The days after prolonged as usual despite murders and alpha nonsense everything else seemed pretty normal, but Erica's death still hung in the air like a dank stench. Stiles tried his best to ignore the forlorn feeling in his chest and focus on finding answers.
Stiles found it strange at how simply Ariel treated the entire ordeal. She was very good at organizing her priorities. She hardly noticed him in school even when they sat in the same class for English. At least he thinks she doesn't but she always managed to prove him wrong.
She did acknowledge him once in the morning though. During cross country drills when Ethan and Aiden had busied themselves with riling up Isaac, and Scott being the protective friend had to go make sure Isaac was okay. Of course Stiles barely noticed any of this, being so consumed by the pain that shot through his abdomen mid run.
"Cramps are a bitch, aren't they Stilinski?" He was surprised by her appearance beside him. Even more by her attire at the time. Ariel was dressed in tight deep blue sports vest and taut track pants that hugged the curves of her long legs. Her auburn hair was held up in a pony tail which showed off the smooth corded lines of her shoulders and her lean arms—the cold didn't seem to bother her—and Stiles always had a thing for girls in sporty clothes.
"We were not all blessed with the stamina of a wolf."
"If you put the same fire you put into your words into your physical training, maybe you won't need to be a wolf." He rolled his eyes at her words and straightened his posture. She grinned and they began to jog side by side. It was pleasant enough until they came across the fourth dead body and a woman's scream pierced the air.
He saw the way Ariel, Ethan and Aiden exchanged several glances. Startled and baffled by the sight of the lifeless corpse tied to the tree. Isaac and Scott were ignorant to the confusion of the alphas. Stiles defended them against Isaac's accusations while trying not to show how attached he was to Ariel, but it was pretty futile considering how hell bent Isaac was on ending them.
Stiles sat at his lunch table staring in her direction. Ariel was sitting between Ethan and Aiden. He saw the way Aiden seemed to lean more to her side, watching her with a certain hunger behind those dark eyes of his. Stiles didn't like it. In fact seeing them made him feel annoyed like Aiden was riffling through his best collection of comics without his permission.
He averted his gaze back to the blank notebook on the table. Tapping away at the surface with the pencil in his hands. He was trying to form a mind map to figure out the murders and he needed answers, he needed her. Suddenly his phone beeped, he hastily dug it out from his pocket and checked the message. It was from her.
What is it?
How do you know I want something? It was weird how she did that. He subtly glanced in her direction once he sent the message. Her right arm was tucked under the table and she was typing away furiously with her thumb but on the outside she seemed completely bored which didn't grab either of the twins attention.
That pretty much confirms it. See you in the janitor's closet in five minutes.
The moment he read the text the alphas got to their feet and left the cafeteria. Stiles glanced at his watch, there was still another fifteen minutes left till the end of lunch.
He was waiting in the small supply closet—leaning against the edge of a lone table. He was tapping his foot impatiently while nibbling on the skin of his thumb, a nervous tendency. She was punctual as usual because in exactly five minutes the door handle turned and Ariel stepped into the dark room. He always felt a sense of relief whenever she was around. It was an odd sensation but he didn't mind it. Ariel had her shoulder bag and she smiled in his direction and he returned it crookedly.
"I need to know what you know about sacrifices." He quickly stated in a haste to get answers. She shot him a incredulous look while smirking at the same time.
"Sacrifices? Pretty morbid ice breaker don't you think?—is this your theory behind all the killings?" Stiles was glad he didn't have to explain everything from the beginning to her. She was already caught up and aware of all the murders.
"Why does it sound so ridiculous to you?" He demanded noticing the doubt in her eyes.
"Not ridiculous it's just sacrifices are usually done with a purpose either to win the favour of the gods or to gain protection from the spirits of the being that are sacrificed or to regain a balance that was broken."
"Balance that was broken, like that lady from the Greek Myth?" There was a spark in her eyes like she didn't expect him to know that, but then she smiled clearly impressed and nodded.
"Iphigenia, yes but Agamemnon sacrificed her to appease Artemis for his sins." She said dropping her bag to the floor and leaning back against the shelf behind her.
"She was a virgin right?" Stiles asked to confirm. She looked to him questioningly.
"Why do you believe this is sacrificial?"
