"I was eight," the young woman was explaining. "My mom left me at the playground while she ran to the store. A man approached me and said I was the prettiest girl there. And I've been living with these... things... ever since. At least until now."
My heart clenched in my chest hearing her story. She had only been a couple years older than Maddie. I could never bear it if I left Maddie somewhere like that and she were to be kidnapped and raised by monsters for years. Though, given that Dean and I were her parents, the odds of monsters getting away with that would be practically impossible.
"Do you have any idea why?" Sam asked her gently.
"I'm one of his special girls," she replied. "All the others, it was their job to make sure I was ready for the Alpha, whenever he came. Wash me... give me my IV bags every day. It's my only food. So my blood's pure."
"They've been doing this for, what, 12 years?" Dean asked.
I felt like I was going to be sick.
"Virgins are a delicacy. He always has at least one of us on hand."
Definitely going to be sick.
"Well, don't worry, okay?" Sam said. "We're gonna get you back to your mother."
"Think she remembers me?"
"Of course she does. Don't you remember her?"
The young woman shook her head. Dean reached out, grabbing my hand to ground me as I started hyperventilating a little.
"Hey, these, uh... these guys," he nodded to the three dead vamps on the table. "They, uh, friends of yours?"
"They take care of the alpha when he's here," she explained. "Or did."
"What happened to them?" Sam asked.
"A week ago, they came back from what they said was an easy hunt. Three humans just came, didn't put up any fight. But when they started on them, the vampires screamed in pain. The ones who ate died immediately."
"And the ones who didn't?"
"There was only one. When he saw what happened, he moved to animals. He's out hunting as we speak."
"Never heard of vamps being allergic to humans before," I spoke up finally, concentrating on the feeling of Dean's thumb rubbing circles on the back of my hand.
"You think maybe it's the corn syrup?" Sam suggested. "I mean, think about it. The Gas N' Sip was lousy with stoners. All ripe for the picking."
"She did say it was an easy hunt," Dean shrugged.
"Do you know where the alpha is now?" Sam addressed the young woman.
"I don't know. Maybe. He has a place he goes when something's wrong. He calls it his retreat."
"Alright."
"What is that?" the young woman asked, staring curiously at Sam's phone.
"That's, uh, that's Sam's douche tracker," Dean said. "Helps us find the alpha. All we need's an address."
"I don't know. But I remember things that maybe can help."
"That's okay. Just do the best you can."
⁘
After taking blood from one of the people who was stoned on corn syrup, Emily continued to try and help us find the alpha's retreat.
"When they hauled you off to vamp camp, do you remember how long the drive was?" Dean asked.
"We left at night. Got in before dawn," Emily replied.
"So, six, seven hours?" Sam estimated.
"I think so, yes."
"Do you remember any highways?" I asked.
"No, we only took back roads."
"Okay. So, figure they averaged 45 miles per hour-" Sam began.
"Couldn't have been more than 300 miles," Dean shrugged.
"Right."
"What direction were you going?"
"I don't know," Emily shook her head. "Sorry."
"Oh, that's okay," I assured her. "Em, you're doing great. Um... is there anything else you remember?"
"Bells. As we pulled up, I heard these loud bells."
"It was still dark out?"
Emily nodded her head.
"You thinking church?" Dean looked to Sam.
"No, that's too early," Sam shook his head. "It could have been a monastery. Monks get up at 4 am to pray."
"Ugh. Can't get laid. Can't sleep in," Dean scoffed. "A friggin' tragedy."
Sam started looking it up on his phone.
"Okay, so, alpha's camping next to a, uh, monkey house," Dean looked to Sam then me for a reaction. "How many we got in range?"
"Looks like one. Just outside, uh..."
⁘
Emily was certain the monastery was where they took her, so after getting her situated in a motel room, we circled back. However, the second we crossed the threshold of the front door, three vamps jumped us. We were manhandled into the dining room where the alpha vamp was sitting at the head of the table across from us.
"The Winchesters," he spoke. "I'm intrigued."
We all stared in shock as Emily came into the room.
"Emily," I breathed.
She walked over, leaning on the alpha's chair.
"Hi, Ellie," she grinned at me.
"Wow," Dean scoffed. "For a girl raised in a basement, you're a hell of an actress."
"You were gonna hurt my daddy," Emily said, looking at the alpha.
"Wow. You get the trophy in Stockholm Syndrome. And sorry to burst your bubble, but, uh... we weren't. Sam here had a better idea."
"We're here to talk," Sam said. "That's it."
The alpha laughed, grinning at us.
"Now that my guys have taken your blades and your syringes of tainted blood. Is that what you mean?"
"Well, we, uh... figured you might hold a grudge," Dean shrugged.
"And why would I? Because you captured me, tortured me, sold me to the King of Hell?"
"That was really more our grandfathers..."
The vampire standing behind Dean stepped forward, grabbing him and slamming his head into the table. Dean grunted, falling to his knees before standing back up again.
"Thank you. That was awesome."
"I'm going to peel off your faces and drink you slowly."
"Just listen," I cut in. "You need us."
"Oh, yes," the alpha agreed. "I'm thirsty!"
"The plague! We know what it is!" Sam exclaimed desperately. "What do you know about Leviathan?"
"A bit."
"You know they're poisoning the food supply?"
"Roman didn't mention that when we had dinner last fall," the alpha replied. "We made lots of plans. We are on excellent terms, he and I."
"You sure about that?" Dean jumped in. "Did he mention he was going to... Maui wowie the human population?"
"Oh, of course. He said grabbing a snack would be easier than ever."
"He said you'd all live together, didn't he?" I guessed. "You really believe him? You think your children are dying on accident? There is pesticide in the formula!"
"It suits you to think so. You need me on your side."
"Look, we're not the ones burning from the inside out," Sam took over again. "Think about it. Whatever deal he made with you is crap! Trust us!"
"Why are you telling me this?" the alpha inquired.
"Because we can stop Dick," I told him. "Stop all of it. We just... We need your blood- for the weapon."
"So now you want to prevent the extermination of the vampire race," he laughed.
"No," Dean shook his head. "But it beats going down with you."
The door Emily had entered through opened again.
"Allan, darling..." the alpha vamp greeted the person who entered.
My breath hitched in my throat and I felt like I was going to be sick again when a young boy about Maddie's age walked toward the alpha.
"Come," the alpha told him.
Allan stood on the opposite side of the alpha's chair from Emily and I felt Dean take my hand again as I fought to hold myself together.
"Well, the creep gets creepier," Dean deadpanned.
"What's wrong?" the alpha asked Allan, ignoring Dean's comment.
"Edgar's here," Allan informed him.
Sam, Dean and I all exchanged a look. I'd heard about Edgar. He was pretty high up on the Leviathan food chain and had apparently tried to kill Sam and Dean the night I ditched with Maddie and Zep. The alpha touched Allan's jacket in dismissal and the young boy left.
"Wow, what a funny coincidence," Dean said. "Alright, we need soap, uh, cleanser, anything with borax in it. We need knives."
"Put them in the study," the alpha commanded.
"What?" Sam asked as the three vamps grabbed us again. "No. No, wait."
"Word of advice, kids. You do not live through centuries of fire and ice and continental divide... by jumping to conclusions."