Chapter 10

Angela wandered out into the open spaces of the reservation. She had no idea what she was looking for. The old woman said she was supposed to be out there but like most things that involved those that knew the old way, it was often obscure or made complicated as a test. More often she obeyed to indulge and she always found herself learning something that she would have never learned otherwise. She made her way to a wash and sat on one of the rocks.

"Must you always stoop so low that you are close to the dirt?"

Angela closed her eyes before opening them and standing up. She turned to face the newcomer and said in a controlled voice, "At least I serve a purpose."

Lenya smiled and replied, "Of course you serve a purpose but have you figured this one out yet?"

Angela gave a hard stare. She was tired of Lenya's games but she knew she wasn't strong enough to end it now. Few knew what Lenya was capable of and she was one of those few but it was ultimately Lenya who knew the full range of her capabilities. The same could be said for the purebloods of all the races that she had encountered over the centuries. She replied, "Is it one of yours Lenya? Some low level demon with an unusual talent?"

Lenya laughed. She loved these verbal games she played with little sister. They played them all the time when they could spend every day together in Daddy's special domain. She replied in a giggle, "Now little sister you know the nature of the demon hierarchy."

That told Angela what she suspected. She was dealing with a rage demon. It was a demon high up on the hierarchy. Some of the usual methods of subjugating demons didn't necessarily work on them. Lenya was one such demon and it was the case for this demon that was causing feelings of rage to be spread throughout the town. She also suspected that maybe Dean was affected by it.

On her way up, she had time to think about Dean's behavior. Comparing it to what she had seen, she came to the conclusion that what had been affecting the townsfolk was affecting Dean as well. The fact that he started acting like an ass before they arrived was irrelevant. Now that Lenya confirmed it, Angela suspected that they had been lured here mostly to mess with them in some sick game of theirs. That was the nature of the demons higher up. However since she met the girl Natalia, she was beginning to suspect that there was more to this. She looked at Lenya and replied, "Indeed I do. You made sure that I knew it. So is he a cousin?" The last part she let come out with sarcasm that would have made Dean proud.

Lenya laughed at Angela. "Such sarcasm is unbecoming… unless you like that peculiar habit your pet humans use."

Angela gave a wry grin as she replied, "What can I say? It's a gift and one that takes years, centuries to perfect."

"A horrid talent. Your silver tongue is much better. The ways you are able to persuade your pets to do your bidding, it is better than anything I have ever done." Lenya smiled as she approached Angela. She had a few tricks up her sleeve and it was all for the big finale. "After all you managed to convince the Winchester brothers to take you along."

Angela's defensive instincts went up. Something was up with this line of questioning. There was a reason for Lenya to be making such a minor mistake. She would have to tread carefully. She replied, "I did nothing of the sort. If I'm not mistaken, it was Sam that convinced Dean."

"Ah but I think it's because Sam likes you that he encouraged it. You always were good at convincing the soulful ones like Sam to see your point of view. I seem to recall the last one, a young Irish lad by the name O'Brien."

Angela paused a moment. Sean O'Brien was a hunter she met during the revolution between the Irish and the English. He almost killed her when they first met since he mistook her for the vampire that killed his family when he was a boy but she proved herself when she actually caught the hunted vampire and let him decide its fate. Since then he followed her and she taught him everything she knew about hunting: how to move, how to think under pressure but what she didn't teach him was patience. He trusted her for that and in the end it was his impatience that got him killed when he decided to jump the gun on a hunt against a nest of demons. He left behind a wife and child that she saw to even though the wife hated her for what happened to her husband.

Angela had no idea what this game entailed for Lenya but she was not going to let the bitch defile the memory of the lad. She replied, "He came to me. He asked me. They all do." She glared at Lenya, determined to not let the bitch win at her game. Little did she know she was fighting a losing battle with this.

Lenya laughed at Angela as she replied, "That is the way of it isn't it little sister. Put the blame on them but never yourself. You are more like use every time we meet. It makes me so happy that our time together hasn't been completely lost."

"I am not responsible for a person's choices. I may feel guilty about it later but in the end we all make our choices."

"Keep telling yourself that little sister. You'll find that often those pets you keep will not see it that way." Lenya then looked up at the sun. "Oh my. Looks like I have to run. I have a date with Sammy boy and a little girl who needs to be 'educated' for Uncle."

