Chapter 19

Theo:

As usual we were on our way to Lydia's place. Mason decided to ride with us instead of taking his own car. Liam was quiet the whole way there and I understood why but it still worried me. The last time he got this quiet he withdrew from everyone and tried to handle things alone.

As soon as he parked and turned off the car, I stopped him from exiting. I looked back at Mason, who nodded and got out. He would tell the others to give us a minute. I waited until Mason entered the house before turning back to Liam.

"Talk to me Liam. What are you thinking?" I asked grabbing his hand. He sighed and tried to smile at me, but it fell flat.

"I'm sorry, I'm in my head again."

"It's okay, I understand why. But get out of your head and tell me what you are thinking. I don't want you to withdraw like you did before."

"I'm not. I don't mean too. I just… I never wanted her to find out. I knew she wouldn't be able to handle it, just like she can't handle us." He turned away.

"Hey, look at me."

He wiped at his face before turning back to me.

"I can't handle anymore rejection from my mother. I just can't." his voice cracked, and my heart broke for him.

"Don't move." I told him before getting out and running around to his side. I pulled him from the car and into my arms. His arms wrapped around my waist, and he buried his head in my chest.

"I am so sorry you have to go through this. Tell me what I can do to make this better, easier for you." I pleaded because I hated seeing him so upset.

"This." He said tightening his arms around me. "I don't regret this." He assured me.

"I know. I don't either. I wish I could tell you that it will get easier, but I can't. I'm still not going anywhere. No matter what I will still be right here."

He nodded. I heard the click of the door open and looked back to see Scott in the doorway. He nodded when he saw us and closed the door. We hugged for a little longer before Liam pulled away and wiped his eyes with his shirt.

"We should get in there, see what's going on." he said, clearing his throat.

"We should, but are you going to be okay?"

"For right now, yeah. I don't know about later tonight. But I really don't want to think about that right now."

"Okay. Come on, let's get this meeting over with. I would like to make out some before the night is over." I told him grinning. He blushed. "I really love that blush."

Rolling his eyes, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the house. Inside everyone was waiting and had saved us seats on the couch, right between Allison and Lydia. As soon as we sat Lydia wrapped Liam up in a hug.

"Okay, so I was able to get a few things from them." Scott started.

"You were able to get them to talk?" Parrish asked, surprised. So was I to be honest. I didn't think he would be able to crack them at least not that quickly.

"Uh, not in words no." he said squirming. Parrish raised a brow in question. Argent chuckled seeing how uncomfortable Scott was.

"It's an alpha thing. He can enter a person's mind and read every thought and memory they have. From what I am told it's a painful process, for them at least." Argent explained.

"Whoa." Several of us said at once.

"Anyway, so I got a few things from them. They didn't know much. They are no more then hired guns, but one guy had a bit more information than the others."

"Okay, what did you get?" Stiles asked.

"The leader, Northman, is one of Gerard's men. Gerard lured him away from the hunter group he was traveling with to join his cause and he brought the other guys with him. You were half right." Scott said turning to Argent. "It doesn't look like he wants the extinction of all supernaturals anymore. More that he wants them all under his control. How he plans to do that I have no clue. But he's starting with trying to enhance humans. He wants his hunters as strong and capable as shifters."

Argent nodded.

"Your dad, Theo, instructed them to capture you and bring you back. They were to kill anyone with you. But Gerard told them that if they found a shifter to bring them back as well." Scott bit out his eyes flashing. Liam growled and I wrapped my arm around him.

"Theo's father," Scott gave me a sympathetic but wary glance. " Is leading the experiments. Theo and Cory were his first test subjects to see if he could enhance them to supernatural level without actually changing them into supernaturals. He wants Theo back because he considers him a success."

"And Cory?" I asked feeling rage bubble up inside. He hesitated in answering.

"Cory was considered a failure because he actually did change into a supernatural. They kept him locked up for that reason." He explained calmly. I felt my eyes switch and my grip on Liam tightened until he hissed.

"Shit, sorry." I said letting go of his hand.

"It's fine. But calm down, okay? we will find him." Liam said, taking my hand again. Nodding I took a deep breath, feeling the switch back.

"Did the men show where they were holed up?" Argent asked, getting us back on track.

