A/N: Told you guys I would pop the next chapter out quick! Hope finals week is going well for ya'll...I know my isn't going so smooth with me having all this inspiration to write...but enough about me! Back to the story!
Once we reach St. Barnabus, Sam pulls up to the side walk, quickly killing the engine and jumping out. I follow suit as his eyes swiftly search around the grounds, landing on the Impala parked right under a canopy of trees.
We run towards the car, immediately seeing it unoccupied. "He was here alright." He confirms, feeling the top of the hood. "Still a bit warm. He might've gotten here thirty minutes to an hour ago." He rushes towards the back of the car, kneeling down to pick pocket the trunk with a set of metal instruments. I arch my eyebrow in surprise when the back pops opens after a couple seconds, but shake it off. I shouldn't be surprised he could pick a lock. He did just hot-wire a car, after all.
I watch as he lifts the trunk to observe the mass heap of weaponry inside. It looked like it contained about a hundred different kinds of guns, knives, stakes, and whatnot strewn all over the place. How did they even find stuff back here?
"Looks like he took a silver blade with him in there, at least." He utters, digging through the pile and grabbing two blades, handing one to me. "Listen. This is gonna be dangerous, alright?" He begins, speaking in a professional manner. "These things are smart and can transform into any one and anything. Once they change into a person, sometimes they can even recall that specific person's memories. These silver blades hurt them so, trust your gut and use it." He eyes me firmly.
"Okay." My voice trembles pathetically in fear. He watches me for another moment before staring towards the church and waves me along. I clear my throat, slapping myself mentally and try putting on a brave face.
I got to be strong. Dean needs me. I need to take my own advice and suck it up. I suck in air and blow out noisily to conserve my resolve before hurrying after Sam.
The sun's just about to set once we reach the church's front doors. The doors lightly squeak on their hinges as Sam pushes one open. He puts his fingers to his lips and motions me forward, holding the blade ahead of him.
Chills run up my spine as I take in the cathedral. It would be beautiful if it wasn't for the current situation we were in. With the gorgeously stained glass windows, glowing in the last remaining bit of sunlight, it gave off more of a creepy vibe. Even the giant statue of Jesus floating above the pulpit looked menacing with shadows casting against his face in weird shapes.
Darkness settles across the cherry wood pews while Sam walks down the aisles, pulling out a flashlight and clicking it on, checking for anyone who could potentially be hiding in between the rows of seats. His hand rises above his head, silently calling me to him and I meet him halfway.
"I think it's clear. No sign of anything here. Unfortunately, that means we have to check the rest of the rooms in this place." He whispers, his eyes always sweeping across the church every other word. "I don't want to have to do this, but we might need to split up. The place is too big and we don't have enough time to search everywhere together. I'll take downstairs since it's bigger and you can take the Sunday school classrooms by the entrance." He instructs. "Oh, and here." He reaches into his jacket to pull out an extra flash light and hands it to me. "If you see anything, just shine it with this. A shifter's eyes will reflect back at you if you hit it with light. If you manage to find something, shout for me. I'll be quick, alright?" He rasps as I nod my head sharply. He places a hand on my shoulder for a short moment, the warmth from his palm soothingly me briefly. "You can do this. I promise I won't take long." He encourages before turning on his heel and walking to the front of the church towards a door labeled as the basement.
I watch his until his form disappears behind the door before turning the small flashlight on in my hand. I walk towards the front of the church from which we entered and turn to the left towards the classrooms, shining my beam of light down the hallway to guide me. While I search the hall, I notice scribbly drawings of Christian parables posted on the windows of the dark rooms.
A small smile forms on my lips, when I see a picture of a messily drawn dove holding an olive brand in its beak. I step up to it, seeing something written on the bottom in scraggly writing, and read "The Holy Spirit will bring peace", at the bottom. I ponder that statement for a second before a movement is caught in my peripheral.
I quickly spin around to where the motion came, turning the beam of light towards the far end of the hall and catch a form of a man standing there.
