chapter sixty-eight
❝ it's just the price i pay, destiny is calling me ❞
ouroboros

━━━━༺❀༻━━━━

Kennedy drove down the street, trying to tune out Scott's howls. He and Malia were looking for Liam and Hayden, and they sent her to check on Stiles and Theo. Her knuckles were white as she drove her car. She couldn't get that vision out of her head. She couldn't get the fact her mom had just kidnapped Liam out of her head. So much was happening and Kennedy wasn't sure how everyone was keeping it together.

Everything seemed to slow down when Kennedy stopped in front of the animal clinic. Theo was tipping the blue Jeep back on its tires. It was upside down. What concerned her more was the blood on his face. Kennedy stopped the car immediately, nearly forgetting to put it in park when she climbed out. "Stiles?"

"I'm fine," The voice of her boyfriend lead Kennedy to around the Jeep. He sat on the floor, his face sprayed with blood. It reminded Kennedy of herself that night Donovan died.

"You don't look fine," She said as she kneeled down, "What happened?"

"The body's gone," Theo said casually. Kennedy turned her head in the Raeken's direction. "We should get him to the hospital. He took in a lot of smoke."

"I'm fine." Stiles said, pushing off the gravel onto his feet. Kennedy followed, looking at her boyfriend with an extremely worried stare. He looked at his Jeep, sighing in frustration.

The Police Radio in Stiles's car went off, causing Kennedy to look over. "Suspect in 1-8-7 is in custody and en route to station. Suspect's name is Yukimura, Kira." Kennedy's mouth hung open in shock as the words from the radio sank into her skin like a tattoo.

"What's a 1-8-7?" Asked Theo.

Stiles shifted his weight, looking at Kennedy. "Homicide."

༺❀༻

༺❀༻

Lydia Martin looked over at her best friend, who seemed too lost in thought as they waited for Corey to read about the Dread Doctors. "Ken, I get it you're probably the most anxious out of all of us, but what's on your mind?"

Kennedy slowly tilted her head to the side. "My grandmother was a seer before she was a werewolf," She said slowly. "I mean, my great grandmother was a Druid, for crying out loud. The Theroux's were strong and powerful and knew how to control their abilities, but I have no idea how-"

"Wait a minute," Mason blurted. Kennedy and Lydia looked over. "Did you say Theroux?"

The Hale girl nods slowly. "Yeah, that's my grandmothers maiden name." She told him.

Masons eyes are wide as he walks over to his backpack, reaching inside. He shuffles around some things, before pulling out an old red book with gold letterings on the side. "I've been researching the supernatural, for obvious reasons," He said, "And there's a chapter in this book about Seers. How some can create prophecies, or claimed to have messages from gods, all of it. Almost every religion has some kind of future-telling thing," Mason flips through pages relentlessly, "But there was one name that kept popping up. Theroux." Kennedy looked over at Lydia, who seemed just as intrigued as her.

"Seers were never seen as witches, or supernatural creatures. Rather, they were seen as divine beings with messages and warnings from deities, who, with practice, could even see ghosts, channel spirits, and gain the skill of telepathy," Mason read. Lydia's eyes widened as she looked over at Kennedy, who sat there silently. "Seer's visions came in two forms, metaphorical and literal. Literal visions were basically viewing an event that has yet to happen. These visions always came true and, even though the vision showed them a future event, did not always happen they way the seer expected. The second form, metaphorical, were much akin to the visions of prophets. In these visions the seer would be shown scenes of various signs, symbols and events that had meaning different from the literal sense."

Lydia chimed in, "Can we skip to the telepathy part?" She asked, wanting to know more about that than anything.

Mason looks up, nodding slowly before looking down, "Seer's powers also develop to the point where they gain telepathy, and can go inside one's head to communicate with them and to also sense their emotions so long as they have some kind of residual link to connect them with, like physical contact or through a personal belonging." He read off the page. Kennedy thinks back to the other day, where she had seen both Scott and Stiles's memories.

