Deception

Welcome Back

The pack once again where in the exact same place this all started. They waited for Stiles to come through the portal. He followed after them, Derek noticed the way color almost seemed to seep back into Stiles. The way his shoulders relaxed and his steps became more confident.

He was home.

It was obvious now and Derek suddenly felt strange, he felt guilty? For not seeing this sooner, for not seeing this was clearly a place Stiles cared for, even loved.

They were in his world now.

This time they walked to the Lord of Minds home with no hand cuffs. Stiles lead the way.

Also once again the pack was blown away at how different the place was. Magic filled the air but this time they also noticed what Boyd was talking about.

All the plants were dead and the ground beneath their feet was grey. Like something had sucked the life out of this place then Derek realised that's exactly what must be happening.

He felt slightly ill.

Was this their fault?

He hoped they could fix it all once they talked to the Grand Master.

The Lord of Minds home, Stiles home stood before them. Like always it was just a gigantic, with that rich green colour built into the bricks and rocks that held this humongous place up.

The steps were the same as before. Everything exactly the same. Just like before Stiles lead to where they had met the Lord of Mind, where he had taken Stiles, where they had left him.

Derek glanced at Stiles as they stepped into his room. He couldn't read him at all. There was nothing on his face that indicated to how he was feeling at the moment.

A familiar sorcerer and another one they'd never met where in the room. Conversing with each other, they stopped as soon as Stiles and the pack entered the room.

Madam Rucia and a women that Derek did not recognise.

"Alicia, I'm glad you wanted to meet me here, this is who I was walking about" Stiles said, gesturing towards the pack.

She was Alicia? The one who had pretended to be the Lord? Derek had expected her voice to be at least scratchy from what Stiles had told them but it sounded completely fine. Strong and healthy.

Something flashed in her eyes before she spoke.

"Oh, you did not mention to me you were bringing them here, Mieczyslaw"

Stiles looked a little sheepish suddenly as he said "Ah yes, there was a little complication. Anyway I need to take them to the Grand Master"

"Complication, I hope you don't mean what I think you do" Alicia said, suddenly sounding fearful.

Stiles gave a nervous smile, wincing "Maybe?"

"Mieczyslaw, what are we going to do with you?" Madam Rucia sighed, looking resigned.

Stiles flicked his hand towards the middle of the room. A portal slowly appeared out of thin air, twisting around as it did so.

"Well, if I'm not dead by the time I come back then you can figure it out" Stiles said lightly.

"Don't joke about that! This is serious" Alicia snapped.

Stiles expression changed suddenly, the edges of his face suddenly seemed sharper and his eyes tinged golden.

"I know"

Then with a gesture with his head, for the pack to follow him, he entered the portal.

The pack glanced at each other warily, but they had no choice but to follow him.

They needed to do this but why were they all feeling like once they stepped through there was no turning back from whatever awaited them on the other side?

Derek mustered his courage and stepped through first. The pack hesitantly copied him. No, they decided they would go this, so they would, no more second thoughts. This needed be done.

A ginormous room stood before them. Silver and gold patterned the room but mostly silver like last time, nothing had changed. Unlike last time they came out into the Grand Masters room and not the corridor.

It happened rather suddenly, a wave of pure power electrified the room. Derek had no control over his body and it was forced to his knees. It was strange, he felt almost like it was him controlling it, like just suddenly he had to get down on his knees. There was no other option.

He glanced at Stiles, who also was kneeling but unlike the pack it felt like they were forced down, his was more slow and almost regal, with dignity.

Derek had been to astounded by how magnificent the room was, he had not yet seen what had forced them to their knees.

A giant figure was sitting on a just as giant throne.

This wasn't just any room Derek realised with fear and shock, this was the throne room.

Stiles had literally taken them directly to the Grand Master.

A huge shadow engulfed the room, with only one din light of energy. Despite the pure absolute power radiating from them, Derek couldn't see them, apart from the Grand Masters outline and the strange glow, where their eyes should be.

The pack all shuddered as a voice rang out. It echoed inside their heads and the room itself shook.

Despite not being able to see the Grand Master, they definitely heard them.

"What is the meaning of this Mieczyslaw?!"