Chapter 8
Castiel listened to the night sounds around them and to the small noises made by the ones in the clearing. It would be dawn soon and their plan would start. They would take up advantage points and watch to see if any left and how many and then decide their next move. He hoped he was making the right decision in going back; Meg did make some good points. The only way to help the Winchesters would be to get out of here and see if he would be accepted back into the fold.
"Hey, what ya thinking?" Meg asked sitting down beside him as he sharpened a weapon.
"Nothing." Castiel told her not feeling comfortable about talking about his feelings. He was after all an angel and he wasn't supposed to have human feelings.
"Whatever then." she said shrugging it off knowing he was conflicted and he would talk when he was ready.
"The others should be ready soon. We need to get positioned."
"Alright, will you promise me you'll be careful?" he asked her looking up from the weapon.
"Clarence, I'm always careful, don't worry. I want out of this place, we've got a date when we get topside."
"We do?"
"Yes, we're going to order pizza and move some furniture around." she teased him kissing his cheek.
He thought about what she said for a moment and then got the meaning and blushed slightly. He looked down and concentrated on his task again.
Castiel stood up quickly and stepped in front of Meg as a stranger stepped into the clearing. He clutched the weapon in his hand ready to defend her.
"It's ok, he's with me." Lenora said holding her hand up to Castiel. "Joseph, you have news?" she asked the man.
"Yes, we have done as you asked and spread the word about the angel." he said glancing over at Castiel.
"Everyone that I have contact with is set and ready."
"Thank you Joseph. We'll be heading out shortly to get into position."
"I will leave to join our brothers." he said bowing slightly to her before leaving.
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"Alright everyone, it's time." Lenora announced to the group getting up and waiting for the others to follow.
"How far to the ambush point?" Finch asked checking his knifes before picking up another weapon.
"Couple of miles but we have to be careful for any traps and guards. Walker likes to set up trip wires with nasty surprises."
"Let me go first, I might be able to spot them easier." Castiel told them pausing to look longer at Meg than the others.
"No, we go the harder way." Meg told him. "He's more likely to only set traps on the more used trails."
"But won't it take longer?"
"Then I guess we need to get started then." she stated not backing down. She wasn't going to have him get hurt because he was being stupid and trying to protect her.
Lenora led the way out toward where they were going to set up the ambush ignoring the tension between the two. She knew they had something going on but didn't acknowledge it. She was more concerned with getting rid of this monster that was terrorizing everyone. The others fell into step behind her since she knew the area better than any of them. They moved quietly and quickly through the barren land wanting to get to the tree line without encountering others.
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The five allies spilt up and all worked their way to a different location around the trail that lead to the compound Walker had set up where he kept his hostages and ran his kingdom. Each found a hiding spot and settled in waiting to see if any followers left.
They didn't have long to wait before four creatures came down the trail and headed off to the north. It wasn't long before four more followed suit and headed west cutting down the number they would have to deal with. It was nearly an hour before movement had everyone tense and ready to move. Several recognized Walker among the four others and a soft whistle alerted the others to be ready.
Finch stepped onto the trail just a head of the group barring their way. He looked with hatred toward Walker waiting to see what they would do.
"What do you want?" Walker demanded stepping between two of the other monsters.
"You have someone I want back." Finch told him.
"Oh I do?" he said haughtily. "And why should I do that pray tell? You think you can come in here and demand me to obey you?" he asked pacing back and forth before turning on him again. "Boys, I think we need to teach him a lesson." he told them stepping back out of the way.
The four monsters stalked toward Finch who backed up slowly drawing them away from Walker. Before any of the four could react, Finch had a knife out and threw it burying it into the chest of one of the monsters. Lenora and Dr. Visyak burst from the bushes brandishing weapons, each taking on a foe while Finch charged the other. Walker started walking backward before turning to flee.
Meg rushed Walker knocking him to the ground. She raised her weapon to take his head off, but was thrown off as he gained his feet. She jumped to her feet keeping his attention while Castiel came up behind him. He charged Meg and they went down rolling across the ground each trying to get advantage over the other. Meg fought hard but Walker got the advantage over her and had his weapon ready to plunge it into her chest when Castiel came up behind him and laid a hand on his head using his grace to burn his very soul from his body. Walker screamed in agony as fire shot from his eyes and mouth before slumping over dead. Castiel tossed his body aside and held a hand down to help Meg up. They turned to the others to help but saw all the followers were dead and their allies were standing there looking over at Walker's body.
"Let's get these bodies moved before we head in." Meg told them.
The bodies were moved out of sight of the trail and they made their way toward the camp. They moved quietly and stealthily watching for others who were on Walker's side. The camp consisted of thrown together shacks and makeshift tents. Two guards slouched at the beginning of the camp and stood to their feet as they neared. Both had weapons and raised them to stop the intruders.
"Walker's dead. Throw down your weapons or die with him." Finch announced loudly a knife already in his hand ready to throw.
"Can't be, he's too smart to get dead." one snarled at them.
"Catch." Castiel said tossing a severed head at them to land at their feet.
Both monsters jumped back when they saw it was Walker. They looked back up at the five standing around them in fear.
"You can either lay down your weapons and get out of here or die with him." Lenora stated gripping her weapon tightly.
They looked at each other and dropped their weapons and fled not looking back.
"We need to find where he's got his prisoners." Finch told them heading into the camp to search it.
Monsters peeked from the shacks and tents but none opposed them as they worked their way through the camp finally finding a structure stronger looking and chained shut. Finch broke the lock off and looked inside to see creatures huddled around the inside.
"Esmee, are you here?" he called stepping into the room.
"Elias." a frightened female voice answered from a far corner.
"Yes, my love, I told you I'd find you." he told her rushing to her side. "Are you hurt?"
"Nothing that won't heal." she cried happily accepting his embrace and letting him help her from the building.
"Walker's dead, you're free now." Lenora told the others who stood around unsure what to do. "You can come with me, or leave; we won't harm you."
"Lennie?" a male voice questioned as a vampire stepped from the shadows to see her better.
"Andrew, you're alive!" she exclaimed rushing to his side to hug him. "What about the others?"
"Walker killed Seth and Mia, I don't know about the others if they got away or not." he told her as they walked from the building.
The other prisoners stumbled from the building into the dim light of the day looking around not sure what to do. No one tried to kill them as they scattered among the tents and shacks. Some stayed together and congregated near Lenora and Andrew.
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"Ok, well, you good Len?" Meg asked her as they stood around preparing to leave.
"Thank you for all your help." Lenora told Meg giving her a hug. "You be careful and good luck to you both."
"Yes thank you." Finch added as he looked down at Esmee. "Be safe."
"We will. You all take care and I hope things work out here for you. So Clarence, you ready to get out of this place?"
"Yes, I think I am." Castiel replied. "Good bye." he told Lenora before turning to Dr. Visyak. "Do you still wish to leave?"
"Yes."
"I owe you that much, you may come with us then."
"Thank you."
"Doc, you gotta understand it won't be a walk in the park to get out of this place. We'll still have to sneak through hell."
"I'm willing to take the risk. If I die at least it'll be on my terms."
"Well then let's get started. We need to find the river and follow it." Meg said giving one final wave to Lenora and the others before heading out.
A/N: Thanks for taking the time to read, I hope I have entertained you. Your thoughts are welcome. Only a couple more chapters left and this one will be done. NC
