I wouldn't talk to Dean. Barely talk to Sam because I could see the Tall Bird and it was so hard to lie. Lies needed a strong castle. Which I did not have. With Castiel gone, so little made sense.
I felt like a prisoner. It didn't feel like home. Trapped in a broken body and an empty place without him.
But I had Kevin. Kevin was a sweet boy. Always tired. Thousands of walls full of secrets kept him awake and cracking. Not so good at keeping his mind quiet. Learned that Dean asked him to keep me company because I was "stubborn and depressing."
He was comfortable with me. Didn't mind the way I talked. I think he missed his mom and I sometimes felt like acting like one to him. He didn't argue with me like he argued with the boys.
Kevin was sitting in my room with me, where it was quieter and away from Red King chattering to antagonize. He read lore out of curiosity on the floor while I sat on the bed with a sketchpad, scratching away at a drawing.
The boy's mind was swirling with questions for me that he kept to himself. Always trying to stay silent inside but failing.
"Hey...Hazel?"
"Yes?" I responded not taking my eyes off my drawing.
"Dean mentioned that um... there's another tablet. Your tablet..."
"And no one wants to retrieve it...yes."
"What is it? Can you read it? Why was it in Purgatory?"
My face pinched. "Shhh....so many questions. Don't know. No. Because Bright Sister took it there."
"So it's meant for you...but you can't read it?"
I shook my head. "Curious Keeper...I dont know. I touched it once. It made me forget myself."
"Yeah about that...The first time I touched a tablet...there was a sort of...backfire, too. I think because it was waiting so long. Maybe if you tried again-"
"Dont want more secrets. Always trouble," I said, agressively erasing a spot on the paper.
"I get it. I'm sorry...I just think it could really help you. Maybe you wouldn't have to be so-"
"Helpless?" I finally looked up.
"That's not what- no I mean, if it has everything you need to know about...being you, then maybe you need to know. And I can help you if there's an insane deciphering process like the others."
I flashed a tired smile. "Sweet Keeper. Good intentions always. But I don't want secrets. I don't want power."
Something else suddenly caught my attention. Whispers in the walls. Calling. Finding me and asking me. Dark but gentle.
"What is it?" Keeper asked, seeing my focus go astray.
"The Red King..." I rose stiffly and sorely from the bed, making for the door. But Kevin stepped in front of me.
"Stay away from him!"
Poor clever mongoose. He didn't understand. I smiled and patted his face before brushing past him.
Brothers followed me with their eyes downstairs as I walked. Follow the whispers and bleeding dark heart. They saw where I was going. Sam wanted to stop me. But Dean stopped him. "Let her go," he told him.
In the short time after Pretty Bird left, I had been distracted and paid the demon uncle no mind. But now he asked for me. One of my saviors. A dark knight in my army. Always answer his call. Others didn't understand. They couldn't. Too much righteous hate.
I pulled open the sliding bookshelf to find him still chained on a chair in a trap. A prisoner like me. Unwavering hard face looked at me, hiding the warm greeting inside. He couldn't fool me. Especially not now.
