Chapter 49
Adeline paused outside the stripper bar and raised an eyebrow at the sign saying they were open twenty four hours now before she pushed open the door. Immediately the over perfumed room violated her senses making her hold back from gagging. It was even worse than she remembered, she glanced around the darkened room with a few low lite spotlights. A man was sitting down near the stage where two girls were dancing. A third girl was walking towards her.
"Hi, I'm Cinnamon. I can give you the attention you deserve, how about you come sit down over here honey." The large bosomed girl with long wavy, red hair told her as her fingers went down Adeline's shoulder down to her arm.
Cinnamon? Seriously? Adeline thought as she held back an eye roll. "As lovely as that is Cinnamon. I'm here to get a private dance from a very special girl. Her name is Marissa."
Cinnamon frowned briefly before she smiled seductively at her. "I'm sorry there's no one named Marissa here. If you don't want to play with me I'm sure Cherry or Sapphire would be happy to serve you when they're done with their show."
Adeline sighed and looked towards the stage where they were dancing before looking back at the red head.
"Did I say Marissa? I meant to say Kitty, sorry Marissa is the dancer I tend to favor at another bar."
Cinnamon frowned again and muttered under her breath. "Kitty again? Damn slut." Adeline smirked but the girl walked her back to a private room. "Are you sure there is nothing I can do for you sweetheart? I know how to work a girl up."
"I'm sure. Although could you inform Kitty that a cup of tea would be nice? Tell her I would like it in the finest serving pot along with the matching cups."
Cinnamon grinned back at you and nodded her head she knew as did you that the finest serving ware they had was also the heaviest and Kitty always had problems with it.
Adeline sat down on the plush chair and leaned back closing her eyes. It had been awhile since she had been here. What was it a few weeks before the whole ordeal with the seals being broken? She sighed that felt like eons ago.
A low curse and the sound of cups banging together made her grin before the curtain opened and in walked a girl with a low cut black dress that flared out, her hair was as straight as ever and still black. Her chocolate eyes had widened at the sight of Adeline before they narrowed into a glare.
"I hope you didn't break any of the tea cups." Adeline smirked at her as she crossed her legs.
The girl huffed and practically slammed the tray she had been carrying onto the table in the room.
"Why the hell are you here?" She crossed her arms and her painted red lips were turned down.
"Is that any way to treat a customer, Marissa?"
Marissa just glared at her and Adeline got up and poured herself a cup of tea before dumping a few spoonful's of sugar in it. "Still overloading on the sugar I see." She commented as she sat in the other chair. Adeline took a sip warming her cold body up before she took off her coat under the scrutiny of Marissa.
Her looked her body up and down and gave her a malicious smirk. "Well look at you. You've really let yourself go haven't you?"
"Please. I haven't gained a pound, just baggy clothes. Although the same can't be said for you can it, Marissa?" Adeline gave a pointed look at the girl's stomach and Marissa just narrowed her eyes even more. "I'm not saying it's bad it's just if any one of us gained weight it was you. Don't worry, you look good. Always said you could use more meat on you." Adeline sat back down and crossed her legs taking another sip of her tea.
"Where's Satoshi?"
"Not here." Marissa snapped and put a hand on her cocked out waist.
"Get him here, I need to talk to him."
"Can't he's gone off the radar. Tell you what though, he should be back tonight. I can replace his usual girl with you." Marissa gave her an evil smirk as she checked her nails and Adeline frowned. "How thoughtful of you. Well I'll be back tonight then." Adeline moved to get up but Marissa pushed her back down onto the chair by the shoulder.
"It's going to require payment."
"I shouldn't have to pay. We all know I'm his favorite."
"Was, you've been gone for a while Winchester and you know how he's always felt about people who have abandoned him."
"I didn't abandon him I told him I was leaving but I would still have the pager thing if he ever had something interesting to say."
"He didn't take it that way. I'm sure he'd be fine with your return if you wear something appropriate."
Adeline sighed and rubbed her face. "I don't have time to deal with his fetishes right now."
"Well you're going to have to because that's the only way I can allow you to see him tonight."
Adeline stood back up. "Fine."
"I think your outfit is still in the back." Marissa smirked before flaunting out of the room. Adeline appeared to the room and put in the code for her old locker where she kept some things and low and behold it still worked and all her things she had left there were still in fact there. So she still at least had some kind of pull since they didn't trash her stuff. The only annoying thing was the outfit she would have to wear to get back in the good graces of Satoshi. She slammed the locker shut before she walked out of the joint.
She was a few blocks down from the place when Dean started praying for her. Hearing prayers was so weird, so could sometimes feel the vibrations running down her body or sometimes a faint noise came them. This time she winced at the intensity of the prayer. It was nothing like Castiel's who had been trying to communicate with her since last night. His were faint, unsure and pleading. Dean's was begging, full of worry fear and anger but not because of her because something had happened.
Adeline quickly appeared in front of him and he glanced up at her before shooting to his feet quickly and grabbed her shoulders. "Please, please go and save them, Ads." She took all of him in and then glanced at the phone to his ear and she could hear Ben's voice.
Adeline quickly moved over to his house and appeared in Ben's bedroom. He looked at her surprised to see her there suddenly. "Adeline, right?" He asked eyebrows furrowed. She nodded and took a step towards him before fire flared up all around her, trapping her.
"I think not, love. Thought this might happen so I made some precautions. Thanks by the way for your little gift."
"If you don't let me go you'll end up the same way." Adeline glowered at him and he waggled a finger as he grabbed Ben and pushed him towards some of his demons. "Take him and go." He said and they did as he picked up the phone.
"Hello, Dean. Fancy a chat? God, how long's it been, Dean? Since my so called demise, yes?" Crowley looked over and winked at Adeline. "Took a page out of Adeline's book. Pretending to be dead, genius."
"Crowley." Adeline hissed and he noted her hands were in fist and the outrage on her face was just delicious.
"Right. Right. You'll rip me cornucopia of orifices. Let's get to the bit where I tell you how this goes. Your chocolate's been in my peanut butter for far too long." Crowley continued saying to Dean after the usual death threat. He waited a beat, more death threat blah blah blah.
"I've got your, uh what are they? Ex lady friend and not kid and I'm keeping them until you back the HELL OFF! I also have your little sister here so be careful about how you respond. Never know if I might take it out on her."
