Killing the Past

It had been a day since I last saw Justin. My father had brought me to the Argent house and I had shut myself away in my room. I didn't leave for any reason. I had lost the will to do anything. I lay on my bed on my side, feeling broken. Though I was healed from the night I stabbed myself, I still felt I had a giant hole in me.

I shoved the rest of the covers off the bed, not wanting anything to touch me. My father had known exactly who to go after. Justin was my weak place, and everyone knew it. You see, my father and mother had been the best hunters of their time. My father is a sharp shooter and mom in best in hand to hand combat. If any other hunter had threatened me, I would have taken them. But I couldn't beat my father. He was too good.

Suddenly, there was a knock on my door. I pulled a pillow from the floor and covered my head with it. The door opened and someone came in. "Aideen, sweetie? I haven't seen you a while. I was delivering a cake and thought I'd see how you are."

I peeked out under the pillow at Mrs. Topain who was peering back at me with cautious eyes. Out of respect for her, I forced myself to sit up. She smiled and sat next to me. "I heard you're going back to Texas."

"I have to. My dad's making me. He can do it, too. It's all legal."

She nodded, understanding. "Justin loves you. He's going to be broken hearted. And all this just around the new from yesterday. Did you hear? Mr. Stilinski and I are getting married."

I was surprised. "Just after Reggie died?"

"Well, it may seem in bad taste, but no body knew how close I actually was to Reggie. I had already told him about my engagement. I had asked him when he thought I should announce the engagement to everyone, and he asked my to do it yesterday. It had important meaning to him. You see, yesterday was the day his parents were married, may they rest in peace. I didn't know much about them other than their jobs claimed their lives. So for him, because I promised I would do it on their anniversary, I kept my word."

As it sunk in, I understood that Mrs. Topain had tried to do something to honor Reggie and his families' memory. I also had a burning question I wanted to ask her. "You loved Mr. Topain a lot, didn't you?"

A sad, soft smile graced her pink lips. "Yes, I did. He was my world. I loved him more than anything. Why?"

"Well, it's just that that's how I feel about Justin. I love him more than anything and I don't want to... I don't want to leave. I just feel like I'll lose him forever."

"Honey," she said, pulling me to rest my head on her shoulder, "if you love someone, no matter what, you'll never lose them. I know you are a strong young lady and I'm so proud of you. I'm proud my son found someone as wonderful as you. No matter what, you'll do the right thing."

I felt small tears running down the tip of my nose. Mrs. Topain patted my back and told me she had to leave. When she had left, I understood that I was living my last day in Beacon Hills. I was going to live with the people who deserve it. I wanted to stop by and see my best friend before going to find my love.

I went down stairs and made it to the door when my dad tried to stop me. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To see my friends." I side stepped him and went outside. I took his car, not caring if he would freak or not. I was angry at him and didn't care what he thought. I drove to the all too familiar Hale house, wanting to tell Derek goodbye. I knew that my friends from school would be able to see me off, but because Derek's a werewolf, my father would try to kill him on sight.

I parked in front and went on in, but he wasn't there. I called out for him but got no answer. I knew he was here. I mean, where else would he be. Suddenly, I had an idea. I left the house and walked a little ways into the woods. There, I found an iron bar door to a cellar. I ducked down into it, knowing that he was down there.

I followed the dark hallway to the little room with the metal door at the end. It was open so I just walked in. Everything was exactly the same from the night we saved Derek from this room. The table with the generator was there. The flashlight on a sand. Even the chains that had bound him to the rack dangled there. The patch that had been attached to his side lay on the ground. The whole seen brought up feelings I had tried to get rid of a long time ago.

I was still guilty. It was my fault what happened to him. I could have let him loose, but I didn't. He had told me not to to protect me from Kate. The nasty feeling crushed my heart, bringing me to my knees. Hands pulled me up and close to someone, supporting me. "Aideen, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. I had a feeling you were here. Why are you here?"

"I just came down to see the state if things down here. Funny to think this was a safe room from hunters." More guilt. It pressed down harder.

"Derek, I'm so sorry."

"We've been thought this before. It wasn't your fault, so forget about it." Though I still didn't feel better, I dropped it. He took my hand and sat me down on the little table. "Scott told me what your dad's doing. Are you really going to go?"

"I don't have a choice. He'll kill Justin if I don't."

"Why not run away with Justin? Elope or something."

"Do you not understand about what he is? What my mother was? What I am? Derek, the O'Conner family are some of the worlds best hunters. He'll find us and then I'll end up stuck with him and with a dead Justin. Nothing is worth that."

"Doesn't he live by the code to hunt wolves?"

"I don't know... see my dad and I don't talk. I don't even know who he is really. He used to."

Derek had an idea. "What if he had to stay to hunt a wolf?"

"Derek, he would only do that if the wolf was killing someone. Besides, what are you thinking?"

"What if he had to stay? What if he was hunting me while you and Justin ran off?"

I punched him, regretting it when my knuckles popped. "That's a horrible idea! I mean, you would have to kill someone to get him to hunt you. Also, he's an amazing hunter. The best. What if he killed you?"

"He won't. I know how to avoid hunters."

"Oh, do you? How?"

"I dated one," he said, pulling out a cell phone. He dialed a number and it rang. "Justin, Aideen is here. We have an idea. While her father goes after me, you and her elope."

I couldn't hear the other side, but Derek was nodding. "Yeah, we have to get him on my tail. The only way he'll leave Aideen alone is if she's dead. So, I'll kill her."