𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓

"𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 "

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╰┈˚ · ° .  THE AFTERMATH.

What happened the hours after Allison's death was unknown to me— like a veil of fog had fallen on my memories, hiding them away just out of my grasp. I vaguely remember Chris Argent showing up at Oak creek, or how the police came, showering the old internment camp in red and blue lights. Leading us to the station for questioning. No words had left my lips, my mind not quite there, my tongue immobilized in my mouth, eyes unseeing of the real time, only showing the freezed image of Allison's death, her body growing cold, the last tear that feel down her cheek, blood stained lips and to join, there was the last beat her heart had done. Like a broken disk, her dying heart echoed in my ears. I wanted to cry more, to scream the grief.

I knew that the sheriff and his deputies wanted answers— I remember Parrish asking questions, but in my silence, he kneeled in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder that felt warmer than humanly possible. But even that left my mind as soon as it entered.

And the worst thing was that we had no time for grief now because the Nogithsune was still roaming free though Beacon Hills. It was that what made me snap out of it.

Revenge. He was the cause of her death. Revenge. I could cry later. Now, I needed to see the Nogitsune dead.

I stood up from the couch, my grandmother on one side, Alec the other. "We have to go." I declared, unlocking my phone I sent a message to Scott. We need to talk with Deaton.

"Go where?" Alec asked, careful of his tone. I knew he was afraid of upsetting me further.

"Deaton. The Nogitsune is still alive, we have no time to lose."

"Ellie..."

My grandmother then spoke, "Maybe it's better if-"

"No." I snapped. their words, the condescending tones were getting on my nerves. "Don't talk to me like that. I'm not going to break. We still need to win. And we are going to win." I did not want to stay there and listen to their excuses, I did not want to even look at them because I knew that my words were wrong. As soon as this was over, I was going to break.

Allison was dead. And Stiles, his faith was still unsure.

I slammed the door closed behind me, not waiting for anything and anyone before entering my car and speeding away directed at the veterinarian clinic.

I met Scott and Lydia just outside the clinic, "Where are the others?" I questioned.

"Stiles' with Kira." Scott replied.

"Isaac is with Seb. They are keeping an eye on Mr. Argent and... I think Seb needed to be there." I nodded my head in understanding, Lydia asked. "Alec?"

"My house. He was getting on my nerves." He wasn't, but with him it was easier to fall apart and I could not have that. Yet.

Deaton was already there waiting for us when we entered, "Stiles and Kira said it was the Nemeton that kept it trapped." Scott told the doctor, informing him of the information that they had acquired from the girl's parents.

Deaton shook his head, "The problem is this isn't even a person you're fighting. It just looks like one. It's a spirit that's taken the shape of a human."

"The shape of my best friend." Scott said.

That killed mine— I added mentally.

"Someone caught it once." Lydia told the doctor. "Someone can do it again, right?"

"I don't know."

"Noshiko did it." I counter back. I was not going away from here without an answer on how to defeat the Nogitsune.

"This thing was trapped a long time ago, before the Nemeton was cut down. It doesn't have the same power anymore." He replied.

"Is there anything that does?"

"Possibly. When the tree was whole, its wood was sometimes used

to contain powerful objects. But those objects are very rare."

"Wait a second." Lydia spoke, making our eyes fall to her, "Powerful objects? Like an Alpha's claws?"

"Which Alpha?"

I exhaled a breath, "Talia Hale. Derek and Peter found them. The

Calavera had them. A triskele is carved on the lid." I explained further to the veterinarian expert in the supernatural.

"What if it was made from the Nemeton?" Lydia questioned.

Deaton lowered his gaze to the floor, his emotion drenching with sadness, "It was."

"How do you know?"

"Because I made it."

"Will it work?" Scott asked but Deaton only nodded his head, not meeting his eyes.

When Scott walked out to call Derek, Lydia with him, only me and the vet remained.

"What are you not telling us?" I knew there was more that he had not divulged to the rest.

Deaton gulped down, sighing before replying, "Talia might have been a powerful alpha, but even that will not be enough to contain the Nogitsune for long, probably not even more than a day since it became even more powerful. It will not work without powering the box with enough power."

Now I understand why he hasn't said it in front of the others.

"It won't be a problem." I stated, nodding my head, aware of the only two possibilities in my nearby future. If that was our last chance to win, they I needed to do anything I could.

"Derek's got the triskele box." Scott announced as he stepped inside, Lydia following behind him. "He's gonna meet us."

Suddenly, Lydia started to falter on her feet, head light, eyes rolling in the back of her head still red rimmed from crying "What's wrong? Lydia." I was quick to keep her upright, fear sending shivers down my spine.

