Bones Shatter

There was calm for a moment. It was unfamiliar to her. She decided then and there that she didn't like it.

"That was an excellent game," Fate commented as she turned lithely to her demonic opponent, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Well played." The suspicion was evident in her tone, but her companion took no notice. Nor did she expect him too, really. He couldn't have cheated even if he'd had the intention. Fate was gifted in knowing these things.

The demon just sat in absolute silence and stillness, the ghost of a smile coasting across his lips. At last, he whispered breathlessly, "I did it."

Fate's heart should have been warmed by his smile, by his absolute disbelief and pure bliss, but rarely if ever did anyone challenge her, and never did her opponent win. She was having a hard time dealing with loss. Is this how mortals felt when she took victory from their grasps? When she threw it on the ground and rolled it over, scattering the many pieces. Was this hollow feeling . . . sorrow?

"I admit; your victory saddens me," Fate sighed, staring at the innate form in front of her. "I quite liked the way the game originally played out." With these words were spoken, she directed a glare at the demon. "Before your input was made."

The smile fell from his lips in an instant. "Our lives weren't games," he whispered harshly, black eyes gleaming. "You toyed with us over and over again, and laughed when I dared challenge you."

"I never thought you'd win," Fate admitted, nodding her head reasonably. "I thought you would screw up your future even worse, maybe even kill yourselves off a little sooner and spare me the trouble. Or not start the Apocalypse at all, but . . . I never dared believe you'd win."

"But I did," his sadistically triumphant smile almost sent a shiver down her spine. "I saved them all. I saved Sam."

Fate pursed her lips. "I'm not sure Lucifer would agree with you . . ."

The demon stared at her with hard eyes and laughed. "I won. Lucifer will never be raised. I gave Sam a second chance."

"It's interesting to me," Fate stated, getting up from her place in front of the game table. "It's interesting the . . . emotions you mortals feel for one another. Yes, you won. You have a second chance yourself, but you are happier that your brother gets a chance at a new life; a life he deserved. You may very well die tomorrow, but . . ." Fate paused and glanced over her shoulder at the man. "I imagine you would die happier than any other man on earth."

The demon, the man, nodded slightly. His black eyes flickered once, going from solid black to emerald green. He smiled.

Fate stared at the man and something deep inside her fluttered nervously. "Well . . . I suppose this is well deserved." She stated formally, taking her place in front of the man. Fate rested her palm on his forehead.

"Good luck with your second chance, Dean Winchester. Use it better, this time."

"Oh, you know I will," Dean chuckled darkly, his smirk the only trace of his previous Hellish standing. His fingers curled sharply.

For the first time in her immortality, Fate feared death.

*~*SPN*~*

A/N: So, I've had this story sitting on my computer for probably close to three years. I have no idea why I haven't uploaded it. Right now, I'm submitting this as an AU one-shot, but if anyone would like, I could try turning it into a multichapter story. Would anyone actually read it?

*~*Courtney*~*