(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the following story and the characters of Finn and Caleb belong to me)
Through the Never.
Chapter Three.
Finn walked to the far cave, smiling as she walked in; Raja rose and walked slowly towards her, lowering his head "Raja" said Finn warmly as she put a hand to his beak "It's good to see you again"
Griffin
"You heard Caleb?" she asked.
We feel ripples in the realms
"Do you have any idea where he could be? Anything Raja" she looked into the griffin's eyes and whispered "I don't think we have a lot of time"
Time is relative, Griffin but it is also something that you can ill afford
She nodded "Fafnir said they've sent delegates to the other realms, the ones they're welcome in but he's not there. Can you go to the ones the dragons can't?"
We are less welcome than the dragons, Griffin. We are seen as an abomination of nature, some do not wish our kind to 'taint' their land.
"Well they're idiots"
I will not argue with you on that point
Finn laughed softly "How are Rotupu, Shiaz and Jenur?"
They are well. They scout the realms for you but we have yet to determine the one to which your son was taken.
Finn sighed "What of Iksar?"
Nothing. Like your son, he too has disappeared.
"Well we have to do something Raja. If we don't find him soon, Abiel will …" she shook her head "We have to find him"
You must speak with the Slayer, he knows more than he is letting on
"Dean?" she shook her head "No, he wouldn't lie to me, not where Caleb is concerned"
Speak with the Slayer. I will await your return and he settled on the cavern floor.
Finn frowned and walked quickly back to Fafnir's cave, her mind going over the last few days, trying to figure out if there was something she'd missed, something Dean may have misunderstood because there was no way he'd lie to her.
She walked into the cave, bowing her head to the dragons and turning to Dean "Raja said I need to speak with you about Caleb"
Dean nodded "I think I heard him last night"
It was not a thought, it was the Little Slayer
Finn stared "You lied to me?"
"I didn't think it was him, Finn. I don't know what it was…" he started.
"You told me it was the same nightmare, the one you always have" she frowned "Why would you lie to me, Dean?"
"I didn't…"
"Really? Was it the same nightmare?" he shook his head "So you did lie"
"I didn't recognise his voice, Finn!"
"Why wouldn't you just tell me? Even if it wasn't him, why not tell me? I thought you trusted me"
"I do, Finn. I just thought it was some weird-ass dream and I didn't want to worry you. You're…" he stopped.
"What? I'm what Dean? Freaking out? Losing it?" she tried to calm herself "Well guess what? I fucking well am! Our son is out there somewhere, frightened and alone and that arsehole is doing god only knows what to him and …and…"
"What, Finn?" he asked softly.
"It's his birthday tomorrow! Okay? It's his goddamn birthday!" she turned and stormed out of the cave.
"Jesus Christ…" he went to leave the cavern.
Slayer, tell me what you saw.
"I need to speak with Finn" he said
You need to tell me what you saw.
"I'll be back, Fafnir" he jogged out of the cave and headed towards the cavern Raja would stay in. He turned into it but there was no sign of Finn or Raja. He checked a couple of other caverns before jogging back to Fafnir "Where is she?"
She and the griffin have left our land.
"Where is she?" he demanded.
I do not know. Now you must tell me what it was that you saw. It is important.
Dean ignored the question "Would he have taken her to his realm?"
Slayer! The child is who we must find!
"You think I don't know that?! He's my son, Fafnir!"
Tell me what you saw!
Dean turned on the dragon "A snake flying across a red moon! Happy? Now where the hell is Finn?!"
We do not know where Griffin has gone. But tell me, was there one moon or three?
"I don't know…" said Dean in frustration.
Think, Slayer. It is of vital importance that you remember how many moons you saw.
