(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the following story and the characters of Riley and Dee are all mine)
Holier Than Thou.
Chapter Eight.
It sniffed the air; its pig-like snout raised as it searched for the one it was sent to find. The saliva dripped from its razor-sharp fangs, hissing and boiling as it hit the dry desert sands, the tantalising scent of its prey carrying to it on the winds. Its mind exploded in ravenous hunger, an animalistic aphrodisiac that coursed through its body as the sweet bouquet assaulted its senses. It moved forward, each step measured…studied…predatory. Its powerful muscles bulged under its charcoaled, viscous skin; the sporadic tufts of course hair that littered its grotesque form standing on end as the electric pleasure at the thrill of the hunt was transmitted to them.
It kept its nose to the air as it stalked its prey; its curved spine cracking under the burden of keeping its head raised; the pain of it enraged the beast more, its dark eyes now aglow as it made its way into the building. Its tapered, serrated claws clicking on the polished tiles as it tracked its quarry; the saliva that dribbled down its incisors, splashed on the tiles, burning deep holes into the ceramic, the acrid smell masking the nauseating stench of the creature.
It nosed the door open gently; the aroma of its target smashing into it... and its eyes lit upon the subject of its chase. It edged into the room; its shoulders rolling, its gait controlled as it advanced on its prey...like so many times before …but this kill…this one was special. It positioned itself behind its victim, its jaws inches from the neck where it would deliver the killing strike; it lowered its bat-like ears against its malformed skull as its forked tongue snaked out, licking up the neck, tasting its spoil before it would sate its hunger.
----------------------------
The Impala roared into the burning barricade, the arctic flames licking at the Impala's paintwork, the frigid back-blast from the blaze bringing chills to their bodies as it burst into the interior, confusing the senses as their eyes dealt with the sight of fire, their bodies feeling nothing but glacial gusts.
Dean registered all of this but his gaze was focussed on the distorted demon in front of him. Its bright red, almond shaped eyes glared malevolently at him as it clung to the hood of his beloved Impala. It inched towards the open driver's side window, its jagged, needle-like talons scraping along the hood as it clawed its way forward. He could hear Sam and Dee yelling, could hear the shots of their pistols as they took out more of the demons that were launching themselves at them; and as the demon's claws grabbed the doorframe, its withered black face pushing into the car, it opened its jaws, its many fangs glistening as it let loose a triumphant shriek as it pushed forward. Dean had his pistol in his hand in an instant, putting the barrel into the open maw and firing off three rounds in quick succession. The demons shriek was cut short and Dean pushed his foot down hard, shooting forward and turning the wheel as he saw another demon loping towards them and he used that demon to dislodge the carcass of the one that was now a freaky hood ornament.
The Impala burst through the freezing flaming wall and they felt the bump as the demons fell under the car's wheels. Sam and Dee were now hanging half out the window, firing at the demons that continued to give chase and when Dean had put enough distance between them and the hellion, they retreated to the relative sanctuary of the car.
"Everyone okay?" yelled Dean over the rumbling of the Impala's engine.
"What the hell were those things?" asked Sam "They were like…warped versions of demons"
"DNA experiments gone wrong" said Dean as he remembered the words Riley had used to describe the demon-child she'd seen in her dream "I'm pretty sure they're her spawn"
"Hybrids" said Dee, her face hardening at the thought of how they were bought into being.
"So by shooting 'em, have we killed 'em or just pissed them off?" asked Sam.
"We'll have to wait and see…from now on we carry swords everywhere" said Dean as the car roared over the sandy terrain and towards the top of the town "Dee, you have a spare for Sam?"
"In the Landy, yeah" she said as she reloaded her pistols.
Sam was studying the map again "There should be a small trail just up ahead on your right, take it and that'll bring us down to the rear of the morgue"
"And then it's arse-kicking time" said Dee angrily; she and Riley were going to have it out…she was going to get more than a talking to, this was way beyond stupid and after the events of the last couple of days…well stupid really didn't cover it.
The Impala shot down the sandy-slope, her wheels sliding precariously as the ground shifted underneath her but Dean handled the car expertly, countering or going with each slip and slide, keeping the Impala on the track before turning the wheel hard left as they hit the blacktop, the wheels spinning slightly before gripping and tearing towards the rear of the Coroners office.
They were speeding down the deserted street, the engine rumbling loudly on the still, warm air "I don't like this" said Sam as he looked around "I know its Sunday, but come on, not everyone's gonna be in church"
They sat silently in the car, taking in the lack of activity in the town as Dean took the turn to the rear of the morgue and pulled up behind the Landy "Lock'n'load" he said as they exited the car, pistols in hand.