"I did that, kind of." Kennedy blurts. Mason and Lydia look at her. "After we read the Dread Doctor book. I had Stiles sit with me while I tried to dive in to my own memory, and then after, I ended up in Scott's."

Lydia frowned, "You mean the one where he was having an asthma attack during it?" She inquired. Kennedy nods slowly. "Kennedy, that's telepathy,"

Kennedy rose a brow, "What about when I waltzed into Stiles's memory unknowingly?" She said awkwardly. Both Lydia and Mason nod, and Kennedy sinks in her seat.

Mason nods, "That's what one of your ancestors was known for." He said. Kennedy and Lydia looked back at the Sophomore. He flipped to the next page. "Lennox Theroux, a magician known for predicting the futures of his fans, once entered the mind of a man, discovering that the man was not only cheating on his wife with a younger woman, but was actually a murderer that had been rampaging their village for months. The man claimed to have no idea how Lennox knew, but he was arrested and later hung in the town square,"

Kennedy's eyes are wide, "Yeah, I don't want to know when I'm talking to serial killers," She said casually. 

Corey looked up from the book, sighing as he pulled out a headphone. "Sorry, I'm only on chapter two," He confessed, causing the three to look at him. "I'm kind of a slow reader."

"Oh, that's okay, Corey." Mason said.

"He's right." Kennedy looked back at the door, seeing Scott. "We don't have time for that anyway."

"No, Scott, don't!" Lydia shouts. Scott takes no more than three steps when suddenly Kennedy stands in front of Corey protectively.

Kennedy tilted her head to the side, raising a brow at her best friend. "No." Was all she said.

Scott scowled at the other Alpha, "Kennedy, we don't have time,"

Lydia spoke up, "But there might be a better way to do this." She said. "Kennedy can use her Seer abilities to dive into Corey's mind like she did to you and Stiles." The redhead explained. Scott looked over Kennedy's shoulder, seeing the frightened and confused Corey.

"Can you do it quickly?" He asked lowly.

Kennedy shifts her head side to side. "I think so." She said nervously. Scott nods, moving back. Kennedy turns to Corey, "Sit on the ground," Corey looked at everyone in the room on confusion, sliding off Scott's bed and on to the wooden floor. Kennedy held out her hands, letting Corey place his hands over them. Lydia, Mason, and Scott watched as Kennedy closed her eyes, as did Corey's.

Kennedy focused on their hands connecting, every nerve in her fingers linking with his. She imagined the veins that she saw when she took someone's pain coming through them both, but instead of taking away pain, the veins connected their minds.

Lydia's eyes widened as she saw black veins coming from both of their skins, continuing from Kennedy's hands into Corey's. Neither of the two on the ground seemed to react to this, as if they didn't know it was happening. Suddenly, Kennedy's open, revealing a bleach stark white. Stiles, Malia, and Theo come rushing up the steps, pausing at the sight.

Stiles immediately goes to move forwards, when Lydia stops him. "Don't get too close," She warned.

Theo looked at Kennedy's hands, seeing the veins that seemed to connect the two together. "What is she doing?"

"She's using her Seer abilities to tap into Corey's memories without using her werewolf abilities," Lydia explained. Theo frowned, "It's usually something only Alphas or really powerful werewolves can do."

Theo looked back at Kennedy, "Is that as dangerous as it sounds?"

"Probably more." Stiles said lowly, "Hence why Kennedy is doing this, it's probably harmless."

"Probably?" Malia replied, now worried herself.

Mason looked back at Corey, who's eyes were still closed. "Does anyone know if it's working?"

Kennedy watched as the elevator in the hospital opened. Her eyes followed three figures. Two Dread Doctors, dragging a barley conscious Corey. She tilted her head to the side as she followed them down the hall. She could feel everything Corey felt. Drowsiness, confusion, and fear. Everything seemed to spin as they were suddenly underground, somewhere Kennedy wasn't as familiar with. Pipes covered the walls. It must be a tunnel, Kennedy thought to herself.

