I do not own Teen Wolf
Chapter Five
"I'm sorry. The wonder twins asked to join you pack?" River repeated.
"Yeah," Scott nodded. "Said it would make me stronger. I told them no but they're determined to protect me."
"Are you still into one of them?" River asked Danny, being answered with a blush. "And Scott is a hot girl? Am I hearing this all correctly? I feel like it's a jumbled mess."
"Am I not a hot girl?" Scott asked, mock offended.
"The hottest," River said sarcastically.
"They're the same person," Isaac groaned, rubbing his face.
"That's what Scott's dad said to me earlier!" River exclaimed.
"Wait, what?" Stiles asked.
"He asked me if he could ask a few questions without sarcasm," River shrugged.
"Did you respond with something along the lines of him not asking stupid questions?" Stiles smirked.
"Yeah," River smiled.
"Yeah," Stiles laughed.
"How did I end up with two smartass kids?" Noah groaned.
"You literally raised us," River defended.
"It's really your own fault," Stiles added.
"Anyways, Lydia heard a bunch of flies, stopped a bomber from killing Kira, who is immune to electricity?"
"Yes," Scott nodded.
"So, the flooding plan wouldn't work on her either?" River asked Boyd.
"I think you should make the plans from now on," Boyd told her with a sigh.
"My plans get me killed. Stiles and Lydia can make the plans. I'm retiring," River stated.
"Can we plan on going to a party tonight?" Lydia asked. "Are you up for that?"
"I don't think that's the best idea," Noah shook his head.
"Get me a clear quartz?" River requested.
Lydia grabbed one from the bookshelf and passed it over. River smirked and pushed the rest of her weakness into it, sighing as she felt herself getting stronger again.
"Better?" Lydia asked.
"Gods, yes," River smiled, jumping up from the couch with a burst of energy. "Let's get ready."
Lydia, Allison, Erica and River ran up the stairs, River getting into the shower immediately as the other girls started getting changed. Lydia laid an outfit out for River and waited on her bed until River walked out in a towel.
"There's more to tell," Lydia admitted.
"I figured you had plenty of gossip saved up to tell me," River smiled as she put on the crop top and dark jeans. "Spill it."
"I kissed Stiles," Lydia admitted.
"Wait, what?" River asked confused.
"While you and the parents were trapped under the Nameton, Stiles was having a panic attack. I kissed him to make it stop."
"Why do you keep making out with my friends?" River asked, lacing up her boots.
"Are you mad at me?" Lydia asked, chewing her bottom lip.
"No," River shook her head, sitting beside Lydia on the bed. "Stiles made it very clear that he didn't have those feelings for me. You should go for it."
"Also, Allison and Isaac are totally a thing."
"Wait, what happened with you and Jackson."
"Gay."
"Finally!" River sighed, throwing herself back.
"I know, right?" Lydia smirked. "Sit up! I want to brush your hair."
River sat on the floor, giving Lydia plenty of room to work as she continued.
"What if Stiles changes his mind now that you're awake?" Lydia asked. "I mean, we never talked about the kiss and he was by your bedside all the time."
"You should ask him," River said. "I won't have the answers for you, Lyds."
"I know," Lydia sighed. "It's just kind of terrifying."
"I get it."
"Hair's done."
River stood and put some makeup on before turning to face Lydia.
"How do I look?" she asked.
"Like you're ready for battle," Lydia smiled, standing and leading the way out of the room.
They met up with Erica and Allison in the hall, the later looking a little awkward. Isaac popped out of his room and froze, not sure what to do. River looked from him to Allison, before giving Allison a smile and a nod before walking down the stairs. River could hear Allison's sigh of relief and smiled, her smile growing wider when she saw Stiles at the bottom of the stairs.
He smiled back up at her before looking her up and down in a very obvious manner. River raised her brows at him and he shrugged. Lydia gave River a knowing smirk before being led out the door by Jackson and Danny.
"How did she end up with two gay best friends?" Stiles asked.
"No clue," River shook her head. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Stiles smiled, grabbing her hand and leading her out of the house.
"Do any of you care that there's a curfew?" Noah asked, standing at his cruiser.
Courses of "no" were heard throughout the yard.
"Didn't even know there was one," River shrugged, climbing into the Jeep. "Bye, Dad! Love you!"
