The sight that welcomed Castiel was gut wrenching. Even though Dean was not in his corner, but curled up on the bed, all sorts of sickening thoughts attacked Castiel's mind as he launched forth, rushing to his omega and dropping down beside the bed.
The poor thing was naked, shaking badly, eyes screwed shut, curled in a fetal position with his hands balled into fists in front of his face as if he was shielding himself. Despite laying on his left side, Castiel could see the bruise forming there, under his left eye, along with a split lip. He took deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart and his inner rage, his eyes roaming over the omega's exposed skin in search of more injury.
Twice he tried to call out his name softly, three times he reached to touch him in comfort, but felt too guilty, too unworthy. Who was he, but a man who could not keep a simple promise? Who was he, but another alpha in the sea of the ones that have hurt him?
A small whine escaped the omega's lips and Castiel took a shuddering breath, his chest aching fiercely as the pieces of his heart shattered further.
What had Zachariah done to him? Dean was on the bed, but was that where the Cardinal found him when he entered the room? Dean was so complaisant, there would be no need to hit him, unless it was for punishment. Or was it simply something the Cardinal enjoyed, hurting those who couldn't fight back?
Oh, Lord, what if the bastard forced himself upon the omega? What if he…
Dean opened his eyes and all that Castiel could see was pure fear.
Suddenly, roaring rage tore through him, blinding him, focused solely on that foul man. Castiel's hands clenched into fists on their own accord, his jaw tightening, teeth almost gritting as the alpha slowly rose to his feet, waves of burnt wood scent exploding in the air. Fire consumed his every thought, the raging heat leaving nothing in its wake. Castiel turned and stomped out of the room, completely missing Dean's outstretched hand and the plea that died on his lips.
Castiel was headed straight for the Cardinal's quarters, but as soon as he stepped out, he was met by the guard's fearful face. By now Elias remembered that his twin brother passed down the order, that he should not allow anyone in the room, alas, it was too late. Despite being an alpha, Elias lowered his head, eyes on the floor, but his scent was filled with regret and sorrow, not fear. Almost as if he cared not what will happen to him, but was rather sympathetic to what the omega went through.
The fact that he was so openly showing it made Castiel pause, but not enough to subdue his anger. "What did he do?!?! What did you hear!?!?! Tell me!!!" He shrieked, taking a step towards Elias, but the guard did not even flinch, as if he deemed any possible punishment justified.
"I don't know what the Cardinal did, the doors were closed, but he didn't stay very long. I… I think I heard a hit after the Cardinal yelled and the omega dared to speak back. Then it was quiet for a minute or so, after that, the Cardinal stormed out." The alpha said, not one word in his own defence. A small part of Castiel felt relieved, it would seem that Zachariah had no time to do something horrendous to Dean, but even a single hit was unacceptable. Castiel's inner alpha roared with possessiveness and protectiveness, how dared that bastard set a hand onhisomega?
On his way towards the Cardinal's chambers, Castiel rushed past Gabriel, who must have seen or sensed the state Castiel was in, because immediately he turned on his heels and proceeded to follow the furious alpha. They rushed past Balthazar too, but the alpha did not sense that he was following too. Gabriel and he must have silently communicated for Balthazar to retrieve Michael. Not that Castiel gave a damn. Not any more. He was done playing around.
Storming into Cardinal's chambers, all he found was a startled maid, her hands full of oddly yellow sheets. When Castiel demanded to know where the Cardinal was, the poor woman was so frightened, she couldn't manage a single word. It was Gabriel who finally told him to stop scaring the help and that the Cardinal was probably with the king, giving him the special evening sermon, as the king is too sick to attend the mass. It was mostly likely that Gabriel could have told him that from the start, but he seemed to be stalling, not wanting the king to witness Castiel's behaviour. Tough luck, because Castiel was done playing around.
The doors of the King's chambers flew open as Castiel charged in, just as the king was receiving his communion. The Cardinal's eyes widened and he paled, taking a quick step away from the king, as if his action could be perceived as inappropriate. Not that Castiel cared much, he was too focused on the Cardinal himself, stomping towards him in all his righteous fury.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!" He shouted as he grabbed the lesser alpha by the collar, raising him up and off his feet.
