I just thought I would take this time to acknowledge everyone who supported me in my previous work in this universe. You have all been so kind and patient in the year that it took me to create and transfer my thoughts onto computer, so I just quickly want to thank you all.
Summery: Six months after the events of Crossing Paths, Sam and Dean must once again team up when Sam discovers that a powerful group of Italian vampires is targeting Dean's coven. With Lilith is still on Sam's tail, only a united front will save the Winchester boys. But will a fatal accident break the brothers bond beyond repair?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. If I did, you can bet that you would never see it again, since I am terrible at sharing. (Well, that's not true. I do own the O.C. in this chapter but she is not going to be around for long, so I don't think it counts.)
Warning: Like most of my work, this is un-beta'd. All mistakes are my own. I apologise in advance.
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The dust particles flashed, catching the faint light and illuminating the dark surroundings of the warehouse as the young woman walked, stepping from shadow to shadow, her boots making the only sound as they collided with the concrete floor.
To the untrained eye, she didn't look dangerous. Light brown hair tied back from her pale face, her grey eyes a contrast to her pale skin and slender frame. She had the appearance on someone who ate very little and slept even less. In short, she looked like even a faint wind could blow her away. Even with the double barrel shotgun resting in the crook of her arm, and the revolver strapped to her hip, the girl had the air of innocence about her. An innocence which was a perfect cover for the young hunter.
River James aged 20, was the last surviving member of a family of hunters who had, in the early days, been known as a powerful force among the hunting community. Sadly those days were long gone, the family growing smaller and smaller as the demons and ghosts claimed them as their victims, until just River was left.
Despite her looks, River was a competent Hunter. Sadly, that was not going to save her. Although River didn't know it, she was about to die.
Stepping lightly, River circled the open area, searching. She had been following up a lead on a vampire which had been terrorising the town of La Crosse in Wisconsin, but was beginning to suspect that the hunt was more then it seemed. Although all her leads had pointed to a single vampire at work, she was beginning to suspect that was not the case. The attacks had been too well set up, too many in too short a space of time for a lone monster. And now, River felt like someone was watching her, studying her. It was an unnerving experience.
There was a faint sound from somewhere in the gloom. River spun around, reaching for the gun at her hip. Stepping forward, she tried to see through the gloom. Another sound was heard, this one off to her right. Taking another hesitant step, River pulled open the shot gun and inserted the ammunition into the chamber. It was a special type of ammo, more like darts then bullets, each one filled with blood taken from the bodies of the dead.
Once the gun was loaded, River raised it to her shoulder, her free hand pulling out a small flashlight. The torch flickered on, the light a startling contrast to the dark.
Something rushed past her, the wind shifting against her back. River turned, her flashlight trained on the suddenly empty space.
"So it's going to be that game." She muttered quietly to herself, taking another step forward.
A shadow moved. River pulled the trigger, watching with a critical stare as the suddenly solid figure dropped to the ground, a dark cape covering it.
A few quick steps and River was kneeling at the side of the vampire, pulling the fabric away to regard its face. It was a man, maybe in his mid-thirties, and still alive, shuddering as the dead blood was pumped through his system, corrupting the venom in his veins. Without hesitation, River pulled out her hand gun and pressed it against the vampires head. She pulled the trigger, flinching slightly as the body convulsed, before stilling. River sighed and pushed back a loose strand of hair before rising to her feet. She knew she should burn the body, to prevent any chance of regeneration. Instead she turned around, ready to head for the exit and leave town. She froze.
Standing in the fading light, was a hooded figure. To Rivers eyes, it was a small, feminine looking shadow. The faint light flashing against blond curls. The red eyes cutting through the darkness as the vampire observed the hunter.
River let her instincts take over. She raised her gun.
Something rushed at her from the side, hitting her with enough force to send her flying. She hit the ground, her gun skidding into the shadows.
River released a pained gasp as she rolled over, trying to see what had attacked her. Something grabbed her throat, lifting her into the air. River tried to draw a breath as the hands tightened around her neck. The vampire holding her was another youngster. Light brown hair framed a boyish face, blood red eyes scanning the hunter. The boy grinned. River felt her body lurch backwards as the vampire threw her to the ground once again. Rolling to a halt, River forced herself to suppress her cry of pain as the blond vampire grabbed her by the shoulder and dragged her to her feet, pinning her against the nearest wall.
River reached for her last defence. A small hunting knife which she had kept hidden in her back pocket. Lashing outwards, she attempted to stab the girl with the blade.
Suddenly the boy was at her side, his hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling the knife from her fingers as the girl hissed.
River closed her eyes, frozen as the two vampires moved closer, trapping her against the wall. However, no amount of mental preparation could stop the scream as two sets of fangs ripped into her neck. Thrashing wildly, River tried to escape as the two began to feed on her blood, but the vampires were stronger than any hunter and River was already losing the fight to remain contuses, the bites at her neck beginning to burn as her vision faded.
Light headed from loss of blood, River felt her legs give way under her. The two vampires didn't stop their feeding but simply lifted the hunter up so her feet no longer touched the ground.
Shuddering slightly, River forced herself to open her eyes and look at the world one last time. Despite her fading vision, River could make out several shapes detaching themselves from the shadows, the vampires silently observing the death of the hunter.
Closing her eyes, River released her final breath.
A few minutes passed by before the young vampires finished their feed. Dropping the body to the ground, the two turned around as several other hooded figures approached from the shadows, one of them keeping several steps in front of the group. He was a middle aged male with a special air of authority marking him as the leader.
