How We Died
I really need to work on my timing. At least I'm getting a few of my stories updated this month, go me.
We get a sort of return of an old, not quite friend, and the first appearance of someone who we'll see again later on.
Arianna tilted her head and couldn't help but smile. Despite the circumstances, she was truly enjoying herself on this outing, particularly when Dane decided it was nice enough to sleep outside and she got to watch him set up a shelter. He would always remove his shirt to do so, her bonding with him had certainly done a number on his core body temperature.
"There we go, all set." Dane announced triumphantly.
It had already been a week since they had left the town. Each day had held some sort of trouble and Arianna was running out of excuses to slip away in order to get rid of the demons that had suddenly started popping up and following them. She didn't know how much longer she could hold off telling him.
Maybe she should just get it out.
"Dane." Arianna called out, standing up from the stomp she had been watching from. The Sheriff turned to her with a curious expression and Arianna felt a pang in her chest at all the trust that look held. She opened her mouth, ready to make the announcement. Unfortunately, she never got it out. There was rustling around them and several men stepped out, eyes black. Arianna tensed up, already recognizing each being beneath the skin.
"This is very very bad behaviour, you're highness." One of the people announced. That one was called Azazel, not quite as high levelled as Alistair but not just a simple servant as Meg and Ruby. Unlike the others, his eyes were yellow, glowing menacingly in the bright daylight. "Your father is getting very displeased with you."
"Ask me if I care." Arianna argued, frowning.
"Arianna, you know these men?" Dane asked, slowly drawing his gun and keeping an eye on the people around him.
"Oh, the little Sheriff doesn't know of what you are." Azazel laughed. He was in front of Dane with a hand around his throat before Arianna could even move. "What say you, little Sheriff, do you believe your love is human?"
"Leave him!" Arianna snapped, her whole demeanour changing. Where once her hair was soft and brown, it now flowed in black as night waves. Her eyes grew darker, the whites going black, the iris turning red. Her lips burnt to a sultry red as her skin paled and glowed from within.
"That's our princess." Azazel muttered, throwing Dane across the ground. Arianna went to run for him but was grabbed by the other demons. "Your father wants a word with the pathetic human who has kept you from home."
"You will not lay harm to him!" Arianna ground out. She lifted a foot to connect with the crotch of one demon. It released her, allowing her to turn and lay a solid punch to the other's face. Under normal circumstances, she would have just exorcized the demons out but now she was angry. Not only had they revealed themselves to her beloved Sheriff but they had all intent to harm him. Her true form gave her more power as she withdrew the knife she hid under her skirts and slit it across the demon's throat. The cut flashed before the body dropped lifelessly to the ground.
"Get her!" Azazel ordered.
The rest of the demons hesitated for a moment before jumping at their princess. One by one they were slashed down. Azazel moved for Dane but stopped short when he felt the arm go over his shoulder and the knife press to his throat.
"I said...leave...him." Arianna hissed. Dane was looking at them, fear and confusion evident in his expression.
"ENOUGH!" The loud booming voice was accompanied by the sky darkening and a fire roaring to life in the freshly dug pit. Arianna tensed and slowly lowered her knife before turning with Azazel to face the large beastly figure that rose from the fire and scotched the earth as it stepped out. The figure stood taller then all of them, completely black save for it's red eyes and horns and the glowing red lines that covered it's body.
Azazel lowered himself to one knee, placing his forehead down on his bent knee with his fists touching the dirt. Arianna remained standing, head held high, defiance clear in her glowing red eyes.
"Father." She muttered.
"You shame me, daughter." Asmodeus stated, his voice deep and rumbling. The sound would have made nearly anyone else shiver in fear but his child stood, not intimidated.
"I want to live!" Arianna yelled, throwing her hands up. "I want to be here! I want to dance amongst the flowers and watch the changing in the sky! I want to see the leaves of the trees fall in the autumn and regrow in the spring!"
"This realm is not for us." Asmodeus stated. "You will return home now!"
"No!" Arianna argued.
"This is not a request!" Asmodeus shouted, his height growing as he towered over his offspring. "You WILL return."
"NO!" Arianna shouted.
"You wish to disobey me, ungrateful child!" Asmodeus yelled. "SO BE IT! THIS IS THE RESULT OF YOUR INSOLENCE!" He raised his hand and, for a moment, Arianna was sure he would strike her. A cry came from behind and she whipped around to find Dane on his knees, arms spread out to his sides, head back, mouth wide open, screaming in agony.
NO!" Arianna cried out in fear. Azazel grabbed her as she made the rush to her lover's side. Dane twisted and writhed, the sounds of bones snapping echoed through the vast space surrounding them. Arianna screamed as she struggled against Azazel, her body glowing but her powers were of no use against her father's.
