Recap:
"One of the special kids? No. My name, in this form and life, is Anna Milton."
Dean was beginning to get an idea of what she was hinting it. "And before…you were?"
"Before this, I was Anael. I was the leader of a garrison in Heaven, Castiel's garrison to be specific."
"Now. Let's get down to business" she told them succinctly.
"Which is?" Sam asked.
"Finding Michael" she smirked at their expressions, eyes narrowing at Dean's panicking look.
In-between Anna's disappearance to find her grace, and her reappearance in the room, her parents had disappeared. "I convinced them to go to Church, they're doing a food run today" she'd explained.
"So, how does thing work?" Dean asked. "Do you just pop it in? What does it even look like?"
"Oh Dean" she smiled at him, almost maternally. "This…is my grace." From her back pocket she pulled out a small glass vial, inside it was a bright blue light. It didn't look like liquid, more like an ever-shining blue and silver haze of smoke.
"That'syour grace? It's…It doesn't look like much" Dean had to admit with a sheepish shrug. His words, although not meaning much to him, seemed to offend Anna. Like a cat brushed the wrong way, she grew indignant. Her facial features changed, and in that moment, Dean would've known even without her telling him, that she was not entirely human. Anna glared at him, shoving the grace in his face.
"Thisgrace is strong enough to level towns, to tear your spine from your body whilst your heart still beats – to tear your heart OUT, to time travel even. Do not underestimate the power of this grace, even if it 'doesn't look like much.'" In her rant, there seemed to grow an intense atmosphere around her: Dean couldn't put his finger on it, but he could sense her frustration and irritation in a sense that was supernatural. He could taste ozone, feel tingles down his spine and an electricity in the air. In the instant it had overwhelmed him, it disappeared.
"Sorry" he raised his hands in apology, but it didn't seem to work. Anna began to grow almost frantic, turning to look at John and Sam. "THIS. IS. GRACE" she waved it about. "This is what helped to BUILD the world. This is why you still stand, why YOU" she spun back to Dean, "haven't been gutted like a fish a thousand times over. WHO would you be without Castiel? AND YOU" she turned to Sam who took a step back. It was humorous, Sam the giant stepping back in fear at a petite little woman. "BABY SAMMY. How many times have you been protected in the years huh? I know your daddy taught you to hate Angels, that YOU John Winchester think we're all freaks right?"
"Anna" Dean pleaded.
"Well we're not. We're the reason Earth hasn't been OVERRUN WITH DEMONS" she continued to yell.
"Anna!" Dean shouted louder.
"If Angels weren't protecting your asses, you'd be dead in the ground. ALL of humanity would. Your yellow eyed friends, all his black-eyed lackey's – this world would be theirs. I'm sick of HUMANS thinking they run the world, that you huntersare the real heroes"
"Anna" Dean was growing frustrated at her tirade.
"You MudMonkeys! Nothing better than-"
And that was enough for Dean.
"ANNA!" he roared. A tidal wave of anger washed over him, a righteous sense of fury that lit his heart ablaze in fire and flame. Anna stilled under his wrath, her eyes wide in shock.
"DON'T" growled out in a command, staring her down. It was tense – the air still with anticipation and fraught. She rolled her shoulders, as if beckoning him on, and Dean was again furious at the suggestion. He stepped forward – "DON'T." She stepped back.
"Sorry" she apologised. "I just – we get annoyed at humans slighting our achievements" she smiled impishly, her anger suddenly gone. "Sorry – okay?" she apologised, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry"
His anger was appeased, and he nodded to her in apology. "Now, are you gonna take a swig of that or should I?" he teased her.
"why?" she smirked back, "do you want some grace?" she lifted it tauntingly in his face.
"Nah, I'm good as a human." He shrugged.
"Are you sure? The power feels real good I promise"
"Must also feel like a lot too – the Angel radio, grace exhaustion – even the wing care."
"Did Castiel tell you that?" she asked him speculatively.
"No", Castiel hadn't, "but I can guess." She eyed him for a second, knocking him on his cheek in play.
"Okay Dean, I'm ready to take my medicine now – by the way, keep your eyes shut." With a peace sign at her Winchester audience, she uncorked the bottle and downed it in one go. In a flash of light, she erupted. Bright blue light surrounded her, her body trembled at the force if it. Dean watched in awe, she was ethereal – the light surrounded her was pure, tender, but powerful.