Kennedy gasps as she is pulled to another memory. She's in a room now. She looks in front of her to see a metal table, and a Dread Doctor at the end of it. She looks across from her, seeing Corey being dragged in.

"No!" Corey shouts, trying his best to pull away. Kennedy frowned, wishing she could do something. "No, no!" Kennedy looks around the room, seeing people in these containers with masks on their faces. It looked like something from a horror movie.

Kennedy then looked back at Corey, but sees her mom in front of her. She gasps, stumbling into the wall when she sees something she didn't expect. Her moms eyes turn red.

Back in present time, Kennedy's eyes shift back to a hazel as she and Corey disconnect their hands. Kennedy scuffled backwards, feeling Stiles's arms wrap around her and tug her to her feet. Corey stands up, stumbling into Mason and Lydia. Kennedy's nose was bleeding as she looked around the room in confusion.

"Is he okay?" She asked as Scott and Stiles held her up.

"What the hell did you do to me?" Corey gasped out, looking over at the auburn haired girl.

Stiles rolled his eyes, "You'll be all right."

Corey wipes his nose, "There's blood." He said, gesturing to his matching bloody nose.

"K, your eyes," Malia said worriedly. Everyone looked over at Kennedy, who had bloody tears rolling down her cheeks.

Kennedy closed her eyes tightly, "I'm fine," She said, turning away to wipe her face.

Stiles stepped closer, "Kenny-"

"I said I'm fine!" The Hale shouts, causing everyone to go quiet. Kennedy looked over, "I saw something. I need a piece of paper," Scott grabbed a notepad and a pen off his desk. Kennedy takes them, beginning to scribble. "There were tunnels. Pipes along the walls. There were these huge blue pipes at the entrance." Scott and Stiles look over Kennedy's shoulder as she draws. "Two on both sides."

The Stilinski frowns, "Wait a second I know this. I've seen this before. That's one of the tunnels I used to skateboard in." Stiles said, looking at Kennedy. "Remember my dad caught me one time and told me to never go back?" Scott and Kennedy nod slowly.

"It's the water treatment plant." Lydia said, looking over at Kennedy.

"That's where they are." Scott said, taking the notepad from Kennedy. "That's where we'll find Liam and Hayden."

༺❀༻

Sloane Valet tilted her head to the side. "She was in his head," She said lowly. "You told me Kennedy didn't understand her powers."

Valack sat in a chair. They were in an office of some kind. "She didn't when I saw her," He said cooly. He fiddled with an object on the desk in front of him. "Perhaps she has learned."

"How do I stop her from learning?" Sloane asked coldly. "If she gets too powerful, she will ruin everything we have planned."

"Oh, dear cousin," Valack sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You overestimate the balance."

Sloane scoffed, "I tend to be right about these things, Gabriel." She said, her eyes flashing white for only a moment.

"Then you know when telling the future, you're only telling a version of it, not always what is the true future." A loud slam on the desk caused Gabriel Valack to close his mouth. His eyes flicked up to his cousin, who glared at him.

"Then what about my vision of Kennedy killing Scott McCall?"

Meanwhile, back in the McCall house, the entire group goes rushing down the stairs. "Scott," Stiles called out, racing after Scott and Kennedy. "Scott, slow down. Just think for a second, okay? Mason shouldn't be going."

The Hewitt stepped forwards, "Liam's my best friend. I'm going."

"Oh, did you suddenly get super wolf powers? I wasn't aware of that development."

Scott looked over, "Well, if you're not going, I could use the help." He said as he stood next to Mason and Malia.

"No, I'm coming just as soon as I talk to my dad. They're moving the body and he wants to make sure that this time no one steals it."

"How's he gonna do that?" Malia asked.

"I don't know. But whoever took the last one was strong enough to flip my Jeep."

"We can bring Theo." Malia offers.

Kennedy looked over at the Raeken, "Maybe I better stay here. You know, in case the Doctors decide to make a house call for Corey." He explained.

