“What do you mean you’ve seen my eyes before?”  Julie asked as she stood between Sam and Dean.  She alone lowered her gun as she listened to what the Alpha Vampire had to say.

“Hm, you were much more defensive last time we met,”  He hummed.  Dean took a step in front of her, shielding her with his body.  “You always did come with your body servants though.”

“Body servants?”  Julie asked losing her understanding of the situation completely.

“Maybe you have seen less of the puzzle this time around, it's usually a little different, but not very much.  Either that or your not as smart,”  He sneered a little, and Julie tensed.  Sam grabbed her shoulder with one hand.

“Yeah, well we aren’t here to see the puzzle,”  Dean interrupted.  Julie looked between the brothers before something behind Sam caught her attention.

“Oh, I know full well why you are here, Winchester.  Do you?  Did Crowley tell you why he wanted me?”  The Vampire laughed as he spoke grandly.

“Crowley?”  Julie asked, turning to face the Alpha abruptly.  “Why do I know that name,”  She whispered looking at the floor calculating what she was missing.

“I shall not go with you this time, Lady.  You have much to learn still,”  The alpha said flicking his hand at the trio.

“Not to alarm anyone,”  Julie whispered at the gesture.  “But we might be surrounded.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”  Dean asked looking over his shoulder to scowl at her.

“Any ideas on how to get out of here?”  Sam countered Dean's question.

“Up there,”  Julie said pointing to the ceiling.  It was a glass pane.

“Great plan,”  Dean commented snidely.  “How are we gonna get there?”

“Like this?  Watch my back,”  Julie said before lifting her gun.

“Look out!”  Sam shouted at his brother as a vampire came out of the shadows in front of him.  The crack of Julie’s gun firing started the fight.  Dean shot the vampire, and it staggered back mostly unphased.

“Julie!”  Sam shouted as he pulled her out from under the falling glass of the window.  A heavy piece of glass hit Dean on the back of his head and he crumpled to the ground along with several vampires.

“Grab your brother,”  Julie said pulling herself from Sam’s grip.  She added an attachment to the barrel of her gun and pulled the magazine out, as Sam threw Dean over his shoulder.  She fired off a second shot that was significantly quieter and a cable extended from the barrel attached to a grappling hook.

“That’s not gonna hold us all,”  Sam said looking at her and then at the vampires that were starting to get back up.

“We don’t have a choice.  Here you hold it, and I’ll hold you,”  Julie said handing the gun to him and grabbing Sam around the waist.  “Push the mag release.”

With a click, the cable started to retract and lifted the group.  But it struggled obviously under the weight of the three of them.

“It’s not gonna work,”  Sam said, the frustration evident in his voice as he held on to Dean.  Julie’s weight around his middle dropped from him suddenly, and he looked down to see her roll to her feet on the ground.

“Get Dean out of here!”  She shouted up at him.  Sam knew he couldn’t land safely with Dean at this point.  The only way forward would be to get Dean to the Impala and go back for her.

“That was incredibly foolish, Lady,”  The Vampire said chuckled from his throne.  “Did you think that you would sacrifice yourself for your love?”

“You’re the reason that I lose,”  Julie stood tall in front of her foe.  “Not love.”

“Is that what you have taken away from all of these years?”  The Alpha grinned menacingly at her before standing to his full height.

“Being in love doesn’t make you vulnerable to anyone other than the person loving you,”  Julie echoed a sentiment that she believed with all her heart but didn’t know where she had heard it from.  She straightened her back as the vampire stepped down to tower in front of her.

“You are young and naive.  And that is why you will always fail,”  He snarled.

“Maybe, but you won’t win this fight,”  Julie said before covering her ears and dropping to the ground to cover as much of herself as possible.  The quiet beeping had gone unnoticed by everyone, but the blast from the explosive that she had planted when the first got her, received everyone’s attention.

The rubble of the building covered everyone except Julie.  She thanked her geometry teacher, as she had calculated where to stand to make sure the hole from the windowpane had been over where she was kneeling.  She stood up and wiped some dust and glass out of her hair before running from the ruins to the idling engine of the Impala.

“Are you okay?”  Sam asked as she got there.  He brushed a small piece of glass away from a cut on her cheek.

“I’m fine, Sam.  How is your brother?”  She asked looking past the big man to where Dean was still unconscious.

“He woke up for a minute, I think he is gonna be okay, but we need to get out of here,”  Sam said and they sat in the car and drove back to the motel.

“Julie?”  Sam asked as he opened the door to her motel room from his side.  He heard the water in the shower running and went to knock on the bathroom door.  “Are you okay?”

“Actually,”  She whimpered.  “Could you come in here and help me?”  Sam saw Julie was in the shower and her clothes had a few stains of blood.  “I can’t reach,”  She said exposing her back to him.

“Hold still,”  Sam ordered before walking over to her and helping with the glass that she couldn’t reach.  Her skin was smooth, and he allowed himself to caress her.  “Why do I know you?”

“I know this sounds funny, but I think we are connected,”  She said looking at him over her shoulder.  “I think there is a spell or some cosmic explanation for why we know each other.”

“Destiny?”  Sam asked standing up to be near her face.  “I’m not sure I believe in that.”  Sam leaned in and Julie met his lips as they indulged in the kiss that they both wanted but didn’t understand.