Crowley looked back over at Adeline and smiled, she was standing as close to the holy fire as she could without harming herself. "You're adorable when you get all threatening." Crowley told Dean over the phone but was staring at Adeline. "Don't worry. I won't hurt them, provided you and jolly green stand down. Got it? Splendid. Kisses." Crowley hung up the phone, now giving his full attention to Adeline who was still looking furious at him but he also noticed her eyes had narrowed in pain.
"They're calling for you aren't they?" Crowley smirked as he took a step closer to her. "Poor little Addy. What's it like being an angel? I mean out of all the people, you an angel? Tell me do your brothers know about the little demon inside you?"
Adeline spat right in his eye. "DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN BITCH!" He wiped his eye and it was his turn to be furious at her. "Bite me." She growled and he laughed. "Won't that angel of yours get mad?"
Adeline made a show of looking around before shrugging her shoulders. "He doesn't seem to be around. So how about you let me out of this ring and I'll show you how a real girl throttles the life out of someone."
"Tsk tsk, naughty girl. As much as you would enjoy having your hands around me. I'm afraid I have standards. You understand of course."
Crowley turned his back to her and took a step forward. "Oh and don't get any ideas about saving the lady and the boy. Because if I hear anything about you coming to get them or trying to locate them in some way, I will not hesitate to kill them. But then again you might even care anyways. What was it…Atlanta yes, that was where you killed a lovely little family wasn't it?" Crowley chuckled before he left her there in fire where she would be out of the way.
/
"What's the story?" Sam asked concerned.
"He says Ben, Lisa and Ads stay alive as long as we sit on our thumbs."
Sam sighed and then a thought came to him. "You think Cas knows about this?"
"We have to assume he does. At least where Ben and Lisa are concerned. I doubt Crowley would risk making him angry by letting him know he has Adeline."
"So what are we gonna do?"
"I'll tell you what I'm not going to do, sit here. I'm going after them." Dean turned to go and Sam took a step to follow him. "I'm going with."
"No, Sam. You and Bobby stay on the lovecraft thing, okay? Cas is way ahead of us."
"You gotta be nuts if you think I'll let you go alone. Bobby takes the case."
"Guys.." Bobby starts as he gets up from his chair.
"No Bobby. This is a big ball, okay? We can't drop it now."
"Fine. But how are you two gonna find Lisa, Ben and Addy?" Bobby asked them.
/
Adeline had been sitting cross legged for about two hours before she had enough. She had hoped if she waited here that the fire would burn out but that seemed less likely to happen as the hours ticked by. She was going to have to swallow her pride and ask for help. She opened her mouth about to call Castiel when she remembered another angel she had been getting to know. "Balthazar, could really use you at this moment." She grumbled out and a second later he appeared with the sounds of his wings flapping. He grinned at her situation.
"Well what have you been doing here?"
"Oh well you know the usual, plotting the demise of certain people." She rolled her eyes and Balthazar waved away the fire.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on? I mean you just upped and left and now nobody can find you unless you call for them. Cassie is in a tizzy trying to find you."
Adeline shot him a look and he gave her a grin back. "Don't worry, lover boy doesn't know where you are at." Adeline nodded her head in thanks at him. "Thanks for freeing me. I have to go."
Balthazar grabbed her arm just as she leaving and went with her as she left. Balthazar blinked at the bright light and the snow on the ground. He opened his mouth breathing the taste of wherever they were at in as Adeline glared at him. "Fairfield Alaska, what are you doing here?" He smirked.
"None of your business." She grumbled and walked over to the pay phone. She rummaged in her pocket for some quarters and sighed before turning back to the grinning angel. "Do you have any change?" He raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like I carry change, sweetheart?"
Adeline turned back to the phone and banged her hand against it using a bit of her grace and got the dial tone. She punched in a few numbers and leaned against the wall. Hers eyes met Balthazar and he smirked at her before his face grew serious for once. "You should stop hiding from Cassie, Adeline. He really is getting frantic over you."
"I'll deal with him later. I'm busy right now." She waved him off punching in some more numbers on the keypad. He gave her a snarky look before he left her alone.
"Agent Collins here." The gruff voice answered.
"Well hello agent Collins." Adeline smirked into the phone as she heard Bobby sigh with relief. "Addy, you're okay? Where are you?"
"I'm fine. I'm somewhere. You guys don't have to worry about me."
"Ads can you come back over here and help us. I'm worried about Dean."
"I can't Crowley made it very clear that if I get involved in any way he'll kill them. Just wanted to touch up base so see what you got on the case."
Bobby informed her about the book Castiel stole from the library and she sighed into the phone at the news. He told her that he had made a copy so Adeline kept her mouth shut about her own copied version of the book. No need to let Bobby know just in case he asked what else she made copies of.
"How are you doing with all this? Not every day your angel boyfriend goes behind your back to make a deal with your worse enemy."
Adeline gave him a dry chuckle. "I should be getting used to all the secrets people keep from me. My dad, my brothers, my husband, my angel lover. Even you Bobby. All of you, and let me tell you I am so damn tired of the secrets. Why can't we all be honest for once?"
Silence met her on the other line before she heard Bobby take in a ragged breath. "We can start letting them out. Don't you forget that you have your own secrets Addy. There are still answers I've wanted from you but never bothered asking the questions because I knew you'd never answer them."
"Well now's the time. I'll answer one question."
Bobby thought about all the questions he had wanted to ask her over the years. Like what the hell had she been doing when she was on her own for a few years or where did she learn to torture people? Where exactly had she been during the six months he had thought her dead? But there was one question that he wanted the answer to.
"How are you really feeling right now?"
Adeline rolled her eyes at the phone and shook her head a bit at the question. Out of all the questions he could have ask, some of the answers he longed to seek and he basically asked her again how she was doing.
"Pissed off, heartbroken and annoyed. I should have been able to see that something was wrong with him. I shouldn't have stayed away so long. I wished he would've told me." Adeline's voice caught on the end but she cleared her throat and her voice returned to normal.
"It's not your fault Ads. He had us all deceived."
"Yeah, well. I still should've known. Perhaps if I paid more attention we wouldn't have to be dealing with all this."
"Adeline, look hon. How about you come over here and we can work on this together so we can stop Castiel."
