*Disclaimer is the same as in Chapter 1.
**Warnings: Some more swearing, slight mentions of torture and fight scenes but nothing too graphic.
Interesting indeed. A wall of angry demons was what had slammed into them, all clawing and screaming to get a chance at taking a piece out of the angel or the traitor of a gate guardian. They fought for what seemed like years, demon after demon falling under tooth and claw or cut of the sword.
Finally the battlefield around them produced no new foes and they were able to enter the racks that held the damned souls. Cerberus winced at the terrified bloodcurdling screams of pain filtered out into the hallway. After a walk through the whole building they had not seen the soul of the Winchester brother and were staring at the dead end that faced them in confusion. A quiet chuckle had them spinning around and coming face to face with Alistair himself.
"In all my years I don't think I've seen a more unlikely duo. An angel and a creature of hell working side by side to battle for a broken soul? Is this what the world is coming too?" he asked. Cerberus pressed closer to Castiel as the higher level demon moved towards them, power twisting and winding out of him to brush across their senses like poisonous vines, Alistair looked down at her with a look of regret,
"Ah yes, the Mutt. We had such fine times together did we not? Alas it appears those times have come to an end, at least for today. You've been given clearance to leave with the soul you came for, that is if you can stomach what he has become." Alistair told them, a nasty grin flitting across his face at the last part. Castiel shifted slightly, sword still at the ready,
"Why? Why make us fight our way in here and then just let us walk out? What sense is there in that?" He asked cautiously. Alistair shrugged,
"I know who I take orders from pretty boy, and those orders were that if you made it in here alive then you could take the soul of Dean Winchester back out with you. As I know that you likely will not leave without the pathetic mongrel at your side then she also is free to go, though all bets are off once you reach the surface Mutt." He said sneering at her still nervous form next to the angel. He turned around and beckoned them to follow,
"Come I will take you to him." Cerberus glanced up at Castiel for reassurance, and found none but they followed Alistair anyway towards a room in the middle of the building with a woman's screams emanating from within. Castiels brow furrowed in confusion, but Cerberus just whined in worry, Surely the soul that they had fought so hard to retrieve had not already broken? Had not taken the first step towards becoming a demon like those that they had slaughtered to get to him? A year was a long time to last in hell, but others had lasted longer, other than his innocence what was so special about this man that Heaven and Hell both wanted him back topside?
Alistair opened the door and Cerberus hung her head at the sight that met them. The soul of Dean Winchester turned around at their entrance and he placed the knife he had been using to cut designs into the arm of the woman on the rack, back onto a table that held various tools of torture. She padded quietly into the room, defeated. They had come this far and he had already broken. He would be a haunted man on the surface, being tortured in hell was one thing, but torturing others? Even a hunter like him had some form of morals and she doubted they would leave him guilt free about the acts he had committed on those on the racks.
Castiel seemed frozen in the doorway, not believing what he was seeing. Why was he sent after this soul? What good could he still do for those on Earth when he had been broken in Hell? Castiel could fix his physical body and dull the memories of hell somewhat, but he knew that this would break most humans psyche. That he could not fix. Nevertheless Castiel had a job to do, He grabbed the mans' shoulder and tugged him towards the door. Cerberus followed quietly, not liking the situation one bit. Alistair had said they got a free pass out of hell. But when had such things ever come easily?
The screams of the tortured souls followed them back out of the building and onto the street. Another wall of demons stood before them, the wish to cause pain to the interlopers clear in their eyes. When the group approached the beginning in the line, eyes sharp and ready to fight, the wall parted showing a clear path through the crowd.
Hate filled eyes watched them the entire silent walk out of the city and back to the entrance. The soul stayed quiet too, looking around with confused and slightly ashamed eyes when he glanced at either of them. None of the confidence that had come with him into hell seemed to remain, a broken man indeed, Cerberus thought. The silence was not broken until they had passed through the entrance.
Those in the line of souls looked up at their entrance as did the hellhounds guarding them. Cerberus spared a glance to the pile of chains and worn rock where she had lain for centuries. She could still hardly believe that she was free. She never had to come back here.
Castiel paused in his walk and looked at the hunters soul who stood there quietly eyes downcast. He sighed and began to speak,
"I will fix your physical body and take you back to the surface. I will also dull the memories of your time here, you will still have them but will not be plagued by them constantly. Six months have passed Earth time. I am sure your brother has missed you greatly," The soul nodded looking up at him with wide eyes, confidence slowly seemed to trickle back into him as he realized he was finally free. Cerberus could relate to the feeling. Castiel nodded at him with an air of finality,
"Let us leave." With that he grabbed the soul, wings extending as he raised them both towards the entrance, he glanced down at Cerberus,
"I assume you can find your way from here?" At Cerberus's nod he inclined his head in farewell,
"I wish you luck then Guardian." Cerberus grinned up at him tongue lolling out, tail wagging slightly,
"You too featherbrain. See you topside." Castiel shot her a slightly annoyed look at the nickname before ascending towards the surface carrying the soul with him. Once she made sure they had cleared the entrance Cerberus gathered herself, Leg muscles tightening before they released and she jumped passing through the large hole Castiel had left earlier with ease.
AN:/ Sorry about the long wait guys. Though I plan to post two chapters today because it's been a while. Hope you enjoyed reading and will stick with me through the coming chapters and events. Reviews are better than ice cream. :) -Robin