"Have fun! Be careful! Love you!" Noah yelled to River and Stiles, watching them with worry.
"Is Scott picking up his date?" River asked as Scott drove in the opposite direction.
"Kira," Stiles nodded, smiling. "She's nice."
"Does she know about any of this?" River asked.
"She's something." Stiles told her. "She doesn't know about any of it as far as we know and has no clue what she is."
"What are the symptoms?" River asked and Stiles smiled at the look on her face, like she had a puzzle to solve.
"She has some red, light around her in pictures and she walked through electricity," Stiles explained. "That's all I've got so far."
"I have a couple ideas but I'll have to look into it more," River nodded thoughtfully.
"You don't have to figure everything out now that you're awake," Stiles told her. "You can just be a teenager for a bit."
"Remember when we were all human and all we had to worry about was Scott losing his inhaler?"
"Everything was so easy back then," Stiles smiled.
"Less interesting," River added.
"Calmer."
"Less dangerous."
"Boring," they said at the same time before laughing.
They pulled up in front of what would have looked like an abandoned building had it not been for all of the cars out front and the flashing lights coming from the windows. River and Stiles climbed out of the Jeep and headed inside. Once inside, Danny passed River a brush and a small tube of body paint.
"Do I get to paint you?" River smirked at Stiles.
Stiles stared at River, a hungry look in his eyes.
"You can do whatever you want," Stiles smirked.
"Are you flirting with me, Mieczyslaw?" River joked.
"Did you just first name me?" Stiles asked, breaking out of the look to smile at River in disbelief. "I take it back! I'm painting you instead! Come here!"
River ran into the crowd, Stiles directly behind her. He grabbed her around her waist and took her towards the wall where there were less people. River laughed as Stiles set her down, hands still on her hips as they walked forward. River turned in his arms, passing him the paint and brush. He made swirls and lines up and down her arms. River took the brush from him and smiled as she stared at him.
"What?" he asked.
"You're wearing too many clothes," River observed. "I don't have anywhere to paint."
"If you want to get me naked," Stiles joked.
"Someone is confident," River smirked, setting the paint and brush on a table as they passed it.
Stiles pulled River close, his arms going around his waist. River wrapped her arms around his shoulders, staring up at him. He gave her a small smile before slowly dipping his head and moving forward. River leaned up, going on her toes. Their lips had almost brushed together when someone bumped into them.
"Shit! Sorry!" she yelled.
"Caitlin?" Stiles asked.
"Yeah?" she smiled.
"You're the one who's girlfriend—" Stiles trailed off.
"Died. Yeah!" Cailtin nodded. "I'm really drunk."
"I see that," Stiles nodded.
"Phosphors!" Caitlin yelled, pointing at Stiles' keys.
"What?" Stiles asked.
"Phosphors," River repeated. "It's why your keys are glowing."
"How did that get on my keys?" Stiles asked curiously.
"Have you been handling chemicals?" Cailtin questioned.
"No," Stiles shook his head. "I don't think I…"
"Stiles?" River asked, confused.
"I have to go," Stiles said. "I'm so sorry. I'll explain later but I need to go!"
Stiles kissed River's head and then ran off, abandoning her with Caitlin.
"Do you want a drink?" Caitlin asked.
River stared at the bottle for a moment and then shrugged.
"Fuck it," she sighed, taking the offered bottle and tipping the clear liquid down her throat.
When River looked up again, Cailtin was gone. River sighed and chugged the rest of the bottle. She walked to the drink table, grabbed another bottle, and began drinking. The shadows that the lights didn't reach made River shrink further into the crowd, needing the light to ease her nerves as she remembered everything.
She shook herself and turned into the crowd, moving to the music and gulping down the liquor as she moved. She made it halfway across the flood, directly in the middle of the dancing bodies when she saw someone that she knew.
"Wonder twin!" River yelled. "I heard you aren't terrible anymore!"
"It's Aiden," he rolled his eyes.
"I know!" River smiled. "You have a face dimple!"
"You can tell us apart?" Aiden asked.
"Why wouldn't I be able to?" River smirked.
"Have you seen my brother?"
"Nope," River shook her head, taking another gulp of alcohol.
"Are you drunk?" Aiden asked.
"Maybe," River shrugged.
