"What are you doing here?" I demanded, whirling around and stalking over to a tree, pulling my arrow out and slipping it back into my quiver so I could use it again. I spun back around but didn't notice how close Derek was standing and our chests ended up nearly pressed against each other. I could feeI his breath feathering over my lips and it took everything in me not to reach up and kiss him. A pain began in my chest. I'd become accustomed fairly quickly to the luxury of being able to kiss Derek whenever I wanted and know that it was taken away from me it hurt, a lot. I wanted to scream, to cry, to beg him not to leave me for Erica. But of course I didn't do any of that. Instead I took a step back as the urge to kiss him became too much.
"Please let me explain," he said, his voice low and pleading. I looked up into his eyes, those confusing hazel green depths, but that was a mistake on my part. Those eyes could compel me to do anything.
"My mum used to say not to judge someone before you know the whole story," I said. "So explain it to me. Explain why you're doing this."
"First of all…..I'm sorry," he said. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Those were two words I hadn't expected to hear from Derek Hale's mouth.
"No you're not," I argued. "If you were, you wouldn't have turned Erica. If you were you wouldn't turn another. But you're going to. And it's going to ruin their lives and…you don't even care."
"I do," He protested. "And why does it have to ruin their lives? The bite is a gift."
I lifted a hand, pressing my fingers to his pulse point. "Say that again," I dared him.
"The bite is a gift," he growled. His pulse jumped.
"You can't lie to me Derek," I said and of their own accord my soft hand cupped his neck. I knew I should have pulled back but I didn't.
"It's not what you think with Erica," he said.
"I wish I could believe that," I said.
"I can't lie to you," he stated simply. A small smile spread across my face and I pulled away, laughing slightly and nodding. "And I'm doing this because…Because I'll die if I don't have a pack. So will Scott. The Argent's are declaring war."
My head snapped up to look at him and I gulped. "War?"
He nodded. "We didn't want to tell you because we want to protect you Violet. That's all I want. And I can't do that if I'm dead," he pointed out. I took in a deep breath and let another one out. "Please?" he asked, putting his hand out to me. I knew I'd regret it.
I knew it.
And yet I still placed my hand in his and allowed him to pull me to his chest. I slipped my arms beneath his leather jacket, his warmth seeping into me. I slumped against him.
"Promise me something?" He murmured, his lips moving against my hair. I pulled back just enough to look at him.
"What?" I asked softly.
"Don't let the stuff that happens in the supernatural world effect us, together," he said. I wanted to tell him that I couldn't promise that, that what he did in the supernatural world still reflected on him as a person, but then he said 'us, together' and I just melted.
Maybe it was because my whole life I'd wanted to be wanted by another person, maybe it was because I was already too far infatuated in Derek, or maybe I was just stupid, but I nodded and pressed my head into the crevice of his neck as his arms tightened around me. I was definitely an idiot, but I was his, completely, and I felt safe. And maybe that was all that mattered.
-O-
I was smiling as I walked through school the next day until Erica stalked up to me when I had a free period so the halls were devoid of anyone. I cursed silently and kept walking but was forced to stop when she halted directly in front of me.
"Hey Violet," she smiled, her voice faker than Lydia's. I smiled just as fake.
"Erica," I said.
"So…you're with Derek," she cocked an eyebrow like this was the strangest thing she'd ever heard. "Considering you're the Sheriff's daughter…isn't that kind of illegal?"
I chuckled lightly. "Isn't that kind of not your business?" I countered.
"I wonder what would happen if your dad found out," she said, slowly beginning to back me up against a locker, grabbing my wrist painfully hard, her claws pricking my skin. "Or Scott. Or Stiles," her eyes widened. "Wouldn't they be angry?"
I gritted my teeth against the growing pain in my wrist and instead thought quickly out a plan in my head. Push, grab, swipe, pin. I nodded in agreement.
"Yeah they would," I said before hooking a quick foot around her leg and pushing with all my weight against her. Surprised, she stumbled back and in the time she was distracted I grabbed the knife that I kept permanently in my belt. I swiped it at her, cutting her upper arm, although i knew it would heal it moments and pushed the knife against her neck, slamming and pinning her against a locker. "But they're not going to find out," I said and held it a little tighter against her. "Are they?"
