Daughter of Cain

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural

Chapter 30: Form and Void

Vivian's POV

Dean pulled into a rural farmland. It seemed peaceful and quiet, reminding me of Mullen's Haven—my home before all hell broke loose. It felt like the right place to raise a baby, away from all the chaos.

Even if it is Iowa.

We exited the car, and I grabbed the diaper bag to help Jenna. She appreciated it as she got Amara out. The baby cooed, and I smiled at her. There was something familiar about her as if we had met before, but that was impossible since she was just a newborn. I doubt it's a case of reincarnation. I need to have a word with Dean; we don't have time, cautious of Jenna's peace of mind right now. The young woman has enough to handle, especially since she just became Amara's guardian.

"Well, nice neighborhood," Dean complimented.

"Yeah. I pretty much grew up here," Jenna agreed as she pointed in a certain direction. "Learned to ride my bike down the road. Had my first kiss at that blue house over there. Lost my virginity up there."

Dean made his way over as he said, "I'll bet blue house was pissed."

"She was," Jenna said, handing Amara to Dean. "Do you mind?"

"Yeah," Dean said, adjusting Amara as he murmured at the baby. "Hey, beautiful."

Upon seeing that, I felt a flutter in my stomach, as if I were witnessing something I truly desired. I mentally shook my head, reminding myself of the boundary between us. Dean only sees me as a friend; anything we shared was influenced by the Mark. I promised myself I would leave once the Mark of Cain was resolved, but now it seems I will be here longer due to the Darkness.

Perhaps Rowena was right; I have feelings for Dean.

It would be wrong since he is a hunter—a hunter who has killed my father and grandmother, and possibly other members of my family, in the beasts of the Alphas. The circumstances were aligned, as I share Eve's views on the natural order. Nevertheless, Dean realized that not all monsters are evil. I reminded myself that I do not age like a human. He would be just a moment in my life; either time or the hunt would take him away.

But seeing him there, holding a baby, put my ovaries into overdrive.

Jenna grabbed the supplies we got at the store for little Amara.

"Anyway . . . That's why I asked you to bring us here," Jenna said, leading the way to the house. "After everything that happened, it just feels safe."

"Well, good. Safe is good," Dean agreed.

Amara fussed in which Dean tried to calm her.

"You're so great with her," Jenna noted.

"Well, what can I say? Chicks dig me," Dean joked.

I laughed, "You wish."

Dean smiled a little before handing Amara back to Jenna, "Well, look, we should, uh . . ."

"Right," Jenna said, adjusting Amara. "Sure."

"You'll be safe here," I said, securing the diaper bag on her.

"I know. What about you two and Sam?" Jenna asked. "Are you gonna be okay?"

I glance at Dean as he thinks about it.

"Well, for us, the bar's pretty low. See ya," Dean replied.

"Thank you . . . For everything," Jenna said.

She hugged Dean first, holding him tightly for a moment before they pulled apart. Then, she turned to me and offered a hug as well. I embraced her cautiously, ensuring the baby was not crushed in the hug. As Amara pressed gently against my chest, I felt a surge of energy envelop me. My body tensed up, not out of a desire for violence but from an intense instinct to protect.

"Jenna!" Called out an older woman from the porch of the house.

Jenna pulled back, smiling at me before heading over to the woman. "Hi, Grandma."

I took several deep breaths to process what happened and why my instincts were triggered. It wasn't a maternal instinct. A hand was placed on my shoulder, signaling that we needed to move. That's right—Sam was in Superior, searching for a cure for the Rabids. Time was running out as we got into the Impala.

No words were spoken as Dean drove. I gazed out the window, observing the countryside. Time passed, and I was nearly falling asleep when Dean finally said.

"Out of curiosity, do you have a kid?" Dean spoke.

I hummed in response, turning my head and looking at him.

"I mean, I doubt it, but I wouldn't be surprised if you had a kid," he said.

