Chapter 5

I laid awake, staring at the ceiling. This weird sense of guilt plagued my mind after Charlie and I had finished with each other. I couldn't shake it. Every bit of my mind was telling me this had been a mistake. But I didn't know why. I enjoyed it. I had wanted it. It felt so good in the moment. But now I couldn't help but feel dirty and like I'd somehow betrayed something.

I sighed and quietly got out of bed, trying my best not to disturb Charlie who was still fast asleep. I crossed the room to my duffle and pulled my phone from it.

'Are you awake? -A'

I didn't think I'd get a response, but it came while I walked to the bathroom. I slipped inside and shut the door before opening the message.

'Perhaps. -K'

"Always such a smug asshole," I mumbled to myself.

'Can we meet now? I'm 30min out. -A'

'I'll be waiting. -K'

I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding. Good. I could spend the drive thinking of what to say to him and how to get the damn key. I slowly opened the bathroom door and peered out. I could still hear Charlie's soft breaths as she dreamed. I crept out and to the side of the bed our clothes had been thrown off. After I'd dressed I crossed to my duffle again and slipped the bottle of priest blood into it, before zipping it closed and throwing it over my shoulder. I sighed again. Charlie would be upset in the morning when she found out I was gone, but hopefully, she understood.

I headed for the door and was about to turn the handle and leave before I turned around and scribbled a short note onto the motel stationary on the bedside table.

'Sorry. Had some business to take care of in Sioux City. -A'

Hopefully, she wouldn't hate me too much.

"What are you doing, Mouse?" The sudden voice in my too-quiet car almost made me swerve off the road.

"Holy fuck, Crowley!" I yelled at the demon, "You can't just….I could've died!"

"And you would've found your way back just like the last time." He said smugly.

"You and I both know I only have a few left, I'm not trying to waste them on a car accident." I huffed.

"And yet, you're willing to drive into the arms of someone who's not only tried to kill your brothers but is working for someone who is actively trying to kill them." Crowley sounded agitated.

"I'm not…wait." Something he'd said didn't make sense. "What do you know that we don't?"

"Your little fling," He gestured to the road in front of me, "Is working for Asmodeus."

"The demon prince?" I clarified.

Crowley nodded. "The very same."

"Why?" I slowed down a little, giving Crowley a few extra minutes to tell me whatever he'd almost killed me over.

"It's not clear, but it seems he's helping the prince make some sort of army." Crowley looked out the window at the passing landscape.

"An army? For what? There's no huge threat right now."

"Other than you and your brothers? No, your right there's not."

"Then why build an army? Unless he knows something we don't." I glanced at the demon, he was smiling. "What is it, Crowley? What aren't you telling me?"

"He has Gabriel locked up down there," Crowley said almost casually.

"Gabe's dead." I said confidently, "We saw the wings burnt into the ground."

"Yes well, he is known for his theatrics."

"Ok, so if he is alive and trapped, what does Asmodeus need him for?" It didn't make sense for Gabe to be alive, but if he was that would be a big advantage for us. An Archangel still in our world could fix a lot of things.

"Why do your brothers need an archangel?" Crowley mused.

"To open a portal to another world…" Then it struck me, "What does a demon prince want with another world?"

"Why don't you ask your lover about it?" Crowley asked.

"He's not my…" I glanced over at the now empty passenger seat, "Great.."

The hotel was nice. Gaudy even. Which wasn't a complete surprise. The man had always liked his posh things. It went with the suits. I on another hand, looked very out of place. I had been wearing the same old flannel and jeans for two days. I'm sure I was covered in dirt and probably some leftover vampire blood. This was not a place for someone like me.

I took a deep breath as I walked through the front door. The lobby was painted black with trims of gold and pearl. Each hallway was marked by two large stone pillars rimmed with bronze. And every doorway looked like it was framed by marble. A marble statue of some unknown person stood behind the lobby desk, framed by stone walls and more gold. It was unsettling how beautiful this room alone was. I felt so uneasy as I approached the desk.

"Hi," I uttered, "I'm meeting someone here, I need to know their room number."

