Marcus Baker was standing among several guests when the disturbance drew everyone's attention toward the upper levels.
The alarm had already started. Security moved through the exhibition hall with visible urgency while confused guests stepped aside.
His head of security pushed through the crowd. "Mr. Baker, we need to move."
"What happened?"
"Breach in the restricted section."
Marcus's expression hardened. "What was taken?"
The security chief hesitated. That alone put Marcus on edge. "The intruders removed a glowing subject from one of the secured rooms."
Marcus froze. There was only one glowing thing in his collection.
"The angel."
The security chief didn't answer. He didn't need to.
"Listen to me carefully." Marcus stepped closer. "Do not shoot it."
"We're dealing with armed intruders, sir."
"I don't care. If that thing is what I think it is, a bullet could kill it. Recover it intact."
The security chief gave up arguing. He lifted his radio. "Alpha to all units. The glowing subject is priority recovery."
"Do we have authorization to use firearms?"
He glanced at Marcus. Marcus was still watching him. "Negative."
The response sounded deeply unhappy. "Copy."
The security chief turned to his guards. "Move him to the panic room."
Marcus allowed himself to be escorted away, eyes fixed on the upper floor. Someone was carrying away the most valuable thing he had ever acquired — and he wasn't willing to risk seeing it damaged before he understood what it was.
***
Dean dropped the last guard in front of him and immediately wished he'd looked up sooner.
The entire corridor ahead was filling with security. Men pouring from side hallways, more coming up the staircase below. Over a dozen guards forming a line across the corridor within seconds.
Dean stepped back beside Sam. "Well."
"Yeah."
Neither brother liked their odds. The corridor wasn't wide enough to maneuver and there were too many people blocking the exits. Dean glanced at Henry over Sam's shoulder.
"Now would be a really good time to wake up."
No response. The blue energy kept flowing.
More footsteps behind them. Sam turned. Additional security coming from the rear.
Trapped.
Dean looked forward. Then backward. "Okay." For once he didn't have a plan. Fighting through fifteen armed men while carrying an unconscious person wasn't realistic, even for them.
One of the guards raised a hand. "Don't make this worse than it needs to be."
Dean snorted. "Pretty sure we're past that point."
The line tightened. Dean raised his fists. "If any of you think this is gonna be easy, you're about to have a bad night."
Nobody looked impressed.
Then the blue light surrounding Henry intensified.
Dean thought he was imagining it. Then it grew brighter. And brighter. Sam felt Henry shift on his shoulder.
The energy erupted.
Blue light exploded outward in every direction. The corridor vanished beneath the glow. Guards stumbled backward, arms raised, cursing. Nobody could see anything except blue.
Then it was gone.
The corridor came back into focus. The walls, the carpet, the guards. Everything still there.
Everything except the Winchesters.
The lead guard stared at the empty space. "Where the hell did they go?"
One moment Dean was staring down a corridor full of security. The next he was gripping the Impala's steering wheel.
He sat there for several seconds. His brain refused to process the change.
He slowly looked at Sam. "What the hell happened?"
Sam ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know." He looked out the windows — empty road, somewhere outside Los Angeles. "I don't even know how we got here."
Dean checked the rearview mirror. Henry was stretched across the back seat. The blue glow was still there, much weaker than before.
Dean stared at him for a moment, then shook his head. "Whatever. We got him back."
Sam looked at Henry and said nothing. After days of searching, the sight of him in the back seat still felt strange.
Dean started the engine. "We should head back. Madison and Bela should know."
Sam nodded. "They've earned one piece of good news."
Dean pulled onto the road.
***
On Lilith's side, things were moving quickly.
Lilith, still wearing the body of a little girl, sat calmly in her chair while Ruby knelt before her. The room was silent except for the distant sounds of Hell echoing through the darkness.
"Your Majesty," Ruby said, lowering her head respectfully, "there are reports that Henry Winchester may still be alive."
Lilith's expression barely changed.
Ruby continued carefully.
"If he returns, our plans could become difficult. Manipulating Sam was already challenging while Henry was around. If he comes back again, influencing the Winchesters will be even harder."
For a few moments, Lilith remained silent.
Then she smiled.
"Then we simply move faster."
Her voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the authority behind it.
"We still have time. The seals must be broken, and the Winchesters must play their part."
Ruby immediately lowered her head further.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lilith leaned back in her chair.
"I will provide you with a way to approach Sam. Earn his trust. Make him rely on you. Once that happens, guide him where we need him to go."
Ruby nodded without hesitation.
"As you command."
Unlike many demons, Ruby truly believed in Lucifer's return. To her, breaking the seals wasn't merely a mission—it was a purpose.
Lilith watched her for a moment before speaking again.
"Do not fail. We are too close to stop now."
Ruby bowed her head.
"I won't, Your Majesty."
A faint smile crossed Lilith's face.
"Good."
*****
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