Chapter 16

"Mother", Damien said his voice full of disbelief.

She looked the same since he had last seen her. Her hair was fizzy, creating a mane like appearance around her. It framed her face, she had sharp cheek bones and full lips, her eyes were as cold as he had ever seen them.

"Damien", she said calmly, it was a tone full of contained hatred, one he rarely ever heard from her.

"She's behind the troll appearing", the voice whispered

Damien couldn't believe it, it didn't make sense to him, why would she have sent him here to find out what was happening? Why was she protecting the Crone?

"What are you doing?", he asked cautiously. He eyed her studied her movements, his mother was dangerous, years of training with her taught him that. He could sense that there was nothing off about her, she still had the same sense of vibration around as she ever had. She was in her right mind.

She tilted her head, eyeing him with a critical look, "You've changed, I don't need my senses to tell me that", she calmly walked around him, studying his every move.

"Yeah my eyes, I know, now answer the question", he demanded.

She froze and gave him a look of contempt, "I don't like your tone".

Damien sighed, he didn't have time for this, Derek was battling the Crone giving him time to kill it. He could sense that Derek wasn't doing so well, he was taking hits, and his healing slowing. Damien had to act fast or Derek wouldn't make it.

Damien raised his axe at her, sharp edge directed at her face, "get out of my way", he said with determination in his eyes.

She sadly smiled, "you're just like your father, wonderfully naïve, and it makes me hate you all the more for taking him from me".

He was surprised by what she said, he had no idea why she would say that, she then took advantage of his and attacked, slashing at him with swiftness he didn't see coming. He deflected her slashes and returned with some off his own.

"I see where you get it from, she's good"

"Yes, she is"

Her blows weren't very strong though, he didn't feel them as he normally did when he fought her. Damien swiped at her and she bent back barley dodging the axe. She retaliated with sword, he quickly sidestepped, the sword slicing the air in front of his face. When it did he got a closer look at it. The sword had symbols inscribed on the blade, there was something about it, something special.

He was about to strike her again but then he saw a body flying across the room and crashing against a wall. It was Derek, he was slumped on the floor and no longer shifted.

He was about to run to him, but he sensed his mother, he quickly ducked barely dodging the blade slicing through the air. He quickly turned, sliding behind her and throwing all of his strength into axe, slashing at her. She quickly threw her sword up barely blocking him. He was surprised to see her thrown back, sliding across the floor.

He hurriedly ran to Derek, standing in front of him. The Crone looked wounded, slashes showing on the dark shroud that surrounded. It was slowly making its way towards them.

"Derek, get up", he yelled at him.

He could hear Derek groaning, he quickly peeked behind him. Derek was slowly picking himself up, he had a small gash on his head, leaving a small trail of blood down the side of his face. He was already torn up from the previous battles, his jacket was torn and ripped, his clothes were bloodied from the wounds he had healed from.

Derek was breathing heavily, "I'm fine". He hunched back down and shifted, eyes turning red and fangs coming out. Damien nodded and turned back towards the Crone. He knew that fight the Crone and his mother wouldn't be easy, it would be almost impossible. He took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Derek, with the both of them here, I doubt we'll make to Stiles in time", he whispered.

"Damien", Derek growled as if he knew what he was thinking, warning him not to do it.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the crystal and threw it to Derek, a clawed hand quickly caught it and grasped onto it tightly. Derek looked at the crystal then at Damien, he knew what he needed to do but he didn't want to leave.

"Derek, I can buy you enough time to get out of here and don't argue you know it needs to be done", Damien knew this gonna be a hard battle but it turned out to be full of surprises and obstacles he couldn't foresee, one being his mother, "this is for Stiles".

Derek gripped the crystal harder to the point where blood was down his hands, Damien could tell Derek didn't like his decision, but Damien knew that he would do what needed to be done to save Stiles.

