Chapter 11

Adam managed to make it back to the cave. He didn't like the idea of leaving Mac behind to fight Michael. As far as he was concerned, it was his problem since the angel used him as a vessel and was forcibly removed from him… It was no doubt that the angel was pissed and trying to do everything to get him back and from the looks of things hurting Angela as well. But he had to protect Angela's body until she snapped out of it.

He came to the entrance and noted that it was not warded like Mac said it would. He realized that with Mac's injury, it weakened it and there was something inside. It was confirmed when he heard the low growls that were similar to what Cerebus made when he was on the hunt for his prey. It was enough to make him pause since he realized that there were two hell hounds in there. He pressed himself against the wall next to the entrance.

He knew that hell hounds kept at you once they had your scent. That was the number one thing that Angela warned him about when she explained about Cerebus. So that meant he had to be accurate and kill them before they got him. He didn't want to think about it but he was also worried about Tsura and Angela. They were in the same place as the hell hounds. That meant that they could be dog chow and that meant failure on his end. It was enough to make him sick to his stomach.

Pressing against the wall, Adam thought about his plan of attack. He listened to the noise that the hell hounds were making. They weren't the sound of dogs ravaging a body. Rather it was a quiet growl, like when Cerebus caught the scent of someone who was after them. It was low and angry… like they were frustrated that they couldn't get at their target. That meant that Tsura did something to stave off the attack. That meant it bought him some time to come up with a plan.

Adam shifted to peer in and take a look at the situation. He blinked at the sight since he wasn't sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him or it was the product of the weirdness that he had been introduced to by his brothers coming to a head and introducing something new to him. He wasn't sure that he was seeing the right thing so he leaned in a little more but still within position of the entrance to pull back so he wasn't seen. It wouldn't help if they caught his scent but at least it made him feel better and it helped.

He saw Tsura sitting on the ground in sans position like the yoga instructors or hippie folk. Her hands where placed on her knees, the palms cupping them. In front of her was some shallow hole and there was some smoke coming out. He thought he could smell herbs but he wasn't sure. He was more focused on Tsura as she was chanting something and her eyes were open but she was looking at the things she was trying to keep out like she could see them.

Angela had told him that it was rare to see that what couldn't be seen. Most often it was those that were dead or dying that could see things like reapers, spirits and hell hounds. She was the exception though. Adam thought it odd that she had been able to see these things ever since she first died and came back. From what Angela told him, the living couldn't. Maybe sense them on occasion but she could see them as plain as day and admitted that when she was younger, she almost killed herself because she thought she was going insane. On the upside she told him that he should be glad he couldn't see Cerebus' true appearance because, according to her, they were ugly bitches.

Sighing Adam leaned against the wall and looked at his gear. He knew that Tsura was keeping the hell hounds at bay but she wasn't invulnerable. Like Mac, she could become exhausted. When that happened, they were fair game. That meant he had to act and fast but not be stupid about it. He looked at what he had in his hand. A blade was better than nothing and it was silver. He had been told, when in doubt, have iron or silver handy and you kill it by chopping the head off and set fire to it. That's how it usually worked. In this case… He didn't look forward to what he had to do.

He leaned forward to peek in and checked on Tsura. She was still doing her thing and the hell hounds seemed concentrated on her. It gave him a chance to look behind her and that was where he spotted Angela's body. It still like a dead body and it made him worry. He also noted that there appeared to be bruising on the limbs that he could see and he saw a bruise on her face that wasn't there before. Things must be going bad wherever she was and it was like Mac said, it was happening to her body. He had to act and they had to move on to keep Michael off of their tail.

Peering once more, Adam was about to make her move when something bumped his arm. He jumped and turned to hit whoever it was that snuck up on him when he stopped. He sighed in relief and put his hand on Cerebus' head. "You scared me, boy."

