Chronicles of Absolution: Chase the Blade

Chapter 1

Now

Italy, 1625 Catacombs

The burial chamber was rather creepy with all the tombs placed in the order they were organized into. Unlike the burial chambers of the Church, this one was special, dedicated to warriors that fought in a mission that was considered just as holy as the precious Crusades. The chambers and burial passages had been built with care to withstand the passage of time and nature. It also relayed that sense of tradition that could be considered a good thing or a bad thing.

Angela, but that wasn't her name then, followed the hooded figure that was in front of her feeling a sense of foreboding that could spell disaster. She had been summoned for a reason and she wasn't sure if she was going to like it but she was comforted by the fact that her closest friend was there with her. In fact she was following him down these musty passageways that looked as old as the world began. She asked a question she had asked earlier in her flawless Italian, "Can you explain to me why you are bringing me here mio fratello?"

"I didn't have to bring you here but it's one of those tradition things and you know how big they are on traditions."

Angela gave a wry smile as she followed her friend. She knew that all too well and thought most of the lot to be stubborn old coots but some weren't that bad. The Lady was one of them. She replied, "So I guess the whole circle will be there?"

"More or less. My brothers won't be there. A hierarchy issue that keeps the tensions between everyone and yet we all report to the same source."

Angela nodded knowing not to say more. Her friend was sensitive about his family and she had a pretty good idea why. He wasn't that bad since he talked about one brother that was his especial favorite. She had made the mistake of asking why he never talked to his brother and that landed the silent treatment for a while which ended with him apologizing but she returned the favor by apologizing for not being sensitive to his issues with his family. She had put the blame squarely on herself and that earned more of her friend's insistence that he was the one being an ass.

There wasn't much further to go to the main chamber. Angela saw that the main powers were there including the Lady. They really did mean it to be a serious matter. So that meant none of the usual comments that she and her fratello would say though he probably would say something. She looked at the circle of powers and in the center was a pedestal. Laying on it was a silver blade inlayed with Enochian and other carvings of the ancient languages. What was this about?

It was the Lady that spoke, "Daughter, you have been called because it has been relayed to us that you have been marked."

Angela knew what that meant. Subconsciously she rubbed her right shoulder. She had that mark since she had been born from her understanding. Her fratello added his own sigil to the design after what happened to her and her father died. She was suspicious though. She had that mark all her life and now they were mentioning something?

"Your recent escapade with the gate brought it to their attention," he whispered in her ear.

Angela gave a slight nod of acknowledgement to both the Lady and her fratello. She stopped rubbing her shoulder and stood forward. "What of my mark?"

The Lady replied, "Marked as a chosen one to be the messenger."

Angela privately thought, Here we go. Her fratello tried explaining a few things to her and she got it the first time when she had been brought back by her father. It wasn't that hard when it came to guessing that her mark was not like the usual birthmarks. Sighing she replied, "Why am I here?"

The Lady motioned her to step forward. She had showed her the blade resting on the velvet pillow on the pedestal. "This is Absolution, forged of the purest of metals and given the power to slay any creature that requires absolution."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Absolution is meant to choose its wielder. Many have tried but none have succeeded."

"Many?" The cryptic talk produced and irresistible urge to question everything that was being told to her.

Another voice interrupted. It was male and a little more abrupt and commanding. It sounded like he was agitated that she was questioning everything. Well her fratello had told her that she shouldn't take everything on blind faith and that often there is a hidden agenda. The voice said, "There are many who bear the mark of the malachi but only one is chosen to wield Absolution. It is your trial now."

Angela gave a slight roll of her eyes that clearly said that the guy had a stick up his ass. Her fratello understood that look and she could tell he was trying hard not to laugh. She replied, "So you want me to touch it?"

The Lady nodded. "Yes. If you are worthy Absolution will indicate it."

Angela gave a slight sigh and stepped forward. She reached with her right hand and slowly closed it around the pommel. She gripped the sword and she immediately felt the rush of life coming from the blade. It was warm and pleasant, like the feelings she had for her fratello. It was friendly and familiar like family. In her mind a thought came through. She knew it wasn't from the powers gathered there but it was in her mind.

Angela glanced at the blade and it seemed that the silver had come alive. She could feel an essence within the blade. She didn't think such things existed but here it was. A sword with a living soul as the stories went. She listened with her mind as she heard it speak.

You are Absolution.

