Chapter 11
"So you aim to go in there blind and kill Joseph?"
Angela looked up from where she was carefully polishing and sharpening her chakram. She looked at the Lupei she hadn't seen in years and with a firm look she replied, "I am going in there to get what is mine. If he stands in my way, then I will do it."
Susan looked at Angela as she glanced at the patch up job she did on her arm. Susan had to admit that Angela's stitches were better than hers and she was nice enough to put antibiotics on it to prevent infection before tying her up.
After the fight in the garden that left it looking like a tornado hit it, Susan had calmed down enough to talk to Angela and confirm that she was the one that helped her that long time ago. She was surprised that Angela offered to patch her up and it was offered without any thought of reward.
Angela for her part didn't recognize Susan from before but she knew that she had something to do with Stark since she had read Dean's notes stating that he shot one of them. She had a feeling of what Susan was and wanted to talk but the Lupei reacted first before thinking it through and Angela didn't blame her one bit.
It was tradition that the vampire and werewolf were enemies since they were both created from the older demons and a way to keep them in line was to pit them against each other. Of course millennia allowed for differences to be settled but there were still some that maintained that traditional rivalry and mostly it was born from the fact that each side would attack the other without question. In Angela's view, Susan was just defending herself.
It had come as a surprise when she learned that Susan was the same Lupei she had saved from being killed when she had been sent to Sojourner. That night was one of nights in that she wished there had been someone else to do it but by the standards of that day, she had been the closest to the area even at top speed with her favorite horse. At least some good came out of it since there were other hunters there on the job and they were not nearly as considerate as she was.
Susan for her part was trying to determine if it was one big coincidence that she actually came face to face with the half vamp that saved her. She still didn't trust vamps in general but Angela was one that she was willing to give consideration to this one. She knew that this vamp had a good heart but it bothered her that she said that she was going after Joseph Turner and she was willing to go into the mines blind to do it. It spoke of anger and Susan wasn't sure if this was the same person. She replied, "If he stands in your way? The last time you came, you aimed to kill him."
Angela looked at Susan thoughtfully. "I was aiming to kill him since he had committed atrocities and the thing was that I could understand the why. Now, I don't care. I want what is mine back."
Susan looked at Angela. She watched the meticulous attention given to the weapon in her hands and the gleaming sword she remembered from those days. Joseph had called it a sword of vengeance but that wasn't its name. She had never seen the vamp act this way before and she was puzzled, "What is yours?"
Angela finished with her chakram and began to gentle run her thumb along the edges to make sure that it was honed to its usual edge. She didn't look up as she replied, "Sam and Dean. They are in trouble."
"How do you know that Joseph had anything to do with it?"
Angela looked up at Susan. She understood the tone and it was something that she found out about the girl when she rescued her. That deception was a feat she would repeat as necessary with different people. She replied, "I spoke to Michael Ellis. He gave me the story about the adopted son of Gerald Ellis. Told me that after Sojourner, he came back and settled in the mine and that an agreement was made."
"Why do you think Joseph did it?"
"He settled in the mine, Susan." Angela gave a slight frown as she said it. She knew that this was difficult for Susan to digest. "An agreement was made and somehow it got broken… or maybe Joseph didn't really let go of what happened to him before."
"You don't know that."
"Do you?"
Susan was quiet. For the last ten or so years she had been wandering in a haze, taking whatever means necessary to numb the pain and memories of that night and of course when she did an unspeakable thing. It didn't matter that the guy was homeless. Susan looked at Angela with a firm look. "Do you intend to kill him?" She wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer but she was ready to listen to whatever Angela said.
Angela paused a moment as she looked at nothing in particular. She felt tired and worn out but nothing was going to stop her. She knew what Lupei were capable of and the pain she felt in the dream realm, she couldn't believe that could happen. Either way, she was going after her boys and bringing them back. She didn't want to do what she should have done the minute she first saw Joseph Turner but if push came to shove, she would and she highly doubted that he had forgotten about her.
Looking back up at Susan, Angela replied, "If he hurts my boys, I will do what I have to do."
Susan knew that meant that if Joseph left no other choice, she would kill him. "Then I can't help you."
Angela looked off and then stood up. She strapped her chakram to her belt and adjusted her gauntlets. She put Absolution on her back and looked at Susan. "I don't expect you to. Just go. I'll do this alone."
"There is a reason I can't."
