No one was prepared for it to happen or even expected it. Except for maybe Vanessa. It happened late at night when the darkness had taken over and everyone was tired. It was a strange group that was responsible for it as well. The fire stole seven lives that day. In the official reports, it's stated that eight of the Hale family members died, which means that only three remained alive. Derek, Peter and Laura. The fact that a fourth member survived was a secret that only Vanessa and her father knew off.

Ever since Derek claimed she was just jealous of him and Kate, Vanessa had ignored him. Not highkey ignoring him where it's obvious and childish, but just not bothering greeting him. Or looking at him. This also applied to Peter. She had Zaina and the rest of the cheerleading team to hang out with. She even told Zaina about their fight, leaving out the parts where Kate was a dangerous werewolf hunter.

"What a sharmuta." Zaina muttered once she was done explaining. Vanessa lightly raised her eyebrows in amusement and chuckled, since she knew exactly what that word meant — it was Zaina's favorite curse word in arabic.

"Yeah. I just don't get where that comment came from, we've never been those people, you know. What's there to be jealous of? I don't want to be with him in that way and believe me, this Kate girl is nothing to even be slightly jealous of. She's got an ugly personality." Vanessa ranted, putting a french fry in her mouth. They were currently eating in a pizza place because Vanessa felt like she needed to hang out with someone more human and normal. Being all alone was driving her crazy.

"I believe you. I know what you and Derek are like and it was so immature of him to say that." Zaina agreed, sending her friend a reassuring smile. "And just so you know, I know a lot of guys who are interested."

"Who says I'm interested in guys?" Vanessa asked, holding a strong pokerface. Zaina nearly choked on her food.

"I just assumed, oh my–"

"Zee, breathe." Vanessa laughed and shook her head weakly. "I'm kidding. I think. It's not like I've focused enough on romance to know. Women are sexy as hell too."

"Indeed they are." Zaina raised her glass with soda and they carefully toasted their glasses against each other to beautiful women out there. "All jokes aside, why haven't you focused on romance? I mean, you're not the type to spend all your time studying, and even if you're busy as hell with hobbies, half the world's population consist of guys. You can't not meet one."

Vanessa's smile died slowly as she was asked that question. She looked down at her lap and contemplated telling her friend. Sure, she had only known Zaina for about a year and a half, but they were close — even if they didn't hang out all the time. She trusted her. But she just couldn't. It'd put Zaina in too much trouble, if her friend would even believe her. Vanessa wouldn't believe anyone unless she wasn't a werewolf herself.

"I don't know. I just... Have other priorities. Yeah, I've met a lot of guys but I don't get too deep. I'm also a bit weird. For some reason, I'm hard to connect with."

"Not that hard, we're friends, aren't we?" Zaina smiled and nudged Vanessa's leg with her foot under the table. "Anyone would be lucky to be your friend."

"Oh gods, this is so cheesy." Vanessa snorted and buried her forehead against her palm.

"Which gods this time?" Zaina smirked and tilted her head to the side. She also knew about Vanessa believing in everything or nothing.

"I'm feeling the egyptian ones." Vanessa slowly nodded to herself and grinned.

"My folks." Zaina cheered and leaned back.

"Anyway, there's someone I need to talk to. I'll see you later." Vanessa sighed, not wanting to leave at all. Zaina pouted sadly and batted with her eyelashes, forcing her friend to literally look away to not stay. "I'm sorry, but it's important."

"Ugh, fine. See you later." Zaina said, offering Vanessa a smile so that she wouldn't feel all too bad about leaving.

Vanessa got up, kissed the top of Zaina's head and walked out and toward the forest. For once, Peter didn't have any intention to sneak up on her or anything like that — he was just leaning against a tree with his arms crossed.

"What is it?" She asked and slid her hands down her pockets.

"Is that how you greet people?" Peter smirked. He quickly removed the smirk though when Vanessa deadpanned at him while lightly glaring. "Sorry. Look, I'm worried Kate is about to do something awful."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. I've been following her a little lately and she's been talking with very different people and it looks like they've been doing business. Can you please just try and talk to Derek?"

