Disclaimer: not mine, borrowed and nurtured. A/N: Showdown between good and evil and those caught in between. Edited: 27/05/19.
10.
Beginnings
Castiel reached for the door, which clicked open, drenching him and Harry Potter in sunlight. Their arrival took Raphael and Michael by surprise, causing them to argue with each other.
"I thought you sealed the door, Michael?"
"I did, Raphael! The witch assured me; nobody could break it!"
"One more step, Castiel, and I'll have Sam murder them."
Castiel's gaze followed Raphael hand to where Sarah and Carmen knelt in front of Sam. Both women were bound and gagged, tears streaming down their shaking bodies. Sam's eyes were polluted black, his soul-tainted, machete raised. It was nothing Castiel could not handle, now he was God, and he glanced at Harry and then back to the Rebel Archangels; Raphael and Michael.
"Weapons down. You with the merchandise - I said, 'down'!" Michael yelled at Harry Potter.
Harry ignored Michael, raising his Elder wand and making Michael leave his post against his will.
There was a flash of green light and Michael fell, then chaos erupted. Castiel made his way to Sam, only to have Raphael nod and Sam bit deep into Sarah's shoulder. Carmen screamed, struggling to escape her ropes. Sam ignored Sarah's whimpering and drank her blood until she fell limp against him.
It was clear to Castiel, Raphael controlled Sam. Castiel flicked his hand, and Raphael was thrown off his feet, his angel-blade clattered to the ground and the corrupt-angel stared at Castiel in surprise.
"You, God?"
"And you, a disappointment. Everything you told me was a lie. You betrayed me and led an army against me. You released your Mother intending to defeat me. There is only one place you belong."
Raphael smiled, resuming his stance. "You wonder why we stopped following orders? You're more ruthless than any of us. It is your fault we chose Her. You tore our family apart, long ago."
Raphael snatched his angel-blade from the ground, and Harry raised his wand, but Castiel appeared in front of Raphael, ramming the angel's blade into his rival's heart. Blood seeped from Raphael's mouth, and he choked on his final sentence.
"You can't change what is already destined, Father. She cannot be defeated, not even by you."
Raphael's hands gripped Castiel's slipping in his own blood as he dug the knife deeper, and with one look at Michael's imprint, attempted a smile, then fell back against the earth, dead. The archangels scattered, betrayed and left to face God's wrath alone, some prayed for forgiveness, others escaped hoping She would protect them.
God spoke, his voice echoing through the halls of Heaven, casting a sense of hope over the lost souls.
"Castiel is your new leader. You will follow him and respect him, because he is me. We, as one, will bring back the balance, and bring earth to life again. Your Mother is ruthless and selfish, it is not you she is protecting, but herself. She will, like Raphael, betray you, but I, your Father, will not leave you, my children, again."
Sam Winchester rocked on his knees, soaked in Sarah's blood, he was ashamed and revolted. He was half-human / half-demon and again, tempted by evil, controlled to end a life. Like the Yellow-eyed demon, Raphael had used him. Sam had murdered Rufus, the Campbell's, Lisa and Ben and he remembered every detail, and every scream, useless against Azazel's will.
He was cursed. He prayed for forgiveness, resting his lips against Sarah's breathless body, her skin cold to the touch, and her eyes haunting his tainted soul. His life for Sarah's. Like John had done for Dean. Like Dean had done for him. He needed to make it right. Sam adjusted his hold on her limp body, and kissed her blue lips, sobbing into her neck.
He tasted her blood on the back of his tongue, one hand still wrapped around her wound. He looked up through heavy tears, his vision blurred. The background noise was indistinguishable, until he saw Carmen some distance away, eyes wide in shock; a distraught finger shaking in front of her. Her black hair drenched in Sarah's blood – how? Had his bite been like a frenzied animal's?
He was apologising, lying Sarah's body gently against green grass which materialised before his eyes.
If he drowned out the ringing in his ears, the booming of his own racing heartbeats, and focussed his eyes on the distance – he'd have seen Castiel/God and a boy with unkempt black hair and round glasses staring back at him. But Sam Winchester could only hear Carmen's shaking voice.
"You were s-supposed to protect us. Bobby said we'd be safe with you, but you just left them, your own brother to that monster, and you killed her-" Carmen's eyes widened in anguish, and she clutched her heart, a panic attack setting in.
