Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange mind.
Chapter 10: Hell is Where it Ends
She stopped him from lighting another cigarette noting his eyes turn to a deeper amber than she had seen before. "That means only one thing…" he lowered his lighter meeting her curious blue gaze and cringed. "…I will go straight back to hell after." She withdrew her hand in surprise watching him light another cigarette a visible shake within his slender hands.
"He may be right on that." She felt a strange constriction within her, a fear she didn't know she could manage after ten years away from the opposite sex. She had grown to care for another man, demonic powers and all and would have to allow him to go straight to hell, literally. She determinedly started to lift through the various books Dean had acquired during their visit, noting half the occult section piled on the table and took a deep breath.
"You aren't going to hell…" she found the book she was looking for and started to rifle through the familiar volume. It had been the one she found a few interesting ideas in when they had originally visited the dusty volumes for information on all four of the books. "…not if I have anything to do with it." She was absently muttering and hadn't realized she had said it aloud until she noticed his brows rise with a curious expression on his face.
He leaned forward holding his cigarette aside, eyes shifting amber again. "What exactly does that mean Bella Whitney?" he couldn't resist the familiar smug smirk and watched her gaze slowly meet his.
"I'm not sure on that myself Dean Corso." She considered his amused body language and noticed the familiar amber glow was more of a warm honey color. This observation made her a little unnerved but she continued to search through the book, brushing aside his comment for the moment.
She watched his hand slowly reach over grasping the book and attaining her attention. "You failed to answer the question Bella." She felt her eye twitch with a familiar irritation that he seemed awfully good at managing.
She tugged on the book, glaring when his grasp tightened on the volume. "It means I'm going to be the only one pushing you around for a while, you have to help me repair my store and other damages thank you." She then heaved the book from his grasp and continued to scan the pages, hoping her face wasn't as flush as she felt it might be. "I lied." She bit her lip finally finding the paragraph she was after and continued to read it several times over.
He studied her carefully after her comment, taking notice to the faint tint that seemed to stretch across her face. If Lilith had attempted to ruin the strange discovery the two were making about one another, it had failed miserably. Bella had again allowed herself from that shell she had protected herself with. He could feel the change within her and allowed his gaze to linger taking in her appearance more closely then before.
Her long lashes hid her blue gaze well when she was intent on finding information, her wavy hair falling half hazardously over one shoulder and the other half remaining across her back. He noticed she didn't sit rigid but was slack almost slouching within the chair, her thin fingers holding the book as though it was a delicate antique. She had always opted for a conservative clothing choice, her long sleeved deep blue sweater and loose tan jeans another of her many conservative choices since he had met her. He had gathered she wasn't overly confident with herself, and actually liked being alone away from people. She had withdrawn into herself further thanks to meeting Gabriel and over time was starting to find herself again.
He noted her attention shift from one page to the other and saw her brow furrow in concentration. "She looks almost cute…in a bookish, nerdy way." He knew that she was far from that though, she had a temper, brains and a sharp tongue when she needed one. Bella was not unattractive, but her barriers and apprehensive nature made her seem to most not much fun. He found her extremely amusing, fun and often entertaining, she was his exact opposite of what he usually found intriguing within a woman. "Stop! You're acting like a drooling school kid." He shook aside his thoughts unaware of her intense flush behind the book she now had blocking her.
She had seen his observations of her and took notice to the strange smile on his face, she knew that look from experience. He was not only attracted to her, but seemed to find her rather interesting in the sexual department; she could see it within his gaze. "Great…now I'm letting my mind wander to things that shouldn't even get my attention." She continued to concentrate on the book and finally sighed in defeat.
She watched his eyes shift from a dark amber to that honey color and back to his normal brown in a matter of minutes. "There was something in a book…but I can't remember which one and it wasn't this one." She placed the book aside, crossing her fingers and resting her chin on them watching his face for a sign of defeat.
He reached over to her notebook and twisted it around studying her various side notes, diagrams and other useful tidbits. "I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't in this somewhere…you have a tendency to over compensate with information…" he glanced up seeing her eyes narrow at him in irritation. "…I did mean that in a good way." She grasped the notebook and ignored his amused smirk scanning the various pages.
"I still hate you." She allowed her attention to fully examine all her extras in hopes that he might be correct in his assumptions.
"I highly doubt that Bella…" she met his eyes watching them again shift to the soft honey amber color. "…as I recall you 'like me' and…" he considered her thoughtful expression and smiled smugly. "…I think there's more to that than you are letting on, because you looked strangely flush earlier and it isn't exactly warm in the library." He smirked noting her face tint faintly again before lighting another cigarette and watching her study him.
"You are full of yourself." She allowed her attention back on the notebook and paused hearing a strange unnerving silence within the library. "Quiet Sneak." She murmured hearing a deep growl come from the once napping cat and realizing the familiarity within that growl. "Damn." She grabbed all the information they had compiled and shoved it over to Dean, who immediately put it in his satchel and watched her gather her coat and sneak.
