John had given the demons their own tents rather then put them in a trench. They probably wouldn't have liked that very much. The injured demon, Merrick was placed in John's own tent while his companion, Lilith guarded him for a bit until he was asleep then ventured outside. His injury was recovered but now he claimed to be tired and requiring rest. Of course, demons usually required very little sleep so that was probably a lie.

But John didn't argue the point. He was going to guard for the rest of the night anyway. It was just explaining to his own comrades why four demons were now welcomed into the base with open arms. Well, not exactly open arms. They pulled him aside, casting dark looks at Carmen, Lilith and Sam who had taken to a high tree above the base, practicing...well, for lack of a better word, magic.

"They're not really our enemies," John said to a slightly edged crowd. "Not these ones anyway. You know we've never made enemies out of demons as long as we've been here."

"Because of you," said Jeremy, one of John's closest friends. Even he was against the idea of housing them here, when he was usually on point to agree with John on everything. "The eclipse may be over, John, but you brought a whole bunch of demons that are probably bringing all the shadowcrawler this way."

"The shadowcrawler will not come to this location," said John exasperatedly. He pointed above them, past the shadowy trees that weren't as dense as the rest of the forest. There was a faint red-yellow glow where Dean's magic barrier was in place. "As long as that barrier up. No shadowcrawler can enter camp. Besides. What are the guns for?"

"I still don't think we should trust demons around our camp," said Catherine, one of John's older "friends". He frequently found himself at odds with her. In fact, she probably disagreed with John on every point ever. "The blonde one and her boyfriend have been dropping ice shards down here for the last five minutes."

On cue, an icicle dropped between them where they were talking. John looked up as Carmen waved at them from above. "Sorry! That was my bad."

And they burst into fits of laughter. Catherine cast John a furious look who could only give her a guilty look and shrug his shoulders as if to say it was out of his control.

The crowd thinned out and John was left looking up at the three of them.

"Very good, Sam," Lilith approved, crossing her arms. "You seem to have found your element of choice."

Sam immediately stopped creating icicles. His hands had taken a shining blue-white shimmer but he dropped them. "Of choice? I thought you said earlier that we could use any element we want."

"Yes," Lilith replied. "But very few of us manage to master all elements. There's always one we like more than the others. His majesty has an aptitude for fire. The celestial...I mean...Castiel even seems to have mastered the use of the element lightning. Before the personal encounter we had with him ten years ago, he had a reputation for his speed and agility...and use of that element."

"You met Cas before you actually met him? That's cool," said Sam.

"No," said Lilith. "I heard of him by reputation. There were all sorts of rumors about celestials back then. I didn't think we would have one in our company shortly after...but what can you do?"

Carmen, seeming bored that they were no longer practicing magic, stood up on the branch and leaned against the tree itself, crossing her arms. "If all goes accordingly, maybe we won't be having an angel in our company any longer."

Lilith looked at her speculatively. "Yes, you might be right, Princess. But..that's probably not going to happen."

"Don't think Dean can handle him?" Carmen replied.

"Don't think his Majesty would kill him. You've just met him again after ten years. I've spent the last thousand here with him. He won't kill the celestial unless it's absolutely necessary," said Lilith.

Carmen was about to argue the point, but her fight died in her throat. Thinking back to Castiel and Dean's encounter in the forest, there was more there that she could analyze now that they were out of danger. Castiel may have had jaded intentions...He may have sided with the worst side possible, but she saw his face when he looked at John for the first time. There was a split second where his little facade shattered. Even back in Sam's house before Sam "died", Carmen had pleaded with Castiel, begged him not to do this. That Dean wouldn't have wanted it to be that way. She remembered the look on his face as he responded. Cold. Empty. Just like she expected.

But "He's not here" was said almost like a mantra that he had repeated to himself before, made himself realize so it could break him.

Dean himself, as always, was an enigma. The look he gave Castiel when he called Dante's name in concern was one of notice. Lilith wasn't far off. They were head over heels, and everyone else probably knew it but them. Carmen didn't have to share Dean's mind to know that.

Which was curious because according to Lilith, as soon as she entered Treachery, she should have been swarmed with Dean's memories over the course of the last ten/thousand years, but nothing had come. She felt a faint connection to Dean, surely, stronger now that he was close by...but it didn't delve deep like it had when they first met. When she first met him, their bond ran so strong, she could feel his pain just as he could feel hers. She could touch his mind, sense the direction of his thoughts.

