Stiles arrived just as the two large men put their guns away.
'Whoah! What's with the Goons? And is that a dead body? Please tell me that isn't a dead body,' he said, words tripping out over his tongue.
The brunette in the white festival costume stood up from examining the still form on the ground.
'This isn't Hex bags!' she told the first Goon in the leather jacket. 'But I do know what this is and I think I know how to stop it.'
The second Goon looked at the first goon and shrugged his shoulders. He was a TALL man!
'Please enlighten us,' leather jacket said.
'It's a Dark Half,' she said as though that explained everything. When no one spoke or moved, she went on to elaborate.
'A Dark Half is what a very enthusiastic, but totally misguided white witch casts out of herself to become more pure. And … well…I think this one is mine.'
She looked down at her hands, the shame and embarrassment clear in her body language.
'I was very young!' she protested, though no one had asked her to give an account of herself. 'I grew up in a very small town! I had no coven to advise me; only my mother's old journals and a LOT of youthful courage and enthusiasm. If I allow it to return I'm sure I can control it. I am a lot older and wiser than when I cast it out.'
Stiles had very little idea about what she was saying. He turned to Scott for clarification, but got none. The pack leader looked as clueless as him for a change.
'Are you comfortable with that Dean?' the tall Goon asked leather jacket.
Dean shrugged. 'If it's her demon, maybe she needs to face it,' he said.
Astrid faced the woods, her lips moving in a silent incantation, while her body stood stiff and upright.
Dean watched, on full alert.
It took only a few moments for the Dark Half to immerge, a black column of smoke snaking out from the trees, making straight for the woman in the white dress. It ignored all the other forms in the narrow space behind the fair tents and enveloped Astrid, drawn in by her chanting.
He could just see her body now, obscured by the thick vapour. She jerked suddenly, her body bowing in the middle, her back bent as the Dark Half reclaimed it's host.
Feeling helpless, he could do nothing but observe as she took back her demons, silently, painfully, returning to a whole, balanced being.
When it was done she turned to face the small group.
Something was wrong.
Her dark eyes had changed to a glowing red, staring down Dean and the others in a blatant challenge.
'Astrid? You're not going to go all dark and violent on me are you now?' Dean asked, fairly certain he already knew what her response would be.
'I am so much more than Astrid now!' said the voice of the Dark Half. It vibrated with evil undertones. Dean rolled his eyes and pointed his gun at her.
'Astrid, get a hold of yourself now! I don't want to have to go all … all….Winchester on your ass.'
Astrid smiled. Her lips turned up in a cold, lightless sneer.
'Oh Dean! While you loped around with my adorable, innocent half, I have seen so much more – absorbed so much more. She blinked slowly, looking at him from under her lashes.
Then she turned her gaze to the three seniors who had wandered onto the scene with them.
'Well now Scott. I am both part of your pack, and also your equal. That alpha was delicious,' she drawled.
The wolves eyes glowed just as red as Astrid's. His claws snapped from the ends of his fingers and his face screwed up into an ugly snarl.
'What have you done?' the alpha wolf growled at her.
Astrid found claws and fangs of her own, facing off the teen with a fierce confidence.
Before Dean could stop them, the teen launched himself at the witch. They met with a sickening crunch and whirled in a ferocious, dangerous dance; clawing, biting and wrestling. Dean followed them with his gun, unable to find any clear target and not quite sure if he was willing to take a shot.
'Sammy? What's the word on this one?' Dean asked his little brother.
'I think we have to let them sort it out and deal with what's left,' Sam suggested.
Dean nodded, and held his position. He shot a stray glance at the other two teens. They looked as stunned and unsure as the hunters.
With a final growl, the male alpha had her, his strength and experience winning out over her slighter form. He pinned her to the ground, claws piercing her shoulder and a raised just above her throat.
Astrid lay panting and bleeding beneath him. Her eyes flashed with the savage power, though she ceased her struggle after another warning swipe, braking the skin on her pale throat.
'Astrid! You said you had this!' Dean warned.