The Chaos Tree
Chapter 19
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Joshua stretched as he leaned back against the seat of the Tourer. The drive between Raleigh North Carolina and Lebanon Kansas was not a short one: a lengthy twenty hours. Dean and Sam might be used to driving for hours on end, but Joshua wasn't, and he didn't want to get used to it either. Despite the relative comfort of the Tourer – for which he was grateful – he was tired, cramped and in desperate need of a walk.
The drive was made longer, not only by the stretching, food and fuel stops, but with the dozens of vehicle wrecks along the highways and interstates. On one occasion Daniel had careened to the side of the road and jumped out just in time to stop a man from beating another driver to a pulp. Raylan, following behind in Daniel's truck, had rushed to help. They'd only been able to get back on the road when highway patrol came to take over. Also encountered were fights at gas stations, though in most cases numerous pumps were available for fueling use. The delays were endless and frustrating. Tension was definitely in the air, and increased their feelings of stress and weariness.
When night rolled around, they were all exhausted after eight and a half hours on the road. They opted out of staying the night in a hotel after Joshua pointed out that by veering slightly north, they could sleep in Louisville, which would add only a half hour to their trip. It was a decision with which Onida wholeheartedly agreed. Going home would allow her to sleep in hers and Caleb's bed, as well as touch base with Juliet, whom she knew was missing Dean. Daniel and Raylan would spend the night at the Sherwood Inn. Most hunters visiting the Guardian had stayed there before, and it was well known and comfortable.
Glancing out the window, Joshua watched the mile signs looking for the US 75 West road marker. During his last phone call home, Nicholas had sounded rather subdued, and Joshua knew he was missing him. The child wasn't used to not seeing him for days, and he'd been gone three. He was going home.
Eyes on the blur of passing scenery, his thoughts went back to the problem he'd been tasked to solve; how to get the Tree back in its rightful place, and how to get all of its seeds positioned around the country to go along for the ride. It seemed an impossible task, but he'd taken Caleb's advice to heart: focus on moving a thing that doesn't belong here back to its home. Buoyed by Dean's words from Pastor Jim, he been documenting the basics of spells that move something from one place to another, then looking for spells that took things from one dimension to another, such as the one he'd used to bring Sam back from the Lucifer's box. However, there was one aspect of Piruz's circle around the country was niggling at him: the seeds. Why use the seeds as the circle? It would stand to reason that the seeds would be powerful, like the Tree. If they were being used in his spell, why mitigate their power by putting them in cocobolo wood boxes?
He looked down at his notes. The last hour had been spent researching the Tree itself. If he knew more about it, maybe that knowledge would help in writing the spell. Piruz had most likely had access to knowledge that was now lost, but could he have learned more than what the Bible contained? The Tree was in God's garden; God controlled the narrative. So while he'd searched through additional sources, his main focus had been on Genesis chapters two and three. So far, he didn't see how anything written there could help in the current dilemma.
Onida stirred, yawned and shifted slightly in her seat. Opening her eyes, she focused on Joshua. After watching him frown at his notes, she asked, "Do you need me to search for more information?"
Joshua looked up, then smiled. "No, I'm rereading the same passages again."
"Hoping to find something new?"
"Hoping to find more of an explanation," Joshua said, sighing as he leaned back in his chair.
"On why Piruz put the seeds in the boxes," Onida said. It was a subject they had returned to more than once.
Joshua nodded. "It seems counterproductive, though from your insight on the boxes, it looks like the seeds will get out eventually. So why bother in the first place? There has to be a reason."
"You said he would want control, so needed a circle of some sort to keep the Tree's influence here," Onida said for perhaps the fifth time. She knew they were going over the same ground again and again, but sometimes that's what it took for inspiration to strike.
Joshua sighed and lowered the screen on his laptop.
"You're tired," Onida said. "We need to give this a rest. Sometimes you can get…"
"Too close," Joshua completed the thought, nodding. "Yes."
The Tourer swung slightly right and Joshua looked up with a smile. Onida twisted around in her seat and grinned. "We're almost home."
"Home," Joshua murmured.
Raylan exited the freeway and drove down the streets of Louisville while Joshua packed away his notes and computer. When the bus turned into Joshua's drive, the front door was already open.
"Careful," Joshua admonished as a small boy raced down the front steps.
"Gotcha covered," Raylan said with a smile, slowing to a stop just barely into the drive.
"See you tomorrow," Joshua said to both Onida and Raylan as he opened the side door and was tackled by a gangly child with blond hair.
"Back," Nicholas breathed, clutching Joshua with strong, slender arms.
Joshua dropped his duffel and pulled up the child to his chest. "Oooh, it's so good to see you."
Nicholas just hugged harder, his legs linked around Joshua's waist.
Onida pulled the door open wider and stepped out onto the pavement. Turning, she picked up Joshua's duffel and computer bag, and started up the front steps where Carolyn and Josie were standing, grins on their faces.
"Hi, Onida," Carolyn said, stepping forward to take Joshua's luggage.
"Hi Carolyn," Onida said with a grin, then as she looked over at Joshua and Carolyn's daughter, she nodded, "Hey Josie."
"How are you, Aunt Onida," Josie called.
When Josie had first called Onida aunt, it had shocked and frightened her. To be fair, Josie had waited a whole three months before doing so, but hers and Caleb's relationship was still so new, that hearing someone address her so intimately had been a surprise. It was right after that she had gone to Washington alone, scaring Caleb into thinking she was regretting their relationship. In truth, she'd been overwhelmed with Josie calling her aunt, for her acceptance into this family. A family she had longed for since Marius' death and losing her own precious daughter.
