I had completely forgotten Debriel was the ship name for Dean and Gabe. Oh well. None of that kind of Debriel here.
The next time Samuel was able to visit his Soul was a week following their first formal meeting. It was a necessity at that point, he understood the reason why his brothers and sisters were unable to handle the loss of their Soul completely. A week had him feeling tired and drained, he was turning into Uriel he realized. With that thought in mind he went to Hannah.
Seeing as it had been a week since Samuel had seen his Soul. He was becoming ever more restless. Following the disaster in Kansas, what remained of his garrison had been stationed in Jerusalem to protect fifteen of the Seals. It had started out as a simple task, especially simple for him as he still had residual power from his Soul. Things had changed throughout the week however. At the beginning, that power had given him strength to spare, the power to cut through demons with little to no effort, as the week went on Samuel began to understand why his brothers and sisters broke after their Soul died. The power began to drain and fade. It was not only affecting his life, his brothers and sisters' as well. His impaired fighting skills were not the only problem.
The voice of Lucifer was another problem, the promises and temptation, they did not help. They made it all worse. One of Samuel's brothers, Inias, turned on them in the middle of their battle. He ran his blade through Hester before anyone could realize what had happened. After Balthazar had killed him they became aware of a dangerous problem. They would not only have to defend the city from the outside but they would have to watch for their brothers and sisters turning on the inside.
Things continued to get progressively worse, after five days of onslaughts of demon armies Lucifer spoke four words. 'Join us or die.' The most bitter of the words he had spoken. A promise. A dangerous promise from the Fallen Archangel that rang a warning.
That was when the angels arrived. The ones that Lucifer had drawn in since The First Seal broke.
The battles became messier following this, it was no longer a simple task of smiting or running blades through demons. There were angels, their brothers and sisters, many from Samuel's very own garrison. The angels that attacked them were merciless, they slashed and killed, dodged and ducked. They knew how to battle angels. They had trained with them.
Those four words were the only aggressive words Lucifer spoke during that battle. Following the arrival of the angels Lucifer's promises returned. 'Brothers, sisters, lay down your weapons. Lay them down and join me. Turn around and I will protect them. Your Souls are precious. They belong to you. They will be yours forever if you join me.'
'Samuel!' Samuel barely ducked as a blade came stabbing for his head, Balthazar's quick warning the only thing that had saved him. Stabbing the demon with the stolen angel blade was a simple task, he caught the corrupt creature in the stomach and ripped up, cutting the Vessel near in half. 'Brother, you need to go. This battle is no longer yours.' Balthazar materialized inches in front of him, giving him a hard look that said there was no arguing this. He was probably right to do so. Lucifer had been drawing him in. Tempting him. "Go to Hannah and tell her you need to return to your Soul. I am sorry, brother but you are doing more harm than good."
In truth, Balthazar was not sorry, he was protecting everyone else. Samuel would either get himself killed in this battle by the distraction caused by Lucifer's words or he would give into the Fallen Archangel and turn on his brothers.
In the same moment Balthazar turned to run a blade through the chest of demon that had appeared behind him, Samuel spread his wings and flew, arriving in Heaven. Heaven was quieter than it had been a week ago. Most all of the angels were on Earth at this point in time, defending Seals. He wandered down the tunnel of Heaven, willing his pathway through several different heavens until he came across the one heaven he knew he would find Hannah in.
The heaven was a simple one, a young girl no older than five with a truly pure Soul. A child that had been killed as the consequence of a demon deal. This child meant more to Hannah than any other angel on the planet. It was not her Soul. No angel was allowed to see their Soul. This was her Soul's daughter. The child had died about a week following her Soul's death. It had been a mess. The husband had sold his daughter's life in exchange for his wife's return. When the demon had attempted to bring the Soul back it had not worked. The barrier in Heaven forbade the resurrection of the known Souls of angels. With or without demon deals. The demon had left the fine print on that one out of the spoken words and the daughter had died. Hannah always blamed her failure as a Guardian on the death of the girl.
