Dean yawned and looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. It had been two hours since he and Sam had returned from the pylon and there were still no signs of anyone coming out of the study where Irene and Marie were fighting to save Starina's life. Donovan had taken to pacing restlessly outside the door, arms folded across his chest. It wasn't just Starina's life hanging in the balance; it was the babies' lives, too. Surely such a strain on their mother couldn't have been good for them.
"You okay Sammy?" Dean asked when his brother made a noise of discomfort.
Sam flexed his jaw and winced with pain. "Yeah, just really sore right now."
Dean's brow furrowed with concern. He hoped the blow from Donovan's tail hadn't caused any serious damage. If Sam had a concussion it could mean a trip to the hospital which Dean really wanted to avoid if it was at all possible.
"You should ice that," Donovan said quietly, pausing in his pacing for a moment. "There's a cold compress in the freezer."
"Uh, great, thanks," Sam said as he went to get it.
Donovan nodded and went back to pacing, his expression deeply troubled. Dean wanted to be angry with the dragon but to his frustration found he couldn't. He had provoked him, after all, and it was his fault that Sam had gotten hurt, not Donovan's. But he was damned if he was going to admit that out loud. Sam groaned as he sat back down and pressed the ice pack, wrapped in a tea towel, on his sore face.
"Do you think she's gonna make it?" he asked lowly, not wanting Donovan to hear.
"I dunno," Dean shrugged. "I hope so, for the kids' sake. And we need her to tell us what that thing is so we can kill it."
Donovan paused again and looked as though he wanted to say something, but seemed to think better of it and went back to pacing. Then at long last the door to the study opened and Irene stepped out, closely followed by Marie.
"She's going to be alright," Irene said and the tension in the room quickly lifted. "Ériu praise that girl's stamina."
"And the babies?" Donovan asked anxiously.
"They're fine," Irene reassured him as she set her bag on the table. "Starina has them very well protected, but that was a close call. Another few minutes and we wouldn't have been able to stabilize her."
"Can I see her?"
"Yes, she's awake but she's very weak right now," Irene cautioned. "She needs rest. No using magic or doing chores and absolutely no stress, is that clear?"
Donovan nodded and went into the study, pulling the door behind him but not closing it all the way. Sam and Dean went to follow but Irene held up hand to stop them.
"Sit," she ordered in such a tone that they obeyed right away. She went over to Sam and carefully removed the cold compress to get a look at his injuries. "Did Donovan do this?" she asked.
"Yeah, took a swing at him with his tail," Dean answered, trying not to sound accusing.
"Hmm, yes he did indeed," Irene muttered, shaking her head. "Hold still a moment m'dear..."
Before either of the brothers could ask what she was doing she held her hand over side of Sam's face and, just as Starina's had done two days before, Irene's hand glowed with bright blue light and instantly the swelling and bruising on Sam's face vanished.
"There, that should be better now," Irene said briskly as she went over to Dean. "Right, let's see here..."
"Hey, stop it," Dean protested, trying to squirm away. "There's nothin' wrong with me!"
"Oh be still, you big baby," Irene scolded, taking his chin in a firm but gentle grip and tilting his head back slightly. "Your windpipe is bruised, and it seems you took a hit to the head as well. Lucky you didn't crack your skull. Now, hold still for me..."
Dean automatically froze as she raised her hand again and held it over his throat. Then he flinched as he felt an intense tingling sensation, like thousands of pins and needles, ripple through him from this throat to the top of his scalp. Then as quickly as the tingling started it stopped and Dean no longer felt any pain in his throat or his head.
"Better?" asked Irene as she stepped back.
Instead of answering Dean got to his feet. "Who the hell are you people?"
"I know you both have questions," Irene said understandingly. "But they are for Starina to answer. As soon as she woke up she asked for you but before you go in there there's something I must ask of you both."
"What's that?" asked Dean warily.
"Please don't be angry with her," Irene requested. "Starina had her reasons for keeping secrets and only did so for your protection, although now it seems you face a common enemy."
