Chapter 9: Attack of the Prom Queens
Disclaimer: Don't own them just play with them.
I did want to get this out sooner but life got in the way, plus my brain had an unexpected meltdown.
Alena, Poppyflake and Tacpebs: You guys are right he really doesn't know when to shut up does he?
Anyway hope you had a good holiday Alena (I could really do with one myself) and Tacpeds you're feeling less phlegmy. Hopefully supernaturalsammy67 survived the great British earthquake (it woke my Mum up in Manchester) and is still around. Thanks JP123 and Deangirl1 I hope you approve of the next chapter…..I kind of got a bit stuck on it.
Cheers
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"Your death will be the means by which we will bind our God to your brother." She promised him. Turning to her followers she commanded. "Prepare the sacrifice."
"Eileen! You don't have to do this. I'll do whatever you say just let him go?" begged Sam.
Dean managed a faint squeak of protest but his vision was already graying out and the only thing keeping him up right was the invisible force currently crushing the life out of him, not that he was going to let any of that stop him protecting his brother.
Sam glared at his brother. 'Why did the stubborn idiot always have to piss off the bad guys?'
Dean just glared back his gaze becoming more and more unfocused by the second but Sam still dropped his gaze first. He new exactly why his brother was drawing so much attention to himself and if Dean thought he would do anything less for him, he had another thing coming. "Just tell me what to do."
Eileen's thin lips twitched in amusement, her eyes cruel and calculating.
With a dismissive flick of her wrist she withdrew her power, dropping Dean to the floor.
Everything inside of Sam screamed for him to rush to his brothers' side but he stayed in place meeting Eileen's eyes with a steady gaze, keeping her focus solely on him. Dean wasn't the only one who could play this game.
Dean took in a few gasping breaths and shifted slightly so he wasn't resting his entire weight on his nose, it was hard enough to breathe as it was. Opening his eyes he located his two brothers and gave the closest one a weak "thumbs up."
Sam let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding as his brother began to stir, giving him a patented Dean Winchester smirk. Now if he'd only been looking at him, it might have been believable.
Shooting his brother a brief uncertain grin he returned his gaze to Eileen, trying to look strong and un-afraid.
Her cold stare reminded him of the boys who used to pull the wings off flies in elementary school.
"Watch" She commanded.
A high pitched scream cut through the air as a young woman was dragged into the chamber and forced to her knees infront of her.
The girl was terrified, her brown eyes rolling in her head, her breathing coming in ragged sobs.
Sam's mind was torn between relief that this wasn't happening to his brother and shock that it was happening at all. Tearing his eyes away he searched out his brother knowing what was going to happen next and unable to prevent it.
Dean began to push himself to his knees at the sound to the girls scream, duty and rage enough to put fire back into his limbs. He wasn't going to let this happen.
He never even made it off his knees.
"Dean!" Sam yelled, the desperation in his voice evident, when is brother collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Eileen hadn't even looked at him.
Panicked he tried to go to his brother but he found he couldn't move. Opening his mouth to deliver a venomous remark worthy of Dean himself he found his tongue stilled in his head. Then just when he thought he couldn't get anymore freaked out his head turned against his will to face the creature Eileen, he couldn't even flinch in protest.
Eileens focus remained on the girl cowering in front of her; she gave no sign of even noticing the attempted attack.
"You have betrayed your sisters Hillary and failed your god" She informed her victim, playing with the tassel of her robe like a cat toying with a piece of string. "Have I not been merciful? I gave you a great honour and the chance to atone for past transgressions by taking charge of the third of the sacred trial. I had even placed this one into your hands personally." She gestured towards Dean.
Sam watched it all with a sick sort of fascination; so this was Hilly Ashton, the girl Jake had cared too much about. She was also the girl who had plotted to kill his brother, who was responsible for so many of his injuries. He was furious with her and would happily support any Karmic retribution that happened to come her way but he couldn't bring himself to want her dead. He just didn't know how he could save her.
In the end though it wasn't left to Sam to save the day as always that was Deans' job.
The only warning that Dean was about to make his move; was a flicker in the corner of Sam's eye, but after years of dealing with his brother's self sacrificing "Hero complex", it was more than Sam needed and it didn't hurt that he was the only one looking for it either.
'Perhaps,' Sam considered, 'having rocks in your head just means it harder to dent because he had no idea how his brother was still alive never mind moving after the last couple of days. His brother was one though S.O.B.'
