(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the following story and the characters of Riley and Dee are all mine)
Holier Than Thou.
Chapter Sixteen.
There was no tension in the abandoned house. An eerie calm had settled over the four hunters as they prepared for battle. This wasn't a hunt. It wasn't a fight. It was a battle. Plain and simple. They sharpened their swords; the blades glowing in the lamplight as they assembled their arsenal. Their daggers were laid out on the beds and all the blades had been polished with holy water to effect maximum pain before death. They didn't speak to each other as they prepared; the only sounds were the checking of weapons; the singing of blade against stone as each one went through their own mental preparation.
There was no fear here; the room was filled with adrenalin and purpose. They had a job to do and the thought of them not surviving this, never entered their heads. They were focussed, determined and very pissed off. But it was a harnessed fury; another weapon in their growing arsenal, and when unleashed, it would be unstoppable.
They raised their heads as the keening grew louder; the light from the moon that filtered through the dirty windows casting blood-red shadows over them. They moved as one; an unspoken communication between the four as they loaded up their weapons. Dean handed Riley and Dee the pistols he'd loaded with rock-salt and communion wafer; Dee handing Riley, Dean and Sam the mini trigger-switches to set off the detonations they'd planned. Riley took the earpieces and passed them out; they would stay in constant contact with each other, no matter where they were. Sam had placed the protection over them that would render 'Derek's' mojo useless against them and they were as prepared as they were ever going to be.
Riley went to her bag and took out a bottle of tequila as Dee grabbed the shot-glasses that were always kept in her bag.
"One tequila!" said Riley and they threw back before slamming the glasses down on the table and grinning at each other.
"We meet back here for 'two tequila'" said Dee and they nodded.
"Alright" said Dean "let's go kick some demon ass"
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The four hunters stood in the middle of the long stretch of road in the deserted town; a warm breeze ruffling their hair and swirling the sand at their boots as they stood side by side. There were no stars in the black velvet sky; they too had fled with the wildlife. The only light, the eerie crimson glow cast from the blood-red moon above.
The corrupt keening began to undulate as it grew closer but instead of bringing fear to the hunters, it made their jaws set; their eyes harden, their shoulders square and it strengthened their resolve for victory. The battle was looming and adrenalin coursed through their veins as they prepared to face off against an evil that would not stop until either it or they were dead. There were no second chances here; this was life and death and you could see it in the hunter's faces; feel it in the energy that flowed from them. They stood as one; a unified force that drew strength from each other.
The silence that shrouded the four was broken; and Dean, Sam and Dee slowly turned their heads towards Riley as she began to hum the 'Bonanza' theme.
"What?" she asked with a grin. "All we need are horses tied to a rail, ten-gallon hats and we're there"
"Slap her, Dean" said Sam, and Dean slapped Riley on her ass "I meant her head" he said; and he rolled his eyes as they grinned at him. "Couple of horny teenagers" he muttered as he turned to Dee "At least you're taking this…" he stopped and stared as Dee tossed M&M's into the air and caught them in her mouth; crunching them loudly.
"Four" she said and tossed another in the air and crunched it "Five" She caught Sam staring at her "What?" she asked.
He sighed "I'm too scared to turn around" he muttered "Are they making out?"
"There's an idea" said Dean with a grin.
Sam turned to his brother "You hear that?" he said; pointing towards the blackness of the outlying desert.
"Dude, you gotta lighten up" he grinned "Your girlfriend'll be here in a minute. Let me tidy your hair"
Sam glared at them "When we beat these assholes, I am gonna kick your asses...all your asses, til my feet are bleeding"
"Lay one on him, Dee" said Dean "He needs to de-stress"
"I think it'd take more than a kiss to de-stress your brother, Dean" said Dee with a smile as she tossed another M&M into the air "Six"
They turned as one as the shrieks from the desert rose to a banshee-like keening that swirled around the four hunters; licking at their clothes and chilling their blood; turning their skin to ice. The wind increased; echoing the howls that screamed across the desert; howls that were borne from the depths of Hell itself.
They drew their swords and stood shoulder to shoulder; four hunters facing off against an army of baneful beasts whose lust for blood was insatiable. They looked skywards as the shrieking reached a crescendo.
Lilith.
She streaked into view; her flaming locks streamed like wildfire about her face; her robes like wisps of smoke fanning around her; her skin reflecting the scarlet rays of the moon as she bore down on them. Her jaws opened in a vengeful roar of hate. Her eyes pierced the night-sky; glowing with insane fury as they lit upon her enemy. She threw her head back and howled at the moon; howls that were echoed by her spawn as they galloped across the desert plains towards the battlefield. She raised herself up; hovering above them, a malignant smile spreading over ruby lips as she let them bask in her power, her glory. She held her arms wide and let loose an unholy shriek as she shot towards them; skimming over their heads as she laughed malevolently. She would play with them before she unleashed her wrath.
