Author's Note: I am so, so sorry. So incredibly sorry. Mea maxima culpa times infinity and beyond. I could sit here and give you a thousand reasons why I've been gone for so long, but it really all boils down to life getting in the way.
Big hugs and kisses and hot coco (with the little marshmallows in it, of course) go out to everyone who continued to read and review and favourite and support this story while I was away. This one's for you.
Enough grovelling. Ya'll probably hate me anyway.
Disclaimer: After reading Steph's last update, Christina is in a slight state of shock.
Christina: *Slams the door of Steph's room open and barges in*
So wait... Derek's ALIVE?!
Steph: Looks that way, doesn't it?
*Winks mischievously*
Christina: *Enraged*
WHAT. THE. HELL?! You convinced me he was dead! EVERYONE thought he was dead! You wrote entire chapters showing us just how dead he was! Why would you do that if you were just going to bring him back?!
Steph: *Offended*
Dude, I'm not J.K. freaking Rowling, okay? I can't just kill off a main character and make the story work!
Christina: *Even more enraged than before*
Don't you ever compare yourself to her! You don't own a multi-billion dollar franchise!
*Scoffs*
For Christ's sakes, you don`t even own DP!
Steph: *Glares*
Thanks… I wasn't already aware of that, you know.
Christina: *Shrugs*
I was just sayin'.
*Points to laptop*
Now go write a sappy reunion with hugs and kisses and wolves that fart rainbows!
Steph: But that's not what—
Christina: DO IT NOW, MAGGOT!
Power
"Perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well."
-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The only way to describe my actions afterward is this: I had tunnel vision. All I cared about – all I could think about – in those moments was finding him; bringing him back. I forgot about everything else – the demon's deal, the wolves out to get me – and ran after him, going deeper and deeper into the dark, unfamiliar forest. The trees were so close together that their branches intertwined, blocking out the moonlight. I was running blind, using my hands to keep me from hitting anything. I'd lost sight of him long ago, but that didn't stop me from continuing on, pushing forward all the same. I refused to quit, knowing this was probably my last chance.
I couldn't lose him. Not again.
But despite my steely resolve, I was only human. The night's activities began to catch up with me. I could feel all my injuries now that the adrenalin had worn off – to say my entire body was covered in cuts would be an understatement. I pushed on, unwilling to let myself give up that easily.
"Derek!" I called his name as I ran, hoping he'd hear me and stop. "Derek, please!"
My attempts yielded no results, and - as expected - he didn't reappear. Beyond determined now, I kept running anyway.
Just as my lungs were about to give up on the whole endeavor, I heard the sharp snap of a twig nearby. It echoed through the forest, the sound bouncing off everything it touched. I turned, following the sound, searching for its source… until the voice inside my head piped up and effectively blocked out everything else.
"A piece of advice from yours truly, free of charge," the demon began. "Hurry home, little necro… while you still can. It may be hard to believe, but there are more unsavoury things in this forest than your little wolfy friends - things you would do well to avoid."
I ignored her and kept going.
Moments later, I heard the sound of two wolves howling and stopped dead in my tracks. It was cliché, but it meant one thing: they were close. Too close.
I turned around and went back the way I came, hating myself more for every inch my steps put between us. I mollified my guilty conscience by reminding myself that I had one more chance: Derek would be returning tomorrow night to help me fight the wolves, and when it was all over he'd come back with me.
He had to.
I focused on that one glimmer of hope as I ran. He's coming back tomorrow. I'll see him again. He's not gone forever… But the fact was I couldn't count on him reappearing. Knowing Derek, he'd do everything in his power to be there to protect me... but everything in his power may not be enough.
When I caught my first glimpse of the translucent barrier through the trees, I slowed my pace. Almost safe, just a few more minutes…
Not quite. With a shock I recalled the moment the wolf had gotten into the barrier with me. I wrapped my arms around myself, willing my heart to stop pounding against my ribcage.
Oh God. I let them in. What have I done?
A knot began to form in my stomach as I realized the enormity of the situation. I've endangered the life of every single person inside that house.
Swearing under my breath, I stumbled the last few steps to the door, pulling it open as silently as possible. The last thing I needed was for someone to come downstairs and start asking me where I'd been. My hands were already shaking violently, and I knew that if I opened my mouth the entire story would come rushing out like word-vomit. I leaned against the smooth oak door, closing my eyes as I tried to pull myself together. Calm down. Breathe. Just get to the bathroom and you can let it all out. One strangled sob escaped; I pressed my hand over my mouth to block out the sound.
I forced myself to breathe deeply and walk to the stairs. Grabbing hold of the banister, I began to climb, keeping my steps light so they wouldn't creak and wake someone.
Thankfully I made it to the bathroom without incurring the wrath of any sleeping housemates. Closing the door behind me, I pulled open the frosted-glass door of the shower and stepped in, not bothering to remove any of my filthy clothing as they'd probably tip off whoever did the laundry about my late-night activities. I turned the dial to the hottest setting and started the water, hoping the heat could do something to get rid of the chill that had spread throughout my body and soaked into my bones.
I lowered myself onto the floor of the shower, hugging my knees to my chest. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I was going into shock, but all my energy had evaporated, leaving me too exhausted to care.
"Psychological Shock: Symptoms may include sweating, dizziness, muffled hearing, chills, and a fluttering heart-rate," the Aunt Lauren in my head rattled off. I ignored it, closing my eyes as the searing-hot spray bombarded my face and body.
What's wrong with me? He's alive – I should be jumping for joy!
I thought about the irony of it all: that I'd spent months trying to convince myself that he was really and truly dead, and in five seconds I'd been presented with all the evidence I needed to figure out that the opposite was true. I tried putting all the pieces together, and I had to admit it made sense – after all, I'd never actually seen his spirit leave his body after the shooting, and the only times I'd seen him in my dreams the demi-demon had been pulling the strings.
