Chapter 43: One step closer part 1

Michael's POV

Standing at the edge of the mountain ledge, Michael took a few minutes to savour the cold, crisp silence of the alien surroundings. Looking down at his vessels' body, he could see the early stages of deconstruction. She was strong, but would never replace his sword. But at least she would last long enough, or so he hoped! Thoughts of his sword made him physically and mentally ache. Despite the logic at the time, and it had made great strategic sense, Michael couldn't help but wish he had been able to keep his sword, but he knew giving Dean up had tactically been the right thing to do.

He had needed peace and quiet internally in order to do what he had to do. Unfortunately, Dean 'bloody' Winchester had been a constant source of distraction. A distraction that was too costly to ignore, and as such, the archangel had decided to deal with. It was a bold and risky move to give up his true vessel but he knew that with constant grinding Dean down psychologically, and a built in back door, when the time would come he would be able to walk back into his vessel with little to no resistance. The human's resolve would have broken and the way would be clear for Michael to fully tap into the hunter's all powerful soul.

Thoughts of the soul sent a painful ecstasy throughout his entire essence. Oh how he missed having a connection to Dean's very essence. It had been a gross understatement when Castiel had remarked how bright Dean Winchester's soul burned. Dean's soul beamed so strongly and with it, there was unlimited energy. The soul was perfect. The body was perfect. The only problem was the human's resolve, but Michael had been working on that and he knew that the hunter's time with the vampires was destroying that bit by bit. All he had to do was wait and when the time came, the way would be clear.

Done with thinking about his sword, Michael turned his thoughts and attention to the practical things that he could control – namely the Fischer Clan. As he stood on the ledge, he recalled how he had lost contact with the Clan Grand Master when they passed by through the ring of warding that acted as the first line of defence around the Volkov Estate.

The last communication with the Fischer Grand Master had been an hour or so ago, which meant discussions would be starting later that evening, discussions that could lead to many different outcomes depending on how things played out. Though, he was never one to leave things to chance, it was his constant belt and braces approach to life that had him standing on a ledge, located somewhere in the Rockies, overlooking the entrance to where a very powerful group of witches lived.

To a normal human hiker, the mountain face was barren, jagged and dangerous, but to the well trained eyes of a heavenly entity, it was a façade that homed the entrance to the Order's global headquarters and it was the location of his target – the Grand High Priestess of the Order, Astra.

Michael had come across her name in his last world, but like many things back in the early days, he had paid little to no attention to witches. The Order was of human and demon construct and just one more insignificant irritant that needed squashed at the time. As he recalled, he couldn't get over the irony as that job had fallen to his universe's version of Castiel. Smirking as he remembered receiving feedback on how the seraph had taken care of things. The word obliterated sprang to mind.

Shaking his head, Michael's attention returned to the present and to the cave entrance. Reaching out with his mind he could feel the wards and the spell work that held the Order's defences in place. Analysing the entire area, the archangel registered that it would take a little time to break through, but he would succeed. The question was, how could he ensure that he broke through quickly enough to locate and capture his true target?

Giving his puzzle further thought, he decided brute force and ignorance was the way to go, but it would be accompanied with spell work of his own. In particular, Michael began to rise from the ground until he was hovering about 15 foot up and away from the ledge. Floating in mid air, he raised his hands and began to chant an ancient Enochian jamming spell. The spell was simple, but effective as his powers spread out and covered the entire mountain area.

Content that there was nothing that could get in or out of the Order's headquarters, Michael floated across the remaining space towards the front of the cave and began to throw bolts of power at each of the wardings. Within minutes the first set of sigils had been destroyed and the way was open for him to proceed deeper into the mountain.

He had no sooner crossed over the entrance when alarm bells echoed through the tunnel. Smiling as he imagined how every human/witch was currently panicking and reaching for any type of weapon. Little did they know how useless their toys were and how hopeless their situation actually was.

