_Author's Note_

Thank you guys so much for getting me over 2,700 views! I'm so thankful and glad you are enjoying the story!

_Chapter 24_

"Love Left Me Hollow"

Trinity

…

I hated myself.

I shut myself off, like some frogs do in hibernation, just so Cas would think I was dead. He couldn't be around me any longer. And I knew he wouldn't leave if I didn't.

I just wanted one more good memory with him. In hopes that even after the Surge was complete, it could somehow help me find my way back. I was terrified of what I knew was about to happen.

But I knew I had to do it alone. It was too dangerous otherwise.

So I hung there is Cas' arms as I felt his tears drench my hair and shoulders, his hands grip my back and head, and his sobs shake both of our bodies.

The next thing I knew, he was laying me down on the lonely bed in the house. I was perfectly still, I was lifeless. I was supposed to be dead. Before I knew it, he disappeared.

I gasped back to life not long after he was gone. I stared at the blank ceiling for what seemed like forever. Then the pain I had been holding in the whole time my angel held me as we watched the stars, I could feel his sorrow grow as he knew he would lose me there. I curled up as small as I could go, my tears falling off my cold cheeks onto the white linen. I don't know how long I stayed like that, sobbing.

But I knew Cas would be back. I had to go.

…

It hurts. Everything.

I don't know where I am, what time of the year it is, my senses are fading. I'm falling, I'm falling down, down, down.

…

Cas

I hadn't seen the Winchesters since May.

I kept having this aching pain and I would black out. It was like I was dreaming, if I dreamed. I left one night, not long after these images started showing up. Not long after I began to notice feathers falling from my wings. It was like the visions made me ill. I was so confused.

It started with seeing Trinity in a mental hospital. So much blood, so much pain. Then I would see murders, gruesome and detailed. Just flashes. I wasn't sure what I was seeing, but everything about each one was so similar to the next.

I had just bolted awake from the newest one when I had recognized where this one was. There was no mistaking it. The phones on the walls, the old books stacked everywhere, the almost empty bottle of whiskey.

I now knew what these visions meant.

Dean

I couldn't believe what I had just done. I slowly lead Trinity to the dusty floor. She kept gasping and trying to catch her breath. I kept one hand under her back and the other came up to cup the side of her face. Tears filled my eyes and her hand followed suit and rested on the back of mine. She laced her fingers in between mine and squeezed before pulling them both away and pushing my hand back towards me.

I watched as she mouthed, Move. So I listened and fell back on my hand and knee. She brought her hand down to the hilt sticking out of her abdomen. Blinking quickly, preparing herself for pain, she grasped the blade tightly. And as if she counted to three, pulled it out, letting out a blood-curdling scream, the same kind that would wake me from my sleep.

She tossed the knife towards Sam and let her hands hover above the bloody wound. As she screamed, I watched the hole where the Demon Blade had just been, start to close up.

As it finished she let out a pained, heavy breath and looked to me. I rushed to her side again, pushing hair from her face.

"You have to put me in a-" she cut herself off before she could finish her instructions. Her eyes clenched shut and another shrill scream pierced the air.

When she opened her eyes again, they were back to the hybrid combination. She gave me this wicked smile.

"Heya, handsome, miss me?" her hand came up around my neck and Sam started to run over.

Without looking she threw her hand out to the side and Sammy flew against the wall.

I tried to say her name, but she squeezed tighter before throwing me against the wall of book cases behind me. Books cascaded down around me and she stood all the way up, letting out an exasperated sigh. She looked down at her ruined jacket and poked the still-bloody hole. "And to think I had just stolen this," she huffed.

Looking over at me trying to regain my stance she smiled an evil smile again, "Hey baby, long time no see," she gave a wink. Looking sideways at my brother, "Oh, hey Sammy!" she never called him Sammy before. "Nice of you to join," she twirled her fingers out and Sam came hurdling toward me and landed to my side causing more books to fall.

She sashayed over a few feet in front of us and I eyed the blade to her right. She tapped her chin, "Hm, let's see, there's one," she pointed at Sam, "two," me, "and that leaves," she squinted her eyes and they flicked to the left and she turned right as Cas appeared. He hadn't even gotten here before she started to turn. She had sensed him coming.

"Hiya, Cas," she smiled. He stood, frozen at the sight of her. Her head twitched to the side a bit, "What? Oh, right, yeah," she lifted both of her arms in the air in a celebratory manner, "I'm alive!" she gave a chuckle.

