(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the following story and the characters of Riley and Dee are all mine)
Holier Than Thou.
Chapter Seventeen.
A calling was borne on the winds. A delicate whisper that floated gently upwards contained within wisps of silvery smoke. They spun languidly heavenward, a graceful pirouette of three words that twirled together; spinning faster and faster as they recognised each other and began the dance. The dance that was accompanied by the now lyrical verse of those words. A melodious chant that whirled ever faster; building in tempo, increasing in vigour as it sought those it needed.
The diaphanous mist was now a swirling vortex as it thundered its call. The ground trembled and the heavens shook; the mist now a dense fog as it bulged in the centre, straining at the sides as it fought to escape the vaporous constraints. A low growl rumbled across the sky as the vortex shattered through the heavens; hundreds of smoky-white tendrils shooting outwards; each luminous filament corkscrewing through the black-velvet night; carrying a harmonious hymn that would bring about an awakening…a deep stirring that carried through the ages.
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Lilith shook violently as she heard the words spew forth from the lips of her enemy. Words that rose on the wind, spinning slowly before funnelling into a pious whirlwind of hallowed aria's that tore into her. She howled as the words reached a crescendo before exploding into the night and scattering its spirals. She turned hate-filled eyes on her nemesis; rage and fury igniting a wrath in her like never before. She didn't know how the woman had found out about them…but she wouldn't live long enough to see it come to being.
"YOU WILL DIE BEFORE …" started Lilith.
"SANVEI! SANSANVEI! SEMANGELOF!" yelled Riley again.
"Dude" said Dean as he looked at Sam "She's speaking in tongues" he grinned
"Nothing good can come of this" said Sam, returning his brother grin.
"I can hear you" said Riley.
"Dundee, I hate to point this out…but that surprise you mentioned earlier? You think you could …gee, I don't know…surprise us" said Dee.
"Yeah, on its way" said Riley.
"You think you could give it a kick up the ass?" asked Sam "'Cause not sure if you noticed, but we're a little outnumbered"
Riley grinned "You gonna pee in your pants Sam?"
Sam lowered his sword, turned and smacked Riley across the back of the head. "Hey!" said Riley and she smacked him back…and he smacked her.
Dee turned and smacked them both "Focus, you twits!" and she pointed towards the advancing armies.
"Oh, my bad" grinned Riley.
"I am so kicking your arse for that, Dundee" she said with a smile and the two women turned and faced the advancing hybrids as Dean and Sam stared down the demon legion as it marched forward.
Lilith raised her hand and her spawn howled as they raced forward; their powerful muscles rippling, their jaws salivating as they bore down on their prey. A dark, cacophonous flood of growls and roars that thundered towards them. Dee hit her trigger switch and a building on their left exploded as the hybrids raced past; the debris spearing into the malignant mass as flames reached out; grabbing at those closest to it. Another explosion ripped through the night as the demon legion triggered a C4 tripwire. Screams and cries of pain tearing into the night as demons were blown sideways and skywards. It didn't stop the legion, they barely paused before moving forward. Now, more determined than ever to kill the four hunters in front of them.
"Riley…" said Sam.
"Just wait" she activated her trigger-switch.
Lilith roared in fury as her more of her children were killed. She urged them on; she only needed one to get through; one to inflict a wound on the woman…enough for her to get control of the her and have her hand over the talisman.
She was distracted from her thoughts as the ground started to shake. Hybrids, demons and hunters alike stumbled sideways as the sand started to whip up around them. The hybrids regained their footing only to be thrown down again as the ground shook violently; they scrabbled back to their feet and moved forward. Shaking their heads as the sand stung their eyes.
The demons were also struggling to their feet; but the minute they gained purchase they were thrown down again. The wind had started to howl through the town, picking up the sands and bombarding demon and hybrid with minute stinging projectiles. It scraped at exposed skin; battered against closed lids and pushed into open mouths as it tried to choke its victims.
Dean, Sam, Riley and Dee stood untouched in the middle of the sandstorm; the sands creating a thick barrier between them and their attackers. They could see nothing around them; nothing but the dense swirling shroud that encased them. They could hear the hacking coughs and snarling barks of the hybrids and the curses and screams of the demons as another explosion fractured the air and blasted into the demon ranks.
