"Aren't you going to invite me in?" His gravelly voice sends shivers down my spine. He doesn't wait for me to answer, stepping over the threshold into my home. He looks around for a moment, a smug grin creeping across his face. "Moose and Squirrel thought they could hide you from me, but as always, they underestimate me."
I'm unable to stop him as he moves further into the house. My eyes dart to the kitchen, hoping that Cordy stays in there until I can get this stranger out of the house. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Maybe the rumors aren't true." There's a twinge of disappointment in his voice.
Rumors? "What do you want?"
"Oh, Eliza, I don't even know where to start." My heart stops at his use of my name. He lets out a low, breathy chuckle. "Squirrel's head on a platter, Moose under my command, serving in his rightful place, and you're going to help me get what I want."
"Who are you?" I ask, trying to cover the fear in my voice.
"Name's Crowley." He walks into my living room, his voice is calm, but underneath I can sense he's dangerous. "Been watching you for some time now, Eliza, since before you left that godforsaken town in Texas, lucky for you, I'm a patient man." He's been watching me? "It's fate, darling, that you're in Lawrence. Surely you know this is the same town in which he was born, where his mother died?" I don't answer. "Now, the only family he has left is in the same place his family fell apart."
"Ellie," Cordy comes out from the kitchen. The man's eyes widen at the sight of her, a look of smugness washes over his face. "Who is it?"
"Cordy," I try my best to keep all worry out of my voice. I have to get her out of the house, "how about you go over to Ms. Cynthia's and play with Ava?" I try to keep my voice steady, not wanting to alarm her.
"This must be her." His eyes narrow on Cordy. "She's the spitting image of him; how no one put it together sooner is beyond me." A sly smile creeps over his face. "Hello sweetie, you can call me Uncle Crowley."
Her eyes dart between the man and me, and she doesn't move. I move towards Cordy, and I can feel the man's eyes on me, watching my every step.
"Cordelia Mary, look at me," I say, pulling her attention back to me. "Go over and play with Ava, I'll come over to get you in a little while."
She hesitates, and I keep a fake smile on my face as she makes her way towards the front door. She stops in front of me. "I don't want to leave you, Ellie," Cordy whispers, throwing her arms around my waist, holding on to me tightly.
"Yes, Ellie, let her stay," he taunts, taking another step closer to us. "I do love to play."
I gently pry her arms off of me and guide her out the front door. She stands on the porch for a moment, watching as I do everything to mask my fear.
He leans in whispering in my ear, "I could snap her neck like a twig." Panic fills me as he stares into my eyes. I can feel them watering, and I nod slightly.
"Stay at Ava's until I come and get you. You don't have to worry about me." I close the gap between us, lower myself down to meet her eye-level, and wrap my arms tight around her. "Remember what Sam told you? About the angels?" She nods. "Then you have nothing to worry about."
She takes a step back, and I give her a reassuring smile. I can feel Crowley behind me, watching as Cordy walks to Cynthia's across the street. As soon as I see the door open and she disappears into the house, I let out a strangled breath. When I turn around, he's only inches away and takes a step to the side; with a flick of his fingers, the door behind me slams shut. My heart drops, and I turn back around, desperately trying to open it. He chuckles at my attempts, before yanking me away.
"Whatever you want, leave her out of it," I say with all the courage I can muster. "I don't know who you think we are-"
"You're exactly who I think you are, darling," he says sharply. "I didn't believe my source at first, thought she was sending me on some wild goose chase, but there is no denying it. That is the child of Sam Winchester."
"She's not–" I splutter, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"There's no point in lying, darling." He sighs, rolling his eyes. "There's been quite enough of that already," he laughs snidely. "Angels weren't the only ones keeping tabs on you."
"Who are you? What do you want from us?"
"I hate repeating myself," he growls. "Crowley, King of Hell." He snaps his fingers, and I'm forced into a chair, unable to move. "You and that little bastard Winchester, are going to help me get what I want."
"Fuck you." I spit out. I squirm against the chair, trying with all my strength to move, but as hard as I try, I can't fight my way out. Castiel, if you can hear me, I'm in trouble, and I need your help.
"Feisty one, aren't we?" he quips. "I like a girl with a little fight in her."
