Reality TV: Reality Bites

A hard slap brought me back to reality. My body ached again and I could feel the warm, sticky puddle I was lying in. I wretched allowing all of the contents of my stomach up and around me. The smell of burning flesh wafted up from behind me and I knew that Malachi had branded me.

"Malachi, she's finally awake." A tall blonde woman hovered over me, Suzie if I remembered her name correctly. She was the girl from the bar the first night I was here. I tried to push myself up only to hit the rope tied around my wrists and ankles. I could feel the cold hard wood of the chair on my back. Shifting I tried to look up at Suzie. My vision still fuzzy in the dim light of the sanctuary.

"Oh goodie." His deep masculine voice sang from the shadows. He slowly made his way to me grinning. "Martha it's so good to have you back in the land of the living. Where did you go little one? To a safe place I hope?" He reached down and righted the chair they had me tied too.

I looked down at myself. A large red blossom colored my side and throbbed. My knee was swollen and obviously broken. I could still feel the blood running out of my broken nose. "You are a shit stain." I spat at him.

A small spatter of blood covered his face, his grin changing into disgust. "You'll pay for that worm!" He screamed as he back handed me.

"ENOUGH!" Ruby bellowed as she entered the room. Malachi flinched at the power in her voice. It was clear that even though he may have started this ship sailing that Ruby was now the Captain.

"But Princess, the curse does not say what shape the body must be in at the time of casting." He bowed his head in a coward's show of respect.

Placing her finger under his chin Ruby brought Malachi's face up to look at her. "You are right. But, she is my big sister after all; a little show of hospitality will keep her a willing participant in this. Without that, the spell won't work." She paused looking at me, "You are still willing aren't you?" I nodded grunting in pain as the blood coming out of my nose ran down my neck. She turned back to Malachi, "So leave us for now."

Malachi started to protest, "But,"

Ruby raised her hand quieting him, "Leave us." Her voice was firm. Suzie, Sarah and Malachi shuffled out of the room mumbling to themselves. Ruby stood straight listening as they went. When the sanctuary was quiet again she sat on a pew and starred at me.

"What?" I slurred. My vision had cleared, but my blood loss was still making me shaky.

She sat back smiling, "Oh nothing. I was just surprised when you contacted me with this crazy scheme."

I gritted my teeth against the nausea and the pain, "Trust me I was just as surprised when you answered my call."

Ruby started to examine her nails, "Almost time you know." She was trying to be nonchalant but I could still hear the excitement in her voice, "Your father is not going to be happy with you."

"Well I'm not so happy with him either." I let my head lull back over the chair.

She snorted, "Do you think Weenie Deanie will show up to save the day?"

I spit blood onto the floor near her feet, "Why? You scared little sister?"

"I'm shaking in my boots." She mocked hands raised moving back and forth.

I shifted my position in the chair, "Well you'll be over joyed to know he will not be attending tonight's festivities." Sarcasm dripped from my voice, "You mind cutting me loose here? I need to stop this bleeding. I wouldn't want to die on you before you have a chance to cast your precious curse."

Ruby watched me for a few seconds, "Well I suppose." Her lips were pursed in amusement. "You wouldn't be able to run even if you tried." Her gaze slipped down to my shattered kneecap.

I spit blood again, "No shit Sherlock."

She nodded her approval as a knife materialized out of nothing into her hand. "Don't say I never give you anything." Slowly she cut my biddings I collapsed into the mixture of vomit and blood that was beneath my chair. "Disgusting." She snarled.

"Help me to the stage." I grabbed at her shirt forcing her to stay.

She made a grossed out face trying to avoid getting her black leather outfit covered in blood. "Soon you'll be out of my hair and out of my life." She repeated quietly and under her breath. She settled me down on the stage that held the pulpit. Brushing herself off , she retreated a few feet away.

"Thanks." I muttered leaning against the old wood. I tipped my head back trying to slow the bleeding from my nose. "Do you think you could get me some gauze, maybe a few bandages and some water?"

Ruby scowled at me, "Fine."

I took a deep thankful breath as she whispered a few quiet words in Latin making the supplies I needed show up in front of me. "Fancy trick, looks like someone found some more power since the last time I saw her."

She sneered, "Let's just say I inherited it."

Using the water Ruby had provided I lift my shirt to see the damage from Malachi's knife. An angry looking gaping hole showed muscles. I poured the water onto the gash allowing it to run down into my jeans. I stuffed one of the rolls of gauze into the space and managed to tape it to my body. I stuck some in my nose which caused me to wince. Last was my knee which was broken so badly that I didn't feel anything any longer. A bad sign I knew, but I managed to splint it with the remaining gauze and two sticks that had shown up in the pile. Ruby was humming a quiet tune I didn't recognize. She was watching me intently as she sat on the pew. "So what's next?" I asked tersely.

Her smile was wide now with pride, "Well in around thirty or so minutes I kill you."

I nodded resolved to stay the course and keep my word. Whatever she had planned would hurt but at least it would get the girls back to their own time stream. "And Daddy dearest escapes?" I asked trying sound neutral.

She nodded, "He is going to be so proud of me. I was told, take initiative Ruby, and look what happened when I did."

"What about the Winchester's?" I asked slumping back again letting the pulpit take my full weight now.

She started to examine her nails again, "What about them?"

"Well for starters you can leave them alone." I managed

Her head fell back with laughter, "I make no promises. Father has plans for Sam."

I cringed thinking of the similar plans my father had for Dean. "Mother's not happy with you." I answered trying to change the subject.

"Well when father is free she will have no legs to stand on." She giggle, "Probably literally." She clapped giddy with excitement.

I looked at her, "You would kill your own mother?"

Ruby laughed, "I would have at birth if it was possible. There's a reason I didn't fill her in on my plans."

I sat for a moment thinking, "What about those other girls that Malachi used?" My thoughts running back to the bar when Dean and Sam had originally filled me in on their job.

Ruby leaned forward, "Failed experiments. Malachi thought that any old girlie blood would due. When I offered my help he was more then happy to accept it."

"So this whole time you were waiting for me?" I asked anger slipping into my voice.

She laughed again, "YES! I knew you wouldn't volunteer unless I put some pressure on your charges. What fun we had though? I mean I really put you to the test didn't I? And to find out that all three of them have some marvelous powers. It's a shame that they come from a reality that doesn't allow them to practice. So sad." She clapped her hands again.

"You have me now. And once you've twisted your curse they will be safely across the portal in their own time, no memory of me." I grimaced in triumph.

Ruby sat back, "What a shame." She tsked. "I could have taught all three of them so many wonderful things to do. Oh well, at least Deanie and Sammy will remember everything."

I closed my eyes in shame, "Yes well I guess their reality bites."

"Yes it does doesn't it?" Ruby laughed.