Currently under revision, so it's going to be a) really nice writing that suddenly breaks into shitty stuff and b) suddenly darker than you probably anticipated (whoops I'm fixing that i swear). Should be corrected in the next day or two -casti3l
...
Several hours passed, and Alex began to study the cuff around her ankle. It appeared to be pure iron with a devil's trap carved into it, so Alex assumed it was also used for demons. The lock seemed crude and simple, and she quickly scanned the room for something to pick it with. She saw nothing, and let out a loud breath. Next, she tried prying it off. Unfortunately, she wasn't exactly strong enough to bend the iron. She hissed, frustrated anger growing in her gut. She sat on the bed, focusing on the lock, trying to break it with whatever angel mojo she had used against those demons.
It worked. The metal cuff sprung open. Alex let out a broad grin, and she jumped up, racing for the door. She flung it opened, and froze. Lucifer stood there, looking down at her, confusion written across his face, hand extended, reaching for the door handle. Alex took a small step back. The archangel's face twisted in anger as he realized what was going on. Before Alex could react, he swung his fist, connecting with her jaw. Alex flew up into the air, hitting the ground with a loud thump. She landed on her back, the wind knocked out of her, her wings splayed out on the floor. Lucifer stepped forward, raising a foot. He brought it down hard on her left wing. Alex let out an inhuman scream as she felt the bone shatter. Pain seared up her spine, and her body writhed in agony.
Lucifer reached down, pulling her up to her feet. "Were you trying to escape?" he hissed. "We can't have this attitude, now can we?" He held a fist in front of her face. Alex closed her eyes, expecting another blow. When it didn't come, she looked up. "I am an archangel," Lucifer reminded her. With a single movement, he flicked her in the nose. There was a crack, and Alex flew backwards into the wall, hitting it with such a force it shook. Pain flooded her face as she slid to the ground. She lay there, stunned. Lucifer approached. "Get up." He kicked her in the ribs. "I said, get up!"
"What the hell are you doing?" Alex heard Crowley exclaim. For the first time, she was thankful he was here.
"I caught her trying to escape through the front door," Lucifer growled. He kicked Alex in the stomach, and she screeched. She curled up, drawing her knees into her chest, wrapping her good wing around her. She coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"You can't hurt her," the demon snapped, trying to keep calm. "She's still on the lease. You don't own her yet."
"Then get her off the lease," Lucifer hissed, turning to the demon. "She disobeyed me, therefore she gets punished. And that punishment is whatever I decide."
"She managed to get out of those cuffs?" Crowley asked, slightly surprised. "Impressive."
"She tried to run away. No real angel runs away from their mate."
"She showed courage and determination." Crowley pointed out, trying to calm him down. "Those are two traits any angel would want to see in their mate."
"But she showed no sign of loyalty."
"Loyalty can be learned. Tenacity and fortitude cannot." Crowley let out a deep breath. "I will look over the lease. I might be able to shorten it. No promises," he added. "Until then, you leave her unharmed."
"Fine." the archangel growled, anger fading. He flared his wings, disappearing.
Alex looked up to see Crowley staring at her. He snapped his fingers, and Alex felt the familiar rub of an iron cuff around her ankle. "Better not try that again," he warned. Then he was gone.
Another spasm shook the young angel's body, and she coughed up even more blood. The iron tang sat on her tongue, but Alex was in too much pain to care. She curled up in the corner, eyes squeezed shut. Her broken wing was folded against her back, too painful to move.
...
She wasn't sure how much time passed, but at some point, there was a flutter of wings, and Alex scented Lucifer. She pulled her wing even closer to her, pressing her back into the wall. "I see that demon put it back on you," Lucifer growled, referring to the chain. He approached, kneeling down beside her. Alex buried her head into her chest. "Alex," the archangel growled, "don't be like that. Look at me." Alex refused. "Don't make me do anything," he warned.
Alex lifted her head. She spit out a mouthful of blood onto the concrete floor, eyes not meeting his. Then she lowered her head, resting it on the cold ground. She heard Lucifer grunt in approval, but made no movements.
"I am sorry I had to do this," he began, "but it was necessary. You will not escape, and you will obey me without question. Follow those two simple rules, and no more harm will come to you." He reached out, running a hand over Alex's good wing. She flinched, but refused to draw them back to expose herself. The devil's hand dipped down to her throat, and two fingers rested in the hollow beneath her adam's apple. Alex winced as she felt the icy warmth of his grace rush through her abdomen. Then the archangel pulled away and was gone.
