CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Isaiah Merchant's family, right?" The librarian asks as he sets books on a table for the four hunters.

"Yeah, that's right." Sam says.

"I dug up every scrap of local history I could find." He tells them. "So, uh, you four are crime buffs?"

"Kind of. Why do you ask?" Dean asks.

"Well..." He holds up an old newspaper article.

The main piece of news is about when the Titanic sank, but on the left side of the paper is a smaller piece about a father who slaughtered his entire family before killing himself as well.

"Yes. Yeah, that sounds about right." Dean says.

"The whole family was killed?" Nyx asks.

"It seems this Isaiah — he slits his kids' throats, then his wife, then himself. He was a barber by trade. Used a straight razor." The man tells them.

"Damn. That makes me feel better about having John as a biological father." She says, and the boys nod.

"Why'd he do it?" Sam asks.

"Well, let's look." The librarian says and turns the paper so he can read it. "Uh, people who knew him described Isaiah as having a stern and harsh temperament, and controlled his family with an iron fist... Wife, two sons, adopted daughter — yeah, yeah. There were whispers that his wife was gonna take the kids and leave, which, of course, you know, in that day and age... So, instead, old man Isaiah, well, he gave them a shave."

"Does it say what happened to the bodies?" Nyx asks, ignoring Dean, who's laughing with the man for his poor joke.

"They were all cremated." He tells them.

"Anything else?" Sam asks.

"Yeah." The man moves around the table. "Actually, I found a picture of the family. It's here somewhere. Here it is." He says as he picks it up.

The four of them look at the picture, and it's the same one from the auction house, but something about it seems different to Nyx and Sam. However, neither of them can figure it out here.

"Hey, could we get a copy​ of this picture, please?" Sam asks.

"Sure." The librarian agrees.

They go back to the motel and try to do some more research. Jeremy leaves, saying the painting gives him the creeps, and he wants to call Bonnie since he had to hang up so fast earlier.

"I'm telling you, man." Sam starts. "I'm sure of it. The painting at the auction house, Dad is looking down. The painting here, Dad's looking out."

"He's right, Dean." Nyx says, and he looks at her. "And no, I'm not just agreeing with him to mess with you. The painting has definitely changed."

"So, you two think Daddy Dearest is trapped in the painting, and he's handing out Colombian neckties like he did to his family?" Dean asks.

"Well, yeah, it seems like it." Sam says, and she nods. "But if his bones are already dusted, then how are we gonna stop him?"

"Well, if Isaiah's position changed, then maybe some other things in the painting changed as well. It could give us some clues." He says.

"Like a Da Vinci Code deal?"

"I don't know. I'm still waiting on the movie for that one." Dean says, and Nyx shakes her head.

"We gotta get back in there to see that painting." She says.

"Which is a good thing, because you can get more time to crush on your girlfriend." He says as he walks away from them.

"Dude, enough already." Sam says, obviously annoyed.

"What?" His brother asks as he lays down on one of the beds​ in the boys' room.

"Ever since we got here, you've been trying to pimp me out to Sarah. Just back off, alright?" Sam says. "Both of you." He looks at Nycole.

"Well, you like her, don't you?" Dean asks, and he doesn't answer. "You like her. She likes you — you're both consenting adults."

"Yeah, and we'll see how quick you are to jump into anything with another woman if the demon kills Nycole." Sam mutters, but he regrets it the second that it's left his mouth.

"Um..." She clears her throat as she looks down, eyebrows furrowed.

Dean opens one eye as he processes what he just heard his brother say.

"I, uh..." Sam looks between the two of them.

"You seem to have given that some thought before." She says, her voice low.

"I mean, I— Yeah, I..." He takes a deep breath. "After I realized that you actually... That it was more than just flirting... Especially after what Meg said in that warehouse."

"Huh..."

"I worry sometimes, you know?" Sam says, his gaze flickering between Nyx and Dean; his brother is laying there with his eyes on the brunette, but he hasn't moved from where he's laying on the bed with his arms crossed. "You barely turned eighteen, and this demon— Nyx!" He calls after her when she starts for the door.

The teenager walks away from the boys, going outside, and she stops after crossing the small parking lot to the car. She takes a few deep breaths, trying to slow her thoughts. She then sits down on the curb and calls Ric.

"Nycole, is everything okay?" He asks when he answers the phone; he's concerned because it's so late.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, of course."

"You don't... You don't think I'm in over my head, do you?" She asks. "Stepping into everything with Dean's family while I have so much that happens with my own?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everything with the demon that they've been hunting."

"You mean the possibility that you could become a target?" He asks, and she closes her eyes as she lets her head drop.

"So, you've given that thought before too?"

