chapter seven, act one
dark magic

Looking into the book and the knife Maddie had given her was much more difficult with the Winchester brothers constantly at her side. Yes, in some motels they got separate adjoining rooms, which gave her more leeway, but most of the time Freya was never completely alone.

For the moment, all she had managed to do was confirm that the book was indeed a spell book. All written by a witch named Ophelia, whose name was written on the back cover. But the knife was a complete mystery. None of the symbols written on its blade made any sense to Freya. Although its balance and weight were perfect for hunting and for fiddling with while doing research.

Talking to Bobby was out of the question. Her father even more so, as Freya was convinced he was hiding things from her. And Dean and Sam. Well, she had come to the conclusion that they could help her, especially Sam, but after hearing Dean's thoughts about witches while working on their current case, Freya decided it would be best not to bring it up.

"I hate witches." Dean had said. "They're always spewing their bodily fluids everywhere."

Freya couldn't help but frown, remembering how her brother had hinted that her mother may have been a witch. And if that was true, either she was a very different one from the ones Dean knew or Dean didn't know what a witch really looked like.

"It's creepy, you know, it's down right unsanitary." He continued.

"Yeah, well someone definitely had it out for Janet Dutton." Sam commented, mentioning the victim, who had died after all her teeth fell out of her mouth due to a hex bag.

"Yeah, someone who snuck into that house and planted the bag. So, what are we thinking, we're uh, looking for some old craggy Blair bitch in the woods?" Dean asked.

"No, it could be anyone. Neighbor, coworker, man, woman—that's the problem, Dean, they're human, they're like everyone else."

"Okay, so how do we find them?"

"This wasn't random; someone in Janet Dutton's life had an ugly axe to grind. We find the motive-"

"We find the murderer." Dean completed his brothers words. Sam nodded.

"Yeah."

Dean nodded slightly, his gaze traveling to Freya, who had been quiet ever since they had gone to the victim's house to question the husband. She was sitting on the room's couch, lost in thought as she fiddled with the necklace.

"Are you gonna say something?" He asked. Freya looked up, watching him in confusion. "Witches."

"Oh. Yeah, right." She nodded nervously. "Uh... I think you guys should handle this case. I'm not feeling very well." She admitted in a lie. This was her perfect opportunity to be alone. "I'll do research if you need me to."

"Are you sure? Do you feel all right?" Sam asked with concern in his voice.

"Oh, yeah, nothing serious." Freya assured. "You know, menstrual cramps."

"Okay, I didn't need to know that information." Dean complained, looking away from her.

"It's natural, Dean. No need for that reaction."

"Yeah, no... I know." He replied quickly. "Do... Do you need anything?" He asked hesitantly, to which Freya couldn't help but smile as Sam let out a small amused chuckle.

"Chocolate would be nice." She admitted. "Thanks, Dean."

"Yeah, whatever." He sighed leaving the motel room.

Freya and Sam couldn't help but smile and shared an amused look.

"You sure you're all okay?" Sam asked as he grabbed his jacket.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Freya nodded. "Go keep an eye on Janet's husband. If someone wanted to get back at her for something, they might want to hurt him too."

"Yeah, that's possible." He admitted thoughtfully. "Good idea."

"Anytime." She smiled before watching him leave.

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Freya wasn't worried about Sam and Dean, she knew they could deal with it on their own. But she still couldn't help but feel a sense of distress. It had appeared at the very instant they had stepped into that city. As if something was waiting or lurking for them. That provoked an uneasiness in her and it was quite noticeable by how she paced back and forth across the room as she read that spell book in an attempt of finding something that looked familiar to her.

The room was in complete silence, only filled by her footsteps and her breathing. So when her phone rang, Freya almost jolted. With her heart pounding in her chest, Freya ran to the bedside table where she had left it and answered it without checking who it was.

"Hello?" She said, clearing her throat at the sound of her tired voice.

"Hey, Freya." Henry answered on the other end of the line.

"Dad, what's wrong? Everything okay? Why haven't you gone back home yet?" Freya asked with concern, since her father had stopped answering her calls and messages for weeks. Even after Christmas.

"I'm going to see Carter."

"What? Why?"

"I can't explain it yet, I'm sorry. I just wanted you to know that I'm okay."

"Great, I'm glad." She replied sarcastically. "I'm fine too, thank you very much for asking. Oh, and the son you left home alone is also perfectly fine. I can see you're really worried about him."

"Freya..."

"Leave it. I don't want to hear it."