Sam remembered driving through torrential rain, Sarah's smile when their hands met to change the radio station. He remembered standing at the crossroads, waiting for hours beneath an umbrella that barely kept them dry, until Raphael descended on them. He remembered Raphael transporting him to Dean – and where he could do nothing but what he'd been told. 'Get Carmen, then leave.'
He remembered seeing Draco and Dean fighting off Dementors, and a voice on the breeze, but he could not put his finger on who it might've been. He bound Carmen and Sarah with ropes from the trunk of his car, deaf to their screams. Raphael gloated, pleased to have offered Dean Winchester to his Mother, who would reward him beyond God's capabilities.
He'd said, Sam had done well, that if he were lucky, he could satisfy his cravings. Confused, at first, he did not understand, then he pushed Sarah and Carmen into the back seat, their hearts racing, causing their blood to pump through their veins. They'd promised to escape him together. And now, Sarah was gone, and Carmen was trapped with only a killer for company.
Castiel had claimed control of Heaven - things were brighter, louder and peaceful again, but it was not over, he still has Mother Nature to defeat. Hermione and Anna waited with Dean and Draco, and Sam, cowered in the corner of the room, traumatised by his actions. Harry helped Carmen to her feet, healing her injuries with his wand. Castiel collected Sam from the floor, hearing his prayers.
"Your life for hers, you say?"
"I'll do anything, please. I didn't have control!"
"I know you didn't, Sam."
Sam gaped, recognising Castiel's voice, and spitting Sarah's blood to the grass.
Castiel smiled, it was going to be ok, for them all, especially Sam.
Harry held Carmen close, Sarah was okay, she stood with Michael and Raphael, watching them. As Master of Death it was Harry's job to take Michael and Raphael, but Sarah, he'd give a choice. He smiled in her direction, prompting her to take a step back. He'd respect her choice, Death or Love.
Castiel offered Sam some advice. "You have a choice, Sam. You can die - and I can bring Sarah back, if that's what you want. Or, I can offer you service, in exchange for healing your soul. You did not murder those Hunters; it was the demon blood inside of you."
Sam broke away from Castiel, gazing at Sarah's body.
"Kill me. I don't deserve to live. She does."
"That is a matter of opinion."
Castiel put his hand against Sam's chest.
"Work for me, Sam. Work for me and live. Don't give up."
Sam's eyes welled up, a broken man, helpless to his thoughts.
Castiel touched Sam's heart and drained his life, Sarah regaining hers.
Castiel would bring Sarah back, but he would not kill Sam.
"There is a position vacant. I want you to take it. I want you to be the Master of Hell." He could save Sam, but would Dean forgive him? It was for the greater good.
Sam heard Sarah's gasp of breath and Carmen let out a strangled cry, breaking Harry's hold to hug her friend, and it was all Sam could do to thank Castiel, "Okay," agreed.
Anna knelt beside Draco, whispering words of comfort, regretting not helping Dean, who she'd once been close to. She pulled Draco up, but he wouldn't leave his friend. The wizard felt responsible, like it was something Dean would have wanted, to stay. 'He would have done the same.' Loyalty, she was familiar with the term.
The face-less imprints, or Dementors as Hermione called them, circled Anna, hissing and screeching. They felt her presence. Mother Nature reared her head and cried out in disbelief. "He sends his Angels to steal from me?! How dare He keep me starving beneath the ground! You, stay!"
Anna gritted her teeth, her red hair billowing against her face, as the wind howled. She adjusted her supportive hand around Draco's back, beneath his arms, noting the sickly tinge beneath his pale skin. He did not look, or smell good – and neither did Dean Winchester, the Hunter's body looked as though it was decomposing.
Anna would not let the bag of wind, take anymore humans.
She pulled out her angel-blade and wished Castiel wasn't far away. Her blade would be no match for God's wife or her creatures of the night. The Devil's Snare and dirt around their feet rippled, matching Mother Nature's growing rage. Anna glanced at Hermione who threw her head back quoting something in Latin.
Anna had to keep Mother Nature distracted.
"Anna, is it? Leave me the wizard? His destiny is with his kind," she purred.
Anna scowled, something about Her got under her skin. "He is with his own kind."
Mother Nature smiled, her Devil's Snare and Dementors darted through the night sky.
Draco stirred, a groan escaping his lips.
Hermione channelled the energy from the ground, reawakening the sealing spell. Mother Nature followed Anna's smile, and noticed Hermione, but before she could act, the spell was complete and the goddess screamed in defeat, as the ground rumbled, threatening to reclaim Her.
The Dementors began to dive, eager to satisfy their own hunger.
Anna dodged them, shouting at Hermione, time was running out.
