(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the following story and the characters of Finn, Caleb and Gabe belong to me)
Through the Never.
Chapter Nine.
Caleb stood up quickly; his heart beating furiously in his chest. His Daddy had yelled 'NO' but he didn't understand what that meant! Did it mean he wasn't supposed to listen to the bad man? He didn't know…and his Mamma had said he had listen to the man. He wrung his hands; he didn't know what to do! He'd seen the fear in his father's eyes; had heard it in his voice. His Daddy was scared; and that only confused him more because his Daddy wasn't scared of anything. The only time he'd seen fear like that in his fathers eyes was when he was in danger. His Daddy was scared for him. And that meant that he was in danger; danger from the bad man.
He looked up as the hulking man towered over him and he tried not to be scared; tried really hard…but… he was scared. This man had so much hate in him and Caleb felt every ounce of it. There was a darkness so black in him; it was a like another person lived inside the man; a person that was nothing but shadows and hate. A hate so deep and so strong it hung like a cold shroud around the man. He couldn't help himself; he took a step back, his fear overriding everything else.
Abiel looked at the boy in front of him; smiling as he watched the little bastard's eyes skitter about the room as he tried to control his fear. He laughed inwardly; he was slowly breaking the boy down. It had been harder than he thought it would be. The boy had an innate sense of …goodness …in him; a strong sense of right and wrong and his ties to his mother and father were more powerful than he'd realised. And that had made him hate the boy even more. He'd never felt that from either of his sons. His sons had respected him; but it was a respect borne out of fear. They had obeyed him without question but there wasn't the link he'd felt between this boy and his parents. He smiled again; it would be that link he would use to destroy whatever illusions the boy had about them. He would use the boys love for his mother and father against him.
He grabbed the boys shoulder as he stepped away fearfully "Stand your ground!" he ordered; smiling inwardly as the boy stopped immediately. "Raise your eyes to me!"
Caleb raised his head; lifting his frightened eyes to the man "Y-y-yes?" he whispered. The unexpected backhand knocked him to the floor.
"You will not speak unless I ask a question! Is that understood?" Abiel intoned angrily.
Caleb wiped at the blood from his split lip as he got to his feet "Yes" he said as he stood in front of the man.
"Now we begin your first lesson" said Abiel. He stared hard at the boy "What is your name?"
"Caleb Winchester"
Abiel backhanded the boy again "Wrong answer" he yanked the boy to his feet "What is your name?"
Caleb stared into the man's pulsing red eyes "Caleb Winchester" he said defiantly. He got to his feet on his own this time and glared at the man "My name is Caleb! Jacobs! Winchester!"
Abiel knocked him to the ground again and crouched near him "It's going to be a long day, boy" he smiled.
Caleb nodded and got to his feet; he knew what he had to do. He raised his head and looked into those hateful eyes; he would listen to his Daddy "My name is Caleb Winchester" and he readied for his next beating.
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Dean, Finn, Sam, Gabe and Bobby formed a circle; their backs to each other, their swords drawn as they faced off the palace guards that had now drawn their swords and were moving steadily towards them.
Dean kept his furious eyes on the Emperor; the man had deliberately granted them passage for no other reason than to kill them. Anger seared through him; raging through his veins and igniting a vengeance that would not be denied. This asshole was standing between him and his son; he wanted to kill Finn and Sammy and he wanted to take Larten Vola as his own. Well not on his watch.
The Emperor laughed at them "Put down your weapons. You are surrounded and held within a fortified city" he walked slowly down the steps towards Dean; his purple robes flowing behind him "There will be no escape for you"
Dean smiled "Escape? What makes you think we need to escape?" he grinned "Kill all of you and walk out of your shitty city, yes. Escape? Hardly"
The Emperor glared at Dean "I know what you are, Slayer! You are not a true Ancient. You carry the blood of a …mortal" he spat "If you rule the Ancients then they are doomed"
Dean smiled "If you know who I am then you know you don't stand a chance against me" he grinned "Is that why you studied me? To learn from the best?" he laughed "'Cause seriously, dude. If that's the best you've got" he pointed to the General "You really are screwed"
The Emperor roared in indignant fury; his golden eyes blazing "I will kill you and take your bitch as my whore!"
