Chapter 2

Gun deals were rote. Caleb did them all the time. Always in broad daylight. It unnerved his colleagues but money talked. The way he moved guns talked. As long as they did what he said, everyone made out like bandits.

Hunts were good to fill time. Poltergeists were simple enough. Like a workout to keep the kinks out. Caleb drove around and if he wasn't hunting, he was inside at night. Jefferson laughed.

"You're still afraid of the dark." Jeff sighed and tossed back his whiskey.

"I'm not afraid of the dark."

"Curtains pulled tight. Lights on."

"You remember what I saw the last time I was outside and it was dark out?" Caleb reminded him.

"She was a pretty girl." Jeff nodded to his glass before rising to refill it. "How do you hunt at night?"

"I do what I have to. In the dark if I have to."

"How do you fuck?"

"Some people are a pleasure to look at while you fuck them. We don't all fuck trolls."

"Fuck you."

"No, fuck you."

They went out the next night to pick up ladies. Caleb got Jeff laid but went back to his room alone. Lights on, he cleaned his guns until sunrise. He napped for four hours and then hit the road.

Then he spent a week with the pastor, conjugating Latin until his eyes crossed. Jim was training with a sword when Caleb crawled out of the library. It was dark out. Jim lowered the sword. "Didn't think you were ever coming out of there."

"Needed a distraction. I haven't been a very good guest. I'll make breakfast before I go to bed."

"Still sleeping in the mornings." Jim nodded

"I'm awake when the evil things are stalking the night."

"As you should be." Jim motioned him over and with a flask, blessed his bald head. "I don't see you enough."

"I would think you see me plenty." They wandered out to put on the big porch light and drink a few beers. "Jefferson is headed this way in about a month."

"Thank you for the warning." Jim laughed. "Last time he and I spoke, he was forbidden to bring his dates here… You haven't left that library or else you'd be under the same mandate."

"Haven't been interested in a while."

"Oh? Is there a woman who took your interest?"

"Lots of women take my interest. They just aren't that interesting for very long. It gets old."

"As do all things… all people…" Jim nodded to his bottle. "Have you given up?"

"Nah… Dean and I are set to go out when he gets his memory back."

"Dean Winchester?" Jim turned fully. "When did you see him?"

"Last month."

"Does John know that you've seen his son?"

"John's the one who brought him out to me.

"He didn't call." Jim crossed himself and made Caleb tell what he knew.

"They've gone off to kill the Pixies that stole from them. Should be dead about now if the research was right."

"You helped?"

"I did."

"Then it'll be right."

"Thanks. I like that someone has confidence in my work."

"We all do. John wouldn't have gone to you if you couldn't help. I'm surprised he didn't drag you along."

Caleb stared at his drink. "I didn't go. I chose not to go."

"Oh?"

Caleb shrugged. "I'll see them some other time."

"We all will."

The subject changed and Caleb got to thinking and drinking his way through two states. He came home to the empty palace and promptly passed out for three days. Lights blaring through the night on a timer.

TBC