“Then what do you think it is?”  Julie said pulling away first and breathing heavily.  Sam refused to answer as he dove back in to kiss her more.

“Dean, I need to find her,” Sam said as they sat in their motel room.  He slammed his laptop shut and pushed his hair out of his face.

“Yes, well you keep saying that,”  Dean said as he went over to the refrigerator.  “You know her name, but do you know anything else about her?”

“No,”  Sam grumbled clenching his jaw.

“No.  Well, since we don’t know where she is, or even who she is, we can’t find her!”  Dean shouted.  There was a knock at their motel door.  The brothers exchanged confused looks.  “Keep looking for that vamp,”  Dean whispered before he went to the door.

“Special Agent Johnson?”  The blonde woman, Julie, was standing outside the motel door with a notepad in one hand and a recorder in the other.

“Julie?”  Sam’s voice came from the back of the motel room.

“And the other Special Agent Johnson,”  Julie said addressing Sam holding the recorder toward him.  “Any relation?”

“What?”  Dean asked shocked.

“Nevermind,”  Julie said shaking her head.  “I have some questions about the case the FBI is working on.  Do you guys have some time for me to ask you some questions?”

“Uh, we are not in a position at this time to provide any kind of a statement,”  Dean said, starting to close the door.

“Right, um can I see your badges to get the number for my report?”  She said putting the recorder on.  Sam noticed then when her hand turned.  The light wasn’t on to signify the recorder was working.

“You’re not really a reporter are you?”  Sam asked, scoffing, and looking over at Dean.  The older Winchester grabbed Julie by the arm and pulled her into the room.

“Let go of me, what are you doing?”  Julie asked outraged.  Dean shut the door and flipped the lock.

“Woah!”  Dean cried out as he turned and saw the gun that Julie had trained on Sam.  “What is going on right now?”

“You guys aren’t really feds.  I’m not really a reporter.  But we are all here following these killings.  Now that’s a hell of a coincidence, and I’d like to know who the hell you are?”  Julie said moving to put Dean next to Sam.

“I’m Sam, this is my brother, Dean,”  Sam motioned to his brother, then put his hands back up to calm Julie. “You’re a hunter aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,”  Julie started to cover for herself.

“We are too,”  Sam said motioning to Dean again.  “We’re hunting a vampire.”

“Sam, wait,”  Dean said warningly.

“No, it’s true,”  Julie said lowering her gun.  “Do I know you?”

“No,”  Dean said.

“I’m not sure,”  Sam said at the same time.  Dean glanced at his brother, nervously.

“I know where the Vampire is,”  Julie said putting the safety on her firearm.

“What do you mean the vampire?”  Dean asked.  “There’s more than one.”

“No, The Vampire,”  She said emphasizing it.  “He’s the first one.  I think.”

“The Alpha?”  Sam asked.

“Wait, how do you know where he is?”  Dean asked remembering the last encounter he’d experienced with the Alpha Vampire.

“I’ve been following his minions.  I’m pretty sure I found him yesterday.  I just didn’t have a way to get in to see him for real,”  Julie said.

“Well let’s go,”  Sam said before they packed up and left for the vampire’s nest.

“You’re sure this is where he is holed up?”  Dean asked as the group looked at the old warehouse.

“I think so,”  Julie said, shrugging.  Dean looked over at her and gave a fake smile.

“I’m certain I know her,”  Sam whispered to Dean as they were walking through the hall.

“Don’t get all heart eyes on me right now, we are working,”  Dean whispered at Sam.

“Dean,”  The alpha Vampire’s voice echoed through the warehouse.  “Why are you here?”

“Looking for you actually,”  Dean said as the three of them turned the corner and faced his throne.

“You know, I have been alive for a long time,”  The vampire said as he saw them.  “The eyes are the windows to the soul, and I have seen your eyes before, Lady,”  He pointed at Julie.

“So wait, King Oskar transferred the title of Countess to you?”  Dean asked as he paced in Julie's sitting room.

“Yes,”  She answered, confirming exactly what she had already told him.  “Now that I am a lady of my own title, it would make sense that my lady’s maid should be married.”

“What are you suggesting, girl?”  Bobby asked, sounding more cranky than usual.

“I think Dean should marry Lisa, it will get the two of us out of our awkward situation and keep Michael from having any sway over Dean,”  Julie said standing up and walking around to Lisa.

“You - what?”  Dean asked, trying to process the statement.

“We can talk about that more, in private,”  Julie said, dismissing his question.

“We have another problem.  It sounds like King Oskar is giving you to Michael as a peace offering.”  Cole said.

“Wait, you said that the letter was signed by the King’s secretary?”  Sam asked.  His eyes scrunched together as if he was deep in thought.

“Yes, why?”  Julie turned to look at him as he spoke.

“Nickolas has long been after the throne, despite his lack of station.  Our father talked about it a few times.  What if Nickolas is in league with King Michael?”  Sam asked.

“Or has his own agenda,”  Dean offered.

“Do you think he is the reason that the vampires are so strongly centered around Oskar’s kingdom,”  Julie mused.

“That would fit into our speculation that Oskar was too clueless to be part of the scheme,”  Sam mused.

