Author Note: The pairing of Alistair/Rachel is ONE-SIDED. Alistair is looking for more power, and Hell's princess is a good way of getting it. Rachel will spend most of the story giving Hell's master torturer the middle finger, and chasing Castiel. I just thought I'd clear that up.
Chapter 3
Lucifer's forces won the battle obviously. To me, the attack seemed unfocused and erratic at best. Even Dean and Sam were confused by the angels' method of going about this battle. In the end though, we won, they lost- so who cares? On our side, we'd lost only three demons… and that was because they were fucking moronic retards! Dean, Sam, and I are Hell's generals, so I'm pretty sure we know what we're doing- attack on the palace or not. These three idiots try telling us how to do our job, and that went over as well as can be expected. Although out of all of us, Dean was the most creative in his way of killing one of the demons- he used one bottle cap, a pencil, and a tube of lube… Use your imagination.
Besides losing three demons, the forces for Lucifer also gained quite a little reward. During the aerial battle, I had been tied up fighting two random angels that I didn't give a crap about, but Sam and Dean ended up with Castiel on the ground. By "complete" accident, I knocked one of the angels from the sky and right into the sanctimonious prick. While Dean and Sam didn't kill Castiel, they were able to trap him while he got his foolish brother off. They killed that angel, but left poor little Cas alive to watch. Now, in our dungeons, we had the angel chained three ways from Sunday, and he wasn't going anywhere until we had all the information that we wanted.
The dungeons were exactly where I was heading at this…
"Rachel!" my Father's voice boomed across the elegant hallways.
I cringed at my name, and still covered in angelic blood, I changed course. My Father obviously wouldn't be calling me unless it was important, so I decided to wait a few more painstaking moments to see Castiel. He was such a dick that it would be quite amusing to see what Dean had in-store for that bastard. The angel did kill my parents after all. I think, in the end, that's what drove me to bat for Lucifer. I never really wanted to stand with the angels, but finding out that an angel killed my parents and finding Dean in Hell, I decided that those celestials deserved extermination.
Sighing with that last thought, I opened the doors into the vast throne room. My Father was positioned per usual on his throne, but this time he was talking to Lylith and Alistair- both whom were absent during the angel siege. I shuddered inwardly at the sight of Alistair- that bastard kept trying to get with me, and I was pretty sure it was only because I was Hell's princess. Lylith… well I wasn't too sure about her, but I knew she had ended up with Sam, and to me, that was still sort of weird, but both Dean and I dealt. Dean had the most obvious relationship with a thief, now demon, Bela Talbot. She had gone to Hell just before Dean, and the two actually hit it off once they both were demonic. I was the only one that slept alone at night, though I did have a few flings with demons here and there, but I was, for sure, not settling down with Alistair. I'd take one of my cousins, Dean or Sam, first.
"You called?" I said bringing the attention to me. Blood was dripping off my various articles of clothing. Today I was wearing a black cut-off with a leather jacket thrown over and a simple pair of jeans. To most outsiders, I would probably pass as human and not Lucifer's first-born. I did have a brother, but angels had him killed off at the beginning of the war. He was my fraternal twin and came second in the birth. I'd miss Ryan.
My Father eyed the blood with a frown, but he waved me over nonetheless. I approached his throne with wariness as he never called me for just social reasons. If he was calling, something was going on that would need either my attention or all the generals' attention. Lylith and Alistair were staring over some sort of plans, and I wanted to sigh when the torturer's eyes focused on my image.
"The angels are constantly trying to attack me here," my Father started not taking his eyes away from the plans. "I think it's time we attacked right back on theirs."
I wasn't a fool, and I got what he was saying pretty quickly. "You want to send an assault on Heaven?" My mouth was completely agape. "That isn't possible Father."
"It is," he corrected, and I felt his fiery gaze glower into me.
"Alright," I sighed. "Then such an attack will cost us much of our forces." I wanted to at least approach this logically if he was seriously considering sending us into the angels' stronghold. I still didn't believe such an attack was possible.
"Demons come by the handful," Lylith said offhandedly.
"Yes," I hissed. "But most demons do not appreciate suicide missions."