This entire time, she manipulated me into thinking he was gone. She fed into my guilt so I'd do whatever she asked when the time came.
The worst part of it all: Tori had been right all along.
I opened my eyes, realizing that the water coming from the showerhead was now ice-cold. I stood up, turning the water off and stepping out onto the foam bathmat. I peeled off my soaked clothing and kicked off my water-logged sneakers, wrapping myself in a towel from the rack next to the door. Sun was pouring in through the window and reflecting off the mirror, illuminating the entire room. Glancing in the mirror, I realized I was sporting a few new scratches across my face and chest – thanks to the branches I'd run into – and made a mental note to keep my hair down to cover the worst of them. I collected my clothes and stepped out, leaving the door open behind me.
I padded quietly to my room, stopping to throw the wet bundle into the hamper on my way. By then people were up and moving about in the kitchen – I could hear the clinking of silverware against plates – so I didn't have to be as careful about making noise. I entered my room, stopping short on my way to the wardrobe when I heard the knock at the door. I eased it open a few inches and caught a glimpse of Simon's messy spikes through the gap.
"Chloe! There you are. I was just coming down to see if you wanted to come down to breakfast with me…" he trailed off, realizing I was standing there in a towel. He cleared his throat, averting his eyes to a painting of a flower someone had hung on the wall. "Andrew's… making omelettes," he added awkwardly.
"Uh… sure Simon. Just gimme a second to get dressed, okay?"
"Oh! Right! Sorry! I'll go… wait in the hall," he finished lamely, standing up to go.
"Thanks. I won't take long, I promise."
I dressed quickly, sliding on a pair of jeans I found in the closet. They seemed close to my size, and the baggy t-shirt I found seemed to have belonged to the same person. I ran a brush through my hair before pulling the damp strands into a braid. A glance into the mirror and – satisfied by the way the scrapes were hidden - I opened the door and stepped out.
"All done!"
"Awesome! I'm starving." Simon looked up from his blood sugar meter and gave me a small smile. I returned it as he began to pack up his equipment. He straightened and slid the pouch back into his pocket. "Before we go down there … can we talk for a sec?"
What would you like to talk about, Simon? The fact that your brother is alive, or the murderous werewolves that I let into the only sanctuary our group has left?
"Shoot," I said, voice hoarse.
He took a deep breath. "Are you… okay?"
"Of course, Simon. I'm-"
"No." He looked into my eyes, holding my gaze. "I don't mean 'okay' as in you tell everyone you're okay to keep them from worrying about you. I'm asking you as your best friend: how are you, really?"
You know how it's easy to lie to yourself and pretend everything is fine, but the moment someone calls you out on it you break down? I tried to smile – to laugh off his concern as a by-product of having less to worry about now that we weren't running for our lives anymore – but I could feel a pressure building behind my eyes. Tears were fighting to get out, but if I let them, I didn't think I'd be able to stop.
"Not so great," I admitted finally. There's only a couple of werewolves out to kill me and I may have accidentally led them past the only defense we have. A demon's blackmailing me, and oh, did I mention? Your dead brother just happens to be living in the backyard.
He took my hand, squeezing it gently. "I miss him too," he whispered. "But he wouldn't want us to mope around. He's probably watching us right now, wishing he could kick our butts for not training more or sleeping with one eye open or something."
I forced a smile, not missing the irony of the situation.
I hugged him, reaching up to mess up his hair when we broke apart. "Don't worry about me, please. I'll be fine, kay?"
He smiled and nodded. "Wanna go visit Tori before we go downstairs?" he asked, glancing towards the stairs that led up to the infirmary.
"Sure." I followed him up the stairs. In the infirmary, Tori was already awake and dressed. Seeing the looks on our faces, she sighed loudly and crossed her arms.
"What's wrong with you two now?" she demanded.
"PMS," Simon answered immediately, somehow managing to keep a straight face. "And we're out of super jumbo tampons."
She raised an eyebrow at him before turning to me. "What happened?"
"Nothing, Tori. Really."
"Damn right it's nothing. Momma bear's back and better than ever!" She flexed, posing like a body-builder.
It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Can we go downstairs now? I'm starving."
I turned to pull the door open for them, catching a glimpse of their reflections in the little glass window: Tori was giving Simon a questioning look, but he just shook his head.
They followed me out.
We ran into Andrew on the stairs.
"There you guys are! I was just on my way to fetch you from upstairs."
"Did something happen?" Tori asked.
"No, nothing to worry about. I was just informing everyone that we're ramping up security with an alarm system. It's all set up already so make sure you don't try going outside without getting someone to punch in the code for you." He smiled, but it didn't quite touch his eyes. "Any questions?"
I swore colourfully inside my head. How the hell am I supposed to get out now?
Tori's voice broke the silence. "Why now?" She crossed her arms defiantly, never one to believe what people told her right away.
Andrew's smile fell slightly. "It's nothing major, Victoria – we just thought that you guys would feel more secure if we upped our security measures a bit."
"I see." Her tone told me she didn't buy it one bit.
Andrew's smile returned. "Great. I'll be upstairs, kids – just give a shout if you need anything." We all nodded in turn, and he left without another word.
"We just thought you guys would feel more secure MY ASS!" Tori whispered as soon as he was out of earshot.
"What do you mean? Andrew wouldn't lie to us," Simon assured her.
She grabbed our arms, pulling us into the bathroom on the first floor. "Bull. He was lying through his teeth. Him and this stupid group of his are just doing everything they can to make sure we don't run off!"
"Andrew wouldn't do that," Simon insisted again.
Instead of trying to further convince him, she turned to me. "Chloe, what do you think?"
A few months ago, I wouldn't even have questioned my adoptive father. A few months ago, I would have told her she was being paranoid.
But a few months ago, I had no idea what people were capable of – what it felt like to be betrayed by someone you trusted.
"I'm sorry, Simon, but I gotta agree with Tori on this. If it was for our own protection like he claimed, why didn't he give us the code too?"
