7
Elara's emotional outburst had clearly been the end of the conversation when she had refused to answer Castiel or even look his way, after which, Cas had chosen to return to the same spot from before.
Instinct suddenly caused him to push into the corner to protect his back when he noticed Constance descending the steps again...a day had not yet passed, but he still stiffened as the demon approached the cells. Constance grinned at him as she passed and stood outside the door to Elara's cell
"Comfy honey?" she mocked
"What do you want, you black eyed bitch!..." Elara growled
"Oooh nothing" Constance grinned "just bored. To be quite honest I didn't think this little cage would contain the likes of you...so...when I knew what Hans had planned for you, I made sure I was out of the kill zone...so to speak. But, once again he goes and surprises me...and now he's master to a pet Nephilim"
"I have no master" Elara growled "...unlike the demon slut currently boring me"
Constance started to laugh "is that what you think ? Oh sweetheart...can you see my cage? Or a little doggy collar?...no! that's because that fool Hans works for me...he just doesn't know it"
"certainly looked that way earlier...after he called off your fun and you ran away with your tail tucked between your legs.." Elara shot back
Constance sneered "he's just a pawn I'm using for a greater game, if that means following a few orders then I certainly don't mind behaving for now
"What game...?" Castiel suddenly piped up
Constance turned her glare on the angel and grinned "Hans will help me release Lucifer from his cage once again, so don't go dying on us tomorrow Castiel...I'm sure my true master will want a few words with you after that little stunt you and your friends pulled"
"your plan will fail" Castiel replied confidently
"this man contained a Nephilim" she grinned back " do you really believe he can't break the lock on an old cage?"
Castiel reeled inwardly at the thought but didn't show it as he glared at Constance through the bars.
The demon slowly approached the door to the angels cell
"And when Lucifer is done with you...I might ask if he'll let me keep you for good, after all, he'll owe me a favour and I had fun with you today"
Castiel watched as Constance ran her hand over the keyhole of the cell.
"Actually, you're looking well recovered" she said quietly, flicking her eyes black as she grinned maliciously "perhaps I should slip in and pluck a few more of those fascinating feathers..."
Cas backed away from the bars now as his breath quickened and his gaze shot to the stairs, expecting the other demons to appear. Constance relished the look behind his eyes, relishing how it gave her a buzz of euphoric pleasure to see an angel cower before her in fear
"Slip his collar off and make it a fair fight!" Elara suddenly piped up as she looked on "I'm also bored and wouldn't mind a bit of entertainment myself"
Constance turned her attention back to Elara "and why would I do something so stupid..."
"Of course, my mistake it wouldn't be a fair fight at all would it?" Elara grinned " I'm betting Castiel over there would kick your cowardly arse six ways from Sunday, even WITH his power locked down"
Constance scowled at Elara "you won't be so cocky when I eventually start in on you Elara. Believe me... "
Constance turned and made her way towards the stairs with the fury evident in her posture as she stormed away.
Elara turned to look at Castiel who had returned to the meagre protection of his corner with his head cast down. Perhaps this seemingly wayward angel could help her somehow...perhaps they could help each other. She would have to gain his trust, although, she felt she could never truly trust him back... but, perhaps, she could trick him into a sort of mutual friendship. He did seem to enjoy strange company after all...
She needed to get out of this place by whatever means possible. Elara glanced over again
"It's a pity I haven't got a pair of wings like yours eh? I'd have been out of here in a flash. I was unaware you guys could manifest them that way which is making me wonder why the hell you haven't just popped em out and buggered off, I mean, if you'd have done that back at the motel you may have had the upper hand"
Castiel raised his head and looked at her sadly
"what ?" she questioned "the collar stop you or something?"
"no" Castiel replied " you DO recall the fall "
"Sooo...the fall not only stopped your flight through the ethereal plane, but grounded you completely?...that must suck" Elara surmised, finding it hard to imagine losing such freedom
"Yes, well... I'm flightless but still perfectly capable of summoning them"
"well...why don't you then? I mean...all the angels I've hunted, and not once have I ever seen you guys pull that trick...I'm sure they'd make magnificent weapons...even if you can't fly"
"yes, they are powerful...and useful when manifested on this plane " Castiel replied as he recalled memories from long ago "but...they are also vulnerable...which, unfortunately for our kind, was discovered by our enemies"
"the demons..." Elara surmised
Castiel nodded
"a legend was passed to all fledgling angels born after the darkest days...a warning..."
"oooh do tell..." Elara responded as she plopped herself down next to the bars
Castiel frowned across from the corner of his own cell
"what?" It's not like I haven't witnessed your little secret and it's not like we're going anywhere" she scoffed as she glanced at the damnable bars
Castiel looked around at his own prison and sighed, Elara was right...it couldn't hurt to tell her...it might even make her realise angels weren't all cold, uncaring monsters...they hurt too...her sympathy before made him think he could possibly change her mind into seeing him as something other than a threat. He stood and came closer to the barrier between them, then, he sat beside her drawing his legs up and hanging his arms casually across his raised knees.
"The story goes like this" he began.