"Can you tell me if you see him, please?" Aiden asked seriously.
"Yeah, of course," River promised. "Go."
Aiden left the flood and River continued dancing alone, drinking until the bottle was almost empty.
"River?" Jackson asked, stealing the bottle. "Did you drink all of this?"
"And some," River smiled. "My fingers feel weird."
"You're drunk!" Jackson yelled over the music. "Come on!"
"Can we dance?" River asked, grabbing Jackosn's hands. "I haven't danced in ages!"
"We need to get you some water!"
"Jacks!" River whined. "Please?"
Jackson looked into Rivers eyes and must have seen something desperate in them because he nodded and placed his hands on her hips, moving with her.
"Where's Stiles?" Jackson asked.
"He left me!" River pouted. "Said he had to do something and ran off!"
"What?" Jackson asked, confused.
River just shrugged and continued moving. Jackson moved with her, keeping the bottle out of her hands every time she reached for it and slowly moving her away from the crowd and towards where he could see Erica and Boyd talking. Erica noticed them first, confused at River's obviously drunken state.
"What the hell?" Erica asked once Jackson was close enough to hear them over the music.
"River," Boyd pulled River to his side. "What happened? Where's Stiles?"
"His keys were glowing," River smiled as if that explained everything.
"What?" Boyd asked.
"He had to go! Can we go? I wanna dance! Erica!" River wrapped her arms around Erica's waist. "I missed you when I was in the dark!"
"In the dark?" Erica asked.
"When I was dead!" River told her. "It was really dark!"
"Riv?" Scott asked, coming over to them with a pretty girl behind him.
"Are you Kira?" River asked excitedly.
"Yeah?" Kira asked confused.
"I'm River!" River smiled. "I'm basically Scott's little sister!"
"River, are you drunk?" Scott asked is disbelief.
"No, mom!" River joked as Jackson pulled her close again.
"I'm going to take her home," Jackson explained.
"Where's Stiles?"
"No clue. He left."
"He left her here?" Scott asked angrily.
"Right after he almost kissed me," River nodded. "I love this song!"
River ran out of Jackson's arms and ran to the dance floor again. Erica chased after her this time, catching up to her pretty quickly.
"Dance with me?" River requested. "I really missed dancing!"
"We can dance!" Erica gave her a small smile.
The music cut off suddenly, people screaming. Erica pulled River behind her at the sound of danger, Boyd and Jackson appearing beside them and surrounding River immediately. People ran out but the wolves stayed where they were, holding River between them. River simply hummed and leaned her head against Erica's back. Erica reached her hand back, taking one of River's in her own.
"What the hell?" Derek's voice spoke and River gasped, lifting her head and looking towards her cousin before shrinking back when she saw black figures moving around the room, swords in hand.
They turned toward the group of three wolves and one witch and walked forward. All three wolves growl, features changing as they stand ready to protect River. The black figures beat the wolves down easily, grabbing the left sides of their face and causing the wolves to fall to the ground. Isaac runs forward, spinning River behind him just as another warrior went to grab her, Derek appearing in front of her, protecting her. River stares at the black figures, a word filtering through her mind as something from the bestiary popped into her head.
The warrior in front of Isaac waved his sword around, ready to attack. The one in front of Derek copies the other ones movements. River looks into the eyes of a third one as it approached them.
"Stop!" she yells to the two wolves. "It's okay. They won't hurt us unless we attack them."
"What?" Derek asked, grabbing River when she tried to move from between them.
"I know what they are," River told him. "Let go."
Derek stares at River for a moment before releasing her. River steps forward, towards the black figure and gives it a small smile. It stares at her for a moment, tilting it's head before she nods. It reaches out and places its hand on the left side of her face. River feels a coldness moving through her before collapsing, more annoyed that she's been knocked out again and won't get to enjoy her buzz any more than anything.
When she came to, she groaned at the headache behind her eyelids and cuddled deeper into the warmth around her. The warmth moved a bit and River cracked her eye open, realizing that the warmth was actually a pack of wolves lying on top of her. River closed her eye and a smile appeared on her face. She could hear voices from outside her open bedroom door, recognizing one of them as Noah. She sighed and slowly sat up, untangling herself from Boyd, Erica, Jackson and Isaac as gently as she could before crawling out of bed.
