Chapter 4
The house was old but it could be, in that context, considered safe. And safe meant that it was warded against things that went bump in the night. It was fine to Haley and was a place to stay while she followed up on some strange activity that she had detected after she went on her way after the whole vision thing with the twins.
She hadn't meant to take off like she did but… It wasn't that she was willing to fight against the end the world and stop that from happening. It was just that she was not sure about doing that with Angela. It wasn't that she didn't like her; she loved her. The uncertainty came from what she had seen and it had Haley wonder exactly what she was.
Haley had seen things in her travels and met a few of the half breeds that existed; the half human and half whatever that existed. She even knew a couple of dhampirs but… She knew that Angela was different. She saw that with the kelpies. When she started traveling, she heard stories about what she had done saving people and hunting things. After seeing what happened, she wasn't sure.
Logically it could have been the product of actually remembering some ritual or other learned from Angela's long life. Haley didn't doubt that since one didn't live for nearly five centuries without learning something. Yet Haley sensed there was more to it. True people could be driven by emotion and she had seen enough to know the effective trigger for her friend but what she witnessed… it was different. She couldn't put her finger on it but it felt familiar. It was why she decided to move on. She needed the time to think. And think she did.
The way she left was like it was a one night stand with Dean. She hated it since he still had that despondency about him no matter how hard he tried to hide it. It must have felt like she left him but they did have that kind of arrangement; they weren't committed to each other but they would be there for each other. 'As a shoulder to cry on' was how Dean put it. Still it felt bad when she left though and he was the one known for the one night, no strings thing.
"Still not sure about why you left."
Haley shifted to look at the woman who owned the house and leaned against the railing. "I'm sure of why. I just don't know what to think." She shifted to shuffle her feet slightly. "I don't know what I feel about my friend."
"And what is that?"
Haley looked at the elder woman. She was a juju witch who made her living doing helpful charms for people and an occasional 'love' spell. Mostly it was to practice the craft and to be a watchful eye since it was better to have eyes everywhere. Savannah was from Haiti and immigrated to the states when she was a girl and since then lived in relative peace. It didn't surprise Haley that she helped out hunters on occasion that passed through with her knowledge though it was a surprise those hunters let knowing she was a juju witch and she wasn't dead.
Right now the dark brown woman was looking at her through smoky grey eyes that matched her weathered face that was almost elegant along with the robes she chose to wear. Haley stared at the woman and replied, "Just the things that happened." She paused a moment and then continued, "It's not about her but more what I saw her do."
"You admit that she hunts things, even her own kind and that is not unusual," Savannah replied.
"No, because she did save my tribe and our guardian Rose," Haley admitted. She pressed her fingertips together and thought about what she was trying to say. "The last time we were together, I saw things and they were not… typical."
"Not really a good description considering the line of work," Savannah commented.
"She did things that are not typical of her kind."
"And that frightens you."
"No." At the look Haley was getting, she amended her answer, "Okay, maybe. She should have been dead and I saw the wound. The way she moved… it had to be a god's power but it wasn't really."
Savannah studied Haley as the girl tried to explain. She became thoughtful of the whole thing. "But you mentioned that a god offered to train her, both of you."
"Reacquaint her," Haley corrected, "But it was like the more we went, the worse she got. And then she suddenly finds the ability to do what she did and kill a demon god or whatever he was. I saw wings and the look on her face… I don't know what it is."
"Seems like the god gave her the power to defeat this demon."
"That's the thing. It wasn't of a god. It's distinct in the world of the spirits. What I sensed was different." Haley paused, not sure how to explain it.
"Different how? What did you sense daughter of the Lawazi?"
Haley thought about it and tried to describe it, "It wasn't a god but there was power. Like it was old… ancient maybe. Like that of a great warrior."
"Well the Malachi is considered that despite what she says in that humbling way of hers." Savannah was puzzled herself but interested. "Even among our kind the descriptions speak of a warrior that will be a protector of men."
"I know but I've been around her before. This was different." Haley turned as she thought about it to look down.
"I agree and I believe that is why you are avoiding her in terms of physical presence. It is good you haven't severed ties completely."
"Yeah and she teased me about me being angry with her."
"Are you angry with her?"
Haley looked at Savannah like she was crazy. "No. I'm not angry with her. Well maybe that she feels she has to hide everything from me but I'm not mad at her." At the look she was still getting she huffed a bit and added, "I'm not mad. I'm scared. I'm scared because I get the feeling that there is more to my friend than meets the eye; something old and ancient and it can be terrible if the wrong side gets to it."
