Chapter seven

Chapter 7

        “Hey! Who turned out the lights?!” Alex jumped up from her bed as all of the lights in the mansion shut off. She groaned and went downstairs to ask her father what was going on. “Daaad…” When she got downstairs she saw Crowley still sitting in his chair, smiling. “What’s going on?”

         “Nothing much, darling.” He stood up and put his drink down on the table beside him. “I have work to do so don’t bother me.”

         “Well what am I supposed to do with no electricity!?” Alex exclaimed as she watched him walk from the room. She sighed, then heard a familiar voice from the other room.

         “It’s Crowley, right?” Alex’s eyes widened. Sam….? She made herself invisible and followed her father, not making a sound.

         Crowley stopped walking suddenly, noticing the rug wasn’t perfectly flat like it usually was. Alex stopped walking too, almost too late, noticing the rug had a devil’s trap underneath it. That was close, almost got caught. Then what would I do?

         Sam and Dean looked at the rug nervously as Crowley lifted it up and folded it back, revealing the devil’s trap. “Do you have any idea how much this rug costs?” He asked, standing again. Suddenly Sam and Dean were both grabbed by demons, and Alex hid around a corner, knowing that her father and the demons would eventually be able to sense her standing there.

         “This is it, right?” Crowley lifted up the Colt. “This is what it’s all about.” Is he giving them the Colt!? Is he mad?! That thing could kill him! And maybe even me! He cocked the gun and aimed it at Dean, but shot the demon holding him, then did the same for Sam. “We need to talk….Privately.” Crowley glanced in Alex’s direction, signaling that the last part was addressed to her, before leading the boys into another room and shutting the door.

         Yeah sure….I’m totally not going to listen in. She made herself visible again and stood in front of the door, pressing her ear against the wood.

         “...Why tell us anything?” She heard Sam ask.

         “I want you to take this thing to Lucifer and empty it into his face.” Woah wait…. Alex backed away from the door a little. Kill Lucifer…..With the Colt…? Will that even work!? She moved back towards the door to hear the rest. This was the first time she had heard her dad talk of killing the devil. Gabriel never mentioned this was possible…. Alex had been spending a  lot of time with the archangel, some of it spent talking about how to beat Lucifer, but most of it them just fucking around and getting pretty close to eachother.

        “Why exactly would you want the devil dead..?” Dean questioned.

         “It’s called,” Alex heard the sound of Crowley placing the Colt on his desk. “Survival. But I forgot, you two- at best- are functional morons.”

         “Yeah you’re functioning...morons…” Dean tried. Smooth….. Alex snorted softly.

         “Lucifer isn’t a demon remember, he’s an angel. An angel famous for his hatred of humankind. To him you’re just….Filthy bags of pus...If that’s the way he feels about you, what can he think about us?” Crowley explained. What does that make me, I’m both… Alex thought.

         “But he created you.” Sam pointed out.

         “To him we’re just servants...Cannon fodder….If Lucifer manages to exterminate humankind, we’re next.” Crowley informed them. That’s exactly what I said before.

         “So...Help me, huh?” Crowley offered. “Let’s all go back to simpler, better times. Back to...when we could all follow our natures. I’m in sales dammit! So what do you say, What if...I give you this thing and you go kill the devil.” He could have asked me a long time ago to do this. Why hasn't he? Is he just going to hope and pray that the Colt works? What if it doesn’t Sam and Dean will be deadmeat! I have to go with them.

         Alex backed away from the door, knowing they’d be coming out soon. She ran up to her room, “How do I explain to them why I’m here?! Or why I want to go with them? They won’t let me….They think I’m just a hunter. What do you think, boy?” She looked over at Leo who was laying on her bed. She then groaned, “I don’t even know where Lucifer’s going to be!” Wait…. She used her powers, hoping that her super-hearing could pick up their conversation.

         “.....Thursday….Carthage, Missouri….” Alex could faintly hear Crowley tell the brothers. Yes! Alex smirked and stopped eavesdropping.  

         “I still don’t have a plan…” She muttered.

         “Plan for what?” Alex turned around to see Gabriel standing there.

