I'm No Angel

The sun was slowly rising over the ocean, the fog was deep from the salt as it cascaded across the landscape. Rays of light tinted the water as the sun slowly eclipsed over the land, and a man stood alone staring out into the vast expanse of water. He didnt look handsome in his current condition, though in years passed he'd had women swooning after him. He was scruffy, a beard now chiseled its way across his perfectly sculpted chin. There where marks on his cheeks, claw marks, maybe from a fight over scraps. His jacket was torn even though he'd just gotten it, smudged with the blood of many men who'd fought him over food. Two of his ribs where broken as well, but that was his secret. Those beautiful blue eyes of his where long since faded. Being homeless had not treated nor been kind to the ex-angel. He'd already been killed once, and brought back to life, something that weighed heavily on his shoulders. Someone he'd considered a brother had betrayed him again, and at this point even with his current status as hunted, he felt like he was better off alone. The wind was at a light breeze though he paid no mind, he was considering his next move instead.

Castiel was his given name as an Angel. But now he'd had to assume a more human one. Clarence. The name, well pet name that the demon Meg Masters had given him before she died. It fit him well. Finally he leaned down and reached his hands slowly into the water. Cupping some he brought it to his mouth, he was more thirsty than he'd previously thought.

"Hey Man!" A man in shorts and a Johnny Bahama t-shirt appeared, he was older with light blue eyes, maybe his fifties.

Cas turned his attention toward the new face and only offered a smile as if he'd been caught doing something wrong. Slowly, he got to his feet and murmured. "I'm thirsty."

"I wouldnt drink that if I was you" the man explained as he cautiously stepped forward. "Drinking that is like drinking poison, salt water is no good unless you boil it." he continued. "Whats your name?" he asked finally.

Cas didnt answer for a long moment, he was flighty, like an animal cornered looking for an escape. "Look, I dont want to fight." He finally said.

The man offered a smile and said; "I dont want to fight either." he paused a moment. "You look pretty rough, are you homeless? I'm a preacher at the local church, I run the shelter. Maybe I can help you, my name's Jim, Pastor Jim"

Cas accepted his name, but that was all he could accept. "I dont need your help" he said and turned away.

Jim touched him on the shoulder; forcing them to be face to face. "Look, I know its not easy to admit when you need help, lets just start with your name."

Cas turned and listened, finally he spoke. "Its Clarence."

Pastor Jim smiled. "See that wasnt that hard."

Cas was lost in his own mind for a moment. Jim, the name reminded him so much of his vessel, the man who'd lost his life when he'd possessed him. Jimmy Novak.

"Hey, you okay son?" Jim asked.

Cas refocused. "Yeah."

Jim offered another smile. "What brings you out here?"

Cas wasnt quite sure how to answer. "Been on the streets a while, lost my family, on the run, its not easy." he explained.

Jim listened quietly, handed Cas a bottled water. "Thats too bad, seems everyone is struggling now'days."

Cas only nodded, he really wasnt in the mood to be talking to a preacher.

Jim sensed this and smiled. "Theres a shelter not too far from here, ya know, the one I run."

Cas allowed a ghost of a smile but it faded quickly. "Thats where I came from actually." he was struggling desperately with trying to become a human, he still felt very out of place.

"Castiel!" a voice called from behind both men.

Cas turned and was face to face with another angel. "You have to get out of here, run!"

The angel who's vessel was a 20 year old girl wearing a bakini with good looks smirked. "You where too easy to find."

Jim looked from Cas to the girl and stood his ground. "Who are you? Whats going on?"

The new angel looked at Cas. "He knows exactly what this is about" she stepped forward, threw her hand outward and easily sent Cas flying into the water.

Jim watched in horror. "What are you? A Demon!"

Castiel knew the moment she threw her hand upright and out that he was going to be sailing, but into the water, it was something he'd not expected nor calculated. When his body hit sea a whole new wave of feelings overtook him, being wet, and getting water up his nose, he flailed desperately trying to swim but he didnt know how to do that either.

The angel looked at Jim and Cas' desperate attempt to survive. "Come now Cas, I know you've got more fight in you." She giggled as she walked to the waters edge. Lifted her arm again, and this time Cas went sailing into the back corner of a lifeguard building.

Jim was in stunned silence, he watched Clarence, Castiel, this man he was trying to help get thrown so hard into the water, and then a building. Finally he spoke up. "Stop This!"

Cas felt himself get lifted, gagging on water as he sailed through the air, he felt the back corner of the building hit him directly in the ribcage and he felt pain surge through him, through his chest. Blood was coming from his mouth and now his vision was hazy.

Jim ran to Cas as quickly as he could, when he reached him he knew it wasnt good. "Hey, Hey, You're gonna be Okay." he murmured trying to keep his voice calm, but he was starting to panic.

The female angel appeared by Cas' he ad and lifted him up, forcing him to look at her directly in the eyes. "We know where you are Castiel, and the men are marching." she murmured with a smile as she slammed his head down onto the wooden deck of the building. She vanished.

Cas looked up at her; he couldnt move away, he felt like everything below his neck was paralyzed. Her words bounced around in his head, and when she slammed him down, everything went black.

Jim couldnt stop what was happening, that woman was so strong and obviously knew this man. But how? The womans words echoed in his mind as well. He sighed. "Castiel, the Angel of Thursday." he thought to himself, as he looked at Cas unconscious he just kept thinking about how he was going to explain this to anyone.

Castiel was not laying on that deck bleeding and broken. Instead he was, well his brain was back in Heaven. Though he knew that wasnt possible. Suddenly heaven went dark and the air around him became thick with the smell of blood.

Voices rang out; Angels, Humans, Demons. "You killed us, You killed us" they chanted in unison

Cas stood in the middle of them, all of their eyes pinned to him. "I'm sorry" he whimpered, now that he was a human this was one of the worst nightmares he had. The voices got closer and closer, and he could feel hands on him, so many, dragging him down. But before he reached hell, he woke up every time.

Jim watched Cas wake up, just by looking at him he could tell he was concussed. "Hey, take it easy" he murmured.

Cas awoke, pain everywhere, his brain racing trying to figure out what happened. But he couldnt remember. "Who-Who are you?" as he turned his head slightly he saw a man standing over him.

Jim nodded to himself. "Pastor Jim, you dont remember?" he put weight on Cas' shoulder to stop him from getting up.

Cas blinked a few times. "No, I- I dont remember." Cas almost whimpered as he tried to sit up but Jim stopped him.

Jim looked at him, this wasnt good. "Castiel?" he asked, testing out the name.

Cas immediately jumped back and yelped in pain. "How do you know my name?" he waited a few beats of the heart. "You're not an angel are you?" he tried to scoot further away but he had no strength to speak of.

Jim blinked a few times, now it all made sense. "No, No, I'm not. A - Uh, Demon, Angel, the one that was here a few moments ago, are they after you?"

Cas looked around hesitantly trying to get his bearings. He didnt remember anything. "I-I dont know."

Jim looked at him. "Its okay, we will figure it out - for now just take it easy, I will call an ambulance."

END CHAPTER ONE