Daughter of Cain
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural
Chapter 29: Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire
Dean's POV
Dean was still grappling with the fact that he had killed Death. To make matters worse, a part of him that had been emotionally locked away had taken control, overriding the apathy he had been feeling for the past several days. He couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't kill Sam.
He turned his attention to Sam, seeing on the ground his face swollen and bloody.
I did that, Dean thought in dismay.
He offered Sam a hand, which he accepted before pulling himself off the floor.
"You okay?" Dean asked.
Sam stared at Dean with caution and relief, "I'll live. You?"
"Fantastic," Dean replied, still in disbelief. "I think I just killed Death."
A loud noise pierced the air; the whispering he had ignored was now a shriek. Dean stared at Sam, who seemed oblivious to it.
"Does that sound right to you?" Dean asked.
Suddenly, a bolt of red lightning crashes through the roof and strikes Dean's forearm. A searing pain consumed him, falling to his needs as he lifted his cursed arm, and the Mark of Cain glowed red, cracking with the lightning inside. The worst pain imaginable devoured his arm as if his arm was about to explode and shatter. Dean grabbed his wrist, unsure what to do, grinding his teeth, watching, unsure what was happening.
Suddenly, the Mark disappeared. The lightning that had struck him surged out in the same way it had come in. Dean panted as he felt all the urges and negative emotions he had been drowning in for the past year fade away. He looked at his arm and watched the last remnants of the Mark vanish.
He was free.
He was free from the Mark of Cain.
Dean wasn't certain if this was a good thing. He suspected that Sam had asked Castiel to continue the process with the Book of the Damned, or perhaps it was a long-distance transfer. Part of him hoped it was the latter, but he prayed it wasn't Vivian. They needed to return to Kansas to confirm what was happening.
Dean picked up his phone and attempted to call Vivian. After several rings, the call went straight to voicemail. He hoped that Vivian's plan hadn't succeeded, that she hadn't transferred the Mark onto herself, and that Castiel had used the Ash Dagger to place the curse and hide her body.
Although the Book of the Damned had cured him of the Mark, the Darkness had now been unleashed. Dean looked at Sam, who appeared baffled and pleased that the Mark was gone. However, Dean felt conflicted as he tried calling Castiel, but there was no response.
Quickly grabbing his gear, Dean headed out, for this was not good.
"This is good. Dean, this is good," Sam reassured as he followed him. "The - the Mark is off your arm. Nothing crazy happened. You get your baby back."
As he said this, he handed the keys to the Impala back to Dean.
Dean clenched his fists as he held the keys, doubting this calm before the storm.
"Yeah. I'm sure everything's perfectly fine," Dean sarcastically muttered.
As they walked toward the Impala, a loud crackling sound erupted. Both looked up at the sky and saw a storm appear out of nowhere. It was an overcast day, with clouds all around, yet there had been no sign of a storm.
"What the h-?" Sam couldn't finish.
The sky was glowing dark red, and several red lightning bolts struck the ground within several feet of Sam and Dean. The red lightning crackled across the sky and repeatedly struck the ground all around.
"What did Death call this?" Sam asked.
"The Darkness," Dean answered.
The earth began to tremble as an earthquake struck, followed by columns of black smoke erupting from the areas where red lightning had flashed. It seemed almost demonic, although the scent of sulfur was absent. Then, a piercing scream from a woman echoed through the chaos. The black smoke converged into one spot, forming a massive tsunami. Dean and Sam looked stunned as the wave started to surge toward them.
"Get in the car," Dean ordered. "Let's go, let's go!"
They hurried to the Impala and climbed inside. Dean quickly inserted the key into the ignition and tried to back the car away from the restaurant, but the rear wheel was stuck in a pothole. The tire spun as Dean accelerated, trying to get out of the hole and away from the approaching cloud. Mentally cursing as he tried to figure out a solution, he felt Sam tap him roughly on the arm.
"Dean," Sam panicked.
Dean looked up, watching incredulously as the cloud roared toward them.
"Dean!" Sam yelled.
"Hold on," Dean told him.
As darkness enveloped them inside the Impala, a black storm swirled around. Dean noticed a woman standing in front of the Impala, dressed in a black gown. She appeared momentarily and then vanished. Before Dean could comprehend what was happening, he felt an inexplicable pull, as if he was being teleported, and found himself standing outside.
The swirling black smoke formed a clearing in the field. Confused, Dean turned to see the woman standing there, her back facing him. At first glance, he thought it was Vivian, as her dark hair was the same length.
Dean's heart sank at the realization that Vivian, having taken the Mark of Cain, might have merged with the Darkness, leading him to fear that she was being possessed.
"Vivian!" Dean called out.
The woman turned around, revealing she was not Vivian, but the resemblance was striking. This woman had chiseled features and an unnaturally captivating beauty. The Darkness stared at him with dark, piercing eyes.
"Thank you," The Darkness said, her voice soft.
"Well, now that you've said your thanks, let's talk about what happens next?" Dean demanded.
The Darkness gave a sincere smile, "I like it here. With you."
What? Dean thought.
"I haven't felt this peaceful in a long, long time," The Darkness said.
"Well, let's get something straight – I'm not here to bring you peace," Dean warned. "I know what you are."
"Really?" The Darkness said in disbelief, then smiled. "I've been gone so long, I didn't think anyone remembered. "
"Well, Death painted a hell of a picture," Dean said.
