Supernatural: Anastasia Steele

Chapter 23. Sacrifices Must Be Made

Deans POV

"The scarecrow climbed off of its cross?" Sam asks over the phone as Ana holds the phone up between us while we're sitting in the hotel. "Yeah, we're telling ya. Burkittsville, Indiana. Fun town." I say sarcastically. "It didn't kill the couple, did it?" Sam asks. "No." Ana and I say in unison.

"So, something must be animating it. A spirit." Sam says, thinking. "No, it's more than a spirit. A god. Well, a Pagan God, anyway." Ana tells him. "What makes you say that?" Sam asks her. "The annual cycles of its killings? And the fact that the victims are always a man and a woman. Like some kind of fertility right." Ana explains and I nod.

"And you should see the locals. The way they treated this couple. Fattening 'em up like a Christmas turkey." I say. "The last meal. Given to sacrificial victims." Sam says. "Yeah, we're thinking a ritual sacrifice to appease some Pagan god." Ana tells him.

"So, a god possesses the scarecrow..." Sam trails off. "And the scarecrow takes it sacrifice. And for another year, the crops won't wilt, and disease won't spread." I explain. "Do you guys know which god you're dealing with?" Sam asks us.

"No, not yet." Ana tells him. "Well, both of you figure out what it is, you two can figure out a way to kill it." Sam tells us. "We know. We're actually on our way to a local community college. We've got an appointment with a professor. You know, since we don't have our trusty sidekick geek boy to do all the research." I say and Sam laughs.

"You know, if you're hinting you need my help, just ask." Sam replies and I look at Ana who raises her eyebrows at me. "I'm not hinting anything. Actually, uh- I want you to know...I mean, don't think..." I stammer before Sam speaks over me. "Yeah, I'm sorry too." He says and Ana smirks.

"Sam. You were right. You gotta do your own thing. You gotta live your own life." I tell him as I look at Ana and she gives me a soft smile. "Are you serious?" Sam asks. "You've always known what you want. And you go after it. You stand up to dad. And you always have. Hell, I wish I- anyway....I admire that about you Sammy. I'm proud of you." I tell him honestly and there's a moment of silence.

"I don't even know what to say." Sam replies. "Say you'll take care of yourself." I say sincerely. "I will." Sam replies. "Call us when you find John." Ana tells him. "I will. Bye guys." He says in a sad voice and I hang up the phone.

Ana puts her chin on my shoulder. "You okay, handsome?" She asks and I chuckle softly, turning my face towards her, pressing a kiss to her nose. "I'm okay beautiful."

******

The next day, Ana and I make our way to the community college and we walk along with the professor. "It's not everyday I get a research question on Pagan ideology." He says to us. "Yeah, well, call it a hobby." I remark.

"But you two said you two were interested in local lore?" The professor asks. "Mmmhmm." Ana and I nod. "I'm afraid Indiana isn't really known for its Pagan worship." The professor says. "Well, what if it was imported? You know, like the Pilgrims brought their religion over. Wasn't a lot of this area settled by immigrants?" I ask. "Well, yeah." He nods.

"Like that town near here, Burkittsville. Where are their ancestors from?" Ana asks him. "Uh, Northern Europe, I believe, Scandinavia." He replies. "What could you tell us about those Pagan gods?" I ask him. "Well, there are hundreds of Norse gods and goddesses." He replies. "We're actually looking for one. Might live in an orchard." Ana tells him.

******

In a classroom, the professor puts down a large book on the table and flips it open. "Woods god, hm? Well, let's see." He says as he leafs through some pages. On one page, I notice a picture of a scarecrow on a post, surrounded by farmers in a field.