Chapter 11

Sam visibly jumped when the thing fell and became suspended in front of him as he passed into the room. He could hear the sound in his ears. The damn demon had a sick sense of humor. This was the fourth one that fell into his face like that. He yanked it down and threw it out of the way.

"Sometimes the best way to conquer fear is to face it."

Sam nearly scowled at the old blind lady that had snuck up on them earlier. He almost shot her when she showed up but Angela managed to stop it before anything bad could happen. He had become increasingly jumpy since he kept hearing that laughter he hated so much and he only heard when he saw them.

After learning that it was a demon and not the ghost they were after, things started going in directions that were either more crazy or just… whatever. Haley and Aaron opted to stay downstairs and keep an eye on things while they went upstairs and try to get his brother free. There was also the demon to contend with and to check up on the children in the playroom since they were the only other people in the whole place at the moment.

While they were on their way up the stairs, one of the demon's pranks decided to be sprung. It ended up with Sam grabbing Angela around her waist and yanking her aside and pulling her towards him. Like the swinging ax, it didn't seem to bother her much but he knew that she was just maintaining her focus, which was starting to look like how she did before the tournament. That was a plus but then the old crazy lady had to spook them while they were in one of the rooms which could have passed for a bedroom.

The old lady just appeared out of nowhere and stood there. It took Sam a few minutes to realize that she was blind. However what she told them brought some light on the situation that just seemed to drop into their laps. She told them that what they were looking for was a demon though she described it as an old evil and that the boy had done his best in keeping it imprisoned in the one thing that he treasured next to his brothers, Bordeaux.

It confused Sam as to what she was talking about but he did figure that Bordeaux was the name of something. Whatever it was happened to be in the playroom and now that the thing was free, that place would be heavily guarded. Angela throughout the whole thing took in the information in a passive manner that made it look like she was bored with the whole thing. She kept the same expression when the old lady started in on her and started saying things about something from within and the power to heal. It sounded like nonsense to Sam's ears but judging from Angela's expression, she could either understand it or she was pretending to and didn't care either way.

Now they were wandering through the upstairs and they were in what could have been a child's room and that was when they started falling in his face. He could still hear the laughter and he contemplated on making himself deaf so he didn't have to hear it. He looked at the old lady who managed to keep up despite being blind and muttered under his breath.

"I don't like them either," Angela said giving a slight smile. She had heard what Sam said under his breath.

Sam looked at her incredulously. "You?"

Angela gave a slight grin at Sam and then turned to continue through the room back into the hall. She glanced back to make sure that Sam was following her. So far she hadn't caught glimpses of the ghost or the demon. She wondered if the thing had set the 'pranks' beforehand and just put the food on the string and dragged them along for the ride. "I haven't liked them since that pervert in costume. He certainly got what was coming to him."

Sam didn't have to think too hard on that one. Every time she revealed a story about something that had happened to him or Dean when they were growing up, it was a surprise because they never remembered it. At least not until she mentioned it. "Thanks."

Angela smiled. She then looked around. "I'm thinking that it rigged everything beforehand and pretty fast." She paused and glanced at Sam. She never really divulged to him that she could smell demon blood. Dean sort of knew since she explained about the hunters she trained. Well it was the only way they were going to find the demon. She focused and then gave a tentative sniff.

"See so little and you miss so much."

Sam was diverted from Angela's activities towards the old lady. He replied, "What?"

The old lady replied, "Talents are many but the gift lies in healing."

Sam raised a brow. This was way too familiar to the old woman Nana. He remembered the distinct taste of that tea she made him drink and the faint taste filled his mouth.

"Found him."

"The demon?"

"Yep," Angela replied as she stared straight ahead down the hall. To the right was the room where they were supposed to have their party. That way was Dean and Austin. There was still Akira and Christian unaccounted for. She pointed in Dean's direction, "Dean is that way." She then pointed down in the direction of the demon, "Demon is that way."

Sam turned to look to find the old woman gone. "What is it about this place?"

Angela looked back to find the old woman gone. She raised her brow. She wasn't going to bother. The lady said her piece even though it was really obscure. She made sure not to move when the ghost reappeared and Sam didn't flinch meaning that only she could see it. It motioned down the hall but shook his head no. She replied while looking at the ghost, "Legend of the house as the old lady mentioned."

"It was my fault."

Sam nearly jumped when the ghost appeared right in front of him. He was getting tired of things jumping out at him. He didn't find the marionettes amusing at all and he wondered how the hell the demon knew about that. He looked at the ghost who was looking at him with a peculiar expression. "Yes?"

