The paper was worn down and torn from the past three and a half years it had been kept in her possession.
When she was younger, she had her mother read it to her every night before she went to bed. It was a story to help her sleep. But now, halfway through her fifth year, Hope Mikaelson had memorised the letter word for word.
Letting out a deep breath, she glanced out of the window towards her mother, who had stopped the car for gas, before she slowly unfolded the letter to read it once more.
'My dearest Hope.
I do not know how this will find you. As a child full of wonder, a teenager full of opinions, or a woman with the world at her feet. I write to tell you that I love you, and to explain that in our family's darkest hour, I was called upon to save my siblings, and so I did.
Please, do not mourn me. Whatever pain I endure, I do in service of those I love. My sole regret is that I will be away from you.
Be good to your mother. I draw comfort knowing that she will protect you. And I know she will not rest until our family is united... until then, my sacrifice will allow you to grow. To become the beautiful daughter I can now only imagine.
Please remember that you are the legacy this family has always desired, the promise we fought to protect.
You are, and always will be...our hope.'
Tears pricked her eyes as she let out a watery smile.
Her mom had told her stories of her family. Of her dad: the brave king who had fought valiantly to protect his daughter since her very first breath on this earth. She was told the stories of her aunts and uncles, who had stood side by side, during her dad's darkest hour, to protect their family…
Always and forever.
The letter from her dad and the stories of her fearless family were her source of comfort during their days of impossibility. They were the only things which kept her and her mother from giving up in their efforts to save them.
And they were almost at the finish line. Five of the seven werewolf clans had been tracked down, venom obtained… they had even found a witch to siphon Aunt Bek's curse and cure Aunt Freya's poison.
But once they succeeded in finding the remaining two clans, something else needed to be done. Something else would be needed to bind the venom of the wolf clans; to neutralise the deadly beast bite upon her uncles' desiccating flesh, the poison within her Aunt Freya and the curse degrading her Aunt Beks.
Much to her mom's dismay, Hope had even tried to tap into her powers, into the formidable magic brewing inside her but her control was feeble to say the least. But her mom had no idea what binding agent they needed and Hope could see the strain it put on her with each passing day.
As she watched her mom fill up the tank, the young girl easily noticed the bags brewing beneath the older woman's eyes, the slight slump of her shoulders. Even when they had found some kind of lead, it always felt like they were back at square one.
It was an endless, cycle.
Hope watched her mom release a low sigh and she chewed on her lip hard. She recognised that expression too. It passed over her mom's face every day; she was thinking of Uncle Elijah again… and of her dad… who still lay suffering in unspeakable torment.
Hope turned away from the window. She wanted her family back more than anything and her mom had promised to do whatever it took. But she was beginning to wonder whether it was worth the strain. She just couldn't bear her mom's despair.
Too absorbed in her thoughts, Hope jumped slightly in alarm when her mother suddenly opened her door. "Mom?" she gasped. "What?"
Her mother just placed a finger to her lips and instantly recognising the seriousness of her expression, Hope nodded and exited the car, feeling the midday heat blast onto her cold skin.
She watched her mother crouch down, dark eyes flashing a threatening gold and she moved her quivering form behind her.
The two of them waited, staring in apprehension towards the blurry figures which were stumbling through the trees towards them.
Pain, agony… that was all she could think about. It was constant and it was never-ending until finally, it did.
One minute she had been surrounded by fire; its lethal touch charring her skin and in the next, she was lying down on something hard and considerably uncomfortable.
It was when she opened her mouth, the terror struck her pounding heart. She couldn't breathe. And the surge of survival instinct took over. She struggled frantically; her blunt fingernails clawing desperately at the mud surrounding her, compacting around her body as she dug as fast as she was able.
It took a few seconds until her fingertips broke through the surface. A sharp gasp escaped her parted lips as a sudden hand clamped around her wrist and yanked her up out of the ground.
She didn't even have to glance at the owner before she stumbled into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. His body froze.
"Dean," she whispered softly, a quiet reassurance and he exhaled a breath of relief. His arms encircled her waist tightly in response, his face burying into her hair.
