TWO YEARS BEFORE...

*WARNING: THERE ARE SOME THINGS SAID THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME. IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH EMOTIONAL ABUSE (it's going to be brief but I understand how it could be uncomfortable) I WILL PUT BOLD ASTERISKS BEFORE*

|Questions of The Chapter|: —How did you feel about the newest Supernatural episode? LET ME TO TELL YOU. I GOT SO MAD AT MARY, OVER HERE YELLING AT CAS BECAUSE HE LEFT THEM. BITCHHH YOU ABANDONED THEM WHEN THEY NEEDED YOU MOST AND DIDN'T LOOK BACK SO STFU AND THE BOYS LOOKED SO GODDAMN GOOD OMG AND I WAS SO PROUD OF THEM

—What's your favorite food? Pizza, Mashed potatoes, Hershey's Cookies and Cream

—If you could bring back three characters back alive, who would you pick? Charlie, Kevin, Bobby

—Favorite villain? I obviously love Crowley, but I also liked Abbadon and Lilith

"I've seen some really sketchy stuff in my life," Costello declared beside Odessa, intently eyeing the abandoned motel complex with wonderment, whereas she merely scrutinized the desolate array of rooms with distaste. The moonlight cascaded down on the dilapidated staircases, on the cracked enamel, and on the shattered windows. She gripped her blade tighter, almost afraid something would appear from the shadows and knock it aside. "But this easily the most sketchiest thing I've ever seen." 

Odessa nodded leisurely, unsure of how to respond. She didn't understand how this place was unusually more eerie than anywhere she'd infiltrated before. The ambiance oozed darkness and was enticingly otherworldly as her eyes trailed over the shadows. Her surroundings were malicious, reeked of misconduct, but she couldn't restrain herself as she stepped forward and entered obscurity with ease. There was something tempting with the way luminescence bounced of the darkness, something she couldn't explain. 

Continuing onward, Odessa's heels wobbled on the shards of broken glass, crunching under her weight with each step. Costello followed after, fingers gingerly grazing the crimson feather's end with his nimble fingers. The glistening arrow was perched on the arrow's rest and pressed against the nock with stiffness. The wind howled as the breeze traveled through her charcoal waves. She didn't want to continue any further, but there was something utterly captivating about the iniquitous aura. She stole a glance at him, making her discomfort with the mission obvious. 

She saw his knuckles tighten around the grip of his bow, eyes apprehensively flickering all throughout the motel. He didn't want to be here either, his look of internal suffering made that apparent, but as soon as he witnessed her checking on him, his uncertainty demolished and was replaced with a tight grin. His hazel eyes swirled with reassurance, and his smile was the same one he always gave her when she was scared: it was the 'We got this' look and it always made her feel better when in doubt. 

They pursued forward, and Odessa shivered as another breeze caressed her exposed skin. The abandoned parking lot still contained discarded cars, as if they were carelessly abandoned, and the sign that normally buzzed with gaudy colors was now tinted with dusty glass. She heard Costello exhale reticently from beside her. "It's confirmed now," He muttered, peering over his shoulder and at her. "Our parents are trying to kill us. We're not getting out of here in one piece." She couldn't contain the excessive eye-roll at his melodramatic performance, and continued examining environment with a cautious expression.

Although she wanted to disagree with his statement, primarily because as shrewd as her parents were, they didn't want their only children dead, Odessa couldn't deny their lack of concern over the assigned mission. The siblings were provided with little-to-no information over the task, and she didn't fail to notice Connoisseur Sifewood's wicked grin as she exited the Organization. It was almost as if he were aware of some secret she and Costello weren't informed of. Perhaps her parents did care if they died, but Sifewood certainly didn't.

Odessa paused, peering inside one of the abandoned vehicle's with inquisitiveness. "Well, if that were true," She began, furrowing her eyebrows as she noted the patches of stained blood on the seats. "Better not give them satisfaction of coming home dead, then." She knew her mother cared for her more than her father did, both were far more interested in their work than their children. The siblings were always more connected with their mother though, and grew utterly terrified of their father.

Deserted clothes remained folded in the back of the car, and suitcases were still zipped closed. This whole place was beyond creepy, and the fact that they were wandering aimlessly in the middle of the night hadn't made the situation any better. Costello scoffed from behind her. "Shut up, you'd do anything for their approval," He taunted, and Odessa simply rolled her eyes again. "Even if that meant dying." 

Pivoting away from the vehicle, she shoved his shoulder with as much force as she could muster within those few seconds. He staggered back, clutching his arm as he murmured an 'ow' and stabilized himself. "I don't live my life wishing for their approval," She muttered, disregarding his deadpanned expression. "I just need a fair-amount of approval to get into the Elite. And if that requires being our parent's bitch, so be it."