"Samuel." Hannah had turned her head slightly so she was facing him from where she was sitting on a park bench with the child leaning into her side asleep. Or as asleep as a Soul could be. Since the last time he had seen her, Hannah had taken a Vessel of a middle-aged woman. It was interesting in a way, seeing so many angels in Vessels. "You are supposed to be in Jerusalem."
"I am aware." He responded, inching closer as the scene around him became clearer. They were at a park and the bench the two girls were settled into was looking out over a pond. It was all illusion but the concept was the same. There was still a light breeze, there was the faint scent of grass and leaves potent in the air. "I cannot… battle. Lucifer is whispering to us, promising so many things. It is very… distracting. I am a danger to the others."
"You are being called upon by temptation, brother. Be wary of this."
"I am aware, sister. It does not make it any easier. Surely you can understand."
A dangerous look crossed his sister's expression at those words, it was no secret that Lucifer's whispers were taking a toll on every angel that had lost a Soul. There were whispers that Raphael was also being affected. Lucifer was making an impact already and all that had happened was the Seals started breaking. If there was success in breaking all sixty-six what would they do? With Lucifer on Earth… They would be unable to prevent the battle between Lucifer and Michael. Their father's greatest creation would be destroyed in the battle. Samuel would blame himself, he should have been on Earth and he should have protected his Soul from the events that had led to his Damnation.
All of this information went through him in a single moment, in the next Hannah was speaking, "Lucifer is speaking to all of us, Samuel. No matter the temptation, you cannot let him take you. He is The Father of Lies. He destroyed Lilith to prove his point and do not think for a moment he would not do the same to Gabriel. Remember this when you are with him, Samuel." Hannah turned her gaze from him and began running her hand through the Soul's equivalent to the once golden hair of her life.
"Thank you, Hannah." The gratitude in his voice ran through every part of his being, a bit unsettling for him. Some emotions were ones he had experienced before but only in passing. Feeling them as he did in his Vessel was a bit overwhelming. Though, it was not in a negative way.
"I am not done. They are Hunters. If you will not be in Jerusalem defending with your brothers, you will have them assist us in protecting Seals. There are two witches who are working towards The Summoning of Samhain. Collins, Kansas. Remember that, should we call to you, Samuel, you are to return to us. I understand what you are going through but you must not let it consume you." With those words in mind Samuel returned to Earth.
.-~*~-.
The angel touched down a few inches in front of his Soul who was sitting at the edge of a bed with a small white stick protruding from between his lips. If he had been paying closer attention he may have seen the flurry of feathers as someone vacated the room, however it escaped his notice courtesy of his focus on how his Soul's power filled him. He felt alive again. For the first time in the past five Earth days he felt truly alive and he was forced to question how Uriel, Raphael, and the others survived without their Souls. He could completely understand why they were so broken. It made him want to mourn them.
"Jesus Christ!" Gabriel scrambled back on the bed, glaring at the angel. On the other bed the younger Novak brother had already drawn his weapon and pulled the trigger.
Samuel blinked and looked over, listening to the sound of the bullet falling to the ground as it hit his body. "Castiel Novak." Samuel greeted the younger brother, looking into the tainted Soul of the brother with curiosity. It was pure white, not as bright as his Soul, but pure white. Except a single splotch of blackness that Samuel had only ever seen in demons.
"What-"
"Cas, this is the angel," Gabriel said the word with disbelief. Of course, he still doubted him. His show from before would not be enough. Not with Hunters. It would take more effort to convince them of his species, time they did not have. "Samuel. But I like to think of him as a Sam or Sammy, maybe-"
"An angel?" Castiel Novak cut his brother off, frowning at Samuel. "A real angel?" Castiel looked back over at Gabriel, the two of their Souls reached between the space until they were touching as they communicated without speaking.
Samuel was bewildered at the sight. He had seen this before. Once or twice when visiting a few different heavens. He did not know it was possible for Souls to connect at this level until death.
"So, Sammy." The angel blinked, looking at his Soul. "Last time we saw each other you sorta kept the details of what you needed from me vague." He gripped the stick protruding from his lips and pulled the small sugary purple ball from his mouth.
