ONE.               The Dark Moon
DECEMBER 28.                                  2011

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STILES STILINSKI HATED MANY THINGS. He hated when he forgot to make his bed in the morning. He hated the way he talked to fast. He hated the way that he talked more when he got drunk. He hated when his pizza was too cold. He hated the way mushrooms felt on his tongue. He hated the way he was the weakest link of his group. But he also hated babysitting his cousin who he nearly killed when he was possessed by an evil fox spirit.

What a way to be introduced to the supernatural, right?

Stiles didn't mean to bring his fifteen-year-old cousin into the mess that was his and Scott's journey with werewolves, kanimas, druids, and nogitsunes. Truly, he wanted the total opposite. He kept her away at arms length and made sure she stayed away from him. However, sometimes when you have a younger cousin who's as nosy as you, shit happens.

Cordelia Collins was Stiles's very own ray of sunshine. Double S and Double C is what they called themselves when they were younger. That all changed when Stiles entered high school, and it was no longer socially acceptable to hang out with your cousin who's two years younger than you. The pair only saw each other on holidays and when she had to stay with Uncle Noah and him. She could tell something changed his sophomore year, but she figured it had something to do with Lydia Martin. That is, until her old babysitter, Heather, was murdered as soon as Cordelia turned 15, and then her dad was murdered shortly after. And then Stiles tried to kill her.

Quentin Collins. He was a good man. He was a great man. A great father. A great uncle. Stiles loved him just as much as the next person. And then he woke up that day to Noah waking him up. He still remembers Noah's tears. The croak in his voice. He still remembers rushing to Cordelia's house that day. Quentin was already taken down from a tree. Cordelia was on the front steps. She had been crying for hours. Stiles would later find out it was his english teacher that murdered his uncle. He still couldn't forget her cries.

Now, nearing the end of Christmas Break, Stiles was assigned the job of babysitting his cousin (who argued she didn't need a babysitter, "I'm fifteen, Mom!" but her mom declared Stiles needed to watch her while she went on their trip to Hawaii). Sheriff Stilinski had hoped his son would keep out of trouble with the girl tailing along, but he was wrong, once again.

     Stiles was walking through Mexico with the most popular girl in school, Lydia Martin, and his cousin between them. His friends, Scott and Kira, and his girlfriend, Malia, were inside of a club dancing the night away undercover. Stiles was starting to question his life decisions.

"Cordy, stop looking like you're enjoying this." Stiles Stilinski scolded. The blond girl looked at him, smiling innocently as she linked arms with Lydia. Out of everyone, Cordelia was probably closest with the girl with strawberry blond hair. Lydia had babysat the Collins girl a lot a couple of years ago, and Cordelia considered Lydia her friend. Cordelia wasn't very close with Malia, because Malia was always with Stiles and Cordelia now tried to avoid Stiles after he spent years avoiding her. Scott and Cordelia were on good terms and got along, as well her and Kira. Before her passing, Allison Argent seemed to be friendly as well, but they never really got enough time to become very close.

Lydia hauled the blond along as they followed Stiles. Cordelia observed the people that walked past, the small red taxi, the bikes, everything. One of the good things about bringing the young blond along was that she was very observant. "This doesn't seem so bad," Stiles said optimistically, rubbing his hands together. Cordelia slowly tilted her head to the side, looking down at her denim shorts.

"It's not the town, it's the plan." Lydia said bitterly.

Stiles looks at her with an odd look. "What's wrong with the plan?"

Lydia clicked her tongue. "Stiles. This could be the stupidest plan we've ever come up with. You're aware of that, right?" She said as she looked over at him. Cordelia rose a brow, agreeing with Lydia.

"I'm aware it's not our best." He confesses.

Lydia presses her lips together, "We are going to die." She muttered hopelessly 

Stiles waves the girls along, grimacing. "Are you saying that as a Banshee or you're just being pessimistic?" He asked. Cordelia moved to follow them, looking around the area once more. They probably didn't fit in. Certainly not Lydia, who was wearing designer clothes in an obvious less-expensive part of the town. Cordelia herself felt like she looked like every dumb blond entering a horror movie. Tight denim shorts that were probably too short for school, a bright blue tank top, and not to mention the platinum blond hair, where she had a singular random braid tucked behind her ear. Her combat boots clunked against the sand as she follows her cousin.

"I'm saying it as a person who doesn't wanna die." Lydia replied, waving her hands as she looked at Stiles.

     The boy rolled his eyes. "Okay. Would you just mind restricting any talk of death to actual Banshee predictions?" Stiles asks.

Lydia gives a sarcastic smile. "This plan is stupid and we're going to die." She snaps.

"Oh, thank you," Stiles says sarcastically, causing Lydia to hum in reply. Cordelia rolls her eyes playfully, continuing to walk.

     By nightfall, Cordelia was over this plan. She was tired of walking, of waiting, of having Stiles lecture her about seemingly every thing she did. She was also over him putting his hand on her shoulders to keep her within arms length as they walked through a dark shady alley. Lydia kept her purse in front of her, looking around worriedly and anxiously until they spotted the red building they were looking for.

As the trio finally reaches a door, two men stand in front of it. They already looked menacing and scary. Stiles puts Cordelia behind him protectively. She looked at his back in annoyance, before getting onto her tip toes and putting her chin over his shoulder to see two men. "We're here for the party," Lydia said, but in Spanish. Cordelia hopefully looks over at the two men, but they only shake their heads in reply.

