Part 25: The Seals III
Dean held Liz close as he watched the Technicolor light show that was shaking the earth like an earthquake. Unlike the others he found his eyes could tolerate the breathtaking display in its blinding glory. The sight of giant winged creatures shining in the night took him by surprise and left an odd warm feeling in his heart; this was what angels truly looked like. They were pure beauty and destruction at the same time, something so beautiful and volatile all in one.
"Stunning aren't they?" Liz asked taking him by surprise as her warm breath tickled his chest. "Their light is so beautiful and warm but their eyes hold a cold indifference that is frightening."
"You can see them?" He choked out grabbing her by the shoulders to look closely at her.
Liz shrugged giving him a small sheepish smile. "I always have been able to, it is part of who I am Dean. As the Herald I have been given a special gift of sight where I can see them in their natural forms, but I can't hear them. Castiel has always found a special way of communicating with me though the same with Gabriel." Liz whispered.
"You know Cas?" Dean asked running a shaky hand through her long locks as if to convince himself that she was really there before him and alright.
"Yes." Liz whispered glancing at a large creature with a slightly purplish hue surrounding it and a warm white light at its center. "He always was on the fringe of my life, until you were gone."
"What the hell does that mean?" Dean asked sighing when he felt her cold fingers dance over his warm arm.
"My duty was always unclear to me until I lost you and then I realized what I was destined for." Liz whispered gripping his arm tightly with her small hand. "I felt dead when you were gone Dean, empty if you will, just a shell of Liz Parker."
"Liz…" a pained hiss escaped him as he took in her despair.
Liz tightened her hold on his arm as her large eyes gazed up at him like an open book, "But then I felt it Dean, the shift." She whispered. "It was as if some part of me was telling me that I was ready to know what my destiny was and it all became clear to me. I needed to save you from hell."
"How?" He choked out the thought of her working to save him warmed his hidden heart.
"I saw the giant shadows and suddenly knew what they were; I told them they had to save you now that it was time. I never realized it but the moment our fathers met a plan was set in motion starting our destiny Dean. As much as it sickened me I knew that you were meant to die that day and face to tortures of hell just as I knew that I had to be the messenger of the angels and tell them it was time to save you. All of our families and friends have been wound together so tightly none of us could see how we interacted and interplayed in our destinies." Liz whispered. "Then for the first time ever three months ago I heard them Dean, I heard them for the first time ever and their voices were beautiful as was their message. Dean Winchester is saved."
His heart jumped into his throat at her whispered words and his body took on a mind of its own as he crushed her small frame to his tightly and pulled her delicious mouth into a breath stealing kiss. Neither of the two noticed that the shaking had stopped and that the others had turned to see what the big commotion was about they were too wrapped up in each other. Dean hoisted her higher as he felt her small hands on the back of his head kneading deeply drawing small soft groans from him as he felt her lips moving against his.
"Ahem." A loud male voice cleared drawing the two out of their lust induced stupor.
Dean slowly released Liz watching as her golden face reddened at being caught in front of a crowd of hunters, aliens, witches, humans, and angels alike. "Bout time they came up for air." Tyler chuckled wincing at the murderous look Pogue shot him.
"Winchester lips off my cousin." He snapped.
"Little late for that one." Sam muttered staring at his brother in shock, he had no idea his brother was that close to Liz.
"They are way past late." Caleb sadly admitted.
"Lizzie." Her mother choked out looking ill, "I know that you and Dean are close but please refrain from reminding me of that fact."
"Sorry mom." Liz whispered ducking her head as her face inflamed even more.
"Anyone mind telling me why a Winchester is taking such liberties with my niece?" Paul Parry growled next to his son, his witch instincts to protect his coven from the outside world taking over.
"Apparently Liz and Dean are closer than they led us to believe." Nancy explained for her daughter, "Something the two of us are going to discuss in great detail when we get home." Nancy said choking up at the last part when she realized what that would mean.
Liz too sensed something was off as she looked around at the group noticing that her father and Tess were missing. "Mom where is dad and did Tess stay behind in Roswell?" Liz asked directing the last part at Michael who looked ill.
"Liz…" Dean whispered feeling a strong pain in his chest when he saw her crestfallen face. "Tess came to rescue you, but she was killed by a demon." He whispered. Liz froze as a strangled sob escaped Isabel and Maria.
"Did she really?" Liz asked looking desperate suddenly, "Did she turn to dust?" Liz asked.
"What, no?" Dean asked looking to Caleb and the other witches who shook their heads.
"She just had her throat slit." Tyler explained.