Onida smiled. "I'm fine; ready to spend a night in my own bed. How come you're home? Don't you have classes?"
Josie's eyes went to Nicholas wrapped around her father and smiled. "Dad was gone longer this time. Nicholas really needs him around, you know? I told my teachers we had a family emergency and came home to help. Having me or Max around helps distract Nicky, especially Max, since he looks so much like dad."
"Max came too?"
Josie shook her head as Carolyn stepped up. "He plans on being here in the next day or so."
Carolyn gave Jocelyn's back a light rub, though her eyes were on Joshua and Nicholas. "At least by the weekend."
Onida glanced around before handing off Joshua's computer bag. "One more day, I think, and it should be over."
Carolyn sighed and nodded.
"It'll be okay, Mom," Josie said. "When Dad leaves tomorrow, Nicky and I will build a fort for us and the puppies. Maisie and Lucas can spend another night as well. We'll get through."
Joshua walked slowly up the steps, Nicholas in his arms. Smiling at Onida, he said, "Eight?"
"See you then," Onida nodded. After running a hand over Nicholas' soft blonde head, she waved at Carolyn and Josie and jogged back to the Tourer. Soon Raylan, Onida and Daniel, still following behind in his truck, had disappeared down the road.
The Impala's headlights cut through the streetlamp lit thoroughfare leading into Brooklyn. Though night, the streets were crowded, as always. But Dean was an expert at getting his muscle car through traffic, and he drove through the streets with ease.
"Anyone got cash?" Sam asked, fishing around in his own pockets.
"Oh," said Adam, reaching into his own pocket.
"What's the toll up to now?" Dean asked, smirking a little, as his driving the car had the benefit of keeping his money in his pocket.
"Seventeen dollars, I think," Sam said, pulling his computer back onto his lap and typing quickly. "Uh, yeah, crossing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge is now seventeen dollars one-way."
"Money gougers," Dean griped.
"What are you complaining about?" Caleb demanded, counting some ones and fives. "You're not fishing for your wallet."
"I'm driving," Dean declared loftily. "I need to watch where I'm going."
Sam snorted. "Like anyone on the road today is a challenge."
Since Dean had just executed a very neat lane change in front of a very aggressive cabbie, he merely smiled.
"Have you heard anything from Piruz?" Dean asked, lifting a hand to tap lightly on his temple.
"Nada," Caleb said, reaching over his shoulder to pull a five from Sam and three ones from Adam.
"You think he'll be there?" Adam asked.
"Yeah. He wants his plan to go off, and we're the fly in the ointment."
"A monkey in the wrench…" Dean quoted from Die Hard.
Caleb glanced over to Dean and grinned, "A pain in the ass…"
"You want to get a place to sleep for tonight?" Sam interrupted.
Dean grinned and let himself move on from more Die Hard quotes. "Don't think we should," he said, eyes on the traffic.
Caleb looked over, saying, "You want to drive straight from here to Lebanon."
"This guy can't have much longer before he needs to complete the spell," Dean said. "Once he places his boxes, I don't think he'll waste any time getting from here to there."
"You want to drive…" Sam stated, his eyes on the back of his brother's head.
"He'll drive, so can we."
Caleb eyed Dean a moment before saying, "We can do that, sure. But I think a better option is taking the Hawker."
Dean glanced at Caleb, then looked back at Sam in the rearview mirror.
"We'd shave almost a day of off travel time, especially when you consider stopping for gas, food and bathroom breaks," Sam reasoned. "If we fly, that puts us in Lebanon before Piruz."
Dean sighed, knowing he was out voted. "Isn't your plane in Charlotte?"
Caleb pulled out his cell. "I'll text Michael, have him fly up."
"Newark Liberty International Airport is the closest to Staten Island," Sam said from the backseat. "It's only seventeen minutes away."
"I think Michael knows all the airports, Sam," Caleb said, typing on his phone.
"You're welcome," Sam quipped anyway.
Adam had been listening to the easy banter between the three men. He felt equally intrigued by this inside glimpse of their working dynamic, and out of place. "So, we're flying from New York to Kansas, not driving?"
Sam smiled. "We're flying."
Adam nodded. "Then we can get some sleep while getting there. Very efficient."
Dean gave the crafter a narrow-eyed look in the rear view while Caleb looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Exactly."
Sam leaned forward and pointed. "There's the sign for the Verrazano Narrows Bridge."
"Thank you, Sam," Dean snapped, muscling his car into an impossibly narrow gap between two cabbies and earning some long blasts from their horns. "I've never driven in New York before. Don't know what I'd do without you."
"You're welcome," Sam said cheerfully.
Adam gave a chuckled, which he turned into a very convincing cough when Dean glared at him in the mirror.
Leaning over, Sam whispered, "Good save. You're learning."
Adam's lips quirked slightly as he looked out the passenger's side window. Yup, this had been a very enlightening ride.
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Dean pulled up alongside the entryway to Freshkills Park. At ten-thirty at night, the park was closed and deserted. Metal gates barred the drive into the park in an attempt to prevent nighttime partiers. Squinting up the paved road, he wondered whether it was very successful. "How big is this place?"
"Two-hundred acres," Sam relayed. "The city of New York established the Freshkills Landfill in nineteen-forty-eight. At the time there wasn't any large scale development on the west shore of Staten Island. By nineteen-fifty-five Freshkills was the largest landfill in the world, receiving as much as twenty-nine thousand tons of trash per day at its peak."
"Wow, that's a lot of trash," Caleb stated, looking out his window.
"It's not trash anymore," Sam stated. "It's a park."
"Built on top of trash," Caleb sniped.
