Chapter 8

Angela woke to the feeling of stiffness in her arms and tried to wriggle them. Fully opening her eyes, she realized that she was tied to a chair. At first glance she saw that it was rope and figured that she could easily break it once she got some leverage. She started wriggling her wrists but once she started rubbing them against the rope, she felt a sharp burning sensation and stopped but the pain was still there.

"Tis a good thing you stopped. Otherwise you might have seriously injured yourself Shadow Chaser."

Angela raised her head sharply at the reference to her kind. She turned towards the direction of the voice, ignoring the burning of her wrists. She replied, "Silver adamantium laced in the bindings? Very clever."

The owner of the voice stepped into Angela's line of vision reveal that it was a woman speaking. Angela could see that she was an elegant woman, moving with a slow and deliberate grace. Even in the casual khakis and blouse she was wearing, she was elegant. To Angela, the woman was dressed like the travelers of the 1930s. The woman replied, "A precaution. Your race has a long history of being used by both sides and I am not even talking about the war between the clans. We had to make sure that you were not a threat."

Angela tried not to move since the burning started again on her wrists and arms. The bindings would leave nasty welts and that would be something to explain to the boys. Even without the burning, she couldn't move since there seemed to be a spell that bound her as well. She could detect the makings of one. Since this was a trust issue, the only way to get out was to trust. She said, "Certainly the man called Hardman would testify that I helped him from those guys."

"Perhaps but your detainment was a result of an encounter of a different kind," the woman replied. "Tell me, how long have you been able to see things?"

Angela sat up straight and looked at the woman. It was automatic, "I have no idea what you refer to."

The woman smiled at the response. It confirmed that she did know but also she didn't know. She replied, "I believe you do but you don't understand it. With one touch you can see things that have happened, things that will happen… a rarity among those of the Old Religion." The woman walked until she was facing Angela. She peered at the Shadow Chaser. She reached out and lifted Angela's chin with her hands to peer at her in the eyes. "So much fire."

"So I have been told," Angela replied. "So what if I have this new freakish ability? I don't even know how it works and if I did I wouldn't use it. Certain things should be left alone."

The woman smiled as she listened to Angela's response. She walked around until she was at Angela's back. She gently moved the shirt away from the girl's shoulder to reveal the tattoo that was always kept hidden from everyone. The woman was concerned at the apparent acquiescence of the Shadow Chaser as she moved the shirt but she did notice the tensing of the muscles. So it was true. She put the shirt back in place and walked to the front to face the girl. She said, "So you are the one then."

Angela had tensed the moment the woman touched her back. Even though the movement was gentle, it was too much a reminder of that time where the fires burned hotter and there seemed no relief. She held her breath while the strange woman moved her shirt to peer at the tattoo on the back of her right shoulder. It told her that this woman knew things. She relaxed once the woman put her shirt back. She looked at the woman in the eye and replied, "What do you think I am?"

"You are the one who carries the power of absolution."

Angela couldn't help but laugh at that. It had been centuries since someone even tried to pull that over her head. She corrected, "I wield Absolution. I am not that."

The woman sighed, "A pity then." She started to walk away.

Angela watched the woman walk away into the shadows of the room. "Are you just going to leave me tied up?"

The woman said nothing but turned to look at Angela. To the woman, Angela was either in denial or seriously believed she wasn't what she was to be. The woman wasn't sure of what to think of this development yet she was certain. Perhaps belief from in others would encourage the girl to take up what she had been chosen for. She turned around and walked back into the light and asked, "Why have you come to Grant?"

Angela blinked at the sudden change of questions. Left with two options of either not speaking or speaking, she chose the latter and replied, "I came because of the murders. To fix things."

"So you have not come for other means?"

"I had no idea there was something I should be looking for," Angela replied full of sarcasm. She would have said more when the door opened to the room and a man walked in dressed in light clothing like the woman.

The woman looked at the intruder and went towards him. Now there was some news. She began speaking in the language they had been speaking in since the order began. She didn't count on the fact that the girl tied up was listening and patiently translating every word.

Angela sat there listening to the conversation that the woman was having with the newcomer. She recognized the language they were using being similar to one of the Semitic languages. If she wasn't mistaken, it was similar to Arabic or Hebrew. She silently listened to the conversation and made translations, not certain if it was right or not. The princess is the scholar, not me. Angela twitched and felt the burning from the ropes and gritted her teeth. She ignored it as best as she could and continued to listen.