"I never had children," I answered to confirm his question.

"Really?" he was surprised.

"Yeah," I confirmed. "Never found the right partner, and out of precaution."

Dean made a face, "Precaution?"

I took a deep breath. "If I had a child, they would be half cambion... being a quarter demonic. In the first ten years of their life, they will age like a human, but emotions heighten. Let alone the first seven years, we hardly breathe and barely have a pulse. It can be terrifying if you are unaware of what we are."

Dean took this information in.

"They would probably have a shorter life span, longer than a human, but shorter than mine," I added. "It's something…I have debated on it. For a very long time."

Dean nodded.

"What about you?" I asked. "Do you have a kid?"

Dean tensed as if the subject of his own children.

"It's complicated," he answered.

My eyes widened when hearing this, "Dean Winchester has a kid."

"I could…. with all the ladies I've been with," he said playfully, then sighed. "But I know of one…a case of unprotected sex with an Amazon, which resulted in a kid…Emma…"

The way he said it made me realize that Emma resembled her mother more than her father. Amazons do not age like humans because the goddess Harmonia granted them the ability to mature rapidly, reaching adulthood within days. However, they have a tradition in which daughters must slay their fathers to become full members of the tribe. I can only assume that Emma went through this initiation and did not survive.

Sensing Dean's discomfort, "I see…we don't have to talk about it."

Dean grunted in appreciation.

"Still, have you ever considered having a kid?" Dean asked.

Feeling tension, I tried to lighten the mood by smirking, "Why? Are you offering?"

Dean literally choked on air, and I couldn't help but laugh.

As much as I adore children and the itch that comes now and then, it's best not to have kids.

It would be a few moments when I spoke, "By any chance…did you sense something off from the baby?"

Dean looked at me, "Was she infected?"

"No…. I didn't see any of the markings…but…. never mind, maybe I'm still out of whack," I said.

"Maybe," Dean agreed. "All I saw was a baby girl who lost her parents."

We both can relate to it since we both lost our parents. Our mothers when we were little and fathers as adults. Our mothers were taken by demons, and our fathers with their obsessions. Only Amara's mother died of complications from delivery, and her father was a victim of the Darkness.

I gave a heavy sigh, exhausted once more.

"Get some sleep," Dean suggested. "I can pull over so you can take the back."

I shook my head, adjusting myself before falling asleep.

.o0o.

Dean is a saint.

When I woke up, it was dark outside, but Dean grabbed some food. As soon as I saw the burger, my mouth watered, and I devoured it. Dean chuckled at my eagerness. Although I could go a week without food or endure the side effects of fasting for an extended period, I was incredibly hungry. I couldn't remember the last time I had eaten.

I also noticed that the burger was made the way I liked it. I glanced at Dean, who was driving while eating and focusing on the road. He remembered that I prefer my burger with cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce, ketchup, and mustard—no tomatoes or mayo. These small gestures affected me deeply, and I struggled to hide my feelings for him. Things would be simpler if I were under a curse of the Mark instead of grappling with this realization of my feelings.

We were four and a half hours away from Superior. When Dean's phone began to ring, I was too tired to focus on my food.

"Ghostbusters," Dean answered, his mouth slightly full. "Jenna, hey. Uh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down. What's wrong?"

Whatever Jenna said, Dean made an immediate U-turn. The drinks almost fell, but I caught them just in time. Dean told Jenna that we were on our way and asked her not to go into the nursery.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Dean swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "Apparently, you were right. Amara pulled something from the exorcist, making baby blocks spell feed me into the wall."

My eyes widened when hearing this.

"So, she is infected," I said.

"I don't know, but we need to get there and figure it out," Dean answered. "We need to get Amara back to the Bunker and figure this out."

"What about Sam?" I asked.

Dean pulled out his phone and called Sam. I held the phone as it was on speaker. Sam answered, and Dean gave him the update.