...
April 25th, 2010
She was alone for the next few days. Crowley didn't visit her again. Alex soon realized that unlike other angels, her appearance didn't remain clean. Her clothes became old and torn, and her blonde hair grew dirty. However, she had stopped coughing up blood — the internal bleeding had been the one thing Lucifer had healed — and had become much more mobile. Finally, on the forth day, she heard something move at the door. It was flung open, and there stood Sam Winchester. "Hurry," he whispered, "We don't have much time."
Alex put her arms on her hips and gave him a skeptical look.
"Come on. Dean's waiting outside."
"Very funny." Alex sat back down on the bed.
Sam stepped into the room and closed the door. "You know what? You're no fun." He crossed his arms and let his large, crimson wings become visible and flare wide. Alex could now see their true size, much bigger than Castiel's or hers.
"My apologizes." Alex crossed her arms as well. "Since when did you even have a sense of humor?"
Lucifer frowned in displeasure, and straightened his jacket. "I have a very good sense of humor," he retorted.
Alex snorted in disbelief. "Right."
"Well, at least you're talking to me. I like this vessel." Lucifer took of his military jacket and looked to toss it on the chair, only to see it had been smashed. He frowned.
Alex watched him drop it on the heap of broken wood. "You like him?" she snapped. "Wow. Never would have guessed."
Lucifer frowned. "Don't you like it? I figured it would remind you of home." He walked up to Alex. The bed creaked as Lucifer sat down. "I have all of his memories," he said casually, voice taking on a distant tone as he shifted through Sam's past. "He eats quite a bit of salads, doesn't he? Strange things, salads."
Alex stood up and walked around to the other side of the bed and stood facing away from him. "He's kinda hypoglycemic, dumbass," she huffed. "If he eats a lot of crap, his blood sugar crashes."
"I know that," the archangel replied calmly. "However, I still like this vessel. He's taller than the last."
"Yeah," Alex shot back scathingly. "I've noticed."
The bed creaked again as Lucifer stretched out across it. "He's a bit tall to fit on the bed though."
"Good. You can sleep on the floor," Alex responded. Hands grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down onto the bed.
Lucifer grinned. "I don't think so." Alex tried to resist, but the archangel was too strong. "Don't," he growled quietly. Alex went plaint, and Lucifer smiled. "Good girl." He pulled her up close to him. Alex's nose twitched. Lucifer's scent filled the room, but he also smelled strongly of Sam. Alex breathed in again, and even picked up faint traces of Dean and Cas. At the scent of her angel, she let out an involuntary sigh and felt her resolve strengthen. Lucifer tilted his head. "What's up?" he asked.
"Nothing. It's just weird to see you like this," she lied. "Dressed like Sam and all." She sat up. "You even smell like him."
Lucifer pulled her back down. He wrapped his arms around Alex's waist, and Alex felt goosebumps run up her arms. She focused on Castiel's scent in an attempt to block out everything else. "You know," she finally snapped as Lucifer mindlessly stroked her hip with his thumb, "most people would consider this a fucking assault —" She immediately cut herself off as the archangel tightened his grip, and she flinched.
However, Lucifer paused for several seconds before responding. "I prefer the . . . more traditional way of doing things," he finally said. Alex opened her mouth to growl something out, but the archangel wasn't done. "Much has changed since I last walked the earth. The female sex values different things now. They use to look for a male who could protect them, someone who was strong and capable. Now what do you value? Sex, money?" The archangel let out a huff.
"Respect?" Alex added scathingly.
Lucifer tipped his head to look at her, and Alex shifted away, his face too close for comfort. "You will have my respect when you have earned it," he promised. "When you have my trust. When you no longer lie or try to escape." Suddenly Lucifer sat up. "Do you smell Castiel?" he asked.
Alex scented the air. "No," she lied.
"Don't move." The archangel stood up and walked towards the door. He opened it and stepped outside. Alex debated whether she should make a break for it, but she knew her chain didn't reach, and she didn't want to disobey his order. She had learned her lesson last time. Lucifer returned, nostrils flaring as he smelled the air. Suddenly he stopped. He raised the hem of his plaid shirt and sniffed it. Grunting, he quickly unbuttoned it and threw in on the ground with the jacket. Then he returned to the bed. Alex diverted her eyes from Sam's well-muscled chest. Lucifer laughed and laid back down on the bed.