"I have something else I need to do tonight. I'll probably get over there tomorrow."
"What are you doing toni…" Adeline didn't hear the rest because she hung up. She did though hear Bobby cursing her name in prayer. She shook off the feeling because another person was calling her name a voice she knew she needed to have a talk with but she wanted to wait to talk to Castiel.
/
"You look stupid." Marissa commented when Adeline finished changing. She was wearing the short, shiny, black shorts and a fitted crop top.
"I think he should be satisfied if I go out like this." Adeline told her ignoring her stupid comment. Marissa laughed in her face and rolled her eyes.
"I think you of all people should remember he likes his girls fully clothed and his men suited up."
"In condoms maybe." Adeline muttered under her breath as she sat down on the bench and pulled on some fishnets.
"It's too cold to wear this." Adeline lied down her stockings half way up.
Marissa rolled her eyes and put a hand on her hip. "So this is what the Mighty, dangerous Adeline has come to? A complainer, if I recall you used to do just about anything to get something you wanted or to complete a job. Now here you are and you can't even finish dressing yourself because it's cold."
Adeline frowned sitting back up and pulled the fish nets over her knees before she threw an old book at Marissa's face. "You know it's stupid, he's still in charge right. He should have so many damn law suits against him but yet he's still running the damn place." Adeline tied up the hooker boots before she stood up.
"I told you last time you ranted about this, that you could do me the favor and kill him." Marissa mumbled before she turned to leave Adeline. "Don't forget the jacket." She said before the door slammed shut behind her.
Adeline grabbed the jacket before she locked up the locker. She used to love the black trench coat jacket. She pulled it on and sighed. It still fight nicely the only problem was the back. The flame embroidered wings seemed really tacky now that she was an angel.
She ran a hand through her hair thinking before she pulled the jacket off then she thought better and stuck it back on. It was cold, the coat was a warm one and despite the tackiness of the wings she kept it on and even buttoned it up thought again and then unbuttoned it before walking out of the locker room.
As soon as she opened the door she ran into Balthazar's chest. "Well not a place I thought you'd be for tonight." His voice was full of amusement as he looked around.
"Why the hell are you here?" Adeline moved past him to the open bar.
"The view is lovely and there was an advertisement I saw earlier about a long awaited stripper who is making her comeback tonight." Balthazar held up the flyer that he found on the window and Adeline snatched it out of his hands reading it as Balthazar looked her over. He noted the blue piercing in her belly button and grinned.
"That little bitch." Adeline said a bit impressed. Marissa had advertised her coming to draw in more money tonight than usual. The picture was old and Adeline remembered posing for it. She had worn just the black trench coat and her back was to the camera as she started taking it off.
"So when were you going to tell me you were a dancer?"
Adeline smirked as she crumbled the paper and walked to the bar. "Never." She answered as the bar tender pushed her a drink over. She looked at it surprised then glanced at the bar tender. "Thank you Oli." He nodded his head at her as she picked up the non-alcoholic fruity drink.
"So is this your secret? The one you've been hiding from Cassie?"
Adeline snorted before she took a sip of her drink. "Well I don't think he would exactly approve of this do you?"
"Oh Addy, you are even more than I imagined." Balthazar smirked at her before his gaze traveled to a passing girl wearing stilettos and a cutout dress. "its belly shot night." Adeline grinned impishly at the angel. If anyone had to see her here she was glad it was Balthazar and he seemed to have kept it from Cas and she highly doubted she would tell her brothers about this.
Balthazar nodded his head at her before he walked after the girl from earlier.
Adeline took another sip of her drink before she poured it down her throat. She set the empty glass on the bar with another nod to Oli. She briefly wondered how many people she knew would be here tonight. She eyed the crowd and found Marissa walking over to her.
"What to explain the flyers to me before I cut you?"
Marissa just smirked as she turned to face Adeline. "Money, duh. But you knew that didn't you Adeline. So you're angry well go ahead fight me. I'm sure the crowd would love it." Marissa purred evilly and Adeline sighed. She was giving Marissa just what she wanted.
"I can't have you looking like that either when you see Satoshi tonight." Marissa whispered looking pointedly at her face and the lack of makeup on it. "We really should do something about your hair too." Marissa mussed looking at and reached out to finger it and clicked her tongue with disappointment it was softer than it looked.
"Whore." Adeline muttered smacking her hand away.
"Bitch." Marissa hissed before walking away.
Adeline turned to go put on some makeup and she came back out with her eyes looking dangerous with the smoky eye she had put on and her lips were a deep red color. Marissa saw and she begrudgingly nodded her head in approval as she walked over.
"I have you on bet tonight."
Adeline glared at her words. She wasn't here to actually dance or strip. "Marissa." Adeline growled before the girl glared back at her.
"Don't give me that look. Satoshi is in here tonight. I doubt he'll let you go to another man. But just in case I have someone in the crowd to bid for you too. Now go get on stage and make it rain money from the greedy bastard." Marissa pushed her towards the stage and after another glare at the girl Adeline walked up there and stayed behind the curtain.
She glanced around wondering what would be best to present herself. She settled on sitting on the ground. The trench coat pooled around her and she folded a leg in and the other she had her foot flat on the ground and she put her arm on her knee before lying her head down on the arm.
She heard someone talk about how they had a special treat for everyone tonight. Blah blah blah. Then the curtain opened and Adeline was surprised at all the people in the ground. There were a lot of people from the guild here and they did not look happy to see her. Great she could be sold off to someone she had royally pissed off. She had taken notice that Balthazar wasn't there anymore but her eyes also picked up the missing bottle of wine behind the bar. Of course he would steal the most expensive wine in the place.
Adeline tuned out the music and the bidding thinking about Castiel. Her life was certainly better after he appeared in her life. She probably would've given up on her brothers without him there and she would have had come back to this place sooner.
"Sold." Adeline looked over to where Marissa was and Marissa gave her a slight nod of her head and then she nodded over towards one of the back rooms. The curtain closed and Adeline got up before walking to the room.
She pulled the door open and Satoshi smiled an oily smile at her as he beckoned her in with his sausage finger. "Well if it isn't my little Shi No Tenshi." He purred at her as she closed the door behind her before leaning back on it and crossed her arms.