         “What are you doing here!” Alex exclaimed. Leo started barking and tried to attack him. “Leo no!” She grabbed his collar, which was all Gabriel could see, and pulled him back. “Sit.” Alex commanded. Leo looked up at her in confusion, but listened.

         “So…” Gabriel took a step away from the Hellhound. “What do you need a plan for?”

        “Well...My dad gave the Winchester’s the Colt and he’s sending them to...uh….Kill Lucifer….” She explained, still holding Leo’s collar. “And I know it’s not going to work.. I want to go with them to help.”

         “What! No, that’s stupid! You can’t go with them!” Gabriel exclaimed.

         “They’re going to get themselves killed! Or worse!” Alex argued.

        “But if you go, you’re basically handing over Lucifer’s greatest weapon to him!” Gabriel protested. “And not to mention his vessel will be there too!” 

        “I don’t care! I’m not going to let them go at this alone. If the gun doesn’t work, I’m their only hope.”

         Gabriel sighed, “Please don’t.”

         Alex was a little taken-aback, but ignored his pleas. “No. I have to.”

         “Alex wait-” Gabriel was cut off as Alex teleported out of the mansion, taking Leo with her.

~

         “Fuck…” Alex watched as the black Impala drove off. Not like I had a plan anyway…. “Maybe I can just follow them back to their hotel, and explain to them there." She ran over to her car and climbed in, easily catching up to the Impala, but making sure she wasn’t suspicious. They’re expert hunters, they’ll know if their being tailed or not. She followed them all the way to ‘Singer’s auto salvage’. Why the hell are they here!? Friend maybe?

         “What am I supposed to do now!?” She parked her car very far away from the salvage yard then walked with Leo to the house, while being invisible of course.

         “Everybody get in here!” She heard an older man in a wheelchair call. She looked through the window, standing a good distance away. She watched as the man messed with a camera and Sam, Dean, two women, a blonde and a brunette came into the room and took their places in front of the camera. Then Alex noticed a certain angel walk into the room, taking a spot beside Sam.

         “Castiel….” She muttered. Alex had forgotten the Winchesters had the angel as a friend. He’ll never let me join...And if those other people are going too, they’ll definitely say no. She went over to the porch and sat on the stairs, thinking up a way to tell them.

 ~

        “Why are you here,” She heard Castiel growel a few hours later.

         She made herself visible and stood up, facing him, her hands up. “I’m not going to hurt anyone… I want to help.” Castiel looked at her with a confused expression. Leo growled at him.

         His attention turned to the Hellhound, “Then why do you have this beast with you?”

         “He’s not going to hurt anyone.” Alex grabbed Leo’s collar and pulled him back to her side. “It’s more backup for tomorrow.”

         “Tomorrow? How do you know?” Castiel narrowed his eyes.

         “I’m….Crowley’s daughter...I overheard them when Sam and Dean got the Colt...and I want to help.” Alex confessed.

         “Crowley’s daughter?” Castiel echoed.

         “Yes.” Alex nodded.

         “And how do I know you’re not lying…?”

         “Uh…Oh! I know! Read my mind. Angels can do that right?” Alex offered.

         Castiel, with his eyes still untrusting, took a step towards her and looked into her eyes. She could feel him digging around in her head, and he did this for a while, before he finally left, and backed away again. “Alright. We will see what the others say tomorrow but for now,” He grabbed her arm and teleported them into the basement of the house. “Stay in there.” He roughly shoved her into a metal room, coated in salt. He closed the huge door and locked it.

         “Woah what the hell?” Alex looked around and Leo whimpered. The entire room was coated in salt, besides the floor, which had a giant Devil’s trap on it. Looks like we’re stuck. She ran her hand along the cold, salty wall, glad that salt and iron didn’t affect her.

         There was a bed-type-thing hanging off the wall and a few desks with chairs in the room. Alex went and sat down on a chair, continuing to look at the walls in silence. She could sense that Castiel was still standing outside the door, like he was guarding her.

         “Sorry about what happened last week,” She yelled through the metal door to the angel. “I was just pissed off….I mean you trying to kill me and all.”

         “Don’t think that apologizing is going to make me trust you.” Castiel growled back.

        “Of course not, I didn’t expect it to. Angels have their orders, right?” She sighed.

