Written by: Denaya Calcagni (Demoness) and Robin Benton (Raven524)

Prologue:

An agonized scream echoed off the walls of a dark room. Fresh blood oozed down the walls, loud slaps of something wet hitting the floor could be heard. There was a grunt, a chuckle, and another howl of pain. The sound of metal scraping metal grained on the nerves of the man restrained to the scarred and blackened table. Frenzied eyes blinked rapidly and then squinted tight as if lack of sight could stop the onslaught of pain. A gaunt figure stood at the man’s side and leaned over his torn body. He clicked his teeth in disapproval.

“C’mon now, Dean, surely you want this to end. Just say the words and I’ll make all of your pain go away. I can do that, you know. Just as I make you new at the beginning of each day, I can forever remove the pain. An eternity of pleasure would follow,” he said, his voice silky and hypnotizing. Lucien had always been a persuasive demon. That was why he was charged with the most important of Lilith’s acquisitions.

“Screw you, you sick, psychotic son of a bitch!” Dean Winchester grunted, spitting blood into the face of the demon that stood over him.

Lucien sighed and gently laughed. “Now, now. No need to be so crude. We can all be friends here.” Lucien waved his hands. Dean’s wounds began to close up, the pain lessened, and each scar disappeared. Another wave of his hand cleaned the room of blood. “You know, I could paint the Sistine Chapel with all the blood we spilled today.”

“I’d like to see you walk into the Sistine Chapel to try and paint it, jackass.”

“Oh, Dean, when will you learn that simple human constructs can’t keep us out? You need protections, ones that gold and pretty pictures just cannot provide.” Lucien smirked as he picked up his blade. “It would be easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle, et cetera, et cetera.” He chuckled as the hot and unholy steel pressed against Dean’s torso.

“How’s Sam doing, Dean?” He began burning the anti-possession tattoo on his chest. “I know how he’s doing,” he crooned.

A growl issued forth from Dean’s throat. “You shut the hell up about him.” He struggled against the white-hot iron shackles that held him in place, wincing in pain as they burned the freshly healed skin.

“But he misses you! He’s still searching. I hope I get to meet him sometime.” Lucien looked up insolently into Dean’s eyes, an amused grin spreading over his face.

“Stay the hell away from him. I’ll kill you. You hear me?”

“You’re not in any position to be making threats, Dean. Cliché, I know, but it’s true.”

“I’ll get out of here. You go anywhere near him and I’ll do it. My father did.” He screamed as the blade tore into his peck, creating a mockery sigil of protection.

“Your father was made of stronger stuff than you, though. He could’ve kept Sammy-boy safe. Poor Dean; always the guardian! And you couldn’t even do that without screwing it up. You couldn’t let him go and you couldn’t protect him when he came back.” Lucien stabbed the blade into the wood; the elegant, black pommel sat mere inches from Dean’s right hand. Unfortunately, the shackles prevented him from being able to pick it up.

He growled in defiance. His anger boiled over until he thrashed about, the smell of burning flesh making the hellhounds outside of the door anxious. They wanted to feed upon him as they had done on Earth. Their howls and frenzied scratching struck Dean. His body lay rigid on the table. He remembered the bites - the fear. The tears began to flow; it didn’t matter anymore. They knew his very weakness. “I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough, Sammy. I tried, Dad, I tried.”

*****

The backfire of a truck pulled Sam Winchester out of his dream. He awoke with tears in his eyes and his hand unconsciously clutching the spot on his chest where his protection sigil sat. He looked around the still-dark room; his eyes caught Travis still asleep in the second bed. That was a good sign; it meant he didn’t scream when he woke up this time.

A knock on the door caused Travis’ snores to stutter, but they quickly regained their rhythm. Sam rolled out of bed, wiping the water from his eyes and picking up his gun from the nightstand. He crept over to the door and looked through the peephole. There stood Bobby with an exasperated expression on his face.

“Well, you gonna let me in or am I gonna have to let myself in?”

Sam’s face split into one of his rare, genuine smiles. He threw the door open and let Bobby into the motel room. Once in, he gave him a hug with a hard pat on the back. “It’s good to see you again, Bobby.”

“I wouldn’t say that if I were you. Got a hunt and it’s a big one. Ellen is keepin’ an eye on things while I’m gone.” Bobby looked over at the still-sleeping Travis. “Wake his lazy ass up and get your demon pet.”

*****

Atop the Golden Gate Bridge, a dark figure stood staring out over the bay. The creature’s thoughts were turned inward, remembering the old days. His brief encounter with his reincarnated family fueled him to desire more. Despite his cold demeanor, he missed the weight of his son in his arms. He missed the warmth of his wife.

So many things had happened since he decided to embrace the darkness within him. He’d gained so much, but the demon didn’t care. Not this time. No, the only thing he wanted at this point in time was something he could never have again, people he would never see again.

Wind whipped his dark coat out behind him, his newly acquired brim hat sitting snuggly upon his head during the fierce onslaught. His eyes followed the darkness of the bay until they reached the bright lights of the city. He bowed his head and leapt from the beam as a car passed below him.

*****

“You sure we’re going the right way? It’d be totally bogus if we’re driving through Cali only to find that he’s somewhere in New York or China or something,” a teenage boy was saying to his mother.

“I can only go on the information I was given. Be patient. I don’t know why, but I trust that woman,” she spoke, a troubled edge to her voice.

“I don’t know about her, mother, but I trust you.” They shared a companionable smile and then fell into silence. The sky had lightened to a grey-blue, the morning larks had begun their beautiful songs, and a family was soon to be reunited.

