Chapter 16: Secrets
Part 1
Sam looked into Sarah's eyes before turning to the man with her. Sadness, guilt, fear and rage coursed through him when he met the eyes of the demon who had taken so much from him and all the yellow did was smile at him.
"Why Samuel…not so happy to see me? Well that's too bad now isn't it." He acted disappointed, but he was absolutely thrilled to finally have Sam in his grip. This was it, he knew it was…there was no way that Sam would be making it out of this with his family.
Sam simply glared at the man, unwilling to respond and also pretty sure that if he tried to talk all that would come out would be a croak. His throat had closed as soon as he had made eye contact and hadn't quite opened yet. He glanced desperately towards his brother, who was also looking like a deer in the headlights. Fear coursed through him, the last time anything like this had happened Dean had barely made it out alive and Sam didn't know if either or them could handle that again.
When Dean noticed Sam's eyes on him, he gave his younger brother a slight smile, reassuring him and settling his fear that maybe Dean wouldn't be ok at all. Thankfully Sam got the message and instead shifted his eyes to his father. John stepped protectively in front of his two sons, creating a shield of determination, love and muscle.
The Demon smirked at John and 'Meg' nearly laughed out loud through her own glare. Her father shot her a look and she immediately controlled herself, her face becoming blank but her eyes flashing angrily. Dean shot her a smirk and she had to restrain herself from walking over and literally pulling it off his face.
John seemed unfazed by the demon's humour and stood his ground, his face stoic and hands clenched. The yellow-eyed bastard stepped towards him, deliberately moving at a snails pace towards his prey.
"John, it seems no matter how good you are at giving orders, you lack the skill of obeying them. I thought I made it quite clear that you were not to interfere with our plans. But now look what you've done, all our plans have to be changed now." The demon glared angrily at the father and waited for a reply.
"Sorry, but I'm not one to sit by and watch his sons be tortured. I guess I missed that in the 'How to be a good slave' handbook." So that's where Dean gets his humour from. The demon thought humorously. It ignored the crack and attacked John instead.
"The only thing you've manage to do Johnny-boy, is make this more difficult on yourself and your boys. I was going to make this quick and painless, but now? Now I think I'm going to draw it out. My daughter hasn't quite had her fill of fun yet and I think I should let her play for a while. After all…she did get us this far didn't she?" He looked almost proudly at 'Meg' while she kept her black, soulless eyes on Sam. She was deliberately making her idea of 'fun' known to everyone present and the Winchester men could only silently shudder and hope it never got to that, Sam didn't know if he could handle it.
Suddenly a voice rang out among them, as cocky and sarcastic as ever; one John and Sam had been longing to hear. "Yah well, can we get on with it then? There's no point in standing around and talking if we could be doing something more productive." Dean said with a smirk on his lips.
This time the look the Demon gave his daughter made her smile. She gladly walked past her father, straight to the older brother and abruptly slammed her fist into his face. It was a mean right-hook by anyone's standards and sent Dean to the ground while John and Sam made their moves to help.
John found himself suddenly flying across the room and then stopping when his body made contact with the wall, his ribs and spine groaning in protest. Sam, on the other hand, couldn't move at all, not a muscle. He was rooted to the spot and the only thing he had under control was his face. His eyes angrily locked upon Sarah and did not look away while he battled the force keeping him in place.
He knew after only a few short minutes that he wouldn't be moving from that spot if the demon didn't want him to and he also knew that that was a very bad thing. It left him wide upon for attack and completely incapable of protecting himself or anyone else for that matter.
He looked at Dean who was now rising to his feet, and angry scowl on his face and a bruise spreading across his jaw line. Dean met his eyes and noted the panicked look.
Hey Sammy, I'm alright. What's wro-…You can't move can you?
Sam didn't shake his head or appear to make any attempt to respond except that his eyes told Dean everything he needed to know. The next thing he noticed after his younger brother was that his father was now on the other side of the room, pinned to the wall. Dean felt lost for a second, they were so overpowered and he was betting they were outnumbered too. So he resorted to what Dean Winchester did best.
"You know, you really got to get some new material. This whole 'pin him to the wall' thing is getting old and frankly? It's not really fighting fair is it." Dean could actually feel his brother's eyes roll at him and the Demon simply grinned wider.
"Dean you never cease to amaze. Do you wanna know what else is getting old my boy? This façade of yours, this mask you wear to cover all the pain and fear you feel every minute of every day. It's pathetic, a real man would come to terms with the emotions, use them to their advantage, use them to make him stronger. But you just deny them and cover them up, pushing them into a corner until they go away." The Demon scoffed at him and spat on the ground. "Coward."
Dean glared for all he was worth. He might hide some emotions, but anger wasn't one of them and sometimes it did make him stronger. Not this time though, this anger was all-consuming, blinding and crippling all at once. It left him speechless and frozen.
The Demon sneered and flicked his wrist, sending Dean crashing into the wall across from his father, and effectively, leaving Sam to stand in front of the monsters alone and unprotected. Both John and Dean felt a cold shiver of fear slip up and down their spines.
Sam on the other hand had let his anger, fear and hatred harden him, making him indifferent to what they were going to do. His only thoughts were how to get his father and brother out of here alive and in one piece. He had just found his brother not too long ago and his father had just 'returned' from the dead…he couldn't lose either one again.
