Chapter 14

Sam had gone through phases growing up. One was the magician phase and Dean still liked to tease him on that. Angela reduced it to being nothing more than being able to make people see what they wanted to see but she wasn't mean about it. Rather, she demonstrated it in a practical manner how it applied to everyday life, or at least what they did. This he consoled himself as being a phase since he wasn't in control of his body and he wasn't sure what to think about what he was seeing. He was surprised that Dean was involved with this but then again it was part of that vague plan that Angela managed to convey to him and he was taking it on full-blown trust since she didn't exactly give details.

The upside was that it wasn't really bad acting at all. The troupe was pretty talented and they were good at putting on something that was obviously done mere hours beforehand. The problem was the fact he was stuck like this and they had to break this curse. It frustrated him because he knew it frustrated Angela since she heard the riddle and she was at a loss for words.

Sam knew that it was his own fault for placing her on a pedestal and Dean felt the same. From their view, it seemed like there wasn't a thing she couldn't do. It was easy to forget that she was a person with faults and didn't always had the answer. She made up for it though with her determination to find an answer much like how she figured out the trap didn't work if she was driving the bus and the ghost was riding shotgun. It wasn't perfect and he was concerned that it seemed to drain her a bit but he couldn't fuss and Gemma was dead straight on driving the bus no matter what. It was only reluctantly that she gave him some control right before the performance.

So, here he was stuck watching through his eyes a reenactment of everything about this job that dropped into their laps. He still didn't like that Angela didn't get the time off that she wanted. They all understood that sometimes it wasn't possible but he did wish the universe was kinder to her. He didn't know anyone else that deserved it. Even when her plans were interrupted, she went out of her way to help people and she worked twice as hard if they were people that meant something to her.

She means a lot to you doesn't she?

Sam paused in his musing to focus on the fact that Gemma was talking to him. He focused once he realized what the question was asking him. He couldn't exactly lie even though he contemplated it. "More than anything."

I see.

Sam frowned a bit as he tried to determine what Gemma was up to. He knew she was keeping him in the back as leverage. If she truly knew Angela, she would have trusted her fully. He was playing along for a while but he was still thinking of a way to get out of this.

How about you drive?

Sam frowned again at that and wondered what Gemma was getting at, "What do you mean?"

How about you drive this body. You play the role.

"And what would that accomplish?"

All this time, I thought that it had to be me and Dante that had to complete the roles in order to break the curse. All it has done is perpetuate it.

"So how would changing places be any better?"

By the mark of duality and compatibility, general terms yes but the key to the heart's witness. Only by the heart of true shall end what has brought this rue… I think it means that the pair should be in control.

Sam was starting to see some point but he wasn't completely sure what Gemma was up to. "If that is the case, why haven't you tried it before?"

You raise a fair point. Let me explain… Alchemist teachings not only teach exactness but that there are multiple meanings. Just as a plant can be both a poison and a healer, so are techniques and knowledge. Dante and I focused on the obvious, to free ourselves to keep others from being hurt. It was our problem.

"And what does it have to do with me?" Sam looked upward since it was the only thing he could do in that void. "Ever since you took over, you refused to let me out unless Dante or Angie asked it of you."

I am afraid, idiot. And I don't trust easily but… I've seen a different view. Your other half showed me that. Playfully and downright annoying but… I see. And because I can see, I am able to think. The true heart has to show meaning you must perform the scene Persephone was going to have us do.

Sam had to think on that. It sounded like the craziest thing he had ever heard of and he was usually more on board with it since they have met crazy ever since they teamed up with Angela. This sounded a little farfetched even for him and yet it was the first attempt that Gemma made to try and be nice if you could call it that. "What scene?"

The Music of the Night. It's perfect since it really shows unrequited love. Please tell me you figured out that much.

Sam would have made an indignant sound at that. He had seen the musical… well most of it and he had read the book. He bit it back and raised the point, "That makes it hard to break it."

That is what Persephone is counting on but you can.

"I fail to see that."

Be the role. Be Christine Dae but change the ending.

Sam heard what was being said but he resisted, "Me playing a girl? And don't tell me about Shakespeare. I studied history."

Then you know that the intention is what sells it but here it is the true feeling. And it's not like what we're doing is a conventional play in the first place.

"You got a point…"

Good. Hang on.

