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Fox In The Hills	By : fusedtwilight Category: S through Z > Teen Wolf Views: 5459 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf. It is the property of Jeff Davis and MTV. I make no profit from this fic.

Chapter List
- 1-Parrish
- 2-Ethan
- 3-Liam
- 4-Scott
- 5-Derek
- 6-Danny
- 7-Isaac
- 8-Brett
- 9-Jackson
- 10-Corey
- 11-Boyd
- 6
- 7
- 8
Fusedtwilight: Hey guys, sorry it has been so long. I meant to have this chapter out for Halloween but stuff kept coming up. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Fair warning this chapter might have some triggers for some people.
精神
Seishin
Spirit
Isaac
I stared at the gravestone three of my family members. My father, my mother and my brother. Two I loved and one...I hated.
The bottle of whiskey burned my throat in a good way. I had put a little bit of Wolf Lichen in it. Wolf Lichen could weaken a Werewolf. But it was far from deadly like Wolfsbane. It dulled our senses, limited our ability to alter our forms and most importantly allowed us to get drunk.
I was alone, a fucking omega. Boyd and Erica were dead. Derek is gone. He left me. Taking his sister somewhere to South America, leaving me; his last surviving beta to fend for myself.
I hadn't been a good enough son for my own father. So he locked me up in a freezer.
I hadn't been a good enough beta, so my alpha left me to fend for myself.
Derek had been acting colder and more distant to me. I assumed it was because we lost Erica and Boyd. Fucking Hunters and their bullshit code. They didn't even bother to make sure if we were tame or peaceful. They just came in guns blazing, ending the lives of two people I consider my brother and sister.
Erica, the sassy little minx who was once mocked and ridiculed. Merely for being a victim of a disease that caused her to have seizures so bad she would piss herself. I remember seeing her having an episode in the hallway at school one time. People had their cameras out, recording the whole thing. But no one helped her.
And Boyd. Boyd was always a loner. He was the poster child for the strong and silent type. He was always alone. Always by himself. He never laughed. Never smiled. Never showed any emotion. Maybe that was why no one ever approached him. Unlike Derek who had a perpetual bitch face Boyd was always stoic. Until you pissed him off, then he would give you this look and if you were smart, you would run.
You would never know how much he craved companionship.
Was it any wonder why any of us said yes when Derek offered us the bite?
The sickly girl, the lonely boy, the abused child. Wolves prey on the weak. Derek chose us because he needed to make a pack and fast and if you're going to recruit for an army, start with the poor and the desperate.
I can't bitch too much. We all knew the score. Derek told us what the cost would be: Anger.: Bloodlust. Hunters: Other Werewolves.
If I knew then what I knew now, I might have just said fuck it and staid human. But I wanted power. I wanted a family and for werewolves pack is family.
Erica became more confidant. No longer afraid that flashing lights would send her into a fit and free from the drugs her doctors prescribed she became one of the hottest girls in school. She was glorious. She reveled in the looks of envy from the girls and the lustful stares from the guys. The same ones who once mocked her and sneered at her because of her condition.
Me? Oh I became more outgoing. I cut loose on the lacrosse field. I reveled in the strength and speed being a werewolf gave me. Any injury I got was healed in seconds. I had more stamina and could outrun even the best track runners. I admit, I became a bit of a bully.
But I didn't prey on the downtrodden or those who were at the bottom of the totem pole. I preyed on the jocks, the preps, the popular kids who were so self-absorbed with their own popularity that they ignored the misfortune of others or went out of their way to make the lives of others hard.
Like Jackson Whittemore. He had parents who loved him. He did everything they could to please him. To prove their love to him. But Jackson was adopted, and that made him feel inadequate. Unloved. The bastard didn't know what it was like to have your own father hit you, cure your very existence. Leave you for hours on end locked away in a box.
So what he lost his real parents. His father died before he was born and his mother soon after. He didn't know them. He had no memories of them. He didn't remember the smell of his mothers perfume; he didn't know what it was like to have a brother who used to build forts made of blankets and pillows and staid up late watching horror movies. But he acted like their loss was something fresh and recent. Like he didn't have a couple who were just as good.
A spoiled, pampered little brat who acted like he had nothing in the world, when in fact he had the whole fucking world at his feet.
After I became a werewolf, I remember hearing him having an argument with his girlfriend, Lydia Martin. He was angry because she did better on a test then he did. He was upset because she also tutored him and he blamed her for his failure.
His arrogance enraged me. He got a fucking A! But it wasn't good enough for him he had to be the best and he was taking his anger out on his girlfriend. Lydia wasn't my favorite person. I had asked her out when we were in Elementary and she laughed at me. But seeing him yell at her, smelling her sorrow and his anger made the wolf rise up in me.
Erica had to take me outside to calm me down.
It took me a while to figure out what Boyd got out of all this. He didn't revel in the power and fear like we did. He stuck with us but he didn't seem to use his werewolf abilities like we did to install terror and respect in our peers.
He only seemed really happy when we were out for a run. Chasing after Erica and me as we played our games of tag and hide and seek. It was a few months after we became pack when we were talking after a rather brutal training session with Derek. We talked about what we enjoyed about being Werewolves.
Power. Beauty. Fear. Respect.
But Boyd humbled us with his answer.
Pack.
Erica and I were his only friends. His family was poor. He had to take the bus to and from work because he couldn't afford a car. How he felt awkward because he wasn't interested in cars, sports or women like other guys his age. And worst of all, the guilt he felt for his sisters death.
He had taken her to the ice-rink when they were kids. Someone had kidnapped her. They never found her body, but she was assumed dead. Boyd felt guilty. Said she would still be here if he paid more attention. He got a job at the same rink where she was kidnapped.
Erica asked him why he would be so masochistic to work at the place where he lost his sister. He told her because it was the one place he felt closest to her. And because he wanted to keep an eye on the other young kids who went there...just in case.
I think that was the moment Erica fell in love with Boyd and I gained a newfound respect for him.
Derek wasn't much of a care giver or a nurturer. He was strict, demanding unwavering obedience and little to no questions asked. I didn't mind. Too much. He was my Alpha. He was strong. I wanted to be like him.
I was too young and naive to see him for what he was. A fucking mess.
Eventually we were joined by his sister Cora. She was friendlier than Derek, but not by much. She was more forthcoming and willing to teach us about werewolf culture and etiquette than Derek. But she also kept us at arms-length.
Derek showed her more care and affection than he did the rest of us. I couldn't blame him. If Cam was in the pack, I knew who I would stick close to.
For a time things were perfect.
Until Derek decided to bite Jackson fucking Whittemore and instead of turning into a Werewolf, he turned into some lizard nightmare called a Kanima. That was what brought the Hunters to us. They thought Derek was some wild Alpha going around and randomly biting kids.
Should have done their fucking homework first.
Now Erica and Boyd are dead. The Hunters had riddled her with bullets and Boyd in a rage had charged them. I am proud to say he took three out before they brought him down. Jackson managed to survive the whole fucking thing, even got turned back into a werewolf by Lydia thanks to her love.
Oh wait, he still has the Kanima venom and Tail, even the universe loves dishing that piece of shit gifts.
And Derek and Cora were gone. I had returned to the loft after school to find their shit gone and a letter from Derek explaining how he left me bank account filled with money. An apology for not being a better alpha but he had to look after his sister and his encouragement to join Scott McCall's pack.
Scott McCall who had been bitten by Derek's uncle. Scott McCall who Derek tried so hard to recruit. Scott McCall who was just an Omega and dating a fucking Werewolf Huntress.
Fuck him! Fuck Derek! Fuck the Hunters! Fuck Jackson! And most of all-
"Fuck you dad!" I slurred.
I pulled my fly down and whipped my dick out and let out a nice stream of piss on his gravestone.
"I ma-may be a pie-piece of shit. But guess wha asshole. M'not dead."
I had hoped becoming a werewolf would give me a chance to have power over my dad. To make him cower in fear and lock him in that fucking freezer.
Bastard went and drunk himself to death before I could even show him my fangs.
I put myself away and kissed mom and Cam's gravestones before I left. I headed over to Boyd and Erica. Fighting the urge to cry out for them. The wolf in me yearned for my brother and sister. The man in me knew it didn't matter how much I cried. They were dead.
McCall tried to recruit me. Guess dear old Derek had a talk with him before he left. Yeah, he talked with some Omega but he only sent his Beta a stupid letter with like two paragraphs.
I told McCall to fuck off.
I see him at school. Hanging out with that whore Huntress that stupid bitch Martin as well as her freak lizard-wolf boyfriend and of course that gawky goth kid.
Sometimes I could feel them watching me. If I ever heard my name coming from their mouths, I would glare at them but they didn't meet my gaze.
I don't need them. They would just leave me.
They would die, or just disappear.
Fuck family. Fuck pack.
I decided to make my way home. I had walked here and it would take me over an hour to get from the cemetery to the loft. Last thing I needed was to be arrested for public intoxication.
Isaac.
I froze. I looked around. The voice was soft. It sounded so far, yet it felt like someone had spoken in my ear. I took a deep breath and smelled nothing out of the ordinary. It was autumn. Nothing but dead leaves and cold air. Moist earth from last nights rain and the occasional rodent.
Isaac.
The voice called to me again. Louder and a little more distinct. A cold shill went down my spine. I recognized that voice all to well.
"ISAAC!"
I spun around, but I was too drunk and before I knew it I was on my ass.
"Look at you!"
My father was glaring at me hatefully. His eyes were deep and sunken. He wore the same cloths he wore the day I found him dead on the couch, with several empty bottles surrounding him. The stench of alcohol and death drifting off him like some foul perfume mixed with bitterness and spite.
But even though I could hear his voice I couldn't hear his heartbeat, nor could I hear his breath or blood flowing through his veins. Neither did I smell his scent. Just the chill air and wet grass.
My instincts were going nuts. I could see him and hear him. But there was no scent and it was only his voice I heard. He took a step toward me and I couldn't even hear the sound of his feet crushing the grass.
"Fucking pathetic!" he spat. "Why did Camden have to die? He was everything I loved!"
"Fuck you!" I spat back.
I threw the bottle at him but it passed right through. He reached down and pulled off his belt. "I'm gonna teach you some respect boy!"
He brought his arm back and with a sharp crack my pain filled howls filled the air. I had brought my hand up to shield myself from the blow. I could feel the leather hitting my skin, felt the burning agony as is hit me.
Again and again and again he attacked me without mercy or remorse. Spewing all the shit he used to say to me before. His words were a familiar poison I felt burning me to my core.
Failure.
Disappointment.
Loser.
Pathetic.
God took the wrong son.
Stupid.
It's all true, a familiar voice in my head said. It's why you never had any friends. Why Derek left you. Why no one at school ever said anything when you showed up with bruises. No one cares. This is what you get.
The only thing worse than his words was the look in his eyes. It was like all the rage and spit he held was staring at me in its purist form. As if anything human had been removed, only leaving the most raw hatred behind.
"Hey asshole!"
Dad froze, looking up to glare at who spoke. Suddenly an ear-piercing wail shattered the silence of the night. Something so powerful I cried out, holding my ears in agony and felt the very bones in my bod resonate. It was a terrible sound, like death had joined a heavy metal band and was being cheered for by the damned.
Dad disappeared, his body became unhinged and he vanished.
The voice stopped screaming, I looked up to a see a familiar red head with her hands thrown out. Next to her stood a boy with a nose ring wearing black clothing, wearing the same kind of eyeliner she was.
"Told you there was going to be a rising tonight," she said with a smug smile.
"Yeah yeah," the guy said with a sigh. "Hey...isn't that Isaac?"
Before I could speak my vision went from blurry to dark. My body throbbed where dad had hit me with the belt. The familiar pain was the last thing I felt before I fell into unconsciousness.
