DLB9 See No Evil
Together hunter and sword made their way through the ravaged land that was Tartarus.
The sound of tortured souls was all around him. It crept into his mind and ate at his soul. Sam could feel the panic rising inside him with each breath he took.
"You need to rest," the sword warned him. "If you let me in I can block the sound."
Grinding his teeth at the constant grating sound playing in his head Sam sank to his knees. "Ok," he breathed painfully.
Taking a deep breath he let the swords consciousness in. Sam gasped at the evil he could feel invading his mind, but the sudden relief from the torturous sounds was a blessed relief.
"Sleep," the sword whispered. "I shall wake you if danger approaches."
Sam closed his eyes and slid forward to lie on the hard rocky path. His eyes remained forward, never looking back. Hours later he was abruptly pulled from sleep when the sword sent a sharp sting of energy into his hand. Eyes wide, he blinked the sleep away and jumped to his feet.
"Danger approaches," the sword whispered in his mind.
Sam sprang to his feet and brought the blade up. "What is it," he asked quickly.
"Hounds of Hell," the sword snapped. "They smell you and have come hunting."
"Where are they now?" Sam snapped.
"Behind you," the sword screamed.
Sam didn't turn. Looking back was not an option. Leaping forward he ran up the trail, but the scraping scrabbling sound of claws on rocks were quickly closing the distance between them. "Don't look back, don't look back," he chanted silently
"Stand and fight," the sword screamed in his mind. "We can beat them."
Sam didn't reply but he could feel the swords displeasure. "Just tell me where they are," Sam screamed back.
"Leaping now," the sword cried.
The young hunter did the only thing he could. Closing his eyes he dropped low and spun to face the oncoming creature. The dark sword split the air and connected with the airborne hellhound. The jarring impact set Sam's teeth rattling as the razor sharp blade tore through skin and bones.
The hellhound screamed in agony and burst into flames.
The sword drank deeply and sighed in satisfaction. "To your right," the sword screamed, "It's coming in low," the sword warned him.
Sam spun left, turning his body to face back up the trail. Bringing the blade up in an arc across his body he drove the black blade deep into the oncoming creature's side. Impaling the howling creature on the blade Sam hauled the hellhound into the air and threw it as far away as he could.
The blade in his hand twisted as it hunted for the creature's soul. The sword jerked upward and sliced into the hellhounds black heart. The creature exploded sending a spray of flaming ash into the hunter's face.
Sam hissed and swiped at his face brushing away the searing oily ash that clung to his skin. He could feel his skin burning. Hissing at the pain, he scraped at his cheek momentarily forgetting the third hellhound now stalking its prey.
"In front of you," the sword screamed in panic.
Sam threw himself forward and hit the ground - hard.
A cry of agony was torn from his throat as the hellhounds rear claws scraped across his shoulder as it passed over him. The powerful blow slammed him to the ground. Sam squeezed his eyes shut and prayed. He groaned and felt the darkness creeping in.
Disgusted with the human's sudden lack of fighting skills, the sword took over.
Nerves fired, muscle and bones screamed in protest as the sword flipped the hapless young hunter onto his back. Sam scrunched his eyes shut and let the sword loose.
The black blade flew upward, slicing across the hellhounds hamstring. Black Ichor flowed down the ebony blade. Drinking in the evil essence of the hellhound the blade sang with joy as it pulled Sam to his feet.
Sam dropped his head but didn't open his eyes. Senses on overload he struggled to listen to the sound of the hellhound as it slid to a halt a few feet away.
The hellhound wasn't a terribly intelligent creature; it knew only one task – to kill. With a swipe of its black tongue across razor sharp teeth the hound leaped into the air.
Sam tried to step back, but the ebony blade kept him riveted in place. The huge creature slammed into the hunter and took him to the ground.
The air flew from his lungs as the creature landed on top of him. He expected agonizing pain, when that didn't materialize he drew in a ragged breath. The creature was dead. Rolling sideways he dumped the creature's body to the side of the trail and took back control. Sliding the blade out of the hellhound's body he stood up. He could feel the blades resentment at the loss of the hellish soul.
