Chapter 19
At least the throbbing pain in my head stopped. But the reality of the situation is that Kira is supernatural. It's the only explanation. There was no way she could absorb all that electricity and still be perfectly fine.
"So when did you get there?" Agent McCall questions us as we sit on the couch at the police station.
"At the same time," Stiles says.
"At the same time as who?"
"Same time as me," Scott says pointing to himself.
"By coincidence?"
"What do you mean coincidence?" Stiles questions slowly.
"That's what I'm asking you. The two of you arrived at the same time. Was that coincidence?" Agent McCall asks starting to get annoyed.
"Are you asking me?" Scott furrows his brows.
"I think he's asking me,"
"I think he's asking both of you," Lydia concludes.
"Okay, let me answer the questions." Agent McCall pauses before letting out a breath. "Let me ask the questions."
"There you go," I mutter while keeping my other hand on the cloth on my head.
"Just so I have this absolutely clear. Barrow was hiding in the chemistry closet at the school. Someone left him a coded message on the blackboard telling him to kill Kira. Then Barrow took Kira to a power substation and tied her up with the intent of electrocuting her, which blacked out the entire town."
"Sounds about right." Stiles nods.
"How did you know he'd take her to a power station?"
"Well, 'cause he was an electrical engineer. So where else would he take her?"
"That's one hell of a deduction there, Stiles."
"Yeah, what can I say? I take after my pops. He's in law enforcement." Stiles winks at his dad, who is sitting at his desk. Mr. Stilinski lets out a laugh but quickly covers it up as a cough when Agent McCall turns around to look at him. "Stiles, just, uh...just answer the man."
"We made a good guess," Stiles concludes.
Agent McCall looks at me and Kira. "What were the two of you doing?"
"Eating sushi," Kira responds.
"And ice cream," I add. "You see, I helped save her life from a coyote so I got sushi and ice cream."
He blinks slowly before asking another question, "How did you end up at the power station?"
"I was with Stiles and Lydia."
"But you with Kira?" He glances down at his notebook.
"Yeah, I had them pick me up."
He lets out a breath, "What happened to your head?"
"You see," I lean forward in my seat. "The ground and I had a bit of a falling out. And by falling out I mean I fell... into it."
Agent McCall turns around to Mr. Stilinski. "Do you believe this?"
"To be honest, I haven't believed a word Stiles has said since he learned how to speak. But I think these kids found themselves in the right place at the right time and that girl sitting there is very lucky for it."
"Kira, is that how you remember it?" Agent McCall questions her. We all sit forward and look at her pointedly.
"Yes." She nods. "Could I get my phone back now?" I glance at the yellow phone sitting in a plastic bag.
"Sorry, but no."
After sitting through a few more questions we are all allowed to leave except for Kira who still has more paperwork to fill out.
"Nina." Mr. Stilinski calls as I'm about to walk out of the station. "Are you okay?" He motions to the cloth on my head.
"Yeah... I just haven't been healing." I whisper as I remove the cloth. He furrows his brows.
"You haven't been healing?"
"It's a long story-"
"But your head is fine." My eyes widen as I put my hand to the cut on my forehead to find it perfectly smooth.
"I'm fine." I breathe out.
I can't believe it... I healed.
"Thank you Mr. Stilinksi." I smile before dashing out the door to Scott by his motorbike. "Guess what?" I look around my surroundings before flicking out my wrist. A smile overtakes my lips at the beautiful sight of my claws.
"You're a werewolf again?" I look into Scott's wide eyes with an excited nod. "What happened?"
"I have no idea, maybe it was something to do with getting shocked... I don't know." I take a deep breath. "But all that matters now is I'm back. I'm a werewolf."
After getting my motorbike from Kira's house I went back to the Argent household. It doesn't really feel like home but then again It's not forever. The elevator dings open and I walk inside. The atmosphere suddenly seems more serious and somber than usual.
