chapter seventy-three
❝ beauty is a knife i've been
holding by the blade ❞
codominance

━━━━༺❀༻━━━━

Kennedy held the light over the Jeep as Stiles fixed whatever went wrong this time. She hadn't talked much, though neither of them had. Their fight had still forced a wall between them that the two of them were unsure what to do with. The truth was out, Kennedy's eyes were in fact meant to be blue, True Alpha or not. So far, nobody really saw her any differently, except herself. Not even Scott. Though they hadn't talked about it, she could tell that he didn't hold her to blame for most of it, except maybe the bartender.

Malia didn't care. Though Kennedy didn't expect her to. Kennedy called Derek and told him all about what happened, tears and screaming included. Perhaps that's what always shocked her the most about her and Derek, was the way he comforted her at all times. He always seemed so...not comforting. Stiles clearly never really cared, considering he loved her enough to keep it a secret. But Kennedy wasn't mad he did that. She was mad at how he said it. How the truth explosively came out.

"Can you hold it closer?" Stiles's voice echoed in Kennedy's head.

"No."

Stiles rolled his eyes, exhaling through his nose. "Ken, can you please hold the light closer so I can see it better?"

"Stiles, can you please not act like we're okay when I'm going to smack you with this light?" Kennedy mocked, sending him a sarcastic smile. Stiles gawked at his girlfriend, blinking repeatedly.

"I'm not acting like everything okay! In fact, I'm acting like everythings not okay because everythings not okay."

Kennedy shrugged, "Well, Scott's okay. I'm okay."

Stiles scoffed. "You are not okay," He mumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kennedy frowned as she placed a hand on her hip in dismay.

"It means that you're not okay! Ken, I'm not the one ignoring the problem." Stiles confessed. Kennedy narrowed her eyes. Was he correct? Definitely. After all, Kennedy blocked out any and all killing she had done, she ignored Stiles other than when they were with Scott, and she even went as far as to take most of her stuff out of his house during the school days. Her college classes were online.

The Hale girl exhaled through her nose loudly, poking her cheek with her tongue as she looked back at the McCall house. Scott came through the back door, sending Kennedy a sheepish nod. "What did Liam want?" She asked him with a softer voice. Liam had came by, giving a quick and awkward hello to Kennedy and Stiles. As he walked by the couple he had smelled the tension, and it wasn't the good kind.

"To help." Scott told her as he looked towards the Jeep.

"Are you gonna let him?" She questioned, moving the light downwards so Stiles could see better.

Scott shrugged his shoulders, "Eventually, I guess."

Stiles glanced at the McCall. "Okay, but shouldn't he be a little higher on your priority list right now?" He asked, "I mean, since he's the only other actual werewolf, your only actual Beta."

"You didn't see the way that he came at me. You didn't see the look in his eyes."

The human boy looked at Kennedy for a moment. "Well, I've been with you on a full moon, and I've seen Kennedy fighting Void Stiles and Peter. So yeah, I've seen that look." Kennedy sighed as she slouched her shoulders awkwardly. "You want to get the band back together, Scott, you don't leave out the drummer." Kennedy and Scott stayed put while Stiles moved towards the driver's side of the Jeep. After a few moments, the Jeep begins to start. Kennedy's eyes light up and she smiles. Stiles comes back, looking at the engine, "Success! Yes!" Kennedy and Scott move towards the passenger side. Kennedy goes to crawl towards the backseat, pausing a the number of empty jugs of fluid there are. Stiles climbs in, looking over. "It's a minor leak. Very minor." Stiles mumbled.

"Where am I supposed to sit?" Kennedy questioned. Stiles and Scott looked back, throwing the jugs around so she has enough room to sit. The female werewolf tosses her hair back, sighing. "Road trip! Woohoo!"

༺❀༻

"I'm going to melt!"

Scott looked back at Kennedy, who was holding on to two bottles and sticking her head out the window. He looked at Stiles, "Man, I think the Jeep's overheating again."

"Probably."

Kennedy groans, "Should we pull over and put more antifreeze in it? We have plenty," She held up a bottle, shaking it.