As attacks went it was kind of pathetic, just a kick to the back of the knee but it sure had a big affect. Sam didn't know if Eileen let him go due to shock or single minded fury as she hit the floor, but by the time she'd gotten to her feet and was advancing on Dean, only her fury was evident.
Pulling the knife from his boot, he lunged forward making the only attack he could think of that might have any affect.
The knife sliced across the binding symbol on Eileen's arm in a single move, cutting deep and sure.
Eileen screamed expelling her rage along with creature that inhabited her. Liquid tendrils of blackest night spewed forth, more intent in there actions than any billowing fog ever expelled by some poor demon possessed soul at the end of an exorcism.
Sam stumbled back, searching for his brother as the gaseous creature began to snuff the candles out with slow deliberation.
"You Okay?" He yelled trying to make himself heard over the screams of Eileen's terrified followers.
"Peachy" mouthed Dean, not even bothering to try and compete with the deafening roar. The cavern was beginning to rival amateur night at a thrash metal bar, or maybe a Black Sabbath concert, he could really see Eileen biting the head off a chicken.
"Where's the girl?" Mouthed back Sam, between the eerie glow of the black lights and the writhing mass of noxious gas that was rapidly filling the cavern, one screaming toga clad prom queen pretty much looked like any other screaming toga clad prom queen.
He grinned when his brother didn't let him down, Dean was better than a blood hound when it came to keeping track of a pretty girl. Grabbing his brother's sleeve, the two of them ran after Hilly only to lose her when the black light over their heads exploded showering them with thousand of superheated shards, as the whole cavern started to shake. Ducking into the nearest tunnel Sam swore, just for once it would be nice for someone they rescued to return the favor and at least show them the way out.
Looking back at Eileen, Sam gasped in shock right along with his brother, as the black tendrils deliberately reversed direction and started pouring back into the girl. "That can N0T be good." He yelled at his brother, pulling them both further into the tunnel.
Turning they ran, there was nothing else they could do. Sam's hand came up to wrap its self in the back of his brother's jacket, when his brother started to do an impression of a human pinball; he was barely staying up right. They stumbled on pushing through the oppressive darkness, as the walls turned from smooth to rough and the floor started to rise up to trip them at the most unexpected times.
It was becoming harder and harder for Dean to keep his feet, his head was pounding and he couldn't name a single part of him that wasn't currently screaming in protest, the noise in his head was deafening. 'Things really couldn't get any worse.'
Next to him Sam stumbled on the uneven ground, pitching forward he instinctively push off his brother in attempt to regain his balance but only succeeded in throwing him to the ground too.
Two thoughts ran simultaneously through Dean's head as his knees hit the ground; the first one being that he was going to kill Sam, the second was less pleasant. Freezing water was leaching its way up his body, the shock of it threatening to shut his already labored breathing down all together.
Forcing himself to concentrate Dean fumbled Sam's phone out of his pocket and flicked it open. The dim light wasn't even enough to illuminate all of Sam… just his shoes, which were dry. "What the hell Sam" He tried to complain but it was becoming increasingly difficult to push words out past the lump in his throat, so it came out more of an indignant grunt, but at least it got Sam moving.
Sam waded in to retrieve his downed brother, resisting the urge to laugh at the death glare which Dean was currently throwing in his general direction, he looked like a freshly landed fish. The water currently oozing its way into Sam socks as he pulled his brother up was cold but warmer than he would expect from an underground stream, it must have come from the surface.
"Looks like our luck finally changed." He grinned at his wheezing brother, only to have him hit him hard in the back of the head. "What?" Complained Sam before realizing what he had just done. It had been an unwritten rule between the two of them for as long as he could remember that you didn't tempt the fates, the Gods had enough fun playing with the Winchesters without giving them any extra help; and that was before they had an actual Goddess on their tale.
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Sheriff Sam Politska wasn't in the best of moods… and her Deputies knew it, not that any of them were feeling any better. They weren't set up for this; their last big case before this whole mess was trying to figure how the High School Seniors had managed to get the principles car into his office. The only person who had any real forensics training was the Sheriff and that was just the left over remnants of a life she no longer wanted to remember.