Draco raised his wand, focussing on the Dementors above.
"Expecto Patronum!" he murmured, slipping from Anna's grip.
There was a puff of blue smoke, but not enough to save them.
He had failed again - Death was coming.
Harry Potter, Master of Death, walked through the abandoned street. He held the Elder wand aglow beneath his Invisibility cloak and turned the Resurrection stone between the fingers of his left hand. He was not afraid, but calm. Hermione's spell opened the door to Purgatory. Anna caught Draco's weakened body before he fell, the Dementors avenging their creator's demise.
Harry walked past them with one thing on his mind: to save Dean Winchester.
Dean's soul sat upon his body, trapped between worlds. Harry smiled, ready to encounter the famous Winchester. Dean looked wary. Harry knew he was not familiar with the stories of 'The Boy who Lived.' Dean's world denied magic, and those who practiced it – the Supernatural were a threat, at least, they had been, before Draco Malfoy crossed over.
"So, you're the reaper now? A kid?" Dean glanced at the kid with trepidation.
"I prefer Master of Death and you can call me Harry."
"Harry," Dean repeated, the name was familiar. His eyes widened, "Not, Harry Potter?"
"So, Draco told you about me?"
"Only in contempt," Dean said, gruffly. "Where's Cas?"
Harry smiled again, it seemed to infuriate Dean, who pushed his hands through his hair.
"I wanna say goodbye to the kid, it wasn't his fault. You can do that, can't you? My dying wish?"
Harry squeezed Dean's shoulder, gently, "That's not something I can do."
Dean dropped his hands to his side, throwing his eyes to the sky in annoyance.
"Get it over with then, show me the light so I can find peace, or whatever."
Harry instructed Dean to look behind him, which he did. Harry had let him say goodbye, but not to Draco or Cas. Dean put his hands to his head, eyes brimming with tears as Mary Winchester kissed his cheek, 'I'm so proud of you' she still wore her white nightdress, the one she'd been burnt alive in.
'Thanks mum,' Dean's voice broke.
She pulled away, smiling at her husband, who passed her by.
John Winchester squeezed Dean's shoulder. 'Always trust your instincts, son.'
Dean's father had spent an eternity trying to destroy the Yellow -Eyed Demon responsible for his wife's murder. John had made a deal with Azazel and sacrificed his own life for Dean's. 'We're proud of you, son.' John pulled Dean into a tight hug. Dean sobbed against his father's shoulder. If only Sammy were there too, he thought.
'Dean?' He was confused, Lisa and Ben walked towards him, holding hands.
No. No. They weren't. No, they couldn't be. How?
Lisa took his hand, leaving a tender kiss against his trembling lips.
Dean remembered the love he felt for them, his family. Ben wrapped his arms around his father's waist. Dean could only manage a grimace as he hugged his son. 'Give them hell, Dad.' Ben smiled, returning to Lisa, who blew a kiss, "I love you, Dean." Dean cried freely now. Everyone he once loved, were all lost, leaving him all alone.
His goodbye train was not over yet, more people waited in the shadows.
'Winchester!' Ellen patted his shoulder. 'You've got a job to do.' Rufus made a joke that wasn't funny and shook his hand, standing with the rest of the ghosts, all whispering words of encouragement and appreciation. Dean recognised the woman who emerged last of all. She had been mauled by Hell Hounds, detonated herself and Ellen, and given Sam, Dean, Bobby and Castiel time to escape. His breath caught in his lungs, remembering the last thing he'd said to her. 'See you on the other side.'
'Don't hesitate,' Jo pressed, resting her palm against his stubble.
Dean clutched her hand, holding onto happier memories, when Jo had snuck out to hunt without Ellen's permission; when the gang had joined forces to stop the Yellow-Eyed Demon, the first time, and when Dean was forced to leave her behind.
'It hurts so goddamn much,' Dean admitted, looking at his loved ones with a tormented expression.
Jo held Dean's self-pitying gaze in her reassuring brown eyes.
'Sam needs you,' Jo reminded him, and Dean found his strength.
But how could he go back? He was dead? The only way out was to go toward the light.
'I, as Master of Death, can accept or refuse you, Dean Winchester. I refuse you. It is God who will give you life again."
Dean stared at the person behind Harry, wearing a tan trench coat, but Castiel looked different, calmer. Before Dean could move, Castiel hugged his old friend.
'I'm going to need your help defeating this mother-fucker,' Castiel said.
He was dead serious, but the human terminology made Dean laugh.
