Chronicles of Absolution: Flight of the Song

Chapter 1

Now

The club was in full swing. Couples were dancing to the music that was being played; music set to reflect the era theme of the club. Club Albion was the place to be on a night like this. It had a strict dress code to reflect an era that had long since passed by but it brought about a sense of nostalgia to some of the older patrons but the entertainment was something else.

Club Albion was known for its show entertainment particularly of the singing sensations that were the regulars. It also catered to an amateur night were young hopefuls could try their hand on the stage. That combined with the good quality alcohol, business was good. Genevieve McKenna surveyed the evening's crowd with great interest.

Couples were good but the singles, especially the men were better. Tonight she knew why they were here tonight and each one hoped they would be the one to gain favor to be in the presence of none other than Rose Mulvery, the main star of Club Albion. Rose was her main source of income on the nights she performed. She traded off with two other girls but she was the most popular.

Genevieve went towards the back of the stage where the band was performing to check up on her star. The girl was putting the finishing touches on her hair when she came in. Genevieve walked in and helped the girl with a particularly difficult clip. It was the signature ruby rose that she wore during every performance. She said, "The crowd is larger than usual tonight."

Rose looked into the glass as her clip was pinned into place. She smiled her rosy smile, "Good. I was hoping for a wider selection."

"There are a few new faces since the semester just finished. You have your pick of the whole garden," Genevieve smiled as she finished. "Now it is time. Have fun." She then turned to leave the dressing room. She walked up a flight of stairs towards her office that overlooked the whole club. She stared down at the crowd that had finally gathered at the various tables. She smiled as the lights dimmed and the band began the first chords of Ruby Rose's first song. She savored the rich melody that came forth.

Ryan sat back at the booth table that his friends picked out. After a grueling semester it was now high time for some fun and relaxation. He had intended to go home back to the old farm but his roommate Derek convinced him to come to his town with the promise of a good time. Derek had spoken nothing but Club Albion and the selection of beauties that brought down the house with their singing.

Ryan didn't really want to come but when his parents revealed that they were going to pay a visit to his grandparents and that he should stay with his roommate and have fun. He deserved it after all the hard work in getting the good grades. So he came home with Derek and now he was sitting in the famous Club Albion.

He had to admit that he was surprised at the place. Everyone was required to dress up. Men were in suits and the women were in skirts. Derek came with his girlfriend and she tried to set him up with one her friends. Ryan was polite though and paid attention to her but she was not his kind of girl. It wasn't long before another one of the single guys came and asked her to dance and that was fine with him.

So now he was sitting in the booth nursing his one and only drink while he watched Derek and his girl dance. He could admit that the place was nice but it just wasn't him really. Derek and his girl finished their dance and came to sit at their table. Derek said, "Come on Ryan. Are you just going to sit there all night?"

"I'm not really a clubbing sort of person Derek."

"Don't be such a girl Ryan. At least have fun while you're here. Hell I noticed a few choice girls giving you the look over. That devil may care look works man," Derek replied with a grin on his face. He had been trying to loosen up his roommate ever since they moved in together in the apartment they shared. Now that he had Ryan here, he was being a dork but he did have a few things going for him and the cute bad boy look that he wore with ease was one of them. "Come on."

Ryan just smiled, "You know I do this to humor you." He took a sip of the drink that he had barely touched. He had no intention of getting drunk tonight. A vivid reminder of his mother instilling that a glass with dinner was okay but to overindulge was sinful. It was a habit he never got out of even when he went away to college.

"You gotta live a little man," Derek replied. When he failed to get a reaction from Ryan he shrugged his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around his girl. "Well at least you came on the night that every guy comes out."

"And girl."

Derek gave his girl a humorous smile, "And girl because the main entertainer is just… you really can't say."

"She's the best… even better than some of the top pop stars. Every girl strives to be like her and they try on amateur night to land a job here."

Ryan figured that the night couldn't get any duller. Judging by the way Derek and his girl were acting, he might as well see this singer. It couldn't possibly be that bad. "She sounds like a star."

"Here she is. Before I went to school she was a second stringer. Now she's the first string." Derek took a sip of the drink he ordered. "They call her Ruby Rose."

"For the famous ruby rose she wears in her hair. She wears it during every performance."

Ryan shrugged his shoulders, "She sounds pretty special."

Derek was going to say more but the house lights started to dim. The single guys started to whoop as the band got into their places. Ryan watched as the guys bum rushed the stage each jockeying for a place close to the stage. This Ruby Rose must be a looker for guys to act like that. Ryan didn't fail to notice that some of the women were behaving just as badly.