"S-Sam?" I choke out, seeing the similar looking boots and jeans ensemble before slowly raising my light up the person's form.
"Hol?" A familiar voice calls out. A light clicks on in my direction, temporarily blinding me.
"...Dean?" I question as he walks up to me shielding his eyes.
"It's about damn time." He replies in relief, instantly pushing my flashlight down from his face and to his chest. "I was hopin' you guys would be here. Where the hell is Sammy?" He asks, searching behind me.
I ignore his question and ask him one of my own instead, instantly feeling skeptical. "Dean, why the hell weren't you answering your phone?" I chastise him. "We were worried you got tied up in something."
"I turned it off." He shrugs. "I didn't want chameleon man to know I was here, obviously."
"Yeah, but you could have texted us so we knew you were alright jack ass!"
He lifts an eyebrow at my tone, his eyes trailing to the blade hanging at my side. "Where did you get that?" He quickly changes the subject. "Don't tell me Sammy just gave you a blade without telling you how to use it properly."
"I'm well aware how to use a weapon. I'm not five." I reply starkly.
"Yeah, I know." He purses his plush lips. "But you got me now. So hand it over before you hurt yourself, sweetheart." He responds, reaching for the knife in my grasp.
"No." I back away from him, shaking my head. "I'm not gonna do that."
"No, huh?" His eyes glint mischievously as I take on a defensive stance. "Oh, come on Holly. You don't really think I'm that shifter do you? Cause that really hurts my feelings." He mocks an upset tone, his lower lip jutting into a pout. He talked like Dean, that was for sure, but his tone was too cynical to be reassuring.
"Maybe…maybe not. You could just touch my blade and then I might believe you." I bargain, tilting my weapon towards him with a somewhat steady hand.
"No problem." He flashes his teeth. "Easy as pie." He slowly stalks towards me as I stand my ground. However, instead of touching the silver like he promised, he reaches out to touch my face, his fingers caressing the skin of my cheek gently.
"W-what are you doing?" I scoff, color immediately rushing to my cheeks. I hold back the urge to lean into his warm, calloused palm. Despite his familiar touch, something told me to pull away.
"Just showing you that it's really me, Holly." He whispers softly, his eyes gentle.
"I-I don't need you to show me." I forcefully push his hand from my blushing face. "I need you to prove to me." I reply firmly, deliberately lifting my blade towards him.
"I thought you knew me well, Hol. Don't ya trust me?" Disappointment layers his voice, skillfully as an actor.
I stare at his expression, a small smile forming on his lips to try and reassure my uncertainty, but it does nothing to ease the hair rising on the back of my neck. This didn't feel right. At all. This wasn't him. This couldn't be Dean.
"Oh, I trust Dean alright. I just don't trust you." I aim my flashlight into his eyes, seeing his once green irises flicker white.
"Shouldn't have done that." He grins mercilessly, his facade dropping completely as he shoves me into a wall.
My head cracks against the window sill of one of the classrooms, causing my head to pound in pain as my weapon clatters to the floor besides me. I groan in agony, rubbing my head where the ache is radiating from.
"So, I guess your feelings for the elder Winchester didn't get the best of you like I thought it would. Pity." He speaks, sounding nothing like Dean now. The way his tongue set carried a slight accent. "I'm quite surprised actually." He strolls to my side and kicks the silver blade away from my reach. The metal skids across the floor and down the hallway.
"Oh, really? And what do you know about my feelings?" I mock him, pushing myself off the ground and into a sitting position so I can glare at him properly.
"I know you fancy him. I'm not blind. And, well, you still have that lovely shade of red on your cheeks." He points out.
"Fancy? Lovely?" I copy his tone scornfully. "Who the hell talks like that?" I try diverting his attention to something other than my emotions.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" He smirks. "But, anyway, I can't really talk much more. I got some business to attend to so, if you would be so accommodating to tell me where the other Winchester is then I can kill you and be on my way."