         “Yes.” Was all she got as a reply. Alex shook her head and looked over at Leo who sat a few feet in front of her, looking at her sadly.

         “I know buddy, it’ll be alright.” She comforted him. Leo whimpered and curled up into a ball on the stone floor. Alex was too revved up to sleep, so she just sat in the chair the whole night, sometimes pacing the room. Being the anti-christ, she didn’t really need to sleep, although she did enjoy it. What the hell do I tell them…..

 ~

         The next morning Alex was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room when the large metal door opened, revealing Sam, Dean, Castiel, the two women and the old man. They were all staring at her, Sam and Dean looked very confused.

         “Hi.” Alex smiled. She heard a growl deep in Leo’s throat and she grabbed his collar and ‘shh’ed him.

         “You’ve got some explaining to do.” Dean crossed his arms.

         “Yeah, I know. I-” She started to get up.

         “Why don’t you stay over there.” The brown haired woman told Alex.

         “Oh. ok.” Alex sat back down. “Where do you want me to start?”

         “How about you explain who you are and what you’re doing in my house.” The old man grumbled.

         “My name is Alex. I am Crowley’s daughter and I am here because I want to help you with your mission today.” She held eye contact with the man, not backing down.

         “Wait, you’re Crowley’s daughter?!” Sam exclaimed.

         “Yes.” She turned her attention to the tall man. “I’m half human, half demon. My mother was killed by an angel when I was nine, they had been trying to get to me. I have been living with my dad since then.”

         “Angels?” The blonde raised an eyebrow.

         "That’s what I said.”

         “Why do you want to help us?” Sam was the only one who looked like he trusted Alex.

         “Well...Cause I’m not sure the Colt will work. And I actually kinda like you guys...So I wanted to use my power to help.” Alex looked down at her lap, sure they would send her away. Hell they may keep me locked in here until they get back.

        “Why didn’t you say who you were back in Stratton?” Dean said, looking a little more comfortable with the situation now.

         “There never really was a chance to….And how was I supposed to mention it?” Alex laughed a little.

         “Wait,” The brunette turned to the brothers. “You know her already?”

         “Yeah...We met on a job a while back.” Sam explained.

         “Not that I did much…” Alex muttered. “But...Ah...Can I come? I’m not completely useless….I’d say I’m on par with Luci….”

         Castiel narrowed his eyes. The women looked a little skeptical, while Sam and Dean looked like they had already made up their minds. The man in the wheelchair also looked a little iffy on the situation. They all exchanged a look. Castiel shook his head ‘no’ while the others seemed to agree differently.

         “Alright, fine.” Dean agreed. “You can come...but-”

         “But you’re staying with me the entire time. One wrong move and-”

         “Yeah, yeah. I’m dead. I got it.” Alex finished for the angel, returning his glare.

~

         Alex looked  out the window from the backseat of the Impala. Castiel and the two women, Ellen and her daughter Joe, were riding in a different car. Alex would have been stuck with Castiel, but there was no room for Leo too, and Alex didn’t want to risk leaving him  with the old man, Bobby, for fear of Leo attacking him. The town looked completely abandoned, and the brothers were having no luck getting any cell phone reception.

         “Place seem a little empty to you?” Ellen asked pulling up to Dean’s window.

         “We’re gonna go check out the PD. You guys stay here and see if you can find anybody. Alex, you go too.” Dean told them.

         “K.” Alex got out of the Impala, Leo jumping out after her. Dean seemed relieved to get the Hellhound out of his car. Not a fan of dogs are we Dean? Alex stood nearby while Ellen parked the car and everyone got out. “Hey wings, you see ‘em too?” Alex looked around at all the elderly people in black suits that were standing, well, everywhere.

         “What is it?” Ellen looked at Alex and Castiel as they looked at the men.

         “This town’s not empty.” Castiel walked forward. “Reapers.”

         Alex followed him. “‘Reapers’, as in more than one?” Ellen questioned.

         “They only gather like this in times of great catastrophe, Chicago fire, San Francisco quake, Pompeii…...Excuse me, I need to find out why they're here. Alex, you too.” Castiel walked over to the reapers, looking at all of them. Alex followed, cautiously avoiding the men. Fucking creepy man…. Alex looked to make sure Leo was following her.

