A/N: Chapter eight finally up. I apologize for taking so long in updating, exams rot my mind, what can I say. I just hope you enjoy the chapter. I need more reviews, and please let them be encouraging. I'll need the boost after these exams are done.

Disclaimer: I only own Mara, Mia and the plot. Other than that belongs to CW Network.

Chapter Eight:

Dean's POV:

"Dean…Dean!" I heard Sam yell as he shook my shoulder. I shooed him away with the pillow and patted it over my head, but Sam's annoying calls were still audible. I groaned, "What do you want, Sammy? Can't a person get a goodnight's sleep in this world?"

"No, now get up it's past dawn already and you're still snoring." He said, and I heard him shuffle around in the room. I sighed and sat up, throwing the pillow at him. He grinned at me and knelt to the ground, probably packing something. I rolled my eyes and climbed out of bed as slow as ever.

"Did you wake up Mar?" I called to Sam, my voice muffled by the toothbrush that hung in my mouth. I gurgled and spat into the sink, washed my face with the water a couple of times before I stepped out of the bathroom, drying my face with the towel. "Sam?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, I rang her an hour ago…She said that she'll be ready." He said, slamming whatever book was in his hands and stuffed it into the duffel. I shook my head and put on my jacket, fixing the collar as I stared at the mirror. I could use some flattering; I wriggled my brows and smirked at the mirror when I heard a light knock on the door.

I walked to the door casually, swung it open just to find this gorgeous blondie in front of me. I eyed her up and down, then took a pose against the door, "Why hello, who are you?"

She looked up at me with cold grey eyes, and I frowned. That's not what I expected. Her expression was frozen, tense. "I don't have time for chit-chat. I need your help." She said quietly, and her tone was mortified. I felt Sammy move to stand behind me, and we both stared at the girl.

"Help you with what?" Sam asked.

"Saving Mara." She said and glared at us lightly. I heard Sam's short intake of breath as I comprehended what she had said. By then, Sam was already freaking out. "What? What happened to Mara?" He asked urgently.

"Well, come and see for yourself." She said and turned, leaving us and walking towards Mara's room. Sam and I looked at each other curiously, but I saw the utter concern in his eyes. I wasn't going to lie but my mind was going crazy. What did that girl mean by 'Saving Mara'? Despite the fact that we were extremely confused, I found myself and Sam walking towards Mara's room after being called over once or twice.

She opened the room's door slowly, and hell it was a perfect mess. The bed wasn't done, her window was broken and the curtains were shredded to pieces at each side of the window. Paintings on the wall were kind of slanted downwards. The room looked like a freak show room from a haunted house. I scanned the room and stepped in slowly, "Mara?"

"She ain't here." The girl said and looked up at me, lifting a brow, then glancing at the broken window, where Sam was standing, looking down. I tilted my head and frowned, "Sam, found anything there?"

"Yeah, sulfur." He said sourly and his jaw locked. Sulfur, a demon? I turned to the girl and glared at her, "Would you mind telling us what happened?" I asked bitterly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"You can get into your car and go where I tell you to, and keep the questions for later." She said as she stood by the door, gesturing for us to move. I looked back at Sam, who didn't seem hesitant about following her. Sam took off, getting our stuff as I went to check out, the girl walking by my side.

"Who are you, anyways?" I said as I rode into the driver's seat. She rode in the backseat as Sam put the duffels in the trunk, including Mara's. Sam seemed too tense when he climbed in before I just started the car and took off.

"Head back to Kansas." She said quietly as she stayed sitting straight up. I looked at her through the rearview mirror, lifting a brow. "Kansas, why?"

"Well because Mara's there." She stated matter-of-factly, lifting her brow as she glared back at me. I rolled my eyes & looked ahead at the road, "You didn't answer my question." I said quietly, casually.

"My name is Mia. Needless to say, I'm a hybrid angel. I don't really care whether you believe that or not, what I care about right now is getting to where we're headed." She said just as quiet as she looked ahead.

"Hybrid angel? And that is what exactly?" I asked sarcastically.

