SALIGIA Chapter 4
[Chapter 3]
Big surprise, Stiles was no more elegant trudging through a dense forest with a weird supernatural influence guiding him than he was without. Sighing he picked himself up, the knees of his jeans where already shredded and his palms and kneecaps where both bleeding and imbedded with dirt.
His head gradually throbbed more as he moved further into the forest, the pain seemed to shift around inside his skull when he moved off path, like some magnetic force was pulling it and it was simply rolling in his head to be as close to the pull as it could. Stiles was almost certain if he lay down his feet would start throbbing.
As he was brushing the dirt of the intact part of his jeans, he noticed a small pool of inky black liquid at the base of a nearby tree. The substance was thick and oily, and smelled heavily of sulphur, enough to make Stiles cringe and immediately worry. ‘Oh god, I am being lured by a demon’.
Stiles began to turn and was about to sprint when the throbbing pain increased tenfold just as he heard a weak groan coming from further in the forest.
‘Well, if it is a demon, at least it sounds weakened’ he thought optimistically ‘but...that would make me a very tantalising meal. Oh crap.’
The groan sounded again followed by a delightfully familiar voice, filled with pain and exhaustion.
“Stiles, I am not a demon would you hurry up and help me”
‘And wow, when had Deaton ever sounded that bitchy before’. Stiles rushed over to the voice and stopped in shock. Deaton was sitting against a tree, bleeding from a head wound and bound by thick black chains. Chains that didn’t look like they were made of any ordinary metal, or any metal at all for that matter, just darkness. Stiles shuddered involuntarily at the memory of last night’s encounter.
“Stiles” Deaton wheezed, “I need you to break the chain, just like with the mountain ash, imagine it breaking... and you can do a motion if it helps” He added the last bit with a tone of voice that suggested it was an immature thing to do.
Stiles of course, did the action. As dramatically as possible. Of course.
Miming the act he imagined ripping the chains to shreds, and was absolutely ecstatic when the chains actually exploded apart with a fair amount of force. Deaton actually looked shot and fixed Stiles with a strange look.
“I found out my mum was a telekinetic and Scott made me realise that it was possible that I am too, so I may or may not have been watching X-men to steal some of Jean Gray’s moves...” Stiles mumbled in way of explanation, to which Deaton’s face took on a more resigned quality as he muttered a weak “oh”.
Stiles rushed forward and helped the man to stand, wincing in empathy as the man groaned in pain and he noticed the huge gashes along his back. It looked like he had been flayed!
“Jesus! Did you lead a mutiny or something? It looks like you got seriously whipped man.” Deaton winced “Oh right, sorry, I have never been good at breaking difficult news to people...”
“Let’s just focus on getting back to my practice”.
“Right” Stiles nodded a bit too vigorously jolting Deaton a bit, eliciting another groan.
They continued to pick their way through the forest before Stiles couldn’t take the silence.
“You knew about my mum didn’t you?”
“Yes”
“And does that mean I am telekinetic?”
“Yes”
“And can you teach me how to use my power?”
“Yes”
“So does that mean you are telekinetic?”
“No”
“Damn. That was one of the best theories I had.” He paused, briefly “So what are you then? We all tried to have a bet set up for it, but none of our theories were even good enough to warrant betting on them”
Deaton glanced at Stiles with an amused expression “I am a vet Stiles.”
And Stiles would never admit he pouted the rest of the journey to Deaton’s practice.
*****
Jackson and Lydia were spending their day slowly browsing through the limited stores in the local mall. They were laughing together, trying on clothes, complimenting those that look good, comparing those that look bad to the outfits of people they don’t like, they were both truly happy for the first time in months. And nothing could bring them down.
As they walked between the stores, Jackson’s head began to throb slightly. His thoughts became less coherent, before his mind was filled with pitch blackness. He stopped moving, standing in the middle of the entrance to a darkened alley.
“Jackson?” Lydia’s call was muffled, distant, as if he was hearing it with his heightened senses through several layers of concrete.
“How would you like a real family Jackson?” the cold voice was a shock to his system, causing Jackson to flinch, all the while, his body remained out of his control.
By now Lydia had reached him and had her hand on his shoulder, trying to shake him to attention.
“How would you like to know who your parents are Jackson? How would you like to be with them again?” A chill raced down his spine as he felt a presence further in the alleyway. He turned his head towards it.
Something was huddled under a filthy blanket further down the alley. As he looked at it, it raised its cloaked head and its coal-black eyes met his own. The creature’s face was grotesque, it had grey-green skin, large pointed ears and every inch of its skin was covered in warts and boils. Its torso and limbs were stunted in growth, twisted and grown out of proportion. It reached out towards him and at the tip of its hands glistened deadly ruby red claws.
Jackson turned his body towards the foul creature.
“Yes. Come with me and I can give you all you desire. The power you now have, is a mere fraction of what you could have. You can have your entire family again, you can keep the girl forever. Just. Come. With. Me.
