"Well, so much for James Melford." Dean commented, standing over the scorch marks in the back yard of the CEO's mansion.
"And Martin, his Reaper." Jessica crouched down on the floor a few feet in front of them, where a lighter, older looking scorch mark laid.
"So, now what? She could be anywhere." Eden huffed, waving her hands in a lazy shrug, slapping them back down on her sides.
Sam's phone rang.
"Here we go." He said, putting the call on speaker. "Rowena."
"I don't suppose there's any chance you'll simply leave me to my business before anything unfortunate happens." She responded, the sound of her heels tapping against a hardwood floor could barely be heard in the background.
"Oh, you're starting off with a threat. Nice." Sam retorted with a slight nod.
"I would never. But, this doesn't involve you three."
"You're killing people, it involves us." Dean spoke up.
"Well, if you'd let me explain." Rowena's tone had turned overtly feminine and bordering on innocent and submissive.
"If you think this is something you can just explain away- I trusted you!" Sam protested.
"I know that, Sam, I'm- I'd just rather not talk about this over the phone." The Witch replied. "I'll text you an address, meet me there in half an hour."
"And then what?" Dean retorted.
"You believe me or you don't. Either way, the drinks are on me." They could hear the smile in Rowena's voice before she hung up the phone.
"I don't like it. I mean, what's the over-under this is a trap?" Dean said as Sam let out a frustrated sigh.
"You'd think she knows better than to put the three of us in a trap by now." Eden cocked a brow. "But if she's found a way to be strong enough to even see Reapers, let alone kill them, then we should definitely approach this with caution."
"It's Rowena. Of course it's a trap." Sam turned, heading back off the property, towards the Impala.

The address Rowena had sent them to was a classically fancy, classically 'Rowena' hotel in the middle of Portland. Dean got drinks at the bar whilst Sam and Eden sat at the table, texting Rowena to tell her they were there.
Not long after Dean sat down with them, she appeared with a large man with dark hair, wearing a suit, following closely behind.
"Head's up." Dean grabbed the attention of his company as she approached the table.
"Boys, Eden." She hummed, sitting down in a large forest green armchair across from the brothers, to the left of Eden. The man with her stood behind, placing his hands on the back of the chair.
"What's with the goon?" Dean nodded to the man.
"Just a precaution. We're all weary, aren't we? Surely you've got your witch-killing bullets handy." She replied.
"Rowena, this isn't why I helped you. I mean, were you just... Playing me the whole time?" Sam asked.
"Of course not." The Witch quickly grew serious, showing her sincerity. "But, once I unlocked my power, I couldn't just hide away. I realised I can right some wrongs that are long overdue."
"By killing innocents?" Dean cocked a brow.
"A scamming pharmaceutical company is hardly innocent, to be fair." Eden glanced to him.
"Finally. Someone sensible around." Rowena waved a hand in the Dark Angel's direction. "Och, I've missed you, dear. It's been too long. That company lied about their product for money – money they used to avoid the law. They hurt thousands of sick people, which is far worse than most of the monsters you've killed. I'm striking a blow for justice."
"Okay, don't get too carried away there. We know you, remember. Your heart doesn't bleed that much." Eden countered.
"And why are you killing Reapers?" Sam pressed.
The Witch sighed, nonchalantly looking around the bar.
"Well," She said. "They're just a means to an end. It's not easy to get Death's attention."
"Trust me, that's not the kind of attention you want." Dean shook his head.
"Oh, but it is." Rowena replied, leaning in towards the table. "Death has something I want."
"What's that?" Sam asked, his face mostly unreadable, but leaking a little hint of curiosity.
"My son." She practically whimpered. "After you told me he was gone, that he'd died, I had an unexpected reaction. We had our differences, but it was my fault he went down the path he did. I left him."
"We're talking about Crowley; Demon, King of Hell." Dean clarified.
"We're talking about Fergus. Tricked by a Demon, died in a gutter... He deserved better from the world- from me." Either Rowena was the best actress in the world, or she was being entirely honest. The look in her eyes made everyone question everything they thought they knew about Rowena; the mother.
"Well, Crowley's dead, there's no coming back from that." The older brother replied.
"Oh, is that so, Dean? Are only Winchesters allowed to come back from the dead?" Rowena smirked, glancing down at Eden's hand. "And soon-to-be Winchesters. Congratulations, dears."