Dean retrieved his sword from the boot while Dee fished a spare key for the Landy that was hidden near the muffler; she opened the hidden compartment, grabbing swords for her, Sam and Riley. "Shit" said Dee as she quickly checked the weapons cache.
"What?" asked Sam.
"Proof positive is all. Come on" said Dee as they ran towards the building, swords across their backs and pistols in hand.
They kept low as they neared the building, finding an open window that had burn and claw marks on the sill. Dee lifted the window and Dean slipped past her and into the room "You right there, Winchester?" she asked as she slipped through after him.
"I'll go first, you stay between me and Sammy" he said as he moved quickly and silently towards the office door.
"Is that right?" asked Dee as she studied the burn marks that littered the tiled-floor.
"How about you argue about it after we get to Riley" said Sam, following Dee's gaze; he crouched and put a tentative finger to the mark "Acid…" he said softly.
Dean edged the door open and scanned the hallway "Clear" he said as he stepped through, Dee following and Sam bringing up the rear; the three of them drawing their swords from the scabbards as they moved forward.
They moved quickly towards the stairs that led down to the morgue, following the acid-marked path "Looks like its only one" whispered Dean.
"One'll be enough" said Dee "Especially if she's in the middle of the ceremony, she won't be aware of what's going on around her"
"She ain't all that bright is she?" said Dean as he turned into the stairwell. He'd taken two steps when a howl erupted from somewhere below them; bouncing off the walls and echoing up the stairs as they ran down to meet it.
Dean took the stairs three at a time, he could hear Dee close behind him and as another howl pierced the gloomy basement, he swung over the railing and heard the crashing of steel and Riley cursing vehemently. He ran to the door, pushing through and roaring in rage at what he saw…
-----------------------
Riley kept her body perfectly still as she felt the tongue flick out at her again and again; she stretched her fingers, lifting the cuff of her jeans and inching the dagger slowly from her boot; the fetid stench of the beast cloying her nostrils. She raised her eyes to the metal drawer that held Jack's body and saw the distorted reflection of the demon at her back…Jesus…she thought, she had one chance at this, one chance only.
She slowed her breathing as she watched the eyes of the demon in the reflection, the dagger now held firmly in her hand, its blade pointed towards her. Her heart was racing and she tried to slow it, but the adrenalin was rushing round her body and there was little she could do to stop it. She concentrated on the reflection and when she saw the demons eyes widen slightly she moved, lightening quick, rolling onto her side and bringing the dagger up in a fluid arc, slicing the demon up its chest and across its neck, but she'd missed the arteries and as its jaws snapped shut on thin air it howled; the bellowing sound deafening in the small confines of the room.
She threw herself under the open drawn and scrambled towards the autopsy table, instinctively ducking a strike to her head and swearing up a storm as the demon jumped onto the table. She had no where to run and she pulled her other dagger from the small of her back and turned to face it …and stared in disbelief at the anatomical disaster that launched itself at her. She yelled as recognition and the mammoth malformed mess of DNA hit her, driving both knives into the chest of the monster, skewering it; and it howled again as its weight knocked her onto her back, its jaws snapping inches from her face as it bucked on top of her, trying to dislodge the daggers that had pierced it.
She twisted the knives, working them deeper as she heard a thunderous roar sound to her left but she didn't dare take her eyes off the beast that had her pinned. She saw it raise a taloned hand and as it made a strike at her neck, she saw two swords pierce its side, and she pushed, rolling it off her as another sword flashed down, slicing its head from its shoulders. The head bounced, one...twice before rolling to the side of the room, hitting the morgue drawers with a metal thud, the jaws still opened in its final howl.
She was yanked to her feet by the scruff of her neck "HEY!" she yelled as Dee ran expert hands over her, checking for injuries. She slapped at them "I'm al-right" she said as she shrugged out of Dean's grasp.
"YOU BLOODY WELL WON'T BE ONCE I'VE FINISHED WITH YOU!" yelled Dee, her face inches from her friends as she shook her roughly "HOW GODDAMN STUPID CAN YOU BE?" her fingers digging painfully into Riley's upper arms.
"Back off, Dee" said Riley angrily, pushing Dee off her.
"BACK OFF?" yelled Dean "Are you fucking serious? We just chased your sorry ass through freakin' fire to get here and you tell us to back off?" he shook his head 'I could damn well slap you"
"Just try it" said Riley as she went and pulled her daggers from the demon, wiping the blades on its furry hide. She stood and turned, looking into three sets of furious eyes "Before you start…"
"Before we start?" said Sam angrily, taking a step towards her "Have you NOT figured out that splitting up is BAD? B. A. D….BAD, Riley!" he pointed to the remains of the demon "CASE IN FREAKIN' POINT!" and he slapped her upside the head.
"You do that again, Sam…" she warned.
"What?" he asked "What are you gonna do?"
