Chapter 46
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, 28th April 2012
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking down the stairs towards the Great Hall. They had double study periods that morning due to Professor Flitwick being under the weather. They figured they would take an early lunch, partially because Ron wouldn't shut up about how hungry he was. "You would eat your weight in chocolate if you could…" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Bloody hell, I'd love that," Ron grinned. Harry wasn't paying much attention; his mind was elsewhere. He slipped his hand into his pocket, feeling the cold metal of the locket, realizing there were still more Horcruxes to find, than they had recovered. And they were no closer to finding their location.
On a brief visit to Dumbledore's office the night before, Harry talked with him and asked him if he could have the Locket. The Headmaster was surprised, and when he queried the reason why, Harry told him Sirius had asked him to give the Locket to Kreacher, as a sign of good faith. Sirius had told Harry about the true fate of his brother's death not long after he discovered it himself. Of course, only Harry knew the true extent of Regulus Black's bravery and mission. Dumbledore agreed it was a good idea, and after a repairing charm and a few protection spells to make sure the Locket was safe, it could go to the house-elf who had been so loyal to the Black family. So now Harry had the Locket in the pocket of his robes, and later, he would bring it to Kreacher in the kitchens. Dobby would also be delighted to see him again. He might actually let him steal a piece of chocolate cake this time.
"Muffliato," Hermione whispered, flicking her wand. "Harry, you never told us how last night went."
"It was fine. Dumbledore thought it was a good idea. I'm going to give the Locket to Kreacher after dinner tonight."
"Are you sure it's safe?" Hermione asked.
"Of course it's safe 'Mione. Dumbledore's hardly going to give a house-elf something like that," Ron rolled his eyes. "Besides, I thought you would be happy, Kreacher isn't being mistreated anymore."
"Of course I'm happy he's okay," Hermione huffed.
"I don't know why you like him so much. All he did was insult you," Ron grimaced, remembering him calling her a Mudblood.
"It was the way he was brought up, Ronald." Hermione kept her voice even and cool. "Anyway, that's not what I was asking. Harry, has Professor Dumbledore mentioned anything more about the Horcruxes?"
"No, not yet."
Crowley's Hideout, Bootbock, Kansas, U.S.A.
"Raphael," Castiel stated coldly to the female vessel that contained the Archangel.
"Consorting with Demons. I thought that was beneath you." Raphael stared back at him with an icy glare.
"Heard you were doing it. Sounded like fun," Raphael sneered.
"You know, Castiel," Crowley drawled. "You've said all sorts of shameful, appalling, scatological things about Raphael. I-I've found him, her, to be really quite reasonable," he smiled. Castiel rounded on him.
"You fool. Raphael will deceive and destroy you at the speed of thought," Castiel snapped.
"Right, right, 'cause you're such a straight shooter. She, he, has offered me protection against all comers," the Demon smiled.
"In exchange for what?" Castiel asked.
"The Purgatory blood," Crowley answered. Raphael clicked her tongue.
"Castiel, you really think I would let you open that door? Take in that much power? If anyone is going to be the new God, it's me," she said, stepping forward.
"He's gonna bring the Apocalypse, and worse," Castiel said, feeling suddenly powerless. He had to do something. Crowley was smart, albeit evil.
"Hey, this is your doing, mate. I'm merely grabbing the best offer on the table. Now, you have two options. Flee, or die," Crowley mocked. Castiel picked up the jar of blood and threw it to Crowley before disappearing in a rustle of wings. Crowley faced the wall, the sigil on the wall almost glowing red.
"Lanua magna Purgatorii, clausa est ob nos, lumine eius ab oculis nostris retento. Sed nunc stamus ad limen huius ianuae magnae et demisse, fideliter, perhonorifice, paramus aperire eam. Creaturae terrificae, quarum ungulae et dentes, nunquam tetigerunt carnem humanam," Crowley dictated the spell.
The door opened and Dean and Sam, along with Bobby and John, burst in. Raphael glared at their entrance, more annoyed than angry. As if they were contingencies that Crowley hadn't planned for. The boys worked to find the location of Crowley's hideout. After exhausting several avenues since the confrontation with Castiel, they spoke with Balthazar, who eventually gave Cas up, fearful of Cas's motivations. And so, after using a Portkey to travel to the U.S.A., they travelled to 221 Piermont Ave in Bootbock, Kansas.
Crowley turned. Dean threw an Angel Blade in Raphael's direction. Raphael caught it easily as he and Crowley turned to look at the hunters. Telekinetically, Crowley forced the hunters to fall down the stairs. Dean landed on a table before he was thrown to the ground. He gasped as the wind was knocked out of him, disorienting him briefly.
