Chronicles of Absolution: The End of the Beginning

Chapter 1

Then

… Angela had always felt for the humans. Even though she was no longer completely human, she cared about them… Living as long as she had, she could appreciate life and saw how fragile it was…

… "Are you sure that you're gonna be okay?"

Angela looked at Ellen and replied, "I'll do what I have to do and that is to make sure that what is important to me is okay. Like you and Jo."

"And does that include being what you were when we dragged you in?"

Angela looked past Ellen to think about her answer. She then looked at Ellen and said, "That was different Ellen. I was starving and nearly dead. I didn't have blood on me. I was a wild animal."

"I'm talking about when Jo was bullied and you 'took care of it'," Ellen replied even though she remembered when her husband first brought Angela to them. "I mean that was mild compared to what happened here."

… "Ellen, people who get close to me… they have met disastrous consequences. Maybe I am lucky that there are still friends that are still alive. And with what is to come, I will do whatever I have to do to make sure that they stay with me a little while longer."

… "You protect your family but not at the expense of who you are." She stopped Angela from speaking and continued, "I know you have knowledge up there and memories that are bloody and things you have to deal with but there is a fine line that you are at. You have to make the choice on whether or not it fight this as who you are or go down the road that you fear the most."

… I agree that the Winchesters are important to her. They root her down and hopefully will be there for the things to come…

… "You have made thousands of lives miserable. You forced me to repeat this time and time again you sonofabitch."

"And where would you be if I didn't? Sentimentality is wasted on you."

… Sam had been watching everything. He was angry because he had two broken legs and that dick angel just essentially crippled Angela. He shattered her left side from the hip down. And she was more pissed that he was hurt…

… "Short answer, to get him to leave you alone. Longer, more complicated answer… partially being me in taking the burden of things so others don't and… you're special to me."

… "You're… you're special to me too."

… "Sam I told you, that doesn't matter to me…"

"It matters to me, Angie," Sam interrupted. He didn't want to get nasty with her. That was the last resort and then maybe she would stay away. "You didn't deserve what I did to you and if I stay… I don't want that to happen again."

… "You can't save everyone."

… Angela let the angel touch her though she was very uncomfortable with it. True Gabriel and Castiel had touched her in a similar manner with regards to stroking her hair but it was different. Lucifer may be an angel and she could sense his grace and the like but there was something different about it and she was wary of it. She replied, "I did come here to find you."

Lucifer grinned, "And for what purpose?"

Angela looked at nothing in particular before looking up at the angel and said, "I want you to consider me as a possible vessel." Her look was bold and daring as she looked at Lucifer in the eye even though she felt she was strapped to that chair…

… He had a dream again much like the ones that he used to have before he met Angela. It was the one where she ended up dying alone. There was no doubt that part told him that if she were to be alone, she would die and it further cemented his belief that she was to be with him and his brother for a reason. The one part that had him bothered was who it was that did the killing…

… "Abba always keeps Ima safe."…

… "Things must occur."

"And I buy that. I buy that we all have a role and purpose but we are free to choose within that role. Some of us don't even know the endgame."

… The client glanced in the direction that Bela had gone and then back at the piping. He couldn't help but smile. It was brilliant. He never did actually expect to get Absolution but he wanted to see what she was made of. After all it wasn't every day the Malachi of Absolution was seeking the King of the Crossroads.

… "Do you really think that I was going to give up everything right then and there? How stupid do you think I am?"

Angela leaned against the banister and gave a slight smirk. "Not stupid. A coward maybe but not stupid. I figured that you were going to run back to your boss or hide out for a while and pretend to do something so it would keep me off your back."

… "I don't know. All I know is that if you want to know something about the other side, sometimes you have to go to someone from that side; someone who knows how to get things without getting caught."

"You mean a stoolie," Sam said finally speaking once it dawned on him that this was nothing more than a fact finding mission.

"Exactly."

Dean groaned, "Not that guy."

… Lucifer for his part smiled in satisfaction, "So you haven't told him that one. Well my little pretty, now is your chance to tell him." He started pacing in front of her and the other Alchemist. "In fact why not just tell everyone who you said should take Sam's place?"

