THEN:
Sam gave Dean a fixed look. "I did not tell her to bring a chair. She had one in her hands when I opened the door. No joke bro."
Mara spoke before Dean started to get fussy. "Hey I brought a chair. Is it a crime? I figured I need to grab one when I told you I was coming back. Otherwise I have to sit on the bed." She pointed at Dean's bed not thinking about her last comment.
Dean responded by looking at her with a slight confused expression on his face. It felt as if she was in on the joke that Sam made earlier and she did the finishing line. "Um never mind. Let's get started on the search." He dismissively turned his face towards the laptop screen.
Sam glanced at Mara shaking his head in quiet resignation as he sat down across from Dean. He looked over and saw his brother feigning concentration of what was on the computer screen ignoring everyone in the room.
Mara pulled out her laptop and placed it on the table. She completed getting everything set up for use. Her laptop booted up as she took a seat and got started on her research.
NOW:
They searched an entire hour on their designated task. "Sam did you find anything regarding the abandoned houses?" Dean rose from his chair to get a beer from the mini fridge.
Sam looked at the notes he jotted down previously. "There are three houses that could be a possibility. One house in particular is in a culdesac. It would be a perfect place to go in and out without being noticed. What about you Mara?"
She sat back and swept her hair up in a ponytail. Mary rolled the black barrette off her wrist and wrapped it around her hair to secure it. "Hmm, I did not see anything that would be a clue as a perfect hiding place. There are foreclosure homes for sale but the neighborhoods are so vast there would not be much privacy."
Dean sat back down and looked at the screen. "Ok. Well I did find two prospects. One building used to be Acosta Dry cleaners on South 22nd Street but it's little out in the open. The second one is 18 North Blvd. This one is a bit more secluded but I read a lot of articles there have been massive demolitions of abandoned buildings."
"So we have a few places to narrow it down. Dean can do a drive by the two buildings that you found and the house we suspect. If there are any lights glowing inside these places it's possible might be this goddess and her followers." Sam got up and headed toward the bathroom.
"That's a plan. Let's get our gear and head out in thirty minutes. Mara get what you need and meet us by the car." Dean walked over to his duffel bag to take out his blade.
"Ok. I'll get ready. See you guys in a while." She got up and walked to the door.
When the room door closed with a loud click, Sam sat back down at the table. "Ok Dean we need to map out which building we are going first. We can make the house the last trip. If it turns out to be nothing I will write the other locations down to save ourselves a trip back here."
Dean walked toward the bathroom. "Good idea. They have to be in a place there aren't many people around."
Thirty-five minutes later, everyone met at the car. Mara changed into a black long sleeve sports T-shirt and a pair of black jeans. She also had on black military style mid-calf boots laced up tightly. "Wow you are dressed for battle." Remarked Dean as he surveyed her attire. "I see you have pretty toned arms. No wonder you almost out fought me."
Mara scoffed. "Almost out fought you? Please. I had you pinned down and you whined to let you go. If you want a rematch I will be more than happy for you to re-experience the end result again."
Dean looked at Mara through the rear view mirror. "You wish. It's not going to happen again lady. Yeah you got me once but there won't be a second time." He moved his eyes back on the road. Dean heard Mara snicker behind him and he did not bother saying anything else.
They drove by the first building hat used to be a dry cleaner shop. It looked very run down with paint faded off the sides of the building with trash all over the lot. It even had the old advertisement of the business hours and the phone number to call. There were no lights showing in the crack of the boarded up windows. Dean walked around the building to see if there is a basement entrance. Realizing there was no basement he walked back to the car. "This one is totally empty. No squatters either. Let's go to the second building on South 22nd Street."
When they arrived at the old dilapidated building everyone clearly noticed there was no indication of life inside the structure. Mara looked at the boarded windows. "They really need to do this building a favor and have it knocked down. This one looks worse than the last one."