*****

Opening Credits roll
Theme Song: “Bring Me to Life,” by Evanescence

*****



Special Guest Stars
Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester
Jim Beaver as Bobby Singer







Guest Starring…
Stephanie McMahon as Casey Taylor
Jackson Warris as Logan Taylor
Matt Robinson as Adrian Colfer
Samantha Ferris as Ellen Harvelle
Mark Valley as Davis
Zachary Quinto as Lucien
Beth Allen as Eldora

Chapter One:

“Sir, you can’t go in without a reservation. Bruce! I’m gonna need some help with this one!” A lean, blonde man put his hand up to stop the dark and brooding stranger from entering the bar. His friend and fellow bouncer growled impatiently as he moved away from the group of girls he was speaking to and took his place by the door.

“What’s the problem?” the large man asked.

Carson tilted his head to one side. “It was my understanding that this place only needed a reservation if one needed a table. I intend to sit at the bar.”

Bruce looked Carson up and down, taking in his wide-brimmed hat and dark coat. His arms were crossed in front of his broad chest and a sneer sat firmly on his face. “Place is full tonight. You want in? You need a reservation.”

“Well, I was not informed that the place was full. My apologies,” he said, smiling pleasantly at the larger man, holding out a hand. The man searched Carson’s face for any arrogance or smugness that would give him away as a troublemaker; he shrugged his big shoulders and took Carson’s hand into his own. The demon squeezed the beefy hand hard, his smile still calm and serene. “Maybe a seat will open up soon, huh? I can assure you, I’m willing to pay whatever is needed to secure a seat in this bar.”

The man felt the bones in his hand move; he fought the urge to shudder at this other man’s hidden strength. Bruce nodded his large head and walked inside. A few moments passed before he returned, a diminutive man in his hands. He tossed the little guy into the street and then waved Carson inside.

“Don’t… start… trouble,” he forcefully murmured to Carson as he walked by, his shirt lifted ever-so-slightly to show off the black grip of a Smith & Wesson .357 and his bushy brows coming together in a glare. It was obvious the bouncer now believed he had the upper hand.

Carson continued to smile and patted Bruce on the arm. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He walked in confidently and took a seat at the bar. His eyes remained unfocused on the activity that surrounded him. The bartender had to snap his fingers in front of Carson’s face before he even acknowledged his presence. “Crown and Coke,” Carson ordered, his mind many miles away.

“Damned place is going to Hell,” the bartender muttered as he skulked off to get the drink. “Damned bouncers let any ol’ freak in here nowadays.” He mixed the drink and slid it in front of Carson.

“And for you, miss?” he asked in a much more polite tone.

A beautifully lilting voice spoke up. “JD and Coke,” she requested. Carson’s head snapped to the side, curious as to who owned that hauntingly familiar voice. The woman received her drink and flitted across the room to her seat.

Carson watched the woman make her way. His mind refused to believe what his eyes declared true. There she sat in all of her classic beauty. The woman he had given his heart to while he was human. “Josephine?” he whispered, but then shook his head.

How was that possible? He’d left her and his son back in Detroit. Surely this couldn’t be another reincarnation to torture him further! How many times would he be forced to leave her? How many times could he endure this agony? Just as he half-convinced himself it was a trick of the lighting, he heard her soft laughter and all reason was lost again. No other voice in existence could make his broken soul jump as hers just did.

*****

The four hunters sat on the two beds in the dark and dirty motel room. Their bags were packed, Sam, Ruby, and Travis had since showered, an empty bottle of whiskey lay on the floor, and a half-finished six pack of cheap beer sat next to Sam on the bed. Bobby leaned forward, his face a mask of indifference, though anybody who knew him could see the excitement that simmered behind his eyes.

“Alright, Ellen’s in Los Angeles. There’s a new ‘exclusive’ nightclub there. Just opened about three weeks ago.” Bobby’s eyes locked onto Sam’s. “It’s invite-only and you need proof of ID to get in.” When Sam opened his mouth to speak, the older hunter held up a finger. “Now, that’s fairly normal. Problem is, the proof of ID is shown in a flash of the eyes.”

“How did you find out about it?” Sam asked as he opened another bottle of beer.

“We lost a promising young hunter there. He wanted in to impress his girlfriend. Stupid kid didn’t even realize until it was too late.” Bobby shook his head. “He was raised a hunter by his mama. She reported him missing to Ellen and by the time we found him, he was already gone.”

He paused and kicked the whiskey bottle away from his feet. Sam watched as it skittered across the floor until it shattered against the far wall. Bobby removed his ever-present ball cap and ran his fingers through his hair before he got himself back under control.

“We questioned this demon. Arrogant son of a bitch said that it didn’t matter if we exorcised him or not; ‘The Judicator will resurrect me!’” He paused once more and took the beer from Sam’s hand. He finished the half-bottle quickly and then handed it back to Sam.

“Well, we sent the bastard home, of course, and questioned the kid he was possessing. He damn near wet his pants. Said it was a rally. This Judicator is bringing in as many demons as he can get. He’s planning on having them release their meatsuits and find others. They only want powerful people from now on. California’s gonna become a factory for pumping-out demon-possessed politicians and Hollywood Elite.”

“The Judicator? That’s a pretty presumptuous name.” Sam reached into the six-pack and pulled out another beer.

