Antony had told the two to come back the next evening as he needed time to prepare. Sam and Dean, along with Amy, had ventured off to a local diner after securing a place to sleep.
"So why exactly wasn't I allowed to come inside? It's boring in the car when no one's there." While the other two were eating proper dinners with meat and potatoes, and a whole lot of vegetables on Sam's plate, Amy was contently eating some chocolate cake that they had ordered in for her. She was tearing off pieces with her fingers, putting them in her mouth to chew contently, the fork next to the plate completely untouched. Sam leaned back in his seat, washing down his current mouthful with some water.
"We figured it'd be enough of a shock for him to have two hunters show up, having a unicorn as well might've been.. A tad overwhelming for the guy." He spoke with one of those almost apologetic smiles of his. Sam always seemed concerned in one way or another, and it made her confused most of the time. Even when there was nothing to be concerned about, he'd have that frown, even as he smiled. Amy tipped her head to the side, not realizing that she was staring at Sam with narrow eyes as she got lost in thinking.
"Ey! Snap out of it!" She was yanked back to reality as Dean snapped his fingers repeatedly in front of her face and she looked at him much like a startled deer.
"What?" Dean rolled his eyes with a hint of a grin as he returned to his plate, which was mostly finished. However, Dean was not one to let any food go to waste, no matter how small. Thus he was now busying himself with picking up and eating every last little crumb of food. Sam smiled and glanced at Amy. "You were staring."
"I was? Oh yeah, I was." She rolled her shoulders in a shrug, smiling cheerfully before tearing off another piece of the cake. "I guess I'll have to think about where I look, you're all so sensitive about being looked at."
They all continued eating in peace. Or well, Dean was scouting for women as discretely as he could while Sam, who didn't binge down his food like his brother, kept eating quietly. She enjoyed these moments, when the two forgot to be anxious around each other. There were things buried between them that kept being unearthed, and every time something came up, they'd grow tense and try to bury it as soon as possible, preferably deeper than before. She wished to help them, but it wasn't her fight to join. They had to sort those tangled emotions out themselves. She could heal physical wounds and illnesses, but not those of the soul.
She'd be there for them, though. There was so much muddled pain in the two of them that trying to help became irresistible. Even if she wouldn't be there with them such as she was there in the diner, sitting with them by the table, she would keep watching over them. Being in their presence for so long had logged their wavelengths in her mind and soul, and their essence was not one easily forgotten or mistaken. Thus she'd be watching over them, in her own kind of way.
Amy had managed to beg her way into meeting the psychic. She'd never come across anyone psychic before and was very eager to find out what they were like. So the next evening, the three of them went to Anthony's house together, and Dean firmly knocked on the door while Amy was curiously peering into the house through the porch window.
"I see him!" She grinned excitedly and hurried back over to the door as Anthony opened it. Needless to say, he was surprised to see someone else with the hunters, and he frowned, throwing suspicious glances at the two men.
"Who's this."
"This? Well this, is, our sister." Dean lied, and the sensation of it caused Amy to shudder with displeasure. She really didn't like it when they lied, and it was even more unsettling when she was involved directly.
"Your sister, huh? She a hunter too?" Anthony looked less than convinced as he glanced down at Amy, who looked more uncomfortable by the second. Sam shook his head with a chuckle.
"No, she's not, but she's staying with us for the time being." At least that was the truth. Being part of a lie made her feel inexplicably filthy, despite not having told an actual lie herself. She wasn't even sure if she was able of lying. Perhaps she had to actually try it at some point, but not now.
"Alright… Well, come on in." Anthony stepped aside to let them all in. He was dressed more casually this time, with a navy blue shirt and a white t-shirt underneath, along with a pair of what looked like very old jeans. Probably his favorite pair. The hunters, along with a very fascinated unicorn, walked into the hallway.
"Shoes off." Anthony ordered them, and they all obeyed, even though Dean grunted a bit as he struggled to get his shoes off smoothly.
There was a round table set up in the middle of the living room, with three chairs around it. There was a summoning crest painted on the table, along with candles that had yet to be lit. The other furniture in the room had been pushed to the sides to create more space, and curtains over the windows blocked off the light from the street. There were symbols carved into the edges of the thick table, and there were paintings hanging on the wall; all of them different kinds of rejecting wards. It was a proper séance setting, despite them not going to summon a spirit. At least they didn't think they were summoning a spirit.
