Chapter 6
Angela kneeled to study the ground where the first murder had been found. She put a gloved hand to the ground to rub at a dark spot and studied it. She took a couple of sniffs and she could smell the scent of human blood as it permeated her olfactory senses. At least human blood didn't bother her that much anymore. She had gotten used to it riding around with the Winchesters and with the number of times they had gotten bumps and scrapes, not to mention her drawing blood when she bit Gordon, it was no small wonder she could stand to be around it.
Studying the ground, she recalled to her mind the crime scene photos that she had managed to get a hold of by hacking the system. She could see the images of the mutilated body as they had pulled up on the screen. They did look like someone had gone through the trouble of satanic ritual and the hex bags in the photos looked like it was witch activity. Angela was curious about what was in the bags and thought that they might be a clue as to the kind of witch they were dealing with. That was why Sam and Dean were at the police station doing the thing they did best. She said she wanted to get a study of the crime scenes.
The truth was, she was wondering if she could see what had happened if she touched something associated with the murders. This new talent she had was interesting and frightening at the same time. She had thought about it in her room until she grew too tired to think. It had started the second time she had nearly died since teaming up with the Winchesters and didn't know if it was coincidence, if there was a purpose to it or it was some random thing. It had popped up on various cases. One thing she didn't tell the brothers was that when Gordon had grabbed her to tie her up with Dean, she had seen him as a vamp going after Sam… and her. There were a lot of things she had to figure out first and she hoped they would understand when she was ready to come clean on it. She just needed time.
She continued to stare at the crime scene as she removed the gloves she had put on. Narrowing her eyes, she braced herself for any potential reaction that might occur. Tentatively she reached out with a hand to the dark spot she had been staring at for the last five minutes. She knew that spot was blood since she could smell it. She could smell blood from other creatures all around, even the putrid smell of garbage that had long been cleared away. She was like a living luminal for scents. Not waiting anymore, Angela pressed her hand firmly to the dark spot. There was a slight sensation but nothing like the other visions she had seen. The only thing she could get was Michael-Zadok and it had her puzzled.
Time to go to the other scene, Angela thought as she stood up. She dusted her hands and held the gloves in her hand so she could throw them away. At least she had the police reports on that case, well what was available. She hoped that Sam and Dean were having better luck finding out about Tolbert and examining his body. Sighing she turned towards the rental that she checked out that morning and got in.
Pulling out her cell, Angela dialed a number. When it picked up she said, "Dean, it's me. I got nothing at the water plant. What about you?"
We're looking at the body now and we got a copy of the report.
"So we have something on those bags?"
We might. We're waiting on the copies.
"Okay. I'm going to head to the second crime scene and take a look around. Meet me there if you can."
No problem.
Angela clicked her phone shut to disconnect. She started the car and drove away to head to where the Tolbert body was found. She had her suspicions about the locations but she wasn't sure. At least the Winchesters had a more fruitful day. She turned onto the main street passing a nondescript car that had a man sitting in it appearing as if he were dozing but he was in fact watching every move.
Dean hung up the phone and watched, trying not to be disgusted by the dead body on the slab. He glanced at Sam who was taking this much better than he was. Then again Sam was not really squeamish about blood and probably Dean shouldn't be either considering all the things they had seen. Still though poking around a dead man's innards was not the highlight of his day. He joined his brother to hear the last part about the guy having his chest slashed open and having his vital organs removed.
"That was Angela?" Sam asked after the coroner finished his report and left the two for them to take a look.
"Yeah. She got bupkis on the first scene. She's heading to where they found this guy now. Said we would meet her there." Dean shuffled a bit uncomfortable at looking at the body. "So anything?"
"Well the coroner said that the body was mutilated. In fact the left breast was sliced open and the heart and vitals were taken." Sam read the report to Dean. "The body was found in an open field. No attempt made to cover it up."
"What about the hex bag Sam? Are we dealing with a… witch or not?" Dean made sure that the coroner wasn't listening or even in the room. He and Sam may have federal badges but that didn't mean that local law enforcement would leave them alone. Heck they were still on the run from the Feds themselves.
Sam replied in a whisper, "I don't think they are hex bags." He reached over and picked up the bag that had been on the body and opened it. Out fell a medallion with a peculiar symbol on it. "This is not something you would find in a hex bag I don't think. I don't even know what this is."
Dean peered at the medallion. It looked like a membership tag or something but even he was clueless. "If it's not a witch then what are we dealing with?" He frowned at the piece.
"No idea."
