Chapter 11

Amitiel looked around her cell as she paced. It was something to do. She couldn't do anything about the cages since they were designed to repel angels. She looked in on her other brothers and sisters and they were huddled in as well. Some didn't look too well since they had suffered injuries in their fight. This was not good.

Jeremiel watched as Amitiel paced around and checked in on the others. It was a waste of time since there was nothing to be done. The others that were seriously injured were not going to heal unless they were freed from this place. He looked at his hand. The cut healed a little but it was healing like a human hand would.

"Our healing is retarded as far as I can tell and it repels us."

Jeremiel looked at Amitiel. "Thanks for pointing that out genius."

Amitiel scowled at Jeremiel, "Merely an observation." She got closer and whispered, "The ones with serious injuries are getting worse."

Jeremiel stood up and got a little closer, "Well then what do you want to do about it? Do you want to give yourself up like you did to land yourself in here?"

"That was for a friend." Amitiel crossed her arms in defiance. Sometimes her brothers could be dicks and it seemed that it had to take a mortal like Absolution to understand certain things.

"Sure. You always were one to talk your way out of things Amitiel," Jeremiel replied in a nonchalant voice. He looked at her with a look that clearly said he didn't believe a word she said. "You may be quick to temper but you always try to talk your way out of things first."

"Maybe it's because there is more to things than fighting," Amitiel spat back. She then leaned forward and said in a hushed whisper, "And you are supposed to be Mercy. That is your name, Brother."

"Maybe but do you have any idea how hard it is to give mercy especially those that are undeserving of it. Makes me wonder why we have virtues anyway," Jeremiel responded. He sighed and looked off, not bothering to look at the other angels. They were doomed anyway if they weren't used for whatever plan the demons had in mind.

"And when did you become so jaded?"

"When did you start having hope in a person that is nothing more than a mere mortal?" Jeremiel shot a look at Amitiel as if daring her to answer it. "When did you start not going down and fighting all the way?"

"Oh she fought Brother. In fact she fought fiercer than when she followed the general to kick us out of heaven."

All the angels turned in the direction of the voice. It was an effect that only Asmodeus was capable of doing aside from a few other individuals. Some actually hissed when they saw him and they were the ones that had been the most blooded. Asmodeus basked in the effect he was creating. Kokabiel could only barely grasp the feeling.

Jeremiel and Amitiel automatically assumed the defensive combat positions they knew so well. It was instinct considering their status as archangels, the soldiers of heaven. Amitiel was the one to speak, "And I would gladly give you a rematch if only so you would fight fair."

Asmodeus laughed at that. "I would too but considering that we have this little thing called the Apocalypse that we are trying to start, I hardly think that we will have the time."

"You could always make the time," Amitiel shot back.

"Yes but then you would need proper motivation. Certainly you had it when you volunteered surrender in order to save little Castiel." Asmodeus gave a mean look coupled with a smile that belied the fact that he enjoyed beating the crap out of an angel that was funny because he didn't understand human nuances. And they said Uriel was the funniest in that garrison. "I must admit though he put up a pretty good fight once he figured out that the underling that died wasn't as important."

"Only you would have a total disregard for life and you are supposed to be Grigori," Jeremiel spat out. He disliked it when any of his siblings were injured and killed. He especially liked Castiel. For some reason those who were patrons of the virtues liked that angel quite a bit and there were a few laughs regarding the antics of him and a certain archangel that he missed.

"Please. Father made them and told us we were to serve them when we're superior in every way. Look at how fragile they are."

"They were created in His own image," one of the lesser angels shouted. It caused a stir of agreement from the others.

Asmodeus smiled at the ruckus that was starting. Poor sods for believing in such a thing. He focused his attention on the two archangels that he had in his grasp. "Created in His own image but they are weak. Short years and fragile bodies."

"And still his creation," Jeremiel said. He glowered at Asmodeus while looking for Kokabiel. If there was one, the other would not be too far away. They were both Grigori after all.

Amitiel looked at Jeremiel and noticed he had gotten some of his fire back. He did tend to oscillate between emotions much like what humans called manic depressives did. She on the other hand was often quick to strike first and ask questions later but only in the course of battle. She did try to resolve issues before they escalated beyond reasonable control. She looked at Asmodeus with narrowed eyes, "So why are we here or do you intend to play games with that as well?"

Asmodeus looked at Amitiel as she stared defiantly at him. She would protect the others if she had to. "Come on you know the big cosmic battle we are engaged in."

