It's been ages since I've updated and I thought I could update soon enough to write a Christmas special, which I fear will be delayed. My deepest apologies! Really. Anyway, a guest pointed out that my bio states I'm 12- which is incorrect, since I'm actually 13, but I was a freshly turned 13 year old when I posted the first chapter of Atbm. I AM NO CHILD PRODIGY, but it warms my heart to see that you actually think so! Seriously, I could ask for nothing more- being an insecure pre-teen and all but THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT! Especially msspicyjalapeno- who has written a great fan fic (check it out) and my BEST FRIEND FOR EVER Feeno (Psychoticone123). All of you out there who review, also make my day, so if you want an update, you need to leave a review :D yes I've lowered to bribery. Deal with it.
So here it is. The plot is coming together, and a fair warning, my story will take an AU turn here to strengthen the mate/fiance predicament. Enjoy
Pictures in my pocket
Are faded from the washer
I can barely just make out your face
Food you saved for later
In my refrigerator
It's been too long since later never came
Scott was most definitely in trouble.
He currently lay on the examination table, unresponsive, his breathing and heart monitor the only sounds that could be heard, along with the squeak of Dr. Alan shoes, as he scurried about furtively.
After forcing the pack, including Stiles, to leave and get a goodnight's sleep for the next day, only Artemis and Derek were left in the clinic and Artemis could literally feel the awkwardness wafting in the sticky air.
Artemis swept the thick strand of brown hair and tucked it behind her ear, her thoughts suddenly sidetracking to the thought of her disheveled appearance. Her dress was rumpled and was missing a few studs from the front along with the dirt and grime that found home in the soft fabric of her shoes. Her hair tie was missing, leaving her hair to fall indecorously upon her shoulder in rough, stiff strands. She stared down upon her nimble fingers that were weaved into one another, the coral pink nail polish starting to chip off.
Artemis suddenly got up, the chair scraping against the linoleum tiles, and walked up to Deaton.
"Anything I can help you with ?"
Deaton turned with a soft smile on her face. "You really have grown, haven't you."
Artemis smiled, "This isn't really appropriate, but", she stood on her tippie toes and pulled Deaton into a warm bear hug "missed ya Doc."
"Missed you too Aeryn,"
Artemis huffed, "My name is Artemis."
Deaton rolled his eyes "It was originally Aeryn, so deal with it."
"Her name is still Aeryn." Derek spoke up from the back, "Well, it's her middle name."
"You suck." She said, defeated.
"Dear, learn to love your Irish culture."
"Doc, I haven't ever been to Ireland, how am I supposed to love it, plus Aeryn is a weird name."
Derek rolled his eyes, as Deaton shook his head at the stubborn girl. Sees her after 4 years and the first thing she does is argue. Yeah that's right, 4 years, not 7. Deaton was the one who helped her settle and remained with her until she finally found a job in New York, a job that fit her spitfire personality perfectly.
Spitfire. Oh, Derek and Artemis the spitfires of their centuries. He even remembered the weird videos Laura had ended up recording aimlessly of their shenanigans.
That reminded him; didn't he have one lying around the clinic?
Suddenly Scott's body jerked on the table, causing Deaton to break out of his reverie.
"Doc! He's seizing!" Artemis yelled as she dashed across the room, rifling through the drawer with syringes in it.
"Get the epinephrine."
"I'm pretty sure epinephrine isn't for seizures," It was Derek, who was now restraining Scott on the table as foam began dripping from his mouth.
"Just do it!" Deaton yelled, putting Artemis into panic action. She quickly found her desired item and ripped open the pack, pulling the syringe back and tossing it to Deaton.
"Epi 10 ml."
"Gotcha." Deaton responded, uncapping the injection with his teeth and swiftly injecting it in Scott's neck. His jerky movements seem to subside effectively and soon Scott lay on the table unconscious.
"How the frack did epi work?"
