this chapter is dedicated to animotus at Livejournal. You really kicked my Muse into gear and gave me confidence, so thank you so much. Enjoy everyone!
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Chapter 3: The Magnificent Seven Part 3
Flashes of a department store. Of shoes and clothes and jackets. Of random people with their shopping bags and picking up things to buy. I tried to focus the thoughts but they were scattered. That's because they weren't mine. They were it's, the demon that shoved itself inside my body. I tried to collect myself and think harder, pulling the thoughts back. God it seemed like I was trying to drag myself out of a coma. Being possessed is underrated. You really never know how powerless you are until you have no control over your body. My heart skipped a beat, that I had done myself. I was thinking, no praying, that I hadn't done anything I would regret later. If the demon hurt innocent people while I was out…I don't know if I could forgive myself.
Suddenly all the thoughts I had lost came rushing back to me, like the demon was allowing me to witness them.
"Excuse me." My mouth asked a young blonde. She was pretty, obviously the type of person you'd see in a shoe department store. I found myself wondering what she needed the new pair of shoes for. Confidence, new job, funeral?
She turned around and smiled at me. "Yes?" She trusted me, I could tell with the way her voice sounded and her smile was genuine.
I watched as my arm moved, unwillingly of course and the demon placed my hand on her shoulder. My throat lurched as my voice spilled from my mouth. It seemed so alien sounding to me since I never gave the command to actually speak those words.
"Those are nice shoes." The demon made my voice sound pointedly, weighted as my head turned to motion to a brunette woman near the front of the store with red high heels.
The blonde turned and grinned at me. "Ooh, yeah. They are nice." I watched as she walked to the front of the store and confronted the other girl. I didn't really understand what was going on at first. This was this demon's shtick? To make blondes approach brunettes about shoes? It was odd, to say the least.
More images flashed past my head. Suddenly I was outside, walking away from the department store. At the end of the corner my body turned. I wanted to gasp but my lungs weren't my own anymore and the sudden intake of air didn't happen. The blonde from the department store was beating the burnets face into the windshield of a car. I felt my lips tug into a smile as the demon felt pleased with itself.
My vision was dark again; my eyes must have been shut. The memories were gone and the instead of my head was silent. Who are you? I asked it so many times my voice felt hoarse even though I hadn't been talking with my vocal cords. It never once answered me and I felt it press me into some sort of unconsciousness, my voice grew quiet and I fell into a deep sleep.
O0o0o0o0o0o
The first thing I felt the second time I woke up was the headache, the extremely loud pounding in my ears. Was that from the headache or was that just my heart beating really loudly? Was I even alive? Just because the demon had been moving my hands and feet didn't really mean I was actually living. I tried to remember the last thing that had happened…after the department store. Had nothing happened while the demon had pushed me out of my own head? Or had a span of time passed that I wasn't aware of?
I could see…well I could sort of see a bar in my mind's eye. But it was fuzzy, like smog was over top of the image. I could also taste whiskey on my tongue and feel some type of alcoholic buzz running through my veins. Why was the demon letting me feel these things? Was it on purpose or accidental? Or did it just not give a shit anymore? I mean, I had no real control, what was the big deal on me knowing the past anyways?
Something had happened between the department store and the whiskey I could feel bubbling in my belly. The question was what. It seemed the longer the demon was inside me the harder it was to remember things…to grasp reality and figure out what was going on. I had to focus incredibly hard and it just made me feel even weaker. So very tired and weak. I guess that's what the demon really intended. For me to just get weaker and weaker and eventually fade away.
Think, Andy, think. What the hell happened in that bar?
The memories came flooding back in flashes. It was really clear when the demon wanted to let me know what was going on. When it let me see my memories my body unclenched, it nearly felt like the damn thing was relaxing or letting go. Or dare I think it, getting ready to expel itself from my body. I nearly felt like myself again, like I could move again, like I could move my arm if I wanted to. But just before I fought the demon over, the millisecond I felt in control, the damn thing would tense up and clench my fists like it was showing me that it was in control and wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Pictures of Isaac and Tamera at the bar. At a table. Drinking Beer. Kissing cheeks and saying goodbye. Tamara getting up to leave…where was she going? Why was she leaving her husband in a bar full of demons? I finally got my surroundings. There were six including me…seven. Didn't Tamara know? Isaac and Tamara were good hunters, they weren't the best but they weren't stupid. And my stomach sank. Maybe Tamara was getting up to leave because they did know. She was leaving him because he loved her…and she loved him. And he thought he could handle this hunt, because…because they were only after one demon. The one that was inside me.