The first attack came from deeper down the tunnel as a huge male witch began to hurl large spears towards the archangel. Smirking Michael reached out with his hand and with a flick of his wrist the attack was thwarted. The large man began to run towards the single woman standing in the tunnel, seemingly unaware of what enemy stood before him. Laughing loudly Michael positioned his vessel into a fighting stance, and awaited the first physical strike.

The punch came directly at his vessel's head as the fist landed squarely on the jaw line. If Michael had not been present, the human's neck would have snapped at the sheer force of the punch. As Michael was present, the vessel didn't flinch an inch. It was then that the large witch registered what, or more likely who, they were dealing with, but by then it was too late as Michael raised his left hand and with his index finger tapped his attackers head and in an instant the witch disintegrated.

The moments after that went by in a blare as he proceeded deeper into the cave system and in little to no time he had entered into the inner sanctum. Gone were the tunnel walls, sparsely lit with torches, now replaced with solid walls, and a building or infrastructure that was kitted out with every creature comfort, magic could create.

Walls were gleaming with gold picture frames and it was clear the building was eons old and owned by a very powerful and rich organisation.. Of course, none of that currently mattered to the archangel who continued to make his way towards his quarry.

The resistance he encountered was admirable as he selected different types of deaths for those he encountered along the way. Some creatures he obliterated, some he disintegrated but on the rare occasion of boredom he decided to use his bare hands. In fact, by the time he reached the central chamber he was physically ripping apart each witch he came across. He removed the heads of some and he punched a hole through the chest cavity of others, pausing only to lift out and examine each heart.

By the time he opened the door and had located Astra, his vessel was dripping in blood from head to toe. Smiling as he stepped into the room he could see the remnants of a number of failed spells. It was clear that the High Witch had been in the process of trying to escape. Shaking his head from side to side he stepped a little closer.

"Now, now, now! My dear old witch, I see you're trying to escape. For being someone that's meant to be all seeing and all knowing, you would think you would have worked out who I was and realised that resistance and escape were futile." Michael scanned the room as he moved deeper into the chamber. It was clear to him that there was no weapons that could do any significant damage to him, even in this flimsy vessel, but he had learned that when dealing with witches he should leave nothing to chance. And the witch in front of him, may have looked old and weak but she was still dangerous and should never be underestimated.

"I know who you are. I also know from your aura that you're unnatural and should never exist in this realm. You are breaking so many laws and your very presence will have severe consequences for our universe. …. You're an abomination and you're upsetting the natural order." Michael couldn't help but be impressed by her words. He was debating whether she was smart, brave or just plain suicidal.

"Words is all you have old crone. But we both know why I'm here. Don't we?"

Stepping back and obviously looking for anything that could give her the edge, Astra responded, "Considering your entrance, I can imagine you're none too happy with what I did to your original 'meat' container."

Edging closer to the High Priestess, Michael took some time to look the witch up and down, before speaking. "You interfered in things that was none of your business and your interference has caused me many problems. Soooo, I'm going to get directly to the point, as time is of the essence. … I want to know exactly what. You. Did. To. Dean. Winchester?" As he spoke the last few words his hands found their way to tapping out each word on her chest.

Standing silently, the High Priestess looked as if she was considering all her options. After a few uncomfortable moments she replied. "How do I know that you'll spare me and what's left of my coven if I tell you?"

"You're in no position to bargain, WITCH! Answer the question, WHAT DID YOU DO TO DEAN WINCHESTER?"

Michael's tone and body language left Astra under no illusion as to what the consequences would be if she remained silent. As he watched the old witch he could tell that she was ready to fold.

"I have no love for the vampires, though I, and my coven, do well from the arrangement with the undead, BUT the situation has changed and I must think about my future, and in this case, my immediate future. … …. If I tell you, I need assurance that you will not kill me!"

"With all my skills of foresight, I can assure you High Priestess, that I will not kill you. So, take that as my word that you will walk out of here in one piece. Now speak and tell me everything… and I mean everything."