"So, what are you gonna do to me this time? Talk me death? Torture me? Or is it a surprise?" Sam could still work his jaw it would seem as he spoke the words coldly.
The Demon's eyes sparked with anger and he growled deep in his throat. "That's no way to talk in your position. Trust me, acting like your brother won't get you very far. Look at what happened the last time he tried the sarcastic, bad-ass approach. I ripped him apart remember? Or do you need me to refresh your memory?" He sneered cruelly when the youngest hunter's eyes suddenly widened with panic. He glanced desperately at his brother but nothing happened so he looked back to the Demon. Harsh laughter met his ears and Sam inwardly cringed at the sound.
"Oh Samuel, you are too predictable. Threaten your family and you melt, you'll do whatever anyone tells you to do in order to save them. Well guess what? I'm relying on that fact to get me what I want." The Demon turned it's amber eyes on Dean and smiled savagely. "How does it feel to be used against your brother like that? Used to help end his life as little Sammy Winchester?" Then it looked to John. "And the same for you John. You're are going to be partially responsible for what's going to happen to your youngest." It laughed again, feeding off of the despair and anguish in the air around it.
"And what exactly will happen? What is it you want from me?" Sam asked angrily, confused and frustrated beyond all fairness. The Demon looked at him, almost surprised.
"You mean you don't know? Oh Johnny you didn't tell your youngest about his destiny?" He looked again at the eldest hunter who glanced at Dean quickly before averting his eyes back to the Demon. But it had seen him, the gesture told him something that was absolutely delicious.
"But I'll bet you told Dean didn't you? I'll bet he knows all about what's going to happen to Sammy, what he's going to become. Don't you Dean-O." It stared at the older brother, waiting for a response but received nothing more than a glare. Still, it knew everything it needed to know and could now easily turn it around to hurt the members of the family he despised to much.
He moved to stand directly in front of Sam, his eyes level with the youngest man's and only a few scant inches of space between them. The look in his eyes, on his face, terrified Sam to no end and so had what he had heard.
Is this the secret Dean wouldn't tell me? What Dad had told him?
"Well what do you think? Should I let Sammy in on the secret, tell him about his future?" The Demon stared directly into Sam's eyes, reading his fear and loving every second of it.
John and Dean looked at each other for a moment in stunned horror and only one thing came to Dean's mind.
Please no…
The demon just stared, boring his way into Sam's mind, imposing on his emotional privacy. He resisted the urge to lick his lips when he touched the emotions dwelling inside the tortured young man but it was so enticing. He allowed himself to do it once, his tongue flicking out once and receiving a shudder and glares in response.
Sam was standing strong, on the outside but he knew the demon sensed everything in him and felt shame wind it's way through the whirlwind of emotions that the demon was lapping up. He composed his face though, not showing the emotions to his family so he could at least appear strong for them, give them hope. Even if it was false hope.
Then he heard Dean in his head. Please no… And his fear shot up, his eyes faltering and turning to his brother quickly with a slight panicked gleam in them. What could be so bad that Dean would be so scared, so worried to beg? What ever it was Sam now knew without a doubt that he didn't want to hear it, but it also appeared that he wouldn't have much of a choice.
"Well I think the jury's out on this one Sammy. So, which door is it going to be? It all rides on you…" The demon snarled the last bit, a wicked grin on his face. The face no longer looked human, and now that Sam thought about it, it never really had.
Sam glared and had to unclench his jaw just to answer. "What the hell are you?" He said venomously. Ok, so not an answer but a question. A damn good one if you ask me…
What are you thinking Sammy? Dean asked curiously, it wasn't an accusation it was just a question and Sam imagined Dean was just trying to get into his little brother's head. Unfortunately he was incapable to do so, so Sam couldn't answer him. Sam only flicked his eyes over for a second, almost reassuring his brother that he was ok, not losing his mind under stress.
"What do you mean Sam? I though you knew what I was…I'm a demon." He sneered rudely and waited for Sam's reply. Sam just gave him an glare that screamed 'ha freakin ha' and didn't make any attempt to respond.
"I think you know what he means you slimy son of a bitch. That 'meat suit' your possessing doesn't even look human to begin with." Dean filled in for Sam, knowing his brother was stubborn and didn't like to be talked to like a child meaning Sam wouldn't say anything further on the subject until someone else did.
"Well smart ass, that's because this isn't a meat suit." The demon stated simply with only the slightest under tone of frustration. He seemed upset that he had to explain this all to them but also delighted that they couldn't just tell right off the bat. It appeared he still had a few tricks up his sleeves.
John piped in then. "What do you mean?" He growled out, his eyes staring at the demon but flicking every once in a while to visually check on his sons. They appeared to be fine physically and emotionally. Appeared to be, but John was their father, he knew their masks and he knew that they were being whipped out left and right to keep them from crumbling under the pressure of their situation. It was times like these where he was proud of his sons and of the training he had put them through. It paid off. Most of the time anyway.
"Alright, I think it's about time I came out with it but first. I wanna let you in on a few things. And I'm sure you are all going to want to listen up for this because I am not going to repeat myself." He paused, looking down right giddy. "And it all has to do with Rivergrove and Vale."
Dean and Sam looked at each other, shocked. How did the demon know about Rivergrove? They had suspected that he was behind the whole Vale case but Rivergrove? They thought another demon was responsible for that. John, though, just looked at his boys confused and feeling totally out of touch. What happened in Rivergrove?
