Chapter 10

It was risky but Loretta was certain that they would go back. If anything it was because their gear was there. Then again if they were smart, there would be various places where they could regroup. To come back to the salvage yard where they had been attacked before… it was foolish and stupid. It was not sound tactics and had her wondering what was up with the Winchesters. It definitely wasn't Absolution; that was a slip of the thought tongue on that. Why would they come back here?

Loretta looked at the house from her post at the edge of the yard. It couldn't be because of the dogs. Her team had fooled them before. Was it the fact that two vamps walked through the front door and were welcomed? She wasn't sure. There had to be something around that would have them want them to come back here.

After being made into the demon's pet, they had been sent out to track the Winchesters. Their orders were to track them down and look for Absolution. It was strict orders that they were to find Absolution and bring her back to the demon. Basically a snatch and grab. Sam Winchester wasn't to be in the picture.

Actually there was nothing in the orders about not hurting him. Loretta knew that both Winchesters would do anything for Absolution. She figured that was what would be the purpose in the first place with this plan. She looked over at her partner who was rubbing the cast around his wrist. She was still pissed at that.

They had started the campaign to go after Sam Winchester. He was the one that broke the world and he was one of the ones tainted with demon blood. A demon was after him in the beginning so that meant that there was something no good up with that. Gordon Walker implied that when they met and before he had been turned into a vampire. Sam Winchester killed him too. And Gordon was a good friend and a good hunter. He understood what the fight was about.

Loretta had been a hunter since she was a girl. She had also learned the family business of making keys. She was her father's daughter and learned of the techniques used to seal objects of power into whatever container or vault or whatever. She chose hunting since it seemed that her father was inclined and content to make keys and then consistently flirt with the one that was called Absolution. That was a person she would also like to hunt.

She is a beauty and an angel my daughter. A heart of gold.

Loretta scoffed at the memory. Heart of gold her ass. When her father was in trouble, this Absolution didn't come. And because of that her father was dead. And all because he harbored some misplaced adoration for a creature that by all rights was an abomination. An abomination that was supposedly chosen to save the world or some shit like that. It was absurd and unheard of and totally unorthodox. It was scandalous.

Loretta could not understand why such a creature would be chosen. That kind of thing was a taint to something that should be considered a high honor. As far as she could tell, she was not impressed by the whole thing. Apart from Sam Winchester's death, the death of Absolution was a bonus. The frustrating thing was that she wasn't supposed to touch Sam Winchester.

Looking down, Loretta started rubbing her right hand. She didn't want to look at it but forced herself to. It looked like a burn mark but it was a sigil of possession. As long as she bore that mark she was literally that demon's bitch. So were all the other rogue hunters she was leading. They were bound to obey and serve the demon and they really couldn't hide much from her. The demon bitch always seemed to know when they were up to something.

You are to watch Sam Winchester only. The only one you are to bring to me is Absolution. Bring her back unharmed and then maybe we'll see about Sam Winchester.

A rustling sound caught her attention and Loretta turned to look at the newcomer. He was dressed in a black hood pulled low over his eyes. Only his chin was visible from what little she could see. She raised her brow and smirked. At least there was one thing that the demon bitch didn't know about. "You're getting soft there Kent."

"Perhaps I was merely alerting you to my presence. You are the one that was in plain sight," Kent replied standing there, his head lowered so that Loretta couldn't see his face. "If anything you are getting soft."

Loretta huffed at that, "I was able to get to this point without being seen. That should count for something."

"It is nothing." Kent turned to look at the house and the rest of the property. "It is nothing because you fear what they can do."

"I fear nothing," Loretta retorted. "If anything this is unusual… returning here."

"Perhaps they know something that you don't."

"You always have to be an enigmatic ass." Loretta snorted as she looked at the house. She peered around the stack of junk that she had taken refuge behind. "I find it odd and if they truly were hunters, they would have other places to go."

"There is your problem," Kent replied shifting on his feet too quiet to be normal for Loretta. "You think too much like a hunter. Hunters only think of the direct approach; they don't consider the other possible means that are available." He held up his right arm to reveal a bracer or gauntlet. "They came back because there is something here that they need and they are confident in the defenses."

Loretta raised her brow and looked around the salvage yard. There was nothing she could see that would be of any benefit to this job. "There is nothing here but the dogs and they are easy."

