Lydia and Stiles arrived at Eichen House to talk to Dr. Valack.
They were led to Dr. Valack's cell, and as they stood in front of the glass, Valack looked directly at Stiles and said. "Tell me what you just saw in the previous cell."
Stiles said. "I saw an ugly bastard that looked like a goblin. I think it's called a Sluagh. I've read about it before."
Lydia raised a brow. "There's really a Sluagh in the previous cell?"
Stiles nodded. "Yep."
"I'm going to take a look." She said.
Lydia walked back to the other cell and peered inside. The creature inside had greenish skin, jagged teeth, and pointed ears.
She returned to Stiles and said. "He's so ugly, even uglier than my ghouls."
Stiles gave her a look. "Not really. Your ghouls are not only super ugly, they're stinky too."
Lydia snorted. "If I said he's uglier than my ghouls, then he's uglier than my ghouls." Then she smirked and added. "Do you want me to summon a few of them so we can compare them?"
Stiles backed up a little. "No, Please don't! I was just joking, so don't summon them. I really don't think I can survive their smell in this confined space."
Valack chuckled. "Do you two know what the Sluagh is?"
Lydia turned back to him. "Yes, we do. It's a creature that can take the form of lost souls. But we're not here for that."
Stiles took the book out and showed it to Valack. "We're here because of this."
Lydia nodded. "We know you wrote it, so tell us—what do you know about the Dread Doctors?"
Valack's face darkened. "They're here, aren't they? In Beacon Hills."
Stiles rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mr. Obvious. They're here, turning people into chimeras. So, tell us—what are they?"
"They're not entirely human… at least not anymore." Valack said slowly. "They were once scientists. They used electromagnetic forces to bestow upon themselves several supernatural powers, including the ability to extend their lifespans, the ability to manipulate electromagnetic fields, and the ability to manipulate and suppress memories. They can even make people forget they ever saw them."
Lydia frowned. "What are they after? What do they want?"
Valack gave a slow, eerie smile. "That's the real question, isn't it? Everyone wants something."
Stiles folded his arms. "Fine. Then what do you want?"
Valack held up a voice recorder. "I want you to record something for me, Lydia."
She narrowed her eyes. "What exactly do you want me to say?"
"I don't want you to say anything." Valack said. "I want you to scream."
Stiles stepped forward immediately. "That's not happening. I don't trust you. Besides, you haven't told us anything useful. You probably don't know much about those three freaks you call the Dread Doctors."
Valack shrugged. "Read the book. It's all the help you need. I wrote it to trigger suppressed memories in those affected by the Doctors. And recording the scream—well, that would cost you nothing."
Lydia crossed her arms. "Your book won't help us at all. We're immune to that kind of mental tampering. If we'd met the Doctors before, trust me—we'd remember. And no, I'm not giving you my scream. I don't know why you want it and I don't care. Let's go, Stiles. He's useless."
"Wait." Valack said quickly. "I'll make you a trade. Your scream… in exchange for a vision. Ask me anything—anyone, anything you want to know."
Stiles tilted his head. "Then tell us where the Dread Doctors are hiding."
Valack frowned. "I can't. They're shielding themselves with some kind of electromagnetic interference. I can't see them right now."
"Okay then." Stiles said, his voice growing colder. "Tell me Scott McCall's secret."
Valack smiled. "I'll tell you… but I want the recording first."
Lydia turned toward Stiles, her eyes narrowing. [Stiles, what are you doing?] She asked telepathically.
[I want to know what this guy's third eye can see about Scott and our pack.] Stiles replied telepathically. [If he can see our special abilities, then I don't want him spreading information about us. I'll end his life here and now.]
Lydia didn't flinch. [That's dark… but you're right. Troublesome and dangerous people will come after us from all over the world if they know how special we are.]
Lydia took the recorder from Valack through the opening in his cell door, recorded her scream, and handed it back.
"Now your turn." She said.
Valack pocketed the recorder. "Aren't you part of the McCall Pack? Why are you asking me about the secret of your own Alpha?"
Stiles said. "That's none of your business. Just do it."
Valack nodded. "A deal is a deal. Let me see."
He pulled off the cloth covering his head, revealing his third eye.
Lydia grimaced. "Gross."
Valack closed his two normal eyes and began using his extrasensory perception, and his third eye started turning around, looking everywhere.
Inside his mind, Valack saw a dark forest. He turned toward a strange sound—then two enormous red eyes stared back at him. A massive black wolf, larger than an elephant, emerged from the shadows. Darkness clung to its body like smoke. As it stepped toward him, Valack felt pure terror. Suddenly, the wolf's body ignited in flames, and lightning surrounded its body too.