Confused, the Darkness stared at him, "I don't know this Death, and he doesn't know me."
This also confused Dean as he glanced down and back at her, pulling out his bowie knife. "So, are you saying I should try and Kill you right now?"
"Am I saying that?" She murmured, tilting her head as she stepped closer. "Or are you?"
A strange feeling consumed Dean. It was similar to what he felt for Vivian, and attraction, a longing, except with a siren's enchantment. As if the Darkness was manipulating his feelings. Death never mentioned this. Dean wasn't sure if he wanted to kiss her or kill her.
"If you're as bad as they say you are, why haven't you hurt me?" Dean asked.
"For the same reason that you'll never hurt me," the Darkness answered, adjusting the collar of her dress, revealing the Mark under her collarbone.
Dean's eyes widened when seeing this.
"We're bound, Dean," the Darkness murmured as she leaned in closer. "We'll always be bound. You helped me. I helped you. No matter where I am, who I am…we will always help each other."
Dean stepped back.
The Darkness gave a smile, "But you are my second bond. I need to find my first."
"Your first?" Dean asked.
"Until we meet again, Dean," The Darkness replied as the black clouds consumed them into oblivion.
.o0o.
"Hey! Hey!" Sam's voice called out.
Dean groaned as he woke up in a field of wildflowers. He grunted while standing up to see Sam making his way over to him.
"You okay?" Sam asked, helping Dean up.
"Yeah," Dean asked, distorted. "Where's the car?"
A sudden headache struck, and he covered his eyes. Dean wasn't sure if it was all a dream or reality as he tried to remember everything that had happened. However, where was Baby?
"I-I-it's . . . About a mile that way," Sam answered with concern.
"What?" Dean gasped, surprised.
"Seriously?" Sam replied, checking his brother's condition. "The - the Darkness hit. You disappeared. You remember none of this?"
Then everything came back to him in what happened.
"She saved me," Dean thought aloud.
"What?" Sam asked. "Who?"
Dean paused before answering. "The Darkness."
His conflicting emotions return since he is bonded with the Darkness.
No words were exchanged as Dean and Sam walked back to the Impala. Dean pulled out his phone to contact Vivian, only to realize there was no signal. He cursed once more. Seeing the Darkness brought him some relief, as it meant the curse had not transferred to Vivian and that Castiel likely hadn't stabbed her with the Ash Dagger. However, he couldn't shake a bad feeling. The Darkness bore a striking resemblance to Vivian, especially when she had mentioned a first bond.
A part of him did not want to think that Vivian was the first bond. Cain had the Mark when Vivian was conceived. Dean and Vivian shared a bond that prevented them from harming each other, allowing them to sense when one was in distress. Vivian's commands helped to curb their violent impulses.
They need to find Vivian.
"Wait a second. What do you mean she saved you?" Sam asked.
"You were there." Dean reminded. "When the storm hit, everything went dark."
"Yeah, but you just disappeared from the car," Sam reminded.
"I don't even remember that," Dean said, trying to find a signal on his phone.
"Well, I don't remember some woman pulling you out," Sam countered.
"Well, what do you want me to say, okay?" Dean replied, putting his phone away. "I was in the car, and then I wasn't in the car. I was in the field, and she was there."
"And she told you she was the darkness?" Sam asked.
"No. She was wearing a nametag," Dean sarcastically answered. "What do you think? She thanked me."
"For what?" Sam asked.
"Setting her free," Dean guessed.
"You didn't set her free. I set her free," Sam corrected.
"Does it matter?" Dean sighed. "I mean, yeah, you said the spell, but I had the Mark, so lock and key."
"So, what, now she feels indebted to you or something?" Sam suggested.
Dean shrugged, "I don't know. She's a Darkness. Does she feel anything?"
"And that's all she said? Thanks?" Sam asked.
"Yeah," Dean answered. "She was weird. But she had this energy about her, this - this focus. But, yeah, not a talker."
"So, we know Jack," Sam concluded.
"Well, we know what she looks like, and we know that she's evil. Oh, and she is looking for her first bond," Dean announced, making his way to the Impala. "The question is, what does she know? I mean, she's been locked away since the beginning of time. Does she even know what a cheeseburger is? All I know is that we set her free, and we're gonna put her back in, no matter what it takes."
He opened the door to the Impala and got inside. However, as he got in, he noticed the car was way low. "What the . . ." he got out and realized the rear tire was still stuck in the pothole. He turns to face Sam. "Just gonna let me get in the car?"
"You were on a roll," Sam said with amusement.
Dean rolled his eyes, slammed the door, and got around.
This was not his day.
.o0o.
Vivian's POV
"Enough, I'll handle this," said a deep voice.
The Entity with the face of Abaddon scowled before vanishing. I panted, sensing a strong presence behind me, similar to the Entity. I was about to turn when my body became petrified, unable to move.
"Stay where you are," the deep voice said, only to become multiples of many.
I took several deep breaths.
"You are a child of Adam and Eve," the voices said. "No…their grandchild…through Cain."
I took another deep breath.
It gave many sighs in unison, "Betrayal comes in many forms, and Cain seems to have fallen even more."
"He didn't have a choice," I whispered.
"Every being has a choice, for I made it so," the Being said.
"Made it so," I repeated quietly. "Are you…"
"I have many names, but I will not say," the Being confirmed.
My eyes widened as I stared at the empty space, realizing who was behind me. A wave of emotions surged through me, for this Being was the cause of my family's downfall. Rage consumed me.
