Dearest Readers,

It's been awhile.

Been sick, had some depression, and changed some medication that made me go through some serious withdrawal for a few weeks that I still can't remember. But alas, I am back, and I hope you all enjoy!

Please let me know what you think! Things are starting to become revealed to the boys, which will make it all more interesting… ;)

XOXO Ally Layne.

Holy Water

CHapter 31: Introducing A New War

As soon as they were in the Impala and away from any prying ears, they were finally able to talk about the odd encounter they just experienced.

"Well, I'm already sold on that Elizabeth chick," Dean said as he pulled out of the parking space and drove off. He glanced over at his brother in the passenger seat. "Did you see that victory garden of hers? Belladonna, Wolf's Bane, Mandrake, not to mention that little flinch she threw when we mentioned the occult."

Sam pulled out his laptop and quickly scrolled through what records he and Annabeth had already pulled up on her. "Well, she's definitely had a good run lately, gone up a few tax brackets, won almost too many raffles… the kinda things a little back magic always helps with."

Annabeth was already on her own laptop and typing away while looking at the names that had been written down on her notepad. "Looks like Mrs. Renee Van Allen has won almost every craft contest she has entered in the past three months."

"Yeah, a regular Martha Stewart, huh?" Dean snorted. "Except for the devil worship, I'm thinking that was the cover back there we met, minus one member."

Sam nodded along before pausing and turning back to look at Persie and Annabeth. "What was up with the two of you back there? You both seemed to zero in on the brunette."

Annabeth looked down at the notepad again. "Tammi, yeah."

"I'm pretty sure she's a demon," Persie admitted, crossing her arms in thought. "The last time we came across demons like that, they had black eyes- just like Tammi."

Dean furrowed his brows. "Her eyes looked normal to me."

Annabeth shrugged. "I saw what Persie did, so it must be a demigod thing."

Persie nodded. "Do you think it might have something to do with the Mist?"

"It's possible," she sighed. "I'll have to do more research, though."

"Probably talk to Nico and Lou Ellen," Persie added. "They might know more about that stuff than the average demigod."

"That's true."

"Are either of you going to explain what you were just rattling on about?" Dean asked, looking at the two of them through the rearview mirror. "Or am I just going to add it to the list of things to discuss later?"

Annabeth grinned at the older Winchester. "Feel free to add it to the list, Dean-O."

"Do you have any idea why a demon would be a part of the coven?" Sam asked, skillfully changing the subject back to the current situation.

"Unless she's trying to fool them into thinking they have powers or something, I'm not too sure. The only reason why I would think is the demon is acting as the go between for the witches and the devil. But why would witches pray to a demon rather than the devil? It seems a little too lop-sided for me," Annabeth admitted.

"Well, Amanda was clearly going off the reservation, what do you think- they killed her to keep up appearances?" Sam asked.

"Seems like an appearance kind of crowd, don't you think?" Dean added.

They all nodded. "They were wearing designer," Persie interrupted, before quickly regretting it at the odd looks she got from the others. "Just thought I'd point that out."

"Well, aren't you a fashion guru?" Dean said sarcastically. "You and your unexisting pockets."

She rolled her eyes.

Dean let out a sigh. "Well, if they killed the nut job… should we, uh, thank them, or what?"

"They're working black magic too, Dean. They need to be stopped," Sam told him, completely serious with his words.

Annabeth and Persie shared a look.

This wasn't something Sam usually would say.

"Stopped like stopped?" Dean asked, glancing at his brother briefly. "They're human, Sam."

"They're murderers."

Annabeth pursed her lips. "We don't know that, Sam," she told him. "For all we know, only one of them could be working the dark magic, and it might be that demon."

"What about the winnings that Renee and Elizabeth have been getting?" Sam countered. "They're definitely in on it, too."

"But that doesn't make them murderers," Annabeth interjected, eying him carefully. "There's a fine line that we can and can't cross, or we're no better than them."

Persie bit her lip. "Well, if we find out that they do know what's going on, Annie- that does make them low-key murderers. They sold their souls, they pay the consequences."

Dean blinked, looking between Sam at his side and Persie in the rearview. "Burn witch, burn." He kept driving, only for the Impala to start giving out, the engine starting to sputter. "What the hell?"

Persie immediately got out Riptide. "Something's up ahead."

The Impala slowly came to a spot as the headlights flickered in the fog, revealing a blonde figure standing in front of them.

Sam must've recognized them as he quickly got out of the Impala, only to be followed swiftly by the others. "Ruby," he spoke.

Annabeth and Persie looked between each other. "Ruby?" Annabeth asked.

Persie shrugged. "No idea."

"Sam listen to me, there's no time," the woman interrupted them, hurrying over to the younger Winchester before coming to a stop just a few feet away.

"For what? What are you talking about?"

"You need to get out of town," she insisted.

"So this is Ruby, huh?" Dean asked, walking forward as he pulled out the Colt, cocking it at the woman. "Never had the pleasure."

It just took one look at her eyes for Persie to understand his actions.

"Demon."