Angela narrowed her eyes. So that was what this was about? And the bonus was tormenting her. She growled, "You will not touch them."

"Make me little sister. You never could."

Angela knew Lenya was right but this time she had enough. It was like a rage had over taken her at that point but it was a cold rage like what she had seen a long time ago back when… She gritted her teeth as her eyes glowed. She failed to notice that an old man was watching the scene as she launched herself at Lenya drawing out her knife that she still had in her pocket.

Lenya grinned, "Good," and produced a large dagger. She followed through in deflecting the blow and countering with one of her own. She kept it up with sticks designed to stick it to little sister literally. Lenya managed to lock blades and push Angela hard against a rock. "You remember the old ways well."

Angela countered with a head butt to push Lenya away. "That's a little something new." She followed through with a swipe only to have it deflected and a hard blow delivered to her chest. It sent her flying into the rock and her knife fell away.

Lenya advanced looking at the slash Angela had given her on her arm. It stung like hell but it was minor compared to what she said next. She replied, "Keep trying little sister. You'll never win. You'll fold just like you did with John Winchester. You'll leave them as you left him." She was then gone leaving Angela to grit her teeth as she pulled herself up.

"Never," Angela replied to no one in particular. "I made a promise and I aim to keep it and you will meet yours one day."

Ramos had never had so much fun watching two women go at it like it was a title prize fight. He knew Lenya was good and had only heard about what Angela could do. Now he got to see it and he wasn't alone. He glanced over at Dean who was watching the same thing he was and noted with pleasure at the reactions that were being produced.

The mirror was Lenya's idea. She knew that Angela would find the psychic eventually and she knew that Ramos had been having a hard time because of the grandmother. Lenya figured that the old woman would send Angela to the old man in the hills to learn more and set it up so that they could watch things unfold.

It had been easy to convince Dean that Ramos believed in the supernatural and that was how he was a success in getting what he needed to know when it came to his cases. He then showed Dean the most valuable thing in the whole realm of the supernatural. The Essene mirrors were ancient, dating back to the days of the Old Religion and not a whole lot was known about them but Ramos did know that they could be used to see whatever the viewer wanted. This one he had fixed so it would show anything that he wanted others to see.

When he convinced Dean to look at it and manipulated it so that it seemed that Dean accidentally activated it. It was pure luck that it was showing Lenya talking to Angela. It was a treat to see the look on Dean's face as he saw the two of them talk. He loved it when it got to the part where Lenya mentioned the O'Brien brat. He said, "Looks like your friend has a knack for picking up strays and using them."

Dean was listening to the conversation. He was curious about the mirror that Ramos guy showed him and when he touched it, it showed him what he was seeing. He listened to the accusation from the demon bitch and Angela's response. In the back of his mind he knew that Angela wasn't like that but the manner in which she shifted blame to others or well the way she justified things, it didn't sit well. It didn't especially sit well with the fact that Angela even knew that demon and well from the looks of it.

Keep trying little sister. You'll never win. You'll fold just like you did with John Winchester. You'll leave them as you left him.

Dean was familiar with poker terms and to fold meant to cave in. Did she really give up his dad to the demon? Heck was she even there? Dean didn't recall seeing her in the hospital even when he was a spirit wandering the halls. It only confirmed that she was good at sneaking around. Rationally he knew he should talk to Sam and by extension Angela and yet the fact she didn't even bother to say that she knew Dad… that hit close to home.

Learning about Ellen and Jo was a revelation and it turned out well because that was Dad's doing. This was something done by someone who was traveling with him and Sam, eating, hunting and well doing the family business with them and she didn't say a word.

"I know how hard it is to learn that someone you trust has been keeping secrets. I see it all the time." Ramos said as he deactivated the mirror. "The things I've heard about her though, I think it's best that you sever all ties. Do what you can to make sure nothing happens again. It's what I would do."

Dean nodded, not verbalizing. He didn't really want to believe it. After all Angela did manage to take care of the little things that neither he nor Sam would ever think about. She saw to food supplies and her ability to patch up injuries to produce minimal scarring. Yet that was also annoying because she did it without asking and she was so damned nice about it. Maybe it was part of her cover and maybe she was trying to get close to Sam. She certainly was succeeding.

"It's up to you. You were saying that you would do anything for your brother," Ramos said as he gently twisted the ring around his finger.