"I see you've taken an interest in the contents of that bag. We haven't released any information on it in case the killer comes forward to help out," the coroner replied coming back in with a folder. "Oh and here is the other case folder from that murder a week ago."
Sam took the folder and glanced over the notes. He then asked, "Is there any way that the two victims were related?"
Liam looked at the young man asking him the question. He knew that the young man was not really a federal agent nor was his partner. If he had to guess, these two boys were hunters. That meant that if they were here then that could bring some problems. So far it looked like that they were under the impression that witches were involved. Maybe that was good thing though it could just as likely be a bad thing. He debated on how much to tell the hunter without giving away anything related to his investigation. He replied, "Well the only thing besides the obvious mutilation is the fact that both victims were left in open areas and no attempt was made to hide the bodies. Oh and those bags." He watched the young man's reaction.
Sam took in the answer that the coroner gave him but something told him that there was more to this and this guy wasn't talking. He could push but that would likely get them in trouble with the local authorities and if they did a check, that could lead the real feds here. He glanced at Dean who was clearly looking uncomfortable being around the body and then at the coroner. At least they had copies of the reports. He replied, "I see. Well thank you for your time."
Liam watched as the two boys left his office with the files. He could tell that they were going to pursue this. At least they would come to their own conclusions. He waited until they had left to head to his computer. He had to look up this Hardman that the boy's father mentioned and try to warn him.
Alex shuffled through the halls on the crutches that his parents secured for him. Not too many people asked him questions about it and the coach was understanding when he handed him the note and he explained that he had a nasty fall off his bike. So far he hadn't had any run ins with Tercelli and that made his day better to some degree. What was really on his mind were those three he met yesterday.
He sat through English barely paying attention to the discussion on Henry V and thought about it. The two guys he assumed were brothers given that they seemed to know what the other was thinking. He had seen the silent talking they did between a pair of twins he knew from his last school. The big guy called Sam seemed to be the one that gave the benefit of the doubt while the other called Dean was more cautious. The woman Angela was something else.
From the moment he met her, he could tell that she was different from the two guys she was traveling with. She looked human but there was something else about her. He didn't fail to notice how his mother had looked at her after she gave her the scrap of paper with her cell number. He also didn't fail to notice that he felt a strange sensation emanate from her. She had also gotten this determined look but it was so brief that no one noticed it except maybe his parents. He didn't understand it but it occupied his thoughts.
"Alex," Kelly whispered before poking him with her pencil.
Alex snapped out of his daydream when he felt Kelly's pencil poke him in the back with her pencil. He looked up to find Ms. Finney staring at him with that pointed stare that made him feel like he had spoken out loud in a library and he was getting a scolding by the elderly librarian. He sat up straight in his seat and bore her lecture about rejoining the class. It was a good thing he had read the play before and he had memorized parts of it so he knew what to say when Ms. Finney repeated her question.
"Smooth move, incurring the wrath of Finney," Kelly said after they were let out of class.
Alex swung his crutches as he walked towards the cafeteria. He replied, "Sorry Kel. Just thinking about yesterday."
"I still think you should have told the truth," Kelly replied. "Those people lied for you. You should have told your parents the truth."
"Kel we've been through this. I'm not a snitch." Alex stopped and looked at Kelly. He knew she was concerned and maybe he should be too. Yet he was not afraid of Tercelli. He could take him out in a fair fight. The whole thing with the truck was not a fair fight and he was more offended by that than the fact that Tercelli tried to kill him. He gave a slight smile, "Besides I have a feeling Tercelli will get it back on him tenfold."
"You aren't planning anything?" Kelly never thought Alex to be the vengeful type. She didn't want him to get into any trouble.
"Nah. I don't fight unless it is to defend myself." Alex smiled and gave a bump to Kelly's chin with his hand before gripping his crutches and continuing towards the cafeteria. He hobbled to the line where Mason was waiting. "Hey Mas."
Kelly followed, "Hi Mason." She had blushed when Alex touched her face and waited until she was a few steps behind him before starting towards the cafeteria. She was content to let Mason chatter with Alex while she carried hers and Alex's tray.
They were seated when Mason brought up the three visitors to Alex's house. "You find out anything more about those three guys?"
"No but I want to," Alex replied. "Since I have the car and I can't play football for a while, I was thinking of trying to find them." He then had a sudden idea, "Hey you both want to come?"
"Cool," Mason replied. It was the first time that anyone paid attention to him in school. Alex was genuine in his kindness and Mason was willing to stand by him in anything. He looked over at Kelly who was starting to get worried. He had known Kelly since they were in first grade and she was always a worrywart but never this bad. She had been ignored too and Alex was the first person besides him to pay attention to her. Now she was very quiet and he wondered if Alex said anything to her. He asked, "Kelly?"