The next few images were blurred together, a black film covering my eyes making my vision black and white. Like if I was to see how a dog viewed the world. Suddenly my body had moved, though I didn't see the memory of moving it. I was in a group, surrounding Isaac. Another demon, tall and possessing a bald biker bar customer. Isaac. Other demons and myself. Isaac. Six. Isaac. Isaac. Isaac…drainer fluid. And then I had a sinking realization, though I couldn't tell if I was feeling it in the memory or if it was happening in this present moment…Isaac was going to die.
Green thick liquid turning red from his mouth onto the floor, his body shaking, coughing, sputtering…dying.
Then a loud, ear shattering crash as a car slammed its way into the front of the bar, destroying the wall and over turning tables and chairs. Lights fell from the ceiling and crashed onto the hood, sliding off and onto the floor. I knew that car…but…how did I know it?
It only took five seconds after the booming entrance for the people inside the car to emerge. My heart leapt in my chest as I saw Dean, holy water in his hand. My natural instinct was to run to him but the demon in my body suppressed it and I found myself backing away from him. I felt anger burning in my chest, though it wasn't from me, it was its anger and it was towards Sam, Dean and Bobby as they threw holy water into all of the demons.
I felt the liquid hit my skin, drenching me; it didn't hurt even though my skin was sizzling like I had been thrown into a pit of fire.
The demon roared inside me, making my ears hurt and my body shake. It took me more than a moment to realize that it wasn't just yelling in agony, it was also letting screams out through my mouth as it writhed in pain. But I myself felt no pain, thank God.
The last thing I saw was that I was running towards Dean as the rest of the demons tried to attack. But to no avail, Bobby kept dumping holy water on them as Sam grabbed Tamara away from her dead husband and dragged her to the car. They needed to keep the other demons at bay…they were only here for me.
Unfortunately, both the demon and I knew that. I'm guessing that was pretty easy to figure out when the Winchester moves when you got right between two people in love. I'm sure a lot of demons could predict our moves…humans follow their hearts in making decisions and evil loves to take advantage of that.
Dean picked me up easily but harshly threw me into the back of Bobby's trunk. Before the demon could retaliate or even get out of the trunk, Dean slammed it shut. The last thing I saw was the trunk closing over top of me, the Devil's Trap on the inside of the trunk lid keeping me inside. The demon blocked me out from my own body so forcefully it put me in some sort of coma…and that's the last thing I could remember before I woke up for the second time.
As the memories faded from my eyesight, like a movie being stopped after it's finished; my eyes blinked trying to regain focus. Why the demon was letting me see the present moment was beyond me. All it had been doing was letting me see recent memories but I was never awake for the present moment…why was it changing things up now?
"She's awake!" I heard someone yell…it was so fucking loud.
My throat swallowed, hard and tight, like my body was tensing. Though if it was I couldn't feel it. Demon was keeping me from feeling anything. I could tell I was tied to a chair, I knew Sam, Dean and Bobby had me. And I knew how a demon possession went we captured the host. Exorcism. Fuck I was so close to being safe. My heart fluttered in anticipation bit sank somewhat suddenly when the demon squashed the hopefulness in a matter of seconds.
Dean and Sam rushed into the room with Bobby. So who was with me, the person that screamed I was awake? My neck turned to look, as if the demon was curious too. It sure as hell wasn't me turning my own goddamn neck. Tamara…right Tamara. The demon made my lips smile as if it heard me think that…like it knew her.
My eyes twitched, focusing on Dean. My tongue licked my lips and my mouth turned into a smirk. "Hello Dean." My vocal cords vibrated in my throat; making sounds but God it didn't sound like me…even though the demon was obviously using my voice.
Dean was livid; anyone in the room could feel that. "Let her go…right now."
The demon used my lips to smile again. "Or what?"
Dean smirked and dumped a bucket of holy water on me. I screamed as my skin sizzled, though of course I wasn't the one hurt. I felt stronger, more prominent when the demon was in pain, distracted. In one brief moment, I had control. Its guard was down and I took advantage of it.
I jerked my head up and looked at Dean, all the love and human heartedness in my eyes, proving it was me. Dean knew it too; I could tell by the way he was looking at me. Any pain or stress he had left his eyes for a moment.
"…Andy?"
But in that moment I was gone and the demon reared its ugly head. "Your bitch is strong." My voice shook with anger and Dean's pain and lividness shot up in his eyes again. "Stronger than I thought." Then Dean looked proud. "I won't make that mistake twice."
