Chapter 13: Ch. 12 - SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Avalon's outfit:

Chapter Twelve

💰 Smoke and Mirrors 💰

"Here, try that." Stiles says as he hands Malia an article of Scott's clothing from the closet. She brings it up to her nose then shakes her head, "Fabric softener." She said. He glanced around before running onto the bathroom making Malia and Avalon follow him to see him pull out a pair of boxers from the hamper.

"Remember, Scott's life is on the line." Stiles said when both girls made a face and Avalon started shaking her head. "Yeah, she's not sniffing dirty underwear." She said before walking over to Scott's bed and grabbing a pillow. She tossed it over to Malia who brought it up to her nose before nodding and giving Stiles a look as he pursed his lips.

"Yeah, that works, too."

"Oh! Liam, go home. You're not coming with us." Stiles said as they walked down stairs to see Liam sitting in the kitchen. "Why not?" Liam asked and Stiles sighed, "Because it's a full moon, and I don't feel like driving all the way down to Mexico just to have you rip my throat out."

"You can lock me up, right? Chain me down to the backseat or something?" Liam said and Stiles sighed and Avalon shook her head, "Sorry little brother but you tore through the last chains, remember?" She said and Stiles nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we would have to freeze you in carbonite to get you down there." Stiles said and Liam shrugged, "Okay, then where do we get carbonite?"

Avalon and Stiles both squint at him, "Really? You haven't seen it, either?" Stiles asked. "Did not not pay attention at all when we watched Star Wars?" Avalon asked before scoffing slightly, turning around to walk away.

"Wait! What if we put me in the trunk?" Liam asked, moving to stand in between them and the door. "You'd get out of that, too." Malia said and Avalon nodded in agreement, "Liam, you've been a Werewolf all of five minutes. You don't have to do this." Stiles said making Liam sigh.

"I know I don't, but I want to. There's gotta be bigger chains, a bigger trunk, or something! There has to be." Liam said and Stiles looked down in thought,

"Maybe there is..."

💰

"How'd you get a prison transport van?" Stiles asked Braeden got out of the van after pulling up next to them, "I'm a U.S. Marshal." Braeden said making Stiles pursed his lips, "Yeah, I thought that was just a cover." Stiles said as Derek and Peter pulled up.

"Are we really bringing him?" Derek asked gesturing at Liam who came to stand next to Avalon, "Are we really bringing him?" Avalon asked pointing at Peter. "We're bringing everyone that we can. And, considering Scott and Kira were taken the night before a full moon, we should probably get going." Peter said making Malia look at him confused, "What's that mean?"

"If Kate took Scott back to the same temple that she took Derek, how do we know she's not planning to do the same thing to him?" Peter said and Liam looked confused, "What, she wants to make him younger?" He asked. "Or take him back to when he wasn't a Werewolf." Derek answered.

"A Werewolf can't steal a True Alpha's power. But, maybe a Nagual Jaguar with the power of Tezcatlipoca behind her...? Maybe she can. So, if everyone is sufficiently freaked out, I say we get going." Peter said and Avalon shook her head.

"We can't- not without Lydia." She said making them look over at her, "Where is she?" He asked. "The school." Stiles said, before walking over to the side to call Lydia.."What's she doing at the school, anyway?" Derek asked and Malia lifted Kira's sword, "We got Kira's sword, but we need something with a stronger scent. Lydia went to get a jacket out of her locker."

"Nothing..." Stiles sighed, walking back over. "If she has a car, she can catch up to us." Braeden said and Peter pointed at her, "That's a good point. We'll call her from the road." He said making Avalon look at him weird.

"What if something happened? She could be in trouble." Avalon said making Peter sigh in annoyance, "Fine. You stay- you find her. We're going on without you." Peter said walking over to the car making her glare at him again. "I could call Mason. He has a study group at the school. Maybe he could look for her?" Liam said and Stiles nodded and sighed, "All right. Fine." Stiles said and he and Avalon walked over Malia while everyone else went to the cars.

"We need to be back there with Derek and Liam- I've got some experience dealing with out-of-control teen wolves and I doubt Liam would attack his sister. You gonna be okay riding with Peter?" Stiles asked and Malia nodded and shrugged slightly, "He is my father. Maybe we could do some bonding." She said making Avalon shake her head slightly. "And I'm pretty sure that he's also very psychotic so no. No bonding. Play the radio and play it loud." She said before they turned back to the rest.

