Ooookkaaayy wow. So this chapter has been beyond frustrating. I blame the ending. The ending of this chapter was so damn hard especially a certain scene near the end and bleh! So sorry it's taken me forever to update guys. Classes started up again and I've been really busy with those (yay philosophy) annnd my family is moving so I've been dealing with that as well. Chapter updates are going to be pretty slow for the next few months, especially Drifter (if any of you who read this story read that one as well). However! Do feel free to continue asking me about updates/when they're coming/or anything about my stories in general! I love answering questions from my beautiful readers! You are all so amazing btw thank you for sticking with me this long! Love you guys!
Ok so, I'm going to go ahead and put a trigger warning here just in case. There is a small scene that might make a few readers uncomfortable (it was meant that way, and even I was uncomfortable writing it). So I will say the triggers would be Assault/Torment/Harassment
If I do make anyone really uncomfortable please know that I am more than willing to hear you out whether it's complaints or you just simply want to talk. And believe me when I say that even I was extremely uncomfortable writing out that scene. (It's part of the reason why the update took so long)
Alright! I'll stop talking now! Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural...I only own Melody...
"Damnit come on…" Dean hissed down at his phone, the words 'no reception' beaming up at him in a mockingly bright light. He knew there was no chance of getting a signal, but he had to try. Dean's eyes traveled over to the HAM radio he'd just used to call Bobby. Only he couldn't use that because Mels didn't have a damn radio with her. Where the hell was she? Dean angrily stuffed his phone back into his pocket and started to pace back and forth in his spot. Bobby had just finished telling Dean what he'd found. The devil was trying to unleash Death. The big kahuna of reapers and Lucifer wanted to open up his box and let him roam free.
This was not good. To be more accurate this entire mission was not good. Dean glanced over to the two women sitting on the floor and held back a grimace. Jo was lying against the counter of the abandoned hardware store they'd taken refuge in. Ellen sat right next to her and was trying to keep her daughter alert while simultaneously trying to stop the bleeding in Jo's stomach. Freaking Hellhounds, and that bitch Meg. The demon had appeared out of nowhere, smirking and laughing while she unleashed her hounds on them. They'd almost gotten away. In fact they probably would have if Dean hadn't been so damn scared and tripped over his own feet. And Jo just had to be a hero. Now she had a gash the size of his foot in her stomach and she was losing blood fast. Plus, Dean knew there were Hellhounds surrounding the place. Occasionally he would hear a low growl or the click-clack of claws hitting the concrete outside.
He just wanted Melody here. Damnit he needed his sister. He needed to know that she was safe. Both him and Sam had tried calling and praying for Cas to get his angel ass here and bring Mels too, but Castiel hadn't shown. And that only made Dean more nervous. If Castiel wasn't answering, and if Melody didn't even show up after the noise those hounds made, then something bad must have happened to them. Oh great. Dean let out a soft groan and ducked his head into his hands, trying to keep his breathing even. But it wasn't working. He was only getting more and more freaked out by the second. Damnit Mels, where are you?
"Dean…" It was Sam. The youngest came up to his brother, his mouth turned down in a concerned and scared frown. "Hey the local phone lines are out too. And I still can't get a signal on my cell." Sam gestured to the phone behind the counter where he'd tried getting a hold of their sister and the angel but had no luck. The youngest watched his brother's shoulders hitch up for a split second. "Dean…" he said again, keeping his voice low. "Hey, Dean it's okay." Sam gently reached out and put a hand on his big brother's shoulder.
"No it's not Sammy." Dean finally whispered after a pause. He lifted his head from his hands and let out a shaky breath. "Where the hell is she? Why hasn't Cas answered?" He sucked in his bottom lip and chewed on it hard while he started to pace again with his hands planted firmly to his hips. "Damnit Sammy we should have made her come with us. What the hell were we thinking? What the hell was I thinking?"
"Hey, Dean slow down." Sam tried to keep his own heartbeat from racing out of control and tried to stay calm for everyone else's sake. He was just as scared as Dean at the moment. Sure, he knew Melody could more than handle herself in a fight and had personally witnessed her get out of some pretty hairy situations before. But this time was completely different. Because this time it involved the devil. Not just some big, scary monster. No this was the real deal. The Devil. And as much as Sam believed in his big sister—as much as he trusted that she'd keep herself safe—he didn't trust Meg, or the devil, or those damn hounds outside. But she was probably with Cas. From what he'd seen last night they were now pretty much attached at the hip. If she was with Castiel than Melody would be safe and have a much better chance of staying out of immediate danger. Ellen and Jo had told the brothers about the angel and his sister. How they'd both spotted the gathering of reapers on the street and went off to investigate on their own. Sam took in a shaking breath. They were fine. Maybe in a bit of a scary situation like himself and the others right now, but otherwise they had to be alive. It was probably foolish denial on his part, but Sam refused to believe his sister would be killed in a small town like this. She'd hate that.
Sam grabbed hold of Dean's shoulders and forced his brother to stop moving. "Come on Dean, get your head on straight. This is Melody we're talking about here." Sam had to duck down a bit to lock eyes with Dean, but when he did he noticed the beginnings of worried tears starting to take shape. "Remember that time she got trapped with those vamps? She took out five of them before we got to her, and even then she was still going. Melody is fine—I know she is. And she's with Cas, and we both know that he'll protect her for us."
"It's not that Sammy." Dean's throat went dry and he felt a nervous sweat start to form on his brow. "Jesus I wish I was just worried about her safety. I've done that before and that's easier to handle than…"
The youngest watched his brother's eyes go wide for a half second before he stopped himself. Dean turned around, stepping out of Sam's hold and putting a quivering hand against his forehead. "Easier to handle than what, Dean?" Sam asked, his eyes crimping as he squinted at his brother suspiciously. "What are you talking about?"
He watched Dean's back and shoulders. At first, Dean just stood still with one hand against his hip and the other against his face. Sam was almost afraid that his brother would just drop the subject or not say anything at all. Thinking that maybe his brother really wasn't going to say anything, Sam took a step towards him, ready to start getting the damn truth out of him.
"I don't…" Dean's voice was weak. It made Sam stop and wait for his brother to continue, but not before the youngest Winchester hesitated for a split second. Because the only time Sam had ever heard Dean sound like that, was when the oldest told his siblings about his memories of Hell. And Sam never wanted to see his brother that broken again. Because he was certain he would break as well. But before Sam could stop Dean, before he could say "never mind" or "let's focus on our situation first", the oldest had turned around and started to explain himself…
"I think it's time I tell you the whole truth about 2014."
He didn't exactly know how long he held her, but Castiel wasn't exactly counting the time at the moment. Instead he was completely focused on only one thing. Her. His love. Melody Winchester. The most exquisite and extraordinary human he'd ever known. And all he wanted to do now was take her away from this place of nightmares and terrors. She'd calmed down enough after a while. She was no longer crying into his jacket like she had been when he first grabbed hold of her. However, Melody was still trembling slightly, and she had yet to lift her face from the comfort of his chest. She'd kept her back facing Lucifer. And while Castiel held her back just as tightly, stroking her hair with a gentle hand and squeezing her to him, he kept a murderous gaze on his older brother. He knew it was Lucifer that had done this to his Melody. He knew as soon as he'd lost sight of her that Lucifer was the one who would dare take her away from him. What he didn't know was what Lucifer had done to Melody in their absence.
