They say bad things happen to good people but it doesn't make them feel better. Would you rather be a charitable human and suffer all your life or wear the mask of the devil and have your loved ones alive. Athena didn't care at the moment. She was ready to make any promise, ready to sell her soul if that could make the screams stop. She knew her family fought bad things, but her dad told her that they didn't bring any of that home. Being the youngest one sucked. That meant that others were willing to sacrifice their lives to make sure you lived.
The seven-year-old hid in her closet behind her clothes with her hands doing their best they can to cover her ears. Her lips were as if stitched together while silent tears rolled down her eyes. The screaming was over now. The only thing she could hear was her heart beating and shaky breaths. What felt like hours were only thirty minutes. The silence was broken by a shattering scream.
She recognized the voice as the woman who loves her the most. The pain behind her voice was worse than being stabbed by a knife because in the end they were left to carry the burden of their loved one's deaths. Athena flinched when the cupboard door opened but relaxed seeing it was just her mother. Blood soaked in Aphrodite's shirt and her eyes seemed broken.
The raven-haired beauty knelt and opened her arms, Athena wasted no time in nuzzling her face in the crook of her mother's neck and squeezed her eyes shut. Aphrodite picked up her daughter and walked outside their house, her heart clenching as she was met with three slaughtered bodies again.
Athena felt her body becoming more and more tranquil as her mother kept caressing her back. Even if everyone left, her mother would be with her.
...
For someone who has never cooked in her entire life, Aphrodite was doing the best she can. It had been 7 whole months since the cruel universe took away her family. She and her daughter jumped from Cabins to Cabins that their family-owned. Any lead they got ended up being a dead end. Athena didn't complain, she knew how important this was to her mother so she did what Aphrodite said and continued with her online classes. Aphrodite watched with a sad smile as her daughter colored. This wasn't a life she and Hunter planned for their little girl but they didn't plan his demise so young either.
One thing Aphrodite did know for sure was that she was going to give Athena everything she wanted. She wants to go to boarding school, Aphrodite will agree. She wants to go to university, no one will be prouder. She doesn't want to Hunt, she will still be a Van Loren. The sound of her cellphone ringing interrupted the chain of her thoughts."Hello?" she raised her brows at the unknown number. "Van Loren speaking?"
Her entire body froze. It turns out Paranoia could be an effect after watching your family's dead bodies. "It depends who's asking," a deep chuckle came from the other side of the phone as he recognized her tense voice very well. "John Winchester speaking,"
She relaxed but not fully, The Van Lorens was well informed that despite being a great hunter, the man didn't know how to separate feelings from a Job and that made him a liability. "How come I have received the honor of this call?" she crossed her arms. "The Honor is mine. Your a very difficult person to contact," If she didn't know better, she would have thought he was impressed. "Maybe I didn't want to be found," she told him while switching off the stove. "You will after I tell you what I know,"
Aphrodite wanted to scoff, where has she heard that before. "A golden ticket?" she snorted. "No," amusement dripped from his tone. "The possible lead of the Yellow-Eyed Demon," The spoon in her hand dropped due to the shock. Athena looked up from her coloring book and the serious look on her usually calm mother's face told her that it's better to not listen. "If your lying. I will ruin you and everyone you have ever laid eyes on," she warned through gritted teeth.
John laughed but it wasn't a humorous one, it was a painful one. "The demon killed the love of my life. I don't joke about that," he informed, his voice getting hard at the end. "Where do you want to meet?" she asked immediately. "I am currently on my way to Jericho. There's a case there. I'll meet you there on Wednesday," John stated before ending the phone call.
Aphrodite cursed, having no option but to take her daughter with her. There was no one who she trusted with Athena's life. Well, there was one person but she hadn't contacted him since she was 12. She wasn't going to now. Turning around, Athena was standing there with a packed suitcase taking Aphrodite by surprise. "We're going on a trip Momma," The redhead smiled.
...
