i am so, so sorry for the very long wait. anyone want my job, because i have had enough of it! i have finally managed a few days off in a row so i am going to try and update as much as i can.
again, thank you all for the great reviews, i am so glad that you are all enjoying this. as always, let me know what you think!
ETERNAL
Chapter 9
"So, Sam, tell us about yourself." Edmonds began, beaming at the young man and his wife.
Sam looked up, nearly chocking on his drink, Kerri quickly rubbing his back. Tell them about himself? Making up a fake identity was one thing, coming up with a life history for it was another, and his mind was just in too many other places to come up with a passable story.
"Uh, what did you want to know?" He smiled, glancing quickly at Kerri.
"You know, the usual. How'd you get started in this business? You seem awfully young."
"Through my family."
"So, it was your father's business?"
"Yeah, you could say that."
"Really?" Charlotte chimed in, her eyes still roaming over Sam as she leaned a little farther over the table. "And you run it all yourself? Impressive."
"Actually." Sam began, still trying his hardest not to look at the woman. "I run it with my wife and brother."
"And where is this brother of yours?" Charlotte asked seductively, the idea of the young man before her having a brother seemed strangely appealing to her, and Sam just didn't want to go there.
"Not here."
"Kerri is it?" Charlotte began abruptly.
"Yes?" Kerri answered slowly, her blue eyes blinking owlishly around the table.
"I was meaning to ask you, how was your private tour with William?"
"It was fine." Kerri stated softly, leaning into Sam.
The younger man could feel just how weak she really was and instantly wished that they had just stayed in the room and told Bramhurst to screw himself. Kerri was in no condition to be out and about, especially when she was being forced to defend her made up life.
"Really? Just fine? You seem awfully tired."
"She's sick." Sam stated coldly, making the rest of the table fall silent. However, his short remark seemed to have the opposite effect to the scheming Charlotte, the woman's eyes growing hungrier as Sam stared her down, his hand on the back of Kerri's neck.
"Funny, how those girls always claim that they aren't feeling well when they come back."
"Charlotte!" Margaret began, blushing.
"What's the supposed to mean?" Sam began again, his voice barely more than a whisper, but still piercing.
"Exactly what it sounds like. She's not the first one to catch his eye, you know. And they always seem to return from their tours a little, tired."
"Sam, can we please go, I don't feel well." Kerri began suddenly, leaning her head on Sam's shoulder.
"Just a minute, Ker."
"Sam--."
"Maybe we should call William for her?" Charlotte chided, watching the interaction.
"Sam, boy, maybe you should take her up to lay down." Mr. Edmonds began, trying to quell the rising tension.
"In a minute. I want to know what, Charlotte, was talking about first."
"Countless girls, Sam. Their husbands report them missing, but we all know better. They're probably living the lap of luxury on William's dollar. You know that each and every one of them married into their fortune. Much like, Kerri, I would assume. You were just an artist before you met, Sam, weren't you?"
"That has nothing to do with anything, Charlotte." Margaret broke in, trying to defend the young couple.
"Oh no? Then why does he hide them away? The divorces would be quite expensive and those poor little things would be left with nothing but the tattered clothes on their backs."
"Have you ever stopped to think that maybe they really are missing?" Margaret continued, the missing girls obviously being a huge source of gossip for the well to do.
"Please. They just don't want to go through it all, don't want to lose their fortunes. So they charm William into saving them."
"How dare you." Sam began, his voice like ice.
"Sam, please, can we just go?"
"Just a minute."
"Quite the happy married couple, aren't we." Charlotte pushed again, obviously finding great delight in Sam's anger.
"Excuse me."
Sam's response was cut off by William's strong voice, the millionaire showing up behind him, his hand coming to rest on Kerri's slim shoulder. Sam immediately pushed the offending hand away, standing to his full hight as he steadied his friend in her seat. He had heard enough.
"Yes?" He asked, eyes narrowing on his host.
"I came to see what all the commotion was about."
"Maybe you should ask, Charlotte."
William eyed the woman for a moment before turning once more towards Sam, his face set in a charming smile. "I am sorry for any misunderstanding."
"I'm sure you are."
"Sam." Kerri began as Sam pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arm around her, his eyes never leaving the man before him. Kerri fell into him, her arms draped around his waist as she tried to keep herself standing.
"I see she still isn't feeling well."
"No, she's not." Sam was well aware of the fact that, at that point, nearly every guest in the ballroom was silently looking in their direction, but he just didn't care. His usually strong and vibrant friend was falling to pieces in his arms and everyone seemed to be trying to pull her even further away from him. And that was something that he wasn't about to let happen.
"Sit back down and enjoy your dinner, Sam. I will see to it that she is brought back to her room."
"No, I'll see to it."
"Fine. I will have someone bring food up to the both of you later. And, Sam." William added as the two hunters turned to leave. "Please proceed directly to your room, I do not like people wandering, unescorted, through my home."