"Common enemy? What enemy?" Sam frowned as he stood up as well.
"Starina will tell you herself," Irene assured them. "It's better if you hear it from her. We have to go now, but if anything happens or if you have questions call me. We'll see ourselves out."
"Good luck guys," Marie said quietly as she left with her mother.
When they entered the study Starina was sitting up on the sofa, looking very tired but much healthier than she did two hours ago. Donovan was sitting as close to her as he could get and gently caressing her belly.
"Hey guys," Starina said quietly as she motioned to her computer chair and a wooden stool that might have been used as a footrest. "Have a seat."
"How're you feeling?" Sam asked as he took the computer chair and Dean took the stool.
"I've had worse," Starina smiled a little. "Listen, I wanna thank you, both of you, for getting me here so quickly and calling Irene. I don't know what would've happened if you didn't."
"You can thank us by telling us what's going on here," Dean said abruptly, crossing his arms. "No more secrets, we wanna know everything."
"Dean, stop it," Sam said as he elbowed him.
"No, he's right," Starina interrupted, silencing them. "You two were nearly killed because of me and you're owed an explanation."
"Well start explaining, we're listening," said Dean.
Starina sighed again and glanced at the floor, clearly still hesitant to explain herself. Donovan gently squeezed her hand in a show of support.
"Tell them, Starina," he said firmly but gently.
Starina took a breath. "I descend from a race of magic wielders called Mages," she started. "In many ways we're not that different from witches, one difference being that magic is a genetic trait in a Mage, in other words they're born with magic inside of them and it's passed down from parent to child. Witches on the other hand are made, not born."
"So that's how you healed Sammy the other night and stopped that pylon falling on us," Dean stated. "You're a Mage."
Starina nodded. "And it's most likely how I conceived the twins. All Mages share more or less the same capabilities, but on rare occasions a Mage is born with one particular talent that stands out from all others. Irene, for example, has much stronger healing powers than I do. My ability is Empathy and because I'm a Mage that ability extends far beyond merely sensing one's emotions, such as being able to see memories in connection to those emotions, among other things."
"So what does all this have to do with that shadow thing?" Sam asked.
Starina sighed again, an expression of deep sadness crossing her features and Donovan wrapped an arm around her. "That shadow creature is no ordinary spirit. He was once human, a Mage who misused his powers when he was alive."
"Misused how?" asked Dean, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"The story's been handed down through the family for over a thousand years and some details have been lost over the centuries," Starina went on. "But the general consensus is that long ago a Mage went away to a foreign land to learn more about his power, in his absence his lover became ill and died. Learning of her death upon his return he went nearly mad with grief and in his despair sought the help of my ancestor, the Archmage and High Priestess of the tribe, Rhiannon, to bring his beloved back to life."
"An Archmage?" Sam's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline. "Is that anything like an Archangel?"
Starina chuckled at this. "No, Archmages are nothing like Archangels. An Archmage is a much, much higher form of Mage, a Mage who has discovered their one True Gift and mastered it and all of their magical abilities, something that takes decades of study and practice and is very rarely achieved. Rhiannon was the first to become an Archmage in some five hundred years."
"So could she really bring someone back to life?"
"I don't think so," Starina shook her head. "Even if such a miracle were possible it was a rule amongst Mages that using their powers to raise the dead was strictly forbidden as it could lead to devastating repercussions. Knowing this Rhiannon refused the Mage's request and warned him not to continue in his search for such power."
"Lemme guess, he didn't listen?" said Dean.
"No, he didn't," Starina said. "Angry and grief-stricken he began to dabble in the Black Arts and tried to summon Balor, the Demon King of Death, to bargain for the return of his lover's soul. But before he could complete the Summoning ritual he was captured by the tribe's warriors. Angry that he had tried to break the rule and risked hundreds of lives, Rhiannon punished him by removing all of his powers and banished him from the tribe."
"Wait a second," said Sam. "You said Mages are born with their powers, how could she take them away?"