"How about I tell you nothing and you tell me where the hell Dean is? And by that, I mean the real Dean. Not some psycho wannabe look-a-like." I throw back arrogantly, feeling my anger beginning to simmer. "I swear if you did anything to him I'll-" A slight tingling sparks in my fingertips, like an underlying current of electricity.
"You know, I see the appeal in why those boys keep you around now, especially, Dean." He cuts off my feeble attempt at a threat. "He has taken a liking to you since you joined their little group. He may not realize it yet, but I know enough." He taps his forehead with a finger to emphasize his point. "You got a fire that kindles a man's heart. But, anyways, back to business, shall we?" He gestures with a hand, his eyes roaming over me avidly. "Since I have the upper hand here and you, well, don't." He smirks. "It's really too bad those powers of yours aren't of any use, though. I could use a good bit of competition."
"You know who I am?"
"Why, yes. You are the Fallen One." He declares smugly. "Many talk of you. You are quite the celebrity nowadays. I just don't get what the big deal is, exactly. You don't look like any sort of deity I've ever seen."
"Yeah, well, let's just say I'm a work in progress." I grunt, struggling to stand up straight. "But enough about me, lets talk about you. Why are you kidnapping Lori Sorenson?" I try using the windowsill behind me for support to get my wobbly legs stable. "What do you want with her?" I demand.
"Someone's direct. I love a girl who has a little backbone." He winks, causing me to gag a little in my mouth. "And, well, about Lori. I can't exactly ruin the surprise or else my head will end up on a pike, if you catch my drift." He specifies, his eyes mocking. "Besides, who said you were in charge here? All you need to worry about is your short time left on this planet, love, and nothing else." He bends down to pick up my blade by the handle, twirling it around in his hands. "Now, let's begin the fun, shall we?"
"How about light's out, you son of a bitch." A voice replies behind him, surprising us both, before a pipe comes into contact with his head.
I watch in shock as the mock Dean falls to the ground, unconscious. My eyes then turn to the figure walking towards me, the dim light of the flashlight, finally revealing his face.
"Dean." I sigh in relief, slumping against the wall. "Am I glad to see you…well, the real you, that is."
"You okay, Hol?" He rushes to my side, observing my body of injuries. He notices my hand still covering the bump where I hit my head and pulls it away, prodding at the area with his fingers. "You hurt?"
"I'm fine. Just a thump on the head." I reassure him as he focuses on the task at hand. With him examining so thoroughly, his face was close enough to observe in the limited lighting. I notice a slightly darker shade outlining the skin of his right eye. It was almost unnoticeable at first, but it was just bruised enough for me to discover it. "How about you? Looks like he gave you a nice shiner there."
"I'm fine." He replies, pulling away once he was done examining my head. "He knocked me a good one, but I think we're even now." He gestures to the pipe in his hand with pleasure.
"Where's Sam?" I suddenly realize his absence. "Is he alright?"
"Yeah, he's okay. He only got a couple scratches, nothing too bad. He's down in the basement tying up this tool bag's partner in crime and watching over Lori." He proclaims, putting an arm around me to help me walk.
"There were two of them?" I stumble along with him, not realizing I really needed the help.
"Yep, the handsome devil back there gave me a face full of fist and when I came to the other had me tied me up in the basement standing watch by the door." He answers as we enter the church's main room. "I should've known it was a two-man job. The signs were all there." He shakes his head. "But, anyways, Lori is still alive so, I'll just say it's a win-win."
"You know, this macho hero act you put on isn't funny." I grumble, rolling my eyes. "Just because you saved me and Lori doesn't mean I'm still not pissed at you. I told you to be careful."
"Sometimes you gotta make sacrifices for the greater good, Hol. You'll learn that soon enough." He proclaims as we reach the door to the basement. He quickly pulls it open and guides me through.
We half-stumble down the steps toward the bottom level where we find Sam filling a cup of water at a sink before handing it to Lori, her face recognizable from the missing report paper. She looked at him gratefully before taking a sip, looking like she'd been through hell. She glances up as Dean and I come down the last step.
