Jamestown, New York
Dean had called Bobby earlier to get to Warsaw as quickly as possible. He just got back from hunting a Ghoul in a nearby town and skipped dinner to haul ass to New York. More than halfway there, Dean called him back and told him the news. Bela was gone. Her motel room had been torched but there were no signs of a body. Still Dean wasn't very optimistic. It was past midnight and if Bela wasn't holed up where the hellhounds couldn't get her, she was dead.
Bobby kept going since Dean still needed help. He could hear it in the eldest Winchester's voice. His tone sounded exactly like when John died. This was more than just failing to save someone in need of help. Bobby knew Dean and Bela weren't exactly friends but there was something between them. Bela may have stolen from Dean countless times but yet more than once put her own life on the line to save him. Whatever the boy felt about her, Bobby never asked. When he arrived at the motel Dean and Sam were staying at the next morning, the mood was somber to say the least. Dean didn't say much and Sam was worried. He had every reason to be. Dean had less than a day left and they were out of leads. Bela was their last shot at finding the Colt and she was gone.
"C'mon Dean. We should go back to my place. I've got enough devil traps and salt to hold those bitches at bay. At least until we can figure something out," suggested Bobby.
"No," Dean replied bluntly.
"Excuse me?" frowned Sam.
"There's no point. Holding them off isn't going to do me any good and remember what that demon said Sammy? If I try to wiggle my way out of this deal, you die," answered Dean.
Sam glared at him, furious. "So that's it?! You're just going to lie down and die?!"
"What other choice do I have Sam?" Dean snapped back at him. "Nothing I do is going to get me out of this and even if I try then you'll just die with me."
Bobby was half-tempted to knock some sense into him when his cell phone went off. While the brothers continued arguing, he pulled out his phone and checked the Caller ID. Bobby couldn't believe his eyes. It was Bela's number. She had this particular cell phone disabled for the past few months, probably to avoid the Winchesters from using it to track her. "Guys!" Bobby shouted to get Dean and Sam to shut up. He held up the phone so they could see the Caller ID.
Dean nearly snatched the phone from Bobby's hands. "Calm down ya idjit. I'll put it on speaker," he said, pulling the phone away from Dean's grasp. If this was a demon, then the less it knew the better. It wanted to talk to Bobby so that's what it'll get.
"Hello," Bobby answered, putting it on speaker.
"Hi Mister Singer," a childish voice greeted him.
"Who is this?" demanded Bobby.
"My name is Lilith," the child answered. Bobby glanced at Dean who mouthed the words Demon Bitch. That didn't sound good.
"What do you want?" asked Bobby.
"Just for you to invite Dean to my birthday party. Bela's already here and we're having so much fun," giggled Lilith.
A scream could be heard in the background. "Stop!" Bela pleaded.
"Don't scream. Screaming makes me angry," Lilith warned her.
Dean snatched the phone from Bobby. "You touch her again and I will kill you bitch!" he screamed.
"Pottymouth," laughed Lilith. It was unnerving to hear a demon talking like that inside of a child. As if Lilith herself was a child. "6330 Lockwood Drive. New Harmony, Indiana. That's where you'll find me and your precious Bel Bel. Oh and don't worry about bringing a present. Your intestines will make great beads for me to wear." The line went dead.
Bela clenched her shoulder. It hurt like hell but thankfully it wasn't broken. Lilith had telekinetically slammed her against the wall, crushing her against it to elicit a desired scream. Bela had refused to say anything at first once the demon called up Bobby with her cell phone but nearly breaking her shoulder changed that. She could hear Dean shouting profanities at her and Lilith gave them the address. Then the demon crushed the phone with her bare hands. "No more phone calls. I want breakfast," Lilith smiled.
"Either we go in smart or not at all!" Dean shouted. Every fiber in his being wanted to rush out the door and drive to where that demon keeping Bela but it was suicide. This Lilith sounded like she was the new replacement for yellow eyes that witch-teaching demon was referring to a few months back. Which meant she was probably very powerful and worse had a bunch of demonic backup just waiting for the Winchesters to run into the proverbial buzz saw. Dean wanted to save Bela but not if it meant he was going to get Sam and Bobby killed. Truthfully he was just waiting for an opportune moment to sneak out, disable Bobby's truck, and then drive off alone on a one way suicide. He was going to get himself killed but maybe he could at least save Bela.
"Okay fine. That's the case I have the answer. A way to get us a bona fide demon-killing Ginsu," stated Sam. Dean nearly wanted to scream. He wanted to summon Ruby. That lying manipulative demonic bitch has been playing them since the start. She told Sam she could save Dean's soul only to later admit to Dean that she can't. And he wouldn't be surprised if she knew about Lilith from the start and never told them. Granted Ruby's been helpful but it was only to get them to do what she wants. The moment they're no longer useful to her, Dean had no problem believing she'll try to kill them.
"Damn it Sam no," snapped Dean.
"We are so past arguing. I am summoning Ruby," replied Sam.
"The hell you are. We've got enough problems as it is," said Dean.