"Grace," he uttered in relief and awe as he pulled back, his hands firmly clasped on her shoulders. "I thought for a second I was the only one who got out - the thought of leavin' you there with that good for nothing bastard…"
"Hey!" Grace put a hand up to stop his rant and grinned teasingly. "No chick flick moments."
Dean grinned fondly in return as he ruffled her hair. "Brat."
"Jerk," she retorted instantly, kissing his cheek before looking around. "What the?" she mouthed the words aloud as she stared, her eyes wide, taken aback by the scene before her.
Two wooden crosses had been embedded in their graves and she cast her stunned gaze over them briefly before spinning around. Her nose stung as she inhaled. Faint wisps of smoke steadily rose up from the ground. A perfect black circle surrounded them. The grass, the trees, every livin' thing within the circumference now nothing except dead and charcoal.
"I don't know Gracie but I'm guessing it's somethin' all kinds of crazy," Dean stated calmly but Grace knew him well enough by now to tell that this was racking him up pretty hard.
It was up to her now to remain optimistic and take charge. Her first priority was distracting him from his emotional state. "Just our average jam then," she uttered, managing a small grin. "Must be Friday."
She scanned the area and seeing a deserted road off to the right her decision was made. She grabbed her brother's arm. "Come on, let's go," she gently ordered. "I don't know about you but I am famished and thirsty as hell."
The two siblings slowly started to make their long trek down the road. The sun blared down on Grace's shoulders as she walked by her brother's side. Feelin' its piercing burn, she shrugged off her jacket and tied it loosely around her waist.
They walked in silence, her brother never one for small talk but she never once complained. Licking her cracked lips, she gave a swift side glance towards him to see his gaze fixed determinedly on the road ahead.
Absentmindedly, she scratched her arm before looking away, forcing her mind to focus back on the situation at hand. It was like a mantra in her head… one foot in front of the other… yet every step needed maximum effort.
She tried so damn hard to ignore the uncontrollable trembling in her knees. All it took was a stray rock in the middle of the road and she stumbled.
A hand quickly grasped her arm, steadying her and she looked up to see her brother's concerned face. "You alright?" he enquired softly.
Grace didn't have to answer and he didn't need her too. Leaning into him slightly, she grumbled, "Please just tell me we are close."
Dean glanced around and his lips tilted up into a small smile. "Well this may just be your lucky day, Gracie."
Grace raised a questioning brow and followed his gaze. A small exhale of relief passed through her parted lips. "Thank God," she whispered before shrugging herself up off her brother. Then straightening her shoulders, she stared at the small building in the distance.
They resumed their endless walk at a pace more relatively faster at the prospect of something actually goin' their way for a change.
"Well would you look at that," Dean muttered, half shocked, half amused as they came into range.
Grace smiled in relief as the small shabby gas station came into view, a truck attached to a moving van parked just outside. Her fingers twitched in anticipation. It wouldn't be too hard for her to hijack the rusty piece of scrap metal and disconnect it from the van. Five minutes tops and they could be out of here…
A sudden shattering of glass burst her ears. She snapped her head to the right but the tenseness in her body subsided as she silently watched Dean reach through the now broken gas station window to pull the door open. Pulling back, he gestured her to follow and she immediately trailed behind.
She walked silently down the small aisle, her gaze sweeping over the items in distaste before zeroing in on the small glass fridge. She found herself immediately standing before it as she reached out and flung its door open. Grabbing two bottles of water she, threw one towards Dean who caught it instantly.
"Sweet," he said and Grace nodded in agreement before unscrewing the cap.
As soon as the liquid touched her lips, she let out a low moan. How long had it been since she had last tasted water? Long enough to almost have forgotten what the definition of taste even was. Refusing to follow that thought, she gulped down the bottle in seconds before pouring the remaining droplets onto her hand. She placed it on the back of her neck and closed her eyes.
"Grace?"
Turning towards her brother, she swiftly approached him with her eyebrows raised. "What is it?"
"Lift up your sleeve."
Grace hesitated at her brother's request. How the hell did he know? She stared at him, feigning confusion but emerald eyes pierced hers as he sharply shook his head.
