(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the character of 'Eden' and the following story belongs to me)
Echo.
Chapter Ten.
Dean was standing near the window, holding the curtain open a fraction as he scanned the area outside Bobby's. He held his poison-coated dagger in one hand and the bow and arrows were within easy reach if need be. He heard the familiar tread of his brother come back into the room "What time is it?" he asked; his eyes not leaving the window.
"Five minutes after the last time you asked" said Sam as he went to the window, passing his brother a coffee "Any sign of her?"
"Would I be at the window if there was?"
Sam sighed "Just asking, dude" he looked at his watch "Dean…sun'll be up soon…"
"And?"
"I think what he's trying to say" started Bobby as he came back into the room "Is that she's not coming back and you two need…"
"She's coming back" interrupted Dean.
"Son, we've looked for her…she's not here" said Bobby "You heard what she said…"
"She's coming back" he said with conviction.
"The scream, Dean…the one after that woman was thrown at the door? That was them. If Eden hasn't come back…" he trailed off; he hated to even think about what those demons were doing to her. He knew what they were capable of …and if she wasn't dead already…shit, on some fucked-up level, he hoped she was dead; at least her suffering would be over.
"You two need to get organised" said Bobby "Now tell me everything she told you. Everything about the rogue…" he stopped as Dean put his dagger in his boot and picked up the long-bow and arrows "And just where do you think you're going?"
"To find her" said Dean. He turned to Sam "You stay here. You do not leave the house and you stay near Bobby all the time. You hear me?"
"Dean…"
"You hear me?" said Dean; staring hard at his brother, Sam returning the stare.
"For someone who doesn't like her, why are you so hell-bent on going after her?" asked Bobby.
Dean ignored the question and went to the door; opening it carefully and stepping onto the porch. He turned as Bobby put a hand on his arm "Dean. Let it go, son. If she was alright, she'd be here. You know that. You gotta start thinking of you and Sam now"
"I am" he said.
"No, you're not. You're under some misguided notion that you owe her. She brought this down on you, Dean…"
Dean shook his head "No she didn't" he paused "And I do owe her. She gave me back Sam" he said quietly as he slipped into the pre-dawn fog; seeming to vanish into the mist …just like Eden had done.
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Wispy clouds floated across the three-quarter moon, cloaking the earth in shadows before releasing its hold and orb and allowing the dappled moonlight to filter through the dense canopy again. The leaves rustled quietly in the gentle breeze; the silky beams of light now dancing into the small clearing and casting eerie shadows on the battered woman that was kneeling in the middle of it.
Eden's breath was coming in sharp, ragged intakes as she struggled to her feet. She was halfway up when she was thrown to the ground again; the soft laughter that surrounded her only increasing her determination to rise. She grunted with the effort to get to her feet again and glared at the four men that encircled her. She wiped the blood from her split lip and turned to face the Overseer "That the best you've got, Terach?"
He laughed quietly "Best?" he shook his head "No. We're saving the best for last" he grinned nastily "This is just ...for our amusement" and she was thrown back against a nearby tree; slamming against it painfully.
She bit her tongue; refusing to give voice to the pain that ripped through her shoulder. She pushed herself from the tree "The Original know what you're doing?" she asked; watching all the men as she asked the question for which she knew the answer. This was all Phineas "Well?"
"You think you can disobey our laws without consequence? That you can kill us without paying the price?" said Terach as he walked slowly towards her.
"Ephraim killed himself" she shrugged "But it was no great loss" and she was thrown to the ground again; the back of her head smacking painfully against the earth.
Terach crouched near her; he was close…but not close enough for her to touch him "I have longed for this day" he hissed "To finally be rid of you!" he grinned "But not before we play, bitch!"
She arched her back as she felt the sensation of daggers ripping down her back. She bit back a scream; she would not give them the satisfaction of her cries.
"Tell us where they are!" Terach demanded.
"Fuck you!" she yelled; and felt a searing pain rip down her leg and heard a laugh off to her left. She turned her head and glared at the grinning man "I'm taking you down, Asaph!"