"Do not speak ill of my family," I seethed. "When you were the one who ruined everything with your expectations of humanity, you placed the burden of being the older sibling on Cain. You took Eve away, punishing her and separating her from her family while forcing her to give life to both man and beast. You left my kin vulnerable, allowing Lucifer to nearly take Abel as a pet if my father hadn't made that deal. The Mark placed upon him drove him to near insanity, ultimately leading to murder."
"Lucifer gave Cain the Mark?" the Being asked.
I clenched my fists, "Yes."
"Does he still have the Mark?" the Being asked.
"My father is dead, as his soul sleeps in this realm," I answered. "The Mark is now in possession to Dean Winchester.."
Silence engulfed the Empty.
"Then she will soon arrive," the Being said.
"Who will come?" I asked.
"The Darkness," the Being said.
"The Darkness?" I repeated.
The Being gave a sigh, "In the beginning, there was nothing. Only my sister and I existed. She was the Darkness, and I was the Light. We balanced each other, yet we were different. My sister believed that we alone were enough, but I was being, while she was nothingness. I thought I could show her that there was more to life than just us. However, life had a negative effect on her. Every time I built a new world, she would destroy it. I knew it wasn't her fault; chaos and destruction were simply what her hands were made of.
"She compromised and allowed me to create, but my creations would vanish the moment she touched them. I understood that it was not her fault, for she lacked what I possessed. I had to gradually introduce her to new concepts. Eventually, she was able to touch the archangels, and they did not perish. We were a family. We were not alone."
I could sense pure serenity in the Being's voice.
"I tried again to create a world. Nature was acceptable. The Darkness could rest her feet and touch it, which she yearned to do. She created night, shadows, and shade. She instigated the quaking of stones, the eruption of volcanoes, and the fury of storms. Storms were her favorite. Tranquility sometimes needs disruption. Together, we made nature."
The Being sighed, "But I wanted more. I wanted life. Not the life of the trees and flowers."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Life reacted poorly to her, and she reacted poorly to life," the Being explained. "I was selfish, yet I didn't want to hurt her. So, I thought that if I placed her in her own world, she could live as freely as she desired. However, she refused, feeling offended by my decision. I had no choice but to confine her with the assistance of the Archangels. It was necessary."
"It had to be done," I nearly laughed in disbelief.
"But a price was paid for my son Lucifer," the Being ignored my laugh.
"And he condemned my father, millions of years with the urge to kill, and becoming a demon, a Hell Knight," I seethed. "The blood of his brother's was the first to stain his hands."
"I was not there when it happened," the Being said.
My eyes widened when hearing this.
"I have been here since putting Lucifer in the cage," the Being continued.
There were so many questions I wanted to ask, debating whether I was actually talking to God, an angel, or a demon playing tricks on me—someone powerful enough to make the Entity walk away.
"Vivian Colette Mullen, daughter of Cain and Colette, you must ensure that the Mark is never broken. For if the Mark ceases to exist, then the Darkness will be unleashed with fury. The Mark must be contained."
"Who bears the mark shall bring havoc upon the earth," I said.
"The Mark brings out the worst in those who bear it," the Being explained. "Only someone selfless can control it. Although darkness runs in your veins and you have moments of poor judgment, you are fundamentally selfless. If Dean Winchester can control it, then you can bear it too."
I wanted to face the Being, yet my body remained in place.
"For if you don't, not even my avatar can defeat her," the Being added.
"Avatar…"
.o0o.
Something nibbles at my fingers, stirring me awake. I open my eyes, my vision hazy, and feel something that feels like wet leather pressing into my hand. Warm puffs of air dance along my skin. As my vision clears, I see what is investigating my hand—a fawn.
I remained motionless, observing the fawn. My mind was still in turmoil as I tried to piece together what had happened and the dream I had experienced. A being with many voices spoke of the Mark of Cain, revealing that the Entity associated with the Mark was the Darkness. I realized that I had failed—the Darkness had been unleashed.
The pain burned in my chest.
Damn it, Rowena, I thought.
She thought I was taking the Mark for selfish reasons. As if I want to be all-powerful. I just wanted to protect Dean and Humanity. Willing to be cursed again in order to do that. And Rowena…gods, when I get my hands on her, I am going to put a curse on her that will remove all of her magic. I can think of a few relics that can do that.
But that will have to wait.
The fawn continued to sniff and nibble.
I twitched my fingers, causing the fawn to stop. The little dear lifted its head and turned toward a nearby doe. Slowly, I sat up, and the fawn dashed back to its mother. In an instant, they scurried away, and I couldn't blame them.
My chest still ached, so I carefully removed my jacket and lowered the collar to reveal a massive scar. There were more lightning scars surrounding the Ash Dagger scars. I could feel my body trying to heal itself, but this particular wound wasn't mending quickly.
It's probably going to take a while. Carefully, I took my phone out, noted the time, and saw that Dean had tried to call me. This was just a few minutes after Rowena cast the spell. However, he didn't leave a message or text.
I debated whether to go to him or to Castiel. Rowena had cast an Attack Dog spell on the angel. I don't think it will kill him since Castiel is not human; I still remember how he attacked Crowley, although I can't tell if he actually killed Crowley. I saw something red but couldn't determine if it was blood or a demon. I called Castiel to see if the spell had worn off, but he did not answer.
