Chapter 9: Kidnapped

Mystery Mansion. Thursday, November 30, 2006.

When Maia reentered the living room, Neal flashed back to a period in his life two years ago. He was at the Burkes' cabin in the Catskills. Noelle was helping him to relive childhood memories so horrific he'd buried them deep in his subconscious. The experience was traumatic even though he was surrounded by family. Maia was about to undergo something similar, only for her the revelations would be so much worse.

"I've lost you," Sara murmured.

"Maia's ordeal is conjuring up some ghosts of when Noelle helped recover my memories of Vance," he whispered back.

"I wish Noelle were the one aiding Maia instead of Crowley."

"I do as well, but there's a special bond between those two. Perhaps now we'll find out why." Crowley had refused to discuss Maia until she returned to the room. Instead, he plied them with questions about their time in New York. Under the circumstances, they had to be forthcoming. No one mentioned Seth or the time converter, but they told him about Astrena as well as Azazel's threat. Crowley was probably left assuming that Astrena somehow sent them back in time. And his surmise wouldn't be far off the mark since she was the one who'd originally concocted the orchid potion allowing Seth's time converter to work.

Maia seemed to have regained control of her emotions, but her face was ravaged by the ordeal. She headed straight to Crowley. "Please tell me everything you know about my life with Astrena and who I am."

Crowley's usual smug demeanor was nowhere to be seen. "I'm afraid it will be painful," he said gently. "Would you rather me tell you in private?"

She shook her head. "I consider everyone here to be members of my family. They need to know as much as I do." Her voice caught and she paused to clear her throat. "We don't know how much of a threat I am."

"You're being too harsh on yourself," Chloe protested quietly. "Don't forget that Airmid has visited both of us. She called us her daughters. She doesn't believe you're evil."

"When did that happen?" Sara asked Neal in a low voice.

"Around the time Maia and Chloe severed the link connecting Sam and me to Astrena."

Crowley turned to face the others. "For Maia's sake, you can be assured that what I'm telling you is the truth. And if you don't believe me, you can ask Airmid."

Bobby stood up and went over to the wet bar. "Before we get started, there's one simple test we can make." He opened the lower cabinet and pulled out a small glass bottle containing a clear liquid. He poured a small amount into a glass jigger. "Eric and Henry, you may not know about holy water. If a demon's inside Maia, drinking this will cause her to sizzle."

Sam started to protest but Dean raised a hand to stop him. "This is for Maia's sake," Dean said. "She needs to know too."

Maia approached Bobby and took the glass from him. She drank it down and then waited anxiously.

"How long will it take to see the results?" Eric asked.

Bobby smiled at Maia. "The effect is immediate. We can safely cross demon off the list."

Crowley rolled his eyes. "I could have told you that. All right, gather around, Mouseketeers, while I tell you a true story." He took a seat near the fireplace, his glass of Scotch beside him. Sam had Maia sit beside him on the couch.

"I met Astrena four years ago," Crowley said. "She called Maia her little sister." He turned to her. "You were a demigoddess—a mortal she'd elevated to be an immortal close to two thousand years ago."

Maia sucked in a breath but didn't say anything. Sam kept a firm arm around her as if to keep her from flying away.

"Like Astrena, you were a muse to artists, writers, and musicians—feeding off them while inspiring them." He grimaced. "There's not a good way to put it. You were a submissive sister, obeying Astrena without question. But that changed when you met Sam. The first I learned of the change was when you roped me into a conspiracy to protect him and Neal from Astrena. I went along because I hoped to find out what made Astrena tick and . . . bloody hell, because I like you. You'd fallen in love with the moose, hard as that is to believe. You didn't want him to know you drank blood so you stopped. It wasn't easy and that's when you discovered the blood Astrena had been giving you was addictive. I found out later that she treated it somehow. The blood repressed all memories of your former life and made you, in effect, her thrall."

"Why did Astrena let me stop drinking it?" Maia asked.