"A bit busy, gentlemen. Be with you in a moment," Crowley simpered.
"Aperit fauces eius ad mundum nostrum, nunc, ianua magna aperta tandem!" he finished the spell. Nothing happened. Crowley frowned.
"Maybe I said it wrong," he mused. Castiel appeared behind Crowley. There was an empty jar of blood in his hands.
"You said it perfectly. All you needed was this," he said, putting the jar down.
"I see," Crowley drawled. He walked to the wall and touched the blood. "And we've been working with… dog blood. Naturally," he said, tasting it. Castiel nodded.
"Enough of these games, Castiel. Give us the blood," Raphael ordered.
"You- Game's over," Crowley said, looking at Raphael. He turned to Cas. "His jar's empty. So, Castiel, how'd your ritual go? Better than ours, I'll bet?" he asked. Castiel closed his eyes and a bright light radiated from him. It filled the room, and everyone shielded their eyes. The light faded and Castiel smiled.
The hunters stood dumbfounded, not understanding what in the hell was going on until Dean stepped up.
"Shit…" Dean breathed. This, they didn't think of.
"You can't imagine what it's like. They're all inside me. Millions upon millions of souls," he said, eyes serious and somewhat cold.
"Sounds sexy. Exit stage Crowley," Crowley said before disappearing. Raphael looked frightened.
"Now, what's the matter, Raphael? Somebody clip your wings?" Castiel mocked. Raphael's eyes widened.
"Castiel, please. You let the Demon go, but not your own brother?" the Archangel asked.
"The Demon I have plans for. You on the other hand…" he trailed off, clicking his fingers. Raphael exploded in a burst of gore and blood.
"So, you see, I saved you," Cas continued.
"Sure thing, Cas. Thank you," Dean said, getting to his feet. Realizing they just stepped into a steaming pile of 'oh shit'. Cas was off his rocker. Raphael had even looked scared, and that should have been the first sign of danger.
"You doubted me, fought against me, but I was right all along," Castiel said without emotion.
"Okay, Cas, you were. We're sorry. Now let's just defuse you, okay?" Dean said desperately.
"What do you mean?" Cas asked.
"You're full of nuke. It's not safe. So, before the eclipse ends, let's get them souls back to where they belong," Dean pleaded with his friend, worried that he wouldn't be able to save him in time.
"Oh no, they belong with me," Castiel disagreed.
"No, Cas, it's it-it's scrambling your brain," Dean pressed. Sam, John, and Bobby let Dean take the lead. If Cas would listen to anyone, it would be Dean.
"No, I'm not finished yet. Raphael had many followers, and I must punish them all severely," Castiel glared.
"Listen to me. Listen, I know there's a lot of bad water under the bridge, but we were family once. I'd have died for you. I almost did a few times. So, if that means anything to you… Please. Don't make me lose you too. You don't need this kind of juice anymore, Cas. Get rid of it before it kills us all," Dean begged.
"You're just saying that because I won. Because you're afraid. You're not my family, Dean. I have no family," Castiel said. Dean's eyes widened as his face paled. He might as well have slapped him in the face or punched him in the gut.
"I'm not an angel anymore," Castiel continued. "I'm your new God. A better one. So, you will bow down and profess your love unto me, your Lord. Or I shall destroy you." John and Bobby knelt. Bobby gave Dean a sharp look and Dean and Sam began to do the same.
"Stop," Castiel growled. "What's the point if you don't mean it? You fear me. Not love, not respect, just fear."
"Cas…" Sam trailed off.
"Sam, you have nothing to say to me," Castiel said. "Get up," he ordered.
"Cas, come on, this isn't you," Dean exploded.
"The Castiel you knew is gone," Castiel replied.
"So, what, then? Kill us?" Dean angrily spat.
"What a brave little ant you are. You know you're powerless, you wouldn't dare move against me again. That would be pointless. So, I have no need to kill you. Not now. Besides…once you were my favourite pets before you turned and bit me," Castiel simpered.
"Who are you?" Dean demanded. Not understanding what happened to his friend. How far into the wacko stew did he go?
"I'm God. And if you stay in your place, you may live in my kingdom. If you rise up, I will strike you down. Not doing so well, are you, Sam?" Castiel asked. Sam looked up in surprise.
"I'm fine…" he said, clearing his throat, ignoring the immense pressure pounding in his brain.
"Cas, come on, this is NUTS! You can turn this around, please!" Dean begged. "Don't do this!"
"I hope for your sake this is the last you see of me," Castiel said before disappearing.
