Playlist:

No Stopping Me ~ NJC and Sun-Me

Kick Out the Epic Mother****** ~ Dada Life

I knew where Derek was hiding. But I had to make sure no Hunter followed me. I had a trick Mom had taught me to keep unfriendly eyes from seeing me. And it was a trick I had used at school when I needed to cover Laura sneaking into class. I used the cloaking trick and made my way to the old train depot. I needed to tell Derek what we found, although telling him who it was might not be a very good idea. Although I wasn't really sure if I could lie without the uptick. I headed down the stairs and heard their voices.

"You said you were gonna teach us to change whenever we wanted," Isaac said. I heard something that sounded like a chain drop.

"There hasn't been time," Derek answered.

"But if you have to lock us up during the full moon, that means you're going to be alone against the Argents."

I leaned against the banister and crossed my arms. Derek had glanced my way as I descended so he already had caught my scent.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" I asked. Isaac and Erica looked at me. "He won't be alone, Isaac."

"And they haven't found us." Derek headed towards me.

"Yet! So how about we forget the Kanima?"

"We can't!" Derek and I said at the same time.

"It's more dangerous than the Argents," I added.

Derek shook his head. "There was something about the way Gerard looked at it. He wasn't afraid."

I looked at Derek. He'd seen the same thing I had.

"At all."

"And that's what makes him dangerous."

Derek nodded in agreement. "I don't know what he knows or what he's planning. But I'm sure about one thing. We have to find it first." He turned to me. "What are you doing here? Were you followed?"

"We need to talk. And you know the answer to that question."

He went past me up the stairs and I followed.

"What was so important that you couldn't call me?" he asked.

"I wanted to tell you in person. Apparently, my mother kept a bestiary hidden in the bookshelf in the room where I hid you after Peter attacked you. The Kanima is being controlled."

"It has a master."

I nodded. "We haven't figured out who yet."

"Great. Just what we need. Two of these sons of bitches."

I shrugged. "I know."

"Did you find anything in your stash?"

I shook my head. "Unfortunately, no."

Derek snorted. "Then we'll have to think of something else."

ANNA

Allison and I headed into the library to meet Scott and Stiles. Lydia apparently could read archaic Latin and Trish found a bestiary in the Druid room in the basement that Mom had translated from Gaelic. We went down an aisle and Allison reached into her bag and pulled out a tablet and handed it through the bookshelf to Scott.

"It's everything that Lydia could translate and what Trish found in her bestiary," Allison said. "And trust me, Lydia was very confused."

"No shit," I mumbled, pulling a random book off the shelf.

"Yeah, what'd you tell her?" Scott asked.

"That we were part of an online gaming community that battles mythical creatures."

Scott snickered. "Smart."

"I am part of a gaming community that battles mythical creatures," Stiles said.

Allison and I looked at one another.

"Oh."

"Okay, does it say how to find out who's controlling him?" Scott asked.

"Nope," I said.

"Stiles was right about the murderers," Allison added.

"Yes!" Stiles celebrated.

I rolled my eyes. "It calls the Kanima a weapon of vengeance," I said.

"There's a story about a South American priest who uses the Kanima to execute murderers in his village," Allison explained.

"Alright, see? So maybe it's not all that bad," Stiles said.

"Until the bond grew strong enough," Allison reached for a book and opened it. "That it killed whoever he wanted it to."

"All bad. All very, very bad." Stiles changed his tune.

"Trish was right about him not being a wolf. The Kanima's actually supposed to be a werewolf, but it can't be..." I glanced behind Allison as the librarian put a book on the shelf behind and across from us.

"'Until it resolves that in its past which manifested it'," Scott read.

"Okay, if that means that Jackson could use a few thousand hours of therapy," Stiles said. "I could have told you that myself."

"What if it has something to do with his parents?" I asked. "His real parents."

"Yeah, does anyone actually knows what happened to them?" Scott asked.

"Lydia might," Allison suggested.

"What if she doesn't?"

"Well, he doesn't have a restraining order against me or Anna, so we'll talk to him."

"We will?" I asked.

Allison gave me a look as she put the book back.

"Okay, what do I do?" Scott asked.

"You have a make-up exam, remember?"

Scott looked at Stiles, who nodded. Allison reached through and put her hand on Scott's.

"Promise me."

"If he does anything, you run the other way."

"I can take care of myself."

"Uh... what part of paralytic toxin do you not understand?" I asked.

"Allison, if you get hurt while I'm busy with some stupid test, somebody's gonna need to take care of me. If he does anything..."

