The blinding light faded and Castiel looked down at the body lying at his feet. He looked peaceful and Cas could almost imagine he was sleeping, if not for the bloody wound in the middle of his chest.
"Balthazar, my brother, I am so sorry," he whispered.
The ashen imprint of Balthazar's massive wings stretched nearly over the entire room, final proof of his murder by his best friend's hand. Castiel felt a painful, gut-wrenching sorrow well up inside of him and fell to his knees. The blood-stained angel blade fell from his grasp and landed on the cement floor with a clatter. Cas reached out and placed a hand gently on his brother's cold cheek.
"It had to be done. I wish it didn't have to be like this, but it did," he murmured, trying to convince himself as much as his departed brother. "Please forgive me, Balthazar. It's for our family. I had to."
Cas bowed his head and a single tear fell from his eye. He took a deep breath and picked up his angel blade, getting to his feet.
"This won't be in vain, Balthazar, I promise," said Cas softly. "I'm going to save heaven. I'm going to make this worth it."