"Exactly. And we have no time and no choice," said Sam.
"Come on man. She's a lying skank. She told you that she could save me. Lie! Also she never once mentioned Lilith and that she's the demon who holds my contract. Bela figured it out and yet Ruby couldn't?" argued Dean.
"Fine she's a liar but she's still got that knife. I never said we should trust her Dean. Just to use her and if you don't care about your own life then at least care about what happens to Bela!" snapped Sam.
Dean wanted to yell at them not to but something inside just wouldn't let him say the words. The guilt inside of him was felt like it was about to explode like a geyser. It was more than just inflicting the same guilt onto Sam that Dean felt when Dad made a deal to him. He had a chance to save Bela but didn't. Dean left her back at the motel room rather than bringing her with to save Sam. He was so concerned about his brother's safety that he left her alone and vulnerable. And now who knows what that demon is doing to her?
Lilith led Bela by hand down the stairs to the ground floor. The sadistic white-eyed monster had seemingly turned into a playful child and Bela was too frightened to argue or resist her. She didn't know if Dean was on his way to rescue her or not but all she knew was that it was morning and no hellhounds were breaking down doors to rip her apart. Bela wasn't naïve to think she dodged the bullet. Lilith was only forestalling the attack dogs until she got the Winchesters then the demon will gladly sick the mutts on Bela.
"Watch out for Miss Winter. She used to be my babysitter but she didn't let me have fun," said Lilith. Bela understood what she was talking about when she saw the corpse of an elderly woman lying by the front door. Flies were buzzing over the mutilated body, her intestines ripped out. Bela could smell air freshner but it did little to mask the rotting scent.
Lilith took Bela into a dining room where a middle-age man and woman that were probably the parents of Lilith's host. The look of horror on their faces when they saw their daughter spoke volumes. Who knows how long the demon's been tormenting them.
"Morning," Lilith smiled at the couple.
"Good…morning sweetheart," the mother shivered.
"Morning," nodded the father.
"This is my new best friend Bela. Say hello," Lilith introduced Bela. The parents all smiled as best as they could as they greeted Bela. "Mommy I want blueberry pancakes for me and my friend."
"Of course sweetheart," the mother said before nearly running into the kitchen. Lilith took a seat at the table and then glanced at Bela. Taking the hint, she sat down as well.
"My mommy makes the best pancakes. You'll like them" explained Lilith. She glanced around, searching for something. "Where's Grandpa?"
"Taking a shower sweetie," the father answered. Bela got the impression that if anybody tried to run, they'd regret it. A few minutes later the mother returned with blueberry pancakes. Bela thought they actually looked good enough to try but she never got the chance.
Lilith glared at the pancakes. "You always make them in a butterfly shape on my birthday," she growled. The blood was draining from the mother's face. "Why are they round?" demanded the demon. The mother was almost too frightened to say anything and Bela wasn't about to get into the middle of this. Besides what could she possibly do anyways?
"I…I'm sorry honey. I was just…I just got so…preoccupied with your birthday cake," the mother stuttered as everyone held their breath.
"That's okay. I forgive you mommy," Lilith smiled innocently. The mother breathed a sigh of relief as the demon turned her attention to a black and tan Pomeranian walking into the dining room. "Here Fluffy," Lilith called out to it. The dog growled as she reached out to pet it. Bela was always a cat person but if a dog could sense someone possessed by a demon, she was going to have to get herself one.
Lilith glared at the mutt as it scampered off. "I don't think I like him anymore," she whispered.
A few minutes passed before the mother returned with butterfly shaped blueberry pancakes. Lilith seemed happy enough once she got her plate but stopped before grabbing her silverware. "I want something better than syrup," she said before getting to her feet and walking off.
Bela might not get another chance like this so she had to take it. "Do you have any spray paint or markers or anything you can use to draw?" she whispered to the parents.
"What? Draw?" asked the father.
"Do you know what's happened to my daughter?" asked the mother.
Bela didn't have time for this. "Just shut up and tell me do you have anything that can be used to make symbols on a floor or ceiling? I know this sounds ridiculous but it might be the only way anyone of us gets out of this alive," she stated.
What she really needed was to be able to make a devil's trap and catch Lilith in it. Then Bela might stand a chance of getting out of here. She wasn't naïve enough to think there weren't other demons watching the house but it was better than just waiting for Dean to show up. Once the knight in shining armor shows up, Bela and the rest of this family were expendable.
"No. She took all the canyons and markers," said the mother.
"What about tape?" asked the father.
"Tape?" frowned Bela.
"I have some masking tape in the garage. Leftovers when we recently painted some of the rooms," answered the father. Not exactly ideal but it was better than nothing.
Everyone quickly shut their mouths as Lilith came skipping back to the dining room, clenching something in her hand. She took a seat and dropped the contents in her hand onto her pancakes. Bela was just as horrified as the parents as she realized it was human intestines. "I guess Miss Winter was actually for good for something after all," Lilith stated before she used a fork and knife to cut the intestine-laced pancakes into pieces.
