Thank you very much for all the feedback on the last chapter, you are awesome!

The Mysterious Shadow-Nice reference. Haha, very true. Poor Cas! Thank you :)

Gumbyfair- Thank you very much!

OrangeRules Autumn- :D Haha you spoil me too much with glomps and praise!

IzzyGirl45- Go get 'em! Sorry for depressing you :O I am pleased you liked that sequence. And I must really watch this show too much eeeep! Thank you mucho and please do not cry! I sense happiness in the future!

Stephanswifey01- Haha I know. Oh Adam, you will never come between Cas and Dean! Thanks :) Nothing hotter than some Destiel!

Dj25dca- Thanks! That is very very touching! Damn it, I wonder why there are ninjas standing outside my window? They don't look very nice…

Ventorum- I know *sigh* when will you ever learn Balthazar?

Gustin- Thanks for the review and here you go! -update! Whoohoo!

"Green Magic"

His lungs burned. In seconds conscious thought crashed through his brain like a dam had been broke. Wheezing and on all fours Castiel wondered if he had been drowning once more in the horrible lake. He remembered evil dreams. Monsters clawed into him again and again. Occasionally the sun had filtered through his dark eyelashes and set his mind on fire with pain. He remembered liquid being forced down his throat every time he was able to connect his surroundings to his brain. How long had it been? He felt as if he had been dreaming for years.

Now everything was dark. A hand twitched near his as he settled onto his side. He opened his eyes only to shut them tightly for a few peaceful moments more. He gripped tightly onto the soft shirt of the person beside him and tugged with all his might. A groan escaped the man's lips and he began to pull himself up as well. Castiel felt his hand run over short hair and smiled lightly to himself. Dean.

"Dean." Castiel's voice sounded rougher than usual and Dean was glad to hear it.

"Cas? Hey…it's good to know that you are alive!" Dean tried to move closer when he felt metal tug at the raw skin around his wrists. "Damn it Cas, those sons of bitches shackled me up good."

Castiel heard the same clink of metal and sighed. "Me too Dean." He pulled himself into a painful sitting position.

"Guys? You'd better not be getting any kinky ideas from all of these chains. We are down here to and do not need to witness anymore action between the two of you. Set for a lifetime, aren't we Sam?"

Dean squinted in the pale light. "Shut up Gabriel. Where's Samsquatch?"

"He hasn't woken up yet. They must have given him a large dose of the stuff since he's such a big man." He waggled his eyebrows at Dean but it was obvious that he was worried.

"Sammy? Sammy?" Dean's eyes finally adjusted and he could see the form of his brother stretched out on the floor. "That's it." Dean scooted across the floor and jabbed his brother at the base of his spine.

"Stop it Dean, I hate that!" Sam curled away from him looking grumpy and refused to open his eyes.

Dean poked him again. "Rise and shine bitch!"

"Dean you are such a jerk sometimes!" Sam sat up and looked groggily around at everyone. Gabriel looked relieved and Castiel gave him a small smile. "Cas? Where do you think we are? What happened back there?"

Castiel looked down at the shackled between his hands and bit his lip. "It was Balthy."

Dean snorted. "That's a retarded nickname." Sam elbowed him and gave Castiel one of his best sympathetic, understanding smiles.

"I know this is tough Cas. He drugged us, didn't he?"

Castiel felt tears well up in his eyes as he nodded slowly. "Yes, I believe he did Sam."

"So Balthazar is under the Lucy banner now? I never liked that prick that much Castiel. I will look after you know little brother." Gabriel had never been all that fond of Balthazar, especially when he realized how Castiel probably loved him the most out of all their siblings. If Gabriel had only been there more…maybe none of this would have happened.

Castiel gave him a watery smile and awkwardly raised his shackled arms before he realized he couldn't possibly hug Gabriel that way. "I would never think he would do this…to me." Castiel buried his face in his arms as hot tears trickled through his sleeve.

"Cas. Hey Cas. He's a dick and doesn't deserve your tears. We'll kick that son of a bitch's ass as soon as I find that ass clown."

Castiel sniffed and shook his head. "I don't want you to hurt him Dean."

"Why not?" Dean looked ready for some blood.

"He's my brother." The group sat in silence for a while with the occasional clattering and scraping of someone trying to somehow loosen or remove their chains.

"Where's that prick Adam?" Gabriel and Dean glared around for the blond boy.

Cas sighed and stretched. "He is not here. I hope he is alright."

Dean rolled his eyes and shook his head in pity. "Cas, you poor dumb son of a bitch. I bet he is flouncing around with Lucifer and all of his lovelies up there. Probably was in the getgo with your Balthy this whole time."

