Chapter 20 -- Samhain and Seals

Halloween

Without the witches to release the seal of Samhain Halloween was relatively quiet. Dean and Gabriel of course took the excuse of free time to just stuff themselves sick with sweets. Sam and Castiel on the other hand shot their significant other looks of disapproval but did nothing to stop them. Lyn snickered at all of them while sitting just outside the door to the hotel room. This hotel had the rooms that were only first floor rooms, more like smaller apartments than a traditional hotel. The five of them sat around the entrance just enjoying the october evening. While Lyn and Sam sat in conjured chairs the other three sat sprawled across the sidewalk and the small patch of grass that seperated the rooms from the parking lot.

Children from the nearby neighborhood ran from door to door collecting the brightly wrapped pieces of sugar and chocolate. Some of the braver ones came with their parents and approached the group. In a kind of reward for their courage Gabriel sat up and handed them king sized candy bars with a wink, the parents in the background wearing a mix of annoyance and amusement. Every time this would happen Castiel would whisper to Dean "Those children are never going to sleep again."

When the night came to a close the group waited slightly anxiously, Samhain could technically have more witches out there but it was unlikely. But that slight chance was enough to make them all stay up until well after midnight. Lyn was in deep meditation probing gently at the Samhain seal, making sure that there were no other cracks or foreign energies around it. Gabriel and Castiel's minds stayed on the fringes of Lyn's, but also reassuring the Winchester brothers that everything was alright.

Lyn after awhile retreated from his thoughts, rejoining his flock. The five of them then retired to sleep. Tomorrow they would take care of the witches and Ruby, making sure that they could never hurt anyone again.

Sorrowful Torture

One's wings were wrapped around them, and Samael held tight to his brothers hand. Michael's face was full of wonder as he watched the show in front of them. The mistlike golden sphere around them and holding them up protected them from the waves of power that washed over them. One behind them whispered almost silently in their ears, "Watch, your Father is making you another sibling."

His wings that reflected the beauty of the newly birthed galaxy kept them warm and the feathers brushed sweetly against their cheeks. "Samael, Michael, are you excited? You'll have a new baby brother." Michael nodded excitedly, holding almost desperately onto Samael's hand. Samael murmured a "Yes."

One seemed to smile in that moment, a feeling of loving joy spreading to encase the two (very) young angels. Samael's wings, barely more that downy fluff quivered in mixture of excitement and anxiety. The pearly starlit wings were an almost stark contrast to his brothers fluffy wings that burned golden like the sun which had twisted into existence the moment Michael's turquoise eyes opened. His Father's joy represented in the light source. Samael's wings inspired all the comets his Father sent spiraling out when his icy blue eyes met with the every changing orbs of his Father's.

Samael's new baby brother came into existence with nothing but giggles. His honey colored eyes streaked with an almost bronze color. Samael's Father brought the tiny baby archangel over to the misty sphere. "Here is your new brother, Gabriel."

As Samael reached out to stroke the velvety soft cheek of his brother their eyes meeting like a clash of elements, and just before his finger touched (the precious baby, his brother, the one he'd always protect) Gabriel's cheek, the dream shattered.

Lucifer stared up into the abyss-like shadows of the top of his personalized prison. Nothing was more tortuous than reliving all his most precious moments then to wake up and realize the separation from family and flock was never ending. The only respite from the (ironically) hellish isolation was the occasional flicker from the broken flock bonds in the back of his mind. While One's still pulsed gently, Gabriel's was dead, and Michael's and Raphael's only gave him any kind of a sign when they felt any kind of extreme emotion. Which happen occasionally over the eons. Usually feelings of annoyance.

Lucifer knew he would never escape, never be released. But tucked away with his happiest, most treasured memories was the smallest grain of hope that he would be freed. In the end Lucifer knew that if that happened he wouldn't be trying to continue the war. He'd fly straight to Michael's feet, beg for any kind of forgiveness and try, try, to sooth the hurt of a broken flock. To regain the feeling of being completely safe and loved, the feelings that he took for granted. The war had been the worst thing he had ever done, he didn't regret fighting for what he believed, he regretted that he hurt his siblings, his family his flock. Even if he had won what would it have mattered in the end. Because he had learned that what was the hollow song of victory next to his Gabriel's laughter? To flying with Michael? To working side by side with Raphael? To basking quietly in One's presence who had felt more like a father than his actual father ever had?

Lucifer knew that if he continued to think on this he would drive himself insane, or at least more insane. Vacantly he stared up at the seals keeping his prison shut, counting and looking at everything above him he had already memorized. Going over the familiar again and again until suddenly he stopped. A single tiny crack. An anomaly in an inescapable cage. And with that tiny detail the grain of hope in Lucifer's chest exploded. His dirty, singed wings rose up in elation and his heart soared. Maybe, just maybe, one day he'd be free. Maybe one day, which was close enough for him, he'd see his flock again.

Familiar Family

Lyn's eyes opened slowly but his mind was beyond far away. Focusing on a bond he thought long since broken. But even with so much knowledge and experience Lyn could still be surprised, and the burning hope that radiated from the aknowledgly dormant bond definately surprised him. Samael's bond, who was now named Lucifer burned with a kind of desperate feeling that Lyn knew from the time before. When Lyn was alone for eon upon eon, before the new God found him. The desperate hope for someone, anyone, to free them, to not be alone again. Lucifer felt that.

Diving down through the bond Lyn retraced the bond he thought long dead and the brother he thought long lost. It was time to start to bring family home. God's will was done. Samaeal had learned the lesson he had be imprisoned to learn.