Chapter Fourteen
Celine had told Sam and Dean that she was going to talk to Amy, but instead she went in search of Dark. It had seemed like they were running out of time and talking to Amy now would be a waste of what time they did have.
And she didn't have a lot of time left before she was forced to cross over.
Celine had made a deal with a grim reaper. She had only been able to make the deal after she explained the situation and how she had been a cause. The reaper only gave her a few hours to make it right. Celine would do what she could and then she would be done. Wherever she spent eternity now was better than the eternity she had spent helping Dark. Knowing it was all almost over gave her peace.
Her one last task was to take Dark down.
It was what he deserved after what he had done to her. Stripping her power from her and then killing her. All after he had made the promise to leave her alone.
Though, he had never actually promised. He had just said it was an easy promise and she had taken that as him promising.
Sneaky bastard.
It wasn't difficult for her to find Dark. His anger was like a beacon. And she wasn't surprised to find him with Mark and Castiel. That was what Sam and Dean had been worried about, after all.
Even though Dark had Mark grabbed by the throat, it didn't look like Dark was going to kill him. In fact, it looked as if Dark was waiting for something. And then she noticed Castiel moving toward them with a blade held in his hand.
She knew what Dark was up to. She wouldn't let it end this way.
Using the power the reaper gave her, Celine made herself seen in a flash of light. The three stopped and turned. Mark looked the most surprised to see her.
If he knew he had held her dying instead of Amy, would he hate her?
After what she did, she deserved it.
But she still loved him.
And always would.
"Let him go, Damien," Celine said, using his real name on purpose. It would get his attention away from Mark and Castiel.
Dark obviously wasn't going to let the name bother him. "You're supposed to be dead," he said. She was ready to intervene, but he let go of Mark, who collapsed to the ground coughing and getting his breath back.
"I pulled a few strings," Celine said. "But I don't have a lot of time left."
"And what?" Dark asked, stepping toward her. His back was still to Castiel, but he didn't seem too worried about that. "You can't stop me. No one can!"
"But we can delay you," Celine said. "You can either give up or I'll let Castiel stab you in the back." And then she ignored Dark completely and looked at Mark. "Amy's not dead."
Mark looked up at her and she could feel the pain she saw in his eyes. "She died in my arms..."
"That was me," Celine said. "Castiel knows. Dark helped, but obviously only to kill me. He made sure you saw it happen so you would believe Amy was dead."
Mark was lost in thought. Something had obviously been said before she arrived to put doubt in his mind about Amy's death. "It actually makes sense now," he said, more to himself than anyone else.
"It doesn't matter," Dark said. "She's trapped. She might as well be dead!"
"We'll find a way," Celine started then faltered as something powerful surged through her. Powerful and dark. It wasn't the reaper calling her back. She wasn't out of time. Something else had happened.
Dark had reacted as well, confirming her thoughts. They had both been connected to the power of the World Between Worlds. Dark had cut Celine off, but now she felt it in full force.
The World Between Worlds was gone and something else had replaced it.
And was now in this world.
Sam headed downstairs, hearing Dean on the phone trying to call Cas again. Sam sat down on the stairs, hoping to think of a new plan if Celine's plan didn't work. He didn't like sitting and waiting just as much as Dean, but he was just at a loss as to what to do here.
He fought back the feeling of complete hopelessness. Castiel was with Mark right now. Surely Cas would make sure nothing happened to Mark. Especially since Cas knew Mark didn't really trust him. Cas would probably try to fix that.
Sam looked up when the lights flickered. Dean immediately put his phone away, looking past Sam and up the stairs. Sam got to his feet and turned...
And froze when he saw Amy standing at the top of the stairs. She was facing the wall, studying the artwork and pictures hanging there. Sam suddenly had a bad vibe and his hand twitched toward his gun. The only movement she made was to reach out and touch a picture frame.
"Amy?" Sam asked. He felt Dean step up beside him. He didn't have to look to know that his brother had his gun out. "You okay?"
She turned to them. Her front was still covered in her own blood, dried, but she didn't seem to notice. Sam reached for his gun when he got a good look at her eyes.
Solid black with tongues of flame.
Sam had never seen anything like it. This was something new.
Or something old.
That dark power Castiel had spoken of came to mind. They had all convinced themselves that Dark was that ancient power. Sam could feel that he was looking at that power right here and now.
And it had a vessel to channel Its power through.
"Sammy," Dean said. Sam knew that tone. Dean was telling him to run.
But where would they run to?
"Amy," Sam said, not knowing if she was even in there, but he had to try. "Amy, if you can hear me, fight it."
"That's not Amy," Dean said. He wasn't helping and Sam gave him a look to convey that feeling.
"Amy cannot fight back," It said through her. The voice was deep, adjusting to Its new form. "She's strong...but I am stronger. She does not want to fight back." The voice sounded more like Amy now, which scared Sam the most. She started down the stairs. Sam and Dean both pulled out their guns as they backed away.
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, looking at them sadly. "I mean her no harm," she said. "She freed me. She's happy with me."
"Only because you brainwashed her," Dean said, aiming his gun.
She looked at him and the gun flew out of his hands. "If you shoot me, you kill Amy," she said then looked at Sam as if daring him to lift his gun as well.
Sam dropped his gun. The look she gave him was one of respect. She nodded her head then walked out the door.
Dean snatched up his gun and started after her but stopped when Sam grabbed his arm. "We can't stop her, Dean."
"You're just gonna let her walk away?"
"We need a plan," Sam said. "We need to find Cas."
Dean looked in the direction Amy had gone then nodded his head. "But no waiting this time," he said. "Summon Celine."