The demon soaked in the confusion and chaos he had caused in the three restrained hunters. Sarah had not moved, had not spoken or made any attempt to express herself let alone interject. Now though she smiled, feeling what her father felt and knowing what was coming would mean she would be one step closer to her oh so tall, deliciously handsome goal.
The demon's voice cut through the silent tension like a knife and everyone returned their attention to him, expecting an explanation. "Yes, Rivergrove. I have to say that was one of my better achievements. I mean infecting was simple, one person and soon it spread like wild fire. That was the easy part. The hard part of course was getting you two there wasn't it? But luckily I had that covered too." The demon paused as if savoring the words and letting them linger, torturing the expecting men.
It was all Sam needed. "What do you mean infecting? I thought it was the demon Croatoan who infected everyone…not you." Then Sam found another thing in the demon's statement. "Wait…covered? How did you have that covered?"
"One question at a time young man." The demon said in an authoritative tone that made everyman bristle. It sounded like Sam was back in school and being reprimanded by his teachers for the questions he always fired like ballistic missiles. Or his father. Sam quickly banished that idea though and focused once again.
"It is the demon Croatoan, he happens to be a friend of mine. Child in fact. Getting him to do it would have easy enough as it was just ordering but all I had to do was ask. He had been itching for a chance at something like that for centuries. And like I said, I had you two covered." Again he paused, now driving the Winchester's crazy and even 'Meg' began to get impatient.
"That vision hurt didn't it Sammy? Came out of nowhere, ran quickly, and I imagine it was quite stressful to see your brother kill someone for no apparent reason." Sam looked upon him in shock as Dean glared at the demon with enough hatred to fuel the fires in hell. John looked to Dean quickly, questioningly and Dean glanced at him and shook his head, the gesture putting John at ease immediately.
"How do you know about the vision…" Sam asked quietly, hesitating to know the answer and expecting what it was.
"Because…I sent it to you. It was the only way I could ensure that you two gung-ho hunters would show up. And it worked. Within a day you had come to Rivergrove and by that night I had you exactly where I wanted you. Everyone was infected…except for you two and two others. That doctor, rest her soul, and master-sergeant, may he rest in peace." The demon went quiet while the boys stared at him blankly.
Then Sam's eyes went wide and he opened his mouth a couple times before closing it and not bothering to try again. He settled instead for glaring again. piThey're dead…he killed them…why?/i
Dean spoke though. "Well that's a great deduction oh all-knowing demon bitch, but you forgot someone."
"Did I?" The demon turned to the older brother, thoroughly amused by his statement.
"Yeah, I imagine demons have this fetish for the whole 'no survivors' crap. Like I said, you forgot someone. The kid, Dwayne…looks like you're not quite as thorough as you thought." Dean smirked and once again his swagger shone through the darkness in the situation.
A harsh laugh struck the air and it's volume and proximity made Sam flinch while John just growled and Dean continued to smirk, refusing to be disturbed.
"Perhaps your right. Or…perhaps I ripped his heart out with my bare hands and threw his soul into the fires of hell." He snarled and looked Dean directly in the eye. Dean's smirk didn't so much leave as morph, changing into a sneer of disgust, hate and confidence.
"You think I missed him. He was the first one to die, he was dead for days before the infection struck the town." Everyone was utterly confused and silent, watching the demon. "Croatoan is simply a name. One of my sons I named myself. He is a brother to who you like to call 'Meg'," he motioned to the woman beside him who smiled politely. "And a lesser demon much like herself. He cannot manifest himself and stand alone. He needs a host. Dwayne was chosen as a vessel for him and he infected his brother who in turn infected his father and others, rapidly spreading the virus that my son contained in his being. The virus I granted him upon his birth."
Sam understood then. Why Dwayne wasn't infected, who he showed up, why the other survivors were dead. It was him the whole time. They had been searching for the bastard culprit all the while 'protecting' him from everything else. Hell, Sam had even protected him from Dean. Now he wished he had let his brother do it, shoot the kid. It may have saved the Doc's and Mark's lives.
"He was possessed, the whole time he was with us, he was working for you?" Dean gritted out.
"Yes, you protected him from a plague he started, he hosted. You kept him safe from everything that could harm him, everyone." the demon then looked at Sam pointedly and Sam knew that his thoughts were shared.
"Well it's not like we knew. I mean Sammy may be psychic but he can't read minds." Dean said without even realizing his mistake. Sam shot him a glance quickly and Dean widened his eyes innocently before realization dawned. As another laugh struck the air, Dean cringed slightly and turned an almost undetectable shade of pink.
"He can't huh? Funny, I thought he could. Maybe I'm wrong. Sam," he turned onto the youngest Winchester and stalked forward until he was only a couple of inches from Sam's face. "Rivergrove was a test. All of it was for you, I went through all of that trouble to see if you were ready, to see if you were of age. And what do I get?" He asked sarcastically, a smile tugging at his lips.
"A test…what were you testing?" Sam asked, trying to deny his guilt. It rised up in him like a torrent and he started feeling like his body count had just quadrupled in size.
"Always like to ask the obvious question don't you." Sneered the demon gleefully. "Well if you must know, the objective was to infect a certain someone. Let me give you a hint," the demon added playfully, leaning closer to Sam's face. "It wasn't Dean."