Somewhere in the Midwest, Present

The day was looking good even with the grey in the sky. That didn't mean it was going to rain but it would certainly add to the challenge. That wouldn't matter since any challenge added allowed the combatant fighting to get stronger even though the sounds of stinging slaps would say otherwise. They actually made things sound worse than what they really were.

Sam brought up his forearm in reaction as a defense mechanism. It was effective even though it stung like hell. He was used to it and waited for the second strike to come and blocked it. That didn't stop the attacks though.

"Come on Sammy."

Sam ignored his brother off to the side as he concentrated on his opponent. He noticed the support bandage on the left hand. A small part of him told him to exploit it to give him the advantage. Yet he hesitated. That hesitation cost him though.

He found a strike getting through and it hit him right in the shoulder and it was followed by a second strike to his chest where it winded him effectively. He tried countering the next strike and he made one in but it was used against him. His arm was grabbed and he found himself on his chest and the weight of his opponent on his back holding one of his arms behind him. He tried holding on as long as he could but the pain was getting to be a bit much.

"Come on Sam. Don't tap out."

Sam knew he couldn't hold out much longer, especially since he felt his arm tighten some more. He tapped out. He was released immediately and he rolled over to sit up and found a hand outstretched to him. He looked up at the owner of the hand who was looking at him with a look that was a mixture of approval and something else. The owner said, "Not bad."

Sam grabbed the hand and allowed himself to be helped up while Dean ribbed him, "Damn Sammy. That's about two times longer than the last time but you're still getting your ass handed to you."

"Eat me," Sam replied as he dusted himself off. "As I seem to recall you weren't that much better."

"But you have learned much in three weeks in between being on the road and other things."

"Actually it's been a month maybe a few days more Angie," Dean replied as he gave a look at Sam that said he had his ass kicked by a girl. Even though he had just been through the same thing, it was fun to rile Sam over it especially a little secret that he came across before that case in Ohio.

Angela made an adjustment on the wrist support on her hand. "Has it been that long? Hmm. Oh well. Still much has been achieved." She looked at the slight bruise that was forming on Dean's cheek. She may have hit him a little harder than necessary but he didn't mind and in fact cursed the fact that he walked into that punch. She also knew how much time had passed. She just didn't want to acknowledge it since there were two things weighing in her mind which involved the concept of time. She said, "Dean I have something for the bruise on your face. I made a fresh batch. You know where to look."

Dean gave his dopey and endearing grin to Sam much to his annoyance and started back towards the motel choice of the week. He paused to say, "Thanks Angie. Maybe next time I'll kick your ass."

Angela gave a wry smile as she undid the wrap to test her hand. She replied, "You might be lucky. Then again it might be in your dreams Dean."

Dean gave a bark of laughter that died as he went towards his and Sam's room. It was a pretty good motel in the sense that there was an open grassy area for kids to play and the like. There was plenty of space so people didn't get into each other's business. The last case that brought them there had Angela going full force with training, first in basic movements and then adding on actual sparring sessions. They were grueling sessions and occasionally someone got a black eye or a bruise that could be hidden under a t-shirt. They were just lucky that Angela didn't use fists when she struck but they still hurt just the same. The nice thing was that she patched them up afterwards or let Dean do it.

Angela smiled as she watched Dean head back to his room. She used her right hand and flexed her left, feeling the bones underneath the skin. The bones were healed completely but since she had given barely a week before she started actually using her hand to strike, she needed the support while it continued to heal. She would pay a visit to the nearby clinic and get an x-ray to verify that it was healed. The doctor there understood the need for discretion since it turned out that he had been saved by a ghost haunting the hospital he worked in doing consultant work by a hunter.

"Dean seems to like getting his ass kicked by you."

"It's because he confuses porn with reality during those times," Angela replied not looking at Sam as she re-wrapped her hand. She then said, "You had a chance to exploit a weakness Sam. Why didn't you?"

That was a question that Sam had hoped she wouldn't ask. After every session, she would ask either him or Dean why they did something the way they did. At first Sam thought she was quizzing them on their stupidity but Dean pointed out that she was just doing what Dad would have done. It was so they could learn from their mistake and get it right the next time. Lately though, since Westville, Ohio, she had been a little harsh at least with him but she seemed to deal it out evenly to both him and Dean. Not that Sam could blame her for that. Not after what happened in the aftermath of that case.

