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“SAM!” That’s all he remembered, Dean’s ragged voice screaming his name so loud he could hear the strain on his vocal cords.
Where was he? He had no clue apart from what was in the room. A few computers, some conveyor belts, various machines that despite his genius he had no idea what they did. He was good with technology but in no way could he recognize every machine. If he had to guess he was in a factory of some sort, judging by the windows and the structure.
He tried to move his arms, much to his surprise he wasn’t tied to the chair he was sitting on. He didn’t want to call out, he didn’t want to risk it. He got up and he saw the door, it was open a crack so it was clearly unlocked. Something didn’t feel right. Why would whatever took him waste all that time and energy just to let him go? It was too easy. Did he have another choice?
He heard something call out from the darkness, “It isn’t a trap” it, no they, began “You can leave if you want to, I just want you to hear what I have to say.” The voice sounded higher pitched, if Sam had to guess it would have been a woman, but he hasn’t seen or heard enough to place a gender to the voice he was hearing.
Sam shook his head “How do I know this isn’t a trap?” He asked, looking around trying to spot the person talking.
“You don’t.” The person moved. “But I might as well be up front with you in order for you to put some faith in me.” They paused momentarily. “I am a demon, and I took you because we need you.”
Sam was confused, they needed him? And who was this we? “How can I help you and your people? You know I kill your people?” Sam said, regretting the words and actions as they slipped off of his tongue. Admitting to killing was not something he was proud of. Unlike others who spoke of their kills like trophies, Sam was just some guy, a guy with the tools to make a difference but nevertheless still some guy.
“That, that may be an issue, which I’m going to be honest, is why I haven’t revealed myself.” The demon said. “Look, not all demons are malicious, but it’s getting out of control.” The voice seemingly moving. Sam had to guess it was a form of teleportation to keep Sam from spotting its location, he can’t say that he blamed the demon either.
Something was getting out of control? He had to guess hell was getting out of control, with no king demons were probably doing as they wished. “Hell, I assume?” Sam guessed.
“Bingo” The demon answered, continuing on to say “Crowley was a lousy leader, but under him, demons weren’t running all over the place and causing messes.” They sounded like they were switching spots again. “As a demon, I like chaos, but this is just getting to be too much. Higher level demons are now terrorizing lower level demons, souls are escaping the racks and wandering hell, I hated Crowley but the chaos needs to come to an end. We need a leader.”
Sam shook his head. “No way, there is no demon I’d trust on the throne.” He answered, knowing exactly what the demon wanted, they wanted Sam to lay off of the restrictions, let a new king or queen sit on the throne, and he wasn’t going to have that.
“I wasn’t going to suggest just any demon.” The demon said, switching places again, Sam could hear them getting closer. “I was going to suggest, well, you.”
Sam had to take a moment, shock splitting his mind in half at the moment. “Me, why the hell would you want a Winchester on the throne?”
“Demons weren’t meant to be this great evil force.” The demon began to explain. “Demons we were meant to be the wrath of god, or, that’s how I look at it. It’s our job to punish those who sin, and no, I’m not talking about drinking on a Sunday, I’m talking about those who are terrible people.” The demon expressed their opinion and then went on to say. “Hell is meant to be chaotic, but we’re not united against a cause, not like we used to be. With Crowley, he was alright because he maintained order, while he used us for his forsaken bidding we still were a force to be reckoned with. Now, if you need to take care of a human who has gone out of line, you can’t even muster enough men to form a small group.” They went on to complain. “We’re losing souls.”
Sam understood where the demon was coming from. “Why would I be the better candidate? I’m a human.”
“On the contrary Sam, you’re in denial.” The demon said, before he could protest, moving in front of Sam. The demon was in a female vessel, a tall one at that, she had to be at least 6’2. “If anybody has the right to the throne of hell, it’s you. There is nobody who is better fit for the job. Besides, you already claimed it in a way.”
Sam shook his head. “Are you not listening, I’m a human, I’m not fit to run hell, I certainly won’t get the respect of the demons. And that is just not me.” He said, trying to get the demon to just admit he wasn’t fit for the job and leave him alone.
