Silvern | Stiles Stilinski (Book 2)

Chapter Eighteen: A Novel Approach

Lydia and I entered school, Malia followed behind us as we examined the book that she had found in Tracy's room the night before. " 'The Dread Doctors. By T.R. McCammon ' " Lydia read aloud, pausing to look at the cover. It depicted three figures with dark masks.

"What?" I asked as she stared at it.

"I don't know, there's something about it. Has anyone actually read it yet?"

Malia nodded, "Just me, and I didn't understand any of it"

I frowned, "We should probably all read it"

"Kira's working on that," she told us. We stopped at her locker and she continued to explain, "I talked to Stiles last night, he says he can't find anything on the author. He thinks it's a pen name"

Lydia turned the book over and started to read the blurb, " 'In a small New England town, teenagers are taken in the night and buried alive. Days later, they emerge transformed, wreaking havoc and spreading terror, commanded by an ancient order of parascientists known only as the Dread Doctors ' " 

I sighed, "Sounds vaguely familiar. How does it end?"

"It doesn't. This is supposed to be volume one"

"Oh, let me guess... there is no volume two?"

Malia nodded, "I think we're living volume two"

Lydia huffed, "Then maybe the real question is... is this a novel or someone's prediction?"

I had gone into the library to return a book, but I paused near some scaffolding instead. It smelled strongly like blood. "Ari!" Stiles shouted, running over to me.

"Um, hey. Are you okay? I haven't seen you since last night"

He froze, looking a little nervous, "Oh, y-yeah. I'm fine. Just... stressed about the evil steampunk doctors, you know?"

I nodded reluctantly, something else seemed wrong but I didn't want to push him. He just seemed so distant, he had been ever since our last fight. We'd been arguing more, something felt wrong.

The others had decided to go to Eichen House, but I had chosen to stay behind at the library, wanting to start reading the book. The chair opposite me squeaked as Theo sat down, "Page turner?" he asked, referring to the book.

"Not exactly"

He chuckled, holding up his Precalc textbook, "Neither is this," there was a moment's pause, "I thought that you guys were planning to go to Eichen House?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I stayed behind. I hate that place"

"How come?"

"A while ago, Stiles got possessed by this evil fox spirit. It controlled me, too, fed on my pain, made me do things. We, uh, went to Eichen for a bit, but it didn't work and I ended up..." I still couldn't say it. So instead, I covered my face so that only he could see it and flashed my steely blue eyes at him.

He sighed, "I'm really sorry that happened. But it wasn't your fault, you were made to kill him. I mean, I've killed before"

I frowned, "But, how are your eyes not blue?"

"I accepted that it wasn't my fault. I did it in self defence, it had to be done," the next few minutes were spent in silence as I tried to continue reading, "Sorry, can I ask something else?"

"Sure"

He leaned forwards a little, resting his arms against the table, "You seemed tense when you mentioned Stiles' name. Is everything okay between you two? Sorry, was that too personal? I don't want to be annoying"

I shrugged, "It's okay. To be honest, I don't know. He's just been so distant. We've been fighting more often and things just feel... weird"

"Maybe you should tell him how you feel about it. I mean, I understand"

"What do you mean you 'understand'?"

He paused, "He used to have a thing for Lydia, didn't he?"

I sat up straight, "How do you know that?"

"I mean, I was there when his crush started. But I saw him the other day, the way he looked at her"

"You don't know what you're talking about, he's over her!" I snapped, slamming the book closed. My eyes widened, "I'm sorry for being so aggressive" I quickly apologised.

He smiled sadly, "No. No, I totally get it. I was out of line. I just don't want to see you hurt like that, you seem really nice"

I nodded slowly as I got up and packed my things, "Goodnight, Theo"