Chapter Twenty
Dean tried everything to get Patrick to stay away, but the young man was adamant and the demigod gave up arguing with him after a while. He only managed to get him to stay with the spirits and no matter how much he argued about that Dean was just as stubborn in his decision as Patrick was in his own. Only he and Gabriel will get into the citadel to deal with Leomas and Morrígan and that was final. Gabriel told him that he can easily handle both gods but he had to get inside first and making that happen was up to Dean, he was worried that Leomas might banish Gabriel again, but the archangel reassured him that now that he knew about them he could get rid of any blood sigil from afar.
He watched the way the sun slowly disappeared on the horizon because there was nothing else to do but wait for the darkness, he could already see the full moon on the deep blue sky and he knew the night would be sharp and sudden, that everything will be covered in cold silver light very soon. It was the night of the Hunter's Moon and Dean felt it was fitting as there would be blood shed, plenty, and the moon dressing up in its red halo seemed like the right signal for their battle.
Gabriel was beside him, his body straight, his posture confident, in every inch the angel that descended from the skies, a warrior of Heaven. Patrick stood on his other side, his tension visible but his determination even more so. The witch put on a thick leather vest to serve him as armor and even if it would not protect him from demons it was something, he also had a longer seax in his belt, the weapon was among the the things they found in Creide's house after Gabriel spotted the hidden trapdoor under the table. Gwydion's book was there and also a smaller book, a journal maybe, the demigod didn't ask. It was Patrick's heritage, his parents' knowledge and a seax, that was all he had left. Dean was dubious upon seeing the blade first, but Patrick told him he could wield it just fine, the demigod didn't argue with him, his own dagger was also tucked into his belt even if he didn't expect to have to use it.
'Do they know that we're coming?' Patrick asked. Gabriel looked up at the fort in the distance.
'Oh yes they do' the angel answered. 'I still can't see what's beyond the walls, but there is plenty of demonic presence around it, and something else as well, though I do not know it. Feels like spirits.'
'Morrígan's warriors' Dean supplied. 'She is known as the queen of battlefields for a reason, her phantoms are not to be underestimated.'
'We are not to be underestimated' Patrick told him.
'Well they know we have Gabriel with us so I doubt they take the threat lightly' Dean answered. It filled him with dread to think about the gods willing to fight even knowing that there was an archangel against them, it made him uneasy and he couldn't chase away the thought that there might be something in their hands that could be used against Gabriel. The angel told him that he was prepared unlike the last time so there was nothing to worry about, but Dean couldn't shake the feeling despite Gabriel's words.
The spirits were gathering around them as the sun disappeared, the light was fading away and the sky was painted in dark blue, purple and orange. The air was starting to get cold, but maybe it was just the way Dean felt. There was no more words to be said so they just waited. Dean didn't know whether to dread the night that was falling on them or cherish its arrival.
'Dean' he turned his head towards the angel upon hearing his name but he couldn't get a word out as his lips were captured in a soft kiss. He shut his eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of Gabriel's warm lips on his own, savoring the taste of his angel. 'It's time' Gabriel said when they parted. Dean nodded then turned around to capture Ellil's storm-blue eyes and the wind spirit nodded back at him.
'Let's go' he said and the next second he felt the way Gabriel's presence extended around them, his muscles tensed, his senses sharpened because now they were only a second away to find themselves in the midst of the enemy.
x~x~x
Gabriel pulled everyone up to the top of the mountains along with him, the archangel arrived to the gates of the citadel with Dean and Patrick besides him and with the spirits behind them as a great flood of power, shapes and shadows.
'Watch your back, kid' Dean told the young witch before he and Gabriel disappeared again. Patrick didn't have time to worry about what would happen next because the spirits stormed the outer gates without pausing for a second. The young witch was glad that he did not have to lead them as they knew what they were there for. It was not a difficult task after all, they did not have any elaborate strategy, the plan was plain and simple: Get inside and destroy everything. Patrick watched the way the heavy wooden gates fell under the attack of the oaks with something close to awe, he knew the spirits on their side were powerful, but it was good to see the evidence of it in such a manner.
Once the gates were down Patrick and the non-ethereal spirits could march inside. They did not know how great their foe was, but it didn't stop any of them, the second Patrick passed the fallen gates he found himself mid-battle.
