Lucifer Rising

Ruby finished packing the trunk of the older, bright orange Mustang before her trip with Sam to find Lilith. Sam stood to the side of the car, staring in the cold, white cloudy day. She stood by the driver's side door and looked at him.

"Sam? Your head in the game, here?" He snapped out of his deep thoughts.

"I'm good. Let's go," but he continued to stand there.

"You okay?" He turned to face her, hands in his jean pockets.

"I just said I was."

"Look, I know hand holding isn't my thing...but still, Adonia and Dean were wrong saying what they said to you."

"No, they were right to say it," he said, accepting his own words, "I mean, I don't blame her, after what I did. I don't blame Dean either."

"Well, after we're done, you guys will patch things up. I mean, you always do.'

"You're talking like I got an 'after'."

"Don't say that." Sam thought for a moment.

"I can feel it inside me, Ruby. I've changed- for good. There's no going back now."

"Sam-"

"Look...I know what I got to do. It's okay. I'm just saying...Dean and Addie are better off as far away from me as possible," Ruby stared at him, knowing he must have blocked out reality, "Anyways, doesn't matter. Let's just get this done with."

"Dean. Dean? Have you listened to a word I've said," Genna asked from behind. Dean was just staring out of the window in Bobby's living room.

"Yeah. I heard you. I'm not calling him."

"Dean, don't make me get my gun." Dean turned around.

"We are damn near kickoff for Armageddon. Don't you think we got bigger fish at the moment?"

"I know you're pissed, and I'm not making apologies for what he's done, But he's your-"

"Blood? He's my blood. Is that what you're gonna say?"

"He's your brother and he's drowning," she said sympathetically.

"Genna, I've tried to help him. I did. We all did. Look what happened."

"So try again." Dean shook his head and paced the room.

"It's too late," Dean said with his head down.

"There's no such thing," Bobby chimed in.

"No! Dammit! No... We got to face the facts- Sam never wanted part of this family. He hated this life growing up- Ran away to Stanford first chance he got and now it's like deja vu all over again," he sat down on couch next to Adonia, "Well, I am sick and tired of chasing him. Screw him. He can do what he wants."

"You don't mean that," Genna argued.

"Yes, I do, Gen. Sam's gone. He's gone," he looked at the ground with sad eyes, "I'm not even sure if he's still my brother anymore. If he ever was." Genna turned to face Bobby's desk, breathing heavy. She put her hands on the desk and knocked off all the papers onto the floor. She whisked around and walked towards Dean. Dean stood in front of her, shocked. Adonia stood beside him.

"You stupid, stupid son of a bitch! Well, boohoo! I am so sorry your feelings are hurt and same goes for you," she looked at her olive skinned friend, "Are you under the impression that family's supposed to make you feel good- bake you an apple pie, maybe? They're supposed to make you feel miserable! That's why they're family!"

"Addie told him, 'you walk out that door, don't come back', and I backed her up. And you saw, he walked out anyway, on all of us. That was his choice."

"You sound like a whiny brat." Dean scoffed softly and walked away.

"No. You sound like your dad. Well, let me tell you something- your dad was was a coward." Dean turned around, pissed and also surprised to hear the words come out of her mouth.

"My dad was a lot of things, Gen, but a coward?"

"He'd rather push Sam away than reach out to him. Well, that doesn't come across as brave to me. You are a better man than John ever was. So you do both of us a favor- don't be him." Dean took it all in and turned back towards the window, but when he turned around they were in a porcelain white room with gold trimmings. An elegant dining table sat in the center and renaissance paintings and sculptures covered the walls. They walked around in awe.

"Hello, Dean," Castiel said from behind, "It's almost time."

Everyone continued to pace the room, taking in all of the designs and objects. It looked like a heavenly palace. They turned to the center of the room to find a feast on the table. All of their favorite foods; bacon cheeseburgers, beer, wine, subs.

