A/N: I posted this short chapter because I want to keep the momentum of this story going. More this week.
Chapter 10 - worst idea in the history of bad ideas
For a long moment we stood there staring at each other until it got really awkward. Death tilted his head to one side. It was like he was staring at me, inside me. He shook his head, and I got the feeling he was thinking more to himself than to me. That pissed me off too. Hey, I'm standing right here, all right?
No one ever explained to you what you're capable of now, did they? They just turned you and turned you loose. Sad. They used to have mentors for newborns. Now all they want to do is increase their numbers.
Wasn't the kind of thing that required an answer, so I didn't say anything. I had my game face on, what Sam used to call my kickass glare of doom. It came easy. Sam didn't say anything, but I got the impression that he was in a closed space with rough grey stone walls. I heard laughter, saw Michael wearing our half brother, Adam Milligan, like he was a cheap suit. Lucifer looked like some half-assed giant firefly. The smell of sulfur flooded my nose and mouth so strongly I nearly gagged, but I didn't. I smelled that once before, when I was downstairs with Alastair.
Sam's screams echoed off the walls. He was back in the Pit, with Michael and Lucifer, at least, he thought he was. Death showing up triggered that memory, and I felt my brother's soul shake inside the canvas bag at my back.
Sam? It's okay. You're here with me. You're out. I said it over and over again. I had the feeling he wasn't listening I guess he was so deep into it he didn't hear me at first. Slowly the shaking stopped, and the images faded.
Death smirked at me. Have I mentioned that I hate that psychic Miss Cleo crap? I do. So this is the way we're gonna play this thing? Fine.
I won't let you take my brother. I thought at the Old Dude. Or Soulless. And I'm not going anywhere until I set things right. Good. I sounded more badass than I felt. I figured I was good for maybe a couple more minutes before my body started shaking and my legs gave out.
Is this a challenge, then?
I nodded. Damn right it is.
I didn't come for you. Or your brother's soul. Death looked up at the surface of the water over our heads. The soulless one, though. He's on the edge, but not quite there. He's harnessed so much power. He cocked his head to one side and looked me in the eyes. I was curious, so I came.
Death drew himself up to his full height, and for a moment I had the feeling I was one step away from eternity. You're either very brave or very stupid, Dean. A touch of both, I think.
Something rumbled through the water all around me. Any moment now…
Are you hungry? I know a nice little pizza place in Chicago. They serve the best deep dish there. My treat. There it was again, that look on his face, like there was something about me that amused the hell out of him.
What the hell?
Uh…no.
You haven't fed recently. Death's eyes narrowed as he stared at me hard.
I need to get my brother home.
Of course you do. But you need to take care of yourself too. There's no shame in what you are now, Dean. You're worried about him. And you needn't be. The human soul is tougher and more durable than you could ever imagine.
That was it? I figured I'd get slapped down big time for disrespecting him like that. Damn. I got off light.
Death smiled. I'll take a raincheck on your kind offer. It's been a while since anyone dared defy me so openly. Consider yourself lucky that this little conversation of ours occurred in private. After all, I have my reputation to think of.
The Old Dude looked bored. He waved his hand at me, almost lazily. You may go now.
The water formed something that looked like a fist, and when it hit I went flying up and forward. That was when I realized that mouthing off like that to Death might not have been the smartest thing I've ever done. The next thing I knew I was out of the water, in mid-air. I couldn't tell what direction we were headed in. The moon was beneath me and the river was above. I wanted off this carnival ride, but what I wanted didn't matter.
All I know is that whatever I hit was pretty damn solid. Felt like brick. I've been tossed into enough walls to know how that feels. What I didn't expect was the way my spine cracked. Any pain I felt before was swallowed up by that one big one. I tried not to scream out, but I think I did.
I couldn't move my arms or my legs. I slid down slowly, and first my feet, then my ankles went into the water. We were going back into the river, sinking fast, and at first I didn't want that. What I wanted didn't matter.
Everything went gray around the edges. I felt light-headed, and I remember thinking that this wasn't so bad. I couldn't understand why Sam was yelling at me (Dean? Stay with me, y'hear? Dean-).
The river was over my head again and the moonlight looked nice on the water.
The last thing I remember is a hand pushing down through the surface. I didn't feel one way or the other about that. I took a deep breath, and the river rushed inside me again. Bubbles all around me, and I just didn't give a damn anymore.
Fingers dug into the collar of my jacket and pulled upward, and that was the last thing I remembered for a while.
TBC this week