Then it did something, I wasn't exactly sure what it was but I felt like I was falling into a black hole, like the life force was being sucked out of me. Farther and farther I fell and Dean kept getting further away.
Dean panicked and grabbed my shirt, jerking me towards him. I couldn't feel it…I could see it. But barely.
"What the fuck did you do?" He asked, I couldn't feel his hot breath on my face.
"Dean…" Sam cautioned.
My lips curled into a grin. "I just pushed Andy so far back in her mind that…you'll be lucky if she's in a coma by the time you get her back."
Dean gripped my shirt…I knew he wanted to hit me. Well not be specifically but he really wanted to take his anger out on this demon.
I had to stay strong, focused, had to try…had to stop falling.
Sam finally managed to pull Dean back from me. "Why are you here…what are you after?" Sam asked, swallowing.
The demon remained silent, just sitting inside me. Like it was mocking them somehow. It was really trying Dean's patience. He grabbed a holy water flask and filled it up. Before I, perhaps the demon too, knew it he splashed my face with the water.
The demon shook inside me like an earthquake but its painful cries never left my lips.
"He asked you a question!" Dean's voice sounded shaky. I couldn't tell if it was from anger or worry. "What do you want?"
It sniffled and panted softly as it shook my head. Water dripped from my hair, sizzling the skin on my arms as it fell. "We already have…what we want." My voice sounded tired, which was deceiving. I could feel the demon's strength, power. It was no where near being tired. Before Dean's impatience ran out and he started throwing more holy water the demon explained. "We're out….we're free. Thanks to you," I looked at Sam and Dean. "And Andy too, my kind are everywhere." Sam grimaced and glanced at Dean, who never took his eyes off me. "I am legion…for we are many. So me," I smiled again. "I'm just celebrating…having a little fun."
Sam raised his eyebrows in speculation. "Fun?"
It wasn't the kind of fun humans thought of. "Yeah, fun. See some people golf, others crotchet…me?" My head turned to look at Tamara. "I like to see people's insides…on their outsides." I smiled. "Kind of like Isaac choking on his own blood."
Suddenly I could feel everything. The chill of my skin from the holy water, the throb of my hands and feet being bound to the chair, my body, my senses. Everything. I felt like I was in control again. And then I realized why. As soon as Isaac's name left my mouth, Tamara leaned forward and punched my face. Hard. Dean and Bobby hurriedly pulled her back from me as my head snapped to the side from the force of the hit. I felt my face throb and light up with pain from the bruise forming and cut on my lip. The demon smirked inside me.
"You wanted to feel." I could hear it whisper to me…inside my body.
The feeling was gone as the demon took hold of my body again and laughs built in my chest and escaped my mouth. It spit the blood from my lip and looked at the group.
"Don't touch her again." Dean threatened Tamara.
Any rebuttal that could have been said was cut off by the demon. "You…actually think that you're better then me…don't you? Which one of you can cast the first stone?" It turned my head towards Dean and smiled, its point was about to be proven. "What about you Dean? You're practically a walking billboard for gluttony and lust."
Dean didn't look surprised, actually he looked smug. I wish I could have rolled my eyes. Leave it to Dean to be impressed with the fact he was a billboard for those sins. Sins…wait…that's…that's what this thing was? A sin? We're the seven deadly sins actual demons?
"And Andy…" I watched as Dean and Sam tensed. "All this anger penting up inside her…because she knows what I want to do to each of you…and her baby." It had to be the seven deadly sins. It mentioned lust, gluttony…anger. The family who we found all dead on their couch…sloth. And the demon that got Isaac was gluttony…and me…I was possessed by envy. I had to be. It explained the shoes and the department store women.
My thoughts went back to what Envy had just said…that wasn't true. Envy had not once thought about harming my baby. Though its not like it wouldn't if it wanted to, it just wasn't its main objective. The I realized that what it was saying had nothing to do with me. It had to do with angering Sam and Dean…and I could tell it was working. They looked pissed.
Dean looked at Bobby and Bobby stepped into the next room for a moment and then came back in. "Riley's fine Dean, she's fast asleep."
Relief blossomed in my chest and Envy made me smile again, hurting my cheeks. "For now. How long do you think it'll be before she gets caught up in the crossfire?"
A question that had been burdening Dean and my hearts since the day I had her. No one said it out loud but it was sadly obvious that it had crossed out minds more than once. Envy smirked, clearly pleased it had hit some nerves.
