I woke up screaming. I felt hands on me and I tried to get away from them by thrashing around. I hit out blindly hearing grunts of pain. All the air escaped as something landed on me and had me pinned down. I started sobbing.
"Arielle!" I opened my eyes to find my family staring at me terrified. Isaac was pinning down my arms and legs. I saw a few large welts on him, I must have been hitting him. He slowly got off of me as I started to focus on the room, taking hiccuping breaths as I did.
"Honey, what….are you okay?" My mom asked scared, holding onto my dad tightly.
"Somethings wrong," I moaned. Isaac's hand came up to my forehead.
"You're burning up,"
"It's not me," I told him, he looked confused "It's not me," I kept repeating myself.
"I don't know what you mean,"
I whimpered "It's hot. I have to go. I have to..," I got up but all three were pushing me down. I cried out in fear which caused everyone to back up again "I have to go," I told them and pushed passed them. I could hear them following me talking back and forth as I went down the stairs. I pulled open the door not minding the alarm that sounded through the house. I could hear frantic talking and beeping as I started down the road on my bare feet. A car pulled up next to me, it was Isaac whose eyes were wide and scared.
"Get in the car, I'll take you where ever you need to go, just get in the car," he told me.
I thought about it as I walked, he stayed next to me "The station," I told him and got in. I was freezing now, only in a large T-shirt with no socks. I shivered but kept my eyes focused on the road. I got out before the car stopped despite Isaac's protests. I could feel the gravel cutting my feet but I had to go. I stilled in the lobby. Isaac scrambled after me.
"Arielle?"
"Somethings wrong," I whispered. My skin felt itchy and I began to scratch it. I felt hands guiding me to the Sheriff's office.
"What the fuck?" Stiles asked looking at me. Stiles, Isaac, the sheriff, and Lydia were all talking frantically, it was overwhelming. I shook my head and covered my ears with my hands.
Gunshots rang out. I watched with detached interest as the Sheriff got shot in the shoulder. Behind him, I could see Jordan beating Haigh. I walked over to him unhurried brushing off a set of hands trying to hold me back. Finally, Jordan sat back breathing hard. I kneeled next to him bringing his head to my shoulder and began stroking his hair calmingly.
Isaac came and kneeled next to me looking as if he wanted to rip me away from Jordan "something was wrong," I told Isaac. He nodded in understanding. I felt my eyes get heavy and I didn't fight it when they closed.
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Groaning I tried to get comfortable. When I moved though. my brain felt like liquid. There was a hand on mine so I opened one eye a little. Isaac. I let my eyes close again. People were talking in the room. I popped up whimpering a little at the pain when I heard Jordan's voice. Everyone turned to look at me but I focused on Jordan "You okay?" I asked him. I held my head in my hands like I could stop the pain.
"Strangely better than you," He told me concerned and kneeling next to me. I blindly groped around for his shoulder and then pat it.
"I'm fine," I told him. I heard a scoff next to me, and well from most people in the room.
"Yeah nothing about tonight has been fine," Isaac said almost angrily. Which made me try to open my eyes to see him. I had to focus for a second. He looked pretty put out which I felt bad about.
"Sorry,"
"What the hell happened?" He demanded.
"I felt it," I told him. Every time I spoke it hurt my head. I felt soft hands take one of mine and put something into my hands. I figured it was Tylenol or something and dry swallowed it. Next, they put a cup in my hands and I followed it with water. The water felt great.
"Felt what?" Isaac asked impatiently.
I didn't want to talk, I reached out and pat Jordan's shoulder again. Then curled into a ball on the couch and put my hands over my ears. I heard some protests but eventually, they started talking amongst themselves about Jordan and being on fire.
There was a commotion and I was pulled up onto a very hard lap, my face taken into somebody's hands. I felt the pain start to fade away, there was a rumble underneath me "Three werewolves in this room and no one thought to take her pain?"
"Uh," Came from someone.
Then Jordan laughed "Werewolves," when no one said anything he gulped "werewolves?"
"Thanks, Peter," I told him finally opening my eyes, I now didn't feel like a bomb about to go off. I went to move off of him, instead, he just shifted me so I was sitting on his lap facing everyone else. I'm sure I was redder than a tomato, and I was unsure about what to do. Derek snarled but turned to Jordan.
