"So what's the plan?" Sam asked flicking his gaze from angel to angel who had still yet to look away from Soda.
"We can not get close to the disc" Castiel replied, "They have-"
"Angel proofed?" Dean offered when Castiel hesitated.
"In a manner of speaking" Anna said smiling humorlessly "We can take care of the demons in the museum and get you into the room but you will have to deal with the demons there."
"All you have to do is get the soul close enough to the disc to be able to place her hands on it" Castiel added.
"We believe that whatever action Soda will be required to perform will then be able to take place of its own accord" Anna finished. Dean looked at first one angel then the other for the first time since Anna's return noticing that there was a difference between them. Where Castiel had begun to stop calling Soda 'it' only Anna referred to her by her name.
"So then we just sit back, relax and knock back a few cocktails while Soda dies?" Dean scowled "While she destroys her soul?"
"There are no other options" Castiel replied, "I know you wont believe me but I am sorry Dean."
Dean scowled at the angel but didn't answer. For the first time he almost felt like he actually believed the angel. Almost.
"I must return, Michael and Gabriel will be awaiting my report" Castiel said after a moment, "I believe you should come." Anna didn't answer for a second as she fixed him with a piercing stare as though she was trying to read his true intent in his eyes.
"It may be best" Anna sighed at last, "Do nothing until we return," this she directed mostly at Dean before the angles disappeared with a blink.
Dean, Soda and Sam glanced around at the sound of a scream. A horse float was swaying dangerously as the driver quickly braked opening his door with a frantic expression. A horse trumpeted its protest as its hind legs landed securely on the closed float bending the hinges out of shape with the force of the blow. Two horses eventually broke free their coats cut and bleeding from the battering they had received in trying to escape. They whinnied wildly their eyes showing white as they bulged from the sides of their heads. They staggered, their breath wheezing in their barrel chests as they fought with the air and tore at their coats with their teeth. Yellow foam and mucus was streaming from their nostrils as the horses fell weakily to their knees.
"Someone call a vet" the owner yelled desperately running forward to his stricken horses as they fell gasping and choking in the road.
"Plague number five" Sam murmured wincing as he watched the horses weakly struggle for breath through the suffocating mucus. He turned away looking rather pale "I'm going to go see what I can find out about this Pharaoh's disc" he muttered and Dean nodded, "meet you back at the motel." Sam walked away but Dean and Soda remained where they were, Dean's hand on her shoulder to prevent her fighting her way through the crowd to reach the struggling horses.
"Isn't that just heartbreaking" a light childish voice said behind them. The pair spun around to see a young girl about ten years old giggling as she eyed the dieing horses. Her eyes shifted to take in Dean and Soda and she grinned widely her eyes turning white.
"Lilith" Dean snarled clenching his hands tightly in to fists hate was clouding his vision as he looked at the little girl housing a demon he hated even above Alistair.
"Hello Dean" she said cheerfully, "You've found a new friend, oh goody, I do love new friends!" Soda snarled as Lilith studied her, "I remember you silly" she laughed "But you don't remember me." The pretty little face pouted as she seemed to ponder the problem, "Well we'll just have to fix that then wont we."
"Like hell you will" Dean hissed pushing Soda behind him, "You arn't going to lay a disgusting finger on her."
"Now now manners" Lilith said wagging a finger at him, "You don't want to make me mad, i'm trying to help you." She waved a hand and Dean flew sideways slamming into the side of the impala before landing in the gutter groaning. With the same hand she pulled Soda towards her allowing her to slide the last few feet painfully on the ground until she came to rest at her feet. Dean angrily struggled to get to his feet hoping to get Lilith back from Soda but Lilith's eyes flicked to his as she smiling shook her head. "Not smart Dean" she said brightly as four demons stepped out of the crowd gathered around the horses and moved over to stand around them. "No need for this to end badly" Lilith's little girl voice said softly "We can all be friends, can't we Dean?" She looked down on Soda who was slowly rolling over to try and get to her feet, "After all i'm just trying to give my favourite friend back her memories, we did have so much fun together." Lilith watched Soda get to her knees and quickly snaked a small hand out to grip her by the throat. The demon gave the little body such great strength that Soda couldn't shake her off and Lilith tightened her hold so that Soda was choking for breath. Lilith pulled Soda's face closer to hers her eyes beginning to glow a brighter white. Dean stood and stepped forward but Lilith threw out her spare hand without even looking at him and Dean was thrown back on the ground his back pressed against the impala door unable to move. Soda's eyes were beginning to reflect the light glowing in Lilith's as they widened in horror. She screamed in agony her eyes rolling back into her head as the light spread between the two. Dean yelled struggling hopelessly against the invisible restraints as Lilith began to giggle, the sound contrasting menacingly with Soda's screams. Despair was filling Dean, there were crowds of people on the other side of the street, surely one of them would see? Surely one of them would hear? But what could they do?