"I'll come," Kennedy shrugged. "Hayden and Liam are my friends, too." She told them as she looked over at Stiles. "I think you're okay here in your own?" Stiles pursed his lips together, wandering what would happen if Kennedy goes full werewolf trying to save Liam. However, he nods in reply.

Lydia speaks up, "Scott, Stiles is right. We need to slow down and think." She said to the McCall.

"I am thinking," Scott said lowly, "About how Liam and Hayden could already be dead."

"You could've hurt him, Scott." Lydia snapped, everyone knowing what Scott would've done of Kennedy hadn't stepped in. "Really hurt him. And Kennedy just almost killed herself for you,"

Scott looked between the group, not having an argument. Kennedy looked at the ground. "I have to find Liam." Scott said. He moved to the door, Mason and Malia close behind.

Stiles grabbed Kennedy's wrist, "Hey, text me. For anything,"

"Yeah," Kennedy said with a smile. "I got it."

"Anything at all. Okay?" Stiles said worriedly.

Kennedy nods, pecking Stiles's lips. "I love you,"

Stiles let's go of Kennedy, watching her walk away. "Love you too," He said as she walked out the door.

༺❀༻

Kennedy and Mason climbed out of her car behind Malia and Scott. "Are you sure you're ready to fight Dread Doctors in a skirt?" Mason asked, tilting his head.

Kennedy looked over, "Oh, yeah, it's kinda my thing now." She said casually, leading him to Scott and Malia. Mason shrugged, following.

Kennedy looked around, leading the way into the tunnels. She looked around, the place was familiar. So familiar. She knew they were in the right place. Malia stood next to her sister, looking around.

"Liam!" Malia called out. Kennedy tried to think, but even Corey's memories of the events were hazy.

"Can you catch a scent?" Asked Mason, who stood behind Scott.

Scott slowly shook his head. "There's too many chemicals." He said loudly, trying to talk over the pipes and their noises.

"Then this might take a while."

Kennedy looked around. Everything looked the same, how was she supposed to know which way is the correct way? Kennedy looked down the hall, rushing past Scott and Mason.

"Ken, do you know where you're going?" Mason asked, speeding after the Alpha.

The Auburn haired girl shook her head slowly. "No. But maybe I can trigger a memory, or, or something." She said as she walked around the tunnels.

"Kennedy, wait-" Scott called out, but suddenly, Kennedy was gone. The three turned a corner, expecting to see Kennedy, but she wasn't there.

"Liam!" Kennedy called out.

Kennedy looked around, walking down the hall. She placed a hand on the piping along the walls. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the surge of energy. "Hayden! Liam!" She whipped her head around at the sound of her friends voices. She expected them to round the corner, but they never came.

The Hale girl clenched her jaw, turning back around to approach the sounds she heard. Everything seemed to freeze when Kennedy felt something grab her wrist. She let out a shout as she is tossed into the wall. Kennedy's head hit the piping, before she fell to the ground completely.

"Kennedy!" Scott's voice echoed around her.

Kennedy looked up as suddenly the figure in front of her grabbed her by the hair, pulling her up. Kennedy's eyes met the person in front of her. It was Sloane.

The Valet tilted her head slightly, "Hi, Bunny," She said lowly. Kennedy barely had time to notice when her mom tossed her into the wall again.

Kennedy lands on her knees, looking up as she snarled. She bared her fangs, running at her mom. Kennedy charged, grabbing her mom by the torso and tackling her to the ground.

The two of them fall to the pavement, and Kennedy's palms skid against the ground. They wrestle each other a few times, Sloane getting the upperhand. "Your eyes will be mine, Bunny," Sloane growls out. Kennedy cried out in pain, kicking her mother off of her.

Kennedy sits up quickly, looking at her mom, but freezes. Her mom is gone, like she was never there. Kennedy's eyes are wide as she looks around. "Kennedy?"

The Hale gasps, turning around. "Theo?" She questioned as she saw Theo Raeken come rushing forwards. "How did you get here so fast?"

