Six
LeSalle took the street about halfway down to near his destination and parked. He didn't want anyone knowing exactly where he was going after all. The air was thick with the smell of beignets and the sound of instruments in the gazebos nearby. He was happy they'd just able to rebuild almost everything since Hurricane Katrina had come through and decimated most of the town. LeSalle, Drew and Delilah with some help from Loretta had completely rebuilt their house brick by brick and panel by panel. It had been hard on the whole community, but they'd come back stronger and better than ever before and for that LeSalle loved the city he'd called home for years now. Their resilience after looking death in the eyes that was what he held in his highest regards.
The bell on the door to the mystic shop jingled as LeSalle entered and he was immediately hit with the smell of every incent stick on the face of the earth. The one currently burning was Jasmine scented. The dream catchers that hung from the ceiling blew a little to the right when the door opened and closed behind him. There were various crystals of all kinds behind the glass display case at the counter and an abundance of hippie style clothing hanging from clothing racks nearby.
"Amber," LeSalle called out. "Are you in?"
"Yeah," a female voice replied and out stepped a dyed redhead with deep brown eyes and a fake diamond stud piercing in her nose. She broke into a smile when she saw him. "LeSalle Parker, I never thought I'd see you again for awhile."
"Here I am," LeSalle smiled back and hugged her after she set the box she'd been carrying down. "In the flesh, how have you been?"
"Getting along fine," Amber replied, readjusting the strap of her Grateful Dead tank top as it fell off of her shoulder. "Rebuilding was a bitch, but I've gotten more customers than ever. Mostly tourists, but that still counts right?"
"Yeah that counts," LeSalle laughed. "I know how much you hate em though."
"They mess with my hoo doo stuff," Amber rolled her eyes. "Or they don't know the true power of what they're buying like I do."
"Speaking of true power," LeSalle lowered his voice a little in case anyone walked in. "I'm in need of your expertise for a moment."
Amber's eyes had a green glint to them to compliment LeSalle's purple. It was their mark as those who practiced called it. She looked over LeSalle's shoulder and waited a moment before motioning for him to follow her through a beaded curtain that made the shape of a butterfly and into the back room. She turned the dimmed lights on and LeSalle looked around. It looked different since the hurricane. The ceiling was painted with the galaxy, each star as accurate as it got and the walls were white, but you couldn't tell. On the ground were comforters and in the center was a small brick structure that resembled a small cook stove, but it was filled with small sticks that smelled slightly sulfuric. The room itself was warm, but inviting not overly hot and lingering marijuana smoke filled it.
"The cops won't mess with me," Amber chuckled. "I'm too weird for their taste, for New Orleans even."
"Just don't get busted for pot," LeSalle took a seat against a stack of large pillows under the Milky Way. "I need you sometimes."
"Sometimes," Amber sat down across from him in front of the brick structure. "Why LeSalle didn't your mama ever teach you about chivalry?"
"Unfortunately no," LeSalle joked. "I had to learn on my own."
Amber threw a match into the sticks and they immediately went up in flames. The room was illuminated and then the flames went down a little. Amber said a few words and then the flames changed to a blue-ish color.
"We're you looking for any spirits in particular?" she asked.
"No," LeSalle replied. "I'm looking for answers. These spirits are killing and I wanna know why."
"That's a tall order." Amber remarked.
"I know you can do it." LeSalle said.
"Damn right." She smirked and begun her incantation.
"In brightest day and in blackest night, show me those who are of the light."
The fire danced again and LeSalle watched as forms begun to take shape in the blue flames. It was like watching a Phoenix rise from the ashes, resurrecting their forms. He saw how some of them died as Amber, with her eyes closed, concentrated and tried to find the answer to his question from any of them. It was sort of painful in a way, watching as figures made of smoke were impaled with knives, shot with guns, and thrown into the various connecting waterways of the bayou. LeSalle wished he could put them all to rest right in that moment, but something told him that wouldn't be as easy as it sounded with whatever was going on.
"They aren't talking," Amber sighed in defeat. "But something is causing them distress."
"What do you mean?" LeSalle asked.
"You told me that there were two instances so far of ghosts attacking and killing people," Amber explained. "Well it's almost like they're being forced to do it."