"We're always in battle," Amitiel deadpanned, being a bit difficult.

Asmodeus sighed, "Well I lost the cute little angel for the big sister and boy is she a pain in the ass." He looked at Amitiel with a mocking smile, "Then again not many would willingly come for someone that they have bonded with now would they?"

"You're delusional," Amitiel replied. She was used to defending herself and hiding her relationship with Castiel. It wasn't that it was forbidden but it was more along the lines of protecting each other and the secrets they held. "I can guess that you need all of us for a seal. Let me guess, the blood and grace one?"

"That would be fairly obvious now would it?" Asmodeus was still wearing a mocking smile on his face. He reached up and lowered the hood that he always wore when he was on the move. If one looked closely, his garb resembled that of the assassins that were created in the Middle East. It was traditional garb of champions as well except the assassins had distinct coloring on the sashes and the like. Also the champions used different colors.

Asmodeus was not actually bad looking. He was one of those angels that had good looks that was would be called suave. He had dark hair with olive bronze colored skin. There was a faint scar from a battle that occurred in distant memory that seemed to extend his right brow. His eyes were a golden orange amber look, a rare color amongst angels, and they reflected his power in that particular shade. He also appeared more menacing, completely destroying illusions people had of angels. He looked at first Jeremiel and then Amitiel and added, "You two should be aware that while an interesting seal, it is not the one we hold with interest. After all you are still alive. Though I must say that some of those injuries don't look like they are healing properly."

"And you would have figured out how to do that now would you?" Amitiel narrowed her eyes in a mocking manner.

"You always were clever but then again you are truth too which makes you a pain in the ass," Asmodeus replied. He didn't care if he sounded vulgar or not. He had spent quite a few millennia on earth and learned a few things. "But yes I did. After all we can't have you jail break now can we? I need two angels for what I am about to do."

"Then why the overkill?" Jeremiel raised his brow as he glared at Asmodeus. "Blood and grace required seven."

"Silence, Jeremiel," a little girl voice taunted.

Jeremiel and Amitiel turned to see a little girl in Jeremiel's cage. Both looked up to see another standing with Asmodeus. Jeremiel glowered at the newcomer and said, "This doesn't concern you Kokabiel."

"Oh but it does," Asmodeus replied. "You see Kokabiel has unique talents which you've already experimented with. Certainly it will build up to an interesting climax." He looked at Amitiel who was looking at him with a look of suspicion. She had every right to be suspicious. "You see, I'm not as naïve as some of the disgusting demons though can't really say that about the First now can we?"

"She's a disgrace ten times over like you," Amitiel replied in a low and coldly polite voice. "I feel sorry for the day she meets her match."

"If you are referring to Absolution, then I am with you on that," Asmodeus replied with a smirk. He looked at the others and noticed that he had their attention. "That is if she can survive what is in store." At the look Amitiel was giving him, it encouraged him to continue, "What? You mean you didn't know that I know about her? Hell I was the one that got to see her in action and boy am I impressed at the potential."

"You know nothing of the earthbound angel." Amitiel had said nothing but she had heard one of the others say that. She kept her gaze on Asmodeus and Kokabiel, both were vastly amused. They had something in mind and they expected Absolution to follow through on it. That spelled very badly for them and Absolution in general. She looked at Asmodeus and said, "Such things need to come of their own accord."

Asmodeus couldn't help but laugh at that. It was damned hilarious. "Now you're sounding like the bloody gods that we served once to save the pathetic meat bags." He laughed a little bit more just to get it out of his system. "Absolution plays a big part in many things. Funny how things works out don't they? Father certainly has a sense of humor with this one."

"Most people don't see it," Amitiel replied. "Father is allowed his moments."

"I suppose so," Asmodeus replied with a shrug. "Still I think we will have a sufficient amount of entertainment with Absolution. Lilith knows she won't be able to resist this." He made a snort that mingled with the smirk on his face.

"Most can't when it is going up against a disgrace like her," Jeremiel retorted. He didn't believe that the tales of Absolution were real even though he had heard them and knew the prophecies as they came.

"True but Absolution is special. You see she will come to help you because she knows that I need two angels for the essential that Lilith wants. Now I know that she sent some grunts to tail the little pretty so it's a hit or miss but we'll get what we want."

"You mean the Epistles," Amitiel said, "Absolution wouldn't have them."

"Oh, but she will and I am willing to bet that she knows the content regarding the seal that I want," Asmodeus replied treating her like she was a little child. He did have to make her understand after all.