Cerebus gave a slight moan and bumped Adam's hand before turning his attention to the entrance to the cave. His throat issued a low growl and it told Adam that he had caught the scent of the two hell hounds. He was not going to try and figure that out since they were in a place where not everything was real. It was too confusing and it could break your head if you let it. Instead, Adam patted Cerebus on the shoulder since the hell hound was huge and held his blade ready and said, "Looks like its you and me. You take the bigger one."

Cerebus harrumphed at that and lowered himself to prepare to move. Adam patted the mutt's shoulder and gestured for him to move on. Once Cerebus moved, he followed. They had a small distance to cross but it could work. He kept an eye on Cerebus to know which one he was after and tried to track the other one. He paid attention to the movements like the stirring of dirt. He thought he was doing something right and thought he had the drop on it but then he heard it.

The growl came from behind and it had Adam thinking about those horror movies where the guy thought he was in the clear but the thing was actually behind him. He knew that the hell hound was behind him and he felt the urge to start panting but that would make him want to hyperventilate. He couldn't do that but given the close proximity… he was going to be dead no matter what he did. He decided to turn and take a look even though he wouldn't be able to see anything.

The breath was noxious and he could understand why Angela said that they typically stank of death and decay. The breath was enough to dissolve living skin if given enough concentration. That was if they didn't tear you apart first. And it looked like he was going to get torn apart. Taking deep breaths, Adam turned towards the source of the breath and heard the low growling and knew that it wasn't Cerebus.

It was a tense moment as Adam stared at the air but he knew he was staring at the hellhound in the eyes or at least some part of its ugly ass body. He prayed that it wasn't the eyes because, if they were anything like real dogs, they would take that as a challenge and would attack. But he couldn't help himself and stared straight ahead. His fingers tightened on the hilt of the blade he had. Even if he got a swipe out, hell hounds moved faster than humans and…

Swallowing, Adam decided to take a chance. He made ready and took a swipe just as the growl turned unto a slight roar. He made contact with something since he heard the yelp. That meant that he hit the hell hound and it allowed him to get out of the way. He wasn't in the clear yet though since the yelping was followed by growling and near barking and growling and snapping. He wheeled to try and get a sense for where the hell hound was when he heard a yelp and the unmistakable sound of dogs fighting. He recognized Cerebus' growl and knew that the hell hound was in the fight. The other one…

Adam turned to see the other one heading towards Tsura. She was looking in the direction of the hell hound and looking terrified but also strangely calm. He could see her throat convulsing in nervousness and fear. He moved to get into position and kept an eye on the dirt since that was how he could tell that the hell hound was moving. He could also see the blood from where he had hit it previously. He held up his blade and moved to intercept the hell hound. It was a big risk that he was taking since he was the only person that was real.

The hell hound launched itself at Tsura even though she had a ward up around her and Angela. Adam saw Tsura's eyes widened slightly. It was not a pleasant experience to be mauled. Well he wasn't mauled but he had been killed by ghouls. And that wasn't a good experience. He remembered it even when he had been brought back by the angels to do what they wanted him to do. Adam didn't think but reacted.

He ended up dropping the blade and charged at the hell hound. He couldn't see it but he anticipated. It was as stroke of luck as he launched himself forward and grabbed the hell hound around its middle. With the speed and momentum, the basically blocked the hell hound as he grabbed it. They collided with the ground and rolled across the ground. Adam released the hell hound in the process and rolled on the ground. He rolled to a stop on his stomach and looked up where the ground appeared matted. He could tell the hell hound was there and there was dark goo that was its blood.

The hell hound moaned and growled as it rolled to its feet. Adam knew that he was next on the menu. He heard a high pitched whine and glanced over to see Cerebus leap away but limping. It had him blink in surprise since he had known Cerebus to be the toughest one on the team. He tore apart his enemies like they were tissue paper. Now… He watched as Cerebus was knocked down and it was obvious that the hell hound had him in a throat grip and going for the kill. He turned his gaze back to the other hell hound that had gotten to its feet and looking at him with the intent to kill.

