Disclaimer: Crimson Peak is Guillermo Del Toro's property, Supernatural belongs to Eric Kripke, The Lodgers to Brian O'Malley. Emma, Constance and I are self-inserts. The old lady from Camden Market belongs to Chibimelodee.
Summary: Ghosts are real and everything happens for a reason. Is this why Marina and her friends find themselves trapped in Allerdale Hall a few days away from Christmas?
Author's note: This story was written for me by « Emma » and « Constance » from Chibimelodee as an Advent Calendar two years ago. Please note that all three of us are french and while we do know our way around English, we might still make some mistakes. Feel free to let us know! As the three girls are french and start to speak from this chapter, I'll put the translations of their sentences right next to them so you know what they say.
At the Candlelight
Chapter 23 : It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
«Hey, Lucifer ! » Sam yelled out of his lungs. « Don't you want you true vessel ? I'm here ! »
« Really, Sammy ? » Dean asked, his voice lower than his brother. « Let me try, okay ? » he winked at Sean before screaming : « You better hide out, big bad wolf ! 'Cause we're not trapped in the house with you. You are trapped in here with us… »
Loading his gun, the sound of the cocking made Rowena roll her eyes.
« Are you really thinking you yelling will bring Lucifer out, boys ? » Rowena asked.
« I understand you are afraid, Miss MacLeod » Sean started, only to be stopped by an annoyed Rowena.
« A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest… Because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest is her ! » the witch smirked, taking a little potion from her pocket and chalk.
Tracing a unicursal hexagram with some sigils none of the hunters, not the Angel had ever seen, she drained the potion on the centre, chanting slowly :
Round about the cauldron go
In the poisoned entrails throw
Skin of toad and spike of bone
Sharpened on an eagle stone
Serpent's egg and dancing dead
Effigy of beaten lead
Double double trouble you
Bubble in a witches' brew
The sleak potion began to bubble horribly, doubling the size, its tar substance turning into blood as she continued to chant.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog
Lizard leg and fairy wing,
round about the cauldron sing
Double double trouble you,
bubble in a witches' brew
The wind was twirling around the hexagram, black mist appearing around their feet, trying to engulf them.
« What are you doing ? » Dean asked, stepping back as the potion nearly touched his boots.
« I'm calling the darkest soul of this house, dearie… All we have to hope is that we'll catch Lucifer and not this little bitch of Lucille… If only someone had been kind enough to deal with her we would have been sure to catch You-Know-Who… Well, once in the trap, we'll have to cross our fingers and hope that he'll be stuck long enough so we can run away and mad enough so he follows us directly in Tommy boy's trap… » she answered, smirking as the mist swirled into the centre to the hexagram.
Root of mandrake dug at night,
when the moon is full and bright
Slip of yew and twig of fern,
make the fire dance and burn
For our will it will be done,
when the hurlyburly's done
Double double trouble you,
bubble in a witches' brew
« Remember when we spent Christmas hunting old pagan Gods who wanted to eat us ? What was their name again ? Carrigan ? » Sam whispered at his older brother, looking at the mist with disgust. « Man, I want to resume to these cases ! » Dean chuckled humourless, waiting for the Devil to show up.
Not before long, Lucifer stood in front of them, a frown on his forehead.
« What my home am I doing here ? »
« So, what did mama Crowley say we ought to do first ? » Bobby looked at the tiny cage they had been able to build, barely large enough to host one person.
« We put it near the clay vat where all the dead bodies had been thrown up to and then put some Thomas' blood and one of the demon's tears on the lock. An angel feather put after the blood will seal the cage. The sacrifice of a person you once loved will ensure to close the lock forever. » Castiel answered calmly, almost like reciting a poem.
« Do not forget all the spell chanting Thomas had to do because he owns this bloody ruined mansion ! » the demon sighed, taking a side of the cage, ready to move it the old fashion way.
Looking straight into Crowley's eyes, Castiel just snapped his fingers, transporting the four of them and the cage in the cellar.
« Really ? » Crowley asked, his eyes wide.
« Je ne crois pas que ce soit une bonne idée… » Marina mumbled, hidden under a sheet, disguised as a ghost for the second time.
(I don't think it is a good idea...)
