Chapter 3
Dean looked at the card that he and Sam collected from the dead Vance's assistant. He was familiar with the type of card. A hunter would be familiar with tarot. Some psychics used them but as far as he was concerned it was part of that realm that was the thing that ended bloody if you meddled with it. He did know that some magicians used them in their act and one was Vernon Haskell.
The card was the ten of swords. It was interesting because the guy Vance had been killed by ten stab wounds to the chest. Dean knew that it could be serious mojo going on. The difficult part was finding who it was and stopping them. He wished Angela was around. She knew this stuff better than him and Sam put together but she was off doing… whatever.
Tapping the card, he was reminded of Hibah. He could recall a time when he had come across Hibah playing with tarot cards. He remembered it distinctly because Angela was there and she hadn't been freaked about it. Rather she was teaching her…
The sun was out and there was a gentle breeze playing with the leaves of the tree. Dean had been grabbing some food while Sam was busy doing what he did best which was researching. He passed the outdoor table where Hibah was sitting across from Angela who was writing something in one of her ledger type books. Hibah was playing with a deck of cards.
"Ima I got the Death card again. Is that bad?"
The moment Dean heard Hibah's question he paused and stopped to watch. He couldn't believe his own ears. Was Angela teaching that witch/black magic stuff? He edged a little closer to make sure that he heard everything.
Angela was looking at the card Hibah picked. She replied, "Death is not a bad thing habibitti. It doesn't mean the end necessarily. It could mean that maybe a trend in your life is going to end. You see habibitti things do come to an end. They have to especially if we want to change. It is okay to end something because only then will you grow."
"It seems like a jinx to me." Hibah looked at the card with a slight frown.
Angela chuckled and replied, "Sometimes it does my bijoux. I've played with the tarot for years and I've always gotten different ones. Sometimes I've gotten the Fool consistently. Most recently it is has popped up."
"Not really Ima. I've played for you and I get Judgment and the Hierophant." Hibah shuffled the cards like she was supposed to. "See, look."
Dean watched as Hibah shuffled the cards. He marveled that her little hands could handle the cards so well. He was also shocked that they were messing with this stuff. He observed the cards that Hibah put down. She then said, "See? Look Ima. It is Judgment again."
Dean watched Angela get a thoughtful look across her face. She then said, "Well habibitti, in tarot the Major Arcana sort of tell the story of life in general. It begins with the Fool and ends with the World. It signifies how one starts young and foolish but as they journey through life, wisdom is learned and you end up a little more worldly."
Dean watched as Angela took the cards and shuffled them. She started laying them out face down while explaining the layout to Hibah. He didn't listen to anymore and hurried to get the food in before Sam complained about not getting his salad…
Holding it, Dean wished that Angela was there. He would be able to get bare bones from her. Looking back on it now, he seemed that they were playing the actual game. They weren't doing the whole magic thing but doing what the fortune tellers do to make money. At least she seemed perked up from her slump.
It had hit them all hard. First Angela nearly died from the poison from that Snake blade. He remembered the look of panic on Sam's face when they found her on the ground and struggling to breath and that was after Hibah decided to go a bit postal on the guy Lykos. She broke his neck when she flung him back and left a mark in the stone wall and the funny thing was Angela managed to do something at the same time. It happened really fast.
Then there was Angela trying to breathe from the poison and of course that gaping hole in her side. Dean had seen her bleed before but Sam panicking like that and trying to stop… At least Castiel was able to help get him to the Impala; he knew she would be driving his baby and have it stocked with the necessities. In all the confusion, no one thought about Hibah and what she was seeing until he got back and found her looking at Angela.
Dean knew it was Hibah that saved Angel. How he wasn't sure but he suspected it had to do with her angel half. Whatever she did, the poison was gone and all that was left was to patch Angela up and Sam jumped in on that. Dean was certain that Angela would probably strangle Sam for his hovering especially with that mug he kept shoving at her but she didn't. She accepted it and just crashed until morning when they went to that old cabin or whatever to send Hibah off.
It was rough. Dean could admit he missed his little Ninja and he knew that Sam and Angela did. He was right in that it was going to be hardest on Angela and he knew she tried to keep her distance but it just didn't work. He actually missed her scolding him but before this case, she just didn't seem to care. Then it was like she came out of it like it was nothing and he was suspicious of it. In the end he decided it was Sam that did it from his three nights of knocking on her door. Now she was herself… sort of since she mentioned her bondage interest and her 'magic' with cards and stuff. He was going to leave it to her to find out more about what happened to Vance.