"You don't need to explain it to me. I know why." Angela looked at Susan and the hand that was on her arm. She could see the trace ends of the gouges that the yeti had given her. She felt the faint twinge of pain in her ribs and she was exhausted.
"Do you really?"
"Look I know why you won't help me. You still love him and I don't blame you. You were happy when you described him to me."
"Even then you wanted to kill him."
"My orders were to kill him but I wanted to see justice done. I believe in second chances Susan. I gave you yours when I rescued you and because I didn't believe in the order's policy of killing everyone. There are things that I don't agree with and I act because I think it is right and that is why going after my boys is right."
Susan understood where Angela was coming from. She had seen the half vamp in action. After she rescued her, Susan traveled with her for some months as they chased after Joseph. Angela promised to try and save Joseph from the path of destruction. She had told her then that she believed everyone deserves a second chance if they choose to repent.
When they caught up with Joseph, Angela offered him the chance. She said that she would plead his case before the order and the council and ask for leniency if he truly was repentant. Susan thought he would but he decided against it. Susan remembered the words he had said when he attacked Angela and nearly killed her. She thought that the half vamp that saved her life died that day and she left Joseph.
Susan had tried doing the good that she had learned but people were not always forgiving. One night ended up a disaster and she couldn't bear to live in that town with the whispers and the fingers pointing. She left and made her way west. She was driven to drink and when the sixties came along, smoking and weed and the other stuff that could make a person stoned. Was it really a coincidence that she would live in the same town as Joseph and meet up with the one that taught her that there was more to people than meets the eye?
Angela watched the expressions that flitted across Susan's face. She never blamed her for Joseph's decisions. People had to take responsibility. Maybe she could think of something since she didn't want to kill him but if he hurt them… She batted that down and said, "Look, can you just be here and have any medical supplies you have available? That would be enough."
"Why are they so important to you? Are they the famous pets that vampires have?"
Angela had been in the process of putting Setna on the bed. She glanced at Susan before going to her fridge and unearthing the bag of blood. Grabbing her mug, she poured a serving and hid the rest in the fridge. She stared at the dark liquid in the mug and debated on taking it or not. She had done it once to appease Sam but she couldn't do it again. Making a grim face, she put the mug in the fridge. She looked at Susan and replied, "They are not pets."
"Then what are they to you? If I recall you were alone when you rescued me."
Angela had her hand on the door and paused. She turned to glance back and replied, "They are partners, friends and… my family." It was the first time she verbalized how much the boys meant to her. She called them family and not out of some obligation she had to their parents. They were genuine feelings and it was reciprocated by Sam. Dean she was unsure of and because of that, it was a brave new world and terrifying.
Susan realized that Angela did understand where she was coming from when she refused to help her. "That's why you don't expect me to help you."
"I can only show you so much of the capacity for kindness for others in spite of hate. You have to do what you have to do… which is why I will do my best to reason with Joseph but I will say that I don't react well to people who hurt what is mine."
Before Susan could answer, there was a knock at the door. Angela tensed up slightly and looked towards the door. She adjusted her head as if to hear who was on the other side. She cautiously opened up the door and was surprised to find none other than Michael Ellis standing there. Angela raised a brow in cautious surprise and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"You were right."
Angela kept her brow raised. "I was?"
Michael Ellis nodded. It had taken time but he had tracked down his rather forceful guest. After she said that she was going to kill Joseph Turner, he had tried to inquire why. She was good at evading answers and probably better than he was. However he couldn't help her when she asked for a current map of the mine.
She had asked him why. He gave her the reason that he was not going to risk a war. She had told him he was already in the middle of one since he had two noted town members missing and possibly dead. She even mentioned Stanley and Rick. She then said that Lupei when they taste first blood, it is often too hard for them to go back especially if they had years of doing it.
Michael hadn't wanted to hear it and showed her out. He said that he wasn't going to help her and that she was on her own. Before she left she paused and turned to face him. She then said that protecting family is all in good but when family started attacking innocents for no good reason out of pure hated, someone had to stop it. You had to stand up to your family.
To him, she sounded like she spoke from experience. She left after that and he thought about it. He went to dig out the map that was the most current of the mine. He stared at it and he had stared at the photo of him and Mad Eye. He had spent his childhood learning about the mine and the old stories of his great grandfather and the old man learned a few things about the family that he didn't know, and was there for him. He made the decision and decided to help the woman.