Cordelia leaned towards Stiles's ear. "This is the part where you hold out your fancy card," She whispered, reaching forwards. Stiles turned around to slap her hand, but she backed away quickly with a smile. Stiles scowled, turning back to the two men. He pulled out a card from his pocket. It had a design of a skull on the front. The man on the right looked at it, before glancing at the cameras. Stiles followed the guard's gaze, raising his arm to show the skull card to the camera. Moments later, they enter the building.

The hallway was painted an obnoxious red, illuminated by lamps along the wall. Stiles entered first, with Cordelia following, and Lydia behind them. There wasn't many doors, but the room gave off a vibe that caused their skin to crawl. When the door to the outside world shut behind them, their anxiety only got stronger.

     It was ominously quiet, but Cordelia could hear the faint sound of the beats of a song. She silently hoped she could get the chance to dance, she had never been to a club before. Stiles lead the way, all three of them seeing the lamps on the walls shaking as they near a door. Stiles turns to glance at Lydia, who gives him a nod. He pushes open the door, and Cordelia's ears are filled with music.

It was clubbing techno music, not necessarily Cordelia's favorite. Her eyes widen as she instantly sees men upon men, all sweaty and shirtless. Pretty girls grind on each other and the men. Cordelia was certain these types of things only existed in movies until now. Her cheeks turn red, and Stiles scoffs as he grabs his cousin's shoulders. She looked around at the lights that danced around the room. Cordelia studies everything, as much as she can. After all, how many fifteen year olds can say they've been to a party like this? She wanted to memorize every detail, stories to tell her children when she's old and unable to get into trouble.

     Cordelia looked towards the DJ, and then up. On a balcony that overviewed the entire floor, there was another man. He was larger, and had a threatening gleam about him. The blond could guess that he was part of the hunter clan they were looking foor. She pressed her lips, looking away from him.

Stiles and Lydia kept the girl between them. They took seats at the bar, seemingly escaping the tight crowd for only a moment. Three shots of some sort of alcohol appear in front of the teens almost as soon as they arrive to the bar. Cordelia smiles wide, reaching to take hers when Stiles snatches it away. She gasps in annoyance, watching Stiles reach into his pocket to pay. A hand places itself on Stiles and Lydias shoulders, Cordelia standing right in front of the man. "No. On the house." He said cooly. Cordelia looked back, her face paling as she recognized him immediately. How did he get downstairs so fast? Stiles crossed his arms as he leans away from his pocket. "Most American teenagers don't cross the border to refuse a drink."

"We didn't come to drink." Lydia said plainly. The girl drops a brass bullet into her shot glass. Cordelia glances at it, noticing the familiar skull pattern from the card. Cordelia turned her head, looking over Stiles's shoulder. She could see more people looking in their direction.

     Something wasn't right, Cordelia thought. Whatever was happening, Cordelia suddenly felt like they were in a mess much bigger than they realized. And something told her getting locked in a room as collateral damage for the others wasn't a good idea for her either. These people didn't look like the type to care about a teenage girl and her safety. Fear and adrenaline suddenly take over. The girl whips around, ducking under the large man's legs, sliding into the crowd. The man, Stiles, and Lydia all look back in shock.

Stiles stepped out of his chair, "Cordelia-" He shouted, moving to run after her. The man grabbed Stiles's shoulder, squeezing tightly as he pulled the teenage boy back.

"Do not worry about the girl. She is in good hands."

Stiles didn't believe that.

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CORDELIA PUSHED THROUGH SWEATY BODIES. It felt like fighting against an angry mob. Suddenly, Cordelia wasn't so fascinated by this party. She hated people. Why did she think this was a good idea? She also hated physical contact, so this was practically a nightmare. However, she was almost definitely safer with a group of strangers than wherever Stiles and Lydia were dragged off to.

     Speaking of the two, Lydia and Stiles found themselves in an office, surrounded by men. Across from them, was a woman. Araya Calavera, the exact woman they'd hoped to see. The leader of this family of hunters. The family they believed took their friend. Someone they needed back.

     The Calavera's were strong. They had been hunting creatures of the night for years. Generations. Araya was the leader of them all, now. She cared for her children, for her grand children. But she followed the code stricter than any family ever. Including the Argents.

     "Severo hates this music." Araya said as she plucked the stitching of a fabric with her knife. "Me? I've always loved the music of youth. This kind especially. It has a savage energy."

     Lydia spoke up. "We're here for Derek Hale." She said stubbornly.

     Araya looks up. "Is that so?" She hummed. She had a smirk that Stiles knew would be engrained in his head for months.

     "We know you have him." Lydia said. Araya didn't reply. She plucked at the fabric once more. "We've heard you can be bought." Abruptly, money is stacked onto the table. Stiles pulls it seemingly from Lydia's purse. Araya glances over. Stiles keeps a straight face.

     "It's 50,000 for Derek."

"Now, where does a teenage boy get money like this?" Araya asked as she put her knife down. She hummed and smirked. "Japanese mafia?" Lydia jumps as a lady to her side cocks her gun. Stiles looks around as the others in the room do the same. Araya leans over. "Not smart to leave the little girl alone."

The mention of Cordelia made Stiles's jaw tense? but only for a moment. He kept himself calm as he leaned closer, too. His brows knit together as he talks  "What makes you think she's alone?" He asked calmly.

Araya's smile slowly dropped. If Stiles could, he'd be laughing. But this was no time to laugh. He could see it. The rage settling into her bones. It was a slap in the face.