He swore under his breath, running a hand over his face. "Well… what should we do?"
Tori didn't miss a beat. "We should leave, ASAP – tonight, if we can. Frankly, if I wanted to be locked up and used as a weapon, I would've stuck with the Edison Group."
My pulse was racing out of control. "W-We can't leave tonight. Not yet." I struggled to find a plausible excuse. "We… we need to wait. Gather supplies, train a little, find out what's going on. We could be totally wrong about this; we shouldn't act rashly." I prayed my voice wasn't shaking too badly, but it sounded phoney even to my ears.
"Isn't acting rashly kind of our thing, though?"
"Shut up, Simon."
"I'm kidding, Tori. But Chloe's right. We're not going anywhere tonight."
She agreed reluctantly, and I let out the breath I'd been holding.
We talked things over for a few more minutes before Simon cut in. "Uh, guys? I don't want to cut short this lovely conversation, but I'm starving… and people might start to get suspicious when we all leave the bathroom at once."
"Tori and I will leave first, I guess. Wait a little and follow."
"Alright."
He was silent until we were halfway out the door, then, almost to himself: "Why are our team meetings always in the bathroom?"
We all retreated back to our respective rooms to rest. We – well, Tori and Simon – had 'training sessions' scheduled for later in the afternoon. I didn't ask if they planned on training me – didn't care, to be completely honest. Training or no training, my powers weren't something I was proud of, and keeping them under the radar was probably the best thing for us all.
Having gotten no sleep the night before, I probably should have followed Tori's example and taken a nap. But I had work to do. With the added obstacle of an alarm to bypass, getting outside tonight would be near impossible to do on my own.
I ran through possible scenarios in my head, finally deciding on the option that seemed better in comparison.
Stopping in front of Simon's door, I knocked twice quickly, praying that what I was about to do wouldn't jeopardize us all. He opened the door a crack, then all the way once he saw who it was. "Chloe? What's wrong?"
I took a deep breath. "I need your help and I need you to trust me and to not ask any questions even though I know that sounds crazy."
He blinked a few times, then looked around. Waving me in, he shut the door behind himself. "What's going on?"
"I can't tell you, Simon. Please don't ask."
"Okay… totally not an answer, but I guess you know that already." He bit his lip for a second. "What is it you need me to do, exactly?"
"I need a way outside tonight. Just for a few hours. It's life or death, Si – and that's not an exaggeration." I tensed, waiting for his reaction.
"I believe you. So you want me to disable the alarm? That's it?"
I nodded.
"What's this about?" he asked carefully. "Or better yet, what can you tell me?"
Even I didn't know the answer to that one, but I figured if I was getting close to overstepping the boundary, my trusty demon would make an appearance. "Just that it's a matter of life and death. I can tell you after tonight, but you have to promise me you won't go looking for answers. No looking out the window or following me out or anything. Because if you don't do what I'm asking of you, Tori will die."
His eyes widened in shock, but said nothing. Registering the desperation in my eyes, he promised to do what I said. "But you gotta promise me something too: don't put yourself in danger. Don't put your life at risk. Please. Tori and I need you, Chlo."
I shot him an incredulous look, but he just smiled. "What? Who else is going to lose at monopoly when this is all over? Tori's a dirty cheat."
I laughed, but he waited for me to say the words. "I swear on Derek's grave, I won't put my life at risk. Satisfied?"
You shouldn't be.
"Yes. Now I gotta go work on getting that code for you... I think I'll call it 'Operation Jailbreak'. Be right back, okay?"
"Kay."
He stood to go, then looked back at me. "Seriously though, you should've seen how she scammed me into letting her buy Park Place."
"Why does that not surprise me?"
Several hours of gut-clenching worry later there was a knock at my door. "Come in!" I called, silently begging the cosmos for a little bit of good news.
Simon eased the door open, sticking his head through the gap. "I can't stay – Andrew's calling me downstairs for an impromptu training session." Hearing his name again, he rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I hid while someone was leaving and got the code. It's 2-2-9-3. Just punch it in when you're ready to go."
Relief filled me, which was weird considering what getting the alarm code meant. "Thank you so much, Simon."
He opened the door a little wider and slipped in, pulling me into a hug. "Be careful, okay? Don't do anything crazy."
"I won't." I hugged him tighter. "Love you, Si."
His grip on my tightened, and I knew what he was thinking: no matter what I promised him, this could be the last time we saw one another. "Love you too, Chlo."
We pulled apart and he rushed out, leaving me alone to plan for what promised to be a horrible night.
I slung my backpack over my shoulder, preparing to descend the stairs for the last time – for this reason, at least. I took my time, making sure not to make a sounds as I made it to the landing and shuffled over to the door. The keypad glowed a dull red, illuminating the numbers. I took my time punching in the code as well, knowing a mistake could ruin everything. After punching in the numbers I waited. A few seconds passed, then the message on the display read 'disarmed'. I pulled the door open and glanced around, searching for any sign of the wolves. When none appeared I stepped out, pulling the door shut behind me.
I did a quick scan of the yard again, wondering why they hadn't shown themselves yet. They weren't under any time constraints – they could have waltzed right in hours ago and waited for me outside the door. Why were they playing fair? I don't get it.
Unless… could the demon be keeping them at bay?
"Oh, I could and I have, sweetheart – but not for much longer. Time for some fun – the thrilling conclusion to this exciting trilogy!"
I crossed my arms. "Fun? Really? Haven't you had enough fun at my expense already?"
"Yes and no. Now, are you ready for your last encounter with your furry little friends?"
"Sure. Yes. Whatever." This wasn't about her anymore. It was about protecting my friends and myself and anyone I might've endangered. Failing was not an option. I was going to survive this, and I was going to get Derek back, and no sadistic demon or pathetic excuse for a werewolf was going to stop me, dammit. Even the knowledge that we'd probably have to kill the werewolves chasing us didn't make me any less determined. Yes, I felt guilty about it – but I wasn't going to let that hinder me in any way. I was going to do what I had to do. I was a necromancer. Taking someone's life seemed like a line I shouldn't be crossing – even accidentally. But I really had no choice. I had to do it, for the sake of every single person living in the house… no matter what their motivations were for helping us.
