Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

Cinnamon is one of the must-have multipurpose herbs. Cinnamon is a herb for success, action, healing, protection, energy, love, prosperity, and purification.

"Good morning. As you all know, Mr. Harris is still missing... I mean, sick. Anyway, I'm filling in while we all hope and pray for a more qualified substitute to take my place. Okay, so let's get started," Ms Blake told us as she fidgeted at the front of the chemistry classroom.

She looked so out of place amongst the science equipment. Her usual confidence was replaced with the jittery energy of someone well out of their depth. Luckily, none of the students seemed overly bothered with the replacement.I imagine many like me thought it was an improvement. The only one who seemed to be blatantly ignoring the rules was Scott, who had ducked down behind his table to answer his phone. His face twisted and his eyes widened. Whatever the other person was saying was clearly important. Within seconds Scott was whispering frantically down the phone pleading with the person to answer him. I could barely hear him from my back row bench but I'm pretty sure he was saying His boss's name.

If only a missing teacher was the worst of our troubles. As lunch was finishing, I stumbled upon Lydia and Stiles. Turns out Deaton was missing as well. They were huddled around a desk with another girl. I eyed the additional body from the doorway. She looked familiar but I couldn't quite place it. It was only when she snapped at Stiles that I realised this was Derek's sister. The last time I had seen her she had been passed out in Isaac's arms.

Letting out an exaggerated sigh I waltzed towards them. Though the closer I got the more my confusion grew. "What the hell are you three up to?"

"Communicating with the dead," Lydia replied airily as if that explained everything.

"Of course you are," I nodded back in an equally even tone.

The other two ignored my entrance and continued to fuss with the objects on the desk. Was that a ouija board? Why would they even attempt to mess around with something like that! Had they not watched a horror movie before?

Stiles was the first to speech, though it wasn't aimed at me, "Okay, these are Deaton's keys for the clinic. Close your eyes, and I'm gonna put 'em in your hand, and then we're just gonna try and see if you can feel out for his location. It's called psychometry."

"I'm not a psychic."

I couldn't help but wonder how long they had been at it as Stiles let out a heavy sigh, "You're something! Okay? Just, Lydia, put out your hand, and... What?"

The boy leapt forward and leant across the desk. His eyes gleaming with misplaced optimism. Surely he knew as well as I did that things were never that easy. Lydia has a gift of sorts that much had become clear but for her to find Scott's boss this quickly was unlikely.

Manicured nails curled around the keys as everyone turned to inspect Lydia. Stiles was probably waiting for her to make some farfetched prophecy which would reveal Deaton's whereabouts. I was waiting for a dry reply to tumble from her glossed lips and Cora? Well I had know idea what she was thinking as her dark eyes tracking Lydia's every move.

"They're cold," came Lydia's sharp reply.

Stiles rolled his eyes to the ceiling and slumped down onto the desk. "Lydia, concentrate, please? Trying to save lives here…"

I cut him off, "this is pointless."

The hazel eyes, that had gleamed hopefully at Lydia, narrowed as he turned toward me. He wasn't impressed with my input that much was obvious. Straightening up to his full height, Stiles started to collect the objects he had placed on the desk. I know he didn't want me there. In his eyes I had made it very clear I wasn't helping and he was still sour about that. Things had changed though. Too many people were getting hurt and if there was something I could do then I planned to do it, from a safe distance. I held his gaze daring him to protest as I plucked the map he had folded up from his fist. Smoothing the paper out until it was flat against the desk I tried to decide which would be the most productive method to find Deaton. I toyed with the idea of recreating the accidental blood scrying I had done when Lydia was missing. But that had not been planned and part of me still suspected I had found Lydia by sheer dumb luck. Maybe we would get lucky again.

"You're trying to find Deaton right? Well everything you've tried so far has been a form of mediumship, trying to talk to the dead. But we are hoping that Deaton is still alive. So…"

It was only then that Stiles' frown eased, "if he's alive he can't contact us."

"Why didn't we go to her first?" My lips twitched upward at Cora's question.

