A/N: Hello people!
MarionLuth's little girl is one-month old and smiling all over the place. I swear, this child sleeps with a smile on her face. I've never seen such happiness...except from her parents and grandparents. She loves mommy, but she's a real daddy's girl.
LauWhisperer is enjoying watching this family grow as I write my little heart out. I didn't get to have children, so there is a vicarious enjoyment I'm drinking deeply from MarionLuth's good fortune.
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~LauWhisperer & MarionLuth
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Chapter 32
Wild Things Run Fast
Title credit: Song by Joni Mitchell (Album: Wild Things Run Fast, 1982)
Trigger Warning: ~Suicide Attempt (none of the main characters)
~ (not depicted, non graphic):
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She felt them following her...they were everywhere and getting closer. Heart racing with fear, she hurried faster not having any other defense against such omnipotence. A sense of foreboding weighed down on her even as she turned the corner towards the cafe. Suddenly the angels were surrounding her, blades drawn. Fear rising up, Kelly had no time to react further as a flash of blinding light seemed to step in front of her, striking the angels with a single, searing slash of a blade. Dagon was the only one remaining. Kelly blinked at the countenance of this savior...her features twisted with hatred as she looked at the bodies. When she turned to face her, the woman's expression altered to a sweet smile that was still somewhat unsettling.
Grabbing her forearm, Dagon secured Kelly as she pulled her off.
"You're safe now," Dagon informed Kelly. "I was sent to keep you safe. Now, come on! Before more feathered killers find us."
Kelly, still shaken by how close she came to being killed, allowed this woman to tug at her forearm. Next thing she knew, the two of them disappeared from the dark alley.
The vessels of dead angels laying everywhere, this terrorizing event would not go unnoticed.
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"And how is this any different than the rest of the spells we've shown Rowena?"
Challenging and angry towards her brothers, Amber paced slowly around the library's table.
"On two levels. It channels energy from several different sources. From celestial movements, to the actual four-elements. It's also the only one I've found so far that harnesses the caster's power as well. And that's a big plus for us, with Rowena being so powerful," Sam explained.
"Sounds promising," Dean commented.
"Sounds like Rowena will find something wrong with this, too," Amber countered, yet, she paused her pacing to glance through Sam's notes. "But I guess it's our only option for now. Have you shared this with her yet?" She asked Sam.
Scanning her face, Sam could tell Amber wasn't in a good mood. She was still upset with them about their attitude towards the nephilim child. However, this conversation had to happen.
"No, not yet. I wanted to make sure we're all on the same page with this," Sam answered her.
Amber glanced up at him, not bothering to hide her sarcastic smile.
"Right… 'Cause we've established how important it is we're all on the same page regarding important decisions around here," was her blunt sarcasm.
"Amber, don't start," Dean groaned.
"Actually, I think I've also found a spell that ensures Kelly's safety," Sam mentioned, hoping this bit of information would placate Amber and keep things from turning into yet another fight.
"Kelly's safety during what?" Amber asked in a fake-curious tone.
"During a process that drains the nephilim's grace, before it's even born," Sam replied, choosing his words carefully.
"Draining him of his grace will kill him," Amber replied, looking at Sam challengingly. "You can use the k-word, Sam. It's what you plan to do. Kill him."
Rubbing his temples as he felt the first signs of a headache creeping in, Sam tried to respond but was cut off before he could respond.
"No! You drag me up here supposedly to include me in a decision for a spell that I don't even have the final say in... just to shut me up about you two not giving a fuck about my opinion on what really matters. On what really lies in our hands!"
"Can we talk civilly about this?" Sam grunted, trying hard to keep his own temper in check.
"No, Sam! When you're planning to kill a goddamn baby, there's no "talking civilly" about it! It's like last night's conversation never even happened! Like you never heard what I said!"
"We did hear what you said," Dean intervened, his voice loud and filled with warning. He didn't like Amber's tone and he didn't like how openly challenging and defiant she was about all of this. Especially when he and Sam were working their asses off to find the best possible solution and keep her safe. Had he not promised Sam to keep his cool, he'd probably have started smacking her by now.
"And we talked about this, me and Sam. Amber, we'd never kill your child. We'd never do something that would hurt you or harm you. You know this," Dean managed to grunt out without going into full-blown yelling.
"That's bullshit, Dean! You're just saying what you think I wanna hear so that I shut up and go along with your decisions. Well, I got news for you, that's not gonna happen!"
Amber glared at her brothers with an intensity they weren't used to seeing. She couldn't believe their nerve, lying to her face like this. Trying to manipulate her, just to get her to stop reacting to their plan for Kelly's child.
Rising from his seat, eyes blazing, Dean took two steps towards her with his pointer finger extended.
"You need to start minding your tone! You've been nothing but an ungrateful brat who's blaming everyone and everything around her! I don't see you offering any alternatives. In fact, I only see you blaming us for busting our asses to keep you safe and goddamn alive!"
Taking a step forward in his direction, glaring at him, Amber crossed her arms over her chest.
"Oh, I've offered an alternative, you just don't like it! And like with everything you don't like it's an automatic 'NO!' Nobody asked me if I'm willing to have another life sacrificed to save mine!"
"Letting Satan's powerful offspring live isn't an alternative! You don't want one life sacrificed over your own? This is bull! Because if that creature lives, millions of lives will be endangered. I don't see you breaking a sweat over this!" Dean boomed.
"Well, maybe it's my nature, then, Dean! I'm a nephilim, too, after all! Evil to the core. It's a pity our father and my mother managed to keep me alive," Amber yelled right back.
Sam, who had been watching silently, with a deeply tired expression, stepped between his siblings who were getting dangerously close to each other.
"That's enough! Both of you!"
Amber, glancing from Dean to Sam, could only shake her head.
"I couldn't agree more," she spat over her shoulder, as she walked out of the library and in the direction of her bedroom.
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Behind the wheel, with angel radio at half-volume, Castiel was searching for Kelly Kline. News outlets had all reported on this alarming murder scene, which Cas understood to be an attack on a group of powerful angels. Powerful enough individually that the death of a group of them was a sign he read clearly: Kelly had been attacked by angels and something stronger attacked them.
Cas had received word over angel radio that Kelly Kline had been spotted three hours away from the bunker, with San Angelo, Texas being a possible location. Sam had managed to dig up a tabloid article that confirmed this intel and Cas lost no time in getting out of the bunker and driving there.
The stark beauty of San Angelo in January was reflective of Cas's mood...deadly snow on the beautiful river banks. Driving through this landscape, Cas kept his antenna up, searching and listening even as angels spoke about the loss among their ranks...and this powerful nephilim that had been conceived and would soon be walking the earth...if Heaven didn't intervene.
Stopping to spread out his research and see if he could connect more dots in his search, Cas sat in a booth at a Biggerson's. He felt obliged to order coffee. The waitress was approaching him again with her pot of coffee, eager to refresh his cup and perhaps upsell their lunch special.