« Evidemment que c'est une bonne idée ! » Emma exclaimed, putting her hand in the air, explaining things for what it seemed to be the hundredth time. « On doit attirer cette garce de Lucille loin de Lucifer afin qu'ils puissent le piéger sans qu'elle se mette en travers de leur chemin ! Et souviens-toi, gémis le plus fort possible ! Il faut qu'elle nous entende ! »
(Of course, it's a good idea ! We must catch this bitch Lucille's attention and get her far from Lucifer so they can trap him without her getting in the way ! And remember, moan as loudly as possible, she has to hear us!)
As soon as they got out of the bedroom, gesticulating grotesquely, moaning like ghosts, Lucille appeared in the corner of their eyes, her shape cutting through the shadows.
« Why are you wearing my sheets ? » she hissed, furious.
« We're ghosts ! » Emma said like it was a piece of evidence before reciting why ghosts wear sheets. « Ghosts in popular culture haven't always looked like purloined bedding. But representations of ghosts in street clothes presented a few logistical challenges for artists: namely, how do you make sure audiences can tell the difference between living characters and dead ones? And how do you get the ghosts costume to stop all that noisy creaking? Thus, the image of the "bedsheet ghost" became more popular, as a sort of expository workaround employed by directors and illustrators. Instead of the clothes that they died in, more and more ghosts began popping up in their burial shrouds-which look an awful lot like 20st Century sheets... In a nutshell, your sheets are perfect for this kind of costume… I hope you'll forgive us for having cut them, Lucy… »
Lucille's face twisted into pure wrath and disgust along the way of the weird little French woman, the temperature slowly dropped down, the air chilling. Marina pulled Emma's arms, urging her to start running. Even if the ghost couldn't see her face, Emma pulled out her tongue her before rushing down the corridor with her best friend.
Run, girl, run, run as fast as you can!
There's a crazed [lady] and you're a threat to [her] plan!
Run, girl, run, 'cause this [ghost] has gone mad
So run as fast as you can
OR YOU'LL BE DEAD!
« Bad idea… Bad idea… Bad idea… Bad idea… » Marina chanted while she ran away, mysteriously finding themselves in front of Thomas's bedroom door.
« A terre ! » Emma yelled and the two alive women threw themselves on the floor, resulting Lucille going straight into the wooden door, her body vanished with a scream of agony.
(On the floor!)
« Ladies and gentlemen, the DIVERSIONER ! » Emma said smugly while Marina barely controlled the shakings of fear that ran through her spine.
« Well, that went well ! Say you were afraid Tommy boy's sis wanted to join the party… » Dean smiled awkwardly, his back on the door of the room they had trapped Lucifer in, avoiding the Devil to get out.
« Can you hurry up… This door won't hold for long! » Sam glared hard at Rowena who was currently drawing sigils on the door with Sean's blood.
« Maybe she was already out ! Magic is not an exact science, Dean… » she chastised, completely ignoring Sam, putting the last touch to her scribbles. « It should give us enough time to run before he blastes the door off and chases us. Ready to… »
Before she could finish, two people dressed as ghosts with white fine linen sheets tumbled before them, apparently out of breath. The apparition made Sean yelp oh-so-non-manly, his fear of ghosts never as present as right there.
« Marina ? » Sean looked directly into her, surprised to see her aura shine through the fabrics. « What are you doing here ? »
« Ask the Diversioner… » she replied, shaking her head.
« Thomas said that Lucille might trouble you and that he needed people he trusted to busy her a while while you did what you had to do… It's okay? You've got him? » The pink-haired woman asked, shrugging, trying not to fumble over her sheet as she got nearer Dean.
« You're awfully quiet… » Emma said to the hunter, her eyes shining through the holes she had cut while he was still leaning on the shaking door.
« Nobody plans a murder out loud ! » he answered, his tone awkwardly calm and yet threatening. "And… I… will… kill… him…"
« Boys, I don't want to scare you but the door won't hold much any longer » Rowena paled as the hit Lucifer threw on the door seemed stronger. « Everybody… Run… Now… »
« Put me down right now… Dean, put me down !... I'm not kidding, Dean, I'm not a potato bag… Put me down or I'll be sick… I'm not kidding, I'm going to throw up ! » Emma was yelling angrily, being carried on Dean's shoulder, because, apparently, she couldn't run fast enough.
She would have huffed if her life wasn't in danger but right, now, they had the Devil running after them, Lucifer having succeeded to blast the door off.
« Don't put me down… Don't put me down… He's here ! He's here ! He's here ! »
They finally arrived in the cellar, out of breath, destroying the elevator with a well-aimed gunshot of Sam… Castiel was looking at them with perplexity, his head cocked on one side, his blue eyes fixed on the two sheets hiding the young women.