"That nickname was stupid back then and it's possibly more stupid now." She told him with a frown and he chuckled lowly.
"I think you're forgetting who makes the rules around here. Now are you going to entertain me or what?"
Adeline walked closer to him and bent down to look him in the eye. Her hands on the arm rest of his chair. "I want information."
"Do tell, and what do I get for forking over this information? Don't tell me, I finally get to have a taste of you."
It took everything in Adeline to not slap him or worse instead she backed away from the man. "That has never been part of our deal and it never will. You'll get what you always get."
The man gave her a smile that sickened her insides but she kept the look of disgust off her face as he rubbed his hands together. "Well, well. A favor from the Shi No Tenshi goes a long way, a very long way. Please go on about this information you want."
"I want to know how to get power, supernatural power."
Satoshi raised an eyebrow it was the only indication he gave that her request surprised him. "Sell your soul, girl. That's the only way." He told her like she was foolish and Adeline rolled her eyes at him.
"You and I both know there are other ways. I could find them myself but I'm in a hurry, besides you'll get no favors from me if you don't hand me anything useful."
"There are spells from witches that can give power but it's only for a limited time. If you are interested I can make a call. I do have a witch on hand who owes me a few favors."
Of course he did, who didn't he know that didn't owe him anything?
"No, I need something that will really supercharge me, I need to be more powerful than an archangel."
Satoshi's mouth opened a bit stunned but then it closed and he gave her grin. "Of course, I should have known that you of all the people I know would know about the angels. I don't suppose you'll tell me how you came across that gold mine? Or perhaps you've met one? What am I saying of course you have or you wouldn't be coming to me to see how you can destroy one. Well my girl, I'm afraid only an angel blade can kill them." He shook his head and sighed.
"I know that. But there has to be a way to get the strength and speed to best a truly powerful one."
Satoshi scoffed but then he stroked his dark beard in thought and Adeline recognized the look. He was thinking long and hard and she waited patiently for him and after a few minutes he smiled again at her and dropped his hand.
"I suppose you could get a demon to do the dirty work for you, I'm sure one would agree when you offered up purgatory in return."
Adeline kept her face straight and just raised an eyebrow in question and that told him to go on.
"After all demons get their power from souls and from what I hear purgatory is just full of them the only problem is finding it. I suppose you could just start on preying on the humans here but that wouldn't go unnoticed. Even you can't keep the authorities off your back if went and purged a city. So finding purgatory would be your best bet. That is if a demon will even deal with you? I can of course deal with one on behalf of you. I'm willing to go such length for you my dear."
Adeline narrowed her eyes at him and uncrossed her arms. "I got it covered, thanks. So that's your only answer? Purgatory? I thought you'd have something better up your sleeves." She shrugged her shoulders and turned to leave disappointed at the time she had wasted coming here and now she even owed him a favor just for information she already knew.
"Addy." The familiar tone in which he said her name again brought disgust on her face and she let it show.
"Of course, I can look more into this matter for you. I can find the answers you need but you know the cost of doing business with me."
Adeline thought for moment, Satoshi even with his despicable ways did have an uncanny way to dig up information on just about anything but the cost was her service. He was a dirty bastard who had used her before to get even with people who had one upped him or even with people who simply had, had the nerve to accidently spill a drink on him. Owing him a favor was a dangerous thing owing him more than one was double that. She sighed thinking about Castiel and how she could save him from the road he was going down even if it was at the cost of her freedom.
"You have three days at the most." She said in quiet anger.
Satoshi laughed and the hair on her neck stood on end and she heard him get up and his sweaty, oversized hand rested on her hip. "A deadline too? Well you must be desperate. I hope you understand that you'll be under my good graces again." He whispered in her ear and his hand gripped her harder before he let go.
"Send a girl back here when you get back out front, I'm in the mood to play after exchanging pleasantries with you."
Adeline frowned and left him there not bothering to send a girl his way. She was headed towards the exit when Marissa stepped out in front of her. "Where are you going?"
"Out."
Marissa let out of breath as she eyed Adeline over. "Without changing and without telling me what the hell is going on?"
"I have clothes at my place. And what goes on with me and Satoshi is my business. Oh by the way he wants a girl. I'm sure you meet his standards so why don't you go and play with him. Maybe if you're lucky he'll let you know what we discussed."
Marissa scowled at her and Adeline just gave her a snarky smirk as she walked passed her. "Oh, one thing I can tell you, is that you'll probably be seeing me more often. Fun right? We can become besties, I'll even let you paint my nails."
Marissa looked furious at the news and Adeline turned around her smirk dropping as she walked out of the place, thankfully unnoticed by some of the hunters there tonight. She was taking a short cut through the alley when someone ran into her and put a hand on her mouth. She eyed the attacker getting ready to go on the offense but raised her eyebrows when she recognized her.
Her strawberry blonde locks were curled to perfection and were pinned up. Her face painted with makeup from the forties to match the flapper dress she was wearing.
"You have to promise me you'll be quiet and then I will remove my hand from your mouth." She whispered to Adeline and instead of nodding her head she licked the girls hand and she pulled it away with a look of disgust.
"I see you still haven't outgrown your childish ways." She whispered wiping her hand off onto her dress.
"It's not nice to pin people against the wall." Adeline whispered back and that earned an eye roll from the girl.
"Please, you could have easily gotten out of that hold, I just needed to get your attention."
Adeline looked around the dark alley and could smell the trash from where she was standing. "Yeah, this is a perfect place to stop and chat."
"Shut up. What are you even doing here? You got out."
"Well, surprise I'm back in."
"I don't think you understand the situation you just put yourself in." The girl hissed at her and Adeline just sighed knowing a lecture was about to unfold.
"Don't give me that look. Adeline. You remember what he's like, right? Well he's even worse now and whatever information or favor you got out of him tonight isn't worth it. You'll have no idea what he'll send you off to do. He has more enemies than ever and they have families. You know his favorite way to get back at the people who have wronged him. Even people who have just looked at him wrong are suffering. He's made friends too, not good ones. Ones that are even looking for you. He will turn on you the second he has what he wants from you."
"Well…I still have some time before that happens, Emmet."
Emmet looked at her confused then her face paled. "No, tell me you're not that much of an idiot." Adeline stayed silent and Emmet cursed under her breath.