Samuel vaguely recognized this item from the Heavens of children, "it's a lollipop" one young girl had told him. She had offered him the sweet but he had denied her, knowing that anything in the heavens was off-limits to angels. Even when the Soul offered it.
"What is happening out there? Why are you here?" Gabriel's question was straight and to the point as he jabbed the 'lollipop' in the angel's direction.
Samuel was not fully aware of the answer to the question, he knew only the limited information he had been passed by his superiors and Uriel. He would not keep information from his Soul. Not without a direct order stating otherwise.
"The Apoc-"
Gabriel butted in before he could continue that sentence. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Apocalypse is nigh blah blah blah. Get to the details, Sammy. The juicy info."
"Gabe, stop patronizing the angel. Would you like to sit?" Castiel patted the foot of his bed and awkwardly Samuel sat down in the spot, looking between the two brothers with a bit of confusion. He did not see the purpose of sitting. Not at first, then he began to feel some of the tension leave his Vessel's body, something he was never really aware of, and it became a bit clearer as to why they would enjoy it though it did not do anything for him personally.
"Okay, Sammy. Now that baby bro has made you nice and cozy, spill. Before I shoot you again."
"Spill what? And shooting me would do me no harm."
Gabriel sighed in exasperation, "For the love of God. Tell us the details that you skipped past last time."
Samuel spoke carefully, yet again feeling Lucifer's voice spilling through his Grace, loud and insistent. Promising, asking, offering. Protection for his Soul. Protection for Gabriel. All he had to do was join him, lay his weapon down and bow before him. "Four months ago, by your time, Castiel-"
"Call him Cas. Not Castiel."
"Gabe…"
"And stop calling me Gabriel. It sounds too formal, Gabe works for me."
"Let him finish his story." Castiel's, no Cas', voice was a bit exasperated. Samuel allowed the brothers a moment to speak, he had plenty of time, at least for now. Unless orders came for him. Lucifer's whispering was the only consequence to him not speaking. The alluring words became more and more prominent. A promise for safety. A promise for his Soul.
"Okay, go on, Sammy boy." Blinking, he returned his attention to the brothers.
"Four months ago, Earth time, you were taken by hellhounds."
Gabriel returned his lollipop to his mouth before looking away. "I remember."
"Four months ago, my garrison was sent to Hell to retrieve The Righteous Man."
"You've said that before. What does that mean?"
"A pure Soul, a man who did not belong in Hell. A man who only went because of the purest intentions." That was what he had been told as they descended into the depths of Hell. It was not his place to question this. However, something had seemed wrong with that information. There were many mortals who sold their Soul to with pure intentions. Why was it that now the world was ending?
Gabriel snorted. "I'm not a pure soul. I lie, cheat, steal, fuck random strangers and so much more. I'm the farthest thing from pure."
"You are pure. Even with everything that happened in Hell. You are the purest Soul I have ever seen." Which was completely accurate. Even though there was a darkness in Gabriel's Soul, it was masked by the pure brightness of what called to Samuel. If he chose to make an effort to look, he could see the darkness as well. It was also far from the typical taint of a Soul. He was pure. Which was a little bit baffling considering what he had seen in Hell. Whether it as Samuel himself or another angel looking at this Soul. They would all see the purity of it. The Righteous Man.
"If you knew anything about me you wouldn't think that."
Cas frowned, staring at his brother with a sad look, "Gabe-"
"Let's let him finish his story." Gabriel gave the angel a hard to read look when he cut his brother off. The look was paved in a million questions Samuel could answer, would answer, within every extent of his power.
This Soul was going to be the death of him. It was going to destroy him in every way possible.
'I have been where you are. All of you. I know the pain, the fear, the knowledge. They are ours and Father does not let us keep them. It is unfair to us all. Think of this, brothers and sisters. I will protect your Souls. I will remove the barriers in their heavens. All you need to do is lay down your blade. I will protect them. I will help you. Brothers and sisters, listen to me.'