She stepped away from the windows hearing rats squeaking inside. Mara shivered not like rodents around her. "Well the last one is the house Sam mentioned. They may be there since this place does not look cozy enough to live in."
Sam swung the car door shut. "Let's head to the neighborhoods. Maybe third is the charm."
Mara nudge Sam's left shoulder with her left hand "I hope you are right."
Dean parked his car half a block away from the house. It was an old white house that has been neglected for some time. The yard was overgrown with weeds that overwhelmed the shrubs and even the trees needed the lower limbs trimmed off. The yard extended with the long drive way was connected to an end of a court. It looked odd where the house was since the other homes are close to the end of the circular street. They walked into the court looking casual like they lived in the neighborhood. Mara looked around to see if anyone would appear in the windows out of curiosity. When she discovered no one was looking out she sighed in relief. The two men and woman walked up the long drive way and Dean tugged a Mara to step off the driveway. He pointed toward the house and saw a faint candlelight showing from a window on the right rear side of the house. She nodded and quietly followed the brothers. When they approached the side of the house they can hear low hum of voices that were in unison.
Dean whispered. "There's has to be a back door we can get in silently. I don't know how many people we have to fight once we are inside."
There was a beige paint faded kitchen door that looked pretty weather wood worn with mold growing on the bottom. Dean tried to turn the door knob and discovered it was locked. "Damn, I wanted to have an element of surprise. Well I guess I have to do an old fashion kick." He braced himself and was about to kick in the door.
Mara grabbed him by his right arm. "Wait I have a lock pick. It will take a second."
In no time the door was opened. Dean was impressed. "I wish I met you earlier so we could have had better monster hunts with your talent."
Mara smiled. "I have many talents."
Dean gazed at her with one eyebrow raised. "I bet." He said underlining something else behind his words.
"Hey you two knock it out. We need to look around to see how many human followers there are in here. That way we can simply knock them out and have them out of our way."
The three of them entered the kitchen quietly. The room was dark and smelled musty. The kitchen looked like it has not been occupied in a year with dust covering every surface even with an old pot sitting on the stove. Mara looked around the room to pick up a rotten smell in the corner of the kitchen near a doorway. She walked over and saw a small pile of dead rodents in the corner. Mara backed away with a look of disgust on her face.
Dean walked over to see why she looked grossed out and saw the dead pile. "They like to clean up around here." He tugged at Mara to follow him out of room. They walked up the hallway. Dean held out his hand to stop everyone else. They saw a man wearing white linen outfit and sandals coming out of room. He did not notice the three standing in the dark hallway. The man instantly turned to walk toward the family room next to the kitchen.
Mara whispered. "Hey just to let you know there are four humans in the room."
The brothers looked at each other. Dean asked "How do you know?"
Mara gave him a matter of fact look. "I can sense them in the next room." She thought of a quick answer since she really picked up four sets of human thoughts that were mostly jumbled mental chanting.
Everyone approached the doorway and saw two men and two women wear white linen outfits. The people were kneeling in front of a woman at the end of the room. Dean looked around the room to see if there are weapons in there. When he discovered there were none he flagged Sam and Mara to go into the room.
All three stepped through the doorway and the woman at the end the room looked up. The goddess was not surprised by their sudden appearance. "Well, we have visitors." The four people on the floor turned their heads toward the doorway. They had blank expressions on their face. The goddess produced a smile. "Everyone please welcome our guest by spilling their blood."
The men and women rose up with knives in their hands. Dean moved to the right side of the room and Sam to the left. Mara walked boldly in the middle of the room. A blonde head woman walked toward Mara and tried to take a swipe with her knife. Mara moved quickly to the side kicked the back of the woman's knee. Mara gave a side chopped the woman's neck and knocked her out before she hit the dirty carpet. Dean walked up to a thin brunette man and punched him dead center on the man's chin and he crumbled to the ground. Mara took care of the second woman and Sam handled the last standing goddess worshiper.
