Hey there guys!
This chapter is shorter, but hopefully you like it. Sorry for the errors, and, as always:
Enjoy!
Chapter Ten:
Shifter
Ashton woke up with a groan as she squinted against the morning light coming in through her window. She collected saliva into her mouth as she got out of bed to try and moisten the dryness. Brushed her teeth, got dressed in jeans, and Iron Maiden t-shirt, before she went downstairs. She got herself a tall glass of water and sat at her kitchen table with a glare.
"Fuckin' whiskey," she said and took a drink of water.
Almost like file work, she started to review her memories from last night. She placed her elbows on the tabletop and then placed her face into her hands. The more she remembered, the more she wanted to forget. She promised herself that she would never drink whiskey again, because it made her stupid.
When she finished her water, she made herself a coffee and got herself Tylenol, and Advil. She downed the pills with her coffee before she returned to the kitchen table. She was taking a second drink from her coffee when she was greeted by the mistake of the night before.
"Hello Darling," she could hear the grin, even if she hadn't looked at him, "How are you this morning, hungover?"
"I'm fine thanks," she said, "And don't call me that."
"And I thought we made progress last night," he gave a slight pout before he got himself a coffee.
"That was the whiskey," she glared, "Not me."
"I think you're lying to me," he narrowed his eyes as he walked to the table.
Before Ashton could reply her phone started to ring.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hey Ashton," Dean greeted.
"Oh, hi Dean!" she smiled and ignored the King of the Hell
"Squirrel?" Crowley piped up, "Why's he calling you?"
Ashton sent Crowley a glare and he shut his mouth, much to her surprise.
"Sam and I are going on a hunt," Dean said, "Do you wanna join?"
"Hell yeah!" Ashton smiled.
"Great," she could hear Dean's smile, "We'll be at your place in a few."
"Wait, what?"
"We were in the area and we thought we'd drop by."
"Where are you now?"
"Just entering Hunter."
"You're in town already?!"
"Yeah, why?" she could hear Dean's confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Noth-"
"Are Moose and Squirrel coming for a visit?" Crowley made sure he was extra loud.
"Is Crowley there?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Ashton gave Crowley the look.
He just shrugged and took a drink from his coffee.
"I see."
"See you in a bit I guess," Ashton sighed and hung up.
She took two big gulps from her coffee.
"Going on a hunt?"
"Yeah, and you're not invited," she was still glaring at him.
"Ouch Darling," Crowley placed a hand on his chest, "That hurts."
"Don't call me that," she said and finished her coffee.
She put her mug in the sink and before she could turn around, Crowley came up behind her and placed his mug in the sink. His lips were by her ear and his chest was pressed against her back. He shoulders tensed at the sudden closeness, and she shuddered when his breath hit her ear.
"You're mine Darling," he whispered, "You can't deny it."
"I-"
There was a knock at the door before she heard it open and shut. She pulled herself away from Crowley as the boys walked into the kitchen, still wearing their boots. Crowley grinned and gave them his usual greeting.
"Hello boys."
"He really is here," Sam said with a wary stare.
"Of course I am," Crowley sat at the table again, "I need to keep an eye on my investment."
"I'm not an investment," Ashton hissed, "Lets go."
She grabbed her blue leather jacket and her keys as she left the house. The boys followed her out and the three hit the road leaving Crowley alone in the house. As Ashton drove the Camaro she felt her foot becoming heavier, and heavier. She passed the Impala as she white-knuckled the steering wheel.
"You should slow down Darling."
"Shut up and leave me alone," she growled under her breath.
"I'll leave if you slow down," he said.
"I'll slow down if you leave, and don't bother me at all on this hunt," she shot back.
"Fine, but slow the hell down," he hit an extra gravelly tone.