"Remember what we're dealing with- it's not just Kate, it's Berserkers. You might see human eyes behind those skulls... Do not assume there's any humanity left." Peter said then looked over at Liam with a smirk, "Oh... This little one is terrified of them, aren't you?" Peter said making Avalon glare at him as she gently grabbed her brother's shoulder. "Don't worry, my friend. It is that fear that will keep you alive. A reminder to everyone? You do not fight Berserkers to survive- you fight to kill."

"I wanna take a nailed bat to his face." Avalon muttered, as she, Stiles and Liam walked over to the back of the van.

💰

"All good?" Derek asked after cuffing Liam to the bench, Liam pulled on the cuffs but they didn't budge so he looked at him and nodded. "Okay. Now, I brought something to help you. This has been with my family for centuries." Derek said pulling out the triskelion talisman making Avalon and Stiles cock an eyebrow at him. "It's a very powerful supernatural talisman. We use it to teach Betas how to control themselves on a full moon." Derek said glancing over at Avalon and Stiles with a look that said go along with it.

"Yes. It's powerful. Very powerful." Stiles said, clearing his throat and Avalon nodded slowly before glancing over at Stiles who looked at her with slightly wide eyes.

💰

After a couple hours on the road, Liam suddenly, forcefully pulled on the hand cuffs, grunting. "Whatever you were gonna teach me... I think you better start." He said looking up as at them with glowing eyes.

"Liam, you with me? We have a mantra that we use. You repeat it. You focus on the words. It's like meditating- you say the words until you feel control coming back to you." Derek said and Liam nodded, "Okay. Okay, okay! What are the words?"

"Okay, look at the triskelion. See the symbol? I have a tattoo on my back, it's the same thing. Each spiral means something." Derek said and Avalon thought for a second, "Alpha, Beta, Omega." She said and Derek nodded. "It represents the idea that we can always rise to one and fall back to another. Betas can become Alphas." Derek said.

"Alphas can become Betas." Stiles finished and Liam glanced and him before looking back at Derek. "Can Alphas become Omegas?" Liam asked and Derek nodded, "All you have to do is say the three words... And with each one, you tell yourself you're getting calmer, more in control. Go ahead."

"Alpha, Beta-"

"Slower."

"Alpha... Beta... Omega... Alpha... Beta... Omega..."

"Good. Say it again. Remember, every time you say the words, you're getting calmer."

"Alpha... Beta... Omega..." Liam said, his voice getting deeper and sounding more like growls making Stiles jump and back away a bit. "Say it again." Derek said but it obviously want working as Liam let out a few grunts. "Derek, I don't think the powerful talisman-of-self-control is working." Stiles said anxiously.

Liam let out some more grunts that quickly turned into growls before letting out a slight roar, jumping out at Derek making them all move back as the van rocked a bit. The more Liam fought against the cuff, the more Braeden had a hard time controlling the van.

Suddenly the cuffs broke making Avalon and Derek quickly try to grab a hold of Liam's arms. "Derek?" Braeden called out in concern, "I think we're gonna need to go a little faster." Stiles called out. "Keep going!" Derek yelled, glancing over at Braeden, while Avalon tried to make sure Liam's claws doesn't get close to her face. "We're almost there!"

"Derek, I don't think "Alpha, Beta, Omega" is resonating with him." Stiles said making Derek look over at. "You know any other mantras?" He asked and Avalon's eyes widened, "Yes!" She said and grabbed a hold on both of Liam's arms making him look at her.

"Liam! Liam! What three things cannot be long hidden?" She asked and he just growled at her, "Liam, look at me! What three things cannot long be hidden? Focus!" She said. "Sun... the moon... the truth." He grunted and she nodded, "Say it again."

"The sun... the moon... the truth." He said, calming down again making her smile and sigh in relief. "Derek?"  Braeden said making him look over at her and nod, "We're okay." He said as Avalon glanced over at Derek and Stiles while Liam continued the mantra. "The sun. The moon. The truth."

"I can't believe I did it!" Liam said, excitedly as they pulled up to La Iglesia making Avalon chuckle as she held her fist out to him. "For a minute there, I thought I was gonna tear the three of you apart." Liam said, bumping Avalon fist while Stiles nod slowly at him, "Yeah, that would have made for an awkward ride home, so thanks."

