Chapter 20

Lizzie Gwynne adjusted her cloak as she stepped along the wooded trail. She had been struggling with this for the last few days, ever since meeting that boy, and she knew that even her vast knowledge and wisdom was not enough to answer her questions. At thirteen tender years of age, Lizzie had assumed the rank and power of the Morgaine when the previous avatar was killed in an unexpected automobile accident. Up till then Lizzie had been happy as a teenager living with her grandmother and learning to use her powers and following in her grandmother and aunt's footsteps to be a druidic priestess.

She had started her formal training at nine years of age, but her Grandmother had been preparing her as far back as she could remember. On that fateful day in April, Lizzie had nearly been overwhelmed when she became the incarnation of the Morgaine, turning her into one of the two most powerful druids in the world. She had gained the wisdom and knowledge of her predecessors which had been the only thing that kept her from going crazy with everything that hit her on that day. Abagail Pritchard, the previous Morgaine, had died in that car accident, reminding everyone that power was not always enough, but luckily for Lizzie she was not entirely gone. Lizzie learned about her powers and her history from Abagail and all of the previous Morgaines before her.

It was strange for the teen. On one hand she was a typical teenager living in Cornwall and on the other she was the living repository for aeons of magical knowledge. Her grandmother was tough though and when it happened she didn't hesitate. She never gave Lizzie an inch more than she had ever had before, but when it came to magic, the old woman had immediately deferred to her granddaughter. She drew lines between 'Lizzie' and 'Morgaine' and held them firm through the next six years. By the time Lizzie was nineteen, she was fully vested in her abilities and was able to distinguish her mortal and magical lives.

Lizzie remembers meeting Arthur about fifteen years ago when the previous Merlin died and she had helped in his transition. She had been surprised to learn that the Merlins did not share the same ancestral memories that she had. Where Lizzie could consult not just the memories, but the personalities of those women entire, Arthur was only able to see the dry facts and information which made things much harder for her male counterpart. However the greatest difference between them lies in where each of them were strongest. The Morgaine understood the flows of the worlds, the energies that linked this realm with the others while the Merlin was the master of ancient knowledge. Abagail had explained it by saying that Merlin was the Knowledge of Power while the Morgaine was the Wisdom of Power. When they acted together, in harmony, their shared power was immense.

However Lizzie knew things that her partner did not and one of them directly affected the young American teenager who had come to them for help. She had been stunned when she saw that he was gifted with all six Marks, and though Arthur had been as well, it was for different reasons. Arthur had been surprised that it had even occurred while Lizzie knew that it had happened before, more than once, and the consequences were never easy or simple. When she searched her memories of what it meant, Lizzie had run into a dead-end. Something had blocked her ability to access those memories which could only mean one thing. That her prior incarnation had willingly submitted to a block on her mind and there were only four beings capable of such a feat and she was going to confront them now.

Stepping into a clearing, Lizzie looked at the ancient circle of stones and moved to stand within the center and she began chanting. The words were ancient and were any mortal ears around to hear them, they would have caused the listener to wail in agony and run screaming in fear. Lizzie feels the crackle of electricity in the air as the power builds in the stones until she has summoned enough power to open a door and then she steps through into the realms of the Fae.

Stiles parks his Jeep in the driveway and steps out. Scott, Isaac, and Allison got out with him as Jackson parked his Porsche on the road, with Derek's Camaro right behind him. The pack all spilled out the cars and headed for the house. Stiles turned around just as Peter slammed into the barrier and was thrown back, landing on his back.

"What the hell?" Peter groans as sparks of electricity continue to dance on his skin. The rest of the pack looks surprised but there is more than one giggle coming from the teens. Derek, who had been walking right beside his uncle with it happened, was untouched and surprised as he turned to look at Stiles in confusion.

"Right…I wasn't able to create a sigil for Peter" Stiles sheepishly admits. He older Hale glares at the teen who just laughs. "Not my fault dude. You are so closed off that I don't know the real you enough to create your sigil." Stepping across the line he holds out his hand to the beta who, while looking askance at his hand, nevertheless takes the hand and Stiles walks him forward. Peter hesitates but Stiles jerks and the pack can see the energy dancing around the beta as it allows him inside with Stiles' assistance.

"Where's your dad?" Scott asks noticing the missing cruiser.

"He was working a double, should be home in the morning" Stiles answers as he opens the door and they all pile in. Lydia, Erica, and Allison all take over and in a few minutes they have organized a giant slumber party with cushions, blankets, and pillows all over the living room, with space for Peter and Derek on the couches.

"You two are staying" Lydia doesn't so much as ask as tell the two men but either in a sudden appearance of smart decision making or possibly they had already planned it, both men agree. It takes a few minutes for everyone to settle into a spot, Stiles finds himself between Scott and Erica but he doesn't have time to really think about it before he finally gives up and passes out.

