I spent the next few weeks doing what I could to track down Kelly and Dagon. The only problem – it was nearly impossible. Any spells I used or tried fizzled out or, well… blew up in my face (I'd nearly burned my eyebrows off on three separate occasions.). When I went to the books, I got nothing on ways to find them. Apparently each Prince of Hell was different, so I couldn't just use anything from one of them (not that I could get anything off of Ramiel, anyways). That and a Nephilim with no way to get any leftover essence from it's parent…
Then again, Crowley had had that one vial I'd used. There could be a chance that he had more. At the very least, it wouldn't kill me to ask.
I sat up in my diner chair, scrubbing my face. I'd also been looking at these plans and equations for the past three days without sleeping. Maybe if I stopped looking at it for a few hours, got some rest… it was 3 in the morning, after all…
My phone buzzed, and I took a look. It was Ketch. I answered immediately. "Hey Ketch, what's going on?"
"We have an assignment for you." He said.
"I'm on assignment now." I reminded him. "Finding the son of the Devil? And his mother? That whole schebang that Mick assigned me to?" I thought for a moment. "Speaking of which, I've gotten his voicemail the last few times I've tried to call him and check in. Is everything OK?"
"Mick has been in and out of multiple meetings in London." Ketch answered.
"Yeah, but still… It's been bugging me. Usually he calls back, at the very minimum." I replied.
"These meetings are extremely vital to multiple different tangents of our operations." Ketch explained. "Including a review of new operatives, like yourself and the Winchesters." I sat up a little straighter at that.
"Why are they doing a review?" I asked. "Is something wrong?"
"It's more like an… efficiency meeting." Ketch explained. "Very intensive, though."
"Alright." I took another look at what I'd been working on. It still was giving me headaches. "Yeah, sure, what's the new assignment? I could use a break."
"You'll be tracking down a rogue hunter." He said. "One that's turned on one of our own. Her name is Eileen Leahy." The name sounded a little familiar, but not that much.
"What happened?"
"She went absolutely berserk." Ketch replied. "And gunned down one of our own on an assignment instead of eliminating the target." I could feel my blood turn cold. I still remembered what happened with Project V.
"Where is she?" I asked.
"Dublin, Ireland." He answered. "Considered armed and very dangerous."
"I can be in London or Scotland in a heartbeat." I offered. "And pick up a flight to Dublin from there."
"There's one other thing I need you to accomplish first."
"Which is?"
"Put me in touch with the demon Crowley." I leaned forwards, resting an arm on the table in front of me.
"Why?" I asked.
"I liked your tactic of having a hellhound to assist," he answered. "And wanted to inquire about repeating the process with other operatives."
"Are you sure? I thought that the higher ups were… less than pleased with Karma being there, to put it lightly." I definitely remembered Lady Bevell throwing at least three different bitch fits about me having a hellhound and making it safe for her to walk around in London.
"They've agreed to give it a trial run, a by-product from one of Micks efficiency meetings." Ketch explained. "Your having a hellhound did come in to conversation at one point, and from a review of how it assisted you in your assignments, along with glowing reviews from myself and Mick, the Old Men have agreed to implement a trial training program." I smiled.
"You're kidding me!"
"Not in the slightest." Ketch answered. "You're doing well. Keep it up and I can see excellent possibilities in your future." I smiled. Things were going good. I was… I was doing good.
"Well, I'll be outside of HQ in 5." I promised. "I just have to get some stuff packed away and get clothes in a bag."
"We've already got clothes packed for you." He replied.
"You were really banking on a yes for this, weren't you?" I asked.
"I did hope." He admitted. "And I know that Thomason has missed your company as well."
"I'm working with T.J. on this?"
"Of course." Ketch stated. "It would be foolish to send you in without a partner."
"Sweet. I'll be in front of HQ in a second then!" I got all my papers put together quickly, glad for the reprieve. "Just let me call Crowley first and set up a meeting. Are you still at the compound?"
"Yes."
"Yeah, I'll set something up nearby." I promised.
"Excellent. Thomason will be waiting for you outside of Headquarters for your briefing." Ketch said, his version of a good-bye that never actually included the words. The line went dead, and I went on ahead and teleported to the cabin before calling Crowley.
"I swear, if you've got a concussion again," he muttered when he picked up.