Dean and Bobby stood back while Sam prepared a summoning ritual. The eldest Winchester was not comfortable with any of this but the fact was that unless they get Ruby's help or specifically that knife she carries around, they stood no chance of killing Lilith and saving Bela. It was only because of Bela that Dean was even going along with this.
Sam muttered some things in Latin while mixing herbs in a bowl surrounded by symbols draw in marker. Then he lit a match and tossed it into the bowl, igniting the herbs and completing the ritual.
"You know they invented this great new invention called a phone," a voice spoke behind Dean. He jumped and turned around to see Ruby standing there with that usual arrogant glare of her's.
"Don't sneak up on me like that again," Dean growled.
"You rang me, not the other way around. Regular people tend to show a little respect when they want something from someone," Ruby pointed out.
"Yeah well you don't count as someone you lying bitch," shot back Dean.
"Wow. This is the thanks I get for saving your lives. Maybe I should go visit Aruba now and leave you three to solve whatever problem forced you to call me," retorted Ruby. Dean didn't say anything else, knowing it wasn't going to help. The demon turned her attention back to Sam. "So you called?"
"Did you know?" asked Sam.
"I'm gonna need a tiny bit more," Ruby stated.
"About a demon named Lilith," Bobby spoke up. "And the fact that she owns Dean's contract."
"Yes I did," Ruby stated with any sign of remorse.
"I knew it," scoffed Dean. "You've been jerking us around since day one."
"I didn't tell you because you yahoos would have went after her half-cocked and Lilith would peeled the meat off your pretty faces. That whole power vacuum since Azazel's death is over and Lilith now reigns supreme. You think she took over hell because she likes to eat baby livers and kill puppies? She's one of the oldest and probably strongest demon in existence. Personally I never understood why she didn't duke it out with yellow eyes for the top spot. She certainly got the muscle to do it," explained Ruby.
Dean glared at her, "You've had us running in circles for almost a year. If you had told us from the start, we could have planned it out and used the Colt to kill her."
"The Colt wouldn't do you any good. Not unless you get a perfect shot while she's distracted and she always goes everywhere with an entourage of powerful demons. You'd be dead before you could get a shot off," said Ruby.
"Yeah well what's your alternative then?" demanded Bobby.
"You two would get slaughtered…" Ruby said before turning her eyes to Sam. "…but Sammy here is another story."
"What are you talking about?" frowned Sam.
"Even with the Colt and my knife which is not doubt the reason you called me in the first place, it won't work."
"And why the hell not?" snapped Dean.
"I know that she was on some R&R but something happened and now she's got a whole army surrounding her," said Ruby.
"Because Lilith's expecting us," Sam sighed. Dean glared at him for admit this but his brother ignored him. "She even told us where to find her."
"Well then that's the one place you want to be as far away as possible," Ruby stated bluntly.
"This is our only chance to save Dean," Sam spoke up.
Ruby frowned, her eyes scanning the look of all three men in the room with suspicion. "What's really going on here? The Dean Winchester I know would never let anyone risk their lives for him on a suicide mission. And Lilith wouldn't call you unless she was absolutely certain you would come so she has more than just Dean's soul," she said. Ruby was a bitch but she wasn't a stupid bitch.
"She's got someone," said Dean.
"Who?" asked Ruby.
"Doesn't matter. We're going so you can either help us or you can give me the knife and leave," Dean gave her an ultimatum.
"Even with the Colt and my help you'll never be able to pull this off," Ruby repeated her earlier claim.
"We don't have the Colt," Sam admitted. Dean glared at him again for revealing information this bitch doesn't need to know. "It was stolen," he added.
Ruby looked like she wanted to wring Sam by the throat. "I'm sorry. Did you just say the one thing that Lilith is genuinely afraid in this world got stolen from your thick, clumsy, idiotic hands?"
"Alright I've had enough of this. We're wasting time now are you going to help us or not?" demanded Bobby.
"No," scoffed Ruby. "Even with the Colt it was a suicide mission."
Before Dean or Bobby could make a move, Sam quickly spoke up, "Wait a minute. You said something about me being able to have a chance."
"Glad someone was paying attention," Ruby sighed with annoyance. "Sam you have more than a chance. You've got the power to kill Lilith with just a thought."
The Winchesters and Bobby all had the same confused looks. "Wait a minute. You're talking about that whole psychic crap," Sam remembered.
Dammit Dean knew this was going to eventually come back up. Whatever Azazel had planned for Sammy went down the crapper when Dean put a Colt bullet in his chest but that didn't take away the demon blood still running in Sam's veins. And almost all everyone that yellow-eyed bastard gave the demonic cocktail to become a psychotic killer. "Oh hell no," Dean shook his head.
"You morons lost the Colt so there isn't an option B or C. It's the only one you've got," said Ruby.
"My visions stopped after yellow eyes died. It's gone," stated Sam.
"Not gone, just dormant. And it's not just visions either. Why do think Lilith set this trap up for all of you in the first place? It's not for Dean since he'll be dead soon enough. It's for you Sam. Lilith is doing all of this to kill specifically you and that's because she's afraid of you. If you let me, I can teach you to awaken it and you can save Dean and whoever Lilith's has for a hostage," Ruby explained.
