Chapter 17

Rose managed to get to her feet after shaking off what was probably a concussion. She saw that her former captor was battling Haley and they were duking it out with their powers. They were causing serious damage and collapse looked eminent. She had to take over. She reverted back to her true form and gave a sharp whinny before stampeding between the two witches and took a swipe at Genevieve.

Haley bounced away and smacked into Dean as he finished off one of those douches that attacked them earlier. He caught and said, "Whoa there. You all right?"

"I'm fine." It was then she noticed that the cage that had the kids was missing and in the water was the little boy Clyde. "Dean." She pointed.

Dean followed her gaze and saw the boy swimming towards the edge and was trying to get out. Thinking nothing about his own safety since the kelpie was on the rampage again, he ran to the edge at the same time his brother did. It was Dean who managed to get a good grip on the boy and haul him out. "You okay kid?"

"My sister."

Sam asked, "Where?"

Clyde pointed at the water. Looking around both brothers realized that Angela was not there either. Dean shouted, "Angie!"

Sam happened to look and saw the kelpie fall back and it was going to crush them if they didn't move. Even with a dislocated shoulder, he managed to tug his brother while he was holding onto the boy and Haley and dive out of the way of large body. "Dean, watch out!"

The fall had them land near the stairs leading up and into the club. They could get out but he wasn't going to leave Angela behind and neither was Dean. Yet it was ingrained in both of them that they had to help the civilians, as Dad called them, first. He looked at Dean to ask what to do.

The question was answered for them when the kelpie again reverted into her human form looking battered but not defeated. In fact she looked like she had one last trick up her sleeve and she was going to use it. It was kind of creepy the way she smiled. She said to the witch, "Now you will pay for your crimes."

"Not before I kill you," the witch screamed. She charged at the kelpie which in Sam's opinion was pretty stupid if you didn't know what you were doing. The witch charged forth and swung what was in her hand at the kelpie.

Rose blocked with her forearm and grabbed the pole that the witch had been swinging at her. She looked down at the witch in the eye. It was a cool, calm and deliberate look. With her free hand she grabbed the other arm of the witch and held her fast. She was well aware that Absolution had fallen into the pool but she couldn't do anything about that now. Absolution would have to use the canal as a way out. She called out to the others and said, "Go."

Dean called out, "What about Angie?"

Then Sam remembered, "Dean, the drainage leads out to the canal. She'll get out that way."

Dean was about to protest when the water from the pool began to churned and it seemed like a wall of water was going to rise. It shot up like pressurized water and it weakened the structure further causing debris to fall down. There was no way Angela could follow them now, he had to trust that she had a way out. Right now they had to get out of Dodge. He pointed to the stairs and they started up.

Suddenly the Raven jumped in front of them. Dean almost dropped Clyde who clutched his neck hard. The Raven advanced towards them saying, "We aren't finished here."

The stairway was too narrow to fight and if Haley tried her powers, it could spell trouble for them. Dean felt her grip his shoulder as she covered the boy hanging down his back with her own body. "Dean… what do you want me to do," she whispered.

"Begging for mercy is what you should do. I won't deprive the master the joy in killing you witch," the Raven replied.

Dean turned his head towards Clyde, "Hey just close your eyes kid. Whatever happens, don't open them." At the same time he made a slight gesture, hoping that Sam would see it. He then said to the douche, "You know we can't let you do that."

"And what are you going to do about it?"

"Well for starters, kick your ass and then gank it." Dean gave a sarcastic smile that said he meant business.

The Raven started laughing. This human was ridiculous if he thought he could finish him off. It was literally hysterical. He pointed at Dean and replied, "You think you're going to do all that? You couldn't even last when my men took you down."

"What can I say? I'm a slow learner."

The Raven was going to say something when he was sent flying and he collided with some barrels in a corner and he was sopping wet. He sat up and growled and was going to spring again but he was attacked by another burst of water and he landed on the mechanism of what looked like was a power generator for both the club and the cage contraption things. The electric shock sparked the liquid that had splashed on the Raven and it ignited and started spreading.

"Looks like our plan was shot to hell," Dean said. "Let's book." He took off jogging up the stairs trying hard not to slip on the hard stone.