I continue to struggle against the invisible force holding me down. He disappears for a moment, and when he returns, he's holding a bottle of amber liquid and glass.
"In a moment such as this, one needs a drink," he declares while filling the glass. "You, my dear, are going to be in for such a treat. Nothing brings me more joy than watching the Winchesters suffer."
"They won't let you hurt me. They'll be here any second, and they'll stop you."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, darling." He leans forward, a smug smile forming on his lips. "My sources tell me that those morons aren't aware that you're in Lawrence. They're under the impression that you're still in Weldon." He brings the glass to his lips, taking a sip. "Tsk tsk tsk. I could move you across the country before they even realize you're gone. Or maybe," he takes another drink, "I'll just leave your body for them to find, that is, whatever's left."
"Fuck you."
"Very well then, perhaps I'll go to your neighbors and have a chat with little Cordelia," he smirks, and I can feel the blood drain from my face. "You'll find I can be very persuasive."
"Don't." My heart is thudding in my chest. "You even go near her and I'll–"
"You'll what, darling?" He grins slyly and produces a long silver blade, admiring it as he slices through the air. My eyes widen as I suck in a nervous breath. "Now, are you going to do as you're told?"
Cas, if you can hear me, I need your help.
I clench my jaw and don't respond, trying to hold my own against him. He's out of the chair and in front of me instantly, holding the blade against my throat. I whimper as I feel a trickle of blood flow down my neck.
"I asked you a question, Eliza. Are you going to cooperate?" I nod defeatedly. "Good girl. You're going to convince those idiot Winchesters to hand something over to me, something that belongs to me. Understood?"
"Why me?" I mumble, hoping that I can stall him until Cas answers my prayers. "We don't– we're not hunters, we're not in that life."
"That's what makes this even more delicious," He brings the glass to his lips and takes a sip. "If you were, you'd know how to ward your home, keep things like me out. Moose just left you vulnerable to any sort of attack." His words sting; I keep telling myself that there isn't any truth to it. "It's usually the first thing they teach someone, Devil's Trap, simple enough for anyone to learn. Would've kept me from doing this." He snaps his fingers, and pain radiates throughout my body. His eyes narrow as I silently struggle. "Interesting."
He snaps again, and the pain slowly dissipates, before rising again. He repeats this over and over for what feels like hours. I'm a sobbing mess when he finally stops. Please, Cas.
"You know, our boy Sam has been getting his hands very dirty for quite some time now, and you two may be the only things that can keep him in line. You see, darling, you're what they call leverage." He finishes the glass and pours himself another drink. "If you're not enough, little Cordelia may be the exact motivation those piles of flannel need." His phone rings, pulling his attention away from me; he stares at it for a moment before looking back in my direction. "Do as you're told, darling." He taps a button on the phone and lays it down on the arm of his chair. "Moose! I was wondering when you'd finally call."
"We're finishing the Trials, Crowley. There's nothing you can do to stop us." The sound of Sam's voice through the small speaker fills me with a temporary sense of relief.
"Are you sure about that? Because I've been having quite the lovely chat with someone who may be able to convince you otherwise. Say 'hello,' darling." Crowley walks towards me, holding the phone out until it's in front of me.
"Whatever you're trying to pull, it isn't gonna work." Crowley's eyes narrow as he watches me react to Sam's voice on the phone. "It's over, you lose." Crowley arches an eyebrow and smiles at me. He's enjoying this.
"Cooperate, darling," Crowley hisses, waiting for me to speak. "Not talking, eh? We can fix that." He growls, and suddenly a burning sensation spreads from my shoulder to my fingertips, as some invisible force pulls it into an unnatural position. I bite my lip to keep from screaming, doing everything I can not to give him the satisfaction of knowing the pain I'm in. "Oh, I like this one, Moose. She's tougher than she looks. Let's see what we can do about that." Crowley looks at me pointedly for a moment, and his lips curl.
Before I can comprehend what he's smiling about, the force on my arm increases. Tears fill my eyes, and the taste of copper fills my mouth as I bite the inside of my cheek, desperately trying not to give in to Crowley's demands.
"I wish you could see the look on her face. She's trying so hard to be strong. But…" Another pull on my arm, snaps the bone, and I scream, unable to do anything else. "I always get what I want."
"SAM!" I barely recognize my voice as I shriek out his name.