Sam ignored that, saying, "Can you drive in through the trees?"
"I am not driving Baby onto a pile of trash. What if she gets stuck?"
Sam rolled his eyes. "All right, fine. Turn into the entryway. I'll pick the lock and open the gates." He jumped from the rear seat of the Impala and jogged to the gate. Less than a minute later he was swinging it open. When the Impala drove through, Sam swung the gate shut and hurried back over to the car. "We can drive past the bridge and park anyplace where there's cover. We'll walk in through the woods."
"Cause walking on trash is so much better than driving on it," Caleb muttered.
Dean snorted softly. Better them walking on trash than Baby getting stuck in it. Pressing on the gas, he guided the Impala through the entrance. Moving slowly, he kept an eye out for Piruz and his practically invisible Hennessey Venom. The entry drive was flanked on the left by thick rows of trees, and on the right with trees and water. They passed under a raised crosswalk and he started looking for a place to park the Impala. After rounding a second bend in the road, he saw a dark spot nestled under some overhanging trees. Skillfully he maneuvered the Impala past a tourist sign fronting a brick wall, and under a shadowed length of trees and bushes.
"Over there is Main Creek Wetland Restoration," Sam said quietly, looking to their right. "It was completed in the early twenty-first century. Most of the park is trees and wetlands."
Caleb nodded absently as he studied the terrain for tactical advantages. "Fighting here will have advantages, but also a lot of disadvantages. There's a lot of open space, and the trees won't offer much cover. But their shadows will blend with ours, give us more movement."
"How do you know where he's going to be?" Adam asked. "This park is massive."
"We don't, not for sure," Dean murmured.
"It's probable he'll head for the center," Caleb said. "There's more cover in the picnic areas. Most of the maintenance buildings, vending machines and restrooms are there."
"Should we park this far out?" Sam asked, looking out through the side and rear windows of the Impala. "If anyone is injured, we'll have to hike back."
Dean glanced back. "If needed, someone can come get the car and bring it closer."
"Driving any closer now could alert Piruz to our presence," Caleb stated unnecessarily.
"He already knows we're coming," Sam grumbled. "You called him out."
"Maybe, but we don't have to announce it with a V-8, six-cylinder engine."
Surprised, Dean said, "How did you know that?"
Caleb snorted softly. "I've been listening to you go on about this car for close to fifty years. What don't I know?"
"I didn't think you were listening," Dean muttered as they climbed quietly from the car.
They gathered near a low brick wall, each one eyeing the landscape, watchful for anything in the darkness.
"Everyone got their cloaking spell bags on?" Caleb asked, pulling his shirt aside to reveal the spell pouch around his neck.
Sam and Adam pulled the necks of their shirts down to show the pouches Adam had put together.
"Dean!" Caleb barked softly, as the Guardian was prowling around his car, looking at the damage Piruz had inflicted earlier on the road to New York. "You can't do anything about the damage now."
"Yeah, yeah," Dean muttered, standing upright and pulling back his shirt to show the pouch.
"Will these really cloak our presence?" Sam asked. The spell pouches Joshua had made to cloak them from the Owl Witches in Washington last year had been effective. But Piruz was much older and stronger.
"I made the spell as strong as I know how," Adam stated. "But this witch is powerful. Consider these muffling pouches rather than cloaking."
Dean snorted out a short laugh while Caleb chuckled.
"We'll take what we can get," Caleb said. Staring out into the wooded area, he continued, "We go in on foot, use the trees and whatever else we can for cover."
"Can you tell whether he's here or not?" Dean asked, turning his gaze on the park. "Get a fix on his position?"
"Hang on," Caleb replied. Closing his eyes, he opened the turret in his fortified blocks and reached out into the park. Sensing nothing, he sighed and opened his eyes.
"Something?" Sam asked quietly.
"No, but he's a powerful bastard who knows we're psychic." Looking to Sam, Caleb said, "I'm going wide open. Watch my back."
Sam closed his eyes while Dean prowled the area, alert for any sound.
When Caleb felt Sam in his head, he dropped his blocks halfway and looked around the park. Jerking upright, he slammed them back into place and said, "Two hundred yards to the east. He's in the center plaza where the vending machines are. He's cloaked, blocked and pissed."
Sam pulled out his cell and started scrolling for a map of the park. After a moment he said, "Here's a map of the park. We're … right here," he pointed.
"We need to flank him," Caleb said, his eyes on the map.
Dean studied the small image on Sam's cell. "If we cut through the park, someone's going to have to cross the open space here in the middle," he pointed to the large expanse of grass showcased on the map, probably used for picnics, soccer and baseball pickup games. "That makes them a target. Going around would take too much time."
Caleb frowned. "We're already on the west side. So we follow the path in, staying in the tree line between the park and West Shore Expressway. As we approach the entry Plaza, we split up; two using the cover of trees on the north, two using the tree cover on the south. We attack from both sides, if possible."
Dean and Sam nodded.
"I'll go with Adam," Dean said, looking at the tall witch. "You good with that?"
Caleb didn't like that one bit, but he knew Dean felt responsible for Adam, since the man was Joshua's best friend, and he'd asked Joshua to be elsewhere.
Adam nodded. "Since we're all coming into the entry Plaza area from the same direction then splitting up, I can do spells of disinformation, obfuscation and deception. When we're near, we make him believe we are far away. When we're approaching, we make him think we're further away than we are."
"Sun Tzu," Caleb and Dean said simultaneously.
Caleb grinned. "When we are able to attack, we must seem unable…"
"When using our forces, we must appear inactive," Adam finished with a smile. "One of the Mattaponi leaders who taught me when I was young was fond of Sun Tzu. I have the spells ready. He'll catch on to what I'm doing quickly. We'll need to accomplish much before he does."
