Chapter 4: Faith in the Hands of a Hunter
Castiel spread his palm over his chest. I healed a lot quicker than I had imagined I would. He could feel the strong organ inside his chest beating again. Relieved, he looked up towards the ceiling and closed his eyes in prayer. Thank you, father. His hands fell to his lap as he returned his attention to the penetrating, green eyes that belonged to Dean Winchester. For some reason, Castiel couldn't keep eye contact with the older Winchester brother. There was something bothering him in Dean's stare. "I was going to save my reasons until later when you have seen the way, but given the turn of events, I believe I owe you an explanation."
"Eh-" Dean couldn't find any words to say to the strange being in front of him. There was just no way. Castiel was dead. That amount of blood loss had to have killed him. "You- you're not human." Dean's eyes narrowed. Within a split second, he pulled the knife from inside his jacket and rammed it into Castiel's chest. If Cas wasn't human, he had to be a monster. Castiel's response to the blade in his chest confused Dean. A monster would have been in agony from the silver blade, Castiel was not. He looked almost bored. Dean pulled the blade from his chest and then started to recite as many words of Latin his father had taught him that he could remember. Again, Castiel was unaffected.
"I am no monster, nor demon from hell." Castiel stood tall; he towered over Dean who had fallen back against the floor. A strange air filled the room. It felt like everything was electrified. The lights around the room flickered. One shattered, sending sparks into the air. Dean watched at the shadow created by Castiel. Wings outstretched from Castiel's shadow. The room darkened as the rest of the lights shattered. "I am a warrior, sent here in behalf of my father to 'keep the Winchester boys safe'" As the words came from Castiel's lips, he walked past Dean, towards Sam. "You could hear me earlier today? When I tried to reach Dean before you two left the school?" He was, of course, talking about the painful ringing that Dean had experienced earlier that day.
Sam nodded at Castiel. He gulped, "Yes."
Upon hearing Sam's response, Castiel leaned down and gently touched Sam's broken arm. Sam let out a light whimper. Dean could barely see him in the dark room, but he knew that Castiel was close to his brother due to Sam's small noise. "You stay away from him!" Dean lunged towards the bed, grabbing for the gun hidden beneath his pillow. His vision had become accustomed to the lack of light soon after. It only took him a second to aim and pull the trigger. The shot fired, hitting Castiel in the back. A few moments passed, but nothing happened. Castiel turned around, holding the bullet between his fingers. He gave Dean a disapproving look.
"Dean, stop it! He's a good guy!" Sam quickly stood up, running to his brother and smacking the gun from Dean's shaking hand. Dean was completely dazed and confused. "He's a good guy, Dean." Sam repeated. "Look, he healed my arm." Sam shook his previously broken arm in the air. "Look, Dean." Dean stared at Sam in disbelief. He gently took hold of Sam's arm, knowing that it had been broken in at least three places. He then turned his attention to Castiel, who was standing in the middle of he room, eyes focused on something the brother's couldn't see.
"I must go." Before either of the brothers could say anything or ask any questions, Castiel was gone. A gust of wind swept the room. The brothers shielded their eyes from the blast of air. When they were finally able to open them back up, the room was back to it's original state. There was no blood on the carpet, the beds were made, and the lights were repaired.
Sam let out a relieved sigh. "I can't believe it, but they actually exist." The younger Winchester brother sat down on the end of the bed. His eyes were shifting around and his tongue ran over his lips signaling that he was in major thought. Dean gave him a questioning look. Sam responded almost instantly. "Angels, Dean."
Dean shook his head. He let out a laugh. "There is no way Angels exist." His laugh became a nervous chuckle. He soon sat down next to Sam on the bed. He saw his gun on the floor before him, leaned over and picked it up. "There is just no way…" He pulled his jacket up and fixed the gun in the back of his jeans.
"Dean, how would you explain what he did?" Sam asked seriously.
"Maybe he's just some crazy, cleaning demon." Dean rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn't too sure of Sam's explanation for Castiel. There had to be another reason as to what he was. Angels didn't exist. They were like unicorns; no one had ever seen them in real life. There was just no way. Silver didn't work, incantations didn't work, and even a bullet couldn't put Castiel down. There has to be another explanation. He must be some amped up demon or something, like the demon one that killed mom. Dean was stuck for the moment. He was right about the town. There was definitely something wrong going on, and he needed to get Sam out of there.
Castiel walked out from the tree line into a clearing. In the clearing was a children's park. The park was usually bustling with kids at that time of day, but at the time Castiel stood there, it was completely silent. Only the wind blew across the play set, creaking the chains of the swings back and forth, back and forth. Castiel was drawn to the clearing because of the presence of his brother. It wasn't Lucifer like he had first thought, it was much worse. "Michael." Castiel said in a deep voice, turning around and facing a human he had never seen before. The vessel might've had differing features from the last time Castiel saw his brother, Michael, but he still could tell a celestial being from a mere human.