"Like?"

"Anything weird or bizarre... Anything."

Stiles stuck his head through the shelf. "Anything evil!"

Allison shoved Stiles' face, sending him backward and I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

~~~

Allison wanted to talk to Jackson first so I sat on the steps leading down to the locker rooms, where we had followed him. I took my phone out and saw that Trish had left a text for me. She'd let Derek know what we'd found out but didn't mention that it was Jackson. Matt turned the corner and nearly tripped over me.

"Oh, hey, Anna," he greeted.

"Hey, Matt."

"What are you doing here?"

"I go to school here."

Matt laughed. "I meant right here."

"Just waiting on Allison."

"Cool. Well, see you in class."

He walked up the stairs. I was starting to get bored when I heard a crash.

"What the hell was that?" I stood.

Erica stalked by, followed by Stiles. "There's a lot more to this that you don't know about." I followed them. "And just because you got the Alpha bite makeover doesn't give you a license to go around destroying people."

Erica stopped and turned around. "Why not? That's all anybody ever did to me. I used to have the worst crush in the world on you."

Stiles gave her a look.

"Yeah, you, Stiles."

Stiles looked down and then past her as she spoke.

"And you never once even noticed me."

"Wonder why," I said sarcastically.

"Exactly how you're not noticing me right now."

I looked to see what Stiles was so interested in. Water was coming out from under the boys' locker room door.

"Erica."

She turned and looked to see the water. Seconds before the door opened and Scott came flying out of the room, landing on his back. Jackson jumped on top of him.

"Ah, crap."

The three of us jumped in to separate the two. Erica grabbed Jackson from behind. She held him while Stiles, Allison, and I pulled Scott back.

"What the hell is going on?" Mr. Harris asked. "Hey! Enough! Enough!"

Scott pushed off of us.

"What do you idiots think you're doing? Jackson! Calm down! Mr. McCall, you wanna explain yourself? Stilinski!"

"You dropped this," Matt said, holding a tablet out to Scott.

Harris snatched the tablet out of his hand, then pointed it at Jackson and Scott. "You and you... Actually," He pointed to all of us. "All of you."

Matt held his arms out.

"Detention. 3:00."

"What?" I asked. "We were just trying to break it up!"

"Would you like to have both lunch and after-school detention all week, Miss Roberts?"

I shook my head.

"Then shut up."

~~~

We filed into the library after school. Stiles, Erica, Scott, and I at one table. Jackson, Allison, and Matt at another. I told Allison that Stiles had told me that Erica knew something about Jackson's parents. I also told her I was going to help the boys find out what that was. Which was why I wasn't sitting with Allison.

"We can't be in detention together," Jackson said. "I have a restraining order against these tools."

He pointed at our table, causing Erica to have a puzzled look.

"All these tools?" Harris asked.

"No, just us tools," Stiles said, indicating himself and Scott.

Erica looked at me.

"I'll tell you later," I said.

"Fine, you two." Harris pointed to an adjacent table. "Over there."

Nice try, Jackson. Not getting out of detention. Jackson had a look on his face like he couldn't believe that Harris wasn't letting him out of detention and I managed to hide a laugh, but not my amusement.

"The curiosity is killing me," Erica said. "Why does he have a restraining order against Scott and Stiles?"

"I'll tell you if you promise me you won't say anything to Derek until I talk to Trish."

"What is the deal with those two anyway?"

"Who?"

"Derek and Trish. Are they together?"

"Oh, God no!" I didn't realize I'd said it so loud until everyone looked at us. "They're just really good friends. Trish was best friends with Derek's sister and she dated his cousin."

"Oh, so basically she's a human member of the pack."

"You could say that."

"Now back to the restraining order..."

"Promise first."

"Fine, I promise not to say anything to Derek."

"Thank you. Stiles stole a prison transport van and he and Scott locked him in it."

Erica laughed. "I see that held him very well."

"Yeah, not Stiles' best idea."

"Dude, you okay?" Matt suddenly asked as Jackson suddenly got up, holding his head.

"I have to go to the bathroom," Jackson said.

"Are you alright?" Harris asked. "Hey, you don't look so good."

"I just need to get some water." Jackson all but ran from the room and Erica and I watched him go before looking at one another. Harris started to follow Jackson and then turned back to us.

"No one leaves their seats." He left the room. The moment the door closed, Scott and Stiles darted over to our table.

"Stiles says you know how Jackson's parents died," Scott whispered.

"Maybe."

