Chapter 10

"Deanna."

"What?" Sam glanced over at Angela as they walked back to the house after grabbing gear and finding bupkis on the house except that it was once owned by the Wilkerson family and blah, blah. He wondered if she was either making a joke or really going off the deep end.

"It's a good name and it's definitely the right one," Angela went on as if she didn't hear his question.

"Are we on the same page Angie?"

Angela looked over at Sam and replied, "Yes. I just happened to figure out what kind of car the Camaro is. She is definitely a Deanna. I wonder how Dean will react to that?"

Sam looked at Angela as if she had lost her mind. One minute she was focused on finding out what that tremor was. When that didn't pan out and they geared up, it was like she switched trains of thought completely. He couldn't help it and said, "Christo."

Angela heard what he said and replied, "Sorry Sam. Still the same me. It was just a wayward thought that came to mind; a nice distraction since I am annoyed that whatever this thing is well it is ruining my vacation." She jogged up the steps to the main door and gave a tentative touch to the door and cocked her head as if to listen.

At least that part is still her, Sam thought as he watched her paused and listen. Her eyes looked elsewhere but he could tell she was listening for anything. It was how she moved when things got too quiet on a hunt. Maybe Dean was right in telling him that he thought on things too hard and that her randomness was her way of dealing. Come to think of it, it was pretty funny when she thought of something completely random but he got the feeling that it was connected in her own mind and it was another one of those tactics she used to give people a certain impression and not her true face.

"Not hearing anything out of place," Angela replied. She glanced at Sam and then at the gun in his hand and turned back to open the door.

Sam took the hint and put his gun into his jacket. There was no need to frighten anyone needlessly. He gave a slight nod and followed Angela into the house. He glanced around the entrance hall as they walked in, looking at the side rooms and towards the front desk. The lady that checked them in wasn't around and he didn't see any signs of the staff. He was still looking when he said in a low voice, "No sign of staff."

Angela noticed that too. The thing was that she got an eerie feeling that was just the tip of the iceberg. She looked around and glanced at the upstairs and walked forward. Suddenly she was pushed out of the way or rather it felt like she tripped over something and out of the way. It was a good thing too since something flew by and imbedded itself in one of the walls. Angela looked at the ground and saw… Was that a banana peel?

Frowning and moving her head like an inquisitive puppy, Angela walked back towards where she slipped and kneeled to look. Using her fingers like a pair of tweezers, she picked up the banana peel. She examined it and couldn't help it, "One of the oldest pranks in the book."

Sam wasn't looking at what she was holding but from the wall to Angela. It brought back bad memories when he was nearly smashed by a hammer in Lenya's playground and the fact that it took slipping on a banana peel to avoid it made him ready to freak out. He turned to see her looking at the peel and heard what she said. He replied, "Yeah and that prank just saved you from being skewered."

Angela looked from the peel to the wall at the nice ax imbedded in it. She widened her eyes in an impressed manner and remarked, "Oh. I guess it did." She stood up and looked at the peel in her hand.

Sam was not even going to go there with that. It was better to just keep moving. He replied, "Right, so… why did that happen? It wasn't there when we checked in earlier."

Angela sniffed the peel and then inspected the ax. "Obvious says that someone rigged it while we were out. The ax means business but the peel…" Angela paused to look at it and then the ax. "It seems almost childish. Serious being countered by the childish…" She frowned in thought as she looked around and started towards one of the halls.

Sam followed as he slowly withdrew his gun. He wasn't going to take any chances in case something happened the next time. "Sounds like a poltergeist."

"But they are like tricksters Sam. Their idea of fun ends in death," Angela replied as she put the peel on the check in desk. Not the best place to leave something like that lying around but there really wasn't anywhere else to put it. She put her hand on the wall of the hall they were in and looked all around. She thought that she heard something and she moved her head to try to hear anything out of the ordinary.

"Tell me about it," Sam replied. "Bat ears working?"

Angela looked at Sam and gave a slight smile. She then turned to look at the door she came across. She examined it and tested the knob. She slowly turned the knob to open it much to Sam's dismay that she didn't even have a weapon drawn. She opened the door slowly to avoid making noise and peered in. She looked at Sam and grinned before going in.

