Lightning Crashes 𖤐 Sam Winchester

Chapter Sixteen

WHEN SHE FINISHED, Astra sat up from the chair and watched as Kasey— the tattoo artist, handed her a small handheld mirror. Astra took the mirror and focused it on her collarbone, examining the fresh ink.

"What do you think?" The woman asked. "I added a little bit extra— no charge, of course. I just figured since you have to have your family's ink on you, you could add a more feminine look to it."

The symbol was the same, but the pentagram was an outline that was left unshaded. It was black with purple faded inside.

"I love it." Astra grinned.

"I'm glad," Kasey smiled. "It's gonna be eighty. Also, if you want, I can throw in another tattoo and make your total one hundred. No bigger than two inches."

"Uh, no, I think we're good." Sam said. "Thanks, Kasey."

The two exited the tattoo parlor and headed towards the parking lot. They sat in the Impala for a few minutes, talking about demons and traps.

Astra's eyes caught sight of someone in the mirror, and she looked out to see a woman; the same woman from earlier.

She stood down the street, watching the Impala.

Sam was still in the middle of talking, but he stopped himself when Astra leaned over and kissed Sam. When she pulled back enough to see his face, Sam licked his lips as she leaned forward.

"Sam, I think someone's watching us."

She made it look like she was kissing his neck. His eyes moved to the mirror, but he remained still as if he were being pleasured.

"The woman?" He asked.
"She was outside of the house earlier. She was staring at me."

Sam sighed. "All right, stay here. I'm gonna follow her—"
Sam went to open the door, but she stopped him.
"No, I'm coming with you. It's clear that I'm the one she wants."

Sam slid out of the Impala and adjusted the gun that was tucked in the waistband of his jeans. Astra rushed to his side, and Sam looked down at her.

"Just stay calm." Sam told her, taking her hand. "We're just taking a walk."

Astra looked around to appear as normal as possible. As they walked towards the sidewalk and headed towards the street where the woman disappeared, and they turned down an alley. Astra gripped Sam's arm and stopped him.

"Sam. . ."

Suddenly, a woman appeared behind Astra. Sam ran forward and shouted for her to move, and she ducked. Sam tackled the woman, shoving her against the wall. The woman gasped as Sam pinned her there, pressing his gun to her sternum.

Astra moved forward. "Who are you?"

"Blimey, Astrape, this is the man you've been screwing?"

Sam stared at her confusedly. "How do you know who she is?"

The woman shook her head. "I don't mean any harm— you're suffocating me."

"Why are you following me?" Astra asked her. "And how do you know my name?"

She looked to Astra, her eyes showing what appeared to be sadness. She searched Astra's face, and her eyebrows furrowed.

"That's what I was afraid of." She said. "I was afraid you wouldn't remember— damn you, Zeus."

Astra stared at the woman as the words left her mouth. "Who are you?"

The woman— now wearing a pained expression, clenched her jaw.

"My name is Themis, I am your mother."

Astra's breath caught in her throat, and Sam slowly released her. Themis adjusted her coat as she continued staring at her.

"H—How is that even possible, how did you find me?"
"It wasn't easy, that's for sure." Themis smiled. "But I had to see you, Astrape. My child, I've been so worried about you."

Astra moved back as Themis reached out, rejecting her. She looked at Sam, who clenched his jaw.

"Astrape, I know you don't remember anythin—"
"My name is Astra." She told the woman. "And even if you are my mother, why did you wait so long to come to me? After all this time!"

"I told you, it's not easy. I could get killed if Zeus discovers I'm here."

"Great, so you're putting Astra's life at risk, too? Is that what's happening?" Sam asked her angrily.

"Zeus has no track on Astra because she was stripped of her powers. She's safe here."

"Until you showed up."

Themis turned to face Sam. "Let me remind you, Samuel Winchester, I am a Greek Goddess. I still have my power; and I will not hesitate to smite you if you show me any more disrespect."

Sam stared at her in shock, the man unable to fathom words. He watched as Astra stepped forward.

"Over my dead body." She snapped. Themis stared at the woman, shaking her head.

"Things would be a whole lot easier if you had your memory."

"Well, I don't. And as much as it pisses me off to not know who I was before, I'm happy with who I am now. I'm happy here, where I am."

Themis pursed her lips. "Your fiery soul hasn't changed one bit, Astrape. You still defend the ones you're loyal to."

Sam chimed in. "Themis, you're one of the twelve Titan children."

The woman nodded. "I'm impressed."

He scoffed. "Astra, this is your mother."

Astra looked up at him, before looking back at Themis.

"But why are you here?"

The woman turned to look towards the mouth of the alley. "Can we go and speak somewhere else? Earth's alleys frighten me; for reasons like this."

"Well, you know where we live." Astra muttered. "We'll meet you there."

On the ride back, Astra and Sam spent the majority of the ride trying to make sense of everything. Why Themis came to earth after the several months Astra was gone, why she was hiding from Zeus.

"Do you think she wants to kill me?" Astra asked.
Sam shook his head as he tapped his fingers against the wheel as he drove. "No, I just. . . It doesn't make any sense. Why is she trying to sneak around Zeus?"

"Cause he's a dick?" She asked. Sam chuckled as she shrugged.

"Yeah, he is a dick." Sam chuckled. "Look, I don't think it's a good idea for her to be around, but that's your call. If Zeus tracks Themis, it's not gonna be long until he tracks you."

"She won't stay for long, but maybe she can help me figure out some things. Like, maybe she knows what happened to me, why I was sent to this world."

Sam looked over at her. "And what if she lies?"
Astra shrugged. "She's got to have some type of proof."

The air was silent for a moment, and the woman crossed her arms over her chest. "What did she mean that I was screwing you?"

Sam cleared his throat. "Um. . . That we're having sex."

Astra's eyes widened as she looked forward. "O—Oh."

Sam smiled.