The band struck up the opening chords and a harmonious voice sounded forth. Ryan sat back while he watched Derek and his girl lean forward. Out from behind the curtains emerged a woman. She was a brunette with her hair coiffed in the style of the 30s. She wore a white sequined dress that revealed her shoulders. Her skin was a creamy white perfection. Ryan thought she looked nice but when she started singing, he could see why people thought she was a goddess.

Ruby Rose's voice was like something out of heaven. As her voice sung the words of her chosen song, her red lips would smile and move. Her green eyes twinkled. Her song only seemed to become more intoxicating as she swayed her hips and she crossed the stage. She took her time descending the steps of the stairs.

Ryan leaned back looking at the singer as she walked through the crowd. He was amazed that while everyone bum rushed the woman they parted like the Red Sea to let her through. The song though was enthralling. Ryan swore he heard it somewhere before and figured it might be one of those songs that were sung during the 30s or whatever. It was better than some of the modern pop crap that some of the girls on his floor listened to.

It was totally unexpected when Ruby Rose turned and looked right at him. Ryan thought he was getting a complete look down but through the eyes. She smiled at him and started walking towards him. She was still singing and he was aware that he was getting a bunch of jealous stares from everyone. Derek and his girl where looking flabbergasted when Ruby Rose came to their table and sat next to him as she finished her song. She gave a slight wink and asked, "Can I join you?"

The canal was flowing and looked surprisingly clean. Usually they were full of garbage and water mold that was disgusting. In fact it looked like a romantic spot to share a moment. The place was known for couples to make out like crazy after a night at the Club Albion.

At the moment there was no one there so all was quiet. You could hear the burbling of the water. It was marred though by the sound of footsteps and labored breathing as footsteps thumped through the ground.

Ryan had no idea where he was going but he knew he just had to get away. He never thought that his roommate's nagging would get him into a situation like this. He wished he had gone back to the farm and things would have been all right. He gave a quick look behind him as he ran ever faster. He ran until he came to an abandoned building. Maybe he could lose them in there.

He ran inside the building just as it started to rain. He fumbled in his jacket pocket for his cell phone. He dialed Derek's number and waited while it rang.

Hello?

"Derek, it's me," Ryan said in a low whisper. He cautiously looked around to see if anyone was following him.

Hey Ryan, how'd it go? Did she kiss you?

"Can you think of something else besides that?" Ryan was annoyed. Derek sometimes stayed on the track of the downstairs brain a little more than usual especially when he was with his girl. "Listen I need you to come and get me."

Come on man. Don't tell me that you don't like her. I mean she picked you.

"Derek, I mean it. I need you to pick me up. Something is not right here."

Alright, alright. Keep your pants on. I can't believe you didn't score with her. She totally had her eyes for you. You really do need to get laid.

"Derek," Ryan hissed, "Just come. I'm in the warehouse by the canal. That one you pointed out to me."

The old Kendall place? Fine I'm coming but dude you seriously need to start breaking free of the ball and chain you call your parents.

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Right and I'm sure you're an authority on that." A noise sounded and Ryan looked around. He started to panic as he heard a door opening. "Derek just get your ass here. Something is after me."

Yeah and it's a hot chick and you're too much of a girl to go after her like she should be.

Ryan was going to say something but then he saw it. His breathing started to come out in gasps as his heart started to pound in his chest. It was horrible and yet it was beautiful too. Ryan panicked and shouted, "Derek help me!"

Ryan then took off running unaware that he had dropped his phone on the floor. It was still on as he ran screaming through the building. It was the last thing his roommate heard.

Glass shattered as the body crashed through the window. At least the house was an abandoned one but it was the base to less desirable creatures. The body that had gotten thrown through the window rolled on the floor of the back room that it landed in. Its owner rolled over to look to see his attacker advance towards him.

"That was a warm up Cary. If you just tell me what I want to know, I may consider a less cruel method of dealing with you."

Cary looked up at his attacker. She had let him go before but this time he got the feeling that no matter what he did he was dead meat. The best thing he could do was go down fighting and make her work for it. He did it before. He gave a slow grin and replied, "If that was a warm up, I'm not impressed. You're gonna have to do better than that to get what you want."

To show that he meant what he said, his eyes flickered black as he stood up. With a deft movement of his hand, he sent his attacker straight towards the wall and pinned her there. He raised her to the point where she was suspended in the middle of the wall. He laughed as he advanced. "You're not as tough as I heard you to be. Hell you haven't changed at all Angie."