     Meanwhile, Cordelia ducked into the back corner of the large space, looking for any sign of a werecoyote, a kitsune, or a true alpha werewolf. She knew it was a matter of time before the other hunters started looking for them, and Cordelia. She needed to get them off of her tail. And, no offense to herself, but a bleach blond teenage girl in blue was not hard to spot in a place like this. She stuck out like a sore thumb. She looked around, scrunching her nose at a sweaty shirt on the ground. She kneeled down, pulling her hair into a ponytail. She tugged off her shirt, leaving her in a tank top. Cordelia pulled on the silver sparkly tank top, tossing her shirt in the trash. She looked at a girl who had chalky pink stripes in her hair.

     "Excuse me," Cordelia called out as she walked to the girl. "Do you have any extra hair chalk?" She asked with a smile. The girl nods, handing her a container of the same color pink. "Thanks!"

     Araya Calevera stood up. She looked at the teenagers in front of them. She was angry, almost offended by the entire thing. "You brought a wolf into my home?" She asks them. Lydia kept her lips pressed into a line, she looked at Stiles slowly, who still had yet to look bothered by the entire ordeal

"We brought an Alpha."

     While the Calevera's looked for a tiny blond wearing blue, a pink-haired girl in silver awkwardly and horribly danced into the crowd. Cordelia kept her eyes on alert, but also made sure to stay in the tightest crowds so nobody could immediately spot her. However, she was hoping she'd find one of Stiles's friends. Cordelia took a drink from a dancers hand, weaving her way through the crowd. She sipped. It burned, She scrunched her face in disgust and in surprise. She didn't know what it was, but hopefully it'd make her feel a little less stressed about the night.

     The pink-haired girl looked around as she saw a bunch of people talking in walkie-talkies. She gulped, downing the rest of her drink instantly. She tossed the cup back, pushing through the sweaty bodies further. She started to follow the crowd, which was moving and drifting toward a similar spot. Cordelia was too short, so she started to jump to the music. Over the body's and unfamiliar faces, Cordelia recognized Kira's outfit, and Malia's hair.

     Finally! Someone she recognized! Relief flowed over her quickly as she moved to push forward. Cordelia squeaked as a boy grabs her by the waist. She looked up. This wasn't a boy, it was a grown man. The girl scrunched her face in disgust. "No me gusta!" Cordelia squeaked as she tried to pry him away. "I'm a child! No thank you!" She said as she started to push through the crowd to escape the grown stranger.

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the building, "I wonder why, when you and your friends have suffered so much loss, you would risk it again for someone like Derek Hale." Araya said to both Stiles and Lydia.

     "'Cause we don't like to lose." Stiles replies, narrowing his eyes.

     A staff member speaks over the radio when an East Guard speaks. "Front door clear."

     "South clear." Says the South Guard.

     Severo looks down. "North?" There was nothing. No answer. Severo began to talk into the walkie-talkie in spanish. There was still nothing. Lydia and Stiles shared looks.

     "Stiles. Take 10 off the table."

     Scott McCall's voice comes from the radio, and Araya watches as Stiles does exactly what he said. "Maybe you should just take the deal." Says Lydia.

     "While I'm keen to follow the warning of a Banshee, I'm going to have to decline," Araya tells her.

     Back in the club, Cordelia laughs nervously as she was still being held by the strange older man. She was certain she lost her friends again, but now that didn't bother her nearly as much as this dude. "Listen buddy, not to burst your bubble or anything, but you're way too old for me," She squealed as he pulled her closer. "Do I need to translate for you? I said no!"

     The man is suddenly pulled away from her, tossed into a pillar. Cordelia's eyes are wide as she looks over at Scott, who looked at her in confusion. "Why is your hair pink?" He asked. Cordelia only shrugged. Scott grabs her shoulders, shoving her out of the way. A Calavera rushed toward them, but Scott is quick to grab him. Cordelia gasps as the man is knocked to the ground. The guard raises his gun, but Scott grabs him by the throat and tosses him into the red wall.

     Malia and Kira rush over after fighting off two hunters themselves. Malia paused. "Why is her hair pink?" She asked as she pointed at Cordelia.

     "I needed a disguise!" The teenage girl squeaked in annoyance, throwing her arms to her side.

     The four teens rush through a door. "Where are Stiles and Lydia?" Scott asked the girl with temporary pink hair.

     Cordelia shrugs. "How would I know? I was busy becoming a knockoff Avril Lavigne," She said bitterly as Malia stared at her.

     "Come on," Kira said, pulling Cordelia along. The four teens walked down the halls. Scott used his senses to get a general direction. Cordelia looked around, wondering where the hell they were, where were Stiles and Lydia, where was this Derek guy she had never met, and how were they going to get out of this in one piece?

     This wasn't as simple as Scott made it out to be, she realized. As the group walkie down yet another hallway, steam began to come from around the corner. The girls stopped. Scott looked around in confusion. Suddenly, steam started spraying from above. Scott knew what it was as soon as it hit his skin. Malia starts coughing as she leans into a wall. Scott shouts out for the other two, "Wolfsbane. It's Wolfsbane! Kira, Cordy! Get out of here!"

     Cordelia and Kira look around confused when they see a man with a gun walk over. Having a hard time to see, Kira tries to fight him, but is quickly knocked to the ground. Scott begins to lose consciousness quickly as he watches Araya come around the corner. Malia and Scott struggle for air as they clutch onto their chests. Cordelia stays a few feet back, watching in confusion and total shock.

     "Someone who has been an Alpha only a few months should be more careful when facing a hunter of 40 years."

     Scott pants as he looks up. "All we want is Derek."

     "My lobito, you're a long way from home."

