Bloodlines [3]

Assault

"Derek, I'm fine. Just let me go." I said, hissing at the pain as he cleaned the cuts that I received.

"Oh, really? Wanna tell me why you were running like your life depended on it?" He asked me, and I didn't answer him. "Casey?"

"I don't know, I was drunk," I said, even though I sobered up pretty quick when Lyle tried to force himself on me.

"But I think you do know. Why are you lying to me, Casey?" He asked, and I look down at my wrist to see that my charm bracelet was gone. It must've fallen off when Lyle attacked me.

"I told you I was drunk! I just want to go home!" I finally shouted, and I felt bad for yelling, but I was pretty shaken up.

"Derek, let me handle this," Braeden said, and he got up, grabbing his keys and walking out of the loft.

"Hi, Casey. I'm Braeden." She introduces herself.

"You're the girl that saved Isaac. You're also the girl who's been hired to find my aunt." I said, and she chuckled, sitting down next to me.

"You know, I grew up in a neighborhood where you had to be tough. I have a sister a few years younger than me. Her name is Jasmine. One night she came home covered in bruises, and she wouldn't tell us why. All she said was that she fell because she got too drunk at the party she was at with her friends. But there was this look in her eyes- I could just tell that something happened. And when I look at you, I see that same look. Casey?" I look up at her, and she gives me a warm smile. "What happened?"

"There was this guy... we went on a walk because he said the music was bothering him. We were walking through the woods, when he complimented me, and I told him I was into someone else. Then he got this look in his eye that I recognized, this psychotic look. I recognized it because this guy Matt liked me to the point he became my stalker, and he hated when I didn't like him back. So I got a bad feeling, and then I felt fear and anger overwhelm me, but it wasn't mine. Elementals can sense when their siblings are in trouble since we have a strong connection already. I felt my brother through the bond, and I pretended he texted me so I could go find him, but he grabbed me and..." I trailed off, and she rubbed my back comfortingly.

"He got mad, and I threw my drink in his face. I ran off, but he caught up to me."

"That's how you got the cuts and bruises." She said, and I nodded.

"Yeah, he tackled me to the ground and tried to force himself on me, and I kneed him before running off again. That's when I ran into Derek." I explain to her.

"He was chasing you. Casey, it's okay to be scared, but you need to speak up." She told me, and I sniffled. "I've heard a lot about you from Derek. He told me that you are the strongest person he knows. He says your brave, and kind, courageous, loyal, and you're not afraid to speak your mind. He admires you, Casey. He calls you family, and he doesn't have much of that left. And I bet it's killing him right now not knowing what's going on because he cares about you."

"I'm sorry," I said, rubbing my wrist where my bracelet should be.

She shook her head. "Don't be sorry. You're the victim here." She said, and I smiled, hugging her.

"Thank you," I whispered, and she hugged me back.

"Of course. Now, why do you keep rubbing your wrist? Is it because of the bruises?" She asked, and I shook my head.

"No. No, I, um- My sister gave me a charm bracelet for my twelfth birthday, she'd get me a new charm after that for my birthday. I think I lost it in the woods when he attacked me. I just hate that I lost it." I said, wiping away my tears.

"I'm sorry about Allison. Derek told me you two were close." She said, and I nodded.

"We were, she was an amazing sister to me, but now I have a brother. And another dad, which I have no idea what to tell him. He's the sheriff here in Beacon, but I still don't know what to say. Or if he'll believe me."

"You're his daughter. Why wouldn't he believe you?" She asked me. "How about you get in the shower and then get some rest, okay? I think Derek stopped by your house to get you some clothes. It's gonna be okay. I promise." She brushed my hair behind my ear, and I nodded, getting up and making my way towards the bathroom.

-

"No!" I screamed myself awake, breathing heavily from the dream that I just had, and I hear footsteps running towards me.

"Casey? Are you okay?" Derek asked me, and I nodded.

"Yeah. Um, it was- it was just a bad dream. What time is it?" I asked him, and Braeden checked her watch.

"Almost twelve. Your dad called you, by the way." She said, and I look at her.

"What for?" I asked.

"Needs you to help him protect Satomi's pack. Apparently, she's adamant about meeting you." She told me, and I slowly get up from where I was.

"Why the hell would Satomi want to meet me? I don't even know her."

"But your grandmother did," Derek said, and I look at him. "She was good friends with her like my mother was. She always talked about her grandkids when she was over."

"You knew my grandmother?" I ask him, and he nodded.

"But all you'll do is meet her, and then we're going straight to Sheriff Stilinski," Braeden said. "And no buts. Now go get changed."

"Fine," I said, grabbing the clothes that were next to Derek's bed, and I went to get ready for the day.