(Double update because I just felt like it 😉)

...

Noah pulls out his hand cuffs. "You want to handcuff me?" Void asks, manipulating the tone of his voice to sound a bit hurt.

Noah slowly starts to walk closer to the creature that wears his son's face. "If my son is still here, if there's still a part of him standing in front of me, then he'll put these on willingly and he'll come with me, because he knows I'm here to protect him from himself and from others." He seems to quietly agree as he tilts his head down and holds his wrists out. Noah puts the cuffs on him and he thinks he's gotten through to him, but then Void looks up and he can see, it's not Stiles he's talking to. "You're not my son."

Void easily breaks the cuffs off as Allison, Chris, and Derek walk into the loft and surround him. He smiles in amusement. He looks at Allison and she raises a taser, shooting the electrically charged wire at him, only it doesn't touch him. Y/n appeared in front of him, catching the wire with blazing eyes staring down the young Hunter. The electricity pulsing through the cord didn't seem to effect the witch at all as she yanked the stun gun from the shocked Allison's grip. "Y/n?" She called, confused. The girl just smirked before she thrust her hand forward and Allison was sent flying back.

Derek watched her with wide eyes. He didn't understand what she was doing protecting him. He didn't want to, but he had to try and get past her to get to him, even if that meant he had to hurt her in the process. Derek growled, fangs bared, and lunged for them. She stopped his fist, her magic allowing her to overpower his strength and force his arm back. She slammed his face into the nearby table and threw him across the room. Void smiled, he loved watching her work. A gun being cocked drew her attention to Chris pointing a gun at Stiles, the opening being made as she dealt with Derek. She went to deal with him as well, but Void twitched his finger towards her and she stood down, slowly moving to stand behind him as he stared down Chris.

Noah held a hand up to the man. "Argent, listen to me. Don't do this."

"Why not? I've done it before." Y/n stood watch as Derek and Allison got back up, retaking their previous stances. "Werewolves, berserkers. I can easily add a nogitsune to the list. Even a witch if I have to." Y/n was nice, he didn't want to put her down, but if she was now with the nogitsune then he would do what he had to. Noah pulls out his own gun, pointing it at Chris. Void raised his brows, making a silent 'ooh' sound.

"You're not gonna shoot my son."

"You said it yourself, Sheriff. That's not your son."

"Put it down." No answer. "Put it down."

Void saw this as his moment to have some fun. He donned a frightened expression. "Dad, he's going to shoot me. He's going to kill me, Dad."

"Don't listen to him." Chris insisted.

"Put it down." Noah repeated. "Now! Do it! Put it down!"

Void looked to Chris now. "Pull the trigger. Come on."

"Listen to me, you put the gun down now!"

"Shoot me."

"Put the gun down now!"

"Dad." Allison called, hoping to make him lower the weapon.

"Shoot me!"

"Put the gun down!"

"Shoot me!"

"Argent, you put the gun down!"

"Strife." Allison realised what was happening. She saw Y/n look at her and smile.

"Put it down! Put it down!"

Y/n's eyes move to the window as the sun finally dips below the horizon. "Night has come." She warned Void.

Allison called out to the men as it darkened. "Stop, stop it! This is what he wants! This is exactly what he wants."

Void looked to her. "Not exactly. I was kind of hoping Scott would be here. But I'm glad you all have your guns out. Because you're not here to kill me." He turned to look past Y/n as she now stood defensivly between him and the oni that have just materialized. "You're here to protect me." The two walked backwards so the the other four were closer to the threat.

Chris tries shooting his gun, but it just clicks. He quickly retrieves another from his jacket as Noah starts to shoot at the spirits and joins in the shooting himself. Two of the oni move around and Allison and Derek match their movements to keep them away from Void and Y/n. The four oni raised their weapons and attacked. During the chaos of the fight Void took Y/n's arm, telling her it was time for them to go. She spirited them away leaving the four to fight the oni themselves.

...

Noshiko opened the door to the basement of Eichen. As she walked down the steps and towards the now open wall, she could remember the screams from that day so long ago. She stared at the remains of Rhys and crouched down near the opening. She picked up two pieces of rubble, putting them together to form the Kani once again.

