"Okay, if we're really doing this, then I can only get you in and then you're on your own," Samandriel told me. "I'm not going to risk getting in trouble for this."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just get going," I rolled my eyes.
Samandriel bit his lip, putting a hand on my shoulder. With a flap of his wings, we were suddenly in a pure white hallway.
"The nursery is in that direction," he pointed. "Room 237. Good luck."
With another flap of his wings, he disappeared. Letting out a slow breath, I moved down the hall in the direction he had pointed. A glance at the doors told me I was still in the 220s and had a ways to go before I found the right room.
"Come on. Come on, " I muttered to myself, keeping an eye out for any angels that might try to stop me.
All I could think about was getting my children away from here.
225... 227... 229...
I peeked around the corner to make sure the coast was clear before moving forward.
231... 233... 235...
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
I spun around to see two angels in my path.
"I was just-" I began.
"Save it," the angel on the right said.
I took a step back, closer to the door to the nursery, but before I could make it any further, they each grabbed one of my arms and started dragging me back in the opposite direction.
"No! Let me go!" I protested, fighting in their grips.
They ignored me, not stopping until we entered a familiar office. Two plush white chairs sat in front of the silver desk and to our left was the wall of white lights separated into rectangles by silver bars. The female angel I'd met with before was sitting at the desk wearing the same outfit she had been the last time I'd seen her.
"No," I whimpered.
"Hello, again, Ecclesia," she greeted me. "It's been a while."
With a wave of her hand, the two angels restraining me let go and exited the room, leaving us alone.
"Take a seat," she told me, gesturing to the white chairs across from her.
"I think I'm good, thanks," I replied, trying to get my heart rate under control.
"Suit yourself. Who helped you get into Heaven?"
I didn't respond, refusing to betray Samandriel. He had made it very clear what he was risking to get me here, and I wasn't about to throw him under the bus. The angel sighed, standing up and coming around the desk so she could stand in front of me.
"You shouldn't be here, Ecclesia. It's not right."
"Well, tough," I shot back, "because I am, and there's not really anything you can do to change that now."
She seemed to consider my words for a moment, studying my face carefully.
"Why exactly did you come here?"
"You have my children. I came to take them back."
"You mean the children you abandoned for a year?"
"I didn't... I was in Purgatory."
"With Dean Winchester and Castiel, we know," she nodded. "How was that, by the way?"
A chill ran down my spine and I fought to hold my ground so I wouldn't give anything away.
"Madelaine and Zeppelin are just fine where they are," the angel said, turning her back on me. "You, however, must leave. Now."
"Not without my kids."
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist. Yes, without your kids."
"Damn it, Naomi. Let me at least see them."
Naomi turned, smirking as she took in my desperation.
"Or what? Are you going to kill me like you killed Hester?"
"There's a thought."
"You won't. You want to know why?"
"Why?"
"Because you won't remember any of this."
I furrowed my brow in confusion, and then felt another presence behind me. When I turned to look, it was Castiel.
"Cass-"
He put a hand to my head, and I blacked out.
⁘
I looked around, confused as to where I was. The last thing I remembered was being at the auction in Wyoming. Now I was standing outside of a Gas N' Sip with no recollection of how I got here. Pulling out my phone, I quickly dialed Dean's number.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, where are you?"
"I'm, uh, taking care of some personal business at Prentiss Island... How was the trip to Heaven? You get the kids?"
"What?"
"So, I'm guessing that's a no. What happened?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked, furrowing my brow. "I didn't take a trip to Heaven. Dean, I don't know where I am, or how I got here."
"Uh, yes, you did. You got Alfie to take you to get the kids," Dean said. "You really don't remember?"
"No... No, I don't."
"Okay, well... I got to take care of this, but you just sit tight. I'll let Sammy know and he can come get you."
"Wait, Dean-"
There was a beeping noise indicating he hung up on me. Something told me whatever Dean was dealing with at Prentiss Island had something to do with a certain vampire buddy of his. I bit my lip, trying to recall what he was talking about me going to Heaven with Samandriel. Something had to have happened for me to not remember going to retrieve Maddie and Zep, and that had obviously failed seeing as I was all by myself.
A part of an old conversation came to my mind from back before we dealt with the apocalypse and everything else.
"If you want to retain the knowledge of what we have discussed, then I must have your word that you will not utter one part of this conversation to them."
"If I refuse?"
"Then you will forget everything upon your return to Earth."
I had a feeling Naomi had something to do with my memory lapse of my time in Heaven this time around. A second later, my phone rang, this time with Sam on the other end.
"Hey."
"Hey, Dean let me know you're stranded."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not sure where I am," I confirmed. "Although, I am standing outside of a Gas N' Sip."
"Okay. Okay, yeah, I can work with that. Um... have you checked to see if they have a newspaper, anything that might tell you what town you're near?"
"No, I haven't. Hold on."
I turned on my heel, heading into the Gas N' Sip and looking at the stack of newspapers in the window.
"Looks like I'm in Oregon. Just outside of Enid."
"Great," Sam replied. "I'm at a motel in Enid. I'll be there soon."
"Awesome. Hey, Sam, did Dean tell you what he was doing at Prentiss Island?"
"Uh, no. No, he didn't. He didn't even tell me where he was going when he left."
"That's what I was afraid of," I muttered. "See you in a bit."
"See you."
I hung up the phone, letting out a slow breath and wondering what exactly Dean and Benny could be up to.