"James, what is the meaning of this?" The king immediately asked, clearly shocked by his son's behavior. He was paler than usual, his sickness taking its toll so much that he couldn't prop himself up into a half-sitting position, no matter how much he tried. Gabriel ushered to assist him, just as Balthazar and Michael entered the room.
"What have you done to him?!?!" Castiel insisted, shaking the terrified Cardinal, completely ignoring the king. Gone were the days when he played those games, tiptoeing around the king and everyone else, hoping he wouldn't get discovered.
"I… I just… I gave him the… The medicine, as we… as we agreed… To… To make him… Go into… Heat." Zachariah barely spat out, struggling to breathe against Castiel's tight hold, not that the alpha cared, too struck down by the revelation.They agreed,the Cardinal said. So even this was part of the plan to use Dean to bear a child for the throne.
He just gave him the medicine, meaning he forced Dean to take it, but he didn't have time to pressure him to do anything else, even Elias said so, he wasn't there long enough. Castiel's grip loosened, the collar slipped from his grasp and the Cardinal crumpled down on the ground.
To go into heat,he had said, and that was what surprised Castiel the most. In the dungeons, he had been near a female omega in heat, her scent was so entrancing and appealing, and all she could do was wail for a knot. Were male omega's different? No, it should not be so. After his liberation, in those times when he didn't practise combat and sword fighting or mannerisms, he read books, loads of books, some of which focused on human biology, their gender and subgender. No, if Dean was given the right herbs, he should have had a captivating scent, his body should be heating and producing slick and he should be crying out for a knot and release.
But Castiel didn't remember Dean being so. In fact, he doesn't remember Dean smelling like anything but fear, nor did he feel his body heated when Castiel neared it. He definitely didn't see any slick, not that he looked. Suddenly, Castiel felt an overwhelming need to go check on Dean, worried that if he truly hadn't sensed any of those things, that the omega might be in danger of poisoning.
"What is the matter with you, James? You know of the plan, why are you acting in such a way?!" The king's stern voice reached him, preventing him from simply taking off to see Dean. The king's eyes darted around the room as if he was annoyed by the presence of the musketeers, but realized it could not be helped. So let them learn the secret, it would serve well to test their loyalty.
"What…" Castiel started to reply, when an idea struck. He turned towards the Cardinal and directed his words at Zachariah. "What exactly did you give him?"
"The medicine we talked about." The Cardinal replied.
"What exactly was it?!" Castiel demanded.
"I am not sure, it was an extract of the African plum and some other herbs to facilitate…" The Cardinal tried, interrupted by the king's words and Michael's loud gasp.
"What difference does it… Michael?" The king paused mid sentence to turn a questioning look at the eldest musketeer. Michael took a breath and swallowed it before stepping forth, bowing his head in a respectful manner.
"Apologies, Your Majesty. My reaction was merely a surprise, as it is a known fact that the mentioned herb induces ruts for the alphas, and not heat for the omegas."
"What's the difference?" The king asked, and yes, Castiel vaguely remembered this, but allowed Michael to speak instead.
"The difference is in the way their body reacts to it. As the alphas and the omegas are pure opposites, the herb that is an aphrodisiac to an alpha has a completely opposite effect on the omega. I am sure those were not the Cardinal's intentions, however, there is a likely chance that the omega will grow sick from it. Depending on the amount he was given, he might be rendered barren, or even die." Castiel could hear his own blood boiling and his heart thundering hard as he tried to remain calm and not kill the Cardinal or run to Dean.
"No, no, no, I have been informed that the effect is the same. The herb induces a rut with an alpha, and heat in omega." The Cardinal defends with his head held high, most likely thinking he can still get away with what he did.
Michael glanced Castiel's way, and the prince knew exactly what he needed to do.
"You have either been misinformed or you are lying, and I am keen on the second opinion. Ever since my attack, you have been sneaking around, acting strangely and now this!? You really expect us to believe you haven't done this on purpose!? Giving D… the omega something that would spoil our plans?" Castiel spat every word.
"No, no, sire, I would never. I am as invested in this as You are." He said to Castiel, then turned towards the king. "Please, Your Majesty, you have to believe me, the prince is simply mistaken. I would never betray Your trust."
"So why were you alone when the drug was administered?"
Throwing in a perfect argument, Castiel glared at the Cardinal. Everyone in the room saw the way the lesser alpha paled, the way his eyes widened and his expression changed into a shocked one, as if he hadn't expected it. Castiel pushed on.