The archangel stood attentively as he listened to Astra recall how she had been summoned to the Volkov mansion. She laboured on how she had been ordered to examine the elder Winchester as well as listen to Dean's incessant barbs of 'octogenarian Galadriel'. But it was when she described how the ancient vampire had been keen to bind the human's soul. Interrupting her story, he asked, "Why would Volkov want to be so tightly connected to the human?"

Slightly shaking and obviously unsure of how the archangel would react, she replied, "I honestly don't know. All I know is that Viktor was obsessed with the human. More obsessed than I've seen him be about anything in the last 500 years. Everyone knew he wanted the hunter, but I could tell that he physically liked the look of Winchester, but he seemed adamant that he wanted a more secure connection. That's why he requested tripartite magic."

The witch continued to explain the three rituals that she carried out on his vessel. The first ritual of keeping Dean young made sense to Michael as he could see the appeal to keeping Winchester young and beautiful. Even he could see how remarkably pretty his sword truly was. Then his attention peaked as she mentioned 'singular connexion'.

"By creating the singular connexion, Viktor is able to create such a link to the human that will slowly change the special child over time. In no time, Dean's soul will be so interwoven with Viktor's that he'll completely merge, with the vampire as the dominant presence, but with access to all that energy. Of course, both Dean and Viktor will physically exist as two separate bodies, but their essence or souls will be one, with the human powerless to do nothing other than obey. In short, everything that makes Dean Winchester, Dean Winchester will Cease. To. Exist."

He nearly missed her explanation about the need for the third spell as he tried to process what the implication of this bonding would be to his plans. As his mind analysed each possible scenario, Michael couldn't find any way of removing the connexion without upsetting Volkov and remove the spell he must if he was to be able to retake Dean as a vessel and access the infinite soul's power. In fact, the spell had all but completely severed his own grace based bond he had established within the elder Winchester. It had been his back up plan, his backdoor. A way to sneak back in when the time was right. None of that mattered now, thanks to the singular connexion.

It was then that his angelic senses processed Astra's wording about the third spell. "Explain the third spell again."

Unsure as to Michael's interest she hesitantly began. "Given the implications of the connexion, it was important to dim the child's blood call."

"What do you mean… blood call?" Michael moved closer as he spoke.

Taking a quiet step backwards, she replied, "Ever since arriving Winchester's blood has been like catnip to vamps. He's like a siren, only he doesn't deliberately call out and lure vamps to their death. It's not helped that his bloods absolutely intoxicating, even for us witches… emmm I mean every supernatural creature seems to be attracted to Winchester. Surely you've felt it yourself?"

Her question disturbed Michael for a number of reasons, but as he thought on his answer he came to the realisation that he couldn't disagree. Thinking back he recalled how he had sensed a presence in his other world and that was long before he realised that his true vessel was living and walking around freely in his original universe.

He smirked as he remembered how he had felt when he first heard about Dean Winchester. It had been when he had been shifting through his little brother, Lucifer's memories. This alternative version of his brother had endless information about the two perfect vessels - Sam and Dean Winchester. It was the very everything he had fought and conquered for far behind him. Then it struck him. He had given up being the ultimate ruler of one world in order to find his sword.

Shaking himself out of his own thoughts he refocused on the conversation just as Astra had started to discuss the warning she had given Viktor. "…. As I told the Grand Master, all magic has side effects and when you use tripartite magic you should expect there to be significant side effects."

"Hhmmph… side effects? I know of what you speak. I believe you're referring to how Viktor will always be able to sense were MY vessel always is and that no magic or NO one will be able to hide Dean from the vampire.

Intrigued by Michael's sudden willingness to share, Astra asked. "You know I felt your connection, just before we began the second ritual. Tell me archangel, what did it feel like when the link was severed?"

Michael could tell from her tone that the High Priestess had no malice in what she was asking, more a professional interest. So he answered her as he knew there was no danger to her knowing the information. "The link was strong with my sword right up until you forged the singular connexion. It was right at that point that you melded their souls that I felt excruciating pain. It was like having part of my grace ripped out of me. It's a pain I am looking forward to paying back ten fold to Volkov, …."