« What are those ? »
« It's my ghost ! » Sean answered proudly, taking the fabric off Marina gracefully while Emma was battling with hers, the damn sheet seeming to want to stay on her.
Putting her down gently, Dean mimicked Emma to stay quiet as he glared at Thomas, his green eyes twinkling with anger.
« Son of a bitch !... You put her in a useless danger !... She could have died ! Or worst !... You let her risk her life while you were safely here with an Angel and the bloody King of Hell… »
« We all are in danger, Sir Winchester ! Now is not really the moment to discuss it. She wanted to help and I just… » Thomas interjected, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.
« You're really campaigning for « asshole of the year », aren't you ? » the hunter spatted with disbelief.
« As defending champion, you surely are nervous ! » Crowley intervened, lazily spilling the content of a little bottle on the lock of the cage.
Noticing the dazed look fixed on him, he sighed loudly and, throwing the bottle in a clay vat, replied :
« What ? You really didn't think I was going to cry… I'm the King of Hell, I don't cry ! I've never cry !... No, Mother ! Not a word !... This belonged to the last demon I tortured… Fresh from a couple of days. It should do the trick. »
« Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in. Not by the hair on your chiny-chin-chin? Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in. » Lucifer chanted, his voice coming from anywhere and everywhere at the same time, twisting around them, before he appeared right next to the cage, his smirk sending chills to everyone. « Heeeeeeere's Luci ! »
His eyes brightened red, fire coming out angrily from the clay vat. Fear struck Sean, his heart seeming to come alive for the first time since his death and he quickly put himself in front of Marina, shielding her from the Devil. As one man, Dean and Sam moved to hide Emma behind them, hoping that Lucifer hadn't seen her. Lucifer winked playfully at Crowley and sent a carnivorous smile at Rowena before focusing his attention on the Baronet.
« Do you really think your little pathetic cage will work ? » Lucifer asked, lazily laying on the cage. « Poor little things… Babies... That's what you are. All of you, struggling to... walk upright with purpose and… and pride. Pitiful ! »
« Oh, shut up ! » Sam spatted, his gun aiming the Devil's head.
« He said shut up to me ! » Lucifer laughed. He then took a step towards Thomas, a shimmer of anger flashing in his eyes. « I don't know exactly what you are or what you are doing… but I must congratulate you ! You almost made me believe I was as pitiful as you, hairless apes… But since, I met your dearest sis… We talked, we got acquainted… We got closer… She mentioned you once or twice and it seems you are… for a lack of a better term… untouchable. If I had it my way, you would be, as we speak, twisting out of pain on the ground like this insufferable worm you are, little Thomas ! You would beg me to end your days, to put you out of your misery and I would be deaf to your pleas… No Death for you… No peace… I would have enjoyed your screams and your tears… But you know how it is, to quote the Rolling Stones, we apparently don't always get what we want… You'll never live happily ever after with the chick who freed me and I can't lay a finger on you… Life's like that, we need to enjoy what we can have… And, your sweet Lucille didn't forbid me to have some fun with your friends… Actually, psychological torture is much more fun than the mundane physical pain I could have inflicted you… So, how will you support your culpability when you'll see them suffer at your feet, Tommy boy ? Let see… Who shall we begin with ? »
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
Take a look at the five and ten, it's glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes that glow
A snap of his fingers and Bobby fell on the groud, his legs unable to hold him. Lucifer flashed him a smile as he erased the pact Crowley and the old hunter had signed many years ago, allowing him to walk again. Another snap and Rowena struggled for air.
« Ponctionned lungs, one of my favorite » Rampage of fire crossed their path as the other persons tried to help their friends.
Facing Emma, Lucifer smiled, the flames making his white teeth shine in the dark of the room.
A pair of hop-a-long boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of [Sammy] and [Dean]
Dolls that'll talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of [Marina] and [Emma]
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again
The Baronet was an unfortunate spectator of the horror show Lucifer was displaying, nothing he could think of could possibly make the Devil change his mind. Struggling to remain impassible, hoping that Lucifer would end this if he saw that it didn't affect Thomas, the Baronet was silently begging for forginess… With a gush of wind that almost extinguished the flames, Lucille appeared, her skeletal hand on her brother's shoulder. Turning his face away from the torture of his great-grandson, Thomas looked at his sister, tears beginning to pool in his blue eyes.
