CHAPTER 5 – RAZIEL'S PIKE

Chamsael slowly walks towards the gates of the Shadowhunter Institute with his yellow eyes staring at the double doors. His steps make an echoing sound.

"You won't get through!" Alec stands in his way, Seraph Blade at hand.

A small hand gesture from the demon sends the Shadowhunter leader flying away. Using his other hand, Chamsael weaves his fingers and causes Magnus to forcibly levitate towards him. He grabs the Warlock by his neck and continues his advance.

"You know," Chamsael stares at Magnus' eyes. "Your spells are becoming a pain in my ass..."

Alec's eyes and eyebrows rise towards the sky when he sees the demon squeezing Magnus Bane's neck. The Warlock's vertebrae crack. His arms hang soon after. His eyes turn white.

"MAGNUS, NO!" Alec charges against the demon.

Before Alec could even reach him, Chamsael throws him back to the same spot as before, again using his telekinesis. He then drops Magnus Bane's body on the sidewalk. Nick and Beatrice grab the still handcuffed Isabelle and join their demonic master.

"Time to get on with our plan."

All three stand in front of the Institute's enormous entrance arch. Chamsael looks at it, stares at the walls on each side and smiles. His vessel's strong arms reach for the wood. The ground begins to shake.

"This is nothing..."

A shiny gold energy emanates from both his hands that completely engulfs the double doors. The light instantly turns into flames that reduce the wood to ashes. In mere seconds, the Institute's lobby can be seen from the outside, showing group of Shadowhunters charging at the attackers. Chamsael sends them all flying with his telekinesis.

"Out of my way," he smiles.

Right when Chamsael stands under the empty frame, Clary, Jace, and Castiel manage to stand up and charge against him all at the same time. An invisible force violently stops them when they are inches away from the ashes of the Institute's burnt doors.

"No vermin getting in today," Chamsael shows them the palm of his hand.

"Damn you," Alec barely stands up.

Chamsael closes his fist, after which a red wall materializes and replaces the Institute's burnt doors. The rest of the team stare at it while Alec slowly walks towards Magnus's inert body. He kneels upon reaching it.

"What happened?" Alec can't hold his tears from coming out. "WHY DIDN'T THE DAMN GUN WORK?!"

"Alec..."

"DON'T...!" Alec angrily interrupts Sam. "I don't wanna' hear it..."

Clary stands up and sees Castiel approach Magnus' body. The angel kneels, carefully examines the inert Warlock and stares back at her, emitting a discreet denial head sign. Everyone silently observes the scene, all with the same sore sights, lowered head and tightly sealed lips. Sam and Dean sigh in disdain as they watch Alec closing his eyes and discreetly sobbing.

"All right," the Shadowhunter leader dries his tears. "We're at an even worse position than square one."

"How do we stop Chamsael now?" Jace asks.

"Sam, Dean?" Clary turns her sights on the silent and head-lowered brothers.

"We got nothing," Dean claims. "If that gun didn't work, I don't know what else could..."

"DON'T YOU DARE GIVE ME THAT CRAP!" Alec grabs Dean by his leather jacket. "Magnus sacrificed himself trying to stop that damn demon! WE ALL HAVE! So don't tell me you got nothing...!"

Jace, Clary and Sam barely manage to separate them. Dean fixes his jacket and stares back at the angry Nephilim. Alec returns the gesture.

"What Sam and I meant to say is that us, Winchesters, got nothing, but maybe you guys do! A spell, a secret weapon, anything that might help us..."

"No," Alec lowers his sight. "I've got nothing either..."

"I do," Castiel says. "Although, I think you're not going to like it."

"Well, it's better than nothing," Jace intervenes. "Let's hear it."

"We could overload the Institute's reactor and cause a meltdown. Its celestial energy should be enough to smite Chamsael."

"With all due respect, Castiel," Jace slowly walks towards the angel. "AM I HEARING THIS RIGHT?! THE WHOLE CITY WOULD BE SMITED ALONG WITH IT! Millions would..."

"Still better than all of humanity, and angels..."

"No way," Alec firmly states. "There has to be another way..."

Castiel ignores the Nephilim and approaches the structure Chamsael erected. The angel notices it is made of flesh, bones and resin. Its whole layout adopts a spiral form, showing an extremely dark hole in the middle. He is soon pushed back by bony spikes emanating from it.

"I have seen this before," Castiel claims. "When we went to rescue Dean from hell, Lilith summoned a similar structure in order to halt our advance. The strength of an archangel was needed to bring it down."

"Great," Dean complains. "Gabriel and Raphael are dead, Lucifer's back in jail and Michael's lost his marbles. Any other great ideas?"

"What about Raziel?" Sam asks. "Can't we summon him?"

"Only the Clave's high-ranking members know the secret to summon the angel Raziel," Alec answers. "They won't go for it unless it's an unsustainable situation."

"And what would you call this?" Dean raises his voice.

"Even if we were going to talk to them, they demand we seek an audience beforehand in order to establish our case. Then there's the trip to Idris..."

Dean stares at Alec, wrinkles his forehead and arches his right brow. Then he looks at his brother with both eyebrows raised. Sam shrugs his shoulders at his gesture. The Shadowhunter leader stops his explanation upon noticing their unawareness.

"It's time we don't have," he summarizes.

"What do we do then?"

Sam's question is followed by a throat clearing sound coming from behind his back, followed by a well-known voice. Castiel sighs when he hears it.

"Hello, boys."

Sam and Dean sigh at the same time, while the Shadowhunters omit the gesture and set their sights on the greeter. They see a middle-aged man, with an average height and a slightly fat build, showing an unshaved beard and a dark hair that shines under the artificial lights coming from the street lamps. He wears a clean black suit that highlights the paleness of his skin.

"Crowley," Dean stares at him after a discreet glaze. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too, Dean," the man sighs and waves his hand at Sam. "Moose..."

"How dare you show your face here, Crowley?" Jace grabs his Seraph Blade. "I should end you here and now..."

Crowley quickly snaps his fingers and makes Jace drop his blade, compelling the rest of the Shadowhunters to draw their weapons at him. Castiel stops them with a hand gesture.

"Good," Crowley puts his hands inside his black coat's pockets. "Feathers' here too."

"What do you want, Crowley?" Castiel asks.

"I want to help."

"I find that hard to believe," Sam meddles in.

"Chamsael is about to do a very, very bad thing," Crowley slightly raises his voice. "It greatly affects my interests."

"Oh really?" Dean asks.

"Imagine a world with no souls to make deals for. My boredom would know no limits. I could just kill myself the moment he activates that damn shield."

"Oh, now you're talking," Dean grumbles. "I knew you wouldn't be here for the kindness of your heart."

"You know me too well."

"This is just too much," Alec complains. "Why are you guys talking to this demon? Do you know him?!"

"This demon, young man, is the actual King of Hell, and hence the only one capable of tearing down that wall of flesh. The only reason Moose and Squirrel here haven't tried anything is because they need me."

