TIME.
A construct that seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye or drag on with an irritable ticking of a clock.
Now, Mason wasn't wearing a watch nor could he see any type of clock from where Lydia and he were hiding. However, with a creature he didn't understand threatening to kill him, time wasn't passing quickly enough.
His back ached from being pressed against the wall, his thighs burned from squatting to stay out of sight. His ears were strained from listening too closely on the silence, and all in all, Mason was ready to call it a day.
Lydia felt eager to leave too, though her motives lied in saving her friends. She tried to get Mason to move, swearing the Berserker had to have left.
And even though he wanted to escape, Mason wasn't ready. "No, no, no," he shook his head. "There's only one way out on this side of the basement."
He didn't know what that...that thing was, and he didn't want to find out. He actually wanted to survive high school and live past fifteen.
"I know." Lydia understood his fear, probably better than anyone. Compared to her friends, she often felt helpless. She didn't have claws, fangs or the ability to quake someone into the wall. Voices swirled in her head, but unfortunately, they didn't help with self defense. Yet knowing her friends were mortal danger, made her swallow down her fear.
She turned to Mason, a determined sparkle in her green eyes. "If we don't get out of here, someone's going to die. We have to do something."
"Wait--" Mason only heard the first part, his mind spinning. "How do you know that?"
Lydia huffed, "I just do. And we have to at least see if he's blocking the exit."
Mason sighed, but slowly nodded his head to agree. Leaning slightly forward, he quickly scanned the dimly lit hallway to see if the Berserker still lurked around. But when the low growl entered his ears, he immediately shrunk back. Eyes closed, head shaking, Mason muttered, "Nope, no, no. He's still there. Yep, he's blockin' it."
Lydia impatiently tapped the pads of her fingers together, attempting to think of a plan. Her lips turned up when her eyes landed on two bats, one wooden and one aluminum. Of course, they weren't ideal. But it was better than going against the Berserker empty-handed.
Mason noticed her step forwards to them, his jaw dropping open in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
"Very."
"A baseball bat?" Mason didn't understand.
At the beginning of the year, Mason heard rumors about Lydia. She held great fashion sense and threw crazy parties, but she was also practically a genius. She couldn't have been serious about using sports equipment against a freakish man-giant. "Against that guy? Or thing...or whatever it is."
Lydia withheld from snapping at him, but spoke sharply so he'd listen. "My friends are in trouble. And so is Liam, your best friend. They need me. I'm going for it." She turned away from him, starting to move towards the Berserker. Her hands nervously gripped the bat handle and she muttered, "And yes, with a baseball bat."
She often made fun of Stiles for his choice of weaponry. Fighting a Berserker with a bat proved her theory that not only are they completely useless, but that Stiles was in fact an idiot she really wanted to smack upside the head.
Mason, having gained some courage from hearing Lydia's words, ended up charging first. Crying out, he sprinted past her with the wooden bat.
All of his attempts held good intentions, but Mason wasn't a fighter. The Berserker easily blocked his swings and knocked him back with a hard punch to the jaw.
Lydia tried next, only for her to be completely thrown across the hallway and onto the floor next to Mason. Both of them groaned from the pain, Mason grunting, "I thought you said it wanted to keep us here, not hurt us."
The Berserker stalked towards them, growling under its breath. Lydia's eyes widened as she scrambled to stand. "I think it changed its mind!"
"Excuse me," a new voice entered the conversation. As soon as the Berserker turned around, Sheriff Stilinski appeared to toss a dark block in its direction. "Catch!"
Lydia, recognizing it to be a a bomb, reacted quickly. Without even thinking, she pulled Mason towards the corner in the wall, out of range, just as Noah pushed the button.
Mason and Lydia covered their heads as the explosion rang out, dust and fragments of bone filling the air.
Noah peeked out from where had dived into safety after a few moments, calling out to them. "Are you two alright?"
"Yeah," Lydia replied shakily, helping Mason rise back up on his feet. They met Noah in the middle of the hallway, covered in dirt and coughing into their arms.
"Good," Noah nodded, his eyes falling to what remained of the Berserker. Leaning down, he picked up the shell of the animal skull, sand crumbling out of it.