Sam was the last to go through the door and he paused to see the kelpie in its human form still fighting the witch. The fire was spreading rapidly and with water shooting everywhere, the structure was going to collapse. He saw that the kelpie was going to sacrifice herself. He didn't get it but that was something to be investigated later. He took off following his brother and Haley as they raced out of the club just as the flames began to spread.

Rose knew that she wasn't the one who took care of the Raven. She was focused on the witch and bringing down the place. She hoped that Absolution would make it even though it would feel like she was being shot out of a canon or something.

"I will get what is mine."

Rose looked at the witch and then at the surrounding flames. Fire was good. It would leave no trace and she would return to home. The Raven was already dead and never again would he terrorize the other witch. She looked up to see the one called Sam looking down at the collapsing room. She gave a slight nod and continued to fight.

At least they were safe. One was with the humans and the other was with Absolution but they were safe. Absolution will return them to the tribe. She smiled as the flames started to climb higher. Now was the time. She increased her output and concentrated it for one massive charge. Rose of Tralee.

Falling in shoulder first into a pool of water was no picnic but such was the nature of the business of being a hunter. What Angela didn't count on was the dull throb she felt on her side as she sank with her load to the bottom of the pool. It was actually deeper than she thought and wondered why that was so.

She didn't have time to think about it since there was the issue of the cage floating right down on top of them. She squirmed to get away and couldn't help but grimace as the dull throb pulsed in her side. She let go of Clare and looked down.

There was a nasty gash on her left side and the blood blooming from the water made it look worse than what it probably was. She would have to inspect it later and she looked for Clare. She couldn't see her anywhere and she started to panic. Grimacing, she began searching for the girl. She had to go back up for air and surfaced just as a huge wall of water came up.

Angela had no idea what was going on but she surmised that the kelpie was doing what it could do when given enough water. Right now she had to find Clare. She took a dive and swam down to the depths. She felt bad for letting her go.

Help me Absolution.

Angela almost opened her mouth in surprise. It was a thing to get used to the whole talking with her mind. Frowning she kept going. She finally spotted Clare. She was swimming fine but she had been caught in the rush of the tide that was building up. Angela shot forward ignoring her own pain until she caught up with the girl and had her in her arms.

Unfortunately the pressure was building and they needed to get out. Angela knew that the pool emptied into the drainage and the drainage emptied into the canal. Slipping the girl's arms around her neck and making sure that they were secure, she swam away from where the steps where and towards where the drain was.

It wasn't too hard to find but at the moment, the kelpie was drawing water so she was working against the current. She was strong but it was taxing and to have an injury on top of that forced her to use every bit of strength that she had to head right where the kelpie had entered. She could feel her lungs start to burn from the lack of air but she needed to get to that hole.

She finally managed to grab the grating and tried to pull herself and Clare through. It was sheer luck that the kelpie pulled enough water to allow her to take a breath of air. She shouted, "Be ready and take a deep breath."

Clare responded by hugging Angela a little tighter around the neck. She also nodded which Angela felt. "I'll be ready."

It was an encouragement to Angela as she used her arms to pull her through the grate just enough to get her legs through. It took even more effort to slide over so that her back was towards the grate. At least the pulling was reduced as Angela dropped to her knees and took a couple of breaths. The thing was she had to move while she could.

Sucking it up she got to her feet and started trudging down the drain and prayed that she wouldn't get them lost. It was just luck that it was a single drain so she trudged forward. It wasn't to last however when there was a rumble coming through the drain. Angela paused to look and saw the torrent of water rushing towards them and her eyes widened.

Clare grabbed on tight just as Angela turned around and started running as fast as she could through the water filled drain. She held her arms behind her to hold onto Clare by her legs and continued to run. The water was getting louder and she knew that it was getting closer. She came to a T-junction and had no idea which way to go.

"Go right."

Not slowing down Angela executed the turn trusting little Clare's judgment call. Unfortunately the rushing torrent caught up with them and knocked her off her feet until she was in a sitting position. Angela couldn't fight against the current and let it carry them. The best she could do was to use her limbs to keep from being jarred against the piping.

Clare made choking sounds as water went down the wrong way and Angela tried harder. Eventually Clare stopped coughing just as Angela thrust out her arms to bounce off a wall as they rounded a corner. It was the last one just as the drain emptied into the canal. They flew out and landed with a splash.

