Last Quarter Moon:

Release, let go, forgive.

After wasting my afternoon in the emergency room fretting about Matt the last thing I wanted to do was hang about in a deserted factory. As always though Matt had won the argument and I had ended up chaperoning the supposedly concussed idiot. A thin line of teens shifted in front of us as Matt and I shuffled forward. The dull grey walls that encased us gave little distraction from our bleak surroundings. Though Matt seemed unaffected by the drape colourings, he had taken his camera out almost as soon as we had arrived. Whatever he was photographing must have been inspiring as he wasn't even bothering to talk to me.

Nudging him forward as the line moved again I whined childishly at him, "why couldn't you just get the tickets?"

"Aren't you enjoying my company?" He quipped back without evening looking at me.

Peering over his shoulder I frowned at the tiny screen on his camera. He seemed to be taking shots of the girl selling the tickets. Curiosity stirred within me as I lent closer to see the image more clearly. The dull greys contrasted vividly with the girl's, woman's?, dark skin tone. He had somehow managed to take a relatively decent photo of the young woman despite the lack of natural lighting. It was a shame she partially obstructed by the thick metal bars.

Reaching over I plucked the camera out of his hands and examined the image properly. As I lifted my head to compliment him on the photo I noticed a strange look of panic cross his face. We always looked at each others images, why did he suddenly look so worried. A thin smile slipped onto my lips as my finger slide down to the controls. Perhaps he had some more embarrassing selfies, my smile grew at the fond memory of find photos Matt had once take of himself working out. Before Matt could rentch the device out of my hands I had begun to scroll through the images.

My teasing words caught in my throat as I realised why he hadn't wanted me scrolling through his camera. Image after image of Alison covered the small display screen. Photos I hadn't even notice him taking and others that went beyond the average candid. I could feel my face twist as a range of emotions washed over me. Had Matt not been my friend I would be horrified to find these images of Allison but equally had I not been fond of Allison I doubt the photos would have bother me as much as the did.

In the end I settled for chastising Matt with a simple, "what the hell?"

"Keep your voice down." His had already snatched the camera back and hid the damning photos from any wandering eyes. Glaring at me he shot back a question of his own, "why are you're making such a big deal about it? They're just candids. You have loads on your camera."

"These are not candids Matt! These are the kind of photos they find after girls have gone missing." My words had pulled a few curious looks our way but most of the crowd seemed more focused on moving forward toward the metal gate.

Matt raised a hand hush me as he rolled his eyes dramatically, as if I was the one at fault! "You're exaggerating Em," he replied easily.

"I'm, God," I stuttered trying to find the right words. I had always enjoyed being friends with Matt because we shared a similar ethic code, in the sense that neither of us really had one. However it seemed are spending so much time with Scott and his pack my moral compass had begun to realign itself. "Matt you can't even see the issue here. I can't even." with a shake of my head I decide not to try and lecture him. Instead I placed a hand on his arm and tried to channel my inner McCall, "Look friendly piece of advice get rid of those pictures. Delete them and any copies you have, like yesterday."

I didn't stick around to hear his excuses, I doubt my morals had developed enough to actually explain why taking photos through a girls window were wrong. I just knew that is was and hopefully Matt would realise that before it got him into trouble. "Where are you going?" He yelled after me as I left, "Oi Emma! Find get your own ticket."

I didn't respond to his yells nor did I reply to the bombardment of texts that followed my departure. My plan had been to avoid both Matt and Allison until I'd decided what a normal person would do in this situation. I had toyed with the idea of telling someone but Stiles already hated Matt and Scott, well Scott was in love with Allison. I guess I could have gone to Lydia but she already had enough problems of her own to deal with and I wasn't really that chummy with anyone else in the school.

So in the end I had kept it to myself. It was only at school the next day that I realised that probably wasn't the smartest choice. With in seconds of parking Scott and Stiles had fallen into step either side of me clearly the pair had something planned.

However, before they had a moment to talk Matt's snide voice cut through the air, "Hey, you guys know why no one's getting suspended after what happened the other day at school?" I couldn't stop my lips curling up into a grimace as he purposely avoids making eye contact with me. He was acting as if I had been the one in the wrong!

"Just forget about it. Nobody got hurt," Stiles shot back clearly annoyed by Matt's arrival.

Matt began to whine about his concussion and his trip to the emergency room as if I hadn't been the one to take him. We had spend hours waiting for a doctor only for him to have a five minute check up and some aspirin. He had been healthy enough to wait around in line for a tickets. I felt Stiles tense next to me, he was taking a deep breath ready to rant back but stopped when I placed my hand on his arm.