"There. Now I doesn't smell like that pitiful angel." He pulled Alex back down to him. Then he grabbed Alex's wrist and brought it up to his heart. "I can feel Sam inside my head," he sighed. "Trying to get into my memories, see if there's a way to stop me." He grinned. "Let's give him some memories, huh?" He adjusted Alex so her head was laying on his bare chest. "Maybe something of you and me? Any preferences?" He laughed as he felt Alex stiffen. "It's funny. I can feel his reaction."
Alex let out a quiet growl.
"Quiet down." They lay in silence for several seconds. "You know, tomorrow I have meet my brother. Do you know what happens?"
"Yeah," Alex mumbled.
"And what happens?"
"Well, you don't die."
She flinched as Lucifer tightened his grip on her wrist. "Don't lie to me, girl," he warned.
"I'm not," Alex protested. "You don't die, Michael definitely doesn't win. Promise."
This seemed to satisfy Lucifer. "And what of Castiel?"
Alex swallowed nervously. "He is killed." She closed her eyes. "By you."
Alex felt Lucifer's chest move up and down as he let out a laugh. "Good." He closed his eyes.
"Can I come?" Alex asked suddenly.
"Where?" Lucifer didn't open his eyes.
"With you. Tomorrow."
"And why would I let you do that?" he asked.
Alex shrugged. "Castiel is going to be there."
"You want to see me kill him?" Lucifer asked unbelievingly.
"I want to see him one last time," Alex admitted. "Before you kill him."
Lucifer was silent for several moments. "We'll see," he finally said. "Only if you promise to behave."
"Promise."
"Good. Because if you break that promise . . ." He squeezed Alex's wrist so hard she thought it was going to break.
She nodded. "I promise, I promise," she whimpered. A tear slipped down her cheek and landed on his chest. Lucifer wiped it away. He buried his nose into her hair and inhaled. He let go her her wrist and wrapped his arms around Alex's waist, pulling her even closer to him. Alex closed her eyes, clinging on to the fading scent of her angel.
...
A few hours later Lucifer shifted. He gently shook Alex, who yawned and opened her eyes. "Time to get up." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching out his new back. Alex rolled over, but didn't get out of bed. "Get up," Lucifer snapped loudly.
Alex jumped, and got to her feet, stifling a yawn. She watched as Sam, no, Lucifer, redressed. He slipped on his jacket and ran his hands through is long hair. He looked over at Alex, who was watching him quietly. He motioned for her to approach, and she did so obediently. He reached out and ran his hands through her tangled blonde hair. Alex blushed faintly, and he smiled. His hands rested on her shoulders and looked down at her. She only came up to about his neck.
He cupped her cheek with one hand to raise her face and bent down to meet her lips. Alex flinched, looking up at the face of Sam. He kissed her gently, running his fingers down her soft jawline. His wings completely enveloped them, hiding them from prying eyes. He broke the kiss, staring into her eyes. They were a soft grey with blue and green flecks. He kissed her again. Alex neither moved away nor kissed back. She stood there silently, waiting for him to finish. Lucifer bit down on her bottom lip, drawing blood. Then he broke away. Alex drew her thumb across her lip, wiping off the thick red liquid. The corner of the devil's lip was drawn up into a smirk. "Are you ready?" he asked. Alex nodded, holding back a growl. He raised his wings, ready to take off. Alex shifted her leg, reminding Lucifer of the chain around her ankle. She heard a snap of the fingers, and felt the metal cuff fell off.
The next thing she knew she was standing in a graveyard. Sunlight shone down onto them, and Alex flinched, raising her hands to protect her from the sudden brightness. Lucifer laughed and gently pushed her back into a tree. "I can't have you going anywhere, now can I?" Alex found herself once again bound tight against the trunk. "You should have a good view from here," he promised. He turned around, scenting the air. Adam appeared in front of him. Large wings spread out from his shoulders, thick and white. "It's good to see you, Michael."