"What are you doing? Don't sacrifice yourself for these lowly beings". She said in a harsh tone

"I will do what needs to be done to make sure Stiles is safe"

"Then let the dog stay in your place, you're the logical choice, you can't be tracked and he can heal"

"No, Stiles isn't the only one I want to protect, Derek is the Alpha. The pack is his family, they can't lose him. I won't let it happen, besides it seems that I maybe the cause of all this".

"You're making a mistake", her voice was full of anger.

"No, I'm not"

He turned to the Crone, rushing towards it. The Crone raised one hand glowing eerie dark light, he extended his will and could feel it taking effect on the Crone, stopping whatever spell it. The Crone was trying to fight against it, but he wasn't going to let it go.

He raised his axe to deal the blow, but before he could strike a sword blocked it. When the two clashed sparks flew, his mother was stopping him again. She then pushed him away, he slid back and tightened his grip on the axe. He couldn't sense Derek, so he must have taken the opportunity to run, Damien let go a sigh of relief, he knew Derek would get the crystal to Stiles.

Damien focused on his mother again, for some reason she was faster than when he last saw her. He knew he couldn't take any chances with her. He centered himself and extended his will again focusing on both the Crone and his mother, he could feel it taking effect but he could also feel the strain it was taking on him. He focused all his strength into his legs, and rushed towards them, he appeared before her in a flash. His mother had a look of surprise on her face, she had raised her sword in front of her before he froze her. He pulled the axe back, aiming low for her center.

Then her look of surprise turned into determination, her sword began to glow the symbols blazing with fire, he could sense that it was overwhelmingly powerful. The sword began to be wrapped in flames and exploded out.

"No, you have to move now", her voice full of worry and desperation, echoed in his head.

He tried to move back, but wasn't quick enough to dodge all of the flames, his arm exploded in blinding pain, burning from the flames that he touched it. He quickly rolled away, the pain spread from his arm into the rest of his body, it felt as if his insides were on fire and his mind was being burned away.

"I'm going to take some of the pain away", her voice was one of pain.

"What….is…..it"?

The pain was so excruciating, he could barely speak inside his own mind, he thought that it would never end then he could feel the pain ebb to a slow burn. The pain was now on a manageable level to where he could feel his body unclenching.

"I don't know how but she has gotten her hands on an Angel's blade", her voice was one full of hatred this time.

"An angel's blade?"

"Yes, one of a low ranking angel I presume, if it was one of a higher order you would be dead, the fire you were just hit with was holy fire, I was able to take the brunt of it and absorb the flame "

"Thank You"

He turned his head to see his mother walking to the Crone's heart. The Crone was following her like an obedient puppy, he didn't know how but she had complete control over it. She grabbed the box containing the heart.

"We have what we came for, let's go", She said in a commanding tone to the Crone.

The Crone began to grow with a bright light, he knew that they were about to get away, but he couldn't let them go without hindering them in some way. Then he saw the cord connecting the two, the souls that was powering the Crone. He then made a grab for his axe, the movement was painful, it seems the effects of the fire hadn't worn off enough.

He grabbed the axe and used all of his strength, tossing it at the cord. It flew through the air spinning and cut through the cut, as the cord was cut a bright blue shining light exploded.

"NOOO!", his mother yelled and in light of the Crone's teleportation spell she disappeared.

The blue light remained and for a moment shined even brighter, the light came together and in the place where the orb had been there was a teenage girl.

She smiled at him with tears streaming down her face, "thank you", and then the light dissipated, fading away into nothing. The structure that had been created by the heart faded also, disappearing until all that was left was the soft ground and the wild trees.

He tried to get up but he couldn't move, holy fire was powerful to say the least, it had only reached his arm and for all of his newfound abilities and strength, he was helpless against it. His mother still was able to best him, but that wasn't what angered him the most. She went after Stiles tried to kill him, she knew he mattered most to him and she still tried to kill him, Damien was gonna make her pay, he wasn't going to let her go so easily.

