Chapter 4

"That was wonderful my lovely. You truly have a gift beautiful Israfel."

Angela raised her brow at the Host in a warning. It wasn't like it would do any good since Sam knew more or less that Edgar Allen Poe wrote that poem about her. It was just the official publication had been changed and with great reluctance on the author's part. She blinked at the Host and replied, "Nothing more than a formal young lady's education designed to impress potential husbands."

The Host looked at her and took in her response looking affronted that she would belittle herself like that. "And yet you insist on degrading a gift that is as natural as breathing and your voice…" He hummed in appreciation.

"And it's what got me into the mess of knowing you."

"Do you have to be so mean?" The Host pouted knowing that it wasn't going to work with her. He grinned when he saw her reaction. "I know but in a way it ended being good for me. I did want to get to know you and I did."

"And it was disgusting on my end," Angela replied, not willing to recall the events that led to her even knowing the Host. It was not a thing that she was particularly proud of and certainly something that she was certain would have a negative effect on her companions. "So are you going to give me what I seek?"

The Host studied her as he listened to the music of one of his regulars. It was tolerable but it would never be like what she could do. And he knew that she would never really warm up to him and that was partially his fault and only because he had a secret that he kept close to the vest. Sighing he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "I can't give you a location but I can give you the name of someone who can help. Whether or not he will is up to you."

Angela blinked at him with a bland expression, settling on the one that annoyed Sam since she wasn't sure about what to feel or say. She knew that the Host gave what he could but there were times that he would give what he had because that was all he had. His kind were good at knowing things and secrets. It was what they did. Yet there was something about the way he was looking at her that was different from times before and it had her wondering as she reached out and took the slip of paper. She held it in her hands as she looked at him with a polite expression. "The bargain was for any information you can give me."

"True," the Host replied, taking in her expression. He had always liked the fact that she had a very interesting poker face. What some said was a tell was the bluff and sometimes the bluff was the tell; you never really knew unless you knew her. "And this is what I can give. It is all I know about what you seek."

"And it is more than you can do." Angela had said it without malice or sarcasm. It was acknowledgement of his duties and what he did to stay alive. "Better the devil you know than the one you don't huh?" She gave a saddened expression as she said that.

"If only you knew my lovely," the Host replied. He gave a somber smile that was nothing like the snarkiness that he was attributed with. It then turned into a genuine smile and he added, "Go and find your vision."

"Do you even care about who you give your information to?"

"I'm impartial."

Angela thought about it and hummed at that. She wasn't going to get into that since there was a whole logic about impartiality and other things. "Then there is nothing to stop you from giving the same information to the demons pursuing me?"

The Host shrugged, "Technically no but then again it is bad for business if I end up backstabbing clients." He then grinned and added, "But it is amusing to send the opposites in a race especially if they aren't worthy of the 'prize' at the end."

Angela shook her head at that much like a parent trying hard to be stern but getting close to laughter. "And you're just like some dicks with wings I know. They like to toy with people. Though I do admit there are a couple that deserve that kind of fate."

"You mean like what happened to those two hunters that killed you?"

Angela narrowed her eyes at the Host. "I'm not even going to go there since I know that you'll come back with something else to annoy me with. So I am going to take my purchase and go now. And may it be that we never cross paths again."

"Only if you really need something," the Host replied with a knowing grin. He knew that it wasn't the last time they would see each other. "And that will be when you feel all other avenues are exhausted. I know you my lovely."

"You think you do," Angela countered with a respectful smile. "Thank you."

The Host gave a nod to indicate that she could go. He did wait until she was almost out before saying, "Just one question."

Angela turned to look at the Host with a raised brow. She looked at him like he was going to turn into a toad. "What is it?"

"What do you intend to do after you find the vision?"

"What kind of question is that?"

The Host shrugged his shoulders like it was nothing. "Just something to think about." He then leaned forward and whispered, "As far as the secret you hold in your heart… I'm happy about that. Don't wait."

Angela blinked in surprise when she felt the Host kiss her cheek gently. She stared at him wide eyed as he stepped back before nodding. He then said, "You are free to stay the night. At least you won't be plagued by fighting. You know my rules."

