Disclaimer: I do not own anything within Supernatural. No copyright infringements are intended.

Author's Note: This is set in Season three, and so it has some spoilers if you haven't watched Seasons one through three. On the other hand it veers rather sharply from Season Three's plot, so after that point there aren't many spoilers at all. This starts, technically, directly after the last scene in "Dream a Little Dream of Me", but changes dialogue from "Malleus Maleficarum". Bella didn't get her hands on the Colt. There are aspects here borrowed from non-canonical Biblical literature, several world mythologies, and the table-top game In Nomine. This is my first Supernatural fic. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter One: Rock 'n' Roll Damnation

"The way we were/ The chance to save my soul/ And my concern is now in vain/ Believe the word/ I will unlock my door/ And pass the/ Cemetery gates"- Pantera "Cemetery Gates"

Dean didn't know how to tell Sam that he's been given a potential way out of his deal. A long shot that he'd refused to even consider briefly as he wallowed in his admittedly pathetic, but manly, self-hatred. So after he confessed to Sammy, and to himself, that he didn't want to die it was only a matter of finding the right time to tell Sam that Ruby may have given him a lead. He found that moment after taking a well-deserved six hours to sleep off the stress of the last job. When he opened his eyes Sam was seated across the small motel room with bloodshot and heavily shadowed eyes, and his finger slowly tapping across his laptop's keyboard. Dean cocked an eyebrow and waited till Sam had looked over at him. "You get any sleep at all man?"

Sam shook his head wearily. "I've been researching Dean. I'll take a few hours before check-out and a few more in the car. I just have to finish this one passage."

Dean considered his brother for a moment. Then he put on his best innocent and confused face. "Why did you stay up all night researching when all we have to do is ask Ruby about the long shot she mentioned?"

Sam looked confused. Then his eyes narrowed and his giant fists clenched above the laptop. "What do you mean the long shot Ruby mentioned? You never said Ruby told you about a long shot Dean."

"Yeah man, outside of the Conquistador. I asked her if she was lying about there being a way for me to get outta the deal and she said yeah. Then she mentioned there was really only one escape, but there was no chance it'd work."

Sam's nostrils were flaring. Dean loved this look on his little brother. Easy vengeance for the multitude of times Sammy had left him so angry all he could do was try to hold his rage in until there was a target for him to destroy. "What was the long shot Dean?" Sam gritted out through clenched teeth.

Dean's grin dropped off. "She didn't say, and I didn't ask. But if we're gonna try this little brother we'd better start with finding a way to contact Ruby."

Sam looked at the screen of his laptop thoughtfully before closing it and standing. He stretched, and Dean was reminded, as always, of Sam as a child. When his brother reached a certain level of tired all the maturity Sam had gained over the years went right of the window. Dean let Sam collapse on the bed across from him before he stood and headed for the bathroom. Sam's last words before sleep came out strangled and thick. "How are we going to do that Dean?"

Well it was a fair question, but Dean didn't honestly know. Ruby came when she wanted and left when she didn't. More often than not she only came to speak to Sam when she thought Sam was in some kind of trouble that messed with her plans. Despite their enlightening conversation Dean still didn't trust Ruby very much, and he refused to believe that the demon had Sam's best interests at heart. He started the shower and undressed while he considered his face in the mirror. The dream version of himself didn't seem very far away, and Dean found that against his own wishes he was often entranced by his own reflection. Could there really be a day when his eyes would be that soulless black he had spotted on the face of so many enemies? A time when someone like the Winchesters would be staring at him with the same hatred he had for all the demons they had ever faced?

Dean didn't want to think about it honestly, and he pushed the shower curtain back and stepped into the punishingly hot water trying to focus on something else. It was Sam's habit to worry like this about Dean, and Dean needed to focus on what could be done instead of standing around and pitying himself. That was weak behavior, and Dean Winchester wasn't weak.