"Moose and squirr..." Jace shakes his head as he slowly approaches Dean. "You guys know Crowley?"

"Yeah," Dean faces him. "And it seems you guys know him too."

"Jace," Clary approaches the blond Nephilim. "Who is he? Why the long faces?"

"Crowley's a crossroads demon," Jace stares at the aforementioned. "The Institute has had to clean up many messes caused by him here in New York. Demonic deals, possessions, blasphemous rituals... There's no dark event that hasn't gone through his corrupted hands."

"I can't believe someone like that's in your friends list, Castiel," Alec sighs. "I'm disappointed."

"Oh, my relationship with the Winchesters and Feathers goes way beyond," Crowley stares at the Shadowhunters. "We've fought, worked together, stopped apocalyptic events... Hell, we even went partying!"

Sam, Dean and Castiel sigh at the same time. The Shadowhunters raise their brows while Simon and Luke keep their eyes fixated on Crowley, who slowly walks towards the flesh wall shutting the Institute's entrance. Once near it, he examines it from top to bottom.

"Can you tear it down?" Sam asks.

"Oh, yes, I've got the mojo," Crowley raises his left brow. "There are still two problems, though."

"Which are...?" Castiel shows exasperation.

"One: the ingredients," Crowley hands the angel a piece of parchment with words written on it. "Two: your plan."

"What does that mean?" Garroway meddles in.

"What will you do, once that wall falls and you face Chamsael again? From what I saw, not even the Colt could kill him."

"Oh, you were here?" Dean sighs. "Why didn't you help out?"

"Well?" Crowley ignores the hunter's complaints. "I'm waiting for a solution here..."

"Cass has a plan," Dean replies.

"We agreed that was out of the table," Alec interrupts. "Blowing up New York cannot be a solution."

"You've got anything better?"

"I do..."

The new voice attracts the staring of everyone present. They all gaze upon the figure standing at a moderate distance from the wall of flesh, dazed by the light its sole silhouette irradiates. The man's tallness, along with his blond hair and unique outfit turns out to be both familiar and peculiar. Clary shows a smile on her face when staring at his blue eyes.

"Clary, my child..."

"Ithuriel..." — Clary smiles as she pronounces his name.

With the aid of the park lamps, everyone manages to see a blond man wearing a white silk tunic, hidden under a bronze chest plate which design imitates his pectoral and abdomen muscles, and closed at waist level by a brown leather belt. His legs are covered by strings made with the same material as the belt attached to his heels, adorning two dark sandals that cover his feet.

"Perfect," Crowley complains. "Another angel, and with wings..."

"You...?" Castiel approaches the newcomer. "You are Ithuriel, right?"

"And you must be Castiel," the man calmly retorts. "I've heard a lot about you, brother. Your deeds are well-known within our ranks."

"You bet," Crowley sighs. "Quite the example..."

"I can see you still have your wings," Castiel sighs.

"Lord Raziel shared his archangel ward with us when Metatron activated the spell," Ithuriel smiles. "We were lucky..."

"I'm glad for you, brother," Castiel looks down.

"And I'm glad for you," Ithuriel grabs the angel's shoulder. "You are the living example that proves no wings are needed to be a true Angel of the Lord..."

"Well, this reunion is beautiful and all, but we got serious problems to deal with," Dean interrupts the angels' moment. "Please, tell me you got something we can use."

"Dean, show some respect..."

"Dean is right," Ithuriel interrupts his wingless companion. "Chamsael is about to do something irreparably terrible for everyone. We must stop him."

The seemingly winged angel extends his arm and opens his hand. A bluish white smoke emanates from his palm that gradually adopts an elongated shape. Once its size matches Sam's, it slowly turns into a shiny golden pike.

"Is that...?" Castiel's eyes are wide open.

"Yes, brother," Ithuriel finishes his thought. "Behold, Raziel's Pike."

The Winchesters and the Shadowhunters gather around Ithuriel, gazing at the weapon's shiny and reflective gold coating. Luke and Simon walk a few steps backwards. The winged angel slowly approaches them.

"Do not be afraid, children of the dark," he smiles at them. "This weapon only acts according to Lord Raziel's will, and your demise is not it. On the contrary, Lord Raziel told me that the role of you Downworlders in the upcoming battle will be fundamental."

"Fundamental how, exactly?" Garroway asks.

"To be honest, I really do not know," Ithuriel answers. "I asked our lord that very same question, and the only answer he gave me was that the battle will let us know."

After his conversation with Simon and Garroway, Ithuriel slowly approaches Crowley. The King of Hell faces the winged angel and looks at him from top to bottom, showing a mild and discreet smile in the process. The celestial returns the gesture and stares at the demonic structure blocking the Institute's entrance.

"I heard you know a way to tear that flesh wall down..."

"I might," Crowley stares at him.

"Quit your games, Crowley," Dean scolds the demon. "There's not much time."

"How can I be sure that once that wall is torn down, Wings here won't blast me into molecules?"

"Despite you being a demon, and the king of Hell, your demise is not one of Lord Raziel's wishes," Ithuriel faces him. "Besides, we know you will play an important role in future events."

"Really?" Crowley raises his left brow.

"Immediate and far events," Ithuriel smiles. "Besides, we all want Chamsael's demise."

"True."

The King of Hell approaches the flesh wall one more time. He stares at it, then turns around and faces the Winchesters and Shadowhunters alike, showing a weary sigh before setting back his sights on the demonic structure.

"Bring me the ingredients and I'll tear down this thing," Crowley brags. "After that, you're on your own."

"What?" Sam meddles in. "You're not coming?"

"Let's say that Chamsael has got some beef with me. You know, power issues. I'm taking a high enough risk as it is just by being here."

"Well, you've got wings, right?" Dean approaches Ithuriel. "Could you give us a fast ride?"

"My orders include not to abandon this area," Ithuriel explains. "If I do not comply, I will be cast back to Heaven."

"Great," Dean grumbles.

Ithuriel turns his attention towards Alec, who is kneeling next to Magnus Bane's lifeless corpse. His vessel's eyes go sore as he sees the Nephilim slowly closing the Warlock's still open eyelids. The Shadowhunter leader faces the winged angel, tears still falling down his pale face. He promptly cleans them with both hands and compulsively blinks.

"He was a Warlock, a creature of the dark, but he was my friend," he sobs. "He joined us in the fight against this wretched demon without any kind of hesitation. He didn't deserve to die like this..."

"I understand your pain..."

"The first time he helped us, Chamsael hurt him badly," Alec interrupts the angel. "That didn't stop him from a second time. He just ended up worse. He ended up dead."

"One of the reasons Lord Raziel made me come down here was to tend to Magnus Bane..."

Alec raises his brows as he sees Ithuriel approach his vessel's right hand to Magnus' corpse. Its palm starts projecting an intensely shiny golden light that forces everyone to cover their eyes. The Nephilim barely sees him touching his dead friend's head, subsequently covering his whole corpse in light. Its strong intensity barely allows him to complain.

"What are you...?"

