Chapter Text
He hadn’t wanted to go; however, his dad didn’t want to go alone this time. It was only for the weekend so he wasn’t away from everything for very long, and Scott really couldn’t do anything stupid over the course of two days. Really…or could he? Stiles was very much doubting that right now as he sat in the car with his dad who was singing to old country songs. His dad was going to help on some case with a Sheriff Forbes in Viringia. Apparently, they had been old friends or something like that. Elizabeth Forbes’s husband had left because he’d finally come out of the closet and Stiles had been threatened that if he let a joke slip about that, he was dead.
They were headed to Richmond Virginia before going to a place called Mystic Falls. According to his dad they had family in Richmond or something, but he didn’t pay attention when his father told him the details. They had stopped in the middle of town and the sheriff let Stiles off to do whatever he wanted for a few hours telling him that he’d be at the local sheriff’s department. Stiles walked to the nearest internet café and sat down pulling out his laptop. He decided to do more research for Scott. He thought everything would be so much easier if he had access to the Argent’s library. He wasn’t sitting for long when someone who was sitting behind him asked a question.
“Lycans huh? The advanced species of werewolves. Mythology buff?” questioned the blue eyed male.
Stiles turned around, “research for a novel. There’s a difference?”
“Yea, lycans aren’t swayed by the moon. They’re more like shifters; however unlike shifters their bites transmit the curse,” the man had turned his chair all the way around now.
“Werewolves are enslaved by the moon, changing while it’s full. Both can be born into the life, the disease or curse is activated in born lycans or werewolves after they cause the death of an innocent,” he was smiling really into the conversation now.
But all that is from ancient myths so across the countries the information may change,” he said shrugging his shoulders, as in ‘what can you do about that’.
“Whoa, you’re like an encyclopedia. What about their humanity or whatever?” asked Stiles as he was staring a little slack jawed at the man.
“Their souls are fractured, or non-existent, like other immortal beings. Their souls neither go to heaven or to hell.”
“So like purgatory?” asked Stiles.
“Yea, I guess that’s what it’d be called. But weres or lycans will look, feel, and act like a normal person, so they would still have their humanity,” he laughed, “I’ve never met one, so I don’t much about their personalities.”
Stiles laughed nervously as well, “Yea, I guess they’re a bit hard to come by.”
“Slater,” the man said, holding his hand out.
“Stiles” said Stiles, shaking Slater’s hand.
Slater looked up, “I’ll be back to continue this highly amusing conversation, I just have a meeting with a friend.”
Stiles watched as Slater walked over to a tall, dark--haired man and a golden--skinned woman. They started talking in hushed tones and moved to a table a ways off from where Stiles was sitting. It was almost tempting to eavesdrop but he just continued with the information that Slater gave him and cross--referenced other mythologies.
Panic erupted a few moments later when something like a bomb went off and Stiles felt pain. The window has busted, his mind supplied as he slumped from his chair. The pain he felt was coming from his neck. He reached up to feel it and only touched a warm sticky substance. He was gasping for air. He looked at the others on the ground and saw two people burning. The woman who was talking to Slater was screaming as she brunt, but a moment later she was picked up by the dark--haired man. The other person burning was Slater and no one looked like they were going to go to his rescue. Stiles, with what little strength he had left, made his way over and dragged Slater to the shadows. His sight was getting hazy and he thought he saw Slater healing. However, due to the blood loss, he was sure he was hallucinating. Stiles saw black and he was dead for sure.
An hour or so later…
“Hey champ, how are you?” asked Slater. He was standing over Stiles with a cup of something steaming.
“Like,” Stiles was about to say ‘death’ but decided against it as that wasn’t really how he was feeling, though he definitely should be feeling it. “I feel good…” that’s when the memories hit him “I was, you were…” he stopped then said, “bleeding from my throat, really heavy. You were burning and then you started healing. What? How is that possible?”
“You were bleeding, you were almost dead. I saved you, but you don’t need to know that so…” Slater sighed and said, “You were just knocked out from the window accident. You haven’t been out for long. Go find your father. We never had this conversation.”
“Wow, that window thing was crazy, I should find my dad. Thanks for the help Slater,” said Stiles, gathering his stuff and walked out of the room.
*at the station*
“Hey dad,” said Stiles finding his father where he said he’d be.
“Son, we combed that internet café looking for you. I tried calling, what happened?”