"So your not all psychic like Lydia?" Jordan asked looking around the room looking a little nervous.
Scott shook his head "Yeah. Not exactly,"
"Okay so three of you are…um…werewolves?"
"Four," Peter said. I reached out to wack Isaac when he flashed his eyes at Jordan.
"Um okay and the rest of you?"
Lydia raised her hand "Not a psychic, a banshee. Someone who has a sense for things related to the dead," a little oversimplification but one of the first times I have heard her say it out loud.
"Human," Stiles said with a little flourish "Strangely the uncommon species in this group,"
"I'm part angel," I offered, his eyes widened comically "There is also a kitsune, were-coyote, and well a bunch of other stuff,"
He seemed to get real antsy "And you guys have no clue what I am?" he asked us.
"Well, I had such a severe reaction to you getting hurt, do you guys think he could be a part angel?" I asked them. Jordan looked baffled.
"I don't know can he do anything you can do? Are you flame resistant too?" Stiles asked.
"Not that I know of, but like I've told you, different Nephilim have different powers, mine just make me an empath,"
Stiles shook his head and turned to Jordan and started bombarding him with questions. Jordan seemed to withdraw more and more. During the whole conversation I was very aware of Derek's eyes on me, and Peter. I also felt uneasy with Peter a little still so I tried to stay as still as possible. I finally noticed that I had large sweatpants on me that must be Dereks and very large soft socks that were barely hanging onto my calves. I'm glad I wasn't half naked.
"Your dad!" I suddenly remembered cutting off Stiles "Your dad is he okay?" I finally was able to remove myself from Peter as I scrambled up. I nearly collapsed back down but Iz was there to steady me.
Stiles sighed "He's in the hospital, he's going to need surgery,"
"Well, what if I heal him?" I asked knowing Stiles was worried about finances right now.
"You are in no shape to be healing anyone," Derek protested. I refused to look in his direction which Peter very much noticed since it took a millisecond for him to be pressed up against my back.
"I would be happy to offer my services for getting you off…I mean on your game," He simpered. Everyone glared at him including me, because he knew exactly what he was doing.
Derek looked the angriest "Over my dead body,"
"She has other options," Isaac growled grabbing me away from him and protectively tucking me into his side "Not me, and well not Derek," That seemed to surprise everyone, they were looking back and forth between us.
"Yeah, can we like not talk about my sex life in public, please?" I asked. He looked at me sheepishly "Okay how about this. I go to the hospital, see if I can heal your dad? If I can't then we are just back to square one. No harm no foul," I told him. He nodded and stepped forward to hug me. I looked down at myself, I could tell my feet were grimy underneath the socks "I'm going to take a shower, Iz can you help me with something?" We went to Isaac's old room that had been turned into the spare room. The whole pack could find extra clothes in the dresser. I grabbed a few things and headed to the shower.
Isaac protested when I asked him into the bathroom. I rolled my eyes "You won't be able to see me. I just have a feeling if you're not in here that Derek or Peter will try and come in to talk to me. I'm not ready for either of those," So he stood guard as I showered and changed.
"You know, I forgot about all of the drama that comes with being a part of this pack," Isaac told me.
I laughed "I wish I could,"
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I waited outside awkwardly as I listened to the conversation in the hospital room. Stiles and his dad were arguing about who should be taking care of who. I admired Stiles for how much he cared for his family, blood and not, but I do wish he would leave some of the stress behind.
I nodded to the doctor as he passed by and slipped into the room "Hi Sheriff," I waved. He looked a little loopy from the morphine but he smiled tiredly back. I'm more than a little embarrassed that I didn't pay any attention to him earlier when he got shot. I was just so focused on everything else. I let my hand hover over his body taking note of where I felt the pain coming off of him. It was a little difficult with the morphine but I had to make due. I started to heal the bullet wound when Stiles carefully pushed my hand away.
"They already know he is hurt there, it's all the other stuff that we can get away with fixing," I nodded and started to heal what I could, a small stress fracture in his leg, a bruised shoulder, and some bruised ribs that I believe were from last week fighting with the mute. I took a second to scan over him again and nodded to Stiles.
