Crossed Lines: Pirates of Manhattan

Neal has visited New Orleans once before. In Voodoo Remoulade, a doubloon cursed by the pirate Jean Lafitte, along with a vampire nest, almost wrecked his plans to celebrate Mardi Gras. Sara's never been to New Orleans, and when Neal suggested taking her there to celebrate her birthday, he didn't expect lightning to strike twice. Peter probably wouldn't be so optimistic if only he knew about Neal's previous misadventure.

Caution for spoilers to Bad Omens

Pirates of Manhattan is a sequel to Bad Omens in the Crossed Lines series. In that story, Gemma reappears on the scene. The demigoddess is in crisis mode. Even though she's immortal, she's begun to age. Telltale wrinkles around the eyes, a few strands of gray hair—none of that should be happening to her. In her darkest hour, the demon Dagon arrives at her doorstep, offering a youth elixir in exchange for help in finding the Book of Seals. What Gemma doesn't know is that Thanatos—Astrena's brother and the supplier of the elixir—is working with others to free Lucifer. That book contains the necessary information to unlock his cage.

Gemma is willing to do anything for that elixir, even lie that she can scry to find the book. Since she hasn't a clue where it could be, she dispatches Dagon to Maia's bookshop. Gemma figures she can't lose. If Maia should by chance have the book, Dagon will continue supplying the elixir. If the book isn't there, Gemma will simply claim that Maia had it and sold it. Gemma won't be upset if the demon kills Maia. In that case, she plans to return to New Haven and finally get her hands on Astrena's crystal ball and grimoire.

But Gemma's hopes are dashed by Castiel. The angel has struck up an unlikely friendship with Crowley and now works at Maia's bookstore. He thwarts Dagon's attack, saving Maia, but at the cost of exposing his true nature. Neal then forges a fragment of the Book of Seals to convince anyone looking for the book that it was burned by the Winchesters. He buys them some time, but the forces working to free Lucifer haven't been idle. They're about to strike again and wouldn't you know, they targeted New Orleans for their next move.

It's particularly fitting to post a Crossed Lines story on February 20, Penna's and my tenth writing anniversary. Penna introduced me to Supernatural several years ago. She's ridden along in the Impala for all the Crossed Lines road trips, and I'd dedicated the series to her. Happy Anniversary, Penna!

• Pirates of Manhattan on Archive of Our Own
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