The way how it sounded made it seem like Angela was callous and uncaring of people around her. Sam knew though that it wasn't her but even he had to acknowledge that she had to be tough to make hard decisions. But to decide if someone should take the place of another… He looked at her along with the Alchemists.

Angela was well aware of the faces looking at her. She couldn't deny it. It was still something she was willing to gamble with. And she knew what the reaction was going to be. She might as well come out and say it. Sam wouldn't appreciate anything less. "Me."

… He was barely a few steps away when Becky suddenly called out, "Sam! Wait!" He turned to see her running to catch up with him. He silently hoped that she wasn't going to do anything that… "One more thing! In chapter 33 of Supernatural, 'Time Is On My Side', there was that girl Bela, she was British, and a cat burglar?"

More than that, Sam thought to himself as he interrupted, "Yeah. I know." And Angie almost didn't want to help her out.

"She stole the Colt from you, and then she 'said' she gave it to Lilith, remember?"

Sam nodded. He did remember that. It pissed them all off and Angela was ready to curse the woman. And he believed she would. Now after seeing what she could do, he didn't have trouble believing that. "Yeah."

"Well you know she lied right? She never really gave it to Lilith," Becky continued in that fast valley girl manner. She gave a slight frown.

"Wait. What?" Sam looked at Becky, not certain if he heard right.

"Didn't you read the book?"

Not all of them. Vaguely it occurred to Sam that maybe Angela would have read them all cover to cover. She would mostly for the entertainment value and maybe she would have picked up a few things and then probably would have gone after Bela. It made him grateful Chuck didn't put his demon blood sucking thing in them.

Becky, unaware of Sam's internal monologue continued, "There was this one scene where Bela gives the Colt to a demon named Crowley, Lilith's right hand man. I think her lover, too."

… Crowley looked at Angela with a narrowed glance. Ever since Sheridan, she had been getting a bit different. He found though that he liked it. Most of the time she would end up grabbing him and pinning him to the wall or whatever object they happened to be near. It was almost sexual in that she would breathe on him in a seductive manner…

… "These things take time love. You can't just go around calling for all the contracts out there. Each one is responsible for their own…"

"Don't even try to tell me about the intricacies of red tape bureaucracy," Angel replied as she waved her gun in a warning gesture. "You're the boss. It is perfectly within your right to call forth any file you please. They all answer to you…" Angela then narrowed her eyes in a slightly playful gesture, "Unless it is someone higher up and you are a little scared girl."

… Crowley waved his finger in a warning gesture, "Now you know there has to be an exchange in there somewhere. I agreed to give you who held the contract in exchange for your word that you would go after it solo."

"And now I'm under the impression that you made that stipulation as a means to test me. Is that all you bastards like doing?" Angela gave a yawn as if bored. "You teach me and I let you live for the time being. I know that there are rules to the natural order but there are exceptions that have been made before. I get the contract and we're squared. Until then you do anything I ask."

"I won't do it."

"You will because I invoke it as my right as a broker/dealing devil," Angela replied as she narrowed her eyes. The sky gave a crackle of lightning as she said the words. The light reflected the color of her eyes as she looked at Crowley. "You agreed to the original terms."

"Curses on you love," Crowley replied with a slight smile. He remembered how she laid out the terms. She was good and he couldn't help but be proud. "Alright then, I'll be your pet then. Just don't come crying to me if it all goes south or your precious Sam and Dean find out what you have been doing."

… There it was. It was his double with that cold expression in his face. His double walked up towards Angela who was grimacing in pain. A hand went to his shoulder and the double looked at him. "This is what happens, Sam. This is what happens when you get too close to people."

"Sammy!"

He reached out for her. He wasn't going to let her go. "Angie!"

… Her eyes were empty orbs…

… Sam ran through the entire dream down to the part where he felt like Lucifer was snapping his neck and he woke up. His gaze never left hers and she stared back, listening to everything that he said. He thought she would interrupt at some point but when she didn't and kept listening, it dawned on him that she knew what he was talking about and it occurred to him that it wasn't just a dream in the normal sense…

… "I… kind of know the demon we are after."

