Chapter 8
"Man Jody, that was good," Dean sighed wiping his mouth as he swallowed the last bite of his sandwich.
"It's only meatloaf, but thank you," Jody replied still pleased with the complement.
"I'm going to get on my laptop and check some things out," Sam said.
"I'll help Jody clean up," Dean told him, knowing Sam needed this distraction.
Once he had left the kitchen, Jody turned to Dean with a serious look on her face and in her voice. "How are you two really doing Dean?"
Dean looked at her as he got up to take the dishes to the sink. He leaned against it for a moment and drew in a slow breath.
"We're trying to hold it together. Right now Jack is our only hope of finding Mom and he's like a child in an adult body. Cas is trying to train him as fast as he can to learn to control his powers and use them."
"Man, there's never anything easy for you guys," she said laying a hand on his arm.
"Yeah, well we always seem to figure it out," he shrugged. "I'll wash, you can dry."
"Sure," she said picking up a towel knowing the conversation was over that he didn't want to talk about his Mom anymore.
spn
When the kitchen was cleaned, Dean and Jody headed into the living room to find Sam staring intently at the computer screen lost in thought. He didn't even acknowledge them as they joined him.
"You find something Sammy?" Dean asked making him jerk slightly and look at them like he forgot they were even there.
"What?" he asked not hearing the question.
"You got something?" Dean asked again keeping the impatience from his voice. He knew his brother was dealing with a lot right now and didn't want to make things harder on him.
"Maybe, I searched through some websites on Native American folklore and I think I might have found something close. I think it's something called an Unk Cekula or Unketechila, it's a snake spirit from the Lakota tribe. We may need to find a Shaman or someone from that tribe and talk to them," Sam spouted as he switched through several screens showing what he had found. "There's several different variations about this creature, but I'm pretty sure that's what we're dealing with."
"So where did it come from? Why haven't we heard of or seen one of these before?" Dean asked.
"Jody has anything happened around here lately?"
"Well, there has been some clearing of land out on the other side of the town. It was a large part of Indian land that was bought for a housing development," Jody said.
"That may be it. They disturbed its resting place or prison, something like that."
"Maybe the creature was entombed there by the Lakota people and now it's free."
"I may know someone you can talk to who might know something about it, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to go see him," Jody said.
"It's a start, maybe they can tell us how to kill it or trap it again," Sam nodded in agreement.
"I say let's watch a little TV and head for bed."
"Fine with me."
"Okay then, where's the remote?" Dean asked looking around the living room.
spn
"You sure you got those directions right dude?" Dean asked again as they turned onto a dirt road in the middle of no where.
"Yes, Jody wrote them down, I'm just reading them off," Sam fussed back as he looked at them again. "I think it's up ahead, it looks like there's some houses off to the right."
"I see them," Dean replied as he steered the car toward the structures. He pulled up to the first house and cut the engine.
"There's someone coming around the house," Sam said before getting out.
They got out and walked around the car to meet the young man.
"Hi, I'm Sam and that's my brother Dean, Sheriff Mills called ahead, we're to see Joseph Longhorn."
"That is my grandfather; I'll take you to him. I am Lance. If you'll follow me, his house is at the end of the road."
"Thanks," Dean nodded as he fell in step with Lance and his brother.
The brothers were led to a small house that had seen better days and around to the back where an elderly Native American of undetermined age sat in a rocking chair staring out across the bare countryside.
"Grandfather, these men have come to see you," Lance said slowly to him as he pointed to Dean and Sam.
"Sit," the grandfather told them in a gravely, rough voice as he looked at them with faded, brown eyes.
Sam and Dean took a seat on a wooden bench against the railing, feeling it give slightly and hoped it held. Lance sat on the edge of the porch and leaned back against the railing in case his grandfather needed him.
"We brought you a gift," Sam said, holding out a bag that had chewing tobacco and a large bag of butterscotch candy in it.
"Good," he said taking the bag.
"We hope you can tell us about a snake spirit called Unk Cekula or Unketechila," Sam asked leaning forward a little waiting on an answer.
The older man pursed his lips and squinted his eyes as he went away into his memories for a moment. Dean and Sam looked at each other wondering if he was going to speak when he started to talk.
"I have not heard that name spoken since I was a young child sitting at my grandfather's feet. He spoke of a spirit creature that his grandfather told stories of that were passed down from generation to generation. It is said that the Unk Cekula can take partial human form, usually a female, to lure its victims to their death. It has venom that will paralyze its victim so they can be taken back to its lair where they are consumed. If it has been waken and released, it will be very hungry and there will be much death."
"How do we kill it or imprison it again?" Dean asked.
"It must be shot with an arrow made of hophornbeam dipped in blood from a chief of a Lakota tribe. It's most vulnerable spot is on the chest and stomach."
"That sounds just great, where are we supposed to find arrows like that?" Dean complained.
"I might be able to help with that," Lance spoke up. "I know someone who makes arrows and can probably do them for you."
"What about a Lakota chief? Would anyone be willing to give us a little blood?" Sam asked.
"I am the last Lakota chief that still practices the old ways," the grandfather told them holding his head high. "You may take my blood and may it destroy the Unk Cekula. You will need to wait until it has taken its human form in order to kill it. Do not be deceived by its appearance, the eyes will glow red and it will be very fast and deadly."
"Do we have a syringe in the first aid kit?" Dean asked Sam.
"Yeah I think so, I'll go get it."
"How soon do you think you can get the arrows for us?"
"I will call now and will get back to you."
"Here's our number, we're staying in town with Sheriff Mills," Dean told him handing him their cell numbers. "Let your friend know we'll pay extra for a rush order of at least four arrow for crossbows."