Now, nothing. Perhaps being absent from his presence all this time had a permanent effect. That was actually kind of sad. It would be nice to know what was happening in that trench with Castiel. If Castiel was dead and Dean was standing over him. At least she could break the news quick to Sam before he had to see his maker's body.

Sam had said he didn't feel anything from Castiel either. That wasn't that surprising. He was concerned for Castiel too, but like Lilith, not for his life. Maybe because he was among those who weren't blind on how those two felt about each other. No matter how they acted on the outside. No matter what they said or did out loud.

"I guess not," Carmen answered after a long moment of thought. "Let's keep practicing."

"You're very efficient at fire, Carmen," said Lilith approvingly. "Much like your Father. It's inherited. I'm actually glad you're not inheriting Castiel's lightning proficiency, Sam. Between the two of you, we might have permanent rain in Treachery soon."

Sam forced a smile, but he crouched low, preparing to jump down. "Yeah. Hey, you guys keep practicing. I'd like to go down for a bit."

"Come on, Sam. Watch me set that bird nest on fire," Carmen whined, pointing at a high branch. Of course there was no bird nest there. She was just saying that.

"I'm not feeling well," said Sam. To emphasize, he put his hand over his stomach.

He jumped down. That was the first lesson Lilith made him master. Jumping. Carmen already knew how to do that, but Sam did not. She said it was the equivalent of flying for an angel. It just did not have a balanced altitude, still she said that expanding the range of your leap was enough be as effective as flying. It just required a lot of concentration. An average human being had a very small range, a few feet at most...and concentrating to make it into yards was extremely difficult.

But he mastered it. Jumping down didn't break anything because he absorbed all the impact and landed neatly on his feet. John was waiting for him.

It always nearly gave Sam a jolt to look at John. He looked so much like Dean with very few differences. Dean had a scar on his cheek, John did not. John looked close to Dean's young age, but also had eyes that spoke with age. he was also a few inches taller than Dean, though still shorter than Sam. It was amazing that the two of them were in the same realm...but Sam had to wonder why John was here. What had he done to get into Treachery? As short a time he spent with Dean, it looked like neither of them were going to be divulging that any time soon. There was obvious difference when the two of them spoke. They spoke with the authority of leaders, but John was more somber, more subtle. His men obeyed him without question. But it was all willing...whereas Dean had an obvious control over Merrick and Lilith. It was lucky that they were already close, otherwise such a view could be taken as a tyrant.

"Sorry for all the intrusion," said Sam, recovering fast. "I think it's just temporary. We were somewhere else before we got here. I think when Dean comes back, we'll return there."

"It's no issue," said John. He watched Sam closely, and again, he felt slightly uncomfortable. His eyes were bright and green like Dean's...truly, he looked like what Dean might if he could get any older. "Sam, explain something to me."

Sam had been going for the tent where Merrick was, stopped. "Yes?"

"Why are you here?" John asked. Seeming to realize the bluntness of his question, he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. I understand you're...one of them. But of them all, you look like you don't belong. Even the girl..." He nodded above them. "seems like she did something. But you...You don't look like you've done anything that warrants coming here."

Sam shuffled his feet awkwardly and looked down at them. " I...I don't know. I lost my memory of everything not too long ago. I guess it was better that way. But I don't know, I didn't feel, complete, I guess. But I was happy. I met Jess."

The way Sam brightened at her name did not escape John's notice. "Jess is your girlfriend?"

"Kind of," He flushed red. But a moment passed, then he sighed and all his shyness went out the window. "It looks like I won't be seeing her for a while. She...She was the only one I knew when I was a kid that didn't care that I was a little weird. I miss her...a lot. But I don't know what I could do even if I did get to go back."

"What do you mean?" John raised an eyebrow. When Sam didn't immediately answer, he took a step closer. "You can tell me, Sam. There's no point in keeping secrets in a place like this."

"My mom and dad are dead," said Sam softly. "They weren't my real parents and I know that Cas probably wasn't himself when he did it...but I can only imagine what's going on up there. I loved Estelle and Mark like they were my real parents...and they're gone now. Even if I did go home...there really wouldn't be a point. My family is gone. She's probably looking for me...and she'll never find me."

