Requiem for Snow
Title: Requiem For Snow
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Dean, Sam, Castiel, Melpomene, Gabriel, Mnemosyne, Heather!Michael, Nate, Bobby
Notes: This story follows canon up to Changing Channels - sort of - and borrows chunks of the rest of Season Five completely at random. This story has no beta. I also apologize for taking over a year to update this story. Life and other plot bunnies attacked.
Trailer 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8LXZM9nRC4
Trailer 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wijPDaRc9iA
Trailer 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eR1JNDxstk
Warnings:Mild violence, language, complete disregard for Greek Mythological Canon
Summary: The January before he went to Hell, Dean and his brother Sam faced the Last Calusa in Key West, Florida. Following the defeat of this ancient curse, the brothers left, barreling straight into their destiny and the inevitable showdown against Lilith and her minions. But what they assumed was just another hunt was actually a key part in the plans of the Apocalypse. A plan not laid by the powers below, but by the ones up above.
Mnemosyne quietly came into her home, finally understanding just how stubborn the Winchesters were. They still weren't completely on board with the plan to let the two portals open at the same time and restore the system, as it were, but compared to a host of other options, it was starting to look more and more favorable. However, they still wanted to do things on their terms. She sat down in chair next to the fire, rubbing her eyes.
“Told you they were Chuckleheads.” Gabriel's voice came to her from the other seat near the fire.
“I was hoping you were kidding, Gabby” She sighed. “I had to get back here before I was missed.” She toed off her shoes and curled up in her seat, feeling her age. “I just hope Erato can manage.”
“Please don't call me Gabby...” Gabriel ran a hand through his hair. “How does she stay off the radar anyway?”
“Bigger fish to fry and no one around here worries about her causing trouble. If she and Melpomene didn't look so much alike, I'd have trouble believing she's one of the girls.” She shook her head. “Anything happen around here?”
“Not that I noticed. Is it always so quiet?” He unwrapped a Snickers bar.
“Well, the Olympics and Mardi Gras recently ended - most of everyone is asleep, nursing hangovers.” She hugged her legs, watching the fire. “It's not going to be easy to smuggle people in and out of here soon. Thankfully, I don't think Lucifer's going to be storming the gates of Olympus any time soon.”
“I think that's because he doesn't know who here is your friend and who isn't.” Gabriel snorted and bit into the chocolate bar. “I did manage to get out of here, get Pestilence and get back in all while you were gone.”
She smirked. “Sure you did, Loki. Who'd you get a piggyback ride from?”
Gabriel's smile fell a fraction. “Uh...”
“The man with the funny leg?” She grinned. “Don't worry, I won't rat you and Hephaestus out.”
His smile slowly returned. “If I had known how good he was at slaying demons, I'd have started hanging out with him a long time ago.”
“He does like a good fight every now and then.” She leaned her head back. “What else did you do while I was gone? I don't suppose you made dinner.”
It was the archangel's turn to laugh. “No. Sorry.” He stood and stretched. “I'm sure I can whip up something... did you know that Claire Novak is over at Artemis's home?”
“I did.” She got up out of her seat. “I'm not worried about that. Missy knows better than to do something she shouldn't. Not to mention there's only three males allowed into her residence - and her twin brother isn't one of them.”
Gabriel went over to the table. “That reminds me, why haven't you killed Apollo yet?”
“As soon as I figure out how to break the bond he's still got with four of my daughters, he's going to be a pile of cinders.”
He caught the tone in her voice and arched an eyebrow. “I've got a warehouse you can borrow.”
“Oh, Gabriel, you are such a sweetheart. Always have been” She pinched his cheek and walked past him. “I really should have invited you over for tea more often.”
**
Bobby frowned at the woman sitting stock still at the head of his kitchen table, her eyes closed, save for two small slits that blazed blue. He supposed the irksome thing was that he couldn't tell if she was sleeping or doing something else at the moment. He shook his head and went back to making coffee. He had been up most of the night thinking about what the Titan had told them yesterday afternoon. While he didn't like the idea of either of the boys saying yes, he knew that time was running out and honestly, they had to do something before things worse. He flipped the radio on, muttering to himself.
“The fire that blazed all night at the Niveus Center for Disease Control has finally been extinguished. The center was getting ready for the first clinical trials of a Swine Flu vaccine when the fire broke out. The death toll stands at seventeen, with four still unaccounted for.”
Bobby sighed. “More bad news...”
“Good news.” The woman replied and he turned towards her.
“How the hell was that good news?” He snorted, not wanting to have an argument before he had coffee in his system.
“That wasn't a swine flu vaccine. It was the Croatoan Virus.” Erato stood and stretched. “Where's there's disease, there's Pestilence.” She shrugged. “Or rather, there was Pestilence.”
“And you would know this because?” The hunter asked. “All you creatures have one another on speed dial, or something?”
“Of course not. The reason I know this is because Death told me. It won't be too much longer before Lucifer binds Death to him, and I just happened to be on the channel, so to speak.” She ran a hand through her hair. “While I am sorry for the humans who have lost their lives, given the disasters I have seen...”
Bobby held up his hand. “I know where that's going, you don't have to to elaborate.” He got out a mug. “Let me guess - worst disaster you've seen was the Black Death.”
“No, The Flood. Ask the angel, he'll probably give you the same answer.” She leaned against the chair. “I know you don't approve of me being here, Mr. Singer. Quite frankly, I'm not to happy to be here myself.” She sighed.
“You got that right.” He took a drink from his mug. “Yer mom sure puts up a good argument, I suppose. Guess it does feel like we're getting nowhere fast, sometimes.”
“Oh, if she had wanted to win the argument, she would have.” The muse shook her head. “Believe me.”
She frowned as Dean came into the kitchen. “Good morning sunshine.”
“I'm not your son and my name's not shine.” Dean grumbled as he headed for the coffee pot. “Sam's gonna be down in a few.” He poured himself a cup of the brew. “Anything happen in the world?”
“Well, apparently Pestilence is dead.” Bobby sat down at the table. “According to Atty here.”
Dean looked over his mug at the muse. “That true?”
“If there's one thing Death isn't, it's a liar.” She returned to her seat. “If you don't want to believe me...”
Castiel walked into the room. “I don't think they need me to confirm it, Erato.” The angel went and stood against the fridge. “You are aware that we have...”
The muse snorted and rolled her eyes. “Angels. Always have to have the last word. Even if they're as wrong as spandex.”
Dean had to cover his mouth to prevent coffee from spewing everywhere and he hacked twice. Bobby, who hadn't had a mouthful of coffee, gave a slight chuckle. “Wish all you pagans were so damn funny.”
“I fail to see the humor in the situation.” Castiel replied.
“The things you fail to find the humor in Castiel, would fill several warehouses.” Erato stretched her arms over her head.
Dean took a more steady sip of coffee. “Enough with the comedy.” He shook his head. “So you have Pestilence's ring, and since you know Death, probably not a problem to get his.”
“How astute.” She rubbed the back of her head. “But even then... still a lot of things to set up.”
Castiel frowned. “I don't suppose you know where the women who vanished are.”
“Morpheus is still trying to find them. It's not exactly easy to find a handful out of four billion.” She frowned. “Well, more like several hundred million, but you get the picture.” She rested her head on her hand as Sam came into the kitchen. “But I'm of the opinion that they're somewhere in the same time zone to where Lucifer wants to open the portal.”
“Which is still pretty big.” Dean said as Sam got a cup of coffee and joined them at the table.
“Do you know how many have gone missing?” Bobby asked.
“Ten. And odds are, that's all he's taking.” She answered as Sam took a drink from his mug.
“Is Lucifer still unaware that Persephone is not in Elysium?”
“Well, I wouldn't put him past busting a hole into Purgatory to double check she's not there.” She sighed. “Of course, you go into Purgatory, you deal with Eve and the Leviathans and that's just mess that makes demons look like child's play.”
Castiel frowned. “I do not believe Lucifer would be so foolish.”