"I will go call now," Lance answered getting up to leave.
"I see you and your brother are warriors. You both have strong spirits and you will need that to do battle with Unk Cekula."
"Yeah, we've been doing this kind of thing for a long time. We've faced a lot of foes over the years and we've been lucky to come out on top. Sometimes it wasn't without sacrifice, but we've learned to endure and move forward."
"Got the items we need," Sam said holding up alcohol wipes, bandage and the syringe. "Shall we do this?"
"Yes."
Sam moved to the elderly chief and squatted down beside him. He took his offered arm and used his bandana to tie above the elbow so he could find a vein easier. Once he wiped his arm good, he carefully inserted the needle in and drew out the blood. Sam capped the syringe and handed it to Dean as he pressed a wipe to his arm to stop the bleeding. He put a bandage over the puncture mark and stood up.
"I will pray to the ancestors to guide your arrows to their mark and rid the land of this spirit creature. You are brave to do this, may you go with God."
"Thank you for your help and for the blood," Dean told him shaking his hand. "Tell Lance to call and we will come pick up the arrows when they are ready."
"Yes, with your help hopefully we can stop it from killing again," Sam added shaking his hand too.
"I will pass that alone," he said giving a small wave as they headed back around the house and toward the Impala.
"Let's hope we get those arrows and can find this thing before it kills again," Dean mumbled.
"Jody did say they have advised hikers to stay off the trails until further notice. So maybe that will help, and from the map we worked on last night we have a good idea where it might be hiding."
"Hope you still remember how to use a crossbow."
"It's been awhile but I think I can manage."
spn
"How did it go?" Jody asked when the guys strolled into the sheriff's office later that morning.
"We know what it is and how to kill it. We just need to wait to be contacted that the arrows are ready," Dean told her as he dropped into a seat by her desk.
"That's good right?" she asked looking from one brother to the other.
"One of us will have to be bait to lure it out. It has to be in its human form to kill it," Sam said. "I'll be bait."
"Nothing doing, if anyone's being bait it's me," Dean stated in no uncertain terms.
"Look, you're a better shot than I am with a crossbow so we stand a better chance of killing it if I'm bait."
"No I..."
"I'll be bait," Jody spoke up making both brothers turn to start at her. "We have a better chance of taking this thing out if both of you are shooting at it. Besides, can't let you do this alone and let one of you get hurt."
"Jody thanks for volunteering but Sammy and me can handle this."
"This is my town and I'm the sheriff sworn to protect it. I'm not sitting back and letting you guys risk your lives and not do something. So its settled, when you get what you need, we take a hike," Jody stated firmly leaving no room for argument.
"Then I guess we better go practice," Dean said pushing himself up from the chair to head out. He wasn't going to take any chances with Jody's life in their hands and it had been a while since he'd used the crossbow and felt a little rusty.
"See ya Jody," Sam said giving her a wave as he got up to follow his brother outside. "So where are we going to practice at?"
"Where do you think?" Dean asked.
spn
The salvage yard was overgrown and sat abandoned as Dean pulled the Impala onto the driveway and around to park near where the two story house had once stood. All that was left now was burned timbers and long forgotten memories. Dean sat in the car as he looked out across the yard at the rusty, vehicles still stacked on one side, to the buildings that were barely standing now. It looked like a graveyard of useless vehicles and the remains of a life that had long been gone, but never forgotten. Dean blinked back the tears in his eyes as memories of their surrogate father pushed into his mind. He could still see him coming out on the front porch to greet them when they visited or needed help or came to him to be patched up when a hunt went south. He swallowed the lump in his throat and got out to go around to the trunk for the crossbows and arrows.
"You okay Dean?" Sam asked knowing being back here was affecting Dean just like it was him. Bobby had been a constant in their lives from the first time their father had left them with him to catch a hunt until they took on the Leviathan and he was shot by Dick Roman and didn't survive. Even in death he never gave up the fight until he saw it was over for him and he could finally have peace.
"I'm fine," Dean stated. He pushed a crossbow into Sam's arms and grabbed a paper target from the trunk before moving to a building on the other side of the burned down house. "This will be good." He stuck the target to the wooden wall and paced off the distance he thought they would be firing from.
Dean pulled the string of the bow back until it locked and loaded an arrow. He brought it up to his cheek and sighted the target, taking a deep breath before squeezing the trigger releasing the arrow. It flew straight and true landing a circle from the center. Dean huffed and made a couple of adjustments before trying again and this time hit the center. He nodded his approval before retrieving the arrows. "Your turn."
Sam moved to where Dean had been standing and raised the crossbow to take aim. He stilled his body and drew in a breath, holding it as he squeezed the trigger, but jerked slightly making the arrow hit two circles from the middle. Sam grunted his disappointment and tried again trying to get a better feel of the bow. He shot again and was just outside the center circle.
They continued to practice until both were confident with their shooting. Dean had them shoot from different angles, while lying on the ground and even running, so they would be prepared. With Jody's life in their hands, neither wanted to miss. When it came time to take the Unk Cekula out, they couldn't fail.
After putting everything back in the trunk, Dean paused and gave the place one more look before getting into the car to drive back to town. They had not eaten lunch and it was getting close to dinner so Dean decided to grab take out and give Jody a break from cooking. She had already fixed two meals for them and they didn't know how much longer they were going to be there, but hoped Lance came through soon with the arrows.
A/N: They found out what they're up against and Jody is going to be bait. Thank you for reading and I hope you are enjoying the story. Reviews do make my day. NC
HAPPY 4th of JULY