"And you're just telling us now because?" demanded Sam.
"Because of the stupid look your dumbass brother is giving me," Ruby pointed out. Right now Dean had never been more tempted to kill this bitch. She was going to try and turn Sam into whatever Azazel wanted him to be. Sure he might kill Lilith but what would he become in the process?
"The fact is that you would have never considered until you were too desperate enough to say no," Ruby added.
"Well I'm still saying no you slutty little Yoda," Dean declared.
"Dean," Sam tried to calm him down.
"You're not going to teach him anything. You understand me? Over my dead body!" snapped Dean.
"Give it another day and I will you," chuckled Ruby.
Now Dean had lost all his patience. "Give me that knife and run back to whatever slop you came from and never bother me or my brother again," he demanded.
"Dean just hold on a second," Bobby protested. Dean couldn't believe that Bobby was actually considering this.
"No! I am sick of this whole antichrist superstar crap that everybody seems to want my brother to become well it's not happening," shouted Dean.
"I want Lilith dead and this is the only way to do it," stated Lilith.
"Oh right because you're a nice demon that likes kittens and long walks on the beach," Dean mocked.
Now Ruby was the one losing her patience. "I am so sick of proving myself to you. You want to save yourself then this is how you dumb spineless dick!" she snapped.
Dean decided enough was enough and did something the moment she first ported into the room. He slugged her across the chin. The blow caught her off guard but she was able to stay on her feet. Furious, Ruby unleashed a fury of punches and kicks within a matter of seconds that knocked Dean to the floor. Sam tried to stop her but got tossed into the wall for his efforts. Bobby threw the contents of a water bottle in her face. Ruby screamed in pain as she realized it was holy water. Then he grabbed her and shoved her towards a corner of the room.
By this time Dean and Sam got back to their feet. Ruby had recovered as well but when she tried to lunge, she was stopped. The demon glanced up in the air to see a devil's trap. Dean and Bobby had it prepped just in case Ruby wouldn't cooperate. "I'll kill you sons of bitches!" she snapped.
Dean grabbed some more holy water and tossed it into her face, inflicting enough pain to distract her long enough to snatch the knife hanging from her belt. "Thanks for the partying gift," he chuckled then headed towards the door. "C'mon guys let's go."
"Wait a minute you're just leaving me? Are you just too stupid to live? Then fine you deserve hell. I hope Lilith rips your heart out and feeds it to the hell hounds!" Ruby shouted at them as they left.
"What the hell was that?" demanded Bobby as they headed to their vehicles.
"She wasn't going to help us Bobby," explained Dean. Sam didn't say a word.
Bobby was the exact opposite, roughly grabbing Dean by the shirt and forcing him to stop. "You listen to me you selfish son of a bitch. You don't get to be the only one who sacrifices yourself in this family. And the only reason I'm not going to beat your ass into changing your mind about all of this is because I don't trust that demon bitch anymore then you do. But if we do this then it's because we're doing this to save both you and Bela. Not just her. You're not dying tonight. Are we clear boy?" he demanded to know.
"Crystal," nodded Dean. The threat actually made him feel pretty good, knowing uncle Bobby cared about him even if he didn't think he deserved it.
"Good. I'm pretty sure someone heard our little tussle with Ruby so let's get out of here before the cops show up," nodded Bobby.
Bela fumbled through the contents on the shelves in the garage, looking for the masking tape the father mentioned before. After breakfast, Lilith insisted on the dad pushing her on the swing in the back yard. Bela couldn't get a chance to ask him where it was so she had no choice but to check everywhere. She found the tape but also checked around in there was any chalk or spray paint can the family simply forgot about. Unfortunately Bela didn't find anything else that could help her out. Which meant she was going to have to do this the hard way. Ripping enough pieces of tape and arranging them into a large enough devil's trap was going to be a bitch. But she didn't have much choice.
Bela made her way out of the garage and told the mother to tell Lilith that she was going to take a shower. She asked where it was and the mother gave her directions to the upstairs. Locking herself in and quickly turning on the shower to cover her work, Bela worked as quietly as she possibly could to tape a devil's trap onto the ceiling right in front of the door. Lilith would be trapped the moment she stepped inside and Bela could escape through the window. After that she was going to get her hands on a working cell phone and tell Dean to get his ass here ASAP. Like it or not, Bela couldn't run away. She had no doubt that Lilith just put her contract on hold and not broken it. Maybe with the Winchesters help, that'll change.
She was maybe halfway through when there was a knock on the door. "Bel Bel. Are you using up all the hot water?" Lilith called out. Bela felt like her stomach was jumping up through her throat.
"I…lost track of time," Bela managed to say. Her teeth where nearly clattering as she spoke but considering Lilith wanted her like that, maybe that wouldn't give this all away.
The door swung open as if hit by a battering ram. Lilith stood outside, her suspicious eyes glaring at Bela. Then they slowed looked up to the ceiling. Bela tried to rush to the window but was suddenly lifted off her feet, slamming face first into the nearest wall. Lilith had her pinned, unable to move. "You've been a naughty girl Bel Bel."