"You think you can bring the same level of control and strength inside La Iglesia?" Derek asked and Liam slightly threw his hand out, showing off his claws making them nod, impressed. "All right! We might actually be able to do this." Stiles said and Derek got up to open the doors.

As soon as he did he was met with a berserker that grabbed him and threw him out of the van. They instantly climbed out of the van as the berserker brought his clawed hand down on Derek's chest over and over. Before anyone could do anything Braeden fired her gun at the Berserker multiple times making it back off before running over to Derek.

"How bad is it?" Peter said as him and Malia ran over. "I'm fine! I'm fine. Just get to Scott. Just find him. We'll be right behind you. Go." He grunted in pain but they all hesitated, "Go!" He said and Peter slowly turned around before running off, Malia, Avalon and Liam following behind him after a few seconds. "Hey... Hey, save him." Derek said and Stiles nodded slowly before running off.

"Okay, everyone, stop. Stop, stop, stop, stop. We gotta figure out where we are, then we gotta figure out how to find Scott and Kira." Peter said when Stiles caught up to them. All of the sudden Stiles phone started ringing making everyone look at him as he pulled it out. "How do I even have..? Hi, Dad... Okay, Dad, I know you're angry-"

"Oh, I'm beyond angry! I've reached a level of fury that you could not possibly comprehend."

"Okay, well, when I get back, you can ground me."

"Ground you? Ground you? I'm going to hobble you! Now, please, tell me you're all right. Tell me that you're safe."

"You want me to lie?"

"Oh, God. Okay. Tell me-tell me what I can do. How can I help?"

"Lydia- she was at the school when we called Mason to look for her, but now we're not hearing back from either of them. I don't know, Dad... I don't know what I'm doing. You know, I'm just... I'm trying to save my friends."

"Okay. I'll find Lydia and Mason. You get Scott and Kira. You save your friends."

"Dad, if it's one of the Berserkers at the school, you're gonna need firepower. A lot." Stiles said before hanging up and turning back to the group. "What do we do now?" Liam asked and Malia glanced around for a second before her eyes widened, "Duck!" She said before pulling Avalon ans Liam down right as a berserker went to attack.

"Go back! Get back! Go! Go, go, go, go!" Peter yelled as he pushed everyone back. "Go find Kira and Scott! Go!" Malia yelled as she tossed Avalon Kira's sword. Avalon and Stiles glanced at each other before nodding and running off down one of the halls.

"Scott! Kira!" Stiles called out as him and Avalon turned corners until they saw a bloody Kira making them sigh in relief. "Are you okay?" Avalon asked and Kira shook her head, "It's Scott. Guys, it's Scott." She said making them look at her confused.

"What?" Stiles asked, "The Berserker- it's him. Kate did it." Kira said and Avalon furrowed her brows. "What are you talking about?" She asked and Kira glanced between them, "She made him into one of them. I don't know how, but it's him. And if they don't know it, they could kill him." She said.

"That's why Lydia's not here... They won't know they're killing Scott." Stiles said and him and Avalon glanced at each other until all three of them started running back down the halls again. When they got back to where everyone else was they saw Peter and Liam holding the berserker back while Malia looked like she was about to stab it with a bone. "Malia, wait! It's Scott!" Stiles yelled but she wasn't paying attention. Kira ran forward, slicing the bone in half making Malia drop it and turn to her.

"It's Scott. It's Scott." Stiles said making them all look back at the berserker. The berserker- Scott- shoved Peter and Liam back before punching Malia making her fall back before walking towards Liam who crawled back. "Scott? Scott! It's me!" Stiles said but the berserker just looked at him before punching him.

The berserker turned back to Liam before grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall. Avalon's eyes widened and was about to run forward but Malia grabbed her arm to stop her. "Scott! Scott, listen! Listen!" Liam yelled right as the berserker went to stab him, "Listen! You're not a monster!" Liam said making him freeze.

"You're a Werewolf... like me." Liam said and the berserker slowly lowered its arm before letting Liam go and slowly backing up. It looked down at its hands for a moment before pulling all off the bones and skin off. It gripped the skill before slowly breaking it in have to reveal Scott who let out a loud roar.

It was quiet for a moment as Scott stared at Peter, "You." He said making everyone look over at Peter. "The only one who knew as much as Argent about the Berserkers... about the Nagual. You taught Kate. You helped her. All for power." Scott said.

