Author's Note: Thank you all for your reviews, I absolutely ADORE all your feedback, 9 days until the final Skulduggery Pleasant book guys! (Started writing this chapter on the 19th) OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD I really wished I was invited to the event on the 28th in London, but I've already met our great Golden God before so I guess it's only fair. Ok, enough ranting, time for the story...
Winchester and Cain
Chapter 7 – Hook Man
Valkyrie's P.O.V
Dean and I were sat in an outside café enjoying the beautiful weather and drinking coffee, Dean was busy tapping away on Sam's laptop, whilst Sam himself was on a payphone. Dean looked up from his laptop and frowned at his brother, "Your, uh, half-caf, double vanilla latte is getting cold over here, Francis." Dean called teasingly over to him, Sam rolled his eyes as he walked back over to us.
"Bite me." He sharply retorted as he sat down at our table.
"So, anything?" I asked him as he took a sip of his drink.
"I had them check the FBI's Missing Persons Data Bank," Sam shook his head in disappointment, "No John Doe's fitting Dad's description. I even ran his plates for traffic violations."
"Sam, I'm tellin' ya: I don't think Dad wants to be found." Dean told him, Sam nodded glumly and Dean spun the laptop round so it faced us, "Check this out, guys. It's a news item out of Planes Courier. Ankeny, Iowa. It's only about a hundred miles from here." Dean continued as we read the news article, it described the mysterious death of a frat boy who was taken from his car whilst with his girlfriend and hung from the tree above it, the girlfriend described the attacker to be an invisible man.
"'The mutilated body was found near the victim's car, parked on 9 Mile Road'.'" Sam read out a section aloud, Dean nodded.
"Keep reading." He said, I gave up and decided to just listen.
"'Authorities are unable to provide a realistic description of a killer. The sole eyewitness, whose name has been withheld, is quoted as saying the attacker was invisible.'" Sam continued, and I frowned and looked at Dean.
"It could be something interesting." I offered.
"Or it could be nothing at all. One freaked out witness who didn't see anything? Doesn't mean it's the Invisible Man." Sam replied, and I frowned.
"I know that." I told him with narrowed eyes.
"Steph's right: what if it is? Dad would check it out." Dean cut in, sensing a disagreement occurring. Sam looked at me and Dean before he caved.
"Ok, fine." He sighed.
We pulled up outside a fraternity where the victim, Rich lived, the frat boys looked confused as the three of us got out the car. "One more time, why are we here?" Sam asked as we walked over to the large building.
"The victim lived here." I answered as Dean walked up to two guys fixing their car.
"Nice wheels," Dean commented, the two boys stared at Dean in shock, "We're your fraternity brother from Ohio. We're new in town – transfers, looking for a place to stay." He explained with a grin.
We walked up to the dorm room of the fraternity, the boys stared at Dean and Sam and then gawked at me, I tried not to catch any of their eyes as we walked down the hall and finally reached the door, I pushed it open and glimpsed the boy inside and jumped back, Sam and Dean looked at me in alarm. "What is it? What's wrong?" Sam asked as Dean pushed the door open.
"It's fine, Steph, you can come on in." Dean called, I made a face as Sam lightly shoved me through the door. A boy with shaggy dark hair was stood with his shirt off, he was holding a tin of purple paint and was busy colouring his face and torso with it.
"Uh, hey – hi there." The boy stuttered, staring at me wide eyed in the mirror. I rolled my eyes at Dean as I sat next to him on the bed, he chuckled in response.
"So, who are you guys again?" The boy asked.
"We're your new roommates, this is my, uh, my girlfriend, Stephanie." Dean replied with a grin, putting his arm around my shoulders, I narrowed my eyes at him as Sam walked over to the boy to shake his hand, but the boy held out the paint pot and brush.
"Do me a favour? Get my back, big game today." He asked.
"Go on Sam, you are the artist, after all." Dean gave his brother a look and then glanced at the boy, "The things he can do with a brush." He told the boy, a knowing grin spreading on his features, I giggled as I glimpsed Sam's mortified expression as he reluctantly took the brush and can. "So, is it true?" Dean asked, as Sam painstakingly painted the boy's back.
"What?" He asked, a confused expression forming on the boy's face.
"We heard one of the guys around here got killed last week." I supplied, the boy nodded, a disconsolate expression clouding his eyes.
"Yeah." He nodded sadly.
"What happened?" Dean questioned.
"They're saying some psycho with a knife, maybe a drifter passing through... Rich was a good guy." The boy sighed sadly.
"Rich, he was with somebody?" Sam asked as he moved the paintbrush in painstakingly slow strokes down the boy's back.
"Not just somebody," The boy scoffed, "Lori Sorenson." He pronounced the girl's name slowly and loudly, like he was pronouncing something sacred.
"Who's Lori Sorenson?" Dean asked the boy.
"You missed a spot, just down there." I pointed to the boy's back, Sam glared at me and I smiled as Dean chuckled beside me.
"That's my girl," He grinned and then looked at the boy for his answer.
"Lori's a freshman, she's a local. Super hot. And get this: she's the reverend's daughter." The boy explained in an excited tone.
"What? A reverend's daughter? What's so great about that?" I asked, looking at Dean confusedly.
"Uh, it's a guy thing, Steph," He rolled his eyes at me before looking back at the frat boy, "Do you happen to know which church?" He asked.
We entered the local church and the door slammed behind us, the church was full of local people and I realised we had just walked in a service for Rich, the congregation turned and looked at us and I cleared my throat awkwardly, pushing Sam towards an empty row at the back of church. "The loss of a young person is particularly tragic. A life unlived is the saddest of passings," The reverend continued, my eyes wandered, bored. I noticed Sam smiling weakly at someone and looked forward to see a girl staring at the youngest Winchester, "So please, let us pray. For peace, for guidance, and for the power to protect our children." The reverend finished in a sombre tone, I looked at the stained glass windows and started wondering why they had in every church a figure of Jesus strung up on the cross, I mean, children came to church and I just thought it was sending a bad message to them if they had to look at a dead man every week. Sam elbowed me sharply and I glanced at him, he and Dean nodded their heads to all the other patrons who had their heads bowed in a prayer and quickly copied them. Dean snickered and hastily turned it to a cough when the reverend sent a sharp glare at him.