"The headpiece is a myth as well as the Epistles," Jeremiel said.

"No they aren't and Sister here knows it. You have for a long time, haven't you Amitiel?" Asmodeus advanced till he was close, but not too close to the cage that Amitiel was in. He gave a knowing smile. "You are one of those that know about it or at least what the essentials are. Don't be shy."

"I know about them and that they are real. I enjoy watching your side scramble," Amitiel replied as she narrowed her eyes. Her voice was calm but it was a cover for the anger she had. "And yes there are others but they won't tell and certainly I won't."

"Oh you don't understand. I don't expect you to because you won't… but Absolution will." Asmodeus leaned forward towards Amitiel and spoke so that she and Jeremiel could hear, "Because Absolution is the only one who can read the Epistles in its entirety. You didn't think I would know about that did you?"

Amitiel didn't blink to betray her surprise. She was startled to find that Asmodeus would know this. She could ask and that would be an indication that she hadn't expected it. The other option was to word her response so it seemed that she expected it and she would find out that way. In the long run it wouldn't help much since she wasn't sure she would be able to get a message to Castiel. She took a chance, "Which is why we took precautions…"

"Don't even try. Don't worry. Absolution will come to us and will bring what we need. Lilith's mongrels will also be on her tail. Trust me, this will all work out and the nice thing is that her pets and important pieces, the Winchesters will be there to watch."

"Some days I just hate you."

"Don't be melodramatic; you hate me period."

Ruby looked up at Angela as she held onto the piece of vine that had kept her from falling into the abyss. She rolled her eyes and tried to pull herself up. The vine pulled loose from the ground and she slipped a bit. It slipped some more and Ruby lost her grip. She almost fell into the abyss when she felt her wrist grabbed by a firm grip. She was hauled up and she landed on her feet. She looked up at her rescuer.

"Don't read too much into it Ruby," Angela said as she dusted her hands off. "Consider it a thanks for the giant spider."

She was referring to the giant spider that nearly got the jump on them at the crossroads. Angela would have been food if Ruby hadn't jumped in with her usefulness. They fought off the spider and drove it over the edge where it ended up in a nice pile of goo. Ruby had her say in that and they continued forward. Of course Ruby had to get into her usual and make a comment about using what she had to get directions.

Angela knew what she was doing and would have liked to have punched Ruby in the face. Actually that was more of a bucket list thing to do since there was a list of things she would like to do to the demon that tried to kill her. Of course there were others who tried to do the same but something about Ruby irked her to the extreme.

If Angela wanted to look deeper, her reasons for wanting to kill Ruby had nothing really to do with the fact that they had history. She would have seen that she disliked the demon because she was getting cozy with Sam. She had convinced herself that Sam was his own person and he made his choices and the best she could do was to support him.

In the end Angela shot a look at Ruby and turned to the walls. The clues were in the walls. Ruby gave a sullen look while she read the glyphs on the walls and led the way. At one point they came to a T-junction. Ruby asked, "Okay which way now."

"We go right," Angela replied with a definitive air.

"Okay I'm going ask: how the hell do you know that? This stuff is stuff that even I can't read because it's so old."

Angela looked at the sullen look that Ruby had on her face. She took her light and shown it on the glyphs. Her lips twitched into the faintest of smiles as she read out loud in ancient Egyptian since that is what it was. She then translated it into English, "This way to the vault of blades." She then looked at Ruby, "Not hard to learn to read and right ancient Egyptian and decipher hieroglyphics and hieratic. "

Ruby narrowed her eyes and made a pouting face, "You just have to show off don't you?"

"I was a good student in the language," Angela replied. She started walking with her body tensed for just in case anything happened. "I had a knack for it and learned others."

"So you really are a bookworm like Sam. The tough act is all show."

"Don't kid yourself. You learn things at our age."

It was rather quiet until they got to the pit and both actually rolled their eyes at the scene. Angela was starting to think that those that came before and the gods certainly had a funny sense of humor. She looked at the pit and considered that there was a possibility of making it with a running jump. She looked at Ruby and asked, "Care to go first?"

"You first."

Angela shot a look at Ruby that clearly said that she was not amused with her. She then got a slow grin and glanced at the jump and back at Ruby. Breaking into a running sprint, she ran forward but at an angle. Like she did with the fighting ring arena, she ran on the wall and pivoted off to fly across the pit and landed on her feet.