"Why that Kanji?" Void asked as he moved from behind one of the boilers to face her. "Why 'self'?"

"To signify that he died as himself. Because Rhys wasn't a monster." She straightened up and held her kaiken defensively. She glanced around, not seeing the witch, but knowing she was near kept her on edge. "Not like you."

"If I'm such a monster, why'd you call off the oni?" He slowly walked towards her as her grip tightened on her tail. "What happened to the woman who called out for chaos, strife and pain to descend upon everyone and everything? What happened?"

"I don't want that anymore."

"I do. And so does she." Y/n appeared next to Noshiko, eyes glowing as she grabbed the woman's arm that held the kaiken. "Did you bring this here thinking you could hide it from me?" Noshiko tried to fight against Y/n as the girl bent her arm back and forced the kaiken from her grip. "Bad idea." He gave Y/n a look. Noshiko flinched as Y/n held up the kaiken, but the blade was turned and plunged into his stomach instead. She gasped in shock as Y/n pulled the blade across his stomach before pulling it out and letting it fall to the ground.

"What have you done?"

Void stumbled back and fell to his knees. Y/n took deep breaths, trying to stay on her feet as she felt under her shirt for the new wound that appeared there, not as deep as she inflicted on him, but still damaging. Void looked up to the shaken Noshiko. "Chaos is come again." Flies started to come from his wound. Noshiko swatted her hands around as they obstructed her vision. They dissipated almost as soon as they came and she found that the two had vanished.

...

"Turn right onto Gaffner Blvd and continue for half a mile."

Lydia followed the GPS's directions as Aiden sat in the passenger seat. "You at least going to tell me where we're going?" He asked.

"I need to check on something."

He looked at her notes and held it up. "Who's Malia Tate and M/n L/n?" He mispronounced Malia's name prompting Lydia to correct him.

"It's Mah-leah." She glanced at him and took the notes.

"Okay. Isn't Y/n's last name L/n?"

"You don't need to worry about it." Ever since she heard those things from Talia's claws, she's been conflicted if she should tell Y/n. She's been wondering who her father is practically her whole life. But Lydia wants to make sure what she heard was right before she says anything.

"Turn right onto Commerce Way and stay right."

"Well, I'm actually a little worried we're totally lost."

"Why do you think that?"

"'Cause you just made your fourth right. And four rights makes a circle."

"I did not. Did I? It's a brand-new car. The GPS was fine before."

"Maybe the GPS would work better if it was on."

"What?" Lydia glanced at the device that she had been hearing this whole time to find that it was indeed off. She pressed the button several times but it still didn't change the fact that that wasn't what she was hearing, or the pull in her gut that she hadn't really noticed until now.

"Lydia. You okay?"

A sudden rush of panic and worry washed over her. "I need to stop. I need to pull over right now." She yanked on the wheel, turning off of the road.

"Lydia." She swerved around in a parking lot in her rush to stop, to get where the feeling was taking her. "Lydia, stop!" The tires squealed in protest as she pressed her foot on the brakes, and right in front of them where the two people the group had been looking for since the night before. Void was flat on his back on the pavement while Y/n was laid protectivly over him, both of them out cold. Lydia and Aiden got out of the car to get closer to them, but still keep a safe distance. One of Void's flies landed on Aiden and crawled it's way into his body, the same way the others had done to Derek, Isaac, and Ethan.

Scott helped Aiden carry the pair into his house when they got there. Aiden put Void on the couch while Scott laid Y/n in a chair as far away from him as he could. "Guys, this is crazy. They need to be taken to the hospital." Melissa said as Alan began to examine the pair.

"Mom, remember what happened last time he went to the hospital?"

Alan first looked at Void as the cut and bloody shirt was obvious. "It doesn't look like he's bleeding. I think he might even be healing." He said.

"You mean healing like we heal?" Aiden asked.

"That's good, right?" Scott wondered.

"For him, yes. Us? I'm not so sure."