Stiles looked at his phone which was on silent and saw the missed calls, he answered “Just the usual, hanging out, met someone, got knocked out. He took me to his. I wasn’t out long was I?” Only then did he hear how bad that sounded. “But I’m good; he was just being a Good Samaritan. I’m fine.”
His father sighed and looked at him “Okay. Well we’re going so get in the car.”
Stiles nodded and followed his dad out.
later...
They’d been in the car for two hours or so, when they came across the sign ‘Welcome to Mystic Falls’. The bridge that the sign hung over was a complete death trap. He might’ve said this aloud at the face his father pulled but he wasn’t sure as he got no response. They were passing small stores the town looked to be nice, quiet, and normal. The duo made their way to the Forbes house.
“Liz!” said Sheriff Stilinski.
“Jon, it’s nice to see you. The founders’ council will be excited that your here!” said Liz Forbes, just as happy to see the other sheriff. “Caroline, they’re here!” she shouted.
“No need for shouting mom, I heard them,” this came from a beautiful, blond Barbie of a girl. She had a smile on her face and bright blue eyes. “Caroline,” she said, sticking her hand out to the Stilinskis.
“Jon,” said his father.
“Stiles,” he said, shaking her hand after his father.
“Great, well I’m going. Bye mom.”
“Stiles, why don’t you go check out the area, hang out and what not. Liz and I have some stuff to talk about.”
“It’s not going to be over the phone or someplace that I can overhear is it?”
“No, no it’s not. Bye Stiles,” said Jon giving his son the look which said ‘this is police business and you should stay out of it’.
The young man sighed and walked out of the house. He decided to just walk around and check out the stores tomorrow, so that the excitement of being in a new town wouldn’t wear out before the next night. He was lost in his mind, going over the details that Slater had told him. This was information that he hadn’t known yet. He wasn’t paying attention and walked into someone. He looked up into bright blue eyes.
“Caroline?” he asked.
“Stiles, what are you doing here?” she inquired.
Stiles looked around, “I got lost?” he looked back into her eyes and saw fear, before he could turn around to see what it was, a voice said “He was with Slater,” and Stiles felt hands on his head and then there was black again.
later
“It was Elijah,” Caroline was saying as Stiles sat up suddenly gasping for air. He was in a strange room and surrounded by unfamiliar people. Two guys and two girls as well as Caroline, “Well… who saw that coming? That totally wasn’t my fault.”
“Why does my head hurt… oh, god! I’m dead! Twice-ish in one day! Who are you people? Where am I?” he asked.
“Oh great, another one that talks too much,” said the dark haired man that Stiles recognized from somewhere.
“How did this happen?” asked the pretty brunette.
“I saw you earlier today,” said Stiles to the dark haired man, “You were talking to Slaaaa…. Oh god, shit, he was burning and I was bleeding. From the neck, he said he saved me…” Stiles said, trailing off as he looked around.
“Then he must’ve given you his blood after the café explosion. It was only a few hours ago, so the blood was still in your system when you died. So you have two choices, die or feed. You’re in transition right now. You have to decide if you want to become a vampire,” said the other man who was definitely a little prettier than the dark haired man.
“You’re crazy,” said Stiles. He got up to leave, but when he walked through the light from the window and he jumped back clutching his hand to his chest where it had burned.
“I can make him a daylight ring, if he decides to change,” said the dark skinned girl.
“What does this mean?” asked Stiles, “I have friends who need me. My dad, I’m the only thing he has left.”
“Stiles, I’m the only thing my mom has as well. Plus she hates vampires, I still can’t face her. There’s a werewolf, Tyler; he’s the only thing his mom has as well. We can’t tell our parents because they’re supposed to protect this town from supernatural beings like us,” said Caroline, “I’ve killed someone and I liked it. But we can help you, you don’t have to kill.”
Stiles was looking at Caroline, “Werewolves, will they be able to tell?”
“Only if they know what to smell for,” said the nicer man, “We know about your… wolf problem. They’ll never have to know and you can continue helping them. We kind of had a peek inside your head while you were, well dead. You can be with your dad and help your friends, or you can die.”
“I… I want to live,” Stiles said quietly.
Caroline nodded, “Well, we haven’t got too long before you leave. We don’t have much time to help you, but remember that not killing humans will be easier if you don’t want to kill,” she looked toward the two other girls in the room, “Bonnie, Elena?”
