Winchester life is a drama life, like you didn't know...


Chapter 29

The walls in the ballroom almost shook, the potent roar reverberating though the air. Out of instinct, Claire and Kevin crouched to the ground and covered their ears, while immediately trying to find the source of the animalistic sound. But before they could see anything, another strange fact was evident to them: all the ball-goers had been frozen to the spot, apparently. Except they two, everyone stood still and silent, eyes wide open, not even blinking. And also, all of them had turned to the same direction, not dancing anymore, towards the big doors that connected the ballroom to the main hallway and that had been abruptly open by some invisible force.

"Seems like your wish was granted," Kevin said over the boring music, that somehow kept playing. "It's already happening. We didn't have to wait long."

"Shut up and let's hide somewhere," Claire responded, not in the mood for jokes.

Looking around, their choices were few. They had to take refuge behind the fruit punch table, that was near the second double doors opposite to the ones open. Unfortunately, even if these second doors connected with the outside, they were locked and didn't budge a millimetre when they tried to open them.

"Damn fantastic," Claire mumbled, crouching beside the prophet. "Now what?"

"You're asking me? You're the huntress here."

Another roar ripped through the open hallway, this time accompanied by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps coming closer. Again, nobody reacted nor moved at all.

"I don't like this," Kevin commented, looking at the people. "They're like paralyzed. How are we supposed to fight whatever without hurting them, being in the way?"

"Yeah, welcome to the club. That question comes up a lot in this job."

A third roar that sounded way closer told them that the creature responsible for the mess had finally arrived. Peeking over the table, they saw a massive yet majestic four-footed creature with strong wings. It looked like a mix of a lion and an eagle.

"Oh, God..." the young prophet trembled, feeling his heart jump to his throat. "This isn't good. This isn't good at all."

"Why? What's that thing?"

"If I'm not mistaken, and pretty sure I'm not, that's... that's a gryphon." Kevin swallowed hard. "And that's bad. Remember what I said about how difficult are dragons to kill? Well, gryphons are almost there too because they're incredibly strong, they resist almost anything. And by the way, sorry to tell you that I never learned how to take down one."

Claire was about to comment something very colourful, but shut up when suddenly the people started moving again. As if obeying a silent order, everyone began to remove their gold jewels and ornaments, bringing them to the feet of the gryphon.

"So that's what the gold was for," Claire whispered. "Are gryphons hoarders too?"

"Not that I remember, but they're protectors of treasures, and they normally nest in golden mountains. But I don't kno-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, the reason of the gryphon's gold-calling was made clear when it picked an earring with its beak and gulped it down.

"You gotta be kidding me," the girl grunted, seeing the beast feasting on the jewellery. "Food? All of this was to feed itself?"

Another set of hurried steps came from the hallway, immediately followed by several shots that only managed to enrage the majestic gryphon.

"Claire! Kevin!" Dean's voice reached them. "Answer me, dammit!"

"We're here!" Kevin shouted back, inadvertently revealing their hiding spot to the angered beast. "We're fine, but I don't think that's going to last!"

The gryphon shrieked, an ear-piercing sound that made some of the blinding disco lights burst, and advanced menacingly towards them, ready to attack. Luckily, this allowed Dean to enter running into the ballroom through the now free doors, gun still in hand, in time to see everyone dropping to the ground like sacks of potatoes.

"What the fuck?!" he hollered to the other side of the room. "Didn't I tell you not to get distracted?"

"We weren't!" the huntress protested, abandoning her heels and looking around for another safe spot.

"This thing appeared from one minute to another!" the prophet supported her.

Things had gotten complicated. There were no hiding places inside the ballroom, and the creature was huge compared to them. Besides, running away from its attacks when the floor was covered in unconscious bodies wasn't making it any easier.

"The hell is this thing anyway?"

"It's a gryphon!" Kevin informed, while holding a chair against the beast's open beak that in mere seconds would be nothing but splinters. "But we don't how to kill it!"

"Fucking perfect," Dean grumbled. "Claire!"

"What?" she had grabbed a piece of broken glass and was trying to wound the gryphon, but its skin was too thick.

"Drop that thing and call Rowena!" the hunter shot again and managed to attract the gryphon's attention. "She must know how to deal with this son of a bitch."

"You think this dress has a hidden pocket or what?" she retorted, rolling away to avoid being flattened like a pancake. "Where would I keep a damn phone?"

"Shit! Kev?"

"Yes I know, I'm on it!"

While Dean and Claire did their best to control the gryphon, wincing whenever someone's bones were crushed under its weight, the boy hastily dialled Rowena, because thankfully he had pockets in his suit. When the witch picked up, her melodious voice was barely heard over the ruckus in the ballroom.

