It was going well so well. Sam and Castiel followed the plan, they got themselves into the fortress all they need to do now is wait for Michael to retrieve the ingredients and they should be back in their world in no time. This is a win they should be celebrating but none of them were in the celebrating mood. Why?
They are all worried about Jack.
The sudden display of power from the nephilim shocked everyone. Raphael announced Jack is human then suddenly he manages to the blast the Archangel Michael into a tent. Sam and Cas tried to get to Jack but the angels separated them as soon as they all reached the fortress. Sam was taken to the area of the dungeons where they kept the humans locked up while Cas and Jack were placed in cells designed to contain the celestial beings.
Its been a few hours since they arrived and Cas was slowly losing it as he anxiously paced his cell. Usually the angel would be patient but when it came to his loved ones he was desperate he would do anything to see them right now. The thought of Jack locked away and tortured scared the Hell out of Cas. He knew Raphael and his army will be interested in the nephilim. They will want to experiment on him and explore his powers. Cas wouldn't be that surprised if the archangel considered turning the kid into a weapon. After all Raphael does not like to waste resources.
The chances of Jack's powers coming back is impossible. It would take years for the young nephilim to recharge. This means he must be getting his powers from elsewhere.
Castiel had a horrible feeling that he might know where the source is coming from.
An angel stood outside the cell. He had his arms behind his back and his head held high. Cas looks through the slit and clears his throat to get the guard's attention.
"I wish to speak to Michael."
"No." The angel replied his voice blunt.
"I need to see him. Its urgent."
"Lord Michael is busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"That is none of your concern."
Cas sighs and presses his head against the cell.
"Indra please I really need to see Michael." The angel didn't respond. Cas raises his eyebrow. "Brother I am not going to shut up I am going to keep asking until I see him."
"Don't brother me." Indra's eyes flash blue and his lips form into a snarl. "My brother died. You are nothing to me. I suggest you better shut up otherwise there will be consequences."
"You think your threat scares me." Cas huffed a laugh.
"You might change your mind when I come back with an arm and a leg." Indra smirked. "Just remember humans are like glass we can break them just like that." He leans forward and trails his blade along the steel door. "If you want the mud monkeys to get through this without a scratch then I suggest you better start behaving yourself. Your actions can put their lives on the line."
Cas glares at him. Indra suddenly pounced and bangs his fists on the cell. Cas jumps back in shock and quickly goes into a defensive stance. Indra bursts out laughing. His laugh was like a hyena loud, high-pitched and crazy. At that moment the angel looked like a mad man and it made Cas almost miss the drunk version of his brother.
"Not so tough now are ya." Indra grinned. "You're not my brother. You're a wimp compared to him. Pathetic."
"That I have to disagree with you. I killed him."
Indra's smile drops.
"You're lying."
"I have no reason to lie."
Indra blinks. The snarl returns and he glares daggers at his alternative brother.
"You are still pathetic. You sided with the humans. You chose them over your own kind. How can you even call yourself an angel. Maybe I should get Michael down here to rip out your throat!"
"You want me to do what Indra?"
Indra froze. He slowly turns round and looks up. Michael looks at him with his eyebrow raised.
"Lord Michael." Indra bows and hides his surprised expression. "What brings you down here?"
"I wish to see Castiel." Michael smiled.
"Oh."
"I can take over from here Indra." Hannah says.
Indra nods.
"Of course."
He gets out a chain of keys and hands them to the other angel. Hannah takes them and nods to her brother. While Hannah unlocks the door Michael steps forward and places his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"You need to stop those murderous thoughts brother. I can hear it from upstairs. We don't want anymore incidents now do we?"
He increased his grip on Indra's shoulder and gives the angel a smile but his eyes conveyed a different message. Indra swallows the lump that formed in his throat.
"N...N...No sir." Indra shakes his head. "We don't want that."
"Hmmm. Run along now your assistance is no longer required."
"Yes Lord Michael."
Indra bows then he vanishes.
"I know Raphael wanted you to keep an eye on me, watch my every move."