"I don't like being blinded like this!" shouted Sam over the howling winds.
The four hunters eyes moved rapidly around the sandy blanket; their swords raised as they watched for a break in their protection.
"Riley! Is this your damn surprise?" yelled Dee "A bloody sandstorm?"
Riley rolled her eyes "Yes, Dee. I'm giving them a chemical peel!" she yelled back. "Alright! Who just smacked me?!"
"Yo!" yelled Dean.
"What the hell's going on, Riley?!" yelled Sam as his frustration started to set in.
"Just waiting for back-up!" she yelled; smiling as the dense blanket that surrounded them, started to lessen. She tightened her grip on her sword as the others did "Now we kick some unnatural arse"
The barrier dropped suddenly; the sand falling back to the earth and staying still as the wind died around them. Dean, Sam and Dee stared at the men that now stood between them and the demon army and hybrids. A new barrier had formed around them. Hundreds of men in vastly different clothing; their faces filled with the same fury and determination as theirs; their swords held at the ready as they faced off their enemy.
"Reinforcements" said Riley with a smile.
"Who ….where…." started Sam.
"Explain later, Sam" said Riley as she heard the howls of the hybrids begin in earnest again; the howls that were now tempered with guttural growls as they saw the sword-laden barricade that stood between them and their prey.
Lilith rose high; her face contorted in insurmountable rage as she saw the hunters laid out before her; surrounding the four she was after. Protecting the talisman and its guardian. She roared in savage indignation; her scream of wrath splintering through the night air and calling her spawn to battle.
The yellow-eyed demon blinked his eyes rapidly as he held a hand to the sickening wound in his belly. He kept his demons around him; using them as cover as he surveyed the …they could only be hunters …that stood between his legion and his quarry. Their numbers had increased; he smiled nastily, but they were no match for his army and the bitch's beasts. He just had to get to the talisman before she did. He roared in baneful fury and his legion returned it; a nefarious tumult that was joined by the heinous howls of the hybrids. He smiled.
The battle had begun.
Dean, Sam, Riley and Dee stood united with the hunters; their muscles taut; a steely determination in their eyes as they stared down their enemy. And when their adversaries bellowed their battle calls they returned it; a thunderous roar of defiance and rage. A rebellious yell that screamed through the town as they ran, as one, towards a battle that would define the fate of men.
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Dean charged forward, his sword raised. He thought of nothing except killing as many of the demons as he could. He was completely calm as he raced towards the demon he had selected as his first kill. He ran silently, his eyes filled with fury and his mouth drawn down in a snarl. He launched himself at the chosen demon and sliced its head from its shoulders before turning to the one next to it and doing the same, He swung left and right, his sword connecting each time; his mind seeing the kill-spot milli-seconds before his sword hit the mark. He was poetry in motion, every moved timed to perfection, every strike hitting home. He sliced left, decapitating a demon, swung right and drove his sword through the neck of another. He ducked a strike at his head, dropping low and cutting the demons legs from underneath him before ramming his sword up through the demons chin. He was covered in the blood and gore of his victims and he revelled in it. He turned and disembowelled a demon; drawing his other sword and decapitating it. It was time to find that yellow-eyed asshole.
Sam raced with his brother and the other hunters towards the advancing army; their swords raised, their yells echoing over the desert as they hit the enemy with a crash. The sound of sword against sword; sword against flesh; battle cries cut short and vehement curses filling the night air; a cacophonous storm that raged around them. He jumped at a demon; his sword cutting easily through its neck and he turned, hacking left and right as he cut a swathe into the ranks. He looked up as he saw two demons run at him; he smiled and raced forward. He dropped to the ground as he reached them, sliding past, turning and rising quickly as they skidded to a stop. He decapitated them both before they had a chance to turn around. He felt a slice to his side and roared, spinning quickly and ramming his sword into the demons gut and twisting it. He kicked the demon from his blade, the monster falling to his knees…his head following a second later. Sam was in a rage so deep it was almost blinding, but the one his fury was directed at, he couldn't see. The one that had tormented him his whole life. He moved decidedly into the melee…it was time to find that yellow-eyed prick.