“Desperate times, desperate measures.” Sam muttered and rubbed his temple. “I'm still trying to figure out what you're doing here.”
“Provide answers, scenarios... fill in the blanks.” Erato glanced over at Castiel. “You have something you want to share with the class?”
“I have been trying to figure something out since your mother's visit here the other day.” The angel's eyes narrowed. “And why she is still alive, when all the other Titans are believed to be dead.”
“Castiel, I am older than you - by a few dozen years, at least. You ever think that maybe, just maybe, not everything you heard about the pagans is true?”
“I am only curious, Erato, because until recently, Mnemosyne, your mother was quite timid.” The angel's face remained perfectly passive.
“My mom doesn't like to draw attention to herself. She tries to avoid confrontation, if it all possible.” She sighed. “As for timidity... that's her defense mechanism.”
“It seems to be a pretty good one.” Bobby frowned as they heard a car rumble into the drive. “We expecting anyone?”
“Not that I'm aware of.” Dean said, rising to his feet and going to the window. “Indiana plates...” His breath left him. “Shit.”
“What is it?” Sam rose and joined his brother. “Is that?”
“Yeah. It's Lisa.” Dean had a feeling things were about to get much, much worse.
**
Claire Novak wanted to go home. It wasn't that she disliked being here on Olympus, it was just - she needed to see family again, to let them know she was all right - they had to be looking for her - or something. She wasn't sure if she was still in danger or not, no one was really big on giving her answers.
She stretched her arms over her head and looked around the room. Unlike the room across the way, her room here in this temple was simple - college dorm meets World Market. The lofted bed was low enough she could sit up in bed, but high enough it required a ladder. There were framed posters advertising the Olympic Games in Moscow, Paris, Squaw Valley and Montreal. There were more of those high windows that you couldn't see out of unless you stood on something, and the walls were done in a pale green color. Sighing, she climbed down from the bed and almost instantly, the wiry greyhound that had taken up residence on the rug in the middle of the room trotted over to her. She gave the dog an affectionate rub behind the ears. “Morning, Knightly.” She stuffed her feet into her slippers and stepped out into the hallway.
The dog stepped around her and raced downstairs and a moment later, she heard him bark as he joined the rest of the pack.
“Morning, Claire.”
She turned. Artemis was standing there, looking rather bedraggled - if she hadn't known better, Claire might have thought she was at a slumber party. “Morning.”
“Knightly seems to have taken a liking to you.” She smiled and they went into the kitchen. “Silly dog.”
“It's sort of funny... I never had a pet, except for a goldfish I won at a carnival when I was seven.” She got out a box of cereal.
“Perhaps he can go with you, when you go home.” The goddess sat down and began to peel a grapefruit. “I certainly wouldn't object.”
“But he's your dog.” Claire stated. “I mean, aren't you attached...”
“I love all my pets equally, Claire. Now, if you didn't or couldn't take him, that's one thing, but what if you did and could? Would you leave him here or take him along?”
“I don't know.” She frowned. “I don't want to say he's just a dog, but...”
“I understand.” She smiled and turned her attention to her fruit. “What were you thinking of doing today? More schoolwork?”
“I want to keep on top of things, so most likely I will.” She paused. “Do you know how long I've been here? Time still tends to run together.”
“It's the second of March.” She split the grapefruit open.
“So around two months.” She poked at the cereal. “I don't suppose you know how much longer I'm going to be staying.”
“If all goes well, just until the end of the month.” She gave her a half smile. “It'll all work out. As they say, this too will pass.”
Claire bit back her retort. Knowing that the girl across from her had seen the world fall apart who knew how many times - she probably was the expert on waiting for things to end. She poked at her cereal. “Has it ever been worse than this?”
Artemis nodded sagely. “I've seen much worse. The waiting, my dear Claire, is the worst part of anything like this.”
**
Heather was vaguely aware that she and Michael were sitting indoors. The glorious smell of grilling and deep frying food penetrated her mind a little more than their actual location. She had the notion they weren't near the door and that they were sitting next to a large window. The next thought that came to her mind was that she hadn't been carrying more than six dollars when she left school the day she said yes.
“Don't worry - we'll have enough to pay for a meal.”
Michael's voice, still sounding like Dean's, rooted her more in reality.
“How? Did you pick up some extra cash while I was out of my mind? And why are we eating anyway? You don''t need to eat!”
Michael chuckled. “Something like that. As for eating - while I may not need sustenance, you do. I'm afraid I've been neglecting that need for a long time. Were you an adult, this would not be an issue.”
Heather became a little more aware of where they were, the low lighting and the décor told her that she had to be in someone's idea of Bavaria. A really good interpretation, if such things could be judged. The menu was hard for her to read, and she blinked a few times, and then realized why. The menu was in German. She tried not to panic when she heard her own voice, speaking flawlessly order something called Jager Schnitzel and salad of mixed greens. “Guess that means this is authentic Bavaria.”
“We're in Strasbourg, to be exact.” Michael sighed. “We'll be heading back to the States soon. Do you remember much of what's been happening?”
“Bits and pieces - nothing comes in very clear.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking around at the people in the establishment, their conversations as hard to make out as her own memories of where all she had been in the past - however long it had been. “Did we... destroy a city at some point?”
“It wasn't really a city, more of a town.” Michael sighed inside her head and she had the feeling that the angel hadn't exactly relished what he'd done. “I can never remember what qualifies for a town and what makes a city. It was destroy everything or let it be overrun with demons and hell hounds. It was only four thousand people. The demons were going to infect people with Spanish Influenza and then spread the illness across the globe. The last time that illness was unleashed, it killed twenty million people.”
“Four thousand is a lot, Michael.” She looked up as the salad was placed in front of her and she thanked the server, and took a welcome sip of strong coffee. “Where was that?”
“India.” A pause. “And you didn't destroy the city, I did. Those deaths are not on you.”
“Well, it'll be my nightmare.” The salad tasted amazing and her stomach rumbled in welcome as she ate. “We're going to Memphis, aren't we?”
“Yes.” The angel fell quiet.
After a few minutes and the rest of the world shifted into a clearer picture. Heather could make out some conversations a little clearer, but nothing distinct. There was music coming from somewhere and as the sound cleared, the sense of smell came back and it was almost overpowering. Onions, garlic, butter - potatoes and that all-encompassing scent of decently fried food almost made her sink back into her chair at the overload. Combined with the sharp taste of the vinegar based dressing on her salad of spinach and arugula, she wondered if it was possible to pass out from what she was feeling. It was then she became aware of the fact that her limbs ached - something akin to the muscle cramps she sometimes had, but it was different.
“You're growing.” When Michael's voice returned, a little of her awareness faded - the pain and the ambient noise was gone, leaving only smell and taste.
“What do you mean, growing?” The plate of Schnitzel was set down in front of her - and it was accompanied by the most heavenly smelling mashed potatoes she had ever seen in her life.
“Growing taller. It's a... a bit of a side affect of being possessed at your age. It won't be that much, just a couple of inches.” Michael actually chuckled. “Eat your dinner, Gracie.”
*
“And then this girl showed up out of nowhere and turned the man to ash.” Ben held the glass of juice tighter. “She sounded really pissed that the guy was there.”
Dean looked down at the boy sitting at Bobby's kitchen table, his eyes glancing over at Lisa, who was holding onto her coffee mug like her life depended on it. It was a hell of a story and he believed every word of it. But as to why Zachariah would go after the two of them, he was completely clueless. “So Michael dusted that asshole. Guess that means there's one less dickhead to worry about.”
Sam snorted into his mug. “Still doesn't explain why he was there.”
“He... or the girl, whatever it was... said we were supposed to be left alone.” Lisa took a drink of coffee, her hands shaking. “Michael, that is. He said he was very specific about it.”
“Heather was most likely on that same list until that demon went to Jasper.” Castiel frowned and folded his arms, leaning against the counter. “I don't suppose you can provide a plausible reason as to why Zachariah was there, can you, Erato?”