Are the children safe?

Nebi followed them. They are fine.

Good. This is the one.

For certain?

Yes, but she needs to believe. I think joining us will push in that direction.

Will she understand?

She has seen much in one touch. The order needs allies against the traitorous brothers. Besides she has killed one already. Tell the guardians that she checks out. They will want to speak with her.

The man gave a slight nod. He turned to go when the woman barked an order and he turned to confirm he heard correctly. The woman then came back towards Angela and said, "It seems that you are not an enemy. You will be released."

True to her words, the woman went to where the knots were tied and began undoing them. When she was finished and the ropes fell away, she stepped back, coiling the rope up and waited. She watched as Angela stood up and looked at her upper arms and her forearms and wrists. There were red blisters forming on the wrists and the rest of her arms were red as if they had been burned. Compared to the rest of the welts, her wrists were the worst off. The woman said, "You have been released but I wish to ask something of you."

Angela turned to face the woman and replied, "Many have asked much of me whether it is to fight against those trying to usurp the natural order or do what I have always done, save people and hunting things." She held her arms with the forearms up since it was painful to put them to her sides.

"I perceived as much," the woman replied. "I know that in order for you to consider a request, it would be prudent for you to know my name. I am Miriam," and she held out her hand to grasp gently one of Angela's hands.

"I am Angela."

"Pleased to meet you," Miriam replied as the door opened and another person came in bearing a tray of bandages and antiseptic as well as clean water. "This is Luca. He will patch you up… if that is all right?"

Angela gave a nod and let Luca clean her wrists and apply some antiseptic. She made only a slight hiss when it stung but for the most part, she didn't move a muscle. In fact her sense of discipline allowed her to be still as a statue while Luca finished wrapping her wrists. He didn't bother with her arms since they were starting to heal. She gave him a quiet thanks which he took with a polite nod and waited until he left before speaking to Miriam, "Can you please tell me why I am here?"

Miriam smiled and replied, "We had to be careful. Our order has been charged with the task we have been carrying since nearly the beginning. When we were told that you might be one of the seers of the Old Religion, we had to make sure you were not a part of the scheme that we had uncovered."

"I understand that," Angela replied.

"To a degree of it I am sure." Miriam went to open the door to the room and beckoned Angela to follow. She led the way through the building that had been designed in the form of a temple, much like in her dream. "However I am afraid that what brought you here is a battle in a war for one of the world's oldest secrets. Tell me what do you know?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Don't lie. I know you knew exactly what I meant about who you are and I let that go. Whatever reasons you have for denying it are yours alone." Mariam stopped to look at Angela. "What I am asking up straight is what did you see when you left the Davidson house?"

Angela looked to find that they were in a small annex in the building. She realized that if she wanted to escape, she would have a hard time getting through unless she resorted to her darker nature. Seeing that there was no means of escaping for now, she went along with it, "The Davidsons adopted the boy didn't they?"

Miriam raised her brow slightly. So she saw that. "Yes. The boy's parents died when he was very young. They love the boy."

Angela nodded in agreement. She had seen that when she met them. "That is good then."

Miriam nodded, "Surely you have guessed by now that the boy is special to us."

"The line of Melchizedek?"

"Yes and the House of Gold. Our oldest secret." Miriam put her hands in her pants pockets and continued her stroll. "What you have stumbled on is a disaster that we walked into when our informant failed to report in and turned up dead.

"Then that Tolbert fellow turned up dead and we realized that there was dissension within the ranks. Then Hardman was attacked and our system is starting to collapse…"

Angela could follow that something was going on and it was tied to the boy and his parents and the murders. Yet she was having trouble following regarding the whole picture and she was wondering about Sam and Dean and if they found anything. She said, "As much as I would like to help you, I need to call my friends. They might have something."

Miriam sighed. She knew it would come to this. Nebi hadn't cleared them yet and he was adamant that they be kept under guard. Yet she could tell that the chosen one beside her was one to demand either release or to be put in the same room. She said, "There is no need. However I feel I should warn…"

Alex had no idea where he and his friends were taken yet the minute they arrived, he ran up to the first familiar face he recognized and demanded, "Nebi, what are you doing? Those guys saved us!" He hobbled to keep up with the stoic man as he directed his men to dump the unconscious Winchesters into the holding cell. Alex tried again, "Nebi. Nebi! This isn't funny."

