Author's note: I kind of borrowed this first scene from River in the movie Serenity. So, if it looks familiar, that's what it is.
Music Selections: 'All that I'm living for' by Evanescence, 'X gon give it to ya' by DMX, 'Renegade' by Styx, 'Colors' by Crossfade, 'Cold heritage' by Lacuna Coil, 'Pain' by Three Days Grace.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or above mentioned music.
Chapter 10: Whirling Dervish
Following a lead they had been given by one of the girls' fellow hunter/friends, the group was scouting out an abandoned building on the outskirts of a town on the Indiana/Illinois border. According to their friend, it was a focal point for demon activity. And, for some reason or another, the city had been suffering a lot of demon attacks. And, what was unusual was that it wasn't just one type of demon. There were many.
Noting the lack of activity after they arrived and scouted it out, they decided to go inside the building for a closer look. Once inside they discovered that the inside was a mess and displayed years of neglect. In its day, the building had been some kind of clinic due to the various medical supplies scattered throughout. But that had been quite some time ago, as evidence of its current state.
They walked in a straight line down the main corridor. Dean lead the line, followed closely by Taylor, Shane, and Sam at the end. As they searched each room, they came up with nothing. It was quiet. And completely devoid of activity. Of any kind.
"I don't like this." Taylor said, as they continued on down the hall towards the main room at the back of the building. Moments later, her eyes clouded over. She gasped and spun around as her eyes returned to their original greenish color. "Duck!" she yelled, grabbing hold of Dean's jacket and tugging him to the floor.
An explosion sounded right behind Sam as they all dropped to the floor. It had been an ambush. With nowhere else to go, the four crawled into their original destination. Jumping up, they looked behind them to reveal the hall packed with demons, of various quality and strength, clogging the narrow passage and heading their way. They were pinned down in the windowless room in the rear of the building. Twenty or so demons had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, trapping them inside the room.
The group was spread out throughout the room attempting to fight their way out. After a few rounds without any end in sight, Shane considered their options while taking on yet another opponent. They had no other choice.
While sending a right hook to the demon in front of her, Shane yelled across the room to her sister, "Taylor! Whirling dervish. Now!"
"What?!" Taylor yelled back, sending the current demon in her way to the ground with a blow from the silver hatchet in her hand. "Now?"
"Now!" Shane replied before yelling over to Sam and Dean, "Take cover!"
Converging underneath an overturned stainless steel gurney, the brothers huddled behind while the girls move into formation.
Meeting in the middle of the room, the two girls latched onto each other by the wrist and worked as one. Twisting, kicking, punching, and flipping - performing acts that most circus performers would gawk at. The only weapons employed by the two was the silver hatchet of Taylor's and a short sword that Shane had acquired from an incapacitated demon.
"What the hell is going on?" Dean yelled to Sam over the chaos that surrounded them. Sam could only shrug and then huddled down lower as something dead-sounding thumped into their shield.
A few minutes later the room went quiet. Sam and Dean peek over their makeshift foxhole to assess the damage and prepare for the worst. Instead, they only stare in disbelief.
The only two left standing were Shane and Taylor, still conjoined at the right hand and dripping with hell only knew what. They were still in a defensive position, circling and searching for any remaining threat.
That was when an explosion rocked the place, sending everyone to the floor. The roof over their heads began to crumble. A giant chunk collapsed onto the two girls, who were barely able to dart out from beneath it. Each went in an opposite direction, finally releasing hands.
Taylor attempted to rise, but collapsed due to exhaustion. A whirling dervish always left them in a weakened state. That's why they employed the tactic so rarely. As she was attempting to rise up again, she felt herself being lifted and slung into a fireman's carry. She started to squirm, ready for another fight. Looking into the face of her assailant, she realized that it was only Dean. There was no way in hell she was going to let him get away with carrying her around. And the fact that she couldn't stand, even if she wanted to, was beside the point.
"Stop moving." Dean said, irritated. He started walking out into the main corridor.
"Then put me down." Taylor replied, still moving.
"Look darlin', you're in no shape to be walking and we need to get outta here. Now." Dean said, not releasing her.
"Then why isn't Sam carrying me?" Taylor asked, frustrated.
"Because he's carrying Shane." Dean replied, continuing to walk down the corridor.
"Oh my God." Taylor said, freaking out. "Shane? Shane!" Taylor yelled frantically, squirming more and trying to see her sister.
"Would you relax?" Dean said, exasperated. "She's fine, just unconscious."
Taylor stopped struggling and allowed Dean to carry her out of the building. When they reached the car, Dean put Taylor on her feet at the passenger side door before moving over to the driver's side. Both got in and waited as Sam reached the car moments later and laid Shane in the back seat before climbing in behind her. Dean laid on the gas and took off before Sam could even shut the door. Sirens could be heard in the distance.
Taylor turned in the seat to look at Sam cradling Shane.
"What happened? Is she alright?" Taylor asked in a worried tone. Her gaze swept across Shane's prone form in a clinical fashion. "Any damage?"
"Taylor, she's fine. She just hit her head while diving away from the collapsing ceiling. Look, she's coming around now." Sam said as Shane started moaning and sitting up.
"Damn." Shane exclaimed. "That hurt like hell." Rubbing her head she sat back in the seat and extended her fist forward. "We kicked ass, sista."
Relief flooded through her. Taylor bumped fists with her sister.
"We sure did. That was our best whirling dervish to date." Taylor returned, sitting back correctly in the passenger seat.