And that frightened Castiel most of all.
What the angel didn't realize is that, despite being beyond terrified, Melody had finally calmed herself down enough to get her head on straight again. That didn't mean she was going to step out of Castiel's arms anytime soon though. Because right now this was what she needed. Him and his arms, and his warmth, and his love by extension if she had to guess. And who was she to deny him giving her that?
Love.
Something she'd only ever thought would be taken from her family.
Something she used to laugh at.
Something she is still fearful of.
It really was stupid when she thought about it like this. She was Melody freaking Winchester. She was supposed to be the one who could face anything and come out with barely a scratch. She was the one who'd always been just a little braver than her brothers. She was the one who would throw herself into the fire without thinking of the consequences. But love? Saying "yes" to love? Melody just couldn't do it. She'd seen what love does to people. It destroyed her father. Turned him into a shell of what he used to be.
God there was something else she couldn't really think of right now. Dad. John Winchester, the man who'd raised her and loved her in his own messed up way. The man she'd given up on all because she believed the word of some stranger. And that stranger turned out to be Lucifer. And to top it all, Lucifer even claimed that he tricked her. He twisted the truth of her past just to get her to do…something.
"What was the point?" She suddenly asked, her voice muffled because of Castiel's chest. He stiffened slightly as she started to move but otherwise let her raise her head. Melody didn't dare look at Lucifer, she only lifted her head enough so she could let her voice be heard better.
"The point of what, dear?" Lucifer had been casually leaning against a far wall, gazing out a window. He stood up from said wall and sauntered over to the edge of the fire ring, barely acknowledging Castiel's vicious gaze and instead keeping his eyes fixed on Melody's back.
"You said you messed with my memory. You said you changed things I remembered about my dad. Why? What was the point in doing that?" Melody's hands were still fisted against Castiel's coat and she kept her eyes down at them the entire time. She just couldn't look at Lucifer. She was afraid all of her regained resolve would crumble within a blink if she caught his eyes again.
Making a small 'humph' sound, Lucifer crossed his arms over his chest and frowned as if thinking hard over his answer. "Would you like the truth?" He asked in a gentle voice that only made Melody's skin go cold all over again. When he saw her shaky nod of 'yes' Lucifer grinned and began to explain. "The four years that your little brother was gone, you and John had a small breakthrough in your relationship. Things were slowly getting better between you two, and for once he was actually starting to treat you like a daughter." Lucifer paused to lean against a support beam. "Now, I was still in my cage but I had children of my own reporting to me about this. And, naturally, I couldn't let you get any closer with John Winchester."
"Why?" Melody asked through gritted teeth, her hands starting to shake again.
"Because your faith and resolve were going to be too strong by the time I came around." Lucifer answered simply, shrugging his shoulders and frowning nonchalantly.
Now her hands were trembling and if it hadn't been for Castiel's incredible intuition, she would have probably ripped apart his coat. Because she was furious. She was still scared and terrified and wanted nothing more than to get out and find her brothers. Castiel placed his hands over her shaking fists and squeezed. It was a silent gesture. Telling her that he was still here for her. Telling her it was going to be alright. Melody closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, "You're saying you…planted memories into my head so that I would lose faith?" This time she opened her eyes and turned her head slightly in Lucifer's direction, still keeping her eyes off his own. "What faith? What would I believe in so strongly that you felt the need to destroy?"
"Oh come on Melody." Lucifer chuckled, "You know I can't tell you everything now. It would ruin the fun. What is it you kids are saying these days? Spoilers?" He watched Melody duck her head back down, seeking protection from his little brother again and couldn't help but grin. "You'll get your answer. Maybe I'll tell you one of these days."
She couldn't stand it. He sounded so overtly cheery and casual and just…superior. Everything about the way he was speaking just made her want to try and fight him again, because he knew the truth about her and about his own motivation and about her dad. It wasn't right. This whole situation wasn't right. She felt like crying all over again, and that only pissed her off even more. Melody squeezed her eyes shut before laying her head against Castiel's chest again, weakly begging for some form of comfort. And thankfully, Castiel was way ahead of her. He removed his hands from her fists and resumed his earlier position. One hand gently stroking her hair, while the other rested against her back as his thumb rubbed slow circles against her spine.
Damnit dad. Melody fought the urge to cry as she thought about John. Why would he want me to hate you? She sniffled and turned her face into Castiel's chest now, feeling his heartbeat against her forehead. She swallowed a lump in her throat and tried to think about those four semi-happy years she spent with her dad. It'd been incredibly awkward at first. Mostly because it was Melody who had to initiate most of the talks, and even then it was like speaking to a brick wall half the time. But there had been one night. One night that John had had a breakthrough of sorts. Sam had left and wouldn't answer her calls or emails; Dean was, of course, very angry about the whole thing and refused to just mope in the motel room so he would always run off with some girl for the night. That left Melody and John to spend their evenings together. She'd always relied on her brothers when it came to emotional comfort, but with Dean emotionally gone and Sam actually gone, she started to feel very alone for the first time in her life. So for a few weeks she would sit up late and silently cry. She'd always hated crying and refused to "cry herself to sleep" because of her stupid brothers and knowing that they would find out and, by extension, never let her hear the end of it. So she would stay up late doing "research" for cases. And John must have seen through her little charade. Because that night, he woke up and joined her on the crappy motel sofa. He didn't say a word as he sat down, and didn't even flinch when he put his arm over her and brought her head down to rest against his own shoulder. And he let her cry as long as she needed, and he stayed up until she fell asleep.
Melody remembers waking up the next morning with her head still on her dad's shoulder. And she remembers how he got up and took her out to the nearest diner and got his daughter her favorite breakfast. French toast and hot chocolate.
"I will never hate him." She said suddenly, her voice hard and stern.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Lucifer asked from his spot, leaning up slightly.
"You heard me." Melody answered him as she lifted her head from Castiel's chest, now turning to fully face Lucifer. She dropped her hands from Cas's coat and let them rest at her sides as she stood bravely in front of Lucifer. "I don't care if we're not related by blood. John Winchester is my father, and I love him. And nothing you say or do will ever change that."
For a moment, a very brief and sudden moment, Lucifer seemed a bit surprised. By now, he thought he'd truly broken her. But he had to admit, he liked this. "I'm sure I can come up with something." He said, a wide grin crawling across his cracked and flaking face. Yes, he would think of a way. In fact, he'd already thought of a way. And it was already set in motion. Now all he had to do was sit back and wait. He had to admit though; he was going enjoy breaking her. He figured a Knight of Heaven would be hard to break. But oh the rewards when he does break her will be all the sweeter.