It's amazing how much your life can change in three days. Your world can go from chaos to order and back again, all while the rest of the world keeps chugging along like nothing ever happened. You can believe in something so strongly that it hurts and then get proven wrong. Begin to trust, fall in love, make a choice that changes everything.
It's amazing how much things can change in three days.
I scanned the yard again, looking for any sign of movement in the trees. Not finding any, I approached the barrier, stepping through without hesitation. Another cursory glance, refusing to believe I was alone - knowing they had to be hiding somewhere.
I heard a rustling from my right. Heart racing, I waited as the shape approached.
Derek.
Still in wolf form of course, but I'd expected that. His scars had barely healed from the night before, and the bandages I'd tied were nowhere to be found. His fur was matted with dried blood and caked with blood, and he had the overall appearance of an animal used in a PETA ad. He walked with a limp and kept his head down, coming to a stop next to me.
I knelt down and wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. "You're hurt," I whispered. "You shouldn't be here! Go inside, find Simon. You don't have to do this, Derek – I can hold them off for once night."
He shook his head. I pulled back and met his gaze. He was disagreeing with me, that much I could tell. The look in his eyes said it all: No. I mean it, Chloe.
"Don't get all hero-complex about this, D. Seriously. Get out of here before those psychos show-" He nudged me to my feet, focusing on a point to the left of where we were standing.
"Speak of the devil," I mumbled.
A guy burst through the trees – actually, the more accurate word is probably 'tripped'. He swayed a little, trying to get his bearings. Once he was able to stand, he smiled and addressed me. "Waitin' for me, blondie?"
I shrugged. Judging by the hair colour, this was the Alpha's human form. And judging by his clothes and voice, he was a redneck. I hadn't expected this – fighting him in his human form – but it definitely leveled the playing field a little. I could take a douchebag with a limp, couldn't I?
Something bright caught my eye. I turned, spotting Liz. She strode towards us, taking up my left. "Chloe," she whispered urgently. "Be careful – his friend is here too, waiting. This is definitely a trap. I heard them talking before, and it seems like they're working for the Edison Group."
I swore under my breath – I'd been afraid of that. If they knew our location, there was nothing stopping them from revealing it to the Edison Group as soon as they were done with us. There was no other option now – we had to kill them.
"Didja say somethin', sweets? I can't hear ya!"
Seriously? He wants me to play along with this shit? "Cut the crap!" I called back. "I know you can hear me, werewolf. How are those stab wounds, by the way? Healing nicely, I hope?"
He took a few steps toward us, chuckling. "Blondie's got a mean streak in 'er! I like that in a girl. Makes it so much more fun ta break 'er." He winked at me, and I felt the bile rise in my throat. Beside me, Derek growled.
The guy sighed, taking a step back. "Tell yer boyfriend ta cool it. I ain't here to fight." He gestured to his leg and torso. "Ya'll made it so I can't Change without poppin' some stitches! Damn shame, too – I was lookin' forward ta rippin' his throat out tonight." He pointed to Derek, who made a sound that I took to be a laugh.
"What do you want then?" I asked, already pretty sick of his monologue.
"No need ta be rude, darlin'! I was gettin' ta that part." He shook his head. "It's simple, girlie: you come back with me and my partner here, and outta the kindness a' ma heart, we let everyone inside that house live."
I rolled my eyes. "And you're gonna deliver me to the Edison Group and not tell them where you found me, right? Easy peasy?"
He laughed again, looping his thumbs through his belt loops. "Hell naw. What do you think this is? We're in the middle of a war, cutie. Winner take all."
"You're really bad at this negotiating thing, buddy. Are you sure you're qualified to be doing this?"
"Now darlin', I warned you about bein' rude. You didn't let me finish. Here's the other part of the deal: you get to warn everybody inside, let em know what's comin'. You'll be a hero!"
Derek growled next to me, obviously irritated.
The Alpha laughed again. "I see your boyfriend doesn't approve of my idea… well, that's just too bad, ain't it? Ya know, bein' in love shouldn't stop ya from makin' your own choices, sugar. Ya know, 'assert your independence' an' all that other feminist horseshit you girls are always spewin'!"
Derek growled at him again, in a way that I took to mean 'stop talking before I assert my foot up your ass'.
"So you don't wanna come with me, cutie? Are ya sure?"
I didn't grace his question with an answer.
"Well then, I have an even better idea." He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled "Ray? Where you at, buddy?"
"That's the other wolf that was with him yesterday," Liz clarified, just as the Hunter – Ray, apparently – appeared next to the Alpha.
"New offer, and this one's for the pup," he said, nodding in Derek's direction. "I got some unfinished business with some people up in New York, and your help with the matter would be… greatly appreciated. And since your mate's bein' difficult…" He licked his lips. "New offer, boy: you let us take you to New York, and Ray here won't rip your girl's throat out. Deal?"
I couldn't help it: I had to laugh. "Seriously? Do you really expect your buddy to be able to do that? He's in worse shape than you are, in case you haven't noticed."
"Worth a shot, wasn't it?" He shrugged as if it didn't matter to him either way. "Have it your way, cutie. I was just givin' ya'll a chance to get something outta all this, seein' as we're takin' you whether ya like it or not." He licked his lips again. "Personally, I like it when a girl fights a little – makes it so much more enjoyable. And I bet you got some fight in ya, girlie." His gaze travelled down my body, making my skin crawl.
"Please tell me we're going to kill this pervy bastard," Liz begged.
"We're going to kill this pervy bastard," I confirmed in a whisper.
