High Noon – chpt 8
by: sifi.
OOooOO
"Why did you send them back?" Imdugud asked as Sam examined the stone archway framing a tunnel of darkness, his hand brushing gently at what appeared to be carvings reminiscent of the cuneiform Enki had written in the notebook in the hospital while using Dean's body.
"They've done their part," the young hunter muttered, "I've got two squares on this side, one high one low."
"Rectangles," Dean corrected.
"Whatever," his little brother shrugged absently.
"Same here," Dean nodded, brushing his hands over the stone, "one high, one low, surrounded by… but it doesn't look like the cuneiform…" he glanced at the two demons present then continued, "but it kinda does…" he shook his head confused, "Does any of this make sense to you Sam?" Dean asked.
"Its so eroded I'm not even sure it's writing…" he looked back at the two most powerful demons that had come to help save the world, "Can either of you…?" his breath stumbled into the air and his hand clutched, long strong fingers around the stone keeping him up when his head spun, filled with bright pink cotton candy and his knees tried to fold.
A hot leaden sensation buzzed through him, pulling deep on his innards with the certainty that they were about to burst out of his body in an agonized rage. A momentary glance filled with blind terror shot toward his brother before reason forced its way through the pain.
"Sammy?" Dean reached out instinctively. Off to the side Ajax barked but didn't move, and didn't appear otherwise unnerved.
"No…" the young hunter shook his head.
Imdugud reached out, grasping the elder brothers' arm, keeping him from making contact with his little brother.
"No," he said as Ammit moved quickly and noting the scent of something burning drew the boys' hand from the stone.
He slid the messenger bag from across his chest ordering Bobby to "Save the notes!"
Bobby dropped the searing hot bag, sliding its contents onto the cool grass while Shep stepped forward, attempting to get between the demon and another boy he thought of as his.
"Get your hands off him!" He sneered watching Ammit ease Sam down to his knees while Imdugud stepped back.
"He would have fallen ill as well if he'd made contact with the King," the embodied evil explained. "They are two sides of the same coin."
"Wha…?" Shep shook his head, not certain he'd heard right, "Hell you say! They're on the same team! Like Hell they're on opposite sides…"
"I said SAME coin," Imdugud glared, "Your grief clouds your mind."
"Alright guys," Dean patted Shep on the shoulder with one hand, clapping Imdugud's host's shoulder with the other, "Thanks," he nodded to the ancient evil, then turned to his old friend, "Thanks."
"And for the record, for the time being we're on the same side, we all have a common goal for the moment let's work like it..." Dean cleared his throat then knelt before Sam whose color seemed to be returning slowly, "What…?"
The Assyrian pointed to the entryway, "This is why they could only take us this far. It's a warning."
Bobby, on his knees but watching the exchange with one hand curled around the hilt of a blade Gader'el had made for him, almost exactly like the one he'd made that had found its way into Ruby's possession, watched John's oldest boy defuse the situation, "Mmm guys?" he slapped at the last of the border of embers while motioning toward the bronze tablets, each of the four of them bordered by glowing copper light.
Sam held his hand out over the tablets, "I don't feel any heat."
Ammit held his hosts' hand over them as well, snatching it back with a grimace, "Its hot."
"These papers didn't start themselves smoldering," Bobby muttered reaching over to see if he could feel anything, "Son of a bitch!" he cursed flapping his fingers in the air before pressing them into the cool grass, "Hotter than hell."
"Like you'd know," Imdugud chuckled then looked at Dean, "How about you? Feel any heat?"
Dean reached out toward the glowing edges, slowly grasping the closest tablet, "Cool to the touch," he shook his head setting the four of them in a row between himself and Sam.
One by one the tablets turned and slid of their own volition until they stacked two by two.
Bobby and Shep frowned at each other as the boys they'd watched grow into men slid effortlessly into conversation amongst themselves and two demons, in a language that made the sidhe's sound almost intelligible.
Both of John's boys looked from the tablets to each other, and up to the entryway.
"Keys?" Dean questioned, unaware that he and Sam both were now speaking in the most ancient of languages. Dean in particular would have found it amusing to know that even the two demons present were only able to understand a fraction of what they were saying.
"I'm guessing so… and that's probably the order they fit into the archway," they rose to their feet, each man taking two of the tablets.
"Think it'll know these aren't the real deal?" Dean asked.
"Must not really matter, I mean would they be doing this if it mattered?" He mused, then shrugged holding the first tablet to the higher indentation while Dean got his into position, "Does it strike you as just a little bit… odd Dean…" he began as the older hunter nodded and together they angled the tablets into the spaces.
"Feel anything?"
Sam shook his head as they took up stances ready to put the last two tablets into their places.
"All of this strikes me as a helluva lot MORE than just a LITTLE odd Sam…" together they set the tablets into the stone and backed away.
"Anything?" Dean asked speaking English once more.
"Mmm uh uh," Sam shook his head, "Maybe we need to incant something…" he shrugged.
"Great, do YOU know how to incant a language that can't be spoken?"