Realizing that she was still waiting for an answer, Sam replied, "Well…" He paused not sure of why he hesitated except for one reason. He then said, "Because I know that you just broke your hand and it's almost healed and I didn't want to hurt you again." At that time she turned around to look at him in the eye. He added, "I just have trouble seeing you as another opponent… like you were an enemy or something."

Angela didn't change her expression but looked at Sam with a calculating gaze. It wasn't cold like the expression she had given when she killed Jake and not even the demon Casey from Elizabethville but it wasn't friendly either. She replied, "You can't see me as me when we do this Sam. You have to see me like one of the opponents you'll be facing in a month's time." She turned to pick up the hoodie she had been wearing and put it on.

"Angie, I'm sorry but I can't do that. You're not an enemy to me but a friend."

"Well you'll have to get past it Sam. There are rules to this contest but I can guarantee you that they will be using their powers and not in a generous way. They will try to exploit your weaknesses," Angela replied turning to face Sam. "Or you could just do things your way and down a path that goes against your nature."

"Is that what this is about? Whatever happened to the whole speech about integrity and playing it smart?"

"What do you think I am trying to teach you Sam? You think my compulsion is bad well what about the Chasers that can create hallucinations? What if he made himself look like Dean or me? What would you do then?"

Sam knew she had a point. Usually everything she had taught him and Dean so far did. Dean was impulsive at times and she used it against him and taught him the value of patience and to never attack in anger. She was exploiting his relationship with her and Dean. In fact she never hesitated to point out possible tactics his opponents may use against him. "I…"

Angela sighed, "You have to see that. I can teach you enough about how to read an opponent but the real opponent is your perceptions."

"Is that why you are so sure about Ruby? You trust your perceptions?" Sam couldn't help it. He had to know what her beef was with the demon that came to his room before they left Elizabethville. She had come in after Ruby gave her spiel about what he needed to do and offer to help with Dean's deal problem to ask if he was ready to go when she saw Ruby. The look on her face and the change in expression said that she was not pleased to see the demon.

Angela had been goaded before and she had done it herself enough times to recognize when it was being used on her. Sam couldn't understand even if she explained her encounters with Ruby to him since he would say that she was blinded by her past experiences. She kept her temper in check as she picked up the duffle she had brought and replied, "I won't even answer that since it was clear to me that she offered something that you wanted bad enough. Never mind that I've had a couple of run-ins and know firsthand how manipulative the bitch can be."

Angela took off back towards the motel, slinging the duffle over her shoulder. Sam watched as she walked noticing that she was clenching her left in a tight fist. He knew that he had pissed her off by bringing it up. Then again she had been pissed about it and took it out on him and Dean during their training sessions. He knew that he shouldn't have aggravated her because now for certain Dean was going to see it and then ask him what he did to piss her off.

Sam did have the sense though to see that he really needed to discuss what happened in Elizabethville with Angela. She had a forgiving nature but there were some things that set her off and she acted like any other human, temper and all. Thing was she could be rather scary with it since she didn't have the tendency to shout or swear or anything like Dean would do. It was calm and coldly polite. Heaving a sigh, Sam followed her down to the end where their rooms were wondering when would be a good chance to talk to her.

Sam was to get his chance when he left Dean in the room stating that he was going for a walk sometime later since they were cooling their heels that day. Initially he was going to head into the main part of town but instead turned and headed back towards where the park like area was. He didn't know why but he got the feeling that he should head in that direction.

He found Angela in a shaded area that was well away from the area that they had been practicing in. It was fairly isolated and with good reason. She was practicing with her sword… well swords. One he recognized as Absolution since the gleaming silver was a stark contrast to the dullness of the Orion blade. Yet they worked together in a concerted harmony and Sam realized that he may have pissed her off more than he initially thought because she was going at a crazy speed even though the movements were precise and controlled.

He made it to a 'safe' position, meaning that he didn't risk getting hit by her blades. She was in deep concentration it seemed but he knew better. He asked as a means to getting a rock to stand on, "Still in training?"

Angela finished through with her form that she was doing at the moment before replying. "This is a vacation compared to most." She was aware that her reply sounded curt and clipped but she wasn't going to go easy on Sam for this one and she wasn't going to go easy on herself since she had done quite a bit of thinking since earlier.

"So practicing is vacation?"

"Hunting things is work. Refining technique is vacation."

"So you're taking a vacation to practice for hunting?"

"Yep."