"Oh, I would be careful if I were you about what you do to Viktor. … Those side effects I was talking about come into play." Michael could tell that Astra was enjoying the conversation a little too much for his own liking. Feeling pissed at her behaviour he reached out with his mind and began to squeeze her soul. The effect was immediate as she howled and screeched in agony.

Falling onto her knees she bent over in a feeble attempt to try and minimalise the pain. Feeling that one minute was enough time to have made his point, Michael eased back. "Now, explain hag!"

Fighting to get back some sort of control, she gasped before she responded. "Viktor is the dominant and over time the connexion will complete. In fact, I would say there isn't much time left until Dean surrenders completely to Volkov and when that happens the connexion seals itself and cannot be undone. …. Not EVER! It must vex you greatly to know that whilst the vampire is connected to your container, you can never take him back? And if you kill one you will kill both, so you see you won't ever be able to take him back alive."

"True, but we both know that it's not permanent. There's still time to overturn the magic and take what's mine back. And whilst the connexion is incomplete, anything is possible and everything's in play."

"You know, I feel sorry for that special child. …. Everyone wants a piece of him and you're no different from Viktor. I know you try and give off an air of superiority as if this is truly a chore and beneath you, but deep down I sense that you and Viktor have an unhealthy obsession with the older Winchester, don't you?"

Michael didn't like the questioning, but hidden within him, he knew he couldn't disagree as he would have been fooling no one, except himself. After all, he had given up his other world. He had gambled and won when he made a deal with this universe's Lucifer. It had paid off, but it had been at the cost of none of his forces making it through the portal to this world. But, he had not been deterred. In fact, it was his obsession with controlling the vessel that had led to his decision to temporary vacate his sword. It had been a high risk strategy but he had hoped to mentally break the human.

As if reading his mind, Astra continued. "Viktor tells me that Winchester is close to breaking and that he can feel the connexion getting stronger each day and with that, Volkov's powers are growing. Surely you must fear the vampire? After all, he has access to the most powerful soul that's ever been created. If the connexion is completed, Volkov will be able to destroy you, won't he?"

Sensing that she was playing for time, he decided it was time to end the endless monologing. He needed to move this shitshow along. "Enough! Tell me how I reverse the spell and don't lie to me. I'll know if you do." As he barked out his demands the witch managed to put some distance between them. In a blink of an eye she had a strange sigil drawn in blood on the palm of her hand.

Rising her hand, palm faced outward and flat to show the sigil, she uttered a few words. At first Michael felt a gentle pressure against his chest. That pressure increased as Astra's continued to chant. Something was happening to him and he wasn't sure what it was, never name what to do about it.

Eyes wide and frowning in confusion towards the High Priestess he gasped. "What's this heathen magic you practice?... You cannot win against me."

With building confidence, Astra stepped closer to the archangel. Looking around her, from side to side. "You know, you're right you pompous, self righteous piece of shit, but that doesn't mean I won't hurt you on my way out. You see, even with all this arrogance, you don't realise that us mere mortals can actually do some damage. … I guess that's your weakness. You think you're invincible, but I have knowledge and a special ingredient."

Confused by her words, he decided to look closer as he knew there was something crucial that he was missing. Then it hit him as he sniffed the air. The answer was right in front of him, written in blood. Raising his eyes to look directly at Astra he spoke. "where did you get his blood?"

Smirking she replied. "Let's just say that Winchester's been paying for a lot recently, including the very spell work that has him losing his own being." She watched as Michael digested that little piece of information before she continued. "As much as I wanted to take payment from tapping that sweet ass of his, I settled on something much more valuable….. at least three vials of his blood and I must say I have been able to do so much with it."

Pressing back against the forcefield, he could already feel her magic beginning to fail. Playing for time he asked, "His blood is unique, but do you know WHY it's unique?"

"Oh please! We both know what you're doing and I also know it's because of his soul. Does it really matter why?"