The Alpha shrugged. "Now cutie, you're hurtin' ma feelings!" He turned to his partner and shrugged. "Ray, I guess they're gonna make us do this the hard way… whenever you're ready, buddy."
The Hunter stepped forward cautiously. Realizing we'd been outside the barrier for longer than we needed to be, I stepped back a few feet. "We gotta get back inside the barrier. Maybe it won't let the wolf in…"
I knew it was a long shot, but it was all I had.
"Get inside, guys – I'll hold them off," Liz whispered.
I took another step back, trying to mentally calculate the shortest distance back inside the barrier. I was trying to be subtle about it, too, but apparently my plan was a bit translucent. "Nu uh. Not so fast, cutie. Those spells ain't gon' be of much use to you, seein' as how you let me in last time." He hobbled forward so that he was a few dozen feet in front of me. "But by all means, take your chances. It's funner this way."
I nudged Derek, and – abandoning all pretenses of subtlety – we ran for it. Behind us, I could hear the Alpha's delighted laughter.
Once inside, we both turned towards the barrier, waiting for him to make his move. He limped forward, reaching his hand out towards the swirls of light. For a second he looked amazed – like a kid watching a fireworks display – but he smiled cruelly and his amazement was gone, replaced by a look of triumph.
He stuck his hand through the barrier.
Laughing almost maniacally, he stepped through. I took a few steps back, trying to distance myself from him. He cracked his neck, then his knuckles – all part of the show.
"RAY!" he shouted, waving his friend over. The wolf surged forward, stopping when he was less than a foot from the spot where the Alpha had entered. He reached a paw forward tentatively, testing the barrier.
Please don't let him in, I prayed. If the wolf was trapped outside the barrier, I knew that Derek and I could easily take on the Alpha. But if the wolf managed to get through, Derek would be distracted fighting him, and with Liz trapped outside….
His paw went through.
I swore, watching as the wolf entered the barrier. He went to stand next to the Alpha, who was practically beaming.
I reached back, pulling a knife out of my bag. "Go," I whispered, meeting Derek's eyes. "I'll hold off the Alpha for now, okay?" He bobbed his head, then stepped in front of me, bracing for the attack.
I tore off, knowing my only chance was to keep the guy from catching me. With a bunch of injuries to his legs and torso, his speed was diminished, giving me the advantage. But despite his lack of speed, he still had his werewolf senses – night vision, specialized hearing and an incredible sense of smell – so I had to be on high alert. I looped back around the side of the house, doing my best to make as little noise as possible. The sound of his voice was all I could hear above the sound of my own breathing – the guy loved to talk, and although it was annoying, it did tell me just how far away he was.
"Darlin', come on now! You ain't gon' make an old cripple run, are ya?"
I bolted into the trees, crossing through the barrier with barely a second thought. Fat lot of good it'll do now. My best bet would probably to find a tree and climb, but I didn't have enough of a lead just yet; I needed to tire him out so I could get far enough ahead.
I heard laughing from somewhere to my left. "Blondie wants ta play hide n' seek, does she? Fine with me!" His voice was a lot closer than it had been a few moments before, and I began to panic.
Liz popped into view, pointing me in the right direction. "He's coming from the left, Chloe. Just run east and I'll hold him up!"
I thanked her and took off.
I don't know how far I ran. The forest was pitch black that late at night, and with no moonlight flooding in through the trees, I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of me. I ran until my lungs felt like they were going to explode, praying the entire time that Derek was okay taking on the other wolf on his own.
A howl cut through the silence.
Well that answers that question.
"Liz!" I hissed into the darkness.
No response.
I tried not to panic, assuring myself that she was probably too busy keeping the Alpha away or helping Derek or something else that would keep her tied up, but I had a bad feeling – a tingle on the back of my neck that told me things were not alright… especially since the demon hadn't made a peep since I stepped outside.
A laugh from behind me – but this time, it was female.
I spun around, coming almost face to face with Liz – except it wasn't Liz at all. Where her blue eyes had been just minutes ago there were now black eyes, no pupil or iris visible. She was laughing, but it was all wrong: too high for her voice, too out of place in this dark forest. A chill ran down my back. The demon.
"Leave her alone!" I demanded, taking a few steps towards her. "I did what you wanted; my side of the contract has been fulfilled. LEAVE!"
"But it's so cozy here!" she said, pouting, "And besides, I'm not done playing with you yet, little necromancer."
"Well I'm sure as hell done playing with you," I hissed. I closed my eyes, letting my anger run surge through me, imagining it giving fuel to my powers. I pictured her being shoved back into whatever circle of hell she'd crawled out of, ruing the day she decided to play with my fate. Just one good mental shove and—
"Not so fast, Chloe!" she warned. My eyes sprang open; she was smiling almost as big as the Alpha had been. "Fair warning, child: if you attempt to banish me, your little friend goes with me." She stuck out her – Liz's – hand and made a disapproving noise. "Your friend could definitely use the tan though – she's far too pale, and I hear hell is lovely this time of year." She winked, and I saw red.
"You will leave her alone," I said, voice eerily calm, "or I'll pull you out myself and send you back. And don't even try to offer me a deal. You have until three. One. Two. Th-"
She held up her hand to silence me. "Fine, I'll leave if you wish it, Chloe Saunders. But do not assume that I won't be back." She stepped back, smiling wickedly. "Also, you might want to check on your boyfriend – poor guy doesn't seem to be holding up very well…"
She laughed again, but it faded as Liz's eyes returned to normal. She pitched forward, clutching her head. "Chl-Chloe?" she asked, blinking slowly. "What-?"
"It's a long story, Liz, but we don't have time right now: Derek's in trouble."
She shook her head to clear it. "I'll see what I can do," she said, then disappeared.
On my own once again, I decided against retracing my steps. Instead, I ran slightly southeast, knowing that I'd eventually end up in the clearing around the house. Still on high alert, I focused most of my energy on running, not allowing my thoughts to drift to what could be happening between the two opposing werewolves or the fact that I was being chased by one.
