"Hello? Yeah, hi Danny." Jackson said as he held the phone to one ear with a finger in the other one. "Listen, I just have something I want to ask."
The rest of the pack stood around him in Erica's room, Derek eyeing him almost furiously as they tried to track her down.
Isaac knew where he had seen her now, he would know those eyes anywhere, not just anyone had eyes like that; one blue, one green.
"Uh, sure, hey I heard about Stiles, is he going to be okay?" Danny said through the phone.
"That depends…" Jackson said.
"On what?"
"Well, kind of on the answers you can give me."
"How do you figure that?"
"Can I just ask you? We don't really have much time here." Jackson said following prompt from Derek.
"You know one of these days you're going to have to explain what the hell happened to you. You've changed Jackson, and sure, what do you need?"
"You remember that party that we came to with you?"
"Yeah…" Danny said.
"Do you remember the girl that Stiles was talking to? You know, the one that got Derek all murderous and stuff." Kind of like he is now, he thought.
"Uh, seriously Jackson it was a while ago now, I remember Kyle's party but otherwise-"
"Kyle! It was his house? Can you like give me his number or something?" Jackson said hurriedly.
"I guess… what's any of this got to do with Stiles?"
"Can you just text it through to me Danny? I have to go."
"Yeah sure." He hung up.
A few moments later Jackson held up the phone with Kyle's number on it.
"Call him." Derek said.
"Here, let me do it." Isaac said, holding out his hand for the phone.
Jackson handed it over and Isaac pressed the green call button.
He waited for the rings and tapped his foot impatiently until he finally picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is this Kyle?"
"Yes… why, who's this?" Isaac knew this was important and he was trying his hardest not to mess it up.
"Oh, my name is Isaac, I came to one of your parties a few weeks ago. I was actually trying to track down a girl."
"I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with this dude."
"Okay, okay, look. We kind of, slept together that night and she left some stuff in my car, I only just found it when I did a clean out and I uh… want to give it back to her." Everyone rolled their eyes and Jackson shook his head.
"Why did I give it to him?" He said and Boyd chuckled.
"If you slept with her then why are you calling me, it was just my house." Kyle said.
"Yeah but I didn't get her number and I figured you might know her… her number, you might know her number."
"Maybe, who was she?"
Crap, Isaac thought, he couldn't remember her name. "Uh… well, she had these really distinctive eyes…"
Kyle laughed. "Dude, you scoundrel. And you mean Karissa right? With the blue and green eyes?"
"Yes! Yes, Karissa. You don't happen to have her number do you?" God he hoped he did.
"Uh, no, sorry I don't." His heart sank, how were they ever going to track her down? "I do know where she works though."
"That would be great."
"Ice cream place along fifth, it's kind of out of the way. She usually does afternoons if you want to catch her… or if you don't." He said.
"Thank you, seriously man, I owe you one." Isaac hung up.
"So let's get down there!" Scott said.
"It's too late, she'll be gone by now." Derek said, his arms folded.
He walked out of the room and back to Stiles, watching over him in case there was any sign of improvement, without much hope.
The rest of them stayed back with Erica, the mood very low.
"I'm going to be discharged tomorrow morning. I'll be able to help you." Erica said softly.
"You can go home and stay in bed." Boyd said.
"I'm almost healed, I'm not an invalid… anymore." She said. "Thanks to Stiles." She said with a sigh.
"No one say anything." Jackson said, leaning against the wall.
"There has to be something else we can try, or Derek's going to give him the bite." Isaac said.
"I still don't know why you think that's so bad." Jackson said with his eyes closed.
"He doesn't… want it." Scott said.
"He might not have a choice." Erica said softly.
"Who thinks that he should get the bite?" Scott said and Erica and Jackson raised their hands. "And who thinks he shouldn't?" Scott raised his own hand and so did Isaac.
They all turned to look at Boyd who hadn't answered either question.
"Look, I just think that if it comes down to it then he should, but if we can help it then we should do what he wants." He shrugged.
"Well, what about that pain thing?" Jackson said.
"What are you talking about?" Isaac said.
"You know, that thing where we can take people's pain away, I mean, could we use that to heal him or something?" Jackson said.
They all looked around at one another, none of them knowing the answer.
