Sorry for the long wait. I won't promise updates regularly because in all honesty I have no idea when I will next be able to update. I hope you enjoy this anyway.
Arriving at Scott's Stiles led the way to the boundaries of the enchantment. "Right, Scott and I will go in with those immune to the effects. Aiden and Griselda will accompany us. Ethan and Josh will stay out here with the rest of you. Play nice now", Stiles smiled cheekily turning towards the house before turning back and grinning sheepishly. "Oh, hold up we need the amulets I got Josh to craft."
"Here they are", Josh handed the white wooden charm adorned pendants to Stiles. Stiles focused on them for a moment before he spoke, "Defendo magus hostibus malum." The pendants glowed brightly in a faint purple for a moment before returning to their usual white. The etchings carved into the white wood remained purple though. Stiles handed them around to the Hale/McCall pack.
"What are these for?" Allison asked curiously.
"They're designed to defend against supernatural threats", Lydia muttered.
"Specifically magical harm", Stiles added. "They'll supply limited protection against other supernatural threats but I've enchanted them to defend against magical harm especially. Magic is rather complicated to those who don't study it but all you need to know is that so long as that amulet remains around your neck Lucian can't inflict serious harm on you using magic. As I've already said it will protect you somewhat against most supernatural harm but against his magic it will be the most effective", Stiles rambled before shutting up.
"Thank you", Kira whispered from beside him. Stiles let loose a squeak of surprise when the kitsune suddenly pulled him in for a hug. Stiles heard the rest of the pack mumble their thanks to him, some rather reluctantly.
"Okay let's get this show on the road. We should aim to get at least three or four curses dispelled today", Stiles bit on his lip. "Hopefully we can do more." He grabbed Scott's hand and started dragging the alpha towards the house. "Derek I'll understand if you as second alpha want to stay outside with your pack." Derek nodded to him in surprise that the mage was so aware of pack dynamics.
Stiles unlocked the door with a flick of his right wrist while holding the totem in his left arm's cradle. "Scott, we need to place this in the centre of the house. Is your basement still pretty empty?"
"Yeah. We still store everything against the walls. Mom let me turn it into a workout space", Scott answered.
"Right. Gris take the binding powder you worked on and work it-"
"-work it clockwise round the house boundary", the spark smirked at him. "I know what you want me to do. Be back in five. Come on honey you can help me", she added grabbing Aiden by the neck of his tight blue t-shirt and leading him outside. Stiles chuckled at the look on Aiden's face as he allowed himself to be led out by Griselda.
"Allison and Lydia, I need one of you on each floor of the house. When I start casting the magic to bind the curse to this totem you'll see wisps of green smoke. Don't let them touch you. When you can't see any more on your level come meet the rest of us in the basement", Stiles nodded as he watched the girls head off.
"And what do you need us to do?" Scott asked his best friend.
"Kira will be watching us in the basement. Scott you need to lay your hands on this totem and concentrate on all the reasons why the bite is a gift", Stiles answered. "I'll pour the potion I made earlier and then focus on drawing the magic inside this totem which will serve as it's vessel until I can find a use for it."
"You want to use the curses?" Scott cried in surprise.
"No you dumb arse", Stiles said clocking him round the head as he turned to head towards the basement. "Remember in school how Harris described entropy?" Stiles asked rhetorically. "Magic works in a similar way. You don't really create anything. It's all to do with changing energy flows. But I won't say anymore or you'll be complaining about having a headache again."
Kira smirked behind her boyfriend's face at the appalled shocking look he pulled at the young mage's comment. "How long do you think it will take, Stiles?" the kitsune asked while trying to keep the amusement out of her voice. She was partially successful if the boys' faces were any indication.
"Well, this curse is a lot weaker, like seriously by a lot, weaker than the Hale manors but it's still a strong curse. I'd guess when we're actually ready to go ahead and do the difficult part it will take only a couple of minutes. Once we have the curse bound in the totem, Griselda and I plan to place some wards and protective enchantments around the place to keep Lucian at bay. Or at least make it difficult for him to repeat himself", Stiles rambled on as he descended into the basement.
"And you're doing all this extra work when the job you quoted for just included elimination of the mage", Scott mused. "I guess I should discuss with Derek the possibility of increasing the payment."
"No need dude", Stiles said absent minded as he set the totem in corner of the room. "I already told you we were doing this free of charge. If you can't look out for an old friend then that's just sad, besides we did a job for Sam's family and we didn't charge them a penny. Admittedly their job was much simpler. So we'll keep the price the same. We don't really need the money anyway." Stiles turned as he heard footsteps descending into the basement.
"Perimeter is all set", Aiden reported.
"Right we're ready then. Kira stand with the others at the base of the stairs please. Gris, you'll need the candle. Scott come and kneel in front of the totem. There we go. Now place your hands on it and keep them there until you're told to remove them. Now when I tell you to you'll need to focus on those thoughts", Stiles said excitedly.
Seeing Griselda was ready with an enchanted candle, he dug out a vial of the purification potion. Pulling out the stopper he held it over the totem. "Now", he told Scott as he poured the potion over the totem. The potion hit the wooden totem and the totem began to glow white. Immediately the air was full of dark green wisps. Griselda pulled Aiden towards her as one of the wisps almost touched him. "This candle is protecting us. You'll want to stay close. If that green stuff touches you it will take root in your body. The process of removal from a living host is rather exhausting for a mage and embarrassing for the host", Griselda smirked at the alpha. "Although maybe you and Ethan wouldn't mind the process so much since Genim would be the one performing it."
"GRIS!" Stiles called across the room. "Not now please. I'm trying to focus." Stiles heard light laughter from the foot of the stairs behind him but he ignored it and concentrated. Stiles could sense the wisps of vile green magic slowly moving towards the totem from the boundaries. This was what he had expected. It would start slowly but the more magic the totem drew in the faster it would work.
After a couple of minutes of intense concentration he heard the girls coming down the stairs to the basement. Looking around he was the room was almost clear of the green wisps. The last of them were zooming across the room towards the totem. When the room was clear Stiles spoke clearly, "Comprimo." Breathing out a deep sigh of relief he placed his hand on his friend's shoulders. "Scott, you can take your hands away. We're finished now", he smiled at his best friend. Scott looked up at Stiles and a similar grin broke out on his face.
"Really? Awesome so Isaac's next right?" Scott asked enthusiastically.
"What's happened to the totem? It's changed colour", Allison asked curiously as she inspected the vessel. The totem had indeed changed.
"Think of it as a battery. That green vine decor indicates how much space has been filled with magic. When the vines cover the mouth the totem will stop drawing magic in", Stiles explained giving Allison an endearing look. "We'll need to use a second one when we get to that point. But this one is good for another two curses I'd guess."