Cursing, I refocused my attention on the distillery. The teleportation made me feel nauseated, and as soon as I arrived, I vomited. I collapsed onto my knees, clutching my head from a sudden headache and motion sickness. Once I regained my composure, I looked around and realized that Castiel was gone, along with Crowley's body. The only body that remained was Oskar's.
Cursing under my breath, I altered reality to conceal the use of magic and then moved closer to Oskar. He was truly dead; his body was already starting to show signs of rigor mortis. Still low on energy, I transformed Oskar into a porcelain doll. I planned to bury or cremate him later because I couldn't abandon his body. As for Crowley, he either escaped by leaving his vessel and then returned, or someone took it.
I didn't think I had the strength to go after Castiel, and I was not in my current state. However, I couldn't go back to the Bunker. Taking several deep breaths, I tried to locate Dean through our bond, but it had weakened and was no longer as strong as before. Was it because he no longer had the Mark of Cain?
I cursed; I got an angel who has been bewitched, and the Darkness is unleashed.
One step at a time, I thought, making a mental list.
Get the Winchesters.
Together, find Castiel.
And handle the Darkness.
Sounds simple, I thought to myself.
Okay, Sam says he was going to Superior, Nebraska. No doubt the Darkness would have caused damage. I sent Oskar somewhere safe before teleporting to their location. I stumbled, catching myself again, still weak. I glanced around, seeing the aftermath of a riot. There were crashes of vehicles and bodies all around.
I walked over to one of the bodies to see if there were any survivors. Only to stop to see black veins on their bodies. Similar to my marks, only theirs were protruding, swollen as if they were about to burst.
Why do these people have my markings? I thought in shock.
I confirmed their presence; they were not Cambion but humans exposed to dark energy. A vehicle drove by and stopped. I looked up to see that it was the Impala.
Small blessings, I thought.
The door opened, and Dean came out, "Viv!"
"Hey Sugar," I replied, for I was still pissed at him.
Dean rushed over and knelt at my level. Seeing my condition, he placed his hands on me.
"What happened?" he asked.
I paused, staring at him, sensing his aura was different. Back to when we first met, or similar to it. There was a small essence in him.
"Let's just say Rowena altered the spell, and it came with a punch," I answered.
Dean frowned.
"She was supposed to transfer but didn't, and a red lightning went through me," I explained.
Dean took that information as, "Where's Cass?"
I took a deep breath, "I don't know. Rowena cast a Guard Dog spell that I had to escape while he attacked Crowley. When I woke up, I went back to find him gone. I can't look for him in my state. I thought…I thought…finding you guys will help."
"Well, we need to get to the hospital," he said, helping me up.
I groaned, feeling another wave of nausea, then stared at Dean; he seemed physically fine.
"Is Sam hurt?" I asked.
"No, but the deputy is," Dean explained.
I nodded as Dean helped me into the back of the Impala. There was a local police officer who was bleeding from her side. She had dark hair and bright blue eyes.
"Viv, you alright?" Sam asked in the front.
I groaned, "Motion sickness. A nasty case of motion sickness."
Sam gave a concerned look.
"Who's she?" the officer asked.
"Jenna, this is Vivian. Vivian, this is Deputy Jenna Nickerson," Dean introduced as he got in the driver's seat.
I stared at Deputy Jenna, evaluating her condition, "What caused that wound?"
"Rebar, I sought cover and fell," she answered.
Dean drove while Sam explained that a storm had swept through town, causing many people to go rabid, with black tendrils appearing on their faces, necks, and arms.
"Did you see a fog?" Deputy Jenna asked.
I shook my head. "I was a bit occupied when it happened. Only to be in a car accident when another vehicle hit me. "
I alter the truth, for I do not know the extent.
"You might have a concussion, resulting in the nausea," Deputy Jenna suggested.
"Yeah," I groaned, then took several deep breaths.
I glance up, seeing Dean staring at me through the rearview mirror.
Maybe coming here was a mistake. Maybe I should have gone to the Bunker to recover and then come back here.
After some time, we arrived at the hospital, but it was in the same disarray as the town. Several bodies were on the ground, with the black tendrils on their flesh.
"Well, this is encouraging," Dean said, looking at Jenna and me. "Wait here."
We nodded as Dean parked the car, and the two men looked out. I enhanced my hearing to ensure we were safe while examining Jenna's condition.
"You know medicine?" Jenna asked.
"I used to be a nurse," I answered.
"You're on sabbatical?" she asked.
"Something like that," I answered, pressing a worn shirt against her injury.
"This is the darkness, right?" Sam said to Dean. "It's got to be."
"So, what, she shows up, and everybody goes "28 Days Later"?" Dean replied, going through the trunk of the Impala and getting supplies. "We didn't."
"Yeah, but I was in the car, and you were - you said she protected you," Sam said, as I glanced over the window to see him bringing over a wheelchair. "So, I mean, maybe it wasn't her. Maybe it was the smoke, and anybody outside, like the road crew, was exposed. I mean, you saw that. That wasn't human."
"So, what? The smoke mutated 'em?" Dean asked sarcastically. "Sure, why not? Just a couple hours ago, I killed Death. I'm pretty much open for anything. But mutated into what? All right, you know what, one thing at a time. Let's just get her some help and then we'll deal with whatever comes next."
The Winchesters came, and Sam helped Jenna into a wheelchair while Dean came over to help me out. He secured an arm around my waist and had me lean against him.