Dean came closer and leaned down on the arm chair, putting his face inches away from mine. "I'm gonna put you down like a dog."
Envy smirked again and grazed my lips along Dean's. "Please?" It taunted. It sat back from him and swallowed, a smile never leaving my face. "Anger just added to your list of sins, Dean. It's my point exactly. You call us sins…we're not! We are natural human instinct…" Dean backed up and stood among Sam, Bobby and Tamara. "And you can repress and deny us all you want." It sounded like a dare. "But the truth is…is that you are just animals."
Envy looked up at Dean and the room became black and white again as the black film covered my eyes. "Horny…greedy…hungry…violent animals." It licked the blood off my lips from the cut. "And you know what? You'll be slaughtered like animals too…the others are coming for me."
Now Dean smiled. "It's too bad you won't be here to find…because you'll be in hell."
Envy's grin fell from my face and I smiled inside. Finally. The exorcism.
"Go Sam." Dean instructed.
Sam smiled, reciting the Latin language he learned by heart. Regno terrae cantate Deo, soli te Domino tribute virtutem deo exorcizamus te...spiritus admissi satanica potestas…"
The demon cringed and it let out a soft moan from my lips. I could feel my feet.
Sam continued. "Erditiones venenam propinare. Vade satana inventor et magister omnis…invocato at nomi santo et tribali nomine quem inferi tremant."
Envy shook inside my body and I could feel it separating from my blood, my boners, my muscles and skin. I could feel my legs, my arms, my abdomen, and my torso.
"A mercedes diavoli libera nos domine, ut ecclesiam tuam secura tibi facies."
I felt my mouth open and I felt myself cough and gag as the demon was expelled from my body like a stomach virus, black smoke curling out of my mouth like a chimney towards the ceiling.
"Exert tua virtute et fortitudinem levi sue benedectis deus gloria patri!"Sam finished.
In an instant the smoke was gone, banging against the ceiling and disappearing. I slumped back against the chair, feeling incredibly weak and tired but…this was good. At least I was feeling something. At least I could feel myself.
I leaned my head up and coughed, I swallowed thickly, my throat dry. "Dean?" I asked weakly. "Sammy?"
They both rushed at me at once, like their names had been a gunshot in an Indie 500 race. Sam untied my legs as Dean leaned over me to reach his arms behind the chair to get my hands untied. I leaned my head against his chest as he worked the knots. I sniffled, taking in the familiar scent of him. I felt my eyes close for a moment; I had never remembered him smelling so goddamn comforting.
He pulled back and cupped my face, keeping my head from slumping down like a ragdoll. His thumb danced over the bruise around my mouth. "Are you okay?"
"I am now." I said softly. "Is Riley…?"
He nodded. "She's perfectly fine, sleeping. Which I have a feeling you should be doing right about now."
I shook my head. "Dean, I can't."
I was tired; my voice was a perfect example of that. But I couldn't just sleep this off. This war was coming, hard and fast and I didn't have time to just sleep around. I needed to help them. I felt like a quitter if I slept, leaving them to fight. Granted it was a small battle, Dean, Sam, Tamara and Bobby could very well handle this without me perfectly. But I didn't want to be that person that just…laid back while their loved ones fought the good fight. No matter how tired and worn out I was.
I swallowed. "Envy…was right. The others are coming for him. I want to help." Dean helped me up from the chair and my legs gave out from under me as my feet gained my entire weight. He scooped under the back of my knees and picked me up in his arms.
"I know you do." Dean said softly. "But you're not exactly a prime example of a strong fighter right now. You can barely stand."
"Well…they're not here now." I smirked softly. "I got time to recuperate."
Sam smiled at that and Dean shook his head, smirking softly. "You're stubborn Andrea Core. I'll give you that."
I smiled, genuine, warm, and happy. "I learned from the best, Winchester."
Dean scoffed. "I am no where near stubborn."
Sam groaned and I laughed. "Don't make us pick out examples." Sam threatened.
I smiled at the two of them. "Come here guys…give me a hug, yeah?"
Dean smiled and set me down on my feet and pulled me very close, hugging me tightly to him. I felt Sam came around my back and embraced me too, curling me inside a very warm cocoon of Winchester. I breathed them both in and smiled as I felt their warmth…their love. I loved them both so much. So very much.
"I thought…at one point, I thought…" I couldn't finish. Couldn't bear saying that I thought I would never see them again. It was just a possession, something I knew they knew how to handle. Saying that felt like I had no confidence in them that they could get me back. But it wasn't just that. Meg died inside herself too…demons did crazy things with human vessels…and I could have easily suffered the same fate.