“Great, the choices include our witch or the Petrova doppelganger. Couldn’t we have a less important human here?” asked the dark haired male from earlier, Stiles was beginning to think this man could only talk in sarcasm. He should have some witty comeback but the thought of being a vampire was over-whelming and his head was throbbing so he was silent.
“I’ll do it, Bonnie can focus on the daylight ring,” the brunette who must be Elena stepped forward and nodded at the two males and Caroline. The blonde ran and came back with blood bags. Stiles eyes turned dark as he too stepped forward avoiding the sunlight and lowered his head to her raised arm. After three gulps he flung himself backwards, Caroline and the nice male pushed him against the wall until he calmed down. Just in case he wanted to attack. His breathing calmed and they handed him the blood bags.
“I’m…fine,” he said, finally opening his eyes.
“I have to go to Tyler’s tomorrow, but I can take him out tonight and give him lessons,” said Caroline. Bonnie had come over to him and handed him a ring, Caroline pointed “That will allow you to go out during the day, to act normal. We have to be quick in acclimatizing you,” she nodded to them all and grabbed his hand and ran.
“He’s not bad for a noob,” said Damon, “His memories of him talking, god I would’ve snapped his neck again.”
“No you wouldn’t have,” said Elena looking at him.
**
The two were walking through the woods together and Caroline started talking calmly. “When I was turned a few months ago, Stefan was the one who helped me. We can be killed by a wooden stake to the heart or beheaded. Vervain and sunlight weakens us and we need to be invited inside. We have super strength, speed, mind compulsion, heightened senses. Immortality, of course and we have an awesome healing ability. You’ll have to be careful around your werewolf friends, though. If they bite you, you will die. Die permanently and I’ve been told it’s very painful.”
“So now I need to feed on humans to live? I’ll live forever and if I take this ring off in the sun, I’ll die? And I’ll have to steer clear of vervain, like it were toxic and well, vervain is toxic. What the hell is vervain?! No, sharp, pointy sticks. Got it, stakes bad. And I’ll have to concentrate on not eating the girl scouts selling cookies because hey, now they are the cookies. Will I be able to eat normal food or will I have to avoid eating in front of people? Avoid eating in front of people, of course I will, I can’t eat in front of people, eating people in front of people is probably rude…” he was cut off mid rant, he had been speaking pretty quickly.
“Shut up Stiles,” said Caroline, giving him her queen bitch glare.
“Shutting up now,” said Stiles.
“Stefan tried getting me on the bunny diet but I couldn’t do that after I had killed someone. I live off of blood bags; oh and our blood can heal people.”
“Which is how Slater saved me, shutting up now,” he quickly said as he saw her give him the look again, Stiles decided that all pretty girls could give this look as Caroline and Lydia had it down, it was something he would look into.
“You’ll have to be careful when you feed. You can’t give in to the bloodlust. I’m not going to give you some bullshit line about appreciating your prey. They’re human and life is precious. They have lives and families. Whatever you do, do not turn off your humanity. Bonnie has vampire trust issues; if you go on a rampage she’ll unspell the ring. I’m glad the ring works, anyways. I’m glad you’re not a dick, because if you were that would be amplified. Stefan basically described me as an insecure neurotic control freak on crack,” Stiles looked at her, “Huh, I guess that means your attention span will be even shorter than a gnats.”
“I think I’m cured of my ADHD, now it’s the spazzy genius,” said Stiles. “So I’ll probably go with not telling the werewolves about this. They already don’t believe in, well, us?”
“That’s probably for the best,” said Caroline, “At least you can still hold wolfsbane and now you can protect yourself. Well keep you up to date on what goes down here when you leave. The girl who let you feed on her is the Petrova doppelganger, Elena Gilbert. She’s dating Stefan, he was the nicer one. Then there is Damon,”
Stiles cut in, “the one who can only speak in sarcasm?”
Caroline nodded and continued as if he hadn’t said anyghing,”and he’s in love with Elena. Bonnie is a Bennett witch, I guess that line is pretty famous in the vampire world and what not. But you might need us one day so that’s why I’m telling you all this. If you fall off the band wagon, Stefan or I will come help get you back on it!” She finished with a peppy smile and Stiles couldn’t help but smile back. They stayed out the rest of the night, letting their parents know that they were at a friend’s of Carolines’. When she went to spend the day with Tyler, Stiles went to the Grill, which was apparently where all the cool kid’s hung out.