     The werewolves struggled for air. Cordelia looked the woman over. She scrunched her nose. Scott's eyes widened in realization. "You don't know where he is either." The boy said. Araya frowns, beginning to electrocute him with a wand that Cordelia had seen when Allison showed her. Cordelia's eyes widen as she backs up to the door. Scott lets out a roar of agony. Araya snaps her head up, her eyes on the blond.

     "Somebody, get her!"

     Cordelia sprinted down the hall, cursing to herself as she thought about all the bad decisions she's made. Not that being Stiles's cousin was her choice, but her deciding to get along with him growing up and practically stalking him after her dad was murdered was probably her fault. Cordelia ran as fast as she could, going through random halls to lose the strange men. "God? Satan? Jesus? Santa Claus? Whoever's out there, save me!"

     As if Santa Claus had answered the young Collins girl's prayers, Cordelia stumbled into a room, shutting the door and locking it. When she looked back at the room, she realized where she was. It had cameras. Survalience cameras. It was a security office.

     "Talk about Five Nights at Freddy's." Cordelia said as she walked to the desk. She could see the rooms, all of them. She could see Scott, Malia, and Kira being dragged down the hall. She could also see Stiles, who paced back and forth an empty room anxiously. "God, I really should have paid attention to Danny's hacking lessons." Cordelia mumbled as she looked around.

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THE PACK WAS LOCKED AWAY, AND CORDELIA WAS LOCKED IN AN OFFICE. She could see them, but she didn't know what to do. She started to panic. The most she could do was go through the cameras and notice Lydia wasn't with the pack. Everyone was locked in a room, but there was no sight of Lydia on the cameras. Cordelia reached into her pocket, pulling out her phone to make a single phone call.

     "Cordy, I thought Stiles banned you from calling me."

     "Does it sound like I care?" Cordelia asked bitterly. "I'm in a situation and I need help thinking of an idea."

     The voice chuckled into the speaker. "You called the wrong person, Cord,"

     "Ethan, just help me!" She hissed. Cordelia watched as everyone began to regain consciousness. There was no sign of Lydia on the cameras. The Calavera's had her somewhere specific. "I'm sitting in a security office filled with computers and buttons and keyboards. There's cameras and doors and pipes with wolfsbane and crazy werewolf hunters. I need to help everyone but I have no idea what to do."

     The former Alpha twin sighed as he leaned against the coffee table he was currently sat at. "There might be codes to help you. Look around for a folder, notebook, something."

     Cordelia looked around anxiously, pulling open drawers. "This has a bunch of numbers." She said as she pulled out a folder filled with random pages.

     "There might be a manual to the entire system. If the system is connected to the internet, it can be hacked. Find the right codes, you'll be able to make the hunters your bitch."

     The phonecall came to an end, and Cordelia stared at the controls, the cameras, and the large manila folder. While Cordelia was studying the manual, she'd glance up every once in a while to check on the others. Fear flooded through the blond, and she started to flip through the pages even faster.

     Cordelia scrunched her face in worry. "Okay, Cordy. Focus. You've done this on video games. How hard can it be?" She started looking at the numbers, the words that meant seemingly nothing. Not to mention, certain folders and half the manual was in spanish. While Scott and the others seemingly tried to figure out what to do, Cordelia started to actually read and analyze the pages. Hopefully she'd find something.

     The door to the packs room began to open. Cordelia froze on the page she was on, looking up. Three men with weapons came in, electrocuting Scott, and taking him and Kira out of the room, leaving Malia and Stiles. Cordelia whined in frustration, looking at the pages again.

     She didn't know what was going to happen to Scott, Lydia, or Kira. But she knew it couldn't be good. And she needed to think fast. In fact, faster than fast. Swearing under her breath, she found a code that would help her with the doors closest to her. Cordelia swallowed thickly, beginning to type in the code from the manual. As she did, she looked up to see another camera turn on.

     Scott was in a metal chair, his wrists and ankles chained to a floor. There was wires, leading to a box in front of Kira, who was held in place by Severo. Then, Lydia was pulled into the frame. Cordelia felt sick. Lydia was out in the chair, chained up the same way Scott was.

     "So let me explain what's about to happen." Severo said, pointing to Kira. "This one, the fox, has an immunity to electricity. So she's going to turn the dial on the Alpha. If she doesn't, I turn the dial on the Banshee."

     Cordelia shook her head. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit," The blond looked down, flipping through the book.

     Numbers upon numbers filled the manuals and folders. They reminded Cordelia of a word puzzle she did in math class. She looked over at the keyboard, then the numbers. 2351920B. She grabbed a pen off the desk, scribbling on the paper. 23: W, 5: E, 19: S, 20: T. WEST. B: 2. WEST2. Cordelia typed the numbers in, looking at the WEST2 camera. Surely enough, with the key and a click of a button from the manual, a random door finally opened. "That was awfully basic," She said in thought.

     Relief flooded over Cordelia as she began to type. Just as hunters came toward the hallway, Cordelia locked down the doors. She was safe now, she realized. Cordelia scrunched her face as she thought about what to do. She needed to get to Stiles and Malia. But she needed to be able to get them out safely. Cordelia's eyes traveled to her phone on the desk.

     Scott's yells of pain caused the blond to wince as she began to sync her phone with the computer. If she had access to the computer, she'd be able to control the doors, the electricity, the cameras, and everything else with the touch of a button. She continued figuring out the key as she looked between Scott and Stiles on the cameras. She had to find the blueprints.

