The first time Castiel truly experienced the power of a soul was the first time he grasped Dean's in hell. It repelled against his grace, the torture addled thing detesting anything remotely good and pure but Castiel had held tight had gripped him with such force his mark bared upon Dean's skin.
He's touched many souls since then souls of the old and the young, souls of humans and creatures but nothing has felt as pure as Dean's. Castiel thinks that Dean's had felt so raw to him because he knows Dean personally, knows every inch of his soul intimately. As Castiel's fist punctures through Eve's lacky who's name he hadn't even bothered to learn he is once again repelled but unlike with Dean Castiel doesn't cradle and comfort the soul, he tears it apart - figuratively, in actuality what he's tearing apart is this monsters head. He'd forgotten the strength his vessel bares when his grace isn't at its full capacity.
Warm blood curls over Castiel's palm, the crimson liquid imbedding itself into his cuticles and still he continues, feels thick muscle strain beneath the rough pads of his fingers.
"Okay, okay." The creature breathlessly wheezes out voice too strained from his screaming to do much else.
"My mother's on 34th street, a place called Ervin's diner." The creature gasps wetly, voice wavering as he continues to talk. "There's no use, you can't win, she knows your coming, she see's everything through us."
Castiel smiles cruelly.
"Then I best not disappoint her."
When he's finished, his hands are painted a deep red and the sounds of pained screams echo within his ears.
"I will not lower myself to commit an act of torture upon anybody. " Castiel forgets his own words as simply as he does his morals.
He still feels a pressuring ache against his dulled grace but that won't deter him, he's lived without it before and he can temporarily do without it again. Sam and Dean arrive within the next couple of minutes getting the weapons packed and ready to go once Castiel tells them of Eve's location.
Castiel swops the bullet with the phoenix ash for a regular one; if Dean was correct in his assumption that the phoenix ash would kill Eve he couldn't let them use it. Castiel needed her alive – he needed her in able to open Purgatory.
Cas waits outside the diner like they asked, skin itching and fingers twitching around his shotgun. He can't sense anything and his hearts drumming within his chest when the shutters on the windows of the diner snap shut. Castiel marches forward, ignores Bobby yelling after him.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?"
"Their obviously in trouble, we need to get in there." Castiel says without turning around.
Castiel's eyes scan over the diner trying to find a way in whilst remaining inconspicuous, that would have been an easy task if the diner wasn't infested with monsters.
"You're coming with us." A voice says. Both Bobby and Cas turn around and come face to face with a small group of who Castiel assumes are Eve's children.
Castiel drops his weapon to the floor in a show of surrender but in reality the monsters have just helped them find the perfect way in.
Cas turns to Bobby, eyeing him and attempting to silently communicate with the older hunter, to tell him to desert his weapon. Bobby looks reluctant, unable to give up the only defence they have, that problem is soon solved when one of the monster's snatches away Bobby's gun and breaks it in half against their knee.
"Son of a bitch." Bobby grouches to which the creatures all smirk.
"Our mother will see you now." One of them says eyeing Castiel like he's something the monster would just love to pick apart.
Their roughly shoved through the diner's back door, Castiel close to tripping over his own feet when one of Eve's monsters pushes him forward.
He eyes first Dean then Sam, gaze lingering on the younger Winchester. Sam shrugs slightly, jaw tense and body on edge.
Eve steps towards him and a hate Castiel didn't think he was capable of possessing overflows him.
"And you – wondering why so flaccid? I'm older than you Castiel; I know what makes angels tick. As long as I'm around consider yourself...unplugged."
The thoughts not a comforting one, if Eve can affect him like this there's no telling what she could do to Crowley, what she could do to Castiel's army. If they do manage to capture her will they even have enough fire power to hold her down? Will they even be able to get her to tell them where Purgatory is?
She struts towards Sam and Dean so self assured and confident. She moves fast, she's faster than Castiel is. Her body a blur as she appears behind Dean, talon like hands digging into Dean's shoulders as she threatens him.
"Don't test me."
"Bite me." Dean replies, a tremble of anger to his voice.
Castiel struggles to gather his strength, to stretch out to the dormant grace he can feel is eager to return to him. This wasn't how it was supposed to be, he'd never come across a creature like Eve, if she turned Dean and Castiel had done nothing to stop it he would never forgive himself. He struggles against the arms holding him down, stomach turning nauseous when he hears Sam's worried shout when the mother's teeth bite unforgivingly into Dean's neck.
Eve backs away, hacking up violent coughs as Dean's blood trickles down her chin.
"Phoenix ash – one shell, one ounce of whiskey – down the hatch. Little musty on the after burn." Dean coyly says, hand pressed against his bleeding neck.
Castiel hears the words but his eyes are entirely focused on Eve and how her face has begun to distort, her soul blinking white beneath her vessel. Blackness creeps up her forehead before veining out over her face. With each of her laboured breaths Castiel feels his powers returning, shooting through his body like an electric live wire.
Everyone holds their breath, and everything slows. The moment Eve falls to the floor Castiel's grace is restored, he pushes the monster hybrid away from him with ease before he moves his grace through his body and towards his hand. Rekindling with his power has never been such a blessing, the monsters crumble beneath his grace and though it's over in a flash he feels each and every one of their souls explode beneath his power.
He can feel Sam's eyes on him, even after he's healed Dean. It makes Cas feel uneasy so he keeps his eyes away from Sam's as he transports them away. The moment they arrive at Ryan's uncle's house he can feel the lingering presence of some of Crowley's best demons. There were times where Crowley seemed completely untrustworthy but then there were others like now when he'd prove true to his word and help Castiel when the angel needed it. For a moment Cas considers his sanity because there's a small part of him that feels grateful towards Crowley. If he hadn't of ordered his demons to destroy the monster hybrids a lot of people could have died, a lot of people would no longer be human.
"So you think she was telling the truth?" Sam asks, interest peaked Cas turns to him.
"Truth about what?"
"She said that Crowley's still kicking." Dean explains and Castiel has to force away a rush of panic before putting on a masked frown of confusion.
"But I burned his bones, how could - Is she certain?" Cas queries, briefly wondering when it became so easy to lie.
"Sounded pretty sure- according to her Crowley's still water boarding her kids – somewhere."
"I don't understand." Castiel says, the angel damning the connection she had with her children. She must have seen Crowley torturing them through their eyes.
"Well he's a crafty son of a bitch.
"I'm an angel; I'll look into it immediately."
Castiel leaves quickly - if the Winchesters believe Crowley is still alive they'll go after him and a more troubling thought is that Crowley will let them. The demon has no qualms about killing them, he's told Castiel as much. He has to protect them by any means necessary even if it means he has to lie to them.