He walked into the theatre and looked to see the same camera guys from before and that douche bag Jeb Dexter. His eyes widened slightly when he saw Angela talking with another magician and they were smiling and laughing. The guy was showing her a trick with his cards and she was going along with it but when it came time to reveal her card, the guy couldn't find it. Angela was smiling and pulled it out of her jacket pocket and hold it up.
Dean shook his head slightly and walked down to where two other guys, magicians, were sitting and watching the camera crew setting up. He asked, "Vernon Haskell?"
"Who wants to know?" Vernon didn't look but was watching as Jay and the young lady introduced as Angela chatted. Charlie had introduced them and he liked her immensely showing appreciation for their skill and had even entertained them with a few tricks of her own.
When she came to their table, Charlie asked her, "So what do you think?"
"I know I definitely want to see tonight's show. My understanding is that not even the great Houdini would try it," Angela replied. She had noticed Dean but didn't give any indication that she knew him.
Dean knew not to take it personally. It was part of her job when it came to a cover. It always made him marvel how she never broke character even when something unexpected happened. Sometimes she did that for fun and he had a hard time discerning if she was playing with him and Sam or not. It was during those times he wondered if she was ever able to fake a lie detector test and not the polygraph ones but the one that read brain waves. He showed the three of them his FBI badge, "Special Agent Ulrich. I'm looking to the death of Patrick Vance."
At that moment, Jeb was starting his segment, "I'm Jeb Dexter - this is Devil Twist. We're chilling at the International Magician's Convention, which is a dope chance to tip my hat to the wicked cats who came before me." He gestured towards Jay and continued, "Smokin' hot effect last night, Jim."
Angela was watching and heard the correction and the blow off by Jeb. She couldn't help it and said with Vernon, "What a douche bag."
Dean glanced at the trio sitting at the table. He rarely heard Angela use a mild form of name calling. She preferred asshole or bastard. He was glad though that she thought the same as he did and said, "I couldn't agree more." He then pulled the tarot card out and showed it to Vernon but made sure that Angela saw it.
Angela took a look at the card and recognized it for what it was. She raised her brow slightly while Dean talked to Vernon about using the tarot cards in his act. Vernon was saying, "My act! That was a long time ago. I haven't touched the deck in years..." He held up his hand showing how shaky it was.
"You know someone who might use them now?" Dean had his full focus on Vernon and not paying attention to the thoughtful expression she had when looking at the card.
"Well there was a guy, down on Bleeker Street," Vernon replied.
"Oh yeah! He peddles that kind of specialty stuff," Charlie entered, knowing what was going on.
Angela listened to the change in tone. She suspected that Dean was being set up for a con and listened in closely while she was watching Jay in his interview with Jeb. She didn't care much for the younger magician. She really thought he was an ass. Forget douche bag.
"Did he have a problem with Vance?" Dean asked his question and tried not to be put out by the fact that Angela was not going to participate. He did have the sense to know that she probably established herself in a role and was playing it out.
"As a matter of fact, Vance crossed him," Vernon was saying, "Bout a year ago. Probably cost about fifty grand in royalties."
"You know the exact address?" Dean at least was glad to have some lead on this case. It seemed like Angela was just there to have fun but he was astute enough to know that she went for the angles that were often obscure to most folks.
Vernon answered quickly, "426 Bleeker."
"Ask for Chief," Charlie put in.
"Chief? Thank you," Dean replied as he stood up to leave. He looked at Angela who was watching while the segment was finishing. He turned when he felt a slight bump on the back of his head. He turned to see Vernon and Charlie chuckling while Angela was shuffling her deck with a slight smile.
It was tempting to break character and jump on her but Dean didn't. Instead he gave his polite smile and turned to walk away. He pulled out his phone to call Sam and let him know where he was heading.
Vernon and Charlie were laughing. Vernon said, "Nice move you did on the fake fed kid."
Angela smiled as she thumbed through her deck and put it back in her pocket. It probably wasn't a good idea to do it since she saw the brief look in his eyes but it was all too tempting. Besides it was part of the character she was playing. She replied, "I used to do it with the guys that annoyed me. Drove them crazy because I was so quick and I was usually near someone who was playing with the deck too."
"Pretty good though, but not as good as the place to where we sent him," Charlie replied. "Right Vernon?"
