I hoped I would be finished with the story before September 23 but I don't think I will be. Happy Reading.
Chapter 37
Thirty pieces of silver
Bobby and Dean watched, horrified and helpless, as Cas brought the spear down on Velvet.
"Enough Castiel," a voice spoke as a hand grabbed the descending arm. "You're not going to kill her."
He struggled against the hold, still trying to stab her. Suddenly the spear was out of his hand and another person hand held his other arm.
"Release them brother and I will explain. I will explain everything," the man with curly black hair spoke to Cas as if he were a child. "Castiel, release them." The voice was firm and brooked no argument.
Time seemed to still as they all waited for a response. Dean found he was able to move his body again. He wished he had one of the angel blades from the back of the Impala. Cas was now unpredictable and the blade was the only defense they had, the only way Dean could kill him if necessary.
Sam had already regained consciousness and was holding a hand to his head. Bobby had a sawed off shotgun aimed at Cas and Dean was picking himself off the floor. Tension, anger and surprise filled the air as they stared at the struggling angel and the strangers.
The black haired man turned his head toward Dean and said, "See to her Dean Winchester. We will deal with him."
He looked at them with a weary eye. Even though they had saved Velvet, he didn't trust them. Dean hurried to Velvet. She was white as a sheet and trembling from fear. She stared at Cas with sad confused eyes and tears coursed down her cheeks. Kneeling beside her, he wiped at the wetness on her cheeks. "Everything will be okay now Velvet. You're safe."
Shaking her head, She turned her eyes to him and in a voice wrought with disbelief whispered, "He tried to kill me Dean. Why? What have I done?" She shuddered. "There's something wrong with me. You know there is because this proves it." She threw her arms around him and wailed. Dean knew she was scared but he knew that she was feeling something worse - betrayal. Helping her to her feet, she sagged against him. Picking her up, he carried her to the bed that now served as a couch. He settled her on his lap because she refused to turn him loose. "Hey Sammy. You okay?"
Sam nodded and stood, leaning on the wall for support. He pulled out a weapon, ready to use it if Cas tried something else.
Dean rubbed her back but she continued to sob, her face buried in his neck. This was a freaking disaster. He couldn't believe what his friend had tried to do. The fact that Velvet and Cas being intimate only made it worse. He knew she trusted the angel with her life and at one time had protected her fiercely.
Cas continued to look at Velvet with hatred in his eyes. Dean had never seen him so cold and driven. "What the hell is going on Cas? Have you lost your mind?" He directed the question to the angel. This wasn't like his friend at all.
But Cas didn't answer back. He made a half hearted effort to break the grip he was in but he remained focused on the sobbing figure. The man and woman holding his arms had a firm grip but he was ignoring them. Sympathy was plain on their faces as they looked at her.
"Velvet, I know you have had a shock but everything will be well, I promise." The woman who had Cas's other arm spoke directly to her.
"We have come to help you but first we must help Castiel. Sam, we require your assistance. Dean, we may also need your help." The darker angel ordered.
"Wait one damn minute," Bobby barked as he maneuvered around the desk till he was beside Sam. "You're in my house and nobody orders anybody without my say so. Dean asked you a question. Who are you and what the hell is going on?" His hand never wavered from the shotgun.
Sighing the man said, "My name is Barchiel. I am an angel as is my companion, Magdalena. Please, we must tend to Castiel and I swear I will answer all your questions."
Dean looked doubtful but considered how Cas was acting, he was willing to give it a try. Easing her onto the bed, he stood. "Bobby take care of her." Turning to the trio of angels, he asked, "What do you need?"
Barchiel nodded and spoke. "Next room." The two angels dragged the struggling Cas into Bobby's kitchen, Sam and Dean following behind.
Bobby wheeled himself to the side of the bed where Velvet sat hunched over, face buried in her hands. He patted her shoulder in an awkward manner, feeling helpless because he didn't know what to do or say but he tried. "It's okay girl. The boys will fix it."
"Clear the table and get his shirt off." Bachiel ordered. He couldn't imagine how things would have turned out if they had arrived a few seconds later.
Dean took everything off the table and threw it on the floor. Sam helped Magdalena undress Cas so he only had on his pants and shoes. He didn't cease attempting to break away and his eyes continued to glare toward where Velvet was. The two angels then pushed him face down on the table.
Sam and Dean exchanged looks but Sam spoke first. "What are you going to do?"
The female angel said, "Sam, I need a knife and a cloth." When he hesitated, she spoke again. "Please, we have to help him. I know you don't have any reason to but you have to trust us." Her eyes pleaded her case and Sam nodded his head, she said, "Dean, hold his head."