Stiles sighed, "No, we can just turn the heat on." Kennedy whimpered as she felt the heat kick on, and Scott rolled down his window too. "You find anything yet?" He asked Scott who had a book in his hands.

"They're mostly the same stuff you already knew." Scott said, looking at the papers. Kennedy leaned back out the window, letting her neck rest on the door. She closed her eyes, letting the wind blow on her face as she listened to Scott. "Damnatio memoriae was a Roman practice, a government decree to destroy the images of the damned. And they would scratch off their names from inscriptions, chisel their face off of statues. The Romans believed it was a punishment worse than death." He recited. Kennedy raised a brow.

"Being forgotten."

"Listen to this." Scott said as he looked back down. "Damnatio Memoriae, was later used on a serial killer in 1598, known as the Demon Tailor. He lured children into his shop in Paris where he would kill them and boil the flesh off their bones to eat. The courts believed the crimes so horrible, they ordered all the documents destroyed. To this day, no one knows his real name."

Kennedy frowned as she listened. She leaned up, looking at Stiles and Scott. "So the Dread Doctors resurrected a killer who was so bad that he had to literally be erased from history."

"A killer that became a werewolf," Scott added as he looked at his human friend.

"Which probably made him a better killer." Stiles commented as he looked back at the road. "That's great."

Scott looked back at Kennedy, who once again had her head and arms out the window. "Are you sure your mom knew nothing about this?" He asked.

"She said they activated the Beast. That's it." Kennedy hummed. "Didn't know what it meant, and she wouldn't tell me."

"So that doesn't mean she's necessarily the good guy," Stiles said in thought.

Kennedy's arms danced in the wind as she clenched her jaw. "She said they knew about her. Before she died. Maybe they needed her for something? Maybe they needed a seer to activate it somehow."

"Or a seer to see who Damnatio Memoriae is," Stiles commented, both boys looking at Kennedy. The girl moved her entire body inside the Jeep, frowning.

"I can look at stuff, but nothing like that. My visions are only from the future unless I'm digging into someone's memories." Kennedy commented,

Scott shrugged, "But we don't know the full extent of your powers. Your mom is way more skilled in being a Seer, isn't she?" He asked. Kennedy nodded. "Maybe she's able to."

Kennedy shrugged, "We don't have control what we see, we just hope it's what we want and nothing goes wrong," She explained to them as she leaned against the door. Scott and Stiles shared a look, knowing she was probably right. Even if Sloane did help them, she might not be able to do what they want.

༺❀༻

After a while, Scott and Stiles swapped places. Kennedy was still in the back, looking out the window. Scott looked over at Stiles, "You're still not talking to Malia, are you?" Kennedy frowned, looking between the two at the turn of conversation. She knew bits and pieces of Malia and Stiles's fight. Malia was upset nobody told her about Kennedy killing Donovan, she also blames Stiles for Kennedy dying, and she didn't like being put second to Stiles. Malia put Kennedy first, she wanted to be put first too.

"Uh, she's not talking to me. Or anyone, I guess." Stiles explained. Kennedy didn't say anything. She watched Scott glance in the mirror, making eye contact with her.

"I think I know why." Scott stated. Stiles turned towards Scott. "I think she found her mother."

Stiles was caught off guard. "Her mother, as in The Desert Wolf?" Scott nods as he looks at him. Stiles sighed, "I knew she was still looking. She erased her name off my board, but I just, I knew she never stopped."

"When I was at her house, I'm pretty sure Braeden, was there, too."

"Braeden?" Stiles exasperated. "What, did you catch her scent?"

"Actually, it was her motorcycle. I smelled her exhaust." Scott was silent for a moment. "Sloane was there, too."

The human boys jaw dropped, "Wait, what?" He asked as he looked back at Kennedy and then Scott. "What the hell do you think they're gonna do?" He asked.

"Something that Malia doesn't want to tell us about, so probably something bad." Scott explained as he looked back in the mirror at Kennedy. He knew she was there, and he never said anything.

The Stilinski rolled his eyes. "Oh, my God. You already know, don't you? It's like, it's the chemosignals, right?"