"Come on, Erica," I said. "This will help us out in finding out if we can save him."

Erica looked at the three of us, then sighed. "It was a car accident. My dad was the insurance investigator and every time he sees Jackson drive by in his Porsche, he makes some comment about the huge settlement he'll be getting when he's 18."

"So not only is Jackson rich now, but he's getting even richer at 18?" Stiles asked.

"Yep."

"There's something so deeply wrong with that."

I nodded in agreement.

"You know what? I could try to find the insurance report in my dad's inbox."

"You have his password?" I asked.

Erica only smiled. "He keeps everything." She opened her laptop and logged on to his email provider.

An announcement came over the PA. "Scott McCall, please report to the principal's office."

Scott looked confused and worried at the same time.

"That sounded like Allison's mom," I said.

"I know," he replied.

"What did you do now?"

"I have no idea."

I glanced over at Allison and she looked just as worried. He stood and left. Jackson returned a few minutes later and sat back down. Erica finally found the email with the accident report and together we read it.

"Look at the dates," Stiles pointed out.

"'Passengers arrived at the hospital DOA'," Erica read. "'The estimated time of death 9:26 p.m., June 14, 1995'"

"Jackson's birthday is June 15," Stiles said.

Erica and I looked at Stiles.

"Oh, my God," I whispered. Jackson's mother literally died before he was born. That's why he was put up for adoption. Harris started packing his bag and we did the same. As we got up, Harris started to laugh.

"No, I'm sorry. Yes, I'm leaving. But none of you are." He patted the books on the book return carts. "You may go when you're done with the re-shelving. Enjoy the rest of your evening." Harris turned and left.

"How in holy hell is it possible to be that much of an evil asshole?" I asked, bringing a snicker out of Erica.

Scott returned from the office and we told him what Harris had us doing. We all took a cart and went to different aisles. Erica and I were in one, Allison, Stiles, and Scott were on another, and Jackson and Matt were in the third. I could hear Allison, Scott, and Stiles whispering in the next aisle.

"So about our conversation earlier," Erica said.

"Which one?"

"About your sister and Derek."

"I really don't want to talk about Derek."

"Why not?"

"Do you know how he became Alpha?"

"He killed the old Alpha. Stiles told me about Peter."

"Did you know Peter was his uncle?"

"No."

"That's why I don't want to talk about Derek."

"You liked Peter."

I nodded as I shelved a book. "A lot."

"I'm sorry, Anna. I didn't —"

We heard a crash.

"Erica!" Scott cried.

Erica's eyes glowed yellow and she growled. Something went over the bookshelves above us.

"Get down!" Erica cried, pushing me down. I looked up as she backed away. Jackson landed behind her.

"Erica!" I cried.

She yelled and then went down.

I crawled over to her, seeing that she'd been nicked. "Scott!"

I heard Scott roar and then something crashed. The lights were flickering and I heard the sound of chalk on a chalkboard. I peeked around the corner and saw Jackson was writing on the board. After he finished he jumped through the window.

Stay out of my way or I'll kill all of you

Erica started shaking and taking short gasps of breath.

"Scott!" I cried as I turned her on her side.

Stiles was there first. Scott and Allison turned. Stiles took Erica into his arms.

"I think she's having a seizure!"

Allison ran over to Matt. "He's alive," she said.

I looked around. "How are we going to explain this mess?" I asked. The library looked like a war zone.

"Hey, we need to get her to a hospital," Stiles said.

"No, we need to get her to Trish," I said. "She'll know what to do."

"Derek," Erica said. "Only to Derek."

Scott looked through the bookshelf to Allison. "When we get her to the hospital —"

"To Derek," Erica insisted. "To Derek."

"Go," Allison said.

Scott darted around the bookshelf to her.

"Hey, Scott!" Stiles called after him.

"I'm staying here with you," Scott said to Allison.

"They can't take her alone. Not like this. And Matt... I've got to call an ambulance for him, just go."

"This doesn't feel right."

"It's okay. Just go."

"No, it's not. No, it's not right."

"It doesn't... it doesn't mean anything."

"But it feels like it does."

"Scott!" I called.

"Scott, go," Scott hesitated. "Go."

A minute later, Scott came back around and picked up Erica and he and Stiles started to leave. I hesitated.