He meets Crowley at the diner and a moment later their surrounded by demon's each one of them slowly dragging the monster hybrids out of the diner, mostly likely to dispose of their bodies.
Crowley steps behind the diner's counter before lifting up a coffee jug. "Thirsty?" He asks and Cas frowns.
"Yeah your right, it's probably not even filtered." The demon says grimacing lightly at the coffee before putting it down.
"Why the sour face we got what we wanted."Crowley says as Castiel stands stiffly.
"We wanted Purgatory, we don't have it."
"But we will." Crowley assures before rolling his eyes when Cas does nothing but frown. Crowley transports himself over to Eve before lightly kicking at her shoulder.
"Do me a favour Castiel. Call me when you get that stick out of your ass." Crowley jibes then both him and Eve are gone.
/
There were a lot of things Castiel didn't expect to come out of his life. First of all he didn't expect to die and be resurrected countless times. He also didn't expect to be bombarded with emotions he couldn't control. But out of all of Castiel's life experiences this is what he expected to happen to him the least.
He's surrounded by a ring of holy fire and looking at him are Sam, Dean and Bobby and the amount of betrayal emanating from them is overwhelming. Castiel has never hated the powers he was granted with but right now he does because all he can feel is how disappointed the Winchesters and Bobby Singer are with him and he doesn't know what to do.
He isn't entirely sure of all the words he says because he's horror stricken on how he managed to mess things up this badly.
Outside the winds blowing madly and Castiel realises soon that it isn't wind, its demons.
He screams at his friends to run and tries to keep his tears at bay when Dean turns to stare at him.
The demons crush against the windows of the small house blocking out all light and Castiel isn't sure what to feel when Crowley douses out the fire surrounding him. The only thing he wants is for someone else to feel his pain.
"You know the difference between you and me Castiel? I know what I am. But what are you? And what exactly are you willing to do?"
Crowley's words sting and for a moment Castiel does ponder what he is. Because right now he definitely can't be considered a warrior of god because a true warrior of god would not work with a demon. Is he just like Lucifer? A tainted, twisted portrayal of an angel who believes everything he does is right and just?
Castiel doesn't know what he is but he does know what he needs so with one last look at the water stained circle on the floor he flees.
/
The night is cold or maybe it's just Sam. Everything about him feels cold, his skin, his blood, his insides, his soul.
He can't begin to understand his feelings so he's not even sure how Dean can claim to understand how Sam feels. Sam can't fathom the amount of betrayal he feels because this is Cas their talking about. He's their friend. He's more to Sam and yet beneath those painfully large eyes and that soft pallid flesh lay lies and secrecy and the whole thing is so fucked up it leaves Sam's body aching.
It's not right that you can trust someone so undeniably and have it thrown back in your face. But these are Sam's emotions revolving their relationship bleeding through. When Sam thinks about the facts he knows Castiel isn't evil because Cas is powerful and if he wanted to kill them he could have. He's had plenty of opportunities. Castiel doesn't want to destroy them as many of their enemies have; he simply wants to make their world a better place. The only thing he doesn't realise is that he's going the wrong way about it. When it comes down to it it's not so much the choices he's made but the ones he's continued to make. He chose to lie to Sam over and over again, sometimes it seems without regret but Sam knows him better than that. The hunter saw the pain and confusion in the angel's eyes when they trapped him in that ring of holy fire.
Sam sighs from where he stands in Bobby's house in the upstairs corridor. He presses his forehead against the wall and grits his teeth. His head is throbbing and once in a while he catches glimpses of red, he's not sure where its coming from all he knows is that when that flash of colour appears he feels wrong. He shakes his head against the wall his uncut nails digging into his palms as he tries to steady himself.
All he can think about is Castiel and how the angel looked well and truly hopeless once he'd admitted to raising Sam from perdition. Sam dreads to think about it because somewhere deep down inside of him he wonders if Castiel did bring him back soulless on purpose because he didn't exactly make an effort to retrieve Sam's soul and when Dean tried to retrieve it Castiel claimed it would be too dangerous to try such a thing. How could Castiel continue to talk to them let alone touch Sam when he was holding secrets such as that?
There's too much emotion and too much blame and too many what if's? For a brief moment Sam contemplates that maybe they'll have to kill Castiel. The thought brings a rush of mourning.
Sam begins to wonder about hypocrisy. He's lied, he's cheated, he's betrayed. So has Dean. Is it right for them to be so angry at Castiel for doing exactly as they've done? Under the right circumstances everyone's capable of murder. Under the right circumstances everyone's capable of lying and deceiving. Sam thinks that maybe just maybe the coming of a second apocalypse is circumstance enough.
Soft wings flutter from behind Sam and with a jolt of adrenalin he spins around grabs Castiel by the forearm and shoulder and pushes the angel against the wall he was just leaning against. The movements make Sam pause for a moment because Castiel let Sam move him. The angel is a thousand times more powerful than the hunter and could easily have remained standing where he was.
"Sam." Castiel breathes his arm twitching from where Sam holds it.
"Nothing you say will make this right." The hunter cuts in because at the moment that's exactly what it feels like.
Castiel looks utterly guilty for a moment before he looks straight into Sam's eyes with a hard sense of determination.
"Please, try to understand..."
Before Cas can continue Sam snaps his arms away from the angel.
"You've got five minutes." Sam pre warns.
Castiel nods then swallows heavily before he begins his story.
/
Raphael folded one leg over the other as she sat in a dark green leather lounge chair. Her vessels legs were slender and her body graceful but beneath the surface rested a wrathful angel.
Raphael inclined her head to an angel standing beside her, he rushed forward in order to open the glass panelled doors before them.
A frazzled looking young brunette ambled through, his short tresses falling into his eyes. He was dressed in a cheap grey suit which was rumpled and appeared to have one button missing from the bottom of the suit jacket. His pale brown eyes were rotund and seemed to hold a sheen of naivety.
"Adriel." Raphael greets the grey suited angel before she nods tersely.
"R..Raphael." Adriel replies, the angel breathless as if he had just run a marathon.
"You have news." It's not a question, Raphael's expectant and Adriel would be a fool to disappoint.
"Yes. Castiel is currently resounding on Earth, we cannot be sure of his location as he has gone to great lengths to cover it up. However we have managed to locate a supposed close acquaintance of his – a demon named Crowley. There have been whispers that they are working together."
"It seems likely. I know our brother and if he's as desperate as I know he is he'd do anything to try and beat me." Raphael intoned a satisfied smugness to her voice.
She turned to the angel that had opened the doors.