"Ella?!" His voice is faint through the buzzing in my ears. I let out a sob as the pain radiates through me. "Is that you? Talk to me, baby, let me know you're okay."
"It's her, Sam." My vision has blurred, but I can still make out the smug smile on Crowley's face. "Did you really think you could keep Eliza and that little bastard of yours hidden from me?"
"Stay away from them!" Sam's voice roars through the phone speaker.
"Too late for that one, Moose. I don't know why I didn't think of using them sooner. Tommy never stood a chance. Tell me, what was it like staring into Sarah's face as she took her last breath? Knowing you allowed another child to be raised without their mother? You won't see Eliza's, and who knows what'll happen to little Cordelia."
"No, no, no," I whimper. Crowley lets out a low, breathy chuckle as he continues torturing me with his words. Castiel, I need your help.
"I have connections everywhere, boys, you should know that by now. But can you imagine my surprise when Eliza and Cordelia show up at the only place I have one of my plants in a hundred miles? That's serendipitous."
"You go anywhere near her, and I swear to God–" Sam threatens, voice full of anger and frustration.
"You'll what?" Crowley snaps his fingers, and it feels like white-hot pokers are being dragged along my veins. "You think you can stop me from doing this?" I scream out again as his knife slashes across my skin.
"Take your hands off of her!"
"Oh, believe me, Samantha, if my hands were on her, you'd know."
He snaps again, and I let out a shaky breath as the pain subsides. I know it won't last long. Crowley's getting off on torturing me both physically and mentally. I try to prepare myself for whatever he may do or say next. The sudden sound of a dog growling somewhere from behind startles me, and I turn away in disgust as a rancid puff of air wafts across my cheek.
"You know, I'm quite disappointed in you," sarcasm bleeds from his lips. "Knocking up some small-town girl, then just walking away? That's not a move I'd expect from you, Samuel. But the pièce de résistance? Walking away without leaving some sort of protection for your whore and the little bastard. You know what's stopping me from getting Cordelia?" Crowley's eyes narrow on me, "nothing, except the fact that I want you to listen as I rip Eliza's last breath from her. Come to think of it, maybe I'll go to the neighbor's house and bring Cordelia back here. Let her watch as I slit Eliza's throat."
"Ella, don't listen to him," Sam's voice cuts through the air. "Whatever he says, you can't believe him. Demons lie. We're– I'm gonna stop him."
"I'd love to see you try," Crowley sneers. "Tell me, do you even know where your precious Eliza and Cordelia are?"
"O-of course," Sam stammers. Suddenly, I'm aware of the fact that I did the one thing I promised Sam I wouldn't do, I took Cordy and left. Crowley's baiting him, and he's falling for it.
"Kansas," my voice is weak, barely above a whisper, and every logical part of my brain is telling me that Sam can't hear me, but I try to tell him anyway. "We're in La-"
I feel a grip around my throat, cutting off my air supply as I try to choke out the words.
"Ah, ah, ah, darling," Crowley berates me. "Let's not spoil the surprise, shall we?
"Le- go," I beg him, "pl- any-"
"What was that? Did you say anything, darling?" Still unable to speak, I nod in response. "That is a poor choice of words." Crowley sets the phone down, saunters over and pats the air next to my shoulder, "stand down, Juliet." The growling fades away as he leans in closer and grabs me by the hair, yanking my head back. "I could have you tied down and gagged, begging for death, and while I'd be happy to oblige, it wouldn't quite scratch the itch.
"Maybe I should have one of my demons possess you," Crowley eyes the charm hanging around my neck and lowers his voice. "Jolly Green would never suspect such a thing. He'd be so happy to have you back. Then, when the time is just right, I'd have you watch as he dies by your hand. Can you imagine the look on his face, watching the love of his life slice him open? You'd be a captive audience, allowed to watch as he draws his last breath, feel the warmth of his blood as it flows from his wounds, maybe even get a little taste. Squirrel would be devastated. There's nothing that he wants more than for Moose to get his happy ending. Watching him unravel as he realizes there's no way to bring back his precious Sammy? Well, that would be simply sublime." He lets go of me and takes another drink from the glass. "No demon will deal with him, not again. Sam Winchester will be dead, for good this time."
"This time?" I gasp as the pressure on my throat is released.
