Dark Side of the World // S.S. [Book Two]

Chapter 53

We hide behind concrete columns, trash cans, dumpsters, and steel barriers to escape the hunter's fire. I've drawn my sword, but am holding it close to me for fear that the light reflecting off of it might give my location away.

I see one hunter getting in position to shoot Scott and I sneak around to strike the hunter, Malia doing the same. "Meg! Malia!"

I wince at a loud screeching and see Roscoe mow down the hunter. I grin widely at the figure in the Jeep. "Didn't think you're doing this without me, did you?"

"Without us?" Derek smirks, appearing next to the driver's side window. He shifts and growls before launching himself towards the hunters.

Derek takes down several hunters. I knock a few down with the hilt of my sword, seeing Peter and Malia taking down others. Eventually, the remaining hunters run to their cars and drive off.

I turn to Derek and throw my arms around him. "I missed you, Sourwolf!"

He chuckles and releases me. "I missed you too. Hey, go see your boyfriend. He's been talking about you non-stop. To the point of me threatening to cover his mouth with duct tape."

I walk over to Stiles and he frowns at me. "Can't believe you didn't tell me about any of this. Not a word. Not a single word. You even lied!"

I tuck my hair behind my ears. "We had reasons. Really good reasons. I missed you, Skywalker."

"And I missed you, Meg."

We walk over to Scott and Deucalion. Deucalion places a hand on Scott's as Malia runs over. He begins, "Gerard...What he fears most...He can't beat you. And he knows it." His hand falls and he slumps over.

I ask, "It's really started, hasn't it?"

"What's started?" Stiles asks.

"It's an all-out war." Scott answers.

Scott hugs Derek as Peter walks over. "As much as I enjoy the impromptu family reunion, what are you doing here?"

"I found a pack slaughtered in Brazil." Derek answers. "There were two words written in blood on a wall. Beacon Hills."

Scott frowns. "You came back for Beacon Hills?"

"No. Came back for you."

We all hear Gerard's voice coming through the radio in Stiles' Jeep. ""Blood and destruction. Dreadful objects so familiar. All pity choked with custom of fell deeds. Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge. With Ate by his side come hot from hell, shall in these confines with a monarch's voice."" He pauses and then asks, "Do you know the rest, Scott? Do you know your Shakespeare?"

Scott holds the radio out to Derek and he says, ""Cry, 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war.""

"War, indeed. Welcome back, Derek. You must all be feeling rather nostalgic. Are you pleased with the little family reunion I've gathered around you, Scott?"

"Yeah, well, why don't you come join us and I can thank you in person?" Scott returns.

"I even have a few visitors for you, from London. Even someone like Jackson Whittemore couldn't resist coming back to Beacon Hills. Say hello, Jackson."

Jackson screams and I hear electricity crackle as he says, "Do it again, old man. Come a little closer. I'm gonna shove that thing so far up your ass..."

I give a smirk to Lydia, noticing the small smile she's giving at Jackson's snarkiness. Gerard continues. "Lost none of his charm, has he? You can find him here with us at the Armory. Scott. In fact, I'm going to tell you where to find all of them. Your deputy Hellhound met some friends of his while responding to a call at Eichen House. Your father was on his way back from San Francisco with the goal of entering the fight. But he didn't get far. You might want to tell your mother to skip her shift at the hospital tonight. Liam and his friends are there now. Optimistic of them, but woefully ill-advised. This is how you wage war, Scott. A strategic positioning of your army against theirs. Which is why you will come to me. You will try to save as many as you can. And you might even save a few. But your limited resources will be spread thin. Ultimately, you will fall. The dogs of war, Scott. They're coming for you..."