"Please… Save them… Do something… They don't deserve that… They are innocent Lucille…"
With a mocking cackle, Lucille shook her head, a flash of madness shining in her eyes:
"Don't say I didn't warn you, dear brother… Soon, you'll be alone… All alone… You swore you'd only love me… that we would be together for eternity… that you belonged to me… But the lies end tonight, Thomas! You will be bound to me, whether you like it or not!"
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in every store
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door
"Oh, cut your crap!" Emma intervened between Thomas and Lucille as Dean and Sam were trying to avoid Lucifer from torturing the young French woman. "Were you dropped too much as a child or what? You need to get over him, you bitch! He doesn't love you anymore, end of the story! Now, you got a bone to pick? You've come so far so why now are you bullying me by bullying him? I'd normally slap your face off, and everyone here could watch but since you're a ghost and all that, I guess my hand would just fly over you so…"
Too dumbstruck by Emma's words in his defence, Thomas didn't move as Lucille rushed to the young woman. The contrast of his sister's blackness and the brightness of Emma's soul snapped his mind in work as a new shockwave made everyone stumbled, projecting Lucille and Lucifer against a clay vat.
Blood dripping from a cut on his forehead, Lucifer sighed, anger flashing in his eyes as he stood on wobbly legs, clearly not finding this funny anymore. Holding Lucille's wrist in a tight grip, he bent toward her horrified face and stopped only millimetres from her mouth. Smirking slightly, he sucked sharply, eyes closed, aspirating with hunger the ghost's life force. Lucille was becoming more and more skeletal, her ghostly form disintegrating into a grotesque shape without skin…
A rush of anger flew in Thomas's veins as he was pushed to protect Lucille, his sister who had always protected him. With newfound strength, he pushed Lucifer into the cage, the Devil flying unconsciously into the trap. By reflexes, Rowena ran to keep the door lock as strongly as she could, hoping what she was doing would be enough so Thomas could finish the spell.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make 'em ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart
Ignoring the Devil's screams, the desperate incantations of Rowena, the gun fires of the two hunters, tears pooling in his eyes, Thomas kneeled next to Lucille's body, rocking her in a vain attempt to soothe her raging breaths.
"Please, forgive me… I've never wanted this… I'm so sorry, Lucille. What did I do? What can I do? Lucille, tell me what I have to do…" the Baronet whispered as tears began to fall on his sister's face. After all, he had been through, he just couldn't fight the love he always had for Lucille…
Catching his collar with her bony fingers, his sister motioned for him to get closer to her as if she wanted to say something to him. The steel of a blade glistened with the flames but Sean hadn't had time to warn Thomas before Lucille stabbed her brother in his ribs, her devilish laugh filled the room, screaming their promise:
"Always together, never apart!"
The fire flickered as the light snapped shut, the bulbs exploding with sparks of electricity. Seeming to come from nowhere, the distant sound of an electric guitar resounded, becoming louder and louder, matching the shaky breathing of the Baronet who laid on the floor. Bettlejuice came running from the darkness of the end of the room, Thomas's wives following the tiny papillon dog closely, their eyes showing nothing but pure wrath. They all came rushing to the former mistress of the house and soon, Lucille stumbled into the cage and, without really thinking of what he was doing, in a yell of hate and pain, the Baronet closed the door and pulled one of Castiel's feathers out of his sleeve, watching as the lock melted at the mere contact of it with his own blood on the steel.
You'll take my life but I'll take yours too
You'll fire your musket but I'll run you through
So when you're waiting for the next attack
You'd better stand there's no turning back
Shaking and trembling, the cage fell backwards, falling on the clay vat where all of Lucille's victims had been thrown into, the fire licking atrociously at the prisoners. Shrieks of pure anger and agony echoed in the cellar as Lucifer and Lucille sank into Hell.
With a smile, Enola, Margaret and Pamela looked fondly at Thomas before vanishing into thousands of moths who flew high in the air, filling the entire mansion. Before everyone's eyes, as the moths battled their wings to go higher, the house found its past splendour, the ruins turned into a healthy infrastructure, the clay being dragged out of the floor, the huge hole in the roof closing itself… The house was now free of its curse… All the ghosts were gone in a better place but one…
Constance was still trapped and her voice filled with sorrow and regret soon resounded on the former battlefield:
"Help me, Thomas…" The world began to slowly fade around the Baronet, his mind going fuzzy as darkness took a claim on him, the blood flowing heavily from his wound.
Sean and Castiel went running to help Thomas as his head hit the cold floor, his body unconscious.