The woman with the long black flowing hair wearing a white gown looked stoic watching the scene in the room. "Congratulations for overpowering my humans. I am the Goddess Hebe and you violated my sanctuary."
Dean gave goddess Hebe a deadly smile. "Don't worry you're next." The three walked to the middle of the room passing an old beat up pleather couch.
"How presumptuous. I have one of my minions that you will not overpower." She raised her hand toward her chest keeping her palms close together. A globe of light appeared into a black globe.
The black globe appeared and a human like creature appeared in the living room in front of the goddess. The monster was over six feet tall, rugged clothes, hairless skin with coal black skin and full black eyes. The creature snarled displaying display sharp pointed teeth.
"Hey you take out the goddess I will handle this thing" Sam ran toward the human like monster that had a misshapen face.
Dean nodded after he punched out the man that was trying to hit him with a wooden broken broom handle. "Right! Let's go!" He looked turned his head to look at Mara as she was in step next to him heading toward the woman at the end of the room.
The goddess Hebe stood poised and regal looking at them like they were insects. "You think you can stop me puny humans? I have been here for several millennia so what make you think you can stop me?"
Dean gave her a stern look. "Sheer will power lady. Your time goddess or whatever you are is up." He gazed fixedly at her as he walk to the right and Mara did the same cautiously walking to the left side of the woman.
The goddess gave an unsettling smile. "Let's see if you will survive in the next half hour." She looked over at Mara. "You are a natural beauty. Lately, I have been capturing women that use false means to sculpture beauty from man-made procedures. Yours is all natural. I believe it will last in my body a great deal of time."
Mara scoffed "Hate to disappoint you but this time your beauty treatments are done. Permanently." Raced toward the gowned woman and swiped her knife at her throat. The goddess blocked the move swiftly and used her other hand to willow palm Mara in the chest.
Mara wheeled back from the stinging pain and watched Dean attempting to attack this woman from behind. The goddess was quick to countermove with a sweep of her left arm and hit Dean with such force he was knocked away seven feet hitting the ground.
Mara collected herself quickly and tried again by attacking the goddess with her back turned at the moment she hit Dean. Once again the goddess was very quick to defend herself by raising her arm to block Mara's fisted blow Mara. She caught the hand and squeezed it fiercely. Mara cried out in pain as the woman was applying pressure that a promoted super strength. Mara instinctively side kicked the woman with all her strength and momentary unbalanced the goddess as she released Mara's hand.
"Damn this hurts." Mara shook her hand vigorously to make the pain go away. She was lucky it was not gripped too long otherwise her hand may have been broken from more pressure exerted. The woman was kicked back a few feet and recovered her balance. Dean approached the woman to kick the goddess in the back of the knee. She grabbed his foot and projected him away sending him crashing on a small table. Mara advanced again only to be out maneuvered once again.
"I am really getting tired of all this." The goddess sighed nonchalant as she effortlessly defended herself. "Haven't you figured out that I gained strength from the soul energy I drained from the last few human females? I will let you wear yourselves then I will dispose all of you."
Dean stood next to Mara and they both attacked the Hebe. She raised her hand and blasted them with dark energy. The force threw them against the closest wall.
It knocked the breath out of Mara and she scrambled to stand up. Hebe was standing in front of her and Mara swung a fist out and connected to the goddess's face. The punch did not move a single hair on the woman's lead. She tried a cross punch at the Hebe. The goddess growing tired of the human placed her hand on Mara's chest. The dark energy came out of her hand and froze the shapeshifter's arms and legs.
The expressionless goddess placed her hands on Mara's throat and pushed her against the wall. Mara felt the massive strength in this slim built woman and was surprised from the aggressive move done on her.