A set of footsteps alerted Melody. She turned her head to the side suddenly, feeling the heavy presence of a demon come closer. And when the demon finally came into view, she let out a low, vicious growl. Meg. That smug bitch was still here. Melody felt her blood begin to boil. As much as she hated seeing the demon right now, maybe this could be a 'blessing in disguise'. Maybe now that she was looking at someone she really, really wanted to maim, it would help steel her resolve a bit faster. And hopefully by extension, get her out of this place and back with her brothers again even quicker.
Meg smiled at Melody and Cas, both with equal looks of hate and anger, before stopping a few feet from the fire ring. "I got the brothers pinned down—for now at least." She reported to Lucifer, who was still watching Melody and Cas as he leaned against the same support beam with his arms still crossed. "What should I do with them?" Meg asked him, awaiting her orders.
It took everything in Melody's power to not jump out of the holy fire again just to rip Meg to shreds with her bare hands. Thankfully, Castiel seemed to be forming a plan and put a firm but gentle arm in front of her as if holding her back. But Melody sensed it differently. For a split second they made eye contact, but that spilt second let her see his face more clearly. He was thinking about doing something. What exactly that something was, she wasn't quite sure. But Melody was going to put all her trust in him. She knew Castiel could get them out of this.
Lucifer never took his eyes off Castiel and Melody while he answered with a small shrug, "Leave them alone."
"I-I'm sorry," Meg's mouth fell open for a second, "but are you sure? Shouldn't we…"
"Trust me child." Lucifer suddenly stood from his spot, going over to Meg and taking hold of her face, gently stroking her cheeks and hair. "Everything happens for a reason."
Melody took this small window of distraction and looked at Cas again. But he wasn't watching her or Lucifer or Meg. Instead, his eyes were traveling upwards towards the ceiling. Melody followed and saw…pipes. Old and rusted plumbing that was already starting to fall out of the failing brick. She had to bite her cheek to hold back a grin. Just one little shake and they'd be able to leave.
"Well Castiel…" Lucifer said after stepping away from Meg. By now the angel and hunter had returned their eyes to each other, and neither the devil nor his faithful demon saw where they'd just been looking. "…we have some time. Time to change your mind."
It sounded almost like a question. Melody felt a frown form on her lips. "Change his mind?" She glanced between Castiel and Lucifer. "Change his mind about what?"
At this Lucifer smiled fully at her, "Let's just say I made him a deal." He opened up his arms wide and continued, "He joins me, and we both get to share in the," his eyes leered and lingered over her body, "pleasures."
"Jesus Christ…" Sam mumbled for the billionth time. He paced back and forth, his hands shoved into his hair as he tried to keep his breathing even. "Jesus fucking Christ…"
"Hey, hey." Dean finally got his brother to stop moving. He'd told Sam everything. All the details of his trip and Castiel's to 2014. Now Sam knew. He knew what is really supposed to happen to their sister. He knew what Lucifer was really going to do to their sister. He knew that Lucifer was going to use his own body to…
No. He couldn't think about it now. As horrible and disgusting and absolutely sickening as it was, he couldn't. Because right now, Sam was starting to freak out and panic and that was only going to make things worse. "Sammy, Sammy." Dean's hands on his brother's shoulders shook briefly. And when Sam finally looked up at Dean, the oldest dropped his hands. "Look, I know alright. I know exactly what you're going through right now. And believe me, we both need a moment where we can just freak out about this but we can't."
Dean was a bit relieved when he could finally get this all off of his chest. And maybe actually talking to Sam helped him calm down about finding their sister. And on any other day, Dean would have found it slightly humorous that the coin could be flipped so quickly between him and his brother. One moment, he's almost having a panic attack and then a minute later it's Sam's turn. Maybe it was more dark humor.
"Does she know?" Sam asked, his hands still buried in his hair. "Does Melody know?"
"I…no." Dean answered briefly closing his eyes and shaking his head. "No she doesn't. But as soon as we get safe, we're both going to sit down and tell her together because we both know this is going to make her go crazy."
"Okay…" Sam let out a shaking breath, slowly dropping his hands to his sides. "Okay, we'll both tell her. But here's our first problem Dean," Sam glanced at Jo and Ellen before looking back at his brother, "how the hell are we going to get out of this mess in one piece? And how the hell are we going to stop Lucifer from doing all of what you just told me?"
"We just gotta kill him before he can get to Mels." Dean answered, "Thanks to Bobby, we now know where the devil's gonna be, we know when, and we have The Colt."
Sam sighed, feeling very tired suddenly. He couldn't quite react like he wanted to. Right now he just felt numb, and like he was going through the motions. Everything Dean had told him had drained him emotionally. It was either that, or he had so many emotions running through his brain right now, he couldn't feel any of them. Because he didn't know what to feel. Anger? Confusion? Fear? All of these and more were pouring through his veins, and all Sam wanted to do was get out and find Melody and kill the devil once and for all. He was not going to allow any of what Dean said happen. He'd rather die.
The youngest glanced at Jo and Ellen. Both were still by the counter at the center of the shop. Jo was holding a wad of ace bandages to her stomach while Ellen tried to keep her daughter alert and focused. "You know that all sounds good," Sam began to say looking back at his brother, "all we have to do is get past…eight or so Hellhounds and get to the farm by midnight."
Dean's hands fell to his hips while he started thinking out loud. "Yeah and that's after we get Jo and Ellen the hell out of town."
Sam held back a sigh, "It won't be easy." He said with finality, knowing full well that they were going to get Jo out of town even if they had to carry her.
"Stretcher?" Dean asked, reading his brother's mind. Sam could only solemnly nod before answering.
"I'll see what we got."
And if it hadn't been for Jo, they would have all died trying to get her out of that town. If it hadn't been for Jo's courage, the boys would have never gotten the chance to see their sister again. Jo Harvelle refused to let the Winchesters carry her out because she knew she wasn't going anywhere. She knew this was the end of the line. And with a resolve Sam never thought he'd witness, Jo told them to build a bomb and let the hounds come at her while the others escaped.
It was hard building that bomb. Putting it together was easy. They had all the right materials, and more than enough supplies. But knowing that they were sending a friend away with an explosion…it was something both brothers had never thought they'd have to face. It didn't take the brothers long, but by the time they were finished, Dean almost wished they'd taken a little longer.
"Okay," he said dragging the makeshift trigger up to Jo and kneeling down next to her, "this is it." He got quiet then, not exactly sure what he should say and afraid he might say the wrong thing.
