Let It Bleed

I was summoned yet again to the Singer Salvage Yard after dark.

I stood on the hood of a car, drink in hand, looking at Sam and Dean in annoyance. "I'm sorry, boys. Do I look like a maid to you? No? Then quit summoning me, please. You should know by now all you have to do is pray and ask, not bring me here."

"This is important, Octavia," Dean told me. "And we couldn't risk being overheard."

"Overheard?" I repeated. "By who?"

"By Cas," Dean answered.

I looked at them in confusion. "Why?"

"Crowley's alive," Sam told me. 

"He's Crowley's butt-buddy," Dean told me.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"Handshake deal," Dean told me. "Go halfsies on all the souls of Purgatory."

"How did you figure this out?" I asked.

"We... trapped Cas and asked him to give it to us straight, and he did," Sam answered.

"And you didn't come to me?" I asked.

Sam hesitated. "We didn't know if you knew or not."

I took this in, chuckling without humor. "You thought that I would be working with Cas and Crowley and risk hurting people over all of this."

"Look, I'm sorry, Ava," Sam told me. "You should've known better. We should've trusted you more. It's just..."

"If Castiel of all people was doing this, then it wouldn't come as too much of a stretch that I would, too," I told them.

"Ava, I'm sorry," Sam told me.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Don't be. I wouldn't trust me, either."

I took a drink, jumping down from the car, walking closer.

"Even though you obviously didn't know about half of this, you still don't seem that surprised," Dean told me. I took a drink. "You knew something was up. You just didn't know what it was. Why didn't you come to us?"

I didn't answer, looking down.

Sam looked at me in confusion. "You're scared."

I looked up. "I know Cas better than anyone, and the things I've seen him do lately... I have no idea how far he's willing to go. I don't even know if he's still the Cas that we know."

"Yeah, well, I think you're right," Dean told me. "Crowley and Cas took two people who are very important to me. Lisa and Ben."

"You want me to find out where they are," I realized.

"Yeah," Dean answered.

I sighed, nodded barely. "I'll do what I can."

"Thank you," Sam told me.

I disappeared, leaving.

*

The next day, I summoned Castiel to the middle of the woods. "Cas. Good of you to come."

"Octavia," Castiel told me in confusion. "Why'd you summon me here?"

"Can I ask you a direct question?" I asked.

"Of course," Castiel answered.

"Are you in flagrant with the King of Hades?" I asked.

Castiel hesitated. "Of course not."

I chuckled without humor. "Always were such a terrible liar. So it's true. All right, then. Why?"

"It's a means to an end," Castiel told me. "Ava, you understand that."

I nodded. "Oh, absolutely. But what's the end here exactly? You know, raid Purgatory, snatch up all the souls?"

"Win the war," Castiel answered.

"And I can only assume that you'd be the vessel, correct?" I asked. "Suck up all those souls into yourself? All that power?"

"It's the only way," Castiel told me.

"Or too much juice for you, in which case you explode, taking a substantial chuck of the planet along with you," I told him.

"That won't happen," Castiel told me.

I took a moment to respond, nodding. "Sure, sure. Of course." I scoffed. "Just--just tell me that it's entirely risk-free."

Castiel didn't answer. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but I need to know. Are you with me or not?"

I chuckled. "Ah, you know, you may be certifiable, but fine. In for a penny, in for a pound."

"How'd you hear about this anyway?" Castiel asked.

"Oh, the boys, of course," I answered. "See, they're just a touch worked up about that kidnapping business, you know?"

Castiel didn't answer.

I looked down, unable to believe that this was actually Cas.

*

I went to Bobby's house, seeing Sam drinking. "Drinking your feelings, Sam? I thought that was your brother's bag."

"Stressful times," Sam told me.

"Well, we need to talk," I told him.

Dean walked in. "Did you find them?"

"Well, the upside is yes," I answered. "Downside is no, I can't get them for you."

"Why not?" Sam asked.

"Because Crowley's Angel-proofed the whole building," I answered. "I guess he doesn't trust Cas. Seems that marriage is going swimmingly."

"Okay, well, get us as close as you can," Dean told me.

I nodded. "Of course. But then you're on your own."

