Chronicles of Absolution: Twilight of the Gods

Chapter 1

Then

… "I had a small hand in it." He stared at Setna almost as if to dare him to challenge him. "More like pushing the pieces into position and then letting them do what they do best. You remember that rule best old friend. The one where we can't interfere or we could but minimally."

… His Cat would say that there is always one more thing that could be done. She really didn't believe that destiny put you on a set path even though she had been shown otherwise a couple of times…

… Isis smiled in return. "She is special on many levels. To me it is like that of a mother and daughter. Her abilities while special are nothing compared to her nature."

… You are the Malachi of Absolution…

… "Absolution is the earthbound angel that will protect us all," Anna replied… Out loud she said, "I'm not the protector of man. There are many who do that."

"But you are the Malachi; the Messenger of Absolution."

…"There always is the bigger picture, Mary," Angela replied as she leaned against the wall of the panic room. She gave a lopsided grin in her old friend's direction. "You forget that I've been raised on the bigger picture and it has bitten me in the ass more times than I can count."

… "I don't sniff them. I was focused on the job and then I was attracted to Sam's scent and followed it like a bloodhound would after I isolated the others." Angela had hissed her answer in a whisper, fearing that she would be overheard through the walls since her room was next door to the Winchesters. "That is not normal."

It is if you are you know… And you and I both know that you are attracted to him. He is pretty cute.

… Did you purr? You know it is a special kind of call.

… She recognized it being the same Trickster from the Mystery Spot. Now that she was essentially forced to remember, it was fairly easy to figure out what fit and what didn't. Now the question came down to getting the Trickster to play her game while appearing to play by his rules. That was the challenge and one she was up to taking.

It seemed that she was on a different set of rules but within the same game the Winchesters were playing. That much was clear when she wasn't zapped somewhere shortly after Castiel was. It was like the host was the proxy for the Trickster or he was the Trickster and he was making it clear what her role was to play…

… "Play your roles out there." He gestured out towards the audience. "You know: Sam starring as Lucifer. Dean, starring as Michael. Your celebrity death match."

"You want us to say yes to those sons of bitches?" Sam looked at the Trickster like he was insane.

"Hells yeah! Let's light this candle!"

… "I'm not on either side," the Trickster replied with a smirk. As if they presumed to know him. "But I can say that I'm on Absolution's side."

… "Now listen very closely. Here's what's gonna happen. You're gonna suck it up, accept your responsibilities, and play the roles that destiny has chosen for you."

… "I forgave you a long time ago. After our argument, I had my thinking time. I forgave you and went back to tell you." Angela cleared her throat a little. "When I came, you weren't there. I called but you didn't answer. I thought you didn't want anything more to do with me." She looked down feeling a little uncomfortable at revealing that.

"Never, Cat," Gabriel responded automatically. "I wanted to be there for you but I thought… I'm a coward. I was afraid."

"You? My guardian archangel?" Angela looked at the angel with a surprised look. "You hardly strike me as afraid. An ass at times but never a coward."

… "That…" Gabriel was about ready to retort with an automatic response but he stopped himself. He looked away to think about his answer. "It wasn't one of my better thought out ideas," he admitted. At her look, he felt compelled to continue, "I just wanted them to see that they have a role to play as much as you do. I know it's harsh in that what I said has some truth to it and I was an ass for talking that way to you when you figured it out… but I wasn't lying about roles. You know as well as I that you assumed the role of Absolution and I knew it was you. I knew and that was the reason why we fought the last time. I knew it was you but the truth is, there's the second part, the part where you have to assume it.

"I know that it sucks that they are the vessels but it's in the blood and no denying that. It is what they are in the grand scheme of things but it works for them as well and their role is a lot more complicated than what Mike and Luci think it to be." Gabriel sighed and looked upwards. "I do want it to be over Cat. I want this pissing match over with and rather you not be involved. I love my brothers. I do. But I love you too and I can't bear the idea that you might have to pay the ultimate price."

… "He's right in some ways. Sometimes you have to stand up to your family because they are hurting you. They need to know that. Whether or not that changes things is up to them… their choice." At the look she was getting from Gabriel, she explained, "Gabe… if there is one thing I know is certain is that God gave us free will. That means we have a choice. We can have all the facts in front of us and still we can go either way. There may be a destiny for us but how we choose to get there is what it is… choice."

… "You have always had a way about you. No wonder our Lord chose you as an Abhibhavak. It is good to see you again, Shifa'."