"Another one for dramatics" sighed Dean. He turned to the others "Just once I'd like a simple stare-'em-down-kick-their-ass-send-'em-back-to-Hell kinda fight. Is it too much to ask?" he said with a grin.
"Turn around and see boy" came the ugly yet familiar chuckle.
The four hunters turned their heads; took in the yellow-eyed demon and the legion of hellions at his back before turning their backs on him.
"You know it really isn't all that much to ask" said Riley "We should pass a law"
"Sammy, studied law" said Dean "You could write something up, right?"
"It'd be a bitch to get passed" said Sam "I'm guessing the pieces of crap downstairs'd fight it"
"Maybe we should start a petition" mused Dee as she threw another M&M in the air "Seven"
The demon roared in fury at the hunters; his body ablaze with primal hatred at their blatant disregard of him. He was their tormentor! He had spent years taking pleasure in their suffering, both mental and physical! And here they were; ignoring him! They would pay for their disrespect!
The four hunters turned again "You still here?" queried Dean.
"Incoming she-bitch" said Riley, pointing at the succubus as she screamed towards them; flying low over the demon ranks; the unholy soldiers instinctively ducking as her robes brushed against their blackened skin.
She flew towards Sam; her eyes aglow as she cast them over the one that had been so close to siring an offspring. She felt a shiver of excitement run through her; her loins afire at the memory, and she vowed to have him again. She smiled malevolently; and again and again and again.
Riley stepped in front of Sam and raised her sword as Lilith swooped out of the sky towards him. But the succubus laughed as she sailed past; her passage marked by the vile stench of death as she settled gently on the sands in front of them.
Dean and Sam faced the yellow-eyed demon as Dee and Riley faced off the succubus. Riley stepped forward and smiled sweetly "Why not take your place next to 'Derek' over there" she motioned to the demon with her thumb "I mean he is your partner…your equal. Right?"
Lilith hissed at Riley; her tongue flicking out; tasting the air around her as her eyes pulsed madly "You know nothing of the power standing before you!"
"I know a one-armed succubus is gonna have trouble getting a date" smiled Riley "Damn, imagine that? Being beaten by a 'protector' who really had no idea what she was doing" Riley clucked her tongue as she shook her head "Begs the question as to what I know now, doesn't it?"
Lilith smiled as she heard the thunderous sound of her spawn racing towards her "My sweet, sweet child" she laughed softly "Such little knowledge held within such a small mind" she sneered at Riley "What will you do when my babies take you as their plaything"
Dee turned "You getting all of this Derek? Or are you playing second-fiddle to a one-armed succubus?" she laughed "Talk about whipped"
"Oh, laugh it up Dee" he smiled maliciously "Our time will come…" he licked his lips as he rubbed his hands together in joyous anticipation "How I love to hear you beg!"
"Would that be the same way you beg the one-armed bandit over there?" asked Dean "Oooh, baby…give me more!" laughed Dean "Suck the lack of soul right out of me"
"Match made in heaven….or Hell" said Sam with a grin "Either way"
The yellow-eyed demon chuckled "Dean, Dean, Dean…how I'm going to enjoy ripping you apart" he smiled "And right in front of lil' ol' Sammy" he laughed again "Wonder if seeing that will push my brave little soldier over the edge. Watching me tear you limb from limb" he hissed as he prowled forward; his eyes flashing dangerously "ripping into your flesh" he smiled "pulling your insides to the outside…just like Jack…" he chuckled "You remember Jack don't you?" he asked "Remember how you let him die? Watched as his blood ran out of him; how he sat in his own sh…"
"FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!" yelled Dean as he took a step towards 'Derek' and raised his sword.
"Easy, Dean" whispered Sam; he turned his head to Riley "You alright?" he asked.
"Just peachy" she whispered back.
Lilith's laugh rang over the landscape; an acid-dripped taunt directed at Riley "So your dear old Daddy passed the talisman to you" she laughed again "A woman! One of my own kind!" she shook he head; an impious smile garnishing her lips "Your father delivered you to me! Did he not read the texts?" she laughed "What a fool he must have been!"
Riley's jaw set and her eyes filled with fury "Did you think him a fool when you couldn't kill him? How your so-called power was useless against him?" she stepped menacingly forward "How he made you feel like the pitifully worthless demon you really are!" Riley's shook her head disdainfully "And you had to use that piece of shit over there to do what you couldn't" Riley laughed "He didn't even know the talisman was within his grasp!" she smiled at the succubus "Who's the bigger fool now, bitch?"