"Hello?" I look around before walking into Allison's room to see her going over some notes. "Allison."
"Hey, Nina." She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. I sniff the air and a strong scent of fear catches my nose.
"What happened?" I question getting straight to the point.
"Nothing happened. I've just been studying."
"The room reeks of fear," I say with a hint of a smile. "And I can hear your heartbeat." Her eyes rise slowly from her books.
"But how? You're human n-" Her eyes widen. "You got your abilities back?"
"I don't know how, but yeah... I'm a werewolf again." I take a seat next to her on the bed. "But because I"m a werewolf again, I know something happened."
"I'm glad you're back but... I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"I promised my dad I wouldn't say anything." She looks me in the eyes.
"I won't tell anyone."
"Trust me, Nina. I'll tell when the time's right."
"Okay..." I nod before glancing down at her books. "So what are you studying?"
I open my eyes to a sight I hoped I would never see again. The tree stump appears before me surrounded by the rustling trees.
not again...
A twig snaps from behind me. My body freezes as footsteps start nearing. Closer and closer until a cold hand touches my shoulder. I stiffen before grabbing the hand and twisting it. There's no crack. It doesn't scream in pain. It doesn't respond at all. I turn around to meet his bandaged face.
"Okami." his raspy voice hits my ears as he stands a foot in front of me. I gather up all the strength I have.
"Who are you?" I whisper.
"You'll come to know me really well." He smiles a sickly sweet grin. "Don't you worry."
"You never answered my question." My voice hardens slightly.
"I gave you my answer. Whether you accept it or not, is not my concern."
"Okami." I breathe out. "Why do you call me that?"
"Why, isn't it polite to call someone by their name?"
"My name is Nina. You should know that."
"I'm talking about what you are." He starts walking around me. "Not who you are."
I furrow my brows, "I'm a werewolf."
"You're correct."
I let out a humorless laugh, "Then what do you want?"
"What do I want? What do I want?" It raises its voice. "This is all for you. Everything is for you." He leans towards my ear. "Don't you want to be powerful and strong?"
"There's a difference between power and strength."
"But both mean the same thing in the end."
"I don't want strength, nor power. Not from you anyway." I spit out. He stands in front of me now and tilts his head to the side.
"You will." I walk backward until my feet touch the stump. I look down at my hands as an idea enters my head.
"What if I don't." A smirk forms on my lips. "What if I do this." I flick my claws out and charge at it. It grabs my wrist before I have time to strike. It looks at my claws and just like that they go back to regular fingernails. I gasp and look back at the figure.
"I have control over your werewolf side. You can't hurt me." It pushes me backward and I fall onto the stump. I use my elbows to support myself as he walks towards me at a slow pace. "One will rise and one will fall. But only one will make it through it all." He says in a sing-song voice, the raspy sound carrying through the night. I shuffle backward as he takes a slow step over to me. "You can run, but you can't hide. I'll always be right here." He puts a cold finger against my temple.
"It was you." I breathe out. "Why did you stop me from shifting?"
"I was bored."
"You were bored?" I stand up from the stump and face him. "You took away my werewolf abilities cause you were bored?" He just stares at me with a sick smile forming on his lips. "I bet it was you who caused me to shift the night of the lunar eclipse?"
"That's where you're wrong."
"What? But you have control over my transformations-"
"I can control them, yes, but I wasn't in the picture during the lunar eclipse."
My eyes widen, "What about my werewolf form? It was different." I rush out.
"That was all you." He laughs a bone-chilling sound. "It's always been you."
I jolt up with a gasp. I try to catch my breath as my eyes scan around the room... my room.
It was just a dream.
My breathing slows down as I fall backward onto my bed. So it was all him. He's the one that has been causing me all this trouble.
I gasp as pain starts shooting through my fingernails and gums. I jump out of the bed and stumble to the bathroom as fast as I can. I go to turn on the light but another wave of pain knocks me to the floor. A cry leaves my lips as I feel the claws protruding from my fingertips and the fangs begin piercing through my gums.
