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Chapter 37
Legend has it that any demons who decide to become hermits end up living in the cave of the White Mountains. There have not been many occasions, but still there were a few demons who had preferred to live isolated from the living world. Their will to become hermits was final and no one could force them to stay, kill, or harm them in any way possible. It was an unwritten law and there had not been any cases of breaking it. One such demon is Malphas, an ancient and powerful creature, wise and far-seeing, who is Dean Winchester's last hope for locating Castiel.
Dean's final destination - the White Mountains - were formed many centuries ago when earth was still newly created. They had originated after the great earthquake, from unknown supernatural forces. Some people thought it was the Gods' will, some preferred to think it was the result of the outrage of the forces of the underworld. No one knew the exact answer, but they had agreed on one thing: that it would be better to stay away from the place as far as possible.
Even though Impala is the fastest, strongest horse alive, it takes Dean three days and nights to get to the mountains. It's late in the evening when he finally gets there, stopping at the slope of the mountains, looking up at the silent, gloomy place. This place has a lot of caves, but thanks to his demonic nature it should not be difficult for the green-eyed demon to find Malphas. Demons radiate special energy, auras, which make it easy to find each other, and the might coming out of one of the caves is so powerful that Dean reels in his saddle. Impala neighs anxiously, rearing and snorting.
"It's alright, baby, it's alright!" Dean pats her, trying to calm down the horse. "There's nothing to worry about."
He dismounts Impala and ties the reins to a tree. There are no more doubts left that Malphas is still alive. Dean has never felt such powerful waves of energy, not even from Alastair. Who knows, maybe Sam was right and this creature can kill Dean simply with a single look? The young demon shakes his head, getting rid of bothersome thoughts, and walks up the slope towards the cave from which the energy is emanating.
He takes a good look at his surroundings. A light breeze caresses his face and the young demon inhales the fresh air deeply. The view from here is mesmerizing and Dean can't blame Malphas for choosing to live in peace, closer to nature and the elements, away from blood and torture. He quickly recovers from the momentary trance and resumes walking towards the entrance of the cave.
As soon as Dean walks in, he's met with a shimmering light pouring from every corner. He's inside of an immense cavern with beautiful stalactite and stalagmite structures, which are the source of the mentioned lights. Monotonous dripping sounds reach his hearing and cold air caresses his face, a sign of a possible underground lake deep inside these mountains. As further proof of this, his boots become wet as he keeps moving forward.
"Hello? Malphas, I know you're here!" Dean shouts and looks around, grabbing the hilt of his sword, just in case. "I ca…" He cannot finish the sentence as a powerful air wave hits him, throwing against a limestone wall, knocking all the air out of his lungs. The older Winchester struggles against the invisible force that holds him high and chained to the wall, but all of his efforts are futile.
"I did not come here as your enemy. I… I need your help… please…" Dean wheezes out.
For a moment nothing happens, but then from the depths of the cave, a figure appears. He's wearing a dark, long, hooded cape, which sweeps against the ground. He stops in front of Dean, studying the young demon's face attentively.
"I need your help." Dean feels dizzy from the sheer power of the superior creature. Indeed, Malphas is a mighty demon. The unseen grip disappears and Dean thuds to the ground painfully.
"Who are you?" a raspy voice asks.
"My name is Dean Winchester. I…"
"Hush…" sounds a strange reply. The figure removes its hood, revealing his face. The face is covered in multiple deep wrinkles and a long, white beard, but the most significant feature are his eyes – milky white colored eyes, which are full of fathomless wisdom and experience.
"I've been waiting for you, Dean Winchester," Malphas says quietly. "And for quite a long time," he adds.
"What?" Dean asks, puzzled. "You've been waiting for me? Why? And how did you know that I would come to you?"
Malphas lets out a throaty chuckle. "You are forgetting who I am, my boy."
The young demon blinks. How could he have forgotten that Malphas can see the future? That there are no secrets hidden from him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound offensive," Dean mumbles his apologies.