"Whatever you do, don't go into your other form," Dean whispered.
"Were their eyes purple?" I asked.
"No, but still," he said.
I nodded, then grabbed my chest for it hurt.
"Are you going to be alright?" he asked.
"I'll heal, but it's gonna take some time," I answered. "I just need something to curve the nausea and headache."
Dean nodded, and he helped me while holding his gun. Some words must be said, yet now was not the time to discuss it, especially with Deputy Jenna. When we got in, it was a bloodbath, as some people had the same condition as outside, only with black blood, while others died with normal blood.
"I got to call this in," Jenna said.
"No, bad idea," Dean said. "More people, more bodies. We'll deal with this."
"You know what, Dean, I'm gonna take a look around," Sam said. "You sew her up."
As Sam walks off on his own.
"All right," Dean said. "You know this place?" asked Jenna.
"This way," Jenna gestured to where to go.
"Okay," Dean said, pushing the wheelchair while I followed.
We discovered a surgical room in the ER as Dean helped Jenna onto the medical table. I approached the medical cabinet, broke the lock, and searched for medications to assist us. I found some painkillers to numb her pain and another medication for nausea. I moved over to the sink and swallowed several pills, knowing they would help due to my higher constitution compared to a human. Though it would take a moment for the medication to take effect, I was managing to hold it together for now.
I prepared the supplies for stitching, ensuring everything was sterile. However, in my current state, I don't think I can stitch her up.
"Dean, you think you can stitch her up?" I said as he took the tool with the needle and thread already set.
"This is gonna hurt like a son of a bitch," Dean said to Jenna.
Jenna adjusted her shirt and revealed the wound: "I knew those boys' sisters, their parents."
"You did what you were trained to do," Dean assured as he cleaned the wound. "It's all right."
"They don't train you to shoot your friends," She replied, tears in her eyes, not only from the rubbing alcohol but the trauma she went through recently. "I panicked. I could have . . ."
"Those boys weren't boys," Dean reminded her. "They were monsters, and they were a threat. Anybody could have panicked. Not anybody could have done what you did."
As he began to stitch up her wound.
"This job is supposed to be saving people," she sighed.
"Yeah, well . . . It sounds better on paper, doesn't it?" he said.
He continued to stitch up Jenna while I watched. Dean must have had a lot of experience with suturing wounds because he did a fairly decent job. However, as he worked, he appeared to be lost in thought. To help Jenna distract herself from the pain, I engaged her in conversation. She appreciated it and shared stories about her training as a police officer. Once Dean finished, he pulled away and looked at me.
"Let me see your wounds," Dean said.
"I'm fine. The medicine is working," I assured him.
"Viv, you were in a car accident," he said.
I sighed as we moved to the other side of the room. My back was turned to Jenna so she wouldn't see. I removed my jacket, and Dean saw the lightning marks all over my chest.
"How far does it go," he asked.
I sighed, lifting the bottom of my shirt to reveal more of the markings on my torso. Dean scowled at this.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"Yeah, but I'll live as if I haven't been beaten up this past week," I answered.
Dean sighed. It had been a week since my confrontation with the Stynes, the failed transfers, and being hit by the curse-breaking spell. My body needed time to recuperate, but I hadn't been able to recover properly. I wanted to ask him what had happened after he left, but I couldn't do that with Jenna present.
Our last encounter did not end well. I had risked everything to transfer the Mark onto myself, which he saw as a betrayal. He felt I was taking away his choices. No doubt Sam informed him of the plan at that moment, revealing that I was still willing to proceed with the transfers using magic.
Dean took my shirt and adjusted it.
"I'm sorry," I apologized. "I wanted to buy you all time. Even if it means…"
Dean sighed as he looked at me, his expression suggesting he had something to say.
"No matter what, don't risk your life for me," he said. "Not like that again."
I blinked as my eyes watered.
"Dean…the Darkness…she is…." I don't know how to put it into words.
"God's sister," he whispered, then realized I knew. "Wait, how did you learn of this?"
I took a deep breath, resting a hand on my chest, "Remember when I was in a…coma?"
Dean nodded.
"Well, I just remembered…. I was not put in a deep sleep, but saw some things….in a dark void…the empty. They told me about the Mark of Cain and the Darkness. It was why I was so hellbent on preserving the Mark."
"Yeah, well, we all got tricked," Dean muttered. "We'll talk more about this later."
I nodded in agreement.
The doors swung open as Dean drew his weapon, revealing Sam alongside a survivor who was cradling a baby. An unfamiliar presence lingered in the air, yet it felt strangely familiar. I focused on the man but couldn't place him. Then, my gaze shifted to the newborn, feeling the same aura emanating from the baby. It all seemed oddly recognizable. Shaking my head, I attributed it to my abilities being off and the effects of the drugs I had taken.
"Mike!" Jenna said, surprised.
"Jenna," Mike replied, surprised as well.
"Janie?" Jenna asked.
Mike expressed grief as he shook his head.
"There was another Rabid," Sam said. "He tried to get a hold of them, but died before I could you know."
Dean nodded.
We gathered together, securing the doors, while Mike held his daughter, trying to keep her calm. He explained what had happened at the hospital.
"The doc said it was gonna be a tough birth, but Janie . . . she stepped up. The twister hit; the power went out. She just kept on going. No drugs. Just pushed out this little dewdrop like she was nothing. Then Janie started bleeding. They tried, but . . . You'd think they'd know how to stop something like that.
