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The Supernatural characters belong to Kripke Enterprises and the CW, not me. No money is being made from this story. It is for entertainment only.
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Winchesters in Hell
Chapter 26
Escaping Heaven
From Chapter 25
"I bring to you all news of the damage done to the structure of existence. God has fled the building and the Angels have turned on us all. They were commanded to protect and guard all of humanity. They have decided that they deserve Earth, even though it was not made for them. Raphael the Archangel has decided that bringing the apocalypse and destroying all of humanity will allow Paradise to appear. The Angels want Paradise on earth but they want it for themselves. Humanity's only protection now is Hell.
Ron Applegate burst out in laughter. "So you're trying to tell us that up is down and down is now up. Angels will not watch over us but Hell's Demons will take over the job. We might just be humans but I don't think that all of us are so stupid as to believe you, Sam Winchester. I don't believe in you or that murderous brother of yours. As soon as you let us go we'll slaughter these witches and then come after you."
Sam raised his hands to the crowd. "What do you all say? Will you follow me or sacrifice yourselves to Ron? Make a choice."
Sam turned to Ron's sons. "What do you think Pauly; or how about you Richard? Do either of you think for yourself or do you follow your father blindly? I can tell you from personal experience that's a dead end road. I need Hunters to spread the word. I can give you weapons to project yourselves from the Angels."
" Join me."
Chapter 26
The bonfires still burned, the flames outlined against the night sky. Samuel, the Winged Man sat on the time carved throne waiting for an answer. There was murmuring throughout the crowd, like the babble of flowing water.
Ron Applegate broke out in his harsh, braying laugh again, crashing the murmur like a rock thrown into a stream.
"Winchester, you really think you can talk my boys into joining you in this dream? You think they are stupid enough to listen to your lies, no matter how much honey you wrap the words in? I've brought them up better than that." The old man glanced over his shoulder at his sons. "They better know they can't trust you."
"Are you afraid to let them speak for themselves, Ron?" Samuel asked. "They aren't boys anymore, they are men. It's time to let them go. They can make up their own minds."
Samuel stood, stretched his wings and rolled his shoulders to release the strain. Satan came to stand at the right hand of his King. The two were mesmerizing; the Boy King with his golden skin and black wings and Satan, the Knight of Hell, a living slice of the night sky.
"Who will come with me?" Samuel raised his voice. "Who will swear fealty to me and my new crusade? I will bring Heaven to heel. I will draw the Angels down from the starry vault and restore glory to God only. No Archangel should be so bold as to claim God's throne as theirs by right. I will cast Raphael into the dust and show him the halls of Hell. "
For the first time one of Ron's sons spoke. "It sounds like Hell is going to teach an Angel the meaning of blasphemy. Am I hearing you right?"
"Yes, Richard," Samuel answered. "You have it exactly right. Even Hell is appalled at Raphael's claims. We will tear him down."
"I think I'll stick with Dad." The young hinter replied. "I have fought witches and demons and now even Satan himself all my life. A five minute speech from a Winchester is not going to change my mind now."
"In a few minutes my Knight and I will leave this place." Samuel answered. "Look around yourselves, Hunters. Witches and wizards surround you. You are not safe once I leave." Samuel spoke seriously. "I will release you now and you can flee. Stay and try to harm even one of my children and I'll turn you all to ash. Now go,"
With those words the Hunters were freed. Looking at his sons decisively, Ron Applegate bent to try and grab one of his dropped weapons. As he took the gun into his hand the weapon began to glow. The smell of burnt flesh wafted on the evening breeze. Applegate swore, dropped the gun back on the ground and grasped at his hand, shaking it to try and cool his burned flesh.
"I warned you, Ron." Samuel said. "I told you I would not let you harm any of these people. You will never use that hand again to pull a trigger."
Samuel looked at Ron's sons. "Take your father away. I recommend you run and run fast. I will only hold my children back for a matter of minutes. They know you can here to try and take some of them down. You wanted to try to take me down. They don't like you. Now run before I call my brother to pass his judgement on you. Spread the word. Samuel Winchester now rules Hell but Dean Winchester is coming to rule Earth."
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Castiel began to climb the stairway to Heaven. This back door ran through all three of the plains of existence, Hell, the World of Men and then Heaven. At the Angel's back were the two New Knights of Hell, Belial and Verrine.
