Supernatural Fan Fiction ❯ Angels and Demons: A Supernatural Fanfic ❯ The Hunted ( Chapter 14 )

14. The Hunted

“Be careful you guys. Demon hunting of any sort isn't to be taken lightly, no matter how tough you think you are, so don't get cocky Dean.” Bobby warned, tossing Dean a flask of holy water. Dean, Sam, Grace, and Ruby were all going across the state to a town allegedly experiencing numerous cases of murders, and all signs pointed to a demon being responsible.

“Come on Bobby, what am I five? Of course we'll be careful. Safety is my middle name.” Dean said, squinting as the early morning sun came up over the horizon and shone brightly through the kitchen window. He slipped the flask into the pocket of his jacket and grabbed his bag.

Sam followed his lead, walking out to the Impala, shouting for their wives to get their butts down the stairs. The early morning air was cool. Sam rubbed his arms as goose bumps appeared, setting his bag in the trunk along with the various weapons it contained. Ruby walked outside a second later, blade in hand. She and Sam got in the back of the car. Dean sat in the driver's seat, deciding whether he should listen to Metallica or Kansas, waiting on Grace.

“Oh crap, I forgot my phone. Why am I so scatterbrained this morning? Oh, that's right, it's because of Dean Winchester. Who in their right mind would get up this early for a hunt?” Grace mumbled, going down the stairs. On the last step she lost her balance and would have fallen, but a steadying hand caught her and kept her from making a face plant.

“Slow down and be more careful. It's not like Dean would ever leave you behind. You seem to be a tad clumsy this morning.”

Grace looked up and smiled. “Thanks Rachel. It's a good thing you caught me.”

“No problem. Here's your phone by the way.” She murmured, handing it to Grace. “Look, this is probably going to sound weird coming from me, but be careful out there okay? Something about this hunt doesn't bode well.” Rachel couldn't chalk her nervousness up to anything other than a horrible sinking feeling she had in her gut. She knew what had caused the feeling, but she didn't have much time to explain it to Grace, considering her friend was about to leave. Neither she nor Castiel had yet gotten the chance to tell their friends about what they feared was happening. Because of this, Rachel thought it best that she give Grace a subtle hint for caution and safety.

Her suggestion didn't go unnoticed by her friend. “Rachel, is there something you know that I don't?” Grace asked, her blue eyes narrowing slightly in puzzlement. She crossed her arms, clearly wanting an explanation for Rachel's comment. It had seemed a little odd, even for her reserved personality.

She knows I can handle myself, so why would she feel the need to warn me? There has to be something she's not telling me, something she's hiding. Grace surveyed the angel with a mix of curiosity and concern, noting how Rachel's face seemed just a little paler than usual, how her eyes were alight with something close to fear. Her hands were trembling the slightest bit and her breathing had sped up, although the changes would have been imperceptible to anyone but Grace, because she knew her friend so well. Something has definitely got Rachel spooked.

“Rachel, are you alright?” Grace asked, knowing the answer but needing to hear her say the words herself. Rachel looked at the floor, shaking her head. “Not really.”

“Well, what's wrong then? You seem really nervous and…” the Impala's horn blowing outside interrupted what Grace was saying. Rachel's eyes widened the slightest bit. “You need to get going.” She murmured.

Grace snorted, shaking her head. “Not before you tell me what's bothering you I won't.” Rachel sighed. “I'll tell you along with everyone else once you get back.”

Grace grabbed Rachel's arm in a strong grip. “You promise?”

Rachel licked her lips and nodded. “Yes Grace, I promise.” She winced as the car horn sounded again. Grace rolled her eyes, muttering a few choice words, letting go of Rachel's arm and walking out the door.

Going into the kitchen, she noticed Bobby sitting at the table, drinking some coffee while reading the paper, a lonely untouched pop tart on his plate. Smiling slightly, she opened up the refrigerator and grabbed some eggs, tomatoes, chives, and cheese, planning to make omelets for breakfast. Setting the eggs and cheese aside on the counter, she grabbed the produce and began washing it in the sink. Sucking in a breath sharply as she saw the water turn to blood and then black, Rachel forced herself to close her eyes, bracing herself on the edges of the countertop.

