XV – Union, Kentucky

Despite finding the location of Anna's Grace thanks to Sam, we've run into an impasse.

Where Anna's Grace is supposed to be, it's not there. It's disappeared. So now, we're back to square one, a little dejected and tense.

We've sheltered ourselves in a barn. My brain is hurting, so I'm lost in my thoughts while Dean and Ruby argue with each other. I glance at Anna, who's most likely hearing the same thing that I am, on a loop. An ultimatum by the angels: We give up Anna or else.

"Um...guys?" Anna's voice is the thing that subdues the angel chatter in my skull. "The angels are talking again."

"What are they saying?" asks Sam.

"It's weird...Like a recording...a loop. It says, 'Dean Winchester gives us Anna by midnight, or...'"

"Or what?" asks Dean.

"'...or we hurl him back to damnation.'"

The look on Dean's face tells me he's frightened of Hell. That he most certainly doesn't want to go back. Nobody would want to go back, except for maybe demons. What happens in Hell...it's hard to not think about. Not that I've ever been to Hell.

"Anna...Do you know of any weapon that works on an angel?" asks Sam.

"To what? To kill them?"

Sam nods.

"Nothing we could get to...Not right now."

I bite down on my lip, making sure my blade is kept hidden. I want to tell them that my weapon is the one to kill angels. But some part of me fears that if I speak up, I'll get my own blade run right through me. Why would I think that? They've had chances to kill me. They haven't taken them. I should give them this advantage.

"Okay, wait, wait," Dean says. "I say we call Bobby. We get him back from hedonism."

"Dean, what's he gonna tell us that we don't already know?"

"I don't know, but we got to think of something!"

After a while, the group disperses. Dean leaves the barn, Anna a little while after him. Ruby, Sam, and I remain in the barn. Sam is back to the books, I run my fingers over the slender blade in my lap. I sense Ruby walking towards me.

"Hey, I'm gonna scram, see if I can find something that can give us a one-up on these winged bastards," she tells me. She nods towards my blade. "That gonna be of any use to us?"

I roll my tongue in my mouth, debating. Ruby is watching me with little patience in her brown eyes. "Perhaps."

"That's a yes. Why didn't you tell them this before?"

I shrug.

"Oh, I get it. You're scared shitless that if you tell them, they might snatch it from you and use it against you." She taps her temple. "I get it. I wouldn't want to tell them, either."

"Did you tell the others where you're going?"

"Nah, I don't need to burden them."

"But yet you're telling me?"

"Figured I'd tell you so that you didn't waste your time trying to spy on me thinking I was up to no good when I'm in fact trying to do good." She crosses her arms. "Get my method, feathers?"

"Sort of." I glance ahead. Sam has knocked out over an open book. I snort softly. "He needs the rest."

"Watch over them for a bit, make sure nobody dies while I'm gone." Ruby slips out of the barn, leaving me to my devices.

For the first time in my life, I feel exhausted. Mentally. This whole thing is taxing. On top of trying to deal with Lilith, who is in the wind, there are other little problems popping up whenever they see fit. I could have easily just left these alone. But I wanted to find Sam Winchester. I wanted this. And...

Even though angels are normally stone-cold, I'm one of the few who actually feels something. Actual emotion. Which I didn't think was possible, not until I found myself tangled with Sam Winchester. It's because I'm not hard-wired like they are. I care. They don't. They follow orders, no questions asked. No second-guessing. It's what separates us.

I feel like they're the enemy, my brethren, when they shouldn't be. It's a strange feeling.

I get off the hay bale I'm sitting on, walking to Sam. I gently place my hand on the back of his head, seeping into his mind. He doesn't dream, it's nothing but black. The darkness scares me, just to glimpse it.

Feathers, ugh, I can't believe I'm doing this. This suddenly echoes in my head, starling me. I remove my hand from Sam's head. I need your help. Use your angel juice to come find me. I'm in a bit of a sticky situation, and I'm not in a position to pull myself out of it right now. Could really use a hand.

For a fleeting second, I think I'm losing my mind. Me, hearing Ruby's voice? That doesn't seem right. She would sooner spit in my face than accept any help from me, let alone sound like she's begging for it.

I mean it, feathers. I'm in a hell of a lot of pain right now. I'll gladly start screaming for proof. Get your feathery ass here and come save mine.

Is this some sort of trick? I'm still very wary of Ruby. She hasn't double-crossed us as of yet, but she's still a demon, practically a natural enemy to an angel.

