Chapter 7: The Truth Comes Out

Venia does her best to avoid the Winchesters. Their communication is limited to meals and hunts. Venia thinks it would be simpler for the three of them if she locked herself into her hotel room and refused to come out.

Despite this, however, she knows she can't leave Sam and Dean to clean up her mess. This is not who she is. She can be a good person no matter who her father may be.

After about two weeks and four hunts of absolute silence, Sam and Dean have had enough.

"What are we going to do?" Sam asks desperately. "We can't keep doing this forever,"

"She's gotta talk sometime, might as well be tonight," Dean replies.

Sam gives his elder brother an incredulous stare. "And what, exactly, does that mean?"

"She likes you. Go and talk to her, see if she won't loosen up a bit."

"Why can't you-" Sam pleads.

"I'm going to the bar! Later," Dean calls, and then whispers to Sam, "Relax, the hardest part will be getting in."

Sam sighs, resigned. "I'll tell you how it goes."

Dean shoots a finger gun at Sam as he winks, "See you later, Sammy." The Impala rumbles to life outside, and Dean is gone.

Sam takes a deep breath as he heads for Venia's door.

"Venia?" he says, "Let me in, please?"

"No!" She answers through the door.

"Please?" Sam begs.

"Hmm… don't think so," she answers; Sam prepares himself for the worst-case scenario.

"Venia, if you don't let me in I will get the salt gun," Sam threatens.

"Nice try, Sammy. It's in the trunk," Venia quips.

"I have it with me, right here," Sam retorts.

"It can't kill me," Venia says.

"I'm aware," Sam says. "It'll still hurt like hell."

Venia slowly opens the door. "What do you want?"

Sam squeezes past her without invitation, earning himself an irritated glance.

"So, what are you doing?" Sam asks casually.

"Writing in my journal," Venia says, pointing to the book on her bed.

"I didn't know you had a journal." Sam states.

She shuts it, "Stop changing the subject. Why did you come in here?"

"I was worried about you. Ever since…Mosquito-Man… we haven't talked much, and I wanted to ask why-"

"Why what?" She snarls, immediately defensive.

"Why that demon just mentioning your father caused you to kill him," Sam says flatly.

Venia grips her old-style fountain pen tightly, but she doesn't reply.

Sam's tone and eyes soften. "Please, Venia? We just want answers."

Venia drops the pen on her bed and sits down, "Fine. It's a long story, though."

"I've got time. Just… tell me about you." Sam says, looking straight at her. "Start from the beginning."

As hard as it's going to be, Venia knows she has to come clean to Sam. It's important that he knows why they are being hunted down by Hell's minions, even if he can never understand.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know how to start. I-I can't describe what it's like to be so filled with darkness," Venia admits. "You can't understand what it's like."

"Actually," Sam states calmly, "I can."

Venia blinks. "What?"

"Dean was in hell because of me. I was alone for the first time in my entire life, and I was desperate. I didn't know what to do. A demon named Ruby came to me, and told me she knew how to destroy Lilith, the demon who killed Dean. I could do it. There was just one little roadblock- my humanity. I thought I was doing the right thing, and the world was nearly destroyed," Sam looks up at Venia, smiling sadly. "Dean eventually forgave me, but I will never forgive myself."

Venia stares, incredulous. "That's stupid, Sam. You didn't know!"

"Yes, I did," he says simply. "And so did you. You know you've made mistakes, or else you wouldn't be helping me and Dean."

After a long silence, Venia begins to speak. "I was nineteen years old. My father is the ruler of hell. I grew up learning that evil was right and good was wrong. I followed orders blindly, torturing desperate souls, never doubting what I was told until I met him.

Venia stops and looks at Sam, who is engrossed in her tale. He motions for her to continue.

"His name was Jonathan, and he told me about his life on Earth. He sold his soul for his only daughter, who was dying. He said those last ten years were the best of his life, because his daughter had a second chance to live. He never regretted his choice," Venia states. "Eventually, he made me start to think about my life. I wanted to change, prove that I could be as good a person as Jonathan. I helped him escape."

"What happened then? I mean, why weren't you with him when we found you?"

Venia's eyes sparkle with tears. "They killed him, Sam. After we escaped, my father sent demons after us, like he is now. They found our base and destroyed it, killing Jonathan in the process. He didn't stand a chance." She pauses to wipe her eyes.

"I don't want to be evil, Sam. I can't do that again. It'll kill me."

Sam puts an arm around her. "You're not evil, Venia. I've seen true evil, and you're definitely not."

"I hope you're right, Sam," Venia says, "For all of our sakes."

There is an awkward pause. Neither Sam nor Venia know quite what to say. There is nothing left to say.

Sam gives Venia a quick hug, which she returns with a grateful smile. They pull apart, arms still wrapped around each other. Venia looks up at Sam, who wordlessly tugs her closer to him. Their eyes meet, revealing the passion between them.

At long last, they kiss