Sam turns around to see what she was staring at and jumps to help Dean once he sees me. "Holly!" He calls, grabbing under my arm to aid Dean in placing me down onto a box. "Are you, alright? I'm so sorry. I-I didn't know realize there were two of them. I should've-" He rambles before I raise my hand to stop him.
"No need, Sam. I'm alright. I'm in one piece, see?" I reassure him. "Just next time, I call the basement?"
He lightly smiles at that. "No problem."
"I checked her already." Dean reports. "Just needs a little ice on her head."
"Got it." Sam walks to the refrigerator in the far corner and grabs a few ice cubes out of the freezer. He places them in a cup he grabbed from one of the cupboards located above the sink. By the looks of it, the basement seemed to be used as break room for the clergy. A tiny kitchen, stove fireplace, and refrigerator all resided in the small area.
"Is the other one tied up good?" Dean inquires, observing someone on the far side of the room. I follow his gaze to an unconscious man wearing a religious get-up, not noticing him when I first entered. A rope is snugly wrapped around his chest, securing him to the wooden beam at his back.
"He won't be able to go anywhere." Sam declares confidently. "I used that one knot Dad showed us back in Yosemite."
That answer seems to satisfy Dean as he nods his head in approval, watching Sam finish his task, and walking up to me with a cup of ice. I tilt it at him in thanks before holding it to my head, shivering once the ice comes in contact with my scalp. The ache immediately numbs to a dull throb.
"You two ladies okay to stay down here for a few minutes?" Dean asks, looking to me and Lori. "Sam and I got to get the other one upstairs before he comes to."
"Yeah, I think we're okay, Dean. Thank you." Lori speaks for the both of us.
"We're good." I add, motioning my head toward the stairs. "Go get that dick so, I can give him a piece of my mind."
Dean gives me a wicked grin before rushing up the stairs and Sam soon follows after him. I wait until I hear the door close before turning my attention to the stranger across from me.
"So…you're Lori."
Upon hearing my voice, her gaze shifts from where Sam and Dean had left, to me. "And I'm guessing you're Holly." She replies back.
"How are you feeling? You've been through a lot the past couple of hours." I point out. Her eyes are haggard and rimmed with red. Her knees and legs covered in scrapes and dust. A ring of red wraps around her wrists from the ropes that were bound to her hands earlier.
"I'm…okay. I've surprisingly been through worse." She laughs wryly, taking another sip from her cup.
"Like what?...If you mind me asking?"
"Well…" she begins, "A couple years ago, I was involved with several murders caused by a vengeful spirit. That's what Sam and Dean told me at the time, anyway. Supposedly, this spirit was targeting people that I thought deserved to be punished, mainly because of the necklace I wore. It was cursed. I didn't know I was causing them to be killed. I didn't want them to die. I just wanted them to repent, to change for the better, not to be murdered." She confesses regretfully, her expression turning mournful. "Before I knew it, the thing came after me to finish the job, but luckily Sam and Dean got to it first."
"Wow-I mean, I'm so sorry." I apologize quickly, feeling rude from my remark. "Sam told me you were from one of their cases, but never told me the specifics. That sounds horrible." I sympathize with her.
"It was pretty bad." She agreed. "It took me a while to get back to my old life after that, but I don't regret meeting Sam and Dean. I don't know where I would be right now if it weren't for them."
"I know how you feel. Sam and Dean have done a lot for me too." I elaborate, smiling at her softly. "I'm just glad we got to you this time around."
"Me too." She blows out a breath, seeming lost in her thoughts. "Anyways, do you know if my father is alright, by any chance?" She looks to the man in the corner questionably. "When I realized he wasn't my dad, I was afraid something happened to him."
"I know about as much as you do right now." I mumble pathetically. "Dean and Sam can clue us in once they get back I'm sure." I glance at the door quickly, before taking on a more inquiring tone. "So…do you have any idea why they kidnapped you?" I ask, nodding my head towards her dad's carbon copy.