When the mass ended the three of us waited until Lori's friend had finished talking with her until we walked over to her, "I don't know why all the boys are falling over for her - she's not even that pretty." I muttered as we drew nearer to the girl. Dean smiled slightly but it faded as we stopped in front of her.
"Are you Lori?" Sam asked the girl in a kind tone.
"Yeah." She smiled sweetly, she had shoulder-length light brown hair that was in slight waves, with bright green eyes and a splash of freckles over her face.
"My name is Sam, this is Dean and that's Stephanie." He greeted, pointing to each of us in turn.
"Hi." Dean said to the girl, I merely smiled at her kindly.
"We just transferred here to the university." Sam explained.
"I saw you inside." Lori nodded.
"We don't wanna bother you, we just heard what happened and-."
"We wanted to say how sorry we were." I cut Sam off, keeping the sympathies short.
"I kind of know what you're going through. I – I saw someone... get hurt once. It's something you don't forget." Sam explained, tripping over his words, Lori nodded slowly in understanding as the reverend walked up to us.
"Dad. Um, this is Sam, Dean and Stephanie, they're new students." Lori explained as Dean shook the reverend's hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I must say: that was an inspiring sermon." Dean expressed in fake admiration, the man smiled as he withdrew his hand, "Me and my girlfriend, we absolutely love the comforting words of God." Dean continued, his arm wrapping around my waist, I faked a big smile and nodded.
"Thank you both very much, it's so nice to find young people who are open to the Lord's message." The reverend replied.
"Listen, uh, we're new in town, actually," I explained as Dean and I led the reverend away from Sam and his daughter, "And, uh, we're looking for a new, um, church group." I explained, the reverend nodded in understanding.
"I see, well in our church we have groups that are aimed towards young people, couples who are planning to abstain until marriage..." He trailed off when Dean and I exchanged a look, "Oh, have you two already... 'done it'?" The reverend asked, there was a shocked silence until I shook my head quickly.
"No, no. Uh, we're just looking for a young people's service." Dean chuckled awkwardly.
"Well, at home I have some pamphlets that go into depth about the different groups that we have for couples and people like yourselves, if you'd like to visit I can tell you some more about it." The reverend offered, I looked back and saw Sam waiting for us and then looked at the reverend.
"Well that sounds great, but first I think we need to get settled in at the fraternity first, it was lovely to meet you, reverend." I smiled politely before leading Dean away, as soon as the reverend's back was turned I took Dean's arm off of me, Sam smirked as we approached.
"Having fun?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.
"Why couldn't I have been your sister?" I moaned and Sam shrugged.
"Age, mainly. Also it was Dean's idea." He grinned and I sighed.
"So, where to next?"
"So you believe her?" Dean asked his brother, we were sat in the local library pouring other urban legend books.
"I do." Sam nodded.
"Yeah, I think she's hot too." Dean agreed, and I frowned, "What?" He asked, catching my look.
"She's not that pretty, guys, I don't get it." I replied, Dean smiled and shook his head.
"Like we said before, Steph, it's a guy thing." He chuckled and I frowned again.
"As I was saying, there's something in here eyes. And listen to this: she heard scratching on the roof, found the bloody body suspended upside down over the car." Sam told us, beside me Dean tilted his head.
"Wait, the body suspended? That sounds like-."
"Yeah, I know," Sam nodded, cutting his brother off, "The Hook Man legend."
"Wait... the Hook Man legend?" I asked a little doubtfully.
"Yeah, it's one of the most famous urban legends ever. You don't think we're dealing with the Hook Man?" He asked his brother.
"Yeah, maybe." Sam shrugged, "Every legend has a source: a place where it all began." He supplied.
"Yeah, but what about the phantom scratches and the tire punctures and the invisible killer?" I replied.
"Well, maybe the Hook man isn't a man at all – what if it's some kind of spirit?" Dean wondered.
"Here you go, arrest records going back to 1851." The librarian smiled as she handed the very large, very dusty box to Dean, he blew of the dust and coughed.
"Thanks." He spluttered as the librarian walked away, he looked at the mass of books in the box and made a face, "So, this is how you spent four years of your life, huh?" He looked at Sam and he nodded.
"How did you live?" I asked in a hushed tone.
"Welcome to higher education, guys." Sam smiled in response and gave us both a stack of books.
I checked the clock and sighed irritably: we had been at our researching for three hours and I was getting bored. I sighed and started humming the Rolling Stones and Dean looked up and grinned, "Let me down slow?" He asked and I tilted my head.
"You know that one?" I asked in surprise.
"Yeah, A Bigger Bang is one of my favourite albums." Dean grinned again and I nodded, Sam cleared his throat and I jumped and looked over to him.
"Hey, check this out: 1862, a preacher names Jacob Karns was arrested for murder. Looks like he was so angry over the red light district in town that one night he killed thirteen prostitutes. Uh, right here, 'some of the deceased were found in their bed, sheets soaked with blood. Others suspended upside down from the limbs of trees as a warning against sins of the flesh.'" Sam read an excerpt from the book he was reading, I nodded and flicked back through the book I was reading.
"And get this: the murder weapon? The preacher lost his hand in an accident, had it replaced with a silver hook, sound familiar?" I asked, pointing to an old photograph. Sam nodded and pointed to the next paragraph down.
"Look where this all happened." He said and Dean read over my shoulder.
"Nine mile road." Dean nods and I frowned.
"Why does that sound like I've heard it before?" I asked.
"It's the same place where the frat boy was killed." Sam answered and I nodded.
"Nice job, Doctor Venkman. Let's check it out." Dean got out of his seat and I followed, leaving Sam to gather up all the research.
The nine mile road was everything I expected: it was the typically creepy, rundown single road that had a dead end, surrounded by dark woods in the middle of nowhere, so if you screamed for help you wouldn't be heard. As we got out the car Dean went straight to the trunk and threw Sam a rifle. "Here you go." Dean said as Sam caught the rifle and looked at it.
"If it is a spirit, buckshot won't do much good." Sam answered, doubt lacing his tone, Dean nodded.