"Yeah, it's crossed my mind." He nods. "I was very much in love with Jenna, and I guess I took it upon myself to look after you, Elena, and Jeremy when it comes to all things supernatural. She didn't know about everything going on, and I wanted to make sure you had a parental-figure who was looking after you... Besides John." He tells her, and she smirks.

"And what are your thoughts on it?"

"It worries me a little. They already lost their mother and Sam's last girlfriend to this demon, and it's been their mission to kill it ever since. I don't want anything to happen to you, you've already been through so much. One could argue too much for how young you are." Ric says. "But I also know that Dean will do everything in his power to protect you from that demon...or die trying."

"That doesn't make me feel better." She mutters.

"But do I think you're in over your head?" He shakes his head. "No, I don't. I think you're smart, strong, resilient... You're dating a man you love, and you're starting a family. Honestly? I think you and Dean can probably understand each other better than any other partners either of you could have."

She lifts her head and looks at the motel across from her. "Can I ask you something else?"

"You can always ask me anything, kid."

"Do you know what Jenna thought about me being out here with Dean?" She asks him. "Not the hunting, I know what she thought about that. I mean... I mean, my relationship with him."

His eyebrows furrow. "What about your relationship?"

"Just..." She shrugs. "Did she ever say anything about it to you?"

"Anything like what?" He asks, and she looks down again. "Nycole?"

"Like about how he's twenty-seven, and I just turned eighteen?"

"Why is the age difference bothering you now? You've known how old he is the entire time you've been with him."

"It doesn't bother me, at all. Honestly, I don't think I've ever really thought about it before." She tells him. "But nobody​'s ever mentioned it before now."

"And who said something?"

"I mean, it wasn't even about us. Sam mentioned how I just turned eighteen, and it made me think..." She sighs. "Jenna was the only parental-figure whose opinion I cared about. Do you have any idea what she thought?"

"Tell me what's going on, Nyx." Ric says.

"We met a girl on this case, and Dean's been trying to set Sam up with her. He made a comment about how fast Dean would be comfortable seeing someone else if the demon kills me. He didn't mean to... And then he said that he worries about me, and he mentioned my age. I just... I don't know." She shakes her head. "It just made my head spin for a second, and I sort of realized that I never actually talked to Jenna about it. So, I wanted to know..."

"How she felt." He nods, understanding.

She wipes a tear from her cheek. "I didn't realize how important her opinion was to me before, and now I can't ask her."

"Dean was there for you when he didn't even know you. He helped you get past the loss of your parents. He's come to town and met everyone. He escorted you to the ball, and rode a parade float in front of the entire town, even though he wasn't​ comfortable​ doing either. He stayed at the house and asked Jenna before going upstairs just to talk to you." He says, and she laughs at the last part; she didn't know about that. "And it's not like your relationship with him started immediately after you two met. You guys were friends first, and you developed these feelings for each other somewhere along the way."

"So, you don't think she had a problem with me and him being together?"

"She told me once that seeing you with him was the first time she'd seen or heard you genuinely happy since your parents died." He tells​ her. "She liked Dean because he made you happy, and because he was there with no expectation of anything in return. You don't have anything to worry about."

"And what about you? What do you think?"

"You want my opinion?" He asks, seemingly surprised.

"You dropped everything and came to the hospital to check on me after they called Stefan's phone, you've been helping us since Jenna and John died, you were there for me when I was freaking out about the pregnancy, and you're listening to all of my insanity right now." She says, and he chuckles. "I care what you think too, Ric."

"All in all, I think he's a pretty good guy. And I trust that he'll take care of you to the best of his abilities." He tells her. "I like him, Nyx. I think you found someone who's gonna be good to you and your kids."

"Thanks, Ric." She smiles. "For listening."

"Anytime."

"I gotta go." She says, and they hang up.

"Hey." Dean walks over once she's off the phone, and he kneels down in front of her; she looks up at him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm alright. I don't know what happened in there. He made that comment, and I just..." She shakes her head and sighs.

"He didn't mean to upset you."

"I know." Nyx offers him a small smile. "It's okay. I'm okay."

"Who were you talking to just now?"

"Ric." She tells him, and he nods.

"Is there anything​ that we need to talk about?" He asks.

"I don't think so. Unless there's something you wanna talk about." She says, and he shakes his head.

"I knew what I was risking when I decided to kiss you, and I know that you knew it too." He says, and she nods. "We both come with enemies who could use the other as leverage. I'm willing to fight that battle if it comes, as long as you are."

"I'm willing to fight anything for you." She tells him. "For us."

"Good. Because that makes two of us." He stands up then, holding his hands out toward her. The brunette takes them so he can help her up, and then he pulls her into his chest. Dean leans down and kisses her forehead before wrapping his arms around her, and she closes her eyes.