Why is this happening to me? I've never experienced shifting like this before...
Footsteps enter the room as the light flickers on. Allison stands by the door with wide eyes. "Nina!" She exclaims as she bends down to my level. She helps to my feet as the pain continues to throb. I lean on the sink as my eyes skim over my hands. Sharp black claws are where my normal ones should be. They are longer and come to a much sharper point than the others. My breathing picks up as I gather enough courage to look at my reflection. My irises glow a dark black color while my fangs are sharper and longer...
I look like a real monster.
"Get out." I turn around to a panicked Allison. "I don't know what's happening." She takes a few steps out of the bathroom as I dig my claws into my hands. I fall to the floor as searing pain overtakes them. After a few moments of agonizing pain, it fades. I collapse against the floor as I try to regain my breath.
Now I need to figure out how to catch a demon...
"Class starts in five minutes. Just because there's no power don't expect there to be no school." Coach speaks happily into the megaphone, as he walks down the corridor.
"That was a triple-negative. Very impressive, Coach." Stiles calls from his locker.
"Copy that."
I take a few steps behind Stiles as he drops his key. "Oops." He bends down to grab it. "Hello. Where did you come from?" He mutters to himself.
"Over there," I say, from behind him. He jolts around.
"Oh, my g- Nina!" He yells. Putting his hand over his heart. "Don't sneak up on me like that."
"I wasn't sneaking up on you, Stilinski." I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. He sends me a glare before turning back to his keys. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing." His eyes glance up and focus on something behind me. I turn around to see Scott walking into the building. Stiles and I wave to get his attention, but his eyes are focused on something else. I turn around and notice Kira looking in our direction. She quickly turns away from us. I start to walk towards her, but Stiles grabs my arm.
"Stiles. What are you-"
"Not you too, Scott. Stop." Stiles puts his other hand out to stop him.
"What? I need to talk to her." He complains.
"Same here, Stiles." I make a move to walk, but he keeps his grip on my arm. He's surprisingly pretty strong.
"No, you need to remember someone left a coded message telling Barrow to kill her."
"Which is why we need to talk to her," Scott says, trying to push past Stiles.
"No way. Until we figure out if she's just another psychotic monster that's going to start murdering everybody, I vote against any and all interaction."
"She seems harmless." I look at her by her locker, trying to get her books. "She doesn't seem like the mass-murdering type."
"Did Ms. Blake look like the mass-murdering type to you?"
"Well she didn't... until I saw her slashed up face."
"Exactly my point."
"Then she just became plain creepy. Even as Ms. Blake." Stiles opens his mouth to respond, but Scott cuts him off.
"Guys, what if she is just like us." Scott motions to me and himself.
"That girl walked through 1.21 gigawatts of electricity. She's not like you."
"As much as I don't like to admit it, Stiles has a point. A normal werewolf wouldn't be able to survive that." I sigh as I watch Kira walk away. "But you can't just expect me to avoid her now... she's my friend."
"Well, make new friends." Stiles slams his locker shut.
"What don't you like being my friend?" I feign putting a hand over my heart.
"Yeah, it's delightful." He calls back to me as he walks off with Scott. I roll my eyes before going to my locker.
"Nina."
"Hi, Allison." I smile at her as I fetch my books.
"How are you feeling?" She asks softly.
I stiffen before turning back to her. "I'm okay."
I hope...
"If anything happens, anything at all, you tell me."
"I think it'll be fine. It seems to only happen at night anyway." She nods although she doesn't look convinced.
"If it happens again, we need to tell my dad." I nod as I close my locker.
"I'm pretty sure he already knows."
"Not everything."
I bite my lip before turning to face her. "Telling a seasoned hunter that I'm losing control doesn't sound like a good idea."
"He's not going to kill you if that's what you're worried about."