"There's only one way to find out." Erica said.
She nodded to the door and the boys walked out and across the ward. They gathered in the doorway and Derek looked up with a roll of his eyes.
"Can I help you or are you all just going for a little stroll?" He snapped.
"Look we have something that we can try, I don't know if it will work but we don't want him to get the bite." Scott said.
"Some of us…" Jackson muttered.
"What is it?" Derek said impatiently.
He was still holding Stiles' hand tightly, trying not to get any hope from the things they were telling him. He explained Jackson's idea, and that maybe if they pooled all their energies together they could trigger his healing. Derek's heart sped up a little. He promised himself he wouldn't put his faith in anything and it was all too soon before any little hope he had was torn away.
"It's not going to work the way you want it to." They spun around to see Peter poking his head through the door.
Derek rolled his eyes and Scott scoffed. "Are you always here?" he said.
"Well we're all worried about Stiles aren't we?" He said.
"We are, you? Not so much." Isaac said.
"All I'm saying is that you're better off finding this girl because this method will, not, work."
"How do you know?" Derek said.
Peter smiled. "I've been around far longer than you Derek, I've seen a lot more."
"Well we're going to try it anyway." Scott said, turning his back on Peter and heading to Stiles' side.
Peter just rolled his eyes and leant against the door as they stood around Stiles, all looking like they had no idea what they were doing, which of course they didn't.
"How are we going to do this?" Jackson asked.
"I guess… I don't know." Scott said.
Derek's hand held Stiles' tightly and his veins started turning black. Scott was next, placing his hand on his chest and trying to take away his afflictions. One by one they placed a hand on him and drew his pain from his body, he even gained a little colour, but even the five of them trying to cure him did nothing more than add a little pink to his sunken cheeks.
Derek stopped trying and resisted standing up and ripping out Peter's throat after his 'I told you so'. Scott sighed, tearing away his hand and storming out of the room. He was running low on ideas and he couldn't take it anymore. Isaac ran after him.
"That may have worked had he been a werewolf. A pack bond is something very strong that we can't always explain." Peter said.
"Why are you here?" Derek asked.
"You might think I'm cold but I do have a heart." Peter pulled a faux hurt look and Derek shook his head.
"I thought you hated Stiles." Boyd said.
"Oh he's more annoying than any human I've ever met, I'm trying to do something nice for my dear nephew." Peter smiled.
"Don't fall for that." Derek said, caressing Stiles' hair and swallowing hard.
"Would the two of you mind if I talk to Derek-dearest alone?" He said.
Jackson and Boyd headed back to Erica. Already tired of Peter's antics.
"What do you want?" Derek said.
"What are you doing? Sitting by his bedside like an old maid. You know how this will end."
"Not necessarily." Derek growled low in his throat.
Peter chuckled. "Do you really think you're going to give him the bite? After what happened to Paige?"
"Do you want me to sit here and watch him die like I did with Paige?"
"I thought it was slightly different in her case." Derek's growl got louder.
"What. Do. You. Want?" He said through gritted teeth.
"Can't you see what this town is doing to you? You'll never get away from it if you keep finding reasons to stay."
"I did leave. I left with Laura and we came back."
"Look how much good that did."
"What's your point Peter? Are you here to point out how everything has either died or betrayed me in this town or do you have a larger purpose?" He hissed.
Peter smiled. "We could get out of here. Leave and put it all behind us. We would never have to come back to this place. I almost did but then I was burned alive so that kind of put a damper in my plans."
Derek shook his head and closed his eyes.
"In a week there will be nothing left for you here."
"If I say I'll think about it will you leave us in peace?" Derek said.
"For now." Peter smiled again and walked out of the room.
Derek exhaled shakily and held back his tears, not being able to deny Peter's words.
"I'm sorry Stiles, I'm so sorry Stiles." He murmured.
The next day plans were set into motion. Derek wasn't going to let this girl get away with what she's done and so he was taking Jackson and Isaac down to the ice-cream shop where she works to… sort things out as it were.
Isaac worried that it would end up far worse than it sounded. They stopped by the clinic before they headed out, Deaton had made some more of that wretched tonic to stop her from sucking them in.
That really was the last thing they needed.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Deaton asked as Derek downed his shot of the potion.
