Arýza Chapter 8: Part VIII, an American McGee's Alice + Supernatural Crossover fanfic

Title: Arýza

Rated for:Language, mentions of abuse, sex, insanity

Genre:Angst, Hurt, Adventure, Suspense

Fandom/Universe: America McGee's Alice / Supernatural

Characters: Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester and OC's.

Pairings: Dean/OC, OC/Hatter, OC/Cheshire Cat

Spoilers/Warning: We will be moving from S4 to S5 and maybe there will be spoilers then, not sure.

Disclaimer:Supernatural and all related characters are copyright Eric Kripke, Kripke Enterprises & The CW Network. Alice belongs to American McGee, EA and Rogue Entertainment. No infringement intended.

Summary: There is a purpose and a reason for everything…She was never just a girl, not when the angels watched over her and Underland was in her blood.

Status: Guess who stayed up working on this all night?

Bobby takes a drink of his coffee and splutters when the front door crashes open. Sam drops the porcelain head; it shatters on the wooden floor. Both hunters grab at the nearest weapons, Sam with the fire place poker and Bobby with his sawed-off. Four men, identical to the last detail of their faces and that is certainly strange enough, each in some sort of uniform; long sleeved shirt, jeans and dark red jackets.

"Demons?"

Both are almost positive they aren't that. In the next instant they attack, all at once which is strange and Bobby shoots.

'One down, three more to kill.'

"What the hell…" Bobby watches the man slowly get up, blood soaking into the shirt and jeans while it grins.

Bobby takes a step back. It-because that can't be a man- so, it stands up. It shows no pain, no wince, not a sound though it's bleeding. Not that it does Bobby any good.

Sam fares a little better with the fire poker. He takes on two, knocks them down with a couple of blows and the third draws blood. It's a clean swipe down Sam's arm- shallow but it still hurts enough to bleed.

Neither wants to get up though the sun is shining bright behind the curtain and Sam stomped his way down stairs twenty minutes ago. Bobby has just gone down and Dean knows that Arýza is awake, just as reluctant to leave their bed.

"Guess… it's our turn." The lack of enthusiasm in her voice is a match to his. The bed-springs whine again even with her slight weight as she sits up. He tugs on the sheet she's covering up with and gets a little sound of protest from her that seems to give him way too much satisfaction for such a simple little thing. There's a smile on Dean's face watching Arýza quickly grab at the floor and slip into the old flannel shirt again. He likes the sight of her swimming in the big shirt and he turns to his side watching as she buttons up.

He's watching her expression, the little pout of her full lips as she focuses on those buttons. Her small hands easily slipping each one into place and her pale skin is covered up inch by inch like he can't see all her bruises anyway. He spent the night memorizing each one. Every mark and he wishes it could've been different for her…all those dreams she had of a life, same as his if he lets himself think about it.

It's a new day. It's time to face the reality of their lives and while Dean has taken a few hours for himself he's reluctant to drag Arýza from this respite.

"I put your bag over there." He points to the chair and she seems surprised by that. Dean just couldn't bring himself to get rid of it, leave it behind… He was so used to seeing it in the trunk. Stubbornness kept him from leaving it at Bobby's even when Sam pointed out the space it took up in the trunk.

"Thank you." Fresh clothes, toothbrush, a comb! Little luxuries Arýza is grateful to have in hand. The bed-springs squeak as she bounces into bed, her lips pressing a kiss to his smile and just as quickly she's across the room. She hefts the strap onto her shoulder and nods towards the door in question.

"Ladies first." He's rewarded with a smile and this one makes her eyes sparkle. He stretches lazily and watches his pixie skip out of the room and into the bathroom in the hall.

Arýza looks back, her breath catching at the pain in her chest and the familiar sight of her Cat but then Dean couldn't see himself in the mirror. He has no idea when he's Cat, when he flashes that smug grin of his or like now, stretching out in bed and the sheets barely keeping him decent… She's across the hall, blinking back fresh tears. The sound of voices drifts up intelligible and with the door closed there is silence. The first thing Arýza finds in her bag is the long knife- the blade engraved in a fancy design of curves. It feels warm in her hand- familiar- and testing it is pleased by the perfect balance.

"Castiel…" she glances up to the ceiling as if she could see to heaven, wondering if he'll hear and smiles thinking of the angel.

Arýza puts the blade back in her bag and dresses quickly. Dark jeans and a loose shirt, it's a ratty thing but comfortable. It hangs off her shoulder because she cut the neck wider. The sleeves are frayed and still a little long but she won't cut those again. She stops to look in the mirror; for the first time in years Arýza fuses with her hair.

Sam ducks the knife and blocks with the poker, he shoves the twin off and kicks it into the wall. Books slip out of the shelf thumping into the floor. He can hear Bobby fending off the other twin when two more appear in the hallway. They only pause to glance at him, neither moves in to help finish the job and why should they? Four identical looking men in the same clothes… Sam doesn't understand what the hell is going on and he doesn't have time to figure it out.

The twins continue down the hall and Sam spares a glance towards the ceiling. His brother is still up there. And so is Arýza.

Dean sits up at the first shot. He grabs his jeans and pulls them on snagging a shirt from the end of the bed when the second shot rings through the house. He's half dressed as Arýza hurries out of the bathroom and Dean's trying to lace up his boots or at least keep from tripping him. He looks up at the sound of her hurrying across the hall.

"Get in here."