Suddenly the light faded and Lilith was thrown backwards as she dropped Soda to the cement. Dean felt the restraining pressure on him lift and immediately climbed to his feet looking around for the closest demon but the four surrounding them were gone. Sam was running towards him his eyes flicking around warily, ready for anything, but Lilith was no where in sight.
"What happened?" Sam shouted as Dean fell to his knees beside a motionless Soda.
"Lilith" Dean said anger and concern shaking his voice as he gripped Soda's shoulders and turned her over, "She did something to Soda, her eyes were glowing."
Sam knelt down next to him as he shook Soda's shoulders. She remained still her eyes closed, her face pale and slack.
"Soda?" Dean called shaking her again, "Hey come on Soda, wake up."
Her eyes blinked but didn't open and she drew in a great shuddering breath, Dean could feel her limbs shaking beneath his hands. "What did she do to her?" he asked looking up at Sam anxiously but Sam merely shrugged looking shaken.
"I have no idea."
Slowly Soda's eyes opened and Dean was startled to see that the almost black eyes had lightened considerably though they were clouded with pain. He eased an arm around her shoulders and supporting her head lifted her gently into an almost sitting position. "Soda, it's okay, can you hear me?"
She blinked looking dazed and winced as though he had shouted. Her pain filled eyes fell on his face and sweat broke out on her forehead as she scrambled back away from him breaking free from his hold. Even weak as she was she was stronger than him. Dean held up his hands non-threateningly "It's okay" he said softly but Soda was backing away. Suddenly a sick feeling washed through him and he felt cold, he could see it now, how could he have missed it? Soda knew, she remembered. Lilith had given a stolen part of Soda back and with it had come the memories of Dean. "Soda" he whispered hoarsly but she was shaking her head as she backed up her eyes cold with fear and hate.
"Stay away from me" Soda hissed as Dean and Sam both got slowly to their feet.
"Soda" Dean said again stepping towards her hesitantly.
"No" Soda whispered her eyes filling with tears, "Not you Dean, it can't have been you."
"It was" he said quietly his face twisted with grief and remorse, "I'm so sorry." He winced as he saw the hate, anger and pain flare in her face.
"Never speak to me" Soda snarled her hands clenched so tightly into fists that her knuckles had turned white. Dean didn't move, she was so close to attacking him, he could see it in her eyes, the need to cause him pain. He wouldn't fight her. She hesitated and without another word she turned and ran, disappearing from sight.
"Dean?" Sam asked placing a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. Dean angrily shook his hand off tearing his eyes away from the corner around which Soda had disappeared and stalked towards the impala. He didn't speak to Sam and Sam didn't say anything more as the impala tore out into the road, the wheels screeching in protest. Anger was threading through him, not at Soda, but at himself. Had he really expected anything different? What had he thought would happen if Soda remembered what he had done? Had he really thought she would forgive him, that she would understand why he had done it?
"Hey Dean?" Sam said speaking for the first time as Dean sped down the road not particularly caring in what direction he was headed or how fast.
When Dean didn't answer Sam continued looking hesitant, "What do we do now? How are we going to stop the seal from breaking if we don't have Soda anymore?"
Dean finally understood, they had been recognised in the museum and Lilith had immediately known what they were there for and she had reacted. She'd taken away the only weapon they had, the only thing that would have ensured them a victory and now Soda was alone. Defenceless. And Dean was once more knocking on death's door.