Chapter 8
Angela stood in her place in the shadows surveying the area around the house that Bobby's locator pinpointed as the house Lilith was in. Bobby was in the house they squatted in taking a look around too along with the boys. Cerebus was doing guard duty on Dean and there was no changing that fact. She stood still and didn't bat an eye as she took in the demons Lilith surrounded herself with while she was having fun.
She probably could have gotten closer but she made a vague promise not to take unnecessary risks. Besides this was Lilith they were talking about. The bitch probably had other means of detecting who was in the place. There was a whole tin of possibilities; much like what her unexpected caller said.
Angela felt the buzz of her cell phone. Not wanting to be too obvious, she pulled out her hands free set and turned it on. "This is Angela."
The voice on the other end surprised her. "Cat?"
Angela turned away and began talking in a low voice, "Gabe, how did you get this number?"
"I have my ways Cat. Listen I don't have much time so just listen okay?"
Angela gave a soft smile. For years she had hoped that Gabriel would reach out to her. The one time he did when she was near dying she sort of didn't count since that was in a state of near dead. She was looking more into the physical realm. She replied, "You know I would listen to you."
There was a slight sound at the other end. Then it was followed with, "Cat, I know that you intend to save Dean by going for the contract. I'm asking you not to go through it."
Angela listened to what Gabriel was saying. What she couldn't figure out was how he figured out about that. Crowley wouldn't blab about that since it was in his best interest since he expressed an interest in Lilith being ganked even though he started begging her not to go through with it even though he taught everything she needed to know. She still had the damned manual. She asked the simplest question to ask, "Why?"
"Cat, there is the small possibility that you doing this could be considered welching. I know you don't like putting people in unnecessary danger so just consider the possibility that Lilith rigged the thing to set you up." There was a pause and the tone of voice changed. "I am guessing that Lilith may have set you up. I'm not going to go into the reasons that made things the way they are but… there is a possibility that she would want you broken before she has her way with you."
Angela was silent for a moment. She ran through a bunch of thoughts. She hadn't considered that possibility before. Even if Dean agreed to her bringing Lilith to them, her initial plan could be considered a failure. There was also the chance that it was a ruse. She replied, "Cite your source."
"The grapevine."
Angela made a slight sound with her throat. That could mean that it was true or it was a fake or a half-truth. She knew that since she did start a few of those stories. "You know that is like citing Wikipedia."
"Wiki-what?"
"Never mind. Gabe, how accurate is this or is this just concern?"
The sigh on the other end told her much. Then came the reply, "I know the person who told me but given our history, I know that he has a tendency to manipulate the situation to his liking. So maybe there is some truth to the whole thing. I'm not going to tell you what to do but I ask that you don't try it. I don't want to see you hurt again."
Angela knew that Gabriel never said anything like that unless the situation could be potentially that bad. He may or may not be sure on his sources but when he expressed concern, she knew to listen to it. Lilith may have set the whole thing up to lure them in or she may really be on shore leave and having fun.
From her position, Angela could see into the house. She could tell that the little girl was Lilith. It was a little hint that a little birdie in a cage told her. It was one of a thousand little hints given before today that seemed to be convenient from the delivery standpoint.
Angela was getting another bucket of ice from the bin outside. They were about a day away from the safe house they agreed to meet Bobby at and go over the plan. They had a minor run in with a couple of guys that decided that Sam and Dean were just plain pain in their asses. So she was dealing with a slightly bruised cheek, a fat lip and bruised torsos along with a few open cuts and she was sporting a couple of sore hands which was why she was outside with two ice buckets; one from her room and one from the boys.
The lights flickered and she could hear the electricity buzz as the bulbs flickered. Angela put the buckets on top of the bin and sighed. She wasn't in the mood. She gave a wry expression as she turned and said, "You know there are other ways of getting my attention like a phone call. What do you want Ruby?"
Ruby stood there with her arms crossed with the usual sour expression on her face, "And if I called you, there was the chance that your boy toys would overhear and this I would rather tell you since you know more or less what to expect."
"Nice to see you have confidence in me even though you think I'm being a dumbass," Angela replied.
Ruby scoffed at that, "Yeah you are because you are going in but not with the whole arsenal. Going in halfcocked like the two numbskulls you travel with. You would think you would have learned after the last time."
"Well I learned that I need to focus in order to not to kill myself while tapping in."