The sword didn't protest, in truth it had no choice, Sam's mind was too strong a battle would hurt them both badly and the sword wanted out of hell. Beside, the blade had feed deeply off the hellhounds and its need to dominate was sated.
"Which way is up the trail?" Sam asked cautiously.
"Why?" the sword asked in puzzlement.
"Because…" Sam hesitated could he afford to tell the sword the truth. Then again – what choice did he have? Maybe, just maybe he didn't have to tell the whole truth.
"I can't look back down the trail. That was the deal I made with Hades. I look back and it's all over."
The sword remained silent and Sam decided he needed to drive his point home. "If I look back neither one of us will ever see the light again."
The sword jerked in his hand and dragged him left until he was facing up the trail once more. Looking down at the trail he dared to open his eyes and slowly look up. The familiar point up the trail he had noticed earlier was ahead of him. "Thank you," he whispered sincerely.
"Yeah well, I want out of here as much as you do," the sword grumbled.
Taking a deep breath Sam once more moved up the trail. The sleep had done wonders to renew his energy. All around him he could hear the sounds of creatures skittering alongside the trail. He couldn't see them, but he knew they were there waiting for him.
Several hours later he was unprepared for the monster that dropped out of the darkness and crushed him to the ground. Dark claws bit into his back tearing through the shirt.
Sam howled at the pain and struggled to pull the black blade from the belt at his hip. Pinned beneath him the blade screamed to be set loose on the creature, but no matter how Sam tried, he could not pull it free.
Abandoning the weapon Sam splayed his hand across the trail searching for a weapon. It seemed like an eternity before his fist closed around a large rock. Grunting with the effort Sam closed his eyes and twisted bringing the stone up to smash it against the side of the winged creature's skull.
The dark creature squawked in pain and fell sideways. Hunger fled as the agony of the blow cracked its skull.
"To your right," the blade screamed.
Rock in hand Sam tilted his head to the side listening for the creatures mewling cries of pain. Praying he estimated the sounds correctly the young hunter slammed the rock down once again into the monster's skull. The dark creature went silent. It's thrashing body stilled as the life that held it bound to hell fled.
"Chop off its head, chop off its head," the blade screamed in Sam's mind
Pretending not to hear the blade Sam stumbled backward and turned to face up the trail once more.
Slowly he opened his eyes and sank to his knees in exhaustion and despair. Tears of pain streaked down his ash covered cheeks. All he wanted to do was lay down and curl into a ball and sleep forever. Shaking hands came up to cover his face.
"Dean," he whispered brokenly. "God Dean, I can't do this anymore," he cried softly.
His head came up as a light breeze caressed his cheek. Dean was there, close by counting on him. "Dean," he whispered again needing to feel his brother's touch even if it was only the wind.
The soft breeze lingered this time. The cool touch surrounded him easing his mind before slowly drifting away.
At his hip the blade was silent; fuming at the loss of the blood and energy wondering who this Dean was that Sam called to. There was no compassion in the blade only the need for power. Piqued by Sam's failure to let it feed the blade sent a sharp jolt of electricity through the sheath into Sam's hip.
Sam yelped and grumbled. "What," he growled ominously his self-pity quickly washing away as he talked to the sword.
"Why didn't you let me chop its head off?"
"Sorry," Sam mumbled contritely. "The creature hurt me badly, I just needed to sit down before I passed out."
Grumbling in disgust the blade wanted to rail at Sam. The human's frailty annoyed it.
"You can have the next dark thing that attacks me," Sam muttered.
"Promise?" the sword grumbled.
"Promise," Sam answered quickly, "It's all yours!"
"Great," the sword whispered happily once again.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Chappie down, a little struggle and angst for Sammy. Its not over yet though, a couple more chapters to go. Please take a momento to review for me. I do love hearing from you.