"Sestrian – ready the others. We shall go to Earth and see exactly how much this Crowley knows about Castiel's little plan."
"Of course Raphael." Sestrian answered but before he could fly to gather the other angels Adriel spoke up.
"Raphael don't you think this has gone too far. Castiel is our brother." Though Adriel's head was bowed with obvious anxiousness his words were forceful and made his brothers and sisters surrounding him stop for a moment.
Adriel couldn't help but to think that along the way from God's disappearance to the apocalypse being averted that they had all forgotten what it was to be a family. He was so tired of the fighting. He thought Raphael wanted paradise, but the Apocalypse had been adverted so they couldn't truly get it. But what they had now was as close as it was going to get. It was more of the same as it had been for the past two thousand years. Evil was still being banished and people were still doing good. There were still sinners but wasn't there always going to be? The clean up duty was Earth's problem; the angels had no need to walk amongst humans anymore. They all should have returned to heaven long ago to fulfil the duties they had before the righteous man had broken the first seal. Why they were still trying to create their own rules thus ignoring the natural order Adriel had no idea.
"I suggest you hold your tongue before I do something regretful." Raphael threatens and even from her sitting position she still has a far superior vantage point than Adriel.
Adrial wills himself to relax his trembling hands and slowly- so slowly he feels the pull of his vessels muscles he lifts his head and looks Raphael dead in the eye.
"I will not." Those are the last words Adrial speaks. Raphael flies towards him in a gust of magnificently huge wings, unsheathes her sword and thrusts it into Adrial's stomach.
For a moment everything's a blinding white and Adrial's true form is present. It's beautiful so beautiful in fact that watching it flail and die is nothing short of a tragedy.
Raphael's followers all jump back in shock, their eyes dropping down to ashpainted wings and the body of their brother.
Raphael sheaths her blade once again as she does a slow turn, taking her time to eye every single angel present in the room.
"Does anybody else have any objections? For if you do, I must insist you speak now."
The silence that follows her words is deafening.
/
"So Raphael decides to start a civil war and the best idea you can come up with is working with Crowley." Sam says with a heavy layer of bitterness to his voice.
"At the time it seemed the most profitable option. Dean was my only living ally back then and I didn't want to get him involved, he'd just found peace."
"So... the problem you saw was getting Dean hunting again but me being soulless was completely fine." Sam's reactions aren't fair and he's being patronising but he thinks it's the least he's allowed to do with how Castiel's made him feel.
Castiel swallows, his Adams apple working furiously as if there's a clump in his throat he can't quite dispel.
"I had no idea you were soulless Sam and by the time I had figured it out so much had changed. One lie built way to another and before I knew it my entire existence was circulated around them."
"So what I'm just supposed to forgive you?"
"No. You're not supposed to forgive me. You're supposed to understand me." Castiel gently provides.
"Dammit Cas." The hunter pressures the words out between clenched teeth before he leans forward, his head slotting into the space between Castiel's shoulder and neck.
"This isn't you." Sam says his words reverberating denial.
"People change." Cas whispers as he inches his head towards Sam's ear.
"Not you. You can't." Sam's hand fits under Castiel's trench coat where his hand curves up the angel's lower back. He spreads his palm and pulls Castiel's body into his. All muscle and heat.
"Why?" Cas queries as his middle and index finger shift up under Sam's chin and tilt it so he's looking into the hunters eyes.
"You're our one constant." Castiel's baffled by the conclusion, his expression shows as much so Sam continues.
"Through the apocalypse, the demon blood, your fall, me being soul less and this civil war you've been there. You're always there. You've been the one solid thing in my life – in Dean's life and the last thing I want to do is fight you."
"Then don't." Cas simplifies, his blue eyes begging for Sam to accept his suggestion.
"It's not that simple. What you're doing." Sam sighs. "Cas what you're doing, it's not right you're opening up a door to something that's been locked away for a reason."
"I can handle it."
"What like Dean handled Hell, like I handled the demon blood?"
"This is different." Cas assures though the insecurity in his eyes prove otherwise.
The pair hear a creek from down the hall and then the electrical buzz of a bulb. The hallway light comes on and Sam pulls away from Castiel in time to catch the startled look on the angel's face as well as the one of rage on his brothers.
Dean's hand flicks away from the light switch whiles his other tightens around the gun he's holding.
"How the hell did you get in here?" Is the first thing Dean asks and Sam chastises himself because he didn't even think of that.
"The angel proofing that Bobby put up on the house – he got a couple of things wrong." Castiel supplies as he moves away from the wall.
"Yeah well it's too bad we gotta angel proof in the first place isn't it?" Dean's eyes flicker to Sam, a thousand things reflected in his green eyes. Why didn't you call me? You should have attacked first and asked questions later. Why is my best friend betraying me? This is so fucked up. Sammy what do I do?
"Dean please... just hear him out."
"Oh I think everything's been said don't you?" Dean replies to Sam however his eyes remain on Castiel. They look at each other for a tense moment before Castiel looks away.
"I can see it was a mistake coming here –"
"You think?" Dean sarcastically barks cutting into Castiel's sentence, his jaw clenched tightly in order to hide the hurt that is itching to bleed through.
"I should leave." The angel finishes as if he didn't hear Dean's words.
Cas turns slightly but before he can leave Sam grips his wrist.
Dean tenses and inches forward slightly when Castiel's eyes flicker down to the hand around his wrist, as if Dean thinks Castiel would intentionally harm Sam.
"No stay. Look we need to talk this through." Sam says his eyes widening in a silent plea. Sam turns his eyes to Dean, his brothers reluctant his body language practically screams it but he relents relaxing his hold on his gun as he turns towards the stairs.
"Downstairs – we don't wanna wake Bobby." Dean says as he slides his gun into the back of his trousers.
Castiel's arm easily slides out of Sam's hold as he takes purposeful strides down the corridor and steps, Dean's about to follow but before he can Sam crowds up to him.
"Go easy on him okay Dean? He is our friend; and he needs our help. The least we can do is hear him out."
Dean shakes his head as he exhales a humourless smile on his face.
"You know what Sam; don't tell me what to do. Friends don't lie to each other. The only reason why I didn't shoot him was because I knew it'd do no good."
Before Sam can react to Dean's harsh words Dean makes a quick retreat down the stairs.
He knows his brothers just hurt; Dean said a lot worse when Sam had betrayed him. But Dean forgave him – eventually. The only question was could Dean forgive Cas?