"But who could force a ghost to do anything, well besides us?" LeSalle asked.
"I don't know," Amber shook her head. "But it's sad. These ghosts already have enough torment running through them. They don't deserve this."
"That's why I need to figure why this is happening now." LeSalle said. "Thanks Amber. What do I owe ya?"
"Letting me finally meet that man of yours," Amber smirked and stood up as she heard the bell jingle again, signaling someone had walked inside the store. "We've been friends long enough. Don't tell me you haven't told him about...you?"
LeSalle swallowed hard. It was a hard road to tread. On one hand telling his family about what he practiced and what he was could lead to the wrong idea from them and even fear of him. On the other hand it could be the most liberating thing he'd ever done. LeSalle, however, decided to stick with the latter.
"One day maybe," LeSalle replied. "But not today."
"Those words are gonna be on your damn tombstone boy," Amber rolled her eyes. "Suit yourself."
Amber walked out first calmly greeting the customer and asking if they needed help. LeSalle followed her and froze in place when he saw who it was.
"I've just come to look around," Deacon said, flashing a small smirk to LeSalle. "But thank you. I think I found what I needed."
"Oh really?" Amber asked. "Can I help you wrap it up?"
LeSalle pushed past Deacon and went out the door. Deacon shook his head no and followed behind him. LeSalle walked swiftly to his car, about ready to pull out the keys when Deacon turned him around and shoved him up against his car, holding him so he couldn't go away.
"Deacon, sweetheart we gotta stop meeting like this." LeSalle chuckled.
"Don't 'sweetheart' me faggot," Deacon sneered. "What's your damn business being in one of those hoo doo shops?"
"What's damn business following me?" LeSalle shot back.
"You're hiding something," Deacon narrowed his eyes. "You've been hiding something since we first met and it ain't good. Try as you will I'm gonna figure it out."
"As much as I appreciate your strange obsession with me," LeSalle pushed Deacon away so he could get off of the trunk of his car. "I appreciate my personal space more and I suggest you don't do that again."
"What are you gonna do fag?" Deacon antagonized him. "What are you gonna do?"
"Nothing," LeSalle walked away, rolling his eyes and getting into his car. He started it up and concentrated. Deacon's belt snapped and suddenly his pants were around his ankles. Passerby were pointing and laughing and a red faced Deacon held them up with his hand after quickly pulling his jeans back up to his hips. "But you might wanna get a new belt."
"Why you no good faggot loving douche," Deacon went off. "You did this! I dunno how but you did and I—"
LeSalle laughed loudly as he pulled out onto the street and drove off towards home. As fun as using his powers to pull down his enemy's pants was the question he'd hoped to be answered by Amber was still on his mind, but a newer and more threatening one was coming about.
Who was forcing the spirits to do what they were doing if in fact someone was?
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
Dean and Sam were pulled over at a nearby picnic area since Castiel had randomly zapped into their back seat and promptly 'given Dean a heart attack' as the older Winchester had exclaimed before almost driving the Impala into a nearby ditch. The picnic table looked as though it hadn't been used in years and was rotting away. They didn't expect anyone to pass by or want to use it, which made it perfect for what Castiel had to say to them.
"Lilith is attempting to use the ghosts here to do her bidding," Castiel explained. "I'm not sure how she's doing it. It could be similar to what she used on the Witnesses that attacked you and Bobby, but Heaven is not sure."
"Heaven's not or you're not," Dean replied in his usual snarky tone towards Castiel when he didn't have answers. Quite frankly he was sick of being jerked around by the angel, but at the same time he was glad to have him on their side if they could call it that. "Cuz it sounds like the latter?"
"Fine," Castiel gave Dean a stare that honestly sent chills down his spine. "I am the one who is not sure. Heaven has been tracking the seals since the first one broke in Hell. We do not know if this is a seal that she is trying to break or a distraction she is causing in order to keep us from stopping her again."
"Great," Dean threw his arms up in frustration and sat down on the rotted wood of the picnic table seat. "So we could just be on a wild goose chase for no reason."
