H. Chapter 21

"Lucifer," Dean repeated breaking the sudden silence. "Rachel, you two know each other?"

"Not the time for this conversation," I choked out trying to kick the devil away. He only had to squeeze just a tad harder, and I wouldn't even be able to form words.

"Keeping secrets from the Winchester sweetheart?" Lucifer teased throwing me across the room. I landed with a dull thud on the same rack as Castiel. It hurt me to push myself up while the angel lay there helpless. For a moment, I thought of reaching to free him, but I needed to keep all my energy focused on getting Dean and myself out of this alive. Alistair was one thing, but Lucifer was on an entirely different level.

With a hiss, I got myself to sit up and face the devil himself. Alistair had Dean cornered, and I knew that the Winchester was waiting to attack. The last thing we needed was a full-out fight because I knew we would lose. Without a doubt, we would get our asses handed to us. Before I could get back to my feet, Lucifer had his hand around my throat again.

"Let her go!" Castiel growled, but I heard him stifle a moan of pain when the devil stabbed a knife directly into him. I was not going to take that, so swinging my leg out, I made contact with solid flesh.

Thankfully, it shocked Lucy enough to drop me, and I rolled into a fighting stance. "I took you on once, I can do it again…"

"You fought the freakin' devil and didn't think to mention that?" I heard Dean say from behind me.

"It was in the past… Literally," I responded.

"Yes," Lucifer grinned. "And it was because of you, I ended up here." I narrowed my eyes, unsure of what he was talking about. "Gabriel didn't tell you?" he hissed suddenly coming to circle me. It made my skin crawl the way he was smiling at me. "Because of you, I lost the war."

My face must have shown pure shock because he didn't stop there. He closed the distance, and I found myself wanting more than anything wanting to bolt for the door. Thoughts were buzzing through my head: how did I make him lose the war? It was only because of my time jump that I ended up living. I was about to die, and only because of my grace did I live.

"Your little time jump," Lucifer growled. "It was because of that I lost. Your grace exploded out when you went back to your time, and it through me off balance. Long enough for Michael to finish me off…"

"I'm the reason that the angels won?" I asked, my confidence suddenly springing up.

"Yes."

"Then," I grinned stepping directly up to the devil, "I'm damn glad I got your dumb ass trapped in Hell. And if it costs me my last breath, you will not be leaving here."

It was weird to find myself trapped against a wall, my arms and legs splayed. I was trying very hard not to show the pain it was causing. My eyes shifted over to Dean who looked horrible. Alistair had hit the Winchester a few times, and now was whispering something into his ear. Whatever it was; it made the hunter look stricken.

Lucifer clapped his hands pulling all attention back on him. "Isn't this great?" he chuckled. "The one that will free me here along with the one that started this all."

Dean's eyes locked onto Lucifer's form, and I kept repeating over and over in my head: 'God please, no. Not here, not now.' Knowing Lucy was going to reveal it all, I began to struggle as hard as I could against the grace. I tried allowing my own to lash out, but the devil was far stronger than a half-breed like myself. With a single hand, he had me completely contained.

"Angels haven't been very forthcoming have they Winchester?" Lucifer said taking steps toward the hunter. I could only watch helplessly. "You broke the first seal. We had to break the first before any others."

"And the first seal shall break when a righteous man spills blood in Hell…" Lucifer continued, thinking back. "As he breaks, so shall it break."

"It was supposed to be your father," Alistair added wanting to break Dean to the very core. "He took the rack for almost a hundred years… But daddy's little girl broke in thirty…"

"I swear to God," I hissed… The second the words left my mouth, Lucy was directly in front of me.

"God cares nothing for you," he snarled in my face before running a caressing hand down my face. "But I do…" He walked away from me, leaving me more clueless; he took a seat on one of the racks next to Cas. I felt my eyes meet the angel's, and I wished more than anything I could do something. Alistair had Dean trapped against a wall; I was stuck on a wall… This rescue mission had gone to shit.

"After I was trapped here, I had time to think more about the Nephilim that caused my downfall," Lucy sighed. "I decided that your kind would be extremely useful. Plus, I needed to find a way to take you out. It took centuries, but eventually, I clawed my way to the surface and impregnated a female." His golden eyes met mine. "I must say I was shocked when nine months later, the very Nephilim that caused my downfall… was my daughter…"

I felt my heart stop. This had to be a lie.

"Something had gone wrong, and you were born not breathing. It took a little of persuasion, but I convinced a single reaper to send your soul here…"

"Why?" I choked out.