Dean let Sam sleep as he slipped out of the room to go down the street and get food for the two of them. He sat down in the car and a finger tapped him on the shoulder. Dean's entire body went whipcord tight and he spun around pulling his gun on the intruder. He stopped when the muzzle was pointed at Ruby's pretty blonde head. He saw that his hand was shaking slightly, and he lowered the gun and turned back to stare ahead. "That wasn't your smartest move."

She climbed carefully into the front seat and sat beside him. "You wouldn't shoot me now would you Dean? I thought we were over that?"

Dean cut a glare at her and then turned the car on. "You shouldn't sneak up on me. What do you want?"

She laughed and leaned back in the seat as Dean reversed out of the parking space and turned out of the lot to head for the nearest fast food place. Her fingers toyed with her blonde hair. "I believe it's what you want. Weren't you and Sammy interested in finding me?"

Dean's jaw clenched. "You were listenin' in on us?"

She laughed softly again and turned her whole body to look Dean head on. "You were talking pretty loudly. So you've decided you want to try that long shot I mentioned?"

Dean nodded tightly. It had come to this. The Winchesters depending on demons like a bunch of fucking saps. He felt his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as he waited for Ruby to continue. When he had reached the restaurant and she hadn't he pulled into a parking space there and turned to look at her. "Well? Spit it out if you know it."

Ruby looked through the window at a family laughing as they made their way inside. "Was the Winchester clan ever like that?" Her tone was casual as she pointed at the happy people. Dean looked at them and then leaned back in his seat. His hand stroked the wheel as he considered.

"Just tell me what the damn long shot is Ruby. I'm not up for games right now."

Her winsome smile disappeared and she clasped her hands together in her lap."You have to agree Dean, that when this plan fails we go with mine. Training Sam to deal when you're gone."

Dean nodded immediately. The plan had to work. It had occurred to Dean that Sam being like him would be a bit of tragedy.

"There's a bar in Nebraska. Small town called Macy, you can't miss it. If you get there in the next three days you'll get to see a band play, and the person you want to speak to is the singer."

Dean turned to her incredulously. "The singer? In a band in Nebraska? You think some front man can help me avoid Hell?"

"Front woman." Ruby's voice was terse and she opened her car door. "Dean I didn't tell you this was a long shot for no reason. You have no idea how many people have gone to her for help. She's heard every sob story you can imagine. You can't bribe her with money or favors, and power means nothing to her. The chance she'll help you is pretty much nonexistent."

Dean was surprised that Ruby looked almost apologetic. Then he really considered what she was saying. "What is this woman? How could she possibly help me?"

Ruby shook her head. "I don't know the whole story, and what I could tell you wouldn't help you much. You'll have to feel this one out for yourselves. The best I can tell you is you'd better charm the hell out of her if you even want an audience. Oh and Dean?"

Dean tilted his head and waited for Ruby to finish. The demon stepped out of the car and then leaned back in to look Dean in the eye. "Keep the 'bitches' to a minimum around her. She's not like anything you've met before, and it'd be a terrible idea to make her angry." With that Ruby closed her door and walked away from the Impala. Dean backed out of the space and left the restaurant. He didn't realize till he'd parked back in front of the motel room that he'd forgotten to get food. He cursed quietly and then headed into the room. Sam was still sleeping, and Dean used this time to pack their belongings back into the duffel bags before he filled the ice bucket with water and poured it over Sam's head.

Sam jackknifed upwards with his eyes wide open sucking in air and fully alert. "What? What happened?" He considered Dean standing there with the bucket of water and grinning broadly. "Jerk."

"Bitch. Get up, Ruby made herself known and we're going to Nebraska." Sam looked at Dean incredulously.

"Seriously? Just like that? She showed up and told you we're going to Nebraska? What the hell is in Nebraska Dean?"

Sam asked his questions as he pulled out a change of clothes and distastefully removed his wet shirt. Dean took their bags out to the car so Sam would have a moment of privacy, and when he came back he tilted his head at his brother. "We're going to see some band. She says the singer can help, but I gotta be charming."

Sam turned around slowly, his patented look of disbelief firm on his face. "Your soul depends on you seducing some girl in a bar? That seems a little too easy doesn't it?"