Sam turned and began gathering what she wanted while Dean held Cas's head down. "Is he sick, possessed or what? He's acting crazy."
Sam reappeared with towels and a knife. "I need you to hold his arm Sam. Don't let go." She took the towel and laid it on Castiel's back. The knife moved toward the center of his back but slightly to the left beside his backbone. With a slow, precise movement she made a two inch incision and laid the bloodied knife on the towel while using the corner to wipe at the blood.
Sam and Dean's eyes widened as she started digging around inside of the cut. Stopping, she pulled out a round object and he ceased his struggling. "Got it." She walked to the sink while Barchiel began wiping the wound with the towel.
Cas lay heaving as if each breath was his first. His eyes closed and the fury that had been so apparent to everyone was gone. His face now showed exhaustion and his body was limp.
Laying a hand over it, Barchiel healed the opening in Cas's flesh. "It's done. He'll be himself now."
"What's that she pulled from his back?" Sam asked.
"This," she held up the round silver object, "is a Judas coin."
Cas was trying to stand up. "I feel strange." Dean helped him up and Sam handed him his clothes. "What happened?"
Sam pulled out a chair and pushed him into it. "You tried to kill Velvet, that's what happened."
"I was afraid this would happen. Is she alright?" Cas asked as finished buttoning his shirt. Did I...Did I hurt her?" When Sam shook his head, he let out a long breath. He needed to see her, needed to touch her. Damn Zachariah for doing this to him!
Dean stood against the counter, arms crossed. "Physically she's fine but I'm not so sure about her mental state. Geez Cas, you tried to stab her through the heart! She's upset. What the heck possessed you to do that?"
"Zachariah." Barchiel interjected. "He's behind this. As soon as I discovered what he was doing I got here as fast as I could."
"That douchebag is behind this? He is so dead." Dean was pissed.
Cas stood. "I need to see her." His actions had almost killed the woman he loved. What had Zachariah done to him? The last thing he remembered was telling him no.
"Let us return to the other room. Velvet also needs to hear what is happening." The lovely female angel spoke. "Castiel? How are you feeling?"
"Better," he answered as he walked into the study. He felt a stab of pain in his heart when he saw her. Bobby was sitting near her and pointed the shotgun at him when he entered.
"That isn't necessary Bobby. I won't try to harm her again." He thought she started to cry harder. Her face was hidden in her hands and her shoulders slumped in defeat. He feared this had broken her spirit. Guilt washed over him in waves.
Bobby didn't look so sure. "Boy, you better start explaining before I feel you full of lead. Yeah, I know it won't hurt you but it'll make me feel better."
Sam went to sit beside her. "Velvet, do you remember the angel Zachariah we told you about?" When she gave a slight nod, he continued. "It seems he had something to do with this. We have someone here that is going to explain everything."
She didn't respond.
"Do you trust us?" He attempted to gain her attention again.
She nodded and looked up at him. "You know I do." Her gaze slid to Cas and everyone saw defeat in her eyes. "It's him I don't trust."
"Velvet, I am sorry. I didn't know what I was doing." He held out his hands in apology.
She looked away, fascinated by the design on the wallpaper.
"I'm sorry." He apologized again.
She turned her gaze back to him and this time she tried to be angry. "Fuck you Cas. I think I can speak for Bobby on this. You're not welcome here anymore." She looked at Bobby and asked," Are there spells or something we can do to keep his sorry ass out?"
"I think we can come up with something." Bobby knew there were Enochian sigils that barred angels and he would happily let them paint the necessary symbols on the house. "What she said."
She then started sobbing even harder than before. Everyone remained where they were, remaining quiet as she cried out her fear and hurt. They all knew she needed it.
"Velvet," The dark haired man spoke in a gentle tone. "My name is Barchiel and this is Magdalena. We are angels of the Lord and we have come to help."
"Great. Two more assholes." She looked at Cas. "What? Couldn't get the job done by yourself so you called for reinforcements?"
His eyes widened into the trademark puppy dog look. "No. I swear little one, I would never cause you harm."
"Whatever," was her only answer. Her heart was already broken, again.
Dean watched the exchange. It this situation wasn't so serious, he would have laughed. However, he was enjoying how Velvet was handling the angels. She was making the angel squirm and he didn't blame her. Cas was looking very guilty and very uncomfortable. "You two. Start explaining." He took a seat and three angels pulled chairs from the kitchen.
Magdalena went first. Holding up the silver object she pulled from Cas's back, she spoke. "This is a Judas coin."
"I've never heard of such a thing." Cas stared at the shiny thing.
