Chapter 16

Alex struggled against Nebi's grip until he felt something injected in his neck. He knew that Nebi had used his specialty sedative. He managed to mumble that he was being a douche before he passed out.

Nebi held the boy with a sorrowful expression as he threw him over his shoulder. He turned just as he saw Bob and Taylor hauling out the Shadow Chaser. He had been worried that she would interfere but in the end he figured she might be a good bargaining chip if only to ensure the young master's safety. He said, "I trust that you secured the prisoner per my instructions?"

Taylor said nothing but Bob grunted and said, "Yeah we did."

At that moment Tercelli came back stating that the others got away. Nebi looked at them with a blank stare before saying, "Tis no importance. They will come after for the woman and by then your Master will have what he wants."

"Well in the meantime what do you want me to do with the feisty bitch?" Bob growled his response. He was sporting a fat lip now and he wanted some form of payback.

Nebi maintained his stoic calm while he carried the boy over his shoulder. "Put her in the car."

Bob and Taylor did as they were bidden and put their unconscious prisoner in the back of an SUV. Nebi put the boy in with her. He checked to make sure that he was all right and whispered, "I am sorry it came to this." He then shut the hatch door and climbed into the passenger seat. He told the driver, "You can move out now."

Alex had practiced being drugged by Nebi's stash so he was able to eventually force himself towards wakefulness. He found himself in the back of an SUV and Nebi had thoughtfully tied him up with one of those zip strips; the things were impossible to get off unless you had a knife. He heard voices but he was still too groggy to make sense of it.

Suddenly the car turned and he rolled against a body. Peering, he managed to make out his guardian Angela. He could see a nasty bump on the left side of her head. In fact it looked as if she had been hit by a burning pipe. There was something familiar about it, like he had seen it before. He was startled when a pair of tawny eyes locked onto his and they stared at him. Staring into the glowing orbs, he was lulled into a comfortable place within his mind. It was strange because he wasn't panicking but he felt compelled to keep his eyes locked on hers. He then gave a slight nod and sank back to provide the least amount of resistance for his captors.

The pipe stung like hell and Angela knew exactly what it was that hit her and when she caught a whiff of his scent, she knew who it was that hit her and the first thing that went through her mind was the word 'traitor.' It had been a good hit since it struck her square on the temple and had her down in less than two seconds. What added insult to injury was the fact that the two goons she had been fighting had tied some of that rope around both of her wrists.

Already the barely healed burns that she had hidden from Sam and Dean were starting to sting and reopen. She tried not to struggle and pretended to be knocked out while they carried her to the SUV. She had managed to catch sight of the bastard with the kid and noticed that the kid was out of it. Once in the SUV, she was able to see that Alex was relatively unharmed and when his eyes locked onto hers, she sent calming waves of reassurance.

Briefly she was reminded of that Cadet Barcalow and how she used her powers to calm him down. She felt guilty then as she did now. Heck she couldn't forget how Sam looked at her when she told him how strong compulsion was and that look in the diner before they arrived in Grant. Yet she knew that she needed Alex to remain calm even though she was confident that he would without the compulsion. Somehow she was getting the feeling that they were both needed alive for a reason. She only hoped that it wasn't for a bloody ritual like the Suarez case. She had no desire to be bled dry again.

As she was calming Alex down, she was keeping track of the amount of turns the vehicle was taking. She had no idea how she was going to get the information to Sam and Dean but she was confident that at least Kelly and Mason would find them and let them know what has happened. They could at least tell them the location of the official lodge of the Masons. That would be a good start. She glanced at Alex who had dozed off and she noticed something, a small poke in the neck. She realized that the kid had been drugged so that he wouldn't struggle and cause any problems. It probably would have been better if they just had drugged her but she knew that they had effectively kept her from causing trouble by the adamantium silver in her bindings.

There were several effective ways of killing vampires and the Winchesters knew two of them. One was chopping off the head and they have done that a few times. The other was those bullets that killed just about anything like the Colt. The nice thing was that it didn't have to be a special gun like the Colt but any gun. The third was adamantium silver. It was like regular silver to demons and certain monsters but much more special in regards to vampires and more specifically Shadow Chasers. Since they were only half human, they were much more difficult to find and kill. Adamatium silver could draw them out because it burned like hell. Angela didn't tell the Winchesters this since while there were plenty out there who knew of this, it was still a small number. It wasn't that she didn't trust them but such things could be used against people.