It was the night before Christmas. Sam, Dean and Emma were sitting in the living room, enjoying the warmth of the fireplace in a blissful silence. Bobby was snoring in an armchair near the fireplace. Lucifer was back in his cage, in Hell, trapped with the tormented soul of Lucille. The Apocalypse was game over. All was well and yet, Constance was on everyone's mind. They were exhausted and no one had the heart of enjoying the upcoming Christmas. It seemed their fight with the Devil had been ages ago, even if it had been only a mere hour ago.
"I don't know you, Sammy, but this painting gives me the creeps…" Dean said, looking at Thomas's mother painting with disdain. "I really hope her ghost's gone but, better safe than sorry… Sammy, a little help please?"
With the help of his little brother, Dean took the awful painting off the wall, threw a handful of salt on it before throwing it in the fireplace. With a sigh, he went to sit on the couch near Emma, pulling her close to him as Sam sat on a comfortable armchair in front of them.
"I don't know how you two do this, day in, day out…" Emma whispered to the Winchester brother, her head comfortably resting on Dean's muscular chest. "Fighting ghosts, witches, the Devil… Your life's one big poop storm, isn't it?"
"Spoken like a true hunter!" Sam smirked proudly at Emma as Dean glared murderously at him.
"Really? Hunter?" the young woman frowned, not sure of what to think of this profession.
"Oh yeah!" Sam answered, completely unaware of his big brother's discomfort. "I mean, did you see what you just did? You helped us stop the Apocalypse. I think you earned it!"
"Well, don't get on your high horse, doll" Dean whispered in her ear, his hot breath tickling her cheek. "I think we had to have a long – very-long – discussion about the Diversioner… and after that, if the others succeed to patch this douchebag of a Baronet, I'll kill him for having brought on into this !"
Huffing, Emma closed her eyes, snuggling as close as possible to Dean, the events of the previous days playing in her mind as she waited sleep with open arms.
While Dean, Sam and Emma rested in the living room, Sean, Castiel, Rowena and Marina were rushing to tend to Thomas's wound. His wound should have taken barely a minute to cure for the two Angels and yet, they appeared to be powerless to stop the bleeding. Thomas was still unconscious and his sweat and groans from pain were the only proofs of him being alive. Rowena had joined the Angels to provide them with wise and yet useless advice. Marina, who refused to panic, was sitten next to the injured man and held tightly his hand, hoping her gesture would bring him some comfort. Crowley was the only one missing. The demon, thinking he had better things to do than losing his time near a dying man, had quickly vanished, probably causing some mischief in the now brand-new mansion. After several hours, thanks to their efforts and magic, the wound was slowly closing and the Baronet slowly gained colors back on his cheeks.
Thomas shuffled uncomfortably on his bed, his eyes blinking furiously as he took sight of his surroundings. His eyes dropped on the bedsheets covered in blood, the worst scenario already playing in his still foggy mind:
"Why is there blood everywhere?" he asked with a small voice.
"You dear sweet little sister may have aggressively poked you with a knife!" Rowena chuckled at his small memory loss.
"She stabbed me?" he sighed, Marina avoiding him to put his hand on his fresh scar, barely visible now.
"No…" the witch chastised him like a mother explained something to her child "She aggressively poked you with a knife! But, thanks to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and especially me, you'll live…"
Thomas's eyes closed with dread as he remembered all the previous events, sleepiness finally having been cleared from his mind, all of his thoughts directed on what Constance had said. He pushed slowly Marina and sat with difficulty. He breathed deeply and whispered ever so softly:
"You shouldn't have…" before getting up.
As being pushed by an invisible force, the Baronet got out of his bedroom with unsteady feet and walked downstairs, completely oblivious to the others who were following him with concern. Once in the living room, the Baronet kneeled near the fireplace, watching with fascination the dancing of the flames. Taking a candle from a nearby candelabra, he closed his eyes, inscribing it for Constance.
Light a candle in the chapel at the closing of each day
Keep it burning while you're yearning
For the one who went away
Say a pray'r and ask the angel
To guide and to watch from above
Light a candle in the chapel for the one you love
The world seemed too fazed when he opened his eyes, twirling and switching before stilling abruptly, his eyes focusing on the person that stood in front of him. His mouth opened without his knowledge as he tried to register what was happening. He blinked a few times, but there she was, smiling. Constance… Taking her into his arms, he buried his face in the crook on her neck, letting her scent surround him in the most delicious way, the warmth filling his very core. Just one look at Rowena who smiled brightly eased his worries and soothed his aching heart. She was alive… And so was his baby…
« Constance ! » Emma and Marina screamed, happy tears rolling down their cheeks as they rushed to hug her too, not really believing this miracle.