Eden glanced down at the ring on her finger before looking to Sam, who gave her a small, half-second smile.
"Thank you, but not currently relevant." She said, turning to Dean. "She's got a point. Why is it that you two, particularly you, Dean, get to come back from the dead countless times, but others can only have a one way trip?"
"How the Hell should I know?" The older brother scoffed.
"Oh, so the rest of us just have to accept it? I don't think so. I'm putting Death on notice."
"Alright." Sam nodded. "Well, she's taken notice."
"She?" The Witch repeated, mouth shrugging. "Interesting."
"And she's upset. But, you can quit this before-"
"I am not afraid." Rowena cut Dean off with a smile. "And, as much as I enjoy our little talks, you can't stop me."
"Actually, we can." Sam replied.
"And what makes you think that?"
"Because, every version of your death – your real, permanent death – Sam's the one who kills you." Dean smirked.
Eden glanced to him with a cocked brow.
"Wow, just drop that in there, why don't you?"
The older brother shrugged.
"I see." Rowena sighed.
"Yeah. But," Sam started, pulling out some witch-proof cuffs. "It's not gunna happen tonight."
He leaned in to place one of the cuffs on her wrist, but she waved a hand, making her form go slightly waved and transparent for a second or two.
"I hope you don't mind the astral projection." An echoed version of her voice said. "Safety first, of course."
With that, she disappeared, reappearing by the bar door. Her guard opened it for her, making their exit.
"Rowena!" Sam growled, getting up as the other two did, the boys drawing their guns.

They followed the two down various corridors throughout the hotel, calling her name as if it would do any good.
Sam slipped round one corner, with Eden in tow, but as Dean was about to do the same, he was clotheslined by Rowena's bodyguard.
"Go, I've got this!" The older brother yelled after Eden had stopped to help.
She nodded, continuing her run after Sam and the Witch.

Rowena had them circling the building until they caught up with her at the fire door on the ground floor that led to a dark alleyway.
"Rowena, stop!" Sam yelled, cocking his gun and aiming it in her direction, the sound making her stop in her tracks. "Stay right there. Listen to me; I get what you're trying to do for Crowley. But, you're messing with the machinery of the universe. Death won't give you what you want, you have to stop."
"I can't stop, Samuel." She replied. "You'll have to shoot me."
Sam panted from his running, looking to Eden for some sort of guidance as his trigger finger hesitated. She gave him pleading eyes as Rowena slowly turned around to face them. Sam pulled the trigger, his eyes and Eden's widening at what that caused.
Rowena had her hand held out in front of her, the witch-killing bullet suspended in mid air a few inches from her palm, her eyes a bright shade of lavender.
In his shock, Sam slowly lowered his gun.
The Witch dropped her hand, making the bullet fall to the floor.
"H-how?" The Winchester stuttered.
"You really would've shot me?" Tears formed in Rowena's eyes.
She disappeared, reappearing right behind him, uttering a spell.
Sam's balance became off-set, his vision blurring before he fell to the floor.
"Rowena!" Eden protested.
"Be thankful, dear. In another time, I probably would've just killed him. But, I suppose I care for him, too." She shrugged, her eyes turning back to their usual green. "Besides, you're yet to have your happily ever after, aren't you? I wouldn't jeopardise that. I've done too much damage on you already. Memories are one thing, but true love? I would never be so harsh."
"You could've at least made sure he had a safe landing." The Dark Angel sighed.
"I'm sure a few grazes here and there are the least of his worries." The Witch countered. "He'll be fine. And so will you."
Eden frowned at her words as she waved a hand. The Dark Angel, like her love, began to wobble on her feet, a wave of nausea washing over her before she fell to her knees.
"What the Hell, Rowena." She hissed.
"I'm sorry, darlin'. You might be my best leverage yet."
Eden lost consciousness as the side of her face hit the concrete hard, her head bouncing off the alley floor.

"Rowena, you've gotta listen to me." Sam panted, struggling with the bonds that tied him to a chair. "This power, it's getting to your head, it's making you go crazy."
Eden blinked a few times, feeling her head throb. She, like Sam, was tied to a chair opposite him in a hotel suite, encircled by lit black candles.
