Angry grey storm clouds pelted thick, needle sharp drops of transparent liquid at the ground. In the not too far distance thunder bellowed, like an enraged giant, stomping towards Bobby's. Thalia had given up on the idea of sleeping hours ago. It wasn't going to happen tonight when such a vicious storm was raging. It put her on edge. Not to say that Thalia wasn't always on edge, she was. She lived in a constant sate on unrelenting fear and worry.
Instead of sleeping she was training. By the two-hundredth push-up her arms where quivering from the effort of supporting her weight. Thalia collapsed on to the hard wood floor. Her chest rapidly rose and fell as she chugged down a few gulps of cool water.
BRRRRMMMM. Thalia jumped back her heart pounding. She slapped her hand over her mouth; covering her yelp. Her heart was beating faster than any work-out could make it. She stood motionless. She was afraid to move. It's just thunder. Thalia reminded herself. It can't hurt you, she thought trying to sooth her broken nerves.
When would the fear end? Would it ever end? With a weary sigh Thalia slipped the carving knife on her bedside table into her jumper's pocket. Then she pulled her slipper boots on and tip-toed down the stairs. She was paranoid about waking up Bobby. He'd been so kind, letting her stay here but Thalia couldn't help but feel like she was a burden to him. After all, who really wanted a neurotic young woman, with an abusive past and a career in monster hunting as a house guest? She'd been here over a week and she couldn't help feel like she was outstaying her welcome.
Upon entering the kitchen Thalia flicked on a light. She set about making tea. Under the florescent light Bobby's grimy magnolia walls appeared yellow. She opened the blinds to get a better view of the storm. As she waited for the kettle to boil, Thalia began to spray the worktop with Dettol which she'd found in the cupboard next to the stove. She set to work on scrubbing.
"Thalia?" Bobby called out apprehensively. He'd learnt not to surprise her about a week ago when she'd almost broken his leg. Bobby stepped into the kitchen like he hadn't woken up a minute ago. Sleepy was a concept hunters rarely managed to grasp. You were either sleeping or awake, never in between. He slouched against a wooden dining chair and cast a grim look out of the window. Bobby didn't have his cap on which made Thalia smile, it was strange seeing him without it.
The weather outside was wild. Of course they got storms a lot, but never really this bad. "Make me one too please." Bobby instructed, nodding at the kettle.
Thalia obliged. She leant up, jumping slightly to retrieve a second mug from white wooden cupboard above the stove. She would never be able to re-pay Bobby's generosity. He was letting her stay in his house. Free of charge. From what she'd seen he was like that with all hunters: there to lend a helping hand. He didn't usually play hotel - Thalia was an exception. Until two weeks ago she was presumed dead, so you can image Bobby's surprise when little Thalia Harper appeared on his door-step. All grown up, covered in blood and asking for a place to stay.
"Sorry that I woke you up." She whispered guiltily, whilst tucking a few loose wisps of dark hair back behind her ear.
Bobby waved her apology away. "Don't be ridiculous!" He exclaimed. "It was a phone call from a pair of idjit brothers that woke me up."
The kettle pinged. Thalia stopped scrubbing. Instead she began to divide the boiling water between two mugs. "Idijt brothers?" She asked and lifted an eyebrow curiously. Thalia dropped the Lemon & Ginger tea bags into the water. She began to stir the tea. The whole kitchen was filled with the calming aroma of Lemon and Ginger and a little of the tension slipped from Thalia's shoulders.
"Sam and Dean Winchester. They're notorious among hunters now 'a days. You're probably the only hunter who hasn't heard of them." He stopped for a moment, scratching his beard, before hastily adding, "Which is understandable of course."
Thalia looked at the ground: embarrassed. She hated that people treated her differently because of what she'd been through. Thalia kept her eyes fixed firmly on the floor as she carried the steaming mugs of Lemon & Ginger tea over to the table.
"What did they do that's so miraculous anyways?" Thalia asked, setting the mugs down on the table and pulling out a chair. A few bits of scalding tea leapt from the constraints of the mug and onto her hand. It burned at first, but the warmth that followed was pleasant.