"Don't pull that innocent crap on me."
Grace sighed before hesitantly clutching the material, dragging up her left sleeve. She winced slightly as it uncovered her upper arm where, just below the shoulder, her skin had been in a constant state of burning agony since Dean had pulled her up out of the ground...
Dean closed his eyes briefly and sighed. "What the hell is going on?" he muttered.
"What does it look like?" Grace asked tentatively and in response Dean pushed up his right sleeve. Grace's eyes widened as she gazed blankly upon the bright red, burned flesh, which protruded slightly up from her brother's skin.
Anyone stupid could look at the inflamed patch of skin and know that this was no ordinary injury… after all, burn marks didn't usually take the form of a human handprint.
This was way beyond their line of work. Pushing away the disturbing thoughts of what evil entity could possibly be behind this, Grace snapped into action. "Let's just get what we need and get to Bobby's. If anyone knows what crap we are up against this time, it's him."
Dean nodded in agreement before grabbing a plastic bag and filling it with food. Grace strode towards the till and chewed on her lip briefly before opening it. With the unattended cash now safely pocketed, her eyes began to stray towards the left.
Her stomach turned.
In a daze she moved forwards, extending her arms. She picked up the paper with trembling hands, her eyes fixed firmly on the date.
"That's not possible," she breathed.
September. It was September. It had been roughly May when they last saw Sammy. It had been May when she and Dean had… Grace squeezed her eyes shut, forcing away the dark memories which threatened to creep into the forefront of her mind and engulf her.
They had been gone four months. Fate had a twisted sense of humour.
A small rustling caught Grace's attention and she reluctantly turned to see her brother pluck a magazine off the shelf. Her eyebrow arched. "Seriously Dean?" she lightly reprimanded, unable to hold back her wry humour. "Not even an hour alive and bam, porn magazine in the bag."
"Hey, a guy has needs," Dean defended and Grace gave him a pointed look to which he just smirked at.
She shook her head, inwardly shuddering. "You seriously disturb me." No sister wanted to think about her big brother's needs.
Her thoughts were thankfully cut short by a faint noise but the gratitude turned rapidly into vigilance. The sound had come from her right. There was nothing to the right besides the closed door. That could only mean one thing.
Someone, or something, was outside.
Grace reached towards the handle but fingers closed around her wrist. She glanced up to see Dean subtly shake his head. All it took was one stern look from him and realising it was best not to argue, she retreated back.
With a sharp twist of the handle, Grace watched her brother leave the shop and she crouched down, out of sight, listening carefully.
The attack came out of nowhere. Her brother's resounding groans caused her to spur into action. Her hand deftly extended to the right and closed around a sharp piece of glass on the floor. She was immediately on her feet and flinging the door open.
Her eyes widened for a second at the scene which met her. Seein' her brother pinned up against the wall by a pretty woman was somethin' she didn't typically come across every day. Usually, she would have found it quite amusing to watch but she swiftly sprang into action.
"Hey!" she yelled and the woman whipped around. Grace immediately balked at the shining golden eyes before she quickly recovered, her face hardening into something a lot more threatening. "No one hurts my brother but me, are we clear?"
Grace didn't give her a chance to respond before shooting her fist out, her knuckles striking her square in the face. She heard the faint sharp snap of bone.
Using the moment of distraction, Dean twisted himself out of the woman's limp grip before tackling her to the floor.
Grace watched on, her body rigid as her brother pressed his hand down on the woman's neck. By the sound of the subsequent gasps, she knew that her brother had applied just enough pressure to make her feel dizzy but not enough for her to fall unconscious.
Dean outstretched his other hand and knowing what he wanted; Grace threw him the glass shard. His fingers closed around it. He pressed the sharp edge to the woman's neck. "Who the hell are you," he barked. "Who sent you?"
"Are you crazy?!" the woman spluttered. Gold eyes faded back to brown as she desperately argued, "You were after us!"
"Us?" Grace questioned, scanning their surroundings. Seeing no one, Dean scoffed.