Sam ran a hand through my hair and I felt Dean place a gentle kiss on my forehead. "You're safe now." Sam whispered.
"Yeah, we got you back." Dean smiled that same toothy grin I always fell in love with. "We'll always get you back." He promised.
"I hate to break this sentimental Hallmark moment," I smirked softly as Sam pulled back. We all looked at Bobby. "But we do have the rest of the seven deadly sins on our asses. Some preparation would be nice."
I looked up at Dean, not letting go of him yet. "I'll stay with Riley and only help if I'm needed. We got enough protective charms and seals that I can leave her if entirely necessary."
Dean nodded and curled hair behind my ear. "Alright." He kissed my nose. "Start drawing them around her okay? I'll help after I set up some holy water and salt."
As I drew many protection symbols around Riley and brushed the chalk off my hands a strong wind blew through the house and shook its frame, blowing some candles out that were lit for light. The room plunged into darkness and I stepped inside the protective circles with Riley.
"Dean?" I called out.
"Stay put Andy, we're fine."
I nodded obediently and gripped the holy water in my hand. I moved closer to where Riley was in her car seat and kneeled down to take her little hand in mine. The radio on the side of the room, that had looked ancient when I glanced at it a few hours before I was possessed, started playing a creepy religious music all by itself. No plug…no power. I really loved when spirits or demons decided to be all creepy with that kind of stuff.
A male voice crackled out of the radio, it sounded like a song that hadn't been played on radio stations in a long time. A banjo moaned and the males voice sputtered, "I shall be, I shall not be moved. I shall be…I shall not be moved."
I would have laughed if the eeriness in the room hadn't been choking me. What an appropriate song for the seven deadly sins.
I felt someone come up next to me and I stood again, gasping softly as they took my arm. "Shh, it's me." Dean said gently.
I swallowed and leaned into him for a moment and I felt him place a gentle kiss on his head.
"Tamara! Tamara!" I froze and looked up at Dean even though I couldn't see him. He grabbed my hand and squeezed softly. Was that Isaac?
I heard Tamara crying near the front of the room, where Bobby and Sam must have been as well.
"Tamara! Tamara! Help me! Please!" Isaac yelled outside and I swallowed. She had to be strong, had to know it wasn't really him outside. Isaac was dead, her and I had both witnessed it. I looked down. I really wish I didn't remember…that the demon hadn't let me remember. "Help me, Tamara, baby please. I got hurt, I need help!"
"It's not him." I said to her and swallowed. "We both know…he didn't get hurt. He died, Tamara." I hated to break her heart more, pouring salt in her open wound. I had to be harsh, she had to understand and not try to run outside and break the salt line. I knew how she felt, hearing that there was nothing she could do. I squeezed Dean's hand a little. I knew what it felt like to be helpless.
"She's right." Sam said from the other side of the room. "One of those demons is possessing his corpse."
I jumped as Isaac pounded on the door. This was so, so wrong. Torture. And I didn't need to see Tamara to know she was wavering. Who could really blame her? "You're just gonna leave me out here? You're just gonna let me die? How could you do this to me?" Isaac hissed, pounding against on the door.
And then in a rushed Tamara kicked the door open and it hit Isaac, making him fall down the stairs.
"Tamara, no!" I yelled and tried to go foreword to help but Dean grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
"Andy, don't!" I struggled for a moment before I realized we had an even bigger issue. The candles lit themselves as they hurried inside. The six other deadly sins. I froze and then backed up into Dean, like he was some sort of protective force.
Then I realized what we were dealing with. These weren't just demons possessing people. It felt like we were out of our league, against something we should have never had to deal with. It was our fault these things were on earth…and it'd just be our fault again if we let them kill us.
O0o0o00o
Demons rushed at everyone. It seemed to go way too fast. A heavy weight man went towards Bobby, making the house shake as he walked. I could have put money on it that that was Sloth we were dealing with. Before I looked away I smiled as the damn stupid thing walked right under the Devil's Trap on the ceiling. Two down, five to go.
The moment I turned back to look at the door an attractive blonde was approaching Dean and I.
I snorted, which was bad I found this whole think funny. "Lemme guess, you're Lust?" I asked.
She smiled a very luring and sexy smile. She grabbed me and wailed me across the room, before I could see where she took Dean.
"Andy!" I heard him yell as I slammed into a bookcase full of books, knocking it over. But as I looked up to where Riley was, perfectly safe within the protective circles, Dean was gone. Panic gripped my heart…or maybe that was pain. A few books had successfully pushed into my back with their hard corners and I was definitely starting to feel the effects of being thrown into a bookcase.
