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Chapter Ten

It was almost with amusement that Sam observed the shift in Castiel's demeanour. One moment, the angel was crouching on the ground attempting to formulate a suitable battle plan and the next, his head was cocked towards the sky. Sam could even imagine his ears pricking up, like a dog heeding the call of his master from afar.

"The boss?" Sam inquired, hiding a smile behind the back of his hand. He would never understand how Castiel could be so comfortable with the omniscience of the other angels. Sam would hate to have someone else poking around in his head, probing at his inner most thoughts and possibly even his desires.

However, much to Sam's surprise, Castiel quickly shook his head without even casting the youngest Winchester a glance. Instead, Cas held up a hand at Sam in a clear demand for quiet, which he obeyed instantly. As a general rule, whenever Castiel became serious and business-like, Sam cooperated; it was Dean that seemed to relish pushing the angel's proverbial buttons in situations such as this.

"Joanna?" Cas murmured, although the inflection in his tone presented the name almost like a question. Sam shot Castiel a significant glance, biting his tongue to keep himself from interrupting whatever epiphany the angel was currently experiencing.

"How very curious," Castiel continued. It was as if he were conducting a conversation with some invisible and also inaudible partner, and Sam was beginning to grow increasingly frustrated with awaiting an explanation. Castiel mumbled something unintelligible and then followed with a query of his own. "Are you otherwise unharmed?"

Finally, Sam found that he could take no more of Castiel's caginess, and decided that he would run the risk of interjecting.

"Cas, what the hell is going on?" demanded Sam, his eyes as wide as saucers and his fingers nervously toying with the handgun he held in his lap. Castiel's attention was drawn immediately to Sam, to whom he shot a withering glare which he proceeded by a hissed shushing sound. It appeared that whatever he was doing involved his utmost concentration.

"And Dean is..." Castiel continued, a telltale frown of disapproval briefly settled on his face, "Yes. I would agree that his actions do not constitute a rescue."
Sam arched an eyebrow in abject confusion. He rose from his perch on the tree stump and stood directly in front of Cas, hoping his proximity may force an explanation.
"The symbols must be removed before I may enter," Castiel continued, as he deftly side-stepped Sam and turned his back to him.
Sam sighed in exasperation and tapped Cas pointedly on the shoulder. He received an ushering gesture in response and could not help but catch the irritated grimace on the angel's face as he tried his best to ignore Sam's interruptions.
Sam paused, watching Castiel's brow furrow considerably; this could definitely not be construed a good sign.

"The ceremony you speak of is likely an attempt to call Leila forth from purgatory," said Castiel, once again oblivious to Sam. "I believe they would require a mass blood sacrifice to do so."

Sam's mouth dropped open as he began to comprehend the snippets of the apparently one sided conversation that he was privy to.

"Agreed," Castiel responded finally, before returning his attention to Sam with a less than apologetic expression spread across his face. To the contrary, in fact, his features were creased with an irritated frown.

"What was that about?" Sam wasted little time in demanding.

"Joanna," Cas bit back somewhat tartly before turning his gaze to the prison tower that loomed some distance in front of them.

"Jo? Sam repeated, ignoring his confusion as his mind processed the tidbits he had heard. Words such as 'ceremony' and 'sacrifice' tended not to sit well with most hunters and Sam was no exception to the rule.
"The demons are preparing a ceremony which I believe will bring Leila forth into this world," Castiel cleared his throat, shifting his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other, and dug his hands into his pockets. "They have named Jo as Leila's vessel. I believe the other hunters are to be used as offerings and sacrifices."
Sam's eyes widened and he exhaled slowly, running his hands through his hair, "Then we gotta get in there now."
Castiel nodded in agreement, "I cannot enter the compound until the Enochian symbols are removed. Joanna will inform me when this has been done. She and Dean are working on a plan."
"Joanna... uh, I mean Jo will inform you?" Sam asked askance. So many elements of Castiel's explanation failed to make sense. Last time Sam had checked, Jo possessed no magical powers beyond an over eager trigger finger and a killer left hook.
Cas nodded flippantly, "Yes, the demons have allowed her to read minds in order to facilitate communication with their leader."
"Jo can read minds?" Sam blinked in surprise before a brief smile crossed his lips, "Poor Dean."

Castiel cocked his head and his lips parted as though a question where forming on them. However, at the last second he seemed to find his query unimportant and instead closed his mouth.

"So, what do we do now?" Sam pressed, returning to his previous seat and stretching his weary and aching legs out in front of him.

"We wait for the signal," answered Cas, lowering himself onto the ground in front of Sam with surprising grace.

"How much time do we have left?" said Sam, peering up into the sky as he spoke in an effort to ascertain the time of day. His digital wristwatch had stopped soon after Cas had transported them to the present dimension and so he was relying simply on the appearance of the skyline now for a rough estimate.