Constance chuckled with glee as she embraced her friend and her sister, the latter pushing the Baronet away so she could hug more freely the resurrected young woman. Sam was patting uncomfortably Rowena's back who was crying her eyes out, blowing her nose loudly in the hunter's handkerchief. Dean went closer to the still sleeping hunter and woke him up, elbowing him hard, a happy smile on his face.
« The Prophecy… » Sean whispered to a dumbstruck Castiel. « Remember the final verses : « On the hill, where snow becomes blood, the deads come alive at the candlelight. » Only the death of a loved one could awake the protector's powers… That's why she had to die… But she was never meant to stay dead, brother… »
With a relieved sigh, the two Angels went to mingle, greeting Constance's resurrection with the others.
« Merry Christmas ! » the eldest French woman announced as the clock struck midnight and, with a twinkle of mischief, looked at Marina before saying : « And you know what that means… We need to sing because
Chante, c'est Noël
Sing along, sing a song of Christmas
Chante, c'est Noël
'tis that wonderful time of year »
« Ah non… Constance, enfin ! » Marina grumbled, hiding her face with her hands, shaking her head to get rid of this damn song that seemed to have taken residence in her head. « Nope ! Too late… It's stuck in my head now ! Thanks Constance… »
"Et bon anniversaire!" Emma winked at her best friend who blushed as everyone congratulated her.
(And happy birthday!)
Benefiting the gathering around Marina, Thomas secretly whispered something in her ear, and, without anyone noticing it, she dropped something in his hand.
The Baronet then swirled Constance so that she was facing him. Slowly, he knelt as she frowned, wondering what he was doing.
« Constance, I almost lost you and there is no way of telling how much it destroyed me » he said, love shining in his blue eyes as he tucked the ring he had made from his pocket and offered it to her. « I have waited a century to find you. And I don't want to spend the next hundred years regretting letting you go without telling you what I feel for you. I don't have much to offer you with the exception of this old house, a name dead since long ago and my infinite love for you. My dear Constance, my Love, my Butterfly, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife ? »
It's a beautiful night, we're looking for something dumb to do
Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you
Is it the look in your eyes, or is it this dancing juice
Who cares baby, I think I wanna marry you
Don't say no no no no no
Just say yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
And we'll go go go go go
If you're ready, like I'm ready
Constance jumped at his neck, peppering his face with kisses, whispering « yes » between her kisses, a huge grin lightening her face, the happy laughter of the Baronet filling the room.
« A Christmas wedding is perfectly what we needed ! » Rowena purred, looking motherly at the scene. « After all, I doubt she will fit in her wedding gown if she waits… »
« A Christmas what ? » Constance asked, dumbstruck. « He just proposed, he doesn't want to marry me right here right now ! »
« Trust me, doll… » Dean whispered with a laugh, winking at Thomas. « He does… »
The preparation for the wedding went in a blur, Rowena taking charge of everything, ordering everyone around, proclaiming herself as the Head Maid of Honor, much to Emma's dismay. After some screechings and screamings, the arguments were obviously won by the red-head witch who hurried to make the most perfect wedding in only a couple of hours.
While the girls were getting dressed, Thomas was laying on his couch, his eyes staring at the patterns on his ceiling. He couldn't believe he was getting married… again… But this time, with the right one. It was just that it was like a dream, the most perfect and exquisite dream, a fantasy even, with the woman he loved more than his own life. He closed his eyes and pictured her in his mind. Her smile, her laugh, the way her long, silky chestnut hair swished when she walked, how she was so clever that when she got going on a subject that she enjoyed and that she knew a lot about, her intelligence put him in sheer awe. Even her name sounded magical. Constance. He shivered, though not from the cold.
I'm gettin' married in the mornin'
Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime...
Hail and salute me Then haul off and boot me...
And get me to the church, Get me to the church...
For Gawd's sake, get me to the church on time!
Constance attached her second earring and studied herself in the full-length mirror. Rowena had had the wonderful idea to change to color of the dress the French woman had bought in Camden Market, making it white and gold instead of night blue. Her hair had been done by her sister, and it looked magnificent. It was up in a bun thanks to the butterfly hairpin, but many tendrils hung down her back and framed her heart-shaped face. She had some make-up on, just enough to question whether or not she had any on at all.
