Chapter 12

Everyone was bustling about and preparing to put on the show. The crews were adjusting the rigging, and lighting and everything else. She looked around, pleased that everyone was falling in line. All she needed was one more and that bastard would see what he had done. It was all his fault and he was going to see the folly of his mistake as he had many times over and she had the perfect pair.

They were perfect, at least it was on the surface, and it was so obvious. She had seen how the woman's arm wrapped around his. Like he was hers and only hers. Most people would say that they were perfect but she knew the truth. She knew that there was no such thing especially how he rejected her. And after everything she had done for him. It wasn't fair so they were going to pay. They all were.

Everyone was too busy to notice her as she moved through the backstage. It gave her the opportunity to notice that there were changes in scenery. She raised her brow a bit at that but continued to where she was heading. It was no bother since whatever performance the troupe was doing was going to have a noticeable bang and in front of people even though it was not really something she wanted to do. But it did have a nice ring of fun to it if only to compound what she wanted him to feel.

It was storage room but it was well set away from everything. No one from the troupe would disturb her. She put her hand on the door and then turned the knob. She grinned as she walked inside and saw the one she wanted to see standing there with arms crossed and with that defiant expression she knew so well. It had her taken aback since she hadn't seen that look in a long time but there it was and on a face that was not his.

Smirking she entered in and said, "It's been a long time since I've seen that look from you. The last time was when you stood against those hunters that tried to kill you. Remember, Dante?"

"I remember well Persephone and it was because for some reason they thought you were a threat to them. A shame that they were right."

Persephone looked at Dante while eyeing the body he was occupying. She never figured he would go for this one and there was a sort of irony attached to it. She raised her brow and made a slight face of acquiescence. "Well it was an accident and I was trying to practice. I probably should have been more careful but I was trying so hard to impress you."

"I noticed. A silly… little… schoolgirl."

Persephone glared at Dante and clenched her fist. She must not lose her control. There was still the performance. She then smiled slowly, "And you are a stupid man… or woman now." She chuckled at the body. "You really had to pick her."

"You should know," Dante replied, "You were the one that specifically made it so."

"Please."

"By mark of duality and compatibility," another voice sounded from the corner shadows. "Your words."

Persephone looked at the other and noted the fine masculinity that was showing through. "And who'd have thought that you had a masculine side to you, Gemma? That body looks good on you." She gestured at it and eyed is speculatively.

Gemma glared back and retorted, "Back off."

Dante, being the voice of reason held his arm up to stop Gemma and stepped forward. "You have your bodies. Please let this be the last one."

"It won't end until you see the error of your ways or they manage to overcome the obstacles to the spell. It will never end after you what you did to me."

"I told you I could never feel like that for you. You are a friend, or were, nothing more and nothing less."

Persephone narrowed her eyes as she studied Dante. He was wrong on so many levels. They were meant to be together. It wasn't an accident. From day one they were destined to be together and she would have it one way or another. "You're wrong. For once the genius of the Alchemists is wrong." She paced in front of them and continued, "You see, it was destiny that brought us together. I was looking for the Alchemists because I wanted to study with them and I found you or rather you rescued a hapless girl from danger."

Gemma snorted at that and looked away. Persephone looked at her with a narrowed look. "At least I didn't throw myself at him like the whore you are."

Gemma's eyes widened slightly as they narrowed in anger. She made a move forward but was stopped by Dante as he moved forward and warned, "That is enough Persephone…"

"Aww. You used to call me by a pet name."

Dante narrowed his eyes and turned to walk away. He wasn't going to get into that. True he did have a nickname for her but as far as he was concerned, she lost the rights to that a long time ago and with this… He turned to look at her and said, "Seph… please. Stop this."

"There now. That wasn't so difficult." Persephone gave a simpering smile as she looked at Dante. "But it seems that your defiance was all any of your talent was… a big act."

"You have no clue bitch." Gemma started walking forward. She was almost within striking distance when she received a shock and was thrown back onto the ground. She skidded a little but she was otherwise unhurt.

"Careful there Gemma," Persephone taunted, "That isn't your body now and I doubt that the host would care for the nasty shock you gave him." She gave a simpering smile at Gemma before reverting her eyes to the glowing symbol on the floor and the corresponding ones on the walls that were glowing and almost purplish red.

Dante helped Gemma to her feet before approaching Persephone. His eyes were narrowed in anger and a hint of despair. "Seph this has gone on far enough. Stop it before someone really gets hurt."