She glared at me but reluctantly and slowly shook her head. "You know," I commented, playing with one of her blonde curls with the hand that wasn't holding the knife. "If Derek found out you lay a finger on me, he'd kill you," I pointed out, not doubting my words for a single moment. Fear flashed in her eyes and I hesitantly took a slow step back, releasing her. "You try anything like this again and he will find out. Got it?" I said. She nodded, although looked absolutely furious that I'd managed to overpower her. "Not so talkative when you've lost huh?" I teased before spinning on my heel, flicking my long brown hair and floating off down the hall.
Nobody fucked with me and got away with it. Nobody.
-O-
"Something happened at the mechanic," my dad said. "Stiles was there."
I was immediately on my feet, abandoning my homework. "What happened?" I demanded.
"I'm not entirely sure, but the mechanic was killed. Stiles is ok though. Are you coming?" He asked, but I was already grabbing my hoodie and pulling it over my head.
I chewed my lip nervously the entire ride there and went to leap out the second we got there but my dad made me wait while he talked to Stiles. Scott pulled up and I got out of dad's car just as Stiles walked over. I walked to him and he stopped before I grabbed his hand and pulled him against me. He encircled me in his arms and I breathed in his familiar smell.
"I'm sorry," i murmured. For fighting, for being difficult, for him having to endure this.
"It's ok," he reassured me. I nodded against him and reluctantly pulled back. We walked in unison to Scott's car and I hopped in the back while Stiles jumped in the front.
"You ok?" Scott asked. Stiles nodded, mumbling a 'yeah.'
"You're right," Stiles said. "It's not like you. It was almost…reptilian. But there was something about him..You know like when you see a friend in a halloween mask but all you can actually see is their eyes? And you feel like you know 'em but you just can't figure out who it is?"
"Are you saying you know who it is?" I asked. Stiles shook his head.
"No..but I think it knew me," he replied.
-O-
I'd just pulled on a singlet and some shorts when Derek slid my window open and silently came inside.
"Hey," I smiled softly, pulling my hair up into a ponytail.
"Hey," he echoed, shrugging off his leather jacket and placing it on my bed. "I heard what happened at the mechanic. Is Stiles ok?"
I wasn't sure whether he genuinely cared or just wanted to get on my good side (and I wasn't about to tell him he already was) but I answered anyway. "Yeah. He's just a little shaken," I replied. Derek nodded and grabbed my hand, pulling me close to him. I lay my head on his chest, stifling a yawn. He smiled softly, looking down at me and stroking some hair from my face.
"Tired?" He questioned, already knowing the answer. i shook my head.
"I wanna stay up and talk to you," I said, sleep slurring my voice slightly. He smiled but shook his head.
"Come on," he softly ushered me into bed but I gently pulled him down beside me and he kicked his shoes off before wrapping himself around me, holding me close to him. My hands fisted in his shirt, our legs intwined, I fell asleep quickly.
-O-
He was gone the next morning, the spot where he'd lay cold, telling me he'd been gone for a while. I hoped one day he'd be there when I woke.
-O-
"I'm so sorry about the other day. I'm trying uh..we'll get through this. I know because I love you. I love you so mu-"
"What are you doing?" I interrupted Stiles as he sat on the school steps talking to Scott. I was laughing my head off.
Stiles looked annoyed. "I'm delivering messages from Allison. Message complete."
"Is she coming to the game tonight?" Scott asked.
"Yes," I replied for him, sitting down in front of them. "Oh and what happened with your boss?" I added. Scott had explained to Stiles and I that the Argents had shown up with a body, ripped and killed by what we assumed was the lizard-thing.
"He said the Argents will keep some kind of record of all the things they've discovered, like a book," Scott explained.
"Like a bestiary?" I asked. Scott looked amused.
"I think you mean beastiality," he smirked.
"Nope. Pretty sure she doesn't," Stiles contradicted. "It's like an encyclopaedia of mythical creatures."