Deaton looked at an expectant Artemis and smiled knowingly. "What if it wasn't epi?"
Artemis and Derek shook their heads in unison, exasperated. See, they do stuff in unison. They were made for each other. Yup Deaton was team Arterek.
2006
Artemis and Derek sat on the bed in her room, eyes closed and backs rigid. Their hands lay on their crossed legs knees, palms out.
Yoga…
Derek popped open one eye, and discretely glanced at Artemis, a small mischievous smile spreading on his lips.
Slowly, careful not to get caught, Derek inched his hand closer to her butt, his hand ready to pinch her.
"Don't you dare, Hale. Drop your hand." She said it calmly, her eyes still shut.
Derek slowly took his hand back and skeptically began staring at her. He leaned over carefully, his face right in front of hers, trying to detect how she saw him.
"Firstly, your breath stinks," she said suddenly, eyes still closed, "And number two, put you eyebrows down, before you strain them or something."
Derek touched his forehead in confusion. His eyebrows really were stretched.
His head suddenly snapped around, looking at the walls and on the bed post.
"There aren't any hidden cameras Derek"
His head snapped back to her, but her body was in the exact same position as before, eyes closed, back straight, lags crossed, and hands on knees.
"What the.."
"I'm psychic."
"Oh shut up." He really wasn't up for another lecture on how she really was psychic and Derek was too blind to see it.
"No, seriously, how'd ya do that?"
"I told you. I'm psychic."
Derek rolled his eyes and sighed.
It was the 31st of October, better known as Halloween, or even more accurately, mischief night.
The dark house towered over, a dark shadow cast over the balconies. It was bare on this festive night; no scary props, jack-o-lanterns, lightings. It was the only house without a queue of children dressed in absurd costumes at its door. And everyone knew why.
"His house literally reflects his personality. Fugly, dark, evil and fugly." The girl whispered. Her hair was down in mousy, ruffled curls, pulled back from the front loosely. Her intense grey stare was stormy, matching the night sky. She wore a corset top with a high waisted black skirt, and a blood red hood was draped around her meek form. But it was the small basket in her hand that gave her character away. Little Red Riding hood.
"True dat sistah." The tall boy with the bushy eyebrows said. He was in a furry brown onesie, its hood pulled up. On the hood, two pointy ears could be seen and fangs were apparent under his upper lip. His hands were distinctly huge paws, going with the muzzle that was attached to his hood. To anyone he looked like an overgrown puppy, but in context to the girls outfit, he was the Big Bad Wolf.
"Let's do this!" The boy enthusiastically barked.
"Derek, hold your shit in for a minute, will ya? How on God's green earth are we going to get in?"
Derek dead panned, "Through the door."
Artemis sighed, "What am I going to do with this retarded moron?" she murmured to herself.
"I heard that."
"Don't care." She sassed as she tiptoed through the grass. They were now in front of the fence.
"You know," Derek mused, "I he found out it's us, he's gonna fail us."
"Again, you moron, what do you think the costume's for?"
Derek looked confused, before his expression changed into understanding. "I thought they were for trick-o-treating. You know candy and shit."
Artemis faced palmed.
Anyway, she hoisted herself on the fence, toes wedged into the holes, as she began climbing it. It rattled noisily, causing Artemis to stop.
"Okay, Hale. Push me up."
"Not until I'm sure we get candy after this."
Artemis looked down on him exasperated. "Forget candy. We'll snag some liquor from his house.
Derek suddenly looked like a boy on Christmas, which is ironic, since dude, it's Halloween, and everybody knows Halloween's better than Christmas. You know what scratch that. They all rock.
"Cool." He remarked, as he placed his hands, sorry, paws, on her waist and hoisted her higher, before giving her a shove and throwing her to the other side. Surprisingly, she land on her feet.
"But still, candy's better than liquor." Derek said, as he proceeded to climb up too. He was next to Artemis in a flash and they were out towards the house in seconds.