The muse threw him a look of undisguised disgust. “Over the past few centuries, I've come to the conclusion that nothing you angels do make sense. You just sit up there in Heaven watching the little humans run around and then degrade them when they do something stupid. They have to be tricked into starting the end of the world for you to get off your feathered asses and do something.”
“She's got a point, Cas.” Dean went over to the coffee pot. “And I know, I know, you had orders.” He cut off the retort he could see the angel about to deliver. “You also didn't know any better.” He refilled his mug and then started on making another pot of coffee.
“You were saying Pestilence is dead.” Bobby interjected before anyone else could speak. “Don't suppose you know who did it?”
“Oh, I have an idea or two.” She leaned forward to rest her arms on the table. “I can give you one other piece of good news.”
“What's that?” Sam said, sitting down at the table.
Erato looked around at the faces slowly before speaking. “Most of the non-demonic monsters are running for cover. The only beings still running around in any number are those that require, how should I say this - regular feeding.”
Castiel let out a breath. “I fail to see how that's a good thing.”
“It's a bunch of things less to worry about, you idjit.” Bobby said, walking over to the coffee pot, which had just finished brewing.
“Do you think we're still in danger?” Lisa broke in. “I mean... I don't want to...”
“I think you're pretty safe, or as safe as anyone can be in these times.” Erato stated and then sighed, stood up and took Castiel by the arm. “We'll be right back.”
“Wait a second...” Dean started to say and an instant later, both the angel and the muse had vanished from the house. “Damn it.”
“Anyone want to guess what that was about?” Bobby asked as he refilled his mug.
*
Castiel jerked his arm away sharply when he and Erato landed on the far side of the salvage yard. “Don't touch me again.”
“Fine, Feathers.” She folded her arms, her face twisted into a grimace. “But it was a better method than telling everyone else to clear out.”
“You're insufferable.” He started back towards the house.
“I know why Zachariah went to the Bradens.” She called after him, and he turned slowly back towards her.
“And you do not wish to divulge this in front of the Winchesters, why?” He closed the distance between them until their faces were mere inches apart. He hadn't realized how small the muse was compared to his height.
“Because you and I both know that when it comes down to it, the only person Dean Winchester will protect without question is Sam.” She blinked, her face calm - and he knew she saw the slight falter in his own. “Terrible, isn't it? What John Winchester turned him into? My sister told you there was a plan where neither brother has to say yes. You wanted to her to tell you what it was. And now I want you to tell me, Castiel, Soldier of Heaven, member of the First Garrison of the Legion of Michael if you have no qualms whatsoever of a thirteen year old girl and an eleven year old boy playing the roles that the Winchester brothers were destined for since the Expulsion from Eden.”
A feeling unlike any he had ever known or heard described settled over the angel. He stared into the muse's brown eyes, praying that he was lying to her about this - but her face held only curiosity and frankness. “What?”
“That's what the Unforgivable Plan is, Castiel. That the two children of Dean Winchester take on the roles instead of their father and uncle.” She stuffed her hands into her pockets. “Time is running out. You and the brothers can run around in circles, trying to find a way to fix this, but I'm telling you, if you continue on this insane Team Free Will idea, it will end with billions dead, and Sam Winchester possessed by the devil.”
He stepped back from her and leaned against a half-rusted out mini-van. “Forgive me, I am still trying to wrap my mind around the idea of the battle of Michael and Lucifer taking place in the bodies of children.”
“It's a lot to take in.” She leaned against a sedan that was half-buried in snow. “Quite frankly, I am surprised that you were unaware of Ben Braden's parentage.”
“I was not entirely sure.” He took a breath and looked down at his hands. “And I agree, it is a plan that shouldn't even be contemplated.” He lifted his face to study hers. “What was Zachariah thinking?”
“Zachariah was an idiot.” She snorted. “And I agree, he is one less problem to worry about.”
“What of Raphael?” Castiel couldn't believe he'd forgotten the other archangel until just now.
“No idea what he's up to. Probably off slaying demons and anything else that he wants to while Michael tries to keep things under control.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Let's get back inside before you get too cold.”
*
“How are you doing with that insane code of Heather's?” Sam asked Bobby, who was slowly turning over the copied down words again.
“It's all chaos.” The old hunter shook his head. “Quite frankly, I also don't know how much longer I can lie to her school about where she is.” He looked up as Castiel and Erato reappeared in the living room. “You two going to share with the rest of the class?”
Sam frowned at the angel - the expression on Castiel's face concerned him. “Something wrong?”
Castiel blinked a few times, looking around the room as if he'd never seen it before. “Where's Dean?”
“Kitchen, why?” Sam watched as the angel slowly looked in that direction and then over to Erato, who picked up a piece of paper from Bobby's desk. The hunter paid her no mind, he too, was watching Castiel. “What's wrong?”
“I am not certain.” He gave the muse a funny look that Sam couldn't place.
“Oh.” Erato turned to Bobby. “You need anything from the store? Milk, coffee, beer... junk food?”
“Pizza!” Ben's voice called from the kitchen.
Bobby cleared his throat. “Yeah... could use a few things...” He scribbled a few things down on a piece of paper. “You know where the supermarket is?”
“I know where lots of supermarkets are. I also know where the best places to get pizza on this planet are.” She replied in a voice reminiscent of a little girl announcing she could count to one hundred. She scanned the list. “Good thing I've got my ID on me... anyone not like deep dish?” She grinned, looking from Sam to Bobby to Dean, who had just come into the room. “I'm older than the Grand Canyon and I still get carded!” A moment later, she vanished.
“That muse is too damn perky.” Dean grumbled and headed for the desk where Bobby was. “Lisa had to make a few phone calls, let her family know she and Ben are okay.” He looked at the other three, stopping when he got to the angel. “Cas?” He frowned. “Something wrong?”
Castiel stepped up to Bobby's desk. “I need to talk to you all about something.” His voice was quiet.
Sam had the distinct feeling that what he had to tell them wasn't something they wanted to hear.
*
All ten of the women were sleeping. Lucifer stood in the center of the main room, slowly passing the bedrooms, where they were all deep in slumber. They would remain here, asleep, until the twenty-fifth. He knew that none of them had been resting well, and they would need their rest. By the end of the month, nine of them would be dead the tenth, would be the vessel for his long-lost Persephone. He wasn't exactly picky as to whom it would be - all of them were perfect for the role.
Olga, the little slip of a girl from Romania. Big brown eyes, soft brown hair and very girl-next door.
Jo, the huntress - blond, curvy and muscled - a perfect companion for a hunter.
Maria, the student...
He stopped when he came to the room where he could see Astrid slumbering. The girl who looked so much like Jessica Moore, the girl whose death had set Sam on his path to his destiny. He really ought to just select her now and forget about the others. He chuckled to himself.
Now all he needed to do was find Sam.
*
Dean decided that the best thing to do about finding out that Ben was his son was to act like he didn't know. Lisa had told him he wasn't - so odds were, either she didn't know, or she had lied to him. If nothing else, playing dumb might keep the boy and his mother safe in the end. He'd be making agreements to keep them safe for whatever happened next.
When Erato returned with three bags worth of groceries and two pizza boxes, conversation seemed to stop in favor of food. The muse was the strangest of the bunch that he had met. Unlike Melpomene and Clio, who had both seemed serious, Urania, who looked like a kid and acted like an old woman and - Poly, who was... well, weird - Erato sort of reminded him of the Trickster - Gabriel. Completely comfortable with what she could do, and rather fond of showing off.
Pity she wasn't into guys.
“Where in the world is this from?” Lisa said, taking another bite of pizza.
“A place called Mama Stella's in Kankaee, Illinois.” Erato replied, pulling a mushroom off the top of her slice and popping it in her mouth.
“It's awesome.” Ben put in, catching a strand of cheese with his fingers.
“Don't talk with your mouth full.” His mother admonished.
“Thanks for the pizza.” Sam directed towards the muse. “You could have gotten frozen.”
“Are you insane?” Dean interjected. “This stuff is awesome.”