“Are you alright Rachel?” she heard Bobby's gruff voice etched with concern. The paper rustled as he set it down and she felt his eyes boring into her back. Opening her eyes a second later, relieved to find all was normal again, she fought to keep her voice steady as she murmured, “Yes, I'm fine. Thanks Bobby, but I guess I zoned off for a second there.” She resumed what she was doing.

Bobby knew something was up, he could feel it, but he wasn't going to pry. He knew that Rachel wasn't telling the truth, the girl had never been much of a lair. He also knew that if it was important enough she would tell him, all in due time.

After making three good sized omelets she set them on the table, murmuring for Bobby to help himself, sauntering into the living room and turning the TV on to watch the morning news.

He walked into the living room a second later, making himself comfortable, eating his omelet and complementing Rachel on it while watching the early morning weather report. He noticed that her hands were clutched nervously in her lap and her brown eyes seemed unfocused, as if she were somewhere else. Waves of tension were radiating from her body, inconspicuous to anyone without a trained eye.

“Rachel, I know something's wrong. You're as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.” Bobby said, taking note of the fact than Rachel had jumped at the sound of his voice. Her dark eyes focused on him, clearing. She eyed him warily, biting her lip and then sighing, deciding it was time she told him.

“Is it really that obvious?” she asked, blushing in embarrassment.

Bobby nodded. “You'd have to be blind not to notice.” He replied.

“Well, I was going to wait until later when everyone was back and tell all of you at once, but I guess I'll just come out with it now. For the past few days, I've been having these strange visions and experiences. It's probably going to sound a bit odd to you, but please just bear with me for a few minutes.” Bobby gave her an encouraging nod and she took a shaky breath, continuing.

“Well, I've recently started seeing blood whenever I use water and then that blood will turn to thick black liquid. Another experience is hearing screaming, but it isn't coming from the TV or radio, it's inside my head. The last thing I've encountered is seeing souls and bodies being tortured in Hell. I'll see reflections in mirrors and windows. While I'm seeing these things I'll smell rotting or burning flesh and smoke. I'll feel heat from fire. It's really starting to get to me. I don't even want to contemplate how much worse it could get.”

Bobby's eyes widened. “Do you know what could be causing it? Maybe it's stress. I know stopping the Apocalypse wasn't an easy thing for you to do.”

Rachel shook her head. “No, that's not it. Cas and I have another theory though, a scarier one I think, and I'm hoping I'm wrong.”

“What's the theory?” Bobby asked cautiously, almost wishing he hadn't asked but knowing that it would be important if he wanted to alleviate Rachel's fears, if he could that is.

Rachel gave him a wan smile, opening her mouth to speak, but then she suddenly got a vision of her sister, Anya, burning in a lake of fire. The spine chilling shrieks made her head pound and grew louder, more pain filled. Rachel could feel the heat from the flames, smell the flesh as it bubbled and bled, nauseating her. Everything was so intense that for a moment she couldn't remember if talking with Bobby had been real or not. What she was experiencing with her senses seemed real, felt real. Then a cold malicious voice filled her head, grating against her consciousness like shattering glass. Rachel felt her heart clench in fear even as her mind was reeling. She was barely able to believe that she was hearing her long ago sister's voice, having thought and prayed that she would never have to hear it again.

Look at how I've suffered because of your betrayal. For centuries my torment was unceasing, lasting for an eternity. You can't imagine the pain, the horror, what it did to me. I'm going to hunt you down like the animal you are. You'll atone for your sins, I'll make sure of it. You angels thing you're so righteous, so holy, but I know better. I know you. You'll rue the day you chose to save that black eyed bitch over your sister you traitor. When I find you I'm going to make you suffer unspeakable agony. I'll grind your bones into dust, crush your hopeful spirit, reduce you to nothing but ashes and then I'll bring you back and start all over again. You can't run from me Rachel. I'll find you. I always do. You'll wish to God you destroyed me when you had the chance and it's too late now. No matter where you go, what you do, where you hide, I'll find you. I'll utterly destroy you.