Alec's sentence is suddenly interrupted when Castiel firmly grabs his wrist and stops him from intervening. The Nephilim raises his brows and presses his teeth as the intensity of the light engulfing Magnus Bane increases. His struggling becomes so violent that Sam and Dean are forced to assist the wingless angel in holding him.

"NO! LET ME GO! HE'S SMITING HIM!"

After a few seconds, the light engulfing Magnus Bane emits a flash so strong it dazes everyone. Alec looks at his dead friend once it fades. The winged angel pulls back his hand and smiles.

"As I said, this was not Lord Raziel's will."

Alec's eyes go even shinier than the flash of light once he sees his friend awake, sitting on the floor and with all his wounds healed. Magnus slowly inspects his hands, face and torso, and then focuses his attention on his Nephilim lover. They both stare at each other.

"Alec..."

The Shadowhunter leader cuts Magnus' barely formed sentence with an intense kiss on the mouth, accompanied by a hug and then followed by a prolonged stare. Crowley and Dean look away, the latter discreetly raising his brows. The rest of the team smiles before the situation.

"Thank you," Magnus sighs and looks at a smiling Ithuriel. "It seems my resurrection by celestials' hands has become a thing lately,"

"All right," Alec addresses the team. "We have several problems to tend to. The first one is tearing down that wall of flesh."

"We have the list of ingredients needed for the spell," Dean asserts.

"May I have a look, please?" Magnus extends his open hand.

Dean hands the Warlock the list. The latter reads it and raises his brows upon reaching the end, then stares at the Winchesters and mildly smiles. Sam and Dean reciprocate the gesture.

"I have most of these back at my apartment," Magnus says. "I just need to open a portal and bring them here. It shouldn't take long."

"We're coming with you," Clary steps forward. "I won't risk losing you again."

"Your company is always a blessing, Clary" Magnus smiles.

"Once that wall is torn down, the second problem arises," Alec asserts. "Besides hordes of demons rushing at us, there's still the task of impaling that damn demon with Raziel's Pike. It isn't going to be easy."

"You bet," Dean reloads his gun. "That demon packs a ton. He'll sure put up a fight for which we must be prepared, for all our sakes."

Alec walks near Magnus and firmly grabs his shoulders. Both stare at each other for some seconds while the rest of the team members ready their weapons.

"Be careful," Alec says.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Magnus moves his hands in circles. Yellow sparks start appearing on each one of his fingertips with increasing intensity, until they start leaving a trail. The conjured energy soon takes the shape of a portal with a dark center that shows blinking images of the insides of an apartment. After some minutes, the yellow energy becomes stable, and the image becomes permanent.

"Whenever you're ready," Magnus stares at both Clary and Jace.

"Let's go," Jace grabs his Seraph Blade.

Without further hesitation, the newly formed trio gathers up and jumps into the portal.

Inside the Shadowhunter Institute, Manhattan, New York, 10:30 PM

An enormous and bulking muscle wall, filled with demonic tattoos inked with dark blood, constitute the sight of Chamsael's human vessel's back. The possessed man's legs are as well-shaped as his arms, and a pair of enormous dark wings protruding from his scapulae are merely visible by Isabelle's Nephilim sight, who tries to turn it away in vein. She tries distinguishing the details of his silhouette from the floor she is lying on.

"When Lord Lucifer told me about this weapon, I never thought of using it," the demon claims. "I mean, with no human souls to taint, and no angels to kill, Hell would only stagnate."

With her wrists still cuffed behind her back, Isabelle tries to stand up and escape through the Institute lobby's main exit. However, just as she reaches the door frame, Chamsael's vessel's fit and naked body, profusely bleeding through his tattoos, warps in front of her. His yellow and purple eyes stare deeply at her.

"However, I could see everything from my prison," Chamsael continues his speech. "I could see angels and humans stepping on us, humiliating us, endless and countless times. Light souled creatures never let us develop. They never let us demons flourish as we were meant to."

Chamsael weaves his right hand and telekinetically lifts Isabelle off the ground while he uses his other hand to open her cuffs. Once she is suspended and immobile, he makes her extend her hands horizontally. The Nephilim stares at him, moaning and grumbling as she pointlessly struggles.

"Years of pyrrhic victories and false hopes have granted you light creatures qualities that could prove to be insidious means of failure," Chamsael raises his voice. "Overconfidence, arrogance, laziness. Those perks have allowed us to evolve and grow in silence."

The demon's facial expression changes all of a sudden, showing wrinkled eyebrows, widely open eyes, flattened nose and screeching closed teeth. He quickly opens both arms in an arch towards both sides and screams so loudly that some glasses in the room shatter. Isabelle watches in horror as her clothes are torn to shreds in a matter of seconds, exposing every single pore of her light skin.

"That silence ended the minute you dared killing two of my brothers... AND ACTIVATED THE SOUL SWORD!" Chamsael yells at Isabelle. "It's a sin, an offense, only punishable in one way..."

Isabelle feels a pair of sheets sliding through her naked body, slowly reaching her ankles, wrists, neck, breasts and waist. Once they are set, Chamsael violently closes his right fist. The Nephilim emits a gasping moan as the white silk wraps her aimed body parts tightly and violently. The demon levitates behind her As he whispers his speech's final words to her ear.

"Annihilation..."

Isabelle notices demonic sigils appearing on the sheets. She emits a scream as the compression on her breasts make them adopt the shape of two compact fleshy mountains, increasing the skin's brightness as the lights reflect on their upper parts. Her breathing turns gradually heavier as Chamsael whispers the rest of his plan to her ear.

"I'm going to drain your beautifully corrupted blood slowly, painfully, until the last drop fills the shield. You will bear witness to the agonizing extinction of every angel, every human and every damned light soul creature. And then, when it's all over, when all of them cease to exist, I will drag you to hell myself and taint out whatever light is left in you."

The demon's fingernail slowly grows, which he uses to inflict a V-shaped cut on Isabelle's naked chest. She screams and struggles as the unnaturally sharp keratin slowly separates her skin. Blood starts coming out from the almost unnoticeable rift, slowly forming a red trail as it crawls downwards. Once it stains the sheets, the red liquid levitates towards a structure mounted in front of her.

Isabelle raises her brows as she sees a crusader shield all covered in flesh and bones, mounted over a small dark altar made of a type of reddish stone unknown to her. She notices a bloody and lifeless human heart hanging in the middle of the artifact, held together by filaments of flesh and bony supports. She gasps as it starts beating once the first drops of her own levitating blood touches its ventricles. She feels her strength fading away with each unholy heartbeat, followed by an increasing somnolence state. Her current helplessness compels her to emit a desperate help plea, overlaid by the resounding laugh of her demonic captor.

"Someone... anyone... please... help me..."

Shadowhunter Institute Entrance, Manhattan, New York, 11:30 P.M.

Sam and Dean gaze at Clary as she emerges from the previously opened portal, followed by Jace and Magnus. Each one carries a white linen bag with slopes that indicate their fullness. The Warlock grabs them all and walks towards Crowley, who stands near two copper bowls laid on the ground, each set over a pentagram painted in chalk.

