Incarnation
Prologue
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the television show Supernatural and I'm not making any money from this fic
Summary: AU from the episode Changing Channels of Season five. Dean is having strange dreams of a past life. Fairies are beginning to make themselves known - but they aren't the harmless creatures from fairy stories. They have their own agendas... Contains original characters
Warning(s): Spoilers up to and including the episode Changing Channels of Season five; violence; some minor swearing; AU for the rest of season five
Author's Note: This story was written for the Big Bang Challenge 2011. This story is, in fact, complete - and I hope to upload two chapters a week until it's all uploaded. You can find the link to the story complete with artwork on my homepage. A huge thanks goes to my beta reader, Kuryakingirl, whose had to put up with me sending the story in incomplete parts and has been really helpful and encouraging.
Also, very big thanks goes to Shani and Tim - both of whom have read each update of Incarnation and encouraged (nagged) me to keep at it, even when I've been tempted to give up because the inspiration has been at an all-out low. Also, thanks goes to Ben - who read the whole thing in one day when I sent it.
All credit for the artwork used within the site on my profile goes to Amber and is pretty awesome ^^. You'll find the link to her livejournal in the Links section on my website, where you can find more artwork.
Finally, big thanks goes to the two moderators of the Big Bang challenge. They've both put so much work into making the challenge possible - and they've been doing it for five years now. They're awesome too!
Dean tried to pretend that he was completely all right with being at the fair with Kandy Lister. His family was supposed to be leaving this weekend, and he'd decided that if he was going to do anything at this latest school, it would be to get into Kandy's pants. Unfortunately, that had meant that – instead of sitting in the Impala and having a hot, steamy make-out session – he'd been dragged along to a fair.
The good thing was that at least Sam wasn't here to see Dean going along with something he'd already said that he wouldn't be caught dead doing.
Still, it wasn't all bad. Dean at least had Kandy on his arm, and her long black hair was brushing against his bare skin. As they walked past a romantic swan boat ride, Dean perked up a little and slowed his steps. It looked like things were looking up for him. "Hey, why don't we go for a romantic ride?" He nodded towards it, grinning at her.
Kandy lifted her head to follow the line of Dean's gaze, but didn't appear to be too interested. "Maybe later," she replied, and started steering him to a fortune teller's tent. "This is where I want to go."
Dean started pulling back, but he didn't try too hard. "Oh, come on. You don't really believe in that stuff, do you?"
"Of course not, but it's good for a laugh." Kandy touched his face with a soft hand, and then leaned up to kiss him lightly on the lips. "You don't have to get your fortune told. Just come in with me for support. And afterwards..." She took his hand and pressed it against her chest.
The feel of his hand against Kandy's chest, with only the thin material of her blouse between their skin, was what helped Dean decide. Of course, he knew that the fortune teller would probably be a complete fake; but there was no harm in going with Kandy for moral support. What his Dad didn't know couldn't hurt him... or Dean. Plus, he was definitely going to get lucky later if he just agreed to do this thing...
Kandy smiled up at Dean, then slipped her arm through his once more, before steering him in the direction of the tent. "It won't take long – and then we can go do other stuff." She stepped through the billowing silk door, pulling Dean along with her.
Inside the tent, the smell of incense was so strong that it made Dean feel a little dizzy. He used his free hand to fan the air in front of his face, trying to diffuse the scent. Squinting through the slightly misty air, he saw a woman seated at a table, wearing a brightly-coloured dress and her hair done up in an elaborate hairstyle.
"Welcome," the woman said in a calm, quiet voice when Dean and Kandy looked over at her. She gestured towards the two chairs across the table from her. "Please, have a seat." She watched as Kandy stepped over to sit down, and then turned her attention to Dean, who remained standing by the entrance. "You too, Dean."
"Neat trick, that," Dean commented, stepping over and taking the seat next to Kandy. "What did you do, have one of your fairground cronies follow us?" His eyes were continually drawn towards the crystal ball resting on the table between them, but he kept most of his attention focused on the woman.
The woman smiled with bright red lips, and looked at Kandy. "You may look into the crystal ball first."
Kandy shifted a little in her seat and leaned in closer tot the table. She then reached into her pocket for her purse, drawing it out – but the woman held up a hand and shook her head. "I'm not asking for your money."
Dean shifted uncomfortably in his seat. In his experience, no one ever gave something away for free. This was only confirmed when Kandy – after peering into the crystal ball for several moments – finally sat back with a disappointed look on her face and shook her head. "I can't see anything. Let's go, Dean."
"Fine by me." Dean started to stand up, but paused when the woman reached out to stop him. "What?"
"Look into the crystal, Dean."
"Sorry, but I don't believe in that crap." No matter how hard he tried, though, Dean couldn't keep his eyes from returning to the crystal ball. He seemed to hear a female voice singing inside his mind in an unknown language and suddenly – despite his initial thoughts to that the fortune teller had to be a fake – he wanted to run. He wanted to find his Dad and tell him that the woman clearly had some kind of magic powers.
Dean's feet refused to move. He was aware of Kandy's eyes on him, but his attention was drawn to the crystal ball. It was glowing softly, and he found that he couldn't look away. Unbidden, his feet drew him closer. He placed his hands on the table, and leaned in to peer into the depths of the crystal ball, unable to help himself.
Images flashed across the surface of the crystal ball. Dean saw his own face, but the features changed, becoming the features of someone else. Smoke distorted the image and he briefly saw someone burning, tied to a stake. Screams echoed through his head, and he flinched. Ashes obscured the glass briefly, and Dean heard laughter before he saw the man he'd changed into lying dead on the ground.
Dean gasped and flinched back from the table, blinking as the images and sounds faded. He jerked his head up and turned his eyes from the crystal ball, angry at being tricked so easily. "That's just stupid! It's quite obviously faked. What did you do, use a holographic projector or something?" He turned to Kandy, angry now. "Come on, let's go!"
Wordlessly, Kandy followed Dean from the tent. It wasn't until they were both outside that she spoke. "I didn't see anything..."