Dean looked back at the mirror and then at Ramos. He was so confused but there was one thing that he was sure of. He had to get to Sam and talk to him. If he saw Angela, he had no idea what he would do. Suddenly he felt sudden anger as he thought about it some more. He had to do what it would take. She lied and he had to settle the score. He got up and started to make his way towards the door. "Thanks for your help."

Ramos let him go. There was still plenty of time for the plan to go through. No sooner than Dean had gone than Lenya made her appearance. She was holding her arm. He said, "Looks like the bitch bit back."

"Little sister is good but she doesn't have what it takes." Lenya didn't bother to look at Ramos as she checked her injury. She figured that little sister would use a weapon designed to kill demons. The cut would bleed for a while but it was worth it. She could tell that Ramos' idea to toy with Dean further had worked. She had watched as Dean stormed out of Ramos' office with the rage apparent on his face. She guessed that now was time to step it up. "So is everything set?"

Ramos looked in the direction that Dean had taken. It was time now. "Yes. Speak to Azazel. We are ready to set the big game in motion."

Lenya smiled. This made her day. "Of course and I'll send out one to begin the new one's trials before the big dance number. Uncle gave me special instructions. This will be fun."

Sam found his way to the store with little trouble. As he walked through town he noticed more and more people fighting over stupid stuff. There were down and out brawls in the streets among the people and even the police. There was chaos everywhere and it brought back bad memories of Oregon and the Croatoan virus.

Slowly he opened the door, his hand on the handle of his gun. There was no telling what might happen. The door chimed to let the owner know that there was someone in the store. Sam winced slightly at that since he wanted a chance to look around without making noise. He got inside and started looking around.

There seemed to be no one in the store. Sam poked around looking at the merchandize while scoping the place. Checking his watch, he saw that Angela was running late. He contemplated calling her but decided to give her a chance. At least fifteen to twenty minutes. That would give him some time to think about what it was that she wanted to talk to him about. The last time he made a joke, he didn't realize how true it was until she admitted it and he recalled how scared, if that was what he could call it, she looked.

"Help you?"

Sam turned around to see an old woman standing in front of the main counter. Her silver grey hair was bound in a single braid and she was walking with a cane but Sam got the feeling that the old lady was tougher than she looked. He wasn't about to shoot an old woman so he moved his hand from his gun where it was hidden under his jacket and replied, "I'm just waiting for someone. A friend of mine."

The old woman looked at Sam with a straight face before saying, "Hmm. Good boy."

Sam frowned in confusion thinking that the old lady was off her rocker. "Uh thanks… I guess."

The old woman ambled up to Sam and walked around to inspect him. Sam started to feel uncomfortable with the whole thing but decided to indulge the old woman. Though he might have to lay some ground rules down if she started inspecting him like anyone would do with a horse. He did manage to say, "Um what are you doing?"

The old woman didn't say anything until she was finished. She then stood in front of Sam and said, "Good boy. Warrior." She then ambled back to the counter towards a cupboard hidden behind them. "Your friend went to find answers. Troubled she is."

Sam looked up and followed the old woman towards the counter. He had to ask, "What kind of trouble?"

The old woman grunted as she continued to rummage through her cupboard. "Know you should." She found what she was looking for and straightened up. She walked over to the counter and put a box on the counter and opened it. "Work together and you still not know."

"It's not easy when one is reluctant to say anything even after asking," Sam countered. "And even then…" He shrugged his shoulders, not sure of what else to say. How could he describe the situation?

"You are a good boy. You can see past the obvious." The woman took out a small totem on a lanyard. There were some things that weren't shared amongst her people but they were taught and passed down to those like her. Now that she met this one, she could see the connection between them and she could see something. She showed it to the boy. "Good things lie within."

Sam took it to take a look. He had no idea what the thing was and he wasn't about to be rude about looking at it. He had never seen anything like it before. He replied, "I guess they do."

At that moment the door opened and Natalia walked in saying, "Nana I got those supplies you ordered. It's chaos out there." She couldn't see very well in front of her since she had a full bag. She set it on the counter. "There are fights starting all over town. The cops are stretched thin with some of them starting fights with civilians."

Sam took a moment to study the woman in front of him. He said, "I know you."

Natalia looked at the tall guy in front of her and frowned, "Excuse me?"

"Warrior he is," the old woman explained. "Waiting for the other."