"We're fine." He said.
"Derek, maybe it would be a good idea." Isaac said.
"I don't want you to do something you'll regret." Deaton said.
Derek looked up. "I could only regret it if I let her slip through my fingers."
"If we can grab her then we can bring her back here." Jackson suggested.
"If it gets that far." Derek said.
"Derek Hale you are not a killer." Deaton said.
Derek looked up with his nostrils flaring. "I think you'll find different evidence to go with that claim doc."
Deaton sighed. "If I don't see you back here before the sun sets I will come down there Derek."
"And do what exactly?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Just try to think things through, let's not go down there with the mantra 'shoot first ask questions later'." Deaton said.
"We'll be fine." Derek said as he headed out to the car.
Deaton sighed. "I suppose I'll have to count on the two of you to make sure he doesn't kill everyone in sight?"
"Yeah, probably." Jackson shrugged.
"I'll make sure he doesn't do anything… rash." Isaac said and Deaton nodded before they headed out to meet Derek at the car.
The tension in the car on the drive was shocking. No one said anything and no one really knew what to say. They knew what Derek could do if he lost his control and they needed to stop that from happening.
It was late afternoon when they parked the car across the road and their plan could really begin. Jackson was going to go in and figure out whether she was alone. Then he would send a message to Isaac and Derek telling them when to come inside.
"If she looks like she's flirting maybe you should pretend to get you know, possessed." Isaac said.
"Yeah, Lydia would kill me and I'm more scared of her than I am of this thing."
"Get out there. Now." Derek said.
"Okay then." Jackson rolled his eyes and walked across the road to the quaint little shop.
From what he could see, it was deserted.
He opened the door and the little bell rang. He started checking out the flavours, waiting for someone to offer him service. The worst part was that they all looked pretty tasty.
"Hey there! How can I help you?" A short brunette girl with a beaming smile came walking out from the back, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Hi, I'm just having a look." Jackson said with a charming smile.
He looked at her name badge; Karissa. When he looked into her eyes he saw that she had one bright blue and one bright green.
"You know, you have amazing eyes there." He said.
She shrugged. "It runs in my family." Her eyelashes fluttered and he tilted his head to his side.
"Sorry, you must get that all the time." He said.
"I like it like that though." She smiled.
"You seem so lonely in here, you on your own?" He asked, leaning on the counter.
"It's a quiet place so all I really need is myself. Though it's not every day that gorgeous customers like you come walking in here though." She smiled.
"Maybe I'll stick around then, I'll grab one scoop of that one." He said with an arrogant smile.
As she started to prepare his order he took out his phone to text Isaac.
She's alone. Now is time.
He put it back in his pocket and paid for his ice cream. He took a seat and she bit her lip with another flutter of her eyes and it wasn't long before Derek and Isaac walked into the shop with two chimes of the bell.
"Hey guys, what can I do for you?" She chirped.
Derek stare was murderous and Isaac looked incredibly nervous.
"Are you telling me you don't know?" Derek said and she looked from one to the other.
"Uh… I can only assume that you're undecided on your flavour?" She said.
Derek's knuckles cracked as he squeezed them together tightly. "Don't remember him?" He jerked his head towards Isaac and she looked confused.
"No, should I?" She folded her arms.
Isaac wasn't so sure anymore. He looked at her and breathed in her scent but something was off. It was definitely what he had smelt in the forest but there was something different and he couldn't quite figure it out.
Derek let out a low growl and his eyes flashed red.
She looked at the two of them, breathing heavily and turned to run through the back. Derek jumped the counter and grabbed her by the arm, throwing her into the wall. He took her by the throat and pinned her there, slowly lifting her higher until her feet were barely scraping the ground. She sputtered and hissed and her eyes grew wider, pupils turning to slits.
"Derek stop!" Isaac yelled.
"She attacked him, she attacked you. Who knows how many others she's killed?" He said.
"It wasn't me!" She coughed.
"Don't lie to me!"
"I can't! Not yet! I haven't killed anyone!" She yelled back.
"Derek stop! It think she's telling the truth!" Isaac said.
"What? She reeks of that thing in the woods!" Jackson said.
"Something is different, look at her!" Isaac said.
She was still choking in Derek's stranglehold.
"Please…" She said with barely a breath left in her.