Ruby's gaze snapped over in her direction, and her eyes widened slightly. "Oh, I've heard of you, demigod whore. I would be careful of what you say next-"

Dean let out a low chuckle. "I would shut up if I were you, 'specially if you don't want me to blow the head off your meat suit."

"Dean!" Sam shouted.

Persie looked over at Annabeth, who's eyes were cold and calculating as she looked on. She supposed that was the only reaction she'd get from the woman.

Dean, for his part, narrowed his eyes at Ruby as he let a smirk slide onto his features. "I was hoping you'd show up again."

"Point that thing somewhere else," she snapped.

He let out a chuckle. "Right."

Persie chose that moment to walk up to his side, uncapping Riptide as she walked. "I am always willing to kill a few demons, what do you say, hotshot?"

Ruby glared at her. "You don't know what you're messing with."

Her sea green eyes raged in the dim light coming from the Impala. "Oh, I think I know exactly what I'm messing with. I just think you're a bit out of depth, demon. Go run off or get a taste of my blade."

"Persie, stop, she's on our side," Sam said, looking over to her in slight exasperation. "She's only trying to help."

"Yeah, until it all ends up being a part of some other plan, right?" Annabeth cut in, walking closer as she crossed her arms at the scene. "You're making a big mistake trusting her, Sam Winchester."

Ruby choked out a laugh. "Do either of you Winchesters know who these two are? You should be hunting them, not working with them."

Persie rolled her eyes. "I could say the same thing about you, demon."

"We know what they are," Dean spoke, not bothering to lower the Colt as his gaze narrowed even further in on Ruby. "How is it that you do too?"

The demon's next words made Persie's blood run cold. "No, I'm not talking about what they are, Winchester. I'm talking about what they've done."

Sam tensed, which was enough to make Persie shift her stance. "What do you mean, what they've done?"

"Oh, they never told you?" Ruby asked, feigning innocence. "Why, they are two of the most deadly demigods in the History of their kind, and here they are, working with you. Did you know it's not only monsters that Miss Persephone Jackson has killed?"

"That's enough-" Persie spoke, but she was quickly cut off.

"What do you mean?" Sam asked, looking between the two in what could only be described as horror. "You killed… actual people?"

"It was not on purpose-" Annabeth tried, but Persie quickly placed a hand on her friend's arm.

"This is not the time or place for this conversation," Persie insisted, giving both the brothers a look before turning back to the demon with fire in her eyes. "You have some serious balls, thinking you can come and try and muck around in what's going on here."

Ruby looked over at Dean, who had slowly lowered the Colt and was now looking over at Persie warily. "Oh, don't tell me you love that monster, do you? Seems like such a tragedy now it sounds like you should gank her instead."

Persie grit her teeth. "That's enough."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She looked back at Sam. "But I am serious when I say you need to get out of town. Get in the car and don't look back."

Sam's brows furrowed. "Why? I don't understand."

"Hey hot stuff, we can take care of a few kitchen witches, thanks," Dean called out.

"I'm not talking about witches, you jackass, witches are whores," Ruby stated. "I'm talking about who they serve."

Dean and Sam looked at her, confused.

But Annabeth had seen the signs. "It is the demon in their circle. They're getting their powers from her, they sold themselves over to that thing."

Sam looked between Ruby and Annabeth warily. "But you said witches get their powers from Satan?"

"Some demons," Ruby said, "Are powerful enough to grant powers once they have collected a soul or two. And there's one here, now."

"What, you mean besides you?" Dean scoffed.

Ruby deftly ignored him. "Sam, it knows your here, and it's going to come for you. It's way more than what you can handle."

Persie rolled her eyes. "I think we can handle ourselves just fine, thanks."

The demon glared at her. "I wasn't talking to you, demi-whore."

"Demi-whore, huh? That's a new one," Persie admitted.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Sam, will you please tell me you're not listening to this crap!"

Ruby then turned her glare over to Dean. "Put a leash on your brother Sam if you want to keep him."

Fury roared through Persie's ears.

"Excuse me?"

"Dean, look, just chill out-"

Ruby turned her gaze back to Persie. "What's it to you?"

Persie felt a familiar tug in her gut as she smirked. She raised a hand in her direction. "This, you demonic hag."

She then proceeded to drown the meat suit of the demon, and enjoyed every moment of it.

.

.

.

"You're lucky you didn't kill her."

"Excuse me?"

Persie and Sam were now standing off in the middle of the motel room, where Annabeth and Dean were watching in frustration on the sidelines.

"You heard me."

Persie shook her head at the younger Winchester. "She is a demon, Sam. She is not trying to help you. She is trying to use you to string you along in whatever game she is playing."

Sam rolled his eyes. "At least she's more forthcoming with information about your past, Persephone. When were you going to tell us that you also killed people? Why would we ever trust a word that comes from your mouth?"

Dean stood up from where he was leaning against the sink. "Hey now-"

Sam shook his head. "No, Dean. You know I'm right."

