Heart of a Hunter

30. Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

Dean's POV:

I sat at the small, rickety table in the adjoining hotel room, the ancient book Blair had found spread open in front of me. The air smelled faintly of mildew, and the dim yellow light from the lamp flickered every so often, casting shadows across the worn pages. I'd been staring at the symbols and text for the past hour, trying to make sense of it all, but it was slow going.

This book—it held something important, something dangerous, and I could feel it in my gut. But the problem was, none of us could read half of what was in it. The symbols, the strange language—it all felt like it was hiding something. Something big.

I leaned back in the chair, rubbing a hand over my face. My mind was buzzing, but it wasn't just from trying to decipher the text. I could hear faint sounds from the room next door—Blair and Sam, clearly having a "moment." It wasn't like I didn't expect it. I'd seen the way they'd been looking at each other since we got back to the motel. Honestly, it was about time they stopped dancing around it. Still, being stuck on the other side of the wall while my little brother was... well, busy—it wasn't exactly my idea of a relaxing night.

I let out a long breath, focusing back on the book. They could have their moment, fine. But I was still on edge, still waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was too much at stake for us to get comfortable. The Arcani weren't just going to sit back and let us piece this puzzle together. They were out there, lurking, and we didn't know how close they were.

The door between our rooms was closed, but I could hear the low murmur of voices now, followed by silence. Finally. I couldn't help the smirk that tugged at the corner of my mouth. Sam deserved to be happy, even if it was complicated, even if it was in the middle of all this. Blair was good for him, and seeing them together... yeah, I could admit it. It made me feel better. Sam had been carrying a lot on his shoulders, and maybe this was what he needed to keep him grounded.

I leaned over the book again, running my fingers over the symbols. They reminded me of something, though I couldn't place it. Dad's journal, maybe? Or one of Bobby's old research notes? Either way, I knew I'd seen something like this before. Something tied to bloodlines, ancient seals, all that prophecy crap.

Blair's family was at the heart of this, and that meant she was in more danger than she even realized. The Arcani weren't going to stop until they had what they wanted. And from what we'd gathered, that meant they'd be coming for Blair—and soon.

The thought made my stomach twist. I didn't mind being in the thick of things. Hell, I'd lived my whole life in the middle of supernatural chaos. But when it came to Sam, when it came to someone like Blair—someone innocent who'd been pulled into this nightmare? That was different. That made me want to put my fist through a wall.

The door creaked open, and Sam stepped into my room. His hair was still a little messy, his shirt thrown on in a hurry. He didn't say anything, just gave me a sheepish look. I raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"Good timing," I said, nodding toward the open book. "Figured you'd come up for air eventually."

Sam rubbed the back of his neck, clearly trying not to look too embarrassed. "Yeah, uh, thanks for... y'know. Giving us some space."

I waved it off, leaning back in the chair. "Not a problem, man. Just hope you got all that tension out, 'cause we've got work to do."

Sam walked over to the table, his expression sobering as he glanced down at the book. "Find anything useful?"

"Maybe," I muttered, flipping a few more pages. "There's something familiar about these symbols, but I can't place it. Feels like it's connected to some kind of ritual or a curse. Could be what the Arcani are after."

Sam's face hardened. "The seal."

"Yeah," I nodded. "It's gotta be tied to that. And if they get their hands on it—on Blair..." I trailed off, my jaw tightening. I didn't need to finish the sentence. We both knew what would happen if the Arcani got their way.

"We can't let that happen," Sam said quietly, but his voice was filled with that fierce determination I'd come to expect from him. "We have to find out what this seal does, how it connects to her family. If there's a way to stop the Arcani from using it."

I nodded, pushing the book toward him. "See if you can make any sense of this. I'll keep an eye on things out front, make sure no one's tailing us."

Sam nodded, pulling the book closer. As he leaned over it, his focus sharpening, I stood up and grabbed my jacket from the chair. The night felt heavy with the kind of silence that comes before a storm, and I wasn't about to let my guard down. Not now.

I stepped outside the motel room, the cool air hitting me like a slap in the face. The parking lot was quiet, the streetlights casting long shadows across the pavement. I glanced around, my eyes scanning the area for anything out of place. It was too quiet. Too still. That always set off warning bells in my head.

As I stood there, the weight of everything pressing down on me, I couldn't help but think about how far we'd come—and how close we were to something we didn't fully understand. Blair's family, this seal, the Arcani—they were all pieces of a puzzle that was way bigger than any of us. And if we didn't figure it out soon, we were going to get caught in the middle of something we couldn't control.

I pulled out my phone and sent Bobby a quick text, asking if he had anything on these symbols. Maybe I'd get lucky, and he'd have some old lore buried in his collection that could help us out. I'd take any lead I could get at this point.

Leaning against the Impala, I crossed my arms, listening to the quiet hum of the night. I wasn't one to sit still for too long. The waiting always got to me. But I'd wait all night if I had to, as long as it meant keeping Sam and Blair safe.

The door behind me opened again, and this time it was Blair. She stepped out, her hair slightly tousled, but there was a seriousness in her expression that hadn't been there before. She looked tired, but strong. Stronger than she had when this whole thing started. And that made me respect her even more.

"Dean," she said softly, her arms wrapped around herself. "You're out here keeping watch?"

"Someone's gotta do it," I replied, giving her a small smile. "Besides, I figured you two could use some time without me hovering."

She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks for that." She paused, glancing at me like she was working up the nerve to say something. "You don't think we're in over our heads, do you?"

I sighed, looking out at the empty lot before turning back to her. "Truth? We've been in over our heads since the day we started hunting. But we get through it. We always do."

Blair nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's just... this is different. I've lost so much already. I don't want to lose more."

I met her gaze, seeing the raw emotion there, the weight of everything she was carrying. "You're not gonna lose us, Blair. Not me. Not Sam. We'll figure this out. You're one of us now."

Her smile softened, and this time, it felt more real. "Thanks, Dean. I needed to hear that."

I gave her a nod, glancing back at the room where Sam was probably still buried in that book. "You should get some rest. It's gonna be a long day tomorrow."

She lingered for a moment, her eyes on me, before she nodded and headed back inside. I stayed out there a little longer, keeping my eyes on the shadows, waiting for the world to shift again. It always did.

Because in our line of work, the quiet never lasted.

And I had a feeling this storm was just getting started.