Transformed from their hellish guises into these clean crystalline forms these spirits were embarking on an entirely new existence. They had been Angels once, singing in the Heavenly choir, sure of their place in the Universe. They had then been seduced by that most beautiful of Archangels, Lucifer, the Morning Star; they had followed him into Hell and despair. Now they had been raised up and transformed by the Trimūrti, the three fold King, into the New Knights of Hell. No other spirits of God's creation had made such a journey of transformation and yet still maintained a single identity.
They had no idea of the abilities of their new forms. They only knew that they were loyal to Hell's King. In him they placed their faith. Without him they would crumble away to wild and lost spirits howling in the outer darkness. The Knights were secure in their faith and the love of their new God.
Castiel climbed ever higher, his sword clasped firmly before him. The image was that of an ever ascending stairway but the reality was the stacked structures of the universe, carrying living creatures deeper and deeper into the complexities of form and space. Recursive patterns grew more complete until the breathing world of life formed around them.
Passing through the World of Men Castiel continued ever upward. Now the gates of Heaven appeared before him, shining energies purged of the compressed atoms of the living world. Only energy existed so high up the Axis Mundi. Joshua's garden came into view, locked away behind complex gates of ever changing patterns, dancing waves of ever modulating frequencies.
Castiel stopped and called out to Joshua, God's Gardner.
On the other side of the gates Joshua appeared.
"Greetings, brother," Castiel said.
"Greetings to you also, Castiel," Joshua's dark face creased with a smile. "You certainly have picked an odd way to enter the garden. I don't believe these gates have been opened since Jesus walked the Earth."
Joshua looked behind Castiel and saw Belial and Verrine. "I see you also brought along some other long forgotten faces."
The Gardner addressed the two Knights of Hell. "Belial, Verrine, you are a surprise. I was told that Castiel would be coming but not you two." The dark Angel shrugged and bent to open the gates. He flung them open and waved his visitors into the Garden, into the throne room of God.
"Who told you I was coming, Joshua?" Castiel asked, careful to lower his sword but also careful to keep it between himself and the Gardner
"Who do you think, Castiel?" Joshua smiled. "God told me. After all that's my job, isn't it? To trim the hedges and listen when he wants to talk?"
"Father told you I was coming?" Castiel was beyond surprised. If it was possible to amaze an angel, Castiel was truly amazed. "Does that mean he approves?"
"Castiel," Joshua placed a comforting hand on Castiel's shoulder. "You only desire to serve God, to follow his order to love human kind and save your brothers; why would he not approve?"
Castiel looked back at Belial and Verrine. "I am then welcome, even though I am accompanied by Knights of Hell?"
Joshua shook his head. "You are accompanied by two lost brothers, Castiel. Why would the lost sheep not be welcomed back into the flock?"
Joshua smiled at his young brother. "Now come with me. I have been gathering Angels for you. Those who fled Raphael's soldiers and claimed refuge with me I have allowed into the garden to wait for you. They are all pure of heart. They can't lie to me, you know."
Joshua, one of God's oldest and most faithful, turned to Belial and Verrine. "You also brothers; you are welcome here in your father's garden. Walk with us to the gathering of Angels."
If either Knight had been capable of tears, they would have wept.
They followed Joshua to an open lawn where about twenty Angels were gathered. "Here is your first boatload of refugees, Castiel. I trust you will take better care of them than Raphael has done. I will attempt to save more of your brothers to await your future visits."
"Joshua," Castiel was stunned. "Thank you, brother. This is more than I could have hoped for. I will guard my brothers well. No harm will come to them and they will be able to fulfill God's commands."
Castiel turned to the ragged and worried group of Angels. "My brothers, the current plan is to take you into Hell."
The Angels were startled and stared at the one they had expected to save them.
"Don't worry." Castiel extended his hands in a calming gesture. "As they told me to say, Hell is under new management. That is a joke but don't expect me to explain it to you. Jokes can't be explained. Humor can be learned but it takes a while. Don't worry about that either. Hell will be only a brief stop in your journey. The plan is to place each one of you on Earth to perform good deeds and heal those you can help."
One of the Angels that Castiel did not know stood up. "I am Betranel. Castiel, we are rebels. Have we forfeited all right to Heaven? Are we now dammed as Raphael claims?"