*****
Lydia was having the time of her life. Of the many things she loved about Jackson, one was his willingness to shop and his impeccable taste in fashion. She always had liked shopping with him. And now, since that night, he actually treats her like she is important, he showers her with genuine compliments and makes her feel like a goddess. Which, let’s face it, she practically is.
So when Jackson wasn’t by her side, she instantly grew worried.
She turned sharply and noticed Jackson, standing dead still at the mouth of a filthy alley. His face was contorted in pain and his body twitched as if attempting to move.
“Jackson?” she called out. She rushed to his side and put her hand on his shoulder, trying to shake him out of his reverie. “Jackson what’s wrong?”
Slowly, Jackson cocked his head towards the alley. He stood in silence for a few more minutes, before turning his whole body towards it. Lydia peered down the darkened street and noticed a frail looking man, huddled in blankets with his hand extended towards Jackson pleadingly.
Her heart melted. ‘Oh how sweet!’ she though, cooing mentally ‘Jackson must have heard the poor man and stopped to help’.
Resolutely, Lydia turned to face the man as well, she pulled out her wallet and smiled a brilliant smile before flicking a hundred dollar bill towards him.
“Here you go dear. Go buy yourself something nice to eat and some warm clothes.”
The man looked at her sharply, uttering a surprised “da fuq?!” as the note drifted to land on his outstretched hand. He shrieked in pain and Lydia flinched as she saw the malice in his eyes.
Suddenly, she could see the beast just as clearly as Jackson could, his features beginning to glow as hairline cracks that glowed like magma traced over his entire body. His mouth opened in a wordless scream, his throat illuminated by the burning glow as his body continued to flare with the energy.
And then he collapsed. His flesh turned to dust crumbled away, leaving nothing more than a dingy hessian sack and the one hundred dollar note.
Lydia just stared as Jackson regained his control. He grabbed her and wheeled her out of the alley, sending a text to Derek.
*****
“Derek?” the plaintive cry rang through the silent house, and within a few seconds Derek was kneeling by Erica’s side, carefully holding a glass of water to her lips.
Erica released a choking laugh, wincing at the pain of her slowly healing body. “Wow Derek, I could almost be fooled into thinking you care about me.”
A wounded look flew across Derek’s features so quickly that Erica didn’t see it. He simply rocked back on his heels, keeping his face impassive. “What happened Erica? Where is Boyd?”
“We were leaving. During the game. We were about 50 miles south, when they began... hunting us.” Erica shuddered at the memory. The feeling of hopelessness that she had not felt since the bite, the knowledge that for once, you were the prey.
“We didn’t get very far before they surrounded us. They said that they had a message for you. And then... then...” Erica’s body began to shake with silent sobs as she tried desperately to keep her composure. “THEY KILLED HIM!” she screamed suddenly, bursting into tears and throwing herself into the comforting arms of her alpha.
Isaac burst in the front door an hour later to find Erica curled up in Derek’s lap on the couch still crying softly. He made towards her, but a glare from Derek held him at bay.
“Derek, I know this may not be the best timing, but there is something you should know.” Isaac said softly, not wanting to completely disturb the two, but also knowing that if he didn’t do it now, Derek would only be furious later.
“What?” Derek growled, his glare not budging. Erica whimpered slightly at the growl and his face softened a bit.
“There is a new kid at school.”
Derek raised an eyebrow. He opened his mouth to (quietly) berate Isaac when the boy continued sheepishly.
“He asked to meet the local pack’s alpha.”
Derek’s jaw widened minutely, and then snapped shut. “It’s probably just a beta asking permission to hunt-”
“No Derek. He is a human. He is definitely human. And he says that he is part of another pack and that he needed to meet you to make sure he could live here.”
“God damn it! Why does all of this shit have to happen at once. We are being invaded by demons, hunted by a pack of bloodthirsty alphas and now another pack wants to encroach on our territory!” Derek growled and stood up, after gently laying Erica back on the couch, and began to pace the floor. “What’s his name? I will have to find him and talk to him when I get the time.”
“Odin. Odin Crowseye.”
“Fine. I will track him down later.”
Derek’s phone buzzed and he whipped it out so quickly he almost snapped it in half.
His jaw clenched and he looked like he was going pop several blood vessels. “Jackson and Lydia were attacked by something.” He opened his mouth to say more when all three werewolves stiffened.
A very foreign and very dangerous smell drifted on the wind towards them. They all bolted out the front door, ready to fight.
~~~
The alpha was standing just outside the tree line, staring at the three of them as they came out. He was tall, very tall, and he had shoulder-length, straight blonde hair. His body was well built, but also lithe. He looked like he was built to be a runner, which is probably why he was the messenger. He had the best chance of outrunning the person he delivered the message to. He smiled sadistically at Erica and winked at her when she came out of the door last, causing her to shrink inwardly at the sight of one of her tormentors.
