Chapter 10: The Sacred Four
T/W: Abuse. Please note, there are hints of abuse in this chapter, but none explicitly called out. I will make sure to be calling out any warnings at the beginning of each chapter so that you can know what to expect.
Seth's Point of View
Seth swallowed hard. The dream of the night before haunting him, but also lifting a weight off of his shoulders, knowing, praying that it meant he had a way to communicate with her. Sky looked worse off than he had ever imagined. She was hurting worse than his worst nightmares created. Her fragile form, cowering away from him, would haunt his every waking moment until he knew she was safe.
The fact of the matter was that Sky needed him. She needed him, and he needed to do everything in his power to help her. Starting with talking to Billy Black.
He got himself out of bed, not bothering to put more than his jean cut offs on and made his way into the woods. When he got there, he took off the shorts and put them in the anklet the guys gave him for his clothes when he transformed.
Seth wasn't proud that it was easy for him to find something angry enough for him to turn within seconds.
Dude. It's like 7 in the morning. Only reason I'm up is for these stupid patrols. Not stupid, not stupid! Paul's voice jumped up an octave when Jake nipped at his ankles.
He thought back to Sky, sitting on the beach, her broken form curled around herself. Flinching at the sight of him. Is that... Is that her? Is she back? Jake was soft with his hope. Seth knew it was for his sake.
I need to talk to Billy Black. Jake, is he home? Can I... would it be okay if I woke him up? Even Seth's inner voice was thick with emotion.
Jake scoffed, trying to lighten the mood. Old man gets up when the sun gets up. It's disgusting.
Seth chuckled softly. He nodded and headed off in the direction of the Blacks. As he neared, he felt the familiar fear choking him alive. Try as he might, he forced walls up to protect his pack brothers from the onslaught of pain. He slowed to a stop as the pain blurred his vision.
Minutes passed, he held his wolf body still. He focused all his energy on not allowing the others to feel it. When he finally came to, he felt Jake nudging his side. Both Jake and Paul's wolf forms were there, staring at him in horror. Seth almost laughed at the fact he could tell what emotion the wolves were feeling from their eyes alone.
What's, umm, whats up? He tried to play off the episode so as to make them less suspicious.
Damn, brother. We heard about these episodes but to see one in person. That was... that was... Jake couldn't formulate the right word.
That was something I could go my whole life not seeing again. Paul finished for his brother.
There was a ripple in the air as they felt their Alpha phased, having been called by his brothers. It didn't take long for Sam to reach them, and for Paul to replay what had occurred.
As Seth had started to feel the pain that came with these moments that tied him to Sky, the tie to his brothers had gotten blurry. Instead of the usual, seeing through each other's eyes, feeling each other's thoughts thing (that was still very weird and creepy to Seth, only people he wanted in his head were Leah and Sky), it was as if the existence of Seth was dipped in ice. They ran to him as fast as they could, calling their Alpha on the way. But when they got there, he was frozen still, eyes unseeing. He looked like a corpse.
Seth cleared his wolfy throat. Sorry to bother you so early, er, oh great Alpha one? I have to, um, go.
The look in Sam's eyes stopped Seth from leaving. Was that, er, was that what I think it was?
Seth's eyes narrowed, wondering just how long Sam had been spying on them. Not spying, he was keeping an eye on you because you suddenly started growing in a way only wolves grow. Us brothers still in school saw the changes and for your safety and others, had to report it back to him. Jake supplied, as a way to ease the tension that was quickly forming around the group.
Yes, that was one of the episodes I guess everyone is now referring to it as. Yes that was Sky- the thought of her bringing back the visions from the beach- Being brutally injured by Steve, or whoever the hell else it was this time. Now please for the love of the Spirits, let me go talk with Billy Black. It's urgent. Seth couldn't hate the man, now that he knew why he did what he did, but that didn't make what he did any different. It didn't make it easy to let him back in.
Sam nodded once, and started in the way of the Black residence.
What are you doing? Seth felt affronted that Sam thought he had any right to go with him. He lost that right a long time ago.
Sam sighed. I know you might not believe this, but I care for your whole family. And Sky is a little sister to me as much as you are a little brother. So let's go get some information, shall we?