They crept across the lawn silently before they went towards the back. They were now in the backyard, and as they looked up they saw a huge window over a pretty low balcony. Perfect.
"Okay ,now, let's do this."
Derek and Artemis began to climb the tree on the sides, which had branches extending to the balcony. They landed there softly and stood in face of the mirror.
"Okaaaay, how are we getting in?" Derek patted his useless paws on the frame, looking for a latch. He really is dimwitted isn't he?
Artemis rolled her eyes.
"I came prepared." She rummaged through her basket and took out a… crowbar.
Derek nodded approvingly, impressed.
And so they broke in.
Standing in the dim lighted carpeted room, Derek finally realized something.
"I could've opened the window with my claws," He looked down at his paws, "Well, my real claws at least."
Artemis rolled her eyes, "Come on, let's go sabotage this place."
Walking through the bland, tasteless halls, Artemis came upon a room that had the door ajar.
She beckoned Derek silently, and he crept up behind her on his pawed toes.
'Let's go in. 'she mouthed. He nodded in return and pulled out the carton of eggs that resided in his costume.
But, as they entered the room, they realized it was occupied. Occupied by their teacher, Mr. Harris, and apparently his girlfriend… MAKING LOVE ON THE FUCKING BED!
Artemis screeched and stumbled into Derek, who realizing they were caught and pulled her onto his back in a piggy ride.
The woman the Harris was with screeched in return and attempted to cover herself up as Harris took a nose dive down the bed.
Derek, Artemis on his back, barreled down the stairs and sprinted towards the door. Tugging at the chains feverishly, he unlocked it and threw it open, before running out and across the street into the woods.
He burned some few million calories as he carried Artemis to the Hale Residence in the middle of the wood, but as they burst into the clearing, Derek caught his foot in a large stem and tumbled over, Artemis falling after him. As they landed, Artemis aw a flash of white above her. Actually a fair few white flashes.
The eggs.
One by one the eggs fell on them, one catching Artemis straight in the face.
Spluttering she sat up, Derek beside her as he clawed out egg from his hair.
They both turned to each other and stared.
Artemis choked on a laugh, which turned into mass hysteria as Derek too began laughing. They snorted, chortled, good out belly laughed until tears poured out of their eyes. They rolled in the leaves for ages until Derek's mom Talia spotted them and lugged them inside
As Talia placed mugs of hot chocolate in front of them, dressed in fresh PJ's , and freshly showered, Derek leaned over and whispered.
"That was worth any candy in the world."
And with a soft kiss on the cheek, he left for bed.
Derek walked down the porch after dropping Scott off. He sat in quickly and buckled up just as Artemis floored it.
The road stretched ahead, kind of like the silence that enveloped them. The only sounds heard was the rumble of the car and the wheels screeching against the gravel, until Derek realized they weren't on the correct path.
"Where are you going?"
Artemis gave no reply and simply glared at the road, which gradually was turning into a dirt path. And suddenly the car jolted before they were driving through a light copse of trees, which became denser by the minute.
The car halted in a clearing. Dead center stood the burnt shell of the Hale Mansion, which now, in its dilapidated state, reeked of misery. The moons light filtered through the leaves, draping the structure in haunting shadows.
Suddenly, Artemis was slammed against the side of the car, a red-eyed Derek growling menacingly in her face.
"What is this?" his voice was coated in an animalistic snarl. "A guilt trip? Haven't you said enough?"
Artemis stared back at him adamantly, her jaw set tightly.
"The opposite, actually." She didn't make a move to push him off. "See that? That's not your fault."
As her words sunk in, Derek's hold loosened, and Artemis dodged him quickly and slowly made her way to the shredded porch.
She didn't look back to see if he was following. It was the second time she was here, the first time she actually looked around.
Leaves swirled at her foot, the wind blowing through the practically open house. She took tentative steps towards the middle of the room, scanning her surroundings. A piano sat at the shadowed corner, some iron bars and shovels scattered beside it.
