Hope y'all are enjoying the story. Sorry for being so long before the update. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed or is following the story. You are feeding my muse. As always, please leave a review or pm me. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 11: Tenebroin
Across town, the spirit everyone was trying to get information on, had followed the scent of Amara soul. It didn't want to be to far from it's freedom. There was only two more souls to go. It didn't want to take the risk, nor the chance of not being the ruler of this world's sinners. It would follow Amara any where she would go. Keeping as close to her as it possibly can. So when it gets it's last sinner's soul, it's destiny will be for filled.
Moving quietly through the halls of this sinner's home, Tenebroin was actually making it's self at a home of a retired teacher named Mr. McGee. Tenebroin chose Mr. McGee, not because of all the evil things he did in the Korean war, or because of things he liked to do with little girls or that his soul tainted with pure evil. Even though Mr. McGee memories and essence would fill it up well. Feed it with all the sin it needed to sustain it and give it the power it needs to keep it self going. No, it was because of his age. When it feeds on Mr. McGee and slips into a coma, no one will make the connection to it. They would contribute his death, to his age. Another elderly person who died of old age.
Moving between the shadows, it blended perfectly in the corner of Mr. McGee's living room, between the end table and the lamp. Tenebroin watched in interest, as it's newest prey, walk through the living room, getting ready to sit and watch TV. Mr. McGee was in his late eighties. Time had been cruel to him. He barely could stand straight, walking hunched over and with a walker. Arthritis wrecked his bones, causing pain in his back as well as his legs. After two heart attacks and a stroke, Mr. McGee had days where he would forget who he was, but never what he had done. This knowledge, kept him happy in his memories. When the pain of this life he had now was too much, Mr. McGee would let his mind drift, to where he was in control, the one where he caused pain to others.
It was an hour or so later, when Mr. McGee finally settled downed into his recliner. Finally, letting his body relax and the pain ease. Turning the TV on, he finds a channel that was more to his tastes. He loved anything that dealt with the pain of war. Watching the movie From Here To Eternity for the umpteenth time, his eyes slowly closes and he drifts off to sleep. Tenebroin watched as Mr. McGee's breath began to move in a deep rhythm of sleep. It moved effortlessly up the side of the wall. Then gliding slowly across the ceiling. Finally, positioning itself above Mr. McGee's recliner. The black mass that it was made of, stringed itself behind the recliner, pouring into a massive black mound. With in a few seconds, it began to take shape of a human. The only true thing that gave it away of what it was, the neon green eyes and sharp-pointed teeth. Standing behind Mr. McGee in full form, leaning down, Tenebroin whispered into his ear.
"Your sins multiplied greatly over the years. The small and great ones...I am so honor to take your soul and send you to hell for your sins."
Mr. McGee awoke abruptly, looking around the room, trying to find the voice that just spoke to him. Looking side to side, there wasn't anyone there. Taking a deep breath and leaning back in his chair, he looks up. Over top of him, smiling was the Tenebroin. Before Mr. McGee could say a word, its hand was on top of his face. Its flat fingers embracing tightly, as the length of them grew to engulf his whole head. Laughing loudly, as small electrical currents began to run though the teacher's head. As every evil memory flowed into the Tenebroin, it became stronger. Every sin and every evil thing that Mr. McGee ever did, the hunger the spirit had been satisfied. All was left of Mr. McGee, was a breath. When the Tenebroin took its flat fingers away, Mr. McGee let it go.
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As Tenebroin was finishing it's dinner with Mr. McGee, the guys were in Bobby's library going over the information they had gotten from the priest and the church's records. It wasn't good and for Amara it was even worse.
"Your saying that this spirit...Tenebroin...is like a sin eater?" Dean questioned.
Bobby shook his head in agreement; "Sort of, the way Father David explained it...Tenebroin is high level spirit. Actually one of the highest. It's job is to go through hell and look for the worse of worse sinners. (glancing over to Sam) Once it finds the soul, it punishes them forever."
"And...this soul can never serve in hell, in any ranking, demon or otherwise." Sam finished sitting back in his chair.
Dean paced back and forth; "What type of sin, keeps a soul from serving in hell? Don't they all serve in one form or another?"
Sam looked over at Bobby and seeing that Bobby was motioning for him to tell Dean. Sam rolled his eyes at him. Wondering why, it always his duty to have to explain things to Dean.
"Not always Dean, In Amara's case...her sin was against God, (sighing softly) by committing suicide." Sam answered.
"Whoa! Are you telling me because she opted out, that condemns her to be, I don't know, this Ten a thingy chew toy forever?" Dean asked, standing over top of Sam.
"Her sin is the worse Dean. (looking up at Dean) According to Father David, by taking her life, it was a huge screw you to God." Sam said frankly.
"Come on Sam! (moving over by the window) Like God cares one way or the other! Murders, rapists...those are the worse. (running his hand over his face) Not some girl who got tired of God not doing his job and say's f you to this sorry life!"