The ghost repeated, "It's my fault. I tried to keep it contained."

"So you knew about the demon."

"It is an old one. I let it go when I practiced. Bound it to Bordeaux and now the strongest spell is broken but not completely," the ghost flickered. It then looked Sam in the eye and said, "You need to be kept safe."

"What?"

There was no time to answer because a crash sounded in a room near by and a body flew out into the hall. Sam turned to see that it was Angela and she was actually holding onto her friend Akira. Sam looked to see the direction in which they had come from and it was in the direction that Dean was in. He could hear pounding on another door and saw Angela jump up and spring forward to tackle Austin. Sam could tell she made no bones about giving everything into that tackle since she plowed him into a table and some chairs and somehow managed to restrain him.

Meanwhile Dean was pounding on the door and demanding to be let out. Sam wasted no time and went over to try and open the door. "Dean!"

"Sammy? Tell Angie to talk to the fugly into letting me out."

Sam looked at Angela who managed to calm Austin down and she and Akira were giving him a hand up. "Why?"

"Hello! Remember Brazil?"

The ghost chose to appear at that time and said, "He is in there for his own safety."

"I get it. There are rooms that not even the demon can cross into," Angela said as she stepped forward. "Still you can't just lock people up like that. Let him out. Please, Thomas."

The ghost looked at Angela before he looked at the door and it sprang open revealing Dean. Thomas looked back at Angela, "I hope you know what you are doing. It took a combination of spells to bind it. What are you going to do?"

Sam thought about it. That was a good question. Angela didn't have Absolution with her. All she had was a Beretta tucked into her pants and hidden by her jacket and her chakram. The rest was physical force. As far as he knew Absolution was like Ruby's knife and could kill a demon and he doubted the thing was going to hold still long enough for it to be exorcised.

It seemed that Angela was thinking about it too. Unfortunately she looked at the ghost like he was stupid and said, "Simple, exorcise it or…" She noticed something in the room that Dean had vacated. She walked over and picked it up.

It turned out to be an iron poker since there was a fireplace in the room. Angela grinned a little and pulled out a butterfly knife. She began making marks into the iron while muttering something to herself.

"What are ya up to Angie?" Dean asked as he came to inspect what she was doing. He saw her make sigils and etchings that were similar to the piping he found after he was made to watch Sam run around like a mouse in a maze. "Playing that game again?"

"Not exactly," Angela replied as she made the sigils, for once actually happy she had a good memory for things. "Iron and salt repel and you know the drill with that. What I'm doing is making it so it will actually kill the thing. Ruby showed me how."

Dean saw that she wasn't looking at him or Sam. He wasn't sure that his brother heard everything but he trusted her judgment. "I take it you made her show you?"

"Something like that. We don't like each other but better the devil you know…" Angela trailed off as she finished the markings. She then muttered a spell chant and she could feel the power within the poker. "Okay. Now time to get rid of this thing so we can go back to relaxing."

Dean grinned as he looked at Sam who shrugged his shoulders. "Alright Angie." He then looked warily at the ghost who was staring at the group as if they were insane. He nearly jumped when Angela took his hand and put her gun into it, knowing that he felt naked without something to fight with. He looked back and asked, "What's the plan?"

Akira was standing with Austin who managed to apologize for attacking her. He had wandered into a trap and he fell for it again only this time it was a memory when he was very young, back when his entire family was killed. He didn't realize it was a hallucination until he was speared into tables and chairs. Angela was able to bring him to his senses and he apologized for his actions.

Akira said it was all right and listened while Angela relayed a plan. She could tell that Austin didn't much like the idea of the plan but it made sense. It seemed that the ground floor was secure since there were no problems from Haley when Dean made the call. The second and third floors possibly were the problem but the ghost assured them that the demon would stay on the second floor. His one weakness was still there along with the children.

Akira watched as Angela stiffened slightly at that. She knew that her friend was the ultimate softie when it came to children and to hear of any malicious plans about a demon using them… well Akira could say that it wasn't always a pretty end to things. She caught her friend's eye and they exchanged a glance.

Now she and Austin were tracking down Christian since he wasn't answering his cell phone. The ghost Thomas had mentioned the caretaker being hauled off to the third floor which had a staircase to the attic. That would prove to be a problem but that was what the ghost said so they were heading towards the stairs to the third floor. Akira had to marvel at how big the house seemed on the inside but looked so small on the outside.

Austin replied in a joke, "Crazy reigned during the design and construction."

"Right," Akira chuckled to relieve the tension.

They bantered on for a little while longer as they made their way to the stairs. At one point they came across a little girl who was scared. It was Akira who found out that her name was Gina and that she had gotten separated from her friends.