Hannah became tense. She feared that the older archangel heard Raphael's secret commands.
"He can't hide things from me." Michael folds his arms. "I know he doesn't trust me. You were not exactly sent to assist me you are here to be his eyes and ears."
"I'm here to make sure the prisoners do not attack or attempt to flee."
"Hannah." Michael sighed. "Do remember I raised you all including Raphael I know all the tricks I know how he thinks, I know how you think you just want to be the perfect soldier you don't want to upset anyone I understand you follow him now but that doesn't mean you should lie to me"
"I'm sorry sir."
Michael's face softens.
"No need to apologize it's not your fault. Me and Raphael...We haven't exactly been good roles to you guys. I'm sorry about that."
Hannah's lips press into a thin line. Michael shakes his head knowing his sister will not voice her opinion on the matter.
Hannah opens the door and allows the archangel to go in first.
Michael can feel the warding weighing down on him as soon as he stepped into the room. It wasn't enough to make him weak. Cas looked exhausted and drained. Michael wanted to get him out of here but he knew that will blow his cover.
You got to be patient little brother.
Hannah waited by the entrance. Cas' eyes widen when his eyes land on her.
"Hannah!"
"Castiel." She replied with a nod.
Guilt consumes the angel as his mind goes to Hannah's last moments. Her death was one of his regrets. She died because of him. Hannah was a good soldier and she also became a good friend.
When he looks at this Hannah he saw the Hannah before the fall, the Hannah that won the Wars, Heaven's top soldier. Like his Hannah this one had Caroline as her vessel however this world Hannah would not give up her vessel, she doesn't care about humanity, nobody showed her how beautiful God's creations are.
Hannah's face is blank. She didn't express rage or anger like Indra did. Cas wasn't sure if Michael being here is keeping her quiet.
"Castiel." Michael smiles. "Enjoying your stay?"
"Been in worse."
Michael grins.
"I see you and Indra were bonding."
"It almost made me miss home." Cas said sarcastically.
Michael paused by the angel's side.
"Now that you have settled, I need you to answer some questions. If you lie to me I will know and you will wish you were back home. So the question that has been on everyone's minds is how does the nephilim have his powers back?"
"Play dumb."
Cas heard his alternative brother's voice in his head. When he looks at Michael the archangel showed no emotion
"We can't let them know." Michael warned. "About Jack."
"Its none of your business." Cas yells.
Hannah raises her eyebrow but Michael waves his hand ordering her to stay put.
"It is my business. I expect an answer."
"I don't know." Cas sighed.
"Liar." Michael leans forward. "You do know something."
"I didn't mean play completely dumb Castiel. You are going to have give me something. I can't have them doubting me."
"I'm not telling you anything." Cas grits his teeth.
"He's protecting him." Hannah nods. "He is not going to talk."
"Hannah. How long have you known me now?" Michael smirked. He suddenly swings his fist and hits the angel in the jaw. Cas' head snaps back by the impact. The angel grimaced and shakes his head. Michael grabs Cas and pulls him towards him. "Now hopefully that has knock some sense into you."
"Did you have to hit so hard?"
"Brother I had to make it look convincing."
"I am not putting Jack in danger."
"You are already putting him in danger. If I don't get something from you Raphael will take matters into his own hands. We don't want Jack to burn anymore of his soul."
Cas hides his shock. He then sighs.
"Of course you know."
"You can't hide anything from me Castiel." Michael places his hands behind his back. "You and your friends, you're predictable. I spent a enough time with you to know how you think. You know there was a time when you were a good soldier." He frowns. "You have changed so much. Seems the Winchesters have corrupted you more than I thought."
"Is the speech really necessary?"
"Yes!"
"I suppose you are known to brag. You love the sound of your voice."
Michael gave him an annoyed look.
"You can pick on my worst traits later right now you got to give me something at least an alternative version of the truth. Please otherwise I will have to dig through your head. I don't want to do that I want to respect your privacy."
"Tick-tock." Michael tilts his head. "Goes the clock. Time is ticking."