"Ah, it seems those flannel-wearing idiots haven't shared everything with you. Can't say I blame them, that lumberjack has died so many times, who can keep track?" He lets out a dry laugh, and I close my eyes in a desperate attempt to calm myself. "Surely he told you how he let Lucifer out of his cage in Hell? No? Or how he let Dean rot away in Purgatory for a year?"
The anger in Sam's voice is almost palpable as it booms through the small phone, and I tilt my head, almost expecting to see him standing next to the chair. He alternates between threatening Crowley and begging me not to listen to the demon. Crowley continues to ramble, and I try not to react to his goading, hoping I can keep him talking until Cas shows up.
"Samantha tried to live a normal life." Crowley walks over and picks up the phone. "Surely, he told you about the girl he gave up everything for?" I want to scream, tell him to shut up, and I can see the joy spread across his face as he riles me up. "C'mon Sam, tell us all about the girl that made you leave everything you've ever known. I'm sure Eliza is just dying to know why you chose another woman over her. Over your daughter."
"I– I didn't. Ella, please, you can't believe him. When all of this is over, I'll explain everything."
"I think we'd all love to hear it, Moose. Come now, share with the class," Crowley intones. "Better yet, explain to Dean just how easy it was for you to walk away. You didn't even think twice about it, did you? Just left poor Kevin to the wolves, so to speak. Dean was fighting for his life, and you were living in Texas with a girl and a dog."
Sam's breaths come hard and fast as he sputters out denials. Dean's muffled 'motherfucker' filters through the discord.
"He was so close, darling, only a few hours away, and yet, he didn't even bother to contact you, did he? No, Samantha found some other little whore to fill the emptiness. Gave up looking for his brother, for her. Gave up a life of hunting for her."
I keep repeating Sam's words in my head, demons lie.
"He didn't do that for you, did he? No, he ran away."
"He didn't– it wasn't his fault," I argue feebly, not sure if I'm trying to convince him or myself. "He loves me; he wouldn't have left if he'd known-"
"Are you sure about that, darling?"
"Ellie, don't listen to him," the low timbre of Dean's voice comes through the phone.
"We'd been keeping track of Eliza for years," Sam and Dean are silent. "Oh, boys, did you think that Feathers and all those other idiot angels were the only ones who knew about Eliza? That's just naive. You know Lilith was planning on using her next if Ruby couldn't get the job done?"
"Fuck you," Sam growls. "Leave her alone, Crowley."
"Didn't tell her about Ruby, either? You just love keeping your secrets, don't you?" Crowley's lips curl as Sam goes silent. "Got you nice and addicted to-"
"Shut it, Crowley!"
"You had so many chances to track her down. Admit it; you hadn't thought about Eliza in years. If you had, it wouldn't have taken ten years and a Shtriga to get you back to that one-horse town. We thought Jessica's death would've sent you running back, but no, your unhealthy, co-dependent relationship with your brother and need for revenge consumed every part of you, didn't it, Sam? Every choice you made after that took you further away from Eliza."
I remember Sam saying he dreamt of Jessica's death. Did he know that this was gonna happen? That Crowley would come after us? I knew he wasn't telling me something, but I never realized just how dangerous the monsters that Sam fought could be, and apparently, he decided not to warn me. Crowley is making a point that I don't want to believe: Sam chose to stay away for all those years.
"Alright, Boris, enough with the monologuing." Dean's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "Ellie, listen to me; whatever Crowley tells you, you can't believe a word he says."
"Let her hear it from the source then," Crowley says with a coy grin. "Tell us, Sam. Tell Eliza why you never came back, why you chose girl after girl instead of her?"
"It wasn't like that, Ella." Sam's voice is filled with desperation. Crowley's baiting him, and he's falling for it. "I always wanted to come back to you-to our family."
"Your family," Crowley mocks Sam. "Rumors about a Winchester child went around for years." Crowley directs his next comments to me. "But no one could find her; someone went to great lengths to cover up her existence. Had a spell of protection cast over her shortly after she was born. Lucky for me, it was only a matter of time before you crossed paths with that lumbering idiot again."
"Fuck you," I mutter.
