"Stiles, I really don't want to do this," I look into the reflection of myself in the passenger mirror again. My makeup and outfit are simple, but cute. Good enough for a party that I have absolutely zero desire to be at. "With the unfortunate series of events that have become life, partying isn't really something I am in the mood for."
He groans from the driver's side of the car before looking over at me briefly, "It's for Lydia. It's her birthday," I just stare at him with a blank gaze before he finally rolls his eyes. "I didn't want to show up alone. Plus, I might need your help with my present."
"Help...as in?" I look into the backseat where a huge, wrapped pink, box sits. I have no idea how he managed to even get it into the Jeep.
"As in getting it out of the car and possibly through the front door?" He sends me an award winning Stiles smile hoping it'll butter me up.
"First; I have very little hope you are getting that either out of the backseat or into the house," His smile falls and he throws me a sarcastic look. Before he can say anything I turn to him slightly, "Second; you're amazing, Stiles. If Lydia needs some big extravagant gift to see that; that's her fault, not yours."
His sarcastic expression falls and for a moment he just looks ahead silently. Then as we stop in front of Lydia's house, or mansion as I prefer, he gives me an honest small smile. "Thanks, Abby. That was actually so nice it was honestly a little scary coming from you."
I laugh loudly, somewhat glad I ended up Stiles tonight. I might have no want or need for partying, but Stiles helps. Since I left Derek's presence earlier I don't think any emotion has come over me other than anger and sadness. Stiles helps switch that up again.
"Let's go, so I can help you bring in this stupid box," I jump from the passenger seat to the ground. "Which looks like it is big enough to put a small horse in."
I pull up the lever of the passenger seat, causing it to come forward, hoping that will make enough room. I then turn to Stiles with a fake look of fear, "Oh god, you didn't get her a pony, did you?"
He laughs before lightly pushing my arm. With the both us it only took about 10 minutes to get the box out of the car and to the front door. I move around Stiles and ring the doorbell, knowing there is no way he was going to be able to do so. I move back behind him as the front door opens and a surprised looking Lydia stands there, full drink tray in hand.
I laugh lightly as Stiles sticks his head out from behind the large gift, "Happy birthday!" He shakes the box vigorously, which I am honestly surprised he can even do with the size of it. "We're coming in!" I take a step forward behind Stiles before he rebounds backwards as the box gets stuck on the door way.
"Stiles-" He moves forward again and now the other side gets jammed into the doorway. "Um-"
Stiles starts shoving the box inside as Lydia watches with wide eyes. He finally almost gets it into the house, "Maybe grab the other side? Or, yeah."
I watch as Lydia just shakes her head slightly before turning her back to us. She raises the full tray of lavender colored drinks before yelling over her shoulder, "Don't forget to try the punch!" I do admit, alcohol or not, that punch looks really good.
Finally Stiles and the box both fall past the doorway and onto the floor of the foyer. I can't help the loud laugh that rips out of me at the sight. I step inside before reaching my hand down and pulling Stiles back up to his feet, "I mean, at least you got it!" He only gives me a look as he moves forward to the gift again. "Maybe just push it over to the table over there?"
He nods agreeing and huffs before finally moving the box into position. I turn my head to the side and catch a glimpse of Scott a few feet away. I grip Stiles' arm and force him into following me until we meet Scott. All three of us turn to walk down the hallway and I start to look at all the expensive artwork hanging on the walls. Damn Lydia's parents, I thought we lived comfortable, but this is extravagant.
"Have you seen Jackson?" I tune back into the conversation as Stiles looks into the rooms suspiciously as we pass them. Scott shakes his head before turning to look at both of us, "No, have you seen Allison?"
I wince at her name and shake my head quickly, "No, I haven't spoken to or seen her since last night. I've kinda been avoiding her if I am being honest." The number of her missed calls and texts on my phone do keep seeming to go up. I can only avoid her for a small amount of time before she is going to know that something is seriously up with me.
Scott looks at sympathetically, "What are you going to do?" I shake my head again and focusing my gaze back ahead of me as we walk. "I have not even the slightest idea how to answer that right now. But one of us should probably tell her about what Stiles and his dad figured out."