Dean shrugged. "What can I say? Ladies love me and men want to be me." Sam's noise of disagreement had Dean laughing over his shoulder as he closed the motel room door and headed to turn in the keys. They had a long drive ahead of them. Sam was already slumped in the passenger seat when Dean returned. After the initial surge of water-driven adrenaline it was obvious Sam was crashing again. Dean turned the key in the ignition and reversed out of the parking lot for the last time, secretly glad to leave the seedy room with its terrible decorations behind. Beside him Sam had already leaned his head against the window.

"You know I'm going to get back at you for the water thing, right Dean?"

Dean laughed as he turned onto the back road and accelerated.

Macy, Nebraska

Dean and Sam had been to a ridiculous number of small town bars, and Dean knew the look and feel of them better than anyone. Only one thing set this place apart from the multitude of whiskey-filled dives he had been in before, and that was the sheer volume of cars in the parking lot. Sam, being Sam, had researched Macy before they'd headed out this way. The population was just over 900, and so Dean had figured that they could expect twenty or thirty cars in the parking lot when they arrived. Three of those would belong to staff, and the rest would be "good ole boys" that didn't want to drink in whatever places the town itself had established for college kids and the economically blessed. Dean had never had a problem with backwoods bars before. Sam always looked out of place, but these were usually Dean's kind of people. Hard rock on the jukebox, cold beer, pool, and often a fight. He cast a look at the name of the bar, and then rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Jesus Dean look at this crowd. Can they even put that many people in there?" Dean considered the fullness of the parking lot again as he cruised through it looking for a space. When he finally found one he parked his Baby and got out without answering Sam. His eyes scanned the lot again before landing on the sign outside of the building again. The bar was called Rockyard, and Dean could see the usual suspects standing outside the door. He waited until Sam had stepped beside him to speak.

"Well Sammy if they're breaking fire code we have a badge for that." He grinned at Sam briefly, but he could feel that it was wrong on his face. There was a woman somewhere in that building and she may be able to save him from Hell. Dean didn't know what she was or what she wanted, but he'd do it and say thank you if that would keep him from becoming a demon. Beside him he saw Sam was struggling with something he wanted to say, and Dean wisely strode forward to avoid his brother's potentially girly speech. They'd had more than enough emotional blood-letting recently, and Dean refused to bare anymore of his soul in front of Sam anytime soon.

The bar was crowded, but it was surprisingly large inside. Sam and Dean took the last two spots they could find at the actual bar and looked out over the crowd. It was an unusual mix of the hardcase types Dean expected to see in a place like this, and what appeared to be a large number of yuppies and college kids. He shot Sam a meaningful look, and then watched as his brother scanned the nearby crowd for someone that would react well to his particular brand of puppy-dog charm. At the end of the crowd there was a stage that recessed back into the wall, and the outline of instruments on the dark platform gave Dean hope that this wouldn't be the kind of pop nonsense that a lot of the younger women in the crowd would have been interested in. He wanted to save his soul, but if it meant kissing some spoiled diva's ass about the quality of her empty lyrics he'd have a hard time being convincing. A man had to have standards, and when it came to music Dean's standards were very high. He felt Sam leave his side, and watched as his baby brother gracefully faked an accidental bump with a group of young women. They all looked at him suspiciously, and then Sam flashed the dimples and they became pliant and friendly.

Dean leaned back against the bar and watched Sam use his boyish charm to pump the ladies for information. Maybe Sam would be ok if it didn't work out. If Dean really did have to leave him. Since the psychic crap had ended Sam had lost some of that perpetual gloom. Well. Some of that particular perpetual gloom. There was still the knowledge that his only remaining family was supposed to be going to Hell for him. Dean could admit that it wasn't fair to Sammy, but it wasn't fair to Dean to have burn his brother's body after Jake sliced his spinal cord. Dean was lost in these thoughts when somebody slammed into him from the side. He spun around, and then lowered his fist when he saw the abashed young man in the Led Zeppelin shirt in front of him.

"Hey dude, I'm really sorry, it's just so damn crowded in here. I didn't spill on ya did I?"

