In the Mind (of Demons)

Chapter Twenty

Amy never left Mark's side as they walked over to join the others. Mark didn't want her anywhere else. He held her hand and she squeezed it every once in a while as if reminding herself that she was back.

"Looks like our work here is done," Dean said. "Again. If something else comes up, you're dealing with it without us."

"He's joking," Sam said. "But we shouldn't have to worry about them. At least for now."

"What about Dark?" Mark asked. Dark had told him that he would keep an eye on Mark. That might mean trouble somewhere down the road.

"About that..." Sam said, looking at Dark. Mark noticed that Dark looked the most haggard of them all. In fact, Mark could see another change in him.

"Damien," Amy said. She had grown the closest to him, so obviously she would know.

"Damien?" Mark asked. "What happened?"

"It's what Eirene did," Dark said. Damien. "I can't say for sure that there's still not a little bit of darkness in me, but the powers are gone. Celine would have called me cured. Celine..."

"It wasn't you," Amy said. "It was Dark."

"We were one and the same," Damien said. "I have a lot to atone for, but...I don't regret any of it. You can hate me for it. I deserve that."

"I already forgave you," Mark said. He had meant it then and he still meant it.

"Thank you," Damien said. He paused for a moment. "I've decided to leave."

"Where will you go?" Amy asked.

"Don't worry about me," Damien said. "We'll never cross paths again."

Amy seemed bothered by that, but Mark knew it was for the best. And not just because of any jealous feelings he may still have.

"I'll live with what I've done for the rest of my life," Damien said. "I may not regret it, but there's still a lot I have to deal with. You'd be surprised how long it's been for me." He gave a nod then without a goodbye, he turned and started walking away.

"We're just gonna let him leave like that?" Amy asked.

"He'll find his own way," Mark said. He looked at her. "We have our own lives to live." She smiled and put her arms around his neck, leaning into him.

"Let's get you two home," Dean said, heading for the car. "I'm getting tired of California."

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Amy stood at the window, watching as Sam, Dean, and Castiel drove away. Part of her was thinking she would never see them again and that was okay. She saw them as friends, but she would be relieved if she never saw them again. She was done with excitement for a while.

Mark came up behind her, putting his arms around her. She smiled, leaning back into him. She knew she had only been away from him for a few days, but it had felt like longer. Spending a short time with that other Mark had only made her miss her Mark more. And then sitting in the sidelines as Eirene took over had been the most torture.

"I never got to thank him," Amy said then clarified before he could ask. "Dark...Damien."

"Thank him for what?"

"For calling out to me, bringing me back," Amy said. "I know it was pretty much his fault that I even ended up there, but if he hadn't called me back, all of you would be dead."

"Eirene was pretty pissed then."

"She did it because she convinced herself she had to."

"I'm just glad it's over."

"Me, too," Amy said, pondering something else. "Do you think he was telling the truth? That we'll never see him again?"

"I believe it," Mark said. "But from everything I've learned, I wouldn't be surprised if another Darkiplier pops up somewhere."

"Ugh, don't tell me that," Amy said. "I've had my fill of Darkipliers."

"But there's infinite possibilities in the multiverse," Mark said. She could hear the grin on his face.

"Well, we took care of one," Amy said. "All we'd have to do is call Eirene back."

"On second thought, we should find out how to block the multiverse from getting to us."

Amy chuckled then patted him on the arm. "Let's go get some sleep."

She took one last look out the window then the two went to bed.

The End