“It’s not a name; it’s a title. You know, like how, in religion, the Heavenly Body has the Metatron,” Ruby spoke up disdainfully. “There’s only one Judicator in all of Hell at a time and each one who attains that position is generally so full of themselves that they take it as their name. Unfortunately, I have no idea what demon currently holds the title.”

“How does a demon get the title?” Travis asked, sipping his beer.

“You kill your predecessor,” Ruby answered simply, “and that is not an easy job.”

“Wouldn’t think it is…” A grin encroached on Travis’ face. “Is there a prize for taking his ass out or are we just doing it for the fun?”

Bobby slapped the back of Travis’ head. “We’re going in there to stop his demon stock from happening, ya idjit! He gets that support and we’re gonna have demons with the adoration of millions. Not to mention they’ll have military support keeping them safe from hunters and the political power to have us all convicted and thrown in jail. We can’t have that.”

“Alright, Bobby, when do we start?” Sam stood up and began the process of cleaning the room.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

*****

Chapter Two:

“You were right, Charles. He was there tonight,” the woman known as Josephine said, pacing the motel room. Her body was rigid, panic laid barely concealed beneath the excitement of the hunt. “He saw me; I know it. He looked right at me.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it. I mean, this guy from the website that I found seems to know what he’s talking about. But you shouldn’t have gone in there alone.” The boy was scared. Didn’t she realize how dangerous this thing was? “He could have followed you.”

Charles walked to the window and peered through the curtain. “What if he’s here right now? We aren’t ready yet.”

“No, we would know.” She took a deep breath. “Besides, he believed us before when we pretended to not know him. Why wouldn’t he do so now?”

She looked to her son. He seemed mature for one so young. But then, their life had forced him to grow up long before his time. She sometimes wondered if the deal she had made with the woman known as Eldora was the right thing to do. Then she remembered what her husband was capable of. She had to make things right, had to stop the man she loved from doing more harm. Even if it meant putting herself and their son at risk to ensure Jedediah was put to rest.

As she watched her son begin to check the various wards and sigils they’d placed for protection around the room, her mind wandered back to the day she made the deal that would change their lives.

*****

Jackson, Mississippi
November 11th, 1833

Josephine sat despondently on the front porch swing. She remembered the day that Jedediah had hung it for them; it was just before Charles had been born. He’d told her it’d be a great place to see her garden while caring for their young son. She still couldn’t understand how the man she loved could have done something so wrong, how he could’ve sold his soul to the Devil just to save her went against everything that they both believed in.

She thought back on the news she’d received two days ago. Jedediah’s deputy and apprentice, Jeffrey Halston, had found his massacred body outside of the saloon at high noon on the ninth. “Ripped apart by wild dogs” was what Jeffrey said it looked like.

“You know, there is still a way you can save his soul from eternal damnation… if you’re brave enough.” The widow jumped as her eyes fell on the sudden appearance of a strange woman with crystal-clear eyes. She shivered at the intensity of the gaze as it looked at her.

“Who - who are you?” Josephine pulled her sweater closer around her body as she slowly rose from the swing.

“A friend and somebody who can help; you can call me Eldora.” The woman moved slowly to stand at the other end of the porch as if she was aware that her presence frightened the young widow.

“You know of my husband?”

The being smiled sadly. “He is no longer your husband, my dear. He’s destined to become a full-fledged demon who calls himself Carson Adams and will be responsible for the deaths of many innocents. I’m sorry to say this, but the man you knew no longer exists - but his visage will bring fear to many in the future.”

“The future?” Josephine asked, sitting back down, her legs no longer capable of supporting her weight.

“Yes, and I am from that future.” Eldora smiled softly.

“Are you an angel?”

“Some might call me that. Let’s just say that I can help you stop the atrocity that has destroyed your family and will destroy many others. But my time here is limited. If you’re willing, I can send you and your son into the future - a time when Jedediah is at his weakest. All that you need to destroy him is included in this book.” Eldora held out a black-bound journal towards Josephine. “Of course, you’ll arrive a few years before the time in question so that you can prepare.”

“How long?” asked Josephine as she gazed into the house where her seven-year-old son was playing.

“I would send you forth to this date in the year 2003. You’ll keep all of your memories and I will make sure that you can survive in your new world. There are things that you and your son will need to learn before you can kill the demon Carson. In seven years’ time, you would be ready and the time would be right to ensure your success.” Eldora leaned back against the railing, her eyes once more gazing intently at the young widow.

Josephine felt as if this woman was seeing inside of her own soul. In a way, the deaths that her husband will commit would be on her head. She had to stop him before she became responsible for more. “All right, I’ll agree to this - but Charles stays here. I will need a day to make arrangements…”

“No, that is the price that you must pay for your part in this. Your son must accompany you or the plan won’t work. Do we have a bargain?” Eldora moved closer, her countenance fierce as she waited.

Seven years to watch her son grow up into a young man. It was a long time for some and much more than she should have had. In fact, the Consumption would have prevented his birth. But the deal made to buy her health and her son’s life was also responsible for the deaths of others who did not deserve it. Her husband had been weak, but she’d be strong in his stead. “Fine, I’ll do it…”

*****

Los Angeles, California
Present Day; July 17th, 2010

“We have to follow the plan. How many times have you drilled that into my head over the last seven years?” Josephine was snapped back into the present at the sound of her son’s voice.

Charles shook his head as he checked the salt lines at the doors and windows before he repositioned the Devil’s Shoestring he had atop each portal. As he made his way around the room to check each of the different traps he had set up, his mind went back to the clear-eyed woman. He wasn’t sure if they should’ve trusted her when she told them she could help. He was only seven at the time, but something always felt off about her.