"Good to hear from you too." I replied, smirking.
"Ah, Kylie. What brings you to chat with me?"
"I need a favor."
"Another one? Besides my looking for whomever has been trying to hunt you down, AND learn the identity of our mystery shifter?" Crowley huffed. "Of course, whatever the princess wishes."
"It's an easy one, I promise." I thought for a moment. I actually had been asking a lot from him. "And I'll owe you a favor in the future, no questions asked."
"Three."
"Two." I amended. "Because if I'm being hunted down, they'll probably start asking who trained me at some point, which is in your best interests to keep quieted as well."
"That bit of inquiry will lead to mother."
"Pretty certain Rowena would give your name up in a heartbeat." I replied. Crowley stayed quiet for a moment.
"Fine. Friends and Family discount. Deal." I smiled.
"Aw, I'm your friend now?" I teased.
"Stuff it." He muttered. "What do you want this time, you bloody freeloader?"
"It's not me, it's one of my colleagues." I explained. "Arthur Ketch."
"I'm aware of who he is." Crowley stated. "What does he want?"
"He wants a hellhound." I said. "They're trying a new training program, and I'm pretty certain Ketch is doing the initial testing phases."
"And Ketch didn't want to ask me himself?"
"All Ketch wanted was for me to set up a meeting between you and him. I'm just letting you know what he'll be asking. You two can work out the terms of the deal yourselves." I put away my papers and notes so that they were somewhat organized among the mass of notebooks and books and stray pieces of paper that had accumulated in the cabin.
At least I knew where everything was. And by knew, I mean I could summon it if I wanted it.
"So you're the middle man."
"This time, yeah."
"And what are you getting out of it?"
"I don't need anything out of it."
"I'm certain I taught you better than that." Crowley argued. "Never be the middle man without taking a piece for yourself."
"Then the piece for myself is credit for inspiring the new training program if it works." I decided. "I don't need anything though. I'm just… Happy that things are working."
"You are insufferably good." I could almost hear the shudder with the word.
"This time, good is finally working and… winning." I pointed out. "I don't have to be afraid or be so ruthless and cold. I can just… be me, and be good."
"Insufferable." Crowley repeated, sighing. "Where am I meeting him?" I rattled off the name of restaurant near Ketch, smiling still. "Fine. Tell him to be there in an hour and a half. And he's buying me dinner."
"Thank you."
"Shut up." He muttered. "And have fun in Europe." He hung up, leaving me to stare at my phone in wonder.
"How the hell did he know?" I asked. Unable to answer my own question, I texted Ketch the information, grabbed some supplies I knew I'd want in Ireland, and, well… Disappeared again, to London.
I met up with T.J. there, and we both went in for our briefing. Location of where the target was, background information (like the deafness), habits, and our goal – watch and gain information however possible. We were supposed to bug her room, her phone, and her computer to see if she was going after anyone else at this point, or if she was working with other rogue Hunters.
"We also believe that she may be a part of the Supernatural hunt for you." Dr. Hess, our briefer, added. I stopped then, my eyes widening.
"What?"
"While searching for the shapeshifter known as Louis Abernathy, we came across Eileen's picture more than once." Hess explained, sliding me some pictures. Images of Eileen doing research on a computer, Eileen taking payment from someone out of the picture, Eileen's computer search history involving places I've been recently and a few pictures of me I didn't even know she'd taken, like she was tracking me… spying on me. I felt personally violated by that.
"When did you find out this information?" I asked, looking at everything. I didn't even know who this girl was!
"Just recently." She said. "When we got the alert on her attack, we didn't quite put together that it was the same person until Thomason took a look at the images side-by-side and was able to confirm it was the same woman." I looked over at T.J., and he shrugged shyly.
"You've been looking in to who's after me?" I asked.
"Can't leave my favorite person out to hang on their own." T.J. admitted, not meeting my eyes. I smiled, nudging him.
"Don't tell me you're getting all shy-smart on me!" I joked with him. He smiled, nudging me back.
"Whatever." He muttered. I laughed, earning a sharp glare from Hess.
"I don't think people attempting to kill one of our own, and succeeding in killing another, are a laughing matter."
"What's the connection to Abernathy, then?" I asked, straightening up. "Anything on them?" I saw T.J. tense at that.