     She typed away, trying to figure out the closest route to Malia and Stiles, and what door would need to be unlocked. Her eyes flickered between the camera outside of their room and the blueprints. They weren't as far as she thought, but it would take her some time to get there. She looked at the camera, watching Malia abruptly kiss Stiles on the lips. Cordelia groaned in disgust, shaking her head. "I'm gonna need some intense therapy after that." She mumbled.

     Back on the cameras with Scott, Cordelia could hear Araya shout at Scott to figure out who took Derek. The electricity moved to level three. Cordelia looked at the controls. She had to figure out what to do.

     "Who had the power? The power of a shapeshifter?" Araya shouted. "Someone who could have turned without you knowing. Turned but not by a bite!" Cordelia frowned in confusion. Was that even possible? "Diez!" She shouted. Araya turned to Kira. "Diez!" When Kira wouldn't do it, Araya shoved her out of the way and did it herself.

     Cordelia looked around as the lights began to flicker. Cordelia started to type as she finally found the codes she needed just as Scott let out a loud roar.

     Inside the room, Scott's roar booms as suddenly the power goes off. The Calavera's look around in shock and surprise as Scott snaps off his restraints. The room is dark. Scott is breathing in relief while Kira and Lydia are looking around in confusion. Severo, the guard from before, looks at the device they had been using. He fiddles with it, switching between one and ten. "What the hell is happening!?" Araya shouted as Severo talked into the walkie-talkie.

     Cordelia pressed a button on her phone, causing a horrible feedback noise to come from the walkie-talkies. Inside their own room, Malia groaned at the awful sound. "I thought a hunter of 40 years would be smarter. Yet you just got outsmarted by a fifteen-year-old girl." Araya snarled as she pulled out a taser stick, pressing the button. "I overrided the entire building with a couple lucky guesses and keyboard smashing. There's no chance of you getting a lightswitch to work in there without my permission." Lydia smirked to herself, proud of the young blond.

     "Your cousin is tricking them." Malia said slowly.

     "What?" Stiles asked in confusion. "How?"

     Malia tilted her head to the side. "She overpowered the system. She's controlling the entire building and every electronic inside it." She said in confusion as she listened.

     Araya looked over. "Say the name, Scott." She demanded.

     "Kate."

     Stiles shook his head as Malia repeated it back. "No, that's impossible. That can't be what he said." He said to the blond.

     "Why? Who's Kate?"

     "She's a hunter. An Argent." Before Stiles could explain more, door began to open, causing Malia and Stiles to stand up. Malia stood in front of Stiles protectively, ready to flash her fangs. They watched as it finally opened all the way, and Cordelia Collins wandered into the frame, holding her phone in her hand. "Did you know that I'm a technological genius?" She asked with a grin.

     Stiles sighed in relief, walking to his cousin. Cordelia beamed, expecting him to hug her. Instead, Stiles rushed right past her. "We gotta get Scott." Stiles called to his cousin. Malia walked over, sensing Cordelia's saddened emotion.

     "Thank you." Malia said, pursing her lips. Cordelia looked over, smiling awkwardly.

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KATE ARGENT.

The name was familiar to Cordelia. It was Allison's aunts name. When Cordelia was in eighth grade, everyone ranted about the crazy woman who burned down the Hale house, and killed all those people.

"She thinks she knows where we can find Derek." Scott McCall said as he and the others stood in front of the Jeep.

Malia pursed her lips, looking between them all. "She gonna tell us where?" She asks.

"Uh, actually, she's giving us a guide."

The sound of a motor bike causes them all to turn their heads. Cordelia tilted her head to the side. The person took off their helmet, the first thing she notices is the scar along the girls neck. "You know her?" Stiles asks.

"Braeden."

Kira shakes her head. "Who's Braeden?" She asks, clearly confused.

"She's a mercenary." Lydia answers shortly.

Braeden looks between them all. "Right now, I'm the only one who's gonna take you to la iglesia."

"The Church?" Lydia translated,

"What's The Church?" Asks Stiles.

Cordelia looked over. "It's a church." She deadpanned. "Bibles, wine, bread, Sunday School," She listed off.

Braeden turned to look at the cousins. "But it's not a place you'll find God."

The pack gathered back up in Stiles's Jeep, squishing together to follow after Braeden's bike. Cordelia sat in the backseat of Stiles's jeep, crammed in between Lydia, and Malia. Kira Yukimura sat next to Malia on the far side behind the passenger seat, which is where Scott McCall sat. Cordelia loved Stile's Jeep. It was a rustic blue from being his moms. The kids didn't have many memories in it growing up, but it is what Quentin and Noah used to teach Virginia and Stiles learned to drive.

     Malia leaned forward, being the first to cut the silence that had been lingering for hours. "Okay, I'll ask. Who's Kate Argent?"

Kira raises her hand. "Uh, I'd like to know too." She followed.

"Well, we were at her funeral." Stiles begins, glancing at Scott "So, I'd like to know how she got out of a casket that was buried six feet underground."

Scott shrugs, "She was never in it." He pointed out. Cordelia frowned in confusion.

"She was Allison's aunt." Lydia says finally. She looked out the window before she whispers. "And a total sociopath."

Kira looks over to Scott, knowing how hard this must be to talk about. "You don't have to talk about it now if you don't want to."

Malia turned around. "Um, yes, he does."

"Yeah, she's right." Scott mumbled, "You guys should know. You need to know."

Stiles glanced at the mirror, before back at the road. "Kate was the one who set the fire that killed most of Derek's family."

Scott followed, "Some of them survived, like Cora, and Peter,"

"A very angry Peter." Lydia adds.