“Oh Oskar’s not the threat in that royal couple,”  Bobby chuckled.

“What?”  Julie and the brothers all echoed.

“It’s the queen who is the threat there,”  Bobby said like it was obvious.

“Queen Rowena?”  Julie asked thinking about all the times the Queen had been polite and kind to her.  “But she’s foreign, I thought that wouldn’t put her in the know?”

“Oh, she’s old blood.  Don’t let her sweet smile mislead you,”  Bobby said.

“Could she be in on it then?”  Dean asked.

“Maybe,”  Julie said, unsure of whether the queen would do that to her.

“Well, we have Dean squared away safe and sound,”  Cole said, drawing attention back to himself.  “What about you, Countess?”  He asked, offering the new title so Julie could be more comfortable when she was addressed with it.  “You won’t be safe until Michael has no way to touch you.”

“I have an idea for that too,”  Julie said.  Her eyes flitted over to Sam, but the action was unnoticed by all but Dean.  Julie couldn’t tell if he was holding back a smile or a snarl, but she knew that he was aware of her thoughts.  “Bobby make our transition back to court tomorrow as easy as possible if you can.”

“Yes, milady,”  He bowed before leaving her chambers.

“Bobby didn’t need to know what else I have been thinking about but this next part concerns everyone here,”  Julie moved to sit in her chair again.  “Dean, you and Lisa can talk in my room if you please.”

“What’s going on with them?”  Cole asked as they shut a door behind them.

“Lisa is pregnant,”  Julie said.  It was information that the bodyguard needed to know to keep them safe, and knowledge that would not be hidden from Sam for long.  “They need to be wed quickly if your brother agrees to it.”

“Agreed,”  Sam said before turning to her.  “Julie, what is your plan to safeguard yourself from the king?”

“If we get married, Sam, our union will protect me and Dean,”  Julie said almost shyly.  A look of pain crossed Sam’s face briefly.

“I’d like that.  I will consult with Dean about it,”  Sam said, taking her hand.  Dean and Lisa came out of the room at that time, the look of shock on Dean’s face told them all that it was not what he was expecting.

“I think you two should go back to your apartment.  You have a lot to discuss and we will regroup tomorrow before court, so we can make announcements if need be.”  The brothers left the room, and Lisa retired for the night.  Cole stayed with Julie to help her out of her corset.

“If Dean and Lisa marry, there will be questions about your relationship with him,”  Cole said as he loosened the knot on the corset.

“It will work out the way it is supposed to, Cole,”  Julie said.  There was a knock at the door and Cole checked it, returning quickly.

“This is for you,”  He said, handing her a letter.  “Who is it from?”  He asked.

“My father,”  Julie said, recognizing the way her father wrote her name.

“Read it, maybe it talks about why Winchester Sir killed him.  What he was doing with the vampires and the likes,”  Cole urged.

“Finish my laces, I’ll read in private if you don’t mind,”  She whispered, barely holding back tears.

“Yes, milady,”  He answered, loosening her so she could finish this work.

Julie changed into her nightclothes then settled in her bed to read the note.  She cried as she read about all the horrible things her father had done and plotted for other people.  She couldn’t believe her eyes as she read the written confession.  He had been working behind King Oskar’s back with Nickolas to take over the kingdom, which Nick believed to be his by some long lost blood relation.

“Julie?”  Hours had passed since she had laid in her bed, and Sam’s quiet voice inside her room almost made her screams.

“Sam?  What are you doing here?”  Julie asked, pulling the blanket up to her chin.  She thought in retrospect that it was a stupid and unnecessary move.

“I,”  He chuckled, and Julie could see him rubbing his head in the cute way he did when he was embarrassed.  “I missed you.  Do you mind if I sleep with you for a time?”

“I’d like that,”  She smiled and made space for him on her bed.  “How is your brother?”  Julie asked as Sam started to strip to his sleep shirt.

“You should have seen the dumb grin on his face when we were in private.  I don’t think he wants to admit that he is happy.  But I do know that he has been very fond of Lisa for some time now.  I would venture to say this would be a good union for them,”  Sam said smiling.

“Yes, I heard briefly of how fond they were of each other.  Not in much detail,”  Julie moved the papers from her father.

“Yes, well be thankful for that.  What are you doing?”  Sam asked as she placed the letter from her father on the bedside table.  Julie hesitated for a moment.

“My father sent this to me.  I think he knew he was going to die,”  She offered him the pages that he father had scribbled.

“It’s not signed, how do you know it was him?”  Sam asked.  His body had gone rigid reading the letter.

“I would recognize the handwriting anywhere,”  She replied simply.

“You had no idea that your father was involved in any of these things?”  Sam asked.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that I am an only child, I don’t think my father would have kept me in the know of any of his affairs,”  Julie shrugged before taking the pages back.  “What do you think I should do with them?”

“Burn them,”  Sam replied seriously.  “If anyone finds them, they could implicate you in your father’s crimes.”  Julie took the pages and held them over the nightstand candle before they caught ablaze.

“Well, that was dark and serious,”  Julie smiled before turning to rest her head on Sam’s arm.  “Make me smile, Mr. Winchester.”