Athena adored her mother. There was no doubt that she loved her father, he was her best friend but her mother was her hero. To Athena, there was no one prettier than the woman who birthed her, it amazed her how someone who hunted monsters was so accepting. Aphrodite wasn't like other hunters, she didn't kill those who were innocent or who didn't bother others, that's one of the very reasons she was Athena's role model. Usually, her parents never took her to Hunts with them but they did take her on monthly road trips.
This was the first time they went out of the city without Hunter, making Athena extremely sad. She missed her father. No matter how much she loved her mother, Aphrodite couldn't replace Hunter just like Hunter couldn't replace Aphrodite. Aphrodite sighed noticing her daughter's crestfallen face. She never spoke in car rides like she used to. With a mischievous smirk, Aphrodite tuned in to the radio. Athena perked a little when her favorite song played but stayed silent. "Oh my I love this song," The elder female tried to encourage her daughter. "Nice to meet you, where you been? I could show you incredible things,"
Athena giggled at her mother's singing(which earned a proud smile) before she started singing with her too. "Magic, Madness, Heaven, Sin," The duo kept singing on top of their lungs not knowing that a certain someone is smiling at them from Heaven.
...
The Van Loren girls had checked in a hotel. John Winchester was nowhere here which made Aphrodite furious. She felt pathetic how he had made fun of something so sensitive and she being the emotional fool she is, came running. Not all of that was a lie. There was a case in the town. After whole 5 hours of thinking and 8 cups of coffee, she decided that they won't leave until the case is solved. After all, she was still a Van Loren, she was still a hunter.
After researching about the victim, she found out he didn't have a lot of families. He wasn't even from Jericho, he moved here for his education and he belonged to a small town. Which lead to her new identity, Isabella Sanches; Cousin to the victim and his emergency contact. Aphrodite did sympathize with his girlfriend; Amy. Losing someone you love is something one can never heal from.
Holding Athena's hand, she adopted a concerned expression as she walked to the girl who was putting on posters. "Excuse me," she placed her hand on Amy's shoulder. The girl turned around in confusion. "Are you Amy?" Aphrodite asked. "Who are you?" Amy sighed. It might come as rude but she was tired of random people telling her that things will be alright. "My name is Isabella. I have heard so much about you. I'm Troy's cousin. He must have told you about me," Amy wanted to say that he didn't but the hopeful look on the beautiful woman's face made her think otherwise. "Yes, he had. Nice to meet you," Amy smiled at the two.
Aphrodite wanted to smirk, emotions are too easy to manipulate. Before she could continue her act of an innocent worried cousin, they were joined by two men. One of them was extremely tall and puppy dog face. The other one was a bit shorter but with the perfect body and forest green eyes. In other words, he was hot. "Hey, your Amy right?" The shorter one stated. "Yeah Troy told us about you. We're his uncles. I'm Dean this is Sammy,"
Both Athena and Aphrodite froze. Amy turned to look at them. "I thought you were Troy's family," she frowned. From the way Sam and Dean tensed up, it was clear that they weren't uncles either. "I'm from his mother's side," Aphrodite cleared. "You're not James and Lily's boys are you?" Athena silently snickered at the Harry Potter reference. "Yeah, we are," Sam nodded. "They're good," Aphrodite assured Amy who seemed to relax. "Hey, you ok?" Rachel, a friend of Amy asked in concern before eyeing the three and sending a small grin in Athena's direction. "Mind if we ask you a couple of questions?" Sam pleaded.
Placing her hand gently on Athena's shoulder she followed Amy inside a cafe. "I was on the phone with Troy. He was driving home. He said he would call me right back. And huh he never did," Amy's voice cracked. "He didn't say something that would concern you about him. Something strange?" Aphrodite tried to get information. "No," Amy shook her head. "Nothing I can remember," Silence overtook them. "I like your necklace," Sam complimented making Dean subtly raise his brows. "Troy gave it to me-" Amy remembered with a chuckle.