The table was probably the first table Bobby had ever brought, the thing was ancient. Every dent, mark and chip in the wood told a story. Each mustard stain represented a meal, good or bad. The whole house looked like the first touch of paint it received had been the last. Thalia liked that about this house, it had character. It would feel homey if it didn't lack a certain warmth. She could derive meaning from every object she found, even when the object was meaningless.
"They stopped Armageddon." Bobby answered grinning.
She choked on her tea. In the midst of her coughing fit Thalia's dark eyebrows flew up in surprise. Armageddon had almost happened? That sent an icy tendril crawling down her spine. Back in the real world it was easy to forget how isolated she'd been in there. No amount of tea would melt the glacier that experience had left in place of her heart.
"Wow…" She mumbled in awe. I really did miss a lot. She held the mug in both hands, not caring that the hot fluid burnt her lips and throat as she practically chugged it down. Physical pain helped Thalia to focus on the present: On Bobby and on the storm and on the fabled Winchesters. "The world was ending and I had no clue… And, and these boys, they stopped it?"
"But," Bobby said "they also started it." His voice held both amusement and sympathy. Possibly even a glimmer of pride. It was then that Thalia realised Bobby's relationship with these boys was deeper than what he had with other hunters. He loved them but he also pitied them.
It took Thalia a moment to quell the fire that had ignited inside of her. Speaking from the point of view of someone on the receiving end, pity was a vile thing. It makes you feel ashamed of what you'd been through. You're scared to open up to people for fear of being pitied. It makes you feel less than you are. He pitied her too.
Thalia forced another gulp of tea down her throat. When the burning subsided so did her anger. "You're right." She answered as flippantly as possible, "Idjits."
Several seconds of silence passed. The only noise in the kitchen was the howling wind and the sharp lashes of the rain on glass and the deep growls of thunder crawling closer. Her mug was empty. Thalia sat, absent-mindedly rolling the string, from the hood of her jumper, between her teeth. She listened until the memories began to close in. They encompassed her like hunting dogs around a fox.
Eventually she couldn't take it. She broke the silence, "Why are the Winchester's coming here?"
Bobby looked away from the empty spot he'd been staring at. He was no doubt lost in his own thoughts, "Hmm?"
Thalia quietly repeated the question and Bobby had to strain to hear her over the storm outside. He explained to her that they were on a hunt close by and Sam had gotten pretty town up by a 4th generation werewolf. The Winchester's were on their way to Bobby's so that they could patch up and recover from their wounds. Thalia nodded.
Right on queue there was a loud bang on the door. Thalia flinched. Bobby thought that she didn't see the sorrowful look he gave her. She scrawled a mental note to herself: get a grip.
"Well, I'd better get that." The old man groaned as he hauled himself up of the chair. Thalia lingered in her seat for a moment before she followed him out into the hall. Just before he opened the front door Bobby turned to look at Thalia, dead in the eyes. "Thalia, I want you to know that I love and trust these boys uh' hundred percent. But a word of warning, when it comes to beautiful young women like you Dean tends not to think with his head." He paused frowning. He wasn't saying it right. "I know that you get...panicky real quick. Don't feel guilty about hurting them on accident, these boys'll understand."
Thalia plastered a fake smile across her face. When Bobby turned around Thalia murmured that they wouldn't understand because she wouldn't tell them. She wouldn't tell anyone. All she wanted was to move on and forget about her past. Of course that was hard when aside from Bobby most men terrified her. She couldn't help it. After what happened to you it's your right to be terrified. Bobby pulled back the door and two figures fell through. Although both of them were tall it was the bigger figure that was leaning heavily against the smaller one. In the light of the hall the first thing that Thalia noticed about them was the blood. Bobby swore. She gritted her teeth. Taller one's shirt was torn and three red rivers gushed from the claw marks across his chest. The blood was smeared over him and his brother. They struggled through into the kitchen, leaving puddles as they went. Their clothes were waterlogged. Thalia ran upstairs to the landing to fetch some towels and a few clean shirts from the fresh laundry hamper.
