The next week felt like I was at a summer camp. The boys had taken off from hunting for long enough to make sure I was okay and to try to find some info on who I really was, but while they weren't doing anything, they taught me what they knew. At least, some of it. Any time I asked about Crowley, someone abruptly (and very tactfully) changed the subject. And for some reason, Dean wouldn't let anyone teach me anything about how to fight, even in self-defense.
In my second week off, I would find them while they were passing time, and pick up tips from them.
I found Dean out in the junk yard one day working on a car. He taught me the basics of fixing a carburetor.
"You driving yet?" He asked after he was finished, wiping his hands on a dirty rag.
"No. I was just barely old enough to get my permit before I…" I trailed off, lost as to what to say.
"Well, I'll have to give you a lesson sometime. Bobby should have some lunch ready by now. Whaddya say we go find some lemonade?" He smiled, trying to remind me to forget about my past that I wouldn't be getting back.
"Okay," I replied, following him inside. I liked that he remembered that I didn't drink soda.
That night, I sat in on them playing poker. I had learned how to play before, from my grandmother (who apparently never existed). But I picked up a few good tips.
The next day, I watched Sam while he cleaned his rifle.
"Don't go getting any ideas," Sam said, when he saw me watching what he was doing. "Dean doesn't want you learning how to fight."
"I'm gonna learn, but this isn't fighting. It's just cleaning a gun," I pointed out.
"Well, I guess if you put it that way, I can tell you a little," he said. A little turned out to be the entire history of firearms and how exactly they worked, how to clean and fire them.
Bobby taught me about all kinds of devil's traps and anti-possession charms, along with an exorcism that I had memorized after reading through twice.
"For self-defense only. Don't let Dean know I'm teaching you this stuff. He's dead set on keeping you out of it," he said as I drew a perfect circle out in the dirt in the back yard.
"And no summoning anything. If I ever find out you did anything to bring some ungodly son of a bitch onna my property, we're gonna have words, missy," Bobby had seemed insistent on this topic.
"Understood."
But I really came to learn that night, when they had gotten to telling stories about the crossroads demons they had met, and all the doom and gloom it had brought them. They made Bobby's somewhat cryptic message clear.
Sam had also taken me to the local mall, and I had gotten some new clothes, all t-shirts and jeans, nothing fancy. No trench coats, sadly.
I was sitting in my favorite chair reading, while everyone else was watching some kind of random soap opera one evening, when the light next to me flickered and went out.
"What the-"
"I'm sorry."
Cas was standing behind me. I could hear the buzz of the energy he brought with him loud in my ears, something that I couldn't do before. I was still improving. His wings were out behind him, made of shadowy feathers, and I watched as he subconsciously folded them.
"'s fine," Bobbly said from the other side of the room, in the chair nearest to the kitchen. The light turned back on.
"I have no new information to report regarding your parentage. However, I see that you are doing very well considering your condition when I last saw you." If he thought I was okay, then I must be doing better. Maybe I could actually start doing something productive. Finally.
"Nice to see you too, Cas," Dean said.
"I didn't say-"
"I know, just being friendly," Dean said, quickly interrupting the angel's confusion.
"So what does that mean?" I asked, ignoring Dean, and wondering if my time of being bored really was over.
"I will begin your training. Tomorrow. You will need to learn how to use your new abilities. And how to fight," he said.
I tried not to look too pleased. Must have failed miserably.
"Whoa, hold it right there. She is not going to be doing anything that-"
"It is necessary, Dean. I-"
"Why don't we go have a chat in the kitchen?" Bobby said. "I'm sure Lily wouldn't mind waiting."
"I'll still be able to hear you from here. So no, I think that you can say anything you want right in front of me," I argued. Dean turned towards me, the shadow of the room creeping up, highlighting his eyes, somehow. They still felt familiar, even if I couldn't tell where I knew them from.
"Look, buttercup. Our life sucks. Its blood, and guts, and death, and Hell. I can't let you go through that. Keeping you defended is one thing. Teaching you how to kill is a whole other ball game," he said.
"And then what next? What happens when Crowley comes for me? Or somebody worse? Defending myself won't be enough," I argued.
"Then you call us. That's what we're for," he responded.
"Oh, so I'm supposed to sit around here my whole life so you can babysit me? No thanks. I'm not some kind of delicate flower. I can handle myself with this kind of training," I replied.
"I'm sure. Have you ever killed anyone, Lilly? Ever shot some poor bastard at point blank range? Ever cut someone's head clean off? It's not easy, putting out lives like that. I still get nightmares of Hell every damn time I fall asleep. You wanna live the rest of your life safe and whole, or like us?"