"This isn't funny. You're about to go up against the baddest bitch that you've ever faced. Tiamat was nothing." Ruby took a few steps forward to close the distance between them. Her eyes were blazing with annoyance and anger. "Lilith will use those moral qualities you like to live by."
"I figure that since you do the same. That is pretty much in your job description." Angela crossed her arms as she stared at the demon. "So far you've given me the general details along with scolding about what I'm planning to do."
"Look I gave you that hint about getting the deal for yourself because I thought you would have the balls to tap into that power you keep buried. You made it show when you went after Azazel."
"Emotions are pretty strong. Can't guarantee that it will happen again."
Ruby narrowed her eyes as she studied Angela. It then dawned on her, "You don't know how, do you?" No answer was needed as Ruby turned into her sour bitchiest. "That's just great. So you really are going in halfcocked."
"I intend to go in smart. Just because I don't know one thing doesn't mean that I let it cripple me. I work with it."
"And you're going to get yourself killed before you even get close."
"I do it my way and if all else fails, there is a backup plan," Angela replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
"And that is why you're going to lose," Ruby retorted. "I want Lilith dead but not at the cost of one of the most valuable weapons available. I can't watch you do this."
"You said that before. There is always a chance."
Ruby had started walking away. She paused and turned to look back in thought about something. She then said, "Lilith prefers to occupy little girls. It's all part of her psyche. If you want to be sure, use those eyes of yours really good."
Angela couldn't really tell Dean that she could see demons if she tried to. Cerebus and hellhounds were cakewalk simply because for some weird reason they were the same thing as spirits and reapers and she didn't understand that scientific babble. Demons were a different story.
It was easier with Dean piercing the veil since he was connected to her in some way. It was sort of like when she laid her plan to get back into her body. It was that whole everything is connected on some level or another; she once dubbed it the six degrees of supernatural much to everyone's amusement or displeasure at the time.
Of course there were some things that she couldn't see. Like she told Sam and Dean, she couldn't see auras but Augie sure could. Angela remembered when the girl first discovered it after they started training and she managed to quell some of the anger that the girl had towards her situation. Of course the slap to the face helped quite a bit.
Those led to thoughts about her discussion with Dean and her mentioning that he could chest death by becoming a vamp. She had told the truth that he and more likely Sam would be like Augie. They would be human for the most part and able to blend in a lot better than full blooded vampires. They would have the same reflexes she had and the upside was that they wouldn't sprout fangs like she did nor would they get that weird glowing thing with their eyes. They would need to drink blood though if they were seriously injured. That she wasn't too thrilled with and Dean understood that which was why he said he wasn't even going to consider it though she suspected that Sam knew a little about it since he was an academic.
Angela knew she was being selfish when she made Augie into someone like her. It was the truth that she wasn't ready to let go and it was true that she raised the girl into what she was. Angela knew that she was a doomed creature and her interactions with humans always led to some disaster or another and for her to take in a human girl like she did… It was one of those moments and probably one of weakness.
She had become attached to Augie and even though she didn't really show any outward signs of affection apart from approval when the girl succeeded in a training exercise, she did become attached. When that one mission went wrong and she was in danger of losing Augie for good, she became like Dean and did the desperate act. Now Augie was cursed to live the rest of her days like a dhampir. Augie though never expressed regret or anger about it but rather seemed happy that she could spend a longer time with her.
Cat you touch people whether you want to or not. The generosity that is as natural as breathing… it's all you and people can't help but admire how hard you try.
Angela gave a slight smile as she remembered that. Gabriel was always one to be brutally honest about things and it came out nice and sweet. One would think that he did that all the time but she knew the snarky messenger of God well. At least the parts he showed to her.
There were several demons surrounding the place. It was as to be expected. Lilith was traveling with the bodyguards so she could have her fun. For this she didn't have to see. She could smell them and she had observed humans for years. She knew certain tendencies that usually went along with certain job descriptions like the postman. She didn't doubt that Dean could see them either.
The last time she was going up a nest of demons was… well the first time that she died. It was before she learned a few things about herself. It was also the last time that she had seen her father alive. That was also the time when Gabriel thought he lost her too and that was the first time she saw how the angel felt about her.