"Yes? Who's this?"

"Rowena, this is Kevin Tran!" he said. "No time for explanations, but do you know how to kill a gryphon?"

"Well, hello to you too," Rowena spoke, a bit irked by the lack of manners. "What's the matter, Kevin? What's all that noise?"

"We're in Tennessee, looking for an anunnaki key," Kevin explained as fast as he could. "A gryphon crossed our path."

"A gryphon?!" the redhead exclaimed, surprised. "That's fantastic! Not a single gryphon has been spotted since the days of old. Tell me, what colour are…"

"ROWENA!" the boy interrupted her, this was not the time for this. "Do you know how to kill it or not?"

"What a shame, such a precious creature," she sighed mournfully. "But yes, of course I know. You have to shoot a golden arrow to its heart."

Kevin fell silent for a few seconds, stunned. What a twisted joke was this? They were surrounded by gold, but everything was jewellery. There wasn't any bow or arrow, and even if there were, nobody that knew how to shoot it.

"Are you still there, young mister?" Rowena's voice sounded concerned now. "Kevin, answer me! What mess did you get yourselves into?"

"We have gold," he blabbered. "But there's no arrow. And certainly there's no archer."

"Oh, sorry to hear that. But an arrow made of gold through the heart is the only way I know of to kill a gryphon. Are you even sure it's really a gryphon?"

"Believe me, this is a gryphon if I've ever seen one."

"KEVIN!"

Claire's scream made him look, just in time to see that the gryphon had spotted him and was about to charge. While he scrambled to his feet, the girl was already fed up with her annoying dress: grabbing one side of the fabric at her waist, she yanked forcefully, tearing apart the delicate lilac satin and revealing the tight biker shorts that she wore under. She then took in hand the grigori blade that she kept on her thigh holster.

"Oh, God," Kevin murmured to himself, astonished. "That was so hot!"

Not really looking where he was putting his feet, in his haste to get away from the gryphon, he ended up landing on his butt and dropping the phone among the unconscious bodies. Cursing under his breath, he turned on his stomach and crawled on his hands and knees, desperately looking for the device.

"Hello? Are you still there, Kevin? Hello!" Rowena's voice was heard.

Thanks to her continuous calls, Kevin was able to locate the phone a couple of bodies behind him. He had almost reached it when something tugged at his waist. He tried to ignore it, but whatever it was it didn't let him advance. Looking under him, Kevin saw that the chain of the pocket watch that he had borrowed from the innkeeper had gotten tangled with someone's shoelaces.

"Dammit, let me go," he grumbled, yanking at it.

And then he saw it, the pocket watch sphere and the needles. So very small, but still piercing and made of gold, like tiny arrows. An idea came to him.

"Rowena!" he shouted on the phone after freeing himself.

"Kevin, what's happening?" she sounded sincerely worried by now.

"No time to explain. Do you know any spell to increase the size of things?" the boy asked, breaking the sphere glass against the floor. "I mean a simple spell, no ingredients or anything."

"What now? Well, sure I know, but those kind of spells only last a few minutes. They're not reliable."

"A few minutes is all we need," Kevin hoped more than believed, taking out the watch needles. "I have no arrows, only three tiny clock needles. Can you use the size spell on them?"

"Hmpf. Alright, be ready."

Not knowing what else to do, Kevin directed the phone speaker towards the needles, as if they needed to hear the spell to obey. Barely a few seconds later, the three of them grew to the size of pretty much an actual arrow.

"Guys!" the prophet hollered, carrying the three quite heavy items, since they were made of solid gold. "Gold arrow through the heart!"

"About fucking time!" Dean grunted, dodging a wing slap. "But we have to restrain this thing somehow first."

"Dean, above you!" Claire pointed out, while fending off the beast with her sword.

Searching a blind point, Dean took advantage of it and looked up, and understood. The ceiling was full of light wires and paper garland.

"You're the one with the sword, not me!" Dean said, getting to Claire and taking her out of the way. "I'll play with the kitten, you cut those ropes."

Claire ran to it, and Kevin put down the gold needles to help her. They had only taken down like half of them when the framework began to collapse, still leaving enough light on to see.

"Dean, it's already falling! Get away!"

The hunter did it just in the nick of time. The gryphon roared with fury, its wings and body trapped and entangled in the net of wires. It behaved savagely, lashing out left and right.

"Ok kids, we got this! Just one last strike!" Dean instructed, right before jumping onto the beast's back and strangling its neck with his arms. "C'mon, what you're waiting for? Do it already, shit!"