"Yeah," The older brother agreed and handed Sam a small pouch, "Rock salt." He explained, anticipating Sam's next question.
"Huh. Salt being a spirit deterrent." Sam looked at the pouch whilst Dean reached into the trunk and pulled out a thick coil of rope.
"Yeah, it won't kill them but it'll slow them down." Dean told him as we started walking towards the dark trees.
"That's pretty good," Sam complimented as he started loading the rifle, "You and Dad think of this?" He asked.
"I told you – you don't have to be a college graduate to be a genius." Dean smirked haughtily and I rolled my eyes and scoffed, opening my mouth to suddenly insult the older Winchester, but a rustling noise from the trees made us look up, suddenly alert. Sam raised his gun and looked around warily, I discreetly moved my palms and felt the air shift to my left.
"Over there, over there." I whispered, Sam nodded and cocked his gun, ready to aim and fire. A figure emerged from the woods with a gun of his own, I looked at his other hand and saw that it was a hand, not a silver hook. I sighed in relief: we were safe.
"Put the gun down! Now! Put your hands behind your head!" A sheriff ordered, training the gun on us, Dean jumped in shock and I sighed: scratch that last thought.
"W-wait, okay, okay!" Dean shouted back as the three of us slowly raised our hands and placed them behind our heads.
"Now get down on your knees. Come on, do it! On your knees!" The sheriff ordered, pointing his gun harder at the three of us, we complied obediently and knelt down, our hands still behind our heads. "Now get down on your bellies. Come on, do it!" He shouted, beside me Dean scoffed in objection.
"He had the gun!" Dean protested as we layed down on the cold, hard floor.
"Well, I think it's safe to say that we fuc-."
"Keep quiet!" The sheriff ordered me, I looked up at him and frowned.
"What? I can't say one thing? This is bul-."
"I said keep quiet!" The sheriff snapped and I sighed, beside me Dean snickered and I glared at him through the dark.
It was daylight when we exited the sheriff's department, Sam fought down a yawn as we went down the steps that led to the main street, "Saved your ass! Talked that sheriff down to a fine. Dude, I am Matlock." Dean chortled to his brother.
"But how?" Sam asked tiredly.
"I told him that you were a dumbass pledge and that me and Steph were hazing." He answered, I smiled sleepily.
"What about the rifle?" I asked him.
"I said that Sam was hunting hosts and the spirits were repelled by rock salt. You know – typical Hell Week prank." Dean laughed.
"And he believed you?" I asked in disbelief.
"Well, look at him: he looks like a dumbass pledge." Dean smirked at his brother, Sam rolled his eyes and I laughed. Several sheriffs suddenly burst out from the building and we turned, the men all got into their police cars and sped off, sirens and lights blaring loudly. I looked at Dean and Sam in alarm and we all nodded and got into the car quickly, speeding off after the convoy of police cars.
The police cars had been called to Lori's sorority building, when we pulled up we saw Lori huddled up in a blanket in the back of an ambulance. The three of us surveyed the scene for a moment before I looked at the two boys, "It'll look suspicious if we just waltz over to them." I pointed out, they both nodded and Dean started the engine again, taking us around to the back of the building, we got out and started to walk over to the back entrance, thanking the Gods that no police had decided to patrol around here.
"I don't get it: why would the Hook Man come here? This is a long way from the nine mile road." Sam observed as we neared the building.
"Maybe he's not haunting the scene of his crime, maybe it's about something else." Dean suggested, the air shifted and I shoved the two boys to the left behind some nearby bushes, diving in after them just as two officers exit the building, a small group of sorority girls followed them, chatting in hushed tones and giggling amongst themselves. "Guys, sorority girls! Think we'll see a naked pillow fight?" Dean asked us excitedly, I rolled my eyes and scoffed, following Sam as he led us to a fence leading to a first floor balcony, he climbed up and turned and reached his hand out to me, but I shook my head. Splaying my hands and concentrating, smiling when I felt the air connect beneath my palms, I applied a slight pressure and launched upwards, grabbing the edge of the balcony and slipping over quietly, I looked down at the boys smiling at the looks of awe they had on their faces.
"Come on." I told them, leaning over and reaching for Sam's hand, he took it and I hauled him over the ledge, then Dean. Once Dean was stood with us I turned to see Sam prising open the window and slipping in, I followed him silently and smiled once we were inside: no one had noticed us. Something collided with me and I slipped and sprawled with Dean on the bathroom floor, he smirked as I laid on top of him.
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events." He grinned, I rolled my eyes and scoffed as I rolled off of him and stood up, Dean stood up and held his hands up in innocence, "What?" He asked.
"Be quiet." I shushed him irritably.
"You be quiet!" He retorted.
"You be quiet!" I retaliated childishly.
"Guys, shut up!" Sam silenced us as he peeked through a slit in the door, we stayed quiet and listened out for anything, after Sam was sure it was clear he opened the door and walked inside, Dean and I following sullenly. I instantly looked up when my ring on my finger turned cold, signifying a death. The bed on the far side of the bedroom was taped off, crimson stained the once-perfect sheets and a puddle was quickly drying on the carpet, on the nearby wall AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU DIDN'T TURN ON THE LIGHT? Was scratched into it, the blade that had written had clearly been covered in blood, it had slowly dripped from the letters and dried in various places. "'Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light?' That's right out of the legend." Sam observed.
"Yeah, that's classic Hook Man alright," Dean said, tapping his nose knowingly, "It's definitely a spirit."
"Yeah." I agreed quietly, staring at the symbol under the sinister message with a frown: I swear I had seen that symbol somewhere. Sam walked over and stood beside me, "Is it just me, or is that something I've seen before?" I asked him, pointing to the symbol underneath the bloody words.
"Hmmm..." Sam frowned and tilted his head as he stared at the symbol.
We left the room after the quick inspection, the bloody images still burned into my mind. We were stood next to Dean's car whilst Sam poured over his research on the bonnet, "Found it." The younger Winchester suddenly said, I turned to see him holding up a picture of Jacob Karns' silver hook, a symbol was carved onto the thickest part of the blade, matching the symbol on the wall.