She went to the bathroom, taking a few ibuprofens before brushing her teeth. She brushed her hair gently before pulling it into a loose bun and washed her face, cleaning away the makeup from the night before. She scrubbed at the paint on her arms until it was completely gone before drying her arms and stepping out of the bathroom. She smiled at the group on her bed before going to the hallway and finding Noah and Stiles arguing. She shut her door so that the wolves could continue sleeping before speaking up.
"What's going on?" she asked, approaching the two men she knew best.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Noah asked, pulling her close.
"I'm okay," she promised, hugging him back. "Why are you arguing?"
"We aren't arguing," Stiles told her, looking nervous.
"I was grounding Stiles for leaving you at the party," Noah explained through gritted teeth.
"I was fine," River shook her head. "I found the others."
"I was told that they found you drunk," Noah said, pulling away from her with a judgmental frown on his face.
"I don't drink," River shook her head, looking over at Stiles so she didn't have to look Noah in the eyes. "Where did you go?"
"I had to go look at something at the school," Stiles waved off. "What happened last night?"
"Oni," River shrugged. "Let me grab the bestiary."
River slid back into the room, smiling when she saw Jackson slowly getting up so the others could keep sleeping. She grabbed the bestiary and Jackson's hand, leading him out of her room and into the hall. They walked to the dining room, finding the adults at the table and Stiles gone.
"He just left," Jackson said when she looked confused. "I can hear his piece of crap Jeep driving down the road."
"Of course. Nothing new," River sighed before opening the book and flipping through pages as Jackson pushed her into a chair and Derek placed a cup of coffee in front of her. "So! Oni! They're Japanese demons who come to complete tasks set for them."
"So, what is their task?" Derek asked.
"No clue," River shrugged. "Typically, they leave a mark though, so I'm guessing that's what I saw behind my ear this morning. We can look up the symbol to figure out what it means."
"Isaac said Chris Argent was already working on it," Jackson spoke up.
"Where is Chris?"
"No clue."
"I missed him," River whispered as she continued reading the bestiary and missed everyone giving her a strange look, minus Jackson who looked at her sadly. "They can't be killed by man-made weapons apparently but we don't actually need to fight them. They're searching for something, typically some kind of demon. Unless one of us is possessed, we're good."
"Possessed?" Noah asked.
"By a demon," River nodded, grabbing her coffee and sipping it before making a face.
"Too much cream?" Derek asked.
"Not enough," River shook her head, standing and going to the kitchen.
She dumped out the coffee and made a new cup, this one more creamer then coffee. Derek and Noah watched, confused since River used to drink her coffee almost black. It actually reminded Derek of how Peter drank his coffee. She sipped the coffee, humming happily to herself as she drank it. Once she was done, she set the cup in the sink and went back to the table with her book.
"I should go wake everyone up for school," Jackson sighed.
"Have fun," River joked as she placed the open book on the table to show Derek a sketch of the Oni. "That's what we saw last night."
"I'm surprised you remember with how much alcohol was in your system," Derek stated.
"I don't drink," River shook her head, closing the book. "I'm going to get my laptop. See what else I can find and sign up for school."
"So, she was drunk?" Noah asked once River had gone back upstairs.
"Yeah," Derek sighed.
"River hates alcohol though," Melissa stated. "And creamer."
"What is going on with my little girl," Noah sighed, rubbing his face.
"Can I talk to all of you?" Erica asked, coming down the stairs and began speaking once they all nodded. "River told us that she remembers being dead and that everything was dark. Jackson said that he saw something in her eyes when she asked him to dance. He said it was like some deep sadness or something."
"Scott, Allison, and Stiles are having the same issues," Noah nodded. "It has to be something to do with all of them dying in our places."
"River's died three times though," Melissa pointed out. "There's no telling how much damage has been done to her psyche from that."
"What can we do?" Noah asked her.
"Therapy," Melissa stated. "The only issue is that she wouldn't be able to actually talk about what happened which means she wouldn't be getting the help she actually needs."
"Are we talking about me?" River asked brightly from beside Erica, causing the girl to jump in fright and River to smile. "I can still sneak up on you."
"How did you do that?" Erica asked, confused. "I was listening out for you."