"Screw you bitch," Bela spat at her. She knew what was going to happen next and she wasn't going to give the demon the satisfaction of begging.
"I know how you can make this up to me. Let's sing one of my favorite songs. This Little Piggy," Lilith giggled. Bela had no idea what she was planning on until she noticed the demon eyeing her right hand. "This little piggy went to market…" Lilith sang before Bela's thumb was snapped back, breaking the bone. She screamed in pain. "…this little piggy stayed home…" Lilith continued then Bela's index finger was snapped. Bela's screams got even louder. "…this little piggy had roast beef…" another verse, another finger. "…this little piggy had none…" Her ring finger twisted and snapped. "…this little piggy will make you cry wee wee all the way home," giggled Lilith. Bela's pinky didn't just snap but was telekinetically ripped right off.
Bela screamed so loud her lungs were almost out of breath. Lilith finally released the hold on her and Bela slide to the floor, tears streaking down her cheeks. Her hand felt like it was on fire and she was almost too afraid to touch what fingers she had left. God it hurt so much.
"We're not done Bel Bel. You have two hands," Lilith smiled sadistically as her eyes turned white.
"Shut up Sam!" Dean snapped at his brother. For the past hour the two had been bickering and arguing about what happened back at the hotel room with Ruby. Sam wanted to go back and get more details about learning Jedi Force Powers while Dean had no intention of ever seeing that manipulative bitch ever again.
"We have only one shot at this Dean. If there's a surefire way of pulling this off…" Sam protested.
"No! Don't you get it? Dad's deal, my deal. Every time one of us is up the creek, the other is begging to sell their soul. You know what it's paved with and you know where it's going," Dean interrupted him.
"What are you afraid is going to happen to me? That all I'll turn into some kind of monster?" demanded Sam.
"Yes Sam. That's exactly what Ruby, Azazel, and all the rest of those sons of bitches want. You remember Jake, Ava, Anseem, Max? They didn't start as bad people and look what happened to them," Dean reminded his brother of Azazel's other special children. All of them turned psychotic and became killers.
"Can't you see it Sammy? I'd do anything for you and you'd do anything for me. Those bastards have been using that against us since day one," continued Dean.
"So what we just stop looking out for each other?" sighed Sam.
"No. We stop being martyrs. We stop bending over for these demons and go after Lilith our way. By sticking that knife into the bitch's heart. That's the way Dad taught us to and if we go down then we go down swinging," Dean answered.
The two sat in silence for the next few minutes. Dean waited for his brother to respond but he didn't say anything at all. "You totally should have been jamming Eye of the Tiger during that speech," chuckled Sam.
Dean glared at him then started laughing as well. "Bite me. I rehearsed that speech too," he laughed. His smile faded as he decided to exploit his brother's willingness. It wasn't something he was going to like but it had to be done.
"Listen Sam. When we get there and if we somehow manage to get inside alive, I want you to grab Bela and get her out as fast as you can," Dean requested.
Sam's smile faded. "Seriously? Dean you're going to need my help on this one," he argued.
"You heard Ruby back there. As much as I hate her, I have to agree with her on this one thing. Lilith is doing this to get you not me. Only of us can use the knife so it has to be me. My number's up at midnight anyways. I know you're not going to like it but tough. So please just promise me this one thing and get Bela to safety," said Dean.
Sam looked like he wanted to argue but didn't say anything. Dean took that as a reluctant acceptance when he saw red and blue flashing lights in his rearview mirror. He knew he should have replaced that busted tail light sooner. Dean pulled off to the side of the highway with the patrol car parking right behind them. Sam immediately grabbed one of the fake registration papers they kept in the glove compartment as the officer stepped out of the car.
"Is there a problem officer?" Dean asked as he rolled down the window for the approaching cop.
"License and registration please," he requested. Dean sighed as he handed them over, not even glancing at the man. He was in such a hurry, he didn't bother trying to argue to avoid any ticket. Saving Bela was his first priority and then his own soul was second. Everything else didn't matter. "You do realize you have a tail light out Mr…Hagar?" the officer added.
Dean glanced up to talk to him face to face when he saw another one of his hallucinations. The cop's face was distorted and ugly only something was different. The illusions Dean saw before were constantly shifting and normally passed after a few seconds. This one wasn't. "Uhh…yes sir," Dean spoke up. His hand slipped into his pocket where he kept Ruby's knife. "I've been meaning to take care of that. As a matter of fact…"
Dean suddenly swung the door open, hitting the officer on the hip and knocking him down. Dean jumped out of the car and stabbed the man right in the throat. The officer gasped as his skin glowed, just like whenever the knife killed someone possessed by a demon. Bobby's truck pulled out by the time it was all over. "What the hell happened?" Bobby demanded.
"Dean just killed a demon," said a stunned Sam. "How'd you know?"
"I just knew," shrugged Dean. It was a lucky guess actually that what he saw on the man's face was more than just an illusion and it was one that just saved him and his brother's life. "I could see its face. It's real face under that one."
