(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the following story and the characters of Riley and Dee are all mine)

Holier Than Thou.

Chapter Fourteen.

Riley could hear faint whisperings drift over the sand dunes towards her as she walked along the shoreline; the sea reaching out to grab at her ankles before releasing her only to reach out and try again. Her feet sank lightly into the wet sand, pushing through her toes as she took steps in an unfamiliar land. She felt a sense of anger, resentment and loneliness wash over her and she kicked out at the sea as it rose to lap at her again.

She sat down, watching the sea ebb and flow, wondering why she was here and why she was so pissed. She lay back, closed her eyes and let her mind drift. Her eyes snapped open moments later and she shuffled quickly back on the sands …shaking her head and laughing softly at herself, at her irrational fear. Nothing was coming out of the sea to get her…but she felt the anger rise again; a deeper anger, one that rose from the pit of her stomach and threatened to engulf her.

She stood and looked around; she was surrounded by nothing but sand and water. She noticed a rocky outcropping in the distance and started walking towards it. Her hands started clenching and unclenching the closer she got; the tension in her shoulders was almost painful but she couldn't stop her feet from taking the steps towards the caves that lined the crag. She made her way over the rock-pools, breathing heavily from the anger that coursed through her and when she entered one of the caves, a cave littered with small bones, she fell to her knees and howled…

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Dean stared at Dee as he tried to take in all that she'd said. The deal, well deals, the trade for his life …everything. He rose quickly, checking Riley before heading outside; stopping himself from slamming the door behind him. He leant back on the Impala; anger, suspicion, shock and confusion fighting for dominance in his mind. He shook his head, his anger rising at the burden of having someone else's sacrifice placed on his shoulders. Dee's life for his. What the hell had Dad and Dee been thinking all those years ago? He understood Dee doing anything to bring Riley back and he knew his Dad would do anything to save him and Sammy; but they must have known doing a deal with that prick would blow up in their faces! And here they were, the middle of freakin' no where with a super-succubi on their asses! Yeah, good work.

He went and got his sword from the car, kicking out at the sand and watching the small cloud rise as he walked through it. He sat back down on the Impala and began cleaning his sword as he tried to control the anger that was starting to surge through him. He needed to calm down and try to think this through, because from where he was standing, none of it made any goddamn sense. Dee had refused the favour and Riley was still alive. They still had the talisman and that prick didn't know…he stopped. Jack. The prick had had his hand this close to the talisman when he'd killed Jack and he hadn't known. He didn't know what it looked like and he couldn't sense it's power like he'd told Dad and Dee he could. He shook his head, that prick had used Jack to get Riley and Dee here not to kill the succubi, they couldn't do it without the talisman, the talisman he believed they didn't have. He'd brought them here to have her kill them. But why? Well apart from the obvious, he laughed to himself, bet that asshole didn't think he'd manage to stab…he frowned as he noticed something on his sword, something that hadn't been there before. His eyes widened as understanding crashed into him with the force of ten semi's and he ran back into the room as Riley screamed…

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Dee sat next to Riley; holding her hand as she wiped at her friends brow. She could see Sam watching her intently from across the room and she ignored him as best she could; but like him, she too was wondering if her actions had condemned them. She knew what awaited her; had begged for it on the proviso Riley was left alone. But it would all be for nothing if Riley, Dean and Sam didn't survive this and she'd be damned if she'd let that bitch and the yellow-eyed twat get any of them. She looked at her friend, the only real family she had and she knew that regardless of what Dean and Sam thought, she'd done the right thing bringing her back. Had she done it for herself? More than likely but she'd do it again without a second thought if put in the situation again…and that prick knew it. She and John had played right into his hands and they were now paying the price.

She thought back to that arsehole's 'visit' three months ago; Riley had gone get supplies while she'd stayed at the motel to shower. She'd known he was there as she'd turned off the water and she cursed herself for leaving her pistol on the basin and not closer. He'd flung the curtain aside and laughed as she'd swung at him, her fist skimming past his chin as he slammed her back against the tiles. He was calling in the favour and when he'd told her he wanted Dean dead; she'd refused. He'd reminded her that her refusal meant Riley's death and she'd hesitated, torn between wanting to keep Riley alive but knowing, deep down, that she couldn't kill Dean. She had to make a choice. Riley or Dean. The choice should have been clear but it wasn't and that had confused the shit out of her. Riley was family, Dean was someone she'd known barely a week so why couldn't she just find him and put a bullet in his head? He'd never see it coming and Riley would be safe. But he was an innocent and she just couldn't do it. And that's when she'd begun to beg; to offer that prick anything to keep Riley alive and Dean safe…she couldn't remember much of what she'd said; her words had spewed forth in a desperate rush, part of her mind screaming at the weakness she'd shown the prick that had tormented her for years.