Glancing up at the weary, pleasant face Cas watched as the booth behind the waitress was being vacated by a middle-aged woman, who left her neatly-folded newspaper on the table. Normally, this wouldn't have attracted any attention, but on the front page, in bold lettering was the headline, "Five Dead in Apparent Confrontation."
Recognizing the faces of the previously-alive victims, Cas knew more angels had died...apparently while defending heaven. Kelly was the only high-value target heaven had on their radar these days.
"More coffee?" Looking happy to serve, and eager to earn a larger tip, the waitress was met with the kind, pretty face of an angel...who she saw as a middle-aged man in a trenchcoat...which was entirely too thin for this winter weather.
"No thank you. I'll take my bill please."
The waitress looked mildly disappointed, but turned to carry on with her work and get Cas' receipt.
Reaching past her retreating figure, Cas grabbed the tabloid newspaper from off of the adjacent table, the movement behind her causing the waitress to look back at him. Seeing the headline, and Cas' obvious curiosity, the waitress acknowledged this distress this murder had caused in the community.
"It's scary. We haven't had anything like this happen here before," her voice dipping lower and softer as her own fear entwined around her words. Cas saw this fear, her two young children at home and her projection of fear for their safety overlay any exchange concerning this incident.
Cas wished to offer this clearly overworked, single-mother a word of encouragement...but she turned away. Another diner guest had walked in and needed a menu.
A booth away, a middle-aged man watched the scene. He was glancing in Castiel's direction, near enough to keep an eye on him, while being reasonably far apart to appear unassociated. Cas turned to his right and their eyes met. He immediately recognized him. Kelvin. Cas said nothing.
"Castiel, I've been sent to find you."
"I know."
Unfazed, Kelvin, an angel of the lord...in the data response division...felt the lack of a unifying force within his former-superior's reply. Castiel had his own agenda and all of heaven knew this.
"Castiel, we need your help in finding this new threat, the nephilim which has been conceived. Will you help us?"
A booth away, this conversation was directed across the empty booth dividing them, the waitress in the back of the house, getting an order.
"I cannot."
"Castiel, when you deserted heaven many angels lost their lives because you were not there to defend them. This is a heavy weight to your legacy. It has also left us shorthanded and we need every soldier of Heaven we can get." Kelvin's tone was lyrical and firm, an odd resonance which got Cas' continued attention. He knew an emotional, persuasive response was one of Kelvin's gifts. Cas remained unmoved.
"If you agree to help us, we can offer something in return." Bargaining was a tactic performed in heaven as well as on earth.
"You have nothing I desire, Kelvin. Not you, nor Heaven."
"I believe we do. Heaven is aware that Lucifer seeks out an existing female nephilim. A nephilim who you know. A nephilim that seems important to you and your human friends. While she seems to have evaded detection for a long time, she is on our radar now. If you help us find and kill the new nephilim threat, Lucifer's spawn, your nephilim will live."
Kelvin's offer was delivered in this FM radio-host velvety tone, soft and reassuring. The uplift of his inflection, at the end of each sentence, was intended to persuade and hypnotize. Humans had no defense to this...Cas saw right through it.
As expected, Kelvin watched Castiel freeze as these words were spoken. Unlike humans, whose wills he could turn to his own with so little manipulation, Kelvin was seeing why Castiel was a legendary warrior of heaven. And how difficult his own task would be.
"Heaven will not have a choice. I protect Amber Winchester...and she protects herself. Her presence, unlike Lucifer's offspring, has enriched this planet. Heaven will not succeed in harming her."
"She's an abomination. As all offsprings of humans and angels. And she will be terminated sooner or later, after we're done with Lucifer's threat. Or she'll live the rest of her life in fear, in hiding, in suffering. You can offer her a different life, Castiel. I'm sure both you and your imbecile human friends would at least like to consider this option."
"Leave me. I will not return to heaven."
Cas exhibited his steel strength, but inside he was shaken. He had hoped their collective efforts to hide Amber had succeeded, but it was clear they hadn't. It was also clear there were things he ignored, that Heaven's angels kept hidden from him, because of his choice to stay on earth, among humans.
"Return, don't return. This mission will be carried out regardless. We do need your help with a specific target. A newly-conceived nephilim. A termination. What you'll do after that is in your hands. Think about this, Castiel. But don't take too much time. Our offer of a deal won't stand for long."
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Kelly eyed the woman sitting next to her with an uneasy expression. She was still shaken by last night's events and uncertain of who she could or couldn't trust. Yet this person, or creature, whatever she was, had saved her from a group of men who had clear intentions of killing her. She'd take her chances.
Dagon, that's the name this woman had called herself, had taken her to a small house and offered her a warm meal and a bed to sleep. She had informed Kelly she was sent by the baby's father to ensure Kelly's and the baby's safety. And it had taken Kelly three hours of continued efforts to persuade this woman to bring her to an actual doctor, for the first time since she found out she was pregnant. There were so many things she wanted answers to and Kelly knew only a medical professional could help her.
Reclining on the examination table, cold conductive gel on her abdomen, Kelly was seeing an image of this child on the screen. Her love for the child growing inside of her only expanded upon seeing him...and it was a 'him'.
"We need to input the dates again, I guess my secretary got the history wrong," the white-haired man said kindly. We're looking at a 14 week pregnancy here. When did you find out you were expecting?"
"Three, maybe four days ago?" Kelly answered with uncertainty, her head spinning. She was definitely not 14 weeks pregnant. Yet she knew a lot of what she was experiencing wasn't going to make sense. That, she had accepted. All she cared about right now was making sure both she and the baby were safe and healthy.
"So everything looks good, doc?" Dagon asked impatiently, eyes scanning around them vigilantly.
"Everything looks great. We have a strong healthy heartbeat, lots of movement, and a healthy looking placenta. We'll know more once you take a few more tests for us, Mrs Kline, but everything looks great. Other than the dates of course. Do make sure you give the correct ones to the office in front once we're done here."
"Of course," Kelly demurred. She'd figure out what would correspond to his expected conception date for this stage of a pregnancy. They were all faking it anyway.
Dagon watched as the doctor wiped down Kelly's abdomen, removing the clear blue gel and helping her to sit up. Her eyes fluttered slightly when a well-known voice echoed in her mind, making her unconsciously stand straighter and hold her breath.
"Dagon!'
Replying silently, Dagon formed her next words carefully. Fearfully.
"He's safe. And she'll be fine until he arrives, master."
Kelly remained silent as Dagon accompanied her out of the office, leading them to the elevator that would supposedly bring them down to street level. She didn't even blink when the other woman teleported them back to the house they had spent the previous night in. She briefly considered what her life had become and how unaffected she was by all this abnormalcy. Her eyes drifting to the copies of the ultrasound scan in her hands, she chose to focus on the warm feeling these images of her tiny baby brought her.
Turning to the other woman she offered a small smile. "Thank you for taking me, Dagon."
Forcing a sweet smile of her own, Dagon shook her head. "I've already told you… We're here to make sure you and this very special child remain safe and sound!" Dagon's tone was dark and foreboding despite the words.