"Adam."

Adam glanced at Tsura. She looked like she was going to get up. Adam didn't know much about magic but he understood that it required concentration to make sure it was strong. He sensed that if Tsura moved, whatever she was doing would end and it would leave Angela's body vulnerable. He held up his hand and called out, "Don't move. Stay where you are."

"But…"

"Don't move," Adam warned. He glanced at Tsura but kept more of his attention on the hell hound that was looking at him like he was a snack. "You need to protect her body." He lowered his hand and stared at the hell hound.

"But…"

"Tsura," Adam replied in a calm tone as he looked at the hell hound. He could tell that its reaction time was slowed since it was injured. But that didn't mean that it was going to make things easy. It was still a formidable beast. And he didn't have a weapon which was lying closer towards Tsura. That wasn't going to help him so he was going to have to improvise. "Just keep Angie safe," he said as he slowly moved so he was in a position to get to his feet.

Adam kept his eye on the hell hound and was ready for it when it sprang. He managed to move out of the way and roll to his feet. He kept his eyes on the padding in the dirt since that was his best indicator where the hell hound was going to be. He looked around for a weapon of opportunity but that was a costly mistake.

He was tackled by the hell hound. He had his hands up barely in time to keep from his head being bitten off. He pushed against the weight as he was pinned to the ground. He struggled to try and get a foothold and the advantage but it was hard to do so with a pair of snapping jaws and noxious breath in your face and clearly intent on killing you. He couldn't call out to Cerebus because the hell hound was pinned down and tried to get an upper hand but was fading fast. And Tsura was all alone and Mac…

Adam grunted when the hell hound managed to lower its jaws. He adjusted his grip to push back again but the hell hound seemed to get stronger. It was grating on his strength and he could feel the noxious breath getting closer and closer. He pushed back but the teeth were getting closer. He couldn't see them but he knew they were getting close.

"Adam!"

"Stay back," Adam grunted as he renewed his struggle. "Don't let the wards go!"

Adam knew it was foolish but… He brought his arm up and began striking the hell hound. He was certain that he hit the head because it whined with the strikes. He had to get free and get a weapon to kill the then. He gave one more strike but it was caught in the jaws and he cried out in pain as the jaws clamped on his forearm. He could feel the flesh tear as the head jerked his arm. It was strong enough to rip it off and it felt like it was. He grunted and tried to get free but he couldn't. It seemed like the end since he could feel the teeth going in deeper and deeper.

Sorry Angie. I tried.

"Adam!"

Adam grunted as he was jerked to the side while the hell hound was holding onto his arm. His arm was definitely going to be torn off. He cried out when all of a sudden he heard the loud bangs of a gun go off. Multiple shots and the whimpers of the hell hound in pain and dying. Adam felt his arm released and rolled over and away from the beast as more shots fired. He held his arm and looked up.

"At least you didn't start this party without me."

Mac backed off slightly as he glared at Michael. He had cuts and bruises forming on his body but he was still in the fight. And he held up pretty good against the archangel. It helped that he had practice fighting against some of the toughest of beings, his friend Angela being one of them. When she fought no holds barred, she went all out but she did draw the line at her abilities. It was a thing had had him constantly perplexed.

"Don't tell me you're tired already."

Mac looked up as he panted. He saw Michael looking at him with a mocking look that clearly said that he wasn't impressed with his abilities so far. He rubbed his sore shoulder and straightened up while giving a slight grin. "Oh I'm just getting started," he replied with a half chuckle.

Michael looked at Mac not sure of what to think about that response. "You really want to test me?"

"I think that was a given when you decided to chase after my best mate and her friend," Mac countered in a joking manner. It was a serious matter but Mac found that by making light of it, it had the potential to annoy his enemy since he wasn't reacting in the manner that they come to expect. That was another thing that he learned from Angela and was grateful for. It helped on other matters that were a personal nature. "So why ask the question?"