"Did you bring everything?" Crowley asks.

"Yes, I did," Magnus empties the three bags near one of the bowls. "I almost depleted my stock."

"If we don't stop Chamsael, you will have no stock," Crowley raises his brows. "Quit yapping."

"Fairy teeth, werewolf blood, a piece of cobalt and mercury powder," Magnus checks the ingredients as Crowley mixes them in both bowls.

"Are you guys ready?" The King of Hell asks.

"Do it, already," Dean sighs.

After a defiant eye roll, Crowley starts pronouncing incomprehensible words out loud. Sam and Dean manage to distinguish some Latin terms in the sequence before it enters the refrain, moment during which they notice the sudden shattering of the glass on the nearby street lamps. The flesh wall starts shaking and bleeding from its fibers. This is it, both brothers think while hearing the King of Hell's echoing chants´ until he shouts the spell's final word.

"ARDENTI!"

A set of bluish flames gradually engulf the demonic wall. Chunks of meat and bone begin to fall, disintegrating upon touching the walkway's cold stone and increasing in numbers as the relentless fire burns through the structure. Once it is completely devoured by the burning element, the flesh wall disintegrates, leaving only embers and traces of charcoal near the door frame.

"Here they come," Dean readies his angel blade.

A dozen men wearing army fatigues and bearing blackened eyeballs come out from inside the institute, yelling as they rush towards the invading team. The first one is stabbed by Sam's angel blade. Demonic sparks and bursts soon follow as angel and Seraph blades cut through the possessed soldiers' flesh. Lifeless bodies reverberate as they fall one after another until a deafening silence is finally heard.

"All right, move in," Alec orders.

The team enters the institute, all of them ignoring the soldiers' corpses as they reach the darkness in the middle of the wooden frame. They all look back as they wander into the abyss and notice that Crowley doesn't accompany them.

"You're not coming?" Dean inquisitively asks.

"No," Crowley answers. "Knock yourselves out. Let me know when you're done."

After Dean's eye roll and weary sigh, all team members gather around Alec. The Shadowhunter leader's words before going into battle echo through the empty corridors.

"No detours. No going back. The only way out... is through."

Inside the Shadowhunter Institute, Manhattan, New York, 12:00 AM

The newly formed team, integrated by humans, Shadowhunters, Downworlders and angels, wanders into the Institute's lobby, standing immobile before the new layout. Desks and holo-screens that were once occupied by Nephilim personnel are empty. Every monitor lies on the ground, mostly with their screens devoid of their acrylic cover, while two of the four holographic interfaces are missing their boards. The floor is littered with papers, clipboards and glass fragments. Most of the chairs lie distant from their original post.

More than the evident signs of struggle and death, the new structure present all over the walls stands out. The team sees the masonry covered by a network of tentacles spread all over the room, with a composition similar to the Wall of Flesh. All notice that it is made mostly of bones and meat, the latter being the most abundant, with blood continuously dripping all along its extensions, and hence decorating the nearby walls and floors with a disturbingly darkened red color.

"Where is everyone?" Clary asks.

"Survivors must have been evacuated to Idris," Alec asserts. "The others, well..."

"Any of you seen this before?" Dean stares at the bleeding tentacles.

"That is demonic architecture," Ithuriel explains. "During the Incursion, many places in this beautiful planet were covered in these vile decorations. They are generally present when there is a nearby important structure, or artifact."

"The Shield of Despair," Clary deduces. "We must hurry."

"All tentacles converge towards the main hall," Jace shows a set of double doors with its wooden frame heavily covered by the tentacles. "I bet that's where our demon has set up shop."

Jace unsheathes his Seraph Blade before opening the double doors. Once the wood is out of the way, he finds himself in front of another Wall of Flesh, with a darker and bigger hole in its center. The blonde Nephilim falls on his butt when he sees a big, eyeless yellowish head come out of the round darkness. The monster opens a big mouth with a big pair of purple gums, from which four sets of abundant sharp teeth emanate. The whole structure vibrates when it emits a screeching loud roar, before slowly going back inside.

"What...the hell...was that?" Simon babbles.

"Demonic protection sentries," Ithuriel says. "I had not seen one so strong in millenia."

"We need to get in there, and fast," Clary breathes heavily. "Chamsael is obviously in there, and I bet the shield's there with him."

"And Izzy," Alec sighs as he sheathes his sword.

Magnus slowly walks near Alec, minding each step he takes before reaching him. The Nephilim leader keeps his sights set on the Warlock once he notices his approach. The latter stands before him. Both hands grab his friend and lover's cheeks.

"Alec, we all know Chamsael has powers that escape our very imagination," Magnus says. "We have tried to kill him in many ways. None have worked so far."

"What do you mean?" Alec asks.

"We need a plan B," Magnus claims. "I know you are not fond of the idea, but..."

"NO!" Alec yells. "I'M NOT GOING FOR IT! I'M NOT GOING TO TOUCH THAT REACTOR!"

"Alec, Castiel's plan is not entirely wrong. If Raziel's Pike fails..."

"IT WON'T FAIL! IT CAN'T! IT...SHOULDN'T...!"

"You know it can happen..."

"Magnus is right, Alec," Jace intervenes. "We made the same mistake with the Colt. We must have a contingency plan."

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Alec loses his temper. "ARE YOU WILLING TO LET MILLIONS DIE OVERNIGHT?! THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY!"

"We may not have time to figure out another way," Magnus retorts.

"Then you guys must not let things get that bad," Castiel breaks his silence and enters the conversation. "This isn't the first time we face a situation like this. When facing world extinction events, none of us have given up. The Apocalypse, Leviathans, Lucifer, Amara... We have handled them all without the amount of casualties they were supposed to bear. Chamsael is no different. However..."

"Not you too," Alec sighs.

"If things go sideways, the generator meltdown could be used as a last resort," Castiel concludes. "We can't afford to lose Heaven. Earth can not afford that."

"I agree with you there, Castiel," Ithuriel says. "I have faith in all of you, and I have faith in Lord Raziel. However, having someone near that generator would not hurt, in case we fail."

"This is insane," Alec sighs and leans against the nearby wall while looking down. "However, I have no choice but to agree. Someone does need to stay near the angelic generator, in case Raziel's Pike doesn't kill Chamsael."

"In order to overload an angelic reactor, an angel is needed to channel its grace towards the nucleus," Ithuriel explains. "I would stay, but you need me to carry the pike into battle."

"Then I'll do it," Castiel volunteers. "It was my idea, anyways..."

"Cass," Dean grabs the angel by his beige trench coat.

"Just make sure things don't go that far," Castiel addresses the Winchesters. "I'm counting on you."

"All right," Alec grabs his Seraph Blade. "Castiel, take the door to my right towards the generator. You will see the stairs with a sign on the wall that leads to it. You will overload it on my order only. The others, get ready. We're going after..."