Kelly felt her stomach churn slightly at the words, not even knowing why, but didn't comment on anything. She didn't trust this woman, but she felt safe. And all she wanted at this point, all she needed, was to be safe.
"I'll go lie down for a bit," she told the woman.
"You go get your rest," Dagon said in Kelly's general direction, as she plopped herself onto the closest couch, turning the tv on.
Kelly walked down the hall to the room she had claimed as her own, closing the door behind her before laying down on her bed. She smiled as she continued to look through the black and white ultrasound pictures. Despite not being able to tell what she was seeing in about half of them, she felt a loving joy at the sight of her child.
The sudden vibration in her pocket startled her. Who could possibly be calling? Seeing a number she didn't recognize, she hesitantly answered.
"Hello?"
"Kelly? Are you safe?"
At the sound of the vaguely familiar voice, Kelly felt a tiny flutter in her lower abdomen that made her stare at her belly with surprise. Her baby definitely recognized this voice.
"Castiel?" After a hesitation, she whispered his name.
"I know you're in San Angelo. I've been looking everywhere for you. I saw you entering a doctor's office with a woman, but you never came out. Are you alright?"
The angel's voice sounded sincerely concerned. The stark contrast of his worry for her was in direct opposition to last-night's attempted murder on her by a group of angels made her gulp uneasily.
"I'm fine, Castiel. Safe. Dagon is keeping me safe. She saved me from a bunch of angels who tried to kill me. She brought me to a safe house. She took me to see a doctor… You really shouldn't worry about me anymore."
"Dagon?" Castiel whispered, his tone unable to hide his shock. Could this be THE Dagon? The implications only multiplying, Castiel tried to focus on his current goal.
"Kelly, I know it seems like it, but you're not safe. This woman might seem to be someone who wants to make sure you are safe, but she is only there to ensure the survival of the baby. You're not safe with her."
"She saved me from angels who tried to kill me, Castiel. I'm sorry, but I have my doubts about being safer anywhere but near her!"
"Give me a chance to prove this to you. I'm only asking for a chance. Come find me at the doctor's office. It's a neutral space. You'll be safe. Just make sure she does not follow you. I will explain everything. Come see me, Kelly, please. I only want what is best for you."
And there it was again. The tiny flutter in her lower belly. And this sense of encouragement. Kelly held her breath as she considered Castiel's words. She remembered the woman's grimace from the night before, when she murdered the angels. And this vague knowing she had she wasn't to be trusted. Placing a hand over her belly, she gulped uneasily.
"Fine. I'll ask her to bring some dinner and leave as soon as she does. There's a car here I can use. I can meet you there in twenty minutes or so."
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It had taken a bit of persuasion for Dagon to go get her some dinner, but in the end she'd left.
Watching her close the door, Kelly counted to 20 just to make sure Dagon wasn't returning. The way being clear, Kelly crept out of the door, coat on, purse over her shoulder, keys in hand and headed towards the car they'd arrived in.
Pulling into the parking lot of the doctor's office, Kelly spotted Castiel's old blue car. Parking, she saw Cas get out and walk towards her. Once again, Kelly was struck by the sincerity of this angel's presence...which surprised her. His words of caution replaying in her head, she wondered where she and this child would be safe?
A flash of light stopped him in his progress and Kelly saw Castiel's stance change into the frightening awe of a defending angelic force. Dagon stepped into full view as she directed another energy hit towards Cas.
"No!" Kelly screamed, when she saw Dagon advancing lethally towards Castiel. "Don't hurt him! He's not a threat!"
Glancing at Kelly, the hate on Dagon's face could only be described as demonic.
"Kelly, get in the car, I can still take us out of here, I can take you to safety. To actual safety, for you! They will only leave you to die while giving birth to this nephilim," Castiel yelled.
Cas saw his chance to intervene and protect kelly was slipping away.
"No," Kelly whispered, taking a step back from both creatures.
Dagon's attention divided between the angel and the woman, she'd cut her losses. Killing Castiel was a pleasure she'd have to enjoy another time. In a flash, she was by Kelly's side, grabbing her and teleporting back to the safehouse. Castiel, calling out to Kelly, was like a phonic wave stopped dead; power in a vacuum.
Instantly back in the familiar lockdown, Dagon turned her undivided wrath onto Kelly.
"I'm sorry," Kelly immediately stammered, taking a step back. "I only wanted to reassure him you were keeping me safe…"
"Save it."
Dagon's anger filled the entire building, it was frightening, thick. She had to use all of her self-restrain not to start tearing Kelly to shreds. She knew how close she had come to an eternity of torment had she lost this stupid human roach. Grabbing her roughly by the forearm, she dragged Kelly to her bedroom, Kelly's struggles weren't even registering.
Handcuffs locking around her wrist, Kelly felt the cold metal as she was being yanked hard in the direction of her room. Thrown onto the bed, the other end of the cuffs was locked onto the bed frame, a look of fury was on Dagon's face as she checked for minimal length between Kelly's wrist and the attachment on the bed. This locked her arm at an angle above her head that had no leverage, no give...and it hurt.
Fumbling with the frightened woman's clothes, Dagon spotted Kelly's phone and tore it out of her pocket before throwing it against the opposite wall. Kelly watched with frightened eyes as the device broke into tiny pieces.
"He was lying, right?" She asked Dagon, despite her terror. "You said you'd keep us safe. You said…"
"Your son will be fine. He's powerful and he'll live to do great things. As for you? You're nothing but a pest. You and your species… Weak. Unimportant. A plague on this planet. You're only useful until he's here. He'll be born, but you're gonna die. You're gonna suffer through his birth and die before you even lay eyes on him."
Dagon's words dripped with her anger and poisonous hate. Her fear of what had almost happened, of what she'd lost and would suffer if she'd failed, fueling this hatred and anger. She savored the woman's tears, a sickening smile on her face. Oh the things she would've done to this pathetic being if the cargo she carried wasn't so important and valuable.
At first Kelly didn't really hear the full meaning of Dagon's words. In disbelief, her mind was going through her memory to see what she'd missed? This made no sense.
"That's right. You're not going to live to see your son born. Your entire life is meaningless in comparison to his. You are just a means to an end. You stupid, pathetic human… The mother never survives a nephilim's birth."
Fear gripped Kelly's heart. Fear for her own death, fear of suffering in childbirth, and fear of her child growing up without her.
Castiel's words...words echoed by those three men and that woman she'd met a few days ago...their words all started resurfacing in her brain. How her baby's father was Satan. How this child was destined to bring only death and destruction. She started hyperventilating as she felt another flutter in her belly. This time it brought her no joy. Only fear. Heart-wrenching fear. What if they were all right? What if she should have listened and let them terminate this pregnancy for her. Then she'd get to live. What if all those far-fetched predictions of the grim future her son would bring to humanity, what if they were true? The memory of the bible bursting into flames at her touch, this dramatic phenomena had no explanation but theirs. Pain and death. All these incidences pointed towards one thing; pain and death.