He had his man find out where she was staying and made plans to come down. He also found out a few things about the woman. Joseph would probably have his head for helping him because of what she was. Yet Michael knew that she could stop the thing that he had feared since Mad Eye died and maybe he wouldn't be ashamed of that part of Ellis history and a few other things.
Michael nodded and replied, "Yeah. I have to stand up to my family."
"How did you find me?"
"I have means and I brought you this." Michael showed her the map. "This is the last map that was made of the mine before it closed. However there is the risk that Joseph may have done some work since then."
"I just need to be able to find my way to get my boys."
"Mind if I came along?"
Angela looked at Michael Ellis. She wasn't going to be responsible for the patron of the town getting killed. She replied, "Can't risk you."
"Joseph is family. He will listen to family," Michael replied. He then gave a slight shrug and a slight smile. He added, "Besides there are a few things about me that might help."
"Sonofabitch."
Dean grunted as he landed on the ground hard. He had been at it for… he had not a damn clue. The only thing he was sure of was that he was in a hole in the ground that someone called a mine and he was getting his ass kicked and giving some to a crazy coot that was actually one of those things so the poor bastards in that cage he was in didn't have a chance if they were planning to escape.
Dean tried not to wince but every inch of his body hurt. He could tell that he was sporting a couple of broken ribs, bruising probably down to the bone on some of his limbs and maybe bruised muscles and he prayed that he didn't have anything like bruised kidneys. He was sporting a couple of cuts that made Angela's beating when she was human look like a picnic. His knuckles were bruised and his wrists had ligature marks. He was a mess and he got the feeling that for these guys, the party was just getting started.
The fight had stopped and he knew this because the spectators were growing silent and the coot had backed up. Dean stood up and looked around. He couldn't help it, "Don't stop on my account. This was just starting to get fun."
The low growls were hardly reassuring and Dean was wondering where they took his brother. He hadn't seen Sam and he had tried to keep track of the direction they may have taken him in but in between being dragged on the ground and pushed and shoved and pulled, that became a futile effort. He could only hope that Sam was okay since they seemed to leave him alone when he didn't fight back. Seems that Sammy learned your lesson on patience better than me Angie, he thought to himself as he looked around.
"If you are looking for more, we will gladly give it to you. However there are a few things to discuss."
Dean turned in the direction of the voice. With so many bodies of whatever they were all around, it made it difficult to pinpoint who was talking to him. Dean wasn't going to make this easy however and replied, "I ain't in the mood for discussing anything until I see my brother."
"All in good time," and the owner of the voice appeared as the crowd parted like the Red Sea.
Dean looked up to see a middle aged guy with dark hair and dark eyes. He was wearing clothes that he would wear on the job. Undershirt, flannel shirt, jeans and boots. He looked like he belonged in the town. Dean demanded, "Where is Sam?"
"So that's the meek lamb's name? How interesting. I once knew a Sam and he hated that I called him Sammy. But I sense that you are not one to talk unless you are reassured. I will make you a deal…"
"Where is Sam?" Dean asked the question forcing each word out slow and deliberate. He had enough playing games. He had to make sure Sam was all right.
"You will see your brother but only after you answer my questions. Refusing to answer will provide penalties to the both of you."
There was the kicker. So if Dean didn't or couldn't answer the questions, he and Sam would suffer the consequences. It was basically a glorified torture session at most. Dean needed to get some assurances and replied, "Leave Sam out of it and I'll answer any questions you like. I don't promise you'll like them though."
"Interesting. You say you'll answer anything and yet you don't have the first clue what I may ask you. You must really care for your brother."
"You touch him and I'll rip your lungs out."
The guy chuckled. He liked this one too. He was a scrapper but he had a way with words that had him impressed. The brothers were resilient people but he would get his answers and if he knew her… He looked down at Dean and replied, "You have quite a temper. Perhaps if we knew each other's names, we could make the insults more personal. I am Joseph Turner and you…" He flicked his fingers and got a wallet. He flipped it open and looked at the IDs. "Hmm… you seem to have a lot of names in here but they all have one thing in common… Dean."
"I guess you're a genius then douchebag."
"Brave words considering you went through round one with something you didn't even know the first damn clue about… Dean." Joseph flung the wallet down and actually hit Dean on the head with it. He looked at him mockingly before he jumped down to walk up to the human. "Tell me are you really willing to risk your life against a creature that had been considered extinct?"
"Bad habit," Dean replied. He had ignored the wallet hitting him in the face. That was minor compared to what this Joseph Turner was going to get if he didn't see Sam and if his brother was badly hurt. "I don't frigging care what you are. I want to see my brother."