"Is that something a refined lady should say?"
Emmet put her hands on Adeline's shoulders. "Stop joking around, Adeline. It's bad enough that you owe him one favor. But now you practically got your job back. You do realize he won't let you go this time. Damn it Adeline, having the people who want you dead chasing after you is better than giving up your freedom."
Emmet took a few breaths trying to get herself under control and Adeline waited till she was breathing normally before she spoke.
"What if something no someone is more important than my freedom?"
Emmet looked at her surprised and removed her hands and took a step away from her. "He better be fuckin grateful that he's got The Angel of Death watching his back." Adeline grimaced at the nickname again.
"Seriously?"
Emmet said nothing more before she surprised Adeline with a hug. "It is good to see you even if you're an idiot." She whispered and smoothed Adeline's hair back gently. "You must love this guy a lot to selling your freedom. Which is impressive in itself that you would do something for someone and not yourself. People had commented on how you looked like you've changed. I guess it's better to have you be a caring bitch than a self-centered one" She said before she left Adeline there.
"I guess we'll see each other soon then." Emmet said not sounding happy about it.
"Please, I bet you're secretly happy to actually have some competition."
Emmet gave a quiet laugh as she walked to the back door of the bar. "We'll have to see about that when you return. I already have some games in mind."
"I'm sure we'll really get business booming. I mean a match between the Hensho shita okami and me. I can practically hear the money signs rolling in Marissa's eyes."
"I hope he's really worth the trouble you're going to be getting into."
"He is." Adeline answered without any hesitation and the two girls parted ways. Adeline walked down a few more blocks before she vanished into the night air.
/
Adeline glanced around the room and Bobby eyed her carefully as she picked a few things up then set them down gently out of sight of the guy they were talking too or really who Bobby was talking to. He had convinced her to join him by agreeing she could be invisible. Bobby had asked her how she was doing and she had informed she was but he knew she very well couldn't be okay after her boyfriend decided to deal with the king of hell himself. He wished he could actually see her instead of just objects telling him where she was for the moment.
"You know, uh, horror, lowbrow, put us in the ghetto, fine but H.P Lovecraft this guy is literature. I mean he should be taught in schools. He's up there with Dickens and Dean R. Koontz, seriously." The guy told Bobby gaining back his attention and added the last bit after a skeptical look.
"Well, that's defiantly the angle I'm taking with my piece." Bobby told him and the guy realized he was rambling on and waved his hand to some chairs. "Please." Bobby went over and sat down across from the guy and Adeline just continued taking things in.
"So I hear you have a large collection of Lovecraft's private letters."
"Yeah. World's largest." The guy smiled proud at that fact.
"Wow, you must be catnip to the lady's." Bobby coughed afterwards hiding Adeline's faint snort.
"I'm in a long-term online relationship, so…"
Bobby just nodded his head and ignored the flying spaceship behind Judah.
"Well, I'd like to ask you about, uh, Lovecraft's last year's specifically anything that might have gone down around March 10th, 1937."
"Okay. Are you working on this with the other guy?"
At the mention of another guy the spaceship stopped moving and Bobby tried to keep his eyes on Judah as Adeline put the spaceship back where she found it.
"Other guy?"
"Yeah. You know, trench coat, looks like Columbo, talks like Rain Man?"
"Right." Bobby said figuring out it was Castiel.
"We're competitors. Rival magazines." Bobby informed him wondering where Adeline was now, he hated not being able to see her.
"Okay. Okay, well, I'll tell you what I told him. Howard had a dinner party on March 10th."
"Party? How many friends at this party?"
"Well, six. If by friends you mean co-worshippers in a black magic cult. They were getting together that night to perform a ritual. Something big."
"Define big."
"Not much, just open a door into another dimension."
"Why would they do that?"
"To see what's out there. Maybe it's friendly."
"It's never friendly." Bobby said to him harsher than he intended. "I mean, I imagine." He added meekly. "So did it work? The Spell?"
"Well, uh, there was no mention of Cthulhu in the morning papers, so…Actually, I do happen to have several letters detailing the dinner. Worst thing that was reported was a hangover. So it's uh I got them right here." Judah told him as he pulled a folder out his bookshelf. "It's actually pretty interesting." He smiled opening it up he frowned when he came up short though. "Um, and they were….they were right here." He said confused he hadn't moved them or anything so what had happened to them.
"Well, it's not like an invisible guy could just pop in and steal them, right?" Bobby told him getting up and the guy nodded. "Oh, uh, I'll leave you to it and you call me if you find them, huh?" Bobby said almost bumping into Adeline as he turned to go.
/
"Uh, Castiel its Sam, I don't know if you're in on this whole Ben and Lisa thing and if you have any heart, whatsoever, bring them back to us, man. Come on. Please, I'm begging you. I am begging you. Do you understand?" Sam looked around hoping for the angel. After his talk with Dean and seeing what Dean had been doing to demon after demon he was worried for his brother. He was worried for Adeline too, Bobby said she was a little more distant than usual but he couldn't spot anything out of the norm with her.
When the angel didn't show Sam's frown and worry grew deeper.
What he didn't know though was that Castiel was there and he had been listening, and he was going to do something about this.
"Sweetie you look tense." Crowley smirked as Castiel walked in on him with narrowed eyes.
"You took Ben and Lisa."
"Oh, that." The demon said casually as he started walking around the room.
"I told you not to touch Sam, Dean and Adeline."
"I've respected that, I'm merely exploiting the obvious loophole. As long as I have the woman and the boy your fop coiffed little heroes will be scouring the earth for them." He didn't tell let on that Adeline actually couldn't be looking for them as per how he set that little arrangement. "Therefore not after you and not me. Everybody wins."
"You should've talked to me first."
"I'd rather ask forgivness than permission. Heh,heh." He stopped at a table ladled with remains from the monsters.
"Where are they, Crowley?" The angel was irritated if he could find them then perhaps Adeline would stop ignoring him and he'd be able to talk to her to explain things.
Crowley just mimed zipping his lips then locking them before he tucked an imaginary key into his pocket before he shrugged.
"You are not to harm them. Do you understand me?" Castiel took a few menacing steps forward.
"You know what? You're maxed out on putting humans out of bounds. I'll do with them as I please. You wanna stop me? Go Find frigging Purgatory!" The demon shouted miffed about Castiel's attachments to the Winchesters.