"Ken, you've been gone for hours, Mason called," Theo said. Kennedy looked around in confusion. How did she lose track of time? Theo helped the girl up, ignoring the blood from her palms staining his. Theo studied the girls frazzled state. "I think you found Liam and Hayden."

The Hale seemed confused, but looked around to see a doorway. She frowned in confusion. She had no idea where she was, but she could hear the sounds of breathing. Kennedy rushed ahead of Theo, stepping through the door. "Liam? Hayden?" Kennedy jumped over the hole in a wall, seeing a fencing with Liam and Hayden. "Theo, help me," She said to the other werewolf.

Liam held out his hand, "Ken, wait, don't!" He shouted. Theo grabbed onto the fence, and Kennedy gasped as electricity went through Theo's entire body, causing him to let go. Kennedy stumbled into the wall as Theo fell to the ground.

"Oh my, God," Kennedy said as she kneeled down. Liam walked over, looking at Theo from the other side of the fence. "Theo. Theo, wake up." She said. She looked over at Hayden and Liam. "Are you guys alright?"

The Dunbar shook his head. "Not really." He confessed. Theo groaned, consciousness quickly coming back.

Kennedy grabbed Theo's shoulder, "Are you okay?" She said with concern, looking the boy over. "I'm so sorry,"

"I'm fine," Theo breathed out, taking Kennedy's hand. He looked over, his eyes meeting hers. "Don't be sorry." He said firmly. Kennedy frowned for a moment, but pushed away any thoughts other than saving Liam and Hayden. She helped Theo up, looking back at the two others.

Liam looked at them both, "You think you guys can get help?" He said hopefully.

Kennedy looked at Liam, and the fence. They didn't have time to wait for Scott or Malia. "We are the help," She said finally. Theo looked over at Kennedy with uncertainty. Kennedy rose a brow, stepping towards the fence. Theo, deciding to follow Kennedy's lead, stepped forwards. Liam seemed unsure himself, but moved back towards Hayden as the two werewolves stepped in front of the fence.

Bracing herself for impact, Kennedy's fingers locked around the fences wiring. Electricity scorched through her blood stream as she closed her eyes. Theo grabbed onto the fence, scrunching is face. Kennedy and Theo pulled, the lights so bright Liam had to look away. Hayden watched with a worried expression as the two werewolves tugged with all their strength. Theo's eyes turned yellow as he bared his fangs. Kennedy, on the other hand, looked the same. She wasn't tapping into her Alpha side, which Liam found strange.

However, as a Hale, Kennedy didn't need the Alpha strength. She let out a loud growl as she tugged on the gate. The doors finally slid open as Theo let out a roar of power. Kennedy looked around as she looked over at Liam and Hayden, her entire body practically smoking. The Hale kneeled down, sighing in relief as she pulled both Hayden and Liam into hugs.

"I thought I lost you," She breathed, closing when eyes tightly in relief.

Liam wrapped his right arm around Kennedy. "I thought you hate me," He said slowly. Kennedy smiled, knowing neither teen could see her face.

"I do."

༺❀༻

Kennedy sat in the passenger seat of Theo's car. He snuck a glance at her every now and again, as well as looking at Hayden and Liam in the backseat. Kennedy's long auburn hair seemed matted and in dire need of a shower, but there were more important things on her mind like Hayden's worsening condition.

Liam looked over at Hayden as she pulled up her shirt to reveal the nasty cut on her side. "It still hurts?" He asked, looking at it again.

"Everywhere." Hayden said slowly, pursing her lips together. "I'm not healing. Not like I did before." Hayden's eyes met Liam's. Kennedy looked in the mirror, "That means I'm a failure, doesn't it?" Hayden asked quietly.

The Dunbar looked at Hayden for a moment, before leaning in. Kennedy and Theo looked at each other awkwardly as the pair of sophomores who once hated each other now shared a kiss in the back seat. Kennedy saw black veins along Liam's neck and jaw, and she looked at Theo again knowingly.