"Hey." Jo's weak voice made him look up and he realized he'd never been able to tell her everything he thought about her, and now he was never going to get the chance. Jo's lip trembled but she swallowed and tried to hide the fact that she was almost crying. But it was too late. Her big brown eyes were already tearing up, and her pretty face was creased with frown lines all over. Her hair was dirty and sticking to her cheeks, but Dean could still see the beautiful colors. Butter and caramel and sunshine. She was the only girl he ever thought twice about. And was probably going to be the only girl he would ever think twice about. "Promise me something." She said after she got control of her voice again. "You find your sister, and you tell her to have a beer for me. Tell her to watch out for you and Sam." Her throat went dry but she ignored it and kept going, "And make sure she doesn't cry for me 'cause I don't want her to cry over me…"
She nearly lost it. Nearly. Jo swallowed another lump in her throat, blinked away more tears and looked down at her blood covered hands. And all Dean wanted to do was take all of her pain and throw it out the damn window. Because a girl like Jo didn't deserve this kind of death. A girl like Jo needed to smile, and he needed to see that smile. Just one last time. Dean half grinned, knowing that she would hate it if he gave her a final 'goodbye' so he settled on something a bit gentler. "I'll see you on the other side." That made Jo want to cry all over again but he continued, knowing that she needed to hear this. Dean turned to humor again, trying to get that smile out of her one last time. "Probably sooner than later."
Jo shifted and he saw it. That cocky, lopsided smile that he loved so much. But it didn't really reach her eyes. That wasn't so bad. He was sure his grin hadn't reached his eyes either. "Make it later." Jo responded, trading her shotgun for the trigger still in Dean's hands.
It took him a while to switch, but when he did the finality of what she was about to do really set in. They both watched each other, both too scared to say what they wanted—or maybe even too stubborn. Either way, Jo and Dean knew what their mouths wouldn't say. They knew what could have been. And as if they were trying to tell each other everything, as if Dean was trying to promise her something, he gently pressed his lips against hers and held her face for a brief moment.
That kiss would go down as the best and most bittersweet thing he'd ever had. Dean Winchester would never, ever forget what he felt when he kissed Jo. Because that was what a kiss between two people was supposed to feel like. Full of promise. Full of unspoken thoughts and emotions. Full of everything he couldn't say.
And then just when he thought it was all over…
"Mom, no." Jo whimpered, her mother kneeling in front of her.
"Somebody's got to let them in." Ellen said, her voice trembling. "And like you said, you're not moving. You got me, Jo." The brothers stood back a few feet watching the scene unfold. They saw Jo really fight tears now and fail. "And you're right." Ellen continued, her voice breaking, "This is important. But I will not leave you here alone."
They couldn't let this happen, could they? Sam was watching two friends prepare to sacrifice themselves for himself and his brother. And he was prepared to just let it happen? This was the only plan they could come up with? There wasn't anything else? Hoping that somehow, someone would think of something else, Sam called out to the only person he knew who could think of a different plan. "Dean…"
"Get goin now, boys." Ellen's sharp voice cut off Sam, using that same firm but gentle tone she used when she needed the Winchesters to do as she says right now and not question her. "You go get Melody. Let us handle the rest."
And of course the Winchesters were going to hesitate. "Ellen…?" Dean tried, not sure if he really liked just leaving Ellen here. He already hated leaving Jo, but Ellen too? No, not like this. He couldn't just walk out on them like this.
"I said go." Ellen quickly replied, her tone just that much more firm. Now she was really using her 'mom' voice. Mom. It was then that Dean realized Ellen was the closest thing he had to a real mother. And he was letting her carry out this ridiculous plan. A plan that was perfect and horrible all at once. But Dean knew when someone had made up their mind, and Ellen's could not be changed. The brothers started to leave, their footsteps heavy and thick. "And Dean," Ellen's voice stopped him mid-step. He turned around, looking down at her kneeling on the floor as she looked up at him, her face now void of sorrow but full of determination. "Kick it in the ass, and don't you dare miss."
She stood as still as possible. Melody didn't dare move or flinch. Because that wasn't an earthquake she just felt. That was an explosion, a very loud and very big explosion. Her arms had fallen back down to her sides, and Castiel stepped in front of her. "Cas what was that?" Melody whispered to his back.
He didn't answer her. The only thing he could do was hope that whatever had just happened would give him a larger window of distraction. His eyes flicked up towards the pipe. He'd already been successful in removing one bolt from the wall. Now he just had three left. Three more bolts that he had to turn so painfully slow. It was like he was torturing himself. But he couldn't move too fast. If he did Meg or Lucifer would notice what he was trying to do. And then he'd really have no way of saving Melody.
"Hmm…" Lucifer glanced out the far window. "It seems those brothers were able to get rid of the hounds after all."
"Wait…" Melody stepped out from behind Castiel, ignoring his attempts to keep her from moving. "Sam and Dean?" When she didn't get an immediate response from Meg or Lucifer, she felt her temper slip up a little. "Hey!" She let her voice go higher in volume, throwing in a little extra gusto to fuel her fire. "Answer me!"
"Oh-ho!" Meg turned around with a chuckle. She crossed her arms over her chest and swaggered up to the edge of the fire ring with an overtly bright smile. "The Knight returns! I've been waiting for you to show up again. Gotta say I missed that little temper of yours."
Melody's eyes flashed to silver coins, a snarl rearing up and out of her clenched teeth as she stepped up to the edge of the holy fire staring down at Meg with a fearsome gaze. "You'd better tell me what you bastards did to my brothers or I swear to God I will—"
"God?" Meg laughed again, this time a bit louder than the first. "Didn't your boyfriend tell you blondie? God doesn't care anymore. He's gone. For real this time."
The hunter opened her mouth, fully prepared to begin arguing with Meg about anything and everything. If she couldn't outright attack the demon, she was at least going to annoy the hell out of her. Lucifer's hand falling to Meg's shoulder stopped her though, and all of Melody's fire immediately puffed out to nothing.
"Child…" His voice was so gentle. It made Melody's skin crawl as she watched his pale, flaking fingers softly pull Meg away from the holy fire. Lucifer gave Melody a passing glance and short smile, as if to say "excuse her" before turning his back on the angel and hunter.
It was almost like he wasn't really speaking to her. Not verbally but, Melody guessed telepathically. Could demons even do that? Or was Lucifer the only one with the ability because he wasn't technically a demon? She didn't know and frankly didn't really want to know. For a moment, Melody felt the danger lessen slightly and took her chance to look back and check on Castiel.
His brow was wrinkled and his frown had grown deeper from the concentration. Melody glanced over at the pipe and saw the third screw slowly turn. How much longer did they have to wait for his plan to work? She didn't know, but she did know that she was at least safe for the moment. And with him. As long as she was with Cas, nothing bad could happen to her.
Sensing her eyes on him, Castiel let his gaze fall away from the pipe. On some other night, in some other place, he would have told her what he felt at that moment. He would tell her how beautiful she was. He would have said how he loved how she looked in the fire light. He would have said how much he loved the molten gold color of her hair that surrounded her face or the bright hazel of her eyes that hypnotized him so. On some other night, he would have held her close and listened to her sigh against him, feel her skin against his, let her show him all the pleasures of the human world.
On some other night he would have been quicker.
Lucifer moved so fast Castiel barely had time to register what his brother was doing. And by the time he did realize what the archangel had planned, it was far too late. All Castiel could do was scream out her name, "Melody!" and watch Lucifer whip around and grab hold of her shoulders before yanking her through the fire.