"Hello, Dean. You're looking fit," Zachariah appeared, "Ladies, beautiful as always." Dean scoffed.

"Well, how about this? 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cas'," they looked confused, "It's a- Nevermind."

"So, what is this? Where the hell are we," Adonia asked.

"Call it a greenroom. We're closing in on the grande finale here. We want to keep you safe before showtime. We figured we'd bring your friends too for insurance."

"Nice to know we're thought of," Adonia said sarcastically. He ignored her. Genna and Cas shared a look. She had suspicion that he was the one that suggested their safety.

"I want to know what the game plan is," Dean said.

"Let us worry about that. We want you...focused, relaxed."

"Well, I'm about to be pissed and leaving, so start talking Chuckles." Zachariah sighed and walked around him.

"All the seals have fallen, except one."

"That's an impressive score. That's...that's right up there with the Washington Generals," Dean said.

"You think sarcasm's appropriate, do you? Considering...you started all this," he said referring to Dean cracking in hell and torturing all of those souls.

"But the final seal...it'll be different," he patted Dean's shoulder and stood by Cas again.

"Why," Adonia asked.

"Lilith has to break it. She's the only one who can. Tomorrow night, midnight."

"Where," Dean asked.

"We're working on it."

"Well, work harder."

"We'll do our job. You just makes sure you do yours."

"Yeah, and what is that, exactly? If I'm supposed to be the one that stops her. How? With the knife?"

"All in good time."

"Isn't now a good time," Genna asked impatiently. She knew the angels were manipulative. Especially Zachariah.

"I'd watch that tone, Genavieve. You're in enough trouble already."

"Give me one good reason why I should." He stepped closer to her.

"Because you helped Dean swear his obedience. You're apart of this. So obey." Dean looked over to Genna and back at Cas, whose guilt shown greatly on his face.

Adonia took off her jacket and sat down in a chair against the wall.

"Well, looks like we'll be here for a little bit. Might as well make myself comfortable, I guess." She let her hair down and put the hair tie around her wrist. Dean sat on the edge of the table with his legs extended to the ground.

"How are you holding up," he asked. Adonia thought for a moment. She wondered if she should be vague, lie, or just tell the truth.

"Dean...I am so sorry. The things I said- I shouldn't have. He's your brother. I feel guilty, stupid, and even worse... Sam's gone." Dean stood and knelt down to face her.

"I would have said the same thing. No matter how bad it gets, he's still my brother. We haven't lost him," he sighed and stood up. He walked off and paced.

"Ah, screw it," he took out his cell phone and dialed Sam's number. Answering machine.

"Hey, it's m-me. Uh... Look, I'll just get right to it. I'm still pissed...and I owe you a serious beatdown. But...I shouldn't have said what I said. You know, I'm not dad," he looked at Genna who returned a sympathetic smile.

"We're brothers. You know, we're family. And uh...no matter how bad it gets, that doesn't change. Sammy, I'm sorry-" The phone beeped. He closed his phone, wishing he could have said more.

"You asked to see me?" Adonia turned around and Cas stood behind her; still a look of guilt on his face. She looked down and back at home, confused. It was only a minute ago that she had prayed for him. Well, attempted to. She was never much of the religious type but it was the only way to get a hold of the angels.

"Yeah, uh, I-I need something."

"Anything you wish," he said simply. Dean was seen as a package. Anywhere he went, the girls were to follow. Anything Dean wanted within reason could be given to him and the same went for the girls.

"I need you to take me to Sam."

"Why?"

"There's something I need to talk to him about."

"What's that?"

"What I had for breakfast. What does it matter?"

"I don't think that's wise,"

"No offense, but I didn't ask for your opinion," he looked coldly into her emerald eyes.

"Now look, I'm going to do whatever you guys want. I owe Dean that. I just need to fix this. Five minutes- That's all I need."

"No," he said bluntly. Adonia looked him over for any signs of hesitation.

