I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING YOU RECOGNISE

CHAPTER TEN: THE PAST ISN'T SOMETHING I'M PROUD OF...

"I sat on the edge of the bed, watching James in the moonlight, as he pulled his shirt over his head. I smiled, holding up my hand, so that my engagement ring glinted in the light. There was a knock at the door. Boston is a large place, not many people live in this area, but it's just right for James and me. I pulled open the door, and my mother walked into the room, holding her bloody hand against her chest. I helped her into the bathroom, where James fussed around with bandages, and cloths. Suddenly, I felt a pain in my head, it was different than a migraine, it was... a vision. I fell back onto the bed, my head in my hands. I could hear my fiancé asking me if I was alright, but I couldn't answer. Pictures flashed through my head, and two people I recognised. Lillith and Ruby, here in Boston? I couldn't believe it. I haven't seen my sisters in years, and now, this vision thing is telling me that they are here? When the pain subsided, I ran back into the bathroom to help James. My mother was muttering something about dad trying to kill her, but I just pushed it down to her being drunk... again.

James led her into the lounge, and poured her a cup of coffee. I sat in the arm chair, watching my mother intently. There was a loud bang, and the front door was kicked in. James pushed me behind him, protecting me from whoever it was. My father, followed by my sister's and brother walked into the lounge. The last thing I remember, is watching my fiance die. He killed mum first, then James... Lillith, Ruby and Nick, standing over me, telling me that it's time I joined them... I saw my father's eyes: yellow! I raised my hand again, and they all disappeared... I was alone... my fiance was dead... Anger rose up in me... "

I pulled into the abandoned warehouse I had told Cass about, and got out of the car. There was silence. Nothing apart from the rumble of the Impala pulling in beside me, and the creak of the doors as the Winchester's got out. I waited for them, knowing that making them come with me, is handing them to Zachariah. Dean is going to kill me for this, but it can wait, now is not the time for fighting. We have to find Lucifer, and smoke him back into his hell-ridden cage. That son-of-a-bitch is going down, and so help me god, I will be the one to put him back there.

'I knew you boys would come to your senses,' Zachariah said

'We're not here for that, we have another way,' I said, as Sam and Dean looked at each other

'Oh you do! The demon spawn has another way... Well, enlighten us...'

'Okay first, demon spawn, that's mean, secondly, I am not telling you anything you filthy piece of crap, and thirdly, don't you have anything better to do than chase the Winchester's around, trying to get them to say yes?'

'What do you want Ashley?'

'Lucifer... here...' I said

Sam stepped forward, telling me that I am insane and that I was going to get them all killed. I told Sam that I have a plan, and if he wants to live, he should go and stand with Dean, and shut up. Zachariah facial expression told me that I had his attention, which is good, because I hate not being listened too, especially by angels. They think they're so good, up there in the clouds, like they own the planet, when we're all down here, fighting and losing lives every day. Cass is the only sane one of the bunch. I swear, he's nothing like the others. Dean was twirling Ruby's knife around behind his back, I don't know why. It can't kill angels, and unless he wants to die, I knew he wouldn't use it on me. Zachariah asked me what my plan was, and I told him that I knew a way to jam the devil back in the box, and save the world from total destruction so that he, and his pack of dick brothers could go back to the democracy they have going on up there. Sam listened intently, saying my name when I said something that was going to get me killed. Dean was waiting for me to flip, or for Zachariah to flip. Either way, he wasn't worried about what I was saying. I shook hands with Zachariah, and then he was gone. This plan better work, because it's the only thing I've got. I told Sam and Dean to take cover, because the devil is coming, but them, being Winchester's, didn't budge. I told Sam to not say yes, whatever he does; he's not to say yes. I don't know whether he listened or not, I was too busy preparing myself for the takeover by the devil.

Uncle Lucifer is stronger than me, and he won't be able to maintain himself for long, because I'm not his true vessel, in fact, I'm not his vessel at all, but I do have powers which enable me to be possessed by the devil. I saw Sam, out of the corner of my eyes, watching me, nothing but concern. Dean had the angel killing knife raised, ready to attack if Lucifer is too strong.

'I have to tell you something before this happens,' I said turning to the Winchester's.

'What?' Dean asked

'Yellow eyes, he killed my fiancé, James about a year ago. I know it's not relevant, but if I don't live through this, I want you to find yellow eyes, and waste that barstard!'

'Ashley, is that...?' Dean asked, pointing to the light.