"Only an Archmage can do it," Starina explained. "Once a Mage's power is gone he can never use magic again in any form. This only served to make the Mage angrier and he swore that he would return and get his revenge. When he did indeed return he was no longer a man. Somehow he gained evil and unnatural powers and wreaked havoc everywhere he went. Anyone and everyone who got in his way died. Women, children, men, it didn't matter, he killed them all. Rhiannon fought and eventually destroyed him, but with his dying breath he vowed to return and never leave her Clan or descendants in peace. And he did return again, this time as an evil spirit, a Wraith, and his vow became a curse."
"Whoa hold up, a Wraith?" asked Dean, looking confused. "As in, a brain-sucking Wraith?"
"Not that kind of Wraith, no," said Starina. "There's more than one type of Wraith. There's the brain-sucking kind, which are what we Mages call Earth Based because they're a species unto themselves. This Wraith, the one that cursed my ancestors, is Spirit Based, a soul that has been poisoned and corrupted and fuelled by rage."
"Wait, you say Rhiannon and her Clan, your ancestors, were cursed?" Sam asked and Starina nodded again. "And that all their descendants were cursed as well? Does that mean...?"
"I'm Rhiannon's direct descendant," Starina said as she squeezed Donovan's hand. "And now the curse has extended to me, my brothers and my parents. Throughout the centuries my forebears have tried to find a way to destroy the Wraith, but all they've ever been able to do is seal him away only for him to escape decades later. The last time he appeared was eighty years ago when my great-grandfather fought and sealed him."
"And the Wraith showed up again, didn't he?" Sam asked gently.
Starina nodded and looked down at her belly. "Last year," she said, sniffling a little and taking a deep breath. "It was just after my parents retired and I'd taken over the riding school. He appeared to my mother while she was driving and caused her to crash."
"Oh my God..."
"What happened to your Mom? Did she...?" Dean trailed off, dreading the answer.
"She survived, barely," Starina said as she wiped at her eyes with her sleeve. "When I got the news that she'd been in an accident I feared the worst. I dropped everything and went straight to the hospital. That's when she told me that the Wraith had returned and that our magic couldn't contain him anymore, that it was me he was after. Once I knew my family was safe I confronted him and he threatened my father so I attacked him."
Sam's eyes widened "You what?"
"I attacked him," Starina repeated, looking up. "I threw a mixture of powdered silver and Himalayan rock salt at him. Pure substances are like acid to him so while it didn't kill him it really pissed him off. Then I challenged him, and when he accepted I walked away and that pissed him off even more."
"Wait, what?" Dean looked confused.
"I walked away," said Starina. "It's an unspoken rule amongst Mages that when a challenge is laid down whoever instigates it chooses the terms, such as where and when a duel is to take place. So I fled from England and he followed me like I knew he would. I sealed him away in a tree in those woods near where the pylon stood. My plan was that he'd be trapped there while I tried to find a way to get rid of him for good. But then I found Donovan and..." she trailed off.
"You fell in love and got pregnant," said Dean.
"It wasn't part of the plan," Starina said as she glanced at Donovan who nodded for her to continue. "But I regret nothing. I love him and I love these babies, and being pregnant never stopped me from searching for a way to break the curse. I still kept looking for answers even when the morning sickness had me bedridden. The Wraith continuously harassed me by causing blackouts and draining phones and cameras, to remind me that he was still around. Then you two showed up."
"So you made up the apprenticeship story to throw us off," said Sam and Starina nodded guiltily. "Why?"
"Because if someone else outside of the family tries to interfere with the Wraith the curse extends to them as well," Starina looked pained. "That's why I couldn't tell you what was going on. When you told me about your car battery draining and locals reporting ghost sightings I got suspicious and that's why I insisted on going with you out to the pylon, so that I could look for evidence that the seals I placed had weakened."
"Well, we all know how that turned out," said Dean with a hint of sarcasm.
"Dude, she saved our lives," Sam pointed out. "Cut her some slack."
"But it's still my fault that you were nearly killed," said Starina, glancing at the floor in shame. "All of this is my fault."