Angela wrinkled her lip as she struggled not to react in rage. That led to mistakes. Besides she had dealt with Cary before and hell she had been in this position before not too long ago. She also had a purpose. She narrowed her eyes as she tested the strength of her hold with her limbs. She looked at Cary and replied, "So certain you are about me? Haven't you heard the rumors about me?"

"Oh I've heard the rumors. Tell me, how did it feel when Sammy Winchester died?"

Angela resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She had been asked that question many times ever since she started this little pet project of hers. She didn't get why they asked her that stupid question. How did they think she felt? She wasn't going to give them fuel though so she lied, "It wasn't Sam that made me feel like that."

Cary grinned and replied, "Keep telling yourself that love. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll get back to business as usual." He started to walk away.

"You'll not be going anywhere until you tell me what I want to know."

Cary stopped. He was clearly annoyed. True she had gotten the drop on her but he had her suspended on the wall. "In case you haven't forgotten, you're the one currently suspended on my wall. I think I'm the one with the winning hand."

At that moment the doorbell rang. Cary gave an annoyed sigh. His client was on time but it was the crummiest ever. He glanced to make sure that his guest was in her spot as he went to the door and answered it. The transaction took no more than maybe ten minutes but when he got back, his guest was not where he left her. He looked around trying to find her and wondering how she got out when all of a sudden he was grabbed from behind. Then she said, "You shouldn't have turned your back Cary."

Cary then felt himself being flung into the wall with such force that he didn't think it possible. He made a dent in the wall but he was back up on his feet. He took a good look at her. He saw her eyes as glowing orbs and there seemed to be a slight shadow about her face. He said, "You've crossed the edge love. You know that touching it is only the beginning."

Angela heard that before too. She replied, "I crossed the edge a long time ago Cary. I just had a big reminder. Now tell me where or how to find your boss."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Cary replied with a shrug. He'll play dumb if he had to. It didn't matter what he did.

Angela moved quickly and grabbed Cary and slammed him into the wall. Her eyes were glowing orbs as she looked the demon in the black pits that were eyes. She lowered her voice to the dangerous tones she used when she wasn't playing around, "Tell me where I can find your boss or better yet how I could summon the assphat."

To show that she meant business, she pulled the knife she kept on her person. It was a special knife as was her other things. Maintaining her hold she brought the edge of the blade close to the forearm she managed to expose.

Cary watched her and tried to play it off, "You think that little pick is going to hurt me? The Colt your boys have ain't worth its weight now that all your bullets are spent. What are you going to with that? Ruin a good shirt?"

Angela peered at Cary with a look similar that she gave to Jake before she killed him. She then gave a slow grin and drew the edge of the knife against the forearm. She ignored the scream that Cary gave from the burn of her knife. She replied, "That was a small taste of what I can do Cary. Don't forget I have an even bigger knife capable of cutting that pathetic head of yours."

Cary gritted his teeth from the pain of the knife. There was only one blade he knew that was capable of that kind of power. Yet what Angela was holding wasn't that knife. It had to be something else or she knew where to get one like it. "What do you want?"

"The spell to summon your boss."

Cary gritted his teeth as the pain dulled in his forearm. He replied, "You know I can't do that. Do you know what he'll do to me if I squeal how to find him?"

"It will be a lot worse if you have to deal with me," Angela retorted. "Work with me and maybe I'll let you get away again."

Cary said nothing for a moment. Something about her was different. It was like something had been released and when pushed, it would rear its ugly head. No wonder the others were afraid. It was no wonder none of the other dealers wanted anything to do with her. They didn't even show when she summoned them via the usual methods to do deals. "It's not that simple."

"So you say. You're not the one that has no shows when the summoning is conducted in the proper manner. I faced several of your dirty kind with a higher pay grade than you. I am not afraid of you Cary. You're the same pathetic worm I picked up when I was after Azazel." Angela applied pressure and brought the knife close. "Now tell me or the next slice might be a little too deep."

Cary knew he would be in the shit hole if he did anything she was asking. Yet he valued his life but he was a bloody demon. She was the enemy here. He did deals but not the way she wanted them even if she could invoke her broker's rights. He grimaced and contorted his face into a snarl. "No."

Angela cocked her head to the side as her eyes glowed. She said nothing but lowered the blade. She applied pressure but not enough to break the skin. It still burned though and she left it there as she smelt the burnt flesh. She looked at Cary in the eyes.

"Alright, stop. Stop!"

Angela pulled the blade away from the burnt skin. It was a nasty burn. She looked at Cary in the eye and said, "Now are you ready to tell me?"