Sam scoffed and rolled his eyes at the monster in his face. Clearly this demon had no concept of personal space. Sam then actually laughed. "You think I don't know who you were supposed to infect? Let me think for a second. Oh yah, the nurse locks me in a room with her, says she's been waiting to get me alone the whole time and that it would soon all be over. Then she attacks me, punches me in the face and slices my chest open. But that's not the kicker, she cuts open her own hand and bleeds into me, which was gross by the way."
Dean stared at his brother torn between being proud or scared. Had Sam actually lost it? Or was he taking a page out of Dean's book and just reading it really well?
"Then after she infects and dies from a couple gunshot wounds to her back," Sam stopped mid sentence and turned his face to Dean. "Thanks for that by the way." Dean nodded dumbly and Sam turned back to his enemy who was smiling at him contentedly, expectantly. 'Everyone in the town ups and disappears without a trace. So I'm assuming, now correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming that the goal was to infect me."
Sam stopped now and took a long breath. The youngest Winchester and the demon stared at each other for a long moment, neither blinking or flinching, neither looking away. Everyone seemed to hold their breath and there was complete silence for what had to be the longest minute in history.
Then the demon smiled at Sam, showing all his slightly pointed, off-white teeth to the young hunter who wished so desperately to knock them all out. "You have it all figured out don't you Sammy. See that's why I like you so much, you've got guts, smarts and an iron will. Those will all come in handy."
Sam shuddered so lightly that it couldn't be seen but he felt it. The fact that his best traits could be turned against his cause, against what his true human nature was in order to become whatever it was that the demon wanted made his stomach churn.
"But there's one thing missing. And I will get into that later." The demon smiled politely at Sam before backing up and looking to all the men. "It was a test in Rivergrove, a test that Sam passed with flying colors as expected. My son reported it to me shortly after you departure, he told me he thought no tests were needed. Now, normally that would have called for a punishment, thinking and arguing like that against my wishes. Punishment would be a trip back home, some alone time or a spanking." the demon grinned while his humour actually struck Dean as slightly amusing and he had to hold back his giggle. That would be menacing and manly…
"Then again, when it comes to my favorite human, I'm a little touchy. So therefore his punishment was death. He was arrogant enough, naive enough, to believe the tests were over, no more preparation needed. I on the other hand, knew differently. I wanted more before taking what I came for. So, I summoned you boys to Vale. The monster choice was a little tricky and required some planning but of course, being who I am, I managed it and everything turned out beautifully. You boys arrived, became afflicted by the silence and soon after, Sam discovered something. He discovered a new ability of his. The next step beyond that was to set up the second part of the test. I needed you captured, and I needed to create a situation desperate enough to bring forth your abilities, Sam. When you broke the spell over yourself and killed the gentlemen, my test was complete. And my daughter succeeded in her mission, coaching everything as it went along, overseeing my plans. It all went perfectly."
He turned to his daughter with a gleam in his eyes and smiled like a fond parent at her. Sarah looked down to the floor in respect before returning her gaze to the demon. He then spoke, "You will have what I promised you."
Sarah's face lit up so quickly it was almost inhuman. Whatever it was that he had promised her, it was clearly something she wanted badly, craved even. Then her smile turned mischievous and suggestive as she looked from her father to the young man closest the them for a quick moment. She winked at him and as she did so her eyes turned from black to the green Sarah had been born with.
Sam lifted his chin slightly and glared at her, repulsion in his stare. She simply smiled and licked her lips at him before returning her attention to her father and thanking him, kneeling before him gracefully. He touched her head and Sam had to hold back a snarl when his hand brushed her hair. Sarah's hair.
She stood again and faced the group of men although her eyes remained fixed on Sam, running up and down his frame and taking in everything about him. He ignored her, looking anywhere but her face. The demon smiled cruelly and couldn't help but find pride in his daughter at her ability to make him uncomfortable.
He focused solely on Sam, trying to find his way into the young hunter's head, to pass through his defenses. 'Meg' began to help, pushing at Sam's barriers. When none of them budged she started to hammer at them as her father did the same. Sam suddenly squinted his eyes and grit his teeth, holding in any sounds. His knees began to shake and he suddenly found he could move, unfortunately he was losing strength and blood loss wasn't helping.
He slowly sank to the floor, one knee at a time. God, how he hated this position. Kneeling, vulnerable physically but mentally raging and fighting with everything he had. The pain started to build from an ache into a blinding fire that built in his eyes until all he could see was the flames. The heat was burning so badly, so intensely he could swear he felt it in the tips of his hair. Soon it spread from his head and slowly made it's way down his spine, following his nerves to the tips of his fingers and underneath his skin. He clamped his jaw now, it cramping under the strain. But he couldn't hold back everything.
He growled in anger and pain and Dean and John could only look on. The growl sounded so animal that at first the older hunters feared this was it, Sam was going to change, become what the demon wanted. But they realized soon that it was all directed at the demon, the anger, the pain.
Suddenly 'Meg' flinched and stumbled back a few feet. Dean smiled widely, triumphant and proud. Still worried though he was, he was so proud of his little brother and couldn't hold in how impressed he was. He snorted a laugh. 'Meg' quickly glared at him and then focused back on the man who was now on his hands and knees, breathing raggedly through his teeth making hissing sounds with every breath he took. She squinted her eyes, now pitch black and sparkling dangerously, and snarled, mentally pushing once again.