"Half angel, practically a fallen angel. Need more to explain?" She glanced at me and huffed.

"What do you know about Mara? What happened?" I asked, glancing at the speed-o-meter as it increased then back at the road.

"I know more than she does know about herself. I'm her protector."

"Protector?" I asked, glancing back at Mia again.

"Yes, protector, something like a guardian angel." She said quietly. I nodded thoughtfully, but a thought occurred to my mind, "If you are her protector, how come you didn't keep her safe from this whole demon possession thing?" I asked as I eyed her skeptically.

"She didn't want me to protect her." She blinked and her expression turned blank.

"And you listened to her?" I scoffed.

"It wasn't a choice, once the protected orders the keeper away, we stay 'away'!" She snapped at me and I frowned. "I was her keeper ever since her Mom knew she was pregnant."

"You knew her mother?" I asked, amused.

"I did, Amelia was a nice woman. But her mistake was keeping Mara so locked up." She shook her head. "I've tried to convince her that this wasn't going to keep her safe, but she was too protective, and she ended up in ashes." She shrugged lightly and sighed. "And when her Mom died, Mara said she didn't want my protection that she wanted to live on her own, alone."

"That's why you need our help, because you can't help her." Sam said quietly, finally joining the conversation. I glanced at him then at Mia, and back at the road.

I considered what Sam said for a moment and spoke again, "So you do need our help because you can't help her, huh?"

"Yes, that's true." She said.

"And…?" Sam asked.

"Every thing has its own time to be revealed; now we need to just concentrate on the road." She said as she tensed again and looked down, eyes widened. I frowned and looked ahead, keeping eyes on the road.

"So where exactly in Kansas are we headed?" Sam asked.

"Lawrence." She said as she rolled her eyes, "Pretty cliché demon if you asked me."

"What happened yesterday?" I asked again, tapping the steering wheel as I speeded towards the highway.

"I was talking to Mara yesterday when that demon possessed her. I tried to stop it but I was hesitant about hurting Mara's body, and I got myself a good knock out till the morning" She said, lifting her brows amusingly at herself.

"How come you know where she is?" Sam asked.

"I'm her keeper, I just know where she is whether I'm to protect her or not. We're kind of linked, our minds." I saw her tap her head as she frowned lightly. Sam and I leaned back into our seats, sighing.

That was a lot to comprehend in one day. So exactly this is the summary of my eventful day; Mara's kidnapping and being possessed by a demon whom we haven't identified yet. Her protector shows up on our doorstep saying she needs our help, and we've been on the road ever since. We made very short stops for refueling and all. Neither me, Sam nor Mia wanted to stay at a motel; our one goal and concern was to find Mara.

"Hey Sam, you drive." I said as I parked the car by the highway, stepping out. He stepped out as well and eyed me curiously, but moved to the driver's side silently. I climbed into shotgun seat and leaned back, eyeing a rather silent Mia through the rearview mirror. She seemed tense as she stared down at her hands resting on her lap. I knew that pose, which by all means shouted out; 'GUILT'. I rolled my eyes and sighed, sitting straight back as Sam started the car. And for the first time in Sam Winchester's life, he's gone past the speed limit…way past the speed limit.

We stayed silent for long hours, maybe even longer before sleep overcame us. Mia didn't offer to drive, and I didn't force her. No one touches my baby in any case, except Sam who needed to shake off his intense worry. Sam can be transparent when he doesn't want to be, and hell was it obvious how worried he was about Mara. I'm worried about Mara myself, too worried for it to be normal, but Sam seemed like he could tug his hair out, so I helped him keep his hands busy.

"Turn left, there's a motel there. We're staying overnight; Lawrence isn't too far away." Mia said quickly. I looked back at her as Sam automatically turned left, seeing the motel just a few miles ahead. Dusk arrived and so did another day and lots of uncomfortable sleep. Sam parked the car slowly and got out, heading to the motel to check in for us. Mia called out, "Don't check for me, I ain't stayin'!"