/
Sam's always known that Dean and Cas are friends. Far better friends then he and Castiel ever were. But seeing the vulnerability in his brother's eyes makes him wonder how good of friends they were because Dean's never let anyone see him like this. He wonders what Dean and Castiel did the entire time himself and Dean were separated from each other during the apocalypse because Castiel had never mentioned it; however when Sam joined them again he noticed the easiness their bodies portrayed around one another - a comfortable familiarity that came with the territory of trusting somebody utterly and completely.
He feels invisible as he stands against the wall; even as he stands forward, Dean and Castiel do not take their eyes off of one another.
"I'm not gonna logic you okay? I'm saying don't just cause. I'm asking you not to. That's it." Dean says his voice pressuring and demanding and Sam thinks that this is exactly the same way Dean used to speak to Sam when he was younger. He would undermine Sam exactly as he's doing to Castiel now and the hunter doesn't know how his brother can't see what he's doing. He needs to talk to Castiel on his level not shove demands down the angels throat and expect instant results.
"I don't understand-." Cas starts.
"Look next to Sam you and Bobby are the closest things I have to family – that you are like a brother to me so if I'm asking you not to do something, you gotta trust me man." The comment strikes Sam hard, his breath hitches gently as it properly sinks in. His brother trusts Cas, considers him family trusts him inexplicably.
Castiel's eyes flicker up from where they were focused on the floor. "Or what?"
Dean reels back, hurt and surprise etched into his features. Sam does the same because out of any possible answers Castiel could have had that was not what Sam was expecting him to say. Believe him he knows how it feels to have someone constantly belittling you and trying to tell you what to do because Sam had to deal with it for years but Dean's made it clear that the only reason why he's telling Cas what to do is because he doesn't want to fight Castiel. Dean may not have said those words exactly but it's clear that's what he means. He thought Castiel could read Dean as well as Sam could but apparently he can't otherwise Castiel wouldn't have answered so brashly.
Sam opens his mouth to break through the silence expect he doesn't get that far. Dean schools the hurt off of his face replacing it with something angry; Sam's almost ashamed to say the look scares him a little. Dean slowly turns his head to Castiel, his face an angry snarl.
Castiel freezes for a moment before gently reaching a hand out.
"Dean, I'm sorry." He says as if only now just realising the venom of his words.
"Screw your apology. You know what Cas you're just another toy that came out of the factory broken, another screwed up clog in God's shit machine. There's a right and a wrong here and you know it."
Castiel's eyes snap up to Dean and Sam suddenly thinks he's missed something when Dean stares right on back.
You are not taking Sam Winchester. I won't let you.
Don't ever change.
Without your powers you're basically just a baby in a trench coat.
For what it's worth, I would give anything not to have you do this.
This is your problem Dean, you have no faith.
There is a right and a wrong here and you know it. Look at me! You.
Sam is my friend.
You need to be more careful.
I gave everything for you.
I'm not...I'm not strong enough.
Of course you're problems always come first.
It's not blame that falls on you Dean.
I've been asking you to be here for days you dick!
I think you call him when you need something.
I'm hunted, I've rebelled and I did it. All of it. For you.
What's the matter? You don't think you deserve to be saved.
I want him to survive.
I have questions. I have doubts.
I lost everything. For Nothing.
My superiors have begun to questions my sympathies.
I was getting too close to the humans in my charge. You.
We put our faith in you. Look at what you're turning into.
What do you care about dying? You're already dead. We're done.
We're done.
Castiel feels as if his world is crashing down around him. He can't fly away fast enough.
Sam sends Dean a glare, his green eyes alight with disappointment. The younger Winchester shakes his head before he turns to leave the living room.
"Oh come on Sam he was asking for it!"
Sam whirls around on Dean his broad shoulders tense and his blood boiling.
"No Dean. He wasn't. We were supposed to pull him away from the edge not push him over it."
Sam looks at Dean long enough to see the sinking realisation of exactly what Dean's done register before he turns and stomps up the stairs.
He prays for Castiel and as he suspected he doesn't get an answer and a sick feeling in his gut tells him he never will again.
/
Castiel flies to the East of Virginia until he's stood in a field of a farm that was long ago abandoned. The wheat surrounding him is dead and brittle; Castiel can't help but to notice the similarities of the wheat's physical appearance and his emotional status. His eyes burn with the urge to cry and suddenly Castiel realises he's never felt so fragile. He's just lost the only friends he's ever had. Castiel could handle the passing of the Winchester's because he'd simply bring them back to life but the divide between them now is not just physical. They no longer trust him and that hurts.
It's difficult to understand why Sam and Dean cannot see the situation from his point of view. Of course there's risks regarding opening the doors to Purgatory but there were also risks with Sam saying yes to Lucifer. There's always going to be risks to take but if they didn't take them they would have all been dead by now as well as the rest of the world. If Castiel hadn't of taken risks beforehand then Anna would have succeeded in going back in time and killing John and Mary Winchester. If Castiel hadn't of taken risks Sam and Dean would both be stuck in 1861 attempting to fit into a place they clearly didn't belong. Can risks only be executed if Sam and Dean are the ones Okaying it?
Castiel is not a fool, he's old and wise and has far more life experience then the Winchesters; he wouldn't attempt to open Purgatory if he wasn't sure that his plan would work. One thing that Castiel knows for sure now is that the Winchesters will only work with him if it benefits them.
The dark sky above Castiel blurs as thick grey clouds conjoin. Thunder rumbles heavily before the scent of ozone makes itself present. Castiel freezes as his eyes quickly scan the space around him - the weather signs are enough to tell him he's being followed by angels but he cannot be sure which ones.
Lightening cascades from the sky before striking the ground. When the touches of lightening strike again several angels appear before the bolts of light. Castiel takes a step back almost clumsily tripping over himself as his eyes take in those around him- his ex army. Castiel has no time to do anything more then look for the next moment Tabbris appears before him and uppercuts Castiel throwing Cas up through the air, his body inches away from the lightening that still crackles through the sky.
The air whips and rushes against Castiel as he catapults upwards, another angel appears above him and punches straight into Cas's abdomen forcing the angel back down to the ground. The landing is anything but smooth the dirty soil crumbles beneath Castiel's back but still he sinks further into the ground until he's lying in a hollow crater.
Another angel – one who moves so fast Castiel cannot identify him grabs Cas by the lapels of his trench coat before throwing him out of the crater. He's violently thrown between the angels who kick and punch at him throwing Castiel back and forth between them as if he's no more than a sports ball.
Tabbris's fists bunch into the fabric of Castiel's coat before he pulls Castiel towards him.
"You killed Rachel, I found her body. How much more Castiel? How much more bloodshed and betrayal is there going to be? No more. Do you hear me brother, it all ends here. It ends with you."