The goddess was evaluating Mara's energy and vitality from her hand on the squirming woman's skin. In an instant she knew what Mara was. "Well now, you are a unique woman mixed with different species. Let see, I pick up a shapeshifter, some human energy and…." Her eyes widen a bit in amazement. "A feline essence as well. I remember a particular race of people eons ago. They were known as The Mai. I thought your race was extinct. You managed to survive in this era but unfortunately you will not survive of what I am about to do to you. Your beauty and energy will definitely last me a good amount of time."
Mara struggled to break free from this creature as she croaked. "Don't count on it." She tried to shape shift into her Mai form and part of the way she was shifted back to her human form.
The goddess chuckled. Since I have you under my grip I blocked your abilities. She moved her face closer to Mara and whispered. "I am a goddess with powers that is powerful compared to your inferior mixed genes so fighting me is useless."
"
The monster was draining the life out of Mara. Dean yelled "Cas get your ass down here we're in trouble!" Kuryiel and Castiel appeared. They surveyed the scene and saw Sam Fighting the monster with and Dean trying to pry the creature off of Mara. Dean was stabbing the Goddess repeatedly to no prevail. He was yelling at the woman that had her hand wrapped around Mara's throat. With one sweep of her hand she pushed Dean a few feet across the room. The woman in the ragged gown stood up and Mara slid lifeless down the wall and onto the floor. Her eyes were shut as if she was sleeping peacefully. Dean turned to the angels that zapped in the room. Kuryiel and Castiel surveyed the scene in the room. Dean yelled. "Do something! Save her!"
Mara's soul left her body as soon as she stopped breathing. The goddess was trying to draw her in the energy source in her head. She can see a golden triangle shaped light with a serpent eye in the top center. Mara resisted the compulsion to go to the eye. She looked at the creature's body and saw a dark space where the heart was. Then she had an idea how to destroy the creature. She was about to move until she saw hear Sam grunt as he kicked the monster's gut. She can see Sam's soul nestled in his body. It was a dazzling glowing ball of light that resided in him.
Mara turned toward Dean and saw him run towards the creature again. She was amazed at what she saw. Unlike Sam's soul Dean's was an extremely bright white globe of energy and it had slivers in it as if it was fractured in many places. The gaps she saw were gray slivers of void. She wondered what caused his soul to look like this.
Kuryiel grabbed Dean by his flannel shirt collar and yanked him away from the Goddess. "What the hell are you doing? Save Mara!" He growled as he tried to shrug her hand off his collar.
"Wait" she said in a calm voice. "She will be destroyed in a minute."
Dean turned his head towards the angel. "Are you going to blast her with your energy?"
Kuryiel shook her head. The green eye man snarled "Well I got to kill this life draining bitch if you don't." He saw Cas walk over to the monster and put his hand on the creatures head. It roared and fell to the ground as it was dying.
Mara was not used to be in a corporeal form and made the attempt to move forward to get close to the goddess. Once she mastered the art of movement she made a beeline toward the dark mass in the creature's chest. The dark heart had a cold energy field. It felt like she was sinking in ice cold black jelly substance that felt like a void with evil energy harnessed in it. She thought of her family and how much love she felt for them. Then she radiated the energy of her love outwards and it attacked the mass she invaded. She imagined her love surrounding her essence as energy and absorbing the dark jelly which was becoming lighter in color by the second. It was starting to turn grey and it slowly started to become lighter.
The goddess clutched at the front of her ragged gown. She opened her mouth wide in a silent scream as she seemed to be pressing her clinched hard where her heart is incased. Dean watched this woman agonized face as she bent over from the waist down. "What's happening to her?" He looked at Kuryiel for answers as he still braced himself to attack the goddess again.
Kuryiel saw the glow that was coming from the things chest and knew Kuryiel is killing the creature's life force. "Mara is in her heart and using her soul's energy to kill it."
Dean was taken aback from Kuryiel's words. "What? Mara's spirit still here?" He was happy but saddened that he knew she died from this monster's hands. Mara lay lifeless on the floor on her back with her head turned to the side. Her wild curly wavy hair spilled around her face and on the floor. Dean kneeled next to Mara's body and lifted her towards him. He held her head at his chest and felt waves grief of losing another person he cared about.