"I'm so sorry, Mike," Jenna gave her condolences.
"You think you could tell us what happened here?" Dean asked.
"I went outside, after . . . t'collect myself," Mike said, breaking his attention from his daughter. "A truckload of 'em pulled up."
"The road crew?" Sam assumed.
"They didn't say nothing," Mike continued. "They just went off, attacking folks like they were possessed. I tore back inside to get this little one. I found that supply closet, and you know, been there since. I could hear them, though. Tearing through the halls. Doctors, nurses - they didn't care."
Mike then focused on his daughter. That was when something started to slither up his neck—the black tendrils of his veins. I glanced at Sam, who noticed this.
Sam cleared his throat, "You said the road crew went nuts. Did any of them come after you?
"Yeah, a few of them," Mike confirmed.
"Did they cut you or bleed on you?" Sam asked.
"They did," Mike said with concern.
Damn it, it is contagious, I thought.
"I don't understand. What are you saying?" Jenna asked.
"Saying that whatever this is, it might be transmittable," Dean explained.
"Especially blood-borne virus, like HIV," I added. "Bodily fluids in wounds or through mouth, eyes, and even nose can cause infection."
"What?" Jenna was in disbelief, shaking her head. "We don't even know what this is. Now you're saying it can be passed on?"
"He's right," Mike said, looking at Jenna. "I can feel it. Inside. Something's happening."
"How long has it been since you were attacked?" Dean asked.
Mike paused, thinking about it: "Three, four hours. The real question is, how long until I become like them?"
I stepped closer to examine the infection, though I did not touch him, before staring at the baby, "Has any blood made contact with her?"
"No, I made sure to wash myself in the supply closet and change my shirt, " Mike said.
"Have you made any bottled formula?" I asked. "Anything you touched that might have made contact with her face? Or changed her diaper?"
Mike shook her head, "The nurses fed her before all this, and she hasn't soiled herself."
I nodded, sighing in relief, but the presence lingered. Could she have been infected in a way that was different from everyone else? She was born while the Darkness was unleashed. Perhaps that was the reason, or maybe she was too young, causing the infection to manifest differently.
I knew what the Rabids were capable of, and I hesitated to take the baby from his grasp. However, this man was grieving the loss of his wife and had just discovered that he was infected. So far, he still has his sanity, and according to everyone's reports, sanity is usually the first thing to be lost.
Dean, Sam, and Jenna moved to the other side of the room to discuss the situation while I checked on the baby and Mike's condition. His veins were engorged and black. I stayed close in case I needed to grab the baby, but I occasionally glanced over at the others.
"Well, you know where I stand," Dean said, pacing around.
"No, you're not . . . You can't be serious," Jenna argued. "And if he goes out there, they'll kill him."
Dean stopped and looked at her, "So, we just wait around for him to kill us? Oh, yeah, that's - that's a plan."
"Or we just wait for him to die," Sam suggested. "There was a - whatever you want to call it - a "rabid" attacking the closet door, and he just died. These things have a shelf life."
"I can't believe what I'm hearing here," Dean grumbled.
"No, he's right," Jenna agreed. "We lock him up, we find a cure. This is a hospital."
"Yeah, well, call it a hunch, but I don't think you're gonna find this in the medical books," Dean argued quietly.
Mike sighed as he approached them, "I didn't open that closet door to find a cure."
"Look, Mike, I'm sorry, but this is untenable," Dean said apologetically in his own way.
"I know. That's why I thought maybe we could make a deal." Mike suggested. "I'll go find somewhere quiet and lay low until this is over. And you save my baby girl."
The baby cooed, and Mike smiled at her, trying to remain calm, yet his voice was breaking.
"Yeah," Dean agreed. "You've got yourself a deal."
"And I thank you for that. I truly do. But I wasn't talking to you," Mike sobbed and then looked at Jenna. "I know you. I've seen you in church since you were knee-high. Please."
He handed the baby over to Jenna, and she took her nervously.
"I don't even own a Guinea pig," Jenna said.
The baby began to cry.
"There you go, little girl," Mike tried to calm his daughter, securing Jenna's hold. "There you go. Thank you. Thank you all."
With nothing more to say, he ran off. My eyes watered as memories surfaced; they were not mine but the emotions from the stories of Cain taking care of me.
Dean watched Mike, being on guard. "Why do I get the feeling that that is gonna bite us in the ass?" he then stared at Jenna with the baby. "You good?"
"Oh, yeah. Aces," Jenna assured, trying to keep a positive face.
"All right, let's gear up," Dean ordered calmly.
"That might be tricky," Sam said, who was standing by the window.
"What do you mean?" I asked as Dean and I came over, leaning up to look out the window.
A truck was pulling in as people came out at a quick pace.
This was not good.
.o0o.
Dean grabbed his bag and began preparing the weapons. The baby started to fuss, but Dean remained focused on gearing up for another fight.
"What's he doing?" Jenna asked Sam.
Sam looked at her, then back to his brother, "Dean . . .
"We made a promise," Dean said.
"To do what?" Sam asked. "Charge out there, guns blazing? We don't even know how to kill them."
Dean pointed to Jenna, "She does. Chest, right? I'm guessing heart."
"This is madness," Jenna said.
Dean shook his head, "No. No, that is madness. This is horse sense."
"Save Mike's baby, but shoot Mike," Jenna almost argued. "Tell me where that makes sense."