Castiel doesn't fight, doesn't have the spirit to. He's tired and feels broken down and betrayed. The Winchesters trapped him in holy fire and barely gave him a chance to explain himself. After everything he's given for them, given for earth and Heaven and God it's finally too much. Castiel's had enough. The beating he's receiving is the only thing he can feel at the moment because inside he's emotionally drained yet he can't hide the fact that he still cares for the Winchesters, still considers himself their guardian still feels something for Sam he can't quite identify but it sits warm and thick inside his chest, a constant hum of emotion that heightens every time Sam's near him.
Castiel's mouth is filled with a coppery sweetness which he soon identifies as blood, he slowly turns onto his side, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto the ground. He winces, breathing in a whistling sound through clenched teeth as his hand cradles his abdomen. He can feel it now – a pierced lung that's spewing out blood.
A large expanse of lightening spirals down from the sky before shooting outwards. Castiel blinks against the brightness of it, blood pooling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes widen at the new arrival and he grits his teeth as he attempts to push up onto his forearms.
"Balthazar." Cas grinds out, gazing as his brother removes a shiny gem from the inside of his pocket. Castiel recognisers it as one of the weapons Balthazar had stolen from Heaven – The Gem Of Urumoire. The gem glows bright, its green aura shooting towards Tabbris and the other angels. They only have enough time to look startled before the gem forces them out of their vessels, their essences punching out of the human bodies in bright flashes of white light.
Castiel stands shakily as Balthazar approaches him, the gem easily slivering back into the front pocket of his blazer.
"Balthazar." Castiel greets and he's unsure what he sounds like. His brother shakes his head.
"This is getting dangerous Cas, they could have killed you. I say we grab a girl or three, a healthy portion of narcotics and get the first flight to Knowwheresville."
"That isn't an option I'm willing to take." Castiel explains.
"Oh how about Cuba, I hear it's fantastic this time of year."
"Enough." Castiel intones eyes on Balthazar's own.
"I will not allow Raphael to destroy all that the Winchesters have helped to save."
Balthazar clicks his tongue before his body loses its usual buoyancy. "Of course... it would be about the Winchesters." He mumbles, eyes scrutinizing.
"What are you insinuating?" Cas agitatedly asks.
"They make you weak Castiel."
Castiel's lips part as he turns away from Balthazar.
His brother can be brutally honest at times but it isn't what Castiel needs at the moment so he changes the subject.
"How did you know I was in trouble?" Cas asks as he wipes at an absent bit of blood crusted against the side of his mouth.
"I didn't. I was on my way to talk to you and because my luck is that terrible I managed to walk straight into your ambush."
Cas shakes his head briefly. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"Can I ask you a direct question?" Castiel frowns because what other type of questioning is there.
"Of course." He replies.
"Are you integrant with the King Of Hades?"
"Of course not." Castiel protests, shoulders held stiffly and awkwardly. Had Balthazar been speaking with Tabbris and the others? Did they inform him of Castiel's business?
His brother chuckles. "You always were such a terrible liar." The words make Castiel pause for a moment - if Balthazar could tell from two words that Castiel was lying how did Sam and Dean not notice all this time?
"So it's true? All right then. Why?" Balthazar questions, voice deepening on the last word and suddenly Castiel sees the powerful angel he knew in Heaven not the aristocratic, hedonist he's become.
"It's a means to an end. Balthazar you understand that." Cas quietly provides.
"Oh absolutely, but what's the end here exactly. You know raid purgatory, snatch up all the souls?"
"Win the war." Castiel cuts in, eyes boring into Balthazar's because how can he not see, how can any of them not see what Castiel is trying to do.
It's all well enjoying the world and experiencing it but if Raphael has his way there will be no world. And if Castiel is the only one willing to fight then he isn't against fighting dirty.
"And I can only assume that you'll be the vessel correct?" His brother asks. Cas's silence is answer enough.
"Suck up all those souls into yourself, all that power."
"It's the only way." Cas reasons.
"Or too much juice for you in which case you explode taking a substantial chunk of the planet along with you."
Castiel clenches a fist anger ebbing on the edge of his psyche. He's being undermined again reminded of things he's thought about a million times already, he's exhausted every possible theory and every possible problem. This will work.
"That won't happen." The brunette finalises.
"Sure, sure of course. Just...just tell me that it's entirely risk free." Balthazar asks and Cas briefly notices how much his brother has moved around when usually he's languid and still.
Cas steps forward so there's less space between them.
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you but I need to know. Are you with me or not?"
They stare at each other for a moment before Balthazar breathes out a laugh shaking his head almost in disbelief.
"You know, you may be certifiable but fine. In for a penny, in for a pound."
Castiel nods lightly and when Balthazar smiles back he thinks that maybe he was wrong, maybe hes not entirely alone.
/
Sam recognises the figure immediately. The low V- neck revealing tanned skin and black suede blazer is all he needs to see. Balthazar appears before them; before either brother can speak the angel opens his mouth.
"I'm here about Castiel."
"What about him?" Sam asks defensively.
Balthazar looks unimpressed by Sam's outburst regardless he replies.
"How we're going to persuade him to stop this ridiculous little endeavour of his."
"Well if you haven't noticed we aren't exactly on speaking terms." Dean says as he tips back the whiskey he'd lazily poured into a mug.
Balthazar raises an eyebrow at the hunter as he eyes him with disinterest.
"I'm not here to be your marriage counsellor, you've got relationship problems with Cas you can sort that out in your own time. What I do need your help with however is stopping my brother from destroying himself."
Dean huffs as if the idea is absurd, as far as he's concerned he's done his part. He's asked Cas to stop what he's doing, he's poured his heart out by letting Castiel know how much the angel means to him and still Cas chose to betray Dean.
Sam steps forward, his eyes widened with worry.
"What do you mean destroy himself?" Sam asks.
"The souls." The angel speaks, when he receives a blank look from both brothers he sighs and half turns, his eyes looking up to the ceiling.
"For the love of... you two really are clueless aren't you? The souls you blubbering fools are atoms of pure energy and Castiel intends to swallow them all. His vessel can't contain them - he'll implode and take half of the planet with him. I'm not going to stand by and watch my brother die and I know you don't want your precious world to be blown to smithereens so the only practical solution I can see is us working together." Balthazar stops for a moment as he crosses his arms, a small physical defence mechanism that does nothing to hide his emotional turmoil.
Sam's mouth quirks as he contemplates Balthazar, the angel looks so uncomfortable emitting emotion but at the moment it's the only thing persuading Sam to trust him. After all the bloodshed and war and arguments it's nice to see genuine affection even if it is coming from a dick like Balthazar.
