Hello my fellow readers and writers. Thank you for taking the time to look at and hopefully read my story. I genuinely appreciate it. Just a heads-up. This story will be revealing some interesting aspects of my OC Celeste so keep your eyes peeled. This is a separate story from Hunting Dog (which is the first of a kind of series I am planning involving Celeste) but it is still very much linked. Lastly I have at some point mentioned a character called Iofiel this is not one of my OC, but I have permission from the writer (a friend of mine in real life) to use their character and I quote 'whenever I want' :D Please enjoy Chapter 1.
Dean and Sam opened the door of their dreary motel room. Wearily, Celeste slumped onto one of the hard chairs and groaned. Castiel appeared and cocked his head at the sorry scene.
"Why does everyone seem to have longer faces?" Castiel questioned in his deep voice as he looked at each individual's glum face.
"Because Uncle Cas, we have worked our arses off on our recent case. Did you know chasing down a vampire at night is incredibly hard work?" Celeste explained flippantly as she leaned on her hands that she had clasped underneath her chin. Exhaustion was written all over her expression. Castiel sighed and said sternly,
"I appreciate you have all been working hard, but Celeste there is no need to take that tone of voice with me". Celeste naturally would have rolled her eyes in her response, but she was far too tired. Instead she mumbled an apology which seemed to placate Castiel.
"So what have you been doing Cas?" Sam asked leaning back on the battered armchair. Dean lightly punched him in the arm as he had been eyeing that seat the moment he had staggered into the motel room. Castiel contemplated Sam's question before saying nonchalantly,
"Oh I was just flying around the area not really doing anything in particular. Today is the day I came into existence, created by Our Father who is in Heaven,". Celeste's eyes lit up and Castiel looked at her curiously, "What?".
"You never told me it was your birthday! Happy birthday Uncle Cas." Celeste scolded playfully as she skipped over and gave her uncle a gleeful hug.
Castiel gave a small smile and awkwardly received his niece's hug before pushing her off gently. Then he began to explain in his usual serious monotone voice,
"I didn't tell you because I have never done anything different on my birthday." Celeste's eyes widen further and her face became crestfallen. She whispered,
"Uncle Cas, you mean for all of the millenniums, centuries and only God knows how long you have been in existence for. You have never ever celebrated your birthday?" Castiel shrugged and said honestly in response,
"I have never had an occasion to. After all the 'birthday' as the humans call it is not considered to be of any significance in Heaven. Especially by our superiors. They say it is a day like any other where we carry out our duties as God intended us to do so."
Celeste shook her head sadly as she listened. She notice her uncle's eyes seemed vacant as if he was re-living every single second of his millions upon millions of mundane birthdays all at once. Suddenly, Celeste felt a bolt of inspiration and a cunning plan entered her sharp mind.
"But uncle Cas you rebelled from Heaven! That changes everything. You can celebrate your birthday and we could have a party. I think we all agree that we need a break from the tedious hunting life. No offense guys." Sam and Dean shook their heads, although Dean's jaw clenched a little at Celeste's boldness.
"A party? I don't know how I feel about that or if I understand what a party entails." Castiel muttered awkwardly his wings became rigid and his face was graced with a hard frown.
Celeste smiled at her uncle and walked over to him. Tentatively she reached for his hand but as she noticed her uncle shift his weight slightly onto the over foot she stopped.
"Uncle Cas. You don't have to worry about what a party is. It is still your birthday and you should be doing something that makes you happy." Celeste murmured as Castiel gave her a blank stare.
"I don't know what makes me happy. This is an emotion that I am not entirely familiar with." Celeste gave an exasperated sigh and said,
"What brings you peace?" Dean smirked and could not resist the urge to say,
"When you shut your trap." Sam laughed at his brother's joke, but immediately stopped as he registered the flash of anger that had crossed Celeste's usually cheeky, life embracing expression.
"My question was not directed at you Dean. This is important so as I have heard you say a million times to Sam. Would you kindly shut your cake hole?" Sam laughed again and earned a rough shove from his brother; his expression resembled anger belonging to a mature man and also the sulkiness of a scolded child.