"And how do you think she feels? Have you not considered she feels the same?"
Haley paused a moment and looked away. She actually hadn't thought of that before. Mostly she was upset that her friend kept pretending things were fine when they weren't. She didn't realize it wasn't because of a tough girl act; Angela didn't have an overblown ego. She never considered that Angela was probably scared and to top it off with things that were new and untested to her… It would be no wonder that she kept up the bravado act for everyone's sake.
Deciding she needed to think about things, Haley gave a nod and took her leave. She needed to clear her head if she was going to determine if the strange vibes she was getting was worth investigating or not. If there was one thing she learned about hunting it was that you had to be focused otherwise it got you killed and she wasn't in the mood for that. A walk was what she needed, and maybe just scope the general area.
The walk certainly helped as she took a look around. She could have easily used the car that she had "borrowed" to get there but what she wanted to do required her to scout out the area. She hadn't pinpointed the exact place and it was better to do it on foot. She took a breath as she turned down a street and continued to walk while keeping an eye out. It also allowed her to think about past events though she struggled to keep her concentration. She ended up bumping into someone and apologized for it.
"Hale?"
Haley turned to see she had bumped into none other than Dean Winchester. She blinked as her mouth opened but no sound came out. She hadn't expected this.
Dean grinned at the expression on Haley's face. He couldn't help but say, "Well I'm pleased that you can be surprised by me."
Haley narrowed her eyes in reaction and replied, "Don't flatter yourself. You don't surprise me."
Dean made a slight face and shuffled on his feet. He knew how this would play out. "Aw Hale… you know that you like pulling one over me. And I know a few who enjoy the same thing." He had muttered the last sentence.
"Don't remind me. You're easy and deserve it half the time," Haley countered as she stepped forward. She couldn't help but smirk at Dean once she was close enough. She took a slight breath and smiled, "So what are you doing here? Working a case?"
"Would you believe me if I said that came to see you?" Dean leaned forward as if it would press his question further to a more favorable outcome.
Haley blinked at his response. True they had made arrangements to meet and sometimes they took each other by surprise. His admittance though took her by surprise. "You came to see me?"
"Yeah," Dean countered in serious tone. He took a couple of steps forward until he was close enough to touch her. "I mean… you left in a hurry and…" He went quiet, not sure of what to say since he didn't want to sound pathetic.
Haley took an intake of breath at his posture and replied, "It wasn't because of you. You know that right?"
"Wasn't it?"
Haley blinked at the tone Dean's voice had taken. She had things to work through like everyone else. She could get defensive and get into a fight with Dean but that wouldn't solve the problem. It wasn't him in the first place. She replied, "No. It's not you." She shifted on her feet. "And it's not because of Angie. It's… I've never seen anything like that before."
"Not the first time."
"And I don't have trouble believing it." Haley shifted on her feet. "And Dean… I… it calls into question what else is out there."
Dean made a gesture, "And I get that. Believe me. It makes me a little nervous that she's interested in my baby brother and he's interested in her and it's not casual but serious."
"And yet you let it keep, encourage it even."
"Because I know that Angie is a good person. She would rather kill herself than do anything to hurt me or Sam and that extends to just about anybody that we help." Dean paused a moment before continuing, "And she deserves better especially after how I treated her and I get why she won't say anything to us. But I'd rather have her crazy ass mojo on our side and her crazy self any day and twice on Sunday."
Haley thought about it for a moment before teasing him, "I hope you mean as a friend since I get very jealous." She grinned to let him know that she was teasing him. "And I believe I have a certain set of exclusive rights on you."
Dean grinned back at Haley. "You know that you have the right to do what you want to me."
Haley laughed at him and looked down at the ground. Her posture relaxed a little and she asked, "So are you here about the disturbances? Wait, I forgot, you don't really study energies."
Dean knew that he had to fess up on some level. "Actually… Angie kind of hinted you might be here. I came to see if…" He trailed off and he felt his skin flush. He rubbed the back of his neck more to stave off embarrassment. And he had the nerve to tease his girl about her approach with Sam.
Haley chuckled at Dean's embarrassment. "That's why I retracted my last bit. You guys don't deal with energies and disturbances."
"Well… there is Angie. She understands it but it's not always the first thing on the list when she checks things off," Dean admitted. He cleared his throat slightly. "I figured you would be here for a job when Angie mentioned that you would be here and since she and Sam are off doing their own thing… I uh."