"Because the people who have died so far have all been Virgins, the guy with the purity ring, the girl Emily and..." He hesitated at the last name that came to his mind "And Heather."
Stiles sighed heavily. His heart clenching in despair with her lifeless body flashed in his mind, that pale face that was once alive with colour. Those blue eyes he will never get to see again.
"I've known her since we were kids, she was the only connection I had to my mom, her mom and mine were best friends and now she couldn't even look at me without—" His voice hitched but he quickly shook away the need to bawl and cleared his throat "And it was her birthday too."
Ariel was watching him with those keen eyes but there was understanding and empathy in them and he was glad she was listening in silence.
"I need your help to stop this if you know anything that would be really great." He concluded firmly. She blinked out of her thoughts and nodded. Straightening her posture against the rack behind her.
"Well Deucalion doesn't have any involvement with the killings and I didn't know about the virgin fact until you told me just now." She informed he was surprised by the news.
"So they—he knows nothing about this?"
"If he does he doesn't care, so there is the possibility that this is just the work of some deranged human and not anything supernatural." There was that possibility and Stiles found it surprisingly hard to be true. Considering all the abnormal incidents that have occurred in Beacon Hills.
"Scott and Isaac are under the impression you are all part of this and Isaac is out for blood."
She suddenly began laughing in that breathless velvety way, but there was such superciliousness in her chuckle like what he stated was the most absurd thing she had ever heard in her lifetime. Stiles supposed it might sound pretty ridiculous to her. After all she was an alpha and Isaac is a mere Beta. The two didn't compare, but Stiles was in no mood for hilarity. Despite how appealing she looked when she laughed.
"That's not funny Ariel. Can we focus please there are people dying out there and they are all virgins and you know who else is a virgin?"
"You?" she mused fondly still recovering from her laughter.
"YES ME I AM A VIRGIN AND I AM GOING TO DIE!" He exclaimed dramatically and she rolled her eyes at his antics. She stepped away from the shelf and approached him in slow strides.
"You are not going to die, because you are not just any defenseless virgin. You have an entire fleet of werewolves behind you and... you have me." He was expecting that. Especially when it was stated with such resolve in her startling blue eyes, but then the openness in her expression disappeared with a playfully little smirk wormed its way on to her full lips. Her stare fixated on his mouth in a way that instantly made him feel extremely aware of the appendage.
"But if you really want me to seal your safety I could always solve the problem." She breathed huskiness in her voice that made him shudder agreeably.
"Problem?" He echoed taking a step back to form a distance only hit the edge of the table behind him. She watched him in that same way a predator would stare at its prey, like the hunt excited it. Stiles was pretty sure the victim was never thrilled, not like he was at that moment.
"You know, your chastity can always be dissipated, right here...right now." His tortured stare was focused on her tantalizing lips and every fiber in his body wanted to grab her and kiss her. His heart was beating so fast Stiles was confused and conflicted by his own emotions. He knew what she was implying, it was just hard to believe she was actually suggesting they—Stiles couldn't even picture it without feeling faint.
"Yo-you are serious?" He stuttered out. She was distracted by lines of his neck and the moment he spoke her gaze locked on to him.
"You doubt me?" He could only bob his head up and down frantically while trying to form words in his mind "Well Danny offered this morning before abruptly laughing at my face which wasn't very nice so forgive me if I am a little suspicious."
She smiled entertained by his words and leaned closer to the point where their noses were almost touching "I could be serious, that all depends on you Stiles."
It all depended on me?It was a strange circumstance indeed. He didn't think it was possible to be dominant and compliant at the same time but then again with Ariel, anything seemed possible. He was so tempted, incredibly so and he began to wonder what if he said yes—instead of agreeing in words he agreed through action, a touch or a kiss.
Why was he hesitating? It was what he wanted right? That moment every hormonal teenager waited for but at the same time it felt out of place. Wrong would be the incorrect word to use because everything felt right with her but he didn't want to cross that line. Not like this, not when he wasn't even sure what this was.
Then again, he hadn't felt this way about anyone. Not this heart pounding, throat drying need. Maybe if—
The shrill sound of the bell cut through his thoughts, it echoed in the school halls and seeped in through the walls around them. Stiles cursed and glanced up at the ceiling in disbelief, if there is a God out there he clearly wants me to be one of those 72 virgins.
