CHAPTER 94

"So let me get this straight. Lydia is kinda going crazy after drawing pictures of the people who died, and not only is she drawing pictures of dead people but also of people who might/will die?"

"Yeah, at least that's what I think." Malia said. 

"And Allison?" Tristan's voice came over the speaker. 

"Well, she seems to be in denial." Malia snorted as her friend tried denying it but no words came from her mouth. "You think she's one of those dark voodoo people they told us about?" 

She neglected from mentioning the name of their Alpha because though she considered Allison trustworthy, there were certain invisible unspoken rules and lines that shouldn't be crossed without Satomi's express approval. The fact still remained that Allison was an Argent. 

"A dark druid? Honestly, I have no idea. I'm just as surprised as you by this?" Tristan said. This was almost as surprising as when he found out about Allison being a Hunter. His image of Lydia was not much different than everybody else. "Want me to come over?"

Malia shook her head and replied, "No need. I don't think we are in any kind of trouble with Lydia, though if you can try finding out what you can. I'll send over some of the pictures she drew and the most recent one."

"Got it." Hearing that, Malia turned to look at Allison and tilted her head at the displeased frown on her face. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Okay, that's a lie. Tell me, what's up with you?" Malia pressed on. 

Allison sighed and looked at her with a wry smile. Malia was known for having no tact and very little consideration for anyone's mood, her included, so the chance of her letting this go was miniscule at best. 

"That's an unfair ability of yours, catching other people's like that in the open."

"It's not as simple as you think, someone like your dad or grandpa would be hard to get a read on unless they let out a slip but I know you are diverting." Malia said while giving her a look to fess up. And fess up she did. 

"It's just that seeing you guys being so reliable and competent makes me feel a little bit envious, okay more than a little bit. I mean you guys can confidently fight against an Alpha, a serial killing kanima, while also fending off against skilled Hunters. And me? I'm just the cute frail princess with a slightly better than average archery skill."

Saying those words out loud, to Malia no less, made her feel as if her insides were being squeezed, making her shiver in disgust. 

She smiled deprecatingly and continued. "And you know the funny part? It's that we Hunters are supposed to be at the top when it comes to the predator-prey chain. I just don't see myself measuring up."

It wasn't just about Malia and Tristan, but also her dad and grandfather. She came from a line of likely legendary Hunters and the expectation and competence that came with it automatically fell on her shoulders since she was bound to one day lead the family. But she just couldn't see herself doing something like that no matter how optimistic she tried picturing it. 

"Wow. It's just… must be hard for you, huh. Admittedly I don't get the whole honor and moral code thing you must have in your family so I can't really say anything about it. Even if I could, I don't think I would. Sounds too cringey for me."

Right. What did she expect from Malia to say? 

"Just be yourself, or at least be strong, or important enough in your case, that others won't care or have too much say on how you act. Kate was the same, wasn't she?"

Allison nodded but remained silent and trailed her eyes to the passed out figure of Lydia. 

'Are all my friends supernatural? Even Boyd too?'

Such a thought presented itself to her for a brief second but she didn't think much about it because she already had an answer to that and that was that she'll reevaluate them the same way she did Tristan and Malia. 

"What do you think she will do if she finds out that Tristan killed Jackson?" It was a worrying thought considering what they witnessed her do. 

Malia on the other hand nonchalantly waved it off. "Probably go hysterical. Maybe even try to kill us. It'll be a pain considering the current tense atmosphere but it's nothing we can't handle."

Allison wanted to ask what exactly she meant by that but refrained from doing so already aware of the most likely answer. Maybe she can do something and try to stop her friends from killing each other, or at least one of them from killing the other. 

Which one she imagined doing the killing was not that hard to picture either. 

"Anyone ever told you that you worry too much over many minor things?" Malia asked and took the initiative to wipe off the sweat on Lydia's face. "I think she's getting better, but she's still as cold and stiff as a popsicle."

The two girls continued tending to Lydia's condition which they had nothing to no idea about but persisted regardless. 

Seeing Malia showing the slightest bit of care for Lydia in her own little way made Allison's heart lighten a good bit. She put the fact that her friends and family were trying to kill each other to the back of her head and for once decided to follow Malia's advice a little bit seriously. 

For the things she currently had no control over, she mentally shelved them to the side for now and tried to focus her 100% on helping to nurse her supernaturally comatose friend back to good health… and maybe even stop them from trying to kill themselves. 

'A girl can dream right? Who knows, maybe it might not even come to pass.' She thought to herself. 

.... 

[Tristan Hayes POV] 

I looked at the pictures of images and writing Malia and sent over and couldn't help but feel the slight creeping in of a headache, a small one, but a headache nonetheless. 

"What's up with the kids at school turning out to be supernaturals every passing week?" I said to myself as I fished out my phone to call grandma. 

We just barely fought against a rare Alpha and an even rarer kanima and another one just pops up to take their place. 

"Hoping she doesn't start the next murder spree for some petty reason like someone ignoring her or cutting in front of her in a line." I laughed lightly to myself as I said that because I can actually picture something like that happening when it comes to Lydia. 

Just as I was about to press the call button to ring up grandma, my phone started vibrating with an incoming call from Brett. 

"Brett, what's up?"

"Nothing much, just wanted to ask if you are up for hanging out tonight."

He saw no reason to reject and even if he had he still might not. "Sure. Got any plans?" I asked. 

Brett fell silent for a few seconds and was about to answer but it looked as if someone snatched the phone from him as a familiar voice came through. "Is that you Tristan? You guys are coming, right?"

"Yes I'm coming, Tierney. Got anything for fun or are we just doing movies, I'm in either way."

"We can do bowling. Regular bowling like normal people or some other games before closing off with movies at your house, how about it?" She excitedly proposed. 

"Got no problem with me." I said. I called out to her before she could pass back the phone since I wanted to ask if they knew anything about Lydia. "Hey Tierney, can you put the phone on loudspeaker if you and Brett are there alone?"

"Sure, go on."

I then explained to her what Malia had told me about Lydia a few minutes ago and even sent them the pictures. 

"I don't know, man. She could be one of many things you know. Maybe a druid, might not necessarily be a dark one, a witch with connection to dead spirits, a psychic, who knows?" Brett replied. 

Well that just leaves me to ask grandma if she can help narrow it down. 

"What's up with that school of yours anyway? It's like everything that happens has some sort of tie to it. Should have chosen Devenford when you had the chance 'cuz your school sounds a bit haunted to me." Brett joked. 

We didn't talk much after that as I ended the call and called grandma. 

"Tristan dear, you've been calling me a lot recently. Anything wrong this time around?"

That brought out a wry smile out of me and made me feel that maybe Brett's words about Beacon Hills High had some semblance of truth to it. 

I promptly told her what Malia had told me, leaving her silent for a few seconds before she asked a question. 

"You said she drew pictures of some of the recent deaths? Send me those images."

I did as she asked and waited for her verdict since if anyone that I know of had the possible answer, then it was her. 

"I don't think she's a dark druid or even a witch since doing something like this would require a sacrifice of sorts or something along similar lines but since Malia didn't see anything that might relate to magic or mysticism of any kind, only one creature comes to my mind. I may be wrong, but it's the only thing that I can come up with."

"And that is?"

"The wailing woman – a banshee."

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