"Something's happening." Her banshee abilities sent a warning to her, "I had this sudden rushing feeling, like we're running out of time."

"Yeah." Our heads snapped towards the sound of Stiles' voice, dark purple bags framed his eyes, his skin was deadly pale covered by a shin of sweat, and he couldn't even stand on his own, "Yeah, I kind of got that feeling, too."

"Are we going to fight this thing or not?" From behind the human boy, Alec stepped, twirling the key of his bike with his fingers, grin widening his lips, eyes darkening to black without even showing his wolf side. He cocked an eyebrow in my direction, madness shining through his irises, "Don't you ever leave me behind again, understand witch?"

He was pissed, alright.

"Or what, demon?" Oh, how I loved pushing his every button.

"Guys, I think this is not the time." Sheepishly, Kira spoke, wincing at her words.

"It's not over." My boyfriend glared in my direction, before grimacing when he tore his gaze away and it landed on Stiles. "Damn, you don't look good, man."

"Thanks Alec, always so compassionate." The human boy snarked back with the sarcasm that never wavered.

"We have to go." Scott said, already starting to walk away. "Derek is meeting us at the school."

───── ⋆⋅⋆｡ ﾟ☽𖦹☾ ﾟ｡⋆⋅⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .  Beacon Hills High School was the epicenter of many supernatural encounters in this town. The building had seen more blood than the actual streets, it was quite jarring to think about it. And now, late at night, the building loomed before us with shadows at every corner.

"Scott, hold on." Stiles stopped us before we could enter the school. Lydia was next to him, helping the boy keep up or actually just keeping alright. "I know what you're all thinking. If this works, it might kill me, too. But even if it does, you have to go through with it. Stick with the plan, okay?"

"The plan is to save you. That's the plan I'm going with." Scott replied.

"No one else is dying." I started, passing the group to place my hands alongside Scott's on the handle of the front doors of the school. With a slight nod, the alpha let me know that he agreed with me, and then, we pushed open the door.

A japanese styled garden covered in still falling snow, was not what we were all expecting to be met with.

"Oh, this is definitely not part of the plan."

"What the fuck?" Alec mumbled. The sentiment was shared between all of us as we walked further inside, snow crunching underneath our feet, landing our hair. "This is not the school."

"You think?" I commented back, touching the fresh snow as it fell from the sky.

"No need to be-" Alec cutted himself off when steps, none of ours echoed in the snow covered garde.

A man— No, the Nogitsune— dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, every inch of his skin covered in dirty bands, there was only a gap revealing a bloody mouth with sharp teeth made of iron.

"Like I promised, Stiles." The Nogitsune spoke, bellowing the words, "We're going to kill all of them. One by one."

Two Oni appeared at its side, swords ready. One attacked but fortunately Kira was there to parry it with her own sharp weapon.

"What the hell is this? Where are we?" The true alpha spoke directly to the enemy.

"Between life and death." Was the reply.

"Bardo." Lydia said. Flashback of weeks before entering through our mind when this had just begun. When Kira had first told us the definition of what the symptoms Stiles, Scott and Allison were going through with her own mythological explanation.

"But there are no peaceful deities here, Lydia." The Nogitsune disagreed, tsking as he denied it with a movement of his finger. "You're dying, Stiles. And now everyone you care about is dying, too."

"What? What do you mean?" The previously dark spirit possessed human, asked in a shaky voice.

"I've captured almost all of the territories on the board, Stiles. The hospital. The sheriff's station. And now the animal clinic."

I brushed my fingers on the lower part of my abdomen, a phantom pain blooming there. "Parrish." The last name of the deputy left my lips without even my knowledge. He was hurt, I knew that. He was dying.

"Do you know the ritual of seppuku, Stiles?"

"No, and I don't want to."

"When a samurai disembowels himself with his own sword to maintain his honor, but that's not the cut that kills him. The killing stroke is made by his kaishakunin, who beheads the samurai with his own katana. Scott..." The Nogitsune pointed at the true alpha. "Scott is your kaishakunin. I'm going to make your best friend kill you, Stiles. And you're going to let him. Because just like you, they're all going to die. Everyone touched by an Oni's blade. Unless Scott kills you first."

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Stiles questions the evil spirit just standing before him.

"To win the game."

The fight began soon after. Four Oni against four supernatural creatures. Kira fought with her sword, delivering attacks with her blade and parrying against the opponents. Scott, full wolf mode, fought with kicks and punches and scratches, evading when he could. Alec, alongside his abilities as werewolf, had the advantages of his shadow, but nothing hurted them.