She slowly stepped toward Cas as he said with glassy eyes, "You're not Trinity."

She took the last few steps quickly so that she was right in the angel's face. The huge wings I had been seeing were folded against her back, as were Cas'. Although hers were more full of feathers and larger in general, it was like Cas had been molting. As I looked at him, he did look tired and sick.

"What's wrong? You don't like this me?" she took his hand in hers and put it on her lower side, "'Cause I do," she gave him a grin. He pulled it away without a word.

I jumped up to reach for the Demon Blade.

"Ah ah ah, not so fast," Trinity cackled not even looking away from Cas. She lifted her arm and I flew back against the wall next to Sam.

She turned her head to partially look at me, "It'd be very convenient if you stayed put, just for a moment," she paused, "Thank you."

As she turned back to Cas, he unsheathed an angel blade from his sleeve and jabbed it towards her stomach. But she caught his hand holding the blade in hers and her knuckles became white.

She made a phony, sad sound, with a pouty lip, "Aw, Cas, you know, this really hurts," she tapped her chest above her heart, "it really does." She twirled both of them in a circle and pushed him back against the wall to my other side. And more books.

She twisted the shining blade in between her fingers. She looked at it as she stepped towards the three of us on the floor. She was about to speak when Bobby pleaded with her.

"Trinity, listen to me, you don't want to do this, you told me yourself!"

Her fingers came up to rub the bridge of her nose, "You know what, Bobby, it would really help if you'd just shut up right now," she held up a hand and made a quick motion and within seconds, Bobby tried to talk, but no words came out. "Ah, better. Now, where was I?" she glanced over at me with a maniacal smile, but I could see the seething malice in her eyes.

Realization crossed her features, "You never knew it was me? Did you?" she threw her head back and gently cackled. "You guys have sure dropped your game, haven't you?"

_Author's Song Note_

"Hollow" by Breaking Benjamin

She started sauntering towards us, "I just wanted your attention. Now that I've got it…" she crouched down to be right in front of my face in less than a second. "Student's!" she raised her voice, still staring into my eyes, her galactic pupils invading my soul. "It's time for a lecture!" she gave a snarky smile with a snarl as she stood.

"Trinity-" Sam attempted.

"Ah! We have a volunteer!" she twirled around to my brother. "Sammy! My big brother… how's the conscience treatin' ya? Hm?"

Sam's face, twisted into guilt and hurt.

"What? You didn't think I knew you were there? You didn't think I felt you, I saw you?" she scoffed. Her voice raised to a pained yell, "I felt you there, Sam!" she touched the skin above her heart, scarred with a ragged line. I could hear the anger and betrayal in her voice. "I knew you were there, and you left anyway!" she had so much pent up anger.

I saw it in her eyes, she held back more, and tried to compose herself. A new, vicious smile spread across her lips. The lips I missed so dearly. "Sweet, sentimental, Sammy. You did just about as good there, that Deanie Boy over there did back at that barn," her voice became higher pitched, in a mocking tone, "You two really do make the best team, don't you?"

She shrunk closer to the ground, like a cat ready to pounce, and slid over to Cas.

"My angel… that's what I called you, right?" agony hid behind the glowing blue irises, I felt like she couldn't control the emotions seeping out. "You stayed with me, even though I almost killed you so many times," she tilted her head and glanced at me and my brother, "Before this period in my life, mind you."

"Please, Trini-" he tried, tears welling in his eyes.

"But you left too," this wasn't a yell, but more of a painful statement.

"I thought-"

"I was dead?!" she narrowed her eyes at the angel. "It didn't matter, you still left, I woke up alone in an empty room."

Her mood changed again, warping her face into the malevolent grin again. "But, I'm glad. Because look at me now! I can do whatever I want. Go where ever. Kill who ever-"

"You were killing monsters… what happened?" Sam asked and her eyes flicked over to him.

"Monsters? Ha! Those things were worse than monsters. They all had a part in making me what I am. Even though I like being this way. I sincerely wish I could have had a choice."

I realized, she may not have feelings, but there's something more than this thing she is.

As if reading my thoughts, "I have no empathy, no regret. Well, of course, I regret meeting you three. But I'm free from emotion," she opened her arms wide, lifting her face upward a bit.

