Also known as archangel or angel's herb. It is particularly powerful when this herb is used for protection and purification.
With omens looming at every corner I soon found myself diving back into my research. Books and print out littered my floor. My legs carefully placed as not to move anything from my spot on the carpet. Thick notebooks piled up to create a makeshift desk for my laptop. If the deer and the birds really had been signs that something bad was coming. Then I was going to be prepared. No more stumbling about in the dark. We had to know what was on its way. No not we, there wasn't a we anymore, I needed to know what was coming. So I could stay the hell out of its way.
My hands were beginning to throb from the constant stream of frantic scribbling and note taking. So far I'd found a few vague hints and even more useless facts. Sure it was nice to know which herbs could be used for protection or that the runes could be layered on top of each other to create different meanings. The problem was that there was no way of knowing if it worked or not. At least not without trying them and that would mean doing something dangerous to see if it worked! Well I think we all know that wasn't going to be happening.
Even though I had no way of knowing which bits of information were factual and which were fiction, I wrote everything down. I was about halfway through recreating an intricate Celtic knot when Allison messaged. Rubbing my writing hand, I used her text as an excuse for a break. A frown furrowed its way between my brows as inspected her message and the attached image What the hell was that?
Peering closer my eyes traced the bruised outlines of a shape that had appeared on Lydia and Allison's arms. I had never seen anything quite like it. Sure It looked similar to some of the symbols I had been copying but it didn't match them. I read through Allison's lengthy message. She had originally asked for me to meet her and Scott at a party so she could explain it to both of us at the same time. However after a blunt refusal to meet them, she sent me a lengthy paragraph explaining what had happened. After being told about the unnamed woman who had been searching for Scott, I realised that our newest problem was already here. The deer and the birds were not omens. No they were merely terrified of whatever beast had already arrived.
The next day I had tried to actively avoided Scott as he stirred Derek round the school in search of an empty classroom. Allison had told me the plan to ask the older wolf for help. She seemed to think he would know about the symbol and our mystery woman. I couldn't help but disagree. Sure he had grown up in the supernatural world but he wasn't all knowing. Unfortunately, it seemed that luck wasn't on my side. Turning into the newsroom I found the whole scooby gang, minus Scott and Derek, waiting eagerly for my arrival. Stiles launched himself at me the moment I tried to turn and leave. Hands firmly attached to my shoulders he stirred me past the two girls. I didn't have time to complain. As soon as Stiles released me and settled on top of a nearby desk Scott made his entrance. An annoyed looking Derek in tow. At least I wasn't the only one here against my will. Accepting that I was here to stay I perched on the edge of Audrey's old desk.
Allison and Lydia held their wrists up for the Alpha to see. Though he didn't look impressed. "I don't see anything," he stated sharply, crossing his arms as he glanced back at Scott. Clearly he had better things to do then hang around with high schoolers.
"Look again."
"How is a bruise gonna tell me where Boyd and Erica are?" Derek was losing his patience now.
"It's the same on both sides. Exactly the same." Though Scott couldn't seem to find an answer for Derek's real question. How was a bruise going to help find Boyd and Erica? I hadn't even known they were missing. They had run away hadn't they? Did Derek want them back?
"It's nothing." The faint outline of dark bags hung under Derek's eyes and his entire body seemed to scream for sleep. I couldn't tell if that was from dealing with Scott this early in the morning or if there was more to Boyd and Erica's disappearance. Either way he looked just about done with us.
"Pareidolia," Lydia piped up. We all just stared back at her blankly.
"Which is…" I pried. The palms of hands turned upward as I spoke in an attempt to encourage her to explain in more detail.
With a roll of her eyes she continued, "Seeing patterns that aren't there. It's a subset of apophenia." She added the last bit as if it would help us understand. Did she think that was common knowledge that we all shared? Surely she knew by now that none of us know the stuff she did.
"They're trying to help."