"What do you mean, no? Are you saying that I'm trapped here?"

"You can go wherever you want-"

"Super. I want to go see Sam."

"Except there."

"I want to take a walk."

"Fine. I'll go with you." At this point, Adonia felt like a child and Cas was being an overprotective father.

"Alone."

"No." She exhaled sharply.

"You know what? Screw this. I'm out of here," she walked past him towards the door.

"Through what door," he turned to her with his nostrils flared. Knowing she was standing in front of one, she turned back to him with a confused expression. When she turned back around, the door was replaced with a wall with a small sculpture in front of it. When she turned back around, Cas was gone.

It was night and after Sam and Ruby found Lilith's sidekick, they tortured her for answers and locked her in the trunk. An eventful day to say the least. Sam looked down at his phone and saw that he had a new voicemail.

"What are you- a 12 year old girl? Just play it already," Ruby said with an attitude.

"Mind your own business," Sam said with a soft tone. He stared out the window, but was interrupted by the constant screaming of the woman. A devil's trap etched in the trunk kept her still.

"God, I wish she would just shut up."

"Well, that can be arranged." Sam scoffed.

"I don't get it. All the demons you cut with the knife- What do you think happens to the host? How is this any different?"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"I know that you're having a tough time here, Sam, but we're in the final lap. Now is not the time to grow a persqueeter."

"Would you drop the fucking attitude? I'm about to bleed and drink an innocent woman while she watches."

"And save the world as a result." Sam shook his head.

"I don't know. I-I just...I'm starting to think...maybe Addie and Dean were right."

"About what?"

"About everything." There was an awkward silence.

"We're gonna see this through, right, Sam?" He didn't respond.

Zachariah appeared again and he have a pleasant conversation with Dean. The angels had purposely let Lilith break the seals. Apparently, they don't mind the thought of an apocalypse because they think they'll win. Adonia knew something was off about Zachariah and Genna never liked him. Zachariah doesn't want Dean to stop Lilith or the apocalypse; just Lucifer. That's his job. Not to mention, as Zachariah put it, "God has left the building".

After their little talk, now was the time that everyone began to worry. They weren't clear on what Sam's part in all of this was and they didn't want to stand by while the whole world, including their loved ones died in the soon-to-come apocalypse. Very soon. Dean took out his cell phone and dialed Sam. It was just static.

"You can't reach him, Dean. You're outside your coverage zone," Castiel said from behind him.

"What are you gonna do to Sam," Dean asked with fear in his voice, but trying to remain stern.

"Nothing. He's gonna do it to himself." Adonia's fury grew and it showed on her face. She was sick and tired of the angels, especially Cas, tip-toeing around the subject. They were so vague and would say something, then leave it open ended.

"What's that supposed to mean," she asked, stepping closer to Dean. Cas looked down in shame.

"Oh, right, right. Got to toe the company line," she sighed. Dean stepped closer to Cas.

"Why are you here, Cas?"

"We've been through much together, you and I. And I just wanted to say, I'm sorry it ended like this."

"'Sorry'?" Dean scoffed. He threw up his arm and punched Cas in the face, which barely had any affect. It was like hitting a lead pole. He turned around and rubbed his fist. It was of no surprise to Genna. When Adonia turned to her, she knew exactly what she was thinking. If Genna was still an angel and Adonia needed a punching bag, things would definitely get interesting.

"It's Armageddon, Cas. You need a bigger word than 'sorry'."

"Try to understand. This is long foretold. This is you-"

"Destiny? Don't give me that 'holy' crap. Destiny, God's plan... It's all a bunch of lies, you poor, stupid son of a bitch! It's just a way for your bosses to keep me and keep you in line! You know what's real? People, families - that's real. And you're gonna watch them all burn?"