This whole thing scares me. Especially the not knowing part. The one thing that made me feel comfortable with being a werewolf was that I had control, maybe not always on a full moon. But now, anything could happen. If that guy was correct about being able to control me then I never know when I am safe.
"I'll think about it."
"Please."
"No." I shake my head as I close my locker.
"Come on, Nina," Aiden begs from one side.
"It's just one party," Ethan adds from the other.
"No." I turn around and begin walking away. "There's no way I'm going to let you use the loft for your stupid teenage party."
"Why not?" Aiden questions following along after me. "Derek will never know."
I stop and turn around to them. "Because you two killed Boyd." Their expressions fall. "And I don't know if I can forgive you guys for that."
"We know what we did was wrong-" Aiden begins.
I scoff. "Wrong? Wrong doesn't even begin to describe it."
"What he meant was that we know what we did and we want to make it up to you. To everyone." Ethan concludes.
"Or you want to prove to Scott that you're one of the good guys so you can join his pack."
Aiden rolls his eyes, "Look we're trying to do a good thing here. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Yes," I say bluntly. Ethan looks down, while Aiden keeps a glare planted on my face. I continue walking down the hallway.
maybe they actually do want to change... now that the big bad Alphas are gone, they don't have that bad influence around them.
I stop, "Fine... I'll let you guys prove yourselves." I turn around to face them as they walk towards me.
"Really?"
"This doesn't mean I forgive you though."
"We understand that." Ethan smiles. "Thank you."
"Don't make me regret it." I turn a corner but freeze. My stomach feels uneasy as I watch Kira and Scott sitting together having lunch.
Why do I feel so weird about it?
I shake my head before walking up and sitting in front of them. "Hey, guys. What're you talking about?" They exchange a look before Scott holds up a textbook, "The pre-cal test." He says slowly.
"Really? You're not talking about Kira being kidnapped or the absorbing electricity thingy?" She keeps looking down at her hands. "We have to talk about it sometime, Kira. I want to help you. We want to help you." She's quiet for a moment before looking up at Scott.
"You can show her."
I glance between her and Scott, "Show me what?"
"Are you sure?" She nods as Scott takes out his phone and shows me a photo of Kira. I gasp. A fiery aura surrounds her as she stares at the camera. "Wha- What is this?"
"I don't know. It started showing up a couple of months ago. It only happens with the flash on. And I don't know how, but Barrow knew about it. He used my own phone to take pictures of me."
"That's why you wanted your phone back." I realize.
"If someone sees those pictures."
"Yeah, that could be a problem..."
"Here it is." I pull the door open. The familiar scent engulfs me as I step inside. It seems stronger than before... It's probably because I haven't been a werewolf for a few days.
I really hope he's okay... and still alive.
Danny scans the loft as he takes a step inside. "This is sick." A smile forms on his lips.
"Just wait 'till the lights are up." Ethan smiles.
Aiden goes to get the generator running on the balcony, while Ethan puts the lights up. "So this is your place?" Danny asks, paging through a book on the desk.
"My brother's," I say looking around.
"He doesn't mind? Does he?"
"No, he's uh-"
"Out of town." Ethan finishes for me.
"Yeah," I mutter nodding at him.
The generator revs to life as Aiden gives us a thumbs up. Ethan switches on the black lights. It shines onto Danny's face making the white of his teeth glow.
"Oh yeah." He smiles as he looks around the place.
Maybe this won't be so bad...
I begin helping the twins and Danny set up for the party. We move the furniture out the way and get all the lights set up.
My phone rings from my pocket. "Coming now," I say before walking to the side of the loft.
"Scott, what's up."
"Hey, we're going to delete the photos from Kira's phone now. Do you want a lift?" I glance around at the surroundings.
"No, it's okay. I'm just helping Danny and the twins set up for the party."
"You're helping the twins?"
"I know... I just want to give them a chance to prove themselves. I still hate their guts but maybe I'll hate them slightly less after this."
"Are you still going to come through to the station?"