"That's likely; you supes will do anything to talk your way out of things." He pressed the shard into the flesh, drawing specks of blood and the woman cried out in agony.
"Please don't hurt my mom."
Grace whipped around on her heel and her eyes widened at the newcomer. She couldn't be more than five. Her auburn hair parted down the sides of her round face in waves as she watched the scene in fear.
There was something in her wide sea-blue eyes which caused Grace to falter.
Innocence.
Something Grace had not known for a long time.
She already knew the outcome of this fight. Because no matter how hard she would try to convince herself it was the right thing to do, she could never harm a child. As much as she hated to admit it, the girl did not deserve to become an orphan.
Sighing tiredly, she whispered, "Brother, let her go."
Dean gawked at her before his surprised gaze finally flickered over to the child. His eyes closed briefly and he groaned before leaping back to his feet. "You're lucky I'm in an okay mood today," he stated in irritation before turning his back on them and striding back towards the gas station.
Grace leaned back against the side of the van, watching the woman's perplexed expression with a tight smile. "I wouldn't even question it," she uttered. "Just be glad you are still alive for your little girl. We usually kill supernaturals like you on the spot."
The woman got to her feet with narrowed eyes as she studied Grace warily. "Don't expect me to thank you."
Grace raised an eyebrow unconcerned although she had to admit, she was slightly impressed at her nerve. Not many supes were bold enough to even try that with a hunter and especially not with a Winchester. "I wasn't expecting one."
The woman stared Grace down before slowly nodding and making her way towards the little girl who was slyly edging herself closer.
"I told you to stay in the car!"
"I know mom but I don't think she's scary, just cares for her family, like we do," Grace heard the little girl reply shyly and her lips twitched slightly.
Innocent and sweet. Definitely a combination she had not seen in years.
"Grace! Get in here! We have a problem!"
Hearing her brother's urgent gruff tone, Grace whirled around, startling the mother and child as she approached them fast. "You both need to get in the gas station now."
"If you think we are going to do anything you say," the woman began but Grace growled in frustration. She neither had the time nor the patience for this.
"Look, my brother never uses that tone on me unless something real bad is about to go down. I know we didn't get off to the greatest start but you're just gonna have to trust me when I say we're in danger."
"I trust her mom," the little girl responded instantly and Grace was slightly astounded at the wide smile sent in her direction as the young girl tugged on her mother's arm who let out a small sigh.
"Fine."
As soon as the worlds left her mouth, Grace turned tail and pelted back into the gas station. Smokey blue eyes instantly fell on the crackling sounds from the TV, the distorted noises from the radio. She swiftly faced her brother who was sprinkling salt across one of the windows.
"Salt!" she demanded. He tossed her one off the shelf and she followed suite.
"What are you-" the woman questioned but a high pitched screech suddenly pierced through their ears.
The room was immediately filled with agonised yells. The four of them covered their ears to block out the noise.
The windows began to crack.
Quickly realising the intensity of the sound which was steadily increasing in pitch, Grace leaped forwards. She grabbed the girl, dragged her to the floor and covered her small form with her larger body.
The glass exploded.
Grace flinched as stray shards sliced her skin but she never moved, keeping the little girl covered. Then as soon as the sound had started, it had stopped and there was silence.
Groaning, Grace pulled the young girl to her feet but when she made a move to let go, the kid clutched her hand tight.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered and Grace knelt down in confusion.
"Hear what?"
"That voice, it said your names… Grace and Dean."
Grace's face paled but she squeezed the girl's hand reassuringly. "Don't worry, it's gone now." Straightening up, she turned to her brother. "We need to leave," she demanded. "As in now."
"Couldn't agree more," Dean replied as he scanned his sister quickly for any serious damage before his eyes drifted over towards the two strangers. "What do we do with them?"
Grace turned to see the woman enveloping the little girl in her arms.
"You okay, are you hurt?"
"Mom I'm fine, Grace protected me."
The woman looked over the little girl's shoulder and dark eyes met Grace's. "Thank you," she said begrudgingly. "I don't know what the hell that was but I know somehow you both protected us."