“Going to agree with Dean here, Sam. 'Sides, that oven isn't exactly the best thing for frozen pizza.” Bobby looked over at Castiel. “What are you doing?”
Castiel stabbed at his slice with a fork, cutting off a small chunk. “It's easier for me to eat it this way. It can be... overwhelming to my senses. I have not had this problem until recently...” He frowned. “I believe my grace may be reviving itself.”
“Well, that's good, right?” Dean answered, and then put down his slice. “You think that might be because Zachariah is dead?”
“Possibly.” The angel turned his attention to his food.
Bobby looked over at the muse, who was staring at her phone with a disgusted look on her face. “Something wrong?”
“How in the entire...” She shook her head. “Stupid little...” She grabbed her bottle of beer and took a long pull from it. “When this is all over, Penny and I are going on a demon hunt.”
“I think it's best if we don't know.” Sam stated, before anyone else could speak.
Lisa looked around the group, ending with Dean. “This is just... insane. I mean, more insane than the whole changeling thing. It doesn't get worse, does it?”
“Well, not just yet.” Dean replied.
Everyone turned their attention back to their food, rather than continue the conversation.
*
Morpheus opened his eyes, his mouth slowly drawing into a smile. As much as he knew that it was very likely a trap, and that Lucifer couldn't be that stupid, he was too delighted that he'd found what he was looking for. The Winchesters didn't know that he'd gone upstairs while they slept when he was in the house in Sioux Falls. Neither did Bobby Singer. He'd found it in one of the three bedrooms; a tee-shirt advertising Harley Davidson. The kind of shirt designed to show off curves and leave little to the imagination. Well, if that was Jo Harvelle's style, or if it was merely a huntress's prop, he didn't care. What it held was more important than what it was.
The shirt had been riddled with her scent. The unique smell that every human had, undetectable to mankind, except in odd circumstances. Like a bloodhound, he'd learned the scent and promptly began following it in dreams. Through the minds of bartenders with disgusting thoughts and then through the minds of people the woman had saved on hunts.
And then he found the huntress herself - along with the other missing nine women.
The only trouble was - they were in a warehouse in the middle of Siberia. In a town full of upper level demons.
Morpheus tucked his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling of his room, frowning. The demons would need to move the women before the twenty-seventh of March. He would need to start looking around Bethel for likely hiding places.
The important thing was, however, that he had found Jo Harvelle - and once he found a specific human, he almost never lost track of them again.
*
Dean stuffed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket, glancing over at Erato, who looked about as nervous as he felt. Below them, the Mississippi River slowly flowed southward, the water a wintery gray. The season of cold was slowly letting go here in Tennessee, clumps of crocuses were scattered among the still-brown grass. He swallowed, watching a barge make its way northward. “They're going to be pretty pissed when they find us gone.” He was still rather surprised that the two of them managed to get out of the house and here to Memphis. The fact that the muse had talked to him in his head and Castiel hadn't picked it up also frightened him to some degree.
“I know.” The woman took a few steps towards him. “I'm used to being hated, so I won't mind too much.”
“I take it Michael will know where to be on the twenty-seventh.” He tensed as he heard the familiar sound of beating wings.
“Yes, Dean. I do.” Heather's voice sounded strange when it was manipulated by an archangel.
He turned towards the new arrival and had to blink once or twice. Heather had changed, somehow. He wasn't quite sure what it was - but this was more than angelic possession. Something about the girl had physically changed. “Hello, Buttercup.”
“Cute.” Heather-Michael took a few steps towards them. “Erato, good to see you again.”
The muse folded her arms, hugging herself. “Michael.”
“Morpheus needs your help.” The archangel replied. “Don't worry about getting Heather home. I'll see to that.”
“Wait a second...” Dean took a step forward just as Michael raised his hand towards him.
“She cannot go back there, Dean. By now they have learned you have gone and it will not take long for Castiel to track her.” He shifted his eyes towards Erato. “Go. Now.”
The muse nodded once and then was gone.
“Well, that was strange. A muse taking orders from an angel.” Dean felt the need to try and get on top of the situation again.
“She knows what she's doing, Dean.” Michael rocked back on Heather's heels, hands stuffed in the pockets of her coat. “I have a feeling you have some people you don't want to see harmed.”
“Damn right and...” He was cut short as Michael held up a hand.
“I know, Dean. I know.” The angel started to circle him. “There's the Bradens, a family in Fitchburg, Wisconsin - a scattering of others. Once the Bradens return to Indiana, they'll be headed there shortly with Castiel, the ones you want safe will be.”
“What about Heather?” Dean was ashamed to admit it, but he'd not thought about what was going to happen to her until just now.
“She'll be sent back to Sioux Falls. She will be fine.” The angel drew level with him and strangely, rested Heather's head against his shoulder.
Dean set a hand around the girl, hugging her slightly. She was taller than he remembered, or had she always been this height and he'd forgotten. It was starting to alarm him other things he'd found himself forgetting about her. He swallowed. “Could I talk to her - before we uh...”
Michael drew away from him, stepping back to look up into his face. Something changed in Heather's face and when she next spoke, all authority and power was gone from her voice. “I'm sorry.”
He blinked at her. “You're sorry?”
“I...” She bit at her lip. “I knew you'd be angry with me for doing this...”
“Heather...” He stepped towards her and she stepped back. “Hey...”
“I knew I was going to be in trouble.” She sighed and looked towards the river. “Guess I didn't feel like dying.”
“Well, there's no shame in that.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I'm sorry too. Sorry you ever had to get involved in this whole mess. If I could, I'd find a way to change it. Neither of us should be standing here, I know that. You should be home, with your mom and dad, blissfully ignorant of the shit that's about to go down.”
“There's no guarantee I'd be safe, Dean.” She shook her head. “And what's done is done.”
“When this... when this is all over...” He started towards her and saw the change start in her eyes. “Take care of yourself, Gosalyn.”
Heather/Michael smiled. “You too, Darkwing.”
Dean's world dissolved into pure, white light.
*
Heather woke with a start, cold and confused. A fraction of a moment ago, she'd been standing by the Mississippi River. Now she was in a snowbank. As she rose to her feet, she realized she was almost in the exact same spot she'd been when Michael found her, only further up the embankment. She brushed the clumps of heavy, late winter snow from her coat and started towards the road. The cold bit at her face and when she reached the road, she fumbled in her pockets for her mittens, only to find they were gone. Somewhere between here and then, they must have fallen and Michael hadn't noticed. Balling up her hands, she kept them in her pockets and started towards the salvage yard. The very act of walking was rather strange, after not having control of her own body for several weeks. She wasn't tired and she wasn't hungry - she was merely cold and sore. She winced as she heard a joint pop in her leg as she moved forward, a feeling of elation settling over her when the start of the fence came into view.
She came to a halt as the Impala suddenly appeared on the road and she remained where she was as it drew level with her and came to a halt. She swallowed hard as the driver's side door opened and Sam stepped out. She swallowed hard as he slammed the door shut and came towards her. Even though she'd grown a few inches, Heather was very aware of just how much taller Sam was than her. He strangely seemed even taller now. She was also fully expecting him to slap her and she braced herself for it.
Instead, she found herself on the receiving end of a bone-crushing hug.
She returned the hug, her face pressed against his coat, fighting back the urge to cry. Either of out relief or sorrow, she didn't know.
Sam's arms tightened for a moment and then she heard him curse softly. “You're grounded for the rest of the school year.”
Heather snorted. “That's fair. I've probably got a mountain of homework to do anyway.”
He let her go and they went back to the car. “How is it that you can act so much like Dean?”
“Genetics, Sammy.” She didn't dare smile, not yet. She jerked open the passenger side door, gritting her teeth as the pain in her joints suddenly flared again. They stayed silent while Sam turned the car around and headed back to Bobby's. As the Impala drove up under the covered garage, she cleared her throat. “This is going to sound weird but uh... what's today's date?”
Sam let out the barest traces of a chuckle. “It's Thursday, March fourth.” He gave her a tired look. “You don't have to go back to school until Monday.”
They both got out of the car and headed for the house.
