Chapter 14

"Looks like they're friends," Jake commented as he greeted his guests and led them in. He noticed the dog that looked like a wolf or a Malamute was sniffing her greeting with Penny. They took one moment and they ran off towards where Penny had her area.

Angela noticed too and replied, "Well Sasha is of the Pack. They are sociable." She made a slight face as she let Dean pass in first. She was relieved that Jake led the way since the more urgent and uncomfortable was next to her. She looked ahead and said, "You know there is no shame in this."

Sam made a face knowing he was making things out more than they had to be or really were. "Angie I can't see."

"I know."

"Meaning I can't really help with research."

"So you say."

"I will be useless."

"And that is the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard." Angela looked at Sam even though he couldn't see her expression. "It's shit."

Sam looked in her direction. She could swear but this was one of those rare times that she was so blunt. "Angie, no sight is a liability in hunting."

"And you're being an idiot," she countered. "Not to mention a brooding emo."

"Oh now you're gonna be like that?"

"If I have to… yes." Angela huffed a sigh as they stood in the entryway. She could tell that Jake could see that things were not too good and followed the cues. He and Dean wouldn't bother them. "You forgot," she said softly.

"Forget what?" Sam didn't mean to be pissy about not being able to see but it was like a serious blow to his ego. Apart from seeing for hunting, he still liked to read and the realization that he couldn't do that really bothered him. He had been quiet the trip to Jake's house since the guy really was a hunter and he had something and he would have preferred grousing in the room.

"Augie can't see," Angela replied softly. She could see he wasn't buying it even though he knew Augusta and worked with her. Then again the girl spent a bit more time with Dean. She then added in an almost hurt tone, "I was in your position."

Sam stopped his inward tirade and looked at her. He couldn't see her face but he knew she was shooting that look at him that looked sorrowful. He had forgotten and the sad thing was that he had been the one that was most concerned. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Seems like I'm on a roll to piss you off on this job," he finally said.

"You are a contender with a few others I can name and those girls were bitches," Angela replied. She paused as if to sigh and then said, "Sam, I know it is scary. Believe me I was scared that I wasn't going to see again."

Sam blinked as he looked down. "But you were able to."

"Yes… And I appreciate everything I have been able to see since." Angela sighed and added, "If it is possible… I can get the Eye. That's a promise."

"Don't do that," Sam countered. "Don't make promises like that. It would hurt you if you couldn't keep it." He made a slight smile, "I'll try to be not such a pain in the ass. Um… when we're done here… can we talk?"

Angela looked at him as he gave an expectant look. Even blind the puppy eyes… well his eyes in general appealed to her. She gave a slight smile and offered her elbow by tapping his arm. She led the way to where Jake and Dean were waiting. "Later," she said, "Promise."

Enough was said for the moment with Jake waiting with a book out. He waited until Sam was in a place he could hear everything and began, "Now I did some digging and called in a favor from an old friend of my uncle's and this is an old spell."

"Okay, so what is it?" Sam asked the question and wishing that he could see and read for himself.

"You could say the equivalent is the prank variety," Jake replied, taking a moment to note that Angela had motioned for Dean to read. "From what I was able to make out, this one is, in the short version, the 'no evil' spell. Meaning that when it is active, the victim experiences one of the no evils." Jake made a slight face.

"Meaning that an old saying is brought to life and a bunch of scared people," Dean observed. He couldn't hear the conversation but he was able to read from the book that Jake had opened up. He was afraid that it was going to be in a language that he wouldn't know apart from Latin since the book looked old. It was a relief that it was in readable English.

"Is there any way to fix it?" Sam asked the question in that determined way but it was quiet.

"According to Bobby," Jake said, not noticing the look that Dean shot Sam and vice versa, "It's not your typical kill the witch and it goes away spell."

Angela made a humming sound and took her leave since she needed to take care of a few things. She had heard what Jake said and that meant that it was like a hex bag but you couldn't just burn it either or shoot it with silver. You still had to find the source of it but you needed to counter it. At the moment though, she was concerned about Isabella. The girl was out there angry and she might end up offending someone and getting into trouble.