"Then let's get to it," Caleb said.
The four walked swiftly through the trees, Adam as quiet as the other three. Having spent his formative years hiking and hunting with the Mattaponi Tribe in West Virginia, he was an expert at moving through the darkness without making a sound. Even though they were moving at a good clip, it was still close to half an hour before they were nearing the first of the open grassy areas.
Sam looked around, eyes searching the darkness and shadows. Piruz knew they were coming, Caleb had called him out. So why wasn't the witch attacking? He glanced over at Caleb, who merely shrugged.
Dean was wondering as well. Could the witch pinpoint their exact location even though they were wearing the masking spell pouches? They were coming up on the south side of the entry plaza. Maybe it would be a good time for some sort of diversion. Apparently someone else had the same idea. Bushes suddenly rustled several yards away to their right, as though small animals were running around the park. Glancing behind him, he caught a glimpse of Adam with his arm raised, looking as though he'd just tossed a baseball into the distance. Following the throw angle, he saw shadows darting in and around the trees.
Adam gave a quick nod to the others as he ducked down again, falling into line behind Dean.
Sam had heard the disturbances as well, and watched the very convincing shadows a second before turning back to where Caleb was weaving through the trees.
They approached the south end of the plaza, their footsteps muted and quiet on the freshly mown grass. Caleb halted about fifteen yards inside the tree line. Most of the trees were narrow-trunked, as the landfill didn't allow for a deeper root penetration. They didn't make the best cover, but they were dense and clustered together. For blocking spells, they would have to do. Turning to the others, he said, "Here's where we split up. Use whatever tools you have wisely."
"If we kill him, the spell he cast should nullify," Sam whispered.
"The spell ring should nullify," Adam murmured. "But if Piruz has planted a living Tree near Lebanon Kansas, we'll still need to figure a way to put it back where it belongs."
Sam and Dean exchanged quick smiles at Adam saying we'll have to figure out a way. A lot had changed in the last year for the stoic crafter.
"If you can, take the bastard out," Caleb said in a hushed tone. "We'll figure out how to put the tree back in Eden or burn it to the ground." He looked at Dean. "Agreed?"
Dean didn't want to put any more pressure on Joshua, but figuring out how to get the Tree back to Eden was challenging as it stood. Would Piruz being alive help, or hinder the crafter's task? He didn't know, but he needed to focus on right now. They dealt with the threat directly in front of them and took the next threat as it came. It's what a hunter did. "We focus on distracting and wounding, and if we can, we take him out."
"Let's do it," Caleb ordered, peeling off the left with Sam, while Dean and Adam took the right, moving like ghosts through the trees.
Turning to Adam, Dean murmured, "Stay behind me."
"I can watch out for myself," Adam whispered back. "I came prepared." He held up his backpack. "I made the spell pouches much stronger than before. Hopefully they'll do more damage."
Dean held out his hands, and Adam placed some pouches into the open palms. "Caleb and Sam have some as well, though I think Caleb will be using his blade."
"I'll take all the help I can get," Dean remarked, pocketing the Mylar spell pouches. "But when I tell you to duck or get behind a tree, do it. I don't doubt your ability to take care of yourself. But you're not used to fighting this type of battle. I owe it to Joshua to get you out in one piece."
Adam nodded, stating, "I'll stay behind you until you need me not to."
"Good as I can ask for," Dean conceded, giving the crafter a sharp nod. "Come on."
Caleb frowned, keeping one eye on Sam as they ghosted past trees and bushes. Piruz was a powerful witch. He knew they were here; so why hadn't he made a move yet? Caution wasn't a conceit of the powerful. There had to be a reason the witch was waiting. It was possible the masking pouches were more successful than he thought they'd be, but his instincts told him otherwise. He halted about fifteen feet before the open, paved expanse of the plaza, watching.
Sam pulled up beside him, his eyebrows raised.
Caleb held up a finger, then focused his abilities on the plaza where he knew Piruz was waiting. Sweeping his senses out, he located Dean and Adam on the other side, directly across and slightly ahead. Pulling back a little, he lowered his defenses a bit and swept the plaza. That's when he felt the power, contained like a wave harnessed behind a wall; pulsing and barely restrained. Yanking back, he sent out a psychic scream; Take Cover!
Dean barely had time to grab Adam and propel him behind a tree before a cyclone of power lashed out with suffocating intensity, lifting him completely off the ground and knocking him back several feet, hitting three trees as he flew. Adam hung on to the trunk of the tree where Dean had shoved him for dear life, trying to breathe through the tidal force of power. Attempting to marshal his thoughts while energy and power billowed on every side was a challenge. But he was the crafter. There had to be a way he could counter the witch's spell. Suddenly an idea popped up in his head. Muttering quickly under his breath, he used the trunk of the tree to get to his feet and threw out a few suppression spells. It wouldn't stop Piruz, but it should curb his power enough to break this spell.
Caleb had just been able to raise the Dragon's Talon like a Knight hefting his sword in battle. The spell slammed into the blade. Sam tucked in behind Caleb as the spell broke on either side of them, rending trees and shrubs from the ground in their wake. Blade bucking under the power, Caleb held on for dear life, his grip desperate against the flow when suddenly … it stopped.
Dean climbed slowly to his feet, his body aching from hitting the trees and the ground, his wounded thigh wet with renewed blood flow. Forcing his leg straight, he hurried over to Adam, who was brushing dirt, twigs and leaves out of his hair and face.
"Nicely done," Dean murmured.