Chapter 25
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Dean, Sam, Castiel, Melpomene, Gabriel, Mnemosyne, Heather!Michael, Nate, Bobby
Notes: This story follows canon up to Changing Channels - sort of - and borrows chunks of the rest of Season Five completely at random. This story has no beta. I also apologize for taking over a year to update this story. Life and other plot bunnies attacked.
Trailer 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8LXZM9nRC4
Trailer 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wijPDaRc9iA
Trailer 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eR1JNDxstk
Warnings:Mild violence, language, complete disregard for Greek Mythological Canon
Summary: The January before he went to Hell, Dean and his brother Sam faced the Last Calusa in Key West, Florida. Following the defeat of this ancient curse, the brothers left, barreling straight into their destiny and the inevitable showdown against Lilith and her minions. But what they assumed was just another hunt was actually a key part in the plans of the Apocalypse. A plan not laid by the powers below, but by the ones up above.
Mnemosyne quietly came into her home, finally understanding just how stubborn the Winchesters were. They still weren't completely on board with the plan to let the two portals open at the same time and restore the system, as it were, but compared to a host of other options, it was starting to look more and more favorable. However, they still wanted to do things on their terms. She sat down in chair next to the fire, rubbing her eyes.
“Told you they were Chuckleheads.” Gabriel's voice came to her from the other seat near the fire.
“I was hoping you were kidding, Gabby” She sighed. “I had to get back here before I was missed.” She toed off her shoes and curled up in her seat, feeling her age. “I just hope Erato can manage.”
“Please don't call me Gabby...” Gabriel ran a hand through his hair. “How does she stay off the radar anyway?”
“Bigger fish to fry and no one around here worries about her causing trouble. If she and Melpomene didn't look so much alike, I'd have trouble believing she's one of the girls.” She shook her head. “Anything happen around here?”
“Not that I noticed. Is it always so quiet?” He unwrapped a Snickers bar.
“Well, the Olympics and Mardi Gras recently ended - most of everyone is asleep, nursing hangovers.” She hugged her legs, watching the fire. “It's not going to be easy to smuggle people in and out of here soon. Thankfully, I don't think Lucifer's going to be storming the gates of Olympus any time soon.”
“I think that's because he doesn't know who here is your friend and who isn't.” Gabriel snorted and bit into the chocolate bar. “I did manage to get out of here, get Pestilence and get back in all while you were gone.”
She smirked. “Sure you did, Loki. Who'd you get a piggyback ride from?”
Gabriel's smile fell a fraction. “Uh...”
“The man with the funny leg?” She grinned. “Don't worry, I won't rat you and Hephaestus out.”
His smile slowly returned. “If I had known how good he was at slaying demons, I'd have started hanging out with him a long time ago.”
“He does like a good fight every now and then.” She leaned her head back. “What else did you do while I was gone? I don't suppose you made dinner.”
It was the archangel's turn to laugh. “No. Sorry.” He stood and stretched. “I'm sure I can whip up something... did you know that Claire Novak is over at Artemis's home?”
“I did.” She got up out of her seat. “I'm not worried about that. Missy knows better than to do something she shouldn't. Not to mention there's only three males allowed into her residence - and her twin brother isn't one of them.”
Gabriel went over to the table. “That reminds me, why haven't you killed Apollo yet?”
“As soon as I figure out how to break the bond he's still got with four of my daughters, he's going to be a pile of cinders.”
He caught the tone in her voice and arched an eyebrow. “I've got a warehouse you can borrow.”
“Oh, Gabriel, you are such a sweetheart. Always have been” She pinched his cheek and walked past him. “I really should have invited you over for tea more often.”
**
Bobby frowned at the woman sitting stock still at the head of his kitchen table, her eyes closed, save for two small slits that blazed blue. He supposed the irksome thing was that he couldn't tell if she was sleeping or doing something else at the moment. He shook his head and went back to making coffee. He had been up most of the night thinking about what the Titan had told them yesterday afternoon. While he didn't like the idea of either of the boys saying yes, he knew that time was running out and honestly, they had to do something before things worse. He flipped the radio on, muttering to himself.
“The fire that blazed all night at the Niveus Center for Disease Control has finally been extinguished. The center was getting ready for the first clinical trials of a Swine Flu vaccine when the fire broke out. The death toll stands at seventeen, with four still unaccounted for.”
Bobby sighed. “More bad news...”
“Good news.” The woman replied and he turned towards her.
“How the hell was that good news?” He snorted, not wanting to have an argument before he had coffee in his system.
“That wasn't a swine flu vaccine. It was the Croatoan Virus.” Erato stood and stretched. “Where's there's disease, there's Pestilence.” She shrugged. “Or rather, there was Pestilence.”
“And you would know this because?” The hunter asked. “All you creatures have one another on speed dial, or something?”
“Of course not. The reason I know this is because Death told me. It won't be too much longer before Lucifer binds Death to him, and I just happened to be on the channel, so to speak.” She ran a hand through her hair. “While I am sorry for the humans who have lost their lives, given the disasters I have seen...”
Bobby held up his hand. “I know where that's going, you don't have to to elaborate.” He got out a mug. “Let me guess - worst disaster you've seen was the Black Death.”
“No, The Flood. Ask the angel, he'll probably give you the same answer.” She leaned against the chair. “I know you don't approve of me being here, Mr. Singer. Quite frankly, I'm not to happy to be here myself.” She sighed.
“You got that right.” He took a drink from his mug. “Yer mom sure puts up a good argument, I suppose. Guess it does feel like we're getting nowhere fast, sometimes.”
“Oh, if she had wanted to win the argument, she would have.” The muse shook her head. “Believe me.”
She frowned as Dean came into the kitchen. “Good morning sunshine.”
“I'm not your son and my name's not shine.” Dean grumbled as he headed for the coffee pot. “Sam's gonna be down in a few.” He poured himself a cup of the brew. “Anything happen in the world?”
“Well, apparently Pestilence is dead.” Bobby sat down at the table. “According to Atty here.”
Dean looked over his mug at the muse. “That true?”
“If there's one thing Death isn't, it's a liar.” She returned to her seat. “If you don't want to believe me...”
Castiel walked into the room. “I don't think they need me to confirm it, Erato.” The angel went and stood against the fridge. “You are aware that we have...”
The muse snorted and rolled her eyes. “Angels. Always have to have the last word. Even if they're as wrong as spandex.”
Dean had to cover his mouth to prevent coffee from spewing everywhere and he hacked twice. Bobby, who hadn't had a mouthful of coffee, gave a slight chuckle. “Wish all you pagans were so damn funny.”
“I fail to see the humor in the situation.” Castiel replied.
“The things you fail to find the humor in Castiel, would fill several warehouses.” Erato stretched her arms over her head.
Dean took a more steady sip of coffee. “Enough with the comedy.” He shook his head. “So you have Pestilence's ring, and since you know Death, probably not a problem to get his.”
“How astute.” She rubbed the back of her head. “But even then... still a lot of things to set up.”
Castiel frowned. “I don't suppose you know where the women who vanished are.”
“Morpheus is still trying to find them. It's not exactly easy to find a handful out of four billion.” She frowned. “Well, more like several hundred million, but you get the picture.” She rested her head on her hand as Sam came into the kitchen. “But I'm of the opinion that they're somewhere in the same time zone to where Lucifer wants to open the portal.”
“Which is still pretty big.” Dean said as Sam got a cup of coffee and joined them at the table.
“Do you know how many have gone missing?” Bobby asked.
“Ten. And odds are, that's all he's taking.” She answered as Sam took a drink from his mug.
“Is Lucifer still unaware that Persephone is not in Elysium?”
“Well, I wouldn't put him past busting a hole into Purgatory to double check she's not there.” She sighed. “Of course, you go into Purgatory, you deal with Eve and the Leviathans and that's just mess that makes demons look like child's play.”
Castiel frowned. “I do not believe Lucifer would be so foolish.”
“Desperate times, desperate measures.” Sam muttered and rubbed his temple. “I'm still trying to figure out what you're doing here.”