"Fuck you, arsehole!" yelled Finn "I have standards!"
"You go near her and I will tear your heart out with my bare hands" Dean menaced "And before you start getting all self-righteous on my ass…" he motioned with his head and grinned as Peluda, Raja and Ankou rose slowly; appearing like ghostly warriors outside the windows "You might want to rethink your position"
The Emperor returned the grin "And you may want to rethink yours" he said and pointed.
Dean glanced out the window and saw the parapets lined with archers and the trebuchets loaded and aimed towards them. He turned back to the Emperor "You think that's going to stop us?" laughed Dean "Then you don't know me at all" he grinned "PELUDA!"
Peluda opened his jaws wide; the roar the dragon issued shattering the windows and showering those inside with glass. The women that had been lounging languidly near the thrown; smug smiles on their faces, now screamed in fear as they scurried behind the throne. The guards that had ducked as the windows sprayed inwards now ran forward; their mouths drawn down in sneers, their ruby eyes filled with fury. The General moved quickly, putting himself between Dean and his Emperor; his swords at the ready.
"PELUDA THE TREBUCHETS!" Dean yelled as he heard the sound of incoming arrows spearing through the air. He drew his other sword and attacked; the sound of swords clashing at his back and the shrieks, howls and roars of the guardians from outside confirming this was a fight to the death.
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Caleb blinked slowly as his eyes tried to adjust to the light; his lashes sticking together from the now dried blood that had run from the gash to his forehead. He took a shuddering breath; pain ripping along his right side. He raised his fingers to his side and felt along his ribs; he wasn't sure but he guessed one or maybe two were broken. He pushed himself into a sitting position and put wary fingers to his face. His bottom lip was split and swollen, as was his right cheek. He put his fingers gingerly to the cut on his forehead; unwittingly opening it again.
He sighed heavily and got slowly to his feet; limping over to the bucket in the corner of his room. He crouched over it and splashed the tepid water over his face; wincing as it stung his cut. He pulled his shirt off and cleaned his face as best he could before putting the shirt in the bucket and washing it.
He took it over to the small window and hung it out as he looked into the dark sapphire sky. The indigo sun was sitting low in the heavens, so he guessed he'd been unconscious for a few hours at least. He rested his chin on his hands as he stared through the bars; watching as the wolf-birds soared through the air, looking for their afternoon meal. The cries of their victims cut short as they were flown away to be feasted upon. There was nothing but death and destruction outside these walls; and nothing but pain and torture within.
He closed his eyes, squeezing them shut and ignoring the pain doing so, brought him. He just wanted to go home. He didn't want to go to the Palace, he didn't want to live with his Uncle Gideon or his Uncle Sam or his Uncle Gabe. He wanted to go home; to the place he was born. He wanted to be in his dragon-filled bedroom where his Mamma had woken him with a hug every morning and tucked him in with a hug every night. Where she'd told him stories about his Daddy and how much like him he was. Who always had a smile for him and never got angry, no matter what he did. Where he'd always felt safe, always felt wanted, always felt loved.
But his Mamma was dead. He would never see her smile again; never feel her arms around him and never hear her tell him she loved him. She'd left him. She said she never would but she had. And so had his Daddy. They were never coming back. He was stuck in this bad place and he was never getting out. Never! Never! Never! He squeezed his hands into tiny fists as his anger overwhelmed him. It was all their fault!
It was their fault he was here! His Mamma had killed one of the bad man's boys and his Daddy had killed the other. That was why he was here! Because of something his Mamma and Daddy had done! He'd done everything his Mamma had told him and he was being punished! And he'd listened to his Daddy and he'd paid the price!
He opened his mouth and let loose a rage-filled scream that reverberated round the landscape; a scream borne out of despair and helplessness that echoed back to him and reached the ears of the two people he thought had betrayed him.