The sound of Alec's voice gets overlaid by a loud and tearing scream coming from behind the flesh wall. The Winchesters, Shadowhunters and Downworlders raise their brows high. Sam closes his fists, burying his nails on his palms.

"Izzy!" Clary screams. "We're coming! Just hold on!"

Clary rapidly grabs her Stele and starts drawing a circular pattern on her hand, followed by a V-shaped figure. She then turns her recently marked palm towards the wall, from which a blinding yellow light emanates.

"CLARY, WAIT!" Jace rushes towards her.

In mere seconds, the light touches the demonic wall and produces an intense flash. Everyone covers their eyes before the light until its complete dissipation. Once it clears out, all witness the monstrous head from before bathed in flames. The creature screams in pain before it disintegrates, leaving a big hole in its place from which everyone can see the inside of the main hall.

"Castiel, get to the generator!" Alec orders. "The rest of you, FOLLOW ME!"

As all team members comply with Alec's orders, they notice the devastation produced by Clary's rune. That was the Sun Rune, Jace recognizes the drawing pattern. Sam and Dean notice that the wall starts regenerating and thus closing back. They rush towards it. Alec imitates their actions.

"We must hurry!" He yells at the rest.

The Winchesters' run is suddenly and violently halted. Both their backs and heads make an echoing sound as they impact the floor. Alec stops running and rushes to their aid, only to be punched, kicked and pummeled by an invisible assailant. The rest of the team members unsuccessfully search for the attacker, being rapidly knocked down one by one.

"I like these new powers," a known voice brags from the darkness.

Once they regain balance, the Winchesters notice Nick and Beatrice standing between them and the closing flesh wall, cracking their necks as they laugh at their beaten enemies. All team members face them with weapons at hand.

"We won't let you in," Beatrice calmly says. "Our master is busy. He has no time to deal with the likes of you."

Without hesitation, Simon and Luke rapidly charge against their respective counterparts, followed by Clary, Jace and Alec. Sam and Dean draw their guns and start shooting at Beatrice, who easily dodges every bullet that goes her way. Nick pushes Simon away and appears before the Winchesters, knocking them both down with a single high speed punch to their faces. He then pushes Clary and Jace against the nearby wall.

"You will never learn," he chuckles.

Alec comes from behind him and tries cutting his head off with his Seraph Blade. However, the speed of his sword slash proves to be no match for the vampire's, as the latter rushes behind the Shadowhunter leader and knocks him down with a kick. From his downed position, he sees Nick and Magnus being pummeled and pushed away by Beatrice.

"You don't get it, do you?" The redhead female Werewolf brags. "Chamsael has improved us and has greatly enhanced our abilities. There's no way you can beat us."

"You are nothing compared to us," Nick walks near a downed Simon. "You? A Vampire? Don't make me laugh. You're not even worthy of the world Chamsael is going to create for us. You will just be a pile of ash waiting to disintegrate in the impending darkness."

"Chamsael may have enhanced you," Simon faces Nick with a smile. "But a friend of mine also helped me get better..."

The young vampire rapidly pulls out a loaded syringe from his belt and rushes at his counterpart unexpectedly, managing to stick its needle into Nick's pale neck. He swiftly empties its reddish dark content into his enemy's bloodstream.

"What the..." Nick staggers after taking the shot. "What the hell is THIS?!"

"The friend I just told you about told me about certain flaws us vampires have," Simon smiles as he faces Nick. "He was very specific about the devastating effects of the blood of a dead man."

"Motherf..." Nick unsuccessfully tries to punch Simon.

"He also told me about the best way to kill us," Simon avoids another slow and clumsy punch. "He says chopping our heads can do the trick."

Nick falls as Simon avoids his last punch. He then receives a kick in his left ribcage as he tries to stand back up, reaching the floor back in a supine position. The vampire notices his counterpart pulling out a machete from under his black jacket, pronouncing some final words before beheading him.

"His name...is Dean Winchester..."

As Nick's severed head flies away from his body, Dean smiles at his unofficial vampire trainee and rushes towards the opening along with Sam. They are both intercepted by Beatrice, who grabs them both by their necks and easily lifts them off the ground. However, they are suddenly dropped when Luke rushes at her and pins her against the wall. The Winchesters and Shadowhunters rush to his aid.

"I WON'T BE ABLE TO HOLD HER FOR LONG!" Luke yells as he struggles with Beatrice. "GET IN BEFORE THE WALL CLOSES BACK!"

As Simon rushes to aid Luke in holding a hulking Beatrice, the rest of the team run towards the almost regenerated Wall of Flesh. The opening is barely big enough to fit one person. It closes more and more with every passing second at an increased rate. The team rushes towards it at the most possible extent. The hole continues narrowing itself. We won't make it, Sam sighs.

Ithuriel appears in the opening all of a sudden and interposes the golden pike in the closing flesh wall. The manoeuver barely prevents the structure from closing, merely managing to slow down the process. Both ends of Raziel's pike make the demonic flesh bleed profusely. The walls and floor start shaking. The angel's arm muscles contract as he holds his own against the closing flesh.

Thanks to Ithuriel's efforts, the team barely walks through the opening. Clary's eyes go sour as she looks back and sees Beatrice pushing Simon and Luke against the wall. The flesh wall then culminates its regenerating closure, with Ithuriel managing to jump into the main hall.

"You made it," a known voice calmly greets them. "How exciting..."

The Winchesters, Shadowhunters and Ithuriel draw their weapons and face Chamsael. The demon stands before them, topless and showing off the bleeding demonic tattoos carved on his vessel's muscled torso. His yellow eyes shine intensely in the poorly lit room, strongly contrasting the purple color of his eyeballs. His legs remain clothed with digital camouflage pants that partially cover the top of his bare, bloody feet.

Chamsael slowly walks away from the structure concealed by his vessel's robust and broad body. The team then neatly sees a small square-shaped altar, formed by the convergence of the previously seen flesh tentacles. Its four corners show a quartet of bony extensions that look like mammoth fangs, purposely holding a strange shield in its center. Everyone notices the shield is covered in flesh, showing a set of long bones that adopt the shape of a cross, going from top to bottom and from both sides in an exquisitely perpendicular way. Their point of convergence is held together by what looks like a beating human heart, with its veins and aorta connected to the fleshy mess by bony tuberosities.

Behind the altar lies another fleshy structure, but this one adopts the shape of a giant cross. The team notice that it holds a levitating Isabelle, devoid of clothing and with her wrists, ankles and private parts tied and covered by white satin sheets filled with demonic characters and sigils drawn in blood. Her chest shows a still bleeding V-shaped wound with its exteriorized content staining the portion covering her compressed bosom.

"IZZY!" Clary calls for her friend.

"We're gonna' make you pay for everything this time," Alec swings his Seraph Blade at Chamsael. "You won't get away with this."

"Oooh, I'm scared," Chamsael smiles as he fakes the shaking of his hands. "How do you plan on doing that?"

