I tied the machete tightly to my waist. Quietly, I waited as Sam and Alexander geared up and prepared for the hunt. Along with my machete I was armed with another blade and 4 syringes full of dead man's blood. From what I had been taught about vampires, I was not excited to go fight, but I was eager to get Dean and Cassidy back. I looked at the rising sun then at the watch on my wrist, 9:30 am.
"Hey Sam?" I asked, a question rising in my mind.
"Yeah?"
"Won't the vampires smell us when we're coming? I remember Bobby saying they have an increased sense of smell."
"Yeah, they do. I, however, have a way to give us a chance of not being detected." Sam turned to his weapons bag and pulled out an assortment of things. "Burning saffron, skunk's cabbage, and trillium blocks a vampires scent. My dad taught us that." He placed the items back in the bag before walking into his bedroom.
I was anxious and jittery with anticipation. Over and over again in my mind I prayed that Cass and Dean were okay. That I wouldn't be putting anyone into the ground after this. I jumped when Alexander put his hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, we are ready. Do you have everything?"
"I'm good to go," I replied with a forced half smile. Alexander, in turn, gave me the same smile.
"They are gonna be okay,"
"I hope you're right Alexander. I really hope you are."
"You can call me Alex, you know. Alexander is a mouthful."
"Thanks Alex." Sam came out of his room with the last bit of supplies. "Hey?" I asked, "When are we going to burn that stuff so that we're under the radar?"
"Once we are up the canyon. That way it is fresh and more strong in smell," he replied.
"Okay, so I have another question?"
"Yeah?"
"This lead vamp knows who I am. Will he be able to pick up my scent easier? Cause Bobby told me that once a vamp has your scent they have it for life..." Sam was quiet for a period of time, his eyebrows scrunched in thought.
"I think you should be okay, but to be safe make sure to use a lot of ash." I nodded in agreement.
"Shall we go?" I asked
We left the apartment and went down the stairs leading us into the lobby. Once outside we all climbed into the Impala. Alex and I both sat in the back. The drive felt long and each mile seemed to double as we drove.
Once we arrived at the dirt road that would lead us to the creek, Sam led us to a small clearing where he burned the ingredients. The three of us rubbed the ashes all over our bodies. Flashing weary smiles we headed into the woods. I prayed we would make it out of this, even if it was only my family that did.
______________
Dean's mouth was filled with blood and his left eye was beginning to swell. The ambush had been the last thing on Dean's mind when it had occurred. He could remember Cassidy screaming for help and the sound of breaking furniture as he tried to break free of the four vampires that had attacked him. The amber eyes of the leader flickered with rage.
"What do you mean she isn't here!" he responded to the woman talking to him. He frowned with disgust at her response. "Take these two back to the nest. If Rachel is like they say she is, she'll be running into our arms by the end of tonight." Dean struggled and fought against the vampires but they tackled and pinned him down, knocking over a vase in the process, shattering it on the floor. He was knocked unconscious soon after.
He now was chained up to a metal post in the barn that was the vampires nest. Why was it always barns? He could hear the soft breathing of Cassidy off to his left. The metal cuffs around his wrists were cold and bit his skin painfully. He needed a plan.
As Dean looked around the leader looked his direction, their eyes meeting. The vampire approached him, Dean's gaze guarded. Kneeling down next to Dean he smiled contently.
"The ever so famous Dean Winchester. I must say it is quite the honor to have such a super star here."
"I'm sure it is," Dean responded dry and coldly. The leader tilted his head to the side.
"What's the matter Winchester? Uncomfortable?" Dean only glared back silently. The vampire smiled, "You know Rachel? That little bitch of your's?" Dean's muscles flexed slightly at the insult. "She is going to make me a very powerful man. Might even take her in as one of my own. You did a good job with that one ,Winchester. I've been lookin' for a good girl gone bad."
"Shut up, you son of a bitch."
