Stiles' pack of misfits arrived at the old Hale house just before their ten o'clock deadline. Stiles wasn't sure if he could put up with more complaining from the whiny little ungrateful wolves and stepping out of the car he felt his stomach heave and his balance abandon him. This always happened when Griselda used her speed charm but since he suggested it Stiles didn't complain. He was just lucky that Ethan who had got out just before him had been there to catch him as he fell forward.
"Genim, you're not looking so good. Maybe you should take a minute and sort yourself out", his werewolf boyfriend muttered affectionately. Aiden was closing the distance round the car quickly, "Set him on the boot." Ethan nodded and picked up the mage by the shoulders before moving so Stiles was seated on the trunk.
"What's wrong with Stiles?" Scott called in concern as he jogged over with his pack following at various paces.
"It's nothing. Just give him a minute and he'll be fine", Griselda told the Hale/McCall pack.
"We were running late", Stiles explained in a low voice before he gulped in some more air. "I told Gris to use some magic to get us here quicker, so it's my fault. My body doesn't cope with super speed so good." Stiles paused as he took a few more deep breaths. "I'm feeling better now so let's get started. Boys can you get the equipment out the trunk", Stiles whispered as he slid off the car. Slowly he moved forward with Griselda as they headed to the boundary of the curse.
"Okay, what can you tell us about this site's curse? What are its effects? We've got details on all the others but this one was too powerful for usual methods", Griselda asked joyfully. Damn her for being such a morning person.
"Any time any of the pack go near the house we get ambushed by ghosts", Liam sneered.
"It's actually more accurate to say malevolent spirits of their loved ones torture them. Only the individual can see them though, the rest of us just see a shapeless shadow", Lydia interrupted to clarify.
"Thanks", Stiles muttered in gratitude.
"Well the good news is they aren't really the spirits of people you know", Griselda told the gathered pack members. "They've got more violent and spiteful as time went on right?" The pack nod in answer but no one spoke. "Do they just give you verbal abuse or can they physically harm you?"
"They can physically injure us as well", Kira confirmed.
"They aren't actually inflicting any injury", Stiles informed the pack before he was interrupted.
"Excuse me", Derek growled. "You haven't even seen them. We've seen them inflict injuries on one another."
"No you haven't Derek", Stiles snapped harshly. "You've only seen what they want, what Lucian wants you to see. He has a sick fascination with torturing his victims' minds. The injuries you all received were somatically formed."
"He mean's our own brains believing we've been injured are actually causing the injuries to form", Lydia explained at the confused expressions from both packs.
"Well why didn't he just say that", Isaac muttered quietly.
"Back to my point", Stiles sighed as he looked at the pack. "Every curse he has put into operation contains both a magical and mental or physical element in order for its removal.
"Stiles, would you just speak English", Scott growled as he started developing a headache.
"I was", Stiles ground out between his teeth. "But if you want it in simple terms for simple minds. I can work magic but that alone won't remove it. Each pack member will have to face the curse placed on their own residence." Stiles couldn't help the vindictive smile that spread on his face. "That means dear old Sourwolf will have to face these demonic apparitions once more if he wants to reclaim his family home. Oh also his will have to be the last we cleanse. We studied the results of yesterday's research this morning in closer detail. It seems they have to be removed in the order they were placed which is just bothersome and a pain in the butt. It will give this one a chance to grow to dangerous proportions. "
"Well if you knew that why didn't you tell us to meet at Scott's which was the first to be cursed?" Liam growled.
"You have problems listening don't ya?" Aiden sneered.
"They discovered this only this morning. So they couldn't have told you last night, moron", Ethan snapped his fangs at the beta.
"None of that matters now anyway we just need time to prepare for each curse. We can do that here just as easily as anywhere else. Now if you and the rest of your pack would just get off our backs for like ten minutes we can get things set up. Then we can talk while we work", Stiles told the Hale/McCall pack. He watched as they retreated to a distance about fifty yards away. "Let's get to work guys."
Stiles grabbed the tent bag and began pulling out its contents. The twins expertly put the poles together and laid them about the area. Griselda and Josh began by unfolding the fabric and shaking it out. Once all the poles were assembled the twins helped their pack mates get the fabric in place on the frame. Stiles meanwhile sat on the ground with notepad and a pen scribbling notes and crossing them out. Finally he stood with a nod at the notepad held in his hand. Seeing the tent was finished he grabbed a duffel bag and headed inside through the large opening in one side.
"Right, table one. Joshua please places all the herbs over there. Gris, set up the workstation at table two and I'll put the documentation on table three. Ethan, Aiden I want both of you to take those buckets in the corner to the stream and fill them with water", Stiles directed.
"Can't we just get water from Derek's tap?" Aiden asked.