"These three," Derek scoffed at Scott's words. Relaxing his arms he pointed an accusing finger at Lydia "This one, who used me to resurrect my psychotic Uncle. Thank you." His finger shifted and pointed to Allison. His words becoming harsher as he spoke, "This one, who shot about 30 arrows into me and my pack." Then he gestured toward me. My eyes locked on his and narrowed. What had I done? When he had said three I had assumed he had been including Stiles into the count not me. "And this one, was best friends with a mass murder," the moment the words had left his mouth I was on my feet.
Stile shot up and placed himself between me and Derek. His arms waving frantically like a white flag in a war zone. Glancing back at me and my tightly clenched fist he decided to focus on Derek. "Okay, all right, now, come on. No one died, all right? Look, there may have been a little maiming, okay, a little mangling, but no death." I'm pretty sure there had been a few deaths along the way but I didn't bother interrupting him. "That's what I call an important distinction."
"My mother died," Allison's words were soft but we all heard it.
Derek turned his eyes away from Stiles and pinned Allison with a frim glare, "Your family's little honor code killed your mother. Not me."
"That girl was looking for Scott. I'm here to help him, not you," Allison replied.
Derek merely shook his head back at her. His parting words cutting the young hunter like barbs, "You wanna help? Find something real."
"I told you he wouldn't know," the words had left my mouth before I could stop them. Allison and Stiles rounded on me almost instantly.
Stiles gestured between himself and Allison as he spoke, "at least we're trying to figure it out."
"How's that going for you?" I asked sharply as I walked past him and out of the room. I didn't bother waiting for the girls as I wandered of to my next lesson.
I knew he was just frustrated. They were all running in circles and to him I was doing nothing. He didn't know I had spent all of last night trying to find out what that symbol was. Why would he. I had gone out of my way to distance myself from him and had even told him point blank that I wouldn't be helping them. But I was. When Allison had asked about the symbol I couldn't stop myself. I'm not sure why I was helping Allison. Maybe it was my own curiosity getting the better of me. Or perhaps I knew she would continue trying to solve it without me. The idea of her heading into something with only half the information scared me witless. So like the idiot I was, I had agreed to help her despite my constant refusal to be involved with the supernatural.
Lydia suggested regrouping in the Library after lunch. Though she didn't seem to be as fussed by the bruising as Allison, she agreed it was important to find out who the girl was. We congregate round one of the last vacant tables in the centre of the library. Lydia twirling her store bought coffee in her hand has she surveyed the room. Allison and I sat opposite her. The brunette was busy scrolling through online images while I flicked through books. Neither of us finding anything that resembled the mark.
Having not heard from the chirpy redhead in a while I looked up from the books in front of me. Lydia was too busy staring at something behind me to realise I was watching her. Glancing back I found her eyes glued to a pair of handsome leather clad twins. The pair lent against the bookshelves as if they were posing for a photo shoot. Tall, broad and good looking they fit the male model category well.
I pressed my shoe into her shin with just enough force to recapture her attention. Before scolding in jest, "pretty sure it is considered rude to stare."
"I want one."
"Which one?," Allison enquired finally pulling her attention away from the screen long enough to realise what we were discussing.
Lydia glanced back at the brunette as if she was stupid. "The straight one, obviously," the statement rolled off her tongue with such ease. How could she possibly know, oh. Her comment made sense as I watched on the pair interact with Danny. Shy smiles and flirty glances were exchanged between the boy and one of the twins. The goalie stumbled away from the boy with a dopey smile spreading across his lips.
As Lydia glided past me she shoved her empty coffee cup into my hand with a look that clearly said 'if you wouldn't mind' the cheek! I didn't bother putting it in the bin for her as she started her hunt. Part of me wanted to intercept her as she stalked around the tables towards the lone twin but I knew she needed this. She had openly told me that she wanted a distraction and who was I to stop her. So instead of interrupting her flirting, I placed the cup onto the table behind me.
"What if it's not a symbol? What if it's actually a logo?" Allison's words pulled my attention back to the task at hand. She was tracing the twisted lines that curled around the front of the coffee cup. Nodding back at her I lent closer to watch the screen as she began to search for local logos.