I must have stepped out of the circle, that's how she grabbed me. I leaned up and held my chest. I saw Sam running over, demons behind him, watching him carefully.
"Come on, we gotta run." He picked me up and started for the stairs.
"Riley…" I said weakly as he carried me with swiftness up the creaky stairs and down a hallway.
"Bobby's got her, don't worry, I made sure." He ran into another room and set me down in the middle of the floor. "Can you stand?"
I nodded. "It hurts."
"Lemme see where it hurts." He instructed.
I lifted my shirt up and I could feel bruises on my back. He poked and prodded around them. Sure it hurt but I knew what he was looking for would hurt way worse if I had broken any. "Your ribs are fine." I sighed in relief. "None of them are broken or cracked." I nodded, relieved. "We'll put some ice on it later."
"If we ever get out of here?" I retorted and he rolled his eyes.
"Way to be a glass half full there, sunshine."
I smirked and he smiled a little, it didn't reach his eyes. I heard the floor creak and looked over to the entrance and swallowed. Three other sins walked in and smiled at us, they were almost to the circle.
"Here's Johnny!" The man in the suit spit out, it sounded more angry then humorless. Regardless Sam and I weren't laughing. He smirked and stopped just in front of the circle. "Come on. You really think something like that is gonna fool someone like me? I mean, me?"
I swallowed and looked up at Sam. He wasn't impressed either. "Let me guess: you're pride."
Pride grinned at us and gave us a wave, an upward motion as the ceiling cracked and began to crumble; bits of paint and plaster falling from it and crashing to the ground. The protective circle was useless.
"The root of all sin." He grinned like he was proud. "And you are Sam Winchester." He looked at the floor and at me; his cold eyes making me shiver. "And Andrea Core. That's right, I've heard of you. We've all heard of you –- the prodigy to yellow eyes, the Boy King with his cute little crush at his side."
Sam cheeks tinted ever so slightly and his hands curled into fists.
"Looking at you two now, I've gotta tell you: don't believe the hype. Who's gonna follow cut-rate, piss-poor humans like yourselves?" He walked closer to me and Sam stepped in front. "I mean…" He smirked. "You humans just…break so easily. And now, with your yellow-eyed friend dead," I had never considered Yellow Eyes a friend…but I guess when you thought about it, in this situation, he kind of was. It kept Sam and me off limits to other demons. Odd how things worked out in the end. "I guess I don't really have to do a damn thing now, do I? You're fair game now. And it's open season."
We were bracing ourselves. This was it. Sam and I were out numbered and out gunned…meaning we had nothing. Not even holy water to protect ourselves. It was a horrible thought, but I'm sure Sam was thinking it as well. Who would have guessed that he and I would have died before Dean? Before his stupid deal dragged him to hell?
Suddenly a woman entered, and for a moment I thought she was another sin, I thought she was Lust because of her blonde hair. But then I realized she wasn't one of them because she was killing the demons…with some kind of knife. Who the fuck was she? Bat Woman?
"You!" One of the demons exclaimed…right before Ruby slit her throat with the knife. It killed just like the Colt…it killed demons. The demons knew her. Was she a well known hunter…if she was we would have heard of her. No…she wasn't a hunter. And I felt this creeping suspicion inside my stomach, curling up like something dead. I didn't trust her. I didn't know her, didn't know why she was saving our lives with a knife we'd never seen before…but I knew my instincts. And my instincts wanted me to kill her along with the other demon she was taking out.
Pride was the only demon left, looking stunned…looking at this girl vigilante.
Sam punched Pride across the mouth and she stabbed the damn demon through his jugular. I swallowed as he collapsed to the floor.
"Who the hell are you?" I asked as Sam helped me off the floor.
She smirked, putting her knife away. "I'm the girl that just saved your ass."
Sam rolled his eyes, though I could tell he was actually very grateful she showed up. "Well, I just saved yours, too."
She smiled at him, apparently seeing the gratefulness like I did. It made her proud…cocky. "See you around, Sam."
"Wait!" Sam called out for her as she left the room but she didn't stop. He looked at me and I swallowed.
"Don't look at me, I have no idea who that was."
Sam sighed. "I've never seen her before…how did she know who I was?"
"I don't know…" I said softly, looking at the bodies around us. I sighed; just another day at the office. "But I don't like her."
Sam smirked. "How can you know that? She just saved our lives."