"Enough Rachel," my Father snapped, and I immediately quieted. Hell's heir or not, I was not allowed to speak in such a manner around my Father. He expected respect from everyone, and here I was questioning his moves.
"Yes sir," I said switching to my more battle mode. My right hand clasped my left wrist behind my back. "Then how are we going to go about this?"
"You won't be leading this," my Father continued, and I felt hurt. He quickly rectified what he said, "I don't want to risk your life nor my other two generals. I need you here defending this stronghold. I'll be sending Samhain to lead this attack. I just would like your input."
I stared down at the plans, and I wished Dean and Sam were here. I worked best along those two. We were all good at making plans of attack, but together, we did created elaborate- almost unstoppable- plans. I crinkled my forehead at the intricate details.
"We need to minimize demonic loss, but maximize angelic death… but we don't have enough weapons that can kill angels to give to these demons," I sighed. "All we would be doing is literally giving Heaven a chance to wipe out some of our forces."
"Rachel," my Father said in warning.
"I am going to the market today," I continued raising my hand to let him know that I wanted to finish what I was saying. "I recently had one of the weapons that can kill an angel looked over. The demon said he might be able to replicate the blade's power to make a poison lethal to any angel." I looked up at my Father's beaming smile. I could tell he was instantly proud of my initiative. "It was actually Dean's idea, and Sam found the poison-maker, and today, I am supposed to go and see how long it would take to replicate."
"Do that," he said with a nod. "Then report back to me later."
I gave my Father a quick shake of my head, and then, I moved to leave. There was nothing left for me to do here. Plus there was still the fact I had to visit a certain angel before making my way out to the market surrounding the palace. I loved the shops outside- there were always interesting to visit, and being Lucifer's heir meant I was given a very high degree of respect… plus I wanted to see who was stupid enough to try and assassinate me today. That occurred quite commonly in the market- a demon looking for redemption would try to kill me or one of the brothers- and always fail.
"Rachel?" my Father said breaking me from my thoughts just as I was about to leave. I only glanced back hoping that was enough for him. "I hear you have an angel in the dungeon."
"Yes Father," I answered. "The one that killed my human adopters."
He nodded meeting my gaze before looking back down on the plans. "Try not to get too much blood on the floor."
"Yes sir," I grinned before taking my leave.
I didn't waste any time making my way up to the dungeons. The screams of those trapped inside increased in volume the closer I got. Even from Lucifer's throne room, it was completely possible to hear the screams then, but now when I was within fifteen feet of the door, I had the urge to put in ear plugs. Didn't the idiots inside know that yelling at this level only made it worse? Dean only had two hands, so I doubted he was the cause of the entire racket.
Pushing the door open to the room, I was quickly greeted with the rank smell of decaying flesh and blood. My face twisted up from the disgust, but the sight was slightly less greeting. Most in this room were hunters or demons gone rogue. They were either in cells lining the hall or hanging from racks in the room at the end of the hall. In this room, there were only two doors- one out and the other was to a more private suite for "guests." I ignored the pleas of those inside the cells and made my way to the more private room as I was pretty sure an angel would get that honor plus Dean wasn't in sight.
Inside the private room was a table of sorts- more of a wooden frame that allowed for back access. The "table" was tilted up at an angle, and on the far wall was an ensemble of instruments for the torturer's trade. Dean was over there setting things aside on a smaller tray, his green eyes showing glee as he picked his way through the array. My eyes were more focused on the angel strapped to the rack. His arms were pinned above his head by metal cuffs with the insignia to keep him powerless. His body was stretched out along the table with his feet pinned in a similar position. With angels, every precaution had to be taken. They were snakes that were always slipping out of the tightest situation. This angel was bound to keep his angel grace from lashing out and to keep him from fleeing. He was stuck in this vessel thanks to Dean's ingenious to burn a brand into his arm.
Castiel's eyes met mine, and I only gave the angel a smirk. Dean had already stripped the angel of his "holy tax accountant" trench coat and blazer. All that was left on the angel was his white button up, tie, and slacks. Everything else was tossed blatantly in a corner.