Lilith lips opened; her jaw unhinging as she let loose a hate-filled roar that shook the ground underneath them; the sands performing a frenzied dance around their boots. The windows of the abandoned stores that lined the street, blew out; the shattering explosion showering hunter and demon alike with shards, large and small.
Her roar was echoed by her spawn as they raced into the town. A grotesque regiment that was filled with disfigured soldiers hell-bent on bloodshed. Her corrupt corps rushing forward at the call issued by their commander; a mangled mess of DNA that was powered by insanity and their unyielding devotion to a psychopathic 'mother' with a lust for power and revenge.
"Way to piss of a demon" said Dean with a grin as he brushed shards of glass from his hair.
"You ain't seen nothin' yet" said Riley, returning the grin as she watched the hellion bear down on them.
There was easily sixty beasts charging forward; each malformed creature different from the next; a hybrid mix that made your head spin. Elongated jaws snapped viciously in the air; disjointed tails swished behind some of them; ears both small and large twitched fervently as powerful muscles strained underneath blemished hides. And filtered through these deformed scions were hints of humanity. A perfectly formed nose; delicate fingers above deadly talons; a spattering of freckles across high cheekbones; but they all had the same maniacal glint in their pulsing red eyes.
"Steady…" whispered Dee as the spawn sped forward.
Lilith's eyes shone with malignant light as she glowered at Riley "My army has arrived! The time of vengeance is …" she turned her head quickly as an explosion ripped through the night; the orange flames burning brightly as the agonised howls of the dying spawn tore over the town.
"What were you saying?" asked Riley with a grin as another explosion was triggered by the beasts.
"Dun-dun-dun-dun…another one bites the dust" sang Sam.
"You shake your butt and you're no longer my brother" deadpanned Dean.
Lilith raised her one hand; stopping the hellion in their tracks; but not before the C4 claimed two more victims. She turned hate-filled eyes to Riley; her face contorting in rage "You will pay for that! ALL OF YOU WILL PAY!" she ravaged.
"So will that be before or after dickhead over there stiffs you for the talisman?" asked Dee. She looked at Riley "Damn, I could go for a smoke right now"
"You hear that, Derek?" asked Dean. "We know all about your little double-cross" he laughed at the rage that burned in the demon's eyes "What? You're surprised?" he clucked his tongue derisively "Never underestimate your enemy"
The demon laughed "Your pitiful mind-games won't work with me, Dean" and he strolled forward; a smile playing around his lips "Now why would I double-cross an ally?" he shook his head "You really are stupid"
Dean grinned "An ally? Hardly. She's already laid claim to Sammy…" and he laughed to himself "laid…"
"Again with the banging jokes?" said Sam with exasperation "So the bitch humped me! I'm still standing here, aren't I?" he slapped Dean upside the head
"Hey!"
"I don't care what she said…she's not getting either of us when this is over!" angered Sam.
"Aah, hate to interrupt you two in the middle of a domestic" said Dee as she watched Lilith's beasts quivering as they waited for the signal to attack "But explain to that twat what's really going on here"
"My pleasure" said Dean with a grin "Seems your girlfriend over there's got …special plans for me and Sammy" he grinned again as he stepped towards the demon "Plans I'm guessing don't go along with yours"
"And you" said Riley as she pointed to the succubus "You think that prick is gonna hand over the talisman?" she grinned "Not that either of you are getting it, mind" she said as she took slow, measured steps forward "I mean, seriously…you really think he's going to give you the only thing he can control you with? Come on…" she laughed.
"She's got you there" said Sam "Isn't that right, Derek? Got yourself some plans…I mean, the talisman bound her before…why not again? Right?"
The demon laughed "You think we're going to fall for your lies?" his eyes flashed angrily "Our alliance works for both of us" he chuckled "She gets to mind-fuck…and probably literally fuck your bitches there and finally have vengeance on generations of weaklings that have hunted her and her …children. And I…" he smiled sweetly at Sam "Aaah, I get you! My powerful, yet snivellingly weak boy-king. Oh the things we will do, Sammy…the people we will conquer. The souls we will corrupt" he laughed and turned to Dean "You I'm just going to kill"
"Forgot to mention the talisman, asshole" said Sam.