She had been tracking Sams cell phone from the moment she had let him out of her sight and had had moved her men to strategic points around the area, far enough way so as not to spook either Sam or the kidnappers but close enough to be of help if the need arose. So when it did it had taken them barely 5 minutes to arrive, but even that had been to long, there had been no sign of anyone and no body had passed her people on the way out. It was a mystery, one she was determined to solve.
They had drained the silo shortly after they had arrived and what she had seen there made her even madder than she had been in twenty years, she hated to think of the kid going through that.
Hank the oldest of her Deputies, jogged up behind her. "We found traces of wauding exactly where you said, they definitely used a tranquilizer gun. Oh and Janet called in, they're still not picking up anything on the missing cell."
Sam got to her feet and ran a hand through her graying hair. These boys were going to be the death of her yet. "Thanks Hank. Can you get Nick to run the trace over to Sisco at County? Tell him he can get examples of the boy's prints from the ones we pulled from their room and blood samples from Doc Shaw, both of those boys have bled enough around his place lately. Anything that doesn't match I need run through CODIS, and I'll need a full Tox screen on the blood we collected from the hatch."
Sam leaned back against the railing as she took one last look over the scene before her hoping to find anything she had missed, anything that would give her a clue to what the boys had got themselves into now. Pushing her hands deep into her pockets, her fingers brushed cool metal. Pulling out the pendant she ran the cord through her fingers a couple of times as she continued to think. A quote had been running through her head all day 'Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.' So much was reminding her of the past these days, but no matter what she did she still seemed doomed to repeat it.
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Sam propped Dean up against the wall, as he tried to deal with their latest problem. He'd been right; the stream did lead to the surface, or at least it would have if they were a rat or a particularly small midget. He could see daylight but the hole was way too small for either of them to fit through. He pushed at the rock around the hole hoping to find something he could pull loose and widen the hole but it was solid rock.
Dean had slumped to his side and was watching him with an intent gaze. "Sorry Bro it doesn't look like we're getting out this way." He apologized. Crouching down by his brother's side, he took advantage of the weak light filtering in from the surface to give Dean a quick once over. He looked terrible but that had pretty much become his brothers default look these days. It was the wheezing that had really got him worried, the older Winchester just couldn't seem to catch his breath.
"Dean tilt your head back for me, I need to get a look at your throat." His brother had his chin down against his chest and he wasn't too happy about the prospect of moving; he was having enough trouble breathing as it was. "Come on Dude, it's just for a minute." cajoled Sam, sounding worried. So as usual Dean relented, little brothers were a pain in the ass.
Sam hissed in sympathy as he took in the bruising, brushing a gentle finger down his brothers throat it was easy to feel the swelling even with the distraction of Dean making his opinion on the invasion of his personal known by taking a swipe at the younger man's head.
When Sam pushed up his chin Deans vision started to blur again, it hurt to breath. He struck out to try and get him to stop but the effort was to much, causing him to pass out momentarily. When he came to Sam was right up into his face clearly panicking.
"Talk to me Man" Demanded Sam, forcing his dazed brother to look at him. Dean blinked a couple of times, fighting to keep from passing out again as he fought to bring his breathing back under control. Although he still managed to shoot his brother a look which clearly conveyed 'Dude, does it look like I can talk right know?' at that comment.
Sam smiled despite his worry; Dean never did have a problem getting his point across. "Well at least something's going in our favor for a change."
His brothers' look took on a slightly feral edge; he clearly wasn't happy.
"Dude, I just saying not pissing off the Bad guys for once might actually be a good thing?"
Dean shot him another look, and throw in a couple of gestures for good measure.
'O.K', thought Sam, 'that really didn't need any translating.' Throwing up his hands in mock regret, he backed off a little, pulling off what was left of his over shirt as he did so. Turning back to the stream he ripped off the sleeve and soaked it in the cold water for a moment before turning back to his brother. Dean's chin had dropped back to his chest and his eyes were closed, he looked like he had fallen asleep. Sam reached out and lifted his brother's chin slightly, intent on applying the cold compress.
Dean's foggy mind took a moment to register the attack, as pain once more shot through his throat, he counter attacked instinctively and bit down hard on the hand holding his face.
Sam yelped in pain as his brother's teeth cut into the sensitive flesh between his thumb and fingers. He struck out hard hitting the elder Winchester in the shoulder, forgetting for a moment in his pain the healing bullet wound located there, his brother only clamped down harder in response.