"What's wrong? Don't want a vampire as a son in law?" Dean knew he was just pissing him off because he could. The vampire looked in the direction of Cassidy. "I see you have a new addition to your little freak show. She put up a nice fight. Broke her wrist in the process." He looked back at Dean. "You know you make conversations very one sided." Dean scowled in return.
The vampire turned back around to the rest of the nest.
"Drain the girl, she is no use to us."
"Wait!" Dean said suddenly, "if you kill the kid Rachel won't trade. You need us both alive to get her." He spoke as if the words were venom he was trying to choke down. The vampire looked at Dean for a long time.
"Never mind then..." He watched the monster walk away slowly. Sammy, where are you man? Dean silently asked. He watched the vampires as they did their own thing. He noticed a barred stable and saw figures huddling together on the floor.
"Hey grab a snack, I'm starving!" One of the vamps shouted at another one. A vampire with a red beard stood up and went towards the stable. inside it a woman stood up. Her dark brown hair tangled and a cut ran across her right arm. A look of seething hate flashed at the vampire as he unlocked the door. She appeared to be guarding the other victims in the cage. For some reason, she seemed familiar to Dean.
"Sit down hunter, there is nothing you can do." the vamp told the woman, she didn't budge.
"Jamie, please...." another woman said from inside the cell, "please don't make them mad. They won't drain us completely if they know we'll obey." her tone was frightened and hushed.
Jamie? Son of a bitch! That was Jamie Kellar! Dean stared at the scene in surprise. Alexander's mom was still alive and fighting.
"Kale, how about we do what we did last time?" the first vampire pipped up. The other one smiled cruely.
"That sounds like fun," the leader added from across the barn. Dean saw Jamie's face fall and a sob came somewhere from inside the cell.
"Your's won last time Jack," Kale ,the vampire by the cell, said to the leader, "Who are you goin' with?"
Jack smiled,"You're up again ,Jamie. Kale, pick one." Jamie was roughly grabbed from the cell and was restrained by two of the other nest members.
"Let's go with that one," Kale said point to someone Dean couldn't see. A few other vamps went in and lifted up a guy. He looked around 20 and was well muscled.
"Bring them out to the pit," Jack instructed, "And someone grab the Winchester and the girl." Cassidy was awake now and her mouth planted in a firm line of silence.
As they took the four humans outside, Dean noticed a corral set up. It was placed around a large hole dug deep into the ground. He and Cassidy exchanges confused glances as Jamie and the guy were taken to two separate sides of the corral. It was then that they were pushed down into the hole.
"Fight!" Jack yelled with delight. Dean and Cassidy watched as Jamie and her opponent got to their feet. Cassidy watched wide eyed with horror. Two weapons were thrown into the pit, a metal rake and pitch fork. Dean watched in hate as they scrambled to the weapons. Jamie reached the pitch fork and took on a fighting stance. "May the odds be ever in your favor!" Jack yelled with a smile.
By the end of the fight Jamie was wounded with a long gash down her left leg but the guy whom she had fought was suffering intensely. Jack finished by claiming Jamie the victor and telling his nest to enjoy their meal. Cassidy tried to block out the screams as they were led back inside the barn.
"Enjoy your first night Winchesters?" Jack asked smiling, "You'll be fighting at Breakfast, Dean."
___________
"So does this stuff really work?" Alex asked Sam as we finished covering ourselves in the ashes.
"We made it into an entire nest without getting caught last time we used it. I'd say it works." I listened as they talked, my silence was the only thing keeping my anxiety at bay. Sam began to lead us towards the meeting place of the vampire and demon. The three of us moved quietly, watching our surrounding for moving shadows and figures. There was no such thing as being to careful when hunting.
It wasn't long before we came across a hidden road. It wasn't far from where the meeting place was supposed to be. Sam took the lead and we made our way down the road, sticking to the shadows as much as possible. Through the trees I began to see the form of an old building, it looked like a barn. Nudging Sam, I pointed to the barn. He nodded and using hand signals directed us.