Arýza obeys the order without question. Her bag lands on the floor with a heavy thump, ignored. She stands there, close enough to touch and yet it feels they're miles apart. She's not what he thinks, more than she's said… Arýza doesn't know her place with them, not now and what is there for her to do?

"Lock the door and don't come out unless I say." He brushes past her, his colt in hand and stops at the door. He spares a lingering look for the girl he's only just gotten back. She seems too calm, unafraid? He doesn't have time to figure it out while Bobby and Sam are shooting up the house. He grabs the brass door knob and closes it. He takes the stairs two at a time and grips the colt in both hands as he turns into the long hall.

"Not demons!" Sam falls into the hallway, still swinging his poker and knocks the dagger out of a red sleeved hand.

"What the hell?" Dean is just a little surprised. There are two men walking towards him, twins in matching outfits. He takes aim and shoots.

Arýza rushes to the bed. Her hand slips between the mattress and Cat's knives are exactly where she left them. It's the second time she's taken them from Bobby. She starts for the door with every intention of disobeying Dean. From the very start he set the rules and not once did Arýza ever question them. She did as they asked, knowing they were only trying to keep her safe but this time…

From the corner of her eyes Arýza catches the glint of silver and stops. The hilt is sticking out of her bag. She doesn't think twice, just grabs the blade and slips it into her boot. She can barely feel it pressed against her leg but it's secure. Its hers, a legacy she's not going to run from anymore.

With the door open the shouts are loud and in the hall she can begin to make out their voices. Someone is shooting and Sam's warning; "Not demons."

Arýza pauses at the top of the stairs, she has that feeling again- just like the first night the Winchesters came into her life. The same as any time it was one of them sent to kill her. Hell or Underland… both sides had a reason to try. It's no good wishing it was just nerves, a healthy fear of the unknown down stairs-

Dean slams into the banister hard enough the wood creaks and all she can see of his attacker is a dark red sleeve. Both disappear, out of her line of sight and Arýza breaks from her daze and hurries down.

"Rýza!"

Dean can't believe her. He kicks at the twin, grappling with him but can't break free. He doesn't stop trying to get the upper hand because the second one is moving to the staircase- he's heading for her.

Arýza is half way down the stairs, her path blocked and it smiles.

"Rýz!"

She doesn't respond, doesn't acknowledge Dean, doesn't move either. This thing standing in her way looks like a man but she knows it isn't that.

"I don't have to be real to hurt you."

He promised to kill them all.

"They can't stop me and you know it."

The RedKing sent them, the Hearts.

Arýza hurries down the last steps; she kicks the Heart using him as a step to leap over the banister. She lands behind the Heart trying to choke Dean, Cat's knives hilt deep in its back. She yanks it off Dean and around, pulling free. The Heart turns but Arýza's arm is halfway across and the head rolls, easily separating. The second Heart comes at her. She ducks the swing at her head, moves as she's been taught; knee to the chest and an upward slash that curves across the neck.

Quick. Not a wasted breath or movement. Exactly asCheshiretaught her all those years ago…

"Take the heads." She doesn't check to see if Dean is ok, to ask his permission, to explain… Not when the RedKing is doing his best to keep his promise.

Bobby swings his shot gun and knocks the damn thing out of his way. There are bullet holes in the walls of his living room and that just pisses him off.

"Heart!"

It turns and both see Arýza rush into the kitchen, Dean standing in the hall behind her with his mouth slightly open and the boy just looks surprised.

She's got those knives again and damn it, Bobby thought he'd hidden them much better than last time. He's just as surprised when the girl decapitates the thing trying to kill him. Silvery-green eyes look up and there's a smear of blood on her cheek.

"Guns are no good. You have to cut off their heads."

"Right." Bobby nods.

Of course they do.

He doesn't put down his shot gun.

Sam kicks it off him, rolls to his feet and gets a glimpse of Dean rushing down the hall towards him. Sam uses the poker to stab and the point slips into the bloody chest. Its…soft. Sam grimaces hearing the slight sucking sound and thinks of Dean slurping down jell-o.

"The head, Sam!"

Sam kicks it again, knocks it down and Dean comes into the living room behind them.

"Cut the head off."

It looks at them, pissed off and scrambles up only Sam grabs at the poker still sticking out of it and shoves it to the floor, his foot pressed into its stomach and still it won't stay down.

Dean grabs the little shovel from the fireplace. He's not happy with the piece of krap but it's got a flat edge and just hopes the damn thing can cut through knowing it's unlikely. He puts his weight into it and is shocked when the head separates rather easily. There was hardly any resistance at all and Dean's cut off plenty of heads to know it's never this easy.

'Like cutting paper.' And that's weird because they sure as hell feel solid- they damn well hit hard.

The back door crashes open.

Bobby jerks around and gets shoved by Arýza. The girl lightly lands on top of his kitchen table and Bobby's glaring at her back. They're all doing their best to fuck up his house.

Arýza is crouched, hands gripping the knives and ready to spring, she only waits for the Hearts to make their move. Bobby automatically aims his shot gun and scowls. Apparently shooting them wasn't going to do him much good and he doesn't feel like having to patch up his kitchen as well.

The Hearts each have a long dagger, they move at the same time and Arýza leaps over their heads. She lands behind them, knives in their backs but they turn on her and she loses her grip on one. She kicks it back and ducks the elbow coming at her face. Cat's knife leaves a long gash as she drags it down. Both Hearts come at her, slashing and doing their best to kill the Underlanders' Champion.