Scott nods, "Yeah, he's the one who bit and turned me." He says under his breath.

Lydia nods, "And the one who finally caught up to Kate and killed her." Cordelia's eyes were wide as she looked between Stiles and Scott. What the hell have they been up to the last year?

Stiles looks over. "But we saw her buried."

Scott shook his head. "No. We saw a casket, remember? She wasn't in it." Malia looked between the two boys, listening closely. "The Calaveras heard that Kate had been killed by an Alpha's claws. They wanted to make sure she was really dead." Scott explained the story Araya told him. "Her body started healing. More and more, as she got closer to a full moon. She was coming back. So they switched out the bodies. So they took her." Cordelia scrunched her nose, wondering what Kate must have thought when she came back from the dead. "If a hunter is bit, they have to take their own life before they change. The Calaveras, they treat the code like law. They make it their responsibility to enforce it."

Malia shrugs. "Good for her. I wouldn't do it either." She deadpanned.

"Would you kill half a dozen people to get out? Because that's what Kate did." The car fell silent for a moment, thinking about what happened.

"So Kate's a werewolf now?" Kira asks, looking at the McCall.

Scott shook his head. "I don't know." He says. "You know, there's a saying, sometimes the shape you take reflects the person you are."

"What kind of shape is sociopathic bitch?" Asks Lydia. Suddenly, the blue Jeep began to make strange noises. It shook around, causing Lydia to reach for the blond. Stiles pulled the Jeep over. Braeden spun around, pulling to a stop in front of the vehicle. Everyone began climbing out, Cordelia feeling the breeze wipe through her chalky blond/pink hair.

Braeden walks over. "What happened?"

Stiles shakes his head. "I don't know. It felt like we hit something." He walks around, trying to see what it was.

"Scott, we need to get there by night. It's too dangerous otherwise."

The McCall looked at his friends. Stiles nodded. "Go."

"Not without you."

"Dude, someone needs to find Derek. We'll figure something out. We always do." Stiles explains. It was obvious that Scott didn't want to leave them behind. But he needed to find Derek. Plus, with Kira and Malia, it wasn't like the group was completely defenseless.

Scott nods, walking towards the bike. Kira runs after him, and Cordelia knowingly looks away, a smirk on her face. Malia looks around the car with Stiles. Lydia looks at the engine with Cordelia. "Pink hair?" Lydia asked as she looked at Cordelia's pink hands and the chalk in her hair.

"I'll rinse it off when we get home." Cordelia says simply.

Stiles looks over, "Yeah, you will. My dad will kill me." Cordelia and Lydia laugh, turning to see Braeden and Scott driving off.

"Stiles." Malia says, causing both girls to turn towards her. "I don't think we hit something." She stood up, holding what looked like a large claw. "I think something hit us." Stiles slowly took the claw in his hand, observing it.

Cordelia shook her head. "Okay, this? This is the worst vacation ever." She shouted as she pointed at everyone. "The Calavera's took my phone, there's a literal claw in the Jeep, I have horrible pink hair, and now we are left without the werewolf Alpha! We are so dead!" She shouted at them all.

Stiles turned to his cousin. "Could you shut up?" He snapped. Cordelia glared, sticking out her tongue before turning away from him.

"Maybe we should just walk." Lydia offered.

"Hey, I will never abandon this jeep." Answered Stiles. "You understand me? Ever. Ever. Ever." He struggled with the car, but didn't seem worried about anything else.

Cordelia leaned against the Jeep, watching Malia look around them."Work faster, Stiles." The were-coyote said. Stiles paused, looking at his girlfriend. "There's something out here with us." Malia cooly stated. Stiles and Lydia looked at each other in worry. Cordelia clicks her tongue, slowly nodding.

"Yep. Worst vacation ever."

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DARKNESS TOO OVER THE SKY LIKE A DISEASE. Cordelia was now wrapped in Stiles's jacket, and he mumbled every now and then how she was staining it with the pink chalk in her hair. Kira whipped out her katana from the back of Stiles's Jeep. The human boy looked up. "Lydia, could you please hold the light still for a second? It's really hard to see anything if you keep shaking it like that." He complained.

Lydia glared at him. "I'm shaking it like this because we're in the middle of nowhere with your broken down jeep and we're being attacked by yet another razor-clawed monster." She hissed. Lydia exhaled sharply, "And I'm terrified." She added.

"Well, just be slightly less terrified." He snapped, "And hold this."

He handed some random thing from inside the hood to Lydia. "What's this?" She asked. He looked up, shrugging.

"I don't know. I'm hoping it's not important." He muttered.

"Oh, God," Lydia whispered.

Kira walked up to Malia. "Anything?" Asked the Kitsune.

Malia shook her head, arms crossed. "It's too hard to see." She stated. "We should've brought another flashlight." Malia said. Kira glanced at her sword in thought. Kira walked towards the Jeep, adjusting her sword so it could spread more light. The two girls look around the dark desert. Something moves from behind a rock.

"Did you see that?" Asked Kira. Kira looks at Malia, but before she can react, Malia's eyes are suddenly a steel blue. Roaring, Malia runs . "Malia, wait!"

"What, Malia!" Stiles stumbled, scrambling to get off the Jeep. Cordelia looks between them with wide eyes.

Lydia grabs onto Stiles, holding him back. "Kira, go! You. Fix the Jeep." She scolded. Kira runs off, and Stiles looks over with uncertainty. "Stiles! Focus!" The teenage boy tries to snap out of it, turning back to the Jeep.

