Chapter Twenty-One:

Sam was on fire. Of course, he hadn't exactly liked the plan, but he did have a certain trust that Castiel could get them through anything. That was the main reason to bring him back in the first place, after all.

The giant was an even more imposing figure than usual, standing atop the wheelbarrow which added another two feet to his already massive height. And, as mentioned, he was literally on fire. The flames were licking over the Holocaust cloak, but Sam felt no pain. Benny was hunched behind him, pushing the wheelbarrow with all his might. Luckily, all eyes were on Sam.

Sam cleared his throat, and in his most booming voice, said, "I am the Dread Demon Cain. My wrath and fury be upon you. There will be NO survivors."

Unsurprisingly, this started a bit of a panic at the main gate. Demons were one thing, but THE Dread Demon Cain was infamous. And a massive flaming figure might alarm anyone, no matter the name.

Nearly a dozen of the more cowardly guards simply turned tail and ran with not even an attempt at upholding their duties. A few more waved their swords feebly only to retreat as they felt the heat of the giant's blaze come closer. A core few held fast together, defiance in their eyes. A loyal bunch, ready to die.

Do what must be done, thought Sam remorsefully. And so he stomped his foot, and at this signal, Benny jumped out from behind him, fangs bared and menacing. The guards had not seen him coming and all their attention was suddenly diverted to the vampire. With that distraction, Sam gave up the fiery charade. He pulled off the now smoldering cloak and pulled out his sword.

Together they fought.

Steel clashed against steel and Sam downed three men in record time. Benny was holding his own as well, disabling his opponents, smashing legs and punching out fellows with his vampiric strength. They were outnumbered until they were not, and then one man was left.

Not a man, an angel, Benny suddenly realized as he picked up the scent.

Michael had let the guards try their hand, but he himself had tried to stay out of the conflict until absolutely necessary. He was afraid that in the chaos, either the giant or the vampire might get in a lucky shot and take him out. Which couldn't be allowed, since he was the keeper of the castle gate key, which hung around his neck.

Benny and Sam slowly approached the angel from either side, knowing that this was a significantly more dangerous foe. For once, Sam may have given up his mother's sword for an Angel blade, if he'd had the choice.

"Come now, children," taunted Michael. "You were doing so well. Don't be shy now."

The angel struck without warning, moving quick as a blink, and then Benny had been grabbed 'round the chest with an Angel blade pressed to his throat.

Sam lowered his sword slightly, ready to surrender if it was needed to save Benny's life. "Listen, sir, we have no qualms with you. I'm seeking the murderer, Count Azazel."

Michael's eyes flickered with interest. "Azazel is a scab. What the Prince sees in a demon like that I will never know. But as much as I'd like to see the fleabag get what's coming to him, I am duty bound to keep the likes of you out. Say goodbye to the vampire."

Just as he said it, Michael felt the point of an Angel blade against his own back. "Drop it, Michael, old friend."

Michael lowered his blade and pushed Benny away roughly, then turned instead to face Castiel.

Sam and Benny had left the former angel a ways outside the castle grounds so that he could regain his strength during the battle. The plan was that Sam would go back for him once the gate was clear, but there was Cas now, somehow managing to stand on his own two feet.

Michael eyed Cas with an appraising expression. "Castiel. I haven't seen you since your fall from grace. How's the humanity treating you?"

"Very well, thanks. It's a funny thing what you may realize when you cease to be one of the Prince's puppets. Judging by that string around your neck, though, I'm not sure you can relate."

Michael lowered his Angel blade and fingered the key around his neck. Castiel looked much as he remembered, save for the beard. His eyes, blazing and critical, were the same.

"This may surprise you, Castiel, but I am no puppet," said Michael quietly. "Things are not as they once were, even I can see it. There are rumors that Prince Chuck…that he cares not for the Kingdom at all. That he's done…something…to the Queen." The whisperings had bothered Michael for some time, but he dared not speak them to his fellow angels, whose allegiances he could not be sure of. Castiel, however, had once been like a brother to him. And Castiel fell because he was always one to question orders and motives. In the secret part of his heart, it was something Michael admired intensely. So he shared his doubts now and waited for Castiel to either confirm or deny them.

Cas felt a wave affection for his old friend, but he could not waver from the truth or his mission. He responded carefully. "Michael, the first of your worries is a certainty, I'm sorry to say. Prince Chuck wants war, and he'll tell whatever lies he needs to in order to achieve it. Angels will die and he won't care. As for the Queen…I'm not sure. However, I would not exactly put it beyond the realm of possibility. I hope to find the truth as I rescue Dean Winchester."

"Dean Winchester, the hunter? Dean Winchester, the groom?"

Castiel nodded. "He's not safe. I'm not sure anyone is with Chuck's whims."

Michael closed his eyes, a look of anguish on his face. It seemed like immense effort when he finally reopened them. "I can't help you, Castiel. But I won't stop you, either." The angel pulled the key off from around his neck. He tossed it to Castiel, who caught it.

"And hurry, old friend," he said, "the wedding should be starting any time now."

With that, Michael disappeared with a sound of rushing wings.

Benny and Sam stared at the spot he disappeared from, and then up at Castiel. "That was great timing to get your legs back, Castiel," said Benny. "We're gonna need you."

"S'ppose so," muttered Cas, right before his legs - which he'd been struggling to keep from wobbling all this time - gave out beneath him.

Sam and Benny hurried forward and propped him back up between them. Sam threw Benny a dirty look. "You had to say it, didn't you?"

Dean had awakened hours after he was thrown in his bedroom. He had an awful headache, but that was the least of his problems, considering he was locked in. All attempts at picking the lock came to naught, and he realized that there was more to it - perhaps some of Chuck's power that was keeping him there.

Outside his window, the sun was almost down, and the wedding would be set to start soon. But surely Chuck couldn't force him? Could this really be happening? And Cas, oh Cas, was he really...?

Dean fought the wave of despair. Cas had been 'dead' once before, and Dean had lost faith then. Cas had said he would always return to him, and Dean had to believe it this time around. He just had to.

Dean did all he could do in the meantime - he wrote a note to Cas regarding Amara's imprisonment and tucked it under his pillow with a corner peeking out. Even if Dean couldn't get the Queen out before the wedding, perhaps Cas could.

When Prince Chuck came to get him, Dean had all intentions of fighting him. This, however, was anticipated by Chuck and he immediately snapped his fingers as he entered.

Dean's body shuddered as he felt the reins of control being taken away from him. The prince snapped his fingers again, and now Dean was dressed in formal attire.

And then he was being pulled out the door on Chuck's arm, his traitorous feet moving forward to the castle chapel in which they were to be wed.

Damn him, thought Dean.

And then a silent prayer. Come on, Cas. You said not even death could stop our bond, now is the time to prove it. I need you.