I remember dreaming of the night Boyd and Erica died. We were running through a field and the Hunters were on our ass. I remember Derek and Cora were ahead of me. Derek was yelling at us to keep running.
Then the sound of gunfire exploded from behind and I heard a scream followed by the smell of blood. I stopped to see Boyd screaming in rage and running to Erica who was on the ground, her head bloody.
I already knew she was dead, Werewolves had amazing healing abilities but even we couldn't heal brain matter. And the connection I shared with her was gone. It was like a layer of clothing you wore on a cold night was ripped from your body, leaving you more prone to the freezing temperature.
Derek told us Werewolves were pack creatures like real Wolves. They needed a pack. Naturally we seek out our own kind, but if for some reason we can't join a pack we can settle for other shifters or even humans. The mortal need for connection and kinship is intensified to the point where Omega's who are kept isolated and disconnected from others turn feral and mad.
When we are part of a pack we share a bond. A metaphysical connection the binds us. Allows us to draw power from one another. Like a well oiled machine with the alpha as the driver. Losing a pack member was like losing a family member.
Loosing two was devastating.
Boyd roared in pain and wolfed out. He charged at the Hunters, too lost in his fury to realize claws were no match for guns. Or maybe he did. Boyd was like our big brother. The unspoken protector of the Hale pack. He watched over us like he did the kids at the rink. And the bond between him and Erica was more profound. They had feelings for one one another. They had been on the verge of acting on it. But now they never would.
Derek grabbed me, pulling me back. The last thing I saw was Boyd being riddled with bullets before the world shifted and I was in Derek's empty loft with only my meager possessions left.
"Isaac."
I turned and saw my dad at the doorway. "Let this be a lesson to you boy."
The room began to change. Growing smaller and changing from a loft to the inside of a freezer. I tried to run to the door but he shut it and I was once again all alone in the darkness.
But the only thing worse than the dark was the fact I was alone now. No father, no pack, no family, no friend. Nothing.
I was nothing.
I felt something caressing my face gently, it reminded me of my mother. How when I was hurting or afraid she would cup my cheek and make me look at her face. I would see her smile and I would feel so much better.
"Isaac!"
I opened my eyes and saw not my mothers baby blue eyes looking at me with love and tenderness. But a pair of dark brown eyes filled with worry.
"Isaac!"
I sat up and looked around wildly. I was in a room filled with posters of movies and comic characters. Stiles Stilinski stood up with his hands out in a calming motion. Scott McCall stood in the doorway, tense but none-threatening.
A searing pain from my arms and chest kept me from jumping off the bed and jumping out the window. I didn't have a shirt on and could smell some kind of ointment. The same kind I used when my dad…oh fuck me.
"Easy Isaac, you're suffering from Ghost Sickness," Stiles said.
"What?" I looked from him, to McCall to the welts on my chest and arms. "Why am I not healing?"
"Like I said...Ghost Sickness. It's why your not healing from your fathers attack. Well, that and the Wolf Lichen."
Scott finally spoke. "Isaac why were you drinking like that. You know what happens when we lose control."
I glared at him. "Fuck off McCall. You're not my Alpha. Your just a stupid Omega!"
"Dude calm down!" Stiles said.
"You were there with Lydia, I remember. What happened? Why is my father alive?"
"He's not alive. He's still dead, you were just attacked by his ghost. Look, just get a shower and come downstairs. I'll cook us some breakfast and we can talk about your fathers ghost haunting you."
Stiles
I sat the plate of eggs, bacon and toast in front of Isaac. I had Scott bring the bacon from his house because there was no way I was going to keep bacon in my freezer. Knowing dad he would eat a whole pack in a single meal.
I sat down at the table, Scott had already started to eat (inhale) his food. Isaac didn't even touch his food. "You going to tell me what happened last night?" he asked.
He wore a pair of my black sweatpants and matching black shirt. But he was so tall that when he stood up the shit rode up, exposing his belly. And those nice abbs of his.
"Eat," I said motioning to his food. He slowly grabbed his silverware and began to pick at his food, but not eat. He kept his bloodshot eyes on me, as if waiting for me to jump up and attack him.
His aura was cautious and had plenty of dark spots for depression and dark red for anger. His aura was starting to sour from all that pain and rage. He may be attractive but his energy made me want to gag.
"Your father is dead. What you saw was his ghost," I said.
"Ghosts are real?" he asked.
"So are Werewolves and Kanimas and Kitsune," I said.
"The hell is a Kitsune?" he asked.
"Not important. Yes Ghosts are real. But it's like what Sir Nicholas told Harry in Order of the Phoenix about ghost being imprints of people-only in this case anyone can have a Ghost not just a Witch or Wizard-Ghosts are like a memory or a shadow of a person. Sometimes they are just harmless energy that eventually fades away. But not all of them are like that. There are different kinds of Ghosts. Like I said some are harmless, peaceful even. But others are created from the darker parts of a persons soul. In this case your fathers rage was so great that when he died he left it behind and it became a Ghost known as Makhai. These kinds of ghost are also known a Vengeful Ghosts because they are so angry they lash out at people."
"But I don't get it, I have been to his grave many times and that never happened," Isaac said.
Scott and I shared a look. His aura was much more pleasing to look at than Isaac's. Just looking at him made me feel more calm and at ease. But I small a small sliver of uncertainty now.
"Derek didn't tell you?" Scott asked.
The anger in his aura pulsed. "Tell me what."
"Damn it Sourwolf," I sighed.
"We told Derek there was a chance your dad could come back as a ghost," Scott said.
"What?" Isaac snapped.
After Mr. Lahey died I did my usual rounds and saw the tiny little spirit ball hanging over his grave. Like an ember made from fire and mist. Even in it's early stages I knew if it grew it would become a Makhai. It pulsed with raw anger.
"It was in an embryo stage," I told him. "Ghosts are just emotional energy and a lot of the times they fade before they can full form. Last time I checked your dad was just about gone."
"Why were you checking his grave?" he asked suspiciously.
"Dude I am checking the local graves all the time. Why do you think you always saw me hanging around?" I asked.
"I thought you were just a weirdo," he shrugged.
"You and everyone else," I muttered. "Hurry up and eat your food before it gets cold."
"I don't think I can eat," he said looking sick.
"Drink lots of milk and water. That can help," I said.
"So you can see spirits. Are you a medium or something?" Isaac asked.
"No, he's whats known as a Kitsune," Scott said.
I kicked him on the shins and he gave me that kicked puppy dog look he always gets when he does something dumb, which admittedly happens a lot.
"What the hell is a Kitsune?" Isaac asked.
"It's a fox spirit that can assume human form. My mothers family back in Poland are fox spirits or as they are known in Japan, Kitsune. She fell in love with my dad and married him and had me."
He was silent for a moment. "You can turn into a fox?"
I sighed. I flashed him my fox eyes and enjoyed how he jumped and the strong streak of shock in hos aura. "That whole explanation and you focus on that."
"Stiles is a Spirit Kitsune. He can see auras and spirits and ghosts and-"
I kicked him on the shin again. "Would you stop telling pack secrets to a none-pack member!"
"Stiles this is Isaac," Scott said cheerfully.
"The same Isaac who tried to kill Lydia!"
"On Derek's orders!"
"Who is sitting right here," Isaac commented. "It this why Derek told us to stay away from Stiles? That he was nothing but trouble."
I felt a sure of indignation. "Me?!"
"Yeah, he said you were too dangerous and untrustworthy. Erica thought he was being funny."
He did a good job keeping his face neutral but his aura showed his depression at the thought of Erica. Her and Boyd's deaths affected him bad. It made sense, they were his pack. But it affected all of us. I didn't know Boyd well. But I knew he yearned for companionship and to connect with others.
Erica, the Catwoman to my Batman. I regret not trying to befriend her. I had always felt pity for her because of her condition. I remember how her aura had been. Dark with fear and anxiety.
And Isaac, it was like a lesser version of what it is now. Less seething anger, less pain. More fear and a bit less hopelessness..
It took me a while to figure out how to read aura's. When my powers first manifested I couldn't understand what the colors I saw floating around a person meant. You would think red was just for anger, but as I learned emotions can be more subtle and blend with one another. Yeah there were some shades of red that were connected to anger, but also to lust and love.
Guess there really is a thin line.
"Apparently foxes and wolves have a history of not getting along," Scott said. "Derek knew right away what Stiles was when they first met and tried to convince me to drop him from my life."
"Stupid Sourwolf," I mumbled.
"He never told us. Derek wasn't one to give up information unless he had to," Isaac spoke, bitterness thick in his tone and aura.
"Yeah, he is a dick alright," I said.
Isaac began to eat his food. I could tell from his aura he was feeling a little more relaxed.
"You said my dads...what did you say his Ghost it?"
"Makhai. In Greek myth they are the spirits of combat and battle. People who hold a lot of anger or rage make Makhai when they die. You typically find them around places where some great battle took place," I explained.
"Is that why you and Lydia were there last night?"
I shook my head. "Lydia had a sense someone was going to die in the cemetery. Good thing we showed up. Between the sickness and your abuse of Wolf Lichen you would have died."
"I thought Werewolves didn't get sick?" he asked.
"Ghost Sickness is more of a spiritual ailment that effects the body. It can be cause a number of ways. Last time I saw your dads grave his energy was almost gone. But now he is a fully formed Ghost and I think it is because of you."
"Me?"
I nodded. "Makhai are rage and seething anger. This isn't your father. It's a part of him. The worst part. Souls are like the human body. We got arms and legs and a head. But peel back the skin and you have muscle and veins. Peels that back and you got bone. But even all those parts are made up of smaller parts. Ghosts are just parts left behind. And since you are filled with anger right now and suffering from what happened with Boyd and Erica I think your anger gave your fathers Ghost the strength it needed to fully form."
I let that sink in. His aura was a nauseating blend of dark colors.
"So what happens now?" he asked.
"Now we exorcise your fathers spirit. You still have Ghost Sickness Isaac. You have been infected by your fathers spirit. That means he can leave his grave and haunt you. And since Makhai are violent Ghosts that means he is going to try and finish the job."
"We've done this before," Scott quickly added. "Beacon Hills has its fare share of Ghosts. And Lydia is getting better at sensing when someone is going to die-"
"What is she psychic?"
"No, well kind of. She's a Banshee. When Derek's uncle Peter bit her he activated her abilities. One good thing he did. Well two if you include me."
"Did Derek know she is a Banshee?" Isaac asked.
"No, we just figured it our recently when a couple of Hellhounds moved into town. We thought they had a creepy crush on Lydia and wanted her to join them in a ménage à trois. Turns out they are connected to her because they are Hellhounds."
Isaac dropped his fork and knife and rubbed his face. "I liked it better when I thought only Werewolves were real."
"I know, it all gets so confusing," Scott moaned.
Isaac opened his mouth to speak but stopped. "Oh God!"
"Bathroom is upstairs!" I quickly said, recognizing the look on his face.
He shot up and ran out of the kitchen. I heard him go running up the stairs and the distant sound of a door slamming shut. Scott and I let out a sigh.
"Remind me if we ever see Derek again to kick his dumb ass!" I hissed, savagely biting into my toast. "Guys a total mess Scott."
"Don't need psychic vision to see that. He reeks of alcohol," Scott said.
"Don't need a wolf-y sense of smell to know that. He still reeks even after he took a shower," I replied.
"I'm worried about him Stiles. He reminds me of my dad when he started drinking. Most of the time he doesn't come to school and when he does it's like he's not even there."
I sighed. "Yeah, he's a mess. Derek really fucked him over when he left. Maybe we can use this whole Ghost Sickness thing to get through to him."