"Ignore him he's being melodramatic." Matt sent me a sharp look as the words tumbled from my mouth. Stiles and Scott glanced between me and Matt it would seem neither of us had been subtle about our current feelings for the other. I couldn't be bothered with explaining it now and I know if I opened up a conversation with Stiles he would twist it back to get whatever answers he wanted. So instead I turned to Scott before asking, "did you get any tickets last night."

Scott frowned in frustration at my words obviously I had reminded him that he hadn't managed to get tickets for the party. Though I was surprised by his response, Scott had never struck me as a illegal rave kind of kid. But then again I hadn't really spent much time getting to know him. My knowledge of Scott boiled down to two things, he was a werewolf and head over heels in love with Allison. Ah Allison, maybe he just wanted to keep an eye on her. Guilt welled in my gut at the thought my brunette friend. Perhaps I should have told her about the pictures?

"No. Are they still selling?" Scott's question pulled me from my thoughts.

Matt shot me one more look before turning to reply to Scott, "no, but I managed to find a two online. You should keep trying. Sounds like everyone's gonna be there." His parting words pulled a sneer onto my lips. He hadn't gotten me a ticket! Sure he had threatened not to get me one but I hadn't thought he would actually go through with the threat. As we watched him leaved I couldn't help but wonder if the boys spotted the smug look he had sent me over his shoulder.

Stiles sent a glare at Matt's retreating back before reminding us of his opinion of the teen, "I don't like him."

"Not many people do," I spate out nastily forgetting for moment that the boys would hear.

Curious eyes turned to inspect me as Stiles pried, "trouble in paradise." I could understand his confusion. Over the last few weeks I had passionately shot down any of his negative comments about Matt. Call me a hypocrite all you like, I could say what I liked about Matt but I still hated hearing others talk badly about him.

"Lets not," I muttered back with a shake of my head. "Why are you guys so keen to get to the party anyway?"

Scott seemed to take pity on me and let me change the subject despite Stiles' protest, "Last time, whoever's controlling Jackson had to kill somebody because he didn't finish the job, so what do you think he's going to do this time?"

With Scott's morbid theory replaying in my head I spent the majority of the day hiding away in the newsroom. Audrey had sent me a knowing look when I'd dived into the store cupboard after noticing Matt at the door. She didn't ask why I was avoiding but had kindly sent the boy to the other side of the school on an errand. Audrey was good like that she never pried or gossiped. Though now that my own friendship group was growing I did start to wonder if she was a bit lonely.

Though she swiftly removed that idea from my thoughts as she thrust a ticket toward me later in the day. She hadn't explained where she got it from but from her angry mutterings it was clear she had no intentions of using the ticket for herself. After practically snatching the ticket from her hands I farted from the room. As the bell echoed through the halls I made a beeline for the car park doing everything in my power to avoid any familiar faces.

I had successfully made it to my car unnoticed. Though unfortunately that didn't seem to stop my phone for buzzing aggressively on my dashboard. Dispute being stuck in the middle school car-park, waiting for my idiot brother, I didn't bother to look at it. Though It didn't look like it had any intention of stopping and at one point shook so hard it practically leapt into my lap. Josh, who had just jumped into the cochleae himself, reached across to examine it.

Turning the phone over in his hands he began to read the screen and as usual his thoughts tumbled out of his mouth without a filter. "It's Scott, whose Scott? Oh this ones from something called a Stiles, what's a Stiles? Oh wait as in Stilinski? When did you start talking to him. Let's see what they want." I sent him an unimpressive glance as he began typing away on the device. Clearly the sneaky little git knew my password.

There as a pause in his rambling before he whirled round to face me. "You're going to the animal clinic!" He accused me. I just stared back in confusion. Was I? Why would I need to go to the vets? Plucking the phone from his hands I scrolled through the torrent of messages each on getting more demanding until there was just one that read 'VETS NOW!' While I was busy reading through the texts trying to figure out what the pair needed Josh continued to ramble away, "Why? Can I come? Please let me come? I haven't seen Max in ages and I,"

"I took you to see the damn dog yesterday so don't even," I cut him off swiftly. That stupid dog had caused me nothing but trouble. I had been forced to take Josh to see him a couple times a week after school. I never went in, the vast amount of superstitious artifacts unsettled me slightly. As silly as it sounded I couldn't help but feel like the items didn't like me being there.

Josh opened his mouth to protest but swiftly closed it again, "I…. fine. But I'm telling mum you made me walk home." I couldn't help but laugh as he in clipped his belt and slammed the door shut behind him. If I had thought mum would actually do something with the news I would have fallen for his blatant attempt to manipulate me. Instead I waved him off with a cheery smile.

I hesitated as I reached the clinics doors was I really needed for this? Sucking in a breath I pushed both doors open to find the front rooms empty. Though I could hear the boys talking in the back. As I moved through the reception my eyes lingered on the strange items that littered the walls. With a shake of my head I marched through to the back room where the boys and Deaton stood deep in conversation.