Lydia went over to Y/n, not liking how pale and sweaty she looked, when she noticed her shirt was lifted from being set down. When she went to pull the article up she finally saw Y/n's own wound. "Look!" Lydia moved out of Alan's way when he crouched down next to her. He looked at the cut, the blood on her hands, and at her seemingly weakened state.

"She's healing as well. Slowly, but healing. She must have used a lot of energy lately. Using strong spells consecutively."

"Did he do that to her?"

He shook his head. "No. I think she might have been the one to cut him."

"Then what happened to her?" Scott asked.

"It's a little complicated. You see, witches are deeply connected to the Earth, making their emotions a little more intense than others. Their first loves are often their only ones. Their magic responds to their emotions and makes physical bonds. Meaning if something is happening to Stiles, something that threatens his life, it will often physically affect her as well. Like this cut for instance. It was much deeper for him, but she got one as well."

"But she'll be okay?"

Alan nodded. "She's resilient. She'll be okay."

"Well, if we're not going to kill him, why aren't we at least tying him up with really big chains?" Aiden asked as they moved to look at Void again.

"I might have something more effective." Alan opened his small case and pulled out a little glass vial. Scott and Aiden hold onto Void and force his mouth open as Alan takes the dropper and pours some of the contents inside his mouth. Void wakes up with a start and reaches out, fist clenching around Aiden's neck.

"Get him off me!" Aiden yells as Scott tries to pry off the nogitsune's hand. Void seems to release on his own though, as he starts to lose feeling.

"Kanima venom. Nice touch." Aiden growls at him. "You know how they say that twins get a feeling when the other one's in pain? You didn't lose that talent, too, did you? Oh, I hope not. You're going to need it." Scott and Aiden share a look. "Okay, I'll give a little hint. Ethan's at the school."

"Go." Scott urged and Aiden didn't hesitate to go to his brother.

Void laughs as his head turns to follow the wolf's movements. "Oh, I hope he gets there in time. I like the twins." He looks back at the small group. "Short tempers. Homicidal compulsions. They're a lot more fun than you bakemono trying to save the world every day."

"Doc, you brought something to paralyze his body. You got anything for his mouth?" Melissa asks.

"Yes, I do." That thing would be duct tape that is placed over Void's mouth. Void shouts behind the tape and giggles.

Lydia had moved to kneel next to Y/n, still worried about her best friend despite Alan's assurances. She brushed some of Y/n's hair away from her face and frowned slightly. "There's something wrong with her." Lydia said. She had been feeling it since she found her. There was something off about her friend.

"Lydia, what is it?" Alan probed.

"There's just something wrong about her. She feels different."

"She's acting different too." Scott added. "She's been helping him. Kira's mom said she was under his control." They all looked at Void who was watching them intently.

Alan leaned over her and opened her mouth. The slight blackness in the back of her throat confirmed his suspicions, that she was being possessed and controlled by the nogitsune. "Help me get her to the bathroom." Alan instructed Scott. Void's stare burned into them as Scott lifted Y/n into his arms and they took her out of the room. "Put her in the tub." Scott did as told and Alan crouched next to her. "No matter what happens, you need to keep her arms down and hold her still." Scott didn't like the idea but he trusted Alan and he wanted to help her. Scott grabbed her wrists and held firm, ready to tighten his grip if needed as Alan reached over and turned the shower head on. The water didn't wake her, but when Alan tried to reach into her mouth her glowing eyes shot open. She instantly struggled against Scott's hold, but with all of the magic she had been using, and the gash in her stomach, she was still weak.

"Get off of me!" She yelled.

"Y/n, I'm trying to help you. Don't fight." Alan urged as he held her face still.

"No!" He managed to force his fingers into her mouth again, but with her struggling it was a little more difficult to grasp the fly. It took a couple minutes of fighting until Alan was able to finally get a hold of the bug and pull it from her mouth. Scott let her go as she sat up and retched and coughed up the rest of it. Alan turned off the water and rubbed a hand over her back. When she could catch her breath she looked to her father figure with teary e/c eyes. "I'm sorry." She breathed. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." Alan assured. "It wasn't you."