Joseph used his speed to get up close and personal with Dean. He did a slight sniff and took pleasure in the fact that the human did flinch slightly but not as much as the others. So he did have experience with that. Well time to have some fun. He gave another sniff and he picked up the scent. It was the same as before but it was much fainter on this one. He said, "You have the same scent but fainter. Interesting."
"I don't swing that way bitch."
Joseph looked at Dean in the eye. He was aware of what the human was referring to and he wasn't impressed since the humans seemed intent upon attacking anyone that didn't fit their precious status quo. "I'm sure you don't. Yet your brother had the same scent but much stronger. Are they together?" Joseph looked at Dean with a slightly inquisitive look. Scent could only tell him so much and the rest would have to come from either one of them.
Dean may only have a GED but he wasn't stupid. He had picked up a few things ever since she joined up with them and some he kept for his own amusement and others it was for the job. He knew what this douche was talking about and it made sense since for one thing they practically sat next to each other every time they grabbed a meal and they did talk while star gazing. That didn't mean that he was going to make it easy for this fur bag. "I have no clue what you are talking about."
Joseph prided on himself in being a good detector of lies. This human was lying to him. The other had been genuinely confused but that didn't mean that he didn't know anything. Maybe he did hit him a little too hard but he'll live. Right now he had to deal with this smart aleck. In retaliation, he gave a forceful punch to the gut.
To Dean that punch felt harder than the crazy coot's and he couldn't help but double over. The air felt like it had been sucked from his lungs. He clutched his stomach in response and breathed to try and get that lost air back in his lungs.
"I don't like it when people lie to me. They just convince me even more that all you humans are liars. Now answer the question."
"Yeah well join the club. I don't like them either," Dean replied more or less to keep the guy talking. "And I have not a damn clue." He got a cuff across his face for his troubles.
"And yet you persist in telling me that you don't know what I am referring to when I ask my question. You play a dangerous game and for what?" Joseph peered at the human as if he couldn't quite understand him.
Dean for his part wiped his mouth where he felt the blood come out. There was still blood in his mouth and he spat it out. The bastard hit hard. At least his hands were free to defend himself. He replied, "I don't like answering questions unless I have context."
Joseph gave a slight nod. So he wanted to play it that way. He gave a mocking smile as he turned away. "Then tell me, have you kept company with blood suckers lately?"
That's putting it into context. Dean eyed Joseph warily. It really was putting it into context and he felt pissed that the douche called her a blood sucker. As far as he was concerned, she wasn't one of them. She may be because she could vamp out like they did but she didn't kill people drinking blood. Hell she hated it. Right now though he had to hold his temper since that could tell the guy what he wanted to know. He could be the sarcastic ass he always was and it seemed for the moment that they left Sam alone but he wouldn't be reassured until he saw his baby brother with his own eyes. He replied, "I'm a hunter, furball. I don't hang out with things that kill you."
"I figured you would say that but this blood sucker is very unique." Joseph kept his temper in since this human seemed determined to be difficult in spite of the fact that he could kill him and his brother very easily. And for what? To protect her?
"Don't know any vamps personally unless you count the kind that hunt their own," Dean replied. The guy wasn't hitting him now and that could spell to be bad for Angela if that was who they were after.
Joseph growled and replied, "Those fools think they are doing good by regulating their kind? They are nothing but killers, even their dirty Halflings. And she is the worst."
"She who?"
Joseph lost his temper and was aware that he had changed part of his body. He gave a powerful blow to Dean's chest and sent him flying into the wall. At first he thought he killed him since he heard cloth ripping and the crack of ribs breaking.
Dean tried hard not to heave but he couldn't help but spit out blood. His chest was burning from the newly acquired broken ribs and something else. He managed to roll to his side to take a look. The front of his shirt was torn and he could see red coming through. Shit he was in trouble.
"The one that bears a sword that seems to live once in her hand."
Shit he is referring to Angie. No way am I saying anything. Dean knew that he was going to make things worse and with the injuries to his chest… No he wasn't going to give this guy anything to hurt her or Sam. He replied, "Sounds like a piece of lore to me." He paid for it when the guy grabbed him hard.
A/N: Looks like Angie admits what she thinks and feels but is still not sure as she plans her attack. Dean is being the smart aleck again. *sigh* Stay tuned for next time on Pack of Strays...