Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 9 of Temporary Home. I have to admit that I couldn't wait to write this episode. But there are quite a few episodes that I couldn't wait to write. This was one of them. Enough of my rambling and let's get onto the chapter. Without further ado Chapter 9.
Chapter 9
Aeron, Sam, and Dean were sitting at a table.
Sam had his laptop open. He was looking at a mugshot of his brother. He let out a sigh rubbing his face. "So much for our low profile."
Aeron shook her head looking at the mugshot.
"You've got a warrant in Saint Louis, and now you're officially in the Fed's database." Sam shook his head.
Dean grinned. "Dude, I'm like Dillinger or something."
"Deano, it's something not to be proud of." Aeron said, rubbing her face tiredly.
"Dean, it's really not funny. Makes the job harder, we've gotta be more careful now." Sam said, letting out a sigh.
"Well, what do they get on you two?" Dean questioned Sam.
"I'm sure they just haven't posted it yet."
"No accessory? Nothing?"
"Shut up." Sam mumbled out.
Dean laughed. "You're jealous."
"No, I'm not."
"Uh-huh. Alright. What do you get on the case there, you innocent, harmless young man, you."
Sam rolled his eyes and shut his pulled out several pages of the research that he had out of his bag. "Architect Sean Boyden plummeted to his death from the roof of his home, a condominium he designed."
"Hm. Build a high-rise and jump off the top of it. That's classy. When did he call animal control?" Dean questioned them.
"Two days earlier before his swan dive." Aeron said, shaking her head.
"Did he actually see Black Dog?" Dean asked.
"Yeah. A vicious, wild, black dog. The authorities couldn't find it, no one else saw it, in fact, the authorities are a little confused as to how a wild dog could get past the doorman, take the elevator up and start roaming the halls of the cushiest joint in town. After that, no more calls, he doesn't show up for work, two days later he takes a swan dive."
"Do you think we're dealing with an actual Black Dog?" Dean asked, looking at them.
"Well, maybe."
"Or we could be dealing with something worse. I just hope it isn't what I'm thinking." Aeron said, shaking her head. She was hoping that this man didn't make a deal with a demon.
"What's the lore on it?" Dean asked.
Sam passed the pages over to him. "It's all pretty vague. I mean, there are spectral black dogs all over the world, but… Some say they're animal spirits, others say death omens. But anyways, whatever they are, they're big, nasty…"
"Yeah, I bet they could hump the crap outta your leg, look at that one, huh?" Dean said holding up a picture a smirk was on his lips.
Aeron shook her head.
Sam gave him a look.
Dean's smirk was gone. "What? They could."
Aeron rolled her eyes. "Come on Dean. We have work to do." She said getting up from the table.
SNSNSN
In a very posh, well lit room Sam, Dean, and Aeron were dressed in their suits that they had and they were talking to a man.
"So, you and Sean Doyden were business partners for almost ten years, right?" Sam asked, looking at the man that they were talking to.
"That's right. Now one more time, this is for…" The man began to question.
"A tribute to Mr. Boyden. Architectural Digest." Dean said with a smile.
The man laughed.
"This funny to you?"
"No, it… it's just, a tribute. Yeah. See, Sean always got the tributes. He kills himself, leaves me and his family behind… well, he gets another tribute."
"Right. Any idea why he'd do such a thing?" Sam asked, looking at him.
The man let out a soft sigh. "I, I have no clue, I mean he lived a charmed life."
"How so?" Aeron asked softly.
"He was a flat-out genius. I mean, I'm capable, but next to him, I… and it wasn't always that way, either." The man explained.
"No?" Dean asked in confusion.
"You wanna know the truth? There was a time where he couldn't even design a pup tent. Hell, ten years ago he's working as a bartender at this place called Lloyds. A complete dive."
"Right. So what changed?" Sam questioned. This case was getting stranger and stranger.
"You got me. But overnight, he gets this huge commission, and he starts designing… he starts designing the most ingenious buildings anyone has ever seen. It was like the level of Van Gogh, and Mozart…." The man stopped.
"What?" Dean asked, looking at the man noticing his abrupt stop.
"It's funny. True geniuses, they seem to die young, don't they? To have that kind of talent? Why… why just throw it away?"
SNSNSN
Sam and Aeron were waiting in the Impala waiting for Dean to come out of the Animal Protection Agency.
Dean came out of the building and walked down to the car. He got into it.
"So." Sam asked, looking at him.