Knowing that it was probably not a good idea, she took out her replacement phone and rotated her shoulders. She was still sore from the jeep incident but she wasn't going to hold it against anyone. The driver couldn't see and definitely Jake would have been road kill. It was just the nice thing about being a dhampir and the reflexes to avoid the most serious damage. She dialed Isabella's number and got her voicemail, This is Rivain. You know what to do.

Angela felt her lip twitch in amusement. It sounded like one of Dean's versions of a voicemail greeting. She left a message, "Isabella, we have problems on this job. You really need to be careful of what you say regarding the five senses. That is what the spell is based on which means it can affect you too."

It wasn't much but it was something. The girl was going to have to make her own choices about it what she was going to do but at least she could warn her. Closing her phone shut, Angela walked through Jake's house. She could still hear the three of them talking and was glad Dean wasn't trying to shout and tempering his voice. Sam was at least being polite and friendly. She still had no idea why he threw her meeting Jake in her face except that it was one thing on top of another and the primary reason had to do with Cary.

As she walked through the house she took in the way how it was made equipped to Jake's needs. She knew he lived solo with Penny his service dog and her assessment was that he did pretty well for himself and considering the town populace itself… It made sense now how the town could be so happy. She wandered back towards the room where Jake was explaining about the need to find the source of the spell but the hardest part was figuring out how to break it.

"Anyway that it could be a blood ritual?" Sam asked the question even though he wasn't looking directly at Jake. "The two bodies were drained dry."

"Could be," Jake admitted, "This is pretty old stuff. It was a bitch even to find this. Though I am fairly certain that amount of blood is for a phone call or two." He wheeled himself to a different position relative to the table.

Sam thought about it a little, "Well it would be specific to whoever cast it."

"And they could have used just about anything here in town. It would make sense to make a perversion of something here," Jake continued. "Any ideas of what to do?"

The chaos that was being sowed was rather exciting to see. Alighieri was surprised that the spell was working as well as it did. He had to admit that he had expected the one he was gunning for to figure out everything before it got this far. It made him wonder if she was slipping or it was one of her strategies designed to throw him off balance. He remembered seeing it in action and he wasn't on the receiving end and that was before he made his choice to reveal who he was.

It wasn't so much as being passed over but more out of a desire to make something of himself. True he managed to fool them into thinking that he was a worthy candidate but as his mission prerogative was, he had to find the one that would be the one. He did find her before the whole trial began and befriended her.

She was so innocent then when he saw her. Even though she had experienced death fairly recently, she was still at that stage of innocence. She certainly had a reckless streak about her and he was certain she still had it. Her hair was longer then and she had it curled into that hairstyle of the time and certainly had no qualms about dressing like a man.

It was hard to get close when she was with her companion. He always seemed to be alert and suspicious about everyone within five feet of her. It was chance that he was able to get her alone. He struck up a conversation with her and in essence they became friends according to what it meant. He figured that the only reason that she would talk to him was because she was lonely and he spoke to her in her native language. It was also probably one of the reasons she and her companion had a bit of a falling out. Either way it set the path for where she was now.

Alighieri couldn't forget the look on her face when she found out that she had been had. What happened then, he didn't know and didn't care to know. His job was over. Of course when he heard she got out, he was surprised and then the times he saw her…

"Sir, we still have the wild card still out there."

Alighieri turned from where he was looking and replied, "Not a problem." He walked past his subordinate without another word.

He walked to a place where he was fairly secluded and activated his phone line. He said, "She is here and she has company. Not them."

Lilith, back in her dental hygienist body, looked at her end of the telephone and replied, "So she is with someone else besides the Winchesters? Who?"

"Does the name Rivain mean anything to you?" Alighieri knew that he was risking fire by teasing Lilith like this. He knew that she was not happy at the turn of events that occurred recently. Even he heard that it was something unexpected.

Lilith paused a moment. "Long line of Centurion dogs… literally," she finally replied.

"That would be the del Castillo line," Alighieri corrected. He could hear the wrath even though it was nothing but swirling sounds on his end. "They have been messing with our plans for centuries if I'm not mistaken."

Lilith glared at the blood swirling in the bowl. She replied, "Both have as well as all the others who joined those dogs."

