to her."
"She...bulldozed over everything I said," he was still looking after Lydia even though she was already gone.
"Yeah," Danny said looking away, "she does that when she really doesn't care for whatever it is you have to say. What did you have to say anyway?"
"I was just trying to tell her that we're still here for her. I mean, I just want her to know that she has people who are willing to help her with what she's going through. Is that such a bad thing to not want to hear," Scott turned to look at Danny. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
Danny blinked at Scott, "umm...okay."
"Well..." Scott started and pulled Danny into the boys bathroom.
"Um Scott..."Danny said pulling back from Scott's grip as the door closed, "I don't usually get pulled into the bathroom by guys."
Scott turned to Danny and shook his head, "I figured, I just want to know something."
"What," Danny was leaning back now with his hands in his pockets watched the nervousness play over Scott's face.
"Remember what happened yesterday? What Morgan's mother said through Jackson...what she said to you and Stiles."
Danny blanched remembering what was said and blunk before he answered, "yeah...I remember."
Scott looked at Danny with eyes urging him to continue, but didn't get a respose because Danny looked anything but ready to talk with Scott about this. "Look...I know it's none of my business what's going on with you but, Stiles is my friend..."
"You want to know what she meant by that," Danny said cutting him off.
Scott gave a small nod, "yeah...I do."
"And like you said, it's none of your business. So just leave it alone, I'm still trying to figure out what I'm feeling for him and I really don't need you in the middle of this. You have your own stuff to worry about and what's going on in my personal life is not that."
Scott nodded, turned away from Danny, and ran a hand through his hair, "you're right...it's none of my business, and I'll leave it alone."
"That's all I'm asking," Danny crossed his arms over his chest. "And don't tell Stiles about any of this, I don't want him to feel weird around me. I don't think this is really something that anyone else should be focused on...not right now at least."
"Fine..." Scott nodded, "fine."
Danny nodded and turned to walk out the door but stopped, and without turning to look at Scott he asked, "are you okay with this? Not that it really matters but, are you?"
"Like you said, it doesn't really matter...but yeah, I am." Danny left the bathroom and didn't have to turn to see the smile on Scott's face. When the door closed Scott's smile stayed on his face as he waited a little before leaving the bathroom after Danny; when the door had closed a stall door opened and Stiles walked out and huffed as he straightened his clothes.
Stiles looked at himself in the bathroom mirror with big smile on his face as he raised an eyebrow and fixed a tie that wasn't there; so I'm attractive to gay guys, he thought to himself. Awesome.
"What's wrong with you," Allison turned to Morgan who was sitting on the floor in front of her locker.
"There's nothing wrong," Morgan said into her book that she held up to her face.
"You're lying," Allison looked at the looked at the cover of Morgan's book since she couldn't see her face. "I've gotten pretty good at telling when someone is lying," she leaned over to the girl.
"And I've gotten really good at ignoring problems," Morgan closed her book and pulled herself up to her feet. "I'm gonna go...and get away from here."
"Talk to me," Allison said getting to her feet and following Morgan who was walking down the hall and away from her.
"Please, leave me alone Allison."
"I can't," Allison ran in front of Morgan who had picked up speed after turning the corner. "You're my friend Morgan, and like it or not you have to talk to people about what's going on with you."
Morgan stopped and bit her lip as she looked away from where Allison was trying to make eye contact with her, "I don't have to talk about anything...I've also gotten pretty good at not talking about my life."
"You know as well as I do that that's not anyway to live," Allison was still trying to make eye contact with Morgan who kept avoiding her eyes and trying to find her way around Allison.
"Yeah? Well it's better to not let myself feel anything than have to talk to someone about everything that happens at home," Morgan had found a way around Allison and took it. Allison's eyes widened and turn to follow Morgan but the girl wasn't there anymore.
"What's happening at home," she asked to no one in the silence of the now empty hallway and dropped her hands at her sides. She backed out the hall before turning and bumping into someone...it was Lydia.
"Hi," she said backing up from how close she was to Lydia.
"Hi Allison," the other girl said with the first smile in a long time to reach her eyes, "I see Scott hasn't changed...at all."
"Yeah, well..." Allison trailed off and moved a piece of hair from her face. "How are you though, are you good?" Allison saw the smile leave Lydia's face ane moved a bit closer lowering her voice, "you know you vsn tell me anything...I promise I'll always be here for you."
"You don't have to whisper, there's no one else in the hall..." Lydia said looking over her shoulder. "Besides, whoever you're hoping won't hear...can." Allison looked at her friend with wide eyes that asked questions that she wasn't prepared to have answered.
"Allison...I want it out."
Allison nodded and took Lydia's hands looking the girl deep in her eyes with the seriousness of the situation, "okay...okay...Alright, I'll help you."
"Okay," Lydia nodded with relief in her eyes "...thank you." Allison watched as the soft light behind the girls' eyes left and a shadiness came across her face. "She may want your help, little hunter," Allison took a step back as what was in Lydia had taken a hold over her, "but you'll have a hard time getting rid of me." The pure unadultered malice that was in the voice that came from Lydia's lips, and the fiery rage that was now behind the soft green eyes of her friend sent ice down her spine and she backed away as that sick smile stretched across Lydia's fair face.
"I'll be seeing you around Allison," and Lydia turned on her heel and left in a flash.
Allison exhaled a breath that she didn't even know she was holding, and ran her fingers through her hair; they had to find a way to help Lydia...and fast.
To be continued...
A/N: I want to apologize if this chapter is hard to follow, I was all over the place in my head while writing this.
Hopefully Chapter 10 will be a bit more lucid...I have an outline that I have to follow for it and the next three chapters are going to be slow coming because there's a lot that has to be tied up. Also, I'm going to try and work in some fluff because they're going to be really heavy on me, heavier than that scene between Morgan and Amara. I want to thank you guys who've kept reading and I want to thank the few who reviewed, it really helps me know what I'm doing wrong in the story, but most of all I want to thank you for reading this.
Three more chapters you guys and then...I don't know.