Warning: Violence in this chapter.
Author Note: How it all came to be. The AU of Hidden Wings continues...
Chapter 2
Rachel's story:
The bar had been horrible. Serving drinks had gone fine, but when I had moved to leave the bar, some fucker attacked me right out. Any other girl would have probably gone down with little fight, but I wasn't just any other girl. I almost felt bad for the fucker attacking me as he was about to get a surprise.
Spinning around, a fist plowed into my eye, and before I could actually focus, the guy slammed a fist into my stomach. I fell to my knees having the wind being knocked out of me, and he just snatched my hair to drag me somewhere. At first, I kicked and screamed, but I quickly saw that I was on my own. Without a second thought, I took my fist and plowed it into his kneecap. Continuing, I spun onto my knees and landed an uppercut to his groin. He wouldn't be having kids any time soon. Finally back on my feet, I punched the guy across the face and sent him sprawling onto his stomach. I couldn't help but press my heel into his back and press hard. He began to quickly whimper and beg for me to release him. I pressed harder…
Yet, I couldn't dish out anymore real damage- I wasn't that kind of girl. Whispering "fucker" under my breath, I walked away. There were after all worse scumbags… such as the overgrown birds I had come to despise.
See, I really wasn't an ordinary human girl. I was a Nephilim- half-angel/half-human. Supernatural creatures exist- both the good and the bad. Some people hunt them down- like… like the Winchester boys. Dean and Sam Winchester had saved my life from demons roughly two years back before I knew I was born with an angel's grace. The night they saved me from a horde of demons happen to also be my eighteenth birthday… The same night where I returned home, happy not to have to actually run away to keep my parents safe… only to find my mother and father- Melissa and Chris Moore- slaughtered in my living room. The blood covered the floor, and I wanted to scream. I felt another presence in the darkened room, but I never got the chance to look as I was thrown roughly from the room.
Without thinking that night, I ran from my house. I blitzed from the house and never looked back. By only sheer dumb luck did I live long enough for some fallen (an angel that had its wings clipped) to explain to me what I was, and to tell me, that I was on top of an angel's 'to smite' list. I didn't understand what I had done to make them hate me so much, but I understood quickly that it was because someone, an angel to be specific, loved a human enough to create me… or hated a human enough to create a fun game for the angels. All I knew was that I had to run and keep running.
That had landed me in a town full of Nephilim where I met my fraternal twin, Ryan. He helped me learn to control my grace for nearly a year and a half. This place I also met my best friend- Jessica. Irony of it was that Ryan and Jessica ended up marrying and having a few kids, but eventually, I wanted back into the world. A protection mark was tattooed on my back to keep angels from finding me, and to keep demons from possessing me. And that was how I ended up in this quaint little Michigan Upper Peninsula town. Enough reminiscing though…
I sighed as I walked into my house, tossed my keys onto the table near the door, and chucked my coat near a chair not even bothering to hang it up. The night had been quite interesting being attacked and all. I just needed a bit of coffee to relax and then perhaps a nice long nap.
I had barely walked two steps when the first attack came, and I was far from ready. I was caught across my right side and sent flying through a wall. The impact only forced a moan from my lips, but I was quick to jump back to my feet. Standing a few feet away was a man with graying hair and black eyes. His face… It was grotesquely disfigured, but I had known this the second I saw his eyes. Ever since I met the Winchesters, even two years ago, I found that I could see a demon for what they truly were. That night in the rain was the first time I spied a demon's face, and since then, the "ability," if it could be called as such, never faded.
"I don't appreciate being attacked," I gripped crossing my arms in front of me knowing one single demon was not in my house. There were others, and I reached out trying to sense the number, but the demon in front of me never gave me the chance. Another rush of power threatened to topple me, but I forced myself to stand. I felt my insides churning. "I suggest you stop unless you want a one way ticket to Hell."
"I've been there sweetie," the demon said finally relenting in his attack. He held up some knife- I didn't recognize it at first… Then it came to me, Ruby's knife- but what was he doing with it? "I enjoy it down there. Up here… It's truly disgusting."
"Well then I'm up to sending you right back," I shrugged not at all frightened by this demon. I could tell he was strong, probably the strongest I had ever run into… My weapons were stashed across the house, and I just had to be quick enough to grab one. For now, I held my ground and glared at the demon.
"So angel?" the demon purred. He was taking pleasure in thinking he had me trapped. "Can I call you that?"
"Not unless you bless me with a name," I snapped right back. I needed to know who I was dealing with. From the corners in my mind, I felt two demons approach from behind. Using the couch I knew was located behind me, I fell to the floor and kicked the furniture back. It nailed the two demons, sending them to their backs. Never one to be on the ground for long, I jumped back up and continued my conversation with what's-his-ugly-mug.