"For a long time, she didn't know you had. When she realized what was going on, she didn't think your abstinence would have such a profound effect. But, bit by bit, you began remembering your life before Astrena. You started referring to Chloe and the Winchesters as members of your clan, and that sparked my curiosity. I coaxed a few details out of Astrena. You were born sometime in the first century in Ireland. Astrena believed your great-grandmother was Airmid. Your mum was supposedly also a powerful druid. Astrena had heard reports of druidic magic and went to Ireland to investigate. When she heard about your family, she decided to kidnap you. She took you back to Greece when you were around seven years old. There she began feeding you her custom blend of blood. When you turned twenty-four she made you an immortal."

"I met Maia through the Alyssum Sisterhood," Chloe said and turned to Eric. "It's a Wicca coven. We meet at Maia's bookstore."

"I remember when Chloe and I met," Maia said. "Why don't I remember my life with Astrena?"

"Because you'd gotten uppity," Crowley said bluntly. "You began interfering with Astrena's plans out of a desire to save Sam and Neal. I could understand why you were protective of the moose. Cheekbones, though? You couldn't explain it either, but you pulled him, his boss, his wife, Dean, Chloe, Bobby—hell, even Mozzie and his girlfriend—into your circle of protection. They became in essence your clan. You saved Sam and Cheekbones from Astrena when they interfered with Lutar in West Virginia. You discovered a way to sever the link connecting them to Astrena, and then you used the same potion on yourself. That severed your bond to the goddess and in the process made you a mortal once more."

"Why didn't Astrena punish her?" Bobby asked.

"Maia convinced her Thanatos was responsible for severing the links." He turned to smile at Maia. "I gave you points for that clever move. You managed to escape Astrena's wrath until the evening Cheekbones and his friends had dinner with her here at the mansion. That was when his group came up with the idea to make a movie." He turned to the others. "Maia thwarted Astrena's attempt to re-establish the link with Cheekbones. To prevent any further interference, Astrena erected a wall in Maia's mind to block out all her knowledge of the goddess. Astrena told me she left in place the fake bio she'd created of Maia being a foundling adopted by the Stavrou family and my role as a business manager."

"I'm not saying I doubt you," Dean said, "but how did you find out?"

"I came by the mansion after Cheekbones and his friends had left. I found Maia unconscious in the library. That's when Astrena explained what she'd done. She intended to elevate Maia once more to be a demigoddess, but she admitted she could only perform the ritual at the Vernal Equinox."

"How many other sisters do you know about?" Sam asked.

"The only ones I've met are Gemma and Alcy," Crowley said. "I assume she had others, but she didn't mention them to me."

"It's a lot to swallow," Bobby said, frowning.

"But much of it can be verified," Chloe asserted. "When we needed to modify Abaddon's memories, Crowley told us Astrena knew how to do it." She turned to the demon. "You were thinking of what she did to Maia, weren't you?"

Crowley shrugged acknowledgment.

"And get this," Sam said, scanning the group. "When Crowley explained how he'd seen Astrena erase someone's memories, he said she'd performed an act of kindness."

"And that's the bloody truth," Crowley said, a note of defiance in his voice. "Maia was tortured by what she'd done in the past. I would have spared her having to relive it."

"In a way you have," Maia said, offering him a sad smile. "I still can't remember the horrific acts I must have committed, but fragments of my childhood are starting to come back. Perhaps that's Airmid's influence." She swallowed. "But even though I can't remember what I did, that doesn't absolve me from the responsibility."

Sam raked a hand through his hair. "We need some air," he said firmly. "We're taking Tatyana for a walk."

"I'll go with you," Dean said. "You shouldn't be alone." Maia blushed crimson at his words. "Not because of you, Maia," he quickly added. "Azazel could be monitoring Sam."

"We'll just be in the backyard," Sam huffed. "We'll only stay out for a few minutes. Please understand. We need a little time to ourselves."

Dean's frown didn't leave his face but his expression softened. "All right, but stay close."

After they left, Henry and Eric went upstairs to their room. Dean and Chloe went into the stillroom.

Sara looked down at her clothes. "I suppose we should change. When do you want to return home?"

"We could drive back tonight," Neal suggested as they headed upstairs. "I don't know that we can provide much assistance to Sam and Maia. How do you feel?"

