Forest of the Angels

Patience is a virtue

Outside the eerie building, Dean and Rachel were perched quietly in a bug infested bush.

"Okay, you wait for the others, I'll go have a snoop." Rachel suggested, beginning to move.

Dean pulled her back into the bush. "No. You stay here. I'll search."

Rachel opened her mouth in offense. She folded her arms and cocked her head at Dean. "I know the house better than anyone, you pensioner." She snapped.

Dean threw her an 'I will shoot you' glare. "I'm trying to keep you safe, here. There could be demons in there twice your size. Let me handle it."

Rachel still frowned. She lifted her hand and placed a fist in her palm, motioning at Dean to do the same. Dean sighed and lifted his hands. Silently, they engaged in their match of rock-paper-scissors.

"Oh no, come on, best of three." Rachel whined. Dean just smiled as he grabbed his gone and pushed through the front door.

Moments later, Rachel sensed a presence behind her. Breath spread across her neck. Shuffling grew closer to her ears. She noticed her shadow morphing in the moonlight. It grew and twisted into something huge and unrecognisable. Rachel whimpered, feeling her own pulse grow. Gradually, she turned around to face the thing behind her.

"Boo" Ellie whispered.

Rachel shrieked and fell back into the bush. Her clothes snagged on the branches.

"You fucker, I hate you." Rachel whined to Ellie, who was doubled over cackling. Sam and Jess sniggered behind her whilst Cas frowned.

"Where's Dean" Cas asked.

Rachel stopped cursing at Ellie. She nodded to the kicked down door. Sam gulped and turned back to them.

"You two stay here, we'll go sort this out, then you can go home." He instructed, before Cas drew out his angle blade and they too disappeared into the house.

They stared at the door, then at each other. Rachel frowned. "Do they think we're incompetent of something?" Rachel complained.

"Well..." Ellie began.

"Don't answer that." Rachel snapped.

They all chuckled for a moment before Jess wrapped them both in a giant hug. She clung on tightly, despite them all being soaking wet. Rachel responded, wrapping her own arms around the two and snuggling against Jess. Meanwhile, Ellie tried to worm herself out of their grasp, but they both dragged her closer.

After a minute, Jess let go. "Neither of you are leaving again." She commanded fiercely. Rachel smiled warmly and nodded, whilst Ellie pretended to be scared and slide away from the angry dwarf.

Jess giggled, before darkening her gaze. "I'm serious, Ellie."

"I know. I promise." She whispered, pulling in the small child for a hug.

After Ellie explained what had happened, they sat there in silence for a long time. Ten minutes passed, and Rachel began to wonder how long it would take for them to get out. As time ran on, they all became more and more concerned for the others. Another ten minutes passed, and still they saw nothing. No light flashed in the windows. No voices echoed down the halls. Even the wind quietened. Everything was worryingly still.

The sun had begun to creep into view. The sky was burning with a deep red blaze. Dazzling streaks of amber were painted on the horizon. Even the beauty of the remaining clouds lit up with a pink glow could not distract them from how long they'd waited.

Rachel and Jess shared worried look. Ellie noticed and started to edge closer to the house. The other two followed, careful not to snap any twigs as they approached.

Inside, the house was soundless, as though it was empty. There were no signs of a struggle, or any droplets of blood. The hall looked exactly as it should. The matted carpet was at its usual wonky angle, the paintings hung crookedly on the walls, and the faded wallpaper was peeling, just as it always was. Towards the end of the hallway, a muffled drawl grew louder. Ellie cringed as she recognized Leonard's deep grumble.

Rachel stopped at the top of a deep set of stairs. Ellie looked from the warped wooden steps, to the battered door.

"Jess and I will go down here. You go to Leonard, you know him." Rachel told her. Ellie nodded and gave the two girls a quick hug before she turned on her heels to approach the door. She heard Rachel's heavy thuds and Jess' light patters on the stairs behind her.

Ellie leaned forwards and twisted the handle. She prayed that the ancient thing wouldn't screech. Carefully, she pushed the door forwards.

Leonard was leaning on the wall, his back to her, whilst he recited a monologue to a handcuffed Dean.

Ellie slipped further into the room. The door squealed behind her. She dived behind a convenient ginormous dining table as the two whipped around to face the door. Ellie gently released a sigh as Dean shrugged and Leonard started his story again.

Ellie peered over the table, taking in her surroundings. The room was more like an ornate hall. Once magnificent paintings hung on the wooden walls and there was an old fashioned fireplace in the centre of the room. Dean was curled awkwardly against a bookcase. His hand was chained to a metal swirling staircase. Ellie frantically looked around for a plan. Leonard was by the window, he couldn't see Ellie from where he was stood. Desperately, Ellie searched for something until she noticed a worn down, yet still elegant sofa. Its edge was metres away from the table and between that and the bookshelf sat an armchair. Ellie grinned, hatching up a plan.

~~~

Jess and Rachel raced down the stairs. They sprinted through blasted open doors, scattered piles of bodies, and blood-soaked debris. They ran further, noticing abandoned weapons, and they eventually came across a blood trail. Panicking, this spurred the two to tear through the underground maze of hallways as fast as they could.

Eventually, they came across Cas and Sam. The altar was splintered; scorch marks were dashed across the walls. Sam was lying on the ground, gasping heavily, whilst Cas cradled him.

They noticed the two, Cas' pleading azure eyes met Rachel's own ocean coloured orbs.

"He was stabbed." Cas began to explain. "My grace is too weak; I can't heal him without trapping us all here forever."

Jess cried out, noticing how blood was flowing from Sam's leg. They ran to him, both putting as much pressure as they could on the wound. Sam smiled gently at Jess, who was starting to cry.

Rachel, meanwhile, looked to Cas, deep in thought. "What about..." She wondered out loud, but frowned at the stupid idea.

"What." Jess begged. Rachel shook her head. "Rachel please just tell us." The girl started to yell.

"Leonard got his power from eating souls. Ellie said he ate a piece of hers. I was wondering if you could..." She gazed wistfully at Cas, whose eyes widened when he realized what he was saying.

"You're suggesting I do that to you." Cas exclaimed, shocked.

"Will it work?" Rachel asked with hope.

"Um..." He glanced back to Sam, whose face was growing whiter by the second. "It might. Only mature souls give you permanent power. Technically, you are still a child, but it could last long enough for me to heal him."

"So?" Rachel interrogated, desperate.

"It will have to be a very small piece; otherwise you will lose part of yourself – permanently." Cas warned. He placed his hand at her chest, giving her a final chance to object. She didn't. "This will be very painful." Cas stated, before plunging his hand into her heart.