"Wait, no it's not," said Sam reassuringly. "You didn't know-"
"But I should have," Starina cut in as she looked up, eyes brimming with tears. "I didn't think things through as thoroughly as I should've. I sealed him in that tree because it was far away from people and nobody goes near there, but I failed to take the powerlines into account. He drains energy from them," she added at the brothers' confused looks. "That's why the blackouts have been happening and that's how he's managed to escape."
"So what now?" asked Dean. "There's some crazy power-sucking Wraith on the loose?"
"He's only after us," said Starina as she dried her eyes again. "He'll not try to harm anyone else unless they interfere. And as long as we stay inside the fence surrounding this property he can't get near us."
"How's that work?" Sam asked.
"I placed protective seals on all the fence posts," Starina explained. "So the whole property's shielded and no spirits can get in. At least for now."
"Well that's reassuring," Dean rolled his eyes.
"Bite your tongue," Donovan gave a curt snap of his teeth. "Starina never asked for any of this to happen but she still saved your hide so don't you dare try to pin it on her!"
"Hey, no one's blaming anybody," Sam piped up as he stood from his chair and put himself between the two. "And arguing about it isn't gonna make the situation any better. The best we can do now is put our heads together and find a way to stop that thing before someone gets hurt, or worse."
Dean opened his mouth to say something else but a rather loud knock at the front door silenced him.
"Were we expecting anyone?" Donovan asked, puzzled.
"No," Starina shook her head, looking confused as well. "It can't be anyone turning up for lessons; they all know I'm not giving lessons until after the babies are born."
The knock came again and it was much louder this time, as though whoever was outside was impatient to be let in. Starina looked nervous and shrank back against Donovan.
"Starina? What is it?" Sam asked in concern as a fearful look crossed her features.
"I don't know," Starina's voice trembled when she spoke and Donovan wrapped his arms around her protectively. "Something...something's not right."
"You stay here, I'll go answer it," Dean said as he stood up.
"Be careful," Sam warned.
The knock came once again as Dean crossed the living room, making sure his gun was at the ready tucked into his belt. When he opened the door he immediately recognised the man in the business suit who'd bumped into him at the antique shop the day before. He had short, wavy blonde hair, grey eyes, was tall and lanky and his face made Dean think of a particularly nasty sewer rat.
"Hi, can I help you?" Dean asked casually, leaning on the doorframe.
"I think maybe you can," the man drawled in a thick British accent. "I'm looking for Starina Rose and I was told she lives here. Is she home?"
"Depends on who's asking," Dean said, his tone suspicious as he automatically blocked the doorway. There was something about this man that Dean really didn't like and his hunter's instincts were yelling at him to not let the guy in the house.
"I'm afraid my business is with Starina," the man said coldly as he tried to look over Dean's shoulder. "Now is she here or not?"
"I think you'd better leave," Dean said warningly, raising a hand to push him back. "Starina's sick and can't have visitors right now."
"Oh what a shame," the man said with a slightly sarcastic undertone. "Well, in that case you can give her my card. Have her give me a call as soon as possible."
"Sure, no problem," Dean said as he took the offered card, shut the door in the guy's face with a satisfying bang and headed back to the study.
"Who was that?" Sam asked, frowning when he saw the card in Dean's hand.
"Some creep who was looking for Starina," said Dean, offering the card to her. "Wouldn't say who he was but he seemed pretty keen to talk to you."
Starina took the card and looked at it. "William Cooke?" she read, raising an eyebrow. "Says he works for Cooke Enterprises."
"Do you know him?" asked Donovan.
"Never heard of him," Starina shook her head and handed the card to Sam to look at. "Or Cooke Enterprises, for that matter."
"So what got you so spooked?" asked Dean.
"There's something not right about that man," Starina said nervously as she rubbed her arms despite still having a blanket and Donovan's arms around her. "As soon as he knocked on that door I had an awful sense of danger and didn't want him anywhere near me. Did he say what he wanted?"
"Only that he wanted to talk to you," said Dean. "You sure don't know him?"