He was still in pain and felt exhausted, he could barely move and he resigned himself to lying there until he could. He closed his eyes, falling into the darkness that was sleep that was until he sensed someone approaching him. He opened his eyes to hazel and found Derek looking down at him, axe in hand.

"You were supposed to get the crystal to Stiles", he said with anger, but it came out weak and tired.

"I wasn't going to leave you behind, and Deaton has the stone, when the forest returned to normal, it just disappeared Deaton called and said he had it", Derek then turned around and picked him up, it took him a moment to realize that Derek was carrying him piggyback.

Damien chuckled, "must had a teleportation spell on it, thanks, you look like hell by the way".

Derek actually cracked a smile, "so do you".

In the distance he could see the others. Their clothes were torn and they were bloodied, Isaac and Allison were carrying Scott, he looked to be the worst. Damien wasn't that far away, so he could tell that Scott had taken a beating, the forest spirit wasn't lying when she said he was on the verge of dying.

Before they made it to them, he could feel himself falling unconscious; his whole world began to be swallowed by darkness and the last thing he saw was the sun rising.

XXX

Stiles woke up with a start, he flew himself upright in the bed. He looked around and saw that he was in a hospital suite, the sun was just barely up which meant it was morning time. He looked around and saw two cots, they held Damien and Scott. They looked to be sleeping peacefully. He could tell they had been in a fight, they were bandaged, Scott more than Damien. Damien had a single bandage wrapped around his upper arm.

Stiles let out a sigh of relief that they were alright, just then the door opened and out emerged Lydia. She looked like she normally did, in the fact that she was always decked out in the most expensive things, but she had the look of exhaustion that even makeup couldn't hide. She had a brown paper bag that seemed to be leaking with grease. She came upon him, heels clicking on the tile floor and she gave him a look that scared him to his core, it was one that promised death.

"Stiles", if anyone asked he would totally deny that he flinched when she spoke, "if you ever do something as stupid as getting cursed again, I will personally skin you myself do you understand?'

Stiles cringed, he wanted to say it wasn't his fault that the stupid black floating dementor look alike cursed him, but he actually valued his life, so he simply said with a little fear added in, "I promise it won't happen again".

She simply nodded and dropped the bag into his lap. He opened the bag to find it full of curly fries, he looked at Lydia and grinned widely, "You are the best friend, person, being in the entire universe".

He began to stuff his face with curly fries, he didn't know that being cursed could make someone, so hungry. Lydia only smiled at him, while lying out the small couch that his totally huge suite had. He heard the door open and looked up to find the pack; Isaac, Erica and Boyd grinning widely at him. What happened next he didn't expect and he really didn't care. The pack jumped on him all trying to hug him at once.

They all laughed and he tried to hug them all back as best he could. He was really happy that they were safe, he would've been lying if he said he wasn't worried. Isaac was the only that didn't let go, and Stiles really didn't mind.

Erica smiled at him, "It's nice to have you back, Batman"

Stiles chuckled, "It's nice to be back, Catwoman".

Isaac hugged him even tighter and Stiles looked down to see him, hiding in his stomach, he felt his gown get wet so he knew Isaac was crying.

He put his hand on Isaac's head, "Hey, I'm okay".

Isaac let him go and wiped the tears from his eyes, "Yeah I know, I just missed you and Scott was hurt"

"But, we're all okay, everybody survived", Stiles said with smile.

Before Isaac could say anything else, Derek came in with Jackson on his heels. Jackson looked at him and kind of smiled, "Hey Dweeb", Stiles knew that was 'glad to see you awake' in Jackson speak.

"Jackson, nice to see you too"

But Stiles attention wasn't really focused on Jackson, it was focused on Derek. He looked hesitant like he wanted to say something but not with everyone in the room. Lydia seemed to pick up on it, she sighed and rolled her eyes, "alright everyone, let's go". Everybody seemed a little confused but when Lydia made eye contact with Erica, doing some type of silent communication, then Erica rushed everybody of the room too. Erica gave him a wink before she went out of the door.