"I mean, it sounds like something out of "The Exorcist."

"That's what I said," Dean said.

"So, you thinking demon?" Sam guessed.

"No, I would have sensed it," I said.

"Or the kid got infected by something," Dean added. "You know, who knows what was in that giant, crazy fart?"

Sam chuckled at that, "Wow. Vivid. Thanks."

"Look, man, I know you're flying solo," Dean started.

"No, I'm - I'm fine, Dean," Sam assured. "Look, don't - don't worry about me. Just help Jenna. And if you need anything, then call me."

"Will do," Dean promised. "How you doing? How's "Zombieland"?"

"It's good," Sam said. "It's great."

The way he expressed it concerns me, and I can tell Dean feels it, too. Either there are more deaths in the area, or he has yet to find a cure.

"Sam, do you want me to come over and help?" I asked.

"Thanks, but I think Dean will need help," Sam politely declines.

"Well, call us if you need anything," I said. "BE careful."

"Will do," Sam assured before hanging up.

I stared at Dean, seeing the concern, but choosing between a baby that could be possessed and a dying town was hard.

.o0o.

When we arrived at the house, we quickly went to see Jenna, who appeared anxious and panicked after witnessing something unusual involving a newborn.

"Where's Amara?" I asked.

"We got another problem," Jenna replied.

"Figures," Dean said.

Jenna led the way, "I tried to stop her, but my grandma's real Catholic, and after the crazy, she called her priest, who sent over an exorcist."

We both stop to stare at her. An exorcist on such short notice? I may not be Catholic, but as far as I know, there are specific procedures that need to occur. These procedures usually take weeks to months to be approved after an investigation is conducted to ensure that this is not a mental health issue.

Exorcisms do not technically require the church's approval, as hunters or anyone who can speak Latin—or at least recite the incantation—can perform exorcisms to expel demons. Cambions can also expel demons under a command.

"Really?" Dean asked, knowing this as well.

"Yeah," Jenna confirmed.

We enter the house, and I immediately sense a demon. The energy from Amara is now heightened. As we move further inside, the demon reveals himself to be none other than Crowley, dressed as a priest and sipping a cup of tea. I feel a mix of emotions; I had suspected that Crowley was alive when his body vanished from the distillery. However, I'm displeased that he is here now. Crowley's presence usually indicates he is here for personal gain, especially considering the newborn with an unidentifiable ability.

"Hello, my children," Crowley said with a smile.

"Crowley," Dean almost growled but contained it since Jenna's grandma was here.

Crowley set the teacup on the coffee table, "Father Crowley."

Jenna noticed his looking between us, "Do you know each other?"

"Oh, yes. Dean was a rather scrumptious young altar boy," Crowley said. "And Vivian partook in bible studies."

I masked my distaste, though I nearly scrunched my nose. Although the Bible doesn't burn me when I touch it, the knowledge that it has been altered to please the masses lingers in my mind. As Cain has witnessed it all, seeing Crowley dressed as a priest should set him ablaze.

"Can I talk to you outside . . . Father?" Dean forced out, trying to be decent.

Yet Crowly, adding the words scrumptious alter boy, wouldn't blame Dean if he stabbed him.

"Of course," Crowley said, reaching for the tea set and adding sugar to his drink. "After I finish my tea."

Dean closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Crowley leisurely finished his cup of tea and thanked Mrs. Nickerson before standing up. Dean and I led the way outside, moving away from the house as we glared at the Crossroads demon.

"Really?" Dean asked harshly. "Father Crowley? Really?"

"I'm sorry, aging, pathetic, has-been rock star," Crowley replied sarcastically. "Did I offend your delicate sensibilities? Where have you been? Your brother and that idiot angel, do you know what they've been doing? Or has Vivian told you."

"I've heard," Dean confirmed.

"Everything?" Crowley asked.

"Why are you here, Crowley," I demanded, crossing my arms.