It was actually a weird displacement kind of splash since Angela was struck with the vision of falling into an icy river even though she couldn't recall ever doing anything like that. Falling into the sea on a cold and stormy night she could recall a couple of times. Maybe it was just the feeling of the water and the fact that she had a gash on her body, she was trying to keep her and Clare's head above the water all the while trying to find a shoreline or something and her limbs were exhausted. Angela frowned in determination to keep going though it was like when she was trying to get past the grate.

At one point she was pulled underwater towards the bottom of the canal. Frowning in frustration she tried kicking her way back up but every time she rose, she was pushed back down. She felt Clare's grip loosen and she started to panic. She grabbed the girl's wrists and kicked again for the surface even though her lungs were burning to the point of bursting and her hands slipped from Clare's hands to try and get to the surface. It was too much of an effort and her tired muscles gave out and her eyes started to droop.

Absolution was hurt but she kept trying. She kept trying to get them out of the drainage and into the canal. Clare knew that it wasn't her fault that Absolution was hurt but she was sad that it had happened. Absolution got them out and now they were tumbling in the canal and Absolution was tiring out.

Clare didn't mind the water much because she had been told she was like a fish and there was a good reason for it. When it became clear that Absolution wasn't going to make it, Clare decided to do what she had been told never to do unless it was necessary. This time it was and she and Clyde should have done it since Absolution had sung the song to calm the Rose.

Clare felt Absolution's body go limp and the time was to act. She released her hold on Absolution and suspended herself while the current carried them. Darting forward, Clare allowed her form to change into what she and her brother had kept hidden since they were old enough to understand. She had always felt free in this form even though she was small and that was because of her age.

Darting forward at a breaking speed, Clare caught up with Absolution. This time she would carry Absolution just as she had carried her. Clare wound her head underneath Absolution's arm and was glad that Absolution was conscious enough to get a good grip even if she pulled slightly on her mane. Just as long as she held on, all would be well.

As soon as Clare was sure Absolution was holding on, she darted off in a direction towards the shore. She used her strong muscles to ripple through the water. It was comparable to a dolphin or shark as they swam through the water the way how Clare moved. She could beat her brother in a match and that was how she treated it. She needed to win if only to help Absolution.

Clare angled for the surface and pushed through the water. She broke through with astonishing strength but it felt like playtime. Absolution was still hanging on so Clare swam for the shore. In this form she was able to keep above the water and the force had died down somewhat enabling her to reach the edge. Now she needed to haul Absolution out.

"Looks like you could use a hand."

Clare looked up and saw a man looking at her with a slight smirk and frowned. He looked human but Clare could tell that he wasn't really human. He could be an enemy and try to hurt Absolution. She gave a slight noise but didn't move.

"You know you're a little small for a kelpie but then you aren't very old now are you? Relax kiddo I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm here to help our friend there." The man indicated towards Absolution.

Clare reverted back so she could talk to the man. She asked, "How do you know about me?"

The man smirked, "Please. I've been hanging around here for quite some time. I know a few things. Come on let me help you out. If I do something wrong I'll let ya punch me. No tricks."

Clare frowned and nodded. She didn't know the man but she could sense that he was a good person or thing. It wasn't evil that was a sure thing. She moved so he could get a good grip on Absolution and watched as he hauled her out. He grunted, "Damn Angie, always making it difficult to rescue you."

Clare climbed out by herself just as the man laid Absolution on the ground. She had heard what he said and asked, "You know Absolution."

At that moment Absolution let out a cough as the water that had filled her lungs started expelling itself out. She spit it out and took a couple of deep breaths but didn't open her eyes. The man watched as if to make sure she didn't open them before replying, "Yeah kid. I know her but not by that name. She hates being called that."

"I know but it is what she is and how we know her."

The man looked at Clare with a gentle look. "Maybe you do kid… but not me. She's a friend and a very good one. I don't deserve her friendship."

It was a puzzle to Clare and she was curious. She knew she shouldn't ask having been told that she would find out a lot if she took the time to stop and listen. Hell that was how she and her brother knew what to do when Absolution came to the village. She couldn't help herself and asked, "Why do you say that? Absolution says the opposite."

The man sighed as he kneeled to take a look at Absolution's injury. He replied as he began to tear off a strip from his jacket, "She says that because bad things happened to her a long time ago. She has trouble seeing how much she means to others. I'm pretty much a dumbass and a jerk."

Clare kneeled and leaned in close. She looked around. They were near the park. She looked back at the man who was tying off the injury. She said, "Absolution's friends seem to change her mind a little."