"Hello, my dearest younger brother. I hope you are doing well?" The words dripped from Michael's lips. "I had heard that you came to this town under father's orders?" Michael took a step closer to Castiel, placing a cold hand against his cheek. "I also heard that Lucifer followed you here?" Michael raised an eyebrow at his younger brother. It was as if he was giving Castiel a now don't you lie to me expression. Castiel gulped down a knot in his throat. He nodded at Michael's question. Michael gave a little smirk. He patted his hand on Castiel's cheek before letting it fall to his side. His vessel's green eyes glinted in the sunlight that found it's way through the clouds. A feeling of energy filled the air around the brothers. "That should mean that our vessels are in town also. Interesting."
Castiel wanted to just disappear then, go back to the Winchesters and get them out of town. Though now that Michael knew that his and Lucifer's vessels were in town, there was no way he could get the brothers, or himself, out alive. "Oh, and by the way-" Michael pulled a shining silver blade from the inside of his coat. "You dropped this." He tossed it over to Castiel with ease. The blue-eyed being watched it balance it in his hands before shoving it back into his bloodied coat sleeve. When he turned his attention back to Michael, he was gone.
The storm clouds covered the sky once again. The swings behind Castiel swung slowly until an influx of children and parents crowded the area like it was like any other day. Castiel balance on the balls of his feet for a second, thinking of the mess he had caused when he revealed himself to the Winchester brothers. They probably have a multitude of questions. I should go back. He told himself before walking back into the tree line and disappearing.
He appeared just out of view from the motel room where Sam and Dean were staying. He cautiously approached the building when he realized that he had been walking around aimlessly covered in blood. Glancing down the front of his shirt, he patted it, and it was instantly rid of blood, as was his coat. He continued on his path towards the motel, specifically the door that led to the Winchester's room. He could have just appeared inside the room, but he thought that doing so would cause unnecessary panic. As he slowly approached the room, the door shot wide open and the two young brothers were carrying their belongings out, heading over to the payphone only a few feet away.
"Hurry up, Sammy." Dean ordered. He dropped his bags at his feet once he reached the phone. After playing with the buttons on the phone and cheating his way out of paying the charge to use it, he finally received a dial tone. He pushed in the correct numbers before looking back at Sam behind him. His eyes widened when he saw Castiel standing just beyond his brother, blankly staring with his mesmerizing blue eyes.
The phone number you have reached it out of service. If this is incorrect…
Dean dropped the phone; it hung by its metal, coated cord. "Sam!" Dean was about to grab his younger brother and yank him forward, away from Castiel, when Sam looked behind him and pushed Dean back. "Dean, its just Castiel! I think he's a good guy! Let's just hear him out." Sam fully turned towards Castiel and gave him a stern stare. His legs were shaking only slightly, but he stood as tall as he could. "What do you want?" He asked, readjusting his bags to carry them more comfortably.
"To keep you safe." Castiel said simply. His eyes shifted towards Dean. "To keep you both safe." Something warm ran through Castiel's body. He figured it had to have been a strange effect caused from being in a teenage vessel for too long. The body he was in couldn't withstand too much abuse, especially since Castiel knew that in the future, he would find this body again. He would like it if he had this body in tact when he returned to it in the future. Castiel rolled his shoulders to rid himself of the feeling that had overcome him, though he couldn't shake it. Dean stared back at him, his mossy, green eyes burning in thought. "You must have faith in me." He finally said, waiting for a response from the brothers.
Dean felt the truth behind Castiel's words. "Faith in a demon." Dean let out a little chuckle. Sam corrected him, reminding him that he believed that Castiel was an angel. Dean's face loosened. He was going to have to believe. He wasn't sure how things would turn out in the end, but he found that he trusted the 'angel' more than anyone else around town. "Okay, Cas."
Sam exchanged glances between his brother and Castiel. His lips twitched in a small smile before he adjusted his bags once more and headed for the motel room. "Might as well stay now, Dean. We've got a job." Dean watched as Sam walked off. He thought it was odd that his brother was actually happy about a job when he hated the hunter life, but when he watched Castiel follow Sam, his thoughts vanished. Each step Castiel took, his tan trench coat swayed behind him. Dean traced Castiel's footsteps to the room without thinking twice about it.
