A/N Another Wednesday, another chapter. And now the plan is revealed... Tell me how you like it.
Thank you to my reviewers: chinaluv, Ladysunshine6, Morgan Elizabeth Jacobs, Carver Edlund, JEM37, TheLastNephalem, shadowblaster99, and Air Guitar Pixie! Love you all!
Also, MERRY CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH/KWANZAA/HOLIDAYS or whatever else you prefer. I hope you all have a great time with family and friends and stay out of the cold! :)
"Where is she? What have you done to her?!"
"Nothing!" Charlie said defensively. "Well other than accidentally giving away where she was hiding, but that was a total accident and I'm trying to fix it. I haven't done anything to her, but I think my boss might."
"Your boss is Dick Roman? Why should I trust you? You could be one of them for all I know." Dean asked skeptically.
"Because I just saw a super shady policeman force a very frightened pregnant woman into an office building and I'm going to get her out even without your help."
Dean sighed. It was the only real lead they had and now that he thought about it, Zara had said something about a girl named Charlie... "Alright, I'm listening."
Chapter 38
The empty main office seemed menacing even without anyone in it. There was a general feeling laid over the whole place that someone powerful and corrupt kept residence there. And even though Zara couldn't see any bloodstains or anything to suggest it, the room stunk of death.
Zara had given up on Charlie rescuing her. It had been hours and she had probably just ignored it. It wasn't like Charlie knew who she was. She couldn't expect her to pay any attention. And Dean had no idea where to look for her. Escaping wasn't going to be easy either. Not only did Zara notice guards ringing the halls as she was taken up to the office, but there were two at the door and two patrolling below the windows, not to mention the fact that she was tied to the chair she was sitting in. Whatever Dick wanted with her, he wasn't taking chances.
Zara jumped in her seat when she heard Dick throw open the door behind her and stride in confidently- the smug look on his face made her stomach churn. Whatever his plan was, it was going perfectly and that was more terrifying than anything else. Why did he want her here? What did Zara have that he needed? It didn't make any sense to her.
Dick sat behind his large desk in front of her and folded his hands on top of it. He took a minute and looked her up and down, not in a sleazy way, but sort of calculating, sizing her up. Zara hated every second of it. She knew he was waiting for her to ask a question- to firmly establish the fact that he was the one in power, the one with the answers. She refused to give him the satisfaction.
Everything in her past life had taught Zara that hiding her fear behind a thick wall of confidence was the most important talent she could have. It had helped her at her father's funeral, during her mother's illness, and when her brother left for Afghanistan. The only time it had failed her was with Sean. Confidence only made him angrier. Every time he came home was a feat of diplomacy. Each day she had to recreate a part of herself in an attempt to appease him and get out of a beating. If anything good came out of that relationship, it was the fact that, when she was afraid, she could mold her outer shell into anything she needed in the moment. It didn't matter that she was terrified. What did she need to get through this? Her first instinct was attitude.
Zara stared stonily back at the monster. Something about him betrayed what he really was. Behind the mask of confidence were dead eyes and dark purpose. As if to compensate for that, Roman threw her one of his winning smiles and leaned back in his chair. Whatever judgment he had been making about her had been decided.
He finally broke the silence. "Akele, it is wonderful to finally meet you face to face." The use of her Enochian name made Zara's blood boil. The only person who called her that was Balthazar and now he was gone. Dick Roman had no right to use that name. "I mean, we did sort of meet in passing back when Castiel failed to contain Purgatory, but now we have much more time to talk. It's always interesting to meet a being that is as old as I am." Zara refused to answer him. "I do apologize for our rather unconventional means of getting you here."
"Cut the crap, Dick." Zara snapped at him. "Either tell me why the hell I'm here or let me go."
"Strong words, Akele. I was hoping we could come to an agreement."
"Bite me."
Dick sighed. She had spirit, but that could only get her so far. "I need you to open Purgatory for me."
Zara's mind raced. Open Purgatory? Again? But that needed a complicated spell and everything. She didn't even have anything to do with that spell. Why would he need her? And why would he want to open Purgatory again? "… No." Her answer came out more like a question this time, less sure of herself and more confused.
Dick took that as permission to continue. "Being older than Purgatory and having access to the largest store of energy known to man has its advantages. You don't have to follow the rules like everyone else."
"You're saying I can use my power to open Purgatory whenever I want?" Zara asked curiously. She had had no interest in her power before- thinking it was too frightening and foreign to deal with, but this certainly piqued her interest. If she could open Purgatory, what else could she do? "Why do you want to do this?"
"You think all of the Leviathans got out? No. Most of my army is still there and what's a war without an army?"
"You're waging war against humanity?"
Dick let out a little laugh. "The humans are the food. They're too stupid and puny to fight. I'm conquering Heaven and Hell."
Zara's eyes widened. She never knew that was his bigger plan. It made sense of course. Dick knew about the tablets. He could be powerful enough to do it if he had the chance. Would the angels and demons really have left earth to them otherwise? "And what if I don't do it?"
Dick's smile grew wider and it made his face look even more unnatural as he leaned forward and almost whispered to her. "Then I will personally rip your unborn child from your body, burn off your tattoos, get a demon friend of mine to possess you, and open Purgatory anyway." Zara let out a strangled breath- unable to keep up the brave façade any longer. Dick leaned back with a smug look on his face. "But I'm sure we can do without all that unpleasantness now, can't we, Akele?"
Zara sat there in shock. Could Dick be serious? Of course he was serious. He was a maniac. But this was an impossible choice. The current number of Leviathans on earth could easily conquer it and condemn the human race. The Winchesters had beaten Dick with great difficulty last time. What would it be like if he had his army? It would be over. Not only Earth, but Heaven and Hell would be overwhelmed. On the other hand, if she didn't do it, Alicia would die. Would she choose her child over the whole world?
Dick seemed to be counting on her selfishness. Maybe it was selfish to want the safety of her child over the entire human race. Actually, it sounded incredibly selfish. But humanity was doomed either way, wasn't it? Whether she opened Purgatory willingly or she did it unwillingly it was inevitable. She couldn't save the whole world, but she could save a part. At least if she did it willingly, Alicia would be spared and Zara would get a chance to undo everything. She could try to fix things.
Maybe this was the wrong choice. Part of her knew Dean would have probably said no in a heartbeat, but Zara just couldn't. She didn't have the strength or character or whatever he had that allowed him to make the right choice in impossible situations. But another part of Zara thought, what wouldn't Dean do for his family? It was no different. Maybe Dean actually would have done the exact same thing. Watching Dean through the years had taught her that family is worth every sacrifice.
Zara steeled herself and looked Dick directly in the eye. "If I do this, will you ensure me and my family's safety?" She asked- throwing up a businesslike persona that got her through many job interviews.
"These are not negotiable terms, Akele." Dick snapped at her.
"I thought you wanted to avoid unpleasantness, Dick." Zara argued. "You don't touch my family and I do as you ask."
"Fine. You and the ragtag bunch of vagabonds you consider family will be spared." He agreed. "Do we have a deal?"
Zara felt as if she were signing her life away. She probably was, but if that meant keeping those she loved out of harms way, so be it. "Yes."