“I was hoping you would say that,”  Sam smirked before slipping beneath the duvet and kissing the insides of her thighs.

“Lady Julie,”  Lisa rustled Julie from her fitful sleep.  “Sir Sam is awake and I need to get you ready.”

“Thank you, Lisa,”  Julie said sitting up and letting the maid undress her.  Lisa fretted with Julie’s make-up longer than any other part but eventually seemed to give up.

“Whatever happened has left a bruise,”  Lisa said with a sour expression.  “I wish you’d tell me, or at least Cole where you went last night,”  Lisa whispered.   Julie gave her a dark look, then stood to head out to meet with Sam and Cole.

“I am ready,”  Julie announced to her escorts.  Sam turned to say something to her but stopped mid-sentence as he noticed her lip.  Cole moved up to her and held her chin to inspect her face.

“What happened?”  Cole asked enraged.

“You’re hurting me,”  Julie said, placing her hand over his to try and remove his touch.  Cole’s face softened and he removed his touch from her.  “You forget yourself, Mr. Trenton.”

“My apologies, Lady Julie,”  Cole murmured righting himself and walking out toward the stables where Garth was waiting.

“What have you done?”  Sam asked quietly as they walked.

“What I had to do,”  Julie looked side-long at Sam.  “For everyone safety.”

“Are you injured in any other way?”  Sam asked as they entered the stable and loaded their belongings onto their horses.

“No, I’m fine, Sam,”  Julie said.  “We must hurry.  It will take some time to get to the vampires and we shouldn’t get there during the day.”  Cole and Sam nodded their agreement.

“Lady Julie,”  Garth spoke up quickly, handing her a piece of paper.  “From Sir Singer.”

“Thank you, Garth.  I would like you to inform Sir Dean that we have left on urgent business and will not return for several days,”  Julie said to Garth, who frowned.  “So that he will know when to tell the King we shall return,”  Julie quirked an eyebrow down at the lanky man.

“Oh right, of course, Milady.”  Garth flourished grandly before moving out of the trio’s way.  

They rode well into the afternoon not talking as the animals jostled them roughly before stopping for a break.

“There is a cabin through there,”  Cole pointed into the woods.  “Sir Singer said that a friend of his owns the land and would be fine with us staying there.  We should store our things there and get ready for your exchange.”

“Yes, thank you, Cole,”  Julie said as gently as she could.  She needed to make amends for the way she had disrespected her guard, and until then she was walking on eggshells with him.  They walked the horses to the small cabin and tethered them to a hitching line.  The door creaked as they opened it from lack of use and a fine layer of dust covered most of the surfaces inside.

“I’ll go see if I can find some water and light,”  Cole said placing their things down before heading off.

“Julie,”  Sam said once they were alone in the cabin.  She was stringing her bow and wiping down a place to put her bedroll.  “I’m sorry to ask, but is there something going on with you and Cole?”  Sam looked very uncomfortable and Julie smiled at him fondly.

“No, Sam.  Mr. Trenton has long looked after me, and did on one occasion ask my father for my hand,”  She dropped her gaze momentarily.  “My father told him, no, but I have never had an eye for Cole.”

“What happened to you last night?”  Sam asked, closing the space between them and cradling her cheek in the cup of his hand.

“I went to King Michael and told him the Crowley was using him,”  Julie said, closing her eyes and letting a tear slip down her cheek.

“You what?”  Sam pulled away from her and starred.

“I had to give us time.  Time to meet with the vampires and try to get anything on our side,”  Julie took a step back from Sam and looked at him with pleading eyes.  She wanted him to understand so badly her heart hurt.

“Why would you go to him alone?  I- I would’ve gone with you,”  Sam said quietly.

“I couldn’t bring you.  The only one who could go with me was Dean, and I didn’t want Michael to have a chance to corner him.  Please understand,”  She sobbed.  “I had to go to him to give us a chance.  Us,”  She reiterated the word to try and get her meaning across.

“Julie,”  Sam sighed before closing the space between them and kissing her.  She whimpered and pulled away as pain arced through her lips.  “I’m sorry,”  Sam cried as he let her go and she raised her hand to her mouth.

“No, I think that was Michael’s plan.  So that I would think of him if anyone kissed me,”  She practically snarled.  “I won’t let him win.”  She said straightening her back and putting her hand down.  Sam took it in his hand and pressed her against his chest.

“We won’t let him win,”  He said with purpose.

“I’ve found the nest,”  Cole said as he came back into the cabin.  “It’s a short enough walk from here.”

“Lead the way,”  Julie said taking her bow in hand and following the bodyguard.

“Are you sure you want to go armed?”  Sam asked, nodding at her bow.  “It won’t do you much good against them.”

“It is more a showpiece than anything else,”  Julie said not stopping as she followed Cole.  The group approached an old chateau, and Cole knocked on the outside of the door.

“What do you want?”  A man scowled through the door.  Cole looked over his shoulder at Julie.

“I come bearing Lady Julie, at the urgent request of your leader,”  Cole said formerly.  There was a scuffling of feet on the other side of the door and Julie and her escorts stood silently for a moment before the door opened grandly.

“Lady Julie you are most welcome, please leave your escorts outside and come in,”  A voice called from within.  Sam put his hand on Julie’s shoulder possessively.