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Dean swung his swords left over right as he drove the General back. He knew how the man worked and his swords began to glow as the memory of their last battle came alive in them. He swung right; decapitating a guard that ran towards him as he blocked a strike from the General. He swung his sword up, slicing the man up the face then bringing the sword down quickly and completing the strike he'd made earlier as he finished the amputation; the Generals arm falling with a wet thud as it hit the golden stone floor. The General's angry, pain-filled roar cut short as his head fell from his shoulders. He smiled as two guards ran towards him and he swung his swords as he advanced on them.
Sam drove his sword through one guard's chest as he decapitated another; the blood from both men spattering his clothes as turned to another that leapt at him. He crossed his swords; blocking the strike and pushed the man back and into the outstretched talons of Ankou. The phoenix ripping the man in two as Sam turned back to battle. He looked over and saw Bobby get sliced along his arm and ran over to help him; cutting a guards sword-bearing arm off as it made another strike at his friend. They had to end this quickly before reinforcements arrived…they had to kill the Emperor.
Finn fought with a rage she hadn't felt in a long time. Each person that raised a sword to her, stood between her and her son and none of them would be spared. She fought without mercy as she swung her swords; each strike made with perfect precision. She chanced a glance out the windows when she heard the sound of thousands of feet marching double-time towards the palace. She was about to send out a call to Raja when she heard him in her head…
They are ten thousand strong, Griffin. Peluda has taken out the trebuchets and I have removed the archers. You must end this before an all out offensive is launched.
"Dean!" Finn yelled.
"Peluda told me! He'll take them out!" he yelled as he sliced a guard in half "I'm going after that asshole!" and he ran up the stairs and behind the throne, darting through a door he'd seen the Emperor flee through.
"NO DEAN!" Finn yelled as he ran off.
"Ankou! Find Dean!" Sam yelled and the phoenix shrieked and flew out the palace window. He turned as the doors to the room burst open. The reinforcements had arrived.
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Dean ran down brightly lit hallways; killing anyone that stood in his way. He figured he was going the right way as the amount of guards increased the further he went. He raced round another corner; hacking at a guard that stepped out of a room on his left and saw the purple robes of the fleeing Emperor whisper around a corner at the end of the hallway.
His boots echoed loudly on the stone floor and he ducked instinctively as he turned the corner; ramming his sword into the chest of one guard as he cut the head from another. He ran to the only door at the end of the hallway; a solid gold door inlaid with magnificent jewels that sparkled in the light that filtered through a window on his right.
He turned when he heard a shriek and saw Ankou hovering at the window.
He is in the room, Slayer but it would be unwise to kill him.
"That asshole killed the emissaries and he was gonna kill us, Ankou!" raged Dean.
I understand, Slayer. But a prisoner is a far greater bargaining tool than a body. Think carefully, Slayer.
And the phoenix was gone. Its place was with Sam, not him. Dean stared at the door; he didn't try the handle, he knew it'd be locked. He grinned; mojo time. He re-sheathed one of his swords and went to the door; he placed his hand on it and whispered quietly. Finn had taught him a lot of magic but most of it had just…come to him. He had an awareness of what he could do and once he'd accepted that; the knowledge had risen in him the same way the Ancient in him had risen.
He stepped back "Argen!" he yelled and the doors flew open; slamming back against the walls of the room. He smiled at the six guards in front of him and drew his other sword as he stepped into the room "Disen!" he yelled and the door slammed shut behind him.
He swung his swords as he grinned at the men "Swords or magic?" he asked "Your choice" he saw the guards hesitate and he swung quickly; killing two guards in a matter of seconds. He turned to the remaining four "I don't like being kept waiting" and he leapt towards them; his swords singing through the air as he made short work of the men.
He turned his attention to the Emperor who was glaring at him; the man's sword held tightly in his hand "Put your sword down and I'll spare you and your people" said Dean as he walked slowly towards the man, re-sheathing one of his swords "Try and fight me and this realm will belong to the Ancients"
"You come to MY…" started the Emperor.
"You killed our emissaries and granted us entry to your land for no other purpose than killing us!" roared Dean "You brought this on yourself Gundrun! My dragon is taking out your Army as we speak. You want anyone left in this realm you lower your sword NOW!"