         “There.” Castiel muttered, looking up at a reaper that was watching him through a second floor window.

         Alex nodded and put her black sweatshirt hood down, teleporting with Castiel to the hall the reaper had been in.  She walked a little bit behind the angel, standing a few feet away from him as they entered a room.  

         “Hello brother.” Alex’s eyes widened as a circle of flames surrounded Castiel. She backed away, hearing Leo whimpering from beside her.

         “Lucifer.” Castiel turned to face the archangel. Alex stood, frozen in place, clueless as to what to do.

         “So I take it you’re here with the Winchesters,” Lucifer walked to another side of the room, opposite from where Alex was.

         "No, it’s just us.” Castiel lied. Alex couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows at his back. Aye?!?! Clearly it’s not. And lying to fucking satans face isn’t going to help the situation..,

         “Loyalty. Such a nice quality to see in this day and age.” The archangel chuckled. “Castiel right? Castiel…..I’m told you came here in an automobile…?”

         “Yes….” Castiel agreed.

         “What was that like?”

         “Um….Slow….Confining.” Castiel looked around the room.

         “What a peculiar thing you are…”

         “What’s wrong with your vessel…” Castiel changed the subject. Alex could see the patches of pink skin that looked almost like they were burnt in a fire, on the edges of Lucifer’s face.

         "Yes, um. Nick is wearing a bit thin, I’m afraid. He can’t contain me forever so…” Lucifer explained slowly.

         “You-” Castiel walked dangerously close to the holy fire, but stopped. “You are not taking Sam Winchester. I wont let you.”

         “Castiel...I don’t understand why you’re fighting me, of all the angels.” Lucifer continued walking around the circle.

         “Do you really have to ask?”

         “I rebelled, I was cast out. You rebelled, you were cast out.” Wings rebelled?! What….? “Almost all of heaven wants to see me dead. And if they succeed, guess what? You’re their new public enemy number one. We’re on the same side, like it or not. So why not serve your own best interest, which in this case just happen to be mine.”

         “I’d die first.” Castiel vowed.

         “I suppose you will…” Lucifer then turned his attention to Alex and smiled. “I’ve wanted to meet you for a while now, Alex.” He walked over to her.

         Alex backed away and Leo growled. Lucifer glanced in his direction and Leo instantly quieted, and walked over to another corner of the room to sit. “W-What do you want,” Alex stammered. What the hell….I’ve never been this scared before….

         “I want you.” Lucifer then put his hands on her shoulders, holding her in place while he said something in Latin. She struggled, but couldn’t break free of his grip.

         “NO!” She heard Castiel scream from the other side of the room.

         “What….Did you do….” Lucifer released his grip on her and walked across the room to lean on a wall. Alex fell to her knees, suddenly feeling weak.

         “It was a binding spell. You’re mine now.” He didn’t get to explain more, as a female demon came into the room.

         “I got the Winchesters pinned down, for now at least.” She reported to the archangel. Shit….. Alex looked at her hands that were supporting her as she kneeled on the cold ground. “What should I do with them?”

         “Leave them alone…” Lucifer tapped his chin with his finger.

         The demon looked unsure, “I-I’m sorry, but are you sure? Shouldn’t we-”

         “Trust me, child.” Lucifer stood up from the wall, walking over to the demon and cupping her face in his hands. “Everything happens for a reason….Well, Castiel,” He looked over to the angel. “You have some time. Time to change your mind.”

         Castiel didn’t respond, and returned to looking around the room. “Alex, come.” Lucifer beckoned to her. Alex’s eyes widened as her body moved on it’s own and she made her way to Lucifer’s side. She looked over at Leo and sent him a mental command, something she hadn't done in a while. She didn’t dare say anyone specific, fearing that Lucifer could read her thoughts. Leo, go home. The Hellhound looked surprised, lifting his head to look at her. Alex paid no attention to the hound, and continued to stare at her feet.  

         “Alex, go back to the Winchesters. Act like nothing happened.” Lucifer ordered, smiling down at her. Alex nodded involuntarily, and teleported herself to where the brothers were. They were standing several yards away from a building that was on fire, and they didn’t seem too happy.