Asaph laughed "Me? Going down?" he laughed again "And corrupt myself by touching a half-breed?" he shuddered "I think I'll just torture you…" he grinned and raised his hand, moving it quickly in front of him and her head was rocked sideways. She rolled with the 'slap'; moving quickly towards Terach and putting her hand on him. She watched him fly backwards and crash into Gershom; but her smile was short-lived …and this time she did cry out as Asaph's dagger took her high in the thigh.
"TELL US WHERE THEY ARE!" Asaph yelled.
Terach rose slowly; the spot where she'd touched him throbbing painfully and he faltered as he stared at her. She shouldn't have known how to deliver a strike like that. "Tell us where the Chosen are!"
Eden forced herself to her feet; ignoring the pain that was flaring all over her. She was blocking Dean and Sam's location from them; she'd seen them as she'd gone after the rogue one and had led them away from the cabin; running for over an hour before they'd caught up with her. She didn't understand why they couldn't find Dean and Sam, they should have been able to. But she did understand that there was more going on with the Winchesters than she was aware. She was torn from her thoughts as her head was rocked sideways again and she wiped fresh blood from her lip.
"You tell us where they are and I'll end this quickly for you" he said softly "A quick death, which is more than you deserve" he spat.
Eden glared at him "This is MY Calling! The Chosen are under MY protection! I will NEVER tell you where they are!" her breath hitched as she felt her heart squeezed painfully.
Terach smiled "I'll just torture it out of you then" he laughed "And you know I'm more than happy to do that, hybrid!"
She stared hatefully at the man "My …name is …Eden, asshole" she gasped "Use it!" She fell to her knees and threw her head back, giving voice to a low yell as she felt the wrath of the four assassins hit her.
"TELL US!" yelled Terach.
"GO…SCREW…YOURSELF!" she yelled defiantly.
Terach smiled "Right answer" and the four men raised their hands; smiles splitting their faces.
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Dean moved quickly and quietly through the woods surrounding Bobby's place. He couldn't explain to Sam and Bobby how he knew Eden was still alive. He just…knew. Just like he knew the rogues hadn't taken her. But if she wasn't back, it could only mean one thing…the hit squad. And he'd be damned if he was going to let some assholes kill her for trying to help him and his brother. Besides, he was itching for a fight and this was the perfect opportunity.
He'd been moving steadily for over an hour; his muscles burning with the effort to keep on the run. The sun was now peeking over the horizon; staking its claim on the land and eating into the early morning fog when he felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. He stopped, turning in circles and taking an arrow from the quiver and loading it into the bow. His eyes flitted across an overgrown trail…'that way', he thought to himself and headed slowly towards it.
His movements were slow and determined as he crept forward; edging through the foliage with almost no sound; the leaf litter his ally as he stepped carefully through the wildly growing vines and tree branches. He went into a crouch when he heard soft voices floating through the trees. He stayed low as he crept forward; taking a path that would lead him above the speakers. He hunkered down behind a large oak-tree and chanced a quick glance around it. Six men; three kneeling over the crumpled bodies of the others. No Eden. But there was little doubt who these men were. So he waited and listened.
"She did this?" he heard one of the men ask.
"That's what Terach said" replied another.
"But how? She's a half-breed! And Phineas made sure she wasn't schooled properly. She shouldn't be able to do this"
"You running scared, Adriel?" he heard another man laugh.
"Of a mutant? Hardly" the man scoffed "Besides, by the time Terach and the others are finished with her…" the man laughed "She's going to wish she'd never heard of the Chosen"
"Do you know whether she's told them where they are?"
"Apparently the bitch is stubborn. But they don't mind" he heard the man sigh "What I wouldn't give to show the whore her place"
"They need to be careful. If the Original or Selah find out…then everything we've planned will be for nothing"
Dean heard another man laugh "Phineas knows what he's doing. We just bring them back, tell them the bitch has gone crazy and has a vendetta against us. The Original will order hers and the Chosen's death anyway; it's only a matter of time"
"Yeah? Well I don't think time is on our side. I heard a rumour Jediah's coming back"
"Rumour, Adriel. That's all it is"
"Lets hope that's all it is" he heard the man mutter.
