Lilly moved around her apartment in a whirl of motion. The quick actions of cleaning an unused home were simple. Dust here, wipe there. But, it was an appearance she needed to keep. Castiel stood patiently as Lilly completed her self assigned chores. Then Lilly headed to the back to switch out clothing in her bag. It was the one truly useful things about being able to gate around. Lilly never lacked for clothing or closet space. It had amazed her that Dean hadn't caught her disappearing back to her bedroom to gather up new clothing. But as always the Dean seemed mostly oblivious to the clothing she wore except for when he could see a lot skin. So Lilly kept the dresses mostly the same.
"Dean tells me you are looking for God." Lilly said entering the room.
"Yes. I believe he can stop the war." Castiel informed her.
"I want to help." Lilly told him.
"Since you will not leave the Winchesters, I need you there to protect them." Castiel did the closest thing he would to an order or a request.
Lilly nodded and accepted. It was a mission she didn't need to be asked to do. Lilly considered the man who was her uncle. Castiel was going to stand beside her as she took vows. Castiel seemed to consider her too. The man stood there wondering. Lilly just waited.
"What is the tradition of what you are asking of me?" Castiel asked.
"You stand to my left and represent my family. When they ask who gives me away, you reply that you do." Lilly gave him the basic run down.
"And, I am not able to talk you out of binding yourself to Dean?" Castiel asked.
"No. I understand you are trying to protect him and that you are looking out for him. So I am not wounded by your asking again." Lilly placed her hands on his shoulder.
"There is more I need to show you. We also need to understand Zachariah's plan." Castiel tried to introduce purpose into her day.
"I understand Obi-wan." Lilly say bowing to her uncle. "When do I get a light saber?"
Castiel stared at her blankly. Lilly closed her eyes and took a breath. The light pang of missing Dean was there. Lilly walked over to the catalogue of dvds and rummaged through the alphabet pulling out a few of her favorites. She then walked over to the small pile of boxes and opened them pulling out crinkled sheets of paper until she found the small plastic cassettes. Lilly smiled at the hand written note attached:
I don't understand the trip into the technological dark age, but here is the music you wanted. I feel dirty. Were even.
The small bubbly signature at the bottom reminded her of college. Lilly smiled at the memories of peak tails and cheerleading uniforms. The rustle of pom-poms filled her ears with the sounds of people screaming from the bleachers. Lilly tried to imagine the girl who stood in the center of the pyramid. Lilly considered the moment the moved to her room to pack the uniform that still hung in the back of her closet. Lilly couldn't wait until she got to spring this surprise on Dean. Lilly moved back to the front with her bag gathering up the random sources of media then stuffing them into her duffle bag. Turning on her heel, Lilly stared at the man standing in the middle of her living room.
"I am ready. Do keep in mind I still have to find a dress." Lilly nodded.
Castiel moved forward touching her shoulder. The world blended together in a whirl of colors then motion. Lilly felt her head spin and her stomach lurch. The nausea caught her off guard. Lilly leaned closer to Castiel trying to steady herself. The motion caught his attention and the world reformed. As the world took form Lilly stepped back and bent over trying to breath through the sensation. Dropping her bag, Lilly grabbed her knees hunched over. Castiel moved forward and grabbed her sitting her back on a stone bench. Lilly inhaled the air catching in her throat then exhaled. Lilly desperately tried to keep the burger that threaten to evacuate in place. Lilly refused to be over thrown by a dizzy spell. Lilly eased the sensation in her stomach. The nausea evaporated and her stomach caught up to her location.
"You are not well." Castiel said the concern in his voice.
"That was a layer of suck." Lilly murmured through the sudden gross taste in her mouth.
"Are you well enough to train?" Castiel tried to give her a chance out.
"I think I will be fine. I will let you know if I go south." Lilly offered.
"But we are here. There will not be more travel." Castiel seemed suddenly confused.
"No… going south means begin to feel worse or if a plan goes bad and cannot be fixed." Lilly tried to translate.
"I accept this." Castiel nodded.
Lilly looked around at the large arena. The open air building with large stands encircled the area of a marked dirt course that dipped and dived. Lilly noted the motions of the course as it snaked back and forth. The arena seemed to be a sleeping god of entertainment. This giant waited in between shows for people to come and bare worship. Lilly could sense the frenzy that had once been here and would come again. Lilly stepped up next to Castiel as he looked out onto the grounds. The shared knowledge of the environment brought them closer.
"Do you sense it?" Castiel asked quietly.
"I can almost hear it." Lilly giggled lightly.
"To become stronger you will need to train harder. You are manifested. I will be able to train you as the others are trained." Castiel seemed proud of the statement.
"This means I am going to get beat on doesn't it?" Lilly asked without moving.