"Not really, no. All they told me is that I was a part of some bigger plan." She shivers slightly, her arms coming up to rub her arms. "Sometimes I would see them argue over something, but besides that, they didn't tell me much."
"Huh, that's weird. Why...you?" My face scrunches up in confusion. "No offense or anything, I just don't get why you of all people would be on their radar."
"None taken." She responds with the shrug of her shoulders. "And it beats me. Since the last time I saw Sam and Dean, everything has been pretty normal. I started back up in classes at the university and managed to graduate two years ago. Other than struggling to pay rent and finding a job, I've had nothing else to worry about."
I think back to Dean's shape shifting doppelganger when I asked him the same question earlier. "I can't exactly ruin the surprise or else my head will end up on a pike..." He's obviously not the head mastermind of the kidnapping with a death threat is hanging over his head. He had to be working for someone...but who? Something big was definitely going on around here.
I break out of my thoughts as the basement door slams open and the sound of tussling comes to my ears. I look towards the stairway to see Sam and Dean struggling to keep Dean Number Two in their grasp, holding up a silver knife to his neck. I see him hiss and flinch away from the blade as it touches his skin, causing him to lessen his squirming in their arms.
"Son of a bitch tried to make a run for it." Dean grunts, his forehead sheen with sweat. "He didn't make it too far though." He smirks as he slams his copycat down onto the ground next to another wooden beam in the room. "Looks like I know myself better than he thinks."
Sam releases the hold on his arm to grab some rope and Dean struggles to keep him in place as Sam ties him down. As soon as he's secure to the pole, his mouth turns up into a merciless grin, his eyes tilting up to glare at us. "Just because you have me in bonds doesn't mean I'll tell you anything." He seethes.
"What makes you think you have a choice, hot shot?" Dean shoots back.
"Oh, I don't have a choice. Not until that girl is cold and lifeless on this very floor." He locks eyes with Lori, causing her to tremble under his icy gaze.
"Really? Judgment's Day is about to run its second course and all you bastards think about is killing more people!" Dean points the knife in his hand back and forth between him and his partner in crime, who was still out cold. "Are you really that desperate for blood?"
"...Judgment day?" Lori repeats, her voice tight with fear. "A-are you talking about the apocalypse?"
Dean's back tenses once realizing his mistake. He turns towards her, his face sheepish as he glances towards his brother for back up.
"We, actually, have an explanation for that." Sam speaks up, his dimples flashing in a desperate attempt to assure her. "But, it's a long story… Do you mind if we step out so, I can explain?"
Lori gazes at the brothers doubtfully. "Oh, alright." She finally agrees, giving in to Sam's puppy-eyed stare. She rises from her seat, looking back towards us before prudently walking up the stairs. Sam shares a look with Dean as he follows after her, closing the door tightly behind them.
After they leave, Dean turns back to his carbon copy, seeing him observe his comrade across the room with concern. Dean notices the exchange and smirks arrogantly. "Fine. Don't want to talk, be my guest." He proclaims, swinging the sliver blade in his fingertips as he strolls to the other side of the room. "I have another bystander who might be willing to cooperate." He kneels down next to the shifter and brings his knife awfully close to his face.
"Stop!" The other shouts harshly, watching Dean clutch the knife's handle tighter in his hand. "We know what's coming pitiful human. It's inevitable. We are just accelerating the process. She will die one way or the other."
"Oh, really?" I finally speak up, causing his glare to shift to me. "And this is your bright idea of making things better?" I chuckle humorlessly. "You guys have more loose screws than I thought."
"We aren't the foolish ones here, Holly." He leers, stressing on my name like an obscenity. "You are."
I scoff, my eyes rolling dramatically. "I'm not the one pulling a kidnapping record over my head just to save my own ass. So, who's the coward? Me or you?"
"Oh, Holy Spirit of God, how clueless you are." He shakes his head disappointingly. "So, very clueless indeed."