"I picked up strange disturbances with my ways and means," Haley replied trying to put Dean on a comfortable setting. "I think it's omen related to the larger picture but it doesn't have the same signs." She shifted and looked at the direction she was heading in and then back at Dean. "You wanna check it out with me?"
Dean took a look. He was always up for a hunt. It was all he could do. Maybe he could pick Haley's brains for a way out of the angel vessel mess. "Sure."
The red carpet was often referred to when stars or very important people came in. Angela was never one for the lime light and would often bend over backwards to stay out of it. Sometimes it was near impossible such as her reputation as a piano player and singer. Some things she couldn't avoid like that and it wasn't like she could make herself be bad at those talents. Not after spending her growing up years learning how to play piano, sing and all the requirements that made a lady in her day.
This was something she couldn't avoid and it was probably the only chance she was going to get to see a few choice people that she hadn't seen in years. She didn't mean to make Sam uncomfortable either by bringing up that charity function where that nice old lady had eyes for him. It was pretty funny to her but if it were serious she would have been overprotective and that wouldn't help anyone. As it were, she was stuck here and she felt bad about the whole thing since she only promised a show.
"So this is the preshow party?"
Angela looked up since she had been looking at the ground and looked around. It had the 1930s flare and it matched the style of the theatre. She had an appreciation for the Roaring Twenties and the era that followed. She did have some interesting times then and they were worthy of the dime back novels that came in that era. She made a slight face and replied, "They're different depending on the theatre and the performance."
Sam looked around. He was not big on formal parties and the memory of that one was one he would like to have wiped from existence. Hell, if he asked, he knew Angela would make it possible but given that it would have adverse effects on her, he wasn't going to ask. He would rather avoid it unless he had to talk about it. He took in the sights of the room and thought that he had been impressed when they entered the theatre after Dean dropped them off and he admired the architecture. "Doesn't look too bad."
"And you don't have to be polite," Angela replied with a slight smile. "I should have mentioned something about the party. It was only because of a donation that I got the invite with a plus one. I just wanted to attend the performance."
Sam resisted rolling his eyes. It was pretty much a fault of hers putting blame on herself and he was guilty of it too. "Angie, it's okay. To be honest, I would have felt hurt if you didn't ask me to come. But I understand that you were only taking into consideration what me and Dean like."
Gently he lifted her chin with his first finger and gently rubbed her chin with his thumb to avoid smearing any makeup she may have put on. Angela smiled at that as she reached up and took his hand and held it in hers. "Thank you for coming with me."
"I like being with you."
"Flatterer."
"Honest truth."
They walked into the room smiling politely at other guests. It was unavoidable to be noticed and Angela found herself looking at a young woman who looked anxious about the whole thing but was putting on a brave face. Guessing that the woman was the director, she put on a smile and greeted her, "Hello."
Eva had been nervous about meeting the mysterious benefactor. Uncle Henry and Lulu were excited about the whole thing. They had been with the theatre their whole lives and they kept the books when the tickets sold and made sure the troupe got paid. They were pretty good with technology for their age and when they saw the last minute purchase and donation, they got all excited and happy and insisted that she give the buyer the best seats. It had her confused but she did so anyway and it was worth seeing the happy looks on Henry and Lulu's face.
She had been nervous about that night but she put on a smiling face for all the patrons. Most of them were gold level patrons. They had money and some were people who sprang for the tickets. They were easy to spot and Henry and Lulu made it clear that they weren't the one she should meet. It only made her more nervous about the person she was to meet but they told her that she would know who it was the moment they walked into the room. It was said with a slight grin on their faces like it was going to be a big surprise.
Eva knew they were right the moment she saw her walk into the room. In fact, it was evident to the whole room. Eva was by the refreshment table getting a glass of champagne when she walked in the door. It was like everyone paused in what they were doing when she walked in with a rather tall and good looking man. Eva thought it was like something out those reality TV shows with the glamor couple. That was what it looked like to her and seeing the woman with tall, dark and handsome… it certainly felt like it as she walked up to her and greeted her, "Glad that you could make it."
Angela looked at the woman who greeted her and pointedly ignored the stares that came the moment she and Sam walked into the room. She smiled and replied, "I wouldn't miss your directorial debut." She released Sam and took the girl into a hug and gave her a polite kiss on the cheek.
It was enough to get the party started again though Angela was certain she heard whispers but ignored them as she looked at the girl. She commented, "You have grown."