Melody fell back and made a loud 'oof' when her spine met a solid chest. It all happened in slow motion for her. She'd been watching Cas until she saw his face fall to pure terror and heard him scream her name while trying to run up and grab hold of her. She'd tried reaching out to him, tried stretching her arms beyond their limits to get back to him. But by the time she got her arms up it was far too late.
Her back hit his chest hard, and she could feel the freezing cold chill coming off of his skin. Lucifer's hands squeezed her shoulders hard—bruising and crushingly hard—while she tried to push off of him and get away. "Well it seems my theory was correct after all." Lucifer said, easily holding Melody in place despite her thrashing. "Do you know how absolutely remarkable you are my dear?" He asked, bending down to wrap his arms over her stomach and chest, now holding her tightly against him.
"No! Release her Lucifer! Please! I beg you!" Castiel was so desperate. He didn't want to beg Lucifer but he had to now. Melody let out a small, frustrated cry and started doing everything she could to get away from the devil. She tried kicking her feet, throwing her shoulders into his chest, stomping her boots onto his toes, scratching at his already decaying skin. But nothing was working. In fact it seemed to do the exact opposite of what Melody wanted. Lucifer looked like he was enjoying watching her fight him.
"Oh brother you really are a lucky one." Lucifer commented grinning down at Melody while she still struggled against him. "Did you know that the Knight of Heaven is not affected by holy fire? At first it was just a theory, but when our precious Melody here decided to jump through the fire earlier my theory was proven as fact! I just needed to wait for the perfect moment and then…well…"
He ducked his head down and buried his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent deeply. "Melody!" Cas cried out and got her to calm down for a moment. "Melody I promise I will get you out of this. I give you my word; I will not allow him to harm you. I will protect you." He tried not to sound desperate. For her sake. But his voice started trembling at the end, and his hands were suddenly shaking violently. Was this what humans called fear?
"Now, now little brother." Lucifer said in a gently scolding tone. "Don't make promises you can't keep."
The last thing Castiel saw was the fallen angels wicked smile and Melody's wide, terror filled eyes.
"Let go of me!" Melody screamed, pulling down hard and letting her nails dig into Lucifer's arms. He'd teleported them to some empty field outside of the town, Melody could see the buildings over the trees in the distance. "I said," her voice changed and her senses went sharp, "let…go!"
In a burst of power she'd never expected, Melody finally was able to pull hard enough on Lucifer's arms. She must have hurt him because when she was able to stumble away from him, she heard him let out a loud wince and groan. Melody's clumsy feet tripped over each other and she soon found herself face down in the cold dirt, breathing heavily but otherwise not harmed. When she looked back she found Lucifer holding out his arms and giving them a good onceover.
"Heh…" he chuckled looking at his forearms. "That actually hurt a little." He turned his skin into the moonlight, and Melody saw four fresh, shallow scratches running up the length of his outer forearms coming to a stop by his elbows. And either it was a trick of the light or her, but Melody could have sworn she saw something silver slowly fading away from the cuts.
Melody quickly and awkwardly got to her feet again, not bothering with brushing off the dirt and grass from her clothes. She was getting to ready to run after all, no time to look pretty. She only gave Lucifer one more glance before she turned and started sprinting in the direction of the town—
"Where are you going?" He suddenly appeared in front of her, a deep and hurt frown on his decaying face. Melody came to a skidding halt, arms flailing around her as she started to turn around and go in the opposite direction. By this time she didn't care where she was going just as long as she got away from him. She ran a few feet away before she felt something strong and cold grab hold of her wrist.
She knew it was him. There was no denying that stench or that cold, clammy feeling of his skin. "No! Please let me go!" Melody felt herself start to cry desperate tears and turned around to face him, trying to pry his hand off of her wrist.
"You can't leave yet." His voice wasn't so gentle anymore. Now it was calm. But dangerously calm. Like he might explode any second. Lucifer's grip tightened as he reached out his free hand and took hold of her other wrist, yanking her forwards until her face was only inches from his. He held her hands up by her head, his mouth and jaw set. "Do you know what is so remarkable about you?" Melody didn't answer; instead she kept fighting to get away from him. "Pay attention!" He suddenly shouted before Melody felt a kinetic force grab hold of her entire body making her stand completely still.
"That's better." Lucifer half grinned before continuing. "As I was saying…you my dear, are very remarkable. Holy fire doesn't affect you. You can sense the presence of demons and angels—even those disgusting hounds. Apparently you're even strong enough to hurt me—which is quite surprising I have to say. But do you want to know the most remarkable thing? For some reason, you suppressed my mark."
If that force wasn't holding her up, Melody's knees would have surely buckled and she would have collapsed on the spot. "You're…m-mark? What are you…"
"You've had it for about a year now." He interrupted her. "I didn't want to effects to be immediate, but eventually you started to go down the path that you were meant to follow. The path that would lead to me. Only, when he showed up and when you started to," he made a face like he was disgusted, "care about him. I knew that I needed to get to you as soon as possible."
"H-him? Cas?"
Lucifer ignored her trembling voice and went on. "You see the mark that I did give you a year ago wasn't exactly…finished per say. But I couldn't just go to you Melody. You needed to come to me."
She shook her head, "But I didn't come to you at all. You led me here! You trapped me! Took me hostage and fucking tortured me!"
Lucifer chuckled, "We haven't gotten to the torture yet my dear. Don't get too far ahead of yourself." His hand that had a hold of her left wrist tightened, and Lucifer shifted his fingers around her skin until his thumb was pressed against the space just below her hand. "This new mark is the true mark. And from here on out, you will obey me." Lucifer's thumb twisted in a small circle on her skin, "No amount of angel grace can save you now."
"Ah!" Melody let out a short scream, feeling his thumbnail start to dig into her wrist now. But it wasn't the pain of his nail slowly breaking through her skin, instead it was the burn. Her body jerked forward while she let out another yelp of pain. Now it felt like he was injecting her veins with acid. "Please," she begged through her teeth, "s-stop."
"Oh shh…" he hushed her gently, ducking his head down until his mouth was next to her ear. "It's almost over. Almost there." He ignored how her body started quaking, and ignored her cries and groans. She tried begging him again.
"Please…I-I'll d-do anything." She could barely speak, her voice coming out in a hoarse half-whisper. "I'll do whatever—ah!—whatever you…w-want…"
"Almost over." He repeated into her ear again, releasing her right arm and wrapping his now free arm around her waist pulling her flush against him. She kept writhing and squirming, kept crying and begging. And that only seemed to make him want more. It made him want her more.
"No-o…" Melody whimpered. He just wouldn't stop touching her. He wouldn't stop breathing on her and smelling her and pressing his cold body against hers. She looked up at the night sky. There were no stars out that night. All she could see was black. Melody's free hand was shoved against his shoulder like before, and she was trying to push him off like before but this time she didn't have a wall for leverage. And this time he was so much closer. Her tears were spilling out the corners of her eyes. Her body was trembling.