"It's the same symbol," I nodded in confirmation, "Seems like it is the spirit of Jacob Karns."
"Alright, let's find the dude's grave, salt and burn the bones and put him down." Dean sighed, clapping his hands together.
"'After execution, Jacob Karns was laid to rest in Old North Cemetery. In an unmarked grave.'" Sam read, his face fell as he looked up from the excerpt he was reading.
"Super." I said, using as much sarcasm as I could muster.
"Ok. So we know it's Jacob Karns, but we still don't know where he'll manifest next. Or why." Sam replied, I yawned and stretched as we got in the car.
"I'll take a wild guess about why. I think your little friend Lori has something to do with this." Dean shrugged as he started the car engine.
In Lori's sorority, there was a 'Farewell Taylor' college party being held in honour of the girl's memory, Dean was grinning as we walked through to the main room of the party, looking at all the drunken girl giggling loudly. "Man, you've been holding out on me, this college thing is awesome!" Dean exclaimed, winking at a passing girl.
"This wasn't really my experience." Sam hedged, looking around a little uncomfortably at the party-goers.
"Really? What was it like?" I asked him in shock.
"Let me guess: libraries, studying, straight A's?" Dean piped up, Sam nodded and Dean sighed sadly, "What a geek," He huffed, "Alright, you do your homework?" He asked and Sam nodded.
"Yeah. It was bugging me, right? So, how is the Hook Man tied up with Lori?" He asked rhetorically, "I think I came up with something." He continued, bring out a folded piece of scrap paper and gave it to me.
"'1932: clergyman arrested for murder. 1967: seminarian held in hippie rampage.'" I read it aloud.
"There's a pattern here, in both cases – the suspect was a man of religion who openly preached against immorality. And then found himself wanted for killings he claimed were the work of an invisible force, killings carried out – get this – with a sharp instrument." Sam explained and I tilted my head.
"What's the connection to Lori?" I asked.
"A man of religion? Who preaches openly against immorality?" He answered, I nodded slowly, beginning to understand, "Except maybe this time, instead of saving the whole town, he's just trying to save his only daughter?" He questioned.
"Reverend Sorensen. You think he's summoning the spirit?" Dean called out over the loud music.
"Maybe. Or, you know how a poltergeist can haunt a person instead of a human instead of a place?" Sam responded.
"No, but now I do." I smiled.
"The spirit latches onto the reverend's repressed emotions, feeds off them? Yeah, ok." Dean nodded slowly in agreement.
"Without the reverend even knowing it." Sam finalised.
"Either way, you should keep an eye on Lori tonight." Dean told him, Sam nodded and then looked at the two of us.
"What about you two?" Sam asked, Dean sighed sadly as he caught eyes with an attractive blonde stood next to the pool table then he looked back at us.
"Me and Steph are gonna go see if we can find that unmarked grave." He answered, tugging at my arm and pulling me out of the house, I waved to Sam before allowing myself to be taken to the car.
It was cold in Old North Cemetery, but I didn't mind: the amount of death that lingered in cemetery's turned my ring to ice, giving my a rush of power as I imagined the damage I could do with my necromancy if I used it here, instead my hands were full of dancing flames as I walked next to Dean, who was armed with a torch and two shovels. More than once I saw Dean glance at the flames in my hands, on the third glance I decided to ask him, "What?"
"What?" Dean asked, looking at me in confusion.
"You keep staring at my hands, what's wrong with them?" I asked again.
"It's nothing, it's just..." Dean sighed heavily before speaking, "These powers and this, this end of the world thing that you have going on: does it ever scare you? You always seem so... calm about it." Dean observed, I stopped walking and stared at the rows of gravestones, Dean shone his torch beam up into my face, concerned. "Steph?"
"It does." I nodded once, my voice uncharacteristically quiet.
"It does what?" Dean asked.
"Scare me. It, it terrifies me. People have seen visions of me destroying the world, Dean. I've seen visions of me destroying the world. Do you have any idea what that's like?" I asked him, my eyes still fixed on the headstones.
"Listen, Steph. I know we've only known eachother for several weeks, but you just don't seem like the type of girl who's gonna end mankind as we know it." Dean gave me a small smile.
"I'm offended!" I joked, putting a hand over my heart mockingly, "No, but Dean, seriously. I like to think that she's not here, maybe she doesn't exist in this world... so maybe she won't destroy it." I smiled weakly at the theory, Dean stared at me for a moment before he shrugged.
"You could be right, Steph. But what if she does appear?" He asked, I stayed silent for a few moments before answering.
"Then, I want you to kill me." I told him quietly, looking away from him.
"What? You can't be serious, Steph." Dean exclaimed, I looked up and nodded slowly.
"If I hurt anyone, like you or Sam... Then I'd want to kill myself. So do me a favour." I responded.
"That's ridiculous!" He spluttered, shining the torch beam in my face, "I'm not going to kill you, Steph. She's not going to... take you over or whatever. I won't let her." He told me firmly, I stared into his determined dark eyes, wishing I could agree with him... but I wasn't foolish: Darquesse was a part of me, she will be me. Instead I nodded at him and he smiled, "Good, now lets go find this grave." I nodded and let the flames in my hand grew bigger, illuminating the old headstones, after a few more steps and Dean pointed at a headstone a little way away from the others. "There." I walked over to it and saw that the headstone was engraved with a cross.
"Unmarked grave." I murmured, running my hand over the rough, stone surface.
"Here we go." Dean responded as he walked over, throwing me a shovel and readying his in his hands.
We had been digging at the grave for the best of two hours, Dean suddenly stopped and looked over to me, "Isn't there a... spell or something, for, I dunno, moving earth?" Dean huffed, I edged a smile as I threw another shovel of dirt from the grave and then paused, leaning on the shovel.
"Earth is mainly a defence mechanism, you can use the earth to turn to stone – because what can kill a stone?" I explained, Dean shrugged and I nodded before continuing, "Because of that, I haven't really practised Earth that much, so no, there isn't." Dean sighed heavily and looked at the large mound of soil we had dug up and he shook his head annoyedly.
