Chapter Nineteen: Her First Hunt.

"Hey, Castiel. Long time, no see. What brings you to these parts?" Ishim slipped into the fourth seat at their table. "Friends of yours? Seems like you really downgraded."

Reina and Bobby didn't speak. "Hello, Ishim. You look well." Cas said warily; Reina was glad to see that Cas had noticed Ishim's hostility and wondered how he'd found them.

"Why thank you, Castiel. I came as soon as Benjamin told me; I'm still in contact with old friends, unlike you. You have other company now," Ishim scornfully nodded toward Reina and Bobby.

"They're my friends, Ishim. Just like you or Mirabel or Benjamin."

"Some friend you are. Seems like your friends end up worse though. Balthazar, Uriel – all dead now."

"I'm not here to discuss what I've been or not been doing," Cas spoke, a little irritation seeping into his voice.

"Very well then. Let's talk about why you are here." Ishim smiled, but it did not reflect in his eyes.

Cas exhaled, preparing to broach the subject. "If Benjamin has talked to you, then I believe he's told you why I came looking for you. I'm here about Akobel and Lily Sunders."

"Ah. Akobel, the traitor. Lily – the filthy human he had been –

"She's alive." Cas cut in, looking into Ishim's eyes, "She's alive, and she's going after angels. Tell me the truth, Ishim. You were the one who took care of the child. Was it truly a Nephilim?"

"Of course. Yes." Ishim answered a little too quickly, Reina thought. She edged towards her seat and slowly put her hand over Bobby's phone, which was on the table. Bobby noticed but had the sense to not say anything. She locked eyes with Bobby for a second and pocketed the phone.

"So why is Lily hunting our brothers down?" Castiel asked.

"Castiel, Castiel. I don't know where you're getting this from. I found out about Lily from you, now. As far as the deaths of other angels, I just assumed, that they'd been killed by demons, or hunters – after being thrown out of the heaven – you know about that, I presume?" Reina heard Ishim taunt just as she got up.

"Bathroom." She said in answer to Castiel's look and slipped away.

As soon as she was in the bathroom, she called Sam. As the dial tone rang, Reina slowly opened a tap, letting the steady flow of water mask her voice. She didn't know if it would work, but she'd read that most supernatural things cannot cross water, and therefore won't hear her over the water.

"Hey Bobby," Sam answered the phone.

"It's me," Reina spoke softly and evenly, lest Ishim overheard her still.

"Oh, hey. What's going on?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just thought of you." Reina wondered how she could put in code what she really wanted. "It's about the funky town we were in."

"What? Funky- oh, funky town. What do you need?" Sam was quick on the uptake. "Oh, not really funky yet, but maybe I'll text you, and we should get together, what say?"

"Okay, sure."

Reina sat down on the toilet, locked herself in, and texted Sam: Find Lily Sunders NOW. She's like a witch. Take Rowena's help. Don't contact Lily till I text.

She waited barely a minute before the screen blinked with Sam's reply: Ok. Do you need us to come?

She texted back: Maybe. If I don't call back, come.

She closed the screen and flushed, walking out of the toilet. She took a little time to compose herself. She barely looked in the mirror – she felt so agitated about her plan that she couldn't bear to see into her own eyes, betraying her own fear.

She rejoined the table calmly and ordered herself fries. Ishim was looking at her funny.

"So, Castiel? All your doubts cleared? And if Lily comes after me, consider me warned. You take care out there, friend." He threw out the last word with hidden contempt, getting up. "I'll be seeing you." He strode away.

For a moment, no one said anything.

"Reina. I'm afraid your –

Reina shook her head, pointing to her ears. Castiel's expression changed. "Your fries are cold." He finished lamely.

"They are." Reina nodded significantly. "They should have been warm."

"Well, at any rate, our work here is done. I am satisfied." Cas said.

Reina realized that Castiel believed Ishim. She shook her head. "I didn't like the fries. I feel unsettled." Reina replied.

Bobby, who had been silently munching his burger until now, finished his meal. "Cas, the kid is right, I think. There was something wrong with the fries. Maybe we should get going. Got a long drive back."

.

They were at the outskirts of the town, night-time falling soft and steady.

Bobby had been driving a little slower, so they saw it happening.

Cas's car got flew sideways, hit by a large lorry coming out of nowhere. Reina bit back a scream as Bobby hit the brakes hard. They almost careened off the road trying to avoid Cas's car, which had ended up mangled, some way ahead. Before Bobby could fully stop though, something else came up behind them.

Reina's head jerked and swam as the large vehicle slammed into them from behind. Bobby tried to hold onto the steering, but as the car hit Cas's car, the airbag on his side opened up and hit him in full face.

She barely registered Bobby slump over the airbag; she only had one thought: Text Sammy. She had barely hit send when she heard someone walking towards them. She quickly put the phone on silent and shoved it inside her shirt.

A large force suddenly yanked open the door from Bobby's side, and the wind knocked Reina back. Her eyes were blurry, but she saw someone hold Bobby's hand and lean towards her. She blinked, and suddenly, she was nowhere.

.

.

.

A few moments later, she opened her eyes.

Across the dusty, half-lit room, a small dirty window provided a faint light. Directly under it was Castiel, his hands tied back to a chair. Across him to Reina's right sat a figure, who she suspected was Ishim, staring at Castiel. Cas seemed unhurt but unconscious.

She turned her head to the left and saw Bobby beside her, passed out on his side, his hands tied back.

She felt the tight cords of the rope on her own hands. She tried to wriggle, but there was no room. She could feel the phone in her shirt, stuck in her undergarment, and felt a little relief. At least the boys would be able to trace them.

She looked around slowly, trying to gauge her surroundings. It was semi-dark, making it a little hard to see clearly, but she could make out a tall-ceilinged room, with dark objects she thought were furniture in corners.

A sound from Cas jerked her attention away from the room.

"Finally." The dark figure spoke, and Reina knew for sure now: this was Ishim.

"What – you." Cas fixed his gaze on Ishim. "You – you lied." It wasn't a revelation to Cas, but more like confirmation of suspicion.

"Yes, I had to try. But I knew you weren't convinced. Dear old Castiel, always so transparent."

"I wasn't. You weren't able to lie well this time."

"Perhaps I wanted you to doubt me." Ishim replied quickly. "Perhaps I want to know – why are you alive, if you've seen Lily Sunders? If she was indeed killing all these angels, then why did she leave you alive? After all, you did sentence her beloved Akobel." He spat out the last sentence, and Reina was reminded once more of Ishim's jealousy.

"You wanted her for yourself, did you not?" Castiel asked evenly.

"You know nothing, Castiel." Ishim went into a reminiscence about the real story of what happened all those years ago. "You have always been the fool. And now, none of your friends can help you. Look at them." Ishim turned to find Reina's cold gaze upon him.

"Oh, she's awake. This will be more fun. Will you watch as I torture her, Castiel? Or should we wake the old man?" Ishim seemed to be getting crazier with every passing moment.

"No! You will not hurt them." Cas lashed out, his hands against his cords.

"Oh, but I can. And I will." Ishim smirked at Castiel as he drew his angel blade out and walked towards Reina.