"Almost over." He whispered again, shifting his body even closer to hers, ignoring her protests and quiet sobs. This is what he wanted. He wanted her to suffer and whimper and beg and plead. He wanted his father's precious Knight to become weak and helpless. She was always supposed to be the unyielding wall, the ever-present shield that watched over Heaven and Earth. And now he had her in his arms, begging him to stop. Lucifer let a grin creep across his face. "Almost over." He repeated, when in truth his mark had been made the moment his thumb touched her wrist. Now he was just having fun with Melody. The pain should only have lasted a few seconds at most. Only Lucifer wanted it to last longer. He wanted to break her down until she was nothing but a shell of herself.
Lucifer dug his nail harder against her skin and threw in some extra power with it. He heard Melody let out another scream, this time louder and shriller. "Please…" she whimpered, her voice now hoarse and rough. He smiled fully now and turned his face towards her neck, burying his nose into her hair and taking in a deep breath. She still had the slight scent of Heaven on her. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what his old home had smelled like, but Melody was the closest he could get. And he hated that smell.
He suddenly shot up straight and threw Melody down to the ground. He watched her weak body flop against the dirt before she started silently crying and holding herself. "Now," Lucifer said looking at his blood-covered thumb, "that wasn't so bad huh?"
Melody couldn't stop feeling so sorry for herself. She couldn't stop feeling so disgusting and violated. All she could feel were his hands. His cold, clammy, putrid hands on her skin. She couldn't stop thinking about his mouth. It'd been so close to her, he'd been so close to her. And he liked it. He liked her trembling and crying. He liked it when she begged and pleaded. She started to crawl away from him, unable to stop her sobs but not wanting to stay in that field any longer.
"Just think Melody." He said casually, bending down and grabbing hold of her ankles. "Soon this whole world will belong to me and by extension you." Lucifer gripped her ankles tightly before yanking her back towards him. "And then we can start anew. You will be the vessel for our new world. The mother of my children. They will be pure," he bent down and rested his hands on his knees to get a closer look at her, "and they will be powerful. How does that sound?"
Melody sniffled, still on her stomach in the dirt and facing away from him. "I think," she paused and cleared her dry throat, "there might be a problem with your plan for world domination."
Lucifer watched her struggle to stand up, "And what is that?"
"Me."
He only had a split second to react, but it was far too late by the time he realized what was happening. Melody sat up to face him, whipping her arm around in a wide arc. Lucifer felt the rock before he saw it. Somehow, she'd gotten a hold of a small rock and when she sat up, she threw all of her remaining strength into her weapon, shoving the rock into Lucifer's cheek. He was more surprised than injured and only fell back a few steps. But it was enough for her. Melody clumsily got to her feet, letting out a frustrated yelp when she nearly fell back to the ground again.
She should have just run away. She should have never let her pride get the better of her. But she couldn't help it. Because she knew something he didn't. Melody turned around and watched Lucifer swipe at his freshly bleeding cheek and couldn't help but smirk. "You think you've got it all figured out." She panted, keeping a safe distance from him. "Well I hate to break it to you, but your plan just won't work with me."
Lucifer turned to face her, "What makes you say that?" He asked, his calm demeanor slowly starting to slip away.
Melody let out a breathy, humorless laugh. "I can't get pregnant, dunce." His shocked face was enough to tell her that he had no clue about this. And it made her feel all the more superior in that moment. "That's right." She pointed a finger at her lower abdomen, "None of your freak show babies are getting made in this oven cause it ain't ever had the right parts. I'm as barren as they come Lucy!" She was probably starting to get a little too overzealous, but she couldn't help herself. It just felt way too damn good yanking the rug from underneath his feet. Melody laughed again, "You can torture me, and violate me and call me every name in the book. But you will never get what you want out of me—literally!"
He was in front of her before she could blink. Melody didn't have the chance to take in a breath before his hand was around her throat and crushing her neck. "So, my father put in a failsafe after all." He said watching her choke and cough as he squeezed her throat tighter and tighter. Her hands came up and started clawing at his arm, her feet kicked his legs and stomach, but nothing made him falter. "No matter," he continued, watching her eyes turn red as she slowly started running out of air. "When I get Sam, I will fix you. And you will give me what I want."
Lucifer released her throat but didn't give Melody time to recover. She was only able to suck in one deep, shaking breath before Lucifer backhanded her across the face. Melody fell to the ground again, this time going limp and staying quiet.
"You can wait there while I finish up the ritual." Lucifer said brushing off his hands. He looked back towards the town and saw his other children had finally made it. The gathered demons possessing the townsfolk spread out in the field before him, each staying silent and completely still. Satisfied, Lucifer turned around and started walking towards the spot he'd marked to bring up Death. "Don't go anywhere Melody." He called back to the girl who was now struggling to stay conscious, "I want you to see this."
It wasn't that hard to track down Lucifer. All Dean had to do was follow the thirty or so sets of footprints out of the town. He still felt numb after watching that explosion go off. It didn't sit right with him in the slightest. And now he was beyond determined to find his sister and get her safe again. "Next time Mels stays with us." He mumbled behind himself towards his brother. Sam could only nod in response. Sure, he knew exactly why Dean was saying that and he felt pretty much the same. He hated this. Not knowing where his sister was, not knowing if she was alright or hurt or in danger. And now that he'd just watched two of their friends die in an explosion in order to save them…he wasn't sure he could handle losing someone else today. Especially his sister.
"How do you think Mel will handle the news?" Sam asked quietly following Dean. He knew now wasn't exactly the perfect time for conversation, but the youngest needed to fill the silence with more than just the sounds of their footsteps.
All Dean could do was shrug and mumble, "Not sure." Although he was pretty sure Mels wouldn't take the news too well at all. He knew Melody and Jo had gotten pretty close, and he knew that Melody looked to Ellen as a sort of motherly figure. The only other people Dean could think of that his sister had gotten that close to were Bobby and Ash. She nearly killed someone when Bobby had been first taken to the hospital, and when Ash died she went a little numb for a few days. He'd never understood their relationship though. The guy would flirt shamelessly with Melody, and she would always brush it off with a laugh or an equally shameless flirt. But they never went any further than that. And Dean guessed that his sister might have regretted that decision. And as much as Dean hated the idea of his little sister being with another man, he wouldn't have hated the idea of Melody and Ash.
Sam's hand shot out and landed on Dean's shoulder. "Heads up." The youngest whispered, pulling Dean out of his thoughts. Dean blinked and shook himself before leading the way again. They came up behind a small mess of dying trees and only had to peer around the brush before they saw the gathered townspeople. Only the men though. Lucifer had killed all of the women and children in the town as a part of the ritual to raise Death. Dean grimaced at that, this sick bastard really needed to die—fast.
"I guess we know what happened to the rest of the townspeople." Dean muttered under his breath, watching Lucifer dig up some dirt. There were a few torches lit providing some amount of light, but it would seem the brothers would have to rely on the moon for that. Dean glanced back at his brother, "Alright, ready?"