There was only him and Derek left and it was deathly silent.

"I'm glad to see you awake", Derek said gruffly.

"Yeah thanks, ummm, you look like you had something to say", Stiles said awkwardly.

Derek face scrunched up and little and he looked to be deep in thought, before Stiles knew it he was sitting on the bed closer than he expected.

"Before you", Derek paused like he was contemplating what he was going to say, "Before you where cursed, when we had our fight-"

"Look, we don't have to talk about"

Derek shook his head in defiance, "No, I want to talk about it", he sighed, "you were right, I wasn't letting you choose what you wanted I made the choice for you, it wasn't fair".

Stiles mouth dropped in shock, Derek was admitting he was wrong and he was letting him choose if he wanted to be in a relationship. Derek was willing to try. Stiles smiled at Derek, his body vibrating with excitement.

Derek softly smiled at him, "so if you want, I'm willing to try"

Stiles laughed, "yes, yes, absolutely, surely, si, and every yes in a different language and-"

Before he knew it Derek was kissing him, it was a soft kiss, one that involved tongue and Stiles was too happy to use tongue technique so Derek to the lead. He didn't know how long they were kissing but he didn't really care, he wanted this for some time and now he could have it, he could have him.

Stiles was running out of breath but he really didn't want to stop kissing, "wow, that was amazing, awesome, spectacular, I just….wow"

Derek chuckled. "yes it was"

Before they could get to more kissing, Deaton came into and the whole crew with him, Stiles groaned and put up his hands in defeat, "does anyone know how to knock?"

"Sorry if we are intruding, but I need to check over you one more time", Deaton calmly said.

Stiles was little apphrensive, last time Deaton was helping him; he was forced to go back to sleep which he really had enough of.

"Hey Doc not too sure, I want your healing touch, last time you put me back to sleep"

Deaton chuckled, "I'm sorry about that, even though you woke up the spell was still draining your life, I had to put you back to sleep".

"Wait, you woke up before you were cured?" Derek asked.

"Uhh yeah, my mom woke me up actually, saved me too", Stiles said softly.

Everyone in the room looked at him with confusion and worry. They doubted Stiles came back whole if he was all there. Lydia seemed very worried and looked at everyone else.

Lydia slowly approached him, "Stiles, you know that she's-"

Stiles sighed, "Dead, yeah I know, it was her spirit or whatever, if she hadn't saved me from the purple eyed she-witch I would probably be dead".

Deaton froze when Stiles said that and turned to Damien's sleeping form and had an intense expression on his face.

"Hey Doc, she said some stuff about Damien too"

Deaton turn to him and he looked worried, "Stiles what did she say exactly"

Stiles had always seen Deaton being calm, but right now he looked like he was actually worried, something was wrong, really wrong.

"She said that we were in her way and that Damien was her's, that she was his….. mother", Stiles said softly

Deaton sighed and at that moment he looked tired, like the years had weighed him down. Stiles narrowed his eyes, he knew Deaton was hiding something, "You know her don't you?"

Deaton looked at him with sadness in his eyes, "yes she is our ancestor, the one who began our family line, you may know her as the goddess, Ishtar"

After Deaton made his statement, everyone froze disbelief written on all their faces. Stiles couldn't believe it either Damien was descended from a goddess, an actual goddess.

"Ishtar is the Babylonian goddess of the war, magic, and sex", Lydia told everyone snapping them out of shock.

"So I was being threatened by an actual goddess?" Stiles asked Deaton.

"Yes, She has a peculiar interest in Damien, as he is the current inheritor of her will", Deaton answered.

Derek nodded, "Yeah but when you told me about it, it seemed like you expected him to destroy everything in his path, friend of foe, but it seemed like he was in control the entire time, although he was very cold and calculating"

Stiles looked at Derek, "Wait what, Damien went all terminator?"