"Sam," said John sympathetically, reaching out to take his shoulder.

"It's all right. Really, it's fine. I guess lying to myself was enough. I couldn't remember it..but before that, I remember all I wanted to do was forget," said Sam. "Forget all of what I went through ten years ago with Dean and Cas. I missed them...but I guess part of me really hoped I'd never see either of them again. The more time I spent with Jess, the more time I think back on that, I really wish..."

Sam trailed off, looking in the distance, then he seemed to realize what he had done and looked back at John. "I'm sorry. It's hard to explain. It's hard to think about. I miss her. More than anything. There was a lot I had planned for us that I'll never do. Even if I saw her again now, there's no way to hide...all this, you know? So maybe I do deserve to be here. I was just stupid to think I could live a normal life while having that old knowledge somewhere in my head."

"That's not stupid," said John, and his voice was sharp enough that Sam looked up. Definitely not a tone Dean would use on him. But his grip on Sam's shoulder tightened where even a human, who was weaker than him, was hurting him. "You're not stupid for wanting a family, Sam. You're not stupid for not wanting to settle with...what you have. I was right about you. You don't belong here. Of all of us, you and the angel don't belong here. But I can tell you something right now. You will have a family again, I promise."

"How?" Sam asked, staring at him with a slightly lost look. "There's no way out of here."

"You just have to trust me," said John.

Sam raised an eyebrow, about to say he hardly knew John. No matter how much he looked like Dean. He knew next to nothing about him. Except for that he was a human and Dean's real father...who was here for some reason or another.

But it was hard to doubt the truth behind those words. Of course he didn't believe that he was getting out of here any time soon. At least John seemed to believe it.

Lilith dodged an incoming fire wave by leaping into another high branch. Her eyes flew down to find Carmen a few feet below, opposite her side. "Not bad, Carmen. You're a natural at this. Combining two elements usually takes much longer with much more basic attacks. But you're doing a great job."

Carmen smiled at the praise. It was so rare to come by, after all. She flipped her hair. "A natural. I like that."

"You'd be a good queen," Lilith commented. "And I'm not saying that because of your royal title. It's very important for a ruler to be able to defend themselves. And your power is your greatest weapon."

In a flash, Lilith was there, on the same branch as her, utilizing speed she had never seen before. Carmen felt a gust of wind and a brief rock of the branch before backing up just a step. Lilith took her wrist and held it up.

"A sword is a tool used to cut and mark. But Will is the strongest crutch you can lean on. A person could never hold a sword in their life and become the most powerful being to exist with Will," said Lilith. "Keep that in mind in battle. As powerful as any being you encounter is, they can always fall...lest you forget that even an angel was not born a master of elementals or light and dark powers."

"All right," Carmen nodded. "but I want to go back on what you said earlier to Sam and me. About being a master of all elements. You pretty much said it doesn't happen, but is it possible."

Lilith was thoughtful. "It is possible to harness all elements, Carmen. No one said you cannot..but to use them all efficiently. One after another...That would be a difficult task. You have to remember that Will and will power comes from your mind. That's why there are so few demons that still retain their human forms. So few that look like they used to...others would simply become beasts for not having a strong mind, a strong will and desire to live on."

"Thanks for the history lesson. I really didn't need it to be reminded that I'm pretty," said Carmen sarcastically.

A ghost of a smile. Lilith was a smart-ass in her own right but the main difference was that she knew when to be serious, whereas Carmen just found it all to be amusing...After everything she had gone through the last days, it was a wonder she hadn't gone insane.

Let Sam turn into a demon. Let Gabriel die. Went into an inescapable realm. Now she was discussing how to use will and be a good queen by fighting off monsters and what have you. And hey, Dean probably didn't even know that Gabriel was dead. The only person in this realm that housed Lucifer and John that Dean remotely loved like a Father.

Lilith seemed to sense the direction of her morbid thoughts, because she put her hand on Carmen's shoulder very gently. "You know it's not your fault any of this happened."

Carmen let out a hysterical giggle. "Really. Really, because I'm pretty sure if I had just done what Dante said earlier...just taken the crown when I should have...This might have been all avoided."

