CONTROL ➳ D. HALE [2]

32 ; pins and needles

32 ➳ PINS AND NEEDLES

A knock sounded at the front door of the McCall home, prompting Elise to jump to her feet. Scott and Stiles had left to chase a new lead, a girl from Eichen House that Stiles believed to have abilities that could help find Lydia. Scott had sent her a message that they had found the girl, Meredith, and were on their way back to the house with her. Elise threw open the front door, expecting to find them standing on the porch. Instead, she came face to face with her father.

"Elise," he greeted, his eyes slightly widened. Elise hadn't seen her father since the night he'd been injured by the Oni. He'd healed completely, allowing for whatever concern Elise had felt for her father that night to be replaced by anger. "Is your brother here? I really need to talk to him-"

"He's out," Elise answered bluntly. "Come back some other time."

Elise moved to close the door but Rafael blocked her motions. He stepped into the doorway and gripped the wooden doorframe as he looked down at her. Elise had always believed that she had gotten her height from him- before she'd discovered that he wasn't her father, that is. Though Elise herself was rather tall, Rafael towered over most people he met. Most considered it threatening, and for good reason.

She pushed the thought from her mind, reminding herself that she didn't need to associate any part of herself with him. Elise straightened her posture as he spoke. "Can't I wait for him?"

"No," she said, her tone almost as harsh as her gaze. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

"Elise, I just need to-"

"He doesn't want to see you!" Elise snapped, anger forming pins and needles beneath her skin. "And neither do I. This isn't your house anymore."

Rafael's gaze shifted from his daughter to a spot behind where she stood. Elise didn't have to turn her head to know that he was eyeing the dent in the floor that had been left all those years ago when Scott has been knocked down the stairs. More anger bubbled underneath the surface of Elise's skin as the memory of that night resurfaced.

"You know," Rafael said slowly. "That night, it was my wake up call. I haven't so much as touched a drink since then."

"Good for you," Elise hissed through clenched teeth.

"Elise, I came to tell Scott the truth. He deserves to know what happened, I'm done hiding it from him."

At that, Elise loosened her grip on the door slightly. Melissa had always told Elise that Scott was better off not knowing what had happened that night, that he would be happier thinking his father had left without rhyme or reason. She'd never really believed that, though. Scott had a right to know what had happened that night. Elise simply never had the courage to tell him herself. A ball formed in Elise's throat as she moved, opening the door fully.

"Dad?" A familiar voice sounded from behind the man as he moved to step into the house, prompting both Elise and her father to jump. Rafael moved to reveal Scott walking up the drive with Stiles, Isaac, and a mysterious girl that Elise assumed was Meredith.

"Scott," Rafael nodded. "Can we talk?"

"Now isn't the best time-"

"Please, Scott. It's important," his father breathed.

Scott's eyes flicked to his sister curiously, looking for some sort of explanation. All Elise offered was a small nod, prompting Scott to clench his jaw in frustration. He motioned for Isaac and Stiles to take the girl into the house.

Elise led the three teens upstairs, settling in her relatively empty room. Most of her stuff had been moved to Derek's during all of her stays at his loft, but a few sparse items remained. She motioned for Meredith to sit on the bare mattress.