Closing her eyes, she felt hot tears and cold sweat trickling down her face as she gradually submerged into unconsciousness.
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Castiel walked into the kitchen, his whole stance appeared tired and he looked worn out. Sensing the two present there, he wished to speak to the brothers. There had been developments. Finding them in the kitchen was unexpected as they'd practically been living up in the library for the last couple of days, if not weeks. Sensing Claire was further away in the bunker, probably in her bedroom, Cas had scanned the rest of the bunker so he could ensure privacy for this conversation. He didn't perceive Amber's presence and this confused him...concerned him. Remembering the sigil inside her bedroom door, and their conversation, he realized she probably had one of her "privacy-moments." He briefly wondered what had happened to bring this on.
Sam and Dean, sitting in front of empty plates and half-filled bottles of beer, watched as the angel entered the kitchen. Standing rigidly to address them, Cas looked like a stone sentinel placed on a castle wall...but in a trenchcoat.
"Are we alone?" Castiel asked.
"Can't you tell?" Dean asked right back.
"I am tired, Dean. I cannot always scan the whole bunker in order to see who is here and who is not. Especially when this can be answered with a simple yes or no."
A pissy and moody Cas wasn't a frequent occurrence. This told the brothers enough about how his mission had gone; not good.
"The girls are in their rooms," Sam said.
"And I'm guessing Kelly isn't in the trunk of your car or anything?" Dean asked.
"Dagon found us before I had a chance to take her out of San Angelo. She's keeping her somewhere. Kelly thinks she's safe with her. I tried to warn her, but I don't know if she took my words seriously."
"So we're back to square one," Dean mumbled tiredly, bringing his bottle to his mouth for a long swig.
"No. No, we are not. I heard from Heaven. A deal has been offered to join powers," Castiel said and gauged the brothers' reactions.
"A deal? From Heaven?" Sam asked, shock and disbelief evident in his tone.
"That is correct," Cas needlessly confirmed. Castiel's eyes twitched as he felt a shift in the bunker's energy. Despite his fatigue, he could tell Amber was close by. Thinking she probably made a trip to the bathroom he shifted his focus back to their discussion.
"Care to elaborate, Cas?" was Dean's impatient prodding.
"An angel was sent to find me. Kelvin. He informed me that Heaven knows about Amber. About her existence, that she is a nephilim. He told me she is second priority to them right now, because of Lucifer's nephilim and plans, but that she is their next target."
Sam and Dean both paled at these words. Another threat. Another enemy. Another worry. Just what they needed.
"They are willing to spare her life if I agree to help them terminate Lucifer's nephilim."
Faces suddenly hopeful, the brothers looked at Cas, surprised.
"Then where's the problem?" Dean immediately asked.
"They're not willing to risk the nephilim's survival. They want Kelly dead along with it."
Faces grim, this was a solution, a tough solution, but if this meant Amber got to live, then this decision was made for them.
"If we agree to this, Amber will be spared. She will be allowed to live and Heaven will never target her," Castiel elaborated, his tone reflecting the Winchesters' faces.
"That is what I have been told."
Amber felt her stomach drop to her feet. Sam and Dean were going back on their word, they'd allow Kelly and her nephilim to be killed...they'd passively assist in her death without her promised input.
"If that's what it takes…"
Dean's words took a few seconds to register. 'If that's what it takes…' He was agreeing.
"How will we proceed?" Sam asked next.
They had promised to involve her in these decisions and yet there he was, just signing off a death penalty not only for Kelly's son, but for Kelly, too. Two lives to buy hers. 'How will we proceed?' Sam was already planning.
She felt sick to her stomach. She'd felt like she was going to throw up right there. She had vowed to herself to protect Kelly and her son. To find a way. And she had failed. Her ears started ringing as the tension rose in her body. This couldn't be happening. Her brothers weren't murderers. And yet there they were, planning a murder. In her name. On her conscience. Breaking their promise...completely willing to hide this from her. She wondered what her own price would be. What could be offered to Sam and Dean for them to agree to hand her over to Heaven or Hell. They had told her they never killed humans. And yet there they were. Planning to kill one. Lies. More and more lies.
Still standing in the hallway outside of the kitchen, Amber was falling apart. Tears of anger and betrayal falling down her face, she wiped at her runny nose and headed back to her room. She had to get out of here.
Images of her mother laying dead, the witch binding her, John saying his goodbyes… Her whole life after that. She should've never trusted them. She should've never come here. She had let her guard down, trusted and now not only she, but two innocent lives would also pay the price. And it was all on her.
Hustling down the tiled hallway, away from the kitchen, entering her room and closing her door louder than she intended, Amber scanned the space around her. Just as the night she turned 13, she assessed what was important to take with her. Touching her locket to confirm it was around her neck, Amber gathered up her journal, her heaviest coat, her small stash of money, the amber-handled knife Kyle had gifted her...and the Old French book on High Magic. She needed this for reference. And she needed to make sure it didn't stay in her brothers' hands. Who knew what they'd do with it? Her eyes fell on the small glass vial with the swirling grace on her night stand. She'd prepared this for her brothers, like they'd asked her to...and now, this too, was packed into her go bag. Shoving everything into her small, black backpack she turned to look at her guitar. This was tough. She'd leave it. She had to. Not bothering to break the sigil on her door, Amber teleported out of the bunker.
Back in the kitchen, Dean remained thoughtful as he considered Sam's question. How would they proceed?
"We can figure this out. Cas can accept the deal and get all the help we need to find Kelly. Then we make damn sure they don't kill her, we bring her here and we figure out how to kill the damn thing inside her," Dean narrated his thoughts as they formed.
"Once it's dead, that's all the feathered fuckers will care about. And we'll have honored our deal. Amber will be free, nephilim will be dead, Kelly will be alive. Everybody wins."
"I do not know if the angels will accept the sole death of the nephilim."
"They will when they can see for themselves the mother's not carrying a nephilim anymore. After all she wasn't a sinner in the sense that most nephilim mothers are seen. She wasn't aware what creature she was involved with. And even if they don't take our word for it, at least it won't be on us. I think it's our best chance to keep everyone safe," Sam countered.
"What about Dagon?" Cas asked. "She's powerful."
"We have the colt. We'll end that bitch," Dean easily shrugged. "She's powerful but we've killed more powerful things than her."
Castiel remained thoughtful as he considered possible outcomes and scenarios.
"What other choice do we have?" Dean asked Cas.
Wandering out to the kitchen, Claire asked, "What choice are you talking about?"
Looking up at her unexpected presence, Sam and Dean felt a reality check. The girls needed to hear this, too. But not before they had the ins and outs set and planned out. Amber wouldn't agree with this. Not easily anyway. They had to iron everything out before involving them.
Exchanging a look, the brothers knew this wasn't going to go over well with Amber.
"We're working on a new plan about Lucifer's situation. We'll let you know once we've figured it out a bit more," Dean told Claire, resolutely.
