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The Supernatural characters belong to Kripke Enterprises and the CW, not me. No money is being made from this story. It is for entertainment only.
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A Wandering Boy
Chapter 27
Higher and Deeper
From Chapter 26
Cas held up his hand. "Let me explain. As you are all aware I brought Dean Winchester to this timeline to protect him from Heaven's plans. Those plans were built on the bones of old prophesies. The Prophesy of the Righteous Man, the Michael Sword and Michael's perfect vessel have been long foretold in Heaven. There is another set of prophesies, however. In Hell they have the Prophesy of Lucifer's perfect vessel and that of The Boy King. This is where I have failed you all. I was so focused on protecting Dean from Heaven's plans I overlooked the machinations of Hell."
Dean perked up and waved his hand. "Is that me? Who am I? Can I be The Boy King? That sounds cool."
"No, Dean," Cas replied. "You are Michael's vessel, the Righteous Man and the Michael Sword. I'm sorry but Sam is The Boy King."
Sam choked on his last swallow of coffee then carefully placed his cup on the table. He glared at his Angel. "Excuse me? I'm what? What the hell? How did that happen?"
Chapter 27
Castiel laid a hand on Sam's knee. "I'm sorry Sam. It's disturbing but you need to know about it so that you can defend yourself against Hell's minions."
"Most of the Heavenly Host no longer believe in the Paradise on Earth prophesy. There are a few rouge traditionalists who still believe in the possibility of the Righteous Man and the lost Michel Sword but the death of your brother twenty years ago was a major blow. He was to be this world's perfect vessel for the Archangel Michael and the fulfillment of God's old plan."
"However there is a prophesy of the Boy King which the rulers of Hell believe is still possible. The oldest and most powerful of Demons still whisper of his possible arrival. The Boy King is supposed to wrest control from Lucifer and the current King of Hell. The most ancient and powerful of Hell's demons; Lilith, Beelzebub, Choronzon the Demon of the Abyss, Asmodal and, unfortunately, Samael the angel of death, also called the chief of the devils, all will bow to and follow The boy King. He is to lead them in the conquest of Earth."
"I'm supposed to be this Boy King?" Sam asked, stunned.
"Yes, I am sorry," Castiel said again. "I should have prepared you better. I should have considered Hell more of a threat. I was concentrating on Dean. Now though we have Hell Spawn sent as Hell's spies. We have killed one, which will not attract that much attention. They are stupid and careless beasts. Hell will eventually send another. If a pattern develops the commanders in Hell may eventually decide the situation needs to be looked at more closely. We have time to devise a plan."
"Well, damn it boy," Bobby spoke forcefully. "This place is already warded up the wazoo. What more can we do?"
"Yes, Bobby, you are correct." Cas agreed. "Unfortunately Sam won't want to spend the rest of his life hiding behind your wards. He's a Hunter with responsibilities as a member of the community and as Dean's father-brother. My protection is of some use out in the world but there is no question that we will attract not only the attention of Heaven but also the hungry eyes of Hell."
Sam had remained quiet throughout the discussion "What can be done? Am I to be hunted down like a prize head to be hung on some Demon's wall?
Dean's had also been listening carefully. He slid off his chair and stood next to Sam, pressing into his brother-father's side looking for comfort and safety.
"Cas," the little boy's voice floated up through the discussion. "Why is this happening to us? Why don't they just leave us alone?"
"Yeah, Cas." Bobby added his two cents. "Why these boys? Why this family?"
"The Winchester line runs through all realities," Cas started slowly. "It is a bloodline going back to the beginnings of the human world. The Angel prophesies stated that the line was founded by God to carry the blood forward to the end of the world."
"The family is the source of the Seraphim's perfect vessels and has never been allowed to die out. They are a key component of God's plan. They are among The Chosen but have been hidden, always hidden, from the scribes of men. I think that my previous timeline, the one I stole Dean from, collapsed mainly because I stole the last member of the Winchester bloodline from it."
"Well, that's just frigging wonderful." Sam huffed and slammed down his coffee cup. "Our lives are not our own? What the hell happened to God's great gift to mankind, Free Will? This doesn't sound like Free Will to me."
"Or me either," Dean tried to copy Sam's angry tone but his voice squeaked in the middle and he covered his mouth.
"Yeah, him either." Sam barked out and pulled Dean in. "What the hell happened to that?"
Cas gripped the cup of coffee he didn't really need tightly. Staring into the black depths he slowly responded. "Without the Winchester line that World was no longer viable. I may have killed all the Angels and all the humans living in it. It's just another reason for this Heaven wanting me dead."
"Pull your head out of it, Angel." Bobby cut in. "That's gone. Here and now is what's important. Now, how likely is it that these Demons will try to what, kidnap Sam? Is that a possibility?
