Author's Note: OMG it's today! If you don't follow me on Twitter I have been raving about a book that came out this morning! It's named Broken Rules by Michaela Grey. Now while I haven't read the book yet she has been releasing little snippets on her twitter feed and I CAN'T WAIT! This book is the second in a series, and while it can be read as a stand-alone the first book Broken Halo was my all-time favorite adult read. You should totally give it a shot, you can buy it on amazon or what is becoming my favorite online book store Wanna know what makes them AWESOME? If you buy the paperback? You get the eBook FREE. I've been saying that's how it should be since eBooks came out. Give it a shot!
To help here are a couple links where you can pick up Broken Rules:
Dreamspinnerpress: books/broken-rules-by-michaela-grey-9757-b
Amazon: .ca/Broken-Rules-Michaela-Grey/dp/164080501X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1532433576&sr=8-6&keywords=broken+rules
Chapters: . ?ikwid=broken+rules-+michaela+grey&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0
Warnings: Angst.
**This has been edited by Queen0fHearts
Chapter 16
Revealing who he was surprisingly didn't change their plan on how to Lucifer shove back in his box. The only thing that did change was for once it seemed like the boys were willing to believe him when Gabriel mentioned again that while they could bring the Colt, it wouldn't do anything but pinch. Castiel had looked at him like he didn't know if he should be falling to his knees for his missing brother or punch him for leaving in the first place. Gabriel was hopeful for neither; the looks the younger angel would send him of admiration and hope were a bit too much to bare.
Bobby had been the hardest to speak to when he did arrive a couple of days after revealing who he was. While Dean had gone off on a tangent and Sam seemed almost awed by him alongside Castiel, Bobby merely raised an eyebrow before wanting to plan what they would be doing next. Hearing that Gabriel expected Bobby to remain behind didn't go over well. It wasn't until the archangel had pulled the hunter into a kiss, resting his forehead against the other man's, that Bobby stopped to listen. Not for the first time the archangel was glad he came back to the hunters in their separate groups instead of all at once, having waited to seek Bobby out until he was alone.
"Bobby, I need you to still treat me as your god. I'm nowhere as strong as my brothers, and while I had to break my tie to Loki, I might be able to rebuild a part of it with you. While I could wipe the floor with Castiel, this isn't a fight I can win. Lucifer is far more powerful and driven than I am. He's had nothing but time to perfect his strategies and grow his power, and he can call upon the souls from Hell to give him a boost." Pausing, Gabriel relished how Bobby wrapped his arms around him, holding their bodies close together. "I can't win against him, and Death made me promise to limit who is there… I won't have an army to help me, but you can."
"How can I help you?" asked the hunter, a hint of need in his voice.
"You pray, just like you have been doing. I may be Gabriel but hopefully, I can still call upon fresh pagan power and use it to boost my own." Running his hand to the back of Bobby's head, Gabriel dislodged the cap while pulling his hunter into a kiss. Hopefully, he wouldn't need their small connection to save himself. He had already drawn enough power from the man.
Now standing in the middle of an old cemetery, Gabriel looked at those he was putting his life on the line for. Castiel was holding his angel blade, his shoulders tense but ready to fly into battle. Dean held the Colt in his hand. Though it wouldn't do much against Lucifer, it would kill any demons who accompanied him. That was why the hunter also had a large bag over his shoulder full of shotguns loaded with rock salt rounds. Sam was the one Gabriel had eyes for. The taller hunter was breathing in deeply and trying to center himself before they began the battle. While he had thought about asking his pagan family to help, Gabriel had eventually decided against it. Although Odin knew of what he truly was, the god had never brought his heritage into the light. The last thing he wanted was for Thor to hold this over his head. Maybe if he survived the fight he would tell those inside Asgard.
"Remember Sam, whatever you do don't say 'Yes' to anything. I have a few safety nets in place. Even if he gets one of us I can undo anything he does. I've been cleaning up my brother's messes for eons. This is no different."