“I’ve made my share of deals with the Devil,”  Julie called into the house.  “I shall come in, accompanied, and armed.”

“Whatever makes you most at ease in my home, Lady Julie,”  The man called.  Cole walked in first with Julie between him and Sam.

“Lady Julie,”  Cole announced as she took the position in front of the dark-skinned man sitting on a high chair.

“Yes, I know who you are,”  He spoke.

“And who are you, sir,”  Julie said standing tall.

“I am the first Vampire, the Alpha,”  He said smoothly.

“And your name?”  Sam asked noting the distinct lack of mention.

“I have long since forgotten,”  Julie kept her face still, but inside she trembled as she realized how far out of their depths they were if he was speaking the truth.  “Thank you for coming, I’m sure it was dangerous for you to leave.”

“I hope that we can come to an understanding,”  Julie said amicably.  “You are aware of King Michael’s plot against the Pope?”

“Of course, we are his weapon,”  He smiled cruelly.  “Mind you, we have no strife with Pope Charles.”

“Then why aid the king?”  Sam asked confused.  The alpha vampire looked at him, measuring him for the first time.

“Lady Julie, your escort believes he has the right to speak during our negotiations.  Please silence him,”  The Vampire had no intention of speaking with Sam.

“You will remember your place and not speak again, Sam,”  Julie said harshly without looking at him.  Her tone was the same as when she had corrected Cole for touching him, but she had remembered that John Winchester had a reputation among the monsters, and didn’t want to give Sam away.  That might have ended all negotiations.

“You deal with your men efficiently,”  The Alpha chuckled.  “I respect that.  Obedience is the key to survival, which is why I have aligned myself with King Michael.  I wish to keep the peace with the current leadership.”

“If Michael was no longer to go after the Pope, or he was not in command you would desist?”  Julie asked understanding his meaning.

“Of course.  But these are of course a fool’s hope.  Lady Julie, we both know that King Michael intends to have his war by any means.”  He looked at her, obviously noting her lip.  “I am glad I was not misled when I was informed of your beauty,”  Julie curtsied knowing it to be the way of men to note her looks.  “However,”  she looked at him surprised.  “I was not informed of your determination and cunning.  I can smell it on you if you will forgive my lewdness.”

“Don’t,”  Julie said throwing her arm out in Cole’s direction as his hand touched his sword and he took a step forward.  The bodyguard stopped mid-step at her command.

“Aha, you have them at your beck and call.  I apologize.  What I meant is that I can see that you will go just as far as Michael, if not further, to get what you want,”  He stood and smiled at her as he approached.  “Are you in love, Lady Julie?”  He asked as he circled her like a vulture.  Sam and Cole held incredibly still, not wishing to betray the cloak of authority she was wearing.

“Yes,”  She said not looking at Sam.

“Honest!  How refreshing, Lady Julie I must say I admire you greatly.  I feel like we can come to an agreement.  I shall tell Michael that I will have to delay our attack on the Vatican.  Does this please you?”  He asked taking his seat.

“Yes,”  Julie answered simply, then pressed her luck.  “Will you also keep your children,”  She pointed around at the other vampires, “from attacking me and my entourage.  I would seem Michael has had the pick of your litter.”  Julie added the last in the hopes of riling him up.

“I see you know just how to talk to a man, Lady Julie,”  He spoke slowly.  “I shall make sure that you and your servants are untouched by my vampires until you are forced to leave these lands by the King.”

Julie curtsied and Cole and Sam bowed before the group left quickly back to the cabin.

“Are you okay?”  Sam asked when they had all gotten inside.

“Yes,”  She said taking a calm centering breath.  “I apologize for the way that I have treated you both.  But I appreciated that you have played my game,”  She looked at Cole and he gave her a gentle smile.

“So we have the vampires on the hold and Michael at odds with Crowley.  What is next?”  Sam asked looking around the cabin.

“Sleep,”  Cole answered.  “None of us slept well the night before, and we had a hard ride here.”  Julie laughed softly to herself at the guard's words.  Then she went over to the fire to eat some of the rations they had brought with them.

“Where are you going, Cole?”  She asked as he walked to the door.

“To see if I can find some fresh game in these godforsaken woods,”  He said.  Something was bothering him still she could tell, but asking him again would only frustrate him more.  So she only nodded.

“Sam,”  She said turning to find the tall knight right next to her.

“Yes,”  He replied his eyes darting to her lips.

“Not to be forward, but can you help me with my laces?”  She asked with a genuine smile.

“Bobby?”  Dean asked turning to look at the old man.  “What’s going on?”

“I’ve gotten word about what’s supposed to happen tomorrow at court,”  Bobby looked tired as if the old man had been up most of the night.  “I’ve been looking for a way around it, but I’ve got nothing so far.”

“What have you learned?”  Julie asked as she moved to a sitting chair.

“Michael is going to demand King Oskar send men to fight the Pope,”  Bobby said before crossing himself.

“What?”  Julie’s eyes went wide at the implications of the statement.

“But he can’t do that, can he?”  Dean asked obviously not seeing the trap.

“He’s going to make Dean demand it of Oskar,”  Sam said quietly.  Bobby nodded his head quietly.