Castiel shot him a withering look and Sam made his bitch face at Dean. "Dude, don't joke around with this stuff."

Dean sighed and nodded. "Whatever." He peeked at Cas. "Okay, I'm sorry Cas. I'm just mad."

Castiel nodded. "I understand Dean."

Hours passed before a door opened and let in the weak light of a torch. "Castiel? Which one of you is Castiel?"

Castiel glanced up as his friends eyed the intruders warily and Dean waved both shackled hands. "That would be me." Castiel looked confused over at Dean and opened his mouth in protest. Dean shook his head quickly and winked.

The guards whispered together for a moment. One nodded. They grasped Castiel by the arm and dragged him out of the room as Dean glared after them. "Bring him back you dumb sons of bitches! You hurt him and I will gank your sorry asses!" The door clinked behind them and complete darkness swallowed the team once more.

.

Castiel was led through hallways of green. Banners lined the halls and torches led the way into rooms unexplored by the Enochian. They had returned to Sacoridia. Days must have past while he and his friends lay sick and drugged in carts. Castiel stumbled along on shaky legs and nearly collapsed a few times. They passed the kitchens. They passed by rooms of nobles with the doors shut tightly. Something felt very wrong here.

He remembered the paintings of King John and the relics of the riders and hoped that John was alright. Dean hadn't spoken much about him in the days they had been lost in the forest but he was sure that Dean was more than a little worried. John was a strong man and knew how to get out of more than a few sticky situations. He let himself be dragged into the throne room. He half expected to see John in the throne room or to see courtiers milling about in their guises of colors and secret games. The doors opened and it was Lucifer sitting on the throne. His golden hair shone in the sunlight as he lazed about, one leg dangling comfortably off the edge.

"Castiel, you are just as lovely as always brother. A little dirty but I understand that you did not come here in the best of conditions. For that I would like to apologize."

He stretched for a moment before placing a boot on the steps of the dais. Castiel listened to each echo of each step as Lucifer came closer to him. He glared at the wall even when he heard the last step reverberate through the hall. Eyes were on him. He didn't need to look to know that pale blue and gray were fixated on him.

"So you aren't even going to say hello? You were never so rude before Cas."

Castiel know glanced up, eyes blazing. "My name is Castiel."

A frown twitched at the corners of Lucifer's mouth but his sickening smirk remained. "I see." He paced around Castiel and noted the way his shoulders stiffened defensively. Lucifer motioned over a servant. Castiel swallowed when he realized that Adam followed the servant over to where they were standing. "Get him cleaned up. I would like you to dine with me tonight Castiel if that would be alright with you?"

"I am sure I have no choice in the matter." Castiel turned on his heel and let the servants led him away.

Adam gripped onto his wrist and helped him out into the hallway. He nodded to the servant. "You go collect some clothes that might fit him." The servant nodded and bowed before leaving the room.

Castiel stood stiff and worried by the doorway. Adam reached out to him and frowned when Castiel turned away. "Adam…"

"Don't worry Castiel. I will not hurt you. I told you that I would protect you and I haven't lied. I will. Just trust me."

Castiel shook his head slowly at him. "I am sorry but I am having trouble believing you. After what happened in Enochia…"

Adam's fists balled but he remained a few feet away from Castiel. "I know it does not mean much…but I regret that. I lost my temper and tried to force you into something you were not ready for."

"Yes you did." They sat there in awkward silence and the air felt heavy and uncomfortable. "Adam, would you please leave? I do not feel comfortable...with you in here."

Adam paced for a moment and glanced back at Castiel. "Very well. I will return soon. Castiel I am honestly sorry." He turned the key in the door and sighed as he leaned against the door.

Castiel got out of the hot water when a man burst into the room, blondish mullet streaming behind him. "Yo Castiel! Hey man."

"Ash?" Castiel looked uncomfortable when Ash wrapped him in a bear hug. He didn't really know him that well but he had to admit that he was pleased to see Ash there as well.

Ash grinned. "Dude, you look pretty peaked. What the hell has been happening man? Oh I brought your clothes. Stole the job from some bozo so I could get some info."

Castiel smiled weakly. "I'm glad you did. What is it you would like to know Ash?"

"Hmmm…how about everything? There was the ball and then you guys like…booked it and vanished, which was trippy and all but wow man. Wow. How does someone vanish out of thin air?"

Castiel gave him a half smile before accepting the pile of clothes. He pulled on the tan breeches and blue tunic as Ash crashed on the bed. "It is a rather long story."