Angela knew that as long as she had these bindings on, she was effectively restrained since they caused pain like third degree burns. However she could break free but it would be painful. That was something she wasn't willing to risk until the right moment and if necessary. So for now, she laid low and paid attention to the turns and stops the vehicle was making. Judging from the bumps, she figured that they had turned onto a dirt road or something.

Suddenly the vehicle stopped and all of the doors opened. Angela went completely still as the hatch was popped open and she was pulled out with little regard to the bindings on her wrists. They still thought that she was knocked out and she continued to play possum if only so she could get an accurate look of where they were. At least that douche Nebi was handling the kid nicely. Angela surveyed through half opened eyes that they were entering a building that was nondescript and it suddenly made sense as to why the bodies had been dumped elsewhere.

She landed on the ground with a thud and on top of her hands, jarring the bindings and causing further burns on her wrists. She had pretended to wake up the closer they got to where they were going to be held and gave a struggle until she was thrown in the room. Alex was tossed in with her and she glared at Nebi and said, "There is a word for your kind… traitor."

Nebi gave her a cool stare and replied, "You don't understand and you couldn't possibly filthy half breed."

"Oh, there's a new one," Angela muttered in reply. She had been called many things because of what she was. For some twisted reason, it felt good to be called a petty name. "At least it was given by a douche."

At that moment, Alex woke up and when he saw his surroundings, he looked around. Spotting Nebi he said, "Nebi, what are you doing? This really isn't funny."

"It's for your own good young master. You'll see." Nebi then closed the door and locked it before Alex could get to the door. Even with his hands tied in front of him, he managed to pound on the door several times. "Nebi, stop this. This is stupid. Nebi!" He continued to pound until his hands were sore. Finally giving up, he went to where Angela managed to sit up against the wall and was staring at the door. He said, "I guess we're in trouble."

Angela chuckled, "That kiddo is an understatement." She managed to ruffle Alex's hair even though the bindings stung. She managed not to make a face and she put her hands in her lap. "So I take it they drugged you?"

"Yeah, Nebi's stuff but I'm used to it," Alex replied. He twisted his hands to look at the binding on his wrists. "I made his poison man teach me how to overcome the effects. Still needs work."

"I'll say. Some things you never get used to though."

Alex continued twisting his wrists trying to see if he could slip them. He had never slipped anything before but he was determined to try. He had no idea why he was there except that it had to do with his family. He grunted in frustration and was surprised to hear a deep throated chuckle coming from Angela. He looked at her and said, "I suppose you've managed to slip yours."

"I can slip cuffs and well just about almost anything but not this," Angela replied, "Unless I have a good reason to."

Alex looked at Angela's wrists and saw the burns. How could a person's wrists get like that after an hour? As far as he could tell, she hadn't struggled so it was baffling to him. Then as if to show him what she meant, she shifted her wrists and he saw the skin start to burn. His eyes opened and he looked at her and asked, "What did Nebi do?"

"Played it smart. He knows his stuff."

Alex reached with his hands and picked at the ropes around Angela's wrists. He didn't feel anything yet he could clearly see that they were burning her. He glanced up and saw her twitch from the burns. He then started thinking about how his ankle suddenly felt better and then in the car when she just stared and he began to feel calm. He asked, "What are you?"

Angela looked down at the boy who was clearly puzzled by things. She had no idea how much of the supernatural he knew of, if at all. Then there was the stuff that the Apkallu told her. She wondered, Why am I always the one getting stuck with these discussions? It was rhetorical since part of it was that the ancient things knew about things about her. How much she revealed over the years was paltry. She hadn't even told the Winchesters about those things. Yet somehow she knew that she had to start revealing her secrets. She looked at the boy and asked, "How much do you know of things that people say aren't real?"

Dean was trying to process what the kids were saying when Kelly said it clearly that Angela and the kid had been taken. Now they were driving towards the order's compound in the Impala. It was different hearing the story from the kids than say an adult but he managed to piece together what had happened. "So these guys were chasing you and that's when you saw Angie fighting two guys?"

"Yes," Kelly replied from the backseat. "One was Coach Taylor and the other was a big guy. He was about your height, dark hair and he wore a hunting jacket." Then Mason started adding in descriptions.

Sam had been listening to the kids describe the second assailant. He muttered, "Dean, they're describing one of the guys that went after them."

Dean glanced at his brother to verify. The brothers had no idea that their silent talking was being watched by the kids in the back until Mason asked, "You guys twins?"

Dean replied, "What?'

"Twins do that silent talking thing. Just asking."