He'd finally dropped her to the shower floor, pulling her head up by her damp hair as his yellow-eyes had pulsed with hatred. He'd laughed at her, telling her he'd accept her offer. She'd frowned "Offer?" she'd asked in confusion. He'd smiled "Yes, offer" he said. He would spare Riley and Dean but she'd…she stopped, her eyes widening as understanding crashed into her and she jumped as a scream burst from Riley's lungs…

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Sam leaned against the wall watching Dee tend to Riley. What the hell had Dad and Dee been thinking? Sure, Riley was alive and so were he and Dean but goddamn! Didn't they know that this would come back and seriously bite them on the ass? They weren't stupid, neither of them were; but he understood you didn't think rationally when you were trying to save the ones you loved. Still, Dee didn't love Dean…hell, those two had been butting heads from the minute Riley and Dee had arrived in that crappy town. So why the hell would she choose not to kill Dean when it meant saving Riley? Why would she trade her life for Dean's? From what she'd said, she'd readily agreed to whatever that yellow-eyed asshole had wanted to bring Riley back, so why falter now? It didn't make any sense.

He was glad, shit, more than glad; his brother was alive and well. Dee could've taken Dean out with her eyes closed and he'd never have known who had done it. So why? He understood how Dee thought, everything was black and white with her, so it was an easy trade. Dean for Riley. But she'd refused…so maybe he didn't understand how she thought; but this was so out of character for Dee it begged explanation.

He frowned as his mind tried to dissect all she'd told him. Do the favour, Riley lives and Dee's dead in six months. Refuse and Riley dies. But she'd refused and Riley was still alive; but all would be forgiven if the talisman was found. The talisman that they had and would not hand over without a mother of a fight. That bitch and the yellow-eyed prick wouldn't know what hit them; the four of them had fought together before….his eyes widened as understanding exploded into him and he took a step towards Dee; stopping as Riley let out a scream that made his blood run cold…

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Riley fell to her knees and howled in unknown rage and anguish. She didn't understand the feelings that pushed themselves into her and she didn't want them. She brushed at her arms, her chest…thinking she could push them out that way but, not surprisingly, it didn't work. She grabbed at her head and tried to focus on ridding herself of the feelings that way, but all that did is bring them closer to the surface.

She hung her head as her stomach churned and she fought the urge to throw-up. Her breath hitched and she gasped as her head was forced up; fingers tightening painfully in her hair as a soft voice whispered in her "Watch…."

And watch she did as she was shown a history of violence. A history that started in defiance, rape and death and continued through the ages. The woman who had been used by men for hundreds of years; unable to stop violation after violation all those years ago was now returning the favour to all men. She saw the succubi's emancipation from the cave, the blood oath sworn on both sides. She saw death after death of the men that had succumbed to the witch and death after death of the men sworn to hunt the demon.

She tried to lower her head but she was held fast, forced to watch a horror movie that rivalled anything 'Hollywood' could come up with. She was shown how the beast from the morgue had come into being…her grandfather had sired it; sacrificing himself to save his son…to save Jack.

"You see what they did to me?" the voice hissed in her ear "Vengeance. That's all I ask…vengeance for what was done to me. It is what I'm owed" Riley shook her head "Yes. You were born for a reason, to bring the talisman to me and to rid the world of those that prey on our kind. All those deaths…they are your fault! It was your line that did this…but you were sent to me to right the wrong"

"No…" Riley whispered.

"Yes! You are like me…you have been betrayed by those around you…" she laughed "They have already lied to you, deceived you. You know they have …so bring me the talisman and we will make them pay for their betrayal. You feel the anger, the rage inside you…I didn't bring it, it has been within you your whole life, waiting for the chance to be free. Embrace it…use it…and reap the power. This is your life."

She felt her head thrown forward and she fell against the sands, the small bones digging painfully into her, letting her know that they too wished for vengeance. She stifled a sob as she felt the anger start to build, felt the rage start to simmer in the pit of her stomach...she had no protection from it. Dean had taken the talisman and she was defenceless. The enticing whispers already starting to stake their claim on her...maybe, the demon was right...

She was interrupted from that thought as she felt gentle hands lift her and sit her against the cave wall. She didn't open her eyes, she didn't want to see anything anymore; she just wanted to listen to the whispers. But when she felt a light hand rest upon her cheek she did open her eyes.

"All is not lost" said the man that was crouched in front of her; a kind smile gracing his lips. She shook her head and he cupped her face "Yes, child. You have seen your history played out in front of you…"

"She said…" Riley started.

"It does not matter what she said. You are the protector of the talisman. The protector"

"No...I'm not the one for the job. I'm...she can get to me"

The man nodded slowly "As a woman, the choice will be more difficult but you still have choice"

"Choice?" she asked, confusion touching her features.