Seth weighed his options for a fraction of a second, but his needs for answers outweighed all else.
When they were both shifted back to their human forms, and standing in front of the Black house. Seth's throat was thick with emotion. For a brief minute, he was thankful Sam was there to knock on the front door, his energy depleted past what was possible for having just woken up.
He could hear the wheels on the hardwood floor as Billy approached the door. He opened it with a smile. "Hello Son, I was expecting you." He spoke directly to Seth who, startled, looked at Sam.
The older boy shrugged, "I don't question it anymore." Walking around Billy, he shouted, "Coffee for everyone, I assume?"
"That'd be great," Billy supplied for both himself and Seth. "Follow me, we can speak on the back porch."
When they walked out onto the porch, Seth jumped in surprise. In front of him sat his mother, his sister, Elder Nikia, and Old Quil.
"I... How?" Seth was at a loss of words.
Elder Nikia chuckled. "When the spirits give us signs, we must choose to listen. Tell me, boy, what new insight do you bring. With this, we hope we can piece together what our ancestors are sharing."
Seth found his seat between Leah and his mother. He didn't speak until Sam had placed coffee in front of everyone.
He started off quietly, not able to get the words out. He looked at Leah and grabbed her hand. "830."
She stiffened and squeezed tighter. Looking around the porch, Leah cleared her throat and elaborated. "2 years, 3 months and 9 days. 830 days. That's how long Sky has been gone."
Seth looked at his sister, finding it easier to talk about this if he pretended it was just the two of them, as it had always been. "Sky came to me in a dream last night. Her body was broken, bruised, cut up and small. So, so small. She spoke to me of the horrors she is going through, without giving it a single name. She begged me not to hurt her when she first saw me. Begged me. Told me she didn't want-" His throat closed tighter- "She told me she didn't want to. When she looked at me, when she truly looked, and knew who I was, she let her walls come down. Steve brought another girl to her. 9 years old. She fears for that girl more than herself." In typical Sky fashion. He thought to himself.
Leah's back straightened, a new fear, a burning turmoil in her eyes. She couldn't decide between letting her emotions show, and holding her ice facade. Seth squeezed her hand, a sign of support for his older sister.
"Well, my Son, I do believe we have some answers for you. You are now old enough, or should we say wolf enough, to be brought to speed with our theories." Billy Black spoke with the air of authority he always carried, and he looked towards Elder Nikia to expand upon his vague statement.
"The legend goes like this," She began. "Every hundred years, four souls so entangled with one another that you cannot tell where one begins and one ends, these souls are brought together in the same time and place, and a truer magic can be felt than at all other times and places. These four souls, the Sacred Four, await each other in the after life so that they can be introduced together into their new lives. Once in their new life, they find each other and grow and shape and mold one another. They call for one another in a way not understood by any others. They are much more connected than a simple imprint, and mind you, imprints are sacred and unwavering bonds.
"But these souls, they call for each other through time and space, in every re-incarnation they find each other. When they are lost or separated, they are pulled back together. It is a magic so strong, the Spirits do everything in their power to protect the bonds, to bring the bonds together. They supply the Sacred Four with what they need to be united and protect one another.
"We feel this is why you have phased at such a young age, Seth. And why you, Leah, first known female shifter, have phased at all. You are two of the Sacred Four. The third being our young one, Sky. We believe the magic is being amplified by the need of the third. As she calls to you, so calls every Spirit that will listen.
"The fourth, at the current time, unknown to us. The Spirits have not yet encouraged the magic to pull the fourth to you. Likely the fourth will join, once the need and time are right. For reasons not yet known to us all, the time has not yet come for the fourth to be joined. Once all four are joined together, it is said they can never be separated again, for the love and power of the Spirit forbids it.
"It is said, when one is in peril, the others can feel that. It is very much like the imprint bond where the paired couples can sense and feel and respond to how the other feels. But on an entirely different level. And where the normal imprint bond does not extend past the two sides of the imprint, the Sacred Four can feel all others if the need is there, if the souls call to one another."
Old Quil spoke next. "We are without a doubt that you both belong as part of the sacred four. Furthermore, we believe the first time you set eyes on Sky, now that your wolf is known to you, you will imprint on her as she is destined to be the other half of your soul."