"Okay, tough guy then what's the top-secret plan that even the Holy Spirit doesn't know, huh? Or are you just bluffing to save your sorry carcass some topside time?" I rise from my seat to squat in front of him, arching an accusing eyebrow. I wave for Dean to throw me a weapon and he quickly pulls a blade from his jacket and throws it to me so I could threaten him effectively.
"I'm not that stupid, girl. It's going to take a lot more persistence than that to make me have a heart-to-heart." He mocks. "I'll be dead in a day if I tell you what I know."
"How about you tell me right now and we will promise to kill you quick and painlessly? Or…" I quickly tack on, "we can prolong this little meeting with slice by slice until I have it screaming out of you…your choice." I propose, tapping the silver blade against his cheek, seeing the skin welt. I grin at him smugly as he hisses in pain. "And don't worry, I have other ways to hurt you if the silver becomes a little bit too boring for my taste. Now, let's begin the fun, shall we?" I mock his tone.
"Nico! Don't be arrogant!" A voice shouts from behind, coming from the opposite side of the room. Dean pushes him back into place, a blade to his throat. "Tell them what we know." He chokes out from under Dean's hold. "You know what he will do to us! If we don't die by their hands then we will suffer worse than those who rebelled."
"He?" Dean's attention turns towards the shifter underneath him. "Who's he?" He demands, his eyes searching his face.
"Are you deaf? We are as good as dead already. Just kill us!" Nico glowers.
"Sorry fellas, you don't get to have the easy way out. Not until someone here squawks. " Dean orders, his command firm. "And maybe if you cooperate enough we might even end it quickly after this…if, and that's a big if, you even make it through the interrogation…" He wavers off ominously, pointing the tip of his knife towards his counterpart's eye.
"W-wait! Alright, alright!" He pleads as the knife stops inches from his cornea. "I'll tell you!" He caves quickly, his eyes shining with fear.
"Joshua. Please…don't." Nico whimpers, looking more vulnerable than I've ever seen him, his impish persona completely wiped from his features. The absolute fear shining in his eyes makes him look fragile, and childish.
"I'm sorry. I must." The other shifter, Joshua, pleas. "I won't suffer for a cause I don't even believe in, Nico. Once we tell them, we will be free from him. Don't you see? He can't follow us in death." Joshua assures him, his voice filled with hope. Dean and I watch the exchange in interest. Despite all the bad these two might've done, Joshua's words tugged at my heart. Nico heaves a sigh and nods his head slowly, agreeing, but clearly reluctant. Joshua smiles lightly at him before turning to Dean. "I'll tell you everything I know."
Dean nods, satisfied with the bargain. "Well, a deal was a deal. Now spill." He adds, lowering the knife.
"We made an agreement…an agreement with a boy." Joshua begins.
"A boy?" I tense at the seemingly harmless word. However, it took only one boy to send the world to it's damnation. "His name doesn't happen to be Jesse...does it?" I glance at him anxiously.
"Yes, Jesse. Jesse Turner." He declares, causing Dean and I to share a look.
"And why would he deal with the likes of you two? You're only a bunch of shifters. What are you guys to him, his henchman or somethin'?" Dean asks, skeptical.
"In a way." He confirms. "But it wasn't out of willingness. The last time the apocalypse ensued, chaos transpired. I was scared…frightened even, by what would come of us this time around."
"Go on." I urge as Joshua's focuses his gaze on Nico.
"So, we made a treaty with the boy and made an oath to aid him in ending the world in exchange for security."
"Are you kidding?" My jaw drops open in disbelief. "And you guys believed him?"
"Well…no, but it was all we could do." Joshua defends. "We were hoping he could reconsider us as a part of his alliance. If he saw us as useful and not just some ants to be stomped on., then we could rein the world like it should be. Monsters free to roam and humans hiding in the shadows."
