CHAPTER 15

As Castiel began to regain consciousness Chuck quickly called for Amara to join them. He wanted to be sure that there was enough power in the dungeon to take control of Castiel if he couldn't control what he had become. Chuck did not want to cage another son.

When Amara appeared the first thing, she noticed was the worry on her brothers face.

"What is wrong Brother" she asked as she stepped up to him. All Chuck could do was give her a heavy sigh and turned to look at the Fallen Angel now one of two Avenging Angels. As Amara followed Chuck's gaze her eyes widened at the sight before her. Sitting in the Chair strapped in like it would hold him once he was fully conscious was Castiel. Amara snapped her fingers and a jar of Holy Oil appeared. She quickly made a ring around the Angel. She was about to light it with another snap of her fingers when Chuck stopped her.

"No not yet. Let's see how he is before you lite it up."

"Brother, you know how Lucifer was before he could control the Avenging Angel within" Amara said with sorrow and concern in her voice.

Chuck did know. He remembered how it took him and three other Archangels to get Lucifer into the cage. Lucifer had both the mind and strength of an Archangel and an Avenging Angel (double the power).

"But Castiel has an advantage that Lucifer did not." Chuck said, hope evident in his voice as he looked from Lucifer to Castiel.

There was more groaning from Castiel and the room was silent for a moment. He was trying to fight the chains he was in though he was not fully conscious. He settled once again and there was an audible sigh of relief from the five other occupants in the dungeon.

"And what advantage would that be brother?" Amara demanded.

Lucifer was the one to speak as he looked over to his chained brother.

"When I underwent the change, I had nothing but Hate in my mind, body, and Soul, what little soul I had anyways." He chuckled for a moment as he remembered why Chuck stopped making his Sons and Daughters without souls. Castiel was the exception for some reason. He came off the assembly line with a crack in his chassis. He learned and evolved. Lucifer continued

"Castiel fell and was befriended by the Winchesters. They showed him friendship and love and all the other stuff in between." He looked at Chuck while continuing. "While my brother has known hate, the Winchesters taught him how to let go of it."

Amara was still unsure. She remembered torturing Castiel while Lucifer possessed his vessel. "Why didn't he change while you possessed his vessel?"

Lucifer thought for a moment before he finally said "It was Me not Castiel. I had him subdued in his mind and I was saving the other Angel in me to take on Dad and whoever he sent at me."

"Enough! It doesn't matter." Rowena had heard enough and her Scottish accent was trembling with the sorrow and fear she had for the Angel that she had learn to call family.

It was then that Castiel decided to fully awake. He struggled against the chains that bound him to the chair.

"What is this? Why am I in shackles?" He demanded even as pain showed on his face.

"Son" Chuck whispered "do you know what happened?"

Castiel was confused shaking his head he said "The last thing I remember was standing at the Winchester's headstone and then something hit me."

"I found you laying there and called Jack and Chuck to help move you." Rowena said.

Chuck and Lucifer moved so they both were in front of Castiel outside the Holy Oil circle.

"Castiel, you need to be calm, and see what we are seeing." Chuck then Snapped his fingers and a full-length mirror appeared but it was turned away from Castiel.

Chuck nodded at Rowena and she entered the circle with the key to the locks that Castiel was bound with. As she reached to unlock his hands Chuck said "Just his legs for now."

Rowena gave him a look that could put anyone in there grave but did as he asked and only took the chains from him ankles. As she stood back up, she whispered "I am so sorry" in his ear.

"It is ok Rowena, I am sure you did all you could." He kissed her cheek. "We have been friends long enough to know that you would never let this happen without good reason."

He then looked at Chuck and waited as he slowly turned the mirror around.

His breathing stopped as he took in his reflection. It was not him. The Angel in the mirror may have had his vessel but it was not him. Castiel turned away still not breathing.

Rowena went to him and put her hands on his cheeks and whispered "Breath."

Castiel looked at the mirror again. He saw that his wings were no longer the color of a raven's wings, dark to the point of being black. His hair while still almost as dark was now gray at the temples. And his eyes were a cold and unforgiving gray, no longer the blue he was created with.

As he looked at the faces that stood before him only Rowena and Jack seemed unafraid.

"WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME?" Castiel yelled.