"Look, we can just wait for them to die," Sam suggested.
"We don't know when they were infected," I said to Sam. "Mike had five hours before the first symptoms showed."
Dean nodded in agreement as he paced around. "And when they infect others, how long is that? No, we stay here, that baby dies. We did this, Sam. Okay? We broke it, we bought it. You know there's no other way."
Suddenly, Dean's phone rang, and he answered, "Where the hell are you, Cass?"
He walked away to have privacy.
Castiel, he is alive, I thought in relief.
I was still low on energy and couldn't hear the angel. Only Dean as he said, "You don't sound okay. . .What do you mean, what you have?" There was a long pause before Dean continued. "Okay, forget Rowena. Where are you?... Oh, really? You're worried about me after everything that I've -Yes. I'm good. I mean, I'm not great."
Sam and I made our way over. As Dean put the angel on speakerphone.
"Makes two of us," Castiel said tiredly. "This is good news."
"Hey, Cass," Sam said.
"Sam," Castiel greeted.
"Castiel," I said nervously.
"Vivian," Castiel sighed in relief. "You made it out…. that's good."
"I'm sorry," I mumbled.
"No, it's fine," Castiel assured.
"Okay, your turn," Dean ordered. "Talk to us about the Darkness?
"Why would I talk about the Darkness?" Castiel asked, confused.
"Because it's free," Sam answered.
"No, that can't be," Castiel said, now concerned.
"Removing the Mark opened some kind of lock," Sam explained. "Dean saw her."
"The darkness is a woman?" Castiel asked, baffled, though tiredly.
"Well, that's what we're asking you," Dean said. "We were hoping you could tell us what kind of defcon screwed we are."
Castiel was quiet.
"Castiel?" I called out.
"Sam, Dean, Vivian . . . Goodbye," Castiel said. "It may be some time before we see one another again."
The angel then hung up.
"Wait, Cass," Dean called out. "Cass!"
"FBI, my ass," Jenna accused.
I cursed, turning around to see Jenna glaring at us.
Sam and Dean explained that they were Hunters. When Jenna inquired about my role, Dean intervened and described me as a researcher. I assist Hunters by conducting research, which is why I tend to avoid handling weapons. Jenna seemed to accept this explanation, especially after everything that had happened.
She then focused on the baby going into the medical room while the Winchesters tried to come up with a plan. If only I weren't so weak, I could be of help—or even teleport everyone. However, I've never teleported anyone. I managed to teleport Cain during my training, but he was a demon and was able to overcome obstacles. Humans, on the other hand, make me nervous. I fear I would lose them or accidentally harm them. And as for the baby, I seriously doubt she would survive. The Winchesters understood my concerns.
"Look, I get it. I do. We're gonna save that baby, okay?" Sam whispered, looking at Dean. "And we're gonna find Cass, and we're gonna stop the Darkness."
"Okay, so what are we talking about?" Dean asked.
"The plan," Sam answered.
Dean replied sarcastically, "We have a plan, okay? It's the same plan as it's always been. In order to get out, we go through."
"And?" Dean replied. "How's that been working for us?"
"Boys, quiet," I shush them.
"We can't save Cass if we're stuck in some hospital, okay?" Dean said sharply. "Just like I can't strap on a time machine, go back, and tell Cain to shove that Mark up his ass or stop you from releasing the Darkness. Now, have we made mistakes? Yes. Hell, yes. And we can analyze each and every one of them over a couple of frosties when we're old and farting sawdust and out of this room! Right now, all I can do is I can gear up, I can head out, and I can save that freaking baby, which is exactly what I'm gonna do."
Dean then walked away, needing some space.
"When did we forget how to do this?" Sam asked, looking at Dean.
"What?" Dean replied, facing his brother.
Realizing this was a personal conversation, I excused myself and approached Jenna.
"Are they alright?" Jenna asked.
"They're brothers," I answered. "Stress and bickering."
Jenna nodded, turning her attention to the baby. "How long have you known of this…the supernatural?"
"I was raised through it," I answered. "My pa, he fought monsters in his past until he retired to raise me."
"And your mom?" she asked.
"She died when I was born," I answered. "Hence my pa's retirement. But he trained me, both physically and intelligently. However, I don't have the courage to kill someone, so I go through the lore."
Jenna nodded, "Is he still around?"
I shook my head, "He died…. several months ago."
"Oh," she said. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," I assured her, then stared at the baby.
"You have kids?" she asked.
"Naw, yet seeing a baby makes my ovaries go into overdrive," I answered, trying to lighten the mood.
Jenna chuckled, "Yeah, I never thought of myself being a godmother."
I gave her a reassuring smile.
"So, you and Dean are not dating?" she asked.
"We're just friends," I told her.
Jenna arched her brow.
"…. Get the girls and the baby somewhere safe," Sam said.
Jenna and I stared at them, listening to their plan.
"Without a shot," Dean said with doubt. "And what are we gonna do about those things on our tail?"
"They won't be on your tail," Sam assured.
Dean arched his brow.
"And here comes another fight," I warned Jenna.
"No way," Dean argued, walking away.
"You said it, Dean," Sam countered, following after him. "We broke this."
"Yeah, we broke this, okay?" Dean snapped, moving his hand between him and Sam. "We did."
"I heard it in your voice when you agreed to take that child," Sam reasoned calmly. "I get it. You do what you do. But you've got to let me do what I do, too."
Dean thought about it before conceding.
