Castles Crumbling | S. Stilinski

82| We gotta do this now

"Does your uh.. mom know you're here?"

I look at Chris. I shake my head.

"Does she know that you're here?"

"No." He says. "And I kind of want to keep it that way."

"I don't want to speak for Liv but us too."

Coming here feels odd and so comforting in the same sense. It brings back memories. Memories that I forgot about.

"We've got the Earth where she died, the weapon that took her life." Lydia says. "According to you, that's steps one and two. What is next?"

She takes out the pieces of paper again.

"I was hoping you'd be able to help me out. I'm a little out of practice with all of this."

"You still scream like a banshee, right?"

I know the answer to that. I left halfway through our senior year, and after everyone graduated they left and everything was normal for a while. Lydia used to visit all the time until she saw my death.

She felt like my death would be on her hands. She started not coming around as much. It affected the girls. They missed her and I did too. I tried to argue that if anything my death would be because of my job, not because of her. She didn't want to hear any of it. She stopped using her powers.

"Wait, you stopped using your powers? Why?"

"Liv." Jackson comes out of nowhere. "Obviously."

"I'm sorry, what the hell is he doing here?" I ask. "And why the hell are you going through my moms fridge."

"I thought motherhood would've made you softer.. guess not."

I sarcastically laugh, pointing to him.

"I'm going to punch him."

"I called him."

"Before or after you called me?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Jackson grabs the papers from the island, setting them on the ground. I tilt my head, watching him put it all together like a puzzle. I take a step back and rub my hands over my face.

"It's just a tree."

"That's the fucking nemeton, isn't it?"

We get into Scott's truck, driving to the preserve. I thought my days of being in Beacon where gone, now it feels like life is repeating itself again..

I'm the first out of the truck, seeing Malia. I smile, walking towards her. I give her a quick hug. It's awkward, which I was expecting.

Surprisingly after I left Beacon Hills we kinda became actual friends. She didn't hold any grudges against me and I let my problems with her go.

She is technically family considering Elena married Derek and they stayed here with Eli.

The last time I actually saw Malia was for Christmas two years ago. Elena and Derek insisted on her coming and it was actually enjoyable.

We all walk through the woods, looking for the nemeton. Scott calls someone as we follow Malia's lead. I look around, sensing we are not alone.

I look at a tree, smiling. I walk towards it and grab Eli's collar. I pull him out from hiding.

"Look who I found."

"I wasn't doing anything. Sorry!"

Lydia looks at me confused.

"This is Eli. Derek and Elena's son." I look at him, pulling him into a hug. "I missed you, kid."

"My favorite aunt."

"Doesn't hold much weight considering it's between me and Ashley." I say. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was kinda wondering what you guys were doing out here."

"Hiking." Malia says. "It's a really nice night for hiking."

Malia was never really good about lying, clearly she hasn't gotten better at it.

"I know it's something if Liv is here. She never comes here.. like ever."

"Eli, go home."

"Does my mom know you're here?"

I don't really want any of my family to know I'm here.

"Listen I know what you're looking for. The tree, right?"

"You know how to find it?"

"Kinda. I sleep walk. I've been just kinda doing it for the past few months."

"Take us to it."

We follow Eli's lead though the woods. It's mostly silent, which I know Eli hates so he takes matters into his own hands.

"Aren't you the screamer?"

I laugh, covering it up as a cough when Lydia glares at me.

"Banshee."

"There it is." I walk past everyone. "Finally."

I hold my hand out to the stump. I close my eyes, feeling the power from it.

"We gotta do this now. We can't wait for Argent."

"It's his daughter."

"We gotta do it now, Scott." I snap. "We don't have a choice."

I stand up, backing up a bit. I turn around to Eli.

"Don't you have a lacrosse game to get to?"

"H-how did you know about that?"

I point to my mind.

"Go."

"So, don't tell my dad?"

"No." He starts to walk away. "I hope you play, kid."

Malia hands Lydia the weapon that killed Allison while Scott takes out the earth from where she was killed.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

"I don't know.."

I look around as a gust of wind sends the dirt from Scott's hand to the center of the nemeton. The sword then does the same. It disappears, being pulled into the nemeton.

I've dealt with a lot of shit over the years. Ranging from Red Skull to a literal demon named Mephisto and I'll take it all over this shit any day.

The fact we dealt with this stuff as teens amazes me. It's something I never want my kids to have to endure.

"Uhh.. that was fun." Malia says. "You guys want to go get something to eat now?"

I glare at her. She's still the same girl from high school. Insensitive in the most intense of times.

I look at Lydia. I don't think any of us really knew what would happen after we did this. I put my arm around her and walk with Lydia. I stop in place, sensing something off.

"Hey, guys."

I slowly turn around. White, glowing roots form. We all walk back as my heart stops. A body lays in the center.

"Oh my God.." I whisper. "Is that.."

"It's Allison."

Scott grabs her body and we run to his truck.