"Secretary's name is Carly. She's twenty three, she, uh, kayaks, and they're real."
Aeron rolled her eyes and shook her head. Of course Dean would do something like that.
"You didn't happen to ask her if she's seen any black dogs lately, did you?" Sam asked, looking at Dean.
Dean held up a paper. "Every complaint called in this week about anything big, black, or dog-like. There's nineteen calls in all. And uh," He pulled off a post-it note. "I don't know what this thing is."
Sam took it from Dean. He read it and began to laugh. He showed it to Aeron.
Aeron shook her head and laughed as well.
Sam glanced at Dean. "You mean Carly's MySpace address?"
"Yeah, MySpace, what's that?" Dean asked in confusion.
Sam and Aeron laughed lightly.
"Seriously, is that like some sort of porn site?"
Aeron shook her head. "No, Dean. It's a social media site."
SPNSPN
Dean, Sam, and Aeron approached another suburban home.
Dean reached out and knocked on the door. "I swear, if this is another freakin' Pomeranian barking in the neighbor's yard…"
Aeron rolled her eyes. "Well strange things happened."
The door opened revealing a young woman.
"Afternoon, ma'am." He pulled out an Id. Showing it to her. "Uh, Animal Control."
"Oh, someone already came yesterday." The woman said softly.
"Oh, we're just following up. We're looking for Dr. Sylvia Pearlman?"
The three of them came into the home.
"The Doctor, well, she, I don't know exactly when she'll be back, she left two days ago."
"Okay. And you are?" Sam asked, looking at her.
"I'm Ms. Pearlman's maid."
"So where did the Doctor go?" Dean questioned her.
"I'm not sure. She just packed and went, didn't say where. That stray dog, did you find it finally?"
"Oh, not yet. You know, you didn't ever happen to see the dog yourself, did you?"
"Well, no. I never even heard it."
Dean took the photograph off of the wall looking at it.
Aeron closed her eyes. This was sounding too much like dealing with a demon. Too much like what her brother had done.
"I was almost starting to think the Doctor was imagining things, but she's not like that, so…."
"Hey, you know I read she was, uh, chief surgeon at the hospital. She's gotta be what, forty two, forty three?" Dean said, looking at the maid. "That's pretty young for that job."
"Youngest in the history of the place. She got the position…. ten years ago?"
"Huh."
"Huh." Sam shook his head. "An overnight success. Ten years ago."
"Yeah, we know a guy like that. Oh, look at this." Dean held up a photo. "Lloyd's Bar."
Aeron looked at the boys. "Should we go?"
Dean nodded his head. "Thanks for your time Miss." Dean walked out before the two of them.
Sam looked over at Aeron and saw that she was pale. "You alright?"
Aeron forced a smile onto her lips. "I'm fine." She lied. "Come on."
The two of them walked out of the home and went towards the car.
Aeron looked at Sam. She knew that he was concerned. She didn't want him to worry. She knew what was coming. Hellhounds. Nasty hellhounds.
SNSNSN
Dean pulled the Impala outside of Lloyd's Bar.
The three of them got out of the car. The three of them went towards the bar.
Dean noticed some flowers that were yellow growing by the side of the road. "Hey."
The two younger hunters stopped.
"Yeah?" Sam asked in confusion.
"That's weird." Dean said, pointing out the yellow flowers.
Aeron blinked in confusion.
"What?"
"Think someone planted these?" Dean asked, pointing at the yellow flowers.
"Middle of all those weeds?" Sam blinked a few times.
"They would have to be planted." Aeron said softly. She shook her head at the thought.
"These are, uh, what do you call 'em…" Dean couldn't remember what the name of the flowers were.
"Yarrow flowers." Sam and Aeron answered at the same time.
"Yeah. Used for certain rituals, aren't they?" Dean asked, looking at the two of them.
"Yeah, actually. Summoning rituals." Sam replied.
"And can be used for healing as well. But I doubt that these are used for that." Aeron said, shaking her head.
"Heh. So, two people become sudden successes about ten years ago. Right around the time they were hanging out here at Lloyd's."
"Where there just happens to be a crossroads. You think?" Sam asked, looking at Dean.
"Let's find out." Dean said, walking to the center of the crossroads and looking around. "This seems to be dead center to you two?"
Aeron got into the trunk of the Impala and got a shovel for him. She handed him the shovel.
"Thanks there red."
Aeron rolled her eyes. "You have to come up with a new nickname." She told him, shaking her head.