"Same as you two - I'm working the case," Crowley answered.

I scoffed at this.

I could faintly hear the sound of a baby crying. My instincts kicked in, urging me to go to her, but I stood my ground, knowing Jenna would take care of Amara. I remained focused on the demon in front of me. Despite my other form wanting to emerge, I held on to my humanity in case Mrs. Nickerson or Jenna came out.

"Elaborate," I said.

Crowley nodded as he paced around, "I have sources in the Catholic church - nuns that owe me a favor, priests with a taste for –"

"Okay, all right, yeah, I can imagine," Dean interrupted.

"You really can't," Crowley murmured before coming over to us. "Anyhow, they hear of a demonic possession, they call me. If it's one of mine, I tell them to ignore it. If it's a, uh, demon gone rogue, well, that's when Father Crowley comes out to play.

"So, you think there's a demon in there," Dean assumed.

"Not even a little bit," Crowley said firmly.

I sense something, hearing a soft noise.

"Whatever's in that house, I can taste the power radiating from it," Crowley said, pointing to the house. "That thing…it's old…. deep…dark."

The aura changed, and my body became rigid.

"The Darkness…." I whispered.

Dean turned around to face me, "What?"

I tried to comprehend everything, remembering from the Empty that all entities needed a vessel—angels, Demons, even…. God and Darkness.

Before I could speak, there was a scream. Quickly, Dean, Crowly, and I ran inside. Dean called out for Jenna as we made our way to the kitchen, finding Mrs. Nickerson lying on the floor, dead. Her throat was slit.

"Well, hello, plot twist," Crowley murmured, intrigued.

Dean and I began searching for Amara and Jenna without hesitation. We were uncertain about what had happened, but I could sense a strong presence growing in this area. Dean started calling out for Jenna.

"Really?" Crowley said.

We were on the second floor as Dean stopped to look at the demon, "What?"

"We have no idea what ancient, world-shattering evil we're dealing with, but go right ahead," Crowley exasperated, his arms moving about. "Let him know we're coming!"

"Listen, Velma, this isn't the Scooby gang, okay?" Dean said. "So either shut up or get out."

"Easy, tiger. Just trying to help," Crowley murmured.

Amara started to cry in the other room.

Not saying another word, we continued on to the nursery.

Although, I heard Crowley mutter, "I'm way more of a Daphne."

We entered the nursery and noticed that Jenna was not present, but Amara was in the crib. As we approached, Amara suddenly calmed down and smiled at us. Her tiny hand reached out toward me, and I felt an irresistible pull to step closer. However, Dean stopped me. I blinked a few times, trying to process what had just happened, and then watched as Dean moved in closer. He unbuttoned the onesie just enough to reveal the newborn's chest. The Mark of Cain was on her left shoulder near the collarbone.

The Darkness is possessing a baby? I thought in shock.

I awakened my cambion form to better understand the entity claiming this baby as their vessel. All I saw was a baby with two souls: one was hers, which was black, and the other was a human soul.

"The child likes you," Crowley said, leaning against the door frame. "No surprise, really. You're very maternal."

Dean fixed Amara's onesie, then faced us, "We gotta find Jenna."

"I'll stay here and watch Amara. You find Jenna," I said.

"No, I don't want you near her," Dean ordered firmly.

"Dean," I said, surprised.

"What's going on?" I asked.

I was about to speak when there was a sound of shattering. Not saying a word, Dean grabbed my hand and led the way out of the nursery. Crowley followed as we entered a bedroom, seeing Jenna walking around, grabbing figurines and tossing them.

"Jenna?" Dean asked cautiously. "What are you doing?"

Jenna held an angel figurine in her hand, "My grandma collected these things, but I always thought they were so . . . Blah." She slams it on the floor, shattering it. "Don't worry. She won't care. I cut her throat."

"Why did you do that?" Dean asked.