"A bit late for that now isn't it Dante."

Dante was silent as he stared at Persephone. He blinked slowly as he looked at her. He knew that it was the truth since there were already a line of bodies from when this first started. And yet he still appealed to her to stop but it seemed that it was in vain. He couldn't well switch sides since Persephone would pick up on that. While staring at her, his head cocked to the side a little before he replied, "It is never too late."

Persephone gave a slow smile at Dante. She reached out and patted his meat suit's cheek. She made a sound of appreciation as she was met with softened skin. She had never come across skin like this before. Once her appraisal was done, she said, "Your words will get you nowhere this time, Dante. You really shouldn't have rejected me."

"I didn't reject you," Dante countered after stepping back from the touch. "I told you the truth. You were the one that turned it into more than what it was. That was your doing." He took a breath that turned into a sigh and shifted on his feet. He then looked at her, "I care for you as a friend. That is all it ever was and all that ever will be. If you want the truth, then the truth is that you are more like a little sister to me."

"Liar."

"Who are you calling a liar?" Gemma was on her feet and spitting mad.

Persephone turned to look at her and growled, "You think you can challenge me, Gemma? You didn't even have talent when you were alive." With a wave of her hand she sent Gemma back like she had been shoved and into the wall. She turned to look at Dante who was ready to use his abilities and warned him, "Don't try. You know the rebound circles will come back on you and I really don't want you destroying your bodies before you prove to them and everyone that there is no such thing."

Dante held his posture until he slowly released it. It was true that the rebound circles would wreak more damage than the curse itself and he wasn't about to do that. Not while there was still a chance. He huffed as he glared angrily at Persephone until it shifted into sadness, "Then I pity you Seph."

Persephone huffed at that before looking at Gemma as she sat against the wall. She smirked at his words, "Still defiant until the end and yet I hold the power over you."

"You only have the ability to control my doing. My thoughts and feelings are my own," Dante countered as he crossed his arms over his chest. "And there are things that you don't understand and probably never will. That is why you failed with the Alchemists."

"Don't flatter yourself. I am stronger and everyone will see." Persephone smiled at the pair as her gaze lingered on Gemma. She really had picked the really good-looking meat suit. Too bad he was going to meet his fate like all the others. "Now you know the drill. You'll just… chill right there until tonight and make sure you were the costumes."

Persephone grinned as she turned and left the room. Once she exited, she took a breath and calmed down but it was hard to since she felt it stir within. It was getting stronger but that was only because they were failing each and every time. This would be the last one and then she would be able to take care of it directly.

Once she was settled, she took a breath and joined the crowd of troupe members. They looked at her warily as she made her way to where the director was holding a meeting. She smiled a polite smile but she knew that they were wary of her. They knew what she would do if they didn't go along with what she ordered them to do. She looked at the girl who was way too young to be the director but it seemed that they trusted her more.

"Listen everyone, it seems that we have a change in the game plan. Leo has done it again and wrote a brand new script."

New script eh? This should be interesting.


"You should have just done something and to hell with the rebound."

Dante sighed at that, "Gemma calm down."

"I am not going to calm down. I am tired of this." Gemma paced around and put a hand to her head. She felt the strands of brown hair in her fingers. She had taken little time to notice the body she was inhabiting since all she wanted to do was get this done and over with. She felt sorry for the owner that she had taken without permission.

"And I am sorry that it came to this. I wish you had gotten word to me sooner."

Gemma paused since she heard the difference in the tone. She realized that the rightful owner of the body that Dante was occupying had broken through… or she convinced Dante to let her out. Dante was a nice one and she was willing to bet on the latter. It was why she loved him; he wasn't the ruthless sort and while he was wise in the ways of the world he still had that small bit of cheerfulness that could be considered naiveté. She straightened a gave a devil may care look, "So he let you out?"

"I asked though I could have easily broken through. It wasn't hard the first time." Angela took a step forward as if to challenge Gemma. "So why are you so anxious to cause rebound?"

"Because I am tired of this," Gemma snapped as she wheeled around to face Angela. "And it's not like you are going to be able to get us out of this." She gestured angrily at Angela. "And right now you could probably get out.

"I could but I won't." Angela adjusted her position to an at ease position. She looked at Gemma with a look that almost dared the girl to challenge her.

"And why not?"