Kelly rolled her eyes at Mason. He always made a comment at the wrong time. He was the king of creating awkward moments. He also had a tendency to say them right when the moment was urgent. It would have been funny if it hadn't been an emergency. She gave him an elbow and whispered, "Mas!" Out loud she said, "Anyway she tossed us her keys and told us to run and get you guys. We were almost out when some guy came out and grabbed Alex."

"Do you know who it was?" Dean asked for lack of anything except clarification. He glanced over at Sam who was staring straight ahead as if trying to see something. He gave his brother a bump with his elbow to see what was wrong. "Hey you okay Sam?"

Sam hadn't realized that he was staring off into space and he usually didn't do that even in the middle of a job. While he had been listening to the kids, that nagging sensation still poked at the back of his mind and it was getting more annoying but it also felt like something was burning. In trying to ignore it, he had been staring out the windshield while listening to the kids describe the guys that grabbed Angela. Come to think of it, the nagging sensation started right about when she was taken. Was it another one of those mind things she could do? He looked at his brother and said, "Yeah I'm fine Dean. Just thinking."

Kelly waited until they had finished talking before saying, "Well the guy that grabbed him was Nebi."

Dean nearly braked but instead accelerated. To hell with getting pulled over. He knew that Nebi douche was trouble even though Sam told him to let it go. This order had a lot of explaining to do and he didn't care if he had to threaten to salt and burn every last one of them to get the truth out.

"Slow down Dean."

Dean glanced over at Sam who was looking at him with a look of concern. He scowled and reluctantly eased up a bit. He still kept his foot on the gas. "Sam I don't like this. That Nebi douche knows a thing or two. It could that he betrayed these guys."

"He knows things that's for sure. That stick thing can hurt her."

"Angie? She can touch anything intended for the mons… things we go after," Dean corrected himself after glancing in the rear view mirror at the kids. He could tell that they were listening but he was the kind of person not to bring them into this if he could help it.

"This is different," Sam replied, following Dean's lead.

"Then I guess a Dr. Phil moment is needed later," Dean replied as he pulled into the building that he had hoped he didn't have to see again. He pulled in and stopped the car with a slight squeal of the brakes. He got out of the car and asked the people milling about, "Okay, which one of you knows Miriam?"

"What do you want?" A tall black man stepped forward to look down at Dean. His arms flexed the well toned muscles. "Have you come bringing the traitorous brothers here?"

"Hey Chuckles," Dean started, "I'm not in the mood for playing games. I need to speak with Miriam right now."

The black man was about to say something when Miriam said, "It's all right Kahaega. Let them through." Miriam stepped out of the room she had been in and addressed Dean, "What has happened?"

"It is impossible. Nebi has served with distinction and honor." Kahaega was clearly distressed and appalled that these outsiders would accuse a knight of the order as being a traitor.

"I have noticed that he has been doing questionable things. I've tried to keep it away from Alex but I see that I have not been as diligent enough," Gideon said. As soon as the Winchesters had reported that Alex had been taken, he had grabbed Rachel and they headed over to the fortress as it was referred to. There they had Kelly and Mason go over the whole thing and were shocked to find out Nebi's possible involvement.

"Well the guy's a douche and obviously he may have been playing you guys all along," Dean pointed out.

"That is a possibility. However the question remains as to where the boy has been taken," Miriam interjected with her softened tones.

"That and why is the kid so important anyway?" Dean stood there with his arms crossed.

"You are an outsider, you have no right…"

Miriam held up a hand. The time had come. No more secrets with these two, not after what she had found out. "They do have a right to know everything." She looked over at the boy's parents and they nodded their consent. She then stood in front of the Winchesters but not before looking at the kids and saying, "I am afraid you two must leave."

"No way!" Kelly became defiant. "Alex is our friend." She gave a side punch to Mason so he would back her up.

Miriam raised her brow. She had known that the boy was good at making friendships and was a natural leader in most respects. This was odd but perhaps there was a purpose to it. Everything usually did even if one didn't see it at first. "Alright. What these Masons seek is their own access to the Plain of Shar-On. I can't say for certain what it is since it has only been opened once before. Melchizedek was chosen as a guardian and he held the keys to opening it as well as the secrets to the House of Gold. Young Alex is of that line and only they can open the gates unless they are forced open. The House of Gold is the means of seeking illumination. The Masons alongside the Knights Templar and the Order of Melchizedek have guarded the secrets that had been imparted to them.

"So it is a power trip," Dean replied. "Typical."

"Dean," Sam muttered. "So what is the House of Gold?"

