Chapter 16

Angela looked around as she was being led through the hallway. She didn't like this place even though Nick and Kesset were there. Yet she had to stay there because Sam told her to listen to Nick and to do what he said. She didn't know why but she trusted Sam and Nick was nice too. She remembered from the last time that they met.

Before she was taken from the room he had left her in, Nick told her a few things. He told her that she was going to see Lilith. She didn't want to but Nick explained that she had to so that Sam and Dean could find her. He also told her that he was going to have to do a few bad things but he was still a good person. It was all confusing to her but she knew that Nick was a good person.

When it was time to go, Nick took her by the hand and led her out of the room. She held onto his hand with her left while her right wrapped around her necklace, her fingers rubbing the star that Sam had given her. She blinked wide-eyed as she looked around the place. She didn't know what was going to happen and it had her scared. She didn't want anything to happen to Sam and Dean but she also wanted to go home.

When they encountered more of the stinky smell people with black eyes, Nick pushed on the back of her shoulder and told her to keep moving. He said it a little gruffly and it sounded mean. It made Angela whimper slightly since she had never heard the warlock talk like that. He always sounded like he was playing with people. He certainly did it when he teased Sam. Still she obeyed and stumbled when Nick kept pushing her down the hall.

When they got to the door where the lady with the white eyes was, she stopped and took a step back. She looked up at Nick and said, "Don't want to."

"Too bad."

Angela wasn't acting. She was actually scared. She didn't like the fact that she was there, Nick was there and acting like a bad person. She didn't like that the lady had scared her in her sleeps and said that she was going to hurt Sam and Dean if she didn't give her what she wanted. Thinking about that also made her angry. She didn't want anything to hurt her Sammy and Deanie. On impulse to that feeling she grunted in anger and punched Nick in the hip. "Don't want to."

"And I said that was too bad runt. You're gonna meet Lenya. Come on you brat."

Angela found herself flung over Nick's shoulder rather roughly. It wasn't like when Sam played with her when she said that she wasn't sleepy. She kicked her legs and pounded her fists on the back of his shoulders. She resisted the urge to bite him even though she felt her teeth starting to poke through. "Not going," she protested.

She knew that Nick was being a gentle as he could when he dropped her onto the floor. Still it hurt and she cried out that it hurt. She glared up at Nick when he said that it was too bad. She couldn't help but say angrily, "You meanie!"

"Now isn't that the most adorable thing to say?"

Angela looked from Nick to the newcomer but she was still glaring. She felt scared but she was also mad. She spat out, "N youse ugly."

Lenya started laughing. This was really too adorable for words. For years she had been trying to get her little sister to act anything but her usual self. This was just too good for words and she loved it. She could tell that it was a genuine sentiment little sister had for her. She mocked Angela, "Thank you little sister. It's nice when you are so honest with me."

Angela blinked at the response. She was still angry since her butt was still sore. She was also scared since she thought that this thing might have hurt Kesset. The demon did say that she would hurt Sam and Dean. She retorted, "I nots your little sister."

Lenya hummed at that. "Oh yes you are. You see we used to have a lot of fun with Daddy in the pit." She approached the little girl slowly, watching her stand up and dust her hands off. "Don't you remember?"

Angela stood up ad wiped her hands. She used the ends of the flannel shirt that Sam put on her before she went to sleep. He said it was to keep her warm. At the time she wondered why he had to explain it to her. She would have worn it anyway because he asked her to. She dusted her shirt off, feeling the stitching of the picture of the Impala on it and she wished she had Samadean with her. She looked at Lenya as she talked about that place called the pit. What was that?

Lenya saw the look of confusion on Angela's face. That was interesting since she knew the Angela she knew wouldn't forget her time in the pit. In fact it was one of the few pleasures that Lenya liked to bring up. What was torture for Angela was pleasure for her. To see little sister look at her with a blank look, it was disappointing but also interesting. It had her wonder. "Do you remember the pit?" She prompted some more, "The time you made dear Henry weep as you bled him dry?"

Angela blinked at that. What was this lady talking about? She frowned and took a step back. "Youse making stuff up," she spluttered.

Lenya contorted her features into a wry smile and she advanced. When Angela tried to move, she used her powers to keep her from moving. It was fun to watch the little girl struggle. "Oh I don't make stuff up little sister." She lifted her hand and brought the little girl eye level to her.

Angela struggled against being lifted again. She hated that because it wasn't done in fun like when Dean picked her up one time and held her upside down or when Sam slung her over his shoulders and then pretended to toss her. She knew this wasn't a game and even though Nick told her that he was there, she got the impression that he had to pretend like she was supposed to. "Youse nots my sister," she protested.