Alighieri gave a chuckle at that. Lilith was the first demon and had been there with the formation of the Ancients and all that hoopla. She hated the fact that one of their own turned on them and gave man the means to fight if not all the answers. The best she could do was to take on the descendants as she found them. He had been instrumental in some of those exploits. He replied, "Well a Rivain pup has surfaced and the one who rescued her too."

Lilith paused for a moment. Now that was an opportunity. True she had been scared initially of Absolution's showdown but in the long run, it would prove to be fitting for the rest of the plans. Now that a Rivain mutt was around too… She grinned and asked, "The same one?"

"Yes and every bit pissed."

Lilith thought some more. It would be a gamble since she didn't want Absolution harmed in any way. It was just bad luck since anyone within the radius of the town was susceptible to the spell and that included Absolution. If something happened… it could still be beneficial even though she knew that Absolution would rather drown in her own blood than agree to any deal. Though it would be fun to 'remind' the bitch how much she wanted to go through it the last time.

Alighieri knew that Lilith was still on the line. It wasn't too easy to drop a call like that. She was thinking about their options. He offered, "There is a way to turn pup against vamp. A good distraction and maybe a delivery."

Lilith thought about that. That was plausible but there was the issue of the spell. "Anyone within the limits is susceptible to the spell. If either of them say anything…"

"I don't think Absolution would say anything. She would have gotten the hint by now," Alighieri replied. He knew he was inciting wrath by interrupting. He continued, "Besides you and I both know that she wouldn't do that."

"There's a first for everything. That mess the last time."

"And quite possibly a fluke. Absolution is human like anything else when you take away her gifts. She is susceptible to the same suggestions." Alighieri gave a grin as he remembered how he managed to persuade the subject in question that he was a friend. He had helped her out and they worked together and then the main challenge… "She has pressure points."

"And if I knew what it was I wouldn't be here talking to you."

Alighieri chuckled at that, "But you already have one. The Rivain pup. I was there and…" He let it hang.

"That is a possibility but not always one to work. It isn't that strong enough."

"I would think that you would know."

Lilith growled at that. She replied, "And you would do well enough to know who you work for."

"Oh I do," Alighieri replied smoothly. "Like being one of the few that can get away with talking this way to upper management… it is delicious." He chuckled at the swirling that sounded like it was grumbling. He certainly had a way with things.

"If you weren't so useful…"

"I know, you'd rip the skin off my bones, shove it up my ass and piss in my dead skull," Alighieri replied though that wasn't completely true in any sense.

"Skinning you yes, the rest you watch too many damned movies."

"I like the entertainment value. Gives me ideas." Alighieri shrugged and added, "Besides you have your reports from the simpering princess. If you ask me she is being a bitch hiding from Absolution…"

"Lenya is doing what I asked her to do. Since the Essentials are no longer on the list thanks to Absolution's timeliness, we have to go another route." Lilith crossed her arms and scowled at the bowl. "So who did you have in mind?"

"Current companions," Alighieri replied. "Now I know that you wanted to make a deal with Sam and you pushed when you said that Absolution lives but is your bitch. Play with that."

Lilith mused on that. It was pretty interesting the way how Sam reacted to that stipulation she had put up. She already knew Absolution's tendencies so maybe it was one sided. Something could be done. "So you think by playing with the Winchesters will help?"

"More likely they said something stupid and are already affected by the spell. Makes it easier," Alighieri offered. "Actually it would probably be best to use the Rivain pup and I know how. I can make it so that Absolution is gift wrapped and she would have no choice but to say yes to you."

Lilith thought about it. Knowing the Winchesters, they probably were already affected so really nothing new there. Alighieri brought up a good point and she had a thought, "You had this planned before you called me didn't you?"

"You know me well. I can't resist the opportunity to meet up with an old acquaintance," Alighieri replied with a smirk.

"Do what you have to do but remember Absolution is worth more alive and near dead than dead."

"It shall be done."

The day was starting to end and Angela was worried about Isabella. The girl had been gone for most of the day and even though there weren't as many cases as before, with the exception of bulletins from nearby towns, there was still the chance that something could happen. It already happened with the boys and they really hadn't made it easy though Sam was really trying hard but she could hardly understand what got his dander up.