Stepping into the golden sunlight, she looks at the vibrant colors, scents, and sounds that define the realm. On earth, Lizzie had always felt the shadow of the Morgaine hovering over her, ready to provide the Druid with the knowledge and power of her position. But here? Here it felt as if Lizzie was the shadow to the Ancient and Powerful Morgaine who stepped out of the portal, her ebony robes appearing with a gesture, the black velvet and gold chains shining in the light of a sparkling sun.

"Welcome Great One" a beautiful fae male said, head bowed respectfully. Morgaine quickly saw that the youth, barely a few centuries old, had been waiting for her arrival. "Her Majesty is pleased at your visit and extends her hospitality to yourself" his words, smooth and cultured like honey rolled from his tongue, a delight to her ears.

Morgaine smiled at the youth and his clumsy attempt at charming. Morgaine was amused at his arrogant superiority but then it pretty much came naturally to the Fae as easily as breathing. "Son of Eloirth" she smiled at the boy's startled reaction "you favor your grandmother Illeseria but I think you also share the bearing of her grandfather Morowin. At least as I remember him in his youth" she says with a slight caress of her hand against his cheek as she steps past him on the path to the Court.

The boy swallowed nervously as he appeared to suddenly remember that while she may appear human in form, she was not and he would be well advised to remember that. Walking determinedly, Morgaine walked a path she had not stepped upon in nearly three centuries, a blink to the Fae, but several incarnations for her. The truth was she had no reason to visit the Spring Court of the Fae before now. She had however met the Queen less than a handful of years ago so Lizzie had felt the most comfortable starting here.

Stepping into the clearing, Morgaine took in the simple beauty of the Spring Court. Two seats formed of living wood were situated to the side of a clearing flush with green grass, wildly colored flowers all fully blooming, and warm sunlight that danced through the eternally green leaves of the trees surrounding them. Looking up she saw the Queen and King of the Spring Court and stepped up to the thrones, pausing at a place dictated by eons of custom for visiting equals. She nodded briefly to both of the monarchs.

"Morgaine, wise in power of the human realms, welcome to our Court" Orlaith said with a warm smile on her beautiful face. The Queen of the Spring Court was young, beauty, and grace all in a form that was exceptional even among the magnificent beauty of the Fae. "You have not graced our fields in many years" the words convey wistful disappointment rather than real concern. Her consort nodded politely but had apparently decided to follow the Spring Queen's lead.

"Your Majesties are gracious" Morgaine says perfectly. The other members of the Spring Court are arranged around the clearing, watching the entertainment of the visit. Morgaine glances around with the barest movement of her eyes "I hope to deliver my appreciation for the testing your Court managed recently. Tomas and Eildria were wise and graceful in their actions." Morgaine knows that the Fae do not like debts, owing or being owed, and suggesting that one did or owed a favor with the Fae was the surest way to rile them up.

"Eildria was very…intrigued…with the young magus" Orlaith said with such casual indifference that it sent alarms through Morgaine.

"He is very unique" she agreed and moved on to other topics of interest. Dealing with the Fae was a complex and ritualized dance of words, meaning, and intentions. Morgaine had clearly explained her reason for visiting which the Queen had obviously known and had offered that there was more, but protocol came first. After nearly an hour of pleasant exchanges of news and thoughts, Orliath declared a feast to welcome Morgaine to the Court and that led to a nearly six hour banquet where she smiled politely and graciously to the various members of the Spring Court, applauded the performers, and complimented those repsonsible until it finally concluded.

"Come Morgaine" Orlaith said rising from her chair with an elegant grace. "I would show you a new spring that our water dancers have created." Morgaine rose and followed the Queen, each of them nodding and greeting others along the way until they came to a screen of vines and flowers which an older Fae in the armor of the Court's guard pulled aside to let the women enter before dropping it back screening the grotto.

Morgaine stepped into the grotto and didn't have to falsify her enthusiastic gasp of appreciation at the magnificent sight. The place was stunning. A grotto, lined with white flowers that glowed with the silver light of the moon that flooded the small pool and grounds. Gentle trees shielded the grotto from everything else and one could almost believe that the rest of the world was the dream. "You approve?" Orlaith asked with a teasing smile.

"Very much so your Majesty" she replies easily. Orlaith laughs for a moment before she sighs, tailing her fingers into the silvery water.

"You have concerns about the human?" she asks gently and Morgaine nods but waits for a sign from the fickle Fae.

"Eildria and Tomas both reported that the boy was touched. We had sensed his potential far to the west, but we were not sure what to make of the signs" she finally admitted.