"Why was it that you couldn't wait for me to finish dinner before giving the omega the medicine? Or even inform me you would be doing it this evening?" Castiel said, taking a few threatening steps towards the Cardinal. "Why is it that you failed to mention you procured these herbs?"
The Cardinal was gaping like a fish on dry land, unable to form any words of defence. That was when Castiel thrusted one final time, hitting a dead centre of the target. "My king, had he perhaps informed thy Majesty of all this?"
There, written clear as day on the king's face, he hadn't known about it either.
"Cardinal Zachariah, have you anything to say in your defence!?" The king roared, his growl turning into a coughing fit. The Cardinal, who was the closest, rushed to hand the king a glass of water to calm his throat when Castiel shouted "STOP!"
"Gabriel, bring the king some fresh water." Castiel ordered before pointing a finger at the Cardinal. "You, get away from him! How many times have you handed my father a drink? How many times have you given him communion?" His tone was accusatory enough for the King to realize what Castiel was implying.
"NO, No, Your Majesty, I wouldn't never…"
"Shut up! You do not have permission to speak, your actions speak louder than any words could! You have purposely spoiled all our plans, poisoning us all. What were you hoping to achieve? Did you… Did you think you could impregnate the omega and with all of us disposed of, you would post your child as a new king, with thyself by its side?" Castiel knew exactly what to say to make the king mad enough, it didn't matter that the previous statements were contradictory. Was he trying to kill the omega, or use it for his own agenda? Charles might not have reacted so severely at someone hurting his son or messing with their plans, but an attempt to seize the throne? That was unforgivable.
"I WANT HIS HEAD!" Castiel finished his little speech just as Gabriel gave the king fresh water, and the king shouted out, completely unfazed by the Cardinal's pleas and his attempts at explanations. "Tomorrow morning I want his head delivered straight from the guillotine! Take him away!" He shouted, and Balthazar and Gabriel rushed to comply, dragging away a kicking and screaming Cardinal.
Castiel and Michael fell silent, allowing the king to finish his rant. The prince was anxious to return to Dean, but he knew just how important this turn of events had been, they eliminated a major piece of the board and were that much closer to their goal. Castiel had no idea if what he said was true, if the Cardinal was indeed poisoning the king, but it was irrelevant. All that mattered was the seed of doubt he planted in the king's mind, and it was enough. So he remained in the king's chambers until the king finally ceased his shouting and spoke to them.
"Damage control. We need to get ahead of this situation. "
"I can examine the omega, Your Majesty, make sure he survives. He would most likely need a lot of rest and nourishment and care." Michael said, then glanced at Castiel for the king to see. Castiel frowned at the action,but soon understood why Michael did it.
"Yes, yes." The king agreed. "The prince could take care of him!"
"Me?" Castiel asked in complete bewilderment. Of course he planned to do it, but he could yet grasp why the king would order him to, until Charles explained.
"You, yes, you. The Cardinal told me he feared you were falling for the omega's charms, but I see it is not the case, you are clearly focused on this plan, otherwise you wouldn't be here, you would be with him. And you said you were trying a different approach, to try and appease the omega. This would serve well. You will earn his trust, you will be seen as his saviour! It is perfect!" The king proclaimed as if it was all his brilliant idea,as if he wasn't led in this direction. Not that Castiel minded.
"Yes, and you Micheal, you will report everything back to me. I know I should have put more trust in you, you have always been a loyal servant to the crown." It was the best apology the king would give as he set the eldest musketeer as his second in command. "Now, go, make sure our golden goose survives." The king proclaimed, dismissing them, but it was something in the way he said it, in the metaphor he used that simply didn't sit well with Castiel.
Was Dean something more than a perfect breeding mule? Was there something else, something they were missing? Castiel knew he would have to try and find a way to answer these questions, and soon, if he wanted to save Dean from this terrible fate.
Author's notes: I would like to apologise for the lenght of this chapter, but it was either posting this shortened version, or waiting until I could write more. I had some medical issues that prevented me from writing, and this is as much as I could work out. I also apologise for leaving it here, without showing you how Dean is doing, but it could not be helped. I do hope at least taking down the evil Cardinal helps my case.Love you all!