Apparently, Stiles was doing a deep dive back into the old year book. It seems that not only did all the people that have been murdered so far graduate the same year, but they were all on the same swim team. Couched by Isaac's dad. That, mixed with the Kanima's fear of water, definitely raises some red flags.
Scott only shakes his and looks at us confused, "I'm still kind of not sure what we found."
"I figured out it has something to do with water," Stiles shrugs as if he doesn't understand why this isn't obvious information. "You know, the fact that all the victims were on the swim team, the way the kanima reacted around the pool."
Scott rolls his eyes lightly at his best friend, "So whoever's controlling the kanima really hates the swim team?
"I mean," They both turn to me and I smile the slightest bit, "Hated. Specifically, the 2006 swim team. Maybe, it's another teacher or another student from back then?"
Stiles looks thoughtful and I can see the wheels in his brain turning, "I mean, who are we missing though? What haven't we thought of?"
I look around at the fairly empty space of the backyard we've just walked into and think for a moment maybe this part of the house was intended for the party. But then I see the table full of even more glasses of punch and am surprised by the lack of people here. Isn't Lydia's birthday supposed to be the biggest party of the year?
I feel my body freeze as a familiar voice comes from in front of us, "Jackson's not here." She gives Scott a sad smile before her eyes fall to mine. I can see the questions burning in them, but then she just lets her gaze fall to the floor.
I shrug of the anxiety coursing through every vein in body and turn to look at the empty room again, "Well, yeah. There's kind of no one here."
All three of them suddenly turn and look around the abandoned pool before Scott shrugs, "Maybe it's just early."
Stiles scoffs lightly, "Or maybe no one is coming because Lydia has turned into the town whack job." I wince at his words and let my eyes fall onto Lydia standing a few feet away. I can tell the look of passiveness on her face is a mask and that the fact that almost no one has shown up tonight is killing her inside. With everything that has happened in her once normal life, the girl does deserve to have her birthday party.
Allison follows my gaze, "Well, we have to do something because we have completely ignored her the last 2 weeks."
I wince slightly, "Well, according to these two she has ignored Stiles for the last like 10 years. Not that I am disagreeing with you, I just wanted to state all the truths!"
"I like to think of it as me not having been on her radar," I watch as he looks back to Lydia and the smile that he always gets around her returns. "Yet."
I pat his shoulder in support, but Scott just shrugs again looking around, "We don't owe her a party."
My eyebrows come together, though I do I agree with Scott, it's seems not like him. Usually I am the negative Nancy, not the other way around. Allison looks at him with her head tilted to the side, "What about a chance to get back to normal? She wouldn't be the town whack job if it wasn't for us."
I look to Scott and nod, agreeing with that. Plus, if it wasn't for Lydia's total melt down and 'fugue' state, my own issues would probably be more in the spotlight. We owe it to her for sure. Scott seems to come to the same conclusion as he nods, "I guess I could use my co-captain status to get the lacrosse team here."
Stiles suddenly smirks before nodding, "Yeah, I also know some people who can get this thing going." I look at him confused, wondering who the hell Stiles could know that is not already at this party. "Like, really going."
I laugh lightly, staring at him in wonder, "Who are you talking about?"
Stiles only smirks even more, pulling his cell phone from his pocket, "I met them the other night. Let's just say they know how to party."
I laugh even louder, eyeing the tray full of punch cups. I throw my hands up before walking over to get one for myself. One won't kill me, "Whatever we have to do, we do it."
I can feel Allison's gaze on my back as I head to the table, but I don't turn once to face her.
My finger tips tingle as I wrap them around one of the glasses on the table. I hesitate right as the rim touches my lips before pulling it away slightly.
Then without thought, the glass tips to my lips, the sweet drink lighting up my taste buds. Within seconds, the tingling buzz I felt disappears.
â â âªï¸ â â
It seemed like in seconds the door bell was ringing one after the other before the space around me was full of people. Some looked familiar and I knew they were from school. Then I almost die laughing when I see the same drag queens that were so in love with Stiles from the gay club. I wave back as two send me smiles.
I pull out my phone and send a quick text to Derek asking how the full moon is going for the fresh werewolf meat. Jokes aside, I am worried for him as I know if something does go wrong, he will blame himself.
I walk back to meet Scott and Stiles as they stand near the pool. I catch the tail end of their conversation and realize they're talking about my sister. "I'm not apologizing."