Once they had arrived in this strange century, he’d quickly adapted. He learned how to use the computer and how to access information via the Internet. The search for the demon that had destroyed his family became easy after that. He’d learned how to protect himself and his mother from demons and other supernatural entities. He had managed to verify that much of what was written in the strange book given to his mother by the woman responsible for sending them here was accurate.

Then he’d discovered a website run by some guy named Miles Novak. He smiled at the name of it and how appropriate it was to their cause. He’d found holyrollers.com during one of his searches to try to locate the demon that his father had become. After a few conversations with Miles, it became clear that the man knew more and also felt the same sense of hatred that he did towards anything demonic… the demon Carson was one of several he particularly abhorred.

“It’ll be fine. But maybe we need to review the plan again.” The mother sat on the bed and opened the black leather journal. “Okay, why are we here?”

“The real reason or what we’re telling everyone?” the boy inquired sarcastically. He shook his head. Seriously, it wasn’t like he didn’t know how to do this; he was almost an adult already. He’d had to take care of himself for years because his mother always worked odd hours so that they could get by. And he didn’t even want to think about the man that had been his biological father.

The woman sighed sadly. “You know, this isn’t easy for me either. I’m only trying to make things right. I know I haven’t always been a good mother and you’ve never exactly had a stable father, but I do what I can. I’m trying now.”

The boy sat on the bed and sighed. He loved his mother. Not everything in the last seven years had been bad. There had been a few good times that, even now, brought a soft smile to his face. He just wished that this would soon be over so that they could have a normal life. Taking a deep breath, he answered, “You’re Casey Taylor and I’m your son, Logan. You’re here for a job interview and I’m here as your supportive and loving son who is also going to find time to learn to surf…”

“Good try, Logan, but the surfing thing is only happening over my dead body. Got it?” Josephine placed her hands on her hips in true, overprotective-mother fashion.

He smirked. “I knew you’d freak, but a kid’s gotta try.”

The young mother gently slapped her son on the back of his head. “Next thing you know, you’ll wanna try bungee jumping. Let’s go to bed. The wards and other protections will keep us safe for now and we’re gonna need all the rest we can get for what’s ahead.”

*****

Carson stood outside of the motel, listening for the familiar voice from the bar. He knew she had ventured into one of the rooms, but he could no longer feel her aura. Odd, he thought. I was sure she had come here. He pondered his predicament, but after a moment, he assumed she had left after visiting somebody within. His body burned in anger as he thought of the possibility of another man sharing his wife’s embrace.

He sighed and went back to the bar. It was a long shot, but she had showed up once. Maybe she’d show up again. And when she did, he’d be ready.

*****

The hunters gathered around a table in the motel room Ellen rented in L.A. “I think the best way to do it would be to make two teams. One creates a diversion while the other attacks. It’s simple and they wouldn’t expect the basics, not from seasoned hunters with a reputation of running in guns a’blazin’,” Ellen said as they stared at a blueprint of the building.

“We can have the diversion team blow in from the front and the attack team move up from the basement. It looks like they don’t use it for anything but storage space.” Ruby looked up from the plans.

“Nothing but low-hanging pipes and air ducts. Guess that means I’m diversion,” Sam said with a bit of a hard smile. His eyes flashed with excitement at the idea of being able to blow a hole in this club.

“Then I’m comin’ with ya, boy. Someone has to make sure that you don’t do anything stupid.” Bobby put a worn hand on Sam’s shoulder.

“So we’re attack? Great! I can show you ladies my true moves without Sam getting in the way.” Travis put a few shells into his shotgun and let it slide onto his back. Ellen smiled grimly while Ruby rolled her eyes.

The pre-battle high flooded into their systems. They shared smiles and pats on the back. They didn’t know what they were going in against, each one knew that they may lose someone in the chaos, but they also knew the dangers if they didn’t go. They packed in silence and then made their way to the door.

*****

Carson returned to the bar the next night and was awarded for his efforts as he gazed into the crowd of other patrons. She was here again and she sat alone, just as she had last night. She had to feel his eyes as they roamed over her face and body. She had to know that he stared at her and no one else. She sipped her Coke.

This is ridiculous, Carson told himself. He needed to speak with her. He stood and made his way over.

“Good evening. Casey, right? Is this seat taken?” he asked, gesturing to an open chair across from her.

The woman looked up at him and shook her head quickly. She fidgeted in her seat again and leaned away from the demon before she spoke. “I thought you looked familiar. You were in Detroit, at the hotel…”

Carson sat down and narrowed his eyes at her, examining her carefully. “You remember me?”

“Of course. You helped me with my papers and books and we got to talking. I remember you said you’d lost your wife. I thought maybe you might come back, but then you disappeared.”

Carson shrugged. “My business takes me all over the country. It was time for me to move on.” He took another drink from his cup. “What brings a lovely lady like yourself to Los Angeles? Coming home?”

“What do you mean?”

“Los Angeles… the City of Angels…”

Casey scoffed at his small joke. “Not quite,” she chuckled. “I just came in for a quick drink while Logan and I wait for our table. I have a big interview with a law firm tomorrow. I’m hoping to be able to move into a real home for a change and get Logan into a better school.” She looked behind Carson’s left shoulder to see her son signaling her. “And I believe that’s my cue for our table’s ready, so if you’ll excuse me?”

Carson turned around to see the face of the son he knew should have died long ago standing on the other side of the room.