Griselda laughed openly shaking her head as she explained, "Dear me no! What we're doing is essentially a purification, so it stands to reason the elements need to be as pure as possible, don't you agree?"
Aiden nodded. Not knowing much about magic he hadn't really thought about it. "Natural water is always better than water from the mains. The chemicals in the water dilute its strength in purification. Also the bottled spring or mineral water is likewise corrupted by the plastic bottles. Glass bottles are okay but it's not really practical to carry around something so essential in a fragile container", Stiles added without seeming to realise he was slipping into what the pack called lecture mode. "After you've done that check in with the others. They miss their alphas."
"OTHERS?" Stiles heard a furious voice snarl as Derek stormed into the tent. "What others?"
"Dude. Ethan and Aiden are alphas, right? What does any alpha need in a pack?" Stiles stared at the glaring alpha like he was stupid or something.
"Other werewolves", Scott answered as the epiphany hit him. He had followed Derek into the tent, their pack choosing to congregate just outside due to the limited space.
"Exactly. Emma and Sam are back at the hotel. They're looking after the cubs", Stiles replied confused. "We told you about them already, right?"
"No", came multiple replies from outside as well as both alphas.
"Ah, well", Stiles said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Well now you know. Emma is Gris' cousin, her husband Sam and their two adorable little cubs. We agreed they'd stay at the hotel until after the 'meet and greet' but after we discovered Lucian was involved we decided it would be best to keep the cubs away from the centre of things."
"Makes sense I suppose", Scott mumbled looking over at his fellow alpha. Derek didn't answer he just stomped back outside after throwing Stiles a glare. Scott followed shortly after and the twins disappeared to fetch the water shortly after. Stiles preoccupied his self with shuffling the scrolls from yesterday around so they were in order. He then began pulling various tomes from a bag at his feet and flicking through he found the pages he wanted and set them down. He placed a dark leather bound book on table one and the rest on table three.
"Table one is ready", Josh told the young mage before retreating to a camping chair he'd set up earlier. "Thanks", Stiles called over to his friend as he finished the last of his preparations.
"Genim, the workstation is ready for use as soon as the water arrives", Griselda told him.
"Great. So I was thinking we could use a bamboo and brimstone base with a palm oil and dragon's blood supplement", the young mage mused quietly. "What'd you think?"
"What were you thinking of using as a catalyst?" Gris asked seriously with a frown on her face as she considered the suggestion.
"Lady's root", the mage answered immediately.
"Hmm. That sounds like it might work though it would require a class two level enchantment during each of the preparation stages. That's a lot of work. Are you sure we need to use such a powerful potion?" Griselda bit down on her lip as she asked the question.
"Normally I'd agree. You know I would Gris, but as it's him behind this I think better safe than sorry. Don't worry I will prepare the purification potions myself", Stiles admitted.
"Okay Genim. What would you like me to do?" the spark said slightly less apprehensive.
"Gris I need you to work on a binding, maybe something winter bloom and-"
"-and devil's claw based", Griselda finished with a smirk. "Just my thinking."
"Meanwhile, Joshua", Stiles said turning to face his friend. "Could you craft for me a dozen or so Celtic shield knot amulets? Page two hundred and sixty four of Celtic Protection Basics if you need to check the design. You'll probably want to set up a fourth table for that."
"Sure thing. Any preference on the elements?" Joshua asked delighted to be involved.
"As long as it isn't Rowan. Maybe Willow. White willow if we have any left would be best actually given their wolfy nature", Stiles mused.
"Willow it is then. Due to its lunar connection, I'm guessing", Josh mumbled as he moved across the tent and started setting up his own work space.
"How – How did you – You're learning aren't you?" Stiles floundered to get his words out.
Josh just looked at the mage and laughed, "Yeah, you've been so busy with the wolves and visiting other covens that I decided I needed a hobby. Gris has been teaching me the basics. I know I won't be able to channel magics like you or Gris but the knowledge alone can be quite powerful. Useful if I should ever find myself in a tight spot again."
As Josh finished speaking Stiles saw the twins approaching with the water, "My heroes", he gushed as he jumped up and down excitedly. The twins exchanged a look with each other at the young mages exuberance and smirked. "Right off you go. Give my best to my wolves", Stiles added as he watched them to the car before he turned to his task.
It was a couple of hours later when Stiles finished the last enchantment on the purification potion before he wandered outside the tent to allow it the time it needed to cool. He walked towards his old pack carrying a pine wood block that he intended to whittle down to the totem they would need.
"Scott", Stiles said as he approached. "I'd like to talk with the pack about the mage you're having problems with. His name as I told you yesterday is Lucian, Lucian Koko."
"Okay", Scott murmured when Stiles just stopped. "Well we already told you we don't know anything about him."
"Yeah, you did", Stiles admitted pointedly. "But I also noticed the girls and Sourwolf recognised the name."
