CHAPTER TEN

The group all lunged forward only to have Rangda release Dean and flick her wrist once again, this time sending them all backwards.

"If you're gonna kill us, kill us!" Dean yelled, pain lacing his voice as he put his hand to his neck, trying to stop the bleeding. His eyes roamed around the room, trying to find something, anything¸ that could help get them out of this mess.

Rangda scoffed. "Kill you? Oh, Deanie baby, you have no idea how badly I want to do just that. Except, I can't. See, I'm allowed to kill Mommy and Daddy, Bobby, Jo, and even that pet angel of yours. But, I can't kill you. And I especially can't kill Sam."

"Why not?" Sam asked, genuinely curious. If he was being honest, he was also trying to buy time. They all knew that they couldn't handle Rangda in a fight.

And Rangda knew it too.

The demon turned red-stained lips to Sam. "Paimon's a lucifer loyalist. Why do you think I can't kill you?"

Sam paled, swallowing hard. "So Lucifer has a vessel when Paimon releases him."

"Ding ding ding! We have a winner!" Rangda smiled. "So, no Sammy, what Paimon wants is for me to bring you downstairs and put you in a nice comfy cell for safe keeping. And Dean, well." She paused, hungry eyes landing on Dean. "Paimon wants to bring you down to Hell to kill you slowly, over and over again. For the rest of eternity. It was the only punishment he deemed fit for the person responsible for sealing his precious king away. That might not seem like a big deal to the guy who spent 100 years under the torture of Michael and Lucifer but I can promise you this, Paimon's no walk in the park."

"You can take me, just let them go." Sam pleaded, instant shouts of protest coming from his three family members.

Rangda hesitated, opening her mouth to respond when she scoffed. "Which one of you called him?" She asked, red eyes searching the group. "I can practically taste your grace, Castiel. No need to hide!"

Mary held up her phone where she had Castiel's contact information still up on the screen.

Rangda internally cursed herself for wasting too much time monologuing. "Mama Winchester, should've known not to underestimate you. Girl power, right?" She asked, tilting her head before her grin turned into a scowl, red eyes shining with anger. "Too bad it'll be the last call you make." She lifted her hand, her palm becoming engulfed with fire. "Bye now."

Rangda's hand went out as she saw the spot where John and Mary Winchester had just been standing was suddenly empty. "You have got to be kidding me!" She roared, spinning around to look at Sam and Dean. "Running? Really? That's your play?!"

Dean smirked, putting his hand up and waving at her as Castiel appeared, putting a hand on both of the boy's shoulders. "Yep. Bye now."

"No!" Rangda screamed, sending a fire ball at the wall just out of spite.

…

"Alright, new rule, wherever we go and I do mean wherever, we bring the colt."

The group all nodded as they stood around the bunker's library. Dean shook his head, leaning forward and placing his hands on the table in front of him. "That was too close. We were caught with our asses hanging out."

"I'm just glad I was able to get there when I could. It's a good thing that Mary is able to teleport as well. I'm not sure I could've gotten you all out of there fast enough on my own." Castiel admitted, cursing. I should've been with them, he thought, chastising himself.

"Are we going to talk about what Rangda said? About Crowley being chatty?" John asked, crossing his arms.

Mary sighed. "What all do you think he's told them? Do you think they know about this place?"

"Probably-"

"No-"

Sam and Dean exchanged glances. "What do you mean, 'no'? Dude, Crowley is only ever looking out for himself. He'll tell Paimon whatever he wants to save his own skin." Sam stated, his brows furrowed.

"I don't think so." Dean began. "The old Crowley, maybe. I bet he told them just enough that they trust that he's not lying, but he'll keep certain things to himself."

"Well, I'm with Sam." John added, remembering damn well what all that bastard has done to his boys. "It might be in our best interest to rescue the bastard though."

The group all agreed, although some were not as thrilled about the idea as others.

…

"What good are you insufferable demons if you can't catch a measly group of flannel-wearing hunters?!"