"A little over two hours," Cas replied, tone remarkably even and nonplussed. Sam would never fail to be amazed at the apparent calm that Castiel was capable of displaying in even the most dire circumstances.

"Just great," muttered Sam, shaking his head and picking up a small stone, which he hurled into the trees in a demonstration of his frustration.

x-x-x

The three hunters sat in silence, each wearing a similarly pensive expression. Dean watched as Jo traced a stick through the dirt, drawing absent patterns on the ground to occupy her hands whilst she mulled over their possible means of escape. The Enochian symbols had to be destroyed but the 'how' in this equation was presently evading them all.
A gust of wind swept across the enclosure and Jo batted irritably at a tendril of hair that fell down across her eyes. Dean watched her, noting every detail of her face, and he silently wondered if she was aware of just how pretty she was. A blush rose across Jo's cheeks and very slowly she lifted her gaze to meet his. Dean groaned inwardly as he realised that she had of course been witness to his thoughts. Jo simply shot him a shy smile in response.
"I'm kind of drawing a blank on the whole 'escape plan' thing," Jo sighed, tapping the stick against the dusty ground. She glanced up at Dean and then Duke in turn, both of whom offered no contributions for the moment.

Releasing an exaggerated sigh of exasperation, Jo folded her arms and glared at the two hunters, her eyes shining.

"Typical, leave it to the woman," she griped in mock annoyance, fighting the smile that threatened to spoil her feigned rage. Dean winked at her, happy to oblige her sudden lightness of mood. He knew that Jo loved nothing more than having a free reign in formulating plans and that the current situation was likely to be no different.

"Well, you are the vessel sweetheart," Dean replied with a shrug, "I figure that leaves at least seventy percent of this plan in your hands."

Jo snorted, slapping playfully at Dean's arm before sobering herself once again and returning her attention to the gates of the enclosure.

"We need a distraction," she mused, a frown settling on her face as she bit down thoughtfully on her lip.
Dean smirked and cocked an eyebrow, "Okay, you flash 'em and we'll..."
He halted abruptly as a hand slapped him across the back of the head. Dean glowered at Duke, "Would you stop doing that?"
Duke nodded toward Jo to continue and she shot Dean a thoroughly withering glare, "Something that doesn't involve nudity, Dean."
He sighed in defeat and folded his arms across his chest, peering thoughtfully up at the sky, as if waiting for inspiration. "No, I got nothing."

Jo rolled her eyes in a combination of actual disgust and just a shred of amusement. Duke continued to stare at Dean wearing his disapproval for all to see.

"I'm mighty glad I ain't the one poking around in your head at the moment," grumbled Duke, shooting Jo a sympathetic look that appeared to have Dean bristling. It was true that his thoughts were of a colourful and decidedly unique nature, but he was far from the total pervert that so many seemed to take him for. At least, he believed he was; Sammy, on the other hand, would more than likely beg to differ.

"Well I don't see you with a plan," retorted Dean, his arms folded in a mildly defensive gesture that Duke observed with a throaty chuckle. The older hunter opened his mouth to reply, his eyes twinkling with mischeivous intent, when Jo's fingers suddenly closing around his elbow drew his attention elsewhere. In perfect synchronicity, the hunters turned to the gate, where at least twelve primal demons clad in crimson robes had now assembled. They stood for a moment without moving towards the padlock, all simply staring ahead in unnerving silence. Dean noted how the other hunters had begun to instinctively back off from the gate, recognising trouble when they were faced with it.

"What are they saying Jo?" whispered Duke, his voice a steady purr that belayed none of his fear. Dean envied him that, as he was certain that should he speak, his own voice would quiver in that awful tell-tale fashion he despised. Far from being afraid for himself, Dean's concern was reserved only for Jo, and the absolute terror that the thought of losing her evoked within him.

"It's too late," Jo murmured in response, a steely kind of determination in her eyes, "they're coming for us."

"We gotta get rid of those damn symbols so Cas can get his celestial ass in here and beam us out," Dean grimaced, watching as the guards began to march in unison toward their intended victims.
The leader nodded his approval as several of the demons seized hunters at random. Dean was shocked and a little disgusted to see that none of the men offered any form of resistance. If this was the end of the line, he was going to go out fighting, the way his father had taught him.
"Get behind me," he grabbed hold of Jo's wrist, ignoring her protests as he ushered her behind him.
"Dean, no," Jo argued, swatting at his hand and attempting to push her way in front of him again, "they'll kill you."
Dean shrugged, deftly producing the handgun from the waistband of his jeans and flicking off the safety catch, "They're gonna kill us all anyway, Jo. At least this way I can take a couple of the ugly bastards with me."
Jo's gaze flitted between the approaching guards and Dean. Placing her hand over his, she stepped directly in his eye line.
"Shoot me," she pleaded, watching as his eyes widened in evident disbelief, "if you shoot me they'll have to prepare another vessel, it'll buy you guys time."
"Are you crazy?" Dean narrowed his eyes and stared down at her like it was the most ludicrous thing he had ever heard. "What the hell is with you, Jo? Cos I gotta tell you, this death wish you've got going on is starting to piss me off."
Jo ignored the anger behind his words and stepped closer, noting the desperation in his eyes as he held her gaze.