"Eloquent, aren't we?" Crowley chuckles. "You know, I'm normally much more patient, but when I heard about the trials, I just knew it was time to act. All I had to do was give Samantha a nudge here, a well-placed article there, et voila, it was like taking candy from a baby," Crowley refills his glass. "One of my lieutenants was already in place when those two heaping piles of flannel crossed the town's lines. You still had so much resentment for your parents you didn't even notice the change in your father's behavior, did you, Eliza? Would you like to know the real cause of that accident?"
Crowley sneers as I cut him off with a scream. "No!"
"Oh, yes, darling. Sometimes you just have to pull the strings of fate in the right direction," he snaps his fingers once again, sending lightning bolts of pain coursing through me. "Now let's talk about the little one, should I bring her back and let her watch you die? Or should I leave your body for her to find?"
Panic replaces the pain coursing through me, and each breath becomes harder to take. "Maybe, I'll just turn her into one of my loyal followers."
No, no, no. I can see the pleasure Crowley takes in my fear. Sam's voice rings out tense and full of condemnation as he continues to yell at Crowley.
"I'd have little Cordelia calling me 'father' in no time, it would be the ultimate power."
My body vibrates with rage as he releases his hold. "You stay away from her. I'll kill you if you lay a finger on her."
"There it is." There's a smugness in his voice. "I see now exactly why Sam chose you. I didn't at first, but now, with your mama bear instincts coming out? You are the perfect vessel to carry on the Winchester bloodline. Crowley turns his focus back to the phone in his hand. "What's it gonna be, boys? You've got two minutes to make your decision. Finish the Trials, or save your precious family."
The tightness around my throat returns, slowly cutting off my air supply. Please, Cas, help.
"We'll deal. You stop, we'll stop." I can practically hear Sam pacing the floor of whatever room he is in. "Now, let her go."
"First, we must discuss terms, gigantor. I want the Demon Tablet, the whole Demon Tablet. Then we'll talk about what to do with the girls." After several moments of strained silence, Crowley grows impatient. "Tick-tock, boys. Little Cordelia could walk in on us at any moment. I'd hate for her to have to watch her mother die. It's an awful thing, isn't it, Moose? Watching someone you love die right before your eyes."
"Fine, then we get the angel tablet," Dean's voice fills the air.
"On what grounds?" Crowley argues.
"On the grounds that you're a douchebag, and no one should have that much power."
"Fine. Now about Eliza and the little one," Crowley's lips curl as I feel my throat closing.
"They've got nothing to do with any of this, we've agreed to your terms, now let Ellie go."
"You're right, Eliza doesn't, but that doesn't mean I can't use her in every depraved way I can think of, have a bit of fun with her."
"Fuck you," Sam snarls, "if you even think about laying a finger on her, I'll kill you and every fucking demon that gets in my way."
"Such a flirt, Samantha. Your dear Eliza is running out of time, and you want foreplay? I'm touched. Once she's gone, little Cordelia will be mine for the taking. Azazel had the right idea; I could make myself a child-army. I wonder, Sam, did she inherit your predilection for demon blood?"
"Listen here, you son of a bitch."
"No, you listen. You will stop the Trials and give me the tablet, or Moose's whore is gonna bite the dust. What's more important? Completing the trials or letting Eliza die? Will you let her become another innocent casualty in your quest to save the world? It's up to you, Sasquatch, what's it going to be?"
"Let me talk to her, Crowley," Sam's voice cuts through the haziness of my brain.
"You don't trust me, Moose? I'm hurt."
"Prove to me that she's still alive." Crowley rolls his eyes, and the grip on my neck loosens. I gasp for air as he brings the phone closer to me. "Ella, talk to me, please, baby." I choke back a sob. "C'mon Ella, let me know you're okay."
"S-m," I plead, "don- g- Cordy." Crowley lets out a deep chuckle.
"Ella, you're gonna be okay. I'm not gonna let him hurt you or Corie."
"One minute."
Tears press against my eyes, and I try to blink them away, not wanting Crowley to see my weakness.
"Maybe I'll kill the little one first." He rubs his thumb against my cheek, brushing away the traitorous tear that slipped free. "Let Eliza watch as I slit her throat." Crowley's voice is apathetic as it continues to torture me with his words. "Or maybe I'll just take her with me to Hell; every child needs a father. Start her reprogramming immediately. She's young enough. I'm sure within a few months, I could make her do anything I want. Now, shall I have her kill you or Squirrel first?"