"But you didn't kill them. Now they remember and will be more diligent." Kent made a sound to indicate that he thought she was being stupid. It was a bit refined like an aristocrat would do. "The elder is also a hunter but knows more. He would have a means of making this place secure."

"And the Winchesters?"

"They would be more diligent. The elder will be on the alert. The younger… A wild card."

"What do you mean?" Loretta knew that Sam reacted a bit to her mentioning when they had Absolution the last time they met. She thought it more to be revealing of his sentimental side. It was obvious that he was the gentler of the two brothers. It had her curious as to what Kent had meant.

"Not certain. I will need to get closer. You can't see much from here."

"And something tells me that you already know something." Loretta couldn't help but pout about the whole thing. She really didn't like being shown up in front of her wild card that wasn't under the control of the demon bitch.

Kent merely smiled. Of course he knew that there was something in place. He wouldn't be in the position he was in now if he hadn't had the practice of his skills. He was the best of his kind and this had been a long time in coming. He may be restricted in what he was to do since he was technically hired but it would give him an idea of his opponents; what they were like. He would get a perverse pleasure in dealing out a few punches and even more satisfying getting his hands on the one that slandered the names of good men and in favor of a traitor. A traitor to his cause and good men, his brothers were slandered.

"You've been in and know what we're up against. Spill."

Kent looked at Loretta. She was a good hunter. She could track down her targets and kill them but she had the desire to stay in control of the situation to the point where it would put the mission in jeopardy. He had gone in and was surprised that the vampire hadn't sensed him. Then again like all animals, if you were downwind, you could avoid detection. He gave a slow smile and kneeled to the ground and began to draw in the dust.

Loretta looked around before joining Kent and watched his drawing. "Spill, Kent."

"Patience. Something that you lack," Kent murmured as he finished what he was doing. He pointed at the house, "The elder and the dhampir are here and quite possibly with a dog. The vampire is patrolling as well as another dog."

"And the Winchesters?"

Kent pointed to another area on his map, "Seems they are holed up here for now and haven't moved from there the past several hours. That could be a strong indicator that what we seek is there."

"But why there?"

Kent had no idea but given the nature of the target… He had a fairly good idea. If he said anything Loretta would be sure to get her rogues killed in their blind ambition to get to another one of his targets. It would be sweet but… he had a job to do. "My best guess is that the target is there. There is probably also something there that gives them an advantage."

"How do you know that?"

"I know the target. Even in a compromised state nothing would be left to chance. The Winchesters know this area is safe because of the target's influence. My guess is that there are traps and ones not easily seen or disarmed."

Loretta looked at the map. "That shouldn't be a problem. We can take care of it."

"I highly doubt that."

Loretta looked at Kent. Slowly she rose to a standing position with her eyes narrowed as Kent rose to meet with her. She hated the insinuation that she couldn't do what she had been trained to do. "We're hunters. It won't be a problem."

Kent merely curled his lip as he rubbed his gauntlet. "You misunderstand. The target is much more clever than that. Your skills may get you fairly close but will kill you. This target is not like any other creature you have seen."

"And current intelligence says that it is not going to be a problem. Besides if anything Sam Winchester won't risk her safety."

"That may be true but you'll still be dead before you could even find out what that means." Kent gave a smirk knowing he was right and that Loretta was going to have to see things his way. "In order for us to get what we want, I can go in and pave the way and deal with any distractions."

"She's ours," Loretta pointed out.

"Oh I know." Kent lowered his head slightly and took a couple of steps forward into Loretta's personal space. His voice grew low and dangerous, "But you have a problem. The demon that bound you sees everything." He grabbed her wrist and held up her hand to reveal the mark. "You can't do what you really want without it knowing."

"I just don't like getting my hands too dirty," Loretta threw back as she tried to take her hand back but failed miserably.

Kent held fast to her wrist and when she tried to become violent, he reached out with his free hand and grabbed her by the throat. He held her against the pile they had taken refuge behind and looked at her intently. "Don't lie to me hunter bitch. You came to me because you want something and luckily our goals are somewhat aligned."

"Scum," she choked out.

"All I have to do is squeeze or…" He twisted his wrist to reveal a hidden weapon that could be released, killing her instantly. He peered at her. "I have no time for games. I will pave the way for you to grab your prize since you have your masters and I have mine. I will deal with the real object of your ire so that you won't be forgotten. You take your prize back to your demon master and then do whatever it is you want."