Scooping the keys out of Lydia's hand I placed them on top of the map. I spend a good minute or two staring at the objects in front of me. I'd already written of using blood, I didn't like the idea of cutting myself and although it had worked last time there was no guarantee that it would work again. Instead I decided to try something new. The others stayed quiet as they watched me ramage in my pocket for my lighter. Ignoring my audience, I started to run the flame from my light over the largest of the keys. In every article or book on scrying the authors always stress the importance of objects and their connections. Which was why I had plucked the worn key from the bundle. It was the same key Scott carries with him so I could only assume it was the one for the animal clinic.

Once the key was warmed through, the end glowing faintly as the flame licked at it, I pressed the metal down onto the corner of the map. Nothing happened at first. Stiles' mouth had been about to open and I could only assume that he was going to complain when the corner of the map ignited. The flame that was produced danced across the paper in a flash and was gone as quickly as it had started. It had left a chard river of black crisscrossing across the surface of the map. That was not how paper burnt. I'd spent enough time in middle school setting fires with Matt to know that paper burnt up and quickly. I'd never seen anything like this before. The map was snatched from the table before I could look at it properly and waved in the air by an annoyed looking Stiles.

"Great you burnt my map. How is this helping?"

"We should be talking to Danny," Lydia added without lifting her head. Instead she carried on doodling ignoring the perplexed looks we were now sending her way. Where did that idea come from?

"Danny? Why Danny?" Stiles pried.

His answer came from an unexpected source as Scott entered the room, "Danny was targeted last night. But he wasn't a sacrifice."

The others had left after Scott's big declaration but I couldn't. Something about the way the map had burnt bothered me. I'd already rescued it from the floor and flattened it back out on the desk to inspect with another new arrival graced my with their presence.

"I didn't think you would be one for arson."

"Your science lesson today inspired me so much I just couldn't stop myself from trying a few experiments of my own," I replied flashing a smile at the women.

Her heels clicked on the tiles as she approached. Maybe I had just spent too much time running away in the last year or so but I never felt the need to wear heels to school. I'd said as much to Lydia before but she was quick to shoot my criticism down and turn the conversation onto my poor outfit choices. Perhaps you don't even think about running away from monsters when your biggest worry is getting teenagers to read their class books before the end of term. I was tempted to fold the map away as she approached but decided against it. Ms Blake had had some interesting views and who knew maybe a fresh pair of eyes would help figure it out. Neither of us spoke as she stopped on the opposite side of the table. Her hands resting either side of the burnt paper.

"What does it look like to you?" She questioned. Her voice held that inquisitive tone teachers used when they knew the answer but wanted you to say it for them.

Looking down I eyed the map carefully. What did it look like? It looked like a burnt map. My brows furrowed as I tried looking at it from a different angle, my head bobbing from side to side trying to see what she saw. Smiling sympathetically she twisted the map around so it was facing me. Her fingers traced the black ash that forked across the surface. I had compared the shape to a river early that was wrong; it looked more like a tree than a river. I voiced my thoughts aloud. An overwhelming sense of uncertainty settled in the pit of my stomach as I waited for her responses. I realised then that Ms Blake might be the only teacher I've had that I wanted to impress, even when it was things outside of her classroom.

"That's what I thought. Strange that we both see a tree. Do you remember our last conversation about the druids? Remember what the word stood for?"

"Wise oak."

"Yes, well done. You know the druids used to work closely with nature they would use trees for all sorts of things,"

I snorted at her words, remembering a comment she had made the last time we talked about these things, "like bringing people back to life?"

"Exactly like that. I know you don't believe me, I'm not sure I believe it myself but it is said that the druids would choose a tree. The oldest and largest to represent the center of the world. This tree became known as a Nemeton. A hub of energy that the druids could harness and use. To help and protect themselves. Even heal themselves. Many believe that harming the tree would bring problems of all kinds for those living around them," her words trailed off and her voice grew quieter.

I didn't get a chance to question her further as the bell echoed through the hall. I would have been happy to bunk off the next lesson and continue our conversation but Ms Blake quickly reminded me that as a teacher that wasn't an option for her. As she leaves I get the impression she would have liked to stayed though.

