Unfortunately for me, out of body experiences weren't an uncommon occurrence. They're indescribable. A modern equivalent could be that of a nasty hangover while you're forced to ride the teacups at Disney World. You've consumed so much alcohol that your body's natural instinct, along with the forces of nature, is to puke and purge yourself of the toxins raging through your blood stream. Except for me, it was never that easy.

Instinctively, I closed my eyes against the brilliance, a consuming white heat that spread through every fiber of my being. A warm breeze followed, softly brushing against my skin and playfully lifting my honey-colored hair from my shoulders. I took a deep breath, smelling the familiar otherworldly scents of the righteous, and sighed. Some things were easy to deceive.

Calmly, I centered myself before opening my eyes to the glorious world before me. Beautiful, gorgeous, stunning - only a few human words to describe what I saw that would never come close. Deep within my soul, a part of me wanted to return to this place, my home; a part of me knew I never could. Shaking my head, I placed my hand on my hip, portraying a look of sheer annoyance.

"Zachariah! Get your cocky ass down here and tell me what was so damn important that you had to summon me!"

Before the echoes of my aggravated voice had the chance to fade, a middle-aged man appeared, an amused smile on his face.

"Isabelle, your time on earth has definitely added colorful words to your vocabulary."

"Yeah, I'm getting used to it. By the way Zachariah, nice vessel. Suits you well." I countered with a smirk, taking in the receding gray hair and the ever-so-slightly protruding gut. "Now let's get down to business. You know I have better shit to do."

"You have a new assignment."

"You had to summon me for that?" I snapped.

"Easy, Belle. There's more to it than that and you're not going to like it."

I glared at him. "That's Isabelle to you, Zachariah, and since when have I liked any of these mediocre paper boy assignments you've sent me on?"

He scoffed, clearly becoming impatient with my asinine remarks. "Dean Winchester."

Taken aback, I immediately became somber. "Zachariah, you know we are strictly forbidden from interfering with the Winchester boys until commanded otherwise."

"We've been commanded otherwise," was his detailed response.

"Like hell. On whose authority?"

"God's."

It was my turn to scoff. "You know as well as I do that God hasn't sat in the holy throne of Heaven since his son gave the holy sacrament."

"Joshua himself gave this consecrated assignment to you, Isabelle. You are to watch over the Winchester boys and help them fulfill their destinies."

'...even though you'll never fulfill your own...' Pushing the dark thought from my mind, I bowed my head in acquiescence, though my suspicions still remained.

"As Joshua says, so it shall be done."

With a sharp intake of breath I was fiercely jerked backwards, falling from the heavenly dominion. Millions of stars blurred past my vision as the luminescent glow of Heaven quickly faded from above. With an otherworldly force, my translucent spirit slammed back into my fragile body. Immediately I shot up in bed, gasping for air as I placed a shaky hand on my chest. Mechanically I closed my eyes in a futile attempt to soothe the raging fire burning my retinas, having experienced the sensation several times before. Finally when I felt I could open my eyes without tearing, I did so slowly. Through the east-facing window of my room, I could see a brilliant tapestry of pink hues begin to light the morning sky, heavily contrasted by the bulky Motel 6 sign. Rising I moved toward the bathroom, removing my pajamas and underwear as I went. As I turned the faucet and listened to the calming sound of rushing water, one final thought entered my head.

'...and so it begins.'