"Orlaith…My memories of this thing…they are not present. I know that ones such as him have occurred before, but someone I don't know the circumstances. The only way my memories would be touched would be if I agreed to accept such a block. Only one of the Courts could do so" she added cautiously.

Orlaith paused for a moment, considering the Ancient One's words carefully. "After the last time…it was felt that it would be best if this knowledge was…contained. There was doubt that humans even still carried the potential to even reach there, but there are still enough in the world that remember the possibility of the Arcanist" the word causes Morgaine to shiver, fear and excitement twisting together with whispers of exultation.

"An Arcanist? I don't know this word…but I do" she says carefully testing the rightness of it before agreeing with the sentiment.

"It is part of the blocked memories. Merlin's knowledge was also blocked, but we could not block your awareness that the knowledge was missing. A woman's intuition is strong" she says with a smirk. "If the child truly has the potential, then you need to know" she says and faster than Morgaine can react the Spring Queen touches her forehead and in a flash, the door in her mind opens and she falls over with the rush of knowledge.

Morgaine is blinking, not sure how long she was submerged in those memories, when she sits up and stares at the slightly disturbed face of the Spring Queen. Worry, concern, fear, and hope all vie for expression, something that surprises even Morgaine. "I remember. The boy is on the path and our actions have led him unerringly to have to make the choice" she says suddenly realizing that their actions had jeopardized the boy's very soul.

"If he walks away from his power, to willing forgo the working of magic" Orlaith tentatively offered but Morgaine quickly cut that off.

"The boy is a protector. He will gladly sacrifice his own life to protect those he cares about. He faces a Darach and that is not the situation that will allow him to sit on the side. His power will continue to grow" she confesses to the Queen.

"The more power he uses, the faster he will fall" Orlaith says with absolute certainty. "The power is too much for mortal limits. There are only two fates for one such as that. His power will grow until it consumes him utterly rendering him into a Draíochtan unless he can be bound to the Earth. Only a true binding will enable him to choose the path of the Aracanist."

"Your Court guides new beginnings" Morgaine says tentatively "but to raise and Arcanist is dangerous. There hasn't been one in nearly fourteen hundred years. And only three ever in my memories" she reminds the queen.

"Is he worth the effort?" Orlaith prompts and Morgaine sadly remembers that those three were the only successful ones. She remembers a dozen who fell in their rising.

Morgaine struggles with that answer. She liked the boy, he was quick, smart, and had a delightful spirit, but she knows that power has destroyed others just as wonderful. "I wish I could say yes, but in truth? I can only say possibly. He has tied himself to a wolfpack without ever seeking their power for his own. He sought learning for his own gifts, but when we looked at his heart, I did not find the hunger for power, only a determination to protect his own. I think in that pursuit, he would be capable of terrible things" she tells the Queen.

"And who would be his own?" Orlaith asks with a smile. The Fae were often called cruel or callous by the mortals, but ultimately their loyalty was to their own. Such a declaration of the boy's likely reaction was more complimentary than concerning for a Queen of the Folk. Morgaine nods in understanding and Orlaith stands up and brushes the flower petals from her dress. "I will call the Queen's Council" she tells the human vessel with a firm voice. "If all agree, then we will aid you as much as we can, but the human realm is difficult for us now. You will have to be the one to know when to act" she advises the woman.

Morgaine nods in agreement as they leave the grotto. She knows that her previous selves had spoken to all four Queens, but together? That happened very, very rarely. Usually only when the world was about to shift.

Noah Stilinski was tired, furious, and not quite ready to deliver this news. He had been called in last night and walking in to the Beacon Hills Hospital, he had demanded information from his deputies who were trying to figure out what had happened. Apparently the two ER doctors had both disappeared and it wasn't for several hours that the staff had realized that. They had noticed the missing nurses earlier, but since both of them were well respected, the other staff assumed that something had happened to draw them away. It wasn't until all of the staff had started comparing notes that they realized something was wrong.

Noah had nearly lost his control when the deputy reported that Melissa McCall was one of the missing nurses and he had to restrain himself from calling Stiles right that second. He would have if his son hadn't warned him that tonight was critical and that it was also dangerous so Noah had held back and instead focused on the facts. There were four missing people; Dr. Richard Michaels, a new doctor who came to town about five years ago; Dr. Jacob Danniger, a doctor who has been here for thirty years; Tracy Pearson a young nurse in only her second year of work; and Melissa McCall.

"Could it be about drugs?" Parrish asks the Sheriff looking around at the staff that were working with three of the missing people. Dr. Danniger had apparently never made it in despite that he left home at his normal time. Noah didn't wait and ordered an APB on the Doctor's car, he would deal with any complaints about not waiting the required time if it came up. Jacob had never blown off work in thirty years, if he wasn't here, then something had happened.