"But it was." She admitted almost shamefully as she looked at her slightly shaking hands that were still stained red. "I just wanted to protect him."

"What do you mean?"

"I knew what I was doing. I knew who I was hurting. And the worst part was a part of me liked it." Scott furrowed his brows in concern and Alan frowned.

"What's done is done. You wanna make things right?" She looked at him and nodded. "You can start right now." She nodded again, seeming to feel just a little better with Alan's words.

Lydia and Melissa helped her clean her steadily healing wound and get changed into some clothes Melissa let her borrow. When she followed Lydia past the living room into the kitchen, she locked eyes with Void. He was angry, she could tell with the way he was glaring. She stared right back, though, not backing down against him. Lydia came and led her away where they could talk with Alan and Scott.

"How much longer do you think we have?" Scott asked after he looked at Void.

"We don't know. With his ability to heal, it might not be long at all." Y/n answered.

"But if we don't figure out something soon, we're going to need to find a better place to keep him." Alan added. "I think we're grossly underestimating the danger here. He might be paralyzed, but it still feels like he's got us right in the palm of his hand."

"Y/n, anything you can tell us that might help?"

She shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. He didn't tell me anything of what he was planning. He just told me what to do, and I did it. No questions."

"The scroll said to change his body." Lydia mentioned.

"That's if I translated it correctly. We're looking for a cure in something that might be nothing more than a proverb or a metaphor." Alan said.

"We could have asked Mrs. Yukimura to translate it for us. I guess it's too late, now." Y/n mused.

"And what if he doesn't want it?" Scott asked.

"What if it saves his life?" Lydia argued.

"He's never asked to be a werewolf."

"If it gets that thing out of him, Stiles would understand. And probably really greatful." Y/n said.

"What if it kills him? I've never done this before. I mean, what if I bite him and accidentally hit an artery or something?"

"The venom's not going to last forever."

"Something needs to be done sooner than later." Alan pointed out.

"I can try calling Derek again." Scott reached for his phone.

"Maybe we should call someone else." Lydia said. When Scott and Y/n gave her a questioning look she tilted her head a bit, silently suggesting their only option.

Y/n suddenly realized who she was talking about. "Oh, come on. Really?"

A short time later the doorbell rang announcing the arrival of Peter Hale, the only other person who's bitten someone. He's let in and he circles Void, assessing his condition. "He doesn't look like he would survive a slap across the face, much less the bite of a werewolf." Peter bent down to look at his face better, and you could see the mischevious glint in his eyes.

"You don't think it would work?" Scott asked.

"This is more a war of the mind than the body. There are better methods to winning this battle."

"What kind of methods?" Alan wondered.

"We're going to get into his head. Are you up for the task, little witch?" Peter looked to Y/n.

"I used a lot of energy yesterday, I won't be able to do a complicated spell like that for at least another day."

"Then we use option number 2." Peter took Scott's hand and made his claws come out. Void looked at them, mocking being impressed.

Peter took Lydia aside because she's got something he wants. The names of his children. "I'll do it. I said I would. But only if you help. And only if Scott doesn't know about it." Lydia went back into the living room and Peter followed, a deal having been made.

"So, do we have a plan?" Alan asked Peter.

"Scott is going to try and dig through pale and sickly Evil Stiles' mind to unearth pale and sickly Real Stiles. Then guide him back from the depths of his own subconscious. But he's not going to do it alone."

"What do you mean?" Scott questioned.

Peter looked to Y/n then. "Somebody needs to go with you."

Lydia looked at him like he was crazy, but Y/n just nodded. "I can do that." She assured. She sat on the couch next to Void and Scott stood behind them. Peter positioned Scott's claws where they should go.

"So what do we do if we find him?" Scott asked.

"You're going to have to guide him out somehow. Try to give him back control of his mind, his body."

"Could you elaborate the 'somehow'? Its not feeling very specific at the moment." Lydia pushed, worried for Y/n.

"Improvise."

"Oh, yeah, that clears it up." Y/n quipped.

"What if this is another trick?" Scott wondered.

"When are you people going to start trusting me?" Peter seemed almost a little offended.