"No, it's given me clarity." The Witch replied, walking over towards the Dark Angel. "It's showing me that, everything I did before, for wealth, for magic, for myself, meant nothing. It took everything from me – everyone I loved, my family, Oskar, my son. I'm a flawed, petty, evil creature. You both should know that by now. I don't know if I can be redeemed, but I have to try."
"Rendering people who are supposed to be your friends unconscious and kidnapping them isn't a very good start." Eden scowled at her.
"I do wish there was another way." Rowena nodded, placing a couple of nondescript objects down on a small black table between her two hostages.
"What are you saying?" Sam frowned.
"You said it yourself, Samuel. There's only one way to stop me; you! But, if you're dead, then I can't be stopped, can I? Death will have to grant me an audience." The Witch told him.
"You told me you wouldn't hurt him." Eden growled, struggling against the restraints that had obviously been spelled well.
"So long as Death does as I ask, he won't be harmed." Rowena replied, ripping open Sam's flannel shirt and black t-shirt under it.
"You don't know that'll work." He said.
"True. But, there's only one way to find out." She walked over to the little table, picking up a decorated dagger.
The pair watched as she sliced into her palm and placed the dagger back down, replacing it with a small blue vial.
"What are you doing? What is that?" Sam asked.
"You don't wanna know." Rowena answered, pouring some of the contents of the vial into her bleeding palm.
It created a slight hissing sound, like water being poured on hot coals as she closed up her hand and walked over to the younger Winchester.
"Rowena, don't do this." Sam warned. "It won't work and you know it. And then you'll have Death and Eden on your tail for the rest of your life."
"You're damn right she will." Eden glared, mustering up all of her strength to try and free herself; a useless feat.
"What haven't you done for your family?" Rowena cried. "What wouldn't you do? I'm sorry, Sam. I'm sorry, Eden. But, I have to try."
She slammed her palm down onto Sam's chest, releasing a pulse of purple energy as the Winchester yelled out in agony.
"Rowena, stop!" Eden screamed as the energy trailed up through Sam's veins, revealing them under his skin.
"Hello, Rowena." A female voice came from behind Eden.
The Witch turned, releasing Sam.
"You." She breathed. "I know you."
"We met. When I was a Reaper." Billie replied.
"We totally did! If we'd just exchanged numbers, none of this would've been necessary." Rowena smiled.
"You're upsetting the natural order. It's... Unwise." The new Death told her, waving her hand.
Eden's binds released her and she instantly moved to kneel down in front of Sam, her hand cupping his face as she looked him over.
"Bring back my son and it all stops." Rowena sneered. "Say 'no' and I'll-"
"No." Billie said, simply.
The Witch leaned over to the small table, grabbing the dagger.
"Then I'll kill Sam Winchester, that'll really frog up your natural order, won't it?" She shouted.
"You'd have to go through Eden first, nevermind me." Billie shrugged. "And it'll take a whole lot more than a fancy spell and little dagger to put her down. But, go ahead. Try it."
"What?" Rowena narrowed her eyes, holding the dagger up at the new Death.
"I don't think it's a good thing and I don't believe any of us will like what comes next, but I don't do blackmail. So, go ahead." Billie's face was unreadable as she crossed her black leather-clad arms over her chest. "I'm curious to see what happens."
Whilst Eden was apprehensive of taking on Rowena if she needed to, she had a feeling Billie wouldn't let fate be altered any more than it already had. That meant she wouldn't let Eden kill Rowena and she wouldn't let Rowena kill Sam.
The Witch turned to face the pair. Sam was still taking panted breaths from Rowena's spell and Eden just looked up at the red-headed Witch with a warning glare – one she'd never aimed at Rowena before.
"No, Crowley- wait. I know what you went through and I know how much you lost. I realise how much you hurt your family, but don't do this. This is not you. Not anymore." Sam breathed. "You know this won't end with my death. Don't force Eden into a situation you know she doesn't want to be in."
"I don't want to kill you, Rowena. We've had a long history, you and I. But, so help me, if you do this, the only person who dies in this room tonight will be you." The Dark Angel hissed.
"Everything I made you forget all those years ago... What happened to me as a result of my way of life; those were my choices. You never... Fergus never... It wasn't fair." Tears pricked at the Witch's eyes. She turned back to Billie. "It's not fair!" She yelled, sending a massive surge of magic through her fingers that manifested as purple lightning, aimed straight at Billie. The energy it caused sent Sam in the chair flying backwards, Eden with him. She landed hard, her head making contact with the chair leg.
