Chapter 11
Tanit walked around the forest, looking for any sign of the bitch that imprisoned her. There was a score to settle and she also wanted to get out and stretch her wings so to speak. It had been such a long time. She knew as such from what the winds had whispered to her over the centuries. It allowed her hatred and anger to grow against the one called Malachi.
As she walked through the forest she looked at her meat. The male body was fairly good. It was in good health. Certainly worthy to cause excitement like she did four centuries ago. She wondered if hell missed her. After all she did make it better than the piss pot it was when she arrived on the scene. Then came along the one that has been a pain in the ass since she heard about her.
She was called the Malachi of Absolution. The earthbound angel destined to protect the pathetic mortals from the darkness that lingered to swallow the world whole. The First of Slayers who would teach others how to hunt the demons. The 'Chosen One.' It was all disgusting in her view and she resented it when the Malachi dared to imprison her in that altar. She will pay for that.
Tanit looked around and snarled in disgust. She could hear the whispers and feel the presence. This forest was one of those places, a sanctuary, a home of gods or whatever beings occupied this place. And it was full of… Tanit grimaced at the feeling all around. She needed to get out of here and that was after she took care of the Malachi.
She walked to where the edge of the forest was and looked around. The road was straight ahead. She could go, and head for hell and… When she tried to take a step forward, she was stopped. She frowned and tried again and again she was stopped. She growled and tried again. What the hell was going on?
She was growling out her frustration when she heard, "Can't leave can you?"
Tanit whirled to see the one she ousted there looking at her with a slight smug grin on his face. "I'll kill you Crowley?"
Crowley gave a shrug and replied, "And if you did that you still wouldn't be able to get out."
"Of course I can get out." Tanit was not going to allow Crowley the satisfaction of being right. She turned and took a breath to try again. She started to take a brisk walk but she staggered back when she hit the edge. Growling she took a running start but she was thrown backwards the moment she touched the borders. She sailed through the air and she ended up hitting a tree and knocking it over with a crash.
Crowley watched with an unimpressed look. "Yeah. You really can go anywhere."
Tanit growled at Crowley, "And I suppose you can."
Crowley raised his brow and with a smug air he walked over to the edge of the territory. With a knowing expression he crossed the line like it was nothing. He raised his hands like it was nothing to him and looked at Tanit and said, "You were saying?"
"If you weren't such a spineless worm I'd kill you," Tanit retorted.
"And how are you going to do that? I'm over here and… you can't cross the line." Crowley gave a smirk as he looked at his mortal enemy. "By the way, I didn't know you had a thing for men."
Tanit snorted as she stood up. "You're one to talk."
Crowley gave a shrug of that. "True. But I still have the advantage. From the looks of things you're just stuck here."
"I can get out." Tanit turned around to think about how to break through the barrier. Like hell was she going to ask for help from a worm like that demon Crowley.
"I don't think so." Crowley grinned at her. "Unless you figured out a way to get out…" He shrugged his shoulders. He glanced back at the demon. He knew a trapped animal when he saw one and he was a businessman.
Tanit narrowed her eyes. She knew she was stuck. "And I suppose you know a way around this?"
"Of course. It's all tied to the events that led us here." Crowley stayed where he was. After all he wasn't going to risk his skin if he pissed off the queen bitch wannabe.
Tanit looked around and growled, "That bitch the Malachi."
"Take careful tone," Crowley warned, "After all she is someone that you don't mess with and live. And I don't mean the Hardy boys either." Crowley looked at Tanit with a narrowed look. He knew he was risking a blow to his reputation for this revelation… "You know what I mean. It's why no self-respecting demon would attack her and live to tell the tale."
"You did."
"Point taken," Crowley offered with a shrug. "But then again, I have business sense. You see, the Malachi is like any other mark you want to make a deal with; you got to know what makes them tick. Or in this case, make the argument that will get you coming out even or a little ahead."
Tanit looked at Crowley. The demon talked a good game but she knew he was nothing more than a worm. It wasn't too far of a stretch to think that he gave the same sweet talk to that Malachi bitch just to save his own skin. Most of the dealing devils were like that. Sure they acted all tough but in the end they were nothing more than puss bags.
Crowley watched Tanit. He knew that it was a gamble trying to win her side. And it was true that he was always out looking for the best deal for him. It was all just good business. That was the way of things and it hadn't changed in the four centuries he was trapped within that cellar of a bunker. This was just one of those things he thought about.
"So you know how to make a deal?"