Dean loudly places his mug onto the desk making Sam jump slightly.
"And how exactly are we supposed to stop Cas hm? If you haven't noticed he's M.I.A and even if we do find him what makes you think he'll listen to anything we've got to say."
"Cassie's location?" Balthazar scoffs. "Leave that to me and as for our negotiator – we need someone who Cas is emotionally invested in so I think your brother can handle that." The angel's eyes flicker over to Sam, there's something hostile there but also an inkling of something that Sam can only identify is Balthazar's way of saying don't screw this up you're our only hope.
Dean frowns at Balthazar's words before he turns to Sam. The younger Winchester avoids his brother's eyes as he addresses Balthazar.
"You find Cas we'll grab whatever weaponry we can."
"It makes me all tingly inside when you give orders." Balthazar replies and waits long enough to see Sam's agitated expression before he disappears in a flutter of wings.
Sam hurries his way towards the door, eager to leave the room so he won't have to be alone with Dean.
"Sam." Dean calls as he follows after his brother. His hand curls around Sam's elbow and with a sharp tug he turns him around.
"What was Balthazar talking about?" Dean asks.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't mess me around Sam. Balthazar said we need someone who's 'emotionally invested' to talk to Cas. What did he mean?" The end of Dean's sentence is punctured with authority; he isn't giving Sam a choice here. He's demanding answers.
Sam sighs as he looks to the side.
"You might wanna grab the whiskey." Sam warns and Dean looks so damn worried Sam's stomach twists in uncomfortable knots.
This is definitely going to be one of the most awkward conversations of his life.
/
It's been almost an hour since Balthazar left and Sam's getting restless. He collected all the weapons he could but there's not much you can use against an angel. He tells himself he may not even have to take the physical approach but in all honesty he's not sure.
He checks his shotgun and ammo, makes sure he's got at least two jugs of holy oil, two angel blades and just in case the occasion calls for it he's packing a flamethrower.
Sam's fingers slide into his jeans pocket where they run a circle over the object there. If all else fails and the only option they have is to disarm Cas then Sam's got the thing to do it. Only problem is, is Cas going to let Sam close enough to use it? The object is cold beneath his fingers, the steely texture indented in certain places.
This whole situation is beyond messed up and Sam gives himself a moment to breathe. He'd spoken to Dean about him and Cas at the worst possible time. He's still not entirely sure what Dean's opinion on the whole thing is. All Dean had done was down a shot of whiskey mumble a comment about sleeping with the enemy and Julia Roberts then told Sam he should start packing the weapons.
A red spot appears in Sam's line of vision. He blinks but it doesn't disappear so he blinks again. When this doesn't work he rubs at his eye with the side of his index finger. Red washes over his vision and as it does a sharp pain flares up through Sam's skull.
A pained noise leaves his throat as he grits his teeth. The redness bleeding through into his irises attacks every one of his senses until Sam feels as if he's suffocating. The redness sparks flashes of blood, impurities and bodily organs. The redness brings with it the smell of sulphur, death and excrement. The redness brings with it the feeling of molten lava being pressed into his skin.
Sam's knees thump to the floor as his fingers grip his hair. He widens his eyes in an attempt to see something other than the flashing of flesh on hooks. He knows his eyes are open but he cannot see anything past this realm of destruction.
Is this hell?
"Sam." The voice is muffled as if Sam has cotton pressed against his ears.
The hunter's nails scratch at his temples because he can't see and the longer his vision evades him the more he begins to panic. He gasps as a pair of scolding iron clamps appear before him.
"Sam!" The hunter snaps to attention his knees shaking from where there pressed against the floor.
He looks up to find Balthazar looking down at him with an unreadable expression.
"What was that?" The angel asks his voice slow.
Sam blinks, the redness is gone.
"Nothing- I don't know. Wait your back... did you find Cas!" Sam stumbles up from the floor his long limbs uncoordinated.
"Yes." Balthazar says absently his eyes still scrutinizing Sam.
The angel shakes his head as if he's clearing his thoughts. "Yes I did but you're not coming." Balthazar concludes.
"What! Why?"
It's at this moment that Dean and Bobby enter the room - Dean's expression the epitome of seriousness and Bobby's a mix between awkwardness and exhaustion. So Dean told Bobby about Sam and Cas. Yeah that really was awkward.
"We going or what?" Dean asks as he throws a duffel over his shoulder.
"We are but Sam isn't." Balthazar states as he crosses his arms.
"What are you his babysitter?" Bobby cuts in, an eyebrow quirked.
Instead of a sarcastic retort the angel keeps a straight face as he turns his body towards Sam's.
"Sam can you tell us what you just saw."
Sam looks confused by the request; he purses his lips as he shakes his head.
"Just..red -."
"Hell." Balthazar cuts in.
"Your brothers seeing hell, I walked in here and he was practically having a seizure on the floor. His trips back down memory lane are unpredictable. It'll be dangerous bringing him along."
"Hey you don't get to decide something like that. You need me. You said I was the only one that could talk Cas out of this." Sam interjects.
"I didn't say you were the only one just the preferable one. Dean can do it. Speaking of..."
Balthazar flies his way over to Dean and Bobby.
"Are you ready because times running out." Balthazar addresses them.
"You can't just leave me here!" Sam shouts but as he steps forward Dean holds up his hand consequently stilling him.
"Dean?"
"Did you see hell?" Dean asks his eyes glossed over with fear and worry.
The brothers stare at each other before Sam exhales through his nose.
"Yes."
Dean bows his head.
"But it was only a flash. Dean I can do this. Please. "
"No." Dean replies as he lifts his head, his jaw set.
"What! Dean you can't do this!" Sam outrages.
"It's not safe Sam."
"Since when are we ever safe!"
Dean doesn't reply instead he turns to Balthazar and nods.
"Let's go."
"Wait...no - Bobby please you've gotta do something. Surely you must know it'll be better for all of us if I come with you guys."
Bobby looks reluctant to choose. Sam is like a son to him and if he's seeing Hell the slightest physical strain could send him spiralling. But on the other hand Sam's a damn good hunter and they could use him in this fight.
"It's not my call son." Bobby shrugs his eyes moving over to Dean.
Dean must see something in Sam's eyes because for a moment he stops.
"Give us five minutes." Dean orders.
"You've got to be kidding me." Balthazar sighs as his arms fall to his sides.
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Dean replies.
"Sorry chaps but I don't think now's the time for some brotherly bonding, if you haven't noticed we have less than four hours before Cassie pops Purgatory."
Dean's eyes roll towards Balthazar.
"Five minutes." The hunter repeats.