“It was nice meeting you again, Carson…”

“I’m sure we’ll see each other again. Until then, good luck with your interview,” Carson replied with a tight smile.

He moved back to the bar. He watched as the mother and son spoke in quiet tones for a few moments before entering the restaurant.

Carson moved so that he could see the exit more clearly. After about an hour, he heard the woman’s soft voice followed by a remark by the son as they left the restaurant. He stood quickly and dropped some bills on the bar before he followed them out to their car. Hopefully, it would lead them back to their destination and then they’d all have a real conversation starting with who sent them.

“He took the bait,” Charles whispered to his mother. “He’s following us.” He smirked, looking into the rearview mirror. “That was a little too easy, don’t ya think?”

Josephine looked over at her son. He appeared to be at ease with what they were about to do but she only felt a sense of dread. But they’d come too far to turn back now. “It was pure luck. I wasn’t sure he’d follow us so soon and we certainly couldn’t do what needs to be done in a public place.”

The woman carefully drove towards the older section of town. She only hoped that the being following them wouldn’t get too suspicious as she finally parked outside the small office complex in the abandoned plaza. She sent a wistful smile at her son. “This is it. Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” he confirmed as he opened the door and stepped out into the night.

*****

Sam and Bobby dropped the other hunters off several blocks from the club. They shared a grin and picked up their weapons. Bobby slung a canister of holy water over his shoulder, a bag of rock salt sitting at his side and a shotgun in his hand. Sam had a box of shotgun shells at his side and his own gun in hand.

“Ready, Bobby?”

Bobby smirked. “You’re never really ready for something like this…”

The truck doors slammed shut and the first loud crack of the shotguns opening fire cued in the others that the diversion had begun. Sam and Bobby worked their way methodically to the front of the line and blew in the front doors. Sam loaded his weapon as Bobby splashed holy water into the eyes of the bouncers and began reciting an exorcism spell.

*****

“Okay, around this bend here is the entrance to the basement.” Ruby pointed to the corner of the building.

Ellen ran forward and kicked open the rusty window. She shimmied into the small crawlspace and called up to the two of them. “Alright, toss down the weapons. Then you guys get down here. It reeks of sulfur.”

Travis and Ruby began tossing the stuff down to Ellen: a big pack of shotgun shells, an abundance of holy water, a backpack containing rock salt, chalk, a Bible, and more shells. Ruby sat on the ground and slid herself into the opening. Travis stared down at her.

“There is no way I’m fitting in there! I’m gonna go find my own way in. Don’t let the good stuff start without me!”

Ruby passed him back his gun and some excess shells. “If you meet trouble, just scream like a bitch and we’ll come running,” she said with a cocky grin.

Travis ran off without a word, confident that the women wouldn’t have too much trouble with anything that stood in their way. He was thinking about how lucky or cursed he was just as he turned a corner and came face-to-face with a rather lanky, but muscular-looking man. The man stared into one of the windows intently and seemed to be whispering to himself.

“Hey, hands up! Don’t move!” Travis yelled as he put the gun to the man’s back.

The man seemed to sigh before he turned quickly, knocked the gun high, and pointed it elsewhere. He splashed water into Travis’ face, then glared. “Well, they aren’t making you demons smarter, but definitely more resilient.” He sent a punch to Travis’ gut and Travis doubled over in pain.

Travis coughed. “What the hell? Man, I’m not a demon!”

The man nodded. “Well, that’s apparent.” His English accent and laugh cut into Travis’ thoughts. Then the man’s foot was pressed against his chest and his own gun pointed at his head. “Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t blast you right here. You’re blowing my cover and I can’t have that.”

“Uh, it’d be murder,” Travis gasped, “and we’re on the same side…”

“Side? I don’t have a ‘side.’ I work alone.”

“C’mon, dawg, let me up. I have to get in there; I have friends in there that need my help.” The hunter held his hands out from his sides in what he hoped was a non-threatening manner.

“Name’s not ‘dawg.’ It’s Adrian. And you mean as a diversion?” The man laughed and looked down on Travis as though he were a complete idiot. “I guess amateurs like you need a diversion.” He smirked, tossed the gun back to Travis, and then disappeared into the shadows of the alleyway.

“Some people, man,” Travis mumbled to himself as he opened the larger window and crawled into the basement.

*****

Chapter Three:

“Why have you been following me?” Josephine asked Carson. She let a shiver run down her spine, still doing her best to play the part of Casey Taylor.

Carson put his hands on her shoulders and whispered in a barely audible voice, “You’re name isn’t Casey Taylor. You’re Josephine Washington. You are… were… my wife. You have to see that. What happened? Why are you here? Who made you forget?” With each question, he grew angrier.

“I think the jig is up, mother,” the boy’s voice sounded from directly behind Carson.

Carson felt the barrel of a gun press against his back. He laughed. “You two are hunters now?!”

“I wouldn’t speak if I were you,” Charles warned.

“Is that the voice of the boy I once held above a crib?” Carson turned his head slightly to look behind him. A profound sadness touched his eyes at his son’s hard glare.

“You are not my father! You’re a rabid dog that needs to be put down. My father died long ago and now it’s your turn.” The boy’s finger squeezed the trigger, but before the bullet exited the chamber, Carson was behind him. Swiftly, he took his son’s arm and twisted it behind him, the gun dropping and the bullet resonating as it struck a wall in a different direction.

Carson took a steadying breath as he stared ahead of him. Josephine picked up the gun and had it pointed at both her former husband and her son. “If you attempt to hurt me, you’ll only be killing our son.”