Either Liz had done a better job than I'd thought, or the Alpha had given up on chasing me.
I increased my speed when the trees began to thin out. Pulling my knife out of my belt loop, I took a few seconds to survey the scene from the edge of the treeline. Derek and the other wolf were still sparring at full speed, each sporting a few new battle wounds. Liz, however, was nowhere to be found – they were fighting inside the barrier, which she couldn't cross through even if she wanted to. The Alpha was off to the side, watching the fight with a look that was something between delighted and ecstatic, arms crossed as he waited for his friend to give the killing blow.
I edged closer, planning my attack. They were blurs of fur, fighting so fast that I couldn't get between them without possibly hurting Derek; but if I caused a distraction….
I shot out, making up my mind in a split second. I could feel my power surging through me, begging to be released; I let it trickle out as I walked, sending with it a message:
Come here.
The reactions were instantaneous: both Derek and the Hunter ceased their fighting and separated, watching as I approached the Alpha with my weapon raised. Derek started growling, and without looking I knew exactly what he was trying to say, because I was asking it myself: what the hell are you doing?
The Alpha smiled, eyes bright with excitement. "There ya are, cutie! Thought I'd lost you out there!" He jerked his head at my knife, then added, "Didn't your mama ever teach you not ta run with knives? It's dangerous, ya know – pretty girl like you might get her face all cut up."
I flipped him off with my free hand, stopping a few dozen feet away. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the Hunter approaching us, ready to protect his Alpha.
And I could also see Derek preparing to strike.
I turned my attention back to the Alpha and nodded as subtly as I could; telling Derek this was what I had planned. Get him while you can. I'll distract them.
I took a few steps forward and the Alpha mirrored my actions. The Hunter was growling now, warning me not to mess with his boss, but I ignored him – he wouldn't be a problem much longer. There was rustling coming from the trees: it was time.
"Do you really think I'm scared of you, blondie?" The Alpha dragged out the endearment, twisting it into an insult. "You think you and your knife and your big bad wolf and your little group of misfits are gonna be enough to take down the Edison Group? Do ya?"
I smiled, lifting my knife. "I think we're going to be more than enough, actually." I closed my eyes, sending out another command: forward.
Chaos erupted from the trees.
I didn't need to look. I could feel their presence - dozens of bodies, in almost every stage of decay. Bears, deer, small animals; they were all there, lined up along the edge of the trees, surrounding us.
Waiting for an order from their master.
He swore colourfully, taking in the scene.
"You see them, right? Good. Because if you don't leave in the next ten seconds, they're going to tear you and your friend apart. And you know what else? You can't kill them. They're. Already. Dead."
A blur of movement behind me. I spun around, catching sight of the Hunter as he ran flat-out toward the forest, cutting his losses. I chuckled, waving at his retreating figure.
"Your friend had the right idea," I said, turning back to face the Alpha.
The look on his face was pure hatred. Before my brain could even register what was going on, he'd crossed the distance between us and ripped my knife from my hand. He put his hands on either side of my head, blade resting on the skin just above my Adam's apple.
Derek growled, the fury radiating off him in waves. He ran towards us, determined to get me out of danger.
"Ah ah ah. Not so fast, pup! One more step and I slice her pretty little neck open, got it?"
He stopped, eyes meeting mine. What do we do?
"And that goes for you too, girlie – one twitch from your little army and it's lights out!"
Liz. We need Liz. But she was on the other side of the barrier, unable to cross through because of the wards on the house.
I closed my eyes, focusing all my power on a single thought: Liz. We need help. I envisioned myself pulling her through the barrier, using all my strength to get her through. I was sweating from the effort, my face already wet from the exertion of the night. Please Liz. Make it through.
I felt his hands moving before he realized what was happening and smiled.
The Alpha's arms flew open, pulled by some invisible force. Liz. The knife went flying, and I ducked out of his grasp, running full speed toward Derek. Once I was safely out of the Alpha's range, Derek approached him, snarling. I could feel his rage, hatred for the man who'd dared to threaten my life.
But despite his anger, Derek was never going to be the cold-hearted killer the Edison Group expected him to be. Ever. I watched as he gave the Alpha a wide berth, giving him the chance to leave with his life.
He didn't take it.
He lunged at Derek, the knife in his hand again.
"DEREK!"
He saw the knife, dodging just in time to avoid getting stuck by it. The Alpha ran, headed for the side of the house. Derek took off after him, snarling and growling. I tore off after the both of them, simultaneously attempting to release the spirits of the animals I'd risen. I imagined holding a handful of strings, each attached to its own brightly coloured balloon. I imaged myself letting go of the strings, letting the balloons float away; I hoped it worked.
When I reached them, Derek had the Alpha cornered. He had his back to the wall, standing just a few feet in front of it, glowering at the wolf in front of him. "You think this is over, pup? I promise ya, this is just the beginning."
The Alpha lunged at Derek again, hands now distorted into claws. Derek leaped, paws hitting the Alpha's torso. His head hit the brick, the sickening crack! echoing through the yard. He slumped to the ground, eyes wide in eternal shock.
For a minute, neither of us moved. We were frozen in place, minds unable to process what had happened.
We killed someone.
I tried to speak, but all I could manage was his name: "D-Derek?"
Head down, he inched his way over to me, a sound like a whimper escaping his lips.
I knelt down, meeting his eyes. "You had no choice. We had no choice, okay? It's not your fault." I wrapped my arms around his neck, whispering, "It's not your fault; it's not your fault" until the shaking stopped. At the time, I wasn't sure which one of us I'd been talking to.
I don't remember falling asleep, but when I opened my eyes I was laying on the ground, arms stretched around someone who wasn't there anymore. I shot up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, searching the yard for Derek.
What if it was all just a dream?
I glanced over at the spot the Alpha had died.
It was gone.
Panicking now, I pulled myself to my feet. Getting closer, I realized that although there wasn't a body present, there was a trail in the dirt – almost as if something large had been dragged from the spot. I followed it, guessing what had happened.