Both had experience dealing with children but it was Akira who was able to make sense of the sobs. She learned that Gina had been one of the kids who ran out when Mr. Hugh went all mean like. Akira learned that Gina had run and hid until Jesse and Peter or Petey found her and they were scared by something big and large. They ran until they found a way out and went to find their moms but they made Jesse take them back.

It was a jumble of words but Akira made sense of them. At that moment something tumbled down the stairs. Akira held onto the girl who jumped into her arms while Austin went to help whoever it was out. It turned out to be Darrell, the caretaker. He was followed closely by Christian, who was starting to look agitated and was grimacing. Both Akira and Austin knew what that meant and it wasn't a good idea that they had two humans, one a child around.

However Christian seemed to be handling things well though he kept looking over his shoulder at something that wasn't there. Akira felt a slight chill and she was sure the others did too. She felt Gina whimper in her arms and said that the monster was at the end of the hall and was going to eat them. Austin had frozen and was looking at a corner in the wall but it looked like he was trying to discern if it was real or not. Darrell the caretaker was looking up the stairs and muttering a name. Old Henry it was.

It then occurred to Akira that the demon's idea of fun was making them see things. They would mistake the real thing for something like a worse fear or a bad memory and probably end up killing the person. The ghost Thomas said the demon was clever at making you see things that weren't there. It was how it killed most of his family except for his younger brother and sister and their mother. Akira was sure that Angela figured that out as well and it probably figured into why she had her and Austin go after Christian.

Akira had a pretty good idea what each person was seeing but that wasn't necessarily a good thing. She knew Austin had bad memories of the night he was orphaned and he did know who did the deed and pretty much lived for revenge on that note. Christian was an enigma since he seemed fearless in most things and rarely showed differences of emotion. Gina was a typical childish fear and Darrell must be going through something in his mind. She ventured, "Austin?"

Austin managed to discern the burning image as fake but it still wouldn't go away. At least he could see Akira clearly. He would just have to deal. "I'm alright." He turned to help Christian when he was given a backhand by the vampire.

"I won't let you," was all that Christian let out before he started going after Austin.

Austin reacted and took off running and encouraged his friend to the chase. He shouted, "Just get to somewhere that is marked."

At that moment Darrell stood on his feet and looked up the stairs with a scared expression. He said, "Henry, I did what you told me to. I couldn't tell her no. We all need a job and…" Suddenly he took off down the hall looking scared.

Akira gave a slight frown as she following the running man. At least he wasn't going to hurt anyone. It must be a more current fear or a sense of failure. She then heard Gina whimper in her ear saying that the monster was coming closer. Akira turned to look everywhere and couldn't see anything. She tried to reassure the girl when she turned around and she saw something in her face.

Akira took two steps backwards to get a better look. It was actually a spirit but it wasn't Thomas. Strangely enough it bore familial similarities to the ghost. Okay so she was seeing a ghost and when Gina turned to look, the girl gave a yelp and buried her head in Akira's neck. So the ghost was visible to the girl too. That didn't bode well especially if the ghost was pissed.

Akira looked at the ghost of a boy who appeared older than Thomas. It looked like it might have been an older brother. She backed away slowly and glanced around for anything that would help in terms of keeping it at bay. However this was the second floor and aside from the iron poker that was in Angela's hand, there really was nothing, not even salt to help in that area. Maybe she could do what Angela did and talk to it. It worked when she met Thomas. The trick was figuring out what to say without getting into too much trouble. She took a breath and looked at the ghost and asked, "So uh… what are you doing here?"

The ghost in front of Akira stared a bit dumbly at her. She could make out finger marks and cuts made by fingernails on the neck of the ghost. He must have been choked to death. It then said, "You killed me. Your own brother." It then lunged at her.

Akira moved quickly and dodged the lunge. She had to move quickly and find someplace in this house that had salt or iron. Upstairs wasn't an option since that was where Christian and the caretaker had come from so downstairs would be the best choice. She ran towards the stairs that led down to the main lobby.

She was stopped when she saw what appeared to be the caretaker running around with a duster. He was saying something along the terms that he will defeat the dust master and that the whole place would be clean and Henry would be proud. "Okay so a whole new level crazy."

She took a step and she felt her foot slip. She used her free hand to steady herself but she still stumbled and it was awkward with a little girl hanging off her. It was lucky that she did stumble since a cannonball came rolling down right where her feet were. Looking around, Akira spotted a banana peel of all things.

The ghost Thomas then materialized as she looked at it. She looked back and asked, "A banana peel?"