Dean suddenly noticed that he was slowly becoming capable of moving. His left arm was now lowering and his legs were holding some of his weight. He figured that the demon was focusing so strongly on his brother that he couldn't split the focus or he just had forgotten. Over the next couple of seconds Dean gained more control until he was completely free.
John watched his oldest and youngest out of the corner of his eyes and was becoming more and more worried as the moments ticked past. Sam was now taking uneven breaths and his entire body was beginning to shake. What was more, fresh blood began to drip onto the floor underneath the youngest man.
Dean now stood, silently, unmoving. Sam didn't notice it, nor the wound reopening as it pulled. The only thing he could feel was a raging inferno. Oh god! Is this what mom felt!? Is this what Jess felt!? Aghhh.
Finally he had to let his jaw go, he thought if he held on much longer his teeth would break. He loosened up a little but it turned out to be a little too much when suddenly a scream ripped from his throat.
The scream was all it took for Dean to spring into action. He ran at top speed towards the demon, stooping as he did and picking up a fallen scalpel that had been left on the floor by the beasts. As he reached the demon it finally seemed to take notice of him and turned his attention away from Sam.
When his presence left Sam's head, he felt 'Meg' hesitate and withdraw but not before he felt her touch his mind softly, seductively. She left him a message.
Soon, you'll be mine, Sammy, and then you can behave as badly as you want.
Dean launched himself on the demon and landed on him, both on the floor. The demon lying on it's back not making an attempt to move or throw Dean off, it was kind of disconcerting. 'Meg' moved to help when the demon waved his hand at her, telling her to stay back. He smiled up at Dean confidently as one of the hunter's hands snaked around his neck, squeezing, cutting off the oxygen.
Sam sat on the floor, now sitting on his heels and taking big gulps of air. He saw Dean on top of the demon and watched them while continuing to suck air into his abused body.
"If you're manifested…I can kill you." Dean said with such hatred, such loathing that 'Meg' even flinched and felt a flash of fear for her father. But the demon continued to smile as his breathing began to wheeze when Dean's other hand joined it, the blade lightly grazing the demon's surface, drawing a little bit of blood.
What the demon said next made Dean think twice.
"You kill me…you kill baby brother." The demon snarled through gasping for air.
It was then that Dean head someone softly choke. He looked down at the demon to see him staring at Sam, focusing solely on him. He turned his eyes to his little brother and saw Sam's eyes begin to widen and his hands reaching up to his neck. The began to search frantically for a hand, something to explain his breathing problems but found nothing.
He continued to check and soon was leaning forward on his knees again, one hand no the ground, the other around his neck. He couldn't breath.
Dean watched, frozen. Then, "SAM!?" and his hands tightened around the demon's neck.
Everything was blurring, his throat was being constricted by something and his brain no longer had the oxygen to figure it out. His vision was starting to darken ever so slowly and all the voices in the room sounded far away. His whole chest was throbbing in pain, his lungs burning and screaming for air so loudly it blocked out all other things in his world.
Once again he was shrouded in his pain like a dark veil, or in this case, like a garbage bag someone tied over his head. He was leaning on the floor, the only reason he knew that was the pain shooting up his back and spine from the open gash he had obtained. But even that sensation was fading along with the burning in his lungs which could only mean one thing to his struggling brain: he was dying.
He had lost track of time and didn't know how long he had been choking but as he suddenly felt whatever invisible hand that was around his neck tighten, he choked out a yell and his fear spiked. His brain cleared for a moment, fuelled by adrenaline and also, suddenly, a sound at the end of the tunnel that he was hearing through. It sounded like his name, and whoever was calling him had a striking resemblance to Dean. It was Dean.
Sam struggled again for a second to coordinate his losing mind with his dying body in order for him to raise his eyes enough to see his older sibling. He spotted him through the black mist covering his eyes and what he saw suddenly made his heart beat a little faster even if it wasn't much as his heart was now beginning to slow.
Dean was straddling the demon who was looking at Sam intently, a knowing and cocky smile on his mutant lips. Dean's strong hands were wrapped around it's neck, the muscles in his arms bunching with the strain on his hands and the effort to keep the demon pinned. He saw Dean's hand tighten further and the demon's eyes started to loose focus slightly.
When Dean's hand tightened, the one around his own throat copied the action and Sam finally put the pieces together. And not a moment too soon as he let out a strangled scream to his big brother.
"De…ST…OP!" Sam's throat closed completely and the yell was suddenly cut off. Luckily the message seemed to go through and Dean immediately relaxed his grip, looking wide eyed at his younger brother. Then, in chilling slow motion, Sam' body relaxed and he fell forward onto his stomach. The only way you could tell he was alive was the frantic breaths he was taking and the way his body heaved every time his chest inflated.
The demon looked at Sam for another moment then turned his gaze to the hunter above him, his grin widening further. "Well Dean, that was interesting wasn't it?" That tone was going to drive Dean crazy.
Dean quickly bunched his fists in the demons shirt and lifted it's face closer to his own. He glared and growled under his breath, hatred burning in his eyes along with a badly hidden fear.