Smiling as he realised something, he edged a little closer. "That's the problem with your kind. You yearn and seek out power sources, but you really don't understand the deeper magic you profess to worship. Tell me High Priestess, when you digested his blood did you truly know what you were taking?" Gazing directly on her face he could tell when the realisation struck her, but by then it was too late as her magic failed.

Immediately he was able to reach out with his left hand and begin to s make a fist. "Now it's my turn." As his words sunk in, so did the pain. Worse than the previous pain he had inflicted, this went straight through her veins or more specifically the blood she had ingested was inwardly attacking her insides. Doubling over in pain she feel to the floor.

Calmly he walked over and picked up the old witch. "Do you know I have to thank you. By digesting Dean's blood you've made it incredibly easy for me." Smiling he moved her body until she was dangling about a foot of the ground, held upright by the archangel vessel's.

"I.. I .. I don't understand!"

"Of course you don't. Since I'm the villain and as my sword would say, it's my role to monologue about everything, why don't I enlighten you. You see, it could have been so much easier for you Astra if you had just played along with me and chose the right side. Buuutttt, you thought you had the edge and underestimated the power of what's in Dean's blood."

"Drinking his blood just made it soooo easy for me to take the information I require without having to worry whether the words out of your mouth are truths, half truths or plain falsehoods. His blood is my blood. You took it from him before he was connected to the vampire and as such had my essence within him."

Bringing the witch closer, he decided to share something special. "His blood is different because it's part of him. Part of the infinite soul and as such it can act as a conduit for the power. So, the more blood ingested, the more powerful the creature that drinks from him will become. But since you've ingested some of the blood that laced with my essence, you're as much part of me as any of my other monsters that have aligned themselves to me. Just like all the Fischer Clan vampires, you're going to do what I tell you to do."

"In fact, you've made it perfect for me. You see, I couldn't work out how I was going to get past all the wardings that surround the Volkov estate. Even in this vessel, I could get close, but the wardings left a gap for you to visit. And normally, your vessel would explode if it tried to house my grace, but as you've drank some of my blood, it's just makes it possible for me to use you for a limited time, one as a vessel and two, as a way past all the spell work."

Shocked, she wriggled in the archangel's hold and fought to the end. "You lie. You cannot possess my body or my mind. I have special magic in place to prevent something like that from ever happening. It's not possible."

"Oh ,… but it is. You drank Dean's blood. The same blood that ran through his veins when I possessed him. He and I were one. You drank it and as such you took in part of me, which give me a back door to control your mind and body. The power also strengths your body to house me for a short time. It's perfect. I don't need to spend time torturing you. All I have to do is hop in and enjoy the ride."

With a smile he pushed his grace from his body and began to transfer his entire essence over into the aging witch. He knew it was a gamble but he had faith that his swords blood was enough to reinforce the witch's body so it could house him. Astra attempted to fight but it was short lived as he pushed inside her and took up residence.

Immediately he went to work to find out how exactly he was going to overturn the magic and retake what was his. Whilst he searched through her mind, he began to reverse the spell so he could use the witch's body to leave the mountain and make her way through the warding onto the Volkov estate.

He had to hand it to the witch. It took some time to crack her mind, but he eventually did as she spilled all of her secrets and as he heard her warning to the Volkov Grand Master that Dean was not indestructible and that he was the vampire's weakness a plan began to form. By the time he was putting in place the finishing touches to the spell that would take him through the warding he had formed a plan, but he knew it was high risk but the rewards were high too.

As he stepped into the circle, he caught his reflection. Gazing upon his new, albeit, temporary vessel, he fixed the clothing so Astra would look like she always did. He had to ensure that he passed all the tests required. He also knew that once inside he needed to instruct the Fischers to start tearing down warding around the building, especially if he was going to be able to operate on full power. Until the warding had been broken, he was in danger.

Taking one last look around the inner chamber he smiled to himself. Uttering the last of the spell he smiled as he felt the pull of the magic take him away from the room and bring him at least a few steps closer to his victory.