We were losing, we were losing bad.

It was only when I changed my plan of attack from claws to spell that I noticed the inconsistencies. My spells passed through them, they didn't even hit. It was not real. Kitsune, dark kitsunes, had the ability of illusion. This was just that. A very powerful illusion.

"Stiles, no!" Scott suddenly yelled, taking me back to the present. Stiles had a sword pointed at himself, ready to end his life.

"No!" The scream left my lips as I evaded another attack. "Lydia stop him! it's not real. It's an illusion!"

With a trembling voice, the human spoke, "What if it saves you?

What if it saves all of you?"

"What if it's just another trick?"

"No more tricks, Lydia." The Nogitsune replied to the strawberry-blonde girl. "End it, Scott. Let your friend fall on his own sword. Do for him what he cannot do for himself. Do it, Scott. Be his kaishakunin. Give up the game."

I grabbed the handle of the sword, keeping the boy from using it on himself. "We have not lost yet." His eyes, fogged with tears, met mine, "Focus, and see for yourself." A wave of magic passed through my fingers to his hand that was underneath mine, breaking the magic the Nogitsune had on him enough for him to realize that this was an illusion.

"You have no moves left." The Nogitsune taunted.

Awareness fell on the boy, the sword falling from our hands as he noticed the little details like the books and desks.

"I do." Stiles stated, "A divine move." He stumbled back, Lydia already there to help him stand. "Stop fighting them. It's an illusion. You have to stop fighting them." He shouted, "It looks real and it feels real, but Scott, you gotta trust me, trust us-" his gaze moved to me for a second before he continued,

"It's an illusion." I confirmed.

Scott was the first to trust us. He took the first step forward, the blade of an Oni cutting him right on his chest, but continued. I followed, the sword hitting me on the thigh, then on the arm. Cut after cut, Scott, Kira, Alec and I moved forwards until we could open the door that we had entered though. And finally, passing through it, we finally entered the hallway of the school.

"We're okay." Scott breathed out a sigh of relief once he noticed all of our wounds were not there anymore.

"I'm going to go search for Derek, they are fighting outside." I could hear the sound coming from the other side of the door. "We need the box now."

"I'm coming with you." Alec grabbed my hand, stopping me from walking any further than a couple of steps.

"No, they need you here." I told him, offering him a smile.

I kissed him on the cheek, not looking anyone in the eyes before I jogged away.

On the steps that lead down to the lacrosse field Chris Argent stood, crossbow in hand. He shot an arrow, the weapon piercing through the heart of the Oni. Glowing yellow light was emitted from the creature that screeched before it died disappearing in a cloud of darkness.

"What was that?"

"Silver." The Argent man spoke, proudness in his tone.

"Isaac! Grab the box!" I yelled, to the Lahey boy.

He nodded his head, doing as told.

Sebastian ran to me, "Are you okay? Lydia?"

"Yeah, yeah. We are okay. We are okay."

"I got it! Let's go!" Isaac yelled.

We got inside in time to see the fly escape Stiles clone's mouth. Isaac was ready to catch as soon it was in his range.

The Nogitsune shook, convulsed until he fell on his knees. He froze, immobile like a marble statue, racking just like one before he dissovìlved into a gray fog leaving no trace behind but a fly.

"Guys?" We were so focused on Nogitsune dying that we had only noticed the box shaking in Isaac's hands. "What's going on!"

"Give it to me." I told him, not waiting for him to pass it, just snatch it from him.

Once I had the box between my hands, it was clear that it was not powerful enough to contain the Nogitsune.

I had no choice.

Magic coursed through my body, verging into my hand, flowing into the box. So much magic that I had never dared to let out all at one time. My eyes rolled at the back of my head, veins turning to sandpaper, the metallic taste on my tongue was the unmistakable one of blood.

"What are you doing?"

"Ellie, stop it."

Alec.

Stiles.

Lydia.

Scott.

Sebastian.

Isaac.

Their voices blasted to my mind, hands slamming against the purple sheer barrier that I had created around myself to not let them in.

It was the only way.

Allison. I was not going to let Allison's death be in vain.

Was it my time to go? The question blossomed in my mind, haunting me for a precious second. Did I want it to be?

My eyes opened, tears tinted pink with the crimson liquid traveled down my cheeks, blood stinging my lips, the skin underneath my ear.

One glance at the people that fought tooth and nail to cross the barrier— Who are we? Was the next question— a family, a pack.

I had my answer.

I didn't want this to be the end.

