"Easiest case I've worked in three years," Lydia told him, clapping a hand to his shoulder. "Come on. Let's go kick some demonic ass."
Lydia, Sam, and Dean knelt behind a fallen tree, watching an old, abandoned hunting lodge. It had seemed abandoned, at least, until Dean had kept trying to insist that he had to turn back to work on the Impala.
"Muggle Repelling Charm?" Lydia had muttered. Something freaky was going on, and she had a theory as to what was happening.
"Lydia," Sam began, "tell me again what you think is going on? I thought this was a demon!"
"So did I – until Dean started talking about working on the Impala. You heard what I said, right?"
"Yeah, what is that?"
"It's a protective enchantment that keeps non-magical people from infiltrating a magical community or dwelling, or even getting close to it. I've seen it used a lot, but never seen what it does to the average hunter. Especially one who's car-obsessed."
"So, what's this you gave me, again?" Dean asked, lifting his right arm to bare the thin wooden bracelet.
"Enchanted holly – it negates the effects of such charms and enchantments." We're totally screwed. "I thought this was an average demon, but from the look of things…well, we're dealing with something a thousand times worse. One of my own people who made a devil's bargain – immortality in exchange for eternal servitude under a demon."
"And who is your own people?" Sam asked.
"I'll explain later. Stay here." And she leapt over the log, crawling toward the lodge and peeking into the one window.
A woman with utterly insane hair stood in front of the fireplace in the lodge, stirring a cauldron and adding things to it. From the look of things, she was brewing a youthfulness potion – one of the most dangerous potions in the magical world. And of course, the faint tattoo on her left arm – a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth – moved sluggishly.
The enchantment of the Mark was fading.
"Son of a bitch," Lydia muttered, motioning Sam and Dean closer.
"What's wrong?" Dean asked, trying to look into the window as well.
"I know who we're dealing with and what she can do. I'll explain later – just stay out here. No matter what you hear through the walls or see through the window, don't come inside. She hates non-magical people," Lydia said lightly. "I'll be back."
She jumped to her feet and walked purposefully to the door, flinging it open.
"I knew you'd come," laughed the woman over the cauldron, just as the door clicked closed.
"Of course I would, Bellatrix."
Planned this. All will be explained in the next two chapters.
These are intended to be short!
Love,
xHx