"Evidence Deputy. Get the facts first" Noah says though his own mind is racing. It takes several more hours before they manage to put together a time line and the final nail that causes Noah to discard drugs or other mundane reasons is when Jordan finds Melissa's amulet in one of the examination rooms. A quick check confirms that there is a security camera on that hallway and Noah sends Deputy Parrish to check. His finding of the footage that showed the nurse and doctor walking after the brunette woman, apparently willingly. Melissa however was unconscious and being carried by Dr. Michaels. He had then split his deputies with the 'in team' working their own investigation alongside the rest. Noah suddenly thought that he might need to bring in the rest of the staff at this rate.

Noah had finally left for home and he now pulled his cruiser in his driveway and saw the collection of cars in front of his house and blinked in surprise. It appears that they had visitors!

Stiles had woken to a feeling of intense warmth and comfort and a rather pleasant spicy smell. Opening his eyes he realized he was snuggled up to Scott's back while Erica's back was firmly against his own. Pulling back a bit he felt a bit embarrassed until he heard a soft chuckling. Looking up at the couch he saw Derek was awake and watching. "I know I shouldn't be surprised, but you talk in your sleep" the Alpha says with a smirk. "I guess you never do shut up" he adds and Stiles mutters at the injustice.

Prying himself up slowly as to not wake anyone else, Stiles manages to get up and make it to the bathroom before he loses it. Apparently that tea ran right through him. Stepping in to the kitchen he jumped at the sight of the sleep rumpled Derek Hale that was standing in his kitchen, barefoot and looking rather dazed. "Wanna help make breakfast?" he asks and the werewolf nods cautiously.

Stiles opens the fridge and pulls out eggs, milk, and two packets of imitation soy bacon. Stiles giggles at the look of disgust on Derek's face before he wiggles his fingers like a magician before moving his hands over the packages. Derek blinks at the now revealed packets of brown-sugar crusted extra thick bacon that is revealed. "You used magic to hide bacon?" he finally manages to ask looking disappointed.

Stiles snickers. "Ever since I figured out how to cast illusions! I have been making cookies look like Quinoa and Ice Cream like frozen Brussel sprouts" he answers proudly. "Dad hasn't found any of the stash so far!" he gloats.

Derek just shakes his head but follows instructions and places the bacon on trays to go in the oven, apparently Stiles does not like to cook them on the grill. Instead he mixes up an enormous batch of batter and begins cooking pancakes. Derek starts the coffee pot under Stiles direction and then begins cleaning fruit for the pancakes. "Stiles" Derek says after they have been cooking for a bit in silence "about last night" he pauses as his voice breaks and feels the rush of emotions nearly drown him.

Stiles had done some really difficult things before. Holding up a 200 pound werewolf in eight feet of water for two hours, fending off an attack by a crazed brother with a fire extinguisher, getting whacked by that damn bamboo stick over and over again, but this was the hardest thing he had done all year. Wait. Not speak. Not push. Not ramble. He just looked at the Alpha breaking down in his kitchen and stood firm, patient and trying to radiate understanding.

"Thank you" the words were whisper quiet but he still heard them. Derek looked up and Stiles saw the raw, blistered emotions in those incredible eyes and his breath caught. "I don't know how I can ever repay you for that."

Stiles shrugs and smiles. "We're pack" he says and the moment the words are out of his mouth he knows they were the absolute right words from the look of amazement on Derek's face.

"Yeah" he says carefully. "You are." Derek looks at Stiles and wonders exactly when this happened. When did he go from being the spastic, rambling, annoying, smart-ass who drove him crazy into this…nothing seemed to fit any more? Derek's mother had told him that Stiles spell that night was driven by the young man's determination to free him and his willingness to commit to the Hale Pack by placing the Triskelion in the center of his tree. It was not a spell that would work again, not for them, and with the chance to say goodbye, they were able to move on.

He knows it will take time, time to believe them, to accept their forgiveness, maybe to even forgive himself, but he thinks that he can see a time where he will. And that peace, that serenity, is due to the amber eyed man standing there, watching him carefully. Derek steps forward slowly, agonizingly slowly, giving the teen time to move or signal Derek to stop or anything but he doesn't. He just watches and waits as Derek moves until they are almost touching, face to face, staring eye to eye.

"Derek" Stiles whisper is broken and rich with feeling and Derek takes a deep breath as he moves closer.

"Coffee!" Scott moans and several other voices call out "Food!", "Bacon."

Derek moves with supernatural speed and is across the kitchen before Stiles can blink and then the pack is shambling in, groaning and wiping their eyes. "You cooked?" Erica says with delight as people start grabbing stuff and fixing plates completely not noticing the reactions of the other two pack members.