Cordelia hugged herself tighter as she looked around. Malia and Kira were gone, and Lydia and Stiles were working on the Jeep. Cordelia looked around the darkness. She could have worn something moved. Something that wasn't Malia or Kira. "Did you see that?" She asked the others. Stiles was ranting and bickering to Lydia, who continued to scold him for being an idiot. Cordelia pursed her lips into a line.

     The blond girl stepped closer to the shadows. Maybe it was an animal, and not some scary monster that would rip her and her friends to shreds. Cordelia sucked in a slow breath as she started to walk further away. Lydia and Stiles were more focused on the Jeep to noticed the fifteen-year-old girl step out of the light given to her by the Jeep.

     The weather dropped significantly between the day and night. Cordelia wasn't sure what the temperature was (she could never convert Celsius to Fahrenheit), but if she had to guess, they'd be in the low 40's, building up a chill as she stood in her denim shorts and the same sparkly tank top from before. She was just glad to have Stiles's jacket, which blocked her from the harshest parts of the chill.

Wind pushed through Cordelia's hair as she looked around. Flurries of pink and blond in her eyes as she went further into the unknown. Bushes and rocks surrounded her as she stepped through the brush. Her boots squished the sand under her feet as she looked around. Something was out there. Malia and Kira were looking for it, but what if Cordelia found it first? Realization of exactly how stupid she had been was now painfully obvious. She had walked too far. She held her breath, hoping to hear the sound of Lydia or Stiles talking. Silence consumed her as she stumbled backwards slowly.

Cordelia happened to look at the ground, seeing something tucked in the sand. She kneeled down. Her knee sunk into the sand as she plucked the object out with her nimble hands. It was a piece of fabric. Dingy and brown from age and lack of being washed. She studied it in her hand, looking around once more. She hadn't noticed how far she had trailed away from the Jeep until now. No sight of the road or its bright lights. No sign of Malia or Kira. She was now surrounded by rocks and desert.

Meanwhile, Lydia held the flashlight with a clenched jaw. She turned to look at Cordelia, freezing when nobody was there. "Lydia, the light?" Stiles asked with an annoyed tone. Lydia was too focused on looking around for the blond. Suddenly, the Jeep roars to life and Stiles lets out a cheer of victory. "Hell yeah, baby! I knew you had it in you." He cheered as he slammed the hood.

"Where's Cordelia?" Lydia asked warily, looking around. Stiles looked up from the Jeep, noticing no sign of his little cousin.

Stiles scrambled off the Jeep, "Cordy?" He called out, waiting for an answer. Only the wind replied, causing Stiles to become anxious. "God, Cordelia! My dad's gonna kill me!"

Lydia stomped next to Stiles. "Cordelia is missing and you're more worried about your dad?" She snapped. Stiles shrugged, and the redhead scoffed. "Cordelia!" Lydia called out, walking in a random direction with the flashlight. Stiles glanced back at the Jeep, before rushing after Lydia. The two of them stumbled down a path, yelling for the blond.

One thing about Cordelia was that she had a horrible sense of direction. She hadn't even paid attention to where she was walking before, much less now as she aimlessly walked around the desert. Chalky pink hair was in Cordelia's face as she trailed father down the trail she had accidentally found. She hadn't heard any of her friends yet, and she wished she still had her phone. "Stiles?" She called out. Her voice came out small, fearful. Cordelia hated the dark. Why did she decide to do this? "I'm an idiot. That's why." She said bitterly as she looked around.

Malia limped with Kira assisting her as they approached the Jeep. At the same time, Stiles and Lydia come rushing from behind the Jeep, eyes wide with worry. "Cordy is missing." Lydia blurted, looking at the girls. Malia was holding her torso, blood oozing from between her fingers. The Martin's eyes widened. "What happened?"

"It's nothing, I'm fine." Malia sighed as she leaned against the Jeep. She looked up, letting the information about Cordelia sink in. "I thought Stiles was watching her."

The three girls looked at Stiles, who threw up his hands. "I thought she'd stay near the Jeep!" He shouted in defense.

Kira sighed in worry, "She can't be far. Cordelia hates walking." She said as the all looked around.

Malia sniffed the air, "I think I have her scent," She said confidently. "And the weird hair stuff," She scrunched her nose, walking around the Jeep. Everyone shared looks, following the werecoyote.

Cordelia stumbled through the trail. She was definitely lost now. Her only hope was stumbling across Malia or Kira, she realized after climbing further down into a ditch. "Hello? Lydia?" Cordelia called out as she looked around the darkness. Of course, just her luck to get lost in Mexico! Cordelia spun around, hoping to see Malia running over, but no avail. The ditch was empty, and Cordelia was still as alone as before.

     She sighed in defeat, spinning on her heal to turn back when she walked straight into a chest. The blond barely got a moment to see what she was looking at. All she saw was skin and bones. Bones used as armour, to be exact. Cordelia had zero time to register before she was struck in the face.

A scream echoes throughout the path the four other teenagers were on. "Cordelia!" Lydia yelled in alarm, all of them running towards the sound. Malia lead the way, Cordelia's scent and the sound now giving her a clear shot. The others followed, cursing in worry as their feet pushed against the sand.

Cordelia was pushing herself onto her elbows, gasping out in pain when she saw her cousin and friends rushing over. Kira kneeled down, "Cordy, what happened?" The kitsune asked as she saw the cut along the blonde's face.

"I don't know," The young girl confessed as Lydia helped her sit up. "It all happened so fast." The blond confessed as she looked over at Stiles. Cordelia hoped Stiles would say something along the lines of I'm glad you're okay, but the words never came.