"Because this woman doesn't have a soul," Crowley noted. "Fascinating."

"She's become soulless," I murmured. "Similar to what Abadon did."

"How is that even possible?" Dean whispered.

Jenna examined the figurine and then stared at us with a smile, "Amara's hungry. She's a growing girl."

The soul I saw in the baby was Jenna's.

I know there are creatures that consume souls…but a baby.

"Jenna," Dean soothed his way closer. "Listen to me. Whatever's happened, whatever's going on, we can fix it, okay?"

"But I don't want to be fixed," Jenna said, still holding the figurine. "I like the new me. She's a ball."

"Just come with us, okay?" Dean advised.

Jenna threw the figurine at Dean, and he caught it just in time. But then, she quickly drew a kitchen knife and attacked him. Dean stepped back just as he lost his balance and fell onto the bed. Jenna lunged at him again, but he rolled to the side, causing the knife to plunge into the mattress.

I was about to step in when I sensed something behind me. Turning around, I spotted a little girl adjusting her pink dress. My eyes widened in surprise as I noticed how much she resembled the portraits of me from my childhood. The only differences were that her hair was a lighter shade of brown, and her eyes were a deep black. It was as if she could have been my sister.

She smiled and began to walk away. Knowing that Dean could manage Jenna and Crowley if things got out of hand, I chased after her. She was fast on her feet, giggling as if it were a game.

"Wait!" I called out.

We came outside, and the little girl turned around to face me.

"Vivian," She cheered.

I stopped where I was, "How do you know my name?"

The little girl tilted her head, "Because we met before."

"Amara," I said.

"That's my name now," she murmured. "But you saw me…. we were friends…. but then you grew up…but don't worry, we can be together again."

"Amara…" I tried to find my words.

I didn't understand what she meant. I barely had a childhood friend. The early years of my life were spent in isolation with Cain. My abilities were complicated under his training. I only interacted with other children when we went to town to get supplies. She didn't resemble any of the kids I played with back then.

The little girl pouted, "I don't look like me. Not the me, you know."

"Listen, we need to get you to a safe place," I said.

Her face narrowed, "But I'm hungry."

I tensed, knowing what that meant. The girl frowned, "But I won't eat you."

I reached out, only to be blasted away, landing hard on my back. The little girl came over, hovering above me.

"Sorry," she apologized. "When I'm big enough, we can play."

I tried to sit, but the little girl placed her hand on my forehead, and suddenly, everything went black.

.o0o.

Dean's POV

Dean restrained Jenna and managed to take the knife from her hand. Suddenly, out of nowhere, they were separated, and Jenna shot up to the ceiling before collapsing onto the ground with a loud crack. Dean panted as he looked at Jenna lying there, her eyes wide. When he searched for her purse, he found none. He then turned his attention to Crowley, who seemed unapologetic, while Vivian was nowhere to be seen.

"I was getting bored," Crowley said.

"You killed her!" Dean yelled.

"You're welcome," Crowley said, turning to leave.

Dean got up, "Where are you going?"

Crowley stopped to face him, "To see the child that eats souls."

"You don't get what that thing is," Dean said as he made his way over.

"Enlighten me. Come on, darling," Crowley taunted. "Don't play coy."

Dean panted, taking a few deep breaths, as he said, "I think Amara is the Darkness."

This seems to fascinate the demon, "Interesting. So, what now? You kill her? You?"

Dean slightly shook his head, "I don't have a choice."

As much as killing a baby will ruin him, it had to be done.

"Please," Crowley scoffed. "Even if you could murder a baby, you couldn't murder that baby. I saw the way you looked at her. Me, on the other hand, it's not like it'd be my first."

Dean doubted it, "Oh, is that an offer?"

"It's a promise - right after I'm done with her," Crowley murmured.