"You're not stayin'?" I asked as I quirked a brow, looking down at her seriously. She looked up at me, "I do have a life and I'd like to keep it the way it is. Just summon me if you need me before I'm back, which will be only in a few hours. So rest while you can." She turned and left, heading out to the highway. I frowned and slung the duffels over my shoulder as I walked towards Sam.

"She left, huh?" Sam asked as we walked, looking for our room. I glanced at him as he cackled the keys in his hand quickly and rather nervously, and shook my head. I spotted the room and snatched the key from Sam, who was gonna probably try to open it with shaking hands which was gonna take us forever.

"Yeah, she said she'll be back in a few hours. I don't know Sammy, she sounds trustworthy; what do you think?" I looked at him as I opened the door and stepped in.

He stepped in as well and threw his duffel onto the bed, before sitting on it. "Well, what she said couldn't be made up."

"Yeah, yeah…well she also said to rest while we can, and I wanna rest." I said as I collapsed onto the bed. I let my mind blow off those present problems as I started falling asleep as quick as possible, yet restlessly. Although I wished for soundless sleep to last, the angel of good wishes wasn't beside me right now.

Bang, Bang, Bang!

I groaned as I heard the annoying bangs onto the door. I sat up and Sam was snoring on his own bed; I sighed and dragged myself to the door, swinging it open. Mia was glaring as she was ready to start another round of annoying bangs. "What the hell took you so long? Move it! Wake up, Sam!" She called out as she turned and walked away. I bit my lip and just kept myself from blurting out something stupid.

"Wake up, Sammy. Come on, wake up!" I said as I smacked Sam's head, who sat up immediately and looked around. I looked down at him, "Wash your face, we're off now." I said as I moved to the bathroom slowly. He followed and we both washed our faces before we put on our jackets, leaving the room quickly.

Mia was leaning against the Impala's hood as we jogged towards her. She huffed and stepped aside, letting me unlock the car as we all got in. "Now, just go forward, there's a warehouse by Lawrence's border, that's where we're heading." She said quickly. I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal and sped off onto the highway.

"Park the car here." Mia said as she pointed ahead, "It's there; we don't want it to know we're here. Come on." She climbed out of the car as we did. Sam picked up a container of Holy Water and I loaded a couple of rock salt rounds into the shotguns, just in case we need them, because we didn't have any intention of harming Mara.

"Follow me, and if I say close your eyes, you close your eyes, get it?" She said quietly as she walked off towards the warehouse, making no sound where she stepped. I lifted both brows and followed her silently, Sam followed on our steps and he caught up to me in no time.

We approached silently, and I loaded my gun. Sam made an annoyed sound, clearing his throat when I did. I shrugged and shushed him as we followed Mia, who was toying with the rusty lock on the gates. I was about to suggest looking for a window but she broke the lock and threw it away, simply with her bare hands. She clapped her hands together silently and pushed the gate slowly.

We stepped in slowly, lurking at the entrance before we looked around into the dark space ahead of us. The place was vast. I looked around, barely seeing anything but the boxes stacked over each other. We stayed huddled together, back to back. But Sam jerked back suddenly and both Mia and I turned towards him. I heard Mia gasp and a familiar voice speak, "Sam, Dean! Just as I had expected!" The voice was Mara's, but it wasn't her speaking.

"Who's that?" I spoke up, holding the gun in both hands now.

"You'd better lose that, Deano. You don't want to hurt little Mara here." She spoke again…itspoke again, and the voice sounded like it was getting closer. "Mara, right? That's what you call my new meat suit?"

"I said, who are you?" I yelled now as I tightened my grip, shoulders tensing up as I felt Sam's shoulder tensing up. I stepped back, waiting to feel Mia's shoulder against mine…but she wasn't the there.

"Oh, that's a shame. You don't remember me, Sam? I thought you had a crush on me, don't I cross your mind every once in a while? I've been gone long enough."

My mind worked up quickly as I gritted my teeth. Our silent growls came in the same time, "Meg."

She clapped then and spoke up happily, too childish, too innocent…too creepy. "Oh, you do remember then. I didn't like that stunt you pulled with me; sending me to hell, not nice. You do know what I mean, Dean, don't you?"