It was bare. Literally. It resembled some haunted house out of a movie. Suddenly, the image of herself and the Hale pack flashed in her mind- the one where they were surrounding Derek and her as they sat on that very piano, singing the Christmas song they had written over the years, dressed in humongous sweaters and torn pants with ludicrous socks.
She fell to her knees, and reclined slowly, staring up at the sky evident through the absence of a roof.
"Look at this, Hale. This is your home. You couldn't have, literally couldn't have done this."
She didn't look at him, but she felt him slowly lower himself next to her as he too lay on the floor.
"You sound like a hypocrite."
Artemis smiled crookedly to herself. "Actually I'm here to convince the both of us of your innocence. Truth be told, I do blame you, but logically, that's absolutely retarded, since you didn't do it."
She glanced at him and caught his puzzled expression. "We aren't characters out of a book, Derek. We have irrational, emotional thoughts. And even though I love you to bits, how can I not blame you?"
"I'm not flawless, you're not flawless, this world definitely isn't flawless, but we can learn to accept our flaws and live with them. Because, Derek Hale, are flaws are who we are."
Silence reigned for a few moments.
"So you're trying to say I'm a cold-blooded murderer?"
Artemis laughed out loud, her shoulders shaking slightly. "Derek, sweetie, people like you aren't murderers. People like me are." She shot him a soft smile. "There are only two sides of a gun. One in the face of the gun, and one on the side of the trigger."
She took in a deep breath.
"I stand on the side of the gun where I can stare straight into their eyes and pull the trigger."
She shuddered slightly, ever so slightly tilting her head towards Derek's shoulder.
"Now that's a cold-blooded killer, Derek. Not you." she laughed again, "Oh no, definitely not you."
Derek didn't reply and just stared at the sky.
"It is my fault."
"I'm not saying it's not."
Derek wouldn't lie, but that was definitely not what he expected.
"But," she suddenly turned to him and propped her elbow up and rested her head on it, "I want to be able to say that it's not, so here I am, looking for evidence."
"What kind of evidence?"
"Logic." Artemis replied absently, her eyes roaming around.
"Well, then you're definitely in the wrong place."
Her eyes snapped back to his. "Why?"
"I don't know?" he shrugged. "The situation just isn't logical?"
"Derek, " Artemis sighed, "How many times do I have to say this-"
"Yeah yeah, 'Logic thrives within us,-"
"We just have to look for it." Artemis finished with a gleam in her eyes.
"Humans are anything but logical." Derek huffed.
"True. But sometimes, logic isn't the answer. Gut feeling is." She grinned at him.
Derek rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like the time you had a gut feeling you were going to puke?"
"Exactly!" Artemis chimed, happy that they had slipped into a comfortable conversation.
Derek shook his head. "This is useless."
Artemis slowly got up and brushed of her dress before offering Derek a hand. "Come on."
And so they made their way around the house, until it was time to go upstairs, the part where Artemis' room used to be. Derek suddenly felt uncomfortable as they stepped into her room.
The walls, where the flames had licked them, were now charred and black, ash still lingering in to room. A burnt mat laid in the middle, bracketed by burnt wooden shelves, the books that once lined it mere piles of ashes.
"We should go, it's a full moon, and I need to get to pack." Derek spoke softly behind her, but she ignored him and kneeled in the middle of the room and began tapping the boards with her knuckles. Suddenly a hollow noise echoed and Artemis wrenched the plank out.
Below it, a hollow compartment was disclosed, and almost immediately, Artemis began rifling through the contents, pulling out pictures, jewelry, papers, books, and…. Were those sanitary napkins?
A blush rose up Derek's neck as Artemis further pulled out some tampons.
He distracted himself by picking up a picture that had caught his eye. It was a sequential or strip that seemed to have been taken in a photo booth.