Before he left Derek asked us to look after Isaac. We tried to reach out to him but Isaac used some rather colorful words that even I didn't know could be used to insult someone. We have been keeping an eye on him. Werewolves need a pack, or at least some kind of emotional bond to keep from going feral. Scott may be an Omega like Isaac but unlike him Scott hasn't isolated himself from others. His bond to me and Allison helped keep him sane.
But Isaac is slowly doing off the deep end.
He went all the way out to the cemetery drunk off his ass. God what if he lost control? What if he happened across some asshole who decided to mug him? (he didn't live in a good part of town) damn Derek! He was Isaac's alpha, he was supposed to look out for him!
"We can't leave him alone Stiles. Even after we help him with his dad. We can't let him keep doing this to himself," Scott said.
He was worried about Isaac. Even though Isaac had been a dick to us and attacked us more than once. Scott hated seeing him in pain and not do anything about it. That was the kind of guy he was. Even if you had wronged him in some way he couldn't just let you suffer.
He could be a bleeding heart at times. But sometimes I wished there were more people like him in the world.
"I know, but he's not in a good place to be making friends now. And I am sure his dad's Ghost is going to drag up all kinds of shit for him."
Just then I got an alert from my phone letting me know Lydia had texted me. I read her message. "Lydia is wanting to know how Isaac is doing."
Scott winced. No doubt hearing Isaac in the bathroom. I wish Kitsune had senses like Werewolves. Ours were just a little bit better than a humans. But I couldn't track someone by scent or hear a conversation from another room. Though in this instance I was thankful I couldn't hear Isaac retching into my toilet.
"So all we have to do is cure his sickness and exorcise his dad's Ghost. Should be easy," Scott said.
"You'd think," I said with a snort. "Ghost Sickness can be caught one of several ways. The inability to let go of someone who has passed. A connection between a person and a Ghost and if a living person has some kind of spiritual similarity to the Ghost. Until we cure Isaac we can't exorcise his dad."
"Why can't we exorcise his dad first?" he asked, "you saw those marks. Seems like the Ghost is the more pressing problem."
"People infected have a connection to the Ghost who infected them. It creates a spiritual bond, allowing the Ghost to draw power from the infectee so exorcisms are difficult. Or even influence them."
"Influence? You mean-"
"Possession. I think we both know how bad a Makhai possessing a Werewolf can be."
"So what do we do? Holy water? A bible?"
"Not exactly. There are several ways to cure a person of Ghost Sickness. You either have to learn to let go of whatever is keeping you tethered to the Ghost in question or you find a way to purge the infection."
"Purge like how?"
"Welllll...I remember reading in my moms books that hellfire can be effective."
Parrish
I was cooking breakfast when I felt a pair of lips on my neck.
"Morning beautiful," Halwyn murmured sleepily into my ear.
"Morning." I bent my head back to kiss him on the lips. "Hope you're hungry."
"Oh I am. But I think there is something else I want to eat."
I smiled when I felt his hand cup my ass. "Didn't you get enough of that last night?"
"When it comes to you, I am insatiable."
He started to kiss my neck, and I gently pushed him back. Knowing him he would have me on my back on the table if we kept this up and I couldn't be late for work.
"Come on Hal, breakfast than you need to get ready for work."
He let out a whine but sat at the table. "Can't we just call off work and spend the day wrapped in each other's arms."
I sat his plate down in front of him. "Or we can be responsible adults and continue to provide for ourselves and keep this wonderful home we have." I kissed the top of his head.
I sat down across from him and began to eat. I paused when I felt his foot running up and down my ankle. I looked at him and he winked.
I never imagined I would be in a relationship with another guy. Or a Hellhound for that matter. Hell, I never imagined I would end up being a Hellhound myself. Our first meeting had been violent to say the least. When I first came to Beacon Hills I kept having these odd visions of a man on fire.
Then I actually began to see him around. At crime scenes, at work outside the station, when I was driving down the road. I thought him to be some hallucination. PTSD or some brain injury I suffered during my time in the Middle East.
I remember driving on the outskirts of town, feeling restless. It happened sometimes, the peace would bother me. I was still in that mentality where I had to expect a sudden ambush or a sniper. They train you for war, but they never train you to re-assimilate back into the civilian population.
Then he suddenly appeared on the middle of the road. He ran off when I pulled over and I gave chase. That was the night I learned why I had occasional blackouts. Why I sometimes woke up with bits of ash in my shower.
And of course why I kept dreaming about a man on fire.
I chased after him, we both erupted in flames, we fought, we had sex and the rest is history.
Halwyn is older than me. He was born in Wales back in the 1800's. He's lived in Beacon Hills for over a century. Helping to keep the supernatural world a secret. And apparently he is my mate.
He had been having visions about me too. It's how Hellhounds find their mates. We literally dream of one another when we are close to one another. He explained it all to me (after we almost set the forest on fire) how I had been chosen by a Hellhound spirit and it was now my duty to guard the supernatural.
It took me some time to process. Especially the fact my mate was another guy. I had plenty of gay friends and have never been averse to the idea of being with a man. But I always imagined I would settle down with a woman.
Funny how things turn out.
Halwyn worked at Eichen House. A mental facility that also had a special wing for supernatural beings. You can't keep a Wendigo or a feral Werewolf in a jail cell so Eichen was where we sent those who were a danger to themselves and others.
We were opposites in many ways. I was always amazed how well we worked. I looked like the good guy who you introduce to your parents at dinner. Halwyn looks like the kind of guy your parents always warned you about.
And he could be a right little shit sometimes.
My phone went off, alerting me to a text. "Whose it from?" Halwyn asked.
"Stiles. It's about the Lahey kid."
"Should I get that cell ready?" he asked.
Halwyn had been vocal about locking Isaac up in Eichen. "It's only a matter of time before he goes feral. Lock his ass up and once he sobers up try to talk some sense into him."
He was a tough love kind of guy.
"Stiles just says we need to help him. Shit, looks like he got attacked by a Ghost last night."
He sighed. "Spirit activity is always busy this time of year."
"I told him to meet me at the station. Can't be late for work."
"Boy scout," he said in a mock-accusing tone.
"One of us has to be the responsible one in this relationship."
We finished eating, and I kissed him goodbye while he got ready for his shift at Eichen. "Tell that little shit I said hi."
"I will," I replied kissing him one more time on the lips.
Stiles. After his mother Claudia transcended Halwyn looked after Stiles for Claudia. He was like the cool bad ass uncle Stiles never had. Also pretty sure Hlwyn is the reason why Stiles turned goth. When Stiles fox powers began to manifest Halwyn began teaching him about Ghosts and spirits.
When Halwyn and I started dating Stiles liked to call me Aunt Jordan. Because like Halwyn said he is a little shit.
I wonder how the Lahey kid got mixed up with a ghost?
The kid has been on a downward spiral ever since Derek Hale left and he lost two of his pack. Kid needed some serious help. But hard to help someone when they are full of rage and bitterness. But knowing Stiles he would find a way to help him.
Stiles is a good kid. He can be mouthy and cynical, but he is very empathic to others.
Isaac
"You are such an ungrateful little shit you know that!" Stiles spat.
"Fuck you! You want to burn me with fire!" I spat back.
"Hellfire! There is a difference you know!"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh wow, hellfire sounds so much better!"
"Look I know it sounds extreme, but it is the quickest and best way to cure you of your Ghost Sickness!"
I just got done listening to Stiles and Scott telling me about how being infected with this sickness connected me to my dad's Ghost. I wanted free of the bastard but burning myself seemed a little overkill.
"Ghost Sickness is complicated. Since your fathers Ghost is a Makhai, and you are filled with anger that is what allowed his Ghost to fully form even though it was close to dissipating. Even if you somehow freed yourself from all the anger inside you the Makhai is still supercharged. We can't even try to exorcise him because he is drawing strength from you now."
"But burning me. With. Hellfire!"
"I know it seems like a crazy idea but it's the quickest way. I would do it myself but I am too young to be cleansing auras.."
Scott put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Isaac, unless you can let go of your anger, your fathers Ghost is going to keep coming after you. Ghosts are mostly active at night but since it's October, and you are infected, he could come at you at any time. We don't have time to do this the slow way. We cure you then exorcise him."
"You're fucking crazy. The both of you!" I turned to walk out. But when I felt a hand, grab my arm I spun around with my fangs out and my eyes flashing yellow. Scott's hand dropped away and his own eyes flashed yellow.
"We're just trying to help you Isaac. You're in danger and I promised Derek-"
"Fuck Derek! Fuck my dad and fuck the both of you!"
I stormed out of the house, ignoring their calls and winced as the sunlight hit my face. I was still hungover from last night and the welts still haven't disappeared. Hopefully once I sober up, they will heal.
I cursed McCall and Stilinski for dragging me all the way across town. It was going to take me almost an hour walking in this hellish light to get back to the loft.
A familiar blue jeep pulled up next to me, Stiles stuck his head out the window. "Dude get in."
"Fuck off!" I snapped.
"Fine, walk to the loft all hung over and shit," he replied.
I sighed. Sunlight or Stilinski? Both hurt my head. But the sun doesn't talk and Stiles will no doubt try to talk me into his stupid plan. But on the other I will have to suffer less if he drives me to the loft. The sooner I get back the sooner I can wrap myself in a blanket and pretend I am not being haunted by my fathers Ghost.
"Fine," I said and got in his jeep.
Once I buckled in he began to drive. And just as I predicted he began to talk about the Ghost thing.
"Look, I admit Hellfire is a bit extreme. But until we cure your infection, we can't exorcise the Makhai. Its feeding off your own rage. That makes exorcising him problematic, and he's going to come after you again. Or worse, he is going to attack other people."
"Why would he attack other people?" I asked. "As far as I know I was the only one he assaulted."
"Because when he was alive your father was a rotten son of a bitch. This is your dads rage shed of any form of compassion or love or anything human. Plus spirit activity is always big this time of year."
"Why?" I asked.
"The veil that separates our world from the spirit world gets thin this time around. Ghost's occur more frequently around this time. When souls travel to whatever waits for us after death it's easier for parts of their souls to fall back to the Earth."
"So my dad is missing a bit of his soul?" I asked.
Hard to believe he even had one.
As soon as I thought those words my twisted mind decided to throw me back to my childhood when my dad was helping me learn to swim. I was finally old enough to take my floaters off and he was in the deep end with me, his hand underneath my stomach, helping to keep me afloat.
Cam was in the shallow end cheering me on while mom was sitting on the edge of the pool, her feet swayed back and forth in the water.
Derek was shocked when I told him my dad was my anchor. The person I thought of when I needed to ground myself and control my instincts. It wasn't my hate for him, but rather my longing for the man he once was. The father I once had.
"No. Yes. It's complicated. Some cultures believe souls are made up of different parts. Imagine if your finger got separated from your body and developed its own consciousness. That is a Ghost."
"Earlier you said sometimes Ghosts fade...what does that mean?"
"It means the finger returns to the body. Wherever our souls go in death, the Ghost will go to reconnect with the soul of your father."
And where is that?" I asked. "Heaven, hell, purgatory, the void?"
He frowned, as if he was trying to figure out how to answer my question or if he should. I admit, I was more than a bit curious. That was one of the many questions we all wonder about as we grow up. Depending on what religion you are brought up on you are told what happens when we die.
But as we get older and start to realize the answers you were given as a child are not so simple.
Where do we go when we die?
Is there a Heaven?
Is there a Hell?
Who will judge me in the end?
Will my actions have consequences for me in the next life?
Can a million good deeds be forgotten for one terrible mistake?
Most people would say my dad would be in hell for what he did for me. But what about the man he was? Do I want him to suffer for what he did to me?
Yes...I did.
But for eternity?