"Ok how am I the only one that doesn't seem to know about any of this stuff?" Scott questioned.
"Because you're our best friend, you're a creature of the night, it's kind of like a priority of ours," I replied. Scott sighed and nodded.
"If we can find it and it can tell us what this thing is.." Scott said.
"And who," I added.
"We need that book," we all said simultaneously as they stood, Scott grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet.
-O-
I winced as another of our players was smashed to the ground and rushed off the lacrosse field by paramedics. This team we were versing had this guy who was massive, way to big to be in high school and he was taking down all our players.
I glanced over at Allison to see her grandfathers keys in her hands. I'd wanted to go with Stiles but, of course, he'd said no. I jumped up and hurried down the stairs to my brother, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Allison's got them," I whispered in his ear. He nodded and stood. I looked up to him with round violet eyes.
"No Vi. Go back to your seat," he said firmly. I huffed in annoyance but none the less obliged, walking back to my seat in the stands.
Not long after Coach started calling out, asking where Stillinski was. I winced.
"You!" Coach pointed to someone in the crowd. "You play lacrosse?"
I looked over to see Boyd stand up, who I had since this morning found out Derek had turned. "Oh shit," I muttered as Coach got him set up.
.
I stood up again. It had been awhile since Stiles had left and I was beginning to worry. I hurried down and over to the school building where Gerard's office was. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. The keys were in the open door but Stiles was nowhere to be found. The soft murmur of voices drew me out and over to the entrance to the pool. I glanced inside to see Stiles' back facing me and Derek and Erica talking to him, Derek with a deflated basketball in his hands. Realisation dawned on me and I walked into the complex.
"Derek?" I called out softly. Their heads snapped to me and Stiles took a step toward me but Derek was already hurrying over.
"Go back to the game Violet," he said. I let out a very annoyed and breathy sigh.
"Again with the thinking I'm an oblivious eight year old!" I snapped.
"Violet," Derek warned.
"You threaten my brother, you threaten me. Stay away from him," I practically growled before brushing past Derek. Derek grabbed my wrist giving me a pleading look. I raised my eyebrows. "Going to apologise?" I asked, ripping my hand from him and crossing my arms. He smirked lightly but I simply glowered at him.
"Sorry," he said in a very teasing tone.
"I hate you!" I shouted, storming over to my brother and grabbing his hand, beginning to lead him out but Derek stopped us, standing in front of us. Stiles gulped, pulling me close to him but I wasn't even the slightest bit afraid of Derek. "Derek," I warned but suddenly his eyes widened. He grabbed my hand, spinning around and pulling me behind him, me pulling Stiles' with me. I looked over Derek's shoulder to see some kind of lizard man, glowing yellow, slitted eyes.
"Oh my god," I muttered. The thing threw Erica at a wall, knocking her unDerek turned back to us, pushing Stiles' chest.
"Get her out of here!" He shouted. Stiles began pulling me along but the thing slashed out with its claws, cutting a precise and straight one across Derek's neck.
"Derek your neck!" I called out as he began to stumble. Stiles cursed under his breath and began running to Derek.
"Violet go!" Stiles shouted as he wrapped an arm around Derek. I bit my lip in indecision.
"Violet run!" Derek shouted, leaning heavily against Stiles. I turned and began running in between the two pools, Derek and Stiles stumbling behind me, Stiles scrambling for his phone but he dropped it. Derek began toppling over and he and Stiles fell into the water. The thing began prowling toward me so I dived into the pool. Stiles was hauling Derek up toward the surface. I grabbed Derek's other arm, helping him pull him up. We all gasped for breath as our heads broke the surface.
"Where is it?" Stiles demanded. I looked around wildly, my hair and clothes plastered against my body. "Maybe it took off," Stiles suggested but just to prove him wrong the thing let out a shriek and I saw a flash of it.
"Or maybe not," Derek said.
We waded for a while longer before the thing stalked up to the water. It put it's clawed hand in before jumping back, hissing.
"Did you see that?" I asked. "I don't think it can swim."
"I don't know how much longer we can do this," Stiles said after awhile.
