CHAPTER 5

Scott felt the same emptiness invading his soul as when Aiden died.

"I need to stop doing this," he thought, "Focus on Deaton's memories...not mine."

He was barely holding it together as it was.

Pressing further, he searched Deaton's memories all the while doing his best to resist the urge to get lost in his own.

The old woman wobbled just into the edge of the door of the clinic.

"Maggie," Deaton said diplomatically, "Come in."

"I am in," the old hag cackled.

Deaton lifted an eyebrow in response to her sarcasm.

"What can I do for you, Maggie?" he asked.

"The Darach," she stated plainly, "Why haven't you dealt with her?"

"Short answer...we need her," Deaton responded.

"Humor me then with your long answer because that isn't good enough," she retorted.

The vet sighed and Scott could literally feel his boss's frustration.

Deaton cleared his throat.

"Isn't it obvious...each step she takes is one step closer to reactivating the Nemeton."

"And yet in the end she will fail. That binding ritual was put in place for a reason. Those sacrifices may give her power temporarily, but she'll never bring the Nemeton back to life."

"The Darach is not aware of that," Deaton protested.

"And yet you allow her to continue sacrificing innocent people as though she could succeed...why allow so many people to die? By doing nothing we are as guilty as she."

Scott wondered where the woman had found her sensitivity over the years.

"While that may be true, sometimes such sacrifices are neccessary...besides, I don't believe her actions are in vain," Deaton replied.

"Explain," the woman said dryly.

"The seer has given us the pattern she will take...the last three are the guardians. What has been foreseen is that one of the guardians will be Scott's mother."

The woman furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes.

"The mother of the boy you rest all your hopes on?"

"The same...and if I know anything about Julia, I know she won't kill her until she has the other two in her possession as well. That will give us...an opportunity."

Deaton crossed the open counter out into the lobby to move closer to the older woman.

"The ritual," the woman whispered.

Deaton nodded.

"If everything goes according to plan we should be at the end of our journey...our goal will be achieved."

"Has the boy shown any sign of being a true alpha yet?" she asked, "Something...anything...a flash of red in his eyes?"

"Not yet...but I have a plan...and perhaps that is why you need to leave," he answered.

"Why is that?" she asked.

"Because the birds are coming," Deaton replied with a smile.

The birds came when Jennifer took a victim for sacrifice. They came for Deaton, but Deaton had not been a sacrifice...he had been a test...one which Scott had passed. In the process of trying to save his mentor, Scott eyes had briefly flashed red and Deaton had his answer. Scott was indeed becoming a true alpha. Manipulation and deceit...did Scott really know this man that lay at his feet? Scott breathed deeply as he processed the latest information. His mind once again began to wander.

Lydia had insisted on coming in spite of Peter's protests.

"I'm not that fragile," she insisted, "and I am certainly not afraid of a cow!"

"It's a Bonnacon, Lydia and it's not just some cow," Peter replied.

"I don't care...I need to do something...I can't just sit around anymore...It's been 2 months since...since Aiden died."

Lydia choked on the last words and Scott cringed. He knew what she was going through. He had gone through the same thing with Allison. She was right about keeping busy...it was the only reason he had agreed to let her come in spite of Peter's objection.

"Lydia..."Peter started.

"I'm going and that's that!" she insisted.

A look passed between the two and again Scott's curiosity was peaked. Uncomfortable, Scott looked away. Whatever vibe was there, it was personal.

Thankfully, they were interrupted by the revving of a car engine. Derek had arrived.

"I have no idea how to catch a cow but I brought some rope," he said as he leapt out of his car, rope in hand.

Peter rolled his eyes, "It's a Bonnacon...am I the only one that even researches these things anymore?"

"Pretty much," Scott agreed.

"Is there anything we need to know?" Derek asked.

"Yeah...stay clear of what it's digested," Peter answered smugly.

Derek laughed.

"You kidding right?" he replied.

"Actually...no...it's acidic...burns like fire," Peter answered dryly.

Derek raised his eyebrows, but the look of amusement never left his face.

The rope held. The Bonnacon was down and no one had been hurt, but the creature was crying out incessantly.

"What are we supposed to do with it now?" asked Derek.

Derek and Scott were looking at Peter.

"Why are you looking at me? I don't know...it's a cow!"

"A Bonnacon," Lydia corrected.

Peter groaned.

"It's making too much noise," Scott complained.

"What do you suggest'" asked Peter "...we gag it?"

"Would it help?" asked Derek.

The creature's cries were getting louder.

"Peter?"

Lydia was looking around frantically at their surroundings.

"What?" Peter asked slightly annoyed.

"You're not listening...none of you are listening..."

Her voice trailed off into a whisper as the group fell silent.

Whatever was coming was closing in fast.

"Let's get out of here...we don't know what we may be dealing with," Scott stated.

"What about the Bonnacon?" asked Derek.

"Leave it...if it gets loose we can catch it again," Scott replied.

The group had turned to leave when as one, they all froze. The Bonnacon had suddenly been silenced, its cries tapering off into a mournful wail.