On top of that there was the issue of the curse itself. It required an object and probably a blood spell or something. She had little experience with really old spells that predated her and Jake tried to be helpful with what he had and Bobby said that the amulet was not even related since it was a sigil for a family dating back to medieval times. Lots of leads and most were dead ends. Also there was the fact that she knew the demon backing the witch up. How could she forget him? He was the one who tricked her into going to hell.

"Should've listened to Gabe then," she murmured to herself as she leaned against the rail that protected the walkway of the motel. "As always things come back to bite me in the ass."

"I don't think this spell thing is your fault."

Angela turned to see Sam making his way towards her. One thing she could say that was good was how the boys adapted somewhat to their predicament. Dean had been hilarious to teach sign since it was obvious to him he couldn't rely on pen and paper. She spent some time teaching basics and like the time she taught Sam, he accidentally flipped her off and it caused her to laugh.

The funny part was that he tried to talk to the brunette in the lobby. Angela felt sorry when he signed a few things completely wrong and almost was insulting. The brunette was understanding and said that he was funny and cute. It kept Dean busy for a while and she prayed that it wouldn't come to a sexcapade but what could she do about that. Sam was better but he was stubborn about the blind man's cane she had kept from her time with no sight and she dropped it thinking that he was being a stubborn ass and he was. If only she didn't love him so much… what the hell she'd love him anyway and it was that stubborn ass nature that she was attracted to in the first place. That and his gentle persistence that normally would have had her pissed with everyone else.

Looking at Sam trying to not be obvious that he couldn't see, she felt her lip twitch in a soft smile. She replied, "Never thought it was… but I do know what bled your drunk and cop."

Sam ambled to stand beside her not sure if he was actually facing her or not. He looked in the general direction that her voice came from. "So now you want to tell us that."

"I had to be sure even if it meant taking a time out and thinking about the coincidences like that. Plus… I didn't want to worry Jake too much and it's not because he is what he is now." Angela paused a moment to not sound like a complete and utter bitch. Truth was Jake was another person to her and true he was helpful but since this was involving something that she needed to get rid of, she would rather him be more like Bobby with the info support. "The backer behind the witch is someone I know and…"

"One of those things that you'd rather not talk about?"

"More or less yes but you need to know and when Dean is finished flirting him too." Angela paused and looked out at the scenery as if it would make Isabella magically appear. When she was disappointed again she turned back to Sam. It was rude if she didn't face him. "His name is Alighieri. Dante Alighieri."

Sam paused and was well aware that his face was contorting into one of surprise, "The Dante Alighieri. The one who wrote The Divine Comedy?"

"One and the same. The bastard was a demon when he wrote that and a demon when I met him but he fooled me." Angela played with her fingers at the moment. "The last time we met, was at the Academy. That much I remember but he was in a different meat then. I didn't say anything because we had bigger problems and then after that… never heard of him."

"So why is he here now?"

"I'm thinking backing up a witch and providing entertainment for Lilith," Angela replied. She was not concerned with how Sam reacted to her mentioning Lilith since she knew the answer to that and she had her own worries locked away for later on that. "More likely it is about me. He duped me but not before I gave him a nasty reminder and… he took it out on me by forcing my hand that ended up saving a little pup but at a great cost." It came out like a run on story but it just made things easier in the long run and she wasn't taking side trips.

Sam put together two and two and made five and asked, "So Isabella…?"

"Yes and I am worried that she is out there and probably running her mouth like I did at that age."

It became clear to Sam as he looked at her, "That's why you were agreeable to the whole Centurion crap and why you didn't react to her crap."

Angela shrugged her shoulders, "She is like me. And a surprise it is because I left her with her family and left it at that. Once or twice made me wish I did the same with you and Eli but it wouldn't be the same."

"Do you really wish that?"

"No," Angela replied thoughtfully. She looked at Sam and was glad that he couldn't see her face. She was well aware that she was probably blushing and more likely her feelings were showing on her face. "Because then I would still be the miserable bitch that had been in existence before I met you two."

Sam would have said something but his hearing caught a sound. Pausing he listened and then said, "Your phone. Buzzing."

Angela couldn't help but give an approving smile. "Points for Sammy," she said softly as she fished her phone out. She looked at the caller ID and opened it. "Hello."

A/N: Still trying to figure out a plan and Alighieri is coming up with something. Stay tuned for next time on Hear No Evil, See No Evil...