Lydia whispered, "It was after me." Both Mason and the sheriff turned to her as she lifted her gaze. "It wanted me to stay in Beacon Hills. I think...I think this was all some sort of distraction."
"Because you knew," Noah agreed, sighing. "You knew they were trying to kill someone."
Bewildered, Mason darted his eyes between the pair. "Kill who?"
"Scott."
*^*^*^*^*
The battle had already begun.
And absolutely no one expected it.
The very second Derek opened the back of the van, a Berserker attacked. It threw Derek into the dirt, not giving him a chance to even react before slamming his body against a sharp rock. With every growl, it slammed its bone knuckles into his stomach and as a final blow, stabbed Derek through a deadly dagger.
Only when Braeden began shooting repeatedly against its armor did the Berserker even glance up, getting frightened. Jemma appeared beside the mercenary, raising her hand immediately to send a seismic blast right in its gut.
It flew back, collapsing against a section of the ruins. Only then, did everyone else scramble out of their vehicles. Stiles eyes widened in surprise, Peter skidding to a stop at the sight of his nephew. Jemma rushed to Derek, whose breathing picked up from the agonizing pain. He grunted, blood beginning to drip from his lip as Jemma nervously moved his hand away from the injury.
Jemma's breath hitched from the red staining his shirt, Lydia's scream stuck like a nightmare on a loop inside her mind. Derek told her in Beacon Hills he didn't believe he would be coming home. She wasn't okay with that, but looking at him now... Jemma wondered if she even had a choice.
"How bad is it?" Peter was the one who dared to speak first.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Derek coughed. "Just...Just get to Scott and Sierra. Just find them. We'll be right behind you. Go."
Stiles and the others hesitated to leave, knowing Derek's chances of surviving the attack were slim. He wasn't a werewolf anymore; he couldn't heal. Peter stayed put for a moment as well, making Derek raise his voice to command, "Go!"
This time Peter obeyed, casting a worried look over his shoulder to his only nephew before taking off towards La Iglesia.
Jemma held onto Derek's hand tightly, too scared to say anything at first while his eyes fell to Stiles. "Hey, hey," Derek spoke up seriously, Stiles giving him his full attention. "Save them."
Stiles's face softened, but he forced himself to nod. He started to follow Malia and Liam inside, but paused to turn back one more time.
Braeden had crouched besides Derek as well, next to Jemma. Stiles knew how much Derek meant to Jemma, and Sierra for that matter. Not to mention, Scott thought of Derek like a mentor, Stiles treating him as an aggravating older brother.
Araya said last time they were in Mexico that they had already suffered so much, and she was right. Stiles didn't want to lose another friend. He couldn't.
Just hold on, Derek, Stiles prayed as he headed inside the temple. Hold on.
Even though Braeden didn't verbally say anything, Derek caught the concern she sent towards Jemma. He chuckled, trying to not think of the pain to assure the two women. "Lydia was right," he smiled, Jemma shaking her head.
"Don't talk like that," she demanded, fighting the tears gathering in her eyes. "You're going to be fine, okay?"
"Jemma," Derek whispered softly, but she didn't want to hear his goodbye. She didn't want to accept it.
Accepting a gun from Braeden, Jemma then asked him, "Can you still pull a trigger?"
Derek winced, but nodded. "Yeah."
Jemma passed him the pistol carefully, resting her hand over his. She looked him straight in his brown eyes. "Stay with me," she said softly, but firmly. "You're going to be okay."
"It's a...It's a mortal wound," Derek remarked with his signature whit, his face scrunching up. "And right now? I'm feeling pretty mortal."
Jemma leaned forward, placing two fingers under his chin so he'd glance up at her. "I'm not going to let you die," she told him before kissing his forehead. However, she then froze from growls rising up in the distance.
Braeden cocked her shotgun, raising back to her feet while Derek replied to Jemma. "I think...I think you just have to con-concentrate on saving yourself."
Jemma and Braeden exchanged glances, Jemma cautiously standing up. Both women moved together, creeping towards a nearby wall. Their backs pressed against the crumbling building, Braeden snuck a peek around the corner. However, nothing was there.