"Unfortunately," Hess said. "No. With him being a shape-shifter, it is difficult to get a definitive ID on them. Same with the lack of any physical items for you to track."
"Freaking shifters." I muttered. Granted, they leave behind their former skins that they shed, but at the same time… How in the hell was I going to find one shifter? How were any of us going to. "Do we even know why he's being hunted? Like, is he good? Can he be used?"
"We have had no definitive proof as to the reasonings or whether or not he is believed to be connected to you or not." Hess answered. "However, in searching through information pertaining to Eileen and the Shifter, we found one more piece of information." She took a deep breath. "America is no longer an option for you to return to."
"WHAT?" I asked, standing up out of my chair.
"Your new alias, Erin Willis, has been burned." She stated. I stared at her, confounded.
"How?"
"We're still not certain." She answered.
"Is there a leak?" I asked. Hess took a moment, looking about the empty briefing room before looking up.
"Activate Procedure 12-18." She ordered, her voice as crisp and clear as could be. "Authorization H1."
"Confirmed." A computerized voice said, startling me for a moment. Every lock in and out of the room clicked, effectively sealing us in. Afterwards, I could… feel the spell, if that makes sense. It was a silencer. Nothing could be heard outside of the room. I could feel it fall in to place around us with the locks. I turned my attention back to Hess.
"What's this?" I asked.
"A precaution." She replied. "Place your hands flat on the table." I glanced over at T.J., and he looked nervous. Quite frankly, I was as well. This was definitely something neither of us had seen before. I turned my gaze back to Hess.
"You first." I stated. "What's it going to do?"
"Just do it." T.J. hissed, the fear evident in his eyes. I glanced at him, and saw him following through.
"Confirmed 10L8859B." The same computerized voice said. I took a breath, following suit. "Confirmed 06K3518D." Hess did as well. "Confirmed 01R0116H."
"What do those numbers mean?" I asked.
"They're identification numbers attached directly to your DNA, in case of an emergency or question of shapeshifters." Hess answered. "To prevent any intruders during the possibility of a mole." I sat back down at that.
"A mole?" I asked, glancing at T.J. Was that why he was so scared?
"That's what Thomason uncovered in his efforts to find who is tracking you." Hess explained. "Someone within our organization is leaking our information."
"That's…" T.J. muttered. "That's how we believe the vampire found you, when you were with Castiel."
"And how we believe that Diana Nyx and Erin Willis were connected back to you." Hess concluded.
"This makes no sense." I replied. "How in the hell does this connect back to the girl, Eileen?"
"She may lead us back to the mole." Hess answered. "And in any case, she still murdered one of our own, and still needs to be found and brought back to justice." It still didn't make any sense to me. It was… It was too many bombshells in one day. The Men of Letters, possibly compromised? This woman I don't even know, one that killed another Man of Letters, trying to hunt down and kill me next? Somehow Abernathy was still mixed in? None of it made any sense.
But maybe going to Ireland would help us find out what's going on.
"Go to Ireland." I concluded. "Track Eileen. See what she leads us to. Don't die."
"Precisely." Hess nodded. I glanced over at T.J., who still looked nervous, but not nearly as much. I wanted to talk with him about it later. He was usually much calmer and more assured than this. There had to be something he wasn't telling me.
"I'll do it." I agreed. "Will we be acquiring new gear to prevent the possibility of our whereabouts being compromised?"
"You'll be set up and taken care of in the armory." Hess agreed. "Including new phones, new computers, and I will personally deliver you your new identities for the trip."
"Both of us?" I asked. Hess nodded.
"I would rather tread as carefully as possible, in these uncertain times." She stated. "Until things are under control in America."
"And here." I agreed. She just simply nodded again.
"Deactivate Procedure 12-18." Hess ordered, looking up slightly. "Authorization H1."
"Confirmed." I felt the dampener remove itself, and the locks all clicked to unlocked with it. "Report to the Amory immediately. They'll also equip you with what you'll need to run surveillance on Ms. Leahy." T.J. got up at that, walking out of the room. I couldn't help but hesitate, though. Something still felt off.
"Is something wrong, Ms. Dillinger?" Dr. Hess asked. I wanted to say yes, but I didn't know what it was. It was just… A feeling.
"No." I decided. "Sorry. I'll head to the armory now."
"Very well." Hess replied. I walked out, still feeling like something was just… Off.
