"I thought I was grounded?" Riley asks as she gets out of the Impala. Dean rolls his eyes. Sam waves across the street to Rebecca. "You are, but you've got the supernatural spidey sense, so you're coming." Riley raises an eyebrow at her father and slows her steps. "Great," She grumbles, "Now I'm being used."
Riley sighs and rubs at the obsidian around her neck, a sign that Dean knows to be one of self comfort. Dean and Sam share a look; Sam silently lecturing his brother for treating her so harshly. "Rebecca, hey," Sam starts, "This is my niece, Riley." Rebecca smiles at Riley, but frowns when she doesn't meet her eyes.
"Uh," Dean laughs. "She's in a mood. It's not you." Rebecca nods slowly, glancing at the younger blonde, then looks to the house. "Is she allowed to be here?" Rebecca raises an eyebrow. "Are we allowed to be here?"
Dean nods curtly. "Yeah, I am an officer of the law, plus Riley is grounded." Dean puts an arm around Riley and smiles. Riley's ears burn with fury at her father's words. Rebecca nods and they begin to walk towards the house. The moment Riley steps in, she is hit with an overwhelming smell.
"Sam," she whispers, gaining his attention. "I thought the body was removed?" Sam frowns at her, noting her scowl. "It was. Why?" Sam asks, glancing around. "You getting anything?" Riley groans, too disgusted to be upset with him. "No, there's just the smell." She says as she plugs her nose.
"Smell?" Sam asks. Riley nods and gives him a look. "Yeah, can't you smell it?" Sam shakes his head and Riley coughs. "How can you not? It smells like rotting flesh!" Sam opens his mouth to say something but he spots Rebecca staring at them, arms around herself in self comfort.
"Beck, you want to wait outside?" Sam asks. Riley steps away towards Dean to ask if he can smell it too. "No," Rebecca starts, "No, I want to help." She says with a harsh swallow. Sam nods and glances at Dean. He sees his brother giving Riley a look of disbelief, then he turns away to observe the room, leaving Riley looking dejected and mouth breathing.
"Tell us what else the police said." Sam says as he glances around, sniffling the air a little. "Well... There was no sign of a break-in. They say Emily let her attacker in and the lawyers are already talking about a plea bargain." Rebecca looks around in horror and lets out a choked sob. Riley stares out the front window of the house, staring straight at the dark barking at the house. Her eyes appeared glazed over, but Dean puts a hand on her shoulder and she looks at him. He gives her a look, but she shakes her head. She doesn't feel anything.
△
It took a lot of convincing on Riley's part, but Dean finally caved into getting a hotel room. He booked it with one bed, because he was convinced they'd be out of town within the next 24 hours. Riley told him she was exhausted and wanted a good night's sleep. Bobby Singer once told her she was a very good manipulator.
Once Riley was sure her father and Uncle were gone, she grabbed her backpack and opened the secret zipper in the lining and pulls out a sharp, partially serrated knife. She smiles, hiding it in her backpack again. Then she pulls out her phone and opens a new message.
Riley:.
9:30
Don't be late
We don't have long.
Once she sends it, Riley rushes out the door. She pulls her hood up as it begins to rain and walks down the street. Taking a few shortcuts, she makes it to an apartment building's alleyway. She looks up at the fire escape ladder, then at her surroundings. On the other side of the alley is a garbage bin, just a few feet to the left of the ladder. Riley climbs up, and prepares herself.
She bounces on the balls of her feet, preparing to do an act of stupidity. She then jumps, her hand just barely latches onto the ladder, when it suddenly gets pulled down by her weight. Riley lets out a squeal as the ladder slams into the pavement. She takes a moment to realize she isn't dead, then begins to climb the ladder.
"This was a lot easier when the doorman didn't hate me... I could just take the stairs." She mutters as she begins her ascent to the next level of the fire escape.
Finally, Riley reaches the top of the building. She spots someone on the other side of the rooftop and smiles. Genuinely smiles like she hasn't in years. "Ophelia!" Riley calls out, catching the girl's attention. The brunette turns, a bright smile shining in the dark. Quite literally. Her braces bands must glow in the dark.
"Riley!" Ophelia shouts. They run at each other, colliding messily, sending them both to the ground. Riley runs her elbow as she looks at her friend, then they both burst out in laughter, hugging one another tightly.