"Yeah." Sam said adjusting the grip on his shotgun. He hunched down, getting ready to separate and act out their plan of attack when— "Wait." Sam stood up straight, his hand falling to Dean's arm and holding on tightly.
"What is it?" Dean asked, half impatient and half startled. He looked to Sam for an explanation and instead only got a pointing finger. Dean rolled his eyes and followed where his brother was pointing until…there!
"Mels…!" Dean nearly shouted her name, beyond relieved to see her. But his relief was cut short when he actually looked at her. She was lying on her side in the dirt, her back towards them and she was perfectly still. Dean felt his heart jump up into his throat, "No…no, please no."
If it hadn't been for Sam's hand on his arm, Dean would have sprinted out in the middle of the demons and the devil just to get to her. "Wait," Sam whispered harshly, "we can't just run out there. We have to stick to the plan."
"The plan?" Dean turned to him and shook off Sam's hand, "The plan just flew out the window Sammy. Mels is right there and I need to get her."
"No, Dean please just stop." Sam had to grab hold of his brother's shoulders and squeeze hard. "Look," he said once Dean stopped fighting him, "it will still work. You just have to trust me and do exactly like we planned. Alright?" Sam almost forgot how overly protective Dean could be when it came to their sister. Sometimes it was okay, but most of the time it usually led to the oldest Winchester making stupid decisions. Like now. And if it hadn't been for Sam standing right there, their night would have turned out much worse. Sam didn't get an immediate answer so he gave Dean a quick shake and asked again, "Alright?"
"Yeah. Yeah, alright." Dean blinked and nodded before stepping out of Sam's hold. "Just don't get her in the crossfire." They both resumed looking out at the gathered demons, their eyes fixed on their sister's molten gold hair.
Sam took in a deep breath and let it out through his nose, "Last words?"
Dean glanced down at The Colt in his hand before looking over at his little brother. "I think I'm good."
"Yeah." Sam nodded, "Me too."
"Here goes nothin…"
She couldn't move. Her body was drained of all energy. Melody almost scolded herself. She wasn't supposed to be defeated this easily. She was supposed to keep fighting until the very end. She was better than this and she knew it. But she just couldn't bring herself to move. Her left arm was sore; like someone had been whipping her skin for hours and now she was just waiting for the pain to go away. Her throat was probably hurting the most next to her cheek. She was pretty sure Lucifer had drawn blood when he slapped her, she could taste iron in her mouth whenever she swallowed. Melody was watching Lucifer dig up dirt several feet in front of her. She could feel the other demons surrounding them—could smell their stench in the air. They were making her skin crawl, giving her chills up and down her spine. Perhaps the only thing that gave her comfort was the scent of the dirt by her face. It smelled like earth. It smelled cold. But it was the good kind of cold. The cold of an early morning. The same kind of morning she woke up to after she spent the night with Cas.
Cas. There was someone she'd give anything to be with at that moment. She wished she could just go back to that hotel room and never leave. Go back to that bed, and never stop touching him or feeling him or being near him. Back in that hotel room she was stronger. And here she was weak. In the hotel room she had someone. But here she had no one. Nobody was coming for her…
"Hey!"
"Sammy…" Melody croaked out through her rough voice. She recognized his voice instantly. And he was pissed. She moved her eyes—her head still felt too heavy to move—until she saw the large figure of her little brother coming through the gathered demons. Sam cocked his shotgun, coming to a stop several feet from Lucifer and Melody.
"You wanted to see me?!" Sam challenged Lucifer who'd stopped digging for a moment, leaning his shovel against his leg before letting it drop. Sam tried to keep his cool. Melody was right there. And she was alive. Beaten and covered with dirt and grime, but otherwise alive. He couldn't falter though. Dean was still getting into place. He just needed to buy some time.
"Well Sam," Lucifer dusted off his hands before starting to walk around where Melody lay on the ground, "you don't need that gun here." He stepped over Melody's boots and walked a few steps closer to Sam. "You know I'd never hurt you." Lucifer said his voice gentle and sweet. "Not really."
"Sam." Melody managed to raise her voice enough for him to hear her. "Run…please." She watched the youngest switch his weight from one foot to another. He was anxious. No he wasn't anxious he was, waiting? Waiting for what? She tried to concentrate on her little brother, tried to find the sign he was giving her that let her know what his plan was, but she was so dazed she could barely see straight.
"Yeah?" Now she heard her big brother. Melody strained her tired and sore neck to try and find where Dean was and when she did, she felt a small grin creep onto her face. Dean pulled back the hammer on The Colt, pissed off and ready to gank this son of a bitch. He saw how hurt Melody was. He could see the bruises on her arm and neck, the blood coming out of her mouth and a few cuts on her face. "Well, I'd hurt you." Lucifer slowly turned to Dean, his face falling as he realized what was pointed at him. "So suck it." And then Dean pulled the trigger.
Melody felt Lucifer fall next to her feet and barely had time to register what exactly just happened before she felt a pair of arms wrap themselves underneath her and hoist her up bridal style. "Jeez Mel are you alright? Talk to us, you okay?" It was Sam. He was the only one out of her brothers that was strong enough to still carry her. Dean could if he wanted, but not for very long. And Melody figured it was going to be quite the trek back to their car after this.
"Mels! We got you baby girl, you're safe now." She felt Dean's rough and shaking hand move her hair off her face. With great effort she turned her head towards him and gave him a small, weak smile.
"What took you so long?" She watched Dean let out a relieved sigh before he bent down and placed a kiss to the top of her dirty head. If she'd had more energy, she'd have been hugging her brothers and telling them everything. But she didn't even have the energy to cry anymore. She was totally drained, and all she wanted to do was go home to Bobby.
"The hell did he do to you Melody?" Sam mused out loud looking over her cuts and bruises. She weakly moved her head back to look up at her little brother before closing her eyes and tucking her head to his chest.
"Tell you later. Let's just go home. I just want to…" She trailed off before lifting her head back up and looking past Dean's shoulder. "No…"
Dean's brow furrowed, "Mels what—" A loud gurgling gasp of air startled him. Dean whipped around only to find Lucifer lying on the ground breathing and alive.
"Oww!" Lucifer groaned, staying on his back for a few more seconds stilly inhaling sharply. He leaned up his head, his eyes landing on Dean, before starting to stand back up. He got to his feet, gingerly touching the open wound on his forehead. "Where did you get that?" He asked pointing down at The Colt. Lucifer didn't even give Dean time to answer before he backhanded the oldest Winchester sending him flying back towards the trees and brush.
"No…!" Melody's hoarse voice barely got above a shout as she watched Dean's back land hard against the base of a tree. She tried to wriggle her way out of Sam's arms, but either his hold on her was too strong or she really was that weak.
"Now," Lucifer turned to face the remaining siblings, letting his wound close fully, "where were we? Ah yes." He watched the youngest Winchester grip his sister tighter and couldn't help but grin at them. Just a few more months, and he'll be where Sam was right now. "Oh don't feel too bad Sam." He said brushing off dirt from his legs, "There are only five things in all of creation that that gun can't kill, and…I just happen to be one of them. But if you give me a minute, I'm almost done."