"I hid my grace when Father cast me here," he hissed. "I needed to put it somewhere." He was suddenly directly in front of me seizing my chin. "Why do you think you're more powerful than any other Nephilim?" He laughed, "I gave you my grace, hid it deep in your body, and sent your soul back to Earth. I must say I'm shocked that you can tap into it. It is the only way you could have jumped time after all."

"My brother?" I continued.

"He was born completely fine, thanks to a C-section," he shrugged. "He was still stronger because after all, he was my son…"

"You're lying," I continued, yet somehow I figured he wasn't.

"My own daughter was my own downfall in the past," he laughed. "My grace is part of the key of getting out of here… Which was why I convinced my brother to capture the angels that you seem to care about and send them here. And why I dragged your brother's soul into Hell."

"So what are you waiting for?" I said sadly.

"I'll release the Winchester, your brother, and the angels if you give it back…"

I realized it then. Looking directly into the bastard's eyes, I said, "You can't take it back, can you? You need permission." I smiled knowing this small fact. "Then you'll never get it."

Lucifer sighed, "I'm a reasonable man. I'll release the Winchester, your brother, and an angel… You don't have to give me anything in return." He took a few steps away. "Call it, a good show of faith…"

"An angel?" I whispered.

"Well, I need one to stay here if I'm to convince you that my grace isn't worth your troubles…"

"Let them go," I responded. I couldn't keep them here because of me. Dean… Jesus, I couldn't even look at the brother now; I had known the entire time that he started the war, but I wanted Cas to tell him.

"Which angel my daughter?" Lucifer teased, and I just wished that I had never come to breath. My eyes locked onto the two horribly injured angels… How was I to choose?

"I can't…"

"If you don't, then they both stay…"

"Rachel," I heard Cas say. I looked up to see the angel trying to make me feel better. "Choose Suriel… She's badly hurt."

"How do I know you won't just kill them as they leave?" I hissed trying again to break the bonds that held me but to no avail.

"I was once an angel… You have my word."

"Once being keyword," I shrugged. I glanced over to the Winchester finding him looking worse for wear. His face was a bloody pulp thanks to the demon, and I could only hope that he would be able to walk out of here. "Can you get Suriel out of here Dean?"

"I shouldn't leave you Rachel," he whispered; God, his voice sounded so broken. If it was the last thing I did, I would take both Lucifer's and Alistair's lives for doing this to whom I considered a brother.

"When you get back, make sure you call Michael and Gabriel ASAP," I continued wondering how it came to me giving orders. "I've taken Lucy here before… I can do it again." I gave him a sad smile. "Just get out of here, okay?"

With a single snap of his fingers, Lucifer set Suriel free, and Alistair let Dean go, who quickly fell to his knees. It took a few moments, but he was able to pull himself back up and carry the injured angel from this hell-hole. Alistair moved to follow, but I finally was able to break my binds and lash out with my grace. The demon went careening through a wall.

"So Dad," I hissed, "how's your day been? Because mine's just been shit."

"Sarcasm again?" Alistair growled once he was back on his feet. Again, I was fully restrained by Lucifer's power, and I couldn't even turn my head when the blow came. "Give me one reason not to carve you up or go get my star pupil?"

"Leave him alone," I snarled trying again to lash out but could barely blink.

"Leave the Winchester alone Alistair," Lucifer sighed stepping beside his master in torture. "He's done his part in this war, and I doubt he'll be any real use to the angels… You'll have him under your rule again, just not today." He set a hand on the demon's shoulder, and I wanted to vomit.

"So," I shrugged. "Are you going to torture me or talk me to death?"

"No," Alistair said picking up a blade from a nearby table. It was curved with sharpened edges. "I think I'll take a stab at the angel."

I realized then why Cas was still here. My death would mean Lucifer's grace would be gone with me, so I was off limits now, but Castiel was not. Torturing him would cause me more pain because I knew it was my fault, and I could do nothing to stop it. Giving Lucy his grace was a big no-no.

Hearing Cas hold another scream as the blade dug into his side made me cringe, and Alistair was only warming up. I had to figure something out soon, or I would be giving in. I watched in horror as the demon lived up to this threat and began to use the knife to slide just across the surface, peeling and shredding. Angel, human… anything, that would hurt. I could only be grateful that blood did not exist in angels, so my stomach was doing better than my mind.

It was only when Castiel couldn't hold it back any longer and screamed did I close my eyes. I couldn't look any longer. The only good thing of this entire situation was that Dean got out, but watching what Alistair was doing to Cas made me truly want to just rip the grace from my body.