Rangda flinched as Paimon's eyes seemed to turn even more black. "Three humans, a low pay grade demon and their pet angel. That's all you have to do. Anyone else you have permission to do away with. Explain to me why that's so difficult." He snarled, lashing out and knocking a vase off the dining room table of the home they considered their base.

The red-haired demon couldn't help but take a step back. So far in all of their interactions with Paimon, he had maintained a calm, cool demeanor. As terrifying as that was, Rangda definitely didn't want to be on the receiving end of Paimon's wrath. "They fled, Paimon. If they had stayed and fought, I could've handled them easily. I can't help that the mom and angel can teleport them away when they're outmatched."

Paimon sighed deeply, smoothing back his hair that had come out of place as he regained his composure. "So. We make it to where they can't just zap off."

Rangda nodded before disappearing, already having an idea on who to talk to about that.

"Seems like your plan isn't going quite as you'd hoped."

Paimon smirked bitterly before turning his attention to his latest pet that was still standing in a devil's trap in the corner of the room.

Crowley only chuckled. "I told you, those hunters shouldn't be underestimated, especially Sam and Dean. Those two have been a pain in my ass from day one."

"And you're sure you don't have any other useful information? Where they like to call home, perhaps?" Paimon asked, eyeing the King of Hell warily. "Because for some reason, that's one thing we can't figure out."

Crowley held up his hands. "That is one tidbit that even I couldn't quite pin down." He answered, watching as Paimon turned his attention away from him.

"Belphegor, I was beginning to think you were going to fail me." Paimon began, looking at the demon that was standing in the threshold between the dining room and the entry way, a pissed off looking hunter in tow. "I see you were at least successful."

Belphegor smiled broadly as he shoved the hunter forward, the lanky guy falling on his knees. He rested his handcuffed hands on his thighs, exhaling loudly. "Listen, I don't know who you guys are-"

"Paimon, the pleasure is all mine." The demon supplied, bowing slightly. "We just need some information. If you can do that, you'll walk right out of here."

The hunter side-eyed the pompous demon. "What kinda information?"

"What can you tell me about the Winchester brothers?" He asked, leaning against the dining room table with his arms crossed.

"Not much. I've never met 'em. Only rumors."

Paimon nodded. "I believe you. But, you did have a working relationship with Mary and John Winchester, did you not?"

The hunter stiffened. "I only talked to John a few times, Mary I talked to a little when she escaped from Azazel but that's all. We didn't share many personal details."

Paimon stood up and approached the hunter, crouching down to where they were nose to nose. "Well, not that I don't trust that you would tell me everything you know, but I think we better make sure."

With a quick hand gesture towards Belphegor, Garth felt something hard hit the back of his head, and then everything went black.

…..

When Aka Manah looked up to see Rangda standing in front of him, to say he was less than thrilled was a major understatement. "What do you want?" He asked, his tone bored as he continued to flip through the magazine that was resting on his lap. He had his feet propped up on a table, not a care in the world as the red-headed demon glared at him.

"Aren't you supposed to be guarding her?" She hissed, looking around the dimly lit abandoned prison that they had taken over. After all, Paimon had big plans and for some of them, he needed a place to hold people.

Aka Manah glanced briefly at her before flipping the page. "I am."

Rangda rolled her eyes. "Paimon wants us to figure out a way to power down the angel. Figured Paimon's prized possession might have a way to do that."

He sighed heavily, taking one hand away from the magazine to rifle through his pockets before pulling out a key and tossing it at her. "Go nuts."

Catching the key with ease, Rangda shot him one last dirty look before heading down the hallway past half a dozen empty cells. Why Paimon had to let loose such a self-righteous asshole would never make sense to her.

Finally making it to her desired cell, Rangda carefully unlocked the door as she watched the prisoner flinch with every sound.

"Please, leave me be."

Rangda couldn't help but smile at the fear-soaked Scottish accent as she shut the cell door behind her, crossing her arms and leaning against the bars. "I need a spell. One that can power down an angel."

…

TBC

I know this chapter isn't as long as the other ones have been, but I just really wanted to get something posted for you guys. I'm sure you all can easily guess who Rangda is talking to, but just for shits and gigs, any guesses? Let me know what y'all are thinking.

-Lindsay