I stop next to them and purse my lips out as I stare at Scott, "Hmm, that sure sounds like the full moon talking, bud."
He rolls his eyes, "Probably," then he looks back over Stiles with confusion. "Why do you care, anyway?"
Stiles takes another sip of his drink and I find myself copying. Lydia wasn't lying, it does taste pretty damn good. Whatever feeling I was having before when I grabbed the drink couldn't have been anything serious as it quickly diminished.
"Because, Scott, something's gotta go right here. I mean, we're getting our asses royally kicked, if you haven't noticed. People are dying. I got my dad fired. You're gonna be held back in school. I'm in love with a nutjob. Abby has oddly surreal dreams and sleep walks," I groan lightly, I was hoping I would be safe, but nope. He had to just drag me in there too. I just take another sip of the drink in my hand and find myself nodding in agreement. "And if on top of all that, I gotta watch you lose Allison, I'm gonna stab myself in the face."
I involuntarily grip the glass in my hand as a sudden freezing cold breeze moves across my back. My smile falls from my face and I slowly turn to see Jackson's tall frame walk stiffly through the back doorway. I blink rapidly and without turning from him say, "Don't stab yourself in the face just yet. Jackson's here."
He takes a drink from Lydia's hand as she smiles lightly at him. As he takes a slow sip he stares directly at the three of us across the pool.
I chug the rest of my drink and let out a deep sigh. Glad I wasn't in the mood for party because it seems like we never get to really do that anyway.
â â âªï¸ â â
In no time Lydia replaces the empty cup in my hand and gives me a bright smile, "Isn't it good?" I feel something twinge inside of me as I look deep into her eyes. Everything looked so normal about her, like the first day we met, except there was something else in her eyes.
I take another sip of my drink before the thought leaves me and a smile crosses my lips, "Yeah, it is really good. Happy Birthday to you!"
She laughs before her eyes find something behind me. She smiles again as she nods her head in that direction, "I think someone is pinning for your attention."
I turn around and find the one and only camera boy behind me, his eyes directly on me. I shiver as the air surrounding me grows colder. I take another sip before I nod and move towards him, "Are you just planning on watching me at the party or actually partying?" I try to laugh lightly hoping he would get that I wasn't serious. Or, at least, not completely serious. I have noticed that it seems like any time he is around his eyes have to follow me.
"Huh, I actually couldn't decide," I don't laugh with him and instantly regret making it a joke. I see his eyes change as he notices and he moves forward, placing a hand on my forearm, "You know, I was thinking, since the rave didn't go as planned we should hang out again."
I instantly pull my arm away from his grasp and take a small step back, "I'm dating someone." After the words are said I have such a hard time believing I said them, I almost look around to see if it was someone else.
I feel my heart quickly speed up as Matt's eyes suddenly grow a darker glint to them, "You're...what?" I just nod my head silently, waiting for the right moment to just turn and walk away. We were thankfully surrounded by people, although very drunk looking people, so he couldn't do much. Plus, I knew Scott and Stiles were somewhere not too far from me.
"Who? Scott?" My eyes widen drastically as that's first name that falls from his lips.
I shake my head quickly, "What? My sister's boyfriend?"
He looks confused for a brief moment and tilts his head, "I thought they broke up?"
I feel my pulse race again as I let the truth slip. Something that I almost never do, and yet it happened without even a seconds thought. I look down confused before looking to the almost finished drink in my hand momentarily. Matt's tight voice brings me back into focus, "So, then who?"
I look up to meet his eyes and don't even know what to say. Of course, the only person coming to mind being Derek Hale. I didn't think it would be great to let those words slip passed my lips either. Without debating it further I let out a sigh, "It's-" My eyes swing to the side of Matt's head when I see a familiar frame covered in a leather jacket moves through the crowd behind us. I turn my head even further, thinking it must be a mistake, but again I see him as he walks into the house. I pull my phone out of my pocket, but don't see a response to my earlier text. I feel my gut drop, hoping nothing went seriously wrong.
"I gotta go." I don't look back at Matt as I move from around him and follow in the direction I just saw Derek go. I walk into the crowded room and almost lose hope before I just barely catch him moving up the stairs. I gulp down the remainder of my drink and place the empty glass on the nearest surface before following him. I move around the couple of people standing and talking on the stairs, but sigh when I don't see him when I get to the top. Why would he even come up here to begin with?