We eventually found the logo in a list of foreclosed building. Allison had practically jumped from her seat as the image appeared on the screen in front of her. I didn't comment when she took down the address. Nor did I stop her when she spent the next thirty minutes looking for blueprints and various other bits of information you would only need if you intended to visit it. I did however spend the entirety of my spare time that evening attempting to create something that would help her.
By the time night had fallen I was busy soaking string in a small plastic cup. After reading and re-reading my notes I decided to experiment. Celtic knots had been mentioned multiple times. Then after finding a tutorial on how to create knotted bracelets it seemed like it had the highest chance of success. The rest was just trial and error. I'd found a ball of unused wool at the back of the cupboard. It had turned a questionable off white colour from years wedged behind boxes and books. But it would have to do.
Scrounging together the last few bits of mountain ash I had left I attempted to create a tea like substance. In all honesty I had been surprised when the warm water in the cup had turned a dark charcoal. It was in this cup of infused water that I let the strands of yarn soak while I slept.
As usual, a night of bad dreams had me awake long before anyone else in the house. With a heavy sign I returned to last night's project. Having left the string to soak overnight the material had become the same colour as storm clouds. I set each piece out to dry. There were eight pieces in total. Two bracelets. That would be enough to see if they worked. By the time the sun had risen and Josh had begun to stir I'd managed completed one bracelet. I was actually quite proud of the finished product. It was small and light and hopefully useful.
Once at school I waited in the car park for Allison and Lydia. The later now reliant on lifts after her car was totaled. Stepping out of my car I leaned against the boot and lit up. Before Matt had died I'd actually tried to stop. A part of me had wanted to be better. Matt had scoff had told me I was only try it because Stiles disliked the habit. He was probably right. Now it didn't matter. I wasn't trying to be liked and I certainly didn't want to pursue any feelings I might have had for the twitchy boy. He was a nuisance and was most likely going to get himself killed. Losing another friend, or possible someone closer than a friend, was not what I needed right now.
It wasn't long until the pair arrived. I took a long drag of my cigarette as Allison grabbed her bag from the boot. Lydia and I shared a look as we eyed the bolt cutters sitting underneath the brunette's handbag. Not something a teenage girl would carry around. But then again this teenage girl also played with bows and arrows. God these people were going to be the death of me. Why couldn't anyone just leave it for the adults to deal with? That was their job.
Alison didn't notice our looks. Instead she fixed me with a questioning look before asking, "Could you give Lydia lift home tonight?"
"No."
Lydia huffed next to me clearly offended that I wasn't jumping at the chance to ferry her around. With a melodramatic flip of her hair she turned away from me. Spitting out a bitter, "lovely."
I rolled my eyes at her attitude and began to explain, "I'm going to clear out the newsroom tonight. you can stay with me if you really…"
"I can think of better things to do."
Allison and I both watched in silence as she strode across the carpark. Neither of us were worried about her behaviour. It was just Lydia being Lydia. Dropping the remains of my cigarette to the floor I watched the last few sparks try desperately to stay a light. As if they were clawing desperately at life. Trying in vain to last just a few seconds longer. Weren't we all?
I turned to Allison as she started to follow the sulking red-head. My head latched onto her wrist to stop her. "You're planning on going to the bank later aren't you?" it wasn't really a question. I knew her well enough to know she wasn't going to sit around and do nothing now that she knew what the symbol was. Or where it led to.
Allison stilled at me words. Her voice breaking slightly as she tried to lie, "no I just, fine yes I need to know why it was so important to her."
"I thought you and your dad were out of the business," I replied, not bothering to look up at her. A single red ember was still glowing on the dark tarmac by our feet.
I could feel her entire body sag under my question. She turned towards me and tried to explain, "I can't just, sorry I know you don't what to be involved but I can't sit around when someone might be getting hurt."
Thrusting my foot into the floor I crushed the cigarette into the floor. Running my free hand over my face I groaned, "God you're as bad as Scott. Don't look at me like that it's a compliment. You're right I want out but I'm not letting you walk into this unprotected."
Her eyebrows almost hit her hairline. "You want to come with me?"
