Disclaimer: This story has the typical violence you'll see in the show along with all the angst. I try not to get too off character or too violent, but I'm giving it a mature rating just to be on the safe side.

I of course own nothing and get nothing but the satisfaction of writing the story and hopefully making it enjoyable for others as well. Comments are always welcome, good or bad. Thank you and I hope you enjoy it.

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15 days ago…

Sarah knew that she shouldn't call Sam since he might be on a case, but it'd been several weeks since she'd last spoken with him and the item she'd found gave her the creeps enough to pick up the phone and dial his number. However, she didn't hit the send button. Instead, she closed her phone and continued rummaging through the items the truck had unloaded in their back storage room.

A week earlier an old woman had died with no apparent heirs to come claim her belongings. The state ordered the auction, so here everything was, in the back to be itemized, categorized, and eventually sold in one of her father's "private showings" first, followed shortly thereafter by a public auction out front. He hated having just anyone walk through the auction house. She giggled lightly to herself as she thought about inviting Sam and Dean back for the private auction just so she could see her dad's reaction when they walked through the door.

There was a lot of antique furniture and décor that had been brought over. But this one particular chest had items that just didn't fit with everything else. The first thing she'd seen when she opened it was a black satin cloth. It was dusty and had no designs at all. Pulling back the cloth she uncovered items of a cult nature. Spending time with Dean and Sam had shown her that some things were said to be evil, but were in fact protective, like the pentagram. However, the items she was looking at right now gave her a sickening feeling.

There was a football sized figurine of some type of devil from the looks of it -- horned head, bat-like wings, fangs, and a very hateful expression on its face. It was in a squat looking down at nothing, its clawed hands resting at the wrist on its knees. This is what was giving her that sickening sensation. She put it to the side and continued to look at the items in the chest.

Several old and melted black and red candles were stuck to an interesting looking knife. The blade had designs and inscriptions etched into it and appeared to be a little rusty near the base. The handle was some type of black snake-like skin or designed leather. It was old and appeared to be cracking in a couple of places, but they were very small cracks. There were also various powders and herbs without labels. This whole thing really gave her the creeps. She pulled out her phone and called Sam.

She dialed the number and waited as it rang and eventually rolled over to his voice mail. She felt silly. There was probably nothing at all about this stuff. Maybe the old woman use to dabble and just boxed it up when she stopped. Sarah just couldn't get the odd feeling off her mind. She told Sam not to worry about, wished them well, and hung up the phone. "Sam's probably going to think I'm a nut when he hears that."

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Sarah is running down a tunnel, splashing through water. She's scared. There's a chanting sound off in the distance, but getting louder as she runs toward the end. She enters a large room with a lot of black candles burning all around the walls. A group of 10 or 15 people in black robes is on their knees chanting. Another person stood facing an alter filled with candles, a bowl, and other objects she couldn't see from where she was standing. On a pillar against the far wall on the other side of the alter from her was the statue she'd found in the chest.

The person at the alter held up a large knife that resembled the one she'd found, but she couldn't be sure. The chanting was getting louder and louder. A crying or whimpering could be heard mixed in with the chanting. The person at the alter turned around, but the hood of the robe completely shadowed out the face. Based on the body structure, she believed this was a man. He was still holding up the knife and the crying got louder. It seemed more like a muffled yelling.

The chanting stopped and the muffled yelling became a muffled shriek as the man stabbed something with the knife. She couldn't see because of the other people in the room.

Sarah woke up in a cold sweat. Her heart was pounding and racing a mile a minute.

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13 days ago…

Sarah's heart would not slow down and she couldn't shake the fear she'd felt even though it didn't appear she was in danger during the dream. She got up and took a hot shower hoping that it would help her relax, which it did, a little.