“Hey, are you new?” asked a boy with floppy hair.
“This is Stiles, Jeremy. Stiles, this is Elena’s brother Jeremy,” said Bonnie as she sat down across from Stiles.
“Is this where you warn me about being a good vampire child or you undo the ring and I burn up in the sun or if its dark, then I get enslaved by the sun,” he sighed and continued, “I don’t want to become a monster, I’ll be around people I care about. Their lives are important to me.”
“Then you’ll be alive to see them grow old and die. They’ll question your inability to age and you’ll stay sixteen, seventeen whatever you are for the rest of your life,” said Bonnie.
Stiles sat there and just looked at her, “Then I’ll protect their offspring until I die,” he said simply.
“Loyal,” said Bonnie smiling, she reached for his hand and tightened her grip, “That’s excellent.”
“So, this is the new vampire?” asked Jeremy.
“Newly sired, yea,” said Bonnie, “he was killed by Elijah.”
“Big, scary original. Did he know that he had vampire blood in his system?” asked Jeremy.
“Probably not. He knew I was with a vampire named Slater. He wanted me dead because of that,” said Stiles.
There was a silence when Bonnie stood and said “Well, I have a job to do, getting Katherine outta the tomb. I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll be going too,” said Jeremy.
“Okay, bye you guys,” said Stiles. He paid and left to shower and pack before he and his dad left.
A few months later
Stiles walked through the door knowing his dad was up waiting for him, he didn’t know why. The parent teacher conference thing really couldn’t have been that bad. Mentally preparing himself he walked through the door, “Stiles, do you want to tell me something son?”
“What do you mean dad?” asked Stiles, his nerves were blazing.
“I just had a five hour long phone conversation with Sheriff Forbes. The animal attacks, are” his father stopped and he heard his heart sped up, the whole body was uncomfortable and his father was very nervous, confusion covered Stiles face, “Stiles, are the animal attacks really you?”
“Dad,” Stiles’ heart and entire body froze.
“Caroline told her mother, Liz. She was upset at first but she’s finally come to terms with it now. When I first heard her tell me, I was upset too. I can live with you being… but if you’re killing people I’ll have to get her to come and kill you.”
“Dad, no,” Stiles was tense and the look on his face showed he was offended and he was on the brink of crying, “No it’s not me killing people. It’s something else. I’m trying to figure it out still. Caroline, from Virginia and the rest don’t know what’s going on either. If… if I killed anyone, I… I don’t know what I would do. I’d probably kill myself first.”
“Stiles, Liz convinced me of many things, one being your humanity. I believe you, I love you and always will. I won’t say this will be easy, but as long as there is no more lying I can deal,” the sheriff said.
Stiles looked at his dad, knowing what he was going to say would be hard to comprehend he started “Then, the thing is, the thing that’s killing people is a werewolf. There are hunters in town that are taking care of if so that means I’m eating less and trying to not be noticed. It’s probably best that the deaths are put as animal attacks. The hunters though dad, I’m scared. I don’t want to die,” he walked up to his father and hugged him. He was grateful that most the lies could stop, hiding this from his dad had been one of the hardest things Stiles had ever done.
“Werewolves?” asked his dad, as he clutched at his son.
“Yea, after everything is taken care of I’ll tell you everything,” Stiles said, “You can tell Liz that I’m not behind the animal attacks and that I’m still doing my best at helping them with the whole curse thing from here.”
“So, that’s what your traits are that were magnified? Loyalty and helpfulness?”
“I think they are loyalty, and spazztastic hunger for knowledge,” said Stiles.
“Stiles, I’m proud of you no matter what and I’m sure your mother would be too.” After the uncomfortably silence his dad spoke, “This means that I expect better reports from the school about you.”
Stiles smiled, “Got it dad”
A month or so later
Peter had his wrist, ready to bite if Stiles said yes. He pulled his arm back and the Alpha had called him a liar; that his heart had sped up over the words ‘I do not want’. Stiles mused in his head,"‘it could kill you,’ no shit, it could kill me. I appeared to be lying because I was scared for my life, I’m a vampire and I would die from an itty bitty werewolf bite. I could’ve ended my life easily if I had said yes to him, Peter, what you don’t know is that I’m fine being the silent vampire amongst a pack of wolves."