Rachel shuddered as Anya's demonic laughter filled her mind, images of her tortured, burning, mangled body creeping into the darkest recesses of Rachel's mind, haunting her. Fear paralyzed her, rushing through her veins like ice water, and she was unable to breath or think, much less move. If Anya found her she was dead. They were all dead.

Bobby had seen Rachel's face go pale and her eyes glaze over in fear. Her long slender fingers had become like claws, clutching desperately at the couch, her knuckles white. She had even stopped breathing for a few seconds. He knew she must be seeing something horrible, the way her lips trembled, her body shook, her features a complete mask of terror. A few minutes seemed like hours, but finally Rachel's clouded gaze became lucid. He watched as she gasped, desperately sucking in air, her dark eyes filled with horror. She shuddered, closing her eyes and letting out a shaky breath. Bobby was too shocked for words, and even though he wanted to ask what the angel had seen, he couldn't bring himself to do it. To see such a powerful being, especially Rachel, reduced to little more than a scared, trembling girl greatly disconcerted and disturbed him. Rachel looked scared to death. Bobby opened his mouth to ask what she had seen but the look of pain that flashed in her eyes in that moment caused the words to die before they ever passed his lips.

Rachel's face went from terror to pain in less than a heartbeat. Her features melded into a visage of agony as her breath left her in a gut wrenching scream. A sharp, white hot pain settled into her stomach and she clutched it. It felt as if her very skin was being melted off. It was so intense and fast that one second she was sitting on the couch and the next she was curled into a ball on the wooden floor of the living room, her eyes squeezed shut, tears rolling down her face. She nearly bit through her tongue, feeling blood seep into her mouth, warm and metallic, groaning in anguish as a second later the pain intensified again.

This time it was too much.

Her vision blurred, darkening. Milliseconds seemed like an eternity before she was pulled under the blissful blanket of unconsciousness.

The whole ordeal had taken no longer than ten seconds. A second after Rachel had passed out, Bobby managed to find his voice and yelled for Castiel. The angel appeared by his side instantly and his gray eyes widened in shock as he surveyed his wife's limp body. Kneeling by her side, looking for anything out of the ordinary and praying he didn't find what he was looking for, Castiel asked Bobby what had happened. He told Castiel what he knew, asking about what Rachel's odd symptoms and what they meant.

“We believe it is Anya. No one else has a personal vendetta against Rachel but her. Most demons won't touch an angel, much less try to locate one, but Anya was always different. She isn't afraid of us, unlike most of her kind.” Castiel murmured, a second later swearing in Inokian, having found the mark. It was black, standing in stark contrast to the pale skin of Rachel's belly, resembling fire. There was no doubt in Castiel's mind that Anya was out for Rachel's blood.

“What is that?” Bobby asked curiously. “I've never seen a mark like that before.”

“It's like a brand, similar to the mark of the witnesses. It can only be made by an extremely powerful demon. It's binding as well.” Castiel murmured, picking up Rachel and setting her seemingly lifeless body on the couch. He could see her chest rising and falling, could hear her heartbeat, and forced himself to relax. For the moment, Rachel was alright.

“Why would her sister mark her with something binding? I thought angels and demons were enemies and what not. What would Anya even want to bind Rachel to?” Bobby murmured, surveying her limp body with concern and just a touch of fear.

He heard Castiel sigh. “Anya wants to bind Rachel to herself. If Rachel is bound to her then she can find her more quickly. This particular mark is sort of like Anya's calling card. She's going to find Rachel, and soon. She's marked her for death. Anya isn't going to stop until one of them is gone.”

Bobby opened his mouth to speak but gasped in surprise as a tan, tall, leggy blonde appeared suddenly in the middle of the room.

“Cassandra, what are you doing here?” Castiel asked curiously.

“I've got bad news Castiel, real bad. The fight is over. Raphael beat Michael for power. Unfortunately, disconcerting though that is, that's not the worst part….”

