Chapter 7: Eleanor's Gift
Eleanor’s Gift
Two old men playing chess...
To the world they looked like two old men playing chess while around them life went on and the park echoed with children’s laughter, young love and old reminiscence. Yet if you looked closer you might have noticed a shimmer of power about them. The taller, thinner man oozed menace and death while the shorter shook with laughter and life.
”I do like the way this is playing out, don't you?” God said, moving a pawn.
”Must I answer that?” Death said dryly moving his knight.
”You are such a party-pooper,” God said moving his bishop.
”Yes. You, on the other hand are an infernal optimist,” Death said, his knight taking a pawn.
”Yes. Why not? Castiel has asked Hel for assistance and She in turn will take care of the Leviathan. Dean will follow Castiel and the power of the amulet will be known to him. Purgatory will be as it should have been and Hell will be razed. No power, no threat and that will give Heaven time to reorganise. And that I think is check,” God said moving his second knight.
”You have always had a strange definition of what is good. Which given your role puzzles me, do you really think, given their history of doing the exact opposite, Castiel and the Winchesters will actually play their roles as you ordain? And I am not in check. Do you know how to play this game?” Death said with growing irritation and moved himself out of check.
”Look, I'll admit that I might have overestimated mankind’s ability to move forward without the need for almost destroying themselves in the process. However, all things considered, they are still my greatest creation. Until they lose the ability to recognise right from wrong I will keep the wheels turning and let them improve themselves,” God said, studying the board.
”And when they can no longer improve themselves. You know they'll turn your Earth into a living Hell. Lucifer and Michael need not be released from the Cage for that to happen. Are you prepared to let a second Armageddon proceed to its natural conclusion?” Death asked.
”Yes. If Heaven cannot learn and move forward with mankind then when Lucifer and Michael are freed it would be better not to interfere. I only hope the Winchester bloodline is alive by then. Mankind will need strong leadership,” God said watching Death move his pieces across the board.
”Good. I have no wish to be interrupted in my work just because your love gets the better of your job. Checkmate,” Death said with satisfaction.
”So it is, well played. Shall we play another game?” God said looking at the trap he'd played into.
”You will still lose,” Death said.
”Oh, you never know, another century or so and I'll be checkmating you,” God said good-naturedly, resetting the board.
”Hopeless optimist,” Death said with something like a smile on his dour face.
”Eternal pessimist,” God replied with a blinding smile.
***
Invisible hounds and torn pages...
”So? Where's Cas? Are they going to help? Did you see the Great Wolf? What's Hel like?” Dean had to physically clamp his mouth over Sam's to stop his questions. Sam stopped and looked sheepishly at his brother. ”I just like to know,” he said.
”I know Sammy, it's all good and to answer your questions; I don't know. Yes. Yes. Taller than you lanky long black hair and blue-vein skin. Cold, I now know exactly what's meant when somebody describes a feeling or place as being 'tomb cold'. Hel can conjure up a pretty good cheese-burger though,” Dean spoke as Eleanor and Bobby entered the room.
”So what happens now?” Bobby asked.
Dean looked around the room arhming and aaghing,”They can find somebody else, I mean Cas branded you and you're safe here...”
”What are you talking about, Dean? Ellie?” Bobby asked looking from one to the other.
Neither knew what to say, fortunately Sam had worked it out and answered for them. ”They want to continue business as usual. Open Purgatory.”
”You have got to be kidding? Bloody Hell, no way they're getting El. Over my dead body,” Bobby roared. A good five minutes of classic Singer raving followed before he uttered a decisive 'Balls' and sat down heavily.
”Castiel hasn't really got a choice. We know Crowley, he'll want it all and if Castiel isn't going to help him he'll go elsewhere,” Sam said softly.
”Elsewhere? How elsewhere? Raphael doesn't need the power boost,” Bobby thought then realised he'd voiced that aloud.
”Actually, Raphael mightn't be as in control as Cas seems to think,” Sam said quietly. The others looked at him with doubt. ”Been making some calls while you were Hel bound. The war's gone more guerilla than angels are used to and Castiel’s rebels have better success. Or at least that's the rumour. There are also rumours of a big supernatural retreat to the west. But that's probably more to do with Hel and company visiting than another threat.”
”They'll get the spell Bobby. If I give it to the angel before Crowley or he finds another monster to torture, it'll be better. Besides it might give you the advantage and I'll be alive, more or less,” Eleanor said into the silence that had followed Sam's news.
”I don't like it. Deals with supernatural beings always end up going sideways and slidin' into Hell, or Nilfheimr, as the case may be,” Bobby huffed and Eleanor squeezed his hand. They returned to the panic room together leaving Sam and Dean to their own thoughts and preparations.
”You know what I find strange about this whole situation? It's completely mad. I mean, sure we’ve dealt with Pagans, Demons, Angels before but it’s usually been with the intent of killing the sons-of-bitches. Not like this weird mutual mutually assured destruction to save a greater destruction. And certainly not something that you or I didn’t inadvertently start. I mean all mythology has aspects that are similar and overlap but I'd never have thought that I'd live to see it actually happen,” Sam said walking into the kitchen and grabbing a couple of beers. He passed one to Dean.
”Yeah, well, when does anything we've done over the past, what, eight years made sense?” Dean returned, wondering if Sam ever turned off that big brain of his. They sat in companionable silence while the sun went down and twilight settled over the Salvage yard. All was peaceful.
Until the low warning growl of a dog was heard and the yard erupted into a chorus of howls, growls, curses, screams and thuds as Bobby's house came under attack from Demons and Hel's hound Garm wreaked havoc upon the would-be assassins.
Sam, Dean and Bobby rushed out, armed to the teeth, only to be greeted by the sight of demon body parts being torn apart by an invisible force, thrown into the air and disappear. The unmistakable sounds of a big dog enjoying itself revealed the force to be a hellhound. Although none of the three hunters could think of a reason why a hellhound would be protecting them rather than trying to kill them. Dean wearily put it on the mental list he kept of things to ask Castiel.
Eleanor stood just inside the house and watched with horror. Then she turned and went into the kitchen, sat at the table and began to write down the spell Castiel wanted. She left one of the ingredients in a glass jar and then, while the hunters were occupied outside, left.
She walked until out of sight of the Salvage yard before being caught by a demon fleeing. Happy coincidence for the demon, not so much for Eleanor. As she blacked out, she hoped Bobby would forgive her and that they would have enough time to complete the spell before Crowley, Castiel or Raphael could.
part 2