"Fuck you," Sam growls.
"Ah, the Winchester Wit, do you think Cordelia has that same mastery of language you have? Keep it up, and you'll never know. Thirty seconds, Moose."
Please, Castiel. I continue to pray silently as my vision begins to blur.
"I'll stop the trials," Sam mumbles, his voice so low I can barely understand him.
"What was that? Louder, Sam, so that Eliza can hear you."
"I'll stop," Sam huffs, "now let her go."
"I just need two little words from you," Crowley's lips curve into a sneer, and he narrows his eyes back on the phone. "I surrender."
Crowley's fingers curl around nothing, and the pressure around my neck becomes unbearable. My heart is pounding in my chest, and my lungs are burning as my vision tunnels, darkness consuming it, but my only thought is for Cordy. Sam's voice comes low through the phone, but I can't make out his words.
Before the darkness completely takes over, the tightness around my neck loosens, and I take in long deep breaths, coughing as I exhale. Crowley is still wearing a smug smile; Sam must've told him what he wanted to hear.
"Pleasure doing business with you, boys." Crowley ends the call and pockets the phone before turning his attention back on me. "This wasn't personal; you mustn't believe it was." He sounds almost remorseful as he brings his attention back to me. "You and the little one were just a means to an end." With a snap of his fingers, I find myself free from the unseen restraints. "As long as Moose and Squirrel keep up their end, my demons will stay away from you and Cordelia." Crowley moves to place a hand on my shoulder.
"Touch me, and I'll kill you," I growl at him, adrenaline still pumping through me.
"Careful, darling. It may not have been about you, but I meant what I said. I'll do things to you that will make you wish for death. The boys may have made a deal, but you didn't. You could be in worse shape."
"Why?" I mutter. "Why us?"
"I told you, darling, nothing motivates a Winchester better than threatening someone they love. Sam Winchester's daughter and his former flame? You are the ultimate bargaining chips..."
I tune him out as my mind begins to race. This—this is the very reason why John wanted Sam to stay away. The reason why we could never be together. Dean said it himself, Crowley was using Cordy and me to get to him and Sam. I should've never told him the truth. I should've let him believe whatever John said to him that night.
"…next generation of Winchesters. Take care, darling." he disappears before my eyes, leaving me alone in the empty house. My legs wobble as I stand, and I hold on to the furniture to keep myself upright. I make it to the front walkway before my legs give out, and I collapse against the wall, uncontrollable sobs leaving me.
I cradle my arm against my chest, and pain radiates from my shoulder with the slightest movement. I know I need a doctor. I foolishly pray to Cas again. Why would Sam tell me to pray to him if it wasn't going to work? I should've known better than to trust that some angel was going to appear to save me.
Every instinct is telling me to go straight to Cordy and wrap her in my arms. I need to know that she is safe, that Crowley didn't go after her anyway. Crowley said he had connections everywhere. Could Cynthia or Tom be possessed? Did sending her away do more harm than good? My mind is swimming with worry for her safety.
My legs shake as I stand back up, and I compose myself as best I can. I wrap my arm as carefully in a large ace bandage, wanting to shield Cordy from the aftermath as much as I can. I'm walking towards the door when I hear a light rapping, and panic starts filling my body again. Crowley had just proven to me that anyone or anything could walk into our house, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
"Ellie?" A familiar voice fills the air. "It's Cynthia; Cordy asked me to come check on you."
I open the door just enough to peer out to confirm it is Cynthia standing there. I pull Sam's necklace over my head and pass it through the opening, "can you put this on, please?" I say through the small space, Cynthia looks at me curiously but complies. I wait a moment to see if there is any kind of reaction before letting out a relieved sigh and opening the door wider.
"Ellie!" Cynthia exclaims as she takes in my disheveled appearance. "What happened?"
The night of the werewolf attack replays in my head, and how much it pained me to lie about what happened then, how I have to lie again.
"Me and my two left feet," I lie and let out a weak laugh. "Tried to break my fall, and landed bad," I shake my head and try to keep my voice as steady as I can.
"Hon," she takes another step forward, gently grabbing my arm. An involuntary hiss leaves me, and tears fill my eyes. Her eyes land on the dried blood, where Crowley lacerated my shoulder. "A fall wouldn't cause that." A choked sob leaves me; I don't know how to lie my way out of this. "I think you need to let me take you to the hospital."