"To be honest, I am not sure. I can only see Spirits and Ghosts when they are on this plane. So if the afterlife is clouds and sunshine or hellfire and brimstone I honestly can't tell you. Every religion in the world believes in life after death. It's one thing they all agree on. But how you get there and what awaits us is always up to debate."
I opened my mouth to speak, but the words seemed to be stuck in my throat. Dare I ask the question that has been brewing since this conversation began?
"Can you always tell if someone has a Ghost?"
"It depends. Ghosts tend to manifest where they died or stay close to their corpse."
"Would it be too much of a stretch to ask that we just salt my fathers corpse and set fire to it."
He chuckled. "Sadly, that only works in certain circumstances." He looked at me with a sad expression. "I already checked Boyd and Erica's graves. They didn't leave Ghosts behind."
Relief washed over me. "Would they have been like my dad if they did?"
He shook his head. "I don't think so. Makhai are peoples rage and they were not angry people."
"You obviously never saw Erica on a full moon when she was on the rag."
We both laughed. "Scott said you can see Ghosts and auras. What else can you do?"
"I am still young so my skills are kind of limited. As I get older and more experienced, I will develop more powers."
"And your mom was a Kitsune to?"
He nodded. "Yeah, same kind as me."
"Didn't she die?" I asked. "I remember my dad talking about digging her grave."
He was quiet for a moment and I wondered if maybe I overstepped myself. I could smell a bit of pain in his scent but no anger.
"She is not dead. She just ascended."
I looked at him, raising a single brown.
"When a Kitsune turns a thousand-years-old they transcend the physical world. My mother never intended to have a family. She had never married or had kids and was okay with that. But as she prepared for her final days on this world, she met my father and they fell in love. They got married and had me. When she ascended, we told people she died from dementia. People believed it because my mom had a habit of talking to people who were not there."
"I..I don't know what to say. I mean couldn't she have staid?"
He shook his head. "It's one of those supernatural rules that can't be broken. Besides, it's not so bad. I still talk to her occasionally."
"How?"
"Being a spirit fox allows me to communicate with people on the other side. There are a few factors but this time of year makes it easier to make a call."
I could not help the laugh that escaped my mouth. "Man. All those stories I heard about you hanging out at graveyards and acting all weird. I thought you were just another freaky goth kid and here it is your just a fucking medium!"
His eyes glowed an orange color. "Oh I am weird wolf boy. Never doubt that."
We finally arrived at the loft. I got out, hurrying inside and away from this damn light. Before I could head inside Stiles called out to me. "Isaac wait!"
I stopped and turned to look at him. He was leaning to the side so he could look at me through the window. "Look, I know you don't like me or Scott. But you're in danger and you need our help. Let us at least spend the night with you."
"You want to have a sleepover?" I asked.
He rolled his eyes. "You can't fight a Ghost with claws smart ass. We can protect you. At least until we can figure this all out."
I took a deep breath. I really wanted to tell him to fuck off. But the welts were still throbbing and reminding me of how helpless I was now. An Omega with no Alpha and no pack to protect me.
Well...maybe I have one pack. I don't have to be friends with them. With Derek gone I had no one to turn to. As much as the idea of asking any of McCall's friends for help made my blood boil I wasn't dumb enough to think I could handle a Ghost all by myself.
"Fine. But just the night."
"Alright, we'll come by before sunset."
"Whatever."
I headed inside, aware of Stiles gaze on my back the entire time. I walked up the stairs and unlocked the door to the loft. I walked in and took in the state of the place. A part of me was glad Derek was gone because if he saw the way the place looked now he'd break every bone in my body.
Empty glass bottles and piles of dirty cloths littered the floor. A dozen bags of garbage were in the kitchen and the stench! God how do I live like this?
Oh yeah, alcohol.
"Well, looks like I better clean up for tonight."
Stiles
"Really Stiles? Hellfire?" dad asked looking at me with that look that was one part tired one part exasperated. "Did you really think that conversation was going to end well?"
I looked over to Parrish who was giving me an almost exact look as my dad. They really have been spending too much time together.
"Dad, Isaac's rage gave his dad's Ghost enough power to manifest and make it into a serious threat. Now he's infected and the quickest way we can cure him is with hellfire. I figure we get Halwyn to do it since Parrish is still a hellpuppy."
"I am not a hellpuppy!" Parrish said with indignation.
"I seem to recall hearing Halwyn calling you that when you were talking over the phone," I said shooting him a grin.
I was satisfied to see Parrish blush. I sometimes wonder how he and Halwyn were soulmates. They really were opposites in many ways. Parrish was the boy scout who was all about the rules and protocol. Halwyn was the bad boy who could break rules and laugh about it.
Parrish was so clean that saying words like 'darn' and 'dang' were the worst things to come out of his mouth. Halwyn sore like a sailor. Most of my more colorful vocabulary came from him.
Parrish wouldn't kill unless he absolutely had to. Halwyn, well. It wasn't his first resort, but a very close second.
I was glad they were together though. I think they both complimented one another in a good way, despite their obvious differences and ethics. Ever since he met Parrish Halwyn smiled less for scary reasons and more happy reasons.
"You were not supposed to hear that."
"I may not be a Werewolf but I have a better sense of hearing than the average human."
"I don't like the idea of you and Scott spending the night with Isaac. He's in a bad place right now," dad said.
"Yeah. Because his dad was an abusive fuck and plenty of people knew but didn't say shit. Then Derek came and seduced him into the cult of the Sourwolf and he lost two packmates and Derek abandoned him. I'm not saying he is some saint. Trust me, I know he is an asshole. But he is hurting, he's filled with pain and he is lost and he needs someone to help him. Maybe Scott and I can use this to get through to him. I mean if we can be friends with Jackson Douchmore why can't we do the same with Isaac? He's half-way to going feral and us throwing him in Eichen!"
Dad sighed. I know he had a soft spot for Isaac. He had been a victim of abuse himself from his own father, having the scars to show for it. When he found out Jackson knew about Isaac's dad abusing him he had been seriously tempted to troll him with parking tickets and traffic violations.
"I think it is wise for you and the others to spend the night with Isaac. Perhaps seeing the Makhai again in action will show him why he needs a pack," Parrish offered.
Good old Parrish, always the optimist. I swear he and Scott were brothers in another life.
"Could the Makhai attack other people?" dad asked.
"Oh yeah. He is no longer in the cemetery. Lydia and Jackson are keeping an eye on the Lahey's old house. Ghosts like to haunt places that are familiar. But Isaac is his main focus. I don't know if it is because he abused Isaac when he was alive or if it is because he is getting his power from Isaac."
"But if he is getting power from Isaac why would he kill him?" Parrish asked. "Seems counterproductive."
"Makhai are Ghosts made from emotional energy. All he cares about is lashing out in rage at the whole world."
"So if the Makhai does attack you guys will drive it away?" Parrish asked.
"And hopefully earn Isaac's trust to get him to join us and then we can work on exorcising the Ghost then we can all go on with our lives."
Dad was giving me a suspicious look. "Why do I feel like you have other reasons for trying to get him to join the pack?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Stiles, I know you have a crush on the boy."
Parrish grinned. "Oh?"
I shot him a look. "I do not have a crush. I am just trying to clean the mess Derek left us with."
Dad didn't look convinced. "I seem to recall you bought a bag full of scarves for him."
"It was a peace offering dad. I was hoping that maybe if I could win Isaac over then maybe he could convince Derek to stop acting like a dick to Scott! He was bullying Scott bad to join him!"
"I also recall you trying to convince me to let him live with us after Derek left."
"He's seventeen! How Derek got him emancipated I will never know."
"You even got a spare room ready for him before I even said yes."
I threw my hands up in the air. "I didn't want to waste time getting it ready for when you said yes!"
"What about all the times I caught you following him?" Parrish asked.
I pointed an accusing finger at him. "Why were you following him?"
"Because I told him to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't get drunk and flip out...again."
"Why were you following him Stiles?" Parrish asked, his grin growing wider.
I pretended to check my watch (which I did not have) and began to slowly back out of the office. "Wow look at the time, better go get ready for tonight!"
"Whose all going to the loft tonight?" dad asked.
"Me, Scott, Lydia, Jackson...shit."
"What?" dad asked.
"I forgot we also invited-"
"A fucking Hunter!" Isaac roared.
I stood in front of Isaac while the others stood protectively in front of Allison. Scott and Jackson stood in front of the girls, Jackson had his tail and Kanima claws out. Lydia stood next to Allison and Scott's eyes were glowing yellow but he hadn't gone full wolf yet.
Isaac on the other hand was in full monster mode. When Allison walked in he raged out. It had been Allison's clan that came into town and killed Boyd and Erica. They had left but Allison and her dad remained.
Allison's mom had been murdered by her grandfather Gerard. He made it look like she had been mauled by a Werewolf. The Argent's were matriarchal. The women are the leaders while the men are trained to be solders. They were under the impression Derek had gone rogue and was letting his beta's terrorize Beacon Hills (when actually it was Jackson when he was a Knaima).
Gerard saw a golden opportunity and used it to not only take control of the Argent's but also use it as a way to wipe out the last of the Hales.
When Allison learned the truth, she put an arrow right through Gerard's head and called the others off. Saving Derek, his sister Cora and Isaac. But Isaac was not feeling grateful right now.
"Isaac you need to calm down!" I yelled.
"Fuck you! Get that bitch out of here!" he roared.
"She's here to help!"
"How? Last time I checked Ghosts were not affected by arrows!"
Allison took a step forward. She showed no visible sign of being afraid. I had to admire her for her steely determination. "My family has dealt with Ghosts. I am familiar with how I can help protect you."
"Like how you protected Boyd and Erica!"
Her steely gaze softened and a look of true regret washed over her. "Isaac, I am sorry for your packmates. I wish I had been able to save them. But by the time I got the evidence I needed I was too late to save them. I tried to get the others to wait until we had solid proof that Derek had gone rabid. I failed to save them. But I won't fail to save you."
I could see the conviction in her aura. It blended well with her sense of regret and determination to keep Isaac safe. It always amazed me how the colors of an aura can blend together. You would not think regret would make for a good color. But it was all about the intensity and the emotion itself.
Isaac bit his lip. Anger, bitterness, pain, sorrow were still prominent. But now I was seeing flecks of acceptance.
"Just stay the fuck away from me!" he spat.
He headed for the kitchen no doubt for the alcohol. The Loft was more or less the same since the last time I saw it. There was a bunch of scented candles and I could smell febreze. Isaac obviously did some cleaning up before we arrived, which I was very thankful for.
"Well, this is going to be a fun night," Lydia said with a sigh.
"Are we sure the Ghost is going to show up?" Jackson asked.
"Yes, Isaac was the main focus of his fathers anger when he was alive. The Makkhai will come for him, it will be instinctive. And would you put your tail away, it's freaking me out!" I snapped at him.
Jackson's tail slowly receded into his back. I shuddered at the sound of his flesh re-absorbing that disgusting appendage.
"Didn't you say he is sucking him off?"
Lydia slapped Jackson's shoulder for his vulgarity.
"He is feeding off of Isaac's rage. It will make him difficult to deal with but not impossible. All we have to do is contain him and wait for the sun to come up. Ghosts are weaker during the day so we can capture him and work on exorcising him."
"And if we do that will Isaac be cured?" Allison asked.
I nodded. "His dad is the source of the infection. Once he is gone Isaac will be fine."
"I think that is debatable," Lydia said looking over my shoulder.
I turned to look and let out a groan. Just as I had predicted Isaac was pouring himself a rather large drink of what appeared to be whiskey. He opened one of the drawers and pulled out a bag of purple powder and got out a small spoon. Before he could get his drink ready I walked over, grabbing the bag from him.
"Hey be careful with that!" he yelled.
"Why?" I asked. "Kitsune are not afraid of Wolfsbane," I said.