Even trapped, the gryphon was not going down without a fight. Claire took back one of the heavy gold needles, wanting to deliver the coup de grace, but the creature didn't let her get close enough. Even with Dean restraining it, it was still ferocious and forced Claire to defend herself more than attack. Meanwhile, the time was running out and Kevin worried about how much longer the size spell would still last.

But then a chance presented itself.

"Hold it right there, guys!" the prophet yelled.

The gryphon had Dean on its back, and was entangled on the wires. One paw used to sustain itself, and the other occupied on Claire's grigori blade, attempting to push her down. It was undefended. Kevin grabbed another of the gold needles and crawled under the beast, praying not to be crushed under its weight, and stabbed it in the middle of its chest with both hands and all his strength.

The gryphon cried out, a powerful, terrifying howl coming out its lungs. Still holding the made-up arrow, blood flowed on Kevin's hands as the creature perished. And then... it suddenly vanished in thin air.

"Ouch!" Dean complained, landing on the floor with a thud. "The hell was that?"

He got up, painfully massaging his ribs and looking for the gryphon's remains, but there was nothing. Only a mysterious purple ball of light floated in front of him.

"Shit," he grumbled, flabbergasted. "Don't tell me that's..."

"I think it is," Claire nodded, brushing off a speck of blood from her face. "This must be the Seraphim key. I can hear a strange calling now."

"God, we found it just in time," Kevin sighed relieved, showing them the pocket watch needles, already back to their original tiny size.

Claire held out her hand, touching the purple light. The ball immediately reacted, glowing brighter and being sucked by her fingers, like the course of a river made of glitter. Her whole body shone translucent for a second, and her head became dizzy.

"I think I need a nap," she groaned, holding her forehead. "I don't see clearly."

"That doesn't sound bad," Dean agreed. "We already did what we came for, so better get out of here before somebody starts asking questions. Let's anonymously call an ambulance and ride back home."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Since Christmas was already around the corner, it wasn't really a surprise when the trio returned from Tennessee and found a big tree in the middle of the library, between the other two tables, covered in lights and tinsel and a lot of balls hanging from its branches. The rest of the bunker was decorated too, with thick snowy garland coiled around the stairs handrail, wreath on the tables and even some ribbons here and there. When Dean opened the heavy entrance door, the delicate chime of a bell was heard.

"Hello, we're back!" he greeted loudly, going downstairs and putting his duffel on the floor.

The people that were there at the moment, sitting at the table and apparently studying something, looked up smiling and greeted back. The only one that remained silent was Emma.

"Hey pal, congratulations for your prom!" Adam teased Kevin. "You're all grown-up now!"

"Yes, I'm getting old," the prophet said, bumping fists and sitting down next to him. "Guess you don't have to feel alone now."

"Claire, I'd never thought vintage was your style," Alex laughed. "Jody and Donna were surprised too."

"Oh, shut up. At least it wasn't a pink frilly abomination."

"Sister, how are you feeling?" Jack asked worriedly.

"My head is still a mess," Claire admitted, rubbing her forehead. "Every time I blink is like my brain shoots a negative picture right behind my eyes, but I only see random patches of a net."

"Ah, I know the sensation. It happened the same to me when I practiced opening portals to other worlds. I had the power, but I couldn't see the network of the universe fabric. That's why I needed Kaia's eyes."

"Then how did you manage to get back exactly here to the library when you rescued Jess?" Dean asked, intrigued.

"It was AltMichael who opened the portal, not me, and we already knew that it led to this world. I can navigate any world to any place, I just can't tell them apart beforehand without a dreamwalker's eyes."

"Yes, whatever you say," Claire sighed tiredly. "I'm going to shower and sleep for a while. Don't wake me up until New Year."

She made her way to the main hallway, and right before disappearing she encountered Castiel. They hugged tenderly and exchanged a few words.

"Hello, Dean," the angel smiled happily. "Welcome home."

Knowing very well what was about to happen, Sam couldn't help to get a laugh or two out of it.

"Look, kids, check it out," he whispered mischievously, nodding at the couple. "Don't miss it."

"How was your trip, Dean?" Castiel asked, staring intently at the hunter. "Did you find the Seraphim key?"

"Yeah, we did. I had to take a wild ride, but meh, it was nothing compared to Larry," Dean answered, losing himself in the gorgeous cobalts. "Claire got her thing, so everything's good. Eh, the bunker looks nice too!"

"I was hoping you would appreciate it. Not that I did much, but I liked participating. Jessica was insistent on me placing the tree topper," he squinted a bit. "I had the feeling that there was a humorous situation about it, but I did not figure it out."