"Positive," Starina nodded, her voice trembling again. "I swear I'm done keeping secrets. I don't know this man and I don't know what Cooke Enterprises is."
"Easy Starina," Donovan soothed her.
"It's okay, we believe you," Sam added, sending a meaningful glance at Dean who nodded in agreement. He'd seen the look of fear in Starina's eyes that couldn't be faked and knew she wasn't lying. "If he comes back Dean and I will deal with him. Right now we need to figure out a way to get rid of this Wraith and break the curse."
"There's something else you should both know," said Starina. "Before I left home I summoned the spirit of Rhiannon to ask that she protect my family until the Wraith had also left to follow me here. Before returning to the Spirit Realm she told me something."
"What'd she say?" asked Dean, not at all fazed by the fact that Starina had just told them she'd summoned a spirit.
"That I couldn't defeat the Wraith on my own," Starina went on. "That within two years of arriving here help would come to me when I needed it most but least expected. I didn't understand what she meant back then, but now I think I do."
"Wait, you're talking about us?" Sam frowned.
Starina nodded. "It came to me just before I blacked out. I saw how that thing reacted when Dean stopped it from stabbing me. It was as though it couldn't stand to have Dean touch it or even be anywhere near it."
"Yeah, I noticed that too," Sam said thoughtfully as he recalled the thing's behaviour. "You'd have thought Dean had the plague or something the way it fought him off."
"So hold up, are you guys sayin' that Rhiannon led us here?" asked Dean, looking between Starina and his brother.
"I don't know, but it's quite possible that in a way she might have," said Starina. "Or it could simply be that she knows something I don't, but either way I can see it very clearly now. Everything's falling into place."
"What're you talking about?" Dean looked confused.
Donovan made an impatient noise and rolled his eyes. "Are you really that thick?" he asked. "Starina's pregnant and could give birth at any time, the Wraith has suddenly gained strength and she can't fight him in her condition, and then you and your brother just happen to turn up when the Wraith was about to escape? I'd say that's a lot more than a coincidence."
"Plus you're somehow able to repel the Wraith," Sam added. "It makes sense, Dean, we were meant to come here."
"But how come I can repel the Wraith?" asked Dean, completely thrown. "All I did was touch the bastard and he jumped a mile."
"I have a hunch, but I'm not a hundred percent sure," said Starina. "Sit back down Dean, I wanna try something."
"Whoa whoa whoa, what're you gonna do to me?" Dean asked edgily as he took a step back.
Starina huffed at him. "Cool it, I'm not gonna hurt you," she said impatiently as she scooted forward a little on the sofa. "Just sit your bum down and give me your hands."
Sam nodded encouragingly when Dean hesitated, but slowly and carefully sat back down on the stool and reluctantly held out his hands, which Starina gently took and covered with her own.
"Be careful Starina," Donovan warned. "Remember what Irene said."
"I know, it'll be fine," Starina told him, and then turned to Dean. "Now Dean, I need you to close your eyes and relax, okay? Take a deep breath and let it out slowly."
Dean hesitated again and with a reassuring nod from Starina did as he was asked. As he breathed out he felt an odd rush of warmth flow up his arms from his hands and suddenly there was a slight burning sensation in his biceps and Starina let go of his hands.
"Whoa, Dean roll up your sleeves!" Sam exclaimed.
"Holy crap!" Dean swore as he saw what looked like smoke coming out of his shirtsleeves and in a panic jumped off the stool and pulled his shirt off, throwing it on the floor. "What the hell Starina?!"
"Dean, it's okay!" Starina tried to reassure him as she stood up on shaky legs and Donovan stood up as well to support her. "Look at your arms!"
Dean looked down and to his astonishment the handprints Castiel had left on him were red and angry looking as though they'd been freshly branded into his flesh and were in fact steaming, not smoking, as he and Sam had first thought. Actually Dean found that he wasn't in pain at all, the marks just felt warm.
"Damn it Starina, warn me next time!"
"Dean, calm down," Sam eased.
