The Rising Sun (A Stiles Stilinski/Teen Wolf Fanfiction) [2]

Chapter 18 - The Punch Bowl

 He said that the Hales were very close with my mother and our family. We practically grew up together. This was a hard idea for me to grasp. If Derek was like a brother to me and what not, then why did he choose power over me? Why did he put my life on the line just so he could step into the role of alpha? That's not what family does. Family always puts family first.

 I wanted to keep talking with my dad. I wanted him to keep telling me stories in hopes that one of them would trigger a memory so that I could see it vividly and not through vague description. However, a text from Stiles saying that he found something pulled me away from the conversation.

 "I should get going," I said. I got up and grabbed my purse from the floor. "Stiles is asking where I am,"

 "Oh, okay," he said, sitting up a little straighter. 

 Looking at him, you'd think that he's the kind of father that sits at home shining his shotgun waiting for his daughter and her date to return from their night out. He just gives off that kind of aura. However, once you talk with him you realize that his physical appearance in no way reflects his personality. I think having two daughters turned him soft.

 "I'm really glad we got to talk," I said.

 "Yeah, me too,"

 We smiled at each other. "I'll, uh, stop home before Lydia's party,"

 "Party, right," he said, nodding.

 "Okay, see ya," I said awkwardly, giving a wave before heading out the door. 

 I got into my car and drove the now-familiar route to Stiles' house. I was beginning to get the hang of navigating around this town, though there is much I still have yet to explore. At least I have the basics, my boyfriend's house and school. What more do you need to know?

 I parked next to Stiles' jeep in the driveway. His dad's cruiser wasn't in the driveway and I felt a pang in my chest. Stiles still feels guilty for getting his father fired from being Sheriff. I wish he wouldn't feel bad, he's a good son. He's just been thrown some pretty uncanny circumstances.

 Without bothering to ring the doorbell, I entered the house, calling out Stiles' name. I heard him yell back to me from his bedroom down the hall. I walked in to see him sitting at his desk with yearbooks, papers, and pictures sprawled all over. He was too invested in what was in front of him to even look up at me.

 "Stiles?" I said, finally getting his attention.

 He waved me over to him. "Here, look at this,"

 He pointed a picture of the 2006 swim team. The faces of all the people that the kanima has killed so far were all there, including Mr. Lahey. So this all comes back around to the 2006 swim team? Stiles did mention how the kanima seemed to be afraid of water because it wouldn't go in the pool after him and Derek.

 As I continued to stare at the picture, another familiar face caught my eye. No, it couldn't be. I gaped at it, still trying to decided if what I was seeing was really there. I readjusted my glances, as if it had just been a trick of the light.

 "Stiles, is that..."

 "Eric,"

 "B-but I thought you said that all the victims were twenty-four, Eric's only twenty-two. There's no way,"

 "I don't know, Emma," said Stiles. "But it's a good thing he's been gone all week,"

 Stiles was right. It was a blessing that Eric went to Romania for me this week. Because, had he stayed in Beacon Hills, he could have been the next victim.