CHAPTER 10: STRANGER

I do NOT own any of the Supernatural characters. Season 7 just aired in our country, and I'm terribly angry with Kripke and Sera for taking Bobby away. MEANIES!

Looking into your eyes

Feeling like I know you

From some other life,

Other time maybe

There is a warmth

In your smile

That is familiar

But unknown

How is that I know you

Though we've never met before?

How can I connect this way

To one who is but a stranger?

"Just one chance. That's all I'm asking of you, Arya." I sighed and turned away from Jason's imploring eyes. He's begged and begged and managed to make me meet him at Starbucks. He knew very well how puppy dog eyes were my weakness. I'd never been able to resist lost pets and street urchins.

Now he could see me melting little by little, and that annoyed the crap out of me. His blue eyes begged me to consider from across the table, and I found myself feeling unsure. Maybe you were a little too hard on him, Arya... Wait. Of course not. Of course I hadn't been too hard on him. He deserved what he got. Or...did he?

Ugh. I was never going to decide like this. Jason did, after all have many redeeming qualities- he was good looking, popular and fun. And such a good kisser too, whispered the slightly lustful part of me. I mentally shushed it and then turned to glare at Jason. I wasn't going to let this person screw with my judgment any longer, but I had to give him that one chance.

He eyed me nervously. "What are you staring at?" I literally barked. "Go get me a latte." He nodded. quickly and jumped up, the skittish look never leaving his eyes. What a baby, I couldn't help thinking contemptuously. "Regular non-fat" I told him, and then turned to look out of the window.

The day was bright, and sunny. A couple of kids pranced by on the sidewalk. Licking icecreams and chattering. A little dog ran round and round a tree, yapping up at it. It was just the kind of day I wished everyday could be like. I also wished whatever it showed was real- that darkness is washed away by sunlight, and there are no dangers lurking in the corner to reach out and grab you, with no one to hear your scream.

And then my eyes fell on her. She stood at the corner of the road, the light breeze sifting through her dark hair and ruffling it. And she was looking at me. Staring. She seemed very urgent as she gazed earnestly at me, her focus never wavering.

Great, I got up and pushed my chair back. Now I'll have to go and see what Creepo-Mama wants with me, I guess. Once outside the coffeehouse, I paused briefly. What if she was just waiting for someone else? I'd end up looking like a complete fool then. But I was feeling this almost irresistible pull towards her, so I gave in and walked over to the woman on the pavement.

Her face lit up when she saw me approach. When I came closer, I was hit with the startling realization that this woman was... simply speaking, beautiful. And it was so amazing, because she really was nothing like the so called beauties we knew in the glamour world. Monica Bellucci would look transparent in comparison to her.

She had wide dark eyes, which sparkled with a multitude of emotions, and full, sensuous lips which were drawn into a small, happy smile at the moment. Her midnight black hair brushed her shoulders and was styled simply. The white suede dress she wore elegantly complemented her smooth cafe au lait complexion. Then she spoke.

"You came." She said softly in a richly melodious voice. Her eyes shone as she took me in. "You are so beautiful" she breathed, and a tear made its way down her cheek. I stared in surprise. Who was she? Why was she acting like she knew me? "I'm s-sorry" I managed to stammer out. "But do I know you?" "Know me?" she cried out disbelievingly. "Why, child, I'm-"and then she stopped, frowning, as though she remembered something suddenly. "Of course you wouldn't" she murmured, and my heart lurched at the infinite sadness in the stranger's eyes.

"I'm sorry" I said, not wanting her to feel any more upset than she already looked. Something inside me throbbed in harmony with the pain reflected in her lovely features. She shook her head. "Don't apologize, Arya. It's not your fault." I stiffened. "How do you know my name?" I demanded angrily. "Who are you? What are you?"

"I'm not a demon or a monster of any sort" she replied, a note of pleading entering her voice. "I'm not here to hurt you." "Then what are you exactly, and why should I trust you?" I glared defiantly at her. "You have no choice" she said evenly. "As for my identity, some of it is quite visible." She gestured around us. What the hell? Murky grey rainclouds had replaced the azure sky. The wind had started blowing in gales now, and the sky was getting dark and stormy.

Then I looked at the spot directly above the stranger woman's head, and gasped. Sweet Mother of... "What's that?" I pointed to the mini tornado that seemed to be revolving right above her. She glanced up and it tilted slightly. The centre parted and a bolt of lightning zapped through it. I flinched. "It's part of who I am" she said, looking unsure. Then more urgently, she grabbed my hands and whispered, "You need to be careful, Arya. Danger awaits you." "What?" I hated cryptic warnings and messages. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"Stay away from angels" she said each word, every syllable as carefully as one would whielt trying to teach the alphabet to a toddler. She noticed how I bridled, and said, "Don't take this lightly. I'm not insulting you, I'm only warning you. Please. Stay away from angels." I thought of Castiel, and wondered how much this woman knew and how.

I just nodded, and the look of wild desperation in her eyes vanished, though the pain still lingered. She smiled. "I can give you one clue as to who I am" she said, and taking my hand again, pressed it in hers. A series of images flooded into my head. It was like watching a sequence of reels. Only this movie wasn't so enjoyable. It showed a red, boiling sky, under which shouts and wounded cries echoed all over what appeared to be a battlefield. Bodies lay all around, and on top of the biggest, most gruesome heap, stood the woman.

One could see no traces of the warmth or of the sweetness she had offered me. Her face was still beautiful, but that beauty was terrible. Her eyes were full of wrath, and when she smiled, I knew for the first time, the true meaning of bloodlust.

I opened my eyes with a gasp, and shuddered. The stranger still stood in front of me, looking as normal as ever. Seeing my look, she spoke gently. "That is only one side of me, dearest. There are many facets to my personality, which I will reveal when the time is right." "We'll meet again?" I scolded myself silently for the over-eager tone that crept into my voice. I barely knew this woman! Why was I yearning to meet her again?

She smiled, a genuine, honestly happy smile. "Yes, we will. But it may not be for a long time." I smiled back like a nursery kid. There it went again! For God's sake, I didn't feel so excited even to see my own mother when she got back from a hunt! But every bone in my body was claiming that this woman was no stranger. Something deep inside me felt connected to her, and the whole thing was so stupid, it made me frustrated.

"We will meet again" the woman repeated, smiling kindly. Then after a moment's hesitation, as if she could hold on no longer, she cupped my cheek in her hand gently for a second, and then pulled away. I stared at her in shock. She looked at me through teary eyes. "Take care of yourself, dear one." And then so quietly I wasn't even sure I heard it, "I love you."

There was a rush of wind and when I blinked, she was gone. Only the traces of her brief presence lingered in the air and caressed me ever so softly, and for a second, it brought tears to my eyes. That touch had felt so much like my mother's, but it was the stranger to whom it belonged. I did not know her... or did I?

Ooh...so who do you think this mysterious beauty is? Major character introduction coming up. Stay tuned, and don't hate me if it takes ages to update, because school is truly hectic these days. And please, review You know it takes me to cloud nine!