The host stares at him curiously. "You are a strange creature, Dean Winchester, and I like it. I suppose you came here to ask how to find your mate? I don't think you came because of my looks." The demon says it with a dead serious face, but as the seconds pass his stern face smooths and he begins to chuckle. Dean stops gaping sheepishly and a wide grin spreads on his lips. He decides that he likes Malphas and his weird sense of humor.
"Come with me," the white-eyed demon says and turns around to walk the same way he came from.
They go through many tunnels that are all different from each other in their appearance, size, and shape, but all of them have one thing in common: silence. It's like they're sunk in eternal sleep and no one's ever tried to disturb their peace.
Dean is speechless and awed. This place is cryptic, soaked in magic and unexplained mysteries, strengthened by knowledge, known to only the chosen ones. As they pass a green lake, the younger demon's mind imagines sacred rituals performed in its water. The lights from stalactites illuminate their way as Malphas takes his visitor to his living place.
"Tell me your story," Malphas says. "Of course I already know it, but I want to hear it from you. One is like an open book when they talk about their worries, revealing their true intentions and their deepest desires." He gestures for Dean to sit on a square shaped stone covered with furs. The older demon does the same.
This part of the cave where they are is illuminated with hundreds of candles standing on stone shelves. There is a small table in the middle of the cave with paper, a quill, and an inkpot on it. A tall wooden chair stands nearby the table.
Dean nods and begins: "I come from Alastair's fortress. I am one of his warriors. It happened that I fell in love with a human and we became mates. Because of my foolish pride and arrogance, Alastair found out about us and captured us both. He tortured me for hours, making Castiel witness all of it. As Alastair could not break our bond, he did something horrible to him, which I still cannot understand. There was a dark, howling hole that devoured my human. I no longer hear Castiel's thoughts, but I know he's alive, because I'm still breathing." Dean speaks feverishly, rubbing his forehead. Maybe his words do not make much sense.
"I suppose Alastair and Azazel are dead and the fortress burned down?" Malphas quirks his brow.
The older Winchester nods. "Yes. Alastair would not tell me what he did to Castiel and I killed him. That's why I'm here. You are my only hope. There has to be a way to find out what happened to my lover." The younger demon's eyes stare at the host pleadingly.
Malphas sighs. His guest is different from other demons. His suffering is pure and sincere, enriched with desperation. Maybe it's the merit of his human lover? It has to be, as he can see a raging fire in the younger demon's soul, a desire to find his mate, no matter what the cost.
"Did he use any special attributes while performing the ritual?" Malphas combs through his beard with his fingers.
Dean unbuttons his shirt and unlocks Alastair's amulet from his neck, giving it to the older demon.
Malphas smiles as he sees the amulet. He recognizes it and its purpose. "Of course he would use this. It's an amulet used to open the portals between various worlds and dimensions. It opens the gates in space and time."
"Wait. So, does that mean that… that Alastair sent Castiel to a different world?" Dean swallows hard.
"I'm afraid so, my young friend. There are thousands of worlds and he's in one of them."
Dean's knuckles turn white and a cold sweat starts to cover his back. A thousand worlds? How are they going to find out which world Castiel was sent to? Is it even possible?
Malphas senses his thoughts and bitterness and clears his throat. "I know what you're thinking. As for the answer to your question, yes, it is possible to find out your lover's whereabouts, but I must warn you it will be very painful for you. Are you ready for it?"
"Yes!" Dean exclaims without hesitation. "I'll do whatever I have to. What should I do? Tell me!"
The host lets out a small chuckle. "You will not have to do much. I will do everything."
"What are you going to do? Is there a special ritual? How are we going to find out about Castiel's location?" Dean asks anxiously.
"Patience, my boy, patience." Malphas pats his shoulder amicably. "We need to form a circle from the candles first."