"The same. The kind of help they need isn't in our skill set." Once they were in their room, Sara shed her period jacket and skirt. They'd attended Chloe's book reception only a day ago, but it seemed like much longer.

"What's your opinion of what you heard?" Sara asked.

"I don't know what role Maia played in establishing the link between me, Sam, and Astrena, but I hope she gets a second chance."

"I do too, but I suspect she'll have a difficult time believing she's worthy of one," Sara said thoughtfully.

"I can recommend an excellent therapist."

She smiled. "Noelle?"

He nodded. "Learning to accept what happened and then move forward won't be easy. I don't know of any other therapist who could be told about real demons and goddesses." He paused when he heard shouts coming from downstairs. What now?

#

Dean kept most of his curses inside his head. He knew he should have insisted on Sam and Maia staying inside. He'd let his heart overrule his better judgment and now Sam and Maia had paid the price. They'd been gone for less than ten minutes when Tatyana's barks alerted Dean that something was badly wrong. By the time he raced outside, Sam and Maia were gone. The dog was lying on her side against a tree trunk. There was no sign of what had happened but Dean already knew. Azazel had taken them both. By now, they could be anywhere.

"The cars and trucks are all there like I knew they would be," Bobby said. "Here's one stroke of luck. Maia was so worried about Sam that we may have a witness."

Chloe's face lit up. "Mozzie's security system!"

He nodded. "Yep, the one that Dean hates to use. While you were gone, Maia and I got it up and running again. Mozzie hadn't just wired the inside of the house. He did the yard too."

"Score one for paranoia," Neal said. "Mozzie installed cameras on the roof and perimeter of June's house. They've proven their worth time and time again."

"I'll connect the laptop to the TV in the media room so we can all view the feed," Chloe told the group. "It will only take a few minutes."

"I'll help," Sara offered.

"While you get set up, I'll contact Pops and Julia," Henry said. "They may have learned something about the demon's movements."

Eric crouched next to Crowley who was examining Tatyana. "Is she injured?" he asked.

"I don't think so. She's a lucky puppy. Most don't fare so well when they confront Azazel."

Dean was surprised at how gentle Crowley was. Tatyana had awakened and was rubbing her nose along Crowley's arm.

"Do you know anything about treating dogs?" Dean asked.

"Third-hand," he said quietly, stroking her head. "Hagen's father was a vet. Hagen used to help him out when he was a child."

Tatyana stood up and took a few tentative steps while Crowley watched her closely. "Her gait's okay but a vet should check her out." He paused to glare at Dean. "What? There's no law against demons liking animals, is there?"

"No, there's not," Dean said. "And I appreciate what you did for Maia. I'm hereby declaring a truce on all jabs till we get them back."

The media room was off the main hallway and opposite the living room. At one time it had served as a formal parlor. Now it was furnished with a comfortable rounded sectional in front of a giant screen TV. A pool table filled up most of the rest of the space.

Dean waited impatiently for the video to appear on the screen. The main challenge was sorting through the various feeds, but Neal was familiar with the system and helped them zero in on the correct one. Mozzie had installed blanket coverage. Dean didn't know how he could ever repay him but he'd think of something.

"We found it," Chloe said, swallowing hard.

"I'll switch the feed to the TV," Sara offered as Henry and Eric entered the room.

"Do the Winslows have news?" Dean asked even as he kept his eyes glued to the TV.

"No, but they have a game plan that might work." Henry grew quiet as the image of Sam and Maia appeared on the TV. They were standing by a clump of rhododendrons. They were talking too softly for the camera to pick up their voices but Sam appeared to be pleading with Maia, and Dean could guess over what.

Suddenly Azazel popped into view. He stood behind Maia, his arm wrapped around her throat.

"Welcome back to where you belong, Sammy," he sneered. "Your army's waiting for you. We'll take your girlfriend along just to keep you company. I know you don't want to see her go up in flames."

Tatyana snarled and clamped onto his ankle. He cursed and with a wave of his free hand hurled her against a tree trunk.