"Of course this isn't funny young master."

"Stop calling me that. Now tell me why you are treating the two guys that saved mine and my friend's lives twice like criminals," Alex glared at the man who had been his mentor since he was old enough to throw a decent punch.

"It is for your safety. You know this. You are important."

"Stop with that crap. I've followed the rules since I could walk and I'm tired of the 'you're important talk.' What the hell is going on?"

Kelly and Mason had followed Alex as he ran after the one he called Nebi. Kelly paused though when she saw the strange men manhandle the two guys that saved them. They both were hurt and these guys were doing nothing to help. She tugged on Alex's sleeve and went over to where they were being dragged to a room.

Alex felt Kelly's tug and stopped his inquisition of Nebi to find her running towards the two guys being dragged towards a room. "Kel!" He ran in the direction she took off in. He glanced back and said, "Mas!"

Along the way, some of Nebi's men tried to stop him but Alex was having none of it. Even with a bad ankle, he managed to kick their asses, with Mason's help. They followed Kelly into the room where she was demanding they help the Winchesters. Alex thought it a comical sight to see two full grown men stare incredulously at a fifteen year old girl who looked like she wouldn't hurt a fly. They didn't know whether to obey or not. Alex said, "I think you better do as she says."

"We follow orders from our superiors, young master."

Alex sighed in annoyance. They were Nebi's men of course. At least they would listen to him… he hoped. He said in his firmest voice, "Then bring the medkits and I'll take care of it." When they hesitated, Alex added, "Consider that an order."

Kelly shot Alex a grateful look as the two idiots walked out to retrieve the kits. She said, "Thanks. Alex. Who are those guys?"

Alex sighed. He knew the minute Nebi showed up that he would have to explain about the thing that he had kept secret since his parents told him when he started high school. He took the medkits from the two guys and waved them off and went to the taller Winchester. There was a nasty blood spot on his left side. He pulled out his penknife and pulled up the shirt. He looked at his friends and said, "They are Nebi's men. He is the guy who trained me how to kick ass."

Kelly tried not to flinch at the sight of the blood. She opened one of the kits and held it on her lap. She was not sure of what to think about what she was seeing as she watched Alex expertly pull up the tall guy's shirt and prodded the wound. She asked, "Why? Are you in some sort of witness protection?"

"Something like that," Alex replied. He had determined the bullet was still in there and that meant he had to dig it out. He hoped that the tranquilizers that Nebi used would keep him out while he dug it out. "Hand me the tweezers Kel and Mas you think you can be ready to hold him down… just in case?"

Alex poured rubbing alcohol on the tweezers and looked at his friends. Kelly was trying not to be grossed out and Mason was wondering what the hell he got himself into. He said, "My family is considered very important and there are people who want to use it as leverage. Nebi and his guys are part of a security force that protects my family."

"Are you like part of a cartel or something?" Mason asked as he leaned his body weight on the tall guy's shoulders.

"No," Alex chuckled as he took a breath and then inserted the tweezers, peering for the bullet. "It's hard to explain since most of it involves things that would call a person crazy." He gripped the bullet and slowly began to pull it out, trying to minimize the damage. He grunted when he finally pulled it free and held it up for inspection. He recognized it and decided to study it later he looked around for a place to put it in when a bowl with water was held out to him.

Kelly had poured the water into the bowl and held it ready. As much as she didn't like the blood, she was cool with helping Alex in this. She smiled when Alex thanked her for the bowl of water. Hearing the bullet clang into the bowl, she put it aside and got out a needle and thread and threaded it while Alex put the tweezers into the bowl. She held it out and tried not to flinch when she saw the needle go into the skin.

Mason concentrated on holding the tall guy down. He was fascinated when Alex started stitching the guy up. Even though he was freaked out by all the armed guys and the blood and stuff, he was also impressed by Alex's skills. Even if his secret was on the weird side, that change the fact that Alex was a cool guy and didn't make people feel like idiots, except maybe Tercelli. "You're good at this Alex."

"Nebi taught me." Alex finished stitching and tied it off. Kelly handed him the scissors and he finished. After cleaning the wound with rubbing alcohol he wrapped it up to prevent infection. "You can let go now Mas."

Mason let off on his holding down the tall guy. "That was… neat Alex. How long have you been doing this?"

"Nearly four years. Nebi said I needed to learn how to take care of myself. Before I found out about my family, I thought he was an ex-soldier or something and thought he was crazy but I learned to trust his judgment on most things."