"No, listen... You must be careful..." Henry's voice cut out as the radio on the bedside table suddenly began to play.

"Dad?" Freya frowned, looking down at her phone to check if the call was still on. "Dad?"

"Freya..." Henry's voice sounded for a moment before it was cut once again as the song on the radio changed. Freya quickly recognized it as I Put a Spell on You by Screamin' Jay Hawkins which only made her confusion grow.

What she didn't know was that the same song was also being played on the car radio of Paul Dutton, Janet's husband and the next victim of the witch who had killed her. Fortunately for him Sam and Dean were able to save him as they had been following him.

Alarmed by what had happened and after trying to call her father again, Freya decided to prepare the room so that nothing supernatural could enter it. Lines of salt, a bottle of holy water in her hand and her gun. She cursed Dean for taking the Colt, although it made sense considering he was in the middle of a hunt.

Just as she had finished getting everything ready a message from Dean came through on her phone, asking how she was doing and informing her that he and Sam were on their way to the supposed witch's house. Freya sighed with relief as she saw his message, a faint smile peeking over her lips at his concern for her. A smile that only grew when Dean added that he had bought the chocolate she had asked for and would bring it to her as soon as they were done.

But again, another noise brought her out of her thoughts and caused her smile to fade. This time it wasn't the radio, which had stopped playing once the song was over. This time it had been two knocks on the motel room door.

"Freya, I know you're in there." A woman's voice was heard from the other side of the door. A voice completely unfamiliar to the Holloway girl. "I don't want to do this the hard way, so why don't you come out so we can talk? I promise I come in peace. I just want to chat."

"Who are you?" Freya asked, pointing her gun at the door.

The mysterious woman left out a sigh before answering. "My name is written in that book you have hidden under the bed and whose location you lied to your brother about. Poor Carter really tried to look for it in that mental institution. He didn't think you were smart enough to lie to him and take it away. Or so stupid. I still can't make up my mind what you are. Although if you listen to me and leave the room maybe you'll clear up that doubt for me."

Freya looked down for a second at Dean's bed, right where she had hidden the book.

Hesitantly, she decided to open the door and leave the room. Leaning against the wall, a beautiful woman with brown hair and brown eyes was waiting for her. She was dressed completely in black and her face had a smile on it.

"So smart is it." The woman commented as Freya appeared before her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Freya. My name is Ophelia." She stretched out her hand towards her.

"You are the witch who wrote the book." Freya assumed, ignoring her hand.

"Was." Ophelia corrected. "There is nothing left of the woman I used to be. Not anymore." She explained, showing her dark black eyes which revealed her as a demon. "Relax, I'm not here to hurt you." Ophelia spoke again as she watched Freya pull out a small bottle from her jacket pocket. A bottle that contained enough holy water to harm her while Freya locked and protected herself back in the room.

"I don't like demons, so you'd better talk fast." Freya threatened, tightening her grip on the bottle, ready to throw it at her.

"Yeah, I know. I'm aware of what happened." Ophelia admitted. "I'm really sorry. But I'm not like them. I'm not like the rest of the demons."

"Why is that? Because before you went to hell you were a witch?" Freya raised her eyebrows.

"Yes. And no." She answered. "You see, Freya, I knew your ancestor. The reason you're in this world is because of me. I'm the one who gave her a potion so she could get pregnant. I am the reason your family is still in this world. And the reason you and your brothers are special."

"What are you talking about?" Freya frowned.

"Though of course, it was bound to happen. So maybe you're not that special after all. Another woman could have been the one to ask for my help. But it was your ancestor, so here we are." Ophelia sighed.

"Would you care to explain?"

"I don't have time for this, Freya. I just want my book."

"Sure you do. You know where it is. Come on in." Freya stepped aside, leaving the entrance to the room completely clear for her. Ophelia smiled.

"I know there's a demon trap drawn over there. I'm not going in."

"Then you won't get the book." Freya shrugged.

"You don't want that book, Freya, believe me." Ophelia assured her. "It will only lead you to want to awaken your powers and that's a lousy idea. You'll put a target on your head, just like your brother did. And your mother before him."

"So it's true, my mother was a witch?" Freya asked making her sigh.

"When I made the potion so that Melinda could have kids, I used some special ingredients. And when we were burned for witchcraft, I anchored my power to that book and her daughter Sarah." Ophelia explained. "Magic has run through the veins of your maternal family until the birth of Carter, the first son in generations. A prophet wrote that when two boys and a girl were born to this family, the power would be uncontrollable."