Sam and Dean move to help and Bobby's pulling out a knife from the drawer near the sink - he's got an assortment of knives stashed in there - while Arýza deals with the Hearts. Arýza stumbles closer to the back door, short of breath and wincing from the kick she couldn't avoid. Dean has no idea what the hell is wrong with Arýza. He's got reason to be upset because he clearly told her to stay put and that sure as hell doesn't mean come out and start- start to-

The brothers have no clue why this is happening, what the carbon copy's are but it's clear they are dealing with something of hers. She knows how to kill them. She knows how to kill…

It's the thought in both their minds watching Arýza move and Dean is just a little slower- what the hell happened to his shy, quiet girl? Because this girl is dealing with two of those things. Two, while Sam and Dean handled one.

To be fair, the brothers don't know the rules. That doesn't stop Sam from grabbing his 9mm while Bobby throws his cleaver at the twin.

Dean watches, trying to process what he knows and what he's seeing. Arýza jumping on the Heart and flipping him across the kitchen while Bobby takes the longer meat knife and moves in on the one clawing at the meat cleaver in its back. He cuts off the head easily.

'Take the head, huh.'

At the first shot Arýza ducks into a crouch instead of standing up. She's almost certain the Heart will ignore that and scoots her way under the table and out the opposite side making sure to kick the table in the Heart's way.

Dean hunches a little at the sound- ever careful of flying bullets.

Bobby hunches down as well and glares at Sam.

"Don't shoot 'em!" though it looks like Bobby will be patching up his kitchen after all. Hell, it's not the first time and to be honest, he's done worse to it on his own.

The chairs scrape and the table gets shoved aside. Arýza is up and the Heart is right there. She digs her knife in its thigh, the second knife slicing up its chest. Its head rolls off and the body crumples.

Dean stands in its place, meat cleaver in hand, green eyes on her. She's breathing a little fast, blood smears on her cheek and neck, there's more on her shirt and sleeves-

Arýza looks away first, quickly stepping around Dean to avoid the question she can see there. All those times he and Sam would spar, when she'd run from Dean and avoid any 'training' he'd try and teach her… And she was very capable of taking care of herself without it. It's a lie of omission and to be fair Arýza just thought Underland was a dream. Her romps with Cat and Hatter nothing more than a fantasy…

She's counting the bodies in the kitchen- three and moves towards the hall where the first two Hearts have lost their heads and that makes five.

"What are they?" Sam makes to follow Arýza but ends up blocking the way into the kitchen as she moves towards them again. She steps away from him, careful not to touch Sam and her eyes drop to the floor. She moves down hall towards the front door and heads into the living room without answering.

"Six." She looks around but that's all she can see. "There's only six."

They don't know why it matters and right now Sam could care less. He wants to know what they are and all three men are staring at her.

"Hearts." She grips Cat's knives in her small hands hard, eyes flitting from Bobby to Sam and avoids Dean. She can't look at him and see the confusion, and she knows he has to be angry. "They are the CardGuards from Underland. Your guns won't kill them." She looks pointedly at the 9mm still in Sam's hand before glancing at the walls peppered with bullet holes. "They're paper- some are more like cardboard." And they have no hearts because in Underland they have bloody heart shaped holes and carry lances.

"Why are they here?"

'Because he promised to kill you all.'

Arýza doesn't tell them why. She knows the Hearts are after her, that the RedKing wants her dead and after what she's done in Underland- both Cat and her… She couldn't beat him but she lives and that is enough for the RedKing.

"There should be more…" Arýza frowns. "Ten- like in a suit."

"Su-?"

The floor boards creak and she turns to the hall before any of them.

"Have you enjoyed your gift?"

Dean takes in the perfect stance, her arms kept slightly bent, knives at the ready. He has watched her fight these Hearts but it's not like anything he's seen before. She moves weaving in and out of their reach, closing in to strike and it's more like a dance- she dances… Graceful- each move flowing into the next. Beautiful and alarming because it's her, this girl he's only ever known to be quiet, shy and withdrawn. She is not a brawler, not some loud mouthed chick. Dean likes the quiet girl, he's comfortable with her and this- this girl now…

'Is hot.'

As soon as that thought is complete there's a scowl on his face.

Arýza has always been more. He knew that the first day, knew it before he realized she was the one thing he most wants and can't allow himself to have.

The hand of heaven has pulled his strings; Dean has fought it- rebelled against what they've asked and all he's managed to get is more pain, more suffering…

Arýza… it's in her blood; this destiny and it scares her.

In that they understand each other, and they both find themselves trying to make things right once more. Because their lives are a mistake they'll keep trying to correct.

"Stayne."

He laughs at the hiss of his name and leans on the door frame. The Un-Alice is bloody, claws at the ready and he recognizes the knives she holds.

"Hello," Stayne eyes the Hunters. "I have a few more." He tilts his head over his shoulder and two more Hearts stand ready. "His Majesty sends you thanks."

Arýza doesn't get why. She has done nothing for the RedKing and the Knave can see her confusion.

"For the Mirror, of course."

She tenses at mention of the looking glass.

"It's not here." The words are out of her mouth before she can stop them. It's a terrible lie and everyone knows it.

"Of course not." Stayne chuckles and straightens once more. Arýza backs a step in response and its clear to them she is afraid of the Knave.

His eyes travel the length of the room taking in the headless Heart at her feet. There's a pool of blood around the body and he's thinking maybe he couldn't have asked for two instead of one suit. "Kill them."

The Hearts move into the living room at his order. The back door bangs open and the last Hearts of the suit approach Bobby.