The yellow golden eyes that glowed from my werewolf side were now irrevocably stained for life with purple, a circle of the new color around the pupil.

The calmness that invaded my mind, body and soul was nothing like I had ever felt before. The particular scent of the ground just after it rained filtered through my nostril. Nature was with me.

Ascensionis: the state achieved when you enter in the same plane of existence with Nature. A well of magic so deep that never runs out.

I drank from it until I was sure that the box was powered with enough power for the Nogtsune to be trapped for eternity in it.

And then, I closed the connection.

An opportunity of a lifetime that would leave a mark on my magic forever with the blessing of Nature itself. Entering Ascensionis was not an easy success, achievable by everyone. The risk of death was higher than the one of survival, rare for witches like True alphas for werewolves.

I knew that it was temporary, the feeling of high and powerful magic in my veins. Not even five minutes, I would be back to normal, but for now, it was enough to let my mind travel to something that was not death and grief.

"Elizabeth?" Alec's voice trembled, tears were staining his cheeks.

But not even the time to open my eyes, Stiles passed out.

We snapped towards the boy, Scott was fortunately enough to be close enough to hold him before lowering him to the ground.

"His heart is still beating." He let out a sigh of relief that we all echoed.

"It's done." I said to the others after a second, "We will never have to worry about the Nogitsune anymore."

"Fuck you, I hate you so much." My boyfriend breathed out. He wrapped me in his arms until I was resting my head on his chest. I didn't even need to have super hearing to hear how fast his heartbeat was beating with dread.

"I'm sorry,"

"Yeah, don't do that okay?" Lydia whispered, her eyes and nose were red, her hands shaking.

"Yeah like never again." Sebastian agreed, nodding his head with vigor.

"I knew that if I told you about it you would have not let me do it."

"If there was a chance of you dying, yes-" Scott replied, "We would have stopped you."

But it was the only way to stop this.

We collectively let out a sigh of relief when minutes later, Stiles finally opened his once again.

"Oh, God, I fainted, didn't I?" The Stilinski boy asked.

It brought a slight comic relief that we all needed at that moment.

Breathy laughters left our lips as we nodded our heads.

"We're alive." Stiles said, "We are all alive?"

"Yeah." Scott nodded as the chemosignal emanated from him said the exact opposite, "We're okay."

We weren't, though. I brought my hand to my neck, fingers brushing against the fairy wings of my necklace. We weren't all alive.

───── ⋆⋅⋆｡ ﾟ☽𖦹☾ ﾟ｡⋆⋅⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .  Grief could render you paralyzed. That much, I had learned it years ago after the murder of my family.

Grief could make you angry, grief could break you.

I wasn't sure if I could've survived this.

Allison Argent had not been just my best friend. She was the reason for how I had become, for how my life ended up being. Opening my heart to love another person that wasn't only Lydia and my grandmother— like I had done for six years after the Hale fire— had been one of the scariest and easiest things to do in my life. Without her, I would have not had the gut to love the people that followed.

Alec— I wasn't sure I would have had the gut to actually love him so wholeheartedly.

Scott and Stiles— as much as I would have never spoken of it out loud, I had found a sibling bond with them that I thought I would never have the occasion of feeling again. As scary as it was, I could not deny it.

The pack bond vibrated with the emptiness in the cut off strand that did not arrive to anyone anymore. It was like a missing limb, a phantom pain. The reality of Allison's death.

Aiden had lost his life during the last battle with Oni. Two people died.

Ethan, overwhelmed with grief, had packed his bags and left. The rest of us remained in silence, days passed as our pain became even more real.

The Alpha, the Kanima, the Darach, the Alpha pack... nothing had taken from us what the Nogitsune had.

A necklace of red and gold wings. Chris Argent had passed by my house to leave it to me before going away— France was his destination.

It felt heavy in my hand. A necklace that was the symbol of a friendship.

Musa

I draped the golden chain on a photo. Sebastian, Lydia, Allison and I in it, showing to the camera the four winx enchantix wings necklaces.

Was it over now? Could we live our life normally without fearing for our life or the one of everyone in this town?

Who are we?

What are we? Something tells me that maybe that would be the next problem.

✎

˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 ˊˎ˗

Hello everyone!!

Season 3 is over my friends!!

It was a long ride. Writing this season was hard. Even though it is my favorite, for some reason I had more trouble writing this than the previous one.

We are halfway done with this fic, I still hope that you are enjoying it.

I have a lot of ideas for the next few seasons and of course for Alec and Lizzie.

What are your thoughts?

Let me know if you want to see something in this fic!

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞!

– 𝐋𝐨𝐥𝐚 ☾