Lowering his bow to his side, he guffawed, completely forgetting they were supposed to be silent during this mission. "It's just weird to me. You couldn't care less for anyone else's opinion, but our parent's opinion on you affects you in ways I didn't think were possible."

Shaking her head, Odessa pushed him again. "Shut up," She whispered sharply, "Might as well just shout where we are."

His words affected her, regardless of her distinct impassive expression and harsh shoves, and she wasn't going to confess that his observations were true. She focused on her studies and training more than anyone else had, and didn't allow the disdaining ridicule from the other students to affect her. The Connoisseurs assessments, although reassuring and satisfying to hear, didn't necessarily mean much to her. Even Sifewood, who apparently admired her potential more than others, was just another person who commonly complimented her. It was her parents' appraisal who mattered.

Moira was an astute woman, cunning and the sensible one between her and her father. With sophistication and diligence resembling those who rule from a throne, Odessa idolized her more so than she had with her father. Moira was compassionate with her children, certainly much more empathetic of their feelings, but still contained the stern discipline as Drexel had. Truth be told, Odessa was terrified of Drexel, and he'd given her every reason to be hesitant with him. The both of them only desired the best for their children, no matter what the consequences were.

Costello froze, crouching down on the asphalt ground and picked up a dispensed child's doll. The eyes were cracked, no longer glossy and were nearly popping out of the glass sockets. The hair were doused ringlets of dirt and desiccated blood. Patches of dried mud tarnished the pale, ivory skin and there were few fractures. The doll only added more of the superstitious fear to this whole ordeal. He was seconds from placing the item back where he found it when the childish voice rang through the air. "Mommy!" 

Both Odessa and Costello shrieked, watching in terror as the doll giggled and blinked. His sudden reaction was to heave the toy as far as he could throw, and the giggle ceased as the trinket collided with the floor. "Jesus fucking Christ," She mumbled, "Let's get this over with. I want to get out of here." Costello frantically nodded and continued onward, not bothering to wait for her.    

As she stepped forward, the delicate sensation of a smooth hand caressed her shoulder. The featherlike touch erupted a vague gasp from her, and she flinched away from the ghostly feeling. Hastily whirling around, her brown-eyes fluttered in all directions, but was greeted with nothing but the ambiguous darkness. She clutched her shoulder, absolutely positive something was stroking her skin, and scrunched her eyebrows together as her skin tingled.

Shaking her head, hard enough to somewhat liberate her mind from the concerned thoughts, and scurried to where Costello was standing. He was motioning for her to fasten her pace. Each step she took was increasingly becoming tiresome, almost as if she'd sprinted twenty-miles. The outline of Costello's figure was softening, blurring around the edges as she staggered his direction. She blinked, the cloudiness wasn't fading and her eyes were growing heavy. She could feel her muscles loosening, and her head spinning rapidly.

Odessa managed to hear Costello shouting her name from the distance, his voice was a knife slicing through the hazy blur. She felt her knees become weak, her grasp on her blade loosened, and the wind flow through her hair as she collided with the concrete. Minuscule pebbles jabbed themselves into her skin, and she was certain she scraped her elbows, but she didn't seem to care for the burning pain.

Costello sprinted towards, his heavy footsteps thundering in the serene ambiance. He lifted her head gingerly, placing her across his lap. She utterly exhausted, and struggled to keep her eyes remained open. Costello's unyielding grasp tightened around her as he realized she was attempting to fall asleep, shaking her from her threatening slumber. She didn't understand what was happening, and everything was happening so fast. 

She was trying linger in this momentary state of consciousness and comatose condition, but the weariness was too substantial to disregard. Costello was jerking her vigorously, pushing aside her loose strands of hair away from her face, but nothing was working successfully. 

The last thing she heard was Costello's distressed voice shouting for her to awaken, and the immense darkness submerged her effortlessly.

<<>>

Opening her eyes, she was greeted with a luminosity she'd never witnessed before. The midnight sky was no longer an intriguing shade of somber black, but an irradiated azure highlighted with intricate wisps of clouds. There was no breeze, only an indistinct warmth surrounding her body as she laid sprawled across the concrete. Although beautiful, there was something wrong with where she was.

There was a sudden radiation of warmth forming beside her, an ardor torridity as she admired the tranquil artistry of the sky. Peering to her side with certitude, she was welcomed with the unaccustomed sight of a jovial Costello. His hazel eyes were glimmering untroubled blithe, something she hadn't seen in several years, and an invigorating grin teased on his lips. Although she didn't expect him to abruptly appear, the unexpected spectacle wasn't unwanted. She should've been scared, seeming as she didn't know where she was and why she was here, but she wasn't. There wasn't an ounce of apprehension within her.