"Yes and no. I think… they are using two separate buildings in two separate locations. The one he showed me that he traveled from to here was closer, about a 30-to-40-minute travel time from there to here. he wasn't allowed to see where it was. A safety precaution I assume so he can't tell anyone else where they are. They had a rendezvous point where they were supposed to meet up after they got Theo."

"I can look into that. I have a few ideas; we can at least eliminate those. I don't think my father would use any place I or any other hunter he hasn't recruited would know of. But you said it was one of two places. Why?" Argent asked and Scott sighed.

"Well first, Northman was the one kidnapping the kids for Kate. I saw where they were being held. It looked like a prison or mental facility. Something close to what Eichen House looks like. It's hard to really tell. They renovated it, looks like. I saw the room they kept Stiles in, I think and…" He looked at me.

"You saw the room where my dad injected me." I said. He nodded.

"I think so. I couldn't tell you where it is though. Or how far out. But if it's the same place that Cory got Brett and the others out, it has to be further. It took them days to get here. Stiles do you remember anything about traveling from wherever they kept you back here?"

"No, they knocked me out to get me back here. when I woke up I was at that abandoned base you guys first fought Corrine and she brought me to the woods." Stiles said.

"So, we still have no idea where Cory and the others came from." Liam mused.

"Brett did mention that there was nothing but desert and rocks around as they ran. But that's all they could see for a while." Derek spoke up.

"Desert? Could that be back in Mexico?" Allison asked.

"It very well could be." Argent agreed.

"I can look into that. See if I can narrow it down. If its isolated like that then maybe there's a highway marker or something I can go by." Stiles said. Scott nodded to him.

"Was there anything else?" Parrish asked. Scott's brow furrowed as he thought.

"Yeah there was but I don't really know how it relates. Does anyone know what a Hellhound is?"

"Hellhound, like the guardians of hell?" Stiles asked. Scott nodded.

"They aren't actually the guardians of hell. More like a guardian for the supernatural." Argent answered.

"So, you've heard of them?" Scott asked him.

"Only a little bit. It's an amortal supernatural spirit that possesses a human vessel. Their job is to make sure that this world remains secret to humans."

"So, they're good then?" Stiles asked.

"They're more neutral then anything. If my father thinks there is one here then he must know what's coming or he's the reason behind it. I'll check the bestiary and see what all I can find out, maybe make some calls."

"So, the plan right now is still the same. Find Kate and protect Theo." Derek stated.

I sighed, understanding the need for it but hating all this lock and key crap. Liam sensing my agitation leaned into me, his hands stroking mine.

"Sorry man. I know this is getting old but it's necessary for now." Scott said.

"I know and I get it. I'm just tired of hiding."

"Hopefully we can figure out where this place is and end it soon."

"Anything else?" Allison asked.

"No, that's all I got from them."

"What's going to happen with those guys?" Liam asked.

"I called the Calaveras. Their coming down to collect them. They could be locked up on weapons charges, but it wouldn't really do anything. Most hunters are licensed to carry those kinds of weapons. Calling another hunter group and telling them they turned traitor would do more harm than anything to them. Especially if they are known to be working with my father and Kate." Argent explained.

"I wish we knew what all they were planning. If Gerard thinks there's a hellhound here already then it has to be something major coming. And how do we find this hellhound? I doubt we are looking for a giant dog that breathes fire and drools lava." Stiles theorized.

"I'm sure like any other supernatural it's a person like any of us with an alternate form." Argent said.

"So, a shape shifter." Lydia said. It made sense. I would imagine someone would notice a giant dog that guards hell just roaming around.

"Let's put a pin in that until we get more info on them. Right now, we just need to keep doing what we are doing. No one goes anywhere alone. Any sign of trouble send out a mass text so we can all stay in the loop." Scott said. We all nodded.

"Well to end things on a bright note, those people Cory sent, arrived at the police station not too long ago. The sheriff is handling how to get them all back home." Parrish told us.

"Well at least we have that." Stiles sighed.

Liam:

I dropped Theo off at home after we parked in front of his place and made out for a while. Mason caught a ride with Stiles so we could have some privacy. Now I'm parked in front of my house and dreading going inside. But it's getting close to curfew, so I don't have a choice. I could already feel the tension building as I opened the front door.

"Liam." My dad called.

"Yeah." I followed his voice to the dining room. He and mom were sitting next to each other holding hands but the looks on their faces were not happy. I slowed my pace stopping in the doorway. Mom was red eyed, and dad looked stressed. That dread suddenly felt like a lead ball in my stomach.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Come have a seat. We need to talk."