"That's why a demon killed my mother and then wanted to kill Peter?"

"With your mother dead there would be no more sons. And as macabre as it sounds, Peter was just a baby. His death would hurt less."

"Sounds like you decided that." Freya pointed in confusion.

"If one of the males dies your bond with me will die and the magic will disappear. That's what I and all the demons want." Ophelia declared, crossing her arms.

"And the book?"

"It's dangerous if other witches find it."

"I'll make sure it doesn't happen." Freya assured, going back into the room, but Ophelia grabbed her arm before she could do so.

"Freya, I have come in peace. I wouldn't want to have to take it from you the hard way."

"From what you've explained to me, you've already done that once." Freya answered.

"I didn't kill your mother." Ophelia assured her.

"Maybe not, but it was you who sent the demon, wasn't it? You ordered him to kill her."

"No. He killed her because she broke a deal. I told him to kill Peter to break the bond and bring me the book. He did neither. He's useless."

"You also killed Maddie's mother, didn't you?" Freya assumed without paying much attention to her words.

"I knew she had the book. But she hid it very well and I still don't know how."

Freya was about to speak but the sound of the Impala's engine caught both her and Ophelia's attention.

"I'll be back." The woman assured. "And when I do, I'll leave with the book." She then released Freya's arm and disappeared into the darkness of the night before Dean and Sam could get out of the car at a much faster speed than usual.

"Freya!" The eldest of the brothers was the first to reach her, his hands gripping her shoulders and his eyes watching her with concern as he searched for any injuries. "Are you all right? Who was that woman?"

"I... She..."

"She's gone." Sam spoke as he reached them after trying to follow Ophelia. His breathing accelerated due to his running.

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

After they walked back into the room, Freya ran to lock herself in the bathroom without saying a word. Dean insisted that she tell him what had happened, but it was clear that she was too shaken to do so.

Sam watched as his brother paced back and forth nervously, running a hand through his hair as he gave quick glances at the bathroom door.

"Do you think it was a witch?" His question broke the silence.

"No. It was a demon." Dean assured. "She lied to us about Salem. And all this... Her traveling with us, it all started because of the demon that kidnapped her. She's hiding something."

"Hiding what?" Sam frowned.

"I don't know, Sam." Dean answered.

"So what do you think? That girl was the demon that kidnapped her back there in San Francisco?"

"I don't know. It could have possessed someone else. But... There's something else. She said she could have stolen the Colt and the car and taken off. But if it was a random demon, she wouldn't be so eager to kill it, would she?"

"An exorcism would be enough." Sam admitted.

"Yeah, and she certainly knows how to do one. Why would she want the Colt?"

Sam remained silent, not knowing what to say. His head spinning with possible explanations.

Freya still wasn't able to process everything Ophelia had told her. She was one of the reasons for all her suffering. She was the cause of much of the pain her family had been exposed to. And Freya wanted her dead. But then she remembered the fear in her father's voice on the call earlier. He had told her to be careful. Freya knew Ophelia wanted the book and would do anything to get it back. So now there was just one person in her mind. Peter.

"I'm leaving." Freya declared as she came out of the bathroom. Her voice caught both Winchester brothers' attention, who still hadn't quite processed her words.

"What? No." Dean answered her.

"This was a mistake. I should never have left home with you in the first place. I have to go back home."

"No, what you have to do is tell us what the hell is going on." He corrected as he watched her go through her things "Freya." He insisted, but she continued to ignore him. "Freya, talk to us. Freya." Dean walked towards her, holding her arms to force her to look him in the eye. "Talk to me." His voice came out pleading. And Freya could see the desperation reflected in his eyes.

Freya looked at him with hesitation. If she told them the truth, the whole truth, they might reject her because her mother was a witch. Dean had said it himself, he hated witches. And if there was a chance that Freya was one too, who knew what they would do. She couldn't do it. She couldn't tell them the truth. Right?

Just then the radio started playing again, the same song as before. But it couldn't be Ophelia causing it, she couldn't have come back yet. It was clear she had left because she was afraid the Winchesters might use the Colt against her. But then again, was it Freya who had caused the radio to turn itself on? Had her magic already awakened and she was unable to control it?

"What the hell?" Dean frowned, looking at the radio.

"Isn't that the song that was playing in Paul's car?" Sam asked in confusion. His question brought Freya out of her thoughts. Her eyes darting quickly away from Dean to travel to Sam.