I grinned gleefully and circled the helpless angel. In the corner, Dean tossed me a small glance, but he was far too busy preparing for more important things. The air had stilled in the room for a microsecond as I made my way around the angel, but once I was face to face, that all changed.
"Overgrown birds are all you are," I joked taking the light route instead of saying everything I wanted to in that moment.
"I'll leave you for a moment," Dean said moving towards the door. "Call for me when you're finished. Lucifer is timely, and I don't think he wants me to mess around with this one."
"It will only take a moment," I responded not glancing back at my cousin.
"Take your time still," Dean replied, and I knew he was smiling. He knew this was all I had wanted from the day I discovered it was he who killed my parents. With that, I heard the door to the room open and close with a deafening click.
"Tell me," I sighed moving to Dean's tray of various knives. I picked one up idly. "How does it feel to be as helpless as the humans you so easily dismiss?" My anger was starting to seep through, but I reeled it back in. There was no way I was going to lose my calm with this thing.
Castiel didn't answer me, but I could see defiance and even better, fear, swirling in his blue eyes. How could someone not be afraid of Dean though? Even Alistair at this point had come to avoid his protégé as he didn't even want to provoke the newest torture master. Slowly, I approached the trapped angel, knife still in hand.
"I asked you a question," I repeated politely, but when the angel refused to answer again, I slammed the knife right next to his head. "Go ahead and keep your lips closed. Dean will have you screaming soon enough." My voice was full of contempt for the angel, but excitement for what was about to happen to him.
I was turning to leave when I finally heard the defiant voice speak- gruff and low. "You will not win nor will your Father, Rachel." I was slightly shocked that Castiel actually spoke, but I felt a trill of excitement burst through my veins. Spinning back on the angel, I pulled the knife still stuck in wood away from his head.
"We've already won," I smiled. "Can't you see that? Look around you angel-boy. It's Hell on Earth, and it's beautiful… Angels are just locusts, overgrown birds, that my Father will soon eliminate." Instead of leaving, I pressed my body against the angel knowing it would cause him immense discomfort, and I put my mouth against his ear. "You're not as safe as you think in that Heaven of yours." I felt a shudder run down his spine. My tainted grace was like an aura around me, and I knew the angel could feel it pressing upon his oh-so innocent grace.
"And you're not as safe as you think in this palace," Castiel replied, emotionless as ever. I pulled away with a frown.
"After that last little attack," I laughed, "I think I'm more than safe… though you know better than anyone, I don't shy from the field. I don't run away." With a smile, I moved to the door intending to fetch Dean, so he could start, but what Castiel said next ran my blood ice cold.
"You ran the night your parents died," he said as if it was nothing. My heart stopped, and I felt tears spring to my eyes, but I refused… refused… to lose control in front of this bird.
I spun on my heel and was immediately in the angel's face. Anger flashing in my eyes. "I was also a scared girl that saw her parents slaughtered in front of her," I whispered, but my words carried more meaning than my life. "I watched people who love me die because of it. There's no justice, no God in that!" I hissed. "And, my dear Castiel, you will be paying for every drop of blood they spilt for me." Behind me, I heard the door open, and I knew Dean had become worried. My cousin always seemed to know when something was wrong.
I smiled sadistically ignoring my demon cousin for the moment, "Think of it this way Cas. Because of you, that scared little girl ran away and became Lucifer's heir and one of the most feared Generals." Leaning in to deliver the final blow, I whispered in his ear, "Hell on Earth is all. Your. Fault." In truth, if my parents were alive, I probably would have never signed on with Lucifer. My parents and Dean were truly the only reasons I pretty much sold my soul to my real Father. Turning away for the last time, I moved to a corner of the room- intent on watching.
Passing Dean on the way, I whispered into his ear, "Make him scream for his precious Daddy…" I looked into my cousin's red demonic eyes. "Make him beg." And I knew Dean would as that's what he did best.
OOC: It's beginning to heat up for poor Castiel. There will be torture and gore in the next chapters, but the plot's been established. So I hope you're enjoying reading this. Leave a review on your way out, please and thank-you.