River just shrugged and sat in her chair again, still smiling. The smile looked out of place, forced and not reaching her eyes. Her whole demeaner screamed 'energy' as she bounced in her seat, typing on her computer as she looked up more information on the Oni. Her eyes scanned the articles quickly, taking in the information and typing notes on her computer to cross reference later.
"River?" Derek asked.
"Yeah?" she asked, looking up. "How was the road trip? Where's Cora?"
"She's asleep in my bed," Derek told her. "It was fine. Long. Are you okay? Cold at all?"
"I'm fine," River shook her head as the rest of the teens came down the stairs.
They all headed to school, River calling out for them to learn something as they headed out the door. Melissa and Noah had to head to work, leaving River with Derek.
"Want to go for a run?" Derek asked with a smile.
"No, thank you," River shook her head. "I have too much to do. I have to go up to the school and see if there's anything I need to do to start online school or if there's a way for me to test out of this year so I can start senior year on time. I also want to look up more information on the Oni and probably redecorate my room. It's too crowded. Do you think there's a spell that can make houses bigger?"
"You're starting to sound like Stiles," Derek joked. "You're rambling. Go get ready and I'll drive you to the school."
"Okay," River jumped up, kissing Derek's cheek before running up the stairs and passing Cora along the way. "Hi, Cora! Gotta get ready!"
Cora came down the stairs, rubbing her eyes.
"Is she always a hurricane first thing in the morning?" Cora groaned, going straight for the coffee maker.
"No," Derek said, his voice serious. "No, she is not. Typically, she's like you."
"Did she just wake up on the right side of the bed today?" Cora asked, taking a seat.
"I'm not sure," Derek shook his head. "I'll figure it out though."
River took a quick shower, blow dried her hair, and dressed in dark skinny jeans, black heels, a black crop top, and one of Stiles' plaids that she stole from his room. In his room, she paused and looked at the board in the corner, studying all the red strings. One led to her and she smiled at the picture that she had set as her contact in Derek's phone, Stiles just barely in the picture.
She threw on the plaid, grabbed her bag from her room and headed down the stairs. Derek was waiting by the door and giving her a small smile. She smiled back brightly, wrapping him in a tight hug before they walked out the door. Once at the school, River ran inside, going straight to the office while Derek waited in the car.
"River Stilinski," Mrs. Anderson smiled. "How are you?"
"Awake," River shrugged. "I know I've missed almost all of this year. I was wondering if I could set up a meeting to figure out what I need to do to get back on track. Do I have to do summer school or can I do online learning? Can I test out of the year? I need a plan."
"I can talk to your counsellor, teachers, and the principal to see what we can do. Can you come back at the end of the school day?"
"I can do that," River smiled.
"I'll see you then," Mrs. Anderson smiled.
"Bye!" River rushed back outside and climbed into the Camaro.
"How do you run in those?" he asked as they began driving.
"Practice," River shrugged. "I have to come back later."
"I heard."
"Darn wolves not minding their business," River joked. "Can we go to the hardware store?"
"Sure," Derek nodded. "What are you thinking about doing?"
"Well, I want to build an office for myself," River explained. "My room is too cluttered. Moving everything means I'll be able to see my walls and I don't like the paint color on the walls. I also want bookshelves instead of open shelving."
"Have you looked into spells for home improvement?" Derek asked.
"No," River shook her head. "I think I can come up with one on my own though. I already have an idea for it."
"You just make spells?" Derek asked.
"Well, all spells are just made up," River offered. "I might as well make some up, too."
"Don't wear yourself out," Derek warned her.
"I have too much energy," River told him. "It's from not using my magic. It's built up in me. If I don't use it, it'll lash out. It's why I feel like Stiles when he doesn't take his medicine right now. You don't have to worry about me."
"You heard that?" Derek asked.
"I can hear and see really well for some reason," River shrugged. "I think it has something to do with the Nameton. Can we go there today, too?"
"Are you sure?" Derek asked.
River just nodded and Derek agreed as they pulled up to the hardware store. River ran inside, grabbing a cart and heading for the paint. Derek smiled and shook his head, following her in. She hummed as she looked through teal and mint green paints before settling on a bright yellow. She grabbed a few cans of it along with brushes and trays before grabbing tape and tarps. Next, she went towards the bookshelves, having Derek load them onto her cart for her once she figured out exactly how many she wanted. Derek slid his card through the machine before River was even able to pull out her wallet.