"Of course, I might be running a little late though."
"I'll give Kira a lift then." The same feeling returns to my stomach.
I brush it off. "Great. I'll see you there." I hang up the phone and let out a huff of air.
Why am I getting so weird about this? There's nothing to feel weird about.
"I have to go. Do you guys need any more help?" I go and grab my jacket off the couch in the corner.
"I think it's basically done." Danny looks over to the twins before turning to me. "You are going to make it for the party, right?"
"Of course. I won't be gone long." I make my way towards the door. "Oh, and make sure no one goes upstairs. I don't people snooping around in my room."
I leave the loft and get on my motorbike. It takes me a couple of minutes to get there but when I arrive, I see all three of them already there.
"Hey," Scott says when he sees me.
"Hey, what did I miss?" I get off my bike and join them.
"We just got here."
"Okay, Scott," Stiles says grabbing his attention. "This one will get you into all of the perimeter doors, this one into the evidence room, and this one's for my father's office." Stiles hands Scott three different cards.
"You didn't steal these, did you?" He asks, eyeing the cards in his hand.
"No. I cloned them using the RFID emulator."
"Is that worse than stealing?"
"It's smarter." He counters.
"Touche." I shrug.
"Can I ask you something?" Kira questions us, as she walks away from the jeep. I look to Scott before we follow after her.
"You didn't tell him anything, did you?" She whispers.
"About the pictures?" I look over to Scott. "I didn't."
"Oh, I just said that you have some pictures of you on your phone that you didn't want anyone to see."
"Smart," I mutter.
"What kind of pictures?" She asks.
Scott is quiet for a moment, "Naked pictures." He says slowly. I raise my brows as I clear my throat.
"Oh... good idea," Kira affirms before they walk back to Stiles. I stand stiff for a moment before shaking my head and following them.
"Okay. So, now almost everybody's out dealing with the blackout. But there's always somebody at the front desk. There's dispatch and usually a night shifter or two. You guys are gonna use the service door entrance by the dumpster." Stiles points to the door behind us. "Alright? Nobody uses it. Now, I'll text you if anyone comes out. But, Scott, if you get caught, I can't help you. My dad's under investigation for impeachment because of your dad, so, if anything happens I will run and leave you both for dead."
"You got it." Scott nods. "Thanks seriously, dude."
"I'd ask my dad, but you know..."
"No, I know. I get it."
"All right, just, uh, hurry up." Wet turn around and begin to leave before Stiles calls us back. "I don't know if all three of you can go in there. It might be a bit less stealthy and a lot more crowded."
"Ah, you're right," I say looking over at Scott and Kira.
"I'll stay here." Scott and I say at the same time. I clear my throat. "No, you can go." We say again.
"Guys, someone go." Stiles rolls his eyes.
"Scott, you can go with. It's your dad's office."
"You sure?" I nod at them before they take off running to the entrance.
"Looks like you're stuck with me, Stiles." I walk over to the passenger side door and climb inside.
"Lucky me." He mutters as he looks at a key on his key ring. The same one from this morning.
"What's up with that key?" I ask as I feel my head begin to ache.
"I don't know, It's not mine." I grab the key-ring from him and examine the key.
"It looks like a normal key. Are you sure it's not yours?" I question, handing it back to him.
"I don't know, it doesn't look like mine."
"Maybe your dad put the key on there. Maybe he's giving you a hint to get a new car."
He turns to me with wide eyes, "You think I need a new car?"
"This one is a bit... squeaky." I move to the side and a creak sounds from the door.
"I will never abandon this car." He looks at me royally offended.
"All I'm saying is that-" A bright light shines from up ahead worsening the pain in my head. I turn my attention to it with wide eyes. "You've got to be kidding me." Agent McCall gets out of his car. Stiles goes to open the door but I put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I got it." I scramble out and rush towards him.
"Agent McCall!" I yell as I stop right by the entrance. He takes his hand off the door and turns to me with furrowed brows.