Subconsciously, Aphrodite started playing with her engagement ring, something Dean noticed. Of course, the hot chick is engaged. "Mostly to scare my parents with all that devil stuff," Amy continued. Sam laughed but Aphrodite could feel an edge of irritation in it. "Actually it means just the opposite. A pentagram is a protection against evil. Really Powerful. If you believe in that kind of thing," Sam corrected. Athena looked at him as if he was dumb, if the Van Lorens had any doubt about them being hunters, it was gone now. "Okay, thank you, Unsolved Mysterious," Dean patted Sam's back roughly, wiping the grin off his face. "Here's the deal ladies. The way Troy disappeared...somethings not right. So if you heard anything,"
Aphrodite recognized the look passing between the two friends. "So there is something," she spoke out loud. "Well it's just- I mean, with all these guys going missing, people talk," Rachel defended herself. "What do they talk about?" The two brothers spoke together. Athena giggled at this making Dean send her a wink. "It's kind of this local legend. This one girl, she got murdered out on Centennial, like, decades ago. Well, supposedly she's still out there. She hitchhikes. And whoever picks her up, while they disappear forever," Rachel explained.
Hmm. Vengeances Spirit? Possible. "We have to go now," Amy started sliding out of the Booth followed by Rachel. "Thank you for your time. Hope we find him," Aphrodite gave the girls one charming smile before they left. "Alright then," Dean broke the silence. "Who the hell are you and why are you pretending to be miss cousin?" Aphrodite frowned while tilting her head. "Pretending? Why would I-You're not James and Lily's sons are you?" she questioned. Despite keeping a blank face, the females could smell their fear. "Yeah we are-" Sam was interrupted by her sweet melodic laughter.
Athena was surprised since it was the first time after so long her mother had laughed. "I'm messing with you," she assured making them relax. "What's your name?" Sam questioned. "Aphrodite, This little angel is Athena-" The tiny redhead sent a shy wave which the boys returned. "You?" Aphrodite raised her brows. "Like we said. Sam and Dean Winchester,"
All signs of amusement faded away from the raven-haired beauty's face. "Winchester," she growled. "Your daddy put you up to this?" she questioned. "You know our father?" Sam eagerly leaned forward. "He is the reason I'm here. He called me a week ago and he had a lead for me, asked me to come here and now he pulled an Eudoria Holmes with me," she explained. "And what kind of lead do you have?" Dean raised his brows. "I did say it was with you father wasn't it," Aphrodite smirked. "You see we are here to find dad too," Sam sighed. "So maybe we should stick together," he suggested.
Aphrodite stayed silent eyeing the two brothers. "4 are better than 2 aren't they?" Athena spoke with a small smile making Aphrodite smile back. "Alright," she agreed. "We'll wait for you outside," Dean nodded before exiting with his brother. "Sweetheart," She lovingly cupped Athena's cheeks. "Do you remember our tiny little rule?" she tilted her head. "Dont take off my bracelet. I know Mom," Athena smiled.
...
The Quartet decided to visit the library. Athena sat on one of the tables reading a novel while the adults researched. Aphrodite sighed annoyed as all of Dean's research ended up blank. "Let one of us do it," Sam suggested, equally frustrated. "I got it," Dean snapped. Aphrodite groaned pushing away his chair and taking his place. "Dude!" he pouted. "Your a controlling chick," he crossed his arms. "Thanks," she flashed him a swooning grin before turning her attention to the screen. "Violent deaths can also be a product of suicide," she sang.
Dean and Sam raised an impressed brow when an article appeared. "This was 1981. Constance Welch, twenty-four-year-old jumps off Sylvania Bridge, drowns in the river," she stated. "An hour before they found her, she called 911-" Sam continued reading. "Apparently her two little kids were in the bathroom. She leaves them alone for a minute, and when she comes back, they aren't breathing. Both die,"
Aphrodite winced sending a concerned look towards her daughter who was busy reading. Sam noticed this and wondered how it would be if Marry was alive. Perhaps then he too would have been as lucky as Athena to feel a mother's love. "There is something sketchy about this. Two kids drowning in a bathtub. Doesn't seem like an accident?" she thought out loud. "What? You're saying she killed them?" Dean whisper-shouted the last part. "Why?"