If Cas didn't know this was an act he would have thought the archangel lost his marbles. Michael looked just as crazy as Indra.
"Grace." Cas admits. "I gave him grace
"It can't be your grace. It wouldn't last long. It has to be from someone else? An archangel."
"Gabriel. Who you killed."
Michael's lips turn downwards. Quick flash of guilt goes across his eyes. The archangel then snaps out of it and puts on a fake smile.
"Gabriel? Ahh Gabriel. How did you get his grace? He's umm as you just said...dead."
"A Sharman gave it to me. He met Gabriel years ago. Gabriel went to him for help and in return the Sharman wanted a vial of grace."
" Gabriel gave him the grace. The Sharman gave you the grace and you gave it to Jack?"
"That's right."
Michael narrows his eyes at him. After several moments Michael nods to Hannah.
"He's telling the truth." He then raises his finger. "That is only a temporary solution. Jack used a lot of his powers back there at the camp this means he must be nearly out of juice this means he is still a human he is not a threat to us." Hannah blew out a sigh of relief. "See Hannah." Michael grins. "I still got it."
"See that wasn't so hard."
"What about Raphael?" Cas asked.
"He won't kill him." Michael assured him. "If he sees Jack as nothing but a human he will treat him like one. He will want Jack to know his place. Castiel." Cas looks up at him. "I will keep an eye on the kid his soul especially I don't want him to lose his moral compass. A human with no soul can cause disastrous results. A nephilim with no soul." Michael grits his teeth at the thought. "He could seriously hurt someone...He could hurt Dean."
Cas goes eye wide at that.
"He wouldn't."
"He hates my guts. One of these days he might decide to kill me. If Dean has to die for that goal to be achieved..."
"No...no he wouldn't..."
Cas' voice trails off as a certain conversation pops up in his mind.
"Cas, Michael has to be stopped."
" I know, and he will be - after Dean is... "
"No, Dean doesn't matter. You're all so focused on trying to save Dean and I get it, I understand, but - if he can't be saved, if it comes down to him or Michael - Michael has to be stopped. Caged, or killed."
Cas snaps out of it and quickly shakes his head. Jack wouldn't do that. Jack is good. Jack would never hurt Dean.
Michael suddenly paused as a conversation resurfaces in his mind.
"I...die."
"Yeah. Had to get Michael out of the picture. He is not the big bad of this season."
"The kid...Lucifer's son...KILLS ME!"
"Yeah."
"How? Did he get his powers back?"
"No he burned his soul to kill you."
Burned.
Soul.
Kill.
Michael's eyes widen.
The script!
"It's happening."
"What's happening?" Hannah asks.
For a second Michael forgot Hannah was in the room. He turns and smiles at her.
"We're getting information. That's what is happening dear sis. Thank you for your cooperation Castiel."
Michael then walks to the door.
"Michael!" Cas yells.
Michael looks at him. Cas knew something is wrong when he saw the fear in the archangel's eyes. Michael puts on a smug smile and gives the angel a little wave.
"We'll talk again Castiel."
He then walks out of the cell.
"You're different." Hannah says. Cas turns his attention to her. Hannah's face remained blank however her eyes expressed curiosity. "You're not like our Castiel."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Cas asks.
Hannah didn't look disgusted or angry instead she shrugs.
"I didn't like my Castiel. You...I don't know you."
"I knew Hannah. My Hannah." Cas smiles. "She was a good soldier."
"Was?"
"She..." Cas lowers his head and frowns. "She died."
"Oh. How...How did she die?" Then Hannah shakes her head. "Wait it's okay you don't have to tell me."
Cas sighs with relief. Hannah assumed for Castiel to react like that her counterpart's death must have hit him hard. Castiel has just been interrogated Hannah felt her alternative brother has already suffered enough for today.
"Don't fight it."
"What do you mean?" Cas frowned.
"You made Indra mad. I would suggest you stay quiet from now on. Don't make the others angry. Okay?"
Cas nods.