"You too." Michael acknowledged his brother with a nod. "It's been long. Are you ready?" He glanced over Lucifer's shoulder to see Alex. She lowered her gaze, trying to make herself as small as possible.
Lucifer took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be." Lucifer let out a small sigh. "A part of me wishes didn't have to do this."
"Yeah. Me too."
"Then why are we?"
"You know why." Michael's wings flared in agitation, but his voice remained calm. "I have no choice, after what you did."
Alex watched as the two brothers conversed. She found it interesting that Lucifer was arguing against fighting. From what she had thought of him before, she could have sworn he would be arguing for fighting.
"Please, Michael —"
Michael cut his brother off. "You know, you haven't changed a bit, little brother. Always blaming everybody but yourself. We were together. We were happy. But you betrayed me — all of us — and you made our Father leave."
"No one makes Dad do anything." Lucifer's wings dropped low in a pleading gesture, begging his brother to listen. "He is doing this to us."
"You're a monster, Lucifer. And I have to kill you."
"If that's the way it has to be . . ." the archangel's eyes hardened into chips of ice, "then I'd like to see you try." As Alex watched two smaller pairs of wings materialized, and all six flared up in a dominant display.
Michael did the same. They slowly paced in a circle, each brother sizing the other up, waiting for the other to make the first blow. Alex watched, wings pressed tightly against her back in fear. She focused on the rope, trying to break it with her grace, but it didn't budge.
The sound of a car caught her attention. The familiar sight of the Impala drove up through the gates. It stopped, and Dean got out. Alex let out a sigh of relief.
"We need to talk," she heard Dean say.
Michael spun around, angry at the intrusion. "You little maggot. You're no longer part of the story," he hissed.
"Hey ass-butt!" Alex watched as Castiel appeared with Bobby. Alex's heart skipped with joy, and she smiled as she realized Bobby was standing. He had his legs back. Castiel threw something at Michael, who was blocked from her sight by Lucifer. She heard a scream and saw tongues of fire reaching up to the sky.
"Ass-butt?" Dean raised an eyebrow at the angel.
"He'll be back - and upset - but you got your five minutes," Cas promised.
"Castiel. Did you just Molotov my brother with holy fire?" Lucifer asked angrily.
"Cas!" Alex yelled. She struggled against the ropes. She had to get free. She had to save Sam.
Castiel looked past Lucifer. "Alex?"
"Ah, I was hoping you would notice." Lucifer turned around to face Alex. The two smaller pairs of wings shimmered and disappeared, and his larger pair folded loosely against his his back. "And I thought you promised you would behave, li mohaoth." He clucked his tongue in disapproval. Castiel took a step forward angrily. Lucifer spoke so everyone could hear. "Well, li adna agi, I'll deal with you later."
Castiel snarled as Lucifer spoke. Lucifer smirked and leaned down, kissing Alex hard. Castiel roared, and Lucifer spun around.
"Cas!"
"Alex!" Castiel raced forward. Lucifer snapped his fingers, and the angel exploded in a rain of blood.
"Cas!" Alex screamed. Lucifer laughed coldly as a tear ran down Alex's face.
"Li mohaoth. You should have known." Lucifer turned his attention back to Dean.
Alex went limp, being supported only by the ropes. Even though she knew Cas would come back, she still cried, her tears running down her cheek and falling onto the grass below. She distantly heard a gun shot, and Dean yelled Bobby's name, followed by the thud as Dean was thrown against the car. She looked up, and through the tears saw Lucifer beating Dean, punching him again and again until his face was red and swollen.
"Please, stop!" she cried, but Lucifer didn't hear. He picked Dean up by the collar and balled up his fist. Suddenly he froze, staring at the Impala. He dropped Dean, who collapsed to the ground. As she watched, Sam dropped the four rings on the ground spoke three words, and the ground opened up. Michael appeared in front of him.
"Sam!" he yelled. "It's not gonna end this way! Step back."
"You're gonna have to make me." Sam stepped closer to the edge.
"I have to fight my brother, Sam. Here and now! It's my destiny."
Sam shook his head and stepped over the edge. Michael lunged forward trying to pull him back, but Sam grabbed him around the wrists and pulled him down with him.
"Sam!" Alex struggled even harder, then collapsed with a strangled cry. She couldn't save him. She couldn't even get herself free. They disappeared, and the ground closed, sealing them back in the cage. Alex hung her head, her body wracked with sobs. Dean leaned against the car. Alex heard a flutter of wings and saw Castiel appear.