"I trust you enjoyed your meal my darlings, for we still have work to do, once our contact arrives." He said.
Like a dramatic scene in a horror movie, the newly dead hunter's hands moved, finding purchase on the group as the body was pushed into the air. Had they been able to look past the injuries on her neck and not known was had recently happened, a casual observer would have concluded that River James was still alive.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. They were not human eyes. In fact, they were not the sort of eyes which belonged to any living creature. Pearly white, they were demon eyes. The demon smiled as the older vampire approached.
"Aro" the demon said, nodding her head slightly.
Aro returned the smile and offered his hand to the demon.
"Lady Lilith. It is always an honour to see you."
Lilith took Aros hand and allowed herself to be escorted towards the waiting vampires, many of whom were trying to put as much distance between the demon and themselves as was possible, given their duty to protect their leader.
Lilith gave a soft laugh as she watched the vampires retreat; Aros own laugh echoed hers as he beckoned to the group.
"My darlings please. Do not treat our honoured guest so." He called.
Reluctantly, the vampires moved to circle their leader and his demon guest. Lilith scanned the group, searching as Aro watched. Her smile grew as her eyes fell on the two youngest members.
As quickly as they could, the two youngsters, known in the group as Jane and Alec, exchanged worried glances before looking at Aro with pleading eyes, begging to leave with all the power of their minds. Aro shook his head lightly, refusing to dismiss them.
Slowly, Lilith pulled her hand away from his grasp before turning to face Aro.
"I come to you today old friend, with a proposition." She said an almost girlish tone to her voice.
Aro crossed his arms and nodded at her to continue. Lilith glanced around, as if bored by her situation. Then she turned back to Aro.
"I have a need to rid myself of a pair of...difficulties" she continued.
Aro nodded. It was the same old story.
"Your target?" he asked.
"Sibling hunters. One of them, unfortunately, has had the venomous kiss." She explained.
Aro couldn't help but smile at Lilith showing her true age. 'Venomous kisses had been the common description of a vampire, around the time Aro himself was turned.
"And what is our reward, should we offer our services to you?" he asked.
Lilith gazed at him, her white eyes searching his face.
"Revenge." She muttered.
In a hushed whisper, she explained the plan to him, making numerous references to her desired target and what she planned to do to him. An agreement was made. As the image started to fade, Aro smiled.
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Sam Winchester fought against the restraints holding him in place, the horrific images in his head replaced by a blinding pain behind his eyes. Breaking free, Sam tried to rise to his feet, only to drop from the platform he had been restrained to. With a horrible crash, Sam hit the floor and lay in a daze. Something touched his arm. Sam jerked away, trying to escape from his vision, from the pain, from everything.
"Sam?"
Sam blinked repeatedly, the pain slowly fading as the room came into focus. Quickly, he glanced up at the bed which he had been resting peacefully on only moments before. The blankets had moved from where they had rested on the bed, acting as both a cover and a restraint, and were now in a tangled pile on the floor. The voice called his name again. Sam tore his eyes away from the wreckage to face her.
Emily. his beloved Emily. His wife of three months and new hunting partner.
She was watching him, a concerned look on her face. Sam let out a sigh of relief as Emily moved closer, pulling her husband into a hug. She didn't even flinch as Sam buried his head in her shoulder. The couple stayed together for a few moments before Sam pulled away.
Rising quickly to his feet, Sam scanned the small rented room, his eyes finally resting on one of the bags brought inside from the Impala that very afternoon. Jumping over the bed, Sam almost tore the bag apart in his haste. Finally he withdrew a small silver phone. Quickly, he dialled a number and brought the device up to his ear before sending a quick glance to Emily, who was still sitting on the floor.
Something clicked on the phone line. Sam turned away, not wanting Emily to see his face.
"It's me" he said. "It's happening again. The visions have started again."
Sam swallowed slightly, remembering the whispered conversation and images which had appeared in the warped depths of his mind.
"I think I am going to die."
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Somewhere in the vast wilderness of Alaska, a vampire was stalking his prey. Normally this was not an unusual situation for a vampire, but this time was different. The prey, a huge bear, was not normal vampire fair, but then again, the vampire was not normal either. His name was Dean Winchester and before his turning, he had been a talented hunter of things that go bump in the night.
Stepping lightly on the icy ground, Dean advanced on his prey. The bear was completely unaware of his presence. Dean smiled to himself and lunged.
Two hits, a twist and a bite and it was all over.
The hungry vampire settled down to feed. That was why he almost missed his phone ringing. Catching on at the fourth ring, Dean turned from his half devoured catch and glanced at his phone before raising it to his ear, a smart ass greeting for his brother ready to be delivered.
The greeting never made it past his lips, as Dean listened to his younger siblings message, a feeling of dread filling his insides.
"Sam, stay right where you are. I am coming to find you."
Phone still to his ear, Dean glanced around at the frozen landscape.
"I will not let this happen again. Do you hear me Sam? I will not let this happen!"
Dean hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. Ignoring his recent kill, he turned to face the direction he estimated would take him to his younger brothers location. Without thinking, he started to run.
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Well that's all for now. Hope that was an enjoyable little teaser.
Just quickly, I thought I should let everyone know that this story may take more time to post then 'Crossing Paths' (Yes, I can already hear the disappointment) Sadly, I am in the middle of a three month training course for my work, during which time, minimal outside contact is allowed. (I am just thankful that I am currently on holidays and at home.) Meaning that time on a computer is rare. I am really sorry and will try to post as much as I can in the few weeks I have off.