They stood there for a minute, just looking at each other and grinning like only two idjits in love could do... and like they had been doing for years. Who knew how long it would have lasted if the laughs of the young hadn't brought them back to reality.

"Geez, guys!" Alex chuckled. "I could almost see the roses sprouting around you!"

"Not sure if asphyxiating in this lovely atmosphere is any better a way to die!" Adam followed.

"Oh, fuck you all, damn kids!" Dean grumbled embarrassed, picking up his duffel and dragging Castiel away to his bedroom, surely expecting to receive a promised welcome kiss.

"What are you all laughing about?" Emma finally spoke when his father was already gone.

The other kids looked at her blank face, not knowing how best to explain the joke. Sam merely frowned.

"It's just funny, Emma," Adam tried. "Since long ago anyone who met them could tell they loved each other, except themselves. This staring thing is what they usually do."

"Love?" the amazon repeated, now confusion painted on her face. "Are you telling me that Father and the angel are mates?"

"I don't know if they're there yet, but yes. Does that bother you?"

She pondered the question for a moment.

"Father had sex with Mum because it was her duty to birth me," she said then. "What's the purpose on having a male as a mate? You can't spawn children that way."

"Love and sex are different things, Emma," Alex tried to help. "It's not necessary to have feelings for someone to have sex, and in the same way, not all sex is for procreation. Sex is also a way to express your love to a special person."

Emma looked down, at the useless book she had in her hands, trying to assimilate the new info, but she couldn't. Love this and love that... what was its meaning?

"I don't understand it."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dean and Castiel kissed gently for a while, leisurely, without hurry. Just the feeling of touching each other again was calming.

"I missed you, Dean."

"I was away only five days."

"To me it felt five days too long."

"You're really a sap, Cas," Dean snickered, pecking him one last time before getting to his duffel and started unpacking. "So, what did I miss?"

"There have been several different developments."

"Yeah, I noticed. Couldn't you wait for us to come back before jumping into Christmas decoration?"

"That matter is related to one of the developments," Castiel clarified. "Jessica wanted to wait for you, but the day after you departed Patience felt a connection with her own key. Sam decided to go to Massachusetts the moment you would be back, much to her chagrin, but we agreed that it was better to obtain the Throne key before it chose to nest too. She was not happy."

"Can guess. Sam told me they both were looking forward to it."

"Sam promised her to be back before Christmas, though. If he departs tomorrow morning, it will be a stretch of time, but I believe he can achieve it as long as there are no further complications in Massachusetts. So they decided to decorate now, also considering that the girls are going back to Jody's."

This made Dean turn around.

"Wait, what? They're going back?"

"Yes, did Claire not tell you?" Castiel asked. "The girls did not want to leave her alone on Christmas. Sam invited Jody to spend it in the bunker with all of us, but unfortunately she had to work and could not be absent for so long. Donna had already invited her to join her family and was refused for the same reason."

"But Claire, Alex and Patience will be back after that, right?" Dean was worried. "We need them."

"I believe so, yes."

"Fuck, I didn't count on this," the hunter grunted, rubbing his face. "Ok, so what else? Is there another bomb to drop?"

"Well, there is also the matter of..." Castiel began, suddenly very serious, but something caught his attention. "Dean, what do you have there?"

The Winchester had just taken out a small plastic tupperware from the bottom of his duffel, containing what seemed to be a slice of pie. It was quite unusual for him to resist the temptation of pie until getting home.

"Oh, this... There was this nice little bakery out of Carfax, smelled heavenly, so I thought that maybe... I-I got it for Emma."

"Dean," the seraph sighed sadly. "Precisely I was going to inform you about your daughter. It is probably none of my business, but I noticed something... and I think Jessica noticed to. You should talk to Emma."

"Talk? Why, what's the problem?"

Before Castiel could give an answer, someone knocked on the door. Dean opened and, what a coincidence, it was his future sister-in-law holding a small bag.

"Dean, welcome back!" she greeted him with a hug. "I was shopping with Julia and the rest of the kids while Sam was giving his lesson. How was the case?"

"Everything turned out fine, thanks. Cas was now telling me whatever happened here. Was there something about Emma?"

"Oh, right..." Jessica showed the same concern as the angel. "Listen Dean, I hope you don't take it bad because I only intend to help, but I bought this for Emma. Maybe you could give it to her? By now Sam should be almost done for today."

She put the bag in his hands before going away. Dean closed the door and looked inside the package. There was a pencil, an eraser, a sharpener, a colourful alphabet book and a calligraphy practice notebook.

"The hell? What's all this kindergarten stuff for?"

"Go to the library, Dean," Castiel merely said. "Surely you will comprehend."

