THEN…
"Everything Jesse believes comes true…he probably doesn't even know he's doing it…"
A small, vigilant figure in a window. Dean waved, and then turned away.
"How is he doing it…?"
---
A 'No Trespassers' sign on a ragged gate. A woman with frightened eyes.
"The demon used my body to give birth to a child."
"Who was the father?"
She looked so worn, so pulled apart.
"I was a virgin."
A beat. The realization.
"Have you seen my son? Is he human?"
"His name's Jesse…"
---
"This child is half demon and half human, but far more powerful than either…you know him as the Antichrist. …one of the Devil's greatest weapons in the war against Heaven."
---
That small, earnest face…
"She said I was half demon. Is that true?"
"Yes, but you're half human too. You've got choices, Jesse. But if you make the wrong ones, it'll haunt you for the rest of your life."
He could hear the tears in the answering cry: "why are you telling me this!"
"Because I have to believe someone can make the right choice…"
---
"Azrael," she breathed.
The Arc smiled. "Hello, Anna."
"What…what're you doing here?" Anna whispered. "Have you…will you be the one to execute me?"
But the Arc raised inquiring eyebrows. "Execute you? No. No, Anna… No, little sister, I have work for you. A job only you can do."
"What kind of work?"
Azrael smiled again.
---
"Azrael is in the world," she whispered. "Azrael lies in wait."
The demon stared at her with honest terror. "No," he rasped.
"Yes," Anna laughed, "oh yes."
She looked down at the boy in her arms who was gazing at her, face full of puzzlement.
"Take my hand and think of stars," she told him.
He hesitated for only a second. Then his small warm palm was against hers. The link forged…
---
"Like me," he said quietly.
"Like you?"
A nod. "I'm half human and half…half demon."
Cambion. Antichrist. Oh, sweetheart…
"We're both caught in between," she murmured. "Both at the half-way mark." She gently touched his hair, drew his gaze back to her. "What's your name?"
"Jesse," he said. "Jesse Turner."
"Well, Jesse Turner, I'm Anna Milton, and if you like I'll be your friend, seeing as how we're both in the same boat."
---
"What is it you want to do, Jesse Turner?" she whispered.
He lifted his head from her shoulder, turned those ancient blue-grey eyes up to look at her.
"I want to see the world," he told her. "But…I don't want to go by myself."
---
Jesse let out a bright laugh and reached out to her.
Anyone else would have had their hand taken off at the wrist.
The jaguar bussed her pretty under his hand and along his arm, rubbing a friendly feline hello against his shoulder and jaw.
---
"Just tell me," he said softly, his voice sending a feeling – fear, excitement, it was difficult to tell – skittering up the other boy's spine.
His breath hitched – what are you – and he whispered unsteadily, "To see again. To not be a slave. To get away…"
Jesse's laugh was bright and soft. Clean sounding.
"It's your lucky day."
---
He clung to her. "I'm going to make it better," he told her, trying to make up for things that weren't his fault. "I'm going to help."
Somewhere further into the house, a woman's voice said gently, "We have to go, Jesse; it's not safe to stay too long."
His arms tightened around her shoulders. He breathed, "I'm going to make it better, Mom, I promise."
There was the sound of beating wings, and she was holding empty air.
---
NOW…
"What do you want to do, Jesse Turner?"
"I want to help save the world."
TO BE CONTINUED…
---
AN: …in the sequel. Keep a look out for The Brave Don't Run. In the meantime, let me know what you think…