Eva managed to get her voice back and smiled back and replied, "It's good to see you again." She led the couple further into the party and away from prying eyes. She stuttered a bit as she joked, "You really saved my ass."
"To be honest I'm not one for parties," Angela replied with a slight smile. She gestured at Sam, "Neither is he. So call it crazy."
"Crazy works," Eva admitted. "In the theatre business it is expected of you to be a little crazy."
Sam had to chuckle at that. He didn't mind that Angela spoke for him since he really wasn't one for nice parties. He said, "You have no idea."
Eva looked at Sam and noticed how he moved to stay close to Angela. They did look like a glamor couple but she suspected that there was more to it than that. She figured they were an item since they were very comfortable with each other and she suspected a bit of romance in there as well. She smiled at Sam and teased, "What? You know of anything crazier than attending a party?"
"I could think of a few things," Sam replied, "Some that are highly unlikely."
"What? Chasing ghosts?"
Angela smiled at that and replied, "Not exactly…"
"Oh you made it!"
Angela turned to see an elderly face dressed in elegant black and her face lit up in a smile. "Lulu!" She walked over and couldn't resist giving a hug to the elderly woman and didn't care if she was being watched. Then again it added something to talk about since no one knew anything about her. She hugged the elderly woman and said, "You're looking good. It's been what… ten years?"
"Try a couple of decades you sly flatterer," Lulu replied as she looked at Angela. She beamed like a proud parent as she looked up and down Angela's person. "Still pretty as a picture. I can still remember you in Portia's outfit in Merchant of Venice. You put past performances to shame."
Angela chuckled at that. "That was a one-time thing. Well… make it a second time thing."
Lulu gestured in remembrance, "Ah yes. The time you stepped in to play Horatio in Hamlet. You really were the dashing hero."
"I always thought she was one," Sam's voice entered. He had been listening to the conversation and wasn't exactly surprised that there was someone who knew her and he suspected that it was over decades. The way she talked about the troupe and suggesting that she may have done a bit of acting and the display she did.
He always suspected she liked anything that had to do with the arts. She was good at it and had an appreciation for it. Even her penmanship was artist quality and if he bothered to ask, she would probably admit that she sponsored several art programs in various locations or set up endowments. She really was that generous and it had him like her even more.
Angela smiled at that though she felt her cheeks flush at Sam's compliment. She knew that Lulu was going to ask so she made introductions, "Lulu, I'd like you to meet Sam. He's…"
"Oh I know. He's the one," Lulu brushed off as she approached Sam with the intention of heavy scrutinizing. She eyed him ignoring the fact that Eva was trying to gesture her to not embarrass the high profile client. She hummed and said, "Good soul though a lot of baggage. But then again who doesn't?"
"Lulu," Angela murmured, "You really need to keep it to the stage. It's the only way to keep the coppers off you." She gave a slight smile to indicate a memory. She then spoke in a language that Lulu would understand even though it had been a while since she spoke to her. She looked at Lulu in the eye to emphasize her warning.
Lulu looked at Eva and then Sam and back at Angela. She nodded and replied, "Alright my liefje. She looked at Sam and said, "Well I better go check on the crew. They always need a firm hand. And you be good. I will tell Henry that you are here. Be good now all three of you."
Eva sighed but smiled as Lulu left and said, "I apologize. She's the oldest and…" She paused when she noticed Angela starting to laugh and Sam was too. She frowned a bit at that and couldn't help but ask, "What is so funny?"
Angela was chuckling while she glanced at Sam who was actually enjoying himself despite the sort of interrogation he had. She didn't know that he had gotten the same kind of treatment from Bobby and that the grizzled hunter had meant it. She looked at Eva and sighed. The girl wouldn't remember but then again she made it that way. She replied, "Just a joke about age. I happen to know someone who is older than Lulu. Way older."
Eva frowned at that in confusion. This couple was strange. She couldn't help be smile though. "I guess you know people."
"You could say that," Angela admitted, "The question becomes who doesn't know me."
It started a chuckle and some laughter. Eva just continued to laugh and the conversation went smoothly afterwards. She did her job as she introduced the couple to the other guests and a few of the actors that were there to make a good impression. She had to hand it to the couple especially the woman Angela when she met with some of the more affluent folks. It was like watching a performance. She was unaware that the couple was being watched from the other side of the room and they looked very interested.
A/N: Dean and Hale enjoy a hunting date and Sam and Angie are on a date. Keep watching for more of The Message of the Crow...