Dean sighed "I don't know…" he closed his eyes and thought back on the dream "One…maybe…I don't know…"
Let the image come
Dean relaxed, opening his mind to the memory and he heard the word again and this time he recognised Caleb's voice and he heard the desperation it held, the desperation and the hopelessness. His son was slipping away from them. He concentrated and saw the winged-snake flying through the midnight skies, across one red moon but when he dropped his gaze, he saw the reflections of three moons in a blackened swamp. He opened his eyes "Three moons and a swamp"
The dragons looked to each other, an unspoken conversation transpiring between the two, one that Dean was unable to hear 'What? Where is he?" Fafnir turned his head slowly to Dean "Where?"
He is in realm known to us as 'Blood Tears'
"Blood Tears? What the hell does that mean?" demanded Dean.
It is a forbidden realm. Your son is lost Slayer. I am sorry.
Dean shook his head "No. No way. Tell me where it is…."
There is no way to this land. It's pathway has been lost for longer than even we remember.
"I don't give a shit. Tell me how to get there"
We cannot.
Dean glared at the dragons "You never struck me as a coward, Fafnir"
The dragon rose quickly You insult me? he roared, the sound like thunder as it crashed around the cavern, a sound that was echoed by the roars of the dragons outside.
"I call it like I see it" said Dean. He picked up his and Finn's swords and stood in front of Fafnir "I don't need your help. I will bring my son back from that realm, you wait and see" he turned walked to the entrance, turning back once more "I expected better from you, Fafnir. King, my ass" he muttered as he stormed out of the cave.
He didn't expect Peluda to be waiting and he wasn't disappointed. He'd pissed of the King of the Dragon's and he wasn't going to be given a free ride back to the Palace. He slung the swords over his back and started to make his way down the mountain; it was going to be a long walk back.
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Dean made it back to the Palace as night was falling over the realm. He'd been given the use of a horse from one of the outlying farms, the Ancients that lived there more than happy to have their 'Supreme Ruler' use one of their animals. Dean had promised to have the steed returned the following day as well as payment for the use of the horse, ignoring the protestations of the family but unable to stop them putting food and drink into the saddle for his journey.
He'd been thankful for the drink as the day was blisteringly hot, the sun beating down on him as he galloped towards the Citadel. His mind on Caleb as he tried to figure out just how he was going to find a place no one knew anything about. It didn't matter, he had a name for the realm, he'd find a way to get to his son; nothing and no one would stand in his way.
He galloped into the Citadel, the guards recognising him from a distance and opening the large wooden gates to allow him entry. He raced through the cobblestone streets, the horse's flanks and neck white with sweat, the snorting of the horse like a steam-train as he tore towards the Palace; the Ancients stopping to stare at their leader as he rode like a man possessed towards his home; their smiles turning to frowns as they saw the dark look that clouded his face.
He pulled up outside the mansion, a Royal Guard stepping forward, saluting Dean as he took the reigns "Wash him down and water him, He needs to be returned to his owner tomorrow" said Dean.
"Sir" the guard saluted and walked away with the animal as Dean jogged up the stairs.
He found Gideon and Gabe in the office, going over paperwork "Is Finn here?"
They frowned "No, she was with you" said Gideon as he rose from behind the desk "What the hell happened?"
"Where's Sam?"
"He's not back yet" said Gabe "What happened Dean?"
"Did you get the books Finn asked for?" asked Dean, ignoring the questions.
"Yeah, they're in your room. Now what the fuck is going on?" demanded Gideon "You tell me what happened with Finn!"
Dean's anger flared "I don't have to tell you shit, Gideon. I'm the 'Supreme Royal' remember?" he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Gabe turned to Gideon "Get the Seth and Xavier in here…I put the papers in with the books"
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Dean went to his room and looked for Finn, knowing she wouldn't be there but checking anyway. He removed their swords and slung them over the back of one of the chairs then went to the bathroom. He turned the shower on, stripping and stepping under the steaming water, the heat of it scalding his skin as it sluiced the dust from him. He turned his face to the stream, the needle-like jets beating a steady tattoo against him, numbing his head but unable to numb his mind.