Around them the wind rose until it whistled and as Bobby stuffed the notebook, notes and their scant weapons back into Sam's bag Ajax began to bark furiously at the doorway. Backing away at first then moving forward, whimpering then growling and finally running in tight circles before hiding behind Bobby, the dog was their alarm system.
For an instant before they felt it under their feet, they thought Ajax was growling, and indeed he might have been. A glance at the canine showed his stout muscular body poised to spring and quivering with tension. The short wiry hair along his spine standing almost straight up, in fact, EVERY hair was standing up, puffed defensively to make him look larger and more fearsome than he was. His lips had curled back showing every white gleaming fang in that powerful snub muzzle, and the skin of his forehead was creased downward between his eyes in heavy folds. His attention was on the entryway.
Their eyes moving in unison from the dog, to each others' and turning toward the tunnel opening, John's children saw a pinpoint of red deep in the heart of the surrounding black. An impossibly huge tangle moved in the distance, around that spot of red as it grew, sinuously charging at them at an otherworldly pace showing no signs of slowing.
"We need to get in there!" Dean shouted in that ancient tongue to Sam above the din as the stench of rot raced in front of whatever it was that was coming.
"Grab the tablets!" Sam nodded at the bright orange-pink rectangles.
On the ground Bobby was scooping the ammunition, notebook, notes and weapons back into Sam's bag when Imdugud turned and with a single motion finished the job and slung the strap over the mans' shoulder. With a nod at Ammit he grabbed the hunter, hoisting him to his feet and driving him into the opening on Dean's side just as the Egyptian did with Shep on Sam's. Ajax whimpered but followed as the boys pulled the tablets from the arch.
On either side they clung to the rock, turning from the grassy clearing, entering blackness as something huge split the air stabbing into the light. A moment later the dog's yelp echoed in the darkness.
"Ajax!" Bobby shouted trying to turn back, but stopped by the demon behind him.
Circles of red and black winked into existence around them, while steely tentacles flailed through the air, beating it, seeking the intruders into its dominion. They slammed the rocky walls spraying stone and dust down to the ground, shuddering the earth below as they sought, searched and stabbed everywhere possible in the hopes of a strike.
The central tentacle, the one that tore through the doorway came back into the cavern. All of them whipping through the air as the six intruders dove to the floor, clinging to the walls, doing everything they could to avoid and evade those murderous appendages.
Instinctively each of them knew well enough to stay silent while they hunkered down at the joint of the wall and floor barely daring to breathe while those dozens of spiny arms felt around for the interlopers into its territory.
OOooOO
"Ow, God…" Tommy breathed, his fingers tearing into the earth like claws, dragging him along the grass toward the sound of rushing water, "Is anyone there!?" he shouted then lay still breathing deep, oddly glad that he had no feeling below the belly button, especially considering how much everything he COULD feel, felt like he was rolling in cactus needles set on fire.
Blood slid into his eye stinging and blurring his vision, obscuring the shimmer that told him the sound of water really WAS water and not the sidhe as he'd hoped. The light of the lowering sun glancing off the surface of the pool made him painfully aware of just how thirsty he was. He'd had nothing to eat or drink since awakening and realizing he was no longer a part of the world that was about to be destroyed. But in spite of the knowledge that he was currently moving through the underworld, he wondered at his state. How could one be hungry or thirsty if they were dead? Was it an echo of knowledge that he should be? And if that was the case, how was it that he could bleed? Or be paralyzed as he knew he was? Why was he not whole and mobile as he'd always been if he was dead?
"Please…" he gasped sinking his fingers into the ground again, wiping that runnel of blood and sweat out of his eye with his shoulder. He had no perception of time here, the sun seemed to be perpetually on the way to setting as he drew himself determinedly toward the shimmering pool and even though he knew it was certainly taking TIME to get there, he seemed to draw ever closer and yet night seemed content to wait before falling.
Grass gave way to mud, thick, slick and clay-like as his fingers sunk into it. It should be cold, he thought, but it wasn't. Breathless he pulled forward, crystal clear water shimmering mere inches ahead. His fingertips began to tingle, an odd sensation that seemed to grow stronger the deeper they grasped. It was like holding a live wire only a very weak one. Enough to feel power, to feel energy. Something's wr…no… NOT wrong… different? What? What IS this? He felt his lips turn up and stretch in a smile, and for an instant he almost thought he felt his foot twitch. What's going on? He wondered again terrified and exhilarated all at once.
He reached forward, this time his right hand cleared the clay-like border of the pond sinking into the water so cold it stung then seemed to burn faintly.
Oh God… he pulled his hand out of the clarity shaking with fear for the skeletal remains he just KNEW he was going to see.
"Huh…" ruptured from his mouth. He could feel his eyes widen at the sight of his hand, whole, clean, and simply wet.
"Please…" he glanced upward bringing a dripping finger toward his mouth.
Before he was consciously aware of what he was doing, his hands dove under the surface, pulling him forward until he was fully submerged.
OOooOO
"Gader'el?" Marax looked around the yard devoid of people, "Where's the old hunter?"