He took a second to hug me "I am heading to Lydia to try and break the 4th cipher, Isaac is waiting in the lobby for you"
I rubbed my temple tiredly "Fourth? What about the third?"
"Shit," He said dumbfounded, "No one told you?"
"What?" He was frozen so I had to shake him "Stiles!"
He scratched the back of his neck "Derek, Derek broke the third list,"
Instantly I felt tears welling up. I gulped. I felt his hands ease me down onto a chair outside the hospital room. Not too much later I felt arms guiding me up and out of the hospital. Isaac was there. He got me into the car and started to drive home.
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"So, rough couple of days," Isaac says flopping down on my bed. He leaned his head against his arms and motioned for me to join him. I gave him a small smile and matched his position.
"Couple of rough years," I told him then sighed "Do you think he's going to die?"
Isaac scoffed "Please, he knows you would never let him. Even if you are very right in disliking him right now,"
"What do I do?"
He reached out to move some of my curls off my face "You treat him like normal, be mad at him, don't give him an excuse to walk all over you," I started to protest and he shushed me "I'm not saying never forgive him. You will, and he knows he's being an idiot right now, but make him regret it first. I nodded and snuggled up to him breathing in his scent, it was warm and reminds me of brown sugar when we make cookies "I know you're going to protest, but we are going to the bonfire tonight," I groaned but he kept going "We are going to have fun whether you like it or not. I have been here a week already and we haven't done anything fun,"
"Alright, we can go," I grumble into him "But first I'm taking a nap," I felt him nod at the top of my head and snuggle me closer.
"I've got you," I know he did.
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"There's Scott," Isaac shouted. The music was already so loud you had to yell to be heard. I smiled wide at him already feeling the beat lift up my mood. I grinned and waved him away so he could go spend time with him. I wanted to dance. I could see Isaac lighten up at my smile. The bonfire was pretty amazing, I had never been to one before. These California kids knew how to throw a party, even when it was technically school sanctioned.
As I danced I kept catching the eye of the attractive DJ. A part of me felt guilty for thinking that way but another just wanted to let loose. So I smiled and jumped to the beat. I lost track of where the pack was and even danced with Drew for a bit. I got to live my ultimate teenage fantasy when the DJ beckoned for me to come up to the booth. He lifted a pair of headphones to my ears, placed his hands over mine, and showed me what to do. I felt like my smile was going to split my face in half as we danced together and he made sure that the music stayed on track. We moved together for a few songs when I started to get lightheaded.
He put an arm around my shoulder when I started to sway, he motioned into the crowd for someone. Drew hopped up to guide me to where there were waters and sodas "You alright?" He called over the music.
I nodded rubbing my temple "Just a headache!" I drank the whole bottle of water he handed me, I guess I was feeling more affected by taking the sheriff's minor injuries. Although, that was on top of not getting much sleep either. I thanked Drew as best I could and went off to find Isaac. I was planning on just asking him for the keys to the car so I could lay down for a bit but I was distracted by Scott frantically talking to Liam's friend, Mason, I believe.
It was much quieter over here, my head was still hurting though "Everything okay?"
He shook his head at me and leaned forward so I could hear him better "No, they seem like they are drunk," He told me nodding to where Malia and Liam were falling over themselves.
"And that's impossible, right?" I asked him. I was trying to remember exactly what he had told me before, but my headache was getting worse. I was starting to see white dots across my vision meaning a migraine.
"I think it has something to do with our healing," he told me trying to steady Malia. His voice turned urgent as he spoke to her "Stay on your feet and keep moving, Arielle can you grab Liam?" I didn't know what was going on but I immediately went to grab him, stumbling a little myself. He took us behind where the booth was, it was a little quieter because the speakers weren't facing us. He handed out water as he questioned Mason "How much has he had to drink?"
"Not enough to get him like this,"
I put the water bottle over my eyes, I felt overheated and my migraine wasn't going away, although I was happy it was quieter where we were.
"Something's happening," Scott told us "We need to get them out of here. I think we're gonna have to, um…" and he stumbled. I was up in a second to steady him but almost caused us both to fall.
"How much did you guys drink?" Mason questioned us looking worried.