Michael bolted up looking desperate as well. "Our kind turn to dust when we die." He explained.
Liz turned to the three angels left, "Please is there any way to check if she is alive?" She begged Castiel.
"Liz it is doubtful anyone could survive what we did, it was meant to kill everything." Castiel explained softly unable to comprehend why he felt a tug in his center, it was so strange he felt bad.
"I can check." Gabriel whispered, "I know her signature better." She said and her brother angel nodded his consent.
"Wouldn't we be able to feel it though?" Isabel sobbed against her brother, "Wouldn't we be able to feel if she truly left us?" She asked.
"We always could feel that she was out there." Max admitted, "and right now I don't feel any different." Dean didn't like the way Max's eyes kept darting to Liz every other word as if he was expecting her to leave to jump into his arms and kiss him senseless.
Gabriel gasped softly, "She is alive but just barely." She got out as she darted towards the wreckage that looked more like a pile of wood and stone than a building. Castiel and Uriel hurried after her as well as the aliens. Castiel and Uriel focused on moving the debris while Gabriel searched for Tess as if a beacon was calling to her.
"Max get ready." Michael barked.
It seemed to take forever to find the small body of the blonde alien. Dean noticed that the others were even anxious to find her. "Got her, Max get over here quick she is in bad shape." Gabriel ordered and the brunette alien stumbled over the wreckage to get to his fellow alien.
"She isn't going to be able to wake up!" Max cried when he saw her.
"Max she is an alien from your planet you have an already present unique connection with her, you won't need her to be awake just try." Castiel said.
Max strained as he held Tess's broken head waiting for her to open her eyes and say that she was okay. Healing her seemed to be taking a long time and Liz twitched nervously in his arms. "Don't worry Liz it took him this long to heal you as well." Paul whispered trying to ease his niece's worry.
"I can't help it; she wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for me." Liz whispered.
"She walked into this willingly Liz." Dean whispered.
"If it is anyone's fault that she is here it is mine." Maria whispered from next to Reid. "I was the one who took her and Michael on a suicide mission."
"Again it was her choice to come with you." Dean said.
"He's right." The soft high pitched voice of the blonde alien rang through the crisp evening air. "It was my choice to come Maria. I knew what I was getting myself into." Before Tess could finish her thought Michael had slammed into her knocking her onto her back as he held her to him.
"Isn't that his sister?" Sam asked his brother but Liz shook her head.
"Yes, he is just happy that the only real family member he has by blood is still alive." Liz said smiling at the sight of the hugging duo.
Liz looked back at the pile of rubble that her friend had been pulled from. "Where is my dad?" Liz asked looking up at Dean.
"Liz, sweetie we should go back to the Danvers home and talk about this." Her mother whispered before she could question more.
Maria seemed to be the only one not questioning where her father was it was as if she could tell that he was not coming back and that it was better that way. She looked and saw Caleb staring darkly at the ruble as if he had lost something as well. "You okay?" She asked him softly.
"Not really." He admitted.
"Want to tell Maria about it?" She asked hooking her arm around his waist as they walked to the cars waiting for them.
"I met a girl and lost her in one day." He admitted.
"Oh what is her name?" Maria asked thinking he was joking.
"Ruby." He whispered.
Sam Winchester froze behind the witch when he heard the name of his demon mentor and lover spill from Caleb Danvers lips. There was no way she was there, it just was not possible. "Who?" Sam asked catching up to the two.
Sam watched as Caleb looked at him through pained dark eyes. Dean sensing trouble brewing knew he had to intervene before anything got heated. "Sam, Ruby showed up here earlier looking for you and she decided to stay and help out. She is the reason the witches got their powers back on the inside." Dean said
"What happened?" Sam whispered.
"She died to save all of us." Caleb whispered before Dean could say anything. "She killed herself to make sure Alistair stayed dead."
Sam looked devastated. "She is gone?" He asked looking ill at the thought.
Nancy slipped up behind him leading him towards the cars again. "Come on honey we will talk about this more when we get back to the Danvers." She whispered.
The ride back to the dark mansion was silent as Liz pressed close to Dean. She could feel that something was wrong that the others were trying to hide something from her even Dean and it left her feeling on edge. Dean ran his hand up and down her arm encased in his leather jacket that he had lent her to keep her warm and protected from the Ipswich winter weather.
"Liz you alright?" Dean asked his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered softly to her.
"Not really." She admitted giving him a halfhearted smile. "I am happy to no longer be suffering through endless physical pain but I get the feeling I am in for an intense bout of emotional pain."
Dean sighed kissing the side of her head. "You always were a perceptive person."