Before Cas could say anything else he heard someone calling for him so intently he put a hand against the side of his head trying to ease the pain the message was giving him. It was Balthazar.
Crowley watched him with mild interest. "Never call during business hours, do they?"
Castiel's hand dropped after Balthazar finished telling him where to meet him and he glared at Crowley. "I'll be back." He said before he left to meet with his friend.
"Cas, Cas, Cas. So good of you to come."
"Balthazar. Why did you summon me here?" He looked around the forest they were in.
"Can I ask you a direct question?" Balthazar turned around to face the angel.
"Of course."
"Are you in flagrante with the king of Hades?"
Castiel paused wondering why Balthazar was asking this question and if he knew something before he responded with an "Of course not."
Balthazar laughed. "Always were such a terrible liar. So it's true. All right, then. Why?"
"It's a means to an end. Balthazar, you understand that."
"Oh, absolutely. But what's the end here, exactly? Raid purgatory, snatch up all the souls?"
"Win the war."
"And I can only assume that you'd be the vessel, correct? Suck up all the souls into yourself. All that power."
"It's the only way."
"Or too much juice for you. In which case, you explode taking a substantial chunk of the planet along with you. Does Adeline know about that bit?"
"That won't happen." He argued.
"Of course, of course. Heh, just tell me that it's entirely risk- free."
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. But I need to know, are you with me or not?"
Balthazar quickly thought of a plan and he smiled shaking his head with a small chuckle. "You know, you may be certifiable but fine. In for a penny in for a pound." He didn't mention how it was obvious that his soul mate didn't agree with what he was doing or she wouldn't be hiding out in Alaska.
"How'd you hear about this anyway?" Castiel wondered aloud.
"Oh, your howler monkeys, of course. See, they're just a touch worked up about that kidnapping business."
Castiel frowned in thought he needed to make this right with them and he needed to talk with Adeline to make her understand.
As if he had heard him thinking about Adeline Balthazar said he found an area where she's been hanging out at. Balthazar told him where to find the strip joint in Alaska hoping that perhaps Adeline would be able to set his mind straight if he found her. He was really hoping Castiel would listen to his lover but he was already working on another plan just in case.
/
"You're sure you're not with that other reporter, in the coat?" The older man asked Bobby and Adeline. She finally caved and put on a pair of jeans and a blouse along with a pair of glasses and had a basic camera around her neck.
"Liar, that one, not who he says." The older man confided in them. Adeline took a sip of her slushy that she talked Bobby into buying for her before they stopped here. She frowned thinking about Castiel who really seemed to be getting more involved to find purgatory now. She hoped that Satoshi would be able to find his answers soon and hopefully before Castiel finds the way into purgatory.
"No, sir. Uh, we're not affiliated with his paper. I just have a couple of questions about a dinner party you were at in nineteen thirty seven."
"Everyone's so fascinated. Wanna know about my night at the home of the great H.P Lovecraft?"
Adeline placed a hand on the older man's and gave him a small smile hiding the inner turmoil she felt so she could gain the man's trust. "If you wouldn't mind."
His expression softened a bit at her touch and smile. "You know the story, they did their spell and they all said it failed." He looked around seeing if anyone was paying attention to him before leaning closer to Adeline. "Do you believe in monsters?"
Adeline looked him dead in the eye. "Yes."
"You know, you go saying that, they'll lock you in here rest of your life." He whispered to her.
"Whatever you saw you can tell me, because I believe you." Adeline whispered back to him. The man nodded once seeing the trust in her.
"The spell worked. A door opened and something came through. But it was invisible, so no one knew. Except me."
"How did you know that?" Bobby asked.
"Because it took my mother. It went into her. She wasn't the same, she even smelled different and then she disappeared. And surprise, surprise one by one they all start dying."
"I'm sorry, about your mom." Adeline said softly as she reached out and put her hand against his before taking it back.
"You're the first person that ever said that." He gave her a small smile. "Hey, you wanna see a picture?"
Adeline kept the amusement off her face at his excitement and she nodded her head.
They waited as the man pulled out a picket from his breast pocket and passed it over to Adeline and in turn she showed it to Bobby with a raised eyebrow. "I'll be damned." He grumbled just as a high pitched sound started.
Bobby winced a bit and looked over at Adeline and the older man. He didn't seem to hear it but Adeline looked like she was in pain. "Excuse me, I have to go. Thank you for talking with us and again I'm sorry for all you lost out on." She said before she got up and walked away. Bobby noticed the sound escaped with her, he frowned wondering what was going on before he passed the picture back to the man.
/
Dean was choking the demon he had been torturing got loose because he messed up. He was wondering how to fix this when a bright light started coming out of the demon before he collapsed and revealed Castiel.
"I didn't ask for your help." Dean panted trying to catch his breath.
"Well, regardless. You're welcome."
"Why are you here?" Dean asked walking paste him to fix the chair that had fallen over when the demon got free.
"I had no idea Crowley would take Lisa and Ben."
"Yeah, right."
"You don't believe me."
"I don't believe a word out of your mouth." Dean said finally looking at the angel.
"I thought you said that we were like family. Well I think that too. Shouldn't trust run both ways?" Cas argued with him.
"Cas, I just can't."
"Dean, I do everything that you ask. I always come when you call and I am your friend. Still, despite your lack of faith in me and now your threats. I just saved you, yet again. Has anyone but your closest kin ever done more for you? All I ask is this one thing…"
"Trust your plan to pop purgatory?" Dean interrupted.
"I've earned that, Dean." He told him and Dean scoffed knowing the angel was wasting his time with all this talk.
"I came to tell you that I will find Lisa and Ben and I will bring them back. Stand behind me the one time I ask."
"You're asking me to stand down? That's the same damn ransom note that Crowley handed me. That he handed Addy when she went to help Ben. You know that, right? How Adeline went to help Ben but then she was caught by Crowley and now she's out of the game because if Crowley even gets a whiff that she is thinking of helping us locate them then he's going to kill them. Did you give Addy the same 'we owe it to you speech'? Or is she still hiding from you because she doesn't want to see your ugly mug? Don't answer those I could care less. Now, I don't want your help, I want you to go back to Crowley and tell him that I said you can both kiss my ass." Dean said lowly barely holding it together.