Under normal circumstances Castiel would have most likely scolded Celeste for being disrespectful towards Dean. However, he was too deep in his own thoughts, almost in a philosophical state as he regarded Celeste's question. After contemplating for a few minutes Castiel had come to a conclusion. Turning to face his niece he said simply,
"I like walking." Celeste shot Dean and Sam a glare, who she sensed were about to snigger at her uncle's 'cryptic' answer.
"May I ask why uncle Cas?" Celeste asked sweetly and Castiel hesitated as he knew from past experience this sweet tone often meant Celeste was trying to manipulate him in some way. Either to pull a mischievous prank on him or to cover up a misdemeanour she usually managed to commit without being caught in the act. Celeste seemed to notice her uncle's reluctance and smiled reassuringly. "You don't have to explain your reasons why. I was just curious." Castiel took a deep breath as his niece walked away and he spoke softly,
"I like to walk because it allows me to observe the world from the ground. Flying is practical in getting you to places speed and time wise, but it is a completely different perspective. Up in the air everything seems so meaningless. All you can see are billions upon billions of specks on the ground. Some are stationary whilst others move. You can only appreciate their splendour when you are standing directly in front of them. To me walking is living." Castiel felt a heat rush over him. He could not tell whether it was embarrassment or passion.
Dean and Sam had listened with their mouths slightly agape whilst Celeste's eyes shone with admiration for her uncle. He could be a true poetic when he wanted to be in a kind of dorky way, but Celeste loved him all the more for it.
"Did I say something wrong?" Castiel asked his voice laced with uncertainty and Celeste replied
"No. If walking makes you happy then you should hop to it, Uncle Cas!" Celeste giggled as her uncle gained a bemused expression.
"I am not a rabbit Celeste. I am an angel. I do not hop, I fly." Castiel pointed out with indignation and Celeste shook her head. Sam quickly said,
"Cas relax. She is not being rude for once. I know I cannot believe it either. What Celeste means is that you should go out for a walk for you birthday." Castiel listened to Sam's explanation patiently and nodded his head at Celeste to show he now understood or at the very least he knew she wasn't being impertinent.
"Very well. But first I need to give something to Celeste." Castiel responded and started to walk towards his niece.
His stride exuded confidence and Celeste could not help but cringe inwardly. This never usually ended well. Normally a lecture would ensue or worst case scenario, on those rare occasions when Celeste has pushed her uncle to the brink of insanity he would give her a single sharp slap. However, Castiel produced a big, leather bound book from God knows where and placed it in her hands. Celeste admired the cover. She gently smoothed it and whispered the title with wonder,
"History of the Angels" Dean and Sam peered over Celeste's shoulder with curiosity. Dean quickly frowned and said gruffly,
"All I see is a bunch of squiggles." Celeste rolled her eyes and Sam explained,
"That's because it's written in Enochian Dean." Dean met Celeste's cocky expression and growled bitterly,
"You never told us you could read Enochian." Celeste shrugged her shoulders in response.
In her personal opinion everyone needed to have a few secrets that could then be used to their advantage. Or to add a layer of mystery to themselves to reveal to only a few souls that they trusted with their entire being in the future. Castiel decided to offer Celeste an explanation as to what the contents of the books were.
"I know you have a deep love for reading that you hide from Dean as you believe he would tease you. But I thought this book would be of interest to you. It describes all of the angel's heritage. Our ancestors and great warriors of the past amongst other things. Such as it describes all of the wars that have been fought."
Celeste regarded the book with a new found sense of pride, almost as if it was half of herself. She clutched it tighter to her chest. Feeling almost unworthy to have possession of such a valuable and no doubt sacred piece of text. Celeste profusely said,
"Thank you uncle Cas. I promise to cherish this book always." Castiel wanted nothing more than to place his hands on his niece's shoulders and envelop her in a warm hug however he thought it would be too awkward to do this in front of Sam and Dean. After all, wasn't it customary that if you hug one person in a room with other people, you were then required to hug them all? So instead he nodded at Celeste and said,
"I shall go for my walk now." and before anyone could question where the angel had got the book from, Castiel had zapped outside and was no doubt flying to a reclusive spot in the forests that surrounded Wyoming where he would be able to enjoy his birthday stroll.
Thank you for reading. Please feel free to review anything positive or negative accepted. I apologise for my ramblings!