"Wait." Sam found himself back in control of his body and he looked around, trying to figure out what was going on since he had been paying attention intermittently. "Great," he muttered while he stood there in the clothes he had been wearing since earlier that day. He moved his limbs and discovered he wasn't restricted like before.

How does that feel?

Sam straightened up and looked around. The people around backstage weren't paying much attention to him since they were all focused on the stage and the props and everything else. He was glad to be in his body again but… "Fine, but what am I supposed to do? I don't know the lines if there are any." He tried to suppress a sigh and ended giving a little one and it was tinged with annoyance. This just wasn't his day.

I'll coach you.

"Really? This coming from the one that wanted to use me for leverage." Sam tried to keep his voice down so as not to create a scene and it did look strange talking to himself. "That doesn't inspire confidence."

Do you want me driving the bus and more than likely come across death or take a chance and live and be free?

Sam couldn't argue with that one. Being complacent would more than likely bring death and while he didn't think about it too much since his own troubles would have the angels bringing him back just to kick him and Dean into saying yes, death really wasn't something he wanted. Not if he was to have a chance with Angela. "Okay so will it work with just one of us?"

I can't say for certain but I think we can avoid death.

"Anyway how I can tell your… other half what to do?"

There was a noise and clapping. Sam looked towards the stage and then found Eva coming towards him saying, "There you are. Come on. You're on."

"Wha…" Sam found himself propelled forward and inwardly marveling how a small woman was able to push him like Eva was. He resisted slightly since he still wasn't sure about what he was doing.

Just go with it. If you don't go on then we can't do this.

Sam made a face as Eva pushed him to his starting position. He looked around and saw the stage and managed to make out people in the audience. His eyes widened slightly and he turned around to leave only to be stopped by Eva. "No."

Eva was having none of it and turned him around. "Nope. You're doing it. Go on and get out there and do your job."

Sam stopped himself from going on stage and turned to look back only to see Eva scowl at him. He turned and looked out at the stage. What the hell was he supposed to do? He felt his jaw twitch to almost dropping open until he was suddenly joined by Angela or the guy possessing her body by his side. He looked at her and swallowed in a blind panic.

"It's our cue," Angela's body said with a smile, "It'll be okay." She led the way by tugging on Sam's hand.

Sam resisted slightly but moved when he heard Gemma's mental kick to get moving. He followed Dante's lead. He was certain that it was Dante but it was hard to ignore the fact that it was Angela's body and her hand was touching his like she would always do when she dragged him and Dean into things.

Just relax. The singing is done by Dante anyway. Nice that it is coming from a pleasant voice.

That Sam couldn't deny having heard Angela sing multiple times granted the last time was a song of mourning. It was a sad song yes but it was beautiful. And he was captured by it as she sang with that haunting beauty of the first verse. It was like listening to the play when he went with her but better and he had no problem believing that she could make a convincing man since she wasn't kidding when she mentioned that she had been mistaken for one.

"Slowly, gently… Night unfurls its splendor. Grasp it, sense it… Tremulous and tender."

Sam knew that nothing was required of him to speak so he stood there but when Angela's hand touched him, he couldn't help but react. He followed her as she paced around in a loping fashion, her finger hooked under his chin as she sang, "Turn your face away from the garish light of day, turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light…"

It was then he decided to go with impulse and sang with her as he looked at her with the look that conveyed all his feelings even though he was certain it was only Dante, "And listen to the music of the night."

What are you doing?

Sam ignored Gemma as he stared at Angela. She seemed a little surprised that he broke the form but she maintained her composure or rather Dante did. He would just go with it. And he did when she reached up and gently touched his eyes to shut them and continued to sing the number. He followed her lead and went with the impulse when it struck and sang with her much to Gemma literally shouting inside his head that he was going to screw this whole thing up.

They managed to make it to the next verse and he was stunned when she wrapped her arms around him as she sung about music caressing. That was definitely Dante there since he knew Angela was shy about her relationship with him. Deciding that he was getting back at Dante, he switched places, wrapped his arms around her, and sang with her the last two lines, "In this darkness that you know you cannot fight. The darkness of the music of the night."