"What did you do to him!?" Dean demanded, needing to know exactly what had just happened although he was pretty sure it was the demon's doing. And if he's going to do lay some freaky mojo on my little brother, I'm going to know about it!
"Oh Dean, I didn't do anything. It was all you." The demon sneered and Dean had to restrain himself from punching the yellow right out of it's eyes.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Dean just continued to glare, continued to hate and he could feel wood being added to the raging inferno within his heart. If he wasn't careful, he'd end up killing the bastard without getting any of the answers that he, dad, and more importantly, Sam needed.
"You were choking me yes, but the repercussions clearly landed on Sam. Dean, I am not possessing anyone, this is my true form. If you were to kill this body, I would cease to exist. Now we both know that you would love nothing more than to do that and you have the perfect chance right here." The demon paused and Dean was about to decide that he'd had enough, he was going to kill this monster, but then the demon continued with an evil chill in his voice.
"But, if you kill me, you kill Sammy."
"Yeah, you said that already and I'm not going to let you use some freaky power of yours to choke him to death so you might as well quit with the threats. They aren't helping your situation." Dean sneered cruelly, fire in his eyes and ice in his voice.
"You don't understand do you? I mean that if you kill me, Sam will die regardless of what I do. You see, he and I? We're connected in more ways than you think. If I die, he won't be able to live on and his body will perish in the same manner as mine has." The demon had finally come out with it.
Dean's heart skipped a couple beats, a lot actually and he started wondering if it would ever start again. He quickly glanced to his brother who was lying face down on the floor, either unconscious or just concentrating on his breathing, Dean wasn't sure.
Sammy connected to the demon like that? No…I don't believe it…
He looked back to the creature beneath him and his eyes revealed his thoughts. The demon laughed softly and smiled knowingly.
"How can you not believe me? You saw what happened to your brother when you were choking me, is that not proof enough? Or do you want to try again?" Oh, that cocky bastard was gonna get it when Dean figured out a way to hurt him without hurting his brother.
Come to think of it, Dean did believe him as much as he hated it. It was another harsh reality and there were so many questions behind this newfound connection. Sam of course would think of every last one of them and Dean was afraid of the toll this would take on his already fragile and tortured little brother.
"So I can't kill you, how do I get rid of your demonic ass then?" Dean questioned, again harshly and venom dripping from every word he spoke. Suddenly Dean remembered something and quickly glanced over his shoulder to his father. Ok, the man was still there, he hadn't left or passed out or been killed while Dean wasn't looking. He had been so quiet that Dean had momentarily forgotten about him, his attention split between his brother and the demon.
He looked up and to his right to see Sarah simply standing with her arms across her chest. She was looking at Sam but sensed Dean's attention and looked at him briefly. Limitless anger and hate glared at him and he just gave a crooked, if not nervous smile and looked back to the demon. She clearly wasn't going to interfere as long as her father was going to tell her not to.
The demon opened his mouth and, with that tone again, said, "You don't. You let me go, or Sam suffers more than necessary." And again with the smile.
Dean glared for what felt to him like eternity before finally giving in and slowly getting up. He quickly backed up to his fallen sibling and, keeping his eyes on the demon, crouched beside him. The demon stood to his full height gracefully and didn't move any further.
Dean gently touched Sam's shoulder, glancing over his body to see it rising and falling with Sam's breaths and also taking in the slow gush of blood that had again started. He shook the shoulder beneath his hand gently but didn't receive a response so he slowly pushed Sam onto his side to look at his face. Sam was pale, sweaty and awake. His eyes were wide and held tears that he refused to let fall. A faraway, painful glint had the hazel and Dean inwardly cringed.
Obviously, Sam had heard every word and Dean wished he hadn't. Dean again shook Sam's shoulder and stared into his eyes trying to draw his brother out of whatever shell he had crawled into.
Sam's eyes slowly moved onto Dean's face and his body shivered. He was loosing a lot of blood and he knew it, but Dean was looking at him in that way, the kind of way that could make Sam do anything if it would Dean stop. He slowly and carefully began to push himself up so he could kneel or stand.
He winced and gasped when he put his legs beneath him, the action putting strain on his wound and causing pain to flash like lightning through his body. Dean quickly steadied him and helped him the rest of the way up until Sam was semi-comfortably seated on the floor. He offered a small smile to his brother who nodded gratefully. Sure he hurt, but he was alive right?
Then his face darkened and his eyes saddened. He turned back to the demons before him and opened his mouth.
Oh, here comes the interrogation. Dean thought sarcastically.
Sam closed his mouth and glared at Dean before continuing his actions. His voice sounded slightly cracked and weak. "So I suppose it's the same deal for you huh? I get hurt, you get hurt, vice versa." Dean looked at Sam slightly shocked and thought for a moment.
It makes sense that it would go both ways, I mean, our luck can't be THAT bad… Both Sam and Dean nodded slightly at each other with that conclusion.
"Yes, it is the same conditions for me as for you. If you get hurt I suffer identically. If you were to die then so would I."
Dean almost laughed, but the situation was slightly too serious for that/ "Ok, don't you think that it's a bit of a risk being connected to, not only a human, but a hunter? I mean we're in the line of fire every day."
The demon glared at him and answered coldly, "I did not choose to be connected to your brother. But I have been since his birth."