"I can get it," she told him.
"No," Derek said, loading the bookcases into the backseat before putting the paint and supplies in the trunk. "Where else?"
"Grocery store," River smiled. "I wanna make stuff."
"Alright," Derek smiled as he held River's door open for her.
At the grocery store, River climbed into a buggy and made Derek push her around, claiming her coma means motor function issues. Derek was pretty sure she just wanted to boss him around from the buggy.
"Déjà vu," River smirked when the buggy almost hit Chris'. "Also, Derek I am precious cargo! Be careful! River on board!"
"Stop yelling," Derek told her.
"I see you're feeling better," Chris smiled, leaning down so he could hug River.
"I missed you," River told him. "Will you and Allison come to dinner tonight? I'm cooking."
"If you're cooking, I wouldn't miss it for the world," Chris promised as he stepped away from her.
"Yay!" River yelled before seeing Derek shake his head and dropping her voice to a whisper. "Yay."
Chris smiled fondly before they said their goodbyes and continued shopping. River was jumpy in the buggy as she directed Derek around the store. Once River was buried under food, Derek led them to check out. River smiled at the woman behind the counter, recognizing her.
"Hi Joanne," River smiled.
"River," Joanne smiled back. "What are you doing in there?"
"I wanted to see what it would feel like to be buried alive," River shrugged as Derek tensed. "Not as fun as one would think."
"I bet," Joanna smiled as River handed her different items. "I hadn't heard that you'd woken up."
"I was released during the blackout," River explained. "I escaped in the dark of the night."
"I would expect nothing less," Joanne smiled as she passed the last bag to River. "Anything else for you today?"
"Nah," River shrugged. "Thank you Joanne!"
"Have a good day, River. It's good to see you."
River smiled as Derek led the cart away.
"You should socialize more," River told him.
"Last person I socialized with was a serial killer," Derek stated.
"So was the person before that," River added. "How about I pick your next girlfriend? You're bad at it."
"You are not picking my next girlfriend," Derek rolled his eyes as River handed him grocery bags to put in the trunk.
"I promise she'll be really nice and really pretty," River ignored him. "I have your back. If she turns out to be a serial killer then I'm calling it 'The Derek Effect'."
Derek sighed as he helped River out of the buggy before pushing it into the return aisle. River got in, bouncing in her seat a bit as they headed to the house.
"We'll go to the Nameton after we put the groceries away," Derek promised.
"Okay," River smiled. "Can I drive the Camaro sometime?"
"No," Derek's voice had finality to it.
"You're no fun," River sighed. "Scott got to drive the Camaro."
"Scott was leading hunters away from me," Derek explained.
"Excuses," River waved him off.
Once the groceries were put away, they climbed into the Camaro again, driving as far as they could before walking the rest of the way to the tree stump. River smiled and ran ahead, heels somehow not getting stuck in the dirt as she moved. She kneeled in front of the Nameton and rested her hands on it, humming as her hands began to glow.
"What's happening?' Derek asked, worried.
"I'm making sure that Beacon Hills is safe," River explained. "The Nameton and I have an understanding. If it's not already in the town or surrounding woods and means to cause harm to any residents in town, the Nameton will send me a warning and I'll know where they crossed the border at. I can't banish anything from Beacon Hills without knowing exactly what and where it is."
"You and the Nameton have an understanding?' Derek questioned.
"I call him Clementine," Rier smirked, opening her eyes and looking to Derek.
Derek saw the red and violet in her eyes and gave her a small smile before she turned back to the stump. A sprout slowly grew from the middle of the stump and Derek watched as vines appeared around the stump. River stepped away, her hands no longer growing. She stared at the Nameton for a few minutes before turning to Derek.
"We can go now," she told him.
"What was that?" Derek asked once they were in the car again.
"The Nameton needs to be fed," River shrugged. "Jennifer fed it darkness, so darkness is what the Nameton attracts. If I slowly feed instead, it'll attract… well, not darkness. Brightness? No, that doesn't sound right. Light? That's better. Instead of dark, we want light. Eventually I'll have feed it enough that it'll only attract good things rather than bad. It'll be a work in progress for a while."
"Does it hurt you?" Derek asked.