"That's it. Next time, I get to watch the cute girl's house." He moaned and began digging again, I laughed as Dean threw a mound of dirt over his shoulder angrily, when Dean put his shovel down again he hit something hard. I stopped laughing and crouched down, using the air to move the loose bits of earth to reveal an old, wooden coffin. I stood up and backed away, looking at Dean expectantly, he sagged and I smiled sweetly at him as he aimed the shovel over the coffin, in one clean strike the wood split and collapsed on itself, dust flew outwards and Dean leaned back to avoid it. After the dust cloud had cleared we peered in and saw the remains of what was I assumed Jacob Karns.
"Hello, preacher." I grinned, throwing my shovel aside and looking at Dean, he had taken his rucksack from his back and was busy rifling through it, he pulled out some lighter fluid and table salt and handed them to me, I looked at them dubiously as Dean zipped up the rucksack.
"Right, pour salt over the stiff." Dean told me, I shot his an odd look but complied, opening the shaker and poured the substance over the bones. Once it was done I handed the shaker back to Dean, he took it and then nodded to the lighter fluid. "Now douse the fluid on it." He said, I complied and practically emptied the fluid over the body and stepped back.
"Now what?" I asked.
"Set it alight." He answered, climbing out of the hole, I grinned moved my palms out the air rushing and letting me up out of the hole, my feet landing on the ground effortlessly. I looked over to Dean and saw him glaring at me, I smiled smugly in response and snapped my fingers, conjuring a flame and letting it sit in my palm for moment. I moved my hand above it, ready to drop the flame onto it, Dean's hand suddenly grabbed my arm and I stiffened and looked at him, but his gaze was on the body.
"Goodbye preacher." He smirked and I rolled my eyes and dropped the flame, it enveloped the body almost instantly and we sighed as we watched the fire spread hungrily over the man's dusty clothes and old bones.
Dean and I rushed through the hospital searching for Sam, making our way past the patients and staff. We collided with two sheriffs as we rounded a corner, a little way down the hall we saw Sam with an officer. "We're sorry, but we can't let you pass this is a forbidden area as an investigation is underway." One of the officers told us, his colleague nodded and I pulled a face.
"No, come on we're with him," I pointed to Sam's tall figure, "He's his brother." I explained, nodding to Dean.
"Hey! Brother!" Dean smiled and called to Sam, he and the sheriff turned to Dean smiling and waving at him, the two officers glanced at eachother suspiciously.
"Let them through." The sheriff ordered and the two officers reluctantly let us pass, I smiled at them as we passed by them.
"Thank you." I called back to them as we walked over to Sam.
"You ok?" Dean asked his little brother in concern.
"Yeah." Sam nodded half-heartedly and I frowned as I recognised the reverend in the nearest patient room.
"What the hell happened?" I asked, my eyes still fixed on the reverend's unconscious form.
"Hook Man." Sam answered, using the name as if it was an epithet.
"You saw him?" Dean asked in surprise.
"Damn right. Why didn't you two torch the bones?" Sam looked at us in annoyance and the two of us frowned in confusion.
"What are you talking about, we did." Dean answered in an equally annoyed tone.
"Are you sure it's the spirit of Jacob Karns?" I asked, suddenly worried at the prospect of researching for another suspect that fit the description.
"It sure as hell looked like him, and that's not all -," Sam looked around before continuing, "I don't think the spirit is latching onto the reverend." Sam whispered.
"Well, yeah, the guy wouldn't send the Hook Man after himself." Dean replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes at his brother.
"I think it's latching onto Lori. Last night she found out her father is having an affair with a married woman." Sam explained, ignoring Dean's last comment.
"So what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
"So she's upset about it," Sam shrugged, turning to me, "She's upset about the immorality of it. She told me she was raised to believe that if you do something wrong, you get punished."
"Well ok, so she's conflicted. And the spirit of Preacher Karns is latching on to repress the emotions and maybe he's doing the punishing for her, huh?" Dean suggested and Sam nodded.
"Right," He agreed, and I suddenly realised it, putting the pieces together.
"Rich comes on too strong..." I murmured.
"Taylor tries to make her into a party girl..." Dean added.
"Dad has an affair." Sam concluded.
"Remind me not to piss this girl off," Dean muttered and I smiled, "But I don't get it – me and Steph burned those bones, we buried them in salt, why didn't that stop him?" He asked.
"You must have missed something." Sam shrugged and I frowned.
"No way, we burnt everything in that coffin." I argued.
"Did you get the hook?" Sam asked me and I opened my mouth to answer and then closed it abruptly.
"The hook?" Dean asked, taking over.
"Well, it was the murder weapon," Sam reasoned, "And in a way, it was part of him."
"So, like the bones: the hook is a source of his power." I realised.
"If we find the hook..." Sam speculated.
"We stop the Hook Man." Dean finished and I grinned.
"Right. Simple." I stated smugly.
"We're gonna have to do some more research." Sam shook his head at me and my grin dropped and my shoulders sagged.
"Oh for fuc-." I started to say, but Dean clamped a hand over my mouth and smiled politely at a passing mother with her two kids.
I blinked my sore eyes slowly, we had been in the library for hours combing over old scripts and papers, anything that related to Hook Man. "All this reading is gonna make my head explode." I groaned, putting the book down and rubbing my eyes.
"You've said that." Sam told me without looking up from the book he was reading.
"Twice." Dean piped up, I looked over to him and he grinned, making me smile and roll my eyes.
"Well, you should listen to me." I pretended to whine, Dean started chuckling and I looked over to him again.
"What's so funny?" I asked him irritably.
"I just imagined what you'd be like if you were in college for real, and you had to do this every day." Dean managed through chuckles, I frowned and he laughed harder, even Sam started sniggering.
"You know all I have to do is move my hands and you'd be halfway across the room, right?" I asked him with narrowed eyes, Dean stopped laughing and sent me one of his more charming smiles.
"Oh honey, I know you wouldn't do that." He smirked, his eyes brimming with arrogance, I raised an eyebrow and discreetly moved my hand, pushing against the air currents and aiming it at Dean's chair. The seat shot backwards and Dean sprawled to the ground, Sam roared with laughter and I joined in with him, chortling as Dean dragged his chair back over and sat sulking.