Mother Nature fought to stay above ground, eager to pull both Anna and Draco down with her. Anna held Draco's hand tight, as wind and dirt blasted them. Dark rain clouds rumbled above - the Dementors closing in, ready to suck out their souls.
"Don't give up, Draco!"
Anna believed in him; her angel-blade slashed the robes of one formidable Dementor.
With exhaustion and hypothermia setting in, Draco sent flames at the Devil's Snare, threatening to drag them into the darkness. Acromantulas climbed free, intent on destroying anything in their path. Hermione and Draco stunned as many as they could, but it wasn't enough.
"I'm not Harry Potter, I'm sorry," Draco murmured, as the resurgent plant grabbed their ankles.
Anna and Draco fell, dragged up the street, gravel burning their arms and hands. They were going to suffocate. He would not live to his next birthday. There was no such thing as redemption. Draco sent a desperate look at Anna, who grabbed his hand, and nodded. He had to try again.
Gunshots rang out and Draco lifted his head to see Bobby charge out of his truck, shouting like a lunatic. He blasted an acromantula and it fell over its own feet, dead. Draco watched the Dementors head straight for Bobby. Hermione lit the Devil's Snare on fire, freeing Anna. Draco freed himself, stumbling over the vines to reach Bobby who couldn't see the Dementors – he was a muggle.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
Something blue and solid shot out of Draco's wand - an eagle burst from the tip of his wand, screeching at the Dementors, and clawing at their face-less masks. It soared into the air, keeping them above a pulsing blue shield.
"Good work son, where's Dean?"
Draco pointed to Dean, a resurgence of vomit climbing up his throat.
"I'm too late," Bobby gaped to Draco, who doubled over, dry retching.
Mother Nature clawed at the earth, her creatures dying, and He had not shown his face. She spotted Castiel, God's favourite, walking toward her. She wished him great pain, and an eternity of suffering.
"Let go, Gaia," Castiel towered above her. "Purgatory welcomes you."
The goddess froze, feeling the newfound power Castiel emitted as he descended to one knee.
"You are a coward!" she hissed, understanding God's divine move.
"And you, a monster." Castiel grimaced, and Mother Nature rose into the air screeching threats.
The hole beneath her deepened, and She, along with the Devil's snare, what was left of the acromantulas, and the Dementors were sucked inside. The ground sealed, and the grass roots knotted together, leaving the earth still.
Everyone stared at Castiel, more foreboding than ever.
Castiel beckoned to both Hermione and Harry, "It's time," he said.
Bobby, Draco, and Anna watched as the two wizards returned to Castiel's side.
"Goodbye brother, and thank you," Castiel shook hands with Harry, before placing two fingers to his forehead, sending him back to his own world.
"Wait!" Draco interrupted, taking an involuntary step forward. "Whose wand is this?"
Castiel waited, he owed the boy the truth.
"It's the Elder wand. You remember the story of the Deathly Hallows? Three symbols, three objects, one Master of Death. There are two worlds, therefore two Gods, and two Elder wands."
Castiel touched Hermione's forehead, sending her back to her own time.
Draco thought of his parents, and how they might still be alive, but it had been weeks, months, and his hope was misplaced. He had a chance to go home, but he wasn't even sure where that home was, anymore. A figure at the end of the street caught Draco's eye, and Bobby noticed Dean's body had disappeared, catching Castiel's ominous smile.
"You think I was going to leave you responsible for my Impala? Think again," Dean said, knocked backwards by Draco's hug. "Where are the others?" he asked, hugging Bobby next.
"Are they okay?"
Sam Winchester emerged from the shadows, the sun peaking above the horizon, bringing a new day forth. Castiel nodded, acknowledging him. Dean grinned in relief, hurrying forward, unaware of the atrocities Bobby had witnessed. Draco knew something was wrong, the minute Sam stepped into the sunlight, raising his hands to the sky.
Bobby raised his rifle, yelling at Sam to stay back or he'd shoot!
"He murdered Lisa and Ben! Rufus and the Campbell's!"
"No, Sammy wouldn't..." Dean's sentence trailed away, leaving his heart to race.
Lisa and Ben's had been murdered by Sam? He felt sick.
Castiel stepped between Bobby and Sam, shielding the younger Winchester.
"His sins have been forgiven. Sam sacrificed his life for Sarah Blake, and in return, he will serve me."
Dean listened to Castiel, the angel he regarded a friend, tell him his Sammy's life was tied to his.