"No," River shook her head. "It feels good, actually. Comforting. Also, the Nameton would continue looking like a chopped down tree had Jennifer succeeded. With my magic, it'll help it grow."
Derek and River arrived back at the house and River went to her room, pulling out crystals and candles before moving back to the hall. Cora watched her with interest as River looked up Latin on her phone as she walked down the stairs and to the backyard, setting up her candles and crystals and beginning to chant.
Cora watched in awe as a large house formed in the woods behind the house. Derek walked to the slowly, watching as well, a similar look on his face. Once River stopped chanting, she opened her glowing eyes and smiled, closing the circle before turning to her cousins.
"Come on!" she yelled to them before running towards the house to see the inside.
Cora laughed and ran forward, following River quickly. Derek walked slower taking in the exterior of the house first. It was made of white stones with black accents and shingles. The windows were large, large enough to show off the entry way from outside, showing two staircases that led to a landing on the second floor. Derek walked inside, following the sound of laughter. River and Cora were currently running back and forth around a dining room table, Cora trying to catch up to River. Derek let out a huff of laughter before catching River around the waist and hoisting her over his shoulder.
"Avenge me, Cora!" River yelled, her voice echoing through the house.
"Why a new house?" Derek asked as Cora started trying to jump on his other shoulder and failed. "I thought you were going to make the other house bigger."
"I didn't know what to do with the layout," River shrugged. "I didn't want to move everything back and end up breaking something to make an extra hall, which I didn't want to put you a whole nother hall away from me anyways, and I also didn't want anyone to lose their windows by adding onto the back."
"I'm not really a fan of the other house," Cora admitted.
"Take it up with Peter," River laughed. "He's the one who picked it."
Derek began walking around the house, River still over his shoulder as he took in the bright house, a very different color scheme than the other. Peter had chosen blues and greens to offset each other, whereas River had bright, neutral colors that made the house seem even larger. The kitchen was huge, two range ovens and a deep farmhouse sink that gave River plenty of room to experiment with food. The fridge was huge as well and there was a butler's pantry.
"Is the creepy basement through the pantry?" Derek smirked.
"Nope!" River sang. "No creepy basement in this house! I'm going to build a house specifically for new wolves further into the woods. I want there to possibly be an outside area in it, like a courtyard of something. I'm not sure how to do it yet but I'll figure it out. Can I get down now?"
"Nope," Derek said, still carrying her around as Cora kept trying to climb him. "What are you, three?"
"Said the guy carrying Brook around like a ragdoll!" Cora yelled.
River smiled as Cora continued calling her Brook. She was the only one allowed to do it. Derek walked to the living room, taking in the bright furniture and atmosphere.
"It's more modern than I expected," Derek stated.
"Just because you're stuck in the 1900's, doesn't mean the rest of us are," River mocked.
Derek threw River off his shoulder and onto the couch. She yelled as she fell to the couch, laughing once she landed. Cora jumped on Derek's back then, forcing him to carry her around as he continued moving through the house. There was a room specifically set up to be a library off of the living room, empty bookcases and multiple tables with chairs where everyone could study or spread out as they researched whatever monster was running amok. There was even two rolling ladders.
"Why are there two ladders?" Derek asked as River came into the room.
"Stiles told me if I ever get an at home library and I don't include a rolling ladder for the both of us he would make sure I never got any of his mom's family recipes," River smirked. "Now he has to share."
"Derek, are River and Stiles going to get married?" Cora asked in the most childish voice she could.
River and Derek both rolled their eyes.
"Wanna pick a room?" River asked Cora.
Cora jumped off of Derek's back and the two girls ran up the stairs. Derek wondered what River planned on doing with the other house and why he had bought paint and bookshelves if River could do all of this with her magic. He sighed before shaking his head and following after the girls.
"There are downstairs rooms, too," River said as they looked into the upstairs bedrooms. "I figured Noah, Melissa, and Chris might not want to deal with stairs all the time."
"Chris?" Cora asked.
"He'll probably say no but I wanted the option to be available," River shrugged. "Hell, he can have the other house if he wants."
"Do you know which room you want yet?" Cora asked.
"Mine is down that way. I have a connecting office in my room. Every room has its own bathroom, too, that way no one is fighting over bathroom time."
"How is there running water and electricity?" Cora asked.