"Yes, you must choose. Look back over your life, child. The answers are there" he smiled "Your lessons were given...you were just unaware of them. Close your eyes" she closed them warily and yelled as she was shown the horrors again…rage, fear, anguish, fury, hatred, confusion...all fighting in internal battle and above her yells, two voices fighting to be heard '"Vengeance" ..."Protector"

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Dean ran back into the room as Sam ran to the bed; Dee was holding Riley's shoulders down as she thrashed on the bed; her eyes squeezed shut as the yells reverberated round the old house.

"Keep her quiet!" said Dean "NOW SAM!" he yelled as his brother hesitated a fraction before placing his hands over Riley's mouth.

"What the fuck are you doing?" asked Dee angrily.

"Helping her" said Dean as he removed the talisman from around his neck and put it back on Riley "Riley…it's back" he took her hand and put it on the amulet "See? It's in your hand, Riley. Concentrate on the talisman…we don't have a lot of time so stop fucking around and get your ass back here"

Sam and Dee stared at him "Care to let us in what's happening here, dude?" asked Sam "But you're right about the not a lot of time thing"

"No shit" said Dee.

"We've been played, but not the way you think" said Dean.

"I know" said Sam and Dee in unison.

Dee looked at both men "Looks like we've all had an epiphany then"

Dean knelt next to Riley's head, his hand over hers and the talisman "Riley, you listen to me. This isn't your fault. Don't you listen to what she's telling you. The talisman is yours. You didn't know what it was and neither did he, Riley. You hear me? Neither did he" he turned to Dee "Where are Jack's weapons?"

Dee frowned "In the Landy"

"Get them" said Dean "Now, Dee. I got her" and he pinned Riley's shoulders down as Dee ran from the room.

"Dude" said Sam as he struggled to keep Riley quiet "You figured it out?"

Dean frowned "Yeah, the sword"

"The sword?" asked Sam, confusion touching his features.

"Yeah…isn't that what you're talking about?" asked Dean, his confusion now matching his brothers.

"No" said Sam, shaking his head.

Dean frowned "Later, Sammy. I need to do this first" he turned to Riley "Riley, I swear, if you don't wake up I'm gonna start calling you Cinnamon all the time" he closed his hand over the talisman "Hold it…the rest of it's coming now"

"Rest of it?" asked Sam as Dee came back with a large duffel bag.

"Here" said Dee.

"Look for a sword or a dagger…something that has the same marks as the talisman" said Dean "Quickly, Dee"

"Okay, okay…but I have to tell you something" she said as she started checking Jack's extensive array of knives, daggers and swords; inspecting each one closely "That arsehole..." she shook her head "you are not gonna believe this …" said Dee as she pulled a wicked looking dagger from its sheath "Got it!"

"Give it here" said Dean "And get your swords, I have a feeling the shit is about to hit the fan"

Dee passed Sam one of Jack's swords and retrieved her own from her weapons bag "Alright, explanations can wait" said Dee "Dean, do your thing….whatever it is"

Dean nodded and removed his and Riley's hand from the talisman. He moved the dagger towards the amulet, hoping it would do what he thought it would. He watched and smiled as the talisman started to glow; the carvings etched into it shining brightly the closer he moved the dagger and he knew he was right. It wasn't just the amulet that was the talisman, it was the dagger as well. One wouldn't work without the other. That's why that yellow-eyed bastard hadn't known the talisman was around Jack's neck; Jack hadn't had the dagger on him. Unless the succubi was around, the talisman was just an odd looking amulet. It had an in-built stealth system. He grinned...that was cool and he was a genius.

Riley's back arched as the talisman and the dagger glowed brilliantly and she let out a muffled scream against Sam's hand as Dean placed the dagger against it. The room exploded in light and Dean, Sam and Dee squinted against the incandescent rays that shot around the room.

"Aaaargh!" yelled Sam "She bit me!"

Dean felt the dagger pushed away and the light slowly faded from the room. He looked into Riley's eyes and smiled "Welcome back"

She returned the smile "Good to be back...believe me"

"You bit me!" said Sam, shaking his hand.

Riley turned her head to him "Well what did you expect? I couldn't freakin' well breathe" she said.

"You didn't have to bite me!" he said with exasperation.

"Suck it up, Sam" said Riley with a grin "You didn't complain that much when you had a super-succubi riding you for all she was worth" she laughed softly as he gave her the finger.

"You alright, babes?" asked Dee.

She nodded "Just had me a history lesson. Wasn't all that pleasant…hence the screaming" she looked at Dean "Did you just do what I think you did?"

He nodded "I think so"

She nodded "Okay…so we have about a half-hour or so before we're hit with everything that bitch can throw at us"

"It ain't just her that's coming" said Dean.

"Figured" said Riley as she looked at Dean, Sam and Dee, noting the changes in their demeanour and the pissed off expressions they now wore "Looks like we all have different pieces of the same puzzle…" she threw the sheets back and got out of the bed "Time to put this together and bring that bitch down" she looked at Dee "You and I will talk later"

Dee nodded and looked at the three other hunters "Dean was right. We've been played. That yellow-eyed twat and the bitch are working together…"

To be continued…