"Is that you Cas, or God speaking? Because I thought you said, Sammy would serve you, like we're living in the bloody dark ages?" Dean shook his head.
Bobby and Draco watched with bated breath as Dean struggled with the thought of losing Sam.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't as strong as you," Sam admitted. "Let me do this, Dean. Let me go, please."
He would never see his little brother again. His little brother who had murdered their friends, who had taken Carmen and Sarah to their deaths, who had left him and Draco to die.
"It was my job to care for my pain in the ass little brother. I promised Dad, and I promised you," Dean explained, "but I won't be the one to stop you, not anymore."
"Goodbye Dean," Sam said, standing tall as Castiel pressed two fingers against his forehead.
Dean walked over to the Impala with Draco on his heels, Bobby had returned home to organize the funerals for their friends, ready to put his life on the line again, to cover-up their murders. Dean found the back seat occupied, Sarah Blake and Carmen sat shoulder to shoulder, a blanket wrapped around them. He was glad they were both safe, but how would he now tell Sarah, Sam was no longer part of her world?
Castiel paused by Dean's door, offering a long piece of material.
"I'm not going to make you a onesie, Cas," Dean said, recalling one of their drunk conversations.
Castiel smiled. "I don't want a onesie. This is an Invisibility cloak, Dean, borrowed from the Master of Death. You could retire in peace, settle down, and live a life you deserve, with Carmen, if that is what you wish."
Dean was astonished to find Castiel was telling him the truth. He knew deep down he would always crave something more, but he was a Hunter and he'd always be a Hunter. He declined Castiel's offer and returned the cloak. "Tell Harry Potter thanks, but he needs it more than I do."
"Good luck then, Dean. I wish you all the best."
"This really is goodbye, isn't it?"
Dean offered his hand, "Goodbye, Cas, I'm going to miss having you around."
Castiel shook Dean's hand, grateful, "Goodbye Dean. I'm only a prayer away."
The angel smiled, and Dean nodded, climbing into his car and turning on the engine.
He looked into the rear vision mirror to see Cas watching, then he turned to Draco.
"I thought you wanted to go home?"
Draco shrugged his shoulders, aware Castiel listened. He didn't want to return to a world he didn't belong. Draco heard Castiel's voice in his mind – 'Your parents are proud of you, Draco, and they want you to be happy.'
"This is my home," Draco smiled, turning on the radio. "So, where can we eat around here?"
Dean checked the girls in the back, Sarah was rubbing her head like she had a migraine, and he was reminded he had no idea how to begin to tell her about what had happened to Sam. Carmen looked him dead in the eye, a fierce determination resided there, and Dean heard Jo's message again, loud and clear – 'Don't hesitate.'
Dean opened his car door, much to Draco's surprise, and walked around to the front of the Impala.
He hesitated.
He'd lost everything, including Sammy, but he remained responsible for the kid – and maybe it was the adrenaline, or the prospect of having a good night's sleep? Or the fact that Bobby would beat them home? But something, something kept him standing there, frozen, afraid to live again.
"So, uh, everything okay out there?" Draco's confused voice jolted Dean from his fears.
A car door opened and closed. Her hand rested on his arm, and Carmen licked her bottom lip, before she said, "Sam's going to be okay, Castiel has a plan. Remember, our scarecrow? He was nothing compared to your brother. And as for Sarah, that migraine – it was Sam leaving her a message from Hell." Dean let Carmen see the worry in his eyes.
"I'm not a hero, Carmen. You'd all be safer elsewhere."
Carmen raised her chin to the sky. "I'll take my chances."
Without thinking of the consequences, Dean took her face in his eager palms, and kissed her. Carmen's hands snaked around Dean's neck, pulling her body tight against his. He felt her fingers graze the back of his neck, a groan escaped him, and he let go of his fear of starting over.
A loud and unnecessary HONK from the Impala blasted them, and Carmen jumped in his arms, breaking their heated kiss.
Sending a death glare towards the smirking teenager, Dean set Carmen on her feet, and the two embarrassed adults, took a breath. Carmen's cheeks were flushed red, her hair caught in the upturned creases of her mouth. Dean's hand jolted from her waist, and he pocketed it for risk of looking awkward.
"At least wait until we get to the motel, Merlin, like Sarah and I want to see you both snogging, ugh."
Dean walked Carmen back to her seat.
"I take it back; I'm going to kill him."
Carmen laughed, eyes bright with joy, and shook her head.
"You need him," she said.
A/N: Some changes to the ending. There may be one more chapter up my sleeve… x