“Provide answers, scenarios... fill in the blanks.” Erato glanced over at Castiel. “You have something you want to share with the class?”
“I have been trying to figure something out since your mother's visit here the other day.” The angel's eyes narrowed. “And why she is still alive, when all the other Titans are believed to be dead.”
“Castiel, I am older than you - by a few dozen years, at least. You ever think that maybe, just maybe, not everything you heard about the pagans is true?”
“I am only curious, Erato, because until recently, Mnemosyne, your mother was quite timid.” The angel's face remained perfectly passive.
“My mom doesn't like to draw attention to herself. She tries to avoid confrontation, if it all possible.” She sighed. “As for timidity... that's her defense mechanism.”
“It seems to be a pretty good one.” Bobby frowned as they heard a car rumble into the drive. “We expecting anyone?”
“Not that I'm aware of.” Dean said, rising to his feet and going to the window. “Indiana plates...” His breath left him. “Shit.”
“What is it?” Sam rose and joined his brother. “Is that?”
“Yeah. It's Lisa.” Dean had a feeling things were about to get much, much worse.
**
Claire Novak wanted to go home. It wasn't that she disliked being here on Olympus, it was just - she needed to see family again, to let them know she was all right - they had to be looking for her - or something. She wasn't sure if she was still in danger or not, no one was really big on giving her answers.
She stretched her arms over her head and looked around the room. Unlike the room across the way, her room here in this temple was simple - college dorm meets World Market. The lofted bed was low enough she could sit up in bed, but high enough it required a ladder. There were framed posters advertising the Olympic Games in Moscow, Paris, Squaw Valley and Montreal. There were more of those high windows that you couldn't see out of unless you stood on something, and the walls were done in a pale green color. Sighing, she climbed down from the bed and almost instantly, the wiry greyhound that had taken up residence on the rug in the middle of the room trotted over to her. She gave the dog an affectionate rub behind the ears. “Morning, Knightly.” She stuffed her feet into her slippers and stepped out into the hallway.
The dog stepped around her and raced downstairs and a moment later, she heard him bark as he joined the rest of the pack.
“Morning, Claire.”
She turned. Artemis was standing there, looking rather bedraggled - if she hadn't known better, Claire might have thought she was at a slumber party. “Morning.”
“Knightly seems to have taken a liking to you.” She smiled and they went into the kitchen. “Silly dog.”
“It's sort of funny... I never had a pet, except for a goldfish I won at a carnival when I was seven.” She got out a box of cereal.
“Perhaps he can go with you, when you go home.” The goddess sat down and began to peel a grapefruit. “I certainly wouldn't object.”
“But he's your dog.” Claire stated. “I mean, aren't you attached...”
“I love all my pets equally, Claire. Now, if you didn't or couldn't take him, that's one thing, but what if you did and could? Would you leave him here or take him along?”
“I don't know.” She frowned. “I don't want to say he's just a dog, but...”
“I understand.” She smiled and turned her attention to her fruit. “What were you thinking of doing today? More schoolwork?”
“I want to keep on top of things, so most likely I will.” She paused. “Do you know how long I've been here? Time still tends to run together.”
“It's the second of March.” She split the grapefruit open.
“So around two months.” She poked at the cereal. “I don't suppose you know how much longer I'm going to be staying.”
“If all goes well, just until the end of the month.” She gave her a half smile. “It'll all work out. As they say, this too will pass.”
Claire bit back her retort. Knowing that the girl across from her had seen the world fall apart who knew how many times - she probably was the expert on waiting for things to end. She poked at her cereal. “Has it ever been worse than this?”
Artemis nodded sagely. “I've seen much worse. The waiting, my dear Claire, is the worst part of anything like this.”
**
Heather was vaguely aware that she and Michael were sitting indoors. The glorious smell of grilling and deep frying food penetrated her mind a little more than their actual location. She had the notion they weren't near the door and that they were sitting next to a large window. The next thought that came to her mind was that she hadn't been carrying more than six dollars when she left school the day she said yes.
“Don't worry - we'll have enough to pay for a meal.”
Michael's voice, still sounding like Dean's, rooted her more in reality.
“How? Did you pick up some extra cash while I was out of my mind? And why are we eating anyway? You don''t need to eat!”
Michael chuckled. “Something like that. As for eating - while I may not need sustenance, you do. I'm afraid I've been neglecting that need for a long time. Were you an adult, this would not be an issue.”
Heather became a little more aware of where they were, the low lighting and the décor told her that she had to be in someone's idea of Bavaria. A really good interpretation, if such things could be judged. The menu was hard for her to read, and she blinked a few times, and then realized why. The menu was in German. She tried not to panic when she heard her own voice, speaking flawlessly order something called Jager Schnitzel and salad of mixed greens. “Guess that means this is authentic Bavaria.”
“We're in Strasbourg, to be exact.” Michael sighed. “We'll be heading back to the States soon. Do you remember much of what's been happening?”
“Bits and pieces - nothing comes in very clear.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking around at the people in the establishment, their conversations as hard to make out as her own memories of where all she had been in the past - however long it had been. “Did we... destroy a city at some point?”
“It wasn't really a city, more of a town.” Michael sighed inside her head and she had the feeling that the angel hadn't exactly relished what he'd done. “I can never remember what qualifies for a town and what makes a city. It was destroy everything or let it be overrun with demons and hell hounds. It was only four thousand people. The demons were going to infect people with Spanish Influenza and then spread the illness across the globe. The last time that illness was unleashed, it killed twenty million people.”
“Four thousand is a lot, Michael.” She looked up as the salad was placed in front of her and she thanked the server, and took a welcome sip of strong coffee. “Where was that?”
“India.” A pause. “And you didn't destroy the city, I did. Those deaths are not on you.”
“Well, it'll be my nightmare.” The salad tasted amazing and her stomach rumbled in welcome as she ate. “We're going to Memphis, aren't we?”
“Yes.” The angel fell quiet.
After a few minutes and the rest of the world shifted into a clearer picture. Heather could make out some conversations a little clearer, but nothing distinct. There was music coming from somewhere and as the sound cleared, the sense of smell came back and it was almost overpowering. Onions, garlic, butter - potatoes and that all-encompassing scent of decently fried food almost made her sink back into her chair at the overload. Combined with the sharp taste of the vinegar based dressing on her salad of spinach and arugula, she wondered if it was possible to pass out from what she was feeling. It was then she became aware of the fact that her limbs ached - something akin to the muscle cramps she sometimes had, but it was different.
“You're growing.” When Michael's voice returned, a little of her awareness faded - the pain and the ambient noise was gone, leaving only smell and taste.
“What do you mean, growing?” The plate of Schnitzel was set down in front of her - and it was accompanied by the most heavenly smelling mashed potatoes she had ever seen in her life.
“Growing taller. It's a... a bit of a side affect of being possessed at your age. It won't be that much, just a couple of inches.” Michael actually chuckled. “Eat your dinner, Gracie.”
*
“And then this girl showed up out of nowhere and turned the man to ash.” Ben held the glass of juice tighter. “She sounded really pissed that the guy was there.”
Dean looked down at the boy sitting at Bobby's kitchen table, his eyes glancing over at Lisa, who was holding onto her coffee mug like her life depended on it. It was a hell of a story and he believed every word of it. But as to why Zachariah would go after the two of them, he was completely clueless. “So Michael dusted that asshole. Guess that means there's one less dickhead to worry about.”
Sam snorted into his mug. “Still doesn't explain why he was there.”
“He... or the girl, whatever it was... said we were supposed to be left alone.” Lisa took a drink of coffee, her hands shaking. “Michael, that is. He said he was very specific about it.”
“Heather was most likely on that same list until that demon went to Jasper.” Castiel frowned and folded his arms, leaning against the counter. “I don't suppose you can provide a plausible reason as to why Zachariah was there, can you, Erato?”