Dean never mentioned Hell. Ever. I didn't have anything to say. No, I'd never so much as punched someone on purpose.
Cas spoke for me, his voice quiet in an attempt to soothe Dean.
"She is Nephilim. She will do these things regardless. It is in her blood to fight. And she's not wrong. As we now speak, Crowley is searching for her. It is imperative that she can defend herself when he strikes. And that we are the ones to teach her. You can't keep her safe forever, Dean."
He looked pissed.
"Like hell I can't. I know what this means. First, she learns how to fight, then she starts killing things. Then she's the one dead. Cas, come on. You know I'm right."
"Dean, if you do not give me consent to begin training her, I will take her away, and you will never see her again," Cas threatened. Dean looked murderous, like he was about ready to start throwing punches. I felt a jolt of panic. I had just gotten used to it here, and I wasn't about to leave because of Dean's stubbornness. He opened his mouth, but Sam spoke first.
"No, Cas, listen, it's not gonna come to that. We just… We need to know that you're planning. What's gonna happen to her?"
"She will learn to defend herself, and how to use her power. After that…It is not my place to choose what her fate will be."
"As if it's anybody's place," Dean grumbled. He was really damn good at grumbling.
"Dean, she's right. You're not gonna be following her around for the rest of her life. Let her at least learn what she's doing," Bobby reasoned. Dean didn't look happy, but decided to stomp into the kitchen instead of arguing anymore.
"I will return tomorrow to begin."
And he was gone. Just like that, the buzzing that I had accidentally tuned out with him. Sam went to go after Dean and Bobby left to try to mediate.
"Well that ought to be exciting, won't it?" The voice came without warning from behind. I spun around. Crowley.
"SHi-" My mouth was glued shut all of a sudden.
"No, there'll be none of that, thanks. I just thought I'd pop in to check on things."
He was just the way I remembered him, minus the black smoke and darkness, seeming oddly normal for the ruler of hell.
I folded my arms over my chest and glared.
"See? Just what I need. Some rebellious teen spirit." He wandered around the room and poked at things. "I have to say, that is the point of this little experiment. All your daddy's power wrapped up into a cute little bundle of emotions and hormones. With any luck, easy to manipulate and the perfect way to toy with my favorite boys. Sounds like a great idea, eh?"
Come on, Lily, I thought. You're the child of a freaking angel. You almost killed Castiel. And he knows who the hell your dad is. Speak.
I pushed against the pressure keeping me from talking, and I felt a small pop as my voice came back in.
"Who is he?" I asked, the carefully controlled anger in my tone surprising me.
"Dear old dad? Hm, not really for me to say, sweetheart. Why don't you ask your little teen angel? I'm sure he'll be able to tell you," Crowley said, seemingly surprised that I had broken the spell, but not bothering to force another one on me.
"Cas? He doesn't know," I replied, presuming what he had said was true. He didn't have enough to share.
"You know, just because he's on the good side doesn't mean he's not capable of lying, darling."
"Just like you're capable of telling the truth? Or is that the only thing you do?"
"Sometimes seeing the truth is all you need," he replied, sounding like something people embroider on a pillow. Funny, how the demon was the one talking about truth.
"And sometimes, all it does is give you a headache. Like some other things I could mention," I replied.
"Well, like I said, just checking up. I just have one more test and then I'll let you go for a bit," he said, pulling on a pair of black gloves that he had taken out of his pockets.
"Yeah? And what the hell kind of test is that?" I asked, as he got a closer. I tried to back up to where Sam had left a knife on the table earlier, but Crowley showed up around behind me too, teleporting instantly.
"Don't worry. It only hurts for a while," he said, sounding freaking chipper.
Suddenly, my muscles were straining to move, and I was locked into a rigid position, unable to yell, or even speak again.
I panicked as he took his time getting closer, starting to speak in some kind of ancient cult sounding chant, words that my mind automatically translated into some kind of spell of possession.
No. Nope. Not happening. Not now, now that I was finally me. You can't take that away. I won't let you.
I struggled harder.
The chant had almost finished, and shadows grew at the corners of the room, lights beginning to flash, thunder rumbling outside.
There were only a few words left, and as the last one was about to be spoken, I hit the point of no return and lost all control.
Sooooo a bit more action in this chapter. And it's a little bit longer. Nice. I should pat myself on the back. But, just warning you all that I have no idea whats happening in the current season, or anything past season eight for that matter, so lets just assume that this is a completely separate story line. Also, Crowley is so fun to write. Anywayyyy, Thanks for reading and reviewing! Hope you all have a lovely day! Ta!