"Not that one." Stayne pauses in the hallway and levels his gaze on Sam, pointing. "He's off limits."

Bobby looks surprised, a little more than Sam, and Dean remembers what Arýza said just a few hours ago.

"It was Sam."

Sam has that look again, the guilty expression and Dean is way curious about it. He frowns but there isn't time to ask questions as the Hearts move in.

Arýza has a choice; it's the two Hearts or Stayne. Either or, but not both. The RedKing wants the mirror and the Knave heads into the hall, like he knows where it is. She doesn't know why they want it but she is not going to let them take her mirror.

The Hearts make straight for Arýza as Dean moves past his brother, who heads into the kitchen after Bobby. Arýza backs up, never takes her eyes off the Hearts and when they strike she ducks the combined attack.

"Take their heads."

It's the only warning Dean has as she rushes towards the hallway and Stayne. She doesn't stop to help him and the Hearts turn to follow her. Its Dean's perfect opportunity and he still has the cleaver.

'The Mirror.'

It's what they are after and it's the only thing she needs to be concerned about. She tells herself they are capable of protecting themselves. All three men are experienced Hunters, this is what they do and the Winchesters have been trained from a very young age… Arýza can't help glancing over her shoulder to where Dean has beheaded a Heart. Another step and Arýza turns into the hall where Stayne leisurely walks towards the staircase. He's humming a familiar tune, one Arýza quickly recognizes. It reminds her of Hatter's Tea Parties. She feels the heavy weight of what she didn't stop settle in the pit of her stomach and it makes breathing just a little difficult.

Bobby hacks at a Heart, it's easier to cut than it is to hit. It's in the back of his mind, wondering why the damn thing feels solid and yet a knife cuts through it like butter. Out of the corner of his eye, Bobby watches Sam get kicked. The kid doubles over but the Heart isn't using that long knife.

Out of breath and bleeding, Sam feels the throbbing pulse of the cut along his arm like an extra heartbeat. The Heart smacks him again.

"Sam!"

It's the tone of voice that cuts through the fog in Sam's head.

'They won't kill me.'

It's the order the Knave gave the Hearts though it doesn't stop 'em from hurting him. Sam remembers the faint image in the mirror before Arýza disappeared in the brilliant flash of light.

'They won't kill me.' But his brother and Bobby are expendable.

Sam grabs the fist coming at his face and hauls the Heart around, rams him head first into the wall and is just a little sorry for the crack and the plaster that rains down. They are fucking up Bobby's house.

The gruff old hunter sports a cut along his arm and the front of his old flannel shirt is ripped open. He's not as fast as the young ones but he's tough and he's not about to go easy. Sam's Heart is shoved out of the kitchen and that's one less for him to deal with.

Bobby gets a breather, just a bit of space while Sam grabs the Heart slashing at his old bones and slams it face first onto the counter. When it reels back, Bobby swings his knife. There's a splatter of blood that flows in an arch, the tail end of the Heart's head as it flips end over end.

There are three headless bodies, each one lying in a pool of its own blood at Dean's feet. He knows Bobby won't be pleased with the mess but at least they'll still be alive to hear him bitch about it.

Dean moves into the kitchen, cleaver in hand, ready to finish off the Hearts only to find Sam and Bobby with the headless Heart at their feet. Sammy's bruised face sports a cut eyebrow and its bleeding into his eye. Still, Sasquatch is alive and breathing as well as Bobby. Its Arýza he turns to now and stepping into the short hallway moves in behind the Heart trying to slash at his pixie.

Dean grabs the Heart as Arýza ducks under the shiny swipe of the blade. She kicks it and the heavy weight of it slams Dean into the wall but he doesn't let go.

Stayne barely spares them a glance as he starts up the stairs. Halfway to the 2nd floor there's a sharp pain in his thigh and looking finds the bright silver handle of Cheshire's knife. Stayne finds Arýza taking the stairs two at a time, the matching blade in her hand. He pulls it out of his thigh and swings at her. He'd love to kill her, the Un-Alice but he's been ordered not to. All he's left with is pain- he'll hurt her, any chance he gets because the RedKing wants to kill her himself.

Arýza tries her best to match the Knave's speed. It's not easy and thoughts of Cat keep distracting her. She can't help but think how much easier it would be and realizes how much she was dependent on him. There's nothing left of the world she knew, nothing of her family and Underland as it was meant to be- as Cat showed her… it's gone as well. All that Arýza has left is here, just a small bit of wonder and beauty thanks to the green eyed hunter fighting to stay alive- to save this world…

Stayne slashes at a downward arc and Arýza has to use both hands to stop the blade. She feels the impact of his knee in her chest and the deafening crack as the banister gives way under her slight weight. She thinks it might have been Dean and the Heart who weakened it…

"I'm fine." Bobby shoves at Sam who's pressing a towel on the deep cut in Bobby's arm and another to his chest. "Help your brother."

Sam doesn't think twice of disobeying, he jumps to help Dean and grabs the butcher knife Bobby dropped. In the hallway the Heart is missing a hand, the knife is on the ground between them and it's pissed. Dean takes another swing at it, just missing but he doesn't let up.

Arýza lies on the floor a foot away, the broken banister in pieces- like there's time to rest and the Knave is limping its way up the last few steps. She's struggling to get up, a little breathless but she makes it to her feet and then she's heading up the stairs after him.

Sam is beside Dean in three strides but by then big brother has the Hearts head rolling off its shoulders.