Now

It was a perfect night to make a deal. Actually any night was. There was something about it that just had Cary get all tingly inside when it came to the prospect of securing a deal and a sucker for the pit after ten years. He may be the low man on the totem pole since he did deal a lot in information but he also made his quotas on souls and occasionally then some. Lately though there was a slight dip but considering what the hell was going on… It was why he was here. Besides it was one of his regular haunts anyway.

Cary grinned in anticipation as he appeared at the appointed meeting place. He couldn't deny the request since the ritual was carried out as it should. This would make his month and certainly make the boss happy. He appeared at the crossroads and looked around hoping to see the sorry ass that was going to sign their life away.

"Waiting for a schmuck?"

Cary closed his eyes and groaned in agitation. He turned to face the owner of the voice saying, "Why didn't I anticipate this?"

Angela looked at the agitated demon with a slight smirk. She liked making the demon squirm when she could. As far as she was concerned, this was payback. "Maybe it's because the summons was a typical crossroads summoning," she replied with a shrug meant to be mocking.

Cary narrowed his eyes and took a step forward but was halted. Frowning, he looked down to find nothing but dirt. He looked up at Angela and tried to move again but couldn't. He felt the pull on his body but he didn't see… "What the hell? You wench!"

"Ooo, that one hurt."

Cary growled as he struggled against the barrier. He stopped and looked at her, "How the hell did you do that?"

Angela sighed and said, "I think he's had enough. You can let him go Kess."

Cary watched as the Avian appeared and moved to stand next to Angela saying, "As you wish."

Cary felt himself being released after the Avian waved his hand. He took a tentative step forward and found no resistance. He glanced at the pair as he straightened out his clothes. "So… what do I…"

He had taken a few steps but was stopped when the Avian flared with his wings and it looked like a dark shadow passed over his face. It was followed by, "Not another step closer."

Cary stepped back, not wanting to mess with the Avian. He held his hands up in surrender. "Fine. Can't even have a decent conversation with a fucking bird man watchdog."

"It's better than if I let Sam be here," Angela countered with a stern look, not betraying her inner feelings.

Cary stayed back as he looked at the pair. He dusted his arms off. "Fine." He straightened up. "So why is stick up his ass not here? He seemed to be so decisive the last time we met."

Angela glared at the demon. She knew what Cary was talking about. Sam managed to give her the whole story more or less about what he had done when he was looking for her. "He's on a job," was all that she offered.

"Really?"

Cary would have said more but Kesset flared again in warning. He stayed back since he didn't want to be on the receiving end of an Avian ass kicking. He was a little relieved when Angela waved him back and came forward. He didn't speak since she was giving that look that he didn't like.

Angela was well aware she still held sway over Cary even after his betrayal. She advanced towards the demon and stared at him with that look she knew that Sam hated. She stared at Cary until he visibly shifted on his feet. "As you guessed, I'm not here to make a deal."

"I figured that as much," Cary retorted, "What do you want?"

"Crowley."

Cary was going to say something but when he heard the name, he stopped. He looked at Angela and saw that she wasn't kidding. The last time she didn't even know his boss by name and demanded an audience. Actually the boss learned about her and manipulated events to meet her. After the shock, he started laughing at her, "Seriously? You want a meeting with the boss?"

"He has something of mine that he had stolen by a little skank named Bela."

Cary was still laughing at the request, "He stole? Come on…" He reached out to touch her.

Angela batted Cary's arm away with her right and with her left she thrusted it forward. It didn't make contact but it put more power into the burst of telekinetic energy she had released. She watched the look of shock appear on Cary's face as he flew back until his meat hit a telephone pole and he was pinned. She walked up to the demon and watched him struggle.

Cary had been subject to physical altercation with Angela before. Yet it was always hand to hand. This was a little new and it pissed him off. He glared at her as he struggled against his invisible bonds. "Let me go, wench!"

"Not until you give me what I want."

"No way. If anything is given, it has to be a deal."

Angela stared at Cary and cocked her head to the side like she was confused. Her expression was anything but that. She studied the demon and leaned in close, "The same still stands. What you have and you get to live another day."