That seemed to trigger a response and Angela shifted to look at him. Sam was surprised to see sincerity mingled in with a puzzled expression but then it disappeared as she literally took the advice and surrendered by pressing her lips to his. Normally he would have avoided doing this in public since he didn't want to embarrass her and he didn't want to provide ammunition for his brother but in this case, he made an exception and accepted the kiss, surrendering himself.

It became clichéd when light erupted though it could have been the lighting from the rafters. The next thing Sam knew was that he staggered back a little as it felt as if something ejected from his body. He watched as the same thing happened to Angela and they stood there looking stunned at each other. It was Sam that ventured, "Angie? Is that you?"

"Yeah," Angela replied as she looked around. "Are we still…?"

Sam looked around and was painfully aware that they were being stared at by the audience and gave a slight nod, "Yeah. Still alive." He straightened out, not sure if they were to leave the stage or not. "So… is that it?"

"I don't know," Angela replied with a shrug as she took a couple of steps forward before she was flung off her feet and swung off stage.

Sam started to move towards her when he felt his own body fly through the air. He landed hard on the stage and slid to the point where he almost fell off and into the orchestra pit. He grimaced since that really did hurt.

"No, no, no. That wasn't how it was supposed to go."

Sam blinked realizing who it was that entered. He lifted his head and saw Persephone enter the stage and looking pissed. Rolling his body, he got to his feet and said, "So you wanted us to fail?"

Persephone looked at him with a glare. She had watched from the wings and noted that it deviated from the actual musical but they were following what Leo had written but something was off when she watched. It became clear when they kissed and it was then she knew that her hold on the pair of them was broken. She had become enraged and entered the stage and determined to take her revenge in one form or another. "Of course. How else will my love understand that he only causes suffering by resisting?"

"Maybe you should have listened the first time he said no," Sam retorted.

Persephone looked at him. She had been amused by him and she rather liked him. Smirking she replied, "He didn't know what he was missing." Shifting her expression, she ambled towards him saying, "I do wonder though how you managed to figure it out. Unless…"

Sam tried not to flinch as she took a step towards him. It wasn't that he was afraid but he had an uneasy feeling about what she was intending and didn't want to be a part of it. In addition, he didn't have a weapon on hand to defend himself except for his fists and that usually didn't help. So the best he could do was try to buy some time and he didn't even know if Angela was okay and started shifting to head in the direction she had been thrown.

"Where are you going? The fun's just beginning," Persephone crooned as she followed Sam.

"I don't think so," Sam replied as he backed away and ended up tripping on a prop that he hadn't seen before. He stumbled and landed on his knees feeling like he did when his luck ran out because of that stupid rabbit's foot.

Persephone laughed at him. "You are amusing, Sam Winchester. I think we'll have lots of fun before I start in on her."

"Don't you touch her." Sam had no doubts about who the 'her' was referring to. Maybe it was foolish of him to make a threat without some form of backup but he knew what he was getting into as he clambered to his feet.

"You're not in a position to make demands. And to show you I'll…" Persephone took a step forward only to stop like she had come up against a wall, an invisible one at that. She frowned and stretched her hand forward and snatched it back like it stung her. She screeched slightly at that and snarled at what happened, "What is this?"

Sam was stunned himself since it was like there was an invisible barrier, like a devil's trap, in play. He didn't recall seeing that. At least not until now when the lines appeared forming a circle with designs that he hadn't seen before. He didn't have to say anything since someone else answered her question.

"Just a little something to keep you from causing trouble."

Sam shifted and saw the old woman Lulu enter the stage looking like an imposing schoolmarm. "Lulu?"

Persephone glared at Lulu and demanded, "You think your powers can hold me you old hag?" To make her point, she managed to conjure up a force that hurtled towards Lulu who had taken it upon herself to sit on the ground in a meditative pose.

It was Sam's first instinct to grab the old woman and fling her out of harm's way. He started to move but was made to trip by Persephone. He landed hard on his knees and managed to get up but even he could see that he wasn't going to make it. He still had to try though and started running again.

As it turned out Sam didn't have to do anything as he was nearly blown back by Kesset showing up and deflecting the blow. The Avian glared at Persephone before saying, "You underestimate us."

At that moment other members of the troupe were coming out from behind the stage and they were running around the circle. To Sam it looked like something out of a play or a movie as the actors and stagehands pulled out what looked like chalk or pens and they started scribbling on the stage. It certainly was dramatic with Kesset standing there with his wings unfurled and he looked ready to charge into combat.