Sam could feel chills running up and down his spine as he lead Kerri through the tables, all eyes watching them the entire way out of the room. Sam tightened his hold on the shaky girl. He was now holding up almost all her weight, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. As soon was he turned the corner he scooped her up into his arms, her head falling onto his shoulder once more.
6666666666666666
Dean walked through the long halls, his hands still shaking, heart still beating fast. He had fed off the painting, taken something from Kerri, possibly hurt her worse than she already was. And worst of all was the fact that now the damn thing wouldn't burn. He needed to get to Sam, and then all three of them needed to get out of there, and fast. Bramhurst had already started and Dean had a feeling that things were going to get worse before they got better. He he learned long ago to trust his feelings.
He couldn't believe that he had let Bramhurst get that close to begin with, couldn't believe that he had managed to get Kerri away from both him and Sam. They were trained hunters for god's sake, and he was just one overly wealthy man. But he had still managed to out smart them, had still managed to take her away, to hurt her, and Dean would be damned if he was going to let that happen again. Screw the consequences, William needed to be taken care of and fast.
He pulled the phone from his pocket as he rounded another corner. He had to get back to the room, had to get to Sam so they could find another way to destroy the painting. But, more importantly, he needed to see Kerri again, needed to make sure that he hadn't hurt her any worse than Bramhurst had. He still couldn't believe what he had done, couldn't believe that he had let himself be lured to the painting. It made him sick just thinking about it.
"Dean?"
"Sam, we need to talk."
"Tell me about it."
"Get back to the room as soon as you can."
"We're already there. Did you burn it?"
"No…….. There were complications."
"Like what?"
"Oh, just the fact that the damn thing won't burn. How's Kerri?"
"Uh."
"Sam?" Dean stopped, his heart beating fast. He had hurt her.
"She's asleep again. I don't know what's wrong with her."
"Alright, I'll be there in ten." And with that Dean hung up the phone, cursing as he broke into a run. He had to see her for himself, had to make sure that she was still Kerri.
Dean showed up at the room a few minutes later, Sam letting him in after his nearly frantic knock.
"Dude." Sam began, taking in his brother's haggard appearance. "What happened to you?"
"How is she?" Dean began, his voice shaking slightly as he made it over to the bed, stopping a few feet away. Kerri looked just as she had the last time he saw her. Her skin was still pale and cold, eyes still sunken, but she wasn't any older than the last time he has seen her.
"Tired, but I'm pretty sure she's ok. Dean, I didn't let him get near her."
"I did it, Sam."
"What?"
"When I found the painting, I don't know, I couldn't look away. I felt it, everything, it was so strong, so warm, I couldn't stop looking at it."
"What! Then why aren't you half asleep right now?"
"Because it didn't feed off of me. Sam, I felt it."
"Felt what?"
"Energy, youth. It was like time was going backwards. Everything just seemed so much better, I felt stronger than I've felt in years."
"Dean?"
"I fed off it, Sam. I couldn't stop it, I fed off her."
"How?"
"I don't know, it just happened."
"Well, she just fell asleep again, so you obviously didn't take that much from her."
"Oh yeah, that's encouraging."
"Dean, this isn't your fault. You had no way of knowing the painting would do that. Come to think of it, why would it do that? Why would Bramhurst want to share it?"
"I don't think he does." Dean began, sitting on the sofa. He was afraid to go too close to Kerri afraid he would hurt her worse, that just being in her presence would steal more of her away. "I think it just gives and takes."
"But why Kerri, and why you?"
"The myth. You said that that lady took the guy to Tir-na-nog and he lived for three hundred years."
"Yeah, so?"
"So maybe, the painting's doing the same thing. In the myth, a woman gave a man eternal youth. So."
"So that painting is doing the same thing. It's taking the life force from women and giving it to men."
"Yeah, which means I did do this to Kerri."
"Dean, look at her, she's fine."
"Fine! Fine, she's unconscious!"
"Yeah, but she's still the same age."
"Maybe it doesn't take it all at once?"
"What?"
"No one ever called for help, no one ever came running into town telling them they were getting old too fast."
"Yeah, but this place is a fortress, maybe they just couldn't get out."
"Or maybe, they don't get old till the end. In the myth, that dude stayed young as long as he was there right?"
"Yeah."
"But, as soon as he set foot on his home soil, he was instantly old."
"So maybe the girls stay young until the painting releases them back onto mortal land."
"And, as soon as we destroy that painting, her soul's free."
"To age." Sam breathed, sitting on the edge of the bed, haunted eyes falling on Kerri.
"Sam, there's gotta be a way to fix this."
"You said you couldn't burn the painting."
"The fire didn't even leave soot."
"Well, maybe we can just take it with us."
"Sam, the freaking thing is like eight feet long."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's stuck here."
"So, we have to get it to release her, then find some way to get rid of it."