Nemeton. I mulled the word over for the rest of the day. I'd searched it up and found countless articles that confirmed Ms Blake's words and a handful more that contradicted them. Some said the trees were not picked but created though their placement and the energy in the ground. While others said only dark druids could harness the tree's powers. Once again my room looked like a mess with print outs and notebook pages littering the floor. Part of me was grateful that mum never came in here but the other part of me wondered what she would do if she saw it all.

Before I could ponder on her reaction to my research into the occult, a series of car alarms pulled my attention towards the open window. Stiles was leaning from his car and waving frantically up at me. Staring back blankly I waited for him to explain more but instead he stopped waving and returned his hand to the Jeep's horn. Throwing my hands in the air I shouted a few choice words at him before grabbing my jumper and heading for the door.

As I got closer to his car I notice Lydia perched in the front her brows narrowed with worry. So this clearly wasn't just a social call. Stiles said nothing as he moved aside giving me room to climb into the back seats. It was only once we started driving that Stiles explained that Danny had been put in hospital and he had acquired the goalies homework. Which explained the sheets of rolled paper that were covering the seat beside me. As we pulled in the animal clinic car park I could help but feel guilty about my earlier thoughts. I'd been busy wondering about a tree and thinking of winding my mum up when Deaton was still missing. Scott and Cora were already inside waiting as Stiles began to lay Danny's homework out for us all to see.

"Okay, so, what does this kid's homework have to do with finding Deaton?" Cora was growing on me. She asked what everyone was thinking. If it wasn't for her sharp teeth and Hale name I think we might have even been friends.

Stiles didn't bother looking up at her as he placed the last bit of paper down on the metal table. "Because it's not just homework, okay? It's a project on geomagnetic fields."

My eyes followed the colour coded curves that covered the map. I couldn't help but trace the pen marks with my fingers and wonder if this is what the burnt paper had been trying to show. Turning to Stiles I questioned him carefully, "telluric currents?"

"Telluric currents," Stiles confirmed as he eyed me carefully. So I was right. His suspension was unnecessary, I'd only seen the word about an hour ago when looking up the Nemeton. According to one website Nemetons only appeared on telluric lines. He didn't question me aloud which I was grateful for, instead he continued to talk to the group. "They flow through the earth. They can even be affected by lunar phases, all right? Now, look at this. This is a note from Harris on Danny's proposal."

Lydia leant forward and read the red pen that had been scrawled neatly next to the essay's title. "I strongly advise you to choose another subject. The ideas here, while innovative and thoughtful, border on pseudo-science. Not suitable for class."

So Harris wasn't just a sacrifice. He knew something. The big question was what did he know. What could a high school teacher possibly know that cost him his life? And what did Danny have to do with it. How could a student, even one as smart as Danny, stumble upon something that was so clearly linked to the supernatural.

"These lines. Danny marked all the currents, right? See the weird thing about beacon hills is that it actually is a beacon. I've read loads of stuff that talk about the energy that is flowing through the earth around this town. It's probably why everything that goes bump in the night is drawn here." I paused as I felt Stiles' eyes settle on me again. "Would you stop looking at me like that! You were the one who keeps begging me for help."

Scott started pulling more maps from his bag and laying them on top of Danny's homework. With each one the pattern between the two was becoming clearer. I would later find out that these maps had been found in Mr Argent's Office, which only confirmed my theory that he knew more than he was letting one. He just didn't like the idea of kids running round to help him. Once all the maps where a lined Scott finally spoke. "They match. All right, there's three places, right? Where they're kidnapped, and then the place where their body was found. That's right on the line. So, maybe where he was sacrificed is somewhere in between."

"Let me see that. You said there's six more bodies to be found. Deaton's one of them. Got to be somewhere in between, right?" Stiles added. He started circling areas on the map were the lines over lapped. areas were Deaton could possible be.