"Nothing," I told him accepting his hand to help me sit down "Not even a sip between us,"
"What if it's something in the fire?" I asked him, thinking of the story he told me after Allison's mom made wolfsbane into incense.
He thought about it for a second "It wouldn't be affecting you. It's not the drinks either. It's the music," He turned around and started to push through the crowd.
"Wait! Scott," I called out "Where's Iz?" but he was already gone. I turned to Mason "I have to find my brother, I'll be back. Keep an eye on them,"
He looked torn "Scott said to stay here," he was holding it together pretty well for someone who didn't know what was going on, but I knew he could tell something was not right.
I shook my head almost falling over "He doesn't know what's happening," I turned to go back into the crowd when the pressure in my head went up. I was caught by two hands which started to lead me away from the party. Thank goodness. Isaac must have found us. I willingly followed the hands until I heard Mason grunt in pain. When I tried to pull away to check on him I was grabbed and thrown over someone's back. I screeched which didn't help my headache. I also couldn't see what was happening because of the white dots in my vision, and now my hair covering up anything that might have been visible. I groaned hard when whoever had me let me slip off of them onto the ground, my head bounced against something cool. I couldn't breathe, the wind had been knocked out of me. I could hear talking when I opened my eyes I could just barely see the outlines of Scott, Malia, and Liam on the ground next to me. Malia and Liam weren't moving but Scott was struggling against whoever had us. I could hear a scuffle and tried to look down the hallway. I heard a grunt of pain which could only be from Iz. It sounded like he was fighting them pretty hard. Being away from the music was helping a little, everything hurt, and my vision still was blurry but I could see more.
Isaac was hit in the head with something dark and he went limp. I cried out getting up despite my body protesting. I was kicked back down. I grabbed the leg that hit me pulling outward on it as I raised myself into a sitting position. I could feel him pull his leg back to deliver another kick so I beat him to the punch and kicked out right at his kneecap. He screamed. I twisted up into a standing position kicking him in the side of the head as he went down. It was a little sloppy in my state of pain but it did the trick. There were four other guards in between me and Isaac.
I was ready to take them all down no matter what. Except I wasn't watching behind me, someone came up and hit me in the back of the head with a police baton. Instantly a metallic taste filled my mouth as I crumpled on the ground. I could hear myself whimpering in pain as something cold splashed over me. I couldn't see much already but whatever it was had gotten into my eyes also.
I could feel that someone was nearby, I could have sworn they mentioned Haigh. I groaned at the thought.
The music shut off abruptly. I could hear three sighs of relief and someone screaming in pain. I thought about getting up, but it had been a hard day and I deserved to sit this one out. There was a flurry of activity.
"What happened to the gun?" I heard Scott question someone. It had to be Jordan, maybe he had found out what was happening. I was shocked when I heard Derek instead.
"You're covered in gasoline," he said obviously. I could hear the laugh in Scott's voice as he realized what Derek said.
I felt strong hands around me, helping me to stand. I listed to the side. My head was pounding hard and I couldn't stay up by myself. From behind me came Isaac's voice "I've got her," which means the firm hands holding me up were Derek. I was scooped up by a pair of strong arms, my face went into Isaac's shoulder. I started to cry. He tensed up and rubbed my back as much as he could due to the angle. I heard hushed voices talking but couldn't stop the hiccuping. I was glad when he took me and placed me in the car.
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Getting home was hard. I had healed enough that I could see, but I was pretty sure I had a concussion. Isaac dropped me off in the bathroom after I assured him I was alright. He looked reluctant to go. I started the bath looking down at the blood and gasoline staining my clothes. I felt a wave of hopelessness fall over me along with the cold I had been feeling since hitting my head. Nothing would change. My whole life would be one big fight, injured all the time, fighting against corrupt people until maybe I turned into one of them. I'd have heartbreak after heartbreak because after all, inter-creature species don't have a great track record when it comes to long-term relationships.
More hopelessness washed over me. I was so tired. When the bath was full I didn't bother taking my clothes off. Instead, I got in with them on, the warm water pressed through my clothes weighing me down. It wasn't enough though. I got back out dripping water everywhere to grab the lid to the toilet tank. I hugged it to my chest and let myself go under the water. Alone it may not have worked, but together with the wet clothes and calmness, I was able to go under. I stayed there.