Vernon just laughed at the joke. It confirmed that to Angela that they sent Dean to some place that was probably not what he was looking for. They saw through the fake badge easily. Angela wished that Dean hadn't gone back to the old way of making fake IDs. Then again there was the cost issue and the boys were too proud to let her pay for them when she offered. So she sat there and laughed a little and watched the interview finish and spent a little more time with the trio before saying that she wanted to freshen up before the show.
8:00pm, Sioux City, Iowa
Time has a funny way of putting things into perspective. For most normal humans, they are shown the shortness of their years. They go through life. Some live in the past and some become old and bitter at the things they could've done. For me it is different.
As I spent time with Vernon, Charlie and Jay, it was easy to see clearly the frailty of human life. It's not that I haven't seen it before. The strays that were able to live until they were old and grey could testify to that. It just feels different with these three. They were big in their day, the greatest magicians and then time happened. They got old and new ones took the center stage. I could see that they had good times and bad times but they were friends.
Maybe I relate to them on some level. I may not look like I am my age… that would be a surprise even for Dean. Yet I feel old at times. When my bijoux went home, it hurt and now that I have picked myself up, I still feel like I am dragging my feet. Living as long as I have, I have watched people be born, live and die. I have died myself and have nearly died and yet I am still around and kicking. I can relate to that feeling old.
I do admit that it was fun to play with my tricks. It was like riding a bike. The skills never go away. You may get old and rusty but it is ingrained in the mind and the bones. Sometimes you need a pick me up to feel like you did when you first learned it. That seemed to happen to Jay.
Jay, I have never met, but I have heard of him. I can understand the feeling down one minute and then feeling rejuvenated by having successfully done a skill that may have almost killed you in your youth. I like him but with events that have gone on, I don't know.
I remember telling Sam once that I see the world differently. I know that I didn't mean because I can see what a hell bitch like Ruby truly looks like and I think he does too. What I meant was the way how I view people and life itself. I know I have double standards on that but it's a work in progress. Gabe was right though. I care… a lot. I know that I won't be able to stop connecting with people I meet even if only briefly. It is a part of who I am. It is me and I fear that is what both sides seek the most.
The Apocalypse is at my door literally with the breaking of the seals. I know I failed with two but it is as I have done in battle so many times before: I pick up and move on. Yet with the realization that both sides want something from me, which is why I am guessing I have been alive this long, it troubles me and I fear that there are events to play that would require decisions not only from me but from my boys and they will only lead to pain…
Angela had gotten back to the hotel that they had picked. She had a bag of food to offer the boys. If they didn't want it, it was no big deal. She had a good stomach or she could throw it away. She knocked on the door belonging to the boys.
It was a long wait for her and Angela realized that maybe they were both out or they didn't want to be disturbed. It wasn't like she was helping them much on this case anyway. She sighed and started to turn away when the door was opened but she wasn't paying attention.
"Angie?"
Not wanting to be rude, Angela stopped. She turned to face Sam and he was looking at her. "Hey."
"Something wrong?" Sam looked at her with concern on his face even though his tone was a little clipped.
Angela raised her brow slightly at the tone. Something was up with Sam and she wasn't sure if he was agitated with her and he had every right to be or if it was something else. She replied in a soft tone, "No. Just wanted to know if you and Dean were hungry." She held up the bag and added, "Sustenance."
It had been a quick conclusion for Sam to assume that something was wrong. He knew that she was okay since he trusted her but he just wanted to be sure for his own peace of mind. He was also agitated because Ruby paid him a visit and he was certain that Angela would be able to pick it up even though it had been nearly an hour after Ruby left. He looked around slightly not sure of what to say.
Angela took in the look and wondered a bit. It was like the looks he shot her way before Hibah came into their lives. She wasn't sure of what to make of them except that maybe there was something wrong and it was because of her. She never said anything about it since she didn't want to make a mountain out of a molehill if it was nothing. It could be that it was reflecting thoughts on something else but she had that look shot her way a number of times to know that it was her. It seriously shot down the faintest of hopes that she refused to openly acknowledge and she muddled through. Finally she said, "It's nothing. Just seeing if you were hungry but I guess not. Good night."
Sam blinked and almost wanted to roll his eyes at her back. "Wait, Angie." When she turned around with a bland expression, he almost wanted to make a face. He seriously hated that look because he could never tell what she was thinking. It was like the ultimate poker face and it was just… he couldn't think of anything except bothersome. Taking a breath, he asked, "What do you have?"
"Don't be polite," Angela replied.