The two brothers sat down on the edge of the motel room bed. Castiel stood before them. There was a short silence before Dean dove right in. "So, what are you?" He asked, ready to be hit with the truth. He didn't like it, but recalling the time in the gym, and the most recent event, where he saw an extra shadow of wings attached to Castiel, he had to believe things for what they were. He gulped down the knot in his throat, staring at Castiel, waiting for everything to spill.
Castiel began with his explanation. He felt a bead of sweat fall down the side of his face. The way that Dean watched him made his nerves go haywire. He wasn't sure as to why a mere human had such power over him. "I am an angel of the lord. I was sent here by my father-"
"You mean God?" Dean asked bluntly. He laughed in a mocking way. Castiel just stared and waited for the fit of laughter to be over. Sam glared at his brother.
Castiel then continued. "I was sent here by my father to protect you two, Sam and Dean Winchester." He watched the brothers' expressions change from intrigue to confusion. Dean stayed silent, thinking over everything. He still wasn't at the point where he fully believed Castiel. His father always told him not to trust anything that wasn't human. Even angels, if they even existed.
Sam was the one who spoke next. "Protect us from what?" Castiel stood silent, waiting for the answer to come to Sam on its own. Sam's deep green eyes shifted to look at his lap. He grabbed his previously broken arm, and then rubbed his semi- burned cheek. "You need to protect us from your brother." Sam looked over at Dean. His brother's face had hardened at the realization. He didn't like Lucifer before; he certainly didn't like him then. "His name…." Sam knew the next thing Castiel would say about his brother wouldn't be good news.
"Lucifer. The devil." Castiel stated, quickly scanning the area around the motel, making sure neither of his brothers, Lucifer nor Michael, were around to hear him talking with the Winchesters. "He followed me here to this town." He chose carefully the words that came next. He knew that Dean was extremely protective of Sam. Castiel wasn't sure how to continue other than being blunt. "He needs a new vessel that can sustain his immense power. He needs Sam. He needs a Winchester"
Dean shot up from the bed. "Like hell he does! I'm going to kill that son of a bitch!" Dean stomped up to Castiel, grabbed him by the collar of his coat and yanked him forward. "How can you kill the devil?" He demanded to know, staring deep into Castiel's confused stare. The angel could feel Dean's breath on his lips. It was a strange sensation.
"You can't." Castiel blinked, placing his hands on Dean and gently pulled his hands away from his collar. Castiel's hands were cold and sent chills through Dean. "There is no human way. All that can be done to ensure Sam's protection is for Sam himself to deny Lucifer." The room went silent. Castiel could tell the Winchester brothers were deep in thought. A lot had been revealed to them in such a short amount of time. Castiel hoped that when all of it was over, he would be able to-
"What will happen if Sam says yes?" Dean asked. Sam protested behind him saying he would never agree to become a vessel to the devil. Dean ignored his brother. He just wanted straight facts. "What happens?" He asked again, brow furrowed in frustration.
"If I fail in my mission to protect the Winchesters and Sam agrees to become a vessel for Lucifer, then all hell will break loose." Castiel tapped his fingers on the dresser's surface. His jaw clenched at the thought of him failing his orders.
"You mean that figuratively, right? Cas?" Dean asked.
"No, I am most serious about the outcome of Sam's response." Castiel's bluntness was getting to the Winchester brothers. They were used to being lied to their whole lives, so being told everything straight out was a nice change. Dean actually believed. He looked at Castiel in a new light. He was going to keep his brother safe. He was a protector. He was their protector.
"Cas." Dean took a step back, knowing that the celestial being in front of him was leaving something out of the equation. "You said you were here to keep us safe." Dean pointed at himself, then to Sam, and then right back at himself. "That means the both of us. What are you not telling me?"
Castiel gulped, feeling the room get smaller around him. He wanted to leave out the fact that Michael was in town and in need of a new vessel. The one that Castiel had seen him in before wasn't going to last long. No vessel ever did. That was why Michael stayed in heaven. He was only in town because Lucifer showed up. There would always be a battle where the brothers Lucifer and Michael were. "There is another…"
"Another angel?" Sam asked behind Dean. He was as serious about the whole ordeal as the others where. There was no way he would be left out of the whole mess. He was the main reason for angels to be congregating in the town. He didn't want to be left in the dark. "It is another angel, isn't it?"
Castiel nodded. "I fear he will be coming after Dean. You see, Michael, he-"
"He needs a vessel? Like your dick-of-a-brother does too?" Dean crossed his arms over his chest. Castiel gave another nod. Dean huffed. "Well hell no to that. Whatever this angel wants with me, he can't have it." Dean gave Castiel a stern look and then went over to his brother. He placed a firm hand on Sam's shoulder, tightening his grip only slightly. "You see Cas, we're Winchesters, and if that means anything to you at all, you would know that we are stubborn as hell."