Stiles watches from his corner, quieter than ever before, but luckily no one is awake enough to really notice though he is pretty sure that Lydia did just give him a look. Breathing deeply to regain control after….whatever that was, Stiles finally fixes his plate and sits down with the others.

"Stiles?" Sheriff Stilinski says as the man steps into his living room overrun with teenagers and two men all devouring pancakes. "Is that bacon?" the Sheriff asks wistfully before he spots Scott and sighs.

Noah Stilinski truly hates this part of the job, especially now. He sits down in the chair graciously vacated by Peter who stands instead as he looks at the group. "It appears Blake hit the hospital last night" he starts and sees the entire pack tense. "She took two doctors and two nurses" he begins but get stopped before he can finish.

"My mom. She was working last night" Scott looks stricken and Allison grabs his hand as he looks to the Sheriff with desperation.

"Melissa is one of the missing" Noah says sadly and sees the sudden look of fear and panic on the boy's face. Allison is suddenly holding him but she isn't the only one. Isaac and Erica both engulf the pair and it's only a few moments before almost everyone is touching the distressed beta, trying to give comfort.

Stiles however looks pissed off. "How did she get Melissa. The amulet should have prevented that" he growls.

Noah sighs. "It was left in the exam room. I am guessing since there were two nurses in the room with Blake, that Melissa took it off."

"But why?" Scott whimpered as he looked at the tired face of the Sheriff. "She knew about Blake and the danger. We warned her!"

"The other nurse" Lydia says carefully and everyone looks at her. "If Blake threatened the other nurse to force Melissa to remove the amulet…" she suggests and from the look of despair on Scott's face the all know the answer to that. Melissa would never let someone else be hurt in her place.

"But you said two doctors and two nurses" Stiles asks sounding confused. "Why?"

Scott makes a noise but Allison just tightens her grip. "She only needs three Healers" Lydia mutters as she thinks.

"A mother. Mother to a werewolf. Protecting another nurse. Protecting the pack" Peter's voice surprises everyone. "Melissa is also a Guardian" he tells them and sees the comprehension in Stiles and Lydia's faces.

"Of course. Her plans have always included the pack. She might be after all the parents" Stiles warns. This causes concerns from everyone as they start talking.

"No. I don't think so" Derek says cutting off the others who stare at him in surprise. "Melissa is special. She is affiliated with the pack, but she also had your amulet for protection. Most of the rest of the pack's parents are not in the know. She probably wants true Guardians, those who know and fight anyway."

"Then there are only two other Guardians " Lydia freezes and looks at the Sheriff in surprise and fear "you."

"And dad" Allison finishes just as Stiles jumps up and everyone goes deathly quiet.

"New priority. She dies" Stiles growls and Noah is surprised at the flashes of red, blue, and gold that answer that statement.

"So what are we going to do?" Scott finally demands after everyone had been talking for a while. The Sheriff had updated them on everything that had been done far including checking out all of the medical staff's homes as well as Blake's, but her apartment was empty. He had a car there watching it just in case.

"We get Melissa back" Derek says immediately and the pack turns to him. "We break into teams. Erica, Boyd, Jackson go to the hospital and try and pick up the scents of any of the doctors or nurses in addition to Melissa. Blake may have hidden Melissa's scent but she might have missed the others. Allison, Lydia would you two go and update Chris? See if he or any of his hunters have seen any signs or can help. Sheriff, can you be our central coordinator?"

Noah nods. "Can I take Isaac? I can have him help Parrish and Tara on our end." Derek agrees before turning back to Scott.

"Scott, you, me, Stiles, and Peter will go to the school and see if we can find any trace of her or what she is doing. If she has been using the school as a hunting ground, there may be evidence" Derek says and Stiles can see that Scott looks better with something he can do.

"What about Deaton?" Scott asks looking at the Alpha.

"He's still under her spell" Stiles reminds him "and I have no idea how to break it like I did with the pack."

"I think I should go with you" Lydia says sounding uncertain. Derek looks over at her and raises an eyebrow questioningly. "I'm not sure why" she admits.

Derek looks over at Stiles who catches the Alphas eye and nods slightly. "Okay. Lydia you are with us. Jackson, take Allison to her father before joining the others." Allison opens her mouth to argue but Derek cuts her off. "None of our vulnerable members goes anywhere alone, not now" he says and while she looks ready to argue she then sees the look of fear on Scott's face so she just agrees.

Getting out of the Jeep and the Camaro the five of them move to the main doors of the school. Stiles had wondered if coming during school hours would be a problem since they were all technically skipping but it was too important to wait. They entered the school and Lydia and Peter separated to head to the office to see if Blake had shown up and to find any information that they could get on the woman. Scott, Stiles, and Derek all headed to her classroom but Scott and Derek were able to tell she wasn't there from the hallway. "Should we search her room?" Scott asks.