"I didn't know that was gonna happen," Starina said apologetically. "But it answers a question. Now I know why the Wraith couldn't stand your touch."
"And why's that?" Dean asked, still angry after the scare.
"Because you bear the marks of a Holy being," Starina explained. "It's the Wraith's number one weakness, he can't withstand being in the presence of anything Holy and those marks signify that you're under the protection of an angel, which is a Holy being. To bear those marks is also to carry the presence of Castiel himself, and that makes you a threat."
"So, what, does that make me like the Wraith's Kryptonite or something?" asked Dean, sounding a lot less angry now.
"In a word, yes," Starina nodded.
Dean couldn't hold back a grin. "That's awesome!"
"And if that's not a sign that Rhiannon lead you to me then I don't know what is," Starina added.
"But what does that mean?" asked Sam, looking puzzled. "Does that make Dean some kinda weapon?"
"He's not a weapon, no," Starina shook her head. "The reason the Wraith can't stand being near Dean is because he holds the presence of Castiel in those hand marks and that drains the Wraith of his strength, makes him weak. In my present state I don't have the power to destroy him, but if Dean can weaken him just enough-"
"Then you'll be able to kill it," Sam concluded.
"We've got work to do," Starina said as she stepped away from Donovan. "C'mon, I've-"
"Whoa!" Dean exclaimed as Starina swayed dangerously and he and Donovan instinctively stepped forward and caught her to stop her from falling. "Hey, steady on there, Starina."
"Are you okay?" Sam asked in concern.
"D-dizzy," Starina muttered as she tried to steady herself. "I'm fine."
"No you're not," said Donovan as she stumbled and he and Dean caught her again. "You're still weak from earlier. You should rest now."
"But I-"
"Starina, think of the twins," Sam said firmly. "They need you and you're no good to them if you don't save your strength."
"Besides, that bastard's not goin' anywhere," Dean added. "So go rest and when you've recharged your batteries we'll go kick his ass, okay?"
Starina looked as though she wanted to protest further but was effectively silenced when Donovan scooped her up in his arms bridal style. As soon as her feet were off the floor the last of her strength gave out and her head slumped forward as she fell into an exhausted sleep.
"Irene said this might happen," Donovan sighed. "I'll take her up to bed; she'll rest more comfortably up there. I'll be back in a moment."
As Sam and Dean stepped aside to let him pass Dean's phone rang and he took it out of his pocket and checked the caller ID. Because it was only the pylon and not a cell tower that was taken out they could still make and receive calls.
"It's Bobby," Dean muttered as he lifted the phone to his ear. "Hey Bobby! What's up? Did you get that picture I sent you?"
While Dean chatted away on the phone Sam went into the kitchen and took a glass out of the cabinet and began to fill it up at the sink. Looking out the window he noticed the sky was darkening with thick, heavy clouds, indicating that another storm was on its way. Now that the pylon was gone the horizon looked strangely blank and empty. In the paddock he saw that the horses were all grazing close to the barn, completely unaware that anything was amiss. As he took a sip of water Dean came out of the study, still talking to Bobby.
"They're worth how much?" Dean asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you sure? Holy crap! Yeah, yeah, I'll tell him. No, I won't hock it, I promise. No we won't get killed, okay? Okay, take care Bobby."
"Was that about the coin?" Sam asked as Dean hung up and nodded. "What'd Bobby say?"
Dean took out the coin which he still had in his pocket. "These aren't coins, Sammy," he started. "According to Bobby they're two thousand year old Celtic staters, hard to find and worth a hell of a lotta money."
"Wait, two thousand years old?" Sam frowned a little. "I didn't think they were that old."
"Well they are, and guess how much they're worth?" Dean went on. "Some old guy in Britain found a bunch of these a few years back and the whole stash was valued at over 845,000 pounds."
Sam nearly dropped the glass in his hand. "Whoa, are you serious? That's like 1,150,000 dollars!"
"Yep," Dean nodded. "And Starina's got a box full of them."
"So do you still think she stole them?" Sam asked as he set the glass down. "I mean, Starina doesn't strike me as the stealing type, Dean."
