More than 80,000 words and I finally reach the plot twist of the summary... This must be some kind of pitiful record ^^;
(Aprox. date is October 2017)
Chapter 21
Some days after, heavy eye bags started to show on Kevin's face. The young prophet was doing his best deciphering the Angel Tablet, trying to find a clue about the nine choirs in Heaven or anything related to summoning the angels standing at their apexes. He was usually the first to get up in the mornings and the last to go to bed at night.
"Hey, kiddo. Don't overdo yourself," Dean mumbled dragging himself across the library with his eyes barely open. "Or you'll need to wear makeup just to go outside."
"Look who's talking," Kevin snickered back. "When was the last time you stood in front of a mirror?"
"I think a couple of days ago, don't need to be constantly reminded of my pretty face. There's just... something in my mind keeping me on edge lately."
"You don't say, you've been searching cases like a mad man that has lost his favourite dog. What are you even looking for? News on the shedim?"
"Yeah, very funny, Kev. You know you're allowed to sleep every night, right?" the hunter said, entering the kitchen and looking for a bite of pie. "How's the translating of the tablet going?"
"It's coming along slowly. I wish these damn things could speak to me in English and not in some ancient, dead language. Then it would be a lot easier to understand what exactly I'm writing, and to know sooner if it's what we need or not."
"Kev, we all know you're doing everything you can," Dean patted the boy's back, coming back from the kitchen with breakfast for both of them in a tray. "Nobody will blame you for taking a break."
"You don't know that," the young prophet retorted. "What if I take too long, and Lucifer regraces enough for AltMichael to arrive?"
"It still wouldn't be your fault. Plus, he also needs the most holy blood, and apparently he was very lucky getting some of Jess' because humanity over there is about to go extinct," Dean reassured him, looking at all the work the prophet had already done. "What's all of this?"
"Translated parts of the Angel Tablet, since I'm focusing on this one now. Castiel read them for me to spare me the added work of translating them again into a modern language." And then, Kevin smiled proudly. "After several interesting but more or less currently useless prologues, I think I've finally stumbled upon the chapter we need."
Dean's hand stopped in mid-air, holding the mug of coffee that he had intended to drink before the news were broken to him. Eyes wide open, he stared at the prophet dumbfounded.
"You're kidding," he said, but Kevin shook his head in a negative motion. "Really? Are you serious?"
"Completely serious."
"That's awesome!" the hunter barked, grinning. "What did you find? How much long will it take you?"
"Hey, what happened with taking a break?" Kevin joked.
"Breaks are for wimps. You're a champ, Kev!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hours later that same day, the angel Balthazar was standing once again in front of Naomi, in Heaven, and not very happily informing her of what was going on down on Earth.
"Kevin Tran has translated a few disjointed bits of the Angel Tablet, but since time is precious, he stopped the moment it was clear that they weren't what is needed right now, and continued to the next."
"I see. What were those disjointed bits about?" Naomi asked professionally, crossing her fingers.
"I'm... not really sure? Something about amnesty for prisoners (which poor Gadreel could have benefitted from), the sharing of clouds, and vacating someone's heaven in case of necessity. I didn't ask for details, but you already know there's that spell for closing Heaven's gates and that other one about expelling angels. They're trying to summon the anunnaki from wherever they are, isn't that enough?"
"I'm not so convinced," she sighed, looking almost worried.
Balthazar frowned, his curiosity piqued. The current boss knew something, of that he was sure, something that she wasn't sharing with the rest of the class.
"What is it, Naomi? What do you know?"
The woman looked at him, stern, deciding if disclose or not her concerns to the rogue. After a brief hesitation, she leaned back on her chair and spoke.
"There's something in this that I don't like, but I can't pinpoint exactly what. When Mr. Redfield arrived in Heaven, God's touch on him was unquestionable. We're following the instructions given to us to the best of our capacity, same as Castiel and the Winchesters with the Fates. But there are so many changes, and most of them I can't see the finality of," she rubbed her forehead, displeased. "Perhaps it has been too long since I actually obeyed orders from someone, instead of giving them myself."