Her words stung like a thousand bees. But I knew it wasn't her. Just like I know when it's not Sammy, but a demon or monster.

"I basically wanted to hurt you, at least a portion of how much you hurt me," she started walking towards Bobby. "I wanted to hurt you before Lucifer comes to destroy everything you worked for, everything you sacrificed. And I'll help him do it, it's what I was born for, it's why I'm even here. Then it would be my turn, my turn, to put you through what I went through."

She stopped right in front of Bobby.

"So I thought, why not start with the only family you three miserable creatures have left…" her fingers curled and twitched right before the Stygian Iron blade appeared out of thin air, right in her palm. Before we could say anything, she pulled her arm back and twirled the long, katana sword around.

As she was about to drive the blade down, I yelled, in all hopes.

"Trin! Please!"

Somehow, it kind of worked. The tip of the black metal was inches away from Bobby's chest, it was frozen, along with her body. But her heartbeat and eyes were accelerating.

"What did you just call me?" she hissed through her teeth.

I let the breath I was holding go, "Trin… please, listen to me."

Her head slowly looked sideways to meet my gaze.

"Please, let's just talk. We haven't in such a long time," I held out my palms, like a white flag, like a peace offering. Trying anything to get her to calm down. Trying to stall until one of us thought of something...

Her blade slowly same to meet her side as she turned to look at me fully. It's like something was going on inside her head, something trying to push through a barrier. My eyes widened. My Trin was in there, not far below the surface. There was still hope.

I was about to try to keep persuading her, but she doubled over, holding her head, gasping for air. She crashed to the floor, and I jumped over to her. When I lifted her, her normal eyes looked at me full of terror and pleas.

"Dean! I-" her eyes squeezed shut again and she sucked in a breath in pain, "I can't, can't hold this for long," her screamed pierced the air. I watched her face contort into anguish as her eyes slowly changed color, spreading like a fire across them. "Help," she yelped out.

Another scream tore through the room and I closed my eyes because of the volume of it. When they opened I was looking down at Trinity and her expression was one of anger and frustration.

"That was annoying."

She rolled quickly out of my arms and poised herself, kind of like Spiderman, and twitched her head to the side, holding out an arm. She twisted her wrist and flicked her fingers. Next thing I knew, I slammed back against the wall.

"Dean!" Sam yelled.

Trying to buy time I suppose, I blurted, "You're working with Lucifer?"

"Of course! He's the one who created me, I owe everything to him. I am better than he had hoped, stronger, more powerful than he ever imagined. Although, he did tell me to give you three a thanks for kick starting the whole thing," she smirked.

"How have you been talking to him?" If there was one thing my Trinity and this version had in common, they loved to talk.

She glared, "Do you remember, all those years ago, Sammy here, jumping into the Pit. Do you remember what it felt like to lose him, especially like that?"

My heart rate quickened. I chanced a look over at my little brother and there was the memory, plastered all over his face.

She smiled that evil smile again and leaned in close to me, kissing distance, "That was all for nothing," she whispered slowly and held out the last word as she spoke it.

My eyes widened, "No. No you did not… you let him out of the cage," realization changed my voice. By her expression, I was right.

She winked at me and turned around to pick up her blade. As she bent over, I saw the shining silver/blue of the angel blade hidden beneath her waistband and jacket.

We were all frozen with fear against the wall, speechless.

"When the time comes, which it will soon," she straightened and slid her fingers down the edge of the sword, "we will destroy all of the things infesting this world that aren't meant to exist. Then we will begin a new era. And the last thing I have on my checklist?" her eyes flickered as she gave us a sideways glance, a sinister smirk. She turned her full attention to us and stepped in time with a silent melody. "The last thing I will do before living my life the way I want to live it, is take away what you all hold most dearly. Each other."

She paused as she watched our reactions.

"I will take away everyone that ever meant anything to you, anyone that knew you, then slowly and painfully make my way to your very hearts. And then it will be your turn," the grin was gone and it was now replaced with a grimace.

Cas was looking down, but then he spoke up, "Paid emna," was all he said as he lifted his head to look at Trinity, his big blue eyes full of sadness and regret. But there was hope too.

Before much of her expression could even change, she dashed to be perched right above Cas' body with the angel blade she had slipped out from behind her, pointed right at his heart. "Don't you dare say that to me!" she yelled, wrath filling her voice. "Don't you dare! I sent you every message I could! Every sign that I needed your help! And you ignored me!"