"What?" She asks, puzzled.

"The song. It's the one that was playing when Paul was attacked." He explained.

"I thought..."

"What?" Dean turned to her as she spoke. But then the impala's lights began to flicker, attracting his attention. Quickly, Dean released Freya's arms and opened the room's door, finding a woman standing next to his car.

Freya and Sam were soon on Dean's side, their eyes also on the woman.

"Ruby." Sam murmured as he recognized her. Freya frowned in confusion.

"Sam, listen to me, there's no time." Ruby spoke looking only at him.

"For what? What are you talking about?" Sam frowned.

"You have to get out of town."

"So this is Ruby, huh?" Dean asked, pulling out the Colt, raising it and aiming it at her. "Never had the pleasure."

"Dean!" Sam warned him.

"I was hoping you'd show up again." Dean watched the blonde-haired woman, ignoring his brother as Freya remained completely confused by the situation.

"Point that thing somewhere else." She warned him.

"Hahahaha! Right."

"Sam, please. Go. Get in the car and don't look back." Ruby insisted, looking back at the young Winchester.

"Why? I don't understand."

"Hey, hot stuff, we can take care of a few kitchen witches, thanks." Dean said, causing Freya to look up at him with a knot of fear in her chest.

"I'm not talking about witches, you jackass. Witches are whores. I'm talking about who they serve." Ruby answered.

Dean and Sam shared a confused look for a second, but Freya seemed to understand her words pretty quickly.

"Demons." She whispered, but still the three of them were able to hear her, their eyes quickly falling on her. "They get their power from demons." Freya looked up at Ruby.

"Yeah. And there's one here, now."

"Yeah, no shit." Freya replied with a scoff. "Oh, what, you mean besides you?"

"Sam, it knows you're in town and it's gonna come after you and its way more than you can handle." Ruby insisted, ignoring Freya and Dean.

"Oh come on, what is this, huh? Please tell me you're not listening to this crap!" Dean looked back to his brother.

"Put a leash on your brother, Sam, if you wanna keep him."

"Try touching him, see how that goes for you." Freya warned her, clutching the handle of the knife she kept hidden behind her back, attached to her belt. Dean couldn't help but give her a quick glance, surprised at her protectiveness towards him.

"Guys, look, just chill out." Sam asked them.

"No! No!" Dean exclaimed. "She's messing with your head, God knows why, that's who they are!"

"I'm telling you the truth." Ruby assured.

"And I'm telling you to shut up, bitch."

"I'm sorry, why are you even a part of this conversation?!"

"Oh, I don't know maybe because he's my brother, you black-eyed skank!"

"Oh, right, right. You care about your brother so much. That's why you're checking out in a few months, leaving him all alone?"

"Shut up."

"At least let me try and save him, since you won't be here to do it any more."

"I said shut up!"

Dean moved to fire the Colt at Ruby, but Sam pushed his arm away from her as he fired the gun. Freya staggered as Dean hit her shoulder as he fought against Sam's hold and when they turned their eyes back to Ruby they found she was already gone.

"Two demons in one day. Great. That's a new record for me." Freya commented as she walked back into the room, going back to gather her things.

Dean sighed, giving his brother a disappointed look before following her.

"Freya, you're not leaving." He declared.

"I'm a grown-up, Dean. I can make my own decisions. Thank you for your concern." She answered making him roll his eyes.

"I know you don't want to leave."

"That doesn't matter." She assured, turning back to him. "You heard that demon Ruby, there's another one around and I'm pretty sure she wasn't talking about the one who came to visit me." She declared, reaching down to pull the book out from under the bed. Dean frowned as he didn't recognize the cover of it. Reading wasn't his biggest hobby, but he'd noticed the books she and his brother had brought from Freya's family home, and that wasn't one of them. "I have reason to think Peter may be in danger. He's my little brother, Dean, I know you understand that."

"I do. But we can help you." Dean insisted.

Freya shook her head. "No, you can't. I have to do this alone. I'm sorry."

"At least tell me what's going on. Who was that woman?"

"A demon."

"Yeah, I've got that much, thank you." He scoffed.

Freya sighed before answering. "She killed my mother. Well, not her personally, but she's one of the reasons she's dead."

Dean frowned at her explanation before sharing a look with his brother.

"Freya." Sam spoke this time, gaining her attention. "This question might seem strange to you, but... how old were you and Peter when it happened?"

Freya gave them a puzzled look, not quite sure if they were joking. But their serious looks assured her that they were completely serious about the question.