"Aren't those always the best kind?" Ash looked ready to listen and Castiel knew he had no choice in the matter.

He sat next to Ash and neither of them seemed bothered by the contact. "We were sent to Blackveil forest." Ash's eyes bugged out of his head with what looked like jealousy? Castiel recounted his story with the occasional interruption of Ash when something was too interesting to not comment on.

"Well man, you guys were in some deep shit but you sure pulled out okay. You guys did alright." Ash proudly clapped Castiel on the shoulder. The Enochian noticed that Ash still wore the brooch of the riders pinned to his green uniform.

Castiel nodded towards the brooch. "Does Lucifer still allow you to wear the clothing of the riders?"

Ash nodded. "He's been trying to get us to do his work, but no one will carry his messages for him. All of us Greenies are too loyal to the old flag. To the bitchin' flag of the one and only King John." He put a fist over his heart.

"But he must have noticed the magic of the brooches."

Ash shrugged his shoulders. "I guess not. If he has he doesn't seem overly threatened by them Dude must think they aren't magic enough for his lofty taste. Just wait. It will bite him in the ass."

"What will bit him in the ass?" Castiel looked troubled at the phrase.

"We will." Ash pounded Castiel's curled fist. "Ellen and the others are loyal to the flag. I'm sure we got some other brothers at our backs. Plus, the Winchesters are back. Nothing gets past them."

Castiel was about to re-pin his own brooch onto his uniform when Ash stopped him. "Might want to keep that a secret man. You don't want Lucifer to see that you have one." Castiel nodded and handed the brooch right over to Ash.

"You trust me with it? Righteous." The brooch surprisingly didn't burn Ash when he tucked it into a pocket. It sounded strange, but it was like the device knew it would be safe with the rider or it had been given Castiel's okay. Either way, it lay dull in the pocket of Ash's uniform. Castiel was rather amused to note that the sleeves of his uniform looked freshly cut off and had minimum fray. Ellen would kill him when she noticed his new and recently damaged coat.

"Castiel?" Adam came in the room when Ash had not returned.

"I am fine Adam." He nodded at Ash and looked quietly over at Adam. Ash bowed and left the room as he winked at Castiel.

"Are you ready Castiel-" He held in his breath when Castiel stepped around the corner in his new clothes. His eyes were deep and blue and Adam's own eyes were drawn to them. He stood speechless for a moment as Castiel walked passed him into the hallway.

Adam placed a hand on Castiel's shoulder and guided him through the hallways to the table where Lucifer smirked like a coiled snake, ready to pounce.

.

The tombs were dark and quiet. The air remained stuffy and old as the slabs of rock were buried deep underground. Kings and queens lay encased in carved stone polished and cold. Only the caretakers were allowed to be present to guard the dead as the living began to forget. John spent a month of sleepless nights in the dark presence of his own tomb that had been built in advance. He had been wounded. He remembered the details faintly. Someone had taken a knife to flesh protected by the silks of his costumes and the light armor that had save him from a mortal wounding. He ran a hand over his hair tiredly as he worried about his boys. He worried for his kingdom. He hated hiding like this. A prisoner in his own kingdom while a monster sat upon his throne. Furry burned through him and not for the last time.

A figure descended down the stairs and John smiled in relief. "Ellen, you are still looking wonderful."

"Shut it John."

"That's no way to talk to your king."

Ellen rolled her eyes. "Well our king is currently that evil rat bastard of an Enochian. I can talk to you however I want."

John's eyes crinkled into a smile when he saw that some of the tightness had left Ellen's eyes. This past month had been a hell for her too as she tried to not follow Lucifer's orders but not disobey him directly. Her frown returned as John looked over her face worriedly.

"Any news about my boys? Ellen?"

Ellen sighed as she sat next to him on a slab of rock. This place gave her the creeps and John could tell. He had spent weeks down there and was still not comfortable with the never ending dark and stifling air. "They're back."

John leaned over and hugged her to his chest. "That's wonderful Ellen." He brushed the tears away from his eyes before noticing that Ellen wasn't looking so overjoyed.

"They got them in captivity John. I don't know if they are hurt or not but they are locked up good."

John's fists balled in anger and Ellen had to fight to not scoot away from him. His wrath was never something she tried to witness no how often she teased him. "Ellen, I need to get out of here. I can't leave my sons to be tortured in my own dungeons!"

"I know John, but the troops from our allies aren't here yet… we still need time before everyone knows that the king still lives. Damn it John, they aren't going to think twice about killing you."

John smiled. "Then let's put some of the Green Rider magic to use."