Looking to lower the demon's boasting, Ithuriel steps forth and shows him Raziel's golden pike. The rest of the team stand near him, carrying angel and Seraph Blades. Chamsael's smile gets wiped. His lips turn horizontal. His yellow and purple eyes are fixated on the angel's weapon.

"Raziel's Pike," the demon cracks his neck and knuckles. "I hadn't seen that artifact in millennia."

The team's focus breaks when they hear another one of Isabelle's piercingly agonizing scream. All notice the dense red dust coming out of her chest wound and flying directly towards the heart at the center of the shield. A strong smell of metal and blood invades the room as the organ starts beating.

"He's bleeding her out to power the shield!" Sam yells his deduction out loud.

"Get ready to attack!" Alec orders.

Ithuriel joins the formation and stands near Sam and Dean, brandishing Raziel's Pike. Magnus stands near Alec, devoid of any weapon, but readying a spell by waving both his hands until blue flames come out of his fingertips. The whole team stands ready. All gaze at Chamsael's vessel.

"ATTACK!"

Before any could comply Alec's order, Chamsael warps and appears in front of Ithuriel. The demon then throws several strong and fast punches at him. Seeing that the winged angel is barely able to dodge or parry them, Magnus shoots several blue fireballs that hit his nemesis' body without bearing any effect, and witnesses how the latter easily dodges Sam and Dean's attacks before hardly pushing them away. Alec, Clary and Jace suffer the same fate when they try attacking him.

"Some attack," Chamsael mocks the team.

Ithuriel charges at the demon with Raziel's Pike on his hands. Sam and Dean stand up and support the angel's advance, followed by Clary, Jace, Alec and Magnus. Chamsael smiles while he easily dodges all of their cuts, impaling attempts and fireballs, no matter how many angles they come from. In one of the angel's swings, he grabs the golden weapon's tip and sends everyone flying using his telekinesis.

"That hurt...a lot," he claims as he sees blood dripping from the hand holding the pike.

Chamsael shoves the pike away and strongly hits Ithuriel with a frontal punch to his nose and mouth, making him stagger and fall. Jace and Clary charge at the demon again, but he subdues them through blunt golden blows to their ribs and legs. Their bodies make an echoing sound as they are slammed against the granite ground.

"This weapon is dangerous," Chamsael throws the pike away from him. "Yet, it's all you got against me."

The moans and groans of the beat up crew are soon replaced by another one of Isabelle's screams, followed by the same smell of blood as the one before. Sam, Dean, Clary and Jace try to stand up, while Ithuriel manages to regain his composure. However, the latter is thrown against the wall by Chamsael's telekinesis. The demon then smashes Magnus' back with his bare foot.

"I have killed you twice already."

Magnus watches in horror as Chamsael, still with his foot on his back, closes his right fist tightly. Sounds of broken ribs and shredded flesh start coming out from inside the Warlock's abdomen, making the latter scream and twist as far as the demon's footy grip allows him to. His small eyes strongly protrude. His fingers and toes twitch.

"Third time's the charm," Chamsael smiles while gazing at Magnus' pain.

Unable to bear his friend's pain any longer, Alec presses his teeth and stands up. The Nephilim leader then rushes towards the golden pike and grabs it. He then charges at Chamsael with its tip directed towards his heart. The demon turns around and notices the charging Nephilim. He does not dodge, parry or block the attack. The golden spear tip then approaches his left pectoral and pierces it.

"There's something you should know about this pike," Chamsael gazes at Alec.

Alec raises his brows in horror as Chamsael easily extracts the pike's golden tip from his vessel's bleeding skin. Before the Nephilim could react, a strong demonic punch to his cheek throws him against the floor. The demon then crouches near him, grabs his black ashen hair and slams his head against the cold granite.

"Raziel's Pike can only be used by an angel, an Archangel, or a creature chosen by its owner," Chamsael smiles. "Otherwise, it's just a vulgar spear."

With all his attackers beaten, Chamsael walks towards the Shield of Despair and grabs it. He then mounts it on his vessel's left arm and gazes at the agonizing and dazed Isabelle, showing her a terrifyingly sardonic grin. He then walks towards the attacking team and shows them his artifact. All gaze at the still beating heart in its center.

"However, my weapon DOES WORK!"

After his words, Chamsael lifts the shield up and aims its center towards the sky. A red aura comes out from the artifact that spreads all over the place, followed by a long sound of shredded meat. Seconds later, all but Magnus start hearing a loud screech that precedes an excruciating pain all over their bodies and heads. The agony compels Clary, Jace and Alec to roll over, while Sam and Dean press their mandibles and strongly close their eyes before emitting a loud and painful scream. Ithuriel, however, covers his vessel's ears and starts hitting his head with the nearby wall, without being able to ease the apparent pain he is subjected to.

"What?! DON'T YOU LIKE IT?!" Chamsael laughs at the pain he causes.

Unaffected by the shield's power, Magnus stands up and throws a blue fireball at the demon. The projectile is stopped by the artifact and sent back with even greater strength, impacting its original caster. The Warlock's body strongly hits the granite.

"Another one of the shield's perks," Chamsael mocks the grounded Magnus.

After almost thirty seconds of torture, Chamsael lowers the shield and places it back on the altar. Alec and Jace crawl towards a nearby wall and lean against it, while Clary, Ithuriel, Sam and Dean try to aid themselves with the chairs and tables spread around the room in order to regain their balance.

"This was just a taste," Chamsael slowly walks towards the Shadowhunters. "The Shield of Despair Was only at one third of its full capacity. Just imagine it with all its power..."

The still excruciating pain invading Dean's whole body keeps him from being able to stand up, pressing his teeth as he sees his brother in the same conditions. So this is what the shield does, he thinks while looking at everyone's agony. This son of a bitch must be stopped. People don't deserve to die like this...

"How are you feeling, darling?" Chamsael caresses Isabelle's hair. "Once all your blood irrigates that shield, everyone will endure an indescribable suffering. We will do this world a favor...together."

Chamsael lets go of Isabelle's hair and performs a finger flip with both hands. Six men wearing army fatigues warp into the room immediately after the demon's gesture, showing all a pair of blackened eyeballs. They all slowly approach the defeated team. The Archduke of hell leans against the altar as he watches his soldiers proceed to finish his enemies off.

"Tend to our guests," he orders.

Just as the demons charge against the team, a pair of trap doors open from the ceiling, from which Luke and Simon jump down. Chamsael's soldiers stop their advance and focus on the newcomers. Their boss opens his eyes widely.

"It seems those two useless bums can't do anything right," Chamsael asserts.

Without even bothering to reply, both Downworlders draw their weapons and face Chamsael and his demons. The possessed soldiers slowly walk towards them. The Werewolf faces them and rushes at them along with his vampire companion.

"Let's kick some ass..."

With his gun and a Seraph Blade at hand, Luke chops two of the demons' heads and shoots the third one right before fitting his sword through his heart. Simon's high speed and twin angel blades allow him to stab the first soldier's neck and second one's heart, ending his rampage by pushing both weapons through the third one's abdomen.

"Oh," Chamsael raises one brow.

