CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO:
PLAYING BY THE RULES

SHE WAS TRAPPED IN HER own body. She could see everything around her, but it wasn't her that was speaking, or moving. This darker part of her that now had full control was doing everything. Becoming her. She had went out and got herself a mirror, and now stood in front of it where Elaine was now the reflection and the darker side of her was looking in the mirror.

"What are you going to do?" Elaine whispered.

"Nothing damaging." She shrugged. "Just a little fun."

"By fun you mean. . ."

"Might hurt a few here and there." She smirked before shaking her head. "But no killing for me. Because then that would activate a side of you that we don't want."

"What are you talking about?"

She laughed. "You don't even know your full heritage." Elaine furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "You were so focused on learning to control your powers, that when you were with Rebekah, you didn't even think to ask anything about your family." She smirked. "Scott and Stiles know. In fact, they knew that I was going to happen. Rebekah warned them of your fate. But with your boyfriend possessed by the nogitsune. . . I guess no one has really been focused on you, now have they?"

"You're lying."

"Maybe I am." The darker version smiled. "But you won't ever know until you ask. Which won't be happening anytime soon."

Elaine narrowed her eyes for a moment. "The nogitsune killed me to get to you. Why?"

"What do you think, Elaine? I'm a powerful being that has the ability to snap a group of people's necks with a simple word. He wants me on his side because he knows I can be useful. I can be a distraction." She smoothed out her clothes―︎an outfit Elaine herself would never wear. "And boy, you have no idea how much I enjoy having people's attention."

That when she got a text message. She pulled out her phone to see the text from Allison that claimed Stiles was at Derek's loft. She smirked, tucking the phone in her back pocket as she looked towards Elaine. "Show time."

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By the time she had made it to Derek's loft, night had fallen. She had appeared just as the oni had and she shook her head. "My god, I'm gone for five seconds and you people fall apart?" Allison, Noah, Argent, and Derek all turned towards the girl before turning back towards the oni. Her eyes met those of Stiles', and she smirked slightly before letting it fall.

Argent and Noah tried shooting at the oni, Derek used his claws whilst Allison used her knife. Elaine would throw out an occasional spell here and there, just to add affect before she looked toward Stiles grabbed his wrist and made them disappear at the same time that the oni did. Scott and Kira arrived at the loft, Argent and Noah pointing their guns at them only to lower their weapons when they saw who it was.

"What happened?" Scott quickly asked.

"They disappeared." Allison answered, breathing heavily. "They literally just vanished."

"And so did Stiles and Elaine." Noah sighed.

"Elaine?" Kira furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Did he take her?"

"Doesn't matter. Either way, we have to find both of them." Scott swallowed thickly and glanced at the others before sighing himself, wondering what it was that Elaine had gotten herself into.

They were standing in the basement of Eichen House, and they kept themselves hidden as Kira's mother made her way down the steps and over to the body that Stiles had managed to find when he was trapped inside the place. He glanced towards Elaine before stepping out the shadows whilst she kept herself hidden. She couldn't be given up her side of the story just yet.

"Why that kanji? Why 'self'?"

"To signify that he died as himself." Noshiko answered. "Because Rhys wasn't a monster. Not like you."

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

"I don't want that anymore."

"I do." The nogitsune answered before grabbing onto her wrist that held the final of her tails. "Did you bring this here thinking you could hide it from me?" He ripped it from her grasp. "Bad idea." He took the tail, cutting into himself and placing a long line across his stomach.

Noshiko watched him in horror. "What have you done?"

He dropped the tail to the floor, stumbling slightly before he fell to the floor and onto his knees. He slowly looked up at the woman before saying, "Chaos has come again." And then flies started pouring from his wound. Elaine smirked before making her way towards him as Noshiko was distracted, grabbing onto him before making them disappear.

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"You look annoyed." Elaine hummed, her reflection visible in the rear view mirror of her car. "Like process is moving slower than you'd like."

"I don't like playing by people's rules."

"And yet, here you are, playing by the rules the nogitsune wants you to follow. Tell me, how far away are you from snapping? You might have only been in control of my body for two days, but I can tell you have a quick temper." Elaine cocked her head slightly, watching as the darker version of herself gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "If you want to have your fun. . . what's stopping?"

And then, Elaine was cut off by climbing out of the car and making her way into her house. She put on a panicked façade, stopping for a moment as everyone turned to look at her. Scott was quick to walk over to her. "Where were you? I've been calling you all night?"

"I don't remember." She whispered, shaking her head. "Where was he? Is he alright?"

"He hasn't woken up yet." Scott told her, walking over towards the knocked out boy. "Listen, I called your mom. See if she can help out any."

Panic flared inside her chest and she frowned. "What? Why? Did she answer?"

"She's on her way."

"If you're gonna break the rules, you better do it fast. My mother is ruthless, and she'll know as soon as she steps in the door that something's wrong." Elaine hissed in her brain.

She looked up when Stiles' hand wrapped around Aiden's throat, laughing as he choked the wolf before Scott managed to rip Aiden from his grasp, his hand starting to become numb. "Kanima venom. Nice touch." Aiden let out a growl. "You know how they say twins get a feeling when the other one's in pain? You didn't lose that talent, too, did you? Oh, I hope not. You're going to need it." Scott and Aiden exchanged looks with one another. "Okay, I'll give a little hint. Ethan's at the school."

"Go." Scott quickly nodded.

Stiles started snickering before laughing out loud. "Oh, I hope he gets there in time. I like the twins." He turned his head to look at Scott. "Short tempers. Homicidal compulsions. They're a lot more fun than you bakemono trying to save the world every day."

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

"Elaine does." The nogitsune smiled as he looked at the girl. "Isn't that right, Elaine?"

"Ooh, he's taunting you."

That's when Deaton pulled out duck tape, ripping off a piece and placing it over his mouth. He looked at them all before letting out a muffled yell before he suddenly started laughing. They all moved into the kitchen and Scott was the first to speak. "How much longer do you think we have?"

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

"That's because he does." Rebekah's voice filled the room causing the group to look at her. "He's possessed by a nogitsune, one of the most slyest supernatural creatures out there. He plays tricks, and he has allies that none of you have so much as a clue about."

"Rebekah." Elaine swallowed, nodding her head.

The older witch looked at her daughter for a moment before nodding her head and then turning to look at Scott, meeting the wolf's eyes before asking, "How can I help?"