"Okay."
Hannah nods and then leaves the room. She felt Castiel's intense gaze as she closes the door and locks it.
"I see you both have been busy."
Raphael comes round the corner and smiles. Hannah bows to him while Michael rolls his eyes.
"Missed me already brother."
"I need you upstairs."
"I'm not done yet."
" Hannah has given me an update, she told me what you have found regarding the nephilim your work here is done. "
Michael glances at his sister. He wasn't surprised that Hannah has reported to Raphael behind his back. Michael wasn't mad the information had to be forwarded to Raphael anyway but Michael was hoping for more time he did want to see Sam and Jack.
"We agreed revenge first then paradise."
"The deal hasn't changed." Raphael grits his teeth. "It's getting late we'll continue this in the morning." He then forced a smile. "You don't want the prisoners to fall asleep halfway through the session right?"
Keep him happy. Keep him happy. Michael told himself.
"Fine." Michael huffed. "I have a question. There's a room, off-limits, no one can go in expect you. What are you hiding?"
"Hiding? Brother ever heard of personal space? It's my room, my privacy."
"There was a block." Michael folds his arms. "I couldn't sense anything from that room. When there is a block, a warding that means the person is hiding something. You know what they say brother secrets never stay buried for long."
"I can assure you brother." Raphael sneered. "I have no secrets."
Michael smiles as he felt the anxiety from his brother. Raphael has been anxious since Hannah reported the news to him. That piece of information Michael got from Castiel clearly bothered the younger archangel when Michael mentioned the secret room it only made Raphael more nervous.
Interesting.
"Come on Hannah we better not keep Lord Raphael waiting." Michael grinned.
Hannah again bows before following the older archangel upstairs.
The chances of seeing Sam and Jack in the morning is very low. Clearly Raphael didn't want Michael to go any further in his 'revenge' the younger archangel was scared that Michael could find out the truth Michael will find out the truth no one can keep secrets from Heaven's greatest warrior.
Michael is not going to wait until the morning he needed to talk to the hunter and the former nephilim urgently if the script does come true then they are all going to be in trouble. Hannah escorts the archangel to his study.
"You can go now Hannah."
"Sir I only do what Raphael says."
"I am an archangel." He snaps at her. "You serve me. Quit complaining and leave the room now! That is an order!"
Hannah closes her mouth in shock. She quickly nods her head.
"Yes sir."
Michael felt guilty when he saw the fear in her eyes.
"Hannah."
The angel already left. Michael turns away knowing there is no point chasing her. He looks outside and sighs heavily.
Father, I thought if I changed my ways Jack will be saved why the Hell are we still going in the same direction? Why did we end up here? None of this would be happening if we went to paradise.
He again sighs and folds his arms.
I get it I screwed up the world is a mess. You brought me here to see what I have done. This is my punishment and I accept it. I learnt from my mistakes. I even accepted the empath crap as my punishment I can feel the prisoners' hatred and fear their cries and screams are giving me a migraine I'm not fighting it because I know I deserve it. What I don't understand is why are you bringing Jack into this? Your own grandson? If this is some sort of test then you are going way too far. With soul magic he is going down a dangerous path. He will be a danger to himself and to others. I thought fate can be rewritten, I thought you were trying to save me!
The archangel shakes his head.
I'm missing something. There is more to this right? I might have changed sides but that's not all of it no...I need to save Jack it's up to me to put this right. Since the beginning it's always been me and Jack you have made this whole thing about me and him. He is Lucifer's son. Me and Lucifer were enemies you want to change that with me and Jack you want to bring the two sides together for the first time in centuries. You basically appointed me as the kid's Savior. I couldn't save Lucifer so this is my second chance.
Michael looks at the sky and scoffs.
I'm not going get a response from you. I have to figure it out myself after all God works in mysterious ways. Father I am going to save him not because I want to live but also because I care I want Jack to know that I do care about him.
He then nods.
I really need to warn them I need Jack to understand how serious this is. I can't go and see them because of Raphael so I will have to talk to them in another way.