"Is there anything you do know?" Sam asked in a tone unlike Dean's. He'd been trying so hard to get on Castiel's good side ever since the angel had showed indifference towards him over being unholy. Castiel had claimed Sam's blood was tainted and Sam wanted more than anything to be the angel's ally if not friend.
"The spirits here are angry," Castiel said. "Some of them were already in a state of unrest when they were forced to do the acts they have done."
"Wait did you say forced?" Dean asked.
"Yes they were forced to do what they have done," Castiel nodded, forgetting about Dean's outburst a few moments prior. He understood the man's frustration and certainly after all he'd been through he could understand the pain in his eyes. "I have never heard of a ghost doing this before. As an angel I am in charge of seeing off souls when the reapers take them if I happen to be around. Even those that are angry and seeking revenge have not done it."
"It's rare," Sam explained. "But it can happen. Sprits who are angry enough can physically manifest parts or all of their beings and kill their targets."
"That explains why no one saw the ghost at that church," Dean said. "Unless you've got a trained eye in the supernatural no one would know any different. Those church going Jesus junkies probably thought it was the work of some demon or something. C'mon Sammy we've got to get back to the house and tell the others what Cas told us."
Dean stood up and walked over to the Impala. Sam was about to follow when Castiel touched his shoulder and he turned his head to look at the angel. His touch felt like fire under Sam's skin, like he could just heal Sam of his darkness in an instant much less feel it, Castiel didn't flinch though.
"Sam," Castiel said. "These spirits deserve rest and peace. If anyone can find out why this is happening it is Dean and you. Do not, however, count out the man whose house you are staying in."
"LeSalle?" Sam asked. "Yeah he's a good hunter."
"There is more to LeSalle Parker than what meets the eye," Castiel explained, letting go of Sam's shoulder. "Do not count him out. If anyone could possibly understand what it is you are going through right now it is him."
With that, Castiel flew away and vanished before Sam's very eyes. It took the younger Winchester all, but two seconds to understand that what Castiel had said to him was regarding his powers and dark nature not the case. As skeptical as Sam was in the moment, he decided that maybe it would be best to talk to LeSalle alone regarding what Castiel had said when he got the chance. Dean fired up the engine of the Impala and the brothers started back down the road to LeSalle's house.
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
Delilah sat at the kitchen table, reading over books of lore about ghosts and spirits as Drew paced back and forth thinking. Delilah chewed on the tip of her pen as Drew's shoes clacked on the tile of the kitchen floor. Loretta was knitting on the couch in the front room.
"I swear to God," Delilah huffed and looked over at her friend. "If you do not stop pacing I am going to strangle you in your sleep."
"It's how I think," Drew explained while rolling his eyes. "Honestly I'd think you'd respect that since you're no closer to figuring this out than me."
"Oh shut your mouth princess," Delilah grumbled. "I'm trying as hard as I can."
"Well so I am," Drew turned around, expanding his pacing distance. "So I'd appreciate it if you—"
Drew ended up flat on his stomach as he tripped over something seemingly imaginary to his eyes; Delilah stood up from the kitchen table and ran over to him checking to see if he was okay.
"I'm alright," Drew said. "But what the hell?"
He saw a tiny notch in the wood that almost looked like a handle. Drew reached out to see if he could open it, but Loretta was by his side immediately lifting him to his feet.
"Darn floor," Loretta calmly dismissed the idea Drew had in his mind about the supposed handle both he and Delilah had seen. "I've been meaning to call someone to get that warp fixed. Why don't you go sit down and stop pacing so you don't trip again ok dearie?"
Drew nodded, skeptical of whether or not he'd imagined what he'd seen and went with Delilah back over to the kitchen table. Loretta made a beeline for her room, pretending to go call a carpenter. She knew eventually LeSalle's family was going to find out his little secret, but she'd been loyal to his father in the time she'd served him and kept it from his wife. She had made the same promise to LeSalle and was determined that she had to uphold it. She just prayed that one day LeSalle would be brave enough to tell them the truth.
Reviews are appreciated!
Will Deacon figure it out? I'm surprised he hasn't already, or is he just that dumb and blind?
What about LeSalle's family?
And now there are two missions going on, the Winchester's and LeSalle's. Will the two clash?
More to come soon!