Scott sighed as he nodded his head. "Aggression."

"How much?"

Kennedy watched Scott look in the mirror. "I think she's gonna kill her." Scott answered honestly, "She's gonna kill her mother." Nobody had a chance to really react to the statement when the Jeep's engine began to stutter. "What's happening?"

"Um," Stiles stuttered as he looked over at the gas meter, "Yeah, we're out of gas. It's out of gas."

"It says we have half a tank."

Stiles shrugged, "Yeah, not necessarily." He confessed,

Kennedy scooted forwards, looking at the Stilinski. "You didn't fix the gas gauge, didn't you?"

His mouth opened and closed for a moment, "Not necessarily." He confessed further. Scott pulled over, the teenage girl groaning as she sunk back.

༺❀༻

The trio made it to a gas station. Stiles ran to the door, pulling on the door. "Locked." Stiles groaned.

Scott was messing with the chain on the gas tank as Kennedy came over. "You got a twenty?" He asked the couple. Kennedy nodded, digging into her purse for her wallet. She looked over, watching Stiles shove his own money into the door.

Stiles joined Scott and Kennedy, filling up the gas. Kennedy and Stiles shared a look. There was no time better than now, the human realized. The gas filled up the canister, Scott carrying it as Stiles put the gas handle away. Kennedy looked between them, pursing her lips. "There was a pin. There was one little metal pin attached to the scaffolding." Stiles said. "He was trying to pull me down."

"He was trying to kill you." Scott replied.

"Yes, and Kennedy attacked him." Stiles recalled, unable to forget the sight. "She tore him apart, and then I pulled the pin. And all these metal braces came down. And one of them just, just went right through him." Kennedy looked at Scott, waiting to see what he said next.

"Why didn't either of you think you could tell me?"

Kennedy turned her head up, causing both boys to look at her. Her auburn hair blew around in the little wind. "It was the way you were looking at me that night." She said finally, scoffing in thought. "You know, you're standing there with a wrench in your hand. And then you were looking at Stiles like he just bashed you in the head with it." She recalled. Stiles shifted uncomfortably, "You know, like we'd broken your sacred rule and that's it, there's no going back."

"I know the difference."

Kennedy frowned, "What?"

Scott looked at the ground before back at the couple. "I know what self-defense is." Kennedy pursed her lips, glancing at Stiles. Scott grabbed the gas canister, the three of them making their way towards the Jeep once again. She didn't say anything towards either of them. She was silent the entire time.

༺❀༻

After a few hours of Kennedy driving, Stiles eventually took the wheel again. Scott was in the passenger seat, and Kennedy was sprawled out in the back. The sun has pretty much set, and Stiles could see the mountain from where they were. That is, until he sees lightning. The human boy tensed up as he began nudging Scott.

"Guys," Stiles reached back, smacking Kennedys arm. "Guys, wake up," Scott looked up, looking around. Kennedy poked her head up, pushing herself off the backseat. "Take a look at this." Kennedy sat up straight, looking at the window. She saw the same thing as the boys. The same lighting and the sky rumbling above the mountain. "What the hell do you think is happening to her up there?"

Scott and Kennedy didn't say anything, causing Stiles to stomp on the gas. Kennedy sighed as she looked out the window. "What do you thinks up there? Will we have to fight it?"

"Probably," Scott said honestly. Kennedy nodded, shifting into her seat.

The three fell into a silence for a while. Kennedy thought about how she'd try to save Kira, if she needed to. She thought about how Scott hadn't told Stiles she was helping Malia, but she knew it was a matter of time til he did. She wanted to tell Stiles, but not until after they found Malias mom.

When the Jeep came to a stop, the three of them climbed out. Stiles went to help Kennedy, but she moved around him as she stood farthest away from the boys. Not because she didn't trust them, but because she didn't trust herself.

Scott this time was the one thinking about their mistakes. About his own. "I don't know why I believed him." Stiles looked over. Kennedy stared at the mountain. "I don't know why we didn't just keep talking that night. Five more minutes and we would've figured out that there were two different stories. We would've filled a lot of blanks." Scott was silent as he slowly shook his head. "Should've just kept talking."