Derek thought about letting her die under his hand but that would get them nowhere. He dropped her and she fell to the floor, gasping for breath.
"Are you fucking crazy? Anyone could have walked in!" She said.
"Start talking now or I swear to god I'll tear out your throat in front of anyone who wants to watch." Derek growled.
"Alpha huh?" She said, slowly standing up. "Big dog on campus?" She narrowed her eyes and Derek growled.
"I'm faster and stronger than you are, and your charms don't work on me one bit so playing games with me right now is a very stupid move."
"Why are you here? What do you want with me?" she said.
"Our friend was attacked, he's in the hospital. We know what you are Karissa." Isaac said.
"If you knew your shit then you'd know that I'm only seventeen. I'm not fully matured yet." She said glaring at the group of them.
"What do you mean?" Jackson said and Derek was getting very impatient.
"Jesus Christ, were you just going to kill me before you knew anything at all? You fucking werewolves act all high and mighty when it comes to your damn packs but you're just as happy to do the killing. I take it someone's dead? Or dying?" she said. "You think we're such vile killing machines but you were just going to slash me up without a word. I was not raised to be like my ancestors, okay?" She sneered.
"You said we don't know anything, so tell us." Isaac said.
"You think I'm going to tell you anything?" She said.
"If you want to survive the next five minutes you'll start talking." Derek said.
She rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "I take it you know the story, well, part of it. We call ourselves the Maeve, the first of our kind was born from the child of Bastet, a protective deity from Egypt and one of Lilith's children. If you know anything about the children of Lilith then you'll know that they haunted men for thousands of years, taking from them what made them young and eventually killing them. This was to punish them for that asshole Adam's mistake. He thought he could control her but he was severely wrong.
"When her child seduced the son of Bastet the genes mixed and we were created. All the power of Lilith and beyond beautiful, with the power to seduce men at will." She seemed pretty proud of herself at that part. "It's all in the pheromones." She said with a flutter of her eyelashes.
"You do that one more time I'll tear you apart." Derek said.
She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, we don't get our full abilities until we're eighteen. I mean we can still wrap a man around our fingers with a simple look but full transformation only comes when we're mature. You don't have to believe me but I have no reason to lie, especially with you threatening me the way you are. I don't have claws and I don't turn into a fucking cat when I want to fuck a guy. Simple as that."
"You've got a pretty foul mouth on you." Jackson said.
"Yeah well my species isn't too fond of your gender coming in and acting like the boss so excuse me for being so rude." She snapped before sighing and giving them a genuine look. "Listen, my mother always taught me that we just don't do that anymore, I don't want to kill anyone. I'll admit it, I might use my appeal to sleep with guys but I have never killed a man. Or a woman while we're at it, that is totally against the code."
"Code?" Isaac said.
"It's a figure of speech okay, can you leave me alone now?" she said.
"You might not be doing this but you know enough about it to know what happens to victims." Derek said, still not convinced.
"Yeah, it takes five days to complete the ritual. The victim slowly gets weaker until we've absorbed everything we can and then on the fifth day they die." She shrugged. "I guess you're only asking because someone's in a bit of trouble?"
They looked from one to the other before Isaac spoke up. "Is there any way to cure them?"
"No, if the ritual begins they're going to die."
The three of them heard her heartbeat change and gave each other a mutual look. "You're lying." Derek said.
"Okay, werewolves live, you happy?" she said, assuming the person they're worried for is one of them.
"He's not a werewolf."
"There's no cure." She said.
"You're lying. I can hear it." Derek snarled. "You know of a way."
She glared over at him. "You have a lot of anger, I can feel it. I can do a lot more than just seduce you know." Derek growled and she rolled her eyes. "I've heard of a way, yes, but I've never heard of it being done and it's not supposed to be a pleasant experience, for me anyway." She muttered.
"Maybe we should take her to see Deaton." Jackson said.
"Are you going to come willingly or am I going to have to force you?" Derek said.
"As much as I would love to give you the satisfaction of knocking me out and dragging me to your car like the big brutish werewolf you are, I think I can manage myself." She said.
Derek still grabbed her arm and pulled her out through the back door and towards the car. If there was any chance she could save Stiles he was not letting her out of his sight for a second.