"No." She shook her head and licked her dry lips. "He won't listen. I haven't talked to him since–"

"I know, but he won't listen to me either. Not since Paige." He sighed as if it wasn't understandable. She scoffed at him.

"And you blame him for not wanting to talk to you? You practically killed Paige, Peter. How have you not accepted that yet?" Too fast for her to realize it, Peter grabbed her by the neck and pushed her against the nearest tree.

"Shut up, shut up!" He snapped and stared at her with his jaw clenched. Vanessa slightly narrowed her eyes at him and put on her toughest expression, her lips barely pressed together. "I. Didn't. Kill. Her."

"Yes, you did." She spat angrily. "You manipulated Derek until he agreed to let you find someone to turn Paige. And then she died. How is that not your fault, Peter? The fact that you're denying it proves that deep down... You're a monster."

"Oh, and what? You're perfect yourself? Try being in my position, with my family and being hunted all the time! Being the brother of this powerful alpha isn't exactly easy." He tried to justify his behavior.

"This has nothing to do with me but while we're on the subject, yeah, I'm a damn saint compared to you. You're evil to the core, Peter. No matter what, you'll always want power. You want people to fear you and you think being this monster is the better choice. And I'm not gonna be naive enough to think that you can change because this is who you are." She shot back and harshly pushed him away from her. "I'll talk to Derek because I care about him, unlike you. You just want to expose Kate so you'll have a reason to kill her."

Before he could even try to get a last word, Vanessa sped away from there and spent the next ten minutes searching for Derek. Instead, she found Kate talking in an alley to an unknown man. Vanessa couldn't risk Kate seeing her, so instead of hiding against the wall, she climbed up to the roof and used her werewolf hearing to listen to them.

"It happens tonight, Reddick. Everything has to work out perfectly or we're busted. Got it?" Kate said coldly while it sounded like she handed him something in an envelope.

"Don't worry, this isn't my first time." Reddick responded.

Vanessa checked the time on her phone while Kate left the alley and then carefully jumped down from the roof. She hurried to the Hale house, figuring that's where Derek most likely would be if he wasn't with Kate. As her fist collided with the door, Talia opened it with a soft smile and stepped aside.

"Are you here to see Peter? Because unfortunately he's not home." She asked and frowned a bit.

"No, uh... I'm actually here to see Derek. Is he home?" She exhaled while she put her hands in her jacket pockets and shifted her body weight from one foot to the other one.

"Derek? You know each other?" Talia asked and folded her arms together. The girl was too distressed to form a proper response. Something bad was definitely happening tonight.

"Long story. Is he he–"

"Vanessa!" Cora's light voice squealed through the hall as she ran over to the hispanic one. Wrapping her arms around her waist, Cora smiled up at her and then backed away timidly. Clearly showing affection was rare to the girl. She reminded Vanessa so much about Scott though, especially considering they were the same age.

"Hey, pollito." Vanessa giggled and ruffled Cora's hair, crouching down so they were the same height.

"You know I don't like that nickname." Cora pouted and then deadpanned at her.

"Aw, but you're such a little, cute chicken, aren't you? It's a cute nickname. There are so many worse spanish nicknames I could give you. Such as pu–"

"Please don't finish that." Derek quickly cut her off and had a hand in the air. "Even I know what that means."

Vanessa couldn't help but to smirk while she got up again. She gazed at him and returned her hands to her pockets. Talia gave Derek a wink before she seized Cora's hand and left the two teenagers alone.

"Look–"

"Nessa, I'm so sorry. What I said was so wrong and so bad and I didn't mean it."

"Derek, I'm not here to talk to you about that. Well, partly." She cocked her head to the side and licked her bottom lip inside her mouth while she thought about what to say next. "I came to warn you. I don't care what you'll say or what you'll think, but you've been my closest friend and I've never lied to you. Never. So trust me when I say that Kate is bad news. She's planning something for tonight and if I were you, I'd stay as far away as possible from her and her hunter family."