"This way." She allowed him to grasp her hand and both immediately started to the back exit of the library, judging by Sneaks growl whoever had silenced the library was certainly not friend.
He pulled her along several rows of the familiar books she had often visited when bored at work, pushing her into a narrow area behind one of the many rows and out a side door she hadn't realized existed. She halted nearly colliding with him watching his now amber eyes scan the area below them. There was no sign of hell hounds or anyone else, the stairway was free and clear all the way down to the still hidden motorcycle. He quickly pulled her down the stairs; their feet making a strange grating echo which she was sure would draw someone's attention eventually.
She climb on behind him, feeling Sneaks claws again announcing their presence within her coat and wincing in slight pain. "It wasn't the hellhounds." She managed before wrapping her arms securely around his torso and leaning into him against the wind.
"I know Bella…much worse." He took comfort in her arms riding along the back roads again, trying to enjoy the country side and failing at the attempt. They were in a whole mess of trouble and their search had yet come to an end, he had to get her and himself to safety and very soon. He was growing weary with all the chaos that had taken place and knew very well she was probably as exhausted as he was. He took several rights in hopes that the familiar run down motel was still in business, especially because it was out of the way and another place he would not normally retreat to. He had only chanced various less then pleasing places during his meetings with the clients that preferred the hovels for their secrecy and he was strangely glad he had, had those clients due to the current situation.
There would be a warm place to stay, food due to the restaurant nearby and it would be a place to hopefully rest and do more research. His eyes were now amber due to concern and frustration at the mess he had dragged Bella into. Against everything Dean Corso stood for he had somehow found someone that would deal with him, arrogance and all. It was strange to find himself truly caring for someone other than himself, refreshing in a sense. He smiled slightly feeling her shift tighter cursing at Sneak for using his claws on her again. "I think I could fall in love with her." He immediately allowed his mind to go over that thought, had he finally found someone to settle with? Someone he could stand and that could keep him in his place in turn? He could almost hear the only friend he remembered having, Bernie would be mocking him in a familiar teasing manner until he saw how serious this was, and then he wouldn't be able to get him to shut up. "The Ninth Gate claimed him during my less than appealing adventure." He sighed tiredly at how those three books had seemed to control his life.
Now it was one book and the mess they were in was an even more dangerous and bigger mystery than before. "Dean…where are you going?" he snapped from his thoughts hearing just how tired she really was and mentally cursed the menaces following them.
"Someplace safe…again not the best place to stay, but safe for a while." She nodded against his back stifling a yawn, before closing her eyes briefly against the comfort of cigarettes, very mild cologne and scotch that had become very familiar with being close to him. "Are you alright?" again he could feel her nod and let out a breath of relief.
Finally he came to his destination pulling off to the side of the road and onto a rather bumpy road. Another less then pleasant motel, but she knew it would be safe and conveniently out of range of trouble for a while, at least she hoped so. She hadn't been so tired in a long time and the idea of getting somewhere to rest was appealing, she found herself strangely happy at the idea of Dean being with her now. "He got to me." She realized allowing the softest of smiles on her face, before glancing up seeing the bike was off to the side of the rooms.
She climb off keeping Sneak close to her chest and followed Dean to the office. She didn't take much notice to the run down tan room deemed an office; all she cared about at that point was a bed. Her attention was reluctantly drawn to the dismal scarred wood counter, and the short chubby man eyeing them. He had a smirk that stated contrary to why she and Dean were at the motel, his shiny bald head glinting from the yellow lights above them. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the amused leer and hid her face within Dean's shoulder. Bella was in no mood for anyone at the moment, her patience had finally run out with everything and everyone, except strangely enough the one that had gotten her into the mess to begin with.
Wearily she felt Dean carefully move toward the screen exit and cuddled Sneak close to her chest on their way out. Rain was pelting the over hang and everything else was similar almost to a perfect double of their previous motel, this time though the beat up red door had a number nine instead of six, another of those irony's she disliked during their current mess. Inside the room the walls were scarred, dented and a sickly peach color that seemed to clash with the nearly gold rug and the bathroom she assumed was no worse.
Bella allowed Sneak his freedom walking over to the backside of the large bed with tan linens, she dropped her coat over the desk chair within the room and flopped tiredly among the mattress. Her eyes instantly fell closed with exhaustion her only excuse.
Dean turned to say something to Bella, even if he wasn't quite sure what it may have been and saw she was already asleep. Strangely enough he smiled at her careless manner of flopping across the bed; carefully he walked over maneuvering the blankets open and lifted them over her. He took a quick inspection of all escapes and exits of their room before sliding on the other side and closing his own eyes tiredly. He was surprised slightly when she shifted in her sleep somehow getting closer to him, he cautiously wrapped his arm around her and smirked feeling her shift tighter at the action. "I think I'm growing on her." Before he could allow his thoughts to wander over the less then pleasing events of the day he was asleep.