"He knew we wouldn't." Stiles said lowly.

Scott knew Stiles was right. He shifted his feet, "I didn't want it to happen like this." Scott said finally. Stiles tilted his head back slightly.

"Like what?"

"I knew, sooner or later, one of us was going to get a little too much blood on our hands." Scott explained as he shrugged, "I half thought it was gonna be Malia."

"Well, she definitely seems like she's working on it." Stiles said sarcastically.

Scott shrugged, "Just always thought that if it were to happen, then it should be me." Kennedy looked over in confusion, frowning. "I'm the one who's constantly putting you guys in danger, risking your lives for people you don't even know." Scott looked away from the two of them, shaking his head. "It should've been me."

Kennedy looked at Stiles, both of them sharing sad looks. They knew how guilty Scott felt, and neither of them really blamed Scott. It was all Theo, and all of them knew that. Stiles placed a hand on Scott's shoulder. "Come on. We only got few hours to sunrise." Kennedy and Stiles began moving back towards the Jeep. Scott paused, looking at the bottom of the mountain.

"Hey, guys, do you see that?" The couple turned back around, "It's Kira." Kennedy watched as a random light flashed from the bottom of the mountain, the echoing sound of clanging in her ears.

The Hale grabbed Scott's arm, "Come on! Let's go," She ushered back towards the Jeep.

༺❀༻

The sun rose in New Mexico, and the Jeep speed down the road. Kennedy sat up straight in the car, watching the sand storm. "Open the door," Kennedy said, her eyes turning white.

Stiles turned around, "What, why?" He asked, looking back in front of them. Scott and Stiles couldn't see anything.

"Skinwalkers. They're trying to make Kira become a Skinwalker." Kennedy said as she grabbed onto the front seats of the Jeep. Scott's eyes widened as he looked at Stiles. The McCall nodded, and Stiles unlocked the Jeep. "Now!"

The Jeep door swung open as the Jeep rolled onto the very scene Kennedy saw. Three Skinwalkers against Kira and Noshiko. Scott rolled out of the Jeep as Kennedy climbed to the front. She hopped out just as Scott's eyes turned red and he let out a roar. Kennedy's eyes turned blue as she cranes her neck. Fangs grew and she soon followed the roar with her own.

Kira looked over in surprise. Stiles leaned forward, "Get in!" He yelled at Kira. The Yukimura dropped her spear, running towards the Jeep. Scott followed suit, and Kennedy looked at Noshiko. Stiles looked over, "Kennedy! Let's go!"

Noshiko looked at the Hale werewolf. "You should go," Kennedy craned her head as her eyes turned blue. Noshiko tilted her head upwards, realizing Kennedy wasn't leaving until Noshiko did. Two Skinwalkers aimed their spears towards the two. Stiles yelled out for Kennedy as she let out a low snarl.

The spears soared through the air. Noshiko aimed her sword as it split a spear in two. The broken wood fell to the ground. Kennedy growled out as she jumped in the air, kicking the spear out of her way. In the process, it snapped in half. Kennedy ran back towards the Jeep, Noshiko right behind her.

The two clambered in as Stiles stomped on the gas. Kennedy sat in between Noshiko and Stiles, breathing heavily as she looked back. "Everyone okay?" Stiles asked as he looked around. Noshiko and Kennedy nodded. Stiles turned to look at Scott, taking a double take to see his friend making out with the kitsune in his back seat. Kennedy turned around for a moment, her cheeks turning red as she looked at Stiles. The two shared awkward looks, before looking back at the road.

"You came back for me." Kira said in disbelief as she looked at Scott. The McCall nodded. Kira grinned, "I love you. I love you so much."

Kennedy smiled softly, looking over at Stiles again. Stiles glanced at her, giving her a closed mouth smile as he reached over. Kennedy watched his hand link with hers, and she sighed as she leaned closer in content.

༺❀༻

Back in Beacon Hills, Stiles was in his bedroom, working on the board as he scratched his face in thought. The sound of his door opening caused him to look back. Stiles initially expected it to be his dad, but it was Kennedy. She stood there awkwardly, fiddling with her hands. She had changed into leggings instead of her skirt. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Hi," She said softly.