Sam gave a nod in slight understanding. She had moved close enough so she didn't have to shout her answers since she disliked it. She was not going to make this easy. "Have you ever considered taking a vacation from your vacation?"

"No. There was never the need to."

"Maybe you should. One can always use practice in talking."

"Not if it is made difficult or by refusal."

Sam sighed in frustration. "You can be so frustrating sometimes. With your riddles and the way you go off on a tangent then you get pissed over something and refuse to talk about it. You're like the feminine version of Dean and it's… difficult."

Sam didn't see the chokehold coming. It was not intended for serious injury but her grip was tight and with one arm. How she avoided cutting him with either sword was something to inspect later but he could attribute it to the skill of practice. She leaned over and asked, "You think I'm difficult? I'll show you what it means to be difficult."

Sam grunted under her chokehold. She wanted to play rough? Then he would dish it back. He grabbed her in a way to pull her out of the chokehold and wrestled her to the ground. He managed to get her hands pinned after getting her to release the swords. "Will you stop it now? You know I only mean when you refuse to talk to me when I ask."

He felt the strike to his shoulder blades and it was enough for him to release her wrists. It was a mistake since she grabbed him and flung him off over her head. With the momentum she landed in a straddling position using her legs to restrict his movement. She replied, "I know what you meant but it doesn't mean that I give in so easily."

"This is still about Ruby isn't it?" Sam grunted trying to get out of the hold.

Angela looked down and replied, "I know the bitch Sam. We've crossed before and let's just say that fence won't be mended anytime soon. I know what she meant when she said that you would have to do things against your nature."

"Right you just know everything don't you?" Sam stopped struggling. Since they were the same height, he managed to bring his legs up and wrap them around her waist and pull. It was hard work since she could actually carry him and Dean combined as deadweight.

Angela tightened her grip with her legs. To anyone watching, it would have looked like a contortionist act gone wrong. They were both trying to get the upper hand. She managed to use her legs by opening and closing them again making the equivalent of boxing someone's ears. She heard Sam grunt and grabbed his legs in an attempt to push them off. Getting a good look at her position, she gave a sly grin and suddenly loosened her grip and slid out of Sam's grasp. She did a back somersault to get to a crouching position. She replied, "I don't tell you what I know to hear myself talk Sam and no I don't know everything."

Sam managed to sit up trying to figure out how she got out of that move. He got to his feet slowly. "You sure act like it."

Sam's reward was another chokehold. She was really going to town with this. She replied, "No I don't. If you want the truth, Ruby was the one that nearly killed me before I sent her back to hell."

That was a new piece of information to Sam but that didn't loosen her hold on him. Maybe Ruby did try to kill her but that didn't mean that the demon had a change of heart or at least she knew things about what was coming. "That doesn't mean she's going after you now."

"You wanna bet on that?"

Sam sighed in frustration. He wanted out of his chokehold. He saw his opening. He and Angela may be similar in height but she was smaller in certain areas and that made it easier to attempt certain maneuvers on her. With one arm he managed to throw her off balance and he was able to grab her in a way that forced her to let go.

Angela ended up on the ground slightly winded and looking up at Sam. He was bent over breathing hard from the exertion. Sam looked down at her and asked, "Can you at least trust my judgment on this?"

Angela gave a slight smile as she took a breath, "Oh I trust you." Then in retaliation and having the last say, she whipped her legs around and knocked Sam's legs out from under him. She watched as he landed on the ground with a thud. "I trust you and Dean both."

Sam gave up after that. "You sure have a funny way of showing it." He took deep breaths since the fall winded him.

Angela couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh I do, don't I?"

Sam couldn't help but laugh with her even though it came out as ragged gasps of air. "So do I have your permission?"

"I'm not your keeper Sam. I am just concerned. Like I said, Ruby and I have history." Angela took a slight breath, "By the way, nice moves there. You didn't think it was me and acted accordingly."

Sam looked at Angela with his 'what the hell look' as he propped himself on his elbows. "That was one of your tests?"

"I have a lot of thinking time."

Sam groaned and flopped back down. In his ears he could hear Angela chuckling which turned into laughter. She was going to be the death of him. He was sure of it. And he thought Dean was bad. He was sadly mistaken.

A/N: Welcome to Ep. 2.03 Chase the Blade and we start off with a slight history lesson about Angie and move right on in to a training session. Looks like she's a little pissed about something and she and Sam wrestle it out. Stay tuned for the next chapter of Chase the Blade...