Grace and Dean glanced at each other before shrugging simultaneously. "It's kinda our thing."
"We did get off to a bad start," the woman stated before hesitantly stepping forward. "I'm Hayley." She then looked down at the little girl and bit her lip. She seemed to be fighting an inward battle before reluctantly adding, "This is my daughter Hope."
"Dean, this is Grace," Dean replied and to his left, his sister nodded once. Stepping toward her, he lowered his voice and muttered, "I'm gonna call Sam and Bobby. Then we need to figure out what the hell just happened."
Grace nodded in response and watched him stride out the station. A short silence followed whilst she debated what to say. She was never good the enlightenment side, that was usually Sammy's forte.
"I'm sure you want an explanation," she began.
"One wouldn't go amiss," Hayley replied and Grace instantly cut to the chase.
"My brother and I are Winchesters."
Hayley froze and Grace's lips twitched grimly at the familiar recognition which flitted over the woman's dark eyes. She wasn't surprised by the reaction. Hayley was obviously a supernatural and the name Winchester held quite a bit of power over her community.
"Long story short, my brother and I have been dead for four months and you just caught us an hour after our resurrection." Grace was quick to clarify. "We don't know how the hell we are alive right now, my brother and I still need to figure that part out but in the meantime, you are probably gonna have to stay with us because the thing that attacked will most likely be back."
Hayley paused, taking in Grace's words whilst Hope watched the conversation with curious eyes. Finally Hayley let out a low exhale. "Well, this certainly wasn't how I was expecting today to go."
Grace snorted. "Tell me about it." Her curious eyes carefully scrutinised Hayley from top to bottom. "So what kind of supe are you?" she wondered. "I have seen demons with yellow eyes but yours flashed golden."
"Demons?" Hayley questioned and Grace sighed.
"You know what, let's talk on the way."
They had a long conversation ahead of them and Hayley, realising that, nodded in acceptance.
"So are we coming with you?"
Grace glimpsed Hope's wide eyes, which were filled with excitement, and couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, Hope. You are."
"Well technically, you are since it is my truck and van parked outside."
Grace laughed slightly at Hayley's statement and Hope beamed, swinging her mom's hand back and forth in her own.
The female Winchester watched the mother and daughter bonding moment with a slightly aching heart. For a moment, she allowed herself the time to think.
Would her life have been as pure as Hayley and Hope's if Azazel never came to Sammy's bedroom that night? What would her life have been like if her mom was never killed?
Definitely safer.
Maybe it wouldn't have been the perfect apple pie life but it would have been pretty damn close. How Grace longed for that life but it had always just been one of those simple fantasies. She was smart enough to know her own reality. A happy end just wasn't in the cards for her… she doubted it ever would be.
Turning away from mother and daughter with a heavy heart, Grace left the gas station and approached her brother who instantly felt her presence and stated in a hard tone, "Sammy's number is disconnected."
"Did you call Bobby?"
"Yep, man hung up," Dean stated grudgingly.
Grace could see the stress and flare of irritation in his eyes as she muttered, "Can't blame him. More likely to be some fanatic shifter than this Lazarus crap going on."
Bobby had always been paranoid. All hunters were. Because it would be so easy for the supes to win a fight if they targeted the weakest part of a hunter.
The heart. The bonds of family. Hit 'em where it hurt the most.
She leaned against Dean who wrapped an arm around her shoulders, the two of them embracing in a rare moment of comfort.
"So, we're taking them with us." Dean eventually broke the comfortable silence and Grace knew that it wasn't a question.
In response, she rested her head against his arm, closed her eyes and tried to block out the images which crawling out of the darkness and seeping up through the cracks.
Since May, she had undergone unbearable agony in hell with Dean. She had withstood unspeakable things that neither he nor Sam could ever know about.
If they even discovered an inkling of the truth, it would break them. The more Grace allowed herself to think, the more she realised that she was barely holding on.
As the two siblings waited for Hayley and Hope, deep down the fv dark-haired Winchester knew that the two strangers were going to be in it for the long haul, no matter what messy and complicated futures awaited them.