He appeared in front of the Lady of Serenity Church in Dallas, Texas and strode inside. The Reverend stood in front of the throngs of people in the church.
"Plenty speak for them and their so-called lifestyle. Media, Hollywood, Lady Gaga won't shut up for love or money," he said, and the congregation chuckled.
"Yeah, funny, but that's why we raise our voices! And picket their so-called weddings and their funerals. Someone has to speak for God."
"And who says you speak for God?" Castiel said from the door. The congregation turned to look at Castiel. "You're wrong, I am utterly indifferent to sexual orientation. On the other hand, I cannot abide hypocrites like you, Reverend."
"Okay, fun's over friend," The Reverend said dismissively.
"Tell your flock where your genitals have been before you speak for me," Castiel commanded in a voice like ice.
"And who the heck are you?" The Reverend demanded.
"I'm God," Castiel replied simply. There was a commotion of murmurs amongst the congregation and a man stood, about to speak. Castiel's blue eyes shifted to the man, and he fell back, unconscious and the pew broke with a crash.
"And he who lies in my name shall choke on his own false tongue, and his poisonous words shall betray him," Castiel recited, righteous eyes focused on the Reverend. He began to foam at the mouth and choke before falling to his knees, collapsing to the ground, dead.
"For I am the Lord, your God," Castiel finished, facing the crowd. He began to walk out of the church but stopped dead as a voice wafted into his brain. "Castiel…" He gripped a pew in shock. "Cas!" Castiel looked over his shoulder at the stained-glass window, portraying Jesus. He straightened and began to walk out of the church again. As his hand left the pew, a scorch mark was left behind.
⸸
John, Bobby, Dean and Sam walked out of the fireplace in the staff room, gasping.
"Fuck!" Dean yelled, punching the wall.
"Dean, calm down," Sam urged.
"No Sammy! Don't you get it? Cas is God! Big 'G' Sammy! We're totally screwed!" Dean exclaimed angrily, ignoring his bleeding knuckles. Suddenly, Sam caught sight of a figure behind Dean.
"Hi, Sam. Long time, no spooning," Lucifer grinned. Sam closed his eyes. Not real… not real!
"Sam?" Dean asked, his voice so faint… so distant…
"No," Lucifer denied in a sing-song voice, with a grin.
"So, what now?" John asked.
"We have to try to stop him."
"I think I know someone who can…" Dean said. "But we need Crowley's help."
None of the hunters were very happy about that fact, but they decided to travel to the Shrieking Shack for the students' protection. The ingredients were gathered quickly, and a Devil's Trap painted on the floor. Sam read the spell. Crowley appeared inside the Devil's Trap, with a glass of whiskey in his hand.
"No. No! NO! Come on!" he exclaimed. "I'm starting to feel like a piece of meat!"
"Don't act so surprised," Jo glared.
"My new boss is going to kill me for even talking to you," Crowley growled.
"Well, you're lucky we're not stabbing you in your scuzzy face, you little piece of shit," Dean scowled.
"Whoa, wait! What new boss?" Sam asked.
"Castiel, you giraffe," Crowley rolled his eyes.
"Is your boss?" John raised an eyebrow.
"Is everybody's boss. What do you think he's going to do if he finds out we've been conspiring? You do want to conspire, don't you?" Crowley asked, confused.
"No. We want you to just stand there and look pretty," Dean rolled his eyes.
"I do my best Darling. Listening," Crowley smirked.
"We need a spell to bind Death," Dean told him. Crowley's eyes widened.
"Bind? Enslave Death? You having a laugh?!"
"Lucifer did it," Sam shrugged.
"Hell yeah, I did." Lucifer grinned happily. Sam ignored him.
"That's Lucifer," Crowley frowned.
"A spell's a spell," Jess replied. "We need your intel, so spill it or…." She let her sentence trail off, holding a vial of clear liquid. "You know what this is? Veritaserum. One little drop, and you'll be telling us all the little secrets in your black book."
"You don't scare me, witch…" He glared at her before turning back to the boys. "You really believe you can handle that kind of horsepower? You're delusional!" Crowley shook his head and laughed.
"Death is the only player on the board left that has the kind of juice to take Cas on," Dean told him.
"They'll both mash us like peas. Why should I help with a suicide mission?" Crowley mocked.
"Look! Do you really want Cas running the universe?" Bobby snapped. Crowley sighed.
It wasn't long before the hunters stood in the dungeons yet again, the piece of paper in their possession. Jo sat, practically fuming, in her room with Ellen and Mary. She swore that she was gonna kill her husband if this whacked-out Angel didn't kill him first.