"What? No!" I spat the words out quickly to ensure she didn't get her wrong idea. "I want you to wear this, it should in theory protect you. Well as long as I did the knots right. I haven't tested it or anything, so don't go looking for trouble."
Allison twisted her wrist to get a better look at the braided grey bracelet I had just attached to her. Her eyes traced the intricate knots and a glimmer of recognition shone in her eyes. I wondered if she had seen the symbol before. That was good. If she had seen it before that meant the information I had found was somewhat factual. Perhaps it would be a good idea to share my notebook with Allison, she might be able to help pick out the truth from the fiction. Maybe Mr Argent would be a better choice. Though that would mean talking to the retired hunter.
The rest of the day passed without any sort of supernatural incident or issue. Which was becoming a very rare thing in Beacon Hills. Something I was beginning to find more and more worrying now that Josh was another year closer to join us at the high school. Sure the idiot was chatty so friends wouldn't be an issue. Hell the girls were going to love him. He was athletic and had a healthy outdoor glow that I seemed to have missed out on in the genetics lottery. Josh was going to excel at average high school life but what guarantee did I have that he would stay away from the supernatural. Josh wasn't the type to settle for average. Besides he'd already shown that he had a tendency to pick up strays.
With my thoughts lingering on my brother I hadn't realised that someone had settled against the doorframe. "Scott's been trying to get hold of you," Isaac told me from his spot.
So maybe the day hadn't been issue free by chance. After leaving Allison this morning I had been holed up in the newsroom between classes. Now that the newspaper was cancelled I needed to sort through the junk that had been hidden in the cupboards for years. With the extra time I'd finally managed to get round to the wall cabinets. Plus people rarely ventured into this corner of the school. So I had assumed I wouldn't be bothered. Even after seven missed calls and a pleading voicemail.
I had been wrong.
Though I was surprised that Scott had sent Isaac. Perhaps that pair had bonded over last years lacrosse final. I continued to reach for the last few items from the cabinet as he stepped into the room. He had calmed a lot since last year. The leather jacket and haunted eyes had been replaced by knitwear and confidence.
"I know," I replied.
Isaac reach around me and closed the door. Part of me wanted to reopen it and continue working just to annoy him but I knew better. He might have mellowed but this was still one of the werewolves that had tried to kill Lydia a few months back. Instead I twisted in my place to face him. His hand still resting on the door above me as he peered down and questioned, "you know? So why didn't you answer?"
It's rarely ever an issue but I really hate people being taller than me. Particularly when said people use their additional height to lean over me. As if that was going to make me answer any quicker. If he was going to try to play the intimidating werewolf I would happily full into the roll of condescending know it all. I purposefully elongated my words as if I was talking to a small child, "because I'm done with werewolves." Did none of them talk to each other? I'm sure if talk enough people multiple times that I didn't what to join their heroic battle to save Beacon hills.
"Plural?"
The corners of my lips quirked at his tone. Unlike the last time we had crossed paths like this he wasn't demanding answers. His words were light and held an almost playful tone. Was he flirting? Lydia's earlier comment about needing a distraction clawed its way up from the back of my mind. Did I need a distraction? Even if I did surely messing around with a werewolf would be counterproductive. It would just pull me back into the web of problems they all seemed to be struggling in. But then again it was Isaac. Poor broken Isaac. The boy who had lost his parents and had openly said he understood how I felt about Matt. He wouldn't judge me for missing my best friend nor would he make me feel like I needed to better myself.
Perhaps I might just follow in Lydia's footsteps. I let my lips curl up even further and stepped forward until my chest was pressed against his. Tilting my head up to close the gap between own lips I let out a soft whisper, "I might make an exception." His eyes widened slightly at my words. Though it didn't take long for a smug smile to spring to his lips as lent forward. Yes perhaps this was just what I needed. A sharp buzzing sound made him shoot backwards. Fishing his phone out of his pocket he glared down at the devise. Scott was calling. "And that's my que to leave." Patting the boy on the cheek, I ducked under his arm and headed to my next class.