“For a human, you certainly are a little demonic, aren’t you. How often do you feel the power of hell at your fingertips during a fight? Do you feel Azazel coursing through your veins? Whenever you travel to hell, do you understand the raw power you possess. Even on the surface of earth. You were able to kill Lilith, to defeat Lucifer. You can do so much more than that.” The demon ranted, pulling up things that had happened in the past.
Sam began to move to the door. “That was the demon blood, not me.” He said, stepping passed the demon and beginning to walk towards the door.
“You know you could be that powerful without the demon blood. Do you understand how many demons cheered when you killed Kipling?” The demon said.
Sam stopped, turning around “I’m not evil, and Kipling was an idiot.”
“Understand what good you can do with hell at your fingertips.” The demon said. Sam looked like he was genuinely considering that. So they continued “Hell will be what it used to be, torturing the souls who deserve it, and you will have the power to finally deal with those Men of Letters, for good.”
“You make a compelling point, but I’m going to have to say no, I’m a hunter, I’m no demon.” He said, he fought off the urge to listen more but he couldn’t walk towards the door. Something was compelling him to stay.
“What did the Hunters ever do for you? They call you a freak, and while you’re a hero to them they will never fully accept you. You’ve been places where they haven’t been, you’ve seen a darkside so dark that it makes Amara to be the goddess of light.” The demon said, not bringing up the cage but implying it.
“There are hundreds of demons, waiting for when you take the throne, hundreds, Rejoicing when you killed Kipling. Sam, we’re offering you a home. You are the bridge between Hell and mankind. And as a demon I shouldn’t be getting this poetic, but it’s about time we have some humanity. And it’s about time you stop hiding who you are.”
Sam stood there, considering what the demon had said. “If I lead Hell, I’ll never be accepted in my family again.”
“Considering it’s in your blood, did they ever accept you in the first place?” The demon asked.
That hurt, but Sam knew the demon was right. The way Dean turned his nose in disgust at the demon blood, or the way Dean would have them leave quickly after dealing with demons. He knew Dean still didn’t trust him, he knew Dean still blamed him. “I’m sure my powers are lost now.”
“Look inside yourself-” The demon was cut off by a boom on the other side of the room, the Impala came to a screeching halt just in front of the conveyor belt. The demon looked at Sam, “My name is Ergoth, summon me when you’ve made up your mind.” The demon explained quickly, teleporting away.
Dean rushed out of the impala, the colt in hand and ready to shoot. The demon teleported away before he could aim properly. “SON OF A BITCH!” Dean yelled, grabbing the holy water and splashing it on Sam. Sam just stood there as he did so, tilting his head to the side and spitting it out. Upon figuring out that it was still Sam he walked up and hugged him tightly. Holding him for a few seconds, Sam hugged him back, relaxing a little, before remembering everything that the demon had said.
“Sammy, are you okay?” Dean asked, bringing Sam back into reality.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Sam replied, still looking a little out of it. “It’s just that threw me in a loop.”
Dean put the holy water flask in his jacket. “Well what did it say?”
“They talked about the state of hell.” Sam said, shaking his head. “When I killed Kipling and said there would be no new King, Hell fell into chaos. They told me hell needed a new king, and said something about my demon powers from Azazel, telling me that it was my duty to let them have a leader.” Sam explained, lying on the spot while also telling the truth.
“You said no, right?” Dean asked.
“Yeah, of course.” Sam confirmed, nodding.
“Good, because you know better than anyone else, especially after Ruby, that those demons can be manipulative sons of bitches. If there was a way to close the gates of hell without the trials, trust me.” Dean said, doing a head tilt and walking to the Impala. “Come on, let’s go get a beer.”
Sam didn’t say anything, headed to the Impala and sitting in the passenger seat, he closed the door as Dean got into the driver’s side. Dean was right, demons were manipulative, he couldn’t trust them. The demon had to have been manipulating the situation. At the same time, Sam looked at his fingers before looking at Dean, would Dean accept him if he found out Sam still thought he had powers? Or was the only place Sam would ever be at home, was hell?