After disposing of all six demons, Simon and Luke stare at each other before rushing against Chamsael. The Werewolf's clothes are torn to shreds as he drops his weapons and slowly transforms into a dark furred wolf, managing to match his vampire companion's speed in the process.

"Fools," Chamsael readies himself.

Without much effort, Chamsael grabs Simon by his neck and punches Luke's wolf form in the chest, ending the latter's transformation. The vampire struggles in vain as the demon's fingers slowly bury themselves into his pale skin. His strength abandons him little by little. His eyes turn white as his irises take shelter behind his eyelids.

"SIMON!" Clary screams.

Overwhelmed by pain, Alec hits the granite floor with his fist in a sign of helplessness and despair. He tries to stand up as numerous negative thoughts invade his head. He knows the situation has gone out of control. He knows he must make a decision. He must act not as a human or a Shadowhunter, but as a leader.

"Castiel, we failed!" he activates a communications device embedded in his ear. "Overload the reactor now!"

The other Shadowhunters, the Winchesters, Ithuriel and even Chamsael suddenly stare at the Nephilim leader. The demon drops Simon and points a door behind him with his finger, after which two other demonic soldiers warp in and take the direction their leader showed them. Alec manages to stand up and challengingly faces his demonic nemesis.

"You lose, demon. I'm going to blow you and your damn shield to smithereens..."

Chamsael furiously charges against Alec. Sam and Dean stand in his way and quickly fall to the demon's punches and kicks. Ithuriel, Magnus and Clary then attack him, meeting the same fate.

"Damn maggots!" Chamsael punches Alec in the face. "DO YOU THINK YOU CAN TRAP ME?! I'M GONNA' END YOU ONCE AND FOR ALL!"

Chamsael rushes towards his demonic altar and grabs the shield a second time. This time we're toast, Dean gazes at the demon from his fallen position. The demon lifts the artifact towards the sky. The red aura starts coming out. This is it, Sam thinks as he takes one last look at the agonizing Isabelle.

"Now, die..."

Far from vibrating like the last time, the shield inexplicably flies away from Chamsael's hand, followed by the Archduke himself. What just happened? Alec asks himself as he sees the demon's vessel mopping the floor with his exposed back. The Winchesters recognize the subsequent throat clearing. Crowley...

"Hello again, boys," the King of Hell steps out of the dark. "Miss me?"

"How did you get in here?!" Alec asks.

"Chamsael must have damaged the runes when he got in here. You're welcome, by the way..."

Chamsael quickly stands up and faces Crowley. He smiles sardonically upon seeing him. The King of Hell smiles back. Bollocks...

"You must be Crowley," Chamsael sighs. "The impostor claiming to rule Hell..."

"Boys," Crowley addresses the Winchesters. "It's your chance now. Grab that pike and..."

Before being able to finish his sentence, Crowley is harshly thrown against the wall by Chamsael's telekinetic powers. The latter then kicks Dean in his stomach, throws Sam against the demonic altar and grabs Ithuriel by his chest plate, lifting him up and punching him in the face. The angel's vessel starts bleeding profusely from his nose.

"You're the only one who can use the pike, right? I just have to end you first..."

Seeing how Chamsael continuously punches Ithuriel's face, Clary grabs her Seraph Blade and rushes towards the demon from behind. The Archduke of Hell throws a kick in her direction without even looking, managing to hit her in the chest and send her flying backwards. The redhead's body emits a screeching sound as it wipes the granite floor.

"I'm getting tired of this," Chamsael complains.

Clary sees Alec and Jace rush towards the demon. She raises both brows as she witnesses Chamsael throwing Ithuriel's beat up body at the Shadowhunter leader and, using the latter's Seraph Blade, stabs his companion in the stomach. Blood comes out of the blond Shadowhunter's mouth and stains the floor below him.

"JACE!" Clary screams as tears roll down her pale face.

Her sad reaction gets interrupted by a sudden earthquake that shakes even Chamsael. What the hell was that? Dean asks himself as he regains his balance. Alec smiles at the event. This is it.

"It seems Castiel is almost done overloading the reactor," he sighs. "Say goodbye, team. This is the end..."

"NO!"

Clary suddenly starts levitating. Sam and Dean notice a golden aura suddenly covering the redhead's body slowly and thoroughly, until it bursts into an intense flash of light that gradually dissipates.

"What was that?" Sam asks. "What's happening?"

The Winchesters see Clary covered in a golden light that illuminates the whole room, with her eyes showing the same color as her new aura. Her irises shine. Her hair weaves under the light. Sam notices she stands before a freed Isabelle, devoid of clothing or sheets and lying on the cold granite floor.

"Cla... Clary," Simon babbles. "What's going on?"

"She has just received Raziel's Blessing," Ithuriel explains. "She has been chosen. She can now use the pike."

"Take Izzy to safety," Clary's eyes shine intensely as she gives the order. "I'll take care of this demon."

"But..." Simon babbles anew.

"DO IT NOW!" Clary yells at the vampire.

Without further questioning, Simon and Sam carry Isabelle away from the altar. All stare at Chamsael, who in turn glares at Clary without moving from his previous spot. He cracks his neck vertebrae before facing her.

"I wouldn't get too cocky," Chamsael closes his fists and makes his knuckles crack. "This doesn't mean anything. You're just another high priority target."

Using the demon's distraction, Alec sits near Jace and draws an Iratze rune upon his recently inflicted wound. The latter breathes heavily as he stops bleeding. Ithuriel approaches them and casts his light on the same wound.

"We must help Clary," the angel says. "That aura makes her strong, but not invincible. She needs us."

Clary extends her right arm towards the Raziel's Pike. The golden weapon levitates towards her and reaches the palm of her open hand in seconds. Her fingers close upon touching the shiny handle. She then charges towards the demon in a violent way.

"This is nothing," Chamsael brags.

Once Clary reaches Chamsael, a one-on-one melee fight ensues. The tip of Raziel's Pike moves at an almost supersonic speed, imperceptible to those present and spectating. Vestiges of the golden aura surrounding the Nephilim follow the path of the slashes. Her eyes do not stop shining or staring at the demon's yellow irises and purple eyeballs. Sounds of fist-to-weapon parrying and cut air fly across the room.

"God, she's doin' it," Luke smiles and nods.

"Not exactly," Ithuriel approaches the werewolf while grabbing his shoulder. "Chamsael is making her flinch. She needs our help."

Ithuriel's claim proves to be right as the skirmish goes on. Clary's attacks become slower and more inaccurate by the minute. Her slashes become less parried by the demon, who in turn increases his dodging frequency. Damn it!

"What?" Chamsael laughs at Clary. "Tired already?"

The demon suddenly rushes towards Clary, grabs the pike and strongly kicks her in the stomach. The Nephilim flies away. Her golden aura dissipates as her body hits the ground. Damn it, I can't do it! She hits the floor with both fists. He's too strong!

"Clary, c'mon, get up!" Dean grabs her arm and lifts her up. "You've got enough juice to use that pike!"