Even he couldn't admit she wasn't in the wrong for keeping something like that from them. From him. Who was she really? Who was the young woman he was falling so deeply for?

Dean wasn't so sure he knew anymore.

Annabeth huffed. "Shut up, Sam. The issue here is that you're letting yourself get strung around by some demonic bitch and you know it. Just because we might have some things in our past that might not make the most sense to you right now doesn't mean you can just decide that everything up until this point is worthless. That you don't trust Persie or I anymore. Because you should."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Then why is it that Ruby is the only one giving us any sort of valuable intel?"

Annabeth threw her hands in the air. "I don't know, maybe it's because she's a demon, Sam! And the thing that we're going after is a demon, too! Perhaps she has some insider information that she's using to make herself look good. I don't know. But stop being childish. We have witches to stop and arguing about this is doing no good."

Sam shook his head. "We have to start looking at the big picture. We're not just trying to catch witches, Annabeth. We're not just hunting anymore. We're at war."

Dean crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing at his brother as he thought over his words.

"I've been in wars before, Sam," Persie spoke, her voice low. Her eyes looked at something distant that no one else could see. "And I am telling you, you are making a grave mistake."

Sam looked at her blankly. "How do I know we're not making a mistake trusting you?"

She frowned.

Dean slammed his hands on the sides of the sink. "That's enough, Sam!"

Everyone jumped and quickly lapsed into a silence as Dean turned the sink on and splashed water onto his face. They all watched as he slowly toweled himself dry.

He sat the towel down carefully before looking over at his brother. "Are you feeling okay?"

Sam blinked. "Uh, why are you always asking me that?" He slowly took a few steps back and sat down on the edge of one of the double beds.

"Because you're taking advice from a demon for starters, and, by the way, you seem less worried about offing people, when it used to eat you up inside," Dean listed.

Sam sighed. "Yeah, and what's that gotten me?"

Annabeth raised her brows. "A soul?"

He ignored her.

"Nothing," Dean admitted, "but it's just what you're friggin' supposed to do, okay? We're supposed to drive in the friggin' car and friggin' argue about this stuff. You know, you go on about the sanctity of life and all that crap."

A small smile tugged on Sam's lips. "So you're mad that I'm starting to agree with you?"

Dean sighed. "No, I'm not mad… I'm… I'm-"

"He's worried, Sam," Persie said, knowing where he was trying to go.

Dean nodded over at her thankfully, not missing the fact Sam didn't even bother acknowledging her words. "Yeah, I'm worried you're not acting like yourself. And not to mention, you're getting very pissy with my girlfriend and it's starting to piss me off. So knock it off. She can have a past. We all do. Get over it."

"Yeah, you're right, I'm not," Sam admitted after a brief pause. "I don't have a choice."

"You always have a choice," Persie countered instinctively, but her voice faded at the end as she realized Sam wouldn't bother listening to a word that came from her mouth. She let out a small sigh.

Dean glared at his brother. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look, you're leaving right? And I'll be stuck in this craphole of a world, alone."

"But you won't be alone," Dean insisted.

Persie and Annabeth shared a look.

What were they, chopped liver?

But at this point, were they at all surprised?

"I'll be without my brother," Sam clarified. "So the way I see it, if I'm gonna make it, if I'm gonna fight this war after you're gone, then I gotta change."

Persie's heart went out to him.

But she wasn't going to let Dean go, not that easily.

"He's not going anywhere Sam, I swear it."

Sam's darkened gaze turned to her. "You can't promise me anything, not after what you did."

"Sam."

"Dean, you know-"

All of the sudden, Dean lurched forward, grabbing his stomach, falling to the floor in pain. "Agh!"

Persie lunged over to him, grabbing him in his arms as Annabeth immediately started turning things over, searching for some unknown object.

"Dean, talk to me, hotshot!"

Sam reached his brother's side. "What's wrong with you?"

Dean clutched onto his stomach more, his words coming out in a struggle. "I… don't know. Oh… ugh, Sam, something's wrong… bunch of knives… inside me…"

"Dean," Persie gasped, running a hand down his face, and his eyes met her own.

"So… pretty-"

"Stop flirting with her for one second, Dean," Sam scolded. His eyes then flicked up to where Annabeth was tearing through the cupboards and dressers. "Anna- what is it?"

"It's the coven!" She exclaimed. "It's gotta be the coven, I know it."

Persie looked over at her friend. "You're sure about it, Wise Girl?"

Gray eyes stared into her own. "Positive, Seaweed Brain."

Sam had wordlessly grabbed the Colt, told Dean, "Don't worry," then ran out the motel room only to be noticed by the others once the door slammed in his wake.

But Dean was worried.

And Persie knew he would be.

"Seph…"

She shushed him. "Don't worry, hotshot," she told him, as she quickly pulled herself out from underneath him and helped lean him against the side of the bed. "I'll go keep Sammy Boy safe."

Dean felt a quick peck on his lips before all he was left with was the faint scent of the sea breeze.

"They will be fine," Annabeth said, as she continued to search for the hex bag.

He let out a groan.

They better be.