"I need something to calm my nerves okay!"
"You need to stay sharp. This isn't going to be easy even with Lydia and me. This thing is pissed and will never stop hurting people."
"Fine!" he snapped. He grabbed the cup he poured and began to drink from it. He glared at me when he saw when I was frowning at him. "It doesn't have Wolfsbane, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the taste."
I sighed. "Let's just get ready."
Allison had brought several jars of mountain ash and Lydia had brought an Ouija board. "Does that actually work?"
"I found it among my grandmothers things. Apparently she was a banshee too. But she never discovered what she really was. She thought she was some kind of psychic though to be fair she wasn't exactly wrong. She was a Parapsychologist and most of her research bore no fruit. But she did get a few things right and on occasion she even picked up a few things. Like that some kinds of wood is sensitive to spiritual wavelengths. Ouija boards are like cell towers. Put them in the right spot and you can communicate with spirits and Ghosts through the veil."
"Why wood?" Isaac asked.
"Why do some metals conduct electricity better than other?" she answered his question with another question. She was sounding like Deaton now. Answering questions with another question. Judging from the annoyed look on Isaac's face he found it just as annoying as I would.
"Magic and science are not like two sides of a coin. More like lines that can occasionally overlap. But even the most experienced druid or parapsychologist can explain why every supernatural detail works the way it does. Just as no scientist can explain exactly why things work the way they do. Some things we still need to discover for ourselves."
"So what were going to use that thing to talk to my dad?" Isaac asked.
"More like we are going to use it to warn us when he is close," I explained. "The board will pick up Ghosts and when your dad is on his way, his energy will be drawn to the board like a satellite picking up a random signal and it'll give us enough time to get ready."
Isaac shook his head. "Derek never told me about any of this."
"You and me both. He only taught me how to control my anger before he left," Jackson said.
"Be thankful he taught you anything at all," Isaac snapped.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're not even a real wolf, you're just a freak! Lizard boy."
"Enough!" I yelled before Jackson could say anything. I grabbed Isaac by the arm and pulled him out to the balcony. "Your guys set up. Isaac and I are going to have a talk."
I shut the door behind us once we were outside. Isaac walked over to the edge of the balcony and rested his hands on the concrete.
"Why are you picking a fight with Jackson?" I asked.
"I'm not."
"I can read auras Isaac, I can tell you got beef with him. I get why you have issues with Allison but why Jackson?" I asked. "I mean yeah he is a mutant-lizard douche, but he is here to help."
I never thought I would be defending Jackson to anyone. Though as much as it pains me to admit Jackson has changed. Granted he could still be an ass. But the trauma of turning into a killer reptile and being used to murder people had shaken Jackson to his core. He did a good job hiding it but I knew he was hurting. Lydia knew to I am sure. How could she not?
"Because he is the reason, the Hunters came down on us!" he snapped. "That fucking brat just had to become a Werewolf! Not because he was sick, not because he was lonely, not because his father was an abusive fuck. But because he needed to be the best because his ego was so damned fragile that he sacrificed his humanity just for power! But he became a Kanima and drew the Hunters attention and Boyd and Erica died because of his selfish ass!"
"You're right."
Isaac turned to look behind and I spun around to see Jackson at the doorway. Isaac's powers must still be hindered by the leftover wolfsbane in his system to not have heard Jackson show up.
Jack's aura was several shades of blue. Regret, sorrow, and of course the icy-blue color of one who has taken an innocent life. Just looking at it made me feel cold, I couldn't imagine what it must be like to carry that with you.
"I was selfish. I had two loving parents who didn't care if I had their blood who dotted on me and gave me everything to earn my love. But every time I looked in the mirror I saw a stranger. I didn't see Jackson Whittemore. Whittemore isn't even my real family name. It's Miller."
He laughed but there was no humor in it.
"Fucking average name. My parents were in a car accident. My dad died on impact and my mother survived long enough to get to the hospital where they carved me out of her. They didn't even get a chance to name me. A few years ago I did some research about them. Dad was a star athlete and my mom was a cheerleader. Nothing like my parents who were both studious and none-athletic. I felt like I was a lie, in another life I would have had a different name, gone to a different school, met different people and maybe been different.
"I let my insecurities control me. I felt like I couldn't be loved because my parents were not my parents. So they tried to give me anything I wanted to make me happy. But it was never enough because I felt like I needed more. More money, more popularity, more...power. Because I was too stupid to see that my parents did love me even though I wasn't theirs by blood. That Lydia loved me. That my friends loved me. Not because of what I was, but who I was. I wanted the bite because I imagined it would make me like a god. My arrogance cost many people their lives. Including your pack, and I am so sorry for that."
Anger and bitterness still swirled around in Isaac's aura. But now I was seeing little pinpricks of other colors. Pain which has many shades, it was like the monochromatic static on a television screen, they cut against the other colors like tiny little knives. It made my eyes sting just to look at them.
"I wish I had been a better person. I wish I had gotten to know them. The bite was good for them. For you to. I don't expect us to become best friends. I did you wrong long before I became the Kanima. I knew your father was abusing you and I didn't say anything. I want to help you, Derek bit us both. He left us both. Let us help you. Let me help you. Let me show you I am not the same piece of shit who got your pack killed."
Jackson meant every word. I didn't need to see his aura to tell he was being honest, the tear that was trailing down his cheek. Jackson never shed tears in front of anyone...ever. He would rage until his face was red but his eyes would never get wet. For him it was a sign of weakness and Jackson abhorred weakness.
"Don't expect me to be inviting you over to hang or anything asshole," Isaac muttered.
Jackson smiled. "Cool. Think you could hook me up with some wolfsbane?" he asked. "I haven't gotten fucked up since the bite."
"Well I would, but someone-Isaac looked aver to me-has a stick up his ass."
"How about I toss you over this balcony curly," I threatened.
"Go ahead, I'll just come back and haunt your ass."
I was happy to see a small splatter of something bright against all those dark and ugly colors. A warmth I haven't seen in his aura in a long time: Happiness.
It was small, but it was there. Compared to all the other dark colors it stuck out like a single sparkling star in the night sky. Looking at it gave me a feeling of hope that maybe when this was all over then maybe Isaac would become our friend.
Isaac
A few hours and nothing had happened. I had expected my father to reappear like some demon straight from hell the second the sun set. But nothing happened. The Ouija board sat on the table, the planchette remained unmoving on its surface.
The TV was on, Hocus Pocus was playing. Stiles had made popcorn, and we were all watching the screen while keeping a close eye on the board. Lydia, Jackson, Allison and Scott sat on the couch. The girls sat on the guys laps. Their legs were hidden underneath the blanket they shared and the guys had their arms wrapped around one another.
I looked at the center of the couch. Boyd and Erica should be there.
I could see it now, the two of them would be mimicking the others. She would be resting her head on his chest and his chin would be on her head. The smallest of smiles would tug at his lips.
I sat next to Stiles on the floor. A bowel of popcorn between us. He was on his stomach, his mouth littered with crumbs. I felt better sitting next to him then I did sitting near the others. I hated the way they smelled.
It wasn't the spicy scent of arousal. No, it was something more meaningful. Contentment mixed with affection peppered with anxiety. They were all disgustingly happy, and I hated them for what they had.
Yet despite the terrible longing I felt for the connection they all shared I also felt a kind of ease I hadn't felt in a long time. It only made me hate them more.
"I know she is evil, but I got to say I love Winnie. She's my favorite," Stiles said.
"Dude, Binx is the best," Scott argued. "He spent all those years as a cat making sure no one woke the witches up. That's dedication man!"
"Guys lets me honest Dani is the best. Eight-years-old and sassy as hell. You can't beat that!" Lydia said with a grin.
"Oh wow a sassy woman loving a sassy girl, imagine that," Jackson grinned. Lydia playfully flicked him on the nose.
"I like Max, he is a bit of a jerk at first but he turns out to be a great brother and very brave as the movie progresses," Allison said.
I felt something hit my shoulder, I looked to see Stiles grinning at me, several bits of popcorn lay besides me. "Who is your favorite?"
"Billy," I answered. I began to pick the popcorn of the floor and popped them in my mouth. "Everyone thinks he is a bad guy. But it turns out he is just a victim and helps them all at the end.. He was a hero."
Stiles smiled. "Perhaps anyone can be a hero, when given the chance."
He offered me a handful of popcorn. I reached out and placed my hand over his, we shared eye contact and I soon became aware of the fact my hand was still grabbing the popcorn from his hand. His eyes bled orange and my vision developed a yellow tint.
I don't know why I was reacting like this. I felt like when I first met Boyd and Erica and we would snarl and flash our eyes at one another. Every pack has a hierarchy, every wolf needs to find their place in it. It was in our nature to work out a pecking order. Naturally we all knew Derek was at the top, it was up to the three of us to work out the rest with his guidance.
But this wasn't something about finding out who was the bigger, badder predator. This was something else, I could feel it. But it was still something primal, something that made me want to pin Stiles to the floor and make him submit.
I thought of him baring that pale neck to me and almost didn't notice a stirring in my loins...almost.
Before I could question any of this, Lydia let out a gasp.
I heard the sound of something moving over a smooth surface. I already knew what it was before I stood up to look at the table. The planchette was beginning to move over the board. Everyone was on alert now.
"What's it spelling?" Jackson asked.
"I-S-A-A-C. Isaac," Scott spoke.
Everyone looked to me. The lights in the loft began to flicker, and the temperature seemed to drop.
"Let's get ready," Stiles said.
Allison tossed Lydia a vial of some black powder looking stuff. My claws came out though I knew they would be useless against a Ghost I couldn't help the urge to bring them out. Danger was coming, the wolf needed his claws.
I snarled, looking around for him.
"ISAAC!"
He appeared around the windows, looking just as he did last night. He began to walk to me, his fists clenched tight. He made no sound as he strolled to me, just as it had been despite the fact I could see him and hear his voice every other sense told me he should not exist.
Even his footfalls made no sound though he stomped his way to me. I could almost feel the vibrations of his feet on the floor like some terrible phantom memory.
"Time to go back to the fridge boy!" he spat.
"Hey asshole!" Allison yelled.
He glared at her. Allison and Lydia stood defiantly, looking at him like was a piece of shit on their pretty shoes.
"Time to go back to your grave!" Lydia yelled.
They threw the vials and the second they smashed against the floor the black powder formed a circle around him, it moved like some sinister shadow. Dad tried to pass the circle, but it was like some force kept him contained.
"Is that ash?" I asked.
"Mountain ash, a humans best friend when dealing with the supernatural," Stiles said with a grin.
"You stupid whores!" dad raged. "You're all the same! Spoiled little sluts who-"
He began to rant and rave about women and how they were worthless and made men miserable. Lydia and Allison merely smirked.
"What do we do now?" I asked.
Stiles sighed. "Normally this is where we try to exorcise him. But since you are infected, we can't do that."
"You said it can be done though right?" I asked.
"Yes, there are ways. If you let go of your anger to him-"
"Not going to happen," I cut him off.
"Find peace-"
"Not anytime soon," I replied.
"Burn you with hell-"
"How about I snap your neck!"
Stiles threw his hands up in the air. "You are not making this easy you know!"
"We could leave him in there," I said darkly. "Maybe a few hours locked up will teach him his...lesson."
I grinned when he glared at me. "Think you're a man huh, don't have the balls to say that to my face! Why did Cam have to die? He was more of a man than you ever could be!"
I snarled and took a step towards him. "Don't you speak his name!" I pointed a single clawed finger at him. "Cam left only to make you proud. You killed him!"
"Isaac take it easy man," Stiles said.
"Shut the hell up!" I rounded on him. "This is between me and this bastard!"