I sat on the other side of my mother who reached out and took my hand holding tight. I looked at dad who tried to smile but didn't quite succeed.

"Liam," mom said drawing my attention back to her. "I want to apologize to you. I have not been handling any of this like I should have."

I nodded.

"I broke your trust when I talked to Allysa about you. it was never my place to do that whether you were… out or not. As for Hayden, I can't really explain my actions, I'm not sure if I even know why I did what I did. But I regret it. I should have never tried to push you into dating her and I feel horrible about using your birthday as an excuse to do just that."

I nodded again squeezing her hand. Relaxing a little.

"Today, jarred me again. I never imagined that this whole other world existed and to learn that you are a part of it…" she sighed shaking her head. "I am grateful to Scott for saving you and I am sorry I reacted the way I did with him. You're right, the only thing that matters is that he did save you and him and his friends have been there for you from the beginning."

"I'm sorry you had to find out that way. I was hoping you wouldn't have to be dragged into this." I told her. She smiled, tearing up.

"I know. I heard what you said before Scott explained it all to me. I'm sorry I made you feel like you had to hide this from me." she said wiping away tears. I started to say something, but she stopped me.

"You were right in a way. This is hard to accept. It will take time to wrap my head around it all. But…" she looked to dad, and I tensed up again. The relief I felt not too long ago was starting to again be replaced with that dread. She took a deep breath when she looked at me.

"I love you Liam, with everything in me. Never doubt that. But seeing you today… and seeing you angry and knowing the reason behind it, brought back memories." She whispered.

I sucked in a breath and tried to snatch my hand away, but she held tight.

"No, don't. I'm not saying you are like him, not at all. You are the exact opposite of him. But seeing what I did today made me realize I still have some issues to work through about this. It's why I always ask about your medication and why I stress when you act like anything but the same sweet excited little boy I raised. This is not your fault, none of it. This is all on me."

"Mom…" I choked on what else I was going to say.

"I think I need to take some time to work on some things." She hiccupped. Dad kissed her hand.

"What does that mean?" I whispered.

"It means that I am going to go stay with Josie and her family for a while."

"What?" I said, finally managing to pull my hand away.

"Honey, wait. Let me explain."

"You're leaving?" I gasped, feeling overwhelmed. It felt like my chest was caving in. "Because of me?"

"No honey. This is not because of you. it's because of me. Somewhere along the line-."

"I reminded you of him. Of…" I couldn't finish. My mind running through memories of the past.

"No. absolutely not. I told you; you are not him."

"You're leaving." I said again. Maybe if I said it enough times I would wake up from this dream. Because it had to be a dream. My mother couldn't really be leaving. The concept was too foreign to be true, to be real.

"Honey, listen-." She said reaching for me. I stood so abruptly that I knocked over my chair and backed away from the table.

"When…" I swallowed hard. "When are you leaving?"

She hesitated.

"When?" I asked again, louder.

"Tomorrow morning." She whispered. My eyes blurred and air left me in a rush. I couldn't figure out how to catch my breath.

"Liam it's not-." Dad started.

"I can't… I don't…" I shook my head and tried to suck in more oxygen.

"Please, try to understand." Mom pleaded.

"Air. I need air." I said, running through the kitchen and out onto the back porch.

I didn't know if I was losing control or what. But I could feel myself starting to shake and I clung to the bannister. She's leaving. She's leaving. I couldn't process that information. I couldn't grasp the thought of her not being here. I reminded her of him. Flashbacks of how it was after the incident at Devenford. The way she looked at me. The way she shrank away from me. It was because I had acted like him. Flashbacks of hearing screams and cries from my mom after he would lose his temper. Seeing the bruises and seeing her wince in pain. Trips to the hospital for a cracked rib, broken nose. Seeing the sneer on his face when he would look at her or me. At 4 I didn't understand but now I do and now to hear that I remind my mother of him is a soul deep pain that I don't know how to get over.

I don't know how long I sat outside just staring numbly into the trees. Not seeing anything just letting my mind loop through memories and feelings. Wishing that I could take back the last 24 hours. At least then maybe she wouldn't leave. I may not have agreed with how she was behaving but she's my mother.

Someone sat next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. It wasn't the one I wished for, but it was the next best thing. It still brought a sense of comfort. I leaned into my best friend and didn't even try to not cry.