"So here's something, I think: log book, Iowa State Penitentiary. Karns, Jacob, personal affects: disposition thereof." Sam read from the book he was reading.
"Does it mention the hook?" I asked, leaning over and looking at where he was reading.
"Yeah, maybe: 'Upon execution, all earthly items shall be remanded to the prisoner's house of worship, St. Barnabas Church.'" Sam continued to read the paragraph as Dean walked over to our Sam and I's table.
"Isn't that where Lori's father preaches?" He asked, looking over Sam's shoulder.
"Yeah." Sam murmured and I looked up from the book at them.
"Where Lori lives?" I questioned as Sam closed the books.
"Maybe that's why Hook Man has been haunting reverends and reverends' daughters for the past two hundred years." Dean shrugged as Sam stood up from his chair, he moved away from his brother and walked over to where his coat had been discarded carelessly.
"Yeah, but if the hook were at the church or Lori's house, don't you think someone might've seen it? I mean, a bloodstained, silver-handled hook?" Sam smiled in his disbelief at the theory, Dean shrugged and made a face as he shrugged on the coat.
"Check the church records." He suggested and walked away, I frowned and looked at him in confusion.
"Where are you going?" I asked him.
"Well, whilst Sammy goes to get the books, I thought I'd go get some fresh air and stretch my legs a little, you know?" Dean answered, my mouth dropped and I stood up from my chair quickly.
"I'm coming with you." I told him and he laughed.
"Really? 'Cause I thought you were loving it in here so much." He smirked and I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up." I muttered half-heartedly as we left the library, I practically ran to the railing and sighed as the fresh air entered my lungs, leaning against the railing and looking out at the campus scenery. I shivered slightly at the night air and scolded myself for not bringing a coat, out of the corner of my eye I saw Dean leaning against the barrier and looking at me. "What is it now?" I asked him with a small smile, Dean shook his head and shrugged in response.
"It's nothing... it's just... you really love the fresh air." Dean answered, I turned to face him and gave him an amused look.
"Yeah, because if you hadn't noticed," I leaned in like I was telling him a secret, "Fresh air's better than stale air." I whispered and giggled at his expression.
"No, that's not what I... never mind." Dean sighed and shook his head, looking at the random sculptures that had been put on the grass areas by art students, one of them was labelled as a volcano, but to me it looked like a metal carrot.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I just can't imagine you behind a desk, or in a library doing normal work." Dean shrugged.
"It's because I've never done any normal work, and I don't intend to. Ever." I told him, shivering slightly in the cold and shivered again, looking up at the clear night sky and the glittering stars, I felt a weight around my shoulders and looked to see Dean draping his coat around me, I stared at him as he returned to his position leaning against the railing. "Thank you." I told him quietly, and he grunted.
"Don't mention it." He shrugged and I found myself smiling uncontrollably at him.
"So, have you ever done anything else besides hunting?" I asked him, Dean stared out at something before he looked at me.
"No, not really. When my Mum died my Dad was... obsessed with teaching us how to protect ourselves against the supernatural." Dean shook his head.
"How old were you when she died?"
"I was, uh, four. Sammy was only a few months." Dean responded in a sad, mournful tone, and I realised I was seeing a side to Dean Winchester that never surfaces.
"How'd she die?" I asked, my hand reaching out and finding his arm.
"A demon killed her." He answered shortly.
"I'm sorry." I told him sadly and he shrugged nonchalantly, the soft, open Dean going away, and the arrogant, joking older brother coming back.
"It's fine, it was a long time ago." Dean muttered.
"Not long enough, you miss her." I observed quietly, Dean stiffened and looked at me, his expression unreadable.
"Yeah, I do..." Dean sighed and I looked away, the emotions overwhelming me, "What about you, you got shoved into this, uh, reality. You must have people who you miss." Dean shrugged and it was my turn to tense up, names began rolling around in my head and I closed my eyes against it all. "Steph?" Dean's voice broke through my nostalgic thoughts and I opened my eyes and looked at him sadly.
"Everyone." I whispered, my voice cracking, I looked down at the ground as tears slid from my eyes, as if sensing my sudden raw emotion, my hair fell and curtained my face. Dean's hand brushed the hair out of my face and I smiled weakly at him, "I'm sorry – I don't normally cry like this." I jerked away from him, as if I was stung and turned away, brushing the tears from my cheeks and taking a deep breath.
"You're seriously apologising for crying? Steph, it's ok to cry." Dean laughed when I turned back to him, I shook my head at him.
"No it's not."
"Huh?" He asked, confused.
"It's not ok, Dean. I don't think I'll ever be able to go back home, and that means I'll never see my friends or my family again..." I trailed off as my words died into the night air, I took a shuddering breath and shook my head, trying to shake the emotion. "We should get back to Sam." I muttered and walked back through the doors to where Sam was sat pouring over a book, he didn't look up as I approached but tapped the page excitedly as I sat down.
"I found it," He said excitedly, I forced a smile on my face as he glanced up at me and then back at the text, "'St. Barnabas donations, 1862: received silver handled hook from state penitentiary.'" Sam's face fell and he stopped reading for a moment, then he sighed.
"What? What is it?" I asked, suddenly concerned.
"It says they reforged it, melted it down and made it into something else." Sam answered disappointedly, I groaned and rested my head on the table.
"Great. Just great."
Dean was still outside when Sam and I left the library, when Sam told him what he'd found he had nodded, not commented on the subject and we had driven in silence to the church, I caught Sam's eye in the rear view mirror but he hadn't said anything. I knew he knew that something had happened outside, but he didn't bring it up, sensing the unbalanced emotions between Dean and I – Sam was good like that. Once Dean had parked the car the three of us got out silently and stared at the towering structure of the house of God. "Alright, we can't take any chances," Dean told us as he threw me a gun and loaded his, Sam bought out his gun and checked it, "Anything silver goes in the fire."
"Sounds good, Lori's still in hospital so we'll have to break in." Sam replied.
"It's not like anyone here hasn't broken into anything before." I shrugged, Dean smiled slightly at the comment and then pointed to the church and the small house beside it.
"Alright, take your pick." He looked over to Sam.
"I'll take the house." Sam answered and began walking over to the house.