Costello directed his gaze from his sister to the sky. "Have you ever wanted to just get out of here," He asked, voice softer than she'd ever heard him speak before. "Just drop everything, all our responsibilities and all our worries, and just get away?" 

Odessa pondered on the thought of leaving everything behind for a carefree life. The idea of an insouciant way of living was tempting, more than tempting, actually. She despised living for her parent's approval, devoting her time and concentration on her studies, entering a battlefield with no problem with ending someone's life. The Organization engraved the notion that killing was merely a casualty in something much bigger. They all their destinies, something bigger for each of them planned. But Odessa was done with people taking advantage of her and planning her life for her. "Yeah, sounds nice. To ignore everyone's expectations they have of me, to stop thinking about my 'destiny'," She said, "Sounds like one hell-of a life to have."

"Every Guardian has a destiny, something we're constantly reminded of, but I think it's crazy that we're never told what it is. Whenever asked, we always get the 'when time is kind with you, you'll soon discover what the world carries for you', which is a load of crap." Said Costello.

Odessa rolled her eyes, chuckling softly. "No one knows what our destinies are, well, the Elders know," She said, eyes sparking with interest as a memory resurfaced. "Speaking of Elders, you should've seen Elder Aleksander when foreseeing our 'prophecies' two weeks ago. By his expression, you would've guessed I was the cause of the world ending."

Laughing beside her, she couldn't help but notice his laugh wasn't the same. "Who knows, you are the troublemaker between us both," He craned his neck to face her. "But really, let's get out of here. Leave everything behind and face the world ourselves, just the two of us." 

Frowning, she toyed with her necklace. "What about mom and dad? My position in the Elite? I'm so close to getting there—" 

"Who cares? Everyone's always using you, anyway. What kinds of parents make their daughter use her body for missions? Teach you how to lie, use your body and beauty to your advantage, murder innocent lives—"

"Okay, I get it," She intervened, not fond of the memories reemerging. "So, say we do leave, where do you suggest we go? They'll find us."

Costello shrugged. "I don't know, sounds like a problem we solve later," He said, turning his body entirely to face her. She craned her neck to properly face him. "Just close your eyes and give in to the feeling, and we'll be gone. For good." 

Typically, she wouldn't have obliged with Costello's orders, seeming as they utterly bizarre, but as of now, the concept of being gone from all her responsibilities was comforting. Hesitantly, she nodded her head, and closed her eyes. She imagined the feeling he was referring of was a wave of warmth. Acceptance and amenity as she was sucked into the world she wanted more than anything; but, this feel was wrong. There was no warmth, instead there was an intense brisk upsurge. There was no acceptance, but rather a dissension and contention. 

Her brother would never suggest leaving everything behind, especially knowing how vital her place in the Elite was to her. Though, often disagreeing with their parents and their way of raising them, he respected them more than anyone else. He was more than aware of the inability to just leave the Organization when desired, so why would cogently suggest the scheme? 

Opening her eyes, there was the unmistakable stench of blood. She'd washed blood off her hands and clothes far too much to mistaken the odor. Furrowing her eyebrows, she glimpsed to her side, and screamed as she took in the horrific sight of her brother's grisly body beside her. His chest and abdomen were slashed; three wide gashes bare on his skin were still seeping with the thick crimson substance as she scurried off to the side.

The abominable illusion of her brother moved with haste. His movements were nimble, too swift to interpret as she was attempting to stand on her feet. His hand clutched her throat, with what she assumed were claws poking into her skin, and she examined the creature with wide eyes. His skin was no longer the wondrous shade of ivory, but rather a ghastly tinge. His eyes were sullen, sunken in with the despair and indignation, and his hazel eyes were darkest hue of black. This wasn't a demon, this was something she'd never encountered before. 

She couldn't breathe, and the claws of this monster was sinking deeper inside her throat. Each lesion was stinging with some unknown substance, and her skin was becoming electrified with searing sensations. Bringing her hand onto his forearm, she attempted to break free from his stern grasp. Upon making an impingement on his arm, he appeared unaffected with her impractical efforts. She couldn't even scream, and how horrific it was to wallow in pain without uttering a single sound. 

**************

His tenure loosened, and Odessa spluttered for the oxygen teasing her lips. She was coughing frantically, gingerly clutching her throat. Her vision was blurring, and everything around was hazy. Costello's duplicate was glaring down her intently, his malice for the woman sprawled on the floor was evident. "Don't you get it," He said, and the voice was distorted, but it was still him. "You're nothing. You desperately look for approval from your parents because you know you're worth absolutely nothing." 

Odessa shook her head, tears brimming around her eyes. "Don't you say that," She muttered, "Of all people, don't you dare say that." She knew this wasn't Costello, but his appearance and his voice, it was enough to think this could possibly be him.