Natalia was used to her grandmother's purposeful broken speech. The old women could speak perfect English but she preferred to speak as she did. For whatever the reason, it was her own and Natalia wasn't going to question it. However, this time, Natalia was thrown off guard with her grandmother's response. She covered by replying, "You've been doing your poking and prodding again?"

The old woman let out a laugh. She knew her granddaughter had been caught off guard by another that was just like her. How she knew that was something that she would hope to teach Natalia and had been succeeding to some degree. She replied, "Expected he was."

Sam watched the two women talk. It was obvious that the old woman knew something about him and Angela for that matter. How much was something that was left to be known and judging from how the whole conversation had been going on, that was not going to happen in the near future. He interrupted, "Look, I really don't know what is going on but I'm supposed to meet a friend of mine here. Did she come by?"

Natalia looked at the tall guy. She liked him and reminded him of her husband. However there was something off about him… like there was about her. She realized that he must have been talking about Angela and she was more than willing to help out. Anything to thank the woman who helped her baby and she trusted Nana's judgment. Maybe they could both help the town. She replied, "Was her name Angela?"

"Yeah. We're working on a case with my brother," Sam replied wondering if the girl forgot about his earlier comment.

"She was here but she left but she said that she would be back." Natalia took the bag and started taking things out and putting them away behind the counter. "I never got to thank her for her help."

Sam had been looking around the shop and noticed that there were heavy duty items for powerful magic and spells about the place. He spotted some sigils that looked like they were designed to repel things like demons. They were not the traditional ones that he knew like devil's traps but he guessed they were pretty effective. He heard the girl talk about Angela and he replied offhanded, "She likes to give help. The thanks is something she's working on. It's just her way. You've got some interesting sigils here."

"Nana drew those. She's a follower of the old way," Natalia replied as she walked over to look. "She knew something was up in this town before things started happening."

"Waiting for Courage and the Warriors."

Sam glanced at the old woman before whispering, "Is it just me or does she do that on purpose?"

Natalia gave a short laugh, "Nana knows things and you're not the first to get turned off by her poking and prodding." She went back to sorting out the purchases. "Your friend though was a bit more reserved. I think she liked Nana's poking."

"That's a first," Sam replied as he continued to look around. He glanced at his watch and saw that his fifteen minutes were up. He put his hand in his pocket to pull out his cell phone. "Usually she gets a bit defensive when people poke and prod."

"Perhaps the right questions are not being asked and usually most people are reluctant to say anything back to her," Natalia replied. "I'm used to it since she raised me." She noticed that Sam was fingering his phone and judging from the look on his face, he was concerned. She thought it kind of sweet even if it was clear even to her that he wasn't aware how much it was showing. She smiled slightly and said, "If you are wondering where she is, you better call her. I'll just go back and check on Jerry. Ever since she paid a visit, he's been doing better." She then walked towards the back and motioned towards her grandmother to follow.

Sam watched them leave. He wasn't stupid and he heard that last bit about Angela helping someone and smiled. That settled a few things in his mind. Even if some of the things she had done seemed questionable at first, he was sure she was not like that at all. She had never done anything to put either him or Dean in danger and in fact was willing to jump in first. He didn't like it that she got hurt over it since he had to see the bruises and the cuts afterwards but that was the job they did. He was going to tell her what he thought and he would take care of Dean. He flipped open his phone and found that he had a message waiting for him. He was going to listen to it when it started ringing. Recognizing the number, he pushed the button to receive it, "Hey Bobby."

Where have you two idjits been? I've been trying to reach you.

Sam frowned, "Bobby, I haven't gotten any calls except this one and I'm guessing that you left the message on my voicemail?"

Well I wasn't going to write to ya.

Sam gave a slight roll of his eyes, "You try Dean?"

Called and even did that thing, what is it? Texting. Nothing.

"I didn't think you'd ever learn."

Shut up Sam. I've been trying to reach you. I think I may have found something. Might be a demonic omen.

Sam frowned slightly listening to Bobby on the other end. Something wasn't right here. "What are you talking about Bobby? Dean, Angie and I are already on a job here in Hudson, Wyoming."

About folks going postal for no reason at all?

"Yeah. You called Dean and now we're here."

Sam, I just found this out now. I never called Dean about this.

Sam felt his breath hitch a bit. Someone or something was messing with them in a bad way.

A/N: Uh oh, the beans have been spilt and now Sam knows that it was not a coincidence. What to do now? Find out next time on Darkened Rage...