“We knew we weren’t long for this world, Jedediah. It was part of our deal. We… we can’t let you live.” She steadied her aim and looked into her son’s eyes. “I love you, sweetie.” She fired at the two of them, but they were no longer there. Charles had been tossed to the side and Carson ended up behind his wife. She felt his grip tighten on her shoulders.

“You don’t need to do this, Josie. We can still be together,” Carson whispered in her ear. “I did this for you…”

“No!” she shouted, her voice breaking. She moved forward and looked up at the ceiling to reveal to Carson a Devil’s Trap. “You have to die, Carson.”

Carson took a step back at the name she spoke. “You called me Carson…”

“Because my Jedediah no longer exists. Carson is the beast you are now.”

She pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and began reading the words that were scribbled on it. “Exorkizamuse te, omnis immune… immundus spirit us, ominous satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversary…” Unfortunately for her, she could not read nor correctly pronounce the hasty Latin.

Charles rose to his feet and stumbled over to the scene. He took the paper from his mother and read the exorcism. “Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio, et secta diabolica, in nomine et virtute Domini Nostri Jesu Christi…” A loud roar emanating from Carson echoed around the office building.

Fury welling up inside of him, the exorcism caused his primal instincts to kick in. He used his power to tear a hole in the Devil’s Trap and he stepped forward. “I will not be moved by your God!” he growled. He gripped his son by the neck, eyes cold as steel. “Rest… in… peace!” He shook his son so violently that it almost immediately broke his neck. He dropped the body to the ground and made his way for his wife.

The exorcism no longer ringing, he was able to strengthen his resolve. “I love you, Josie…”

Tears were streaming down the woman’s face by now as she pulled out a dagger tucked away in her belt. It was her last gambit; a futile effort, maybe, but it was all she had left. Her aim was true when she buried it deep into Carson’s chest. He stumbled backwards, his eyes staring at the silver pommel. His own tears washed out the reflection from what was left of the blade. “And that’s why… this will be quick for you!” He pulled the dagger from his chest and threw it back at her. It thudded into her upper torso, her body jerking once before hitting the floor.

The old demon walked over to his wife and knelt down beside her lifeless body. He picked it up carefully and then lowered his head into her hair. He breathed in her scent and then felt the last bit of warmth escape her. Anger warred with sadness as he realized that the deal he made so long ago had been pointless. His wife still died; the only difference was that, in reality, it was at his hand.

He looked up when he felt a new presence in the room. The overwhelming power crushed his being. Ancient magic flooded the room around him, ensnaring him in its iron grip.

“Oh, Carson, what am I going to do with you?” she crooned, staring down at the broken demon. With a sigh, she snapped her fingers. The office was emptied of demons before the echo of her click cleared the air.

*****

Travis pushed the doorway open. He held a shotgun in one hand and the Bible he was going to be reciting exorcisms from in the other. He moved forward into the basement of the club. The music blared a repetitive tune above him. He heard it slip easily into Darude’s Sandstorm. He also heard the sound of voices deep within the gloom and followed them to a wide opening. Five demons stood around, four of them nervously and impatiently shifting from one foot to the next.

“I’m tellin’ you dey ain’t gunna show!” one of the gruffer-looking men said. He spat on the floor to accentuate his point.

“Eloquent, as always, Jeffers,” a more refined voice cut through the gloom. “You are, however, quite wrong.” He took in a deep breath and looked to the shadows where Travis stood. “They are, in fact, in this very room.”

A blur was all that Travis saw before he was tossed against the wall. The other four, each a little beefier and unshaven as the first, surrounded him where he lay. He coughed a bit and brought the gun up quickly. He fired rock salt at the nearest demon and rolled away from the wall. He looked at the floor as he rapidly backpedaled, but he couldn’t spot the Bible he had brought in with him. He knew some exorcisms by heart, but it always helped to have a quick reference when a speedy delivery was needed.

The four standing converged on him quickly. He was overpowered within seconds. The gun had been taken by one of the demonic guards and given to the first one he shot. The demon leveled it at Travis’ chest. “Now, let’s see how this makes you feel.” He pulled the trigger, the rock salt round stinging Travis immensely without lasting damage.

He grit his teeth and spat at the demon who shot him. “Didn’t make me fall down like a little girl,” he said, attempting to muster up the bravado he’d need to escape the situation at hand.

“Where are the others, hunter?” the proper demon asked as he stepped between Travis and his volatile companion.

“What others? I came alone.”

He approached Travis and put a hand to his cheek. “You know that I don’t believe that, so just make this easier on all of us and tell me the truth.” A powerful fist hit him in the stomach, driving the air from his lungs. He gasped but managed to straighten up and face his attackers.

“That is the truth, sulfur breath. I came here alone.” He smirked. His eyes caught movement on his peripherals. He didn’t turn to face the movement lest he give away the position of the person who had snuck in unannounced.

The leader of the group sniffed the air and caught a scent. He hissed and turned to face the person. Adrian merely grinned as he splashed holy water into the demon’s face and began to recite an exorcism. “Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis legio, omnis congregatio, et secta diabolica. Perditionis venenum propinare. Vade, satana, inventor et Magister, omnis fallaciae, hostis humanae salutis. Humiliare sub potenti manu dei, contremisce et effuge, invocato a nobis sancto, et terribili nomine, quem inferi tremunt. Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, domine. Ut ecclesiam tuam secura tibi facias libertate servire, te rogamus, audio nos. Te rogamus, audi nos. Domincos sanctae ecclesiae. Te rogamus, audi nos!”