Dean suddenly thought of something and smiled. "Man, you've had a pretty hard life then haven't you? All the times Sammy got hurt…You must have been so scared that he wouldn't make it through life." It was all aimed to anger, Dean's defense was to offend.
Best defense is a great offense. His dad had always taught that to him, one of the things that fueled Dean's sarcasm.
The demon started forward and stood directly in front of Dean, mere inches from his face. "You think your brother made it through life without help?"
Dean snorted, "No, I know he had help. Dad was there and so was I." Dean stated it confidently and took pride in the fact that it was true, he had helped his brother through life.
It was the demon who snorted this time. "Believe me, you aren't to thank for all the times Sam's life was spared by whatever creature you were facing. How many times has Sam been in danger and miraculously made it out alive and nearly unscathed?"
Being a rhetorical question, Dean didn't answer. Instead he stood fast and stayed silent, waiting for the demon to continue.
"All those miracles are owed to me. I was always there just over your shoulder making sure you did not let Sam be killed. I have no want for death and so I kept Sam safe." Dean's eyes widened slightly but denial also entered.
Again though, and Dean hated to admit it, but he believed it. How could he not? Countless miracles had been witnessed by the Winchesters when it came to Sam and one of them was that he had made it passed his year of existence.
Dean quickly glanced at Sam who was staring in wide eyed fascination at the demon, also believing it's claim. He then focused on his father who looked to be grinding his teeth. Dean knew that the demon had insulted John's pride and more than that, his parenting skills. But John also appeared to be in shock, and from the look on his face, everyone in the room was in agreement. They couldn't deny the demon's claims.
Then Sam had an idea. Actually, it was more just his curious nature acting up. "What happens if I kill you?" Dean looked at him like he was crazy and was quickly joined by John.
The demon looked at Sam, slightly shocked but also appearing to be impressed. "Well Sam, you are just full of surprises aren't you? Why do you think that the outcome will be different if you are the one to kill me?"
Sam seemed to think for a moment before shrugging. "I guess I thought that if the connection was between you and me, there would be some kind of loophole. You know, different terms if I were to kill you."
The demon again stared for a second with definite delight. Then he nodded, "Very well done, Samuel. I didn't think you'd come to that conclusion but as it turns out, you did and you're correct."
All eyes fixed on him and everyone: Sam, Dean, John and even Sarah, chorused when they said, "He is?" Sam's response was slightly different but still said like everyone else's.
The demon laughed. "Yes, he is correct. If he were to kill me himself, then he would not die as a result. I would cease to exist and he would continue living. But, there are still repercussions. When I die, my powers, everything I can do will pass to him. Call it an inheritance of sorts. He will become stronger but will remain your precious Sammy Winchester."
Dean and John met each other's gazes and a million things passed through their minds. Inheritance? Powers? Stronger? He'd live? He'd still be Sam…And they were relieved, there was a way out. This wasn't futile and the demon could still be killed and they're vengeance could finally be ended.
As the demon gazed at Sam he saw the boy weighing things in his head. The demon could practically read Sam's thoughts as the boy tried to figure out a way to kill the one responsible for all the hardships that had befallen him. The demon smiled.
"Of course," everyone looked back to him. "That means that if I were to kill Sam, I would live."
Dean and John's blood ran cold, their hearts sped up and they began to fear. Maybe that's why the demon brought Sam here, maybe it is all to just kill the youngest member of their family and break the connections they shared.
Sam's train of thought ran along the same idea, being able to hear Dean's thoughts as clearly as his own. But for some reason something didn't make sense to him, too many questions unanswered and it didn't add up. Why would he go through all this trouble if he could have just flat out killed me himself long ago?
"What happens to you if you kill me? Do you get whatever abilities I have?" Sam questioned cautiously.
The demon looked frustrated and disappointed when he answered. "No, unfortunately it was one of the terms I had to agree to."
Then John finally joined the conversation and piped up. "Terms for what?" It was actually a demand. As it would turn out, John didn't much like being ordered around and now he was a bit on the short side with the demon.
"The terms and conditions I have to follow and had to agree to in order to buy my way onto this plain. Do you think I could just come to this world and not have to be punished for it? No. I had to buy my way in and one of the conditions would be that I would not be permitted to keep all of my power. It was split. I have spent my time since then hunting down my power and trying to regain control." He explained it angrily, he had not been counting on anything like that when he had arrived on Earth 23 years ago.
"So that's why you're going after the psychics? We somehow got stuck with your demonic abilities when you came here?" Sam was also angry, this had been forced upon him and had given him so much grief over his life.
"Samuel, there are no other psychics."
Dean was the first one to speak up. "Um…I'm sorry but are you tellin' us that there are no other psychics 'cause I could of sworn that's what you just said."
The demon looked at him and smirked while John and Sam stared silently. Just like Dean to make some smart-ass comeback. So predictable for a human… The demon thought to itself. He smiled after a few seconds and Dean had the urge to shiver but stifled it.
"Yes, that's what I said Dean. Glad to know all that ego hasn't made you deaf." The demon received a smirk for that one. Yellow eyes returned to Sam as it decided now would be as good a time as any to reveal part of Sam's past, present and future.
"You are the only psychic of your kind on this earth. When you were six months old I came to collect you, as for why, I will explain later. The problem with your family is that your mother was far too vigilant for her own good. She heard you crying, so she got up to check on you. I tried to portray myself as John but Mary quickly saw through that. If she hadn't come back when she did I would have had no need to kill her. As it happened, she came into the room and interfered, thus, earning her a grave."