Hayden pulled away from Liam, "It's gone. The pain's gone." She said as she looked into Liam's eyes again. This time she has a gentle smile on her face, "How did you do that?" She asked.

Liam looked at Hayden's lips again, trying to think of an answer that would make him seem cooler. "I don't know." He confessed. Hayden snickered, leaning in to kiss him again.

In the front seat, Theo glanced over at Kennedy again. She was looking out her window, waving her hand through the air that breezed by them. She has a lot on her mind, seemingly 24/7, but in this moment she seemed more focused on the air and her hand floating through it. Theo pursed his lips, slowly looking back at the road again.

༺❀༻

Lydia Martin held a name tag in her hands. Kennedy looked over as the tag read PARRISH on it. "It's him. He's the one taking the bodies." Said Stiles.

Lydia exhaled, looking over at Kennedy in thought. "Then I think I know where he's taking them." She said finally.

Kennedy tilted her head slowly. "You don't think..." She trailed. "The nemeton?" Lydia slowly nods. Stiles curses under his breath.

"Alright, we'll start looking for it then, right?" Stiles said, "Kennedy, maybe you can use-"

"My awesome Seer abilities? I can try," She shrugged.

Lydia nods, "Okay, then I'll call in the morning." Lydia said as she grabbed her things, walking out of Stiles's room. Stiles looked over at Kennedy, who's shoulders slouched as she turned around slowly.

Kennedy slowly walks over, her hands wrapping around Stiles's stomach. "Would it be wrong if I let myself be happy for a few minutes?" She said, looking up at Stiles. The boy sighed, pushing a piece of Kennedy's hair behind her ear.

"Ken, you deserve to be happy more than anyone," He said softly. Kennedy pursed her lips together as Stiles kissed her forehead gently. "Come on, let's go shower,"

Kennedy gasped excitedly. "I'll grab the bubbles!" She chirped before skipping out of Stiles's room like a child. Stiles chuckled, walking out into the hallway to gather towels and such.

The couple met up in the bathroom, where Stiles prepared the bathtub as Kennedy quickly scurried out of her clothes. Stiles turned around, looking her up and down quickly. Kennedy snapped her fingers, pointing at her eyes. Stiles goofily grinned, letting Kennedy walk past him and slip into the tub.

Kennedy barely acknowledged Stiles getting undressed, too involved with the bubbles in the water. It was only a few moments until Stiles climbed in behind her, wrapping his arms around her torso in the water. They relaxed like this for a while. Kennedy occasionally blew bubbles out of her hands or turned around to give Stiles a bubble beard. Stiles would massage shampoo into Kennedy's hair and tell her a story from his childhood. It was peaceful, and Kennedy's very own definition of happiness.

Stiles subconsciously reached up to a mark on his shoulder. The mark that reminded him of what Donovan did. It wasn't fully healed yet, it still had time. Kennedy played with Stiles's fingers, her back against his chest. "Stiles?"

"Hm?" Stiles looked over, pulling his hand away from the wound. He watched Kennedy trace shapes into his palm, the sensation tickling his skin.

"If things go badly, someway, somehow," Kennedy began. She began making circle shapes in his hand. "What will happen to us?"

The question burned Stiles's skin like a fire. Of course, he has worried about that so many times since they first got together, and especially when he was possessed by the Nogitsune. However, despite those obstacles, he still ended up in Kennedy's arms in the end. Stiles scooted back, pulling Kennedy off of him. The girl pushed her wet hair back, turning around to look at her boyfriend.

Stiles knitted his fingers with hers, "Nothing will happen to us, Ken." He said finally. "We have been through it all, and there is nothing that could change how much I love you." He took one of his hands, reaching up to cup Kennedy's cheek. "It's you and me, Baby. Us against the world."

Kennedy grinned, leaning over and kissing Stiles quickly. Stiles wrapped his arms around her stomach, pulling her towards him. Kennedy squealed as the water splashed, falling into Stiles's chest. She looked up at him, kissing him again.

If only she knew what would come next.