"You're telling me that Dean's a demon?"

"Yes and no."

"What kind of answer is that?"

"The only one that I have. You have to understand. Dean is Michael's vessel. That makes Dean special. His soul is important. His soul is just not any soul. Normally a fragmented soul would be just that. A fragment. Incomplete. It would just sit there in the bowls of Hell, eventually blending into the scenery as a mass of evil energy. That's not what happend. Being that it was Dean's soul that was fragmented it reacted differently. Instead of being a demonic amoeba, it evolved, it changed. It began acting and reacting as if it was a complete soul. So as it began being tormented and tortured, it turned itself into a new animal. A demonic animal."

"Like a Hell Hound?"

"Only with a much bigger bite. The problem is, although it had become its own entity, it was still a part of Dean. It was still connected to him. Therefore it couldn't escape the pit and just take on any meatsuit. It had to return to its own. However since its not a fully formed soul, that is easier said than done. It tried to overtake Dean on several occasions, which would explain the change in his behavior, but it couldn't hold onto him for long. It still wasn't powerful enough to control Dean. It's hold on him was always temporary."

"So Bobby was right. Dean was being possessed."

"But not in the traditional sense. Which is why they never had any evidence to prove it."

"So all of the incidents. The blackouts, the cataonia, that was all part of his possession?"

"Yes. Damaging Dean with each attempt."

"Damaged, how?" Lisa asked her concern palpable.

"Like I said before. Its like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Each time you try to force it into where it cannot fit, it leaves marks. Each time the fragment tried to force its way back into Dean it left his remaining soul frayed. Adding fresh wounds to a soul that is filled with jagged edges. Those edges began to wear down and eventually turned into a large tear, which is what left him catatonic. We mended the tear the best we could, which is what caused his miraculous turn around. However, he knew, as did we, that the fragment would keep trying to force itself back into himself. So as much as it pained him, he left you and Ben behind and came into our protection. To protect himself, as well as you and Ben."

"So he left to save us?"

"Yes."

"Then why can't I see him?"

Castiel cupped the side of Lisa's tear stained face.

"We mended the tear. However the adhesive, for lack of a better word, that we used to do so hasn't been sticking. The tear re-opens and it has to be mended again. It happens frequently. Each time the tear gets just a bit bigger. We're trying to find a way to make it whole again, but nothing has been successful."

"What is it doing to him?"

"He's lost much of his sanity. He has times of lucidity but other times he delves into full on mania or panic. Its hard to control and is becomming more frequent. Its has become worse over the course of the year. During his lucid states he has asked that he be kept away from those he loves for fear of not only seeing him suffer that way."

"What will happen if the tear rips completely open?"

"The agony would be too great for his soul to withstand."

"He'll die."

"Yes."

"And what will happen if the fragment is able to find a way to permanently take hold of Dean."

"All demons begin as humans. But Dean is more than just any human. He is Michael's vessel. If the fragment is able to take control of Dean then we are looking at a creature as powerful, if not more so, than Lucifer himself."

West Puente Valley, California

Brie Coulson sat on the bed of the rickety motel room downing the last of what was a six pack of her favorite beer. She usually wasn't much for drinking, but lately she had been doing a lot of what she wouldn't normally do. She would be the first to deny such things but the conversation with Remy had thrown her. She knew going in that this was going to be dangerous. And that she was more than likely not come out of this alive. But to speculate one's demise was much different from knowing for a fact that it was going to happen. If Kristina was right, and she usually was, then this was going to end badly for her. But she had to go through with it. It was the only way it could be done. The only way she would be strong enough to face what she knew to be coming.

As she sipped the last of the beer, tossing the bottle into the nearby, overflowing trash can, she heard a small knock on the door. Momentarily startled she approached the door with caution. Her instincts told her immediately who it was, however, she remained cautious about why they were there to begin with. Walking with unease, she got up from the bed and flung open the door.

"Remy? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help you," he stated breezing past her and into the room before she could get a word in edge wise.

"I don't want your help."

Plopping down on the bed he looked up to her with resolution on his face. "Well you got it wheter you want it or not."

"Does Kayla know you're here?"

"I told her that my brother got wind of a hunt and asked for my help. Which isn't a total lie since he is helping your sister at the moment."

"Again, what are you doing here?"

"Whether you want to admit it, you need my help. You shouldn't have to go thru this alone."

Brie laughed, "Since when are you so sentimental?"

"Since the toughest person I know is willing to lay down her life for something. I figured I could at least lend a hand."

Everything in Brie fought the urge to kick Remy the hell out of there. To tell him to leave her alone. But when it came right down to it, she could use the help.

"Its your funeral," she shrugged slamming the motel door shut and plopping down on the bed beside him.

"What's going on Brie?"

Brie looked to Remy hesitant. Getting up from the bed she walked over to a nearby desk. Picking up a manilla folder and throwing it to Remy, who began flipping thru it. As Remy worked over the pages, he immediately recognized the familiar trappings.

"You're on a hunt?"

"Not just any hunt, look closer."

Remy looked over the contents carefully, astonishment growing across his face.

"You're looking into the death of your parents?"

"You know the story. At least, the one we were told. That a demon came into our house, and killed our parents. Well, that's not true. Something did come into our house, but it wasn't a demon. Its taken me years but I have finally figured out what it was."

"What was it?"

"It goes by many names, but its commonly referred to as an Ondine. Its a type of water spirit. It likes to steal souls."

"What do you know about them?"

"Well, according to what little I could find, they usually reside near water. Either a lake, but they prefer waterfalls. Kris and I grew up in Idaho near a waterfall that lied on the snake river. I checked back a bit. There are patterns of drownings, mostly men, spanning back at least a hundred years. The victims, all male, found dead along with their wives, having both apparently drowned without being around any water source."

"Do you have any idea why you were targeted?"

"According to legends, an Ondine can only steals the soul of a man who bore her a child."

Remy looked to Brie in astonishment, "You mean your mom was one of these things?"

"More like possessed by it. They act like a succubus. They pick a vessel, mate with the husband, and then steal part of their souls. The process is lengthy and can take a lifetime to drain someone dry. However, if the vessel is with child, they can consume more. Which is why its the Ondine's goal to ensure conception. Our mother was pregnant at the time of her death. Its what allowed it to drain my father and then kill my mother."

"Have you told Kristina?"

"She would never believe me, and besides, she would try to stop me if I did."

"What does any of this have to do with what you've been doing lately."

"An Ondine is not just any water spirit. Its part of an ancient race of creatures called Elementals."

"Elementals?"

"They're one of the oldest creatures on record. They consist of and control one of the four elements: earth, water, fire and air. They're rarely seen, and even more rarely killed. However it is possible."

"Is that why you're doing this? To go after the creature that murdered your parents."

"Elementals can only be killed by others of their kind. This thing possessed by mother when I was concieved and it possessed me when it killed she and my father. Its a part of me. I'm connected to it. The Skin-Walker part of me makes me strong, Remy. But not enough. I'm still half-human. If I'm going to destroy it, I have to meet it on its level. The more I feed, the stronger I become. The more prepared I will be to return to Idaho and end the tyranny of this monster once and for all."

"You are trying to turn yourself into a Pure Bred. Brie, they're animals. If you do this, and it doesn't kill you, you will essentially destroy all that makes you human."

"That's the whole point."