Reluctantly a soft purring sound stirred Bella from her sleep, eyes lingering on the yellow gaze of Sneak. She smiled feeling his rough pink tongue graze her nose and gently rubbed under his chubby chin. Her instincts took over following the weight around her waist and lingered on the familiar arm draped over her body, his thin fingers gently pressed against her abdomen. "I remember once I would have broken his arm for that." Instead of waking him, she cautiously brushed her fingers against his hand watching it slowly shift away from holding her.
He squinted in the dreary light of the familiar room, feeling a soft touch on his hand and moving it lightly over his face trying to wake up. "She's awake." He smiled watching Sneak's ears perk his direction and noticed the yellow eyes close contentedly when her fingers resumed scratching his chin. Her hand fell from his chin, feeling Dean's fingers slowly brushing at her hair and slowly she shifted rolling over on her back seeing his amused amber colored eyes shift.
"I had a feeling that would wake you up." She winced feeling Sneak use her for a bridge between the pair and flop down between them. "Heavy." She complained rubbing her stomach where if felt like a ton of bricks had parked.
Dean chuckled at her discomfort before brushing the cat's soft black fur. "I remember…" he stopped seeing she had sat up slightly and was eye level with him. "Yes?" he felt strangely unnerved by her intense gaze, wondering what it was that made him so anxious.
She saw the curiosity within his eyes; she knew he wanted her in the same aspect as she did him. Bella had a slight problem though, more of a secret she had kept to herself for a very long time. She had never slept with Gabriel because she could never bring herself to love a man that would willingly hurt her, and she had never loved any man she had ever dated either. Long ago she promised herself that she would only be with the man that she could love, a man that could somehow be her equal in a sense and her prince charming. Nyx had sworn to her she expected far too much and would be a lonely old cat lady, she figured Nyx was right back then and resigned herself to the lonely old cat lady theory. "I think I might be falling in love with him. I know I don't want to loose him, especially to hell." The thought seemed to hurt her deep within her chest, a place she didn't really consider being hurt before.
She let out a slow breath smiling warmly. "Nothing…I think I need a shower." She slowly retreated from the bed and gathered her things. She could feel his gaze following her, an inquisitive expression lingering on his face.
She retreated to the broken tiled peach bathroom, wrinkling her nose at the gold tiles that hung at varying angles on the cracked walls. "Perfect." Her sarcasm was expressed in her face by the nearby fractured mirror, her eyes narrowing curiously as thoughts filed through her head. "Do I really care that much?" instead of contemplating those issues, she striped her clothing and dove into the hot shower, hoping she could sort her thoughts while there.
Slowly Dean slid to the edge of the bed, fingers straying across the pillow beside him. Something in her gaze had thrown him off and his heightened senses had picked up on several of her emotions. All those emotions had been varying degrees of confliction and an underlying anxious quality. He knew she wasn't afraid of him, but something within herself had caused a small fear to spark behind those blue eyes. Sneak seemed to sense the tension within his master and leaned under his hand resting on his knee, feeling Dean stroke his head lightly in his own thoughts. "Did she see something in me…did I give away my thoughts somehow?" he shook his head, now he was confusing himself and this wasn't healthy in his opinion.
He made a plan to step out of the room and take in the fresh air, smoking a cigarette his eyes focusing on the heavy drizzle making things far darker then it actually was. His attention was still lingering in the distance when he felt something wet land on his head. He glanced up feeling another drop on his nose and noticed a leak within the overhang. "She must be out and about by now." He started to flick away the butt of his cigarette, before pausing eyes closing at the warm presence behind him. He could still sense the unease, but something had apparently settled enough to be explained.
Bella smiled slightly at his risen brow, before shrugging at her less then appropriate clothing choice. Lounging outside on a rainy day within an oversized fluffy blue robe wasn't the smartest choice, nor was the matching flip flops on her feet. She tilted her head at the amused spark within his now honey amber gaze and remembered her decision nervously.
Instead of allowing him to come near her outside among the dampness, she retreated through the doorway and turned at the sound of it clicking with a determined sound behind her. She knew his heightened senses were at work, he was strangely concerned judging by his expression. Finally she met his now brown gaze an almost forced smile gracing her lips.
He watched her damp hair curl at her shoulders, before brushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "Bella?" the question within his voice was enough for her to find her courage after a long shower and talking to herself for nearly twenty minutes.
She lowered her hands to her sides, eyes tracing his now familiar appearance, his hair more disheveled then usual due to resting. "I have to tell you something…" he stepped almost guardedly toward her, instead of flinching or backing away like he was used to she seemed to hold her ground. "…You've been acting different and at the library…" he paused in his step nearly choking at the tone in her voice, what was she about to say to him?