Dean sat in Caleb's Jeep drinking a cup of coffee. Earlier in the day the two hunters researched the background of Marie Renault St. Claire. The police reports said she was murdered and raped inside her home. That combination made for an angry spirit. They also found she was a voodoo priestess. After gathering everything they could from the library they went to talk to her neighbors. Everyone insisted she was a beautiful woman who helped the community. Her death was a terrible waste. It was rumored the death was done by a rival voodoo priest, but there was no evidence until followers of the priest started turning up dead. The house was boarded up and abandoned. It had been that way for two years since the murder. No one wanted to buy it.
"Are we just going to sit here all night?" Dean groused.
"What? You have a hot date?"
"I could," Dean answered. "This is Nola after all."
Caleb laughed. "It sure is."
"Come on this is boring." The younger man sighed. "Let's just go in and check it out."
"Deuce, this spirit used to be a voodoo priestess," Caleb argued. "There's no telling what she'll do."
"Could be fun." Dean smiled.
"You're crazy," Reaves said, shaking his head. "Let's just wait a little longer. It's only eight o'clock."
"Fine." Dean rolled his eyes. "Got anything good to read?"
Caleb watched as Dean reached behind the seat. He grabbed two paperbacks then leaned back in the seat. Winchester flipped over the first book and read the back. He wasn't in the mood for a tale of life on a small island in Puget Sound where a murder took place in the 1950's. The second one sounded more interesting. Caleb glanced over to see which one Dean picked.
"That's a good one," the dark haired hunter remarked. "WEB Griffin really pulls you in."
"Didn't know you were into cop stories." Dean smiled. "Seeing is how we try to avoid them."
"Men in Blue is part of a good series. You'll like it."
The sun was just setting, but the twilight made it difficult to read. Dean opened the book, pulled out a flashlight and settled back to read.
"So what do you think of Johnny's new pick up?'
"I think it's a waste," Dean grumbled, flipping the page.
"Why do you say that?"
Dean held his place as he looked at Caleb. "Because we have to spend more for gas -I'll be following him in the Impala."
"Yeah, but you get the Impala."
"Do I?" Dean asked angrily.
Reaves looked hard at Dean. "Is there something going on between you and your father?"
"No." Dean looked away, reading the same paragraph he had just finished.
"Could have fooled me." Dean turned and glared at Caleb. "No, I'm not reading you. I don't have to."
"Look." Dean sighed. "We've been cooped up together for almost a year without a break."
The older hunter stared at Dean. He could tell he wasn't getting the whole story, but wasn't about to push. "I can see where you could use a break."
"And so can Dad." Dean smiled. "That's why he pawned me off on you."
"Remind me to thank him."
Dean laughed and turned back to his book. They sat watching the house until about midnight. The blond was enjoying the book and was surprised to see it was so late. He dog eared the page and put the book on the dash.
"Can we go now?"
"Might as well," Caleb said. "I don't think anyone will notice us now."
"Yeah, like they haven't noticed us sitting here for the past four hours."
Caleb wasn't too worried about the neighbors. In this area people tended to mind their own business. Dean climbed out of the Jeep. He cracked the shotgun checking the load of rock salt. Satisfied, he closed it again and patted his pockets for the extra rounds.
"All set?"
Dean turned to Caleb. "Yeah, let's do this."
Reaves handed the younger hunter a flashlight as they headed for the house. They bypassed the front door, heading for the back. The house was an old shotgun style home. Single level, only one room wide. The style was long and the theory was you could shoot down one end of the hall clear to the other end of the house and not hit anything. They climbed over the debris covering the screened-in porch. The back door was hanging off its hinges. Caleb switched on his flashlight and squeezed though. Dean followed close behind. They entered the sitting room and made their way to the hall. As they looked down the hallway they could see the front door at the other end. Closed doors on the right and left lead to other rooms. Reaves pointed to the one on his left. Dean nodded and took the one on the right. Before they could open the doors the temperature stared to drop.
"Damn," Caleb muttered. His breath steamed in the frigid air.
"She is that." Dean smiled opening the door.
The younger hunter stepped through the door. It slammed shut behind him blasting Caleb with frigid air.
"Dean!" Caleb yelled, ramming his shoulder into the unyielding surface.
Dean whirled as the door slammed. The room was covered in frost. He swung the shotgun up next to the flashlight and panned the room. Along one wall were shelves. The light flashed off glass surfaces of jars and vials. Dried plants hung from the ceiling in bundles. Dean could hear Caleb banging against the door.
The temperature dropped again and Dean saw something taking shape. Before he could get a shot off an unseen force slammed him against the wall. The shotgun and flashlight clattered to the floor on impact. Struggling was useless and Dean watched as a woman formed across the room. There was no denying she was beautiful with her mahogany colored skin. Her long hair was in dreadlocks reaching to her knees. As she got closer Dean was captured by her startling blue eyes. She reached out her right hand capturing his neck. Slowly she raised him off the floor.
" 'Chere find me beautiful?" Her Cajun patois was sultry. Dean struggled against her but couldn't deny what she said. "All men de thought me so."
"Not me, bitch!" Dean choked.
"But dat is a lie." She smiled, stroking his cheek. "I can read it in your mind. Other tings as well, mon ami. A friend lost, a brother. But I am not the danger. Look to those closer."
Dean had no idea what she was talking about but didn't have time to question her as she effortlessly sent him flying into the wall. He crashed against the shelves and slid to the floor. The contents of the jars and vials spilling all around him.
Caleb had no idea what was going on inside the room. He could hear nothing as if the room was sealed. The door would not give. Reaves was about to blast it with the shotgun when he noticed the temperature begin to rise. With the change the dark-haired hunter knew the spirit was gone. He kicked the door and it splintered under his assault. As he entered the room he held the gun at the ready as he swept the room. He saw Dean in a crumbled heap across the room.
"Deuce!" Caleb rushed to his side.
The older hunter reached for Dean's neck, sighing in relief as he felt a strong pulse. He carefully rolled Dean to his back to assess the damage. A cut above his left eye bleed profusely. Caleb winced when he saw the dislocated left shoulder. The hunter carefully checked along the younger mans ribs, thankful to find none broken. When he was finished and found no other injures Caleb positioned Dean over his shoulder. He carefully made it out of the house and back to the Jeep. Once Dean was settled in the passenger seat, Reaves quickly moved around to the driver's side and climbed in. As he drove away he flipped open his phone and hit a number on speed dial.
"Dad, we're coming in hot."