"Oh Constance…" Emma said, taking her in after putting in the final touches of her makeup, "You look so beautiful !"
The bride looked around at her sister and her friend, smiling brightly, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Mon maquillage est parfait mais si je me mets à pleurer, je vais tout ruiner…" she said, feeling her throat starting to well.
(My make-up's perfect but if I start crying, I'm gonna ruin everything...)
She somehow managed to get the words out before tears of happiness managed to stream down her face and as if on cue, Emma and Marina started to cry a little too. They looked at each other with smudged makeup on every face and laughter bubbled out.
"Alright," Rowena announced, finally getting out of the bathroom, dressed in a beautiful pink dress. "No more crying, it's Constance's wedding today, it's a very, very happy day and none of us will cry, at least not until they get to the vows, promise?" The witch then sniffed loudly and took the handkerchief from Marina's hands to wipe her tears.
"Promise," the three French women repeated before re-doing their make-ups.
'Cuz here comes the bride!
I am marrying my creepy old guy
My creepy old guy!
Sure, the groom
Crawled ut of a tomb-
But hey, hey, it's a wedding!
So dim the lights
Pick up some rice
Say something nice!
It's my day to shine
I'm getting hitched to my creepy old guy!
As Thomas saw her walk down the transformed library, courtesy of Crowley who had seen everything coming far before anyone else, the young man swore he stopped breathing. He felt every thought in his head turn to dust and his heart skipped a beat. The Baronet pretty much lost all his senses as his bride walked towards him, her hair flowing down on her bare shoulders. She smiled shyly and softly as she saw him but Thomas couldn't smile back because at that moment he couldn't do anything except stare at her.
He didn't know if there was a word in any language that could describe what he felt as Constance walked towards him wearing the most breathtaking colour of white and gold. The time she took walking with her hand in her sister's could've either been an eternity or just a nanosecond, he didn't really know.
« Mate, close your mouth ! » Dean whispered in his ear, bringing Thomas back to the land where people other than Constance existed.
It's showtime!
Creepy old guy, creepy old guy
She's marrying a creepy old guy!
Have you guys seen "Lolita"?
This is just like that, but fine!
Creepy old dude, creepy old dude
Our faith has been renewed
Now love is alive!
Wave your baby girl goodbye
I am walking down the aisle
I wanna see a tear in every eye as I pass by
But I know that this time, I'm makin' it right
The two sisters came before him and Thomas kissed Emma's hand, looking at her gratefully before taking Constance's in his own. She had the most beautiful red blush on her cheeks that Thomas was sure wasn't makeup.
Just as if there was no one in the room, the small pink-haired woman warned him of all the trouble that could befall him if he ever hurt her sister. Thomas nodded softly, reassuring Emma that he would never, ever hurt Constance. The couple turned towards the King of Hell himself who was standing, officiating the ceremony.
The Baronet couldn't believe it, but Constance looked even more beautiful up-close. He wondered what he had done to deserve someone like her, because somehow fighting the actual Devil just didn't seem like enough.
O-M-G
Dressed to a "T"
Fancy and formal
I found me a wife
L'chaim! To life!
This is so normal!
I was ignored
But now, I'm adored!
« We are all gathered here, » Crowley began, « to witness a beginning, well, obviously not for Tommy boy who is at his – how many was it? – fifth wife. Today, on Christmas, Constance and Thomas embark on the rest of their lives or their newfound lives, what the hell the Baronet's situation is and it's not more clear for her either, together. »
The Demon stuck out his chest, making him look more important than he really was.
« I've seen both of them handle the toughest of situations and come out stronger. He had died and resurrected to meet her. She had died and resurrected to stay with him. They are the kindest, boldest and bravest people I've ever had the honour to meet, which is not really complicated if we consider I'm surrounded by demons… » He wiped out comically the non-existent tears he pretended to have.
"Tell me again why we let him officiate this ceremony?" Sam whispered, staring at Castiel and Sean with perplexity.
"'Cause I'm the one who decorated this whole room all by myself!" Crowley sighed loudly before the Angels could answer. "Now, back to the young couple… As King of Hell, I know very well which button to push to torture the most efficient people and let me tell you, they are each other's weakness… Which tells you how much they care for each other…"
The room was filled with the sound of soft sniffs, and Thomas felt his own eyes get wetter. Constance's eyes were brightly shining with unshed tears, but the smile on her lips made his heart skip a beat. How could somebody be so beautiful? And how could someone like her want to be with someone like him? These two questions, he would never get an understandable and feasible answer to.
