Take On The World ◎ Scott McCall

Chapter 4: Barrow

Sylvia stared at the blonde in front of her as she closed her grimoire shut. "Are you sure?" She asked, a hint of anger in her tone.

Lia gave a shaky nod in return. "I'm positive. Imogen isn't the one the nogitsune took possession of, but they are connected. I gave her that tea with the potion with the lichen in it and it didn't do anything to her. It only affected her magic slightly."

Her blue eyes narrowed sharply. "How are they connected?"

"It's like she's a vessel for the power for the nogitsune. When I gave the tea, she didn't notice but I could feel the dark magic from the nogitsune leaking out of her." The blonde explained, recalling earlier when she went over to study with Imogen. "When the nogitsune fully awakens in his vessel, he'll be able to draw on the power from Imogen since she somehow connected herself to the nemeton and is turning it into dark magic."

"So, she has no idea that this is happening?" She asked lowly.

She shook her head. "No. I don't think that even that witch that lives with her has any idea either." Lia was sure that Grace had taken notice, she would have stopped it by now. But, since it wasn't much that Imogen was leaking out, it was hardly noticeable. That is unless you were looking for it.

Sylvia lips quirked into a small smirk. "This is good. Even if she isn't possessed by the nogitsune, she's still in possession of dark magic even if she hasn't noticed. She'll slowly start to lose herself in it and when she realizes that she's been nothing but a pawn to the evil spirit, I'll get what I want. She'll be vulnerable."

Lia furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"

"How do you think my niece will feel when she realizes that the nogitsune used her power to kill people?" She clicked her tongue as an idea sparked in her mind. "Or someone close to her? She'd be devastated. Not to mention that once they defeat the nogitsune, she'll be left weak without that extra power. It doesn't matter if anyone dies or not, at the end of everything, Imogen won't have all that magic power to rely on especially without the ancestors help."

Lia kept her face straight as she nodded, her brown eyes flickering to the cemetery they stood in front of and the black candle that was lit beside the entrance. This section was closed off since it belonged to all the witches of the Lewis family line and that black candle was spelled to block them off from Imogen. Leaving the blue eyed girl no choice but to slowly start relying on the nogitsune's power.

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After denying the twins the opportunity to be part of the pack, Scott and Stiles were at their lockers. While Stiles was busy rambling about how proud he was of his best friend for not letting the twins join them so easily. He was quick to notice his best friends lack attention on him and followed his line of sight. He held back a sigh when he saw that Scott was staring at Imogen with a loving expression. There was also a hint of apprehension on his face.

"What are you doing?" He asked, startling his best friend who looked at him wide eyed. "Why are you staring at her like that?"

"Her?" Scott feigned innocence, taking the rest of his books out. "Who her?"

He gave him a deadpan expression in return. "Her her. Imogen, your girlfriend." He said, placing a hand on his hip. "You know, the one you're looking at with that lovestruck expression you always wear around her."

He flushed red. "I was going to ask her out since we haven't had a chance with everything going on. Every time we do go out, my mom always tags along not that I have anything against that especially since my dad is back but you know... I want to have a date with just me and Imogen." Scott said with a sigh.