Kelly had been listening and she had a list of objections ready to give but she knew that Alex wouldn't listen. He was determined to track those three people down. She had been watching him during Finney's class and saw that he had been thinking about what happened and those strange people he had met. She then said, "Well I'll go if only to keep the two of you out of trouble."
Alex grinned. He had been worried that she wouldn't want to go. He replied, "Okay so you guys meet me after school?"
Angela looked at her watch to check the time as she inspected the second crime scene. The boys were on their way but at least she could get any of her visions out of the way before they arrived. She kneeled down and used a pencil to stir up anything to get a look. Again she wore gloves as she walked around and inspected the site.
It was strange that the first body was found near a water plant and the second was found out here in an empty field. Angela had a suspicion that there was some connection but she couldn't put it together at the moment. She toed the dirt gently to look for clues, reluctant to touch the ground where the blood had been spilt. As much as she wanted to test this ability, she was cautious and she still relied on investigative methods that were tried and true.
She scoped the area poking around until something caught her eye. She kneeled down and used the tip of a pen to sift through the dirt, much like when she was in the landmines of the 'Killing Fields' as she called them. That was unpleasant since she had to lead a bunch of scared people that were ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble and they had to move turtle's pace through the field. It still bothered her that she had lost one person who panicked, stepped on a mine and blew a hole in her leg. Sighing she brushed the memory aside and continued to prod at the object until it was in view.
From the view she had, it looked like a medallion. Using her pen she edged it towards her until she could reach out with her hand and grab it. Tentatively she picked it up and was somewhat relieved that she didn't get that weird sensation and saw something. It was another interesting piece to the puzzle. Perhaps it was only certain things she could touch accompanied by a feeling that compelled her to touch it? It was a possibility. The other was that it was a random thing that triggered. There was no point to inspecting that now as she studied the medallion.
It was like the Egyptian cartouches but it was different. It was a strange symbol, like a coat of arms almost. Angela peered at it. It seemed more like it was membership medallion rather than a protective one. She did recognize one thing from it. She recognized the brazen serpent wrapped around a pole. She knew the modern version that was used at hospitals. Thing was she had no idea what group would have the brazen serpent. She toyed with the idea of calling Bobby Singer.
She had met the grizzled hunter when they passed through Sioux Falls. He called her an idjit and she called him an old fart and set Dean and Sam laughing up a storm. That was when Bobby gave them the head slaps and merely gave her a reluctant grin, indicating that he accepted her. He had impressed her with her collection of lore on just about everything. It wasn't the library at Roslyn but it would do in a pinch. She offered to supplement his collection and he said he would think about it and she left it at that. Studying the medallion, she wondered if the grizzled hunter might be able to find something. Reaching into her jacket pocket, she pulled out her cell phone took a picture and dialed a number.
Hello?
"Hey old fart, how's the chili cooking?" Angela grinned as she heard Bobby grizzle on his end.
Hey it's an art form and it's filling. Now what do you want? And don't sass me.
Angela chuckled as she looked around while twirling the medallion in her fingers. She replied, "Bobby are you familiar with coat of arms and seals like cartouches?"
What are you asking me for? Sounds like you know a bit yourself.
"I found something here and I only recognize one symbol on it."
What is it?
"I know it as the brazen serpent. The snake wound on the staff. It's similar to the staff of Hermes, that funny winged thing that is associated with doctors and hospitals."
I know what the Staff of Hermes is. I ain't stupid. The brazen serpent is the symbol associated with the ancient alchemists and healers.
Angela tried hard not to laugh at the sarcasm that Bobby was displaying. She replied, "I know but I can't think of any group or person that would use it with other symbols. I'm drawing a blank. Do you have anything that could identify it?"
You got a picture?
"I'm sending it now," and Angela uploaded the photo and sent it to Bobby's cell phone. "Got it?"
Got it. I'll take a look at it and see what I can come up with.
"Thanks Bobby. Let the boys know what you find out," Angela replied.
I ain't your message service.
"No but you are the loveable grumpy librarian," Angela replied, chuckling as Bobby grizzled on the other end, muttering about a cheeky girl or something before hanging up. She laughed as she put her cell phone in her pocket when a noise distracted her attention.