Cary knew he was whipped. There was no way he was going to be able to handle a fight with her. The others were right and there was reason to be afraid. To hell with what his boss was going to do. What she was going to do was the thing to worry about. She was not the same. She had changed. He replied, "Fine. I'll tell you how to track and summon. He's not the kind to stay in one place long and once he finds out I told him, my life is forfeit."

"Well then I guess you have to choose the lesser of two evils." Angela gave a slight movement with her head as she withdrew the blade and took a step back. "Now spill."

Cary knew she was right. He gave a cursory glance at his forearm. He then looked at her and said, "Alright, to find him you…"

It was past midnight by the time Angela got back to the motel. She paused by the Impala to check on it out of habit while she fished her key out of her jacket pocket. She then walked onward to her room and opened the door being careful to not disturb the salt lines she had laid down for the night. Shutting the door, she went about getting ready for bed with a calm she didn't feel. When she was finished she didn't go to bed but leaned against the wall. She slid down as she ran a hand through her hair as she wondered what the hell she was doing.

"A little early for a powwow isn't it?"

Angela said nothing as she sat cross legged on the hood of the Impala. She stared out at nothing in particular with her mind still on the events that happened after she wished the boys a good night. She managed to get a few hours of sleep but that didn't assuage the guilty feeling about sneaking away to battle demons with no back up.

Sam was up early as usual and had decided to go for some coffee and doughnuts while waiting for Dean to decide to wake up. He thought he was the first one up but he spotted Angela sitting on the car staring at nothing. He frowned in a worried way and wondered if she was still pissed about that business with a demon they came across after dealing with the seven deadly sins. The demon didn't speak English but in some strange language that she seemed to understand and he could see her get visibly angry.

The demon got away and Angela took a hike that carried her five miles down the road before the steam had been burnt out. Dean had been driving when they caught up with her where she was waiting like she had all the time in the world. Dean didn't ask her anything but Sam wanted to know and she got angry and told him to leave her alone.

That was last night. Sam wondered if she really was okay after what happened to the both of them. She seemed to be okay and she even joked with them but Sam got the feeling that the wheels that were turning in her mind were working on something that she either didn't want to share or felt like she couldn't. Dean didn't seem to have a problem with it and in fact acted as if nothing were wrong. Sam though decided to try again and apologize for anything that he might have done.

He came back with three cups of coffee and the box of doughnuts to find her still sitting there. He mustered up the courage to talk to her. When she didn't answer he peered at her and held a coffee cup out to her. "Coffee?"

Angela realized that Sam was talking to her and looked to see the cup being held out to her. She knew she had to apologize for her behavior the night before. It wasn't Sam's fault. He always was the one who concerned himself with others. He didn't know why she had been so angry and she felt bad she took it out on him. Dean knew why though but that was no excuse. If she was going to do what she intended, she had to keep her head in the game and not do stupid stuff but it was damn hard when dealing with a newly opened gate and learning how to regulate power.

She smiled at Sam and accepted the cup and replied, "Thanks. I'm just thinking. It wakes me up."

Sam leaned against the Impala. Her sitting put her at near eye level when she sat up like she was going to do meditation. "You think a lot. Anything random floating in there?" He said the last bit in a teasing tone to try and get her in a good mood.

Angela took the bait and replied, "A bit. Still working on regulating the gate in there but it's working. All it takes is practice." She looked at her cup and took a sip of the coffee. "Sam, I'm sorry about last night. I know you were only trying to help."

"Well I'm sorry too. I should've read the signs. I just worry about you. Some days you shut yourself off and other days you're open and joking."

Angela gave a slight smile, "Don't worry too much Sam. With the demons that got out of the Gate, we are bound to come across a few that I may have met before sending them back to the pit. We know how to piss each other off."

Sam knew that wasn't the whole truth but he didn't want to spoil the morning by pestering her with questions. They did have a pact when it came to telling each other stuff in their own time though he figured he was going to have to modify it if it came to the point where it was stupid to say nothing. Instead he pulled out a paper and handed it to her. "I managed to find a copy of Pickwick. Maybe you might find something… unless you find the cipher." He gave a slight smile.

Angela took the paper and opened it to the job section. She replied, "One more thing on the list of things to teach you and Dean then." She grinned at Sam to let him know all was okay.

A/N: Welcome back for another exciting season of Chronicles of Absolution. We pick up right after Sam and Dean and co. deal with the Seven Deadly Sins in a brand new adventure and it looks like things start off with a bang especially for Angie. What happens next? Stay tuned for chapter 2 of Flight of the Song...