He finally turned the water off, stepping out and drying himself as he walked back to the room "Finn?" he called out hopefully and swore when he received no reply.
He went to their bags, changed into spare leathers and slumped into the chair at the table and looked at the pile of books in front of him. Shit, he hated reading but there were no computers in Larten Vola and he had to start somewhere. He pulled the first book off the pile and opened it, two sheets of paper fluttering to the floor.
He bent and picked them up, his face turning a furious shade of red, his eyes burning with rage as he read what he'd been tricked into signing. He rose slowly from the chair, putting his swords across his back and walked purposefully to the door and strode towards Gideon's office.
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Finn sat on the porch of her cabin holding Caleb's toy dragon in her hands; she'd stopped crying a while ago, chastising herself for being such a fool. She picked up her coffee and sipped it; not noticing that it was now cold.
I am uncomfortable in this realm
"Sorry, Raja. Go back home. Thanks for the lift" she laughed softly "You know what I mean"
I will wait til you are ready to return
"It'll be a long wait"
Do not judge the Slayer too harshly, Griffin. He believed he was protecting you.
"Yeah, okay" she said.
He blames himself for the loss of your son.
"I know that, Raja. But I don't blame him" she said "He'd never have let Abiel take Caleb if he could help it"
Which is something he does not understand. He wants you to blame him as he blames himself.
"Well I won't" she sighed "I can't lose Caleb, Raja. We need to find him. He believes Dean and I are dead…he thinks he's alone"
And it is the day of his birth tomorrow
She nodded "He'll be six and I promised him…" she shook her head "Doesn't matter"
The griffin cocked its head There is someone on the wind
Finn stood and grabbed her spare pistol from the table inside the door "Get behind the cabin, Raja. I'll get rid of them"
The griffin moved quickly and Finn watched the rarely travelled dirt road that led to her property. No one knew of this place or how to get here, so whoever was coming was either very lost or looking for her or Dean and everyone she knew was back in Larten Vola. She saw a black pick-up truck come slowly down the track, the windows were darkened so she couldn't see the driver. She put her hand to the small of her back, staying on the porch as the truck pulled up twenty-feet from the cabin.
The door opened slowly and a man she guessed was in his late forties exited the truck, his hands held away from his body, his posture relaxed as he closed the door "I'm unarmed" he said as he lifted his shirt and jacket, turning around to show her "I have a dagger in my boot but I'm guessing you could shoot me before I could get to it"
"What do you want?" she asked.
"I'm looking for Dean and Sam Winchester" he said evenly.
"Don't know any one by those names" said Finn "Best you go on your way"
"Sorry, can't do that. I need to speak with them and Sam gave me these co-ordinates..."
"Don't know anyone by that name, I told you"
"Finn right? Griffin Jacobs?" he said.
Finn said nothing.
"I need to speak with Dean. It's important" he walked slowly towards her "I don't intrude on the boys lives unless I have to" he shook his head "And believe me, I have to"
"He's not here" she said.
"Where can I find him?" he asked.
"Don't know where he is" she lied.
"Miss, I don't rightly know what's going on with those boys and it's got me worried some. I'm the closest thing to family they got and Sam told me that you would know where to find them if I needed and I need"
"Why should I believe you?"
He smiled "You shouldn't" he stuck out his hand "Name's Bobby Singer"
Finn looked at the hand then back into his eyes "What do you need to tell Dean?"
"That's between me and Dean"
It is something Griffin needs to hear
Bobby turned as a shadow crossed over him, stumbling back an animal that defied belief strode round the cabin and he reached instinctively for his dagger. Finn moved quickly, putting the pistol to Bobby's head "You so much as even think about harming Raja, I will blow your head off"
Bobby nodded slowly, unable to tear his gaze from the mythical beast in front of him. What the hell had the boys gotten themselves into?
To be continued…