"Samuel?" Castiel's tentative question drew him from his elder brother's whispers. The promises. The temptation.
"I apologize. I will continue now." It was far too easy to resume the story for the two brothers as though it had never been cut off. Far simpler than trying to ignore his brother. "We fought through Hell for forty years. The first thirty were simple. The order was 'rescue The Righteous Man before The First Seal breaks.'" Surprisingly neither brother interrupted to ask for information on that, it did not matter as Samuel intended on explaining everything he knew, "It is told to us, 'The First Seal shall be broken when The Righteous Man sheds blood in Hell. As he breaks, so shall it break.'"
"Ten years ago in helltime." Gabriel breathed out.
"I am sorry, Gabriel. When they broke you, it broke The First Seal. There are sixty-six Seals that must be broken. The First Seal is broken by The Righteous Man."
"What about the other sixty-five?"
Samuel considered Castiel's question, there were sixty-five remaining Seals to be broken. As they spoke there were demons and Lucifer's angels alike doing all than could to break those Seals. "There are six-hundred-sixty-six possible Seals. As we speak my brothers and sisters are fighting demons and angels to prevent them from breaking."
"Shouldn't you be with them?" Castiel questioned him, clearly confused.
That was such a difficult question to answer. "I was ordered to come here." He did not wish to explain that he was Gabriel's Guardian. Not when the man was already doubting him. At some point that would be forced into the light but he would not give it up until then.
"Angels are terrible liars." Samuel jerked around when a new being arrived, one that emitted immense amounts of the green energy of a god. The energy rested just above the surface of his Vessel, covering most of it in a light hue, however the piercing green eyes of the Vessel were clear beneath it all. When Samuel drew his blade and jumped into a standing position Castiel's hand came down on his arm.
"Sam, don't." Castiel's tone was pleading. However, Samuel was panicking. The god was staring at him with a knowing gleam in his eyes. This god knew he was lying about his reasons for being there. Or, at the very least that he was not being honest.
Samuel jerked out of the hold of the human with ease and closed in on the god. The god snapped his fingers and reappeared behind him, kicking him in the back of his legs and sending the angel falling to the floor, he had no time to react as a foot came down on the center of his spine and something pressed into the base of his Vessel's skull. He knew what it was without looking, he could feel the silver blade pressing into the skin of the Vessel and touching his Grace.
"Hey, Dean-o." Gabriel's voice was wary. "Let's not kill the angel." Samuel could feel his Soul panicking, reaching out to its Guardian with fear.
Castiel's tentative question followed Gabriel's voice. "It is an angel, right?"
The god snorted. "Of course it's an angel. A young angel but still an angel. Now let's talk like grownups, Sammy." Samuel did not wish to oblige to the god's wishes but the way the two Hunters were interacting with it made him think twice. They were Hunters. If this god was a true threat to their lives, then the Hunters would have killed it. In theory. So, despite his better judgement, Samuel returned his blade to the small pocket of reality that he kept it in. The blade on his neck disappeared along with the foot. The sound of fingers snapping together filled the room as Samuel pushed himself up until he was in a standing position. With unease, he turned so he was facing the god, trying to piece together how a god had managed to best him. Especially when Samuel was still being fed power from his Soul. Through it all, the most important detail was the angel blade. Where had a god gotten its hands on an angel blade?
"Hi, Sammy." The god greeted casually as he sat down on the edge of Castiel's bed. The younger brother was facing the god, a look of pure adoration on his face. Gabriel was on the edge of his own bed, looking between the two beings with curiosity, as though he expected a fight to break out. Which was a fair assumption. Samuel was far too tempted to redraw his blade and launch himself at the god again. He did not. Instead he stuck to glaring at him, all it did was make the god smile smugly back at him.
"How do you know who I am?" He questioned the god with disdain. Neither of the boys had spoken his name. There was no reason the god should know it.
