Lucifer was exhausted.

Amara was relentless in her ways of torture, his wings, what he had prided himself on highly, were shreds on his back. Cas was still inside him, hardly conscious. Lucifer could hear his soft moans of agony and harsh breathing when he tried to move. Lucifer, he called out. You shouldn't have taken the hit for me. In the end, we are nearly as badly off.

Lucifer winced, remembered Cas's stoic face no matter how far Amara dug into his Grace, but she dared not touch his wings. "For Dean," she had said. "I'm only doing this for Dean, keep your pathetic wings."

Cas, please, Lucifer replied. It's alright. I couldn't have watched you go through this.

It hurt me to watch her tear through you. I would rather have been in your place than unable to do anything.

Amara appeared at the far end of the room. "Boys," she called. "How are you?"

Lucifer sank into the vessel. "I'm fine auntie, thanks for asking!" he said brightly, forcing an excessive smile.

"Attitude will get you nowhere Lucifer. How are those wings of yours?"

Lucifer flinched. "They've been better, I can tell you that much."

"At least you still have them. I could have cut them off completely and torn out your Grace. Imagine that; Lucifer, the Father of Sin, the Morningstar, the Dark Prince, a mortal. A powerless mortal. Of course, that is still an option."

Castiel growled inside of Lucifer.

"Oh shut up Cas," Lucifer said aloud. "She won't."

Amara's fine eyebrows shot up. "Oh?"

"Yeah, if I'm mortal I die of my wounds almost immediately. Then you can't use me to get daddy dearest."

"But I have Castiel still. God doesn't care about you as much as he does about the seraph."

Lucifer nodded. "True."

"True?" she asked. "That's all?"

Lucifer? What are you doing? Cas asked worriedly. Don't let her hurt you more!

Lucifer laughed out loud.

Amara's eyes widened. "What is it?" she asked angrily. "What is so amusing?"

"Oh, forgive me," Lucifer smiled. "But you won't kill me or turn me mortal. Your threats are empty."

Amara stepped up into his face. "How would you know, pray tell?"

"I already stated that I would die but you made it clear you think dad doesn't care and I confirmed it. But believe me, Michael and Gabriel will."

"Michael's in the cage, he can't touch me here." Her eyes flickered everywhere but his Jimmy's blue ones

Lucifer sighed. "You know why the Archangel's are bad news. They can give the Mark, same with Reapers. They hand one of the Winchesters Cain's curse and you get your ass slammed back behind bars."

Amara's eyes were wide and full of ill-disguised fear. "I should throw you back into the cage."

Lucifer knew she could and felt nerves rise in his stomach. He didn't want to go back. Lucifer put on a snarky expression, deciding that if she was to lock him up, he could at least go down being a jackass. "Really? I've escaped the cage twice now. That's one time more that you. And guess what? Michael's in there! You open that door long enough for me to be dragged in and he gets out. One Archangel for another. The soldier or the rebel, take your pick. Looking at Dean, solider seems to be more your type."

Castiel flinched at the mention of Dean.

"Do not speak to me like that!" Amara hissed, her hand on his neck at heat and knives flooding through his body.

Lucifer screamed as he felt his blood begin to boil inside of him, his Grace was being skinned alive. All he could think was "is this what it felt like for Sam?"

"Oh nephew," Amara said, raising his chin with a long, sold hand. "Everything so far has been child's play."

Lucifer! Castiel's voice was hard and commanding. Let me take over! She won't kill me or touch my wings or slam me in the cage again.

Lucifer felt himself ascending, passing Cas as the seraph made his way into the vessel. Cas no! he shrieked.

Outside he could vaguely hear Amara speaking to Castiel. He could only catch bits and pieces of their conversation. "The coward shows...won't touch your wings...Dean Winchester...hopeless...fallen."

Not once did he hear Cas speak out loud to Amara, however he spoke to Lucifer constantly. Lucifer, she is going to kill Gabriel. It's a trap, she knew they would come and she knew they'd know where we'd be. There's Holy Oil all across the floor.

Lucifer's breath caught. Pray Cassie, pray to Dean. Tell him about it, tell them to leave us. As long as she's occupied with us and God she can't inflict damage on the world.

I can't. He's already weak from my earlier prayers, I cannot weaken him further. It will become dangerous.

It's his strength or his brother and our brother's life! Amara will destroy him too, you know that!

Cas was silent.

You know I am right brother.

Silence.

I know you love him Cas, I've been in your head. If he died what would become of you? You would whither away or, I know, rip out you Grace in a fit of madness and die.

Fine.

Lucifer was stunned. What?

I will pray to him. It will sap him of energy but he will come anyways, you know. At least he will be aware it is a trap. Cas's voice practically dripped with hate for what he was about to do.

Lucifer relaxed, allowing blackness to seep into his vision before he felt himself being ripped from the vessel and slammed into a different one, his first, the blond man whose name was Nick. Then he heard Castiel's scream of utter anguish. Cas! he shrieked back. Castiel! No! There was no reply and suddenly Lucifer felt the heat of Cas's Grace fade. Fear smothered him. "AMARA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

The lithe woman appeared beside him. "Take it easy darling nephew."

"What have you done?" he whispered, voice low and dangerous as a raging storm. "Is he alive?"

Amara flashed a quick smile. "I needed to stop him from warning Dean. See, I need both Sam and Gabriel dead and it wouldn't work if they knew." She examined her nails.

"Is he alive?" Lucifer snarled.

Amara glanced up, her sharp eyes finding the Archangel's. "No."

AN: I'm sorry