2
Welcome You Who Are Damned
"So I'll be nearby to pick you guys up when you call. Wish I could just camp there." Charlie muttered.
"It's the first week of January, you'll freeze overnight. Besides, it's Maine…you can have a lobster." Dean jokingly replied.
"I'm allergic to shellfish."
"That sucks." Dean apologized as he checked his knives before tucking them in. He looked over at him, "You ready Cas?"
Nodding, they all headed up the stairs to head outside where Raziel would take them to Italy. The plan that they had come up with was sound, but given the sketchy information about Hell, there were many variable they were not able to predict. Thankfully, they only had to bring their weapons, since the nature of Hell was similar to Purgatory, their bodies would not need sustenance. They were just carrying their machetes, a couple of knives and a pair of guns. Dean would carry the compass and some other minor items while he had the notes. They would rely on speed and stealth to accomplish their mission.
Once they were outside, Raziel came forward and touched their chests and he felt a uncomfortable warmth emanate from his bones. It was expected though, his brother was etching sigils onto their bones to his them from demons in hell, very much how he had done earlier to his the Winchesters from Heaven. Stepping back, he gave them room to bid them farewell.
"Say goodbye to Uncle Dean and Cas Robbie." Sam said as he waved the child's arm back and forth. Everyone smiled, it was, as they say, cute. Sam looked at them both, "come back, both of you. I really don't want to go save either one of you. Again."
"Pfft, whatever bit….brother." He chuckled, Dean was trying not to swear when Robbie was around.
"Jerk," Sam replied as he stepped back to let Charlie hug them. They all gathered around him and Dean and bid them farewell one last time. Once they said theirs, Raziel touched them both and he felt the sensation of angel flight once again. It was only a split second before they landed inside a dark cave. Switching on their flashlights, they scanned the surrounding when they began walking further along.
After a while, the floor became level and he could see support columns space out. "It is as we suspected, the original entrance was encased in lava ages ago. These inscriptions, "he said looking at the nearest column that had writing, "are Latin warding spells."
"Indeed, thought the Greeks and Phoenicians also had theirs from early time periods. This doorway to Hell has not been used in almost three thousand years." Raziel continued. Together, they went down the small corridor before they came to large hole in the floor. Looking down, he thought he saw the flicker of golden light, or fire. "This is it gentlemen. This is as far as I can go. From here, you jump."
"Whoa there, did you say jump?" Dean asked.
"Yes." Raziel replied factually.
"That's…..that's a long drop. We aren't going to survive that and we don't have enough rope to climb."
"We're not falling per se Dean, once we recite the incantation, a portal will open that we'll have to jump through. I assure you, we'll land in Hell perfectly safe." He explained.
"Oh god, we're doing the Thelma and Louise thing aren't we?" He nodded while smiling. "Not funny Cas."
"I will recite the incantation opening the portal, and signal you both to jump. Once you're through, I will have to close it. Good luck to you both." With that, he began reciting the old Greek to open the portal. When he nodded to them, Dean took his hand and they both jumped over the edge and into darkness.
They fell for a minute before they hit the portal. At first, it was like splashing into water, but it wasn't cool, but warm, and it had a more oily texture. Cas assumed they were going through the membrane of the dimension at encompassed Hell. It slowed their fall though, but it was suffocating. He held onto Dean's hand tighter, to make sure they don't lose each other. Then they were falling again but only for a second before they landed on hard rock on their feet.
"Let's never do that again." Dean said as he let go of Cas. He nodded and they both looked around. The area they landed in was empty, desolate. The earth was cracked and had edges like glass, and the small holes where streams of fire flew upward at random intervals. In the horizon, he could make out what appeared to be cliff with a black waterfall.
"That must be the River Styx," he said pointing at the waterfall. Dean took out the compass and the needle pointed in that direction as well. Nodding to each other, they began walking toward the distant river.
After some time , Dean asked a question. "So…was Hell always here?"
"To my understanding, no. From what we are told, this used to be a place where the souls would go to contemplate their life on Earth. When they reached a certain point of enlightenment and forgiveness they ascended into Heaven. Those who did not, stayed here. When Lucifer fell, he came here and twisted its purpose, to show the evils humans are capable of, how pitiful and weak they can be. He also was the one responsible for the time differential between here and earth. He needed time to create the first demons."
"You're saying then, that he made this place as a 'fuck you' to God?"
"Just about, Lucifer was…is immensely prideful, and he wanted to show God what he favored creation can become."
"So why leave it like this? Why didn't God reset the place?"
"Honestly, I do not know. I don't recall much from that time in particular, but Raziel and Itheriel have filled in some gaps. By the time Lucifer was bound, there were too many demons even for the host to deal with. You see Dean, in Hell, we are at our weakest, being so far from Heaven. I suppose you can say, that Heaven and Hell are on opposite sides of the universe. Here, we're barely stronger that the average demon, except for the archangels."
"How did you get to me then?"
"Remember Dean, we laid siege to Hell. Tens of thousands of angels descended into the pit. My garrison was supposed to be defending our flank until we were overrun. Sounding retreat, we went through the closest exit until I felt a pull to head someplace else."