I suddenly became angry. "Yeah…with a knife we've never seen before and for no reason at all. She had no reason to save us…" I licked my lips and Sam swallowed. I shook my head. "She's going to come back…and she's going to want us to repay the favor."
Sam looked at me, almost defending her. I could tell by the way his lips opened and then closed, and then he sighed, defeated. Why was he so willing to rush to defend this girl when he had no idea who she was…or even what she was.
I felt a pattern coming on…if she were ever to come back. And I prayed to god we'd never see the blonde Bat woman again. We had enough problems on our hands…we didn't need to add a whole nother one.
O0o0o0o0o0o0
I jiggled Riley in my arms, holding her close to me and bouncing her form up and down. I smiled at her and kissed her head.
"Hey, how bout you give me the cute baby and you can dig a ditch?" Dean asked and smiled at me, looking up at me in the ditch.
I smirked. "Oh, you made that sound so appealing, I'll hand her right over."
Sam smirked and glanced over at Tamara, who was near her car going through her weapons. "You think she's gonna be all right?" Sam asked, looking at us.
Dean sighed and shook his head. "No. Definitely not." He crawled out of the hole. "How's your back?"
"It's fine." I replied softly, just looking at Riley and her curling her fingers around my hair. I smiled softly and Dean leaned closer, placing a kiss on my cheek. "We'll get some ice when we get back to the motel."
Dean opened his arms, indicating he wanted Riley and I smirked. "You're all dirty."
He smiled. "Thought that's how you liked me." He waggled his eyebrows and I laughed, Sam groaned.
"Any survivors, Bobby?" He asked before he could hear anything else inappropriate coming from Dean's mouth.
"The pretty girl and the heavy guy –- they'll make it. A lifetime of therapy bills ahead, but still." Bobby answered, helping Sam out of the ditch.
Dean took his button down shirt off and cast it aside, there wasn't as much dirt on the shirt he had on underneath. I smiled and gently handed Riley to him and she cooed. I stroked her head for a moment as Dean held her against his side, pulling me to lean into the other. I rested my head over his heart and breathed in his scent. He placed a kiss on my head and then kissed Riley's nose. The smile she gave reached her eyes.
"Bobby, that knife we told you about–- what kind of blade could kill a demon?"
"Yesterday, I'd have said there was no such thing." Bobby shook his head, it sincerely puzzling him.
"Who was she? She ever say?" Dean asked and I shook my head.
"No…nothing." I sighed softly and looked at the three bodies in the ground. "If we let out the seven deadly sins, what else did we let out?" I whispered and Dean looked at Sam.
Nothing was said as the match was tossed into the pit.
O0o0o0o0o0o
We said our goodbyes to Tamara and headed back to the car. I helped Dean put Riley in the car seat. "So, where to?" I asked, buckling her in and putting the blanket around her as Dean handed it to me.
Sam looked at me. "I don't know. I was thinking Louisiana, maybe." The statement was weighted and I gave my head a slight shake.
"It's a little early for Mardi Gras, isn't it?" Dean asked smiling at me. I smiled back too but it was soft. He could tell something was up and he just sighed even before Sam said anything.
"Listen, I was talking to Tamara, and she mentioned this hoodoo priest just outside Shreveport that might be able to help us out. You know, with your demon deal."
Dean shook his head, getting out of the car and shutting the backseat door. I got out as well and rounded the car. "Nah."
Sam raised his eyebrows. "Nah? What does that mean, nah?" This was so not a fight I wanted to hear or be a part of right now.
Dean was being patient…which was really surprising when it came to this topic. Usually he had been livid with Sam and me if we ever tried to do research on this demon deal of his. "Sam, no hoodoo spell is gonna break this deal, all right? It's a goose chase."
"You know what?" And Sam had finally had it. "I've had it. I've been bending over backwards trying to be nice to you, and I don't care anymore."
Dean smirked. "That didn't last long."
I sighed softly and leaned against the car door. "It's not funny Dean." I said softly.
"Yeah, we've been busting our asses, trying to keep you alive, Dean. And you act like you couldn't care less. What, you got some kind of death wish or something? You're just so looking forward to leaving Andy and Riley behind."
Dean ground his teeth. God, he was trying not to wail Sam across the face with a heavy fist. Not only because he was angry…but because he was right. Anyone who knew Dean could see the change in him. Even me sometimes. I tried not to notice it. It was just fear. Plain and naked fear. And Dean that scared…scared the living hell out of me. So I chose not to notice it most of the time…but he really was acting like he didn't care sometimes. Which broke my heart too. Either way, I was getting hurt. So what did it matter anyways?