"Slow down Dean! Listen...I understand what you're saying. (Bobby gets up and gets three glasses) it's all about your placing in hell. (pouring) It doesn't mean she was evil, it's the punishment for doing what she did. Now sit down, take a drink (handing a glass to Dean) and listen!"
Dean did as the old man told him. Sitting down, he drank down the whole glass letting the burn warm him. Getting back up and he moves back over to the make shift bar, pours him another. Moving back to the chair, flopping into it, he motions for Bobby to go on.
"Now because Amara was still in both worlds, we figure that's why it was able to ride her out into our world. Otherwise Tenebroin would still be in hell, doing his job."
Amara had stood in the hallway listening to them talk. Her mind reeling at what was being said. Shaking her head to herself, it made sense to her some how now. She always wondered why hell never soldiered her out. Remembering the nightmare she had. There was one demon that always tortured her. The head demon that she remembered in her nightmare. This must have been this Tenebroin. Standing there, she leans against the wall and continued to listen.
"How long before it comes for her?" Dean asked rubbing his face in disbelief.
Sam answered; "She has exactly twenty-four hours from the last soul it sends to hell. (looking over to Dean then to Bobby) Then the Tenebroin has to send her soul back to hell for it to stay here."
"This Father Dave, how did he know all this?" Dean questioned what he was hearing.
"Not every book makes it into the bible Dean." Bobby replied.
"So there has been others Tenebroin?" Dean wondered.
"No just this one. According to the Padre, Tenebroin has never been successful enough to get out. However there was enough written about it, to know that if it doesn't kill her. (giving him a copy of the priest gave him) Then hell will open up and swallow it whole."
Dean reads what Bobby gave him. Then shoves the paper onto the desk. Getting back up he began to pace. There had to be something that could kill it with, to keep it from sending her back? He was besides himself. He couldn't believe that her fate was to come back just for this thing to rule topside. Stopping suddenly, he looks at Sam and Bobby, taking a deep breath, he needed to know what to do to stop it.
"Okay...is there anything that can kill it or at least send it back?" Dean said as he narrowed his eyes.
Bobby looked over at Sam. Sam knew by the look that Bobby gave him, he wanted Sam to tell Dean the answer. Bobby hated to be the bad guy. This way, Dean can yell at Sam, not at him.
Sam takes a deep breath; "No Dean, Only Amara can kill it and the only way that can happen is, for her to get forgiveness from God."
Dean was pissed, "Theres nothing we can do to send it back...Nothing?"
"No, it's all to her and God." Sam said simply.
Dean knew that this was gonna be impossible, since God has been MIA for years. With a look of defeat, he flops back into his seat. Letting his boots hit hard onto the wooden floor, making the floor vibrate and echo through out the cabin. Shaking his head, Dean knew that wasn't going to happen.
"How in the hell is Amara gonna do that Sam? Huh? When God isn't home?"
Amara's heart began to race. She wasn't aware that God was truly missing. She had heard the rumors in hell. Though she never believed it. She always thought it was part of her being damned, that God didn't hear her prayers. Anger began to swell up inside of her. Her hands began to shake as her body went numb. Amara wasn't really sure if she wanted God's forgiveness, feeling that it should be the other way around. Letting her go through the hell she endured, here on earth. All the things God let happen to her, begging for forgiveness was last thing she wanted or thought she could do. Deciding she had heard enough, Amara made her way to the front door. She needed to find a quiet spot. A place where she could think. Silently opening it, she turns to look at the guys in the front room. Seeing that they were so deep in conversation, that they didn't hear her. She stepped outside, closing the door quietly behind her. Unknown to her she wasn't as quiet as she thought.
"What the hell was that?" Bobby asked as he pulled a shot gun from under his desk.
"Amara?" Sam questioned.
Dean and Sam both leaped up from their chairs. Thinking that something came into the house, Dean headed toward Amara's room, while Sam went to the front door. Pulling the curtain slowly to the side, Sam could see that Amara was sitting under a tree in the front of the cabin. She had to hear them. Shaking his head at the situation, Sam decided that he needed to explain things so she can understand whats happening.
"I'll be right back." Sam said as he nodded to Bobby.
Hearing the door closed, Dean hurried back to library. He had a look of what happened. Before he could say he didn't find Amara, Bobby interrupted him.
"Amara went outside, Sam went out after her." Bobby simply said.
"Oh shit, that means she probably heard us." Dean said starting for the door.
"If that is the case, (raising his eyebrow) let Sam explain everything that is going on. (Dean stopped and turned to look at Bobby) You really don't have that much tact to be gentle enough to do it." Bobby teased.
Dean sat down, with a look of surprise on his face,"Who me? Come on now, I can be Dr. Phil if I wanted to."
Bobby gave him a hearty laugh, as he picked up a beer cap and threw at him. The cap smacked Dean on the chest. He snickered as he grabbed his chest as he was hurt.
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Sam approached Amara quietly. She had her back turned away from him, leaning against the tree. Amara looked like she just got out of the shower. Her clothes clung to her in spots and her hair was dripping wet. Most of her wet hair, hung in front of her and covering her face. Her shoulders hunched over and shook. He could tell that she was crying.
"Amara?" Sam asked.