"Good luck with that," was the blonde's comment. This got Sam and Dean's attention. "Amber's been slamming doors all day today."
"Let us worry about that. For now, you need to give us some privacy. So beat it. And I mean it, Claire. Privacy."
Reading the warning, Claire shrugged, grabbed an apple from the fridge and walked out of the kitchen, making sure she closed her door loud enough to let them all know she was playing nice.
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The sudden cold, wet sensation brought Kelly back to consciousness. This icy chill like a fileting knife, down to her bones, and it made her shiver. How long had she been unconscious? Her brain felt numb and she was disoriented. It took her several seconds to gradually remember everything that had happened in the last few hours. She looked up at Dagon, standing above her, an empty glass still in her hand. She'd splashed her with cold water...icy cold water.
She flinched when Dagon leaned closer to her. Retreating as far as the restraints allowed, Kelly watched as Dagon unlocked the part of the handcuff that was attached to the bed.
Hissing at the pain, Kelly grimaced as she was yanked from the bed, Dagon's grip cutting into her skin. Shoved in the direction of the bathroom, Kelly was brutally jerked up and forward in an effort to get her there. It was a small room with no windows, just a venting fan that loudly kicked-on as Dagon flipped on the light. There was a bathtub, already filled with warm water, a small sink with a mirrored medicine cabinet, and a toilet.
"Get cleaned up," Dagon barked at her. "You stink. Not to mention that stress is bad for the baby. I'm suppose to keep you alive until he's here. So get in there, make sure you get cleaned up and regulate that stupid heart-rate. It's all over the place."
Kelly watched as the woman closed the door. Who was coming here? Lucifer? She looked around the bathroom once more only to confirm what she had noticed upon entering: No windows. No possible exits. The ventilator was loud and small. Not even a big rat could fit in there. The magnitude of her situation washing over her heart, and a fresh wave of sobs shook her body as she lowered herself onto the cold tile floor, holding fast to the edge of the bathtub.
Kelly was alone in the bathroom for a long time. It was an inordinately long time and Dagon was getting pissed off. Pushing through the bathroom door, the first thing that Dagon saw was the blood. All over the floor, in the water, brilliant crimson on the white enamel. Yet the bathtub was empty. Dagon's alarmed eyes turned frantically to her right, and there Kelly was...standing in front of the mirror...color in her face, unharmed, whole.
Kelly's eyes were no longer listless, nor frightened as they met Dagon's. They held conviction and hope. Her hand was caressing her abdomen over the thich towel she had draped over herself.
"The baby saved me. He healed me and wouldn't let me die. My baby saved me." Kelly's astonishment was heightened by the tone of love she wrapped this salvation in.
Dagon shook her head but let out a relieved sigh.
"At least we know he's smart. He didn't save you. He saved himself. You're his lifeline...for now. If he let you die he'd die, too. That's one less thing for me to worry about, at least." As Dagon said this, she went to the bathtub and fumbled a hand inside until she found the plug and pulled it out, watching as the bloody water started slowly draining in a miniature whirlpool of red.
"I felt him. My baby's good. He's good and he loves me." Kelly held up her unmarked wrists, indicating where she'd attempted to open her veins.
"Think what you want, but he's smart to keep you alive. That's all. And you just lost your bathroom privileges. Strip. I'll hose you down."
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The sudden materialization of Amber's figure in the dark living room was followed by the sound of glass crushing on the floor.
Kyle, startled and vigilant, came rushing from the kitchen into the apartment's small living room, his blade ready, only to find a pale Amber standing rigidly next to his coffee table.
"Amber? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Hey, Kyle. I just… I need a place to stay for a while."
Confused and concerned, Kyle's face was shifting through his questions yet he only nodded. He'd get answers.
"Is everyone alright? Your family?" Noticing her backpack he quickly did the math. "You running away?"
Not wishing to get into this right now, Amber just needed a safe place to clear her mind and formulate a plan. Her world was falling apart.
"Can I just…."
Imploring, Amber's eyes held a complexity of issues, and she was hoping Kyle would let her remain there without much fuss. She needed to gather her thoughts...and get answers.
Kyle cursed under his breath. He couldn't send her away. That wouldn't end well for her and he knew it. Scanning around him uneasily he rushed to the front door and used his blade to cut the back of his arm. Using his blood he hastily drew as many protective sigils as he knew, making the house as safe as possible. It wasn't as safe as it could be, but it was the best he could do.
Watching this, Amber could see he was doing what she had asked of him. He was buying her time.
Looking at Amber as she slowly sat herself on his couch, Kyle was considering how to keep her there. Without asking he walked to the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of beer. Sitting next to Amber, and offering her one, he opened the other one for himself. This would prolong any disruption or flight she had in mind.
"What's wrong? What happened? I know you know you're not safe out of your home, so this must be serious."
Amber thought he sounded genuinely concerned. She liked that. She needed that right now. And she was grateful he didn't jump into his usual 'you're not safe here' bullshit. His last words made her scoff.
"You'd be surprised… Maybe I'm much safer here than back home."
"I don't believe that. And I'm sure you don't either. Not really. Now out with it. What happened? Is everyone safe? Did you get into a fight with your dad?"
Amber tried to organize her thoughts. She had a litany of things that could answer his question.
"It's more like a fundamental question, a life and death situation." Looking Kyle in the eyes, Amber was assessing whether to jump in hip deep or wade slowly into this topic. Kyle noticed the penetrating gaze she was giving him….Amber catches images from Kyle's mind. They held keen inquiry, not fear or hesitation.
"They want to kill it. They're even willing to kill her," she finally told him, not even pretending anymore that she didn't know he knew what she was referring to. "They want to kill them both so that I can live. So that the angels won't come after me…"
"The angels?" Kyle asked… This bit of the puzzle he didn't have.
"Don't play dumb, Kyle." Tilting her head in such a way, Amber had a 'no bullshit' look Kyle was having a difficult time playing against.
"I'm not. I don't know anything about angels… I thought since you've been around one you were pretty much safe in regards to them."
Amber assessed his tone. Not entirely truthful but not lying either.
"I've just been their second priority. And hidden well."
"So, your family killing the new nephilim will change that how?"
And there it was, the confirmation that Kyle was indeed more than he let on. Amber's conviction was strengthened by this. She was right.
"Angels offered them a deal. Kelly and the baby for me. And they agreed. My brothers only care about keeping me alive and are willing to sacrifice not one but two innocent lives… In my name. Without my consent. They're willing to kill someone just like me, Kyle…"
For a split second, Kyle's face took on an unfamiliar expression...then it disappeared.
"Not just like you…" was Kyle's answer.
At this phrase, Amber's head snapped up. Those words sent a surging, violent rage through her. Those had been Dean's words, too, a couple of days ago.
"So, what? You agree with this? You find this alright?" She challenged him, her voice trembling with tension and anger.
"It's not about what's right or wrong. Don't be naive. I don't know Kelly. And I don't care about her or her baby. I care about you. And so does your family. Amber, these are good news. Finding allies that will help you guys resolve part of this situation… That's good!"