I closed my eyes, preparing myself for the takeover. Thoughts ran through my head. I am a demon, I am a demon, I am a demon, this is who I am. I had to think dark. It's the only way that Lucifer will be able to take over my body and soul. I didn't need anyone else to help me, I didn't need anyone else to tell me who I really am, because I know who I am... I am the devil's niece... the only other person, beside Azazel, who can change the world. Lucifer appeared in front of me, his almost burnt out vessel collapsing at my feet as the Devil took over. I didn't feel any different, but I wanted death, and power and destruction... I didn't want the world to survive, I wanted t he humans to pay... Sam Winchester... Sam Winchester... I turned around, and was face to face with the true vessel. She brought him right to me, that's a good girl Ashley. My brother must have taught her well. Sam looked at me, some kind of emotion on his pale face. Who does he think I am? His girlfriend? I raised my hand, trying to control the powers that Ashley already had, but I couldn't manage to knock Dean off his feet. I'm weak... Why am I weak? This body is more powerful than the other one...? I felt myself coming back, taking control of my body. My thoughts became my own. I was preparing for this. I can control the devil; I can take over and destroy him...

There was a moment, just for a split second, where I wanted to kill Dean, and make Sam say yes, but I was in control. My name is Ashley Bates, and this is my body...

As we come to the end of this story, there is something that you should know. Over the next six weeks, Ashley Bates was consumed by the Devil. She was held in restraints, in a cage, by Sam and Dean Winchester, until she was able to contain Lucifer. The next chapter of this story starts, about three months after the events of this day...

Nashville Tennessee

April 23rd 2010

Sam sat on the spare bed. I didn't know what to say. In fact, I couldn't say much. This house... It's where I grew up, it's where my family was killed, and being here again... it hurts, but Sam and Dean need to know. They need to see who I am, who I was before all of this happened. I'm just a country girl, who lost her family, and wanted peace. I don't know much about that, but I can see that Sam and Dean understand. Oddly enough, I don't think my life would have been different if this hadn't of happened. Before I could do anything, Dean pulled a large pink box out of my cupboard and placed it on the bed. He opened it, and smiled. Sam wasn't watching his brother; instead, he was looking at something I had stuck on the far wall of my bedroom.

'My sister drew it when she was five. I loved it, so I put it there. We used to be normal you know... before Azazel...'

'Ash, no one blames you for what happened to your family... It...'

'Excuse me...' I said walking off to answer the door.

'Sam, check this out...' I heard Dean say loudly...

Castiel was standing on the doorstep, as I opened the front door. He turned and smiled, handing me some flowers and a card. I invited him inside, and he took the time to look around, before following me to where the Winchester's were. Dean held up a little purple notebook, and asked if he could open it. I told him that I didn't want any secrets, and that he could do what he liked. The past isn't something I'm proud of, but Sam and Dean are the only family I have now, and they deserve to know... Castiel joined the guys on the bed, looking at all the things Dean had taken out and sprawled all over the bed. Sam read over his brother's shoulder, taking his time to check and double check the things I'd written when I was fourteen-eighteen years old.

'This is dark...'Castiel said

'I was a demon. What did you expect? Love notes to famous celebrities, and girly flower references? Get into the real world Angel boy,' I said leaving the room

'Did I say something wrong?' I heard Cass ask

'Sam, this isn't a good time. I need you and Dean to leave. Please?' I asked, wrapping my arms around myself

Sam nodded and headed back to the bedroom. I didn't want to kick them out, I didn't want Sam to leave, because they are the only thing I have in this world, still close to me, and I don't want them to be taken away as well. Before I could do anything else, Cass was standing beside me, holding my hand, and smiling. Angel's are strange, especially this one. I had no idea what Cass was playing at, but I knew that it couldn't be normal, because nothing that Castiel does is ever normal. The look on Sam's face when Cass took my hand was priceless, and I couldn't help but laugh at the youngest Winchester. Dean, who must have noticed as well, also began laughing, whilst Castiel and Sam stood looking at us strangely, waiting for us to explain what was going on. I was laughing so hard, I didn't see the dark figure moving outside my bedroom window, until it was too late.

The crashing of the glass, and Sam pushing me down behind the bed, was when I was knocked back into reality. Castiel was crouched down beside Sam and I, which is massively strange. I have no idea what happened next, because I was knocked unconscious by an unknown object, as Sam and Dean stood to fight the creature.

'Hello Ashley, I thought you might return home...'