When she returned the tallest Winchester had vanished along with Bobby. His brother had taken up residence in the chair Thalia had previously occupied. His face was clenched in pain as he pushed against his shoulder. Thalia realised that he was trying to pop it back into its socket. He was so focused that he hadn't even noticed her. At first the idea of being alone in a room with a man terrified her. Her instinct to flee upstairs and hide in her room kicked in. You can't live your life in fear. A determined look settled on her face. He was just a guy. A good guy by the sound of it.
Thalia crept forward. The fear wasn't going to vanish automatically, not matter how much she wished that it would. She silently set the towels down on the table and made her way behind him. It was easier to not face him.
"Let me help." She said gently.
In surprise the Winchester snapped his head around. The pain caused by this action writhed across his gentle features. Meaning he didn't notice the way she jumped away from him. He hardly made a noise as Thalia popped his shoulder back into place.
"Thanks." His voice was incredibly deep and it sounded drained.
"Are you Sam or Dean?" She moved around the table and picked up a towel. Thalia handed him it with a knowing smile. He took it with a grateful nod.
"Dean. And you are?"
"Thalia." Thalia answered, opening the doors to the liquor cabinet.
"Thalia?" He asked, peering up at her with incredible green eyes.
She didn't elaborate. Instead Thalia set a bottle of Smith & Wesson and two glasses down on the table. She took the seat in front of him and began to pour. "Is your brother going to be okay?" Thalia whispered.
Dean shrugged sadly, "Sammy's been through worse. A lot worse actually…we both have." The hurt in his voice was genuine; it was raw too, like he was still running from the memories. They had that in common. Thalia's body began to relax, whenever she was around new people, men especially; her body would automatically become ridged from fear. She hated it, but couldn't help it.
The whiskey burned on its way down her throat. She set her glass back down on the hardwood surface. Dean filled it back up. "It doesn't make this time around any less painful though." Thalia mumbled, her own traumas crawling back into her mind for the millionth time this evening.
Despite everything, Dean smiled. It was sad and tired and broken, just like hers. But it was a smile nonetheless. "Hell," he grinned, "I'll drink to that."
…
Eventually Thalia did sleep. It wasn't peaceful or dreamless but it was better than usual. For the first time in forever when she woke up Thalia felt refreshed. I should do late night drinking more often. She threw on a dressing gown to cover up her vest and tracksuit bottoms before she ventured downstairs.
Thalia cast a side-ways glance to a clock on the kitchen wall: 7:30 am. "First things first," She muttered to herself, "Coffee." Thalia flicked on the kettle and retrieved the coffee beans from their pot. Bobby didn't have any of that instant rubbish, thank the lord. That was the last thing she needed after twelve years of captivity. Actually, she thought calmly, the coffee in there wasn't that bad. While that was brewing she went over to the fridge and began rummaging for some eggs.
"Morning sunshine," a familiar voice called out from the doorway. "Sleep well?"
He sound less drained than he did yesterday and a lot more cocky. It made her incredibly uneasy. Thalia turned around. "My name's Thalia. Not sunshine." She stated gruffly. Thalia turned back to the fridge, retrieving the eggs. She snagged some bacon too. She set them down on the work top before getting out a frying pan. She felt like omelette and bacon.
She'd practically forgotten about Dean until she felt the air shift behind her. She tensed up. Thalia closed her eyes. She drew in a deep breath. Just make it clear that you aren't interested. Bobby said Dean's a good guy. Bobby wouldn't lie…but then again Bobby's a guy.
Thalia's hand found a knife on the surface top; she curled her fingers around the hilt. She didn't plan to use it until she felt a hand on her back. Maybe it was friendly, maybe it wasn't, but she wasn't waiting to find out. Thalia whirled around in a flash. She pressed the knife to Dean's throat, cutting off whatever he'd been about to say. Do it, whispered the sadistic little parasite in the back of her mind, he's a man. Remember what men do Thalia…
No, shrieked the part of her that hadn't been twisted and disfigured by the cruelty, injustice and unanswered hope she'd suffered through. Those men didn't have a choice. They were just as much a captive as she was. They weren't really even men. Just male meat suits for abdominal creatures fashioned from pure hate, the pure part of her mind reminded her.