"I'm just glad it worked," Adam said, then his eyes widened as an intense blue light flew in their direction. Grabbing Dean's arm just as Dean grabbed his, they dropped to the park ground.
"You realize we're crawling around on garbage," Dean remarked, scrambling back behind the tree and pulling a bottle of water from his pocket.
"Thanks for the reminder," Adam commented with a grimace. He wondered why people wanted to come here.
Caleb and Sam hurried forward now that the power wave had dissipated. "We need to be close enough to use our spell pouches." Caleb did a quick survey of the area. "I'll head forward here; the Dragon's Talon can deflect his spells. I'll keep his attention on me and you swing left, see if you can get behind him. Then we'll hit him with our spell pouches."
Sam nodded and disappeared into the shadows.
Caleb moved out into the open field, his Dragon's Blade drawn, a spell bag nestled between the handle and his palm.
"Deditionem!" Piruz suddenly thundered. (Surrender)
Caleb slowed slightly, never dropping his blade. "Nolite est magicae chao!" (Stop the Chaos spell.)
Piruz allowed his anger to swirl inside, bringing up his magic. "I bring better life."
"For those who survive," Caleb shouted.
"Sunt simper ederet funera," snarled Piruz. (There is always death) "Harvest of good … worth little death."
"Like hell," Caleb growled. He wasn't fooled for one instant. Piruz had no interest in deviating from his plans; he wanted them out of the way. Therefore, when the first spells were suddenly launched in his direction, he was ready.
Sam had the spell pouches in his hands as he moved quietly through the trees, bent low at the waist, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Piruz knew there were at least three of them; he'd touched on Sam's mind at the gas station. He'd probably felt Sam protecting Caleb when Caleb linked with him. While his psychic walls weren't quite as strong as Caleb's, they were still formidable, and he had them up at full power. He didn't believe Piruz could sense him coming.
Glancing to the side, he sensed when the spells started flying and knew Caleb would be blocking them. Suddenly a bright blast of white light thundered toward Caleb, a powerful spell that wasn't like any he'd seen before. It flew straight as an arrow until it got near Caleb, then arced upward and dropped down on top of the Knight from above. Caleb lit up like he'd been struck by lightning then fell, unmoving, to the ground. Skidding to a stop, he screamed a psychic Caleb! Then suddenly he blinked and the scene before him abruptly reset, and Caleb was still moving toward Piruz, the Dragon's Talon blocking spells. Heart pounding in shock, he wondered what the hell had just happened?
Sam…?
Trusting his instincts, Sam thought back, Big ass spell coming your way; straight in, then veering up and down from above.
Got it.
Just then the blaze of intensely bright light Sam had seen earlier flashed through the air, darting toward Caleb like a bolt of lightning. As it approached Caleb, it darted up then dropped downward like a bomb. Caleb had just enough time to lift the Dragon's Talon and block the spell before it would have either killed him or at the very least, knocked him on his ass.
Thanks. Keep 'em comin'.
Sam continued to wind his way through the trees, but his mind was going a million miles an hour. Damn, he'd just had a future flash in living color. Death visions were one thing, flash forwards were another. That had only occurred once years before when he'd seen Max Miller, one of the children tainted by demon blood, murder Dean just before the attempt had been made. Was this a new aspect of the Triad gifts? Whatever it was, he hoped it continued.
Dean and Adam wound their way closer to the plaza pretty much unhindered. Dean couldn't help but wonder why was Piruz was virtually ignoring them to hurl spell after spell at Caleb? It was possible the witch was trying to wear Caleb out. They didn't know how long he could continue to block the spells without a breather. Suddenly his eyes dropped to the bottle of water in his hand. Could he give Caleb a break? After being able to work the silver in new ways last year fighting the Owl Witches, the thought of what else Triads and Guardians could do had been something he'd pondered over the last year. In Washington he'd made rain into silver, had used water from the ground to make silver, all from a distance. When he'd touched the grounds of Freshkills Park, the grass had been dry. But could he use his own water to get silver to Caleb?
Eyeing the Knight, he jogged ahead of Adam and moved closer to the tree line. Pouring some water out onto the ground, he focused on getting it to Caleb. Instead of soaking in, the water snaked its way along the blades of grass across the plaza to the Knight. Picturing a filament of the thinnest metal, Dean murmured, "Now," and brought the water up to form a screen door of sorts in front of Caleb.
Several feet behind Dean, Adam's eyes widened in amazement.
Caleb blinked as a delicate screen of filament metal appeared before him, blocking the spells. A slight smile curved his lips as he bent forward, trying to even out his breathing. Nice job, Deuce, he thought.
Dean grinned and moved closer to the plaza. A few yards behind, Adam rose quickly and tossed another spell about fifty yards to their right. Again, shadows raced along the plaza edge accompanied by the rustling of bushes. Piruz turned in that direction and hurled a spell, setting a young sapling ablaze.
While Piruz was turned away from them, Dean rose and lobbed two spell pouches at the witch, both of which connected; one at the back of his right shoulder, the other under the arm he had raised.
"Aarruugh!" Piruz roared, stumbling to the side.
Spinning, he hurled spell after spell in Dean's direction. Dean had a massive shield of silver raised in about two seconds flat. Adam darted forward and sheltered behind the shield beside Dean.
Sam tossed two pouches at Piruz, then hunched over, running further into the cover of the trees and behind the cement wall backing the vending machines. Unfortunately, Piruz had strengthen his cloaking, and the spells broke about a foot away. Growling in anger, the witch pivoted and hurled three spells at the retreating Scholar. The snack machine on the end of the line exploded along with two trees that had the misfortune to be nearby.