Amara didn't turn around, "Yes."
Sam moved over to her and leaned up against the tree, "You heard huh?"
"Yes I did! (taking a deep breath) What I don't understand is why none of you told me?"
Amara was upset about what they didn't tell her, not what her role was in whole picture of things. That she understood. Something told her, she just didn't simply one day, wake up from a coma. What she didn't understand is; why they felt, they shouldn't of told her what her part was? Why she was truly awake? How she connected to everything? That in itself had her pissed off.
"We wanted to make sure that, we knew everything, before we dropped it on you." Sam answered.
"Yeah sure...I get it." Amara lied.
Sam sighed. He could tell that Amara was hurt and frighten as well as pissed. Sitting down across from her, Sam could see through her wet hair, that she indeed, had been crying. Her cheeks still wet from the tears. Her eyes puffy and red. He decided to sit there and wait until she was ready to talk about it. Pulling a blade of grass out of the ground,playing with it, he silently waited. It was a few minutes before Amara realized Sam wasn't going to go anywhere.
"This thing...Tenebroin, it's here because of me?" Amara asked.
"More or less." Sam replied.
"I guess (her breath hitched) its one more thing to add to my list of screw ups." Amara said with tears in her eyes.
Sam looked at her for moment. Then reached out and moved a piece of hair out face and tucked it behind her ear. When Amara looked up at him, Sam could see that all this was tearing at her. He knew there wasn't anything he could do, to make her feel better.
"You know...this really isn't your fault. It only got out, cause you were in a coma."
Amara looked back down to the ground, "Yeah if I could have gotten it right, this thing (wiping the tear that was falling) wouldn't have gotten out."
"Nether would have you." Sam replied softly.
"This is really freaking mess up! (taking a deep breath) I thought I was getting a second chance, but it ended up being another punishment!" Amara said with a harshness in her voice.
Sam thought about what Amara said. He could see why she felt that way. As if she was being used. He got that, knowing he had felt that way more than a time or two. He felt really bad for her. To wake up from hell, to think it was another chance to change things, only to be used one more time. Yeah he got that.
"Tenebroin used the fact that you were caught between worlds. That isn't your fault Amara."
"Uh huh...sure it isn't. If I only got it right the first time. Then it would still be in hell. Not here taking souls!" Amara said shaking her head.
Sam reached down, taking his index finger, he grabs Amara's chin and lifts her face. He could see tears swelling up again.
Looking her in eyes, "You can't blame yourself for this. If it wasn't you, Tenebroin would have found another person to do it."
Amara pulled her face away from him. She didn't believe him, knowing the part she played in this. There wasn't anyone else to blame, but her. She knew, there was no way she was going to get off that easy. She wasn't going to let herself.
"No Sam, this is my fault. If I wouldn't have been chicken shit in the first placed and took my life, this wouldn't have happened." Being as direct as she could.
"I'm not going to say that your right or wrong about that. I can't pretend to understand why you felt it was necessary to take your life. (running his hand through his hair) I will say that this is not your fault. This thing...getting loose, wasn't your fault." Sam bluntly.
Amara shook her head. "Yeah right. (rubbing her hands over her face) So what now?"
"We try to keep you safe. It has two more souls to get. So we should have at least some time to figure this all out." Trying to sound positive.
Amara looked up at Sam. Yeah, he was trying. Though making her feel any better wasn't going to work. She knew that, the way her luck has been, it was going to end really bad. Resigning to herself to try accept it. When Tenebroin is done, she was going back. The coldness of the air went throughout her. It sent a chill that made her shiver. However it felt good. It made her feel alive.
Sam seen that she was getting cold. Taking off his coat, he placed it on her shoulders. Amara smiled and mouthed thank you, as she pulled it around her. They both sat there for a few minutes is a silence. Feeling a couple of drops of rain hit him. Sam looked up at the sky. Getting up, he reached down for Amara hand. She excepted it. Sam gently pulled her up.
"Sam, If we can keep him from me...what happens then?" Amara wondered.
Sam smiled at her; "You'll be free, and get your second chance."
"And if he finds me?" Amara asked.
Sam didn't answer Amara. He nodded his head and shrugged his shoulders, knowing that Amara knew the answer already. Sam knew that they were going to try their best to keeping it from happening. If it did happen, the rest was up to her and God. Hoping that if does come down to that, God would forgive her. He hoped.
Amara didn't push him for the answer. She already knew. It seemed as if God was giving her a choice. To ether ask for his forgiveness or give up. There was no way she would give up. However, to ask forgiveness, Amara wasn't sure if she wanted to be or if she deserved it or if God would even give it to her.
All of the sudden the sky seemed to opened up. Rain began to fall in huge drops. She looked up at Sam and motioned to the house. Sam placed his arm around her shoulder. Together, they walked casually back to the cabin. Letting the rain fall on them, drenching them. Nether, saying a word to the other. Both of them knew that there wasn't anything else that needed said. It would be up to Amara in the end to finish what she started. No matter what happens, there wasn't anything anyone could do for her. It started with her and it will be end with her and God.