---
Meanwhile, at the animal clinic, Scott stood with Allison when a jolt of unease ran through him. It felt like something was watching him. His eyes suddenly glowed crimson, and his aura flared wildly. The lights in the clinic flickered, and the animals whimpered in fear. Then the light bulbs started exploding one by one.
Allison looked around in shock. "Scott? What's wrong with you?"
He didn't respond. He turned toward the direction of Eichen House and growled like a beast.
---
Back at Eichen House, Valack's vision intensified. The giant wolf roared at him, and a bolt of lightning shot from its mouth, striking Valack's third eye.
At that moment, the vision ended, and Valack started screaming in pain. His third eye exploded with a sickening pop sound heard by Lydia and Stiles, and his normal eyes started bleeding. Valack turned to the wall and began slamming his head against it.
Stiles said. "Can you smell that, Lydia?"
Lydia nodded slowly. "Yes… fear. No—terror. He's trying to kill himself."
"I wonder what he saw." Stiles murmured.
"Me too." Lydia said softly.
Valack continued smashing his head, blood dripping down the wall.
Lydia turned away. "Anyway, we don't need to worry about him anymore. His third eye is gone. Even if he survives this, I doubt he'll recover his mind."
Just then, two Eichen House orderlies burst into the hallway.
"What did you do to him?" One demanded.
Stiles shrugged. "Nothing. Don't you have cameras?"
The orderly shook his head. "No, we don't. What happened?"
Stiles said. "We were just talking. Then he uncovered his third eye and went into a trance. Next thing we know, he's doing that."
At that moment, Valack stopped banging his head and collapsed to the floor, twitching violently. His head was a mangled, bloody mess.
The orderlies unlocked the cell and rushed to check on him. Stiles stepped inside, compelled both men, and convinced them Valack had simply gone mad. He retrieved the recorder from Valack's pocket and walked out of the cell.
"Let's go." He said to Lydia.
Then the two of them left, and not long after, Valack died.
---
As Lydia and Stiles got into the Jeep, she glanced at him.
"He's dead."
Stiles smirked. "Even better. But that stupid Scott… he can kill people now in visions? He's too strong. I need to absorb more powers and abilities to become as strong as him too."
Lydia chuckled. "You know that you becoming strong means making him stronger too, right?"
"I know." Stiles said. "I just want to get strong enough to kill people in visions too."
---
At the animal clinic, Scott relaxed the moment Valack's vision ended. The sense of being watched vanished. He pulled back his aura and let his eyes shift back to normal.
Allison asked again. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Scott said.
"You didn't look fine a moment ago. If I didn't know better, I'd say you lost control. You didn't even hear me talking to you."
"I heard you." Scott replied. "I was just trying to figure out what was going on, that's why I didn't answer you."
"What happened? I didn't feel anything."
Scott looked around warily. "For a second, I felt like someone was watching me. Are you sure you didn't feel anything?"
Allison shook her head. "No, nothing. What do you think it was? Could it be the Dread Doctors trying something?"
Scott was quiet for a moment then said. "I don't know. Anyway, let's close the clinic and head home. I'm starving."
---
At the ranch, the pack was gathered for dinner in the pack house, and Stiles and Lydia told them everything that happened in Eichen House—what Valack told them about the Dread Doctors and what happened to him after Stiles asked him to find out Scott's secret.
Scott and Allison exchanged a look, then turned to Stiles.
"So it was you idiot's doing?" Scott said flatly.
Stiles blinked. "What?"
"When I was in the clinic." Scott said. "I felt like someone was watching me."
"Yeah, it was scary." Allison added. "I thought Scott lost control. I was worried."
Stiles looked at Allison and said. "Well, you don't have to worry. Valack is dead. Your stupid overpowered boyfriend killed Valack in his vision without even knowing about it."
Scott chuckled. "Jealous again, Stiles? I can smell it."
Stiles groaned. "Of course I'm jealous! A man died because he had a vision about you. I want powers like that too! You know what? Starting tomorrow, I'm going on nightly patrols. I'm gonna find some evil supernatural creatures and chimeras and absorb their powers."
Malia grinned. "Then you'll have to take me with you."
Boyd raised a hand. "I'm coming too."
Aiden added. "Count me in."
Peter smirked. "You guys are going hunting? I'm not missing that."
Scott leaned back. "Then try to find that evil fox while you're at it. She hasn't shown up for days now and might go hunting soon."
"You're not coming with us?" Stiles asked.
"Nah." Scott said with a smile. "I'd rather stay home with my sweet wolf girl. But if you losers need help, just call me. I'll show up."
"You're very arrogant," Stiles muttered.
"Yes, I am." Scott said proudly. "Wanna do something about it? Challenge me again?"
"No thanks. I'm good." Stiles said. "Besides, if you don't come, that means more abilities for us."
Scott laughed. "Then good hunting. But if you run into an Alpha, leave it for Liam and Braeden."
To be continued... 😊