Angela knew that he was being polite and there was a benefit to that offer. It would be foolish to leave without some sort of plan. "I do and as long as you don't try to incite a fight with the Winchesters, we'll stay."

"Just checking for worthiness. I don't believe all the stories I heard about those two." The Host merely grinned before he spotted the Winchesters approaching. He looked at her with a bigger grin, "And it is entertaining to find out which one will be the one to literally explode."

Angela narrowed her eyes and would have said something but the Host looked at the Winchesters and said, "I hope you enjoy your say for the night. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." He grinned before turning away to give what another client needed.

Angela shook her head more out of exasperation since she really didn't know what to do about the Host. She couldn't really kill him since he didn't hurt people. Yeah information could hurt but in the end he would argue that he gave information and that it was person that received it that chose to act the way they did. It was like talking to a slick lawyer and it was not always the best thing to get into in terms of arguments. She looked at the boys and said, "At least there will be no trouble if that bitch Lenya drops in."

There was no argument for that and not even Dean could complain about the accommodations the Host offered. He was the one most impressed by the soft mattresses that were offered and he dragged Haley into it leaving Angela to muse over it and study the name on the slip of paper. She knew that the Host wouldn't give her something unless it was something that would eventually be related to someone she knew or something she encountered; he liked pitting her against the past at times. It was his personal amusement and one she agreed to even though she didn't like it.

"Did he screw with you?"

Angela couldn't help but smile at Sam's question. Apart from asking if she was okay, he would ask if someone screwed with her after all the work she would do to get what she needed. She fingered the slip of paper and turned to look at him. "No, but I can't help want to laugh that you would ask that." At the look Sam gave her, she explained, "You usually ask me one of two questions: am I okay and if the bastard screwed with me or some variant."

Sam coughed at that knowing that it was true and flushed a little at that, "Yeah, I uh…"

"It's fine. I find it… normal," Angela replied as she searched for the correct word. It sounded weird but then again normal was relative in her world. "I'd be more concerned if you didn't ask."

"And you find that normal?"

Angela shrugged her shoulders and grinned, "Normal is subjective. Depends upon how you look at it."

"Who are you and what have you done with Angie?" Sam grinned to show that he was teasing her since she was like him in that she did crave what people considered normal.

"Same me," Angela replied smiling. She gestured at her person to make a point. "Just… I figured that normal is what you make of it; the job and everything. I mean I know I'm never really going to do the white picket fence thing with nosy assed neighbors since after thirty or so odd years it would look strange that I don't even get crow's feet."

Sam shrugged knowing that she was making a point. He didn't have to like it since he thought she was the most deserving of normal life. "Still could happen. Just live as normal as could be."

Angela couldn't help but give him a smile. It was sweet that he tried and it only said that he was serious about making a relationship work. Maybe it was a set up for a bad joke since the last two serious women in Sam's life one was a werewolf and the other was a demon; actually she didn't know about the latter but she could guess and thinking about it would have her break something and not with her hands. "Maybe," she acquiesced. She played with the slip of paper a bit. "To answer your question, he didn't screw with me. Just… I kind of was hoping for more."

"You mean like an actual location?"

"Yeah, but…" Angela frowned as she thought about it. She hummed and held up the slip of paper. "He only gives what he can."

Sam frowned at that. He wasn't exactly sure on what she was getting at but he knew enough that sometimes she talked things out when she was thinking about them. "Gives what he can?"

Angela looked up after realizing that she had been voicing her thoughts out loud. She noted the confusion on Sam's face and realized that eventually she was going to have to give up some secrets. She was in this game like the Host was. "It's what he is bound to do more or less. His kind are known for the information, secrets, espionage; they are that damned good. It's why they more or less are the guardians of the vaults like the Gauntlet. He is a bit more free but the giving what you can is a part of a curse. A penance of a sort."

"So being a total douche and making people do karaoke is a penance?"

"Put that way makes it seem like a venture capitalist." Angela cleared her throat after she said that since there were capitalists that were like that. "It's a penance and because he's not bound like the guy at the Gauntlet, he can more or less loosely interpret what it means."

"But does he have to make you so miserable?"

Angela looked at Sam for a moment. "That's what really bothers you, isn't it?"