Caleb was at the plaza, and knew he needed to make his move. If he could keep Piruz occupied, then Sam and Dean could throw their spell pouches. The witch could be wounded, he knew that. They just needed to slow him down enough for Caleb to get close.
Stepping out onto the pavement, Caleb said, "Hey! Pick on someone your own size!"
An I'm taller from Sam filtered through his mind, causing him to smile.
Piruz spun around quickly, hurling a deluge of spells in Caleb's direction while he muttered constantly. One hand, however, was down at his side, and Caleb could see his fingers working. The Dragon's Talon was a blurred as he blocked spell after spell, his mind in a heightened state, seeing all that was happening; Dean and Adam on his right, Sam breaching the plaza bushes behind the witch. He was about to call out that Piruz was working on a spell with suddenly a darkened cloud of fiery red was hurled at the witch, causing him to stumble sideways. A quick glance told him it was Adam's work, as the man hunkered down behind a massive silver shield.
Sam darted into the plaza behind Piruz, throwing first one, then two, three and four spell pouches at the witch. The first three hit the cloak and splattered harmlessly in the air. The fourth sailed right on through and slammed against Piruz's back, causing him to stumble forward.
At that moment Dean stood up and fired several rounds of bullets, aiming for the witch's legs and arms rather than center mass. He was counting on Piruz to protect his heart and vital organs, rather than his limbs. He was right. One bullet plowed right into Piruz's thigh. The leg collapsed though the witch managed to keep his footing. Snarling in rage, he threw both hands into the air, causing spells to ping-pong around the plaza. Sam was barely able to duck behind a massive trash can before the trees and bushes around him caught fire. Caleb's blade sheltered him, though his arms were struggling to keep aloft.
Dean poured more water into his hand and made five silver stars, which he hurled at Piruz. The witch was injured and losing his concentration as they pressed in on him from every side. Sam stood on the edge of the plaza and focused, using his abilities to crush Piruz's chest. Caleb added his Darth Vader skills and started crushing his windpipe.
Dean felt like cheering as Piruz stumbled again. Leaving his silver shield with Adam, he darted to his right, bringing up another filament of silver metal in front of Caleb. Pouring more water onto the ground, he sent it to Sam. In another minute, Sam had a screen door sized filament of silver in front of him for the second time.
Sam smiled. At just that moment he saw a weird light hovering in the darkness behind Adam. He saw Dean running toward the light in an all out sprint, then he saw the light dart forward … and Dean and Adam were gone. Suddenly he was back in the plaza and Dean was firing his gun at Piruz.
Behind you! Watch out for the light! he screamed.
Caleb's eyes darted to Sam, then followed his line of sight to Dean.
Sam hurled two spells pouches at the witch; both connected, knocking Piruz forward.
"Arrruuggghhh," Piruz yelled, furious. Throwing out an arm, a mass of power and energy hammered Sam, sending him sailing back about fifteen yards and slamming into a tree. At the same time Adam threw a mix of spells in Piruz's direction. They connected in a spectacular cacophony of energy, light and fire, causing the man to stumble sideways and nearly go down.
Dean frowned and stared around, Sam's warning echoing in his head. Suddenly his eyes widened. Behind Adam, moving in the darkness was a pinpoint of light. The closer it got to the crafter, the bigger it got. Swearing under his breath, furious that he'd let himself get drawn away from Adam, Dean was on his feet and running for all he was worth. He could hear spells cascading behind him, but his focus was on getting to Adam. No way was he letting Joshua's best friend die at the hands of some ancient-ass witch with delusions of world domination.
Sam's warning fresh in his head, Caleb's heart was in his throat; he'd never reach Dean in time. Instead of trying to reach Dean, he needed to stop Piruz. Turning, he dodged around Dean's silver screen and ran full out in the witch's direction, his mind focused solely on breaking every single bone in Piruz's neck.
"Adam!" Dean called out. "Turn the shield around!"
Adam frowned. Turning, he looked around. At first he didn't see anything. Then, appearing to float in his direction, was a space of darkness mixed with light. "What….?" Eyes widened, Adam stumbled to his feet and tried to back away.
"The shield!" Dean yelled.
Spinning around, Adam snatched up the silver shield and held it up just as Dean reached him, slamming into him so hard the crafter's feet were lifted clean off the ground as his entire body flew to the side, where he collided with a tree. Breath knocked out of him and still in shock, Adam craned his neck around just in time to see the dark light swallowed Dean, then wink out of sight.
.
Caleb was in shock. Dean was gone. Forcing himself to move, he was able to block another spell from Piruz before his mind cracked. "AAUUGGRRHHH!" he screamed. Charging Piruz with all the speed and power of a locomotive, he slammed into the witch, sending him flying back ten feet to land heavily on the pavement. Not giving the witch even a moment to regroup, Caleb was on him in a flash, the Talon at the witch's throat, growling, "Quo abiit?" When Piruz didn't answer, he shouted, "Quo abiit?!" (Where did he go?)
Piruz laughed, lifting his chin to expose his throat. "Scuentua moriatur, ego moriar." (I die, the knowledge dies)
Caleb pressed the blade into Piruz's neck, allowing blood to trickle from the wound. "After thousands of years, I don't think you want to die. Tell me, quo abiit!?"
Piruz cocked his head to the side, as though translating what Caleb had said. Then suddenly he shouted, "Potestate mea!"(Power is mine) and he unclenched his fists, letting power and energy explode from his hands.