Scott looked between Peter and Void. "I meant him."

"Oh."

"Scott, we're running out of time." Alan mentioned. Scott nodded. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He opened his now glowing eyes and plunged his claws into their necks. They flinched from the pain and the rush of being mentally transported.

Scott and Y/n opened their eyes to find themselves in beds in Eichen House, the five-point restraining system keeping them on their backs. They both struggled for a moment against the straps, Scott yelling with the effort. After a few more tugs he grunted in frustration. Y/n looked over at him. "You don't actually need me to remind you that you're a werewolf, do you?"

"We're in Stiles' head."

"Exactly. You're relying on physical strength alone. This is a mental battle, Scott. You know you have the strength to break free, so do it." He nodded, finally starting to concentrate properly, and finally pulled the straps apart. Y/n followed her own advise, focusing on her magic and it seemed to work as the restraints fell off of her. Scott helped her to her feet and he looked at her.

"What now?"

"Now, we search."

"Just stay behind me."

"This isn't my first time in someone else's head." Scott gave her a look. She relented, knowing he was being a little more protective because of what happened to her recently. "Fine. Lead the way, Scotty." Scott went towards the door and opened it. He gave her a glance before he stepped through. As soon as he was out of the way the door slammed shut and wouldn't open again. "Scott? Scott!" She banged against the door, trying again to use her magic, but things were harder being in someone else's head.

She slowly turned around to find that the room has turned into a white tiled hall. When she took a few steps a leaf slowly fell in front of her. More started to fall and it obstructed her vision for a moment. When they cleared she found herself in the woods. She recognized these trees. They didn't belong in Beacon Hills. Being back in that place pulled her back to that time and she stumbled a bit as she walked farther in. "Mama?" She called as she looked around. She felt small, like a child again. "Mama, where are you?" She paused in her steps when she heard a scratching noise. Slowly her head turned to the side and she saw the bandaged nogitsune carving the 'self' Kanji into a tree. She quietly gasped, suddenly afraid.

Scott was hiding with Allison in her closet. They were making out when Scott turned his head, a little confused. "Shh. You have to be quiet." She urged.

"I thought I heard something."

"It's okay. You're with me. Everything's fine. We just have to be quiet. Really quiet." He nodded a bit and she kissed him again.

The nogitsune banged on a tree, slightly splintering the wood. Y/n jumped at the sound. He continued to slam his fist into trees and she kept backing away. An arrow whizzing past her face made her turn and run. A fire erupted around her, making her run faster in one direction. She had to get away, had to run from the Hunters. From the monster roaring behind her.

Blood starts to trickle from Y/n's nose as the four watch them. "Look at that. Do you see that? She's bleeding." Melissa pointed out.

"Help her." Lydia urged Peter, but he was already walking forward.

Melissa went to step forward but Alan stopped her. "I'm not sure that's a good idea." Alan watched Peter kneel in front of Y/n, knowing he was probably one of the only ones in the room that could help her at the moment.

Melissa didn't like being held back and started worrying. "What's happening to her? What is happening to her?"

Peter held Y/n's face in his hands. She looked so much like M/n, he didn't like seeing her daughter like this. "Y/n, can you hear me? Y/n, you're stronger than this. Okay, you need to concentrate. Y/n. Y/N!" He yelled, using his voice to try and pull her back to the right path.

Y/n fell to her knees, hands flying to cover her ears as someone yelled her name. The sound echoed in her mind and she squeazed her eyes shut. She felt the need to follow the voice. She scrambled back to her feet and faced the fire. With a deep breath she ran forward and jumped through the flames to the clearing on the other side.

"Why are we in your closet?" Scott asked Allison.

"We're hiding." She smiled.

"From who, your dad?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Doesn't your dad know we're together?"

"Shh. It's okay. Don't worry." She kissed him again, but he started to frown.

"Hold on." She tried to keep kissing him but he stopped her, moving them so he was against the door now. "Allison... We're not together."

"What? What do you mean?"

"We're not together anymore. This is wrong." He realised. "This is a trick. It's a trick." Scott felt his nose where he was starting to bleed.