"Anna," Erica said and I ran after them.

~~~

Scott knew exactly where we were going it seemed. Scott and Stiles were in the front seat and I was in the backseat holding Erica.

"We need to hurry, Stiles," I said.

"Here!" Scott cried.

Stiles slammed on the breaks and Scott jumped out. He took Erica and Stiles and I followed him.

"Through that door."

I opened the door.

"Anna, run ahead of us and let him know we're here."

I darted off, forgetting for a moment I was still upset with my sister's Alpha.

"Derek!" I screamed as I ran down the stairs. "Derek!"

Derek appeared out of one of the cars. "Anna? What are you—"

"The Kanima got Erica!"

"What?"

Stiles and Scott ran down the stairs. He darted past me and to Scott, taking his Beta from him. We followed them into the car he'd vacated a moment ago. He sat on one of the sideways facing seats and set Erica down.

"Pull her up."

Stiles darted over to her and held her up. "Is she dying?" Stiles asked, worry on his face. Scott sat across from him and I sat on the floor next to Erica.

"She might, I...," He reached down for her arm. "Which is why this is gonna hurt." He broke her forearm and Erica screamed.

"What the hell, Derek!" I cried.

"You broke her arm!" Stiles cried at the same time.

"It'll trigger the healing process. I still gotta get the venom out." He dug his claws into her arm. "This is where it's really gonna hurt."

Erica screamed for a couple of minutes as Derek worked to rid her body of the Kanima's venom. Erica stopped screaming and then looked up at Stiles, reaching up with her other arm.

"Stiles...," she whispered. "You make a good Batman."

I had no idea what that meant. Then she passed out.

"Oh, my God."

~~~

"You know who it is," Scott said as he, Derek, and I left the car.

Derek stopped and looked at the two of us before sitting down and sighing. "Jackson."

"Trish told you, didn't she?" I said.

Derek shook his head. "She wouldn't have told me anyway."

"You just wanted Erica to confirm it, didn't you?" Scott accused. He looked at me before nodding. "I'm gonna help you stop him. As part of your pack."

Derek looked at him, surprised. As did I. I was truly surprised that Scott was agreeing to be part of Derek's pack.

"If you want me in, fine. But we'll do it on one condition. We're gonna catch him, not kill him."

"Do we have a plan on how to do that?" I asked.

"Not yet."

"And?" Derek seemed to know there was more to Scott's condition.

"And we do it my way."

How the hell does Derek keep that scowl on his face at all times?

TRISH

Melissa and I ran to the EMTs as they wheeled in the laboring mother. Who turned out to be another classmate of mine, Jessica.

"We need to get her to labor and delivery, now!" Melissa said. We rushed her to delivery and Jessica grabbed my arm.

"It killed Sean. I can't do this by myself."

I looked at Melissa, who nodded. I took her hand. "You can do this, Jess." She squeezed my hand and I realized what she said. It killed Sean. The Kanima had killed again. "You can do this."

~~~

Jessica gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. I was at her side, holding her hand. Although, now she refused to let go.

"Thank you, Jenna," Melissa said. "Thanks, you guys. I appreciate it."

Jenna wheeled the baby out of the room.

"Jess, can I have my hand back, please?" I asked as Melissa straightened out the sheets.

"Please, you have to tell him."

I looked at her, confused.

"It's fine, the baby's fine," Melissa assured her.

"Not the baby."

"Okay."

"He killed Sean."

"Honey, the police know."

"They don't... They didn't see it."

I looked at Jessica.

"It wasn't human."

She saw the Kanima face to face, I realized. She saw it kill Sean. I looked at Melissa to judge her reaction.

She only looked at Jessica sympathetically. "Okay," she whispered.

I managed to wrangle my hand out of Jessica's. "I'll be back later to check on you, okay?"

She nodded and Melissa and I stepped out of the room, Melissa shutting off the light.

"Hey, kid," Melissa stopped a teenager in a black leather jacket. "What are you doing? You're tracking mud all over my floor."

I smiled and went on my rounds. My cell phone rang.

"Yes, Derek?"

What are you doing?

"Um, working. Some of us don't have an inheritance to live on."

Ha! You're funny!

"I try."

I meant, what are doing with Scott?

"What are you talking about?"

Scott just came here with Erica with Stiles and your sister in tow. Scott just said he'll help me stop Jackson as part of my pack.

"What?"

What did you tell him?

"I didn't tell him anything about joining your pack. And why was my sister there?"

Jackson tagged Erica at school while they were in detention. Another teenager got caught in the crossfire. Anna tagged along. This isn't you trying to keep the balance, is it?

"No, maybe Scott just decided that his pack and your pack needed to work together to stop Jackson. Look, I gotta go back to work. We'll talk later."