"It does." Castiel said. The sword in his hand pointed down as if it had always rested there.
Lilly accepted the moment then flexed the fingers on both hands imagining the weight of her preferred daggers. The simple long brown pummels became solid in her hands. The weight of the daggers tugged at her limbs lightly. The small pummels rested next to her fists. Castiel bowed to her then motioned toward the course. Lilly moved out her boots dug snugly into the dirt then propelled her forward. She used her long legs to cover the ground quickly. The brown red dirt under her feet clumped the clay caked together. Lilly spun placing one foot on a ramp wall then pivoted to move another direction. The whirl of a brown long coat swept past her. The length of the sword came too close to her body. Lilly brought a dagger up blade down to parry off the attack. Lilly brought up the other dagger pummel first attempting to bash at the hand attacking her.
"Good." Castiel's voice was that of a teacher. It was low, steady encouraging her to preform better while praising her.
Spinning the blade forward in his hand, Castiel moved again to press an attack. The blade sung in the air as it darted past Lilly's head. Instinctively Lilly flipped her own blade dragging it down the length of the sword. Lilly closed her knuckles around the mated dagger and attempted to slam in the solid object into Castiel's side. The force of the blow caught his attention and Castiel placed three fingers on her side. The force of the light contact startled her. Lilly flew back a few feet then tried regain her balance. The body came at her again. Lilly rolled down and onto her back moving with the momentum already built up. The body lunged at her. Lilly dodged the bladed weapon then gripped his wrist. Lilly brought his body down with hers and her legs up into his stomach. The impact of his weight on hers startled her. Lilly had expected to be crushed by the force. Lilly had expected the force she would need would wind her and then the rest of the fight would take more out of her then she wanted to give to sparring. But, his frame had impacted hers like a feather pillow at speed. Lilly summoned up all of the energy she could and slammed her knees straight throwing his body over hers. Without letting go Lilly allowed the force to bring her up and over, with Castiel under her. A single bladed dagger at his throat. Castiel's hand caught her stomach before she could land solidly and held her in place. Lilly felt a light pinch as his sword nicked her rib cage. Her eyes considered the situation. Castiel considered her blade. An awkward smile stretched across his lips.
"You have improved." Castiel said lowering the sword.
"On the job training seems to work for me." Lilly smiled then stood up.
"You are different then the ones before you." Castiel gathered himself up and off the ground.
"What do you mean?" Lilly couldn't hide the concern in her voice.
"It is many things. The ones before where male. They caused many problems, which is why they were washed from the Earth. You have a level of control that they did not, or maybe it is simply a focus. You are unique." Castiel turned to her the sword had vanished during the conversation.
"I guess I just assumed they were like me, or I was like them." Lilly considered the information.
"It might be that you were raise as human with no angelic parent. Many of the nephilim were removed from their mothers at a young age. They were trained to be soldiers." Castiel told her.
"It sounds like they didn't have much of a chance." Lilly picked up her second dagger.
"We were told they were godless. We were lied to." Castiel nodded.
Lilly put an arm around Castiel then leaned against his side. Castiel looked down at her trying to gauge her reaction. Lilly smiled up at him. Lilly accepted the moment then let go. Lilly walked over to the duffle bag then sat on the stone bench.
"Are you well?" Castiel asked without turning around.
"I think so. I don't know what that was. Maybe I just got used to doing it myself." Lilly shrugged.
"Doubtful." Castiel said.
"I feel fine now. The boys have gone on to Bobby's. You should go ahead and meet them. I am going to get a dress, then I can find you and gate to you." Lilly nodded.
"Is it tradition to have someone with you when acquiring a dress?" Castiel asked the sweet question in his own way.
"Yes, usually a family member or best friend." Lilly smiled.
"Then you should take us to find a dress." Castiel turned to look at her.
Lilly smiled, picked up her bag, then brought her hand up to rest on Castiel's shoulder. The world around the two of them blurred. Lilly monitored her body waiting for her stomach to lurch. But, the sensation never came. Lilly saw the blur of colors, the world reminding her of impressionistic art. Lilly mused at the reality of the art in her life. Slowly the world reformed the lines of the alley around them. Lilly looked around proud. Castiel monitored her waiting for her body to buckle. Lilly made a point of straightening up showing how well she felt.
"Are you well?" Castiel asked her for the second time.
"I'm fine." Lilly motioned towards the end of the alley.
"I believe we were getting a dress." Castiel asked not understanding the surroundings.
"We are. This is just more desecrate. I think people appearing out of no where would draw too much attention." Lilly walked out behind him and headed across the road towards a small dress shop. The small brick building with light pink awning. The white silhouette of a woman in a long flowing dress was painted on the window.
"Now for the real combat." Lilly opened the door and walked in.