XXI.
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Erin
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"Honey! I'm home!" Yellow Eyes called from the doorway.
I froze in total shock. I don't know why but I hadn't expected him to come tonight. I had somehow decided in my mind that I would have one more night of peace before I had to convince Dean to let us go after him. I never expected him to show up at the door. None of us had. Which was why, I realized belatedly, no one was armed. We had all settled into the comfort of Bobby's house, thinking we were safe for the night.
The demon stepped across the threshold and froze. He looked down at the devil's trap he stood in with an annoyed frown. "Really?" he asked and he lifted his hand, closing it into a fist and the boards cracked and moaned, breaking the line of the trap. He smiled down at it confidently and swaggered into the room.
Dean made the first move. While the rest of us stared in shock, he reacted. Dean ran for the far side of the room where his gun was still sitting on the table next to the couch. As he went one way, Sam and Bobby went another, diving for guns. Yellow Eyes gestured with his hand and Dean flew across the room, slamming into the wall. He hit the ground and didn't get back up.
"Dean!" I cried and I rushed towards him.
Yellow Eyes flinched as Sam and Bobby opened fire on him, each emptying an entire clip before he could react. He gestured at them and they went down hard before he turned back to me. "Uh huh, not so fast young lady," Yellow Eyes tisked. He raised his hand and my entire body went into lock down. I couldn't move at all. He turned back to the others, his eyes narrowing menacingly as he took a threatening step towards them.
I panicked, getting a free shot at the Winchester's was every demons dream. "How did you find us?" I called, desperate to keep him focused on me and not the others. I didn't understand how he could have tracked us when I was protected. I reached into my pocket to confirm I still had the hex bag and my fingers brushed against the black silk.
As though he could read my mind the demon smirked down at me. "Ah, your little toys, yes, those made it very hard for me to keep track of you and big brother Winchester. But the funny thing is..." he said with a pleased grin. "Wherever Sammy is, Big Brother isn't likely to be far behind. I just needed to kill a few extra saps, leave a trail of bodies for them to investigate and I followed them right on home."
"You son of a bitch," Dean snarled, shoving himself to his feet. "Those people weren't psychic at all were they? You just killed them."
The demon turned and stared at Dean with interest. When Dean tried to charge him again the demon held up his other hand, easily freezing Dean in please. "Of course, needed something to keep Sammy on the case," he said with a cruel laugh. "And just like Hansel and Gretel he led me straight to you," Yellow Eyes said stepping up next to me. He glided his fingers down the side of my face and I fought to pull away as thick ropes of black tar seeped into my mind. I couldn't contain my whimper as I tried to twist out of his touch but he was too powerful. Dean roared with rage behind us, but there was nothing he could do.
A wicked smile twisted Yellow Eyes lips. "I've been looking forward to this," he said.
"Beckett no!" Dean shouted behind me.
The demon leaned into me. "I promise, it won't hurt a bit," he said, gliding his fingers down a strand of my hair that had come loose. As soon as he wasn't touching my skin I could think again, I could breathe and plan and do something other than just fold under the weight of his power.
"Is that what you told the others?" I asked defiantly. I was terrified, but I refused to give this thing the satisfaction of seeing my fear. He had been responsible for so much pain. I wouldn't let him win. "The others that you killed?" I pushed. I was trying to buy us time. Dean was trapped, but there was still Sam and Bobby if they hadn't been seriously injured. I could reach out to check on them, but I was shielding as hard as I could with the demon in the room.
The demon pulled back a little. "Oh sweetheart. The others were just fill ins, backups, none of them could hold a candle to that flame burning away inside of you." He leaned towards me, sniffing at my hair. "The boys never did figure out what made you different did they? What made you more?"
I pulled back a little, scowling in confusion. I was no different from the others. I was a more powerful empath, but that was it.