"You could still get out of here, Dean," she murmured, all but begging him now.
"Not without you," he shook his head resolutely, his jaw set as he reached out to grasp her hand.

"Simmer down you two," Duke said softly, his voice returning to that soothing purr that seemed to calm them all. Jo and Dean glanced at the man, both curious as to his intentions. "No one's gonna be shootin' anyone."

"Damn right," Dean muttered, concealing the handgun behind his back as two demons approached their small huddle. Dean's finger tensed around the trigger but he resisted the urge to whip the gun out and aim it at the creature's head. His own logic screamed at him that he could hardly help Jo or the others if he were dead himself. However, it was taking every last ounce of Dean's self control, and this what he focused upon maintaining.

As a result, he failed to notice when Duke stepped forwards a few paces until the old hunter had snatched the gun from his hand and fired a bullet between the eyes of one of the approaching demons in the same way that Dean had contemplated only seconds before. The creature dropped to the ground, an enormous hole now present in its cranium. Ebony blood oozed from the wound, as thick and as acrid in smell as oil. Dean started, staring at Duke through wide, accusing eyes.

"Got your distraction," Duke muttered through the side of his mouth. Jo's eyelids fluttered closed momentarily, and Dean could see her concern for Duke plainly in the set of her mouth. Dean could tell that Jo was reluctant to leave the man, but the danger he had just put himself in was for Jo's benefit only.

"Go!" Dean grabbed Jo by the shoulders, almost shaking her as he tried to spur her into action. The gates had been left open and unguarded yet no other hunter had made any attempt to move. They remained rooted in fear, simply watching the unfolding scene.
Jo stood motionless, her eyes wide as three of the guards descended on Duke with spears brandished. They stalked in a circle around him but Duke held his ground with his square jaw raised towards the sky and his eyes narrowed.
"Jo!" Dean prompted again, catching the gun that Duke tossed at him and pushing Jo off toward the gate. Dean aimed at the head of one of the other guards and pulled the trigger. He was sickened and yet satisfied by the inky black blood that subsequently spurted from the hole he had created in the creature's skull.
Jo ran flat out towards the gate until her lungs burned with the effort. The sound of further gun shots rang out across the yard and a ball of fear dropped into the pit of Jo's stomach. She could hear Dean's boots pounding the ground heavily behind her, but the rest of the hunters remained stationary. Jo pondered the reason for this and quickly decided that they were acting out of terror, believing that a hapless attempt at escape would lead them to a worse fate than simply resigning themselves to the demons' control. Jo's suspicions were confirmed when in the next instant a nearby hunter stuck out one booted foot in a sly move that sent Dean tumbling to the ground. Jo turned, distracted by the thud that Dean's body made as it connected with the dirt, and found her arm seized by Matthew, the letch who only hours before she had caught checking her out.

Jo's fury was palpable and with a grunt of effort she flung her elbow into Matthew's nose, sending his head snapping backwards and causing a crimson tide to spill from his nostrils. Jo barely had time for a satisfied grin before a second hunter lunged for her, and she was forced to commit the ultimate sin of bringing her knee up heavily into his groin. She was determined to follow Dean's example and go down fighting, if at all.

A quick glance in Dean's direction told her that he had already climbed to his feet and was busy engaging a primal demon in hand to hand combat. Jo winced as the creature landed a punch to Dean's right eye but could do nothing to help as Matthew recovered and flew at her again.

"You bitch," he snarled, pausing only to spit blood on the ground. Jo smirked and ducked out of the way as Matthew aimed a meaty fist at her jaw. His knuckle grazed the air and the hunter let out an infuriated roar. His grudge appeared to be more personal now rather than fuelled by his own desire to survive.

A mini brawl was in full swing in the yard now as hunter launched themselves at hunter and demon alike. The primal demons were standing their ground well against the attacks they received, but Jo was disheartened to see that the majority of the captive hunters had elected to save their own hides as opposed to joining the escape attempt that Duke had instigated.

