Warnings: Minor Character Death (OC), Rituals, Mentions of attempted rape, Ritual Human Sacrifice, Blood.
***This has been edited by nopenopeartichoke ^_^
Chapter 3
Keeping up with Heaven was exhausting. While he had managed to change a few things so it would keep running with the few angels they had, the new system was based upon his own power levels. It was a trick he had learned over the years and incorporated it into Heaven itself. By feeding his grace into Heaven which was where it came from in the first place- it made like a loop and slowly but surely the loop was restoring both his own grace and the foundation of Heaven itself. It would take a couple of years, but so long as he was alive and had at least some level of grace, then Heaven would be all right.
Incorporating the other angels into the loop had been tricky, while it was no problem with the angels from this universe, the ones from the other world might wish to go back someday and as such couldn't have the same kind of tie. Once everything was figured out however the archangel had no intentions of sticking around for weeks on end as he had been. His connection could be looped through anywhere, including Earth where his lover waited for him. Making the same kind of connection with Castiel as his own to Heaven, the archangel winked at his little brother while they made their way back down to Earth.
"The Winchesters have mentioned you and inquired as to when you are going to 'show up' again. Have you thought about stopping by for a while? You are a member of their family as well and I'm sure they would like to spend some time with you." The way Castiel's wings twitched slightly let Gabriel know that even if he was telling the truth it was Castiel who wanted to spend time with him. In Heaven it was different, Castiel was nearly always by his side but it wasn't the social interactions the younger angel craved. Having spent so much time on Earth and more specifically with the Winchesters, it was understandable that Castiel would want to have that same kind of connection with one of his own brothers.
"Sure, I'll even ask Rowena if she wants to stop by. Jack still with Luci in the other world?" though he didn't think he would, Gabriel liked Jack. The kid was smart, and while a bit too trusting, he had a good heart and wanted to do the right thing. Seeing Castiel nod his head caused Gabriel to frown slightly, he had been looking forward to spending some time with his nephew. "With the war having lasted as long as it did Jack has been in the other world trying to help restore nature as best he can. Apparently, Lucifer has been taking his role of father seriously and teaching Jack how to harness his power a bit better so that he can create new wildlife the humans desperately need."
Placing his hand on Castiel's back, Gabriel nodded. "Yeah for a powerhouse like Jack it shouldn't be a problem and it is something Luci would know how to do. We can't create souls, only Dad can do that, but we can make animals and vegetation easily enough when our power is topped off. Jack's a bright kid, he's not going to let Luci steer him wrong." Getting a nod from his little brother, Gabriel pulled his hand back. "Well I don't know about you, but I'm going to go home, tell the boys I might stop by in a couple days." Getting a goodbye from Castiel, Gabriel lifted his wings and flew to where he sensed Rowena. She wasn't back at the house, one of the safe houses he had made, but that didn't surprise him. Rowena wasn't the kind of woman to be tied down, she was free, and it was one of the things he loved about her, which was a steadily growing list each time they were together.
Finding her was easy, seeing how she was, however, was a nightmare. Rowena was kneeling beside a body, the man's corpse laid out naked and there were trails of blood from where he had been stabbed in the chest. A quick glance and Gabriel noticed this wasn't a sacrifice to any kind of god though he couldn't make out what it would be for. Suddenly a backlash of power knocked him from his feet, causing the archangel to be slammed against the nearest dirty wall of the warehouse. Rowena was chanting something, and though he knew every language known to man he couldn't quite make out the words of the spell she was using.
The warehouse glowed red before flashing green and wind circled around both Rowena and the corpse for a split second before it died down. Once the power was no longer holding him captive, Gabriel rushed toward his lover who was panting and hunched slightly over the ceremonial bowl she had been using. There was blood in the bowl, probably from the man but otherwise, nothing Gabriel could view as harmful. Whatever Rowena had been doing it wasn't something Gabriel had heard of before and though it should make him nervous he was more concerned about her safety.
"Rowena, are you all right? What were you doing?" hesitating only for a second, Gabriel reached forward and placed his hands on her shoulder so she would turn toward him. She didn't lash out, though he did catch her hesitation before she answered. "What does it look like? I'm using this would-be rapist to protect myself. He thought he could have his way with me, Gabriel, he tried to take me and make me unfaithful to you, who knows how many other women were victims of his crimes. So, I did what you would do and made him pay… I figured since he was going to die anyway there would be no harm in using him to boost my own power from its weakened state."