"Oh it wouldn't be a deal," Crowley corrected in an almost nonchalant manner, "The Malachi is too smart for that. Besides she wouldn't consider a deal even if it meant saving the life of someone she cares about."
"A deal's a deal."
"Not with my sweetheart."
"Sweetheart?"
Crowley knew he had to think fast with this one. "Figure of speech."
"Figure of speech my ass," Tanit countered as she stepped closer towards Crowley. She couldn't reach out towards him since he was just on the other side of the barrier and he was too smart to stand that close to her unless he had the advantage. She got as close as she could and stared at the demon in the face with a knowing smirk, "You have feelings for her."
Crowley was a lot of things and sentimental wasn't one of the things attributed to him. It was the last thing anyone or anything would attribute to him. There really wasn't much that he cared about at all. Except for maybe a few things. But those things were things that he would rather not let even the lowest of his minions to know considering that there were always some who were trying to take over one way or another. One of those things was one that annoyed him greatly but he enjoyed it.
Looking at Tanit Crowley replied, "Let's just say that we have had our differences but we've always maintained a steady business relationship."
"You like her."
"I like the fact that she's always honored her half of any bargain even when she's tried to kill me," Crowley corrected. He grinned as one of his fonder memories came to mind. "My favorite was when she almost put a bullet in my skull. And it was treated to kill and not from the famous Colt."
"I doubt the Colt would have been able to kill me," Tanit replied with pride. She watched as Crowley grinned at his memory. She thought about it a little. It seemed that she had underestimated the Malachi and her two blundering fools of hunters. She had to admit that Crowley had managed to do something no other demon has and that was to gain favor with the Malachi.
"Maybe not the Colt but definitely Absolution would have a say," Crowley replied with a shrug. He then frowned as he heard something and turned to see what it was. His eyes opened wide and he grinned, "Brutus, there you are. Have you been a good boy?"
Tanit frowned in surprise as Crowley started petting the air. But then again she knew what hellhounds looked like. This one though was overly huge and… it looked like a regular dog. That was not normal. Her mouth went agape.
Crowley was well aware that his actions were putting a strange look on the demon's face. He continued to rub the hellhound that he had come into a long time ago when it was still a puppy. He rubbed the hellhound's head grinning since he hadn't seen the dog in over four hundred years. "I see that moron I left you with took good care of you Brutus."
The hellhound gave a rumble and a whimper. Tanit scoffed, "That buffoon is your hellhound?"
"Of course and the best there is," Crowley replied giving his hellhound a pat. "And a most unusual kind as well. He's a descendant of the great Cerebus. He's got the blood of the pit in him."
"Him and every hell bitch that you and your tongue licking minions use to collect your debts," Tanit spat. She crossed her arms in defiance but it didn't hold for long. She was interested in how Crowley managed to get a descendant of Cerebus, the three headed mutt that guarded Tartarus, Hades' domain. She glanced at Crowley and asked, "How did you get one of him?"
Crowley grinned at that. It seemed that he was finally going to have an advantage. He grinned at her and replied, "Oh I have connections with Hades and the Malachi knows a few things about breeding. She recommended a bitch for the mutt and poof…" He gestured at his hellhound.
Tanit thought about it some more. If Crowley could do that, then… She grinned, "Alright… maybe we could work together."
Crowley looked at Tanit. "It would be a business arrangement meaning that you would honor it."
"Of course. But that depends on what you bring to the table." Tanit knew that she was going to get her way one way or the other. It didn't necessarily mean that she had to keep him around one way or another.
Crowley looked at Tanit. This was what he was waiting for. It was risky but… Looking at Tanit with a grin he said, "I know how you can get past the barrier. And it involves talking to the one that is a descendant of the Malachi."
Angela walked through the forest, scanning the old paths she once walked. It was a trip down memory lane and full of good and bad memories there. She recalled the last time she and Sam walked through this particular path. She closed her eyes and thought about it and when she opened them…
It was day, late afternoon and it was peaceful. They had spent the weekend at the cabin; it was one of those things they started doing once they learned she was pregnant. She was halfway into her second trimester that day. They still had the same old problems but this was one of the few times that was a moment of happiness and peace.
Angela could see the pair of them walking through the path. Sam was holding her hand in the manner he always did. She couldn't help but smirk. He always had a thing for her hands. And it was her one weakness since his touch always was the thing to send her to her knees. Then again she knew how to get him to cave and it didn't have anything to do with the puppy dog eyes.