« Let's move forward, then. » Crowley said, clearing his throat, « Do you, Constance, take Thomas to be your lawfully wedded husband, and promise to support him in sickness and in health, in tough times and in good, in poorness and in wealth, bla bla bla, til' death do you part? »
« I do » she whispered, without any hesitation and Thomas couldn't help but smile because, despite the tears in her eyes, her voice didn't break.
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
« Do you, Thomas, take Constance to be your lawfully wedded wife, and promise to support her in sickness and in health, in tough times and in good, in poorness and in wealth, and promise you will not, under any circumstances, try to poison her, til' death do you part? » Crowley asked the Baronet, winking at the bride at his new addition.
« I do » the former ghost said, looking in her eyes, and a sense of right settled on him.
He knew this was what he'd been heading towards, that this was his happy ending. This was the beginning of the rest of his life and he knew that it was meant to be with the woman standing in front of him.
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
« I believe everybody here had witnessed enough of their lovey-dovey moments so I think vows are quite useless by now. » the demon shrugged lazily. « I pride myself on knowing their hearts like I know my hypothetical own so, in a nutshell, they vow to love each others until one of them succeeds to kill the other ! Hurray… Now, let's cut this wedding short as I'm sure we all have better things to do... By the power vested in me by, well, myself, I now pronounce you, bonded for life. »
Crowley said, then waited for a beat as everyone held their breaths and added,
« You may now kiss the bride, lucky bastard… But let me tell you, you'll cheer the day when humanity finally leaves your corpse, buddy ! Feelings…. Bah ! » The King of Hell shrugged, looking disgustingly at the Baronet who, completely ignoring Crowley went to kiss softly his bride's inviting lips, sealing their union.
I will always love you
I love you
and with this kiss I make this vow
to love you forever
Like birds of a feather we'll be
You with me
« Et ben… J'ai hâte de voir la tête de papa et maman quand ils vont apprendre que tu es mariée ! » Emma laughed, hugging her sister tightly. « Sérieusement, je suis contente pour toi. Mais souviens-toi que, si par malheur il te fait du mal, je serai ravie de m'occuper du sort de ton cher petit mari ! »
(Well, I can't wait to see Mom and Dad's faces when they learn you got married ! Seriously, I'm happy for you but remember that if he hurts you, I'd be delighted to take care of your dear little husband.)
Constance laughed heartily, tears of happiness threatening once more to fall down her cheeks… The Baronet came closer to the two sisters, benefiting that Emma had to let Constance go to take her sister in his arms. The young woman snuggled in his arms, their faces shining with joy and happiness.
« Regarde-toi » Marina said with awe, making the couple look at her. « You gifted us with a true remake of « Miracle on 34th street »… Chris Kringle brought you for Christmas a husband… a house… and a baby ! »
(Look at you.)
Constance froze, her mouth hanging open, her mind going blank at her friend's statement. The Baronet's arms tightened protectively on her stomach, confirming what Marina had just said. She looked at her husband with a mix of questions and fear… Yes, he loved her to the point of marrying her but they never had talked about a baby… And the death of his baby seemed so painful… The joy and adoration she discovered on Thomas's face ended her doubts and, with a radius smile, he bent to kiss her.
« I think it's time for us to go back home… » Castiel said with a huge smile to Sean and the hunters. « We deserve a good rest. The Prophecy has stopped so there's nothing keeping us from leaving now ! ».
Opening the main doors wide, he fell headfirst into a huge pile of snow. Apparently, the weather had not been aware of the end of the Apocalypse and snow was still blocking them inside…
Holy crap, it's snowing
The flakes are falling down, the wind is blowing
The roads are closed, there's nowhere I'll be going now
I guess today I'm staying home
Oh yeah
Dean burst out in laughter, seeing his friend buried in snow and let a relief sigh… He was glad to have an excuse to stay a little longer with his little French girl… The American monsters could wait ! Sean rushed near Marina, the Angel glad to stay longer too.
But what is this "snow" you ask?
Water freezes into icy flakes
It's sort of a frozen form of precipitation
Blankets all the houses, trees and lakes
And everything is covered in a layer of white!
Holy crap, it's snowing
That's right
Castiel looked shocked at the three couples :
« It's snowing… » The three French women snuggled in their loved ones' embrace, mischievously singing :
« Let it snow… Let it snow… Let it snow… »
To Be Continued