Chapter Four: The Fallen Daughter

When Gabriel and Sam land, the younger Winchester is met with strange trees and vines, nothing that Sam has ever seen before. He takes in the lone building, made of red granite with four pillars adorning its front. A crumbling ring of what could have once been a wall surrounds the building. Most of the remaining wall is covered in moss and vines; the building itself remains unnaturally untouched. Although Sam was incredibly curious about the building, he had a strong urge to turn around and walk away from it. "Where are we?" Sam queried.

"Praslin Island." Gabriel replied.

"Seychelles?"

"Well look at you all knowledgeable and stuff." The Archangel slaps Sam on the back.

"Jess always wanted to come here. It was where I was planning to take her on our honeymoon." He replied despondently.

"Congrats, you're the only person who has ever lost someone in their lives." Gabriel rolls his eyes as he walks up to the dilapidated wall.

"What's up with this place? I want to go inside but something is making me want to walk away."

"That's the point Sammy. There are sigils and spells in place so humans who spot it just up and leave, never to think of it again."

"Oh, like Harry Potter."

"Bitch please, where do you think J.K. got it from?" He turns to the wall, puts his hand up in front of him and begins to chant under his breath. After a moment, he completes the spell, allowing them to enter the inner circle.

"Why are there no guards?" Sam asked.

"After Dad left, no one really kept up with it." They walk up to the door of the building. Gabriel picks up a rock and turns it over in his hand. On the other side there is a key embedded.

"Seriously? Under a rock?"

"Whattaya want from me? There was no free will, therefore no creativity." Gabriel goes to unlock the door but hesitates. "I should warn you, even though she is half human she despises humanity so it's best if you keep your mouth shut." Sam rolls his eyes but nods in agreement. The doors swing open and the torches light up as they walk down the small hallway.

As they approach the cage Sam mutters "so this one's actually a cage huh?"

"Hello Uncle. Good of you to finally grace me with your presence." The Nephilim says with a sneer. The fire glints off of her violet eyes as she stares down Gabriel.

"The years haven't treated you very well have they?" Gabriel smiled, observing her dirty clothes and matted hair.

"You certainly did not come here because you care, so why are you here?"

"Well we-"

"We need information about the Mark of Cain." Sam interrupted.

"Since when do you allow your pets to speak Gabriel?"

"Can we cut the crap? I need to know how to get rid of the damn thing."

"Shut up Sam." Gabriel muttered. "Like the ape was saying, we need to know if you can or know a way to remove the mark." Sam shoots him a look that says 'what the hell?' but Gabriel counters with a stern glare.

"Everything I know has a price, what is this information worth to you?" She says while glancing at the chains above her head.

"Why should I pay for the cow when I can get the milk for free?"

"I see your sense of humor hasn't evolved."

"Alright enough small talk, name your price Adriel." Sam interrupted.

For the first time since they arrived, Adriel's eyes met Sam's. "I wish to be free from these bonds. I tire of being caged up like an animal."

"Well maybe we can help with that." Gabriel begins to argue but Sam interjects. "But we're going to need something to build a little trust first."

"I do know how to remove the mark, now how about setting me free?"

"That's not a lot of info to go on. Doesn't seem worth the jail break." Gabriel remarks dryly.

Before Adriel can reply, Sam takes a step forward. "How about you give us something that we can check out and see if it has any merit, if it does, we'll come free you."

"Is the human who bears the mark still human?"

"No. He's a demon now."

"That is a shame because I know of an amulet that could help if he was still human."

"Where is it?"

"So you will return correct?"

"If the information about the amulet checks out then yes we'll return. I promise."

"I am going to require a map."

"Sure thing." Sam says as he pulls out his phone and loads a map. He puts his hand through the bars and shows Adriel the map.

She squints at the device in his hand suspiciously. "What is that?" The Nephillim drew back slightly. "Also, that is not the world I know."

Sam raises his eyebrows and nods. "This is how people communicate with each other across large distances." He says as he googles a map of Pangea. "Is this better?"

"Yes that looks familiar. Top left of the land where you see the jagged edge. Ja-p-an? That is the best I can do while bound."

"Konnichiwa ladies!" Gabriel exclaimed with a smirk.

Sam rolls his eyes in disgust. "Ok we'll check that out and come back if it pans out." As they take their leave, Adriel grins confidently.

Once they are outside of the circular wall the Archangel turns to Sam. "I'm gonna take you back to the bunker Sammy. It will be faster if I search on my own." Gabriel places his hand on the younger Winchester's shoulder and they disappear.

While pouring over the same lore books, Dean tosses his book aside in frustration. "I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall. It's all the same crap we've read already."

"Dean? How are you feeling?" Castiel inquired.

"I'm fine Cas." After several moments of silence, he looks up at him "You look like you could use a nap though."

"Possibly. Dean, is now a good time to bring up the 'sorry'?"

"Don't change the subject Cas."

"Dean I read online that it is not healthy to constantly repress your feelings."

"Thank you Dr. Phil."

"I am not a television personality, Dean." Castiel glares at him from across the table.