"Is everything​ okay?" Jeremy asks as he walks over to them, and they both turn to look at him.

"Guys, we have to go." Sam gets their attention as he rushes out of the motel room. "They sold the painting again." He tosses Dean the car keys, and they all immediately climb in.

Sam gives Dean directions to where they need to go, and he brings the car to a halt outside the house. It's an older woman who bought the painting this time, and she's in serious trouble from this spirit. And they're not the only ones​ who pull up outside of the house.

"Sam, what's going on?" Sarah questions as she rushes over to them.

"I told you, you shouldn't have come." He says, and they run up to the front door.

The boys try the doorknob and then start banging on the door. "Hello, anybody home?!" Dean calls.

"You said Evelyn might be in danger. What kind of danger?" Sarah asks.

"I can't knock this sucker down. I gotta pick it." The oldest says and he kneels down.

"What are you guys, burglars?"

"I wish it was that simple." Sam says as they try the windows, but they're all barred. "Look, you really should wait in the car." He tells Sarah.

"The hell I will. Evelyn's a friend." She argues as Dean gets the door open, and the five of them run inside.

They start walking around the mostly dark house, looking for the woman who bought the painting. They find her sitting in the living room with a small lamp beside her providing the only light in the small area.

"Evelyn?" Sarah calls as they slowly walk into the room.

Nyx sees the painting above the fireplace and she looks at the father. He seems like he's looking down at the daughter, just like she and Sam said he was earlier.

"Evelyn? It's Sarah Blake. Are you alright?" She asks as she bends down and reaches toward her.

"Sarah, don't. Sarah—" Dean's quickly cut off by Sarah screaming, and Nyx looks back at Evelyn.

"Oh my God." Nycole gasps when she sees Evelyn's head tilted back because her throat's been slit.

Sam quickly gets Sarah out of the room, and Nyx looks back up at the painting. The father's facing out again, just like in the photo they got from the librarian they saw earlier.

"What the hell?" Jeremy mutters, looking at the painting as well.

—

Nyx moves her duffle bag from the bed to the floor and sees something that got left on the blanket​. She walks back over to it and sees Jeremy's old lighter laying there, it must've fallen out of her bag.

"Nyx, about last night—" Sam starts as she picks up the lighter and sticks it in her sweater pocket.

"Forget it." She shakes her head as she looks at him. "You and Dean talked about what you said, and he and I talked. I know you weren't trying to upset anyone. It's okay. I just hope you know that we're both here if you ever decide that you wanna talk about Jess." She tells him.

A faint smile tugs at his lips as he looks at her. "I know." He nods, and she smiles at him.

There's a knock at the door then, and he goes to answer it as she walks over to where her boyfriend's sitting at the table. Dean looks up at her, and she smiles as she leans down and presses her lips against his. Jeremy's sitting on the foot of Nyx and Dean's bed, reading through John's journal.

"Hey." Sam greets, and Sarah walks past him. "You alright?"

"No, actually. I just lied to the cops and told them I went to Evelyn's alone and found her like that." She tells him.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me." She shakes her head. "I'm about to call them right back if you don't tell me what the hell is going on. Who's killing these people?"

Nyx rests her hand on Dean's shoulder as they watch the other two. He has Sam's laptop in front of him, and he wraps his arm around her legs. Sam looks over at the couple for help, and his brother shrugs as she nods.

"What." Sam says.

"What?" Sarah asks, confused.

"It's not who. It's what is killing those people." He tells her. "Sarah, you saw that painting move.

"No." The raven-haired girl turns away from him. "No. I was— I was seeing things. It's impossible."

"Yeah, well, welcome to our world." Dean says.

"Sarah, I know this sounds crazy..." Sam says as Jeremy closes the journal. "But we think that that painting is haunted."

"You're joking." She says, and none of them says anything. "You're not joking. God, the guys I go out with."

"Sarah, Sam's telling you the truth." Nyx says.

"Think about it." Sam continues. "Evelyn, the Telescas — they both had the painting. And there have been others before that. Wherever this thing goes, people die, and we're just trying to stop it... And that's the truth."

"Well, then, I guess you better show me." Sarah says. "I'm coming with you."

"What? No." He says. "Sarah, you should just go home. This stuff can get dangerous, and... And I don't want you to get hurt."

"Look, you guys are probably crazy, but if you're right about this, when me and my dad sold that painting, we might have gotten​ these people killed. I'm not saying I'm not scared, 'cause I am scared as hell, but I'm not gonna run and hide either." She walks over to the door then and opens it. "So, are we going or what?" She asks as she looks at the four hunters.

"I like her." Nyx says as Sarah walks out of the motel room.

"Sam..." Dean gets his attention, and his brother looks at the two of them. "Marry that girl." He tells the younger boy, and Nyx chuckles.