"What are your doubts about?" Balthazar asked, confused.
"In the past, there were so many of us that one angel more or one angel less didn't make any difference. It was easy to disappear in the crowd, as you very well know," she reproached her brother. "But now? Each one of us is like a beacon in the night. We can't get lost, we can't go unnoticed. Only a dozen of us still remain, at least to my knowledge. So tell me, where are those supposed anunnaki that they pretend to summon? Because they certainly aren't in Heaven."
Balthazar looked upwards, his eyes wandering, realizing what Naomi was actually trying to say.
"You don't feel them. You don't think they're still around."
"Precisely. Do you?"
"No, I don't feel them either," Balthazar admitted. "Truth be told, I haven't even stopped to consider it, but you're right. However, the frontiers are still in place. Doesn't that mean the obvious answer?"
Naomi shook her head, disappointed by the silver-eyed angel carelessness.
"You're dealing with something bigger than what it seems at first sight, Balthazar. Don't mistake it for a game."
"Yes, yes, I know... I'll deliver your very caring and generous message to them, don't worry. Now, I'm expected to show up in a party in Shanghai, so if you could just tell me why you wanted me to come back again? We've already gossiped enough, in my opinion."
The woman immediately snapped back into a professional attitude, straightening her back and raising her chin.
"Surely you're aware of the several security breaches we've had in the last decade or so," she said, annoyed. "It all started when that human Ash ascended and bugged all systems in Heaven, connecting several individual heavens to his own whenever he pleased. I'm sure he would laugh in our faces with the current development of things if he could."
Balthazar didn't interrupt her, but feigned looking at an inexistent watch on his wrist to indicate her to speed up the matter.
"But he's not the only one. In the last couple of days, since your friends apparently decided to follow the Fates' advice and call upon the anunnaki, there have been another infraction. This one, however, comes from Earth."
"Well, people still pray to God, you know. Many poor fellows didn't get the memo that Father took off on indefinite holiday."
"This wasn't a pray. The infraction happened through angel radio."
"Say what again?" Balthazar exclaimed, genuinely surprised. "Someone from Earth has tried to contact Heaven? Are you sure it wasn't some stronger-than-usual séance?"
"No. The human in case spoke Enochian, and wasn't trying to contact anyone. Rather, it was calling for someone."
"For who?"
"Castiel."
Balthazar bit his tongue, attempting to smother the laugh that was bubbling within him.
"Go figures. Everything strange is always related to Cas one way or another."
"That's why I called you. We've located the human, so you'll go to meet them to see what's happening and what they want."
"What?! No way!" he protested. "I've just finished raiding the whole planet like a mole searching worms, I escorted Kevin Tran downstairs, and I'm still carrying that unidentified soul with me for who knows how long more. Since when am I everyone's errand boy?"
"Since you were resurrected as the only angel still capable of flight, Balthazar," Naomi smirked, not one to be deterred. "So go, and make honourable use of it."
The rogue angel would have complained a lot more, but as luck served him, at that exact moment another one of the aforementioned breaches in angel radio rang in Heaven's office. Answering Naomi's awaiting smile with a grunt, Balthazar left, grouching to himself.
"Go there, do that... They're exploiting me, I tell you. No wonder Gabriel, oh Messenger of God, got the fuck out the moment he could."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Oh, shit."
That was the very specific and very elaborated opinion from one Dean Winchester to the news that had just been revealed to them, but well, it wasn't as if the rest of the people in the bunker had anything better to say anyway.
"Are you sure you translated this correctly, Kevin, Cas? No offense," Sam asked.
"I've read and translated the whole spell thrice," the young prophet shrugged apologetically. "One in Etruscan, one in proto-Indoeuropean, and one in Tocharian. The three times the ingredients and procedure were the same, as Castiel can confirm."
"Yes, I do," the angel confirmed gravely, holding in his hand three pieces of paper and placing them on the table. "The text is identical in all the translations."
