A/N: Sorry for the long delay, I've finally caught up to myself writing-wise. I do have enough ideas for the rest of the story though, so hopefully I can keep up some momentum. Thanks as always for reading!

Chapter Fourteen:

There was a section of the castle in which Dean had never stepped foot. In fact, he had no idea that the lower chamber existed, or that Queen Amara herself was held captive there. For more than three years, she had been her brother's prisoner, her powers bound by an ancient spell.

From what Chuck had gloated to her in his monotonous monologues over the years, it was clear that he had duped the entirety of Heaven. He had corrupted the Great Council and many of her Royal Guard, and lied to the rest. Even the common folk believed that the Queen was still in charge, yet too sickly to make public appearances. The queen had, he told them, appointed Prince Chuck to speak on her behalf.

Such lies.

It was a hard pill to swallow, she thought. Not that her brother would stoop so low - he had always been a rat - but that no one had bothered to look for her. Had she been that bad a Queen that she had simply not been missed? The angels had always been Chuck's lot, so she wasn't surprised they obeyed him without question. The mortals knew less than nothing about the politics of the kingdom. But the demons? She had always been fair to them and had let them run Hell as they saw fit. She knew that balance needed to be maintained, unlike her brother, who sought wars for his own amusement. But not one demon, nor witch, or even a lowly vampire had ever sought to save her.

If only she had some ally, even just one, she was sure she could break the binding spell and set things right.

Dean finished writing his letters to Cas. They all said the same thing – that he was sorry, that they should have fought to be together, and that it was his biggest regret. He promised he would never let Cas go again if only he returned. I need you, Cas, and I love you more than I can say, the letter had finished. He only hoped it would reach the former angel in time.

The hunter went off to find Prince Chuck to give him the letters, but he wasn't in his study. His desk was as messy as ever, parchment scattered around and blotches of ink staining the wood. Dean was grateful that Chuck had not asked him to read any of his work lately, but now that he was alone in the room, he felt his curiosity spike. What did a god find worth writing about these days?

Dean skimmed the top sheet and Castiel's name suddenly jumped out at him.

What the - ?

Chuck was writing about Cas? Why?

The more he read, the sicker Dean felt. He read about Cas being tortured in some place called The Pit.

He read about how Prince Chuck himself had contracted Crowley, and how Dean had been intended to die as a result of the kidnapping, with Hell to blame for it. It was framed as fiction, but it was so clearly true that Dean's head spun trying to adjust to this knowledge.

Rage flooded his heart, but he fought it off. Chuck was smarter than Dean had ever given him credit for, and confronting him about all this would only end with Dean dead. He needed a plan. He needed to find Cas and rescue him. Then perhaps they could figure out a way to escape together, although he had no idea where they could go that might be out of the prince's reach.

He needed info, and what better source than the monster's own words?

Dean quickly rolled up all the parchment and notes he could find and stuffed them into his inner coat pocket. He would take them and read every line, learn all of Chuck's dirty secrets, and then perhaps he would have an answer on how to save himself and Cas.

He would have to hurry, though. Chuck would notice the missing story soon enough and might very well figure out Dean's intentions.

Dean left the study and hurried out to the Royal Stables, where Chuck rarely went due to his hatred of the animal smells. Dean could probably read there in peace for hours, and he prayed that would be enough time to find something.

Don't worry, Cas, he thought as he made his way stealthily across the courtyard. I'm coming for you.