After hiding the body and the patrol car off the side of the road, Bobby surmised that with such little time left that Dean's eye were starting to see past the veil of life and death. It sounded crazy but what else could possibly explain any of this. Whatever the reason for it, Dean saw it as finally some good news. Now Lilith and her demon bitches were going to be able to hide from him.
By the time the Winchesters and Bobby arrived at New Harmony, the sun was down and race was on. Dean and Bela's time were running out but it wasn't like they could just rush in and gank the demon bitch. Dean scouted ahead and noticed dozens of people throughout the neighborhood were possessed by demons. Just getting close to her was practically suicide. The three managed to sneak into an empty house directly across the street from where Lilith told them she was. Dean used binoculars to scan through any window he saw and managed to spot a normal looking family eating in the dining room. Only problem was that the little girl's face was monstrous and disturbing. Three guesses who that was.
Add to the fact that an old man had his face lying on a plate full of pudding and cake. His eyes hadn't blinked at all and his body was completely still. You didn't need to check his pulse to know he was dead and yet the man and woman just kept on cutting the cake and going on like nothing was wrong. Apparently this was Liltih's version of R&R. Completely torment an innocent family and probably kill them all once she got bored.
"I don't see Bela anywhere," Dean grumbled.
"You don't think Lilith…" Sam started to say but stopped himself.
"I'm not two years old Sammy and no she didn't. Lilith won't kill Bela until we show up to watch her die. All these sadistic sons of bitches are predicable," growled Dean. That still didn't mean that Lilith had fun with Bela. Who knows what kind of tortures she was put through?
"Do you see Lilith?" asked Bobby.
"Yeah…inside the kid," sighed Dean. Dammit Lilith was smarter than your average demon. When the Winchesters come after her, they were going to need to kill the kid to gank the demon. Just the thought of stabbing that little girl with the knife made Dean cringe.
"You sure it's just the girl?" asked Sam.
"The only demon I see is in the kid," Dean said with certainty. At least from what he could see, Lilith was the only one. Who knows how many were waiting inside to ambush them?
"Alright then let's go. We're wasting time," said Sam.
"Wait. Notice something wrong with this picture? The mailman delivering mail at eleven pm? And Mr. Rogers over there?" Dean pointed out every demon he could see. Lookouts and if just one spotted them the game was over.
"Demons?" asked Bobby.
"Yeah," nodded Dean.
"Okay fine, we ninja past them and sneak in," said Sam, a little too anxious to get going.
"And what? Give a Columbian necktie to a ten year old girl?" groaned Dean.
"This isn't about saving you Dean. This is about saving everybody. Bela and the parents," said Sam.
Dean didn't like but his brother was right. The three split after coming up with quite possibly the craziest plan they had ever dreamed of. While Bobby set up a holy water sprinkler system, Dean and Sam went Rambo on the two lookouts with Ruby's knife and quickly hide the bodies. With those two out of the way, they headed towards the backyard fence but before Dean could grab the latch, he was suddenly shoved into the chain fence.
"I'd like my knife back please. Or your neck snaps like a chicken bone," Ruby threatened him as she had him painfully hard pressed into the steel. He couldn't see her but Dean could recognize her voice.
"He doesn't have it so take it easy," Sam said, probably had the knife to the demon's throat.
Ruby released him and Dean groaned, clenching his face. He managed to finally see the bitch and she was even uglier than he ever imagined. "How'd you get out?" Dean demanded.
"What you don't know about me could fill a book," Ruby retorted.
"I gotta say I couldn't see it before but you are one ugly broad," Dean remarked. That got him a punch in the face from Ruby, knocking him to the ground.
"That was for throwing holy water in my face," growled Ruby. Sam got between the two of them, ready to stab the bitch the moment she tried something like that again. "Sam give me the knife before you hurt yourself."
"You'll get it when this is over," promised Sam.
"It's already over! I gave you a way to save Dean. You shot me down now it's too late. He's dead and I'm not gonna let you die too," snapped Ruby.
"Try and stop me and I'll kill you bitch," Sam threatened her.
Dean would have been proud of his brother's remarks except Ruby was about to become the least of their problems. "Uhh guys. Have your little catfight later," he gulped.
Across the street, dozens of humans with black eyes were exiting their homes and heading straight for them. So much for the element of surprise. Sam, Dean, and Ruby took off running towards the front door with the entire possessed neighborhood right behind them. As Sam tried to pick the lock, the sprinkler system for the front lawn activated and doused several demons. They screamed in pain and quickly retreated while the rest were held at bay. Good old Bobby and his crazy ideas.
The three stepped inside and nearly tripped on the corpse of an old woman. Her intestines had been ripped out and her body was covered in flies. The worst part was the smell. It was almost enough to make Dean vomit. The house itself was quiet and the lights were all out in the rooms that he could see.
"You think Lilith knows we're here?" Dean asked Ruby.