The demon smiled, his teeth gleaming in the light. "I mean the others..." he scoffed. "They popped like fuses, but you," he ground out gleefully. Then he leaned in and licked up the side of my face. I squirmed, desperate to get away from him. "Hmm I can taste the power," he said. "Singing away in your blood," he cackled. "Now, just hold still, this won't hurt a bit, I need to use that big old battery of yours."
I tried to twist away so he couldn't touch me again, but instead of reaching for me, he shifted so he was facing me dead on. I had a moment of confusion but then he opened his mouth and pure unadulterated terror consumed me. Black smoke began pouring out of his mouth. The noxious cloud swirled around my feet and climbed my body.
"BECKETT!" I heard Dean scream my name one last time and then I was choking. It seeped into my body filling every crack and crevice, pushing me out and making way for him.
There weren't words for what happened next. The pain was too much, too all consuming. I was trapped in my body. Trapped by the pain, unable to move or fight, all I wanted was to die. The black tide rose within me and I was smothered, unable to breathe, unable to think.
I was just gone.
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Dean
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When his meat suit dropped to the ground I was free. Apparently he couldn't use his powers when he was switching bodies. Good for me, but the black smoke went straight for Erin.
"BECKETT!" I shouted, but there was nothing I could do to stop it. I rolled across the ground and scrambled for my gun.
Erin's body shuddered twice. Then her shoulders rotated and her hands flexed as though he were trying them out of the first time.
"Ah, this is better," it was Erin's voice but the tone wasn't right. He turned her body to look at me as I pointed my gun at her chest. His hideous yellow eyes were staring out at me from her beautiful face. He threw her head back and laughed. "Come on Dean," he mocked. "That little pee shooter won't do any damage to me, it's not the colt. And I think we both know you wouldn't risk hurting a single hair on our dear, sweet, empaths head. Ain't that right boy?"
"Let her go," I growled taking a step towards them. He was right, I couldn't shoot her. It went against everything in me to even point the gun at her. She was innocent, she hadn't done anything to deserve this. He raised her hand, freezing me in place once more.
"Boy," he said looking down at his hand and chuckling appreciatively. "She is something," he looked back at me and screwed her face up into a mocking pout. "All this trouble and if you had just let me have my way to begin with, you could have saved yourself a whole lot of pain. I told you, I just need to borrow her for one quick thing. It won't hurt a bit..." he dragged off, a sick smile twisting Erin's face. "Assuming she lives."
Then with a flick of his wrist he sent me sailing across the room. I hit the wall behind Bobby's desk and scrambled to get back to my feet. My body was screaming in pain, but I pushed past it, shoving myself back up so I could see her.
He had tipped her chin up to face the ceiling and held her hands out to the side. The yellow of his eyes glowed until it lit up the entire room and I had to shield my eyes from it. Blood began trickling out of Erin's nose. He let out a snarl that didn't seem capable of coming out of her throat and her small frame started shaking. Blood was freely flowing out of her nose now and it started trickling out of her ears as her body fought to contain that much power.
"MORE!" her voice was a guttural growl.
I remembered staring down at the bodies of the other empaths, broken shells who hadn't been strong enough. There was no stopping him now, I just had to hope she could take it. "Come on," I whispered as pressure built all around us. A wind picked up and papers and books started flying around the room. Sam and Bobby took cover. I held my arm up to shield my face as several crashed into me, but I wasn't going to leave her to him.
My ears popped as the power suddenly disappeared. The wind dropped as Erin's body snapped forward, sagging as her shoulders heaved. Just like that it was over.
Behind her Sammy let out a shout of pain and he dropped back down to his knees clutching his temples.
"Gotcha," Yellow Eyes said with a gleeful laugh. The demon slowly lifted Erin's chin and a twisted grin was on her face. Bloodied tears were running down Erin's face.
"Was that so hard?" He asked triumphantly. "All that running, all that effort, all those lives lost, and all she had to do was submit. And look, voila, done...all I wanted to do was give my kids a little push...she's strong enough to do it all on her own you know," he said gleefully. "Can you be so sure all your emotions have been your own since you met her?" He asked.