Kuryiel walked toward the goddess as it was thrashing on the floor in helplessness. Dark fluid was seeping out of the creature's mouth as it looked wildly around the room. Kuryiel placed her hand on the monster's forehead and sent a message to Mara's soul the creature is about to die and she can leave its body. The angel saw a glowing sphere exit the evil entity and slowly moved towards Dean. Kuryiel looked down at the goddess and spoke in a gentle voice. "Go at peace. Your time here is finished." She used a small portion of her power to plunge her positive feelings into the destroyed heart and ended the creature's agony in an instant.
Dean was rocking in tiny motions as he held Mara's dead body. He wanted so much for her to be alive so he can show her how much he liked her in a short time. He felt regret that he was too late and he felt responsible for her death. As he looked down at her face he saw the small glimpse of the necklace that held her parents rings. The sight of it made him feel worse since she told him the rings are her legacy after her whole family was murdered. Dean felt self-loathing and helplessness.
Castiel approached Dean and saw the expression on his friend's face. "Dean don't blame yourself. It's not your fault."
Dean looked at Castiel in a sardonic expression. "Really? You think I am going to believe that? Everyone I cared about is either dead because of me or I had to leave them for their protection." He looked down at Mara's face. "I thought since she was not human she can be an exception but I was wrong. I will make sure she will get a decent burial."
Kuryiel walked over quickly to the two men. She squatted and placed her hand on Dean's shoulder. "There will be no need for burial."
Sam walked over holding his injured left arm. "What do you mean?"
Kuryiel looked at Mara's soul hovering nearby. "I can bring her back. Her soul has not left to that limbo place yet. I don't have much time so it has to be done quickly."
All three men looked at her in surprise. Dean sputtered "You can bring her back? Well do it!"
Castiel nodded in realization. "I figured you would have that ability. Do you see her soul?"
Kuryiel stood up and walked over to a spot right next to Dean. "Yes she is right here." She put out her right hand as if she is cradling something above the palm of her hand. "She has a very pretty soul."
Dean was startled to hear this from Kuryiel. "Can you see souls by looking at a person?"
Kuryiel shook her head. "No. Only if I really want to see them. I don't walk around looking at people's souls. Eons ago I was curious to see the souls of humans you started to evolve but that was many thousands of years ago." Kuryiel sent Mara a telepathic message to get close to her body. She warned Mara that placing her soul in her body is dangerous and painful but she will be extremely careful. When she received Mara's permission to return to her body Kuryiel turned to the men. "Guys you will need hold Mara's body down to the ground. When I return her soul into her body it will be very painful for her so she has to be still for me to place it in the appropriate area. This is a delicate process. Can you do this?"
Sam nodded and Dean uttered. "Hell yes put her back in there. We will make sure she does not move at all." Dean pleated with his eyes to the angel woman.
The men positioned themselves around Mara's body. Dean had her shoulders pinned to the floor and Sam straddled Mara's hips and held her legs down. Castiel held her head.
Kuryiel asked. "Is everyone ready?" Everyone said yes in response. "Alright I am about to grasp her soul." She reached out and used her God divinity energy to place the soul in her hand. She forced the soul to appear before everyone so they can see what she is about to do. Dean looked at the glowing flaming soul that Kuryiel held in her hand. He felt relief that she will be resurrected.
Castiel placed each hand on Mara's head. "I will try to suppress the pain. Dean be prepared to hear her screams."
"Alright. I will not let go no matter happens." Dean looked over his shoulder to see Kuryiel right hand was getting closer to Mara's chest. He saw her hand enter Mara's chest like it was fluid and saw Kuryiel's face displaying total concentration. She moved her arm upwards to place the soul back where it came from.