Sam watched him hold up a finger to tell him to wait before Lucifer turned around and started digging up more dirt. "Dean…" Melody whispered to Sam, and the youngest was already moving towards their brother. Sam got to the oldest and looked to his sister who nodded, "I can stand."
Gently, Sam set his sister down to her feet before hunching over to check on Dean. Thankfully Sam found a steady pulse and stood back up, feeling Melody grab hold of his arm and lean heavily against him.
"You know…" Lucifer paused in his work and cleared his work, "I don't suppose you'd just say "yes" right here and now? End this whole tiresome discussion?" He shrugged, "That's crazy right?"
"It's never gonna happen!" Sam shouted through his teeth, clenching his fists tightly.
"Oh I don't know Sam." Lucifer started digging again, "I think it will. I think it'll happen soon—within six months. And I think it'll happen," he paused and glanced over at Sam and Melody, "in Detroit."
"You listen to me, you son of a bitch." Sam felt Melody's hold on his arm tighten, "I'm gonna kill you myself. You understand me? I'm going to rip you heart out!" He felt Melody lean even more on him and quickly caught her before she fell over.
"That's good Sam." Lucifer commented, watching Sam protectively hold up Melody by wrapping an arm around her waist. He grinned, "You keep fanning that fire in your belly—all that pent-up rage. I'm gonna need it."
Melody half listened to the rest of the conversation. Sam asked what Lucifer had done and Lucifer easily explained. He'd sacrificed the women and children of the town for his ritual, and given the men to his demons. And then Lucifer starting going on about how Sam must understand where he's coming from. Both were the younger brother. Both had been cast out by their father, both had asked for help from their older brother and both had been beaten down and called "freak" by their older brother.
"He has me…" Melody suddenly said, her voice hoarse and barely audible.
"What was that sweetie?" Lucifer asked her, bending down slightly to catch her eye. Melody took a moment to swallow and stand up a bit straighter before she repeated herself.
"I said, he has me." He voice wasn't exactly stronger, but it was definitely easier to hear now. She continued, "When Dean acts like Dean, Sam will always have me. He will always have his sister—something you never had."
Lucifer smiled and shrugged, "That is true. But then again you can't really say you're Sam's sister when…you kind of aren't." His smile only got larger when both Sam's and Melody's brows slammed together in confusion. "I always forget about that. The Knight of Heaven has so many secrets. The biggest one being where she comes from."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sam demanded coming to Melody's defense.
"I mean you are blood related," Lucifer continued ignoring Sam's question, "just you didn't really come from the same mother…sort of. It's complicated." He said waving his hands at them, "See I knew a certain Knight of Hell who claimed a few things. But then again he could have been lying—or not, he was under my command after all—but that is for another time." Lucifer started walking away from them, "You two will have to excuse me. Midnight is calling. And I have a ritual to finish. Don't go anywhere. Not that you could if you would."
He smiled at them before turning to the small mound he'd been working on. Lucifer raised his hands and started chanting in and old archaic language that Melody guessed was Enochian. She felt Sam back up until they were closer to Dean again and struggled to bend down with him. Instead she decided to stay standing, but kept one hand on top of Sam's shoulder for support.
Silently, the Winchesters watched the ritual continue. Lucifer finished chanting and turned to the demons, having them repeat after him before they all started to quickly fall to the ground, dead one by one. Not a minute later, Melody started to feel something gather beneath the earth where she stood. She tensed, glancing over to find Dean awake and slightly disoriented but still relieved to see her. That's when the ground started to shake, and the power Melody felt beneath the earth started to grow more and gather and converge where Lucifer was standing.
She didn't know what to do. She couldn't run—hell she could barely stand—and she was pretty sure Dean wasn't really up for the challenge either. There was no way Sam could carry them both out of here while Lucifer was distracted. Were they supposed to just sit here and watch and wait for Death to come and claim them? Melody grimaced. That power was immense, and the presence gathering was so heavy it made it difficult for her to breath. Come on Cas. We need you. She prayed so hard she thought her head might explode from the effort. She just kept shouting his name in her head, kept calling out for him.
She felt him before she saw him. Like a cool breeze on a hot day, Castiel's face brought relief beyond words to her. Melody felt her breath escape her lungs, felt her knees actually start to give out this time and opened her mouth to say something to him. But he quickly put a finger to his lips, bending down next to the Winchesters quietly.
Castiel didn't hesitate before putting his hands on Dean's and Sam's shoulders and teleporting them all out of the town and back to Bobby's.
"Will she be alright?"
Melody could hear Dean's voice outside her door. She lay on her bed in her claimed room at Bobby's home, back to the door and facing the wall by the bed. When Castiel brought them back, she'd nearly collapsed right there on the spot. But the angel was quick to catch her and bring her up to her bedroom where he immediately started healing her.
"Yes, her injuries are no longer an issue."
That didn't mean she wasn't still exhausted. Melody blinked and started counting the lines in the wood that ran up and down the wall. Maybe if she counted enough she'd stop thinking so much. Stop thinking about what Lucifer had said. Or what he'd done.
"I don't know, but he seemed like he wasn't lying. I think he really was telling the truth."
Great now Sam was going to tell everyone what Lucifer had said. It wasn't the truth though. Melody was their sister. Right? No, she had to be. The family resemblance was way too obvious. Granted she didn't have a family name like her brothers but…that didn't mean anything did it? She knew it was her dad who picked her name. But why the hell would John pick "Melody" of all things? He wasn't a freaking hippie or a music lover. She could maybe understand mom doing that but dad? No, no way.
"There is one thing I must warn you about…"
Melody's eyes fell to her left wrist. It was still a little sore where Lucifer had dug in his nail, but she could feel her arm again. He said it was his mark. But all she saw was a tiny little burn, about the size of a cigar if she had to guess. What the hell did is mean though? He could find her anywhere now? He could do…what? What purpose would a freaking mark have?
As if in answer, Melody felt the mark suddenly pulse and sting. She hissed and pulled her wrist to her chest, trying to pinch the sudden pain away. But the mark only pulsed harder. Melody's eyes squeezed shut and she saw flashes of what must have been a memory.
She saw a desert. Two men standing watch over what looked like a herd of sheep. She heard laughter and bright conversation. She saw both men greet her as if they'd known her their whole lives. She heard music and saw people dancing around a fire. And then she saw blood. So much blood. And she felt herself scream and cry. She felt agony and sorrow. And then anger. And then she saw a light. Bright and brilliant and beautiful. And then gold. Her entire vision was filled with golden light.
"This is you." It was Lucifer's voice whispering in her head, "This is who you are."
What the what? I know crazy right? And we're just starting to scratch the surface on who Melody really is! And remember what I said in the A/N. If that scene between Melody and Lucifer made you uncomfortable and you want to complain/talk/whatever, don't hesitate. However this is only the beginning for Melody. Things are about to get a lot worse before they get better. Next chapter, a trip back in time!
Review, fav and follow! Thanks for reading!