“Go on.” He murmured. Taking a breath she continued. “Raphael won only because he's unlocking the seals that keep purgatory closed. Some souls have already been released and he absorbed them. I have it on good authority that he's made a deal with Crowley. In exchange for all the souls in purgatory, Raphael agreed to spare him and give him power once he's absorbed all the souls. It get's worse. Raphael is also bent on revenge and he's hunting you and Rachel down even as we speak. He wants to make an example of you and punish you for your helping the Winchesters and defying your orders. Also, Raphael plans on exterminating most of the demons and all of the humans, but he has to amass an army for that first. Even though he won the fight, he hasn't yet won the war. Not everyone supports him or wants him in power, yours truly included.”

Castiel stood there dumbstruck while Cassie noticed Rachel's unconscious body on the couch. After she demanded to know what happened, Bobby took the liberty of explaining it to her, seeing that Castiel was still in shock. Then Heather appeared and she and Cassie exchanged worried glances. Apparently the news she had wasn't going to be any better.

She too saw Rachel and her face turned a shade paler. She revealed that the rumors were true, and that in the chaos of Lucifer and the Apocalypse that Anya had indeed escaped the confines of Hell and was gunning for Rachel. Besides wanting her sister to suffer for choosing her best friend over her, Anya also wanted Rachel's sword to free Lucifer and start the Apocalypse again.”

“Where is Michael in all of this? Surely he won't stand for it.” Castiel murmured.

“We don't know. We can't find the archangels, neither Gabriel nor Michael. Joshua is gone too.” She replied softly, her voice etched with doubt and trepidation.

“We'll keep you informed. Be careful okay? Keep Rachel safe. If Father and the archangels really are gone, then she just might be our only hope of defeating Anya.” Cassie said. She and Heather vanished an instant later.

Castiel sat down on the end of the couch, cradling Rachel's head in his lap, barely able to think. It seemed as though the whole world was going to hell and he had no idea of how to stop it.

“Is there anything I can do Cas?” Bobby murmured, feeling worried about the two angels.

“Yeah, get me a drink.” He murmured despondently. Castiel knew full and well that before anything ever got even slightly better, the journey to hell and back was unavoidable. It wasn't the journey that had him scared however.

It was the cost.

“I think we might have a serial killer on our hands. This is the sixth body we've found like this. Honestly, the evil in some people.” Sheriff Jeff Summers shuddered. Sam and Dean were posing as FBI agents, knowing full and well that the sheriff had absolutely no idea what he was dealing with. It wasn't just a serial killer.

It was a demon serial killer.

“I tell you, it's the strangest thing. We've found sulfur at every crime scene. We think it's some sort of link between the crimes. Then there's that weird mark that all the victim's had on their abdomens…..”

“A mark? What did it look like?” Sam asked. Sheriff Summers pulled out a slip of paper. Examining it closely, Sam noticed that it looked like a flame of black fire.

“Is this a gang symbol? Maybe even cult related?” he asked. The sheriff shook his head.

“No, it's neither. None of the victims were involved in any cults or gangs. In fact, besides that unusual mark and the sulfur, we can't find a similarity between them.”

“Well, thank you for your time sheriff. If you need us just call.” Dean said, noticing that Grace and Ruby were done examining the bodies. Both women looked worried, close to panic in fact.

That was not a good sign.

Getting into the car, they shared what they had found.

“That mark isn't just any mark. It can only be made by an extremely powerful demon. In fact I can only think of up to four beings that are capable, one of them being Lucifer.” Grace murmured.

“It's not him though, I mean it can't be, right?” Sam said, sounding more than a little nervous at the mention of the evil angel's name. No doubt it brought back unpleasant memories.

“No, it isn't. The way the bodies were mutilated, everything about the crimes points to someone else.” Ruby said.

“Is it the yellow eyed demon?” Dean asked. The girls shook their heads.

“Well it can't be Lilith, she's dead.” Sam muttered.

“Look, it's not anyone you've ever come across before, and I hope you don't have to. It's Anya.” Grace said firmly.

Ruby gulped nervously and Sam looked confused.

“Wait a minute, you mean Rachel's sister Anya?” Dean asked incredulously. Grace nodded grimly. “That's the one.”

“Why would she want to murder those people? What could she gain from it?” he asked.

“Nothing, she doesn't gain anything. She just loves toying with her prey. They weren't human when they died however. They were demon possessed, killed with the demons still inside their bodies. The mortal souls were long gone.” Ruby muttered, shaking.