Everyone looked at the spell that the Prophet of the Lord had extracted from the Angel Tablet, supposedly able to invoke the anunnaki. Only five ingredients: a nail of a manticore, mother-of-pearl powder, leaves of a hamadryad, a feather of Quetzalcoatl... and a human soul.
"Well, look at that," Rowena sighed frustrated. "It can never be as simple as newt eye and mandrake root with you, can't it? Be grateful that at least the other four ingredients were found by your other angel buddy in my son's treasure chests."
"Who the hell even comes up with these recipes?" Dean cursed, pacing around.
"Do you think this is why God sent another soul back with Donatello?" Jack asked, sitting on a chair next to a quiet Kaia. "Perhaps because we would need one for this?"
All of his family members shut up, looking at each other hesitantly. They hadn't thought of that.
"It is possible," Castiel spoke first, dubious. "But we cannot be certain so easily."
"But it's the only option we might have," Sam contradicted, uncomfortable. "We can't simply ask someone to sacrifice their soul to this. At least this soul, whoever it is, it's already dead."
"We don't know that, Sammy. Donnie was doing pretty good and alive until we crossed his path again."
"Yeah, ok. But what else do we have now?"
Dean and Castiel exchanged looks, but neither knew what else to say. Groaning inwardly, the older hunter eventually gave in.
"Ok, fine. Call Balthazar and let's do this. It's almost dinner time and I'm getting hungry."
"Hey, I'm not any happier with this than you are, guys," Sam said, before closing his eyes and slightly bowing down his head. "I pray now to the angel Balthazar. Balthazar, we're ready to do the summon, but we think you're carrying with you the last ingredient we need. Can you come back, please? I mean, like right now?"
After a few seconds, the lightbulbs started to flicker as always, announcing the rogue's arrival. However, when he finally appeared, his nervous demeanour was a stark contrast to his usual confidence.
"Angel Balthazar, reporting for duty. What can I do for you?"
"We need the soul in your custody, Balthazar," Castiel informed him. "It seems to be part of the spell, and perhaps also the reason why God sent it to us."
"The soul? You need the soul?" the silver-eyed angel blabbered. "For what exactly?"
"We need to add it to the spell. Apparently it's like the battery, the energy source to activate it and make it work," Sam explained.
"Oh, I see. But the fact is... well, you know... I-I don't really think you should use it like that?"
"What?" Dean grunted. "What are you talking about? Thaz, what have you done with the soul?"
"Nothing!" Balthazar shrieked, raising his hand in defense. "Absolutely nothing, the soul is perfectly fine. It's just that yesterday I was called back to Heaven again, and... I met someone that has been, hum, spying on us, I guess? And this person insisted on talking to you before you do anything drastic. And this summoning clearly fits in that category."
"What person?" Jessica asked, curious. "Who is it?"
The rogue angel sighed deeply.
"This is being too much drama for me to explain properly. Give me a moment, I'll bring her to you so you can deal with each other. I really feel like I'm doing extra hours."
Said and done, Balthazar flew out. A couple of minutes later the lightbulbs went poltergeist again, but this time the angel didn't come alone. With a hand on her shoulder for transportation purposes, a woman stood beside him.
"Hello, Castiel," she greeted him softly. "Dean, Sam."
The seraph remained quiet, flabbergasted and speechless. He had been waiting for her, waiting attentively to hear her call like he had promised, but she never called. And now she was here, in front of him again, just like the last time. Her face a bit more tired and her hair a bit longer, but unmistakably the same woman that not long ago had intended to kill him.
"Lily Sunder," he whispered emotively.
"What are you doing here?" Dean stepped forward, protective of his angel. "Have you changed your mind and intend to finish what you started?"
"Nothing like that, Dean Winchester. Rest assured."
The hunter didn't look convinced, but there was no sign nor intent of battle in her, so he gave her the benefit of doubt.
"Balthazar has told us that there was someone spying on Heaven," Sam finally spoke too. "Was it you?"
"More or less, yes. I can't access as high as Heaven, but I've been tuning into angel radio to remain aware of what the angels were up to. That's why, the moment I heard that you intended to summon the Nine Choirs apexes, I let myself be detected."