"Probably," she replied. Not a comforting thought. It was somewhat ironic that they were apparently working with the same demon they left in a devil's trap hopefully never to see her again. But the fact was that they were desperate and couldn't be picky about who they were working with at this point. The three headed into the living room, dark and empty. Dean was expecting a trap around every corner but so far the ambush didn't come. Maybe Lilith was the only demon in the house. Of course if she was as powerful as Ruby said, she didn't need backup to kill them.
The dresser behind them opened and Dean quickly spun around and grabbed the emerging man on the mouth. He wasn't possessed by a demon but he was terrified and if he started screaming then that would give them all away. "We're here to help okay? I'm gonna move my hand and we're gonna talk nice and quiet okay?" Dean whispered.
The man nodded and Dean let go of his mouth. "Sir where's your daughter?" Sam asked.
"It's not…it's not her anymore," the man trembled.
"Where is she?" Sam asked again, losing patience.
"Upstairs in her bedroom," the father answered.
"Is there a woman here? Brown hair, green eyes, real pushy and demanding?" Dean asked about Bela.
"I think she's still upstairs but I don't even know if she's still alive. Those screams…," the father quivered. Dean tried not to panic. Lilith didn't kill Bela, at least not yet. But what if she changed her mind and decided killing Bela before Dean could get to her was more satisfying?
"I want you to go downstairs to the basement and put a line of salt at the door behind you okay? Do you understand me" Dean ordered him.
The father shook his head. "Not without my wife," he protested. Dean wasn't in the mood and was out of patience. He punched the man, knocking him unconscious. Dean carried him off to the basement and set him down on the floor before dumping a salt line around the door then quickly and quietly moving to rejoin the others upstairs.
Once Dean got to the top of the stairs, Ruby emerged from the first door on the right and she wasn't alone. Being helped along was a bloody but living Bela. Dean would have been overjoyed to see her but he was completely horrified. Her hands were a mangled mess, some fingers had been twisted and broken while others had been completely ripped off. Her face was littered with scars, both teared stained eyes were blacked with bruises, and she made quite possibly the most blood chilling moan from her mouth. The reason being her tongue was gone.
"Jesus," Dean whispered as he quickly pulled her in an embrace. Despite her condition, he was still happy to see her alive. Bela started sobbing as she rested her head against his chest. As much as he didn't want to, Dean quickly pulled her off. "Get her out of here," he told Ruby.
Dean headed down the hallway into the next room, which looked like a children's bedroom. Inside Sam was standing over a bed where the mother was lying beside Lilith. Except something was wrong. The little girl's face didn't look like a monster anymore. Then Dean realized Lilith must have jumped ship. Sam raised the knife ready to kill her. The girl opened her eyes and seeing Sam, screamed. Dean quickly lunged at his brother and grabbed his knife hand, stopping him.
"It's not her! It's not in the girl anymore," Dean quickly explained. After quickly getting the mother and daughter into the basement, the brothers found Ruby and Bela in the living room. "I thought I told you to get her out of here!" Dean snapped while Sam was completely stunned by Bela's appearance.
"How?! The whole house is surrounded by demons!" Ruby shouted back.
"Where's Lilith Ruby?" Sam asked.
"I don't know. Holy water doesn't work on her so she could have easily gotten past your sprinklers and skipped town by now," answered Ruby.
"Fine you win. What do I do to save Dean?" Sam begged.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Dean demanded.
"Just shut up for a second," Sam snapped at his brother.
"You had your chance. You can't just flip a switch. We needed time," Ruby said.
"Well there's gotta be something. Whatever it is I'll do it," protested Sam.
"Sammy enough! It's over!" shouted Dean. "You and Ruby get Bela out of here. I'll distract the posse outside and give you enough time to get away."
"No Dean. I'm not going to let you go to hell!" snapped Sam.
"Yes you are!" Dean shouted back. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault but what you're doing isn't going to save me. It's only going to kill you."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" cried Sam. It broke Dean's heart to see his brother like this.
"Keep fighting the good fight. And you better take care of my wheels or I will break out of hell and haunt your ass," Dean tearfully chuckled. He glanced at Bela who was still shivering and in pain. He wanted to tell her he was sorry he couldn't have gotten here earlier. He wanted to say that at least she was alive and no hell hounds were nipping at her heels. He wanted to say so many others thing but the bell chimed in, letting everyone know that it was midnight.
Almost immediately, Dean could hear it. The howling outside and then it was inside. Growling as it got closer. Dean turned to see a black Doberman pincher with glowing red eyes behind him, ready to lunge
Sam didn't need to hear the hellhound but he knew it was there. Dean and Ruby were both looking directly at the same spot with the same terrified look on their faces. Dean quickly grabbed Bela and the four took off running into a nearby office and slammed the doors shut. The hellhound rammed and banged on them, trying to break them down. Rudy and Sam held the doors shut while Dean quickly dumped gopher dust in front of them. That would hold it back for the moment but they were far from safe. Bela was seated on the floor, still shaking. God only knows what she endured.
Dean next dumped dust around the windows while Ruby urged Sam to give her the knife. "That dust won't last forever," she told him. Well if anyone of them could possibly fight that thing it, Ruby was the most qualified out of all of them.