It was Ruby's turn and she opted to run and jump across after a bit of taunting from Angela. That was how she ending up missing her mark and landing on the edge and grabbing the vine to keep from falling. Now that she was on solid ground, Ruby looked at Angela, "Are you happy now?"

"No because you're still alive." Angela gave a looked that was almost like one that was bored but it had the faintest of smiles on it.

"And I bet you just want to take me out right now."

"Eventually." Angela had turned to look at the walls for more directions. She couldn't keep up the pretense that it was ancient Egyptian for much longer since it technically wasn't. She just didn't want Ruby of all people to know that she could read a language that was or is presumed deader than dead.

"Yeah and the same for me. Now are we going to find this thing or not?"

Angela had stopped at the turn. Something wasn't right about the path ahead and it had nothing to do with the supernatural. She could see patches of light showing from an unknown light source and a lighted chamber at the end. That didn't inspire much confidence in terms of the gut instinct.

As long as Dean isn't here to make movie references, then this thing should be easy as pie… sort of.

Ruby watched as Angela slowly made her way forward. She knew better than to get snarky with her at the moment. She knew that something wasn't quite right by the way that Angela was moving. Even though she really couldn't be killed except for a few means, anything that happened to her body hurt like hell.

"Stay out of the light."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Ruby replied as she followed Angela's lead.

Angela gave a slight look as she continued forward. She tested one of the lights and gave a slight sound and a nod when a panel on the ground dropped away. She had been kneeling and she looked down at the hole in front of her. "Well at least that was something a bit different."

The rest of the way there they continued on the slow and narrow. They were fortunate to not encounter many more of those clichéd surprised that belonged in the serials. Ruby was growing impatient by the time they got to a huge cavern chamber. Ruby took a look and deadpanned, "Don't tell me that you have to swap the thing with a bag of sand."

Angela was thinking the same thing when she walked up slowly. She knew that she was thinking like Dean would with his pop culture movie references to better understand the situation. She looked at the ground just for any hints of hidden traps that might be lurking in the background. So she checked for unusual patterns and started walking forward aware that Ruby was following her.

"Finally."

Both of them stopped and turned to see a newcomer. Well there was a pair of them, both female. Ruby's eyes flickered to the typical demon black. Angela raised her brow at the pair and asked, "Who the hell are these guys?"

"Excuse me, we are not guys."

Ruby snorted in exasperation, "The twins and the most annoying of the bunch."

"Oh Ruby, you know us. Joyce and Janice," one of the females said. She had indicated that she was Joyce. She looked at the pair and looked like the example of a dumb blonde looking disgusted with the fact that a button was undone. "Please don't tell us that you decided to be a bad girl."

Angela still had her brow raised at the twin demon girls. They were identical twins and she had another mental Dean moment about some movie that he would like. For a split second she had a thought equivalent that was Casa Erotica worthy and so very Dean and would have blushed but she didn't want to have the demon twins have a reason to do anything that would make this worse than what the situation was.

Ruby narrowed her eyes and said, "I would rather be sent to hell than help queen bitch." She crossed her arms and dared them to attack. She knew they would but only if they had little to no choice. The twins were the kind to not to get their nails dirty unless they were beyond pissed.

"Well at least you made it easy to find Absolution," Janice said. "We figured that it would be best to follow you Ruby since you always were a bad girl. The others wanted to go through that cutie that guarded the entrance."

"Well at least I know who to blame for this," Angela said and made an 'oh well' face but she wasn't annoyed with Ruby. More likely they were tracking her too but it was harder because of her tattoo. It didn't matter. They were all there and it looked like they were going to fight. "So what are you two characters here for?"

"On a job that involves you," Joyce replied.

"Get you and you will give what the A-Man wants," Janice added.

"We will take the book now."

"What book?" Angela decided to be cute.

"The Epistles… and you."

Angela looked at the twins and then at Ruby. For once they were able to agree on something even if they weren't saying any words. She looked back at the twins and said, "You know my generic answer is no fucking way."

The twins looked at both Angela and Ruby and then at each other. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. They needed to get the book, the headpiece and Absolution and it looked like this was going to be done the hard way. "Don't make this hard," they said.

"Like I said," Angela replied, "No fucking way." Her body had tensed and was ready to fight.

The twins looked at each other and sighed. They really didn't want to do this. "Then you will be sorry."

A/N: Looks like Asmodeus reveals his plans and Angela and Ruby have run into more trouble than they bargained for. Keep watching for more Their Eyes Once Watched God...