"You hungry? I'll go make us something." He pushes himself away from the table, making his way to the kitchen.

"You know I do not requi-" Castiel is cut off by the slamming of the door. He rolls his eyes and continues searching through the lore.

Nearly a half an hour had passed before Dean made a reappearance, holding a plate in each hand. He places one plate in front of Castiel then silently sits down across from him. "Thank you Dean." Castiel mumbled. Dean looks up from his burger and smirks.

"Look Cas, I kno-" Dean is suddenly interrupted by the entrance of Gabriel and Sam.

"Aw yes. You made burgers!" Sam exclaimed as he takes Castiel's burger.

"Dude!" Dean says as he throws his hands in the air.

"What? It's not like he eats anyways." Sam shrugs as he shoots Castiel an apologetic look.

"Don't worry about it Sam." Castiel gives him a small smile.

"Good news love birds. We have a lead. Adriel told us of an amulet that could help with the mark, not cure it though."

"Help how?" Dean questioned.

"First we have to cure you of being a demon." Sam interjects. "The amulet doesn't work if you're a demon, but it does alleviate the effects of the mark when you're human."

"What's the catch?" The older Winchester glances back at Gabriel. "There's always a catch."

"Surprisingly, no catch, just wear the amulet until we can remove the mark."

Sam interrupts "actually we don't know if Adriel is telling the truth, this is a test to see if she actually has enough information to let her out."

"Of course." Dean grumbles as rolls his eyes. "Cas, whatcha think?"

"It appears to be our only option and she wouldn't want to lie to us as she wants to be released."

Dean turns to Gabriel. "Go." He disappears with the sound of fluttering wings.

"We're gonna need human blood that's not mine so Cas and I are gonna head to a blood bank while you hang back in the dungeon."

"What? Why do I have to be in the dungeon?"

"Because you're a flight risk Dean."

"Alright, let's get this over with." Dean heads to the dungeon.

As they pull up to the blood bank, Castiel finally breaks the silence. "Sam, do you think Adriel is being truthful?"

"What choice do we have?"

"I'm just saying, the amulet could be a number of things, many of which wouldn't help Dean at all. How do we know she's not manipulating us?"

"Gabriel is an archangel; wouldn't he be able to tell if the amulet was cursed?"

"We don't know the extent of Adriel's powers, for all we know she could be more powerful than Gabriel."

"We're just gonna have to have faith Cas, our hands are kind of tied."

Sam and Castiel get out of the car and head into the blood bank. After flashing their badges and making up a farfetched story, they procure a cooler full of blood bags. They then head over to a local church to have a priest bless the blood.

"I'm surprised this is going so well."

"What do you mean Sam?"

"Well no one's attacked us, or even tried to stop us."

"Perhaps Crowley told his demons to stay away? He probably wants Dean cured as much as we do."

"Maybe, so, are you and Dean good?"

"What do you mean?"

"When Gabriel and I came back, things seemed pretty tense."

"With Dean being a demon, he is less willing to talk than he was before, but yes Sam, we are good." Castiel gives Sam a reassuring smile.

"Good." Sam nods as he's getting into the Impala. The whole ride home is silent but tense as they wait for the other shoe to drop. It never does.

They return to find Dean pacing around the devil's trap. "You guys could have left me a magazine or something down here. I'm bored."

"Well you could've grabbed one yourself before you walked down here." Sam retorts.

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

Castiel chuckles at the familiarity between the brothers. "We retrieved the blood, I think we should get started."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Shouldn't we wait 'till Gabriel comes back with this 'magic' amulet?"

"It's gonna take at least 8 hours to complete this, he'll be back before then."

Dean sighs. "Fine let's get this over with." He sits down in the chair and they strap him in.

After the seventh injection, Gabriel appears before them. "What the hell took you so long?!" Sam yells.

"Did you know they have love hotels? Love hotels Sam! Man I love Japan."

Sam rolls his eyes. "Did you even get the amulet?"

"Of course I did, what do you take me for?"

"A trickster." Castiel deadpans.

Gabriel gasps theatrically. "Touché brother, touché. I see your humor is finally developing."

Castiel smiles proudly and looks at Sam. He gives a small smile in return then turns to Gabriel. "Do you have the amulet or not? We only have one more injection."

"Yeah, yeah I've got your damn amulet." He hands over a small vial containing seeds over to Sam.

"What the hell is this? This isn't an amulet."

"And the jawbone of a donkey isn't a blade but yet here we are, just throw the thing on a chain and bam! Instant amulet!"

"I'll go find a chain to put this on." Castiel heads back out to search for a chain.

Sam proceeds with the final injection, successfully turning his brother back into a human.

When Dean regains consciousness, they untie him. "How do you feel Dean?" The younger Winchester inquired. Before Dean can answer, Castiel returns.

"Yes Dean, how are you feeling?"

"Better, more like myself again."

"That's good, Gabriel brought the amulet." Sam hands Castiel the vial, he then ties the leather cord he found around the neck of the vial and places it over Dean's head.