"You sure this is all necessary?" Sam wasn't allowed to speak further as Anthony cut him off.
"Hey." He held up a finger. "I'm the one risking my ass summoning something which we've got no clue what it is. I've got rejection wards for everything that can be rejected," He motioned towards the paintings. "So that if something really dangerous shows up, at least I've got achance to get out of it alive!" The brothers glanced at each other. Anthony did have a very solid point; they had no clue what they were about to bring into this quiet little home of his. Being precautious was the least they could be.
"Alright" Dean sat down in one of the chairs. "When do we get started?" Anthony held out his hand with tense lips, narrowing his eyes on Dean. "I need the sample." Dean jumped slightly with the realization and dug into his pocket, pulling out a cylinder of marble and concrete, which was completely black. It was contained in a plastic evidence bag.
"This good?" The psychic snatched the bag from Dean, huffing lightly as he opened it up. "Yeah it'll be fine. It should give me some idea of what to search for."
Weighing the sample in his hand, he frowned. It has such a heavy feel to it, and not just because it was marble and concrete. It was as though whatever had stained it was seeping through his skin, making his chest feel heavy. Taking a deep breath, he sat down by the table, and Sam soon followed. Realizing there was no chair for her, Amy simply thumped down onto the floor, which earned her a sharp glance from Anthony. He held out his hands, and the brothers somewhat reluctantly grabbed his and each others as well. Lighting the candles, he closed his eyes. The sample of black rock was held firmly in his own and Dean's hand, as he needed it as a conduct for communication. He cared little for what the hunters thought about the séance, he needed to do this properly, and that unfortunately involved some rather cliché chanting. He had never liked the old ways of the psychics, but it was all he had been taught; yet he still had little skill compared to the ones who had taught him. However, they were all dead, and he was alive.
"I invoke, conjure and command you, appear unto me before this circle." Even as he spoke the words the first time, there was a heavy, unsettling feeling lodging itself in his gut, causing him to frown.
"I invoke, conjure and command you, appear unto me before this circle." The flicker of the candles seemed to increase before dying down, barely holding on to life, as though they were trapped inside a glass. The air felt heavy. Amy curled up on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest with a worried expression. "I don't like this.." Her voice was but a whisper as she nervously glanced around. Dean and Sam kept the circle whole but threw concerned glances around the room. The curtains seemed to suddenly be doing a whole lot better job of keeping the light outside from coming in.
"I invoke, conjure and command you, appear unto me before this circle, show me your face!" Sam swallowed tightly; this was a bit too familiar. Last time they had done something like this, it had been with Pamela, and it had ended with her getting her eyes burnt out of her skull. Dean kept a straight face, keeping his focus on Anthony, who seemed to be struggling more and more with speaking properly, as though he was out of breath.
"I invoke, conjure.. And command you, appear unto me.. Before this circle. Show me, your face..!" Sam blinked as he noticed that the glass of the windows had gone from transparent to black; the color was even creeping out along the walls, staining them. He kept an eye on it while throwing nervous glances at Anthony and Dean. "Guys, perhaps we should, stop this."
"I don't quit what I've started!" The young man's voice was like a snarl as he squeezed his eyes shut, sucking in air sharply.
"I invoke, conjure and command you, appear unto me before this circle..! Show yourself! I command you!" Suddenly, the up until then slowly creeping darkness spread through the room like wildfire, tainting every surface, ruining the seals and wards through turning everything black, and a layered, echoing laugh rang in the room. It was like a base so powerful that they were forced to break the circle, covering their ears with their hands the best they could. Dean frowned as he clenched his teeth, barely able to move from the heavy laughter which made it feel as though gravity itself had increased tenfold. Throwing a glance up, he noticed a mass of darkness swirling above them, before it suddenly dove towards the table. Right before hitting the surface of it, it changed its direction, forcing itself into the body of the summoner, the laughter following it. As the smoke entered his body, he nearly fell forward but caught himself with his arms against the table, laughing amusedly with the voice of Anthony. He was hanging his head still, taking deep breaths.