Dean worked his easy grin onto his face. "No problem man. Not a drop. This is a pretty big crowd." He leaned back against the bar and scanned the crowd again before returning his eyes to the young man that had bumped him. Dean took a pull off his beer and then gestured with the bottle to his shirt. "You like Led Zeppelin?"

The guy's face broke into a giant grin. "Yeah man. Love them! Hey my name is Jared. What's yours?"

Dean made sure Sam was still in sight and doing well before he looked back at Jared. He held out his right hand and shook Jared's hand while he answered. "Dean. The crowd always this big here?"

Jared's grin got impossibly wider. "No way. This place is usually pretty dead. It's for the band. People come from three towns away to see them!"

Dean let his grin turn considering. He quirked an eyebrow at Jared as Sam rejoined him at the bar. "Are they really that good?"

Jared's laugh was easy and friendly, and he leaned towards Dean with a superior smile on his face. "Dude they're the best. You from out of town?"

Dean nodded and pulled off his beer again. Sam leaned around him and smiled at Jared, extending his hand. "Hi I'm Sam."

Jared shook Sam's hand too and then grinned. "You guys together?"

Dean choked slightly on his beer and Sam immediately began shaking his head. "We're brothers. Brothers."

Jared's face turned bright red. "Oh hey, sorry guys, my bad. Really. I'm so sorry."

Dean stared with narrowed eyes towards the stage while Sam assured Jared it was fine. Why did people always fucking ask them that?

"So Jared do you come to all these shows?" Sam was back in his groove, and Dean let him work Jared for information as he considered the stage again. Maybe they played country? People loved country out here. Dean wasn't a fan, but it would be better than pop music. It took him a moment to realize Sam was nudging him. He turned his head quickly.

"Huh?"

"I was just telling Jared he was right. We're from a label." Dean raised an eyebrow and then put his cockiest grin on and turned to look at Jared.

"Yeah. We're scouts. "

Jared's face was slightly awestruck, and Dean almost felt bad for him. Almost. Jared's voice was hushed when he asked, "Which label?"

Before Dean could lie Sam elbowed him hard and then leaned back around. "We're not allowed to say." Dean shot Sam an ugly look and then turned back to Jared with his cocky grin.

Jared nodded. "Of course man, of course. Hey listen I know the singer really well. Let me go tell her you guys are here. That way they'll be able to come see you after the show."

Dean considered playing the part of talent scout completely; telling Jared no they'd rather see the band play as they always did, but he swallowed that down with another gulp of his beer. The kid had already taken the bait, and Dean needed any in he could get with this singer. As soon as Jared had disappeared into the crowd Sam turned to Dean and lost any trace of a smile.

"Dean I don't know what's going on here, but it feels kinda off to me." Dean nodded in agreement and then gestured to the table of young ladies still casting Sam glances.

"Did you get their numbers?"

Sam glared at him shortly. "I was looking for information."

Dean nodded sagely and waved to the bartender that he needed another beer. "So what'd you find out?"

Sam sighed and rubbed at his neck. "They told me this is their third show. That the band plays every three weeks, and that this is the normal crowd size. She said we were lucky we got in because they have to close the doors after a while. She also told me that everybody in the band was local except for the singer. Said two years ago this strange woman blew into town, and a few weeks later she had a band."

Dean raised an eyebrow at this and started to speak, but Jared came back practically bouncing as he rejoined Dean and Sam. "Hey guys. I told Sari that you were here. The band is really stoked. She said she'd come see you guys after the show."

Dean tilted his head towards Sammy, and let his brother take this one so that he wouldn't say something sarcastic. "Is Sari the lead singer?"

"Yeah man. It's a nickname. Her full name is Sariel. I think it's a stage name, but I don't know. It's the only one she's ever given. Anyway, she never talks to people other than, like, the band and friends of the band, so this is a pretty big thing. She said she'd come to see you after the show, or you could visit her house."