Derek’s growl rang clear across the clearing between them and the other alpha laughed.
“Well, I can’t say I was expecting a banquet. Alas, I shall just have to deliver my message on an empty stomach.” There was no wasting time. His eyes locked on Derek and he took a threatening step closer.
“We are here to offer you... a deal. You come join our pack. We let the remainder of yours live.”
“You would leave a pack of betas to fend for themselves? They wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Ah yes, well we are willing to haggle. As well as granting them their lives, we will even help eliminate your small... pest problem.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh? You don’t know yet?” the alpha released another laugh “Maybe you should go back to the warehouse district. Try the one 5 blocks north and 2 east from your... holiday home... and you might be a little surprised at what you find” The alpha grinned wickedly at them.
“What did you do in my territory?” Derek’s eyes bled red and his fangs elongated.
“Oh tsk. No need for rudeness. We did nothing. Yet. But I believe a while ago you, misplaced, an old man? A hunter of some note I believe. Let’s just say you might find him... hanging around.”
With no further explanation the blonde turned and sprinted off in a blur.
*****
Odin stood in front of his mirror. He pulled a small cloth out of the first drawer of the kitchen vanity and methodically wiped the mirror clean of steam. He then washed his hands twice with anti-bacterial soap, brushed his teeth twice, flossed and rinsed with high-strength mouth wash.
He turned the lights off and closed the door before walking to his room. Odin walked over to the closet, pulled out several items of pressed clothes from the left side and hung them neatly on the right. After making certain everything was perfectly straight, he walked over to his desk and pulled out his homework books.
He sat at his desk for an hour writing. He did not fidget or move other than his pen flying across the paper with neat, elegant strokes. When he was finished, he went downstairs and microwaved a frozen meal, transferring it into a clean bowl when it was ready. He ate it quickly. Washed up after himself and left the kitchen.
He looked at his alarm clock. It was exactly 9:00pm. He went into the bathroom once more and carefully peeled the brown coloured contacts out of his eyes. He glanced briefly in the mirror at the flash of blue that was previously hidden.
*****
Derek didn’t need the alpha’s instructions. Once he was at his own warehouse he could smell the rot. A putrid smell of death and corruption was clogging up the air in the whole area, getting stronger with every step towards the specified location.
As Derek crept closer he could here laughter and music. He could hear 3 heart beats pounding from inside the building. The metal walls acting as an amplifier. All three heartbeats where elevated, but where two seemed to correspond with the rhythm of the music and the sounds of dancing, the third was erratic, scared, dying. Derek scaled the wall of the warehouse with barely a sound, peering in through one of the high windows.
Three figures where in the centre of the warehouse. One was a woman, bound and gagged in the centre of a circle. The other two were inhumanly beautiful creatures. Their pale skin ha a red tinge and their features were almost identical. Both had a pair of brilliant white horns. As he watched, the two of them sidled up to the woman, they rubbed close to her, pulling her up to stand, and her moans of pain turned into pleasured gasps as the two began to gyrate and thrust in sync.
It was then that Derek noticed that the circle they stood in, was a clearing. A clearing lined with hundreds of rotting corpses, men and women of all ages, in varying degrees of decay where piled on top of one another. In the far corner of the warehouse, he noticed Gerard, swinging slowly back and forth on the end of a noose.
Derek’s phone began to buzz. He silently cursed and tried to grab it, but it was too late. The two demons’ heads snapped towards him and they screeched with inhuman cries. They sprinted towards the door to the warehouse and he quickly pulled himself up to the roof, answering the call from Stiles as he did.
*****
“Derek I found Deaton!” Stiles blurted when Derek answered the phone. “Also I have been looking up a few ways to kill demons for you and I think I-”
“Great!” Derek’s growl cut him off “Tell me how to kill them now!”
“What?!” Stiles squeaked.
“Stiles! I am being attacked by two demons I need to know how to kill them right now.”
“Oh shit! Oh shit.”
“STILES”
“Ok, you could try holy water?”
“Think of something I am more likely to find in a warehouse Stiles.” Derek was very quickly losing his patience.
“Oh oh! Iron! Iron can weaken them and kill some types of demons. At the very least it will hold them off until I find a better solution.”
“Just hurry Stiles.” And then Derek hung up. And oh god that shouldn’t worry him so much. Frantically Stiles scrolled through the pages of information he had found.
“EUREKA!” He screamed to his empty house! Basking in his own glory for a brief second, before realising he had friends in mortal danger. Wait, friends? Really? Ok then.
He grabbed his phone and his speed dial.
“Scott! I need you to meet me at the cemetery like right now! Bring some shovels and matches!”
“What? Why?”
“Derek is in danger and we need to ransack graves to save him”
“Oh. Ok, see you soon”.
‘Well that was easy’ he thought as he grabbed some lighter fluid and his keys and sprinted out the front door.
[Chapter 5]