Dean turned around hiding his pain about Castiel's betrayal and hiding his worry for Lisa and Ben.
Castiel starred at his back suffering in his own pain because of what Dean had said. Before he left them there. Both of them were suffering but perhaps not as much as Adeline was in that moment.
/
"My, my Satoshi, she is splendid isn't she. A Winchester you said? And she willingly came to work for you?" A man said as his hands grazed over Adeline's body. She kept her smile in check as he continued talking about her like she wasn't there as he ran fingers across the bare skin she was showing. Which thankfully wasn't much since she came to the club in what she had been wearing at the time, which was jeans and a blouse.
"Yes. Poor thing practically begged after her husband died. She's been tamed though as you can see."
The man nodded then pulled off his glasses and started cleaning them with a cloth he pulled out from his pocket. "Fascinating, I've heard rumors about the Winchesters. Although I haven't heard much about the girl."
"You either hear nothing about her or you hear of her tales of horror. Now, that you've oohed and awed my best girl here, I say we get down to business. Adeline, leave us."
Adeline gritted her teeth and turned to go. She plopped on to the barstool and crossed her arms livid. She had been paged to come here and as soon as she got here, a girl then escorted her into the back room where Satoshi was waiting with a nicely dressed man. It had taken every ounce of her self-control to not break his fingers.
"Back already from the slaughter house?" Marissa smirked as she walked over. She stopped to give Adeline a once over and her smirk grew. "Well, I see why he didn't leave you there, dressed like that."
Adeline held up her camera and took a picture of Marissa and her dumb smirk. "I'm going to save this. I'm going to call this one 'Cow'."
Oli gave a silent laugh and Adeline grinned as Marissa huffed before she walked away. Oli set down a drink in front of her. She picked it up and took a sip surprised at the alcohol that was in it. "How'd you know I'm back on the real stuff?"
Oli just gave her a smile before he left to take care of someone else. Adeline waited and tapped her fingers impatiently and after about half an hour and two more drinks she saw the well dressed, dark skinned man who had been admiring her like a piece of meat left. She got off the stool and made her way to the back room and pulled open the door.
"What the hell was that?" She asked furious. Satoshi didn't even look her way and instead was giving his attention to Marissa who was pouring him a drink. "My dear, you grow more beautiful every day. Now tell me have you heard anything interesting the past few days?"
"Demon activity has quieted it down the past few days, it had been reclining a bit for a while but now it seems they're just gone for the moment."
Yeah, probably because Dean is doing something stupid and Crowley needs more of his hench men around since they're getting closer to finding purgatory Adeline thought grimly.
"Strange, I wonder what's going on. Maybe I'll make a few inquiries to find out what the King of Hell is up to." Satoshi rubbed his beard before taking a sip of his tea.
"Adeline, you're still in those clothes." Satoshi finally looked over at her with disapproval but he waved at the chair in front of him and she sat down.
"Kitty, go and fetch her some an early dinner I'm sure she's famished."
Marissa scowled at Adeline but did as she was asked. The door slammed closed behind her and Satoshi sighed. "When will you two get along? You started working for me around the same time and you're only a year older than her. Honestly." He shook his head and Adeline crossed her arms waiting for him to get to his point.
"Really my favorite server and hunter should be getting along, it's better for business if people don't see the two of you at each other's neck all the time."
"Noted, now tell me the information you got unless you just paged me just to talk about Marissa, in which case I'm going to get back to what I was doing." Adeline moved to stand back up but he held out his palm to stop her.
"And what was that? Taking photos for a newspaper, is that your job now? I never thought you'd actually have a regular job. What's it like?"
"You and I both know I'm not working for the newspaper." Adeline crossed her legs and sat back in the chair as Satoshi gave her an oily smile. "Oh, well I actually haven't been keeping tabs on you since you left."
Adeline raised an eyebrow not buying it and he chuckled. "You don't believe me, well my Shi No Tenshi, you've actually been keeping off the radar lately. The last I heard of you was back when you killed Walt. Although I never could figure out why. Was it just a personal thing?"
"You could say that." Adeline muttered as Marissa walked in with a sandwich and a side of macaroni. She the plate on the table in front of Adeline before she poured her a cup of tea. "Thank you, Marissa." Satoshi said without looking at her and waved her away. His focus was mainly on Adeline now so he didn't see the tightening of Marissa's eyes as she left but Adeline noted it.
"So you want power. What for?"
"None of your business, just tell me what the hell you found out."
"I'm afraid the rumored purgatory is the most efficient and easiest way to get power. But there are other ways. You could take an angels grace, or a demons dark soul. A witch informed me of a potion that could do so, although you'll have to bear the side effects of whichever you consume. I imagine the demons will be easier to hunt than the angels. I haven't seen any just heard a bit about them throughout the years. I imagine, they won't be so easy to take down. But that's why you're here in the first place isn't it? To take down an arch angel."
Adeline ignored his obvious intrigue at the story behind that but she just sighed and bit into her sandwich hoping Marissa didn't spit in her food. "That's awesome and all, but it that all you got? I would've expected more from you. No matter, I'll just take this to go and find someone else to find me my answers." Adeline got up with her plate and made to leave.
"Sit down. I wasn't finished." Satoshi's words bit into the air and Adeline held back a smirk from making him agitated. She sat back down and met his narrowed eyes with her own. "Do you know an angel's powers come from it's wings? I think you just have to find a way to destroy those, it's barbaric but you of all people should be able to do it especially if you take a potion to enhance your strength. The other ways to get power you wouldn't want to know. They come at a terrible cost that not even I would thrust upon someone nor do myself."
Adeline opened her mouth to tell him she didn't give a damn about the cost but his face grew dangerous and instead she took another bite of her sandwich. She stood up with a sigh.
"I can get you the potion to take the demon souls into yourself. That would be the fastest and just think if you had it years ago you would have been unstoppable." He purred his dangerous mood now gone but Adeline knew with a few words it could be back. Better not to poke the sleeping bear.
"Pass. I'm not sure my servitude is worth the information you found." She said bitterly and he grinned.
"It was our agreement, I will of course keep looking into the matter. If you didn't have a deadline I could be getting you better information. But your misfortune is my gain which brings us to the next bout of business." Satoshi reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a slip of paper. "I trust you still remember what you're supposed to do with this."