"We're right here with you," Simon stands near her.

"We've got your back," Luke joins the group.

Clary takes a fast look at her surroundings. She smiles as she sees Isabelle, alive and well, held in Sam's arms. She then sighs as she sees Magnus crawling towards Alec and an alive Jace. Upon staring back at Chamsael, her green eyes acquire the golden light once more before the aura engulfs her anew.

"Now, end this nightmare once and for all, my child," Ithuriel orders.

Clary grabs Raziel's Pike and charges towards Chamsael. She points the golden tip at his heart. The demon extends his arm at her with his open hand.

"Come at me, bitch."

Chamsael tries using his telekinesis at her, but hits Luke and Simon instead when they rush between his hand and the redhead's body. The demon's second attempt is endured by Ithuriel. Alec takes the third one.

"DAMN MAGGOTS!" Chamsael yells and closes both fists.

As her advance proves relentless, Clary grabs the pike with both hands, raises it over her head and jumps. She closes her eyes and prays in her own way. My strength propels me. My faith guides me. My love makes me invincible!

The sound of ripped flesh is then heard.

*¡TCHACK!*

Clary sight is still blurred. She barely distinguishes the robust body of Chamsael's vessel at the other end of the long golden pike, coughing and screaming as she thrusts the weapon into his skin. The demon can barely speak.

"D...damn you..."

"She made it," Ithuriel sighs.

Chamsael stands before Clary. He stares at her as his bloodied hands stain the golden weapon. The pike's tip loses itself within the flesh that covers the vessel's heart. He can barely move or speak.

"Take that," Clary smiles.

The young Shadowhunter then pulls the pike out. The floor stains itself with blood as it profusely comes out from Chamsael's vessel. His face shows a pair of exuberantly open eyes which purple eyeballs and yellow irises shine under the main hall's dim light. Clary then notices a pair of arms dressed in a beige trench coat holding the demon by his waist, along with another pair of arms holding his neck.

"There you go, you son of a bitch," Dean lets go off the demon's neck and walks backwards.

"Damn you all!" Chamsael yells as he unsuccessfully tries to shove Castiel off his waist. "This isn't over! There's more where I came from!"

"Then let them come!"

Clary stabs Chamsael a second time, after which Castiel decides to let go. The demon forcibly kneels in front of everyone. His mouth bleeds profusely as he stares at everyone. A final cough stains the ground beneath him in blood.

"They will meet the same fate as you did," Clary finishes her idea.

After hearing her words, the demon is engulfed in vivid golden flames. He maintains his kneeling position and keeps staring at everyone until he emits a loud scream, after which he fully disintegrates and vanishes along with the fire. All team members stand next to her, involved in one single thought. It is finally over.

"Weren't you at the generator, Cass?" Dean asks.

"I ordered you to overload it," Alec smiles. "How come you're here and we're still in one piece?"

"I started overloading the heavenly nucleus after I heard your order," Castiel explains. "However, after I felt Clary's heavenly ward, I decided to abandon my task and help her. I just knew it would work. I had faith."

"And you were right," Ithuriel pats Castiel's shoulder.

Clary notices Isabelle leaning on Sam's shoulders, dressed only with his leather jacket. She looks down as she approaches her friend, who welcomes her with a smile.

"I'm sorry, Izzy. I should have protected you better."

"No," Isabelle grabs Clary's chin and raises her head. "This is on me, all of it. My addiction to Yin Fen provides this monster one of the ingredients for that damned shield. I should have never..."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up," Dean interrupts her. "Sam and I have triggered numerous apocalyptic events due to our unawareness, yet here we are. What's really important is that we stopped it, and we all need to prevent something like this from ever happening again."

"Well, believe me when I say that my addiction won't be a problem anymore," Isabelle addresses everyone. "This whole thing has given me the strength to stop taking vampire venom, even if my heart explodes on abstinence. I won't provide anything for any of these monsters anymore. I promise."

"And we will help you through it all," Alec passes his arm over his sister's shoulders. "We promise."

The winning moment is interrupted by an echoing sound of shredded flesh and broken bones. All turn their sights towards the place where the noise comes from and see Ithuriel pulling out a sword away from the shield, which subsequently disappears under a flash of intense golden light.

"Nice work, everyone," Ithuriel smiles at the group. "I did not want to leave without saying thank you. It has been an honor to fight by your sides, especially yours, Castiel."

"The honor is ours," Alec kneels along with the rest of the Shadowhunters.

"What did you do with the shield?" Sam asks.

"Once it's assembled, the Shield of Despair can only be destroyed by God or an Archangel. I am going to bring it to Heaven, and foresee its destruction."

"Don't forget this as well," Castiel hands Raziel's Pike to Ithuriel.

"I want you all to remember this day," Ithuriel addresses the group. "Regardless of our race or alignment, we all fought toe to toe against the horrible threat Chamsael posed. In fact, this feat could have never been accomplished without the aid provided by the Downworlders, with even the King of Hell himself having a part in all this. Remember, we are all children of the Lord"

After his speech, Ithuriel gets engulfed in a white light himself. He then looks towards the heavens, shuts his eyes and flies away so fast that Sam and Dean perceive it as a teleportation. Castiel keeps his sights set on the sky for a few seconds.

"You miss your wings, huh?" Dean approaches his seraph friend.

"It's not that," Castiel looks down, then faces Dean. "Ithuriel is the only angel I've met who has praised me for my actions, who has shown pure admiration towards me. I hadn't felt like that since..."

Castiel's sentence is interrupted by a punch to his cheek so strong that he falls off his feet. All other hunters and Downworlders receive either a kick or a blow that bears similar effects. All notice the figure that stands in the middle of the room from their downed positions. The attacker shakes her red hair and arranges it. She stares at her adversaries. Luke and Simon stare back at her. Beatrice.

"Didn't you off this bitch?" Dean addresses Luke and Simon.

"I did," Luke tries getting back up. "Well, I thought I did."

"I was waiting for that angel to leave," Beatrice shows her drooling fangs. "Now that he's gone, I'm gonna' rip you all to..."

Her threat is abruptly interrupted by a blade that goes through her neck. Her head falls. Her body collapses.

"Funny how you sharpen these things," Crowley steps forth from behind the beheaded Beatrice, holding a still bloodied claymore longsword. "I thought they were purely decorative."

"I thought you didn't want Chamsael to see you," Dean stands up.

"Well, seeing you couldn't handle the situation properly, I decided to tag along. Besides, I've taken a particular interest in this baby over here. I wanna' know the secert of Chamsael's power enhancing abilities on monsters. Might prove useful."

"I knew it," Sam steps forth.

"Well, it's been nice seeing you."

Crowley waves his hand at everyone before disappearing with a fingerflip. Sam and Dean roll their eyes away as they notice that Beatrice's body and head have disappeared as well. Alec pats both brothers' shoulders.

"It's all right," he smiles. "We'll get him... eventually."

"It is really over now," Simon sighs.

"All right," Dean smiles. "Who's up for a beer?"