Caleb went flying back off Piruz, landing eight yards away. Despite the pain, he was on his feet in seconds, but the witch was gone. "Noooo!" His brain short-circuited; he didn't know which way to go or what to do. Frantically he turned in every direction trying to figure out where Piruz had gone. Dropping his blocks, he searched the area and came up with nothing. Impossible!
"Caleb…"
Running toward the vending area where Piruz had last been, Caleb searched frantically for the witch. He couldn't have gone far; he wasn't supernatural. He was just a man with a unique and powerful ability to manipulate magic and power.
"Caleb!"
The name penetrated his brain, and he recognized it. He was Caleb. Turning he saw Adam standing near the edge of the plaza, looking lost and somewhat forlorn.
"Adam," Caleb breathed, and jogged in his direction. "Are you all right? Where's Dean?" He'd seen Dean disappear, knew he was gone; but he couldn't have stopped the question even if he'd wanted to.
"I…" Adam looked around, his expression full of confusion and disbelief. "He was here…"
Suck it up, Junior. Caleb looked around, as though expecting his mentor to be right on his shoulder. John's words were always there when he needed them.
"Where's Sam?" Adam asked, looking over Caleb's shoulder to where the Scholar had stood just minutes before.
"Sam?" Caleb turned around, then remembered the burst of power that had thrown the younger hunter out of sight. He needed Sam, he needed to make sure Sam was all right, he needed Sam to find Dean. "Sam!"
Together, Caleb and Adam rushed in the direction where they'd last seen the younger man. Searching through the forest, Adam tracked the broken branches, newly crushed twigs and disturbed leaves to where Sam lay at the base of a smallish tree than had broken under the impact of Sam's body.
"Sam!" Caleb cried, reaching out to touch the pulse at Sam's neck, then sighing as he detected the steady beating.
"Here, let me," Adam said softly. Slipping his backpack off, he opened it and pulled out a bottle of golden liquid. Lifting Sam's head, he gently dripped the potion into the Scholar's mouth.
While Adam gave Sam the potion, Caleb felt across Sam's body for injuries. The younger man had a dislocated shoulder, a broken arm, and possible cracked ribs. He definitely had a concussion. "You're a mess," he murmured.
It took a minute or so, but slowly Sam's eyes fluttered.
"Hey, hey," Caleb said, his throat clogged with emotion and tears. He needed Sam to be all right, needed him to speak. Sam was all he had left.
"Ugh," Sam moaned. He started to move, then froze as his body protested loudly.
"Hey, be still," Caleb ordered. Looking around, he saw that Adam was already pulling bandages from his duffel and had a small branch lying next to him for splinting Sam's arm. Giving the other man a grateful nod, he looked back down at Sam. "You've got some injuries we need to tend, okay?"
"Ummm," Sam moaned again. "Dean?"
Caleb swallowed a lump the size of Montana in his throat. "Here, drink this," he said, putting a small bottle in Sam's hand.
Sam focused on the bottle a moment, then raised it to his lips with a shaky hand. After downing it, he grimaced and handed the bottle back to Adam. "What was that?"
"Roots and herbs to help with infection, bruising and pain," Adam murmured.
"I'll need to set your shoulder," Caleb said, helping Sam into a better sitting position. "This isn't going to be pleasant." Eyeing the younger man, he asked, "You ready?"
Sam's face was white as he nodded. "Do it fast."
Caleb nodded. "On three. One…" and he shoved Sam's shoulder back into place.
"Auurrggh!" Sam gave a strangled scream. When he could, he panted, "I … knew you were going … to do that."
"Yeah, I'm so predictable," Caleb muttered, giving the younger man a wan smile.
"Here," Adam said, "let me stabilize your arm."
"My… Ouch!" Sam exclaimed as Adam touched his left arm.
"You're arm is broken," Adam explained. "I'm going to straighten it out, then splint it until we can get it set."
"Onida," Sam breathed through the pain.
"She's in Lebanon," Caleb reminded him.
"Oh yeah." Sam gritted his teeth as Adam straightened his arm. "Dean…" he moaned.
Caleb turned away and bit his lip. After a minute, he picked up a long strip of bandage and said, "Come on, let me stabilize those ribs. When Adam finishes with your arm, we'll immobilize your shoulder."
Sam frowned as Adam positioned a stick by his forearm and started wrapping them together. Looking over at Caleb, he said, "Where's Dean."
Caleb's head dropped. When he could, he said, "Gone."
Sam nodded slowly. "Okay. Gone where? After Piruz?"
"No, gone."
Frowning, Sam focused on Dean. Finally he asked again, "Where is he?"
"Gone, Sam!" Caleb exclaimed. "He's gone! Piruz did his little floating light trick and it took Dean away!" His voice broke on a sob.
"The light…" Sam remembered seeing the light take away Dean and Adam. But Adam was here. Looking to the crafter, he said, "The light was coming at you. I saw it take you and Dean."
"Dean pushed me out of the way," Adam relayed softly. "But he wasn't quick enough to…"
Sam shook his head in confusion. "But, he's here. I feel it." Turning to Caleb, he said urgently, "It's not like before, not like when he died. Then … there was nothing."
Adam's eyes widened comically. "When he died…" he murmured faintly.
Sam closed his eyes and grimaced. He hadn't meant to let that slip. "Long story."
Caleb had already closed his eyes and focused on the thread in his head that meant everything to him. It was still tangible. "What?" he blurted, confused. "I saw the light scoop him up."
"Maybe the light isn't what we think," Sam said, trying to stand. Caleb and Adam grabbed Sam's arms, careful of the broken one, and helped him to his feet. Swaying slightly, he put a hand to his head and groaned. "I think I've got a concussion."