"Cas, you're alive?" Dean looked up through his one good eye.
"I'm better than that." Cas reached out and touched Dean on the forehead. His bruises and cuts disappeared instantly.
"Are you God?" Dean asked quietly.
"That's a nice compliment, but no. Although I do believe he brought me back, new and improved." He turned around and knelt before Bobby's body. He touched him on the forehead, and Bobby stirred. Dean reached forward and picked up the horsemen's rings, holding them in his hand. Castiel stood up.
"Cas?" Alex called quietly. The angel turned. Dean and Bobby looked up.
Castiel stiffly approached. "What do you want?"
"What do you mean?" Alex searched the angel's face for any sign of emotion. Dean and Bobby hung back by the Impala, watching them quietly.
"Why did you leave me?" Cas's voice was tight.
"I didn't," Alex promised. "Please believe me." Castiel took a step backwards. "Cas," Alex whimpered. She stretched her good wing out towards him, trying to touch him. He held himself out of reach. "Please," she whispered. Tears filled her eyes, and one rolled down her already tear-streaked face.
"You left me," Cas repeated, this time much quieter.
"I was taken." Alex strained her wings. "Please, Cas. Don't leave me here," she repeated. She flared her nostrils, trying to catch her angel's scent. Castiel stared into her grey eyes. A soft breeze blew past him, and Castiel smelled Lucifer. He took another step back.
"No," Alex begged quietly. "Don't go." She looked her angel in his bright blue eyes. "I need you, Cas."
Castiel felt his heart break in two. She looked so dejected, so scared, that his anger and fear melted away. He reached out his wings and touched their tips with Alex's. She let out a shaky breath, and Cas touched the ropes with his fingers. They snapped and fell at Alex's feet. Alex rushed forward and pulled Cas into a hug. Castiel wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in even closer. He rested his chin on her dirty, tangled hair. Alex buried her face into his shirt, breathing in deeply. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
Alex nodded slightly.
Castiel took a step back to look at Alex. "He hurt you," he observed, eyes dark with worry.
"Nothing too bad," Alex lied. Castiel frowned. He reached forward and touched Alex gently on the head with two fingers. Then everything was gone.
...
Alex blinked. She was in a bedroom. Alex looked around. "Cas?" she called. "Cas? Where are you?" No answer. She looked in the mirror, wincing at her own appearance. Her hair was dirty and matted, and her nose was broken, bent at an angle. She quickly made her way to the shower, really too tired to even care where she was. She locked the door, stripped, and stepped into the shower. The hot water gently pummeled her sore body, and Alex saw large bruises across her left ribs. Her left wing throbbed, and one of the joints was bent at an unusual angle. She washed the dirt and grime out of her hair before reluctantly turning off the water and stepping out of the shower. She redressed in clean clothes she found in the closet and dried and brushed her hair. Alex ran the hairdryer's warm air across her wings, drying them off as well. She tried moving the left one, wincing as she stretched it out. She bit back a cry of pain, and folded it against her back. Exiting the bathroom, Alex quickly looked around the house, seeing if her angel had returned. Still no sign of him. She finally settled down on the couch downstairs.
"You look better."
Alex jumped and looked behind her. "Thanks," she mumbled.
Castiel settled down on the couch beside her. He gently touched Alex's nose, and the pain was gone. Alex reached up and cautiously touched it; it felt like it had never been broken. "Where else does it hurt?" Castiel fixed his worried eyes on Alex. She wordlessly lifted her shirt to show him her ribs. Castiel frowned at the sight of the black and purple bruises. He gingerly brushed his hand over them. Alex gasped at the pain, but when she looked down, the bruises were gone. "Anywhere else?"
"I think he might have broken my wing." Alex tenderly extended her wing towards him.
Castiel examined it, and sat back. "I'm sorry. It's beyond my abilities. It will heal, but it will take time. Here. This might hurt." He softly grabbed either side of the joint, and with a swift motion, bent it back to its right shape. Alex screeched in pain. "It's okay." Castiel dropped the wing and wrapped his arm around Alex's shoulders. She tensed. Castiel noticed and dropped his arms. He stared at Alex somberly.