Derek stayed silent. She was right. She had never once lied to him or made him question her loyalty to him. They knew everything about each other. Well, except for that whole werewolf thing but it was understandable. He knew every little detail about her because during these two years, they've talked about everything and nothing. He trusted her with his life. But there was however one thing that now bothered him at the moment.

"How... How did you know where I lived? And how do you know Cora?" He asked quietly and motioned behind his shoulder with his thumb.

"I, uh, met your mom once. My alpha isn't exactly the nicest guy so one day I had a breakdown in the woods and your mom was there. She brought me here and let me meet your family for a short while." Vanessa lied, trying to pull off her best, convincing voice. But lying to him created a giant lump in the throat and a sharp pain in her chest. Unfortunately this wouldn't be the last lie to him.

"Oh. Well, Cora seemed to like you. She's not really that affectionate with anyone."

"Yeah..." She whispered and placed her bottom lip between her teeth. "I'll see you around."

"Wait, Nessa." He sighed and took a step closer to her. "I just need to say that I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, puta." She chuckled quietly, nodding a little to get her words through. Derek cracked a grin of relief before he dared to pull her in for a hug. Since they were about the same height, Vanessa's head landed softly against his shoulder and his cheek on top of her head.

"Please don't call me that."

"I can call you whatever I want." She shrugged carelessly while getting out of his grip. "Be careful tonight, please. Kate might be young but she's dangerous."

With that, Vanessa left the house without knowing she'd soon be back. She decided to spend some time with Stiles and Scott since she hadn't seen them in a while. She played cards with them, watched some movies and told them some more stories.

"I want to eat something snacksy." Scott complained and pouted.

"Do not despair, dear cousin." Vanessa smirked and got up from the couch. "I know where your mom hid the cookie jar."

While the boys cheered, she climbed up the counter and reached for the cookie jar in the highest shelf. She carefully jumped down and opened it for them as well, watching as Stiles devoured a few cookies shamelessly. An hour or two later, Stiles' dad arrived to pick his son up.

"Hey, kid." Noah Stilinski smiled to Vanessa. "Thanks for taking care or my son."

"Always a pleasure, sheriff." She smiled back and watched him give her a look.

"I've told you not to call me that."

"I know, but I actually need to talk to you as the sheriff right now." She said and glanced at his badge.

"Go wait in the car." He said to Stiles and the kid reluctantly did as he was told. After complaining a few seconds, of course. Vanessa then sent Scott up to his room. "What is it, sweetie?"

"Does the name Reddick sound familiar?" She asked slowly, crossing her arms together. It took him a moment to think but then he answered.

"Yeah, it actually does. If I remember correctly, he's been suspected for arson. Why, has he contacted you in any way?" He replied and placed a concerned hand on her shoulder.

"No, no, it's... Thanks." She stuttered and turned around. "Scott! I'm going home, okay! Come down and lock the door after Noah leaves!" She yelled and he yelled back that he would. "Sorry, I have to go."

"Wait, Vanessa–" Noah began, but she was already out the door.

Vanessa ran and ran without stopping for a second. Yes, it was irresponsible of her to just leave Scott like that but this was far too important. If Kate really is as psycho as she fears she is... Vanessa didn't even want to imagine it. Unfortunately, the second she reached the area, she could see the flames ascending to the sky. Her heart dropped at the sight and smell and soon it felt like her ears were bleeding because of the piercing screams. Then she saw her.

Without hesitation, Vanessa dashed foward with her wolf face on display and grabbed Kate by the neck with her claws. Kate inhaled sharply out of surprise and then chuckled wickedly. There was no remorse in her eyes and all she did was enjoy watching the house burn.

"Do it. Show me the monster you truly are. Kill me." She whispered mockingly. "I can see it in your eyes, feel how your claws are digging deeper against my skin. You want to kill me. So do it! Prove who you really are!"