The female shrugged. "Might want to ask her husband that," she suggested. "Yeah," Sam agreed. "Before we do that. The bridge looks familiar to you?" Dean pointed out. "You guys check it out. I'll research a bit more," Aphrodite told them. Dean had a disappointed frown which he hid quickly. "Fine then we'll meet you in the motel in twenty minutes," Sam stated earning an 'ok' in return.
...
Twenty minutes were over. Chatting, the Van Loren females walked to the motel. Their eyes widening when they faced Dean Winchester who looked like he took a bath in a gutter. Athena giggled at his appearance making the green-eyed male send the little one a mock glare. "You look dashing," The elder female snorted. "Thanks," Dean returned a fake grin before opening the door to his father's motel room. "This is the definition of a private dorm room," she muttered looking around the stuffed room. "How do you know that?" The elder Winchester asked curiously. "I went to Yale dude,"
Sam and Dean shared a surprised look while the younger one was more impressed. Aphrodite took out her phone and handed it to her daughter before looking at the journals. "Of course," she clapped her hands. "Vengeance Spirit? Murdered children? Constance is our sly little minx who is murdering cheating dogs," she explained to the two brothers. The two nodded and Aphrodite zoned out as they shared a moment. Seeing their bond, she couldn't help but think of her own siblings. And when she does, it feels like Hestia's blood is beginning to resurface on her hands.
Athena who noticed her mother's eyes getting dark walked over and held her hand. Aphrodite subtly flinched before relaxing knowing that it was just her daughter. She ran her hand through her dark red locks and pressed a kiss on her forehead. "You guys want anything?" Dean asked. "Can I have a sandwich?" Athena asked shyly. "Sure thing sweetheart," Dean smiled before leaving. Not a moment later, Sam's phone started ringing. "What? What about you?" Worry took over his face. "What's wrong?" Aphrodite asked when he hung up. "Cops," Sam answered.
Grabbing Athena, the three of them sneaked out. "Call 911. I'll sneak him out," Aphrodite stated and Sam decided to go with what she says. "Take her with you please?" Her eyes softened this time. "Sure," Sam nodded holding Athena's hand as both of them left to interrogate Joseph Welch. Taking out her stele from her pocket, she felt no pain while she drew the invisibility rune on her forearm as she sneaked into the police station. Dean was alone and trying to pick the lock when it broke. He screeched like a bratty girl and it was quite amusing to see.
Allowing herself to be visible, Dean stood up in alarm and his green eyes hardened. "What kind of demon are you?" he snarled. Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "I don't think I have introduced myself properly. Aphrodite Van Loren. A pleasure to meet you," she smirked grabbing his arm and making sure the coast was clear. His anger turned into surprise. "Van Loren? You're a freaking Van Loren?" he asked in awe. "Save the autographs for later. Talk to your brother," she handed him a cellphone. "Fake 911 call Sammy, I don't know. That's pretty Illegal," he grinned. "Listen we gotta talk," his entire tone changed. "Well, that's what I'm trying to tell you. Dad left Jericho,"
Aphrodite zoned out of the conversation. John Winchester had messed with the wrong gal, no one lies to Aphrodite about a deal, no one. "Sam?!Sam?!" Dean shouted in concern. "Oh hell no. Athena is with him," Aphrodite shook her head before running, with Dean following her but because of the Angel blood in her, she was much faster. They were just in time to see the ghost strangling Sam. "Get down," She ordered both the boy and her daughter, before throwing her seraph blade at Constance making her scream in agony.
She ran to her daughter and covered her eyes while Constance's children took her away. "You ok little Goddess?" she cupped her soft cheeks. "Fine mother," Athena smiled before hugging her mother, releasing her of all tension. "So I'll meet you at her next hunt," she offered. "Really?" Dean asked in surprise. "Well, I have some business with your father," Aphrodite shrugged. "Alright," Dean smiled waving goodbye to the mother-daughter duo.
Turning around he was met with Sam's cheeky grin. "Shut up," he smacked the back of his head.