Ashton slowed down as the Impala passed her with a loud roar. She gave a sigh and followed behind Dean's baby. When she looked over at the passenger seat, Crowley was gone. She smiled and put on the cruise control, before she turned on the radio. Apocalyptic, by Halestorm came on as she drove by Albany. Once the song was over she turned off her radio and gave Sam a call. She turned on speakerphone as it rang.
"Hey."
"Hey Sam," she greeted, "Where are we headed?"
She placed her phone on the dash and considered it hands-free communications.
"Salamanca," he replied and paused as Dean talked to him, "Dean's wondering if we'll get a visit from Crowley."
"No," she said, "I made sure of that."
"Okay, good," he said.
"What are we hunting anyway?"
"A shifter."
"Oh lovely," she rolled her eyes.
"Apparently people who go into the Allegheny National Forest are seeing their doppelgangers," he said, "And die."
"Isn't there a myth that says if you see your doppelganger, you'll die?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"So this shifter is transforming themself into their victim, and then killing them?" she frowned.
"It appears that way," he said, "There was a girl who managed to escape and started raving about the doppelganger."
"Where is she now?"
"Dead," he sighed, "She was found inside the forest."
"Great," she groaned, "I hate shifters."
"Just me," Sam said, "We do too, but this thing is killing people, so we've got to stop it."
"I agree."
"First we'll stop in Salamanca and come up with a plan," she could hear Dean's voice in the background, "And to eat."
"Okay, talk to you later."
"Should be another three hours," he said, "Just follow us."
"Okay, bye," she said and hung up.
She followed the boys for the three hours until they stopped at a café in Salamanca. They sat at a table in the café and ate, while they discussed a plan.
"So I'm bait?" Ashton asked.
"Yeah, pretty much," Dean said and took a bite out of his burger.
"Okay, just wanted to be sure," she rolled her eyes and ate the last of her burger.
"So why was Crowley at your place this morning?" Sam asked as he ate his salad.
"Because he likes to annoy me," she finished her iced tea.
"You know," Sam began, "We got some dirt on him."
"Really?" Ashton grinned, "Tell me."
And so the next hour was sent sharing stories about Crowley. Ashton now had an arsenal of embarrassing stories she could use against the demon. It made her feel like she had control over him, even though she knew, realistically, that she had none.
"We should get going," Sam said as he checked his watch.
The trio left the café after they paid, and made their way to the forest. It was already dark, and the forest was huge. They knew they had to lure the shifter out, or else they would never be able to find it, so they sent Ashton in first. Her scream would alert the boys that the shift had found her. Then, it would be an ambush.
As Ashton walked through the forest with her flashlight she couldn't help but feel like she had forgotten something. It tickled at her brain until she heard a rustle to her left. She shone her light at the bushes that had moved and came to full stop. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
"Hello?"
"Hello," she heard her voice reply.
"Who's there?"
"You," she saw herself walk out from the bushes with a grin.
"Well hello sexy," she grinned and went for her knife.
She grabbed nothing but air, in that moment she remembered that the night before, when she was drinking with Crowley, he had made her knife disappear, and never returned it. She was screwed, as soon as it shifted into her, it knew the plan. If she screamed the shifter would run, and they wouldn't be able to find it, but if she didn't alert the boys, she'd be in trouble.
"What are going to do, Hunter?" it grinned.
Ashton reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small gun and aimed it at the shifter's heart. She pulled the trigger, but the shifter had already moved. She got it in the shoulder, and the shifter let out a scream. Ashton grinned and dropped the gun; it was only good for one shot anyways. She leapt to her left and grabbed a thick fallen branch to arm herself. The shifter let out a growl and ran at her. It grabbed the branch and started to tug at it.
"You'll pay for that," it hissed and gave a good yank.
Ashton's fingers slipped off the branch as she was thrown, and landed on her side. The wind was knocked out of her and she gasped for air as she held her ribs. She got onto her knees, but before she could run the shifter hit her across the face with the branch. Her vision went blurry as the world began to spin. In only seconds she landed on the ground, face first, and everything went black.