A chill swept through Amber's body, her face closing down all expression. Kyle saw this and knew he'd made a misstep.
Her brain felt like it was recording time, meaning, and implications as she took in his words. Just like her brothers, everything was cold logic with him. One life had less value than another. And this time he hadn't pretended he didn't know what they were talking about. He had practically admitted he knew what she was. And yet he kept referring to Dean as her father. Doubt started creeping in. Was she about to make the same mistake again? Was she about to trust the wrong person again? Her stomach churned at the thought. She came here feeling Kyle was all she had left, the only one she could trust, but she was beginning to realize this was probably a mistake. He was no better than her brothers. And he was still hiding things from her. No more lies. She wouldn't let anyone play her again.
Amber managed to keep her face neutral as she remained studying him. Kyle was starting to feel unnerved, yet he held his face in an expression of confidence….and Amber was seeing images he was inadvertently letting out of his control. Kyle was nervous.
Leaning back, Amber was calculating her next move. This was the defining moment and she'd planned for this. The book of high magic she and Sam had found had proved useless in finding a spell to kill or bind Lucifer, but it had given her this little ace she kept up her sleeve. And she planned to use it sooner or later, if Kyle kept being cryptic. She had thought after their day together, after having sex, after that sense of connection she wouldn't have to use it. She had hoped Kyle would open up to her and tell her all that he was hiding. But that was obviously not the case. Leaning over to grab her backpack she reached into the outer pocket and grabbed ther small glass vial with her grace. This hadn't been its intended purpose but it was what was needed right now.
Kyle watched her sliding into this silence, reaching into her bag. When her hand came out clenched, but not onto any sort of weapon, he wondered what was going on. Before he had a chance to ask her anything, Amber quickly opened the vial, spilled the grace into her cupped palm before slapping it against his naked arm.
"Per virtutem divinae, adiuro vos loqui troth, ut custodiant te hic esse verax et revelare omnia secundum voluntatem divinam cosmos, quod praecepta omnibus nobis."
Fear gripped Kyle's face as the spell took hold. "What the hell is this?" He asked, his voice betraying his worry. "What did you do?"
"Kyle, what are you and how do you know about me being a nephilim?"
Like the involuntary, helpless pain of hitting your funny bone and going weak, Kyle's whole being was being held involuntarily against his will, this helplessness to break free binding him against his will.
Amber watched his face contort in his effort to control himself.
"What have you done!" Kyle's voice held a distraught tone, his face angry, mouth in a twisted knot. He knew in that moment he couldn't fight this. This was one of the strongest spells he'd ever encountered...and this girl had performed it. Her magic was astounding. And he knew when this was over, he'd lose her. He'd lose everything.
"What are you?" Amber repeated her question angrily.
"I'm a demon! I'm a fucking demon, alright?"
Amber's mouth gaped at that. He couldn't be a demon. She had thought about it. She had checked..
"No… No you can't be! But...but you have an anti possession tattoo! I've seen it!"
"Not quite. It looks similar, but it has a few deviations, so it isn't."
"I exorcised you…" Amber added in a disbelieving tone. "If you're a demon why didn't it work?"
"A lock-body sigil. It's tattooed on the sole of my foot. Not convenient, as I'm vulnerable to my vessel's body death, but served just fine when you started having doubts."
He watched as her face morphed from shocked to furious.
"Amber, you have to know...your grace...it changed me. Your blood, your saliva...all of your fluids are charged with grace. I kiss you and I taste it. Hell, I made love to you. I got a huge dose from you that day."
Kyle's face was fierce, but as he finished his sentence, the memory of their lovemaking and his immersion in Amber's grace...his face slumped into one of resigned helplessness...and it was helplessness against his love for her.
"How did you know about me?" Amber asked, ignoring his words. "About what I am?"
"I was assigned to you. To make sure you were kept safe and hidden until he was ready for you."
"Who?"
"Lucifer."
Amber took in a sharp breath at that. He was sent by Lucifer? He'd been working for Lucifer? All this time she had left herself unguarded around him and he could have taken her to him at any time?
Amber's emotions were replaying their every conversation, their every moment together in excruciating detail...which was now overlaid with this knowledge.
"I'll kill you, Kyle! I'll fucking kill you!" Amber yelled, her voice trembling under the weight of her spiraling emotions.
Fury, betrayal, fear!
How could she have been so careless? So stupid? How could she not have seen this sooner? She remembered all those moments she'd felt safe with him, that she'd felt she could trust him… She was so fucking stupid!
Kyle shook his head, his finger tapping against the beer bottle he was holding nonchalantly.
"No you won't. You're not a killer. You're a healer, remember?"
"Fuck you! You don't get to say that! You tricked me! You lied to me and used me! You didn't care, you never did. It was all a lie wasn't it? All a carefully set trap," Amber was on her feet pacing around the small room, not bothering to keep her voice low or hide her emotions.
"Yes it was. At first."
"Bullshit! I am nothing to you!"
"Oh, but you are…" Kyle said, looking at her through glinting eyes, tone imploring and open. He wished he could leave his spot, walk close to her. To touch her. To try to make her see beyond the betrayal she was feeling. He loved her. He loved her!
And he was lost.
"You are the sweetest prize, Amber. Do you know what I could get, if I handed you over? Do you have any idea what he'd give me? I could stand right next to him while he takes over earth, heaven, and hell! I could ask for anything I've ever wanted! Everything I've ever imagined!"
Letting out a sarcastic snort, Amber yelled right back, "Well, I hope you have a list!"
"Oh I had one, believe me. I had the longest list, Amber. Until I fucking met you."
Shaking his head, eyes scanning the floor as if he was looking for what he'd lost, Kyle's mouth was dipping open as if he was trying to form words that made sense...and wasn't finding anything in his voice. Looking up at her ,Amber could see the depth of despair and sincerity in his face, a sad sweetness with images coming from him of their lovemaking, their stolen kisses, their arguments...and how he saw her in all of these circumstances. She saw and felt the color of love over every memory. It felt wrenching and beautiful.
"Do you know what's the only thing I want? You! You, safe! You with me! You out of that fucker's grip. To save you from his plan! I don't know how or why… I don't know if it's your damn grace all over me, inside me… But all I care about is you."
Amber's mind raced as it registered everything he was saying...everything. Her powers were on high alert, reading his every word, his voice, his every move and twitch. She fought to 'not believe him'. To not lose this game again. To not be played by someone she shouldn't have trusted in the first place. Time. She needed time. And this could prove useful. She could learn a bit more before she actually killed the fucker. 'Cause she would kill him… Wouldn't she? He was a demon after all. But she had loved him...and she wasn't as pragmatic as Dean with these kinds of things.
"What plan?" She finally asked, turning her body to face Kyle, as she stood above him.
"You know what plan. He wants you to bear his nephilims. He wants to make an army that no universe has ever seen before. I know you and your brothers know this."
"So you know they're my brothers?"
"I knew who you were, who they were, who your real father was… I knew everything, Amber. From the get go."
