Chapter 9
Sam exited the car after Dean parked outside Brooke's apartment. "Let's be cautious," cautioned Castiel as he alighted, "We don't want to startle her." Loud barking echoed from the backyard.
"It appears Brooke has a dog," Desirey remarked, circling the townhouse to investigate. A smile spread across her face as she noticed a brown and white Border Collie pawing at the door. She could hear its mournful whines.
Sam, Dean, and Castiel followed her to the rear of the building and observed the dog. "It's shivering," Sam noted with concern. "Brooke would surely have let it inside by now." He approached the gate, catching the dog's attention.
The Collie ceased its scratching as the gate creaked open. It turned to face four unfamiliar faces and seemed to sense their non-threatening presence. It approached them slowly, whining in anticipation of help or entry.
"Hey there, pup," Desirey said, bending down to pet the dog. She moved the dog's collar to read its name. "So, your name is Athena." She smiled, petting the dog's head. "Is your owner home?" she asked, watching as Sam walked up to the door to check if it was locked.
Sam tried the handle, finding it unlocked. He pushed the door open, assuming Brooke had left it unlocked for Athena to go outside.
"Anything?" Dean asked, following Sam inside. Athena pushed past them, rushing up the stairs to find Brooke. She barked, hoping for a response from her owner.
Desirey frowned as she looked around. Nothing seemed amiss, but she couldn't shake a feeling of unease.
Desirey glanced at the couch, where Brooke's coat lay draped over it. Her phone, purse, and keys rested on the table nearby.
"I sense a potent presence," Castile stated from behind her. Desirey turned to face him. "What do you mean?" she asked, hoping he was jesting.
"A powerful demon," the angel replied, his gaze fixed on the room.
Meanwhile, Dean and Sam had gone upstairs to search for Brooke. "Any sign of her?" Desirey inquired as she approached them, her gaze on the closed door before them.
"Looks like we arrived too late," Dean remarked, turning to her.
"This demon must have entered unnoticed at first," Sam added, stepping into the room. He examined the scattered pictures near the dresser.
Dean nodded and walked over. "Blood," he said, pointing to a spot on the floor near the reward. "Maybe Brooke's?" he asked, picking it up.
Castiel entered. "Perhaps it's the demon's blood. She may have struck him with it to escape," he suggested, scanning the room.
A figure perched in a nearby tree, watching the people inside through a window. "They have an angel with them," he noted.
The demon's gaze fell upon the blonde woman, and a smirk spread across his face. "It seems you can make someone happy," he said, licking his lips.
"I shouldn't linger too long," the figure said, keeping his eyes on Castile. "He'll sense me soon." With that, he vanished. He had to warn his brother that they were looking for the brunette he had taken, and he had found someone he wanted.
Sam stopped in his tracks, sensing a presence nearby. But when he tried to locate it, it disappeared. "We should figure out where the demon would take her and try to identify him," he said.
Dean nodded and was about to respond when the front door opened. Sam looked at him and walked out of Brooke's room to see who it was. "It could be Brooke's roommate," he said, as the others followed.
Desirey followed, wondering what they would tell the woman about their presence in her home. She bit her lip as she watched the boys walk downstairs, and she heard the woman's confused voice, "What are you doing in my house?"
"Hi, Jamie," Sam greeted the blonde. "We've come to see Brooke, but she's not here." He didn't want to alarm Jamie about Brooke's kidnapping.
Jamie looked at Sam and then at the others. "How did you guys get in?" she asked.
"We came through the back door. The dog wanted to come inside, so we let her in since the back door was open," Desirey explained honestly.
"I see," Jamie said, walking past Castile and Dean towards the stairs. "Does she know you're here?"
Sam understood Jamie's questions. She had a right to be suspicious of them. He glanced at Dean, wondering what they should do.
"She's not here," Dean said, trying to come up with something. "We checked upstairs for her, but she wasn't there."
Castile observed their reluctance with disapproval. Recognizing the need for Jamie to learn the truth, he addressed Sam.
"Sam," Castile commanded, "Inform her about Brooke's kidnapping."
Sam nodded in understanding, knowing that Jamie would eventually discover the truth. "Jamie," he called out as she ascended the stairs, "We must tell you about Brooke."
Desirey witnessed the unfolding drama, Athena whining beside her. Jamie's voice reverberated through the house, filled with shock and disbelief. "What do you mean she was kidnapped?"
Dean and Sam exchanged anxious glances, contemplating how they would navigate this situation. Desirey wisely chose to remain on the sidelines, leaving them to confront Jamie about the truth.
"Jamie, please calm down," Sam said. "We'll find her. I think I know who took her, but we need you to trust us and not call the cops." He followed Jamie down the stairs, trying to convince her to put the phone down.
Jamie stopped and faced Sam. "Then who will find my friend?" she asked, her blue eyes blazing with anger.
"We will," Sam promised. "We'll do everything we can to find her."
"We're your only hope," Dean added, looking at Jamie. "The cops won't even act for 24 hours. If you want her found sooner, you have to trust us, Jamie."
Desirey watched as Jamie gradually calmed down. "I suppose you're right," she said. "But keep me informed. If you find her, call me immediately."
Sam nodded. "We will," he said. "And we'll make sure she's safe."
Dean, Desirey, and Castiel headed outside to search for Brooke. Sam followed, adding Jamie's phone number to his contacts.
Sam approached the car and entered. "Let's return to the hotel," he suggested.
"No, let's visit Bobby," Dean countered. "We may require his assistance identifying this demon."
"Agreed," Sam said. "Any help is welcome."
Dean nodded and drove away from the apartment towards Bobby's residence. "It would be helpful if the article featured a photo of Felix's killer, but he was absent when the police arrived," Dean remarked.
Sam dialed Bobby's number as Dean pulled away. "I'll inform Bobby we're on our way," he said.
Desirey listened intently as Sam spoke to Bobby on the phone from the back seat. "Thanks, Bobby," Sam said. "We'll be there soon."
"So?" Dean asked, glancing at Sam who had put his phone down. "Bobby's waiting for us to get there. We'll see what we're dealing with then."
"Once we arrive, we could consider leaving Desirey there," Sam suggested.
Dean glanced into the back seat at Desirey. He knew she wouldn't agree to stay behind, but they could try. Castiel had already left, unwilling to endure a long car ride. They would meet the angel at Bobby's.
"We can see if Soifon can keep an eye on her when we get there," Dean said as he drove. Sam nodded in agreement. He hoped they would find Brooke before it was too late. They didn't need anyone else getting into danger or hindering their progress.
Desirey frowned. She didn't want to be left behind. She wanted to be useful and help find Brooke. "No," she said, ignoring the sudden wave of nausea. "I can help you guys look for Brooke. It's better to have more people."