'Derek' waved his hand dismissively "A trinket that means nothing to me. It's hers" he lied as he looked past the four hunters and into the wrath-filled eyes of Lilith "That was our deal"
Lilith nodded slowly, but Riley and Dee could see her mind ticking over; they'd planted the seed of doubt in both of the minds of their enemy. Their actions from here on in would need to drive the point home and turn demon against demon and give them an advantage they desperately needed. They were outnumbered four to….well lots. And no matter how determined, how good they were…getting through the battle unscathed was unrealistic. Their plan had better work and Riley had better come through with her 'surprise' if they were going to make it out of here alive.
The demon army crowded the street on one side with that yellow-eyed prick; and Lilith and her spawn filled the other. They were effectively surrounded and the tension hung like a heavy blanket over all in the town. Adrenalin was coursing through veins; hairs were standing on end and hearts were beating rapidly. The time was drawing near.
'Derek' smiled as he sauntered back and forth in front of Dean and Sam "Oooh, I'm just itching for a fight" he smiled "But seems one of you has a protection…"
Riley raised her hand "Yo!" she looked at Lilith and raised the talisman "Look at all familiar?" she grinned "Come and get it, sweetheart"
Lilith laughed "Me?" she shook her head "No. But it will be in my hands…"
"Hand" said Dee "That'd be singular" and she pointed to Lilith's stump.
Lilith sneered at Dee then turned her eyes to the demon "Hold true to your promise!" she hissed and Dean, Sam, Riley and Dee raised their swords.
"I'm not giving it up without a fight, bitch!" spat Riley and Dee, Dean and Sam closed ranks around her.
"None of us are" said Dean, pure venom dripping from his voice.
'Derek' laughed "Oh, but you are!" He flicked his wrist and the four hunters were thrown to the ground; their arms held wide as they screamed abuse at the demon; their bodies splayed crucified-like on the desert sands as he and Lilith laughed maliciously. Their laughter joined by those of the demon legion and echoed by the unholy howls of the scion.
"Tsk-tsk" tutted 'Derek' as he ground his heel into Dean's hand then used his chest as a stepping stone over the man "So easily you forget the power I hold over you"
"YOU PRICK!" Dean roared.
'Derek' chuckled as he crouched next to Riley; running a hand softly down her face before slapping her hard "I believe you have something that doesn't belong to you"
"Get it!" hissed Lilith urgently; unable to hide the fervoured excitement that ran through her. The hunters had been rendered immobile and the talisman was within her grasp! She would finally be free to wreak her vengeance on those that hunted her and on all those that would defy her "TAKE IT!" she hissed again; salivating at the promise of power.
Riley glared at the yellow-eyed demon "You touch it and it'll be the last thing you do!"
'Derek' laughed and ran a finger down her cheek, slicing it open as she yelled out in pain "I doubt it, pumpkin"
"YOU TOUCH HER AGAIN AND I'LL KILL YOU!" yelled Dean
The demon laughed uproariously "Give it your best shot" he said as he placed his hand on the talisman.
"Okay" said Riley with a grin. She moved quickly, grabbing the dagger from the small of her back and driving it into the demon's stomach as she roared "That's for Jack, arsehole!" she grinned "Hurts don't it!" she said as she twisted the dagger in his gut.
The yellow-eyed demon howled in pain and disbelief as he wrenched himself from the dagger; his hands going to the wound. He ducked instinctively, Dean's sword slicing through his scalp instead of his neck and he roared in fury; flicking his wrist as he disappeared….but he only managed to make it back to his demon ranks. He'd been injured. His power had been weakened. His mind couldn't grasp the concept but he embraced the fury that rose within him as he issued the call to arms; his legion drawing their swords in unison. None of them would survive this!
Lilith shrieked in unadulterated rage. The talisman had been snatched away from her again and the frustration and fury that charged through her, joined forces. She would destroy the hunters then she would destroy the demon that had deceived her. She opened her mouth wide and let loose an baneful roar shattered the night air and echoed over the landscape; reverberating deep into her spawn. The beasts tensed; readying for the onslaught.
The four hunters stood back to back; their swords raised as they faced off the two armies. Dean looked at 'Derek' and smiled "I'M GONNA RIP YOU APART, ASSHOLE!" and he pointed his sword at the demon "Slowly and very fucking painfully!"
'Derek' issued a laugh that was full of bravado "YOU AND WHAT ARMY?" he roared.
"This one" said Riley "SANVEI! SANSANVEI! SEMANGELOF!"
To be continued…
(A/N: Unfortunately I couldn't fit the entire battle scene into one chapter, so it will be a two-part finale. A BIG thanks goes to Kes Cross for her naming of the YED as 'Derek' and for helping me get through this chapter with most of my sanity. Stop laughing. The second part should be up in the next few days - fingers crossed. Thanks for sticking with it! AJ.)