Catching sight of the small jar of black powder the vet was passing to Stiles I couldn't stop myself questioning out loud, "mountain ash?" Stiles almost dropped the glass jar as he jumped at my voice.

Deaton looked up with a knowing smile, "correct. It's from the Mountain ash tree, which is believed by many cultures to protect against the supernatural. This office is lined with ashwood, making it difficult for someone like Scott to cause me any trouble." My eyes shifted around the room, it wasn't just the mountain ash that would stop Scott, who seemed happier then I had expected to see me.

"Okay, so then what? We just spread this around the whole building and then either Jackson or whoever's controlling him can't cross it?" Stiles asked as he turned the small jar over in his hands. He didn't look particularly impressed with the delicate powder.

Deaton nodded before confirming, "they'll be trapped."

"Doesn't sound too hard," Scott added confidently.

I scoffed loudly at his words, "when is it ever that easy. Do we just sprinkle it on the ground?" I directed the last question at Deaton as I plucked the jar from Stiles hands. I had never seen Mountain ash before. It was mentioned in most of the books I'd looked in though I have to admit I was a bit disappointed by it appearance. I had expected something a little more, magical?

"Not quite that simple." I knew it. Deaton pauses for a moment before supplying as with an analogy. "Think of it like gunpowder. It's just powder until a spark ignites it. You need to be that spark."

Stiles was quick to reply, "If you mean light myself on fire, I don't think I'm up for that."

Deaton frowned before trying to explain it once more. "Let me try a different analogy. I used to golf. I learned that the best golfers never swing before first imagining where they want the ball to go. They see it in their mind and their mind takes over. It can be pretty extraordinary what the force of your own will can accomplish."

"Force of will," Stiles voiced his concerns. While I could see why he was apprehensive about the plan I know that will power, belief or what ever you wanted to call it could work. I had managed to find Lydia in a similar way after all.

Deaton chuckled lightly at Stiles disbelieving tone, "If - if this is going to work, you have to believe it." The teen merely hummed back.

After finalising the plans with Deaton we had each parted ways. Stiles had volunteered my car to hide the sacks of mouton ash in. Not that I minded it gave me a few hours to experiment with the percolator powder and perhaps I could even siphon some off for my growing collection.

Evening had come round quicker then expected and after spending some time toying with the dark powder I was happy to work with it. Though I couldn't help but feel I still hadn't seen the true extent of its powers. Throwing my jumper over my head, it's loosely knitted material revealing my brightly coloured underwear, I head for the front door.

Backing the car out the drive I started toward the party. My eyes settled briefly on Stiles and the sheriff as I passed their house. The pair looked tired, no exhausted. I knew it wasn't any of my business but part of me wanted to stop. Not that I could do anything even if I did stop. What use would I be, I could barely express my own emotions with mucking something up.

With a shake of my head I sped of down the road knowing I'd be seeing my neighbour soon enough. If he still looked lost when he showed up then I'd ask. Or at least that is what I told myself to feel better about leaving him.

I watched the crowds of teen work their way toward the entrance as waited patiently for the boys to arrive. I'd set up base on the edge of my boot, one booted foot curled under my bare legs. As the trademark jeep pulled into view I rose from my spot and flicked my cigarette out of sight.

The boys were silent as they approached my car. From the looks Scott was giving Stiles I knew that want ever I had witnessed between him and his dad was serious. Stiles walked straight past me and grabbed a sack from the back of my car without a word. After sharing a quick frown with Scott, I decided to leave the boys to it and wandered off with my bag of mountain ash.

I let my mind wonder as I walked around the perimeter of the building. The dull beat of the music echoed through the carpark. As I turned the last corner I spotted Stiles in the distance. The boy looked completely done. It took a few moments for him to realise i had come into view. Stiles' enter face lit up as he waved his hands wildly in the air to get my attention. He called out, "how much have you got left?"

I have him a half hearted shrug before replying, "don't know."

Stiles looked ready to strangle me as stared blankly back at him. After a few mumbled stutters he finally spat out a disbelieving, "what do you mean you don't know. Don't give my that look, stop. Fine alright I'll try."

"Do or do not there is no try," I smirked back knowing that the quote would pull him out of his rut.

Stiles stared back at me mouth agape before narrowing his eyes, "did you just Yoda me?"

I rolled my eyes at his shock. "Just do it Stiles," my words finally seemed to sink in as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

My eyes were glued to the black powder in his hand. I had some left and between us we probably could have filled the space manually but I need to see this. My curiosity had gotten the better of me. He still had a good meter or two to go when the final grains of powder slipped through his fingers. There should have been a gap. My lips twisted into a smile as he opened his eyes to insect the line. Disputes watching the line closely I hadn't actually seen how it had become joined. I met his disbelieving look and shrugged as if I wasn't feeling the same overwhelming confusion as him.