After a moment, they both calm down, just holding each other tightly. Riley's face turns a vibrant shade of red, when Ophelia tucks her face into the crook of the blonde's neck. Ophelia inhales and smiles softly. Riley smells warm. Like a cabin in the spring, but still there is a twinge of floral scent. Lilacs. Riley's favorite.
"I've missed you." Ophelia mumbles, tangling her fingers in Riley's messy hair. Riley closes her eyes and rests her head on Ophelia's. Riley pulls out of the hug and looks at Ophelia. "How have you been dealing with... you know..." Riley leans her head forward and looks Ophelia up and down. The brunette sighs and looks down. "I mean, its been hard. The diet is hard to keep up with. I made a deal with the local butcher. I volunteer on weekends and he doesn't ask questions."
Riley nods and chews on her lip. "I'm sorry Ophelia. I wish there was something I could do for you." Ophelia shakes her head and grabs Riley's hands and the dark of the night hides the color of Riley's cheeks. "No. You did more than enough. You saved my life and showed me how to survive on my own." Ophelia smiles sadly. "We're sworn enemies after all. A werewolf and a hunter."
Riley laughs and rolls her eyes. "Yeah, well, screw hunter code. You didn't deserve to die. You didn't choose to be bitten." Ophelia nods her head to the side and purses her lips. She looks down at their interlocked hands and takes a deep breath.
"There's actually something I've wanted to do since you saved my life two years ago." Ophelia confesses. She takes Riley's face in her hands, and stares into her candy apple green eyes. Those sweet, savory eyes of rich forest, and kisses her.
Riley stares at Ophelia for a moment, in complete shock, then when she realizes what is happening, the red in her cheeks deepens. She closes her eyes, and reaches her hand up to Ophelia's cheek. Something inside Riley's chest burns, a feeling she's never felt before.
This must be what magic is. Riley thinks to herself.
Then everything comes to a halt.
Riley and Ophelia shield their eyes as a bright light shines at them. "Oh boy, you are in big trouble." Someone says and Riley's gut drops. The light is turned off and standing before them are two very pissed and worried brothers. Riley swallows deeply. "Riley, who are these guys?" Ophelia asks.
Riley looks down as Dean crosses his arms. "My dad and uncle." She mutters. Dean nods and grunts. "Yup, your Dad and Uncle who showed up to the hotel room and found you to be gone?" Dean takes a step forward, but Sam grabs his arm. Dean jerks his arm out of his grip and Sam sighs.
"Look," Sam starts. "Riley, you had us worried sick after we found out-" Sam glances at Ophelia. Riley sighs and gestures to her. "She knows." Dean raises an eyebrow. "Really?" He says, looking Riley dead in the eyes. "You told her?" Riley stands suddenly, and Ophelia joins her. "I didn't have a choice, dad! She could have died! How else was I going to explain how her teacher could howl every full moon?!"
Ophelia nods and takes Riley's hand in hers. "Yeah, Mr. Stolin was a jerk but one day after detention, he just sorta-" Ophelia shrugs. "Lost it. I'd've been a goner if it weren't for Riley." Riley squeezes Ophelia's hand and looks away when Sam looks to their hands. Dean narrows his eyes and points to Riley. "You took down the second werewolf?" Riley looks at him and shrugs.
Sam sighs again and puts his gun in his belt. "Look, right now we need to get somewhere safe. Riley, we have work to do." Ophelia's grip on Riley tightens out of fear and Riley gives her a look, silently telling her that they aren't here for her. "What happened?" Riley asks. Dean speaks up this time. "Another attack. Say your goodbyes. It's time to go."
Riley and Ophelia share a look, both frowning. "But-" Riley starts to protest, but Dean turns on his heel, heading down the stair access. Sam looks after his brother and for the third time in those 5 minutes, he sighed. "Sam, please, I just-"
"I'm sorry Riley, but Dean is right. Something is going on and we need to know you're safe. I know you wanted to visit your-" He pauses and looks at Ophelia, and smiles softly. "Friend. I promise, I will try to convince him to stay after we figure everything out so you guys can at least talk." Riley deflates at Sam's words.
Ophelia grabs Riley's forearms and looks her in the eyes. "Later?" She says with a smile. Riley smiles as well and nods. "Later." Later, their version of goodbye. Except, there is a promise to return.
They press their foreheads together, then pull apart. Riley walks to Sam, but before she leaves down the stair access, she looks at Ophelia and smiles. Then the door slams shut and the werewolf is left alone in the dark, eyes ablaze with gold.
~author's notes~
Riley's first kiss!
I wonder what Dean will say🤔