"Stop!" Sam shouted. "If we go with you, will you leave the others in the house alone?"

"Of course, Sammy. Anything you want." The demon snapped his fingers and all three of them disappeared.

"Maia must have told Sam about the camera," Chloe said. "Did you see him look straight at us just before they disappeared?"

"He's trying to buy us time," Bobby declared. "It's up to us to make the most of it."

Dean fought to gain control over his runaway emotions. "Chloe, you found Sam before by scrying. It should work this time too, right?"

"If I had the ingredients, it should. But I used the last blooms to find you and Sam in New York."

"Then we'll buy some more," Neal said.

"They're very rare," Chloe warned. "Honestly, I don't know where we'd find them. But I'll check the database to make sure."

"A database is the solution, but not necessarily for orchids," Henry asserted. "You know that Julia is working with Ash. I called her when we went upstairs. She has a suggestion, and that's the British Men of Letters."

"That won't work," Bobby growled. "We can't go to them on our hands and knees and ask for help. Those arrogant sons of bitches would love to spit in our faces. They'd probably say good riddance to another hunter being killed."

"Julia agrees," Eric said. "Let Henry explain."

"I told you how frustrated she and Pops were about the group, but that didn't keep them from continuing their research. They discovered that one of the leaders of the British Men of Letters—a guy named Sir Anthony Bevell—visited Baltimore in November 1958. That was shortly after Abaddon had decimated the American branch of the Men of Letters. Julia searched through the airline data to find out he'd paid excess baggage charges for two large trunks when he returned to London. She and Pops suspect those trunks contained documents belonging to the American branch of the Men of Letters."

"I knew it!" Crowley crowed. "Your company was formed from remnants of those scholars."

"Not necessarily," Henry argued. "Win-Win was established several years later. We still don't know of any direct connection, but I'd already discovered that Seth Winchester belonged to the Baltimore chapter."

Henry was being cautious, but Dean was inclined to agree with Crowley. A key to a crypt used by the New Haven chapter had been sent to Henry's great-grandfather, who just happened to be the co-founder of Win-Win. He must have had some connection to the group.

"What's relevant to our situation, is that those documents may contain information about Azazel," Henry continued. "Since they're stolen property, Pops and Julia are willing to overlook ethical concerns."

"A sanctioned theft of the London branch?" Neal said. "Count me in!"

"And me!" Sara said.

"Hey, I'd be there too," Henry said, exchanging smiles with them. "Someone needs to mastermind the heist. But time's short, and there's a quicker way. Julia believes that the information was most likely converted into digital records. She's offered to find out by hacking the group."

Chloe frowned. "I've discussed Julia's work with her. I don't remember her mentioning that kind of expertise."

"You're right," Henry said. "Julia's into data mining but Ash has a natural gift."

Bobby snorted. "I should have figured that kid for a hacker. How else could he search through official records?"

"Julia's established a remote setup for Ash where they can communicate securely. They may have already started." Henry turned to Crowley. "You're convinced Azazel will use Sam to launch the Apocalypse. Do you have any idea how much time he'll need to put his plan into motion?"

"All the previous reports I've heard for Azazel have been in the western half of your country. I assume the chosen location is somewhere in that region. At a rough guess, he'll need at least a couple of days to get there."

"Could he have already teleported there?" Sara asked.

Crowley shook his head. "Not likely, Scarlet. That's not one of his strengths. With two people to take with him, he could only manage a few miles before running out of juice. And I doubt strongly he'd fly to the destination. Airlines are picky about allowing passengers to be bound and gagged."

Dean didn't have much hope that Julia's idea would work, but what else did he have to go on? One thing he knew for damn sure, Sam would never unleash the gates of Hell to launch the Apocalypse. He'd kill himself before letting that happen. Azazel thought he had a bargaining chip with Maia, but given the mood she was in, she'd also likely kill herself to prevent being used. She'd probably think it was partial atonement.

And what made Sam so special? Had Azazel picked him at random?


Notes: Maia's ordeal reminds Neal of a similar experience when he had to confront long-buried memories. The details are in Caffrey Flashback by Penna Nomen.