“I’ll just tell him no,”  Dean stated the obvious.

“NO!”  Sam and Cole both exclaimed before regarding each other.

“If you tell him no, then the king’s body-servant reveals that Julie was in his room alone,”  Bobby said.  “She’d be ruined.”

“We can all attest that she went there under duress of the holy man,”  Cole’s attempt was valiant but Bobby waved his words away.

“The King will use his leverage to marry Julie.  His knowledge of her will give him the right to trump Dean’s wooing.”  Bobby finished as Julie stood up and looked away from the group.  She chewed her lip deep in thought as the men continued to argue.

“If Michael marries Julie then he has her to sway the Oskar as well as her father, who has the king’s ear,”  Sam said mulling the thought.

“Lady Julie?”  Lisa asked startling everyone.

“What is it?”  Julie asked her maid.  She was holding a small folded letter.

“This was in your room.  I was going to give it to you in the morning,”  The Lady’s maid said faintly.  Julie took the folded letter and read it to herself.

“What is it?”  Cole asked as he moves to stand near her.

“It’s from the vampires,”  Julie muttered darkly.  “Apparently they want to meet.”

“No,”  Dean and Sam both said in unison this time.

“Wait, hold on,”  Bobby said holding a hand in front of the brothers.  “If The vamps turn against Michael he won’t have the support he needs to take out the Pope.”

“What happens if we aren’t at court tomorrow, Bobby?”  Sam asked.

“It would be very bad,”  The old knight sighed dramatically.

“What if Dean stays to delay Michael?” Cole suggests.  Julie glances at Cole sensing a deeper mistrust for the older brother.

“That could work,”  Bobby seems to contemplate this idea, trying to see a downside.

“Yea, but-”  Dean started to protest the idea, standing quickly to take a more authoritative stance.

“I’ve made my decision,”  Julie said.  Everyone stopped and looked at her.  “Dean will stay with Bobby and Lisa to help him.  Cole and Sam will escort me to the Vampire’s nest just before sunrise.”

“What about Crowley?”  Lisa asked practically shaking in her shoes.

“I’ll handle him,”  Bobby said with a shrug.

“You guys can’t be gone too long,”  Dean said with a finger between Julie and Sam.  “I don’t know how long I will be able to keep Michael at bay.”

“Let’s rest,”  Julie said ushering the men from her room but letting Lisa stay.

“I’ll send Garth to ready your horses,”  Bobby said to Sam before leaving Julie’s apartment.

                                                  ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

“Lisa, I need you to pretend to be me, in case anyone comes in here,”  Julie whispered and pulled on more covering clothes.

“Why, milady?”  Lisa asked assuming the place that Julie had wanted her to be.

“I need to speak with the King,”  Julie said in a determined tone.  Lisa pulled the covers on the bed high so that no one would be able to tell if it was her or Julie.  “I will be back soon.  If I am not back before sunrise, tell Cole where I have gone.”   Julie saw Lisa’s head wiggle under the covers then departed out the window.

“Lady Julie, My King.”  The servant in Michael’s suite called.  The King came into the sitting room to see her and thrust his coattails back before taking her hand to kiss.

“Lady Julie, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”  He said graciously.

“The holy man Crowley is planning to betray you, Sire,”  Julie said without small talk.

“You must be mistaken,”  Michael chuckled unamused.

“I am not, I know that you seek to overthrow Pope Charles, and I have learned that Cardinal Crowley has put the Winchester brothers in the awkward place of helping him.,”  Julie said.  She watched Michael for any signal of his knowledge of this, but as any surprised man, he stiffened at her words.

“What do you want for your information?”  Michael said quietly as he stood straight.

“First, you fire your body servant.  He is in the cardinal’s pocket,”  she said pointing at the young man who had introduced her.  “Second, don’t move on the Pope until I have more information on what the Cardinal’s end goal is.”  Julie knew she was pressing her luck, but she had to try.

“Last time you came here,”  Michael gestured grandly at his room.  “You were promised you wouldn’t be touched.”  It was Julie’s turn to stiffen.  “I will give you your demands, if,”  Michael took her by the wrist and pulled her close to him.

“If what?”  Julie asked trying to maintain her dignity.

“If you let me kiss you,”  Michael said brushing Julie’s hair out of her face.  “If not, I will tell Crowley you are the reason his mission to save the Pope has failed and I will cast you to the wolves.”

“Very well,”  Julie said without much of a choice.

“Tell me you want it?  I shall not force myself on you,”  Michael grinned disgustingly.  Julie nearly vomited in her mouth, and the fleeting thought that it was still forced even if she chose to do it, crossed her mind.

“Please, kiss me, Michael,”  She was hoping the boldness of his name without a title would work in her favor.  Michael threaded his fingers into her hair and pulled hard enough to part her lips for his kiss.

It was harsh and messy, as he licked the inside of her mouth and kissed her.  She was about to pull away from him when he bit down on her bottom lip, breaking the skin and drawing blood.  He licked her lip and the bleeding stopped quickly,

“You may leave now, Lady Julie,”  Michael released her and shooed her toward the door.  “Unless you want to stay for more.”

“Thank you, Sire, you are very generous,”  Julie said as she moved quickly to the door.  “Also, I shall be unable to attend court tomorrow.  As part of my investigation.