Amber scoffed again at her naive stupidity. She'd never been stupid before. Not with trust. Ever since she opened up to Sam and Dean, ever since she dared to believe she had someone to turn to, her caution had flown out the window. This was her own fucking mess. She knew better.
And Kyle knew… He knew all along. And played along with her story, pretending to be someone he wasn't.
"And now you want me to believe you care about me? After all your fucking lies?"
"I don't see you having any trouble trusting that pet angel you guys keep around… Or your hunter brothers. All it takes is a leap of faith," Kyle answered evenly, raising his head to look at Amber, his head level with her own, earnestness in his words.
"A leap of faith? A leap of fucking faith? Are you seriously telling me this right now? You're a demon! You're supposed to be evil!"
Kyle let out an amused chuckle. "Oh yeah? And what are you supposed to be? What do you think people out there would think more evil, a demon or a nephilim? Huh? What would your brothers' precious hunter friends consider more dangerous? A good ol' demon or a nephilim? I'll give you one guess the answer to that question!"
Amber felt her heartbeat accelerating at that. That's what drove her away from Sam and Dean. Their certainty of the fact that this nephilim was evil. That it deserved to die. She knew the answer to Kyle's question. And it drove her right over the edge.
Moving hastily, she grabbed hold of her backpack, threw it over her shoulder, and without glancing back she vanished. The sound of Kyle yelling her name to stop, this didn't even register.
He was left pinned to the couch, unable to move or follow her. Not that he'd know where to begin searching for her anyways.
Kyle racked his brain on what he could do. How could he possibly salvage this? How could he protect her when she wouldn't let him? When she wasn't even around him anymore? His thoughts raced as he thought of all the possible scenarios. Calling the Winchesters would be suicide. He knew that. Especially if Amber returned to them and told them what she'd found out. Then it came to him.
Reaching for his phone which, thankfully was in his pocket, he hastily scrolled through his contacts. Bringing the phone to his ear he waited impatiently for the voice on the other side of the line.
"Kyle?"
"Hey, Jody! Listen, there's been a situation. An emergency…"
"Are you alright?" Jody asked, concerned.
"It's Amber… She came here and she was really upset. She just left my place, wouldn't let me go with her… Her family doesn't know she's not home and I know it's not safe for her out there… Could you let them know?"
"Oh, God! Yes, yes… Thanks for reaching out, Kyle. I'll call them right now. You ok?" Jody's voice had detected fear in Kyle's voice...and it seemed bigger, more encompassing.
Sighing, Kyle assuaged her concern best he could. "You know me, I'm fine. Just let the Winchesters know Amber isn't safe."
Jody knew deflection when he heard it, but chose to ignore it in favor of getting on the phone to Dean and Sam. This was urgent...and she would double back to check on Kyle.
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"She what!"
Dean's face went pale even as his anger was rising.
"Are you sure?" This couldn't be happening. Not again. If she survived this, he was going to kill her.
Jody wasn't used to being questioned, and this mildly irritated her, but she figured she might react the same way...with fearful disbelief.
"Yes. I'm positive. Kyle called me and he's never lied to me. If he says Amber is outside the bunker, then Amber is 'Outside the Bunker'...and we need to find her pronto!"
Sam, Claire, and Cas were all listening to Dean's side of the conversation, Jody's urgent words traveling through the cell phone's speaker into the quiet room. They were all getting the gravity of this conversation and it felt like the room was in a vacuum. If Jody says something is true, Claire understood this thing was true. Sam and Dean had the same understanding, but the magnitude of the consequences, of this being true, were terrifying.
"That Kyle lives there right? In Sioux Falls?" Dean asked, as he was thinking frantically of what their next move should be.
"Yes… But we all know Amber can teleport, so that doesn't say much," Jody countered.
"We can't, though, Jody! Can you round up your guys and scan the area just in case?" Dean asked.
"Sure… I can do that."
Claire was hearing he troops mobilize for a search and rescue of Amber. Claire had her own contacts, but she still didn't have her phone back.
"Good, keep us posted," with that Dean ended the call before turning to the remaining teen in the bunker.
"Did you know anything about this?" Dean asked Claire, barely holding it together.
"No!" Claire immediately refused, annoyed that he'd imply this. Sure, she'd cover for Amber, but not in this current situation and not with something like this. Not with how much danger she'd be in outside of the bunker. Although...her mind trailing off...dragging her to the cemetery in Sioux Falls was kinda like this. But anyway….
"Geez Dean, you think I want to see her dead?"
"Goddammit, Claire, I don't have time for your sass."
Rushing out of the kitchen where they were all gathered, Dean leading the way, they all practically ran to Amber's room. Not bothering to knock, Dean pushed open the door and stepped inside, followed by Sam and Claire. Scanning the small space they realized it was indeed empty. Amber was not in there.
Castiel remained just outside the room, looking through the open door. He attempted to step inside but couldn't.
Sam was the only one to notice this. Realising that Cas hadn't sensed Amber leaving the bunker either, he turned to the angel with a frown.
"Cas, why are you still outside?"
His words made Dean pause and look up from frantically rummaging through Amber's nightstand drawer.
"Amber has put up angel warding," was Castiel's neutral response. He knew this wasn't going to go down well with the Winchesters, but there was nothing that could be done now.
"What?! When did she do this?" Dean was furious.
"While you two were away looking for Kelly. Before Sam returned."
"And why are we just now learning this?" Sam asked, his own anger rising.
"So, you knew about this? You let her do this?" Dean boomed.
"I thought it could wait until you returned. Amber was open about this and told me she only used the sigil when she needed mental privacy. I don't think she was lying. This proved useful to her, but I don't think she planned to have the warding up in order to run away."
"But...augh! Cas, goddammit! You still should have told us the minute it happened!" Here Dean slammed his fist on the top of Amber's desk. Only then did he realize the drawer to the desk was slightly open. Pulling it out, he was looking for Amber's journal. She wouldn't leave without it. Watching his brother searching for the journal had Sam looking for the French book of high magic. He started looking all over the room, under her mattress, inside the drawers. Nada.
Claire noticed the guitar was still in its place, leaning up against the wall. Seeing the guitar case sticking out from under the bed, Claire pulled it out and flipped it open. Nothing but spare picks and a cheat bar.
Stopping his futile rummaging, Dean fished out his phone for the second time. He started running through all of his contacts trying to figure out how they could find Amber and who could be trusted to contact. It was a small list.
"Give me back my phone. I have contacts in Sioux Falls. They can help."
Stunned by this, Dean looked at Claire, struck dumb in the moment with the crushing weight of his fear. Looking at the blonde, considering the genuine usefulness of this request, Claire was getting frustrated waiting on his decision.
"Seriously Dean, give me back my phone. Let me call my contacts. They can help find Amber. They will find her if she's still in Sioux Falls."
Sam, seeing what was happening and hearing the reasonableness of Claire's request, decided this.