"Dean, shut your eyes!" John ordered. Dean turned to see John and Sam covering their eyes, their head turned to the side. Anna gasped aloud, and Dean's attention was turned back to her. her eyes and mouth were open now, bright streams of light erupted from them too. He heard Sam gasp at the strengthened beam of light, but Dean felt no pain. He could only watch as Anna grew in power, her arms opened wide, welcoming the grace into her body. Her feet lifted in the air, her body minutely shaking. Dean could see the light seeping out of the pores of her body, the bare skeleton of her wings flowering, growing in shape and strength – hues of brown, light and dark, feathering. Then finally it was over. The light was sucked back into her body, the room growing dull once more. She looked at him, at his awe-struck gaze. She smiled softly, and he could feel her love and happiness at the sight of him. He couldn't help but smile back at her, he felt awash in the hazy warmth of love.
"Wow" Sam gasped. Anna was radiant, the change in her body noticeable. Her eyes glowed brighter, her teeth whiter and her body smoother.
"I know. I look good – I feel good" she preened. "Are you boys ready to go and find my Commander now? I'd like to enjoy my newfound powers without worrying about demons on my tail."
"Hold on" John interrupted. "There's something we're missing here."
"Yeah?" she asked him. John frowned at her.
"You said you fell, you became human, because you loved humanity too much, because you wanted to be like us. And now, what? You're just happy to down the Angel juice and join the 'family' that wants you dead?" To be fair, he did have a point. For someone who was – only five minutes ago- saying that her Angel family wanted her dead, Anna was sure happy to become an Angel once more.
"I know, I know, I sound like a hypocrite" she confessed. "But – I fell then, because the Angel's in charge weren't the most…progressive type. I'm ready to join the family again because changes are coming."
"Changes?"
"Well, when we find Michael, there's a new Sheriff in town."
"Michael? That's who you're hedging your bet on?" John scoffed. "The most powerful Archangel, the one who commands the armies – the one who brings fire and brimstone? And how do you know when he sits on the throne, he won't wipe us out."
"Don't believe all the scripture. Michael isn't like that, he's changed" she said slowly, almost hesitantly.
"do you know that for sure?" Dean had to ask. "How certain are you that Michael wont level Earth?" Anna looked intently at Dean but didn't respond.
"See!" John pointed at her, looking at Sam and Dean. "she doesn't even know anything about him." They turned to Anna who shrugged. She sunk down on the sofa, running her hands through her hair.
"This is what I know about Michael. He loved his brothers – all of them, including Lucifer. And when Lucifer strayed, he was chosen to send him to the pit. It was a task that – that we could not have done. This was in the beginning, before we had learnt to fight and kill one another. Michael was given a grievous task, one he did because he loved his father. When we went to battle – it was difficult. But when Michael had to-"
Anna broke off, tears visible in her eyes as she trembled. Dean's heart swelled for her, he wanted nothing more than to comfort her.
"-Michael had to cast him out. Lucifer's fate was worse than the others, he was to be caged for eternity. And Michael, his heart broke when he sent Lucifer away – his younger brother, the light bringer. We all mourned, but Michael suffered even more. He begun to disappear, Gabriel was gone entirely, Raphael took charge. At this point, Father had gone."
"Father – you mean God?!" Sam exclaimed. "God's dead?"
"No, he just…he left. He was burdened by what he had made his sons do, so he left. And over time Michael grew scarce, until he disappeared entirely a few decades ago. In his place, other's rose. Like me – other's fell. Heaven wasn't what it used to be. And then you were born – " she broke off.
"-The Winchester's were born. The yellow eyed demon, Azazel, begun his plans, and everything was set in motion. Times are changing, and Michael's return will change things once more. Azazel and his kind will be destroyed, and we will rejoice once more." She smiled placidly.
"And if you're wrong?" John asked. "If Michael is just like lucifer, if he returns to resume the battle and Earth becomes the battleground? What do we do then?" John asked forebodingly.
They all watched as Anna remained silent for a few moments, then looked up meeting all their eyes, but lingering on Dean's.
"If Michael decides we should be destroyed, then so we shall. Michael is wrath and fury, and with his return, he will lead us to peace, or lead us in battle."
Author's Note:
This is the penultimate chapter, the next chapter will be the last, but also the longest chapter.
Don't worry though!- I will be writing a second series the moment this one is finished