Dean began to dig with the shovel. Only a few inches and he hit something solid. "Yahtzee." He dropped the shovel and began to dig with his hands. He pulled out an old rusted box. He opened it.
Aeron and Sam looked over Dean's shoulders.
Sam took out a small stoppered jar. "I'd be willing to bet that's graveyard dirt. And a black cat bone."
"That's serious spellwork. I mean, that's Deep South Hoodoo stuff." Dean said, shaking his head.
"Used to summon a demon."
Aeron closed her eyes. Damn she was really hoping that she was not right about this.
"Not just summon one. Crossroads are where pacts are made." Dean shook his head. "These people are actually making deals with the damn thing. You know, cause that always ends well."
"They're seeing dogs, alright." Sam let out a sigh. "But not Black Dogs, they're seeing Hellhounds. Demonic pit bulls."
"Yeah, whoever this demon is, it's back and it's collecting. And that doctor lady? Wherever she's running? She ain't running fast enough."
Aeron looked at the boys. "I think we should call it a night boys. We're gonna have to do the research from the hotel. This is one thing that we can't draw attention to ourselves with what's going on at this moment."
"She's right Dean."
"Yeah I'm dying to get out of these clothes any way." Dean said tugging at the tie.
SNSNSN
Dean ended up passing out on his bed that he had claimed as his and Sam had done the same. Aeron was asleep on the couch like she had done every other time. She always got into little spats with the boys on who was to sleep where. She refused to take the bed offered by Sam or Dean. She was smaller than the two of them meaning that it was easier for her to sleep on the couch.
Darrel whipped around with wide eyes.
Aeron looked at her big brother. "Darrel what's wrong?"
"Aeron, I want you to go."
"No. I'm not leaving you."
"Aeron don't argue with me on this." Darrel hissed out at her. He heard the growling get louder. "Aeron just go. Please."
Aeron shrieked with what she saw next. Her brother was being dragged away from her. Blood… his blood splashing up onto her face.
Aeron shot up. Her breathing was ragged.
Sam rubbed his eyes tiredly. He looked over and saw her sitting up on the couch. He couldn't tell much other than her breathing was ragged and it sounded like she was going to cry. "Aeron." He said getting up from the bed.
Aeron looked at him. Her eyes were wide. "Sam. Did I wake you?"
"You had a nightmare." He stated.
Aeron groaned. "I woke you?" She questioned again.
"Yeah, but are you alright?"
Aeron shook her head.
"Think you'll be able to get back to sleep?"
Aeron shook her head.
Sam let out a sigh. "Would you be able to sleep if you were next to someone?"
Aeron looked at Sam in shock. "Are you…"
"Suggesting that you sleep next to me to help you get some sleep? Yes, I am."
"But…"
"Aeron don't worry about it. You need your rest too." He told her softly. "And I don't mind."
"I dunno. What about Dean?"
"Let him think what he wants to think. Come on." He said, offering her a small smile.
Aeron carefully got up off of the couch and followed Sam to the bed.
The two of them got underneath the covers and Aeron tried to make herself comfortable.
"You can curl up." He said softly to her.
"I wouldn't want to make you…"
"Don't finish that sentence." He told her softly, draping his arm over her thin frame. "Are you alright with this?"
Aeron nodded her head. Her bangs brushed against his shirtless chest. His smell began to lull her off to sleep. His smell was well… she couldn't explain it. It was something that just screamed Sam. And it was comforting. Very comforting to her. Perhaps she could get some sleep. Goodnight's sleep and not worry about Dean in the morning.
SPNSPN
The next day they returned to the crossroads.
"So, it's just like the Robert Johnson legend, right? I mean, selling your soul at the crossroads, kind of deal?" Sam questioned looking at Dean.
Dean nodded his head. "Yeah, except that wasn't a legend. I mean, you know his music."
Sam shrugged his shoulders.
Dean's eyes widened. "You don't know Robert Johnson's songs?" He looked at Aeron.
"Hey don't look at me. I only know one." Aeron said, holding her hands up.
Dean groaned. "There's occult references all over his lyrics, I mean, Crossroad Blues? Me and the Devil Blues? Hellhound on My Trail?"
Sam frowned.
Dean rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe it. "The story goes, he died choking on his own blood, he was hallucinating, and muttering about big evil dogs."
"And now it's happening all over again." Sam said with a sigh. Now that was bad. Very bad.
"Yeah."