Loretta knew that she was in a similar position as she was with Lenya when she was marked. She hated that she was in a vulnerable state again. Kent was right though. She couldn't get to what she really wanted without it reaching back to Lenya. He could do what she wanted or at least leave a nice reminder. She just hated that she couldn't do it herself. "What of the old man and the other one?"

"Your men can distract them… and the vampire too. And you did say that the dogs would be easy." Kent couldn't resist mocking Loretta. Perhaps this would teach her a lesson in a few things.

"Fine," Loretta said after a moment. She took a breath after she was slowly released. She looked Kent in the eye, at least she thought she did, and narrowed her eyes saying, "Do whatever you want to do but I want Sam and Dean Winchester to suffer with the knowledge that they couldn't defend what they hold dear."

Kent took in the expression. It could be loosely interpreted and he could work with that. "Then have your men get into place. I will signal." He turned and disappeared into the shadows of the junkyard.

Kesset knew he was still dreaming. He knew it because he was seeing a few strange things and figured it was because of the fresh round of drugs and beatings he had endured. At least he was confident that Gabriel wasn't the hallucination. And there was some hope there. It was a comfort as he walked through what appeared to be a garden, rubbing his wrists.

The shackles were gone by his own will but his wrists still had burn marks from the iron and the chaffing. It was an indicator it was a dream since he couldn't recall physically escaping and it wasn't like the demon would willingly let him go. As far as he could see, the demon preferred that he suffered in his own head trying to debate what was real and what wasn't. That seemed worse than any physical beating he had received.

He wandered around and tried to determine why he was there in the first place. He was not a dream walker and really hadn't done anything like it before so he wasn't sure if he was even in the right dream. Gabriel had not been able to give him any specifics except to say that it was the realm of the god of dreams and the rules loosely were that the area was what the dreamer made of it and essentially the dreamer was in control. Here it was clear that it wasn't his dream but here he was wandering around it and it had him confused.

As he rounded some shrubbery that was more like what he saw in the gardens of humans where he had been lately, he heard a small voice humming. It was like they were singing. It sounded peculiar and he stretched his head to hear more. It was a pleasant sound to his ears and a substantial change to whatever else had been going on.

Rounding a corner, Kesset found the source of the humming and just stood there. Having been subject to hallucinations, he was hesitant to approach. So he merely stood there and watched the sight that was unfolding in the bushes that contained the familiar flower of jasmine. He didn't have long to wait since he was spotted and a friendly call, "Kess!"

Kesset didn't expect to be nearly tackled into a hug by his charge. He didn't expect much of anything except that which could possibly try to kill him or force him to give up where she was. So he was at a loss of what to do and held his arms up out of the way and looked down as Angela hugged him at the waist and merely blinked. He really had no clue of what to say.

Angela seemed to make up things for him and hugged Kesset around his waist and bounced back to get a good look. "Kess! Youse okay!"

"I'm fine." That was sort of the truth and Kesset wasn't big on sharing feelings.

Angela looked up at Kesset with a slight frown, her head moving side to side like a curious puppy. Her hair swished like a curtain as she studied Kesset, giving him the impression he was looking at the sleekness of the Nile. With her eyes roving up and down, she picked up one of Kesset's hands and looked at it, finding the chafe marks on his wrist. "Kess is hurt," she murmured as she peered at it. "Youse hurted," she repeated looking up at the young guard.

"It's fine little princess." Kesset was a little uncomfortable at the situation. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the gesture but more along the lines that he couldn't work past the differences in their status. She was a princess and he was a guard. That was pretty much the way of things and it was strange how the princess had a disregard for rank and he went with it but deep down he still felt obligated to keep to his position.

Looking down, Kesset watched as Angela looked at his wrist. Her little finger was touching the raw skin and it felt okay. "I'm okay little princess. That is nothing. It will heal." It was better than nothing but even he wasn't sure how well that would be received. It didn't really stop her from inspecting his injuries.

It completely caught him off guard when he felt her little hands touch his broken wing. He felt her cool little hand and jumped forward with a slight sound that Dean would equate with a man being groped. He turned and looked at her staring at him wondering what the hell was wrong with him. He was used to her touching him but it took a lot of effort not to react to the touch since he rather liked it. "What are you doing?"

"Kess feather ruffled. I fix," Angela offered like it was the obvious thing in the world. "N I sees. It hurted."

Kess moved his wing slightly and glanced at it. It still looked mangled even though it had been set. No wonder she was curious and she was going to pester him until he told her. "It was broken."

"Broke? Kess not fly?"