"Alright, we'll bring them back and then go help Terach with his …interrogation"
Dean's anger reached boiling point as he heard their laughter. Not only were these assholes gonna try and kill him and Sammy, they had Eden held somewhere and he guessed interrogating her was the last thing they were doing. He glanced around the tree again; he was only twenty-feet from them and he had to do this fast. He stood; hoping his years of bow-hunting wouldn't fail him now; he raised the bow, took aim and let fly.
The first arrow took the man high in the chest; his scream echoing round the forest as he dropped to his knees, falling forward and driving the arrow through his chest and out his back. He smiled at the scream the second arrow brought; the man thrown back from the force of the shot.
Dean stepped from behind the tree; another arrow ready as he moved quickly into the clearing "DON'T MOVE!" he yelled; kicking out at one of the men that lay writhing in the dirt at his feet "Shut the fuck up, asshole!" Dean hid his frown as the man howled at the kick. He looked back at the uninjured one, who was staring in disbelief at the stricken man.
"On your knees" Dean seethed. The man dropped quickly to his knees "Hands behind your head and don't try any of your disappearing bullshit on me or…" Dean reached down and placed a hand on the dying man and smiled at his prisoner as the other man began to convulse wildly; blood flying from his nose and mouth "Understand?" said Dean and the man nodded once; fear and loathing fighting for space on his face.
"What do you want?" the man spat; looking into the eyes of the Chosen.
Dean smiled at him "Well first, we're just gonna wait while your buddies here die a slow and painful death" he grinned "then, you and I are gonna have an interrogation of our own"
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Sam was pacing Bobby's cabin; muttering under his breath as he kept checking the window for any sign of his brother. He looked at his watch; three goddamn hours he'd been gone and any move Sam made that even remotely looked like he was heading after Dean; Bobby was on him faster than a fly on shit. So short of knocking Bobby out; he was stuck here playing a damn waiting game.
"When your brother gets back" started Bobby "And after I kick his ass…you two are gonna run hard and you're gonna run fast. You get as far away from these rogue ones as you can"
Sam turned from the window "There is no getting away from them, Bobby" he said "They've followed us from Tennessee to Alabama and now South Dakota. We have to kill them; there's no other way"
"Look, son. You don't know that what Eden told you was the truth. You don't knowthe woman from Jack and even if she was who she said she was…"
Sam shook his head "I know you're having a hard time getting your head around this Bobby, but I know she's telling the truth. I've seen these things and …shit…when she told me the time I died? It felt …right"
"Bullshit" said Bobby angrily.
Sam shook his head again "No bullshit, Bobby. We're running out of time and …" he stopped and cocked his head "Dean's back" he went to the window and moments later saw Dean break the treeline at a run; blood clearly visible on his hands and shirt.
Sam pushed through the door, pistol held in hand; Bobby close behind him as Dean ran towards the cabin. Sam jogged down the stairs "Dean…you alright?" he asked urgently.
"Not my blood, Sammy" he said "Pack, we gotta move now" he said as he jogged up the stairs and into the cabin.
"What the hells' going on?" asked Bobby, grabbing Dean's arm.
"Where's Eden?" asked Sam.
"About three hours south of here" said Dean.
"Rogue ones?" asked Sam as he grabbed the laptop and his father's journal and threw them in his bag.
Dean shook his head "Her asshole bosses" he pulled free of Bobby "Come on" he packed the weapons into the bag and gathered his gear; throwing the bags over his shoulder as Sam grabbed his bag and Eden's satchel.
"So you're just gonna charge on in and… what? Rescue her?" asked Bobby incredulously.
"Pretty much" said Dean with a grin.
Bobby shook his head at the boy "Do you have any idea what you're up against?"
Dean nodded "Yep. But they don't"
"Lets go" said Sam and they walked quickly from the cabin; Bobby following them.
They threw their gear into the Impala and Dean turned to Bobby "Bobby, we need anything you can find out about someone called the Original and some other Watchers; a Selah, Jediah and Phineas"
"Dean…Watchers' names? You gotta be shitting me!"
"Anything, Bobby. And I need you to look into a missing person for me. A woman. Leah Rafferty"
"Leah Rafferty?" asked Bobby "Who the hell's that?"