"It is actually the one secret that connects two things together. Gold consumed in its purest form allows for illumination but it also is said to bring about great healing. The healing aspect is obscure but it makes sense since the Essenes and the old therapeutate focus on that. It has been used as distinction for the true kings and in particular one of the more famous ones." Miriam was giving them the short version, some of it was what Angela had mentioned about the line of Melchizedek but this stuff was a bit heady even for an academic like Sam.

"So you're saying that Alex has the ability to open a portal to another dimension? What is there?" Sam puzzled trying to sort everything out.

"From what I had been taught, the Plain of Shar-On is where those who have achieved illumination go. I speculated that it was a pathway to Heaven. Others think it to be the realm where the greatest healing power is. No one can say except Melchizedek himself and that was over five thousand years ago," Miriam replied with a shrug.

"If that is the case then if the Masons get a hold of it…"

"Quite possibly it could be used to destroy mankind," Miriam replied "Or once they have access, there will be no need for Melchizedek."

Dean had been listening and what he got out of it was that this thing they were protecting was important. Only the kid knew how to open it and if the Mason dicks did then that could spell trouble. His solution was to go and gank the bastards before they did anything. He grabbed Sam and said, "Let's go then Sam."

Sam humored Dean for a moment before knocking his brother's hand loose. "Dean we don't eve know where they are yet."

"That Kelly kid mentioned they have a lodge out near the merchant district. Best place to start," Dean replied. "Besides Sam I think we're operating on a time crunch here."

"We usually do," Sam pointed out. "Besides there could be a different location and I might have a theory on where they might be."

"That would be helpful," Miriam interjected. "What do you have?"

Sam looked at the woman and then his brother. He reached into the Impala and pulled out his laptop. He popped open a window that had his maps. He put little markings to indicate where the bodies had been dumped.

"That's a big area Sam."

"We've got it covered," Miriam replied. She then turned and barked out orders in a strange language. Suddenly there were two rows running out and they split off in pairs. They took off on foot or with whatever vehicle was available.

"Nice to have back up I guess," Dean allowed.

"They'll scout the entire area," Miriam replied. "In the mean time, do you actually have a plan on how to go in? Your friend is there with the boy."

Dean looked at the woman as if she were crazy. Angela may be a prisoner but she was good at getting free and stirring up a distraction. Then again they were dealing with actual people and no possessed witches, vampires or ghosts. "Nothing at the moment except the guns blazing routine."

"I see," Miriam replied. There was a lot of passion in the two Winchesters. One was more subdued than the other. She could see that they were good people if a bit wayward at times. Maybe that was why the malachi traveled with them. Miriam had investigated the Winchesters after they had left through her contacts and she found a few interesting facts. That and coupled with what she had observed with the malachi… it seemed that things were starting to unfold.

Miriam motioned for the two Winchesters to follow and then as an afterthought, beckoned the two children to follow. She didn't have to tell the boy's parents to follow. They did automatically. She led them into the room she was in where the only other occupant was an old woman sitting in what appeared to be a bean bag. The old woman looked towards them and said, "Miriam, always with the quiet shuffle. I see you've brought them; the boys with the name of the gun."

Dean frowned. He wondered what the Miriam woman was up to and looked to Sam. Sam looked at his brother and shrugged his shoulders. It didn't mean though that they would walk into this without being on alert. Taking a better look, Sam could see that the woman was blind and he said, "Um my name is Sam and my brother is Dean."

"Yes I know sons of John Winchester. Tell me why are you here?"

"Isn't that obvious? Our friend and your kid has been kidnapped," Dean replied. "Old bat."

"Mind your tongue. I've met many young knights with an attitude like yours. They learn quickly to respect their elders."

"She's as bad as Missouri," Dean whispered to Sam.

Sam brushed off his brother and looked at the old woman and asked, "What do you mean knights?"

"In order for you to save the boy, you and your brother must become knights of the Order of Melchizedek. Only they can fight against what guards the Plain of Shar-On."

Dean looked at Sam and asked, "What the hell did we get ourselves into?"

A/N: Well it looks like Alex and Angie are prisoners and the Winchesters are about to get into something that is more than what they bargained on. What did they get themselves into? How will Alex react now that he knows the truth about his guardian? Find out next time on The Order of Melchizedek...

A/N2: At this point I would like to give a special thanks to SPN Mum for her reviews. Her enthusiasm encourages me to continue Angie's story. I also want to thank CALLEN37 for recently favoriting The Order of Melchizedek, Little White Comet for Phantom of the Point and ellesia winchester for Day Walkers. For those that I haven't mentioned, I extend this thanks to you as well. You've made it possible for me to continue writing a series that I was sure was stupid. Thanks again.