"What is so worth saving? I see nothing but pain here. I see inside you. I see your guilt, your anger, confusion. In paradise, all is forgiven. You'll be at peace. Even with Sam." Genna scoffed at Cas' words. She walked away, remembering a conversation she had with him, many times. Adonia lowered her brow at her in thought, then back at Cas. She finally put the pieces together. She walked over to her ginger friend and put her hand on her shoulder. A pin dropping on the floor could be easily heard, so even though Dean was speaking to Cas in the background, Adonia felt it would be best to talk through their thoughts.

It was Cas, wasn't it? The angel you fell for? Genna turned to her and nodded.

"Look at me," Dean exclaimed and shoved Cas to turn to him. The girls stopped and listened.

"You know it! You were gonna help me once, weren't you? You were gonna warn me about all this, before they dragged you back to bible camp. Help me. Now. Please."

"What would you have me do," Cas asked.

"Get me to Sam. We can stop this before it's too late."

"I do that, we well all be hunted. We'll all be killed."

"If there is anything worth dying for, this is it," Adonia chimed in. Cas looked away. Being an empath, you can channel other people's emotions, sometimes a mix with your own and you voice those feelings.

"You spineless...soulless son of a bitch. What do you care about dying? You're already dead," Adonia said with a mixture of hers, Genna's, and Dean's thoughts.

"We're done," Dean said as he turned his back on his and walked way.

"Dean-" Cas stood still and stared forward, like a soldier.

"We're done." There was a subtle sound of wings taking flight and Cas was gone.

They arrived at St. Mary's Convent, the location of the last seal. Sam was confused as to what he intended to do. He was beginning to doubt his intentions and what he was doing. Ruby was growing impatient. He finally listened to the voicemail Dean left him, except Ruby altered it a little bit.

"Listen to me, you bloodsucking freak. Dad always said I'd either have to save you or kill you. Well, I'm giving you fair warning. I'm done trying to save you. You're a monster, Sam, a vampire. You're not you anymore. And there's no going back," in the background, he could hear Adonia's voice.

"Dean, hang up. He's not worth it." Sam had tears in his eyes and hung up. Ruby was smirking behind him, twirling her knife against her finger. He turned around, angry.

"Do it," he said giving her permission to kill the vessel.

"Thank god," she said ironically.

Back in the green room, the three hunters paced some more. Dean was suddenly pushed against the wall and unable to speak. Cas looked at Adonia and Genna, then put his finger over his mouth to let them know that they needed to remain quiet. He took out Ruby's knife and cut his arm. He took the blood and began drawing symbols on the wall. Genna grinned.

"Castiel," Zachariah called out from behind them, "Would you mind explaining just what the hell you think you're doing?" Cas put his hand in the center of the symbol, a bright light appeared and Zachariah was gone. Much like what Genna did before.

"He won't be gone long," Cas reassured them, "We have to find Sam now."

"Where is he," Dean asked.

"I don't know. But I know who does. We have to stop him, Dean, from killing Lilith."

"But Lilith's gonna break the final seal," Adonia pointed out.

"Lilith is the final seal. She dies, and the end begins."

Within seconds, they appeared in Chuck's kitchen. He was on the phone trying to pay for a night with 20 women.

"Wait. T-this isn't supposed to happen," he said when he saw his guests, "No lady, this is definitely supposed to happen, but I got to call you back." He hung up. They tried to get some answers.

"St. Mary's? What is it, a convent," Adonia asked.

"Yeah, but you guys aren't supposed to be there. You're not in this story," Chuck explained.

"Yeah, well...we're making it up as we go," Cas said. The room began to shake and a bright light beamed through the window.

"Aw man! Not again," Chuck exclaimed.

"It's the archangel," Cas said, "I'll hold him off! I'll hold them all off! Just stop Sam," he told them over the noise. With a touch on each forehead, the hunters disappeared and Cas stood by Chuck's side.