Cas smiled for the first time. "If it was just that easy it would have happened long ago. It's not a question of physical possession. Sam's body wouldn't last for even a moment in Hell. It's a question of turning him. The only thing that God will never forgive, the only sure thing that sends a soul to Hell, is selling yourself to evil. That's what Hell will try to do."
"The Demons will send minions, they'll send temptations; they will try to make Sam think that he needs to perform certain evil actions in the belief that it is for the good of the world." Cas glanced up at his hoped for partner.
Sam shook his head. "I couldn't be that stupid. I can tell the difference between wrong and right. "
Cas lifted his hand from Sam's knee and caressed the Hunter's cheek. "What if it was the only way you could see to save Dean from a horrible fate? What if you really believed that your action would save the world? I assure you, the Demons of Hell have had millenniums of time to learn their trade. They were even bold enough to tempt Jesus. You would not be a big challenge, Sam. Even if you are a Winchester and Heaven would try to save you, Hell's plans are to be feared."
"There has to be something that can be done." Bobby smacked his hand on the table. "Not that I want to throw Sam out on his ass I know as well as you do that he can't live hiding out here. There has to be an alternative. What about those carvings you did on his ribs to hide him form the Angels? Is there something like that to protect him from demons?"
Cas stared at the old Hunter's impassioned face. "You might have something there, Mr. Singer." The angel said slowly. "Let me think for a minute."
Cas stood and wandered over to one of the kitchen windows. He stood there with his cup of coffee staring out over the yard, wrapped in thought.
Dean wiggled free of his brother's embrace. "Hey guys, does this mean I get to stay home from school today? I'm already late what with all this Hell Spawn killing and being the Chosen of God. I have a math test today and I'm already late for math class. What do you say? Can I have a Hell day? Maybe it can be something like a snow day?" He smiled up at Sam's worried face.
Sam looked up at Bobby and Bobby shot a glance at his watch. "The kid's right. It's already eight in the morning. It'll be almost ten by the time we get there. I would feel better keeping him safe while we wait for the Angel over there to drop out of meditation."
Sam stood up. "I agree. I'll call into the office and tell them he's staying home sick today."
The Hunter pulled out his cell phone while keeping an eye on Cas in the window. Dean was doing a little victory dance slinging his butt in one direction and his clenched fists in the other. Bobby sat and watched with a smile on his face. These Winchesters sure made his life interesting.
Cas finally turned away from the window. His smiled encompassed everyone in the room. "I have an idea."
"Mr. Singer,' Cas started to say.
"You know Cas," Bobby interrupted "Every time you call me Mr. Singer the hair on my arms stands straight up. I get the feeling I might not like what's coming next."
"Bobby," Cas started again. "Have you any experience in summoning Demons?"
"No, Hell no!" The older Hunter sputtered. "I send them to Hell; I sure as God don't intend to bring them here. They're hard enough to get rid of on their own."
"Hear me out." Cas raised a hand. "I need to talk to a specific Demon. I need to know what he knows and I have an idea he'll be willing to give me what I need. I'll have leverage. I have something the Demon will want."
"What the Hell are you going to ask a Demon, boy, that we can't find in my library?' Bobby sputtered out.
"I know you have vast amounts of knowledge available, Bobby but what I need has never been brought to Earth before. I need the demon sigils that will hide both Sam and Dean from Hell, just as the Enochian symbols on their ribs hide them from Angels. Once I have the sigils I'll carve them into Sam and Dean's hips and thighs. They will become invisible to Hell's demons and, most importantly, Hell, minions. Minions can't temp Sam if they can't even see him."
Bobby Singer snorted. "Someday you Winchesters are going to be some pretty interesting skeletons.
Cas paused. "We can't do the summoning here. The place is too well warded and I don't want to damage your wards."
The Angel went on. "Before we go elsewhere I need to get the demon protection symbol on everyone's body. I can print a grace infused symbol that will look exactly like a tattoo but will be much more powerful."
Dean started his dance again. "Cool. I'm going to get a tattoo? That's almost as good as getting to be the Boy King. Kerman and Jerry will be so jealous."
Sm grabbed his little brother and held Dean against his legs. "Calm down, kid. We're developing a plan here."
Sam caught his lover's eyes. "Ok, Cas. After we get all prettied up to your specifications and after Bobby figures out a place to do the summoning then tell me; just who are we going to summon and why would a Demon want to give an Angel any information at all?"
Cas smiled back. "We are going to summon the one Demon who has the information I want and who, above all the Demons in Hell fears the arrival of The Boy King the most. We are going to summon The King of Hell. The King would lose his throne if the Boy King showed up with all the Knights of Hell to support his claim The King is a demon called Crowley."