"Ava, can we ask you one more thing?" Sam asked.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Cas is following a lead to open the gates of Purgatory," Sam told me. "I was just wondering if you could find it first and get there in time to stop him."

"You tell me this now?" I asked. "After he has this much of a head start?"

"Ava, please," Sam told me.

I sighed, nodding.

*

I took Sam, Dean and Bobby to the warehouse where Lisa and Ben were being held. "All right, boys. This is where I get off and go on my suicide run. God be with us all."

I disappeared, leaving.

*

The lead that the boys had me chasing had to do with an author who had written a book about letting a monster in from Purgatory, meeting with a young man, an HP Lovecraft enthusiast named Judah, posing as a journalist.

"You know, uh, horror, lowbrow," Judah told me. "Put us in the ghetto, fine. But HP Lovecraft? This guy is literature. I mean, he--he--he should be taught in schools. He's up there with Dickens and Dean R. Koontz, seriously."

"Well, that's--that's definitely the angle I'm taking with my piece," I told him.

"Oh, okay," Judah told me. "Okay. Sorry, you--Please."

Judah gestured for me to sit.

We both sat down.

"So, I hear you have a large collection of Lovecraft's private letters," I told him.

"Huh, yeah," Judah answered. "World's largest."

"Wow," I told him. "I'd like to ask you about Lovecraft's last years. Specifically, anything that might've gone down around March 10th, 1937."

"Are..." Judah trailed off. "Are--are you working on this with the other guy?"

"What other guy?" I asked.

"Yeah, uh, you know, trench coat, looks like Columbo, talks like Rain Man," Judah answered.

I looked down. "Right. We're... competitors. Rival magazines."

Judah chuckled. "Oh, okay. Okay, well, um, I'll tell you what I told him. Howard had a dinner party on March 10th."

"Party?" I repeated. "How many friends at this party?"

"Well, six," Judah answered. "If by 'friends' you mean co-worshippers in a black magic cult. They were getting together that night to perform a ritual. Something big."

"Define 'big'," I told him.

"Not much," Judah told me. "Just open a door into another dimension."

"Why would they do that?" I asked.

"To see what's out there, you know," Judah answered. "Maybe it's friendly."

"It's never friendly," I told him. Judah looked at me in confusion. "I mean, I imagine. So, did it work? The spell?"

"Well, uh, there was no mention of Cthulu in the morning papers, so..." Judah trailed off. "Actually, I do happen to have several letters detailing the dinner." He walked toward his bookshelf, pulling out a file. "Worst thing that was reported was a hangover, so it's, uh... Got it. I've got them right here. Some--It's actually pretty interesting, um..." He looked at me. "I dug, and every guest invited to the hoedown, dead or disappeared inside a year."

"Was there any survivors?" I asked.

"Yeah," Judah answered. "Seems the maid had a nine year old boy. He was there."

"So, he would be 83 years old now?" I asked. Judah nodded. "Where is he?"

"Same place he's been ever since the big night," Judah answered. "Locked in a mental ward."

"I see," I told him.

Judah nodded. "And I have the place where he's locked up at." He opened the file to see it was empty. "And--and they were... I'm sorry, they were right--they were right here."

I stood, sighing. "Well, it's not like an invisible man could just pop in and steal them, right?"

Judah nodded. "Right. Right."

"So, uh, I'll leave you to it," I told him. "And, um, you call me if you find them, okay?"

I turned toward the door.

Judah waved. "Okay, hey, thanks--thanks again for dropping by."

I walked out, leaving.

*

In the mental institution, a patient spun a wheel.

A patient touched another patient's ear.

I was talking to Westborough, the 83 year old man who had been nine years old at the time of HP Lovecraft's dinner party in 1937, the maid's son.

"You sure you're not with that other reporter, in the coat?" Westborough asked. "Liar, that one. Not who he says."

I shook my head. "No, sir. Uh, I'm not affiliated with his paper. I just have a couple of questions about a dinner party you were at in 1937."

"Everyone's so fascinated," Westborough told me. "Wanna know about my night at the home of the great HP Lovecraft."

"If you don't mind," I told him.