She scurried out of the king’s rooms and back to her apartment, sliding into the bed with Lisa.  The lady’s maid was still awake and she went off to her bed after fussing shortly over Julie’s injured lip.  Julie slept then finally, exhausted with the knowledge of the work she was in for.

“Sam,”  Dean called as the older brother met the returning group in the stables.  “Sam, thank God you’re back, we’ve got a real problem.”

“What?!”  Sam yelped as he dismounted his horse and went over to Julie.  “We were only gone three days, how much trouble could you have gotten into?”

“This is not the place for this,” Cole warned as he looked at the stable boy who was nearby.

“Cole’s right,”  Julie said as she looked between the brothers.  “Get Bobby and meet in my room.”

“Eventful trip?”  Bobby asked as they gathered in Julie’s sitting room.

“Quite successful,”  Julie said quickly,  “But apparently you all had some trouble while we were away.”

“I was unaware of this trouble,”  Bobby shrugged.  “In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve got Crowley on the ropes.”

“What did you do?”  Sam asked, addressing Dean.  There was a clatter as Lisa dropped a pitcher, pouring the contents on the ground.  Julie looked between Dean and her lady’s maid.

“Oh God,”  Julie whispered.

“I’m sorry, mistress,”  Lisa said.

“Does anyone know?”  Julie stood and walked toward Dean.

“I don’t think so.  We were here, no one saw us come or go,”  Dean replied.  Julie placed her hand on his shoulder.

“What now?”  Sam asked, deflating.

“Nothing's gonna change,”  Bobby said gruffly.  “King Michael still has his thumb on you two, splitting up will only inflame that situation.”

“Right, well at least we’ve got good news,”  Sam said rolling his shoulders and looking up at Julie.

“Yes, we got the vampire leader to agree to hold off the attack on Pope Charles.  But we have to basically dethrone Michael to prevent his help,”  Julie went back to her seat, sighing heavily from their long trip.  She’d had to discreetly convince Sam and Cole to stop more than once due to the dull ache between her legs.

“What have you got on Crowley?”  Sam asked Bobby.

“The Cardinal has a son,”  Bobby said darkly.

“What?”  The whole group gasped collectively.

“We aren’t going after children,”  Julie stated resolutely.

“He’s not a kid, all grown up.”  Bobby grinned.  “Gives us some leverage against the Cardinal.”

“I’m tired, and I need to mull everything over,”  Julie said.  “Please excuse me,”  Lisa shooed all the men out of the apartment and sent Cole off to find some food.

“Milady, I know this is a bad time for more bad news,”  Lisa said kneeling in front of Julie.  “But I’ve missed my bleeding for at least two months now.”

“What?”  Julie asked, eyes wide.  She knew her lady’s maid was no virgin, but Julie was having trouble processing this information.  “Whose is it?”

“I’m not sure, milady,”  Lisa covered her face to sob but quickly recovered herself.  “It might Sir Dean.”

“Might be?”  Julie looked at her skeptically.

“I had another suitor back at home.  Close to the same time as Dean,”  Lisa said.  “Should I leave you, lady?”

“No, Julie.  I would never cast you out,”  Julie said holding her maid close and hugging her.  

“Have you told Dean?”

“No, mistress.”

“Let’s keep it that way for now.  Give me time to think.  Also, I shall see to increasing your stipend,”  Julie said.  “Now please help me get out of my dress.  I am ready for bed.”  Lisa started pulling the pins in Julie’s dress and taking her clothes away to wash them.

“Milady?!  Where is your belt?”  Lisa asked, seeing her mistress bare.

“Oh,”  Julie said looking down at herself.  She had forgotten that she and Sam had disposed of the horrible device.  “It may have been removed,”  Julie chuckled lightly at her statement and Lisa smiled at her.

“The other handsome Winchester brother, milady?”  Lisa smiled at her.

“Don’t tell anyone,”  Julie let Lisa slide a clean shift on her.

“I would never betray your confidence, milady.  You’re practically my sister now,”  Lisa said.  As if a thought passed her over, Lisa became bold and hugged Julie tightly.

“What was that for?”  Julie asked as the maid released her.

“I may not be strong like Cole or the knights, Julie, but I shall always protect you.  Like you have protected me all this time from the wrath of the world.  I would protect you from the wrath of your father,”  Lisa said very seriously.

“Lisa, I would never put anyone in the line of my father’s wrath.  People have died, and I cannot protect you from that,”  Julie said.  “Did they give you your new bed?”  She asked to change the subject.

The dark-haired servant girl Dean had talked to his first day in the Northern Kingdom smirked as she overheard the conversation between Julie and Lisa.  She had finally found something for her master to use in his fight for the crown.

“Dean?”  Julie asked, quickly schooling her features.  She was certain that he had seen the shock on her face when she had seen him.  “Thank you, come in.”

“Some entertainment, tonight,”  Dean said as she closed the door, a look of disgust on his face.  “That Michael certainly has particular tastes.”

“Yes he does,”  Julie said tightly and she shooed Cole from the room.  “Dean, you are not one for small talk, what are you doing here?”  Julie asked pointedly.

“Crowley came here to threaten you.”  He said quietly.  He was very still as he said the words, gagging her reaction.