Michael closes his eyes.
"I am going to hate this."
When Michael opens his eyes he finds himself surrounded by fire. The archangel holds his breath when he hears the familiar cries and screams from the souls.
"No not now. Not now." He presses his hands against his head and moans. "Not again."
"Here we go again."
Alastair strolls over to the archangel with a big smirk on his face. Michael doesn't back away or give in to the demon instead he stands up straight and grits his teeth.
"You're not real.
"Is that how you treat an old friend?" Alastair tuts and wags his finger at the archangel. "Oh Michael we been through this before I am real you are in Hell."
"You are dead. Right now I'm in the fortress this all this..." He gestures to his surroundings. "It's all up here." He taps his head. "You can't fool me this time you bastard." He smirks. "This is my dream and I am the one in control."
"You want to test that theory?" Alastair spreads his arms out. "Come on then do it." He then laughs. "Are you sure you wanna do this I mean last time you did this you nearly killed someone." Michael frowns. Alastair raises his eyebrow with amusement. "Quentin." Michael paled at that name. "For all we know you could be killing someone right now." The demon again laughed. "You're dangerous Michael."
Shit Michael didn't think about that. He has done dream walking many times but now with his powers messed up anything can go wrong. Alastair is right he is dangerous
"You didn't think about your fractured mind." Alastair grinned. "You think you can talk to Sammy and the nephilim just like that oh Mikey that's not how it works." He rests his hands on Michael's shoulders. "You can't go into someone else's dream, you can't even face your own nightmares." The demon leans forward and whispers. "You and me we'll be together forever."
"No." Michael turns his head and glares at the demon. "You're not real."
"I may not be real but that doesn't mean I will disappear. Trauma never goes away it stays with you forever. Every time you close your eyes I will be right here waiting for you." He increases his grip on the archangel's shoulders. "We can continue our sessions."
"Sessions?"
"Oh yes! After 15 years you finally took my deal." The demon places the blade in Michael's hand. "To torture the souls."
"There was no deal." Michael points the blade at the demon's throat. "I'm not going to be your student. When I wake up you will be gone."
Alastair shakes his head.
"Running away from your problems, that's all you archangels do. What was the young one called the one who ran off and became Loki aww yes Gabriel now he was a coward."
"Do not mention his name."
"Which one his real name or his fake name?" The demon smirked. "I can see why he joined the Pagan crew I mean look at you I would be embarrassed to have you as a brother. When you did find him, you put him down like a dog."
"Shut up."
"I think they sent the wrong archangel to the cage. Sure Lucifer was no angel but you...you are worse, much worse you are a monster. Lucifer he didn't kill his family you did that. That my feathery friend is evil."
"I am warning you." Michael grits his teeth. "Shut up."
"Lucifer was not the Devil...You are."
As soon as the demon said those words Michael lunges at him and grabs him by the shirt.
"There he is." Alastair laughs. "There's the real Michael."
Michael snarls and raises his fist. Alastair calmly looks at him in the eye. Michael's fist shook and he bit his lip. The archangel then lowers his fist and steps away from the demon. Alastair clasps his hands and his eyes sparkle with amusement.
"There was a time Dean thought he was a hero, Daddy's perfect little soldier. During his time down here I brought out his true self. I opened his eyes and showed him who he truly was. When he ripped his first soul apart, you can feel his satisfaction from a mile away. He liked it. As the years went on Dean embraced his hidden talent. Souls were terrified of him even the demons couldn't believe how good he was. Thanks to me he became one of the best students I ever had. When I'm done with you..." He grins. "...you will be the greatest torturer Hell has ever seen. With your potential you could knock the Righteous Man of the top spot."
"You're crazy."
"Am I? So those people you tortured and killed you had no satisfaction from it whatsoever."
"I..." Michael sighs. "I've changed."