Hurt infected the angel's face. "Trinity, I promise you this, I just began to see those, I barely saw your face! That's why I came here, I finally saw you! I-"

"No!" she backed off a bit, "No, you saw, I know you saw, I saw you…"

"Please, Trinity, come back to us."

She looked at him for a moment, the confusion filling her eyes. Those new, terrifying eyes.

A single tear fell from one.

It was as if, the Trinity inside was trying to break through again, and it confused her mind. She kept saying things like how she liked it this way, but then others sounded like pleas and calls of help. And then there were the ones that were mixed, and the ones that sounded bad, but I imagined were true for my Trin. Like the pain and suffering she went through, the anger she had towards us. Towards me.

That probably didn't help with fueling this rage.

She shut her eyes tightly and it was like the fury won this time. When they flipped open she glared one of the most hateful glares I had ever seen.

Within a second, she was back, closer, to Cas, the tip of the blade touching his skin showing from his wrinkled, unbuttoned, white shirt. His olive skin started to faintly glow and agony started to show on his face and in his eyes. But he kept his gaze stayed on her. Unmoving. Determined. In what? I don't know. He was literally inches away from death, no, less than that, and he still had hope he could get through to her.

I was wishing along with him.

They had a stare down, her jaw clenched tight, slightly shaking, her eyes pinning Cas to the wall. Her knuckles were white and the blade was still, skillfully begin held without fear. His eyebrows were turned down in hostility. But no words were said. Sam and I watched in terror, but we knew if we moved, she could either throw us away and kill him anyway, or the slightest commotion could drive the blade into his chest, or both.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bobby mouthing words to the threshold behind Trinity and motioning to her.

Cas quietly said, "Pi vavn apila paid, caripe ge erm periazoda pi aziazor."

It was clearly Enochian and she clearly understood. Everything about her softened. Her eyes were focused on Cas like a deer in headlights. Her chest was rising and falling, her face kept switching emotions. From confusion, to anger, to sadness, to helplessness. I don't know what he said, but it at least gave us sometime. And by us, I meant the one who was going to save of from this situation.

"Hey, imposter bitch!"

The woman I loved blinked and twirled around in a fighting stance, but before she could even act, a metal baseball bat flew across her head. She fell to the floor with a thud. Blood trickled down her temple. But she kept breathing. Of course she kept breathing. She couldn't die like anything else, I had just stabbed her for Christ's sake!

"Jody!" Sam exclaimed.

"Hi, boys, in a bit of a pickle, now aren't we?" she put a fist on her hip and swung the bat, it landed on her shoulder.

Patting came from our left, we all looked over and Bobby was tapping the chair's armrest her was strapped to, trying to get our attention. "Oh, right," Jody snapped into action and started untying him.

"How long will she be out, Cas?"

Nothing.

"Cas?" I looked over and he was holding a small blood spot on his chest, looking down at the KO-ed Trinity.

"Cas, I don't think she was going to-"

His sudden look towards me cut me off. It wasn't anger, nor was it pain. But it was a mixture of fright, shock, and desolation.

An almost inaudible groan came from the floor.

That snapped Cas into life. "We have to put her in a Demon Trap, the outer circle lined with salt and a holy water and holy oil fire mixture.

"Oh, great," I mumbled, but stood up. "Sammy, get the holy water, Bobby, can you draw the Trap? Jody, holy water duty? Cas… Cas!" he was looking at her calm body again, "I need you to grab ahold of some holy oil, okay?" He looked at me with puffy eyes, but nodded and disappeared.

"What are you going to do?" Jody asked me before she took off in search of salt.

"I'm going to take care of Trin. Like I should've a two years ago."

She just gave me a look of pity, but nodded and turned away.

As the silent Bobby got to work on painting the Trap, I kneeled down to the love of my life. I patted her down, removing the angel blade, Stygian katana, two daggers, and a gun. I flipped her over onto my lap and looked down at her face. Brushing the short hair away from her face, she almost looked like she always had. But the smile lines that were once on her cheeks were gone as were her long strands of hair. Her breath was warm on my fingers and her chest rose and fell slowly.

I noticed the bump on her temple becoming less swollen, and the bruise that had already taken a spot on her skin, begin to recede.

"Guys… hurry."