Jemma looked back at Derek, making sure he was still there. He nodded once, the hopeful and loving glimmer in his eyes giving her all the confidence she needed. She shut her mouth, forcing herself to take deep breaths through her nose while Braeden glanced again.
Except this time, something emerged from the shadows.
And that is when all hell broke loose.
*^*^*^*^*
Inside La Iglesia, no one knew where they were.
Caught up on the adrenaline, the teenagers sprinted in blind and threw caution to the wind. All the ruins started to blend together, looking identical until Peter forced them to stop. "Stiles!" he called the boy's name, grabbing onto his jacket to pull him back. "Okay, stop, stop! Everyone stop!"
"We need to figure out where we are," Peter stated, taking the pause to catch his breath from the sprinting. "Then we need to figure out how to find Scott, Sierra and Kira."
Before anyone could answer, the sound of his phone ringing made Stiles scrunch up his nose. "How do I even have service?" he muttered, seeing his father's number on the screen once he pulled it out. Letting out an annoyed sigh, he pressed the green button and held it up against his ear. "Hi, Dad."
Peter looked at Malia and Liam in exasperation as Stiles stepped away, bewildered that Stiles believed now was the time to answer a mere phone call.
"Dad, I know you're angry," Stiles started out quietly, but Noah didn't even let him finish.
Noah snapped, making Stiles close his eyes and wince. "Oh, I am beyond angry. I have reached a level of fury that you could not possibly comprehend!"
"Okay, well, when I get back you can ground me," Stiles suggested, but his dad only scoffed.
"Ground you?" he echoed in disbelief. "Ground you? I am going to hobble you!" He hesitated, Stiles confused from hearing him sigh. "Now, please," Noah's tone was full of desperation. "Tell me, you're alright. Tell me that you're safe."
"You want me to lie?" Stiles retorted, casting a glance at Malia to make sure they hadn't moved. He listened as Noah sighed once more before he asked what he could do to help them out. Stiles, having no idea what was happening to Lydia or Mason, expressed his concern. "I don't know, Dad," Stiles confessed, worried out of his mind. "I don't know what I'm doin'. You know, I'm just...I'm trying to save my friends. I'm trying to save Sierra."
"Okay," Noah replied gently, and offered some encouragement. "Don't worry about Lydia and Mason. You focus on Scott, Sierra and Kira. You save your friends and come home safe. Okay?"
"Okay."
Stiles rejoined the other three, Liam growing impatient. "What do we do now?" the young beta questioned.
Malia's body tensed, her head turning towards Liam just in time to see a Berserker creeping up behind them. "Duck!" she commanded, pushing Liam down as the Berserker swung its dagger right where his head had been.
"Get down, get down!" Peter yelled at them. "Get back!" Everyone took off, running through the maze of the ruins with Stiles in the lead.
The Berserker growled only once before breaking into a sprint, chasing them. Coming to a more open area, Malia tossed Kira's sword to Stiles for protection. "Go find Scott, Sierra and Kira!" she directed him, Stiles looking back at her with wide eyes. "Go!"
Stiles did as he was told, sprinting once again. He didn't know where he was going, but he didn't care. He would search the place all night if it meant saving his best friends. Shouting their names, Stiles scanned everywhere with a flashlight. "Scott? Kira? Sierra!"
His ears perked from hearing something move to his left, making him immediately shine his light towards a wall.
He nearly jumped from the sudden appearance of Kira, who looked bruised and beaten down as she leaned on the cement for support. "Oh, thank God!" His expression fell into one of relief, a sigh escaping his lips. "Are you okay?"
"It's Scott," words tumbled from her mouth, her entire body practically shaking. "Stiles, it's Scott."
"What?"
"The Berserker," Kira tried to explain as best she could. "It's him. Kate did it."
Stiles recognized her panic, but attempted to get her to slow down for clarification. "What're you talking about?"
"She made him into one of them," Kira replied, forcing herself to take a deep breath. "I don't know how...but it's him. And if the others don't know it, they could kill him."
Another piece to the puzzle clicked in Stiles's brain. "That's why Lydia isn't here," he realized, Kira nodding. "They won't know they're killing Scott."
"We have to go," Kira stated firmly. "Now!"
Kira went to run off, but Stiles grabbed her arm. "Wait, wait wait--where's Sierra?"