"I'm serious," Sam replied. He was a bit hungry and if he were being honest with himself, he just wanted things to be sort of normal at least between him and her. Also he felt a bit ashamed that Ruby had been by. "What do you have?"
"Chicken salad," Angela replied as she pulled the container out. "I got your favorite dressing… blue cheese." She wrinkled her nose a bit at the mentioning of blue cheese.
Sam couldn't help but twitch his lip in a smile. It was one of the few things that she didn't like. She couldn't stand it and once he asked her why. She said that it was like eating dirt but there was only one thing worse than blue cheese and dirt and that was rum raisin. The fact that she had gotten his favorite dressing meant that she was offering a peace gift even though he thought they had settled this with their previous conversation.
Finally giving a small smile, he ushered Angela to come in. He even encouraged her silently with his eyes when she hesitated at the threshold. He got the impression that she was just going to hand it off and then go to her room. He wanted her company though.
He took the bag and set it on the table before taking the proffered salad. He chuckled when she handed him the packet of blue cheese like it was one of Dean's two day old socks. "Glad to see your taste in food hasn't changed."
"It wouldn't," Angela replied. "I would rather eat chocolate covered grasshoppers than that." She pulled out the wrap she ordered and undid the end. She gave a tentative sniff and took a bite.
Sam made a show of putting on his dressing and enjoyed the look on her face as she chewed her food. "Well the last time you ate bugs, you scarfed down Dean's tacos like they were the last meal you ever had."
"Low on energy," Angela defended with a slight smile. She could smell the lingering smell of demon. There was only one demon that was allowed within five feet of Sam and while it made her blood boil, she was going to respect the decisions made by the boys. She ignored it. "Dhampirs have a healthy appetite."
Sam wished that were so in her case. He knew she had trained her body to eat lower than normal portions for her race. She had gotten thinner but compensated into more muscular limbs and her flexibility increased. She did eat more than he and Dean still but she went complete health guru, he noticed with the lean meats and occasionally having a burger with extra bacon. For the most part her caloric intake was like someone getting ready for a fitness run. He took a bite of his salad stuffing the greens in his mouth. After chewing he asked, "So did you find anything?"
"Just been hanging around magicians," Angela replied as she swallowed a bite. She made a slight smile and started chuckling.
"What?"
Angela slowly reached over and wiped the wayward bit of blue cheese from the side of his mouth with her thumb. She looked at it and wiped it on a napkin. She muttered, "I hope I don't need hot water and disinfectant."
"You're tougher than that," Sam replied. He was surprised she did that and the touch was gentle. He watched her twitched her nose and she picked up the tarot card and took a look at it.
Angela made a hum as she looked at it. The ten of swords; the karma card, as she called it, and one that she was wary of when she played. She murmured out loud, "Sudden and unexpected failure or disaster or a power beyond control that humbles one. Past misdeeds may be the source of trouble."
"You know tarot?"
"Who doesn't in this line of work?" Angela replied. She finished half of her wrap and folded up the rest. "It sort of makes sense now with Vance. It is the inevitable result of an abuse of power and in the end Vance was annihilated. It's why I call it the karma card."
"You…"
"I read them. They can give a bit of insight to things," Angela replied. She put the card down. "In this case, there is more tied to it. It is like it is literal but… I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders, not sure what to think. "The guy was a jerk."
"You sound awful glib about this," Sam commented.
"I'm not. I'm just not sure what to think." Angela turned to stare at the window deep in thought.
Sam was silent for a bit as he continued to eat. He was halfway through and decided to stop. He then asked, "Have you heard anything? From Cas?"
"About seals? No," Angela replied as she turned to look at Sam. "I'm not cued in to angel radio. Why?"
Sam shrugged his shoulders, "No reason, except… Ruby was here."
"Okay."
Sam frowned at that. He didn't want to beat a dead horse since he was certain that he knew what she was going to say. He just decided to continue, "She said that thirty-four seals have already been broken and that the angels are losing this war."
"And Lilith is behind it," Angela replied after nodding. She looked at Sam and noted his expression. She said, "I figured it would be Lilith or her closest minions helping her. She is the first. And I know you're game for hunting her. It's what I would do. I'm not going to lie about it."
"And my abilities?"
Angela looked at Sam. She wondered why he kept bringing it up. "You know my stand with Ruby but it is ultimately up to you. I am not one to judge on that account. Just remember: handle with care."
A/N: Looks like Angie has an in with Charlie and Vernon and Sam talks to Angie about what Ruby said. Keep watching for more Do You Believe in Magic?...