Balthazar's face holds an agitated expression, he shakes his head.
"And counting. I'll be outside." The angel comments before he flies away.
Bobby gives the pair a curt nod before taking the duffel from Dean's shoulder and shuffling out towards the door. The moment he's gone Dean turns to Sam.
"Why didn't you tell me about you and Cas?" It's not what Sam's expecting Dean to say. He frowns before answering.
"It just wasn't the right time."
Dean looks away and shakes his head as if he can't believe the words Sam's telling him.
"Don't give me none of that wasn't the right time crap. Why didn't you tell me?"
Sam runs both hands through his hair only for his bouncy brown locks to fall forwards once again.
"It was just... I don't know. It was me and Cas and it was uncomplicated and good you know? And I didn't want anyone else knowing about it because I'd created this bubble for me and him that was completely separate from us hunting and it made me happy."
"So... you're saying hunting with me depresses you."
Sam sighs, "That's not what I'm saying Dean and you know it."
Dean smiles humourlessly, his hand coming up to brush between his eyebrows.
"I'm just having a hard time understanding this, I mean you and Cas barely talk and the next minute your sleeping together. Is this supposed to be some kind of supernatural sex checklist of yours? A werewolf a demon and now an angel. I mean I'm all for interspecies relationships but this is just getting ridiculous."
Sam's eyebrows bunch, his teeth grinding together. Dean's words are harsh and flippant but if Sam knows anything he knows his brother. Dean tends to dish out insults when his defences are down and he has nothing left to give.
"Dean...look I'm sorry we didn't tell you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Sam corrects himself; he's not sure what approach to take. If they did tell Dean should him and Cas of done it together. But that's something couples do and Sam doesn't even know what he and Cas are.
Dean doesn't reply to Sam's words and all it does is make Sam angry. Dean didn't want to talk about him and Cas before so why is he suddenly so interested. They have less than four hours to stop Cas and any other demon's or angels that try to get in their way. They can't stand around and talk all day.
"Look Dean...I get it. You're pissed at me –"
"No you don't get it Sam." Dean announces as he takes a few short steps towards Sam.
"You lied to me about Cas. Maybe not intentionally but you did. You're my brother and Cas is my friend and you've both kept something from me. After all we've been through; after all I've done for you I think the least I deserve is your honesty. So don't try and make out like this is some kind of over exaggeration on my part. "
Dean's right and it hurts to think it. The entire time Sam and Cas had been sleeping together he hadn't thought about how it would affect Dean because it was the first thing in his life that didn't involve Dean. But when Sam thinks about it really thinks about it he realises that Dean has taken all of Sam's crap has gone to hell for him has taken hits for him and asking for honesty in return for that really isn't all that hard. Except Sam still manages to screw it up.
"Dean..." Sam starts his voice quivering. "I'm sorry I didn't think of it like that."
"I know you didn't." Dean replies.
All goes silent for a moment, past memories and mistakes they made running through both brothers' minds.
"Do you love him?" Dean suddenly asks, Sam looks up expecting to see a grin on his brother's face expect there isn't one, instead there's an explorative look.
"I don't know." Sam answers honestly.
Dean nods, his lips pouted somewhat.
"Okay." Dean says.
"Okay." Sam repeats somewhat sceptically.
"Grab your bag, your coming with."
Sam looks relieved and shocked at the same time; he grabs his duffel from the desktop before turning to walk with Dean through the door.
Before they exit Bobby's house Sam turns to Dean.
"Hey Dean."
"Yeah Sammy."
"What made you change your mind... you know about me coming?"
Dean has an easy look on his face.
"We're brothers. If were in this were in it together."
Sam's eyes soften at Dean's words. It brings a warmth to his chest, a swim of reassurance he hasn't felt in a long time.
Bobby clears his throat from where he stands at the door with a shotgun in hand.
"We good?" The older hunter asks.
Sam turns to Dean with a smile.
"Yeah, we're good."
/
When the door to a place that's been locked away is about to be opened you expect the night air to freeze, you expect rain to fall. That isn't the case for this particular night. The sky is dark but clear, the bright moon illuminating everything in shadows of grey.
Inside the large abandoned mansion Crowley walks towards Castiel his steps small but purposeful.
"Cocktail a la Purgatory – one part virgin's blood – one part monster – shaken not stirred."
Castiel accepts the jar with nimble fingers, absently turning it around in his hands.
"Thank you." The angel solemnly says.
Crowley turns to Castiel an intrigued look on his face.
"Why so grim angel?"
"I'm renegotiating our terms."
"Is that so? What terms do you propose?" If Castiel didn't know any better he'd say Crowley's tone was flirtatious boarding on the line of familiarity. It makes Castiel uneasy and for a moment the angel fears that because of circumstances Crowley may be his only ally. Castiel doesn't have time for allies let alone friends. His experience with the Winchesters has shown him that friendship brings nothing but pain and complications.
"You get nothing. Not one single soul." And just like that the easiness falls from Crowley's eyes, the friendly facade being replaced by something uglier. Castiel has never been more relieved.
Castiel finds it's easy to be angry now that he's lost everything. The only thing he can count on is himself. He will open purgatory and digest the souls. He will save the world alone and maybe just maybe the Winchesters shall forgive him. They'll have to because Castiel would have saved their lives. Again.
Castiel leaves Crowley with a heavy threat before the demon disappears.
The room is suddenly quiet and a thousand thoughts bombard Castiel.
Is it worth it? What happens if it goes wrong? Can I handle this? Will the Winchesters ever forgive me? Am I doing the right thing?
He ignores every single one of them.
/
Sioux Falls to Kansas is a seven hour drive but Balthazar dumps them and the impala halfway there. He tells them they'll have to make their own way there otherwise it would look too suspicious. They agree to meet Balthazar outside the address he's given them in three hours that would give them plenty of time to drive there.
The angel manages to comment about how utterly stupid it is bringing Sam along in the condition he's in before he flies away.
Dean stares worriedly at Sam but he made a choice and he can't go back on it now.
They get in the car and drive.
/
"Change of plan boys." The Winchesters and Bobby all jump in unison from their position hidden behind Dean's car. They move their eyes away from the mansion before them and to the new arrival.
"A little warning would be nice!" Dean hisses at the angel, his heart beating thunderously loud.
"What and miss that constipated look you pull off so well, don't be ridiculous." Balthazar sarcastically condescends.
Dean frowns as Bobby rolls his eyes.
"As entertaining as this lovers' quarrel is I'd like to know the new plan." Bobby says.
Sam narrows his eyes. "Why is there a new plan?" The youngest Winchester asks.