I look to my left and then right, both hallways not giving anything away. I decide left is the right way and move down to the first open door. It wasn't a huge bathroom, so just from the peak inside I could tell it was empty. "Derek?" I move further down the hallway until I stop in front of Lydia's room. I slowly take a step inside and look around, realizing this room fits her perfectly. My eyes catch on her pillow and I squint when I see something small resting against the top, perfectly in the center.
I walk over and reach out, but stop just as my finger's are almost touching it. Instead something inside me takes control and I reach out and yank the blanket away. I take a step back in surprise, both at my own actions and to what I discovered. Covering Lydia's entire bed are hundreds of purple wolfsbane flowers. I take a step back again and turn away to leave when I gasp lightly. I freeze at the sight of the outline of someone standing in the moonlight coming through the window.
I want to call out for Derek, but there was something different. It isn't him. I take a step towards the door again when suddenly a tsk, tsk fills the air. I catch the bedroom door slam shut and then when I turn back I cry out lightly, taking a step further away. Peter steps forward, a wicked grin plastered across his face.
No, no, no.
My back meets the wall and he stops moving towards me at the same time. The smile remains and he tilts his head slightly to the side, "What's wrong, Abigail? Not who you wanted to talk to?"
I don't answer and just continue to will the burning from my eyes. "Why don't you just call out for help? That seems to be what you do best, now. See if one of them can hear you this time." This has to be a dream, but I know I didn't fall asleep. Maybe Matt did knock me out outside and I'm in the trunk of his car right now. Okay, not a good time for bad humor.
I glace back to Peter, but a yell comes out of my mouth as this time he has Allison in his grasp. Hand around her throat, elongated teeth near the same spot he bit me. I shake my head and get ready to plead when he smirks, "You don't want to see what she could do? Maybe you're not the only special one in your family. I think it would be worth the try."
"No!" I reach forward, but instead of him tearing into her, I gasp as his hand wraps around my throat. My back meets his chest as he grips my skin with his claws. I feel the familiar feeling of blood dripping down my throat as one presses just hard enough. "Abigail, you haven't been listening. I gave you this gift, or at least woke it up, for a reason. And you are just. Wasting. It."
I feel my throat become tighter as he grips, making it impossible to breath in. I reach up and use my nails to claw at his skin, but it's as if he doesn't feel a thing. This is different than any dream, vision, or whatever, I have had before. I close my eyes and try to focus on his words as he growls them out deeply. "You have a higher advantage than anyone. To know anything. That feeling of destruction and fear you're feeling? The constant desire to watch over your shoulder, like someone is lurking there? Listen to it."
I gasp deeply as he loosens his grip for a second and lets my feet meet the floor again. I think for a moment that this was it and I was about to walk away before I see someone step into the open room before me. Ally stands there, shaking her head, and tears pouring from her eyes. I notice the black dress she adorns and the flowers in her right hand, "What is this?"
My voice is frail and raspy as I force the words out. Allison looks right at me before her eyes turn into a glare. I feel my heart shatter at the look of pure hate radiating from her to me, "Mom...and it's all your fault." Her eyes move to the right and I follow them, eyebrows crossed in confusion. A sound I've never made before claws it's way out of my chest, as if it was the sound of my heart truly chipping a final piece away. My eyes land on the dark mahogany wood casket sitting just a few feet away.
"No, no," I shake my head and force my eyes closed. I've had enough, this isn't real. This needs to end now. Peter grips my chin in one hand, forcing me to look straight ahead at the casket again, "Just remember, it's good you didn't choose your family. Because they sure as hell never chose you."
A gurgled scream comes from my mouth as his clawed hand suddenly rips across my throat. My own hands rush to cover the wound, as if there is anything I could do to stop the gushing of blood coming from it. Peter slowly removes his grasp from around me and I fall to my knees on the floor. I try the inhale, but the feeling of drowning on my own blood stops me. I look up one last time and see Allison just watching me, that same look of distain in her eyes.
I suddenly blink and it's gone. They're all gone. I inhale deeply, feeling my throat free of harm or blood. I let out an exhausted sob and fall onto my hands in front of me. What the hell was that?