"It's just that…" Sam wasn't sure if he wanted to get into that right now but if he brushed it off, it would make things worse. "You spend your time helping people and when you ask for help and you get an ass like the Host… It's not fair to you." He hoped that she would understand without having to pry what he really wanted to tell her but he could admit that he was a coward about it.

Angela had been around a long time and could pick up when someone was saying something but they meant something else or they meant more. She sensed that Sam had more he wanted to say but he as holding back for some reason. She looked at Sam and then played with the slip of paper before admitting, "The Host does what he does because I let him. And it was part of a bargain that I made long ago and it involved information I'd rather he keep."

Sam figured it was something like that since the Host said as much earlier. He wouldn't pry and it wasn't like she was trying to be malicious about it. It was just her protective nature in play. "Alright but… how far are you going to let it go?"

"Call it penance," she replied after a thought. She cleared her throat and opened the slip of paper. "At least we have someone to point us in the right direction."

Ya know ya could've just called and asked me about the vision, idjit.

Angela made a slight face that was laced with humor. Yeah she probably could've gone to the elder hunter but her not wanting to bother him tended to override the easy route. "I could but then you wouldn't have had as much fun scolding me."

I'd still scold ya.

Angela couldn't help but chuckle at that. She knew that it was Bobby's way of telling her he cared about her. "Alright you made your point, Bobby. I could've just asked you since you did the research on the twins. I guess I just like to punish myself."

Idjit.

Angela hummed as she turned to look at the twins as they sat facing each other each reading a book… at least that was what she thought it was. Sam and Dean were out procuring funds and Haley went with them to be a distraction in that endeavor. She didn't mind looking after the twins and it was her duty as one of Shiva's guard to ensure that they were safe until they received their vision. She turned to look out the window and said, "I know I should have gone to you but… I didn't want to bother you and…"

Oh don't get all dewy eyed with me. You know you can come to me.

"I know. And I'm sorry." Angela listened to the noise on the other end and hummed in response. She knew that Bobby wasn't completely upset with her. She would have to make it up to him soon. Maybe after this was over. She smiled to herself before asking, "So… do you know anything about the name I gave you?"

Yeah. So happens I do and he's not too far from me. Knew him back in the day and he wasn't as much a pain in the ass as Rufus is. Must be because he's into the whole life is suffering mumbo jumbo.

"Why doesn't that surprise me? I should have known that new agey talk was a dead giveaway." She made a gestured to over exaggerate her point even though he couldn't see her. "Everybody knows Bobby."

Smartass. Now I know Paul but he's not quick to welcome newcomers. So long and short of it is that you get yer asses over here and I'll introduce ya. And don't think that you can take a shortcut and do it yourself. Paul is the kind to shoot first and ask questions later and usually with an arsenal. That's why I'm going with you.

"Alright," Angela said with a smile, "I'll let Sam and Dean know when they get back."

There were a few choice words from Bobby before he hung up and Angela smiled as she closed her phone. She held it in her hand for a moment before putting it in her pocket. She turned to see the twins engrossed in their reading and frowned since the covers looked pretty worn. She approached the bed they were sitting on and asked, "What are you two reading that is so interesting?" Peering over Nasatya's shoulder, she read the first few lines and then looked at them.

"Sam gave them to us," Nasatya replied to the unasked question.

"We asked Sam for the books," Dasra entered to explain what the truth was so that blame would be equal. "We expressed a desire to read what you do, Angie."

"And I hardly think learning about the things I have chased and hunted over the years is appropriate," Angela countered as she sat between the boys on the edge of the bed and looked at them.

"If it makes you feel any better," Nasatya replied with a slight smirk on his face, "Sam said the same thing."

"He actually said that he didn't have anything appropriate for us to read," Dasra corrected as he turned the page. He read a few lines before continuing, "But we said that it was okay. We had seen it before."

Angela looked at them a bit thoughtfully. She wondered if they did remember anything of their former lives. Sometimes a reincarnated person did and when you had been reincarnated enough times, you were considered an old soul especially if you retained your memories. That was what she knew about the whole thing. She had seen the twins in their previous incarnation so it wasn't that far of a stretch if they did remember. "And Sam thought that was adequate enough to let you read these?"

Dasra looked up at her and shrugged, "We made our point."