“What did the mark mean? All the victims had it.” Dean said. Grace's face paled. “Well, it meant that they were marked for death. Anya does that, branding them, and no matter what, the individual who is marked always dies. There are no exceptions.”

“So this obviously powerful demon, Anya, is offing her own kind? Why would she do that? And she's Rachel's sister too? How does that work? If she's just another demon then it shouldn't matter should it?”

“It's not that simple. It's hard to explain, but I'll tell you what I can. You see, even before she fell, Anya was one scary angel. She was always scheming something, never satisfied, thinking she deserved everything for nothing. She and Rachel were close because they were created around the same time. They knew each other long before I came along. They were opposites but somehow their relationship worked, Anya being a rebel and Rachel being obedient.” She went on to tell Sam what she had already told Dean and Bobby months ago, how she had met Rachel and how Anya wanted revenge for Rachel's betrayal. “Anya is a sociopath, there's no doubt about that, and yes she is another demon, but Rachel still views her as a sister. I don't understand it, but I never questioned it because Rachel ended it, casting Anya into hell and all. It obviously bothered her so I didn't bring it up.”

“Well what are we going to do? If these murders are any indication, then it's pretty clear that Anya's broken out of the hot box and is causing trouble.” Dean said.

“She's after Rachel. We have to make sure that we send Anya back to hell before she finds her then.” Sam murmured.

“Don't you think it's weird though, Anya just seemingly appearing out of the blue like that?”

“It's a bit odd yes, but I think we need to go home. We can't help the victims. Rachel was going to tell me something before I left but there wasn't time. I'm worried because I've hardly ever seen her so spooked.”

“You don't think Anya's found her….” Sam murmured. Grace and Ruby's faces turned ashen and he instantly felt guilty for saying anything, starting to worry about their friends back home. Dean looked apprehensive too.

He pressed the gas petal to the floor.

They made it back home in record time, arriving around dusk. Bailing out of the car, they all but ran inside the house and found Bobby sitting in his recliner, watching the evening news. Castiel was sitting on the couch with Rachel's head in his lap. Grace's blue eyes widened, sensing that something bad had happened since she'd left that morning.

“What happened?” Grace asked, sitting down beside Dean on the adjacent couch. Sam and Ruby did likewise. Castiel explained what had transpired, telling them of Rachel's dreams and visions, what she had seen, smelled, felt. He also told them of Raphael and it didn't ease their worries or fears. At this point, nothing looked promising.

“What can we do to help? We've already figured out that to protect Rachel we'll have to find Anya and kill her. That should solve all of our problems right?” Dean said.

Castiel sighed, looking uncertain and weary. “I don't know Dean. I can't say for certain if it would. Even if Anya was disposed of, Raphael still wants Rachel and me for disobeying our orders. You shouldn't even consider going up against Anya anyway; she'd destroy you in a heartbeat. Unlike Lucifer you are of no use to her and are therefore expendable. Besides, what use would it do you to try to find Anya? She's looking for Rachel anyway. I pray she doesn't find her, but this isn't looking good. I don't know what we're going to do.”

“Well I have a plan. First of all, we gank this Anya chick. She's a demon and we've killed demons before. It might not be easy, but we can handle it. Once we're through with her, we concentrate on you two.” He said, looking at the angels. “We'll find a way to keep you out of Raphael's reach. If those guys threaten you then they threaten all of us. We're a family after all.” Out of the corner of his eye Dean saw movement and noticed Rachel's eyes flutter open.

“What happened?” she murmured groggily, sitting up.

“You mean you don't remember?” Bobby said. Rachel shook her head. “No, I don't. I remember getting another vision, but after that everything is dark. Did I pass out or something?” Bobby told her what he had seen, her horrified expression, falling to the floor and screaming in agony, how she had been unconscious for a few hours. Castiel told her about the demon mark. Rachel's face paled and she lifted up the hem of her green tank top, gasping as she surveyed the mark on her belly.

“I'm dead. All of us are dead. I thought the last time this had happened it was over. I thought…..” she took a shaky breath, her voice breaking as she shuddered slightly, unable to finish.