         “Alex!” Sam exclaimed. “Where have you been?! Where’s Cas?”

         “I-I don’t know where he is,” Alex forced herself to lie.

         “Well we gotta go.” Dean ran off, Sam and Alex following.

         “Where’s Joe and Ellen?” Alex asked as she ran beside Sam. Sam didn’t answer, instead he just looked away sadly. No….Fuck….

         They quietly crept up to a bush, looking at a bunch of people standing still as Lucifer dug a hole. “I guess we know what happened to the townspeople.” Dean commented.

         “Okay,” Sam breathed.

         “Okay,” Dean repeated.

         “Last words?” Sam asked.

         “No I think I’m good.” Dean replied after a long pause.

         Sam nodded a little, “Yeah. Me too.” He turned to Alex, “Ready?”

         “Yeah…” Alex said softly.

         “Here goes nothing.” Dean muttered, gripping the Colt tightly.

         The three exited the bush, Alex in the back. “Hey!” Sam yelled. He walked through the demons and cocked his shotgun. “You wanted to see me?”

         Lucifer stopped shoveling, “Well Sam, you don’t need that gun here...You know I’d never hurt you….Not really.”

         “Yeah, well I’d hurt you.” Dean put the Colt up to Lucifer’s temple. Lucifer turned his head as Dean cocked the gun. “So suck it.” He pulled the trigger and Lucifer fell to the ground. Alex gasped a little from where she stood beside Sam. D-Did it work? She felt like she did when she was nine. Scared and helpless. Gabriel warned me this would happen….Stupid Castiel.. If I hadn't been with him, I wouldn’t be bound to Lucifer!

         “Owww!” Lucifer gasped and pulled himself to his feet. “Where’d you get that?” He easily batted Dean across the clearing, where he hit a tree. The gunshot wound that was once in the middle of Lucifer’s head healed quickly. “Now...Where were we?....Don’t feel too bad Sam, there’s only five things in all of creation that that gun can’t kill, and I just happen to be one of them. But if you give me a minute, I’m almost done.”

         Sam shifted nervously, then ran to Dean.  “You know, I don’t suppose you’d just say ‘yes’ right here and now? End this whole tiresome discussion….That’s crazy right?” Lucifer stopped shoveling again to ask.

         “It’s never gonna happen!” Sam growled.

         “Oh I don’t know Sam. I think it will. I think it will happen soon. Within six months. And I think it’ll happen in Detroit..”

         “You listen to me, you son of a bitch. I’m going to kill you myself. You understand me? I’m gonna rip your heart out!”

         “That’s good Sam,” Lucifer praised as he resumed shoveling. “Keep fanning that fire in your belly. All that pent-up rage, I’m gonna need it.” Alex stayed crouched beside Dean’s uncautious  body.

         “What did you do?” Sam looked around at the villagers. “What did you do to this town.”

        “Oh I was very generous with this town. One demon for every able-bodied man.” Lucifer panted.

         “And the rest of them?”

         “In there.” Lucifer pointed to the hole that he was filling. “I know, it’s awful. But...These horsemen are so demanding...So it was women and children first.” Alex’s made a disgusted face and shook her head. Wait...Horsemen?  “I know what you must think of me Sam. But I have to do this. I have to. You of all people should understand.”

         “What’s that supposed to mean?”

         “I was a son. A brother, like you. A younger brother. And I had an older brother who I loved. Idolized, in fact. And one day I went to him. And I begged him to stand with me, and Michael turned on me. Called me a freak. A monster. And then he beat me down, all because I was different. Because I had a mind of my own. Tell me something Sam, any of this sound familiar?” Alex didn’t understand where Lucifer was going with this, but Sam seemed to get it.

         “Anyway, you’ll have to excuse me. Midnight is calling. And I have a ritual to finish. Don’t go anywhere. Not that you could if you would.” Lucifer gestured to Dean. Sam crouched down beside Alex as he watched Lucifer chant and make the demons kill themselves. While that was happening, Dean slowly regained consciousness.  

         The ground started to shake and Castiel appeared beside  Dean, signaling for them to be quiet as he teleported them away.

 ~