The Longer I Live

Chapter 18: I've Been Scarlet Nerd-ed by You

Once again Stiles felt the face mask mold to his face as his body prepared for another radiation treatment of the IMRT. Next to him, he heard Dr. Derek Hale fiddle with the buttons on the device as he heard the machine get closer to his cranium.

It had been a few days after the incident with Scott, but the young man focused more on getting better and fighting the cancer in his brain, despite the chaos occurring outside of the hospital. He even felt it with his parents who remained distraught over the fact that Allison was still missing but they managed to pull themselves together and continued with their lives.

With all this over his head, the teen pushed all his troubles away and concentrated on being healthy.

"Okay Stiles," said Derek. "This is your second treatment. Same routine as usual. You ready?"

Stiles gave him a thumbs up as the light waves passed over his skull. Lasers scanned his brain leaving the young man to sleep off the procedure. Then he entered his dream...

He stood over the edge of the sycamore trees watching a roaring fire touch the night sky. Far ahead, the skin-walker pack consisting of Scott, his mother, Erica and Boyd devoured the remains of a deer they just killed. Bloodied and famished, the monstrous group consumed the poor animal leaving very little in the end.

While the pack feasted on their food, Stiles observed Peter Hale caked in fresh animal blood dancing around the fire. The former Spirit Wolf chanted several incantations causing the blaze to burn even brighter as small shadows darted around him. Then an unearthly voice answered.

"What...is...it...you...want...."

"Kalona, I beseech you!" Peter raised his hands. "Grant me power as you promised. Make your most loyal servant as powerful as you!"

"Are...you...worthy..."

"I am, Lord Ravenmocker!" Peter replied. "Bestow upon me your power!"

"Then...you...must...do...a...task...for...me..."

"Anything, Lord Ravenmocker!" The shaman vowed.

"Free...me...Free...me...from...my...infernal...prison..."

"But how?" The skin-walker asked.

"Sacrifice...in...my...name...Prove...your...loyalty..."

"I shall!" Peter shouted.

"Let...no...one...stray...you...from...your...path...Show...only...obedience...to...me..."

Down on his knees, the skin-walker bowed. "I pledge my allegiance only to you, Lord Ravenmocker."

"Good...prove...it...Sacrifice...your...pack...for...me..."

"So, it shall be done," the shaman agreed.

"One...more...request...Sacrifice...the...perfect...human...on...the...night...of...the...blood...moon...Then...I...shall...be...free...to...grant...you...power..."

"Yes, Lord Ravenmocker!" The skin-walker glanced over to the pack eating in their meal. They had no idea what was in store for them. "It shall be done, Lord Kalona."

"Excellent...now...do...not...summon...me...until...the...ritual...of...the...blood...moon..."

"Yes, Master..."

The nightly woods then suddenly changed. Stiles stared at the tall, ivory oak three as the sun god Wi came around it.