Dean tried to keep his casual and cocky grin on his face, but he knew he was failing. He put down his beer. "So how long till the show-" His voice cut off abruptly when the lights went out. He felt Sam tense beside him, and then he heard cheers from the crowd and realized this was all a part of the act.

Dean's eyes were sharp as they adjusted to dimness in the crowded bar, and he saw the outlines of people moving in the darkness to take up their positions on stage. The crowd fell silent once all the movement had stopped, and then a long and somewhat sad note sounded, and the spotlights cut on. Dean felt his breath leave him as he saw the woman standing at the front of the stage for the first time. Her head was slightly tiled downwards, and her blue-black hair hung on either side of her face. She couldn't have been more than 5'2, but her body was all long and lean muscle. She had her eyes closed, and Dean briefly wondered if she was protecting them from the bright lights now shining in her face. Her lips were lush, and a dark blood red. There was a long scar that traveled from above her left eye, through the eyebrow, and stopped even with the end of her nose. When the music began in earnest Dean knew that he was in trouble. It was rock. Hard rock. Her eyes flew open, and landed on him first. All the arousal Dean had felt stirring in him died when he saw those blood red eyes.

When her voice traveled out over the crowd Dean resisted the urge to lean into it. It was velvety and low, and Dean was amazed at how sensual she sounded. The words hit him second.

"If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, Then baby let's never be kind, Kindness is a luxury, Afforded to the blind"

Beside him Sam leaned over and spoke in his ear. "Dean, do you see her eyes?" Dean nodded stiffly.

"Put your hands on my body, and lead me to that place we know, Keep your eyes on me darling, I'll let you go slow."

Her fingers stroked the microphone, and Dean distractedly noted that her fingernails were blunt and painted the same blood red as her lips. The same color as her eyes. Ruby had sent them to a fucking demon. A demon was supposed to save him from Hell. Was this irony? Sam would know but Dean was so angry that he couldn't even turn to look at his little brother. Ruby was having some kind of fun here, and Dean didn't appreciate the joke. This is what he had pinned their hopes on, and now he was going to have to see that crushed look in Sam's eyes. The look he was sure would be a pale reflection of the feeling he was experiencing behind his rage.

"You call me a monster and maybe it's true, But I've never stopped hoping for someone like you, So rip inside me baby and find the prize, It's time someone could tear me down to size."

The song had ended, and the crowd was roaring. Dean still couldn't look at Sam, although he could feel his little brother's eyes resting on him. He couldn't qualify everything that he was feeling. Rage. Pure rage towards Ruby, and this demon on stage, and himself. How could he have been so stupid as to think Ruby would really help him? Behind that, in the part of Dean where he felt things and denied them Dean was feeling crushed. He had begun, briefly and only in that sheltered part of himself, to hope that this was really an option. That there was a way to escape the fate he had sold himself too. Now he knew there wasn't. The demon leaned into the microphone. She was looking at him again.

"Hey Macy, it's good to see all of you. I've been told we have two special guests tonight, and we're going to try to impress them. So sit back and enjoy the show." If her voice had been sexy singing it was devastating when she spoke. Despite the anger that was fueling him Dean felt arousal surge again, and he grit his teeth and tried to paste that cocky smile back on as Jared leaned into him.

"They're really good aren't they?"

Dean nodded stiffly. The second song started, and he drank his third and fourth beer quickly as Sam looked on with pity. Dean slammed the empty bottle down, and then made an excuse to Sam as he headed for the bathroom. He glanced onto stage and saw that the demon was looking at him strangely; her head tilted as her full lips framed words he couldn't even hear. The music was good, and that only made him angrier. He pushed the bathroom door open, and stopped when he saw the corpse on the floor. Blood pooled around the body, and Dean could tell it was fresh. He backed out rapidly and looked around. With the law still hot on their trails Sam and Dean couldn't afford to be the suspects in another murder. If he walked away now the next person to come in might remember him. He raised his voice and shouted gruffly, "Somebody help!" The music stopped, and the silence was almost painful. He put on a panicked face and pointed to the bathroom. "There's a dead guy in there!"