"Sorry." Alex was unable to meet his gaze. "I, I just . . ." she trailed off.
"It's okay." Castiel closed his eyes. "I understand. I don't want to do anything that reminds you of Lucifer. We'll get through this." He abruptly stood up. "I must get back to Dean. He needs me too."
"Cas." Her voice stopped the angel. "Where are we?"
"Heaven." Castiel's wings flared wide in pride. "I've been reconnected. And upgraded." He spread his wings. "They're larger."
Alex nodded. "So they are."
"I'm a seraphim now." Castiel's eyes sparked proudly. "No angel can change ranks. Only God can do that."
"Wow. That's amazing." Alex looked around. "So, uh, who's house is this?"
"This is ours." Castiel's wings stayed flared in possession. "Yours and mine." His eyes flashed quickly with trepidation. "Do you like it?" He looked to his left, where a tv was mounted against the wall, boxed in by two large bookshelves. "I, I - you like books, so I put in several bookcases. There's chocolate in the kitchen, because I know you love it." His eyes were slightly wide, and his voice was lined with some emotion Alex couldn't place.
"I love it," Alex promised. "It's our home." She looked up at the angel, a small smile on her face. "It's been a long time since I've had a home." She looked around. "I didn't know angels lived in houses. I thought you . . . I dunno. Lived in like, barracks or something."
Castiel tipped his head. "We don't live in barracks. Not all of us. Our living quarters are . . ." He paused, thinking of an adequate term. "They're more similar to your Roman style houses. However, I felt you would be more at home with something more . . . modern. For now, at least." Castiel motioned towards the stairs with a wing, continuing before Alex could respond. "There's only one extra bedroom upstairs, but we can always add more when we need them."
Alex smiled in disbelief. "We're in heaven, Cas. I doubt we'll be having many visitors that need sleep."
Castiel's eyes narrowed in confusion, then widened in what Alex could only describe as hurt. But it was gone so quickly that she could barely be sure. Then he was gone.
Alex let out a breath. Then she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. It didn't matter now. Lucifer was back in the cage. Crowley was still on earth, but Alex was safe in heaven. No one could reach her here. No one except another angel, a little voice in the back of her head reminded her. A flutter of wings caught Alex's attention. She stood up and turned, expecting Castiel. It was not. Hot terror shot down Alex's spine, and she took a step back, fists balled.
"Are you Alex?" the angel asked.
"Cas?" Alex called desperately, hoping her angel could hear her.
"Castiel is busy." The angel lowered his brown wings in an attempt to prove he was not a threat. "He sent me to protect you. My name is Koda." His voice carried a slight Irish accent.
Alex studied the angel warily. He was of average height with a small, skinny frame. Thick black hair stuck out in every direction, barely covering his large ears. His face was young, and blue eyes followed Alex's movement.
"What do you want?" Alex growled. She flared her wings, only to double over in pain as she moved her broken wing.
Koda watched Alex with sympathy. "Castiel set me to protect you," he repeated. "He didn't want to leave you alone."
"Prove it," Alex snarled.
Koda tipped his head to one side. "Excuse me?"
"I said prove it." Alex adjusted her stance defensively.
"Is it true? About you and Lucifer?" he asked instead.
Alex didn't respond directly. "I'm not going back," she swore.
"That's why I'm here," Koda promised. He turned towards the kitchen. "Is there food?"
Alex relaxed slightly. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "I haven't exactly been around for the past week."
Koda nodded understandingly. "Mind if I check then?" When Alex shook her head, he made his way over to fridge.
"So how exactly do you know Cas?" Alex watched Koda warily.
"I was his boss. At least before he became a seraphim, like me." Koda stared at the fridge, then checked the cupboards. "Side note, I was the first angel to be born, not created."
"Really?" Alex walked around the couch and to the kitchen. She leaned against the wall.
"Yes. My father is the archangel Cassiel." Koda pulled out a bag of chips. "Mind if I open these?"
"Go ahead." Alex found herself warily enjoying the angel's company. "Who is your mother?"
"Her name was Bethel." The angel sighed. "She died several hundred years ago."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's fine." Koda raised his wings. They reminded Alex of eagle's wings; they were brown, and the tips of the primary feathers were white. He smiled charmingly. "You want some?" He waved the bag in the air.
"No thank you," Alex declined politely.