The receptionist looked me up and down before answering in a snide voice. "We don't just give those out to random strangers."

I felt my eye twitch. "Right, well I'm not just a random stranger. So could I just give you the name so you can look up the number?"

"Sure." Her smile was fake, if not demeaning. Bitch.

"Great." I smiled back, "I'm here to see Arthur Ketch."

She typed quickly on her computer, her well-manicured nails making soft clicking sounds on the keys. "Ah, yes. There is someone with that name in our system."

"Wonderful." I sighed, "And?"

"I can't give out that information without his approval." I was going to end up killing more than just monsters tonight.

"Right. Do you want me to just call him? Have him tell you I'm here?" I was getting agitated, and I'm sure it seeped through my words.

"Please." The bitch almost looked smug, like she'd won.

"Ya, I'm not going to do that." I pulled my fake badge from my back pocket, "See, now you're interfering with an investigation. So please," I slapped it face up on the top of the desk, "Tell me the damn room number."

I took the elevator to the top floor, where it opened up to a beautiful black and gold hallway. I sighed under my breath, why did he have to be so damn posh? I shook my head, I'd never understand what was wrong with laying low in a no-star motel. This just seemed too out there, too noticeable. I walked to the end of the hall, to a massive pair of black doors. I hesitated before knocking. I waited several minutes before knocking again. Was he trying my patients on purpose? I thought he'd want to see me. He'd seemed so eager over text. It was another couple of minutes before I decided to just try the door. It opened with ease.

I stepped into the lavish room. It opened to the off-white walls of a beautiful hall-like walkway. At the end, in the corner, sat a beautiful dark oak table with four leather-bound chairs around it, and a vase full of beautiful white roses sat in the center. I walked past it and around the corner. A full body mirror lined one wall, trimmed in black and gold, and a small dark oak desk sat along the other, another leather chair rolled underneath it. I walked down to the slightly ajar door at the end of the hall, it opened further to the master bedroom. A king-sized bed sat in the middle, pushed flush against a black marble wall, a footrest at the other end. There was a glass door leading out onto a balcony on the other end of the room, and another door on the right wall that was closed. I could hear a shower running behind it. I thought for a moment before walking to the glass door and going out onto the balcony.

The twilight air was cool, but there was no chill behind it. The view was the only thing that took my breath away. You could see for miles out into Sioux City. The city lights glowing in the early morning dark would make for a beautiful picture. You could smell the bakery in the restaurant below beginning to start their day.

"What would I have to give for a life like this?" I whispered to myself.

"Chose to stay with me. I could give you all of this, and more." The warm voice came with warm hands grabbing my waist.

I leaned back into his body. It was still warm from the shower. I could feel the heat easing away the cold guilt that still sat heavy in my mind, leaving behind a warm comfort instead. This could be it, this could be my life.

But it's not. And questions need to be answered.

"Ketch, can we.." I turned in his hands and faced him. He was still naked, small drops of water still in his hair. My head went blank, "...uh."

"Can we what, love?" His voice was smooth like he'd been practicing these lines. Waiting to hypnotize me all night.

"I…" I blinked, shook my head, and stepped back from him, "We need to talk about something."

"Can it wait? I thought there were other things you came for." He smirked at me, running his eyes over my form.

"No, this is…kinda important." I started to walk back towards the room.

Ketch grabbed my arm and pulled me back into him. My hands planted themselves on his chest. "We can talk about whatever you want after."

"Ketch, I…" But the words wouldn't come. Before I could even find them, my face was drawn up to his, and my lips were captured in a sweet kiss. "It can wait."

He laughed, pulling me closer to him and leaning down to nip at my neck. "Then let's start on that next part."

He pulled me back into the bedroom and over to the bed, but before he could throw me down onto it, I spun us around and pushed him onto it instead. He landed on his ass, using his hands to stop himself from being flat on his back. I took his already hard member in my hand and stroked it, watching him intently. I watched his eyes glaze over as I played with just the head, running my thumb over it again and again. I had craved this since I'd left his side, this control over him and the pleasure it brought us both.

