Blood Debt

Chapter 9

Sam snapped awake when the chain on his arm was tugged so hard he went sprawling.

Kate had a hold of the chain and continued to pull him toward her. He was already out of reach of the bars and had no leverage to stop her.

"I'm not yours to kill," Sam said. "The others will be pissed."

She smiled. "Oh, I don't intend to kill you."

Horrified, Sam realized she was pulling him toward Dean's cage.

"Here you go, little doggie," Kate said. "Wouldn't you like some fresh blood to ease that blood lust of yours?"

Dean knelt at the bars between his and Sam's cage. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth; Kate had fed him again and the vampire virus demanded fresh blood. Dean's face had a look of hunger and he eyed Sam with a predatory gaze. She handed part of the chain into Dean. Dean grabbed it and began hauling Sam closer.

"Dean, fight it!" Sam said. Wedging his feet against the bars, he tried to keep Dean from pulling his arm through.

Dean stood up and pulled with all his strength. Sam slammed hard against the bars, dazing him. Dean pushed the chain back into Kate's waiting hand and she passed him a knife while keeping the chain taut. Dean crouched by Sam's outstretched arm, knife in hand, as he ran his fingers lightly over the inside of Sam's forearm, right along the artery.

"Dean, you don't want to do this," Sam said. He struggled to pull his arm back but every fraction he gained Kate recovered easily. She had the chain pulled so taut that Sam felt the shackle cutting into the base of his hand; blood began to well up along its cold metal surface. He thought she was going dislocate his shoulder.

"Lenore!" Sam screamed. "Lenore! Kate's trying to take your kill! Shelly! You won't get your revenge! Eli!"

Wrapping his fingers around Sam's arm, Dean carefully placed the knife and cut a two-inch long gash along Sam's artery.

"Dean!" Sam yelled in pain.

Oblivious, Dean set the glistening knife aside and put his lips to the flowing blood. His teeth clamped tight and he drank.

"Dean, stop. Please, Dean," Sam begged. It didn't take long for the lightheadedness to overtake him.

"Dean," Sam said and reached through the bars, digging his fingers into the back of Dean's neck. "Dean, you're taking too much. Please, Dean. Stop. Please," Sam pleaded as his world began to spin.

As his eyes began to droop closed he whispered, "Dean."

The hungry gleam in Dean's eyes faded and his consciousness swam slowly back to the surface. He fell back from his brother, aghast. Sam's head lolled forward and his body lay limply against the bars.

"Sam? Oh, God, oh, no. Sammy?" Dean gasped, shaking his brother. He looked at the blood still pouring from the arterial cut and hastily made a restricting band with one of the bandages from his own arm.

"Come on Sammy," Dean said. "Come on. Wake up, Sam!" Dean yelled at him, shaking him.

Kate laughed with delight and let go of Sam's chain.

Dean saw the bloody knife lying on the ground. Fury filled him as he grabbed the knife and turned toward his sire. He lunged for her, but she side-stepped the jab and locked gazes with him.

"Hand me the knife, doggie," she said firmly. Stepping forward, she smiled and held out her hand.

Dean felt himself begin to obey, to hold the knife out to her, but fought against her control with every scrap of willpower he could muster. He plunged the knife into the side of her neck, trying to sever her head from her body with the blow but the blade just wasn't long enough.