"You people, commanding me?" Another chuckle left him and the two hunters glanced at each other nervously. Dean sucked in a breath, hesitating before speaking up. "Anthony..?" The young man in front of them raised his head with the grin of someone who had just heard the funniest joke of the century. The brothers' eyes widened as they saw him; his eyewhites had gone black, but it was not like demon eyes. He still had irises, white irises, and black pupils. Dean frowned.
"That's just freaky." The creature possessing Anthony's body blinked and raised his eyebrows, leaning back in his seat. "Hm? Oh, that." Blinking once again, the eyes returned to their normal state. "Better? It is so easy to forget the effects on a vessel a presence like mine has. Though I must say, this one has a surprisingly small reaction." He looked over himself; or rather, his vessel, with quite a pleased smile curving his lips. "I'm impressed by this one; it's just as efficient as my other one."
"You mean the one that's rotting right now because you're here inside him?" Dean spoke through gritted teeth, glaring at the psychic; or well, what was inside of him. The stranger raised his eyebrows as he looked over at Dean, as though his statement was boring him.
"No, I speak of the one that is currently walking down the streets of New York." Sam blinked and the two hunters threw glances at each other before looking at the strange person in front of them.
"Your vessel is alive?"
"No. I split myself so that I can be in two places at once." He spat out the words as though he had just been forced to explain to a toddler that yes, it is water in the ocean, not milk.
"That's ridiculous! I've never heard of a demon that can do that." The shorter one of the hunters snorted, rolling his eyes. Sam weighed the suggestion with titled nods, uncertain if it really was as impossible as his brother had implied. "I don't know, isn't Abaddon able to force part of herself into people to read their minds?" The stranger rolled his eyes with a bored expression, watching them as he leaned back in his seat, one leg crossed over the other.
"Yeah but she's a Knight of Hell, not your average demon."
"Are you suggesting that I am an, average demon?" The man had raised an eyebrow as he watched them much like a predator eyed its prey, his eyes narrow. There was nothing but an icy darkness in his voice as he spoke, clearly, that comment had not gone down well with him. Dean didn't seem to catch on as quickly as Sam did however.
"What? No! I mean, we don't know what you are, we're just, tossing ideas around." He let out a nervous huff of a chuckle, clearing his throat lightly.
"I did not need to answer your summons. I am being very civil and generous; I haven't even considered ripping your entrails out of your body through your eyes. However, you are testing my patience with this endless chatter. If you wish to know what I am, simply ask!" His voice grew louder the closer he got to the end of his sentence, causing the air in the room to thicken. A wheezing noise was heard and he blinked, looking down at the floor, where Amy was struggling for air, clawing at her throat. It took him a moment before he smiled, a smile that got Dean to get up of his seat, cautiously moving over to Amy.
"What did you do?" Sam threw concerned glances over at the struggling unicorn; she had been so quiet that they had both completely forgotten that she was there. He looked over at the stranger, expecting answers.
"My presence can be a tad… Overwhelming to holy creatures." The man turned his head to smirk at Sam, his expression the essence of calm. There was enjoyment in his eyes as he turned his gaze back to the struggling unicorn, who was tightly clinging to Dean as he had scooped her up.
"Well, make it not overwhelming!" Dean snarled at the stranger with narrowed eyes, glaring at him. He didn't like this guy, not one bit. There was something too content about him, something darker than the average shade they ran into on a daily basis.
"That's like asking you to suddenly become incapable of.." He looked Dean over with contempt. "Enjoying pie. My my.. You humans are such simple creatures." It seemed to make sense to Dean though, albeit he wasn't too pleased about it, judging by the way he was still glaring at the other. Heaving a sigh, the man waved a hand at the hunter.
"Just get her out of the room and she should be fine. I am not deliberately doing it; she simply needs to get out of my range." Dean didn't waste any time listening to more of the strangers' babble and instead promptly left the room to get Amy to the Impala, thus leaving Sam alone with the possessed Anthony.
"So, you're… Not a demon?" Sam spoke hesitantly, as though he was sitting on the trigger of a massive bomb. He knew nothing of this creature that was possessing their new acquaintance, and he had to tread carefully; they had promised to get Anthony out of this alive. Scraping at the arm rest of his chair, the stranger seemed quite uninterested by what Sam had to say.
