Sorry it's been a while since I updated last. I've been working hard on getting chapter 15 finished up before I posted 14. This one is going to be a little shorter than normal. I'll have the next one up asap. As always any feedback is welcome!

Chapter 14

Charlotte flipped through the morning newspaper absentmindedly. The sun was just starting to rise casting a weak glow in the motel room. John was still sleeping while she'd been up for hours. Since the boys left she hadn't been able to sleep through the night. Her dreams had increased to an unbearable level.

It seemed the voice was set on showing her exactly what she was missing. John was silent on the topic. Charlotte had tried on several occasions asking him about her dreams and the day her family died. The eldest Winchester would side step her questions before getting angry and yelling at her. He scared her when he was angry so she stopped asking.

They spent most of the time chasing leads about the demon. Any cases were sent to either the boys or another hunter John knew. Charlotte felt like she was going insane. She hadn't been out on a case in weeks.

Her eyes landed on a news article titled 'Local Man Killed in Freak Animal Attack'. A man only a few towns over had been drained of all his blood. Only one thing did that; with everything going on maybe she could get her answers. After grabbing her things and leaving a note for John Charlotte headed for St. Louis.

"Why is an animal mauling bringing in the FBI?"

"I'm following a lead. There's been a string of murders across the nation. My superiors think this man may be connected; we have to check all leads." The deputy looked hard at her trying to decide if he should believe her. After a minute he pulled out a large folder.

"Here's everything we have on the case."

"His body?"

"The case was deemed an animal attack. His body was released to his wife." Great. This was going to make things a lot harder.

Charlotte's phone started to ring. After thanking the officer she stepped outside to answer. "Charlotte what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Just give me one day John. I'm going crazy sitting in motels all the time. One day."

John was silent for so long she didn't think he was still on the line. She was about to hang up when his deep voice echoed through the line. "One day."

Most of her leads were dead ends. The victim had been attacked in the middle of the night in his house. If there were any witnesses they weren't speaking up. The only person she had yet to talk to was the widow. She was a waitress at the local 24-hour diner.

Grace Meadow was an older woman in her mid 40s. She had medium length brown hair that was starting to grey in some areas. "Mrs. Meadow? My name is Charlie Lane, I'm working with the local police on your husbands death."

The older woman peered at her with a curious look. Her face paled slightly before she shook her head. "I'm sorry, you look like my sister-in-law. Why is the FBI looking into Harry's death? The police said it was an animal."

Looking back at the woman Charlotte frowned at her statement. Her eyes scanned the woman's face looking for any recognizable features. Grace Meadow struck something in her memory but she couldn't quite place where or how. Clearing her throat she pulled out the newspaper she'd read the morning.

"I'm following the trail of a possible serial killer. The profile of your husband's death may fit with this person."

"I'm not sure if I'll be much help. Excuse me for a minute." Grace walked to the other end of the counter. A patron had sat down and she was rushing to get their order.

The longer Charlotte spoke with her the more she felt like she knew the older woman. There was no reason for her to feel that way; as far as she knew she'd never met Grace before. After a long conversation with the young man at the counter she came back toward Charlotte. Rubbing her hands on her apron she gave the blonde before her a kind smile.

"What exactly can I help you with?"

"I'd like to examine your husband's body if possible."

Grace's smiled faltered. "That's not possible; he's already been cremated." Sighing Charlotte ran a hand through her hair. This was going to be a lot harder than she thought.

"Could I take a look around your house?"

"I get off in an hour."

While she waited for Grace to get off work Charlotte went to the library. There were a few inconsistencies with story she'd been told. The police had been quick to rule it an animal attack. How had the animal gotten in the house? His wife had him cremated within a day of his death. Something wasn't right.

It seemed the library hadn't been quick about updating their computer system. The ancient desktop hummed as it roared to life. Staring at the screen Charlotte typed in 'Grace Meadow'. A picture of Grace popped up followed by a news article about her husband dying. It was the same one from the newspaper.

Scrolling down her eyes landed on another article from the next state over. It was dated for 16 years ago; the headline caused Charlotte's blood to run cold. 'Grace Andrews pleas for the safe return of her niece.'

Her body felt numb. Could this really be why she thought Grace looked familiar? Had she found her Aunt? The mouse clicked loudly through the library. As the screen loaded she glanced around the room nervously.

-February 23, 1989: Early Tuesday morning the bodies of Allison and Gregory Andrews were found in an abandoned alley. It appears that they had been drained of all their blood. Authorities have not yet released any new information. Could this be an animal attack or a deranged murderer?

The only witness to the crime is the Andrews' eight-year-old daughter, Charlotte Andrews. She was last seen wearing a bright yellow sundress and black ballet flats. Authorities believe she may still be alive. They found child sized footprints fleeing the scene.

Though statistics show the longer a child is missing the less likely they are to be found alive, Gregory Andrew's sister Grace has been leading the push to find her niece. "I know Charlotte is still alive. I can feel it. Whoever has taken her please bring her home. I'm the only family she has left."-

At the bottom of the page sat a picture of Grace. She looked the same then as she did now; just with a little more gray hair. Charlotte blinked rapidly trying to process what she'd just read. A few related searches caught her attention.

'1990 Grace Andrew's begs police to reopen niece's cold case'

'1995 Grace Meadow (nee Andrews) takes niece's case to the mayor'

'1996 Grace Meadow (nee Andrews) holds ceremonial funeral for missing niece'

She couldn't stop re-reading the article over and over. Charlotte knew she had an Aunt. She knew she was probably still alive but to know for sure. Her head was starting to spin. Before she realized what she was doing she had hit the speed dial on her phone.