The muse threw him a look of undisguised disgust. “Over the past few centuries, I've come to the conclusion that nothing you angels do make sense. You just sit up there in Heaven watching the little humans run around and then degrade them when they do something stupid. They have to be tricked into starting the end of the world for you to get off your feathered asses and do something.”
“She's got a point, Cas.” Dean went over to the coffee pot. “And I know, I know, you had orders.” He cut off the retort he could see the angel about to deliver. “You also didn't know any better.” He refilled his mug and then started on making another pot of coffee.
“You were saying Pestilence is dead.” Bobby interjected before anyone else could speak. “Don't suppose you know who did it?”
“Oh, I have an idea or two.” She leaned forward to rest her arms on the table. “I can give you one other piece of good news.”
“What's that?” Sam said, sitting down at the table.
Erato looked around at the faces slowly before speaking. “Most of the non-demonic monsters are running for cover. The only beings still running around in any number are those that require, how should I say this - regular feeding.”
Castiel let out a breath. “I fail to see how that's a good thing.”
“It's a bunch of things less to worry about, you idjit.” Bobby said, walking over to the coffee pot, which had just finished brewing.
“Do you think we're still in danger?” Lisa broke in. “I mean... I don't want to...”
“I think you're pretty safe, or as safe as anyone can be in these times.” Erato stated and then sighed, stood up and took Castiel by the arm. “We'll be right back.”
“Wait a second...” Dean started to say and an instant later, both the angel and the muse had vanished from the house. “Damn it.”
“Anyone want to guess what that was about?” Bobby asked as he refilled his mug.
*
Castiel jerked his arm away sharply when he and Erato landed on the far side of the salvage yard. “Don't touch me again.”
“Fine, Feathers.” She folded her arms, her face twisted into a grimace. “But it was a better method than telling everyone else to clear out.”
“You're insufferable.” He started back towards the house.
“I know why Zachariah went to the Bradens.” She called after him, and he turned slowly back towards her.
“And you do not wish to divulge this in front of the Winchesters, why?” He closed the distance between them until their faces were mere inches apart. He hadn't realized how small the muse was compared to his height.
“Because you and I both know that when it comes down to it, the only person Dean Winchester will protect without question is Sam.” She blinked, her face calm - and he knew she saw the slight falter in his own. “Terrible, isn't it? What John Winchester turned him into? My sister told you there was a plan where neither brother has to say yes. You wanted to her to tell you what it was. And now I want you to tell me, Castiel, Soldier of Heaven, member of the First Garrison of the Legion of Michael if you have no qualms whatsoever of a thirteen year old girl and an eleven year old boy playing the roles that the Winchester brothers were destined for since the Expulsion from Eden.”
A feeling unlike any he had ever known or heard described settled over the angel. He stared into the muse's brown eyes, praying that he was lying to her about this - but her face held only curiosity and frankness. “What?”
“That's what the Unforgivable Plan is, Castiel. That the two children of Dean Winchester take on the roles instead of their father and uncle.” She stuffed her hands into her pockets. “Time is running out. You and the brothers can run around in circles, trying to find a way to fix this, but I'm telling you, if you continue on this insane Team Free Will idea, it will end with billions dead, and Sam Winchester possessed by the devil.”
He stepped back from her and leaned against a half-rusted out mini-van. “Forgive me, I am still trying to wrap my mind around the idea of the battle of Michael and Lucifer taking place in the bodies of children.”
“It's a lot to take in.” She leaned against a sedan that was half-buried in snow. “Quite frankly, I am surprised that you were unaware of Ben Braden's parentage.”
“I was not entirely sure.” He took a breath and looked down at his hands. “And I agree, it is a plan that shouldn't even be contemplated.” He lifted his face to study hers. “What was Zachariah thinking?”
“Zachariah was an idiot.” She snorted. “And I agree, he is one less problem to worry about.”
“What of Raphael?” Castiel couldn't believe he'd forgotten the other archangel until just now.
“No idea what he's up to. Probably off slaying demons and anything else that he wants to while Michael tries to keep things under control.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Let's get back inside before you get too cold.”
*
“How are you doing with that insane code of Heather's?” Sam asked Bobby, who was slowly turning over the copied down words again.
“It's all chaos.” The old hunter shook his head. “Quite frankly, I also don't know how much longer I can lie to her school about where she is.” He looked up as Castiel and Erato reappeared in the living room. “You two going to share with the rest of the class?”
Sam frowned at the angel - the expression on Castiel's face concerned him. “Something wrong?”
Castiel blinked a few times, looking around the room as if he'd never seen it before. “Where's Dean?”
“Kitchen, why?” Sam watched as the angel slowly looked in that direction and then over to Erato, who picked up a piece of paper from Bobby's desk. The hunter paid her no mind, he too, was watching Castiel. “What's wrong?”
“I am not certain.” He gave the muse a funny look that Sam couldn't place.
“Oh.” Erato turned to Bobby. “You need anything from the store? Milk, coffee, beer... junk food?”
“Pizza!” Ben's voice called from the kitchen.
Bobby cleared his throat. “Yeah... could use a few things...” He scribbled a few things down on a piece of paper. “You know where the supermarket is?”
“I know where lots of supermarkets are. I also know where the best places to get pizza on this planet are.” She replied in a voice reminiscent of a little girl announcing she could count to one hundred. She scanned the list. “Good thing I've got my ID on me... anyone not like deep dish?” She grinned, looking from Sam to Bobby to Dean, who had just come into the room. “I'm older than the Grand Canyon and I still get carded!” A moment later, she vanished.
“That muse is too damn perky.” Dean grumbled and headed for the desk where Bobby was. “Lisa had to make a few phone calls, let her family know she and Ben are okay.” He looked at the other three, stopping when he got to the angel. “Cas?” He frowned. “Something wrong?”
Castiel stepped up to Bobby's desk. “I need to talk to you all about something.” His voice was quiet.
Sam had the distinct feeling that what he had to tell them wasn't something they wanted to hear.
*
All ten of the women were sleeping. Lucifer stood in the center of the main room, slowly passing the bedrooms, where they were all deep in slumber. They would remain here, asleep, until the twenty-fifth. He knew that none of them had been resting well, and they would need their rest. By the end of the month, nine of them would be dead the tenth, would be the vessel for his long-lost Persephone. He wasn't exactly picky as to whom it would be - all of them were perfect for the role.
Olga, the little slip of a girl from Romania. Big brown eyes, soft brown hair and very girl-next door.
Jo, the huntress - blond, curvy and muscled - a perfect companion for a hunter.
Maria, the student...
He stopped when he came to the room where he could see Astrid slumbering. The girl who looked so much like Jessica Moore, the girl whose death had set Sam on his path to his destiny. He really ought to just select her now and forget about the others. He chuckled to himself.
Now all he needed to do was find Sam.
*
Dean decided that the best thing to do about finding out that Ben was his son was to act like he didn't know. Lisa had told him he wasn't - so odds were, either she didn't know, or she had lied to him. If nothing else, playing dumb might keep the boy and his mother safe in the end. He'd be making agreements to keep them safe for whatever happened next.
When Erato returned with three bags worth of groceries and two pizza boxes, conversation seemed to stop in favor of food. The muse was the strangest of the bunch that he had met. Unlike Melpomene and Clio, who had both seemed serious, Urania, who looked like a kid and acted like an old woman and - Poly, who was... well, weird - Erato sort of reminded him of the Trickster - Gabriel. Completely comfortable with what she could do, and rather fond of showing off.
Pity she wasn't into guys.
“Where in the world is this from?” Lisa said, taking another bite of pizza.
“A place called Mama Stella's in Kankaee, Illinois.” Erato replied, pulling a mushroom off the top of her slice and popping it in her mouth.
“It's awesome.” Ben put in, catching a strand of cheese with his fingers.
“Don't talk with your mouth full.” His mother admonished.
“Thanks for the pizza.” Sam directed towards the muse. “You could have gotten frozen.”
“Are you insane?” Dean interjected. “This stuff is awesome.”
“Going to agree with Dean here, Sam. 'Sides, that oven isn't exactly the best thing for frozen pizza.” Bobby looked over at Castiel. “What are you doing?”