"You would not have been able to secure the throne. The throne chooses it's ruler. It's almost sentient...it never left Dean, even while he was here. It would not have done you any good staging a coup against Crowley," said Lilith, rubbing the top of her arm.

"That makes me feel loads better," Carmen murmured.

"Don't fret, Carmen, you're in a realm that you cannot leave. These menial things won't matter to you eventually,"

"I don't want the crown," Carmen replied coldly. "I never did. I never asked for the damn thing, and I don't care that I don't have it now. I don't even care that the sword that's been mine for the last ten years is back with him. None of that matters to me at all. What would matter is that if I had the damn crown when all that crap happened topside...maybe all this shit wouldn't have happened."

"You could not have known that Castiel would turn," said Lilith soothingly. "And you would not have been able to stop him...or Dante for that matter."

"He killed Gabriel," said Carmen, staring straight ahead. Her inner eyelids prickled with tears. "Dante. or Crowley. I don't know...I wasn't there. I just felt my mind link break with him...I couldn't have known that he...that they...but he said it."

"And you believed it?" Lilith asked with a small laugh. "Please. If there's anyone that can fake their own death, it's probably Gabriel."

"Do you see him here?" Carmen asked, extending her hands around them. "I don't. If he was, maybe he could help me. He has helped me for the last ten years...we were protecting Sam. That's all we were trying to do...but he..."

"Let me give you some advice, your highness," Lilith gave her a warning look when Carmen opened her mouth to protest the title. "The dead do not suffer the living. Why should you suffer the dead? If dear Archangel Gabriel has finally bit it, then that is that...But one thing. Does Dean know?"

"I haven't really had much time to talk to him," Carmen said, pointing out the obvious.

"You don't have to talk to him for him to know what's in your head. You're bonded to him. He's your creator. You should be able to get a feel for him, inside and out. Bonds are strong. You should be able to access his memory at will," said Lilith speculatively, looking at Carmen for a long moment. "But you haven't...have you?"

"If you mean I can't see inside his head, you'd be spot on. I haven't been able to do that since...he made me," Carmen answered. "Maybe it's that...y'know...gap of years."

"No, time can't distort a bond. He's blocking you," Lilith told her.

"What? Blocking me? Why would he be...ugh...you know what, maybe I don't want to know,"

"It's probably for your protection," Lilith defended him. "I wouldn't be quick to assume it's because he doesn't want you in his head...He's spent over a hundred times more years here away from you then you have from him."

"And he seems the same," Carmen muttered. "Extremely arrogant and terrible on timing."

Lilith smiled. "If there's one thing you should understand about his majesty is that nothing is what it looks like on the surface. He was King, princess. Spending time pretending like everything is fine was part of his job description. You'll eventually learn the same method."

She used past tense to describe his title. Dean was King. No, he is King. But she didn't say that. Because for all intents and purposes, that title meant shit in a realm that he honestly did not rule. Why act like she was going to learn from him like she was going to get the throne too one day?

"I didn't make Sam a demon. I didn't cut his throat and watch him bleed. It wasn't my blade. But I dragged him here. Do you know why?"

Lilith shook her head.

"For Dean. I wanted to see him. I thought that if there was anyone who could fix all this, make it all better...it was him...maybe I was stupid. Maybe I just missed him for that time...but I look at this place...I look at Sam," She looked down at the figure that was Sam heading inside John's tent. "And I see..no hope. You've been here a thousand years. I've been here one night and already I can feel the truth coming down on me. We're never going to get out of here. We're stuck. Dean can't fix it. He can just stay here with us. Maybe that doesn't mean anything for people like us who live forever...but Sam...? Sam didn't deserve this. He...He was so happy. You should have seen him, Lilith. He had everything in life that he needed. A family...a girlfriend who loved him. A shitty job working to pay for a prestigious college. He was going to get somewhere. Now, look at him. He's a demon. I know none of us really asked for it, but we've all past the point of accepting what we are. But you know the worst part of knowing I have to spend an eternity here? It's that I have to look in his eyes and watch him accept that he's never going home, never going to have anything he used to. I have to look in his eyes and see the light leave him. That, right there...lets me know I've truly gone to Hell."