Leah was still. Not a single muscle in her entire body twitched. But if Seth had been paying attention, he would have seen the raging fire in her eyes. The soul deep pain that she had failed her baby sister.
Seth's whole body shook, he felt the anger pulsating through him as he shoved away from the table. "What fresh bull shit is this?! Our souls are destined to protect one another? Well looks like I royally fucked that one up, now didn't I? I failed her. I failed her." The angry, hot tears cascaded down his cheeks as he jumped off the porch just in time to phase.
As if his luck couldn't get any worse, the pain came on, strong and all at once. He was encompassed with all of the emotions that he was feeling, and all the emotions and pain that Sky was experiencing. He did his best to hold them all in, to freeze as he had before, holding it in, he collapsed on his side.
Sam's Point of View
It always shocked Sam, when little Sethie swore. He always pictured Sky telling him not to, making him give a dollar to the swear jar.
Before Sam had the opportunity to move towards Seth to throw him off the porch to protect the council, Seth did it himself. Though, when he transformed, He began twitching and convulsing, collapsing onto his side.
He jumped off the porch himself, fear clenching his stomach as he reached towards the boy in front of him.
Watching Sam approach Seth set Leah off and she was throwing herself away from the fragile people on the deck and towards her little brother. As she phased, he turned her growl on a still human Sam, his hands raised in defence.
Leah inched towards her baby brother, and touched his nose with hers, willing herself to take some of his pain away.
As if by magic, her eyes blew wide, and she collapsed next to Seth, noses still touching. They both convulsed for a few seconds before growing still together.
Sam felt his blood run cold, fearing the worst. He threw himself to the ground, hands grasping his two pack members, feeling for a pulse. He held his breath until the steady heartbeat thrummed to life in both of them.
"They're okay. They're okay." He kept repeating, holding the tears back as best he could.
Jake's wolf came thrashing through the edge of the forest, taking in the scene in front of him. He looked at his pack brother and sister, and shook his head to clear his thoughts, willing to phase back to his human form.
Throwing his shorts on, he slowly approached the group on the porch, still facing his alpha. "That... um... that was, not arguably, way worse than the first time. We... We thought they were..." He let the silence fill the words he couldn't say.
Jake looked to Sue, then to Sam, gave a curt nod, before approaching the sobbing mother. Jake was there when Sam had heard Seth and Leah's conversation. He knew how important it was for the siblings to protect their parents- now just Sue- from whatever pain they could shelter her from.
"Sue, let's go inside. Sam will take good care of them." Shaking like a leaf, the strong Clearwater matriarch allowed herself to be towed inside.
As the crowd on the porch filtered away, Sam phased and settled his wolf at the conjoined noses of his pack, vowing to protect them from what he could.
Seth's Point of View
Breathe. Just breathe dammit. Hold yourself together! Seth scolded himself, knowing that his mother and sister could see him shaking the way they were. This was the pain that set itself far above the normal pain. This was the heightened pain that was scarily becoming the new normal. He didn't yet know how to hold himself together when the pain felt like this. This new horror that Sky was forced into. Especially when it came on so suddenly.
There was an icy chill that spread through him and he felt the pain cut itself in half.
"Sethie? Oh my god, Sethie. Are we... are we dying?"Seth opened his eyes and found himself sitting on First Beach, in the same spot where he was sitting with Sky last night.
Seth turned to Leah and looked at their conjoined hands. "No, this is just our souls letting us know that Sky is in agony. But I think... Leah... I think you just took some of the pain away from me. This feels like it used to, before it got worse."
Leah's eyes widened. "You mean to say, you have been experiencing this, and worse, for the last 2 and a half years?!"
Seth shrugged. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from it." He couldn't look her in the eyes.
Leah scoffed and kicked his shin. "You, little brother, are just that! The little brother! I am supposed to be the one protecting you. I failed you all this time, when there was a way for me to help."
Seth cocked an eyebrow and turned to look at his big sister. "Pretty sure we can only do this now because we have some crazy wolfie magic on top of our weird crazy soul magic." He sucked in a breath. "Do you think they're right? Do you think we are this sacred bond?"
