"The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable." The annoyingly chirpy voice recording only served to piss me off.
"Answer the phone, Dean!" I hissed as though he would actually hear it. After getting no response from Garth's phone and now nothing from Sam or Dean's, I was drastically running out of options. As much as I wanted to track down Garth quickly, I still had Dea to think of and I couldn't exactly leave a thee month old on her own for who knows how many hours. She began to fuss in her crib so I went to pick her up and a charm on her mobile caught my eye. In amongst the protection symbols hung a small pair of silver wings. I had one last person to try and call.
"Castiel, if you can hear this, I know we've had our disagreements in the past but I could really use your help right now sooooo...Can you please get down here?" I shut my eyes and spoke as fast as I could, feeling like an idiot. After a few moments of silence I opened my eyes and was greeted with a still empty house.
"Of course it wouldn't work. You only listen to Dean, you stupid feathery jer-"
"Hello Alice." I whirled around to find him standing directly behind me wearing his usual overly serious expression. "You need my help?"
"Oh thank god, yes I do. Garth went on a hunt a couple days ago and hasn't come home yet. I need you to watch Dea while I go find him." I deposited the still squriming infant into his arms.
"Wouldn't it be better if I went to find him instead?" Cas said as he awkwardly bounced her.
"No, this is something I need to do. Dont worry, she doesn't cry much and should just go right to sleep. If she does wake up before I get back, there's a bottle in the fridge." I ran around the house grabbing everything I needed; my jacket, knife, gun, and a box of salt.
"Alice, wait..." Cas sounded both scared and confused.
"Thanks again, Cas. You'll do fine!" I shouted over my shoulder as I ran out the door. My 1970 Chevy Silverado was ready and waiting in the driveway so all I had to do was throw my things in the back and get going. It had been an anniversary present from Garth and while it wasnt the prettiest looking truck, it didnt hold a candle to Dean's impala, it was reliable and sturdy and that was all I needed. I did have a slight twinge of guilt as I draped my coat over Dea's car seat in the back. It wasnt fair to her that we lived this life, that at any moment there was the chance that she could lose her parents. The Winchester's had, many hunters did. The most I could do for her was ensure that at least one of them came back.
It was lucky that Garth always told me where he was going when he left for a hunt. What concerned me was the fact that this case was only to deal with a spirit who was causing mayhem for a family. That sort of case usually took only a few hours or a night at most. The farther I went, the harder it was to shake off the feeling that something was wrong, really wrong. He was competent enough of a hunger, it would take more than a ghost to take him down.
The truck's tires crunched on the gravel leading up the house. This was the house, I could see Garth's car parked further up near the attached garage. What worried me further was the absemnce of life in the house. The windows were dark part from what seemed to be a flickering candle on the second floor. I grabbed my gun and approached the front door slowly, taken aback slightly by the bashed in lock and loose door knob. In the end I opted to push it open with the barrel, listening to the creak echo throughout the dark hallway. Stepping inside, I was overwhelmed by the heaviness of dust and the smell of decayed wood. Coupled with the cobwebs lining every corner and off white sheets draped over every piece of furniture, it became obvious that this house was abandoned. There was no way any family had lived here for at least 20 years. The floor above my head creaked loudly and I could hear muffled voices coming through the cracks. Keeping my footsteps light, I ascended the stairs, flinching every time the boards cracked beneath my feet. They lead me to yet another dark hallway, but a sliver of light revealed the source of the voices. I stopped outside the door and pressed my ear against it, hoping to hear more, but a particularly loud creep brought an end to the talking inside. The door flung open and I stumbled back away from the man behind it. Black suit, black eyes, nothing about him didn't scream demon.
"I'm guessing your not either of the Winchesters. Dont look like a Sam or Dean, but judging by the ring on your finger, you're with this man right here." He gestured behind himself and in the dim light I could make out Garth's slumped form in a chair. The candle illuminated the splashes of crimson covering it.
"What did you do to him?" I snapped, shoving my gun to the man's chest. He laugh harshly, raising his hands in mock fear.
"Oh I hope you know how to use that thing. And dont worry, he's alive for now. Just as you are." With a smirk, he wrenched the gun out of my hands and slammed me against a wall, pinning my arms on either side of me.
"Let. Me. Go." I snarled, struggling against his hold.
"Oh, feisty as well, I like you."
"Fuck you, I'm married!" I gave up struggling and spat directly in his eye. The smirk fell off his face and he threw me into the opposite corner of the room where I smashed into a cabinet, knocking the breath out of me. The noise seemed to rouse Garth who's eyes widened in fear at my appearance.
"Alice what are you doing here?" His voice rough.
"Saving...you.." I managed to gasp out.
"Where's Dea?"
"With Cas, dont worry about her." It almost amused me that he managed more concern over our daughter than his own present predicament.
"Oh how great is this? A two for one deal, the Winchesters will not refuse this offer." The demon cut in gleefully.
"What do they have to do with this?" I asked.
"Well they're wanted, you see, by pretty much everyone. I thought I'd join in the chase but I wasnt going to go after them, no, they were going to come to me. THATS where you come in. Once they find out I have two of their dearest friends, they'll be tripping over each other to save you. In fact, let's give them a call, shall we?" The demon walked over to a side table and picked Garth's phone off of it. Humming contentedly, he flipped through the contacts before giving a small, satisfied "Ah!" and pressed the talk button. After two rings, Dean picked up.
"Hello? Garth?"
"Ahhh! You must be Dean. Oh, I had a whole monologue planned put for you but I'd rather just cut to the chase; I have what your want and you are what I want. Bring your brother over and let's do a trade." The demon simpered.
"What do you mean? What do you have?"
"Rather it's a 'who do I have'. In the room with me is the owner of this phone himself, and from what he's told me, the pretty lady next to him must be his wife." The demon sent a cold smile in Garth and I's direction while Dean seemed to struggle to find words on the other end.
"I dont know who you are, but I'm warning you. Let them go now, before it gets ugly."
"Oh it will rather quickly if you dont get here within the next half hour. Thirty minutes, and then In kill one. Another thirty, I'll kill the other and send you both the heads. I hope you know where youre going." The demon hung up before Dean could respond. "And now, my new friends, we wait."
The minutes ticked by slowly, marked by the tick of the demon's watch. A grandfather clock gave a single chime when the half hour had passed. The demon shrugged and pulled put Garth's phone again, dialing Dean.
"Half an hour is up, Mr. Winchester."
"Give us more time!"
"Oh you've had your time. And they've had theirs. Dont think they didnt try to escape, but don't worry, I just beat it out of them."
"Please, another hour and we'll go with you, no questions, no fighting."
"Oh it's too late for that, Dean. Under normal circumstances I would say 'ladies first' but I haven't gotten the chance to get to know the pretty girl, so I think I'll go with..." The demon trailed off as he picked up a large knife off the table that Garth's phone had been on. Holding it up to the light of the dying candle, he wiped off an unnoticeable smudge with his thumb. Smiling again, he strode over to Garth and in one swift motion, plunged the knife deep into his chest.
"Him."