Lilith was watching her for the longest time. Carmen didn't even realize her cheeks were wet, she reached up and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand, but more came out. Funny, she never thought she could cry again.

"Is he aware of your feelings?" Lilith asked out of left field. Carmen's head shot up and she stared at her. But the demon blinked slow and gave her a look that said 'No sense in pretending it's not true'.

"I...don't know what this has to do with that," Carmen answered in a low voice.

"The fact that you're distinguishing it as 'that' means something," said Lilith. "Eternity is a long time to spend with someone, Carmen. Perhaps you might be able to sway his mind in your favor."

"I don't want him to sway in my favor. I want him to be happy," Carmen answered, sighing. "And he won't be happy here. Dean and Cas, they're here. I'm here...but that's not him...that's not part of him anymore. He moved on. And we dragged him back. It's not right, Lilith."

"You honestly think any of us wanted this by choice?" Lilith asked her shrewdly. "None of us had a choice. Sam is no exception. You're only feeling bad because he's the most recent entry."

"I'm feeling bad...because even though we all didn't have a choice, we all embraced it, we don't even think about it anymore...but him...," Carmen's eyebrows furrowed. "He hasn't."

"Let him wallow for a bit. He'll come around. Everyone does," said Lilith reassuringly. "Now, shall we practice some more?"

Carmen finished wiping her eyes and then looked up at her. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Practice. Good."

When Sam entered the camp, he found Merrick lying on the one bed in the room about full-sized. John's bed. His injury had been patched up. His hands were behind his neck and his eyes were closed, but Sam had a feeling he wasn't asleep.

"Oh, it's you," said Merrick, opening one eye to look at him. "You remember me this time? Or are we going to have to go dance in the sand again?"

"I remember," Sam assured him. "I remember everything."

"Oh, goody," Merrick answered. "Heaven forbid you were walking around clueless. Is his majesty back yet?"

"No," said Sam, settling down on the floor next to the bed and bringing his knees up to level. "I'm thinking about checking it out."

"Trench runs outside of the bounds of barrier, so I wouldn't," said Merrick coolly. There was a pause where Merrick watched the back of Sam's head. "So, how are you liking the deepest darkest pit of Hell so far?"

"Definitely not looking into becoming a permanent resident," said Sam. "But it looks like I have no choice in that, do I? Is it always this eventful?"

"Heh. Seems like it's been one piece of shit disaster after another since you walked in, right? Running for our lives and narrowly avoiding being annihilated? Yeah, seems like a typical day here," Merrick shuffled a bit, leaning further into the pillow.

"Sounds like it'll be a blast," said Sam sarcastically.

"Don't worry, Sam. At least you got your friends back, right? Judging by the fact that you're not writhing on the floor right now...I figure the King has decided not to kill Castiel," said Merrick, though he sounded like he definitely did not approve.

"How is that a bad thing?" Sam asked, not missing his tone. "Cas wasn't himself...It's not like any of this was really his fault...I mean...I don't blame him."

Merrick was quiet for a while. Then he abruptly sat up. "You know what? Let me find out what's going on...I'm going to see what is Majesty is doing."

"But Dean said-"

"Yeah and I'm his Guardian. I'm obligated," said Merrick airly. "I'll be back. Why don't you try to rest up in the meanwhile?"

Sam opened his mouth to speak but Merrick was already heading towards the opening of the tent. Sam leaned his head back and closed his eyes. It wasn't the most comfortable position to fall asleep in...but he didn't have the energy to climb on the bed. Plus, he didn't want to be there when John walked in. Talk about an awkward moment.

Something about John rubbed him the wrong way...He didn't know what...but it nagged at him. The way he just made that promise at random. What could John do? He was stuck here just like him.

His thoughts, as they often had, went to Jess. And where she was. What she was doing now. If she had even found out Sam was gone. He didn't know the time conversion from here to there. Perhaps only a couple of hours had passed? Perhaps she had gone over to Estelle and Mark's house, seen the bloodbath with no bodies and assumed the worst. There was no disarray at his own apartment...and yet..knowing Jess, she would investigate.

Perhaps she had already called the police. Fat lot of help they'd be. They'd never find him. Not even a body. Maybe evidence of a struggle. His blood was all over Estelle's carpet.