The night was young but there was excitement in the air. Angela was thrilled that they were going on a major hunt. Father said that it was a demon and they were going to exorcise it. Apparently it was responsible for the string of murders that had begun appearing throughout the city of Rome with a majority just outside the Vatican. Whether it was a coincidence or not, Angela, then known as Catalina, wasn't going to argue; she would follow Father's lead and maybe Gabe would join them.
The infiltration was easy; it was WAY too easy. The reason for that was because it was a nest of demons. She and Father were outnumbered and were restrained. At least they didn't use anything that would cause a burning sensation like that stuff Father mentioned. Still there were going to be rope burns from the whole thing.
It seemed to amuse the demons greatly that she and her father were vampires, well she was a half vampire and they were hunting things like her and Father. She didn't find it strange. Father had been turned against his will and yet he went against the killer nature and channeled it to helping others. After that, it seemed that maybe God forgave him or something because here she was and Father was doing what she was doing.
Gabe managed to get them out by creating a distraction. They had to fight their way out and they ended up being separated from each other. Angela took the exit that led her round the narrow streets. She was rather turned around and for the first time she felt lost. She had no idea what to do since she didn't have a plan but she knew how to fight.
That came in handy when she took on a demon and by herself did the exorcism rite. It worked like it was supposed to do and it was a bit of a shock when she saw it working. It was an encouragement as she worked her way back to Father. The last demon she didn't see until it was too late and she felt the white hot pain pierce her lower back.
Angela had to wonder if it was coincidence or fate or whatever the usual mumbo jumbo that had it be that she and Sam had died in a similar fashion. She remembered how Sam described the sensation and as he did, she could feel the phantom pain too. Would it be a surprise to know that they were stabbed in a similar location?
It sounded creepy in her mind when she took the time to think about it that she and Sam both had their spines severed. She could chalk it up to coincidence since the demon that killed her died by her hand later and it wasn't Azazel. Of course there was the possibility that demons talked but that kind of thinking could drive a person crazy. Still she couldn't help but wonder if it was a punishment or cruel reminder of sorts the penalties for messing with life and death without the proper respect. The situation was vastly similar except her father died like John Winchester.
You know more about things that are dead should stay dead, my pretty. However I'm not one for someone like your friend here to sweeten the pot. A life for a life is how it goes, isn't that right?
Angela felt her lip twitch at the memory of Azazel mocking her when John made the deal with the devil to bring Dean back. It made her wonder for a time if he really knew the circumstances about her being there when she should have been a corpse long gone. It was either a blessing or torture that John didn't ask her about it.
But he had confidence that I would be able to look after his boys. And look how that turned out. I couldn't save Sam so Dean gave up his soul and now I don't know if I could save him because of the possibility that Lilith already altered the damn thing.
Maybe Crowley knew that all along and was just humoring her when she demanded that he teach her all about deals. She wouldn't put it past him to do something like that. Manipulation and deception is kind of in the job description. Though it did make her feel like a fool that she didn't anticipate the whole thing.
Ever since she died and come back and she was on her own, she had to learn new things that her father probably would have taught her but then she had to learn on her own. It was trial and error and looking back, Angela figured that Gabriel put up with a lot of crap from her. Yet he stayed with her until that falling out. They both said things that they regretted and she forgave him once the heat of the moment was over but he didn't feel the same.
Seeing him in the spirit realm or whatever it was called and then hearing his voice on the phone… she had to hope that he was at least beginning to forgive her a little. The thing though that led to that was not something like arguing over who used whoever razor kind of thing to shave; it was more of the whole world in the balance kind of thing. Looking at it now, Angela knew that Gabriel was trying to protect her from it all.
Life really was complicated. She was rather envious of the humans who had the blinders on. They didn't have to see what she saw every damn day and make those decisions that could affect the balance and all that fancy hoopla. They didn't have to be the ones that denied personal desires for the sake of others. It wore her down at times as she kept reminding herself to not get too attached otherwise bad things happened. Of course it didn't work out that way.
Augie, she cursed to a dhampir life. Mary died because of her and so did John. Jessica died. Ash died. Sam died and now Dean was going to die. It was a curse Angela inwardly told herself. Everything good that came her way became cursed the moment she touched it and let her guard down. She should have learned that lesson by now but it was as Gabriel said, it was a part of her. She just couldn't help it and now she was being backed into a corner again.