She watched as they walked through the path. She listened to the conversation that was as clear as if it were yesterday. Sam was holding her hands and he was looking nervous. She remembered that he was nervous about asking her something and she remembered why. It was that period in her pregnancy that her hormones decided to go crazy and she bit off his head and Dean's more often. She smiled sadly at that. She had apologized but still…
"Angie… I was wondering… if you wouldn't mind a… baby shower."
Angela chuckled to herself. She remembered well how Sam looked. She also remembered telling both Winchesters that she didn't want people knowing about her condition at the time. Actually she snapped at anything related to mostly normal regarding pregnancy. It was not an ideal time to have a baby then but… it happened and…
"You look happy today. Seeing you happy makes me happy."
Angela stared at the scene as Sam held both her hands before reaching out with one of them to caress her abdomen. Her lips twitched in a slight smile as she watched as the memory fade away. She looked around the forest and closed her eyes. She could still feel the peace and serenity of the place despite what she had asked of it and the beings there.
I ask of you a thing that… I am reluctant to do.
You ask us for aide and we give it freely to you Malachi.
But it will put you forever on guard. The peace and sanctity will…
"Well, well, well, I would have thought you'd have learned your lesson than to walk alone."
Angela opened her eyes and turned to face the demon that she had trapped so long ago. She narrowed her eyes and shifted on her feet. "And you should know that I am never alone."
"Arguing semantics? Using that whole… my loved ones are with me in spirit crap?" Tanit looked at her adversary. She noted how similar to the appearance of Sam Winchester the meat suit was. There were some slight differences but… "I mean you've taken it to a whole new level." She gestured at Angela. "Nice meat suit."
Angela raised her brow at that. She was stunned too and she knew that if Dean were here, he'd be asking about what it was like riding a meat suit that looked like Sam or some joke about riding Sam twice. And Aideen told her a few things about the spell that she had used. Looking at the demon, she replied, "Well, he comes from good stock."
Tanit looked at Angela and studied her… well the meat suit. Then it hit. "Ah yes. He's your descendant. You and the younger Winchester."
Angela sighed a bit but stood her ground. She knew that eventually it would come out about her and Sam. It wasn't a curse of being a Winchester like Sam said all those years ago. It was a blessing. "Does that really surprise you?"
"It had me wondering why you were overly protective of that little alcove I found you near. Now I understand it was the brat you conceived."
Angela knew that baiting her to unleashing her temper was a sure way to screw this thing up. Besides she had done what she had to do back then but now it was different. She would protect her family as it had grown over the centuries. "Only that which a mother would do for her child."
Tanit nodded and started circling around Angela. "Commendable but where did that get you in the end? Your home destroyed and no doubt a bunch of other folks didn't like you for that. And you had me imprisoned."
Angela started pacing to keep track of Tanit's circling. She narrowed her eyes as she watched the demon. "I imprisoned you because you had to be stopped. You would have made the Apocalypse look like Sunday dinner."
"And is that all that bad?"
"It is when you care about nothing."
"Oh I care," Tanit replied as she pointed at herself. "I just don't care about you puss bags we call humans. I mean… what do you contribute?" Tanit then chuckled a bit and added, "Well I don't mean you personally since you did manage to entrap me and you had those pesky Winchester boys too."
"Yeah they come in handy," Angela replied with a nod. She looked at the demon. It was strange seeing the female demon in a man's body. But then again who was she to say anything. First she possessed Sam to get back into her own body and now she was in the body of her direct descendent. That was probably calling the kettle black. "But they were great at what they did best."
"And that is?"
"Saving people, hunting things… the family business." Angela stopped pacing as Tanit did. She made no attempt to draw her sword or chakram. After all she knew a thing or two about a supposed goddess of war. She raised her hands in an 'oh well' gesture. "And they were hunters."
Tanit nodded in agreement. She looked around and then back at Angela. "So… are you intending to fight me or what?"
"We could do that," Angela replied. "And you know where it's going to end."
"Yes," Tanit replied, "Me killing you and it will set me free of this forest."
"Killing me? I'm already dead."
"Well I meant killing that body you're in. All I need is that body's blood and… then I'm free to resume what I've been doing before you locked me away."
"Then let's get this party started."
Angela turned to see Jared and Riley show up and looking ready to do battle. Her eyes widened slightly and she turned to see Tanit grin with pleasure. "Ah I see you have come prepared," the demon said as she raised her hands.