"Alistair," he replied. "Your friend Dean knows me real well."
"How would Dean know someone like you?" I hissed not liking where this conversation was going. It had been two years since I had heard anything about the Winchesters', and now I was afraid to know. "He usually doesn't hang around your type."
"He does now," Alistair grinned liking how my stance was adjusting to a more defensive one. "Or did you not hear?"
"Hear what?"
"He's got himself a little spot in Hell," Alistair sighed like it was some grand memory. "Best pupil I ever had."
"You sonofa…" I didn't get the chance to finish as two more demons came from my right side. I moved to fight them off, but Alistair was quick to press me against a wall and hold me there.
"I'll take you to see him," the demon continued. "I'm sure he'll love to see you."
"Bet he'd love to see me rip your throat out…"
"Probably," Alistair laughed. "Plus I thought you might also like to meet your real Daddy."
I found my façade fading. My real father? The one that gave me wings? I had to admit I was intrigued, but demons were known to lie, and I wasn't about to just walk out of the house with this bastard.
"He really wants to meet you," Alistair continued. "Plus you could see Deano."
I frowned not liking where this was going, but I suddenly felt a presence outside my house… No! Damn angels had shown up, and without much choice, I agreed to Alistair's terms.
. . . . .
I guess this is how my life really began- how I turned evil and became Lucifer's little princess. After leaving with that damn demon, I saw Dean who was torturing souls, and I was more than shocked to discover that Lucy was my Dad. After a quick time jump to the past where I met the bastard angels again, I knew that my true side placed me with my Father. All I asked for my allegiance and the grace, well his grace, in my body was for Dean and Sam to be left alone. Actually I wanted them to be with me because I discovered after a little past delving that they were my cousins from their Dad's side. I was John sister's daughter who also turned out to be a fallen, and only because of my brother was why I wasn't an angel- thank Ryan!
Glancing back now, I realized I never made a mistake when I joined my Father. Even looking up at his palace now being built, I sighed that I truly had a home and a family. Dean and Sam stood next to me grinning wildly as another battle was brewing. Damn angels never did stay down for long.
. . . . .
Dean's Story:
Hell was a horrible place. It ranked of sulfur, was blistering hot, and was agonizing. Being a hunter, Dean had the worst of it all. He had sold his soul for Sam to live, and he wouldn't ever regret that, but as Alistair dug a knife into his body cavity, Dean couldn't help but wish that this all ended differently. Dean would have been screaming had so much blood not pooled in his throat already.
"You know Dean," Alistair purred staring down at his pupil, bloody knife still in hand. "Most souls can't pull the tortured look, but you…" He wagged the knife before setting it down and pulling out the hunter's intestines. "I think you do it beautifully."
Finally, the elder Winchester was able to scream. He had survived twenty-five years of this- twenty-five years of having day-to-day torture sessions. Some days, he'd lose his eyes and would have to be waiting in the dark for the pain. Other days, Alistair would peel his skin away and let him watch exactly what he was doing. Most days… Most days… Dean just screamed his voice raw.
Then at the end of every damn day, Alistair would say the same thing to the Winchester. "I'll put down my blade if you pick one up," the demon offered, but Dean was strong and refused.
"Screw you!" the hunter panted out trying to ignore the pain all over his body.
Only after his answer would the torture begin again. There really were no end of days here- time flowed sure-, but the torture never stopped. Over and over, the Winchester would feel every bone in his body broken, organs played with like jump-rope, and other times, he'd feel the muscle being cut from his bones. There was no unconsciousness in Hell, no death… just pain… and sometimes, sometimes, Dean would dream. Dream that someday he'd get the chance to put Alistair on his own damn rack and teach the bastard a thing or two.
Dreams didn't last in Hell though, and as each day passed, Dean found his will growing weaker. Alistair was always cooking up new ways to play with his "toy," and the hunter would swear to this day that the psychological torture was sometimes worse than the physical. Sure being violated by a demon was bad, but how about seeing your baby brother being the one doing it? Alistair had many faces to torment Dean with- family, Cassie, Lisa, and a whole lot other that he couldn't save.
One day… One day, Dean just couldn't do it anymore. He was tired of the thirty years of past torture. He just needed it all to stop. He needed the pain to go away, and when Alistair approached, the hunter already knew how to start today's conversation.
"I'll do it," Dean whispered out trying to ignore how broken his voice sounded.
"Do what?" Alistair purred leaning his close to the Winchester.
"Just no more," Dean continued. "I'll do it."
"Put souls on?" the demon pushed wanting to hear it from the hunter's- soon to be ex-hunter's- mouth.
"Sign me up," he replied, and it was done. Dean was finally let off the rack as long as put souls on.