"Someone 'Russian' slips on the peel," Thomas replied. "Learned that one in the 60s."

Akira couldn't help but grin at that. It was an old and dumb play on words. She had heard that one from one of her students when she taught at university. Apparently Thomas was using pranks to counter the deadly ones. She replied, "I see you like pranks of your own."

"Only to counter the evil one's pranks."

Akira nodded. It then occurred to her that she hadn't seen anything that would make her think she was seeing things or attack any random stranger and the like. She looked at the ghost who hadn't phased out yet and asked, "Does the demon have the power to create hallucinations?"

Thomas looked around as if to make sure no one was listening. He then walked forward, flickering as he moved until he was close to Akira. He then said, "It is how he has his fun. He plays upon the worst fears or even the childish ones. They either die from madness of fear or they kill each other in their fear."

"I have fears and well everybody has fears." Akira didn't get it. The demon had a preference in its victims and there were quite a few who did follow that MO. However she would have thought that it would have done whatever it could to stop anyone that would pose a threat.

"But what do you really fear?" Thomas replied. "Perhaps your companions have fears that are really horrible. I am not sure but in my time, it was the little things blown out of proportion."

"It could be that," Akira allowed, "Maybe the demon did grow more powerful while it was trapped. You said that it was still bound to Bordeaux."

"My best friend."

Akira realized that Thomas was slipping into a lament. She knew that it was going to take a bit to get him to focus. That was the trouble with ghosts that were not on the rampage in terms of vengeance. Some stayed because they felt that they had to. It didn't mean that they were immune to the passage of time. She heard Gina whimpering in her ear.

Suddenly the ghost that charged at her earlier appeared and that seemed to snap Thomas out of his lament. One look at the newcomer had Thomas open his eyes wide in response. He said, "Oh no. The dead are rising. The demon is breaking the spells. The only thing holding him is the partial breaking of the bond spell."

Akira followed as best as she could while she took a couple of steps back. She looked around for any sign of possible refuge. She replied, "People the demon drove to kill?"

"Yes. My family and several generations afterwards," Thomas replied. He stared at the newcomer and the ghost stared back. "Head back towards where the hunter was staying. That is safe. Keep the girl safe there."

"I'll follow you on that one," Akira replied as she backed away. She maneuvered her body towards the direction of the parlor salon they had met in earlier. She hoped that it wouldn't be a long walk off a short pier since ghosts could move pretty fast. She took a tentative step back and watched as the ghost tried to follow.

The ghost tried to head towards her but his way was barred by Thomas. It seemed to Akira that the fact that there were people in danger woke him up. It occurred to her that he had defended this house vigorously in the beginning but as the years passed, he lingered like nothing but still stuck here to keep the demon from rising. She said, "Well it seems like the new one is pissed and about what, I have no clue."

Suddenly another ghost, a female appeared. She looked like one of those women who went insane in those cheap horror flicks that were Christian's one guilty pleasure. This one shrieked at her and tried to attack her but Akira moved as she did before.

"Run. Get to the salon." Thomas managed to block the other ghost's attack and was holding them off. He was in a staring contest with them. It was like they knew he was the one with the better ghost mojo than they were. He had a century's worth of practice. "Go. Now, before the others start to show."

Gina then whimpered saying that the monster was coming. Akira wasted no breath on words and pivoted on her heel and started to run. It was difficult because the ghosts that were popping out decided to throw things from the house and not all of them were the soft and fluffy variety. She then heard Gina gave a slight shriek and turned just in time to duck as a small vase came flying and shattered.

Why the management didn't or anyone downstairs heard anything was beyond Akira. However that was a moot point as she was almost back to the salon. She passed the way the Winchesters and Angela had gone down but she could make out no sign of them. She hoped that they were okay as she burst through the open door to the salon. She continued running through into the room that Dean had been locked into. She turned to see a vase coming towards her and she ducked.

The vase crashed into the wall and Akira looked out. Apparently the ghosts could throw things and use their mojo to make things cross the barriers. It wasn't unusual but it could prove to be taxing unless she shut the door. She put Gina down on a sofa and went towards the open door. She motioned for the girl to stay out of the way as she peered out. She could make out Thomas appearing and reappearing trying to hold them off. She wanted to shout at the ghost to make sure they didn't appear around the Winchesters and Angela but that would draw attention. She would just have to let him do his own thing so she went to do her best to comfort the girl who was trying hard not to cry.

A/N: So the plan is made and going into action. Now the demon is having fun. Let's hope Angie and the Winchesters get their man. Stay tuned for next time on 'Trick'steen Candles...