"Let's wait till class change. I can do a quick spell to see if anything shows up and you two can do your thing" Stiles suggests. The three wait for a few minutes when both the wolves turn to look down the hall where Ms. Morrell suddenly appears around the corner. Seeing them she looks surprised and walks over to them.

"Mr. Stilinski, glad to see you have returned to school" she says easily before turning to Derek and looking concerned. "And you are?" she asks the older man.

Derek starts to speak but then he pauses and sniffs. Suddenly he growls and his claws come out. "Derek!" Stiles yells just as Ms. Morrell tosses her hand out causing a stream of black powder to fly out and encircle the three of them. Derek and Scott slams into the ash barrier.

"Who are you?" Derek growls at the seemingly undisturbed woman.

"You are not a student here so I am not sure you are in any position to make any kind of demands. Besides you three are trapped" she says with a slight smile.

"You do know I'm not a werewolf, right?" Stiles asks raising his hand like he was in class while looking at the woman curiously.

Ms. Morrell frowns. "Yes, but you are something. I catch a wiff of magic, minor, but enough to stand out. I will figure it out eventually" she says without concern.

"So are you with the Darach or the Alphas?" Stiles asks and the woman looks off balance for the first time.

"A Darach is an abomination" Marin replies, her unhappiness at the thought clear on her face. Derek and Scott both growl and press on their barriers.

"So you are with the Alpha Pack. Their Emissary?" Derek concludes and the woman looks at him for a moment before finally nodding.

"I have agreed to serve in that role for Deucalion" she says simply.

"Huh" Stiles says with a curious look causing the druid to look at him. "You know I read that specificity of language was a hallmark of druids. You did not answer Derek's question, rather you gave information tangentially related. You serve in that role, not that you are an Emissary. You also clarified that your relationship is with Deucalion, not the pack" Stiles says looking at Derek who is watching the teen with a look that on another person Stiles would say was pride.

"So what does that mean?" Scott asks confused but definitely not happy.

"It means that she is playing a game of some kind" Derek explains. Morrell doesn't reply or react to their comments. Instead she pulls out a small bag.

"This won't hurt you, but it will render you more…tractable" she tells them causing both of the wolves to glance at Stiles with concern.

"Are you using Garnier's Herbs of Acquiescence?" Stiles asks sounding like he is in a classroom. Ms. Morrell looks at him in surprise. "I read a lot" he explains. "So you are going to be able to command our bodies, but not our minds or mouths. Hope we don't yell or anything" he snarks.

"I think you won't. I know you would hate for your classmates to see you shifted" she says and throws a bunch at Derek who sneezes. Scott rears back but he isn't able to get away so he gets dosed too. She throws a final batch at Stiles who doesn't fight it but he does sneeze.

"When I break the lines, you will walk straight to your vehicle, you will not stop" she instructs.

"This feels really weird. I want to move but I can't" Stiles says looking down at his body. Scott and Derek both look at him with looks of confusion. He looks at Derek and winks. Morrell breaks Derek's line and turns to do the same to Scott when Derek's hand moves to fast to see and closes on her throat and slams her into the lockers behind her.

"What?!" she gasps in shocked surprise as Derek leans in, eyes flashing red and his fangs out as he shifts into his beta form.

"Ohhh" Stiles says with a chuckle "I probably should have warned you that the herbs weren't going to work, but you know, enemies and all." Stiles steps across the ash barrier and slides his foot to break the circle around Scott. "Not a good day to be stuck in the hall with two really pissed off werewolves."

"How?" she gasps as Derek tightens his grip and she claws at his hand.

"Oh, the protective charms I made them prevented the herbs from working" Stiles says easily and sees the woman's eyes widen. "Now, let's have a talk. You are going to tell us everything you know about the Alpha Pack and I will try and convince tall, dark and brooding here not to tear you into tiny little pieces."

"Stiles!" Scott looks really unhappy at Stiles' suggestion and the teen sighs.

"Fine. We will just give her to Peter to play with" he says and sees the woman's eyes widen with fear.

"I swore oaths that I cannot break. You can ask Alan, he can explain" she tells them looking at Derek and trying to get him to loosen his grip.

"Unfortunately Alan is under the spell of the Darach, so we re not gonna be trusting him anytime soon" Stiles says sadly.

Ms. Morrell's reaction is not what any of them expected. She looks genuinely concerned and worried. "Alan is my brother. I would know if he was under a spell" she tells them.

Stiles glances at Derek with a questioning glance and he nods. She wasn't lying. "It's a subtle form of mind control. She had the whole pack under it" Stiles tells her.