"What do you want from us, Meg? Just go to hell, leave Mara alone!" Sam snapped, and I was too shocked to reply. Mia's gone, and Sam's angry.

"I can't leave Mara alone, honey. I'm on a mission, you know, kill her? You, I can leave alone though, so why not make my mission easier and get out of my way? It'd be a way to repent, because I'm still out for my revenge. And trust me, my revenge is a bitch." I heard the smugness in her voice and grimaced, nudging Sam so he'd keep his mouth shut, but why'd Sam listen?

"Wait – Kill Mara, what the hell did Mara ever do to you?" He exclaimed, confused as I was and enraged.

"Top secret, honey. Dig it up when I'm done." I heard her footsteps, moving away. "So I'll see you later, huh boys? I-What the…" Then I heard a splash, sizzles and screams of agony.

"You think that you can possess Mara and walk out of here unharmed?" Mia's voice echoed, sounding menacingly dangerous. "You hurt her too much, and I'm stopping it now. Your fellow friends out there, well guess what, they're 'dead', nowhere to go."

"You…you're…No, you aren't…" Meg stuttered and growled,I guess she using Mara's body…being a hybrid and all.

"It's over Meg, no way out." Sam said silently as he clicked the flashlight. He waved it around before settling on Mara's horrified face, burns healing up slowly as she glared at us with cold black eyes, standing in the center of the devil's trap. Mia was standing outside of the circle, and her figure started glowing slowly. Sam and I turned our heads away, shutting our eyes, covering our ears and shielding our faces.

Mara's POV:

I felt something warm touching my lids before I slowly started regaining consciousness. I swallowed lightly and shut my lids tightly as they turned red from the inside, feeling the burn in my throat erupt so suddenly, so painful. I opened my eyes narrowed, waiting for them to adjust to the sudden light. I moved my head away lightly.

"Mara, can you hear me?" I heard a familiar voice whisper, Sam's. I took a deep breath, finding my voice as I tried to arrange my thoughts.

"Yes…I'm fine." I croaked out, not too shocked when I heard how I sounded. I heard sighs of relief. Sam's…Dean's and…that familiar voice, I knew it. I knew I heard it before, too soon, yesterday. Mia.

I opened my eyes now, struggled to sit up finding my limbs heavy as I moved them. I shook the dizziness from my head as I steadied myself, Sam's supporting hand at my back. Mia was kneeling beside me and Dean was standing behind her. I was utterly confused now, "What happened?" I asked, looking at their faces for explanations. I tried getting glimpses of their thoughts, but everything was blurry, and I had a horrible headache.

"What's the last thing you remember, Mara?" Mia asked, her expression colored with worry and concern.

I frowned lightly, barely recalling my conversation with her. "We were talking in the motel room and…" Then I saw the black smoky figure over my head "Oh." I murmured in realization and looked up at her, "I was possessed?" She nodded slowly. I frowned a bit and looked around. I hadn't noticed we were in a warehouse, boxes here and there. Glass was shattered onto the ground, and windows were blowing in cold breeze. Then I noticed we were in a devil's trap center.

"And where's the demon?" I asked now, my voice becoming more normal as I spoke.

"Dead." Mia said, obviously proud with her work. I smiled a bit at her and nodded, looking up at Dean, whose shoulders were slumped, thoughtful. I lifted both brows when he noticed me. "Glad to see you back and sarcastic Mara." He grinned and I shook my head.

"Well, let's leave. Honestly, I ain't staying here no more." Dean said, rubbing his palms together. I laughed lightly and stood up, struggling to get to my feet. Mia and Sam steadied me quickly and I noticed them sharing a concerned look.

Sam looked down at me, "Can you walk?" He asked.

"Of course, I mean, yeah." I nodded lightly and took a first step. I didn't really get it, my legs felt like jello, unstable. I gripped Sam's arm involuntarily when I almost gave away. Dean glared at Sam, who in turn lifted me up in his arms again. I sighed heavily and sunk into them, not bothering to protest. He started walking slowly, all of us leaving the old warehouse and I could see the Impala ahead of us, but I buried my face into Sam's chest tiredly.