"No one changes. Drug addicts, alcoholics they say they have changed. They give up the drugs, the drink and suddenly they are a whole new person. At the back of the mind they will always be that itch, that crave when they touch the drugs, the alcohol even if they have a drop of it they immediately become hooked on it they return to their old ways just like that. They never changed. You...after one session you will feel that adrenaline that you get every time you torture someone. After a few sessions you will dig deeper and explore more creative ways to make your souls break. After a few years you will not want to stop you will want to keep going, you will rip apart every soul that comes your way. You are addicted Michael. Addicted. An addict never...never changes."
"You're wrong."
"Clearly you don't believe that. If I am a figment of your imagination, a piece of your mind what I'm saying is basically what you are thinking. It's called doubt Michael. You are doubting yourself. You fear you might return to your original ways. That will give Jack a reason to kill you."
Michael wanted to argue but he couldn't. Part of the archangel had to agree with the demon. Back at the camp when Michael pretended to be the bad guy it caused Jack to use his powers. Was this mission from God a way to prove that Michael can't be changed? Whatever Michael does it will always lead to this moment. The moment Jack kills him.
The thought of that made Michael want to scream. Alastair senses Michael's frustration and laughs.
"Come now boy." Alastair gestures down the hallway. "You look like you need to blow off some steam."
Michael follows. He tried to run but he couldn't he felt like he was being pulled the archangel had no control over his body whatsoever. Alastair smirks and leads his student down the hallway. He then stops outside this door.
"After you." The demon purred.
Michael slowly opens the door and goes inside. The smell of sulphur hits Michael causing him to gag. He looks round and frowns at how empty it is. He grips his blade and goes further into the room. Suddenly a spot light comes on. Michael follows the light and finds a small cage. He approaches the cage and looks down at it.
Inside the cage is a man. The man is curled up into a ball, his head is in his lap and his arms are wrapped round his legs. The prisoner sobs his tears fall on to the cold concrete ground. Michael looks the man over and sees a range of bruises and cuts all along the man's arms and legs. His hair is tangled and covered in grim and dirt. Michael tried to focus on his soul but he couldn't find one. When he tried to look closer he is met with a force shield. The archangel rests his hand on the invisible wall and frowns in confusion.
Fear shoots up inside the archangel causing him to gasp. He looks and sees the prisoner frantically rocking back and forth but his face still remained hidden. The fear from the man was so strong Michael felt sick.
The sound of footsteps echo across the room. At first Michael thought it was Alastair but when he turns round he sees a tall figure dressed in white. The new arrival walks past Michael and rests its hand on the cage. The cage opens and the visitor reaches in and strokes the prisoner's hair. Michael couldn't understand how this guy is able to touch the cage while he couldn't.
Then the figure pauses and its eyes shift on to the archangel.
"You shouldn't be here."
Before Michael could respond he is suddenly hit with a blast of light. Michael gasps and opens his eyes. He quickly looks round and realizes he is back in the fortress. The archangel sighs and slumps into a nearby chair. He rubs his head and squeezes his eyes shut as he tries to get rid of the headache. When the pain was gone Michael thought back to his trip in his mind.
The first half of that trip Michael is certain that was him that was his own nightmares however when Michael went into that room, something was off. For starters it wasn't a memory Michael has never witnessed that in his long life and two why would Michael have a force shield in his own mind? What horrified Michael the most was when the guy in white threw him out. As soon as that happened Michael woke up.
I was thrown out of a dream.
This means he did dream walk. The dream didn't belong to Sam or Jack. Who in the fortress did Michael reach out to and why did he reach out to that particular person? Michael thought back to the shield again and not being able to sense the human who was locked in the cage. Michael can sense everyone in this place, he can go into every room. All expect one.
The secret room.
Michael put two and two together and realization suddenly dawned on him. Raphael had a prisoner in there. Who ever it was he clearly didn't want anyone to know.
It's someone important.
Michael didn't know why but he had a feeling he has to save the prisoner.
This chapter went off in its own direction lol. Originally Michael was going to reach Sam and Jack but Alastair decided to join the party and he brought lots of archangel angst with him lol. I can't help it Michael angst is so much fun to write lol.
Next chapter coming soon :)