"Wait. Did you hear that?" They both stopped and listened, but all they heard was the flames that roared on occasion. Looking around, they saw no one. When they turned to face the nearby river though, they say a tall robed person wrapped in shadow. The face was obscured by the hood they wore. Immediately, they both took out their guns and knives.
The figure tilted its head and said, "Castiel," in a whispery voice, almost raspy. "What has become of you to be mortal and on the very doorstep of damnation?"
"Who are you?" he asked, keeping his gun trained on the stranger. Dean also moved a bit closer to him as well, to give him a bit of cover.
"I? I am the warden of the wicked, sentry of those sentenced to suffering. I have no name, it was lost long ago when I fell with he who rebelled."
He lowered his gun, "you're a fallen angel?"
"Yes…cursed now and bereft of my grace, I and those like me are now the burdened to ferry those of who are damned." The fallen raised a skeletal hand to them both. "Neither of you are dead, demon or angel but mortal living men. Why do you come?"
Moving close to Dean so he can whisper into his ear, "this must be the ferryman, though I did not know they were fallen angels. That's how he must've recognized me."
Dean nodded, "we were looking to have a chat with the two in time out, we don't plan to stay, promise." Cas saw he put on his suave goofy smile.
"No mortal shall pass lest he pay the price, and the price is death."
"Can't we bribe you? Cas, aren't supposed to give him a gold piece or something?"
Rolling his eyes, he faced the ferryman, "we come to seek only another mortal soul being held here against his will. Is it not your charge to ensure the living remain out of Hell?" The ferryman tilted his head, so he pressed his case. "And there is no rule forbidding mortals to come down, at their own risk and free will, to complete a quest?"
The hooded form nodded. "Very well, though you enter at your own risk. Be warned, you may pass, but your exit is uncertain and not expected." He held out his hand, and a boat rose up from the river. "Take this boat, do not stay on it long, nor drink the water." Then he vanished.
Dean walked over to the boat, which looked like it was made of rotting wood. He put a foot in, and it bobbed a little, but no leak was apparent. Shrugging, he got in and helped him into the boat. Casting off, Dean used the paddle to push the boat along. "Pretty sure we were supposed to pay him. I got a bad feeling off of that deal Cas."
"We did not deal anything Dean, he merely allowed us to pass. The classical interpretations of the denizens and functions of Hell are inaccurate. Remember what Crowley said and what we read. The demons here control everything, I doubt the ferryman could've stopped us."
"Yeah yeah, I remember, but we're on the Styx Cas, like Dante and Odysseus." Dean chuckled, "man, if I could only play 'Boat on a River' by Styx right now, that would be hilarious. So what's next?"
He pulled out the notes that he had complied, a sort of guide to Hell before they left. Most of it was Crowley's notes, that was out of date, and whatever lore they thought accurate. "Crowley said that entry would be easy, but we would have probably go through the layers of Hell. The first we passed, the next should be the place where all the souls gather to be harvested. Since his 'infinite line' system fell apart by now, he said it would probably be like feeding frenzy. Various demons fighting to take a share of the newly arrived. We have to find the path leading further down at that point."
"So avoid being scooped up by demons, gotcha. Now, what did the Dementor back there say our return is not expected?"
"He was probably trying to intimidate us. We're going out through the Purgatory breach though, so we won't see him again."
"Yeah, hope this spell you and Raziel cooked up works. It's the linchpin of the entire plan."
"It'll work Dean, all the spell will do is repurpose the compass to seek out monsters." In truth, he hoped it work too. Looking over the boat, the river was jet black and still like glass. Their boat hardly made a ripple, but he knew they were moving, the landscape, if it can be called that, was passing quickly by. Soon, they were beyond the cracked fields of obsidian and now between steep cliffs. There was no sky, just infinite darkness that shifted like black smoke. There was not light source in the 'sky' to be seen, but there was light, weak but he was able to see ahead some distance. He thought perhaps, there was no light at all, but a faint glow from all the surfaces that made it appear like light.
How long they stayed on the river, they did not know. Sometimes they talked, or nestled against each other, but most often they stayed quiet and alert. Finally, the river widened until it almost seemed they were on an ocean. Far in the distance though, they could both see a red light stretching across the entire horizon. Dean had stopped paddling a long time before, but now they moved toward that light at a swift pace. It wasn't long until they reached the edge and stepped out of the boat.
Once out, the boat sank and disappeared into the dark waters. Dean shrugged, and pulled out the compass, and they began walking in the direction it pointed. The red light was much brighter now, reaching well above them. It was as if the sky was on fire. A short walk from the shore, they found that they were actually on a cliff overlooking vast plains.
It was what was happening on the plains that made them pause. They were filled with people, running all about, with no direction and in fear. By some magic, it wasn't until they were at the edge of the cliff did they hear the cries of the damned. The reason why they were running was because clouds of dark smoke constantly swooped down and flew off with one. Some of them would collide midair and began to fight.
They both knew those clouds were demons, collecting the souls and fighting each other for them. The scene though was one of total mayhem. Beyond the plains, he saw a towering ruins of a wall that ran across as far as he could see. Then he recognized it.
"Dean! I remember this is the place where we laid siege. We have to go over the wall to move further in!" He shouted over the roar of voices.
"We'll have to make a run for it once we get down!" He pointed to some stairs leading down. "Looks like that's the way!" Taking his hand, Dean lead him to the staircase and further into Hell.