God, that was terrifying. A small part of him was glad he wasn't there when the DNA test came back confirming it was his blood. Would she cry? Would she believe he was truly dead? Dead was better than knowing the truth, he thought bitterly. She'd never love a monster.

He wished he could see her. It was a selfish desire. She'd never accept him for what he was, would never look at him the same way...but he just wanted to see her. Even after seeing Dean again, Sam wanted his life back. He didn't want this one. He never wanted this one.

Sam didn't even know he had fallen asleep until his mild awareness of his surroundings caught him breathing loudly. He closed his open mouth and snapped his head back, feeling a crick in his neck that he vigorously rubbed until the pain began to ebb away. Well, there was one benefit to being immortal, pain didn't last long.

He wasn't aware for a moment that he wasn't alone in the room. It was only something he caught in his peripheral, standing at the opening of the tent. For the briefest millisecond, Sam thought it was John.

It wasn't John.

It was Jess.

She wore a long, silky white dress with thin straps. She looked like an angel. And Sam had seen angels. More than enough. her hair was styled into beautiful curls and Sam had seen that hairstyle with her before...he remembered teasing her about it, calling her Goldilocks. Now there was no amusement in Sam's expression as he eyed her.

"Jess," He breathed, getting up and nearly stumbling into the tent wall before he approached her, pulling her into a hug, his arms wrapping all the way around.

"Sam," She whispered back in his ear. It was such a relief to hear her voice. Something he never expected to hear again.

"I know I'm dreaming," Sam said. "But I don't care. I don't care."

"You're not dreaming," said Jess, pulling away and keeping him close for an embrace, holding onto his arms. "This is real, Sam."

"But...How? How are you here, Jess? It can't be real. Don't you know where this is?" Sam asked incredulously.

Jess touched his face, shaping her palm to his cheek as she drew in for a kiss. Her lips were soft and gentle and as she pulled away, Sam was left desiring more. "Does that feel real?"

"Yes," Sam kept his eyes closed for a bit longer then necessary before peering down at her. "I miss you. I miss you so much."

"I know," She answered. "But I'm with you, Sam. I'm always with you. But this...this can't happen for long...You have to come back. You have to come back to me."

"Jess," Sam's voice broke on her name and his eyes began to prickle. "How? I can't leave... There's no chance of escape."

"There is," She put a finger to his lips, silencing him. There was a slightly devious gleam in her eye. The way she looked whenever she wanted to get away with something. He recognized it well. "And it's you, Sam. You know you don't belong here, don't you?"

"Maybe I do," Sam answered sadly. "Maybe I deserved it...for keeping my mouth shut about everything I've seen. For lying to you. I'm sorry, Jess. I didn't know. I didn't know that I was keeping it secret. My mind was tampered with...I swear I would have told you."

"Shhh," She cupped his cheek again. "It's okay, Sam. You don't belong here...Not like they do."

"They?" Sam repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"All of them. Your friends. The ones you came with and the ones you came to see," Jess's face turned uncharacteristically sour and even a little...resentful? "But not you, Sam. You don't belong here. You belong home. You have to come home."

It was only Sam's immediate love for her, his immediate agreement that he needed to get out was that he ignored her first statements about his friends. Besides, it's not like deep down, he didn't agree. "But how, Jess? How?"

"You have to pray, Sam. You have to pray. After everything...You still believe in God, don't you? Pray, Sam...Just pray," Jess backed up then, her form shimmered and became slightly transparent. "It's time for me to go now, Sam...Just pray for me...Pray to come home..and we'll be together again, I promise."

"Jess?" Sam took a step towards her, and she shimmered again, making his eyes widen. "No, Jess! Don't leave me! Stay here."

"I have to go, Sam. We'll be together again soon...I'm counting on you," Jess was fully transparent now, her body beginning to fade into nothingness as if it never were.

Sam was left staring at the spot where she had been standing. Pray...She had implored him to pray. What good would praying do if no one of import was here to hear it...Except maybe Balthazar...and he had never really even spoken to him.

What could she have meant?

Sam felt perfectly conscious, where he was. Perfectly aware of his actions, but on the outside, it was something different. What it looked like might have been sleepwalking. His hazel eyes were covered by dark swirls as he walked slowly to the opening of the tent.