"Looks like we have some major hunting to do." Aeron said softly. She rubbed her arm slowly. This was either going to end badly for them or everything would be just fine.
"We've gotta figure out if anyone else struck any bargains around here." Sam agreed with what Aeron had said.
"Great. So we've gotta clean up these people's mess for 'em? I mean, they're not exactly squeaky clean. Nobody put a gun to their head and forced 'me to Let's Make a Deal." Dean complained.
"Oh quit complaining." Aeron said, rolling her eyes.
"Dean, we just can't leave them to die." Sam said, shaking his head.
"Somebody goes over Niagara in a barrel, you gonna jump in and try to save 'em?" Dean questioned.
"Dean." Sam said with a groan.
"Alright. Fine." Dean groaned. "Rituals like this, you've got to put your own photo into the mix, right? So this guy probably summoned this thing. Let's go and see if anyone inside knows him. IF he's still alive."
SNSNSN
The three of them walked up a set of wide wooden stairs to the fourth floor of the apartment building.
"What's this guy's name again?" Sam asked in confusion. He normally was fairly good with names, but he had forgotten this name.
"George Darrow." Aeron said to Sam.
"And apparently quite a regular at Lloyd's. Though this house probably ain't up next on MTV Cribs, is it?" Dean questioned them, causing the two young hunters to roll their eyes.
"Yeah. So whatever kind of deal he made…" Sam began.
"Wasn't for cash. Oh, who knows. Maybe this place is full of babes in Princess Leia bikinis."
Sam sighed and Aeron scoffed.
"No, I'm just saying, this guy's got one epic bill come due. Hope at least he asked for something fun."
Aeron didn't say anything to what he said. This was something that you didn't just fuck with. Hell she knew more about it than anyone else.
They stopped outside of apartment 4C.
Sam noticed that there was black dirt. "Look at that."
The two brothers crouched down. They touched it.
"Is that pepper?" Dean asked in confusion.
The door opened revealing George to the three hunters. "Who the hell are you?" He questioned, eyes narrowing at the sight of them.
Dean stood up and so did Sam. "George Darrow?"
"I'm not buying anything." He said wanting to shut the door.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, looks like you went for the wrong shaker there. Heh. Usually when you want to keep something evil out you go for the salt." Dean said brushing his hand against his pant leg getting the pepper off of his fingers.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Talking about this." Dean held up a picture. "Tell me. Have you seen that Hellhound yet?"
"Look." Sam began looking at the man. "We want to help. Please. Just five minutes."
George allowed them to come inside. He poured himself a glass of whiskey.
"So what is that stuff out front?" Sam asked, looking at the man.
"Goofer Dust." George said, looking at them.
The three hunters were stumped. Goofer Dust? Really?
"What you three think you know something about something, but not Goofer dust?" He tossed Dean a brown sack.
Dean caught it. "Well, we know a little about a lot of things. Just enough to make us dangerous."
"What is it?" Sam asked, looking at the man.
"Hoodoo. My grandma taught me. Keeps out demons."
"Demons we know." Dean said, looking at the man.
"Well, then. Maybe it'll do you some good." George said, sitting down in a chair. "Four minutes left."
Dean and Aeron looked at Sam.
Sam rolled his eyes. Of course they wouldn't want to take the lead on this. Aeron understood this was hitting a bit too close to home for her. So he didn't blame her. After all, he had to console her the night before because of a nightmare. A nightmare that was a memory of what had happened in her life. He couldn't blame her on that one. "Mr. Darrow. We know you're in trouble."
"Yeah, that you got yourself into." Dean said, shaking his head.
Sam narrowed his eyes at Dean. "But, it's not hopeless, alright? There's gotta be something we can do."
"Listen. I get that you guys want to help. But sometimes a person makes their bed, they've just got to lie down in it. I'm the one called that demon in the first place." George told them.
"What'd you do it for?" Dean questioned.
Aeron breathing went shallow. She closed her eyes.
Sam reached out to her. "Aeron…"
"I can't." She whispered. "I'll be outside. I'm sorry. I just can't." She quickly slipped out of the room. She just couldn't take it. She ran down the stairs to the Impala. Her hands shook. This was dangerous and hell she was now sure that the boys knew it.
Sam and Dean came out of the apartment.
"He didn't want help." Sam said, shaking his head.
"But we do have a name for the next person. And we don't have time." Dean said getting into the car.
Sam looked at Aeron. "You alright?"