Alistair's pick for a first soul was some mother that ended up killing her own child in depression. The hunter didn't care, and the pleas hurt his ears.
"Dean," Alistair said motioning to the array of knives.
The hunter squared his shoulders, and like a good little soldier, he went to work. He sliced into the weeping mother and broke bones… Did anything Alistair wanted as long as it meant that he didn't have to get back on the rack. The demon started to teach him tricks to make the pain last longer or for it to hurt just a bit more, and Dean listened. For ten years, Dean listened… then suddenly it stopped one day.
No one was sure why, but Alistair had been gone for a month or so leaving Dean to do all the work. No demon messed with him or his work, and the Winchester was fine with it. He was actually proud that Alistair was willing to trust him to do all the work- after all, the demon was the master torturer down here. Now the Winchester was starting to get a name for himself- he was creative in his work, and he couldn't help but grin every time Alistair would remark how good his work was. Dean didn't have to see his eyes to know that once and awhile they would start to turn black… He knew what he was becoming, but he just couldn't force himself to get back on the rack.
"Dean," Alistair grinned suddenly appearing next to the soon-to-be-demon. "I have someone you must meet…" Seeing the hunter's excited reaction, Alistair quickly continued, "And no, they aren't on the rack."
The demon led the soul from his work and towards some castle in the middle of Hell. Dean had seen it numerous times, but he rarely went close to it- too busy truthfully. Now though, Alistair wanted him to go in, and he reluctantly followed. His eyes widened at the sight of an enormous red beast.
"Perhaps too much," the red demon laughed before taking a more human form. A simple suit and tie with black hair pulled back into a pony-tail. "I'm Lucifer, and I know you real well Dean Winchester."
"Lucifer is just a tale in demon Sunday school," the hunter mocked.
"Far from it actually," Lucifer corrected. "As are angels… the same angels that are leaving you to rot in here when you don't belong… Although, I must say I am enjoying your work."
"Best pupil yet," Alistair replied proudly.
"Not the place I expected you Dean," I purred stepping from the shadows.
"Rachel?" Dean exclaimed, shock written across his features. I couldn't help but step into the hunter's embrace.
"And I'm not trapped here," I laughed.
"No she's not," Lucifer grinned. "She's my daughter."
"Whoa, what?"
"Yeah Dean," I nodded. "I'm a Nephilim, half-angel things. And I've just come to an agreement with my Father."
"Do I want to know?" the Winchester mocked.
"My Father wants to raise Hell on Earth not to kill innocents but to kill the angels that sentenced him here. All he wanted was free-will like us… not to have to bow to humanity, and they put him here."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"You started the process by breaking the first seal," I explained. "And I want you to help me break the last."
With the Winchester's blank look, I went into explicit detail about the sixty-six seals and what had to be done. I told Dean that Sam was going to be hunted by angels if we didn't do this. He would be killed if we weren't willing to fight. I even wanted Sammy to help us, but first, I needed Dean's help… For once, his eyes flashed black while he wasn't working.
"Where do we start?" Dean grinned.
. . . . .
Dean was working silently beside me. His shoulders' tense as he carved into another screaming angel. All we wanted to know was their plans- the celestial beings were sometimes so difficult to break. I was mostly just observing my red-eyes cousin while Alistair watched us both. I had noticed lately that the demon began to pick less older beings- more youthful hosts, and I realized his eyes were also on me. Being Lucifer's heir, I was a prize, but I cared more about my family first.
Only recently had Dean gotten someone that he could share a bed with- that being the only thing he wanted right now. A demon named Bella Talbot. Apparently, the two knew each other back before we raised Hell on Earth. It didn't matter to me as long as my cousins were happy. Which brought to mind, where was Sam?
. . . . .
Sam's Story:
Dean was gone… That's all that mattered to Sam. His brother was gone, and he couldn't do anything to get him back. No demon would deal, the devil's gate wouldn't open, and he was out of options. He was going to have to just give up, but he couldn't. His brother was rotting in Hell because of him! Him! Because he had been so stupid to get himself killed and think his brother would be able to accept it. Sam should have known better, known that Dean would have blamed himself for Sam being stabbed.
Another swig of whiskey brought the comforting burning sensation the younger Winchester was looking for. He had just about finished off the bottle when the door was pounded on. Stumbling over, Sam saw the last person…well, demon… he wanted to see. Ruby barged in and began to do the usual: complain how he wasn't really 'honoring' his brother's memory by drinking himself to death.
The Winchester constantly ignored Ruby's presence until one day… it was like something clicked… He got back onto hunting and started to try and find Lylith. The bitch would pay for sending his older brother down there. Ruby began feeding him blood, and while he didn't like the idea, if it was the only way to kill Lylith, he wasn't going to argue.