"I'm guessing you're kind of upset with him now?" Kelly asked as she cleaned off everything so Alex could treat the other Winchester.

"I trust Nebi with my life but sometimes he pisses me off when he decides that I don't know anything. Maybe I don't know everything… you know he thought I would blow my cover when I said I wanted to play football… Then again he's like family and you love 'em no matter what," Alex replied as he helped her clean the instruments.

"Sound advice kid."

Alex turned to see that the elder Winchester had woken up and was slowly sitting up. He replied, "I take it you know from experience?"

Dean sat up slowly as the tranquilizer wore off holding his sore arm. He had woken up hearing the kids talk about Alex and what was going on. He certainly thought that the kid was the center of things since the guys that knocked him and Sam out were determined to protect the kids. As he sat up he replied, "Yeah. My brother there can be annoying with his girly habits but he's still my brother. Thanks for helping him."

"No problem," Alex replied. "Now let me see yours."

Dean protested, "It's fine. I can do it."

"Sure," Alex replied. "Now let me take care of it or I can ask Nebi to knock you out again… or I can kick your ass and knock your lights out." He gave a look that dared Dean to challenge him.

Dean couldn't help but laugh. He gave a slight grunt from the pain in his arm but that didn't stop him from laughing. He conceded, "Alright kid. Give it your best shot."

Alex nodded and helped Dean remove his jacket. With his penknife, he cut the sleeve off of the wound. "The name's Alex." He then poured a liberal amount of rubbing alcohol to cleanse the wound. He gave a smug smile as he watched Dean grunt from the sting. "Stings doesn't it?"

"Smartass," Dean replied with a smug smile of his own.

"Jerk," Alex replied. He liked Dean and he started chuckling even as he glanced at Kelly who was not sure whether or not to scold him or not. He inspected the wound and grabbed the cleaned tweezers and started to retrieve the bullet.

It didn't take long for Alex to retrieve the bullet and patch the arm. Most of the time he was trading jabs with Dean. By that time Sam had started to stir and it was punctuated with him saying, "Dean?"

Dean was checking out the patch up job that Alex had done and was commenting on it when he heard Sam's voice. He immediately diverted his attention to his baby brother, "Hey Sam. You doing okay?"

"I'm fine, just a little groggy. What was that stuff?" Sam slowly sat up, wincing from the dull throb in his side.

Alex explained, "It's a tranquilizer native to the Qumran region. It's designed to knock out an average size man for at least an hour. Nebi's specialty."

"An average man?" Dean asked Alex with a wry grin. "And how much would you need for Sasquatch here?" He glanced over at Sam who was glaring at him with the bitch face even though it was mingled with a slight expression of pain.

Alex couldn't help but laugh. "Couldn't say though I would recommend a water buffalo tranquilizer."

Dean laughed and Sam gave a weak chuckle and said, "Very funny. Can you tell me where we are?"

At that moment, Nebi entered the room with three armed men. He stared at the Winchester brothers and then at the kids who were looking at him with typical teenager expressions. He said, "Young master, it is time to go. These two will be dealt with."

Alex stood up from his spot, not noticing how Kelly and Mason stood behind him. He looked up at Nebi and said, "I don't think so Nebi. You have some explaining to do."

Nebi gave a shake of his head to signal his men and he replied, "You know I can't and what I do is for your own good."

"No," Alex replied. He didn't like what Nebi had in mind for the Winchesters and he wasn't going to let anything happen to them considering they saved his life twice.

The men started towards the kids and Alex reacted by giving a well-placed kick to one and would have started in on the other two but was beaten to it by Kelly and Mason as they actually pummeled Nebi's men. He stared wide eyed until he was grabbed by the shoulder by Nebi. "Nebi, let me go!"

Dean was on his feet quick and punched the guy holding Alex and he pulled the kid behind him. That didn't ease up when Kelly and Mason jumped grabbed him and started swinging their fists. That caused Sam to get into the fray despite the fact that he had a bullet wound in his side. At one point the Winchester brothers were held down and two more came in pointing guns at them and Alex was screaming at Nebi to stop.

Suddenly the door opened and then all hell broke loose.

A/N: Well the fight's not over completely. At least nothing serious happened to our heroes. Who is behind the door? What form of hell has broken loose? Find out next time on The Order of Melchizedek...