Dean steps over the body, it's pretty damn clear where he's going and Sam can't help the frown on his face.

"Keep an eye out for more." Dean orders as turns to the stairs ignoring everything else as he yells at Arýza.

Stayne can hear her come up the creaking attic stairs- loud thundering steps before she jumps on him. Arýza gets a few shallow cuts before he can get her off. It's harder than it should've been and when she looks up from the ground, crushed boxes and dust clouds surround her, there's a little more blood on her than before.

"You couldn't stop him." He straightens to his full height, the pain in his thigh and on his chest just an annoyance he can easily ignore. "And this," he swipes lightly at the cuts on his chest that bleed slowly into the dark shirt beneath his jacket. "This is all you can do. You're no match for me little girl." He laughs, a slow chuckle filled with derision. "You're precious animal isn't around to help you now."

"You bear his mark." The silvery-eyes narrow, focus on the shallow scar left by Cat's knife. She was there, she knows when, how and the twitch of Stayne's hand says he does too.

She's on her feet a lot faster than he expected. She is a fighter after all; the Un-Alice, Champion of Underland…

"Here's another!" Arýza leaves a matching gash on his chest.

Dean walks in as Stayne brings his hand down on Arýza. It's a harsh blow that knocks the slight girl to the floor yet again though it doesn't keep her down. She's half up when the heavy boot slams into her side and she's rolling away from the Knave painfully aware of the lack of air in her lungs.

"Cheshirewasn't much help to you there." Stayne gloats. "Just another Underlander wasting time believing a girl had any power to change Underland." He winces, the wound bleeding more as he kneels beside her. "You're not evenAlice."

Arýza drags in a harsh breath, her side burns like a thousand fires have been lit and the Knave is just a blur before her but Cat's knife is very real in her hand.

"How could Cheshire ever think the dream version of Underland would prepare you for the reality of it?" he laughs and it's enough to bring Arýza's hand up, the tip of Cat's knife catching his face as Stayne retreats.

"It was real!" she's up again, the pain in her side ignored in favor of the anger churning in her gut.

"Fantasy!" Stayne roars, blood running down his face. "All the old woman did was buy you time and you spent that playing house with your Cat in his version of Underland."

"Liar!" Arýza lunges without thought, without the level head Cat's always insisted she keep in order to win. She can't think when what the Knave has said is true. Her youth is no excuse; she can't say it was a teenage girl's fantasy and leave it at that. There is too much to lose, too much that has already been lost because of her fear and denial of things Arýza did not want to believe.

"You can't escape it." Stayne grabs her wrist in his hand, fingers digging into her skin. His fist leaves a mark on her cheek, the second blow cuts her lip. "Underland is in your blood." His fist smacks her again, he twists her arm and she finally drops Cat's knife. She can't breathe because the Knave planted his boot in her stomach.

Arýza hits the floor hard.

"There's nowhere you can hide." Stayne is smug. "And we don't stop." He certainly won't and soon enough the RedKing will let him loose.

Dean takes the scene before him in one glance. Arýza on the ground, hurt and bleeding while the Knave gloats. Their reflections barely register and Dean moves behind with his knife.

Stayne doesn't miss the Cat stalking towards him in the mirror. He brings his arm back, elbow connecting with Dean's chest. They have a short scuffle, each trading blows and drawing blood. Dean ends up in the pile of boxes and some old hazardly hung cages clatter on top of him.

"He's not much better out of Underland." Stayne gloats as Arýza tries again. Empty handed she can't cause him real pain though she tries. "Ineffectual." He says. "I do hope Hatter enjoyed you enough."

Arýza kicks him, her fist aimed at his throat. The Knave is on his knees but he's quick and grabs Arýza forcing her back to his chest, a big hand wrapped around her throat and cutting off her air.

"You see?" he looks at their reflection in the mirror. The girl trying to breath past the grip he has on her throat. She is hurting and Stayne pulls her arm just a little further loving the grimace of pain on her features. "Its all wrong, how do you expect the door to open like this, little 'Alice'?" he mocks her and her struggles grow weak. Reluctantly he lets go, dropping her in front of the mirror where she coughs and drags in breath after breath.

"Kill me." Her voice is just a raspy whisper. "I won't stop." She warns half sitting up, her back to the mirror. "I'll find a way back. I am going to kill the RedKing." She takes deep breaths, silvery-green eyes steady and he laughs.

"Your only hope of destroying him, or any door… is lost." Stayne laughs, he half turns away from her, eyes on the struggling Hunter shoving krap off himself. "You don't have the Vorpal blade."

Dean knocks a cage aside, the metal clanging as it hits the floor. He can see them, or rather their reflections in the mirror and that is just…

The Knave is in full armor; black and huge standing in front of Arýza. Its Arýza's reflection that catches Dean's attention; long black hair flowing loose, the blue dress- her small hand reaching towards her leg encased in lace stockings.

Dean steps half out of the ruble and stops. He didn't want to believe her, about the cat but he can't deny what's staring back at him from the mirror.

Cat is nothing at all like the cartoon kitten. This Cat is…he's…lethal. That's all he can think of to describe what he sees. The black hair, the knives he's holding… but the face.

'That's me.'

It is Dean's face and he almost reaches up to touch it, just to make sure it isn't some hallucination. Because Dean knows his eyes aren't some creepy rainbow shade, his eyes are green and they've been green since he was born. Dean wouldn't be comfortable with his hair long- hell it bugs the fuck out of him and yet his reflection… Cat's black hair reaches his shoulders in smooth waves.