The sun was rising higher in the sky and our shadow cover was fading away with each ray. There was ,however, a benefit of this loss. Vampires sleep during the day usually. This would make ambush easier. Sam and I both carried extra machetes. One for Dean and one for Cassidy so that they could help us fight. As we approached, there was nothing but silence. even the birds were quiet, it was unsettling.
"You two need to stick close together," Sam firmly stated, "your jobs are to free Cassidy and Dean. I will handle the other victims. Make sure you check that they are human. One wrong move can be devastating. Rachel, make sure Cassidy doesn't let her condition get the better of her." Alex and I both nodded. Adrenaline was waiting to flood my system as we prepared to enter the nest.
________
A sharp pain ruptured through Dean as Lance, one of the vampires, kicked him hard in the ribs. His eyes had shot open and by instinct has gone to reach for his knife, which would usually be found under his pillow.
"Rise and shine." Lance said as Dean and Cassidy were raised to their feet. Cassidy's eyes reflected every emotion she was feeling and as her and Dean shared a glance they both thought the same thing, breakfast. They were pushed out of the barn and out to the pit. Dean's opponent was already waiting for him. A tall muscular man of about 30.
Dean looked in Jack's direction. The leader was smiling and sat on top of the cab of a dark blue 78' Chevy truck. Bastard. He thought bitterly. Dean was pushed forward toward the pit.
"Here are the rules Winchester, you fight to win. No killing but other than that you're fine to do whatever you want. Loser gets to be drained, since I need you alive, the loser of today's fight won't be fully drained."
Cassidy watched as Dean was pushed down into the pit along with the other man. A two by four was tossed in along with a wood bat.
As soon as the weapons hit the ground the fight began. Rachel's face kept flashing through Dean's mind and all he knew was that he couldn't lose. The fight was horrible, bloody, and painful. The other man put up a fight but by the end it was Dean who can out as the victor. Jack smiled down from his seat. Dean was smeared with the other man's and his own blood.
He was sure that he had at least 3 fractured ribs and that 3 of his fingers were broken. A deep cut ran across his forehead where the two by four had cut him with the corner. His nose was still bleeding from being punched in the face. The other man was lying moaning in extreme pain on the ground. Dean had dislocated his shoulder with the bat. It was like Purgatory all over again.
He hissed in pain as the vampires pulled him out of the pit and shackled him again, before leading him towards the barn. Cassidy stood quietly beside Dean, her expression haunted. Dean looked at the watch again, 8:56.
_______
There was no sound from inside the nest. All the vampires were out cold as we snuck in. Alex and I went left and Sam went right, there was a makeshift cell in that direction. I wanted to call out for Dean and Cass, but that would be really stupid.
Alex nudged me and pointed at something in the shadows. It was two figures. We looked at each other and moved forward. As soon as I recognized the figures I all but dashed forward with a cry of joy. In fact, Alex grabbed my arm so that I didn't.
The closer I looked the more I felt a pull on my heart strings. Dean was covered with blood and looked like he was hit by a truck and Cassidy's wrist was swollen and bruised. Slowly, we moved closer and closer.
I knelt down in front of Dean, telling Alex to wake up Cass, but he had to keep her quiet. To much was riding on this escape to be ruined by a noise. I reached out and touched Dean's arm. His hands were chained to the wall with hand cuffs that looked to small for him.
His eye shot open, I say eye because his left eye was swollen shut. At first it was aggression but the emotion quickly went to relief then to concern. We both remembered the last time I tried to rescue him. I pulled out my pick lock set and went to work on the cuffs. Cassidy was being freed by Alex and smiled in my direction.
This was going great! We were quiet and being quick! With a strike of luck we could be out of here in no time. Then it happened, of course it happened! A loud horrible rust caused squeal echoed through the barn from the cell. "Oh shit..."
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Author's Note:
Hey everyone!!!!
I hope you are all doing well! Enjoy the chapter! More should be coming soon,I have just been super busy. (Sorry for any mistakes let me know if you find one!) You are all so amazing over 175,000+ reads on both books and over 550 followers!! Let me know what you think!!! Love you all!
Live long and prosper you fellow hunters/salt gunners!
,Rachel