Pulling her body against his, both kneeling on the ground, Gabriel placed a soft kiss to her forehead before rubbing her back. "I'm just trying to get back the power that was taken from me when I fought Death. I can't be weak again, Gabriel I can't. I swear I would never sacrifice those who don't harm others, and this was the only human sacrifice I stumbled into. It didn't feel right anyway…" Shushing her, Gabriel nodded his head and closed his eyes for a moment. This was bad, very bad, but he could understand where she was coming from. The more power you have the harder it is when the power fails you when you're weak and can't protect yourself from what you know is out to get you.
"Just promise me you won't do it again. It taints you, Rowena, no matter what guards you have in place doing something like this will taint you and ruin you in a way you can't fight. We can find another way to restore your power, let me help you." Feeling her nod against his chest, a soft 'aye' escaping her lips, Gabriel pulled back enough to tug her into a kiss. Her soul was still the same, the connection he felt not diminishing in the least while their mouths pressed together. Mindful of the corpse behind him, Gabriel didn't try to deepen the kiss into anything else though he did close his eyes and savor the taste of her opened mouth against his tongue. Gabriel made a vow to himself to watch over his lover a bit closer, thankful that he stopped this before it got too far. With his eyes closed the archangel missed the flash of purple in his lover's eyes.
It didn't take but another trip to Heaven before Gabriel knew Rowena wasn't going to stop. They had spent the past week together, touring Hollywood and making love at any given opportunity. While Gabriel had been hesitant to leave her alone after using a human sacrifice, Heaven had demanded his attention. Now that his grace was nearly fully restored he had a new connection with the place and thus knew when he had to leave. Angels didn't need to call him back, Heaven did it itself. Leaving with a lingering kiss, Gabriel flew back upstairs, not two days after he left, the archangel could feel the increase in power around where Rowena was again. It was heartbreaking that she was resorting to such measures to regain what strength she had lost against Death, and while he could understand where she was coming from Gabriel couldn't let it continue.
Finishing his current task, Gabriel flew down to where Rowena was using the same ritual as before and waited. The man was already dead, there would be no point in denying her the boost in power she would receive. While he wasn't at his full power it was close enough that she posed no threat to him, instead, he waited and once the power in the room died down he let his presence be known behind her. "I know what you're going to say, so save it." Making his way so that he was in front of her again once she spoke, Gabriel knelt and tried to make eye contact which she was avidly avoiding.
"I can't… Rowena, you have to know this isn't right. Trying to gather power is fine and I know you can handle it… but like this? It's going to make you just as tainted as the people you're targeting, and I don't want to see that happen. I can help you, you're safe with me, Red. Hell, you're safe by yourself. There's no witch more powerful than you, and we both know you can take care of yourself… you don't need to do this." Rowena turned her gaze toward him then and he could see the remaining power in her eyes while she spoke. "Don't you understand? I'm helpless! I may be the most powerful witch but for how long? Your brother killed me, he burnt me alive and spit on my corpse… I can't be that helpless again, I can't. And what about you? And the world?"
Wanting to know where she was going with this, Gabriel reached out and took one of her hands in his own. It was near killing him to see her so vulnerable, still, he didn't stop her from continuing. "I know what you went through in Hell, how your power was ripped from your vessel. What if someone tries to do it again? I'm not going to let that happen to either of us Gabriel. Don't you see? I'm trying to protect us both… not to mention how many times the world has almost been destroyed in the past decade alone. No, I'm not going to stop building my power back up, not when there's so much at stake if I don't."
Placing a hand on the side of her face, Gabriel rubbed his thumb along her cheekbone for a moment. "I'm not going to tell you to stop looking for ways to bring your power back, if anyone can understand what it's like to have that ripped away from you, it's me. I'm just saying this isn't the way. I don't want to lose the woman I love to black magic like this, I've already lost a brother to it… don't make me lose you too." Rowena's eyes widened slightly while she pressed her head against his hand. "You love me?" she asked in a softer tone, her earlier defiance gone.
Nodding, Gabriel pressed his forehead against hers. "Yes, I do… so please don't make me lose you to this. It shouldn't be too long now before Heaven no longer needs me more than a few days a month, once we get to that stage I promise I'll dedicate every hour to restoring your magic, Rowena. You're right, with your power where it was you could do anything, including saving the world from whatever the Winchesters release on it next… but not at the cost of you." Sighing heavily, Rowena kissed Gabriel for a moment, her eyes locked on his golden ones while she thought. "Okay, we do this your way… but if something else tries to destroy the world before we're done don't blame me."
Laughing, Gabriel snapped his fingers, making the body disappear and slotting his lips to her softer ones. He hoped she would keep her word, it had been a long time since he was in love and losing her would crush him. His fiery redhead who was trying to save them all.
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