Sam wondered what was going through Angela's mind as she grinned at him and then went inside. He sighed and followed, determined to watch her back. When he went in, he found her smiling slightly as she was kneeling down to examine something on the rug. "What has you so amused?"

"Just some more juju. Interesting mix of different kinds of juju. Very cleverly done."

Sam walked in and looked down where Angela was looking. It was an interesting design but he didn't see the significance even if it was spell work or whatever. He was still annoyed that Angela was treating her near slicing as if it were nothing. "And?"

Angela looked up at Sam and noticed he was annoyed. She could admit that her reaction was less than one would express. She replied, "A majority of the work is designed to repel and some to counteract. As to the effects of such combinations, it takes serious practice." Angela looked back at the markings and then said softly, "I try not to think about it too much until after the job is finished."

Sam looked down at her when he heard a thump. Then he heard a sound that usually made him shudder, especially when he saw them. "Did you hear that?"

Angela heard the thump and automatically stood up. She heard the running of feet. Then she heard muffled sounds. But they were on this floor. She looked at the walls of the room and at the door they had come through. "The voices and running feet? Yeah."

"Not that," Sam replied as he looked up at the ceiling. "The laughing."

Angela frowned at that. She didn't hear laughing. She looked over at Sam and noticed he was looking upwards. "Sam, I don't hear any laughing." She then glanced at the ground and at the juju markings. "Come on. Let's check for the manager." She pushed him on the back gently out of the room.

The manager was in her office fussing over the books. She looked at the pair of them with a look of slight annoyance. She asked, "Is there something wrong with your accommodations? I can have Darrell send one of the maids…"

Sam made haste to reassure the manager that everything was fine while Angela took a look around the office. She was standing behind Sam so it was easy to look around without appearing too nosy. She couldn't detect any markings like she found on the rug in that other room but she did see something like the juju stick that was in the bungalow. Two rooms with repelling and countering spells mixed together… Angela suddenly had a thought, well a memory.

The house was technically a chateau since it was 'New France' or rather Louisiana but it was still mansion like in proportion. The master of the house was terrified along with his young wife by a spirit that haunted the place. Gabriel had found the hunt and decided to play side kick. They were being pursued by the spirit and they ran into a room where the spirit couldn't follow…

Angela remembered that case and looked at the juju stick. It made sense now. She tugged on Sam's jacket and looked at the manager Maggie Clawson and said, "I am sorry to bother you. Everything is fine and we just wanted to compliment on the lovely look of the interior."

Maggie looked at the woman and said, "Glad that you like it. Can I help you with anything else?"

"No," Angela smiled her best smile and pulled Sam out the door saying, "Have a nice day."

Sam waited until they were outside the office to ask, "What was that about?"

Angela looked around before speaking. She replied, "She wasn't going to know anything because she doesn't think anything is out of the ordinary. Her office is protected by the juju stick hanging on the wall. The room with the sigil on the rug is another."

"I am not sure I am following you. What does this have to do with you nearly getting sliced and that tremor?"

It was so like him to give her that surprise Angela thought to herself as she replied, "I once worked a similar case. A vengeful spirit was haunting the house but there were certain places that were havens because of marks like that. The way it worked was that the spirit was extracting revenge on family members and the only thing holding it at bay was a slave maid who knew a thing or two about voodoo and magic."

"So you're saying that it's something similar?" Sam asked as he tried not to shudder when he heard the noise that he hated again.

"I think so but I sense something different," Angela replied looking around. She then caught sight of the spirit. Since Sam didn't react, she figured that he couldn't see it and she was the only one. She looked at it straight in the eye before it vanished from her sight. "We should check and make sure that nothing is wrong with the other folks. I think there is a Christian Mothers group here."

They left to check the whole first floor. In one room, they came across Haley who looked like she had seen a ghost and Aaron had a nasty cut on his shoulder from nearly being skewered. Angela did a sweep with her eyes and realized that there were no markings or anything. The room was not 'safe'. The shelves in the room were full of books and she figured it was once a study or a library. She asked, "Haley did you see anything?"

"I thought I saw Gen but she died," Haley answered once she managed to calm down. "Is this someone's idea of a joke?"

A joke for me but not for anyone else, Angela thought as she replied to Haley's question. As she looked around, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. When she got a full look, it was a heavy stack of books beginning to fall just as Sam opened a door. She didn't think but reacted as she shouted, "Sam, look out!"