“I have already been informed of that situation,”  Julie glanced to where Cole had walked.  “I see three options and none of them are good.  Please tell me you have some kind of information that will actually help us,”  She turned and found Dean was directly in front of her.

“No, but I thought I could protect you better,”  He leaned in and kissed her.  It was soft and chaste, in contrast to the kiss she had shared with Sam.  She pulled away from Dean quickly, shock written all over her face as she blushed hard.  “Marry me, Julie.  I can protect you from both the King and the Cardinal’s wrath.”

“Dean, this is a ruse.  I’m not going to marry you,”  She hissed at him.  “And in the future, please mind where you are putting your lips.”  Dean stared at her in disbelief.

“I’ll do my best,”  He chuckled as he righted himself, and placed the rose on a desk in the room.  “My brother has gotten to you hasn’t he?”  Dean asked without looking at her.  She was thankful for the understanding in Dean’s voice.

“Yes,”  She whispered the simple answer and left it at that.

“I won’t kiss you again,”  Dean said, leaving the act to her.  “Be careful of the Cardinal, he knows Sam loves you,”  And with that Dean left her apartment.

Julie was too tired to sleep.  She had not rested since she had gotten to the northern kingdom but she knew sleep would elude her for a while to come.  She passed her time reading and contemplating the game at court they had found themselves in. She knew she had the advantage of being unexpected.  No one here at court thought of her as a threat, and that was their mistake.

A scream from her bedroom pulled her from her thoughts and she grabbed her bow and rushed in.  Lisa was kneeling on Julie’s bed a vampire with all his sharp teeth barred held her against his chest.

“They didn’t think you would sacrifice your own maid as a body double.”  He growled around his teeth.

“Let her go,”  Julie bargained.  She doubted she was a good enough shot to keep Lisa unharmed.  “It’s not her you want anyway.”

“I’ll take everyone in my way,”  He sneered holding Lisa harder.

“My lady,”  Lisa whimpered as tears fell down her cheeks.

“Drop your bow and I won’t turn her,”  The vampire demanded.  Lisa’s eyes bulged at thought of becoming one of the blood-starved vampires.

“Let her go, and I’ll let you live,”  Julie countered dropping her bow to the ground.  Lisa’s eyes darted to the dresser near the door that Julie had stepped thought.  Her garrote was there, and Julie made a subtle move for it, hoping the monster’s bloodlust would distract it.

“Who sent you here?”  Julie asked hoping to distract it.

“Please like I would tell you that,”  he snarled at her.

“I just assume Crowley would pick some dumb thug to carry out his dirty work,”  Julie goaded.  The vampire dropped Lisa and pinned Julie against the wall of the bedroom.

“I was hand-picked by the king you simpering slut!”  He shouted.  Julie took advantage of his rage and got her arms and the garrote around him, pulling the thin metal clean through.  The monster’s head fell to the ground disgustingly.

“Julie!”  Cole cried as he kicked open the door between their rooms.  “Give me that,”  He whispered quickly.

“Lisa, are you okay?”  Julie asked as she gave the weapon to her guard and moved quickly to where Lisa was on her bed.

“I’m sorry, milady.  I knew I shouldn’t have slept on your bed, but you weren’t getting any sleep, and the bed they gave me has a broken piece of wire.”

“Lisa, I’m not mad about the bed, are you hurt?  Did he bleed on you?”  Julie asked fervently.

“No, I’m fine,”  Lisa answered with a slight sigh of relief.

“What’s going on here!”  The captain of the guard had burst into the room with Crowley, Dean, and Sam all in tow.

“The Lady and her maid were attacked by this vampire.  I have gotten rid of it.”  Cole said pointing to the beheaded body.  He had gotten some of the blood on his hands to prove his point, and Julie quickly made to hide hers in the blankets of the bed.  Sam and Dean both noticed her shift and the blood on her hands but were quiet.

“Captain, I think you and you men should patrol the grounds and make sure there are no other vampires that might be looking for a late-night feast,”  Crowley said smoothly and effectively clearing the room of anyone that wasn’t in on their plan.

“Lady Julie,” Crowley said after the man had left.  “It appears I have underestimated you and your companions.  A mistake I will not make again.  I shall have someone come to dispose of this,”  He said scowling at the lifeless body on the ground.

“Thank you eminence, and if you would be so kind, my lady’s maid needs a new bed,”  Julie said.  The statement was innocuous on the surface, but the implication that she thought of him as nothing more than a servant for the king was quite obvious.

“What happened?”  The Winchester’s moved to check on the two women after Crowley had left the room.

“Michael sent that vampire here to kill me,”  Julie said quietly.

“Why would he do that?”  Dean asked, obviously missing an important piece of information.

“Because he feels threatened by something,”  Sam mused looking at Julie.

“Or someone,”  Cole offered.

“Either way, none of us is safe here in the castle,”  Julie said what they were all thinking.

“We will stay here, tonight,”  Sam said quickly, and leaving no room for argument.

“We all need sleep, court tomorrow will bring new constraints on all of us,”  Julie’s eyes flicked briefly to Sam and his lips and he licked them nervously.

“Agreed,”  Bobby said, making his presence known to the group.