The demons shivered and trembled, then fell to the floor as black smoke poured from each of their mouths. When each body was emptied of its demonic controller, he sent a grin to Travis. “How did you ever survive without the likes of me, mate?” Adrian chuckled as he held out a hand.

“I thought you work alone?” Travis replied indignantly, his head still reeling from the beating he’d taken.

“I usually do, but you provided a good diversion. Cheers!” He tipped his small bowler hat in a good-bye and left as quickly as he came. Travis turned as he heard Ruby and Ellen nearby.

“Hey! I found him!” Ellen called out as soon as Travis was in sight. She saw the five bodies on the ground and nodded appreciatively at him. “Good work. Didn’t think you had it in you.”

“It, kind of, wasn’t me. There was someone else here. It was crazy,” Travis replied as he bent over with a slight groan and picked up his gun.

They made their way through the club, their eyes on alert for any movements. Ruby led the way to where the pull of power was situated. Her body shuddered a little bit at the familiar aura as she made her way up the stairs and away from the cleared-out nightclub. The long hallway at the top of the stairs was empty, the cherry oak wood paneling and emerald green carpet enhanced the darkness that grew between the sparse lighting fixtures.

She stopped at a large door. A golden plaque on the front read “Judicator.” They were going to wait for Sam and Bobby, but then the door opened. “Well, I guess the element of surprise is blown,” Ruby said with a snort. They walked into the room to face the demon that they came to destroy.

At a large, mahogany desk, a man with dulling blonde hair sat. His eyes were a gentle green-blue; they rested on Ruby with a sense of gloating victory. She knew this demon, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on how.

Demons restraining Bobby and Sam stood on either side of the three hunters. The Judicator stood and casually rounded his desk. He had no qualms about turning his back on the hunters. He even poured himself a drink. “Would any of you like some scotch?” he asked.

Seeing the desire for a fight burning in their eyes, he put the empty glass he held down. “No? Okay.” The aura was piecing itself together for Ruby; this demon was somebody she had known for a long time. “You know, I always wanted to know if you had truly changed, Ruby. I always felt you had, but what I lacked was proof. But then, while I’m working, you stroll right in my front door, some of the most infamous hunters known to our kind fighting at your side.”

The Judicator noticed her puzzled expression. “What’s the matter? You don’t recognize me?”

But then it clicked. “Davis…” she whispered.

“You know him?” questioned Travis from the background. “Who is he?”

Ruby blinked. It had been so long since she had seen Davis. Before she could answer, Davis broke the silence. “I’m her brother,” he said.

*****

Chapter Four:

“Brother?” Sam asked. “Like demonic brother?”

“No, Winchester, like biological,” Davis responded. “Ruby and I go way back.”

“I never knew you had a brother.”

“There are a lot of things that you don’t know about me, Sam, and for good reason.”

“You see, Winchester, there are things that the history books don’t cover, like, for example, that the Plague was Hell’s way of coming back at a miracle. In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present, and all that. Everybody who died of the Plague became one of us.”

“I made a deal to save our sister, Amelia, and Davis made one so that the Plague couldn’t touch any of our family again.”

“Now that you’re all caught up to speed, Sam, let’s get back to business, Ruby. Why did you turn on us? I need to know motive. Why would you rid yourself of the power our kind can give you? Why cut yourself off from the Pit?”

“Some of us remember what it was like to be mortal, Davis,” she said scathingly.

Davis shook his head. “And others would like to forget it.”

“Why do this? I never pictured you as being the Judicator type,” Ruby said as she tried to bide their time.

“I’m not a Judicator type, sis. But sometimes a General has to start out as a Judge. Someday, I’m gonna be one of the greats, like Azazel. You see, he moved the people. He got work done. And I’m a demon who has always had big plans of getting things done.”

He snapped his fingers; the free guards closed in on the leftover hunters and attempted to grab at them. Ruby easily sidestepped the creatures and stabbed the nearest one with her blade. Sam and Bobby each elbowed their demons and threw holy water into the face of the other’s.

Chaos erupted in the room as each hunter moved to make the best of the small space. Luck was on their side; there had been far too many guards and not enough space. They had bottlenecked themselves and were simply moving into the room only a couple at a time.

Travis redeemed himself, in his own eyes, by shooting a demon in the eyes before he spouted out a quick exorcism from memory. Ellen kept the hordes back with her rapid-firing shotgun; the barrel grew hotter with each demon writhing in pain on the ground. Sam and Bobby worked together to hold and exorcise each guard that ran at them as they made their way to Davis.

The demon smirked as they converged on him, his eyes smoldering a piercing blue as he channeled the powers the Pit gave him. His desk flew at the two hunters and knocked them into a wall. They struggled without success until Ellen blew it apart with a few shots from her gun.

“Ammo!” she yelled to Travis. He opened up his pack and tossed a few shells to her. She caught them and snapped them into the chambers with a precision that spoke of years of experience in the field. She turned the gun on Davis and let two shots fly into his chest. While her attention was diverted, two demons rose up at her back, but were quickly dispatched by Travis and Ruby.

Soon, the sounds died down. The hunters faced off against the only demon left. He tilted his head to the side, a grin appearing on his face. “Rot,” he said simply. The ground began to shake and tremble. The wood grew soft; the smell of wet moss filled the air.

“Burn,” he commanded and the wood that didn’t begin to decay began to smolder. Embers burned quietly and ate away toward the brave hunters. “Due to your increased incompetence and murder of my kind, I sentence you all to death. I’m sorry it had to be this way, Ruby.”