Dean wasn't comfortable with the situation. He wondered if there was a way to free Amara from the Darkness and save the baby. He had promised Mike that he would protect the baby. Amara was simply being possessed. Furthermore, killing the host and releasing the Darkness could have dire consequences, possibly unleashing a storm that would turn the citizens of Cedar Rapids into Rabids.

"Stay away from her!" Dean lunged forward to tackle.

Crowley waved his hand, throwing Dean into the closet, shattering the doors. Pain overwhelmed Dean as he struggled to get back up.

"Oh, Dean. Adorable little Dean," Crowley taunted. "I want that child, and I get what I want. You and Sam don't understand. I'm not your bloody sidekick! We've had some good times. So, I'm gonna give you one chance - just one - to walk out that door, or I'm gonna take you apart atom by atom. Do you understand— "

Dean quickly drew the angel blade he had tucked in his pants and charged forward, getting Crowley in the hand and pinning him to the wall.

"Aah!" Crowley cried out. "Bastard!"

Dean drew the demon-killing knife, and fear flickered in Crowley's eyes. Although Dean was eager to kill the demon, he knew he had to get Amara and Vivian to safety first. He reluctantly left Crowley behind and hurried to the nursery. Despite his internal conflict about harming a baby, he felt it was necessary, as Crowley had sinister plans for the child.

He barged into the nursery, only to find it empty. Approaching the crib, he pulled back the blanket, but there was no child inside. Panic set in as he wondered if Vivian had taken Amara out of the house, believing the baby was simply possessed. However, if the Darkness is inside Amara and Vivian shares the first bond, this situation could be dire.

Dean was unsure of what the Darkness wanted from Vivian. Knowing it was unsafe to leave Crowley alive, he returned to the bedroom to finish what he started. However, he found that the Demon King of Hell was gone, with blood splattered on the wall around the angel blade. Frustrated, Dean set out to search for Vivian.

Once outside, he quickly realized she was nowhere in the house and in no condition to teleport. Panic surged within him when he spotted her lying on the ground. He rushed to her side to check her condition. There were no signs of injury. Dean shook her gently, trying to wake her, but all he received was a groan. She remained unconscious.

Dean sighed in relief.

Dean believed that Vivian had attempted to stop whoever had taken Amara and had subsequently been knocked unconscious. He tried to wake her, but his efforts were in vain.

With a heavy sigh, he secured the demon-killing knife and angel blade before picking Vivian up. He carefully carried her back to the Impala and laid her down in the back seat. Afterward, he secured the house to make it appear as though a robbery had gone wrong before leaving.

Dean had a lot weighing on his mind with the Darkness now unleashed.

He isn't entirely sure what the Darkness wants. Does she intend to end the world, bring about another apocalypse, or dominate it? Dean is uncertain, but if his theory is correct, the Darkness desires her first bond. The question is: Is Vivian the first bond?.

.o0o.

Sam discovered a cure in Superior by using Holy Oil to burn the infection out of the surviving Rabids. Unsure of how to explain this miraculous finding, the survivors declared the situation an isolated epidemic. With no further words to share, they drove back to Kansas.

Dean explained everything that had happened, occasionally glancing over to check on Vivian. She still hadn't woken up, but considering she had been affected by the Book of the Damned cure, she needed the rest. Sam noticed this and agreed to let Vivian sleep. Dean could see that his brother was exhausted as well.

"All right, I still don't understand. I mean, I thought the Darkness was a woman, not a child." Sam said.

"Well, same here. I don't know." Dean replied. "Maybe whatever I saw wasn't real. Maybe it was a vision."

"Vision?" Sam asked.

"Yeah," Dean guessed. "Look, I'm gonna tuck Vivian to bed."

"Yeah," Sam agreed, then glanced at the mess.

Dean started going to the area leading to the rooms, "We got to get a maid. But, you know, one with a-a little uniform and really big, uh –"

Behind the pile of books was Castiel lying on the ground, covered in blood.

"Help me," Castiel pleaded weakly.

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