… "We're fine. Like I said, Lord Shiva is very protective. The Abhibhavak have to be on their guard. At least the ones that are assigned to her."

"Lady Parvati is the beloved of Lord Shiva. They are devoted to each other…"

… "Have you forgotten my beloved? That you bow to no one."

… "Lady Parvati is the mother goddess, of caring, nurturing and inner strength and courage," Raj answered as he started to leave. "Some say she is the re-creative energy and power of Lord Shiva." He looked at Dean and added, "Others say she is the bond that connects all beings."

… "Lord Shiva is known for his philosophy on state of being, the ultimate that in the end we can transform into the energy around us or something like that. I think he was talking about souls but…" She shrugged since it was a little over the top for her. "There is one other thing he is known for and that is his prowess in battle. He defends the sacred realms and according to some really old texts… let's just say that when Rameses destroyed Syria, that was an accident. In the days before history he led his guard against the Ancients, fighting for humanity."

… Isis took in the kneeling figure. Perhaps it was a mistake but this place had already been searched by the others and they found nothing. She was willing to risk it and perhaps be able to provide some small aid. She put her hand gently under the girl's chin and indicated that she was to stand. She replied, "And we are past the point for the need to kneel before me. You are my favorite after all."

Angela stood up and looked at the goddess. She still kept a respectful pose and replied, "That may be so but when one is given the honor in seeing your full glory… It is warranted."

"And they say that you have little to no respect for the old ways," Isis said with a chuckle…

… "You are royalty, princess," the guard said. He put his right fist over his heart to salute her. "You called. We will always come when you call." He looked at the Winchesters and then back at her. "We protect the family and their own."

… "Irrelevant," the stranger interrupted. He looked at the angel his ire was drawn against. "How is it that you dare attack a princess of the Nile? How dare you attack the one chosen to walk this earth as a Champion?"

… "You are of the Guard. Their duty is to protect the royal family as well as those deemed their own. You did what was right."

… "Because they know that she knows who opened the Cage and she would fight them rather than give him up," Satet replied and studied the young Guard's reaction.

… "It's from a shaman up north and he says that he heard about your quest and would like to try and help. Also…" He pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to her. "A friend told me to tell you that there are stirrings even among those that could be considered friends and not in the good way."

… Dean wasn't sure of what they were saying since it was in a language he didn't understand and they looked like a bunch of… priests in robes? They were hooded and all wearing white robes and had impressive gear on them but it didn't really garner a favorable opinion of them since they had him and one was snapping a muzzle onto Sasha. "What so you assholes want?"

… "Make sure he's relatively unharmed. The only way to get the target."

The one who appeared to be the leader looked at him. Dean couldn't see his face but he could sense that this guy was one most people didn't want to mess with. There was that dangerous feeling about the guy and it was confirmed when Sasha continued to growl as she struggled against her lead.

… he reached out with his hand and rubbed the back of his first finger where he accepted her gesture and then leaned in to gently kiss her on her lips… he couldn't forget what that guy in the suit whispered to him as he looked at her in the dress that was just… wow…

… This is all her. All from her heart because of you…

Now

Nighttime… it was clichéd but it worked best for clandestine meetings. After all, if you didn't want to be seen or if you needed to come up with a plan with those you trusted, it was better to meet when there was less chance of being overheard. That and given the type of company that you tended to keep… it was just better to keep things as close to the vest as you could. Even if sometimes the covertness tended to hurt the ones you love.

Gabriel stood looking out over the landscape, taking in the sights and sighed. This was terrible that it had come down to this. And it pissed him off since things seemed to be conspiring against the people he loved the most. And he was being forced more and more to pay attention to the things going on in the world.

"You're doing it again."

Gabriel turned to see Amitiel looking at him with firm expression. He looked away and replied, "Only because those idiots have a bunch of everybody after them." He gestured at the landscape since it felt good.

Amitiel let out a slight hum of a chuckle, "And you were the first to realize how big it would become once Lord Shiva and Lady Parvati got involved."

"She only did what she knew to be right," Gabriel murmured with a slight shake of her head. He then shifted to look at Amitiel, "You know that she has been gunned for since the moment this all started and she made her… declarations known."

"And that's why we're here," Amitiel pointed out. She adjusted her stance and tugged on his arm. "Come. Caleb finally made it."