I bent my head, keeping as much eye contact as I could, and placed the tip between my lips, wrapping my tongue around it before sucking it into my mouth. A deep rumble of a moan passed through his chest. I focused on the head, taking care to run my tongue over the vein and under the ridge as I sucked it in and out of my mouth. I savored every breathy sigh and low growl it pulled from him. I continued until I could taste the first bead of seed, then pulled away with a rough lick.

"Good," Ketch breathed, "Another minute of that and we wouldn't have gotten to the best part."

"Well, we can't have that, now can we?" I said, using these seconds to strip myself before sliding over him.

I found his lips again, kissing him with every need my body screamed for. I forced my tongue between his lips, my hands wandering the length of his body. His own hands found my breasts and began playing with my nipples. I sighed into his mouth. I shifted down his body to close the distance, the tip of his cock just meeting me.

"I need you, Arthur." I sighed into his neck.

"And I you, Alex." His body bucked under me, placing just the tip in me. That was enough to make up my mind.

I shifted to my knees and lowered back onto him, thrusting him inside of me, filling me, like my missing piece. We let out a shared moan, already panting with deisre.

"Move, love." It was almost a beg.

"Yes sir," I responded, beginning to ride him.

His hands found my waist, guiding my rhythm as I ground into him. I didn't hold back. I wanted to punish him, and please him, all at the same time, until he finally understood what we both craved the most. He pushed and thrust beneath me, urging me forward and fucking me harder. He raised his hips, closing the distance between trusts and forcing himself deeper. An almost primitive moan came from my chest as I tightened around him.

"I don't want this to end," I admitted mostly to myself.

I sank back down to him, crashing my lips against his before he could respond. My tongue toyed and danced with his, as he pulled my hips even closer to his, pressing so far inside that I thought I'd never forget this feeling. That was the moment I caved. That was when the bliss hit me hard enough to make my vision blur. I moaned his name against his lips. He continued to pump into me, now riding out his orgasm along with me.

I kept myself intertwined with him while we both recovered, his ragged breath hot on my neck. This had been good, exactly what I needed before diving into what was no doubt going to be a fight.

I sighed and rolled my way carefully off him. "Can we talk now?"

He chuckled. "Yes, I suppose we can get down to the serious business."

I sat on the bed, tucking my feet underneath me and looking away from him. "Who are you working for?"

"Mmm, why did I think this would be a fun conversation?" Ketch sighed, as he sat up as well.

"A fun conversation? Like what?" I asked, turning to look at him.

"I don't know, love. Something like your decision to leave your neanderthal brothers and join me." He rubbed his face, "I see now that that's not the case."

"I'm not going to leave them." I sighed, "Why can't you tell me who you work for?"

"Because then I'd have to kill you." He smiled at his poor joke.

"Ketch…"

"We're back to that, are we? No more first names?" He pushed himself off the bed and walked to the bathroom. "Well, Ms. Winchester, I can't tell you because I've been ordered not to."

"Right, and a good dog always follows orders." I said under my breath, "Fine, then can you tell me if you have a key to hell or not at least?"

"Why do you want to know that?" Ketch reappeared in the doorway and leaned against it.

"I want to know how you got out of the motel room." It wasn't a lie, and it was easier than telling him the whole truth.

"Ah. Then yes, I have one." He smiled at me.

"Could I borrow it?" I asked tentatively.

"I can't be giving out free passes into hell." His smile disappeared, "Besides, can't your little demon pet just take you?"

"He's in hiding, I haven't heard from him in weeks." He would know that if he was really working for a demon prince, why was he trying to hide it? "I promise to return it."

"Like you returned the colt?" So he did still hold that grudge. "No, sweet."

I crawled to the end of the bed, arching my back to push my chest out further, "Not even if I promise to be good with it? I can be very good."

I watched his member bounce. "What are you getting at, love? The last time you tried this hard for something, it ended with a bullet between my eyes."

"I just have a mission in Hell, and your key would make it so much easier." I shifted to sit on my feet again, "It would be quick, in and out. No one would even know you gave it to me."

"What kind of mission?" Ketch walked towards me, silver eyes focused on my chest.