"What the fuck…"

"All the ones before you failed to sever any ties to Underland."

It's part of her.

Stayne eyes her, the small hand that wipes the blood from her lip then reaches into her boot. She draws the silver blade and it glints, shimmering brighter as her blood drips on the blade.

"No."

Arýza sits up, full lips pulled into a satisfied smile.

The Knave is afraid.

"NO!" he grabs for her as Arýza pushes off the floor and turns towards the mirror.

Her reflection is clothed in the same white suit as she wore on the chessboard, inky hair pulled back into a braid and now she can see the combs holding it out of her eyes. Silver half-moons with the same delicate pattern as the Vorpal blade. For a second she allows herself a brief smile at the image.

"Don't!" Stayne feels the impact of the Vorpal blade as Arýza stabs the mirror. It pierces the surface and sinks into it with little resistance. Cracks spread from the point of impact quickly; long lines in jagged cuts and Arýza turns her face from the surface feeling the soft breeze it emits.

The mirror shakes, a long groaning sound fills Bobby's attic and Arýza grips the gold leaf frame trying to hold it upright. She won't let go of the Vorpal blade, can't.

Dean has a sense of déjà vu seeing Arýza with the mirror. It glows brighter especially through the cuts and the loud ringing is just as painful as hearing the angels trying to 'speak' with their true voices. He thinks maybe he does hear voices, unintelligible and very soft whatever they say really doesn't matter more than what they feel. Dust picks up, stirred by a phantom wind though he feels it too.

The mirror shatters, Dean yells her name and thousands of shards shoot towards them. The Knave is cut, shredded to pieces and blown back towards Dean. The blinding light from the looking glass blots out everything.

Bobby and Sam fall as the house shakes. The wood groans and creaks, dust floats out of tiny crevasses and cracks appear in the walls. It's an old house and the shaking hasn't helped it any. Bobby's makeshift office-living room is littered with headless bodies and books strewn about… there's a huge mess to be cleaned up but that will wait until everyone has been accounted for and patched up.

"Bobby?" Sam calls looking into the kitchen to find the old man sitting on the floor in the corner. He is relieved and just as quickly finds himself worried for his brother but Bobby is right there and Dean would want Sam to help him first.

"What the hell was that?" Bobby grumbles shoving boxes of food off only to sneeze as a can of pepper tips over. He swipes at his face but only sneezes again and it hurts because the cut on his chest feels like it's covered in fire ants.

Sam grabs Bobby's hand and hauls him up. He gives the kitchen a quick pass and almost apologizes for the mess. Cupboards are hanging open, their insides spilled onto the floor and Bobby's dishes lie broken among the foodstuff. A long list of groceries… that's one more thing they'll owe Bobby for his help.

"Where's your brother?"

Sam starts towards the stairs and Bobby follows him. He winces, feeling the cuts on his chest sting but hurries up into the attic where Stayne went after the mirror. Bobby hopes they didn't get it, that the 'earthquake' is a good sign because he just can't have one more bad piece of news. No sir….

They find Dean kicking krap out of his way, boxes spilling their contents and cluttering Dean's path. Sam quickly moves to help him and between them Dean finally gets some headway.

"Rýza." Dean calls her again but she hasn't answered, she hasn't said anything- not a sound and she hasn't moved. Fear grips his chest like a vice slowly being squeezed. It's a phantom reminder of what he's experienced with his brother all his life but this girl brings out some seriously strong feelings and its freaking him out.

She's been telling him the truth from the moment she woke up. He's both, he's Dean and he's Cat and why the hell couldn't he see that last night? The mirror… With Sam's help they clear the space where it once rested. The frame is kindling now, gold pieces of wood scattered around her and Dean keeps pulling off more krap though very carefully.

"Rýz…"

She's covered in broken bits of glass, lying face down and still. Sam almost reaches down to touch her but remembers the bruises on her wrist. It was him, his touch and so he does as Cas has ordered. Sam doesn't touch their pixie but his foot slips on some kindling and he falls on half empty boxes.

"What happened?" Bobby can't see past the clutter, both of them obstructing his view though it's pretty clear all of his home is in ruins. The one window in the attic is broken, the wind blowing in through scatters more dust.

"That's a lot of blood, Dean." Sam doesn't think there's anything for them to do that can help her. He scrambles up on his knees, sees the blood oozing under her shirt just as well as his brother can see it. Her shirt is shredded, ragged gray bits hanging off her arm, the skin glinting with bits of glass imbedded in it. It's the same with her jeans, more glass scattered around her. It crunches under Dean's boots as he grabs the last piece of the ornate frame and tosses it aside to kneel close to her head. He doesn't know what to do, his hands hover about her head, he hesitates before carefully reaching to her neck searching for a pulse and afraid he might not find one. After everything that's happened… he can't believe this is the end. After everything…

"Arýza…" he breathes her name, a sigh of relief and his eyes close for just a second. There's a faint scrape, it's not loud enough to draw their attention. Dean splays his hand on her back, fingers open and slightly curling into her hair and the rag that had been her shirt. He can feel the gentle rise and fall as she breathes; he reaches under her and carefully turns her over when she finally stirs.

She utters a barely audible moan, her nose wrinkles and Dean knows she's feeling some pain. Relief floods through Dean and he has to force himself not to hurry, to be gentle as he lays her over his thigh.