Looking around, she saw five men surrounding a sixth that looked like he had been beaten. Glancing around, she could see that this field and area in general was very isolated even though it was wide open. She sighed and marched forward. She would help the guy out though the odds wouldn't be that good for either side. She put her hand in her coat pocket to feel around for anything that might help as a weapon. All she had was the medallion and that she put carefully in her pants pocket. She had her knife and a dagger was kept well hidden under her coat.
She really didn't want to attract attention but she was not one for letting someone get beat to death by bullies. She would help out and pray that the local cops didn't bust her for assault. Small towns usually protect their own and she didn't want to be on the side where she was accused for something like littering in front of the local mini mart. She marched forward formulated half a plan in her mind and hoped that it would work.
When she approached the group, two had managed to take a hold of the guy that they were beating on and were holding him up so that he faced the leader. She was still a fair distance away and they were too busy with him to pay any attention to her so she approached without them noticing. She could hear the leader speak and attuned her hearing towards the conversation. The leader was saying, "You're not playing by the rules Hardman. The order is supposed to work with the brotherhood."
The one being held, Hardman, was merely staring at the leader. Angela could hear the gasps for air and figured that he probably had the beatings laid on a little thick. She loped along to make her approach conform to an advantage should things get ugly. The leader was still talking and his tone was mocking the held man, "Perhaps he thinks he can shoulder the burden himself."
The others were laughing. The held man then muttered something. It was slurred so badly that even Angela couldn't hear what was being said. The leader asked, "What was that?"
"You are a disgrace to the brotherhood. You are supposed to protect the secrets… not exploit them."
The leader laughed and the rest of the group laughed. He then said, "For centuries your order has protected it, controlled the flow of the secrets. We just merely want our share of them. The ultimate gift granted and allowing us to achieve our objective of bringing the line back into public view."
"You seek it for power. We will not allow that," the captive retorted. He grunted when he received a punch to the stomach.
The leader and the group were laughing at their captive while he was struggling to breathe. Angela knew she should help him right about now. If she didn't, then the man would die and she didn't want that. She made her move when the leader said, "Since you won't give it up, you die. Kill him."
The knife was at the man's throat when Angela said, "Hey. I'm curious as to what manner of creature is so threatening that it takes six men to attack it." She stood in a relaxed posture that hid the readiness her muscles were in to spring. Her hand was in her pocket gripping whent she had as a weapon in her pocket.
The leader looked at her curiously, wondering where she had come from and said, "This ain't none of your business."
"That's where you're wrong," Angela replied, using her free hand to point at the leader to emphasize her point. "When someone is getting beaten for no apparent reason other than maybe being a geek, I take issue with that."
"I advise you to leave now before we have to ruin that pretty little face of yours."
Angela raised her brow at the leader while she assessed the condition of the injured man. He looked like he was able to fight. She could only hope that he would understand her intentions. She replied to the leader, "Not until you let him go."
"Ugh… leave…" The injured man looked at her and begged her with his eyes for her to leave.
Angela couldn't leave him. She looked at the leader and said, "This is the last warning. Let him go."
The leader gave a smug smile. "Don't say that I didn't warn you. Kill her. Kill them both."
The first of the men that started towards her dropped like he was nothing. A hard grey object landed near his head. The others started forward trying to swing their fists at her. Only one was left holding the man and even he was distracted by the fight.
Angela saw the movement and her hand was out of her pocket and she flung what she had been gripping. Cell phones were pretty hardy if you knew how to handle them. They also made pretty potent weapons. The first guy took it right between his eyes and he was down. The other three tried to hit her with wild swings that they called punches.
Angela gave a slight bounce as she backed into a defensive position. She used her forearms to block the strikes and when the opening came, she delivered a hard strike. She continued to fight until all that was left was the one holding the injured man. The leader had ran away during the fighting and Angela felt a slight disappointment that she wasn't going to be questioning him.
The goon holding the injured one didn't last long for the man had given him an elbow to the gut and sprang forward to freedom leaving Angela free to punch him. The goon ran away like a bloody coward as well as the other three. The one she clobbered with the cell phone didn't stir. One look and she knew that she had killed him. She let out a strangled breath as she turned to look at the injured man.
He was sitting on the ground trying to catch his breath when she walked up to him. She asked, "Are you all right?"
She didn't hear the response for something became lodged in her neck. She pulled it out to find that it was a clay dart, very old. She felt her vision blur and she became dizzy. The last thing she saw was the symbol on the dart before the world turned black.
A/N: And the hits just keep on coming. Looks like our heroes didn't get away scot free. Alex and co. have a plan forming and the Winchesters are hanging around the coroner's office. What will happen to Angela now that she's unconscious? Find out next time on The Order of Melchizedek...