A/N: Okay. This is a little unconventional. I am using a series of 1st person narration, letters, journal entries and logs to tell the story. It was a niggling little muse and I don't really know how well I pull it off. Please let me know what works and what doesn't so I'l l know how I should (or shouldn't ever) do this again.

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Correspondence from Warlock Castiel of Rivers' Run Tower to the Archivist of Sentinel Host, Chuck

Regarding the matter of the events leading to the present concerning the Winchester brothers, I have instructed my bound-demon familiar, Meg, to compile narration and artifacts you have requested. Looking back, I realize that we needed to record these events for future generations. I would have done it myself, but it was pointed out to me that I was too close to the events to see them objectively. I find it curious that the brother who had often complained I was so cut off from human emotion is the one telling me I am too emotionally compromised to adequately compile this journal.

With regard,

Castiel, Warlock of Rivers' Run Tower

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Correspondence from the Warlock, Castiel of Rivers' Run Tower to Master of the Prime Order, Gabriel of Sentinel Host as transcribed by the Bound-Demon, Megastrine of the Third Realm.

Dear Brother,

I am writing, once again, to request that you send another apprentice as the last one you sent to me was incompetent as a researcher. He, also, was unable to avoid the allure of my familiar. I have asked you to vet the prospective apprentices very carefully to avoid sending the blah blah blah blah.

You know, Master Gabriel, while I love and obey your dear brother, I find his endless ranting about the inadequacy of the boys you send him tiresome. He had been complaining with increasing eloquence about the measure of apprentices for a week before he finally set me to scribe for him this letter. I rather liked the last one you sent. He was quite handsome and physically most enjoyable to watch as he wandered around the tower. He had a decidedly delicious bow to his lips that I enjoyed watching when he spoke. His scent was not altogether repulsive and his personal hygiene was better than the last one. But Master Castiel is quite right, he was a useless being. I don't believe he even knew how to read, let alone how to research. When the prospective apprentice doesn't research well, I am instructed by Master to do the dreary work. If I am reading and pouring over dusty manuscripts, I can't participate in the actual rituals. Also, it makes it much more difficult to leave the tower.

Currently, Master is ranting about his inability to find a flawless diamond for one of the rituals he wishes to conduct. I really don't know how interested you are to hear the very precise speech of your brother as he describes, in tedious detail, exactly how rare specific gems are becoming. So, I shall instead let you know that Master has not left this tower in nearly fourteen days. I have been imprisoned in these stone walls and not allowed to set one toe outside the threshold! I understand that Master is able to conjure food and drink as he likes so he really never need leave his home. I do enjoy stretching my wings on occasion and I also enjoy hunting when I feel a particular peckishness. It doesn't really matter all that much, does it, that I don't require food to live? It is sometimes desirable anyway to feel the warm wind fill my wings, lift me into the sky and allow me to descend upon prey with the precision and stealth with which I was born. There is more to life than what one "needs", don't you think?

Just to be sure I don't take up all the correspondence on my own rant, I should tell you that Master has segued from gems and rituals to lament how lonely he is. It's as if he doesn't have me. I am here with him every day and am by his side from the morning's first light on the horizon until he places his head upon his pillow after the witching hour passes. Granted, I typically don't really care to empathize with his loneliness. I suppose humans require the attention and conversations only afforded by other humans. Still, why bind a demon to you as a familiar if not to afford a measure of companionship? I mean, I talk to him. When he asks me questions, I answer.

He is starting to wrap up his rhetoric and is listing all of his requirements for the next apprentice you send to him. You already know all of this as I was tasked to send the last four letters describing them. I assure you it's the same list as all those four. I wonder if you even read them. I know Master does not read the letters after I have scribed for him. Since you will likely be reading this, it is evidence of the validity of my words.

Maybe you can send a blonde next time. I rather enjoy blondes. He definitely should be able to read, please. I would really like to leave this pile of rocks sometime this century.

By the hand of Megestrine of the Third Realm, Bound-Demon for Castiel, Warlock of Rivers' Run Tower

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Correspondence To Castiel, Warlock of Rivers' Run Tower by my hand from Master of the Prime Order, Gabriel of Sentinel Host

Cassie-

Brother, please do not allow Meg to transcribe for you as you don't look over her work and she writes in a very petulant voice. I have told you time and time again that the prospects for new warlocks get more and more scarce. I don't always have a selection of new apprentices that will suit you. I actually send what I consider the best of the bunch of them. Anyway, I am sending you a new one with this correspondence. He can read, I checked. As you can see, he's blonde which fulfills the requirement that Meg requested. He's an orphan and has nowhere else to go, so try not to reject him out of hand. Brother, for the love of all we hold holy and dear, please keep him around for a least a week this time.

With much affection,

Your brother Gabriel

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Master looked the new boy over with a skeptical eye. I knew he was not impressed. I was, but what I want has never been a consideration. The boy was very tall—even taller than I am. He had to be as tall as Old Jake, the peddler's monster draft horse. The boy had dark blonde hair and hazel eyes that seemed to waver between marbles of jade green to gold-rimmed sea foam. He was quiet and humble. I suspect the lad had been regaled with tales of how exacting my Master can be. If what Master Gabriel had said of him was true, about him being an orphan, I know the poor boy would likely do what he could to not evoke the ire of Master.

I remember watching the human as he watched Master through the fringe of hair that seemed to reside in the boy's face. Maybe if he cut it, I would be able to look at his eyes easier. That seemed to not be a consideration, though. Master seemed less concerned with being able to look into the boy's eyes as he was that the boy take copious notes and hang on each syllable uttered. I had fewer responsibilities since the boy came. He had been given the chore of compiling components for the ritual of summoning a drake. I couldn't figure why he needed a drake. He already had a familiar.

The boy's name was Samuel. I listened to Master and Samuel speak of inconsequential things. He spoke of his family and how his mother and father died in a fire. His older brother raised him until the cost of living rose to a point where Dean, the older brother, was no longer able to provide. I really didn't care. It sounded like so much melodrama that I could imagine a troupe of players might enact at a summer festival. Still, I stayed in my nest in the corner and warmed myself as the sun dipped down behind the mountain range.

Master had gone to seek his bed and Samuel remained at the table scouring the scrolls and tomes for information as mandated by Master. He mumbled as he read. That was very annoying. I imagined him naked. That helped.

The scratching of the quill on parchment lulled me to sleep the first night that Samuel stayed with us in the tower.