"I thought you found her already." The fear etched into Kira's voice only worsened the worry Stiles held for Sierra. "You haven't?"
"No, I found you first."
"She was with me, but Kate had a Berserker take her away," Kira recalled, remembering how she had been forced to watch Scott hurt Sierra, completely out of his control. "Kate kept repeating something, like, she had bigger plans for her or something like that."
Stiles shook his head, not understanding. "Kira, that makes absolutely no sense."
"I don't know!" Kira raised her hands in defense, raising her voice. "But we're running out of time. We've got to split up, or we lose both of them."
"You're right, you're right,"Â Stiles agreed, thinking quickly. Glancing down at the katana still in his hand, he made a split second decision. He instructed, handing the sword over to Kira, "Go find the others. I don't care what you have to do, but get them to listen. Okay? Kira, look at me--" He paused so Kira heard him enunciate clearly, "Go save Scott. You can do this. We can do this. Go save him and I'll find Sierra. We can save both of them."
Kira looked at him wearily, not wanting to leave him defenseless. "Stiles--"
"Go," he ordered, just like Derek and Malia told him earlier. Kira cast him once last worried glance over her shoulder before taking off into a sprint in the direction he came from. Turning back to the dark, crumbling hallway, Stiles swallowed hard.
"Come on, string bean," he mumbled, his quiet voice echoing off the walls as he turned his flashlight back on. Stiles scanned every corner and hallway, every minute without her making his heart sink. "Where are you?"
His movements halted from seeing a large iron gate at the opposite end of where he stood. Stiles picked up his pace, realizing it opened up to another cell. "Sierra?" he called out to her hopefully, shining his flashlight over the area. A disappointed sigh escaped him when he failed to see her anywhere, nothing there except old bones and some kind of statue.
But then Stiles froze.
He moved his light back over to the stone, stepping closer to what he thought was an ancient idol. His jaw dropped in horror, his flashlight slipping from his hands and into the dirt.
"Oh, God, no," he cried out, his heart racing as he pushed the gate open and ran to the statue. Except it wasn't an idol.
Staring right back at him, fear clearly etched even on the black rock, was Sierra.
"Sierra, please," Stiles begged, cupping her cheek. "Can...Can you hear me?" He couldn't stop himself from breaking down, tears rolling down his flushed cheeks. "Sierra, come on!"
Memories of the past winter flashed through his mind, the pain of losing the love of his life breaking his heart in two. He already lost her once. And now he was losing her all over again.
Unable to stand any longer, he collapsed on his knees. His fingers gripped the chain around his neck so hard his knuckles turned white, his vision blurring with his tears. Kneeling over, he squeezed his eyes shut. Stiles didn't want to think about what was going to happen when he had to get up.
He didn't want to leave her. He didn't want to face Jemma...Malia...or Scott--if Kira had reached him in time.
He didn't want to leave her.
Unbeknownst to him, something else was occurring in the crumbling prison cell. The soft red glow, at first, was barely visible. And then it started to grow.
Still breathing heavily, Stiles forced himself to open his eyes, though he immediately winced from the harsh light.
Could it be possible? he wondered, noticing the light was shining through sudden cracks in Sierra. He scrambled away, realizing the walls surrounding him were starting to shake as the red lights brightened.
Though nothing could prepare him for what happened next.
The intense burst of energy sent him flying across the room, his body soaring through the air. Dust and rocks rained down on him once he slammed into a wall and fell into a heap. He groaned from the harsh impact but made himself sit up, covering his eyes as he squinted.
He didn't know how to describe the sight before him, because he barely believed it himself.
Sierra stood, completely unscathed as the stone crumbled at her feet. It looked like she was shining, her figure outlining red. Waving tendrils surrounded her, stretching from her hands and weaving through the entire room.
Her silver eyes closed from the energy pulsing through her veins, all of her wounds from Kate disappearing within seconds. It was as if she had been supercharged, the electric energy warping around her.
And then, everything faded.
Sierra gasped, her normal, ocean eyes shooting back open from the shock. Darting her gaze around the room, her heart pounded in her chest. Memories flitted through her brain, trying to calm her down.
Kate. Scott. Berserkers. Kira. Peter.