Davis stared into Sam’s eyes. “Maybe when you’re below, you won’t need your empathy to feel what your brother is feeling.” As he cackled, his eyes lit up again. He stood there tauntingly for a moment before flames engulfed him and then dispersed. Davis was gone.

“Damn it!” Sam yelled as he tried to find a means of escape. He jumped as a hand landed on his shoulder.

“No time for that, boy! Let’s get goin’!” Bobby took him by the arm as the hunters began to run out through the door they entered, the fire spreading fast along an unseen accelerant. Smoke continued to fill the room. They ran until they reached the nightclub below. Once they were out, they ran back to the truck. By the time the sirens of the fire trucks sounded, they were gone.

*****

Epilogue:

“9-1-1, what is your emergency?” the operator asked Miles. He typed his answer into the computer in front of him.

“I’d like to report a murder,” the automated voice responded. Miles came to the office after receiving an alert from a distress tracker he had sent to Logan. Logan had approached him as the webmaster of holyrollers.com for a demon problem, specifically a demon that Miles himself had a lot of anger towards. This demon, Carson, had led a band of demons to burn down a place he used to call home and killed a really good friend of his along with many others. They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned; Miles always said hell hath no fury like a broken and embittered man out for blood.

“What’s the address?”

“Sunshine Offices; West 42nd Street. There’re two bodies… a Casey and Logan Taylor.”

“You’ve identified the victims, sir?”

“Yes, they were friends of mine.”

“What’s your name, sir?”

Miles took a moment to decide if he should answer her question, and if he did, would he use his real name or his alias. Miles decided on answering and his real name. He typed the answer into the computer and let it speak before ending the call. The computer spoke, “Ash.”

*****

Exhausted, the five hunters drove back to their two-star motel. Sam was despondent. Davis had confirmed his fears. He glared out of the window of Bobby’s truck, silence stretching between them until it became an almost touchable entity. Bobby looked to the others in the bed of the truck. Travis was busy excitedly telling the story of the British man who could recite an exorcism faster than a nursery rhyme.

“I’m telling you, he was slick. Those demons just poofed into nothing with just a few muttered words. He was amazing!” Travis was practically bouncing.

Ellen smiled indulgently. “There were no signs of anybody else being there. I think the adrenaline was just getting to you. You’ve never handled so many by yourself before. It just clicks at times.”

Ruby knocked on the window. “Can we hurry this up? I’m tired of hearing about Travis’ imaginary bromance.”

Bobby chuckled and sent a significant look to Sam. “What’s eating ya, boy?”

Sam shook his head. “Nothing, it’s just… I thought I was done with this new psychic stuff. Then I learn that my nightmares are real because I’m empathic. I’m really seeing and feeling Dean’s agony in Hell. I can’t take it much longer, Bobby. This has to be too much for any one person to handle.”

“C’mon, boy, you’ve handled worse. Besides, we knew things wouldn’t be getting rosy anytime soon.” The truck rattled ominously as it hit a pot hole in the road. Sam’s lips twitched as he heard an exclamation from the riders in the back.

The youngest Winchester returned his gaze to the window. “I wish we could’ve captured him and forced him to answer our questions.”

“He’d lie, Sam, and you know it. Jesus, kid, lighten up - we won this round. We bet against the house and still we won. So what if he got away? It’s not like it doesn’t happen and when we catch up to him, we’ll be better prepared.” Bobby gripped Sam’s shoulder for a moment before he returned his hand to the wheel to avoid yet another hole in the street.

The tired hunters finally pulled into the parking lot of their motel. Before the truck came to a complete stop, Travis jumped from the back of it. “There he is! I told you he was real!” The excited hunter was pointing to a man who was casually leaning against the wall of the old motel. His hat was held loosely in his hands as he eyed the approaching hunters.

Sam squinted, a shaft of fear lancing through him as he recognized him from his trip to the future. “You know him?” Bobby asked quietly, his hand resting on the knife attached to his belt.

“What? Oh, no - no, I guess he just looked familiar for a moment. But it’s obvious Travis does.” Sam watched as his friend approached the man with the others in tow. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he couldn’t let on that he remembered Adrian, not without going into things that he hoped he could keep quiet and prevent.

Shaking his head as the others gathered around Adrian, Sam opened the door to their motel room and immediately brought a gun to level against a woman sitting at the table inside, facing them. She smiled at the hunter, her eyes a crystal clear. “Hello, Sam. Nice to finally meet you in person.”

Wow, another outstanding, well-written episode. :clap Thank you again, and keep up the great work. I'm looking forward to the next episode, but saddened at the same time that the season is coming to a close! :cry How long will we have to wait before the next season starts? I can't help it, I'm addicted to Supernatural in any shape or form! :woohoo

The second season premiere, entitled "You Are Not Alone Here, Pt. 1," will be released in full on Thursday, September 16th, 2010, but a sneak peek is included at the end of next week's finale.

Or, you can catch the whole season premiere early by going to Agent with Style's Supernatural Zine section when we release the novel format of Season One, Volume Three in June/July and purchase that book. The full season premiere is included in that as a bonus episode at the end. I'll update everybody more on that when I know more myself.

I'm also asking Yoda to create our season two forum at the beginning of June, rather than when September starts, because our official spoiler reporter has finally created an account at Supernatural.tv, so he's gonna start reporting our news again. We've also got some puzzles and games coming up for fans over the summer to bridge the gap between seasons.