The brothers leaned back simultaneously, startling Castiel out of his guilt induced reverie. Green eyes met blue as Dean shook his head before tilting his head back and rubbing his face in irritation. This was to be expected…finding lore on things obviously older than angels and man combined must be both trying and aggravating in principle. Sam was still buried to his cerebrum in ancient languages long since dead to the world of men and Bobby had since left to wheel himself to the liquor cabinet to staunch his growing frustration. Castiel could hear the glass and bottle clinking together in the room behind him as a light ting in his ears. Dean's exasperation, however, was a far more tangible distraction to the angels thoughts as the elder Winchester groaned and cursed repeatedly. Finally Castiel had had just about enough.

"Would like my help Dean?" Castiel's voice pierced something a little too close to his friend's ego because the oldest Winchester growled a curse before getting up from his chair and storming out the ancient screen door, slamming it behind him. Though the slam resembled more of a parody of the word to the angel's ears and that alone made the action a bit more comedic than was its intended purpose.

"Don't worry about him, Cas. He's just being pissy since we haven't found anything to do with Oblivion in four hours of research." Sam paused briefly and, for just a split second, Castiel could see the growing panic and frustration behind his hazel eyes. "To be honest, Cas, it's starting to get me too. If we can't find anything…"

Sam's thought was cut short by a smooth, foreign accent.

"Perhaps, you are looking for the wrong things…"

Death stood in the center of the study, immaculate suit tidy as usual and his face as stoic looking as ever. Sam stiffened, his jaw hanging a little lower than it had been when he was speaking. Bobby came into the room bearing a look of disbelief that mirrored Dean's as he stood next to his mentor. Castiel, for some reason, wasn't surprised. Maybe it was the run in with Oblivion that had clouded his ability to be astonished or shocked. The archangel supposed it didn't matter anyway as the horseman continued in his smooth baritone.

"You've been looking for Oblivion, his cage, and his true name, Abaddon. Have you bothered to check about this Guardian woman? After all, she did put him there." With that said, the horseman's face never twitched. Instead, he simply vanished from mortal sight. Castiel continued to stare at Death, wondering why he was helping in this manner until he spoke to him directly.

"Castiel, I know it was you who set him free. Accident or not, Oblivion can't be allowed to roam free. He will tear this world, this reality, apart and enjoy tasting the blood of all beings that stand in his way. The reason I came here is to ensure his re-imprisonment. I do have a job to do after all. And I must admit that Dean Winchester has a bigger role to play here than you can possibly understand."

Castiel opened his mouth to speak but, before he could make a sound, the horseman was gone with no trace of him ever having been there at all. The angel tried to decipher the meaning of those words that had been meant for him alone. And why speak to him directly? What role did he mean? These questions and more ran through Castiel's mind repeatedly, echoing about until he could hear nor perceive anything else around him.

"CAS!"

Dean's voice shattered Castiel's train of thought and grounded him back in the conversation again. All eyes were on him and the angel shifted uncomfortably in his spot on the old couch.

"Dude, are you spacing out over there or what? Sam found something on the Guardian that he thinks you should hear."

Castiel's eyes snapped to where Sam was sitting at the desk with Bobby. The younger Winchester shot him a concerned look before speaking.

"Ok, it says here that the Guardian…the texts refer to her as Altara…decided to 'live amongst the denizens of Mortalis after the Darkness was sealed'. So that means she is still here."

Sam looked pointedly at Bobby, who sat beside him, just as the elder hunter began to read from another book.

"It says that 'Altara can be found in places where history is worshipped and can be identified by the smell of Orchids'. Am I the only one here who knows where history is 'worshipped'."

The brothers locked eyes with one another before smiling, hope filling their eyes, before simultaneously answering.

"Museums"

Bobby looked at Castiel and then the brothers before speaking again.

"The best museum I can think of that has ancient history from the world is the British Museum in London."

The brothers looked at each other and then smiled at their friend. Castiel sighed before laying a finger on their heads to begin their flight to London. Dean smiled mischievously and Sam elbowed him before reprimanding his brother for something Castiel couldn't quite hear or understand. The younger Winchester spoke excitedly to his two companions.

"Looks like we're off to London!"