"No." Vanessa murmured and blinked, transforming her face back to normal. "I'm not a psychopathic killer like you. You're wrong about us and even if you deserve to die, it won't be by me. But I swear, if you don't leave this town I will hunt you down and torture you before slowly killing you. Don't think my dad didn't teach me a trick or two. Got it? Leave or you'll die."

For the first time, Kate expressed slight fear. Maybe she really wanted to stay alive. So she nodded, gulped and waited until Vanessa let her go and backed away, leaving faint marks on Kate's neck. Vanessa then ran toward the house and searched for anyone she could help. That's when she heard it; someone scraping against the material and weeping quietly, calling for help.

"Please... Help..."

"Cora." Vanessa whispered and quickly ran to the other side of the house. Ignoring the toxic air, she dropped to her knees and lifted a wooden plank that had fallen against Cora's back. "Listen to me, you have to fight. Come on."

"Vanessa?" Cora widened her eyes in relief and crawled her way out. "Oh my god, what's happening? They can't–" The girl had to swallow back a sob. "They can't get out, Vanessa. We have to help them!"

"We can't." It pained her to say it, but she couldn't lie. "I'm so sorry, but their heart beats... Cora, we have to get you out of here. Please."

"No..." Cora shook her head and turned around to watch the building slowly collapse. "No! I can't leave them, they're my family!"

A minor explosion made Vanessa quickly throw her arm around Cora and cover her. The amount of heart beats were quickly getting fewer and the smoke was dangerous for them to inhale for too long. Despite Cora's crying, screaming and squirming, Vanessa grabbed her hand and ran far away from the house until she was sure they were safe for now.

"Cora, listen to me." Vanessa said severely while she stood down on one knee, her hands on the girl's shoulders. "You have to listen to me. You're in shock and angry and I get it, but you need to listen to me and stay calm, alright?"

"But... My mom, my sister..." Cora sniffled, wiping away a tear from her cheek. "Are they dead?"

With a sigh, Vanessa looked down at their feet and pressed her lips together. Her question was so blunt and raw that it forced Vanessa to fully comprehend what had happened. They were actually dead. The house had burned down and suffocated them and Kate was responsible.

"I'm so sorry, pollito. Let me take you to my house so you can sit down." She suggested. "We just have to go somewhere."

"Yeah, sure." Cora whispered and weakly shrugged. Vanessa kissed her forehead and then led her toward her home that was still intact and solid. She couldn't even imagine how she felt, but it must've been a hundred times more painful than what she was feeling.

"Thank god, where have you–" Jacques exclaimed as he opened the door. The little girl with torn clothes, wet cheeks and messy hair made him cut himself off. "What happened?"

"Long story, but she's staying over tonight."

"Alright, come in. What's your name, honey?" Jacques asked and directed his words to the girl. Vanessa closed the door and pulled her fingers through her hair.

"Cora." The girl answered blankly.

"Okay. Nice to meet you, Cora. Let's get you cleaned up, shall we? I think Vanessa has some old clothes you can have."

Vanessa followed the orphan to the bathroom and helped her get clean while Jacques dug up some of her old clothes that Cora could change into. Once Vanessa had calmed her down with some food and tea, she and Cora lay down on Vanessa's bed and turned to their sides.

"Everything's gonna get better. Right now you need to sleep and get some rest, okay? Do you think you can fall asleep?" Vanessa asked quietly and caressed her cheek for a short moment.

"Thank you, Vanessa. For being there and helping me. I'll try to sleep."

While Cora struggled to fall asleep, Vanessa's mind drifted off to a million questions. Who else helped Kate set the fire? Did someone else survive? More importantly to Vanessa, how selfish it may be, did Derek survive? Was he even in the house? Sighing, she pushed those thoughts away and tried to come up with a plan on what to do with Cora.

hey guys! sorry it's been so damn long since i updated, my computer crashed two weeks ago and i haven't thought of updating any stories but here's chapter 11! i'll post chapter 12 tomorrow to make up for the long waiting time! don't forget to check out my tumblr ( .com) to see more of vanessa and characters!