"They've gone. HE entered the underworld in Idaho, at Massacre Rocks. They lost the blonde boy," the weapons smith shook his head as the sidhe, Gary and Mercy joined them exchanging looks of concern.
"Tommy?" Mercy asked, "He killed Tommy?" she asked.
The weapons smith turned his eyes to her, "We don't know if he's dead. The Chosen one instructed me to have all returning parties work with the sidhe, disperse among the portal stations, lead others to safety," he explained, "Where is Aeshema? Did she fall?"
"Yeah," Gary nodded, "the tunnel had an entrance to hell, a demon tried to escape right through her."
"Have you heard from anyone else yet?" Mercy asked.
"Who's with the kings? Marax asked softly.
Mercy grunted, obviously angry, "They're MEN, do you get it? MEN! HUMAN MALES they're not GODS, they're not KINGS they're JUST MEN! What's the matter with you people!" She yelled in frustration.
Gader'el stood before her, his host almost looming. He made no move against her but Gary moved to her side nonetheless, "What's the matter with us? The question little human is what is wrong with YOUR kind that you cannot see what is before your very eyes? Do you really believe there is such a grand separation? That humans and demons alike are THAT far removed from their creators? It's no wonder you are ill equipped as a species to defend yourself against those of us who would prey upon you," he looked from Mercy to Gary then to Marax who simply shrugged, and finally to the sidhe, the most senior of those present who spoke to him, shaking his head.
"What'd he say?" Gary asked.
"He says it's a waste of time to try and explain it to you. Only the most rare of your kind can allow themselves to see the truth of the beginning as it is today," Marax smiled.
"What do you mean?" She asked the small warrior, not sure she wasn't going to drown in the conversation, but she was very curious as to how these two boys she'd known all her life had found authority over some of the most ancient demons known, without being possessed or becoming demons themselves. What made them so special?
"Think of it like this; demons retain a closeness with their governors whether it's one of similarity of purpose or opposition, you could say it's very like an extended family. Your kind are chaos, there is no true power save destruction in chaos. Only the ones who allow themselves to understand can ever touch the power your kind has cut itself off from," he continued to explain and seemed almost sad, "That is why our kind will outlast yours. One day your kind will be fairy tale boogey-men told to our young, and we will be…" he looked up, a gentle smile on his host's face as his hand swept across the sky, "Wherever human kind has brought us. We will be the legacy you leave."
"Which is why demons like you, Pinem'e, and Gader'el shared what you knew with humans to begin with, how to make weapons, how to chart the stars, how to use plants and animals to our advantage… which is why you don't mind helping us now," Gary mused, "I mean yeah it's your universe too so it is to everyone's advantage, even your kind to keep it whole… so eventually you can spread out to the stars like some bad sci-fi movie plot?"
The sidhe spoke and shook his head.
"I want to hear it!" Gary snapped at the small male.
"I do too," Mercy agreed.
The other hosts nodded and shrugged as Marax glanced questioningly at them, "Let's worry about one world at a time. If we don't save this one, it becomes rather a moot point doesn't it?"
"Who are we evacuating?" Gary asked as Mercy shook her head in frustration and strode to the shed, then to the house.
"He's not there Mercy," Gader'el called her back.
She sighed returning to the small group, "He went with them didn't he?" Mercy sighed looking around and nodding. Nothing could keep him from going short of death, not if Tommy went missing and Shep insisted. Plus Dean's still only up to half his game with that arm of his in the cast…damnit!
"And Mr. McGregor, Imdugud and Ammit as well. Yokai went with the sidhe to render aid to those who will go," Gader'el nodded.
"Where's the dog?" Mercy asked.
"Ajax went with them," the smith smiled, "Good dog, very well attuned to the other planes, he'll serve them well."
OOooOO
The marauder was no fool. Until that which tethered this insignificant rock to the outer strands of its reality was severed, he and his plan could be stopped. That tether rested in the molten bowels of the earth, sleeping within a blanket of magma. He could restrain it temporarily but without its fiery breath to remake Enki's Blade he stood almost no chance of success.
But once it is remade, will I be able to wield it? Was the question that whispered deep in the back of his mind as he followed a squad of advance igigi down the long stony road to the sleeping dragon's lair.
OOooOO
What does this mean? the mind that had once been a woman wondered as the husk it dragged with it, a ball and chain of burnt flesh and bone whispered over the dry stone ground and the doors to the fifth gate loomed open over her approach; and as had been the case with the sixth when she'd dragged herself through it, there were no gallas.
Not a single soul, or soulless entity seemed to inhabit the road to dead. If she'd had nerves they would have been drawn so tight they might have been singing, and oddly, the terrifying sight of the cruel raptor-headed guards would have been a comfort.
I don't think I can endure anything else… she thought clawing another five inches forward. This is the fifth gate… four, three, two, one… four more to go, then where do I go from there? How will I tell them what they need? It will take them both.
Again, she pulled, putting five more inches behind her as she passed through the towering metal doors.
OOooOO
tbc.
Please… let me know?
Thank you.
sifi.