Matthew lunged at her again, meeting more success this time as his attack coincided with an attempt by two demons to forcibly wrestle Dean to the ground. Jo managed to deflect Matthew's fist from striking her but with most of her attention focused on Dean, he was able to grab her around the waist, his fingers digging mercilessly into the line of sutures on her side. Jo kicked out behind her and screamed in response, struggling against the hunter who crushed his body to hers in order to restrain her better. The combination of sweat and grime that clung to him almost made Jo wretch. A lecherous smile twitched at Matthew's lips as he nodded over toward Dean in delight, watching as a third demon joined the fray, swinging an immense sword. Dean squeezed his eyes tight shut, his body bent over double by a demon almost twice his size. He was left with little other choice than to await the blow that would surely kill him.
Jo scanned the crowd of hunters, her heart pounding against her ribcage as she searched frantically for Duke. A gasp of despair left her lips as she finally spied him; one hand was pressed to his chest where a stream of blood pulsed steadily through his fingers and onto the ground below. Jo blinked rapidly as images of her mother appeared before her and she turned her gaze back to Dean, watching in abject horror as the third demon brought his sword down towards the nape of Dean's neck.
"No!" Jo's blood curdling scream resonated around the walls and in her anger she brought her elbow up to Matthew's throat, knocking him backwards onto the ground.

Her call seemed to have the desired effect however as the demon's blade whistled through the air but came to a halt an inch above Dean's skin. Dean's eyes flashed open but he did not attempt to move as Jo cautiously approached the demons, her palms splayed in front of her body in a placating gesture.

"Please, don't," she gasped, struggling to catch her breath against the dull ache in her side. "You can have me. Just... don't."

The tallest of the demons detached itself from the group and strode towards Jo with a curled lip. Hovering before her, the creature leaned into Jo so that the two slits that served as it's nostrils were at level with her own nose. Their eyes met and Jo thought she saw a brief flash of understanding.

"Soulmates."

The word leaped into Jo's head, unbidden, and before she could either confirm or deny it, the demon held a scaly, clawed hand up at Dean's captors. They simultaneously released their holds sending Dean tumbling to his knees, wincing as the pounding in his head was magnified by the jarring motion.
Jo ran to Dean's side and hauled him to his feet. Grateful for the support, Dean fastened his arm around Jo's slim waist and leaned into her.

"How many times have I gotta save your ass, Winchester?" Jo's attempt at humour failed as her voice cracked, but nonetheless Dean shot her an affectionate smile. He wiped blood from his lip with the back of his hand and grimaced at the metallic taste that lingered in his mouth. He eyed the demons somewhat warily and drew Jo closer into his side, noting that Matthew had stepped forward from the throng of hunters and was swaggering toward the demons with a bizarre smile on his face. Dean speculated that he was going for arrogance but his fear of the primal demons was bringing him up somewhere short.
Jo placed her hand against Dean's cheek and brushed her thumb across his skin with the lightest of touches. A black eye seemed to be imminently emerging but other than that Dean appeared to be unharmed.
"I'm okay, I'm okay," he breathed, placing his hand over Jo's and then pressing a kiss to the centre of her palm. All the while, the ten pairs of demonic eyes were affixed to the couple. Jo resisted the urge to shudder and instead tossed a glare towards Matthew, who was drawing level with the apparent leader.

"I stopped her," drawled Matthew, indicating Jo with an index finger. "Did you see?"

The demons whipped their gazes towards the hunter in a kind of alarming unison, conducting the movement almost as though they functioned with one mind. Matthew swallowed hard and Jo felt Dean's body stiffen behind her in anticipation of more trouble.

The demon observed Matthew, wearing a leer and an expression that Jo recognised as one of disgust. It was the oddest thing she had ever seen on the face of a monster.

"I could be useful," Matthew continued, tone a little more uncertain now and legs quivering ever so slightly. "You don't have to kill me. I could be useful."

The demons stared back at him, holding his unwavering glare as he smiled under the scrutiny and folded his arms across his chest in an attempt to up the bravado.
Jo watched as the leader's blackened eyes narrowed in something that looked like amusement and he gestured toward the hunter.
"Kill him."
Jo spun away from the scene and Dean's hand instantly came to rest on the back of her head. She closed her eyes, the faintest pang of sympathy for Matthew stabbing at her heart. The sound of the demon's heavy footfall heralded a scream of terror that seem to reverberate in the air around them.
Dean closed his own eyes as a sickening series of loud cracks preceded the sound of blood and entrails hitting the dirt. Matthew continued screaming for several more seconds before a hush fell across the crowd. When Dean reopened his eyes to be greeted by the site of Matthew's limbs scattered in a wide arc, his stomach lurched. The hunter had been effectively dismembered and the demons responsible for the act were in the process of hungrily licking his blood from their talons. It was true that Dean had loathed the guy during the short time he had known him, but he would not have wished that kind of death on even his enemy.

When the leader's cold eyes fell upon them again, Dean was relieved for the mercy of not being able to communicate with the demon. A look of shock crossed Jo's features and Dean knew that the creature was making contact with her once again. The next words that left her lips filled him with a sense of dread the likes of which he had not experienced for a very long time.

In a surprisingly steady voice, Jo whispered the demon's words. "Bring them."