"What?" Scott cried turning to face his pack. "Guys?!"
"Well if you must know Scott Deaton mentioned it to us during researching back when this began", Lydia said refusing to look at the alpha.
"I'd heard the name from some of my contacts outside the pack", Derek grumbled. "They thought he might be the one helping Peter."
"Mom told me that he'd been heading this way for a while", Kira whispered from beside Scott.
"My family heard rumours that some of the hunters that abandoned the code have been making deals with him", Allison added quietly.
"And none of you thought it was worth mentioning before?" Scott asked angrily.
"What difference would it have made? None of us knew he was behind it. Why would he? We've never met the guy. He has no connection to us", Derek growled at his fellow alpha.
"Well that doesn't make any sense. Why would he just randomly attack your pack? Unless it isn't a random attack and maybe it's a rival pack or hunters that want you dead. You got any enemies that would want you dead or disorganised particularly strongly?" Stiles asked while he worked on the pine from his seat on the forest floor. He noticed a couple of eyes watching him curiously as he whittled the block with nothing but the power of his mind.
"Not that I can think off", Scott shook his head.
"Ah well, I guess we'll just have to find out", Stiles mumbled to himself. "I mean your request asked us to remove your mage problem, not the curses themselves. We're just doing that to help out."
"You mean the price we agreed covers just the elimination of this Lucian guy?" Liam frowned.
"Yeah", Stiles smirked. "We take basically any sort of work people offer. Some want help with magical problems, some recruit us to strengthen their numbers. We've had request from packs across the states just for our unique training program. And then there are the elimination jobs. We try to avoid them but occasionally we agree that it is the best choice."
"Wait, you mean you've killed people?" Isaac whined.
"Yeah, pup. I'm not generally the one to deal the killing blow though. If it a werewolf related matter the twins will end things. I've taken a few creatures and fellow mages down though. I'm afraid the world isn't as black and white as Scottie believes", Stiles shrugged. "I do what's necessary." Stiles noticed the looks entering the eyes of some of his old pack. There was a mix of fear, sorrow, understanding and shock. "Hey, I changed. I had to in order to survive but it made me stronger."
Silence settled among the group while the majority of them stared transfixed as the carving started to take shape. "Stiles?" Allison whispered quietly.
"Yeah Allison?" Stiles replied looking up.
"How are you doing that?" She asked pointing to the almost complete totem at his feet.
"I'm carving it with just my mind. I use it as a training tool. It helps me work on the precision of my telekinetic abilities. By focusing the power and controlling where and how it hits the wood I can whittle away the wood much like people usually would with a knife", Stiles explained.
"How much longer before you're ready to actually do something?" Jackson asked from beside Lydia as he pressed his lips to the red-heads neck.
"Well I'm not sure", Stiles mused. "I need to finish this. Gris is finishing the potion. It just needs the mint leaves added when it has cooled down. Josh I think has made enough talismans for us to begin with at least. I'd guess we should be ready to head over to Scott's place in about half an hour, maybe forty minutes."
"Sounds good. Can we do anything to help?" Scott asked.
"Well actually there is. I've gathered a great deal of information on each curse but I do need each of you to tell me in your own words what happens when you set foot in your own home", Stiles replied honestly looking over at his best friend. "Why don't we start with you Scott? Since we need to deal with yours first."
Scott swallowed as he looked at the others for support. "Well – um – you see the thing is-"
"The thing is when any of us enter Scott's we become human", Jackson snaps.
"Apart from Derek right? And I'm guessing it doesn't stop Kira's abilities either. Or Lydia's", Stiles hummed.
"Um I'm not sure", Scott admitted shamefully.
"He's right. Scott you really should pay more attention", Lydia sassed her unobservant alpha. "Deaton took a look but said it was way beyond him."
"So can you explain it to us?" Allison asked eager to spend time with Stiles again.
"Yeah it's actually a pretty complicated curse although it seems straight forward. The victim of the curse gets granted their hearts one true desire", Stiles began to explain.
"Wait you're saying its Scott's fault we get changed back to human", Jackson glared at his alpha.
"Jackson", Scott growled.
"Remember back when you got the bite Scott, the one thing you wanted desperately was to be human", Stiles looked his best friend in the eye.
"Well yeah but that was then. I haven't wanted that for the last few years", Scott defended his self.
"Yeah that might be the case. The problem is desire may not be something you can see or touch but it is a powerful force. Josh can tell you more about it than I. But that desire still exists. Think of it as a residue, it's soaked into the very walls and furniture of your house. So the curse reacted with it. The longer your duration in the house the longer it binds your wolf side correct?" Stiles said as he looked at the finished totem at his feet.
"Yeah, that's right. So that's why it didn't affect us non humans", Derek confirmed.
"Yeah, you guys and Allison are immune to it", Stiles agreed.