Stiles turned his body completely, now facing her. "Hey," He mumbled, looking at his girlfriend with a slightly confused look. The awkward silence settled between them. Stiles cleared his throat, "What's up?"

Kennedy's shoulder slouched. She looked at the ground as she bit the inside of her cheek. Her hazel eyes met his brown ones. "Im sorry. For everything."

Stiles shook his head, "You didn't do anything wrong,"

"I did." Kennedy said slowly. Stiles frowned. "I'm the one that got Sloane to help Malia." The Stilinski shook his head in confusion. "I thought if my mom helped Malia, it'd keep blood off her hands."

Stiles poked his cheek with his tongue. He leaned back in confusion. "Okay," He mumbled in thought. "I'm sorry for what I said that night,"

Kennedy shook her head, "Stiles, you were right-"

"But how I said it, Ken." Stiles stepped closer, causing Kennedy to tense up. "You have done everything for everyone else. You died trying to save Lydia." Kennedy swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing Lydia was still in Eichen and they had to find a way to help her. "And I shouldn't have hidden all of that from you. I shouldn't have hidden what happened in London, and I shouldn't have ever compared you to Peter and Sloane." Stiles scoffed in thought. "I mean, Peter, of all people? You're nothing like him." A smiled tugged onto Kennedys lips as Stiles took her hands in his. "I hate when we fight," He confessed.

Kennedy nods, "Sometimes fights are good," She shrugged, "Gets everything out," Her hands pulled away from Stiles as she wrapped her arms around his torso.

"I kind of prefer when we fight over Buffy the Vampire Slayer instead of this," Stiles said absentmindedly. His arms wrapped around Kennedy, the two of them looking at each other.

"I like it that way too," Kennedy said softly as she leaned over. Stiles sighed in content as her head pressed against his chest.

Stiles's arms wrapped around her tighter as he pressed his lips to her head. After a while, he felt more comfortable. Like they were okay, finally. When he and Kennedy, and he and Scott were okay, that was when Stiles knew everything would work out.

Kennedy suddenly pulled away. Stiles frowned. "Ken? What is it?" The girl stumbled back, feeling dizzy. The room spun, and an aching pain shot through her head, Kennedy screamed in agony, causing Stiles to rush closer in concern. "Kennedy? Kennedy!"

The Hale fell to the floor in pain, Stiles's arms wrapped around her protectively. Her eyes were screwed shut, her hands having a death grip on Stiles. A scream echoed through Kennedy's ears. Stiles jumped as Kennedy's hands flew to her ears, she crouched to the ground, hollering out. Her eyes sprung open, except now they were white.

Stiles's eyes were wide as he stared at his girlfriend. He crawled towards her, reaching for her. "Ken," As he reached for her face, Kennedy's hand wrapped around his wrist. Stiles's mouth opened in pain as he tried to pull away.

"Please," Stiles's skin began to crawl as Kennedy spoke. "I have to tell them,"

The human boy's brows furrowed, "Tell them what, Kennedy? What do you have to tell them?" His eyes bored into Kennedy's stark white ones, trying to see any sign of her coming out of her vision. His blood ran cold, and the hair on the back of his neck began to stand up.

"They're all going to die,"

Kennedy's eyes screwed shut as she pulled away from Stiles. The boy rubbed his wrist as he looked back at Kennedy. Her eyes opened, suddenly hazel again. She looked at Stiles. "What did you see?" Stiles whispered. Kennedy shook her head, leaning against the wall.

"I didn't see anything. I just heard it." Kennedy said as she looked over. "It was screaming."

Stiles shook his head, "What do you mean you didn't see anything? Isn't that the whole point of being a seer?" He asked in confusion.

Kennedy was shaking as she looked at him. "Stiles, I'm telling you, I didn't see a thing. All I could hear was screaming." She mumbled as she pushed her hair back.

"Who was screaming?"

Silence followed. Stiles felt his stomach sink as Kennedy looked over. Her hazel eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Everyone."