The man chuckled and replied, "She still doesn't see it kid but I have faith she will and that's a big deal coming from someone like me." He finished and stood up. "Well that should do it."

"Are you going?"

"Yeap. Gotta find a new place since this town has been too much excitement for me. Maybe I'll find a place to have a little fun my style." The man then looked down at Clare. He saw that she looked a little scared which was strange to him since he had just watched the whole swimming thing going on. Must be an age thing. He said, "Don't worry the numbskulls I like to have fun with are coming this way with your brother."

Clare frowned at the thought that the man would call Sam and Dean numbskulls. She didn't know how he knew they were heading this way. "How do you know that?"

The man gave a slight scoffing noise mingled with a laugh. "Come on kiddo. If anything I know those two. They will want to find you two. They'll find ya here."

"Why don't you stay and get thanked?"

The man looked like he almost wanted to burst out laughing or swallow his tongue. Clare didn't understand his reaction and frowned while he started to chuckle. He managed to get it under control but the laugh could still be heard in his voice as he replied, "Them thank me? They would rather stake me with that fancy wood… as if they could. No I better go. You two will be fine."

Clare grabbed his sleeve. "Don't you want to stay?"

"I can't."

Clare couldn't understand why but it was clear to her that the man didn't want to stay. Maybe it was as he said earlier about him being a jerk. She couldn't say. She gave a nod and then asked, "Will you come by the village so I can see you again?"

The man frowned slightly at the question as if to think about it. He then glanced at Absolution and back at Clare. "Maybe someday kid. Just stay out of trouble you and your brother."

Clare felt a slight breeze and crunched up to get warm. When she heard the slight ruffle of wings, she looked up and the man was gone. Clare looked around wide eyed trying to find the man. She didn't know how he could do that.

Angela felt sluggish until she felt the first brushes of air that entered her lungs. It was a natural reaction as she expelled the water. It felt like she had swallowed a whole pool of water but it was good to get it out. As it were she was disoriented even with her eyes closed but she could hear voices. One was Clare's and she was glad the girl was safe. The other she recognized off the bat but she dismissed it as a dream since they hadn't spoken to each other since…

Slowly Angela opened her eyes and found herself looking up at the twilight in the sky. She could see the first of the stars coming out and chuckled. Looking up at the stars always brought a sense of content and peace. She suddenly saw a little face looking down at her and she asked, "You okay Clare?"

"Yes Angie."

Angela smiled. Finally she had gotten the kids or at least one of them to say her name rather than what people thought of her. Slowly she propped herself on her elbows and looked around wincing slightly. She looked down to find her waist tied off with a piece of cloth and remembered the injury she had suffered when she and Clare fell into the water. The girl must've found something to tie it off with. That meant that Clare was the one to haul her out and that meant…

Angela couldn't help but start to laugh a bit. Clare asked her, "What's so funny?"

"I just tend to overthink sometimes," Angela replied. "So I guess I owe you one."

"I owe you a boon," Clare replied.

"No you don't."

"Yes I do. I gave you my chain and then you gave it back to me," Clare insisted.

Angela raised her brow in a knowing fashion. Clare had neither claimed nor denied anything and she did have a slight memory of touching skin that was usual for marine animals like seals. It made sense now what the elder had told her before leaving the village to work this job.

The last thing that she wanted was to have a debt owed to her by a little one who more likely didn't understand completely what a debt like that meant. "Why don't we call it even? Or better yet, I can sing the lament for the Rose since she gave her life for ours."

Clare looked at Angela as if she didn't understand why she was trying to get out of it. Then she replied, "I still owe you a boon. You don't need to use it now but I would like you to sing for the Rose. The elder and Philly would like that."

"They'll like it even better once we get you and your brother back to them," Angela replied as she tried getting to a sitting position. She looked around to see where they were and recognized that part of the park called Music Row. She gave a slight shake of her head in amusement.

At that moment there was some noise and both Clare and Angela recognized the voices of Sam and Dean. They were louder than Haley and Clyde and Angela couldn't help but laugh. She was certainly going to get it later. Finally she gave a shout that brought them over running.

A/N: Well it looks like Rose took care of the threat and a nice little surprise happened. Show of hands: how many of you actually knew the kids were kelpies? Stay tuned for the conclusion of Flight of the Song...