"For my family's power... to be rightfully inherited by me. Not usurped by some idiot teenage boy so incorruptible, he won't shed the blood of his enemies even when justified. You don't deserve your power. Not power like this." Peter said.

He transformed and let out a roar making Malia flash her eyes and canines before charging at him but he just swiped at her making her go flying back into a broken wall with a groan. "Oh, sorry, sweetheart. We'll talk about this later." Peter said as Avalon ran over to Malia, helping her up.

Kira spun her sword around and was about to run at Peter but Scott stopped her. "You were my Beta first, Scott. It was my bite that changed your life... and my bite that can end it." Peter said as him and Scott stared at each other.

"Then end it, Peter! Because you won't get another chance." Scott said and the both let our a roar before charging at each other. Scott swiped at Peter a couple times until Peter managed to grab Scott's arm and punch him in the stomach.

Scott swiped at Peter then crouched down and swiped again but then Peter punched in the face making Scott stumbled back again. But instead of going down, Scott did a couple back flips and stood up making Peter roar at him before charging.

Peter threw a few punches but Scott easily dodged them, "Come on, Scott Come on!" Peter taunted. Scott went to throw a punch but Peter grabbed his arm and punched Scott in the stomach before grabbing him and throwing him into a pillar. He grabbed him again before throwing him into the opposite pillar.

"Fight like an Alpha, Scott!" Peter said, shoving Scott into the wall. Scott growled slightly before pushing away from the wall and kicking off the opposite, giving him enough leverage to throw Peter to the ground. Scott jumped up and punched Peter who was on the ground a couple times before grabbing him by the shirt, pulling him up.

Peter managed to headbutt Scott before Scott punched him in the side and then the face. Peter got the upper hand again before punching Scott making him stumble back then kicked one of Scott's legs from under him. "You want to defeat me? You're going to have to kill me!" Peter growled before throwing Scott across the room.

Liam went to step forward but Peter grabbed a wooden bench before throwing it at Liam. Luckily it didn't hit Liam but shattered over his head against the wall making Peter smirk and let out a growl. Seeing this, triggered the protective Alpha side of Scott making him growl and stand up.

Peter charged at Scott again but no matter what Peter did, Scott blocked it before punching Peter in the side making him stumble back. While Peter was vulnerable Scott uppercutted Peter making him go flying back into a wall.

"You were never an Alpha, Peter... But you were always a monster." Scott said making Peter snarl and go to charge at him again but before he could Scott jumped up and punched him, knocking him out.

💰

Avalon stood next to Liam, her arm around his shoulders as they talked to Argent. "There's enough yellow wolfsbane to keep Peter out for the trip back... But be careful." Argent said and Scott raised his eyebrows slightly.

"You're really going with them?" He asked and Argent nodded, "I made a deal with the Calaveras weeks ago. They'll leave you alone- all of you. But only if I help them catch Kate." He said. "What if you can't?" Kira asked and he sighed softly, "I'll find her. Someone has to." He said.

💰

"Then Stiles said that Scott and Kira were stuck in Mexico, which was why they missed the game... Uh, so we went down to Mexico to drive them back from Mexico, and that's why we all missed practiced... 'Cause... We were all in Mexico..." Liam explained as he, Stiles, Scott and Avalon stood in front of Coach trying to explain why the boys missed practice.

"You took Kira on a date to Mexico?" Coach asked and Scott awkwardly looked at with wide eyes. "It was our first real date..." He said making Coach squint at him, "In Mexico?" He asked. "They wanted to do something special." Stiles said and Coach nodded, "Huh. Okay. I believe you." Coach said making them all look at him shocked, "Really?" Avalon asked.

"Absolutely not! But I've had experiences south of the border that would knock the genitals off you boys." Coach said in a slight whisper making Avalon look at him weird. "Still, let me be clear to you two... This kid's the best talent I've seen in years- so he's your responsibility now. You boys are gonna stick together. You're gonna look out for each other. And you're gonna have each other's backs. You got it?" Coach asked and Scott smiled at Liam, "We got it."

"And Lady Dunbar." Coach said making Avalon look as him, "Those two are your responsibility now. Make sure they don't do anything stupid." He said making her nod slightly. "If I dont do anything stupid first." She said and Liam nodded, "She can do stupid things a lot." He said making her look at him before flicking the side of his head.