"I c-can't ask you to do t-that, Cynthia." I shake my head. I hate being this helpless. "Cordy, I need to see Cordy."
"Cordy's fine, Ellie," she walks me over to the couch. "She and Ava are watching a movie." She looks me over again; concern etched on her face. "Whatever happened, Ellie, you can tell me," Cynthia softens her voice. "If someone attacked you–"
"No one attacked me," I lie again, knowing I can't tell her the truth. Cynthia frowns, doubtful of what I'm telling her. I pick something as close to the truth as I can. "When I was a teenager, I survived an animal attack," I sigh.
"Oh, hon, I'm sorry." Cynthia reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze.
"I'm mostly okay, but it caused me to start having panic attacks. Most of the time, I can calm myself down before they get really bad," I gage her reaction. "But, my usual methods weren't working, and I didn't want Cordy to see me like that, that's why I sent her over," she nods as if she understands. "I was trying to get upstairs so that I could take my medication, and that's when I fell."
"That doesn't explain the cuts on your shoulder and neck, Ellie," she gently pries.
"It's nothing, really," I mumble, shaking my head. Cynthia's forehead wrinkles, and her eyebrows furrow, but she doesn't question me further. I lean my head back, and when I close my eyes, Cordy's worried face is the only thing I can see. My heart begins to race, and each breath becomes harder to take. "Cordy!"
"She's at my house, Ellie," Cynthia attempts to calm me, but I jerk away when she reaches out. "Look at me, Ellie," she demands softly, "where's your medicine? Upstairs?"
I nod, mumbling "bathroom, sertraline," in between ragged breaths. Cynthia returns with the bottle and a glass of water before I even realize that she'd left. She hands me two pills along with the glass, making sure that my trembling hand has a firm grip on it before sitting down. Once I swallow the medicine, Cynthia takes the glass from me and sets it on the coffee table. She squeezes my hand reassuringly and quietly sits next to me until my breathing begins to even out, and tensed muscles start to relax.
"Let me take you to the hospital, Ellie, I insist."
By the time Cynthia and I are back from the hospital, it's almost midnight. My arm is wrapped in a cast and perched in a sling. Cynthia walks us into my living room, setting a white bag with pain medicine on the coffee table. She props pillows behind me as I take a seat before her phone rings. She steps away, and I gather she's talking to her husband, saying she doesn't know when she'll be home and that Cordy would be staying over.
"I can go get her," I stand up from the couch as Cynthia walks back towards me, putting her phone away. "I don't want to be a bother to you any more than I already have tonight."
"Ellie, please," Cynthia gently reaches for my good arm. "You need rest, and Cordy's sleeping already. Let her stay over; it's only going to worry her more if you come and get her in the middle of the night."
"Are you sure? I know we haven't gotten the chance to really know each other yet–"
"Ellie," Cynthia lifts her hand to stop me. "You're a single mom, and new around here, and you've already had a rough night. I've been there, and believe me, I know how hard it can be. Can I call anyone for you?" She asks as she retrieves a pill from the orange bottle, and I shake my head. "No family?" I shake my head again as she hands me one, and I swallow it dry. "No one at all?"
"It's just the two of us," my eyes drift over to a silver picture frame. "I'm an only child. My parents died in a car accident a few months ago. Cordy was in the car with them when it happened."
"My God," Cynthia gasps. "Ellie, I– I can't imagine."
"Thank you, we're still adjusting, my parents–" I debate whether telling her the whole story. Maybe another time. "They were my whole support system."
"What about Cordy's dad? Is he around?"
"I don't want to talk about her dad," I snap back at her unintentionally.
"I'm sorry," Cynthia's face pinks up with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to upset you."
Guilt rises in me, it's an innocent enough question, and I know she doesn't mean to cause the reaction in me that it does. "No, please don't apologize, you didn't know. Cordy's dad and me, it's–"
"Complicated?"
"To put it mildly," I let out a small chuckle, and we both relax. "He wants to be a part of our lives, but his job takes him all over the country, and Cordy needs stability in her life, not a dad who comes and goes."
She lets out a sigh. "Like I said, Ellie, I've been there. If you ever want to talk about it, please don't hesitate."