"Eden's mother" he said. He slammed the door of the Impala, gunned the engine and sped out of Bobby's; leaving the man staring after them and wondering just what the hell was going on and whether he'd ever see them again.
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"This is such a bad idea" whispered Sam as he and Dean crept through the deep arroyos of the South Dakota Badlands. The rich ochre crags rising high either side of them as they moved cautiously forward "Are you sure she's here?"
Dean nodded "Trust me, I got the truth out of that asshole" he said.
"But Dean…" he looked around him "How…"
"I just do" he said. He couldn't explain how he knew which direction to go; which pass to take and which gullies to avoid…he just did. He hadn't been sure when they'd first arrived; but the further into the Badlands they moved; the more sure…the more aware he'd become. He motioned to Sam and they moved up through an escarpment; running low across it and jumping down into a small crevice.
Dean put his finger to his lips and moved slowly forward; Sam at his back as they heard the sound of laughter coming from a cave on the opposite side of the arroyo they were above. They got down on the stomachs and crawled forward, peeking over an outcropping. There were two men out the front of the cave; they were dressed in the same white cotton pants and red shirts as the men from the clearing.
Dean turned to Sam "Same as the one's from Bobby's" he whispered.
"There's no way we can get in there without them knowing" whispered Sam.
They turned back when they heard a low yell drift out of the cave, accompanied by sounds of laughter that was echoed by the laughter of the two men outside the cave. Eden was still alive. One of the men outside turned to the cave "Save some for us, Asaph!"
Dean and Sam looked at each then turned back when they heard footsteps. A man walked out; dressed as the others, the only difference was this man had blood on his hands. "I need a break anyway" he laughed "Go on, both of you" the two men grinned and practically skipped into the cave.
"We gotta move now, Dean" said Sam; his voice tinged with anger "She's the key to all of this. We have to protect her"
Dean nodded "Wait" he took an arrow from the quiver at his back loaded the bow.
"Dean…he'll scream. They'll know we're here" whispered Sam urgently.
Dean shook his head "No they won't" he said as he waited for the perfect time to strike. He smiled as he watched the man crouch, lower his head as he tried to clean his hands with the sand underfoot. Dean rose and released the arrow; smiling as he heard the sound of it spear into the top of the man's skull. His smile getting wider as the man fell silently; dead before his face hit the ground.
Dean and Sam jumped down quickly; running silently to the cave entrance. They took the pistols from the small of their backs; the pistols that were loaded with bullets coated in the liquid Eden had left them.
They edged into the darkened cave; Sam on one side of the passageway, Dean on the other as they moved towards the sound of laughter, low groans and cussing. There was little light in the tunnel and they stayed tight against the walls as they neared an opening on Sam's side; the voices coming from within, now clear.
"You had enough, bitch?"
"Fuck you" came Eden's exhausted reply.
"Just tell us where they are and it's all over for you. No more pain, no more suffering…"
"Are you deaf or stupid, Terach? I'm not telling you shit!" and she grunted in pain.
"Why are you protecting them? They're just…"
"I'm their Watcher, asshole!" she yelled "Their protector!"
"You're nothing but a mutant. An abberation who taints our kind! They were doomed from the moment you were given the Calling" he laughed "And we'll find them and we'll kill them…just like we're going to kill you….eventually"
"Yeah? Tell me Terach, why does it take nine of you to do this? Scared are you? Scared I know more about what's going on than…" they heard the slap that stopped her.
Dean nodded at Sam and they moved quickly into the cave; pistols raised. Eden was in the middle, a bruised and bleeding mess; surrounded by eight men. Dean's first shot took out the man furthest from him; Sam's shot taking out the one next to him. Dean winged another before the pistol was ripped from his hand; flying to the other side of the cavern. He heard Eden yelling but he was in such a rage he couldn't process what she was saying.