"Oh saved by the bell." She mused stepped away and he immediately missed her warmth. She picked up her discarded bag and turned to him.
"You don't have to rush off." The words rolled out easily and she smiled in that warm way.
"I don't but it's free period and I have to see a certain coach about a spot on the football team." Sports, he liked the fact that she was immersing herself with the extra circular activities. It made her stay here seem more permanent.
"It's referred to as soccer here." He pointed out smiling at her, her eyes squinted in recollection.
"Right, I need to remember your backward ways—"He was nodding vague agreement but then the moment the words sunk in he glared at her, outraged.
"Hey!" She chuckled at his late reactions and turned to leave. He watched and she hesitated at the door.
"Keep an eye on Meg."
"Why what's wrong with her?" He asked, alert and concerned. Ariel glanced at him with a somber look in her eyes.
"Isaac isn't the only one out for blood."
Ariel couldn't get her mind off the jittery male that was Stiles Stilinski. She felt pretty good about herself knowing she could exact such a heady reaction from him. Back in the janitors closet and she wondered what would have happened if he actually agreed. Would they really get steamy within that small space in the closet?
During her own musings she was oblivious to the fact that she was already standing in the field of grass until her stare landed on the Head Coach Mr. Finstock. He was glaring in her direction as if threatening her to stop but she continued to make her way to him. Vaguely glancing at the many girls near to her age practicing football.
"You are interrupting practice." He stated she looked to him.
"I am here for the tryouts." She stated he chuckled like the idea was absurd to him.
"Tryouts, sweetheart tryouts were yesterday so if you are late then that's your fault. I won't make any excuses if you are new or not."
"So all the slots for the team are filled?" She wondered. He stared down at her like she was mentally deficient.
"There is plenty of room for 2nd string."
"What's 2nd string?" He blinked in surprise and she gazed back in anticipation.
"Have you ever played soccer before?" He demanded she looked to the rest of the females who had stopped playing to watch her confrontation with the coach.
"It's the game where you kick the ball into the goal right?" She mulled he gaped and shook his head in disbelief. This girl was wasting his time and he didn't even want to spend his day coaching the soccer team but the coach responsible was sick with something—Bobby hoped it was Chlamydia or something. He wanted to get rid of the girl. An idea began to formulate in his mind when he saw the ball by his feet.
"How about this, if you can kick this ball to the goal and get it in then I will consider having you on the team." She looked to the ball and then to the goal calculatingly before nodded and dropping her bag onto the grass.
"Seems simple enough." She commented keeping a gaze on the goal.
"Girls, form a wall. Beckham here wants to try out for the team." The coach suddenly exclaimed and they all lined up in front of the goal with the goalie in the back, in a defensive maneuver.
"It's Carden, Ariel Carden." She corrected feeling insulted—not really comprehending his jest considering she had never heard of this Beckham character.
"Well Carden, let's see what you got." He challenged, she nodded and focused.
Ariel took a few steps back to analyze from a different angle. She guessed the distance between the ball and the goal to be around ten meters. She then looked to the people defending the goal. All five of the girls had varying heights between 5'3" to 5'6" she knew she hit the perfect velocity and strength the sent the ball above them and to the goal, but there was one factor that confused her.
"Are they going to attempt to stop the ball?"
"I don't really see the point. Will you hurry up? You are worse than Greenburg." He snorted. She nodded silently before looking to the goal again and narrowing her electric blue eyes. Finding the right balance she twisted her body and delivered a sharp kick to the side of the ball. It went whizzing forward, spinning in the air in a ferocious haste. The defenders didn't even have a time to react when the ball skimmed over their heads and right into the net behind the unsuspecting goalie.
"That was a lucky shot." A blonde lean girl commented starkly. Ariel looked to her and she immediately shrunk under her piercing stare.
"Yes with perfect foot work and attention to the angles." The coach mused in awe while trying to blink away the disbelief. He looked to Ariel who was staring passively.
"Paige get over here." The girl who reacted so harshly approached the coach in four quick strides. Someone threw the ball back at the trainer which he caught easily before looking to Ariel. She glanced between the two, unsure of what the scheming interest in his eyes implied.
"Let's try a little attack and defense." Those were two words Ariel understood perfectly.