"Isaac you don't get it, he infected you with Ghost Sickness, some of his energy is in you and if you get mad, he'll-"
I ignored him and faced my father again. "What was it about me you hated so much old man? Was it that I was younger than you? Better looking? Was that why you always called me a brat and said I was ugly?"
Lydia let out a gasp and covered her mouth in horror.
"Oh don't act like you give a fuck Barbie!" I sneered at her. "Remember that time I asked you out, and you turned me down? Made me feel like a piece of shit because I wasn't rich and a fucking asshole because we all know that is your type!"
"Hey man lay off!" Jackson.
"And don't even get me started on you, you fucking snake!" I spat. "Trying to act like you actually feel bad for what you did. All those years sitting in your palace with loving parents and your shiny toys while I am getting my ass beat just for breathing!"
"Isaac calm down!" Scott said stepping towards me.
"Fuck you McCall! Why didn't you just join Derek huh? If you had been with us, we would have been stronger! But you chose this whore over your own kind!"
"Dude why the fuck are you ripping into us?" Jackson asked.
"It's the sickness, his dad is a Makhai, and that means he can feed on his rage by causing it to surface."
"He's getting stronger," Stiles said looking at my dad. "I can see the energy being transferred."
"Shut the fuck up all of you just get out of my home!" I roared.
"Being close to the Ghost must be causing the symptoms to-"
I tuned them all out, rage boiled in my skin. Al the resentments, all the bitterness and acidic hatred I carried in me rose like boiling water that was spilling over the side of a pot. It made me sick, all this hate.
I hated them all, my parents, my brother, my pack and these idiots. I hated them for betraying me, for leaving me, for being happy while I suffered.
I.
Hate.
Them.
All!
Fox is closest, I attack him first. He dodges, letting out a high pitched scream that hurts my ears. Screaming, shouting. Roar! Werewolves! Two! The traitor and the abomination! The females backed away to let the males come at me.
I grappled with Omega while the abomination came at me from the side, I tried to dodge but something grabbed my leg, I looked down to see a scaly tail gripping me, it pulled me forward, causing me to fall on my back.
The Omega grabbed me by my neck, roaring in my face, demanding my submission. I roared back, ignoring the instinct to submit.
I would never submit!
Not to him, the abomination or no one! I was tired of being the submissive wolf!
I felt something scratch my thigh, and I knew the abomination had cut me, I could already feel the venom making me numb!
The Omega got up, and I glared at the two of them, the fox and the women appeared in my vision, staring down at me. I snarled at them, how dare they do this to me, humiliate me in my own home! I would make them bleed for this!
Stiles
"What the fuck was that all about?" Jackson asked.
"When a Ghost infects someone they can influence someone. Since daddy Lahey specializes in anger, he can project rage into Isaac in order to feed off him like a psychic vampire," I explained.
"We should have anticipated this," Lydia said.
"I did," Allison replied showing off a small gun. Where she had been hiding it I have no idea.
"You brought a gun?" I asked with a little indignation.
"Would you go into the home of a Werewolf has anger issues and a desire to see you dead unarmed?" she asked back.
"Why didn't you use that?" Jackson asked with irritation.
"I tried, but you two were in my way," she shot back.
"Guys lets focus!" I yelled. "We have a pissed off Ghost trapped in the ash. Now we have a pissed off Werewolf paralyzed. The venom we wear off in a few hours but I think he will escape before that."
I pointed to Isaac's father who was pressing against the barrier. It seemed to be folding under his strength. He was cursing us for hurting Isaac, then cursing Isaac for letting us take him down.
"You said he is feeding on Isaac," Scott said. "Could he make him strong enough to escape the barrier?"
"I can't say for sure, but given how much rage Isaac has in him, he could make the Ghost strong enough to escape," I said.
"Great, so we have a pissed off Ghost and Werewolf to worry about, now what do we do?"
"We need to call Parrish or Halwyn, we're going to need some back up," Scott said.
"No, I have an idea," I said.
"Oh God," Jackson muttered and Lydia elbowed him in the ribs.
"I think we can break the link. See when Isaac first started raving at his dad that was when the energy transfer was at its strongest. But when he started yelling at us it became...weaker. But in a good way."
"Care to explain?" Allison asked.
"Okay, everyone in this room has some bad blood with Isaac for whatever reason he has lots of anger to dish out. But his dad is the source of his rage. Think of it like this. We are like a small campfire but his dad is like a forest. Isaac has a lot of anger but it's not infinite. The more energy he gives to his dad it makes the Ghost stronger. But eventually-"
"It will run out!" Lydia said with realization.
I clapped my hands and grinned at her. "Bingo."
"Still not getting it man," Scott said.
"Okay, remember when I said one of the ways to cure Ghost Sickness is for the infected to let go of their connection to the Ghost?" they all nodded. "Well, if we can get Isaac to let out all his anger on his father we can cut of a lot of his power."
"But won't that make the Ghost more powerful?" Jackson asked.
"That's the problem."
"Why would we do that then, look at that thing!"
"Stiles what if instead of just having Isaac throw all his anger at his father we did something more? What if we got him to forgive him?"
"Oh Lydia your a genius!"
She grinned. "I know."
"Care to share guys," Jackson said with an annoyed tone.
"Makhai are Ghost born from peoples rage. Isaac is connected to his fathers Ghost because of the infection. But if we can help Isaac not only let go of his anger but feel forgiveness for his dad, it would be like feeding the Ghost water instead of gas."
"Making it weaker and easier to exorcise!" Allison said with realization.
"I'm not sure I follow. But if we have a plan, then lets go for it," Scott said.
"Hate to wreck your plan but how the hell are we going to get him to feel forgiveness?" Jackson asked with his usual bitch-face in full effect. "Look at him, the guy is pissed!"
I took a deep breath. "We're going to have to go inside his head."
"Can you do that?" Allison asked.
"If I was older. Kitsune can posses people, and some Kitsune from my clan can project their spirits into others. But I think we're going to have to do this the old fashioned way."
I looked at Scott. His face fell, and he looked at his hand. "Stiles no!"
"You want to have Scott use his claws to put you in Isaac's mind?" Allison asked looking aghast. "Stiles you know that's dangerous!"
"Peter did it to me a few times but-"
"It's the only choice we have. Once I am inside, I can use my powers to help Isaac find peace...I hope."
"Stiles Allison is right, just because Scott had this done to him doesn't mean he is an expert," Lydia said looking fearful.
"I trust Scott-I threw him a smile-Isaac needs our help. For too long he has been a victim. Never having someone to protect him and give him the love and care he needs. He may never admit it but he is one of us."
No one spoke. The risk was great, but when all options are exhausted all we have left are the extreme measures, we normally would not take. But in the absence of a proper solution what are we to do?
I just hope I don't end up brain dead.
I laid down next to Isaac who was still snarling, his aura was a bright and vivid red, rage had consumed him. I could almost feel it like a furnace. God, I can't even imagine what it must be like to be consumed by so much anger.
Scott sat on his knees, holding his hands out, his claws were out. I tried not to look at them but they were so...sharp looking.
"Hope you washed your hands," I told him.
He smiled and took a deep breath. He placed his hands under the back of our heads. I shuddered at the feel of his claws scrapping against the back of my neck.
"Okay, on three. One-"
A sudden sharp, stabbing sensation hit caused me to cry out in shock. "Scott you son of a -"
A sudden surge like electricity filled my brain. Something scolding hot and something good and warm. I wonder what Scott and Isaac felt when they connected with my mind?
The room shook and twisted. For a moment I felt like Zeus when Athena was stabbing at his head trying to get out. Then there was silence. I was no longer in the loft but standing in front of a familiar house. It was dark out, I looked across the street to see Jackson's house.
"Stiles?"
I looked to see Scott next to me. "Dude, it worked!"
"Tell that to my head," he whined placing his palm against his forehead. He looked around. "Isn't this where Isaac used to live?"
"Yeah. More than sure he is inside," I said. "This is where his abuse began. Makes sense this is where he would be trapped."
Scott bit his lip. "Do you think he is in the basement?"
"Could be. Won't know until we find out."
We walked to the house. Scott placed his hand on the doorknob but then jumped back in shock. "It's hot!"
I raised my hand, keeping it over the surface of the knob. I felt no heat, but when I quickly place my hand against it I felt like I was touching a hot iron. But it wasn't heat, it was rage.
"It's his dad, he's here to." I said. "The infection gives him a link to Isaac. So he is no doubt in here with us."
Scott looked around as if expecting to see Mr. Lahey hiding behind a car or peering through a window in one of the nearby houses. "Why isn't he coming for us?"
"The majority of his essence is outside of Isaac's body. The longer we are here the sooner he will realize we are inside Isaac's head."
"Why isn't he here already?"
"He is a being of rage, anger makes us into total idiots. Last I heard he was still cursing at us and Isaac. I doubt he even heard anything we said."
"So how do we get inside?"
"Think of something happy. Someone you love or something that brings you joy. It's like Lydia said, if we focus some positive energy we can beat this guy," I said.
He smiled, I could see the familiar ripple of love and devotion. "You're thinking about Allison huh?"
He nodded his head happily. "Yep!"
I figured. I focused on my memories of my mom. How she would tuck me in and tell me Ghost stories, most of them of her days walking the earth encountering all kinds of spirits. Halwyn helping me learn to control my powers, cuffing me upside the head every time I lost my train of thought (still have the bumps to prove it!) he had been friends with my mother. When he became a Hellhound, she had helped him learn not to control his spirit but to co-exist with it and accept it.
But the best memory was the first time I was able to contact my mother. Dad had been there with Halwyn supervising. Dad and I held hands as we spoke with her, her form ephemeral yet when she spoke it was like she was really there.
I felt the rage that held coated the door cool as our love quenched it's fiery hate. I quickly grabbed the knob and turned it, opening the door I grabbed Scott and pulled him inside. The door shut behind us and locked with an ominous click.
The house was quiet and dark, I knew we were in more danger in here than we were outside. I could taste the hate in the air. Judging from the low growl that rumbled from Scott he could sense it too. But when I looked at him I saw small flecks of anger.
"You okay Scott?" I asked.
"Yes...I can feel the anger. I feel like I could choke on it. Just thinking about what he did to Isaac makes me angry."
"I know...we need to hurry. This is where the infection is strongest and we don't have anything to protect us."
"Then why didn't you prepare us?" he asked with a rather snippy tone. "You always rush into things Stiles!"
"Hey it's not like we had a lot of time!" I snapped back.
I took a deep breath. I focused again on my mother, on the happy times before she left, playing with Scott when we were kids, looking at myself in the mirror after I first dressed goth. My lips and nails black and my wardrobe the same color. The look on dad's face when he saw me, that tight smile that said he didn't approve but was willing to let me look as I wished because it made me happy.
"Scott, focus. Happy thoughts Scottie come on," I told him. "Use your anchor if you have to. Use Allison."
He clenched his fists. He took a deep breath and his face softened. "Your right, we need to find Isaac."
"If he is here I can only think of one place he would be."
Scott nodded and we headed for the basement. The anger continued to press against us. I found myself bringing up old memories of bitterness and spite. Every time I fought with Scott, my mother leaving me, my dad for not being strong enough to support me while he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, Jackson for being mean to me, Derek for hurting Isaac and being a dick, Isaac for being so angry and hateful.
We had to just keep focused. Our happiness, our joy, our love. It was all we had against the hate.
We made our way downstairs into the basement, there was a freezer chained shut, we could hear someone banging against it, begging to be let out.
We rushed over to it. "Isaac!" I yelled.
"Stiles!" Isaac screamed. "Get me out of here! Please!" he cried.
Scott tried to rip the chains off. If this was the real world, he could have done it without breaking a sweat. But this was Isaac's mind. Our minds could be an escape from reality, but it could also be our prison.
"Can you use your power to get him out?" Scott asked.