"She? How do you know the Darach is a woman?" Marin asks suddenly looking at the three of them with suspicion.

"Because we know who the Darach is" Scott says. Stiles tries to wave him off but the teen misses his signal "Ms. Blake? The English Teacher?"

Stiles takes a deep breath but Marin suddenly looks horrified. "I met and spoke with her and I had no idea." She turns to Stiles "How did you know? And how did you free your pack?" she asks.

"I got the recipe for a powder that interrupts her spell from some friends and then forced them to face their deepest fears and selves" Stiles tells her.

"Enoch's Filtre?" she asks knowingly and Stiles nods confirming her guess. "Then I can free him. There is another way to break that kind of mind control for those who have the Druidic Mark. Please. Let me free him and then he can confirm everything" she pleads to Derek.

Derek stares for a moment before looking at the two teens who are watching him. "Opinions?" he finally asks surprising them both.

"If she can free Deaton, and is his sister, maybe we should" Scott offers looking at Stiles. "Can you stop her if she tries something?" he asks.

Marin looks confused but then she sees the green fire in the boy's eyes and she flinches. That is power. Suddenly she realizes that he is leaking power, not a little like before, but quite a lot. "You. You were the one who used magic on the twins. It wasn't the Darach. And the shield on your house" she guesses.

Stiles shrugs. "After Ennis' dropped by and got blood all over my house I didn't want any more surprise visitors. The twins pissed me off so I got rid of them too" he says casually. Hey, he doesn't have to admit they are all still alive...as far as he knows.

Derek leans forward and gets right in Morrell's face. "Try anything. Anything other than what we tell you to do, and I will tear your throat out. Assuming that Stiles doesn't get to you first" he says with a ferocious smile. Leaning back he lets go and the Druid slides down a bit and tries to compose herself.

"Let's go" Stiles says and waves his arm causing the mountain ash on the floor to all swirl up in a little tornado, move across the hall, and the wind funnel disperses over a trash can dumping the black powder inside. Stiles smiles at the look of concern and sudden understanding on the woman's face. She never had the upper hand.

"Well that was a waste of time" Lydia complained as they walked out of the administration office. Her and Peter had made it in with no problems, but there they had run into a brick wall. Ms. Blake hadn't called in but the school had gotten a sub to cover her class and no one seemed interested in answering any of their questions.

"I disagree, you need to look at what isn't there as much as what is" Peter said sounding amused and entertained.

Lydia gave him a glare that would have caused many lesser beings to rethink their decision to come into her presence but the beta only laughed. "What do you mean?" she finally managed to ask.

"She doesn't show up, nor does she make arrangements for her absence, but no one seemed even the slightest bit concerned, surprised, or even annoyed?" Peter prompted and Lydia frowned before she got his point.

"Blake spelled them" she points out.

"Probably not what she did to the pack, but something similar to make the staff here view her in the best light, especially when she acts out of character. It doesn't change or control them, just makes them like her more than she deserves" Peter answers. While Lydia had been speaking with the secretary, Peter had drifted around and his conversation with several of the people had been enlightening. While all of them said they barely knew her, they all had a near unanimous positive impression. Hell, they practically gave the woman a testimonial. He wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't voted teacher of the year or something.

"If she was caught on tape, she isn't coming back" Lydia said, more statement than question.

"Only if she is a fool" he replies but then looks up and sees the rest of the group approaching with a strange woman. "That is not her" he says indicating Morrell.

Lydia frowns. "That's Ms. Morrell, the new counselor."

"Did you finally decide that you needed professional help?" Peter quips as they walk up to the others looking askance at his nephew before noticing the man's carefully contained anger. "What?" he asks looking more closely at all of them.

"Meet Ms. Morrell. Apparently she is Doc Deaton's sister" Stiles tells them before adding "and also is the Emissary to the Alpha Pack."

Lydia's eyes widen but Peter only raises an eyebrow. "And you are giving her to me as a gift?" he asks hopefully.

"Depends on whether she can free Deaton" Stiles says easily while Scott blanches but doesn't exactly disagree. "We are heading there now. If we can free him, that will be a huge help. Anything on Blake?"

Lydia and Peter share their news and thought that the woman is gone for good at this point as they walk to the cars. Marin Morrell watches the pack as they walk and is surprised at the way Peter has moved to position himself in such a way that if she tried anything, either he or Derek would be in the best possible position to kill her. This is not something that she would have expected from such a pack. Perhaps Deucalion's information about the fractured status of this pack was wrong. Glancing over she watches Stiles carefully before she concludes that this may very well be the end of the Alpha Pack if what she is sensing about the teen is correct. She thinks that Deucalion and his Alpha Pack have made a very deadly mistake.