She arrived at the auction house as the sun's light began brightening the sky. She went to the back to finish up the itemizing of the old woman's estate. All the items had been separated and organized, and anything that was considered trash had been thrown out in the dumpster. The jars of powders and herbs had ended up there along with some broken pieces of furniture that were not repairable. She picked up the chest and moved it to the table. It sounded like something moved inside it. She'd taken everything out of it and opened the chest to make sure. Nothing was in it. She picked it up and shook it lightly from side to side. Something was definitely sliding inside. Opening it again, she ran her hand over each of the sides and the bottom. At one point she felt a slight indention that she could hook her finger on. Pulling, the bottom of the box came out to reveal the rest of the contents.

It was a book. It was a very old and worn book with leather bound covers. She couldn't understand the writings, but the pages looked old and everything was written in a red or black ink. Probably with a calligraphy pen based on the way the characters looked.

As she flipped through the pages looking at the words and drawings, she knew she had to call Sam again. This time she said it was definitely something for them to look at. Her dad walked in, so she quickly got off the phone and hid the book under the cushion of her chair.

"Dad? You're here awful early. Is everything ok?"

"Yes. Is everything ready from Ms. Montague's estate? We need to get it out front before the auction begins." Mr. Blake was never one for emotion, except disdain or annoyance sometimes, when it came to his auctions. He called out for the guys that he'd hired to do the moving and they began taking items out, placing them where Mr. Blake instructed.

Sarah quickly grabbed the book and her purse. "I'll be back a little later," she said over her shoulder to her dad as she walked out. She drove back to her house and pulled out the phone book, going through the business sections for occult shops. Grabbing a spiral notebook and pen from her desk, she wrote down the addresses for each, picked up the book, her purse, and headed out the door.

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The first few shops Sarah visited were simple and supplied various supplies required for rituals and learning. But none of the books had anything like the one she'd found in the chest. She was extremely hesitant to actually speak to anyone about the book and she left it in her car each time she went into a shop. This next shop that she'd come in to was quite different. The name itself made her smile, "Supernatural Supplies and Books." There was a section that provided supplies, but there was a much larger section that had books. A glass and metal security door separated another room with other books that appeared much older and, she guessed, much more valuable.

She took a chance and walked up to the young lady working behind the counter. "Hi. I'm trying to find out a little information about an old book that I found. It looks like some of the ones you have behind that door," she gestures towards the security door in the book section. "Would it be possible for me to look at those books?"

"Uh, I have to ask the owner of the shop. He doesn't let many people back in there. Give me just a second," she hopped off her stool and headed up a small staircase off on the side of the room.

Sarah looked around again and noticed the security camera in the corner near the front door. Looking around the room she saw three other cameras pointing in various directions. She was pretty sure that together they saw anything that went on there.

Two sets of footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. The young lady returned with an older gentleman that immediately sent shivers up her spine and made her stomach turn a flip or two. He was actually quite handsome and walked with an air of confidence that almost reminded her of a Sean Connery or James Bond movie. As he looked her over, she felt her face blush slightly.

"I'm Phillip Culver, the owner of this store. How can I help you, Ms…?"

"Sarah," she smiled as she took his hand, "Sarah Blake." She could still feel that stupid blush on her face, so she quickly averted her eyes and released his hand. "I was interested in possibly looking at some of the books you have in the locked room, there." She nodded towards the door.

"Ah. That is a very special collection of old books. You have a special interest in the ancient religious practices and histories?" His voice was oddly seductive and terrifying all at the same time and it sent a funny vibration up her spine.

"No, I … uh … I found something and I'm … doing some research." What in the world was up with this guy that made her so nervous?

"Research, eh? Are you a student then or is this just personal curiosity?" He smiled and cocked his head slightly to the right.

"Personal." She couldn't help but smile back.

"Well, then. I'd be happy to provide access to those books, but unfortunately I only show them during specific appointments. Those are usually after normal business hours. I don't want just anyone having access to them. They are very important and valuable. Would you like to return this evening around 7 o'clock?"

Without hesitation, "Certainly." As she walked out the door and climbed into the car she couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't hesitated.