"Castiel, I still don't understand what's going on!" Charlie huffed in exasperation.
"I told you, Charlie, I can't tell you. Just please, trust me. This is important."
Castiel and Charlie were well on their way out of the city. Aside from Dean, Charlie was the only person in the castle he felt comfortable with, and she was completely devoted to Dean. Even if he couldn't tell her what they were doing, he knew she would help.
"Do you know anyplace remote, where you can chain me up and no one is likely to come across me?"
"What? Castiel, why would I chain you up? Does Dean know about any of this?"
"No, and he can't. Charlie, you have to swear to me you won't tell him. Dean can't come near me right now. Please don't ask me anymore, I can't tell you and I don't want to lie," Castiel begged her desperately.
Charlie looked at him sharply. "Fine. But when this is over, I am so sitting you down and getting you to tell me everything."
"Deal," Castiel agreed, grateful Charlie was willing to follow him blindly. They were losing time in the day and the further he got from Dean and the castle, the more pronounced the twinges in his back became.
"In that case, there's an old abandoned farmhouse about twenty minutes from here. The barn is still in fairly good shape and there are some pretty sturdy beams I should be able to chain you to."
"Good. We need to hurry."
It wasn't long before they made it to the farm. There was an old weathered sign with Pontiac written on it, the letters faded and weary. Once inside the barn Charlie made quick work of tying and chaining Castiel to a central supporting post. Benny was open on the ground next to him. "Now, I need you to paint this symbol on that door there," Castiel said, nodding his head to indicate the stall door closest to him.
"With what, Castiel? It's not as though I brought my art supplies with me. I'm a Hunter, remember?"
Castiel winced and shot her an apologetic look before telling her, "With my blood. I need to you cut my arm. Use the blood from the cut to paint the symbol. When you're done, leave the book near me please, I'll need to be able to read it after you're gone."
"Woah, ew. Seriously, dude?"
Castiel shot her a look and Charlie quailed a little under it. "All right, fine then. One bloody masterpiece, coming up."
When Charlie raised the blade over his arm, Castiel shut his eyes and thought of Dean. He remembered Dean's laugh, which he hadn't heard in so long, and the green of his eyes. He thought about the freckles that sprinkled over his face like cinnamon. And he thought about the letter he had left him. It nearly killed Castiel to know how much that letter would hurt Dean. But at least Dean would be alive and safe from Castiel and his curse. For Castiel, that was the most important thing.
"Ok, I'm done. Is there anything else I need to do?" Charlie asked, standing and brushing hay off her knees.
"Not here, thank you Charlie. Just please, get back to the castle as fast as you can and keep an eye on Metatron."
"Metatron? Why?"
Castiel rolled his eyes skyward and thumped his head against the post behind him. "I've told you, Charlie…"
"I know, I know, you can't tell me."
"Right, just please, keep Dean safe." Castiel sucked in a breath at the sharp pain that stabbed through his shoulder blades. He was talking too much.
Charlie honed in on the words. "Dean is in trouble? From Metatron?"
Castiel bent his head, trying to work through the pain. "Cas, you ok?" Charlie asked, worry and fear in every word.
"Charlie. Please, go. Dean." Castiel ground out.
Thank the fates, Charlie listened to him and backed out of the barn. "I'm coming back for you in the morning," she promised. Castiel was concentrating too hard to acknowledge her.
The pain eased somewhat after Charlie left, but Castiel knew it would only get worse again the longer he stayed away from Dean and the ball. He looked down at the incantation in Benny's pages and began to chant.
Thunder boomed overhead and lightning crackled, filtering in through the seams in the barn walls where it was no longer quite weathertight. Castiel continued chanting
The doors smashed open, and wind blew hay and dust into Castiel's face, blinding his view. When the storm died down, Naomi stood in front of him, smiling at him beatifically. "Hello, Castiel."
"You know who I am?" Castiel asked, blinking dust from his eyes.
Naomi laughed. "Of course I do. I remember every soul I have blessed. You are a child of obedience. I am sorry about all the dust. Barns are rather difficult places to make a dramatic entrance."
"Please," Castiel said, desperate to get his request out so he could get back to Dean, to make sure Dean was safe. "Please, take the blessing back."
Naomi's smile vanished and her eyes turned hard. "I never take a gift back. Trying to return it shows a shocking level of ingratitude. I had higher hopes for you, Castiel."
"You don't understand. Someone found out about the curse. They're trying to make me do something horrible. This isn't about me. The kingdom itself is being threatened - aauugghhh!" Castiel broke off with a scream of agony as the curse hit him two-fold.
Naomi ignored his pain and continued to glare down at him. "Politics are not my department," she said, clearly irate that her gift was underappreciated. "If you have a problem with the kingdom, take it to the Prince. There's a ball tonight in his honor. Go talk to him there. I'm sure he'll be more willing to listen than I am."