Derek was the first to move followed closely by Scott. Not knowing their enemy made them vulnerable. If they couldn't fight it, they had to outrun it. Scott swore under his breath. He now wished he had sided with Peter and made Lydia stay at home. She wasn't as fast as the rest of them.

Glancing behind him, he realized no one was there.

"Derek!" he called out, "Wait."

Derek stopped and turned around and looked curiously behind them.

"Peter!" Scott called out, "Lydia!"

The two werewolves went silent and carefully listened for their companions.

Softly, for werewolves ears only, came the words, "You need to come back."

Scott looked at Derek and breathed deeply. They hadn't planned on a second fight but it looked like they were going to get one.

They made their way back to the clearing.

Peter stood in the center, shielding Lydia from the creature. It was one that was familiar to Scott...one that was familiar to them all. The kanima scurried up the tree and flicked its tail.

Scott wondered if it had a master.

Derek and Peter were in the greatest danger since they had taken innocent life, but he and Lydia were not safe by any means.

"Peter...just back away...maybe it'll leave," Scott whispered as he circled behind the older werewolf followed closely by Derek.

Peter shook his head, "I can't," he replied.

That was when Scott realized that Peter wasn't shielding Lydia at all...he was holding her back from going to the creature.

"Why doesn't he just let her go?" Scott whispered to Derek, "She can disable him without getting near his claws."

Derek shook his head, puzzled.

"Lydia?" Scott asked getting her attention, "Lydia...use your scream...finish him...finish the kanima."

Lydia was shaking her head.

"Jackson?" she whispered.

And then Scott understood. She thought the kanima that stood before them was Jackson.

"Lydia...that's not Jackson...he's in London," Scott explained.

Lydia smiled weakly at Scott as tears ran down her face.

"It's Jackson," she whispered, hoarsely.

She pressed forcefully into Peter's back as he continued to struggle against her in an attempt to keep her from rushing forward.

"Lydia, please..." Peter pleaded desperately.

"It's okay," she said, "Everything's going to be fine...he won't hurt me."

"Lydia that's not Jackson," Scott stated firmly.

While they wrestled with Lydia, the creature had taken the opportunity to move closer to the group. Peter never knew what hit him. The kanima sliced his claws into Peter's left shoulder and instantaneously he was down, leaving Lydia free to face the kanima alone.

Scott tried to grab for her, but was too slow. She slipped through his grip, leaving him with nothing more than a small piece of cloth ripped from her blouse.

"Jackson!" she repeated.

A smile spread across her face as she charged forward.

The kanima's claws ripped up it's attacker's torso in a single blow. Before Lydia's could scream, a second blow came, slashing the banshee's vocal cords along with her throat. As her body dropped lifelessly to the ground, the kanima retreated and ran scurrying off deeper into the preserve.

Scott fell to his knees. It had happened all so fast...too fast. He tried to speak but nothing would come.

Reaching out, Derek tried to help Peter up as he roused from his paralysis. The older Hale pushed his nephew away, opting instead to crawl over to where Lydia's body lay. Softly, he began to stroke her hair as though he were trying to put every strand in place.

"Lydia would approve," Scott thought, "She would be mortified if her hair was a mess when the ambulance came."

The odd thought combined with the soft weeping now coming from Peter Hale sent Scott over the edge. It was too much...Scott began to cry hysterically.

Derek attempted to comfort him but it no avail...Scott's cries quickly turned to screams.

Scott didn't remember leaving the preserve. He didn't remember when the paramedics arrived.

But now all he could do was stare helplessly as they loaded Lydia's lifeless body into the ambulance.

He was shock. His mother drew him close into her arms to sooth him, but he simply wasn't there.

"You riding with the ambulance now?" asked Derek.

"Not a lot of people left in town...we're stretched thin...I volunteered," answered Melissa.

Derek glanced at Scott.

"He'll be all right...won't he?"

Melissa kissed Scott on the head.

"He's in shock...give him some time...it just that this is too much...for anyone."

Derek looked around and then back to Scott's mom.

"It's the hand we were dealt," he said flatly.

"Maybe it's time to fold then...don't you think this is enough?" she asked, looking back and forth from Derek to Peter.

"It's getting worse...what are we supposed to do?" asked Derek.

"Leave...we all need to leave here before we all die!" she answered.

Derek looked down. "To where? Eventually this is going to spread past Beacon Hills and you know it. If we don't find a way to stop it here, there won't be any place left to run."

Melissa looked exasperated.

"What about you?" she asked looking at Peter, "Self preservation has always been your strong point. Do you think we should stay too?"

But Peter didn't answer. He just stared into space.

Derek pressed his lips together in a thin line and shrugged.

"You can do what you want to do, Melissa but we're staying. We've got to finish this. And when Scott comes out of this he'll say the same."

She shook her head and drew Scott away.

"We'll see about that," she said as she left.

It was nearly a week before Scott got his bearings. Lydia had already been buried. His mom told him that her parents left town immediately after the service. Melissa wanted to follow their example but true to Derek's word, Scott had disagreed. What was going on in Beacon Hills was his responsiblity. It was up to him to stop it.