Persephone grinned at them and looked at Kesset, "So you think that will help? You're wrong. I may not be able to get out." She then looked at Sam with a menacing grin before making a pulling motion with her hand. "But I can pull things in."

Sam felt his body being flung forward until he landed face down on the ground. He didn't have to look around to know that he was within the trap that had been conjured up. He turned to see Persephone looking down at him with a grin like the cat that caught the canary. That look didn't usually spell anything good for anyone. He got to his feet and stood there looking at her. He took a step back and found that he couldn't get out either.

"Interesting. Seems you can't get out either," Persephone crooned with devilish delight. "I wonder how that is possible."

That was certainly a question to be answered and it was one that Sam didn't have. That is unless it was meant for someone that was tainted and he fit that bill. He had never heard of anything like that before but there was a first time for everything. He just stood there, tensed to defend himself as Persephone circled and he responded, waiting to gauge her attack.

It didn't matter since the woman shrugged, "Doesn't matter. At least there will be one dead body for my vengeance."

Sam dodged the attack and whirled to counter. He paused to find Persephone's arm gripped tightly by Angela's hand and she was looking at the woman with a look that seemed to be a blend of 'come hither' and 'you've made a big mistake and now you'll pay'. He was aware that he heard Dean's voice calling his name but he couldn't leave the circle.

"Interesting that you should call it vengeance," Angela said before she flung the woman off and stared at her. "Because the curse is more like lover's scorned. This seems more like… just desserts."

So it was a trickster, Sam thought to himself as he moved with Angela staring at Persephone.

Persephone chuckled at that and replied, "So you think you're clever?"

"Just observant," Angela replied before clapping her hands together. Rapidly she dropped to her knees with her eyes closed in intense focus. She then slapped her palms onto the circle and muttered the incantation.

"What are you doing?"

It was a very good question since Sam had no idea what Angela was doing. He figured it was one of those spells but usually that needed ingredients. This was different and it occurred to him that maybe she was using what she had spent time with Shiva and relearned. She seemed to be in intense concentration and looking around, he saw that the rest of the troupe had finished what they were doing and they were creating a sheen or effect like when they used the angel banishing sigil.

"No. You can't!"

Persephone was screeching as she tried to fight whatever it was that was happening to her. She growled and glared at Angela. Her eyes burned with hatred and she made up her mind. She started trying to make her way towards the woman. There was no way that this creature could do this to her. She would have her vengeance. She lunged towards the kneeling woman.

It was automatic for Sam to react and fling himself in front of Angela. He had made a promise to make things up to her and keep her safe. Granted he had made that to himself when she was little, he found himself wanting to do it more and more now she was back to her normal size. He knew what the cause was and it was worth it. Despite the protests from his brother, he grabbed the bitch and tried to wrestle her away. He expected the retaliation and took the hits to his body and managed to deliver a punch or two in return before they were both blinded by light and the next thing he felt was an explosion that knocked him backwards and he landed on his back and slid backwards again, vaguely aware that he collided with someone.

I really dislike déjà vu. It was a rather random thought as Sam forced his eyes to open. He groaned a little as he pushed his body to a sitting position and noted that it looked rather dim and dusty there in the theatre. Looking towards where he had been, he saw a blonde girl lying unconscious on the ground. All around, everyone that was there was knocked over and they looked unconscious including his brother. What the hell?

He saw Dean lying on his side and slowly start to move. "Dean?"

"I'm okay. Hale?"

"Good," Haley's voice came from off to the left somewhere.

Most of the others were starting to move but they were a little stunned by the whole thing. Sam looked around and that was when he found Angela on the ground next to the blonde. He bit back his fear and ran to check on her, "Angie?"

The slight moan and the furrow of her brow was some reassurance but he needed her to open her eyes, "Come on, Angie. Just open your eyes. You can't sleep on the job."

"Forget it you pathetic human. Took more out of her than she realized."

Sam turned to see a new person standing there. First impression was a demon since she was wearing black and it matched the rich, silky blackness of her hair. He looked at the woman not sure of what to say when he heard, "Nice to know that it was you Sis."


A/N: Talk about possession and boy did that scene rock with Sam and Angie signing Music of the Night? Keep watching for the conclusion of Message of the Crow...