Small Cuts (Supernatural Dark!fic)

t h i r t y - s e v e n

"I'm meaner than my demons
I'm bigger than these bones
And all the kids cried out, "Please stop, you're scaring me"
I can't help this awful energy
Goddamn right, you should be scared of me
Who is in control?"
Control - Halsey 

The war room was quieter than usual, the air heavy with the weight of their next move. The Blade of Belial rested in the centre of the table, its dark, otherworldly energy pulsing in the dim light. It had been a full day since they returned from the crypt, and while they had gathered some initial ideas about the blade's power, the exact method to sever Paimon's connection to Amara remained elusive.

Amara stood near the edge of the room, her arms crossed as she stared at the blade. She could feel its pull, like an invisible tether connecting her to it. The sensation was unnerving, but at the same time, it filled her with a strange sense of purpose. This was the key to breaking Paimon's hold on her, to finally taking control of her life. She just had to figure out how.

Dean was pacing, his frustration clear in the tense set of his shoulders as he kept glancing between the blade and Castiel. "So, how the hell do we use this thing? We can't just stab it at Paimon and hope for the best."

Sam, seated at the table with an ancient grimoire spread out in front of him, looked up from the text. "We know the blade can sever connections between demons and their vessels or hosts. But using it on Paimon is going to be... complicated."

Dean shot Sam a pointed look. "No kidding."

Amara's gaze flickered toward Sam, and she could feel his quiet intensity radiating off him. He'd been like this since they returned—focused, determined, but also restrained, like he was holding something back. And then there was Dean, who seemed to be teetering between his usual bravado and something softer, something more cautious.

Castiel, standing near the table with his hands clasped in front of him, glanced at the Blade. "The blade's power is strong, but it isn't enough on its own. We need to perform a ritual to weaken Paimon before we can use it."

Amara's stomach tightened at the mention of a ritual. The last one hadn't gone exactly as planned, and the thought of putting herself through another one made her skin crawl. But she knew it was necessary.

"What kind of ritual?" She asked, her voice quiet but steady.

Castiel's gaze shifted to her, his blue eyes calm but serious. "A binding ritual. One that will weaken Paimon's connection to you and draw him out. Once he's vulnerable, we can use the blade to sever the bond."

Sam nodded, his eyes focused on the page in front of him. "It's risky, but it's our best shot."

Dean stopped pacing and leaned against the edge of the table, his arms crossed. "Risky how?"

Sam met Dean's gaze, his expression grim. "The ritual will require Amara to be the focus. We'll have to use her as bait to draw Paimon out."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Sam's words sinking in. Amara's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't flinch. She had known this was coming—that she'd have to face Paimon directly. But hearing it out loud made it real, and the reality was terrifying.

Dean's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening as he turned to Castiel. "And what happens if it doesn't work? What happens if we can't get Paimon out of her?"

Castiel's expression didn't change, but there was a heaviness in his voice when he spoke. "If the ritual fails, Paimon's connection to Amara will strengthen. He could take full control."

Amara's chest tightened, the fear creeping into her thoughts, but she pushed it aside. "I'm willing to do it," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension. "We can't just sit here and wait for him to come for me. This is our chance to stop him."