All of a sudden a piercing scream came out from the women pinned to the floor. Dean pressed Mara to the floor with all his strength to make sure she does not move. Her screams was making his ears ring. He held fast while Kuryiel finally had Mara's soul in its rightful place. When the angel removed her hand from Mara's chest the screaming stopped.
Dean looked down at the unconsciousness women below him. He knew she would have probably passed out from feeling the intense pain. He asked Kuryiel. "Is it done? Can I move her?"
Kuryiel stood up. "Yes. We can get her out of here."
Dean sighed in relief and lifted Mara up in his arms. Sam walked out the building first to scout the area and motioned for everyone to come out. Dean carried the woman to his car. He stopped at his car and turned toward the angels. "Can everyone do me a favor?" He looked at his brother that was standing next to the front passenger door.
Sam was wondering what it was. "What's the favor?"
Dean turned his head to the angels. "Kuryiel can you zap me and Mara back to the bunker? I don't want shake her up in my car after what she went through."
Sam looked surprised. "You are going to leave me to drive back home? Wow bro I am starting to think you fell in love."
Dean gave Sam a ferrous scowl. "I got her in this mess man and I want to make sure she recovers." He looked over at both angels. "Could you this for me?"
Kuryiel walked over to Dean and placed her left hand on his right shoulder. "Sure I can do this for you. You will need to rest too." Dean opened his mouth to protest but she gave him a stern look. "Hey you will be no good to her if you are worn out from the fighting. These are my conditions. Agreed?"
Dean frustratedly mumbled. "Agreed."
Kuryiel smiled broadly. "Good. See you in a couple of seconds." She touched Dean's shoulder. Both disappeared instantly. Sam frowned realizing he has to drive all the way back by himself. He walked over to the driver's side of the car. He cranked up Dean's car being glad that he had a spare key for emergencies. Soon as he put the car into drive Castiel appeared in the passenger seat next to him.
Sam jumped in startlement. "Hey you scared me man. Please don't do that."
Castiel looked over at Sam. "Sorry Sam. I will be your travel companion so you don't drive alone."
"Thanks buddy but I am heading back to the motel to get cleaned up and sleep if you don't mind." Sam drove off.
Dean appeared in Mara's room. He walked over to her bed. Kuryiel also appeared next to Dean she pulled the covers back told Dean to place her on the bed. As soon as he set her down on the covers, he gasped to see Mara's outfit changed from full clothing to pajamas and bare feet. Dean pulled the blanket so she is fully covered. Kuryiel walked over and touched Mara's forehead.
Dean asked. "What did you do?"
"I put her in a deep sleep so she can recover better. Her body needs rest. She will be not be fully recovered for two days. It will be nice if you can bring her breakfast tomorrow morning."
He nodded. "I will make sure she eats well." He brushed his hand over Mara's wild looking soft auburn hair. "She looks pretty like this." He mumbled softly hoping the angel did not hear him.
Kuryiel heard every word loud and clear but did not say anything. "Well Dean, it's your turn to hold your end of the bargain. Time for you to rest as well."
Dean watch Kuryiel leave the room feeling relieved he can freely express himself. He looked down at Mara taking in the peaceful look on her face. Dean sat on the side of the bed and moved his hand toward her hair again. He gently brushed her wild auburn hair away from her forehead. Without thinking he bent over to kiss her on the forehead. Very surprised he did this by sitting up straight immediately in the chair. Mara moaned in her sleep from the disturbance. He softly brushed the back of his fingers against her soft cheek. "Don't wake up yet. You need to rest now. I don't know what you went through being dead and coming back but you need to sleep lady." Dean realized he really cared for this woman and the thought of her being dead earlier pained him so much. Mara frowned in her sleep and Dean took his thumb to smooth out the frown that was between her eyes. Mara settled back down into a peaceful sleep.