Angela watched as the girl Lilith was wearing to the prom looked at the three terrified adults at the table. And people said that Lizzie Borden was bad. Well they had no idea that a hell bitch was riding her ass and the girl was also a nut job anyway. There was just something about a child being that sadistic and cruel that had a body want to shiver.
She hadn't felt that feeling in a long time. To feel the chills betrayed how anxious she really was about this plan or what they had to come up with since it seemed that Lilith made the place a regular Fort Knox. It was that kind of chill that made you want to act but had to work at it to make sure that your partners didn't freak out since when the whole group was too nervous then mistakes could be made and then… the shit would hit the fan. However, Sam was right to mention when they were at the Morton House that without fear, you could become cold or something like that.
Angela moved silently through the shadows as she surveyed the house areas. She noted the access points that weren't being watched as much like the front door. Sam and Dean had the hex bags so Lilith wouldn't know they were there until they were actually in the house. Her bonus was that she had her tattoo.
She gave the details to Sam about it after he took a good look at it. She could remember how it felt when he traced the pattern of it. It sent a shiver but the good kind of shiver up her spine and it took all the control she could muster to not let it show. She had a thing about people touching her in places that the cheesy sex and romance novels described as intimate places and not the glaringly obvious ones. It sparked a bad reaction but when Sam touched her, it was different.
Angela shook her head free of those thoughts as she moved just a little bit closer and studied Mr. Rogers next door. She couldn't smell him but she was willing to bet that he was a demon. She felt sorry for these people whose lives were ruined by being possessed. Even if she could perform a quick exorcism, there was always the chance that the meat suit would not be alive.
Demons were known for riding their meat hard, so hard that the original owner died. It usually was easy to spot when the meat suit was dead and when there was still a person inside of them. Sometimes time was of the essence. For instance when they were being sieged by the demons in Monument, they hadn't been possessed for a while with the exception of the deputy that had been killed before hand; the one that got away and warned Lilith of what happened. The people that didn't get ganked were fine… until Lilith showed up of course.
Angela used her fists, resisting the urge to pull out her knife, Absolution and chakram. After all they were still people and if there was a chance to save them, she was all for it. Dean's plan of letting them in and locking them in with salt… it probably wasn't the best plan in the book but it sure was one that was in line with her philosophy.
Demons hit hard and she could hit back. It actually felt good to just use bare muscle and not a blade. She had refused a shotgun much to Sam and Dean's surprise. Victor looked at her with a raised brow as she helped divvy up the rounds so everyone had more or less the same amount to use. Of course it was a matter of getting the damn thing loaded in the middle of a fight.
The leader of the soiree was persistent with the whole pinning on the wall thing. She got Sam and Dean on the first try. Angela was aware that she looked ridiculous standing between the boys and a bunch of demons that surrounded them on three sides. The fact that she didn't go back was startling to them. She couldn't help but smirk slightly.
"Impossible."
"Nice fluke," Angela replied.
She continued to fight until she was finally pinned. The demon was physically holding her against the wall. She said her piece and looked at Angela. "You are a hard one to track."
Angela couldn't help it, "Well maybe the mojo just doesn't cut it."
There were some more comments until Sam's voice came over the PA system reciting the incantation for the exorcism. It allowed Angela to get free and with a quick glance, she had Sam and Dean released. The demons were exorcised and the people were fine after the giant cloud of black smoke disappeared.
The element of surprise was a constant. The demons couldn't track her because of her tattoo and she couldn't be possessed by them unless she allowed it. Distinct advantages for her…
Angela finished her scouting and made her way back to the house that they holed up in. No doubt Bobby was being the ever watchful eye of the whole thing. She had teased him into a dare of trying to locate her while she did her scouting and he groused at her. Probably it wasn't a good time with humor but they needed to understand that they needed every advantage they could get.
Ruby was right in using everything at your disposal but Angela made the lines that couldn't be crossed and of course the boys and Bobby had their lines too. A road could be paved with good intentions but sometimes the ends just didn't justify the means. Angela had been through that before and the end results were as they were.
It still nagged though about her plan A. Under hypotheticals she would have seen it as a challenge. It would be just another regular game of chess. She had to give kudos for a game that taught her more about being a hunter. She gave a slight smile as she crept into the house.
A/N: Angela muses some more about her thoughts as she studies the house to plan the attack. Stay tuned for more on No Rest for the Weary...