Sam shook with rage and guilt, John was struggling on the wall once more, trying to reach the demonic son of a bitch who had taken one of the most precious things in his life from him. Dean had a mask on again, hiding the sadness he felt with his hatred for evil.
The yellow eyed bastard continued. "When Daddy dearest came in, that's when I knew I had miscalculated. Yes, I admit it…I screwed up. I figured your family was devoted, but I never imagined they'd be near suicidal, that they'd risk themselves to save you. Your father managed to get you away and I left a rather large mess behind. I also realized that I needed a cover, I couldn't have everyone know that little Sammy Winchester is as important to me as he is, that would be dangerous. So I attacked other families over the span of that year, creating a pattern I knew only a hunter would be able to find. Children who's mothers were killed in their nursery's, pinned to the ceiling above their cribs, fire. And then when they turned 23, a number I rather like, they would find they had an ability. It would slowly develop and it would become stronger, but they only ever possessed one and it never grew past a certain point."
Sam's mind was reeling. What so…not only my mother's death…but all those other kids' families…they're all my fault too? He could feel the stinging in his eyes growing stronger but refused to let tears fall. He looked down to the floor, hanging his head slightly in his crouched position. If the demon kept this up, he wouldn't have Sam Winchester anymore, he'd have a broken fragment of a once great hunter and human.
Dean watched his brother and the demon who was standing only a couple feet from Sam. He knew the tell-tale signs of when his brother was guilt tripping and it was crystal clear to Dean that his brother was doing that right now on a massive level. All the lives that had been ruined by the 'gifts' that were bestowed upon the children, the people who died, are dying, the hardships and prejudices. Sam had found a way to pin it all on himself and it broke Dean's heart that his little brother could even have a reason to consider himself responsible.
John knew many of these things, although not all of them. Right now they were treading into new territory, he was learning things he hadn't been prepared for. He had no idea that Sam was the only psychic and he was almost blind with rage thinking about how the demon has murdered those families and torn lives apart needlessly. What angered him most was the way the demon seemed to be pinning it all on his baby boy, his innocent Sam.
The demon sneered in pride at his ability to cause destruction with words, not just actions. "So, you realize Sam. Those families did not deserve the pain that was inflicted, the children did not have to suffer. But they did, all because of you and mommy dearest."
That got Sam past the guilt and into the anger stage. "You bastard! Don't you dare talk about her! It wasn't her fault, it was yours!" Sam screamed at the yellow eyes. He was struggling against the force holding him steady and he could feel it start to weaken under his anger. He soon was able to raise himself slightly so that he was no longer sitting on his heels but resting on his knees. It was his attempt at lunging towards the sick bastard in front of him. He hadn't gotten far, but the point was that he had moved.
The demon looked a little shocked but that quickly faded into a smug expression. "See, you are more powerful than any of the mere humans you've come across with their petty abilities."
Dean spoke up. "How, how did these kids get abilities if Sam's the only psychic?" He snarled out, almost daring the demon to explain it.
"Because, Deanie-boy, I gave them the powers. A small, insignificant, power that I bestowed upon them when I visited them that night. It will return to me when I wish it to, although the extraction could harm the hosts, depending on the power and persons strength. You however Sammy, I did not willing give to. You possess more than I could spare and now I need it back."
Sam looked at him. "So what, all of this for my abilities? Why wouldn't you have just taken them, hell, ask for them and I'll give them to you. Why all this trouble?" He yelled out, border lining on desperate.
"Because, I don't want to kill you, I want you to have your powers. If you have them, it'll only make me stronger. You are meant to join me, work with me for my goal and eventually…become a king." The demon watched Sam's reaction.
Sam looked utterly confused and mortified. "What…that makes no sense! You want my powers but you want me to have them!?" Sam yelled, border lining on desperate.
"He wants to use you Sammy, he wants you to turn." Dean said softly from where he stood. He looked into the eyes of his brother and silently apologized. "Correct me if I'm wrong." He snarled out in the demon's direction.
"No, you're quite right. I will use Sam and his abilities to help me towards my goal. Of course it's the usual vendetta, conquer the world, hell on earth, blah, blah, blah. I know it doesn't seem all that exciting to you boys but trust me, it's plenty exciting when you've witnessed it before." The demon looked into the distance thoughtfully, remembering and enjoying his memories.
Dean and John glanced at each other, beyond worried. They really couldn't see a way out of this, as much as they wanted to and when they saw the look on each other's face, they could see their were no ideas brewing in either of them. Looking at Sam, they felt nothing but fear for the youngest member of their family, the cursed member of their family. It seemed to them that everything that went bad, involved Sam. He was always getting hurt, always loosing people and parts of himself. He was by far the most tortured of them and by that fact the older Winchesters were tortured as well.
"Well that's too bad, cause…I'm not going to turn. There's no way in hell or heaven that I'd do that and if you doubt me, just ask Dean. Sorry…but, you're gonna have to kill me. I'd die before becoming like you." Sam gritted out, working his way to his feet.
The demon smiled calmly, smugly and it sent shudders through Dean and John. I guess I should let him know…The demon thought to himself. "Oh I don't know. You and me Samuel, we're more alike than you think. In fact…we're practically the same person."