"NO!" He pushed against the closet and opened the door.

Y/n found a building just behind the flames and she rushed for the doors, bursting through them as fast as she could.

Y/n and Scott ran into the white room at the same time, finding each other after a moment. They looked across the room and found the Nemeton with Stiles and the nogitsune perched on top, playing Go. They started walking towards the two, eventually getting into a run, but no matter how fast they went, how long they ran, they never got any closer. They stopped and tried calling his name.

"Stiles!"

"Stiles, over here!" But it did no good. They tried running again, but after a while they stopped, hands on their knees to catch their breath. And as they watched the two on the Nemeton, something occured to her. "Stiles is a part of your pack."

"What? What do you mean?"

"He's human, but he's still part of the pack, right? Like I'm the only witch, but you're all my coven, just like I'm part of your pack."

"Yeah." He agreed as they straightened up. "Yeah, of course."

"So how do wolves signal their location to the rest of the pack?" She smiled as he realized what she was getting at. The nogitsune looked over at them as Scott shifted.

"They howl." Scott howled so loud it shook the pieces on the board and Stiles finally looked over at them. Stiles turned back to the nogitsune with a renewed spark of determination in his eyes, and as he swiped all the pieces off of the board. The nogitsune roared for he had lost this battle.

The three came back with gasps, Y/n and Scott eager to check on Stiles. "Did it work? Did it work?" He asked.

"What happened?" She asked as she crouched in front of Stiles. His body was slumped over and unmoving.

"Why didn't it work?" Lydia asked and Peter came up to her.

"Because it's not science, Lydia. It's supernatural. I did my part. Now give me the names."

Y/n was too focused on Stiles to realize what was going on behind her, but Scott heard. "What names? What are you talking about?" Peter pulled Lydia farther away.

"Lydia, a deal is a deal. Even with me." She had been staring at her friend until then. She didn't want to tell Peter that Y/n was his daughter, but he was right. A deal is a deal, and she can't back out now.

She leaned close to his ear to whisper the two names he had been desperately wanting. "Y/n and Malia." He gave her a look before looking to the witch, who he now knew wasn't just M/n's daughter, but his as well.

Just then Stiles jerked awake with a gasp and Scott pulled Y/n away. Stiles pulled at the tape over his mouth and ripped it off before he started to pull something from his mouth. He gagged on a piece of bandage that seemed to come from his stomach. The strip was never ending as he started to retch it all up, inch by inch, foot by foot, until he pulled on the last bit and it was all done as he tried to catch his breath. He fell back as black smoke started to seep from the wrappings and a bandaged hand began to reach up. An arm followed and gripped the floor as a bandaged head was pulled up. Everyone had backed away together as they watched the being rise from nothing. Another arm as the nogitsune seemed to rise from the linen and smoke until it was standing on two feet. Peter put an arm in front of Y/n and Lydia against the possible threat. The figure felt it's face, and then lunged forward. Scott and Peter were quick to grab him and force him into a chair

"Hold him!" Peter yelled at Scott.

"I'm trying."

Y/n was watching with wide eyes, but then something happened. She felt him. She felt his presence for the first time in a while, and it was coming from the body in the chair. "Wait, wait!" She rushed forward and forced the two wolves away. He paused in his attempts to rip the bandages off as he heard her and then felt her hands lightly grip the side of his face. Peter and Scott stood protectively over her, just in case something went wrong. "Stiles?" She breathed. His hands found hers and gently squeazed. She moved one of her hands and started to pull at the bindings, finally revealing his face and letting him see again.

His eyes scanned over every feature of her face, almost afraid this was a dream. "Y/n?"

Her breath hitched and she smiled, relieved that he was okay. "Scott, Y/n." Alan called and they looked at him only for him to turn to the wide open door.

Y/n looked where Void had been and then for the newly missing person in the room. "Where is she?" Alan could do nothing but shrug helplessly at her question. "Where is she?" She asked more urgently as she stood up and made for the door. "Lydia!" She knew calling for her was futile, but she couldn't help it. "Lydia!"

~~~
Published: 11/17/21
Edited: 4/12/22