"Stiles?"
She spoke barely above a whisper, her focus falling onto the boy against the stone wall. But he heard her perfectly.
He quickly rose to his feet, wiping the dirt from his pants as he looked at her with wide eyes. "What...in the holy hell, was that?"
Sierra smiled, unable to stop herself from gravitating towards him. His arms tightly encircled her waist into a hug, a heavy sigh escaping him from her finally being back in his embrace. Sierra wrapped her arms behind his torso, and raised her head just as he looked down at her.
She didn't waste time, not bothering to say anything before she pressed her lips against his. He immediately responded, kissing her back with everything he had. Moving one of his hands, he cupped her cheek just as they pulled apart.
"You know, I'm starting to think you want me to have a heart attack," he teased, their foreheads leaning against each other's. His heart fluttered from staring into the irises he adored, catching sight of a twinkle as she laughed.
"Oh, yeah," Sierra nodded, playing along. "That's totally my goal in life." Raising to her tiptoes, she pecked his lips once more. "Are you okay?"
"I should be asking you that question," Stiles replied, brushing a piece of her hair behind her pierced ear. His lips tugged down in a frown, guilt eating away at him from how he left her all alone at the football game. "You were the one kidnapped and smuggled across the border."
Reality caught up to Sierra once she heard him, making her eyes widen. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed, stepping back from him. "What the fuck are we doing? Kate turned Scottâoh, I don't have time to explain. Come on!"
Sierra latched her hand around his wrist, picking up her pace to find Scott and Kira. Stiles kept up with her, both of them sprinting to the front of the church.
They just prayed they wouldn't arrive too late.
*^*^*^*^*
"KILL IT! KILL IT NOW!"
Peter screamed at Liam and Malia, who had been tasked with fighting the Berserker while Stiles found the others. Having been knocked off its feet, the creature scrambled to stand as Liam used all of his strength to push it back into a crumbling wall. Malia swiftly caught the bone knife tossed at her from Peter, growling before aiming for the Berserker's skull.
"Malia, wait!"
Just as Malia's arm swung down, ready to kill, Kira jumped in front of her and sliced the bone in two with her katana. It clattered to the floor, Kira now stepping in front of the Berserker and taking a defensive stance.
Malia demanded, "What the hell are you doing?"
"It's Scott," Kira rushed out, refusing to lower her sword. "Okay? The Berserker is Scott."
Liam, who was struggling beside Peter to keep the Berserker against the wall, furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Turning to the monster that haunted his dreams, Liam dared to look it in the eye. Except he didn't see darkness, anger, or evil. He saw a familiar stare that had offered him comfort, encouragement and pride so many times before.
He saw Scott.
So taken aback by the revelation, Liam unintentionally loosened his grip on the Berserker's shoulder. This gave Scott the perfect opportunity to let out a fierce growl and shove him roughly. Liam fell back onto the floor with a grunt, and Malia groaned once Scott knocked her to the ground from a punch to her jaw.
"Scott!" Kira attempted to call out to him. "Scott, don't!"
But Scott didn't listen. Eyes set on Liam, Scott stalked over to where he had fallen and lifted him up by the shirt collar. Liam let out a cry as his back slammed into the stone, Scott snarling and holding him higher.
Liam struggled to breathe, wrestling with the pressure held against his throat. "Scott," he coughed weakly. His feet dangled as he desperately tried to get to Scott, who now had raised his arm to deliver the final strike. "Scott, Scott--listen! Listen!" Liam swallowed down his fear, and echoed the very words Scott had told him. "You're not a monster....you're a werewolf! Like me."
Kira and Malia watched in anticipation as Scott hesitated, Liam panting. Then, Scott blinked. Liam's words struck a chord, his mind swirling with memories of the boy in front of him. Slowly, Scott set Liam's feet back on the floor, releasing the grasp he had on his neck.
Stumbling back, his body jerked and convulsed as Scott fought the force keeping him inside the armor. Piece by piece, the animal pelts were thrown off his arms and stomach, revealing the infamous tattoo on his bicep. His fingers clawed at the skull covering his face, him wanting to break free.
A ferocious roar escaped Scott, bouncing off the walls as his strength allowed him to break the mask apart to reveal his gleaming, red eyes.