"You mean you made your point when you told him the specifics involved in curing lycanthropy as well as means of easing it so they don't go on a killing rampage." Nasatya shot a look at his brother and shook his head though he had been amused by the whole thing. "Though maybe you should have picked something more useful like how to keep a spirit from attacking you; he seemed a little stunned and… bothered by that."

"It was something that would make a difference. I didn't know," Dasra countered in an almost whining tone.

Angela blinked as she heard that and turned away. Like that would have gone away so easily. Deliberate wrecking there and she thought it was a good idea at the time. Still did on occasion. She looked at her hands while she listened to the brothers bicker back and forth. She was used to Sam and Dean doing it and it sounded similar so there was no need to really listen unless it was serious. Was it right to even tell Sam she was interested after everything she had done?

"Are you alright, Angie?"

"Did we…?"

Angela turned her attention to the twins. They had put their books aside and were looking at her with wide eyed expressions. They looked like they were scared they did something wrong. No doubt they were remembering when she pushed back on them and in a way that was a warning. She shook her head and smiled, "It's alright. Just an old job came to mind."

"Yeah right," Nasatya countered, "You reacted the same way Sam did."

"Nasa!" Dasra hissed at his brother since it was clear that it was territory that was best left alone.

Angela stared bemusedly at Nasatya. That twin was very much like Dean in that he told it like it was and would call you out on bullshit. Not lately though but the fundamentals were there. It reminded her of when she met his previous incarnation. Very similar and yet there were some differences. Karma was funny in that regard. "Old memories."

"And we're sorry," Dasra was quick to apologize, "We were bored and we want to help. You already have done much along with your friends to keep us safe and help us get our vision…"

Angela merely smiled and ruffled Dasra's hair. "Don't worry about it. I find it unfair that you have to get it so early and there should be a rite to it." She sighed as she looked around at the motel room they had procured. She didn't blame Dean for wanting to move out after one night at the Host's place. At least they were heading back towards Bobby and Sioux Falls. That was a good thing since now she knew that they would need the grizzled hunter's help.

"It would have happened anyway," Nasatya replied with a shrug, relieved that he hadn't don't' anything to hurt her feelings. "It's who we are and what we do."

"And I'm a believer that children should be children," Angela countered as she eyed the elder twin. "Though sometimes adults can have a little fun too."

"I don't think the way Dean teases Sam is fun," Dasra pointed out. "And it's asking for trouble if it's you. You hit hard."

"So you do remember a bit from your previous life," Angela said with a grin like the cat that caught the canary. She looked at the boys and started laughing when they started squirming at the fact that they had been caught. "The desire to read these gave it away." She gestured at the books on the bed. "Decided it was too tiring to pretend you knew nothing?"

"Uh…"

Angela laughed at the twins. It was much like watching Sam and Dean when they were caught in an embarrassing situation like the barging in on a high and drunk Santa or the fact that she would willingly hug a Cupid, a naked Cupid. It was funny. "It's alright, you two. I'm just surprised that you haven't picked up the art of teasing. Considering that apart from what you did…"

"You remember us?"

"Curse of longevity," she deadpanned, "And cursed to meet the most interesting people. Some are assholes, bastards and some are okay."

"We sort of remember. You were actually our first memory," Dasra said, "We kept it a secret since we weren't sure and when our mom died…"

"We didn't even trust our guardian until Banwari came along," Nasatya finished.

"Understandable."

It really was and Angela didn't want them to feel uncomfortable. She looked at the books and studied it. She realized that they weren't exactly reading lore on a thing but… "So you are reading on reincarnation?"

"Sam said it was better than what we had."

Angela hummed at that. Their parenting skills weren't exactly the kind to exhibit in the parenting magazines but it was… "Probably is. Do you know the story of Siddhartha?"

The twins shook their heads. They did recognize storytelling when it was presented to them and the moved to a better position and give their full attention to her. Angela smiled at their rapt attention as she began to tell the story of the Buddha and then moved into the belief of reincarnation and karma. It held their attention until Sam, Dean and Haley came back with their pockets considerably heavier and she broke the news of what to do next.

A/N: The Host helps them out as best as he can and it seems he has a heart of some sort. The twins reveal that they do know more than they are showing and Angie just takes it in a stride. Stay tuned for more Vision of the Horse Lords...