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Riley and Dee ducked and weaved through the mass of hunters that were charging towards the hybrids. Lilith's spawn galloping forward and leaping towards their enemy; their talons outstretched, the jaws wide as they barrelled into their prey.
"YOU STAY NEAR ME, RILEY!" yelled Dee "AND YOU WATCH FOR THAT BITCH!"
Riley nodded as she and Dee threw themselves forward. The hybrids were fighting in packs; their talons tearing into the hunters; their jaws snapping around them; their powerful muscles literally ripping them apart. But the hunters were slicing and hacking into the spawn with untold wrath; their swords flashing down angrily as they fought the monsters. Glints of blood-covered swords flashing through the night. A tripwire was triggered and hybrid and hunters screams reverberated through the air.
"RILEY! TELL THEM TO WATCH OUT!" yelled Dee.
"S'ALRIGHT!" Riley yelled back "TECHNICALLY, THEY'RE ALREADY DEAD!"
Dee leapt over a fallen hunter; her short swords flashing furiously as she hacked into an enormous hybrid. She instinctively ducked a swipe at her head and drove her sword behind her, skewering the monster before spinning and decapitating it. She yelled as she felt claws rip across her shoulder. She turned and struck left over right, driving the hybrid back…opening wound after wound as it backed away. It raised itself onto its hind legs, poised for attack, and she jumped forward, crossing her swords and decapitating the spawn before it could reach full height. She saw a hunter go down and raced forward…the blood that coursed down her arm, spurring her on.
Riley ducked between two men as she saw a beast launch itself at the back of a hunter. She drove her sword into its side; deflecting a killer blow as the hybrid howled. It pulled itself off her sword, turned and raised a taloned hand. Riley swung her sword, hacking the creatures arm off. It stared in surprise at the blood that jetted from its stump; the same surprise that was still on its face when its head fell from its shoulders. She looked up as a hybrid came flying through the air at her; she shifted her weight, driving the sword into its chest and dropping onto her back, flinging the spawn over her. She turned her head quickly, the beasts talons whispering past her face. She rose and bought her sword down; removing its head. But as she turned back to battle she found herself surrounded by hunters.
She went to move through them but they blocked her; blocked every attempt she made to move into the battle. A hunter to her left was bought down and she went to take his place but it was filled by another as he forced her back.
"FOR FUCKS SAKE!" she yelled "LET ME FIGHT!"
One of the hunters turned to her "YOUR TIME WILL COME! YOU MUST STAY PROTECTED!"
She rolled her eyes as they closed ranks around her "What a load of crap…" she muttered to herself. She raised her eyes; looking for Lilith. She turned in circles as she scanned the heavens…shit! She put a hand to her earpiece "DEAN! SAM! LILITH HAS GONE AWOL!"
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Lilith shook violently, roaring in pain as she felt each of her spawn's deaths. Each loss ripping into her as they were felled. She rose from her position; she had to find the woman. She scanned the earth below her and screamed in fury as she saw her; her enemy, surrounded by the hunters. They were protecting her and the talisman; and they would die…again….to ensure she and it were kept safe. She would not allow it! She raised her eyes to the battle being fought on the other side of the town. The hunters were wreaking havoc in the demon ranks and she spotted the two for which she yearned. They were moving easily through the demons; and she shivered in pleasure as she saw their muscles tensing under their shirts; the sheer power they wielded igniting a fire in her. She would have them. She saw one of the men move away from his brother; his attention distracted. She smiled as she swooped; spearing towards the one who had almost sired one of her spawn. His back was to her as she flew towards him; he would not see her coming. She would mark him as hers and turn him against his own kind. He would be the bargaining tool she needed….