Hidden just outside the camp in the trees above was Dante. His finger was raised level to his eye in a hook, and watching Sam exit the tent, he raised his head in some triumph. The control spell was waning and he could hold it for so long. His mind was much harder to keep influenced than Castiel. Castiel had been vulnerable to this type of "possession" whereas Sam was not. He had to utilize any tool at his disposal...even invading him in a dream-like state.

Dante heard movement below, a crunch of leaves and breaking of twigs. His eyes shot down at Merrick cleaving his way through the forest with a dagger in hand.

Lucky for Dante, he didn't need to keep track on Sam. His press on his mind was strong enough now that it didn't require his utmost focus anymore. He turned his attention instead to Merrick.

Dante was never about subtlety. He didn't fear his presence being discovered. As a matter of fact, he actually wanted to be found out.

He jumped down, absorbing the impact and crouched low.

"Well, shit. There goes the neighborhood," Merrick complained, throwing up his hands.

"You know, Merrick. You are completely and utterly fearless. I admire that, I have to say," Dante told him almost grudgingly. "Not many people could get burnt alive then sent here by their own king and still have a smile on their face."

"Is that a compliment?" Merrick feigned shock, pressing a hand over his heart. "My, I am so touched. I could start pissing rainbows."

"And you still got a smart mouth," said Dante, shaking his head. "That. Is not so impressive. Bravery can only go so far before becoming stupidity. I know you value your life, Merrick. And I know it would pain you greatly to know that your charge has been killed."

A muscle in Merrick's throat jumped. He spoke through his teeth. "You're lying."

"Am I?"

"The barrier would not still be standing if that were the case," said Merrick scathingly.

"That is a very astute statement," said Dante, stepping closer, so Merrick stepped back. Dante's eye shot down to his feet. Merrick had a feeling he had a very strong awareness, and he was very much in tune with every made Merrick made at this moment.

"What do you want, Shadowalker. Are you here to finish the job? Get on with it, then. I will not beg. I will not scream for my life. I am over three thousand years old. I have not begged for my life in all those years and I will not beg now for you."

"Spew your age at me all you want, demon. It means nothing to me. The fact that you've lived so long is actually not an admirable quality. It's in fact, quite depressing," Dante remarked dismissively.

"You're a prick, Shadowalker," Merrick growled through his teeth.

Dante smiled. "This is a very strong barrier your king placed over the camp, Merrick. He must care very much for the people within to stop my presence from coming in. But...he's also not very smart. You are aware of the rules in creating a magic barrier, correct? It's certainly protective of the people within it...and it keeps people uninvited out...but...He does realize a barrier can break down if the caster is dead...or if..."

Dante's hand thrust into Merrick, and unlike with Balthazar, there was no metaphysical concept to it. No pretension. His fingers wrapped around the beating heart, where he squeezed mercilessly. Automatically, Merrick reached up and grabbed Dante's wrist with both hands. His eyes bulged out of his head and a bubble of dark blood appeared at the corner of his mouth, popping, leaving a trail of it dribbling down his chin.

"The one you're trying to keep out is stronger than the caster," Dante finished. He ruthlessly watched as Merrick tried to pry him off, tried to make him stop. "And I just so happen to be ten times your fucking King. Really, you should have a better a monarchical system. The strongest is the king? You may as well crown me."

"You can...," Merrick struggled to speak, gasping as he choked on pints of blood pooling inside his lungs. "You can kill me. It doesn't make a difference."

"Does it look like I wasn't going to?" To emphasize, Dante squeezed tighter and a squirt of red splashed across his eyes. "Remember my name as you die, Merrick. My true name. And know in your tiny little heart." With emphasis, Dante clenched is fingernails inside, puncturing it. "That you were bested by Havoc."

Merrick gasped and coughed, his hands tightening around Dante. It took everything not to black out and just die, but he managed to keep his eyes open as Dante and the world around him swayed. "The only way you're going to get into that camp...is over...my...dead...body."

Dante's smile widened. Just like it had when Dean had presented him the challenge not to long ago. He ripped Merrick's heart from him and watched as the demon fell onto his back.

"Okay," said Dante conversationally, stepping over the body and holding the bleeding heart in his hand like it was an apple. And just so, he pressed the organ to his lips and bit down.