Jackson laughed, "Yeah and his eyes are blue now, kinda cool actually"

Stiles couldn't believe what he was saying, he couldn't see Damien like that but then he remembered what the goddess had said, that in order to save him, he gained more power and released her.

"So what is this will thing?", Stiles asked.

"Well, it's connected to the story, the descent of Ishtar-", Deaton was saying but then Lydia continued for him.

"The descent of Ishtar tells the story of her descent into the underworld in order to save her lover, Tammuz, the god of harvest, for each gate that she tore down she had to remove an article of clothing, when she arrived at her sister's throne she sat upon it and released Tammuz from the underworld but Tammuz wouldn't allow her to stay so he took her place in order for her to go free", everyone looked at Lydia in wonder, "What, I was tired of studying Greek myths and Babylonian ones caught my eye".

Stiles shook of the wonder of the genius that was Lydia Martin and looked at Damien, "Okay, so Damien inherited that?"

Deaton sighed, "Yes in a sense, there a few in our family and even fewer who inherit it, the will to push our abilities to the limit to get to our goal and destroy anything in our path, though from what I have heard it was never calm when someone went into that state it was always full of anger, Damien is special in that he was able to control it".

"So why does she want him?" Derek asked.

"Well, it all began we she first start our line, she had inhibited a body of a young princess and bared a child, that child was her way of escaping the spirit world and coming to earth, see the body of the child was suited to be a vessel for her, normal humans cannot hold the essence of a god", Deaton paused and saw that everyone was intensely interested in the story, "she had obtained the body she needed and for a time she ruled, there is not much written on when she did just that it was a time full of chaos, she had more children wanting to create a more powerful type of human race, one subservient to her though they were nowhere near as powerful as she hoped, her children did not like her ruling and chose to oppose her, after a great and long war they were able to send her back to the spirit world and sealing her there but it came with a price, with sealing her they also sealed away most of the spirits of the world".

"But what's so bad about that?" Isaac asked

"It means that they also sealed away the good spirits, like those that protect specific places and provide power to witches for certain spells", Lydia answered.

"So you're saying that she wants Damien as a vessel?" Derek asked.

Deaton shook his head, "I don't think so, something changed within Damien, something that allowed the seal in the spirit world to weaken, allowing certain spirits to come back, I'm sure that every supernatural being felt it".

Lydia nodded, "I felt it too"

Derek looked concerned and deep in thought, "When we were fighting, Damien was hurt really hurt and he fell unconscious but his body kept fighting and when I tried to stop him, he just kept going, I don't know what happened but he just stopped, his wounds healed and there was this feeling, I can't describe just froze me, I couldn't move a muscle"

Deaton nodded, "that would explain it, the reason she didn't want Stiles in the way or any of us, it's because she is trying to make Damien ascend".

Stiles shook his head in confusion, "wait ascend, ascend as in go to another plane and become super powerful ascend?"

Deaton nodded, "yes and for that to happen he has to let go of all earthly connections, the way he is now I would say he may be what she had in mind when she started our family line"

Jackson seemed confused, "so what is he?"

Deaton sighed, "Half man and half god, a demi-god"

They all suddenly heard groaning, and looked to see Damien slowly sitting up rubbing his head. He opened his eyes to a whole crowed room staring at him.

"Umm, hi?", he said in a confused voice.

Before anyone could say anything there was a knock a door, Stile was surprised to see Peter of all people enter the room, he had a look of pure anger and worry.

"Sorry to interrupt your little reunion but we have a problem, someone stole the journal"

XXX

Okay guys super sorry for updating late, had finals and Christmas shopping to do. I really enjoyed making this chapter and hope you enjoy it too.

Next week we get to see how Damien's reaction to everything and what was going on in his head while he was sleeping

Thank you to everyone for reading my little story

Have a merry Christmas!