Dean was fighting with unmitigated fury through the ranks; his sole purpose now to find that yellow-eyed asshole and make him pay for all he'd done. Riley had injured the bastard so he knew he'd be in the back somewhere and he was more than happy to cut a lethal path to him. He drove his swords through a demon and as it disintegrated, he caught sight of 'Derek' skulking through the ranks, yelling orders and pushing demons forward that he thought were moving too slowly. Dean's blood boiled and he changed direction; demon after demon falling to his blades as he made his determined way towards the bastard. He stopped as he heard Riley yell in his ear. He turned quickly, yelling a warning to Sam as he ran towards his brother; his swords flashing left and right as he raced forwards. He didn't feel the slice to his shoulder or nick to his face; all he new was he had to save Sam.
Sam was in a fighting frenzy; his swords moving with lethal precision; his feet perfectly placed to ensure every strike was a fatal one. He harnessed his rage; channelling it outwards and the demons fell one after another. He faltered slightly as he heard Riley yell in his ear; turning as he heard Dean yell his name; his brothers eyes focussed on something at his back. He turned again and raised his sword; swearing loudly as a sword slashed across his arm; slicing it to the bone. He dropped that sword, his other one decapitating the demon before turning back and staring into the hate-filled eyes of Lilith. He raised a futile arm in defence as she bore down on him and he roared as her hand snaked out…but she fell to her right before she could make contact. She screamed in pain as she dipped towars the ground. He looked up and saw a dagger protruding from her ribs; but it wasn't just any dagger…it was Riley's dagger. And he watched as Lilith shrieked and took to the skies; barely able to lift herself above the battle.
"NOW SAM!" he heard Riley yell; and he automatically hit his trigger switch. He smiled weakly as he heard the pain-ridden screams tear into the night. The barrels filled with blessed water showering the demons. They fell to their knees; writhing in agony and the hunters took full advantage of their weakened state and decimated their numbers.
"SAMMY!" yelled Dean as he dropped to his brother's side, grabbing his arm. "Shit" he slipped off his t-shirt and wrapped it around Sam's arm "You'll be fine" he said into his brother's pale face.
Riley crouched next to Sam "You alright?"
He nodded "She didn't touch me" he looked at her "Your dagger…"
She patted him on the shoulder "Had to. It was the only way to stop her" she grinned "Not to worry. I'll be getting it back" she nodded at Dean; turned and ran back towards the hybrids.
A hunter crouched next to them "The demons will not last much longer. But the one with the yellow-eyes has disappeared"
Dean shook his head "He's about. I guarantee it"
They turned as they heard Lilith's shriek scream across the desert. "The bitch is pissed" said Dean with a grin.
"Now the battle begins…" whispered the hunter.
Dean turned to the hunter; he'd heard the doubt in the man's voice and his anger rose "You listen to me, asshole. Riley's gonna kick the bitch's ass and when she does, you can kiss her ass for doing what you couldn't when it was your time" he pulled Sam to his feet "Come on, Sammy"
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Lilith howled as she settled ungainly on the sands. Her eyes roaming over the remains of her spawn; their limbs and heads scattered about the town; their jaws open in their last scream; their unseeing eyes still holding the look of surprise at their death. Her eyes fell upon the dead hunters; but they mattered little…her babies were dead. Her children had been taken down by her interminable enemy and a rage deeper than she'd ever felt before exploded through her. She raised her wrath-filled eyes and stared into the eyes of the 'protector'. The woman stood defiant; her friend and the remaining hunters at her back.
Riley smiled as she stepped forward "Hey again" and she waved at Lilith.
Lilith pulled the dagger from her side; ignoring the pain that ripped into her. She smiled nastily at the woman "You might as well hand over the talisman now"
Riley screwed up her face in concentration then cocked her head "Aaah, no" she smiled "Thought about it and you know, I really can't have you going around banging your brains out and making more of…them" she waved her hand at the corpses "Ugly bastards" she smiled "Although they look much better like this" she turned to Dee "Hey, Dee. Pre-battle banter!" and she grinned at her friend.