Aeron let out a soft sigh. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'll be fine. Just might take me a bit. It is Hellhounds and Crossroads Demons we are dealing with after all."
SNSNSN
Night had come and they had found Evan's home. The three of them walked up to the front door.
Sam knocked on the door.
The opening revealed Evan. "Yes?"
"Evan Hudson?" Sam asked, looking at the man that had answered the door.
"Have you ever been to a bar called Lloyd's? Would have been about ten years ago." Dean aid.
The door slammed in their face.
Aeron groaned. Seriously what was up with people. Usually they asked questions before slamming doors in their faces.
"Come on, we're not demons!" Dean yelled.
Aeron rubbed her face.
"Any other bright ideas?" Sam hissed at his brother.
Dean stepped back from the door.
Aeron looked at him with wide eyes. "Dean, what the hell are you doing?"
His foot connected with the door causing it to fly in.
The three of them entered the home.
Dean prepared to kick down the other door that led to the back room.
Sam caught his leg. "What…" Sam looked at his brother pointedly before opening the door.
Aeron shook her head.
The three of them went into the quiet room.
"Evan?" Sam asked, calling out for the man.
Evan jumped out from behind the bookshelf shoving Aeron into Sam. "Please don't hurt me!"
Sam held up his hand. He looked down at Aeron making sure that she was alright.
"I'm fine Sam." She told him softly.
"We're not going to hurt you, alright? We're here to help you." Sam told him.
"We know all about the genius deal you made." Dean said.
Aeron gave him a look.
"What? How?" Evan asked, looking at them.
"Doesn't matter. All that matters is, we're trying to stop it." Sam explained it to him.
"How do I know you're not lying?" Evan questioned looking at them.
"Well, you don't, but you're kinda running low on options there, buddy-boy." Dean said, crossing his arms.
Evan swallowed the lump in his throat. He began to pace. "Can you stop it?"
"Don't know. We'll try." Sam told him, offering a small smile.
"I don't want to die."
"Of course you don't, not now." Dean said, rolling his eyes.
Aeron elbowed Dean in the ribs.
"Ow."
"Stop it."
"What'd you ask for anyway, Evan? Huh? Never need Viagra? Bowl a perfect game? What?"
"My wife."
Dean laughed. "Right. Getting the girl. Well, that's worth a trip to hell for."
Sam looked over at Aeron seeing the look that was on her face. "Dean, stop. That's enough."
"No. He's right, I made the deal. Nobody twisted my arm, that…. woman, or whatever she was, at the bar? She said I could have anything I wanted. I thought she was nuts at first, but… I don't know how to… I was desperate."
"Desperate?" Sam asked in confusion.
"Julie was dying."
"You did it to save her?" Dean asked, looking at the man.
"She had cancer, they'd stopped treatment, they were moving her into hospice, they kept saying… a matter of days. So yeah, I made the deal. And I'd do it again. I'd have died for her on the spot."
"Did you ever think about her in all this?"
"I did this for her."
Dean advanced onto him. "Are you sure about that? I think you did it for yourself. So you wouldn't have to live without her. But guess what? She's going to have to live without you now. But what if she knew how much it cost? What if she knew it cost your soul? How do you think she'd feel?" Dean snapped.
Aeron narrowed her eyes at him. "Enough Dean!" Aeron yelled.
Dean looked at her with wide eyes.
Sam rested his hand on her arm trying to sooth her. He grabbed onto his brother's arm. "Okay, that's enough. You just sit tight, alright? We're going to figure this out." Sam shoved Dean out of the room.
Aeron followed him out of the room.
Sam looked at his brother. "You alright?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Hey, I got an idea." He pulled out the bag that he had that was full of Goofer dust. "You throw George's hoodoo at the Hellhound, keep it away from Evan as long as you can. I'm gonna go to the crossroads and summon the demon."
"Have you lost your goddamn marbles?" Aeron shouted. "Summoning a demon. You're asking to get yourself killed."
"Maybe a little. But I can trap it. I can exorcize it, and I can buy us time to figure out something more permanent." Dean told them.
Aeron let out a sigh.
Sam rubbed his face. "Yeah, but how much time?"
"I don't know, a while. I mean, it's not easy for those suckers to claw their way back from hell and into the sunshine."
"No. No way."
"You're not allowed to say no, Sammy, and same goes for you red. Unless you've got better ideas." Dean snapped at them.
"Dean, you can forget it, alright? I'm not letting you summon that demon."