Vera, please. I ain't asking anymore, I'm fucking begging. Track me, find me, bust my ass out of here!

The desperation in her voice settles it for me. I teleport out of the barn and find myself in a dark building. I don't know how far away I am, but I can sense demons' presence. I pull out my blade and creep silently through the building.

I don't get very far before demons converge on me. I stab the first one immediately through the chest and watch him short out and spark in his vessel. As his body drops, I kick at the demon behind him. He goes flying off his feet, sliding down the floor to the end of the hall.

I'm tackled from behind, tripping over the dead demon. I spin around, stabbing the demon on top of me in the brain. He shorts out on top of me, and I grunt as I shove his vessel off. The third demon has disappeared. Quietly, I slink down the hall.

I hear Ruby's muffled screams as I enter a room. She's strapped down tight in a long chair, her mouth obscured by some sort of strap. She's thrashing wildly. I also take note of how...naked she is. The straps she has on her body cover up her intimate parts, and her breasts. She can barely move.

"Hold on a second," I say impatiently as I get the restraints off her. I break one of my nails getting one unfastened. "You know, I never thought I'd see the day where a demon calls for the help of an angel." I get the gag off Ruby's mouth, and she sits up, dark hair spilling towards her breasts.

"Yeah, yeah, just get me out of here," she hisses. I force her hand away as I get the rest of the restraints off. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Seriously, don't."

"Wouldn't dream of it, feathers."

I roll my eyes. "So, this is where you've disappeared to?"

"Wasn't my first choice of a vacation from the brothers, or you, or Anna. I think you scared the rest off."

"Good."

"Could you let me dress before we take off? Unless you want me to stay like this. I have no preference." She winks at me.

"For the love of everything..."

I turn away as Ruby quickly dresses herself. When I turn back around, she looks ready to go. A little weary, but ready to escape.

But just as I get ready to teleport Ruby and myself out, a strong force throws us off our feet. I hit the chair, and Ruby smacks into the wall.

"Well, hello there, angel," comes a gruff voice from the shadows. I slowly get myself off the chair as the demon emerges. He's from before, he wanted to get Anna. "What brings you into my den?"

From the doorway, two more demons appear. Crap. I re-grip my blade, prepared to fight.

"I never properly introduced myself since you made your hasty exit with the girl. The name's Alastair. And yours?"

"You don't get the privilege to know." With a yell, I launch myself at Alastair, and Ruby throws herself into the other two demons.

Alastair is skilled, and he has possession of Ruby's knife. Granted, it won't hurt me, but it can hurt her. I need to get that back. His moves are faster than mine, and his blows hurt. I hear one demon short out, and I quickly find that it's not Ruby.

That brings slight relief to me.

Alastair gets my blade into his own hand, and I start to back off a bit. Ruby's now against the wall, battered and bloody, held hostage by the remaining demon minion of Alastair's. A snarl works its way onto my mouth, while Alastair smirks.

"This is a fine weapon, angel," he purrs, testing its weight. I wish it would burn his skin upon contact. "I think I'll keep it."

I lunge for him. I block Alastair trying to damage me with my own weapon.

Eventually, he finds an in, and I feel the blade cut into my skin. I cry out, and he begins to cut into me. This reminds me of before, when Alona and I had been ambushed.

I leave a huge dent in the wall that I'm thrown into. As I get to my feet, Alastair grabs my hair. I'm on my knees, blade at my throat.

"Don't!" Ruby screams. "She knows where the other angel is!"

I look at her, panting. "Shut up, Ruby."

"We'll show you where she is."

"We?"

"Oh, to catch you up to speed," Alastair tells me, "she was gonna try and bargain with me. She hands over the angel, and in return your group walks free."

"You were going to give him Anna?" I exclaim.

"I was trying to do us a favor, damn it!" Ruby yells back at me.

"And look how well that turned out for the two of you," Alastair cuts in. "Ah, lover squabbles."

"We're not—" I say, but Alastair cuts into my cheek with the weapon.

"Shh, shh. It's none of my business, it's just an observation. She said you could show us where the angel is. Well, show us."

I spit in his face.

"I don't have to keep you alive, I just need one of you to show me where she is."

"Don't be stupid, feathers," Ruby grunts.

I guess I already am. I came when you called, and I've got myself in the hands of a powerful demon. I sigh, not feeling Alastair's grip on my hair loosen.

"Alright. We'll—we'll take you to her."

**Gotta love our dynamic duo and their antics.**