"The holy Buddhist with wings?" Gabriel couldn't help the smirk. It grew when Amitiel smirked back and he followed her into the room.

It was like a who's who of the gods and goddesses when Gabriel walked into the room that resembled somewhat of a Spanish hacienda. He could have gone for an Italian villa but he was feeling the mood considering what he had seen a couple of nights previously. He looked around and spotted most of the gods that held clout in keeping the others in line with regards to the laws of the Old Religion were present. That should make things a bit easier.

"Well if it isn't the Messenger."

Gabriel gave a slight grimace and a polite smile, "Ares."

Ares smirked at the archangel as he straightened out his suit. He had taken a liking to dressing more modern and it was very comfortable. He didn't budge on the hair preferring what they called the mullet look. He personally thought that if he looked more like Sam Winchester the odds would be in his favor. Well one could dream. He replied, "Don't worry. It's not like any of us will kiss and tell about your foray with us pagans."

Gabriel raised a brow and was certain that there was a tick of annoyance showing. No wonder his Cat disliked talking to the Grecian god of war and had no problem calling him an asshole to his face. The sad thing was that it amused Ares way too much. "And what's keeping you from doing it?"

Ares smirked at the archangel. "Call it more of a sense sentiment. We do have a common interest after all."

"She doesn't like you."

"Oh she loves me," Ares chuckled, knowing that it was annoying the archangel. "She just doesn't show it like everyone else."

"She's already taken."

"Not officially so she's up for grabs." Ares paused at the death glare he was getting. He knew that archangels were capable like gods when they got into scuffles. "Besides I got my reward when she let him get close enough to kill her." He turned and walked away to join the others.

"And that was because you made it a term of a deal for Hibah," Gabriel muttered as he grit his teeth. He always walked into that when he had to meet with Ares. The bastard always hung it over his head when he went to give information to his Cat when he couldn't and it rankled him to his core. It made him want to come out of his witness protection.

Calming down, he walked in and noted the presence of Shiva and his wife. It was an odd thing to see but given recent events. It was no surprise to see Isis since Cat was her favorite of the 'living dead'. Hapi and Satet had interest since she was their adopted daughter. Artemis was there too and a few other gods from the various pantheons. The one with the calmest disposition was Huitzilopochtli, the Aztecan god of war, a surprise since he was born from bloodshed and was pretty violent when fighting but… to each his own and it had Gabriel wondering what Cat did to catch his attention.

Huitzilopochtli looked at everyone and started without preamble, "We are not interfering with the affairs of mortals per the laws of our Creator."

"Well that's the long and short of it," Ares muttered at the bluntness of his New World counterpart. "It's obvious we won't but we all have a reason for being here." He made a motion and an image appeared showing the topic of discussion. "The Malachi of Absolution."

"A beautiful Valkyrie," Thor interjected.

"Yes and we all know her by different names and the names she has referred to us on occasion," Gabriel interjected to keep from going off topic. "The point is…"

"And what business do three of the celestials have here?"

Gabriel looked at the speaker. It was some godling that he didn't give a crap about but even Caleb, the docile one, has his limits on things and insults. He replied, "Because she is the chosen protector of humanity and there are rumors out there that some gods are going to save their own asses by giving up the Winchesters."

"So?"

"You miss the point," Shiva spoke as he stood up. The room fell quiet since none wanted to invoke the wrath of the destroyer. "Shifa' may protect all men but they are hers. And if I am not mistaken there are treatises in place regarding her."

That quieted the room as the gathered gods, goddesses and angels, looked around. Some were a bit uncomfortable about it. Gabriel though took charge, "Exactly. We've already had trouble with my kind but that won't stop. I managed to make her aware but we do need to figure out a few things."

There was a quiet murmur. They all looked at each other as they threw a few ideas. Huitzilopochtli threw out, "The laws of the Old Religion," and that started the focus. Gabriel could only hope that Cat and the dumbass Winchesters didn't get into any more trouble for the time being.

The marketplace was bustling with people. People were buying things from vendors and haggling over prices in a language that wasn't one Sam was familiar with. Street performers were tucked away in corners dancing, singing or even doing that snake charming thing, which was a load of bull anyway. Still the sight was just amazing since he knew that he would never be able to go to places like this in the near future.

A noise caught his attention and he noticed a group of children shouting and running around. They were playing some sort of game and they were being herded by a harassed looking man. Sam could help but laugh and blinked when he saw one of the kids stick their tongue out and it was a long tongue. They ignored him as he stared and watched as the kids circled their babysitter and taunted before running off and making him chase after them.