"With the Winchester head of steel? I don't think so," Caleb said bracingly. Quickly he immobilized Sam's shoulder, tucking his broken arm into the makeshift sling.
"Where was he taken?"
Adam led Sam and Caleb over to the place where Dean had disappeared.
Sam turned to Caleb. "Can you feel anything?"
Caleb looked stunned. "What? I'm not a clairvoyant, Sam."
Sam swallowed the bile that had been rising in his throat ever since he'd gotten vertical. Finally, he said, "Can you get a fix on him?"
"I … didn't try," Caleb admitted. "I saw him disappear."
"Please, try," Sam asked. He wouldn't be able to attempt a psychic connection yet, not with his head pounding the way it was.
Caleb nodded and closed his eyes. He focused on Dean and tried to follow the thread in his head, but it wouldn't take him anywhere. And now that he was focusing on it, the thread was slowly fading. "Oh no," he murmured, trying with everything he had to keep a grip on the vibrancy of the thread. But he was unable to get a lock on his friend.
"What?" Sam asked anxiously.
"The thread … it's fading," Caleb said. Turning his back on Sam, he walked round and round the area where Dean had vanished, trying to stabilize Dean's essence in his head. "He's got to be here. He isn't dead, isn't gone," he murmured over and over. His head was aching with the effort to keep that precious life thread vibrant. Finally, he turned to Adam and said, "Can you feel anything? Any magic?"
Adam opened his mouth to say he wasn't psychic, but stopped, frowning. Closing his eyes, he focused on the magic in the area and where it might lead. Taking a slow step forward, he reached out with his own magic and touched on the magic rippling around him on every side. It was difficult to separate the elements of his magic, the potion spell bags and Piruz's magic, but he finally nodded slightly. Piruz's magic had an acidic, bitter taste, dark tendrils with an inky, slick feel. He followed those tendrils, but they didn't lead anywhere that he could see. They were writhing and fading along with all the other magic in the area. Finally, he sighed and opened his eyes. "I can detect Piruz's magic, but I can't see it going anywhere, like into a portal. It's just there along with mine and the spell bags you, Sam and Dean were throwing."
Sam grimaced, his chest tight. "Caleb…"
"We need to find him, find Piruz. He can take us to where Dean is," Caleb said. "I know it."
"What about Lebanon?" Adam asked, bewildered and confused. "Will he still go there?"
Sam closed his eyes, fighting through his nausea and trying to figure out the situation. Dean was gone, for now. But Piruz was still in play, still working on releasing chaos throughout the country.
Caleb had stilled his manic pacing and was staring at nothing in particular. No one spoke for what seemed like hours, but was in reality only seconds. "Sam, you have your set of keys?"
Sam frowned. "Yeah…"
Caleb's shoulders slumped slightly as he checked the time. It was almost midnight. Piruz had likely gone to plant his boxes in New York City. "Let's get to the airport. Michael should have landed by now; it's only an hour flight from Charlotte. By the time we get there he should have a flight plan registered to take us to Central Nebraska Regional Airport."
"What?" Sam asked, his mind not really following what Caleb was saying.
"Once we land," Caleb continued in a monotone, "we'll meet up with Joshua. I hope he's come up with a way to get rid of the Tree."
"You're saying…" Adam asked, his voice quavering slightly, "that we leave."
Caleb finally turned and looked, not at Adam, but at Sam. "Yes."
Sam didn't speak. He felt like his mind and body were wrapped in cotton, anesthetizing all his senses. And though numb, he could already feel the chasm widening within his soul. Soon, his immobilization would ebb and molten hot blackness would pour into the abyss. But right now, the distance of shock would be his solace. "We leave the car at the airport and fly to Lebanon."
Adam felt as though his mind was spinning out of control. "Should I call Joshua?"
"No," Sam murmured with a quick shake of his head. "He's got another task that needs his full attention. We can…" his voice broke slightly. "We can tell him when we get there."
"We take him alive," Caleb stated.
Sam nodded. "If there's even the remotest chance…"
"We'll find him."
Piruz drove away from the park, across a large bridge into the heart of New York City. His body ached with pain from the spells thrown at him this night, his leg painful from the projectile. Merlin's Warriors were proficient and persistent in their task, and their weapons formidable. Not enough to stop him, of course, but enough to cause pain. But he was just as persistent and dedicated to his own task. The world would thank him for ridding it of evil, and it would honor him. And he would be a beneficial leader, a benevolent if strict task master.
Shifting slightly, he grimaced in pain once more. It was well that he had placed his boxes earlier. Now he would return to his room, make some potion to aid in his healing. Then, he would rest. The next thirty hours would change the face of the world. Despite the pain radiating through his body, his lips twisted into a small smile. Generations of time had passed as he'd planned and worked on his strategy to remake the world as well as have his vengeance on the God-with-no-Name who had taken his life and his family. Merlin had stopped his first attempt, his three other attempts had been lessons and learning. This time, yes, this time his plan would work, and neither Merlin nor his legacy of Warriors would be able to stop him.
.
TBC
Author's Note: Shazza19, impala1979, cyenthia30, hollylilly22 and guests – Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments!
Guest: I think we're all going a little crazy with you!
Regarding the bunker from the series: First, I didn't realize it was in Lebanon Kansas. What a surprise for me! For those who've asked, the bunker does not appear in this story. Lebanon Kansas really is the geographical center of the 48 states, so it is used in my story for that reason only.
In Ridley's Brotherhood AU, her series coordinated with the show up through the S5 finale, except that in the B:AU Dean and Caleb used Triad magic to pull Sam from Lucifer's cage, soul intact. My stories are set in her world, so the Men of Letters storyline didn't happen.