"How do you even know about the anunnaki?" Kevin asked, impressed.
"I've been studying angels all my life, which has been quite long due to the use of their magic. I was also married to one. Sorry to sound so immodest, but there's little I don't know about them."
"Why are you here, Lily?" Castiel inquired gently.
She advanced slowly towards him, and took his hands between hers. She smiled a very sad smile.
"I always took my chances, for better or worse. This is no different," she answered, very calm. "The spell you want to use needs the sacrifice of a human soul, and... haa, I'm here to offer mine."
"No," he denied automatically, frowning. "No, you can't."
"I certainly can, and I do. Castiel, it's been more than a year since we met, more than a year since I accomplished my revenge and allowed myself to stop. But what I lost, it can never come back to me."
"If you mean your daughter, how old was she?" Castiel gripped tight her hands. "To my understanding, Heaven is different now. It is changing. Perhaps... there might be a chance for you to reunite with her, as long as she was old enough for her memories to generate a piece of Heaven."
"Castiel," Lily denied forlornly. "It's not about that. I can barely feel anything anymore, and the little that remains is only grief and sorrow. My soul is damaged, holey and incomplete. We both know that it wouldn't be accepted in Heaven. But even if it was, I hope you understand if I don't want to spent my afterlife in the company of angels, as few as they remain. And I lie to myself into believing that I don't deserve Hell. I'm no monster, so Purgatory isn't for me either? So you see, whenever I die, there'll be no place for me."
"Lily..."
"Damaged as it is, my soul is still a soul. It's better to vanish forever like this instead of becoming a vengeful spirit trapped in the Veil. Please, Castiel."
Moved to the core, Castiel raised her hands to his mouth and kissed them tenderly.
"Every time I think to have witnessed the top of humanity's bravery and generosity, one of you always prove me wrong."
"This hardly could be considered generous," Lily couldn't help to chuckle. "I simply don't want to keep going on. I'm too tired for that."
Lily then introduced herself to the rest of the people in the room merely out of politeness, since in a matter of minutes they would say goodbye to her forever.
"Are you really sure you want to do this, my dear?" Rowena asked her, while grinding the other four ingredients in a bowl made of turquoise.
"Yes, I am."
"Well, I'd like to wish you good luck, but given the circumstances..."
"It's alright, Rowena. I understand."
An hour later, while the witch had been preparing the concoction, both angels had drawn the multiple and complicated sigils on the floor, some of which were possibly being used for the first time since the dawn of Creation. The Winchester brothers put on place candles and burned incense until the whole bunker smelled like a sacred temple. Jessica, Kevin, Jack and Kaia had moved away to sit on the staircase, not wanting to hinder the process, but they looked expectantly at what was about to happen.
"Everything is ready," Rowena said, guiding Lily to the centre of the knot made by the sigils, where she placed the turquoise bowl and handed her a dagger. "I'll recite the incantation. The moment I signal you, you have to cut yourself and pour your blood in the bowl. Your soul will then act as the catalyst."
Lily nodded and grabbed the dagger. Rowena exited the circle of sigils and started chanting.
"Elen síla lumenn'omentielvo…*"
The spell was quite longer than usual, almost a full standard page. With every verse that escaped from Rowena's mouth, one of the nine candles inside of the circle randomly died or came lit again, until all of them were lit at the same time. Without stopping the chant, the witch made a sign to the other woman, who immediately cut her wrist and let her life spill from her. But even before Lily could lose enough blood to faint, the concoction reacted and a spurt of energy rose from the bowl like a chain, grabbing her hand and merging with her flesh. In seconds, her whole body was glowing inside out, her skin seemingly thin as the petal of a flower. No sound ever came out Lily's mouth, her face relaxed. When Rowena finished the last verse of the summon and all the candles went out, so did Lily's alighted body. Not even ashes remained of her.
"Is... is it done?" someone whispered after a minute of utter silence.
"I would say yes, but..."