He turned and saw Sam fighting with a man; he grinned as his brother threw an uppercut; the man flying back against the wall, hitting it with a crack before slumping unconscious to the floor. Dean threw himself at the man closest to him; slamming him against the wall and throwing two punches as the man screamed before collapsing. He turned and grabbed another by the scruff of his shirt and landed one punch before he was thrown to the ground. He shook his head and struggled to his feet, fighting against the feeling of pressure that was trying to keep him down. He turned and saw Sam was having more trouble than he was but was slowly gaining his feet. Dean grabbed the man again and punched him over and over as the man screamed, his body shaking uncontrollably in his hands. Dean dropped him; grinning as he walked towards another that was backed up against the wall.
"STOP OR I'LL KILL HER!"
Dean and Sam turned; Eden was on her knees, her hands tied behind her back as the man held his hand on her head "I'll kill her, don't think I won't" the man threatened.
Dean looked around the cave; six dead, three still breathing "Let her go and I won't kill you" angered Dean.
"Kill me?" he laughed "You can't kill me"
Dean grinned "Yeah, I can" he looked at Eden "Right, Eden?" and she nodded "See?"
They turned to Sam as his phone rang. Sam smiled "'S'cuse me. Might be important" He held his finger up in a wait gesture and flicked his phone open "Ye-lo! Uh huh….uh huh… Really? How about that? Uh huh…uh huh… Nah, we're alright. Just in the middle of a mexican-standoff. You? Good stuff. Yeah, sure" Sam turned to Eden "Bobby wants to say hello" and he held the phone out.
Terach stared incredulously at the man as he took a step towards them "I'll kill her! Take one more step and I'll kill her!" he couldn't believe the audacity of the man! How could these be the Chosen? They were unkempt, smirking excuses for men with no respect for those that were their superiors!
Sam grinned at the man and put the phone to his ear "Bobby, she's a little tied up right now. I'll tell her okay? Get the rest of the info and we'll see you soon" he snapped the phone shut and looked at Terach "Okay…where were we?"
Dean chuckled at his brother's antics; he could see how much it had pissed off the man that had Eden "I'm just about to kill these assholes"
"Oh, right, right, right" said Sam "My bad" he grinned "Have at it"
"All in good time, Sammy" said Dean with a grin.
Terach laughed "I'll kill her before you can make a move, little man"
Dean shook his head "See, that's where you're wrong" he said as he moved slowly to his left "Had me a chat with someone called…Simon, I think he said. Name ring a bell?" Dean laughed when he saw anger rise in Terach's eyes "Yeah, thought it might" Dean laughed again as he shook his head "Liked to talk he did. Unfortunately, I didn't understand how these…" he held up his hands "worked" he grinned "Now I do" he turned his head to the man in the corner and raised his hand and the man was thrown to the other side of the cave.
"Dude!" said Sam with a grin.
Dean grinned "I'm Superman" he turned back to Terach; his face furious "So here's the deal. Take your hand off Eden" he glared "Do it now"
Terach grinned at him "You have no idea what you're dealing with here"
"Let. Her. Go" menaced Dean "And it'll be you that dies a quick death...that I can promise"
Terach looked between the two men; he had no back-up and the one in front of him was more powerful than they had realised. He had no choice; the woman had to die and if it meant his death, at least he'd have the satisfaction of taking the bitch with him. He closed his eyes and smiled as he heard the woman scream; the yells of the two men the last thing he heard as his brain exploded inside his head.
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Phineas stood in the cavern; the bodies of his people lying scattered in the dirt. His fists were clenching and unclenching; his breathing coming in loud, raspy gasps as the anger rose like a pyre inside him. The woman and the Chosen were gone and fifteen of his people were dead. DEAD!
He stepped carefully around the bodies, crouching as he inspected Terach. There was no doubt; the man had been killed by a powerful mage. He rose; his mind spinning as he went over his plans again. His closest allies were in damage control; spinning the webs of deceit to the Original and the Firsts; while the others were spreading whispers through the Order to reinforce his reports.
He walked over to the middle of the cave and looked again at the message that had been carved into the dirt. The message that had been left for him.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING ASSHOLE!
He turned to his disciple "Clean this up. Bring the bodies to the Chamber; mark them like I told you and hide the note on Terach's body"
The disciple nodded and went about his orders as Phineas walked to the cave wall; closing his eyes as he stepped through it, returning to his home.
He had a massacre to organise.
To be continued…