"Not now. And I can't."

"Why?"

"I am stuck where I am."

Angela nodded in understanding. That made sense to her on some level. "I stays here when I sleeps. Sammy said to."

"Sam said to?" From Kesset's view it was a conversation that would take her mind off his injuries.

"Uh-huh. Says Mofus will watch me n keeps the lady with the white eyes away." Angela beamed up at Kesset like it was the greatest thing. "N when I nots here, Sammy n Deanie keeps her away."

Kesset wasn't sure who she was talking about in terms of who was protecting her in this place. He had a couple of ideas but he wasn't going to ask her since she might not understand what she was hearing. From what he could gather was that the demon bitch had come and possibly scared her in her dreams. That would be the only reason why Sam and Dean would allow her to be protected by a person who controls this place.

"Youse hurted. Did the mean lady with white eyes hurt you?" Angela had been watching Kesset as he looked around like he did when Dean asked him to look after her when they found Jesse. She was glad to see Kesset looked okay but he was still hurt. He was being like Dean.

Kesset paused in his looking around to look at Angela. "Why do you ask?"

"Cause she's a mean lady. She stinks bad stink." Angela wrinkled her nose at that. She remembered how the demons smelled. She could smell it on Kesset and it was strange because this was the place of sleeps. Not everything was real. "She hurts you?"

Kesset knew it wasn't a time to be describing the torture he was going through. Still she needed an answer and he thought of how the Winchesters would respond. In his memory it seemed that each brother had a way of explaining things and were good at it. Dean was always ready to explain about family and a few things like the Impala. Sam… more on other things like about herself. He had always been told though to tell it like it was. Dean certainly mentioned that he had no sense of tact but he could say the same about him.

Seeing that she was waiting for an answer Kesset replied, "She has."

"She bwoke your wing."

"Yes."

"Then I tells Sammy n Deanie n theys gank the bisch."

Kesset blinked at what she said. As far as he knew, he never heard her say that before. Certainly Sam would put up a fuss. At this moment though, he was inclined to agree with her assessment of the demon bitch. He replied, "I'm sure they would."

"They wills cause have to get you Kess. The mean lady is hurting you."

"She wants to find you, princess."

Angela looked up solemnly at Kesset. "I knows. Dey mean lady says there is something in my head n she wants it."

To Kesset, she looked almost sad at that. It had him upset and he felt his ratty feathers start to rise in agitation. Every feather that moved, he felt the throbbing. It was like every nerve was on fire or something and he didn't like it. It only increased his agitation and his feathers started ruffling more. "She won't get you little princess. I won't allow it."

"Youse with the mean lady Kess. She hurting you."

"I won't tell her where you are." Kesset started pacing around, his agitation growing.

"But youse needs to tell me where youse is," Angela replied. She didn't like that Kesset was getting so angry. She noticed his feathers ruffling and him hissing when they did. It only made his feathers more ruffled. She looked around and thought about something. She didn't know if she could do it but maybe… She spotted something and trotted off to get it.

Kesset was busy pacing around. He was getting more and more worked up at the whole situation and his resolve to not say anything was getting firmer by the second. The downside was that he was causing himself pain from his agitation and it only made him more upset. He didn't even hear what Angela was telling him and was just growling to himself and his wings hurt. Both of them did.

He looked away and was going to say something when he felt someone touch his wings. It wasn't the princess since he knew her touch. This was different and he did an abrupt turn to see who was touching him. He blinked when he saw none other than Kate. "Um…"

"This is a bit unusual," Kate offered. "The kid there said you needed help." She frowned in confusion, not sure of what to do.

Kesset looked at Kate and then at Angela who was standing there looking very innocent. She said, "Kess feeling mad n I nots reach. Kate can pet n Kess tells me where at. Then I tells Sammy n Deanie." She smiled at that feeling pleased with herself. At Kate's hesitancy she added, "It's okay Kate. Just pet Kess' feathers n it be okay."

Kesset merely blinked as he felt the heat rise on the back of his neck. He looked at Kate who was strangely enough taking this in a stride. He then looked at Angela who was looking like she was waiting but she was also smiling at him. It felt awkward until he felt Kate petting his wings and he looked at her not sure if he should turn and run or what but he did begin to relax and he looked at Angela.

A/N: Looks like Loretta is plotting something with this strange guy named Kent and Kess and Angie talk and a little bit of Angie playing matchmaker again. Stay tuned for next time on Memory Resolved...