Angela took a step back as she felt the ground rumble underneath her feet. She looked up at the demon as more appeared behind her. Her eyes widened at the sight of Tanit's Babylonian followers. She then looked at the demon and saw the look of pleasure as the demon gave the call to charge. With a war cry that many have learned to fear over the centuries she charged forward to meet the demon.
Tanit grinned in pleasure and backed into a fighting stance. "Come to me Malachi," she taunted.
Angela led the way towards the demoness with Jared and Riley flanking her. They were outnumbered and she was putting them at risk but they insisted upon doing it and she let them. She knew that in the end it was their choice. She couldn't make it for them for it is the right of the individual to choose. She just had to trust in that as she charged forward with her hands out and ready for the fight. She thrust forth her fist only to have it blocked but she countered as it was and the fight was now on.
Tanit grinned in pleasure as she blocked the strike from Angela and backed into a basic attack stance. With a roar of pleasure she attacked using the basic stances that she knew her enemy would remember so well. She ended up chuckling as she delivered a hard punch to Angela's face.
It felt like whiplash when Angela got the backhand to the face. She looked at Tanit and saw the demon grinning at her and put a hand to her lip. It came away with blood. The demon smirked at her and she straightened up and backed into a basic pose. As she remembered when she first started training, when it comes down to it, you always returned to the basics. Everything is built upon the basics.
Tanit looked at Angela, glad to have drawn first blood. It wasn't too hard to do. She shook her head at the posture her opponent took. "A little basic even for you, Malachi. Too afraid to use what you are known for?"
Angela gave a smirk of her own. Showing her teeth in a smile, she held her posture. She crossed over to the right. "Well I know your fondness for a good fistfight." She gave a couple of good punches. Some were blocked but the last one made it in and straight to the face, drawing blood. Angela chuckled when she saw it. "And I happen to know that you like to draw first blood."
Tanit rubbed her cheek where it had split. She looked at Angela and narrowed her eyes in anger. "And I will drain you of all your blood!" She launched her attack with renewed vigor and with twice as much strength as before.
Angela doubled her efforts of defense. The strength in the demon was unparalleled and that was from centuries of being worshiped as a god. Tanit was a demon and could be killed but when the perception is that of a god… it was vastly different and much more difficult to kill. She felt the blows reverberate through her arms as she used them to defend against the strikes from Tanit. She managed to keep up the block and counter method.
Tanit grinned in pleasure as she kept up her attacks. From the sounds of the battle, she could tell that things were going her way. She looked at Angela as she gave another hard backhand. "Still on the defense? Tell me, is that what you intend to do with them?"
Angela felt her strength waning from the subsequent hits. She knew that she couldn't play games but she had to hold on just a little bit more. She blocked but that last backhand got through and it spun her around. At that moment a flash of light and a vision flashed before her eyes. She blinked as she saw flashes of a battle and she heard the demon's words. She spun back around and struck out at the demon.
Tanit grinned and merely stepped aside. She raised her fist and delivered a blow to the back of Angela's shoulders driving her to the ground. "Too easily distracted."
Angela hit the ground just as another flash of light or vision crossed her eyes. She grimaced as she hit the ground. She heard the demon's voice as she grimaced and turned her gaze towards the fighting. She saw Jared struggling against his captors but she didn't see Riley. "Jared," she whispered as she tried to get to her feet but felt a kick to her ribs and her body went flying until it hit a tree.
Tanit chuckled as she held up her hand to her minions. She would deal with the descendant of the elder Winchester later. Right now she had to concentrate on getting herself free. She looked at the writhing body of her adversary as she advanced. She hummed in pleasure as she advanced. "You must know you can't win. Now you are going to undo what you did and set me free from this damned forest."
Angela writhed on the ground as flashes crossed her vision. She knew what they were. She was losing her hold here. She wasn't going to let Tanit harm her family though. She turned to look at the demon and said, "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Don't lie to me," Tanit replied giving a kick to the ribs of her opponent. "You cast the spell that trapped me. Knowing you. You would have taken measures to ensure that I would never leave this place."
"I… don't know… what you're talking about," Angela replied taking a deep breath. She knew that there were a couple of broken ribs. She looked at the demon with a defiant look.
"Now you know that lying is a sin, sweetheart."
Angela looked at the owner of the voice. She narrowed her eyes and looked at the one who betrayed them. "Crowley."
A/N: Looks like Crowley turned into a turncoat. No surprise there. More memories and looks like we might actually have serious trouble. Keep watching for next time on The Absolution Chronicles...