"No, he's too afraid. Isaac, can you hear me? You have to calm down, we can't get you out. You have to free yourself!"
Isaac continued to scream, I wasn't sure if he could hear me.
"He's not calming down!" Scott spat!"
I looked at him, the red in his aura was slowly getting larger. I felt a sting of irritation at him for being so weak that he couldn't last longer. But I knew that wasn't me...not really.
"We can't get through to him...but maybe someone else can."
I took a deep breath. "Elaine Lahey, I Stiles Stilinski call to you. Can you hear my voice?"
Spirit summoning was...risky. The afterlife was filled with all manner of beings of the either. Some were friendly, others wicked. Some had an alien sense of mortality and found us to be just as amazing and frightful as we found them.
I don't know if there is a heaven or hell. I don't know if our choices in life effect where we go. But I know there are places in the other side the host different kinds of spirits. How that worked or was connected to us I couldn't truly understand. I may be a spirit fox but that didn't make me an expert, just gave me a better ability to understand.
I waited, hoping she responded. Then I heard it, a faint sigh.
"Elaine, mother of Camden and Isaac. I summon you hear, I summon you to help your son Isaac, the only survivor of your family. Rage threatens to consume him, I call you to show the power of a mothers love for her child. A love I know can give strength and is mightier than any fury."
This time when the voice it sounded both tired and slightly worried. Issac?
"Yes, he needs you. He needs his mothers protection. I offer myself as your mouthpiece to speak to him."
I felt her. Like a robe slowly sliding over me. I could see her in my head. Isaac had her hair color and curls, and that same damn smirk that infuriated me. But it wasn't mocking or cruel on her face, it was like my mothers. Soft, gentle and loving.
Her mind touched mine and her memories flooded into my head. Memories of a pink faced baby suckling from her breast, a crying boy with a scrape on his knee. A man with glasses smiling at me. Two boys swimming in a pool.
I let her take control, but only enough that I could let her guide me.
"Isaac," I whispered in a voice that was not my own. "Isaac my little angel, mothers here now. Shhh, relax now sweetie."
We ran our hands over the top of the freezer. I felt her sorrow and her pain. How could he do this to our boy? How did our family become this?
Isaac quieted down. "Mom?" he said with a small hiccup.
"Sweetie, I know you are afraid. But it's okay, your friends are here to help you."
"I'm so afraid mom, so angry."
"I know sweetie, remember why named you Isaac?"
He was quiet for a moment. "You and dad were trying to think of what to call me. Dad sneezed, and I laughed and he said I had a beautiful laugh and you decided to name me Isaac like from the Bible."
I felt her joy at the memory. I could see it. Little baby Isaac laughing for the first time and his mothers surprise he could laugh at such a young age.
"That's right, you always used to laugh. It was such a beautiful laugh. The kind that could fill a room with such happiness."
The chains began to rattle, they were loosing their grip on the freezer.
"I haven't laughed for a long time. When you died...none of us did. It was like we forgot how to be happy."
"I know sweetie, you have been through so much. But you have to let it all go, loosing me and Cam is what made your father into a monster. He forgot our happiness, he forgot the sound of your laughter. These people called me to help you my little angel. They want to help you, but you have to help them. They will fight for you and if you let them they will help you laugh again. Now come on out of this freezer. Let me see that beautiful face again."
The chains began to slide off, and we opened the lid. Isaac began to climb out and Scott and I helped him. He sat on the floor, looking around for his mother.
"I'm right here sweetie," I said.
"Mom?" he asked looking shocked.
I felt her laughter in my mind. "I know, it's weird. Your friend summoned me from the other side."
"Is Cam with you?" he asked.
"Yes baby, we're here. So is your friends. That quiet boy and the feisty blonde. They wanted me to tell you they miss you and they want you to stop mourning them. I know it's hard, but you have to let it all go. You can't keep living like this, or else you will become like your father."
"Is dad with you...my real dad, not that shade?"
"Yes.. But he is not at peace Isaac, because he knows what he did to you was wrong. He knows he failed you and until you learn to let go neither one of you can move on."
I gently caressed his face. He leaned into my touch.
"We all love you Isaac, be a good boy now. Be a better man than your father. You are not alone. You will always have people to love and protect you."
I leaned forward and kissed his head.
"I love you mom," he whispered, a single tear fell down his cheek.
"I love you to."
I felt her leave, felt her like a gentle breeze in spring. Take care of him I heard her say.
I will, I promised.
Scott and I helped Isaac stand up. "I never thought I would hear her voice again, thank you Stiles."
I felt warm as he looked at me, had I ever seen such gratitude in his eyes. Bitterness, anger, yes. He really did look angelic like this.
"Isaac!"
The three of us jumped as the voice broke the silent atmosphere. Mr. Lahey stood in front of us. Looking just as hateful as ever.
"Dad," Isaac said.
"Stay away from him!" Scott growled.
We stood in front of Isaac. "I am Stiles Stilinski!" I yelled. I began to glow with a purple light as my fox-aura covered me. "Spirit you are not wanted here, be gone from this place!"
"Shut up!" he roared.
I heard the sound of rattling and Scott and I were wrapped in chains, they dragged us into the freezer, the last thing I saw before the lid close was Isaac trying to keep the lid open, screaming our names.
So much for my promise.
Isaac
I banged on the freezer, trying to free Scott and Stiles. I could hear them clawing at it, the sounds of their nails against its surface were a terribly familiar sound.
I turned to face my father: Alone.
"Not so tough without your friends are you boy?" he asked with a sneer.
He began to advance, and I stood there frozen, to afraid to even move.
He laughed cruelly. "Oh what am I saying? You don't have friends."
Sweetie, I know you are afraid. But it's okay, your friends are here to help you
I was horrible to them. Scott, Stiles, Jackson, Lydia. But still they came to help me, Jackson bared his heart to me wanting to make amends for his sins. Scott and Stiles entered my mind to help me even after I attacked them!
"You have nothing! No family, no pack, your own Alpha left you here because he couldn't handle having such a pathetic little shit like you! The only reason he bit you was because he needed the manpower!"
remember why named you Isaac.
Derek had been a jerk, a hard ass and he did abandon me. His actions were selfish and motivated by power, and survival. But he chose me. I wasn't the only broken child in this town, he chose me because he knew I was tough enough to take what life had to throw at me and keep going, and if it wasn't for him, I never would have befriended Boyd and Erica. We fought, we ran, we hunted, we trained, and we laughed together.
"I lost everything! EVERYTHING!" he roared, pushing my shoulder. I raised my arms to defend my face in case he tried to punch me, it has been months but my body still acts on instinct. "My wife, my first born son, everything precious to me! Every time I looked at you I saw her! Why did you have to look like her? Why did it hurt every time I had to look at you! Cam died because he wanted you to be proud of him, it meant so much to him that you had someone to respect! I was your father why didn't you look up to me? If it wasn't for you he wouldn't have enlisted!"
You have to let it all go, loosing me and Cam is what made your father into a monster. He forgot our happiness, he forgot the sound of your laughter.
I remember the look of surprise on Derek's face when I told him my father was my anchor. Before the drinking and the abuse. When he helped me learn to swim, keep his hand under my belly until he was sure I could stay afloat, but always keep close to me. When he taught me to work an excavator, smiling proudly as I remembered what levers to pull. When I asked Lydia out, and she turned me down dad was the one to talk to me about how she would regret her decision when I got older and grew into my looks.
"I hate you!" I whispered.
"What did you say boy?" he snarled.
I brought my hands up and shoved him back, he looked shocked at my action. I had never laid a hand on him when he was alive.
"I said I fucking hate you, you old bastard!" I screamed. "Do you think you were the only one hurting? We all felt her death! Cam spent more time with me than you did, you withdrew from the both of us! He didn't join the army just for me! He did it because he wanted to make you proud, because he knew you loved him more than me and he wanted to make you happy!"
I began to advance on him now, with each word I felt stronger and...free, I could feel all the anger inside me pouring out. But this time it felt good.
"You were an adult! My father! You were supposed to build me up, not break me down! You were supposed to love me not hate me! I never did anything to deserve your scorn, you were just a weak man!"
"Boy I am going to knock your teeth out!"
He brought his fist back, aiming for my jaw. I caught his fist easily. I applied enough pressure to make him fall to his knees.
"Stiles father lost his wife. But he didn't become an abusive drunk! Scott's father was an asshole, and he left but Scott's mom is a wonderful woman! Lydia's parents divorced but her mother is always there for her! Jack's parents love him more than life itself and they adopted him! Why couldn't you have been better dad? Why couldn't you have been more like them? Why couldn't you love me!"
I let him go and he fell to the floor. He stared at me with a fearful expression and instead of feeling the rush of joy I always imagined I would feel. My tormentor on the floor staring up at me with a terrified expression, our roles reversed.
But there was no pleasure to be felt. Instead I felt hollow, empty.
"I am tired of people saying they are going to take care of me. But instead they abuse me, they use me and then they leave me! I am done with being angry all the time! I am tired of living in the past with the dead. I am done with YOU!"
A roar sounded throughout the basement. I turned to look at the freezer, the door flew open and Stiles rose, covered in a glowing purple light shaped like a fox. Scott climbed out, for a moment I thought his eyes glowed red, but when I looked again, they were yellow. Yet my wolf recognized the howl of an Alpha.
Stiles smiled at me and I felt something in me stir: Hope.
I turned to look at my dad. The worst part of him, the part that had tormented me for so long and I had carried even beyond his dead.
"You died dad you drank yourself to death, and I found your cold body. You weren't my father, you weren't even the man I hated. You were just a sad, pitiful excuse of a man who drowned in anger. I won't be like you. Because when I die I want to leave something good behind, something beautiful."
I knelt down next to him and I grabbed him by the shoulders and I picked him up. "You're not really my father. Your just a part of him. The bad part. But I know there was a good part. But that is gone and a world away. I've been told that when Ghosts are exorcised, they return to their source. So when you return with the rest of my father, give him a message for me.-I leaned in to whisper in his ear-I forgive you."
I pulled him to the freezer, he fought. Screaming and dragging his feet into the floor. I threw him into the freezer. I grabbed the lid and was about to slam it shut. "Isaac!" I looked down at him, he was crying. "Please, don't leave me son!"
"Goodbye dad."
I slammed the lid shut and quickly locked it with the chains. I heard him thrashing around inside, screaming at me, cursing my name.
Stiles placed his hand on my shoulder. "Come on, lets go."
The three of us walked up the stairs, light was pouring from the door and I could hear voices. I turned to look at the freezer one last time.
"Isaac?"
I took Stiles hand and he let out a gasp of surprise. "Let's go," I said leading him into the light.
I awoke with a gasp, my body still numb. "Jackson you ass!" I growled.
"Hey you freaked out on us!" I heard him say.
I felt something pulled out from my neck. I was sure Scott had used his claws, I had asked Derek to do something similar when I was having issues with my nightmares.
"Guys it worked, look at the Ghost!" I heard Allison said.
"Lift me up, I still can't move."
Scott lifted me up, my arms lay uselessly at my sides. The Ghost was still in the ring, but now it looked more Ghost like. Less solid and more misty. It still glared at me hatefully though, but I didn't feel angry or afraid, just tired.
"Can we exorcise this bastard now?" Jackson asked.
"Oh yeah," Stiles said with an evil smile.
He stepped forward, his eyes glowed orange. "Your time on this world is over, be gone and go and peace."
A wind began to blow the ash began to dissipate and like mist, in the wind my father slowly began to vanish.
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
It was finally over.
Stiles
I held Isaac's hand in mine, I was feeling his fingers. The venom was slowly wearing off, and he was able to move his fingers. We were the only ones in the loft now. The others had left. Isaac needed some alone time but we couldn't just leave him alone when he was still paralyzed. So I staid behind to look after him until he was ready.