"Strictly recon. We heard a rumor that the new king of hell has an archangel under lock and key." I watched his face, "We could use one."

His eyes flicked up to mine. "How do you know that?"

"So you are working for him." I stared into his eyes, watching for any sign of a lie.

"Why do you need to know that so badly?" He put his hands on either side of me and leaned down so his face was only a few inches from mine.

I furrowed my brows, "Asmodeus is trying to kill my family, Ketch. Trying to kill me. Doesn't that bother you?"

"I've already made sure he doesn't hurt you. Isn't that enough?" He leaned forward to kiss me.

I stuck my hand in his face, stopping him. "No, it's not good enough. He's a demon prince, he'd say anything to have an assassin working for him."

"I'm not an assassin." He pushed my hand away.

"Right, you're just a clean hitman who's working for a literal demon. Could you fall any further?" That was going to strike a cord.

"At least I didn't sell my soul to one for ten extra years of life." He scoffed, standing again.

"No, just a witch who you tried to murder for a new resurrection spell." Why was I doing this?

"Is this what you came for? A fight over something so pointless?" Ketch threw his hands into the air, "Can't you accept that we're working for the same fight?"

"No, because I'm not helping a demon build an army to invade an innocent world." I was getting truly angry now.

"You have been talking to that little rat." He glared at me, "What else did he tell you? That Asmodeus is draining Gabriel of his grace? Or that he's got a tight leash around me? Hm?"

"So it's true. Gabe's alive?" I asked in disbelief.

"Well, the cat's out of the bag." He turned away from me, "Suppose you'll try to go save him now."

"Why wouldn't we? Do you realize how much good could be done by saving him?" I got off the bed and walked towards him, "Gabe could reset the angels. He could help create more of them."

"Right, because we need more of those winged fucks around." He huffed.

"What is your problem with angels?" I grabbed his arm, " Or is it a problem with me?"

"Oh, don't make this about you." He said, turning to face me.

"Make what about me? You're the one who's constantly fighting with my brothers or my family. You're the one who started killing hunters in the first place!" I could feel the anger in my blood now.

"Oh, you're bringing that up again?! When will you forget that!" I could see the anger in his eyes now too.

"When you can bring back the lives we lost!" I pushed against his chest.

He paused for a minute, opening and then closing his mouth again. His eyes were molten as they passed over my face. "Leave." He finally said.

"I was planning on it," I responded, bending to scope my discarded clothes off the ground. "I'll find another way to save Gabe, with or without your key."

With that, I walked out of the bedroom and into the hallway. I rounded the corner before stopping to shuck my clothes back on, grumbling to myself. This had been a waste of time. How I had ever expected to just waltz in and get the key or any honest answer out of him about anything. He had never been honest. Not even when I first met him. He'd lied to me over and over again about the smallest of things.

I stomped out into the hotel hallway and down to the elevator. I needed something to kill. I needed a new hunt asap.

It didn't take me long to find something in the area. There'd been reports of wild animal attacks a half hour away on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska. The reports made it pretty clear that it was a werewolf or several. Either way, it was easy pickings and should be enough to give me a way to work off this agitation.

The drive there was short. And, although it was just after dawn when I pulled into a little diner, it didn't take me too long to find someone willing to talk about the accidents. One of the waitresses was more than happy to talk about it.

"And they were just camping in the area? Nothing weird?" I asked her.

"Nope. They just seemed like normal college kids. We get some that come up from UNO this time of year. They like to hear the stories and explore the land." She nodded.

"Well thank you. You've been very helpful." I smiled at her.

"Sure, no problem." She smiled back.

I downed a glass of water and left a tip before leaving. If I remembered to come back before leaving the area I'd have to try for her number.

The area where the accidents had been reported wasn't far into the reservation. If anything it was odd that they had taken place so close to civilization. But maybe that was normal out here. I was sure they'd had other accidents with wild animals before, there were tales and stories for a reason.