The first picture showed two teens, one easily recognized as Artemis and another, honey curls and blue eyed boy with her grinning at the camera.
Then the other displayed, the two of them sticking out their tongues, scrunching their noses and staring cross-eyed at the camera.
The next showed the two laughing hysterically, frozen in a frame of absolute, insane laughter.
Eyes popping, the next one showed the duo pouting exaggeratingly.
But then Derek's eyes fell on the third last, in which, whimsical from the laughing, they now, red faced, leaned foreheads together and smiled at each other, lost in each other's eyes.
His heart clenched further as his eyes moved down, where the boy had Artemis' face in her hands and was pressing a kiss to her forehead as Artemis looked slightly teary eyed.
Derek pulled in a deep breath as his eyes fell on the very last one, in which Artemis had leaned forward was sweetly kissing him on the mouth, eyes closed as Derek unmistakably noticed a gleam of tears collected at the corner.
"Who's he?"
Artemis, who was now gathering all the items in her arms, looked up and noticed the strip in his hand.
"I was looking for that." She said simply, taking it from him and slipping it into her bag.
"That was the first love I told you about."
Derek suddenly felt a tide of guilt crash against his insides as he ducked his head in embarrassment. How could he be so oblivious about his surroundings?
Artemis shoved the pictures and personal items in Derek's arm and quickly exited.
"Come on Hale, it's a full moon."
Rolling his eyes, he followed out, with nothing but a deep sense of guilt.
She wanted evidence, she didn't find any.
It didn't exactly turn out as she had planned, Artemis thought as she walked towards the car.
If it had went according to plan, she would've apologized, he would shout, and then forgive her, then she would cry a bit and they'd hug it out.
But instead of the kind-of-façade she had planned, she had revealed her true feelings about the situation.
She didn't ever deserve his forgiveness.
The ignition purred to life beneath the duo, as Artemis silently backed out, her mood considerably less tense than before but it was the pup's first full moon. That thought wasn't helping sooth her nerves.
Derek and Artemis made it just in time to witness Isaac and Boyd fake sword fighting with twigs.
The frack?
"Hey Dere- ARTEMIS!" Erica squealed girlishly and jumped up at her.
She pulled back as Artemis spit out a fistful of blond hair and saw that Erica, seemingly have ditched those skimpy nighties, was in sweats and a modest sweater.
Looks like she had taken her advice.
Artemis, after a long complaint by Stiles had sought out to talk to Erica about it. They fought a bit, she cried a bit, showed her desperation, but Artemis took none of it. Artemis had no problem with flaunting beauty, some people just had to, but it's the character a person reflects within their flaunting, and from Artemis' observations, and endless complains from Stiles, she deduced Erica's flaunting wasn't a very pretty sight.
"I feel sooo cute." She bounced and said loudly, "Even Boyd agrees." She flashed Artemis a million dollar smile and jumped back onto the couch.
"Of course he does," Artemis smiled knowingly, directing a wink at a silently blushing Boyd.
Suddenly Derek cleared his throat loudly, obnoxiously asking for attention.
Ugh.
"It's a full moon tonight."
"No shit." Erica and Artemis said simultaneously.
Glaring, Derek continued, "And you'll all be feeling bloodlust-an urge to maim, tear to shreds, kill, and possibly bite. So I'm gonna chain you up until you learn to control yourselves."
Artemis blinked as Derek abruptly ended his speech and turned to the chest of chains that lay on the floor.
"That's it?" Isaac asked hesitantly.
"No." Artemis spoke up as Derek glared at her. "The presence of the full moon creates rough waves within you, and the only way to harness the ship, is to find an Anchor. An Anchor is a thought that is so strongly linked to humanity- to your sympathy, empathy and lucidity that it keeps you in your human state of mind. Otherwise, the animalistic side of 'werewolf' surfaces and it gets pretty bloody."
Boyd nodded, "Makes sense."