Though I was weaker than a child, I could still hear Dean whisper. "Mia, I need to speak with you, now" Then both of them left, their steps getting further before they were out of my earshot. I sighed and grunted lightly as Sam placed me onto the passenger's seat gently.

He knelt down lightly, frowning at my reaction. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Weird." I murmured, not finding any good word to settle on. I swallowed lightly and coughed; it felt like someone was rubbing sandpaper against my throat. I closed my eyes, claiming a calm expression, hoping Sam wouldn't notice. But I felt his cold hand on my face, brushing my cheek lightly before he stood up. I kept my eyes shut as he shuffled through the trunk, bringing something as he came back and knelt down again. That's when I caught the scent. I gasped and felt my eyes darkening as I opened them wide, staring at him. "Where'd you get it?"

He seemed taken aback; either by my expression or by how I sounded. I sounded like I was scolding him. "I got it from the hospital, back in Iowa. I was planning to keep them for you, Mara, you need blood. You don't see yourself in the mirror; you're paler than a ghost." He said, frowning deeply as he nudged my arm lightly with the blood bags. "Take it, for me, please."

I kept my eyes at him as he pleaded…he pleaded. I sighed in defeat and reached for the bags silently, reluctantly. I saw him smile a bit out of the corner of my eye I stared down at the one I held in my hand, feeling teeth extending to fangs painfully. I closed my eyes and lowered my face, hiding it from Sam as I placed the tip of the bag beneath my now visible sharp fangs, piercing through the sterilized material. I let my hands press into the bag slowly, forcing the warm fluid through my lips. I sighed lightly; I could've forgotten how blood tasted like, yet I was mad I didn't.

I pulled it away from my lips and looked down at it, noticing I had almost finished it. My throat was burning for more, though I was feeling stronger now, just slightly stronger. I blinked at the sensation and sighed; Sam was right, I did need it. I licked my lips, out of habit and looked up at Sam, who seemed curious. His brows shot up slowly as his expression changed to amusement. He reached out and stroked my cheek now, which I was pretty sure tinted with light rose, normal and healthy. I saw in his mind, as clear as it was my own vision. I could've forgotten how strong I was after Mother died, but I did remember how few it lasted.

Flashback

"Jazmin, just go to your room! Now!" Mother yelled again as she slammed her hand down onto the wooden table. I winced lightly at her pain and stepped back, wondering what made her so angry. But I hadn't moved towards the stairs, I was defiant to know what is wrong with her, because she hadn't been normal for days now. "Mother, what's wrong?"

She turned and glared at me. "I thought I said go to your room, Jazmin."

I frowned, taming my emotions and fisting my hands at my side as I gazed back at her calmly. "No Mother, tell me what's wrong. Why are you acting like this?"

She fumed silently and moved to the living room. I followed her slowly, at my own normal speed. She turned and looked down at me, as I was only inches away from her height now. She sighed, "I'm trying to protect you, so just go to your room."

But that clicked the button, "Protect me? The same old phrase? Mother, how are you ever protecting me by keeping me locked in this shit hole?" I exclaimed angrily, breathing ragged now.

"Watch your language, young lady!" She snapped in disbelief. "I hadn't ever raised you to speak in this manner, or even treat me like that. I'm your mother!"

I stared at her with wide eyes, gritting my teeth together as I felt my eyes darkening with my mood. "But I'm sick of the way you treat me! I'm not a science subject! At least, there's a half human side in me; treat me like I am a human, not a monster in a cage."

"You won't get it, you just won't. Please, just go to your room." She pleaded, her eyes welling up. I locked my jaw and saw the familiar blonde descend the stairs quickly and blocking my sight "Maria, lets go to your room now." Mia stroked my forehead and I immediately calmed down. Sighing reluctantly, I made my way to the stairs, leaving Mia and Mother to have the same old conversation.