"Well, let's light this candle," Bobby sighed. "Te nunc invoco, mortem. Te in mea potestate defixi. Nunc et in aeternum!" They all looked around.
"Um… Hello? Death?" Dean called.
"You must be joking," Death said in a bored voice. Dean turned to look at him, looking remorseful.
"I'm sorry, Death. This isn't what it seems," Dean explained quickly. Death raised his hands, and there was a thin silvery thread around both wrists.
"Seems like you bound me," Death stated.
"For good reason, okay? Just, uh, hear us out," Dean said in a fast voice, heart racing. Death frowned.
"This is about Sam's hallucinations, I assume?" Death said with a raised eyebrow. "Sorry, Sam. One wall per customer. Now unbind me," he demanded.
"We can't. Y-yet," Sam answered in a shaky voice, eyes squeezing shut as the devil screamed in his mind. He knew Death wouldn't put the wall back, but a part of him still hoped he was wrong.
"This isn't going to end well," Death drawled.
"We need you to kill God," Dean declared.
"Pardon?" Death asked, looking up inquisitively.
"Kill God. You heard right. Your… Honour," Bobby said in a respectful tone.
"What makes you so certain that I can do that?" Death asked.
"You told me," Dean answered confidently, remembering when he had to be Death for the day. You know he really never told me what he did on his day off.
"Why should I?" Death inquired, a note of a threat in his voice.
"Because… We said so, and we're the boss of you," Dean said. Sam looked at him, eyes wide. "I-I mean… Respectfully."
Suddenly, Castiel's voice rang through the room and the three hunters turned in shock.
"Amazing," Castiel stated in an airy voice, coming into the room.
"Cas," Sam said, swallowing.
"I didn't want to kill you, but now…" Cas said, and he raised his hand, about to snap his fingers. Dean and Sam gaped, hoping this wouldn't be how it ended. Dean didn't even have time to say goodbye to Jo.
"You can't kill us!" Dean glared. Cas paused.
"You've erased any nostalgia I had for you, Dean," Castiel replied coldly, raising his hand, fingers ready to snap. Dean tried not to flinch as he pressed on.
"Death is our bitch. We ain't gonna die, even if God pulls the trigger."
"Annoying little protozoa, aren't they?" Death mused. "God? You look awfully like a mutated Angel to me. Your vessel's melting. You're going to explode," he informed Castiel offhandedly.
"No, I'm not. When I've finished my work, I'll repair myself," Castiel replied in a cold tone.
"You think you can because you think you're simply under the weight of all those souls, yes? But that's not the worst problem. There are things much older than souls in Purgatory, and you gulped those in, too."
"Irrelevant. I control them."
"For the moment," Death stated.
"Wait - uh, what older things?" Dean asked, stepping forward.
"Long before God created Angel and man, he made the First Beasts, the Leviathans," Death proclaimed.
"Leviathans?" Dean asked.
"I personally found them entertaining, but he was concerned they'd chomp the entire Petri dish, so he locked them away. Why do you think he created Purgatory? To keep those clever, poisonous things out. Now Castiel has swallowed them. He's the one thin membrane between the old ones and your home," Death explained.
"Enough," Castiel interrupted.
"Stupid little soldier you are," Death sneered.
"Why? Because I dared open a door that he shut? Where is he? I did a service, taking his place," Castiel hissed, approaching Death, trying to decide if it would be better to start with him, then to deal with the Winchesters.
"Service? Settling petty vendettas?"
"No. I'm cleaning up one mess after another, selflessly."
"All right, put your junk away, both of you. Look, call him what you want. Just kill him now!" Dean exclaimed. Castiel turned to look at him.
"All right. Fine," Death said, raising a hand. Castiel snapped his fingers and the thread-like string around his wrists disappeared.
"Thank you." he smiled. "Shall we kickbox now? I had a tingle I'd be reaping someone very, very soon. Don't worry, not you." Castiel disappeared. "Well, he was in a hurry."
"Death, please, is there any way you can help us?" Sam asked. Death sighed.
"Oh no, I learned my lesson for helping out you humans a long time ago, three insolent brothers. Your only hope is to have him return it all to Purgatory. Quickly," Death told him. "Pesky little Angel, that one."
"We need a door," Sam stated.
"You have everything you need at that lab. Get him to return there and compel him to give up the power," Death instructed.
"Compel?" Dean questioned.
"Figure it out," Death replied in a bored tone.
"But that door only opens in the eclipse, and that's over," Bobby cut in.
"I'll make another. At 3 am on the morning of April 30th, just before dawn. Be punctual. Don't thank me. Clean up your mess. Try to bind me again, you'll die before you start," Death glared and vanished.