I stopped at the edge of the treeline. There I found Derek, dragging the Alpha's body toward the edge of the barrier.
"Derek." I said his name in a whisper, trying not to startle him. He stopped, nodding toward the forest. I'm trying to hide the body, he seemed to be saying.
I joined him, trying my best not to think about what we were doing. This is a part of your life now. Do what you gotta do to stay alive, remember? Roll with the punches.
We weren't very far in when Derek stopped in his tracks, lifting his nose. Within seconds he was in front of me, bracing for an attack.
A guy stepped out from behind a tree, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. He was covered in blood and limping badly, and he was holding his arm out in a way that suggested it was broken in a few places.
I didn't have it in me to be shocked by anything anymore. "Ray, I presume?"
"You got it." He held up his good hand, separating his fingers Star Trek-style. "Tell your boyfriend I come in peace, okay?"
"How do I know you're not here to finish the job?" I demanded.
He sighed. "Look at me, kid; I have one good limb left. Do I look like I'm in the right state to finish anything?"
"I guess not," I admitted. "But then- what do you want?"
"I just came back for him," he said, scratching his head. "Bastard's gotten us into a lot of shitty situations, but I couldn't just leave him here…"
"I get it. You can… uh… take him, I guess?"
He nodded. "Thanks kid. Sorry about… well, you know. It was nothing personal; just Liam trying to make a quick buck." He shook his head. "I told him it was a bad idea. I told him. But did he listen? No. Now look at him." He shook his head again. "Damn shame, if you ask me."
"Uh, yeah. If you don't mind-"
"Keepin' quiet about everything? Plan on it, actually. I'm getting as far away from the Edison Group as possible before they realize we're not gonna deliver."
Derek grunted in agreement.
"Thanks."
"No problem, kid. And good luck. If the Edison Group is after you guys, you're gonna need it."
We were almost back to the barrier when I realized something was wrong.
He was walking like he was unsure of his footing, missing a step every few minutes. We weren't speaking – still taking in the events of the night – but there was something wrong in the silence: something keeping us from breaking it.
It was clear to me what was happening: he was going to Change soon.
I stopped walking. The house was somewhat visible from where we were, but there were still enough layers of trees to keep us hidden from plain sight. Leading him to a spot with a bit of space between the trees, I sat down, gesturing for him to do the same.
I looked him dead in the eyes. "I'm staying with you, okay? I know you're Changing, and I know you're scared, but you have to get through it. I'll be right here."
He closed his eyes and got into position. His ears flattened against his head as he braced for the pain.
I took my backpack off and went to kneel down next to him. Mimicking what I did the night before, I placed my hand between his shoulder blades, reassuring him with my touch. I felt the next few muscle spasms shake his body – felt his bones rearranging themselves under my hand. He was whimpering from the pain, and the sound was breaking my heart.
He has to make it through this time. He has to.
His front legs began to thicken and elongate. The hair on his body began to shorten, retracting back into the follicle and disappearing so well it was as if they'd never grown. His ears were moving down on his skull, rounding out as they went. I watched as the planes of his face began to shrink and re-shape themselves into the features I knew like the back of my hand.
"You're doing great," I whispered, keeping my voice level. "You're going to make it through this time, Derek, I can feel it."
In reality, I didn't know if he would make it through or not. I was terrified, watching as these changes happened. I knew it wasn't possible and I knew it couldn't be real but for some reason my brain refused to process the fact that it was actually happening.
But I couldn't show him that. I knew he was terrified – knew he'd always been terrified of going through this process – and if I showed him how scared I was, his fear would increase tenfold. I just had to be there – to hold his hand through it and hope for the best.
Like before, he grabbed my hand once the pain overwhelmed him. I squeezed his, letting him know I wasn't going anywhere. Ever.
"I love you," I whispered, placing my second hand over his. "I know it hurts. I'm right here, okay? I'm right here."
"Chloe-" the voice was deep and guttural, but it was definitely his. Whatever he was planning to say was cut off by a cry of agony as his spine began to crack and pop. Tears fell, and I couldn't stop them. It was too much: watching him experience this hell. I bit my lip to keep any sound from escaping, swearing that if I ever found the people responsible for what they'd done to him, I'd kill them myself.
Her voice came from every direction at once, surrounding our little clearing. "You know, I could help him as well, sweetheart. All I need is another favour from you and lover boy can be put right in a heartbeat."
"What else could you possibly want from me?" I demanded, voice raw.
"Well… I could always use a body. A real body, mind you. A living one. It's so hard to wreak havoc and indulge in the sins of the flesh when you don't have any flesh of your own."
"But I can't give you a living body," I said slowly, more than a little confused by her request.
She giggled, and the sound burned my ears. "Chloe, little Chloe… it's so refreshing how little you know about your powers. Did you think they only gave you power over the dead in that little lab of theirs? Oh no. Those scientists were ambitious, darling – they wanted to give you power over life, too! Power over the soul!"
None of it made sense. "But-"
"All I'm asking for is a swap, Chloe. I bring you a vessel, and you… empty it for me. Not a big deal, really! In exchange, I'll help poor Derek here and tell you about all the wonderful things you can do…."
"No." The sound of his voice startled me, pulling me out of her spell. I looked up and met his gaze, nodding my understanding. "S-send her b-back," he rasped, wincing as another bone popped and shifted.
I closed my eyes, focusing everything I had. I pictured the demon as a blob of energy floating around a few feet above the ground. I imagined her energy being sucked down deep into the depths of the Earth, pulled until she hit the deepest, darkest, most impossible pit of hell. I reminded myself of all the heartbreak she'd caused my friends and I: making us believe Derek was dead and leading us into situation after situation where we'd almost lost our lives. I imagined her encased within hundreds of cages, all stuck within one another like Russian dolls.
And I pushed.