"Can you hear me?" he keeps asking her questions, careful of the cuts on her side. She was lucky, standing half outside of the frame though it doesn't explain how it isn't worse. He saw what happened to the Knave… And how isn't she bleeding out from all that glass? How the hell did Dean manage to get off without a scratch when he was behind Stayne-

"Dean?" silvery-green eyes flutter open and that vice slowly tightening around his heart falls away. "Did it work?" it's just a soft whisper, blood on her lips and bruises already mottling on her cheek, along her jaw... She fought like a little wild thing, angry and this is her reward for the reckless, thoughtless attack.

"Yeah," Dean nods, hands gently running along her face and into her hair. Glass falls out of the inky tresses and really, she's never been more beautiful…"You broke it, baby." There's a slight tremble in his voice and his smile…its not as devil may care as his usual but he's smiling and that's good.

Arýza sighs, relieved and closes her eyes feeling every ache and pain flare bright as a burning star. She can feel Dean lean over her, the warmth of his breath flutters over her face and though she wants to reach up and thread her fingers through his hair, it hurts too much to do more than breathe.

"That's seven years bad luck, Rýza." Dean tries for some levity and gets the full blast of those silvery-green eyes and she laughs then groans in pain for it.

"Oh, please," She begs and he chuckles because he's happy his pixie is alive and she's laughing! "Don't make me laugh." He leans over her again, hand cupped around her cheek and his breath skims over her skin. The soft pressure of his lips on hers earns another wince but she doesn't complain.

"You're damn lucky, sweetheart." Dean says in a low voice.

Bobby sports a bandage on his arm, he's got a clean shirt on and the bruise on his cheek is a flaming reddish-pink color. He's alive and hasn't made any complaints about his house being wrecked, least not yet. Sam's got a few stitches in his arm and a butterfly clip keeping the cut on his eyebrow closed. Out of the four, Dean is the cleanest one- no stitches and Arýza is lucky enough not to need any either.

She's sitting on the couch, trying not to wince each time she shifts and feels the soft cotton skim over the cuts on her leg and side not to mention her arm. Dean spent the last half hour picking the pieces of glass out of her skin. She can still hear his admonishments for her to lie still.

"Those are nightmare spiders." Arýza's nose scrunches lightly at the sight of the porcelain heads. "They came through the mirror ... One of them bit me." She draws back the sleeve on the robe Dean gave her to wear and shows them the fading punctures. "I could've killed you." Her eyes rest on Bobby, the tone apologetic and slightly guilt ridden and the old hunter gives Dean a 'Didn't I say that' look.

"How did they get through? I mean, why?"

Bobby isn't the only one who notices Arýza's reluctant glance at Sam and how quickly she looks away.

"Because…" she forces her eyes to Sam again, it's not fair to fear him here when the RedKing is in Underland. "Because he sent them."

Dean looks from Sam to Arýza and back and finally stands up. Sam tears his gaze away from Arýza, there's that same guilty expression on his face as he glances at his brother. It's another secret and Dean's had enough of it, enough of the lying and the hiding.

"You know." Dean glares, jaw clenched tight and Bobby's looking around with a scowl because none of them is saying a damn thing.

"Know what?" he barks.

"You're him." Arýza says quietly. "The RedKing."

Sam just sighs, nods because he knows what he saw in the mirror. It was the RedKing but it was his reflection and he gets it…

"That's why Cas wouldn't let us go after you." It all makes sense to Sam. "I saw my reflection, it was me." He looks at Dean, sorry all over again and he knows it's getting old real fast but he can't help feeling guilty.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Bobby snaps and maybe they got hit a little too hard because as far as he knows that mirror only ever showed him what all the other mirrors in his house do.

"I broke the last seal." Sam states before Dean can even think to stop him. "I killed Lilith and set Lucifer free. All of this, it's my fault."

There's dead silence in the living room and Bobby can only stare at Sam, this boy he can't begin to recognize and it's all playing out over his face for them to see.

"You damn fool." Bobby finally breathes out. He doesn't say anything else but then again, what the hell do you say to the person who brings about the Apocalypse? After all of Dean's attempts to prevent just this! To help Sam- protect him…

"I couldn't do it." they turn to Arýza and she's got a matching 'I'm so sorry' expression on her face as well. "Castiel said I had to kill the RedKing, that I could affect this world from Underland but I… I just couldn't."

"Cas?" Dean frowns; it's the first he's heard of it. "You saw Cas." He's not hiding his displeasure at just finding out.

"When? Where?" Sam takes a step towards her stopping when she flinches away from him.

Arýza swallows past the sudden lump in her throat. No matter how much she knows Sam isn't the RedKing they still look the same. It's the same face… but she's trying hard not to make it anymore uncomfortable for everyone. She can see Sam hesitate around her, she sees Dean tense up at her reaction to Sam and she hates that.

"After Cat saved me…from the CardGuards." She can't look up from the floor and Dean knows there's something she's not saying, he can't understand why that is and he wants to know. He wants the truth out of them for once. An explanation that's going to make him feel better about how easily he can pick up on her expressions and know exactly what she's feeling or thinking like Dean knows Arýza as well or better than he knows Sam…

"He wasn't supposed to be there." Just like Arýza should've known better… Hatter left his mark and that's not something she can erase. And then she wonders if maybe the changes in Underland have affected Hatter, Cat and all the others there because the dream is fading...

"He was there." Dean's jaw is clenched tight with anger yet again.