Lucy stood next to me whispering sweet nothings in my ear. "You can end his agony… All I need is permission… Just say 'take it Lucifer. I'm giving it back willingly.'"

"Stay. In. Fucking. Hell," I snapped tearing my eyes open. Just for good measure, I added, "Dad."

"Your mother," he started with a sigh. "She was beautiful…"

"Don't you dare talk about her!"

"Don't you want to know where you come from on both sides?" Lucifer teased. "She was such a pretty human, even after I raped her. Of course the trauma of losing both her children and being raped sent her to an insane asylum, but she was still a good fuck."

Before I could shoot off another witty retort, I heard a scream. At first, I thought it was Castiel, but when I looked over, I saw Dean driving a knife deep into the back of the demon. I grinned seeing the Winchester returning.

"My turn," I heard the hunter snarl pulling the knife out before switching to the blade he had received from Gabriel. It was just enough of a distraction for me to free myself from Lucifer's grasp. I snapped my leg out and caught the devil in the chin.

"Mine as well!" I panted pulling out my own blades and attacking Lucifer head on. I kept lashing out with my grace at the same time in an attempt to keep Dad from pinning me to a wall again. Down here, my grace might not have been as powerful, but I was also working with Lucy's grace here. I wondered if I could truly tap into his grace and by pass my own. I tried to focus past my grace and find Lucy's grace, and to say I was shocked when I found it would be an understatement. This was proof I was truly his daughter. It took a lot, but I ripped the grace from my body.

"Dean, close your eyes!" I suddenly yelped as the light from the grace flooded the room. When it died, I was completely exhausted, but Lucifer and Alistair were clutching at their eyes on the ground. I immediately moved to free Castiel, and with a little more grace, I overpowered the binds. "Lets go," I said to everyone. The angel could barely stand, and like Dean, I pretty much had to carry the angel from Lucifer's little castle. I wasn't sure how much weight I could carry, but I needed to fly everyone out of here. "Hold onto Suriel tight," I whispered to Dean when I heard shouts from Alistair behind us.

Grabbing Dean's waist, I took to the air- Cas resting on my back, and my arms wrapped around Dean's waist. He held the angel to his chest, and I flew as fast as I could. For a moment, I wondered if my brother was truly free from this prison, but I didn't have time to stop and ask. Behind me, I heard demons cry and call. I tried to tap into Lucy's grace, and again, I told Dean to keep his eyes shut. The light from my body was enough to keep most demons at bay, but some took to the air to follow.

"Please," I prayed, "God let the exit be somewhere around here." I finally took to flying straight up. The weight seemed to increase a ten-fold, but I didn't stop. I was not going to stop unless it killed me. I just wanted out…

. . . .

I glanced around, staring at the ceiling above me. Immediately, I sat up realizing I was back to being corporeal, and I looked down on the floor to see Suriel's and Castiel's vessels. The angels were here in the room; we had made it out of Hell. Where the Hell was Sam? No pun intended.

"Dean," I gasped once I realized how badly both angels were injuried. "If we don't do something, they'll die before the angels get here."

I watched as Dean knelt next to Suriel and blocked the blood-flow from her vessel. Apparently all injuries in Hell somehow transferred up here. The angels could heal, so why couldn't I, but I knew I could probably only heal one.

"Which one is worse?" I asked the hunter.

"Suriel's pulse is stronger… She seemed to only have bruises and a few wounds, but Cas…" Dean didn't even want to finish it. Castiel's holy tax accountant vessel was lying in a pool of his own blood. Bruises compared to numerous stabbing… The majority stabbing won out.

Kneeling next to Cas in the pool of red crimson, I turned him on his back. I reached deep within myself, finding my grace. Bending down, I pressed my mouth to the angel's. It wasn't a kiss… Far from it actually. I ripped a piece of my grace from my body and shoved it literally into Cas's. Next to me, I could hear distantly Dean yelling for the angels. He didn't seem to care who he called as long as someone came. My eyes suddenly felt heavy, and I collapsed in a heap next to Cas. Pain flooded my system, and I wanted to scream.

"Rachel," I heard Dean yell, but I could barely hear it through the ringing in my ears. I felt my body go light yet rigid, and I watched as the world faded to black just as Gabriel appeared.

Chapter 22: A few short hours on Earth turned to days in Hell. Everything has changed… Rachel is Lucifer's daughter; Dean started the war… And they both find themselves barely able to stand after it all. Then Suriel and Castiel, will they pull through?

OOC: Life just went to shit for everyone. Hope you turn in for the aftermath of all of this. It's still part of this arc, but it will feel like an ultimate interlude between all the characters.