Lenya ignored the outburst as she got close to the little girl. She got close enough to stand toe to toe. "It seems that you don't remember."

"I nots go to pit."

"Oh you did," Lenya replied with a sweet smile. She took pleasure at the indignation that was laced with confusion. It seemed that whatever had been done to her affected her memory. "You see, Daddy was training you to make you what you should be and you cried not to do it but in the end you did. You gave Henry a nice bite like you did Nick here."

"Yous lie!"

"I don't lie, little sister. Not to you." Lenya turned and went towards a table that had a chalice on it. She ran her finger along the edges of it. "You see… you did go to the pit. You were Daddy's special favorite and mine too. You are not like the others. Even Dean wasn't you and that little puppy broke after three months with us."

"You not hurt Deanie."

Lenya turned to see Angela swinging her limbs trying to kick her way free. She laughed at the sight. "Stop struggling little sister. You're not going anywhere… for the moment." She walked back to the little girl and grabbed a flailing arm in a tight grip. She reveled at the fact that the little girl flinched and still tried to get away. She got into the little girl's face. "Besides… it's too late anyway. The damage has been done. Dean did what we needed him to do and now he is a quivering mess that couldn't even take on Daddy before you killed him."

Angela struggled against the grip. It was tight on her arm and it hurt but that wasn't what made her angry. That mean lady hurt Dean. She didn't know when or where but the mean lady was telling her the truth about it. She didn't know how she knew the lady wasn't lying but… "Youse a bad lady. Sammy n Deanie are gonna kick your ass."

Lenya had to laugh at that. "My, what language! I wonder how Sam and Dean feel about you using such language." She looked at Angela with a wry look and noted the expression. "Ah, let me guess… Sammy is the one that said not to but Dean said it was okay."

"Youse don't get to call him that." Angela managed to yank her arm free and cross her arms over her chest. She glared at the demon.

Lenya chuckled. This was turning out to be more fun than what it was worth. "And what are you going to do about it?" She smiled and looked at the little girl. It was probably cruel that she was taunting a little girl but it was little sister though. "Obviously nothing. You are my guest and the perfect thing to lure Sammy here."

"Youse leave him alone." Angela continued to kick and wriggle. It was going to tire her out and she felt her limbs growing tired but she was mad at the mean lady. "Youse leave them both alone."

Lenya laughed and got close. "Or what?"

She got her answer when she felt the scratch come across the right cheek. She put her hand to the injury and it came away red. She looked down to see an angry little girl looking at her with her left hand raised like a claw. It was pure reaction for Lenya to give the girl a backhand across the face. "You little brat! You'd dare mare this beautiful face?"

Angela felt the stinging slap across the face. It was hard enough to knock her down. She had no idea how she was able to break free long enough to reach out and scratch the demon across the face. Mostly she was just angry because the mean lady basically said that she was going to hurt the Winchesters and she couldn't do anything about it. The moment she did it, she fell down and she was able to stand up and was ready to jump on the demon again. She would scratch her again if she had to and would do it on the other cheek.

The slap knocked her back down but Angela got back up. She had a hand to her cheek since it stung. She wanted to cry because it hurt but she was also angry. Her little chest heaved in anger and she balled her other hand into a fist. She glared at the demon and replied, "Make you more ugly… bisch."

In the meantime, Nick watched the exchange with a look of fascination while suppressing the urge to interfere and blow his cover. It was between fascination and admiration and this was so wrong. He could see that the Angela he had met and liked was still there but he could see why Sam would have a problem with her swearing. It did sound wrong even though it was cute on some level. He really had to hold it when Lenya struck the little girl. It was hard not to react. He didn't like kids getting hit by adults. He had no problem with corporal punishment but there was a fine line.

He watched as Angela lunged out with a kick and caught Lenya across the shin. It was hard and he knew it. It pissed the demon on and could spell trouble. He timed his move when he felt the buzz of his phone in his pocket. He came up and said, "You might want to save it, boss. They're here."

Lenya was poised to hit Angela again when Nick announced the arrival of the Winchesters. That was faster than she expected but then again they seemed to like little sister. She lowered her hand and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Of course. They gave the signal. They still think that I am helping them." Nick was looking at Lenya but Angela was in his sights as well. He hoped that she would remember that this was all part of what needed to be done. She gave him a look of confusion but it was accompanied by a slight nod. She understood… at least he hoped so.

"Then go. Make it convincing. After all Uncle needs a word with Sammy." Lenya waved Nick off and waited until he left. She then turned back to Angela and said, "You're lucky that the Winchesters are here little sister. Now if you are good, then at least one of you will be free to go."