"Because I promised to help the troupe," Angela answered immediately. She watched as Gemma scoffed at that. It probably was a bit hard to believe and she didn't blame her. She still had people questioning her motives since she never asked for anything in return. The only time she really used that was when she needed to keep her demon stoolies in line and because in order get something from them she had to bring something to the table. Right now it was a lot of disbelief and complete shutdown. She then added, "And because I won't leave Sam behind. I could never leave him behind."

Gemma paused and looked at Angela. She noted the slight saddened look when she said that. It was something to think about and no doubt Sam was listening to what was being said. After Dante gave his reasons for this suggestion, she reluctantly allowed Sam to watch from the passenger seat. She didn't understand why then and she certainly didn't now. At least Sam wasn't strong enough to break her hold. She wasn't like Dante.

Looking at Angela she thought about it a little more and then asked, "And would you put him over others?"

"In all honesty… more than likely." Angela decided that blunt honesty would be the way to go with this one. And if she was being honest with herself… she would put the wellbeing of Sam, and Dean, over others. But she was never one to leave a man behind.

"Why?"

Angela looked at Gemma. She could look past the fact that she was staring at Sam's body since she wasn't exactly talking to him. Still… she was looking at him and that was a sticking point. If she confessed what she had been feeling for the past two years, she wasn't sure of the reaction. Her throat convulsed slightly at that question but she knew she had to give an answer to satisfy Gemma and keep her on her side for this. Biting the bullet she said, "Because I love him."

Gemma paused a moment and looked at Angela with a raised brow. They were screwed on this. Persephone smelled this and that was why they were in this mess. The sad thing was that they didn't even know it. She felt a pang that she was going to be involved in something that she had no idea what it entailed.

They had wanted to tell their benefactor about what was going on because she was their protector. They knew she would help but Dante didn't want them harmed because they appealed to help. He felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. Now he was being bold and it seemed like it was a good thing but she wasn't sure if she could trust the woman and her idea of what to do now that it was obvious she could abandon the troupe in a heartbeat and for the man whose body she occupied. She did have some leverage though by holding it hostage.

"I would follow him to hell and back but I never leave a man behind. Not willingly."

Gemma looked at Angela. "You knew what I was thinking?"

"Long time living," Angela replied with a shrug. She grinned at that she it was one of the few things she could have fun with. Her age was always a source of irony and she loved the jokes. "That and I've seen that look before on other people's faces."

"And what look is that?"

"Doubt."

"You saying that I have doubt?"

That was exactly what Angela was saying. It was just strange and it actually hurt a little to see it on Sam's face. She knew he wasn't driving the bus so to speak but it still was his body, his muscle movements… everything about him. And she didn't want to go into the fact that his scent was still the same. Still to see an expression she had seen on countless others on someone who had always trusted her even when it seemed crazy and illogical at times… it hurt a little.

At that moment, Gemma twisted her head like she had a headache. It caught Angela's attention and she asked if she was all right. Gemma replied, "I'm fine. Just the binding spell."

Angela accepted it but didn't buy it completely. True being caught in a binding spell or circle or devil's trap thing stung if you tried to force your way out of it with one time being something that Dean would find entertaining and in a downstairs brain fashion. What Gemma did was something that had Angela suspicious but she wasn't going to press. It wouldn't do any good anyway. "Alright. To answer your question, yes you do have doubt. You doubt whether or not I will follow through with my promise. You doubt if I would be able to succeed where others fail."

"You will fail. No one has been able to break it," Gemma spat back as she straightened up and rubbed her head.

"No one has been able to yet," Angela pointed out. She gave a slight smile that would have matched Dean's when he was trying to justify going on a job. "Just because there have been 99 times something that has failed, there still leaves the chance that it could be done." She managed to grin, well aware that she sounded overly optimistic even though she knew the odds herself.

"How can you be so… cheerful about it?"

"The same as I can be in any dire situation." It was normal to be flippant with her responses to questions like that. Yet Angela knew that it was difficult for people to be sucked into a state of some optimism especially if the reality was laid bare like it was now. More often it worked with the Winchesters since half the time they were never sure if she was crazy or just plain stupid or a little bit of both. Sobering slightly, she continued, "I don't believe that it's three strikes and you're out. There is always a chance and if it isn't there it's because we haven't thought of it yet."

Gemma looked at Angela. She really couldn't believe that it was Dante putting everything in her hands. She really was something else and while she wanted to believe, she couldn't bring herself to do it mostly because of what she had seen. "And that's all well and good but… not here. Not with the fact that we have been trying to get our friends, our family out…"

Angela gave a reassuring pat. "It's hard and a lot for me to ask of you. Just… have a little faith. If not in me then in my friends and the troupe."