"I was ten years old. Peter was just born. I think he was barely six months old." She answered. "Why?"

"Our mother was also killed by a demon when I was just six months old." Sam explained. "Our father spent his life looking for the demon to kill him. Dean shot him with the Colt less than a year ago."

Freya's eyes traveled to the eldest.

"That wasn't the same demon that killed my mother." She assured them.

"How do you know?" Dean asked her. "Was there a fire in your house that night?"

Freya shook her head with a humorless smile.

"This demon was the one who kidnapped me back in San Francisco. He's still alive." She answered. "I wish it was the one you killed, Dean, everything would be so much easier."

Dean's green eyes watched Freya's closely, catching the pain reflected in them and the tears she fought to hold back. He recognized her pain, it was the same pain he had felt since his mother's death. A pain that had been with him ever since.

"Freya, listen to me." Dean walked towards her, placing his hands in her shoulders. "We finish this case and go back to your house. I promise."

She wanted to accept his offer, she really did. But something in her knew Peter was not safe, an almost maternal instinct. Besides, if she got away from the Winchester brothers, Ophelia wouldn't hurt them when she came back for the book.

"I'm so sorry, Dean." She said sincerely. "I'm not trying to repay the pain I felt when you left. This isn't about you. I wish I could stay, but it's all too complicated. I really hope I get to see you again before..."

She couldn't finish the sentence. The thought of Dean dying and the possibility of never seeing him again was too painful for her. So Freya just wrapped him in a hug, laying her head on his shoulder. Dean's arms were quick to return the embrace, his head resting on hers as he closed his eyes, enjoying the intimacy of the moment between them.

The hug lasted a few seconds, but it felt quite short to both of them. After they pulled apart, Freya was barely able to look him in the eye. So she just gathered her things and said goodbye to Sam with another quick hug.

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Leaving without explanation was one of the things Freya hated most. That's why it had hurt her so much when Dean had done that to her, because she didn't understand how someone could do something like that. She herself never thought she would. Yes, technically she had said goodbye to them, but she hadn't been entirely honest. And a part of her felt that if she never saw them again, she would always regret that.

Now, sitting in that bus station, Freya tried to forget about both Winchesters as she reached out to her father and little brother.

As she expected, Henry did not answer any of her three calls. And unlike him, Peter did, almost immediately.

Relief washed over Freya when she heard her little brother's voice on the other end of the line. She could almost see his face. Just by hearing him she knew the golden-haired boy had a smile painted on his lips.

"Hi, buddy. You know what? I'm coming home." Freya announced with a smile on her lips. However, Peter's unexpected reaction formed a frown on her face.

"What? Why? That idiot didn't leave you again, did he? I swear to God..."

"Peter." Freya cut him off. "It's not because of Dean. I miss you and Dad..."

"Dad can go to hell with him." Peter said. "He won't even answer my calls."

"Peter, don't say that..."

"Why?" He interrupted her. "He hasn't come home yet, Frey. He didn't even send a gift. He always sends me a present at Christmas. I'm fine with Maddie, you can stay with the Winchesters idiots."

"Maddie should be free to go. I'm your sister, I should be there." Freya declared, but Peter didn't answered her this time and soon after Freya heard a strange bang through the call. "Peter?" When no one answered, Freya began to feel really worried. Her breathing hitching and heart racing. "Peter?"

"Freya." Maddie's voice came through the phone.

"Maddie? What's going on?" Freya asked.

"There's someone in the house." That was all the Lockhart girl could say before she dropped the phone and ran away. The call then ended, leaving Freya completely panicked and powerless.

"Are you gonna give me the book now?" A familiar voice spoke next to her, causing Freya to jolt. Her hand quickly grasping the handle of the knife on her belt, ready to attack. "You don't have the Colt, so don't bother. You can't kill me." Ophelia assured, settling onto the bench next to her.

Freya turned to her with a serious expression and not a hint of fear in her eyes. Ophelia smiled. "Now, we are gonna go to your house in San Francisco and when we get there, you will hand over the book or Peter dies." The demon declared. "Got it?"

Freya couldn't help but clench her jaw in frustration. She wanted to kill her right there and then. Even in front of all those people at the bus station, Freya didn't care about anything at that moment, just her little brother. But she knew she couldn't do anything to her. Nothing would work on a demon, not permanently, and that would only lead to Peter and Maddie ending up dead.

"Got it." Freya answered then, trying to remain calm.

"Great." She smiled.