His charcoal-black eyes gazed down at her with antipathy. "He thinks you're pathetic," The monster taunted, cocking his head. "I can see inside his head. He thinks you're weak, not capable of protecting innocents. Well, why would he? You've killed more people than he knows. And for what? A spot in some Organization? You're worse than things you hunt. They kill with purpose; for a survival, predatory instinct, or they simply can't control themselves, but you," He paused beside her. "You kill solely because you're asked to." 

She choked back a sob, closing her eyes firmly as she reminisced on the memories of blood staining her hands, the pungent stench suffusing her nose as she tried to wash off the horrid things she's done. "The worst kind of villains are the ones who don't even know they're monsters," Costello kicked her side, grinning in satisfaction as she groaned as she collided with the floor. "And do you even know why you're doing doing these 'missions'? They haven't given you any reason to trust them, to believe any word they say. And yet, you're still their little bitch." The soles of his boots clashed against her side again, and she couldn't restrain her groans.

Crouching beside her, Costello's duplicate clutched the lapels of her leather jacket. "You always think you're doing the right thing, what's best for everyone," He jeered, "And that's what's going to get you and everyone you care about dead. You're so blinded by your love for your brother and parents, it's gonna be the death of you. Because spoiler alert, love doesn't save the day and it doesn't save you." 

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Odessa glanced around for anything that could be operated as a potential weapon. There was medium-sized rock in the distance, but even if she were to manage to obtain it, she wasn't sure if she could tarnish the image of her brother. Maybe this was Costello, perhaps he was just possessed. And if this were true, and she'd killed him, she would never forgive herself.

Cocking his head, Costello slyly smirked. "You don't get it, do you? You're weak, and pathetic. Love is going to get you killed, and all there's going to be in the end is strife and pain," He was jerking her as his grasp on her lapels tightened. "I can take away your pain, end everything for you. It'll be easier and faster than going to sleep." 

"Get off of me," She demanded, "Don't touch me!"

He inhaled deeply, and sighed in content. "Your pain is delicious, but it's not enough," Odessa furrowed her eyebrows, shrieking as he placed his hands on her head. His claws embedded themselves into her scalp, and she winced. "Let's give you a taste of your destiny. I'm sure it will be delightful." 

There were momentary images emerging from a void she'd never visited before. There were flashes of her; visions of her in places she'd never been, clothes she'd never worn, people she'd never kissed. She could feel the emotions, and they were distinctive and compelling. She saw laughter, glittering grins, men she seemed to trust more than anyone else. 

She perceived beauty; unmistakable allurement as there was brief images of her smiling bigger than she'd ever before, in the arms of a man she'd never seen. There was lingering gazes and stolen glances. Yearning touches in the pale moonlight, desiring kisses in the rain, and pleasure she'd undoubtedly never experienced before. But with beauty, there was always a tragedy drifting not far behind.

There was fierce shouting in motel rooms, streaming tears in lonesome, vintage vehicles. There was envious feelings, shattering heartbreak, unrequited exchanges of 'I love you's'. She'd witnessed illustrations of death, ounces of blood, and final goodbyes interchanged between them both.

She'd never seen such devotion and affection between two people, and being one of them was absolutely ludicrous. But there was also hesitancy of pursing each other forward, fear for the other's well-being, and continuous lies. And there was death. There was nothing she could see of this man, nothing distinctive in the blurred mess of outlines; however, there was one definite feature: 

His eyes were green.

Gasping and lurching forward, Odessa pushed Costello with as much force she could muster within those seconds. "I SAID DON'T TOUCH ME," She kicked him aside, and scampered away. She wasn't certain where she was going, but anywhere but there was acceptable. The visions ceased, but the thumping in her temples hadn't. 

But the haziness was returning and the exhaustion was whisking her away from this warped reality, and her consciousness temporarily was concluded.

<<>>

Odessa's eyes fluttered open as she sharply drew in a breath, jerking forward and away from the arms she was restrained in. Her eyes swiftly landed on the discarded blade, and she hastily grabbed onto the handle. Aiming the blade's edge at of whoever was there, she realized her heart thumping erratically. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," There stood Costello with his hands surrendered. Her eyes widened, and she stepped forward, and he immediately inched backwards. "O, it's me! Calm down! What are you doing?" 

Her hands were shaking. "Prove it's you," She demanded, "That it's not that monster!" 

Costello furrowed his eyebrows. "O, what are you talking—"

"NOW!" 

He flinched. "Okay, okay, when we were little, dad had yelled at you for something you didn't do, so we decided to replace his shampoo with Nair and—"

Odessa's features softened. "And we never got caught," The blade clattered to the floor and as did she, tears streaming down her face as Costello rushed to her side. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." 

"It's okay," He soothed, "Do you remember anything?" 

"Not much, but I remember enough."