"Fine," Dean grumbled.
.o0o.
We waited while Sam stepped outside to distract the Rabids. We heard him shout, "Hey!" followed by the sound of footsteps running away. After a few moments, Dean took the lead and guided us out of the hospital. As we approached the front desk, another Rabid appeared.
It was Mike.
As he punched Dean down. I carefully pulled Jenna behind me. Yet she pulled out her gun, turning the safety off. This stopped Mike as he looked at us. He was worst for wares, as the veins on his face were black, and black ooze in his mouth. Blood was on his clothes, indicating he killed someone.
The baby cooed.
"The baby," Mike sobbed, staring at his daughter.
"No," Jenna warned.
"The baby," Mike repeated.
I raised my hands, creating a shield. "She is safe, Mike. We're not going to hurt you as long as you leave your daughter alone."
Dean shot up, aiming his gun at Mike.
Mike remained where he was, staring at his daughter, "Amara."
He was in utter pain, restraining himself.
"What?" Jenna asked.
"Her name . . . is Amara," Mike answered before falling to his knees, choking on his own blood.
I stepped closer to help, but Dean grabbed my arm as Mike fell to his side, dead. Black ooze flowed from him; he was a dead man. Dean gestured for me to leave with Jenna and the baby.
We quickly made our way to the Impala. After securing Jenna and Amara, we drove off. It felt wrong to leave Sam behind, but he was determined to find a cure for the Rabids. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Jenna comforting Amara, who had begun to fuss.
Amara, I thought.
The Entity mentioned Amara. A sudden headache came, and I grabbed my head.
"You alright?" Dean asked.
I took several deep breaths, "I'll be fine."
Sadly, I wanted to sleep, yet I summoned my demonic trait to stay awake.
.o0o.
It was a day when Dean parked the Impala at a gas station. We could have gone further, but the baby soiled her diaper. I desperately tried not to react to the smell, as my sense of smell was more acute than a human's. However, Dean and Jenna nearly gagged. Everyone got out to stretch their legs and fresh air. Jenna adjusted her hold on Amara and grabbed the diaper bag.
"Oh, you good?" Dean asked.
"Yeah. Baby. Poop." Jenna answered playfully. "What could go wrong?"
"Godspeed," Dean said, not at all volunteering.
Jenna gave a sigh, "I have no idea what I'm doing."
"Right. Listen, I know things might seem dark right now - hell, call it pitch-black," Dean tried to comfort her and gestured to the baby. "And you may not be able to see it, but your way back is right there. You and her. You're gonna help each other."
Jenna smiled as she adjusted Amara, "Joy comes in the morning. My grandma leads a Bible study."
"Ah. Well, let's go with that," Dean said.
Jenna nodded as she took Amara to the bathroom to be changed.
I sighed, resting my head on the roof of the Impala. The cold metal soothed my warm flesh. A hand rested on my upper back.
"You alright?" Dean asked.
"I still feel out of whack," I answered.
"I would suggest teleporting back to the Bunker…but Jenna would be suspicious," Dean murmured.
I hummed in agreement. Since we were at a gas station. I turned my head to look at him as he expressed his subtle concern while keeping a positive expression. There was something on his mind. Even though the bond between us has dimmed, I can slightly sense it. Or maybe it's because I know him enough to know he had something on his mind.
"What is it?" I asked.
Dean sighed, "You might have heard…but I met the Darkness."
I stood up straight, looking at him.
"She mentioned several things," he continued.
"Like what?" I asked.
"That she and I have bonded," he answered.
I frowned, not liking that.
"And she mentioned she needed to find her first bond as well," he added.
"First bond?" I repeated.
Dean nodded, "At first, I thought it was Cain since I doubt she had a bond with Lucifer."
"But my father is dead," I reminded.
Dean nodded, "The only person who has a connection with the Mark…is you."
I paused, comprehending this, "You think the Darkness will come after me?"
"It's a possibility you were sired by the mark," he said. "Do you recall anything with a woman who somewhat resembles you in a dark gown or sensed someone watching you?"
I tried to think what he was asking, "Not that I can think of from the top of my head…. Wait, does it resemble me?"
"She looked like she could be your sister," Dean said.
I scowled at this.
"We'll figure this out," Dean said.
Feeling uncomfortable about this, I changed the subject, "We should call Sam."
Dean nodded as he pulled out his phone and called Sam.
"Hey, you good?" Sam replied tiredly.
"Yeah, about forty miles outside of town," Dean announced. "As far as I can tell, it's isolated to Superior."
"Well, that's something," Sam said.
"How about you?" Dean asked. "You okay?"
"What'd you expect?" Sam answered. "Like it or not, I'm gonna find a cure."
Dean smiled for a moment, "Yeah, I know you are. Man, things are screwy right now. I know we don't have any answers, but at least we got one win, you know?
"I hear you," Sam agreed.
"All right, I'm gonna run Jenna up to her grandmother's," Dean said. "Shouldn't be more than a few hours. Then we clean up that town. We find the Darkness, and we kick her ass."
"Yeah, that's great, Dean. That um . . . sounds like a plan," Sam agreed but sounded off.
Dean then hung up before staring at me.
"Are you sure he is alright?" I asked. "He sounded off."
Dean frowned, sensing that something was off. Sam was either simply exhausted…, or he might have been infected. We needed to make sure Jenna and Amara were safe before returning. This was our mess; we had to fix it and then track down the Darkness.
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