Part of her wasn't surprised that Dean didn't answer. This wasn't the first time she'd tried calling him since their case in Chicago. The part of her that was still processing the information was a little hurt that he'd once again ignored her. His voicemail beeped pulling her from her thoughts.

"Dean I know you're mad at me but I need to talk to you. This is big, I don't know what to do." Charlotte's next phone call was one she didn't want to make. She knew if she didn't call John he would be livid. An angry John was the last thing she wanted to deal with. "John I found something."

"Charlie hurry it up. I got a lead. I think I found out how to kill the demon." He sounded anxious. She knew the demon trumped everything; except this. This was her life. An Aunt she hadn't seen in over ten years.

"I found my Aunt." She could feel the tension through the line. "The case I found; my Aunt is involved."

"I'm coming to get you. Don't do anything." John sounded scared. Why would he be scared? Why was he making her leave? If vampires were after her Aunt she had to stop them.

"I haven't found the vamp that killed her husband yet."

"Doesn't matter. I'm on my way. Stay put."

"John…" Her phone beeped indicating he'd hung up. Charlotte looked around the library again. Nothing was making sense. Why was John so set on keeping her from her Aunt? Looking at the clock she realized she was late getting to Grace's house.

Her Aunt lived in a small one-story house. It was a lot different than the one she remembered from her childhood. Beige and brown walls replaced the brightly colored ones. A fireplace sat on the far wall with a line of photos. Before she'd even made it to the fireplace Charlotte recognized the faces of her mother and father.

The pictures were a chronology of what time she'd had with her family; her Aunt pushing her on the swings, her dad teaching her to ride a bike. "You have a lovely family Mrs. Meadow."

Charlotte's voice sounded too high. Tears were threatening to fall. Taking a deep breath she turned to face her Aunt. Gave was giving her a strange look. Almost like she knew.

"Thank you Agent Lane. Pictures are all I have left; they're all gone now." Her eyes started to water. She had to remind herself that she was on case. John would be there any minute.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's alright. I know the truth now." Charlotte's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

Grace was staring back at her with a malicious grin. Her mouth opened to reveal a set of sharp teeth sticking out of her gums. Stumbling back Charlotte slammed into the fireplace. A few pictures fell with a loud smash.

"You see Agent Lane I was home the night they killed my husband. They told me the truth. My brother and sister-in-law died because of you!"

Charlotte couldn't breath. Her entire world had collapsed at her feet. "Aunt Grace…"

"Don't call me that!" Grace rushed at her with her teeth bared. Her hands reached for Charlotte's throat.

Lunging out of the way she pulled her machete from its sheath inside her jacket. Her Aunt made to jump at her again. Swinging the machete she sliced it through Grace's neck. The older woman's head slid to the floor quickly followed by her body.

Breathing heavily Charlotte dropped the machete; it hit the floor with a thud. Hot tears slid down her cheeks. She'd just killed her Aunt. Another death she was responsible for. Her pocket started vibrating. John's name flashed across the screen.

"Hello?" Her voice sounded so week. He must have picked up on her distress because John's voice took on the same worried sound from before.

"Charlie is everything ok?"

She started to respond right as something creaked behind her. Charlotte had barely moved when pain exploded from the back of her head. The phone slid from her hand. She could faintly hear John's voice echoing from the earpiece. Hands tightened around her forearms. Falling back she hit something firm. The last thing she heard was John yelling.

"Charlotte! Charlotte answer me!"

John's POV

"Shit!" Throwing the phone down John pushed harder on the accelerator. He knew it was a bad idea to let her go on the hunt by herself. She'd been moping around the last few weeks; neither of his sons would answer her phone calls. He'd just wanted to let Charlotte have a little freedom.

He'd spent most of the day looking for any signs that what he'd been told about the revolver was true. John knew of the rumors but he never bothered to believe them. This could finally put an end to the years he'd spent searching for a way to avenge his wife.

When Charlotte had called him he wanted to get a move on. He wanted to start tracking the gun. He hadn't been expecting her to say she'd found her Aunt. This was bad. There was no doubt they wouldn't be to far if her Aunt was in the area. His suspicions had been proven when Charlotte suddenly stopped responding. He heard her phone smash against the ground.

After getting the address for her Aunt, John took no time in racing over there. The door was standing open. He could see the remains of a body lying on the floor. A woman, who he assumed was her aunt based off the pictures scattered around, lay on the ground missing her head. They must have turned the woman forcing Charlotte to kill her.

Reaching down John picked up a small picture frame that had been thrown to the ground. The couple he remembered finding in the alley stood holding hands. They were smiling toward the camera; the brunette laying dead on the floor was next to the man. It was clear they were siblings. They had the same chocolate brown hair, brown eyes, and rounded faces. It was clear that Charlotte got her looks from her mother.

A small blonde stood next to her mother. She was wearing a dark purple dress and had her small hand wrapped around the older blonde's hand. They all looked happy, content with their lives. Now three of them were dead and one would be given a fate worse than death if he didn't hurry.

A vibrating sound turned John's attention to the floor. Charlotte's phone was a lying there as Dean's name flashed across it. Now wasn't the time to worry the boys. If he hurried he might be able to get to her before they got her out of town. Running a hand through his hair John looked around for any clues. His eyes landed on a small pool of blood near the back door. He knew that didn't belong to the woman at his feet. His blood chilled. What was he going to tell the boys if he didn't find her in time?