"Why not?" Dean questioned, narrowing his eyes at his little brother. What the hell was going through his mind? Truly?
"Because I don't like where your head is right now, that's why not." Sam snapped.
"What are you talking about?"
"Dean, he has a point. I don't scare easily and hell you're scaring me now." Aeron said, looking at the elder Winchester.
"You know, you've been on edge ever since we found that crossroads, Dean, and I think I know why."
"We don't have time for this." Dean brushed by Sam.
"Dad."
Dean stopped in his tracks.
"You think maybe dad made one of those deals, huh? Hell. I've been thinking about it. I'm sure you've been thinking about it too."
"It fits, doesn't it? I'm alive, dad's dead. The yellow-eyed demon was involved. What if he did? What if he struck a deal? My life for his soul?" Dean questioned softly.
"I think I hear it!It's outside!" Evan yelled from the other room.
Aeron moved into the other room quickly to make sure that he was alright.
"Just keep him alive, okay?"
"Dean…."
"Go and help Aeron!"
Sam nodded his head knowing that this was a bad idea.
SPNSPN
"You got the Goofer dust?" Aeron asked as Sam came into the room.
Sam rubbed his face. "I don't like this."
"I know you don't like this, but do you really think that your brother would allow us to do this? He's the eldest out of our team."
Sam let out a sigh and pulled out the bag from his pocket.
"Let's just try to keep Evan as safe as we can."
Sam nodded his head knowing that Aeron was right about this.
SNSNSN
Dean placed a photo of himself in George's box. He buried it dead center at the crossroads. He pushed the dirt over it with his hands. He stood up.
A woman appeared behind him in a black dress. A smirk came to her lips. "So. What brings a guy like you to a place like this?"
Dean looked over at her.
"You called me?"
"I'm just glad it worked."
"First time?" She questioned.
"You could say that."
"Oh, come on now. Don't sell yourself short. I know all about you, Dean Winchester." Her eyes went red.
"So, you know who I am."
"I got the newsletter."
"Well, don't keep me in suspense. What have you heard?"
"Well, I heard you were handsome, but… you're just edible. What can I do for you, Dean?" She questioned him.
"Maybe we should do this in my car. Nice and private."
"Sounds good to me."
The two of them walked towards Dean's car.
SNSNSN
Sam began to sprinkle the dust on the windows in a line.
"Make a circle around him." Aeron told Sam. She reached up into the cupboard and pulled out a salt container. She began to put it onto the windows as well.
Sam nodded his head and began to make a circle around Evan.
"What is that stuff?" Evan asked Sam.
"Goofer dust."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes." Aeron said fixing the line.
"Afraid so. Look, believe us, don't believe us, whatever you want. Just whatever you do, stay inside the circle, alright?" Sam said, looking at Evan.
Evan nodded his head.
"At least he listens." Aeron said softly. She looked out the window. "You think Dean found the demon?"
Sam looked over at her. "I hope so. How are you holding up?"
Aeron let out a sigh. "I'll be fine Sam. It's just that this hits a little too close to home. I think you already know that."
Sam nodded his head. "You're gonna have to tell Dean."
Aeron rubbed her face with her hand and let out a sad sigh. "I know, but I don't think he is ready to hear it. And I'm not sure how he would react to know someone that almost exactly matches Evan's story almost to a t. Except for a husband saving a wife. It was an older brother saving his baby sister from Cancer. You think that he would so willingly listen. And you're saying that maybe John made a deal?" Aeron shook her head. "Truth is Sam… your father most likely made a deal with a demon to save Dean. I know you have most likely been thinking about it since I told you my story." She ran her hand through her hair. "He does know that I should have died at 14. I am almost 22 Sam. Eight years and still kicking. And with this lifestyle too."
SNSNSN
"So I was hoping we could strike a deal." Dean said, trying to get her fancy.
"That's what I do." She said with a smile.
"I want Evan Hudson released from his contract." Dean stated looking at her.
"Hm. Sorry darling. That's not negotiable."
"I'll make it worth your while."
"Oh really? What are you offering?"
"Me."
"Well, well, well. You'd sacrifice your own life for someone else's. Like father, like son."
Dean looked at her warily. What did she mean by that?
SNSNSN
Evan hugged himself in the circle that Sam had finished.
He shook the bag to get the last of it out. "That's the last of it."
Aeron nodded her head. "Shall we put a ring of salt?"
Sam ran a hand through his hair. "I don't see the problem with doing that."