"She wouldn't do that," I snapped.
"But would she know?" He mocked. "How many times have you caught yourself doing something out of character since you met her?" He cocked his head to the side and closed his eyes and I got a bad feeling he was rifling through her memories. His eyes snapped open and he shot me a knowing look. "I mean Dean Winchester of all people developing feelings for something like her?" He tisked, "Doesn't seem very likely."
I tightened my jaw. I wasn't going to let him spin me out. "You got what you came for, now let her go," I growled.
The demons eyes snapped, he didn't like me trying to tell him what to do.
"Maybe..." he dragged off looking down at Erin's hands. "I do like the new suit, not sure I need to return it just yet..." and he dragged her hands over her body sensually.
I saw red. "You bastard, give her back," I snarled and without thinking I started chanting. "Exocizamus te-"
"Oh no you don't," the demon snapped and with a flick of her wrist I was back pinned against the wall.
"Omnis immundus," I continued. He couldn't have her. I promised her I would keep her safe.
He flexed her wrist and I couldn't breathe. My hands grabbed for my throat but it was like my lungs weren't strong enough to lift my chest.
"Dean!" Sam called from behind me.
The demon stretched his other hand out pinning Sam in place. "I seem to recall us being in this situation not that long ago, only this time your daddy ain't here to save you," he mocked. "Don't worry, I'm going to make sure she is wide awake for this one!"
He flexed her hand again and pain sliced across my chest. I gritted my teeth against it and forced myself to focus. If she was in there somewhere there was a chance she could fight him. "Erin," I choked out.
He cocked his head to the side. "You Winchester's have been such a pain in the ass," and a slice opened up across my shoulder and warm blood began flowing down my chest. "Just so you know, she's screaming in here," he laughed touching her fingers to her temple. He took a threatening step towards me and gestured so another slash opened across my stomach. "I mean-" he started but froze. For just a second the yellow of his eyes flickered back to Erin's soft grey.
"Yes, Beckett, come on fight him!" I called and the demon's hand came up and closed into a fist. I let out a shout of pain as warm blood started streaming from my neck.
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Erin
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All of a sudden I could see and hear again. I went from being smothered, to being a passenger trapped in my own body. I looked down to see my own hand held out in front of me with Dean plastered against the wall.
"Erin," Dean's voice was a ragged plea.
I opened my mouth to answer him but the words that came out weren't mine. "You Winchester's have been such a pain in the ass." The demons words were coming out of my mouth.
My hand raised up and a deep slash opened across Dean's shoulder. He grunted in pain and dark blood flowed down his chest, soaking his shirt. The demon was using me to hurt Dean.
I started screaming and thrashing and fighting with every part of me. I could feel his glee over what he was doing to Dean and I. He enjoyed playing with us. "Just so you know, she's screaming in here," my voice mocked and he moved my hand to touch my temple.
My hand moved again and blood was flowing from another gash on Dean's stomach. The demon was overjoyed.
I remembered what Brandon had said about being able to put emotions into other people and how Clara had described an empath as an empty glass. I wasn't as strong as Brandon, but I wasn't empty either. I wasn't willing to let this demon fill up my body with his gleeful rage. I pushed back.
I froze the words in my own throat. It took everything in me, and I couldn't hold it long but I filled the soupy black tar with what I wanted for just a second. But a second was all it took.
"Yes Beckett, come on fight him!" Dean had noticed and my eyes flickered to his face and just like that the demon took control once more. He opened up a deep gash across the side of Dean's neck. Dean's eyes widened in pain and his body went stiff as his head slammed back against the wall.
"Erin!" Sam yelled from across the room, but I couldn't help. I couldn't stop him, he was too strong and I was trapped.
"Beckett Baby," Dean called, his voice broke as he gasped. His hands were covered in blood as he held the cut on his neck.