Dean face had quickly paled. He'd gone from casual and flirty to this bitch is a fucking physco in a matter of milliseconds. "Woah, Thalia put the knife down. I didn't mean to upset you."
"Well you have." Her voice was shaky and unsure.
"Just put the knife down." Dean gulped; wide-eyed.
Something clicked. And Thalia realised the full extent of what she was doing. Suddenly she wanted to obey him. She wished she could hurl the knife across the room and beg Dean to understand. But she couldn't because she'd promised herself she was going to be strong. Thalia drove all the uncertainty and fear from her face. Instead she forced a look of cool indifference to settle over her dainty features.
"I will." She said as calmly as an empress. She was the one with the power. "Let's just establish a few things first." Dean nodded along, he didn't once take his eyes off her. He was scanning, waiting for her to trip up. Just one tiny miss placed movement and he'd disarm her. "You aren't bi or gay, are you Dean?" The sensible part of Thalia knew that she should stop. She was enjoying this way too much: all the power, not being the frightened one for once. It wasn't good for her.
Puzzlement danced over is pretty face as he responded, "No! Look, if this is some sick hate-"
She cut him off, "Good. Well then as far as you're concerned I am a man. You don't look at me like I'm a woman. You don't treat me like one. Are we clear?"
"You're Tommy not Thalia." Dean answered. She dropped the knife and just like that Thalia was back. Relief washed over Dean's face.
Just like that her ice queen bravado dissolved and she was just a terrified young woman again. "Sorry Dean. It's nothing personal." She whispered, turning around and keeping her brown eyes rooted firmly on the eggs.
"Well excuse me if I take it personally." Dean snapped as he stormed off.
Thalia let go of a breath she didn't know she'd been holding and the knot in her stomach uncurled. In an attempt to stop the tears she clenched her eye's closed and pressed her lips firmly together to stop a whimper from escaping. Paranoia was going to kill her eventually. Cool tears flew down her cheeks and a soft whimper escaped her lips.
A voice just materialised behind her, "Excuse me, are you alright?" Thalia flinched.
She turned around to face the owner of the voice. A man she presumed to be Sam Winchester, he was even taller in the daylight. Thalia rubbed away her tears with the back if her hand. "Yeah. I'm fine thanks. Do you want some breakfast?" She nervously asked.
"Um sure." He sounded on edge. No doubt that his brother had already filled him in on Bobby's psychopathic house guest.
Sam looked like just moving caused him agony. Pain writhed across his face as he lowered itself into a dining Chair. Bobby had given him over two dozen stiches last night and half of his chest was in bandages. "You were pretty lucky you didn't get bitten."
"Yeah, if you can call thirty seven stitches and wanting to pass out from the pain every time you move lucky." Sam quipped.
"It's better than getting the urge to devour hearts every full moon."
Sam consented to that point. "You're Mason Blakely's daughter, the one that went missing."
The mention of her father was like a bullet through the heart. It brought up memories of a family she wished she could forget. Memories of one horrific night.
"Let's not talk about it." She whispered. Thalia snapped at Sam, "You know what all of a sudden I don't feel well. I'm going to bed." She grabbed some sleeping tablets of the side.
The dim lights made the grotty motel room appear warm and fuzzy. Thalia and Maisy were sitting on the bed looking down at their brother. They were practically curled up on each other's laps as Dylan read them Dracula from the floor. It smelt like pancakes in their room. The door opened and their dad strolled in. Expect it wasn't their dad. His eyes were black. Not just his irises, his entirety of his eyes: black as jet. The next few moments were a blur. Dylan stopped reading and began barking instructions at his sisters. Maisy yanked Thalia from the bed and dragged her into the bathroom. Thalia's heart hammered in her chest. She didn't understand. Why were they acting so afraid? Maisy started to draw strange patterns on the floor. There was a strangled yelp from the bedroom and immediately after someone scooped Thalia of her feet. When her father held her she felt safe, and warm and peaceful. Now she was terrified. He wasn't her father. She kicked and screamed but what good is a nine year old against a forty year old. Maisy grappled for Thalia's hand but he flung her back. When they walked through the bedroom all Thalia could see was blood.
Thalia sat up and screamed.