"No, I am not. I suppose you could call me the inspiration of demons as a race." He got up from his seat, something which caused Sam to tense up, his hand drifting over to his gun, as Dean was the one with the knife. He suspected that guns did not do much to this person, and he didn't want to shoot Anthony either, but keeping his hand on it was a way to calm himself. However, his nervousness seemed to go unnoticed as the man busied himself with looking over his new vessel again. "No burns, not even a tear. I quite enjoy this vessel."
"He's not yours." The words slipped out of him before he could stop himself, and he swallowed tightly as the other turned his head to look at him with an unpleasant smile.
"If I wish to keep this as a vessel, there is nothing you, as the puny hunter that you are, can do about it." He flattened out the navy blue shirt with his palms, still smiling. "For me, any vessel that can contain me without getting ruined is.. What is it that you humans say? Ah yes, it's priceless. Which is, by the way, a ridiculous saying; you humans are willing to sell anything for the right price."
The door was opened again by Dean, causing Sam to heave a breath of relief; now at least he didn't have to fend for himself.
"How's Amy?" Dean threw a glance at Sam before looking over at the stranger. "She's fine, resting in the Impala. Ey, you! What the hell are you, huh?" Sam flinched as his brother barked out the words at the possessed Anthony, but when they weren't slain in a second, he relaxed a bit.
"He says he's the inspiration of all demons." Sam looked over at Dean for a moment before returning his gaze to Anthony. Dean let out a snort, grinning like it was a joke. "Bullshit. Come on, what are you, some kind of Knight of Hell? Their boss maybe?" The other heaved a sigh, tired of these tedious guesses.
"Hell, Hell, Hell, I am so tired of hearing that word." He snorted, shooting a glare at the two hunters. "Hell is nothing but a poor remodel, a twisted, ugly version of perfection."
That was when the pieces connected within Sam's mind and he stared at the other. This was bad, very bad. He was sucking in a very slow breath as his mind vigorously worked over how they were to get out of there alive. That summoning something unknown was a bad idea; that they had known all along, but they probably couldn't have asked for a worse outcome.
"You're the Lord." Sam's voice was almost a mumbling whisper as he watched the stranger. "You're the one who created the kingdom before Hell..!" Dean frowned and looked over at his brother in confusion. That just couldn't be right, someone like that couldn't possibly be civil like this, and definitely would not answer their summons.
"You're kidding, right? Sammy, this guy can't be that guy, I mean, come on!" He motioned over to Anthony, hesitantly looking over at him. "It can't be him..!"
"Oh, I do apologize for not being a twenty foot tall monster that smashes everything in its way." The man rolled his eyes, clearly fed up with this charade. Dean was about to open his mouth when the man raised a finger, stripping Dean of his ability to speak.
"This has been entertaining, but I have no interest in engaging with you any longer. I have work to do." He smiled calmly, looking at the two. "As a sign of my grace and civility, and as a condition for you to not attempt summoning me again, I shall leave this vessel here with you, since you seem so eager to keep it. However, know that if I find myself in need of a new vessel, I will listen to no feeble bargains, pleads or threats. I will come, and I will take this body as my vessel and I will not hear any complaints. Do we understand each other? Yes? Good. Farewell." Bowing with a smile, the man then stood up straight. It took less than a second for the solid darkness to throw itself out of the psychic, swirling against the ceiling before phasing through the walls and up into the sky. As soon as the smoke-like darkness had left Anthony, his body went limp and he collapsed onto the floor, unconscious. It took the brothers a second before they reacted, both rushing over to check if he was in fact still alive. One could never trust creatures like that.
"Hey, Anthony! Tony! Wake up damn it!" Dean was grabbing the male's shoulders, nearly shaking him in an attempt to get him back to the conscious world.
"Dean. Dean! Quit it, you're going to end up hurting him." Dean rolled his eyes but then blinked as the psychic groaned slowly, his hands instinctively moving up to weakly rub at his eyes. Sam pushed his brother away slightly in order to prevent any further attempts at shaking the newly released vessel.
"Tony? Hey, Tony, can you hear me?" Sam was wearing one of those concerned frowns that he so often wore as he looked down at the other, but only a quiet mutter left the male on the floor. Looking at each other in confusion, they then looked back down at Anthony.
"Sorry, Tony, what was that?" Sucking in a deep breath, he managed to open his eyes halfway, seeming rather groggy, his voice dragging slightly.
"Only my mother calls me Tony."