My teasing tone pulled him from his shock, "see magic." In a moment of pure triumph he had leapt into the air with a cheer. I couldn't help but grin at his enthusiasm. Though I was soon reminding him that we couldn't waste time hanging about celebrating.

We pushed through the hordes of dancing bodies as the heavy bass shook the floor. I darted forward into a space only to hear Stiles call out to me as he was cut of by a group of girls moving in the opposite direction. Groaning at his inability to work his way through the mass of bodies I turned back. Once did reached the his helpless form I grabbed his wrist and dragged him through the crowd behind me.

With Stiles in tow I barged on through the crowd letting him apologise to the dancers I was shoving a out of our way. It didn't take us long to find the room Isaac and Erica should have used to hold a drugged up Jackson. Without slowing down I charged through the door only to be greeted by a low growl and a pair of claws hovering in from my face.

"Easy there princess, it's just us," my voices quaked more than I'd like to admit as I eyes Erica's sharp talons.

Lancing round the room my eyes landed on the lifeless body of Jackson. He had been chained to a chair and left in the centre of the room like an animal on display at the circus. If I hadn't noticed the minuscule movements in his scaled flesh I would have stand the pair had killed him. All four of us stood at the far end of the room watching him, waiting for something to happen.

Stiles finally spoke breaking the heavy silence that had filled the room, "Jackson, is that you?"

Jackson lifted his head to met Stiles' inquisitive look. He hissed a terrifying response, "Us. We're all here." So Scott had been right the Kanima's master had to be near, hell we had probably passed them early!

Stiles crouched down trying to get a better look at Jackson partially transformed face. "Are you the one killing people?"

"We are the ones killing murderers," he corrected.

I eyed the restrates around his middle and watched the heavy movements of his body, We had successful caught him. With a burst of confidence I spoke up, "so all the people you've killed so far." my question was cut short.

"Deserved it."

With a shake of his head Stiles gave a confident reply, "See, we got a little rule book that says you only go after murderers."

Jackson's lips twisted into a sinister smile. "Anything can break if enough pressure is applied."

Trying not to show just how scared I was I rolled my eyes dramatically and questioned, "so the people you're killing are all murderers then?

Snake like eyes shifted to settle one me sending an icy chill down my spine. Without thinking I stepped back behind the two werewolves in the room. As I moved the pair took a step toward each other blocking me from Jackson's murderous stare as he answered, "all. Each. Every one." Jackson voice hardened with each word.

Stiles leant forward as he asked, "Well, who did they murder?"

"Me." The answer hung in the air. What the hell did that mean?

Stiles seems to have the same thoughts as he started to question Jackson, "Wait, what? What do you mean?"

"They murdered me." Jackson's entire body began to tremble. His eyes became dark, more snake like. He was shifting. Jackson was losing control and if we didn't do anything soon he would be fully turned.

"More ketamine," I barked at Isaac dragging the wolf's attention from Jackson's convulsing body.

Isaac stares back at me and from his panicked expression I know what he was going to say before the words left his mouth, "we don't have any more."

"You used the whole bottle?" Stiles yelled. Before the boys could discuss the lack of drugs a crash had filled the room.

In front of us stood the Kanima. Dispose looking the same it felt different from when it had cornered me in the pool. I didn't feel safe like I had back then. Before the it could lunges forward Isaac and Stiles had ushered us out the room. The four of us slammed the door shut behind us and pushed into it in an attempt to keep the creature locked away. It didn't work. Without warning the metal wall beside us curled open and Jackson slithered out into the shakedowns. With one quick look the four of us darted into the crowd.

I'd lost the others in the rush to get outside. Drunk bodies blocked my path as I tried to reach the exits. With my eyes focused on the doorway I almost ran straight into one teen. I stopped myself from shoving them out of the way when I recognised the oversized camera bag that hung around his torso. My lips twisted into a light smirk as I teased with a bit to much bite, "you scared her off already."

"Didn't think you were talking to me," was Matt's only reply.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I replied honestly, "I wasn't." Neither of us speak as the music blares out of the speakers beside us. Was I still mad at him? After everything that had happened tonight I just couldn't find it in me to be annoyed. I rubbed my face wearily as I continued, "but they're just pictures. It's not like you'd actually hurt her." At first I thought he was smiling because I had forgiven him but that would have be to easy. No the fool was grinning because Allison had just reappeared. As Matt went to go join her I gripped his arm a little too hard and hissed unhappily, "just delete them Matt."

Hey my lovelies i'm really sorry this one took me so long to get posted! Honestly I found this one hard, though i'm buzzing to finish the next one. Lydia's house party is going to reveal somethings about Emma's past (namely her scars!).

Also for any who are interested I found my old tumblr log in (same user name as on here). I've popped a couple images to go with the story.