Morrígan's warriors looked human – for the most part – they were still flesh and blood and bone but they could not be called human anymore. Their skin looked too dark, scarred and hard like they were constantly out in the cold wind and icy cliffs, their eyes vicious, their armors worn, their swords and hatchets well-used and blood-stained, and there was no end to them inside the walls. The wolf spirits were the fastest to reach them, they dashed right in the midst of them. Iron clashed with sharp teeth and claws ready to strike. Blood soaked the grey stones in mere moments as the wolfs tore up throats, ripped arms out of their sockets, weapons fell as white teeth sank into hands. Bloodied bodies hit the ground as sword struck down, piercing hearts and lungs, axes made heads roll down to the dust.
Ellil lead the eagles down from the sky, her presence almost hid the moon away as she descended down as thunder, swiftly storming through the battle, taking warriors away with her, snatching up three or four at a time. The eagles followed her lead, their claws sinking into shoulders and flying up high in the sky before tossing down their prey to the deep darkness of the cliffs outside of the walls.
The nigthers slid through the midst of the battle just as easily as Ellil did, they were incorporeal spirits of water, no blade could harm them. Their touch was nothing but poison as they bared their teeth and sank into flesh, chocking, strangling whatever body they forced themselves into. Warriors fell to their knees coughing up nothing but blood and water before hitting the ground lifelessly.
Painful yowls of animals echoed among the walls when a group of warriors broke through the attack, sinking their blades into all spirits they could harm. Patrick pulled his weapon and strode towards them as he stood frozen for far too long already. The warriors might have been strong, but they were alive, they had a heart that was beating in their chests and their blood could still be spilled, there was nothing else a good witch needed.
He extended his arm, focused and let his power flow, reaching deep inside of himself as he learnt to do from his mother, letting the power wash through his body, his arm, out of his hands until it found his intended target. The warrior closest to him howled in pain as he choked and fell to his knees, the wolf he was about to strike down reacted immediately, turning swiftly and sinking his teeth into his neck, biting through his throat until his windpipe crushed under the force. Patrick turned his attention to the other three men standing in front of him, this was harder. Dividing his attention, but the second he felt the way their hearts pumped life into their veins it became much easier. The wolf let go of his previous victim to jump at another warrior, while a mountain lion slammed into another one from behind, forcing him to the ground while clawing up his back. Patrick could let up on his hold of the warriors as the spirits finished off the weakened enemies.
'Well damn, pat my head and call me puppy' one of the wolves remarked as he looked back at the witch. 'Lead the way Patrick' he said. 'You hold them down we tear them apart' he growled excitedly.
'Good plan' Patrick nodded and turned. He didn't have to search for a target as there was just way too many of them, he let his own power lead his way, always finding the closest enemy. About half dozen animal spirits stayed close around him, jumping to strike and kill the second a warrior was chocking on his own blood.
A force too strong to hold his own against slammed into his body viciously, tossing him backwards and he landed on the hard ground with a loud thud. He managed to keep his seax in his grip, but he hit himself badly. He was getting up when he heard a werewolf growl next to him.
'Demons' he spat. Patrick turned his attention to the new enemies. It was only a few of them, but their were a much larger threat than the warriors, Patrick knew that. If there was anything his mother made sure he learnt was that how dangerous demons were. They were lead by a demon that has a tall man as its host. He had a large and long knife in his hand that was already dripping with blood, his eyes were roaming everything in front of him before they locked on Patrick.
The witch got to his feet, facing the demon. His eyes were glinting with something Patrick couldn't decipher, he could only recognize the sheer hunger for violence. The demon whispered something to his companions, two of them looked at each other.
'But Alistair...' one of them started, but one glance from the tall demon silenced him. A second later the other demons left his side and disappeared in the midst of the battle. When those dark eyes leveled on him again Patrick felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
'Go and help your brethren' the witch told to the spirits who still didn't leave his side. They looked at each other before swiftly running away to get back into the fight. The demon smirked at him viciously.
x~x~x
Dean heard how the gates fell down, how the phantoms attacked, their war-cries clear in the demigod's ears, but he heard the spirits too and knew that the battle started at the other side of the fort, just a few walls separating them. Him and Gabriel didn't go to the main entrance, but to the other side of the citadel to get inside through that door.
'Dean' Gabriel called, getting his attention back. 'The battle ends the sooner we deal with the gods' he reminded him. Dean knew that, but he still would've felt better to fight alongside the spirits and Patrick, but he knew this was the best plan. Gabriel's focus was on the walls, clearly seeing something that was invisible even to Dean's eyes.
He heard screams and that made him turn his head again. Just in time to see how Ellil dropped a handful of phantoms down from high up the sky, they screamed as the fell to the depth.
'Dean, we have to hurry' Gabriel urged him.
