Chapter 7

Emery

Sitting in my truck and trying to catch my breath, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I had to figure out a way to get myself somewhere safe, but it was getting harder and harder, the older I got. I used to have a constant group of demons with me, keeping the black smoke at bay, but now with the new undead armies that Lucifer had been creating, it was getting harder to remind everyone that I was on their side. Twice now, I had been cornered by the spell-work creatures and almost been taken apart. There were only so many bullets I had left from my horde, stolen from Serendipity and her Weapons Stone.

I missed my girls and the entire Winchester family terribly, but I knew there was nothing that I could say or do to prove that I had everyone's best interests at heart. I thought I had made a good decision, keeping myself safe by siding with the more powerful of the two, but here I was, ten years later, with no home, no allies, and very little left when it came to taking care of myself on the road. More and more, I realized as well, that Lucifer was hardly the more powerful cosmic creature. I was getting too old, too quickly, and I knew that majority of my aging was from the stress of abandoning my girls.

I wish I could go back in time and undo it all.

The twilight sky glowed with embers as Tulsa and its surrounding areas continued to burn. I heard rumors that the fire was cursed and could not be put out or controlled by even the Warriors or Nephilim.

Grace.

Closing my eyes and finally sighing as I slowed my breathing, I glanced to my left and saw the lantern glow from inside the decrepit old church, full of parishioners. Handwritten on a large piece of cardboard was The First Church of Grace and I couldn't help the gentle smile that touched my lips. Grace Winchester certainly knew how to leave her mark.

There were four or five of the spell-bound creatures running their way across the main road, but they neither noticed me nor did they seem interested in the church. They seemed bent on heading towards the fires, their noses to the air and eyes closed, scenting the air. Turning to lock the door of my truck, I checked to see that the other door was locked as well and curled up into a ball on the bench seat. I closed my eyes and fell instantly to sleep.

…

Glory

I watched my sister turn her attention totally to the new boy, Sawyer. Libby was starved for attention and finally, she had someone who was her own age that wasn't related to her to talk to. It was quite a novelty. I smiled inwardly as her green eyes followed him around the room as we all made official introductions. Mom and Dad moved to their bedroom for the night as we prepped to go out on a food run.

"Glory's Everett's twin, but a lot easier to hang with," Libby was explaining as I pulled on my boots. I glanced up and smiled. "When he wakes up, we'll introduce you, but just whatever you do, be gentle and non-threatening towards him."

Sawyer narrowed his eyes, watching my brother sleep on the sofa. "Why?" he asked. "I mean, it's not like I'm gonna be mean to him, but," he shrugged. "What's the deal?"

I sighed as I stood next to my big sister. "Everett has a hard time dealing with reality sometimes," I explained. "He tends to overreact. He just…feels too much."

Nodding, the new boy moved away from the couch. "I can't believe your mom is Grace Winchester," he whispered, almost to himself.

Libby rolled her eyes again, "Yeah, I know, I know," she muttered, shaking her head as she backed away from Sawyer. "She's incredible or whatever."

Sawyer seemed to notice the change in Lib's attitude. "I mean," he continued, "that just means that you're incredible too. You've got to have all kinds of abilities. What's something you can do? I've only ever heard rumors."

This seemed to change my sister's mindset immediately. She smiled at him, enamored again. "I don't know," she shrugged, trying to downplay her powers. "I can do some things, I guess."

"Alright," I caught everyone's attention. "Are we going or not? I'd like to get home before midnight. Maybe get some sleep."

Libby and Sawyer turned towards me and nodded, "Yeah, we're going. Faith?" Lib turned and gestured. "You're coming, too. Mom said."

Faith sighed, obviously irritated. "Evidently," she answered, her icy blue eyes narrowed. "I don't know why I have to babysit. You guys know what you're doing."

I shrugged. "You're the only one that can bamf us home without thinking about it," I grinned. "The last time I tried, I ended up back at the ranch, then I couldn't get back!" I giggled. "Remember? Daddy had to come and get me."

Faith stared at me.

"Okay, whatever," Lib gestured to the air, rolling her hand around. "Come on, let's go. Lee? Charlie? We're going!"

"Coming, we're coming!" Charlie called, pulling on a backpack. "I only have about ninety rounds left. You think that's enough?"

Faith stared at her. I laughed.

"I've got more in my bag," Auntie Luck answered, moving towards us from the darkness of her room. "Between us, we'll have plenty."

Libby turned and watched Auntie Luck, making an apologetic face. "Oh," she murmured, "you're coming?"

"I was," Auntie answered, lifting her eyebrows. "Am I not invited?"

Shrugging, Lib searched for a lie, "Oh, you totally are," she began. "But I just thought you'd want to hang here and rest. Maybe get some sleep."

Auntie watched Lib for longer than my sister was comfortable. Breaking eye contact, Libby turned to Levi and silently begged for our cousin to say something, anything to make it sound like she wasn't uninviting her to go with us. I knew that Auntie Luck would catch on before that was necessary.

"You want it just you kids," she sighed. "Yeah, I get it. It's fine." Auntie turned and headed back to the darkness of her room. "Have fun, guys. Don't do anything stupid," she waved over her shoulder and closed the door to her bedroom without another word.

We all exchanged pained looks. "She's fine," Charlie whispered, putting her guns in her holsters. "She'll be fine. She just likes the action."

"And misses Dad," Levi added.

Faith nodded slowly. "She hides it well."

Libby waved at the air, dismissing our conversation, "Yeah, she's gonna be fine," she muttered. "Let's go. Glory, mark us," she commanded.

Sawyer turned and threw her a questioning look as I closed my eyes, reaching out for Liberty's arm. I pushed the bubble of my protective abilities towards my big sister, forcing it into her forearm. Slowly, a darkened sigil appeared there, creating a blue aura around her that only I could see.

Levi and Charlotte were next. As I repeated the process with my cousins, Sawyer asked, "What is that?"

I opened my eyes and held my hand out for his arm. "My abilities include, but are not limited to," I closed my eyes and pressed my protective sigil into his forearm as well, "marks that allow me to temporarily mark and track you by laying this mark somewhere on your body. It makes it possible for me to use a bubble around you, even when you're far away and, in theory, out of range." He rubbed the sigil, expecting it to burn. "It only lasts about forty-eight hours though. I have to remark you every time we go out on a mission, especially if Mom's not coming."

"Think of Glory as our resident defensive line," Levi smiled. "We all can take care of ourselves, but it's nice to know that Glory is holding things away from making contact. As long as she's conscious, she has the ability to protect us without much effort."

I watched Libby pick up her pack and glance around the room, checking to make sure we had everything. I nodded, reassuring her that we did.

Faith moved silently towards Everett, held her palm over his forehead and nodded once. "He's out for the next twelve hours," she assured. "We can be gone and he won't even know."

Charlie bounced up and down on the balls of her booted feet. "Alright, fam," she grinned. "Let's go get some grub."