The Emperor could hear the roars of the dragon and the other beasts; could hear the screams of his people as they fought against them. He glared at the man in front of him; the man he had believed would be an easy kill; whose death would give him dominion over the Ancient realm and bring him the glory for which he hungered. But he had been mistaken in thinking that one that held the blood of a …mortal would be an ineffectual leader and he was now paying the price. But pride held him in place.
"Put down your sword or I will kill every Valkrie in Quivira" Dean menaced "But I will leave you alive; ruling over an empty realm" he glared at the Emperor "An realm empty of Valkries but filled with Ancients!" he grinned "Your call"
The Emperor slowly lowered his sword before letting it clatter to the floor; his hate-filled golden eyes glaring at the man in front of him "Call off your beasts"
"All in good time" said Dean; as he motioned with his sword "Walk" and he smiled as the Emperor walked past him "Argen!" he yelled and the door was flung open again. Dean put his sword to the Emperors neck as he stared at the guards milling outside the door "Drop your weapons and fall back or I kill him where he stands"
The guards hesitated "Do as he says" said Gundrun; the guards hesitated again and Dean moved his sword; drawing a thin line of blood on the Emperors neck "DO IT!" yelled Gundrun and the guards dropped their weapons and backed away slowly as Dean and his prisoner followed the retreating guards back to the main room.
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Dean was looking at the cut to Finn's shoulder as the doors to the main room opened and Seth and Xavier walked in. Their black knee-length boots echoed round the room, their dark blue uniforms immaculate as the strode forward; their faces holding barely contained fury. They stopped in front of Dean and saluted; he returned it and smiled at them as he shook their hands.
"Glad you could make it' he smiled "Had us a bit of a problem"
Seth nodded "So we heard" he turned to Finn "You alright, Finn?" he asked.
"Yeah, but Dean's healing is worse than mine" she said with a grin.
Dean shook his head at her with a smile then turned to Seth and Xavier "Come with me" he said and they followed him to the throne where Gundrun sat.
Sam was leaning casually against the bejewelled throne; a sword held to the Emperor's throat. "Hey fellas" he said with a grin "Seems these pricks underestimated us"
"Ignorance will do that" said Seth angrily. He turned to Dean "Peluda and a huge freakin' wolf have herded what's left of their army into an adjacent field. Jude is sorting them into small groups before we move them"
Dean nodded "Gideon?"
"Has sent more emissaries to the other two realms, explaining what happened here"
"He sent the warning like I ordered?" asked Dean.
Seth nodded "He doesn't think there'll be a problem" he turned to Gundrun "But then again, we didn't think these assholes would murder our emissaries and then try and kill our Supreme Royal either" he glared at the man "An act of war on his part"
"Easy, Seth" said Dean with a grin "He knows how big of an idiot he is" he smiled at Gundrun "I mean he just surrendered his city to the Ancients"
"I SURRENDER NOTHING!" yelled Gundrun.
He began to rise from his throne and Sam inched his sword into the man's neck "Ah, ah, ah" he said mockingly "Sit your short ass down and don't fucking move or I will make good on my threat" he menaced.
Gundrun sat down reluctantly; his golden, glaring eyes going between Dean and Sam. Hate and humiliation surging through him as he looked at his captors.
Dean leaned forward "Consider your realm taken then" Dean seethed "You understand how this works, Gundrun. You attacked the King of another realm and you lost. This realm belongs to the Ancients now" he smiled nastily at the man "Thing is, I don't fucking well want it" he lashed out quickly; smiling again as his fist connected with the Emperors nose and blood rushed from it. He pulled the man's head up and glared at him "See, this is where we differ. The Ancients don't take over realms for no reason. That's not our way" he smiled "However, you threaten me or my people …then we do" he slammed the man's head back against the throne "So here's what's going to happen; and I'd listen very carefully if I were you" he pointed to Seth "This here's Commander Seth Carmichael; he's now in charge of Quivira. What he says, goes"
Gundrun went to open his mouth and Dean bitch-slapped him "I said listen" he smiled again "He is acting under my direct command. Any one disobeys his orders; they die. Any one tries to start an uprising; they die. Any one makes a strike against my people; they die. Are you starting to see a pattern here? Nod your head if you do" Gundrun nodded "You are under martial law until I say otherwise. You try and bring reinforcements from outlying areas; the dragons that have come here will destroy not only your army but the city as well. They will destroy everything in this realm and you will be left with nothing. Do I make myself clear?"