Dee rolled her eyes "Get on with it, you daft bint" she returned Riley's grin "I'm hanging for a smoke"
Lilith saw the wound on Riley's hip; a wound inflicted by one of her spawn and she smiled; it would be enough "Hand over the talisman"
"Ain't gonna happen" said Riley as she walked slowly forward "Explained that already"
Lilith laughed "Oh but you will. I staked my claim on you! You belong to me and you will hand it over"
Riley laughed "In your dreams, bitch"
Lilith smiled "Dreams…yes. Funny things, dreams" she smiled and stared deep into the woman's eyes "You know the talisman belongs to me. You know it. Deep down inside. You've known ever since you were a child" she whispered "When I joined you in your dreams. You remember them don't you?" Riley frowned as the words carried over her "The dreams that excited you…the dreams…remember the dreams"
Riley frowned as she listened to the words; the words that were like a lulling caress and it stirred a memory …a dream…from long ago. She shook her head "No…"
"Yes" whispered Lilith "You were sent to me. To deliver the talisman…to me"
"No…I…." Riley shook her head as if to clear it "A dream?" she asked softly.
"Yes…you and me…working together to punish those…" started Lilith.
Riley nodded slowly "I remember…"
"Don't you listen to her, Riley!" and Riley turned to the voice "Don't you listen to her, honey. You know who she is. You know what she wants"
Riley shook her head "You were wrong, Jack!"
Jack shook his head slowly "No, I wasn't. You remember what I taught you, Riley. Remember…" started Jack.
"YOU DIDN'T TEACH ME ANYTHING!" she yelled "You LIED to me! Lied to me my whole life!" she screamed.
"That's right" said Lilith softly "They all lie" she took a step towards Riley "They lie to us and they use us! Make promises they never keep and then laugh at us. He was laughing at you, child" she intoned gently; her voice snaking its way into the woman "And they expect us to sit back and take it!"
Riley nodded "Like…like your husband…Adam…"
"He was not my husband!" hissed Lilith "I was created as his equal. I will not lie beneath my equal! That was Eve's role!" she smiled at Riley "But you are more like me than Eve…aren't you?" she breathed.
Riley finally nodded slowly "Yes…"
"RILEY!" yelled Dee "You listen to me!"
"SHUT UP!" yelled Riley; her eyes never leaving those of Lilith.
Sam turned to Jack "You have to help her"
"I can't Sam. This is her fight" said Jack sadly as he watched his daughter succumb to Lilith.
"Fuck that" said Sam and Dee in unison, both of the running forward. But they were grabbed by the hunters and held back.
"If you interfere, the talisman is hers" one of the hunters said angrily as they held back the struggling pair "This is her fight!"
"Give me the talisman and we'll rule together" smiled Lilith "Just like I promised you when you were a child. Remember the power…think of the power you would hold…" she whispered; her voice lulling the woman "Give me the talisman and we will wreak havoc on all those that have betrayed you…betrayed us"
Riley stared into the green eyes of Lilith; the ones so much like her own. She smiled "Throw the dagger away and the talisman's yours" she smiled "I don't quite trust you….yet"
Lilith's smile faltered "But the dagger is meaningless now"
"An act of faith" said Riley "Throw the dagger and the talisman's yours"
"No, Riley" said Jack "Please honey" he begged.
"Shut the fuck up, Jack" hissed Riley.
Lilith watched the woman; she'd heard the whispers swirling around her; the whispers she'd planted in the mind of a child she knew was out there. Out there somewhere…but had been unable to find. But here she was, standing in front of her, the talisman glowing brightly around her neck. A mesmerising promise of power held tantalisingly close. She looked at the dagger, the one thing that could kill her. If she discarded it, there would be no way the woman could kill her and the woman would mistakenly believe she would hold true to her promise and let her rule with her. She laughed inwardly; how easily they were corrupted. She smiled; what did she have to lose? She raised her hand and threw the dagger high into the night; its blade tumbling end over end as it lodged deep into a roof of a nearby store.
"An act of faith" said Lilith "Now …the talisman" she smiled as she held out her hand.
Riley smiled as she removed the talisman from her neck. She held it out; staring transfixed as it swung back and forth in front of her eyes; a lazy pendulum that held her spellbound.
"Give it to me….give it to me…give it to me…" whispered Lilith urgently. The beguiling mantra floating over the woman; both of them watching the talisman swing between them.
Riley wound the chain around her fingers and clasped the talisman in her hand and hesitated.
