Chapter 54

It took me several days to come to terms with what had happened or as was the case, what had not happened. As an angel I was accustomed to strange things, but time reversals were always difficult. Humans didn't recognize them and therefore didn't know that sometimes that they had died, but because of an outside circumstance time was reversed and they carried on with their lives. It didn't make it simple for any of us.

I avoided the company of the others and chose to stay out of Hell as well. The newsletter would be perfectly fine without me, but I wasn't anywhere near being fine. I found myself beside Clara's grave. The tree I had planted next to it gave wonderful shade and I was grateful that no one had decided to cut it down. I sat there next to her and recalled when I had planted that tree. Sam had been there as well. That beautiful boy who had crossed into a dark place that frightened me.

I pulled my knees up under my chin and thought about all the events that had occurred. I could still hear Clara's confusion at my not being able to go with her. But she was safe and happy and in the end that was all that mattered. I sensed that I wasn't alone.

"This is a fine place," a child's voice sounded.

I looked over at the child who stood watching me. I recognized her in an instant. It was Lilith.

"Taking the form of a child," I observed. "How conventional for you."

"There's no need to be this way," she smiled.

"I hope the child was dead before you took the body," I murmured.

She grinned. "Now, why would I do that?"

"The law," I stopped. "Never mind."
"I want him dead," she said.

"Want who dead?" I frowned at her.

"I want Sam Winchester dead," Lilith clarified.

I laughed. "Get in line," I told her.

"I will be respected," her eyes glazed over.

"Don't try that with me child," I warned as I stood.

She glared at me. "I remember you from the beginning. You think that because you've been in Hell that it erases what you did?"

I stared at her for a moment. "You did horrible things Lilith. You had to be contained."

"Rubbish!" she roared. "I did what I had to do. They were not horrible things."

I glanced away from her. "Even now you refuse to see it," I whispered.

"You've been backing the losing side," Lilith taunted.

"No," I shook my head. "I've not been doing that."

"I will kill that boy," she asserted.

I stepped away from Clara's grave and looked down at the child before me. In many ways the human body she inhabited represented what she truly was, which happened to be a child. Lilith had refused to see reason all those ages ago, and she still refused to see it now.

"Why kill Sam?" I asked.

"He's in my way," she snarled.

"He doesn't want to lead any army Lilith," I offered. "He never did. All he ever wanted was a normal life. It was Azazel who took those things from him."
"It doesn't change anything," Lilith argued. "He has Azazel's blood still within him and you know what that means."

I nodded. I couldn't argue with her logic there. "He's resurrected."

"That just makes it a little more difficult. Not impossible," she shrugged.

"Sam's not alone," I told her.

"That really cute brother of his isn't much of an obstacle," Lilith crowed. "Besides even without that deal, which he's sure to get out of now, he's no barrier to my plans."

"It's not just Dean," I smiled.

"Oh, you mean Ruby?" Lilith scoffed. "That piss – ant human reject isn't much of a problem either. We also know that you're not liable to interfere. After all, it's not what the others do anyway."

I remained calm. She was dangerous despite her child demeanor. The complications were worse than I had feared.

"It's going to be a good show," Lilith grinned. "Although you shouldn't be siding with them. I mean not after what happened."

I frowned at her for a moment. I recognized the ploy.

"What? Silence?" she taunted.

"There is no response for you," I spoke softly.

A bark of laughter escaped her. "It's amazing how forgiving you are. I don't know if I would have been," she continued to jab at me.

I realized that she that she thought she knew something. But she was not privy to my instructions or my true purpose.

"We will win," she insisted.

"The battle for them isn't won in either heaven or hell," I whispered.

"What?" Lilith frowned.

"When you understand Lilith, then you'll understand," I replied.

I walked away from her as she screamed. However, she could not hurt me, so I chose to ignore her.

I put distance between us and landed approximately two States away from where Lilith was. I had wanted to spend more time at Clara's grave, but I knew that was impossible. I frowned as I realized that Raphael stood before me.

"What?" I snapped.

"You're not answering our calls," he told me.

"Therefore?" I shrugged.

"This isn't like you," he murmured.

"I am simply trying to come to terms with it," I waved my hand.

"You were fortunate," he said.

I arched an eyebrow.

"Lilith?" he frowned.

"She can't hurt me," I scoffed.

"She knows things," Raphael muttered.

"You never did like her," I pointed out.

"There's no reasoning with her," Raphael looked up at the nearest tree.

"There never was," I commented.

"What is it?" Raphael demanded.

"What is it that she thinks she knows?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

Raphael appeared puzzled by my question, yet there was a brief flicker behind his eyes and my senses went into overdrive.

"I have no idea," Raphael shrugged.

"It's never a good idea to lie to me," I warned.

Raphael stared at me for a moment then he said. "Where is the marker?"
"What marker?" I demanded.

"The one for Dean's soul," Raphael said pointedly.

I glared at him. "That wasn't in your plans?"

"Where is it?" Raphael repeated.

"I don't have it," I shrugged. "I don't know where it is, but it's probably in Lilith's hands by now."

"Don't say that," Raphael whispered.

"It would explain her smugness," I reasoned.

Raphael said nothing more.

I walked away from him and traveled to the nearest town. It was a small place and not unpleasant. I saw a sign it read Monument, Colorado. I frowned at the sign for I was detecting something. I turned and started at what I saw. It was Bella. She was in Monument. I shook my head and pulled the phone out of my pocket. I was in the habit of traveling in a manner that people were incapable of detecting so I knew that she wasn't aware of my presence. I shook my hair and altered my appearance as I punched in Dean's number.

"Hello?" Dean's voice sounded in my ear.

"How far are you from Monument, Colorado?" I asked.

"Kelsey? What are you doing there? Where have you been?" Dean demanded.

"I've been thinking," I answered. "Now answer my question."
"Hold on," he said.

I could hear him speak to Sam in the background, but it was muffled. I guessed that he had his hand over the mouth of the phone. It was a habit he had picked up from years of living with his father.

"You still there?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"We're about four hours out," he said. "You want us to meet you there?"

"There's someone here that I think you'll be very interested to see," I told him.

"Damn!" Dean exclaimed. "We'll call you when we're closer. Don't let that bitch out of your sight."

"Yes Dean," I agreed.

"By the way," his voice became quiet. "The others are looking for you. They said that you took yourself off the grid."

"Not far enough," I muttered.

"What?" Dean prodded.

"Never mind," I sighed. "I'll see you when you get here. Remember that she's slippery and ruthless."

"You don't have to remind us of that one," Dean gritted.

There was silence as he ended the phone call. I kept my senses attuned to her, but I realized that she probably had no intention of staying in Monument very long. I recalled what Micah had said about her being a 'messed up little girl'. She had confessed to Dean when they had saved her that no one understood what it was that she had done. However, she repaid their generosity with theft of the one weapon that they had against the Legion. I realized that she was extremely damaged. Such damage took a lifetime to create and the callous way she acted had more to do with her fear and insecurity than anything else. It wouldn't stop Dean from carrying through on his threat to kill her. I found myself wondering if I would try to stop him. I perched on the seat and noted her movements. She appeared to be searching for someone. I frowned as I saw that she not only had the Colt but she wasn't looking to meet a buyer to sell it. I admit that that fact made me curious as to why she wanted the Colt. My phone rang. "Yes?" I answered.

"She still there?" Dean asked.

"Yes," I replied.