Burn Amongst Humanity [D. Hale ]

|XVIII|

"I haven't decided yet." Derek's words were clipped and irritated, as Casey was looking over at him quietly, from where she was cleaning one of her knives and Casey put the weapon down.

"What's wrong?" Casey questioned and Derek sighed, glancing at her. "Don't try to lie to me, Derek, we both know that I know you too well." Casey reminded him rather surprisingly patiently with him and Derek nodded.

"Jackson's body is rejecting the bite. He had black blood coming out of both of his ears, his mouth and his nose." Derek admitted and she sighed. "I bit him. So it's either something wrong with me or there is something wrong with him." Derek said.

"Did you talk to that graveyard kid? Isaac Lahey, about the Bite?" Casey asked and Derek nodded a little. "If he agrees, you think that he'll turn?" Casey asked.

"We won't know unless it happens." Derek murmured and silently, Casey put the knife away as she stood up. "Why are you looking at me like I'm a puppy?" He asked.

"I'm not- Wait, there's a look for that?" She asked and Derek smiled a little. "Look, Der it is obvious something up with Jackson. I mean, what could it possibly have to do with you--" Casey's words trailed off and she looked at her phone, as a series of rapid alerts were now all popping up quickly on her phone. "Oh god." She whispered.

"What? Casey, what is it?" Derek asked and Casey was shaking her head.

"Stay in here. Don't move, I need you to listen to the conversation." Casey pleaded and Derek nodded, as Casey's body was shaking and the doorbell rang. "Please don't leave." She said and he looked at her.

"What's wrong?" Derek asked as the doorbell continued to ring. "Casey, your heartbeat is going a hundred miles a minute, what the hell is going on?" He asked.

"Gerard Argent." Casey whispered and Derek moved his arms around her at once, smelling the fear all over her. "I have to go down there, Derek, but you have to stay hidden. Promise me that no matter what they say, you will stay hidden here." She whispered and Derek nodded.

"I promise." Derek murmured and he looked at her, before she walked away from him and went down the stairs real quickly, silently preparing herself.

Casey opened the door to the house and she found that Gerard Argent stood at the forefront of a group of hunters, which also included Victoria Argent and Chris Argent, amongst others. Some of the hunters that she was able to recognize and others that she did not.

"Can I help you?" Casey asked as she forced her tone to remain calm, as she kept her head blank and hoped that her expression was the same.

"Casey Branson, I have not seen you now in nearly eight years. Is it true that your involvement with the Hale family is the reason that my daughter is dead?" That was Gerard's way of blaming her and Casey's eyes remained calm, icy in fury.

"No." Casey replied.

"Do you know where the new Alpha werewolf is? As I understand it, Derek Hale was a close friend of yours throughout high school. And that he was also the father of your child that died. My sincere condolences." Gerard was enjoying this, playing with Casey's emotions and swiftly with practice, she was keeping them all in check.

"I don't know where Derek Hale is. He did not even know about our daughter and as it were, I intended to keep it that way. I have not heard from him since he became the new Alpha." Casey coldly spoke and Gerard looked at her.

"You will regret lying to us, if you have been." Gerard said and silently at the real threatening words, Casey was staring at him.

"You just threatened a valued member of the local law enforcement, Gerard Argent. I would watch your words in the future, if you ever speak to me that way again." The words were a matter-of-fact, as Casey was watching them. "Good day." She said as she shut the door in their faces.