Later in the night, Mara woke up feeling thirsty. She looked over and saw a glass of water on the night table. "Thank you to whomever because I really need it." She sighed in relief as the cool liquid moistened the inside of her mouth and down her throat. Setting the glass back on the table, Mara thought of what happened the whole evening. She and the brothers were entering this house getting attacked by the Goddess followers, encountering the monster and the Goddess killing her. Remembering the look on Dean's face as she was dying and after was something she did not expected to witness. She saw the rage on his face as he was fighting the goddess creature. Later his face changed to an expression of horror and grief when he saw Mara body fall to the ground when she died. She was conscious of the whole event of dying and her soul leaving her body.
There were unfamiliar sensations of floating and feeling energy of her own soul. Mara had to figure out how to move around in a non-body state. When she was observing the scene the looking at Dean's soul through his body was pretty startling. In her entire lifetime she never imagined seeing anything like that. She looked over at Sam fighting the monster and saw his soul but for some reason his looked more whole as light glowed entirely. Dean's soul had a different appearance. His was not completely glowing and there were slivers of gray rippling inside the glowing energy. She had the knowledge of what it was. It was damage from something traumatic that happened to him. She had no clue what it was but she guess it had something to do with the angels and his hunting history. The gray slivers were full of emptiness she could not relate with anything from her life experience. Mara was determined to find out what caused Dean's soul to be so damaged.
She turned over to her right side on the soft bed waiting for sleep to return. Mara replayed the rest of what happened in her mind. Her figuring out how to move her soul and hearing Kuryiel's command to enter the Goddess heart. It was the most revolting experience she ever had in her lifetime. Feeling her energy entering that dark jelly like substance made her feel suffocated. The negative evil energy in that darkened place was consuming. The love she had for her family family was enough to drown out that horrible dark matter and kill the goddess. It's something she never wanted to do ever again. She also never wanted to experience feeling her body becoming reanimated in extreme pain. Mara had a history of injuries from fights over the years but it was nothing to the pain of having a body circulating blood though veins that were immobile inside. Both angels tried to suppress the pain so she would not die again from shock but it hurt enough to make her scream in agony. She would not wish that kind of pain on her worst enemy. Mara pulled up her pajama t-shirt to look at her chest where Kuryiel move her hand inside to return her soul. There was no sign of an opening or marks. She looked at her arms and also noticed the bruises have disappeared. She sighed with exhaustion and snuggled down under the covers. She remembered Dean carrying her to bed and his tenderness he shown. Mara even felt his embarrassment of displaying such affection to her. His thoughts of wanting to protect her was touching. She felt his grief that he felt responsible for the whole situation. His feeling of regret was so disturbing it made her surface from sleep momentarily. Mara was even surprised she was lucid and conscious when she was sleeping earlier. At last her eyes felt heavy while visualizing the green eyed man watching over her hours before.
Dean woke up in the middle of the night needing to go to the bathroom. Afterwards, he exited the bathroom walking towards Mara's door. He took a peek inside and saw her sleeping soundly on her side. Dean also glanced at the night table next to her bed. He nodded in satisfaction that she drank some of the water in the glass. Feeling useful, he knew she would wake up with a dry mouth. Kuryiel warned him that Mara's revived body will go under stress circulating blood since her heart had stopped when she was dead. The angel made it clear to him that Mara will be feeling dehydrated later. Dean closed the door and walked back to his room. He lay back on the bed with his hands behind his head staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts were of Mara and the questions he had to ask her in the morning. Most important he wanted to make sure she was alright. He will never forget lifting her dead body in his arms feeling helpless and enraged. The guilt of putting her life in danger was almost overwhelming. Dean did whatever he could to fight the goddess off of Mara. He closed his eyes and will himself to go to sleep. Before he finally drifted off his last thoughts of Mara was the hug she gave him. He will never forget the way her soft body was press against him and the wisp of her silky auburn hair brushing the left side of Dean's face.
To Be Continued...
on Chapter 16
