Chapter 4

"I can't believe I'm letting her in my car." Dean muttered to Sam as Ruby settled herself comfortably into the big back seat.

"Wow, this back seat has potential." She said, looking around at the chrome trim that seemed to be everywhere in the interior of the classic.

"Don't even freakin' think about it." Dean growled. Sam chortled.

Dean rolled his eyes and looked in Sam's direction. "Kill me now." He groaned. He fired the engine and they went in search of a suitable crossroads.

After finding a crossroads they slid out of the car and Sam and Dean went to the trunk. Dean opened it for Sam and he retrieved his favorite handgun, a chromed Beretta that Dean had given him for his seventeenth birthday. Ruby glanced into the trunk and whistled in appreciation of every weapon nestled under the false bottom.

"Nice arsenal."

"Off limits." Sam said. "How are we gonna summon the contract holder?"

"You command him to show and he will. His name's Kaevan. He respects the leader and he was one of us ready to follow you Sam." Ruby looked at Dean pointedly. "Just like Casey."

Sam swallowed and walked to the center of the crossroads, his feet displacing gravel. Ruby looked at Dean. "Get back in the car Dean. I don't think this is gonna be pretty."

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

"Just get in the car." Dean snarled but headed back towards the open driver's door and got inside. He rolled down the window and closed the door.

"I swear if anything happens to him I'm gonna rip you apart very slowly." Ruby's eyes dropped and she walked to Sam's side at the center of the crossroads.

"Go for it Sam. Summon him; he'll do as you say."

Sam stiffened and Ruby could see the tension in his shoulders. His face became mask and he took a deep breath. "KAEVAN!" Sam roared out into the stillness of the night. "I command you to show your face!" Black smoke streamed through the dark night air and the mass swirled a few feet in front of Sam and Ruby. It soon consolidated into the form of a man. He was about six feet tall, broad shouldered and slightly plain looking with sandy hair and brown eyes. He locked eyes with Sam and recognition dawned. He was soon glowering at Ruby and glancing at Sam in fear.

"Majesty, I must warn you. This one is a traitor." Kaevan glared openly at Ruby.

Silence greeted him and his eyes shifted back to Sam. "Majesty?" Sam fell into the role with a look from Ruby.

"Silence." Sam spoke. The demon instantly shifted his eyes to the ground. "Do you know why I have called you here?" Sam asked.

"No, Majesty." The demon said softly.

"You hold the contract on Dean Winchester's soul, correct?"

"Yes, Majesty."

"I want the contract."

"But Majesty, there are many demons who would oppose you, seeing as you were his brother."

Sam rumbled, snarling slightly. "Do you really think I care what the others think? You will hand over that contract."

"Majesty…"

Thunder rumbled in the night sky as Sam lost his temper. "SILENCE! I will not warn you again, demon." Ruby smirked and looked down her nose at the cowering demon.

Dean watched the scene before him with trepidation hammering in his chest. Sam had yelled for the demon and it had appeared looking like a scared child that had known he'd done something bad. Sam stood tall and looked every bit the leader. No! No, he's not some demon leader. He's my baby brother. He's Sammy, he's my Sammy. Dean stilled his wayward mind and strained his ears to hear what his brother and the demon were saying.

"Majesty." Dean caught the word coming from the demon's lips. He shuddered at the proud stance Sam had taken at the word and the downcast black eyes.

"No, Sammy." Dean whispered, stricken, as Sam raged and thunder rumbled simultaneously.

"Forgive me Majesty." The demon fell to one knee before Sam. The demon pulled a small crystal from his pocket, cradling it in his up stretched palm almost gently. It carried a pulsing glow within it and Sam stared. "Here is the soul you wish for Majesty. The others will not be pleased. You are choosing a traitor to be at your right hand and the human you control has possession of his brother's soul again. There will be dissent among the ranks."

"Do you think I fear them?" Sam snarled. "If they stand in my way they will face my wrath. I have warned you and you shall be the warning for them!" Sam raised a hand to the night sky and lightening flashed. Ruby startled and stepped slightly back as the flash of light reflected off Sam's black eyes.

"Majesty, please? I serve you. Only you. I thought it best to warn you that there are those who will not be pleased at this turn of events."

"SILENCE!" Sam roared into the night and again looked at his up stretched hand. "Incendia." He commanded. Lightening crashed to his palm from the roiling sky and lit up his hand, coursing through and around it. He directed his hand to the demon and the lightening arched from his hand to the face of the demon. The demon screamed hideously before turning to a fine ash. Ruby stepped forward and put her hand on Sam's arm.

"Allow me." He nodded and she stepped forward again, narrowing her eyes a breeze started in the chilly night air that soon turned into a howling gust. The dust that had been the demon slowly began stirring on the ground and as the wind increased it began blowing away, carried off into the darkness. Sam bent and retrieved the glowing crystal as the last of the ash blew away from it. He held it gently in his large hand.

"This is the contract for Dean's soul?"

"Yes."

"Thank you for helping me get it back." Sam turned to Ruby in the darkness. He stepped up to her and she allowed her head to fall beck so she could see his face in the dim light of the moon. She gasped. Sam swallowed the sound as he pulled her in for a fiery kiss. Sam took a couple seconds before he closed his eyes; Ruby's fear filled ones had locked with his as he kissed her. They were black.