"Well how else did she get them?" Dean asked sceptically. "D'you think her sweet old Granny gave them to her?"
"Like I said, they could be family heirlooms, Dean," Sam shrugged. "If she stole them then why not sell them to the highest bidder? If they're as valuable as Bobby says they are-"
Sam stopped midsentence as footsteps on the stairs alerted them to Donovan's return so Dean quickly shoved the coin back in his pocket just as the dragon rounded the corner, rubbing his face and looking as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Hey, how's she doing?" Dean asked.
Donovan sighed. "I won't be surprised if she sleeps for a week," he said tiredly. "She's used too much power and the pregnancy's taking its toll on her."
"What if Dean and I kill the Wraith?" Sam asked. "Starina's clearly in no shape to do it so if we-"
"The Wraith can't be killed by ordinary means," Donovan interrupted him. "Starina told me herself that many have tried and failed, even died in the attempt. Try to fight him now and you'll only make him angrier and that'll make him stronger. You can't do it without her."
"Okay, what if we wait until the twins are born?" Dean suggested
"We could try, but I don't think she'll agree to that," Donovan said doubtfully. "Starina's too damned stubborn for her own good. Now that she knows the power you hold she'll stop at nothing to make sure that Wraith is gone forever. It's no use, all we can do is wait until she recovers and take it from there."
Thunder rumbled loudly overhead and all three of them reflexively glanced out the window as lightning flashed and the wind began to howl.
"Damn it, I've gotta get the horses in," Donovan muttered. "They don't respond to me as readily as they do for Starina but I can probably bribe them with sugar cubes or something."
"Do you want help?" Sam asked. "Starina showed us how she called them."
Donovan surprised them by looking relieved and asking, "Would you?"
"Sure," Dean shrugged. "I mean, it's the least we can do, right?"
A few minutes later Sam and Dean were standing at the fence, their pockets loaded with sugar cubes while Donovan pushed the barn door open. At first the horses ignored them and continued grazing; only looking up when the brothers slipped through the rails and into the paddock.
"Now remember, don't walk around behind them because they might kick," Dean warned, remembering what their father had once told him many years ago.
"Okay," Sam nodded, and then called "Óró!"
On hearing the call the horses all raised their heads and hesitated at first but when Sam called again they began walking towards them, ears pricked forward with interest. Thankfully the lure of sugar cubes proved irresistible and within minutes the horses were safely in their stalls. As Donovan closed the barn door and bolted it thunder rumbled again and it began to rain so the three of them hurried back into the house. As the brothers were removing their slightly wet jackets and hanging them on a rack Donovan surprised them again.
"I uh, I want to apologise to you both," the dragon said as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Starina's always been a good judge of character and she's never been wrong about a person yet. If she trusts you it means I can as well."
After a few seconds of stunned silence Dean cleared his throat. "I guess I kinda owe you an apology too," he admitted. "I'm sorry I mouthed off at you back there."
"And I also want to thank you," Donovan added. "You saved my mate and my offspring as well. If I had lost them... I don't know what I would've done. I'm in your debt."
"Nah, forget about it," Dean brushed him off. "Saving people is what we do every day."
"Just...try not to whack us with your tail anymore and we'll call it even," Sam nodded in agreement.
Donovan chuckled at this, his whole face lighting up as he smiled. "I'll keep that in mind, but I will still find a way to repay you."
As the sun set and the darkness of night quickly raced from the shadows the storm well and truly began to rage, the wind howling spookily and forked lightning stretching out across the sky like the branches of a tree. Down in the field where the pylon lay in ruins as various workmen rushed about in their work to repair the damage, the Wraith watched from the shadows of the treeline, his cold dead eyes fixed on the house as his bony fingers gripped his wooden staff.
"That was an unexpected development," he muttered to himself. "I can't imagine how that little wench found a hunter with the touch of a Holy being. But no matter," he said as he glanced over his shoulder at someone standing behind him, their face hidden in shadow. "It seems I have use for you here after all... Lucrecia."