Michael looked at Mac and couldn't make heads or tails of what the game was with this human despite being the fact that he wasn't real. He couldn't understand human behavior even when he was occupying Adam. Most of all he couldn't understand her. And he knew her long before all this started just like Lucifer and a few choice others. He couldn't understand the need to joke when they knew that their circumstances are so dire. He merely stood there looking at Mac not certain of what to say.

"Oye. Cat got your tongue mate?"

Michael narrowed his eyes at Mac. He had enough and gave a wave of his hand. "Silence."

Mac let himself be carried and relaxed his body. It was one of the basics he learned growing up and learning the hunt. It was a tactic employed by circus folk and acrobats. You learn how to fall by relaxing and not tensing. The automatic response to when injury is anticipated is to tense up and brace for the impact. He learned the opposite. It was one of the reasons why a sodding drunk walked away with minor injuries in a car wreck.

It didn't stop it from hurting. It just made the possibility of a more serious injury less likely. He landed hard on the ground behind some shrubs after hitting a tree. He couldn't help but let out a grunt and allowed himself a few deep breaths. It was then that he came up with a plan but it was going to have to take some serious timing. He looked at the tree and started to get to work.

Michael sighed in annoyance. He knew that he hadn't thrown Max too hard. He should have been able to get up. Hell the Winchesters were on their feet faster than that. It made him think that Mac was all talk and just playing the tough card. He started walking towards where Mac had landed saying, "Please, I thought you were ready for this. That you were just getting started."

Michael paused when Mac popped up from behind the shrubs. He gave a slight grin as he eyed Mac seemed to slump a little bit. He was weak even for a human that wasn't even real. "You really are a weak bag of puss."

Mac couldn't help but start to chuckle. It came out in spurts since he was taking deep breaths to get his second wind and he was trying hard not to let it get too out of hand. It finally came out in a hard laugh and it was enough to have Michael pause. Mac said, "You really are feathered dicks." He paused and looked around as he thought about what he said. "I actually like that description. Angie was right on. And she said she learned it from her big brother and I'm guessing that it isn't you." He looked at Michael with a slightly raised brow.

Michael looked at Mac and pressed, "And what do you know about that?"

"Logic," Mac replied with a shrug, shifting slightly. "The way that Angie spoke of you, it was almost like it was personal. I guessed that you have met before I knew her."

Michael eyed Mac with suspicion. He supposed that made sense since he wasn't always watching before all this. He relied on the reports and what his underlings reported particularly on Castiel. It didn't escape his notice that Joshua had sought out the angel to give him the order to assume guardianship and all under the guise that their father had asked it of him. Michael didn't believe it since dad was not in the picture but he was going to continue to do what his father had written. Right now though he had to deal with this human that wasn't real but was every bit the pain in the ass. "We all know her so that is nothing new."

"Of course. How could I forget?" Mac shuffled on his feet. He watched Michael as he edged forward. He almost had it. "She is centuries older than me and probably spent that time trying to stay hidden from you."

Michael was annoyed and ready to finish this, "All right, enough. I am tired of this game. Tell me where she is and maybe it will be less painful when I destroy her illusions of you and take back my vessel in front of her." He stepped forward and it was then that he noticed that something was off. He looked and saw the blood. "What…?"

Mac smirked as he slammed his bloodied hand onto the sigil that he painted onto the tree. He shielded his eyes with his other hands as he watched Michael disappear in a blinding flare of white light. He blinked where Michael had once stood and looked at his hand and the sigil and muttered, "Huh. It did work."

There wasn't much time to waste since he was certain that Michael would be back and doubly pissed off at that. So Mac took a breath and sprinted towards the cave where Adam had ran to. He shook his hand to ward off the sting and to grab the one thing that he was definitely good with and checked to make sure that it was locked and loaded. "I'm better shooting than I am with a knife, lass," he muttered more in memory of a conversation he once had with Angela.