Sam crawled over to her, dragging her towards him and out of the firing line as best he could in the small room.
Billie looked entirely unaffected by Rowena's power. The Witch gave up after a few more seconds, falling to her hands and knees on the floor.
"You were never gunna kill him. There was a time you would've, but not now." Billie stated, crouching down in front of her. "I can see that."
"I don't know what I'm doing." Rowena whimpered.
"Sometimes, life is unfair and sometimes we lose things... And sometimes, we make mistakes. And some of these things can never be fixed no matter how powerful you become." Death said, trailing her fingertips delicately along Rowena's cheek. "Some things just are and everyone has to live with that."
"And now you'll take me?" Rowena sobbed.
"No." Billie gave a small smile, her voice hushed. She glanced briefly to Sam, who held Eden with everything he had. "You already know how your story ends."
Rowena was about to turn and look to the younger Winchester when a rather beaten up Dean kicked in the hotel room door with his gun drawn and Jessica in tow.
"Sam! Eden!" He yelled.
"Dean!" Sam called back.
Billie got to her feet, her genuine smile turning sly.
"Hey, Dean." She greeted. "See you again soon."
With that, she disappeared.
Rowena hunched over on the floor, letting her emotions loose as Sam filled Dean in on what had gone on.
The older brother took a seat on the floor next to him, their backs leaning against a small but ornate dark wood mantle.
Sam leaned over Eden, opening the door to a mini fridge, pulling out a beer for his brother.
"How you feeling?" He asked.
"Like I got punched in the face... A lot." Dean uttered, unscrewing the beer bottle cap.
"Yes, about that." Rowena started, shifting to face them. "Bernard's very enthusiastic."
"Yeah, that's one word for it." The older brother replied, sipping his beer.
"And what about you? How are you feeling?" Sam asked the Witch.
Rowena looked down, sighing.
"I fought Death and lost. I feel tired, weaker. I don't know if it's forever... Sam, what have I done?" Her voice turned to a whisper at the question, her emotions getting the better of her once again.
"You had a chance to kill me and you didn't. And I don't believe that Eden was the reason you chose not to." Sam replied. "I'd call that progress."
"Call that a miracle." Dean uttered.
"And, you know, what happened with Crowley, that wasn't your fault." The younger brother continued.
"He never had a chance." Rowena shook her head.
"If there's anything I learned about Crowley in the century and a half I knew him, it's that he was headstrong and wasn't in the habit of taking orders or letting anyone else make his decisions for him. What happened to him was his choice and his alone. It's not on you." Eden told her.
"He made his choices, just like we all do." Dean added. "Look, every one of us has done something that we have to live with or trying to make up for, every one of us."
"Even without all that extra juice, you're still the deadliest Witch around." Sam continued.
"Flatterer." Rowena smirked.
The Winchester let out a scoffed chuckle.
"Yeah, well, we- we may need your help to save our family, to- well, to save the world."
"You wanna be redeemed? This'd be a pretty big step." Dean said.
"Do you think I still can be?" Rowena asked.
"Yeah. I do."
"We both do." Sam added, looking to Eden for her input.
"I think... As the person with the most red in their ledger, if I can be redeemed – especially with thanks to these boys right here, then anyone can. Especially you." The Dark Angel gave a half-cocked smile, glancing to the brothers, who smiled back with equal nods.
"Before you answer, you've gotta know something." Sam turned back to Rowena. "Lucifer is back."
"Hm. Of course he is." The Witch gulped down the lump in her throat, covering it poorly with a breathy chuckle.
"Now, you're not gunna..." Dean waved a hand as he trailed off.
"Break down?" She offered. "Crack apart in terror? Of course, I'm horrified and scared... My heart may have stopped, but... Lucifer isn't the one who's gunna kill me, is he?"
"I suppose it is some sort of comfort that, so long as you stay on our side, you have nothing to fear from death." Eden shrugged.
"You changed other people's fates. Maybe we can change yours." Sam nodded. "I don't want to be the one who kills you."
"So, what do you say?" Dean asked. "You in?"
Rowena was silent for a short while, thinking over her options with a small smile on her face.
"When you need me, I shall be there." She eventually said.