Ashlinn stretched as she stepped outside. Bobby had said that Kai had wandered off a few minutes before she came back. Ashlinn walked down the path towards the pond where the Ashrais lived. Sure enough, Kai was sitting beside the water. He was watching them so intensely that he jumped as she said hello. Kai gave her a wave as she walked toward him.
"You trying to make a friend?" Ashlinn asked and watched as the Ashrais snuck a little closer.
"Yeah," Kai said tiredly, and Ashlinn took a seat beside him.
"Ah, I, um… I wanted to thank you."
Kai turned to her with an amused grin and asked, "For what exactly?"
"Helping me fight the demonic king of Halloween, having my back when Uriel turned on us… And sending Andy over to make sure that I was okay. Thank you, Kai. I really mean it."
Kai leaned back and said, "You're welcome. I just… I didn't think that I was the person you needed… not right then. I'm not exactly the best with emotions, and the two of you always seemed to be close."
"Yeah, he's my brother from another mother," Ashlinn joked, hoping to lighten the conversation. Kai wasn't his usual self, and, quite frankly, it worried her. "I just want to make sure that you're okay. Did something happen?"
"Just busy thinking, I guess. Last night made me take a good, hard look at some things… Trying to process everything."
Ashlinn watched as he continued looking toward the lake. With a sigh, she got ready to push herself up but felt his hand on hers.
"Please stay," he said quietly, and Ashlinn leaned back. "I don't really know what to say… but could you please stay for a moment?"
"Sure," Ashlinn replied and watched the Ashrais with him. One of them crept close, and Ashlinn grabbed a bunch of flowers. Using her magic, she made the flowers grow into a crown. The Ashrai squealed in delight. Ashlinn threw it into the lake, and the small fairy put it on their head and ran to show their new crown to the others. Looking back at Kai, she felt a chill as she saw that hunger in his eyes. It was soon gone. As much as he tried to convince her to trust him with his actions, it was that magic-hungry look that always kept her on edge.
"Is there anything you can't do?" Kai asked playfully, trying to dissolve the tension.
Ashlinn tried to shake off the chills and said, "Heal… I'm not very good at fixing people. Plants are much easier."
Kai gently put his hand on top of hers and said, "You know… I can't control how I feel… about magic. It's like watching someone eat a cake when you haven't eaten in days."
"Sorry. I didn't mean–"
"Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. I just… I just need to control myself better. There are more important things than magic… surprisingly," Kai said with a grin.
"Oh, on a date?" Balthazar asked, making Ashlinn jump. "Sorry to interrupt."
"No, you aren't," Kai snapped, and Balthazar grinned.
"No… No, I'm not. You would be correct," Balthazar replied with an amused grin. "I just wanted to inform you that your little experiment with Alastair is in progress. Blessed the blood myself."
Ashlinn stared at him in confusion. How did they already know the ritual?
"I sent a message to Magnus last night… through the mailbox," Kai explained. "He sent back what he had and wants a report on the findings."
"Of course, he does," Ashlinn groaned. "How far along is it?"
"In about ten minutes Hell's torturer-in-chief will be getting his sixth dose. Do you want to take a look?"
Kai sighed but stood up. Offering Ashlinn a hand, he continued to glare at Balthazar, and Balthazar just smirked in return. Ashlinn took Kai's hand and followed Balthazar to the house. Alastair was bound by chains and a Devil's Trap. Despite being out of control of the situation, Alastair still wore a sardonic grin as he sat in the chair. As Ashlinn entered, suddenly Alastair's grin widened.
"Ah, hello, child. So good to see you. Come in and have a seat. Old Uncle Alastair wants to have a chat," Alastair said with barely contained malice.
Kai stepped in front of Ashlinn, blocking her from his view.
"What's going on?" Dean's voice came from behind her.
Ashlinn turned to see Dean walking inside with a syringe of blood. Balthazar took the syringe for a moment, pretending like he had nothing to do with Ashlinn and Kai being in the room.
"I came by to watch," Ashlinn said, standing her ground. "It was my idea. I want to see how it's going."
"So far we've got squat," Dean said with irritation.
"That could just be because he's an older demon."
"That's rude," Alastair drawled as Balthazar stabbed him with the needle. "Talking about me like I'm not here."
Ashlinn walked closer to take a better look. Alastair was trying his hardest to pretend that it wasn't affecting him, but Ashlinn could see the sweat on his brow.
"Okay then, Alastair. I'll talk to you," Ashlinn said, and Alastair's eyes glittered with excitement. "Do you remember being human?"
"Ah, yes. Like it was yesterday… People clad in soiled linens as they worshiped a god that had no love for them… Not incredibly different from today if I think about it."
Ashlinn sighed and asked, "Are you feeling… any different?"
"Well, since you were so kind to ask, I am actually feeling… happy."
"Happy?" Dean asked in disbelief.
"Why, yes. After all, I'm practically shaking with anticipation for when Lucifer drags you and the rest of your 'family' through the dirt," Alastair said with a smirk, and Dean shook his head in frustration. "Although," Alastair continued as his eyes landed back on Ashlinn. "He might decide to keep you around… You seem to know things. Maybe he'll even make you into a pet. I wonder how much pain you can take before you turn on your little 'family'."
"Hey!" Dean growled.
"I don't see why that matters to you," Ashlinn said, looking Alastair directly in the eyes. "You won't be around to see it. There are two ways that you leave here: dead or human. And I doubt you'll be alive very long if you leave here as a human. How many demons have you tortured? How many of them would love a chance to torture the great Alastair in the weak body of a human?"
Alastair leaned closer with a wolfish grin. "Getting ahead of yourself, girlie. That's if your little ritual works. I've never heard of a spell that 'cures' a demon."