Stiles ran his hand through his hair. "Come on, I got the Jeep working again," He said to everyone. Cordelia clenched her jaw, but said nothing as Malia and Kira helped her to her feet.

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THE JEEP WAS TENSE WHEN THEY ALL GOT BACK. With Malia in the passenger seat, the back of the Jeep became far more comfortable for Lydia, Kira, and Cordelia. Almost instantly, Cordelia had crashed in her spot in the middle, her head against Lydia's shoulder.

     Stiles snapped his head to Malia. "You! You, please, don't do that ever again!" He scolded once they were back on the road.

     "Do what?" Malia asked.

     "I, I thought you just took off. I thought you were running."

     "I was running."

     Stiles closed his eyes for a moment, "No, I mean," Stiles sighed in exasperation. "Like, I thought you were leaving." He told the girl with blond highlights. Lydia and Kira looked between the two.

     Malia seemed confused. She looked at him, with no hesitation in her voice. "Oh, I wouldn't leave without you." She told the Stilinski:

     He looked at her in shock. "Really?" He asked quietly.

     "No, I would never leave without you." Malia declared as she looked at the teenage boy that had helped her learn become human. Stiles was shocked by this statement, but his heart swelled in his chest as he looked at the road again. Malia looked back at the others, glancing between Kira and Lydia. "Them, I would leave." She then looked at the sleeping girl. "I wouldn't leave Cordy."

     Lydia and Kira rolled their eyes, truly feeling the love. Stiles looked back. "Yeah, uh, it's progress." He muttered. Kira shook her head, not taking it personal.

     Lydia adjusted the blond on her shoulder as she looked down at Malia's wound. "That doesn't look good." She muttered.

     "It's okay." Malia hummed, pulling on her shirt to look at the cut.

     Kira frowned. "Are you sure? It looks deep."

     "I can feel it healing." Malia retorts.

     Lydia pressed her lips together. "You didn't see anything?" She asked.

     Malia shook her head. "Barely."

     Stiles nods. "Cordelia said she saw bones." He added. They watched as Stiles glanced in the rearview mirror, looking at Cordelia.

     "It had a strong scent, too." Malia said as she looked back at the others.

     "Like what?" Asked Stiles, glancing at the werecoyote. Malia frowned, feeling uncomfortable as she thought about what she saw in the darkness. What Cordelia also saw.

     "Like death."

     Cordelia adjusted herself slightly. The movement caused Stiles to look back at her immediately, making sure she was okay and completely unharmed. The other girls all shared looks knowingly. Stiles never acted like this, at least not when Cordelia was conscious. But they could see it twinkling in his eyes. The worry, the fear, the protectiveness.

     Of course, Malia was the one to call it out. "You care about her." She said slowly. Stiles looked over in confusion. "Your cousin."

     Stiles shifted in his seat, nodding his head around. "Well, yeah." Stiles said slowly. "She's my cousin."  He deadpanned, lifting his fingers off the wheel as he spoke. Stiles was always one to talk with his hands.

     "But it's more than that." Malia said. Everyone looked at her in confusion. "You're overprotective but at the same time you smell like you resent her. What's up with that?" She deadpanned.

     Stiles glanced at Malia. "Did you pick that up from my scent?" He asked. He knew werewolves could smell emotions in a weird way. Something Scott learned to do early on in his werewolf journey. But Malia calling him out like this made even Stiles squirm.

     "I've watched you both ban her from talking to boys and yet discard her nearly cutting her hand off. Mixed signals equals mixed thoughts."

     The Stilinski sighed, leaning his head back as he drove. His eyes flickered to the mirror. Cordelia was swallowed by his jacket, which was now dirty from the fall. She looked so peaceful, leaning onto Lydia as her pink hair dangled in her face. "Cordy and I used to get along. We were basically siblings. But I stopped hanging around her when I got to highschool."

     "Why?"

     "You be a fourteen year old in highschool and your only friend being your twelve year old cousin." Stiles deadpanned, causing Malia to tilt her head in thought. "Her sister, Ginny, never let me hear the end of it. My only friend was Scott and Cordy for years. A little girl who still played with barbies!" Stiles ranted as he looked at the road. "So, when I got to highschool, I stopped. Now, Cordy's just someone I have to watch. I babysit her. I have to worry sometimes."

     The girls all looked at each other again, then at the sleeping girl in the middle of the back. She had no idea that the pack talked about her. She had no idea if they even cared. To be honest, Cordelia wouldn't want to know. She didn't want her feelings hurt.

     It was a while until the group reached La Iglesia. Malia climbed out of the passenger seat, followed by a tired Cordelia and Lydia. Kira got out on Stiles's side. The five of them met up in the front of the Jeep. Cordelia pushed her hair behind her ears, looking towards the entrance of the church.

     Braeden walks out first, covered in some dirty but otherwise she was completely unharmed. Then, Scott came out next. He had blood on his face. He was helping someone. Malia stood next to Stiles, watching as the McCall and the mercenary wrapped this persons arms around them.

     "Is that Derek?" Malia asked Stiles. Cordelia frowned, noticing something was off. She knew Derek was older. Mid to late 20's. And yet, that wasn't what she was looking at.

     "Uh, sort of," Stiles answers shortly. As Derek looks up again, it's not the Derek they knew. In fact, it's young, teenage, seventeen-year-old Derek.

     Cordelia's jaw drops as she looked over at Stiles. "He was hot in highschool!" She blurted. Stiles scrunched his face, looking at his cousin.

     "Never say that again."

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