His friends stared at him, shocked and amazed; however, he was too focused on someone else.
"You," Scott spat, leading the girls and Liam to follow his narrowed gaze. "The only one who knew as much as Argent about Berserkers." His chest rose and fell heavily, but whether it was from breaking free or his anger, he couldn't be sure. "About the Nagual. You taught Kate...you helped her. All for power."
Peter scowled at Scott, standing across from him with his hands curled into fists. "For my family's power." Afraid, Malia backed away from her father as he spoke sharply, "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."
Peter's cold blue eyes darkened, his voice growing deeper as he hissed, "You don't deserve your power. Neither does Sierra. Not power like this."
Scott glared at the murderer, watching him transform back into the psychotic wolf he had been over a year ago.
Scott had hoped Peter wanted to change, for Malia and Derek. But he didn't. He didn't care about his nephew. He didn't care about his daughter. All he had cared about for so long, was power. And taking away Scott and Sierra's? That was everything he ever craved and more.
Peter roared, ready to attack Scott for the last time.
Except Malia struck first.
Ever since she found out the truth about her adoption, she wanted to pretend Peter didn't exist. When she turned back into human, Malia wanted to forget what she had done and move on. All she wanted was to be normal. And Sierra and her friends gave her that sense. They offered her a family.
And Peter wasn't going to take it away from her.
She jumped forward, her claws sprouted from her fingertips. Peter, seeing her coming, let out another growl before shoving his fist into her stomach. Malia grunted from the impact, landing harshly on the dirt with her back against the stone.
"Oh, sorry, sweetheart," Peter apologized, his fangs poking out through his mouth. "We'll talk about this later."
Kira swung her katana, stepping up next. Except Scott called out her name, making her movements pause as she turned to look at Scott in confusion. He firmly shook his head once, stepping forward and mentally telling her to back down.
This was a battle between Scott and Peter.
As Scott faced him once more, accepting the challenge, Peter growled. "You were my beta first, Scott," he snapped. "It was my bite that changed your life. My bite that ignited Sierra's powers. And my bite can end it all."
Scott didn't feel intimidated as he spoke, "Then end it, Peter...because you won't get another chance."
Peter let out a menacing roar, lunging forward while Scott matched his angry tone. Within seconds, claws were swiped and fists were swung as either werewolf tried to get the upper hand. Malia and Kira found each other during the brawl, both of them creating more distance between them and the fight by backing near the wall.
Liam scrambled to hide too, ducking behind a larger rock. However, he peeked his head to worriedly watch Scott.
Peter's rage helped him attack more viciously. Scott, forced to act on defense, flipped to dodge one of his swings. However, the movement only made Peter taunt him. "Come on, Scott," he yelled, stepping near him. "Come on!"
Letting the frustration get to him, Scott crashed into Peter to knock him off-balance. Yet the former alpha easily grasped him by the tank top he wore and threw him into one of the obsidian pillars. Scott collapsed on the floor, giving Peter the perfect opportunity to yank him up and toss him against the opposite wall.
"Fight like an alpha," Peter demanded, Scott's chest twisting as he was pulled off the ground once again. Scott's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together while his hands clamped down on Peter's shoulders. Using his strength, Scott pushed Peter back.
Peter tried to knock him against the wall, but instead, Scott kicked one foot against the stone and landed perfectly on his feet. Then, he shoved Peter into the pillar instead, the murderer falling to his knees. Scott's lips curled into a sneer before he slammed his fist into Peter's chest.
Scott believed he had the upper hand, until Peter got back on his feet and harshly struck his skull against Scott's. Peter smirked from seeing Scott stumble, his vision slightly blurred from the impact.
Punch after punch, his fist collided with Scott's face and rib cage. "You want to beat me?!" Peter shouted, Scott falling down. He lifted up Scott by the shoulders, and flung him across the room. "You're going to have to kill me!"
Scott flew through the air, his body collapsing into a heap against the rocks. He groaned at the sharp pain, blood dripping down his cheek.
Unable to watch Scott suffer any longer, Liam rose to his feet. Scott had protected him against Sean Walcott, against Garrett and Violet...it was time Liam saved Scott.