"That's a lie. Or… you're not as important as you think you are. Abbadon was sent to kill the priest who first developed it."
Alastair's eyes widened, and he asked in an almost impressed tone, "What are you?"
"A spanner in the works," Ashlinn said and backed away. "I'll be back in two hours for the final dose. Can I see what Magnus sent?"
Dean handed her a paper with directions and an incantation. Ashlinn took it into the computer room to scan it into the files. It'd be a shame if it was lost because someone lost a single piece of paper. As Ashlinn sent a copy to herself via email, she noticed Kai watching her closely.
"Yes?" she asked as she looked over the spell itself.
"You need to be more careful. What happens if that bastard gets free? You don't think he'll chase you down to figure out just how much you know."
"Is that what you would do?"
"Ash…"
"I'm joking," Ashlinn said, putting a hand on his arm reassuringly. "The demons have been hunting me down since day one. It's not like this is going to make me Lucifer's number one priority. I'm not that important."
Kai looked like he wanted to argue but seemed to let it go with a sigh. "Fine… but I don't think it's a good idea to downplay the Devil knowing who you are."
"He doesn't… not yet anyway. It's not an easy thing for Lucifer to communicate with anyone outside of the cage."
"But he can," Kai said, watching Ashlinn closely.
With a sigh, Ashlinn conceded, "Yeah… it's not impossible. That was how he was able to give Azazel instructions. But Alastair isn't going to tell anyone anything regardless of whether this works. If he's still a demon, we still have the Colt. If he turns human, I'll wipe his memories and leave him somewhere."
Kai looked somewhat satisfied by her answer, but she could tell that he still wanted to argue. Leaving the room before he could start something, she handed Dean the piece of paper, grabbed her phone from the table, and briskly walked outside. Despite how confident she tried to sound, she could feel the anxiety bubbling up. She checked her phone to calm herself and noticed that she had a missed call and a voicemail from the night before. It was from Lily.
Ashlinn checked the voicemail, but it sounded like a buttdial. Calling Lily's number, she gripped onto the porch's railing.
"Hello?" Lily answered, and Ashlinn's knees almost buckled in relief.
"Hey, Lil-ster. I got a call from you last night. Just wanted to make sure that you're okay."
"Oh, that. Sorry. I got a little drunk last night. I didn't say anything too weird, did I?"
"No… Couldn't really make out much. So you're doing okay?"
"Yeah, a little hungover but I'm doing great," Lily explained, and Ashlinn could hear the grogginess in her voice. "I met someone, Linn. Kristy… she's great. I haven't been this happy since… It's been a while."
"That's great. If you're happy, then I'm happy. Don't forget to be careful… Remember what I told you, the demons are up to something again. And there's even more of them now. Stay safe."
"I will. Thanks… I'm stronger now, Linn. Stronger than I was before. I can protect myself, so you don't need to worry about me anymore."
"Even if I don't need to worry, I'm going to worry anyway, Lil. That's just the nature of anxiety," Ashlinn said jokingly, and Lily laughed. "Try to stay out of trouble, okay?"
"Only if you do."
"Hey now. No need to call me out like that… Especially because it's true. You know me. Born pot-stirrer. Bringer of chaos. Ruiner of plans. If I don't cause trouble, who will?"
"I'm sure that Sam and Dean could give you a run for your money."
"Well, that's true… Anyway… Don't hesitate to call me if you need me. Okay?"
"Okay… I'm still a little tired, so I'm going to let you go. Love you."
"Love you too. Get some rest."
After they said their goodbyes, Ashlinn ended the call. Part of her felt like something wasn't quite right, but maybe that was just the paranoia. She could always get a hunter to check on Lily just to make sure. As Ashlinn put the phone in her pocket, she noticed Kai coming out of the house. His eyes glanced at her phone.
"My sister from another mister. Just checking on her."
Kai relaxed a little and said, "I'm just worried about you. You know that, right?"
"I know," Ashlinn said with a wry smile. "I really do. Thanks, Kai."
Kai smiled at her in return and asked sheepishly, "So… we were interrupted earlier… So can we go back to where we left off?"
"You want to sit by the lake?"
Kai chuckled and said, "No… I just want to talk to you. Privately."
Kai glanced back to the house, and Sam ran a hand through his hair and pretended like he hadn't been watching them. Ashlinn sighed and led Kai a little further away from the house until they were out of earshot.
"What's this about?"
"Well… I'm hoping for a little advice."
"On what?"
Kai looked a little unsure of himself before he said in a confused tone, "I… I'm not quite sure what I should do to 'change.' What exactly do I have to do to prove to you that I've changed?"
Ashlinn hesitated before she answered, "It's not a matter of what you 'have to do.' Changing isn't a point system. It's not about just doing things because you think I'll like that."
"Why not?" Kai asked with genuine confusion. "Then what do I have to do?"
"You have to actually want to change… Why do you want to change, Kai?"
"So that you'll let me stay with you… I don't understand…"
"There isn't an easy list… For you to change, you would need to want to care about other people to some degree… or at least think about the consequences of your actions."
"I care about you… Is that enough?"
Ashlinn hesitated and tried to find the right answer. "I honestly don't know, but what would happen if something happened to me? Would you go back to how you were before?"
Kai went quiet. They both knew the answer. Ashlinn gently touched his shoulder and said, "But… I think we'll figure something out. And I do appreciate everything you've done. Even when an angel was going to stab me, you had my back. That counts for something."
Kai gave her a small smile in return.
"Come on… Let's head back. I want to be there for the end of the ritual."
Ashlinn gestured for him to follow her and quickly walked back to the house. Kai still gave her weird vibes, but it was true that he'd had her back. She could only hope that he continued to do so.