Aeron nodded her head. "Alright." She said as she began to put a ring of salt around the ring of Goofer dust. "I just hope your brother is able to stop that demon."
"You and me both."
SNSNSN
"You did know about your dad's deal, right? His life for yours? Oh, I didn't make the deal myself, but boy I wish I had." She didn't know that there was a devil's trap below the car. "A Devil's Trap? You've got to be kidding me."
SNSNSN
Evan whirled around hearing a dog growling.
"What?" Sam and Aeron asked, looking at him.
"You hear that?"
"No, where."
Evan gasped for a breath of air. "Right outside the door."
"Hellhound." Aeron said softly.
"You hear it?" Evan asked, looking at her.
Aeron shook her head.
The doors began to rattle violently.
Sam grabbed onto Aeron's arm pulling her inside of the circle with him. Aeron's face went into his flannel that he wore. He felt her fingers tighten onto it as well. He didn't blame her for being scared. Hell this was the first time of him dealing with a case like this. And this was the second for her. He never wished her to go through this again. Not with a hellhound knowing what had happened to her brother.
The two men stared tensely at the rattling door.
"Just don't move, alright? Stay where you are." Sam told Evan. He just hoped that the Goofer dust would work.
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"You stupid, stupid… I should rip you limb from limb." She slammed the door shut and advanced on Dean.
Dean began to back up towards a wooden structure. "Take your best shot." He said in more of a pleading tone. He could only hope that his plan would work.
"No. I don't think so. I'm not going to put you out of your misery."
"Yeah? Why not?"
"Because your misery's the whole point. It's too much fun to watch. Knowing how your daddy died for you, how he sold his soul. I mean, that's gotta hurt."
Dean backed up against the wooden railing.
"It's all you ever think about. You wake up and your first thought is, I can't do this anymore. You're all lit up with pain. I mean, you loved him so much. You should ask the girl that you're hunting with." The demoness smirked. "She has been waking up every day for the last 8 years thinking that too." She got into his face. "You blew it, Dean. I could have given you what you need."
"What do I need?" Dean questioned her. His mind was reeling at what the demon said about Aeron.
"Your father. I could have brought him back. Your loss. Seeya, Dean. I wish you a nice long life."
"Hold on."
She stopped in her tracks . A smile was on her lips.
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The rattling became more violent and louder. It stopped suddenly.
Sam looked at Evan. "Do you still hear it?"
"No, is it over?"
Aeron looked around with wide eyes. "I don't…."
A rumbling sound came from a grating by the wall. It caused the three of them to turn quickly to look at it. It bursted outward kicking dust into the room.
"It's here!" Even shouted.
Aeron's hand somehow found Sam's. She gripped it tightly.
Sam soothingly ran his thumb lightly over her hand in soothing circles.
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The demon turned and looked at him.
Dean looked down. Not even looking at her.
"You're lucky I've got a soft spot for lost puppies and long faces. I just can't leave you like this. Besides, You didn't call meher to bargain for Evan, not really."
"Can you bring him back? My dad?"
"Of course I can. Just as he was. Your dad would live a long natural life, like he was meant to. That's a promise."
"What about me?"
"I could give you ten years. Ten long good years with him. That's a lifetime. The family can be together again. John, Dean, and Sammy. The Winchester boys all reunited." She walked towards him. "Look. Your dad's supposed to be alive. You're supposed to be dead. So we'll just set things straight, put things back in their natural order. And you get ten extra years on top. That's a bonus." She got closer to him.
Dean turned and walked further back. "You think you could…." He turned and faced her. "throw in a set of steak knives?"
She took a step forward. "You know, this smart ass self defense mechanism of yours…." She stopped and looked up. She was stuck in a devil's trap. "Dean!"
"Now you're really trapped. That's gotta hurt."
"Let me out. Now." She demanded.
"Sure. We just gotta make a little deal here first. You call off your hellhounds and let Evan go. Then I'll let you go."
"I can't break a binding contract."
"Hm. And by can't you mean don't want to? Last chance. Evan and his wife get to live to a ripe old age. Going, going…"
"Let's talk about this."
"Okay, gone." Dean circled around her and pulled out his dad's journal.
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The hellhounds surrounded them. Evan could see them, but Aeron and Sam couldn't.
"Don't move." Aeron said to Evan.
"No! Stay inside the circle." Sam said, looking over at Evan.
Claw marks appeared on the floor in the path towards the circle. But they stop just before the edge.