"And," Artemis continued. "Your Anchor can be anything, but its 90% the thought of someone you love. Can be in a romantic way, or just the love someone has for another being. A friend of mines Anchor is her German Sheppard, Bessie." She ended with a shrug and an easy smile, hoping her information was more useful and helpful than Derek's.
Who was she kidding? Hers was obviously better.
Derek rolled his eyes. Then suddenly Isaac spoke up, "What's up with the spirals?",and pointed at the treskilion painted on the chest.
"It's a triskelion." Surprisingly, Boyd spoke up. "The spiral means different things," he continued, seeming comfortable. " like mother, father child, or past, present, future."
He looked around the room before starting once again, this time a little shyly. "I guess for you it means alpha, beta, omega…"
Derek nodded in confirmation, obviously impressed, "correct."
"His intelligence is turning me on." Erica sung in a hushed tone as she leaned against Artemis, pouting and batting her eyelashes obnoxiously.
"Good God…" Artemis groaned as she got up.
"I'm out of here!" Artemis twirled on her heel "See ya guys later."
She waved just as Derek opened his mouth and raced out the warehouse.
As she sat in the car, her phone buzzed, indicating she had a text. She unlocked it swiftly identifying it to be from that redhead Stiles had a crush on- Lydia.
'tis my gonna help me shop.
Why did Artemis feel that it wasn't a request?
The screen lit up once again,
Macy's in 5.
Artemis took in a deep breath. She had to get to Stiles to discuss the Kanima case if she wanted to get anywhere near a peaceful night.
She gnawed at her lip before she finally made her decision and locked her phone without a reply. She had no time for teenage drama, there were lives at stake.
And so she floored it.
"BHHS Yearbook 2006" Stiles read off the title from the embellished, bright red book.
They were currently at the station as the Sheriff, Stiles and herself. Bent over the desk as dim light filtered through, under their arms and over their heads.
"How does this help us?" The sheriff scratched at his thinning hair in confusion.
Stiles and Artemis gave him an unnerving look. "The only link they have is the fact that they have the same age," Artemis spoke up.
"And if they were of the same age then they were probably in the same class." Stiles continued.
"And if there's any link between these students, it's bound to pop up in these pages." Artemis finished, skimming through the pages until she reached the desired page.
She slapped her hand on it, "Bingo."
Stiles leant closer. "This is Harris' homeroom."
"yup."
"Hey!" he sheriff exclaimed, "There you are Arty!" He pointed at a picture of a face with splashes of freckles across her pale cheeks and thin nose. A mop of tangled hair sat upon the head, resembling a bush and thick framed glasses were pushed up her nose.
Artemis' cheek flared as she haphazardly slapped her hand over the picture.
"Back to the real problem."
"Hey!" Stiles pushed her hand away, "Lemme see." He whined.
"Urgh!" Artemis pinned Stiles with a sharp glare, forcing him to retreat and grabbed a sharpie as a weapon.
"Okay man, chill." Stiles repented hands up in the air.
She blew a strand of hair out of her face and uncapped the red sharpie and proceeded to circle the victims.
"We're still missing one, a Kara Simmons." Stiles flipped the pages over. "BTW, why are we looking at Harris' class?"
"Because," the sheriff spoke up, "we have evidence of his car at practically all the crime scenes. He's in for questioning."
"What?" Stile yelled, followed by flailing as he struggled to straighten himself.
Artemis pursed her lips. This is a perfect opportunity.
"Who's questioning him?"
The Sheriff turning, the look of mild surprise etched across his features. "Why?"
"Umm," Artemis licked her lips, "Do I have enough clearance to question a suspect?"
With furrowed brows, the Sheriff replied, "Not alone, but as a consultant you can go in with an officer and assist."
Artemis shook her head, "No, that won't work. I have to go alone." She pinned the Sheriff with a pleading look. "Please. I have an idea."
Stiles and Artemis looked up at the Sheriff blankly, waiting for his word. With a sigh, he pulled out his talkie and ordered some deputy to escort her.