"More for me." Koda walked back over to the couch and sat down. "Is your wing okay?"
"Cas says it's broken." Alex watched him warily. "And that he can't fix it. Which is weird because he was able to heal all of my other injuries."
"That sounds right." Koda nodded. "Unfortunately, even us angels can't heal a broken wing, no matter how much we want to." He snapped his fingers, and the tv flickered on.
"Aren't you suppose to be protecting me?" Alex joked.
"I am." Koda looked back at her. "Do you see any danger?"
"No."
"See? I'm doing a great job." Koda laughed at his own joke.
Alex let out a small smile. "You don't seem much like an angel," she said quickly. "I mean, you talk and joke like a human."
"I lived among them for several decades. Some angels do that, while others just watch from above." He shrugged. "I don't mind it."
"And . . . you're vessel—"
"I was born with it." Koda tipped his head back to study her. "Two human vessels create a human vessel. I can leave it if I choose, but personally I enjoy this one." He looked around the house. "Very modern. I like it."
"Uh, yeah. Cas said this wasn't normal."
Koda nodded. "You should see the great halls," he told her. "That's where the archangels live."
"That's where you grew up?"
"Yes. It's truly amazing. Heaven's greatest creation." He patted the cushion next to him. "Sit down."
"No thanks." Alex struggled to push sudden panic down. She didn't want to be anywhere near an angel, especially not that close. Not anymore.
Koda seemed to pick up on Alex's fear. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
"Yeah." Alex tried to steady her voice.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Not particularly." Alex crossed her arms.
"Is this something about Lucifer?" Koda turned to face the female angel.
"I don't want to talk about it," Alex repeated stubbornly.
Koda looked concerned, but thankfully didn't push her. "Okay. But if you ever do, I'm always here to talk." He then turned back to his snack.
"I'll be upstairs." Alex quickly ran up the flight of stairs, glad to get away from the angel. She followed the hallway down to the second bedroom. She cracked open the door. It was smaller than the master bedroom and contained a small child's bed in the corner along with a large wardrobe against the near wall. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. The extra bedroom. That's what Castiel had meant. She leaned against the door and slumped down to the floor, her head in her hands. She didn't know what to do.
...
The light from window slowly faded, leaving Alex alone in the dark.
"Alex?" She faintly heard Koda call her name.
She cracked open the door. "Yeah?"
"You okay?"
"Fine." Alex stood up and walked out into the hall. She leaned over the railing to see the angel standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at her worriedly. "I'm going to go to bed," she informed him.
"Okay." Koda returned to the couch.
Alex disappeared into the bedroom. She sat down on the bed and crawled under the covers. There she lay, lost in her own thoughts. Eventually she drifted into a fitful sleep.
...
Alex knew she was dreaming. She knew because he couldn't be here. Not here, not now. Alex struggled against her ropes, finding herself once more tied to a chair. "Guess what, le adna agi." Lucifer sat perched on the table in front of her. He grinned evilly. "I'm back." He studied Alex and frowned playfully. "Don't pretend you're not glad to see me." He looked down at his appearance, which had returned to the form of Nick, not Sam. However, he no longer had the burn-like wounds covering his face. "Unfortunately, I seem to have lost my Sam-suit after landing back in the cage. Too bad. I liked wearing him." He grinned again. "But back to you."
Alex let out a wordless hiss.
"If I had to, I'd bet you knew I was going back to the cage, hmm?" He leaned in.
Alex pulled the corner of her mouth up into a smile, anger glittering in her eyes.
Lucifer stood up and approached Alex. "I thought you promised not to lie to me." He squatted down in front of her so his head was level with hers. "You know, I invented lying."
"You don't give me the chance to forget," Alex spat back.
The devil acted offended. "So much attitude is so little an angel." Alex just glared at him. He met her gaze confidently. "Look at all that anger," he remarked. "I like that." He laughed when Alex looked away.
...
Castiel watched Alex sleep. She tossed and turned, then stopped, and let out a small whimper. Anger surged through him, followed by heart-wrenching pity. He sat down on the bed and tenderly scooped her up into his arms. She whimpered again and clutched at his shirt. Cas leaned back against the headboard, rocking her gently. "Le pas enay," he whispered, "what has he done to you?"
...
Sorry. Have these past few chapters been okay? A lot of people haven't really liked them.