"No."

"I'm afraid that's going to be it." Lenya still had her hand to her cheek. It wasn't like when Angela cut her with the blade. It would fade but it was going to leave a nasty mark for a time. She could see the red from her slap to Angela on the little girl's face. So they were even for now. "You see, you are important and Uncle is very curious about whether you are serious or not but I think that he just wants you to suffer. The important piece is Sammy. He's going to say yes to Uncle and it will be because of you."

"Sammy won't do it." Angela had no idea what the demon was talking about so she went with the best thing and that was to protest. At that moment she felt a tingling down her spine. It wasn't the bad kind and it was accompanied by a familiar scent. "He'll say no."

Lenya chuckled, "Oh he'll say yes little sister." She took a couple of steps forward. "He'll say yes because I have the one thing that he wants. It's a fair trade and it's all because of you."

"Uh-uh." Angela shook her head. She noticed the change in Lenya and she didn't like it. Even with the familiar scent there, it was hardly reassuring. "I nots hurt Sammy. N I nots hurt Deanie."

"Oh but you will. Everything will be your fault. It's your fault that Sammy will be ours."

At that moment the door opened and the Winchesters entered. Angela looked at them with a wide eyed expression of fear. Lenya was smiling and said in a happy voice that everyone was here. Angela watched as Nick pointed his weapon at the brothers. She had been told that he was not going to hurt him and that he was pretending but that didn't do much to stop her reaction.

Angela jumped and tried to run towards the brothers and to get to Nick. She was yanked back by Lenya grabbing the collar of her flannel shirt. She managed to slip out of it and continue but she was swept off her feet and collided with a small table. It broke from her fall as she landed on the ground hard. She heard Sam swear, "You bitch!"

"Don't worry Sammy. You know she's made of tougher stuff than that. Besides she served her purpose of getting you here. You are hard to find you know."

Angela didn't move. She felt something on her back and a slight gravelly murmur, telling her to stay down. She also smelled the doggy breath of Cerebus. She stayed put as she was told. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt reassured that it was going to be okay.

Kesset growled as he tried to kick down the door but it wouldn't budge. The warlock said he couldn't open it, not even with his magic. He was getting angrier because he sensed his charge's anger and fear and he didn't like it. As far as he was concerned, that was the equivalent of hurting her. It didn't necessarily mean physical harm. The emotional and physical counted too. He was ready to deal a load of hurt but he was stuck in this stupid dungeon.

"It's not going to get you out faster son."

"Shut up," Kesset retorted at his visitor waiting outside the door. He kicked at the door again. "I got out of that collar."

"True but do you think that the demon wouldn't have considered that? And how well do you know that warlock?" Setna peered in at his son. He had come down to try and talk some sense into him only to find that he had broken off his restraining collar. He was puzzled as to how he did it but he did have a couple of ideas and he did see the warlock come out of here earlier.

"That he's better than you." Kesset was studying the door. He was tempted to get a running start and try and tackle the door. He paced and looked around feeling anxious that his charge hadn't changed in her feelings except to get more angry. He was concerned that she was going to overstep her bounds and get hurt. "Since you aren't going to let me go, I suggest you leave me alone."

"It's not that I don't want to help you…"

"It's because you can't."

Kesset stopped pacing and took a couple of steps to peer out of the window of his door just as Setna turned towards the newcomer. Kesset felt his lip twitch slightly at the newest player in the game. He was also surprised. He actually didn't expect it and the warlock didn't say anything to him. Yet he knew this was going to change things.

Gabriel knew that he caused a stir just by showing up. He smirked at the pair and pushed off from the wall that he was leaning against. "You can't because queen bitch has you on a leash. Right… Setna?"

Setna looked at the archangel. He blinked as he replied, "I was given life and in return…"

"You get to be her bitch," Gabriel finished. As much as he would have liked to have given into impulse to beat some sense into an old friend, he knew it was pointless. Bindings like this were done with little choice and he knew the circumstances that led to this. "Then again that was the price you paid to protect the people that mean the most to you. I know what that is like. You made your choice and I have no right to criticize."

Setna nodded. He hadn't wanted to do this and managed to get by with the minimum and still was able to set his son's wing before serious damage could happen. He did it for a reason though but it didn't mean that he was proud of it. "And I often wish if there was another way."

Gabriel nodded in a knowing fashion. His Cat would say that there is always one more thing that could be done. She really didn't believe that destiny put you on a set path even though she had been shown otherwise a couple of times. "Maybe there was, old friend and just couldn't see it then."

"You would know," Setna replied.

"Maybe," Gabriel allowed. He paused to survey the situation.