"Ok... Hey," Dean called out to his younger brother, he turned and looked at Dean expectantly, "Stay out of her underwear drawer." Dean grinned mischievously and Sam rolled his eyes and huffed. I smiled at their antics and then Dean turned to me, "So, ladies first." He smiled and motioned for me to go first, I passed and walked up to the church, looking for the easiest way in. The front door was heavy iron and securely locked from the inside, so we'd have to find an alternative route. I scanned the brickwork and a windowless arch on the side of the building caught my eye, I pointed to it and looked at Dean.
"That's our way in." I told him, Dean looked up and raised an eyebrow.
"You're kidding me, right?" He scoffed and I frowned.
"There's really nothing to joke about, we're about to break into a church." I told him.
"Well, do you have a ladder on you?" Dean asked and I smirked.
"No, hold still," I told him, Dean frowned but stood still all the same, I manipulated the air so he shot up, he grabbed onto the sill of the archway and hauled himself over the edge. Once he was clear I stood still and concentrated feeling the air currents beneath my palms, I snapped them out and propelled up to the arch, grabbing the edge and climbing up. Dean was stood waiting for me as I came over the window, I took the gun out of my pocket and checked it for salt rounds, I looked around and saw we were in the underloft of the church, old tables and chairs lay discarded and dust-covered in the corner, but the loft was otherwise empty.
"Ready, Buffy?" Dean asked in a sarcastic tone, I nodded and rolled my eyes at his comment.
"Let's go." I told him, and we descended the dark stone steps leading down into the ground floor of the church, once we reached the main hall I clicked my fingers and a flame lit up in my palm, I concentrated and it got bigger and kept me warm.
"Right, I'll take the left side, you take the right." Dean pointed to the far side of the church and I nodded, I swept down the cabinets and wooden tables, taking the candlesticks and small silver crosses that were placed evenly up and down the walls, I met Dean at the locked iron door of the entrance to the church, he held out a sack and I threw the silverware into it. After that Dean went downstairs and I unbolted the door so Sam could unlock it. I found Dean in the underloft, he had found a metal cylinder and was busy putting broken parts of a chair into it, he then doused it in lighter fluid and motioned for me to set it alight, I dropped the flame and the wood erupted into flames, Dean started throwing the silver into the bin and he stood back and admired his handiwork. There were heavy steps on the steps and we turned to see Sam entering the room with a bag, he sighed as he put the bag heavily on the floor, the contents inside clattered together.
"I got everything that looked silver." Sam told us as I picked up the bag and gave it to Dean, he then proceeded to dump everything on the roaring flames.
"Well, better safe than sorry, I suppose." I murmured as the three of us watched the silver slowly melt into the flames. I tilted my head when I felt something shift against my palm and looked down, someone was moving around downstairs. "Move." I told them in hushed urgency, the two boys frowned in confusion, I sighed and pointed to my ears and then to the floor. We fell silent as we listened for something, downstairs someone was moving what sounded like the long benches where people sat. I looked at Dean in alarm: that was our only exit.
"The window, go." Dean told us, pointing to the open arch, I walked over to it and peered down, I was confident I would make the fall, but I seriously doubted Dean and Sam would. Sam joined me and looked down and gulped.
"We'll never make that, guys." Sam shook his head, his eyes wide.
"Yeah we can, do you remember when we were going down that ladder in the sewer to find the shapeshifter, and Steph jumped off and fell? She said she channelled the air to slow her fall. She used the air to get me up here, she can use the air to get me down." Dean explained, my own eyes widened at the pressure the oldest Winchester had suddenly put me under.
"Can you do that?" Sam asked me in awe, I looked at his big, imploring eyes and sagged.
"I – I guess... but aren't you worried I'll let you drop?" I asked them, Dean and Sam exchanged a look and shook their heads.
"Nope," Dean shrugged, "You can do it." We looked around at the sound of someone nearing the door to the attic, Dean whipped around and pushed me lightly towards the arch, "No time, we gotta go now." He told me.
"Alright, alright. I'm going, geez." I rolled my eyes and hooked my left leg over, with one last grin I slipped out and fell, the dark ground rushed up to meet me and I smiled at the sheer thrill of falling, I moved my hands out and I suddenly started slowing, landing in a roll and coming up smoothly. I looked up to see the two boys, now tiny figures, looking out of the window down at me. I saw the taller figure of Sam slowly perch himself on the edge of the sill, he looked back at Dean and I smiled slightly when I saw Dean shake his shoulders jokingly, after another few seconds Sam let himself drop I walked forward and concentrated on him, when he drew closer to the ground I moved my palms, manipulating the air so his descent slowed. Sam's feet lightly touched the ground and he staggered back in shock, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open, I tried hard not to laugh at his expression but failed. He blinked at the sound of me giggling and his mouth closed, "Was it fun?" I asked him with a small smile.
"Terrifying." His voice shook and I laughed, stepping back and looking up at Dean, he too was now perched on the sill, ready to jump. After what seemed a few moments of deep thought, Dean's arms reached down and he pushed himself off, hurtling towards us at an alarming speed, I moved my hands out and steadied his descent, as he was no more than five feet off the ground I suddenly dropped my hands and Dean plummeted to the ground, he groaned and slowly got to his feet, Sam was grinning wildly as he fought to stifle his laughter. I smiled sweetly as Dean glared at me.
"That," He growled, "Was not funny."
"You should have seen your face!" Sam collapsed with peals of laughter, I giggled along with him.
"Whatever." Dean huffed and stormed off back to the car, Sam and I followed, still giggling amongst ourselves, as Dean was getting back in the car I looked back at the church, to my surprise I saw that the large iron door was wide open, I glimpsed the back of a familiar head inside sitting in one of the pews. I walked over to the church and up the stone steps, someone came rushing up behind me and grabbed my shoulders, I whipped around and saw Sam looking at me fearfully.
"Uh, Steph," He gave me a tight smile, "The car's this way." He tried to steer me around but I shook him off.
"Look." I pointed to the person sitting in the pew and Sam's mouth dropped. He walked over to the person just as Dean appeared in the doorway.
"What are we still doing here?" He bit out through clenched teeth.