"Dad!" Allison called out as she stepped into the house. Rounding the corner she saw her father and two men and a woman that she didn't recognize. "Dad?" she asks looking concerned.

"Allison, these are our distant cousins Jacqueline, Louis and Enzo Argent" Chris said and Allison relaxed a bit. "They came on behalf of Clarrisant" he says with a look that made her suddenly concerned.

"Is something wrong?" she asks looking at Jacqueline directly.

"We received word from a…ally of our cousins in Greece" Jacqueline said looking at the teen. "The High Witch summoned the hunters in Athens as she was concerned about omens that were disturbing the covens. Dione said that they were not sure exactly what was happening, but they were worried. The Grande Matriarch decided to send us since the High Witch had indicated that Beacon Hills was where the danger was."

"We are dealing with a Darach and an Alpha Pack" Allison told the group "and the Darach just took Scott's mom" she added and saw her father suddenly look concerned.

"I don't know who Scott or his mom are" Jacqueline said sounding uncertain "but even the presence of a Darach would not be enough to draw the attention of the High Witch. Unless it was in her territory. No, this has to involve Witchcraft in some way which is why she is getting warnings."

"The only witches we have had were driven away after about half of them died in a fight. Are you saying we have another crisis to deal with?" she said sounding very unhappy.

Jacqueline rolled her eyes. "To be honest? Witches are not the most reliable of sources, and while I respect the High Witch's…omens? Portents? Signs? All of it seems too nebulous for me. I would rather deal with something more tangible." Allison saw similar expressions on the other two men's faces.

"Have you ever heard of an Alpha Pack?" Allison asks her cousin and the woman suddenly looks interested. "Because if you would rather help with something tangible?" she says with a smile.

"Little cousin" Jacqueline smiles happily "tell me all about it."

"Well?" Jackson asks as he walks over to Erica and Boyd who are standing right outside the main entrance of the hospital.

"We were able to follow their scents to the parking lot, but then nothing" Erica says sounding frustrated.

"Where?" Jackson asks and Boyd leads him over to where they traced the scent. The sign at the front of the spot says 'Doctor Parking' and Jackson frowns. "Didn't the Sheriff say one of the doctors' cars was missing?" he asks them.

Erica nods. "Yeah. The guy who was supposed to be coming in to work. The one who was inside, his car is still here."

Jackson leaned down and inhaled deeply at the empty parking space. A subtle mix of oil, gasoline, and brake fluid that created a very unique fragrance. Tossing his keys to Boyd he smiles "You drive, I can follow the scent of the car" he gloats at the surprised looks on the other two wolves faces.

"How? I didn't smell anything special" Erica demands with a mix of doubt and irritation that the other wolf could do something she couldn't.

"My dad has been getting his BMW serviced in Park City as far back as I can remember" Jackson says with a smirk.

"So?" Erica demands while they walk to Jackson's car.

"They do all this stuff to the car whenever he goes and the first time he did it after I was turned, let's just say the smell was intense. This doctor must have a BMW that he takes there too. I can smell my dad's car for weeks after a service trip and since the doc apparently got his car serviced fairly recently, I recognized it. If Boyd drives, I can track it" he says smugly.

Boyd wisely refrains from smiling at the look of disgust on Erica's face as she climbs in the back. He backs out and starts driving following Jackson's instructions. The only saving grace of this whole thing is that Stilinski isn't here for the inevitable dog jokes that he would make if he ever saw them driving around with Jackson's head sticking out of the car.

"Turn here" he instructs and Boyd does without comment until they finally come to one of the lesser visited public areas on the edge of the Preserve. "Stop!" he yells and Boyd hits the brakes just as Jackson jumps out of the car. Boyd and Erica quickly follow the other teen as he races across the field until Boyd spots the car hidden in the bushes.

"Is that?" Erica asks as them step up but then the wind dies down and the scents hit them. The rank smell of the Darach, Melissa McCall, and the other three!

"We follow the trail!" Jackson says but Boyd's hand on his shoulder jerks the teen backwards causing him to growl.

"We need to call this in to the Sheriff" Boyd says and both of the other wolves look aghast at his comment. "The Sheriff knows remember? We probably also don't need to chase after her without the whole pack."

Erica and Jackson both look sheepish but agree and Erica is calling when the wind picks up and they smell it. Blood! Both Boyd and Jackson's head turn towards the smell and they are moving. "Stay here" Jackson yells at Erica who growls and ignores the teen. The three of them get about fifty yards into the woods when they find them. The bodies of the two doctors and the other nurse, all with their throats cut, laid out in a circle. There is no sign of Melissa.

"Call him" Erica says looking at Boyd. "Tell them we will meet them at the car."