Adeline grabbed the note and shoved it into her pocket. She turned to go leaving her food, it wasn't worth the company she would have to endure to finish it.
"Adeline."
She paused and could feel his gaze on her legs. "I'm glad to have you back. It's been hard without you to keep the people who break my agreements in line. Now have fun my Angel of Death." Adeline hands curled into fist but she left without another word.
Marissa met her at the bar and passed her a bag. "He wanted me to give you this and before you trudge off on whatever assignment he gave you. I need you to take the next shift of bartending, so change into that and come out."
Adeline frowned as she peered into the bag before she went to the locker room. She changed into the tight black pants and the red crop top that was also tight and made her chest pop out looking like she had more there than she really had. She sighed at the amount of cleavage that was showing before she pulled on the stripper boots. She quickly used the makeup from her locker and painted her lips a blood red and made her eyes dangerous looking with the liner and eyeshadow she had.
She walked out and Marissa gave her a look over before she let Adeline jump behind the bar. "This is ridiculous." She grumbled.
"It's part of work if you want to do this you should have never came back, idiot. Now try not to insult too many customers."
Oli gave her a pat on the back and smile as he left relived of work for now.
Adeline waited at the bar irked and made drinks without a word to anyone. Half an hour past before the business started picking up. Adeline noted with mild surprise the people in the bar changed from men to men and women alike.
"It's club night." A voice answered her unspoken question. And she turned to face Emmett who had her hair down and was wearing a red cut out dress. "Since when has this been going on?" Adeline wondered aloud as she was drying a cup.
"Since Satoshi gave the bar to Marissa. She holds special events here to draw in all kinds of people. Just last week we had a teen night. It was very profitable and we actually got a lot of information just from overhearing conversations. Teenagers love to talk gossip about the strange things that they notice. I need a tray filled with a few glasses of champagne by the way."
Adeline hummed in acknowledge meant and her eyes swept the club again as the lights lowered and the music picked up. "So all the workers are wearing red." Emmett confirmed with a nod before she flashed Adeline a smile.
"So I hear you work for the newspaper."
Adeline snorted as she reached under the table to pull up a serving tray before she popped open the champagne. "I was just dressed like that for a job." She grabbed the champagne flutes under the bar as she spoke and started working on them.
"I'm trying to find more information on something myself. I'd rather not be any more in debt to Satoshi than I am right now." She said just low enough for Emmett to hear.
Emmett was going to tell her again how stupid Adeline was for coming back but Marissa was suddenly walking over in a tight top where her cleavage looked like it could pop out at any moment and a black mini skirt.
"Someone is asking for you." Marissa bluntly told Emmett so she picked up the finished tray of drinks and walked over to where Marissa was pointing.
"I need a tray." Marissa said as she leaned against the bar. Adeline quickly fixed up a rum and coke for a man before she started working on another tray. "So, this place is yours now? What did you have to do for Satoshi to manage that?"
"Loyalty. He probably would have given you something too if you hadn't run off." The girl sneered at her and Adeline rolled her eyes. "Yes, because when I think of you and your qualities my first thought is how loyal you are." She placed the last glass on the tray and started working on another one to set aside.
"At least I have an end game Adeline. That's more than anyone can say for you." She snapped before she walked off tray in hand.
Marissa smiled seductively at the men and kindly at the woman as she walked around with the tray. She was working her way to the younger crowd in the back when she slammed into someone. Before she or her tray of drinks could fall a warm hand grasped her shoulder to keep her upright and helped her balance the drinks until she had her balance back. Marissa frowned she had been sure there wasn't anyone there a moment ago and now she was looking up into a chiseled blue eye face.
"Thank you." She turned to go not liking the looks of the man in the trench coat but he touched her shoulder again and that touch brought her eyes back to his. Seriously, if the man didn't let her go she would have to get security to come over even if it did cause a scene. She briefly thought about calling Adeline over, she at least knew how to get rid of the persistent men without causing a ruckus.
"Can I help you?" Marissa raised an annoyed brow wanting to get to the crowd of people talking instead of standing here.
"I'm looking for someone, I was told she would be here."
"Well honey, there are a lot of people here."
"Her name is Adeline I was told she works here…" The man's eyes furrowed as he looked Marissa over. "You should quit since you're not happy with your job." He said suddenly and Marissa glared at him not happy at anything coming out of his mouth. How did Adeline this guy, he didn't seem like the usual men who asked for her or that she even gave the time of day to.
"I'm sorry we don't have anyone named that here." She again turned to go but the man stepped in her path.
"I know you're lying."
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave before I call security." Marissa should how bothered she was by him and he sighed seeming annoyed himself. What mess did Winchester get in now? she thought. She looked the guy over, he didn't look dangerous but then again neither did Adeline most of the time.
"It's important, she's…I love her and I need to tell her some things." Castiel told the girl as he dropped his hand off her shoulder. Another girl came over. "Is there a problem?" she asked and the dark haired girl turned to the blonde one. "We're running out of drinks how about you tell the Angel of Death to make a run?" The blonde girl nodded before she turned to go and Castiel watched her retreating form before the dark haired girl stepped into his sight.
Marissa had been surprised at his declaration of love and had classified him as some stalker so while Emmett went to deliver the message to her Marissa made sure Adeline could leave unnoticed then she could take care of this creep herself.
Adeline poured a glass of wine for a lady wearing too much jewelry in her opinion when Emmett came over.
"Hey there's a guy out there being really persistent of seeing you. Marissa said to hide out in the locker room for now." Adeline raised her eyebrows quizzically then looked around Emmett trying to find Marissa she did and that wasn't all she found. Castiel was with her and they both looked like they were about ready to get in a fight when Castiel's eyes glanced up and met her own.
Adeline cursed thinking there had just been a mild draft in the room. "Sorry I have to go." Adeline handed the bottle of wine to Emmett before she jumped over the counter.
Once Castiel had spotted Adeline he started walking towards her but the dark haired, tanned skin girl in front of him kept getting in his way. He figured the people in the room were to inhabited to pay much attention to anything so he disappeared making Marissa's eyes grow wide and he appeared in front of Adeline who had only made it a few steps from the bar. "Damn it." She said when she slammed into his chest.
"I need to speak to you."