"Stiles if you hold him, I'll grab the phone and call Scott," I said.
"No," Derek protested. "No way it'll kill you."
"Yeah well otherwise we're going to drown," I said, slowly pulling away.
"Violet," Derek growled. I resisted the temptation to kiss him because he looked annoyingly hot with his hair all messy from water and began swimming to the edge. The thing prowled right beside the phone and I slid my knife out from my belt, taking in a few deep breaths before I leaped for the edge. At the same time the thing dived for me. I rolled out of the way, barely missing its claws.
"Get back in the water!" I ignored Derek and Stiles' shouting and focussed on dodging the thing's attacks. I leaped out of the way as it sprang at me but wasn't quite fast enough. I ignored the searing pain in my stomach and grabbed the phone before jumping back into the water and holding the mobile above my head. I quickly dialled Scott's number and he picked up after a couple of rings.
"Scott! W-"
"Not now!" Scott hissed and hung up. I gaped at the phone for a moment and tried ringing him again but it went straight to voicemail.
"He hung up on me!" I protested. "Damnit Scott!" I cursed lowly, chucking the phone and going over to help Stiles' hold Derek up. I slipped my arm around Derek but tried to keep my distance so his body didn't touch my wounds.
.
"Ok," I gasped. "We can't do this any longer. I'll distract it, Stiles get Derek out of here," I said, slowly slipping away from them.
"What? No!" Stiles protested.
"No way," Derek said.
"I'll be fine. Stiles go over to that edge," I said, nodding toward the edge opposite of where the thing was. "I'll try and keep it away long enough."
"Violet get back here right now," Derek commanded. I exchanged a look with Stiles. His eyes met mine and he stared at me for a moment before slowly nodding. "What? Are you crazy?" Derek demanded. "That's your sister!"
"I trust her," Stiles said. "On the count of three. 1, 2, 3!"
I leaped up onto the edge, knife drawn, and the second I did the thing was snarling at me, although to my surprise it didn't attack me, simply stalked a circle around me.
"Go go go!" I shouted. Stiles began dragging Derek toward the edge, reaching out for it but his fingers slipped and the water slowly closed over their heads.
I gasped in relief when Scott appeared, yanking them out of the water and snarling furiously. The thing abandoned stalking me and raced over to Scott, tackling him. Scott fell into a mirror, shattering it. He picked up a piece of glass, ready to stab it when the thing stopped, cocking his head to the side as it looked at its reflection. With one last shriek it took off, disappearing from sight in moments. I hurried over to Stiles, crouching down beside him.
-O-
Stiles, Scott and I stared at the laptop screen. The bestiary had ended up being on Gerard's USB, on his keys. There were pages and pages of documents in a different language.
"Is that even a language?" Stiles questioned.
"It's archaic latin," I replied. "I know some but..not enough to translate all of this."
Scott gaped at me while Stiles merely rolled his eyes, not surprised.
"How are we meant to figure out what this thing is?" Scott groaned.
"It's called a kanima," Derek said
"You knew this whole time?" Stiles questioned.
"No, only when it was confused by its own reflection," Derek replied.
"So..it doesn't know what it is?" I asked.
"Or who," Derek said.
"Well what else do you know?" Stiles said.
"Just stories," Derek answered. "Rumours."
"But it's like us?" Scott asked.
"A shape shifter, yes, but it's-it's not right," Derek looked for the correct word. "It's like an…"
"Abomination," I suggested. He nodded before turning around to leave.
"Derek," Scott called him back. "We need to work together on this. Maybe even tell the Argents."
"You trust them?" Derek demanded. I let out an annoyed noise in the back of my throat, throwing my head back.
"No body trusts anybody! That's the problem!" I yelled. "While we're here arguing about who's on what side, there's something scarier, stronger and faster out there and it's killing people! And we still don't even know anything about it!"
"I know one thing," Derek protested, turning away. "When I find it. I'm going to kill it."
-O-
A/N: How long with Derek and Violet be able to keep their relationship hidden? Does Scott and Stiles already know? And who's side will she choose when Derek goes after one of her best friends?