"Dean! For Gods sake let go!" He yelled, momentarily forgetting the need to be quiet.
The pain in his bothers voice was enough to cut through the haze inside Dean's head and he let go. Sam yanked his hand away and pulled it tight into his chest, giving his brother a reproachful glare as he did so. "Man that hurt!" Sam complained. Dean blinked owlishly at him a couple of times and then shrugged, totally unapologetic.
Disgruntled, Sam reluctantly regained his composure for once choosing to be the bigger man and just focus on the job at hand. "Dean we need to get this compress on your throat, it will help with the swelling." This time Sam waited until his brother gave him a slight nod, before approaching him; he had learnt his lesson.
The compress helped, even if Dean didn't want to admit it and found himself able to focus for the first time in what seemed like hours. Sam was standing by the hole to the surface trying not to get to wet as he searched for a signal. If nothing else his brother was one stubborn bastard, he wasn't going to give up.
Sam scowled at the phone, he was picking up one flickering bar which disappeared whenever he got the phone anywhere is head. He'd already tried the Sheriff twice only to have it cut out before it even connected. Changing tactics he typed out a quick text message and held the phone as far up into the hole as he could before sending it. It took a moment but to Sam's relief it actually sent. Grinning he headed back to his brother.
"I got a message through to Bobby; I gave him the Sheriffs number and told him to contact her." Sam smiled as his brothers eyes lit up, Bobby always came through for them and more importantly they trusted him with their lives. It was just a shame that Dean wasn't going to like the rest of what he had to say quite so much. "I'm going to head back out, draw them off for a bit. Give the others time to bail us out." Dean shook his head violently, adamant that this wasn't going to happen. "We need information," insisted Sam, "we have no idea what that fiasco with Eileen did to the state of play. We could be sitting here for no reason," he didn't believed that, and neither did Dean; it was much more likely that they has just pissed off the big bad….even more, "I'll be careful Bro but I need to go."
The two of them sat in silence for a moment. They both knew why Sam really wanted to go. Dean wasn't doing too well and they both knew it. The elder Winchester nodded slowly, not in the least bit happy but he new he couldn't stop Sam anymore than Sam could have stopped him if their positions were reversed.
"I won't be long.", promised Sam. His brother just nodded looking visibly upset, which was unusual for the elder Winchester to say the least. Sam sighed, Dean hated being sidelined, it made him feel helpless, which was something his brother had never dealt with very well. Thinking fast he handed the phone back to Dean. "Text works if you get close enough to the hole. See if you can get Bobby up to date." It wasn't much, but it was something.
Getting up he headed back down the stream a little way before turning back to his brother giving him a small smirk. "Dean." His brother looked up to meet his gaze. "If they attack just… bite them O.K?" His brother just rolled his eyes, but returned the smirk.
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Bobby Singer reached down and scratched Brutus behind the ear. As a guard dog the mutt was a complete waste of space, it was dumb as post and despite outward appearances the giant Pit-bull was about as tough as a marshmallow, but he couldn't bring himself to get rid of him. He'd always had a soft spot for strays. Jim had always said 'God watches over children and fools', he wasn't sure where animals fit in but a dog that got its ass kicked by a 2 lb kitten had to come in there somewhere. Off to his side phone buzzed once to let him know he had a message but he ignored it reaching for the peroxide instead. "Come on boy, let's get you cleaned up." Pouring the peroxide onto some gauze he cleaned off the whimpering dog's muzzle. "Nice try mutt", growled Bobby, as Brutus did his best to look even more pathetic "but it works better without the tail."
Finishing up he heaved the dog off the table, giving the animal an affectionate cuff as he did so. "Now gitt", he ordered the dog, "and next time… pick a fight you can win." The dog trotted off, tail still wagging.
Walking over to the fridge he pulled out a beer and popped the cap, before picking up the phone. He let out a harassed sigh when he saw the name, 'Speaking of strays, what have those two idiots got themselves into this time, it hadn't even been a week since the last mess they had dropped on his door. Maybe Brutus wasn't the only one who needed to learn to pick their fights.'
He opened the message and felt his eyebrows start making their way up into his hairline. It was short particularly by Sam's standards, just a number and two words 'Trust her'. 'This couldn't be good.'
Taking a long pull from the beer, to try and settle the bad feeling that was setting up shop in the pit of his stomach, he set the phone ringing, not entirely sure what he was going to find on the other end.
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