Sam was about to hand it over when suddenly Dean shouted, "Wait! Sam that's not Ruby!" Ruby or rather Lilith smiled, her eyes turning white.
Sam lunged at her but was suddenly hurled into a nearby wall, pinned against it by an invisible force while Dean was hurled and pinned onto a table. Lilith strolled over to Bela and pat her on the head like a dog. Bela didn't run or even try to resist, just shook like a leaf.
"Get away from her you bitch!" snapped Dean.
Lilith was amused. "You're quite the potty mouth Deany. Bela was too but my little puppy's all house broken now," she giggled.
"How long have you been in her?" demanded Sam.
"Not long but I like it. It's all grown up and pretty," smiled Lilith.
"And Ruby?" asked Sam.
"She was a very bad girl so I sent her far, far away," answered Lilith.
"You know I should have seen it before but you all look alike to me," spat Dean.
Lilith ignored him and turned her attention to Sam. "Hello Sam. I've wanted to meet you for a very long time," she said as she slowly walked up to Sam's immobilized body. Then she suddenly leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. Sam suddenly felt something, as it was a spark that ignited a fire inside of him. What the hell was that kiss all about?
"Your lips are soft," chuckled Lilith.
Sam was half tempted to spit in her face but that wouldn't help the situation. "Okay you've got me now let Dean and Bela go," he said.
"I don't know about that," Lilith said before turning and heading back to Bela. "Bel Bel do you want to leave me?" she asked. Bela just didn't even look at her, she just closed her eyes and started sobbing.
"Oh there there pumpkin," Lilith said before embracing Bela almost like a mother coddling a child. Considering what that bitch did to her, it was unnerving to say the least. Dean started struggling even harder but it was pointless.
"It's okay sweet-pee. I still love you so I'm going to do you a favor," Lilith whispered then suddenly grabbed Bela's head and twisted it, snapping her neck.
"NOOOO!" shouted Dean as Bela's lifeless body collapsed to the floor.
"Now you don't have to worry about the hellhounds getting you. You're welcome," Lilith told Bela's body.
"I will kill you bitch!" screamed Dean.
"Who knew puppy chow could be so foul mouthed?" laughed Lilith. She walked over the office doors, kicking the gopher dust aside as she opened them. "Sick 'em boy," Lilith said.
A breeze rushed into the room and Dean was yanked right off the table. He screamed in pain as an invisible attacker started ripping through his shirt and slashing his chest. "No stop it!" Sam helplessly screamed. Lilith laughed hysterically.
Dean tried to fight off his attacker but his fingers gnawed off along with his most of his right hand. Then the hell hound started digging through his chest, chewing and tearing through bone and flesh. Blood splattered everywhere as it ripped through the rib cage and pulled out pieces of internal organs. Dean spat up blood as he gasped his last final breathes.
"No!" shouted Sam.
"Oh yes," smiled Lilith before engulfing him in a light emitting from her hand. Sam shut his eyes and expected this was the end for everyone but strangely enough nothing happened. He opened his eyes as the light dissipated and suddenly he was free from the invisible force holding him. He dropped to the ground, barely able to believe he was still alive. The only one more shocked then him was Lilith. She was completely speechless and trembling as if she was suddenly afraid of him.
Not wasting the opportunity, Sam quickly grabbed the knife which was lying nearby. "Stay back," Lilith warned him but her words felt hollow. She held up her hand but nothing happened. Sam wasn't hurled into the wall or had his neck snapped, his body wasn't incinerated by blinding light, nothing happened. Sam lunged at her but Lilith's demonic form shot out of her host's mouth, escaping into the air duct above. Ruby's former body dropped to the ground as lifeless as the rest.
Sam rushed over to Dean but it was too late. His body had been ripped apart on the inside with virtually no internal organs left. He was dead. At first Sam couldn't believe. It couldn't end like this, not after everything they went through. Not like this.
"Help!" Dean screamed as he came to inside some kind of massive chamber with no roof, floor, or walls. Chains hung all around him, interconnected and weaving like a giant network of metallic spider webs. Thunder roared in the background, snuffing out Dean's cries for help then he heard something else. Another scream. Bela's and then another, a man's. And then another and another and another. The sounds of hundreds if not thousands of screams engulfed him. The sounds of the damned. Dean struggled but was suspended on a series of chain that had been attached to his skin and bones.
"Hello Dean," a voice spoke from a black smoke-like shape that moved through the chain web towards him. The demon had an accent, almost like Marlon Brando. "I've been waiting for you. Don't worry. I'll get to you soon enough," it laughed. The demon moved past and headed towards someone else. It settled on top of the body and suddenly Dean realized it was Bela as she screamed in agonizing pain.
"Enjoy the show Dean because you're next," the demon called out to him.
(I was going to go into more detail of Bela's torture but I figured enough was enough. This chapter was probably the most depressing thing I've ever written in my life but it had to be done. Next chapter Castiel to the rescue as we follow his POV through the episode Lazarus Rising.)