Castiel stabbed at his slice with a fork, cutting off a small chunk. “It's easier for me to eat it this way. It can be... overwhelming to my senses. I have not had this problem until recently...” He frowned. “I believe my grace may be reviving itself.”
“Well, that's good, right?” Dean answered, and then put down his slice. “You think that might be because Zachariah is dead?”
“Possibly.” The angel turned his attention to his food.
Bobby looked over at the muse, who was staring at her phone with a disgusted look on her face. “Something wrong?”
“How in the entire...” She shook her head. “Stupid little...” She grabbed her bottle of beer and took a long pull from it. “When this is all over, Penny and I are going on a demon hunt.”
“I think it's best if we don't know.” Sam stated, before anyone else could speak.
Lisa looked around the group, ending with Dean. “This is just... insane. I mean, more insane than the whole changeling thing. It doesn't get worse, does it?”
“Well, not just yet.” Dean replied.
Everyone turned their attention back to their food, rather than continue the conversation.
*
Morpheus opened his eyes, his mouth slowly drawing into a smile. As much as he knew that it was very likely a trap, and that Lucifer couldn't be that stupid, he was too delighted that he'd found what he was looking for. The Winchesters didn't know that he'd gone upstairs while they slept when he was in the house in Sioux Falls. Neither did Bobby Singer. He'd found it in one of the three bedrooms; a tee-shirt advertising Harley Davidson. The kind of shirt designed to show off curves and leave little to the imagination. Well, if that was Jo Harvelle's style, or if it was merely a huntress's prop, he didn't care. What it held was more important than what it was.
The shirt had been riddled with her scent. The unique smell that every human had, undetectable to mankind, except in odd circumstances. Like a bloodhound, he'd learned the scent and promptly began following it in dreams. Through the minds of bartenders with disgusting thoughts and then through the minds of people the woman had saved on hunts.
And then he found the huntress herself - along with the other missing nine women.
The only trouble was - they were in a warehouse in the middle of Siberia. In a town full of upper level demons.
Morpheus tucked his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling of his room, frowning. The demons would need to move the women before the twenty-seventh of March. He would need to start looking around Bethel for likely hiding places.
The important thing was, however, that he had found Jo Harvelle - and once he found a specific human, he almost never lost track of them again.
*
Dean stuffed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket, glancing over at Erato, who looked about as nervous as he felt. Below them, the Mississippi River slowly flowed southward, the water a wintery gray. The season of cold was slowly letting go here in Tennessee, clumps of crocuses were scattered among the still-brown grass. He swallowed, watching a barge make its way northward. “They're going to be pretty pissed when they find us gone.” He was still rather surprised that the two of them managed to get out of the house and here to Memphis. The fact that the muse had talked to him in his head and Castiel hadn't picked it up also frightened him to some degree.
“I know.” The woman took a few steps towards him. “I'm used to being hated, so I won't mind too much.”
“I take it Michael will know where to be on the twenty-seventh.” He tensed as he heard the familiar sound of beating wings.
“Yes, Dean. I do.” Heather's voice sounded strange when it was manipulated by an archangel.
He turned towards the new arrival and had to blink once or twice. Heather had changed, somehow. He wasn't quite sure what it was - but this was more than angelic possession. Something about the girl had physically changed. “Hello, Buttercup.”
“Cute.” Heather-Michael took a few steps towards them. “Erato, good to see you again.”
The muse folded her arms, hugging herself. “Michael.”
“Morpheus needs your help.” The archangel replied. “Don't worry about getting Heather home. I'll see to that.”
“Wait a second...” Dean took a step forward just as Michael raised his hand towards him.
“She cannot go back there, Dean. By now they have learned you have gone and it will not take long for Castiel to track her.” He shifted his eyes towards Erato. “Go. Now.”
The muse nodded once and then was gone.
“Well, that was strange. A muse taking orders from an angel.” Dean felt the need to try and get on top of the situation again.
“She knows what she's doing, Dean.” Michael rocked back on Heather's heels, hands stuffed in the pockets of her coat. “I have a feeling you have some people you don't want to see harmed.”
“Damn right and...” He was cut short as Michael held up a hand.
“I know, Dean. I know.” The angel started to circle him. “There's the Bradens, a family in Fitchburg, Wisconsin - a scattering of others. Once the Bradens return to Indiana, they'll be headed there shortly with Castiel, the ones you want safe will be.”
“What about Heather?” Dean was ashamed to admit it, but he'd not thought about what was going to happen to her until just now.
“She'll be sent back to Sioux Falls. She will be fine.” The angel drew level with him and strangely, rested Heather's head against his shoulder.
Dean set a hand around the girl, hugging her slightly. She was taller than he remembered, or had she always been this height and he'd forgotten. It was starting to alarm him other things he'd found himself forgetting about her. He swallowed. “Could I talk to her - before we uh...”
Michael drew away from him, stepping back to look up into his face. Something changed in Heather's face and when she next spoke, all authority and power was gone from her voice. “I'm sorry.”
He blinked at her. “You're sorry?”
“I...” She bit at her lip. “I knew you'd be angry with me for doing this...”
“Heather...” He stepped towards her and she stepped back. “Hey...”
“I knew I was going to be in trouble.” She sighed and looked towards the river. “Guess I didn't feel like dying.”
“Well, there's no shame in that.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I'm sorry too. Sorry you ever had to get involved in this whole mess. If I could, I'd find a way to change it. Neither of us should be standing here, I know that. You should be home, with your mom and dad, blissfully ignorant of the shit that's about to go down.”
“There's no guarantee I'd be safe, Dean.” She shook her head. “And what's done is done.”
“When this... when this is all over...” He started towards her and saw the change start in her eyes. “Take care of yourself, Gosalyn.”
Heather/Michael smiled. “You too, Darkwing.”
Dean's world dissolved into pure, white light.
*
Heather woke with a start, cold and confused. A fraction of a moment ago, she'd been standing by the Mississippi River. Now she was in a snowbank. As she rose to her feet, she realized she was almost in the exact same spot she'd been when Michael found her, only further up the embankment. She brushed the clumps of heavy, late winter snow from her coat and started towards the road. The cold bit at her face and when she reached the road, she fumbled in her pockets for her mittens, only to find they were gone. Somewhere between here and then, they must have fallen and Michael hadn't noticed. Balling up her hands, she kept them in her pockets and started towards the salvage yard. The very act of walking was rather strange, after not having control of her own body for several weeks. She wasn't tired and she wasn't hungry - she was merely cold and sore. She winced as she heard a joint pop in her leg as she moved forward, a feeling of elation settling over her when the start of the fence came into view.
She came to a halt as the Impala suddenly appeared on the road and she remained where she was as it drew level with her and came to a halt. She swallowed hard as the driver's side door opened and Sam stepped out. She swallowed hard as he slammed the door shut and came towards her. Even though she'd grown a few inches, Heather was very aware of just how much taller Sam was than her. He strangely seemed even taller now. She was also fully expecting him to slap her and she braced herself for it.
Instead, she found herself on the receiving end of a bone-crushing hug.
She returned the hug, her face pressed against his coat, fighting back the urge to cry. Either of out relief or sorrow, she didn't know.
Sam's arms tightened for a moment and then she heard him curse softly. “You're grounded for the rest of the school year.”
Heather snorted. “That's fair. I've probably got a mountain of homework to do anyway.”
He let her go and they went back to the car. “How is it that you can act so much like Dean?”
“Genetics, Sammy.” She didn't dare smile, not yet. She jerked open the passenger side door, gritting her teeth as the pain in her joints suddenly flared again. They stayed silent while Sam turned the car around and headed back to Bobby's. As the Impala drove up under the covered garage, she cleared her throat. “This is going to sound weird but uh... what's today's date?”
Sam let out the barest traces of a chuckle. “It's Thursday, March fourth.” He gave her a tired look. “You don't have to go back to school until Monday.”
They both got out of the car and headed for the house.
Chapter 25