Isaac spun on the spot. He looked torn between calling out after me and answering the phone. In the end the wolf placed the mobile to his ear with a rather reluctant expression. I didn't see him or any of Beacon Hills werewolves after that. Clearly whatever Scott had been calling for was serious.
As the school day drew to a close I returned to the newsroom. Part of me wanted to go home and sleep but another part was reeling off everything that could go wrong with Allison's after school activities. At one point I had even thought about driving to her place and telling Mr Argent everything. However I knew better. Allison was more than capable of looking after herself. Besides I had already warned her that if I didn't get an all clear text by midnight I'd be going straight to her dad.
Once the room was tidied I'd settled into the seat behind the editor's desk. The full moon glared through the window as it rose in the night sky. I should have gone home. We all know that being out during a full moon was never a good idea but Allison still hadn't called me. I had already made various different plans for problems. If she didn't contact me I'd call her dad. If she got hurt I'd call Scott. If all else failed I'd try my best to get to the bank to help her. Something I really didn't want to happen. That was my reasoning for staying at school. It was closer to everything. To try and ease my nerves I had begun constructing a second bracelet from the remaining pieces of wool.
The soft click of the door gave me little warning as it swung open. I was up in my feet. Eyes wide. White knuckles. "Oh," Ms Blake stared back at me. I imagine my expression mirrored her one of shock as she entered the room fully. Her voice laced with confusion as she spoke, "I thought I was the only one still here. I was just dropping this off."
I eyed the slip in her hand and realised it was a club sponsorship from. I settled back into my seat the adrenaline from moments ago easing off as I frowned back at the young teacher. "You're backing the newspaper?" I couldn't hide my disbelief.
She didn't reply. Instead she closed the distance between the door and the desk. "Seems photography isn't your only talent. A Celtic shield?"
My head snapped up toward her as she spoke. Was the Celtic shield that comment of a symbol that a high school English teacher would know it? Not wanting to give too much away I nodded and added a meek, "I thought it looked nice."
"The shield knot has been used for thousands of years by a variety of cultures for protection and warding. Did you know it isn't actually a Celtic symbol? Yes the Celts used it but so did the Norse and even some older cultures had their own takes on the symbol." She paused momentarily. A light blush dusted her cheeks as she lifted her hand bashfully at me. Before apologising, "Sorry, I can't help it sometimes. I specialised in folklore and cultural storytelling during the last year or so of college. Verbal stories are just as important as any written text I might get you to study in class."
Well she definitely had my attention now. I tried to hide my intrigue as I looked back at her. Surely it would be weird if I started asking her about monsters and other nightmarish things. She had only said she studied it that could mean anything and it was fairly unlikely she knew anything more than cultural stories. Which I could already find with a quick google search. No I needed to play this cool.
I didn't bother replying just watched her as she studied the bracelet on the desk between us. Maybe she did know more than just some old stories. She was clearly intelligent. Who knew what she had stumbled upon. Part of me wanted to ask her anything and everything. Had she ever seen a monster? Did she know some, maybe all, of the legends had some truth to them? But I didn't. My mouth stayed firmly shut.
She seemed to notice that I wasn't going to reply. Scooping the bracelet up from the table she turned it over in her hands. "Celts were my favourite to learn about. I adore their connection to nature," her words pulled a response from me.
"Like the druids?"
A knowing smile spread across her lips as she continued, "you didn't just pick the knot for its looks. You know a bit more than you're letting on. Did you know what the word 'druid' means in Gaelic? 'Wise oak.' The Celtic druids were close to nature. They believed they kept it in balance. They were philosophers, healers and even occasionally warriors. In some stories they could even heal the sick with just the use of the trees. We know now that it was just salves and basic first aid knowledge. But it does make you wonder what is possible. I heard a story once of a woman being brought back from the brink of death by a tree, you laugh but the world is full of mysterious things."
A magic tree? I scoffed loudly at the idea. "Well you are definitely making that one up."
Ms Blake didn't hang around much longer after that. She left after returning the bracelet to me and making made a quick comment that I should head home. Which I promptly ignored. I was still waiting around for Allison. Nineteen minutes past ten. She had just over an hour to contact me. Just over an hour for everything to go wrong. With a quick shake of my head I tried to rid myself of the negative thoughts. Allison would be fine.
