Hi, guys; this chapter is a little longer than my previous ones, because I did a little better job of splitting up the paragraphs, and I also really didn't want to split it into two extremely short ones. I'm also going to be incorporating feels into at least the next couple of chapters, mainly composed of Dean trying to fix the repercussions of his choice. So enjoy!
"…Ten."
The demon's red eyes narrowed. He moved his hand a bit, effortlessly pinning Dean's arm back against the wall. "Not going to cooperate? Shame… although I admit that I was expecting this." Out of the corner of his eye, Dean could see Sam starting to stir behind Varak. But he couldn't risk glancing at him – he needed as much time as possible to talk with the demon before he realized that Sam was awake. But those hopes evaporated as Sam groaned, now conscious enough to feel pain. The demon heard it and whirled, grinning, to face him. "Well, look who's back just in time," Varak sneered, and began to raise his arm.
"No!" Dean shouted, struggling against the demon. "Shut up, Dean," Varak called over his shoulder flatly, and forced him against the wall harder. Raising his arm so it stretched out in front of him, Varak forced the half-conscious Sam against the opposite wall. "Wait," Dean begged, "Don't hurt him. Please."
Varak turned to look over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed to slits and a horrible grin stretched across his features. "I gave you a chance," he growled, "and you refused it. It seems that you weren't getting the message before. I need that pendant. I cannot let you give it to the angels, because it will be my destruction. And I warned you of the consequences. So now you will watch." He turned back to Sam and raised one hand, now clawed, to rest against his shoulder. "Remember, Sammy," Varak whispered, speaking softly, but sharply enough that Dean could hear his every word, "it's because of your brother that we're here. He could've cooperated, and you would have walked away. He knew if he refused that he would hurt you, and did it anyways. Dean chose this." And with that he slashed his claw-tipped hand down across Sam's chest.
Sam gritted his teeth, grimacing in pain, and Dean shut his eyes tightly, clenching his fists. Though he couldn't see it, Dean could still hear the sounds of Varak tearing at Sam, and it was ripping him apart. He felt like a coward, not even able to face the consequences his actions had led to, but he just couldn't watch this. Through his concentration blocking out the sounds, Dean suddenly felt the pressure holding him to the wall slowly start to lessen as the demon focused his attention on Sam, and he found he could lift his arms a few inches from the wall. His hand shot to his pocket, where the pendant was nestled, and he brought it out, clenched tightly in his hand. He willed its power forth, praying that anything would happen, anything at all to get Varak off Sam. C'mon, Cas, he thought, please don't tell me this thing only works for angels. Seconds passed, but nothing was happening. Dean's heart began to sink – Suddenly the pendant and the cord holding it blazed with heat so intense that Dean almost dropped it. He finally opened his eyes to look at the pendant; the looping symbol carved into the surface was aglow with fiery light, and within the glassy teardrop, crimson flames danced. He smirked. Thanks for answering, Cas.
Dean coughed, and the demon whipped around. "Finally ready to gi—" Varak's grin dropped from his face and his eyes widened as he beheld the sight of Dean, holding in his outstretched grasp a blazing reservoir of angelic power. "How—How did you—". Suddenly, he wasn't the confident, snarky demon he had been mere seconds ago; fear shone, plain as day, in his eyes. Behind Varak, Sam slid down the wall, the demon's grip loosening. "Certain kinds of demons," Dean hissed coldly, repeating the words Castiel had told him, "trigger the angelic reservoir, unleashing its power upon them." And with that he thrust his arm further out, pushing forward the power of the pendant. Sparking, crimson flames shot from the carved symbol, engulfing the demon's rigid form. Varak suddenly shrieked in pain and fury, the sound grating against Dean's ears, then cut off suddenly. The flames died, and the pendant darkened, cooling rapidly. Dean panted, sighing with relief. The demon was gone.
Looking up, Dean's gaze swept the room, searching for his brother. Behind where the demon had stood, Sam was slumped, lying against the wall. Dean's eyes widened. "Sammy!" He ran across the room and knelt by Sam. His eyes were closed, his skin pale, his chest barely rising and falling. "Sammy," Dean choked out, trying to hold back tears as he took in the deep cuts slashed across Sam's chest and arms. "Oh, God, I'm so sorry.". As Dean knelt by Sam's unconscious form, trying over and over to apologize, he heard sudden footsteps echoing in the hall. Shooting into a standing position, Dean snatched up his gun and approached the doorway. A shadowed figure stepped into the doorframe; and though Dean couldn't see his face, he could make out the low-hanging silhouette of the trenchcoat he wore. "Cas," Dean breathed, the name filling him with relief. Castiel cocked his head at a slight angle. "You have retrieved the pendant, but I sensed that you were in pain," he said with his usual flat, serious tone. Dean nodded, biting his lip. "But you are not hurt…" Castiel's brow furrowed in confusion as his eyes swept over Dean, trying to figure out the problem. His face fell as he realized what was wrong. Cas raised his gaze to meet Dean's.
"Where is Sam?"