"He didn't stay long. Just told me to kill the RedKing… I- wanted to come back." Silvery-green eyes shimmer with gathering tears and Dean lets out a breath. He's pissed at the angel for just leaving her there, in that crazy place and for not telling him how to get to her. Castiel practically abandoned her in Underland. Dean and Sam… they're Hunters; they deal with crazy shit all the time so an angel sending them to protect seals isn't that far off from what they usually do. But Arýza…

"We'll figure this out." Dean promises, green eyes look around the living room and they're all feeling it. They've got the Devil running around, the Apocalypse one day closer and no way to stop it. They have no idea what the future holds.

The room is quiet, dark except for the moonlight peeking through the crack in the curtains. Dean's arm is a comforting weight as is the steady beat of his heart. She takes a deep breath, for the moment content and at peace after a long day of cleaning up and starting to put Bobby's house back to what it was before the Hearts attacked that morning.

Castiel makes no sound, no move. He's watched them sleep the past hour, studies them in hopes of understanding how it is that touch seems to banish their nightmares. He knows what Dean dreams about; the souls on his rack, their cries and pleas for mercy, the pain and blood… It's not every night, the nightmares but often enough for the man to prolong the need for it or drink himself unconscious.

Arýza dreams of the fire, the pain and she hears the RedKing's laughter, his taunts, his threats and she lives it all over again. Hatter's betrayal,Cheshire's death…

They both suffer apart; Arýza and Dean.

She 'wakes', silvery-green eyes slowly focus on the familiar trench coat and glide up to the bright blue eyes staring down at her. Neither speaks and Arýza knows- "I'm dreaming."

Cas only nods.

"And Dean?" she looks to him and lays a small hand on his cheek as he sleeps.

"He will not wake."

He waits patiently for Arýza to rise, watches the careful way she slips from Dean's embrace and wonders why when he's assured her nothing will make him wake up.

This is her dream.

Once on her feet the room disappears. Arýza stands with Cas in the sunny meadow, the lazy stream gurgling past just a few yards away and the familiar weeping willow at the edge. Its Dean's place and she smiles.

"This is how it should be."

There should be no end to the sunny days spent listening to the song of birds, at peace with the world and everything in it.

Castiel doesn't agree or deny. He hasn't come to offer her a reprieve and she knows it.

"I can't let it stay like that."

He knows what she wants and he's already given her the Vorpal blade.

Bright blue eyes shift and Arýza turns following his gaze. She feels her heart clench at the familiar sight; Cat lying on his back in the grass sunning himself. Her eyes sting and he blurs but the longing doesn't fade one bit. He's all she wanted to come home to and maybe there is something of Cat left in Underland…she hopes there is because it wouldn't be Underland without him.

"Will you take care of him?" she looks at the angel, eyes bright with tears and there is no question Arýza wants to stay with Dean. "Don't let him do anything reckless." Her tone is questioning, unsure of the angels ability to guarantee such a request in regards to Dean. She has no idea what's in store for him, for either of the Winchesters and just hopes Castiel can keep Dean safe. "I promised I wouldn't leave him…"

Cas follows the trail of her first tear. He wipes it from her cheek as she sniffles, offering him a small smile for the human act. His touch is warm and once again fills her with that light airy feeling. Arýza knows she won't be in pain when she wakes up. She glances at the sleeping figure once more and nods. There's a chance it can be saved, both worlds even if Underland is said to be nothing but her imagination. They have files on all the ones before her, thick a full of their own adventures in Underland labeled delusions. And Dean wouldn't believe a word of it…

"Go home."

He notes her confusion and understands it. The house is nothing but a shell and the mirror has been destroyed.

"The family home."

Arýza is surprised.

'Home.'

That is farther than she had expected to travel.

Arýza blinks in the sudden glow of light and finds herself safely in bed with Dean. A moment ago she had been standing in front of Castiel.

It's no longer a dream and pulling back the sleeve finds her skin smooth, not cuts or scars.

She can feel the rise and fall of Dean's chest with each breath, feel the warmth of his body next to hers… and an overwhelming sense of loss and loneliness fills Arýza.

'Home.'

She knows what it means, where she will have to go and the getting there part is going to be difficult. She knows what home feels like and misses that, the home taken in a blaze and no place she ever felt the same, nowhere safe to have a moment of peace until…

Dean.

She doesn't want to leave him… and yet Dean isn't solely hers. Sam has a larger claim to him, they're blood and family sticks together. Dean has proven that true time and time again and each time his reward has been some form of pain or disappointment. Arýza wishes it didn't have to be this way, to break a promise when she's only just come back to him…

He stirs at the gentle touch of her fingers on his jaw. Dean sighs, there's a flash of green before his eyes close again and he follows her touch. It's so easy and he finds her lips as she tilts her face up to his. Strong arms hold her close…

Home.

You know I have to go- why

I can still change this, do my part. I have to. I screwed up, Dean. Too afraid of my own shadow, of a past that makes no sense- Everything is twisted, all of them suffering…

It's my fault too, but I know where I need to be to fix this.

To help…

You helped me-

I won't deny this scares me- that maybe he's right and I'm not strong enough to stop him… but I'm more afraid of what will happen here if I don't try. I don't know if this… 'war' is ever going to end…

Please… I wouldn't leave you if there was any other way. Know that this isn't easy for me, none of it.

I love you, Dean.

I'll do my best to come back to you.

Arýza

AN: I know. I did say I wasn't going to post until March but I've been up all night working on this last chapter and though it is the first draft I figured it's safer just to post. You know, in case something happens to my new lap top cus apparently I'm 'computer kryptonite'.

And now I'm done. Hope you all enjoyed the ride.