"Part of the spell is about intent," River shrugged. "As long as I thought of it while it was built, it's here. I'd been working on this for a while actually. I went over everything a house needs and things that I noticed everyone asking for and made sure it was on my list. For example, Lydia wanted a built-in vanity, so I put one in most of the rooms. It can be used as a desk as well. Obviously, I probably didn't think of everything but we can do updates as we go manually."
"You made this spell?" Cora asked.
"Yeah," River nodded with a soft smile. "I've made a few now. Most of them are small. This one and the one that made Kali take my place when she made Derek kill me are the biggest ones."
"Is it dangerous?" Cora asked.
"What isn't?" River said as they stopped in front of a large window that showed the forest behind the house. "I'm as safe as I can be while making them. Salt circles for protection and quartz on hand in case of injury."
"How many times have you hurt yourself?" Cora asked.
"I haven't yet."
"We should get going to the school," Derek said, interrupting the two girls.
"Alright," River sighed. "Have fun exploring, Cora."
Cora smiled as she watched Derek and River leave. Her smiled dropped the moment River was gone though, worry for her cousin taking over. Once they got to the school, River walked inside, her energy almost back to normal now that she'd fed the Nameton and built a house from nothing. Mrs. Anderson smiled as River came in, sending her to the councilor's office.
"Miss Stilinski," Mr. Foster smiled as she entered the room. "It's good to see you again."
"You, too," River smiled, sitting down. "So, what's the damage?"
"Well, if you don't want to repeat the grade, you'll have to do online learning or summer school."
"Online," River answered immediately. "Anything but summer school."
Mr. Foster chuckled lightly before pulling out a few papers for River, explaining the website she would need to use. Her teachers had uploaded all of the assignments that she had missed for her already along with copies of the notes to study. At the end of the year, she would have to come in to take the finals for all of her classes depending on her grade. Once River had everything she needed, she emptied out her locker before heading back to the Camaro. The bell rang as River reached Derek.
She tossed her stuff into the trunk and turned, watching as the pack came out of the school together. River hummed at the scene in front of her, everyone smiling, happy, alive. River looked through the group, confusion crossing her features when she realized Stiles wasn't with them. Allison saw her first, rushing forward to hug her.
"Where's Stiles?" River asked, looking to Scott.
Scott looked around, not even having noticed that Stiles wasn't with them. River felt a spike of anger at Scott for a moment, knowing the teen had been distracted by another pretty girl and hadn't noticed when Stiles was missing. Again.
"I'm sure he's fine," Scott shrugged. "Probably off researching something."
River let out a frustrated breath before turning to Jackson.
"We'll find him," Jackson promised. "Let's drop our stuff off and go looking."
River nodded, climbing into Derek's car as everyone else separated. Once they got to the house, River ran her bag up the stairs before grabbing a map and lighting a candle. She took all of a minute to complete the spell while gripping the shirt she was wearing. When the trail led to the hospital, River felt panic rising in her. She ran down the stairs, Jackson, Boyd, and Erica already waiting for her.
"Hospital," she said, running out the door.
"Hospital?" Derek's voice asked but River kept moving, climbing into her car and starting it up, the other three climbing in with her.
River sped to the hospital, not even caring if one of the deputies pulled her over. Once at the hospital, River parked as close as she could get and ran inside. She ran to the counter, asking for Melissa.
"River!" Melissa called, coming into the lobby before anyone even called for her. "He's this way."
River walked with Melissa, asking her what happened.
"He came in with extreme exhaustion," Melissa explained. "I'm about to head out but I figured you would probably be showing up soon."
"Thank you, Momma McCall," River told her. "Just tell me the room and I'll find him. You get home."
After giving River the room number, the others headed home, River letting them take her car. She walked through the hospital. She found the room and found it empty, confused. She looked around and closed her eyes. Her eyes began glowing and River stared at the floor, seeing which way Stiles went before letting her eyes go back to normal. She rushed in the direction that Stiles had gone and froze.
Through the door window, River could see Stiles just standing there. He gave her a smirk when she caught his eye. Scott appeared in the door behind him and River couldn't hear what they said but Stiles nodded to Scott before pointing towards River. Scott saw her and smiled. River moved forward and Stiles reached for her, taking her hand and leading her out of the hospital.