Leah flushed. "Well, I would say if we are, now would be a perfect opportunity for number 4 to show their face. You would think, what'd she say? 'The need and time are right.' Boy do I have news for them, the need and time would have been right if they showed up that night and stopped this all from happening."
Seth cast a glare out into the deep waters. "I guess the Spirits haven't deemed it a worthy enough time to intercede.
Sky's Point of View
"Nina, Nina, sweet girl. We will get out of here, okay? I just need to figure out how..." Sky tried her best to comfort the terrified child who had just sat through her first day in Hell, watching all that was inflicted upon the older girl.
The little girl's blue eyes fell on Sky. "They... they hurt you. They did things to you that I..." She couldn't speak as she let out a wail. "I'm sorry, I don't want that to happen to me. I don't want them to hurt me." She cried again. "I don't want them to hurt you either!"
Sky felt her gaze drift around the room, desperate for a solution to their imprisonment, still unwilling to sacrifice Nina's innocence. Her eyes drifted to the corner of the room that included a sink, toilet and shower, along with their toiletries.
An idea started blooming in her head. And she tried to squash down the hope that it created, as she knew just how dangerous of a thing that could be.
"Nina, let's get some rest. I need you to be able to do whatever I tell you to do, in the coming weeks. I... I think I can get us out of here. I just need you to be patient, okay? I will do everything I can to keep you safe."
As she hushed the little girl and held her as she fell asleep, she reached towards Seth's hoodie, grateful it had not yet been taken from her. Sometimes, she thought she could still smell him, and that smell made her think of home.
Just the word home, had her looking at the younger girl, feeling so guilty that this little girl had been gifted such a horrible life, a life that never gave her the opportunity to know a place to call home. She was orphaned at a young age and bounced from foster home to foster home. That was how her father had found her. A young girl that no one would notice was gone. A young girl who had already had bits of her innocence ripped away.
She focused on the sweatshirt, on finding that smell of home. One second she was breathing in the scent of his sweatshirt, the next, she felt the breeze of her beach kissing her skin.
Opening her eyes, she looked around for Seth. Her hopes were smothered when she realized she was alone.
She walked along the water's edge, willing Seth to be here. Praying to the Spirits to give her this one tiny bit of respite from her Hell.
A strong gust of wind nearly took her off her feet, and she froze as she felt two large hands wrap around her shoulders. "Did you seriously almost get blown away? By wind?" She sagged in relief at the voice she had been praying for.
Spinning around, she threw her arms around her favorite giant. Well, now giant. Now that he was, well, giant.
She laughed whatever laugh she could muster. "What can I say? I eat light like a fairy. Someone has to compensate for you eating everything on this side of the equator!" It felt good to joke around with her best friend. It felt good to forget her injuries, even just for a moment.
"Today was another really bad day, wasn't it? How are you holding- How can I- help?" Sky could tell that Seth was struggling for the words he wanted to say. His inability to save her, crushing him from the inside out.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the ground with her. "I actually have a question for you."
Seth looked at her as if she hung the stars. "Anything. What is it?"
She gulped. Afraid of the answer, but knowing she needed to hear it. "I have to do anything in my power to save Nina. To save her innocence."
"That's not a question."
She looked away from him, not wanting to see the disgust in his eyes when she said what she had to next. "Well, I guess my question is... If I do something really really awful, like so awful I don't want to put words to it. I guess- I mean- Will you still want me? Will I- Will I still be a part of the family?"
She could literally hear the air rush out of Seth. "Sky Chambers, look at me this instant." She still refused to meet his eyes. He gently nudged her with his humongous fingers. "Sky, you will forever be the most important person in my life. You will be welcomed in our home regardless of anything you might possibly do. I would quite literally die for you."
At that, she slapped his arm. "Too far, ding dong. No dying! I told you, you have to be there when I make it back to you. You have to be my Sethie. And... if its not too much to ask... When we make it back to you, will you protect her too? She... she is so little. I don't think I am strong enough to do it on my own."
Seth had a fierce look in his eyes. "Anyone important to you, has the protection of our pack- uh, tribe."
She nodded her head, relieved to know that regardless of what the future held for her, her Nina would still be safe.
A/N: Let me know what you guys think! What are your theories about what happens next?