"Give it to me….give it to me…give it to me…" Lilith continued, unable to tear her eyes away from the one thing that would give her complete and utter freedom; the one thing that would ensure her dominance over the realms.
Riley smiled as she lowered the talisman towards Lilith's hand; ignoring the yells of Jack, Dee and Sam.
Lilith smiled as the talisman touched her skin and she closed her fingers around it; raised her head and roared in victory.
"Oh, I'll give it to you" said Riley and Lilith's roar stopped as she dropped her head and stared into the furious green eyes of the woman "NOW DEAN!" Riley yelled as she clamped her hand around Lilith's and the talisman.
Lilith gasped then howled as a sword pierced her back. She looked down in shock as it was driven through her chest; the blade pulsing with a bright light as it hovered over the talisman.
Dean leaned in close "That's the Sword of Damascus" he explain; a laugh escaping him "I've just shish-kebabed you, bitch!"
Riley stepped towards Lilith "You never staked your claim on me! I am the talisman's protector! Like my father before me! And his father before him! Back through the ages!" she put her face within inches of the writhing demon ""SANVEI! SANSANVEI! SEMANGELOF!"
Lilith howled as she heard the names of the three Angels yelled into her face. The talisman and the sword; illuminating to almost blinding; turning night to day as the sacred names were called upon to witness the completion of the vow pledged so long ago.
Dean and Riley held tight to the sword and talisman as Lilith began to convulse. They could see the hallowed light raging through the demon; snaking through her body as it poisoned it. Her skin began to blister; pustules forming on it as it blackened. The skin began to rot; fall from her limbs as the howling shrieks of the succubus shattered the desert landscape. They struggled to keep the talisman and sword together as Lilith shook violently; her keening reaching ear-splitting level. They grunted with the effort to stay upright as Lilith was engulfed in white flames; her screech cut short as she erupted in a shower of sparks that rose high into the night and were borne away on the warm desert winds. Three luminous figures gliding along with them.
Dean and Riley were pitched backwards as Lilith was destroyed. Both of them grunting as they hit the ground hard. Riley groaned as she felt someone lift her into a sitting position "I hurt everywhere" she muttered.
"Course you do" said Dee with a smile "You were thrown back twenty-feet"
Riley looked over to where Dean was "You alright?" she asked as Sam helped him to his feet.
He grinned at her and gave her the thumbs up sign "My ass hurts"
She looked up as Jack crouched in front of her; a grin splitting his face "And that's why you always beat me at poker" he took the talisman from her hands and put it back around her neck then helped her to her feet.
"So that's it?" asked Dee.
"Blew the bitch to bits" said Dean as he sauntered over, rubbing his ass.
"Yeah, it's over" said Jack as he smiled at his daughter "Riley…" he hugged her "I'm sorry, honey"
Riley shook her head as she hugged him "Don't be. I could never be angry with you"
He kissed her forehead "You kicked her ass" he turned to Dean and shook his hand "Well done, son"
"Pleasure" said Dean "Seriously, it was" he grinned.
A hunter came over and smiled at her "The texts were wrong it seems. Thank you for finishing what I started"
"Welcome" said Riley. She grinned at him "Don't do it again"
He laughed softly "I've learned my lesson" he turned to Jack "It's time to go"
Jack nodded and hugged Riley again "I knew you could do this, sweetheart" he kissed her forehead one last time "I love you, Riley" he smiled at her "Take me home"
She nodded "I will" she looked at him "I love you…Dad"
He smiled at her, put a hand to her face and turned; falling in step with the other hunters as they walked out of the town and into the desert. He looked back one last time; a smile on his face as he vanished into the night.
Dee put her arm around Riley's shoulder "Soooo….two tequila?"
Riley smiled "Race ya" and the two women took off.
Sam laughed softly as he turned to his brother "You alright, dude?"
Dean nodded "Just wondering what happened to that yellow-eyed prick"
Sam sighed "He'll be back, Dean. He always is"
Dean clapped Sam on the shoulder as they followed Riley and Dee back to the abandoned house. He turned as he felt the skin prickle at the back of his neck; that familiar yet disquieting feeling of being watched settling over him.
They'd one this battle…but the war wasn't over. It never was.
To be concluded.