"OK. I'll go get it. You stay here." He left and upon returning, handed Claire's phone back to her. Flipping it open, it was fully charged and had three bars. Smiling, Claire felt complete. She'd missed this. Funny, how a missing phone could feel like a missing limb.
Turning away from the brothers, Claire retreated off towards her own room. She wanted privacy.
Dean, angry with his brother taking charge, started to argue and Sam cut him off.
"Don't bother Dean. Not as important as finding her.
Off, away from the Winchesters, Claire scrolled through her contacts. Choosing one she started calling. The first person she called was Amber herself. She doubted she'd answer but she had to give this a chance. As expected the call went to voicemail. Claire waited for the couple of seconds it took for the voice-mail message to play. Making sure she kept her volume down, to avoid being heard by the Winchesters or Cas, she talked in the best pissed whispering yell she could master.
"Where the fuck are you? Are you out of your fucking mind, leaving like that? Dude… Just get back now! You know it's not safe! Give me a call when you get this! Or a text, just… Keep your stupid ass safe until we get you."
Knowing full well Amber was probably too worked up to do anything of what she asked, she still felt better having made the effort. Taking in a deep breath to clear her mind, she focused on the task at hand. Scrolling through her contacts she located the ones she trusted to call. The first one that made her pause her scrolling was Frank.
Exhausting her contacts, Claire had called every hunter she knew in Sioux Falls. Everyone of them offered to pitch in and look, keeping her in the loop if they found anything. Now what?
Pocketing her phone, she walked back out of her room and back down the hall. She noticed that the three adults had left Amber's room. Following the sound of their voices, she walked out to the war room. Sam, Dean, and Cas were all up in the library, talking on their phones in agitated voices.
Not wishing to draw any attention to herself, considering everyone's mood, Claire walked quietly closer to the map table, resting her hands on its edge and leaning over it. Her eyes drifted unfocused across its surface as she was lost in her thoughts. It was then that she noticed the pendulum Amber and Cas had used to try and find Kelly, it was still there on the table...with a trail of Amber's blood indicating where it had moved since they had abandoned it. At first Claire didn't know what she was looking at. Studying it for another five seconds, she realized that the pendulum had moved. The trail of blood was where it had moved, and...and...then it hit her.
The pendulum HAD picked up Kelly's location. Kelly had changed location, with the pendulum indicating her current whereabouts. Holy shit!
"Hey, guys!" She called towards the library. "You gotta see this! We might've lost Amber, but I think we got Kline!"
Cas, looking down into the War Room, saw Claire. Looking over at the map table, Claire extended her arm towards the table's surface as if to invite attention to some detail on it. It took the angel all of a second to realise what Claire had noticed. Rushing to the table he saw the pendulum's changed location...and the trail of what looked like grace-filled blood, Cas instantly knew Claire had indeed found something important.
Standing beside her, Castiel was sizing it up as Claire narrated his own inner conclusion.
"We actually did find Kline with this thing...and she's moved. We can find her wherever she goes." Claire was feeling triumphant that she had something to offer in this moment of chaos. Examining it all, Cas could only nod his head in agreement with her.
Calling up to the men in the library, Cas got their attention.
"Dean, Sam. Claire found something. It is important." Cas was looking matter-of-fact in the delivery of this news. Perhaps it would be something solid to work with.
Dean, ending the call he was on, walked down to where the blonde and the angel stood in order to see what was so important. Sam followed close behind, heavy boots thudding on the steps.
"Holy crap, you're right," Dean mumbled as he looked at the map in front of him with his brow furrowed. "And no one moved this? You sure Cas?"
"No one moved this pendulum, Dean. Amber's grace was effective in tracking Kelly and Kelly has moved. This is a strong indication of how powerful Amber's grace is."
Silently, each of the brothers contemplated the benefits and the drawbacks of this accurate statement. Dean rubbed his chin, mouth in a thin line, while Sam's face took on the appearance of clenched granite, dimples gritted into place.
"So, what do we do now?" Claire asked, excited?
"We cannot let this go. We need to get Kelly. She's our only chance to save Amber and possibly defeat Lucifer," Castiel said.
"But how? We can't leave now. Not with Amber AWOL," Dean countered.
"Let me go get her. I will not fail this time," Castiel offered. "You and Sam stay here, focus on finding Amber and I will make sure to come back with Kelly."
"You can't face Dagon alone, Cas," Sam argued. "She's powerful!"
"I have faced worse, Sam. You know this. And we have the colt. I will make sure Dagon is killed and bring Kelly here. Perhaps if we let Amber know Kelly is here, safe and sound, she will consider coming back on her own. If you have not found her by then."
"Still… Going after them without backup…" Sam was still not convinced this was their best shot.
"I can go with him. I can be his backup," Claire immediately offered.
"No way," Dean immediately shot down. "That's way out of your league, Claire. You're staying here with us."
"I've faced demons before, you know," Claire immediately countered, her tone indicating she was ready to fight this tooth and nail.
"Yeah, I remember. Saved your ass from a bunch of them more times than I care to recount. Forget it. End of discussion."
"We are losing time," Castiel intervened trying to bring this discussion back to a focus.
"Cas is right, Sam. It's not ideal, but it's all we got," Dean decided. Turning to the angel he motioned for him to follow him to the garage. "The colt is in the Impala. I'll give it to you and you can head out to fetch Kelly. We'll let you know if she changes location again."
Panicking, Claire really knew she could be of help, but this opportunity was passing beyond her reach. Disappointment and frustration, Claire yelled at Dean's departing figure.
"So, what do I do? How does all of this hunting training pay off?"
Sam, seeing where this was going, and needing to keep this situation from deflecting from one of their prime objectives, finding Amber, chose to redirect Claire's energy.
"Claire, your discovery here, this is exactly what you're being trained for. We need to have your skills here with us. You'll do more good here." Sam was trying to show her exactly how much she had just unlocked for them...and harness her native talents for their collective good. And he really needed to stop Dean and Claire arguing.
Seeing she wasn't convinced, Sam added, "Plus… Amber is more likely to reach out to you than to us at this point. We don't know why she left, but I'm pretty sure it had to do with us and not you. We need you on the case in the chance she makes contact. And we'll definitely need you if she comes back. She'll need you, if...when, she comes back."
Seeing that Dean didn't even bother to pause to argue with her as he walked to the garage, Claire realised this battle was lost.
.
Feeling resigned, Claire let it drop. Still pissed, for sure, she'd find a way to use her skill.
꧁ W ꧂꧁ T ꧂꧁ W ꧂꧁ T ꧂꧁ A ꧂
We had so much fun writing this chapter / episode. All these planned twists and turns...it was delicious torture to stop it where we did.
Was this where you thought our story would go?
Were you surprised about Kyle's big reveal?
Did Kyle seem genuine in his love for Amber?
How would you have reacted if you had been in Amber's shoes during this whole chapter?
What do you think is the nature of angel grace?
Can you conceive of a unique use of angel grace? Ideas anyone?
We sincerely hope you're enjoying this ride.
Until next month,
~MarionLuth & LauWhisperer