Wicked Game

Chapter 13

My second full moon is finally coming around. At the back of my mind, it hung like a calendar. I was waiting for this, and have been practicing keeping my fury under control. For days in a row, Derek did nothing but antagonize me. On purpose, of course. He gets me angry and worked up enough for me to shift. I almost lost it a couple times, but Derek kept pushing me to grasp full control. I was afraid it wouldn't be enough for this full moon.

I'd been more... aware of Derek since my friends' mouths had spewed their crazy ideas. I watched Derek more carefully now, which helped with training, I must say. It was easier to return his cold stare now that I've stepped outside my comfort zone. His eyes were so green they almost glowed.

I tap my pencil on the open textbook in front of me, spacing out. The library held a few not-so-hoarse whispers, and for me, I could hear them clearly. Especially on a day like this. I focus on the continuous sound of the mechanical pencil thumping on the book.

Isaac glances up at me from across the table, causing Stiles to look up too. I freeze, staring back at them.

"You seem agitated," Isaac comments, looking back to his homework, and marks something down.

"You know what time of the month it is," I reply, warning a chuckle out of myself. I close my eyes and touch one of my temples. When I open them again, both boys are stifling laughs.

"It's your time of the month too," Stiles gestures to Isaac.

"Except I hide it better," he smirks at me and mock him.

"I wonder why," I say sarcastically.

Scott approaches our table, arm full of books and backpack sagging from his shoulder. He pulls out the chair next to Isaac, dropping his books on the table.

"Hey guys," he greets us, glancing at me.

"Hey," I mumble, bringing my eyes back down to my work in front of me.

"Feeling okay, Kasey?" He asks me, flipping one of his books open and scuffling through the pages.

"Yeah, I want to just get tonight over with," I shut my own book, knowing I wasn't going to do anything.

I had already arranged plans so that Louie thought I was spending the night at Allison's house because of some big project we had to finish. It would all work out. The sucky thing was that I had school again tomorrow.

I glance up only for a second to see Scott talking lowly to Isaac.

"Are you going to the dance on Saturday?" He asks him.

"I wasn't planning on it," Isaac muttered back.

"You should. It's going to be fun."

"Who's all going?" Isaac looks at Scott, chewing on the end of his pen. I look back down at the books in front of me.

"Lydia told me you got a dress," Stiles comments to me. He gives me a kind smile, "You owe me one dance."

"Okay," I nod, smiling. That cheered me up a little bit.

When school finally let out, I follow the three boys to Stiles's jeep. I cram in with Isaac in the back, catching a sneaky smirk from Scott. I hid the smile that wanted to surface, and keep my eyes out the window. I catch Scott looking back at me, and I knew what he was thinking.

I pull my eyes away from the window. I have to be more open. Not so reserved. I swallow my pride, and look at Isaac, "Are you going to the dance?"

"Scott convinced me I should go," he tells me, returning the gaze.

"Glad I'm not the only one who's getting roped into this," I chuckle and Isaac smiles.

"If you want... I could come get you. If you need a ride there," Isaac offers, passing it as no big deal. I wondered how he was going to pull that off without a car, and shake it off, realizing the full moon was already getting to me. Remember, be open minded, I remind myself.

"Yeah sure. I'm pretty sure Gemma wants to help me get ready anyway, so I'll just be at my house," I shrug.

Isaac nods with a slight grin, "Okay."

The three of them were there again with Derek at the subway station when it was time for me to be restrained.

Every ounce of my patience was oozing out. I could feel all positive feeling draining from me, leaving me in a dangerous state of mind. It wasn't just dangerous for me, either.

The restraints were doubled this time, holding my limbs down with heavy weight. As the sun was setting, I lost my focus more and more. I concentrate, trying to hold on, but it only slowed the process by a smidge.

Isaac plops down in the seat in front of me, facing me while Scott and Derek stood aside, watching me. Stiles had left early, of course, and I didn't blame him. I'm not even sure how these three put up with me or don't kill me in return.

"Tell me about your parents," Isaac says to me, resting his elbows on his knees.

"That's not a good topic," I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Why's that?" He asks me calmly, which drove my irritation more. This wasn't a good time to talk about the lousiest people I knew.

I don't reply. Instead, I stair up at the ceiling of the railway car. I can feel my eyes glowing their rich gold color. I ran my tongue over the fangs in my mouth, keeping quiet. Isaac realizes this, and speaks up again.

"My dad used to lock me in a freezer in the basement," he tells me, and I can feel his eyes burning holes into me. I go on listening.

"It traumatized me. I still have problems dealing with it sometimes, but I use it to my advantage," he says to me. "Your anchor doesn't have to be something good. It's plainly something that will drive you to keep a grip on what's going on around you."

"Isaac, I appreciate that a lot but you should really distance yourself," I chuckle, but it only made me sound crazy. "I can't get a grip I-"

I clench my jaw shut and inhale deeply. Isaac didn't move, even when my face distorted. A low rumble came from my throat, and it would have surprised me any other time, but not now.

Derek says something lowly to Scott. I eye him suspiciously before he takes a few steps towards me. Those green eyes pierce through me. The way he stares at me would have normally sent chills up my spine, but I stare back at him, trying to regain control of my breathing.

"You can't control it," Derek accuses me. Like a spark ignited, the fury hit me in a split second. My face morphed again as I attempt to lash out at him, yanking back with the thick chain.

"I don't think she can do it," he comments to the other two, eyes still on me. "Obviously nothing matters enough to her, she won't find an anchor. She has nothing worth getting a grip on herself for. Right Kasey?"

My body was trembling with rage. I hold my head back, clenching my jaw and returning his cruel gaze. I growl, "I do too."

I breathe heavily through my nostrils, and close my eyes. I was doing it! I had control! The fury remains, filling my entire body with adrenaline.  I open my eyes to find Isaac's staring wide. I meet Derek's gaze once again. His stare wasn't cruel like it had been before. I couldn't put my finger on the look he was giving me. Derek was difficult to read.

My fists were shaking at my sides, and that's when I realized they were damp, and not with sweat. Streaks of blood ran from my palms, as my nails were extended and digging right in. Isaac attempts to take one of my hands, but I ward him off, "Don't."

He slowly retracts. I focus on the stinging in my palms as I kept my claws where they were, sticking pressure with it now. I brought all of my attention to the pain.

"Don't hurt yourself, Kasey," Scott calls out to me.

"I'll heal."