The Supernatural X-Files

The Monster at the End of This Book [6]

Castiel overlooked the photos that lined the fireplace, pictures of a young Maxima smiling a major contrast to the Maxima that stood in front of him now.

"I need to understand," Maxima said, breaking the silence. Her fists clenching and unclenching, her body shifting from side to side. She glanced up to look Castiel in the eyes, he met her gaze briefly before turning back to the memories encased in glass. Maxima couldn't help but note the look of guilt that briefly flashed in his icy cold blue eyes.

"Chuck..."

"Like many authors. Chuck only showed one side to the events that occurred that night..." Maxima glanced over to a portrait of Samantha "The night my sister was taken. Why would demons want my sister?!"

"It wasn't demons,"

Maxima sighed as she took a seat in exasperation "I'm never gonna hear the end of this from Fox." Maxima looked up at Castiel "Why didn't you save her?"

"She wasn't my concern,"

Maxima stood up abruptly "None of your concern! She was 8 years old! She never even got the chance to break boys' hearts, maybe even girls'! Never got a chance to make mistakes! To find love!" Maxima stopped when she saw Castiel's gaze flicker. "Why me? There were a bunch of kids similar to Sam and I's condition. My mother didn't die a fiery death above my crib when I was six months old. Instead, I get an angel that appears on the night of my sister's abduction. What makes me so special?"

"Nothing,"

Maxima threw her hand back and went to smack Castiel, but the angel was quick to catch her wrist before her hand impacted his face. "Dean was right. You angels are dicks,"

"You shouldn't have to pay for your parents' mistakes," Castiel said.

"What do my parents have to do with this?"

"You remember what happened to Mary Winchester?"

Maxima nodded "She made a deal with Azazel to save John...are you telling me the same happened to me?"

Castiel remained silent.

Maxima fell back into a seat "Oh, my God,"

"My father didn't have anything to do with it,"

Maxima glared up at Castiel "No...but apparently you did,"

"We were told not to intervene. That our father had a plan for everyone. But I saw how close Azazel was to you...I figured I could stop whatever he had done,"

"It's not just Azazel's blood," Maxima quoted. "Cas...what did you do?"

***

Dean drove to the motel, parked, and got out of the car. He noticed that the altered sign now read as Chuck's manuscript predicted. Dean shook his head and got to the room. "Come on. We're getting out of here,"

"What?" Sam asked surprised "Where?"

"Anywhere, okay? Out of this motel, out of this town. I don't care if we got to swim, we are getting out." Dean looked around, confused "Dude, where are all the hex bags?"

"I burned them,"

"You what?"

"Look, if Lilith is coming, which is a big if..."

"No, no, no. It's more than an if. Chuck is not a psychic. He's a prophet,"

"What?"

"Cas showed up, and apparently Chuck is writing the gospel of us,"

"Okay,"

"Okay. Let's get the hell out of here,"

"No,"

"Lilith is gonna slaughter you,"

"Maybe she will, maybe she won't,"

"So what? You think you can take her?"

"Only one way to find out, Dean, and I say bring her on,"

"Sam..."

"You think I'll do it, don't you? You think I'll go dark side," Sam argued "If Max were in my place I'm sure you'd immediately let her do it,"

"Don't bring Max into this! And no I wouldn't, I'd make the same argument with her as I am with you! And you know what, you're right. The way you've been acting lately? The things you've been doing?"

Sam looked up, startled.

"Oh, I know. How you ripped Alastair apart like it was nothing like you were swatting a fly. Max told me, okay?"

"What else did she tell you?" Sam asked.

"Nothing I don't already know. That you've been using your psychic crap, and you've been getting stronger. We just don't know why, and we don't know-how,"

"It's not what you think,"

"Then what is it, Sam? 'Cause I'm at a total loss." Dean grabbed his bag and headed for the door. He stopped and looked back at Sam, who remained unmoved "Are you coming or not?"

"No,"

Dean turned back to the door, pausing again, then dropped the bag forcefully on a chair by the door before leaving.

***

Dean dropped coins into a soda machine, fuming. He jumped when Maxima appeared behind him. "Geezus, warn a guy...you're worse than Cas with the whole..." Dean saw Maxima's eyes, filled with silent rage. "M?" He jumped back when Maxima punched the soda machine. "Woah, Woah." Dean hugged Maxima from behind as she broke down crying. He kissed her cheek and smoothed her hair back "What happened?"

Maxima only shook her head "We never should have taken this case,"

Dean scoffed "Tell me about it,"

"He's not gonna help us," Maxima admitted. "He says since it's a prophecy. He can't interfere..." she straightened up "but I know what can,"