"And you are?"
"Don't you remember me?"
"Am I supposed to?"
"Uh... yes. Shouldn't you remember the names of people you question?" I roll my eyes.
He lets out a humorless laugh, "Maybe you can remind me."
"Nina. Nina Hale."
"That's right. Derek's little sister." He quirks an eyebrow. "Makes sense."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I cross my arms over my chest.
"That snarky attitude and the leather jacket. I can see the resemblance. Troublemaker, I assume"
"You know nothing about me, sir."
"I know enough. Enough to know that you shouldn't be hanging around my son."
I let out a breath, "Your son? That's a stretch isn't it?"
"What do you mean by that?" His eyes harden.
"You walked out on him years ago. Along with the privilege to call him your son."
He looks away from my eyes as his jaw tightens, "Careful, Nina." He gives me one last look before opening the door and entering the station.
"I was still talking to you." I walk after him and block his way into his office.
"What are you doing?"
"Um..." My eyes dart around trying to find something to talk about, anything. The flowers... the book... Stiles...
Stiles?
"Aw!" He runs through the door. "Hey, hey. Wow! Thank god you are here. Oh, boy! Thank the lord." He stops next to me as I look at him with wide eyes.
"What do you want Stiles?"
"Yeah, what do you want?" I give him a pointed look.
"I was just... I was thinking on the case. I was thinking I should clue you in on my thinking. Here's my thinking. I was thinking this... I was thinking that Barrow, right... I was thinking that Barrow received the information about who to kill at the school, right, you know that? So I was thinking maybe the person who gave him that information, check this out, might actually be someone at the school." He awkwardly points at him. "And that's, uh, my thinking." I let out a breath and glance to the ceiling.
"You're right."
"I am?"
"He is?"
"Yep. We, uh... We started looking for links between Barrow, faculty, and students last night."
"So you already, then, know that stuff? You already thought of that."
"Your dad did. His one useful suggestion." I feel anger bubble up inside me. His one useful suggestion? Mr. Stilinski did more for this town than he could ever do.
"You know, this attitude that you have toward my dad?" Stiles says with a low voice. "You can dress it up to all the professional disapproval that you want. But I know the real reason why you don't like him."
He chuckles. "Is that so?"
"Yeah. Because he knows something that you don't want him to know." Agent McCall scoffs and tries to walk past him, but he stops him. Stiles' voice comes out lowers than before. "And guess what... I know it too." Agent McCall stiffens as he stares at him.
What secret does Agent McCall have? What doesn't he want anyone to know?
He clears his throat, "Go home. There's a... There's a curfew." He swipes his card on the door and walks past us to the room. I don't even try to stop him as I keep my gaze on Stiles' tight jaw.
"You okay?" I whisper to him.
"I'm fine." He breathes before walking out of the station. I glance back one last time before following after him. "I hate to say it, but he's really a douchebag," I speak up once we reach the jeep.
"You can say that again." He's quiet for a moment before I turn around to face him.
"Don't let him get to you okay? Guys like that only think about themselves. But one day he'll come to his senses and realize the mess he's left behind."
"That will be a good day." Stiles quirks his head to the side. Footsteps suddenly approach us as Kira and Scott appear.
"We did it. All the pics deleted." Scott smiles.
"That was awesome!" She exclaims. "I mean, terrifying. Completely terrifying... But kind of awesome. I've never done anything like that before. Have you?"
The three of us exchange a look, "Yeah, once or twice." Stiles says.
"So, I guess I should take you home," Scott says to Kira. Kira nods, as her smile fades away.
I guess I better go and help get things ready for the-
"Or..." I say as a smile appears on my face. "We can go to a party."
Season 3B
Episode 4 (Illuminated)
Part 1/2
State: edited
Hey guys! :D
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Let me know what you think!
Stay safe and healthy! â¤
Until next time my fellow wolfies!! :D
-Nicole ^.^