"The person in the pew. Look who it is." I told him, pointing to the person, Dean's face softened and I rolled my eyes, grabbing his arm and catching up to Sam.
"Lori?" Sam asked in disbelief, the girl whipped around and I saw her face was stained with tears, I groaned inwardly: why couldn't people cry in the safety of their own homes? Dean caught my look and tugged me away.
"Come on, let's go check to see if the silver's melted." Dean told me, I nodded and we left quickly and silently.
Upstairs, Dean and I watched as the flames slowly died on the last remnants of chair legs, the silver had indeed melted and had stained the ash and the sides of the metal cylinder. "So what, I jumped out of a window for nothing?" Dean broke the silence, my gaze stayed on the dying embers but a smile slowly spread across my face.
"Sounds like it." I answered and Dean sighed, muttering curses under his breath. There were only a few flames left and I was growing tired of watching the flames flicker helplessly, I waved my hands and the flames extinguished, plunging the room into darkness.
"You got a light?" Dean's silhouette asked me through the darkness, I clicked my fingers and bought a flame up, cupping it in my hands, someone tapped my shoulders and I turned. Dean was there, towering over me, the flames cast shadows across his face and the dancing flames reflected in his eyes. "How do you do that?" He asked me, I raised an eyebrow at him but answered all the same.
"Well, I click my fingers and create a spark, then you just-." I was cut off with Dean's mouth crashing into mine, the flame in my hands disappeared in shock and I realised I was kissing him back. Dean's hands ran through my hair and I glided my fingers down his face, tracing his jawline with my eyes still closed. We moved back and found the wall, I was pressed up against it with Dean, one his hands snaked down my waist and I shivered slightly. We broke off, gasping for breath, he reached up to kiss me again but suddenly stopped and frowned.
"Do you hear that?" He whispered, I strained my ears over the sound of my heart thundering in my chest, I heard a scream of pain and gasped when I realised who it belonged to.
"Sam!" I exclaimed, we both ran for the door and sprinted down the stone steps. We burst into the main church and saw carnage: furniture was smashed and lay spread out haphazardly, Sam was behind behind the Hook Man, ready to attack as the spirit poised like a snake over Lori.
Dean snapped the safety off his gun beside me, "Sam, drop!" He ordered, his brother crouched down and Dean opened fire, a bullet hit the Hook Man and he disappeared into a dark grey smoke.
"I thought we got all the silver." Sam called to us.
"So did we." Dean answered, my shoulders sagged and I sighed.
"Then why is he still here?" I asked, beside me Dean shrugged.
"Well, maybe we missed something." He answered, we started scanning the church and looking around for anything, anything that looked silver.
"Lori, where did you get that chain?" Sam asked, his voice echoing around the church, Dean and I turned to see Sam staring at Lori's necklace.
"My father gave it to me." She answered, her voice wavering as she looked down and fiddled with the silver cross around her neck.
"Where'd your Dad get it?" I asked her with urgency lacing my tone.
"He said it was a church heirloom, he gave it to me when I started school." She answered, giving me a scared glance.
"Is it silver?" Sam asked her, grabbing her shoulders as Dean and I stormed over to her.
"Yes!" She cried out, terrified. Sam ripped off the chain in one swift movement, I felt the air shift behind me and I narrowed my eyes and turned, expecting to see someone. But the hallway was empty. A long scratch suddenly scraped itself along the walls, making the stone whine in complaint, the air continued to steadily shift around me, I glanced at Dean with wide eyes and he grabs my arm and turned to his brother.
"Sam!" Dean roared, throwing his gun to him, Sam caught it and tossed us the necklace, I caught it and looked up at Dean.
"Come on!" I told him, sprinting to the stairs, I burst into the underloft and threw the necklace down into the metal bin, I clicked my fingers and threw the flame down into the pit, pushing at the air so the table against the wall, it creaked and smashed on impact, the legs collapsed and split, I snatched one up and threw it into the metal can, "Lighter fluid." I held my hand out to Dean impatiently, he handed me it and I hastily poured some of it over the necklace and the wood, the flame latched on and roared in appreciation, I looked as the necklace melted slowly. Dean sighed and I smiled in relief, we slowly went down the stairs to find Lori and Sam huddled in a corner.
"And you two saw him too? The man with the hook?" The sheriff was questioning Dean and I, a notepad in his hand as he jotted down our answers.
"Yes, we told you, we all saw him. We fought him off and then he ran." Dean answered in a bored tone, the sheriff frowned as he wrote it down.
"And that's all?" He asked.
"Yeah, that's all." I told him, the sheriff nodded and sighed as he put the notepad away.
"Listen," The sheriff turned to Dean, "You, your girl and your brother-."
"Oh don't worry, we're leaving town." Dean cut him off with a smile and we walked away.
"'Your girl'?" I quoted with a scoff, Dean chuckled and put his arm around my waist.
"What? I kinda like it, don't you?" He smirked, giving me a smirk, I couldn't help the smile forming on my face and he chuckled again, "See?"
"Shut up." I groaned softly as we got to the car, I opened the door but Dean turned my head and we shared another kiss, I closed the door and my arms wrapped around his neck. A passing car beeped loudly but we didn't care, the only thing that mattered to me was Dean.
"Excuse me," A loud clearing of a throat and a low voice made us reluctantly break apart, we turned and came face to face with the sheriff who was questioning us earlier, "Listen you two, nobody wants to see public displays like that, ok?" He told us sternly, I caught Dean's eyes and giggled.
"We're sorry, officer." Dean told him, failing to keep a straight face. The sheriff grunted and walked away, I sighed as we got into the car. I generously left the passenger seat for Sam, we looked at Sam and Lori conversing near an ambulance, I waited for them to kiss but frowned when Sam suddenly walked away without another word, Lori looked crestfallen. Sam got into the passenger seat ad sat silently, "We could stay." Dean offered, but Sam shook his head. Dean paused and then sighed in disappointment, then started the car.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for all your support! I was so glad to get this chapter up before The Dying Of The Light, I'm not gonna update until I get 40 reviews, so please comment if you want this story to continue! Also, please tell me your thoughts of Val and Dean, I wasn't sure whether to put it in there or not, so please tell me!