Artemis beamed at him and turned to Stiles, "Don't worry. I got this."
As she left the room she heard him murmur,
"I know."
She glanced through the glass walls and at the middle of the room, across the mahogany table, sat the accursed man that had made her high school years hell.
Adrian Harris
All those years he degraded her, and now, as he still taught high school, she had gone through being a police detective, federal agent, consulting with the FBI and finally being part of the supernatural society's best agency's best officer. Eat shit Harris.
She straightened her blazer over her crème blouse that was tucked in dark dress pants. Her heels clicked as she strutted down the hall with the manila folder in her hand.
Harris' head snapped up as she opened the door.
"Adrian Harris, an extreme displeasure to encounter you again." She beamed mockingly before she slid into the seat across from him, setting the folder on the table.
"Ms. Lowe." Harris purred arrogantly as he gave her a once over.
She smiled again and opened the folder. She pulled out a few pictures and slapped one down to in front of him as she stood up.
"I'm gonna presume you know upon what charges you're here, so let's cut the chase." She pointed a nimble finger at the picture in front of him- a picture of a black SUV with an unusual bumper sticker.
"I'm wondering," she stretched as she slowly circled him, "what is this car, with that peculiar sticker, doing at 3 out of 5 crime scenes?"
"I have a life you know." He replied. "Plus, 3 out of 5- kind of a long shot, no?"
Artemis extracted another sheet of paper. "And, on the other 2 crime scenes, tire marking were found, both of which matched your car's tires," She smirked at him, "Wanna explain that?"
Harris gulped as Artemis took her seat. "I- I." He sucked in a breath. "I didn't do it. I'm not capable of murder."
Artemis full out laughed, "Arian, I bet you at least 99% of the school will beg to differ."
Harris ground his teeth as he averted his eyes. "I. Didn't. Do. It."
Artemis raised a brow. "Adrian, what's your nightly routine?"
Harris seemed to be taken aback. "Umm, I check papers, then go to sleep at about 9."
Artemis mulled it over. For him to be the Kanima means he must have somehow been bitten or scratched; and as an aftermath, sleep usually is delayed to about midnight. 9 sounds rather peculiar.
"Okay." She nodded, "Tell me this, have you ever encountered a rabid animal throughout your lifetime, specifically in these past few weeks?"
Harris smirked, "Like a puppy? No. No animals."
"Never been bitten or scratched?"
With furrowed brows her replied, "No. Why?"
"No reason," Artemis flashed him a fake smile, "Just speculating."
It was a full moon tonight, if he really was the Kanima, or anything supernatural, it would show.
She pulled the papers back into the manila folder and quickly dismissed herself but just as she was about to leave she turned back to him, folder tucked against her stomach.
"Adrian Harris, thank you for your cooperation." She nodded at him happily, "Oh, and BTW, you're gonna stay with us for another 24 hours, so make yourself comfortable."
And with that she turned on her heel and stalked out the room, slipped the file back into the rack outside the room, and quickly signed out her release before she rushed out the station.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket as it alerted her of a text
It's Lydz bday. Party tonite. Be bck by 1.
Stiles, the moron. Well, at least he texted.
As she slipped her phone back in, her eyes wandered to the full moon that hung across the dark, starry sky. The pack must need her help, Derek, if he was still being a retarded Alpha, will probably end up chlorofoaming the 3, and that was the last thing she needed.
Artemis pulled up in front of the surprisingly quite warehouse.
Sheets of chilly wind cut through the air, whistling through her blazer. She made her way down the dirt path and went straight into the warehouse. But just as she was a few steps down the entrance hall she realized the silence was impossible on the night of a full moon.
She pulled out her gun from her hip holster and pulled out a clip lined with wolfsbane bullets and shoved it in her gun. Cocking it with a sharp click, Artemis balanced the gun in her hand and cautiously and prowled onward silently, only her heels sounding.