Sam nodded at Gabriel before looking up at the sky and speaking directly to Lucifer, his hands fisted at his sides. Gabriel used the split second he had to move closer to Castiel, wrapping the young angel in his grace and using what he could to hide from the other archangel. Without a vessel, Michael would be unable to come to the show meaning they only had one archangel to worry about. Gabriel could feel it the second Lucifer responded to Sam's call. The blond decaying figure was hard to miss, and the former trickster couldn't help but notice the formerly pure grace had its new tarnished glow.
Lucifer was still beautiful in his true form. The parts of grace that Gabriel could see leaking from his vessel were breathtaking, truly showing The Morningstar; however, his beauty was not as it once was. Instead of reflecting purity and light Lucifer now had a dangerous look about him, one that struck Gabriel through the heart. Still, he pressed his true form close to Castiel until the younger angel moved. Sam was quick, easily tossing the combined rings to the ground and chanting the spell to open the cage. Lucifer for all his bravado paled at the sight of his former prison.
For thousands of years, he had been locked in that cage. Gabriel was half surprised his brother wasn't running for the hills at the sight. "What is this? Do you really think you can lock me up again? You and what army? I see no Michael here to kill me, and only you three to attempt to take on an archangel. We'll talk about your insolence later, Sammy. I'm certain we'll have time we become one." While Lucifer spoke, Castiel moved forward with his sword in hand, but Lucifer didn't seem concerned. Instead, he snapped his fingers.
Gabriel sensed what his brother was trying to do and blocked it with his grace. Though it caused Lucifer to pause for a second, he was quick to bring out his own blade to deflect Castiel's. They met blow for blow, Gabriel using his grace to aid Castiel whenever he could. The sound of a gunshot rang through the clearing, Dean having taken the chance and shot Lucifer with The Colt. It didn't hurt Lucifer, not really, but it did cause enough of a shock for Castiel to stab the archangel with his blade and push him toward the portal. In the last second, Lucifer reached out, dropping his blade in the process, but managed to grab the bottom of Castiel's trench coat.
Castiel began to fall into the pit, and Gabriel watched for a second as Sam reached out and clasped the angel's hand in his own. Lucifer tried to pull Castiel down with him. They were going to all fall in if he didn't act. Closing his eyes for a second, Gabriel revealed his previously hidden form and stepped toward the portal where Dean was now holding onto Sam as not to lose his brother. Turning to the humans, Gabriel smiled slightly, "You boys tell that priest of mine to keep his ass out of the fire, yeah?"
Without waiting for a response, Gabriel grinned down at his shocked older brother. "Luci, I'm home!" diving in the portal, Gabriel sliced through the coat Castiel was wearing which made Lucifer fall into the pit at the last moment, he reached up and grabbed Gabriel, dragging him down. Once they were deep enough inside the portal he didn't have to worry about Lucifer making his way out, Gabriel looked up and watched as the portal closed, locking them inside. Though he didn't expect a response, Gabriel sent a silent prayer to their Father asking Him to look out for his gruff hunter.
Castiel was floored while watching the portal close with his two older brothers inside. This wasn't the plan. While they had known it could have gone wrong, the angel had believed with Gabriel on their side that things would turn out okay, that they could beat The Devil without losing anyone. He had been wrong. "Gabriel," the name passed his lips in a whisper. As the portal closed the horsemen's rings lay almost innocently on the ground, no longer of use. Castiel would later thank Sam for separating the rings and giving two to his brother. Right then all Castiel could do was stare at where his own brother had fallen.
They hadn't been overly close. Castiel knew he had been harsh with Gabriel while believing him to be Loki, but he had hoped he could make up for his slight. Gabriel had been laughter and love and warmth. He had been his only connection to a home now lost to him, and to have that ripped away tore at the young angel and caused his remaining grace to ache. "Come on, Cas. We should get out of here… we need to go to Bobby's… someone has to… someone has to tell him what happened." Glancing up at Dean who was gazing down at him with worry, Castiel nodded before allowing Dean to help him to his feet where he had been kneeling on the ground.
They had a long drive ahead of them filled with tense silence while trying to figure out how to tell Bobby his lover was gone.
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