"Well, you know the story," Westborough told me. "They did their spell, and they all said it failed." He looked around, leaning in closer to me to whisper. "Do you believe in monsters?"

"Yep," I answered.

"You know, you go saying that, they'll lock you in here, rest of your life," Westborough told me.

"Whatever you saw, you tell me and I'll believe you," I told him.

"The spell worked," Westborough told me. "A door opened and something came through. B--but it was invisible, so no one knew, except me."

"How did you know, then?" I asked.

"Because it took my mother," Westborough answered. "It went into her. She wasn't the same. She even smelled different. And then, she disappeared. And surprise, surprise, one by one, they all start dying."

"I'm sorry, about your mother," I told him.

Westborough was surprised. "You're the first person who ever said that. Hey, you wanna see a picture? Hmm?"

I nodded.

Westborough smiled, pulling a photo out of his shirt pocket, handing it to me.

The back of the photo said: Eleanor 1935.

I looked at the photo, knowing I would have to find this woman next.

*

I found the woman from the picture in a cabin marked with Angel-proofing, waiting outside.

Eleanor Visyak opened the door, starting to walk outside, stopping when she saw me. "Who are you?"

"You don't have to be worried," I told her. "I'm not here to hurt you. And even if I was, I couldn't while you were inside."

I turned to face Eleanor.

Eleanor realized why. "You're an Angel."

"And you're a monster," I replied. "What's your game?"

"Game?" Eleanor repeated.

"Yeah," I answered. "Why are you? Eve came through and raised all kinds of hell quickly. You've been here how long? What's with the slow burn?"

"Well, you know, we're not all alike," Eleanor told me. "I didn't ask those idiots to crack the door. I just happened to be the thing that fell through. And let me tell you something. You are lucky it was me."

"You're saying you're on our side?" I asked.

"I'm on my side," Eleanor answered. "I happen to like it here. I don't want to see this place turned into some bloody wasteland."

"So you killed HP Lovecraft?" I asked skeptically.

"Please," Eleanor told me. "That guy couldn't even write 'Hello'. Look, I have spent 75 years trying to keep Purgatory closed. Why do you think I gave Dean the sword?" I sighed. "To stop Eve. Hell, you guys were supposed to kill the damn Dragons."

I stepped closer. "Look, this all come down to one Angel, and it's not me. He wants Purgatory, and he's looking for you."

"Well, thanks for the heads up," Eleanor told me.

"I know him, Eleanor," I told her. "He's gonna figure it out. One way or another. Now, the only way I can stop him is to get ahead of him, so I need to know how you open the door."

"No," Eleanor told me. "No. It's too dangerous for anyone to know."

"If I found you, he's not far behind," I told her.

"But you can't get in," Eleanor told me. "Which means that your friend won't be able to get in."

"He's a very patient man," I told her. "He will wait you out."

"Thanks for your concern," Eleanor told me. "But I have a couple of other places lined up. You seem nice enough. For an Angel. But I'm better off protecting myself."

I opened my mouth to argue, looking up when I heard Dean calling for me in panic. "Ava, I really need your help. It's Lisa. She's dying. We can't save her. Please, Octavia."

I looked at Eleanor, reluctant to leave, disappearing, leaving.

*

I reached the hospital where Sam, Dean and Lisa were in the hospital room, walking toward them.

"Ava, thank God," Dean told me. I raised my eyebrows. "You know what I mean." Dean looked at Lisa. "Please. Ben can't lose his mother."

I barely nodded, putting two fingers to Lisa's forehead, healing her. I looked at Sam and Dean. "I found the creature Cas is looking for."

"Did you get to her?" Sam asked.

"Her building's Angel-proofed," I told them.

"That's a good thing, right?" Sam asked.

"She will leave sometime, Sam, and I might not be able to stop Cas from taking her," I told him.

"It's okay, Ava," Sam told me. "You did the best you could."

I scoffed softly, shaking my head. "My best is not good enough. Not when it comes to this."

Dean nodded barely, looking at Lisa's unconscious body. He looked at me. "There's one more thing you could do for me."

Dean asked me to make Lisa and Ben forget that they had ever met any of us, so they could live a normal life without all of the danger that came with us.

I obliged.