Dean caught Sam's eye across the crowd, and as people reacted by fleeing or rushing forward he pushed his way to the bar to meet up with his brother. The two of them made their way to the front door, and Dean was surprised and put off when Jared followed them. They stepped outside into the cool night air, and Dean took a deep breath of it before he turned to Sam and pitched his voice low. "Stay or go?"

Sam looked around at Jared, and then back at Dean. "Stay."

Jared was babbling at the two of them, and his face was pale as he gestured wildly. "What kind of dead? Like dead dead? Heart attack dead or murdered dead? Did you know him?" Dean raised both eyebrows at Sam and then turned towards Jared.

"No. I didn't know him." He tried to keep his voice steady. "Why would I know him?"

"Oh yeah. Sorry. Sorry man. I get nervous and I can't keep my head straight. Hey look, Sari really wanted to meet you guys. Let me give you her address." Jared pulled a receipt out of his back pocket with a shaky hand, and then seemed to realize he didn't have a pen. Dean watched as a police car pulled up, and a man in khakis and a polo shirt greeted the officers. He pointed towards Dean and Sam, and then joined the two uniformed cops as they headed towards them. Sam handed Jared a pen and caught Dean's eyes. The brothers had been together long enough, and Dean knew Sam's "what do we do?" look better than any other. He shook his head shortly and then turned to the authorities.

Years of hunting had gifted the Winchesters with a strong understanding of body language. The two men in uniform followed the man in khakis with deference, and so Dean met his eyes instead of the cops when the little group approached. The man held his hand out to Dean first. "I'm Sheriff Winowski. You found the body?"

Dean shook the man's hand, kept his grip as firm as the sheriff's, and then watched as he shook Sam's hand. "Yeah. "

"You boys passing through, or did you come to see our local celebrities?" The sheriff was weighing them carefully with his eyes. Dean knew without having to consider it that this man was dangerous. He didn't put his smooth smile on, but kept his face grave and concerned.

"Yes sir. We're talent scouts for a label."

The sheriff nodded thoughtfully and then turned to Jared. "Jared, son, why don't you go on home. Your momma's gonna be worried about you if she heard this on the scanner. I'll catch a ride home with the boys." Jared lowered his head and joined the crowd that was trying to leave, casting a meaningful glance at Dean and Sam as he exited. The Sheriff turned his steely eyes back on Dean. "We have some work to do inside, but you boys aren't leaving town are you?"

Dean shook his head. Sam gave the man a quavering smile he had perfected when they were young. It was Sam's best "I'm trying to be brave" face and it always worked. Winowski's eyes softened as he considered them. "There's a pretty good motel off of interstate 970 called the Rip Van Winkle. I'd suggest you boys stay there if you don't already have accommodations."

Sam nodded and Dean gave the Sheriff a tight smile. "That sounds good. We'll head on over."

Dean and Sam walked silently towards the car, and only after they had gotten in and joined the dwindling line to leave did Dean allow himself to speak. His voice came out gruff and harsh. "I'm gonna kill that bitch."

Sam glanced at him with wide eyes. "Which bitch?"

Dean checked his rearview mirror and then turned out on the highway headed towards 970 and the sheriff's "recommendation". "Ruby. Who do you think Sam? She sent me to a demon. What is a demon gonna do for me? Make another damn deal?"

Sam looked out the window. "But Dean, why would she send us here if there wasn't something that this demon could do? That doesn't make any sense. I don't really…trust Ruby, but she hasn't steered us too wrong so far."

Dean gripped the wheel tightly. "It's a damn demon Sam. Did you see the way that Sheriff was looking at us? We're probably suspects in that murder now, and we came all the way out here to find nothing but more Hell spawn."

Sam rubbed his neck and stared out the windshield. "We can't give up Dean. If Ruby sent us here there has to be a reason. She wants something from us, and she knows that dicking us around isn't a good way to get it."

"Well that plan is kinda fucked isn't it Sam?"

Sam gifted Dean with his best lopsided grin and held up a slip of paper. "Jared found a pen. We have her address."

Sometimes, Dean hated his brother's hopefulness. It was often catching.