Prologue

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. —John Taylor

Aaliyah-Hazel Eckhart was sitting at the foot of the bed at the sleazy motel she was staying in. She had been on the trail of a werewolf for the last couple days, but she was spending an afternoon trying to relearn the methods of taking one down. Aaliyah spent most of her childhood doing just that—reading up on mythologies and different lore from around the globe to understand their interpretation of it. Aaliyah's father—the only parent she'd known her entire life—had raised her to be the best hunter she could be.

Yes, she hunted the supernatural—the things oblivious people make movies on, write books about, and create comic books for.

Since Aaliyah's been able to walk, she's been taught how to deal with the supernatural, how to handle specialized guns, etc. By the time she was sixteen, she could exorcise evil spirits and demons; when she was twenty she knew what could stop a demon from possessing someone, how to stop demons from entering homes—the list kept going.

For twenty-two years, Aaliyah had been taught how to handle anything supernatural, from destroying a nest of vamps to handling evil spirits and demons.

But the one thing she wasn't ready for was a phone call.

"Hello?" she said carefully.

"Allie." She sighed; it was her father. "Listen, I don't have a lot of time, but I need you to do something for me."

"Well, it'll have to wait. I'm kind of handling a case right now." Aaliyah closed the book for a moment, her brows knitted together in confusion. Aaliyah and her father had started hunting separately only a couple years ago, so it was a little odd for him to call asking for a favor.

"Aaliyah, it's important."

"Fine, what is it?" she muttered.

"Do you remember John?"

Aaliyah pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't know, the name maybe sounds familiar."

"John Winchester."

"Winchester. . . ." Aaliyah sighed. The name did sound familiar, the more she thought about it. "Isn't he the John Winchester you hunted with when I was little?"

"Yeah. Well, something came up."

"Something?"

"Something."

"Doesn't explain why you're calling me."

"You remember his wife, Mary?"

Aaliyah tried remembering. She had been relatively young, so anything that involved the Winchesters was only vague little bits. All she remembered—as vague as it was—was her father briefly talking about John or maybe talking to him. There might've been a Mary there.

"I don't really remember," she said.

She heard her father sigh on the other end. "Listen, I got a voicemail from John saying he may have found a lead on something important. Really important."

"Dad, can we move this along?" Aaliyah sighed, frustration bubbling in her stomach. "This case. . . ."

"You'll be able to finish it once we're done. Once you're done, find John's sons."

"Sons?" Aaliyah's brows furrowed. "What am I supposed to do with his sons?"

"Keep an eye on them. I've told John about you the few times we've actually talked—you're a damn good hunter, Allie."

"Yeah, well. . . .it's the only thing I've ever known."

There was a moment of silence before her father started talking again. "Find those boys, OK?" he sighed. "Keep an eye on them. The youngest one—Sam, I think that's his name—he's going to Stanford."

"What about the other?"

"He's a hunter, like his father. It'll be harder to find him."

Aaliyah sighed. "So I'm just babysitting for your friend?"

"It's not babysitting." There was a sharpness in her father's voice that made Aaliyah purse her lips. "Aaliyah, there's something big happening and there's a chance it could be linked to those boys, too."

"Fine, OK, I'll watch them." She scowled.

"Make sure you know where the nearest blood bank is, OK?" There was a hint of concern in her father's voice.

Her scowl deepened. "Yeah, I know. You'd think I wouldn't have to hear this. . . ."

"I want to make sure you don't try anything again."

"And I won't. It was one mistake, OK?"

"One mistake that can blow your damn cover. You think I wanna hear about my only daughter getting killed 'cause she was reckless?"

"I don't need to be hearing this right now, OK?" Aaliyah snapped. "I get it. I fucked up, no need to keep rubbing it in." Sighing, Aaliyah rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. "I'll check in on the Stanford one. If I can't find the other, then oh well."

"Aaliyah. . . ."

"If one's a hunter, I don't think it'd be wise for me to stick around," Aaliyah said sharply. "I'll keep tabs on him, but don't expect me to stick around for very long."

"Fine. If that's what you think is best."

"It is."

"Thanks, Aaliyah."

"Why are you so worried about them?" she asked after a pause. "I get that John's your friend and everything, but if he's so worried about his kids, why doesn't he check on them?"

"I don't know."

"What're you going to do?"

"I'm going to see if I can get in contact with John." Her father sighed. "He was never the same after what happened with Mary. And if he thinks he's onto something big, then you need to make sure nothing happens to those boys, alright?"

"Nothing will happen to them, calm down."

"Good," he sighed. "I'll try and call you whenever I can. Be careful, Aaliyah."

Author's Note:

If this first chapter was weak, I apologize. I also apologize for anyone who came to read and only saw Chapter 1 on here. I know it was there, for anyone who wanted to let it be known that it was all they saw, it's just something that happens when I post new stories. It goes away when the chapter's up. As for future updates, it'll look like I reposted the previous chapter, but don't worry, the new chapter will come up in no time! So to let you all know, if it said Chapter 1 here instead of an actual chapter, it's just a little setback until the chapter's up; all new future updates will show the previous chapter until the new one's posted. No need for the reminders, I know.

As for this chapter, just leave a review on what you think so far. I did a 'Supernatural' one-shot not too long ago, and like I said in that one-shot, I'm pretty new to this fandom so if you guys could cut me some slack I'd appreciate it. I wouldn't mind some help, either, just in case I get any characters wrong.

Nothing in the 'Supernatural' universe belongs to me. All I own are Aaliyah, the fillers, and any other characters I add to the story.

This is pretty much a multi-chapter story about my OC Aaliyah—who was also in my one-shot—and her adventures with the Winchesters. It's an eventual Sam/OC story, so don't expect any romance right away.

To wrap this author's note up, give me some help with this [like I said before]! I'm new to 'Supernatural', I love the show and I'd love to get some advice on how I can improve this story. Or suggestions, I would love to hear your suggestions.

Leave a kind and helpful review, please!

Thank you.

Susan Strong