"So he's gone now right?" Isaac asked. "He won't come back again?"
I nodded. "You're cured of the Ghost Sickness. By forgiving him you weakened the Ghost enough to let me exorcise it."
"You summoned my mom."
"Just enough to act as a mouthpiece. She is a nice person."
Isaac stared at me for a few seconds. "I have to make a confession Stiles. I kind of had a crush on you."
That surprised me. "What?"
He smirked. "A few years back I started to realize I liked guys and girls. Lydia was my first girl crush, but you were my first guy crush. Guess I have a thing for pale-skinned pricks."
I gently smacked his shoulder. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"After Lydia?" he shook his head. "Besides, my dad was a bigot. He was always bitching about how the town was being invaded by queers and turning gay."
"I think you're cute. You have a nice smile and you got beautiful curls," I admitted feeling my ears turn red.
He smirked that damn smirk that drives me crazy. "I don't want to be alone anymore. So, do you think it is too late to see if maybe I can be happy with someone?"
I looked at him in surprise. He slowly pulled his hand from my grasp, he struggled to place it on my cheek. "I want you Stiles."
His aura was so beautiful. Gone was the acid colors of bitterness, pain and rage. They were still there but they didn't overpower his aura. Now there were other more vibrant colors. Affection, happiness, and just a hint of desire...lets see if we can change that.
I leaned down and kissed him, God his lips were sweeter than I imagined! I used to curse myself for crushing on him, but now I felt nothing but hope and happiness.
"Stiles, I need you," he whined.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
He nodded, his eyes moist with unshed tears. But when he laughed, it was like an angels. "Yes. Please, God let me feel something good! Make me remember what it means to be human!"
Was it a bad time to even consider doing this? He had just gone through an emotional upheaval. Plus he was still kind of paralyzed. But the look in his eyes, the need in his voice and the color of his aura, I couldn't say no.
This was more than about sex. This was about connection. After tonight we both need this.
"Please tell me you have lube," I said.
He nodded. "It's in the nightstand drawer. I got some mobility back but you'll have to do most of the work."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of you."
I stood up and took all of my cloths off. Judging from the yellow glow in his eyes and the desire that was blooming in his aura Isaac liked what he saw as well. I reached into his nightstand and grabbed a bottle of lube. I lifted up his shirt, exposing his six-pack. I kissed and bit his abs, eliciting sweet growls from him I pulled his pants down, he was able to life hit hips up enough to help me pull them down.
I kissed the underside of his dick before moving to lick around his glans. If not for the venom I think he would have writhed more. A part of me enjoyed having him like this, helpless and at my mercy. I didn't spend too long blowing him, we were both desperate and needy, Isaac was practically begging me to ride him. I lathered his dick up and climbed onto his lap.
He had enough function to put his hands on my hips and help steady me as I slid down onto him. We both groaned, it wasn't my first time. Danny had taken pity on me and helped teach me some things. It had been more than a year since I slept with him and I had really missed sex.
But this was different, Danny had been great, and he loved to cuddle afterwards. But the connection I had with Isaac was far more profound. Maybe it was because our bond had grown stronger or maybe it was because he was a fellow supernatural and I didn't have to hide what I was, either way his dick in my ass felt awesome!
His fingers dug into my hips and he lifted me up and down off his lap. The sound of flesh hitting flesh and out labored breaths filled the loft. I leaned down to kiss him, continuing to piston my hips up and down.
I let out a surprised yell when he suddenly spun us around so he was on top of me, a mischievous smile on his face.
"You could move!" I accused.
He nodded. "Yep, you forgot werewolves heal faster from Kanima venom than humans."
"You ass!" I playfully growled.
He leaned down and gently nipped at my nose-ring. "Thought you had me all nice and helpless huh?"
I groaned as he slid deep and hard into me. I gripped his shirt, wishing he was wearing one of those stupid scarves so I could wrap it around his neck; I was going to have to remember that next time we do this.
When I came it was in a rush of heat and warmth, it smeared over the front of his shirt but he didn't care, he just kept on going. He came soon after, filling me with his essence. I frowned when I saw tears in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" I asked him.
"Please don't leave me," he said.
I remembered what he told his father when we were in his head. How people he loved left him.
"Never," I said.
"You can't promise it," he said sadly.
"No...but I can't make any promises you can't keep either Isaac."
He leaned down and touched his forehead to mine. "I never thought I would have a pack again."
"You don't have a pack Isaac, you have a family."
3 Years Later
It was Halloween, and we made our way through the Graveyard.
I walked hand in hand with Isaac. Dad and Melissa followed us, she was telling him how she was thankful she got tonight off. Apparently Halloween was a really busy night at the hospital. Dad was telling her about how the station would be filled with drunk idiots dressed like Batman and Superman who decided to prove once and for all who was really the best hero.
"Idiots drink so much they forget they can't fly and they can't swing from building to building with a rope."
Halwyn and Parrish were walking side by side. They still had that post-wedding glow about them, the rings on there fingers glinted in the moonlight. Halwyn had popped the question at the station in front of all the deputies. Parrish had said yes, and they had been married for five months now.
Allison, Scott, Lydia and Jackson were up ahead with the rest of the pack, getting everything ready. Liam, Scott's Beta was here with his girlfriend Hayden and his friends Corey and Mason. Scott was an Alpha now, he become one a few months after we defeated Lahey's Ghost. He was a rare kind of Alpha, a True Alpha. The kind that didn't have to kill for their power.
Isaac and I were still going out. It took a lot of work. Despite letting go of his anger he still had a lot of issues. Abandonment, inferiority and a fear of losing his pack which made him overprotective. He was still going to therapy and had made a lot of progress.
I tended to be a bit of a nag and my snark sometimes caused more problems between us. But I had learned that sometimes silence was the best option and to give Isaac his space when he needed it. Sometimes we need to give our loved ones a little space, even when our instincts tell us to smother them with love and attention. A little alone time can be just as good.
Derek had contact Isaac last year. He had hooked up with the Alpha of a pack down in South America. Neither Derek nor Cora had any desire to return to Beacon Hills. But Derek decided to finally check on Isaac and make sure he was okay.
I gave him one hell of an ear full for leaving Isaac the way he did. But Isaac showed how good his therapy was going by forgiving Derek and rejecting his offer to join him down south. He already had a pack and he was happy.
Scott was planning to go and visit Derek next year, the Hales may not live here any more but they were still interested in the area being protected. Also it would do well to make an alliance with another pack and they could help teach Scott and the other wolves some things.
If Scott was going then I sure as hell was going and if I was going then Isaac was going. He may have forgiven Derek but that doesn't mean he is exactly thrilled to see his old Alpha. But he couldn't resist the idea of going to Brazil.
"Where are the others?" I asked Scott.
"The twins are coming with Danny and Malia. They are running late," Scott answered setting the candle over the tombstone.
"Let me guess, Aiden and Malia were having one of their little sex-marathons," Isaac said dryly.
Ethan and Aiden were twins who joined Scott's pack after he became a True Alpha. Scott had been hesitant to let them join because they had blue eyes. The eyes of a wolf who had taken an innocent life. They had been bitten when they were younger and had been the Omegas in a violent pack. They had met another Alpha by the name of Deucalion who helped them learn to control their ability to merge into a single being
With this power of theirs they escaped their pack and when they heard rumors of the True Alpha they decided such a being would be the best choice for them since True Alphas were supposed to be good and just, everything their old pack wasn't.
It took some time to build up the trust but when they helped us find Malia when she was still running around as a coyote it earned them the right to join us. As it turns out Malia was drawn to Aiden whom she claimed as her mate. Ethan had hooked up with our old friend Danny who joined the pack once we told him the truth about shifters. He was really miffed at Jackson for not telling him.
"Yep, Ethan says if they keep it up he is going to get Aiden neutered. You know how he hates being late," Scott said with a grin.
"That's okay, we can start without them," I said.
Once everything was set up I had everyone stand in a circle. I stood at the center, raising my hands to the sky. "Spirts from the other side!" I called. "On this night I invite you to come to us. Step through the veil into this world of flesh and blood."
At first nothing happened, but they were coming. I could feel them. Being a spirit Kitsune wasn't always flashy and exciting like with some of the other clans. Our abilities tended to be more subtle and mysterious. But I could feel them moving through the veil from the other side, the sensation was like being in a dark room with other people you couldn't see or hear but you could feel them moving around you. Then one by one they came: The dead!
Not Ghosts but the true dead. The souls that passed over to the afterlife after they died. I saw Scott's grandmother walk over to her family to congratulate Scott and Allison on their engagement. Jackson's parents-his real parents-made their way to the couple, asking when Jackson was going to marry Lydia.
"Don't think because you are half-Kanima and half-Werewolf that we don't expect grandchildren now!"
There were plenty more. Friends and family who we had lost come to catch up. I saw Erica and Boyd speaking with the Hellhounds. Erica was marveling at their rings. I had summoned the two of them over the years to speak with Isaac. Death hadn't made Erica any less sassy or Boyd any less...Boyd.
Isaac let out a gasp and I saw why. His parents plus his brother were walking to us. Along with my mother. Unlike the others she had a faint purple glow coming from her body. She smiled warmly. "Noah," she said.
"Hey Claudia," he said.
Mom turned into a purple glowing butterfly, she flew to dad who opened his mouth and she flew in. A moment later his eyes began to glow an orange color and I saw her aura overlap perfectly with his. It wasn't a possession exactly. She was inside him now but it was a perfect unity between man and spirit.
It was the only way the two of them could interact without being able to physically touch. I knew dad was going to tell her about my idea of using kitsunetsuki. Instead of mom only visiting certain times of the year we could just have her posses dad. It would allow her to remain in this world and we could be a family.
It wasn't something to be taken lightly though. Dad would gain all the ups and downs of sharing his body with a Kitsune including the whole ageless thing. The idea of living together forever in such a way sounds good but it would also mean dad would have to make some serious life changes.
I talked to dad about it, now it was something for him and mom to work over. Asking her to share dad's body was a very serious thing. Spirits liked to posses people sure but only for a short time. Asking for something permanent was a whole new level of commitment.
Isaac's grip on my hand tightened, this was the first time his family had made it across the veil. Since it was so thin and travel was so easy the traffic to and from tended to get rather hectic. Sometimes a good medium or necromancer was needed to help pull them forth ahead of the line. I had gained enough experience-and a new tail- so I was strong enough to do such a thing.
The Lahey's looked perfectly happy. I knew Isaac wanted to run to them and hug them, but they were still spirits and had no form. Mr. Lahey stepped forward, there was no anger or spite in his eyes. Just sorrow, and pain.
"Isaac...I...I am so sorry son."
Isaac walked over, bringing me with him. I was aware everyone was watching us, even the Ghosts who had just showed up for the party seemed to sense the importance of the situation.
"I missed you dad," Isaac said. He extended his hand, Mr. Lahey looked devastated, no doubt feeling unworthy of his sons forgiveness. He reached out, his hand hovering inches over his sons. It was the closest thing to a hug they could manage.
"Mom, dad, Cam. There is someone I want you to meet." Isaac looked at me, a smile on his face, his aura shined with love, happiness and peace. "This Stiles. The man I love"
Fusedtwilight: Wow, I think this might be the most emotional chapter I have written for this story so far. I wish we had gotten to see Isaac in the last season or at least gotten a mention of him, I always wondered if he ever joined another pack or found happiness. I always hated that he and Derek never got to reconcile. Derek was a jerk in the beginning of the show but by the end of the series I feel like he had changed and I think he would have apologized to Isaac for how he treated him.
Next chapter will be music and it will be Brett/Stiles. I can't promise when it will be released.
- 6
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- 8
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Fox In The Hills