She eased into the main area and saw blood splattered on the windows of the warehouse train cars, triggering worry to stir with in her.
Are the pups okay?
But just as she was about to go check inside she heard scraping- the sound of cloth rubbing against something rough, kind of like the sound of someone being dragged across the floor.
Her head snapped to the back gate where she spotted a short feminine figure waddling backwards as she dragged a slumped body across the floor. The bulky muscled figure of the slumped body could only mean one thing.
"Derek!"
Artemis broke into a sprint. "Hey! Drop him!"
She skidded to halt as the captor looked up, her red tresses falling across her shoulders. The expressive makeup made her features sharper, but nonetheless, her green eyes held no emotion.
"Lydia?"Artemis' gun arm wavered, before she tightened her grip. "Let him go."
Lydia stared at her blankly before she monotonously ignored her and went back to dragging Derek's body across the floor.
"What have you done to him?" Artemis screeched as she shoved her pistol in Lydia's face. His face was taunt, eyes closed. A purple powder dusted his sharp nose and cheeks. Wolfsbane.
"Lydia," Artemis spoke slowly, "I will not hesitate to shoot you."Lydia didn't seem to be listening.
"Lydia!" She ground out forcefully as she yanked at her arm. Lydia's eyes snapped at her, but they were coated with a glaze. "The fu-"
Lydia yanked her arm back and continued with the task. Just as she began lugging Derek out the gate, Artemis' ears perked at the sound of a low growl. Whipping her head back, gun still trained at Lydia, Artemis came face to face with a wolfed out Boyd.
"Crap!" Artemis pulled her gun on Boyd, forgetting about Lydia and Derek. Boyd growled threateningly as she backed up, wriggling out of her heels in the process.
A clawed hand rose above his head as he bore his canines, snarling menacingly before he swiped at her.
Artemis bent from her waist down backwards; Boyd's clawed hand passing over her nose. She swooped back up just as Boyd leapt at her, to which she, as a reflex, flipped back ward, landing in a crouch. She shot at his feet, making him back up as she took in her surroundings.
Crates.
Ropes.
Wow. Perfect.
Artemis dodged another swipe before she sprung up at Boyd, reaching high enough to grab his shoulders. Using it as her platform she pushed herself up in a head stand before she tipped backwards; and as she fell, she yanked at the rope dangling overhead.
Vaguely resembling Tarzan, Artemis swung over Boyd and landed on a pile of crates, with she used as her path.
A deep growl resonated behind her, this time different in pitch. Artemis turned in time to catch Isaac pushing Boyd against the side of a car. He caught her eye and nodded, confirming his sanity, and in that moment Artemis bolted, right out the back gate.
The mossy forest floor ran ahead of her surrounding her by tall, dense trees which threw her off track. Where did Lydia take Derek.
Panic. That's what she felt. Pure utter panic bubbled in her chest. Her heart rate skyrocketed before her frustration welled up in the form of tears that were at the brink of falling out.
Just as her brain was about to shut down something clicked.
Lydia was bitten by an Alpha, a power hungry, currently dead Alpha, that had the same blood running through him as Derek did- and with the addition of the alpha power, that blood had certain powers. That Alpha? Peter Hale.
Artemis did a 360, recalling where he was buried.
"THE HALE HOUSE!" Artemis yelped, shooting across the woods, barreling through the trees, bare footed as her heels were still in the warehouse. Rocks embedded themselves in the sole of her foot but she ignored it, determined to get to the Hale house before matters got worse.
She skidded to halt in front of said house's burnt shell just in time to hear him
"I heard there was a party. Don't worry, I invited myself."
And at the sound of his voice Artemis' heart dropped into her stomach the previous tears resurfacing as she choked slightly.
In his all naked glory stood her closest confidant, and support- Peter Hale.
He was back- back from the dead.
Follow? Favorite? Maybe a review?