Kesset took the moment to collect his thoughts. He had long known that Gabriel knew his father but here it was like they were the best of friends. It was a bit baffling but the more he thought about it and the way that Gabriel had spoken and treated him in the past… it made sense. "Alright so how did you get here? You said that it was difficult."

"It is when you don't have a strong enough connection," Gabriel countered giving Kesset a poignant look.

Kesset stared back and it occurred to him. "The princess."

"Like a bright beacon." Gabriel couldn't help but give a slight smile mentioning what led to his affection for his Cat. It pained him every time she put herself down because she couldn't see it but others did. "The lighthouse for a ship."

"So you planned this?" Setna looked at Gabriel, not sure to curse the angel or applaud his ingenuity.

Gabriel thought about it for a moment. Kesset was more or less aware of the plan. The warlock would have done that and the Winchesters would be here. So… "I had a small hand in it." He stared at Setna almost as if to dare him to challenge him. "More like pushing the pieces into position and then letting them do what they do best. You remember that rule best old friend. The one where we can't interfere or we could but minimally."

Setna narrowed his eyes slightly. He wondered why Gabriel was telling him this since he knew that he was bound to the demons and anything that went on, he was bound to obey and report. "I recall," he allowed, "But my question is why are you telling me this? You know that I am bound to tell that bitch everything if she asks."

"Pesky thing something like that," Gabriel replied offhandedly. "Much like the oath of veracity eh kiddo?" He glanced at Kesset.

Kesset took in the gaze and understood. He replied, "But there are ways around it… considering current events."

"Right." Gabriel started pacing around a bit. "So the question is what are we going to do now? I mean clearly I'm here to break the kid out but you old friend are bound to a bitchy demon who pretty much has a long line of people and other things pissed at her and you have to do what she says. So what are we going to do?"

Setna took in his old friend's demeanor. Clearly some things never changed and for once he was glad. "I am bound to stop you."

"And I know that you are honorable." Gabriel smirked at that. "You always follow through with duty."

Setna nodded. "It is as you say. I am honorable when it comes to duty." He turned to look at his son. "I am sorry Kesset for everything."

Kesset knew he had been unfair when his father had been brought in but he was only trying to protect himself and his charge. He nodded, "There is no need… father."

Setna nodded in return. He looked at Gabriel knowing that if he chose to obey the demon's wishes, the angel would not hesitate to attack and kill him if necessary. He recalled when the angel first brought the princess to Karnak. "Since the demon is not my duty, I am not honor bound to inform her of what I see. Perhaps though someone snuck in and set the prisoner free knowing that he would respond to his duty."

Gabriel nodded, a grin appearing on his face. This was definitely shaping up to working with the plan. Then once it was over, he would set everything right. This was a very good lesson for everyone all around. "I like where this is going."

Setna nodded and put his hand on the door. With a forceful yank, he broke the lock. He looked at Gabriel and said, "Looks like someone weakened the spell and broke the seal. Now an angel can get in."

Gabriel grinned at that. He took a step forward and told Kesset to stand back. With a snap of his fingers, he had the door looking like it was punched in but there was no sound to be heard. He surveyed his handiwork and nodded, "Now that is an entrance."

Kesset stepped through the door and all three stood looking at each other. "So what now?"

Gabriel looked at the two Avians. He knew that Setna was not going to be too active in his participation. Kesset on the other hand was going to play a role and he twitched his lip when he felt a familiar presence enter. Now the pieces were moving into position. He looked at Kesset and answered, "Time for your feathers to get ruffled. Like father, like son."

Kesset knew that the angel wasn't trying to be insulting. Rather it was to encourage him what he wanted from him and what he wanted to do. Even with a broken wing, he was ready to do what needed to be done. "It shall be done then."

Setna looked at the pair. "I suppose I should disappear now. I have other duties for the demon bitch." He started to walk away down another hall. He paused a moment and looked back at his old friend and his son. "You should avoid the main hall. There are things that could prove unpleasant to celestials and the guards know how to shoot to kill those with wings." He then disappeared and left the pair alone.

Gabriel couldn't help but smile at that. "Always knew that he was a good guy. Even when he tried to kill me when I paid Wosret a visit… and in her dreams too." He looked at Kesset who was looking like he had heard more than he wanted to and wanted to laugh. He had no idea that the young guard had the sudden thought about a girl he paid a visit to in her dreams.

"Can we go?" Kesset cleared his throat.

Gabriel smirked. He would find out later though. Right now, to business. "Right. Time for you to be a badass guard."

A/N: Angie has some fight in her and Gabe is up to something with Kess and Setna. Things seem to be coming to together for next time on Memory Resolved...