The roof, Monday at dawn

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Once more, Karal was on the roof to say the Dawn Rites. This time, Altra was by his side and so they were near the edge.

Karal stood, eyes closed, because he didn't use them to see, head tipped back to follow the rising sun. As the rays of the sun spread across the island, he spoke the words of the Dawn Rites, the soft, liquid Karsite carrying over the rooftop.

Yesterday, he had said them in hope; today, he said them in thanks.

[ooc: open roof is open.]

Comments

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean glanced over at him. "Did you hear the radio?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No." Though he was going to have to start. "I still don't have one," he said, leaning forward slightly. "But in any event, I would prefer to hear it from you. I'm not sure the squirrels are entirely reliable."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"They weren't bad. Aside from the chipmunk thing." Dean took a deep breath. "So one of the people from the other island? Was me."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Oh, Sunlord. He knew what sort of people had been on that island, and for one to be Dean... "Tell me what happened," Karal said quietly, folding his hands over his Vkandis medal.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"He was a demon," Dean said, staring out at the sky again.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Sunlord," Karal whispered and Altra's tail twitched. "Did you speak with it?" he asked. "Did it speak to you? Whatever it said is as likely to be lies as truth, Dean. They are not to be trusted."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"He spoke to me," Dean confirmed. "To Sammy too. And yeah, I know demons lie, but... they tell the truth too. When that would hurt the most."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

His voice was quiet, calm; inside, he was anything but. "What did he say?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"That I sold my soul to save Sammy and got damned to Hell. And that damned souls become demons and that Sammy took over Hell because of me."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It was a lot to take in. More than could be processed in a moment. Karal drew in a deep calming breath, and then another for good measure. Somehow, it wasn't a surprise that what he'd done he'd done for Sam. "Sam...took over hell?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean nodded. "Apparently his Sammy is even more stubborn than mine. Or maybe not. Maybe that's exactly what my Sammy would do if I ever..."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No." Karal held up a hand. "For one, your soul is not yours to sell any more. You pledged yourself to Vkandis Sunlord, and He has the prior claim. No demon could take it from Him, or from you. Whatever the demon who was once another world's version of you did, he did not become one of the Kin."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

That... hadn't occurred to Dean. "Huh," he breathed softly.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"And," Karal let his hand fall, and his voice was still calm, "that Dean did not have a Sun-priest and a Firecat who would go after him and bring him back, to the heart of the Temple at Sunhame if necessary. Who would move your whole family there, if that is what it took. I would defy any demon to set foot in the heart of Vkandis' stronghold."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

And that most definitely hadn't occurred to Dean. It soothed a lot of the remaining fear and worry, especially about Sammy.

"I guess I'm a heck of a lot more lucky than he was," Dean said, meaning to make the comment lightly, but the huskiness of his voice betrayed his emotion.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Luck is found through the choices we make," Karal said quietly, and the breath he let out was a touch shaky. He reached out to squeeze Dean's shoulder, just lightly. "And I learned recently that even the smallest of actions will change the future to something entirely different. The choices you have made here are far from small actions."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I don't do small," Dean observed.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No," he agreed, and he had to chuckle, "you certainly do not."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean managed a smile then. "I like to keep you on your toes."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Most Sun-priests have a whole church to be responsible for. I have only you, and I think I must be busier than them," he teased. "How is Sam? And the rest of your family?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Sammy is, well, freaked," Dean said, sobering a little. "But I think I'll be able to help with that now."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I would be worried if he wasn't," Karal said soberly. "You know if there is anything you need from me, you have only to ask."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"I know," Dean said, giving him a warm look. "Y'know you're really awesome at this priest thing."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal blushed and folded his hands in his lap. "I've had some years to practice."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Lucky for me," Dean said. He paused and then offered in a diffident tone, "I'm sorry if I'm a lot of work."