Cary growled at that. His eyes flashed red as he struggled. "You can't do this. I am a crossroads demon!"

"Oh yes I can. In fact I could have killed you a long time ago and I should have for what you did to Austin." She paused when the demons stopped struggling to look at her. He looked shocked and she grinned. "Oh yes. I know all about that and the fact that you implied a few things with my charge from my royal family."

Cary paused at his struggling and thought about what she had said. It then dawned on him. "Oh fuck. The baby godling?"

"You're in hot water, Cary," Angela said with a nod as she looked at the demon. Her eyes flared to indicate that she was getting up her power. "And you know that I don't take kindly to things implied against my family." She let her eyes flare more intensely and made it seem like she was going to do something more… physical.

"Alright! Alright." Cary couldn't do much since he was pinned to the pole and he looked at the Avian who was looking nonplussed by the whole situation. "You don't have anything to say Feathers?"

"Only that I have been denied my prey."

Cary glared as he shifted his gaze back towards Angela who was looking at him like she was amused by the whole thing. That was different. He had never known her to be different from her usual all bluster but still could bite method. This had him worried; worried that he might be running out of time with her in terms of being able to live. "What do you want?"

Angela looked at Cary with a scrutinizing gaze before replying, "I want Crowley. He has what I want. I want the Colt."

"And what do you want me to do?"

"Find him. Or give me a location."

Cary could do that. For the most part he had been given instructions to indulge her. However, he got the feeling that the boss didn't anticipate this. "And what do you plan on doing if I point you in the direction of the boss?"

"I want the Colt. Nothing more, nothing less," Angela replied. As much as she would like to give Crowley his comeuppance now was not the time. "I won't do anything to Crowley… for now."

That sounded more like her and Cary was agreeable to that. Yet he got the sneaking suspicion that she had something else in mind. He wasn't going to question it since that kind of thing lost you minutes if you were trying to live another day. "Alright. I point you in the direction of the boss and he has what you want… What do you plan on doing with the Colt?"

"Nothing for you to worry about," she replied as she leaned in close. Her tone became low and almost sultry. The effect was a shiver down Cary's spine. "It is old business between me and the boss and all debts are squared."

Cary had little to no choice in this. He thought about it for a moment and then nodded, "Alright. I know his stomping grounds but not where he set up digs. You know what I mean?"

"Give the information worm or you will not be able to conduct business with 'respectable clients'," Kesset groused looking agitated at the delay.

"Hey, I'm conducting business with her. Not you. Go fly up a tree," Cary sputtered angrily.

"Cary."

Cary growled and turned back to Angela, "His particular stomping grounds are the interchanges and his clientele tend to be the business types. I have a list. In my pocket."

Angela raised her brow as she frisked the demon and came up with the list. She inspected it to make sure it was legit. After a few moments, she made a downward swiping motion and watched Cary drop to the ground. She didn't say anything except to nod that he was free to go. She waited until he left before saying, "I told you I could get a lead, Cas."

Castiel, the angel of Thursday, appeared from where he had been told to watch. He looked stern as he joined Angela and Kesset, "I know you did but it was not in the best interests for you."

"Maybe but I was tired of playing footsie with him," Angela offered, knowing that the angel was concerned that she went to such extremes. Yet desperate times and this was a viable option. She handed the scrap to the angel. "At least we got a start on the search for Crowley."

Castiel examined the scrap muttering, "Considering your past dealings one would assume you knew how to reach him."

"That was a special arrangement and he gave me an amulet which he took back after we were finished. So…" Angela gave a slight shrug. She stared at the writing and asked, "So will you be able to track him?"

"I'll follow this lead," Castiel replied, "And I'll call if I find something. Be careful… Angela." He stared at her before disappearing.

Angela sighed once the angel was gone. It was a step in the direction they needed. She still wasn't looking forward to the steps down the road. "Let's go Kess."

A/N: Welcome to The End of the Beginning and it looks like things are the usual with Angie getting information from her stoolie. A plan is in action and Cas is on the job. Keep watching for more The End of the Beginning...