"Speaking of," Dean interrupted. "What the hell was that back there? There were over twenty demons in that room. It was a trap and we were outnumbered. Pinned down. And then, in a flash, not one demon is left standing. How'd you do it?"
"Improvisation mostly," Taylor replied, thoughtfully. "But it always starts with the same set of twists and acrobatic moves. Ain't that right, sista? We're a stickler for repetition."
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Shane said in agreement, relaxing into Sam's shoulder and letting Taylor explain.
"It's something Dad made us create as children. While other children were playing 'hide and seek' and 'tag' we were choreographing a deadly dance that could overpower any enemy. We never could explain how it always worked and we would emerge victorious. But, it leaves us drained, so we believe it taps into our power instinctively and makes us stronger. There's no way to know for sure, it's a recently developed theory, that is." Shrugging, Taylor ended her explanation.
"I take it that's why me and Sam have never seen you two do that before?" Dean asked.
"That would be correct. It's a last resort. Because it isn't any good to win a fight you're too weak to escape from once it's over." Taylor replied as Dean pulled up outside the motel they were staying at and shut off the car.
"And now it's time for a nice long shower and nap." Taylor said before yawning widely and getting out of the car, trudging up to the door and going inside.
ooouoooo*oomoooxooo*ooosoooo*oooaoo
"Sam, we've had this argument already." Shane exclaimed as she emerged from her room the next day, Sam following closely behind. "I'm not going to wear a dress. And that's final."
Taylor emerged a few moments later and shut the door behind her, and shook her head wearily.
"You're fighting a losing battle, Sam." Taylor said as she came up next to her sister. They had been invited to a party by one of the girls' joint friends as a thank you for taking care of their little demon infestation. And due to the fact that said friend was loaded, it was to be a formal party with lots of guests who had no clue as to the true reason for the party.
Sam sent a blasé look in Taylor's direction before continuing.
"Shane, come on. What were you intending to wear anyway? Even Taylor here is going to wear a dress. Why are you so dead-set against it?" Sam queried.
"Because, you never know what might happen and I don't want to be caught unawares. Also, it's none of your damn business what I'm going to wear." Shane retorted, quickening her pace and walking into the diner that was just down the street from their motel. She let the door shut behind her, not waiting for Sam or Taylor.
Dean was already sitting on a stool at the counter, eating. Shane took a seat beside him and waited for Sam and Taylor to sit next to her. Moments later, she glanced over to find that Taylor sat next to her and Sam beside Taylor. If she didn't know better, she'd say he was pouting. Well, he was just going to sulk and let the subject go because she wasn't going to budge. And she wouldn't tell him the real reason as to why she loathed wearing dresses, either.
Thinking back, she was soon lost in the memory of that dreadful night…
She had been eighteen and a little more carefree back then. Taylor and she hadn't been forced to move around like Sam and Dean had. Their father had left them with his mother, their grandmother. He returned every now and again to teach them everything he had learned and how to defend themselves in any situation. Both her and Taylor had been hunting with their father on occasion, but continued their high school education and graduated with flying colors. They had the rest of their lives to look forward to.
She had been with her first serious boyfriend at the time. He had splurged for their graduation, going all out and dishing out all kinds of money to celebrate before they went their separate college ways. He had bought her a beautiful full length gown that was cream colored, strapless and tight-fitting at the top before tumbling down to the ground in flowing waves. It had made her feel like she was gliding on a cloud. Well, except for the matching slippers that went with it; those had been murder on her feet. He took her out to a fancy restaurant and they spent the night enjoying each others' company.
But, the fairy tale finally came to an end as they were leaving the restaurant. Walking to his car at the other end of the parking lot instead of waiting for the valet, two vampires had happened upon them and she could do nothing as one grabbed her from behind and held her in a bone-crushing grip. She struggled helplessly as the other vampire sank his teeth into the neck of her boyfriend and drained him of his life.
"Got you now, little Sullivan. I've been watching you and your family. We have lots of fun in store for you. Just you wait." the vampire breathed into her ear. Repulsed, she started to struggle even harder, attempting to free herself. He didn't release her even after she had stomped down on the instep of his foot and head butted him.
"What?" the vampire hissed in surprise before releasing her suddenly and falling to the ground. As she fell away from him, she turned and saw her sister yielding a crossbow aimed at her assailant.
"Shane, you alright?" Taylor said.
Nodding, she turned back around and dropped to her knees, crying out. Her boyfriend had been tossed aside in the other vampire's haste to leave the scene. But the damage had already been done. He was dead…
Feeling a gentle tug on her braided pigtail, Shane's thoughts returned to the present. Taylor had been the one to tug on her hair.
Leaning her head on Taylor's shoulder, Shane closed her eyes and sighed.
"It's alright, you know?" Taylor said gently. "Sam isn't Ben. He can take care of himself. Besides, I've got your back this time, all the time. Come on, let's play dress up and show these boys just how well us Sullivan girls can clean up." Taylor finished, pulling her sister up with her.
"Boys, don't wait up. We're going shopping." Taylor said, looping her arm through Shane's and walking towards the door. Sam and Dean only waved in response, returning to their food as the girls left the diner.
ooowoooo*ooozoooooo*ooovoocooo*ooonoooo
A/N 2: There's more to this scene, but I didn't want to pile it all inside of one defenseless chapter. So I broke it up. Also, Ben was the boyfriend from Shane's memory. I hope I didn't confuse you too much with the flashback. There was also a line from the movie Soldier, as well as an idea borrowed from the book series Fearless. Feel good tokens for who discovers each. What'd you think? Drop me a line, if you wish. Until next time…