"You think this world belongs to you!?" Dean laughs cynically. "News flash asshat: This is our world. Humanity's world. You sons of bitches don't own squat besides the crappy lives you live now. You would just destroy it and just go on doing the next crappy thing!"
"Don't act like humans are so innocent." Nico cuts in, his eyes daggers to Dean's. "You are just as bad as we are, but at least we admit to what we are, monsters." He snaps. "You humans have no excuse with your wars, murders, rapes, and deceits. You lot are just as bad as the rest of us, but you don't have the looks to go along with it. Although, I might say, this meat suit isn't too appealing to look at anyways." He scorns, smirking at Dean's growing irritation.
"You really want to play that game chameleon freak?" Dean jumps up to storm towards him, knife in hand, until I block his advance.
"Dean, stop." I command, firmly placing a hand on his chest. "He's trying to play us. He wants you to kill him before the whole can of beans has been spilled. Let him talk." I stare at him sternly before letting him go.
"I guess you aren't as numb-skulled as you seem Holy girl." Nico purrs, his face wearing a smug grin.
"Yeah, yeah. Save it. I don't charm easily." I reply flatly. "Now, the deal was you tell us everything…and I mean everything that little noggin of yours knows. Or next time I will let Dean over here follow through with whatever he plans to do to you."
"It would be my pleasure." Nico mocks politeness. "Who would you prefer I tell it as…little old Sammy…?" His form changes to one of long brown hair and familiar hazel eyes in a split second, surprising me, but they weren't the same gentle ones I knew. They were ruthless. "Or big, bad Dean?" His voice changes instantly, back to sounding low and rough. His eyes, now a beautiful green, stare at me, his mouth set in a smirk.
"You really don't want to go there." I seethe, my face flushing hot with embarrassment and anger. My mouth sets into a scowl. "I could have you slow roasted on a stick in five seconds flat. You do know that right? My powers aren't stable, but I'll be happy to take a practice run on you. I've been dying to ever since we met."
"Nico! What are you doing?!" Joshua reprimands, staring at him in incredulity.
"Oh Holly…why so flushed?" Nico ignores him, pleased with my reaction from his taunts. "You know, you get angry fast for not-"
"Don't. Mess. With. Me." I grimly cut him off. My teeth clench as the sound of blood pounding in my head becomes audible to my ears. A ball of holy fire suddenly blazes in my palm waiting for release.
He eyes the unexpected flash of heat in my hand appreciatively, taking notice of what it took to push my buttons. "Touchy subject, eh?" He clicks his tongue curtly. "Sorry I asked."
I feel Dean's eyes on me so my keep my gaze glued to the next person on my hit list. Now, was not the time for late-night confessions. Definitely not now, or ever. I had a feeling there was something between me and Dean, but I wasn't ready to dive into that conundrum just yet. "Oh, I'll get touchy with you alright."
"Wait! Please, ignore him!" Joshua interrupts, his body struggling against the restricting ropes. "He was never one to collaborate. I apologize on the behalf of his idiocy. If you would spare him, I promise to keep him quiet." He offers. His expression earnest. "Please…he's my little brother."
"Damn. I actually feel a little sorry for you." Dean comments, his tone scornfully sympathetic.
Ease quickly rushes through me at the newest revelation, hoping Nico's words has already slipped his mind. I look to Joshua and nod. "As long as he keeps his trap shut. I accept your offer."
"Yes, of course." He complies, giving his brother a firm look before continuing on. "Anyways, as I was saying. The deal was such: protection for those who accepted it and helped him in return. However, others were not so clever and rejected alliance with Jesse. For what he did with them, I do not know or want to know." He shudders. "But that's all I can tell you in the matter."
"What?! That's hardly anything to work with!" Dean complains, eying Joshua doubtfully. "There's got to be something you're not telling us."
"Jesse is very skeptical and his allegiance with us was already shaky to begin with. Only his right hand men know his full plan. My brother and I only search, take, and deliver who he tells us to." Joshua assures, his tone taking on the quality of a solider. "We are named after what we do. We are Seekers."