The small camp was still marked off with police tape. I stepped over it carefully and into the torn-up site. The small, two-person tent had been knocked onto its side and three of the four sides were ripped to shreds. Two of the metal rods meant to hold it together were sticking straight up in the dirt, and one had been snapped in half and thrown to the ground. I looked around, a small fire had been trampled and a piece of fabric had been tossed several feet away, I assumed it was the bottom of the tent. The dirt was soaked with blood in places, some still looked damp. There was a clear outline of half a torso where one of the corpses had been, you could still see the drag marks where the other half had been dragged away. If I hadn't already known what had done this, seeing the mess it left behind would have left no doubt.

I looked around a little longer before finding a small trail the thing had left through the woods. I could see how it would have gone unnoticed to the untrained eye, but any hunter could see the clear trail a werewolf leaves. I patted the holster on my side, reassuring myself that I had grabbed my pistol and the silver bullets. After feeling it there, I took a deep breath before following the monster.

The trail led deeper into the woods, to a spot where the tree cover above almost blotted out the rising sun completely. Only small rays of dawn light reached through the dense leaves above, speckling the ground like small gold coins. I slowed my pace and steadied my breathing. I focused on the area around me, trusting my ears to tell me what my eyes couldn't see. At first, I heard nothing and relaxed, until I realized it wasn't just nothing. It was total silence. I had left behind the sounds of the forest. No birds chirped here. No small frogs croaked. No mice or squirrels ran through the underbrush. Everything was still. Waiting. Watching something I couldn't see or hear. But I could smell it. Something I had put to the back of my mind as something else in the forest. I hadn't realized it had gotten stronger the further I had gone. It was the smell of rotting flesh. Sickly sweet decay. It was so strong now. It covered any petrichor left from the forest.

Then I heard it. A low, guttural howl. It sounded like it came from my right, but I knew better than to trust that. I stood my ground, waiting for it to come to me or show itself. It didn't take long before I heard the snarl and the rush of grass as it ran at me.

CRACK!

I fired a single shot to my left as the werewolf crossed into the light. The bullet carved a hole into its forehead before it slumped to the ground, skidding to a halt a few feet from me. The silence that followed was short. Another growl and another werewolf leaped from the darkness behind me. I was quick to turn and fire, but this wolf was quicker.

CRACK!

That bullet exploded off a tree as the werewolf jumped to the side and continued towards me. I was quick to re-aim and fire again.

CRACK!

This shot embedded itself into the monster's ribs, probably puncturing a rib. It let out an unnatural noise in pain, but it didn't stop. If anything, my shot had only invigorated it.

"Shit," I said under my breath.

I only had seconds to fire again. But I had trained for this. I knew how long it would take for it to get to me. I just had to breathe. I had to focus. I was a Winchester after all, it was in our blood. I fired again. But before my shot could even leave the barrel and slice through the wolf's heart, a hard body slammed into my side, knocking me to the ground.

CRACK!

It had gone into the dirt.

"Fuck!" I yelled out as I hit the dirt with it.

I scrambled to roll over before the thing was on top of me. But it wasn't the same werewolf I had already wounded. This was a third creature. It pinned me to the ground and growled in my face, spit and blood dripping from its jaws. It didn't take long to think before releasing my open hand and raking its claws down my chest. A scream tore from my throat.

'GET OUT OF HERE!'

I ripped the hand still gripping my gun free of the claws restraining it and fired point-blank into the distorted ribs above me.

CRA-SPLAT!

Blood and gore showered down on me, but I had no time to react to it. The other wolf would be on me soon if it wasn't already too close. I used every ounce of adrenaline and rolled from under the monster's dead body, and threw it in the direction of the living one. I got lucky, the other werewolf had been right there and had to catch the body to avoid being toppled by it. I took the chance to shoot it.

CRACK!

The wolf fell, joining the pile of the dead. I breathed a sigh of relief before sucking in the air through my teeth. The act of breathing alone shot fire through my veins. I looked down at my chest. The skin beneath my t-shirt had been ripped open from my left shoulder to my right hip. Three distinct slashes bled heavily.

"Well…." I said to myself, "That's a problem."

I sank to the ground, falling into the dark comfort of unconscious death.