"But what if it doesn't matter? What if she still ages?"
"I don't know."
"We can't mess with it till we figure this out. I'm not gonna let her suffer because of my mistake."
"Dean--."
"No. We only destroy this thing once we're sure that she's safe. That she's exactly the same as when we got here."
"What if we can't?"
"That's not an option."
A sudden knock on the door silenced the brothers' conversation, Dean sliding beneath the bed as the door swung open. It was the butler once more, pushing a cart loaded down with at least four covered trays. He scanned the room as he entered, taking in everything. From Kerri laying on the bed to Sam sitting on the sofa to the laptop left open on the table.
'Damn it.' Sam silently cursed as the man's eyes focused back on him.
"Mr. Bramhurst has asked that you and your wife be sent dinner. I hope it is all to your liking."
"Thank you."
"He also asked once again about Mrs. Connors, but I see that she is truly resting."
"Yes, she is, and I would prefer that it stay that way. She has been through enough and she doesn't need any visitors. You can pass that message along to your boss."
"I will, Sir. Enjoy your meal, I hope it is enough."
"Excuse me? Enough for what?"
"Nothing, Sir. Good evening." The butler bowed quickly before leaving the room, Sam locking the door behind him.
"Damn it." Dean cursed, climbing out from under the bed. "I think he knows I'm here."
"Ya think."
"Yeah, well, at least I don't have to sneak around anymore." Dean began, pulling a lid off one of the trays.
"Yes, you do."
"Why?"
"Because, Dean, you just do."
"Great come back."
"Would you two shut up, I'm trying to sleep." Kerri mumbled, pushing her eyes open.
"Hey." Sam began, moving over to her. "How're you feeling?"
"Like I've been hit by a train. What's wrong with you, Winchester?" Kerri eyed Dean suspiciously as Sam helped her to sit.
Dean had moved to the opposite side of the room when she awoke, his eyes purposefully cast down towards the computer. He didn't want to get too close to her, didn't want to hurt her. Hell, he couldn't even look at her anymore, knowing what he'd done.
"Dean?"
"He fed off the painting. Off you."
"Sam!" Dean yelled, making the two other hunters jump. He didn't want her to know, didn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes. She had always looked at him with such admiration, such trust and he didn't want to see that wiped away, didn't want to see that hope gone.
"You what?"
"Kerri, I'm sorry, I couldn't stop it." He began, finally meeting her gaze. But instead of finding hate there, instead of seeing fear, he saw concern.
"Are you ok?"
"Am I ok? Ker, did you hear what Sam said?"
"Yeah, are you ok?"
"I'm fine, I'm not the one who get fed off of."
"Dean, you didn't do it on purpose."
"Kerri, I may have killed you."
Kerri quickly felt her face, before looking down at her body. "What are you talking about, I'm fine."
"For now." Dean whispered, turning away from her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Uh, well, we have this theory." Sam began, shooting his brother a glance as the older man kicked the wall.
"What theory?" Kerri asked, her voice shaking slightly as she searched Sam's face for answers.
"Well, Oisin didn't age until he was released from Tir-na-nog, until he set foot on mortal ground."
"So?"
"So, we think that maybe, it's the same with you. That maybe--."
"Once the painting's destroyed, I'll start aging."
"Yeah."
"And even, if you find away to get it to release me--."
"You may still die." Dean broke in, his voice hoarse and quiet.
"Oh. Well, maybe I'll age gracefully."
"Damn it, Kerri, this isn't funny." Dean shouted as he spun around, anger rolling off him in waves.
"Do I look like I'm laughing?"
"No, but you're not really taking this seriously, either."
"I'm not taking this seriously. I might die, Dean. Hell, by tomorrow I could be eighty. So tell me, how am I not taking this seriously? I didn't even want to go on this stupid hunt."
"Ker--." Dean began, his voice leaving him. He had screwed up and now she might be lost forever, dead before the age of thirty. And it would all be his fault. He wanted to go over to her, to tell her that he could fix this, that he could set it all right, but he was afraid of making a promise he might not be able to keep.
"Dean, I'm sorry."
"You're sorry? You might die because of me."
"I might die because of William Bramhurst and a weird as hell painting."
"But I forced you to come."
"You didn't force me to do anything. I'm a big girl, I can make my own decisions. And besides, there may still be a way to fix this."
"If there is, Kerri. I promise that I'll find it."
"I know you will, Dean."
Sam watched the exchange, knowing that both were afraid, terrified of what may come, of what may be waiting for them just around the corner. They had both been through so much, both faced so much turmoil in the course of their friendship and Sam knew that losing her would destroy a part of his brother's soul. Hell, it would destroy a part of him as well. This was Kerri, the girl that had helped teach him to ride a bike, the girl that had saved him from a spirit, risked her own life to help keep him safe. He had to save her, had to find a way to break the painting's hold over her, and he had to do it fast.