At the same time she focused and stuck out her hand. She didn't have to do that but it was reaction. The stack of books fell but never hit their target as they remained suspended in midair a mere few inches from Sam's head. Angela looked and saw something. It wasn't the spirit but human except for the eyes. It grinned at her before it took off. She would have gone but she had to contend with the books that were currently suspended. Lowering her hand she guided the books to a nearby table and let them fall with a clump. "You okay Sam?"

"I'm fine," Sam replied still surprised at Angela's lightning quick reaction.

"Good because I feel in the mood for an exorcism."

"What?"

Angela looked at Sam and then at Haley and Aaron, "The spirit is not the problem. The demon is."

Jesse thought things couldn't get any worse. After finally getting him, Petey and Gina out of that cellar like place, they ran around the back of the house, heading for the front. At least from that point, they could find the room where the moms were gathered. At least nothing popped out at them while they were running towards the front.

"Jesse, do you know where we are going?"

"To the front Petey. Remember when we first came in?"

"Yeah."

Nothing more was said as Jesse jogged up the stairs to the front porch. Slowly he opened the door and looked in. He didn't notice the ax still in the wall but he did see the front desk. He motioned for Petey and Gina to follow him in and he walked carefully around the main lobby until he found the hall that had the door that led to the room where the moms were meeting. It was easy to find since there was one of those signs on a tripod thingy outside the door.

Tentatively Jesse opened the door and peeked inside. He saw his mom and she was with all the other moms and they were in the middle of some prayer thingy. He pointed out Petey's mom and said, "Your mom's right there."

Without warning Petey ran in and he was followed by Gina as they headed to their moms. Jesse followed at a slower pace. Of course he expected what came next.

"What are you doing here?"

"There's a monster in the house."

"What?"

"Scary. He hurt Mr. Hugh."

"You've been hanging around that boy too much."

"Jesse what were you thinking wandering around the place. You are supposed to be at the children's retreat."

Jesse looked up at his mom and the glowing daggers from Petey's mom. He knew that whatever he said would be construed as a lie but he had to make a few things clear. "No I didn't try to play a joke on them. I wasn't trying to scare them. That is mean. I was only trying to make sure the guy Mr. Hugh didn't get them."

"I suppose you are telling me he is a monster?"

Jesse looked up at his mom and replied, "If I did you wouldn't believe me. Look I'll take them back up." He made a slight motion with his hand at Petey to signal that he had no intention of doing that. Like he would go back there.

"That's the first good thing you've ever suggested," Petey's mom replied.

Gina's mom nodded in approval and Jesse's mom said, "Go back to the playroom until I come for you."

Jesse took each kid by the hand and walked out. When they were outside he almost kicked the door in frustration. "I knew she wouldn't believe me. I don't think they heard anything while in that room."

"What are we going to do Jesse?" Petey asked.

Jesse didn't know but he looked at Gina. There had to be other kids running around. He looked at her and asked, "Did anyone else get out?"

"Maybe two others."

That did make sense since it happened really quick when they made a break for it. Jesse looked at the two with him. "Okay I guess we better find them. Then maybe we can find someone else to help us. Ya with me Petey?" He gave a reassuring smile to Petey. He wouldn't make him go if he didn't want to.

Petey nodded his head. Gina did the same. Jesse gave a slight sigh and said, "Well I guess we should try upstairs. They are probably hiding up there somewhere." Jesse started towards the stairs followed by the other two.

Darrell pounded on the door for what seemed like the umpteenth time. He tried jiggling the handle to get it to open but the thing wouldn't budge. He even tried kicking at it, not caring if Maggie had a fit for him breaking her property. The ghost warned him bad things would happen and he was surprised that his lock had been broken.

Suddenly he was thrown back and the door opened to reveal Hugh carrying a bulk that was still fighting him. Darrell watched as the new body was thrown non to ceremoniously on the ground and Hugh grinned at him and said, "He'll be getting hungry soon," and then shut the door.

"Not on your life," the mass said after the door shut.

Darrell watched as the body slowly rose to his feet in a graceful fashion. It was like something out of one of those fantasy movies or something. The guy was tall and he had a serious expression about him with dark hair and ice blue eyes that roved around the place that he had been thrown in. He looked a little pained though and slightly hunched over. Darrell asked, "Are you all right?"