" No, it's not like that." Dean finally said.
"Then what's it like, Dean?" Sam challenged, asking for a god damn punch.
"Alright that's enough." I finally said. "I just…God I don't want to fight anymore. Please?"
Sam scoffed as he looked at me. "What you want him to…you just want to let him go? Let him die?" I swallowed, you could see the pain in Sam's eyes. And I knew he could see the same pain in my eyes too.
"God Sam." I looked away. "How could you say that? Of course not."
"You're not helping me!" Which wasn't true, that's all I'd been doing. But he was scared, upset, pointing fingers while he could. No one wanted it to be their fault for not being able to save Dean from this. I just let the comment slide past me.
"Leave her alone." Dean threatened. "Listen to me. We trap the crossroads demon? Trick it? Try to welch our way out of the deal in any way? You die. Okay? You die. Those are the terms. There's no way out of it. If you try to find a way, so help me God, I'm gonna stop you."
Sam shook his head and tears filled his eyes. "How could you make that deal, Dean?"
Dean smirked sadly. "Because I couldn't live with you dead. Couldn't do it."
"What, so now, I live and you die? So Andy has to be a single mother and Riley doesn't get to have a father?" I closed my eyes.
Dean swallowed. "That's the general idea, yeah." He wasn't being mean or harsh and it wasn't that he didn't give a fucking damn. He said that because it was just a plain fact, those things were going to happen when Dean died.
Sam scoffed and I turned away, I couldn't get a hold of my damn emotions. I swore I was not going to cry like this anymore…not until the day came where he had to go. Then…I'd sob. Probably for a very, very long time. Who knows…maybe I would never really stop. I'd be broken and dead inside. But I'd keep my head up…for Riley and Riley only. Fuck the rest of the world. As far as I was concerned, I'd died along with Dean.
"Yeah, well, you're a hypocrite, Dean. How did you feel when Dad sold his soul for you? 'Cause I was there. I remember. You were twisted and broken." I remembered too.
"Dean! Dean, stop! Dean!" I tried to get as close as I could to him, without getting hit myself. But he was so caught up in making each blow more forceful than the last I'm sure he didn't even hear me. "Dean, please stop." I begged him, tears coming to my eyes at the sight. This was the breaking I had known was going to happen but it was even more painful for me to watch.
His heavy breaths turned into wracking sobs that made his chest heave. "Andy, please." I heard him beg me as he tried clawing at my arms. He was gripping them, like he'd fall through the ground if he didn't hang on. "Please."
I pulled him into my arms holding him tightly as I felt his arms wrap around my back. He buried his face in my shoulder and let the sobs take him.
I swallowed and opened my eyes at the memory, tears pouring down my cheeks.
"And now, you go and do the same thing to me." Sam asked, continuing. "What you did was selfish."
"Yeah. You're right. It was selfish. But I'm okay with that." I sniffled, pretty aware that they weren't even paying attention to me now. Which was good. I didn't want to be the damn center of attention. Either they couldn't hear me because they were too wrapped up in their stupid fight or they just didn't want to hear me, blocked me out. "After everything I've done for this family, I think I'm entitled. Truth is, I'm tired, Sam. And I don't know, it's like there's a light at the end of the tunnel."
He was so, so fucking stupid. "It's hellfire, Dean." I said shortly. This wasn't a joke. I don't think he actually knew what he was getting into. Hell wasn't what you saw in the movies or in cartoons. It was pain…wrenching, awful, horrible pain. And you'd never escape it. Or die from it. When Hell had you…it had you forever. Dean was going to experience pain forever.
A sob fell out of my throat and I felt both boys shift behind me. Whatever Dean was going to retort to that; with that stupid "I'm afraid of nothing, bring hell on!" bravado, it never left his mouth. He didn't say anything.
I sniffled and try to keep the rest of the tears from falling but I was too far along and they were relentlessly pouring from my cheeks. I felt Dean put a hand on my shoulder, I could see it was him through the reflection of the car window. I wanted to fight him, be angry and pissed and punch him and scream at him, ask him why the fuck would he ever do this to me? He made me fall in love with him…and now I'd have to watch him die. Experience such a pain all over again. First my mom and then my dad. Now Dean.
But I didn't yell…or scream or hit. I just turned and buried myself in his chest. What could I really do? I couldn't be mad at him…not for things like this. Not for anything. I didn't have much time left with him. And all I wanted was for him to hold me…and never let me go.
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