But this time, I won't wait around for them to finish arguing and yelling what was better for me. I closed my door ever so quietly and quickly pulled my back pack out; the one Mia gave me on my 6thbirthday, and opened it, laying it on the bed. I grabbed most of my clothes and stuffed them into the bag, then picking up my velvet covered diary. I stared at it for a moment, recalling my 3rdbirthday when Mother said I was a big girl and that I needed to write in my diary. I sighed and grabbed my laptop's case, collecting the papers Mia told me to research on and placed it beside the backpack.

I reached for my wallet, which contained lots of cash and two credit cards. Yes, Mom was a nurse, but we lived well. I put the wallet in the bag and closed it, slinging it and the laptop's case over my shoulder. I stuffed my phone into my pocket and opened the window, looking down at the two story jump before I balanced myself on the window sill. I leapt to the ground, falling on my feet as swiftly as a feline. I didn't hesitate, didn't look back, as I sprinted towards the road.

I stopped after a few miles, looking back before my eyes widened in fear. I looked down and hit my fist against my forehead. Of all the things I'd forgotten, I'd forgotten to take some blood. I was hesitant, whether to go back and face their wrath or to go on, and break my pledge within a few days. I sighed and looked down, this wasn't a correct decision.

"You bet it wasn't." I heard Mia scold as she stood in front of me. My head snapped up and I saw her, smiling a bit. She shook her head and put her arm around my shoulder lightly, stroking my hair. "Don't run away again, will you? Your Mom gets worried."

I scoffed and spoke up sarcastically, "Really? What did she miss when I was gone this time?" I walked by Mia's side. She nudged me lightly and shook her head. "I regret teaching you sarcasm, Amelia will kill me."

"Oh please, Mom won't be able to hurt you, not even a tiny bit. You said so yourself." I said, smiling up at her proudly.

She smiled and kissed my temple. "Just be a good girl, Maria, and you'll be as strong as I am, maybe even stronger, deal?" She smiled down at me before she stopped into a sudden halt. I frowned, stopping by her side, "Mia?"

"Wait here." She whispered, and she disappeared. I frowned and looked around. "Mia?" I started walking back to the house, looking around for Mia. Why did she leave so suddenly? But then I noticed this smell…something burning. I looked up at the sky and identified the smoke from the dark sky. And I just happened to have a mere guess of the fire's location, just by a look. I gasped, eyes widening in fear and horror as I started sprinting towards the house quickly, the sickening smell getting denser and denser.

I stopped before the bushes surrounding the house as I watched the fire eat it up rapidly. I watched the fire delete every memory I had. Then came her screams, Mom's screams, and I knew she was inside. I dropped my bags and ran towards the door, only to get held back by Mia, who was crying silently as I thrashed in her arms, screaming for her to let me go, to let me save my mother. But no, she held on. And it wasn't too soon that I was holding onto her, sobbing broken.

"Mother…" I whispered, feeling the warm tear slip unintentionally from the corner of my eye. I sniffled lightly and reached to wipe it, but Sam's hand beat mine. I looked at him, at his curious face, wondering if I should answer the question that he was toying with in his mind. I waited for him to ask, to ask me about my past, about how my mother had died, because he wanted to know.

"Do I really have to phrase it into words?" He said, giving me the puppy dog eyes. I sighed and smiled softly, nodding lightly as I replaced the tip of the bag into my mouth, squeezing what was left down my throat and folding it neatly, keeping my hands busy. I looked up at him and smiled, "One step at a time, deal?"

"Deal." He nodded and I eyed him. He seemed triumphant to gain my trust. I smiled and looked down, recalling the flashback and whatever memory I didn't mind sharing with Sam. Then, I took a deep breath and started, "When I was three…"

A/N: Sorry for the very long time I took to update, I've started my mid-exams and I used the opportunity of bad weather to update. I'll try to update the next week, since it's the last week of exams, well wish me luck. Keep me up with the reviews, they fuel me up. So again, Review please. A small note though of how I imagined it, all vampires and hybrids and anything vampire related has the TVD vampy face because the SPN one kind of scares me.