"You still have the holy oil correct?" Balthazar questions, ignoring Sam.
"Course we do." Bobby replies.
"Good were going to need it." The angel states.
"What? Wait.Why?" Sam questions.
"Alliteration – you are a clever one. We need the holy oil because I just visited Cas and he informed me that he cut Crowley out of their little deal. It was a binding contract even demons wouldn't dare weasel their way out of."
"And?" Dean gruffly asks. He doesn't see the problem here - so Crowley's out of the deal, the dick doesn't need any more power.
"And... you clueless monkey if a creature as lowly as Crowley doesn't break deals you have to understand the seriousness of someone like Castiel doing it. I sincerely doubt he'll listen to us unless he's forced to." Balthazar explains and its clear from his facial expression that it's not something he wants to do but something he has to.
"No." Sam simply says. "I'm not trapping him in holy fire again."
"Don't pretend you have morals now, you didn't have a problem with trapping him before." The angel snidely remarks.
"Well I definitely wouldn't have a problem trapping you." Sam admits, his eyes narrowed and his tone offensive.
Balthazar's laugh is derisive. "I'd like to see you try."
Sam pushes himself forward only to have Dean place a hand on his chest.
"Wow..wow back off. Back off. This isn't helping."
Dean's eyes turn to Balthazar.
"We're not gonna trap Cas in holy fire." Dean enunciates.
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Balthazar inquires his voice slow and demanding.
Sam inhales sharply and remembering the item he placed in his pocket reaches for it.
"We use these." Sam breathlessly says, all eyes turn to him as he fishes the object out of his pocket.
The hunter's eyes scan those of everyone around him before he repeats himself. "We use these."
Dean has a bewildered expression on his face whiles Bobby's is curious and Balthazar's is marvelled.
"I knew you'd done some racy things in your life Sam but those are just naughty." Balthazar comments.
Sam goes bright red. "Shut up." The hunter mumbles embarrassingly.
"Dude what the hell are those?" Dean slowly says as he reaches over to pluck the item out of Sam's hands.
"What does it look like genius?" Bobby grumbles from behind Sam.
"Handcuffs Sammy." Dean says as he raises an eyebrow. "Were gonna stop Cas with a pair of handcuffs."
Sam sighs because sometimes his brother's intelligence levels are questionable.
"Not the cuffs - the sigils pressed into them."
"Here lemme see." Bobby says as he accepts the item, his fingers grazing over the Enochian symbols branded into the metal of the cuffs.
"I've never seen these symbols before." The older hunter points out.
"That's because angels don't make a habit of showing humans their weaknesses." Balthazar remarks.
Dean raises an eyebrow. "What does it do?"
"It'll weaken Cas, take his powers away temporarily. He won't be able to break through the cuffs let alone fly away." Sam explains.
Dean looks startled for a moment his eyes on the handcuffs.
"Cas showed you these symbols?"
Sam looks uncomfortable as he shifts his broad shoulders.
"Yeah." The younger Winchester quietly provides.
"When?" Dean chimes in.
Balthazar pulls his lips into his mouth as if he's finding the whole situation amusing before he speaks.
"Trust me Dean...you do not want to know." Balthazar winks at Sam and the hunter's tempted to yell at the angel to stop reading his thoughts but he manages to bite his tongue. There's no point in letting his brother and surrogate dad know that the only reason he knows about the symbols was because himself and Cas had used them in the bedroom.
"Fascinating. But can we get to the new plan, because if you haven't noticed we got less than an hour before the rituals matured." Bobby says.
"Of course. We'll find a suitable room in the mansion for you to hide in, I'll lure Cassie there, Sam can use the handcuffs to disarm him, we can talk Cas out of this and then we can all go back to our avidly exciting lives and I can pretend I never met any of you." The angel supplies a luxurious smile on his face.
"Feelings mutual." Dean mumbles.
All four of them look up to the mansion.
"So we doing this?" Dean asks a look of defiance on his face.
Bobby sighs. "Ain't no time like the present."
/
Crowley teleports to a little shop in the east of West Chester. It's on the corner of Victoria Street, the shop is an antique one that sells the most beautiful trinkets from china tea sets to porcelain vases.
Face contorted in anger Crowley flicks his arm out and as his hand moves a cluster of glasses sail off of the shelves only to smash upon the floor, pieces of glass scattering everywhere.
"Ignorant, constipated, insolent, beguiling whore of an angel."
With each word Crowley voices he flails his arms, pieces of furniture follow his movements as they harshly collide with the ground and walls.
"So the rumours are correct, you have been working with my brother." Crowley jumps, his forehead creasing as he turns around to match a face to the voice.
It's a women and she's beautiful there's no doubt about that. Her slender tall frame is constricted by slightly baggy black clothing. Her eyes are large and round, her dark skin illuminating the pinkness of her lips. Her presence is unsettling to say the least because there's something subconsciously threatening about her. She has power resonating from her and its familiar – too familiar.
"You're an angel." Crowley identifies, his tongue running over the corner of his mouth.
"And you're a filthy spewing bag of pus."
"Sticks and stones love." Crowley grins, his accent thick.
Crowley shifts slightly his body walking clockwise and in turn his companion turns anti clockwise.
"Anything I can help you with...?" The demon asks his voice expectant at the end of the sentence.
"Raphael." The angel fills in the blank.
Crowley's eyes widen. "Ah Raphael... the one dear Castiel is so afraid of."
"So you've heard of me."
Crowley lifts his hand up to chest level before shifting it from side to side. "Bits and pieces." He answers.
Raphael smiles as if she's pleased by the fact.
"This conversation has been memorable but I'm on a tight schedule. I'm looking for Castiel." The angel states.
She steps towards Crowley and suddenly the demon feels incredibly small. She's looking for Castiel and she's clearly stronger than him. Crowley on the other hand has no vantage point over either of them unless...
"Rumour has it you're looking for fire power to kick start this war of yours. I happen to know about a source of untapped energy that's just waiting to be absorbed."
"Do you now?" Raphael asks though her tone is disbelieving and languid as if she's simply going along with the conversation to humour Crowley.
"One word – Purgatory."
Raphael's eyes widen as she tilts her head - Crowley briefly thinks it must be an angel thing.
"Impossible." Raphael quietly mutters.
"Why don't we discuss a small business transaction, I'm sure we can come to some sort of an arrangement."
Raphael parts her lips, her facial expression intrigued.
"I'm listening."
/
AN - Bleuhhh Long chapter- again apologies for taking my sweet time to upload anything. The next chapter is the last and I just wanna thank you guys for all reading / commenting/ subscribing / liking my story. You're all amazing!
Dolorous Doll
X