"No."

Darrell was going to say something else when the guy started moving around and looking at everything. He seemed to ignore whatever was bothering him at the moment and was focused on trying to find a way out. Darrell said, "Um there really isn't a way out except through that tiny attic window and the door you came through."

The guy continued to ignore him and Darrell gave a wry smile and a slight nod that turned to a bit of annoyance. Finally the guy came back and looked at the door. "Only way out through there and that there. Hmm."

"Um sounds like you know what is going on," Darrell commented. He then took a closer look and finally recognized the guy. "You're one of the guests aren't you?" He looked at the guy as he started looking at the door with a closer look. Darrell got the feeling he wasn't much of a talker.

"In a manner of speaking," the guy replied as he continued to study the door. He was looking at the markings that had been burned into the wood. He looked at them with intense interest as he ran a finger on the burns, tracing the markings. "Demonic."

"Demonic?"

"The burns. They are part of a spell or something," the guy explained as he straightened up. He winced slightly and put a hand to his side.

"Spells? Does this have anything to do with the ghost?"

The guy turned to look at him. The ice blue eyes studied him as if to see if he were lying. The guy asked, "There is a spirit here?"

Darrell thought the guy was imposing enough but the intensity of the eyes was something else. He replied, "House ghost. Has been here for nearly a hundred years. It let's people come to his house and they like the pranks. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Then you don't know anything about a demon?"

"What are you talking about? I am just Darrell the caretaker. I sometimes talk to the ghost but I don't know anything about a demon… if they really exist. Now are you one of those guests that like to be a bit gothic or something like that? Is that supposed to be the theme for that room?"

The guy looked at him as if he were crazy. Darrell realized that the guy was actually serious about what he was talking about. So he was stuck with a crazy. That would just make his day. The guy finally said, "I am a guest. You can call me Christian for now," and then looked away.

Darrell studied Christian for a while as the guy was looking around. He finally asked, "So what did Hugh want with you?"

"That wasn't Hugh," Christian replied as he looked around. He felt very uncomfortable since the demon got the upper hand after ambushing him in that cellar place. He also didn't like the fact that the demon made it appear he was a bumbling fool but he did put up a fight. Now he was stuck in this room with a human who had no idea what was going on. "It was a demon."

"It looked like him," Darrell replied trying to make small conversation. It would be useless but it would make him feel better.

"Well it isn't," Christian replied. "What happened when you first noticed he was possessed?"

"After the tremor," Darrell replied, wondering what the hell that had to do with it. "One of the kids must have touched the horse."

Christian turned from his inspection of the door. He figured that even with the demonic sigils, he could break it down. It would seriously damage the woodwork and everything but that wasn't important at the moment. When he heard what the caretaker said, he wheeled around and asked, "What?"

"A toy horse in the playroom. The ghost was adamant about people not touching it so I made sure that it was locked in the closet. One of the kids must've pried it open," Darrell replied. "Why? What's the big deal?"

Christian paused to think a moment. He was concerned now. The princess was out and about the house alone and he was stuck in here which would pass for a demon's torture chamber. Now the human was telling him that there was a horse the spirit told him that people shouldn't touch. It certainly changed the outlook of the day. "It is a very big deal."

Christian ignored the human as he started working on finding the points that were weakest on the door. If he found the right spot to kick, the door would come free and more likely in one piece. He found it and started kicking the door with his foot. He ignored the human's comment as he focused on banging the part of the door he had chosen. Something wasn't right about what the human told him and he suspected that the demon had probably been imprisoned or something and whatever it was, probably someone touching the horse in the wrong way, set the thing free.

Darrell watched as Christian kept pounding away at the door. He sighed as he thought it was a futile effort. It was like the door was made of reinforced steel or something like one of those panic rooms. He said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing but expecting different results."

Christian ignored him and finally put all his strength into it and the door popped open, breaking the door frame. He fell in the process since he was already off balance and landed hard. He couldn't hide that grimace that time. He took a look at his hand and noticed the crimson stain. Great and he had to stick around this human. It certainly was going to make things interesting. He just had to hold out long enough.

A/N: Angie picks a time to be funny and things start to fall into place. Will they get to the heart of the demon's lair? Keep watching for more 'Trick'steen Candles...