“Wait a minute, this has happened before?” Ruby asked abashed. Everyone was curious now, waiting for Rachel's explanation. Rachel looked at her, the memories and wisdom shimmering in her dark eyes making her look sentient, ancient, ethereal. Nodding, she told them of what had happened the first time.

It was just after Noah's flood. It was as if the world was anew. Before that, sin had reached a point that was unbearable, and even though Father dearly loved the mortals he had so tenderly created, they vexed him with their wickedness and evil, breaking his heart because they made the choice to worship idols and had forgotten the ways of their forefathers. You know the story I'm sure. Noah built an ark, called creatures two by two, and he and his family stayed in that ship for 40 days and 40 nights while God flooded the entire Earth with water, utterly destroying it. Afterward, once Noah and his family had landed on dry ground due to the flood waters finally receding, everything started over. Noah's family grew, the animals multiplied, and God was once again first in man's heart. As the centuries flew by however, men began to turn away once again, and somehow Anya was loosed from hell. To this day I'm not certain how it happened. At first none of us worried about it, but then she put an exceedingly foolish idea into a mortal's brain. He thought he could build a tower so tall that it would reach the Heavens.”

“Wait a minute, your sister was responsible for the Tower of Babel?” Dean said incredulously.

One of Rachel's dark eyebrows shot up. “So you did pay attention in Sunday school.” She murmured her voice carrying amusement as her lips quirked into a smirk.

Dean snorted, rolling his eyes. “Just barely.”

Rachel went on. “So anyway, after she did that and the tower proved unsuccessful, God confounded the language of men. Before the tower was built, everyone spoke the same language. To stop this foolish endeavor, God made it so that men spoke different languages and could therefore not understand each other. Hence, our different languages today.”

“What happened to Anya?” Sam asked.

Rachel shrugged. “I found her shortly after men had gone their own way, searching for others that spoke their language. I dragged her back to Hell and cast her back in. I had seen the path that she would go down if she was left unpunished and it would be one of destruction, wickedness, and death. In some ways, it was worse than what Lucifer had in mind. He wanted to be greater than God, but Anya wanted that and more. Her plan for your race wasn't to destroy it, but to make slaves of you, as well as the angels. You can't even begin to imagine how much different everything would be, how dark and violent it would become. I couldn't let that come to pass and that's why I ended her earthly activities. Until a few days ago, I thought I'd never see her again. She has to be stopped of course. She's evil, an abomination. Who do you think it was that put the idea of a Master Race into Adolf Hitler's head?”

“She caused World War 2!” Sam exclaimed. Everyone looked shocked but the angels, who nodded grimly. “She wasn't the direct cause, and she wasn't alone, but yes. She definitely had a hand in orchestrating it. She thrives on sin, despair, and destruction.” Rachel responded.

“I can see why you tossed her in the hot box the first time. She's one bad scary demon.” Sam said.

“How can we kill her?” Dean asked.

“Well, besides the Demon Blade, my sword can do the trick. Not much else can kill a demon. I'm sorry Sam, but you're too weak to try your “gift” out on her. She's too powerful to be sent back to Hell that way.” Rachel said.

The conversation eventually lapsed into silence. Dusk turned to night and everyone excused themselves to go upstairs and rest. That night, Dean began having nightmares about Hell and Sam experienced unpleasant dreams about the yellow eyed demon. Rachel's predicament got Ruby and Grace thinking about Hell as well, as well as Anya. Both the women experienced a few unsavory flashbacks. Rachel did her best to try and not think about her visions, hoping that she wouldn't have anymore for the day. Castiel lay by her side on the bed, pretending to read a book but finally giving up after a good hour. Looking over at Rachel, he realized she had been watching him. Giving him a small, knowing smile, she crawled over to him and curled up against him, trying to comfort him because she knew how worried he must be.

In her heart Rachel knew what she had to do. To protect herself and save her family, she was going to have to kill Anya. Listening to Castiel's heartbeat slow down and feeling the tension in his body ease, she prayed that she had the heart to fight and the strength to do what was necessary, because if she failed, Rachel would lose everything.