Gemma thought Angela was being annoyingly persistent in this but she couldn't help but take into consideration what she was saying. Maybe there was a chance or maybe it was false hope. "I guess false hope is better than none at all," she muttered.

Angela in the meantime had turned to look at the trap that was keeping them in. Or rather, what was keeping the ghosts in. She studied the circle and the sigils as well as what was still visible to induce rebound and other things related to the voodoo stuff alchemists dabbled in and came to some conclusions that needed to be tested out. She heard Gemma's last comment and replied, "Whatever floats your boat. You have to have some confidence otherwise anything we do here on out will have some problems attached… to it."

Angela had put a finger over the line and wasn't rebounded back. She felt a slight buzz on her finger like she was forcing her way through but that was usually more painful. It was like sneaking through sort of. It was weird but it gave her an idea. She stretched her hand over the line and felt the buzzing effect on her hand and to her wrist. She wriggled her fingers to test it out and made a slight smirk.

"What are you doing?" Gemma had looked up when Angela responded and found the woman actually sticking a hand over the line of the trap. No rebound effect was happening and it had her blinking wide eyed in amazement and in fear.

"Just testing a theory," Angela replied as she stuck more of her arm through. She paused and looked at Gemma who was looking like she was about to be tossed into a pool of hungry man-eating sharks. She gave a reassuring smile, "And don't worry, Sam is used to it. He doesn't like it but…" She shrugged her shoulder as she focused on the buzzing feeling.

"And you think he would approve of you doing this now?"

"No…" Angela looked back after giving her answer in the most flippant manner. She grinned as she looked at Gemma as she pressed more of her arm across. "He would not but he would also understand why I am doing it and that I always consider."

"Consider what?" Gemma watched with widened eyes as she watched Angela continue to move forward. It was too risky that she was going forward. She ran up and grabbed the arm that hadn't gone through and looked at Angela. Her posture said that the woman shouldn't go through.

Angela took in the posture. She knew that it wasn't Sam but her eyes widened slightly at the gesture since Sam would touch her in a similar manner when he was being affectionate. This was seriously wreaking havoc on her good senses; she might as well shout it from the rooftops that she was crazy about Sam and to hell if he heard her. She retracted her hand and turned to fully face Gemma, schooling her features carefully. "I always consider the consequences as painful as they may be."

Gemma would have said something else but something told her to not say anything. She closed her mouth and watched as Angela said nothing else but studied her carefully before turning around and took one step and was over the line. Gemma couldn't help but gasp as Angela went through and stumbled just slightly but was otherwise unharmed. She reached out to touch the invisible barrier and was met with a sharp shock on her fingers.

"You might not want to do that," Angela pointed out as she looked around in the direction of the other sigils. "Seems that the original owner has to be in the driver seat to make it work. If you want out, you're gonna have to let Sam drive the bus." She turned to look at Gemma who was looking at her like she was crazy. She grinned slightly and added, "I'll take that as a no then. Okay, just wait here and I'll do some exploring."

"Wait. Don't go."

Angela paused and looked at Gemma. "I have to otherwise this whole thing could collapse and we'll never have a chance to fix this."

"But what if you're caught?"

Angela would have said something but Gemma made a slight motion with her head as she did before. She raised her brow slightly at that, not sure exactly what was going on but she was willing to let the matter lie as long as Gemma behaved. Finally, she said with a slight grin, "Oh I have ways and means of getting from here to there. Some involving things that would probably have you think I'm certifiably insane. I'm pretty sure Sam has at one point."

Gemma started to say something but shook her head as she frowned. She rubbed her forehead and continued, "But…"

"Look, stay here and keep out of trouble. I'll be back before anyone notices."

Gemma would have said something more but Angela was already at the door and poking her head out. She sighed as the woman left the room and started pacing around. She could have let Sam take the driver's seat and be over the barrier and then take control back. Then she would still have her leverage though she got the feeling that Angela wouldn't be impressed by it; that she wouldn't react as if it were a dire situation. That bothered her since that would mean that there was nothing to keep the woman from going back on her word. As she thought that, she felt that prick again and sighed. She went back to pacing and kept looking back at the door.


A/N: Did Angie just admit her feelings about Sam? And a plan is in the works? Stay tuned for more on Message of the Crow...