One final snap was heard before the Sheriff collapsed to the ground, a lifeless broken body with a look of fear in his wide eyes.
"My love!" Arianna cried out as Azazel finally released her. She fell to her knees beside Dane's body and lifted his head to her lap. "No...please...please, my love."
"See the fragility of human life." Asmodeus explained darkly. "There is nothing here for you." Arianna turned dark angry eyes to her father.
"My love for you is shattered." She muttered. "You have destroyed my happiness."
"You are young and over dramatic." Asmodeus dismissed the claim. He turned back to the fire and moved to step into it. "Come now, child."
"Ut amor morietur, ego, qui utrumque diem." Arianna suddenly muttered, halting all movement. Asmodeus turned back to look at his daughter, watching the dark glow surround her. "Necterentur, atque animo nos non solverit, cui neque imperio!"
"NO!" Asmodeus shouted out but he was too late. Arianna had plunged her knife into her own chest. Dark red tendrils swirled around her body before it dropped lifelessly next to Dane's.
"Is she..." Azazel asked.
"No, she is home." Asmodeus muttered disdainfully. "But we will not reach her. She has locked herself to this...this...thing."
"But he is dead, your magesty." Azazel pointed out.
"He will return." Asmodeus sighed unhappily. "Come, we plan." He stepped into the fire and vanished in it's twisted swirls. The demon looked at the bodies then sighed.
His plan was spoiled. Sure, the princess was dead, but she would be back. He wasn't sure when but he had to be ready.
(Google Translation: As my love dies, so will I, until the day that we both rise. Bound together, heart and soul, you will not break us, you have no control!)
***SL***SPN***SL***SPN***SL***
Aria didn't know what to think. John Winchester had been missing before she had even died and now Sam was saying that Yellow Eyes was hiding in him? It just didn't make any sense. Aria had even had Azazel in her and hadn't known that.
"Are you a hundred percent sure, Sammy?" Dean asked.
"I don't want to be but how often are these wrong?" Sam asked, looking miserable.
"Look...I don't think he would have killed your dad." Lily tried to assure them. "He's...I mean...if John Winchester was dead, he would be in Heaven. I would know, right?"
"Exactly!" Aria exclaimed, a minimal sense of relief flooding her. "Lily's right!"
"Yeah, let's hope so." Dean muttered.
"We can still excorsize him." Aria reminded the eldest of the brothers. "Come on Dean, if nothing else, we can at least free your dad's body." Dean looked at her then sighed and nodded. He still hoped that Azazel was only using the body and John was still alive. He had to hope it. He got Aria back, he could get his father back too.
"We still have to find him though." Sam reminded everyone. There was a pause as the other three thought it over.
"CASTIEL!" Lily suddenly yelled, making the rest of them jump. The sound of rushing wings came with the appearance of the Angel and Lily turned to face her boss. "We figured some things out."
"Good, let's hear it." Castiel instructed.
"Azazel is hiding in the body of John Winchester." Lily explained. Castiel paused then nodded his head.
"He will likely use it as a ploy against all of you." The Angel stated, looking at the group.
"You mean the same way he thought being in me and stabbing me would make Dean not get rid of him?" Aria questioned with a raised eyebrow and a snarky tone.
"The demon is crafty, Arianna." Castiel remarked, frowning at the woman.
"No really? I hadn't noticed." Aria bit back. Dean looked at her and put an arm around her shoulders, rubbing them to sooth her.
"Are you okay?" Sam asked, looking at his friend.
"Her demonic being is growing stronger." Castiel informed them. "It will reawaken and cause chaos."
"I would never do that!" Aria snapped, getting to her feet.
"You will when you remember." Castiel pointed out.
"Dude, back off!" Dean snapped. He stood up and put an arm around Aria to keep her from going after the Angel. "Whatever is in her is staying in her and it's not coming out so just stop with the damn judgemental bullshit."
"She is a Princess of Hell, Dean." Castiel reminded the hunter. "I may have bond your souls together in order to prevent any plans of Crowley has to take over Hell but that does not mean..."
"Back off!" Dean ground out. Castiel sighed, shaking his head.
He would never understand humans.
"We need help to find Azazel." Lily explained to her boss.
"I'll see what I can do." Castiel agreed. "I'll be in touch shortly." He was gone without a second word, leaving a relieved Angel, a worried hunter, a pissed off hunter and an absolutely infuriated Hell Princess.
So I got some stuff coming up, I'm still not entirely sure how I want to end this story but I think it will be soon.