'Yes, sorry' the demigod replied. He turned his attention to the door in front of him. Gabriel couldn't touch any part of the walls or the doors as long as the warding magic was up, but if Dean made him an entrance the symbols would be broken and the archangel could get in easily.
He had to brace himself for this, he was stronger than any human, but he was still not sure if he would be able to break down the door on his own, he had to do his best. He had his ways to make himself stronger, but he rather not result to such things.
He took a few short, but deep breaths as he charged. The door cracked loudly as he collided with it, it hurt his shoulder a little but nothing too serious.
'Dean?' Gabriel asked, his voice sounded impatient and concerned at the same time. It was amusing how he could do that.
'I'm good' the demigod replied. 'It just needs another go.' he said as he pushed himself away from the wooden surface. He heard that the wood cracked and was sure that the hinge was bent too. He walked back to where he started before and charged again, this time the door broke off its hinge with a crack from the impact. Wood splinters flew everywhere as the door bent and fell down to the floor, Dean almost fell right after it but he could catch himself in the frame in the last second. Dean just glanced back at Gabriel, the angel had a far-away look on his face and he frowned a little in concentration.
'Is there anything?' Dean asked. He was sure that they were heard so they had to move fast now.
'Blood sigils' Gabriel answered as he extended his hand towards the door, Dean wanted to get out of the way, but realized that the angel was targeting something way beyond him. Then Gabriel dropped his hand and started to walk closer. 'Now they are useless' he added.
They made their way inside. Gabriel told him beforehand that it was better if they both walked, he didn't want to get surprised again and flying in while not knowing what exactly was inside would've been foolish.
The corridor was short and Dean opened the door at the end after the angel nodded at him. The hall was tall and bright, a lot brighter than the other parts of the fort Dean saw before. Torches burnt on the sides on the tall columns besides the walls while candles flickered on the two large iron chandeliers. One side was nothing but one tall stained glass window where the moonlight shone through brightly. The hall was empty, but Dean was cautious. Every instinct of him said that they were not alone, not completely.
They walked inside slowly and Gabriel grabbed his arm and pulled him backwards one second before the stench and the presence hit him. The angel was in front of him with at least a dozen demons in front of them by the time Dean could take in their surroundings again. To his surprise Gabriel chuckled.
'Now this is just utterly stupid' the archangel remarked. He raised a hand, fingers spread and light exploded from within the demons the next moment. Burning brightness shining out from their eyes and mouths before the human hosts crumbled to the floor. Dean blinked a few times.
'You were not joking when you said that you can get rid of demons' he said.
'Even lesser angels can dispose of such filth easily' Gabriel answered as he started to walk again, Dean followed.
'Which way now?' Dean asked as he eyed the doors at one end of the hall. Gabriel was on the other side also facing two doors. The god hoped that the archangel could sense what was beyond the walls now that he was inside and they won't be running in circles trying to find Morrígan and Leomas.
'Dean!' Gabriel yelled, but it was too late for the demigod to react properly. Someone, something grabbed him and tried to toss him across to room, he only managed to grab hold of the attacker instead of dodging. He twisted his body to get the upper-hand but the grip was too strong. He caught a glimpse of golden hair before he used his entire body to slam into the attacker, making both of them hit the window. Glass shattered, the voice that gasped in surprise behind him was female... Morrígan. And then he was falling, with the pieces of the shattered stained glass window all around them as the cold wind hit his skin. Morrígan let go of him as she swiftly shifted to a large white hawk and flew. Dean shifted into his falcon form too before he could hit the ground but it was a close call. He then followed the goddess.
x~x~x
Gabriel ran across the room but he was not able to get a hold of either of the struggling deities before they fell through the window, he saw how Morrígan and Dean both took up animal forms before hitting the ground and his eyes followed the way they took flight high up in the sky. He wasn't sure whether to follow, he planned on destroying both Morrígan and Leomas on his own. He definitely didn't want Dean to shed his mother's blood. He decided that the firegod could wait, he had to make sure that Dean was safe. He was about to spread his wings and take flight when a small noise hit his ears and it made him spin around quickly.
The intended words died on his lips as he sucked in a large breath, he knew his eyes widened as well, but there was no amount of magic, taint, glamor or will that could've fooled his eyes, or hide the light.
Nothing that could've deceived his senses, nothing that would've stopped him from recognizing the presence in front of him.
'Samael' he said after finding his voice.
The dark-haired man standing at the other end of the room just looked at him, his lips curling up into a gentle smile.
'Hello big brother.'
TBC