"Brother," Castiel answered. "Be at peace. Your father is a good and patient father. He forgives all, no matter how deep the sin. Only if you turn from him can you be damned."
Castiel turned to the two Knights of Hell standing behind him. "This is Belial and this is Verrine. They are your brothers also. They fell with Lucifer and were trapped and tortured in Hell. Now they are Knights of Hell, no longer Angels but God has accepted them into this sacred place. If he can forgive them, why do you think that your small sins mean you are damned?"
After a little more discussion and an unnecessary period for rest Castiel organized his group for the trip down the stairway, through the layers of reality, for the decent into hell. They assembled at the gate and Joshua opened the way. Castiel suspected that the unnecessary rest period had been for Joshua's benefit. After all, they were all Angels, none of them needed to rest. The thought passed through Castiel's mind that perhaps Joshua was lonely.
It was a strange thought. Joshua was an Angel; he should not be able to experience the emotions of men. Still Castiel was careful to thank Joshua profusely and assure him that he would return soon.
"I will gather more renegade Angels for you, Castiel," Joshua said slowly. "Unless, of course, you feel that perhaps the crisis will pass. What are you planning down there in Hell, Castiel? Who are your partners? Tell me, are they those vessels, those young humans, the Winchesters? I once had to deliver a message from God directly to them. It was very strange indeed. There had been no messages for humans from God for millennia and then those two appeared."
Castiel smiled. "Joshua, I hope that Heaven will be restored to glory. I pray for the return of the sweet music of the perfectly balance spheres. I am hoping to hear the choirs in solemn harmony again, spreading praise and joy throughout the universe. Until that day comes, please continue to save as many of my brothers as you can from Raphael's soldiers. Thank you."
The Knights, Belial and Verrine lead the way. The troupe of rescued angels and their protectors began to descend Heaven's stairway.
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Down stairs in Hell someone was becoming bored. All of Dean's playmates were out and about, having adventures and leaving him to keep the home fires burning. There was always Crowley but Dean at times felt like a visit with Crowley called for an unwelcome expenditure of energy. Usually it didn't matter; he enjoyed the snarky demon's company but today he was in the worst of moods both lazy and bored.
If Sam was only here the problem would be solved with a nice roll in the hay. His brother was good at soothing Dean's soul but Sam was off with his new pal Satan, interviewing Dean's constituency, witches and wizards, warlocks and fortune tellers, all of them suspicious characters in Hunter's eyes. He didn't want to think about that either. Changing sides like this was stressful. He was going to have to tame the witches and change the Hunter's attitudes all the while keeping his skin whole. He was pretty sure at one point or another some Hunter was going want to find out what kind of ammunition would work on Dean Winchester's pretty ass and that might hurt, immortal or not.
So Dean tucked his hands in his jacket pockets and went for a walk in Hell.
He didn't want to go anywhere near the pit and he was not amused by the flow of demon kind up the mountain to the Castle. He stepped out the first low window he came to and wandered further uphill, away from the Hell plain towards Lucifer's cage.
He had meant to go take a closer look at the cage, one of Hell's wonders. It was floating just off the face of the mountain, light as a bubble, meaner than sin and alive. He had heard that you could not touch it. It would move away from your hand like a living thing. Sam said so and of all of Hell's denizens Sam was the one who would know. Only Sam had been inside. Only Sam knew what it was like.
Dean stood just below and watched the cage drift with Hell's pale winds. It swayed in the breeze but always returned to just that single spot on the mountain. It was like there was an invisible tether that held the cage in place.
The longer he stared the more sure he became that he could see something inside the cage, fluttering from one side to the other like a finch in a birdcage. He then remembered that there was a third Winchester in Hell and felt like kicking himself. Adam was only a half-brother and Dean had not spent a lot of time getting to know the young man but he was family.
Dean was ashamed. He should have been working on a way to get the kid out of there.
"Hold on kid, I'm working on it." Dean said to himself. As soon as Sam and Castiel got back they would talk about a way to get Adam out of the cage. Michael was in there too and that was a potential problem. This was going to strain the best minds that Hell had to offer and currently that was Sam, Cas and maybe Crowley, the snake. Dean would take anything he could get.