"Poor Ihisan. Too gentle for teaching new initiates into the Guard."

Sam jumped slightly since the voice had sounded in his ear as he turned to look at Angela who was grinning at him. "So I take it he quit."

Angela hummed a chuckle as she adjusted her scarf around her neck. "No actually he still teaches and he's still the gentle one." She looked around smiling at the memory.

Sam watched her expression and commented, "This is amazing."

"Well I figured I'd show you rather than talk your ear off." Angela shrugged like it was no big deal. She knew Sam would pick up the mechanics on things in terms of theory and the like.

"But you also said that memories were easiest to use since they are more familiar," Sam pointed out, repeating what she had told him from the start.

Angela couldn't help but smile at that, "You're right. Since dreams are all about what the dreamer conceives." She made a slight waving motion and watched as the bazaar at Karnak faded and shifted into another. "Memories are recollections of past events as processed through the mind. The same place where we rationalize and imagine."

Sam watched as the world around them shifted to the inside of a house. He blinked as he recognized the place and started walking around, observing. It was only the second time she had started showing him how to move more easily through dreams without the use of dream root and it was an interesting experience since he was not under pressure to escape or save someone. He spotted something that seemed out of place and turned towards Angela, "Something is missing here."

Angela stood there looking at Sam. "Then fix it," she replied.

Used to her teaching methods, Sam made a slight face that didn't mean anything and turned towards what he was staring at. Focusing, he recalled when he had first been in the place. It was where he first met Angela and recalled what was there. He watched as the area blurred as it struggled to form and finally did leaving behind the statuette.

"Very good," Angela said as she stepped closer. "And you remembered."

"Why wouldn't I remember the first time I met you?" Sam turned to look at Angela. His eyes captured hers as he stared as he added in a soft joking tone, "The first time where it wasn't you saving me or Dean and then leaving?"

Angela heard the tone but her attention was focused on Sam's eyes. It was kind of like a hypnotism act but instead of predatory it was gentle, firm and… She had a word for it but she didn't give name to it since the meaning could differ. She opened her mouth slightly before replying, "Because I was not very nice."

Sam grinned at that, "I think you were nice. I've seen you when you're not and that definitely wasn't all that bad."

Angela couldn't help but respond with a grin of her own and a chuckle. She watched as Sam took her hand and just started to caress it. She stood there just watching his hands trace her own. He had always liked holding them and never missed upon a chance to touch them when it could be seen as something like when he bandaged her fractured wrist after the Morton House or once or twice when she actually burned herself and scrapes to her hand.

At that moment, the scenery started to shift and things were being replaced by something else. Angela didn't notice it at first until she started hearing music. She didn't change anything. She looked around and noticed that it was the stage of the theatre from her dream. There was everything there down to the exact props that were being used. She was not doing this then…

"I uh… remembered this weird dream," Sam offered a bit bashfully. "A job fell into our laps right when we were watching the Phantom of the Opera." He wasn't sure about how to continue since he actually saw the whole thing with Angela though he spent most of the time watching her and her expression. "It turned out to be a curse of two lovers that were ghosts…"

Angela listened as Sam described her dream down to the letter. This wasn't like when Master Ru initiated a dreamscape. This was something different and it was a long time since Sam had been pulled in a dream like the first time they met. When he finished, she asked, "Why this part? If anything you were just…"

Sam frowned at that, "I was in control and…" It then dawned on him. "You were there too."

Angela nodded, looking down. "It was something I created because I remembered back to when I first met the troupe. That and the… wonderful memories of that night…" She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders.

Sam was not upset by it. He figured she was involved given the way she reacted to him in the dream. Gently he hooked her chin with his finger and lifted her head to look at her. "I picked this because… there is something I wanted to tell you for a long time and that moment…"

Angela looked up at Sam noticing that he had not stopped touching her. He was still holding her hand and his finger had removed itself from her chin and started stroking her cheek. She had some idea what he wanted to say and it scared her but she knew deep down that she had to hear it otherwise she would never know and it would torment her. She put her hand on the one that was stroking her cheek and closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. It felt… so good. Her question came out in a whisper, "And what is that?"

"That… that I love you."

A/N: Get ready to hear the world tilt on its axis: Sam finally says it! He says it! Stay tuned for more Twilight of the Gods...