Peter whipped his head around, noticing the beta step forward. His claws quickly grabbed the nearest structure--a rotting bench-- and chucked it towards him.
Liam, bracing himself, turned away to shield his body and lifted his arm. He expected the pieces to rain over him, but the impact never came.
Confused, Liam forced himself to open his eyes and dared to glance where he had been looking before.
The bench hung over his head, still in the air. Red tendrils swirled around the wood, stopping it from falling on top of him. Not understanding what was happening, Liam followed the energy with his scared eyes, just as a voice spoke up.
"If I were you," Sierra emerged from the shadows, a scowl etched on her lips while Stiles appeared behind her. "I'd think twice before trying that again."
Scott scrambled to stand, his jaw dropping from seeing her bright, silver eyes. They gleamed, narrowed angrily at Peter. And her fingers seemed to dance, the red energy flickering around her as she moved the bench to the floor without even touching it. He had no idea she was capable doing anything like that.
Peter seemed surprised too, Sierra taking it an opportunity to strike. Her hands flung forward, the blood beams disappearing while a seismic wave launched Peter across the church.
As Peter crumbled, Sierra stalked over to him with Scott standing angrily by her side.
However, Peter wasn't ready to give up.
He tried to attack the pair, but the power surging through their veins didn't let him even have a chance. Scott, too strong, blocked his swings and Sierra, too quick, flicked her wrist to send the red tendrils around Peter's arm--making him unable to move.
Their friends watched in amazement as Scott slammed his fist into Peter's jaw, delivering a swift uppercut.
The force flung Peter back into the air, Sierra twisting her fingers to keep him dangling above them. Then, with a swift downward motion, Sierra made him crash into a pile of wooden planks.
Scott leaped onto the very table Kate used to change him into a Berserker and glared down at the fallen werewolf. "You were never an alpha, Peter," Scott announced, Sierra standing on the ground to his left. "But you were always a monster."
Peter growled, his blue eyes searing with fury. But Sierra didn't let him move.
Her own eyes glowed once more, the tendrils swirling from her hands and erupting into Peter's skull. His irises gleamed red, a sudden iciness overtaking him before his head lolled back and his body slumped.
Smiling proudly from her work, Sierra let her hands fall while Scott looked at her worriedly. "Did you just kill him?" he asked under his breath.
Sierra scoffed, waving him off. "Don't be ridiculous, Scotty. I just knocked him out. No biggie."
Scott furrowed his eyebrows, only growing more bewildered from her statement. "But you didn't even touch him." His gaze flickered down to her hands. "And where did the sparky-things come from?"
Sierra laughed at the title for her new-found abilities and lifted her palm. Scott couldn't believe his eyes, and neither could the others once they came out from their hiding places, as a small, levitating ball hovered over her fingers. "It's just energy, guys," Sierra assured them, letting it grow and dance around them.
"It's fucking awesome, that's what it is," Liam declared, raising his hand as it slithered past him.
"Watch your language, bro," Sierra warned him, but the teasing smile on her lips assured she didn't mean any harm. Focusing back on Scott and the others, she explained, "Kate thought her terrigen crystal would kill me, because of a legend. And after it broke, I thought it did too. But it didn't. It just unlocked the powers I already had."
"The ones from when you turned into a True Empath," Stiles realized, Sierra nodding her head in agreement. Looking at his girlfriend excitedly, Stiles practically bounced on his toes. "What else can you do?"
Sierra let the energy fizzle out, clasping her hands together. Then she answered, "Well, for one I can tell that Liam wants to see what else I can move with my mind, Scott is exhausted but glad we're not dead, Malia is starving and Kira just wants to go home and take a nap."
Everyone just stared at her, Sierra cinched her brows. "What?"
"Did you..." Scott held up a finger, amazed as he exchanged a look of disbelief with Stiles. "Did you just read our minds?"
"Yeah," Sierra said slowly, flicking her gaze between them. "What's your point?"
Scott sighed before shaking his head. "Never mind, I guess you just learn something every day."
"She was right about me being hungry," Malia spoke up bluntly, crossing her arms over her chest as she headed towards the entrance to the church. Calling over her shoulder, she continued out the door.
"We better be stopping somewhere on the way home!"