The rain was pelting down hard. It was close to midnight and the streets were quiet, the world was quiet except for the loud claps of thunder that rang out every now and then. It was the kind of night that meant trouble and the sounds of rapid footsteps meant that someone had found it.

Polly's hair stuck to her face in thick, wet clumps as she ran, strands blocking her vision as she tried to navigate down the cluttered alley. She turned a corner sharply as she attempted to evade the sprinting bodies behind her. She could hear them gaining on her, tracking her every move.

She hadn't gotten much of a look at them at the bus station before she took off. There were at least a dozen and her scepter and gun were in her bag, she knew she didn't have time to get them out before they'd have gotten a hold on her so she did the next best thing and took off. The rain was falling much too hard for flying to be a viable option so she was bound to the ground, lungs begging her to stop but feet knowing they had to go on.

She'd at least be able to take a few of them out if she hadn't left her stupid knife behind with the Winchesters.

Wait. The knife.

Apollyon summoned something deep within her, picked up speed and ducked around another corner, then another and another until the steps behind her were as faint as they'd ever been. She found herself in a slightly hidden trash area, her back pressed against a brick wall. If they came this way and peeked in past the chain fence to her right, she'd be seen immediately. She had to do this quickly.

She closed her eyes tight and forced air into her lungs. Her mind was too busy, she needed to calm down to focus on the hum she knew was already calling to her.

She was bombarded by heat. She could feel the power radiating off magical objects all over the town but she just needed to find that one. Needed to sift through the sweetness and bitterness and warmth from hex bags and artifacts, enchanted gems and cursed obj-

There.

It was faint but it stood out. Behind her lids, she could almost see the familiar lavender glow of it, reaching a hand out to her. She homed in on it until the hum was like a tracker, leading her to where she needed to be.

The sound of steps grew loud and the clink of the fence being snatched open made her jump. Four men shoved their heads in, wide, evil smiles on their faces that quickly faded when they saw that no prey was pressed against the wall. The area was empty.

50 feet away, Apollyon sprinted down the road, feet sinking into mud with every step she took. It splashed all over her but she kept going, taking as many backroads as she could until she arrived in front of a heavy iron door. It was rusted, old and looked abandoned, connected to a tall, thick building that looked like it hadn't been touched for years. It wasn't a house. No one would ever try to live here but she knew she had the right place because of the black Impala parked outside.

She started banging on the door with her fists, mud smudges covering it as the rain continued to come down and drown everything. She stood pounding on the door for a good two minutes before she heard things start clicking on the other side.

The door creaked open to reveal three confused men and one gun pointed straight at Polly's face. She held back an eye roll at Dean and instead found Sam's eyes.

"I need your help."

-tlt-

"Thank you," Polly said as she took a proffered towel from Sam and wiped at her face. She shook off her heavy, filthy jacket and tossed it on the floor. She tucked her backpack under her arm and took a seat on the corner of one of the oak tables in the wide room she assumed was a library. The walls were filled with bookshelves and texts with old looking spines, columns coming down around the room.

The whole place surprised her from the second they begrudgingly moved aside to let her in. From the outside, it was dingy and severely unimpressive but inside it was all wood walls and dark oak, pristine and elegant. It looked secure and yet practical and now, contrary to her previous thoughts, she could see how someone would call it home.

She wrung her hair out into the towel then slung it around her shoulders to keep out some of the chill she was getting from sitting, damp, in nothing but a white tank top and some leather pants that were, at this point, practically attached to her skin.

"What happened to 'stay out of my way'? You know, the whole scary power yell? You remember, right, Sam?" Dean quipped, turning to his brother. Sam ignored him and stepped forward.

"Why are you here? Did you learn something about what's been happening?"

"No," Polly said. "I was being chased and-"

"So, you're here for you?" Dean laughed. "Demons," he mumbled.

Polly's nostrils flared in annoyance. "I get it, ok? You hate demons, got it. You're the tough one, it's established. Can I speak?" she barked. Dean opened his mouth but stopped when Sam held up a hand.

"Thank you," Polly said quietly before continuing. "I was being chased by a group of demons, at least a dozen. I needed somewhere to go. The bus was late and you summoned me into a town with a population of 200 people, seriously?" she asked. "I was weak after the attempted smiting," she shot a look at Cas who was leaned against a table, blade in hand. "My powers were weak, I couldn't fly-"

"You fly?" Sam asked and looked to Cas whose eyes were narrowed in confusion. "I've never heard of a demon that flew," he went on. "Only angels."

"I think it's time you answered our question once and for all," Dean said. "What the hell are you?"

Polly looked to Sam but, for once, he was silent, standing beside his brother with the same hard look. She pursed her lips. "I'm a demon." No one looked convinced. She continued, "and an angel."

Everyone's faces contorted in confusion. "H-how can you be both?" Sam asked finally. "Angels and demons have never- would never-"

"I wasn't born," Polly went on. She sighed and paused, thinking about how crazy things were getting. Demons were coming by the dozen now and she felt it wouldn't be long until she was in over her head. She blew out a breath and accepted the idea that maybe she needed the Winchesters' help for a bit more than just shelter. If there was anyone that could help, it was them and if there was anyone she should try to trust, it was someone who could help.

"I was created," she finished.

-tlt-

A/N: *dun dun dunnnn* Are the Winchesters getting a new housemate or are we offing Polly in her sleep? I'm sorry this took so long, I'm gonna be honest with you all and admit I got wrapped up in the Magicians fandom. Oops. If you're into that show, I have some fics up for it. Also, I'm more active on Archive of Our Own website! The next chapter for Ibidem should be up next week! Thanks for reading!