Somehow, despite the demon, I felt Dean. He was in so much pain and yet as he held my gaze, I could feel his faith in me. So many people had told me how powerful I was, but only Sam and Dean had believed it. Now Dean was trusting me to save us, just like I had trusted him so many times.
I drew in a deep breath to center myself and was shocked when my body responded. I felt the demons surprise and in that moment I plucked his name from his head. Azazel. I was no witch but I knew there was power in names. Then I poured every inch of my rage against this monster back into it. The black smoke that had consumed me had nowhere to go. There was no room. I was choking it. I pushed. It seeped out of my mouth, swirling back towards the other body.
It took every ounce of strength I had and when it was gone I dropped to the ground. I didn't have enough strength to even stop myself from bouncing against the floor like a broken doll.
The demon blinked in confusion as he climbed to his feet. Instead of looking upset by what I had done, he stared down at me with something that may have been admiration. "Atta girl," he laughed and he winked. "Make daddy proud."
I shivered.
Dean made a noise and the demons eyes flickered back to him. "Oh don't fuss," he said with a sly smile. "She'll live to fight another another day." He turned to Dean. "You keep her safe for me," and he turned to face Sam. "And Sammy..." he dragged off. "You remember what you felt," he ordered and he swaggered out the door.
He hesitated, snapping his fingers as though he had just remembered something. "Just a forewarning," he said turning back to me. "The women in a Winchester's life tend to not live very long - especially with me around," he added slyly.
"Son of a bitch!" Sam yelled and he tried to charge him, but the demon just laughed. Pleased his baiting had worked.
"I'll be seeing you real soon Sammy," he called and he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Sam ran across the room towards us. He rolled Dean over onto his back. "Dean," Sam said. His hands hovered over Dean's chest as though he wasn't sure where to start. "Shit, you've lost a lot of blood."
"I'll get the kit," Bobby called and distantly I heard him on the stairs but I still hadn't moved so all I could see was Dean. The relief of the demon being gone made the last of the adrenaline seep out of me. I felt hollowed out and weak but we were alive.
"I'm fine," Dean coughed, blood running down his chin. Sam helped him sit up and he winced in pain. "Go check on Beckett."
"Dean, you-"
Dean shoved Sam away from him. "You make sure she's all right," he ordered.
Sam came over to me. My body felt heavy, the floor was cool beneath my cheek, but I couldn't push myself up. Sam's hands were gentle as he rolled me over onto my back. "You okay, Erin?" he asked.
My head was pounding and I still couldn't get myself up. Sam lifted me into the sitting position. I groaned and pinched my eyes shut against the pain radiating through me. When I opened them Dean had pulled himself across the floor so he was next to me. I met his gaze and tears burned the backs of my eyes. I pinched my eyes shut. I didn't want to cry but the relief that it was over and we were alive was just too big.
Dean cupped my face gently in his palm. "You okay?" he asked, his voice rough with pain.
I nodded, but the first tear slipped down my cheek.
"Baby come on, look at me," he ordered.
I blinked and more tears escaped. Dean's green eyes were only inches away and they were clouded with worry when he saw my tears. I frowned. Blood was still running down his neck. "You're hurt," I said.
He shook his head and wiped away my tears. "Don't worry about me," he said, but I could feel his pain.
Sam came over with a pile of bandages. I reached for them, but Sam shook his head. He pressed the bandage against Dean's neck to slow the bleeding. Dean didn't even wince.
Dean reached up and touched the side of my face, turning my head to the side. I sucked in a breath. He swiped away the blood that had run out of my ears. I ran a hand under my nose and winced when it came back covered in blood.
His thumbs swiped away the rest of my tears from my cheeks. "You made it," he said leaning his forehead against mine. "Knew you were strong enough."
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Hope you enjoyed they update! The next one should be out in the next couple days! Thank you all so much for your support!
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