Cynthia stays with me for another hour before going home and promising to send Cordy back first thing in the morning. I'm making my way up to my bedroom when I hear a rustling. My whole body tenses, knowing that just like before, I have no way of stopping another monster or demon from walking into my house. I turn around and see Cas standing in the front walkway, and for a moment, I relax.
"I'm sorry I couldn't have come sooner, Eliza," Cas' face remains unreadable as the two times I'd seen him before. As I close the distance between us, my relief is instantly replaced with rage. "But, I was otherwise engaged–" I cut him off with a slap to the face.
"You were 'otherwise engaged'? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" I shout as I ball up my fist and pound it against Cas' chest. "Sam said you would come if I prayed to you! Why didn't you come? Didn't you hear it?"
"Yes," His face and voice stay emotionless. "The situation seemed to be under control."
"Under control?" My face hardens, and I clench my jaw. It takes all of my willpower not to hit him again. "You call me being attacked in my own home, mine and my daughter lives being threatened 'under control'? He tortured me just to get to Sam."
"We had no reason to believe that Crowley was going to come after you. We were told by higher authorities that the demons weren't aware of you or Cordelia. Clearly, they were incorrect."
"Clearly," I scoff and take a few steps back.
"I understand you're upset, Eliza," Cas responds coldly, speaking only in statements of fact. "Sam and Dean will have Crowley in their grasp soon enough; they won't let him harm you or Cordelia. You must understand, Eliza, this is for the greater good."
"The greater good is not my concern, Cas. The only thing I care about is my daughter. Do you know what he said to me? What he told me he would do to me? To Cordy?"
"I am sorry, Eliza. The angels assured us you were never in any real danger. If you were, I would have interceded sooner."
"No real danger?" I gesture to my injured arm, "You call this no danger?"
"I can fix that," he says and reaches out to touch my forehead.
"Don't you fucking touch me," I slap his hand away. "I can't believe I ever thought that I could have a normal life with Sam," I say more to myself than Cas. "He says he wants to protect us, but how is he gonna do that?" I'm rambling, and Cas stands to the side watching.
"Crowley was only using you to get to Sam and Dean," Cas says as if it should give me some sort of comfort.
"You don't think I know that, Cas?" I snap back. "He told me. I will not allow my daughter to be used as a way to keep Sam and Dean under control. We will not be pawns in whatever game they are playing at. We're done. I'm done. Two months ago, Sam scared me enough to think he would hurt me intentionally, and now I find out that they are letting people die, just so what? What is so important that they would let that happen? Tell me, Cas," I demand.
"Sam," Cas hesitates. "Sam is completing a series of tests, and when they're completed, it will seal up the gates of Hell. Crowley doesn't want that; he needs Earth to fuel his deals and keep his demons satisfied. Ever since he found out about the Trials, Crowley has been doing everything he can to stop Sam from finishing them. I don't know how he found out about you or Cordelia."
"It doesn't matter," I mumble. "He knows, and I'm done with all of you, angels, demons, fucking werewolves, and soul-eaters. If fate was going to bring Sam and me back together, just for this to happen, then fuck fate."
"Eliza, if I'd have thought that you were in danger, I would've been here with you tonight and not allowed Crowley to step through the door." There's a sincerity in his voice that I had yet to hear. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you better."
"You didn't protect me at all, Cas." I throw his words back at him. "None of you did. If I would've known something like this would happen, I would've lied to Sam." I let my emotions drive my next words. "I'm done with all of it. All of you. Just leave."
"I am putting up warding around your house. Neither Crowley nor any other demon will not be able to step inside. I am sorry, Eliza, it was never our intention for any harm to come to you."
"Sure," I huff, trying to fight back my tears. "I'm supposed to believe you now? After what happened tonight?"
"I give you my word, Eliza. You and Cordelia will be under my protection from now on."
"Somehow, I don't find any comfort in that, Cas," I grumble. "Please, get out of my house."
"Eliza," Cas softens his voice; it's almost soothing. "I will never ignore another prayer from you or Cordelia."
"I can't–" I choke out. "Please, go."
"You are safe now, Eliza. Both of you are safe." Cas hesitantly nods and reaches out, gently squeezing my shoulder before vanishing with a rush of air.