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Dean opened the journal and held onto the rosary.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, you're just gonna go on a little trip. Way down South." Dean said, looking at the demon.
"Forget Evan. Think of your dad."
"Regna terrae, cantate Deo…"
The demon flinched and convulsed.
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Sam, Aeron, and Evan backed away slowly, their protective circle beginning to disappear.
Aeron groaned. "I think Dean is doing something."
"Circle's broken. Come on!" Sam said, grabbing onto Evan's arm. The three of them ran to the store room.
Aeron slammed the door harshly. "Sam!"
Sam braced himself against the door. He knew that Aeron wasn't going to be strong enough to hold the door. He closed his eyes as the hellhounds started to pound on it.
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"In potentis Magnife!"
"Wait!"
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The pounding stopped and it became quiet.
Sam and Evan looked around.
Aeron ran her hand nervously through her hair. "It's over." She said softly. "Dean did it."
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Dean and the dmon were locked in a kiss.
She broke the kiss.
Dean stepped back and blinked. "What the hell was that for?"
"Sealing the deal."
"I usually like to be warned before I'm violated with demon tongue."
"Evan Hudson is free. He and his wife will live long lives."
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"My word is my bond."
"Oh really?"
"It is when I make a deal. It's the rules. You got what you wanted. Now let me go."
Dean stepped back and glanced up at the devil's trap. He fingered the rosary."
"You're gonna double-cross me? Funny how I'm the trustworthy one."
Dean shrugged his shoulders. He really didn't care what she had to say.
"You know, you renge? Send me to hell? Sooner or later I'm gonna climb out, and skinning Evan Hudson will be the first thing that I do."
Dean smiled and put the rosary away. He climbed up and broke the protective circle above her head.
She stepped out. "I gotta tell you. You would have never pulled that stunt if you knew."
Dean gritted his teeth as he opened the door on the passenger side. "After you."
"Such a gentleman." She started to get into the car. She looks down and saw a symbol extending fro
"Knew what?"
"Where is your dad? You should have made that deal. See, people talk about hell, but it's just a word. It doesn't even come close to describing the real thing."
"Shut your mouth, bitch." Dean hissed out.
"If you could see your poor daddy? Hear the sounds he makes because he can't even scream. And Aeron's brother. Oh she should hear him and he's been there longer than your daddy."
Dean advanced onto her. "How about I send you there now."
She threw her head back and the demon came out of her.
Dean backed up that he was against the wooden structure.
The girl slumped to the ground. She looked around confused. "What… how did I get here?"
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Dean drove down the road silently. He occasionally looked back at the girl that was in the back seat.
"Demons lie all the time, right? Maybe she was lying." Sam told him.
"Come on. Is that what you really think?" Dean asked, looking over at Sam out of the corner of his eyes.
Sam looked down.
"How could he do it?"
"He did it for you." Sam told his brother softly.
"Exactly. How am I supposed to live with that? You know, the thought of him… wherever he is right now. I mean, he spent his whole life chasing that… yellow-eyed son of a bitch. He should have gone out fighting. That was supposed to be his legacy. You know? Not bargaining with the damn thing. Not this."
"How many people do you think dad saved? Total?"
"That's not the point Sam."
"Evan Hudson is safe because of what dad taught us. That's his legacy, Dean. But we're still here, man. So we gotta keep going, for him." Sam swallowed the lump in his throat. "Dean?"
"Yeah."
"When you were trapping that demon, you weren't… I mean, it was all a trick, right? You never considered actually making that deal, right?"
Dean stared straight ahead. He didn't say anything about the deal. He looked back in the rear view mirror. "The demon also said something interesting. Something about Aeron's brother."
Aeron jerked in the backseat looking at him with wide eyes.
Sam flinched.
"The question is. What the demon said is true."
Aeron closed her eyes sadly.
"Is it true your brother has been down there in hell for a long time?"
"Seven years. Almost eight. I know I said over five Sam, but it has been much longer. I cannot forget that he made a deal.A deal with a demon to save my life. Save me from a death that would have claimed my life in three month. The demon wasn't lying." She shook her head.
Dean didn't reply to what she had said before. He just reached over, turning the radio to full blast.
Aeron and Sam flinched.
Sam felt a soft hand on his shoulder and her placed his hand on top of her small hand.
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This is the end of Chapter 9. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you think. Reviews actually help me keep going when it comes to writing. I will update soon. That's a promise. Until next time.