"Few angels know of their existence." Seeing the confusion on everyone's face, she continued. "Thousands of years ago a man, a disciple named Judas, betrayed the Messiah for thirty-one pieces of silver."
"Hold up there. The Bible says thirty pieces of silver." Bobby insisted.
"The Bible is correct Robert but still wrong. Officials had a powerful demon among them named Dalomon. He cast a powerful spell over a chest of silver coins. This spell was a spell of compulsion. When inserted under the skin, the victim cannot control himself. He or she will follow the will of their controller. Judas betrayed Christ because he was compelled to, not because he wanted to. He was also compelled him hang himself. Dalomon then removed the coin and retrieved the thirty pieces." She handed the coin to Barchiel. "I'm afraid we don't know the full extent of the curse and how else the coins might be used. Perhaps nothing more than compulsion."
"Is that what happened to Cas?" Sam asked, his arm around Velvet, her head resting against his shoulder. She still sniffled and he felt so sorry for her. He knew how much she loved Cas and for him to do this had hurt her deeply.
"Yes. Zachariah did this to him. We have had the coins for 2,000 years but of the few angels that know of their existence, he's one of them." Barchiel explained.
"Are there more of the coins?" Dean didn't like the sound of it.
"Oh yes. There are hundreds but they are safely hidden as I moved them myself. Zachariah stole only one so it would take a caretaker a while to miss it. Fortunately, a caretaker decided to count the coins soon after he took it," he continued his explanation.
Velvet felt her heart lighten a little. "So he really didn't want to kill me?" She remembered the hate in his eyes. Deep inside she had known it wasn't really the man she loved. She lifted her head.
"No, he did not. He might not even remember but then again perhaps he does. A Judas coin has never been used to control an angel." Barchiel looked at Cas who was now engrossed in his shoes. "Ah, he does remember."
"I'm sorry Velvet. I'm sorry. I would never hurt you but I couldn't stop. I felt possessed." He never looked up. "I could only focus on words 'kill her' but I remember." He hung his head and covered his face with his hands. "I remember you begging me to kill you quickly." He looked at his superior. "You should kill me now. Kill me with my own blade."
"No!" They all shouted and he lifted his head.
Barchiel gave Cas a sympathetic look. "This was not your fault. Zachariah used you because he knows you could get close without raising suspicion." Then his face showed irritation. "I also suspect he knew how much it would hurt once you realized you had murdered her."
"Other angels could have done the same thing. It had to be more than that." Sam spoke as he rubbed her back. She was calm now and listening intently.
Magdalena gave Sam a dazzling smile. "He's jealous of Castiel. Always has been. Although I don't think he realized the full extent of the relationship between Velvet and our little brother. Our outrageously handsome angel here," she stroked Castiel's hair in a soothing gesture, "has done what few angels have done before. He's fallen, he's made a choice and he's happy with that for the most part. When we fall, sometimes we become human and are reborn. If we are killed immediately. Those that aren't reborn or killed turn to evil and are corrupted. He took neither path. Castiel knows what it's like to love humans. While his feelings for you and Dean are different than those he has for Velvet, he has developed them. He wasn't commanded or coerced. Our father commanded us to love and minister to humans and those that didn't well let's just say Lucifer and leave it at that."
Velvet studied her beloved angel. She felt sorry for him. He had been enslaved by Zachariah to do his dirty work. He was hurting because of her, because of what he had done. She loved him and now she needed to touch him. She needed to help him. Taking a deep breath, she got to her feet and crossed the room to where he was sitting. She glared at Magdalena who promptly removed her hand from his hair. Placing her own hand on his head, she said, "Cas." When he didn't look at her, she moved to stand between his legs. "Castiel. Look at me." She knew everyone was watching but she didn't care.
He raised his head and looked at her face wet with tears.
"I know you couldn't control what you were doing. I forgive you." She placed her hands on either side of his face and placed a kiss on top of his head. "I forgive you. Now please cheer up. It's depressing Dean." She smiled as she ruffled his hair.
That's when Dean saw the glow. "What the hell?" Velvet was surrounded by a faint white glow and from the words coming from Bobby and Sam, they could see it too. Then it disappeared as she stepped away from him.
Sam asked, "How do you feel Cas?"
He blinked and replied, "I feel redeemed." She had done this. He knew there was something special about her and he loved her more than ever.
"She's wonderful isn't she?" Barchiel was smiling like a proud father.
Magdalena also smiled. "She is truly remarkable."
"Wha...What is she? Is she an angel?" Dean stumbled over his words.
Beautiful chocolate colored eyes turned to him and and she said, "Not an angel pretty boy. Something better."