So Dean did. Sam was still there with some of the youngsters, Emma included, but they had already closed their books. Lore lesson looked almost finished, so Dean leaned on the arch and waited for it to end.

"So, Alex. Share with us some random fact that you've learned today about harpies."

"Ropes made with their originally beautiful hair are unbreakable and resist fire," the nurse revealed.

"Hum, good to know. I think Balthazar found a reel of that in one of Crowley's vaults. Adam, you were studying about vampires."

"Yes. They feed on blood, but I found out that mermaid's blood is poisonous to them," he answered. "They won't die from it, but they will weaken and suffer a lot for several days if intoxicated."

"Not bad! Kevin, since you joined us, tell us something about the gryphon you encountered."

"They have a heart of gold. Or at least a stomach," the prophet joked, making the others laugh.

"Jack, what can you tell us about fairies?"

"Castiel taught me that it's important to be grateful for the help of others, but you shouldn't thank a fairy," the nephilim explained, concern painted on his face. "That's because fairies are very prideful, and whatever they did for you, they will expect a greater and more meaningful reward than a mere 'Thank you' for their services."

"That's very true. Well done, Jack," Sam nodded, before acidly turning to the last person. "And you, Emma? Perhaps today you have something to share from your book?"

The amazon didn't acknowledge the harsh tone and merely looked back at him.

"No."

"Not that I expected anything else by now," the hunter snorted. "This is all for today, kids. Thanks for your effort. Go rest for a while before dinner."

Everyone got up and left except the amazon, so Dean decided that this was a good moment to try and get closer to the girl.

"Hey, Emma," he spoke to her cautiously, handing her Jessica's bag. "Jess got this for you. I think it's intended to be a gift."

"Thank you, Father," she said emotionlessly, taking the bag but not bothering to look inside.

"Say... why didn't you participate in the lesson?" Dean asked, sitting in front of her. "Was it that boring?"

"It wasn't boring," Emma admitted, shrugging. "Every day I learn something new, but I don't think it's necessary. After all, the only reason master Gabriel rescued me from Hell was because you needed me to be an anunnaki. Nothing else."

Dean felt a pang in his heart. That might be true, but now that she was there it could be more, a lot more. There were so many things to see, places to visit, food to eat, books to read... and just then he noticed that the book in Emma's lap was upside-down, but she didn't seem to care. At all.

A sudden realization hit Dean when he finally connected the dots.

"Emma," he inhaled deeply, trying to calm down his nervous heart. "Can you tell me what's your book about?"

She looked at him suspiciously.

"It's a lore book."

"I know that, I meant... what's the title? What does it teaches about?" Dean specified, but she wasn't answering. "Emma, do you know how to read? Or write?"

"No, I don't. Nobody ever taught me," the amazon admitted, apparently not caring much. "What's the matter? Must I remind you again that I was alive only for three days before being killed? I was only taught basic skills to survive."

This was too much for the hunter. He stood up, pacing around like a caged animal and carding his fingers through his hair.

"Why didn't you say anything? Why Sam haven't told me?"

"I don't think he noticed. We haven't really interacted, not even during lessons or training. And like I said, it's not something important."

"It is!" Dean yelled, turning back to her. "It is, and you're going to learn even if I have to teach you myself."

"Why do you suddenly care so much?" the girl yelled back, standing up and losing her patience. "Back that time, you were willing to let me go, Father. Why can't you do the same now? Is it because you love me?"

That very important word, thrown at him like a grenade, made the Winchester stop dead in his tracks. He swallowed hard, mute.

"Since I was delivered here," Emma continued, "I've been hearing love this and love that constantly, but no matter how much someone tries to explain, I can't make any sense of it. I can't figure out what you're talking about, and that annoys me. So okay, I'll be the anunnaki channel you need or whatever, but can't you just stop bothering me?"

Dean didn't know how to respond to that. He didn't even know where to start, so he chose to offer her the second item he had brought to the library: the small tupperware with a slice of pie.

"Sorry, I bought this for you in the way back," he spoke so very softly. "It's pie, and it's delicious. I thought you might like it."

Emma looked at the peace offering, suspicious again, but decided to accept it. She opened it and found a tiny plastic fork inside with the slice. Curious, she took a small bite.

"It's... ugh," she made a displeased sound. "The dough is nice, but the filling is too sweet. It's disgusting."

"It's okay, don't force yourself. You don't have to eat it," Dean smiled sadly. "It's not like it matters anymore."

The girl didn't know what had happened, why her father looked so unhappy, but before she could ask him Dean took off. Fuck the pie, he had a more pressing matter to discuss right now with his idiot of a brother.


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