A series of sharp howls cut through the air. The noise wrenched me from the sleep I had unwittingly fallen into. Wolves were in the school! No not wolves, werewolves. Scrambling for my phone I scanned the screen and prayed to anyone who would listen that I hadn't slept through Allison's cry for help. Her message lit up the screen. Relief washed over me as I read the simple words 'I'm fine'.
So Allison was okay, that was good. However there was also the small problem of werewolves being in the school. Scanning my phone again I realised I'd accidentally slept through to the early hours of the morning. Maybe I could just hide out until the sun came up. Running a hand through my curls to try and tame them I stood from the desk. My strappy dress hanging off my shoulder and the flannel shirt I'd had on over it lay forgotten on the floor. I just needed to lock the door then I'd be safe.
The howls grew louder as I neared the door. Each one was followed by a collection of growls. What the hell was going on out there? A sigh escaped my lips as I turned the lock. Wait. My eyes drifted to inspect the edge of the staff car park that was visible from the newsroom. A chill ran down my spine as my eyes landed on a single car parked in the last space. Ms Blake was still in the school.
Letting my head hang I rested it against the door. The fighting seemed to have started to settle. Maybe I should just wait it out. I hadn't heard any screams so whoever was running about the school couldn't of hurt her. Yet. As one last howl echoed through hallways I unlocked the door and threw myself out of the room. Pinning my back against the door I tried to ease my breathing. I could do this. All I had to do was find Ms Blake and make sure she was okay. It would be easy. Everyone else seemed to be able to walk head first into danger.
Taking tentative steps towards the end of the hall, I kept one hand to the wall to steady myself and the other clutched my phone tightly. Just a little further. Voices caught my attention and I changed my route. To my relief as I got closer I realised I knew these particular voices quite well. While that eased my nerves what they were saying did little to calm me.
"Someone else is in there with them," Derek's deep tones rumbled up the stairs and through the door. They were down by the boiler room.
"Open the door," the order shot out before I'd even finished opening the hallway door. "Ms Blake was still in the school"
Two pairs of wide eyes snapped toward me. Derek's gaze soon returned to the large iron door in front of him. A deep frown burrowing its way across his brow. While Scott just stared up at me his mouth moving wordlessly as he tried to comprehend my words. He stayed like that until Derek said something. I couldn't hear what the pair were saying from my spot at the top of the stairs. Scott didn't look pleased with whatever had been discussed. Though he helped Derek open the door and then firmly shut the blockage behind him.
Moving down the steps I perched on one of the final rows. Near enough now that I could hear the fighting from within the boiler room. While we waited Scott told me all about their adventures. My skin felt cold as he explained that Boyd and Cora, Derek's long lost sister, had been locked up away from the moon. He told me about the bank and Allison being there. He told me about Erica. By that point my insides had gone cold.
Erica was dead. Another person we knew was dead. The news only reinforced my want to stay away from the supernatural. How long would it be before the death count became unbearable? How long until it was Lydia or Allison or even the ever heroic Scott. Gripping the edge of my dress tightly I didn't air my thoughts. The poor boy had been through enough already.
"Scott! The sun's coming up! Emma?"
The hinges groans in protest as Isaac flung the door open the gleeful look swiftly change to one of confusion as his gaze settled on me. Scott didn't need any more encouragement then that. In an instant he was on his feet and prying the boiler room door open. Both wolves rush in while I hovered by the entrance. They wouldn't need my help in there and if Boyd and Cora were still going I didn't want to get in the way. Or at least that's what I told myself.
Isaac and Scott soon reemerged with two lifeless bodies hooked over their shoulders. Boyd's broad shoulders seemed to smother Scott's smaller frame. While the petite female Isaac was carried looked about as dangerous as a kitten. Part of me wanted to stay and find Ms Blake but the boys were quick to usher me on. The sun was rising quickly and they needed a lift. I would just have to check on her tomorrow.
It seems that it is a lot harder to detach myself from the supernatural then I thought it would be.