The god merely rolled his eyes in response. "Open line to Cas' brain. 'bout six years ago these two called a favor in. Check this out." The god lifted his hand in front of him and after a moment a green rope with god energy pulsing through it materialized in the air, reaching out across the distance to Castiel's Soul where it was now visibly wrapped around and through the tainted Soul of Castiel. Said Soul jerked away from the lead, fighting against its confinement. Meanwhile Castiel put on a stoic expression, staring blankly.
"You bound him." Samuel stated simply, feeling pity for the younger brother. The brother with the tainted soul. Samuel could not kill the god now. Not while he held Gabriel's brother's Soul. A contract of that degree meant should the god die, so would any living being bound to them.
"I saved him. Look, Sammy. Look at his Soul. You can see that dark taint as well as I can. Eight years ago, there was a mess. A demon needed to die so they called me. They were lucky it was me and not one of the others. To assist them, as the ancient rules demanded of our power, I was forced to bind one of them. Towards the end of things binding took a darker turn. I took the one who caught my eyes. The one I wouldn't mind fucking ten ways to Sunday." Castiel faltered for a second, his face reddening at the bluntness of the god's words. "I chose the one with the tainted Soul. I stopped it from destroying him. It will always be there but it can't grow. Get over it, Sammy. I don't use it to harm him." As if to make a point he let go of the rope and Castiel visibly relaxed, his Soul stopped struggling and the god's power faded from sight. There was a sadness in the way he said it, as though the prospect of harming the human was a terrible one.
"Who are you?" He questioned, still not trusting the god.
"Names have power, Sammy. For that reason, it'll be safer to just call me Dean." The two beings stared between each other, Samuel did not like this. The idea that this god held the fate of his Soul's life in his hands was unsettling. To make matters worse, he had no idea which god he was dealing with. There were many possibilities. Before this was over Samuel would get an answer.
Gratefully, the comment that the god had made regarding his avoidance of the subject of his Soul was forgotten. Or maybe Dean was being merciful to the angel. Either way, it was easier to not acknowledge it.
"So, tell me. What's an Angel of The Lord doing here?" Dean asked with no real interest, as if to keep conversation flowing. Samuel was grateful for that. The idea of being left to listen to the still insistent whispering of Lucifer was unsettling. He was unsure what he would do if his elder brother's words became too tempting.
"I have been sent to watch the brothers." A dark expression covered Dean's expression before it was replaced with a carefree one, Samuel did not ask, he did not wish to risk his true reasons being brought to light. "With The Apocalypse arising we need assistance. The angels are not enough to protect all of The Seals. Heaven has sent me to watch over you and assist you in protecting a Seal."
"Oh yes, two Hunters one Seal. I've seen this one. Lots of be-"
"Dean."
The god shut his mouth when Castiel said his name, a single word had managed to shut him up.
"Heaven wants us to guard a Seal? What does that mean exactly?" Samuel decided it would be easier to talk to Castiel when he spoke. He was straightforward and much easier for Samuel to converse with.
"There are two witches who are working towards The Summoning of Samhain. It is approximately four hours from this location."
"So, you want us to hunt?" Gabriel groaned and lay back on his bed, his Soul appeared to drop slightly in intensity. "Guess we aren't out of the game then."
Castiel frowned, "It won't be that bad, Gabe. Just witches."
Dean shook his head from his spot, laughing lightly, "I fucking hate witches." The room was filled with the sound of fingers snapping and the two Hunters and the god were gone along with all of their belongings. In no time Samuel spread his wings and launched himself into the air, chasing the stream of green energy with ease towards Collins, Kansas. In those brief few moments Lucifer sent out something different. The different ones were the scarier ones. The ones that no one knew what would come from the Grace of their brothers. All he could do was listen.
'I have heard your words, brothers and sisters. I swear on Lilith's Soul. What remains of who she once was. I would never harm one of your Souls. That is not my place.'
That promise almost drew Samuel in. An oath on an angel's Soul meant more than anything. Even when Lucifer had twisted and corrupted his Soul it was still an oath. An oath stronger than if they were to swear on their own Father.
Not all of the angels were so fortunate. Many of them surrendered. He heard the cries from several of his brothers and sisters as they were forced to turn on their brothers and sisters and internally he mourned their loss.