He went into the cave to find Cerebus in a fight and he was losing with one hell hound. The other was facing Adam and looked ready to charge. And right smack in the middle was Tsura sitting on the ground and he could make out the faint outline of a ward and it was holding strong but she was sitting there looking scared. At one point she moved like she was going to help Adam but he told her to stay put.

Mac knew he had to help. He took aim and leaded his target. He didn't want to hit Cerebus but he had to take the shot. He took aim with his assault rifle and put two in the hell hound on Cerebus. Since this place was how they made it, he strongly thought that his bullets were the silver and iron rounds that were very effective against the things of the pit. It worked and the hell hound was down and he rounded in on the one Adam was handling and it was a good thing too.

The hell hound was about to take a bite out of Adam's throat. Luckily for Mac he was sniper trained and took the shot. The hell hound was down and lying on its side heaving black goo. He looked at Adam and grinned, "At least you didn't start this party without me."

"The party started when we were attacked," Adam retorted as he got to his feet. "Better late than never," he added with a slight grin on his face.

Mac grinned at Adam for the comment. He lowered his weapon and looked around and patted Cerebus on the head when the hell hound came to stand near him. He spun to look at Tsura and joked, "Told ya it would be alright."

Mac watched as Tsura gave a wave of her hand and the ward disappeared. He moved to glance at the body. It was relatively unharmed. That was good news. He gave a hand to Tsura to help her up. He looked at her and asked, "You alright love?"

"I'm good. And I can't believe you did that!"

Mac watched as she gave a slap to Adam's chest and joked, "Did I miss something?"

"Just that this guy tried to be a hero," Tsura countered with a narrowed look at Adam.

"And what you were doing was important," Adam countered with a narrowed grin as he took a couple of deep breaths.

Mac knew that he was going to have to break this up. He put a hand on Adam's shoulder and was going to say something when he was sent flying and into the cave wall. He hit hard and thought he heard a dull crunch meaning that something was broken. He let out a grunt of pain as he landed hard on the ground.

Cerebus growled and barked. It told Mac that he was attacking. He shifted to get a view and heard the yelp of pain. He blinked as he saw Cerebus lying on the ground whining in pain. He heard Adam calling out possibly to Tsura. Mac grunted and closed his eyes and the shot open when he heard Tsura scream Adam's name.

Michael was there looking completely pissed. He would be since he used an angel banishing sigil on him. At least it wasn't holy fire. From what he heard, that was a guarantee to piss him off. Mac gasped as he tried to get to his feet but he had been given a good clout and it was going to take serious effort to do so. His rage was upped when he saw Michael grab Tsura by the neck and it looked like he was going to snap her neck. Adam was on the ground writhing in pain and blood was coming out of his mouth.

"Finally this pointless game ends."

Mac looked to see Michael squeeze on Tsura's neck and then throw her aside. It left a clear opening for him to reach Angela's body. That was not going to happen. He pushed himself to his feet and took aim with his gun. Surprisingly he still had it and he was going to use it. He took a shot.

It stopped Michael and the angel turned to look at him. Max could tell that the angel was seriously pissed and this might be the end. If that were the case then it was worth it. If he could distract the angel enough… The next moment he felt intense pain in his stomach and he felt the coppery taste of blood in his mouth but he was still standing. He looked at the angel and spat out the blood. He lifted his gun again but the pain in his abdomen was increased and it had him double over. He them felt himself lifted and he was staring down at the angel and it felt like he was choking.

"You think you can still win? Well watch as I kill her."

"Not likely."

Mac blinked wide eyed but couldn't speak as his throat was being held. His lip twitched though. He knew what was coming and it was something that he didn't expect.

A/N: Looks like things aren't looking good and Adam is almost a hell hound chew toy until Mac comes along. But it isn't over yet. Stay tuned for the conclusion of Over the Edge...