"No! Please! I'll help you! I have things to tell you – things you need to hear! Please, child, don't send me back!" I heard her pleading, but I was too far past caring to show her any compassion. She didn't deserve it, and I had none to offer her.
When I no longer heard her voice, I opened my eyes.
Derek was retching, his ears moving up on his head again.
"No! You will not leave me again, Derek Souza! You are going to get through this Change!"
But even as I said the words, I could feel his hand changing beneath mine, fingers shortening into a paw. "Please, Derek," I begged, vision blurring.
I saw the look in his eyes – the same one he'd had before he'd left me that day in my backyard. The day he'd told me he loved me, and the day we'd kissed for the first time. It felt like years ago, but it had only been a few months, hadn't it? We'd changed so much in what had really been no time at all, and yet we were still the same people underneath.
I wiped my tears away. And I brushed my lips against his and smiled as best I could. "Remember the night you guys first tried talking to me? You and Simon basically told me you were peeping toms and then requisitioned me for my friendship."
He laughed despite the pain, and I kept going. "And remember that night you told me that witches were probably just as strong as sorcerers? Remember how angry Simon got? I've never seen a ten year old so determined to win a debate!"
I paused as he retched again, holding back the onslaught of tears when I saw the hair growing again. "Remember how, whenever you'd look at me those few years, you'd blush so bad your whole face was red the entire night? Every single time, and I never caught on. I always thought you thought I was an idiot," I admitted, pushing his hair back from his face. "But I knew I loved you. And Simon. You guys are my best friends. My whole life. When I thought you were dead, I didn't know what to do with myself. There was a time that I got really bad, Derek. Rock bottom low. I got really close to ending it. Really, really close. And the only thing that stopped me was knowing that I had to take care of Simon and that you'd be so incredibly pissed at me if I went through with it."
He shook his head, unable to form the words. His face was elongating again, arms and legs thinning. I let the tears flow freely; it wasn't worth taking my hand off his to wipe them away.
"All that time we spent together; all those nights in my backyard. All that sneaking around just to get time alone together and we didn't even do normal teenager things like make out. We did math homework, D. Math homework! All that time I was in love with you, and I never acted on it… then again, neither did you, jerk! You stepped back because you didn't want to hurt Simon, and then you got all pouty when he made a move."
He rolled his eyes at me, but I could tell he was struggling to hold himself up after so much strain. I eased his head down onto my lap, rubbing circles on the hand I was still holding.
"Remember the night we kissed?" I asked in a whisper. "I still think you were being a tad bit overdramatic about it all – I could've gone with you, Der. We make a good team."
He whimpered as the bones in his shoulders shifted and a muscle spasm rocked his form. His eyelids were lowering slowly, hiding his eyes. There was a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, telling me I couldn't let him sleep now. Not when he was this close.
He was more wolf than human now, but I kept going. "I'm sorry for what I said after we escaped the Edison Group's compound. I knew you were just worried about me. I don't know why I acted like such a bitch…" I checked for a reaction, but his eyes were closed.
I shook my head, refusing to let this beat him. I reached down to check his heartbeat; it wasn't strong, but it was still there, thankfully.
Power over the living AND the dead - power over the soul. The power to remove souls, switch souls, pull them out of the air and stick them back in at will. But can I fix them? Can I heal them?
I closed my eyes, focusing my mind and energy once again. I knew it was a long shot, and I knew it was probably my worst idea to date. But I had to try. I envisioned the essence of Derek, memories mixed in with things like the way his laugh sounded or the way his cheeks would get red. And I imagined it being overshadowed by his power, taken over by this thing he couldn't control. I pictured all the things that made up Derek, and I pictured the wolf, and I pictured him fighting it with everything he had.
And then I pictured him winning.
I imagined him locking away that part of himself that he couldn't control, putting it behind bars until he was ready to use it again; harmony with his power and who he was.
I opened my eyes to find him staring up at me, exhaustion etched into every inch of his face.
And I asked him to try one last time.
He closed his eyes as the hair began to thin and recede. His arms and fingers thinned, returning to normal size. Bones cracked and shifted and he howled in agony, but it was quicker this time and he had felt it all before.
He was coming back.
Ears shifted, his tail disappeared; paws were replaced with feet, and the hair on his head returned to its normal length. And his eyes stayed the same, even as the rest of his face changed: the piercing green that could never belong to anyone but him.
A few more shifts and I knew it was over. Exhausted, he closed his eyes, hand – his completely human hand – still squeezing mine with everything he had.
"Love you," he whispered, voice raw. I leaned down and kissed his forehead gently, pushing his hair back from his eyes. He was already asleep.
I pulled my hand out of his grasp as gently as I could so as not to wake him. I unzipped my sweater, draping it over him as he slept. Everything in me was screaming that I shouldn't leave him, but what choice did I have? I needed to get help, and this was the only way.
I ran, ignoring the pain. I pushed through it all, numb to it as I made my way closer to the house. The sun was up now, and in the daylight you would never believe it was the same place where I'd spent so many nights running and fighting for my life. The front door was in my line of sight, and I swear there was a faint white glow around the entire thing. I wasted no time, pounding on it with everything I had.
Andrew flung the door open, with Tori and Simon staring at me with wide eyes from either side of him. He was shocked to see me outside – that was a given - but there was also some worry there, too, telling me he still cared. "Chloe! What's wrong? Where have you-?"
"The shaman. I need the shaman," I gasped for air between words, struggling to fill my lungs.
"Are you hurt, Chloe? Were you attacked? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"Derek," I choked out. "I found Derek."
A/N: Oh man, I got so freaking emotional writing that. I forgot that this story has that effect on me.
Well, I hope you liked it! Again, sorry about going on such a long hiatus. I'm back, baby! (And better than ever? No? Let me know what you thought! I miss you guys!) Also, feel free to yell at me.
Anyone who sent me a message during my absence and still wants an answer: please include it in a review and I'll get back to you ASAP, darlings!