When they opened their eyes, they were inside the convent. Sam kicked in a door to find Lilith at a prepared alter. She wore a slim white gown for the "special" occasion. He used his powers to throw her, causing her to hit her head against the stone alter and fall to the ground. She sat up and looked at Sam, with Ruby behind him. He held up his hand and she was pressed against the alter, stuck. The hunters turned the corner and saw the scene from behind. Ruby turned around, smirked, and closed the door with her powers.

"I've been waiting for this...for a very long time," Sam said, approaching the demon.

"Then give me your best shot." His heartbeat quickened in excitement. He raised his hand and a white light glowed from her chest and her eyes glowed orange. Sam's mind slowed down, enjoying every second of it. He began to stop as he heard voices from a distance. Dean, Adonia, and Genna were screaming his name from the other side of the door and pounding on it. He turned to look at the door, both shocked and surprised.

"Guys?" He blocked out the noises around him. Ruby was screaming right in front of him asking what he was waiting for, but it seemed slow and distorted to him. He looked longingly at the door. He looked down at Ruby and back at the door. His heartbeat continued to race. He turned to find Lilith laughing at him.

"You turned yourself into a freak. A monster. And now you're not gonna bite? I'm sorry, but that is honestly adorable." She was sweating and out of breath. Sam's heartbeat was now beating at a rate that sounded like it was going to burst. He raised his hand again and continued. His eyes went black. Within seconds, Lilith's body went limp and she fell to the ground. Sam's eyes went back to normal and so did his heartbeat.

Sam watched the blood from Lilith's mouth move on its own. It was making a symbol of some sort.

"What the hell?"

"I can't believe it," Ruby said under her breath.

"Ruby, what's going on?"

"You did it. I mean, it was a little touch-and-go there for a while, but...you did it," Ruby said as she turned to him.

"You opened the door and now he's free at last. He's free at last." Sam panicked.

"No, no, no. No, he- Lilith. I stopped her. I killed her!"

"And it is written that the first demon shall be the last seal. And you bust her open. Now guess who's coming to dinner."

"Oh my god..."

"Guess again." The hunters began pounding on the door again.

"You don't even know how hard this was! All the demons out for my head. No one knew. I was the best of those sons of bitches! The most loyal! Not even Alistair knew! Only Lilith! Yeah, I'm sure you're a little angry right now, But, I mean, come on, Sam! Even you have to admit, I'm -I'm awesome!"

"You bitch. You lying bitch!" He thrust his hands at her, trying to use his powers, but he dropped, clutching his head instead.

"Don't hurt yourself, Sammy. It's useless. You shot your payload on the boss."

"The blood...you poisoned me!" She knelt before him.

"No. It wasn't the blood. It was you...and your choices. I just gave you the options, and you chose the right path every time. You didn't need the feather to fly, you had it in you the whole time, Dumbo! I know it's hard to see it now... but this is a miracle. So long coming. Everything Azazel did, and Lilith did. Just to get you here. And you were the only one who
could do it," her voice was soft and kind as if nothing was wrong.

"Why? W-why me," he asked with tears in his eyes.

"Because... because it had to be you, Sammy. It always had to be you. You saved us. You set him free. And he's gonna be grateful. He's gonna repay you in ways that you can't even imagine." They finally broke in the door. Ruby stood to confront them.

"You're too late," Ruby said.

"I don't care," Adonia pulled out the knife and advanced on her. Sam stood and held her back. Adonia drove the knife into her chest. She stared her in the eyes as Ruby's life was slipping away and twisted the knife to speed the process. Ruby flickered from the inside and Adonia removed the knife. Ruby collapsed to the floor, dead.

"I'm sorry," Sam said with a broken voice.

The symbol on the ground was complete. It was merely a large circle with blood lines drawing to the center. The center cracked open and a white light with grey smoke beamed to the ceiling with a loud roar. They all watched as the center continued to spread open.

"Sammy, let's go," Dean said.

"Dean..." Sam couldn't run. He couldn't believe it. He grabbed Adonia to keep her safe.

"He's coming."