"No," Castiel sobbed, "You don't understand, I can't…"
"Obviously not when you're chained up like that. And to show you how benevolent and giving I truly am, I will set you free."
With a snap of her fingers, the chains surrounding Castiel, as well as Naomi herself, vanished. He collapsed to the floor in a heap, his hands scrabbling at the dirt beneath him as he sought purchase against the pain in his back and the urge to move in the direction of the palace.
Against his will, he stood up, grabbing Benny as he went. Fighting himself with every step, he began the walk back to the palace. At the very least he was able to resist the urge to climb on Archangel. Perhaps by the time he actually made it back to the ball, the command would have nullified itself.
The hope was pointless. By the time Castiel hit the city walls, he was running, his body no longer obeying his commands as it sought relief from the curse. The second his foot hit the first step of the castle entrance, the pain lessened. Not enough to stop himself, but to at least slow himself to a walking pace.
He knew he was a mess. His clothes were far too plain for a ball - he was still wearing what he'd been wearing when he and Dean arrived that morning. In addition to being travel worn, they were covered in the dirt and straw of the barn. He knew his hair was in a disarray and he could only hope that the guards would stop him before he actually made it to the ballroom itself.
No such luck. Several of the guards shot him suspicious looks, but none attempted to waylay him. He still couldn't prevent his feet from pulling him forward.
He reached the entrance to the ballroom. Around him, Lords and Ladies swirled past in their finest, smiles on their faces, completely unaware of the plight the kingdom was in. And there was nothing Castiel could do to stop it. Just as he couldn't stop his eyes from seeking out the one person he should be avoiding most of all.
Dean was not on the dais where Metatron sat, meaning he must be somewhere amongst the dancers. Castiel felt a sharp twinge of envy at the thought of anyone else dancing with Dean. It was unfair. He had come to realize that if he couldn't break this curse, he could never be with Dean. Even if he managed to find a way to keep Dean safe through this night, there was no guarantee he would ever be safe from Castiel. Already, too many people with designs on the throne knew his secret. Fortunately, Castiel had not yet spotted Michael in the crowd of dancers.
His eyes passed over the dais again and he stopped. Metatron was looking directly at him with a knowing gleam in his eye. Castiel glared back in return.
"Cas?"
The couple in front of him stopped dancing, much to the displeasure of the young woman in Dean's arms who was visibly pouting. Upon a closer look, Castiel recognized Lady Rebeckah. His notice was brief though, Cas's attention drawn instead to her partner.
"Dean," Castiel breathed the name. All pain in his shoulders stopped as he took in the image of the man he loved above all others. His heart flew as it broke into a thousand pieces. It wasn't fair. How could loving someone be dangerous?
Dean stepped forward, releasing his dance partner who stalked off with a huff. "Cas, you came. What are you doing here?" The pain in Dean's eyes was evident and Castiel kicked himself for helping to put it there. Pain was the last thing he ever wanted to cause Dean.
"Dean, I'm sorry. I shouldn't - I shouldn't be here…"
"Why?" Dean bit out. "You said you would stand behind me. The next thing I know, you're writing me a letter telling me you can't ever see me again. What happened? Was it something I did? Please, help me understand."
"Dean, I swear it was nothing you did. I want to be with you, just like I promised. But I'm not good for you. I'm wrong. This is wrong." Castiel knew he was babbling, but he hadn't been given clear enough permission to explain about Metatron. He couldn't tell Dean everything, no matter how much he wished it.
Dean seemed to sense Castiel's turmoil. He reached out and pulled Castiel into a tight embrace. Unbidden, Castiel wrapped the arm not clutching Benny around Dean's waist, and holding tightly onto his back. He was aware again of how filthy he was, but couldn't quite bring himself to care. He pressed his face into the crook of Dean's neck and heaved a dry sob.
This wasn't right. Dean shouldn't be comforting him right now. It should be the other way around. Dean had too much on his shoulders to bear Castiel's curse too.
"Cas, tell me how you really feel about me," Dean whispered, ignoring the room full of spectators.
"I love you." The admission was soft and broken.
Dean pulled back to look Castiel in the eyes, to gauge the honesty of the words. Castiel wanted to tell him he couldn't lie.
He didn't need to. Whatever Dean saw in Castiel's face convinced him of the truth.
Dean dropped his hand to Castiel's and twined their fingers together. "Come with me," he urged. Castiel was bound to follow, dread filling the pit of his stomach as he cast a glance at Metatron and saw the smile of a cat who knew the canary was well and truly caught.
Castiel followed Dean down several different winding corridors. If he had to find his way back on his own, Castiel knew he would never manage it.
Before long, Dean stopped in front of a small, unobtrusive door. "Leave Benny here; he'll be safe, I promise."
Dean took a deep shuddering breath before pulling the door open and leading Castiel inside.
As soon as he stepped through the doors, Castiel saw hundreds of visions of himself bouncing back, reflecting his fear, guilt and shame.
They were in the Hall of Mirrors.