"Nod again, if you understand" said Sam; his voice tinged with anger and Gundrun nodded.
"Awesome!" said Dean with a grin, He gave Gundrun a light slap to his cheek "That wasn't so hard was it?" he laughed at the man "Get as pissed as you like, Gundrun. You brought this down on yourself. The Ancients are not to be messed with. You just found out the hard way"
Finn came over "We need to get moving"
Dean nodded "When I return, we'll discuss the possibility of you getting your realm back" he leaned in close "You do anything stupid and the dragons and my people will unleash a holocaust on your land. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly" said Gundrun angrily.
"Good" said Dean. He turned to Seth "You have your orders. Our fight is with the Emperor and the army; not the people of Quivira"
Seth nodded "Leave it with me" he handed Dean another two discs "Gideon said you might need these"
Dean took them and pocketed them "We'll shower and head out. I want this asshole out of the palace. Put him with the people and let him see how the other half lives"
Seth grinned "With pleasure"
Dean looked at Sam and smiled "I heard Eve was here…" he grinned at Finn as he took her hand "Meet you back here in an hour, Sammy"
Sam rolled his eyes at Dean but re-sheathed his sword and walked as casually as he could out the room; ignoring his brother's laughter as he went to find Eve.
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Dean and Finn found Sam, Bobby and Gabe waiting with their guardians outside the city gates; Seth, Xavier and Jude waiting with them.
"You said an hour, dude" said Sam with a grin.
"My fault" smiled Finn.
Gabe groaned "Finn, please…you're killing me"
Finn laughed softly "Dean said the exact same thing in the shower"
Dean grinned "She resuscitated me, Gabe. Not to worry"
Gabe looked at Seth "Kill me. It'd be less painful"
"Chill out, Gabe" said Finn "Now get on your big bad wolf and we'll try and get you laid in the next realm" she looked at Bobby "You too"
Bobby rolled his eyes "You're as bad as he is" and he pointed at Dean.
Dean laughed and turned to Seth "You've got everything under control?"
Seth nodded "Some of the dragons are circling the skies and the others are posted at strategic points around the city. That pompous asshole came down and explained what was happening and I explained the new rules. We won't have a problem" he smiled "Now go get Caleb and bring him home"
Dean nodded "Don't doubt it" he shook Seth's, Xavier's and Jude's hands as Finn hugged them.
They got onto their respective guardians and Peluda, Raja and Ankou took the skies, each letting loose a call as Mingan howled and sped along the terrain underneath them; Kubera screeching as he galloped beside the wolf.
The sun was sitting low in the sky as they made camp at the edge of the realm; Peluda bringing them back a small deer-like animal to eat while the guardians went off to hunt for themselves. They sat around the fire; drinking beer as they waited for their meal to cook.
Bobby looked at Dean and smiled "So, got yourself another realm have you, son?"
Dean laughed "Looks like. Don't know what I'm gonna do with it though" he sipped his beer as Finn nestled back against him. He looked at his brother and grinned "You want it, Sammy?"
Sam laughed "Aaah, no" he smiled "Already have a home"
Dean smiled at Sam; he'd given his brother the one thing he'd longed for. A place he could call home. He knew it wasn't the life Sam had envisioned for himself but he guessed that maybe, it was better. He never seen his brother this happy and he was gonna make damn sure he stayed that way.
"You alright, Finn?" asked Gabe as he saw her wince.
She put her hand to her head "Yeah…just…" she winced again and dropped her beer; putting her hands to her head as she gasped.
"Finn?" said Dean as he turned her to him "Finn…what's wrong?"
"My head…" she started and cried out as she felt a blinding pain rip through it. She felt Dean's arms go around her then heard his yells echo hers as his grip tightened on her. She instinctively reached out for him as her yell turned into a scream; a scream that was drowned out by the scream of her son. A scream that ripped into her. A scream filled with desperate rage that she knew was tearing into not only her but Dean as well. A scream of resentment that was directed at the both of them.
To be continued…