"Cover your balls" said Dee and Sam stepped back quickly as Dee's eyes bored into her friends and she tried to control her breathing "You ever do anything like this again, that's it" she poked Riley in the chest "I won't put up with…"
"If you'd just shut-up and listen for a second…" she went to the demons head and crouched "Look…" she turned and they were glaring at her "Fine" she grabbed the head by the tuft of hair on the top of its skull and bought it over "Look at all familiar?"
"Put it down" said Sam, as he screwed up his face, the thing reeked.
"LOOK!" she yelled at them and their features turned from ones filled with fury to ones filled with disbelief "Uh huh"
"Fuck me…" said Dean as he looked at Riley "It looks like Jack"
------------------------
Dean and Sam burned the demons carcass as Riley cleaned the markings from Jack, Dee smoking a cigarette as she watched her friend. "You're a bloody idiot" she said to the woman "And don't think this is the end of our conversation, it isn't...not by a long shot"
Riley ignored her, kissing Jack's cheek softly before pushing him back into his icy tomb "I'll be back for you, Jack" she whispered. She crouched, stuffing the bowl and remaining leaves and ochre paint into the bag. She slung the bag over her shoulder as Dee tossed a sword to her; Riley putting over her back as Dean and Sam came over.
"We want to know everything that happened here" said Dean angrily, turning Riley to face him "But first, just a heads up…big wall of fire with a shitload of demons to get through" he glared at her "Scratched up my baby, thanks for that"
Riley reached into her back pocket and took out some cash, thrusting it into his hands "That should cover it" and Dean pocketed the money.
"Dude!" said Sam.
"What?" asked Dean "It's her fault the Impala's scratched" he walked towards the door and turned back, looking at Riley "Still kicking your ass" and he inched the door open, checking the hallway and stepping through.
Sam pushed Riley towards the door "After you" he said and she muttered under her breath as she followed Dean out the door. Sam turned back "Dee?"
"Just let me check something. Go, I'll be there in a second. Watch Riley, she may take off again"
"Jesus…" he shook his head "You've got one minute" he said and followed Riley.
Dee went to the drawer that held Jack and opened it. She stared at the man she had liked enormously, his easy banter, his wicked sense of humour and his devotion to Riley would endear him to anyone; she sighed "Jack…I know I swore to you but she needs to know the truth…especially now" she whispered "She won't hate you, I can promise you that…and I will watch out for her, I gave you my word...but damn if she doesn't make that hard" she gave a wry smile "but you did warn me" she put a hand to his face "Rest easy old son" and she pushed the drawer closed as Sam stuck his head in.
"Move your ass" he said and she followed Sam out the door, her mind in turmoil.
-------------------
They'd made their way back to the motel without incident. There was no burning wall of flames, no patrolling demons that they could see; still they packed their gear and headed towards another motel a hundred miles west.
The trip in the Landy had been a silent one, the only sounds, the loud strains of Hendrix as it blasted out of the speakers; Riley staring steadfastly out the side window while Dee concentrated on the road ahead of her...her mind going over what Jack had told her after she'd confronted him with the information she'd discovered six years ago.
In the Impala it was a totally different story; Sam would not stop talking about the similarity between the demon and Jack and how on earth could that be...and what it could mean...and how could it happen...and why would it happen...
Dean finally turned to Sam "You do realise that Riley's not a demon, right dude?" he asked "I mean sure, she does get on our nerves like a demon does and sometimes I want to kill her…and if she says the Impala belongs to her one more time, I probably will…but she's not a demon…" he frowned "I'm pretty sure" he looked at Sam who was laughing at him "What?"
"You like her" he said and shook his head.
"'Course I do, so do you. I like Dee as well" he said.
"Whatever you say, dude" he laughed "I saw that kiss in Vermont" he ducked a slap from his brother.
"Voyeur" said Dean with a grin.
"Dude, you did all but bang her against the Landy" he laughed "You like her"
Dean glanced at his brother "Look Sammy, this is all linked to Riley somehow and they helped save our asses a year ago, we're returning the favour is all" he sighed "Besides, we don't have a choice but to work together on this. Once we're done, we go our separate ways again. Simple"
"Uh huh" he turned to his brother, his brow furrowing "That demon…there is no way it wasn't related to Jack, don't deny it"
Dean nodded "My best guess is…that red-haired super-succubi did a number on one of Jack's relatives"
"So what does that tell us about Jack?" asked Sam "Or more importantly, what does that tell us about Riley?"
Dean shook his head, he had too many thoughts running through his head to answer that question but the one thing his mind kept returning to was why, when he'd run into the room and seen the demon over Riley, the acid that had dripped from its fangs had seemed to veer away from her…almost as if it was forbidden to touch her.
To be continued…