"Yeah, nothing's different, except poor Lily. At least she didn't seem to suffer."
Castiel was about to enter the circle, intending to inspect the turquoise bowl in case anything had gone wrong, but before he could walk a single step his knees gave in, unable to hold him up. His breath got stuck in his throat as his body fell, completely lax.
"Cas?" Dean called him, running to his side.
But before he could reach him, Balthazar succumbed to the same fate. Both angels were sprawled on the floor, eyes wide open, and completely unresponsive.
"Dammit, the other too!" Sam ran to help his brother. "Balthazar, can you hear me? Balthazar!"
"What the hell is happening? Cas, answer me, you feather-brain!" Dean shouted, lightly slapping the seraph's cheeks. "Rowena, what have you done?"
"Don't pin this on me, I just did what you asked me to! I don't know what's wrong," she replied, coming to his side and checking on the angel. "Oh, bollocks. This can't be good."
"What? What is not good?"
Before daring an answer, the witch stared at Balthazar, who was behaving as much as a corpse than Castiel.
"I don't feel any source of energy from either of them," she said, fear and incomprehension mixing in her voice. "They're gone."
"Gone? What do you mean, 'gone'?" Sam insisted.
"I mean that there's no angel here in this room right now. These bodies are empty vessels!"
"WHAT?!" both brothers yelled.
Before they could even assimilate what that could even mean, Jessica and Kevin hurriedly stood from the staircase, apparently facing their own discovering.
"Uh, Sam...?" Jessica called him, alerted.
"Guys, sorry to tell you, but we might have another unexpected problem here!"
The hunters looked at them, and then behind them, to the staircase where Jack and Kaia were still sitting. Their breath was laboured, blurting painful whimpers, hands clutching themselves as strong trembles shook their bodies. From one second to another, both teenagers started to bleed from their eyes, nose and ears.
"What the hell is happening?" Dean shouted, trying hard not to panic and decide what to do. "Jess, Kev, grab those two and pull them down before they fall down and break their skulls! Fuck!"
They did as they were told, carrying the two unconscious youngsters until they laid on the floor beside the two angels. Kevin then went to the kitchen and grabbed a clean cloth, soaking it in water in the sink. When he returned to the library, Jessica and him wiped the blood from their friends' faces, but they still continued bleeding for a little while.
"Rowena, can't you tell us anything at all?" Sam asked, extremely worried.
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand either," she lamented. "I've done many summonings in my life, but not even once something like this happened. I mean, you summon something and that something appears, as simple as that. But now? I can't even begin imagining what all this is about."
"Can you wake them up at least?" Dean grunted, crossing his arms.
"With Jack and Kaia, I may try, though they don't seem to be doing anything but sleep. I honestly think that if we let them wake up on their own they'll be fine. As for Castiel and Balthazar, there's nothing inside for me to awake. My advice would be, and believe that I'm not trying to be humorous since this is totally not the moment for it, to put their vessels somewhere very cold before they start to rot."
Everyone gasped at the suggestion, since the idea of empty decomposing bodies lacking a source of energy hadn't set yet in their minds. They began to argue, discussing where in the bunker could be cold enough, or if it would be better to freeze the angels magically until more info was learned.
That was, until all the lights exploded. Not merely flicker and spark like whenever Balthazar visited the bunker, but literally every single lamp burst its lightbulb. The fuses went off and the emergency lights turned on, predicting the arrival of something way more powerful than a standard angel. And soon enough, two new figures stood amidst the semi-darkness.
"Well, Kali. Given the signs, I'd say we're already late."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unbeknownst to them, Team Free Will weren't the only ones dealing with this issue. At the same time but two states away, in Sioux Falls, sheriff Jody Mills was about to put dinner on the table when her three foster girls started bleeding from their faces too.
There was a boy in Heaven bleeding from his soul.
And a girl in the first circle of Hell.
Another boy bleeding in Australia, held by his mother.
And yet another lonely bitter boy, locked on revenge, fainted in the middle of an abandoned street.
*The chanting line is quenya, taken from wikipedia.
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