"Stop," Cora reached out and took hold of Stiles' hand. Guiding his hand back she rested the pen over one of the circles he had already drawn. Her voice shook as she spoke, "He's in the vault. He's in the same vault."

We had every intention of rushing off to save the day. Save Deaton. Stop the sacrifices but when has our luck ever been that good. The moment we turned to leave, Cora received a message from Boyd. A message that shattered our plan instantly. It turns out Boyd and Isaac were currently trying to help Derek fend off a grieve ridden she wolf. Something Isaac had failed to mention in his earlier texts.

So it was decided, by Scott, that we would go help Derek while he went to retrieve Deaton. The car journey to Derek's was tense and silent. I thought about reaching out and taking Cora's hand but thought better of it. Who knew how she would react to a stranger touching her. I'd seen how temperamental Derek could be. So instead I let her sit sullenly in the back next to me. Her eyes focused on the road ahead. The moment we arrived, the group darted off towards the power room while I sprinted up the darkened stairs. From what everyone had said Derek lived in the loft so the only way to go was up. I hadn't spoken to Isaac since the cross country trip. Well that wasn't quite true. Isaac had tried talking to me multiple times since then, I just hadn't replied. I knew running up stairs towards a pack of homicidal alphas was stupid but I couldn't let anything happen to him with out explaining why I hadn't answered. Explained to him that I wasn't angry or upset by the kiss, just confused.

Without slowing I unsheathed the knife that was tucked into my waistband. I hurtled around the last corner and skipped the last couple of stairs. It was only then that I slowed, the lights flickered back to life and howls of pain filled the air. Pushing forward I reached the large loft door. I didn't need to be told I was in the right place. Isaac was there. Safe and … holding Ms Blake? I eased my way forward very aware that other wolves would be inside the loft. Only metres away. No one noticed me as I crept forward. Their eyes were glued to whatever was happening inside the room. As I came level with the door, part of me wished I had stayed downstairs.

Boyd hung from Derek's claws as the pair knelt in the red tinted water. I should have been upset for Boyd but I couldn't feel anything. I could barely breath as my body began to shake. Standing behind the twins was a woman. She was pure power. Her limbs were covered in tight muscles. Her posture straight with an arrogance that could only come from knowing her own monstrous strength. Dark claws on her lithe hands but they were not the ones that scared me. No, I was too busy watching her feet. Black claws brushed against the floor with every step. Every step she was getting closer and closer. By the time she was close enough to smell, an earthy metallic aroma that haunted my dreams, my eyes had filled with tears. I tried to get my body to move. To get to safety but I couldn't. The only thing I managed to do was loosen my grip on the blade in my hand. It fell.

The clatter of metal hitting metal rag out across the loft and the figure before me paused. I knew it was her even if my tear filled eyes had blurred the world around me. My heart stilled as she lifted a clawed finger to my face and wiped away one of the droplets that had escaped.

"You shouldn't waste your tears on the likes of them," her voice ripped through me like a new wound. Pulling at memories I'd locked away for what seemed like a lifetime. She didn't say anything else. I doubt she even knew who I was. I closed my eyes tightly in an attempt to hide. You know in the same way children cover their eyes so you can't see them during a game of hide and seek. It wasn't the best method and it eased my nerves fractionally.

The others appeared after that. They arrived in time to see the after mass but not in time to help. I didn't move as Stiles and Cora rushed forward. Nor did I move when Isaac released Ms Blake and stumbled towards his dying packmate. It was only when Lydia pulled on my jumper that I reopened my eyes. The tears that had been building behind my lids flowed freely down my face. Like a waterfall bursting through a broken dam. I couldn't stop the tears as I crumbled to the ground, the fear that had held me in place melting away.

They all thought I was crying for Boyd. I wasn't, I was crying for me.

Hope you're all well during this manic time! Just a heads up that the next chapter will be mostly 3rd person as I finally get to explain how Emma got her scars!

Thank you to winchester3232, Flolgd, Brosephius, iWasDamned, caritos13, Blu3b£rryT3a, torikay, ItsJustMe-94, RebelRead50 and yuki0123 for the follows and favourites

xx