For a total of five months, Sam hunted alone… well, he was with Ruby, but mostly alone. The Winchester moved from place to place never expecting anyone he knew to find him. June 6th is when it changed… Someone was knocking at the door, and since Ruby usually now just came in, Sam expected it to be Bobby. He didn't expect to see Dean… and Rachel..? at his door.
"That's not possible," Sam breathed out backing away before grabbing a knife.
I stopped him mid-thrust and held his wrist at bay. "Lets not stab family," I suggested forcing the Winchester to drop the knife with added pressure.
"Hey Sammy," Dean sighed stepping into the motel room.
"Not possible," the younger Winchester gasped.
"Very possible," I grinned also stepping into the room. I motioned for Dean to hold up his shirts- all scars gone. Thank Daddy for that one. There was someone else following us, but I decided to let that one in after a quick talk.
"How did…" Sam didn't get to finish as Dean flashed his eyes- mostly black but starting to turn red around the edges. "You're a demon."
"That's right Sammy-boy," Dean smiled. "Not as bad as one would think… At least I'm only possessing myself… if that makes any sense."
"Don't over think it," I suggested.
"This is my fault," Sam sobbed falling to the couch. "And you Rachel?"
"I'm worse off," I joked. "I'm Lucifer's daughter."
"That's…"
"True," Dean finished. "Angels are real little brother, and they're pains-in-the-asses. They left me to rot down there when they knew I didn't deserve to be there."
"They killed my parents," I growled.
Dean and I knelt by the younger Winchester ready to persuade him to our side. I didn't think that would be too difficult given his state of mind. Dean saw the lust in his brother's eyes, and the elder slit his arm giving his brother the blood we both knew he needed- for now. Sam could use his powers without it, but he would have to be taught.
"Join us," Dean said taking over. "We're fighting for Lucifer to break the sixty-six seals. The angels will kill us no matter what. You no matter what for drinking demon blood… But if we join…"
Lylith chose then to walk into the room. "Me." Dean and I glared at the demon- foolish little girl.
"Now Sam wait," I said stepping in front of the advancing Winchester. "We pledge to serve Hell, none of us will be killed. We can live a normal, free life. Lucifer doesn't want to kill all of humanity off, just the angels. We can fight for them."
"The angels want Lucifer to eradicate humanity," Dean finished. "We're save more if we released the devil. Humans will be needed for demons anyway."
"This isn't right," Sam pleaded.
"Life isn't right," I said.
"At the end of the day, we'll have each other if we fight for Hell… the angels will kill all of us. They will kill humans for no need just because they do not like humanity. Lucifer is willing to at least try to deal with them."
"Dean…"
"Sammy…"
"Sam?" Ruby exclaimed walking into the room, and her eyes widened at the sight of the full room.
"And her?" Sam whispered.
"She's using you," Lylith explained. "I would know, I ordered her to do it."
"Kill her," Dean said without emotion before heading for the door. Behind us, we heard Ruby's dying scream. Family always wins out.
. . . . .
Looking back at it all now, I realized perhaps letting Lucifer out wasn't really the right answer. He didn't needlessly kill humans, but he wasn't exactly going out of his way to not kill them. Yet now, I found myself not really caring. All I wanted to do was hear the angels scream for mercy- for death. I enjoyed watching Dean work, and when Sam got here, all three of us could work together on the angels in front of us. Dean's hands were already dripping with blood as he shaved the skin off one of the angel's. I just wanted to shake my head and smile at Dean's workmanship.
That moment, Sam chose to burst into the cell room. "You have to see this!" the younger demon cried before bolting from the doorway. Dean and I left the angels- which they probably loved until Alistair stepped up to the plate-, and we followed Sam. Lylith was with him which wasn't unusual these days as long as the female demon was in her older form.
"Angel attack against the castle," Sam explained as we sprinted through the halls. "Castiel is leading it."
At the name, the three of us grinned. The angel had been a thorn in our sides since we started breaking seals. He, at first, tried to plead with our human sides- which almost worked… until I discovered he was the one that killed my parents. Since then, the three of us had been trying to clip his overgrown wings.
"Lets see what we can do to deter the angels from attacking us," Dean grinned looking at the wing-filled sky. "And let every demon know, that we want Castiel alive and on our grounds… I don't want him flying away with the rest of his flock."
"Overgrown birds," I sighed before taking to the air. At least, I would have the chance to attack that damn Castiel.
OOC: Another chapter to Darkened Wings. The 'how it all changed' chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it. I'll try to get another update up sooner than this. I just had a burst of muse with Hidden Wings ending (which check out if you haven't. This story is based on that one). I bet you can guess what the next chapter might be about… Leave a Review please and thank-you.