"Is this really necessary?" Dean asks, puzzled. He is sitting in Malphas' chair, with his hands and legs tied tightly to it.
"Trust me, it is. The pain will be unbearable and you must be tied up well, as you should not move during the process. Are the ropes strong enough?" The host fusses behind Dean's back.
"Yeah, I think they are." The younger demon struggles and tries to move his hands that are tied to the armrests, but can't move them.
"Good."
"So, you are saying that you will enter my mind and search for the memories of Alastair sending Castiel to the other world, right?" Dean cranes his neck to look at the old demon.
"You're not quite right." Malphas shakes his head. "I will enter Alastair's mind through you. It takes a lot of energy and concentration. Not everyone can do it. Now, are you ready? Have you changed your mind?"
"No! Do it!" Dean exclaims, licking his lips.
"Alright. Here, put this into your mouth and bite down on it when the pain becomes unbearable, and remember you must not move." Malphas is holding Dean's leather belt, waiting for the younger demon to open his mouth.
"Great," Dean mumbles, but obeys. He holds it firmly with his teeth, feeling a salty taste of leather.
"Let us begin," Malphas whispers and stands behind Dean, touching the older Winchester's temples with his fingers.
The older demon begins to sing an incantation in a language Dean doesn't recognize, which is strange, considering that the green-eyed demon knows every existing language. Well, at least he thought he knew 'til this moment.
The flames from the candles blaze, reaching towards the ceiling of the cave, forming a fire wall around the two men.
The next few minutes are full of excruciating pain for Dean. It feels like thousands of knives are stabbing his brain, cutting it into pieces. It's worse than Alastair's torture and Dean bites down on his leather belt with all his strength. There are voices in his head, blurred faces and muffled sounds, dark shadows and vague outlines of objects. All of this mixed with Malphas' cryptic incantation sends Dean's mind into a spiraling haze, accompanied with insufferable pain and desperation, which are getting worse with each second.
Dean's fingers twitch and curl up into claws, his shirt is soaked in cold sweat, the veins on his neck and forehead stand out as his breathing gets labored. Another wave of pain crashes down on him and the older Winchester howls. His eyes are wide open as his throat tries to rip itself open. Saliva stretches from the corner of his mouth as his teeth are sunk deep into the belt. He's gathering all of his willpower to keep from moving.
"Got it…"
Malphas' sudden statement is like a gift from the Gods. All the pain and suffering vanishes and Dean's head hangs loose on his chest. He barely has the strength to spit out his belt.
It seems that the ritual has taken a lot of Malphas' energy too, as the demon moves from behind Dean's back slowly and with difficulty. He goes to the table and returns with a glass full of water.
"Here, drink this." The host puts the glass against Dean's lips and the younger demon drinks the liquid greedily.
"Did… did you find where he sent Castiel?" Dean rasps as Malphas is untying his hands.
The old demon nods. "You should rest a little. It took a lot of your energy too."
"I don't have time for that," Dean objects. "Please, tell me everything and then I will go."
"Has anyone ever told you that impatience is one of your demerits?" Malphas smirks. "You need to work on that. Besides, it's been a very long time since I've seen anyone of my kind and I would like to have a short conversation with you before you go. This is the least you can do for me. I am sure you would not turn down an old demon's offer to share his poor meal with you, would you?"
Dean opens and closes his mouth several times, nothing coming out of it. Suddenly he feels like an asshole. Malphas simply could have chosen not to help him, but instead he did and he's only asking for a few minutes spent together.
"Um… yes… yes, sure. I'm sorry," he mutters apologetically.
"Great." The old demon smiles. "Please take a seat, my young friend. I have some good wine, which I kept especially for your visit."
"I appreciate your hospitality," Dean smiles and takes a seat at the table. Malphas puts two plates and mugs on the table, along with some cheese, bread, and smoked meat.
Watching him fussing around, Dean's heart fills with warmth and hope. He knows that he will see the love of his life soon and that there will be nothing that can stop him on his mission.